Take Off The Mask

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric sat in front of the Dejarik board on his desk. The Analog figured seemed to glare at him, begging to be moved about.

It had been four days.

It had been four days since Alrics encounter with Danger, four days since the two of them had thrown off their clothes in an act of passion so wild that it would have made a Zeltron blush. Well, perhaps not Xo. He smiled at the thought, though his chin came down to rest on his desk, eyes behind his new glasses still fixed on the Analog Dejarik board.

He didn't know what move to make.

The game was muddled in his head, a fog reigning over him.

It still wasn't clear to him who had won. He had ran it through his mind over and over again, and though he came out on top, no pun intended, the victory still felt...hollow. He frowned slightly as he watched the pieces, his eyes slowly becoming rather dejected. Lids closed for a few moments and a he saw a flash of something, Dangers mammaquatia as she lay beneath him.

Alrics eyes snapped open and focused on the Dejarik board.

He had to make a move. He had to make a decision. There were many things he could do, so many actions he could take. A frown settled on his face, his eyes drifting away from the Dejarik board and towards a small comm-link on the desk, then towards the computer where the technical specifications for the new Fighter were laid out.

Perhaps if he called Xo...

No.

She wouldn't help. She would just win again.

He let out a sigh of frustration, eclipsed by the sudden jarring noise of a buzzer going off on his intercom. He jumped slightly, his head shaking as he reached out and pressed the button to allow his secretary to speak.

“Mr. Kuhn. A Miss Arceneau here to see you.”

Alric's eyes opened wide in surprise, and he quickly bade the woman to let her in.

 

[Cira Cat]

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Click. Click. Click. Click. ​

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If anything, Danger Arceneau knew how to make an entrance. Four days. Four days since that curious little incident. That bump in the road. But that didn't matter. Not here.

Not now.

After all, business was business.

The black dress would hug her curves, a bit more modest than the dress Alric Kuhn had seemingly seen her last. Simple. Elegant.

Untouchable.

Ah that siren gaze, that crimson smile. The pleasant cordiality.

"Mistah Kuhn, what a pleasure."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

As she stepped into the office Alric found himself still sitting behind the desk. He watched her for a moment.

The confidence had returned, the voice was back to the play, her hands were no longer shaking. His eyes scanned her, looking for...something, though he was not entirely sure what that something was. His lips pursed for a few moments, and he stood up from his chair, rounding his desk and approaching her.

She made no move to stop him, no move to step away from him.

There was no anger on her face, simply that teasing look that had been there before. Before she had lain beneath him, before she had so vehemently pressed against him. He frowned, and saw nothing dissimilar.

Was she really that calm?

“It's always a pleasure with you.” Alric said in a soft tone, approaching her and laying out his hand for her palm. A test, he had to know where the pieces were at to play the game.

 

[Cira Cat]

And that soft cool and would be pleasantly slipped on top of his, almost expectantly as if following cordial protocol. That smile would not falter, that steady gaze of civility would remain. And if one would dare look closer, they would find only this.

Amicable greeting. The scene was set. The cards at hand, and one had to give Miz Arceneau credit where it is due.

She had a fantastic Sabaac face.

"You flatter a girl, Mistah Kuhn. Just might make me blush." the honeyed drawl. The sweet hospitable tone. Perfect.

She was absolutely perfect.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

No.

It was wrong.

He took her hand and placed a kiss on it. His lips pressed against her skin, and sure enough it felt like skin, but it was cold. His lips parted slightly, and as they left the back of her hand he subtly ran his tongue over them. A quick flick, and he found an odd taste, one that did not match the sweet linger bite he remembered.

Alric let go of her palm, the cold almost clammy hand leaving his own. His eyes fell on her face, and he couldn't help but feel a very large degree of unease. No, something was definitely wrong, something was not the same.

“How can I help you?” Alric said already knowing what she would say.

 

[Cira Cat]

The entire transaction was like any other. It would be no different from the many business introductions and cordial whataveyou's that the Trade Queen had done so often before.

Nothing would seemingly be amiss.

Without batting an eyelash, that throaty voice would come out with a coo, "Well, to talk business of course Mistah Kuhn. Blast-tech to be precise."

She said it a matter of factly, that faint twist of her lips to convey her slight hint of amusement. Ah, but was it at him? At the situation? Whatever it was, it was stated as if it were the most logical thing in the 'verse. Two plus two make four, Mistah [member="Alric Kuhn"]. Her standing here before him asking about Blast-Tech was a perfectly logical thing to do.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Nope.

Nope nope nope.

Something was wrong. He knew. She was too cool. Too calm, too collected. The way they had left things off, the way Alric had left her, screaming in her face and telling her to kark off. She was so shaken, so splintered and fractured, and now she was whole. He refused to believe that she back to normal, that she would be back to normal already.

This wasn't about his ego as a lover or his narcissism.

It was about the situation not being right.

She was too calm, too patient, too still. Alric could see it, feel it in the way she looked and watched him with those cold detached eyes. That shouldn't have been there, detachment. It just felt...off, though he couldn't quite place what or why. He frowned slightly, touching the side of his glasses as if he was checking something.

“Blas-Tech? If you recall, I told you quite explicitly its not for sale.” He brought up the memory, perhaps that would get her going.

 

[Cira Cat]

"Indeed. And you would be a fool to not accept my offer, Mistah Kuhn." the reply was said with all manner of common sense. It would be foolish to ignore five percent of Arceneau Trade Company Stock. As the major galactic trade company with Czerka arms under its belt, Mara TibX and Fuels, and the largest shipping transport company with several trade stations across the galaxy -- five percent would more than suffice for Blast-Tech in its current state.

"Ain't no other offer that would ring better than mine. " she'd say a matter of factly, that cool expression never changing. That calm assurance seeping out of her. Confidence that hadn't been there four days prior when she first offered him the same deal.

"And you are certainly no fool."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

“No.” Alric said quietly as he turned away from her and faced the board of Dejarik. “No I'm not.”

He was well aware that something was wrong now. She was too charming, too normal, too...fake. She wasn't real, not the way she had been afterward, not the way she had been during. He turned around and looked at her for a few moments, simply observing her. Everything about her was steady as a rock, the solid black dress, her hands, her legs, even her breasts rose and fell steadily wither every breath.

Cold blue eyes locked onto her own, searching for something.

There he found nothing, and there he found the problem.

There was no passion, no emotion, no hatred, lust, or longing. He didn't expect Danger to love him or even want him after what they had done, but he did expect emotion. She wasn't a rob-

His line of thinking cut off for a few moments and he tilted his head slightly, as if he had thought of something. Shaking his head Alric assured himself that the notion was a stupid one. Instead he smiled at the Facade of Danger Arceneau, looking at her with an odd sort of suspicion.

“But why sell to you? We didn't exactly leave things off pleasantly did we? While the offer is good, it's not untouchable.” He watched her carefully

 

[Cira Cat]

"Business is business, Mistah Kuhn." she stated simply, her head tilting slightly to the right. It would seem as if she were attempting to explain in clearer terms. Logical terms.

"One doesn't get into my position and disregard good business."

The sway of her hips would bring her closer to his desk, until she came to a slight halt. Her right hand would come tracing down to perch over her right hip. Bright green eyes would stare at him, and perhaps a bit through him.

"And profit."

Her fingers would then come to press gracefully against the polished wood, her knuckles whitening slightly. There it was, that subtle faint spicy scent of her perfume.

"I got the knowledge and the connections to make sure it grows into the Empire Cade Lee held it at once. The time and money to do it. The longer you hold it, the more money you'll waste.

Not to mention, you also have the added bonus of ensuring no unpleasantries come to your door."

It was all very logical. Very practical. Very true.

Very matter of fact.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

It was the eyes that told him. When she got closer he noticed the imperfection even more. They were so cold, so devoid of emotion, they were not the same beautiful marbles he had looked into so closely before. He knew it for sure now.

This wasn't Danger.

A Clone?

No that seemed unlikely, a woman in an Ooglith Masquer? Even more unlikely, they couldn't mimic her this well even with Yuuzhan Vong technology. His earlier theory did not seem to silly now, and instead it became a very real possibility. He mouthed something that would be difficult to read, and slowly made his way back to the desk.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” He suddenly asked out of the blue, ignoring everything she had said.

 

[Cira Cat]

There came a slow and steady blink. Then an arch of an eyebrow followed by the soft smooth upward curve of her lips. Her gaze would be unwavering.

Perfect.

"You'll have to be more specific than that, Mistah Kuhn."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

That was that.

Her reaction should have been shock, indignation, or perhaps even a truthful answer. Not that, not what she had said. Not the patient blink of nothingness. In a split second, Alric made up his mind. He suddenly opened a drawer within his desk and grabbed a small pistol.

It was an ion stunner, a blaster that was meant to take down droids in a single shot. Of course on the other side of his desk Alric had a regular blaster, he was the CEO of Blas-Tech and this was its headquarters after all.

He pulled the Ion Stunner out and immediately fired it at Danger.

There was no aim needed, not at this distance. If she was a clone the weapon would give her a slight tingle, if she was wearing an ooglith she would likely squirm, and if she was a droid...well she was about to fall over on the floor.

If it was the real Danger...Well Alric would be surprised.

 

[Cira Cat]

Well, things were certainly about to get interesting.

Quick like reflexes of the woman would have saved her from the shot -- but at a point blank range, there wasn't really a need for aim. Maybe her words earlier were spot on.

Alric Kuhn was no fool.

Or at the very least, when it came to comparing the Danger from four days ago to the one before him now.

The ion blast would hit dead center; the briefest of comical expressions of shocks fluttering over Six's face just as it would rip through sensitive -- and very expensive -- circuitry.

The latest and greatest of infiltrator HRD droids would seize up, currents of ionic electricity shutting down protocols and prompting a very not so Danger like collapse to the floor.

The scent of fizzled circuits would replace that token perfume of the Trade Queen. There at Alric Kuhn's feet, would be the disabled body of one very lifelike, very realistic Human Replica Droid of the Trade Queen herself.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric threw the blaster at the wall.

“FRAK!” He screamed at the top of his lungs, the blaster clattering and breaking against the duracrete construction, shattering into a thousand pieces with a small pop from the powerpack. He was fuming, there was more than a hint of anger in his face, more than a touch of rage in his eyes. He looked at the droid on the floor, then threw a solid kick into its side.

“God damn that fraking woman.” Alric said to himself as he looked down at the HRD. The thing was an exact copy of her, every hair, every lash, down to the bright red lipstick. Only the eyes were wrong, they held no passion, no abstract thought, nothing. He frowned. “You could have just come here yourself you idiot.”

He wouldn't have bitten, he certainly wouldn't have revealed what they'd done, and he might have even sold her Blas-Tech.

That was the way the game could have gone. They could have spoken and parted ways on terms that both desired, but instead of facing him, instead of coming to him like a normal person she had to send...this. The disrespect, the disregard. Alric scowled, walking over to his desk just as his secretary came in. The woman opened her eyes wide and spoke.

“M-Mr. Kuhn?”

Alric glowered at her. “Get me Xo.”

 

[Xochilt]

Hours later...

The full hipped Zeltron would sashay her way into Alric's office without a by your leave. She simply entered, no knock or nothing. With the way she held herself, one would wonder if she considered herself to be the Queen of Zeltros by the manner she came ambling inside. But that was beside the point.

Her expression was clearly bored. As if this little sudden request of Alric was really only humored due to just how much boredom she was under. The straight slash of her snow white hair would flutter slightly with each pointed step she took. To a degree, one could see some similarities between Xo and the Trade Queen.

Granted, no one would ever mistake the former Sith Empire Assassin for a brood mother hen.

"Alric, darling. Sweetie." came the train of endearments. "You rang?" oh there was the heavy note of patronizing, the lasting twist of a smirk over her bright cherry lips.

Clearly, if she was bored, she was more than willing to find a game to entertain her in the meantime.

And Alric always was one to jump at the chance and make things interesting. And the way the room practically was thrumming with pissed off energy and tension was enough to certainly make things interesting.

Much like he had done so four days earlier.

Oh, this would be fun. Perfect.

"What's wrong, bao bay?" came the Zeltron endearment. "Fraked the Queen of Alderaan this time?"

Smirk.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

“Shes dead.” Alric said almost immediately, referring to the Queen of Alderaan.

He wasn't exactly sure if that was true, but she might as well have been. Alderaan was now little more than a husk of a planet used for Yuuzhan Vong technology. It was the primary breeding ground of half of Titan's Yuuzhan Vong weapons and the location of their new orbital shipyards where the Skrii-Ro'ik was being built.

Of course no one but him and a few higher ranking One Sith knew that, but right now it didn't matter.

“I need you to find Danger.” He cut straight to business. There would be no games this time, no playing, nothing. Alric was on a mission. Standing behind his desk, the Dejarik board to his left and holo-terminal to his right Alric stared directly at Xo. He made no move to go over to her or anything of the sort, he was focused, keen, deep in thought. “She's off an disappeared, and I need to have a...chat with her.”

That was all she would get.

Unless Xo stripped down and started on herself right then and there it was unlikely that she would catch his attention this time. The anger that still poured through him even hours later was still keeping his mind sharp, and as he looked down and away from Xo he noticed a leg sticking out from beneath his desk.

He kicked it, shuffling it back into place away from sight.

 

[Xochilt]

Ohh there was something going on here. She could smell it.

Her citrine eyes would narrow into thin slits, but the smirk on her lips would not fade. In her hand she would play with her shiv, the light would glint off it as it would fan between her fingers.

"Oh? Well she is a busy lady. Maybe she's trying to seal the deal with Neuro-Saav." he was pissed. Xo wanted to know why. But that didn't mean that she couldn't press his buttons.

"She doesn't simply just disappear." she would sashay her way over to the window, watching him through her peripheral.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

His scowl didn't disappeared.

This was the problem with Xo, sometimes she didn't listen, sometimes she had to be dragged by the scruff of her figurative neck to do something. Right now he didn't particularly care, all he wanted was for her to find Danger so he could talk to the stupid schutta and give her a piece of his mind. His knuckles stuck against the edge of the desk is a slight motion of exasperation.

“She can, and did.” Alric said with bite in his voice. “I don't give a frak about some piss poor company she may or may not be buying, I don't care where she is, I just want you to find her.”

There was no raised tone, simply a bite in his tone that told of his anger. He had taken the HRD personally, he had taken its presence as an insult. It made him feel as though he was not good enough for her to see a second time, that she would rather send a robot to do her dealings instead. It irritated, exasperated, and stretched him to his limits.

She should have known better.

Danger was smarter, smart enough to know where Alric came from, smart enough to know Alric would know this little trick. Thats what got to him.

She should have known.

 

[Xochilt]

Xo would twist on the pads of her boots, brows rising high to hide under the straight slash of her bangs. Ohhh reaally?

Oh yes. Yes. He was ticked.

Her smirk would draw into a wolfish grin. The shiv would twirl once in her hand, flipping between her fingers, the slender thin blade just a deadly reminder of her far more specialized skills.

"Now what as you in such a tizzy, Alric?" her eyes would almost give an orange glow. Slowly, she would start to make her way over to his desk.

"What? Eager for a second run up her loading ramp already?" that is when she would come to rest against the desk, her hip leaning against it. The flick of her shiv would come to a slow halt, as the Zeltron would narrow her gaze upon the fierce scowl of the CEO of Titan Industries.

"Well.. she does taste pretty sweet doesn't she?" The quip was emphasized by the distinct flick of the pink tip of her tongue over her teeth.

Oooooooooh, she was pushing it. She really was. But this was just too much fun.