Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 26, 2017 16:18:23 GMT -8
After many hours of their shared pleasure exhaustion overcame them and accompanied with that - at least for Altair became a very fitful sleep. Something did not sit well with him that night, and the Dreams he had that night were much stronger, much more vivid, and he had absolutely no control over them. Sometime in the night when the creams were at their worst his voice cut the silence in the dimly lit bedchamber as dream finally got the better of his subconscious and forced him away in a panicked state causing him to call out into the darkness a name... a name from many years ago... then left him panting attempting to catch his breath, and covered in the sweat of a fever dream.
"RAEWYN!"
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2017 16:33:48 GMT -8
Scarlette awoke when she suddenly felt the presence of her lover vanish from beside her. She was drenched in sweat from the earlier activities, and her hair was all over the place. Getting out of the bed, she donned a night robe and walked over to the door. Exiting the room, she walked into the main chamber. She noticed Altair standing on the balcony, looking at the city. Coming up behind him, she lightly touched his back, informing him of her presence.
“Isn’t it beautiful, Cheri?”
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 26, 2017 16:46:15 GMT -8
*Altair's shoulder muscles twitched slightly beneath the touch and his head darted around to her - a look of relief coming over him when he saw her face, and a soft but worried smile took his lips. He was surprised to find he had not woken her from her sleep when he had left, and when he was sure he couldn't return to sleep himself he had ventured out here. But still the dream - reliving Raewyn's death again and again... but instead seeing Scarlette in her place had shaken him to the core, and it was obvious on his face he had yet to recover.*
"I suppose..."*He whispered softly his arms still crossed tight - defensively over his chest*"You do not have to come to Bothawui... I know you are needed here. Your people..."
*It was a weak effort to dissuade her from coming, she was a member of the Resistance same as he was, he had no right to tell her when and where to risk her life. Its the life they all chose, and they chose it the moment they dropped out of hyperspace over Contruum.*
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2017 17:19:02 GMT -8
“Cheri, my people will be fine. I have enough people to run this place in my absence. The Resistance, and more importantly you need me more then my people.”
She was only half telling the truth. She honestly cared more about staying with Altair then the Resistance. There were others who could go in her place. No, she knew that he needed her, just as she needed him. Resting her head on her distraught lover’s shoulder, she gazed up at him. She could see the conflict in his eyes. The turmoil she had seen in the eyes of so many. This was the look of someone who had lost something. Someone. During her time away from galactic politics, she had run mercy missions to dozens of systems affected by war and other calamities. Most of the people she saw on those missions had a similar look in their eyes. In times like those, they needed someone to support them. And she would be his support. She knew that he loved her. Support from those that one loves was the best support that could be offered.
“Why the sudden fear for my safety, Cheri?”
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 26, 2017 17:56:54 GMT -8
*Altair exhaled softly finally relaxing a bit, slipping an arm around her, only then noticing how very little she was actually wearing. He pulled her gently against his chest so she could share his warmth, still looking out over the Cloud City skyline."Its not a fear for your safety... I understand you have the right to risk your life the same as any other soldier... Im just tired of watching my soldiers die..."*The loss of Raewyn was years ago, he had dealt with that given time, but in the last year he had lost one of his shadowalkers, nearly his entire fleet, his fleet commander who had been a good friend and mentor... the losses had begun to wear upon him, and he wasn't sure how many more he could take.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2017 19:00:18 GMT -8
Though she felt the warmth of Altair’s chest, she payed little heed to it, more focused on his voice, and the words that it formed. She had never felt the pain of true loss; never had she watched someone she had loved and cared for get gunned down in battle. The forces that she commanded were more for consular security then anything else; though her new fleet was geared for warfare, she hadn’t actually begun to fight the First Order. She had never been given the chance. So she was felt with a storm of emotions. How would she react if Altair was truly dead. That he was never coming back to her. That she would never feel the comforting arms, or soft lips of her lover. She would be devastated. A single cloud car raced by, bringing her back to the present. Placing her arm on his chest, she looked into his eyes.
“Why do you think I’m coming along, Cheri? I want to protect you and your soldiers.”
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 26, 2017 19:13:56 GMT -8
*A gentle chuckle escapes his lips and he looked down at her with a soft smile. His embrace was loose but comforting - as much could be found in the arms of a soldier. There was little about his touch that was gentle or soft... the only soft thing about him was his smile, and generally only when he was looking at her. The cloud car that raced by caught his gaze and his head turned to watch it zoom past. ~Nothing like going Mach two in a V-wing~ He thought with a smirk before her touch made him focus once again.
"I would greatly appreciate your watchful gaze, Darlin'... I'm sure my men would as well, i'm sure they've gotten quite tired of my company."
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2017 21:12:19 GMT -8
“Nonsense Cheri, I don’t know how they could tire of you.”
For the remainder of the night, the two of them, unable to sleep, spent the time watching the city go to sleep, and bore witness to a beautiful sunrise, where the clouds of gas appeared to catch fire, then be extinguished by a massive flood of turquoise seawater. Soon, the sky was full of Cloud Cars and other airspeeders. People walked through the streets and corridors of the city. Later that day, Altair and Scarlette boarded an H-2 Executive Shuttle and went to the building that housed ambassadors from the Mining Guild. Entering the large, ring-shaped hallway surrounding the circular meeting room.
“Now Captain, I will be back after I speak to the Mining Guild representatives. They are wondering if I would be willing to join.”
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 27, 2017 9:38:01 GMT -8
*Having heard they were traveling Altair had dressed in full tactical gear - which for him meant he put on his coat, and slung the holster with his disruptor pistol in it to his hip. While the baroness was dressing he had pulled up a technical readout of the building that would host the meeting and then passed a message to the leader of Scarlette’s security force and “requested” additional security to be placed temporarily under his command.
No one here knew exactly who Altair was but way he moved, the way he made “suggestions”, and how close he was to the Baroness gave him some leeway with the Security Force here on Cloud City. It was soon the general understanding that Altair was hired as personal security, a bodyguard as it were.
Along with her normal company of two guards, six more arrived at the mining guild’s facility by a different shuttle - it was also Altair’s suggestion not to inconvenience the Baroness in any way, and that until a real threat presented itself her day go on as normal. His presence he knew might throw off the miners guild delegation, and while he didn’t give a damn it might make Scarlette’s position more difficult so he sent another guard into the meeting with her, insisting she not be alone, then ordered the remaining men to establish a perimeter while he and another pair of men guarded the only exits from the room.*
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 10:38:14 GMT -8
Quite frankly, she thought the amount of security that had accompanied her was... overkill. Still, it certainly didn’t hurt. As she walked into the room with the delegation, she walked up to her end of the table. Sitting down, she set her case upon the table. Opening it, she took several documents from it. The representatives sat at the other end of the table, stoic and unmoving. The uniforms they had on, similar to those of the Empire, certainly made her uncomfortable. She certainly was glad for the extra security now. She cleared her throat.
“Representatives of the Mining Guild, it is to my understanding that you wish for me to join your organization.”
Indeed. We believe it will be beneficial to you.
After this, the Mining Guild provides facts and figures to prove their point, while Scarlette listened carefully to their arguments. Though they made a tempting argument, she knew better then to trust them. The ex-Imperials always had a card or two up their sleeves. Standing up, she collected her papers and put them back in her case.
“I have reached a decision. I will not join your organization. I know you have a history with the Empire. I am trying to keep my planet neutral in this war.”
Very well. I suppose you might reconsider at a later date.
Everyone left the room, and she walked out to see Altair standing there, waiting for her.
“Captain, may I have a word in private?”
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 27, 2017 19:28:37 GMT -8
*Altair stood outside the doorway, his eyes constantly on alert. He absolutely hated these windows, they were a security teams nightmare. There was no way he could protect anyone from a sniper in this damned city. It took several hours for the meeting to finish and when Scarlette came out of the meeting room Altair was growing uncomfortable. She needed to speak with him, and the look of the miners guild delegates set him even more on edge*.
”What happened in there? We’ll talk back at your place... I can’t protect you here.”
*Altair rounded up the rest of the security force and began ushering Scarlette back towards the shuttle platform, his eyes moving down every corridor and every window.*
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 22:15:11 GMT -8
Est. 30 Minutes Later, Bespin Time
It was early evening now, and Scarlette and Altair were sitting in the central room of her chambers. She sat on one edge of the couch, resting her head on Altair’s shoulders. Dealing with the Mining Guild wore her out. With their constant shiftiness and deceptions, even an experienced politician like her was worn out by their constant clauses and such. She had a datapad with her containing thousands if not millions of pages of information. Ordinarily, she would have plugged it into her mainframe from download. However, as of late, she had been saving that sort of thing for later, choosing instead to spend more time with her lover.
“I’m worried Cheri. About the Mining Guild. They may not drop this case so easily. They might choose to do something... rash.”
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 27, 2017 22:35:49 GMT -8
*Altair sat with her, an arm wrapped around her shoulder his fingers idly playing with her hair. The evening had passed without incident, but the more he learned of the Mining guild the more he believed they would be the type to simply hire someone else to deal with their problems. A bounty hunter no doubt, or some other black bag imperial operative or assassin.
”You suspect they have ties to the first order?”
*He whispered softly, attempting to keep the conversation as relaxing as possible. He could tell she was already stressed. He was beginning to think more and more she was not adequately staffed, she would run herself into the ground doing all this leg work herself - that got him to thinking.*
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2017 9:07:16 GMT -8
“Maybe, Cheri. I’m more worried that they might take this as a slight against them.”
She was not wrong. Imperials-even moderately liberal ones like them-always took rejection the wrong way. Whether it be asking someone on a date, or failing in their business dealings, their ego’s would always be poked by this sort of thing. Resting her head on his chest, she loosely caressed his face.
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 28, 2017 9:34:35 GMT -8
"They wont be able to get to you while I'm here... and they'll have time to cool off when you come with me to Bothawui, I've been thinking more about it, and an ambassador of your influence might be the right thing to convince the Bothan government to take our side, or at least turn a blind eye as we use their StarYards to build our fleets."
*Altair whispered softly against her ear before kissing the blonde locks of hair that cascaded down her shoulder. He had been half thinking about it throughout the day, It would be easier to protect her there than it would be here, even if he did leave a Shadowalker within the city. Those damned windows... he shook his head slightly at the thought, then reconsidered the issue. One of his operatives was in a system nearby, it was a bit far but he thought he could make it.*
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2017 15:22:32 GMT -8
“An ambassador, Cheri? I’ll see what I can do about that...”
Curling up in his lap, she managed to fit all of herself on him. His body heat comforted her, and his arms made her feel safe.
“You wouldn’t mind if I rested here for just a bit, would you, Cheri?”
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 28, 2017 16:21:32 GMT -8
"We'll talk about it later darlin, get some sleep you look tired..."
*He brought her head down gently upon his chest as she curled up in his arms. Wrapping a blanket around her - taken from the back of the couch - he hummed softly in the darkness until she was fast asleep. Once he was confident moving her would not stir her from her slumber he lifted her effortlessly into his arms and carried her to bed - laying her down gently and kissing her forehead before moving out of the room - he had a holocall to make.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2017 21:20:25 GMT -8
The next morning, Scarlette woke up at the proper time. Seeing as she had no... entertainment the previous night, she quickly got dressed and sat down, determined not to fall behind on her work.
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Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 28, 2017 21:33:06 GMT -8
*Altair did not return to the room that served as her office/apartment for several more days. He left no letter or not explaining why he was gone but on the second night a rose - identical to the first one left for her appeared on her pillow the night before she went to bed. Aside from that the only noticeable change that might illude to his presence was the heightening in her security the entire time he had been gone - no matter where she went she had at the least three guards with her - two always stationed outside of her office door - and during regular hours and whenever she had visitors unless requested otherwise a guard stood on the interior door of her office as well.
On the third morning Altair returned, walking into the office and dismissing the guard with a slight nod - that might have been a 'you can go now' as easily as it could have been a 'thank you, im back.' At his side walked a woman. modestly dressed but in the fashion of a court orderly or office secretary of some business or another. Altair made no introduction the woman simply walked up to Scarlette's desk and laid her credentials and her qualifications on her desk - which were quite numerous. She had apparently worked in Cloud City most of her adult life, was born here, had no ties to any business that even looked remotely Imperial - in fact the only gap in her employment record was during the years the Imperial forces had maintained direct control of the city. Altair simply smiled and kissed Scarlette on the cheek before moving off towards the window - letting her do her job. Sensing Altair would not even bother introducing her, the woman spoke.*
"Greetings Baroness-Administrator, my name is Saphron. I was assigned as your new secretary."
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2017 13:46:58 GMT -8
Scarlette had been pouring herself a glass of a vintage white from Canto Bight. She had kept her rose with the first one. They looked very nice sitting together, a bit of red in a sea of whites, blacks, and blues. Turning her attention to the woman standing in front of her. She was rather irked by her informality; no courtsy, no bow. She would let it go though. There would be plenty of time for etiquette later.
“Greetings, Ms. Saphron. I am certainly in need of a secretary. You will be an asset to my rule.”
She turned to the window and gestured to the afternoon sun.
“Seeing as the day is drawing to its conclusion, I will dismiss you for today. Report back to this office after lunch tommorow, and we will get started, alright?”
The woman nodded before walking out the portal to the room. Taking a second glass from the shelf, she poured to glasses of the vintage.
“Thank you for that, Cheri. Perhaps you would like to join me in enjoying this drink.”
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