Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Kellen arranged to meet with Ghoun on Delaya that evening. No surprises among assassins, or something like that.

The shuttle trip from Alderaan had passed by uneventfully. There were a few jokes about the thranta race, and some discussion of the state of Kellen's investigations. He wasn't particularly worried about Ghoun doing anything stupid, at the end of the day they were all on the same side.

Stepping out of the shuttle he took a deep breath and adjusted his jacket slightly. No weapons were obvious, he had decided that the trusty sap gloves were good enough. "Alright, let's hope for a nice clean visit with no mercenaries or Mandalorians."

(OOC: Omandri, Zayne, Gil and Bryson are all invited)

Bryson is waiting for them when Kellen arrives.

Kellen gave him a smile. "Hello Bryson, thanks for meeting us. I hope Ghoun has some answers for us. It's a strange business." He looked out at the city spires of the skyline. It was quite nice when you weren't being shot at.

It was a beautiful site and while it was Evening time back on Alderaan here it was in the middle of the night with the skyline lit up with billions of lights from buildings and vehicles across the sky. Bryson replied, “That is one way to put it, Professor.”

Omandri walked off the shuttle behind Kellen looking around "Man it's been a while since I've been here. Might have to come back again when there's less business to take care of." He said thoughtfully.

He looked over to Bryson "what have you been working on here anyway?"

“Duchess has me reviewing some operations we are pursuing for House Ulgo, lots of paperwork mostly. It’s not my idea of a vacation,” he said honestly.

Zayne came in with his shined up ancient battle armor and lightsaber on his belt. He wasn't expecting any problem, but this situation he wasn't taking any chances.

"Hello, everyone." he said with a bit a bow. "This may be an interesting meeting."

"It's like a bearable version of Coruscant." He winked at his cousin.

Hearing of Bryson's assignment Kellen grimaced at the thought of all that admin work. "Well, at least it's not dangerous. Unless you count the possibility of RSI."

With Zayne there he doubted anyone would feel the urge to raise a weapon against them. "Indeed. I'm keen to findout what Ghoun knows."

The team of totally not assassins was assembling again and Gil was along for the ride. Dressed for business he stood near the back of the group, eyes open as he scanned the area.

Ghoun’s office was in the Black Crown, a cantina that hspecialized in exotic dancing. His office overlooking the main stages and also doubled as his personal collection of which there were several relics from across the galaxy.

Ghoun smiled to see his house members and said, “Well my friends, my fellow brothers at arms… please enjoy yourselves on the house… and I mean everything is on the house!”

He took a seat behind his desk as a twi’lek woman sat in his lap and said, “I was hoping you would come to me so we can finally deal with that meddlesome Countess Organa.”

"Thank you for the hospitality Ghoun." Kellen took a seat and took in the ambience for a moment before getting down to business.

"Why don't you start at the beginning? Don't leave anything out." He would get to the mercenary attacks and vase mystery later. First he wanted to hear what Ghoun thought all of this was about.

"She's a bitch and stands in my way, that's the long and short of it," he responded.

"Is that why you sent mercenaries after her yesterday? They tried to kill me. Bit of overkill if you ask me." He sat back in the chair.

"What's your interest in those vases? There has to be more to it than just wanting them so she can't have them?" Surely.

“Well they have a great deal of value and they might allow us to eradicate the killik threat forever, and if so, it could make me very wealthy,” he said proudly.

Suddenly Kellen was less concerned about the previous day's threat to his life. He sat forward gripping the arms of the chair.

"What? So there really is more to this than feuding collectors. How is that possible? How did you find out about these vases? I know they date back to he early days of Alderaan, seemingly before there were Joiners."

“Well I think they do a thing like resonate from sound or something, it’s all fancy talk but if you get em all and put the right sounds through them then it should work. Theoretically or something,” he said casually.

“But I’ll keep my sources to myself for now.”

Omandri raised an eyebrow at that "while I have no love for them we can't just eradicate an entire race of creatures, that's a genocide."

The Professor scowled. "If true it would be the find of the century. I told the museum not to sell the last vase, but Verash bought them out. I'm sure the director wanted to retire early. As far as I can tell though she just wants to have them so you can't."

Omandri's comment received a nod. "True cousin, but eradicating the threat does not require genocide. The vases show killiks and humans living together peacefully. Perhaps that past harmony could be restored?"

"Fair though eradicate isn't usually the word used when there's a peaceful resolution on the table. But if it's a way to bring peace with the kiliks I'm all for it."

"Peace? Kill the stupid things and free Alderaan of their infestation," Ghoun responded.