May I Trouble You?

[BZenwrath]

The spacious apartment of former Chief Researcher Alysa Corwall was furnished with an sleek décor, fitting for an accomplished engineer. Collections of replica technologies designed by her and those she respected and minimalistic furniture were arranged with artistic precision throughout the flat. They were the relics of a storied career at the highest level sciences, a career that had come to an abrupt and humiliating halt. Alysa preferred to keep the place dark, which was how she found it now, returning from a day of meetings with potential clients.

Datapad in hand, Alysa stopped at the door as she fumbled through her belongings for her access card. After a few moments she stepped inside, placing her rain covered coat in the hands of her familiar personal droid, Proto, who had been waiting for her return as he always did to before Alysa had lost him on Sirius Primaris.

“Welcome home ma’am.” He said plainly.

She walked past him, his presence being placed in the train of thought but not making its way to the forefront of her mind. Alysa turned and threw her arms around the neck of the much taller droid, finally realizing that he was out of place.

“Proto!” She said, her voice wavering as she struggled for words, “Wher- How did yo- wha-?”

“Ma’am, I’d ask that you rephrase your query.”

She let go of the droid, trying to understand what was going on and how her droid had made it all the way back to her from Sirius Primaris. She glanced around, her cobalt blue cybernetic eyes scanning her living space. A cold chill ran down her spine as she came across one slight discrepancy among her belongings. The silhouette of a woman, sitting rather comfortably on her couch. Immediately, Alysa pulled a blaster from the small of her back and leveled it at her intruder. She only started carrying a weapon since her close call with Mandalorians a few weeks ago. While no soldier, Alysa was still familiar with weapons, and only became more accurate with them since her cybernetic augmentations.

 

[Outlander]

Tala reached a hand up to Alysa, in a motion to hold. She tapped the side of her helmet, mostly as an indication to her, as she activated the lights on her HUD. The Mandalorian T-Visor became backlit with dark light as she fully made her presence known. "I'm glad you like my...gift." Tala said, leaning back further into the rather soft couch, arms coming up behind her head. "I see you've improved your personal security somewhat."

 

[BZenwrath]

"You." She said with distinct hatred. "I should shoot you for what you did."

Alysa stood there motionlessly, blaster still pointed at the Mandalorian trespasser. She should've known that this wasn't over. Though she thought for a moment. She was alone, which meant someone knew she was here. Quietly, she returned the blaster to her holster. There wasn't any point to holding up a gun if pulling the trigger meant she would probably die the next day.

"Now what do you want this time," she said, more annoyed by the situation than anything else. "I doubt you brought me Proto without wanting something in return."

 

[Outlander]

"We do want something." Tala admitted, beginning to tap on her own datapad. "But Proto is a gift, as well as your freighter." She searched through the various files on her pad before finding the right one to show the woman. "Unlike last time, this is a negotiation, not an interrogation."

@BZenwrath

 

[BZenwrath]

Her freighter too? This woman certainly new how to find a persons good side, a rare talent for a Mandalorian. True, Alysa was still angry at her for the way she was treated but these gifts went a long way in cooling that fire. This could all be facade but the reclamation of her belongings was too good to pass. They were heirlooms to her home, to her family, and to Coruscant. They were the last things she had of that once beautiful world and her loving family.

"I must say," she said, hiding her happiness under a skeptical gaze. "If negotiation was your goal here, there are far less threatening ways to get someone's attention than breaking into their apartment. Regardless, thank you for returning my ship and droid to me."

Alysa walked to her kitchen, pouring a glass of water for herself and taking a sip before continuing.

"Now, lets talk. I do believe my first question stands even if we are negotiating. What is it you or your Mandalorian friends want from me?"

 

[Outlander]

"Yes, but..." Tala began, removing her helmet with a wry grin. "Mandalorians have a tragically underappreciated flair for the dramatic." She hoped her bit of joking refused any tension. She stood, waiting by the couch as Alysa got a drink of water. "And to answer, we found some discrepancies." She handed the woman her datapad. "As you can see, some of the Prometheus computers where wiped locally from your personal terminal. But we managed to recover the project headings."

@BZenwrath

 

[BZenwrath]

Alysa sighed while coming to the most apparent conclusion. Of course it was about KES, why would she assume anything different. Unfortunately, the files the woman wanted were no longer in her grasp. She vividly remembered throwing the datachip at the Trane's feet when she was fired. She was torn as to whether or not that memory brought a happy feeling or one of dread. She decided the Twi'lek didn't need to know that yet. Alysa wanted to fish for what her guest was playing at.

"So, I take it you want the data I wiped then?"

She finished the glass of water before moving to the living room and taking a seat across from the Twi'lek warrior. Alysa professionally crossed her legs and folded her hands across her knee as she continued.

"What exactly am I looking at if I decide to give them to you?"

 

[Outlander]

"Yes." Tala said simple, sitting back down. She retrieved the datapad, scrolling through the files once more before finding the correct one. "If you do give us the information, and per your own wishes, we're willing to offer you fairly...substantial compensation." The file in question displayed raw data in regards to Donomel Heavy Manufacturing and it's manufacturing capabilities. "We would pay you, obviously. But, you'd also receive a small cut of the profits from the sale of the designs. And, as you can clearly see, that would make a rather tidy sum given past production."

@BZenwrath

 

[BZenwrath]

Alysa accepted the datapad, her eyes glistening with a fair amount of interest despite her attempt to hide it. The money was the least of what interested her. She already had plenty of that. What peeked her intrigue was that Donomel Heavy Manufacturing, a company that has been her rival for over a year, wanted her to act as a consultant of sorts. She was surprised by the idea and wary of its implications. KES would brand her a traitor and many of her past friends and colleges would possibly consider her likewise. That wasn't the only issue either. She still didn't posses the data the Mandalorians wanted. Which meant that the deal could be off the table.

"Well, I might've considered that," She began to say. "But I would be lacking on my side of that deal. You see, I don't actually have that data anymore. I threw it at the feet of Admiral Trane..." Alysa looked her in the eyes, "It seems I also have a flair for the dramatic at times..."

 

[Outlander]

"Then I believe we can offer you a bit of a different offer." Tala said, taking back the pad and flipping to a new file. It now showed brief outlines of current technology, manufacturing capabilities, and the current design staff. Due to the rather peculiar needs of the Mandalorians, the design team had come up with some fairly interesting technology. But, they lacked on extremely experienced designers. "We can provide you with a team and a facility. From there, you will have free reign to create new designs. You would have full financial backing from us." She said this all confidently, knowing the data would support it.

@BZenwrath

 

[BZenwrath]

Alysa thought for a moment, considering the proposal. It wasn't entirely dissimilar to what was offered to her by KES not too long ago. The circumstances weren't entirely the same, she was far more determined now than she was before. That and the Mandalorians were already in a position that could offer her more leeway and opportunity than her last position. It was an enticing offer to say the least, though she still wasn't sure of the consequences.

"So you want me to be a turncoat?" she said dryly, "I'm not entirely fond of the idea I must say."

She sat quietly for a time, contemplating her choices.

"You understand if I don't have an answer right here and now. I've jumped at enticing jobs in the past, I'd like to think this one through a little more if its not too much trouble."

 

[Outlander]

"Being a turncoat isn't so bad. As long as you where on the wrong side. And considering the recent past of KES, I'd say that's what you where fighting for. The wrong side." Tala said to the woman, sympathetic to her concerns. She retrieved her datapad, stowing it away in a pocket of her armor as she stood. "Of course. Feel free to take however long you need. You know how to contact me."