#velimai

#JustSithThings: lightsaber problems when you’re trying to be menacing.

The universal sign for Imperial Makeb.

Except for her, I think my OCs are way less tortured souls.

I love my warrior. She was my first 50 and holds a special place in my heart, although I rarely ever play her. I know I project the Quinn Thing on her, but when I look at her, I always see her as being so sad. I want to take her out for tea and some conversation. I suppose it's why she and Cupcake are friends.

Deathcupcake: Oh, the codename thing. That was a joke from the Academy. I have always been diminutive and my hairstyle then was very cute so they called me Cupcake. It didn’t bother me. It was just another name -- I was already used to aliases by then -- and it made people underestimate me. I bested everyone in riflery, though. I have excellent aim. It was pretty clear I would be trained as a sniper, and my friends had a laugh when they thought of the little Cupcake delivering death. It amused me, so I kept it. It comes in handy now and then, although I’m usually using an assumed name, not my nickname.I don’t think I’m very cupcake-like, though.Velimai: The details are really none of your business. We’re friends -- at least until we’re no longer friends. I’ll say this: we met at a private function and she helped me with a few projects afterwards. I know she hides things. But who doesn’t hide things these days? It’s a bit of a challenge to have friends for both of us, but we’re a lot alike, really. There is a lot we see happening in the Empire that we do not like and ultimately, we’re in the same game with the same goal: a better world. Until she gives me reason not to trust her, I shall be there if she needs me. I know she’ll do the same.

- Attached correspondence addressed to Captain Quinn from Lord Velimai Shadeaux

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Deathcupcake felt the vibration of her holocom but ignored it, letting it record the message. She took careful aim, breathing steadily, concentrating on the direction of the wind. Everything looked to be in order, and her grip reflexively tightened. She exhaled and let go. The stone sailed through the air, skipping six times before sinking into the water. A quiet laugh behind her, then arms around her, breath on her ear. “That was a good try, but we still win.” She turned her head, planting a kiss on Vector’s cheek, and sighed. “It’s time to go.” Now Vector’s turn to kiss her her cheek. “We have come to love this place as you do. We look forward to returning. Soon.” -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Cupcake checked her ‘com at the spaceport. The call was on a specific frequency, not the usual one. She would have to wait to decrypt it on the Phantom, then. This was no doubt something of importance. She spent the shuttle ride wondering just what the Emperor’s Wrath would ask her to do. -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Cupcake had met Darth Velimai at a private function, both of them warily watching the crowd mingle from an alcove, not wanting to participate in the celebrations. When Cupcake had first agreed to do reconnaissance at the event, she figured it would be fairly simple. That was, until she learned that the Wrath herself was going to be present. She had taken extra precautions, installing frequency shields, hoping to get close enough to the Wrath to do some reconnaissance for herself. It wasn’t every day that she’d be near such a key figure in the Empire. She had no intention of getting mixed up with any Darth -- not those from the Dark Council, and certainly not the Wrath -- but she keenly wanted to see her firsthand. Temple had warned her that she might fool the cybernetics, but she was unlikely to fool the Force. Still, the opportunity to observe was too good to pass up. She hadn’t expected that Darth Velimai would take cover in the same alcove, startling Cupcake, who was in the midst of transmitting freshly-sliced security data. Velimai had been the first to talk. Perhaps she already knew why Cupcake was there, or perhaps she just knew that whatever Cupcake was after, it didn’t concern her. “These functions are tiresome.” Velimai’s flat tone, although soft, cut through the silence. Cupcake turned to face the Wrath next to her. “I expect you like to cut to the chase, my lord. It is rather a lot of pageantry.” She took a sip of her drink, studying the cyborg. There was something different about this Darth, something less menacing than most. But still deadly, she reminded herself. She’s the Emperor’s Wrath. Be careful. “I’m here as a favor,” Velimai didn’t state for whom, and Cupcake wouldn’t presume to guess. “So am I,” Cupcake smiled. “I hope your employer pays well, Agent,” the Wrath stressed the word. “This noble house is full of secrets but guards them well.” Cupcake merely blinked, then nodded. “I think I just lost a bet.” They had both laughed, a little uncomfortably, then Velimai bid her goodnight and wandered off. Before she left the alcove, though, she turned around, thoughtfully eyed Cupcake and -- as Cupcake expected -- cut right to the chase. “I think I can use your services. We’ll speak again.” A few days later, Cupcake received a note containing only a private frequency. She hadn’t had an occasion to use it -- she wasn’t sure she wanted to -- but she programmed it in. It wouldn’t do to not accept a call from the Wrath. -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Cupcake and Vector boarded the Phantom, checked in with the crew, and unpacked. “Sweetheart, I hate to ask, but I need to answer this message in private.” She ran her hand down Vector’s back, leaning up to kiss him. “Of course, Agent.” His warm smile offsetting the formality of the word, the gentle pressure of his hand briefly gripping hers before he left their quarters, closing the door behind him. Cupcake turned on the ‘com and opened the frequency, running the message through the decryption keys. “Agent.” Velimai’s clipped accent. “I need information on a Republic citizen. I am transmitting an image of her. I need to know everything you can uncover. Send your reports directly to me.” There was a brief pause, followed by “This is to be kept completely off the record. I trust you will not fail me.” The promise of punishment or death evident. Cupcake pondered. The request was not odd, but it surprised Cupcake that the Darth had not just ordered someone on her own payroll to do the work. She had done her research and was sure that someone on her crew had the skills. So why had the Darth contacted her? Was it a test? She checked the image. It was of a dark-haired woman, sitting at a table, looking at a ‘pad. She had cybernetics in her jaw. It had been taken from a public area in Nar Shaddaa, she was certain. The embedded data in the image pointed to a camera model used in cybernetics. That meant Darth Velimai had taken the photograph herself. That was enough to pique Cupcake’s curiosity, but she pushed that aside. She moved to her desk, tapping into channels, sending out feelers, starting encrypted searches. It didn’t take long to compile the information. Her curiosity went up a notch. According to the data she had gathered, the woman was Ulalume, a smuggler who seemed to be largely employed by the Republic. But she had a Mandalorian in her crew. Interesting. Ulalume was married to a Corso Riggs. That didn’t seem to be of interest, and further research on Riggs didn’t turn up anything out of the ordinary. Still, Cupcake found herself becoming more fascinated. This smuggler was seemingly no one, yet she had been working for the Empire under the guise of working for the Republic. When she discovered this, Ulalume had killed the recruiter. She gathered more research, looking further back in the woman’s history. Ulalume had been brought up on Coruscant, her family unexceptional, school marks middling. Comments in her record indicated she had major attitude, but that she had shown an aptitude for piloting. Her parents had paid for that training before they died in an apartment complex fire. There was no mention of the cybernetic implants aside from regular updates and replacements. It seemed that the implants had been present from an early age. Cupcake finally uncovered adoption records for Ulalume, and a note that implants for her -- and her sister -- had been provided gratis, by the company that had employed their parents. She was unable to find any additional information, but this seemed good for now. She would continue the work tomorrow. Cupcake sent the encrypted information to Darth Velimai and disconnected. She stood and stretched, then headed for the galley. A snack, a shower, and bed sounded good to her.