"Looking tense my friend. Are you well?" said Void as he came in behind Darth'Ishad. Then turning around ,

"Ahh Void good to see you, you know how i am at these kind of things. Id rather have a blade in my hand fighting a Terentatek then get dressed up and "mingle"."

He said with the sound of fear in his voice.

"So how bout those drinks," turnin to Skursir and Aleena.

Nodding politely to Void but trying not to interject into their conversation too heavily, Aleina made her way around the back of the bar and crouched down out of sight to collect glasses and look through the stocks of bottles.

"Of course, what's your poison?" She said in response to Darth'Isahad from just out of view, before reappearing carrying a couple of bottles in one hand and four crystal glasses in the other. "figuratively speaking " She added with a sly wink.

"Dornean brandy perhaps? Tihaar? It seems we've been left with quite the collection here..."

The Door swished open again as more visitors began to arrive. The Imperial agent Creed Dekkar entered with Gideon Larrs, a bounty hunter who was still quite new to The Agency. The two were chatting about something obviously quite humourous as they were both in the process of laughing heartily as they entered the room. Throwing Aleina a nod in welcome Creed made his way across the room toward some seating as Gideon branched off in the direction of the rest rooms.

Xen Raffini entered shortly after them, the petite Epicanthix woman looked as distant and detatched as ever, and Aleina knew all too well that the assassin only came because she was ordered to. Almost immediately segregating herself from the rest of the group, Xen found a chair in a dark corner and laid claim to it.

The bounty hunter Raiflaine was next to enter, wearing reinforced leathers of blacks and browns. At his side was his companion, the human Bretta; a slender blonde beauty who remained quiet most of the time unless in defence of her 'Uncle Raif'. Though neither were armed, they looked alert and ready for danger; most likely from a life of mostly battlefields and skirmishes.

People were starting to arrive now, and the room was beginning to fill up. Aleina watched them as they moved about, speaking and socializing; a complex dance of masks and mis-direction sprinkled with a handful or sincere intrest and companionship. She couldn't help but smile at the company she was in, they were an interesting lot to be sure, and only a fraction of them were here so far...

Dain approached the guards while fiddling with one of his syringes

"This needle isn't sharp enough, I'll have to sharpen it when I come back to the lab." He thought

Daine gave his name and as he was passing through the security terminal, The guards stopped him just as he was about to enter the room.

"Is there a problem"? He said in surprise.
"You can't take those syringes with you, sir." The guard said.

"What the devil do you mean? I need these syringes! Who knows when I will find new DNA strains that will further my research and I'll have you know that my research is more important to me than your principals of security you troglodytes!" Dain said angerily.

"We'll have to check with our superiors" The Guards said.

"Well hurry! I don't have all the time in the world, and I'll have you know that I was invited to this!" Dain retorted.

A delicate vibration and a quiet 'beeping' came from the elaborate and expensive-looking bracelet that hung around Aleina's slender wrist. Slightly startled by it due to her so closely observing the crowd, she brought the bracelet up to her mouth, and activated the in-built communicator.

"Yes, what is it?" She repsonded, somewhat irritated.

"I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am," The voice belonged to Morastus, a Noghri and part of Zhorin's security force at The Hyperion. "We've got a...er....gentleman here who doesn't wish to give up his weapons..."

In the background another muffled voice could be heard: "Keep your gargantuan digits away from those, you semi-evolved oaf! no! off! they're delicate, you..."

Aleina shook her head in dismay. She understood that Zhorin placed great faith in his team, and she'd grown to respect the Clawdite and his ways, but she couldn't say the same for the men under him. Morastus was a walking example as far as she was concerned.

"What's the problem, Morastus? You know the rules as well as any of us. No weapons or no entry. Now do you think you can handle that or do I need to draw a hologram for you?" The annoyance in her voice was evident, and Morastus seemed to get the picture.

"Yes Ma'am...er, I mean no ma'am. I'll deal with it..." He stammered in reply.

As she went to switch off her communicator she heard the Noghri say to the person he was addressing: "I'm sorry Doctor Forte but rules is rules, I can't.."

"Wait!" Aleina suddenly snapped down the communicator. "Doctor Forte? Is that Doctor Dain Forte you have there?"

There was silence for a moment, then.

"Yes, ma'am. A Doctor Dain Forte, here for the party ma'am.."

"Well, send him up you fool! he's one of our guests!"

Again, another slight pause.

"Er...What about his syringes...er...weapons, ma'am? He won't hand 'em over."

Grinding her teeth in sheer frustration, Aleina had to take a deep breath before continuing.

"Morastus?" She said as politely as she could manage.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Do you wish to be living on the streets of Lower Coruscant, with no credits, no food, and a bounty on your head?"

"No ma'am! definately not, ma'am!"

"Then show the good Doctor up, and be quick about it!"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Keep your gargantuan digits away from those, you semi-evolved oaf! no! off! they're delicate, you moronic ape!" Said Dain insistently.

As Dain was trying to keep one guard off his syringes, he heard the other guard on the communicator

"Yes Ma'am...er, I mean no ma'am. I'll deal with it..." the Guard stammered in reply to the voice on the comm.
He then turned around to Dain and said
"I'm sorry Doctor Forte but rules is rules, I can't...." The guard was interrupted by the comm once again.

"Yes, ma'am. A Doctor Dain Forte, here for the party ma'am.."

There was a slight pause

"Er...What about his syringes...er...weapons, ma'am? He won't hand 'em over"

"Yes, Ma'm?"

"No, Ma'am! definately not ma'am!"

"Yes ma'am!"

The guard finally got off the comm and said
"You're allowed inside Dr. Forte, Both you and your syringes"

"Thank you, now you've set my schedule late now and I'll have to rearrange my regular incisions to a later date." Dain grumbled.

"Who was that on the communicator?" he asked quite frank.

"That was Aleena, My boss, whom you successfully angered with your syringes" The guard responded

"Just where can I find this "Aleena"?" Dain responded

"She's in the pent house, Fourth floor." The Guard answered.

Dain left the guard standing as he was heading towards the stairs

"I might actually find an interesting specimen today.." He thought.

As Dain finally entered the penthouse, He looked around for a person with a communicator and as he was looking he saw a beautiful female specimen that fit with his interests

"It must be her" He thought

"Black hair, pale skin, an aura of..darkness...fascinating.." He thought

He walked towards the woman and asked: "Are you the one they call Aleena? and if so, mind if I can have a sample of your DNA to satisfy my curiosity?"

Somewhat taken aback by the tall, amour-clad man's directness, the Hapan woman raised a dark eyebrow speculatively.

"I am. I take it you are Doctor Forte then? I've read some of your theses of 'advanced xenomorphic principles and their adaptiveness in modern culture' and I have to say it is inspirational work, though I fear some of the finer points are lost on me." She smiled then, glad to have the reputed Doctor among the throng of attendees.

"I hear The Falleen personally hand-picked you for a place in our Agency? You should feel honoured, Doctor. That is a rare thing indeed, it would appear I am not alone in my appreciation for your work." Her hand had slipped onto her thigh as she spoke, giving off a somewhat provocative pose and as much an instictive reaction to long forgotten training in her as learning to eat or walk. This was, of course, utterly lost on the Doctor.

"But you required a DNA sample?" She continued, walking closer to the Doctor. "All high-ranking agents have blood and DNA samples on file in case of injury, but I suspect you require confirmation sooner."

Leaning in closer to him she pulled at the side of her dress's neck-strap to reveal more of her kneck and shoulder, exposing an easily injectable area of flesh which could thereafter be concealed with clothing, hiding the mark.

"Though I should warn you, I don't clone well." she said, jokingly.

When Forte showed no signs of getting the joke, she back-peddled.

"No, seriously. My family line has been genetically modified. Our DNA sequence has been heavily spliced several times over throughout many generations. Any clones created from my DNA would have a greatly weakened immune system, most likely be sterile and would die at an early age...."

"Yes, I feel very honored and I hope the agency will be able to fund my research to that point which it will be successful."

Dain who barely could hold off his excitement, stared at Aleena for quite some time

"With a DNA sample from her, I'll be able further my research! Tainted DNA strains is just what I'm looking for, mutagens to make the body grow stronger.." He thought

"Yes, I'm quite looking forward to look around the agency's DNA samples, I hear a lot of different specimens is here to be involved, One cannot be too careful with a Buffet of rarities like these.." Dain said excitingly.

"I'm also quite curious about the sith traits you have and I've never had a Sith sample before. Oh and Thank you, It took some time to research on it, however, it was due to that I was exiled from ever coming to Mandalore again but I appreciate the gesture."

Andariun stood in line at the security checkpoint as one of the guards harassed a guest about bringing weapons to such and event. 'Good thing I left my lightsaber back on the ship. Wouldn't want anybody knowing what I am.' Andariun thought as the guard finally let the guest through. Taking a step forward towards the rather large and would-be intimidating protectors of the club Andariun simply stood before them and gave his name nonchalantly.

"Shiru, Andariun Shiru." the Jedi said as he was scanned by the security. In an effort not to draw attention to his status as a Jedi Andariun had opted to take a more casual approach to his clothing wearing rather simple garments that would also fit in with the slightly more formal dress code that would be required. After the rigorous security check Andariun was permitted to enter.

Making his way towards the penthouse Andariun quickly looked through his datapad trying to find a copy of the invitation he received. He was quite surprised to receive such a thing and had no intention of turning it down. Finally arriving at the penthouse Andariun took a quick visual sweep of the room, trying to identify anyone he knew. With little success Andariun figured the best course of action would be to at least meet with his host and thank them for the invitation.

Skursir duly noted Aleena greet a strange figure in mild excitement, before noticing Jylan walk in with yet another female companion by his side. Skursir was unsure if the combat mechanic was allowed the companionship of a woman at the event. Either way, he gave a brief wave over to Jylan beckoning him to come over and then led the Sith'ari Path members over to the bar, pouring a strange sweet smelling beer from a tap and passed them around.

"Ssso. How iss bussinesss?" Skursir asked Darth'Ishad and Void Dallos, his eyes switching between the two Sith with a smile.

"Do you have anything from Kalee? if not how about a meltdown. i dont have to watch my back around you do it? I dont want to wake up to find my drink was a little, different." he answered Aleena, jokes were never Darth'Ishads strong suit.

"As for business, well its business." Not being able to say much about his work, behind his mask he grined.

As he finished he noticed quit a few people have shown up, some he knew others he did not.

-Wouldnt you rather be out on a hunt then stuck here with all these, people?-
Khronos asked.

Nodding politely to the Doctor as he removed the syringe from her lower neck and looked quizzically at the vial, Aleina re-fastened her neck-strap and bent down behind the small bar again before reappearing and addressing Ishad.

"Nothing Kaleean I'm afraid," she replied somewhat apologetically. "There is some 'Meltdown' here though, please - help yourself." Placing the bottle on the bottle on the bar she instinctively went to hand the Kaleesh one of the delicate crystal glasses but thought better of it. She knew he was more dextrous than many in the room, but didn't want to upset his warrior sensibilities by offering something that dainty to drink from. Instead her hand reached behind the bar once more, bringing out a sturdy but beautifully hand-crafted ceramic cup of dark golden brown. She slid it to him.

"...and my dear Ishad, I doubt I would have poison strong enough to even give you a modest stomach upset." She winked as she spoke, taking the comment in the light-hearted manner it was intended.

"We're all friends here," She concluded, and in her head: under this roof, at least...

Taking a moment to glance around she noticed that of all of the Allies of the Agency only the Sith'ari had so far arrived. Had the invitations not reached their destinations? Surely not, the messengers were paid far more than was worth to 'loose' such holopads.

Perhaps it is just too early? she shrugged to herself.

Jylan walked into the room and at once felt distinctly nervous, he had the talent of saying the wrong thing the the wrong person an unusually frequent amount of times, and all around him were either his superiors or Sith.
"You'll protect me won't you, I may have rubbed some of these people up the wrong way or there's a good chance I will do by the end of the night" he looked slightly pleadingly at Ril, he'd only met her in the entrance yet had built up a semi friendly rapport with her, well she was speaking to him so that counted as a rapport for him
"No..really?" she said in mock surprise "Well then I'd better not be seen with you or they may take a dislike to me as well." She walked off to towards the Balcony and waved him a grinning goodbye.
"Dammit....", he mentally added her to his enemies list while straightening his jacket and trying to look comfortable, which of course made him look more out of place as ever, he spotted a familiar face though, Skursir was across the room with two other humanoids.
Relieved Jylan wandered over, "Nice to see a familiar face Skursir, and you know one that's friendly and not too unpleasant to look at" he said smiling. "I can see out number 2 but where's our illustrious leader tonight....."

_______________________________________________


Ril grinned as she walked away from Jylan, she'd circle the room and come back to him eventually, she was just as anxious as him having been in the Agency for such a short time but she wasn't going to show it, she was a pro.
Jylan's less than suitable appearance was at odds with the beautiful surroundings of the penthouse, so hoped it was due to the Agency hiring the best with perhaps questionable backgrounds rather then hiring slick looking incompetents.
The penthouse overlooked the Coruscant skyline, she walked over to the balcony and stopped to admire the magnificent view, it was one that even impressed Ril although she had grown accustomed to only seeing it when she was preforming unpleasant activities...

Turning she saw Aleena Fel, she'd never had the chance to introduce herself to the operative but had heard of her reputation, still she felt more comfortable introducing herself to another woman then any of the other Agents in the room.
Walking over she extended her hand, “You already know of course but let me introduce myself I'm Ril Tesv”.

Darth'Ishad nodded, "Friends," pauseing a moment "yes i supose you are right."
Letting out a smile, even though his mask covers it he was sure Aleena could tell.

"So what is the plan for tonight?" the Kaleesh asked not knowing really what to do at these kind of things.

"Well we will wait a while longer to see how many more arrive," Aleina began in response to Darth'Ishad's question. "Then the Falleen has an announcement to make to everyone present. It affects all of you - our allies - as much as it does The Agency, so he wanted as many present as possible."

As the tall Umbaran woman approached her, Aleina nodded respectfully at her approach. She knew the woman only from her personnel file, it was good to finally meet her face-to-face.

"You already know of course but let me introduce myself I'm Ril Tesv." She said, outstretching a slender hand that Aleina took in greeting.

"Welcome Ril," She responded, grinning broadly. "A pleasure to finally meet you at last, I was beginning to suspect the first time we'd get aquainted would be out on the field!"
It was a slightly odd sight to see the two in close proximity; they were both exceptionally pale-skinned, exhibiting an almost luminencence about them, and they both shared striking eyes that grabbed the attention of whomever they spoke to. Ril was quite a lot taller than Aleina of course, being Umbaren; and lacked the long hair that the Hapan woman possessed.

Looking around she added: "Didn't I see you come in with Jylan? Where'd he run off to?"

Darth'Ishad appeared to favour the company of Aleena more. No matter for hard questioning though, they had been exposed to each other in the combat groups and must have formed a pact of sorts. Skursir returned to his beverage, and another swig revealed that it was a Lum - albeit slightly sweeted, perhaps a different take on the original recipe. He was about to down the remainder of what was in his glass, but was interrupted, although thankfully so.

Jylan, Skursir's most favoured fellow Agents, strode into his company. "Nice to see a familiar face Skursir, and you know one that's friendly and not too unpleasant to look at" The man certainly had his charms, smiling a smile that was presumably seen as attractive amongst other humanoids. "I can see out number 2 but where's our illustrious leader tonight....."

"Ah, Jylan! It is good to ssee you again my friend." Skursir extended his arm out towards the combat mechanic, "You're looking healthy - and your perssonal life sseemss equally thriving" The Trandoshan nodded over to were Ril was in conversation with Aleena. "Asss for the Head of Operationss, I am afraid that I have not sseen him either, although people rarely do in any cassse."