Private Industry Secrets

[Corazona von Ascania]

Kaal
Moonside Resort​

Nestled between the borders of two galactic powers was the picturesque, tropical planet of Kaal.

Always wary of potential trouble on their margins, the Alliance had gotten wind of shady dealings on the resort world. Low-level crime was given on most planets, even those with the most polished of images - but something darker was lurking beneath the immaculate surface of Kaal.

The rumors were strong enough to warrant a Jedi Knight's investigation. Not as a robe-wearing monk, and sadly, not even posing as a vacationing guest.

"That's one Red Dwarf, one Tatooine Sunrise, and uhh…"

Corazona had imagined that pretending to be a wealthy patron, given her upbringing and adjoining mannerisms, would have been easier than pretending to be a server.

How hard could serving drinks be, really? As it turned out, far harder than she'd imagined - the orders were complicated, arrived too quickly for her to keep up with, and the some of the customers were…difficult.

Cora balanced the tray on her shoulder, placing a glass of spiced orange liquid in front a lavishly dressed middle aged man. This section of the resort only catered to the most affluent of individuals, and the three men she was serving were thought to have ties to Kaal's seedy underbelly.

All seemed well until the gentleman suddenly spit out his drink.

"Wha- this isn't a Sonic Serodriver!"

"Oh-" Cora blanched "I must've - I might have put your order in wrong. I apologize, allow me bring you-"

Before she could finish, the disgruntled patron tossed the remainder of his drink her way, which she managed to sidestep the most of. A few streaks of orange still landed on the crisp white collar of her uniform.

The trio didn't bother to hold back their snickering, and her lower eyelid twitched just once.

"Bring me a Sonic Serodriver. A Sonic Serodriver, I'll say it slow for you - understand, girl?"

"Yes, Sir." Cora ground through the tightest smile she'd ever worn, quietly restraining her urge beat him with the plastoid serving tray. "One Sonic Serodriver."

She stiffly made her way back to the bar.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Kaal was...

Kaal was many things.

A Rakatan colony if old histories were to be believed, a minor world ruled by the Brotherhood of Darkness centuries after that, part of the old Galactic Republic, part of Darth Sidious' Galactic Empire.

It seemed every new millennium, Kaal would find itself ruled by a new master.

This millennium was proving to be no different, as it found itself at the precipice of conflict between the Jedi of the Galactic Alliance, and the Sith of the Sith Empire, as the opening salvo of a new great war rippled across the galaxy, so did both sides look for advantage, in any way they could manage.

And as all knew in the art of war, before one sent the cavalry.

They sent out the scouts.

Malum found himself at the command of quite a bit more than simply scouts, he was in command of spies, informants, and assassins, across the empire, and beyond to the wider galaxy, it meant in this opening stage of this grand drama with the galaxy acting as stage, he would play a critical role.

Perhaps that was why, he now found himself standing behind the counter, exuding an aura that was most unlike his, blue eyes glaring down as he wiped down a sticky and alcoholic surface with a wettened rag, an activity decidedly above him, but there was much above him, and he would so endure silently and without complaint.

At least without vocal complaint.

There had certainly been a sort of complaining ever since he had begun his... 'shift', the fact that said... 'shift', had only begun a mere few minutes ago was far from his mind, as already it felt like he had spent far too much time here.

Yet, as ever, the things he did for the empire.

Still, he supposed, even after he had to personally investigate this world, as the Tsis'Kaar found themselves still in recovery after the long-ago Ouroboros Crisis, of all the places which its Lord had to visit, this was perhaps the best conditioned to accept his arrival. Of all the allegiances which Kaal had held, none of them truly described what Kaal was.

Really... its tropical climate, its archipelagos structure, its deep blue oceans, he had been to many Kaals in his life. And even though he was not much a fan of the heat, nor the water, he was much more at home in the cool depths of a building's interior, nursing a book rather than a drink, or at the very least a drink that was more of a... dark colour, rather than the opposite, he could appreciate them rarely.

Of course, Kaal was unique in the fact that for all those which he had seen in his life, Kaal might have held all of them within its atmosphere, for what was unique about Kaal, was that it was a planet entirely of such environs.

A pleasure den of hedonism if he had ever seen one, though he supposed a particular type of pleasure den, in reality, he had not seen such libertine establishments in his time here, even if for his role they would have been rather useful, alas, it would his his agents which would infiltrate such places, while he himself...

...He was here.

Serving drinks to those who considered themselves superior simply because of the amount of credits within their accounts.

And that in this role he had assumed, it would make him need to act subordinate to them, when in reality nothing could be further from the case.

He let out a sigh, as the chatter of the bar continued to fill his ears, that oh-so-familiar, yet entirely distinct sound of tens of voices all speaking at once such that you could not deny it was all conversation, but the exact words which were uttered were entirely lost on you.

"Sounds like someone wants a Sonic Serodriver," His... temporary manager's voice was able to break through the simultaneous everything and nothing, Malum quirking an eyebrow at the order, but saying nothing more, as he began to grab glasses and the necessary drinks.

He would not claim to be any good at the role.

But he was serviceable enough... perhaps.

He had after all watched many bartenders in his life do activities similar.

He had drank a lot in his relatively short life.

Oh sure, he had broken several glasses...

...And several bottles...

...And did have to mind trick his erstwhile superior into forgetting tha- those incidents.

He was not that bad.

Thus he brought out the ice, mixed, and shook, and at the end, there was a drink that was serviceable, or more broadly put, he would certainly drink it without any complaints.

Ringing the bell, and gazing up, a glimmer of a smile on his face, as he knew he had completed the order before the ticket was even required.

"One Sonic Serodrive-"

He saw blue eyes.

And the smile fell off his face.

His own blue narrowed.

Corazona von Ascania

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Fortunately, a busboy was quick to approach the spill with a rag and cleaner. Cora gave him an appreciative, apologetic glance as she made her way back towards the bar.

Double fortunately, the bartender seemed to be quicker on his feet. No sooner had she approached the counter did he have the Sonic Serodriver ready. Cora smiled in thanks, a preemptive expression as she slipped her hand around the glass. Shift change had only been a few minutes ago, but there was something strikingly familiar about the pair of blue eyes that stared back at her own.

Their pleasant expressions fell in perfect unison.

Intense. There was something so intense in the bartender's demeanor, and it took Cora a few moments longer to piece the man together. Blue eyes and a tinge of the Light in his aura – when she'd assaulted him with Force Light on Jedha, had it truly had such a lingering impact?

Probably not, especially for a Sith Lord that ranked so highly in his Order. Something else was afoot here. Something that sent a surge of unrepentant anger through her.

Cr-crack!

The glass fractured in Cora's hand, slicing into her palm. She kept her eyes locked on Malum, her lips moving cold and slow.

"Why are you here?"

Her grip was still clamped tightly around the glass as it leaked. She ignored the sting of mixed fruit juice and alcohol on the laceration of her hand.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Of course, it had to be her, the galaxy did have to play its little games did it not? Or more aptly that all-so-powerful force within the galaxy... indeed within the universe. But this was too much, why place in front of him, the singular person who held him in utter and entire confusion, whose every feeling burned with the contradiction of not only what he should feel, but too, how he should act.

His Sith Sword was not with him, for all which he could act, all which he could keep hidden, having a Sith Sword strapped on his back, though he might be able to hide it from view, working with it, would prove far more difficult than it was worth. Indeed, why should he? Yes, Kaal might have been on the border, and yes, some influence of the Alliance might have been felt here.

But not perhaps the one Jedi that would recognise him!

He had his lightsabres beneath his uniform at least, he had not decided to fully disarm himself, yet there was a quiet unease of being without the blade his apprentice had crafted him, even if he had learned to use lightsabres his entire life, and in comparison to use the Sith Sword had been a wild adjustment.

In the face of all which had changed, it was cold comfort that even the small things had too.

His eyes drifted down to the sound of cracking glass, blue eyes softening as blood mixed with juice and alcohol.

Why did she confuse him even now?

"Oi, I'm going to take my thirty minutes," He shouted over to his 'manager', the bar was quiet enough, and ignoring her question, he tilted his head over to her bleeding hand.

Said 'manager' was quick to see his point, waving him off, with a gaze that shouted at him to take care of it.

Blue eyes met blue, the coldness, the purposefulness, the anger, all was felt and seen. He could not even be certain if he intended to fight here and now, barreling over the counter to take him down.

At the very least, if there was a duel, he wished to avoid it here, he turned, even as his face still locked on hers, "...If you wish to find out, come with me." All the while he wondered why, his mind was affixed at the idea of tending to that bloodied hand.

Wondered why his amulet burned hot against his chest.

Corazona von Ascania
Mentioned: Darth Dekaltis

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

In the short span of a few moments, this mission had gone from irritating to downright dangerous.

Kaal sat on the border of Alliance and Sith space, so there always was a chance for a Darksider to be skulking around Moonside Resort. She just didn't expect it to be one that she'd recognized – and one who seemed to clocked her just as quick. That either made things easier, or infinitely more complicated.

Malum announced that he was taking his thirty minutes, and Cora sputtered in disbelief.

"You're taking a br-"

"...If you wish to find out, come with me."

That shut her up quickly. Again, in sheer disbelief. The alcohol started to sting against the cuts on her hand, and Cora drew in a heavy breath. She exhaled and steadied herself.

Instead of immediately following Malum, she poured what remained of the Tatooine Sunrise down the sink and deposited the broken glassware in the garbage with a grumble of displeasure. At the very least, he hadn't attacked her on sight – though she didn't rule it out as an eventuality. With her free hand, Cora patted the saber hooked to her uniform beneath her apron, then fished a dishrag from her pocket. She pressed the cloth to the palm of her hand and curled her injured fingers around it, wincing, and made for the back room.

As soon as the door swung closed, she wasted no time.

"Why, exactly, is a Lord of the Sith tending bar?"

She clicked her tongue, unamused.

"And what in Ashla's name is wrong with your eyes?"

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Her protests were as sharp as they were quietened, apparently his explanation enough to assuage her concern... though he highly doubted that, more likely his explanation providing enough of bait, that was both impossible for her to ignore the possibility, all the while, providing her with the exact opportunity to take them to a certain privacy, safety for the patrons around them.

Not that he would wish any harm befall them, but, sometimes those fears that the Jedi held of them did come in use.

Still, as he left the crowded bar, to the back hallways, and the breakroom, he knew that Cora had not yet followed, what she was doing, remained a mystery, however... for a reason he could not place, even beyond the fact that he knew she could not stand leaving him unsupervised, he knew, that she would be here soon.

It was a good fortune then, as he leaned against a table, in the relatively sparse room in which he now occupied, that would make for a makeshift meeting place, was so deserted. There would be no good for any witnesses to be present for all which could come next.

Though, what exactly that was, he could hardly say. He could imagine, it had not been the first time they had crossed blades, and as much as he would have liked to avoid that, to not consider the possibility, would be far more foolish than what was permissible for even him. Though, speaking of that previous encounter...

...Much still was lost to him.

In both mind and body. Perhaps, that was what this was for, for the only one who could possibly know what had truly happened at Jedha.

For one who might know where his apprentice was.

Perhaps that was a fool's hope, but... it would not be the first time that Malum played the fool.

Blue eyes snapped to the door, as she emerged forth, the door snapping closed, heralding the wake of emotion-filled words.

...And he was not entirely sure what to say to them.

"...I could ask the same, does your Alliance leave you so destitute, that Jedi Knights are forced to be servers... far from befitting a Princess," Malum countered, with feigned narrowed eyes, her second set of words...

...Far more difficult to answer.

"I should be offended, I am told my eyes are one of my greatest qualities," Such was said, when his eyes were a different colour, but whether crimson or oceanic depths, they called to all who witnessed.

He pushed himself off the table, cautiously, taking a step forward, noting the makeshift bandage for her wound, as a hand fell into his uniform, pulling out a bottle of water, the one which went a long way to sustaining him during his shift.

"Now tell me how that happened, have you even washed it?"

The amulet still burned hot, no doubt once this was hopefully settled peacefully, he would need to go out there, and figure out who was setting it off.

Corazona von Ascania
Mentioned: Nouqai Veil

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"We are servants of the people."

She met his narrowed gaze with her own - but it wasn't feigned.

"And your eyes are just eyes."

It dawned on her how utterly odd this was. There was a distinct lack of malice in the break room. If it had been any other Sith - or if she'd been any other Jedi - this might've played out differently.

Instead they were probing one another, more curious than disgusted. Her attention fell to the bottle of water, a brow rising at his question.

Cora weighed her options. Gathering intel was supposed to be a relatively peaceful mission. She imagined that Malum was here for a similar purpose, given the proximity of Kaal to their respective interests. Starting a brawl wouldn't help either of them right now.

With a measure of reluctance, Cora unwrapped the dish towel and held out her hand for him to see. A few jagged shards were still stuck in her bleeding palm.

"I got his drink order wrong," she murmured. "Or it was made incorrectly. Perhaps you should've started your shift sooner."

Walking over to the counter, she rested her hand against it's cheap formica surface. Compared to the luxury accommodations for the patrons, the break room was small and bleak. Carefully, she began to pick the glass shards from her skin. Superficial wounds, but there were a lot of nerve endings in the hands.

Jedha rested heavily on her mind. Particularly when she'd struck him with a blinding dose of Force Light. It was never meant to be a permanent thing; people couldn't change unless they wanted to themselves. A few grains of impurity would be quickly burned up by the Dark he'd steeped himself in.

"Turned over a new leaf, have you?"

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He smirked at the reply to his taunt, "Are you a servant to all the people in the galaxy, or just those of your precious Alliance?" He countered, Kaal was a planet that was far too close for either Jedi or Sith to ignore, yet, it seemed in all likelihood that the Jedi would win that race, for all the good that it would do for them.

Now the question remained, was such a move to be accession, or annexation, and what would Lady von Ascania's consciousness say by the end? His free hand came to his chest, a hyperbolic gasp releasing out of his lungs, as shining sapphires widened in mock shock, "You wound me so, my eyes are the window to my very soul," He tilted his features, the raven locks cascading down his face, acting as the frame for which one saw his orbs seem to shimmer, taking a step forward, as he forced a visual lock between them.

She had beautiful eyes...

...He parsed his lips, as her attention fell to the water, he was allowed an excuse to break the gaze, her suspicion was well warranted, even if part of him felt the lowest of annoyance. After Thule he had thought... well Jedha had proved otherwise, had it not, so why was he so surprised?

Still, as she began to unwrap the dish towel, holding out her hand for him to see, showing him the jagged shards of glass broken against the skin, he could not help but raise an eyebrow... had he been incorrect? It was more by instinct than by will, that he slowly approached, providing her plenty of opportunity to showcase that he was not a threat.

He listened along silently as she explained, "Apologies then, that I did not," He offered just as quietly, following behind as she went to rest her hand against the counter, only for both eyes to widen as he hissed, "Stop! You're only going to dig them in deeper if you aren't careful," There was something in his eyes he knew, something she would no doubt see, but he could hardly stop himself, as he found himself at her side in mere seconds, gripping gently if firmly upon her wrist, as his vision zeroed in on her the glass shards.

It would be rather ironic use for his shikkars, but he doubted that the Jedi would find similar amusement, all the while he did not have a pair of tweezers, nor was he certain this establishment had any.

Thus, as he attempted to ignore the warmth of her form so close, attempted to ignore the great fire lit by the amulet upon his chest, he snapped his eyes shut, breathing out softly, as he felt the Force around them, for as much as he used it as a great battering ram, as fuel for the fire, this required far more precision and finesse. Commanding it to his will, demanding it follows his order, in his mind's eye he pictured the shards in front of him, as the Force flowed easily down, as easily as a riverine current.

And one by one, the shards, most embedded on the surface, some, a rare few embedded deeper, began to be pulled slowly out of her hand, each one laid carefully at their side.

As he opened his eyes, and chuckled at her question.

"...Something like that."

Corazona von Ascania

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora held his gaze with a glare.

"Windows to your soul? Really?" She arched a brow. "You're just as guarded as every court dandy I've ever had the misfortune of meeting."

He did it well, though. Malum was a smooth talker, the sort that could make you feel like he was revealing his deepest secrets - when really, his words were carefully crafted to not give away anything damning. She'd yet to figure out if his congenital nature was genuine, or just another facade.

Then, as she began to debride her wound, he stopped her.

"Worse? I'm trained in basic med-"

The exchange made them sound like bickering children, but the words died in her throat as Malum took her wrist. Instead of fighting his grasp, she held still as the Force worked the shards from her hand. She winced at the odd sensation of a few of the deeper splinters surfacing through her flesh.

"Huh…"

Cora's gaze went from her hand, to Malum's face, then to the glass bits resting on the counter. She pulled her wrist back suddenly, as if just now remembering that he was holding it. Old habits died hard.

"I suppose that I should thank you," she murmured. Moving towards the sink, she let her hand run under the stream of water, watching the way streaks of red diluted before they swirled down the drain.

"The Sith thing to do would've been to put more glass into my hand. Or remove it entirely."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"But aren't I the most handsome and charming court dandy you have ever met?" Malum countered jokingly, their presences so close, too close, as he fluttered his eyelashes to further on the jape. The task was done, he knew that he no longer needed to hold possession of her hand, yet, whatever boldness there was to find himself in this position, there was as much fear now in letting go.

Thankfully... or not... she would be the one that would take the step to break them from their entanglement, with little outward protest from himself, as she went her way to the sink. The sound of water flowing down to hit the metal tub, washing away the ails and ills of latter moments, as noble's blood washed away.

He blinked away such thoughts, a smirk appearing on his lips as she continued to speak, "You suppose you should? Well, that is hardly a thank you from where I come from," He teased, coming to rest by her side, his back pressed against the counter as he observed for any remaining shards that may have embedded themselves deeper than he had thought.

Only to raise his eyebrows at the rest of her words, sapphires hiding rubies flashing with an imperceptible emotion, "I think you are hardly an unbiased authority on what my people would do," The words were as unemotional as they were frosty.

"...What exactly is it that you are doing here, Lady von Ascania?" It was his turn to press, "Your Alliance spreads its influence across the Expansion Region at a frightening pace, though when you can simply buy out planetary governments, I suppose that is easy," If only they were waging wars of conquest, it would make things so much easier, yet despite such bribes being hardly respectable, they were hardly moral sins, "...What is the intentions of the Jedi, so close once again to my people?" He knew, she knew, yet, he wanted to hear it.

Corazona von Ascania

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

In an instant, Malum's playful demeanor chilled into something far more icy.

There it was, the changing of the masks. This time he was direct, inquiring over her intentions. She ignored the quip about credits being spent in an unsavory way; Cora's role in the Alliance was as a Jedi, not a politician.

"Does that often get you what you want? We're not on Alvaria."

Men like Malum were accustomed to being obeyed. That wasn't to say that he hadn't earned whatever power it was that he'd built, but they were outside the borders of his influence.

Unless, of course, he was connected to the traffickers she'd been sent here to root out.

My people.

She turned the way he'd said that phrase over in her mind while reaching for the soap. Gently, she allowed the suds to run over her injury. The wound might've been superficial, but it was still fairly tender.

"Your people, huh," Cora muttered faintly in thought. For once, there wasn't a hint of venom in her words. "You might've changed the color of your eyes, but you haven't truly changed, have you?"

Darth Malum of House Marr