Ask Corporate Homecoming

[Nahri Nalju]

NalTech HQ || Bilbringi, Inner Rim

House Nalju may have been one of Serenno's crown jewels, but Bilbringi was where they had made their home for decades. The planet was where metal, mind, and hard labor met to birth ships. The Bilbringi ship depot was nothing like Kuat Drive Yards or the infamous shipyards at Fondor, but Vex's father had always imagined that it might one day rival them, if nurtured enough. Of course, he died before he could see that dream through.

Vex cared nothing about dreams. But, in this case, her father's suited her. It gave Nahri, her mask, the name the man had given her at birth, a reason to be back on Bilbringi. The company was simply a vehicle to power. But she needed to get it back first. The corporate coup that had separated her father from his life had been kind enough to leave her trust fund intact. It was hard to cut off a Serenno noble's paycheck, after all. But it had also severed her ability to inherit the company when she came of age. So now, other tactics would be needed.

She waited on the landing pad outside NalTech's Bilbringi headquarters, the flaps of her white dress billowing in the strong headwinds. It had become easy to slip back into Nahri's skin after all these years away. She remembered her father's etiquette training, clasping her hands in front of her as a stateswoman might when awaiting an important guest. Her face was perfectly neutral. The shadow within was well hidden. It would need to be, for her guest today was none other than a candidate for the Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic.

A valuable ally, perhaps. If he won his election.

Vex only tangentially kept tabs on New Republic politics; but now was as good a time as ever to learn. She would need all the political capitol she could get if she was to retake her corporate throne. @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

The shuttle slowly glided through the sky, white clouds gave way to the beauty of the planet beneath, pockets of sunshine glinted off the surface. It was truly a sight to behold, it was a shame then that Alexander Xerxes did not see it, as it had been since the Chancellorship race began. The Hynestian Prince’s nose was firmly buried in forms and data, the race was going well. If he could put money on it, he had won, but a single misstep this close could still cost him.

One of the stewardesses walked up to him, catching his attention as she removed the empty glass from his table. “Senator, we are starting the landing procedure.” Alexander looked up towards the smiling Twi’Lek. “Thank you.” He replied, closing the holo terminal in front of him, he prepared himself for the landing. His mind slowly switched away from the work of the Present to that of the Future.

Alexander had learned through the few contacts he still had within the Sith, that there was another similar to him who had a public face to mirror their stance within the Sith Order. An Sereenian Heiress, with a substantial fortune behind her name, but that was not the reason he had chosen to meet this woman, no. It was what she was a Heiress of, NalTech, a small Starship manufacturer with ambitions of growing to compete with some of the greats of the galaxy.

The company was already well established upon the planet of Bilbringi, just on the borders of the New Republic and Free World Alliance. A strategic location which will be of use in the future for both Alexander and the Republic.

The Hynestian had already made contact with the women through his guise as a Sith. Informing her that he saw Vex regaining control of the company was not only her birthright but something which could help both their futures. The Sith she only knew as XII, had informed her that he had political contacts within the Republic who could help in the front end, whilst he helped in the back.

Thus Alexander arrived upon the planet, gazing out of the window just in time to miss the beauty of the landscape as it was taken over by the grey steel of NalTech’s headquarters.

A few minutes later, the shuttle had landed and Alexander departed. Stepping out of the ship the gold thread on his suit caught in the sunlight as he approached Nahri who stood near the edge of the landing pad, her beautiful dress flowing in the wind. “Madame Nalju, it is a pleasure to meet you.” He said, holding out his hand. If she took it he would kiss the back of it gently before letting go.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Standing before the Senator and Prince of Hynestia, Vex got the measure of the man who was heir apparent to Emil Ro's Chancellory. She had not been back in the mainstream galaxy long enough to have experienced Ro's leadership of the Republic, but she had certainly heard about the man during her training, particularly the way he had pestered the Sith at Denon. She had never heard Ro referred to as charming. If anything, he was considered somewhat of an ass. But Prince Xerxes was different. Regal, almost.

She held out her hand in greeting and he kissed the back of her palm, prompting a tight smile from her. "The pleasure is mine, Your Highness," she said, deferring to his princely title. It felt more appropriate than 'Senator.' "Though perhaps I should get used to referring to you as Chancellor. My aides have told me your campaign back in the Republic is on course for a victory."

One such aide stood at her back. A bald woman in essentric clothing with a silent but piercing gaze. Ranami was more of a handmaiden than anything else, or at least that is what she appeared to be. In reality, she was a Sith cultist. Another clever disguise. Not Force-sensitive, but the woman had her uses, loyalty and blind obedience chief among them.

Ranami tapped away at a datapad before leaning in and whispering something into Vex's ear. She smiled again pleasantly with Nahri's features. "It would appear they are ready for us. This way."

Vex had arranged a tour of the facility for Prince Xerxes. It was one of the things she could do in her limited position. With any luck, she would soon have a great deal more flexibility. Entering, a cluster of suited workers of a variety of species scattered out of their paths. Ranami walked ahead of them like a sentinel, until they came to a locked door Vex had to use a keycard to open. Behind it was a catwalk over an assembly line where various ship parts were being made by droids. NalTech didn't produce starcruisers and Star Destroyers. These days, its shipwright subsidiary merely produced custom orders for wealthy clients. But Vex saw opportunity for change. Under her leadership, the company could be so much more.

At the other end of the catwalk was a small, unused and poorly air-conditioned meeting room. The only place she could be certain was unbugged. "We can speak freely here, Your Highness," she said at last. "The board does not wish for my return. After all, they seized this company from my father. But I've kept my mouth shut about their crimes until now. So, they're content to let me come and go so long as I don't interfere with whatever plans they have." She offered him a seat at the end of a long table, then took one of her own at the opposite end. "There will be a tour later, if you please. But for now, I must thank you again for agreeing to this meeting. You must have many questions for me. Shall we start there?" @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Alexander was pleased that Nahri allowed him to take her hand and place a gentle kiss on it. She greeted him by his princely title, it was rarely used outside of Hynestia proper so it sounded a little strange to him in a different accent. A chuckle escaped his lips when she mentioned the Chancellorship. “Please, Your Highness is my brother. And I would rather not count my Porg’s before they hatch. We can just stick with Alexander for today.” He said with a smile before following both Nahri and her attendant into the facility.

The great steel fortress which was one of NalTech’s main production facilities quickly overtook the sun as he stepped closer to the building. Finally engulfed in its magnitude, he always marvelled at buildings of this size. Strange considering he now primarily lived on Coruscant, but growing up on Hynestia where buildings were often small to preserve heat this was still a sight for him.

The sounds of machinery filled his ears, the smell of hot metal his nose as they walked through to the small meeting room Nahri had arranged for them. As she gave him a small breakdown of her situation Alexander moved around the table and took a seat opposite the door. “Well I do look forward to the tour.” He began, crossing his legs and placing his hands on the table. “Our ‘mutual’ friend informed me that some of these crimes involved actions within Republic Space. I hope you understand that I can only act on those committed there, anything which happened directly here on Bibringi I do not have jurisdiction over. However I am not sure how even with a few of these board members behind bars you can look to seize full control of the company? And if you do, what are your plans with NalTech Miss Nalju?”

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

So, it was 'Miss' now, was it?

Vex smiled with Nahri's lips. Even behind the mask, she found Alexander charming. Even his name was pleasant to say. It rolled right off the tongue, and sounded even more regal in her accent. How much of it was a politician's practice or genuine, she could not be sure. But two could play the game he was playing. He was gauging her. Sizing her up. Determining her worth. Now, it was her turn to do the same. Perhaps she would find out how their 'mutual' friend came to be so mutual in the process. She nodded for Ranami to step outside and keep watch and didn't speak again until her aide was gone.

"My father, mother, and sister's deaths were planned," she confessed when they were alone. "The men and women who occupy the board now are former heads of NalTech's various subsidiaries. Or were. Most of their projects were shut down and folded into research and development or archives after my father deemed them failures. So, they had him and the rest of my family kidnapped and taken into Republic space to be executed." She leaned over the table and steepled her fingers. "I believe they were paid to do so by our competitors in the Republic. Fondor, for instance, has fallen under a particularly ruthless monarchy in the past few decades. I don't have any proof of this last bit, of course, but the writing could not be clearer to me. Only a competitor could have benefited from the direction this company has taken since my father's demise."

She did her best to sound the bitter, beguiled daughter Nahri was. Without evidence, it would be impossible for Alexander to arrest the men and women responsible. She knew this. Even if he were Supreme Chancellor, corporate interests still dominated much the Core. His hands would be tied. But that was only true if the two of them were playing fair with the men and women behind this plot. And she was strongly beginning to suspect they were not.

Vex straightened her back and allowed a small grin to crawl across her face. This was Nahri's way of signaling that she was not as much on the back foot as it seemed. She had a plan. "Ever since my return, there has been talk by the board of taking the company public. I suspect this is to prevent me from invoking Serenno's inheritance laws to reclaim my father's titles and positions, which would give me all the political leverage I need to pressure them into returning my company to me. What they don't know is that I have no interest in the nobility. My place is here on Bilbringi. With the fortune my House commands, I could easily buy up enough shares to regain ownership of the company. But this I suspect they do know. There will be an attempt on my life to stop me."

This the Force had told her, but she kept that part to herself. Nahri Nalju was not known to be Force-sensitive, nor prone to premonitions. She had to play it off as simple business smarts. And the ruse was believable enough. It didn't take much for anyone to see why the board would want her dead.

"If somehow they fail," she continued, "I would restore the company to its former glory. I would reengage in arms development and warship production. The shipyards here on Bilbringi would be a good enough start. And perhaps," Here, she let slip part of her true intentions, a morsel to see how he might react, "it would then be time to look to expanding my horizons. I hear the Republic is a lovely environment for rich shipwrights like myself." @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Alexander's eyes never left the business woman's Sith as her assistant left the room. He was watching her for any signs of her true self, would anger or rage lash out to control the women. She did not know Alexander’s true identity so she may try the tricks of the ‘trade’ on the Hynestian, so his eyes had to be focused, not to avoid the tricks but to avoid the chance his true identity would be revealed.

“Those are strong implications, Miss Nalju.” He replied, Alexander didn't reply about him not being able to arrest on suspicion, the woman was far too smart to know that wouldn't work. “Why don’t you enact Sereenian inheritance law? That can be pushed through much quicker than placing the company on the Stock Market. I understand the lack of interest within the Nobility of the planet, it has been in near constant upheaval since the rise of the Wessex family and its near immediate fall theirafter. But the pros seem to outweigh the cons unless I am missing something?”

He assumed that one of the cons she was weighing was that tying herself to Serenno also meant tying herself to the Sith, or at least their government. But remember Alexander had to play a little dumb here. “I would assume with friends like ‘ours’ your life is in safe hands Miss Nalju.” He continued, a smirk rose on his face as conversations turned to the real reasoning for their meeting.

“I hope to nurture the environment of the New Republic to one that benefits all who wish to achieve more. Especially those who wish to advance the technology of the galaxy, be it peaceful or not. I hope that our Government will one day be a beacon of technological advancement in all fields, from starships to food production, turbolasers to bacta tanks.”

“However I would point out that even if you survive this assisnation attempt. Regain control of your company and begin to build ships. Bilbringi falls within the Free World Alliance, although we can secure purchase contracts, it will be limited by inter-government tithes which of course will reduce any purchasing power we can afford. Especially with rival companies like Fondor and Kuat within our borders.”

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Nahri smiled diplomatically. Inwardly, Vex was impressed. Alexander was indeed a master politician. Everything he said was subtext. Beneath all the noncommittal jargon, his true ambitions were laid bare. He knew as well as she did that all red tape could be subverted with the right application of will. And if it could not be subverted, then a pair of significantly sized scissors could also do the trick. She leaned back in her chair.

"Of course, of course," she said with a dismissive wave. "You must forgive the musings of an ambitious woman, Alexander. Sometimes, my heart gets ahead of my head." She said this knowing that none of it was true. She had considered the Free Worlds Alliance. And as for their 'mutual' friends, Vex didn't know who his was, but the Sith she served certainly wouldn't raise a finger to stop her assassination. For Sith, it was survival of the fittest. Not that she minded. The ability to kill one's own assassins was particularly thrilling. "Naturally, these days," she went on, "political boarders are being redrawn all the time. Rivals who appear formidable one day disappear the next."

She paused, and the smile that had danced on her face for most of the conversation disappeared behind a stern wall. "I will have my company back, Senator. And when I do, I will need allies in and out of the Alliance to grow my business. Kuat and Fondor are waning. They represent the old order, whereas you and I... Well, forgive me for being presumptuous and seeing a kinship between us two strangers, but I believe that we represent a new vision for the Republic and the galaxy. It stands to reason you would also need allies to make your ambitions a reality."

She fell then upon a question she had not considered asking at first. So far, this whole conversation had been about her. Securing his support for her. For her hostile takeover of her own company. It was her Sith training speaking, and the corporate wisdom her father had passed onto her before he died. Everyone who wanted to stand atop the masses needed to be at least a little selfish. But Nahri Nalju could be something Vex could not be. She could appear compassionate. Understanding. She could show interest in another person's wants and needs.

"So, let me reframe this conversation slightly." She reached across the table and placed her hand lightly atop his. "What do you need from me? Once I've gained control over my company again, of course." @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

“Please muse away, there are too many people within this galaxy who lack ambition. We need ambitious people like yourself otherwise we will never advance beyond our current limitations.” He replied, a smug feeling growing inside him for that little quip. But it was true, the lack of ambition within the Republic is much of the reason for its downfall. The Sith were bred to be ambitious and it had gotten them an Empire. Emryc Thorne was the same, his ambition had birthed a new Empire in all but name under his feet.

“No need to forgive, comparison with such a beautiful woman is only a compliment.” He replied with a grin as she continued. The small faded slightly as the questioning slowly turned around on himself, he didn't grimace or show anger, no, it was the face of a man who was contemplating his answer. There was much to consider in his reply, the actual reply for one, also as much as she claimed the room was not bugged, he could not be sure and what he wanted was well not seen in the best light. Especially if wind of it got out before the election. Finally any word or request he was to give, had to be seen as coming from a scheming politician, not the mind of a Sith.

“I desire ambitious people like yourself around me. For only those with ambition can help me fulfil my dream of a Grand New Republic unrivalled by all that came before.” Interlinking his fingers he rested his hands on his knee. “However, as I said, Bilbringi sits on the other side of the border from the New Republic, so bringing such a remarkable woman as yourself into my inner circle would be near impossible, without a change.” He finished with a smirk.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Finally, an accord.

Bringing Bilbringi into the Republic would be no small task. Even with its proximity to the Republic boarder, the Prime Minister of the Alliance was becoming more proactive as her war with the Sith raged. But there were distractions that could be massaged into the plan to avoid Minister Bellasi's all-seeing-eye. Winning the Bilbringi election would be the easy part. Once Vex made Nahri the planet's Viceroy, she could begin working the planet's populous into a pro-Republic frenzy.

"Then I suppose," Nahri said tacitly, "we will both have to continue being the bringers of change we know each other to be. You win this election of yours, I take back what was taken from me, then whose to say what comes next?"

She had no more than gotten the thought out of her mouth than Ranami burst into the room looking uncharacteristically concerned. She was practically sweating. "I made it very clear that I was not to be disturbed while I was in my meeting," she said, feigning annoyance.

In reality, she had been expecting this interruption at any moment. She had conveniently left it off her schedule for the day who exactly she would be meeting here. The board did not know what she intended. Just that it was her and a guest in a sweaty room in their own headquarters. An 'accident' on the grounds could be covered up. Her plan to have Alexander here when they made their attempt was purposeful. She would not allow him to be harmed. But she needed a Republic witness to this savagery. An ally that could speak on her behalf once the assassins were dead and she had wrested her company back from hostile hands.

"They were very insistent to see you, ma'am," Ranami said. "I don't think they are going to take no for an answer."

Vex made Nahri's face into one of blank composure. She had only just told Alexander about the impending attempt on her life. It wouldn't be a stretch for her to know what was happening. She calmly looked in the Senator's direction. "Senator, perhaps it is best you step outside with Ranami. She can take you on that tour I promised you while I take care of this business."

He would only have moments to consider his next move. Vex's 'guests' wouldn't wait forever. @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

It seems like true political thinkers, both he and Nahri had come to an understanding, figured out what both parties wanted and negotiated a deal without saying anything condemning. He smiled both inwardly and towards the Serennian in acknowledgement of their deal.

However before they were able to lavish in their own brilliance they were disturbed by the handmaiden from before. Alexander raised his eyebrows as the attendant entered the room, obviously flustered by whatever was happening on the other side of the door. He uncrossed his legs and leant forward slightly, annoyance at being interrupted was clearly written across his face, though he knew something else was happening here. Was this the assassination attempt that Nahri spoke off?

No matter if it was or wasn’t Nahri composed herself well, this was something both an excellent politician and an excellent Sith excelled at, pressure. Luckily for them both Nahri was not the only person with these qualities, stepping up from the chair, he added a little confusion into his voice as he responded. “That sounds fantastic, shall we Ranami?”

He moved quickly towards the door, reaching it as two of the men who were insistent on meeting Nahri walked through. They stopped in their tracks as they came face to face with Alexander, his face had been plastered across the Galactic Core for the past several weeks, they would have seen it at least a dozen times. Now would these guns for hire have the brains to put the face in front of them together with the one on the screen?

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Vex stirred beneath Nahri, but was careful not to let her mask slip just yet. She was just as interested in seeing how the men who had come to kill her would react to seeing the candidate for the New Republic's highest office in front of them. Their reactions were as priceless as she had hoped. They didn't completely lose their composure, but the flicker of surprise in the first man's eyes said it all. They hadn't planned for this. Which meant she had the advantage. But she would only have it for a moment.

«Miss Nalju.» A gruff human voice scratched out of the first man's throat. «We have business. Can we have the room?»

Nahri didn't answer immediately. She let them stand there, uncomfortable, second guessing themselves. They were too far into their mission to flee. Would they act right now, in front arguably one of the most well-known men in the Core Worlds? Were they stupid enough to try to add him to their body count? No, too much scrutiny. They would try to get her alone. They had to get her alone.

Vex wasn't worried if they succeeded. She had dressed in the glim and glamor of a Serenno princess. Her white dress shimmered with gold accents and her jewelry glinted every time it caught the light. She looked defenseless, but like the rest of Nahri Nalju, it was a ruse. Her lightsaber was hidden just up her sleeve. She had a few other weapons hidden in plain sight. Of course, the lightsaber would have to wait. She couldn't use that in front of the Senator. But if they got her alone...?

Her mask betrayed not a whiff of these thoughts. Nahri's face was the picture of unbothered. She threaded her fingers together and rested her chin atop them, eyes sparkling with amusement. "You interrupted my meeting with a very important guest, uninvited, and now you want me to shoo him away? For what?"

The first man chanced a look back at his three companions, before turning to face Alexander for the first time. «We're sorry for the interruption, Senator,» he gulped. Then, his gaze was back on her. «I'm afraid we must insist. It's urgent.»

I'm sure it is.

Ranami looked between the three parties more frazzled than Vex had ever seen her. But Nahri only waved in their direction. "The decision is yours, Senator," she said. She had fixed her own gaze on the men and her stare had gone icy. "You're the guest here. Should you choose to go with Ranami... I'll catch up with you, in a minute."

And it really would just be a minute. @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

The men were rough and scruffy to say the least, not assassins just guns for hire from the local guilds. It seemed the men who wanted Nahri killed did not think very highly of her, even though she appeared a princess you would think they would want it done right, not sloppy. Shame for both them and the men in front of him, she was not a princess, far from it.

The sight of Alexander had turned all four men’s brains into overdrive, gone was a simple pull the blaster and spray plan, they now needed to contend with one of the most famous men in the Core. Alexander knew Nahri needed no help in dealing with these men, but he also knew that Nahri didn’t know that he knew she could handle them. Acting was once again the name of the game.

However Alexander was not going to leave Nahri completely alone in her task. “We have completed most of our conversation Miss Nalju, so I believe a tour would be most welcome.” He replied, turning back to look the women in the eye with a smile on his lips. “Excuse me, gentleman.” Alexander said as he moved through the group.

Alexander placed his hand lightly on the shoulder of the first man helping ease him to the side. The Force flowed around the Hynestian, flowing into his body as the Dark Side washed over him without too much effort Alexander latched onto the essence of man. He pulled only slightly, not enough to either be noticed by Nahri, or cause the man to stumble or fall but it would be enough to slow his movements, cloud his vision and give the other Sith a little more edge.

Passing by the first man he tapped the shoulder of another draining him also, before he met Ranami outside the room. “Miss Ranami, lead the way.”

@Mockingjay

 

[Vex]

Vex was thankful.

She no longer had to play nice. The moment Alexander and Ranami were clear of the room, the door latching shut behind them, the mask of Nahri fell away. She did not have the gear she would usually use to conceal herself. Her second skin. Even so, the transformation was immediately apparent. Gone were her brown eyes, flecked with gold. They were replaced with deep red pools, like spilled blood. One of her would-be killers noticed and took a step back. But the door would not open for him. In fact, he would never leave this room again.

A second, though, was much less observant. «You had to bring outsiders into this,» he said. «The higher-ups were clear on their orders. They were even willing to spare the bald chick. But now she's gotta go too. And then we'll figure out what to do about the Senator.»

Vex wasn't surprised they were thinking about how to deal with Alexander. After all, if they were able to get their way, it would be hard to explain the sudden disappearance of the woman who had promised him a tour. But they wouldn't get their way. Vex finally allowed herself to stretch out with the Force, and the lightsaber concealed in her sleeve slid up into her palm.

"You do not know it yet, gentlemen," Vex said. "But this little stunt of yours has just ensured I'll get my father's company back."

The three of them exchanged glances. She used that moment to strike.

The Force launched her across the table, a crimson blade appearing where once there had been only air. By the time the mouthy assassin knew what was happening, he had a hot blade in his chest, burning a hole in his heart. A second man was quick enough to pull his blaster, but not quick enough to shoot it. He lost the hand and then his head in two strokes of her blade. The last backed up against the door, desperately yanking at its handle. Vex held it shut with the Force. She couldn't stab him without her blade appearing through the door. So, she settled for another method of death.

The assassin gasped as his windpipe was pinched shut. He whirled to look at her shocked, and the face he found staring back at him was neither triumphant not creased with anger. Vex's face was blank. She killed him without remorse, without much feeling at all. When the life left him, she exhaled, her mind already turning to how she could spin this. As she did, her eyes returned to normal, her lightsaber winking out and disappearing back up her sleeve, the mask returning to its place. She could decide later.

She slipped out the door, shutting it behind her, and then, with a flick of the Force, engaged the internal lock. She didn't need anyone stumbling on the bodies before she was ready. Then, she set off across the catwalk in search of her guest.

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Nahri found the Senator and Ranami at the far end of the factory floor. This part of the lower floors was used to manufacture droid parts and Ranami was shakily explaining to Alexander about the types of droids NalTech produced. When she caught sight of Nahri coming down the catwalk, she froze. The girl was a Sith cultist, but still had a long way to go before she could exert the type of composure Vex applied to her own mask. Things to work on later.

"My apologies, Senator," she said. "I had hoped our meeting would go uninterrupted. Rest assured, I have seen to it no more interruptions will come our way."

She nodded to Ranami, her signal to leave them alone, and the bald attendant fled the scene. They could not speak as freely here as they could back in the meeting chamber; but that was fine. Most of the important stuff had already been said. Now, Nahri could simply get down to business they could discuss in public.

Though, she did wonder... Did he know what had just happened? Who those men were? Did he suspect where they had gone, what she had done to them?

"Walk with me?" she said, motioning further down the catwalk. "I do not want to leave this matter unsettled before you return to the Republic."

She took him further down, observing the machinery, the workers, the droids as they walked. Soon, all of this would be hers. And when it was, she would be more free to engage in Sith matters. But the mask of Nahri Nalju would always remain important to her. She would need the mask to freely operate within the Alliance, the Republic, and the Consortium. More importantly, the mask would need allies. Politicians to help pull the strings. Alexander was a promising candidate for such an ally. So, now it was time to cut across the subtext and get to the heart of the matter.

"What we discussed earlier will take some time. But I believe there might be a way to help you before that time comes. The Republic's campaign finance laws forbid foreign donations, of course, though that would probably be the most directly beneficial means of supporting your bid." She feigned scratching her chin. She already had ideas in mind, but she had learned it was better for the solution to come from him. "But there must be another way I can help. Perhaps I could put out a statement supporting you as a candidate willing to cross borders to strengthen relationships with the Republic's neighbors?"

They came to a stop at the end of the catwalk. A door stood beside them, which led out onto a balcony overlooking the valley the headquarters was perched above. But she stoped them here, looking to him expectantly. @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

As they walked away Alexander could sense the fear and trepidation in Ranami, she was almost shaking. The handmaiden/assistant whoever she was had at least some idea of what was about to happen, but also was not panicking to the point of screaming for help. Did she have some knowledge of who Nahri truly was? She began to stutter her words as she tried to explain parts of the construction line.

He smiled and nodded along, trying to ignore the suffering the woman was going through. The Hynesitan could sense the Darkness coming from the room behind him, the poor souls did not stand a chance, he just hoped Nahri hasn't spoiled that beautiful white dress with blood. They hadn’t got far when Narhi appeared from around the corner, Ranami was frozen in place, her mouth agape as Nahri approached them. “Alas, busy people such as ourselves are always interrupted.” He replied with a smile.

Alexander turned to follow the women as she led him through the rest of the factory, the sights and smells of the factory filled his senses as they walked. It reminded him of some of his time within the Sith, an endless war machine making ready for its next assault upon the Jedi and their allies. Nahri’s willingness to give open support to him was promising, it could be of great benefit to his campaign. But could also be used against him, if the statement was worded incorrectly or released at the wrong time.

Turning to the women he looked into her eyes, could he see a tinge of the Dark Side in them, or was it just the reflection of his own? “My current stance on the war makes conversations with Serennian Nobility and Heirs to military contractors a tricky subject to deal with in the open. However I do believe that perhaps more private conversations could be more of an effective way to support me. If you can speak to other like minded individuals within the Alliance who have contacts within the New Republic. The positivity you show my regime would spread not only to other Alliance worlds but those who have doubts about my future stance in the galaxy.”

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Nahri seriously considered this without letting the light smile touching the corner of her mouth slip. He was right. More discretion was needed for the moment. She knew all too well that politics could shift radically on a dime and she didn't want to lose a potentially powerful ally by saying the right thing at the wrong time. So, she nodded, agreeing with him. "I take your meaning, Senator," she said. "As it happens, I have a shareholders meeting coming up. I could discretely say a few words in your favor. The political situation in the Alliance is tenuous at the moment, but the lack of an activist Prime Minister presents certain opportunities that once were not possible. I shall see what I can do for you on the political front when the moment presents itself."

She turned and gestured through the door where the private balcony awaited on the other side. She had exhausted everything she wanted to say, but wanted to give him the privacy of any final words before they parted, as the doors sealed shut behind them. A gorgeous Bilbringi vale stretched out before them. In many ways it reminded her of the mountain vales she had grown up in back home on Serenno. Her dress blew lightly in the breeze.

"I want to thank you for coming out here again, Senator," she said when she was sure they were alone. "You will likely be hearing stirrings in the news soon. I will not wait long to make my move against the board. I hope that we can keep communication channels open?" @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

“Money is often the currency of the political world.” He said slightly downheartedly. Granted he was spending vast swathes of cash to advance his own agenda within the political world, but Nahri didn’t need to know that. She needed to believe he was the politician he made himself out to be. “But thank you, any words you could give I am sure will be greatly appreciated in the election.”

Stepping through the doors and out onto the balcony, Alexander was struck with the beauty of the world of Bilbringi. The rolling hills around the factory, quickly turning into the violent peaks of mountains and valleys, the warm summer sun beating down through the white clouds. It was majestic and for a moment Alexander just sucked it in, happy to see something which isn't the ice of Hynestia or the concrete of Coruscant.

“It has been a pleasure to meet you, Miss Nalju.” He replied holding his hand out again to take hers. If she allowed him he would place another small kiss on the back of the palm. “My Holo will always be available for those who wish to better the Republic.”

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

"The Republic will always have a friend here at Nalju Technologies," Nahri said pleasantly. "And very soon that friend will be in a position to prove that friendship."

Nahri allowed the Senator to take her hand and kiss it. Here, she hoped, began a wonderful partnership that would benefit the both of them in more ways than either had yet to realize. She walked the Senator back through the headquarters and towards his ship, bowing slightly as he boarded. Only then did Vex surface again in her mind.

The Senator was an important piece of the puzzle moving forward; but there were other pieces to move into place. And Nahri Nalju could not move all of them. As the Senator's ship roared to life, the winds of its engine whipping her dress in a frenzy, she turned and headed back inside.

It was time to get to work.

/End