Sibling Rivalry

[Tmoxin Temi]

“I can’t make heads or tails of this blueprint,” said Tmoxin, examining the instructions for a medical contraption she had extorted from younger brother, Dr. Armand Temi, head surgeon of The Fountain of Youth Clinic. Her original intention was to rebuild the machine as the blueprint described - essentially recreating the Age Renewal Chamber that her sibling was keeping in hiding in his Hapan medical facility. This machine needed to be a secret, because contrary to his humanitarian nature, Armand had obtained the technology on the black market and couldn't outwardly use it on the open market because the patent for the tech was owned by another bio-tech firm.

“You just need to contract it out, Commander.” Sgt Major Ulysses had advised.

But why "contract it out" when that was costly and the maker only knew who had the original patent? She was not going to get mixed up in a lawsuit over stolen technology! Her lawyer would most certainly advise against that anyway. If anyone was going to take the fall for creation of this machine, it would be her brother and Tmoxin would make sure of that.

But either way she needed this specific chamber as baseline technology for some plans which were being cooked up in the unfinished laboratory in the Morpho Center for Imperial Training.

Tmoxin Temi wasn’t a biologist, nor was she really that good at engineering, mechanics, math or any other science-like pursuits. But the Morpho's laboratory lay unfinished and unused right now and this really irked her. Sure she could hire a few scientists. Even the Imperials had their share of young geniuses, but she was worried about attracting attention especially after her and Captain Vaiden's recent actions on Byss. Her original plan was just to "talk" to Armand about the chamber, maybe get some tips on how to go about making one of her own. But eventually "talking" to her brother somehow mutated into "kidnapping" her brother and "making the chamber," turned into "stealing the chamber." It was much easier this way, she reasoned.

Therefore she found herself contacting Sylvanan’s… well what was he after all? His experiment? She wasn't sure but she sent him a message through an encrypted frequency:

Let me know where to find you on Balmorra. I have an assignment for you.

[member="Detritus"]

 

[Darth Eversor]

Awakened. Detritus felt a surge of electricity surge through his spine as he was revived from his cryo-crypt with a new objective. A holo-display message spanned over the glass that notified him that he was needed; this woman was familiar yet not very much so. Detritus' eyes moved about as the revival protocols went on so he could be properly released. Tubes connected to Detritus as they injected him with copious amounts of combat drugs, the veins in his body bulging as his muscles tensed and tightened beyond normal means.

The chamber door opened and out came a disfigured monstrosity that was soon set upon by machinery as his armored suit was placed rightly so; his helmet locking around his hairless scalp with a pressurized hiss. A HUD came online and showed the entity his vital signs and the function of both his hearts - all systems go.

Heading towards his arsenal locker, Detritus placed his wickedly clawed right gauntlet to his helmet to respond to the encrypted frequency sent to him. While arming himself with his slugthrower pistol and lightsaber staff, he spoke.

"You can find me within weapon plant in the medical ward; I am fully operational and ready to complete the objective."

With that, Detritus stood idle and watched a nearby monitor of another clone's health status. None of the Imperial's ideas could surpass the one that was designed to truly take the title of death incarnate. Such a monstrosity did not dare dwell among the company of underlings or even consider them a counterpart. He saw them as inferior.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin made her way to the medical ward of the garrison and tentatively entered the room. She could have just hired out hands to do all of this work, even this meeting with Tal’verda’s creation, but the Commander knew from experience that the more beings involved, the more of a chance for someone to snitch or a plot to be uncovered. Sometimes you needed to take matters into your own well-manicured hands.

She knew that Syvlanan Tal’verda had manufactured this creature but she wasn’t sure how or why. And by the eternal core, did it really need to live in such a dark and creepy room? Was that the prerequisite living accommodations for sinister clones?

“Hello?” she called out. Tmoxin had surgery to correct her poor night vision. but once her eyes grew accustomed to the dark, she saw the thing finally and was slightly startled by his presence. She hadn’t anticipated him there, standing by a monitor in the back of the room.

“Oh goodness you gave me a fright,” she said. “You are Tal’verda’s associate? My name is Commander Temi and I’m here to give you an assignment.”

[member="Detritus"]

 

[Darth Eversor]

Detritus stood still and watched the woman. His form was unwavering as was his stare, the blackened sockets in his helmet resembled that of a quite real human skull - symbolic of his purpose. He then broke free of this stillness and walked over to [member="Tmoxin Temi"], stopping just a few feet away. He scanned her, taking information such as her species and how she presented herself; a legitimate service provider.

"I was designed by Tal'Verda for the purpose of murder; total deconstruction of enemy command structure. Your assignment will be completed without fail, Commander."

Detritus stared her down, awaiting her response. Idle chit-chat wasn't the creature's strong-suit. He was essentially an objectively driven creation, nothing less.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

There was no doubt about it - Sylvanan’s experiment gave her the chills, although she tried not to show it. Showing fear in front of this creature may just cause it to attack her like a rabid animal would. No sudden moves, she thought. Better not to even put a hand on her blaster.

Tmoxin wondered if this plan was such a good idea at all. This creature was designed to be a killing machine and she wasn’t even sure he was capable of restraint if the kidnapping suddenly took a wrong turn. Maybe she should just hire a femme fatale to seduce her brother instead. But her younger sibling was notoriously picky when it came to women so she supposed she needed to find out if the beast could work with the more subtle parameters of this job.

“Let me be clear, soldier,” Tmoxin said. “You are not to kill the target. You are to tranquilize him. I don’t really care how… a tranq slug would do just fine. Then I want him brought to Lok to the Morpho Center for Imperial Training and I’ll take it from there.”

She handed him a flimsiplast dossier with the information on the target. His name was Armand Temi and he lived on the planet of Hapes. He appeared to be a cosmetic surgeon and he owned a clinic called The Fountain of Youth.

Commander Temi wasn’t sure that this agent she was hiring could tell that they were siblings, so she explained, “He is my brother. Which is why no harm can come to him. I hope to convince him to help me with some experiments.” I don’t know why I’m explaining all of these nuances to this abnormality, she thought, but she continued. “I’m estranged from my brother and he refuses to talk to me. But he's the only one who can help with the work I need. And once he gets over the initial anger of us… well, kidnapping is such an inappropriate word, I like to think were just borrowing him for awhile… he will come around.”

She peered at the beast, searching for any kind of emotional response. “Any questions?”

[member="Detritus"]

 

[Darth Eversor]

Taking in all the information that the woman was delivering, Detritus focused on one thing while his processor-like brain absorbed her words - she was afraid of him. The Dark Side of the Force relished in this fear and drank it in slow like a fine wine, savoring each and every sip. The monstrosity himself did not feel any satisfaction from it, only the bodily pleasure of knowing that he was superior in this case.

"The best method of capture is by force alone; your sibling will be dealt with appropriately depending upon the parameters of the situation. I can guarantee his safety even under stressed circumstances. I will inquire on one thing, however."

Detritus took a step closer to the woman.

"What is it like to feel fear such as this? I feel it yet I cannot experience and relate to such an emotion. From what I gather it is chemistry inside your body sending signals that cause unease. And I know it is from my presence."

Detritus turned away from the woman to gaze upon the other canned clones. He too wondered what their dreams were made of - why they even dared to dream at all. The science of this creature would be quite perplexing to anyone of an untrained demeanor, and it would seem that the woman giving Detritus these orders did not quite understand him. She saw him as nothing more, nothing special - that was fine.

He did not care for her family matters, for he did not feel nor would he ever be able to relate to intimate moments such as bonds with kin. The creature's visor was full with complex algorithms and technical details regarding the structure of the DNA used for clones within the complex along with weapon schematics he had interest in. Such things were present to keep the monster from going about and killing for no reason, he too needed something mindless to be preoccupied with in the mean time.

"Are there any more details you wish to relay? If not, see yourself out. There is no further logic in you being here; I am not interested in small talk."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin was intensely afraid of this creature to begin with so when he came closer to her, adrenaline surged through her body and her heart leapt into her throat. She swallowed and took a step back. The Commander's pale hand slid down to her E-11 holster but she did not withdraw the weapon. It was more a subconscious movement from years of military training.

She answered him in a soft voice. “Fear is a complicated emotion. But oddly enough sometimes it drives you to accomplish great achievements."

When he turned away, she was relieved and exhaled, not noticing that she had been holding her breath the whole time he was close to her. Through her own Force sensitivity she could feel the beast feeding off of her, siphoning her anxiety and trespassing into deep, painful recesses of her mind. Involuntarily she shuddered.

“No I have nothing more to add. You know how to reach me.” She turned to go but before she completely left the room, Tmoxin added, “Remember what I said. My brother is not to be harmed.”

The only trust she had in this being was vis-à-vis Sylvanan. If anyone else had created this experiment, based on its demeanor alone, she would have no trust at all that it wouldn’t kill her brother Armand Temi with one quick blow.

[member="Detritus"]