[Day 4, MA] Words and Ways

[Colonel Alaris]

The man sits at a desk, presumably somewhere in the imperial stronghold given the look of his desk cluttered with holoslabs and smoothed together out of boxes. Wearing his devilish grin it was clear that he was all too pleased with himself.

"Been a long time, old friend," he greets.

[Garen Saxon]

There was a brief pause, Garen silent as he stared at the holo. Of all the people it could have been...

"You're half right, Alaris." Garen said, his voice rough. "It's been a long time, but we're not friends. What do you want?" He kept his arms loose at his sides, just in case.

[Colonel Alaris]

"Now, don't be so sour Garen. We had a business arrangement then- and it was just business. You can't hold it against me that badly," he says, smirking only because he couldn't better express his pleasure any other way.

"I wanted to see you- let you know, really," he says, and then waves someone toward him off screen.

[Garen Saxon]

"That would make us old associates, then." Garen said, his gravelly tone a bit dry. "Friends are someone you share a drink or a fond memory with. I don't think we've ever done the former, and if you can think of the latter, well, I'd love to hear it."

Underneath the helmet, Garen frowned. Let him know? He crossed his arms, waiting for whatever it was Alaris wanted to show him.

[Meiyokashi]

A young Twi'lek steps into view. She doesn't look toward the holoprojection but Garen didn't need her to do that to know who she was. She looked a lot different than the last time he saw her, this time in loose-fitting.. well, it wasn't prisoners garb but it wasn't far off.

She serves Alaris his coffee quietly and then steps off out of view again.

[Colonel Alaris]

"What the future holds for us both, and how we might.. hell one another," he says, his smirk a little too proud.

[Garen Saxon]

"Valeria...!" Garen gasped. His hand reached up briefly, as though he might touch the holo. Of course, if he did, he knew it would be nothing more than light and air.

Slowly, he lowered his hand as she stepped away. It came to rest at his side, a clenched fist. "Speak." He said, his voice even rougher than usual.

[Colonel Alaris]

"In the compartment behind you is a communicator designed to hide it's trace from standard scanners. You will take it and inform on me to Mandalore's movements. You do that.. well, I can speak for you when you are inevitably taken in by the Empire," he says, glancing off toward the other side of the room.

"Which might have you reconnecting with people from your past in a much more cheerful manner."

[Garen Saxon]

Garen stared silently at the holo for a few moments. Then he turned, reaching for the compartment. He would take the holo into his hand just as wordlessly as he did everything else, returning to stare silently at the holo once more.

[Colonel Alaris]

"Good to have you back on board Garen. Your daughter misses you," he smiles, and lays his hand over a nearby button.

"I'll wait for your call," he cuts transmission.

[Garen Saxon]

Garen glanced around, left then right. It wouldn't do to swear that he was going to kill them all, not with the stormtroopers within earshot. He'd just have to do it mentally.

He stepped out. "I'm done." He said, his voice firm as he addressed the stormtroopers.

[Meiyokashi]

They all stand waiting with their blasters still trained on him. None moving when he made his announcement, waiting until he steps forward. With that one step forward the would all break away and board the transport again. Once boarded the transport would take off back into the distance leaving Garen alone once more in the dense purple forest.

[Garen Saxon]

And with that, Garen would begin the trek back.

As ground crunched under his booted feet, Garen thought. He wouldn't do it, of course, at least not the way Alaris wanted. Just enough to keep Valeria safe. Perhaps Alaris would realize that not everything had gone to plan just as Garen's hands wrapped around his throat, squeezing. His hands clenched, as though imagining that act.

With an effort, Garen relaxed, but only a little. He was not given to rage or violence, at least when grading on a Mandalorian scale. But in a way, Valeria was a daughter, and Mandalorians had strong feelings about their children.

Calm but resolved, Garen walked.