The Sard Cometh...

[SCohen2020@aol.com]

It gives a whole new meaning to "guess who's coming for dinner"... :)



You walk through the Translucent Doors.

Librariat -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)
This is a majestic, circular room, the flat ceiling supported by massive, 
intricately carved columns.  Shelves jammed with a plethora of 
media--scrolls, filmbooks, tapes and reels--on all subjects crowd the walls.  
They climb and climb up to a row of oval windows just below the ceiling that 
let in exterior light.  The light falls on the vast oval conference table in 
the center of the room.  A gallery circles the second floor of the room, 
allowing a broad view of the chamber.
Players:
 Etta (conference-table)               Nestor                                
 Lochinvar (conference-table)         
Exits:
 Iron Doors <W> leads to Diplomatic Commons -- Harkonnen Embassy 
 Translucent Doors <E> leads to Giedi Hall -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)

Etta sits at the conference table with Lochinvar, a decanter of wine and 
glasses before them both.

Lochinvar just looked at you.

Etta lifts the bottle and pours some wine into her glass, looking to 
Lochinvar to respond to her comment.

Nestor strides into the room, two Harkonnen guards wearing black with silver 
trim in tow.  Despite his garb, he seems to have quite a regal standing, his 
hands folded lightly in front of him.

Etta glances up as Nestor enters, smiling at him, "Master...do you know Major 
Alexander?"

Lochinvar nods to Nestor, raise an eyebrow, "There must be some reason why he 
asked me about her.  Could it be that there is more to you slave girl than it 
seems?"  Lochinvar stand to great Nestor.

Nestor raises an eyebrow as he walks toward the table, padding on bare feet.  
"I cannot say that I have had the...experience."

Etta says, "Major Lochinvar Alexander...Master Alexi Nestor."

The Sardaukar Major stands at 5'10", his wide shoulders give him a stocky, 
brutish appearance.  His muscles are clearly defined and ripple through out 
his body from hours working out at the gym.  His black hair is cut short in a 
High and Tight fashion with the top spiked a little, thin black eyebrows, and 
his eyes are covered by impenetrable aviator sun glasses.  His skin has an 
orange tint to it do to his Native American heritage.  He carries a 56 inch 
long Claymoore in a sling on his back and a Ka-Bar on his belt.  His gray 
uniform is clean and his boots are polished to a reflective shine.  The face 
is handsome without blemish, clean shaven, and full lips in a straight, 
unsmiling line.

Etta makes the introductions and then watches the two men from over the rim 
of her wine glass.

Lochinvar nods, "Nice to meet you Master Nestor, I'm, as lady Etta said, 
Major Alexander of his Majesty's Sardaukar."

Nestor gives a quick, "Ah," as his guards fan out from him slightly.  Again, 
he raises an eyebrow.  "How very interesting...I have never heard it said 
that the experience of meeting a Master of Assassins is...'nice'."

Etta grins a bit, but doesn't say anything.

Lochinvar smiles a bit, "Its always nice to meet people, especially those in 
human relations, as my self."

Etta says, "Won't you join us in a glass of wine, Nestor?"

Nestor actually laughs out loud.  Any who know him may just find the 
experience uncanny.  "I've never heard of inserting a knife into human flesh 
as 'human relations'...but I like the spin of it."  He nods slightly toward 
Etta.  "For a short while, yes.  I am enjoying my half-hour of entertainment 
time."

Etta pours a glass of wine and hands it to Nestor, her expression somewhat 
bemused, probably from the sight of the Master of Assassins laughing.

Nestor walks over to the table and seats himself across and askew from the 
Sardaukar officer.
======================= Places in Librariat -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain) ==

Conference-table [2/8]: Lochinvar and Etta 
Gallery [0/6]:       None
=============================================================================

You take a seat at the conference table.

Lochinvar 's smile turn into a wolfish grin, "Ah well, my good Master Nestor, 
I see that as a Sardaukar I have many relations with human, whether they have 
their head after our 'relation' is totally up to them."

Etta offers Lochinvar more wine, her gaze darting uncertainly from one man to 
the other and back.

Lochinvar holds the glass out, "Please my lady."

Lochinvar sits back down with the grin still on his face.

Etta refills the glass, offering a smile with the wine.

Nestor waves his flesh hand lightly in Etta's direction, declining the offer 
of wine before any offer is made.  "And what, pray-tell, brings you here so 
heavily armed, Major?"

Etta sets down the decanter and returns to her own enjoyment of the wine.

Lochinvar sips his wine, "Oh this, I all ways where this when I'm out and 
about.  And to the reason why I'm here, some people in other houses seem to 
find the Sardaukar an interesting subject to stick their nose in to, well 
when you stick your nose where it doesn't belong it some times gets bitten 
off."

Etta licks her lips and smiles.

Nestor raises and eyebrow and gives a quick hand-signal.  One of the guards 
begins walking toward Lochinvar's side of the table whilst the other stands 
near the door flicking the safety off of his stunner pistol.  "Only a fool 
would poke a stick at a Sardaukar for petty reasons...only a fool.  As 
neither myself nor the Lady are fools, I ask that you surrender them while in 
this Embassy.  I would consider it a gesture of good faith...if that is what 
you have to offer in human relations."

Lochinvar catches Etta's expression.

Etta
        A mane of unruly black curls surrounds an oval face with high 
cheekbones and dark eyes fringed by thick lashes.  Her hair is held back from 
her face on one side by a ruby-tipped hair pin and her sardonic expression is 
lightened by cupid's bow lips curved into a smile of amusement.  A small 
silver pendant of a ram's head hangs from a silver chain around her slender 
throat.  She is tall, lithe, with long legs and the grace of a dancer or a 
fighter, and appears to be in her mid-twenties.
        She is dressed in a shimmering, silken blouse of deep blue with long 
sleeves gathered at the wrist and a scooped neckline that shows off the curve 
of her breasts.  Over this she wears a tight-fitting black vest that hugs her 
narrow waist.  Her blouse is tucked into a long blue skirt of the same 
iridescent fabric that reaches to her feet where a pair of polished black 
boots add several inches to her height.  A black belt across her hips carries 
a shield device.

Etta says to Lochinvar, "Your weapons would be returned to you, of course, 
when you leave."

Lochinvar laughs uncontrollably for while, then stop, "Sure take my weapons, 
I don't care."  Looks up at the guards, he laughs some more, "You think I 
need weapons, hah, hell take my shield as well."  Hands the heavy sword and 
combat utility knife over.

The guard takes the weapons, not showing the tinge of fear that any sane 
individual would while a Sardaukar has a weapon in his hand.  In fact, there 
is no touch of emotion whatsoever.  Taking a moment to inspect the weapons, 
he looks to Nestor who gives a quick nod, and returns to his former position.

Etta seems to relax some, not that she was tense or anything, but she does 
seem to feel better now that the issue of the weapons has been settled.

Nestor winks at the Sardaukar.  "Ah, now that is more like the Sardaukar that 
I expected.  Bravo, Major."  He turns toward Etta slightly.  "Has your 
conversation been an amusing and interesting one thus far?"

Etta smiles, "Every conversation with the Major is entertaining and 
informative."

Lochinvar gains his composure, "Forgive me for my out burst."  Sips his wine, 
still with his smug look.  Nods to lady Etta's comment.

Lochinvar looks over to Nestor, "Nestor you have guts, I like that."

Etta chokes a bit on her wine.

Nestor nods slightly, with the beginnings of a quirked smile.  "Conversation 
with such an astute officer must be an experience indeed," he says, allowing 
the fingers of his Ixian hand to drum once on the table.  He then nods at 
Lochinvar's comment saying, "That means something to me coming from a man 
such as yourself."

Lochinvar looks over at Etta, "My lady are you okay?"

Etta recovers from coughing and nods affirmatively, though her gaze rests 
upon Nestor.

Lochinvar adds, "It honors me to find that at least some houses still value 
security.  Not many have even said anything about me 'sidearms'.  But none 
even consider my other weapons?"

Nestor smiles ever so slightly.  "The only way that I could secure such 
natural weapons from you is to drug you outright.  Since I cannot do that, my 
guards that you can see and those that you cannot...not to mention myself 
will have to suffice and hope that your intentions in this Embassy are, 
indeed, honorable."

Etta looks to Lochinvar with an impish grin, "Are your intentions honorable?"

Lochinvar raises a hand and smiles, "Ohh don't worry, I'm all ways here in a 
honorable way.  My good Mentat don't limit your self to simple bladed weapons 
and pellet stunners.  Think in what could happen if you applied violence to a 
Imperial Sardaukar, that could be considered an attack on the Imperium 
itself, also with a simple push on my communicator I can have a whole platoon 
of Sardaukar arrive at my location, then there is the most powerful weapon of 
all."  He opens a small pouch on his belt to reveal an odd shaped 
communicator and holds it up for all to see.

Etta says, "What's that?"

Lochinvar unscrews the top of the large com device, and drinks a quick swig 
from the false communicator, "The most potent weapon the universe has every 
known,...whiskey."

Etta giggles, "And all this time I thought love was the most potent weapon in 
the universe."

You say, "Oh, be certain that my machinations work outside of a frame that 
even you yourself are aware of, my good Major.  I have no intention of 
attacking you...as I said I am no fool.  Conversely, security is a defensive 
measure and I will be damned before I would allow you to perform violence 
without retaliation.  I would be remiss in my duties to the Baron elsewise."  
He nods slightly to the man at the prank, but his visage is still one of 
seriousness...which fits the Mentat quite well.  "I am glad to see that they 
have not yet bred a soldier's sense of humor out of you.  You may have hope 
yet.""

Lochinvar turns to Etta, "My lady love only works if the person you love 
loves you back, alcohol works whether you want it to or not.  My dear Mentat, 
I would hope you wouldn't let me get away with any thing even if I am a 
Sardaukar, I respect you for that.  I understand you concern but I come here 
with no ill will, strangely I feel at home with you Harkonnens."

Lochinvar chuckles slightly, "I've got more information from this little 
flask than any military interrogation I've ever done."  Lochinvar puts the 
flask back up.

Nestor nods slightly after a moment's hesitation.  "I can see a parallel as 
well...from what little I know of the Sardaukar."  With a look to the flask, 
he comments, "And in the end, like love, it is but one of many variety of 
poisons, whiskey."

Etta smiles, "I never thought of love as a poison before."

You say, "Then you have not thought of it long enough, My Lady."

Etta says softly, "Perhaps not, but I do know that it's a poison that kills 
very gently and with great pleasure."  She smiles at Lochinvar as she speaks.

Lochinvar catches her smile with the ominous lenses and smiles, then frowns a 
little, "I'm afraid that I've never been exposed to that particular poison 
before, it scares even me."  Lochinvar drinks a little wine.

Nestor raises an eyebrow, somehow intrigued.  "Does the Emperor not give his 
greatest troops access to women?"

A Lochinvar smile appears briefly but fades, forcing the major make him self 
smile, "Yes..yes he does but I'm talking about love that comes from the heart 
not bodily lusts."

Lochinvar looks down at his glass.

Etta says, "I can understand being afraid of love...it means allowing 
yourself to be vulnerable to another person."  She shrugs and takes a sip of 
her wine, "Nobody likes to feel vulnerable."

Nestor hmms.  "Notably interesting, Major.  This thing...love...has destroyed 
as many dynasties as it has built."  He muses for a quick moment.  "Many more 
positively-based songs of troubadours, though..." With that he stands slowly 
from the table.  "I should be taking my leave of you both."

Etta smiles at Nestor, "Your half-hour of leisure time has ended?"

Lochinvar looks on with a curious look.

Nestor nods.  "Quite."

Etta nods and says softly, "It was good to visit with you."

Nestor bows slightly in the general direction of the two.  "Again, an odd 
comment to hear..."

Etta waves, smiling at the Mentat.

Lochinvar stands and nods, "This has been quite a honor to meet you, maybe 
when you have another leisure time we talk more of past dynasties and of the 
area a Human Relations."  Smiles, "It was a 'joy' Master Nestor."

Nestor gives a curt nod to the Sardaukar officer before turning to leave, his 
guards remaining in place behind in the room where they stand.

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