{FRINGE} Aligning with a Super Power

[Zaiden Dean]

Sno Wyte sat on a bench among the many plants and animals held within the great Mason Zoo in Olympus. Her mind was on one thing, making legalized contracts with the people her company aided. Beginning with the first priority, the Fringe. While alive, Zaiden had spent a great deal of the resources at hand on arming the space he helped build - but no contracts were ever signed.

Currently the ancient awaited the heads of state, intent on signing into contract the continuation of arming the people. At the moment she had with her pages that would bring the Fringe to backing the company, with the same being made of the company. As well, a few marks on weapons she wished to craft specifically for them.

Basically at this point in time the only thing she needed was signatures to agree that the company and government would be going into work together. But that wasnt just it. JAC was officially aligning itself with the Fringe if agreed - on a whole new level. The government would agree to a sponsorship of sorts, being provided nearly a limitless supply of weapons for a now annual sum of money - as well the agreement to not persecute the company if arms were sold to other galactic factions. But alongside that was JAC's terms that it would never sell to enemies of the Fringe.

@[member="Rave Merrill"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"] (could you guys tag the rest of the council? My new phone is hard to work with.)

 

[Velok the Younger]

@Lord Exedo @[member="Lucien Cordel"] @[member="Anders Sivas"] @[member="Meret Blackmoon"] @[member="Kitt Solo"] @[member="Sargon Vynea"] @[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

In the aftermath of Penumbra's redemption and death, Val'hala's position within the Fringe had become an open question. He had left his planet's loyalty to an unknown figure, one who had an opportunity now to demonstrate trustworthiness, team spirit, work ethic and all those other tasty virtues.

Rave entered the zoo, homing in on the woman who now held Val'hala's fate in the palm of her hand.

"Miss Wyte? I'm High Councilor Merrill."

 

[Zaiden Dean]

Rising with a beautiful smile along her mouth, the ancient nodded, "I have heard quite a bit about your family. Yourself...amazing. You should write it down one day - make money off a life worth living. Anyway, i called you, and the rest of the council, here for business so i figure we should wait for their arrivals.

"But i thank you for your speed at which you arrived." As the word left her mouth, a small arc of electricity danced along her arm for a moment accompanying a sharp burst of pain through her skull. The poison fought her everyday, every moment, driving her to the evil she once was. But still perseverance was her reply, she would never return to the ways brought by the darkness inducing chemicals.

Then after a pause she arched a brow, "Unless your willing to sign for the faction? I offer JAC up for Sponsorship to the Fringe. If you back the company, the people will be armed well. Among other materials of course."

@[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Isar]

"TRUST THOSE WHO TWICE BETRAYED?"


The volcano's erupting inferno. The mountain's unstoppable avalanche. The storm's cracking thunder. All paled to the impossibly deep, mind-breaking voice which spoke in the minds of @[member="Sno Wyte"] and @[member="Rave Merrill"]. The dragon was nowhere to be seen, though his voice was instantly recognizable. He seemed half a moment from a devouring rage. The trust of humans was something that did not come easily to Faenrovon. The sight of his entire brood slaughtered by ambitious Arkanian hunters flashed in his memory. An ever-present wound. The Fringe had taken him in. They were his new brood now. Woe to the fool who sought to do them harm.


"Your corporation bears a vile stain. Tell me, why should we trust the words of a LIAR'S BROOD? The baying of your animals incenses my appetite, though I prefer the flesh of humankind. Be quick lest I grow hungry, mortal."

 

[Zaiden Dean]

Uncontrollable rage, thats what the dragon was playing with by entering her mind. Her anger was a supernatural one, driven by poisons long held within. If he wanted to intrude into her mind - cutting the thought off the woman forced the unconsciously forming bolts of lightning to die away.

"You would have the people of the Fringe follow one whom holds a grudge?" With a chuckle she shook her head, "I could go into a long rant about warranting an attack by betraying someone, but instead i will point out the fact that a vast majority of arms held by the Fringe were sold by the stained company you speak of. Millions of lives have been saved thanks to my company, planets are policed thanks to my company.

"Do not place the actions of another atop the grand doings done by my people. Do not think i will stay here and endure ridicule that has come unrequited. You were called here for business, leave the petty grudges you hold behind young one." Sno snarled out, her barely held anger boiling over to be felt in the force. She had been alive longer then near any being could claim, and they sought to ridicule her intentions over anothers actions, that was something she wouldnt stand.

@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"] @[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Velok the Younger]

"Wyte, you're an unknown. Stand down, stop rising to the bait, give us some reasoning. Give us a reason to listen. Faenrovon is establishing whether or not you're the kind of person who's level-headed enough to do business with us on this scale. You want to make a good impression? Do that. Without grandstanding. Grandstanding is for the dragon."

 

[Isar]

A deep, rumbling hiss sounded in their minds. Laughter.

"The company you speak so highly of was founded by a traitor, fleshling. Tell us why we can trust your words. We trusted his. He spoke nice words too, for a liar and a thief."

@[member="Rave Merrill"] @[member="Sno Wyte"]

 

[Zaiden Dean]

Sno turned her gaze to Rave and grinned, "What do you call this then? I could have started electrocuting everything in a hundred yard radius, instead i maintain a level head. Hell, I'm curious in what way that was grandstanding." She said with a shrug. It was true, she was an unknown. Should they then poke and prod her with insults? Illogical to say the least. But she wouldn't voice this opinion.

The reason she was here held precedent, else she would have fallen to the bait. None could understand how she truly felt, it always seemed she was ready to go guns ablazing, but the amount of energy placed into keeping calm was immense. She would show them what she was capable of, instead of destruction she would give peace.

"I offer weapons, ways to heal, and many other products. If i require an explanation as to why this is a good thing, i ought to seek other means. I cam here because this is what Zaiden would want."
@[member="Rave Merrill"] @[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Isar]

"Ahhh, the ability to withstand wanton murder. An unusual trait for a human," Faenrovon hissed in an unequaled baritone. The dragon still had yet to reveal himself. "The godling Zaiden also wanted to destroy the Fringe. Your arguments grow exceedingly uncompelling, mortal."

@[member="Sno Wyte"] @[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Zaiden Dean]

"Human? Never have i been. Im going to have to request the dragon leaves." Sno said with a sigh, "Im doing my best here. He needs to learn respect. Honestly, at this point I'm already feeling it would be better for me to simply stop this endeavor. I came to seek mutual joining, not personal vendettas."

@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"] @[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Isar]

Somewhere, the ground shook.

The dragon spoke in the mind of @[member="Rave Merrill"] only. "I do not favor endorsing one such as her, Little Warrior. Her blood runs hot, like Zaiden's. Too prone to the violence innate in your kind. She will turn on us... as he did."

 

[Yasha Cadera]

"You know…" I drift into the conversation by throwing an arm around @[member="Rave Merrill"]'s shoulder for a second… then quickly take it off before she breaks it off. Fwoar. I like my limbs on me. "Hey Rave, good to hear your sense-making. @[member="Sno Wyte"], it's a pleasure." I wink and cluck my tongue, offering a gloved hand. "@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"], Oh Radiant Harbinger of Wisdom! Rave, I'm with the dragon… Before you start shoving me off too, hear me out."

Hands up in surrender, I walk into the middle of the group and shrug my thin-yet-masculine shoulders. "@[member="Sno Wyte"], we've already made clear that you're an unknown entity to us. Faenrovon is a trusted member of the Fringe's High Council, elected by the people to serve the people's protection. That's what he's doing now. Do not consider a personal slight that which is lost in translation. It is true, your company has done a lot of business with the Fringe. It got messy." I wince and shrug. "Sorry about that. The whole upheaval thing. Here we are in a situation already messy. We've got a couple of options, some more favourable than others, I admit, but I'm a fixer. I'm a healer and it shows.

I'm a being of grace. So let's dial it back. Faenrovon is, as a member of our Council, here to stay. Consider it creative diplomacy. You want us to sign a contract and legalize you, but what guarantee do we have that the legalization and legitimization of your organization will benefit us with more than shiny guns? I for one don't feel like giving license for someone to do kark-all within our borders with the illusion that you're under an unlimited protection clause.

So! What is our protection? What do you mean by selling to us, and to other factions except our enemies, what do you mean by the whole contract? Explain it to me. I'm a lot more gracious than the dragon! A lot more fun at parties too… Sorry Faenrovon! I know you can cut rugs." I click my teeth together a few times, denoting just the kind of cutting our dear dragon could do.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Anders Sivas. Another of the Council members."

 

[Lucien Cordel]

The staccato rhythm of foot steps announced Lucien ... and his 4 guards, well one could never be too careful. They parted fanning off to either side after they had passed into the meeting room. Lucien stepped forward raising his fist to order his guards to wait by the door. It seemed clear to him they had a bad cop, a neutral cop, and the police chief so he would play good cop. He stepped forward "Gentlemen, M'lady you are bombarding the woman ... last I heard this was a meeting not an inquisition"
He stepped forward "Lady Wyte, my apologies for the barbaric behavior of my associates now perhaps we can now outline terms without the hard press" He turned to face away from @[member="Sno Wyte"] not knowing were the dragon was "after all we are trying to avoid enemies not create them and if she wasn't a traitor before I'd wager she will be soon if you carry on"

 

[Hannibal Oryen]

@[member="Sno Wyte"] | @[member="Jared Ovmar"]

"Uh-huh. Yeah. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Exactly. 'ats what I was thinkin'. Uh-huh." Hannibal had a finger pressed to the comlink mounted on his helmet, communicating with Jared Ovmar.

The Lord of the Fringe and High Councilor was presently engaged in somewhere else. He had opted to send Hannibal in his stead. Hannibal watched passively prior to this, watching as Faenrovon roared at Wyte like... Well, a dragon. No need for analogies there. Hannibal still had his Faenrovon 836 ABY button stuck to his breast. He liked to think it was his personal ward to prevent him from being devoured at any given moment. Sno Wyte lacked this ward, so why she appeared so deadset on being rude in the face of rational concerns was beyond him. No matter, though. That wasn't Hannibal's problem. Now he just had to make Ovmar's case for him.

"Lord Ovmar'd like t' point out that the Fringe's already got backin' from Silk Holdings, Iron Crown Productions, an' Santhe. A contract with some second-stringer seems-"

Hannibal was cut off by an obnoxious, braying animal from somewhere nearby. This was the worst place to hold a business meeting ever. Animals were screaming, tourists were milling about gaping at animals and the assembled Fringe Council, and the whole placed smelled like feces. Hannibal had never cared for Zoos. If he wanted to go see some wildlife, he'd hop in his ship and go find it where it ought to be. Not ogle a specimen with pisspoor luck from the other side of a cage.

"Right. Anyway, Mistah Ovmar'd like a little more on why the Fringe'd need any 'a th' crap ya peddlin' when we's already got everythin' we need."

 

[Velok the Younger]

"Let's be very clear here. You're the leader of a corporate conglomerate that has value. Your subsidiaries are significant, your reach diverse. You're entrenched here on Val'hala. But to us, that means exactly as much as you want it to mean. It could be good, it could be bad. All depends on you. So when you request that Faenrovon, one of the elected rulers of this territory, leave? You tell me you think you own this world. Go look at a map. You don't. Stop thinking with your nonexistent-" Rave grimaced. "This isn't just about corporate security, it's about whether you're worthy of governing this world for us. I've read your law, I know your traditions. So help me, if you don't start acting like an adult, you will not enjoy the consequences. Electrocute everything in a hundred yards my shebs. Fething barbaric.

"Oh, and I should mention your responsibilities to your shareholders. Including me. I personally own seventeen percent of your mining subsidiary, and seventeen percent of your blaster construction subsidiary. You owe me, as a shareholder, a sense that you're being responsible with my assets. A sense that I have yet to feel."

 

[Zaiden Dean]

"You have yet to feel as such? I have continued to arm the people without asking, i came to a meeting by myself - to a group that could easily slay me. You all continue to hold Zaidens actions against me. I was rudely intruded upon - i hate that. My mind is my own, no others. I held my anger in check to the best of my abilities.

"My actions are fueled by a yearning for peace. For multiple centuries i was cruel and tainted. Im working to change that. I will battle myself everyday to be calm. These are the reasons i came. If this isnt enough then i do not personally feel i should continue trying.." Sighing deep for a moment, the woman pinched the bridge of her nose, "But i will because i am loyal. I protected Maxwell James, Zaidens father, from death on several occasions. Thus i feel almost an aunt to the now departed Master.

"He aided in building everything around you. Not simply Val'hala but the space as well. Zaiden would yearn for me to continue working with you all in his stead. Yes he made a grave mistake by letting his anger best his judgment, but he also spent years aiding everyone here. Personally, i offer arms and further policing of your space. Further ships to be built, more safety.

"I do not attempt to hide myself nor my intentions." She said as she drew forth the pages that would name the agreement, "If my doings are held to be of the wrong standards, you may personally hold me responsible. I am thus far the head of my organization, as such i would be one hundred percent responsible for my actions.

"If anything provided by JAC is ever to cause to great a grief, i will again be held responsible. This can be written up in another contract if needed." Sno said handing the pages to Rave to look over then to hand off. The pages held no fine print, simply as the woman said. Fringe space would back JAC and vice versa. No more, no less.

@[member="Rave Merrill"] @[member="Hannibal Oryen"] @[member="Lucien Cordel"] @[member="Anders Sivas"] @[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

"And I'm an empath that symbiotically joins to the strongest persona in any place I'm in. Oh, and not by choice. Just me today, no buggins in my brain. The point is, @[member="Sno Wyte"] you and I, our actions are our own. Outside stimuli, events that happened to or by us, we're accountable for our parts. Always. I feel for you. Getting your brain twisted in every direction, losing yourself to the worst of people, being in thrall to cruel and uncountable forces, I get it. Not identically, but I do. It sucks and it drains us, but you can still get help. if people like us can turn a shoulder and do peace's business then that in itself is mercy. Give yourself more credit, and relax. If you need some techniques to help that anger out, talk to me. I can help, and barring that, my Master can." The offer's genuine. I keep my emotions and mind open to anybody here as a method of dialogue, if any care to see fit.

"Arming the people was your job. It's what we paid you to do. Giving us what we've paid for isn't a burden you're putting up with, nor is showing up to a collective of your buyers a feat, it's how your business has stayed in business. Who will be the ones policing our space? What are their intentions? Do we get veto power on any policies, equipment or peoples you have working in Fringe space? The contract's needed. I know I'd feel more comfortable if every letter of this is written in a contract, notarized and posted and policed. By personally holding you responsible, what do you mean? Whose advising you as to your policies? It's noble to offer a sword to fall on, but what if it's not your fault but someone else in your holdings? Let them go free so you can hang for it? Doesn't sit right. What do you think, @[member="Lucien Cordel"]? You're wise with the governing. @[member="Hannibal Oryen"]'s got a point. I also agree with @[member="Rave Merrill"].

What do you give us the others don't?" @[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Zaiden Dean]

"Droids will be the main asset for Policing. Theyve been tested and found effective. Policies are made personally by me, and agreed to by the rest of my council. Lastly its sent singularly to those few stockholders we have. We do not surprise, its our job to aid not confuse." As the words continued, Sno's royal blood began to shine through. Once more she was calm and collected, her voice mellow, "If a single event changes anything for our company, we let those whom are involved know the updates.

"Thank you for your offer, i accept and hope we may look into that as soon as possible." Sno offered a deep bow to the young man, then she continued, "As well, with this now being the sole contract held by JAC since my arrival, any further contracts or reassigning contracts would need to be brought to the aforementioned crowd.

"Through all legal means, as well as personal means, I alongside JAC seek to aid your people. With as little error as possible. Please remember, you all werent the only ones marred by Zaidens actions. After this event i have to work with other factions to pass the same new information. I have many people to help appease, and i do it not because i want to but because it is my job now.

"If you agree to this, and we align, I will be held responsible for any problems caused by JAC personnel, arms, droids etcetera. I will be responsible for all swift punishments. None can cause problems on my end freely. While the same would be said for the council and your people. As well, if falling to legal problems we would ask for any aid possible to provide." Sno ended as she clasped her hands together.

@[member="Rave Merrill"] @[member="Hannibal Oryen"] @[member="Lucien Cordel"] @[member="Anders Sivas"] @[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Velok the Younger]

"There's one very serious flaw to your offer, regardless of its other merits and disadvantages. The last time JAC provided battle droids to police Fringe worlds, Penumbra ordered those droids to turn on, and attack, Fringe citizens."

She let that hang there; it required no clarification.

 

[Zaiden Dean]

Sno snapped her finger, "Thank you Ms Merrill. I knew i was forgetting something." Reaching into her bag she drew forth one small slip of paper with the words, 'SHADOWS ARE LIFE', "Thats the new kill switch applied to every remaining droid on our network, as well to be continued on any newer. If the programming is deemed to dangerous you may apply the kill to the entire network, or simply speak the words to a singular example. Instant shut down will be the result.

"From there we can fix any errors we find."

@[member="Rave Merrill"]