Tentacle Chaos Chapter 12: An Unexpected Journey

Tentacle Covered Chaos

Chapter 12: An Unexpected Journey

<<<Poppy>>>

After the necessary data was in her hands, and she could actually sit down to get to work, she immediately started drafting plans. Keeping in mind budgetary restrictions, the preferred living area (underground), and the fact that the Twi’lek people didn’t have to worry just about slavers and pirates but the very hostile flora and fauna of their own planet?

It was rather difficult to make a plan that would address every issue, though in the end she felt she had come up with something that was feasible.

Turbo lasers for descending pirates and slavers, with smaller turrets that could both target fighter craft as well as any dangerous megafauna that came thundering towards them. It wasn’t much, realistically Poppy would prefer having quad-turbo lasers and twice the amount of turrets (a mix of laser and missile would be best she felt) but with the budget she couldn’t.

She still remained firm in the opinion that it would ultimately be easier if the entire species relocated entirely to a world that wasn’t as hostile, but sadly it wasn’t economically or even logistically feasible to even consider.

Probably even if the galaxy was at peace.

Still, Poppy drafted plans and then the rest is in the hands of politicians. It went without saying she didn’t have much faith that her plans would be followed down to the letter. No doubt some of it would seem as an ‘unnecessary’ expenditures and they would ‘trim’ it to make it more ‘efficient’ all the while lining their own accounts.

She didn’t have much faith in politicians, what could have given you that idea?

Still, she needed them to at least keep the force fields and anti-infantry turrets, those were absolutely necessary.

Still, the plans were drawn up and she just had to wait for her pay, though a part of her still expected her payment to be dragged out.

And so she went to a local bar and started sampling drinks, women, and food. “Can I get another shot?” She asked the tender, eyes half lidded. “Thanks.”

They were, she supposed, cute enough, but the ring on her finger said she wouldn’t get anything other than pleasant food and conversation from them. The rest of the bar wasn’t much better, girls too young to be there sipping water and eating food after they were, effectively, carded.

“So, you’re a new face here.” The bartender said, “Celebrating?” She asked curiously.

“No, just a holding pattern right now,” She replied with a smile, “I was told that there were cute girls here but it seems they forgot to emphasize that second part. Or maybe I just missed the ones old enough to actually drink?”

She smiled. “Missed them, actually,” She said with some amusement, “So what brings you to our corner of the galaxy?”

“Just a job, I doubt it will change anything but I was asked to plan some anti-pirate defenses,” Poppy shrugged and took a sip, “You guys need a proper military.”

The pretty bartender just sighed, “Don’t I and about everyone else on this planet know that,” She said with a faint scoff. “But the fact you’re doing something, well it means a lot,” She added.

Poppy just nodded, and though it made her feel a little better overall she still remained of the opinion that they either needed a proper military or just needed to relocate to a less hostile planet. And realistically the chances of either happening weren’t that good.

“Have a good one,” Poppy said after a moment, slugging the shot back and standing. “Give me a call if you and your husband feel like having some fun with tentacles,~” She teased with a wink, “Name’s Poppy.”

The bartender just chuckled and waved her off.

Humming to herself she sauntered off, having already paid her tab and having the feeling she wouldn’t be making new friends she figured she might as well head back to the hotel and get some sleep. Giving one last stretch and yawn, she walked out of the bar, thinking that perhaps it was the end to all the drama on this planet.

And then, as if the Force decided to take her thought as a challenge, she was lashed with bands of light before lightning shot through her. The last thought she had as the world swam and everything started going black?

“Fuck you, Force!”

[hr][/hr]

As she came to, she realized she was floating over a blue circle, arms and legs spread by invisible forces. “Well, can’t say I’m a fan of this…” She sighed, eyes forming over her body to let her look around.

She could tell she was in some sort of holding cell, but beyond that nothing specific. There was no cot, no window, nor anything other than the blue circle that was keeping her frozen in place. Honestly if she didn’t see a door, she would’ve believed she was trapped in a box. It didn’t help that the entire area she was in smelt very sterile barring the electronics from the circle below her.

“Okay, so… there is a good chance I’ve been abducted…” Though she didn’t show it physically, internally she was freaking out. Were the Jedi taken out and Palpatine decided to have her collected? Or was it the CIS and Dooku?

Honestly, there were so many players, both big and not, that Poppy couldn’t even begin to guess who was behind it. And that irritated her, scared her, but mostly irritated her. She’d been in a near constant state of fear and paranoia and she’d largely grown numb to the sensations. Like they’d become her default state of being.

Something that was very unhealthy, mentally speaking, but there wasn't anything she could really do about it.

“You know,” She started, feeling that she might as well fill the air, “The fact I’m not screaming doesn’t say good things about my mental health. So… gonna reply so I don’t start thinking I’m insane too? I mean, I know someone is listening in. Otherwise it would not be easy to keep me from escaping. Are you shy? Don’t worry, we’re all a bit shy. Just imagine me in my underwear and you’ll do fine.~”

When in doubt: snark. It worked for Spiderman, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and others!

It didn’t hurt that she could, somehow, feel someone's irritation spike… but it was entirely possible she was projecting to make herself feel better. 

Though, just before Poppy could begin throwing more sass, someone entered the room, her entire stance screaming repressed anger and aggression which, if Poppy’s knowledge wasn’t mistaken, was a Sith hallmark. Now… she clearly wasn’t an older man with an amazing goatee, so it wasn’t Dooku, well that and he’d never show his true feelings so openly, Dooku was a cold operator like that.

So that would make this bundle of aggression and hate, Ventress.

“So, bald bombshell, how’s it hanging?” She asked with a smile, “For me, hanging around feels pretty easy. Effortless, even. You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?”

Ventress just glared, and Poppy’s smile widened in turn.

“You’re awfully chatty for someone that’s just been abducted,” She said with a barely restrained hiss.

“Well, you didn’t kill me,” Poppy reasoned, “Which means you need me for something, or just want, and that means you can’t kill me without permission from your master. So the only way to be rid of me, right now, is to let me go and I figure if I’m annoying enough you’ll do that! Is it working yet?”

“Just because I can’t kill you doesn’t mean maiming isn’t off the table!” Ventress threatened.

She considered that for a moment before bobbing her head. “You could do that, but I’m going to be honest here… real bad idea. My little passenger really doesn’t like when I get hurt and well, I’m not sure you’re a good enough sith to escape its attacks.” Her hand rolled a bit, though it lacked much movement. “Right now, it's bonded to me, but if I take enough damage it wouldn’t be anymore and, well, at that point it could chase you down through the entire place even if you managed to survive the initial retaliation.”

She wasn’t sure if she was imagining things but… in the back of her head she felt like something was just aching to be let loose.

Ventress just grit her teeth, and for a second Poppy swore she heard a tooth chip, before she turned and started to leave… though Poppy did hear her mutter something about carbonite. Which didn’t really fill her with good feelings, she was fairly sure it was a miracle that Han Solo survived being frozen in carbonite.

“Mm, boring girl,” Poppy said, “You know, you’d be more effective as a Sith if you embraced your emotions! I know I’m not the one making you angry, am I? You’re used to prisoners mouthing off! It’s something your master did, isn’t it? Come on, you can tell me, I’m real discreet!”

“I swear I will cut out your damn tongue!” Ventress snapped, “But if you must know, I feel like my talents are wasted here! I should be fighting not… abducting whatever the hell you are!”

“Oh darling, you didn’t watch what I did to the bounty hunter, did you?” She asked, though she couldn’t exactly replicate the feat against a force adept. “Trust me, anyone else wouldn’t be able to keep me here, no one that isn’t a Sith or Jedi, anyway.”

“Yes I did,” Ventress said with a scoff, “Why do you think I was told to do this specifically?” Poppy could almost hear a faint bit of sarcasm at the end there.

Progress!~

“You know, Ventress,” The woman stiffened a touch, her name wouldn’t be well known at that point… “You could be more than you are right now. You know you aren’t Dooku’s real aim for an apprentice, hell, you know Dooku isn’t even a proper Sith!”

Ventress snarled and Poppy felt like she touched a nerve, “Master Dooku saved me from the life of a Slave! He showed me the truth of the Jedi!” She hissed, “He gave me more than I could’ve asked for! And who could I go to become more? The spineless Jedi Order would never accept me into their ‘sacred’ order!” The sheer vitriol in her words took Poppy by faint surprise.

“Perhaps,” She ventured, “They do have a habit of pushing away people for being too old or having a touch of darkness in them. But who said anything about them? The Witches are certainly an option, and they’ll teach you far more than Dooku ever could.” Honestly Poppy felt like Ventress had some problems with the Jedi order if they popped up without prompting, which, fair enough, who didn’t have problems with the Order?

 “Dooku is using you. Please, Ventress, we don’t have to do this,” Poppy begged, hoping but personally doubting that she’d get through to the Sith. She wasn’t a hero, she was barely a good person, but she tried to be the second. Even if her Faith was false, even if there was no guardian angel watching over her… people still deserved chances at redemption.

Ventress scoffed, “Trying to appeal to my ‘better nature’ then?” 

“Oh no,” Poppy laughed, shaking her head, “I’m trying to appeal to your reason. A washed up jedi has-been with his only real strength being dueling? Please, you deserve better than that. Your talents don’t lie there. You have a different calling.” Her tentacles stretched and curled, aggression shivering through them. “Magic is potent, isn’t it? And Sith don’t tolerate rivals for power. As soon as this war reaches its zenith, they will go after your family.”

“... And what would you have me do then?” Ventress asked, “I owe Lord Dooku too much to simply abandon him or stab him in the back,” She asked with narrowed eyes.

Poppy was just happy that she wasn’t ignoring her entirely.

“Do you owe him?” Poppy asked, “Did you forget Lesson One, or did he just not teach you? Lesson One is that Sith lie. They lie, they trick, they steal, and they murder to get what they want, when they want it. To be a Sith is to be free from all restrictions, all chains, even morality. Did he really show you the truth about the Jedi, or did he just say what you needed to hear to be his slave?”

Ventress’s rage redoubled, the psychic pressure on her mind intensifying as the Sith tried to peel it open like a grape. Poppy didn’t resist, she had no need to.

The hate on her face didn’t vanish, but the pressure eased. “I’m taking you to Dathomir,” She said, voice cold. “They’ll be able to figure out if you’re lying or not.”

“Acceptable,” Poppy replied, head bowing slightly, “I suggest killing the CIS spies and useful idiots on board first, unless you want me to do it? Make it look like an escape attempt?”

Ventress just looked at her suspiciously for a few moments before grunting and walking over to a console and started working on it, whatever field was keeping her suspended shut off and Poppy dropped.

“Unnecessary, but helpful!” She announced before her tentacles developed pores, a toxic cloud pouring forth. “I suggest holding your breath,” She noted as several tendrils pressed their way into the ventilation ducts and began filling the ship with it. “This will take about a minute of inhalation to kill. You’ll be fine, but anyone else…” She shrugged, “After that, you just need to destroy the droids and vent them out into the nearest star.”

Ventress just watched curiously, she hid it behind a scowl, but Poppy wasn’t fooled in the slightest. But she took a deep breath and held it.

True to her word, every sapient that breathed the stuff in died peacefully in their sleep. The first breath brough unconsciousness, but it took many more to ensure death. Once she was sure it was done, the poison stopped flowing. “All done,” Poppy said before sitting down in the center of the circle, “And I am very hungry now, very annoying. I’ll borrow someone with more sense of adventure than common sense once we arrive.”

A very amused Ventress just snorted, “Let me deal with the droids before changing course,” She said before leaving without another word.

“Rude…” Poppy mumbled but she wasn’t entirely surprised either, she’d just made her question her loyalty to Dooku and everything.

Honestly the fact she was only being rude and not aggressive was rather impressive in her opinion! She could do without fighting a lightsaber wielding maniac. So she settled in to wait; very thankful that Hyperdrives were very, very fast.