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The Carbonite Business Can be Murder
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| Quintus_Stark | Date: Sunday, 26 January 14, 4:52 PM | Message # 1 |
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| "Dietrich, old friend! How are you?"
Quintus' voice rang across the transparisteel-enclosed area, offering a stunning view of the mountains around the remote resort home that Quintus had specially built to his specifications, down to the encrypted hypercomm system. Quintus was within the expansive room's equally large heated pool, sitting waist-deep upon one set of the steps. He held a glass of Corellian brandy in one hand and in the other, a fine Alderaanian cigar. Outside, the view was stunning, if cold. Empress Teta's mountains were known for their hearty peaks and the climbers who often came to scale them. The area round Quintus' mountain home, however, was private property for a good length in any direction. Indeed, there was not even a peak close enough in over a dozen kilometers where a man could take a shot at him, and Quintus was very safety-conscious. In his business, he had to be.
The man he was speaking to, Dietrich Fromm, was older, well into his sixties, with a hard, lined face. His white hair was cut short, bristly, and his face was cleanly shaven; a leftover from his years among the Tetan Security Forces. It wasn't the only holdover, Quintus noticed. The bulge of a holster below his armpit, still covered by the expensive fur-lined trench-coat he wore. His stance, as well, spoke of years and years in the service. Likewise, his policies hadn't changed, and Quintus knew he bore no love for an outsider from Coruscant, no matter how wealthy, who'd married very high into Tetan royalty. Even if the dislike hadn't been obvious, the pair of ill-disguised thugs who stood behind Dietrich, arms crossed in front of them and well-made suits ill-concealing their musculature and hand-cannons they wore 'concealed' in shoulder holsters, made no secret of sneering at Quintus, who was clad only in swimming trunks and obviously at ease.
Dietrich frowned at Quintus' words, glancing only briefly towards the hot tub some distance away, raised slightly up above the floor level, where a pair of Echani females and an Arkanian female were frolicking and splashing each other, wearing little aside from what could only be loosely considered bathing suits. Looking back towards Quintus, Dietrich tilted his head towards the females. "Does your wife approve of all this... cavorting around?" His tone was more than disapproving; downright upset, Quintus could hazard a guess. "Approve, Dietrich?" Quintus laughed and took a deep drag from the cigar, exhaling a long stream of smoke. "My wife has her own affairs and dalliances. I don't put my nose in her private life and she doesn't poke hers in mine. All in all, a fine marriage."
Dietrich's facial expression told volumes as to what he thought of that particular issue. Instead, he cleared his throat, glancing around again. "I came here to speak to you about Stark Carbonite Incorporated." Quintus adopted a pleasantly interested expression, sipping from his drink while leaning back against the pool's ledge. "Your company, Mr. Stark, has managed to purchase or cajole every other competing business in the carbonite export and manufacturing industry out of a job. They're all under you, now. Except, of course, for us. Fromm Carbonite." Quintus kept the expression on his face the same, but inside, he knew where this was going.
"You've been making overtures to the board of directors for some time now, claiming to want a merger. I'm telling you, straight up, that it's not going to happen. Fromm Carbonite has been in my family for several generations. I'm not about to sell out to someone like you, who comes in an marries his way into riches." Ah, it was the same old rag. Dietrich was upset because Quintus had managed, through sources legal and less than, to acquire and fold into Stark Carbonite Incorporated. Dietrich was upset because he couldn't figure out how Quintus was tied into anything illegal, but he had more than a few sneaking suspicions; suspicions he'd kept close to himself. He couldn't exactly accuse someone with ties to the royal family openly, and he was prevented from going too far with Coruscant, both because of Quintus' connections there and the fact that, as a 'younger brother' of Coruscant, there was no love lost between them.
"That's a true shame, Dietrich," Quintus said solemnly. "I was hoping we could bring our heads together. You know, partnership between the old and the new. We could make something grand, Dietrich! Something that would allow us to corner the market on carbonite! But we're each the one thing standing in each others' way. Now where is the profit to be made in that? Where is the benefit? There is none! Zero! Nothing!" Quintus shook his head and gave a sad sigh. "You know you can never topple me from where I sit, and I know you'll never work with me, never join in the beauty that is Stark Carbonite Incorporated. So where does that leave us, eh?"
"Where does that leave us, boy? I know you're into something. Something bad. There's always been something about you." Dietrich's voice was low, threatening as he crouched down to glare at Quintus. "I'm going to find out what it is and then? I'm going to run you off this world like a bad habit. So much more satisfaction if I see you in chains, too. You better be expecting me. I'll be at your back and your throat. Especially for what happened to Jerome." Quintus gave Dietrich a shocked look, but he knew well what Dietrich was talking about. Jerome Brzezinski, one of the Big Three of the carbonite business on Empress Teta, to include Quintus and Dietrich, had committed suicide earlier that year, and Quintus' lawyers had been all over the collapse after the man's death, along with some rumors that the man had been involved in illegal activities. Within six months, Brzezinski's holdings and company and ships had been folded into Stark Carbonite Incorporated. Naturally, Quintus' hand had been present, yet so far removed he'd never even been considered a suspect. Jerome and Dietrich had been friends of old, and ever since, Dietrich had blamed Quintus for that as well.
"That's a harsh accusation to make, old friend." Quintus said after a moment's pause, giving the older man a wounded look. "I think you ought to go now. I don't want your negativity damaging the relaxing atmosphere I've cultivated here. My dears!" He turned to call to the girls in the hot tub, "Will you please see our guests out? Make sure they're escorted to the shuttle pad and then off they go." The three females pouted briefly, then departed the pool, robing up and moving to chide Dietrich and his two guards towards the shuttle pad. Glancing outside, Quintus could see the storm front moving in from the west. Looked to be a bad one, coming. Dimly, from far off, as he toweled himself down, he could have sworn he heard a blaster report. Perhaps it was his imagination, but a small smile spread across his face.
The sound of the airspeeder's engine lifting off was more vibration than sound, and he watched as it swung about, heading back over the mountains and into the path of the oncoming storm. The Arkanian female returned, moving to the poolside bar and pouring a glass of Coruscanti champagne. "It's done then, I trust?" Quintus asked her, still watching the speeder fade from view. "You needn't worry, Mr. Stark," she purred. "All taken care of. Fromm Carbonite will be yours before long."
Tying the robe about his waist, Quintus nodded. "Good, good. Now, shall we prepare for our Chiss visitor? We need to make sure she's comfortable, when she arrives. Oh, yes, inform my wife I'll be staying a few extra days here at the house. Run along now." With a pat on her bottom, Quintus sent her along on her way before lounging into an easy chair. It was good to be king.
Quintus Stark II
Vigo, Black Sun
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| Liaric | Date: Thursday, 30 January 14, 7:48 PM | Message # 2 |
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| Her eyes widened as Empress Teta's landscape came into view. It was unclear if her reaction was a form of excitement, or wonder. Her face remained calm, and impassive. Almost as impenetrable as the mountains that loomed in the distance, blanketed by a haze of purples, blues, and grays, as the evening claimed it's dominance. "This. Culture," she said. Her gaze falling behind her right shoulder, pausing as she found Seren's rigid form, seated behind her. He nodded, understanding that she inquired to know more. The male Chiss took a moment to consider his response, which came with a finality not to be further questioned. "Should be removed from your thoughts. But if you'd like to know more. Ask the human..."
She spent the remainder of her time, lost in a sea of thoughts. It wasn't until the shuttle had landed, that she realized it was time to depart. She must have drifted off into sleep, not realizing how tired she was until the end of travel, or beginning, depending on how one looked at it. Dark lashes fluttered, as she gave her bleary red eyes a few good blinks. "Liaric," came Seren's voice, pulling her out from her lull, "Do not attempt to make contact." There was a look of hesitation in his red pools. Through words left unspoken, she understood the deeper meaning. The Chiss, seldomly interacted with outsiders, let alone trust one with the life of their own. And from here on out. She was on her own. A small smile tugged at the corners of her pale blue lips, but it dissipated just as quickly as it had come. She gathered herself, smoothing her clothing as her legs straightened to stand. She shouldered a single, black bag, keeping her thumb looped beneat the strap, so that it did not slip off.
The familiarity of the bitter, cold air, felt good the moment she felt it brush against her skin. As the wind swept through the private landing pad, it lifted her hair, sending her glossy black locks spilling over her slender shoulders. At the end of the landing pad, she could see that her arrival was expected. But she took pause, taken aback by the structure that stood before her. It was her first time outside of Chiss space. Everything would be different. Starting with...well, she didn't exactly know what it was. She had never seen anything like it. The style of architecture, and the size...it was...ugly. Which made her wonder about the type of people that inhabited the planet. No wonder Seren would not indulge her curiosity when she had asked. She readjusted the strap on her shoulder, and proceeded to where the others waited. On the way, she saw a man looking down upon her from the balcony window. His image was unclear from her view, but she did meet his gaze before he disappeared from sight.
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| Quintus_Stark | Date: Saturday, 08 March 14, 1:49 PM | Message # 3 |
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| Secure in the knowledge that the speeder would veer into one of the mountains, exploding in a ball of fire and consuming the evidence of the murder, Quintus turned his thoughts to the approaching shuttle. Right on time and to the point, these odd, blue-skinned folks. Quintus Stark's experience with the Chiss was limited, but even so, that was more than a good chunk of the galaxy could say for the Chiss. He'd become aware of them through some of his Black Sun contacts who traversed the Rim and often had to dip into the Unknown Regions or Wild Space to evade pursuit.
Still, glossing over precisely how Quintus had managed to create a business relationship with the Chiss, the unusual request that brought the particular shuttle down on his mountain home's landing pad had been nothing short of astounding. Trusting him to keep safe and watch over one of the Chiss royal family's daughters? Well, he could certainly do that, especially for what they were paying him. The small fortune alone would be worth its weight in securing his position here in the Core and preventing rival Vigos from making a move.
It would be quite uncharitable not to greet his new guest in best form, so while the shuttle was in progress of getting cleared, Quintus went to change from his robe, and by the time he'd open the doors for his blue-skinned guest to enter into his home, he'd look splendid in a three-piece suit.
Quintus Stark II
Vigo, Black Sun
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| Liaric | Date: Wednesday, 12 March 14, 12:36 PM | Message # 4 |
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| Liaric started toward the guards that had been patiently awaiting her arrival. It wasn't until she approached, that she took notice of the stout man muttering to himself behind the much taller statures of the two guards. His dark, beady eyes widened as he took notice of the Chiss. He quickly introduced himself, but his introduction was lost behind the distant explosion. She glanced in the presumed direction, but her attention quickly snapped back to the man, who was now tugging on her hand. He held on for a few seconds too long, releasing his hold as he spoke. He made an attempt to pronounce her name, while she rubbed the hand he had shaken. As they waited on Mr. Stark, he continued to try, and properly say, Vel'iari'csapla.
The Chiss had yet to speak, or give any non-verbal cues in regards to his efforts. Even the guards appeared uncomfortable in her presence, as they looked at one another with uncertainty. But nobody, appeared more relieved when the doors opened, than the man whom she presumed to be a native of this Empress Teta. "Mr. Stark, your guest..." he said, purposely leaving out the formalities. "Perhaps, you will have better luck with this one. She is beyond my help. I'm not even sure if it, she, understands basic." Her dark brows knitted together in response, but whether she understood what was said or not was unclear. Her gleaming red eyes studied Quintus for a moment before meeting his gaze. "I thought you would be older" she said flatly, finally breaking her silence. So the Chiss did understand...
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| Quintus_Stark | Date: Saturday, 22 March 14, 12:06 PM | Message # 5 |
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| Quintus was no native of Empress Teta, though he could emulate their accents and body language to near-perfection, now. That aspect came largely from his knowledge of the Lorrdian kinetic language, as well as a love of the theater. It helped, having a distant wife whose station brought him upwards but, aside from formal occasions, cared little as to what he did. Appearing at last, his hair combed and looking all the part of at least, a trophy husband with good business sense and, at the apex, a Black Sun Vigo with great power to wield in the Core Worlds. He took in the faintly amusing situation at one sweep. His own guards, Black Sun enforcers dressed in Tetan livery for appearance's sake, looking uncomfortable while watching the Chiss guards, and then his hapless adjutant, trying and failing miserably to pronounce her name.
"My guest, the Lady Vel'iari'csapla," Quintus finished for his adjutant, far more passably than the other man had managed, once the Chiss female had spoken. "Be a good fellow and make sure her quarters are fully prepared. I'll take it from here." Turning back to his guest, he looked her over, then met her gaze. "I thought you'd be taller," he quipped in return, "Yet, here we are. Youth is not always a sign of lack of wisdom, and I assure you, I have the pedigree of a noble house and a royal house. But that's hardly important, is it? Welcome to my home, Lady, and welcome to Empress Teta. Please, come in and we shall discuss... many things."
Quintus Stark II
Vigo, Black Sun
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| Liaric | Date: Friday, 03 October 14, 9:56 PM | Message # 6 |
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| "Hardly" she repeated in Cheuhn. If his comment in regards to her height bothered her, she didn't make it known. She was a couple inches shorter than the average Chiss, standing at about five foot five. She had a very slender, but toned build, that seemed almost lost beneath her attire. A matte-black tunic fitted loosely over a pair of solid black leggings. A tight bandeau bra was worn beneath, allowing the tunics embroidered neckline to cut dangerously low. Her boots covered almost the entire length of her legs, stopping just above the knees.
The two Chiss guards saw her inside, but once they confirmed she was now in Stark's care, they turned to leave. From here on out she would be alone. One Chiss outside of the Ascendancy was enough to raise a brow, but three? They would be in contact when necessary, other than that she was on her own. If she couldn't trust her own, how could she trust the man that fell instep beside her. "I trust you will do most of the talking" she said. Her expression had not changed, but if he was as gifted at reading people as she thought, then he would have noticed that even though she meant what she said, she was also joking about it as well.
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| Quintus_Stark | Date: Friday, 10 October 14, 5:48 PM | Message # 7 |
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| "I don't have a habit of talking just to hear myself talk," he responded smoothly. With the Chiss guards departed, he dismissed his own men with a wave of his hand, sending them back to their posts. Straightening his suit, Quintus led the way into an expansive sitting room and lowered himself easily into a rather comfortable chair. "Would you care for something to eat or drink? I find I'm in an extremely generous mood today. You see, my not-so-good friend Dietrich Fromm, formerly of Fromm Carbonite, has just suffered a terrible accident today. Poor man should know better than to pilot a faulty airspeeder in the mountains during a bad winter storm. Alas... he will be missed. Fortunately, Stark Carbonite Incorporated is in an excellent place to take over and ensure that Fromm Carbonite is kept on track and still productive."
Tapping in a command on a datapad that was set in the arm of the chair, Quintus sat back to relax, waiting for the drink he'd called for to be delivered. "So, now that you're here, Lady Vel'iari'csapla, might I ask what your intent is? It would have been far easier to make contacts on Imperial Center directly than work through one of the Deep Core worlds... even if it is a world as prestigious as Empress Teta."
Quintus Stark II
Vigo, Black Sun
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| Liaric | Date: Monday, 13 October 14, 10:54 AM | Message # 8 |
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| "He was in your way." Those eyes, like garnets on fire, found his gaze. She could always tell when someone was lying, or not being completely honest with her. She wondered if that made him feel uneasy. Her presence always seemed to generate that response. It was part of being a Chiss, and also the way she was brought up. Looking away, she slumped into one of the lounge chairs across from him. Normally, she wouldn't have been so carefree about it, but she was exhausted. It all seemed to catch up to her at once.
"I will have..." she paused, realizing she didn't know how to ask for what she wanted. Everything was different here, and galactic standard wasn't her first or second language. "...what you are drinking?" She shrugged her shoulders, brushing off the uncertainty she felt. Her silence returned, but not for too long, as she attempted to make conversation. "That's not my real name" she said, with the faintest smile teasing the corners of her lips. "But, it is the only one I really know." She didn't say anything more about it. "As far was what my intent is. I wish I could tell you more. All I know is that I'm what my people call a shadow child."
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