[Closing days of 17BBY]

[Hotel complex, near New Senate District, Eriadu, Eriadu System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

Asajj Ventress sipped at her flavoured wine, eyes watching and Force senses feeling the flows of life, and of conspiracy, that twisted and swirled all about her. In the past she had felt herself above such matters, but, like many things, that had been Dooku limiting her power, her developing that power, as while there was a time to be above this…there were times to involved, deeply. Even when you did not truly wish to be, as Daron felt, but here he was, and they were, mingling amongst both enemies and potential allies, threats and opportunities, even when those could be the same thing. Identifying the difference, or the timing on the difference, then was part of her task as she maintained the poise she was seeking through the Force.

That poise was to be both intimidating, yet alluring, to be both feared and lusted after, while allowing her party members to negotiate on her behalf while she, and Daron in several cases, served as the distraction. Or, where more intimidation than gentleness was needed, then the fair and just Jedi Bariss was the distraction, and Asajj, or Daron, were the negotiators. That or ones like this Chandrillan, Hanna, who move about seeking out wealth and power to bring to her side, and then to their secondarily. Asajj could understand that, and as long as it allowed her to grow in strength in the years to come it was an acceptable situation. Rattatak…she had cared greatly about it once, then very little…and now it was hers. To rule. To mould. To grow.

"…and to you too Moff Yanthis" she listened to Daron bid farewell to human from Ailon. Or, from the Ailon Nova Guard moreso, now that the man had received similar treatment in regards worlds to bring 'law and order' to as it were, save his were off on the distant Terminus. Not a bad idea Asajj considered, for both parties, as for the new 'Emperor' it would ensure pacification of that region and maintaining a strong military. All while Ailon, with a now isolated world now by the CIS no longer easily available, it gave land holding and a steady stream of recruits for the former mercenary army turned rulers.

{Should Terminus not be yours?} she projected at Daron, though she knew the answer already and merely seeking distraction from this grand holo-theatre they were caught up in {Considering taking it over?}

{Hardly. We extracted taxes out of them and got minimum control…he'll have fun times ahead actually securing that smugglers den} he replied, arm around the Jedi, Offee, possessively, gently guiding her, and them, towards the next talk most likely. Someone was 'summoning' them it seemed, and Daron had judged it wise to visit this confident seeming, and demanding seeming, older human female. Asajj brought herself back to his arm, the Jedi on the other, both of them clearly poking at him mentally to demand an answered {Yarith-Telea Figg of the Figg Family Empire. Be friendly but very wary with her. Do not offend if it can be avoided}

Clearly that was a wise course, as while they were mingling, this female and her entourage were being sought out at their elaborate sets of five smaller tables on a balcony overlooking the stairs and the ballrooms. She and Offee made the stairs look easy between them, though Asajj wondered if the Jedi Order actually taught that to their padawans….probably, since they had had to do a lot of ass-kissing as Jedi. Something she projected at Bariss Offee, though the other female merely gave off an amused-annoyed response through the Force, and a pleasant smile on her face as they neared the table. Asajj noted the two more discretely dressed individuals, a waiter and maid by their uniforms, but most likely assassins or bodyguards, as the human female sat as Asajj had seen Mother Talzin sit before. Albeit not in such clothing, or in a such a place, but it was the same posture and command over the male and female humans sitting on either side of her as the woman spoke, sipping a drink of some sort.

"Ah, it is good to see you again Moff Stormcrow, especially after your heroics at Naboo and then again against the Confederacy at distant Zygerria. Please, please, yourself and your ladies should sit…" and that was a command as much as a request, though Daron showed no sign of it, so Asajj fought down any sign of anger at such stance "...we have matters to discuss I would expect with your new, or perhaps return to prior status in the galaxy!"

"That is very kind of you Lady Figg, it is always a pleasure to be in your honourable and august presence" Daron replied like it was nothing, voice calm and friendly, immersed strongly in the Force "This is Jedi Knight Offee, and Lady Ventress"

"I am aware, and delightful to meet your acquittance" the human female murmured back, showing no sign of anything more than boredom at that, but there was intense scrutiny of them behind that mask of bored, but polite, command as the woman gestured first at the human male, then the female "My nephew Darnith and granddaughter Arabella"

Daron gave the faintest bow as Asajj and Offee sat either side of his seat, taking the proffered hand of the teenage female and kissing it before sitting "Charmed to meet you"

{What is this about?} Asajj queried through their Bond, but also to the Jedi too, they had to be team after all according to Daron. He was showing no sign of the question as he sat but answered carefully.

{Our return to overseeing regions they are very much interested in, while these two….supporters or seeking political marriages potentially}

Lady Figg nodded, sitting imperiously in her seat as a privacy field dampened the murmur of thousand of sentients down to barely any background noise at all "Now, time is valuable, as is cortosis, so now that the pleasantries are out of the way…it seems you are quite good at keeping secrets Moff"

"It comes with the territory Lady Figg as I'm sure you well know" Daron murmured back politely, sitting back in the charge like he was completely at ease, and Asajj adopted at supporting stance, one hand holding her drink, and the other as if to swat dust off the shoulder of his uniform "But, yes, cortosis is valuable, and has been recognised as such by the Tarkin family, and such is why, as their loyal vassal, we have being granted such rights to it to develop the new colonies in the Trilon Sector. Border defences are needed in these dark times"

{Greedy? Or Suspicious?} she asked Daron, though it was more stated {Or seeking to take it?}

He seemed to agree {All of the above possibly, making a deal I expect…hope}

"Hmm, indeed they are" the Figg matriarch stated calmly, the rest of her entourage merely….existing as extensions of her in some ways it felt like through the Force "Especially with benefits, and dangers, of the spice trade in that sector. But all things cost credits, especially development of colonies, military ones. Even to those with some existent funds and proven ability such things can be quite meagre when placed against the task"

Bariss Offee's will reached Asajj, even as she sipped her drink, ignoring the contempt of the young female, and lustful, yet self-loathing, glances of the male towards her cleavage {I think you should remind them of the Tax Exemption and support granted}

"Oh, I imagine so, and tis why our wise Chancellor, soon to be Emperor, has granted us the necessary time to develop as the Republic, wisely, did once upon a time, but in its decay changed its policies" Daron mused with a smile, hands coming to rest on his knee, one leg over the table after placing his drink on the table, showing comfort in his position as best Asajj could tell "I'd imagine it is why they have invested into the mines we have acquired from the enemy by right of conquest. They will serve the rightful inheritors of the Republic's mantle for as long as they are under my guidance. Now, the spice trade…why, regulation of such trade, and elimination of any illegal smuggling will be high priority of mine when I see to the task. Asajj here being Lady of Rattatak is already eager to begin that battle"

She smiled…not predatorily as she would normally, but feeling the Force, the guidance from her ally to rein in such desires "Indeed, bringing stability to my world will ensure a more active regulation of such substances, and aid in the fight against the awful fellows currently in control of the trade due to the war"

"Indeed" Lady Figg murmured, face polite, but mind…coldly calculating to Asajj's senses "An interesting challenge, and an interesting individual to take it up Lady Ventress. Considering ones…ah…former allegiances and stated religious disagreements with the Jedi Order?"

{Behave!}

{Not need for both of you} she answered primly without showing any sign but a politely smile, patting Daron's shoulder "Oh, I know where my allegiances lie Lady Figg, even if the path to get there was….unusual I imagine to many. Still, my religious disagreements are with the Jedi Order…and I am not currently dealing with the Jedi Order but am in the service of Moff Stormcrow here. Just as Jedi Knight Offee is. Knowing where loyalties lie makes such disagreements much easier to follow I imagine"

"Hmm, perhaps they do" Lady Figg replied with faint nod, but focusing on Daron as he was the technical leader of their little band here "Still, I know such endeavours will require significant investment as it were, even if just to reach the stage of being able to achieve its potential. Especially when efforts at an…alternate interpretation of the Jedi Order appears to be sector policy of its new overseer"

Daron smile "Why Lady Figg, I would never intend to challenge the Jedi Order, my dear Bariss here is a Jedi Knight after all! And I, once, long ago, was a youngling they cared for! It is more….cooperating with them in their time of distress"

Lady Figg glanced at the female on the other side of Daron "Ah, I had understood that Jedi do not have relationships? It is frowned upon by the Order?"

Bariss Offee smiled politely, in a friendly manner "Such is the case Lady Figg, but Grandmaster Kota has reached agreements with those of us not of the same mind with such prohibitions, in large part because it was agreed, after its recent failures and damaged from such, reform of the Jedi was needed. Myself I intended to support Daron's efforts to train the younglings, and other fellow Force Users, in whatever way they so require, or wish to be trained. I feel we are well equipped for such a task, don't you Daron, Asajj?"

"Indeed, yes I believe so" Daron stated, Asajj, giving an agreeing nod of her own, motioning with her glass to emphasis that fact "But, well….that does not preclude the necessity of investment into other efforts Lady Figg, nor of accommodations that could be reached, with our mutual benefactors agreement of course, for the development of new trade routes and centres. Trade is, after all, one of the vital pillars of our remnant of the Republic, and the new Empire would eagerly reward such efforts to develop the regions that have been abused for centuries by distant overlords. Why, education as you hinted at, has slipped, and….I have quite the extensive library for instance to aid in establishment in a new Academy of sorts, though I've been told the new Emperor will encourage a Military Academy be established as well within my Oversector"

He nodded to the now calculating older female "…and I am sure the experience and wisdom of the system defence fleets of the Greater Javin Region would be a fine place to start for such…"

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