Take Off The Mask

[Alric Kuhn]

“You said it yourself. Were not the only ones that are going to stumble upon this ship. Scavengers, Jawas, whatever will all come looking. Do you want them to find fifteen vials of Alpha Red?” There was a slight hint of danger in his voice, anger, but not the same that he had felt during their little trist back at the Expo.

Alpha Red presented an opportunity, but it also presented untold danger.

It would have been a lie to say that Alric didn't want one of those vials, that he didn't want to deliver it back to Titan for study and research. Yet even if he couldn't get his hands on one, the rest had to be destroyed. Alpha Red could be a colossally destructive force in the galaxy, especially with the amount of Yuuzhan Vong Bio-techology now in existence.

“Do you know what that stuff can do?” He asked her. “Not just to the Vong, but to us, to humans and mammals?”

When Alpha Red had evolved, it had evolved hard.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"I am very well aware." her eyes would harden to malachite chips.

"Just cause I be born and raised on Tatooine don't mean I ain't got a refined education on just what kind of pathogen we be dealing with here." her scowl was furious, and the heat came back to her face. It wasn't that she wasn't aware, it is that she was too aware.

It wasn't that she didn't want to help. She did. But they just couldn't got about this blindly!

"Alpha Red. Gulaug, Blackwing, Rakghoul virus, or even the Black Harvest..." her chin would lift, taking offense as if he were looking down at her. "I know damn well what it can do."

"Be as it may and commendable of an action, say we do get to figure out just where this vault is, then what? " there came the frustrated challenge. "By what manner do you expect to be able to go in there and get fifteen blasted vials without even a Wookiee's ass of information if this very crash ain't busted a single vial already?!"

Her hand would gesture the way they came, about to spat out another sentence when she just gave a pause. A few seconds went ticking by then her arm fell to her side, shoulders sinking under the weight of the past week. It was just the last straw in the severity of this situation, and she just felt absolutely emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted.

What came next was an unfiltered product of the culmination of what felt to be a dozen Cassandra Sunrise cocktails.

"This ship has been done and buried for centuries, Kuhn... " Her expression became pained, her voice lowering to a throaty octave; her frustration suddenly waning into exhausted weariness. The bite was lost from her voice. Her hand would reach up to push back the length of her hair.

"We ain't got a clue nor the equipment to go 'bout diggin' for a vault that as soon as we open up could very well have the potential to release what we're trying to prevent."

Another pause as she'd pinch the bridge of her nose. She had to think. Think, think, think.

"And even if the vials weren't busted; then what? Ain't got the facilities here to properly destroy it all. Closest that could be down PharmaTech -- offworld."

What came next went unsaid but perfectly clear; they were still stranded in the middle of the Waste.

Trying to protect fifteen vials in the event of Tusken Raiders was a dangerous situation she wasn't too keen on to begin with.

Had they the ability to move and leave? Then yes. Had they some form of back up and knowledge to handle such material? Yes, again.

But they weren't bio-medical engineers nor had any resources beyond two blasters and the gear on their back. They were worn, tired, hurting, dehydrated, and unless they found more water, would end up having to worry about meeting what manner of higher power either believed.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

“It doesn't matter.” Alric said quietly.

It wasn't about the opportunity.

The look in his eyes told of something else, the language of his body spoke volumes, because that was who Alric Kuhn was.

One could have argued that he was strange. Alric Kuhn was one of the greatest war profiteers in the entire Galaxy. He ran Titan Industries, one of the foremost companies that created weapons of mass destruction and killing. He had only recently helped construct a corporation that did the opposite for the Republic. He made trillions off of the death of billions, yet right now, there was a bristling rage about him.

“The vault will have some function...some feature or something to destroy the vials.” His gaze flicked back to the records. He had read nothing about such a thing being present, but he knew that the Imperials wouldn't be that stupid, they couldn't be that stupid. “I have to destroy them or take them.”

His head turned towards Danger. “I can't risk it.”

 

[Danger Arceneau]

There was a glint in his eyes as familiar to her that said he would not be swayed. A deep exhale left her lips. After a second she took a deep breath.

"Then best hope there be some manner to destroy them." there was a hardening in her eyes there. Fine, if they were going to do this, then they were going to ensure its destruction.

She didn't need that kind of rot getting out. With the new bills that had been blazing within Republic territory about the potential Total War motion with companies headquartered there, she was certain that if they got their hands on it, they'd likely try to use it in ways to kill the Yuuzhan Vong like their great great great granddaddies did back then.

Only screw it up worse.

"'Cause they ain't leaving this world without that certainty."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He looked at her, then nodded.

Alric Kuhn did not like chemical weapons.

Titan Industries could have created dozens by now, hundreds, different cocktails of pathogens that would wipe away entire worlds and consume populations in an evening. Yet he had never allowed them to sink to such a level, had never allowed them to get that low. It was an odd thing, coming from a Lord of War, a man who sold death like candy.

Yet every man had his limits.

Every man had a point where they would stop. This was Alric's.

“The vaults are below us and towards the middle of the ship.” It would be a long journey, but at least they would have lights and air conditioning on that journey, that was something. “Internal sensor logs say the door...and the vials are still intact.”

At least, as of about twenty years ago, that was when the sensors had finally died.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

This was only going to get better. But what else was there to do?

With a silent gesture, she would motion for him to take point. Internally she shook her head; what else was there to be said? They were going into an ancient Imperial tomb in the hopes of saving the universe from Alpha Red.

At the very least, from Danger's point of view. She knew not of Alric's struggle to destroy or to keep for Titan. Her mind was set upon eradicating that which shouldn't still be available at all.

Arceneau Trade specialized in acquiring the exotic and the rare.

Yet even she found no desire in profiting on the potential deaths of countless of innocents.

She had her line.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He managed to crawl out of the pit of the Star Destroyer without much trouble, his hands reaching and grasping, pulling himself into the greaveyard proper. Weirdly enough, the dead bodies around them no longer really bothered him, he was focused now, driven. A frown settled on his face, and slowly he made his way back towards the blast-doors.

He shifted slightly, squeezing through the open blast-doors and moving into the hallway beyond.

The lights blinked on an off in this sector of the hallway, and Alric found himself almost shielding his eyes as to not be blinded.

“Lets check some of the officers quarters first.” There wasn't much hurry. The Blast-doors to the Alpha Red were closed and it was unlikely someone would stumble on the Star Destroyer in the next few hours. It was better to search for things they could use first.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

The lights would flicker with as much of an annoyance as a mosquito buzzing round her ears. It was starting to grate on her eyes. The only relief was that the flicker wasn't too consistent; it would come on and off in small intervals.

She kept the lumistick with her just in case.

Danger would give a slight nod, every once in a while turning back to glance behind her. There was a distinct gut clenching realization that had he not been there with her, she'd be hopelessly lost. Oh she knew her way about ships, but not to this fine of a detail.

At the very least they were out of the baking hot sun. The temperature had turned into a balmy tolerable range, although the scent of stale recycled air would linger. It would be a while before the dust of centuries would be completely filtered out.

They came to a cross roads. Left or right? The flickering was a bit more static here. Not as many bodies. She was still a bit hesitant; not to mention having a mighty strong urge to know what happened the last few minutes before the Ardent crashed.

There was a strange somberness to it all. That such a proud and powerful ship could be felled so.

Then again - Even a Titan could fall.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He looked to the left, then to the right, gaze holding for a few seconds before he turned. “This way.”

Alric said as he moved to the right. Officers Quarters first, there they could search through the rooms and see if anything remained after the hundred or so years that this Star Destroyer had been buried. He was willing to bet that they would find a few things, at the very least some decent clothing for him.

They had to have desert clothes somewhere.

The first turn saw them make another, then another, then reach a long hallway filled with doorways. Alric stopped, then looked to Danger. The flickering bright lights held strong overhead, somehow seeming brighter over here then where they had just come from, or maybe that was just an illusion.

“Lets search together.” Alric suggested as he walked into the first room.

They still didn't know what had ended the lives of so many men.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Her answer was a nod.

The room beyond was pretty large. About four meters wide and eight high, with every surface made up of dull gray metal, greenish white light pouring from the slightly brighter luminous ceiling.

To the left, there was a bolted down bed; which the frame and the mattress was the only thing still on it. Everything else was a mess. At least there wasn't a body here that one had to step over.

To the right, the length of the room would extend towards a series of wall lockers. Whatever contents may be there for pilfering would be their best bet.

Heading over to the far wall, she began her investigation.

Two hundred years or whathaveyou, standard issue security locks meant to keep things from spilling were just about always the same design.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric didn't bother with undoing the locks. Instead he began to search the room for something heavy. He surveyed for some time, then found what he was looking for. A heavy metal lamp found near the bedside. It weighed a great deal, and Alric hefted it for a moment, smiling slightly then returning over towards where Danger was.

While she carefully fiddled with the lock, Alric simply raised the lamp, and smashed it away from the door.

It caused a racket, but with the door of the room closed it did not even echo, the lock fell off and the door went slightly ajar. Alric looked over to Danger, then shrugged. He continued on with this path, smashing the remaining locks, though letting Danger open her own.

Simple solutions were the best ones.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Her glare would follow his back, rolling her eyes before she would lift her hand to open the door. It gave a little creak as it would swing open, revealing the tossed contents inside.

There wasn't much to see straight from the get go. A grimace came to her then. Well there were a few uniforms of varying thickness and quality. Some datapads, a deck of sabaac cards, a small silver --

Ohhh heyyyyyyy...

Both eyebrows would arch up at the tell tale small silver case. Ever so carefully, she would trace her fingers across the polished surface. Carefully she would shake it. The slight thud inside drew a grin.

A press of the button and then -- the lid would snap back. There in red velvet were four perfectly rolled cigarrillos. Oh likely well past their expiration date but hell if it wasn't tempting.

Her forefingers would close the case, and just like that she'd pocket them. What else was there to find?

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He tossed the lamp away, not really bothering to keep the thing after he was done with. Instead he began to search through the lockers. The first was an utter disappointment, nothing but womens undergarments and what could be considered to be a nighty, he looked at Danger for a moment while holding it, then shook his head.

Would never fit her.

The next locker held something more promising. It was filled with what appeared to be a personal stash of items, among the things he found was a pair of mens sunglasses, a long scarf of fine silk of some sort decorated with the insignia of the Empire. The last thing he found was even more interesting, a small journal bound with leather.

This, along with the scarf and the glasses he took to the bed, quickly opening it and beginning to read, letting Danger search the remaining two lockers

 

[Danger Arceneau]

While Alric sat down for a read, Danger would rifle through the remaining two lockers. She would have preferred to have her goggles and gaiter, but it was doubtful that the former occupants would have such a luxury.

Instead she found a rather nice vibroshiv, a pair of woman’s glasses, and after going through the rest of the uniforms, something a bit more useful for the man with her.

The first half of her life had been spent learning the finer art of being as much of a lady in the dustball that was Tatooine under the tutelage of her mother, the late Collette Arceneau. Odd as it was, Danger’s childhood had been a tug of war between her mother and father on the proper methods of raising a child.

August Arceneau wanted a son. Colette a daughter. They ended up with Danger. Remi came after, long after -- but in between then and now, it had just been Danger and her parents each would do what they could to raise her in what they believed was ‘right.’

Colette taught Danger the finer qualities of refinement; of being the perfect hostess and how to cater to a more refined taste of discussion. Being a hostess was more than just ensuring there was plenty of liquor to sate the tongue. It required being able to pick up nuances of information and using that for a greater gain in ensuring needs were met.

In this instance, picking out clothes for one Alric Kuhn.

What her mother done taught her served as a foundation for the Companions; granted they took on more than just a mere hostess role. The Cafarel training only enhanced that, as did the expensive education each trainee was given on such things as politics, psychology, counseling, and etiquette.

They were meant to serve in any capacity; and those with money paid the ludicrous amount of credits just to get on the Guild registry for a Companion to be able to select a client.

So it was to no surprise that Alric would soon find two light colored articles of clothing tossed over his direction. They were suited for his frame; having been well aware of it by intimate nature. And would certainly cover him more than what he had on now.

They held the stink of age, but at this present time, she doubted he’d care.

Another thought, however, did come to mind now that they had emergency power around her.

Her eyes would drift towards the far right area of a room. Another door; but this time she was searching for a specific type of technology.

A refresher.

Preferably, with a working sonic shower.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric was far too busy to notice the clothing that Danger had tossed his way, his attention was instead focused upon the journal that lay in his lap.

He frowned slightly, it seemed that the journal was written by a woman, a high ranking officer aboard the Ardent who had apparently been one of the few that initially knew about the Alpha Red aboard the vessel. As his eyes scanned the pages of the book he found himself more and more interested in what was written down until eventually he found itself lost within its pages.

When he finally finished scanning the last page, he found Danger standing above him impatiently, as if she were waiting to ask him something.

“There was a mutiny.” Alric said to her. “The crew, or at least half of it, found out about the Alpha Red on the ship. It seems that they weren't too pleased about being on the same ship as something so deadly, though apparently more than one person thought it shouldn't exist at all. There was a...disagreement, apparently the hyperdrive and engines were damaged causing the Ardent to drop out over Tattooine. They couldn't course correct in time and were caught in the planets gravity.”

He chewed his lip for a second, closing the journal. “A lot of people died on impact.”

It explained why the forward half of the ship no longer showed up on sensors, it was likely a crumpled torn up mess.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Conveniently leavin' a log of events behind." her brows would arch up as if to say, my oh my, what priorities they have to write a log of the events rather than head for an escape pod.

"Well, reckon that at least it didn't have to do with an outbreak." here came her sigh. What is done was done. as she'd slowly shake her head. While the information certainly clarified and eased some of the worry of a potential Alpha Red leak, she wasn't too impressed that instead of finding a method to attempt to survive, it turned into writing an obituary.

A hand would rush up through her hair, shaking the bits of sand and grit, a grimace of distaste rising at the sensation of tangled knots. A pinching sensation on her shoulder from the strap of the pack she wore would remind her of another set of priorities.

With that, she nodded over to the clothes. "Those will be better than those rags." she told him, walking past him in a weary walk.

This one at the very least wouldn't have a lock to smash open. The theory was sound, and if she was right with the power still working...

Hell, she'll take what she can get.

She came to a stop a few feet from it, her fingers running up towards where one normally would press for the automatic unlock to engage; and hopefully send the door sliding open.

Here's to hoping there weren't any dead bodies inside.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He frowned for a few seconds, looking at the journal before tossing it onto the bed. The thing didn't matter anymore, it cut off shortly after the Star Destroyers landing, likely whoever had written it had trekked out into the desert and not bothered with writing anymore.

Take what you need and nothing more.

Without another thought Alric quickly folded the clothes the had found, placing the sunglasses and the scarf with them and bundling the entire package in his arms. He didn't bother stripping down yet, another plan lay in the back of his head, one that would make the clothes last longer in the blasted heat that lay beyond the Star Destroyers Hull.

“There's communal freshers one floor down.” He called to her as he followed her into the next room.

The other room was similar to the one they had just been in, minus the lockers. It was a bit wider and in the other corner lay an entire closet. Alric guessed that the room had belonged to a more important officer, or perhaps someone who had a little bit more clout, and ISB agent maybe.

“It'll draw more power from the generators.” He said surveying the room. “But you really smell so it'll be worth it.”

A wink towards her and Alric ventured towards the closet.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

The death glare that came at his back was enough to peel the sigils off the walls.

"Well ain't you a spring flower there, Kuhn," she'd drawl out with a high dose of sarcasm. However, feathers that had been rustled would be smoothed down by the mention of the communal freshers.

Now that was something she could get behind on.

The light would bounce off the mahogany highlights of her hair just as she came to a stop in the center of the room. While he went for the left, she'd head off to the right.

Here there were far more refined articles of clothing. Dress grays would lay scattered along with shoes. Not suitable for the desert at the least.

She did find a smaller compartment hidden behind a row of uniforms in disarray. Frowning, she'd get a closer look. Her investigations would reveal an ancient medpack, a pair of aviator glasses, and a rather fancy looking datapad. It appeared more modern than the other one she'd found. Curious, she'd take a step back from her scavenging and left the closet, leaving Alric to thrift shop to his heart's content.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

“I am.” He said to her in simple answer as he set down the clothes outside of the closet.

When he opened the small durasteel door he was taken aback at what he found inside. Instead of a normal clothes closet like he had expected, Alric found an armor stand cluttered with a dozen other things. On the central stand of armor was a bright crimson piece of duraplast that stretched up into a tall helm. Gauntlets and thigh guards were also present, along with a long flowing cape.

The CEO of Titan looked back at Danger for a few seconds.

“Ever seen one of these before?” He pointed to the Red Guard uniform. He recognized the make of it, ancient, but still recognized it. Titan Industries now produced its more modern variant. “It seems whoever was staying in this room was a tad more important than I thought.”

Slowly he crouched down and began to explore the rest of the closet, not bothering with the armor. He found several Blasters, a dozen or so small blades, a length of razor wire, as well as several other more civilian articles of clothing. The last thing he found interested him far more however, an access card, one belonging to the Royal Guardsmen who had stayed in this room.

Alric inspected it, smiling when he noticed the strip was intact. The thing could open a lot of doors on the Ardent.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Hmm?" her head would turn towards him, only to pause.

The appreciative whistle came next. It was clear when it came to armor or weapons... well, little Miz. Danger got all kinds of googly eyed.

She even made her way back into the closet, getting in close to fully appreciate the Red Guard uniform. The red helmet was there, lined with a layer of dust. However, her attention would immediately switch to search for something else.

There was another iconic piece to the puzzle. And if she could find it...

A short cluck of her tongue in smug satisfaction came next as her hand went curling around the tall pole like contraption. She gave it a small twirl, the pike giving a full spin before she held it firmly in her grip.

The weapon may be centuries old, but if there was one thing she knew, is that Force Pikes -- her thumb would depress a switch and activate a setting, the tip crackling in the stun module of the vibro-edged head -- were one of the Empire's finest.

Oh the way she was grinning was enough to make any man wary.