Turning back the clock [Development]

[Tmoxin Temi]

(OOC: Fast forwarding so Tmoxin can pick up the cell shipment. We can assume that she lied to Lucien Cordel about everything being safe and legal)

Lucien and his son were saying in a luxury hotel on Kamino while Tmoxin waited for the supplies she needed. In the meantime the Morpho bio-technicians, along with the researchers and engineering droids would make hardware and software updates to the Age-Renewal Treatment Chamber to enhance its functionality and make it ready for new cell components to be installed.

After she received the call that her shipment was here, she went down to shipping and receiving to meet the smuggler.

Her smuggler.

This time she didn’t bring five stormtroopers, or ten stormtroopers. Or even one measly bodyguard droid. Tmoxin would meet Orick T’ane with only her assistant Beulah at her side, unaware of any emotions building up inside him.

She buzzed herself into the area and waved the guards away as they approached her. She turned to Beulah and said, “Go inform Mr. Cordel and his son that they can come back to the Morpho today to watch the first treatment with a test subject.”

Marching up to T’ane, she smiled at him, an eyebrow arching amusedly and said, “Thank you for the shipment I asked. Credits have been deposited into your account."

In a fashionable black dress, Tmoxin looked every bit the business woman now and not the Imperial officer he once knew. But with that same determined tilt of the chin as she asked him, “Would you like to see the tests we are conducting? It will be using what is inside that crate after all.”

[member="Orick T'ane"] [member="Lucien Cordel"] [member="Darien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien didn't need or expect the truth from his potential business associates, The truth was irrelevant all that mattered was what people believed. After all a well crafted lie told with charisma enough times eventually became the truth and [member="Tmoxin Temi"] could lie with the charisma of a stateswoman. Given his vested interest Lucien had avoided asking the hard questions or probing too deep. He could do that after his son had been 'treated'. So when Tmoxin had sent them to await in a hotel he had nodded and left willingly.

He had used the time in the hotel to advance business, He had called in his right hand Shim Macessa . After all he couldn't guide a company out into the public alone and it seemed excessive to bring in his whole firm, She could watch the tests with him, work out the spin then drag the rabble in the bull pen in the correct direction, whilst he navigated the storm that was the mass media culture. He had been pleased to receive an invitation back to the Morpho facility ... It was getting hard to hide his restlessness in holo-conferences. Lucien had instructed Darien to stay at the hotel.

Primarily to avoid freaking his son out but also to give out the impression that this is purely business related. He couldn't let any whiff of weakness out, capitalism was a shark tank and weakness was like a bleeding wound, even a trifling graze could result in death.

None the less Lucien was soon found walking through the rain toward the facility his unflagging righthand at his side. "... Madame Temi, Is quite the formidable force in Pharmaceutical technology ..." He made a point of saying as the came through the front door. Shim nodded along as though they had been involved in full blown conversation. Lucien had to admit she was rather good, no doubt she would see fit to grow too big eventually and then she would be savaged by the machinations of the ambitious deprived of his support and lucien would have a different hand, such was the nature of continued power.

"Tell Miss. Temi Mr. Cordel has arrived" He said to the front desk administrator as his assistant helped him out of his coat.

 

[Orick T'ane]

He seethed as he waited, something was wrong and he waited to get the answers he was looking for. Moments turned into minutes, minutes began to burn, his face was a mask of anger. He had made a resolution to never deal with her again; she had broken good faith with him, locked up and drugged, while she gloated about it no less. And yet, here he was waiting on her again. He wondered just how thing was going to go down, a small army of stormtroopers this time, maybe a sniper. His hand sat just above the pistol on his belt, his anger at finding out just what happened keeping him from causing too much of a scene..

His eyes narrowed as she turned the corner into view, she was wearing a smart black dress and heels, a huge change from the restrictive uniform he had seen her in the two previous times. She did cut quite the figure and if it wasn't for the fact that he wanted to commit murder on her, she would be rather attractive. Her attire was different, but she was the same. Her walk was a bit more appealing in the dress and shoes, but her eyes kept their predatory gaze. She was dangerous, possibly more dangerous in the long run than the sith lord he had faced off against recently. At least the sith was open about her intentions, Temi was a wild card, dangerous because she was unpredictable.

She held him in her gaze as she approached, not with bodyguards, but alone, a smile on her face. She spoke like they were old friends, meeting again and doing business like it was a normal day. The venom in his words would have melted durasteel, his teeth clenched as he hissed his reply, " Five seconds.. that's how long you have to convince me to let you live." His hand twitched and the pistol was out, pointed at the ground, his intention very clear.

He didn't even want to give her those five seconds, but he needed to know what had happened, and that would require her alive, at least for the moment.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"] | [member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin swallowed and held up her hands as if to say "stop." She wasn't expecting the smuggler's reaction to be so angry. Then again, she wasn't that familiar with the exact properties of the mind control drug she had used on him a few months ago. The Hapan CEO made a note to talk to her researchers about it. Perhaps tweaks to the chemical properties could be made to make it more effective and change a subject's mood as well as their actions.

In any case, five seconds wasn't a lot of time. And Lucien Cordel was on his way if not sitting in a waiting room for her right now. This is the kind of scandal she didn't need with the wealthy patron in the building.

Her first instinct was to use the word Black Moth again and send him on his way. But then again he wanted an explanation.

With a subtle flick of the fingers on her right hand, she used the Force to tear the pistol from his grip and smash it against the wall of the shipping and receiving area.

"I thought we were friends, T'ane," she said, mock-sadness washing over her features. "Don't you remember? You work for me now. We made an arrangement back on Annaxes. This isn't a charity assignment for you. You are getting paid," Tmoxin reminded him.

She was actually curious to see what he remembered of the event, given the effects of the drug. She hoped the Telekinesis would keep him at arm's length. Tmoxin was still only a Dark Padawan and wouldn't be able to do much else than the trick she had performed. With no weapons on her, not her saber or even a small stun gun, part of her was aware that she was being a little reckless.

But she needed him to know who was in charge in their relationship.

[member="Orick T'ane"] [member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Orick T'ane]

Composure was something that he was surprised she managed to keep, he had a pistol out and she was seconds away from being killed. He often didn't threaten people, but she was someone that deserved it. She was someone that he would have no qualms about gunning down, even if it meant he did it right in front of her business, in plain sight of her employees. there were times for tact, and times for banter, but when it was time to get serious he would. Her hand motion was as much an insult as her words, she was actually going to think that putting her hand up would stop him. He was just raising his pistol when it was ripped from his hand. His head turned quickly to follow the stray weapon as it smashed against a crate. Almost faster than was natural his left hand slipped behind his back and grabbed.... nothing. He had changed the layout of his pistols and he wasn't carrying the hold out pistol that he usually carried.

His eyes narrowed as he bored holes throw her with his look, she was hiding even more secrets than he thought. He wasn't prepared to deal with a sith. She could hide it all she wanted, business attire, a charming smile, but she was manipulative and she was a kriffing sith. "You and I are NOT friends." His voice raising just slightly to emphasize the point. "I remember, you shot me, strapped me to a table and proceeded to interrogate me. Then you drugged me and let me go. Do you know how many months I had to spend rebuilding the faith of my contacts? Word got out I was interrogated, oh yeah, your people talked." His voice got lower, almost a growl at this point. "Everyone thought I sold them out, some of them still don't trust me. I worked for years to build up my network of suppliers and informants, you ruined it in one afternoon. We won't ever be friends."

He sighed and took a step back, she had tipped a card with the trick with the gun. He wasn't going to tangle with her on her terms. He would wait, and do it on his, when he controlled the situation. "Don't ever call me again. Next time I see you, just remember you used up your five seconds." He turned and strode back to the hanger. His anger still fueling his movements, more so because he still had no idea why he had done the job in the first place.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"] | [member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien sat down on one of the lobby sofas, one leg crossed over the other the picture of sartorial elegance. He was tempted to smoke, he wasn't accustomed to being kept waiting and a cigar might prevent him becoming rude. He trusted [member="Tmoxin Temi"] had a good reason for keeping him waiting. He sighed and leant on his hand then out of the corner of his eye he caught a look of sympathy in the eye of one of the many Porcelain staff members, she had been here the first time. Her sympathy could ruin him he had to end it "You ... here" He said pointing at the woman and snapping his fingers. What better way to eradicate sympathy than to inspire hate. She came over a false smile playing on her face, she was about to speak when lucien cut her off "I have been here ..." He glanced down at his watch " A total of five minutes and no one has offered me a drink am I being snubbed or are you all Imbeciles " He turned his head and once again prevented her from talking with a dismissive wave "No matter , you will bring me a cup of tea now ... Run along"

Satisfied that no signs of sympathy would rear their ugly heads he could relax again. He considered that perhaps his pathological abhorrence for sympathy was something he should get therapy for but therapists were patronising and he had no interest in being patronised. Lucien gestured his assistant over "Take a look around for Miss Temi, Find out what is holding here if you can and look around for weak links ... get caught though and I will fire you" He smiled and his assistant withdrew to find 'the washroom'.

He was alone now, well for all intents and purposes anyway, the front desk admin was paying him no heed as far as he could see. solitude suited lucien, it was safe no fear of mistakes or feelings getting in the way. It also meant that he wasn't about to have his past come back armed with a pistol. That was why he made a point of taking only the quiet types into his employ.

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Between the power of the smuggler's emotions and the fear of him pulling another weapon on her, Tmoxin took a couple steps back. Her body remained calm and stationary after she moved. But her eyes were slightly fearful. As she listened to him, reading his anger, her mouth turned upward in a smirk. At one point she opened her lips to interrupt him but then closed them. She would let T'ane say his peace and get it all out of his system.

She watched him leave and made no further move to bully or attack him.

Did she feel remorse over his ruined livelihood? Perhaps only a little.

But not enough to continue to use him as a resource. He was one of hte most reliable and capable smugglers she had encountered, and it wasn't just because of the IX Serum. Although she would need to be more careful in dealing with him given this outburst. Maybe an infochant could help keep track of his movements.

Anyway, she had the shipment she wanted and it was time to meet Lucien Cordel. Suddenly Beulah came out with a terrified look on her face. "Mr. Cordel is anxious to see you." The Hapan CEO made haste to the office where he sat and as soon as she came through the door, Tmoxin was all sheepish smiles and apologies. "I'm so very sorry to keep you waiting. There was a mix-up in shipping and my supplier demanded that he speak to me of all people. Of course, sometimes I have to get involved with Morpho being the niche company that it is." Her assistant finally came back in with tea on a tray for Lucien and sat it on a nearby table.

"Thank you, Beulah," said Tmoxin. "Where we stand is as followed: the researchers and the technicians have made the necessary improvements to the treatment chamber. We are plugging in the final ingredient today, will run through a few clinical trials and if those are successful, we'll be ready to treat your son."

She extended her hand to him where he sat. "Would you like to come with me to watch the tests? Given that the chamber will reverse aging by six years versus the normal three... well, I think the results will be very visible in our test subjects."

"If all goes to plan," she added.

[member="Lucien Cordel"] [member="Orick T'ane"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien inclined his head "That's quite all right " Lucien replied with a smile as [member="Tmoxin Temi"] entered "I understand how demanding low level staff can be" being that they were completely alone he could return to being polite, he didn't need to maintain a facade any longer. Lucien turned when Beulah entered with tea, she looked rather shaken ... did he have that effect on everyone he snapped at. He rather hoped not. He stood up and walked over to her. He pressed a note into her hand then poured himself a cup of tea. It was his apology for his rudeness as well as explaining the pressure of keeping up appearances, sneakily slipped in was a reminder that the business with his son was highly confidential.

He took his tea and returned to Tmoxin's desk. Morpho had been busy it seemed. He said as much after Tmoxin had described all the details. "I look forward to it" He said "Although I would appreciate if you didn't mention the real reason for my attendance here ... My right hand thinks our planned business association is my only reason for being here and it's best if it remains that way ... She went to the washroom a moment or so before you arrived she should be back soon"

Lucien leant back in his chair "Come back for now, Madame Temi is here" He spoke into his assistants mind

"When she gets back we would be honoured to watch the tests, the speculation over the advancements coming out of Morpho has made some rich people very excited ... if today goes well you stand to see very extensive investment into your little empire" Lucien finished his tea and placed his cup back on the table where it had originally been placed just as his right hand entered "Miss Temi , May I introduce Shim Macessa my righthand"

"She insisted on representing the staff in my employ today, she intends to provide a summary of today's tests to potential entry investors if you agree of course"

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

“Of course,” Tmoxin said. “Everything here at Morpho is done with discretion.” At one point, she had wanted to ask Lucien to use his son's story as PR, but she could find another willing subject to give an interview for a press article. The businesswoman would honor his request for confidentiality.

“My pleasure,” said the Hapan CEO shaking Shim Macessa’s hand. Hopefully the upcoming tests would go as planned now that there was an outsider taking notes.

“I certainly don’t mind, but I would like our public affairs person to read over anything Ms. Macessa writes today. I think that’s only fair, don’t you?” Tmoxin would be damned if something negative got out to those “potential investors.”

She made for the door and stopped to make sure her patron and his assistant were following. As they walked, she explained that they would be witnessing a couple of final tests before the treatment chamber would be ready for Darien. This time instead of the laboratory, they would be watching the procedure through a glass on the outside of the sterile room which held the chamber. A human test subject, male, was loaded into the chamber and a med droid was administering the treatment.

“This is our chief medical technician, Dr. Oovan,” Tmoxin said, introducing Lucien and his assistant to a Kaminoan scientist who wore a white lab coat over his stately-looking robes. “Ready to begin the test?” she asked.

“Yes, everything looks good with this one. Hopefully there will be less mutations as with our animal test subjects.”

Tmoxin gave a thin smile back at Lucien. “Mutations, especially these trivial ones, are really minor tradeoffs in the grand scheme of being able to grasp at the golden ring of immortality. Don’t you think, Mr. Cordel?”

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"I trusted as much " Lucien replied as he softly drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair, vulnerabilities made him nervous, "My secrets are very important to me ... people have died for less " He left it there, a threat taken too far tended to sour business relations.

Shim shook [member="Tmoxin Temi"] 's hand then returned silently to lucien's side "Anything Written or recorded today will be given over to your PR department by me personally" He said as they stood up, Lucien could allow Morpho that courtesy.

They walked through the facility in what appeared to be silence, the appearance of undivided attention to Tmoxin "Keep your eyes open for anything that looks questionable, I want all the dirty laundry ... have the team in HQ give them a thorough look through, I want the skeletons that even Madame Temi is ignorant of" Lucien hoped at least that any shady business was hidden from Tmoxin a CEO duplicitous in criminality would be ... troubling. Lucien often spoke directly into the minds of senior staff ... prevented spying. Shim didn't physically acknowledge lucien's order but her eyes told him she had heard.

Lucien was introduced to the chief doctor , A Kaminoan. Tall, Lucien looked up a little "A Pleasure" He said, slightly displeased at having to look up to a lesser person. His displeasure didn't have time to dwell on his displeasure as the test began with talk of mutation, "Well I think it only a fair trade off, rather that than the price paid by many a fictional character I am reminded of a book concerning a rather haunting image ..." Lucien looked away to hide his displeasure and caught the eyes of the test subject ... This was a dangerous game he was embroiling himself in. He could conceed there were somethings that should just not be done. A man who put out a begging bowl could hardly complain about hat he was given so he kept quiet.