Take Off The Mask

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Don't know." Alric said almost as though he were disappointed in himself. "They had me blindfolded and half sedated on each trip."

To him that was simple procedure. He had attempted to hide a tracking device on himself, but of course they had made him change into new clothes.

The Star Cabal, despite their in-eloquence on Tatooine were very much intelligent in the way they did things. He supposed that was only natural, the organization had survived for thousands of years by being smart, if they gave away too many secrets then they would crumble. "One was on a lava world, the other an agri-world, and the last on a jungle planet."

That wasn't much detail, but from brief glimpses out viewports and small catches of breath in different air Alric had been able to identify that much. It was lucky that he was well traveled, even luckier that he remembered all of the places that he had been, not to mention the sensation of being in those places. Every world was different, every world felt different, but there were a few things that strung them together into something similar.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

There was a faint tremble to Danger's fingers, reaching out to pull the drawer beside her. The scrape as it slid open was a knife that would cut the tension filled silence. The items within would shift, and the glint of platinum would catch the rays of the overhead lights. Taking her cigarillo case in hand, her thumb would press the latch that would flip it open upon its hinge.

A knot grew in her throat, and for a moment her mind was solely full of racing thoughts. Plucking a white roll of vice, she set it between her lips, moving to grab the lighter in the drawer.

"Rythana has made progress." her lids lowered, and she tossed the case across the table towards the Titan. Leaning forward, her free hand would bring up upon the holoarray encrypted files. The past months have seen the research and development of Testing has commenced and the results are promising.

Floating upon the screen, the results in aurabesh sigils would spell out the following.

Theta Red.

It was a Vaccine.

Alpha Red actively works to spread and infect others, it kills and mains and begins to destroy and attack the system at an almost instantaneous instance. Theta Red works entirely different. The Compound was developed to act as a defensive mechanism against invasion from outside of the body, similar to most species own immune system. This antigen effect of course, compounds and focuses on the addition and introduction of Yuuzhan Vong bio-technologies into the body.

Quite simply put, Theta Red attacks and destroy Yuuzhan Vong Biots placed within the systems. In this way, Theta Red could be considered a Vaccine against Yuuzhan Vong Biot intrusion into the body.

The compound works in similar manner to the Original Alpha Red refined version of the original serum. The Compound lays dormant within the subject once injected, sitting alongside other immune response systems for a time of up to a year, the antigen eventually degrading after that time.


"We will need to expedite it... Force knows if the Cabal will utilize their Alpha Red anytime soon."

If he were to continue on to review the documents... a prototype serum called Zeta Red would reflect next.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He shrugged halfheartedly.

"If they do, we can't meet the production numbers we would need to." That was a harsh reality, but it was a reality. "It'll spread fast, very fast."

Alric knew that, he had read the stories, watched the old holos, heck he'd seen some of the experiments that the Star Cabal were conducting. Theta Red was good, it was the best hope that those infected had, but it wasn't good enough. He knew that, and he was more than willing to bet that Danger knew it too. "No. We have to stop it at the source. We have to find those facilities, we have to destroy them, and we have to end this before they can start it."

It was the only way.

If Alpha Red got loose, if that substance was released on any world, even a world that had no Vong, it would wreak havoc within months. Some Yuuzhan Vong were evil, some even deserved death, but there were millions, even billions, that were innocent, that were just trying to live their lives. Alric couldn't let them die. Not a single one.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

The flash of the lighter would illuminate the tip of her cigarillo. Cheeks would sink deeply as Danger took a sharp inhale, the cherry tip a glow a bright hue. Smoke went pouring into her lungs, kick-starting the rush of nicotine. A toss of the lighter upon the desk and it would skid for a moment.

"We ain't go no timeline on how long that will gorram take," Danger said bluntly, smoke streaming from her lips in a white haze. A flick of the vice went scattering ashes upon the blown glass tray. "Took us months just to get us where we are; ain't knowin' what manner of hoops we'll have to go through before they even give us that."

A flick towards the compounds of the vaccine would review what they had done so far with Rythana labs, Titan Industries, and Arceneau Trade. It was a credit dump. No word about it. They both had spent plenty to make any accountant mull where it was going -- and how Alric was keeping it under the radar was a wonder from the One Sith. We were talking utilizing Yuuzhan Vong biots, and countless other Yuuzhan Vong Tech to test everything out. Progress was slow, but it was progress... but it was expensive as the Nine Hells and the Tetan was right -- they would not be able to produce enough of it once the Star Cabal decided to do multiple hits.

"You got a plan?'

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He let out a sight.

They didn't have many options, truthfully, they really only had one. At least one that Alric could think of. It was unfortunate, and it wasn't something that he wanted to do. His eyes wandered away from Danger and out the viewport. They lingered there for a moment, as if he was trying to find something. His lips went thin, and eventually a silence began to hang in the air. It wasn't uncomfortable, at least not for him, it was simply a preamble to something that should be be said, but something that needed to be.

"We give them what they want." Alric wanted to bite his tongue off. "Everything."

It stung to think of the consequences. "Access to technology, research, data, scientists...test subjects."

He almost threw up on the last word, but he knew that it had to be that way.

"Everything they need until they trust us." The needs of the many... "Then we strike."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger’s jaw grew tight, tensing to the point her teeth would grind. The cigarillo would crush under the pressure of her fingers, smoke curling upwards as she bore her hardening malachite gaze upon the glowing tip. His words were as much of a nail to the coffin as she’d ever expect them to be. It meant that they would be held accountable, that they would be part of the testing… the deaths involved…

And what if it didn’t extend to the Yuuzhan Vong alone?

That knot in her throat grew larger, and her mouth went dry as if cotton had sucked it all up. A fine tremble took her, and she brought the vice to her lips once more. Taking a shaky inhale, Danger would muse, her mind racing. At what this meant. At just the thought of how far and how willing they were determined to go.

There was a line that neither would be able to go back on.

“So the needs of many, outweigh the few?” her voice would drift with the husky murmur and the chill of death.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He let silence hang after her question, the room only filling with the sound of dread.

"If they release it on Alderaan..." His voice was hard, broken. "Millions."

Alderaan had already been vongformed by the One Sith before Alric had even had a say in such a thing. He would have objected of course, that in itself had been a genocide. "Selvaris...Billions."

It got harder to talk.

"Coruscant." He swallowed. "Maybe trillions."

Oh the reality of this was setting in, the painful sting and hurt of what they might have to do. "Trillions versus a few hundreds."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

With that, the noose would cinch tight.

Neither would step out of this with clean hands; they would both be stained with blood. Rythana Labs in collaboration with Arceneau Trade and Titan Industries would continue to work in secret. Both would still have to ensure they were careful, alluding to their relationship as being one of casual business. All the while, the researching team would continue to work on perfecting the vaccine and a potential cure.

That would take time. There was something missing. A component. What they wouldn't know is that it would be months before the missing link to what they required lay in the perfected serum. In the details within the Black Codex that would allow the Star Cabal to fine tune their most dangerous weapon of all.

Alpha Red II.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

It wasn't a good thing.

Far from it.

Perhaps their plans would eventually help the galaxy, perhaps the things they did would come to fruition in the form of millions of lives. Right now however, it felt as though they were doomed. The pit in Alric's stomach seemed massive, the dropping feeling of sickness clung to him. As he watched the galaxy go by, as he moved through his daily tasks he couldn't help but think about what he had done. Guilt ate away at him, but logic kept it at bay.

It was a hard fight.

One that perhaps wasn't worth it.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Years passed, decades.​

​

The galaxy turned and the decisions made by Alric and Danger were neither right, nor wrong. The galaxy spiraled, and the Star Cabal eventually went away. The two Corporate Titans achieved all they wanted, though perhaps one more than the other. Eventually, time passed on by and the two parted reaching a point where one had made a mistake the other could not forgive for some time. Perhaps that was the way of things, a part of their attonement for what they had done, for the things that had needed to happen for them to succeed. It was hard to tell, difficult even when looking back upon those years passed by.​

​

Eventually however, the two came together once more and slowly, thoughts of the passed and dreams of the future began to meld together.​

"Rose is coming back." Alric announced as he sat quietly in the living room, Danger behind him in the kitchen.​

​

The smell of caf permeated the air, mixed with the honeyed scent of tea. It was strange, lingering, but it made the skyhook apartment feel like home. There was shock across Alric's features, no small amount of surprise. It had been nearly a year now that Rose had been away, months of only seeing his daughter over video and holo-messages had slowly eaten away at him, and today, just a few moments ago he had received a simple text message​

​

[I'm Coming Home]​

​

It was perhaps the most elation Alric had ever felt in his life, and indescribable joy carried through him.​

​

There was another message a few moments later, one from his other daughter. It was filled with exclamation points and riddled with spelling errors, obviously written in haste. It asked about a party, a welcome home celebration, where they would go, what they would do, spelled out ideas and even commands. Alric simply sat on the couch, stunned, a smile slowly spreading on his face.​

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger was in the middle of making dinner when the low rush of Alric’s voice permeated across the kitchen. As those words sank in, Danger would slowly pause, shutting off the faucet at the kitchen sink. The sound of rushing water would come to a halt, and green eyes would rise to drift over to the man who sat staring at his datapad.

There was just a hint of a smile that would broaden with each second, a softening of his eyes that would trail down to the rest of his body as if as a whole it was giving one large sigh of relief. Danger smiled.

“I’m happy to hear that,” she told him, well aware that he would soon turn ecstatic like a young boy. In her mind, she knew that meant he’d take some time off to Empress Teta then. Drying her hands on a dishtowel, the full hipped woman ambled her way over to the Tetan. With an expression of joyful affection, she came to slip her arms around his shoulders from behind, her lips pressing a kiss by his temple as she gave him a squeeze.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He was smiling from ear to ear.

The prospect of Rose coming back made him happy. He knew how she was now, her holo-messages had increased in frequency and her updates had gotten more detailed. She was alright, a regular explorer really. There was a passion in her when she spoke about the planets she had gone to, a joy in the fact that she had explored and helped people, that she had done something worthwhile. It was a stark contrast from the young lady who had sought to emulate her mother and join the Sith.

"We'll have to pack." Alric told Danger, half looking up at her. "At least a week."

The former Titan leaned back and closed his eyes.

There were of course things that needed to be prepared, and Danger and Him wouldn't be staying at the Kuhn residence. That place...well it had too many memories that he would rather not bring up for himself. He had an apartment in the city, an old thing really that his father had purchased for him when he turned eighteen. It had survived the Mandalorian invasion and had been mostly empty since then, maintained by service droids and nothing more. "Maybe bring presents."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

It was the 'we'll have to pack' that drew Danger's attention. While she wasn't the sort to put a damper on Alric's joy, her own smile would freeze. The memory of just how Rose took to Danger's presence came to the fore, and the redhead tensed. Hands would sweep over the Tetan's chest, and she gave him another kiss on the temple, before starting to draw away.

"Shouldn't take you too long." she told him, already in her mind, Danger was redirecting the train of thought Alric had. If anything, this homecoming should be about Alric and his daughters; and not get an unfamiliar woman thrusted upon the happy get together.

"You can likely take two weeks actually. I'm sure there is plenty to catch up on." she gave him a squeeze of his shoulder, her hand sailing up his nape to give a gentle massage of his scalp. Fingers threaded through the silver and dark brown locks.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He noticed the word you, frowning slightly and knowing what it meant.

Lately he had taken careful steps to become more accommodating, to become more observant, and most importantly, less dense. As Danger turned to walk back towards the kitchen Alric turned with her, peeking over the edge of the couch like a small child looking towards something interesting. For a moment he lingered, then he slipped over the back of the couch, and with an impressive amount of dexterity managed to land on his feet. The Old man rose, and with soft footed steps followed after Danger.

He caught her right before she entered the kitchen, slipping his arms around her. "Two weeks."

Alric began, giving her a gentle squeeze.

"I go by myself at first." A kiss to her neck. "Then you come in the second."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Oh!" she gave a startled cry of surprise, feeling the warmth and strength of Alric's arms wrap around her. A shiver ran down her spine as the bristle of his beard would gently rasp against the curve of her neck, the press of his warm lips light against the flutter of her throat.

They half spun, coming to a slow stop as Alric's arms drew her tighter against him, hands splayed under her breasts as they encircled her into his embrace.

"You are likely to be busy with the girls," she would remind him, her hand coming up to caress the curve of his cheek. They rocked in place for a moment, feeling the nuzzle of Alric's face against her.

"So much to catch up to." ain't no denying there was a shiver of hesitation. That worry. It curdled the belly and gave her a case of the hotflashes. Her chest rose mightily and then fell with a sigh, patting his cheek.

"I don't want to cause no trouble..."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

A smile pulled at his lips. He had expected this from her, known it would come as soon as the thought had entered his mind. She was nervous, and he understood why, but she couldn't simply stay away. Not only because he didn't want her to, but because she wouldn't be able to help herself. Alric knew that Danger, in her own way, already loved both Lily and Rose. It was a simple fact. He knew that from the way she approached the subject, from the joy he had seen in her eyes when he told her stories about them, and in the way she was so hesitant to meet them.

"No." Alric insisted, his tone strong, his arms tightening around her. "You won't cause trouble, and you won't stay away."

It was hard telling Danger Arceneau what to do, but if anyone could, it was Alric. "One week."

"I'll go first, spend a week with both of the girls on Empress Teta." His tone became very insistent. "Then you'll come and meet them."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]


Slowly, Danger would turn in his embrace, moving to face him. Her arms went slipping up the breadth of his arms, looping over his shoulders, and then crossing at the nape of his neck. She then went to rest her cheek against the center of his chest. A deep exhale came pouring from her lungs, as if a great weight left her, her shoulders sinking as she snuggled close.

The mind is one's own worst enemy. It can make one believe there were demons in the shadows, prompting writhing maggots of trepidation to crawl within the mind. Her time with Alric was teaching her to stop that. To let go. It was journey yes, but ever since he had said he loved her, another chip to the mortar and the brick of her walls would come down.. until all that was left was simply he and she.

A deep breath would bring along with him the scent that was solely his, and she let that saturate her. Soothe her.

"Okay." came her concession, an acquiesce of his request. Her head would lift, and she up tilted her face up to see his. To drink the sapphire of his eyes. To bask in his affection and insistence. "One week."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He smiled, a wide smile.

It wouldn't be easy for her, it likely wouldn't be easy for him either, or the girls for that matter, but it would be worth it. Alric wanted his family together, he wanted them to know each other and accept each other. Perhaps that was a selfish thing. Perhaps he was a man who wanted it all and demanded it to be so, but...perhaps he had also earned that right.

"Good." He said quietly, giving her a small kiss. "Now obviously we'll be going on a budget, so we'll have to ship you in a box."

That was a joke of course, Danger and Alric combined had perhaps the greatest fortune in the galaxy. They had more then enough money to buy a transport company, nevermind and entire transport. They were privileged in that way, but he liked the humor involved with their riches.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]


The corner of her mouth would give an upward quirk. Her hold on the Tetan would tighten a bit, and she began a light rocking side to side sway, slowly spinning in place as she smiled up at him.

Warmth shone in her expression, crinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes. The lines of her face would reflect her age, a mature woman certainly no longer in her prime, but a striking woman none the less.

"Well, what are you proposing?" she'd drawl out with certain innuendo in her voice. Thick and syrupy, it floated along the ridge of his jaw as she pushed herself up on tippy toe to kiss him there. ".. with all this talk of boxes and all." he'd feel the smirk draw over her lips, the trail moving upward towards the lobe of his ear. Her body sank against him, and she became warm and pliant.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He smiled and kissed her.

There was something to be said about the two of them. He was sure that neither of them really knew what they were, what they really were. There had been no need to define their relationship, no need to say what they were to one another. Alric loved Danger and Danger loved Alric, that was enough. They had never questioned each other or bothered with labels, and in part it was something that Alric appreciated. Perhaps they were too old to care, or perhaps they had long ago forgotten that such things existed.

Either way, they were happy. "Well...why don't we go and see."

His arms wrapped tightly around her, his muscles flexing as suddenly he scooped her up and lifted her from the floor.

Alric strained for half a second and tossed Danger over his shoulder. She still didn't weigh much, and the old man still had more then a little strength in him. Her weight landed on his shoulder, and with a jovial bounce Alric jumped towards the way of the bedroom.