Make Me Something Pretty

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya pondered the question for a long moment. Once upon a time she would have been able to reel a list of delights at her fingers tip, but what she had now was precious. Assets that Calina would require, that she would be able to put to far greater use than Anaya could. There was little point offering money to a business woman who had plenty. No, this required something more concrete, some good far more rewarding then a toy or a one off lump sum.

"All I have that I could consider disposable, would be shares in Apoleia Incoporated. It is little more than a long chain of casinos, restaurants and bars across the galaxy. On the surface at least."

She smiled slightly.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Anaya Fen"]

"One second, please." In truth she was already interested- a Sith Lord like Anaya didn't do things in half-measures, so any company she brought up just like that could safely be assumed to be worth it. Her reputation simply didn't allow anything else, but​ it was important to be careful and concise about these things.

So a quick search was initiated on her datapad.

The official holdings were listed in short order: a corporation as big as AEI could gain access to such things with relative ease, even if it had been done through multiple relays and other services to obfuscate the point of origin.

"Interesting locations. Focal points in the Galaxy with close proximity to other places of interest." Ceri commented calmly, but it was quite clear from where she was standing what this business was in truth. "I assume I will be able to... utilize the services of the company, besides receiving monthly dividend?"

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya smiled slightly. Her network was more than entertainment, it was information, and it was something she had worked very hard to get. How else did you keep track of the rest of the Galaxy while raising a child in secret.

"Those service report directly to my assistant, she filters through the rumours and the truth and reports directly to me. If however, you wish to place your own connections within the establishments, I will not deny them."

It wasn't a no, but then nor was it a yes.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Anaya Fen"]

Ceri cocked her head slightly.

"I will have to sacrifice quite a bit of my own time, miss Fen, to properly train your apprentice. Lessons will need to be unlearned, instincts and tendencies unraveled, new habits created. It will be a time-consuming practice at best."

Which meant that being 'allowed' to plant her own spies in establishments which were already settled and organized wouldn't cut it. It would be too difficult, too expensive and too much risk of being found out.

"A compromise then: if and when your assistant comes across something that might interest me or affects my business, she will send copies, so I am made aware. For now, at least. If this partnership becomes mutually appreciably, we will revisit the subject again."

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya considered this for a moment. She had, in effect, three Parla's. Three HRDs that managed the flow of information, identical in every way they were programmed to obey her. Their communications were more secure than simply sending copies. Besides copies left a trail and that most certainly wouldn't do.

"You must forgive me, I'm not accustomed to sharing, but you raise a valid point. Calina will absorb a great deal of valuable time. Copies of information are not a viable option, however there is a third. There is a HRD in my service, goes by the name Parla, she, with her sisters, manages the flow of information. While Calina is with you, she will work for you, there will be your link to my services. Take note that's this is only a loan, once Calina has completed her training with you, you will have more time to place your own links. Does that sound reasonable?"

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Anaya Fen"]

"Yes, that would be agreeable." It was agreeable on multiple fronts. Teaching Calina would take years - at least, if the girl wanted to be anything remotely as thorough in her studies as hers had been back in the day. This meant that they could take it slow and build out their own network inside Anaya's, without having to rush things and with already an access point, it would be more easy to accomplish that goal.

Besides, she had never experimented on a HRD before. This could be an opportunity as well. If it was done carefully, there was much to learn and profit to be had.

But that was a discussion for a different time.

"I think Calina has had enough time to stew in her indignation for now, let's surprise her with this news?"

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya smiled at the agreement. Placing Parla Vos under Cerita would not only allow for Baya to keep tabs on the woman and her daughter but also to know who she placed within Aploeia Inc. Knowledge would always be power and as her web of spies grew so would Calina's future resources.

"I agree." She replied shortly, a simple mental command drawing the surly teenager back into the room. Calina entered cautiously unsure what she was to recieve. She hovered next to her chair until Anaya patted it gently, inviting her to sit.

She did, eyes flicking expectantly between the elder women. "It is agreed that you will train with Master Sarova."

Calina blinked, eyes narrowing slightly as she settled her gaze on her mother. "What's the catch?"

"Two of three will be assisting in Master Sarova's insertion of assets into my network."

Calina was smart enough to read between the lines on that one, but she said nothing, offering a nod in acknowledgement, and turning her attention to [member="Cerita Sarova"].

"I am eternally grateful," she bowed her head "Master."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Anaya Fen"]

All three could see it for what it was.

But there was little else that Anaya could offer her and at the end of the day their interests didn't clash all that much. She doubted they even collided in any meaningful way of the word- so for now, this would do.

Later? Well, that would be later.

Cerita briefly studied Calina as she bowed and called her Master. It should have filled her with a thrill, enjoyment, enthusiasm, anything like that. At least she had assumed as much. But instead all that was felt right now was exhaustion rising up to seep into her bones, part of her wondered if she was cut out for this intrigue game.

Didn't feel that way.

"Don't be, don't be." Ceri replied after a while, without smirking or showing her amusement. "By the end of this you will be cursing this request of yours."

Her attention shifted back to Anaya again.

"Was there anything else you needed from Akure, miss Fen?"

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya shook her head. "No I believe we're done here." She pushed herself to her feet, Calona shadowing her movement as she did. Extending a hand to Cerita she smiled tightly.

Something bubbled beneath the surface, anger perhaps? Or even jealousy that Calona had been so quick to bow to a fething plant? "I will have Parla come to you as soon as possible. It's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Once they had shaken hands she would be on Calina away out into the corridor where she could say her farewells out of earshot. "I know you hate me-"

"So you're not just a pretty face-"

"Please don't do that, Calina. Let me speak." Calina nodded reluctantly, drawing a smile from her mother as she reached to brush a strand of hair from her face. "Everything I have done to make you hate me has been for your own good. Our life cannot be led the way you want it to be. All the same," she paused glancing at the open door where Cerita waited.

"If this is what you want then so be it. Work hard, be patient and know your place. I know little of this woman or her temperament. I'd rather not..." She shook her head, leant forwar and placed a kiss atop Calina's head.

"I love you."

Another look at her face, at those bright blue eyes she'd inherited from her father. Then she swept away, leaving a dumbstruck Calina standing in the middle of the corridor.

She didn't look back.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Anaya Fen"]

As she left -- and the moment became more proper for interjection -- the green lady half-stepped out of the office, leaning lightly on the frame of the doorstep and watched Fen leave, while leaving Calina here.

"Mothers... little boxes of paradoxes wrapped in enigmas." Sarova mumbled out absentmindedly while looking on. She had a fair few of her own issues when it came to mother-figures, so part of her could understand Calina's own conflicting thoughts and feelings when it came to Anaya.

Such was the way of the Sith, she supposed.

"Come, we have much to talk about."

She wandered back into the office with the expectation of being followed.

 

[Mia Monroe]

Calina's head whipped round at Cerita's words. How? was the first word that came to mind and she opened her mouth to ask, only to snap it shut again. It didn't matter how, she knew and that was all that mattered.

"Anaya Fen does not need to be a mother to fit into that description." She glanced once more to where she had been, emotions confused, before following Cerita back into the office and shitting the door behind her.

"You should be aware I have witnessed her decapitate people for knowing our relationship. For your own sake, don't make let her know you know." There was perhaps a touch of a plea there that indicated at something a little closer to home than the teenager wished to portray.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Calina Ovmar"]

Ceri studied the child for a moment, just something of amusement flickering in her eyes, before suddenly nodding seriously.

"Of course. I will keep it in mind, thank you." In truth she didn't worry much about Anaya Fen, she was much too unstable and all over the place to truly be a threat at even the worst of days. If Ceri had survived Ovmar when she was younger, less experienced and not yet under the protection of Rave... well, there was little anyone could do now to her.

But perhaps that was the arrogant hubris of her own youth speaking.

"At any rate, on to more important subjects -- your training." She finally responded again, scratching at her chin for a moment. "You know, when I woke today I hadn't been expecting to assume responsibility over an apprentice."

A frown furrowed itself between her eyebrows.

"Life's funny like that, I suppose. Here's the deal: I got many other responsibilities, I won't be able to lock myself away with you and train you up towards the level of experience you need to be for this to be effective. So you will be like a shadow of mine, you will follow me, listen and learn by seeing... and doing, of course."

Head shifted an inch to the side.

"Deal?"

 

[Mia Monroe]

If truth be told, Calina couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. Anaya and Kaine had chosen to keep her contained, combining study and lessons as they saw fit. She had learned a great deal, but what good was k owl edge of you were unable to apply it to the world around you?

She smiled. "I can't ask for more than that, Master. I wonder..." She paused, hesitant to ask for something again so soon. "Should the opportunity arose and I see something I feel o need to pursue, will I be free to do so?"

[member="Cerita Sarova"]