Great Minds Think Alike (Rev)

[Raphael Xandir]

Sembla
Outer Rim Territories
Grid Coordinates: S-5
------------------------------------

***Exiting Hyperspace***

The beautiful island world of Sembla sat before him as Raphael gazed upon it through the glass of his Headhunter. He had only been here once before and with him came destruction at the hands of a ruler who is not worthy. The young man was mindful of the damage he had caused to Black Star System’s Headquarters. Knowing full well that this might not end up in the best situation for him, he still had to try.

The man he sought out had caused him some friction between he and his father in the past. The man that called himself “Ryder” had delivered a swift end to his business on Bonadan not too long ago. Raphael payed the price for not closing the deal, but he didn’t harbor any disdain for Ryder. He was naturally curious about the man after he managed to escape a worse ending than failed business.

Now that building his father’s business was no longer a concern, Raphael was in need of the man who strongly opposed Slade. He would have to approach Ryder closely this time, as he seemed to mistake the young Raphael for his father before. Though, if he saw the two standing next to each other now, there would be no mistake to be made. His father had fully embraced the darkside between then, evolving into something more gruesome than Raphael could ever imagine. He was taking extremes when it came to leading the Sith and destroying the ones Raphael truly held the closest.

Only time would tell how far Lord Blood was willing to go to assert himself on the galaxy, but Raphael wasn’t willing to sit around and find out. He had escaped the clutches of the devil, not unnoticed, and would look to oppose him in any way he can. Raphael now truly believed that if someone didn’t stop him, then the whole galaxy would be sent into a dark age; one of oppression and genocide.

*****

Raphael eased his ship into the planets atmosphere and requested a landing pad near the headquarters he had once bombed. They world seemed to be doing well for itself and thriving under new investments. The snap-hiss of his landing gears settling on the landing pad signaled to him that he would need to exit soon.

Taking diplomatic route, Raphael would leave his weapons and armor within his ship. He would only wear his casual garments and dusty robe to meet Ryder; he wanted to pose as no threat to the man.

Strutting towards the base, Raphael was sure some sort of guards would soon pick him up. His fingers were crossed that Ryder was actually here and operating out of this base.

[Corran Vellar]

Sembla, a beautiful world that had been scarred by a recent Sith attack. Scorch marks and craters were easily seen littering the landscape around Black Stars HQ as Raphael flew in. His headhunt was given clearance to land in the public ports several klicks away from the main facilities. Three landspeeders zoomed down the highway that connected the two locations and came to a sudden stop meters from the young Xandir.

“He’s clean,” a Black Star security officer spoke. His hands lowering a pair of micro-binoculars from his eyes.

“Good,” a Twi’lek male voice returned. With the quick exchange over the doors of the center speeder slid open and a dark green skin Twi’lek stepped out. He wore a well fitted dress uniform that was akin to an Imperial Officer though it was black and silver instead of the usual Imperial grays. It would be easy for someone of Raphael’s skills to tell that the other two speeders housed several armed sentients.

“Welcome to Black Star Systems HQ.” The alien spoke in a welcoming tone. “I’m Nit Pabal, I’ll be your escort for the evening.” He motioned for Raphael to enter the speeder. “Your intention were unclear upon landing, what brings you here? Wishing to set up a contract with Black Star?” The Twi’leks hazel eyes gave the guest a once over. “Or maybe you are here to sign up, join our growing business? Pay is good I tell you, benefits are as well!”

[Raphael Xandir]

Walking towards the base, Raphael could notice the damage he and his companions had caused not too long ago. He had hardly seen the aftermath of Sith destruction up close like this, it was almost too embarrassing to show his face. Raphael knew he had wronged this world and its base in his past and he would forever be ashamed of it. Only time would tell if the inhabitants would be forgiving towards him.

Right on cue to cut off his thoughts, three rather large landspeeders came flying out of nowhere. They stopped just short of making the young man rather large roadkill. Raphael sized them up, as they seemed to be doing a preliminary scan of what he had on him. After coming to the conclusion that he was not an immediate threat, a Twi’lek male stepped out of one and towards him. The man wore a very nice uniform, one that was familiar to Raphael but not recognizable with affiliation.

Silver eyes looked around as he assessed the situation, the other two speeders were heavily guarded. It seemed he would be stuck in whatever situation he had put himself into.

The man that called himself Nit escorted him into his own landspeeder. Raphael pondered his answer to the man’s question before deciding upon an honest one. “I’m afraid it’s neither, even though I do seemed strapped for credits at the moment,” he answered back.

Raphael looked forward towards the base, “Unfortunately I am in urgent need for words with a man they call Ryder.” His head turned to meet the Twi’lek. “I believe the last known location I have of him was inside this base,” he added.

[Corran Vellar]

Surprise flashed across Nit’s green face as Raphael answered. The man had an unexpected reason to be here and while Ryder was indeed at the base, the CEO had made many enemies of late making Nit cautious of the stranger.

“You must understand Ryder doesn’t meet with every visiting dignitary let alone people who show up in outdated star-fighters.” Nit replied promptly not willing to divulge that Ryder was even here. “What is so urgent that you need to talk to the head of a the Empires forerunner in private contracting?”

The speeders sped through gates of the compounds outer walls and into the beautiful gardens that lead up to the primary public entrance of Black Star’s HQ.

[Raphael Xandir]

Raphael listened to Nit’s comments and turned back to catch a glimpse of his vessel as the speeders sped away. Was it really outdated? The young man had always thought of his headhunter to be a pristine specimen out of all of the ships in the galaxy. He had seen far worse ships that somehow manage to take to the stars. Yet, it had been some time since he had considered a new star ship, but maybe it was finally time to invest in a new one.

Nit proposing another question to him cut off the young man’s long-winded thought. Would he reveal his true intentions to these men? Could these errand boys be trusted? No, he had to hold out till he was face to face with Ryder. He knew little of the kind of people who work for Black Star, he wouldn’t want his pleas for help somehow reaching back to the Sith.

Looking out to the exquisite gardens, Raphael began to maneuver his way around the question. “I understand, but your boss WILL want to meet with me,” he finally spoke up.

Turning back to meet with Nit’s eyes, “You must understand that the valuable information that I possess cannot fall on the wrong ears. Ryder will understand my intrusion on his business.”

[Corran Vellar]

Nit had to admit this was a very unusual situation, usually he greeted folks who came and got right down to business. This man however seemed to have a different agenda then the usual clientele and purely wanted to speak to Mr. Ryder. This raised some flags for the Twi’lek.

“Well, at the very least I can send a message up the chain,” he began as the speeders came to a stop at the entrance. “He’ll wish to know who he is being requested by.”

The doors of the speeder opened and Nit stepped out. “If you would follow me in I can have the message sent to his secretary, Mr...?” The Twi’lek looked at the stranger inquisitively waiting for a formal introduction.

[Raphael Xandir]

“Xandir,” he chirped in when Nit asked for his name.

“Raphael Xandir,” he added.

Raphael would follow along as the Twi’lek he guided to the entrance of the building. Stopping near the doors, Raphael turned towards Nit to give him whatever message would grant him an audience with Ryder. But he would have to be careful; the wrong information to the wrong people would add pressure to his crusade.

“Deliver the message that his new friend from Bonandan wishes to speak with him and he didn’t bring any weapons this time around,” he finally spoke.

[Corran Vellar]

“Yes Captain Delvin, my decision is final,” Ryder spoke, leaning back in his desk chair. “It’s been a pleasure, hopefully your replacement will be more confident.”

The holographic image of the Imperial naval captain looked completely flustered. “But Mr. Ryder, it all happened so fast, the Sith...” Ryder deactivated the holo-projector which ended the transmission with the Nebulon B2 in orbit. The CEO was tired of dealing with Mr. Delvin, he was not going to change Ryder’s mind. Taking a deep breath he spun around in his chair and stared out the large duraglass window. It was quite a view from this high up the tower, unfortunately it was ruined by the burned out craters the dotted the landscape. This was Ryder’s constant reminder of why he strived to end the Sith.

Beep beep

The sound of his secretary trying to get ahold of him echoed through the spacious office. He slowly spun back to face his desk and flicked the comm switch. “Yes Ms. Hilom?”

“Sir, there’s an unusual guest down in the lobby asking for you, he’s not on your schedule, do you know a Raphael Xandir?”

Ryder pondered the name for a moment, it sounded somewhat familiar.

“He says you met on Bonandan.”

“Xandir...” Ryder muttered his hand instinctively dropping to the blaster strapped to the bottom of his desk. It was the name he’d pried out of the CEO of Shade after proving they were in bed with a Sith. “What is he doing here? Does he think he can walk right on in and kill me?” Ryder’s mind raced with questions.

“Yes, Xandir, should I send him away?

“No, send him up, and put the citadel on high alert,” Ryder replied, composing himself.

————

“Well it’s your luck day Mr. Xandir” Nit spoke as he moved to lead Raphael to the lift. “Apparently Mr. Ryder has a small opening in his schedule.”

It wouldn’t be hard for someone with Raphael’s abilities to notice the sudden change in the air, guards tensing up, civilian traffic starting to disappear. It seemed tho that the young Sith would be getting his meeting as the lift shot upwards.

[Raphael Xandir]

Walking through the lobby of the massive building, Raphael passively observed anything that would be noteworthy of this fortress. Something was oddly off. The air was crisp with tension, more than the usual tension Raphael received. The sea of workers parted as the number of people in eyesight diminished. It seemed it was the young man’s lucky day, Mr. Ryder did indeed remember him. There would be no other reason for the increase of eyes upon him.

Entering the lift, Raphael stood calm while he waited for Nit to send them upwards. Once the lift began moving, so did Raphael, removing the dark brown robe he was wearing. He then would fold it and offer it up to the Twi’lek standing next to him. Under his robe, he wore no armor, just simple tan clothing with boots.

“It is important that your boss knows that I am not a threat,” Raphael explained himself.

As the lift reached its apex, Raphael took one last moment to mention something to the Twi’lek before the doors opened.

“Good. Now it might be best for all parties if you mention that I am unarmed and unaccompanied,” he added.

[Corran Vellar]

Nit stepped through the threshold of the turbolift and into a simply designed waiting space with a secretaries desk. Behind that desk was a young Echani woman who looked at Nit and the man following him with suspicion. The two continued through to the double doors that opened into Ryder’s large office. Nit pushed the doors open with his left hand while holding Raphael’s cloak with the other.

“Mr Ryder,” Nit spoke stepping in and proceeding to hold the door open. “I have Mr. Xandir here to see you, I’m to reassure you that he is unarmed.”

Ryder sat at his desk, slightly hunched with his left hand below clutching the blast strapped to the roof of the desk. His grey eyes watched the door as the young Sith entered, giving him a once over with both his physical senses and then the Force. Ryder nodded letting his grip loosen but not fall away from the hidden weapon.

“Mr. Xandir,” Ryder spoke with an authoritative tone. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t have a murderous Sith sent down to one of our holding cells.”

The theoretical ball was back in Raphael’s court, he had to quickly prove to Ryder that he was here with more altruistic purpose then the last time they’d met. If he didn’t, the young Xandir would find himself on the first shuttle to the Inquisitors stronghold and Ryder would be collecting a Sith bounty.