<"Soft but not tender is that one."> He sniffs at Ira. <"This one is strong. Am I to feast at last, my master?">

Ira bares her teeth. "On the whole, I'd really rather not be made a meal of."

"This one is not for eating, Khem."

<"Woe am I. My hunger goes unsated.">

"I found him in the tomb of Naga Sadow on Korriban, next to a map of scattered artifacts. For the last several years, Zash has had me chasing them down."

(Perhaps she should've tried to lure one of the Rodians with her, she's not sure how good eating they would've made, but...)

She hums quietly. "Zash thinks they are the key to extended life?"

"Of some sort. The writings speak of souls and transference, domination. She is cagey about letting me see the full assembly."

"Wise of her," Ira observes - in a tone that suggests it's the first thing she's seen that suggests Zash is in any way that. Beat. "You have a suspicion for what she intends, don't you?" (Because Ira does.)

"Yes. But I do not yet know how I will counter it."

Ira hums again. "By being indomitable seems the easy answer, although far harder in practice."

"You don't say."

She absently spins her vibrosword around her hand. "Perhaps then, we can potentially assist one another."

"What is it you need help with?"

"You know what this compound is rumoured to hold. I just want a chance to get close to it and study it. I think you can likely help me get close."

One of the aliens twitches weakly at that. Elleira ignores it. "Perhaps. Khem, did you find anything ahead?"

<"Hard droids with nothing inside their metal shell and no end.">

"...It seems like there must be a way to shut that down. Although I doubt it is anywhere except whatever room the controls for this entire facility are."

"They seem to be programmed to ignore the inhabitants, at least. That's why this room is quiet."

"...Well, we do seem to have one...approximately still alive."

"Getting it to move is difficult."

"...Does it need to be moving under its own power?"

"I do not know."

"Only one way to find out then."

She gestures negligently with one hand, draws on the Force to get the alien upright (and Elleira might be able to feel that there's something not right there).

"HK, cover me," she orders.

The droid shifts to do so as Ira floats the alien into the corridor behind her, following slowly. (She has no intention of passing the Dashade until she has some form of deal worked out with his master.)

The droids move to attack when she enters, but stand down as soon as the alien appears.

She retreats back to the main room, keeping the alien in the corridor until she's back within the room with Elleira and Khem Val.

"It stopped me being attacked, a larger group is riskier to check, but I suspect we have the power to prevent any unnecessary deaths."