The Rebel Faction

Rob lay in his cabin and stared up at the blank ceiling, which seemed to look down upon him. It were nights like these, nights that sleep did not come to him, that he really felt alone in this vast galaxy. Sure he had thousands of workers and hundreds of close aids that he could call friends, but no one that could hold a place in his heart. A special place that only that single person could. A place that had only once been filled in his life. A place which had been captured and completed by his late wife.

Ever since her death years before that place had been closed and empty. Only memories of her kept him going. She had been his everything and his whole world. He would had done everything for her, but some things just can't be given.

During sleepless nights like these memories of her filled his mind and made his heart jump with excitements, as if she was here now with him again. What he wouldn't give to have her back he thought to himself. All his lives work, every credit he had to his name. He would give it all away in less than a second without even a thought, just to hold her in his arms one more time and her say those three beautiful words to him.

A smile crossed his lips as he looked on into the darkness. An image of her floated above him, looking down at him and smiling that warm breathtaking smile. It felt just like yesterday that he had been in bed with her watching him. At the time he had been thinking what he was now, what did she in him? He would never know and never understand it. She could have been with anyone in the galaxy. Someone better, someone more exciting, someone sexier, someone...

His mind trailed off as he brought himself back to the now and smiled as he remembered the times they had shared together. No, she had chosen him and had made him the luckiest man in the galaxy. Those seven years they had shared together had been had been the best years of his life.

Rob wondered what she would think of him now, years after. Was he still that man? Would she still love him? Would she think that he was doing some good in the galaxy as he set out to do? He knew deep inside him that some of the business he had approved had not been good for his conscious. Some of those deals had probably gotten innocent people hurt, but he also knew that it was the fault of those who used what he gave them against the innocent. They all shared the blame, but it had been necessary for his business to prosper. If it had not than many people who had believed and trusted him would have found themselves out of work. The money had also helped countless on other planets to survive and make their lives better.

He thought about Genon and the construction effort there. All the houses they had built and all the families that had been given a new home and a new chance to live.

Just then the comm link implanted into his inner ear went off and he heard the voice in his head. The voice informed him that they had exited hyperspace to adjust their course and had received an urgent message for him. Rob nodded to himself and turned to his side. He stretched out his hand and turned on the datapad beside in on the night table. The glow from the pad filled the room and he had to squint as he looked over the message.

Rob gave it a little thought and then typed in the response.

"Ms. Cierra Dawn, good afternoon. Let your client know that I would be happy to meet with them. Why don't we arrange a meeting on Denon? Stellar Enterprises has an office in the Capital and I shall inform to prepare for a meeting. It would be most beneficial if you would transmit something about the order being requested so that proper documents could be prepared. IF that is not possible, that is perfectly alright.

I look forward to a relationship with your client and you for a long time to come as well. We will try to make whatever you wish happen and keep your client happy.

Thank you for your inquiry,

Rob Stellar,
President and CEO Stellar Enterprises"

Rob leaned back once the message was sent and activated his comm link. "Captain Volnar, change of plans, please set a course for Denon."

Rob looked at himself in the mirror and ran his fingers through his dark hair. He was getting older, he knew it. Laughing a little to himself, Rob shook his head a little. Age was something one would not stop. Sure you could slow it down and prevent yourself from looking and feeling older, but older you were.

He reached down and lifted the comb to his hair, brushing it back slowly. Once that was done he adjusted his black jacket and smoothed it out gently. To him it matched the bluish shirt quite well. The shirt was open at the top button to keep him comfortable. He knew that most business men wore the traditional suit and tie to meetings, but he was not traditional in the fashion sense. To Rob, the best meetings were ones in which all personal present were comfortable. Comfort from clothes seemed to lead to comfort in discussions and freedom of thought.

As Rob finished up preparing he wondered about the people he was going to meet. All he knew about them was what he had read in Cierra's messages and from the intelligence reports he had read. He knew they would be low key individuals, which were people he had had business with in the past. However, he didn't know them personally so it would be interesting to meet them and see what they were about.

While he was not a paranoid man, Rob still knew to be cautious of people in certain professions. For this reason there was a small box attached to his belt on his back. This box was actually a shield generation unit that could be turned on at anytime should it be needed from his expensive wrist chrono. For other defensive measures, droids and security personal had been called up to guard the office building. The security already on planet had been reinforced due to his presence.

A meeting room had been prepared for them all. All that was left was for the people that had requested the meeting to show up. Just as the thought crossed his mind, his internal comm link activated and informed him that a vessel had just been directed towards the Stellar Enterprises private landing pad. His guests had arrived.

With that Rob turned away from the mirror and started to walk towards the turbolift and begin his trip to the hanger for the greeting ceremony.

Rob watched the transport glide through the opening at the top of the landing pad area. Before it even settled on its landing struts, the four large Combat droids that were part of his security attachment formed up a perimeter around him. They were ready to respond to any sign of danger.

As the craft settled to the hanger deck, a crew of men and women ran out towards it and started to quickly attach refueling hoses. While they did this, some of the team pulled down the transport's maintenance hatch on the hull and started to preform the checks on the all systems. All this happened before the hatch even opened and the beautiful woman within emerged.

As she walked towards Rob Stellar, the droid bodyguards slowly parted for her after doing a complete check of her person. Their sophisticated systems made sure she was not armed and not carrying explosives on her. Sensing no danger from the woman, they allowed her to move towards Rob.

The man smiled gently as the woman approached and reached out his hand to shake hers while being her a slight bow. "Greetings Miss Dawn. There is no need to apologize, I have cleared this whole week for the meeting so we have some time."

Rob smile and turned away towards the hanger exit, pointing towards it with his hand held out. "Please come this way miss, everything has been prepared for our meeting."

As they started to walk slowly, Rob turn to look at the woman beside him. "Also... please call me Rob." He said as he keyed the exit door open.

In moments they were inside the somewhat large office, sitting at the conference table that was situated in a separate room close to the front of the whole office. At the center of the table lay a carafe made from crystal, which in turn was surrounded by blue crystal drinking glasses. Around this so called centerpiece stretched out plates of small foods should the guests want them. The foods on these plates consisted of ones from many different planets and for many different tastes that the company might want.

Rob watched Cierra reach for the carafe and stretched out to beat her to it. "Please let me." He said and smile gently while turning over one of my blue glasses and slowly poured the liquid into it.

When Cierra started to talked, Rob listened carefully and took the data she offered. He would make sure his people started the research right away. His mind went right to business and started estimating how long it would take to find that specific freighter and how many credits it would cost to purchase. Of course Stellar Enterprises had contacts and connections all over the galaxy so it shouldn't be too long before that type of craft was located and in their possession.

As Cierra invited him dinner, Rob was taken a little aback. This woman was being quite forward and it surprised him. He paused for a moment as he stood with her and look at her with a smile and a slight nod. "I am free for dinner yes. If you have not seen Denon before then perhaps I could arrange a small tour for us? It's actually quite similar to Coruscant, however, to me it is more homely, for some reason."

When Cierra smiled Rob's heart jumped a little, a feeling he had not experienced in some time and for long moments he was not sure what it signified. Her remark afterwards was as forward as the one before it and Rob actually enjoyed her way. She seemed like a woman that could take charge and work done without any hesitation's. Rob knew now that her employer had done well in hiring her. She was most capable from what he could tell at the moment.

It had been many years since he had any need to read what was on a woman's mind and it was hard to register what her intentions her with the request she presented him. Most people had done business with never asked for rooms to be close to him. She could of course be trying to trick him for some reason, but inside he still felt safe. Inside he could tell that somehow this request was genuine or at least not life risking.

After a moment of thought Rob gave the woman and warm smile back. "I actually have an apartment up in this vary building. I am sure we could arrange something for you. Please give me a moment to check."

He turned away walked towards the end of the large room and lifted up a secure comm link. After a few moments Rob returned to stand before Cierra and smiled. "There seems to be an apartment available on the same level one door down. I have made sure to reserve it for you."

The office door opened and a young lady walked inside with a datapad glowing in her hand.

"Ariss will show you to your room. Any food or drink you might require or yearn for is on the house. Do not hesitate to call and have anything you like sent to your room. Also any clothes you might require are fully paid for. Just let Ariss know what it is you want that she will get it for you. There is an extensive shopping area on Levels B4 through B6, if you like you can do there as well.

"As for the dinner and tour, let me know when you would want to take them." Rob paused and smile, checking his chrono. "It is always dinner time right now actually. How about I'll meet you at your room in two hours? Would that be alright?"

Ishara walked out from a dark corner in the room with her sporting blaster fixed on Stellar. He was obviously very concerned over the situation.

"Don't be startled Mister Stellar. If there was a mark on your head this would have been over with already. And your security for this room has already been compromised. It amazes me how much money can be invested into security when a simple housemaid who likes to open every window as she cleans each suite can compromise an entire building." Ishara smiled and returned the blaster to its holster.

Cierra walked back into the room and pulled the towel from her body. She was wearing a black jumpsuit underneath and was visibley armed as well. She smiled and gave Stellar a wink.

"I'm sorry for my delay. My name is Ishara, Cierra's client. As you can see from my appearence, setting up these meetings is somewhat difficult so Cierra takes care of the front work for me."

Ishara pulls a chair to sit closer to Stellar.

"It's time we talk. My business has expanded and I am in need of new equipment. Weapons, ships and so on. I also require all transactions to remain discreet. Discreet meaning there would be bonus money along with these transactions in the form of anonymous investments to Stellar Enterprises. And once completed, the records of our transactions need to be misplaced. Are you able to process discreet deals Mister Stellar?"

He knodded. Ishara handed Stellar several more data files.

"I assure you that you are in no danger at all. I'm simply someone who is in a line of work that is in need of resources and Stellar Enterprises meets those needs. In return, my line of work could be useful to you as well."

Stellar looked up almost amazed at the notion.

"Oh please Mister Stellar. You and I both know how certain situations need to be dealt with and we both know you've been in those situations. I'm simply stating we can both benefit from working together. So I must ask you, can we work together?"

After Stellar left Ishara smiled and looked over to Cierra.

"He passed the audition very nicely. He can be trusted and those combat droids are magnificent! His facilities are well protected. Cierra go and bring him back. It's time we speak professionally."

Cierra left and Ishara changed into one of her evening gowns.