Private Cloak of Deception

[Judah Dashiell]

"Oh, that was the answer? Miss Tin'dara I wouldn't expect someone of your caliber to make such idiotic mistakes."

Judah shook his head. In his opinion, Tin'dara and who she was working with got entirely too greedy far too quickly. He had last seen her seven months ago. Seven months skimming off credits wasn't enough unless they were doing large amounts. Better to do smaller amounts for a longer period of time.

"Anyone with money and or power keep a close eye on the credit situation. I guarantee they had accountants and droids poring over every morsel of profit."

"You keep mentioning 'we', who is we? Don't tell me you were the leader of some rag tag group."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Idiotic now?" She asked.

"I suppose I was hoping to blame the whole ballroom heist on you for long enough to slip out. And you kinda stopped me from dying. Guess that means you get to laugh this up," Azula said.

"I wasn't the leader," she said, her tone changing. "He had been a Jedi Knight. Taught me how to use my powers."

"We actually had...quite a few good years."

He tone lightened again as she visualised a string of memories. The freedom in flying a swoop bike high above people. The jobs they had pulled and she had never stopped to think about the consequences.

"We ended up between a rock and a hard place. It's...complicated. Not only were we in trouble with the Hutt but a Jedi Master was sent after him."

She stopped walking. Her breathing became audibly more shallow.

"Azula. When it was all done, I took her lightsaber, her name and her ship. And I ran."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

They were far along the path now,the trickling of water the only sound since their feet had stopped. It was clear to him many of these memories were difficult to revisit, to vocalize.

"I'm sorry that happened to you."

To Judah, it sounded as if she had been orphaned twice at this point. Hearing the story was another piece of the puzzle falling into place but the gaps were great and the final image still unclear.

"I'm sure those were some hard choices you all had to make."

More importantly, why had she chose Azula's name? No doubt the Jedi was in the afterlife,pissed that this Togruta was destroying her name at every turn. It would be like someone killing him and taking his name and running Salacia into the ground.

"Seems like you haven't stopped running."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"No," she agreed. "No I haven't."

It was hard to face up to. There had been some good times along the way. It had always been a challenge to prove she was quick enough and smart enough to stay one step ahead.

Azula decided not to reflect too much upon what had led her to this. Not now.

"You want to, er, call me a coward now too?" She asked, hiding behind the mask of a smile.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Coward? No,why would I call you a coward? For running? That's logic and self preservation."

Judah looked confused to her statement. The secondary Miss Tin'dara was a bit if a puzzle wrapped in an enigma. Truly entertaining for the short term but he hoped she got herself together over the next few weeks and took a hard look at her life.

"Now when you murder me in my sleep tonight? That's being a coward."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"You just say it how it is, don't you?"

Azula released his arm and took two steps to sit down on a bench. She didn't need to explain why as she gingerly lowered herself down to the seat.

"Yeah, no, murder. Right. Got you exactly where I want you. I'll be seeing you later for all the killing."

"So let's just say...I don't kill you. Or make a run for it. What would I be doing here?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"How can you make a run for it when you're not being held captive? Your vessel is even waiting on you."

Judah figured it was a turn of phrase but he had to address it.

He stood in front of her, feet planted apart in a casual stance as he thought. There were already a few ideas rolling around his head, so it didn't take long.

"No, not here. Another less trafficked site in the Outer Rim of your choosing. Being a master of disguise, the possibilities are endless."

"Some type of mechanic - droid or mining equipment. Project manager. Independent researcher from a far flung university, studying some small animal in our mining region. Therapist. Cook. Logistics coordinator."

Judah waved a hand in an 'on and on' motion.

"Fairly easy to slip people in, give a backstory,and allow you to begin building a new identity."

If Miss Tin'dara chose this route, he figured Makai could keep an eye on her without knowing any details.

"I think a space station or salvage site is too well visited and highly risky if you're wanting to keep a low profile."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"I could always steal a better ship?" She replied with a shrug. Azula wasn't squeamish, but despite the suggestion being a joke, she didn't like the idea of going back to the room where she had very nearly died.

"Therapist," she murmured, "there's one I haven't done before."

Her expression softened again and she offered him a genuinely kind smile. Judah did not need to do any of this for her. Despite what she said, it meant that she didn't feel like taking too much advantage of the offer. Of the man.

"You said you recognised talent, so thought you'd have something in mind. You know, get something out of the arrangement for yourself."

She grinned.

"Not providing bad therapy to people out there. But I suppose...well...like you said. Can't have me stay around here too long. Puts your people at risk."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"What is a therapist if not listening to problems and offering banal solutions such as boundaries and self-care? Not sure if you could do with constant crying."

"As for talent, it was more of a general observation of your wasted time and energy of your current predicament."

Arms crossed at the mention of the station. He was worried about her presence and if Tin'dara had a bounty on her or not. A simple look up but he wasn't sure if the bounty was public or simply handled by the Hutts.

"Indeed it does, got to be concerned about the station as a whole. Don't need another situation such as last time."

 

[Azula Tindara]

She made an expression that suggested her patience would be worn down quickly.

"Can't be much worse than padawans."

"Just, you know, for the record...those mercs were not part of any grand scheme I cooked up."
Azula shifted a little uncomfortably. She wasn't used to being so honest, so exposed.

"I guess you wouldn't be talking to me if you thought they were."

"If they'd grabbed the nav box before me I'd have been for it. Damned thing had imperial codes on it to allow a smuggler to find all their ships and slip right through their patrols."

Azula looked up at him, noting his defensive posture.

"I understand. You're a good cook," she said, "you should make me dinner before I have to go."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"I figured you and the group weren't quite friends. First off,they didn't seem as skilled a group as someone yourself would be a part of."

A slow nod as to the contents of the box. Judah wasn't sure if he believed her but it was plausible. Knowledge of vessel movements was extremely important for anyone trying to avoid entanglement.

Judah suspected that was over half the beings in the hyperlanes.

"Dinner? You're putting me to work. I wanted to take you to dinner at the Ball but something about being framed for crimes really was a mood killer."

A shrug of the shoulders. He had felt incredibly stupid after, that he had even entertained the idea of taking Tin'dara out for the evening. Reality tended to sober one up quickly.

"However, I can honor that request. Given this development,it means you won't be killing me in my sleep. At least not until you've had a nerf steak."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"No one feels like killing after a good nerf steak," she said.

Azula looked down at her own feet. Her gaze remained there. She thought back to how she had enjoyed talking to Judah, rather than acting as corporate eye candy for the other tycoons. She thought of how she had enjoyed manipulating him.

Hearing that maybe he'd held designs that went a little further than casual conversation and a few furtive glances was a bit of a kick.

"I, er, yeah I don't feel great about that," she admitted. Not something she admitted lightly or often.

"I could cook?" She offered. It was a weak form of apology. "No, actually. Don't let me do that. I'd commit murder on good nerf steak."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Eyebrow raised at her sort-of apology. It seemed genuine, so he thought it best to take it at face value for now.

"Eh, it's okay. No need to beat yourself up for it, all said and done,you know?"

Judah made a face and chuckled at her mention of being unable to cook. Well, at least unable to do a proper nerf steak.

"It's alright, I enjoy the activity so no need to jump in and assist. Wasting a perfectly good steak just seems like blasphemy."

He offered his hand to help her back up.

"Think you can make the loop around or do you want to turn around and head back? Remember, best go a little slower than normal, don't strain yourself or it will only be worse come tomorrow."

 

[Azula Tindara]

He was a genuine and kind person. How he could possibly have remained in such a position she had no idea. Maybe it was those qualities - rather than enabling the typical beurocratic power struggled - that made him popular with his staff.

She thought back to her surprise when he led the security forces himself.

Azula took the offered hand and used him to help herself to her feet. She stood on her own and looked out at the expanse of the gardens. For a station it was a huge space, but it would not be too long of a way.

Azula considered it for a moment and decided to take his advice.

"Let's go back," she agreed. "I'll get some rest and set an alarm to make sure I don't doze off and miss the steak."

It would give her some time to think about his offer.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Smart move. Naps should be essential before tucking into a three hundred gram piece of meat. Afterwards too."



Arm supported her journey back out of the exotic garden space. He noted they were moving a hair slower than before. Miss Tin'dara was most likely wearing down - it was the first day of actually walking a real distance.



"If you come over a little earlier,say thirty minutes or so, I can teach you how to make a side dish. Might come in useful in future endeavors."



Her suggestion for dinner came out of the blue. He had been wondering her motivation. Perhaps she was just hungry? Or maybe fishing for more information? Miss Tin'dara could have easily hacked into their databases at this point if she was truly curious.



"I'm sure during dinner we can play another round of twenty questions? You still haven't asked my favorite color, so lots of ground to get through."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"I'm sure during dinner we can play another round of twenty questions? You still haven't asked my favorite color, so lots of ground to get through."

"Yeah a few more personal questions and I should be able to get into your savings funds," Azula replied.

"I will try and make better conversation," she added with a soft laugh.

Another one that ended with a grimace.

"Oh this sucks," she bemoaned.

"And look, I've got trust issues. I will keep the conversation to light topics. Like...just how much it hurts to get you insides burned out by a a damned anti tank rifle.

"Actually for a steak that big the conversation topic is yours to choose."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"First topic is settled then. I'd love a rousing recollection of exactly how an anti-tank rifle feels. Sounds like you're lucky to be here, so start prepping your tale."

To him it sounded like overkill. However, it was in a way, a relief to hear. If the Hutts had gone full fire power that meant they more than likely suspected Tin'dara to be dead. Or at least out of commission.

Logically,if she laid low on the station for a few weeks it gave her a head start. Judah suspected she wouldn't take his offer to hide out longer but at least this was a small leap forward in terms of out stepping the Hutts.

Judah dropped her off with a reminder to just enter his flat when it was time. He planned on leaving the door unlocked as it was - doubtful anyone was going to bother him on his off day this far into it.

After a rather long nap on his couch, he got up and stretched before heading to his kitchen. A quick check of his chrono and he had at least forty five minutes before Miss Tin'dara wandered over. More than enough time to prep.

 

[Azula Tindara]

Azula still knocked. She immediately opened the door and stepped inside, but after what she had put him through even that level of transparency seemed important.

She was wearing the same white tunic and black tights as before. With a little resourcefulness she had tweaked the outfit by folding the collar and adding a plain chain necklace that had been donated. It made it feel a little more like evening wear.

Azula stood across the counter and picked a thin slice of vegatable from a neatly prepared pile both because she was hungry and was curious how he would react.

"For the record, it was not actually an anti-tank rifle. Some Blas-tech modified long rifle the shooter was always proud of. Resting on its butt it was about this tall," she said, holding a hand up at shoulder height.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Good evening, Miss Tin'dara, a pleasure to see you once again as well."

Judah couldn't keep the dry tone out of his voice as he addressed her entering and immediately starting her tale of being injured.

"You look nice."

Judah had made no effort to change or get ready beyond a restyling of his salt-and-pepper hair. In retrospect he probably should have considering a now wrinkly shirt, but Tin'dara didn't seem the type impressed by perfectly pressed clothing.

He motioned for her to sit, unphased at her swiping of the vegetables. Stopping to pour a glass of wine for her, he leaned against the countertop for a break.

"So a large heavily modified rifle. That seems... impractical for a short range fight. Unless this person took a more cowardly way out and took a shot from afar? Or maybe as you turned to retreat,that would make more sense."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Oh you want to play a guessing game?" She asked, taking a sip of wine.

She perched on a chair, leaning her elbows on the counter. Azula placed the glass back down and pointed to the spot just below her ribs.

"The bolt came out here," she said. "Straight through me. I ended up in your space, collapsed on the controls. Want to try and fill in the story?"

As he ignored the vegetable theft, she ignored the dry tone and continued the conversation.