Not Just Business

[Varyn Rask]

Tasha had come to visit Varyn on many occasions at Dromund Kaas, Korriban, and various Imperial worlds, but for all their times, he had never torn himself away from his work to come see the company she had built. By all assessments, the company was thriving even under the Mandalorian rule, and his interest in her extended automatically to an interest in her company.

Getting onto the planet had required some false IDs and subtlety, but before he'd been the Emperor, Varyn had been an assassin, which meant accessing places he didn't belong. He'd flown in under a false ID, left behind robes, dawned a black suit (because even his suits had to be black), and made an appointment with the CEO under a false name: Covir Anson. It had required some Force-tricks to convince them that he belonged on the schedule, but they'd complied shortly thereafter.

Call it a surprise visit, and hopefully one that she wouldn't mind taking. After all the Emperor did have plenty of investment means.

He was led to a private turbolift and told to wait in the anteroom to her office for Miss. Blackwell to see him. He gave a nod, but rather than sit, he paced around the room slowly, looking at the various decorations that hung on the wall.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha stared at the name for a long moment. Her yellow eyes were narrowed, and she couldn’t recall the name from anywhere. It was very rare for a name to show up on her schedule that she didn’t recognize - normally meetings with her were incredibly difficult to get these days. She half considered calling up one of her managers to take the meeting instead, as she had other pressing matters to attend to.

However, he was supposedly a rather large investor. Tasha sighed and decided she would meet him in the end, placing her overly sugary caf aside. She dialed the receptionist up front to tell him to come into her office. Tasha kept her focus on the terminal in front of her, typing away and not bothering to look up initially.

“Mr. Anson,” She said quietly, her eyes still on the screen as she heard the door open, “I can’t seem to recall ever-” Tasha gazed up and her eyes went from narrow to wide, visible surprise registering on her face. The surprise was quickly replaced with a smile, “Var-” She began, but lowered her voice in case anyone heard, “I should have known…” Tasha shook her head, rising to stand.

After he closed the door behind him, Tasha walked towards him with a smile, “I can’t believe you are so unrecognizable without that mask,” He had waltzed around just like a casual businessman. The receptionist had glanced over at him a few times, but that had nothing to do with him being the Emperor. Tasha looked him up and down.

“You need to dress like this more often,” Her eyebrows rose at how striking he looked in a business suit. Her gaze slid back up to meet his, “You know, I’m still expecting an investment from this...Mr. Anson,” She teased.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn was obviously quite pleased with himself for the fact that he had managed to surprise her, as that was the intention from the beginning. She looked pleasantly surprised, and Varyn was caught off guard by a vague sense of relief he felt by being here with her. The last several weeks had been particularly taxing on him both physically and mentally.

Although the large, saber-wound-like gashes on his arms had mostly healed, the ribs on his back left side were still healing and painful from where they had fractured. But more than that, the purging of the Light Side Nexus had left an imprint far deeper. Simply surviving had required things of him that he had always disdained, and there was no closing pandora's box once it was open. As soon as he drew closer to her, she - who knew his face and eyes well - would notice that the normally brown orbs were a slightly paler color than normal. There had been a war going on inside of him since the mission, and it had taken its toll on him.

That's why I wear it, he said, as she mentioned that he was unrecognizable without his mask on. If the time ever comes to live a normal life, it'll make the transition exponentially easier, he said matter-of-factly. His plans for a transition out of being Emperor seemed more distant now... an if instead of when. He felt out of touch with his own life, but being here seemed to calm the stormy ocean inside.

He glanced down as she mentioned he needed to dress like this more often and then he looked back up at her. I wear all-black all the time, he responded, fully aware of what she meant, but intentionally misinterpreting it. She knew him well enough to know that it was intentional, and something akin to a joke.

In all fairness, we never really did get down to business the last time you wanted to ask me for an investment, he said with a shrug as she mentioned still wanting an investment. Perhaps his alias persona was precisely the way he could go about supporting her company.

The fact that he also wanted to see her went without saying, but he was also quite interested in seeing around her company. She had building an amazing economic Empire, and its influence was spreading. He couldn't have been happier for her.

It feels like its been a long time since we've seen each other, he said, his voice taking on a sudden distant and more hollow tone as if it were not meant to be said out loud. He hadn't even seen her since the Empire had made "peace" with the Mandalorians. He realized suddenly that it may not have been good for someone who sold weapons.

Show me around the company? he asked. I suppose we can't walk arm in arm if I'm "Mr. Anson," he said.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

“Oh we certainly got down to business,” Tasha said with a wink. However, he was right in that she had never truly shared her business side with him too much. He was aware of her efforts, but he hadn’t seen the inner workings. It was strange that he was so curious. Tasha was still not used to anyone taking such a keen interest in her daily life.

She rolled her eyes at his comment of walking arm in arm, “Please, that’s never been my style nor will it be,” Little things like that were part of her past where she was paid for escort services. If she showed affection, it was always in more subtle ways. Tasha gestured around the office, “Well, this is my office,” She said with a grin. She opened the door behind him and led the way out.

“This building was only a one story shack basically when I bought it,” Tasha explained, “I had a few analysts working that were former dancers. You can imagine there was a lot to learn on the job,” She passed by a few executives, women in crisp business suits and expensive shoes and jewelry, “And there’s a few of them now,” Tasha beamed, “They’re quick learners.”

She led towards a different section of the building, “We recently attached a factory right here on site,” Tasha pointed towards the droids that were working to put together parts. She came to stop at a balcony overlooking the factory lines below.

“I won’t lie,” Tasha said, her gaze still forward, “You’ve definitely hurt my business with your friendship deal,” She tilted her head to look at him, “But I believe it’s what’s best for the galaxy,” Tasha was surprised to find herself saying that. Her Sith days were moving further and further away from her, “It...might cause you problems,” Tasha would never outright admit she was worried for someone. The possibility of people wanting to see him dead for making such a deal was astronomical.

 

[Varyn Rask]

He looked around her office as she spoke. It was as elegant as she was, but still professional. Comfortable, but practical. It had a wonderful view of the waterlines and bridges below, and Varyn glanced at the speeders lined up across the bridges. There was a line of speeders just to get into the building, which was a testament to how successful the company had become. Everyone wanted to get into Blackwell Industries.

I can imagine, he said when she mentioned that there had been a lot to learn when starting the business up. Sometimes he thought about what it would be like to start all over at square one in a new career, and the idea was more than a little daunting. But she had done it, and she had done it successfully.

He followed her through the building, past fountains and artwork until they came to a balcony section that overlooked the factory floor. It was bustling with people everywhere. Engineers and droids were repairing pieces, shifting crates, and getting shipment after shipment ready to go.

This is amazing, he said honestly. He had managed to take over someone's creation, but she had managed to build something for herself, and it was thriving.

Then there was the armistice with the Mandalorians. He knew the topic would come up sooner or later - it had to - but she didn't seem angry about it. He hadn't expected her to be, but it was nice to be reassured.

I think the whole galaxy is tired of war, he nodded in agreement. He was sure that he could continue to find conflicts for her to arm, and potentially even create some. He knew neither the Empire nor the Mandalorians would completely stop their expansion, but a galaxy-wide war was no longer tenable. More specifically, he probably would end up dead if the conflict continued.

It might, he agreed with a nod, continuing to look out at the floor of the industrial center and not bringing his eyes to her. He had realized a long time ago that he would probably die on his way to the top, and he made peace with that. Now he was at the top and had to make peace with the fact that he might be killed for the decisions he made as Emperor. And by his own people no less.

It needed to happen, though, he went on. The Empire wasn't going to survive the war, he said honestly. It was the first time he'd actually said the words out loud, and now only to her. The Empire had fought the Mandalorians tooth and nail, and probably could have made it costly for them, but the end had been almost inevitable.

He said nothing for a moment, and his mind turned to Naboo once again. I think one way or another, my days in the Empire are numbered. I just need to find someone to replace me who won't immediately undo everything I've done. Or make the changes so ingrained that it's too late to undo them, he said.

Maybe I'll head back to my roots, he said. She knew about his roots in the Venatori and the fact that he often had done illegal things to protect the Empire. Perhaps his path lay in protecting the Empire and the Protectorate from the shadows once again. Or maybe I'll still convince you to retire to an isolated mansion with me, he said, pushing away from the railing and ticklishly poking her in the side as he walked by and further down the ramp, which led to a door labeled R&D.

Do I get to steal all your trade secrets? he asked, pointing to the door, and fully expecting her not to let him go inside.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha said nothing as he spoke, her gaze still on the factory. It was almost therapeutic to watch, as it had a strict pattern and successive actions that she could predict. Droids worked in perfect harmony, and there was nothing to interrupt the process. The Pantoran thought over his words for a long moment, smiling lightly.

“And what if it doesn’t survive?” Tasha tilted her head to look at him, “What will happen? Will the galaxy crumble?” It would have been treason to pose the question if she were a Sith, but she wasn’t anymore. This wasn’t the Empire that Andraste had built, and Tasha didn’t think it would be so bad for it to disappear and then form from the ashes again. There was no true unity, no loyalty and no love for it. Not like there had been back then.

Tasha wouldn’t dwell on the topic too much longer, grinning at his suggestion of an isolated mansion. She knew he meant it deep inside. If she suggested they go run away, he probably had it within his power to make it happen. He was placed into this position out of necessity, not by choice. He had his vision for how the Empire should be, but he hadn’t had the chance to slowly work up to to it. Now the entire galaxy had its eyes on him.

She followed him towards where he pointed out the RnD area, “Everything is in its infancy,” Tasha explained, “There’s nothing interesting to steal just yet,” Tasha thought for a long moment before looking at him, “Varyn…” Her eyes were slightly wide in wonder, “I’ve seen the Eternal,” She spoke in a low voice, “It was truly him. He had the memories of the Sith of the past,” She couldn’t keep the almost fanatical tone out of her voice. The Eternal was everything she idolized about Andraste’s Empire, “He had asked for research into abominations…” She looked towards the RnD section again, “I’ll be pulled into a nasty war. I know it.”

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

The question she asked him was one he had considered many times before. If you were going to fight for something so emphatically that it became your life, you had better analyze it from every angle.

Crumble? No, but it would be a worse place without order. Nature abhors a vacuum, and something far worse would take its place, he said. That was why he'd not been vehemently opposed to the Protectorate. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing. It was better than the Hutts sweeping through to conquer the galaxy again or something far worse. He doubted she agreed with him, as she'd left the Empire behind and now questioned its necessity, but whether she agreed or not, he didn't want to argue about it.

Varyn's head tilted to the side as they made for R&D and she mentioned she'd seen the Eternal. He was surprised she knew about that, as word was still only just spreading through the Empire. He was about to ask how she'd found out when she explained it to him.

He nodded slowly and cautiously. He is back, he confirmed. And he's not like any of the other Sith Lords, that's for certain. The Lords of old were... something else entirely, he said. His tone was a mixture of concern and admiration. The Eternal represented a wild animal, and while Varyn didn't think it would turn on him, he still wasn't sure. There was no denying that when it came to enemies of the Empire, though, it was lethal and intimidating.

Abominations. That was an interest angle, and one that had merit. Sith libraries indicated that Darth Kravos had always held an interest in the creatures, but Varyn also knew how destructive they could be. The fact that BIT was considering joining in their research was both concerning and exciting to him all at once. If it weren't for Tasha he'd have had little concern for what happened to the company if things went wrong, but she very much changed the situation.

You may not be able to maintain neutrality. More than that, you may end up with a target on you, he said gravely. That could have been a target from either the Eternal or the Galactic Alliance. Sith had a tendency to chop off loose ends once they used up their usefulness, but Varyn reminded himself that Tasha had been a Sith herself. She was no babe in the woods.

Did you agree to help him? he asked out of curiosity as to her decision. He knew how hesitant she was to get back into the war, but he'd have loved to have BIT on the Empire's side. He suppressed his protective desires to point out to her the risks of what she was doing, especially on a Mandalorian-controlled world. She didn't need him talking down to her. He was sure she'd already considered that.