When the Galaxy Ends [ omega pyre / syndicate / Ayden ] COMPLETE

[Ayden Cater]

Watching the man take the pad and move to plug it in, the faintest smirk crossed his lips before he answered the near-irate woman. "Because this would be a partnership. In lieu of a formal meeting to establish pleasantries, I have to offer you something to convince you of my sincerity. Also, forgive this next part."

The exact meaning of his words became very apparent as the holo array seemed to go on the fritz for a half-second before powering down and back up, all the while Ayden kept his hands at his side, but his hold on the Force strong to counter the inevitable backlash. Oh no, she wouldn't like this.

As the arrays powered back up, the figure of a woman comparable age to the firecracker blinked to life and took a moment to scan the room before her eyes found Ayden. "Identity confirmed. Welcome back, sir. I am presently engaged in downloading the data, as well as upgrading their security matrices and guidelines."

 

[Cira]

Well, she put Sarge down alright.

Dropped him like a hot durasteel rod onto the ground as her full undivided attention to the bearded man in front of her. He'd hacked into her system. Where she came, that was near impossible with the security measures that she'd paid to be put into place.

Oh, she was livid. Livid enough that her fingers twitched in the sheer magnitude of her ire, twin coronea of flame bursting in light as the calm before the storm hit. Get her pound of flesh in. The Force went surging within the woman in a violent display, swirling around her like a vortex and crackling down her hand just as it extended out, fingers spreading wide before it burst in a massive telekinetic shift. But it wasn't to fling or blast against the wall.

No instead it was in an attempt to bring him to her; like an intangible claw reaching out to drag the blasted man face to face. Nose to nose.

 

[Ayden Cater]

The display was expected. The gesture was equally expected. The raw power behind... was not. As soon as she wrapped him up in her tendrils of the Force, Ayden knew he wasn't going to be able to stop from being pulled closer. Rather, he did the next best thing he could. Even though this was one battle of wills he wouldn't win, he was still prepared to lose... on his terms.

Rather than being pulled bodily through the air and held in front of her, the Corellian pushed back against her pull just enough to allow him to do one last peg shot; he walked up to her and put his hands behind his back before relaxing on his grip on the Force to give her the small satisfaction of feeling her grip solidify around him. He didn't say anything, smartly enough. This time, Ayden simply listened.

 

[Cira]

Oh she didn't miss the mocking pose; there may have not been a smug smirk plastered across his face, but he radiated it still. As if he was merely humoring her. Stars she really wanted to wipe that expression off his face. That he was able to push back against her power and walk the last couple of feet before she entangled him in her grasp was a testament that he was on par with her abilities.

Who was he? And who was he working for? Question were racing within Cira's mind, and she was none too happy with the lack of answers. A nerve in her jaw ticked, her jaw tightening as her teeth ground together, her nostrils flaring in her indignation. While her grip managed to draw him the last couple of feet, it was clear that she would have a fight in her hands if she pressed further.

But it was ohh so tempting to simply rip the information from his head and find out exactly who he was herself.

The situation was not the ideal; right now, she was the one who appeared to be at a disadvantage to her employees, the men who she hired on to serve in Omega Pyre. It was a power struggle that she fought for the past decade, and the green eyed hobgoblin just managed to put a shadow of a doubt over her the security of her business and her position in power.

It was not something that would endear her to listen to his proposition with an amicable smile and velvet words. She was at an impasse. By all accounts she could rip the information out of his head and risk tarnishing the information -drain knowledge always held a backlash and a malignant residue she had no fondness for - or listen to whatever the man had to deal. Things were not working under her terms, and she knew it.

The man's mere presence here in her office bore a testimony that there was more than met the eye to the entire transaction. So while her grip tightened around him like a vice, she held herself back, for now, as mere inches separated their faces.

"You sure do know how to sweet talk a girl, " she clipped out in short low mocking words so only he could hear, boring her gaze into his, her sweet breath lightly blowing across his face as she spoke, "But clearly you've been out of the run for some time to think you can merely waltz into MY company, hack into MY security system, over take it, and think I will be all to willing to accept any offer without proper re compensation."

Again, her eyes flickered an intense gold, "And don't give me the star-forsaking kettle of giju that I need you. That my company needs you." Her brow drew up, " Because you are the one coming to me for your so called Corellia... so, you've something to lose if I don't."

 

[Ayden Cater]

This woman was every bit as dangerous as a Corellian Sand Panther. He knew what sort of fine line he was walking with her. Before ever setting foot in the building, Ayden had made sure to gather every scrap of information on this woman that he could. However much she protested the display and grew angry at the demonstration of his abilities, this was how it had to be. If he had simply walked in through the front door and told her his plans, she'd have coolly dismissed the legitimacy of it and had him escorted out the door. This was how it had to be.

After her small tirade, Ayden took a minute and nodded as if in thought. When he spoke, his voice held no waiver or discomfort, despite the very real grip she had him in. "Your point would be valid... if it were more informed. OmegaPyre does not need me, because OmegaPyre has me." As if to demonstrate his point, Ayden turned to the hologram, which then proceeded to create holographic images of various documents. "You see, I've been employed by OmegaPyre for the last six years, on long-term assignment to Corellia to prepare the Inner Rim and Core World territories for our arrival."

He let that sink in before his voice took on a subtly cooler aspect and much quieter tone, to the level that his voice could barely be heard by the woman inches from him. "Make no mistake, Cira; I do not need OmegaPyre. I stand to lose nothing from your noncooperation. The only thing I have to lose is time. You on the other hand stand to lose the first, and only, foot hold opportunity to the Inner Rim in the last ten years. Because I can certainly see to it that your organization never gains another inch in territory and is systematically reduced to nothing; your hard work rendered senseless. Do not mistake my bending of one knee to be a sign of weakness or desperation, because I assure you I have neither the patience nor time to illustrate to you the gravity of your error."

"I give you a centimeter; All the information I've gathered on the trade negotiations, elections, and mercenary dealings and much more for a dozen sectors around Corellia. Do not dare ask me for a kilometer. This is my deal and nothing more. OmegaPyre will gain a trove of information and the finest information network in the galaxy. The only thing stopping it is you. Do not let your pride stop you from accepting a man's generosity."

 

[Cira]

A tense pregnant silence followed, Cira's expression belaying nothing other than a slight narrowing of her lids.

Finally, she spoke. "Leave us." It was an order to her guards as well as that to Ayden's pet. Fine. He wanted to discuss business. They were going to discuss business.

Alone.

 

[Ayden Cater]

Ayden's posture relaxed visibly and he gave a short nod to Sarge that he would be fine. As soon as the room cleared, he turned back to Cira and stared. He said nothing, asked nothing. He did not move, he did not want to move. All he did was stare.

 

[Cira]

Sidestepping - she still kept her gaze on him - she released her hold on the Force over him and went over to her desk. Sliding into the thick plush seat, she narrowed her attention upon him, arms coming up to set her elbows upon the table, fingers interlocking just under her chin.

"So are you going to give me a name to call you by?" she shot over with an edge of mockery, "Or should I simply call you Mr. Tall, dark, and easily ticks off?"

 

[Ayden Cater]

"Ticks off you or me?" That same smirk came back and he seemed far more like the man who appeared in her office. He took a moment to ponder before deciding on the truth. "Ayden. My name is Ayden Cater."

 

[Cira]

"Cute." It was clear that she didn't apply it to the full sense of the word's definition.

"Ayden Cater," The name drew a blank; and she made damn sure she knew what or who went through Omega Pyre's area of influence..... which meant.

"So, you've been working for me for six years." referencing what he'd revealed earlier about being under her employment. "I am free to assume it was under an alias." there was no denying it; she personally reviewed every new employee's file to ensure comparability with her organization. It made no use to have wild cards that could ruin her legitimacy and reputation.

 

[Ayden Cater]

Ayden simply shook his head. "What was the point of sending the guards out if you insist on the circling games, Cira? Both of us have more important things to do than to continue this posturing mess. So here's what I'm offering; a place to set up a base of operations on Corellia, access to my intelligence network, security upgrades to your own system, as well as all the services at my disposal. In return, I ask for nothing but the freedom to continue to pursue my own operations, provided they don't conflict with the interests of OmegaPyre. Do you accept my offer or not?"

 

[Cira]

"No one gives out the prized nerf for free, Ayden." she said quipping back tersely. It was too easy. Too easily offered and tied in a pretty red bow to boot. It would be no surprise to anyone why she would be so wary. "As tempting as your offer is... the question is why you are doing it?"

 

[Ayden Cater]

"I could cite a number of reasons. Time, labor, space. In the end, I'm simply one man. It's in my interest to share what I know with a group of organized, disciplined people who's primary goal is the safety and security of the people." Ayden stated simply while taking a lean against her desk. "Yours was the best organization I could find. And before you ask, the Republic's too big. Too susceptible to corruption. Things getting misplaced, or simply ignored. Had to be small."

 

[Cira]

Well there was a tell. Mysterious Ayden didn't trust the Republic. Oh he gave a gloss over the reasons, but there had to be more to it.

"Alright..." she gave a pause, arching a brow as she canted her head just slightly to the right, "Let's say I do accept your offer. " she flicked her golden gaze over him, "How involved will you be after?"

 

[Ayden Cater]

"As involved as you ask me to be and will tolerate." He smirked and shook his head. Nine Hells, this woman was easy to rile. "I'm not going to be on your absolute every beck and call, but when you're left without things to do for as long as I've been, a change of pace is sometimes in order. So... Do we have a deal?"

 

[Cira]

Her fingernails had been tapping a slow tempo upon the polished body wood surface of her desk. What he offered, if valid, would be a chance at Omega Pyre extending into the inner rim, providing an entry point to the core worlds...

Something that no one had been able to do in this sector in over 400 years.

Her lips drew into a thin line. She was not happy at the outcome. While yes, her business would certainly benefit from this venture, she didn't like not having all the cards in her favor -- no matter now nicely packaged it may be. Another narrowing of her eyes came, her thoughts drifting towards Ayden's pet's armor.

"Does that include tech as well?" she asked, as he had not been clear about that earlier; and she rather it be crystal for what was to come.

 

[Ayden Cater]

"Of course. I'm not hiding anything. I have been more concerned with information gathering than tech design, but I've come up with a few clever little tricks and gadgets for my day-to-day use." Ayden did his best to sound sincere, but knew that nothing but time would convince this woman of his good intentions.

 

[Cira]

Another series of tapping came from the ratting of her fingertips upon the desk. A second passed. Then another.

"Fine. You got yourself a deal." that is when she came to her feet. They may have conducted business, but that didn't mean she liked him. Or trusted him. A flick of her gaze went towards him then. "Under one condition."

Another narrowing of her eyes.

"Keep out of my affairs -- and my office." then came the sugary sweet smile, "Unless invited of course."

 

[Ayden Cater]

Ayden smirked. "Reasonable terms. I look forward to working with you." He stood up and walked towards the door. Just as he opened it, he stopped and turned back to look at Cira. "By the way, Sarge will be working for you as well. Might want to get the locks changed."

 

[Cira]

She gave him a patronizing smile as he left, "A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Cater.... now kindly see yourself, and your pet... out."

Seconds ticked by before she pressed a button upon the small comm, "I want a detailed report on just how our recent guests made their way in here. Get everything you can on Ayden Cater." a pause.

"And change the locks."