Private Monkey Business | Athena

[Malok]

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H E A D Q U A R T E R S​

Tag: Athena

The contract was daunting.

Though simian, the Behemoth was not an unlearned creature. Between his ears resided the fruits of experience and knowledge. Years of education, training, and battle had culminated in a being of great understanding. Yet, for as learned as Malok was, legal-ese was not a fluent tongue. Due to this, in times past, he had relied upon a trusted pair of eyes to review such documents as the one upon his desk. The man was a Ma'alkerrite, and one of the few who had been with ApeX from the very beginning. Malok remembered their meeting quite well - how they had escaped from the palace of his sibling together. How they, with so many others, had founded the organization as a means of striking down Malok's tyrannical sibling.

Yet, while Malok was young in the eyes of his people, Darnu was not.

Darnu was aging the day that they escaped. And the gray seeped into his bones. He was wisdom personified, and could always decipher the true meanings of contracts with little effort. He spoke the twisted language of negotiations - and thus had been a valuable asset to ApeX. But, beyond that, he had been a mighty friend to Malok. A guide. A confidant. A compass to direct the stream of wrath. It was a grievous shame that Darnu succumbed to the mortal condition. In recent months, he passed. Peacefully in his bunk. He died far better than Malok had found him - and he had made Malok far better than when they had met.

And with this departure came a challenge.

There was none among the ApeX camp who were as skilled as Darnu at deciphering contracts. None who was as adapt at placing requisition orders and keeping the mercenaries' needs met. Malok had tried to uplift a few promising members of the organization, but his efforts were largely in vain. His men understood war. Understood fair payment. But the things that Malok required had not been imparted to them. He was fortunate - a noble by birth and thus thoroughly educated. Darnu served the court for many years and received the same. Yet the whole of ApeX were common men and women. It would not be easy to find a replacement.

Thus, against his own preference, Malok sought outside of his trusted ranks. A reputable offering was posted on high profile recruitment sites, causing a number of potential applicants to arrive at their Headquarters. Most were unsavory opportunitists, hoping to easily cash in on the turmoil of late. There were some promising prospects - but none which neared Darnu's level. In the present, a heavy huff escaped the Behemoth's nostrils as his office door was closed. Another applicant. Another paper into the circle file. He reached for the pile of folders before him and thumbed through - this one was a...Droid. Interesting.

Perhaps an automaton wouldn't be as disappointing.

"Send her in." came the growl of his voice. And, soon, he would be greeted with the opening of his door. Rising, the Behemoth briefly extended his dominant hand in greeting - one that would have dwarfed her hand many times over - before inviting her to sit.

"Thank you for coming." he began, before closing the folder before him. "The file you provided paints an excellent picture, but I'd love to hear from you personally. Tell me...what should I, and ApeX, know about you?"

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[Athena]

The day began as it always did.

She pulled her hand from the charging dock that let her keep a little more energy in reserve and sat up in a bed that was far too spacious for her slender form. She was diminutive in every sense of the word. Even the pale blue fabric she wore to maintain modesty whilst sleeping slipped off of her shoulder when she swung perfectly toned legs over the edge of the bed. The HRD did not sleep. She did not dream. She charged her frame so that it might serve her well in the coming ventures.

The automaton pressed a button on the dresser and the curtains drew back to reveal several suns that had already risen. She smiled. The receptors that lined her skin also let her translate warmth. Pressure. Pleasure and pain. Athena was as human as she could be without being human at all. She was nothing. No child of man. Only—A clever trick of programming.

Today she sought to do the most human thing she thought she could ever do.

A thing that most organic lifeforms capable of sentient thought did without thinking twice.

She would attempt to attain gainful, legal, employment.

Athena dressed for success. Auburn hair was carefully brushed and pinned back from her face in perfect barrel curls while a pair of smart and entirely unnecessary cosmetic glasses sat on the bridge of her nose. They were black-rimmed with a cat-eye flare. Her closest friend always told her that they made her look shrewd and smart. It contrasted deeply with the way her features broke and bloomed when she smiled. It was like daylight pouring through stained glass. Designed to be enlightening. Beautiful.

The trek to her interview was no hardship. The skylanes were mostly clear this early in the morning and she had spent the previous night timing the navigation. She would not arrive so early that she appeared eager nor would she arrive so late that she seemed careless. Time, for organics, was fleeting. It was important that she keep it exactly. Ever mindful. “Athena…”, she introduced herself at reception. Electric jade photoreceptors flickered. “I have an appointment scheduled at oh-eight-hundred.”

A very disinterested, portly woman, barely looked up from her computer screen. Athena frowned but gave it several more moments before clearing her throat. The look that came across the high desk was not lost on the HRD. She could read the reaction in percentages. 20% angry, 20% hungry, and simply a human with an overall poor condition. “You should eat something. It will help reduce your stress and anxiety by thirty percent. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

The receptionist stared. Coldly. As if Athena had offered her a live snake—Before she pointed sharply to the waiting area. The brunette automaton turned on a dangerously high heel at exactly ninety-degrees before walking toward her designated spot. She wore a pale green button-up with a gray skirt that held to her synth skin as if they were the same material. Hiding most of the green was a matching blazer.

There were a few other individuals waiting from various backgrounds.

Her eyes scanned out of habit. Two were known and extremely wanted criminals on Coruscant.

Soon enough a rather large creature came to collect her. Athena held a slender datapad under her arm. She had avoided, thus far, tapping into the DataStream of the building. The temptation was strong but she always refrained. Most places didn’t take too kindly to being hacked in broad daylight. Instead, she smiled, and kept her elbows tucked in tight.

Athena didn’t shirk away from the massive hand that was offered toward her. If it bothered her or if she noticed it at all—None would ever know. All that remained about her was a girlish sweetness that didn’t really lend to any sort of edge in the industry. Her accomplishments were many. Her portfolio seemed to have spoken for itself but the representative for ApeX seemed to wish to know more.

The seat offered was taken with grace and an edge of feminine charm. If Malok didn’t already know she was a robot? He would be hard-pressed to tell.

“I’m efficient, precise, and don’t require breaks during work hours. I can work remotely just as easily as within the office. My legalese is up to date in the Southern Systems as well as the most other major powers and I won’t complain about odd hours.”

It was a clinical reply, though, her every phrase was touched with a slight smile. More signs that whomever had built her had taken the time to ensure she appeared as human as an HRD could be. Nothing stood out, save, for the very bright shade of her eyes.

Even they smiled. Charming. Everything about her was designed to engage.

“Oh—And I’ll never steal a coworkers lunch from the chiller.”

Another smile. Humor. Simulated, but sweet.

 

[Malok]

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I N T E R V I E W​

Tag: Athena

Athena was not what the Behemoth was anticipating.

When the file described the applicant as a Droid, what Malok had assumed was something along the lines of a protocol unit. One whose functions would fit the business side of ApeX, but not one that he could reliably hand a rotary cannon. The initial surprise came in the form of a very feminine package. The automaton was the spitting image of a baseline human, save for some obvious tells when she smiled or spoke. Her verbiage was crisp. Professional. And being that she was an automaton, there would be no fear of packed lunches getting up and walking away. The Behemoth's nostrils flared slightly at the joke and his lips curved into a half-smile.

In terms of filling Darnu's footsteps, at least in terms of translating the legalese of contracts into Basic, Athena seemed well qualified. Requisitions for the organization would be an even less daunting task than this - and so, Malok figured she would be able to accomplish that as well. The ability to work remotely was excellent, for there would be many field operations that could take them away from the comforts of Kalakar Six. In all, Athena matched the file to the letter, but there was more to the business than just the desk work. Though Malok did not anticipate any sort of frontline action, combat did occur. And a consultant for a PMC would need to be able to hold their own.

For that reason, many Munn had been turned away from the position.

Perhaps Athena would prove herself differently.

"You present yourself very well, Miss Athena." came his response with a nod. "Should you be chosen, it will ease my men's hearts that their lunches will be safe."

Another chuckle. Now back to business.

"As you're aware, ApeX operates in three major capacities. Mercenary services. Fugitive recovery. Training support. In these three areas, especially with the foremost, combat is a reality that you may be exposed to. As a Consultant for our organization, frontline combat is not a part of your job description. But you will often be adjacent to hot zones - and battle can sometime come to you."

"What I would like to know are your combat proficiencies. Should you be exposed to a combat situation, how will you defend yourself? And, if you lack combat proficiencies, will you be willing to take the necessary training courses to uplift them?"

There were a few applicants who were fine with being exposed to combat, for there would be hazard pay as part of their package. However, being trained to stand and fight versus finding the nearest escape vessel had been a deal breaker for some. Malok needed someone like Darnu. Someone who, when the deal came down to it, would take up a hammer and join the fray until the work was done. It was not the primary part of the role, but working for a militant organization was certain to come with a level of battlefield exposure. As an automaton, the Behemoth assumed Athena might be more...comfortable with facing these threats than her organic competition.

Only her answer would tell.

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