Oh My, My, Kiss The Sky

[Cassandra Paige]

She glanced at him out of the side of her eye, smirking slightly.

"Don't tell me anyone put money down on that," she teased. "Did you? I'd be curious which side you'd bet on, in a case like that."

In truth, if someone had asked her before this, she wouldn't have been able to answer. She simply hadn't known. She hadn't thought something like this would bother her, but she knew well enough to know that there was no knowing, not truly, until one walked through it.

A small part of her, one that she rarely gave voice to, even less that the face he had glimpsed beneath the mask was..... disappointed.

Shouldn't she have felt something? Anything. Revulsion could be expected. Horror? Discomfort? None of those? Perhaps a thrill then? An excitement?

Nothing.

A mild curiosity only.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

It would have been different, if she had been the one to pull the trigger or squeeze the knife.

This much Itash knew for a fact.

Right now Cassandra was nothing more than a tourist, a visitor, someone passing by a gruesome scene and not quite being able to look away. Because fascination had a way to put some distance between reality and fiction. "Oh, I did, but rest assured-" A grin showed itself as he shifted slightly to get a glance in, before looking back towards the controls of the security room.

"-I never bet against my own team."

That could very well mean that he wouldn't bet against his men, but it could also serve as a reference to the Eshan ball they had attended together. It all depended on how much she thought they were becoming a team together.

A click of the finger and the central core of the security facility was deactivated.

Now it would be safe to start taking apart the facility. It was ancient after all, pirates might not have an issue squatting here amidst old Imperial tech and corporate antiquity, but Itash had plans for this site. It ran straight over the sector data hub of the Corporate Sector. With some upgrades and installations that had been custom ordered for Didact... this would run efficiently in no time.

Itash settled himself in the remaining chair, before reaching out- fingers firmly wrapping themselves around her wrist and pulling her in and on his lap.

"Now, I think there's cause for celebration."

 

[Cassandra Paige]

She smirked at him. Oh, she caught very easily that it wasn't an answer. That it could be read in either direction. She wasn't actually a full blown narcissist, to assume he obviously meant her. She was starting to understand him. Not as Lord Mecetti. But as Itash.

It made him dangerous.

Her smile widened slightly.

Cass wasn't used to people being a challenge. Part of her knew that the smart thing would be to end it. Immediately and without regret. But it was a small enough part, and Cass was bored enough in most other aspects of her life that this was simply too interesting to toss in the gutter.

Logically, she could see the benefits and weigh them with the risks. For now, the benefits far outweighed. And one thing she rarely was with Tash, that could not be over stated in importance, was bored.

She let him draw her in, settling on his knee and leaning in to kiss him.

"Well, it is something to celebrate," she murmured against his mouth.

Her own mind was only half on his triumph, truth be told. She was also thinking about the implications of what his orders could mean for GenPals. Up until now, they had focused solely on the 'cute and cuddle' angle. It had been by design of course, to offer up a friendly, family company. But that was now firmly established and there were other market needs waiting. Infiltration. Personal Security. She would have to be careful in how that was done, presented. But already GenPals scientists were working on his new orders, and tailoring that research to fit a broader market.

A celebration indeed, for both of them.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

No, don't go in there.

Why- Oh.

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaah.

You'd think they could find a different place.

Right?

It's fine.

I can hear them.

It's fiiiiiiiiine.

I am going to count to five and then all of you will stop listening at the door.​

​

Roger.

Roger.

Roger.

Roger roger!

Yessir!

Aye-aye!

Roger!

Five.​

​

---​

THREE WEEK LATER

After three weeks the facility was now devoid of the corpses, every hallway and corridor was gleaming, even the smell of copper and blaster exhaust had been replaced in favor of a soft scent of pine. They had reorganized the facility, expanded it downwards and otherwise began making upgrades to it that would ensure it would be more effective than it had been for the pirates.

Some discussion between Cass and Tash allowed for some space to be reserved for a few GenPal projects.

Clandestine stuff that couldn't be placed on Etti without some risks involved. Itash had agreed after some coaxing and negotiation. Right now the Tapani was waiting outside, near the shuttle-pad that had been hastily erected.

What with the treeline and forestation you'd only be aware of it, if you already knew where to look for. But the shuttle that was carrying Cass already had the coordinates prior to its travel route. They were going to go over the creatures GenPals was creating specifically for Didact, the progress he was making with restoring the facility and how that would affect their push into the CSA.

Should be interesting.

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

 

[Cassandra Paige]

The shuttle touched down, and a few minutes later Cass disembarked, several GenPals employees following with a trio of large crates with vents along the top edges. They had prepared a trio of potential security animals for him to evaluate. As agreed, the ones for *this* facility would be complimentary, since, after all, they would benefit her as much as him. Just as she would not be charged additionally for security here, as he was already providing it for himself. Part of the negotiations, of course. When he had suggested the first it was only natural that she smile sweetly and add the next.

The animals had been sedated for travel, but were starting to grow restless as the crates were settled to the tarmac. As Cass strode across to meet Tash, the handlers started opening the crates. They contained one of the prototype griffins and the altered vornskr GenPals had already been developing, one as a custom order and one simply because why not? The third was new, created specifically for one of the purposes Tash had desired.

It had been a busy three weeks and they had seen little of each other in that time, and the kiss she gave him in greeting told him that was absolutely too long.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

The way his arm curled around her waist and pulled her in tight said just as much as her kiss did.

"Mm, is good." Tash murmured softly against her lips- if he meant the kiss, her or the presents she brought was left in the middle. He looked past her and let her go, instead opting to move closer to the animals in question. He had known about the vornskr, of course- that one they had handled together when the Sith Empire had descended onto... Nov- Novzoth?

Something like that.

"These are well done." Itash complimented as he crouched down to eye the third specimen. The one that had been made specifically for him, it stopped nuzzling the ground and instead focused its attention on the Tapani.

Head cocked.

Nostrils flared a touch.

"Mm, fiery one. Part of it wants to jump- I can almost see it in its eyes."

 

[Cassandra Paige]

She nodded, a crisp "Thank you" all the response needed.

Cass knew they were good. The Vornskr were easy, very little in truth that needed to be done with them- make them more trainable and loyal without the removal of the tail sting. The Griffins were being created off of that first idea, from a custom order. This was the only one in the security line so far, and they were working on more family friendly versions. The last though.....

"It is still young," she said, standing behind him. Her head tilted as she watched him interact with the creatures. "Not fully grown, either in size or behavior, nor at the others for that matter. And you are correct. Right now it's still a little drowsy from the sedative, but if you give it permission- by tapping on your chest with a flat hand- it would happily jump up and probably lick your face. We've introduced all three to your scent already, so they are likely very excited to meet you."

She did not mimic the action she had explained. Mostly because she did not want it jumping up on her.

"When that one is fully grown it will be nearly as tall as you are. The other two will be shorter, hip high, but bulkier."

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Itash did not tap himself on the chest either.

"I am sure your people keep it clean and neat, but I think I am good." The Tapani mumbled before reaching out and softly scritching the length of its head - from between its long ears further up its head towards its nose, and up again. It made a sound of joy, high-pitched, sing-songy, which made Itash snort. "Cute thing, what is it called then?" In some ways Itash could identify himself more with animals.

He liked them more too.

They ranged from the simple to the sheer complex, but they had this distinct sense of... honesty. There were no lies there. No, those were the domain of the humans and their ilk.

Another scritch followed soon after. "Did your people manage to imprint the skill I need it to have?" This one would be a tracker. It's form was sleek and it was beautiful, but what it needed... hmm. Itash could feel the strength within it- he had asked for it to be able to track anyone, through the Force. He had even offered his services to procure specific specimens for assistance.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Cass wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Dolly."

The thing immediately perked its ears, cocking its head and looking right at her. It clearly knew it's name. Cass sighed. It offered a soft, questioning trill, not sure why she had called it.

"It's official designation is currently Subject DO-1Y. One of my scientists saw the opportunity and ran with it. Now we can't get it to answer to anything else. Dr. Fisher is..... unique on my staff." The way she said that implied it was not a compliment necessarily. He had a strange affinity for the monstrous, and while this animal was not the same as that order for [member="Velok the Younger"], for some reason Larry had decided he simply adored it.

Cass was starting to dislike Larry.

"And yes, I believe so. The innate abilities it needs are there, and training has begun, but it will require more specific work in that regard to perform as you wish. Flash training things of animal intelligence is iffy at best, so we find that more traditional methods are more reliable in the long run."

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

"...Dolly."

It immediately recentered its attention back on Tash and even made a faint spinning noise at the back of its throat. Presumably because it was its 'owner' that had murmured the name this time around. "I am glad this Fisher is better at his work than at coming up with names." The Tapani finally retorted, before giving it one more scritch around the ear and rising up.

Of course, the creature tried to stand up as well, but Itash shook his head.

"No. Stay. Sit." It immediately complied. This bode well for its intelligence. "Good b- Dolly is a female then?"

He rose and stretched an inch, before whistling- all three reared their heads and looked at him with anticipation. "My men were helpful then, I take it." He gestured with his head and they slowly started to pad alongside him as Itash returned to Cass.

"Yes, I know, you dislike these creatures." He murmured consolingly, before brushing softly against her. "Suffice it to say they won't make an appearance in my apartment."

It almost seemed as if Dolly whined a little bit disappointed in immediate response to that.

But that was probably just his imagination.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"No," she said with a small sniff. "Dolly is male."

Ridiculous.

She slipped her arm into his as they started walking.

"Your men are always helpful," she said, a touch dismissively. "And it's not that I- okay yes, I dislike them. I find that the returns in no way outweighs the investment. Animals are dirty, unsanitary, and stupid. Of course," she said thoughtfully, "So are most people I know. But at least most of them know not to piddle on the carpet."

Most.

They headed toward the facility and Cass's eyebrows slowly raised.

"You've done quite a bit of work," she commented approvingly.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Male?

But why would you- no matter, it truly didn't matter, but this Fisher character was slowly sinking down his metaphorical regard meter. "Quite right, I agree for the most part." Yet the affinity for them remained, because it was as Paige had noted.

Humans could be all that, if not worse.

"They are rather like little children really." He mentioned as he slid his hand across the scanner and it beeped in confirmation at his access. "Then again, most animals don't cry so insistently for as long as a toddler can."

Another point to the animals.

"Mm, I figured you would be appreciative of the effort we are putting here." They had torn down a lot of the old facility. In its place they were installing prefab foundations, before expanding on it through heavy engineering and customization.

"This facility is about three times the size of the old one." It went dooown for quite some time after all. "Far more secure, better ventilated too."

That last bit with a smirk.

"Would you like to see how we are setting up the GenPals' lab?"

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Truthfully, Cass's distaste of animals ran to children. As far as she was concerned, until they could make reasonable conversation, feed, clean, cloth and toilet themselves, they were not unlike animals in truth at all. She didn't say that. Yes, they had peered beneath the other's mask, but it had only been for a moment. A glimpse. And then the masks had gone back down in most ways. She was still angling to something else with him, something to rub her mother's nose in it. As a member of a noble house, it would be inevitable that he'd want children. Heirs. Saying such a thing here, at this juncture, could ruin all of the work she'd put in so far. No. She had not been so charmed by their momentary honesty to trust that all sorts would be useful.

"Mmm, yes of course," she said as they entered.

They moved toward the lift, the GenPals labs taking up one half of, if she remembered correctly, the third level down? Or had it been the second? It didn't matter really- seeing as it was his facility and he was playing the role of guide, she was perfectly content to let him do exactly that. He pushed a button and down they went.

"Once the main structures are in place, I would like your help assembling the lab team for this location," she said casually. Oh, she didn't need his help, but that was beside the point. One thing Cass did well was stroke an ego without it being obvious it was being deliberately ruffled. "I would think that their security clearances should be of primary concern, but you know the rubric and which details ought to weigh more better than I do."

She smiled up at him.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

The doors slid shut just before the animals passed by.

Another whine by Dolly? Maybe. But there was no sense in having them run around the entire facility, there were designated places where they could wait without getting in the way. Part of him wondered how she'd react to him pinning her right there.

Hm.

Well, this was *business* and clearly pleasure did not mix with that.

"I can certainly lend my expertise there, Cass." Itash retorted smoothly while leaning down and softly leaving a kiss at the edge of her mouth. Her lips had almost healed completely after all this time, but Tash could almost taste the blood again.

Something of understanding moved between them, as his eyes met hers, before the *ding* of the lift door broke Tash's focus.

The second floor was still somewhat in flux.

Parts of the corridor bare with the wiring and metal exposed. "I want you to meet someone." Tash said with a smile as he led her past the doorway that led to the GenPals portion of the level.

"We had some difficulty figuring out how to process all the dats that moves through this place. The pirates only managed to access a fraction of it." If even that. They had only received the barest of hints of what this place had to offer.

There was so much more here.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

She'd started to turn into his kiss, but he was already drawing back. Looking up at him for a moment, her gaze was heavy, and it was clear that she certainly wouldn't have objected, despite her usual line between business and pleasure.

Three weeks was too long.

But the lift offered a soft ding and the doors slid open, so she just smiled knowingly before letting him usher her out.

She glanced over her shoulder, through that doorway as he moved them past it, catching only a glimpse- she suppressed the slight annoyance. She didn't want to meet anyone right now. Internally she sighed, but to Tash she offered a brilliant smile.

"Yes of course. I admit I don't know much about all of that," she murmured demurely. "Probably much like those pirate I would never have even known what was under my feet," she said with a laugh.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Her annoyance could almost be tasted.

But as often was the case that made Tash only *more* willing to push the proverbial envelope. He led her past the door and pretended like he had missed that seeking glance towards it. Oh, yes, it was quite empty and devoid of any recording equipment.

For now anyway.

"Oh, I found myself in the same position, but there are some key differences between us and scum like that, Cass." Down the corridor, around the corner, stairs down. Through a check point, a second elevator that was detached from the other one.

This one didn't show up on the blueprints either.

"We have the sense to delegate and outsource, when we are outside our depth." This time the trip down took longer. Long enough that he leaned in and kisses her again, his hand already brushing, already pushing her an inch against the wall.

Promising? Maybe.

The elevator *ding* sounded and interrupted before they got any further. "Mm, there were are." He detached himself and out through the corridor they went. A keycard was swiped and into a new room they went.

It was colder here.

The walls stacked with computer mainframes. In the middle a circular projector. Right now it seemed to just generate random particles.

"Hello." the blob of particles politely said.​

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"Some key differences?" She said, her tone amused. "I would think that list to be extensive, Tash."

Grey eyes took in the pathway, noting the differences in the plans she had seen and what was actually here at the very base of his operation. Check points, the separate lift. When he leaned in, she kissed him back, insistent- if his wasn't a promise, hers was a reminder.

The whole thing was bordering on dramatic, she decided, as they went through another check point that required his key card. Wrapping her arms around herself, she noted the need for jackets in this area. More like a holodrama than real life. But then, experiences with him had edged against that- the day they had met notably. But things had quieted back down into what 'real' life was (as real as it got for the rich and powerful). So the level of secrecy here seemed.... well.... like he'd watched too many of a particular sort of show as a child. Surely it was not-

When the cluster of lights in the middle of the room spoke, she blinked.

"Um. Hello."

She looked over at Tash, her expression clearly amused. As it this were all some elaborate set up for a joke.

"I was expecting a person, not a program."

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

The blob of particles reformed itself into a shape.

Not a humanoid one, no. Instead it picked a geometrical shape- a hyperbola to be exact. OSI-00 didn't enjoy humanoid shapes, they were so messy and illogical as far as it was concerned.

It refused to change to them for the most part.

"Mmhm, I assumed as much, but what person would be better at processing information than a program?" In response to that query the AI hummed softly, changing shapes from the hyperbola to a triangle, a sphere (pulsing) and then back to its favorite euclidean form. Itash looked back towards OSI with his own form of bemused expressions.

"Yes, OSI?"

"The answer is none, Lord Itash. I have run the inquiry through my databanks and found a 0.0001 percent chance that a group of networked Givins might come close. But this is well within the margin of error."​

​

"There you have it." A smirk playing, self-satisfied as feth, it was clear that Itash was proud of this. "Try it. Ask OSI anything. If the answer can be found within the Corporate Sector Authority? It will find it."

Part of it was showing off, yes. But there was a real goal behind it- her skepticism for all this security was palpable and the best way to break through it was seeing it in action. Itash himself hadn't been so sure about the security measures, until he had tried it. There was something... sobering about having the secrets of an entire sector laid open for you.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Cass mulled for only a moment.

"Anything?"

Tash nodded, looking a little smug.

Her own face was innocent, as if it were a perfectly innocent query. Her attention was on OSI, but she kept Tash in her peripheral vision.

"Itash Mecetti's tax filings and bank records for, say, just this last year, perhaps?"

​

"Retrieving files."​

She didn't smirk, but it was only just off of it as she looked over at him and batted her eyes.

"Hmmm I know I don't know much about personal security Tash, of course, but perhaps certain things ought not fall under the 'anything' umbrella, yes?"

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Eyes widened just a fraction.

That was more out of him than she had ever had before, but it was cleared up just as quickly at came. Instead palpable amusement replaced it and Tash couldn't help but snort.

"Abort, please."

"...yessir."​

​

It even sounded a little bit sad and disappointed, but that was part of its creation. OSI wasn't just some kind of droid or elaborate programming. By the end of it there was true sentience. Programmed, created, but now it was growing and developing on its own. It was fascinating in its own way. It couldn't lie either, it wasn't allowed to do that. Apparently that was important- ensure that it couldn't be dangerous to the organics it served.

"What would I do without you, Cass?" Probably spend way less money for one, but that was besides the fact. "I will be sure to keep certain things... restricted." The noise OSI made sounded disgusted now.

Tash ignored that.

"Do you want to check out the labs next?"