Faction Expanding Reach

[Kallous]

The Stingray dropped out of hyperspace above the planet Narr Shadda. As he approached the planet’s atmosphere Kallous, at the helm of his ship, hailed his Master Diarch Rellik and the Diarchy’s spymaster Darius Vex . Kallous hadn’t ever been one for covert things before, but for some reason he had been selected to do this.

Perhaps it was his blunt, barbaric nature that was needed? He would be dealing with criminals and vagabonds after all. The underworld wasn’t a particularly clean place, so the usual politics was not what they practiced save perhaps on the level of the Hutts, which he never intended to reach anyway. So he supposed a few shows of force, some brutalities, a disappearance or two would probably be what he needed to use to get this show on the road.

“Master, Darius, I am entering the planet’s atmosphere now. And I am approaching the meeting place. This is my last report in for some time, will be going dark after this. Next you hear from me I will have succeeded. End Transmission.”

There wasn’t much time for a lengthy conversation. And he couldn’t risk someone intercepting it. So he sent a short transmission simply to report his arrival and the mission’s beginning. This was liable to take him quite some time. He expected to be on Nar Shadda for several months, perhaps even years if things proved slow. Espionage of this sort was not quick. Especially when he had to lay the foundations for it too.

The ship came to an underworld club. A small place with no real affiliation. This was the place he was supposed to meet his “contact”, technically the owner of the establishment, and the one who would be his introduction into the crime world.

The Dancing Sarlaac, how apt for such a place.

He stepped into the establishment, and pointedly ignored the two women dancing on stage, only glancing long enough to see a Twi’lek, typical, and a…

Was that a Dathomirian Zabrak?

He paused a moment to confirm that it was in fact a Dathomirian Zabrak. That was… unheard of. And it only got better when he saw her teleporting around the stage with the green mist indicative of Dathomiri Magic.

Now THAT was unheard of. A Nightsister Witch dancing in an establishment like this.

Most curious.

“Hahahaha! Caught your eye has she?” Questioned a customer that clearly had far too many servings of Jawa Juice. “Yeah, Serrin always gets newbies. She’s good, and been here awhile too if I’m not mistaken.”

Kallous moved on without another word. And he approached the bar. The bartender was the one he was here to see. A few quiet words were exchanged, and he took Kallous into the back room. They would discuss business there.

 

[Serrin]

Serrin did her magic dance, it had set her apart from the other dancers as she teleported around the room, sometimes getting near clients and then when they got a little too.. amorous.. she would poof away back to the main dance stage and continue her routine. Today she was holding a great umbrella of red that matched her robes, which had at the bosom been altered to allow her cleavage and shape of them be seen, and her legging were no longer there, just the skirt. As she began to walk with the umbrella, she held out her free hand, and falling down on the top of it was drops of glowing green, some of the costumers were transfixed. The Nightsister was commanding the Magicks in a serene way, the flames not immolating the umbrella, and instead dazzling with the vibrant peridot color.

Walking towards the front of the stage she turned, her umbrella she motioning it upward as if to press the flaming flakes away, when instead she fell, and the the prop flew away, as she lay there on the stage, being bathed by the Ichor. Rising up slowly, her white hair unfurling from some chopsticks, her eyes luminous with the same fire green, as she contorted her body on her knees, her hands moving about her in rhytmn to some music which was the sound of strings of metal being plucked, and gong being lightly tapped. She brought her pale hands together as she rose to her feet and began to move about the floor on bare feet, turning in a spin as the strings hastened the sound, she disspeared in poof of smoke and then over to the other side of stage, and then once more to the other side and back to middle as she spun around, and there was cheers from the crowd. She began to leap into air and do cartwheel and spins as she teleported about, at one point finding herself poised on chair next to a Man who offered her a sip of his ale, she drew it to her black lips, took a drink, which man the clientele cheer as she then teleported back to the stage, and the gong rang loud with her holding the umbrella once more in hand.

Roses and petals of other sort were thrown on stage, she grabbed one and drew her nose to the bud and gave a smile to the crowds as she waved her hand and then headed back stage.

An Announcer said,
"Give another hand for Serrin! I lovely Lady from Datthomir who always gives a great show! Electrifying! Haha!"

Serrin went to a back room where she sat down, a Twi'lek smirked and said,
"You did it again, how am I suppose to follow that up?"
The Nightsister chuckled,
"You have something I do not Tava."
Tava replied,
"What?"
Serrin said,
"You have those beautiful lekku and a figure that I cannot compete with!"
The Twi'lek smiled,
"You always are so nice Serrin, oneday its going to get you in trouble."
She responded,
"It already has."
The Nightsister leaned back in the gilded wood chair, and took a breath as her Twi/lek Coworker headed out on the stage. It had been a good night for her, but Serrin could not help but feel pained when the Announcer mentioned Dath. It reminded her of how she had failed, that she had disappointed her coven.

 

[Kallous]

Kallous went to the back area, same place as the backstage area where Serrin would be taking her break after her performance. Following the Toydarian bartender who owned the establishment to begin their discussions.

“So you are Kallous eh?” The toydarian said with a grunt. “You sure know how to stick out like a sore thumb. Going around in those robes you’re gonna be pegged as a Sith in an instant!”

“I am no Sith Toydarian. And that is not the subject of our conversation.” Kallous told him, the conversation was low, but definitely audible to Serrin if she were being alert. “Hand over the deed.”

The Toydarian growled, but he handed Kallous a document sleeve, which Kallous opened and checked before continuing.

“Good. There’s a shuttle waiting for you in starport 82-D, third dock. Get off world and don’t come back. Your payment has already been made.”

“It better be. This place brings in a lotta money, so I don’t like parting with it. But the offer you made was plenty. I will miss this place, so take care of it.”

“Of course.” Kallous said, a grim expression crossing his face. Unbeknownst to the Toydarian, the shuttle he was going to board would be the last ship he ever got on. And he wouldn’t make it to his destination. Darius Vex had arranged all this ahead of time, and he had an agent waiting in that shuttle, with orders to kill the Toydarian and eject his body into hyperspace.

The Diarchy wasn’t about to take chances, especially when it came to espionage.

But that would come later. Kallous held the deed to the building, and it would now serve as their cover for the operations. Kallous was effectively cut off from the Diarchy for the most part and his mission wouldn’t be directly funded by them save for necessary gear and the occasional agent. He would need to have it set up and running on its own, so this club would provide him with plenty of income with which to operate.

Kallous would follow the Toydarian into the backstage area where the other employees had been called to make them aware of the change in management. Including the Nightsister.

 

[Serrin]

The Toydarian came into the back room and called to all the Girls to come there for an announcment. Serrin having fixed her hair stood up in her crimson Nightsister garbe came to this assemblage, and found that odd looking figure, in the robes of the Dark Ones. She had fought a Sith once, with Arla, in what felt like a life time ago, and it nearly had killed her. Seeing him there, watching as the Toydarian prepared to make his announcement.

Serrin could feel something, that chill she once had felt on the battle field, it was emanating from this Man, who frightened her. She tried to keep her gaze from meeting his, when the Boss spoke,
"I am handing over the Club to new management. This is your new Boss, I advise you work hard as you have done."

His wings were flapping and his face grim as most of her race was. So this Dark One was the new owner, that was.. unsettling. Serrin might need to find another Night Club, her feelings about these types was strong. You never forget when one of them tried to kill you.

The Nightsister looking to Tava said,
"I think I must say goodbye.."
The Twi'lek turned to her,
"Why?"
She responded,
"That Man.. I have a history with his people.. and it is not good."
Tava sighed,
"Do you think he will let you leave? I mean you are under contract right?"
Serrin responded,
"I was under the old ontract, this change of management gives me the opportunity to move on."
With those words she teleported into back room and took a sack, and began to put some belongings in it. She then returned to where all team of entertainers were greeting the New Owner.
Tava came up to her,
"I am going to miss you.. where will you go? Another club on world?"
Serrin sighed,
"Probably.. though if They have come, I may need to go off world. I will keep in touch."
She gave the Twi'lek a hug.
Serrin made her way past Kallous , avoiding eye contact as much as possible, he was being surrounded by the entertainers who were all vying for some favor and trying to get in his good graces. She on the other hand was trying to avoid notice, which was hard having been the star entertainer. No doubt a lot of clients came to see her show.

 

[Kallous]

As she passed him he turned to look her way, and immediately addressed her. “Nightsister. Hold a moment. I have a proposition for you if you will hear it.”

He wasted no time in singling her out, and it makes sense that he would single out the star of the show straightaway.

He could immediately sense her anxiety at his presence. And she couldn’t deny that her concerns were warranted. Sith weren’t known for their tolerance, and they were liable to do harm to anyone who didn’t comply with their demands. And sometimes even harmed those who did.

The Sith were known for their cruelty. He really needed to consider changing his attire, it might make things easier to work with in the long term.

Of course if she chose to leave he wouldn’t force her to stay. He was not Sith any longer. And he had learned the value of temperance and compassion, so he wouldn’t impose any penalties for her leaving.

 

[Serrin]

The Nightsister was almost home free, when she heard the voice of the Sith.. to herself she said, "Dank Farrik."
Turning around to look at him she said,
"Proposition.. that sounds appropriate.. your kind tends to prop up folk and then topple them with ease."
She had no idea why she decided to be so forthcoming in her spite, especially with one who commanded that nasty power of invading minds and choking people.

As a Nightsister, she had an inbred bitterness towards the Sith, they had been responsible for almost wiping out all Sisters under the Darth named Tyranus. Genocide was their thing, they did it to the Jedi even with the infamous Order 66, everyone knew about that. Even so long after the stories of what the Sith had done to galaxy rang, just as their heirs continued a new their wanton destruction and oppression of other systems. Serrin was tired of it, weary of the dance between Light and Dark. She had come to Nar Shadda hoping to find a life apart from all that madness, to forget Darth especially and her failure to protect it. Now one of them Dark Ones had come, and wanted to propose something to her.

"If you have a recruitment pitch save it.. I have had plenty of you Dark Nuts trying to collect a Nightsister for your cause."
Tava was looking at her with big eyes, as if she was trying to talk Serrin down without words. Normally, the Nightsister was gentle, but seeing the Darth come in, swoop up her club, yes her club, because she was the main attraction and now want her for something.. she had enough! She was gonna be a thorn as she prepared to leave in her forlorn state. Though as she looked at this Lord of Darkness, she almost chuckled, they thought themselves so mighty and yet most of em were forgotten. Only the really brutal and crazy ones were remembered. This guy probably was one of those underlings, who are promised moons and never get to sit on the thrones they are led to believe they will ascend to. It was tragic in a way, youths spending their life and blood for the chance to be somebody, only to have their bones get added to the pile. And unlike the Witches of Dath, those dry bones did not animate again and walk.

 

[Kallous]

Kallous didn’t immediately retort, a little taken aback by how snappy she was. He, in good humor, put a hand over his heart and simply said “Ouch.”

He shook his head with amused surprise and a chuckle. “No nothing like that. Besides, I feel like you and I came here for the same reason. To get away from it all. I have no intention of uprooting your life or pulling you into any machinations.” At least not yet. “I simply wanted to propose a continuation of your contract. There’s no need for you to leave for an uncertain future and l would hate to see friends part from one another so suddenly simply because there is a change in management.”

 

[Serrin]

Serrin was heading for the door when it began to pour rain outside, beating the ground with the waters, when he said, "uncertain future," and "see friends part." She said to to herself, "Dank.. he is good." She had not considered the ramifications, she merely did not want to be a slave to these Sorcerors, she had not considered if going to another club did not pan out and she did love Tava, they had become close over the last five months. Turning she bit her lip and said,
"Would you let me think on it?"
She hated the taste of those words, of parlay with a Sith! A Sith! How could she even consider it?! The problem is he used reason, not that mind trickery. He must be more formidable than she had asssessed. The truth is she needed to walk away for the moment, go see if any other clubs had interest in her. Surly the spectacle she had given was heard around Nar Shadda.
Looking back out to the rainy scene, she pulled her hood up and waited a moment for his reply. She had to save face and leave, and perhaps there would be a job somewhere without one of these Spooks in control. Though she had to have back up plan, and his offer.. well it as advantageous. Serrin was no stranger to starting over, she had done it with Lilastre Order, with the Night Sisters Resurgence, and now this life, though it was getting harder and harder. She was beginning to wonder if she was waunderer, a wayfarer that would never find her port where she could lay down anchor, and lay down her hair for good...

 

[Kallous]

“Of course.” He said patiently, a calm in his voice that was altogether very alien when it came to Sith, and a smile that was far more genuine than perhaps some would be. “Take all the time you need. And if you chose to go elsewhere I wont begrudge you.”

“And… Tava, was it? If you wish to go with her you may.” He told the Twi’lek. “There are plenty of dancers around. And I’m sure they would like some time in the spotlight. So I’m sure we could make do without you if you wish to go with your friend.”

Once Serrin began to walk out Kallous got to business, making sure that everything was running smoothly, had one of the girls begin serving at the bar, and he himself went in the back to begin doing his research. He needed to know if anyone was working for any local gangs in the area.

Thankfully there was. A local gang had been collecting a “protection fee” from this very club for a while now. Perfect, that would allow him an easy way to get started.

 

[Serrin]

TAG: Kallous

Serrin gave a nod of appreciation, he seemed ameanble which was a fiezt for a a Sith. Though she feared this was a smokescreen or some othee device or deception, and then when he addressed Tava about leaving too, she was sure of it.

The Twi’lek responded,
“I would rather remain here Boss, I have developed a reputation and do not wish to start over.”
She gave a look at Serrin which made her realize she was siezing an opportunity. They were friends, but ambition often soured friendships.

The Nightsister throwing her red hood over her head and heading out the door into the streets of Nae Shadda. She made her way as drops fell on her as dew to a Club down the Street called the The Squid. The Owner was Qu’rran who has a reputation for being fair. Entering she saw great tubes of water with dancers floating in them in skimpy outfits. In the audience was Mon Calamari, Selkath, and other fishy species that seemed enthralled. Making her way to the back rooms, she spoke with Calamari and requested an interview. After waiting a while she was taken down a dark hall into a back room where she entered an office. There the Qu’rran lookong up with his four tentacle mandibles said,
“The famous Serrin.. what brings you To my establishment?”

Serrin took a deep breath and said,
“I would like to work for you, as a dancer.”
The Squid Boss reclined black in his purple robes, putting his hands together.
“Oh? The Dancing Sarlaac no longer needs you?”
She responded,
“Its under new management.. Sith management.”
The Qu’rran lowering his head said,
“That is a shame.. one would hope Nar Shadda would be free of those sorcerers. But business is business. I must be frank with you that our operation has a very specific clientele.. they expect swimmers and well you are use to a stage right?”
Serrin sighed,
“I am but I am willing to learn.”
The Squid Boss responded,
“I am afraid our girls do not have much time to teach.. besides you are.. forgive me, not the type that my clients tend to like.”
Serrin responded,
“So they like to be entertained? I can teleport between tanks and give them a show.”
Rubbing his lower tentacles like a beard he said,
“Perhaps a demonstration? Come back at midnight. I will give you a chance and if its a success, then I will write a contract.”
Serrin nodded,
“That is fair.”

She stood up as the Squid Boss went back to writing on a data pad and she headed to her next destination, a hotel to get a room.

 

[Kallous]

“Very well. I suppose with the star attraction gone having someone qualified to take her place would be beneficial. I will be glad to retain you.” Kallous told Tava, happy to keep at least one of the bigger attractions. Keeping this place afloat was a major priority for this mission after all. He would need a functioning base of operations, and a method by which to pay for any necessities he would require.

Kallous would get things going again, amend the dancer’s schedules to account for the now gone star, assigning one to the bar to attend to guests, while he went into the back and did his homework, keeping up with everything and catching up where needed.

Now all he needed to do was wait for those thugs to show up… then he could get to business. And by his research, and the receipts he now had in front of them, they would be showing up sometime tomorrow evening. So until then… he could do as he pleased.

 

[Serrin]

Tava gave a bow to Kallous , her lekku falling over her shoulders. At last she was going to be the main attraction. She had long been in Serrin's shadow and now she was going to be in the spotlight.
"Thank you my Lord! I shall not disappoint you!"
She battered her eyes.

Meanwhile at The Squid, Serrin was preparing for her debut. The tables where unusual, having pools of live fish and crustacens that the Calamari and Selkath ate raw. She had to admit she was rather nervious, seeing the tanks of water bubble with pinks, greens, blues, and yellow lights. She had never attempted to use the Magicks to teleport in a body of water before. She hoped that it functioned in the same way. Rising between the tanks where eels that flashed in their electric light, she stood before the clients who all looked at her in her pale skin and humaniod shape, and remarked of her face,
"How ugly.. what is Management thinking?"
Another,
"I demand a refund!"
It was then that her eyes glowing green made her teleport, the cloud of gray and green smoke she appeared in one of tanks, the water swirling around her. She drew to the eels and had them floating around her, spinning in her own whirlpool which caught then attention as she then poofed and was in the other tank, the music playing she could hear in muffled tones, and she swam leaping up and telporting in mide air to land in the other tank. The Calamari began to clap, the Selkath had ceased to eat, transfixed. The Q'urran watching this reception looked at Serrin as she floated in a tank and gave a nod. Perhaps afterall she had a future!

 

[Kallous]

“I’m sure you won’t.” He told Tava as she bowed to him. Perhaps it was his Sith upbringing, but seeing @Serrin’s friend so eagerly fill her friend’s old position, taking advantage of her absence and not even going to say goodbye was something he was all too familiar with. Though he hoped Serrin would return, she would be incredibly valuable to his mission in many ways if she could be convinced, he would not count on it.

So he would conduct business as was required of him for the evening and the following day. And when finally the next evening came he prepared himself. He would have to deal with some thugs pretty soon, and that likely meant killing them, or at least torturing them a little bit, then finding their boss and getting rid of whomever he may be. Hopefully it could be done in a quick enough manner that he wouldn’t have too much resistance to deal with.

Fast and violent, that was how he liked to operate, and not many law enforcements, especially not those as corrupt as the ones on Narr Shadda, would get involved if they heard there was a Sith who could be behind it. And he could probably threaten or bribe his way out of any trouble he might get in anyway.

Though he also didn’t want to chase away any guests. So he made sure to change into more setting appropriate attire, a button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of black pants. His lightsabers hidden in his boots rather than on his belt, to make him seem far more mild mannered than a Sith would ordinarily appear to be. He wanted to be unassuming when the thugs arrived for the protection fee.

That way he could lure them in with feigned weakness… and punish them for their arrogance.

 

[Serrin]

The Preformance was met with a rousing applause, as Serrin came out of the tank and took a breath, her hair dripping wet and her clothing drenched. The Qu'rran made fists of jubilance and then bid her to come to the back. As she walked past tables, the Calamari, Selkath, and other lot began to cheer and clap louder as she came to the Boss. The Squid Boss said,
"I will draw up a contract at once! Welcome to The Squid!"
The Nightsister gave a great smile, she would be financially stable after all, though there was tinge of pain. She thought of The Dancing Sarlaac, and Tava. She was rather surprised how quickly the Twi'lek had abandoned her, althogther in faireness she had sensed a some jealousy in the praises she said in the back room.

Already drinks were being offered to Serrin, and she took a glass of sparkling blue with a fruit on skewerd and took a sip. She sat on bar stool as a tender came with a big towel and said,
"The Boss would like to get you some fresh clothes so you can change in the back."
The Nightsister smirked, she felt as if she was being waited upon. And so she made her way to the back, given some privacy, which was new to her, she changed into a fine purple dress, and sat there for a moment in a chair in front of the mirror. She began to think that at last she was getting a break.

 

[Kallous]

Her break would last about two days.

Kallous had awaited the thugs, brought them into the back of the club where their screams couldn’t be heard, and did what he did best. He had the information he needed, and once that was done he dispatched the group of thugs that had come to him.

An hour’s work later and he had tortured and decapitated the small time gang leader that had been trying to muscle around this particular neighborhood in front of his goons and made it very clear who they now worked for.

With his first criminal ties established, he now needed to go and make some more… reputable connections. And where best to start than the club that was just about as big as the one he was now using to cover up his mission?

And so he made his way to The Squid, still wearing more appropriate clothing in the form of a white button up and black pants tucked into knee high boots, with a bag over his shoulder. He stepped in and immediately approached the counter to ask.

“Pardon me. Is the boss in? I would like to speak with them please.”

 

[Serrin]

At the counter was a Calamari cleaning a glass who replied to this human ( Kallous ),
"The Boss is in the back. You really should stay for the show. Our new talent, she is quite something."
Putting the glass down he said,
"I will show you to Qur'vadis."
The made their way to the back rooms, one door was ajar, and in it was beautiful one with pale skin, a lovely purple and blue dress, with a tail like that of a fish. Her hair was white and silver, and she was putting on seashell earrings. Serrin was preparing for the Great Show, she had adapted to using clothing that pleased the clientele. The challenging of using fins actually made her enjoy this more. Hearing commotion in the hall, she turned her eye to look and saw a man, he seemed somehow familiar though she could not recall.

At the Boss' Room, there the Qu'rran sat at his desk, looking at a data pad as he went over the figures the last couple of nights. There had been major gains, as the Club was filled to the brim to see his star Serrin. Knocking on the door was Havar.
"Boss, someone to see you."
He not looking up with his four tentacle mandibles said,
"Send them in."
He was curious who was calling, the Club being popular was good, but it also drew attention from feeders, those fish that hitch a ride on larger fish and feed off them and their winnings.

 

[Kallous]

Kallous passed by Serrin, apparently she hadn’t recognized him, his change of apparel having been enough to obscure his identity from her. He couldn’t himself imagine being so careless, but he supposed some people could afford to be that way.

He stepped into the office of his neighbor, and technically competitor, and put on a friendly smile.

“Good evening sir. Apologies for the unannounced visit. I haven’t been here long and so I haven’t had much time to get things sorted through the right channels.” He told the Qu’rran. “I am the individual who took over management of The Dancing Sarlacc a few days ago and I thought it would be best to meet my neighbors and, hopefully, get on friendly terms.”

He set his bag on the desk in front of the Qu’rran, “and as a show of good faith I made sure to do you a favor and get rid of some of the local pests before dropping in, I do hope you will accept that.”

If the bag were to be opened it would be revealed to contain the severed, charred head of the leader of that gang that had been trying to muscle its way around this portion of the city. And if he were to look into it he would find Kallous’ eyes to already be yellowed, with a cold smile on his face.

This was simultaneously an olive branch and an offer for cooperation, but it was also a veiled threat. And unlike the average gangster, a Sith was unlikely to have much pause given to them by the corporate power of a nightclub.

 

[Serrin]

The Squid Boss examining this boon from the One with coals for eyes gave a nod, he could see the bag was wet with blood and did not need to open it.
"I have heard of you.. that the Gangs who had been extorting the many cantinas, clubs, and gambling houses had disappeared since you took over the Dancing Sarlaac."
He stood up and went to decanter of clear glass, with a blue liquid in it and poured into two clear glasses. Offering one to the Sith, as he took his seat anew beneath the table.
"Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, I wish to recompense you, if you will allow me."
The Squid Boss knew better than to show a lack of appreciation to those Sorcerors. Though he was no longer in their trappings, he saw the eyes that marked his kind, like fire. Serrin had told him that this Kallous was a Sith, and she had fled to his Club over it. That his Greatest Dancer was afraid of this man was sobering to the Squid.
"I wonder if you would dine with me tonight, and watch our show. I think you know the main attraction, an exotic lady who once was the star of your establishment."
He had to be careful with those words, he meant them as mere fact, though emphasis on any one word could be seen as an insult,
"I would as Neighbor be interested in paying you what I would have those Gang Members to keep their kind away from my club. Better it go to proprietor who is in the same game as I, then thugs."
That was a pay off, to help sooth any words that may been taken as an affront and as a thank you to this Sith. The Qu'rran knew that it was not wise to cross anyone with the Power, better to have them on your side. Though he knew Serrin would not like it.

While they talked Serrin was almost ready for the show, she was not to go on first, that had other preformers, so she could rest a while and brought to her was tray of fresh shrimp. She smiled to the server, and began to eat, she was famished, and by the time she went on it would be digesting and long enough after to swim safely. Her mind began to wonder about Tava, and her success at the Sarlacc, and if that Sith was still skulking about or not.

 

[Kallous]

Kallous smiled at the man, pleased at how well this had gone already. His favors and veiled threat had done exactly what they were intended to do. Now he could put himself where he wanted to be, he had no intention of extorting this man for money, the club he was running now would cover the expenses well enough.

No, he needed allies in the business. To expand his influence, and that meant making this man dependent on him, not the other way around. He’d shown this man the stick, now to give him some carrot.

“Thank you kindly.” Kallous said in response to the offered drink, taking a sip of the stuff before continuing. “And that won’t be necessary. I have little need for money, and I hardly intend to yoke you the same way they intended to. No, I have greater need of friends than lackeys. Or I suppose a partner would be more apt. So in other words, I have a proposition for you.”

The intimidation factor had been successfully employed. The way had been cleared by him over the past few days for expansion, which was required on a certain level to achieve what he was there for. Now all he needed was someone to run the honest half of the business, so he could focus on doing the less than legal stuff in secret.

He might be able to press the man into serving the Diarchy directly, but chances were he would eventually need to get rid of him in favor of someone more loyal to their cause.

But for now, he would serve that role perfectly.

---

Serrin

 

[Serrin]

The Q'urran was able to read his words very well, he wanted a different kind of debt, and so fancying that he should live, he turned to look at Serrin who had taken the stage that expanded out as tank was raised up with glowing blue waters, she began to swim and disappear into a cloud and then she was in air with her fish like tail, the Calamari began to cheer as she landed in water and then she was in air once more doing a circular flip as she fell back into the water.

The Squid Boss taking a piece of skewered shrimp said,
"A Proposition.. I am all ears."

There in the tank as the music played, Serrin swam over and extended her hand to outreaching Calamari, they were lost in rapture at her movements in the water, as she flipped the prosthetic tail that moved with each engineering at her command. She gave a smile with her turquoise lip stick persing, she gave a smile as the show as nearing its finale. She was tired, the use of the Magicks in this way, and the swimming took their toll, and yet this was how she survived. She disappeared beneath the the surface waters and appeared suddenly on the lap of lucky Calamari who she said as she pawed at him,
"You Sir.. how did you like my performance?"
He was overcome by her charms, as she planted a kiss on his cheek and before he could get more excited, she disappeared in a cloud of green and black smoke, this time she was in air and from sides of the tank great showers of sparks shot into the air as she began to spin, making so many rotations that the Calmari crowd, and those not of the that race rose to their feet and she landed in the water and then appeared suddenly behind tank on the stage, blowing kisses. The men began to toss bouquets of kelp, one she caught, and others threw sea shells. She picked up one, that looked like a star and one of bouquets as she suddenly disappeared into the back room, where she now sat in a chair, and began to let out a sigh of relief, panting, she was exhausted and wet. Some girls activated some thermal heaters and took towels to dry her, Serrin looking in the mirror began to wonder how Rava was fairing, if she had to do such difficult antics...