The Original

[Noire]

​

Z E L T R O S​

Coratanni Cartel​

Penthouse​

​

You can't play God without being acquainted with the Devil. ​

There was a distinct click sound as a thumb depressed the switch of a cigarillo case. It was platinum, decorated with intricate swirls. A rather obnoxious show of wealth. The lid flipped open, revealing a row of five finely rolled dark brown cigarillos. They were the newest batch of S.I.N.'s expansion into narcotic vices... among other things.

With the care and grace of a Jeco surveying her domain, Natalia took the small cigarillo holder and perched it upon the fullness of her crimson lips. She stood on the third story balcony of the penthouse; their penthouse now, courtesy of the anxious Mr. Vies. It had a sprawling view of Zeltros capital, every bit as luxurious as she would expect. It was nothing like the shanty club that Slevin and she had carved out as their domain on Rishi. No, this had class. This was decadent. It was everything they deserved.

But it wasn't enough.

No, it had only just begun.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

Slevin slowly leaned back on the plush sofa, his eyes settled on the girl that sat opposite him.

She was a tiny thing really, early twenties, blonde hair, thin lips and eyes that seemed almost a bit too small for her face. She was pretty enough, not a great beauty that would have songs written about her, but enough to turn most heads on the side-walk. When they'd first taken her she'd been rather obnoxious about it, constant tears, unending whaling, but by now she had learned that such things would get her absolutely nowhere. So instead she simply sat quietly, eyes turned to the floor, hands in her lap.

Quite good company really.

Slevin let out a yawn as he leaned into the sofa, glancing away from the girl and towards one of the massive windows nearby. The girls father had a task to complete, a simple one really, though Slevin suspected that he would try to somehow skirt the rules that they had made for him.

People didn't grow powerful here on Zeltros by simply rolling over and letting themselves get kicked around. More often than not they resisted, tried to fight back or gain the upper hand. While his daughter was a precious thing, Slevin couldn't help but wonder if she was enough for him to throw everything away. He glanced back at her as he mused.

He supposed they would find out.

In due time.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

"I have looked into a facility." Natalia broke the silence, her husky voice flowing in the chamber. A flash of light and a flame touched the tip of the cigarillo she had set upon the holder.

A deep drag sank into the flesh of her cheeks into their hollows, casting her face in shadows and hard lines. Smoke went curling in wisps to the ceiling, her torso shifting towards Slevin and the girl.

"Keoe Cybernetics." the blonde woman said in a crisp tone, those long legs bringing her slowly over towards the young woman despite her words being for her beloved.

"You know about Keoe Cybernetics, don't you dearest?" she would. The company CEO had a son. A native zeltron by the name of Keoki Keoe.

A shift of slinky black fabric and a cock of her hip brought Natalia over to the girl. Maile Vies ducked her head meekly, lower lip trembling.

"Right?"

A sudden hard nod was her answer.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

This little venture was more Natalia's doing than his own, or rather, it was her passion. He supported her of course, he even liked the idea, but she was the driving force behind it.

It was a good plan, something that would allow them to expand and control as much as they wished, but there was a bit too much...subtlety in it for him. Oh he knew that in the end there would be plenty of violence, but for now everything seemed almost...tedious. It made him restless. Slevin didn't like spending his time crossing the t's and dotting the i's. It wasn't something he enjoyed, not at all in fact, but Natalia managed to keep him calm enough to see it all through.

"Your plan?" He beckoned his beloved.

As much as she and he were connected, Slevin couldn't quite yet read her mind.

He flashed a smile towards the girl as Natalia stared at her, a gesture that was meant to be...comforting. The Crime Lord observed her as she looked down at her shoes, as though she wanted to say something but didn't quite have the courage to get it out.

At least not yet.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Smoke blew softly from Natalia's lips, the spicy white curls rising as her lips gave a subtle twitch. The girl amused her. This Maile. Such a pretty little face. She learned her place rather quickly. However, Natalia knew that if one wanted true loyalty, a bit of manipulation had to be done. No, the little miss would prove herself useful, and she will do it willingly.

"Maile will help me." Natalia cooed, draping herself along the couch beside the young woman. Natalia plucked the cigarillo holder from her lips and held it aloft with two fingers. Her torso spun to face Maile, and her demeanor shifted to one of understanding.

"Are you thirsty? Hungry?" she asked, flashing those green eyes up and over to Slevin.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

"Thirsty, I think." He mused.

The idea of Malie 'helping' Natalia was amusing enough, though cryptic. He didn't care to dig into what she meant, mostly because he trusted her completely. Whatever Natalia had planned in her head, whatever she wanted to do, whatever she thought was best in this situation, he was sure that she was right.

There was never any doubt.

The two of them had been created, crafted almost explicitly to trust one another. They shared a bond that was stronger than any blood, stronger than any born of the force. They were one, a being that had been created to do as it pleased in two separate people. They would kill together, kark together, do everything that they pleased, always together. Their identities had been imprinted upon one another, and with that fact came no small amount of trust.

"I think Malie can make me a drink." He slowly rested his head in his fingers, leaning back. "Can't you, dear?"

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

There was just something about Slevin's charm and the manner by which he spoke to Maile that prompted the blonde woman to respond quickly. It was just in his manner, his demeanor. There was a strength, a presence that was as omnipotent as it was saturated in his carnality. As if he was just on the edge of moving as swiftly to slice at your throat or to pull you in for a kiss.

It drove Natalia crazy.

"Speak up, Maile. Where are your manners?" Natalia would coo, smoke flowing with every movement of her full mouth.

"What sort of drink would you like?" "Mister Thawne." Natalia punctuated to ensure the young woman would remember to say properly.

"MIster Thawne."

"Good girl, Maile." Natalia's pleasure was practically palatable.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

He gave the both of them an amused look, a small smile curling at the corner of his lips. He could't help it really, there was a slight hint of tension still in the air, and for whatever reason that very fact was endlessly amusing to Slevin. "Tatooine Sunset."

The Crime Lord said simply.

Either the girl would know it, or Natalia would have to teach her, he didn't really mind either way. His gaze fell away from the two women and towards the window. Zeltros was beautiful in it's own way. It didn't have the same charms as Rishi or the magnificent displays of Nar Shaddaa, but there was something enticing about it. He could understand the allure that many people felt about this world, why they came here in the first place. His beloved had been right to choose it.

They could have had a dozen other worlds more easily, but Natalia had picked this one, and she had done so correctly. He smiled for a moment and then slowly returned his gaze to the two girl.

"Hurry." He said. "I'm quite parched."

"I-I don't know how to make that."

Slevin perked an eyebrow, then gave Natalia and almost joyful smile. She would enjoy this.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

"You live on Zeltros, and you do not know how to mix a Tatooine Sunset?" smoke blew from Natalia's mouth as she gave Maile an incredulous expression. Amusement highlighted the angular planes of her face, a smirk twisting her crimson lips as she brought the cigarillo holder up to them for a deep drag.

"My, dear sweet, summer child." her throaty voice went floating with a rasp that would coat the spine. Her free hand came up, a small wave gesturing for the blonde woman to stand.

"No better day than today." Natalia then insisted, a secret look passing between Slevin and her. Molding Maile Vies would be to their best interest -- and the teenager certainly had such lovely skin and full lips.

Maile gave a deep swallow, then a nod. She wasn't quite sure what to expect or what to do, but she had learned fairly quickly it was better to just do what she was told.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

Lessons learned under Natalia and Slevin tended to be sucked up rather quickly. The two of them had little time or patience for students who weren't the most diligent, it was who they were. Perhaps it was because they simply expected as much from everyone else as they did from one another. Their standards were simply higher than most would expect. It was a difficult thing considering that he and Natalia had quite literally been designed for perfection.

Poor little mortals. "Lend her a hand, my dear."

He smiled at Natalia. The girl would become a very useful tool, more than just simple leverage, something more. They always picked up these little strays, even if they were the cause of them becoming wanderers. For a moment he considered the window once more, watching the sun set in the distance.

"I do wonder what's taking your father." He glanced towards Chrono on the wall. "Is it usual for him to be so late? Or do you think..."

He looked towards the girl. "He just doesn't care about you?"

The girl didn't answer, simply looked at her feet while waiting for Natalia's guiding hand.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

"Oh, I am sure he does." Natalia's hand went reaching out to gently graze Maile's jaw. A steady finger brought pressure alongside it, forcing the girl to look up at Natalia's eyes.

"Such a pretty little daughter." the woman would echo, giving a lingering smirk and leaving a small cloud of smoke in her wake. A quick two steps and those full hips went rounding over towards the bar. Maile immediately followed after her.

"You are your father's daughter, aren't you Maile?" that green cybernetic eye went swiveling over towards the younger blonde.

"He dotes on you, right?"

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

He frowned for a moment.

Slevin was also pretty sure that what Natalia said was correct. The man had been practically broken down when he'd been told they had his daughter. Parents, fathers especially were said to be incredibly protective of their children. Slevin and Natalia had seen it more than once, but this time...this time something felt off. The Crime Lord felt as though the task should have been completely by now, that they should already have what they wanted.

Yet they were here, waiting. "Perhaps he does."

Slowly his gaze panned towards the bar, the two women, and then towards the door to the room. Something was wrong, he could almost...sense it. Neither he nor Natalia were force sensitive of course, but they had a feel for these sorts of dealings, and something was definitely wrong.

"Honey." Slevin said slowly. "Let Maile finish the drink."

He frowned. "Fetch your blasters."

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

They was no hesitation in the request. Those emerald eyes turned to Maile and the expression along with her distinct," go," summed up her expectations. Maile was a bright girl. She'll figure it out -- or pay for it.

The full hipped woman gave Slevin a curt nod. Her saunter brought the long-legged woman over towards the far end of the loft. The entire penthouse was magnificent. Roomy. There even were several luxurious weapons cabinets. But Natalia took to storing her blasters where they'd be the most convienent. There was a small desk where she'd taken to doing her work for the upcoming project. It will all come together soon. The best laid plans and all. The moon was but one small portion of it.

A drawer was pulled and her blasters taken in hand. There was an expression of anticipation growing on her face. Slevin always had the best ideas.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

He was sure of it.

The Crime Lord had no idea how, but he knew. Something was wrong. Too much time had passed, too little had happened. There was a sort of tension in the air that he could practically bite into. His lips thinned as he stood from the couch, eyes flicking over towards the girl who was still working on his drink. She would have to be taught to do that faster, no use having people wait around on their orders. He rolled his eyes towards the windows.

"Maile." He said simply. "When they come, hide beneath the bar."

Slevin said simply. Her eyes widened, but again she gave that mousy nod.

Perhaps she was surprised that he knew anyone was coming, though a part of him expected that she had already realized it would happen. Her father wasn't the type to let this sort of treatment go by without another passing word. Slevin had thought that the threat on his daughters life would be enough to stop any idea of resistance, but apparently not.

"Too bad." He said to himself quietly as he wandered over towards the door, turning the deadbolt.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Slevin had a knack for this. How he managed to get the upper hand could only be a testament of his breeding. Of course, he was made to be so. Perfect. A testimony of genetic engineering at its finest. Much like she.

Maile gave them both confused looks, but she wasn't about to argue. Not with the sound of Natalia expertly checking her powerpack and clicking it home. A smirk drew over her lips and just as soon as Slevin opened the door, on cue, it appeared that they had company.

It would have been comical to linger upon the confused visage of a broadshouldered Devaronian. However, patience had never been Slevin's suit.

That was more Natalia's affair and even then, it had a limit.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

His fist came up in an instant.

It was like a viper's strike, honed over training and precise as though it had been guided by a laser. His knuckles connected with a soft spot on the Devaronian's cheek the instant sound of fracturing bone ringing out as the man collapsed, his face shattered in the single strike. The alien screamed, though Sven hardly had time to listen to him. Before another echo of the screech could be heard Slevin slammed the door shut, turning away and looking at his beloved.

"The windows." He told her simply.

The Devaronian had been alone, likely meant to catch anyone that was about to leave, that meant other infiltration teams would be coming and most likely through the large plate glass windows. The Crime Lord turned, fishing a small glove from it's place on the cabinet besides the door.

"Malie." He told the girl as he tossed her a remote. "Press that little red button."

A panic switch that would send their own men running.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Maile scrambled to catch the remote. Panic had set upon her features, terrified for her life. Red button, red button, red --

Her thumb swept over the crimson circle, vacillating between following Slevin's command or perhaps finding her freedom with the mercenaries. What should I do?

Natalia had brought her arms up, the cybernetic eye enhancing her trajectory as four more figures came crashing through the windows. Two were dead before they hit the ground, charred smoking holes in the middle of their foreheads. The others stood up, bringing their blaster rifles and sending a volley of laser fire at Natalia's direction. The woman had to duck behind the bar, lips twisting in mild distaste an annoyance at the interruption.

"Maile -- press the button." Natalia's curt voice followed suit. The lack of the subsequent alarm only annoyed Natalia more.

After another few seconds, the wail of the alarm went echoing throughout the penthouse suite.

Oh good. She pressed it.

She would still need to be punished later on for ignoring her beloved's command.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

Slevin wasn't particularly worried about these mercenaries, they were rabble. Untrained, common, idioti-

The Glass shattered, a deafening crack that sent sparkling shards all over the room. An explosion had erupted just beyond the window, tearing part the glass and sending shrapnel flying towards everyone inside. Natalia and the girl were hidden behind a veil of the bar, the soldiers that had already landed in the apartment were clear, so the only target left was Slevin.

His expression very suddenly grew grim.

In the split second he had before the impact Slevin couldn't help but let out a curse. The man would have to be punished for this, his daughter would have to be punished for this. All of them would have to be killed. A scowl pulled across his lips, and then a moment later glass began to embed itself into him. Most of the pieces were small, blocked by the tailored kevlar woven into his suite, but a few of the larger shards dug into his skin, cutting nerves and muscles.

Blood seeped into his clothes as he half fell, one particularly large piece having buried itself in his arm.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Glass went shattering over them, prompting the sudden duck and tuck of Natalia's head beside the bar. Shards drove into her skin, drawing blood, prompting a hiss.

She will pay for this. They would all pay. Natalia's lips twisted into a snarl. A deep breath, and her shoulders rose. Alright you karking bantha fuckers.

Three. Two.

Turning from the corner, Natalia's cybernetic eye zoomed in and whirled, gathering data and then allowing the woman to strike out with quick, precise shots. Two more bodies fell. Blood was already trickling down her temple and her arm, but she wasn't registering the pain.

Another brute came straight at her, using an automatic blaster rifle as his opening volley. Immediately the blonde scrambled behind the bar, crawling towards the far end. There she kept her head down until she heard the grunting voices ordering the mercs to head towards her.

Oh they were all going to pay.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

Slevin pushed the body of a fallen soldier away from him, kicking the man as he felt blood seep down his side. A scowl painted his lips, his eyes flicking towards the massive shard of glass that had buried itself within his shoulder. He let out a curse, shifting slightly and pushing himself back to his feet, his eyes wandered towards the Bar, spotting Natalia quickly rushing forward. The remaining mercenaries seemingly thought him dead, most of them having turned their backs.

He let out a curse, then scooped up a small silver orb from one of the dead men.

The Thermal detonator weight heavily in his right hand, his fingers flexing slightly as they wrapped around the orb. He could still feel the blood fall from his wounds, slowly ruining the suit that Natalia had purchased for him. She would be more than a bit upset about this. "My love."

He declared loudly enough for the soldiers to suddenly whirl around.

"Duck." He didn't particularly care if their hostage did the same, but as long as Natalia was okay nothing else mattered. The silvery orb was tossed a second after he primed it, the soldiers closest to him looking at him in shock as the device detonated mid-flight.