[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Lexia...


“She has a magnificent resemblance to her don’t you think Ishara?” Selene asked coldly.

“Yes my Matriarch, she does” Ishara responded.

“The time has come for us to broaden our borders and your company is the perfect start my sister. When to programming is complete, wake her and prepare her for her duties.” Selene left the room leaving Ishara to stare down at Cierra.

She was an exact copy of her former friend and Ishara felt as though she was staring at a ghost. Still, this was not her friend, she was gone. This was now her sister who had a job to do and a company to maintain.

Ishara turned and left the room ehile she cleared the memories of her friend from her mind...



Belgaroth...


The Arahsi Yacht arrived unexpectedly to Belgaroth and only moments ago was granted permission to land. The controls had been routinely turned over to guide the ship into the hangar below.

As the ship came to rest, Rob Stellar could be seen standing with his usual entourage awaiting the visitor fro Arahsi. The platform lowered as two security droids exited the craft taking guard on each side of the platform. Cierra Dawn then made her exit and walked down the platform and approached Stellar and shook his hand…

“Good morning Mister Stellar. I apologize for the surprise visit but we have been making several personnel changes within Arahsi Incorporated and several of our records were misplaced. I had come across a record of the ship we ordered from you that we forgot to pick up upon completion. I am here to claim the vessel Mister Stellar and seeing that you are here, we can discuss further dealings between our companies to continue our partnership.”

Cierra then looked around the hangar with a rather blank and unemotional expression on her face…

“Shall we go to the usual meeting room Mister Stellar?” she said as a hint of a smile crossed Cierra's face.

Cierra waited for his reply while, back up the platform, a dark shadow was watching the proceedings. The shadow took no action, just merely observed before disappearing back inside the yacht.[/FONT]

Rob Stellar was a very business, but he always found some time to spend by himself. It these in these few precious moments that all Rob could think of was Cierra. The woman had come into his life out of no where and had captured his heart.

He was really worried about her after there had been reports of a murder at a Tyre restaurant. Rob had sent people to investigate, but all traces had vanished and it seemed like nothing had really happened. What he knew for certain, however, was that he had not seen Cierra for a long time. She had not even tried to contact him.

Because of this fact, it seemed strange to him that she arrived so unannounced to Belgaroth. Rob let the fact slip away as he hurried towards the hanger in all his excitement of seeing this lovely woman again. He got there just in time to see the ship land and a woman start to descend down the ramp.

Rob smiled brightly, hoping to find Cierra's warm smile greeting him back, but what he was saw a slightly different look. It was not just the look either, Cierra looked different some how. It seemed that everything about her had changed slightly.

His heart sank as she spoke and called him Mister. What had happened? Rob thought to himself. Everything seemed so strange to him at the moment.

"Miss placed? But you have been here before Cierra and seen the ship for yourself. I'm sure you would have remembered." He told her as he looked upon with curiosity.

She spoke almost like a droid in some moments.

"Um.. of course, the meeting room. Please come this way. The ship has been ready for a few days now." He turned towards the exit and motioned Cierra forward.

"How was Tyre? Has everything been alright?" He asked her while they moved to the end of the hanger.

[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Cierra listened as Rob replied; "Misplaced? But you have been here before Cierra and seen the ship for yourself. I'm sure you would have remembered."

“Why certainly I do Mister Stellar. I apologize as my workload has distracted me from several details of our last visit” Cierra quickly responded. There would be information gaps yes, but Cierra was able to compensate for them when they would arise.

"How was Teyr? Has everything been alright?"

“Everything has been fine Mister Stellar. The astromech facility is once again operational after some minor reorganizing. We have already begun to see profit in our investments.”

The rest of the trip to the meeting room remained silent. Cierra could see Rob seemed somewhat confused but did not understand why. As they entered the meeting room, Cierra placed her briefcase down and sat in one of the many chairs. “Is there something wrong Mister Stellar? You seem a bit preoccupied.”

Getting back to business, Cierra opened her briefcase and retrieved a data pad from it which she then passed over to Stellar. “We require the manufacturing of several Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptors. We would also like to acquire the machinery for manufacturing these type of vessels as well. We have planty of space available in out Teyr facility and also have to ability to expand if necessary. Can you assist us in these areas Mister Stellar?”

Cierra watched Stellar look over the data pad yet still seemed a bit distracted…[/FONT]

Rob nodded as he listened to Cierra speak, but much about her had changed over the time they had been apart. It preoccupied his mind more than he would have liked to admit. He did not know what had happened, but something must have. Cierra seemed a different person. She was still beautiful and striking as ever, however, different...

"I'm glad everything is going well for you." Rob smiled slowly and looked over at Cierra, snapping back into reality. "Cierra, please call me Rob. You know I don't like the formal titles."

Rob smiled and laughed gently as he reached to take the data pad and studied its contents. He had seen the interceptor she wanted before. It had been found in the Teyr facility.

"Yes, of course we could do that. Some retooling would be needed, but we could manufacture a few samples. After completion that same equipment could simply be delivered to your Teyr complex and installed." He stopped at the exit door and let the system scan them both for weapons and explosives before letting them in after everything checked out.

"Please, this way. We can figure everything out." He turned to look Cierra in the eyes and smiled. "Would you care to see the ship first?"

[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Cierra politely returned the smile…

“Of course Mister…” Cierra briefly hesitated; “…Rob, I would be pleased to see the ship.”

Cierra silently followed Stellar as she remained silent for much of the walk. Along the way, she observed her surroundings, examining every detail as she was trained to do. She had to be cautious and alert since dealing with outsiders was risky. The trust Ishara had built up dealing with Stellar in the past was the primary reason he was chosen to deal with again now. Once this transaction was completed, the Nightsisters would be in a far better position to acquire such resources internally.

As they had almost reached where the ship was being kept, Cierra broke her silence…

“It is essential we have the machinery installed and operational as soon as possible along with six completed fighters. What sort of timeline do you anticipate?”[/FONT]

Rob thought for a moment as they walked, pausing before a large section of the wall. A section that seemed to be a slight shade of color different from the rest of the surrounding wall. He turned to look at Cierra before speaking.

"It could take two days in the least to convert the equipment. That said, everything should be completed within a week and some. This would be a custom job and those take the most time to complete." He smiled before pressing his hand against the wall.

A scanner in that section scanned his hand and once approved the wall section quietly slid open, slowly revealing a large customized freighter behind it. The ship had been completed and was ready for launch. Inside its big belly the requested fighter sat, waiting as well.

"Here she is, ready and waiting."

[FONT=Palatino Linotype]"It could take two days in the least to convert the equipment. That said, everything should be completed within a week and some. This would be a custom job and those take the most time to complete."

Cierra smiled, "Very well, one week. I hope you can push your people to make this deadline."

Stellar access a panel and the two entered the hangar where the ship was waiting. "Here she is, ready and waiting" Stellar said to Cierra. Cierra walked in and looked around the outside of the freighter. It met the expectations which were drawn out upon the origianl order. She then entered the vessel and began to further inspect the work. Everything seemed in order so Cierra walked back down the ramp.

"Your people did a nice job on the ship. I have a few droids on our yacht that will pilot the ship to its destination."

Cierra then looked at the time, "I will retire for the day. I have quarters available on my ship which are very comfortable and which I prefer."

Cierra then began to head back to the hangar door to begin the walk back to where her ship had docked. "Please check with your people to ensure the one week deadline can be met. I will follow up with you in the morning?"[/FONT]

Rob had nothing to say to her comment. It seemed that Cierra has completely changed. She acted much differently than she had used to and the feelings both had shared only weeks before were no where to be seen.

As she walked away quickly, Rob could only watch her back and mutter "Yes, tomorrow."

With his mind racing he turned slowly and moved towards his own quarters. What could have happened? The person before him had seemed to be Cierra, but perhaps it was not. He made a quick mental note to have his people look into what happened on Tyer.

[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Cierra retired to the confines and security of the Arahsi Star Yacht. It was the only place where Cierra could go without being monitored by any of SE’s known security devices. It was also there that the Nightsister Aliya, who accompanied Cierra here for additional protection, waited for her return.

“Was everything you hoped to accomplish completed My Sister?”

Cierra hesitated. “For the most part, yes. Once we have the machinery we require in our possession, everything will be accomplished successfully.”

“Did you sense any suspicion on his part?”

“With Rob Stellar, there is always suspicion as Ishara indicated before we left. So far what has been programmed into my mind has seemed to work successfully. We can only hope the same luck will continue.” Cierra then smirked, “Remember, this man dealt with Ishara and Lexus who both became Nightsisters not long after they met.”

Aliya nodded in agreement.

Cierra then began to head to her quarters. “I will retire for the evening My Sister.”

Aliya bowed as Cierra took her leave. “Yes My Sister.” She then knelt on the floor and began to focus her energies through meditation.

Cierra entered her quarters and undressed. She then rested upon the bed and began to get lost in thought. She was fully aware of the delicate nature of this deal with SE. The Nightsisters could not be exposed at any cost and it was Cierra's job to ensure it did not happen.





Cierra rose early the next morning, anxious to finish the first phase of the deal with Stellar. Once he was detected outside, Cierra opened the airlock doors and walked down the ramp.

“Good morning Rob. I hope you had an agreeable evening.”

Cierra then walked at Stellar’s side as he led the way. "The payment to Stellar Enterprises was transferred last evening which I'm sure you have already been notified of."

Cierra looked up at Stellar...

“Is the deadline we agreed upon yesterday manageable?” Cierra asked with a smile.[/FONT]

Rob met Cierra and smiled as she walked down. He was very glad that she called him Rob and nodded at her comment. "Yes everything was received, thank you very much. The date will work out, I can assure you. Modification of the equipment has already begun.

He walked with Cierra towards the door slowly. "Would you care to join me for dinner?"