The Dark Academy on Korriban

"Very nice. I wonder if it was made with cortosis or alchemy," he replies, extending a hand as if asking permission to hold it for inspection.

"That's something Baes could tell better than me, I suppose. I wonder about this blade as well."

She nodded in assent to his inspection and left the sword in his hands.

He holds it out straight and turns it at different angles, not going so far as to swing it in a cramped starship room. "It has good balance, and weight. Very well made. Especially considering it's age. It does have the same drawback as my sword but as it's useful against a lightsaber it definitely is far superior." He inspects the markings and designs of it with interest.

"An amazing find," he says with a smile before offering it back.

"Still just a collector's piece when compared with my twinblade. Since I extended the hilt for greater leverage it's become the epitome of lethality."

She grinned, wrapping the ancient sword back.

"Yesterday I felled two battle droids in one cut. You were dissuading me from training with a double blade and yet I have always felt it is my best match."

"This unit is Victoria, ready for eliminating your enemies," the droid complies.

Baesal patted Victoria on its head and told it ''You'll be a good droid, I'll take good care of ya'' before returning to the other two

''I don't think its actual cortosis...I'm sure it was made via alchemy'' she picked one of the offered rolls before sitting next to her friend

*munch*

''Mmm...its good...but I fear the nutrient paste as ruined my tastebuds'' she said looking at the roll

"That was before we trained and sparred for six weeks," he says with a smile. "You've blossomed from a cute little fighter into an amazingly sexy killer with the saber in that time," he says in a playfully friendly manner.

"I suppose I should be offended by how you deny my sexiness at the early stages of training."

Moyr chuckled before helping herself to another roll.

"Not your sexiness, Moyr, just the sexiness of your technique. The calculated violence of it. I would never deny the attractiveness you yourself hold. It's a weapon of a different sort," he says with a smile.

"A satisfactory addendum."

Moyr shook her head, smirking. She put the box away for now and laced fingers on her pulled-up knee. A crumb from the roll remaining in the corner of her lips.

"I had a meeting today that made me think of a name that has come up on various occasions both from you and Baes. Hines. Could you bring me up to speed on how that matter went?"

"I don't know about Baes, but I'd been working with him on occasion. Favors for favors. It got me access to some military hardware when I needed it. We get along well enough. Respect for each others directness probably helps," he says with a nod.

He indicates with his finger by his own mouth that there is a crumb on her own, before laying back and looking up at the ceiling once more.

Baesal shrugged, she did not know much about Hine aside from possible illegal transactions but Zeno's mouvement caught her attention and she turned to Moyr

''Missed a piece!'' she said playfully

Moyr took the clue from both and deftly removed the crumb, smiling an embarrassed smile before continuing.

"Do you know anything about the extent of his connections or responsibilities?"

"Not much. Mostly helped him with collections and enforcing. Boring crap but worth it for the access it got me. Watched over a few deals that went down, didn't ask too many questions. Some sickly looking slaves, some packages and the like. Sometimes different delivery guys," he said with a shrug.

"And a Twi'lek named Grem, does the name ring?"

"I didn't catch that name, but I saw a couple twi'leks. Slaves mostly that were traded," he says. "If there's something in particular you are interested in I can poke around in the future if I have dealings with him again. A bit harder off world, and he generally expects me not to ask questions, but underlings talk when on missions."

"I'd appreciate whatever extent of information on Hutt operations on Korriban you could provide, Zeno. But now I am also interested in learning about that freeloading girl we all know at least in passing, Niriti. Do you know about her involvement?"

"Well, when you say 'in passing', until a few hours ago that's literally all I knew her in. We passed by each other a few times. I didn't even know her name. Not like she's stood out too much among the students. And I learned why after we had a chat. She's far more interested in her business ventures than in study and class I'd say. And all I know from that conversation is that she said she helps Hines out with acquisitions... and maybe negotiations? Wasn't really clear." He explains what he knows, but it's clear it's not too much.

"Honestly, if you've been looking into her, you probably know way more than me. I haven't even scratched the surface with her."

"And why has she divulged her business affiliation to you? In hope of forming an association?"

Moyr was pondering something intensively, drumming on her knee with fingertips.

"You should know me by now. I'm always looking for possible associations. One doesn't build a power base for becoming a lord by standing alone," he says with a smirk. "And I know where my strengths lie. In my life, more allies has been always been a boon as a larger array of options and people to call on. It's not until the sith academy that that the idea of more chances for betrayal has really sunk in. But that's just made me more wary of intentions rather than changed my modus operandi. A potential fence type is where I'd place her for my interests I guess?"

"That works. I don't know how much direct communication I'd ever do with her, and I wouldn't be so sure she stays in the business. But if in time you were able to draw some names and their rough personal information out of it, I'd be very happy to have it. I want to get a better grasp of the extent of Huttese web inside the Empire. In case one beautiful day I would be capable and mandated to start rooting it out."

She smiled.

"And if you ever need an alternative fence, I can provide. With the promise to throw my negotiation skills into equation so that you're not ripped on premiums."

"It's appreciated. And I'll keep my ears more open for your sake from now on," he says. "If I'd known you'd probably know more now."

"I am in no hurry. Such information is best retrieved in trickles, otherwise it makes waves."

She reached for yet another roll. She hadn't had them for a very long time. They tasted like childhood. And for all the travails, disappointments and despairs of it, it was the only childhood she had had.

"Thanks for bringing these, Zeno. That was very thoughtful of you. I could offer some Mandalorian fruit booze as the host's treat unless you had enough yesterday."

"Maybe another night," he says with a grin. "Right now I have something I need a clearer mind for. Which brings me to a question... Do you mind if I use your tools while we chat? I've got some new toys to put together."

"My tools? I am not a tinkerer. Baes is the one with tools, ask her."