A Thief in the City

[Desade Pho]

Desade debated for the first time since meeting the Commander, about introducing him to Bootsie, but she had been learning restraint. Oddly enough, Carbine had Exar Kun to that for that. She afforded him a sinister smile.

"Oh, but Commander, that's a bit beyond your pay grade, don't you think?" she purred, moving to run one taloned finger across his chest, giving him a demure wink, then moved to part ways for a bit, she needed to stick a flag of her own. Stake her claim, for a bit. One thing the Men in White were really good about. Everyone had a piece of the pie, even if they had to force feed it to you. Once she had found one, she'd ensure that Belfor went into standby mode there. According to some of the men in grey suits, he was unsettling to look at. She didn't understand, but then they said the same of her, perhaps that was a good thing? Her next task was to find her newest toy.

She found the girl staring out into space, curious.

"Eons Silence drifted around legions of the void," she told her, staring out into the swirl of white lights. "Dreams turned Silence into Silence, what of you, fair child? What dreams lead you now?" she asked her.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden smiled coldly, "Hardly." he said. He watched her walk off in the direction the girl had left. "Going to keep an eye on her." he said, "Which one?" Arvil asked, cursing as he looked at his cards. "Well, both. But the girl, make sure she's not stuck with Desade." Jorvan chuckled, "I do think Desade is contemplating killing you--not a hard assessment since even the sane ones want to stab you sometimes. "Shut up." Rhoden replied as the rest of the squad nodded and muttered in agreement.

Rhoden slipped back out of the booth as it became increasingly evident he was losing the game, leaving a disappointed looking Haly with far too many credits. He walked back and leaned against the wall, observing Desade and Mora. There was a shudder as the ship dropped out of hyperspace, a brief pause, and they reentered, the first of the multiple jumps demanded to keep Utopia's location secret--the others would be relatively short.

[Mora Norith]

Silence's voice drifts into Mora's little bubble unexpectedly, though Mora finds herself unsurprised by her entrance oddly enough. Mora continues to gaze out at the streaks of light.

"When I learned of the world's cruelty toward dreams I ripped them out, teaching myself to forget them and to shun any new ones that would worm their way into my head." Mora lifts herself off of the window and looks at Silence, a creature crafted from terror. Mora knows she should feel caution when regarding her, but instead some new unknown emotion settles in. Mora looks back out at the stars.

"But I've begun to remember again, scraps of longing to see the galaxy, to wonder at all it has to offer. There was a book in the orphanage filled with green. I would like to see that much green filling a planet, or water overtaking the land. I want to see so much more than what my home had to offer."

The stars simmer down to they're pinpoints of light. A jolt makes Mora sway in her seat and once again the stars lengthen to run across space.

[Desade Pho]

She studied the girl momentarily, then offered her a bright and cheery smile, running a hand through her new pet's hair.

"I will see it done, but soon we shall start teaching you the intricacies of what you can do, and what you'll be doing beside me, you'll learn to harness your feminine wiles, and the fear of others, you'll see into the hearts of men, and leave them cowering... you'll become stronger, but you'll endure more pain and suffering, for there are muscles within you that you don't even realize you have yet that will be worked to the point of exertion, and failure will mean more pain," she said.

"But you will be well rewarded for success; tell me dear one, what can you tell me of the Force?" she purred, glancing back to the window as the ship jarred her momentarily, she kept that cat's grace of hers, staring out into the void, before turning her attention back to the girl. She knew they'd seek to separate them, she'd take a few contingencies to deal with that.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden watched the exchange and made a private vow to himself. He would remain close to the girl, and would remain on hand when she was with Desade. He understood the need to foster relations with promising young people, but Desade had far too little concern with the Empire or any acceptable goals for Rhoden to feel safe leaving the girl in her care.

He trusted the Grand Admiral's judgement regarding Desade, but she distressed him and he did not at all approve of her playing these games with one so young, so innocent. Rhoden stepped forward when he heard mention of the Force, but remained silent. He glanced between the two waiting for the answer.

If the girl had the Force there were more threats to be wary of. Desade was certainly a potent threat in mental regards even without the help of the Force. Then there were the Inquisitor's, the Grand Inquisitor was not one Rhoden would call a suitable guardian. He swallowed, all he had to do was forget he had a heart and let the girl go. But, of course, that would just be too simple.

[Mora Norith]

Mora glances at Silence.

"The Force is what connects everything together, correct? There are people who can bend and use it to manipulate physical objects."

Mora cocks her head, calling up a memory.

"Years ago there was a thief who claimed to be a Jedi, I didn't believe it. He said it helped him jump higher so us and a couple other thieves had a contest. He won, using only one jump to scale a roof." She smiles with pride. "I was close second using only one jump and a pull up to reach the roof."

Mora's smile fades.

"He was caught a year later for stealing from Imperial soldiers. He may have had power over the Force, but he wasn't bright enough to realize the dangerous people you should never steal from."

She starts to fiddle with the cuff of her jacket and looks sidelong at Silence.

"Sensing other things is a part of the Force too, isn't it. I can do that, sense when others are around, but it's patchy at best and only seems to work when I'm in danger. One of those animal instinct things I guess."

[Desade Pho]

She listened intently, offering the girl an appraising smile, though her smile faltered, and faded, yellow orbs moving to the side a bit, though she couldn't see Rhoden in her peripheral, having her back to him, she could feel his presence. Her eyes narrowed a bit, before turning her gaze back toward the girl.

"A simplistic definition, but one that is mired in truth," she said, "What would you say of the Force, Commander?" she asked, still not looking toward him. Her mind moving to the Grand Admiral... she'd need to talk with him at length about the stifling atmosphere his people placed around her like a shroud. She trusted Argus, cared for him in her way, even-- and it was that, and that alone, that spared Rhoden. He had already rejected her offer, and now he hung close to her like some parasite. She'd need to purge that soon.

"My dear child, I have found a spot on this ship that we can speak in private, if you'd like, I have much to tell you, outside of mixed company," she purred, though venom dripped from the final four words, she afforded the girl a warm smile, nonetheless.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden smiled, "Members of my family have been known to show Force sensitivity--both my brother and my sister for certain," he shrugged, "We've rarely had our children tested for it, my brother was one of the few, and he became an Inquisitor under Palpatine's Empire, he's running around the galaxy studying the Force now." The ship dropped out of hyperspace once more, then reentered yet again, this was the final jump.

Rhoden raised his eyebrows, "Privacy, on this ship? Well you are good, aren't you." he said. He patted the girl on the shoulder, "If she worries--or threatens--you, tell me." he looked at Desade. "And once we arrive at Utopia we'll take you up to medical, make sure you're nice and healthy. Then we'll get you a good meal, our chef--Sevrich--is brilliant." Rhoden turned again to Desade, widening his eyes innocently "Of course you're invited too, I find you a most intriguing companion."

[Mora Norith]

More's eyes brighten with interest.

"It'll be very easy for your chef to impress me, my expectations are very low."

She stands and looks out the window to see the stars slow once again than return to streaks. Mora turns back to Silence with expectant eyes.

"Where shall we go?"

[Desade Pho]

Desade's yellow gaze slowly turned to look toward Rhoden, her head tilting to one side, causing her hair to spill unsettling across her face and shoulders. She had intended to get the girl cleaned and fed, that would resolve that issue, she supposed.

"Silence is best left alone, she has learned how to avoid those who wish to poke and prod," she said, "But very well, Silence shall accept the offer, Commander," she said, pausing to glance back toward the girl again, "But she is of no threat to this girl, Silence will protect her as she will her own Bootsie, as she would Fear, death comes to any who touch her," she said. "There are places deeper in this metal box, the heart and soul of it, the hum it puts off will help suit our needs--" she paused, before looking toward Rhoden again, her head had turned sharply, giving off a sickening crack from her neck in the process.

"Of course you are invited as well, Commander--" she purred almost mockingly. Placing a hand on the girl's shoulder, she pulled her closer, then spun about, making her way from the window, down the corridor. "Perhaps we can see if you can be attuned to the galaxy around you as well," she offered.