Private Back Alley Talks

[Misha Kaskadov]

TAGS: Ivory Stroud

MARIA​

Rain faintly poured down as Braxton sat in his sports speeder with his bodyguards, patiently waiting for the Donna to arrive for their meeting. It took a lot of resources to reach out to her, let alone even setting up the meeting in the first place. Some bodies in unmarked duracrete graves, messages, tracking down their difficult operation without the use of technology, and finally bribing one random guy on the ground to get a message to the Donna. Safe to say, the Family required him and his company to get creative.

It was a gamble the Director was willing to pay. All he could hope for was that the chat with her would pay off.

His usual bodyguard was still deployed in the Eternal Empire, leaving him with another bodyguard that wasn't nearly as talkative or interesting in the first place. The amount of awkward silence was enough to nearly fire the man. "See anything yet?" Braxton asked over the gentle thumping of the music coming from the radio. His bodyguard checked his comms and finally shook his head. "She should be here soon enough. If Darkwire's recent activity is any indication, she isn't one to take these types of dealings lightly." He commented as he slumped back behind the wheel, drumming his fingers against the dashboard.

He wasn't naïve enough to think she was coming alone. It was a very risky move to make for someone in his position... on Denon. The planet was quickly becoming a liability in the grand scheme of things. Between Darkwire not playing ball and the Corporate Authorities not getting off their laurels, his corporation was bleeding money through their head office. The only reason he didn't pull out completely was the factories and shops scattered around Denon, and the nearly bottomless source of soldiers for the Hellions to protect all their assets.

Those same soldiers were scattered around different locations and rooftops with rifles at the ready in case things got heated. He fully expected that the Donna would take the same precautions.

 

[Ivory Stroud]

(Parla Pui Piano, Rainytheme)​

The driving rain rhythmically patterned upon the windshield of the sleek, black speeder as it coasted through the dimly-lit back alley. The engine hummed quietly, a steady heartbeat pushing life through the vehicle's innards; neither blending in nor standing out in a sea of similar transports. Neon lights shimmered along the vessel's exterior, drawn in & dispersed like colored shards of glass lost in the abyss.

Behind the wheel, a Trandoshan's clawed hands gripped the speeder's controls - skillfully & cautiously directing its movements as it turned first one corner, than another. Arsk Tsugohk, Veteran Enforcer for The Family & one of the chosen few drawn from the lesser ranks of the "Goons" into a position of authority, blinked his soulless eyes as he glanced about... Marking the few denizens of Denon's underbelly whom still were out at this hour of night. Beside him, in the passenger seat, sat a Quarren - dressed similarly, in a black suit custom-fitted for his shape. Trak Osqol, another of The Family's veteran soldiers, appeared relaxed... though, he was not. Draped across the Quarren's lap & concealed beneath a black rain-coat was a Cantonica Keyboard; a masterwork of engineering & a staple of their armament.

In the backseat of the speeder, silently observing the passing scenery, sat a slender shape dressed likewise all in black - features concealed beneath a wide-brimmed black fedora & dressed in a long black dress which reached nearly to her knees. A black trenchcoat lay beside her, which she would don before exiting the vehicle. Ivory Stroud, Donna of The Family, was no stranger to the sights & sounds of Denon's nightlife... but instead of the guise of a Shadowrunner & a rebel, she appeared very different. Tonight was not a night for subterfuge & misdirection.

The trio within the speeder had driven in silence, with The Donna merely directing her chauffeur as necessary; neither of her companions had spent much time on the mean streets of Denon until very recently, and so were unfamiliar with the layout of the districts. Their home planet of Coruscant was similar... but, even now, the two Veteran Soldiers of the powerful Syndicate could admit Denon was very different from their homeworld.

After another few heartbeats of silence, The Donna's musical voice floated from the pool of shadow behind her escorts: "Just ahead. Turn right, then pull over. Kill the engine."

Without a word, Arsk complied. He didn't need to ask questions. He simply did what he was told.

The only other vehicle parked in the alleyway was just in-front of them, and The Donna's vehicle parked a few meters behind. Immediately, the headlights winked out & the engine died.

Together, the two veteran Goons glanced about, before the Quarren passenger shifted in his seat to glance over his shoulder at his boss.

Ivory's violet eyes penetrated into the core of his very soul. Her face might have been cut from granite - entirely emotionless.

"That's them." She said, answering the unspoken question.

Ivory took a deep breath, sighing to relieve the tension of the moment. She was taking a risk, by choosing to meet such a person under such circumstances... but the opportunity was too good to pass up. Feeling a bit more centered, she simply nodded an affirmative - and Trak Osgol removed the raincoat from his lap, setting the blaster rifle on the seat beside him. Then, the Quarren opened a small stowage bin just beneath his seat and extracted an umbrella, preparing to exit the vehicle.

"Stay here." Ivory said, meeting the Trandoshan driver's eyes through the rear-view mirror. "If anything goes wrong, signal Marcella. She'll know what to do."

Without waiting for acknowledgement, Ivory's slender fingers reached out and grasped the door-handle.

Both she & the Quarren would exit the vehicle together, with her escort opening the umbrella and holding it aloft for the both of them.

Misha Kaskadov

 

[Misha Kaskadov]

TAGS: Ivory Stroud

MARIA​

A sleek speeder finally pulled into the street and parked right behind the corporate duo. Braxton and his bodyguard sat for a moment as they watched their potential associates exit the speeder, making sure that there weren't any other surprises coming out of the woodwork. Not that they were expecting any, there were most likely some surprises waiting for them in the shadows if things became tense.

"Keep the holster open, just act cool." He instructed his man as he opened the speeder's door and stepped out to face the Donna. He calmly adjusted his overcoat and hair as his bodyguard climbed out as well, almost immediately focusing on the Quarren and the Trandoshan still inside their speeder.

"I almost expected swoop jackets and cargo pants!" A charming smile adorned his face as he studied the woman for a moment. "Miss... Stroud, is it? Braxton Holst, a pleasure to finally meet you, miss." He greeted with a friendly tone as he reached into a pocket and pulled a cigarette out. With a careful step to the side, he placed himself beneath an awning to light his smoke without issue. "I would have offered you a meeting in my office... but I'm sure we both wouldn't like that option very much." He quipped with a chuckle as he slid his lighter into his pocket and took a long drag.

The rain continued to pour down around them as he calmly observed the tall woman. Tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, but the both of them were calm sentinels as they stood across from one another. "How's the terrorism been treating you?" He asked with a smirk. He had to admit, he would never have noticed anything about her and her operations if it wasn't for Darkwire. He hoped that she would be the talkative type, he was dying for some information on the group.

 

[Ivory Stroud]

The Donna adjusted her rain-coat, ensuring it would keep her warm & dry, then stood under the umbrella her Quarren associate carried. The weight of her own personal weapon, hidden in a shoulder holster beneath her coat, bounced against her ribs - reminding her of its constant comforting presence. The pair left the silent black speeder, approaching the two men who'd exited their own vehicle & were now standing to one side of the alleyway. Overhead, a flickering neon sign cast a pallid glow upon their meeting.

"I almost expected swoop jackets and cargo pants!" A charming smile adorned his face as he studied the woman for a moment. "Miss... Stroud, is it? Braxton Holst, a pleasure to finally meet you, miss."

"Mr. Holst, I presume." Ivory returned, ignoring his jest. From beneath the wide brim of her hat, her violet eyes raked both he & his bodyguard - evaluating them like a predator would analyze its prey. "The pleasure is all mine."

"I would have offered you a meeting in my office... but I'm sure we both wouldn't like that option very much." He quipped with a chuckle as he slid his lighter into his pocket and took a long drag.

A humorless smirk crossed her full, ruby lips - one corner of her mouth turning upward almost in a sneer. She didn't say it, but she agreed - meeting in a Cloudcutter would not have been in her best interest. Perhaps if they were on Coruscant... but No. She much preferred the cloak & dagger, especially on such hostile territory as Denon.

His next words, delivered as-if they were simply old friends rather than fresh acquaintances, immediately set her teeth on edge. That word, Terrorism, caused her eyes to narrow suspiciously. Beside her, her Escort easily picked up on the sudden, almost indiscernible straightening of her shoulders, and glanced at her - reading her body language. Over the next few heartbeats, Ivory defeated a screaming voice within her mind telling her to turn and walk away from the meeting without another word. She also further controlled herself, keeping her eyes fixed on the Corpo and his bodyguard before her. If this was some kind of sting operation, then their cover was likely already blown.

If it wasn't, then she'd gain nothing by abandoning the meeting now... and worse yet, she would have exposed herself for nothing.

Instead, she locked eyes with Misha Kaskadov , her face emotionless but her violet eyes intensely betraying both impatience & poorly-suppressed irritation.

"Mr. Holst, you went through a considerable amount of hardship to arrange this meeting, and we are both taking a risk by being here. Respectfully, I suggest we cast aside the pleasantries and get to business. If you know who I am, you know who I represent. Now do us both a favor, and tell me why we're meeting on an empty Denon street, at night, in the rain, before I have my Associates introduce themselves the Coruscanti way."

Her voice cut through the tension like a molecular edge, crystallizing into what - she hoped - would be a sudden, crystal-clear realization for both men opposite her that they were trifling with powers they could not comprehend. CorpSec & CAD be damned - if they continued to toy with her, none of their money & power would save them from dying tonight. Whomever this "Family" was, they were not cut from the same cloth as Darkwire. Beside her, her Quarren escort's eyes rested, unwavering, on Braxton's bodyguard. There was not a single ounce of fear on display in her bodyguard's eyes; merely the kind of stillness that any gunslinger would immediately recognize as distilled, stone-cold professionalism.

Around them, the rain continued to fall - marking the passing of every second like sand running through an hourglass.

 

[Misha Kaskadov]

His comment certainly managed to rile the woman up. Despite her careful work on keeping her composure, she wasn't the only predator busy analysing its prey. A genuine smile formed as he held up a hand and flicked his cigarette bud into the ground. "You have nothing to fear from me, miss Stroud, that I can guarantee you. It will simply not be lucrative for the both of us if we simply lose our heads and gun each other down." He reassured her as he tucked his hands into his pockets. While his bodyguard seemed to shift a little from the Donna's words, Braxton stood tall with an unflinching gaze.

"This whole... game... going on with Denon... it's a joke for people like us. Darkwire, the Corporate Authorities, their vision is as short as their lives. I invited you out here so we can meet each other in person, on common ground, to discuss potential operations that could serve us the galaxy on a silver platter." He turned and opened the boot of his speeder to reveal a small drink cabinet. Calmly pouring two glasses of whiskey, he walked over to her and presented the drink as he took a sip of his own glass. "Tevraki whiskey, twelve years old."

"You want to talk business? How about I help you and Darkwire fold the Corporate Authorities and in return your people help mine with operations across the galaxy." Blunt and deathly serious, he calmly watched the woman as he stood a few feet from her with glass in hand. "Personally, I have bigger fish to fry than a few short-sighted schuttas sitting in their cloudcutters. They're pathetic. And Darkwire's only hampering my own operations and attempts to actually try and help a few million souls on this rock. So I want to know from you, how does an underground network from Coruscant to Christophsis with no restrictions sound? Money, material, support on speed-dial, you name it. And in return, you'll have the full backing of Hex Incorporated to break the CAD's hold on Denon and the surrounding planets."

Very bold and likely hard to believe for someone in her position, but every aspect of the Director indicated that there wasn't a shred of a lie in his words.

Ivory Stroud

 

[Ivory Stroud]

As Misha Kaskadov flicked his cigara butt into the wet pavement, The Donna attentively watched before turning to look into his eyes. His words were somewhat comforting, but she'd already marked him as a shifty character. She remained silent as he continued speaking, keeping her hands in the pockets of her coat - facing him as he opened the boot of his pretty speeder. She considered his words carefully, pausing for a heartbeat before reaching out to daintily accept the offered glass of whiskey. Her Quarren bodyguard, still silent, continued to protect her from the rain with the umbrella.

Tentatively, she glanced down at the glass of amber liquid & swirled it. Even at this distance, she could smell strong notes of oak & fire.

"Personally, I have bigger fish to fry than a few short-sighted schuttas sitting in their cloudcutters. They're pathetic. And Darkwire's only hampering my own operations and attempts to actually try and help a few million souls on this rock. So I want to know from you, how does an underground network from Coruscant to Christophsis with no restrictions sound? Money, material, support on speed-dial, you name it. And in return, you'll have the full backing of Hex Incorporated to break the CAD's hold on Denon and the surrounding planets."

"Mr. Holst, our Organization already spans the Galaxy. You know this, which is why you worked so diligently & at great cost to arrange this meeting." Without taking a sip from the glass (yet), she met his eyes once more. Her eyebrows narrowed. "So, the real question is not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you."

 

[Misha Kaskadov]

A broad grin formed along his weathered features as she spoke, not yet drinking from her glass. She was a sharp one, and her words held truth. His details on her operations were a lot more vague than he would prefer, but she had resources. Resources he wanted. All that mattered was to play it carefully.

"I want you to do what you do best, miss Stroud. Cause chaos. Amp up your operations, infiltrate, find wounds and make them fester. The former Confederate space is a gold mine simply waiting to be cracked open. Your people find an opening in those operations, and I'll take care of the rest." His tone was sharp and to the point as he took another sip. "My Broker will be in touch with you on the specifics. But the short and sweet is that your organisation can help mine out, and in turn we both flourish." He set the empty glass aside in his speeder as he stepped up to her.

"So how's it sound to you?" He asked simply as he adjusted his overcoat and tie.

Ivory Stroud

 

[Ivory Stroud]

The Donna listened as the shifty (but admittedly handsome) man in the coat before her laid out his plan... For what it was worth. An alliance with another Corp on Denon would be valuable, indeed; not just for her own organization, but Darkwire as well. She was already doing what he requested of her - only just beginning, really - and in time, she considered the possibility that she'd require aid in some capacity.

"So how's it sound to you?" He asked simply as he adjusted his overcoat and tie.

Ivory paused, silent for a moment... glancing down at the glass of amber liquid in the glass she still held. Around them, the dark underbelly of Denon droned onward - never silent, but comforting in its steady heartbeat. Like Coruscant. She considered, listening to the rain falling around her... stretching out her feelings into the air; a tendril of thought as she brushed Braxton's mind - searching for some sign of betrayal or dishonesty.

After a moment's hesitation, she brought the rim of the glass to her luscious lips and drained the measure of whiskey in a single swallow.

Then, she offered the empty glass back to him. They were close... almost face-to-face. Beside them, their individual bodyguards continued to eye each-other.

Her deep, penetrating Violet eyes regarded him coolly before she nodded once; a dip of her chin, signalling agreement. "Very well."

 

[Misha Kaskadov]

He watched her intently for a moment as she considered his offer. She finally came to a conclusion and finished off her glass before handing it back to him. Braxton held it out for his bodyguard to put it away as he reached out to shake her hand. "Very well!" He repeated as he stepped back to his speeder.

"Oh, uh... first order of business as well, while we're here." He turned to face her once more. "There's a planet in Enclave territory. Lyran IV. Used to have a massive underground network for criminals but the Mandalorians cleared them out a few years ago. I have a... project... in the works, and Lyran will be a perfect location for that project. I'd appreciate it if you can get an outpost on there while I set up the surface works. Planet's prime territory for a number of items your organisation might find useful. In the meantime, I'll get resources allocated for whatever you need here on Denon." He looked up at the sky for a moment. "Should still have a star destroyer or two that might come in handy." He flashed her a smirk as he pointed up. "The irony of it all... Xopsaloff's death could have been avoided, the 'Darkwire problem' solved permanently. Too bad those ships of mine were under maintenance that evening, huh?" He commented, walking back to his speeder.

"I hope we can do this more often, miss Stroud!" He opened his speeder's door and turned towards her. "Try and stay out of trouble." With a final wink he climbed in and started his speeder up before driving off...

Ivory Stroud

 

[Ivory Stroud]

His parting words and subsequent departure left her curious. She'd said nothing, watching the sleek little speeder pull into the alleyway and accelerate - disappearing into the rainy, neon night. For a few moments, she stood there beneath the umbrella which her Quarren bodyguard still dutifully held over her head... contemplating the brief meeting in her head.

The mention of Lyran IV was an interesting turn of events, to be sure; she'd already been in contact with members of the backwater "smuggler's paradise" & had been offered an opportunity to see, for herself, what the world could offer. There was simply no way the Chairman of Hex, Inc. could have known that.

And yet...

"Boss?" The grumbling bass of Trak Osgol's voice reached her ears, and Ivory realized she'd been standing still long enough.

"Yeah. Let's go." She said, glancing around the alley one more time before turning on her heel and walking back toward their own speeder. Osgol followed, collapsing the umbrella when they reached the car, then opening the door first for The Donna then himself. As Ivory slid into the backseat, already pulling off her damp trenchcoat, she was speaking to her driver; the Trandoshan, who still had a Cantonica Keyboard slung across his lap:

"Signal Reaper. We'll pick her up in the same spot we dropped her off. Tell her the meeting is concluded, and to disengage."

As Arsk did as instructed, Ivory folded up her coat and set it on the black leather seat beside her... then turned to look out the window. Moments later, the speeder pulled away, made a U-Turn, and drifted back the way they'd come. A few minutes later, the Chiss Assassin would rejoin them, awaiting pickup in the rain & dressed in a long buttoned rain-coat of her own. In the woman's right hand, she clutched a briefcase... one of the tools of her trade, which The Family Assassin had been using to mark & monitor the squad of snipers whom Braxton had deployed to monitor the meeting.

The Donna scooted over, allowing the silent, emotionless killing machine to take her place on the seat beside her.

The two shared a look, but did not speak for the remainder of the ride.

Her escorts knew, The Donna's mind was already hard at work.

~ END ~

Misha Kaskadov Dedata | Celty Ree Marcella Fiora