[NETWORK] THE GRID

[vosseeker]

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[vosseeker]

[ The Haiphean trade minister escapes squishing by a small margin today! But only just.

Starscream cuts an unusual figure among the greenery of the artificial green space, all metal and sharp edges against a backdrop of warm organic flora. Standing next to a decorative fountain, when Jane approaches he'll ping her datapad with Knock Out's "gift": updated scans of the protoforms, now numbering 11 of them.

Beside each one, the medic has marked off what information they had thus far. Seven grounders, three fliers, and one tentatively labeled "Minicon(?)" in notation. Thanks to the kyberite infusions the Hot Spot had been getting, they were all healthy and thriving. ]

He thought you would want to know that your contributions are yielding good results.

[forceshadowed]

[ She pulls out her datapad, eyes widening as she looks at the scans of the protoforms. 11 sounds about right; sure, it had felt like a collective presence had slammed into her that first time she made, well, contact with the babies, but she'd sensed individual traces of them, too. They just hadn't been quite as defined at that moment.

She can't help beaming at the news, glad to see that they're healthy and growing up alright. There's a soft laugh as she realizes how she's starting to think like she's some sort of mother to them, but it's what it is. If she reaches into the Force and concentrates hard enough, she can even feel them glowing at a distance, radiating the pulsing warmth of distant stars. ]

This is great news. Your Parliament is satisfied?

[vosseeker]

[ Humans didn't have an EM field, but one is hardly needed for Starscream to see how pleased Jane is by the new information and the knowledge that the protoforms were healthy. ]

Yes, as much as they ever are. Your aid has been, quite literally, invaluable.

You could bargain them for just about anything right now, you realize?

[forceshadowed]

Now, how much to tell the Supreme Leader...

[ Does Starscream realize that Jane's pleased simply because the protoforms are healthy, and not actually because she now has a bargaining chip? She's hardly even thinking that, not until he brings it up. ]

I could. Do you have any advice for me?

[vosseeker]

Yes... I suppose you will need to give him some kind of update.

[ Starscream always, and only, thinks of everything in terms of who's coming out on top and who's being manipulated to get there. ]

That depends. [ His voice drops so as not to carry in the otherwise public space. ]

Are you asking pursuant to the First Order's agenda, or your own?

[forceshadowed]

[ There's much she still has to learn, apparently.

She glances around for a moment, checking if there's anyone else in the area — not that there should be. ] Mine. I know what the Order wants well enough.

[vosseeker]

[ Starscream considers, what might Jane want from the Parliament? What could she best turn to her advantage? ]

You could ask for tech. That was what you were interested in when we first met, before the idea of your apprenticeship came up, wasn't it?

[ When he hadn't known about her intended double-cross of the First Order. When he'd still expected the barter for the kyber on Ilum. ]

[forceshadowed]

[ She hums thoughtfully. That's right, she was going to ask for tech. A more efficient means of lightspeed travel, among others. ]

Do you think modifications can be made to my Silencer without the Order knowing?

[ It won't be much in the grand scheme of things, but it'll be something that's hers. ]

[vosseeker]

[ Starscream scoffs lightly, as if the fact that she has to ask is insulting. ]

Naturally we could. What do you want done with it?

[forceshadowed]

[ Hey, she might've learned a few things since her apprenticeship, but she also knows she's barely scratched the surface. ]

I want it to be able to hyperspace skip without falling apart.