Dominion Silver Tongued Suspicion - Dominion of Mygeeto [DIA]

[Zara Saga]

Tags: Rokul | Zinayn | Laphisto​

Zara barely flinched as Rokul flung a pirate off the ledge beside her, just one less nuisance in her periphery. The gold arcs of her blades danced through the snow-thick air like lightning. She spun low beneath a blaster bolt, kicked out the knees of one pirate, and impaled him on a backward stab without looking. Efficient. Stylish. Bored, almost.

From the corner of her eye, she tracked Zinayn's leap, elegant as ever, even with that ridiculous katana. She didn't say anything, but the way her brow lifted and mouth twitched suggested commentary. Something smug. Something about men and their swords.

Then she heard him: "The slaves are being held in there. I can free them."

She didn't look at him at first, just stepped into a cross-cut that tore through another two pirates like they were cheap fabric. One blade deactivated with a hiss as she rolled her wrist, clipped it, and turned toward him with narrowed eyes.

"Leaving us with the dirty work?" she said dryly, ducking a bolt before flicking her wrist and sending her last saber spinning into an arc. It carved through a pirate's blaster mid-shot and embedded itself in his chest. The saber returned, and she caught it like a baton. "Fine. Go be noble."

To Rokul, she barely even gave a nod before striding toward the AA turret tower. "Let's move, Soldier. Leave him to be the savior."

The two made quick work of the rest along the wall, Rokul in his stoic, wrecking-ball style, Zara in her graceful violence. They moved like thunder and lightning, him crashing through enemies with brute efficiency, her striking fast and sharp and vanishing before the next could blink. One pirate managed to corner her against a stack of crates, shouting something vaguely threatening before she yanked his coat forward and drove a saber through his gut with all the care of someone popping a balloon. Her foot braced against his chest, and she kicked him back into the snow, scowling.

"These pirates talk so much."

They descended into the inner courtyard, sticking to the shadow of the southern wall where the gunships were still taking fire overhead. Zara looked up once, brows furrowing in rare concern as another engine plume trailed smoke.

The entrance to the anti-air system was barricaded, of course. A pair of beefy sentries stood outside, one with a rotary cannon that hummed as they spotted the duo. Zara didn't stop. She raised one saber and threw it, spinning like a buzzsaw. It cleaved through the cannon's barrel, sparks flying, and ricocheted off a metal post before boomeranging back into her hand as she advanced at full sprint. She left the other for Rokul, slipping inside before even checking if the soldier needed any help, she was already confident he could handle himself.

Inside the turret's control center, Zara immediately got to work. Her gloved fingers flew over the console, slicing through layers of outdated pirate tech like she'd done it before. The whole room hummed as the turret alignment reset.

Then, silence. The barrage on the gunships cut out.

Zara leaned back slightly, exhaling. "There. No more fireworks."

She turned back Rokul, brushing a strand of snow-wet hair from her cheek, the edge of a smirk curling again. "Nice work, heavy hitter."

Grumbled voices and shouting could be heard behind another door as she heard the pirate reinforcements coming.

And then, eyes gleaming, a little dangerous. "Now let's find out what's behind door number two."

 

[Rokul]

Location: Mygeeto
Tags: Laphisto Zinayn Zara Saga

The moral dilemma of rescuing the slaves was lost on Rokul. They weren't directly part of his orders, and releasing them would cause more mayhem than good. But at the very least, if someone was going to go rescue them, it might as well be Zinayn . He was an unknown to Rokul, apart from the fact that the Chiss was meant to be an ally. The man didn't spend much time dwelling on the thought however as he returned to pummelling the pirates around him. It was inefficient of him to use his fists at this point, he had more than enough time to pull out his blaster rifle...but there was a part of him that enjoyed using his fists. His rifle would involve him having to stop his momentum and he was at his best when he kept moving. Rokul wouldn't let anything stop him unless he let it.

He didn't need to be told twice to get moving. Honestly, if he had been given the choice, Rokul would have followed the Archon either way. His role was to follow her, not Zinayn. Whilst Zara dealt with the pirates through her own graceful strikes, Rokul continued to barrel through them, using whatever improvised melee weapon he could alongside his fists. Hefting crates up into the air and slamming them down onto his opponents. Any of them that lived through Rokul's wrecking strikes would certainly wish they didn't survive when they woke up.​

"These pirates talk so much."

"Agreed."
The irony wasn't lost on Rokul, even if he didn't laugh at it. The pirates seemed to be chatterboxes that wouldn't stop opening their mouths, yelling whatever obscenities or threats. They let their anger, their fear, their emotions lead their actions which caused them to be sloppy. To make mistakes that were easily exploitable. Whereas Rokul was the opposite. He kept his mouth shut, his emotions locked behind a durasteel wall that even he struggled to get past and he made sure not to make mistakes. The average person could make mistakes, but Rokul did not see himself as the average person.

Hiding in the shadows did feel...somewhat wrong to the Soldier. He felt like he stood out like a sore thumb. It was like trying to hide a Rancor in a cave but he went along with it for now. Though as they came across the pair of sentries, Rokul hesitated for a moment. Even he knew his armour wouldn't stand up to a rotary cannon. That hesitation only lasted for a moment however as the Archon sprung into action, and as soon as the rotary cannon was out of commission, Rokul charged. With all of his momentum gone, he would have needed to build up his speed all over again, at least normally. Instead however, Rokul tapped into the Force instinctively, increasing his speed for a moment. It wasn't something he could consciously do, yet he always had moments like this. Where he managed to push himself harder to achieve his goals. And his current goal was to smash against the second sentry right up against the wall. By the time he got into the building, with the remains of the rotary cannon barrel over his shoulder as an improvised club, the turrets were down. At least the amount of causalities on their side should stop climbing as fast as it was...
​

"Nice work, heavy hitter."

"Thank you Ma'am. It is a privilege to fight beside you. I have never seen a fighter at your calibre."
That was the most Rokul had said in one go, at least as part of the Diarchy. But it was also the truth. Rokul had never fought alongside a Force Sensitive that he knew of at least. The Militia troops he had started with weren't skilled. If anything, they were as sloppy as the pirates here were. It's why he was happy with the Diarchy. They were professionals.

And so once again, Rokul didn't need to be told twice. As soon as Zara mentioned finding out what was behind the door, Rokul took his new club and brought it crashing down against the door. Sure, they could have just opened it normally...but this made more of an impression. You should always aim to make a good first impression, even against your enemies.​

 

[Varis Oakertain]

Ravenous - Nightclub, Maribath City​

There was a short pause and than a communication came back over the line from Rellik.

"Do not interfere. She is powerful, let her work, be unseen. Tag his allies if opportunity presents."

The command had been given. His task of babysitting was now one of cooperation. They were both operatives in service of the Diarch tonight.

Varis watched from his perch like a bird of prey. Eyes noticing the subtle nature that most would miss. Indra never ordered from the bar, yet her appearance alone was bringing some to try an approach. She beautifully dissuaded them with whispers and soft laughs.

If Yauq was watching her, he would see that she was waiting for someone. That she was reserved and special. To Varis's eyes; she laid the bait perfectly.

His eyes flickered from the motion in his periphery. The table of his target was shifting. Not in a group effort to approach or bully Indra but in a stillness that came from realizing they were not worth their boss's attention. Something more important had caught his eye.

The hunter took tabs of each target and their tendencies. One at the bar, one taking calls in the smokers section away from the music, and another two dancing on the floor. They would be easiest to tag in the reverse order. Moving bodies don't feel tracers easily, a busy smoker would be thinking of something else. Than the one at the bar would need to have his focus placed elsewhere. Somehow.

His mission was still two fold. Indra was an expensive purchase and it appeared to Varis that his friend had found a soft spot for her. - Rellik always did with the pretty ones. he thought.

Indra did not disappoint as Varis checked on his split duty. - She approached the table knowing she was inevitable, irresistible. Her words came through clearly into his ear piece. Indra dominated Yauq, the soft yet powerful voice even giving Varis a pause as if she was talking into his ear.

For the second time in one night, she had made him drift off into thinking of something besides his task.

With a shake of his head and a sip of his stiff drink he came back to. He would observe her when he could between moving through his targets. Leaving the upper floor Varis made his way to the dance floor. His first targets for tracking in sight.

Indra Quin​

 

[Tertius C. Nargath]

OBJECTIVE: Deal with the Mygeetan Council
Maldor Mecetti | Antipater | Rocho | Diarch Rellik | Diarch Reign

For the whole time, Tertius had been sitting down, waiting and watching, allowing Maldor Mecetti to take the forefront, to prove himself in front of not only himself or Antipater , but both diarchs; Diarch Reign and Diarch Rellik as well. However, when it almost seemed the council had buckled, their offer, their proposal seemed to bring quite some confusion and discussion, with Maldor clearly shaken and out of his element with this proposal, the Droid lord of Jaemus seemed to be dismissive of the idea of a tribute and the whole prospect of just following through on their ridiculous demands.

Eventually though, Diarch Rellik turned to him, hoping to see if the Financial Advisor could give some more insight in this whole proposal. To this, Tertius smiled and stood up, motioning Maldor to come closer to him, so he could address the man slightly more private, that way only those on this end of the negotiations would hear what he had to say.

"He's making a fool out of us, that tribute is worth nothing...he specified goods sold on the Mygeetan market...but the Mygeetan market itself is small, this world thrives on industry, thus it thrives on exports and almost nothing built on Mygeeto is to be considered for or from the Mygeetan market," With a nod, Tertius flashed a gentle smile towards the council. "Counter his proposal, rather than a tribute, explain that there will be a taxation of twenty-one percent on all goods and services produced and provided by any and all companies owned by or trading with the Ruling council."

Patting Maldor Mecetti on the shoulder, the financial advisor tried to show his support for the man, making it clear that he wouldn't mind further political and economical work with the man in the near future. "Emphasize that this taxation can be lowered if and only if they vie for official recognition with the High Chancellorate of the Diarchy. Until they have come to Bastion to negotiate better terms... they will be taxed accordingly and to enforce this decision, there shall be a permanent military presence to act as overseers of the system under direct control of the Chancellorate."

 

[Maldor Mecetti]

OBJECTIVE: Deal with the Mygeetan Council
Economic Policies
____________________________________________________________​

Maldor was soon glad he had paused to look for a shark's bite in this proposal. Antipater presented an Imperial thought process- no agreement need be kept once boots were on the ground. Tertius saw through to the deception in the Councilor's proposal.

Maldor suspected that the Diarchs did not want to be known for dismissing deals and resorting to force, so Antipater's suggestion was tucked into his back pocket. Tertius' recommendation at the forefront.

But he added his own flavor to the approach.

"Dear Councilors," Maldor began, "your gracious offer of tribute is generous. Excessively so.

The Diarchs do not seek to impoverish the territories they absorb. The standard taxes and tariffs of twenty-one percent on all production, consumption, and export within newly acquired territories is more than sufficient to satisfy these great leaders.

No additional tribute is required.

And in exchange, the Diarchs will happily provide troops and security personnel for your defense needs, saving you untold millions on national defense."

He smiled.

"Some other worlds have expressed more interest than you in participating in politics.

They have even at times managed to make arguments for better tax terms in the Great Forum of the Chancellorate. I would have thought that this possibility would be of value to you, but I often forget that the priorities of different peoples can vary widely. I understand and accept that becoming Chancellors in the Forum does not interest you.

The Diarchs will graciously provide Chancellors to represent your world on your behalf. Thus liberating you to consider... higher matters."

He shrugged.

"We really just want you to be happy here. If less involvement in your affairs is what you wish, it shall be so."



Maldor Mecetti | Antipater | Rocho | Diarch Rellik | Diarch Reign | Tertius C. Nargath

 

[Tertius C. Nargath]

OBJECTIVE: Deal with the Mygeetan Council
Maldor Mecetti | Antipater | Rocho | Diarch Rellik | Diarch Reign

The Mygeetan Councillors looked at Maldor Mecetti , at first their expressions were a mixture of nervous smiles, smug grins and a bit of concern from those who had already pointed out the futility of trying to defy the Diarchy, but it was the Muun and Murkus Grobb who maintained their smugness, their thin and wide grins as they fully expected the younger man to fall into their trap. However, their certainty had been shaken when it seemed Tertius had already begun to make his move as well, talking silently to the diplomat.

As soon as Maldor opened his mouth once more, it began to look like the two realized exactly what time it was, the sword of judgment was hanging by a silk thread above their necks now. The other members of the council seemed bewildered, some of them immediately seemed to agree with the decision Maldor put forward, others needed a bit of time to let this sink in. The Muun sank down into his chair, his eyes looking like a dullard's stare into the void, while Murkus Grobb stood up with his immese weight making his body wobble as he let out a deep and loud huff, slamming his fist on the table in front of him. "You can't do this, this is a hostile take over... you are out of line!!"

" Maldor Mecetti , may I congratulate you on your success," With his datapad in his hand, the marquis of Valkan, Financial Advisor to the Diarchy stood up and gave the eloquent speaker a pat on the shoulder, all the while smiling towards Diarch Reign and Diarch Rellik , silently motioning with his eyes towards the door that gave entrance to the room. "I have very recently been talking to a shrewd businessman, who had some good deals on the table, there was a certain building this man wished to get out of his portfolio...for he had not been using it, and it had been languishing in a trust fund's care for generations by now. I have contacted this man and bought myself this building he wanted to get rid of..."

Two Valkan guards suddenly opened the doors to the conference room, with Mygeetan police and a handful of Valkan guards under command of Centurion Livicus entering the room, who promptly saluted both Diarchs and the Marquis before standing aside. This sudden barging in seemed to fluster both the Muun and Murkus Grobb, with the latter promptly falling back into his chair, the loud creaking sound filling the room. The members of the Mygeetan police were let through by the other council members who calmly walked around the table and started to make attempts to shake maldor's hands and effectively had agreed to the terms, understanding the position they were in, unlike the two members of the council who were now looking up at a dozen of enforcement agents surrounding them.

"As of five minutes ago, I am now the owner of this building and all of its assets," The N&Z Chairman showed the datapad to Maldor Mecetti , showing him the contract on the screen of the tablet, but also pointing out that these two had actually managed to make a killing by listing the Council Building as the place of their own trusts and wealth management, apparently avoiding taxes and contributions to the council long before the Diarchy had come knocking on the door. With the councilbuilding now in Tertius' hands, their entire operations were thus exposed and nullified for not only would they not have a charter for the Diarchy's market, they simply had nothing to bargain with and no credits or liquidity. "I believe embezzlement, obfuscating credits from the council and thus the Mygeetan people and its economy is quite the capital offense. You have lost your charters, you have lost your assets, you have lost your standing...I say, it must be a dreadful feeling...standing on quicksand. Maldor Mecetti if you would be so kind to give these men your verdict... as voice of the Diarchy in these proceedings..."

 

[Zara Saga]

Tags: Rokul | Zinayn | Laphisto​

Zara leaned back against the console just slightly, enough to let her weight settle on one hip, one hand resting lazily on the still-warm metal. She looked at Rokul with a sly smirk curling up the corner of her mouth, the snow-slick strands of blonde hair framing her face like a halo of war and bad decisions.

"'Never seen a fighter at my caliber,' huh?" she repeated, eyes half-lidded, amused.

Her tone was teasing, but the moment didn't last.

A sudden hiss of pressure from the outer corridor snapped her back to center, and the reinforced door behind them groaned before it finally blasted inward, metal buckling under the pirates charges and crude explosives. Smoke billowed in like stage fog at an amateur play, and through it stepped a dozen figures, weapons raised, armored shoulders tense. One of them, some overcompensating pirate lieutenant with an ego as thick as his blaster rifle, stepped forward with a wicked grin and shouted:

"End of the line, freaks! This base is ours, surrender now, and maybe we won't let the slaves suffer when we take it back."

Zara tilted her head, eyes narrowing with feline disinterest. "That's adorable. You really think you're the main character in this little coup, huh?"

Her gloved hand reached behind her, flicked a control switch with a casualness that bordered on lazy. Red warning lights lit up across the room like angry eyes, and a low klaxon began to blare from the walls.

BASE SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE INITIATED.

The pirates blinked. Then cursed.

Zara stepped forward slowly, blades igniting with a pair of angry snaps. The gold light reflected off her cheeks like sunlight glinting on a dagger.

"Well." she said, voice dry as a desert moon, "I was going to offer you a chance to run. But then you opened your mouth."

The pirate lieutenant raised his rifle, snarled, and finally gave the order. "Kill them!"

The room erupted in chaos.

Zara moved first, sabers dancing in whirling arcs, intercepting bolt after bolt. She drifted between shots like smoke, her movements a careful ballet of aggression and precision. But her focus wasn't just her own survival, it was for his as well. Rokul. Every time she noticed a blaster bolt angled too close, she shifted, deflected it with a flick of her wrist or leaned into its path herself, trusting her reflexes to intercept what might've tagged him.

"Rokul." she ordered, breathless but calm. "Break 'em, heavy hitter."

She toggled her comm mid-spin, voice cutting through the chaos. "Zinayn, Laphisto, move the slaves now. Whole place is rigged to blow. I'd say you've got five minutes before it all goes kaboom, but I might be lying to make it exciting."

Her saber spun, split a rifle in half, and she landed hard beside Rokul, sliding through a puddle of melted ice and blood.

"You good?" she muttered.

She didn't wait for the answer. She trusted he'd still be standing when the smoke cleared. She had to. The pirates wouldn't survive long enough to find out otherwise.

 

[Rokul]

Location: Mygeeto
Tags: Laphisto Zinayn Zara Saga

Rokul brushed off a few stray bits of snow from his armour, cleaning it off ever so slightly. He cared for his armour, it was one of the things that helped keep him alive at the end of the day. Anything that helped to extend his survival was something the man cared for as he turned his attention back over towards Zara, tilting his head ever so slightly.

"Yes, it makes you a sight to behold."

There wasn't any amusement or teasing in his voice. Rokul was speaking entirely truthfully and honestly. Though his head snapped over as the door blew open, putting his fists up reflexively. This was no time to relax and he had to stay ready for any form of attack. Close quarters both played to his strengths and against them if he was being honest to himself.

Though as the pirate lieuetenant spoke, Rokul...adjusted his stance ever so slightly to stand more casually. They weren't as worrying as Rokul had expected. For the first time he could note, the stoic man felt...cocky. They could take them easily as he cracked his knuckles, Prepared to get to smashing, as he spotted Zara's hand reaching behind her...and the man blinked as the self destruction sequence was initated. He...wasn't expecting that. Oh well. It just meant he was on a time limit now, and Rokul never liked to disappoint.

As the room erupted into chaos, Rokul charged on it, bracing himself for a barrage of blaster bolts against his armour. Smashing his fists against various pirates to send them sprawling down to the ground, only to finally note that the barrage hadn't struck. Lifting his head up for a moment, Rokul glanced over to see Zara deflecting bolts away from him, putting herself into danger and he blinked again. He wasn't used to being the one protected, Rokul would normally take blaster bolts head on.​

"Rokul." she ordered, breathless but calm. "Break 'em, heavy hitter."​

There was no time for him to think about that however. He had orders. It was time to enact them as he once again focused on using objects in the room as weapons. Grabbing a chair stained in whatever beverage the pirate sat in it had been enjoying, Rokul brought it smashing down onto the pirates before tossing it across the room to crash into a small gathering. He could afford to be more reckless, more aggressive.

Like he had said earlier, he had never seen someone on Zara's level. There had been no-one he had fought with that he trusted with his own life. Until now. Rokul trusted the Archon to have his back, letting himself let loose, fully extending himself into his attacks. It only allowed him to further stream roll through the pirates.​

"You good?" she muttered.​

There was no verbal answer, but Rokul gave Zara the smallest of smiles as he broke out into a charge for a pirate that had been trying to sneak behind him. The normally stoic and quiet man letting out a roar of noise as he hoisted the pirate up and slam them straight down onto the control panel as it exploded into sparks of light.

Alright! Who's next?! Rokul turned his attention towards the rest of the pirates, trying to figure out how to smash to pieces next. He was enjoying this. Normally, he'd just follow his orders because it was what he was meant to do it. It was what he had been born to do, but now? He was enjoying this. Rokul was enjoying breaking the pirates.​

 

[Maldor Mecetti]

OBJECTIVE: Deal with the Mygeetan Council
Economic Policies
____________________________________________________________
​

Developments unfolded in a most unexpected and dramatic fashion. Nargath was a man who had clearly been playing this hand long before it was dealt.

In the Empire, Maldor would have been expected to deliver a death sentence after such a revelation. Then, to ignite his blade and decapitate these men as an example to others. Or perhaps order his men to put their heads on spikes outside the building.

Something dramatic. Something bloodthirsty.

Something... wasteful.

But Maldor knew these men were more than this building. More than their known assets. More than the filings of their corporations. They had ties to the community. Friends, family, allies. They had a web of connections that could be very useful or very problematic in engaging an orderly takeover.

A network like theirs could become the seeds of rebellion.

Or it could become the seeds of a stable transition.

The only way to suborn their network was either mass murder or...

"I believe your Mygeetan law states that such treasonous action against the state- embezzling public funds- is punishable by death," Maldor noted. A rather sinister consequence written into law by these same fine gentlemen, thinking to protect their own assets which had become so wrapped up in state affairs.

"But... perhaps this sentence could be commuted in favor of... community service."

He took a step nearer the doomed Councilors. "Would you like to reconsider becoming Chancellors for your world in the Diarchal Forum? To use your connections in favor of Diarchal rule? And perhaps even to turn a modest profit... under the close eye of Chief Executive Nargath, of course?"

He shrugged.

"Otherwise, we can publish your crimes, enjoy a lengthy trial where your every dirty deed is paraded in front of the public...

And carry out Mygeetan justice."

Stability required structure. Structure required the use of existing social and economic networks. Politics wasn't about working with people you liked. It was about making things work. Period.

The odor of bad company be damned.

On the other hand, if these men weren't smart enough to gratefully accept the offer now, they could be food for dogs for all Maldor cared.

Ego could be forgiven. Greed could be forgiven. Even a degree of evil could be forgiven.

But incompetent stupidity?

There would be no room for that in the Diarchy.

Maldor Mecetti | Antipater | Rocho | Diarch Rellik | Diarch Reign Tertius C. Nargath​

 

[Zara Saga]

Tags: Rokul​

Zara's breathing was ragged, her shoulders rising and falling in quick, shallow heaves as she ducked under the last crackle of blaster fire. Her golden sabers flicked and spun, humming through the smoky air like twin storms, carving down the final pirate who dared to stand between her and Rokul. The two moved in sync now, Zara's sharp, calculated finesse slicing through chaos while Rokul's raw strength crashed through bodies like a tidal wave in armor.

It was brutal. Efficient. Honestly, kind of fun.

Zara slammed a boot into a pirate's chest, knocking him flat, then pivoted off the impact into a high arc that left her blades trailing golden light through the gloom. When she landed, it was next to Rokul again.

"Gotta say," she called over the chaos, brushing a fleck of blood from her cheek with the back of her glove, "you really know how to redecorate."

Before he could respond, her comm crackled.

"Zara, this is Commander Tarian. All the prisoners are out. Zinayn saw to it personally."

Zara's head turned slightly, eyes narrowing with focus. Relief flickered in her chest, tamped down immediately by a flare of suspicion. "Copy that," she replied. "But… Laphisto hasn't checked in."

That wasn't like him. Not even close.

The pirates had set up the system to shriek like a banshee when the base had just minutes left. Loud enough that even the deaf would understand it was time to panic. A new siren wailed overhead, higher pitched, urgent. The whole structure shuddered like it was taking its final breath.

She turned to Rokul, eyes sharp now, less teasing and more command. "That's our cue, Soldier. We're done having our fun."

With a quick wave, she beckoned him to follow, sabers extinguishing with a hiss. The two of them sprinted down the crumbling hall, dodging falling ceiling panels and explosions as the base gave up the last of its strength. The cold air bit at them as they burst from the collapsing doors and dove into the snow outside. Behind them, the base erupted into a fireball. Towers crumpled. Shrapnel screamed across the sky. The last of the pirates were reduced to ash and poor life choices.

Zara hit the ground hard and rolled, coming to a stop just shy of a snow-covered outcrop. She sat up, chest heaving, laughing just once as the warmth of the explosion buffeted her back.

Then she heard the crunch of boots.

Tarian.

"Archon." he said grimly, "there's something wrong with Laphisto. You need to see this."

Zara was already pushing herself up, sabers clipped back to her hips, frost in her hair and fire in her eyes.

"Take me to him." she said, voice suddenly low and steel-edged.

But before she left, she turned back to Rokul. Her smile this time was small, real, tired - but full of something not entirely unlike admiration.

"The DAF's better with soldiers like you in the ranks." she said softly.

Then, with a wink that was half gratitude, half dare: "Thanks for the assist, heavy hitter. I owe you one."

And just like that, she was gone, snow crunching beneath her as she vanished toward whatever trouble came next.

 

[Rokul]

Location: Mygeeto
Tags: Laphisto Zinayn Zara Saga

Rokul's eyes dropped to glance over towards the comm, listening to the repots of the slaves being freed. That was good, he supposed even if it wasn't part of his mission. Of course, he couldn't help but make a small comment about the decorating.

"Imagine if I had better supplies for redecoration."

A small attempt at humour from him. The more he fought, the more his stoicism was fading. The Diarchy was bringing out the best of him as he rolled his shoulders back. The sirens were blaring like a banshee, echoing through the building and inside of Rokul's own head, silencing any thoughts he had. That was fine with him though. There wasn't much thoughts needed when you were just running through a hall.

He sprinted down the hall alongside Zara, dodging or charging past ceiling panels as they fell. The structure of the building collapsing around them as Rokul stood firm, strong with a purpose. The cold sting of the air burned at his lungs as they reached the exit as he took in as much air as he could. His lungs screamed at him from inside, as the sirens of the base screamed against his ears. For a man who's life had normally been so quiet, so absent of emotion, there was a cacophony of sounds and feelings rushing through him.

As soon as they reached the exit, Rokul dove straight into the snow, rolling along the ground for a moment before the weight of himself and his armour brought him to a standstill. Though without taking a moment to breathe, Rokul jumped up to his feet and stood ready to try and block any shrapnel falling from the sky that might have landed near the pair. Though fortunately for him, that threat didn't come to pass as Tarian came along, informing the Archon of something wrong with Laphisto. That was Rokul's sign to start tuning out. It didn't involve him. It wasn't critical information that he needed to know.
​

"The DAF's better with soldiers like you in the ranks." she said softly.

Then, with a wink that was half gratitude, half dare: "Thanks for the assist, heavy hitter. I owe you one."​

He blinked however as his focus was brought back to the Archon. A small smile flickered on Rokul's face at the comment. It gave him a sense of pride that he hadn't had before. To hear that he made the DAF better was one of the best things he could hear as Rokul brought his hand up to give Zara a sharp salute.

"Anytime Ma'am. Always proud to lend a hand. If you ever want to have another dance, I'm sure you know where to find me. I have a lot more moves to show off."

The first half had been professional and sharp, like the Soldier he was...though his smile turned into a small grin at the mentioning of another dance. It was perhaps out of character for him, but it was true. He enjoyed this fight more than any others he had been in.

With that, he spun around on the heel of his boot and made his way back to base, a small smile still flickering on his face in the snow.​

 

[Indra Quin]

She watched him squirm beneath the smile he thought he wore well.

Yauq Mantell had sent his entourage away, likely thinking it made him seem decisive or bold. But now he sat in the quiet of his own choosing, confronted by a woman who had not once praised him for it. Indra hadn’t offered admiration, hadn’t played coy. She had only been—present, poised, and silent long enough for the silence to grow heavy between them.

She reached for her untouched drink and let the rim graze her lower lip before speaking.

"There’s a woman at the bar. Red dress, long hair. She keeps looking over here."

A lie, of course. But one seeded gently into the moment.

She gave no indication of jealousy, no tone of accusation. Just enough to suggest… curiosity. And Yauq, ever eager to show attentiveness, turned his head.

"She looks... persistent, doesn’t she?"

She leaned closer, her voice dropping slightly, playful yet unreadable.

"Would you do something for me? Nothing dramatic. Just send one of your men—maybe the one from the dance floor—to ask her what she wants. I don’t like being stared at."

The request dangled, coated in silk but laced with steel. She said it like it didn’t matter. Like he could say no.

But if he did, the spell would break.

Her eyes remained on his as he hesitated, weighing image against instinct. It wasn’t about the woman at the bar—there was no woman at the bar. It was about control. About who gave commands, and who obeyed them.

And whether he knew it or not, this was his first test.

Indra looked away again, letting the moment stretch. She didn’t have to chase leverage. She let it come to her.

He didn’t respond right away.

Yauq’s expression tightened—just a flicker—but it was enough. Enough to show he understood the stakes, even if only subconsciously. His eyes darted back toward the bar, scanning for the woman Indra had named. There was someone there—red dress, long hair. Alone. Innocent. But that wasn’t the point.

Still, he hesitated. Then, a slow breath. He reached for his comm.

A message was sent. Discreet. A tap of fingers and a glance toward the floor. Seconds later, one of his men peeled away from the dance circle and made his way toward the bar.

Indra didn’t look back to confirm. She already knew.

The woman at the bar blinked in confusion when approached. A short exchange followed—muttered words, the man gesturing toward Yauq. And then her features shifted. Discomfort. Embarrassment. And finally… retreat.

She left.

No scene. Just distance.

Yauq turned back toward Indra with a satisfied tilt of his head, only now realizing how tense he had been. He ran a hand through his hair, leaned back slightly, and gestured toward the seat beside him.

"I’d rather not have you standing over me like some kind of… judgement."

A grin, meant to charm. To recover footing. But the damage was done. He had obeyed.

And Indra, with the grace of a shadow descending on velvet, accepted the seat not like a guest, but like someone who had already claimed it.

The game had changed.

And she hadn’t even touched her drink.

| TAG: Varis Oakertain | EQUIPMENT: Minimal, invisible, enough.​