No, There's No Place Like Corruscant

[Gar]

Ni stared pensively from one of the windows of The Castaway's Hope. She frowned and released a sigh as she watched Gadeon depart for the temple. Returning to Corruscant was awful enough without also coming to terms with this unpleasant, anxiety-ridden occasion; her closest friend was making himself a target, and in more ways than one. The Zeltron urged her mind away from this depressing thought and tried to center on happier subjects. Instead, the disturbing face of a man suddenly manifested inside her mind. Merrick. She shivered and turned her back to the window, now concentrating on the floor. 

Ni remembered the day they left Corruscant--she wanted to force a confession from Merrick, but Gadeon advised against it. He told her to let the authorities handle it. Well, she gave the authorities the information before they left, and Merrick was still in power when they returned. She mused irritably that the nasty man had probably already customized a new clone for himself to break and use by now. Her hands tightened into fists. 

Ni strode out into the corridor of the ship with a fierce purpose blazing in her eyes. She donned a simple white dress and sandals, plus a matching white purse with some gadgets packed inside, including a recorder. Her expression shifted to a joyful, carefree facade when she found Zay. She cheerfully asked the clone to help Bay with his work and stay by his side while she went shopping. Then she hailed a speeder to the Senate building. Her stomach turned into knots as she witnessed this grandiose building once more, remembering the dullest two weeks of her life. As she navigated through the halls towards Merrick's Senatorial office she attempted to calm her racing emotions and wear her usual cheerful mask once again.

'You wanted it,' Ni chanted to herself, 'You always, always want it.' Ni understood that if she dared allow her feelings to control her in this moment, if she didn't think clearly about what she had to do, then she may never have a chance in granting justice for Zay or Zera, let alone the satisfaction of watching an evil man fall. 

The Zeltron beamed down at Merrick's secretary. "I'm here to see Tal Merrick, Miss. He is expecting me."

(Bluff 29)
(Synergy - Intimidate 35)

[Akirapryde]

The woman moved uneasy in her chair, "yes" she said softly and nodded, "he is expecting you." She pressed a button, "sir," she said softly then added, "that Zeltron Jedi, you were expect is here."

Merrick's voice seemed almost joyful, "wonderful. Send her in."

The secretary slowly rose from her chair, clearly intimidated by the Ni she moved on shaky legs. "Please follow me" she said with genuine fear in her voice. She opened the door and led Ni in to Tal Merrick's Senatorial Office.

There he was, sitting behind his desk with a large window behind. He was dressed in a very fancy suite and traditional Mandalorian headdress. His hand seemed to bring a bit of calm to his secretary. The scene through the window, behind him, was that of the Great Jedi Temple. He smiled at Ni, "I have been waiting for almost a month to see you, my Jedi friend." There was even calmness in his voice. "Please be seated," as he motioned her to have a seat.

[Gar]

(Will save 26, Ni is able to keep her cool)

Seeing the man's face again was certainly a shock for the Zeltron. She felt the icy chill of fear as it flooded her veins. For a brief moment Ni imagined using the Force to thrust Merrick through the glass window behind him, allowing him to plummet quickly to his death. The image was so satisfying. He was not Force Sensitive, it would be so easy.

However, Ni's mind cleared and she returned the politician's painted smile in kind. "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder!" She skipped over behind his desk and sat up on the edge of it informally, playfully kicking her feet and giggling.

"I hope you don't have hard feelings over the clone Bill thing!" Ni commented giddily even as every cell in her body screamed for her to run, "The Chancellor made me an offer that I simply could not refuse!" She reached out her hand and touched his cheek lightly, even as she fantasized dropping her hand lower to tighten around his throat, "I have to admit, this whole month that I've been away, it has been difficult not to think about you. I'd be so sad if politics ruined the connection we shared!"

His presence was overwhelming. It took all of Ni's willpower to resist her own instinct for self preservation.

(Bluff 27)
(synergy - Diplomacy 43)

(Sense motive 19)

[Akirapryde]

He smiled as he stood up just as Ni was taking her seat on the desk, "Ma'am Jedi," such informal behavior in this setting is highly inappropriate."

He moved from behind his desk and waved his secretary off, "Miss Marizen, please clear my appointments. This meeting from one of the Chancellor's own will take precedent." She secretary left and the door closed behind her.

(OOC: This action prevents any contact but not dialog)

Ni made an attempt to read him and to her surprise, he was like a block of ice. Cool, collected and calm. She couldn't get any emphatic readings off of him. He knew that he was not force sensitive and that he was a very bad person. But at this moment, that was all she knew.

"Might I ask," he said walking over to a small bar. "Are you here in official Jedi business," he asked pouring a drink, "or doing more dirty work for the Chancellor?" He turned with two drinks in his hand. "Just figuring out where we all stand."

[Gar]

Ni giggled, "Oooohhh is this the game where we answer questions with more questions and talk around each other?! My turn!" she clapped her hands excitedly and asked bluntly, "How surprised were you when you found out you fucked a Jedi?" she bit her lip to act as if she was stifling mischievous laughter, leaning toward him flirtatiously to add, "Why should I need a business reason to visit you, hmmm?"

[Akirapryde]

He smiled as he walked over to the chair that he had indicated for her to sit in, "actually," he said telling the truth, "very." He set the glass down with a soft smile and her gaze in his eyes, "But you were very energetic. And the way you came on to me," he said almost reminiscing on the event. "It was both intoxicating and over powering," he said truthfully to all accounts.

He walked to the other side of his office and leaned against the wall, "but it was wrong." He broke his gaze on her and stared in to his drink. "I am married, as you know. I shouldn't have accepted your advances. It was," he said once more being truthful, "poor judgement due to drinking too much." He took a sip of his drink before returning his eyes to hers, "I am sorry, but we can not do that again. There is simply too much of that, which is wrong."

He frowned, "I wouldn't want to jeopardize your standing in the Order. That and you are a paid operative of my political rival."

[Gar]

"I do have that affect on people," Ni replied sensually with a wink, "So, when you asked my boss for a private party with me a week or so after our encounter, what were you expecting? A dissertation of clone rights?" she allowed herself a hearty laugh at this obvious lie, "If you looked into my public record at all, you would know that I am a deserter of the Jedi Order. Oh, and I don't work for the Chancellor. I had a particular special interest in pushing her bill, which she rewarded me with once I was successful. There was no payment, at least not in credits or other forms of currency." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "I play by my own rules, Merrick. Just like you. I think I'd be surprisingly good for you."

[Akirapryde]

He nodded, "I imagine you do."

He took another drink from his glass, "private party?" he said truthfully confused. "I made no such request," he said telling the truth.

He listened carefully before speaking again, "I am sure that you do play by your own rules. Yet here in the Senate, we have rules that all operatives are expected to play by." He walked back over to the small bar, "it was an underhanded trick by the Chancellor to use a trained," he turned back towards her and half nodded as he spoke, "former Jedi and Zeltron to lure me in to a compromising situation." His statement rang of truth as he spoke it.

He turned back to his glass and poured another drink. "So are you here in an attempt to blackmail me?" He laughed. "Luckily for me, I have a very understanding wife."

He turned back to Ni, "and I am well aware of the payment you were given. Don't forget, I had her commisioned." He took another sip of his drink, "tell me" he said with genuine concern, "how is my little flower. I hope you are treating her well."

[Gar]

"Is that what you think it was?" pouted Ni, slipping off the desk and approaching him sensually, her eyes never leaving his, "I didn't use any mind tricks on you, you know. You approached me on your own volition, and quite..." she raised her eyebrows, "forcefully... I suppose we have different memories of that night..." she stopped in front of him and smirked impishly, lightly running her fingers over his suit as if to straighten out the wrinkles. Internally she was in awe of how simple it was now. "Anyway, the taping was actually what got my foot in the door with the chancellor. All a stroke of luck, not conspiracy, I assure you."

When Merrick mentioned Zay Ni's eyes flickered for just a second, but she managed to maintain her composure. "I wouldn't know," she answered with a shrug. "She is a free clone now, wanted us to drop her off at Javin, so your guess is as good as mine..." she stared into his eyes and smiled. "Oh, but the journey there was....quite memorable..." Ni said slowly, methodically, as she studied his face, "She is quite an experience, isn't she? We both enjoyed ourselves very, very much."

[Akirapryde]

"Taping," he said softly shaking his head, "I am sure it shows me acting like a drunken fool." He shook his head, "though I am sure that the Chancellor ensured that that taping was more than luck. After all, she put you there at that party."

He slowly took a drink and held the glass before his lips. He made sure that Ni saw his smile as he spoke, "Ma'am Jedi, I would like to offer you my sincere apology." He turned and set down his glass. He side stepped her and walked back to his desk, "Ma'am, no person should be objectified like that," The truth dripping from every word.

"I am glade that Zay is free," he said truthfully. "I was fearful that someone would get their hands on her and hurt her. She doesn't deserve that."