Take Off The Mask

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The woman look aghast, but Alric kept doing what he did. "I think it would be fun. You, me, maybe a bottle of Wine."

The Tetan took a step towards the woman, not an imposing step, but a small shuffle that would see him press closer towards her. She gasped slightly, clearly not expecting him to draw so close or to be so warm to her approach. Perhaps the Star Cabal wasn't used to such things, perhaps they were the ones that usually took the reigns. Of course, Alric Kuhn wasn't one to let himself be lead, he always had to be in control, always.

"Well...I...Uhh."

She stumbled over her words, Alric only smiled.

"Why don't we start with your name." He reached out and very gently touched her side. "Then we can go from there."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]


"I'm also looking towards charting a new hyperlane round the Coreworlds..." Danger would add, giving a small smile at the incline of gratitude towards the man filling her glass with more whiskey. The amber liquid would give a light splash, filling her low ball glass with three finger's worth of the liquor.

"I imagine that would also grant me all the more reason to supply more wares to the Coreworlds for such a venture." there were a few nods here and there.

"With that opening, progress could follow..." another low murmur. Danger would give a smile, but inside, she was starting to feel the strain of it all. She had to be extra cautious, extra careful on what she said and how she said it. A flicker of a glance would direct her towards the direction of the Titan. By his posture and the close proximity of which he stood with the dame by his side, well now, all appearances stated he was doing just fine.

The small strains of music would start to fill the din, and a slight noise from her right would bring forth another new comer. Danger's eyes would widen slightly. Dark brown hair and bright green eyes. Broad of chest with a slight darkening of his jawline.

"Miss Arceneau," he would give a bow in introduction. "It is indeed a fine pleasure." his smile was charismatic, his charm above reproach. Danger would extend her hand to him and he would slip his larger one under hers. A light kiss would grace the surface of the skin of the back of her hand.

"Hunter Canton, at your service." He would state, his voice a tenor and his roguish charm prompting an arch of a brow in interest.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"My name is Lacey."

The woman said it with a slight smile, though Alric could tell he had already succeeded in his ploy. Of course it wasn't to get a date with the woman. He was more than willing that she was a monster, probably had people killed on a regular basis, but she was the contact to the Star Cabal, and he had put her off her base. They were playing his game now, not hers. It was the important thing, and it was the reason that he had been so forward.

"Well, Lacey." He pressed his fingers gently. "Lets go somewhere a little more private, shall we? I Hate talking business out in the open."

The woman offered him a slow nod.

She had expected to come into the conversation controlling him, guiding him to what she wanted.

She had been very wrong.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Would you care to dance?"

The question was to be expected, but Danger rarely ever put on her dancing shoes. In fact, most of her interactions for these types of shindigs were typically clean cut business with the pour of drinks or two. Nonetheless, the Queen of Trade knew that there were expectations to be made.

"it would be my pleasure," Danger said, granting Hunter Canton a wide smile. He would extend his hand towards her, and Danger would set her own upon the shell of his palm. Fingers would curl and tighten for the briefest of seconds, before gently, but firmly, guiding her closer to him so that she could take the crook of his elbow.

"You look ravishing tonight, Miss. Arceneau," he would tell her, his green eyes staring down at her while they would amble their way over to the dance floor.

"You make a girl blush, Mistah Canton..."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He escorted Lacey out from the party, taking her to one of the balconies.

For a few moments he simply stood there, the wind catching against his jacket and pressing against her dress. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. It was almost romantic in a sense, if it weren't for the true nature of the whole ordeal. "Now, Lacy. I suppose we can talk business."

Alric half leaned on the side of the balcony, letting her move closer to him so that she could better speak against the wind.

"I represent an organization, as i said, my organization has taken an interest in yourself, and Titan Industries."

That wasn't surprising at all, inf act he was more than willing to bet that Titan was the only reason he was here. Perhaps another company would have done just as well, but they wouldn't have approached him this quickly if it weren't for Titan. Titan was situated uniquely next to the Sith, supplying their war operations and driving them forward. He knew Star Cabal would want to take advantage of it. Just like he had known they would come to him. "Oh? What is they want?"

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Well a beautiful woman should be told she is such," he'd tell her, his voice a tenor that was as smooth as silk and charismatic. Oh he was good, real good. Danger could only give a grin.

"You're momma ever tell you, you've quite a silver tongue there Mistah Canton?" she went straight for the tease, mirth seemingly dancing within the green orbs of her eyes as the man would lead her in a dance. She felt the warmth of his fingers slide just above her hip, drawing her close. Swaying lightly to the music, they both were swept in their roles.

Dimples would appear along the lines of Hunter's cheeks, "A time or two, Miss. Arceneau. Said it would get me places. " he swung her around, the light of the setting sun along the wind's blurring for a moment. "Now if it was for fail or profit, that remains to be seen." he had a measure of humor that was for sure. Danger could respect that. It didn't mean she'd drop her guard like some naive schoolgirl taking a shine to the tall, dark, and handsome figure Hunter Canton made.

"Reckon the former is ever really an issue." Danger said, a slight upward curl of her lip in amusement would perk along her face.

"Indeed." he told her. "After all, profit and a similar understanding is what brought us together, no?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"You."

Well, that was a bold faced lie.

Alric Kuhn may have been impressive. He may have been intelligent, a bit handsome, and a decent enough fighter, but he was not what the Star Cabal wanted. Alric knew that because they had plenty of what he was. A cult like them couldn't survive without that, couldn't thrive like they did without already having that. He knew that, and he wasn't stupid enough to believe that he himself was essential to anything that Lacey, or her organization actually wanted.

"Oh?" He said quietly, the smirk holding on his face. "Why? I'm just little old me."

The Titan stood in his personal space, his hand resting on her. He could tell she wanted convince him, wanted to bag him so to speak. "What could I possibly have to offer?"

She smiled.

"A lot, Mr Kuhn."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

There was something there. An underlying meaning. Danger hadn't been around this long to know when a man was giving more than one meaning. Her green eyes would draw to focus on Hunter Canton, looking at his handsome visage. Oh he was well made, and there was no denying that he got a healthy dose of some blessed genes in his looks. But there was something more in this gaze. It was a knowing, an understanding.

"That it has," Danger would say, her soft husky voice. The press of his fingers would tighten along the small of her back, and he swung her around for another spin.

"Glad we understand each other Miss. Arceneau." he would murmur, his green eyes drifting over her. Probing, searching... weighting.

"Perhaps, in that case, we can both focus towards a mutual benefit?" he would suggest to her. Coy, just enough to place the bait. Oh you are not fooling anyone Hunter Canton, Danger mused. Nonetheless, she kept her smile up.

"Just what do you have in mind?.."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"A nice sentiment to be sure." Alric mused as he pressed his thumb gently into her hip. "But I much prefer detail to sentiment."

The woman's eyes bulged for a few seconds as his hand pulled her even closer.

"I..."

She trailed off, obviously slightly distracted with the current situation. Alric simply pressed closer to her, looking her in the eye as if he were trying to discern some secret, some hidden aspect that she was trying to keep to herself. It was funny really, how they had sent a woman to speak to him. Perhaps they had thought him weak, maybe even naive. They had been gravely mistaken of course, and that would cost them in the end. "Yes?"

"Star Cabal!"

The word was eventually spit out from her lips, met with a smile from Alric.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"What are your thoughts of the war, Miss Arceneau?" Canton would ask her, casual as ever but it was a test in it of itself. If this Star Cabal was much like the one of old...

Well, there would be one constant element that would bind them all.

The origins of the organization had originally been traced to the aftermath of the Great Hyperspace War when the Galactic Republic had been victorious over the Sith Empire. However, a group of beings of influence that included spies, nobility, scientists and crime lords gathered to find justification on why no force had managed to stop the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith. This gathering saw them conclude that the billions that died were attributed to the two Force-Sensitive orders. Therefore, this group decided to control their actions from the shadows and formed the Star Cabal for a seemingly noble purpose.

This organization would let both Force order believe they were in control, when in reality such politics were done through the use of finance, technology and information. Eventually, they would become corrupt due to the younger generation of the Cabal becoming colder in their views and hungry for power.

Now after the Gulag plague, it was no surprise that the organization would have survived. And it would appear they shared the same hunger and perhaps, extremist view if they were dabbling with Alpha Red.

"Too much blood has been spilled that ain't got anything to do with the war, Mistah Canton." Danger would state, and that was said with absolute truth. Danger was never one for senseless violence nor the killing of innocents. She was a practical woman, and knew that the 'Verse had to run a certain way. But that didn't mean she was keen on how the One Sith and the Galactic Republic were handling their dirty laundry.

"It is messy. Senseless... and while war is fantastic for business... it does no one no good if there ain't anyone left to buy."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Oh how good it felt to be young, charming, and right.

It would have been very awkward if Lacey had told him she worked for the Chandrilla group of the intergalactic Banking Clan. That likely would have lead to some other thoughts from him and in the end would have caught him a bit off guard. Luckily for him, she said no such thing, and instead breathed heavily as his fingers slowly withdrew and his other hand lessened its grip on her hip. He smiled down at her, his eyes painted with a slight mirth.

"Now, that wasn't so hard was it?" Of course he would have to pretend, act like he didn't know. "What exactly is the Star Cabal?"

She let out a heavy breath, shaking slightly.

"It's an organization that works towards the greater good of the galaxy."

Alric made a tsking sound. "Now Lacey, thats a bit vague isn't it?"

She nodded slightly, her eyes widening as she clearly tried to think of something else to say. Alric of course would already know it, but it didn't matter. This was his introduction to the star cabal, his hello, his welcome. He didn't really need more than this. The woman had already given him the in that he needed.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"And if you could do something about it? If you could enact change for the better..." Canton's voice would trail, and their dance would slow as he spun her out of his arms only to return. The latch of his fingers over the small of her back would press her just a bit tighter against him.

"Would you be interested?"

Ah, here we go, she'd muse. Here was the big question. Danger would ensure her expression would remain seemingly neutral, and as Hunter spun her off to the right, she would murmur low.

"I believe everyone would be interested in ensuring that change would act quickly." she told him, "Another tragedy like Alderaan is one I would like to avoid..." Whatever she said apparently passed inspection, for the corner of Hunter's mouth would quirk.

He would lean in close, and if would appear as if he was merely flirting with the Queen of Trade.

"Then let me tell you about the Star Cabal..."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The next hour or so sailed by, it was an explanation and a sales pitch really. Lacey tried to tell Alric about all of the good works that were being done by the Star Cabal, and he pretended to listen intently to her. The thing of course was that she left out a few details, the fact that they had stolen the Alpha Red, that they were bent on genocide, and of course just the amount of control that the Star Cabal actually had within the galaxy. She wanted Alric to join, that much was clear.

The Conversation eventually came to an end, and Lacy placed a small communicator into his pocket.

Her parting words didn't leave much to be desired, there were implications, but he hardly cared for them. Alric had what he wanted from this evening, and as Lacey walked off the Balcony and back into the party he couldn't help but turn towards the railing.

The view wasn't spectacular, at least compared to what he had on his Coruscant apartment.

He was left wondering, wondering if he was making the right decisions, wondering if this would be worth it. In the end he had to ask himself if it was all that important, if stopping the Star Cabal made him a better person. What did he care about the Yuuzhan Vong? What did he care about the Sith? Was it worth risking his life over?

He didn't know.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

A Few Days Later...


Things were too risky to warrant a meeting at Gala. Alric and Danger both played their roles and managed to ascertain entry to the Star Cabal. The night had continued for them both, and it wasn't until days later that they would congregate to discuss just what were the next steps.

The world of Christophis was an ore rich world Danger had an interest in. Chanlon, hfredium, quadrillium, and Nergon-14, all were important in the mining and resources industry. Having Danger visit Chaleydonia in the off chance of expanding Arceneau Trade would raise no brows. It was a perfect setting to meet the Titan and discuss matters at a rented suite for the Queen of Trade's business.

Shipping and freighting, after all, was a necessity all corporations were required to spend a pretty credit or two on.

Standing beside her desk, Danger would review the information gleaned about the mining industry, the merchant oligarchy, and among files of natural resources, a far more important matter that dealt with new information about the true objective. She could only wonder what Alric Kuhn had managed to uncover on his own.

Besides a legion of ladies' skirts.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric walked up to Danger's office with the same swagger that he had always had, except this time there wasn't a smile on his face.

The Star Cabal had grasped him deeply, or rather, they had tried to. The few days time that Danger and him had spent since they had last seen each other had been harsh on Alric, not because they had beaten him or even attempted to move against him, but because they had shown him things that he hadn't expected. Of course his resolve was still strong, stronger than it had been on that balcony, but something chewed at him. The facts of the Star Cabal, the things that they were willing to do.

None of it sat well with him.

The doors slowly slid open, Alric having earlier been directed towards Danger's office. He wore that grim expression and stepped inside.

There was no witty remark, no soaring hello, nothing. He simply moved into the room, his hand sweeping through his hair as though he were trying to slick it back even more than it already was. It was clear that something was worrying him, that he was bothered by what had happened over the last few days.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Lids would rise from the screen of her datapad up towards the approaching Titan. An arch of an ebon brow would lift in piqued interest. She took in the grim expression, the deepset of his eyes. Danger hadn't been around this long to read worry on a man, and a deep concern would radiate from Alric Kuhn like a putrid rot to a cadaver at high heat.

"Have Mistah Dexuen made the adjustments to the blueprints as requested," Danger would relay to the assistant over the comm, her finger depressing the transmit button.

"Yes, Miz Arceaneau." came the reply, Danger's forefinger slipping from the transmit button and ending the call. "Well, you don't you look as if your kathhound got chucked out into the black with the cargo." she would say with notable irony, but there was a narrowing in her gaze that suggested she was inquiring for more.

"Already fixing to get hung by the thumbs?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric looked around for a moment, as if he was checking the rooms security.

Of course wherever Danger had set the meeting would be secure, any room or building she chose would be free of listening devices or spies. She was reliable in that, capable of setting things up perfectly. It was nice in that way, though he couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of paranoia about the organization that they had now infiltrated.

"Not quite." He said lightly. "Though, I think the Star Cabal might be ready to do so at any point in time."

Alric got the feeling that they trusted no one, not even each other. "They showed me some of their facilities."

He dropped the bombshell right away, making it clear that things had progressed a bit faster than the two of them had anticipated.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

That was a loaded weapon that went off.

It was only the years of practiced ability to maintain her bearing that led Danger to keep the shock off her face. A gesture would offer the Titan a seat in front of her desk as she took her own. The fact that his expression was so bleak, so troubled meant only one thing. That the Star Cabal's laboratories contained the Alpha Red-- but what else?

"You found it?" She would ask, need in clarification. All the while her motions went straight to taking two glasses from her table top decanter set, and the splash of whiskey in both would follow.

"Just what are we lookin' at?" Mentally she braced herself. If it had Kuhn this unsettled, it wasn't good news at all.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"I didn't find anything." Alric put emphasies on the word. "They showed me."

That mattered, it mattered a lot.

It didn't mean they trusted him, in fact he was ninety percent sure that they had sent someone to follow him, luckily Kiran had helped him ditch said person back on Coruscant. No, they had shown him what they had as a way to gauge him, to test him and see if he was willing to go along with their plots and plans. He was sure that it was only half...maybe less then half of their plan. What he had seen scared him, and he was man enough to admit that to himself.

Though perhaps not to Danger. "Three facilities. Three different worlds. All of them mass producing Alpha red."

He dropped the bomb on her.

The Star Cabal had only had the Alpha red for a matter of weeks, and they were already so far in production that they could wipe out several worlds. They had been planning this, plotting it for years, decades, maybe even centuries. It was a terrifying thought, and unfortunately for them, it was probably true.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

The blood would drain from Danger's face. Had it not been for the makeup powder, the blanching of her skin to the freckles that scattered over her cheeks would flare them in stark contrast.

Three facilities.

The abrupt set down of the decanter gave a dreadful hollow thunk, her shoulders rising sharply with the deep intake of startled breath. Licking her lips, she took the lowball glass of liquor. Shooting it back all in one go, she braced herself for the burn, the fire that ran down to her gullet a necessary steeling of nerves.

She went in search for her cigarillos.

"Where?" came her first questions. What were the locations? Security?