Lady Beneath the Lake

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

"Because," blue digits tapped idly on the armrest, "I find I don't know much about you. That's a poor excuse for a scholar such as myself, especially if I'm in such good company. And I wonder how much you know about me." Legs uncrossed and she stood. Graceful as always albeit a little slower than usual. Her body still had a few days of recovery to go until she'd be back to her old self.

Facing Mal, palm pressed forward, resting just below his shoulder, flat against the fabric of the shirt he wore. Nearly identical to the one she currently had on. "So what is it Mal? Do you know about my past? Do you know who I was with before the jedi shadows? Hmm?"

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

She was out of the chair now. Maleagant uncrossed an arm as she approached him, taking a delicate hold of the wrist she was pressing against him. His eyes did not leave hers, though he did offer something of a sly grin when he said, "Athena Heron, are you trying to interrogate me?"

Athena was clearly still not buying the story about the spirits. Something that was understandable for the uninitiated. Though the spirits could have probably led him to her if he made the proper offerings, there was no need to seek their guidance when more traditional methods of tracking were available. Like cloaked subspace probe droids. Or spy satellites. Or elaborate, clandestine listening posts. But that wasn't as exciting as otherworldly interference, now was it?

"If you wanted to know more about me, all you had to do was ask..." He continued, "I knew that you needed help. And where to find you. Isn't that enough?"

It was more than the Baby Centurion had offered, apparently.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

"Smart man," she didn't draw her hand away though his gentle touch surprised her. This song and dance would seem familiar to him. Similar to when they first met in those tunnel ruins. Other hand reached out, fingers curling around the collar of his shirt and tugged him closer. Or perhaps herself closer. She wasn't as strong as she usually was.

At least, physically.

Was that enough?

"No," she murmured. Head tilted forward and her pink lips would press against his cheek, at the line where beard met skin. "What else do you know about me, Mal?"

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Part of Maleagant had been expecting this, the other part had doubted it would get this far. What a good time it was to be wrong about something - to be pleasantly surprised. A low, contented grumble rose in Maleagant's throat. His other arm found its way around her, wrapping itself around Athena's waist. Together at last. How touching. Literally. He could feel Athena's lips on his cheek, and as easily as he had sprung her from her prison - he was undone.

Sort of.

"You made a trip to Endelaan," he breathed, "...From Dromund Kaas..."

Need he say more? He hoped not.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

Endelaan. How did he know? They hadn't actually gotten that far. They'd been on the way when Caid disappeared. And WHY did Mal know?

Lips lingered on his cheek.

Had Mal done something to Caid?

Golden flecked eyes narrowed and without any hesitation, her mind moved like a spear. Athena had never been one for patience or lack of passion. As her mind barbed forward for a mental assault in an attempt to breach any walls Mal may have up and to pull and search for information about WHAT Mal knew and IF he knew anything about her lost lover, her lips went to capture his own.

She would kiss him deeply, if allowed. Fingers would tighten around his clothing. Her form would draw even nearer. Was Mal a friend or foe? She intended to find out even if surprised by the results.

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Maleagant felt someone probing into his mind, and for a moment all pleasure of being entwined with Athena was lost. His brow knit together in focus. Maybe he would have found that intimate and exciting if he didn't feel her rooting around so... Purposefully. Still, he was not so easily trumped. "That won't-"

And then she kissed him - quite deeply to his own surprise. In those next few moments, it would be difficult to tell who was drawing who nearer.

He was almost dimly recalled Kruskan for a moment. The first time Athena attempted to probe his mind, he'd been on guard - expecting some kind of trickery. Maleagant couldn't remember if she had used the Force to read his thoughts again after that. He did remember much later, though, down in the catacombs. She pressed him as she was doing now without any need of the Force. Thinking back later, Maleagant had wondered why she didn't marry the two tactics. Perhaps because she was saving it for a special occasion.

Like now.

-----​

​

Most of the details of Maleagant's memory would be fogged. Whether that was from misremembering or as some final, mundane defense mechanism against intruders like Athena would be difficult to tell. He was clearly on the bridge of some kind of large spacecraft - possibly a star destroyer. An older gentleman was with him, pale white and with the sort of tone that insinuated highly Imperial tendencies.

"We lost track of his ship while it was in transit away from Dromund Kaas," the older gentleman was explaining, sounding as if he had just been asked a question that was thoroughly beneath him. "I suspect they might have been heading to Endelaan. The route he was taking certainly suggests it."

Maleagant made a fist. One job, two people to track, and already they were bungling it. What was the point of leading an intergalactic crime ring if the things that mattered kept slipping through the webbing. "And the woman was on board?"

"Yes, as I previously mentioned..." The man trailed off, then began again. "You've clearly developed some sort of infatuation, haven't you?"

"That isn't your concern," Maleagant said, with the sort of finality that implied a degree of resentment towards that question. "You lost the ship. And the targets. Find them again, or I'll replace you with someone who will - and maybe he won't ask stupid questions that got him killed."

The other man tensed for a moment, then relinquished with a sigh. "Very well."

---​

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

Lungs burned. A trickle of surprise flashed across blue, feathered features. What she saw was unexpected and something she would have to process through more later. But it wasn't the answer she was trying to find. She took a quick breath, teeth tugging lightly on his lower lip. The darkside still bridged her mind with his. He'd cracked the door and she would be taking full advantage of it.

Or try to.

Matsu Xiangu had been a good teacher.

But what about Caid? Had Mal done something to him? After all, what did targets exactly mean?

A tender kiss this time as she went to dig deeper into his memories focusing on what this sith knew about Caid. And if he knew anything about Caid after she was left behind with the shadows. Fingers of one hand curled into the ginger hair at the nape of his neck.

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Maleagant had failed to realize he was starved for air until Athena's lips parted from his - or mostly parted, seeing as she almost took his lower lip with her. That got a deep, pleasurable chortle out of of the Shi'ido. Eyes did the smiling for him, seeing as his mouth was preoccupied. Maleagant turned about, moving Athena with him. Then he pushed forward until he had her up against the wall. Another kiss, gentler this time, and still coupled with her sifting through his thoughts.

This was a distraction. This was trickery. Maleagant was dimly aware of this and plainly aware of what she was probing his mind for - but the only concern he really had in light of this was that distractions were finite things. Better enjoy it while it lasted.

---​

​

"The file you to be compiled on the Centurion subject," said a muffled voice. The same older man from earlier. This time speaking to Maleagant in the Sith's office.

The Shi'ido wordlessly slid the distressingly thin file off the desk towards him, then began to leaf through it. There was, altogether, not too much present. Basic information, mostly what was lifted from Resurgent Empire databanks. A few First Order reports. The Umbaran remained standing on the other side of the desk, then eventually broke the silence.

"I take it he's an obstacle to something. I can arrange for him to be-"

Maleagant cut him off with a short laugh. There were multiple reasons that would not end well, but most importantly Maleagant knew enough to know it would be counter-productive to long-term goals. His voice was similarly low and distorted. How long ago was this? "No. She wouldn't like that."

"Perhaps an arranged accident, then?"

The file snapped shut in Maleagant's hand. "No. She would know."

There was the vague sense that the Umbaran was growing somewhat annoyed, albeit he kept his composure. "Then what do you intend to do?"

"Keep the tab on him open," Maleagant said, shuffling the file into a cabinet beneath his desk. He'd organize it properly later. "He has a history of vanishing acts. I'll wait for the next one."

"Waiting for opportunity to come to you, then. How do you think that will go?"

Maleagant reclined in his chair, tapping the arm rest in contemplation. "I think..." He began, trail off... But when he resumed, his voice was clearer - and it sounded like he was talking to someone else. "I think Athena Heron has done enough snooping for one day."

---​

​

She'd find herself evicted, perhaps unceremoniously and this time it was Osano who pulled away from her kiss. Regular mental scavenging, Osano could stomach, but this was just starting to get insulting.

"You're thinking of someone else," he observed in a soft, low tone. "Are you trying to hurt my feelings?"

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

A gasp left her mouth as his lips parted from hers and the gap within his mental defenses was firmly closed. Twin orbs with flecks of amber floating within a charcoal sea stared back at Mal. Face still tingled where his beard had pressed against her blue skin. Wings and back were pressed against cold while she drew warmth from being entangled within Mal's form in the front.

Using the dark side had always been a heady thing - fueled by emotions and passion for the omwati hybrid.

"Hmm," she mused quietly against him. "I had to be sure."

There was no apology. And the sure of what was left unsaid. Mal was a smart man. He'd get it. She had to be sure Caid's disappearance wasn't BECAUSE of Mal. She'd confirmed that even if what she found was confusing. Just as confusing as how much she enjoyed the feeling of the Sith's arms around her and the feelings a kiss meant only to distract invoked.

"I'm hungry," she said rather suddenly, damp hair shifting along a bare shoulder.

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

The part of Maleagant's lip she had decided to bite tingled irritably. "I can tell."

Was that what she was looking for? Confirmation that he hadn't done away with Caid himself? It was almost touching if it weren't such a hurdle to his own ambitions. Maybe, in the end, it would have made her feel better to think some malignant force - him, for example - had snatched the Centurion out of thin air, tossed him down a reactor shaft and poof... Gone from the galaxy forever. It was a better story than simple abandonment, certainly. A dead lover could be mourned, a treacherous one... Well...

He untangled himself of her, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Dinner will be done soon." Maleagant glanced behind him, eyeing the two droid pilots.

Very good he had chosen droid pilots. Any living beings he could have picked for his household staff would have been disciplined, surely, but he wondered if a spontaneous outburst of intimacy and Dark Side antics would still cause distractions. Better to never find out. Those droids would have to be memory-wiped anyway. They might have been keeping their eyes on space, but those audio receptors would still be working.

"You should rest for now. Someone will deliver your meal to your quarters."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

Wings stretched behind her as she stepped away from the wall. Blue fingers came up to tuck a wayward charcoal ribbon of hair behind one ear. She frowned but her thoughts were on the visions she'd seen. They were on her missing lover. And they were also on Mal.

She was left with confusion.

"Very well," replying quickly, she strode from the room, long legs carrying her back the way she'd come. When she walked, it seemed like she was gliding. A few feathers were left in her wake, floating lazily to the deck plating. When she got back to her guest quarters, she didn't hesitate crawling beneath the sheets. A part of her didn't think she'd be able to sleep. But as soon as her dark-haired head hit the pillow, she was out.

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Several hours later, a soft chime would announce the arrival of the serving droid, one which was noticeably scuffed after having been thrown against the wall of the medical bay. Regardless of whether or not Athena stirred from her sleep, it would leave the requested meal on the room's small dining table. Then it would depart as quickly as it came. Clearly it did not want any repeat violence leveled against it.

Ship food was rarely anything fancy, but it was still a steak - lovingly served with roasted vegetables. What a novelty.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

Took her a longer moment to stir beneath the sheets, even after the soft chime and the whir of the droid had long passed. It was really the smell that woke Athena. Roasted meat with vegetables. But mostly the roasted meat. Long legs moved along the mattress. Lithe-form stirred, palm coming to push tangled strands of coal-black hair away from powdered blue features.

Limbs still felt worn down.

Still might be a few days until she fully recovered.

But that meat.

Pushing free from the bed, she made it to the small table in her temporary quarters. Wings stretched behind her form as she sat. Mouth was slightly salivating. Going for the silverware, she began daintily cutting up the portions, matching amount of meat with the right amount of portioned vegetable per bite. Fork came to her lips and she took the first bite, eyes closing to savor the taste - a look of pure bliss along her feathered-features.

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Shortly after Athena finished her meal (which probably didn't take terribly long, all things considered), the ship would shudder lightly as it entered Bastion's atmosphere. Unlike most commercial freighters and shuttles, the sleek transport was designed with both luxury and smooth flying in mind. It was barely noticeable, though the slight pitching and turning would be felt as the star yacht wheeled around before finally landing would be more apparent. The perfect star yacht was, apparently, not in the High Inquisitor's budget.

Minutes would tick by after landing, then there would be knocking on the door to Athena's quarters... Far too soft and far too polite to be a droid.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

Hair had long-since dried. The omwatti hybrid could already feel some more of her strength returning after that one meal. In a few days, she'd be back to normal. A ripple of anticipation ran through her wings as she felt the subtle change of movement in the ship. Good. She did not enjoy flying, even when riding in the lap of luxury.

She almost didn't hear the knock.

Rising from the edge of the bed, long-legs carried her the short distance to the door. With a soft whir, it opened. Much to her angst, her hair had a bed-tousled look. She needed her things, badly.

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Maleagant breathed once into his hand, then inhaled through the nose. Checking for bad breath. He could never tell if it worked or not, but you had to try anyway. Why he only checked after knocking would dodge him for the next few seconds. He had already knocked. He was locked in. No backing out now, and if that wasn't a metaphor for the course of his life after starting an intergalactic crime ring, then...

The door opened, and there stood Athena Heron in all her disheveled beauty. Thwumph! Heart against chest, as per usual. But the High Inquisitor was a cool operator. Usually. "You slept well," he observed. "We've arrived on Bastion."

He gestured to the open hallway, indicating the direction of the loading ramp. "I'll walk you out, if you like."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

"Well that's kind of you to say," she gave up in trying to smooth out her hair. Without losing any regalness to her walk, she swept past Mal, lips tingling as she brushed against his side. And would continue on with the man as he lead her toward the exit of his ship.

"My servants should be here in the next day or so."

She'd have to find a place to stay. Shouldn't be too hard to get credits transferred over.

"Do you have any hotel recommendations?"

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Maleagant could have come up with far kinder things to say, but kept them to himself in the interests of self-preservation. He was quiet on the walk out. Probably trying to imagine where Athena's servants could be lurking that would see them indisposed for so long. Not that he was complaining.

"Several, actually," he said. Maleagant had visited a lot of hotels back when he was still schlepping about on the ground for the Syndicate. The class of hotel got higher the more power the Syndicate accumulated. That said, he didn't intend to visit any of them again. Or send business their way either. Darth Osano's recommendations did not come for free. He was going to need a sizable paycheck before he name-dropped any specific hotels. Besides, what self-respecting Sithling let an honored guest pay for their lodgings?

Osano had other ideas.

The hustle and bustle of Bastion's capitol city did not wait for them at the end of the boarding ramp. Instead it was a nobleman's estate, a large complex of buildings situated in the hinterlands outside of Sartinaynian. The architecture indicated it was at least two centuries old, probably built just before the Gulag Plague swept the planet. There were signs of attempts to restore and modernize the structure, likely carried out by the Sith Knight the estate had been confiscated from.

"But you were curious about my residence. So here we are," he said, somewhat flatly. "Nicer than any city hotel, far as I can tell."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Darth Osano"]

She paused at the top of the ramp, fresh air curling along her dark hair and tickling against her skin. She couldn't help the small smile pull along her pink lips. "You are full of surprises, Mal." She'd assumed he'd drop her off as quickly as he found her. She still couldn't quite come to terms with his feelings for her.

Couldn't quite come to terms with Caid's disappearance either.

Arm looped easily into his own.

"It's beautiful. We can't just stand here. Tour?" Wings stretched behind her for a moment. She'd have to take her own flight around the property later. Perhaps when she got some better clothes after her maidens arrived.

 

[Darth Osano]

[member="Athena Heron"]

It was nice to have Athena on his arm again. Not as nice as her telepathic spelunking tactics, obviously, but pleasant all on its own. It reminded Maleagant of their tour of the Galactic Games. Strange how hazy the memory was now. Almost as if the entire event had been abandoned for spurious reasons. Very strange indeed. They had landed on a pad in the rear of the main structure. Between them and the building was a rather lavish garden. Exotic plants native to the world and several marble statues could be seen. Then there was the fountain.

Unfortunately it was all still being renovated after the change in ownership. Several plant fixtures had been clearly marched over, probably by Justiciars as they stormed the area and dealt with private guards. One statue was still smeared with dirt after it had been knocked over. The imprint was still visible in the earth as well. Clearly Maleagant had not been anticipating a tour. The fountain wasn't even turned on. It was still obviously a beautiful piece of real estate, if only it hadn't been seized so violently.

Oh well.

"Pardon the mess," he said, leading her down a paved path away from the landing pad. "It's a recent acquisition."

He led her a little further in before speaking again. "You mentioned you were after the Shark'ak Noor. Any particular reason?"