Zaphthosis – Dark Alliance Main Residence
"Now that we are all here and have had time to get settled, it's time we acquaint ourselves with one another's gifts. We can discover those we have in common, and - more importantly - identify those unique to individuals in the Alliance. It is with this knowledge we can begin to take significant strides toward achieving our goal," Nash explained as he walked around the large table at which they'd been meeting since their arrival days before. The general current of emotions had calmed significantly relative to the first day they'd sat at that table and faced their Master on the HoloScreen.
Three days before...
Darth Vader had appeared before them - larger than life on the giant HoloScreen. For those who were sensitive to the feelings of others, that moment was like a tsunami of shock, surprise, fear, glee, anger, anxiety - virtually every emotion one could imagine was swirling about the table. While they were still reeling from the sight and sound of their dead Master, Nash attempted to distract the group by describing the Villa's various amenities, including aquatic and training facilities, meditation rooms, and a spa with attendants available any time of the day or night. He also made it clear that the boundaries of the Villa are heavily guarded for their protection – not containment. If anyone wanted to venture beyond the Villa's generously sized property, they simply needed to arrange for an escort for protection. Zaphthosis was home to numerous carnivorous and lethal species of animals – some as small as a fingernail and others larger than a Gundar. The ocean, shoreline, and heavily wooded areas outside the perimeter of the villa should be avoided even with an escort of armed guards.
Nash then encouraged the group to meditate and spend time getting acclimated to their new home. This comment was met with raised eyebrows from some, but an outright laugh from Anogen. "Temporary home, you mean?" Anogen clarified. Nash nodded, conceding the point without argument.
The Present...
Eevou began to speak, and Nash gave her a smile he knew only she'd recognize as him saying, Don't make me kill you! She replied with a smile, which looked innocuous to the rest, but told Nash, Don't make me wig you! Their encounter on the Mirage, when Eevou played dirty by using a wig in dim lighting to resemble Ciena, was a curse and a blessing depending on the circumstance. In this instance, it was a curse. Eevou forged ahead. "I'm still not clear on how this looks exactly. We somehow combine our strengths to create what? A machine? A clone? I mean, the suggestion by Lord Vader is…"
"Preposterous," a deep, cynical voice interjected. This, of course, would be Paxson. Thus far, his contributions were primarily one or two-word phrases that implied a significant disdain for Lord Vader, the people in the room with him, and the project they were discussing. Nash was pleased to see that most were simply tuning him out.
"I've been thinking about what Master said," Korus began. "In order to achieve what he suggests – to surpass the Force as a dominant power in the Galaxy – we'd need some way to measure our success. We'd need something powerful in the Force, and then we'd need to demonstrate unfaltering dominance over this thing."
"Yes, that is partially true, Korus. But I'd like to suggest that we'd be wise to consider the teachings of both the Dark and Light sides of the Force when approaching this daunting endeavor," Nash said. This drew some raised eyebrows and confused looks. "Think of it from a practical standpoint. We can no longer see the Light side of the Force and the Dark side of the Force as separate entities. The Force is… the Force. We have an abundance of information on the Jedi teachings as well as the Sith. There are even historical writings on the Grey Jedi to consider."
"Grey Jedi?" Anogen asked, which drew the attention of the group. Anogen not knowing something – this was rare. He seemed to know everything about everything.
Nash stood behind his seat at the table, hands clasped behind his back. "Yes, Grey Jedi are real. Some might refer to them as 'fallen' Jedi. They consider themselves to be… well, I would say they consider themselves 'independent' of Force dogma of any kind."
Nash sat, giving the group an opportunity to ask further questions. They were silent, so he pushed forward. "We have much to do to prepare ourselves. There is no reason to feel overwhelmed or burdened by what we have yet to learn. It will all come in time. For now, I've sent each of you a questionnaire of sorts. You'll find it on your datapads. If you will kindly provide answers and a list of materials by the morning, I will make haste in accommodating your needs. With any luck, we will be getting much more familiar with one another tomorrow night."
"Nash, when will we watch more of the HoloVid? Why are you waiting?" Sona asked.
"I have seen more of the vid than you have – I have been honest with you about this. I believe the next… let us call them 'installments' – the next installment will make more sense after we complete our Gift sharing exercises. If you will honor me with your patience, I promise it will not be misplaced."
Sona, Korus, Eevou, and Anogen nodded. Nash didn't bother to glance at Paxson. But he will have to look at me! Nash thought to himself.
"Let us break for the night and feel free to peruse the information I have uploaded to your datapads. There are volumes of writings and information stored on datacards Eevou has catalogued. To her credit, this was a monumental task. I have asked that she manage our library of stored information, so see her to request information by subject. She can suggest something helpful if you are unsure where to start. With that," Nash stood and clasped his hands in front of himself and bowed slightly, "I bid each of you a good night."
The group stood and Korus started a quiet conversation with Sona about his stomach growling, which Anogen overheard and suggested they visit the dining room and request a snack. Nash walked around the table and put his hand on Paxson's shoulder. "A word in my office," Nash said. It was not a request.
Eevou saw this interaction and her nosy motor began to whir. She'd been bored. It surprised her when she found herself missing Remy, who had been temporarily detained, counselled, and returned to the helm of the Mirage. One of the beautiful side effects of the tranquilizer he was given on the Mirage that day was its tendency to destroy the recall of events several hours in advance of the injection. He was told he had inhaled a toxin left behind by the Leffer men.
So here was a chance to fill her time with something interesting. She waited a few moments to allow the two men to make their way to Nash's office down the corridor. This gave her a chance to ponder her new job assignment. Me – a Librarian – who is Nash kidding? Nash will have to provide me with a privacy tag for my door... and motivation. No Remy, no Korus… Anogen? No thank-you. She shivered at the thought. Not that he wasn't mildly attractive in his own way, but he was too smart and serious. He'd be two steps ahead of Eevou at all times, which was not the way things worked in her relationships.
Nash entered his office and Paxson followed. Nash gestured to a chair and Paxson remained standing. "Really? Are you so petulant that you refuse to sit down for an adult conversation?" Paxson stepped forward and took a seat.
"What is it?" Nash asked. He leaned forward in his chair, placing his clasped hands and forearms on the desk. When Paxson didn't reply, Nash unclasped his hands and held them in the air, palms up, while he shrugged. His expression suggested he was completely in the dark.
"You must be kidding. You are many things, Windrider. Naïve is not one of them."
"Well, I'm afraid I am at a loss. Your attitude, well – pardon me for saying so - but you're a tremendous downer." Nash gave Paxson a look that was equally cross and curious. This infuriated Paxson.
"You want me to kidnap a baby and her mother. Or, have you forgotten all about this? Please, tell me you have come to your senses and-"
"Oh, no – Sara and Sila will be coming to Zaphthosis to stay where I can protect them and be with my daughter as a father should be. That will happen, with or without your assistance." Nash's matter-of-fact tone made Paxson envision his hands around Nash's neck.
"So, you will do it without my assistance, then?" Paxson clarified.
"Seeing you here, in the person, I do realize this was an unfair burden to place on you. You were with your brothers – Lem, Stretch, Bull and Steps - who you would just as soon lop off a limb than betray." Paxson's eye twitched, telling Nash that Paxson didn't miss the intended message: That's right, I know more than you think. "Geth is a good man. I still know this about him, though, regrettably, we are on opposite sides of things again. You became close to the family and I am certain this made the idea repulsive. That is also a sign that you are a good man, Paxson," Nash explained.
Paxson was looking at Nash with obvious suspicion, but the "I'd like to smash your face in with a brick!" look was abating. "I am sorry for asking that of you, Paxson. In retrospect, it was selfish and very unfair. I hope in time you will be able to forgive me." Nash sounded sincere, but Paxson wasn't buying a word of it. Paxson stared at him with a string of harsh words simmering just beneath the surface. Instead, he stood.
"You wanted them here within two weeks of the convening. Have you prepared for their arrival? Sila needs a special formula and-"
"Not to worry, Paxson. I have it all handled. They will be here and will want for nothing."
Paxson cocked his head to the side and almost smiled. "They will want for everything, Nash. Sara will want for Dalven. Sila will want for her daddy – the man she knows as her daddy – who she shares a bond with that's even stronger than her bond with her mother. Sila will cry for her grandpa and grandma. Even more, Sila will long for Lucy who she naps, eats and plays with every day - and has since her first week of life. Sure, they'll survive – Sara is strong and Sila will find comfort in her. But don't kid yourself. You're kidnapping a woman and her baby from as close to an ideal life as any person could dare hope to have."
Paxson's assessment cut Nash deeply, and hiding it proved to be too much of a challenge. Nash grimaced and covered his face with his hands, then dropped his head, his fingers running through and resting in his hair. For once, Paxson's aim was not to hurt Nash, it was to reason with him. This was apparent in the way he spoke only about the needs of the girls.
Nash sighed and dropped his hands into his lap. He looked up at Paxson, this time with a rare hint of vulnerability in his expression. "Those are truths I have accepted – I am not insensitive to the difficulties this will pose. I simply believe, but for my own stupidity, Sara would have stayed with me and we'd have shared in the birth of our child. My child," Nash emphasized. "Paxson, have you considered that Sila may be Force sensitive?"
Paxson had to remember who he was talking to. Nash could perceive if he lied. "Yes, I have."
"And?" Nash probed.
"I have noticed that she connects events together. She already understands action and consequence. She seems to have a special connection to Dalven. No matter who is in the room, her attention is on Dalven. There is a purpose to it, though I wasn't able to figure out what it is. Dalven says they speak their own special language. I'm not sure Dalven realizes that he's actually right – in a certain sense."
Nash nodded, his chin perched on his fingertips – elbows on his desk. Again, he didn't appear offended by Paxson's observations. He appeared grateful for them. "In any case, they'll be here soon. I would kindly ask that you keep this information private."
Paxson stared at Nash and gave him the only response that made sense at the time. "I have no ability to influence or change what I believe will be a terrible mistake. If I can assist in calming nerves and lowering the anxiety, I will help. But as you will be keenly aware, I will never agree with your doing this. Sara's first reaction to seeing me here will be anger, but I intend to remedy this immediately. I won't lie to her. She will know about my opposition to this while also knowing I am not in a position to change things. If I am asked, I won't lie to anyone else about how I feel, either. But most especially, I won't lie to Sara. I've done that already, and it…" Paxson felt the tightening in his throat and knew what it meant, so he inhaled deeply and made certain to hide the sadness behind an expression of frustration. "It was a disaster and almost got me killed. But I will help Sara and Sila accept what they cannot change for their own well-being and, hopefully one day, happiness."
Paxson could not allow Nash to see how broken he was inside. This would make Nash suspicious and Paxson needed Nash to trust him. Every single thing Paxson had said or done since his arrival was intentional. Every snide comment, every facial expression, every gesture with his hands and body – they were all to convince Nash that Paxson wore his feelings on his sleeve. Paxson was going to be the "what you see is what you get" guy. All the while, he was on his own mission. Paxson had one goal: Protect General Pikson's family and his brothers. To do this, he would eliminate Nash Windrider – and anyone who might feel obliged to avenge him. If he had to face Vader's wrath, so be it.
Nash's fingers left his chin and his forearms fell like timber onto his desk. Nash just stared at Paxson, his face registering confusion, then mild surprise, then confusion again. This cycle continued. Though Paxson remained stone faced, he felt the thrill of his first true victory in this silent war. He is afraid. He wants to believe me, but is scared. I found a chink in your armor, Nash Windrider. Hope! You're afraid to hope!
For a solid minute Nash stared at Paxson. It was a few degrees past creepy when Nash finally spoke. "You mean this," Nash stated. "I can tell you mean it. Not in the whole human lie detector kind of way. I mean, there is that. But I would know it regardless. You are willing to help Sara and my daughter when they arrive." A grateful smile crossed Nash's lips. He stood and walked around the desk. Nash extended his hand to Paxson. Paxson stood fast, until Nash felt the need to clarify his intentions. "No – you misunderstand," he said. "This is not to say you agree with my bringing them here or that you condone my position. I am simply offering my gratitude for your kindness toward Sarabel and Sila, reasons notwithstanding." Paxson stared at the outstretched hand then looked at Nash. Nash's face had lost the hard edge and the shadows that darkened his features seemed faded. He almost looked like the young Commander Windrider that Paxson had first met on the Garrote over two years before.
Paxson reached out and accepted Nash's hand for the few shakes that followed, then he turned to leave. The door slid open and he had one foot out the door. "Oh, Paxson – one more thing." Paxson paused and glanced back. Nash was smiling, but this smile was full of humor. "Be cautious of Eevou. She has a habit of filling her time with handsome men. I've seen her eyeing you more than once. That usually means trouble." Paxson nodded and left the room.
As the door shut behind him, Paxson's mind was already deconstructing that last bit of advice. How would Nash know this? Clearly he knows Eevou quite well. Eevou was with Nash before the others arrived. He's entrusted her with invaluable, irreplaceable resources. Nash is observant of her interest in other men. A smile crept across Paxson's face. I need to make friends with Eevou.
Eevou smiled as Paxson left Nash's office completely lost in his own thoughts. He failed to notice when she stepped out from behind a column. Her ability to conceal herself was less about there being a physical barrier and more about her ability to disappear into the Force. This was a skill she had no intention of putting on Nash's list – or anyone else's. She'd miss too much, like hearing Nash warn Paxson away from her. She watched the impossibly handsome man walking away down the corridor, then approached Nash's office. The door opened and there Nash was in front of his desk, casually leaning back with his legs extended and feet crossed, his arms crossed over his chest, and an irritating, obnoxious, knowing smile.
"Whatever took you so long? You, my dear, are slipping." Nash never lost the precise, staccato enunciation and almost hypnotic intonation of those native to Alderaan. Nash enjoyed the fact that it became a playful weapon when exchanging barbs with Eevou. It gave his teasing that little extra edge; an advantage when he needed it with his sly, mischievous... well, he didn't really know what to call Eevou. She was just...Eevou.
"So, was that a dare?" she asked. Her tone was teasing, but there was definitely a twinge of irritation in there that Nash picked up on right away.
"Whatever do you mean?" Nash asked. "A dare about what?" His smile didn't fade – not even a millimeter.
Now Eevou was angry. This caught Eevou off guard. She never became angry. Eevou had flawless control over her emotions, which is one of the reasons Lord Vader and now Nash trusted her with their most closely guarded secrets. But I AM angry, she told herself. I have a right to be angry. How dare he!" She took a deep breath and the words that fell out of her mouth came from somewhere she couldn't explain. "You have no right to tell people hurtful things about me!" she yelled.
A flash of confusion crossed Nash's face. A less exuberant smile remained. "What hurtful things did I say, my dear Eevou?"
"You know what you said! You see me as some bimbo who has no feelings and does whatever you want her to do whenever you tell her to do it. I do have feelings and I am not a slave!" she exclaimed. Eevou turned and stormed out of Nash's office, leaving Nash wide eyed and completely confused.
"Eeeeevou – come back," he called. Surely she was joking. Any second she was going to come marching back into his office and try to engage him in one of her "now you have to make it up to me" games. The door to his office closed, and Nash waited. He walked around his desk and sat down, drumming his fingers on his armrests. "What the kriff?" he growled. Finally he gave in and went to the door. It slid open and Eevou was nowhere to be seen. "Huh?" Nash said. Maybe it should have bothered him more than it did, but he had important things to do.
Paxson watched Eevou angrily walking away from Nash's office. Eevou had been mistaken when she believed Paxson wasn't aware she was outside spying when he was in Nash's office. Paxson had noticed her standing outside of Nash's door. He knew she was there the moment the door to Nash's office opened and Nash called out to him - before Nash gave him the warning about Eevou's behavior with men. She had heard that - Paxson was sure of it. So he made a show of leaving; being so lost in his thoughts he couldn't possibly see her hiding. As soon as she stepped through Nash's door, Paxson stopped. Reaching out through the Force, he found his way into her silly, playful state-of-mind where she was planning to share light hearted banter with Nash. But that would not do.
First, Nash had no business speaking of women that way. Whether he was telling the truth or not, it was unseemly and dishonorable. Second, it was sound tactics to disrupt his operation from the inside out.
In less time than it took for her to walk through Nash's door, Paxson pushed the following dialogue into Eevou's thoughts: "That was hurtful. That was disrespectful. I work hard and working for him doesn't allow me to meet nice men and have a private life. He spreads rumors about me to other men. He makes them think terrible things about me."
Paxson heard Eevou's brilliant tirade, then watched her come storming out of Nash's office, ignoring Nash's plea for her to return. Paxson made his way down the corridor to the lift and found himself standing next to a very upset – and confused – Eevou. "Are you alright, Eevou?" he asked, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. She startled, then looked up at him with tears streaming down her face. His expression showed her only concern and kindness. There was no sign of the surly, antagonistic man she'd been sitting beside for days. Eevou nodded slowly.
The lift door opened and they stepped in. She still did not speak and seemed embarrassed. Of course, Paxson could feel that she truly was embarrassed, and it made him cringe. This was not his intention. "You know," he said, "you have a lot of responsibilities the rest of us don't have. And, well – this whole thing we are doing here, it's bound to cause all of us to feel a little overwhelmed at least once or twice." Talking to people was not Paxson's gift. He was a bumbling idiot and he knew it. But she smiled.
"I, um – I have been busy and… I just had a disagreement with Nash," she said. "Sometimes he says things… about me…"
Paxson turned and put his hands on Eevou's shoulders. "What Nash says doesn't matter. You know what I've learned?" he asked. Eevou shook her head, staring up at Paxson as though her life depended on every word he spoke. "When a man makes a point to warn another man about a woman, he's either jealous and doesn't want anyone else to have her or he is trying to control the people around him. Regardless, I make my own mind up about people. I think we all deserve to make our own first impressions."
Eevou was smiling now and her grey-blue eyes seemed brighter. Paxson nodded once and she returned the gesture. He let go of her shoulders and turned back as the lift door opened. When they stepped off, they turned opposite directions to head toward their suites.
"Paxson," she said. He turned to see her standing a few meters away. She walked up to him and held out her hand. He smiled and took it. "I'm Eevou, it's nice to meet you."
Paxson realized she was making her "first impression". "It's nice to meet you, Eevou, I'm Paxson." She turned back and resumed her walk to her suite, but Paxson caught the glimpse of her smile and he felt happy for the first time in a very long time.