The Ballet of Words

[Faith Organa]

It was a visit she came in her role as what? Senator to a planet over ridden by that which wanted to eat her and her family. As the Princess of...yes same place, same creatures. So..what was she here as. Herself perhaps. What would her brother [member="Theodosius"] say about all of this, he was the elemental working on getting his skills back could he heal Alderaan.

Maybe but not without killing himself doing it.

And where was her father [member="Togashi Yokuni"] would he have something that would help? Faith had been having this same discussion for months perhaps this visit was the distraction she needed.

Senator [member="Mark Crassis"] had been able to take on the duty of reforming the intelligence portion of the Republic. She could say she was here to talk about that, and it would be true.

She stood quietly waiting to depart her ship at the agreed upon coordinates she wore a traditional outfit made on Alderaan it breathed comfort , loosely fit, and made her feel confident in who she was.

Her arrival on Shulstine V so far had gone without event, thank force.

As she walked down the gang plank she looked for Mark, smiling when she saw him, she began making her way towards, him, "Senator Crassis thank you for allowing me to come and visit"

 

[Mark Crassis]

Mark Crassis watched as the ship landed and he shifted his weight, immediately regretting the motion as a shot of pain leapt from his knee up into his thigh. For a second his face broke from the typical curious expression to one of pain and he found himself struggling to stand for a moment. Luckily all this happened fast, and within his mind. The two men standing flanking him made no indication that they had noticed the sudden change in his demeanor and as fast as it had come, Crassis had squared himself away with a smile gracing his lips.

Damn Sith shrapnel.

As the plank lowered, Crassis watched as Senator Faith Balor walked down and greeted him. He had to say he was eager to get to know the Senator, especially given the fact that she was technically his Princess. Crassis was born on Alderaan, though his life wasn't spent there. He'd left the planet at a very young age, spending most of his life aboard military ships alongside his parents. Crassis hadn't been back in.....almost 30 years.

"Senator Balor," Crassis said bowing his head and taking a shaky step forward to shake her hand. "You are always welcomed on Shulstine V. Though it is perhaps not the best place for royalty." Crassis said chuckling lightly.

"I hope you found the trip here pleasant." Crassis said turning to the side and indicating a closed roof speeder not far away that would take them back to his office. Crassis, a man of shady, less reputable dealings typically met with people at Twin Moon Cantina, but he didn't feel right meeting with the Senator there.

"I have transportation arrange to return to my office if that is agreeable."

[member="Faith Balor"]​

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Mark Crassis"]​

​

"Senator Crassius, please don't think of me as royalty, I really prefer just being Faith Balor a woman who happens to bear a title. I look forward to seeing Shulstine V, I know so little about this world, and I'd like to know more" She smiled. Faith took his hand and squeezed it gently.

"The flight was entertaining, I find that the holo news provides me with enough items of interest that the time simply passes away and soon enough I find myself at my destination" The news, the news at times seemed biased and controlled. She just wished she knew how they did it, so she could maybe influence them.

They walked slowly towards the speeder, "that is fine Senator, I would most certainly like to hear how the rework is going" She assume he would know what she meant, "So were you born here?' She wanted to find out more about Mark Crassis.

 

[Mark Crassis]

"Of course," Crassis said and had to bite back the jovial your highness. Crassis began to lead the way toward the speeder, the taps of his cane reverberating off the walls of the hangar. "I do the same thing with intelligence reports." Crassis said chuckling. He spent a great deal of his time simply going through paperwork. Whereas a decade and a half ago, Crassis found his day to day just trying to survive in the world of lies that is intelligence work, now he was a bureaucrat through and through.

"Shulstine V is a Shadow Port, Senator Balor." Crassis said as they arrived at the speeder and the driver opened the door for them. Clambering inside, Crassis shuffled over so that Faith could get in as well. "If your looking to sell something illegal, gather information, or find a crew for any less than savory operations.....this is the place to go." Crassis said smiling, oddly enough, with pride. Crassis had come to love this place over the years.

"I was actually born on Alderaan, though in truth it holds little for me." Crassis admitted. "My family was military through and through and I was shipped offworld at a very young age. I don't remember it at all and I haven't been back in close to 30 years." Crassis said pulling a bottle off of the bar in the back of the speeder and pouring himself a drink.

"Can I get you a drink?" Crassis asked. As usual, his drink was the red bourbon he liked the most, Menkooro Whiskey.

​

[member="Faith Balor"]​

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Mark Crassis"]​

​

Faith listened as they walked along "A shadow port you say, forgive me what exactly is a shadow port?" There were some terms that she did not understand still and it showed when they were all in session her ability to speak and be understood were certainly two different ideals. While she could speak, her words seemed ill managed and out of order, least to her they were.

She smiled bright when he said he was born on Alderaan, "I was too born there. In truth that Senator' She held her breath for a moment, "you wouldn't want to go now. While it is home, it does not resemble home at all, and I'm not sure that it will anytime soon. My mother has procrastinated to the bitter end about it." Faith sighed her mother was doing her best.

Anyhow.

"A drink, yes whatever you are having works for me" She was easy to please and liked a good drink. "Tell me Senator do you enjoy being a Senator?"

 

[Mark Crassis]

Crassis quickly poured the young woman a glass of Menkooro whiskey and handed the red liquid over to her. It was an acquired taste that Crassis had developed over his years abroad.

"A Shadowport is basically a location where the officials are less scrupulous in the prosecution of the law." Crassis said sipping from his glass as the speeder lazily made its way towards his office. "Where one can find a blind eye when they need to." Crassis said shrugging, "Smuggling, spice running, thievery and other sorts of more minor crime are somewhat rampant at many Shadowports. We keep things relatively under control here, we turn a blind eye to some crimes, but still enforce the big ones." Crassis said, not sure if the younger senator would approve.

Then her question, a rather curious one, was posed to him. Did he enjoy being a Senator? He supposed the answer was yes, but in truth it was always just a means to an end to him.

"Yes, I suppose." Crassis said chukling. "But my work as a Senator was always just a stepping stone to my true passion. My duties to the Republic's security." Crassis said, knowing that Faith would know he meant his work with G.R.I.M.

"Do you like being a senator?"

[member="Faith Balor"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith took the offered glass and listened with interest, she looked at him, made eye contact and nodded when appropriate. She looked into the glass though when he turned the tables on her she swirled the liquid around it wasn't as dark as some other drinks she was accustomed to. She took a sip letting it sit on her tongue then pushing it to the roof of her mouth that was when the full flavor hit her.

She swallowed and then got a shiver, "I do, and then there are days I don't." Faith sighed, "My mother insists that we all take a turn in the Senate to learn politics, and make friends, and learn to be tactful." Faith laughed then looked over at [member="Mark Crassis"] "I have never been tactful a day in my life. Each time I stand up in the Senate to speak I don't hear eloquence at all." Faith took another sip.

"My family I don't believe is very welcome there lately" She smiled as she looked at the Senator, "As for what you uphold for the law and what you don't , I know a culture that their whole existence is based upon the abilty to collect bounties." She felt sure he would know who.

"How does the rework go?" She asked he would know what she spoke of, they wouldn't really discuss it here but here and there maybe.

 

[Mark Crassis]

The speeder quickly arrived at the capital building of Shulstine V and the driver exited the vehicle and opened the door for Faith and Crassis to exit. How does the rework go? That was a very good question. Crassis had spent the last few weeks culling favor, kissing butt, and trading information to get the resources he needed to make the transition as smooth as possible.

"It is.....a work in progress." Crassis said chuckling as he ascended the stairs toward his office. "Our cells have begun to form." Crassis said, referring to some of the agents he'd already made contact with, "Our base of operations is just about finished and I've made contact with an old associate to take on part of the duties." Crassis said referring to Senator Ater Notechis.

"Truth be told, running the ops and getting the information is one thing.....getting the funding from the Senate...that is a whole other mess." Crassis said and lead Faith toward the turbo lift to his office.

[member="Faith Balor"]​

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Mark Crassis"]

She nodded, "Yes we need to get the funds that are earmarked for intelligence gathering, and find ways to gather the information we need to gain the upper hand with the Sith, and any of the crime organizations that are threatening the Republic"

Faith walked slowly with the Senator taking in the steady tap of his cane upon the floor, it was a strange sound that single tap every other moment and as they entered the hall it began to echo.

"I have a suggestion, you must tell me what you think of it" Faith pondered her words, "once we are alone I will elaborate. If my mother knew what I was thinking she'd not be happy" Faith laughed everything was just so..

without description.