Just Business [James]

[Maize Wayne]

WayneTech HQ
Coronet City, Corellia

The cyber attacks had stopped, but Maize still had a typical Corellian "bad feeling about this." He'd replaced his IT director after the first being had failed to keep the company safe. Now, he met with the replacement who'd only been on the job with the company for a few months. This being was stymied as to why the attacks had suddenly ceased, given the frequency of them prior.

Maize could only sigh, thinking he worked with fools. Leaving the meeting, he went back to his office on the highest floor of WayneTech, just below the currently empty penthouse. He figured he'd work a few more hours, then head back to the countryside home for the night...

[James Icarus]

Why was James here on Corellia you might ask? Well, he'd just bought enough shares of WayneTech to get himself on the board. Although he'd be on the bottom of said board. The bottom of the totem pole. But, that should be enough to surprise the former Sith Master. As James bought enough shares of the company the masked Sith was now here to see for himself the man he used to hold in high respect. Just because he knew him personally. The man was his mentor and taught him a great deal.

In truth, James had used the Dark Side to illusion himself to look like what he would without the black attire and the mask. Sitting in his office till the former Sith Master arrived, the masked man waited with utterly evil patience. An evil smile crossed his face as the secretary had told him he'd be in the office within the hour. Patience in this venture was a virtue since he'd wanna see Maize's face when he saw the Sith Master sitting across from his desk.

Why did he do this you ask? Revenge? Maybe. Just to throw dirt in his face. Yep, you guessed it! All the above? Most certainly. The Sith Master had viewed Maize as his mentor, someone he respected among the Sith. But, when Maize turned to the Republic and brought WayneTech with him the masked Sith caught word and it irked him. It seriously irked him. Why would the great Darth Thanatos turn to the Republic? That was a question he would ask the man when he arrived.

He just hoped that it would anger him. Bring out 'Darth Thanatos' again for a moment. Or else if anything surprise him nonetheless...

[Maize Wayne]

As usual for Maize, he'd entered his privacy office through a secondary, hidden entrance that had been built into the suite. From there, he poured himself a spiked mug of caf and took a few moments to himself to stare out the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Coronet City. Centered, he queued up his iCal to see who was next on the agenda.

No dren. Well, well, he thought.

"Jamit, send him in," Maize said into the comm.

This wasn't the first visit from his old life, nor would it likely be the last. His family had important ties in many factions, including the Sith. Standing beside his desk, Maize set aside the mug of caf and awaited James Icarus' surely dramatic entrance...

[James Icarus]

James waited in the hallway tapping his foot. Impatiently waiting till the secretary said he could enter. Nodding as she said to him that he could finally, James stood up letting the Dark Side come to him bending it's power to his will. Casting the illusion of his normal looking self the Sith Master walked casually into the office of Maize Wayne.

Pushing open the doors with the Force with his hands outstretched the Sith Master saw them open with a slow creak. Smiling the man walked to the desk and sat across from Maize. Taking a cup he then poured a mug of caf before taking a few sips. Although if James wanted to disguise his voice he could have. He just didn't want to. James wanted Maize to know who it was. Although his illusion said otherwise.

"Mr. Wayne." James began, "Seems like we have some business to discuss."

[Maize Wayne]

I wondered if a Council member would ever come for me, Maize thought. Seems the moment has finally come.

When Maize had left the Sith, no one seemed to have noticed or cared. Well, Alice had noticed and had been miffed. But, she was his pupil so that was understandable. But, the Council had just let him walk away. Maize had taken it that they wanted him gone because he'd been such an erratic pain in the backside anyway.

"Mr. Icarus," he said calmly, not giving the Sith Master the satisfaction of any concern he might feel at this visit. "What brings you by?"

[James Icarus]

James smiled still in his illusional disguise. The Sith Master was going to pry into his mind of course, the way that Maize had showed him how. That was how he'd gotten so good at it. Thanks to Maize the very thing that he taught the masked man was going to be used against him. Now that he wasn't a Force user anymore. James wondered how he could still give it all up. For what though?

"Well, I'd like you to know that I bought enough stock in your company, Maize. Thought I'd come by personally to tell you I'm on the board now." James said in a mocking tone with a wide smirk, "Does that anger you, Maize? Does it? Why would someone as respectable in the Sith as you decide to pack all of it up and come here? Answer me that question."

[Maize Wayne]

Maize understood exactly what James was doing; he'd taught him the tricks of psychological warfare and Force use! But, the attempt just made the older man chuckle.

"If you choose to invest your creds into my company, why should I be angry about it?" he asked reasonably. "As for the rest of your questions, I do believe the window to interrogate me on my motives expired when I walked away without so much as an - as we say in the business - exit interview."

Maize arched a characteristic brow and sipped his caf.

[James Icarus]

"Wouldn't you? What if the roles were reversed? Do you really want your new reputation stained by a Sith?" James said and after he spoke grit his teeth.

He then took a sip of caf before he then revealed himself as he was. Maize already knew what he looked like normally so he let his grip of the Dark Side go. When the former Master said his window expired he then clenched his fist. Maize was lucky anyone didn't murder him for treason. James was most of the time the one who hunted the traitors down and with good results. Ask those around the temple about Lee Sin Quan. All of those who knew feared his wrath.

"What stops me from giving it to you now? You realize now I am the master. You taught me a lot, Maize. Now what stops me from using it all against you? Was it a woman? Was that why you left the Sith? A Jedi!" James asked his fist still clenched, "All this...for a Jedi? Why?"

He then stood up throwing the mug into the floor, "I'm letting you know that one day...I'm going to hunt you both down! Nice...and...slow! With her first! You know I made examples of those who betray the Sith?"

[Maize Wayne]

Maize could feel the anger and indignation rippling off James, and he held a sabacc player's expression, not giving a trace of emotion away. As he gazed back at his former pupil, he tried to decide how best to play this situation.

Better to feign fearfulness so he feels like he's "won" something? Or better to antagonize and be fearless?

Maize decided to just be his unorthodox, slightly arrogant self when it came down to it. Against James' bravado and irritation, he shrugged.

"What's worse? To follow a path and then leave when it no longer fits? Or drag through it to infinity when it no longer fits? The latter is a greater hypocrisy... to teach and lead Sith, when you no longer feel like one," he said. "You learned what you needed to from me and succeeded. Who cares if I am still there or not?"

[James Icarus]

"I'd have never thought that the one person with whom I respected greatly as you would give it all up...and for who? A Jedi! You always stuck into my brain how much they antagonized and disgusted you. Then you go running into one's arms! Justify that to me, Maize! You say you feel like your not a Sith anymore. There are others besides us you know. The countless cults who worship those of the old Sith. You could have lead them." James said folding his arms across his chest.

It was evident that Maize was his usual arrogant self. That was what James wished to see. At the least he had that still. His utter arrogance. But, James was still puzzled that he'd leave the Sith who regarded him in the highest having him on the Council at one time. Although James was the most likely replacement of his, still, why would he go running into the arms of the Jedi and Republic for whom he'd told James of his utter hatred of their existence.

"I did learn and yes, I succeeded where you clearly have not. You no longer use the Force, but, you still feel it trying to call to you, don't you?" James said with a sinister tone, "Now that I'm on your board of WayneTech you'll have to wait for my next move. Let that sink into your brain for a moment."

[Maize Wayne]

Maize scratched the side of his nose with a finger, regarding James blandly.

"It's clear you're battier than I am if you think I was ever so passionate and anti-Jedi or Republicans. I could've cared less about either population!" he replied. "Maybe you don't remember who you master was properly, Mr. Icarus."

As for the implied threat about James' place on the board, Maize just yawned. He knew it would completely annoy his former pupil, but he was good at annoying people. He always had been.

"Well, as you know, the Force works in mysterious ways... so we'll see how long your position lasts," Maize replied with just enough threat in his voice to indicate he was not about to be intimidated.

[James Icarus]

"Master Shadowtide was mine! Although I learned quite a bit from you, Thanatos." He said the name with venom in his tone, "So, does that mean you care now for them? Hmm?"

As the man yawned it did annoy him. To see him so calm, in the face of someone who could throw him through the window in a matter of a moment. Even in the face of his former pupil, Maize didn't show fear. Which irked the Sith Master in front of him. Clencing his fist it shook as so did the table in which Maize sat. There were thoughts of lifting him from the ground and choking the life out of him with his bare hands, or else with the Dark Side. But, that would be too easy. Plus, Maize would expect that. So, James just stood there and laughed.

"It does. But, how would you know? How long has it been now since you've used it? Months? Nearly a year? Time sure flies, Mr. Wayne." James said still laughing, "I'm sure I'll be on for as long as you keep making money. Every time you do...so do I."

Then James stopped laughing long enough to say, "Your next shareholders meeting will be quite interesting. Maybe I'll convince them your unfit to run this company? Or else buy them out too. Then what would you say? Would you be scared then, Maize?"

[Maize Wayne]

Typical. Misunderstanding and underestimating me.

Maize could've sighed, but held that back. If nothing else, he was all too used to being misunderstood. That was the story of his whole life, especially among the Sith.

"Mind your place, Mr. Icarus. You may be mighty and powerful in your realm, but here, you are only a shareholder like a million other beings," he said. "If you've nothing productive to say, you can see yourself out and watch your back as you do so."

[James Icarus]

"A shareholder who could throw you through the window." James said with a smirk.

Ignoring the last statement the Sith Master walked over to the window to Maize's right. Standing there with his arms folded across his chest, the masked man looked out. He'd only been on Corellia a few times, having spent most of his life either on Coruscant or Munto Codru. Still, the Sith Master was laughing to himself at Maize's statement about being powerful in his realm but not this one. Also the comment about being productive made him snort.

"I've sent over the purchase reciepts and my dividend bonds and you should be getting them on your computer any moment now." James said using Farseeing as he kept his gaze out the window, "Run into anyone from the ol' Sith family?"

[Maize Wayne]

Maize just shrugged at James' thread. Either he was bold, foolish, or some mix of both; one thing Maize was not was fearful. He made no comment about James' receipts because he didn't understand why the Sith thought he should care.

"I'm not sure why that's any of your concern if I have or have not," Maize replied regarding Sith family. "Things so boring on Munto Codru that you have to come out here to hassle a former? Nothing so pressing on your agenda to keep you busier than this?"