Private Secrets in the Darkness

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium​

Location: Cantina, Lorrd
Objective: Speak with Beltran
Equipment: The Soulsabers (hidden) | Simple attire | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Tag: Beltran Rarr

[ Nuclear ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Through Nite, the woman had people everywhere in the galaxy. So she also found out that Beltran Rarr is on Lorrd now. Although it wasn't exactly ideal for Ingrid to go to a planet recently occupied by the NIO, she had wanted to talk to the man for a long time. The colonel was one of the few who visited the woman for personal reasons during her captivity and not because they wanted information from the woman. Ingrid then felt that the man could not talk about everything; that's why she decided to come here. Maybe today they can speak about those topics which are remained hidden last time, in the prison.

She wore an average dress with a hooded cloak. It didn't change shape, that was enough. Arriving through the Netherworld, she appeared in the city where Beltran was. Following the information she received, the Empress reached the cantina where the man was. According to the information obtained, he came from here, from this planet. So it was already clear why he fought so hard against Sith oppression. Now that the war is over, they are not on the enemy side anymore. Although a mutual respect formed between them over the years, they were allies despite camaraderie and opposing sides.

She entered the cantina, though they were not at war with the NIO, it would not have been expedient to walk in here without a disguise. She walked to the chair or table where Beltran was. Ingrid gently put her hand on the man's shoulder and leaned closer to him. Because of the leaning, her red hair showed up under her hood, as did her features.

"Colonel, I'm glad to see you. Can we talk in a more private or safer place?" she asked.

 

[Beltran Rarr]

The still warm breeze of the New Shallos desert blew into the small side-street cantina as the door opened to allow a new patron inside. Beltran didn't look up from his drink-a glass of Lorrdian bourbon poured on the rocks. He hadn't been to his home-world in nearly four years, and it had been more than a decade since he'd called this place home.

He hadn't really known what it was that had drawn him back to his planet of origin, other than the fact that after years of occupation it was finally free of the yoke of the Sith Empire. It was true that the forces of the NIO had moved rapidly into the sector, nipping at the heels of the retreating Sith, but for the moment it seemed that the world of his birth had been allowed some semblance of freedom.

Taking a sip, he swallowed the familiar burning liquid slowly-savoring it.

He could feel a familiar presence in the Force. It had arrived on his world only a short time ago, through means Beltran didn't understand. But Ingrid L'lerim had always been full of surprises. A worthy adversary and an honorable ally. He suspected, hoped even, that the role that brought the red-haired Empress of the Eternal Empire to him today was the latter rather than the former.

"Colonel, I'm glad to see you. Can we talk in a more private or safer place?

He felt her hand on his shoulder and her breath on his ear as she spoke quietly to him.

Beltran didn't answer immediately, and instead he took another sip of his drink. There were those on his world, in this very establishment even, who knew Beltran from his life before the Silver Jedi. They knew that he was to be avoided if at all possible, and they knew the price that would be exacted if anyone got in the way of his business here.

He was sure that they could talk here safely, but he nodded after a moment. If Ingrid wanted privacy, he would not deny her.

"Of course." He said softly as he finished his drink. Standing he nodded to the bartender. He had a standing account of a kind here, a hold-over from his younger days. The cost of his drink and any that Ingrid might have consumed would be covered. "Come."

He led Ingrid through the swinging doors and out onto the street of the desert city. It was just past mid-day and the sun shone high in the sky. Warm air blew dust through the city's streets as Beltran made his way toward a jet-black luxury speeder parked on the opposite side. Surrounding the speeder, a group of about ten gangers stood-tattooed up with their spikey hair and angry eyes. They all carried weapons of some kind, mostly spiked pipes and vibro-blades, but a few had old style hold-out blasters.

Beltran continued forward as if he hadn't a care in the world, stopping only when the group moved to block his path.

Each of them raised one of their forearms in an odd form of salute, each showing a tattoo of what appeared to be a Raven. Stopping for a moment, Beltran slowly rolled up the sleeve of his own tunic and displayed a much faded tattoo of the same bird. Parts of the tattoo had been covered by scars from one of a hundred battles fought, but it only served to make the body art all the more imposing.

"O-G," Their leader said, nodding at his group and leading them away from the speeder.

Spoiler: Theme Music begins to play

One of the gangers went to the passenger door and opened it for Ingrid. "Lady," He said inviting her to sit down, his street accent making the word sound more like layduh.

Beltran would wait as one of the gangers, the leader in fact, opened his door for him. He would nod to Ingrid to sit and once both were seated, the gangers would close the doors gently and allow Beltran's speeder to take to the air.

"Is this private enough?" He asked after a moment. "Or would you like to go to my ship?"

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium​

Location: Cantina, Lorrd
Objective: Speak with Beltran
Equipment: The Soulsabers (hidden) | Simple attire | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Tag: Beltran Rarr

[ Nuclear ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Luckily, Ingrid was patient enough so she had no trouble with waiting for them to leave. She followed the man; this time her movement was not military, nor her usual exotic nor deadly. She was also able to hide her definite radiance perfectly, which made her a great leader. Now she looked nothing more than an average person who was one in the crowd. No one noticed her presence, though at other times she even attracted the gazes, when she was in armour with her posture and noble appearance.

Now she was nothing more than a gray little mouse. As an agent, she learned how to be unnoticed, invisible while still present. Outside, Ingrid thoroughly surveyed the people who looked like mercenaries. Here her movements became uncertain, as if afraid of them. So she tried to position herself as if she really didn’t want to go near them. When one addressed her, the woman visibly shuddered as if she was really scared.

After they got into the vehicle and it rose into the air, the woman's insecure hold ceased, as did the fact that it seemed insignificant. By the time she takes a stiff position in the seat, the well-known Ingrid was already sitting opposite Beltran. The Empress extended her hand to the man then.

"Yes, thank you, this place is acceptable! The Eternal Empire may have a neutral relationship with the NIO, but last time I was their prisoner of war and the Admiral Regent wanted to kill me despite Tavlar's order, and my relationship with Rurik Fel was the best. I don't want them to know I'm here." she explained, her voice was now more direct again, not entirely military.

She waited a few moments before continuing.

"When we last met, we couldn’t speak properly because of the circumstances. But I felt like there was something you didn’t say, you couldn’t tell then…"