New Blood

[Lenore]

Lenore glanced once more to the pad set in her hands. The screen gave a set of coordinates for which she wanted to be at and a set that she was standing at now…they matched perfectly. She grinned as she looked up to the Fortress before her. She had finally found it. Several years of searching, wrong turns, bad information, and now she was here. Thanks to the little squirt knows as Sliff (see The Price of Information (http://swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26931) – not yet finished).

The young brunette was almost sure she wouldn’t have to take another step onto the property. Cameras were everywhere…they had to know she was here. Moving more towards the front doors, she waited...

[imported_Ezra]

The doors slowly opened and Ezra's six foot two frame stood in the entrance, his long coat billowing slightly with the breeze.
He looked down at the young woman holding the data pad.

" Is there something I could help you with?"

He asked as his left eyebrow arched up a bit.

[Lenore]

Lenore looked up at the man, almost a foot taller than herself. She offered a small smile, glancing to her pad a moment. She hoped it would be easy getting in...

Lifting her chin, she looked straight into his eyes. “I’m looking for a Hera DrenKast…I believe she owns this place?”

[imported_Ezra]

Ezra returned the smile with one of his own. And tilted his head to the right as he breathed in a deep breath.

"No, never heard of her. Is there anyone else I could help you find? "

He asked, his demeanor calm as a windless sea. The small smile still there.

[Lenore]

He hadn’t heard of her…?

That didn’t seem right. Had she been misinformed? No, because she was the one that had done the research on this place. She knew there was a Hera that operated the place.

Lenore quickly wiped the bewildered and puzzled look from her face, knowing it was only going to amuse the one before her. She’d play this cool. Whatever game this man was pulling, she’d go along with it. She might make him angry at first…but she’d get what she wanted…

With a coy smile she looked at him again, “Then you are either blind, ignorant…or both, because a Hera DrenKast runs this joint.”

[imported_Ezra]

His expression went blank for a few seconds. Then a smile broke out and he chuckled. He opened the door a little more and gestured her to enter.

"You got spunk, and style. I like that. C'mon, lets see if I can uhhh, find something out for you."

Ezra winked as she walked in. He led her to the bar called the "Crash Zone". He showed her to a seat.

"I'll see if anyone can help with what you're looking for. In the meantime, please order a refreshment on the house."

He turned and walked through another door in the back looking for the boss.

[Lenore]

Lenore sighed inwardly as the man stepped aside, letting her enter. She hadn’t been sure her approach would work at all. He didn’t seem the type to give in easily.

Taking a seat at one of the empty booths in the “Crash Zone”, Lenore sat and waited. She leaned her arms on the table, hands fidgeting as she glanced around almost nervously. The place was rather up beat and she liked it. She could definitely get use to what she was seeing. With a smile, she looked down at the pad sitting next to her on the cushion. It was off now, the screen dark. A pity she probably wouldn’t ever see the little Kinder who gave it to her again. Nor the handsome man that had been apart of the entire escapade.

As she moved to put the datapad in the little satchel she had around her shoulders, the bar tender came wandering over to her table. She looked up and smiled, ordering just a glass of ice water for now. She was considered a ‘lightweight’ and sure didn’t want to be drunk while conducting business with the head mistress here. The perspiring glass was set before her and she sipped from it, waiting whoever it was she was allowed to talk to.

[imported_Ezra]

Walking to her office door, Ezra hoped she would be in a more tolerant mood then she has been since he's been here. Seemed she had a thing for "pushing his buttons" and frankly the vamp was getting tired of it. Taking a deep breath and steeling himself in preperation of a snide remark, he slowly opened the door and knocked against the doorframe to get her attention.

"Hera, there's a girl looking for you."

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

Her usual place was in the far back corner. Daiq preferred it there since it gave her time to look over anyone who entered the bar. Today however, she had chosen a table at the very front and it was here she sat as Ezra escorted the young woman in.

Lenore didnt look dangerous but Daiquiri had learned long ago that looks can be decieving and snap judgements made from anothers' appearance were often deadly. Thats why she sat quietly now, pretending to nurse the drink in front of her while she studied the female from behind.

Daiq enjoyed this part of her job...sitting back, watching and learning about people without them being aware of it and reporting her findings to Hera.

The three of them - Hera, Remkah and herself - had worked out a series of head, hand and body signals to convey any situation so that in the matter of a couple of seconds, any of them would know what to expect simply by glancing at the other. It had served them well. Now, she was taking it upon herself to teach them to Ezra.

Daiquiri took notice of the datapad and her sharp eyes had scanned Lenore as she walked past. No noticeable bulges or protrusions in her clothing to suggest obvious weapons but that didnt mean she wasnt packing.

As long as the younger female didnt twitch the wrong way, Hera would receive the 'all's clear' signal if she came into the bar.

[DarthHERA]

Hera looked up from her holovid pad. She was supposed to be working, but instead she was "reading" over the latest edition of "Dark Men in Capes".. And for once, she greeted Ezra with a smile.


"Wha? Oh...Hi Ezra, come in."

She shut the holovid off.

"Who is...?"

[imported_Ezra]

He obviously was in shock at the greeting he got. Eyebrows raised a bit, mouth partly open. Then he shook it off and went to answer her, but stopped in mid breath.

He sighed and closed his eyes and his face turned to a frustrated, embarassed grimace. Lifting his arm over his head and pointing back out he laughed.

"Ummmmm....I ....forgot to ask."

Looking at Hera he smirked at his mistake and turned to go fix it.

" dammit."

He softly said as he made his way out and back to the table he left the girl at. Approaching the young woman, he smiled and nodded to her.

"I trust you got something to drink? Ahhh good. Someone is finding out about your inquiry right now. My name is Ezra, and you are??"

[Lenore]

Lenore looked up, somewhat disappointed to see the same man again. “Hmm? Oh…” she was half tempted to give a fake name…but decided against it. It wouldn’t do her any good here. “Lenore…” She didn’t know her last name so gave none. A first name would do just fine.

[imported_Ezra]

"Well Lenore, I will see whats the delay. Just can't find good help these days."

He laughed and turned to go back. How true that was, his first time doing something he was asked and not doing it too well. He reminded himself he needed to learn the ropes and learn it quick.

Slowly opening the door again, he knocked and Hera looked up.

"Her name is Lenore."

He waited for his new employer to tell him either get rid of her or send her in.

[DarthHERA]

If Ezra was expecting the name alone to enlighten her, he was disappointed.

She looked from Ezra to the girl out in the bar and back to Ezra again, allowing an exagerated pained expression to form for his benefit.

"Oooooh....Lenore, of course."

She growled at him, not bothering to ease his embarressment...it was too much fun watching him glower back at her.

In a sudden shift back to business, she lost the sarcasm completely.

"Come on, then, lets see what she wants."

She led the Vampyre back over to the table, where passing into the bar, Hera caught Daiq's eye and a slight nod exchanged between them.

Standing on one side of Lenore, Ezra flanking her on the other, the Faene Mistress got straight to the point.

"My friend Ezra here tells me you are asking alot of questions about ShadowFaene. You got business here do you?"

[Lenore]

Lenore had been scratching away at a crack in the table with her fingernail when two shadows loomed across the area. She immediately looked up, eyeing the man, then the woman. The blonde was quite beautiful and looked as though she could be a Hera.

Turning in her seat, she offered a hand. “If all goes well, I will be having business here.” The corners of her mouth turned upwards into a smile. She hoped it all went well…

[DarthHERA]

Hera shook the outstretched hand, noting Lenore had a firm confident grip. Sitting, but yet to smile, Hera admitted she was curious that one who seemed fairly young would wander alone into her establishment to talk business.

"Oh...? What kind of business you considering?"

[Lenore]

“I want in.” Lenore wanted to keep this short. She didn’t need a lengthy introduction. This woman seemed direct, so she’d keep it that way.

"I want to work for you, be apart of this organization, whatever...but I want in...smuggling...the big money."

[DarthHERA]

Now that brought a smile. Hera laughed delightedly at Lenore's direct and unabashed answer. She sounded like she knew what she wanted, and wanted it right now.

"Well, we dont hire just anybody you know. What do you think you can bring to the table? Got any skills?"

[Lenore]

She said nothing at first, instead producing a shiny credit from a pouch on her bag and flicking it to the man that had let her in. It belonged to him after all. She had managed to lift it from him when he held open the door of the fortress.

“Thief…pick-pocket, whatever you’d like to call me. Also skilled in weaponry such as blasters, knives and the like...”

[imported_Ezra]

Ezra caught the credit in his hand and chuckled.

"Smooth, very smooth."

He turned and walked back to the bar area, knowing that Hera was ok and Lenore was legit. Settling down on a stool he got himself a drink.

[DarthHERA]

Hera followed the credit as it flipped through the air and into Ezra's grasp.

Then her eyes rested once more on Lenore.

"How'd you get to come by here?"

[Lenore]

She grinned at Ezra’s response, then met Hera’s gaze once more.

“I had a source give me information on the whereabouts. I’ve been searching for this place for some time now. I know your reputation here and figure it’s a good place to be.”

[imported_Ezra]

After downing his shot, he got two glasses from the barkeep. He walked casually over to the table and set the glass with the boss's rum near her and exchanged the cool glass of water for the one Lenore was nursing. A smirk on his face as he went about his business.

[DarthHERA]

The two women watched as Ezra dropped off their drinks.

Hera looked as if she would explain him, but found it would take too long, and so gave up before beginning. Instead she smiled and leaned in as if to let Lenore in on a little secret.

"He's pretty, but he bites" she said with a wink.


And she then moved back to business.

"These sources must be pretty good. SFF base whereabouts are not widely known. It is pretty ballsy of you to show up here alone like this - we aren't the friendliest of folks out here.

However, we are always looking for skilled contractors. The setup here is you do a job for SFF..you get a cut. You in particular get hired for a job, you get the bulk and Faene gets a percentage.

How does that sound?"

As Hera and Lenore were speaking, Daiq was doing a data search on the young woman based on the information Ezra had discreetly passed onto her up at the bar.

As much as was possible, SFF liked to know the people that worked for them and screened each prospective employee carefully.

Sipping from her rum, Hera looked casually at Daiq over the rim of her glass.

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

It was the tiniest of moves and undiscernable to a casual observer and it barely even disturbed the air around her.

A slight rise and fall of her shoulders informed Hera that as of yet no information had been located in her search on 'Lenore'.

Tapping on the sound dampened keys of the small datapad, Daiquiri continued browsing through the narrowing files of data. Soon she would have what Hera was waiting for.

[Lenore]

Lenore almost wanted to jump up and shout ‘yes!’ and it was obvious by the sudden light that ran across her face. She, however, stayed in her seat; seemingly mulling over the information laid out before her.

After a moment, her brown eyes flashed up at Hera. “I believe I can accept such terms.”

She could very well accept such terms. In fact she almost didn’t even think twice about the terms, realizing that she was about to get in! For a moment, the money didn’t matter, it was just she was moving up in the galaxy of things. She felt as giddy as a schoolgirl…

[DarthHERA]

Watching Lenore was like reading an open book, with bold print, or - pictures.

She seemed delighted, and Hera figured that was a good thing, only she hoped Lenore knew how to have a good sabaac face when necessary. Then she remembered how Lenore got Ezra's money without so much as a hint to her actions. Inwardly, Hera shrugged - the kid may just work out..

Returning her glass to the table, while keeping a subtle eye on Daiquiris visual signals for any redflags, Hera asked the young hopeful girl.

"You got a place to stay, do you?"

[imported_Ezra]

Sencing Lenore's change in mood made him smile. Yeah she made it in alright. Hope she had a better time adjusting than he had.

[Lenore]

Lenore was almost startled by such a question. “Uh…” She didn’t have a place to stay having been dropped off at the base. She was without a ship and home.

“No…I don’t…” she answered truthfully, her head lowering evidently. Home had been on Coruscant; a little room in the back of a clubhouse barely the size of the booth she sat in.

[DarthHERA]

Lenore's answer was short and she did not elaborate. Hera was left to conjecture for herself, but taking in the girls youth and the lean build she had, Hera guessed the life of a pick-pocket slash petty theif was not a lucrative one.

No wonder Lenore was looking to play in a bigger game.

"We can fix you up with a place here. But its not free - I want to see some kind of return on the faith I put in you."

Daiq caught her eye, and Hera invited her fellow Sith with a nod to come join them at the table. It was obvious, Hera wanted a rundown on the information Daiquiri had gathered about their new little friend.

Ezra looked on, taking in the smooth process by which the two ShadowFaene friends worked and communicated effortlessly with each other.

[imported_Ezra]

Ezra watched the two go like clockwork. With a look, a thought, they knew what to do, when to do it. He looked back at the bar top as it was another reminder of his struggle to "fit in". He worked at that, but always seemed to lag behind. He'll get there soon enough, into the "clockwork" system they had. Pushing his feelings and thoughts back, he let out a sigh and ordered another shot.

[Lenore]

Lenore just nodded in return to Hera’s words. She would do whatever it took to stay and be apart of the group. She wanted nothing more than to make money…and in order to do such a thing she needed to be a part of SFF, and in order to do that she needed to win the trust of the members…. and in order to do that she had to keep her end of the bargain and do her job better than any other.

[DarthHERA]

"Good then" Hera said finally.

"Have something to eat, and then Ezra will show you where you can stay."

She got up from her seat.

"We'll talk again soon, and I'll let you know when we got a job you can work on."

[Lenore]

Lenore nodded vigorously, immediately swiveling in her seat to face the bar. She was absolutely famished. Eating was right at the top of her to do list. However, doing it alone wasn’t. She flagged down the bartender for lack of seeing anyone else and then motioned to Ezra. “Wanna join me?”

[imported_Ezra]

Grabbing his drink, Ezra got off his stool and slowly made his way to the booth. Sliding in on the other side, he gave her another closed mouth grin.

"I see you've made the team, Congratulations."

His brown eyes seem to glow a bit in the dim light. He brought up his glass and made a little toast.

"Here's to new endeavors."

He drank and placed the glass down. His eyes narrowing slightly in thought. He looked down at the table then averted his eyes back up, that grin appearing again. He tilted his head slightly to the left.

"How long have you been searching for the Fortress?"

[Lenore]

The barkeep set her newly ordered whiskey drink on the table just as Ezra made the toast. Lenore brought the glass of....heh...either very clear whiskey or water, up to clink it lightly against his. Seemed the bartender knew she wasn't old enough to be drinking anything but. She took a drink anyway, then set it back down, leaning both elbows on the tabletop.

"How long have you been searching for the Fortress?"

Lenore snorted and looked down at the table, a fingernail idly scratching at the surface. "Almost ten months..."

It was sad, but true. Finding ShadowFaene was no easy task. She had contacts, but not the right ones for such a job.

She looked back up at him. "So you're name's Ezra, huh?"

[imported_Ezra]

He nodded at her question.

"Yes, my name is Ezra. Ezra Darkmere. Ten month search........ that could seem like forever. "

Forever...... it was his time to share a little snort. Forever is exactly what he had. Being cooped up in the Fortress so far hasn't been bad really. But he missed his retreat on Calidor, missed his friends in the village of Tranquil. He looked up from his little walk through a memory to see her watching him and he grinned again.

"Oh, just thinking of a place I used to call home. Been awhile since I've been there." he shook it off and changed the subject. "Well, the boss seems to like you. And THAT is a good thing."

He said with a wink and a chuckle.

[Lenore]

“Yes, I suppose it would be,” Lenore replied with a quaint smile of her own. Just as she brought her water up for another drink the plate of steaming vegetables and various other foods was set before her. Her mouth watered as she looked down at it, thanking the barkeep for bringing it to her. She hadn’t had a decent meal in what seemed like forever.

“Want a bite?” she offered, digging a utensil in the tender slab of meat.

[imported_Ezra]

Ezra didn't grin, this time he smiled. He brought his hand up and respectfully declined.

"No, thank you. I will grab something later."

He watched her dig in and noticed how hungry she was. Poor thing probably hadn't eaten for some time. He relaxed in his seat and got the barkeeps attention, he pointed at his glass and the barkeep brought a new glass.
He thought about it and decided she should know what he was. No sense in terrifying her at a time when that could jeopardize a mission or a situation. Taking a deep breath he got her attention.

"Lenore, I'm not sure if the boss mentioned this. Or if you per chance figured it out, but I'm a child of the night."

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

Like steam rising from a cooling pool of water, it seemed to take eons for any information on Lenore to rise up on the small datapad screen but suddenly, there it was.

Born and lived on Coruscant with her biological parents Hydi and Clay Jenkins. Parents killed in gang related home break-in and daughter Lenore believed to have been killed as well. The daughters' body never found.

The body apparently had found ShadowFaene and was still sitting ahead of Daiquiri, chatting amicably with Ezra, who was amicably chatting back. Black heavens!! Was he actually telling the girl he was a vamp?! Daiq rolled her eyes. Why didnt he just stamp it on his forehead, for cryin out loud?!

Still, it was his choice to tell whom he wanted but it would have been something Daiq would have kept to herself. Not out of shame but as a 'reserve' - a weapon of surprise, so to speak.

"I'm a child of the night."

'Child' my butt! Arent you something over 100 years old, Ez?

Daiquiri sent the message quickly to his mind, a smile playing on her lips as she stood up and closed the lid of the pad. With a wink In Ezra's startled direction, she walked off from the table and towards the main office. Hera would want to see what she had found.

[DarthHERA]

"Quite a pair, dont you think?" Hera stated to Daiquiri as she passed into the office, while she looked back at Ezra and Lenore.

Turning now, and seeing Daiq set the open data screen on the desk, Hera walked up to stand beside her long-time friend.

"Find anything on our Miss "Innocent eyes and lightning hands" of interest?"

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

"If you find that Lenore is supposed to be dead 'interesting', then yes, I have. Take a look."

Setting the pad on Hera's desk, Daiquiri turns the screen to face the Faene owner.

"What do you make of it? This is all I could dig up."

[imported_Ezra]

His eyes averted to the side as Daiquiri walked past and sent that message to him. His look of "Im not amused" played for a few seconds.

' Im older than that....... and you're supposed to be the info expert around the station'

He sniped back. That was one thing for certain he was learning, how to come back quickly to any of the duo's shots at him. He looked back at Lenore who was busy and 'happily' munching away. One thing he was happy about, was that she wasn't sniping at him. Purposely getting a rise out of him like the other two. He sipped his drink and sighed, taking a glance around the room.

[Lenore]

Lenore looked at Ezra with a puzzled expression etched on her face. She hadn’t encountered anyone that was considered a “Child of the Night,” which only surprised her since she had lived on Coruscant all her life. That planet was known to have every alien and/or thing living on all layers of the city.

“A what?”

[imported_Ezra]

The look of confusion set upon her face, and her chewing slowed.

"A What?"

She honestly didn't know what he was talking about. She'd never met a vampyre in her life. He smiled and looked down at the table. Then glanced back to where Daiquiri had disappeared.

" I will explain later. When the time is more appropriate. It's very intriguing I might add, but also frightening all at once. Like a thrill ride, but safer."

He chuuckled as he sipped his drink again. 'Safer' for ones he considered "friends" of course. His enemies thought otherwise.

[Lenore]

Lenore eyed him for a split second, not quite sure what to make of his reply. She certainly had no clue to what he was referring to. Glancing back down to her plate, she just shrugged and popped another morsel of food in her mouth. She didn’t need to think too hard about it, finding she was far hungrier than curious.

Chomping rather loudly, she picked a piece of meat with her fork and then pointed it at Ezra. "So what exactly do you do here?" she asked inbetween chews.

[imported_Ezra]

Ezra looked back at her to answer.

"I am one of the pilots here. Also the watchdog. I stay close by to make sure things are on the up and up when Hera does her meetings or deals. I am also the bodyguard, make sure Hera and Daiquiri stay safe, that includes everyone of the crew too. So you're on that list now."

He smiled and his fangs showed. Giving away to Lenore what he was trying to tell her.

[Lenore]

His smile…

Lenore had to do a double take. She was; quite frankly, shocked to see the dual pointed fangs protruding from his lips.

Not missing a beat, she replied, “I can handle myself…I’m in no need of a bodyguard; are those real?” Without a breath she slid in the next question. Her eyes squinted as she leaned forward trying to get a better look. They appeared real…and if that were the case then he would indeed be of the undead. A vampyre.

There was a sudden flash back and she reeled back into her seat, pushing her body back into the cushion as if hoping it would swallow her. A half squeak escaped her lips. It was that same sort of smile, those pointy blood-sucking fangs...that terrible night her parents had been murdered. Her eyes clenched shut. The police had blamed the deaths on a gang related incident, but Lenore had been there, she had seen what those creatures were and how they acted.

Ezra was one of them...

[imported_Ezra]

He laughed at her statement.

"I'm sure you can, but it is STILL my job. And yes they are real."

Then her reaction, as if she remembered something. She looked at him with the hint of fear, had she come across others of his kind before? If she did it more than likely wasn't a very good experience to say the least. He knew how the others could be, It was the nature of being turned. One loses their humanity and become a monster. Ezra was a pureblood, and was raised in the courts of Kahr Sian. He wasn't like the others, and never could be.

"Lenore, what is wrong? What is the matter?"

He slid from his seat and crouched down near her's. He gently touched her arm and had a look of concern.

[Lenore]

Lenore flinched, drawing her arm back as she slid across the bench, cowering against the wall. She had spent so many years believing differently about her parent’s killers; had told herself that it was all just a dream, but now the memory came flooding back. This thing before her was exactly as the others, exactly how she remembered them… Nothing would convince her otherwise…

[imported_Ezra]

Ezra pulled his arm back and stayed crouched by the seat. His face showed a bit of hurt as she cringed in the corner as if he was the devil himself. Wait a minute, he thought...I AM the devil.... Pleasing to the eyes, yet something totally dark and loathing. He sent a telepathic message to both Daiquiri and Hera.

' Would one of you two please come here.....we got a situation'

He slowly stood, his face void of expression. His signature "blank" look. He inwardly sighed. Another step backwards to his "fitting in" at the station. It was something he was getting used to.

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

Her body froze in mid-flop as she prepared to drop down in one of Hera's over-sized private office chairs.

' Would one of you two please come here.....we got a situation'

A situation?

Hera's eyes flicked up over the datapad as Daiq straightened and walked to the door.

"Ive got it. You go ahead and read."

Easing around the corner, she kept her blue eyes sharp for 'the situatuion' that Ez messaged them about. The only thing different that she could see was that Ez's face was now one laced with concern and Lenore was pushing herself back against the seat, away from the would be Romeo.

Stopping in front of the table, Daiq glances from Lenore to the vampire.

"What happened to her?"

[imported_Ezra]

"What happened to her?"

He looked over at Daiquiri and his eyes slowly turned to look at the floor.

"She finally figured out what I am. At first she didn't understand and I was gonna keep it to myself to explain later, but I guess she caught on pretty quick. And I think it triggered a memory for I got a mess load of images that came rushing in."

She was about to shoot off one of her famous "make fun of Ezra" comments but his eyes that averted back to look at her spoke in volumes of his present mood. She could tell this didn't sit well with him and he was in a way hurt by it. He sighed and turned away, slightly shaking his head.

" I guess you can show her to her room. I need some solitude right now."

And with that, he exited the bar through one of the service doors which led back into the SFF hallways.

[Lenore]

Lenore blinked several times as the images faded from her mind. She then slowly uncurled from her position as Ezra exited. She looked at Daiquiri a moment.

“I…I didn’t mean…”

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

Daiq shrugged. No sense in making a big deal out of it at the moment. One thing Lenore would have to understand - and quickly - was that Ezra was a part of the SFF team. If she couldnt handle that, for whatever reason, she would be gone but fast!

"C'mon, I'll show you to your quarters. This way."

She waited for Lenore to slide out from the booth then led her through the back way.

"Got a problem with vampires, eh?"

[imported_Ezra]

He walked down one of the smaller cooridors, and wound up in an area he usually ends up. It was a small room used for storage which he made his own. A place to go to when he wanted solitude. So far, no one of the SFF knew about it. He enetered the small room and climbed up on the platform he set against the small portal. He gazed out at the black sky wishing he was back at his retreat.

Missing the people who called him friend, and didnt once think of him as a monster. The people of Tranquil. His mind went to the one he left behind too. She was waiting his return and lately it wasnt easy for him. The women that came into the place...some were quite exquisit. A touch was all he yearned for......a touch he could not have. Frustration built in him and he punched the wall he was leaning against.