Nar Shaddaa

Remmington hits up the cantina after checking on his ship just to make sure. He is sporting some new Mandalorian armour that he picked up. He heads over to the bar to get a drink.

Cole sauntered into the cantina, rested but somewhat stiff. Approaching Remmi, he gave the new armour an appraising look, "very nice."

Remmington stands to strike a pose. "Glad you like it. Partied it up with some Mandalorians and looks like I made a good impression on them. I guess I'm going to have to make some Mandalorian friends in the future."

He smiles and gestures for Cole to join him. "I was just having a drink. Care to join me before we have to leave this moon?"

"Sounds great," and Cole sat down with Remington, ordering a whiskey sour. "I can't believe it's finally here," he mused, running a long-fingered hand through his hair. "Hell, ten days ago I couldn't wait to get off this damn moon, and now? Well," he chuckled, "I still can't wait to get off this damn moon, but I'm really going to miss a whole bunch of things."

"Well it is a nice... no make that interesting place to visit but I wouldn't want to live her. I rather enjoyed Hutt Ball myself. Maybe I'll talk to Jo'ren and look into starting a Sith Ball league or something. It seems like something right up the Empire's alley." Remmington chuckles as he gets an old fashioned.

"Though I am glad I met everyone that I did through Hutt Ball. I really hope that I can see you guys all again in the future and possibly work with you." He nods to Cole.

"Did I mention to you that I am thinking of starting a new House?"

"Sith-ball?" Cole cocked an eyebrow. "Somehow, I don't think a ball packed with explosives is going to find much acceptance in Republic Space." He chuckled. "Apart from Huttball, though, the things that suited me on Nar Shaddaa, well, they're leaving too. So, I won't miss this place, and I'll never be glad I was here, but I'm... grateful, I guess?"

"A new house, huh?" he gave the Sith a quizzical look, "what does that entail, exactly?"

"It wasn't all bad. I think that is what you are trying to say." Remmington replies.

"Well I guess it is not so big in the Republic. For the Empire, power is everything. Sith sit at the top. Imperial citizens can make it high in the rat race through service with the military. Those with Force users in the family generally do very well. So a House is basically a lineage of Sith. Family members but it also includes retainers. People who work for the bloodline. Sometimes these retainers are brought into the family itself or work side by side with them.

So for me to build a new House. I'm seeking to get Force users with me. Usually with a blood connection but I am fine with people swearing fealty into the family as well. I am also looking to acquire talented individuals to work as retainers. It's a big bonus if they are not wishing to shoot me in the back or something like that."

He explains and then looks at Cole. "So I just want you to know, that if things don't work out with the Republic Navy, I hope you will consider coming to work with me."

Cole runs his thumb along the line of his jaw. He does not know it yet, but before the day is out, he'll take an injury there, a permanent memento of Nar Shaddaa.

Carefully, "I appreciate your straight-forwardness, but I gotta say, retainer to a Sith? You gotta see how that might look, right?" The back of his neck prickled with a faint sense of hypocrisy, he had spoken to his own C.O. just a few hours ago, withdrawing his resignation and confirming his intentions to sign back on. But, half his mind was still on a certain pureblood and the promises she had made, no, not promises, exactly.

"What work did you have in mind, exactly?"

"Well I am pretty flexible. Though I wish to primarily make use of your medical skills which you are the most trained at. Though it can be other things like running facilities. Making note of and passing along information. No, I do not necessarily mean spying but it helps to know what is going on. Help me make purchases and more mundane stuff like that. If working in the Empire is not to your liking, I am thinking of setting up footholds in Republic and neutral space as well." Remmington explains.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of making you do anything you don't want to. I may ask and you can always say no. I have an appreciation for the people that I work with and will try to treat them well."

Cole's expression turned skeptical and he sipped thoughtfully from his whiskey. "Footholds in Republic space? I know the talks were a success and all, but aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?" He swirled his glass, listening to the ice cubes, "if I can make a suggestion? I'd avoid the word foothold unless you really are invading," his was tone deadpan.

"How are you intending to finance all of this?"

"Okay, how about set up shop. Buy some stocks. Invest in some businesses that will generate credits. The Republic is pretty liberal with business right? Well maybe not as much as the Hutts but I like the security that the Republic offers over the Hutts. You know, that they won't just take the credits and run with it." Remmington answers.

Cole ponders on this, finding the Sith's choice of words strange. He wouldn't have described the Republic's framework of business law liberal, but if the propaganda machine was even partially right about the Empire, he supposed how it might seem that way.

"I already have a master, the Galactic Republic Navy. For her, I serve the interests of the Republic and beyond. I want to do good in this galaxy. Can you offer that? To get me where my skills are needed most? or do you mean for me to work where my skills are most profitable?"

Remmington nods. "I can respect that. If they are someone that you can truly dedicate yourself to then I am happy for you. If things don't work out I hope you give my offer a thought. I do not know about the most good. That is a pretty subjective term. As for more profitably... maybe. I don't know how much you make with your position.

As for your skills, I have seen them. So I know you are really talented. Though I do not know if you are more the type that wishes to accumulate more knowledge and skill through prestige and access to the highest levels of knowledge. Or if you are more the type that wishes to help those around you in the most need. That is a tough interpretation as to how to put your skills to the best use.

What I can offer you is a lot of freedom to work as you see fit. If you are going to help me out in Republic space then you will be mostly on your own and I may contact you from time to time to get reports. We can always meet up in neutral space. If you wish to check out Imperial space, I can see what I can do about sneaking you in. Once again, I don't know what rules you may have to follow with the Republic Navy but I think my real big selling point is the freedom to work how and where you want." He says with some consideration.

Cole ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's something to think about, for sure." He was silent for several moments before adding, "I have a counter-proposal."

"I have no need for prestige or wealth. I will continue to better myself and enhance my skills, wherever I end up. If you want me to work in wealthy places and reap profit off the back of my skills, I will give you a flat refusal right now, I'm not interested. But if you can fund and support me to work in places ravaged by war or disease, then we have a starting point."

He sipped his drink, "let's try this: I'm signing back on with the navy, that's already happened. But I will provide you with contact details. If you want to reach out to me because you need something done, then you'll be able to reach me. And we'll work from there."

Remmington considers that. "I can probably use your help to set up some sort of medical facility. It is good to at least have someplace to go back to. From there, I have no issues with you going where you wish. The life of a Sith is anything but boring. So I can see myself getting sent to war ravaged places. In those cases, it will be good to have someone of your skill nearby.

Being able to cooperative will be more productive. I have no love for senseless slaughter. Which is good that the peace talks were successful. Both the Republic and Empire seemed to be resorting to more despicable tactics which resulted in a lot of civilian casualties and collateral damage."

He nods. "You have my Galactic Network ID, so feel free to contact whenever you wish. Even if it just to say hi and talk."

"What's your story anyway, Remmington? I mean, who are you?" Cole seemed genuinely interested, but he had made a pass at the Sith a few days ago.

"Me? Just a nobody." Remmington replies curtly before he gets into his backstory.

"I come from a fallen House. My ancestor founded House Balmung and was 2nd only to the Emperor himself. So our House used to be very powerful. Of course, we had rivals who coveted and feared our House. Over the centuries they chipped away at our power. My father, was an admiral with the military and a powerful Sith Lord. One unmatched for generations and the closest in power to my ancestor in recent memory.

Sadly, he met his end too due to the schemes of other Houses. None of the surviving members of the House are anywhere even close to my father's level. Myself, included. A childhood friend of mine wished me to restore the old House but I have no inclination to. Though, I have had a slight change of heart. I wish to found my own House. I will be happy with something small but stable." He says.

"So that is my story. What about yours Cole? Only seems fair." He takes a sip of his drink and looks at the other man.

It was a lot to process all at once, so Cole sipped his drink and related his own story, giving him time to think.

"Uh, I was born on a medical frigate, Group Commander Ormont - that's my father - was serving a deep space mission, the kind where they provide for families, y'know? 'cause you're going to be gone so long. I was basically enlisted from the moment I could salute. The Group Commander raised me like that, as if I was a recruit to be trained."

With a casual shrug, "mother and I followed him from posting to posting, until I turned sixteen, and he strong armed me into really joining up. There was some... friction, and I didn't have the guts to just walk away and make it on my own."

"Turns out I was an even bigger disappointment to him in the military than out of it," he added sourly.

Remmington nods. "I guess we both had a lot of expectations due to our families. When mine broke down, I thought this may be the best time to do something new and break the mold."

He smirks at Cole. "Didn't you say not too long ago that it is insanity to do the same thing and expect different results?'

"That's what they say. But are you familiar with chaos theory? That even the smallest change of input can result in large, unpredictable change in output?"

He shrugs a little, "the galaxy's a complex place."

"Guess we'll see what kind of impact we make on the galaxy then right?" Remmington replies with a cool smile.