No Turning Back

[Ari]

The Chimera stared point blank at the man approaching her. He was definitely human. Possibly military, with the way he walked. Not an official, not uf he was approaching a stranger alone. _Especially_ one that could possibly be volatile and violent. At the very least, being moved here didn't affect her diplomacy or senses. The man smelled human, and clearly he hadn't been travelling long. The lingering scent of industrialism lingered on him, noting to her that he had walked here from the eastern gate. Primitive instinct told her to rush him, use her teeth to tear him to pieces and see every living thing as an immediate threat to her and her pack - but there was no pack, and killing him wouldn't do her any good.

I can show you around the Omniverse if you want, provide you an overview of the place, and the natives. However, this service will not be what you consider free. You will owe me a favor to be paid at a time and place of my choosing down the line.

Did he think her stupid? Arriana tried to not show annoyance on her face, but her eyes narrowed. A favor? That could be much more costly than a fee in currency. She dealt in favors within her home world's underground. Sorvia's magic ran off of what the humans called Karma. She knew the risks of cashing in on favors. She could use the aid in reaching the world he had just come from, but she didn't need to know about the others and it wasn't worth the cost.

"Amatch kosth. Ins' morr cavais, lesq' izzon."

The Chimera paused, watching the human's confused face. No contact with the outside world. Nothing but the clothes on her back and the omnilium from the specter. That meant no translations. She would have to do it the hard way. Translating in her head slowly, she reanalyzed the man in front of her. He looked worn, but he was thickset. Probably held up decently in a fight against other humans, but he was, after all, still human. Weak. Squishy. Humans weren't built for fighting anything but eachother. She'd been proven wrong before, but Arriana saw those as exceptions, not the rule.

"I am not in need of a tour guide, nor a protector. Whatever your motives are, it does not matter. New, does not mean halpless. I was not born yesterday, human, and I have never been dependent."

She didn't have an oracle by her side anymore, but that didn't mean she had nothing to bargain. She pointed to the Cosruscant gate, over Warren's shoulder.

"I am travelling in that direction. I will not accept your offer. If you will show me to that world's doctors, I will allow you three questions. Favors are much more costly than you seem to think, and I do not appreciate being undervalued."

The Chimera let her anger show through her eyes, the rest of her cool and calculating. She knew that as she stood, hair down and body draped in red silk, she did not look threatening and yet she would not hesitate to try and tear his head off if he chose to continue this path. Had he backed off, allowing her the room she needed, Arriana would calm and allow him to speak his mind. If he tried to force himself upon her in some internal sense of self-proclaimed philanthropism she would storm off and find the way herself, as she always did.

"Do we have an understanding?"

She realised after speaking that her insticts had influenced her more than they should have. She had lost her precious treasures, and The Chimera knew that presented the opportunity, she would attack everything on sight. Arriana growled audibly, and shoved all of that down deep, burying it beneath the pain, which had buried itself beneath her conscious mind. There was no time to wait. If the man refused, she would leave without him. If he waited too long to speak, she would be leaving.

"I don't have all day for this."