Private Tools of the Trade

[Koda Fett]

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The Bounty Hunter sought Jaegar, the cause for the venture towards Naboo in the search for fresh armaments. In such an attempt, Fett found more than Jaegar; the Confederacy of Independent Systems let their strength be seen to all around their Capital and that thought on status returned to him for a mere moment - shot out of the sky, swarmed in the spaceport, or simply let be? “Blast,” the Mandalorian murmured to none other than himself, focus turned to the various electronics that found themselves useful once the idle transit of hyperspace had come to a conclusion.

Spear II shifted throughout the space above Naboo in a bid to avoid notice. Intent to seem all too similar to the standard traffic that the Confederacy found on Naboo - still, some caution to be found in a system so populous.

It seemed to take no time at all for Fett to make his departure. Inside the spaceport, Spear II rested idly, and the Mandalorian had taken to the cities. Everyone claimed Jaegar to hold the best of the best, and if one needed to enter the Core undetected, then Jaegar likely held all the options one could desire. Whether Maliphant resided in their front on Naboo or not, someone so infamous surely had the credits for their equipment.

Darth Empyrean

 

[Darth Empyrean]

While Maliphant had been busy living his life as his much better behaved alter ego, Dorian Harper, he had fallen behind in his work as Srina Talon ‘s advisor. Paperwork littered his desk, and all he could think about was zapping it all and leaving for their apartment. Confederacy work was daunting and dull, and the Sith Lord couldn’t help but scowl at the thought of doing all this himself.​

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Suddenly, a small hologram appeared on the corner of his desk - with the face of none other than his trusty assistant Cybele. The idea suddenly dawned on Maliphant that instead of him doing this pointless paper shuffling, he could just as easily have his galactic administration AI do it for - both relieving him of his work, and allowing him more time to do literally anything else.​

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“Oh, Cybele - I was just about to ask you something.”, Maliphant offered her with a coy grin.​

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“Save it, Dorian.”, she quipped back - though playful as she always was.​

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“I have some news.”​

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Maliphant perked up, but showed no more interest than a single raised brow at her words. In fact, he didn’t even say anything to her, almost forcing her to respond;​

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“You’re not even going to ask what its about?”​

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“No, not really.”​

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“Ugh. You’re no fun. Koda Fett is planet side, and is looking for you directly. Mind a meeting with him?”, Cybele asked almost nonchalantly.​

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Maliphant, however, perked up a bit more on the inside. Such a serendipitous occasion, as he had need of Koda for something; and no doubt Koda needed him for something, as he wasn’t aware of any bounties on his head currently. A deal formed in his mind as he Maliphant nodded to his assistant - who’s hologram snapped away with an audible click.​

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---​

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Only an hour later, Koda Fett was being guided into Maliphant’s cushy digs. A well established office with a large Confederate symbol on far wall, and no lacking of leather furniture arrangements. Maliphant, behind his desk, offered Koda a toothy grin - almost mischievous and dangerous in its presentation alone. Par for the course of the manipulative Sith Lord, almost iconic to his very nature.​

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“Koda Fett. Legendary Bounty Hunter. What do I owe the pleasure of a visit? I don’t have a price on my head, do I?”​

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Koda Fett​

 

[Koda Fett]

In his armoured frame, the Mandalorian stood opposite the Sith Lord. He never so much as concerned himself to see if a stack of credits resided over Maliphant; it seemed to be a fair chance, still, on the account of all the connections the Darth possessed towards the Confederacy - Sith against Sith, be them the Sith Empire, the New Imperials, or the Confederacy. No one left one another alone.

“Possibly,” is all Fett remarked initially. “But I have not come for bounties. I need equipment to sneak myself into the Core. The Galactic Alliance and I aren’t on speaking terms.”



Darth Empyrean

 

[Darth Empyrean]

“Always knew you were sort for making friends.”, he mused to himself.​

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Although Koda likely had not known, they had worked together before in Maliphant’s efforts to retrieve the holocron of Darth Vitiate. Successful, Maliphant had unfortunately yet to actually open the device - sealed by some force forsaken lock, of which he cared little to deal with. No, instead he had focused on more experimental knowledge of his own sort.​

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His attention came back to the armored mandalorian with a tentative gaze - motioning for him to sit, which the Mandalorian was unlikely to do. Still, Maliphant wanted to offer it - if only to confirm his suspicions of the off putting soldier.​

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“I have a few contacts in the arms market. You looking for a new ship, or something to refit your own?”, Maliphant asked as the first knuckle of his finger rested perpendicular on his chin.​

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Koda Fett​

 

[Koda Fett]

“Refit.” He answered, “I need something to cleanse the transponder codes in order to remain unnoticed and off the database. I have a contract on Coruscant and since the return of the Galactic Alliance, I cannot travel there in the same manner as beforehand.”

The Mandalorian had been to Coruscant a dozen times and then some, yet more often than not in a time of conflict; the Sith Empire turned their attention to the Galactic Alliance and came to see it crumble from the inside. But the Sith found themselves torn apart now, and in that absence the Alliance returned. Perhaps the Galactic Alliance had seen him as no more than a common thug undeserving of true attention, though that may be a risk one could not afford to take. In his callous voice synthesised by the audio systems embedded in the armour, Fett continued on.

“If Jaegar should have other equipment that can aid in such endeavours, inform me. Should be time I made upgrades to the ship anyways.”

Darth Empyrean

 

[Darth Empyrean]

“My contacts at Jaeger can provide, Koda.”, Maliphant offered casually.​

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Cybele appeared once more on the table, and Maliphant nodded to her. She made a quick smile and glance to Koda before writing on a pointlessly generated paper pad, as though she really needed to do so in a hologram. Maliphant resisted rolling his eyes at her theatrics.​

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“Off the books transponders, a new set of scanner plates, the whole shabang. They can even offer up their stealth generator and hyperdrive. Both of which should let you bypass hyperlane monitors, and real space sensors in their entirety.”, he mused.​

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“However, I have a condition. This stuff will not be free, Koda Fett.”​

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Koda Fett​

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[Koda Fett]

"Nothing is." Fett said abruptly in return.

Darth Empyrean

 

[Darth Empyrean]

"I need your genetic information.", Maliphant said directly.​

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"I won't go into the 'why', I'm sure you don't care - but it is my first condition. The second, or third, or what have you - will be jobs or something else pointless and boring; we can negotiate those later on. For now, however, your blood will suffice."​

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With that, a small wall on the side of the room opened - within were a number of different devices, most odd, a few branded with a Jaeger symbol on them, and others from different companies. Maliphant pointed to the farthest right machine which had a place for Koda's hand - lighting up as though it was trying to coax him over.​

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"Do we have a deal?"​

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Koda Fett​

 

[Koda Fett]

He contemplated it for a mere moment; let the air stir between the two men as the offer found itself extended from one to the other. The Bounty Hunter had been, to tell it true, uncertain. It may yet have been for some malicious intent, or another entirely harmless - the armoured one of the two could not tell, no, and so found himself curious before a conclusion could be determined.

"For what purpose?" Fett asked, some confusion found in the voice. "Of the second and third? I'd rather know what I've found myself in than it all be a surprise. I'm certain you can understand that much, Maliphant."

Darth Empyrean

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Maliphant sighed - what a world where a mercenary tried to think.​

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“The Bryn’adul.”, Maliphant said with a reserved annoyance, leaning back in his chair to study the mandalorian.​

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“A friend of mine has convinced me they are a threat the galaxy yet refuses to stop together, and since the Jedi are next to useless, I intend to help stop them myself.”, the Sith said idly.​

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It was true that Caulder Dune has since convinced him that the galaxy was too embroiled in war to set the Bryn’adul on a one way road into the nether. Maliphant, true to his ambitious ways, saw instead a chance to make a profit at the same time - his own mercenary army to contain rogue force users, artifacts, and galactic threats like this.​

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“I intend to use your DNA, second hand but clarified through genome projects, to create clones - and failing that, genetic augmentations to existing people. A new generation to help fight back their tide.”​

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“As for the others, I like to have friends. Favors. But if you’d like a more immediate job, kill Tathra Khaeus ; not sure you’ll be the one to do it, but I’d appreciate the effort.”​

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Koda Fett​

 

[Koda Fett]

"I came to Naboo for augmentations," the Bounty Hunter curtly rebuked in irreverence. "The Bryn'adul are not my concern, and neither is Tathra Khaeus; if the former is such a threat and continues to be left alone, then I say the fate you fear is most deserved."​

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Even still, the Mandalorian considered it.​

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"You can find a more willing template in the Core. The Galactic Alliance has no shortage of heroes that ought to adore their face plastered across an entire army."​

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Darth Empyrean​

 

[Darth Empyrean]

“They aren’t your concern right now, but they can be a paycheck later. Consider it.”, Maliphant responded cooly, almost ignoring the curt rebuke or the impression it was a deserved fate.​

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On some level, Maliphant agreed. Khaeus’s legion didn’t overtly bother him, he would survive no matter; but it would harm what Srina Talon held dear, and so it was still a concern - even if it took Adekos to help encourage such altruism.​

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“As far as more willing templates, don’t make me laugh, Koda. Can you name another with your inherent skill? Julian Valentine is dead and gone, and the Mandalorians have all shot themselves to the nether long ago. You’re one of the last in a dying breed, and I don’t want to just let that slip by.”​

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Koda Fett​

 

[Koda Fett]

He could once claim to have seen them all. From Julian Valentine to Ghorua the Shark, their partnerships as volatile as their rivalries; neither seemed to last, in a constant flux in favour of another - one man more machine than the former, and the other a beast that could crush a foe. Fett referred to them as the second and third, and for the fourth? Likely someone else that bought it somewhere else in the times since passed on. If Ghorua had died, so be it, yet the Bounty Hunter presumred the Herglic favoured retirement for the sake of that child. But, still, the fact remained... the last of a dying breed, of a people no more, not some race of creature yet those bound by a creed; their own, and rarely that of the Guild. Some men found no such contraints suitable to themselves.

"It may be best to let the breed die," the Mandalorian answered, uncertain.

Koda cast the T-Visor towards the tool that set itself astride from the otherwise solid surface. He strode towards it, slow steps taken as the spurs sounded off after each taken. "Should I permit as much, are these clones to find use beyond opposition to the Bryn'adul? For I should be loathe to see myself the standard soldier, nor manipulated into providing the Confederacy something in which it does not deserve."

Darth Empyrean