"We'll see about that," Niox said. Niox took the card and walked away without looking at it. When he was out of their view he put it in is old datapad and punched up the data and started to read it. His jaw dropped. It was a full technical readout of his ship. He could not believe it. He went back to his docking bay to change and take a shower. Then he would head over to docking bay 38.
The suffering of endless knowledge (Open)
The sonic shower eased Niox's muscles, and he relished the feeling as the dirt and sweat disintegrated. He put on new clothes, grabbed his blaster and left the ship. He made his way over to Docking Bay 38. He went up to the guard and said, "My name is Niox, I'm looking for the Admiral."
---Docking Bay 38---
The Guard Niox was speaking to looked him over for a moment, then remembered the file on the man that Admiral Blackkon(the men insisted on calling him that still, though he discouraged it) had sent over a short while before. Nodding his head, he began to speak. "Ahh yes, Niox. Admiral Blackkon sent orders regarding what to do when you arrived a little while ago. Follow me please."
He checked to make sure his vibrosword, an item all of Blackkon's men carried, in reference to the name the fighter pilots had taken for the unit, "Blackkon's Blades", was stowed properly in it's scabbard across his back. He then pulled his blaster from it's holster on his thigh and handed it to the nearest fellow guard, as the customs agents had asked them to leave blasters in the hanger area. As he did so he reported his actions, "I'm taking him to the Admiral. I'll check in when I drop him off, and bring back something to eat." Thinking of his men stuck on duty, Arthorn had specifically stated that this was to be allowed, to keep them alert, rather than thinking about food.
The guard motioned for Niox to fall in behind him as he began walking. The left the hanger complex, making thier way down the street, making thier way back towards the arena Niox had left not too long before. Just before arriving there again they turned, heading down another road, to the large hotel complex closest to the arena. Blackkon had reserved the majority of the hotel weeks in advanced, and all of his men were rooming there while on shore leave. The guard led Niox into the turbolift, and off it shot, up to the penthouse level. Blackkon's room was there, and the guard had been provided with a passcard at the front desk. He led Niox into the front room.
There the young smuggler beheld an incredible landscape. The room itself was very large, the furnishings very fine. The kicker of all though was the view. The entire back wall was transparisteel, providing a landscape view that easily cleared the massive shockboxing arena to view first the city, then the land beyond. Stars twinkled and speeders shot back and fourth, adding to the spectacle. While Niox watched, a voice called out from the silence. "Good evening Mr. Niox. It's good to see you once again."
Blackkon stood behind him, in the doorway to the kitchen, holding a glass with a fizzing drink in one hand. "Would you like something to drink, perhaps eat before we talk?"
The Guard Niox was speaking to looked him over for a moment, then remembered the file on the man that Admiral Blackkon(the men insisted on calling him that still, though he discouraged it) had sent over a short while before. Nodding his head, he began to speak. "Ahh yes, Niox. Admiral Blackkon sent orders regarding what to do when you arrived a little while ago. Follow me please."
He checked to make sure his vibrosword, an item all of Blackkon's men carried, in reference to the name the fighter pilots had taken for the unit, "Blackkon's Blades", was stowed properly in it's scabbard across his back. He then pulled his blaster from it's holster on his thigh and handed it to the nearest fellow guard, as the customs agents had asked them to leave blasters in the hanger area. As he did so he reported his actions, "I'm taking him to the Admiral. I'll check in when I drop him off, and bring back something to eat." Thinking of his men stuck on duty, Arthorn had specifically stated that this was to be allowed, to keep them alert, rather than thinking about food.
The guard motioned for Niox to fall in behind him as he began walking. The left the hanger complex, making thier way down the street, making thier way back towards the arena Niox had left not too long before. Just before arriving there again they turned, heading down another road, to the large hotel complex closest to the arena. Blackkon had reserved the majority of the hotel weeks in advanced, and all of his men were rooming there while on shore leave. The guard led Niox into the turbolift, and off it shot, up to the penthouse level. Blackkon's room was there, and the guard had been provided with a passcard at the front desk. He led Niox into the front room.
There the young smuggler beheld an incredible landscape. The room itself was very large, the furnishings very fine. The kicker of all though was the view. The entire back wall was transparisteel, providing a landscape view that easily cleared the massive shockboxing arena to view first the city, then the land beyond. Stars twinkled and speeders shot back and fourth, adding to the spectacle. While Niox watched, a voice called out from the silence. "Good evening Mr. Niox. It's good to see you once again."
Blackkon stood behind him, in the doorway to the kitchen, holding a glass with a fizzing drink in one hand. "Would you like something to drink, perhaps eat before we talk?"
It took Niox a moment to recover from the gorgeous sight before answering. Even smugglers could be amazed by beauty. Niox turned to Blackkon and said, "I wouldn't mind a good Corellian brandy, if you have any. May I ask how you got the technical readouts of a personally designed and cutomized ship? I told those fools on Cloud City to destroy the blueprints when construction was complete. If those plans are all over the galaxy, my ship is worthless." He took a deep breath and gazed out the window at the beautiful and serene sight. The beauty helped him relax, and cooled his temper. He took a deep breath and asked in a more controlled tone, "Now, after you answer the first question, may I ask why you are so interested in me?" Niox glanced around the room and took in his surroundings. Luckily he was highly skilled at unarmed combat, because he could see no weapons around if he came upon the need of one.
Blackkon chuckled out loud. "Ahh yes, Niox the Corellian smuggler. The best kind I must say. Of course I have some brandy, Whyren's Reserve of course, and a good year." He backed up a step while saying this, and poured half a small glass of the alcohol, without ice of course. Just how it was supposed to be drank. Blackkon himself wasn't a drinker, but etiquette of many worlds was one of the things he prided himself in. Of course, Corellia was his homeworld as well, so it wasn't difficult.
He handed the smuggler his drink, seeing his duffel in the corner of his eye as he saw Niox expertly looking for weapons. It wasn't an issue, Blackkon would soon calm the slightly younger man's nerves. The career naval officer motioned Niox to sit, while he himself took his place in an overstuffed banthahide chair, extremely comfortable. He set his drink on the short glass table between the two Corellians. "Now I'll answer your questions, if just to calm your nerves."
"First, I should introduce myself. My name is Arthorn Blackkon, and I like you am Corellian. You may have heard of me, most Corellians have as I've earned the Bloodstripes three times as you can see. Long ago I served CorSec, where I earned them the first time. After that I served a number of other places, including CSA and an unfortunate stint with the Hapans. Most recently, and my favorite stint, was with the New Alliance, now a part of the New Republic."
Arthorn gave this a second to sink in, while he took another drink from his glass. A non-drinker, Blackkon was hopelessly addicted to the carbonated dark liquid, the "Eclipse" had entire cargo rooms full of the stuff. Then he continued. "Now for your first question. I know much more than just the schematics of your ship, such as your entire background. Another such thing I know is that your ship wasn't built at Bespin. I know these things because the people that built it are friends of mine, and I have many other contacts."
"Don't worry though, I'm the only one with those plans now, and the only copy is locked away safely in my head. As for my intrest, I'm simply impressed. You successfully made a Tiabanna run, something that has become more and more difficult as of late, and to help my friends no less. The ship design as well was impressive, I do believe you got just about everything you could out of that ship. Very nice."
"But in the end, I seek you out as a fellow Corellian. You've impressed me and I'd like you to join me. My men and I have been wandering the spacelanes for some months now, and I have a strong feeling that things are about to change, something big is on the horizon. The question is Mr. Niox, will you be a part of it?"
He handed the smuggler his drink, seeing his duffel in the corner of his eye as he saw Niox expertly looking for weapons. It wasn't an issue, Blackkon would soon calm the slightly younger man's nerves. The career naval officer motioned Niox to sit, while he himself took his place in an overstuffed banthahide chair, extremely comfortable. He set his drink on the short glass table between the two Corellians. "Now I'll answer your questions, if just to calm your nerves."
"First, I should introduce myself. My name is Arthorn Blackkon, and I like you am Corellian. You may have heard of me, most Corellians have as I've earned the Bloodstripes three times as you can see. Long ago I served CorSec, where I earned them the first time. After that I served a number of other places, including CSA and an unfortunate stint with the Hapans. Most recently, and my favorite stint, was with the New Alliance, now a part of the New Republic."
Arthorn gave this a second to sink in, while he took another drink from his glass. A non-drinker, Blackkon was hopelessly addicted to the carbonated dark liquid, the "Eclipse" had entire cargo rooms full of the stuff. Then he continued. "Now for your first question. I know much more than just the schematics of your ship, such as your entire background. Another such thing I know is that your ship wasn't built at Bespin. I know these things because the people that built it are friends of mine, and I have many other contacts."
"Don't worry though, I'm the only one with those plans now, and the only copy is locked away safely in my head. As for my intrest, I'm simply impressed. You successfully made a Tiabanna run, something that has become more and more difficult as of late, and to help my friends no less. The ship design as well was impressive, I do believe you got just about everything you could out of that ship. Very nice."
"But in the end, I seek you out as a fellow Corellian. You've impressed me and I'd like you to join me. My men and I have been wandering the spacelanes for some months now, and I have a strong feeling that things are about to change, something big is on the horizon. The question is Mr. Niox, will you be a part of it?"
He was impressed with both of the Corellians, as well as the other man who had come upon them, nodding to both. He stepped back inside, after sending the other smuggler to find that docking bay, perhaps arathorn would be able to employ him. He went back to the company of the barabel, people he felt more at home with than humans, but it was the nature of the world, he was going over the logs that he had written from before, and was starting to piece things back together.
He went into a meditation, his eyes closed. He felt something, something closing in around him, something cold, something dark. He awoke from his meditation, a cold sweat covering him. He rose to his feet immediately, using a computer nearby to link in with the one in his office at the monastery. he downloaded some information, then closed teh access off, walking quietly to that docking bay.
He went into a meditation, his eyes closed. He felt something, something closing in around him, something cold, something dark. He awoke from his meditation, a cold sweat covering him. He rose to his feet immediately, using a computer nearby to link in with the one in his office at the monastery. he downloaded some information, then closed teh access off, walking quietly to that docking bay.
"Friends of yours, eh?" Niox said roughly and took a sip of his drink while noting that Blackkon opted for what looked to Niox like a non-alcoholic beverage, "I thought those people looked like they had connections." Niox took another sip, he drank like a civilized man which was a rare occurance with smugglers. "Well, I'm a little out of the loop now, and any Corellian with bloodstripes is ok by me. The fact that you've earned them three times amazes me, it has been a lifelong dream for me to earn them," Niox closed his mouth sharply and cursed at himself. He didn't know this man, he had no reason to give any information the man might not have, which didn't seem to be much. "Anyways," Niox said, "as I was saying, I've been out of the loop for a while and you seem like a civilized but resourceful gentleman. Tell me what you propose, and perhaps we will soon be comrades."
He stepped quietly through the doorway, looking at Arathorn and the other, the smuggler that was working with him at the moment, wondering where Lohan disappeared off to. He set the small datacard on the table, sliding it across to Arathorn.
"I think i will have need of your services to move a great deal of cargo within the next few days. I've a feeling that something will make this world unpleasant for me and mine, and i would like to move them.....to the planet listed on that datacard.....in exchange for this, i would be willing to allow you use of it as a base of operations in addition to the contacts listed, this should allow you to get a few more things that you are as of now, unable to...."
He sat down.....resting....eyes obviously troubled......" I have seen trouble on the horizon.......there is a darkness.....looming....that may destroy what i have tried to build here......i will try to thwart it as best i can....."
"I think i will have need of your services to move a great deal of cargo within the next few days. I've a feeling that something will make this world unpleasant for me and mine, and i would like to move them.....to the planet listed on that datacard.....in exchange for this, i would be willing to allow you use of it as a base of operations in addition to the contacts listed, this should allow you to get a few more things that you are as of now, unable to...."
He sat down.....resting....eyes obviously troubled......" I have seen trouble on the horizon.......there is a darkness.....looming....that may destroy what i have tried to build here......i will try to thwart it as best i can....."
OOC: Agh, I was three lines from done with my reply and I dropped my mouse and the thing was deleted. Here's the quick version of it, including getting Dante to the hotel and my reply to Niox
IC:
---Dante goes to docking bay, guard recognizes him and brings him to hotel, knocking before opening the door to allow him in.
---Meanwhile, Blackkon answers Niox's question, going over some of his background in the time he's been out of the galactic spotlight. Such as:
-His distaste with galactic politics, galactic leaders, and thier beliefs, originally spawned by how the New Alliance was forced to join the New Republic
-Distaste continued to grow as he watched things from the outside, and he decided to take action.
-Blackkon has been gathering those with similar beliefs, of which a large portion are smugglers, bounty hunters, and other "criminal types", who've taken to thier lives to escape such occurances.
-Asks Niox to join him, telling him his involvement is only as much as he wants, and his gains will be much more. The datacard with the info on him and his ship is to prove that Blackkon is telling the truth.
---Dante enters and speaks, his post occurs here.
---Blackkon reads the information on the card, commiting it to memory, and replies.
---He understands Dante's feelings, as well as the benefits of what he asks.
---Three months of the seven Blackkon had spent away were tracking down the planet listed on the datacard, and his men had just begun building the neccesary buildings for a base there when he and the "Eclipse" left to come here.
---Turns to Niox regarding the cargo question. "Well Niox, if your willing that will be part of your first assignment. Your ship will be able to hold vast numbers of what Dante needs, mine should be able to help as well.
IC:
---Dante goes to docking bay, guard recognizes him and brings him to hotel, knocking before opening the door to allow him in.
---Meanwhile, Blackkon answers Niox's question, going over some of his background in the time he's been out of the galactic spotlight. Such as:
-His distaste with galactic politics, galactic leaders, and thier beliefs, originally spawned by how the New Alliance was forced to join the New Republic
-Distaste continued to grow as he watched things from the outside, and he decided to take action.
-Blackkon has been gathering those with similar beliefs, of which a large portion are smugglers, bounty hunters, and other "criminal types", who've taken to thier lives to escape such occurances.
-Asks Niox to join him, telling him his involvement is only as much as he wants, and his gains will be much more. The datacard with the info on him and his ship is to prove that Blackkon is telling the truth.
---Dante enters and speaks, his post occurs here.
---Blackkon reads the information on the card, commiting it to memory, and replies.
---He understands Dante's feelings, as well as the benefits of what he asks.
---Three months of the seven Blackkon had spent away were tracking down the planet listed on the datacard, and his men had just begun building the neccesary buildings for a base there when he and the "Eclipse" left to come here.
---Turns to Niox regarding the cargo question. "Well Niox, if your willing that will be part of your first assignment. Your ship will be able to hold vast numbers of what Dante needs, mine should be able to help as well.
Niox was confused by himself. He had never trusted easily, yet here he was with a man he barely knew and he trusted him. Niox wasn't sure yet if he liked this difference, but said, "I'm in. Tell me what you want me to do, and it will be done."