Private Loose Threads

[Lina Djo]

Lina watched him go from the window, her anger rolling off her as he slipped out the clubs door.

"Kark."

It had been going so well, until they had arrived. Now when they next met he would be armed and full of venom. Careful steps had to be taken to recover this. She swept back into the office, the blackblades following her in.

---

The following week saw a great deal of movement, while Lina herself never seemed to leave the club, many unknowns form the core came and went, having received the message Alex delivered. Information began trickling through again, though there were still those that would require a personal visit. She missed Leilah, not only for her company, but for her charm. Where Lina was lacking in patience, Leilah could sweep in and straighten things out without the need for violence. They were the perfect team.

She had no one to blame but herself. She had known better than to go the Ryloth, to attempt to save Leilah's father. She massaged the bridge of her nose and sat back in the chair, the information on the data slates before her was blurring. She hadn't slept for a few days and its was beginning to show in the shadows under her eyes. She had managed to delay her summoning back to the Malsheem but it wouldn't last for long.

A gentle knock at the door and she straightened. "Come in." Jaac slid inside closing the door behind him eyeing the blackblades that flanked him he stepped forward and handed her another slate.

"Are they always going to be here?"

"They are my guards."

"Aren't guards supposed to be on the outside of the door?"

Lina gave a tight smile. "Yes, if they are protecting you." She took the slate from him and looked at it with confusion. "What's this?"

"The report for Lord Strosius. Its been a week."

"Ah." Time really had slipped her by. "Thank you Jaac, arrange a transport for me please and send a message to him, let him know I am on route." He bowed and left. With a sigh she rose from behind the desk, skimming the information in her hand. The blackblades shifted. "No." she said simply looking up at them. "You will stay put. The last thing I need is for you to make this anymore difficult than you already have."

"We have our orders."

"And I have new ones for you. Stay fething put. I have no intention of running and even if I did," she gestured at the tattoo "its not like he can't find me."

They hesitated for a moment before relaxing back into position. "If you're not back by tomorrow morning..." Lina snorted and shook her head in response and left, sweeping through the lounge, her head in the datapad absorbing all she could. She kept her eyes off it as the moved through the lower floor, smiling and greeting regulars as she passed, burrowing herself in it again once she was inside the speeder on route.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"And you're certain about this one boss?" The way that Darth Strosius was drumming his fingers against the desk was more akin to a predator sharpening its claws than anything else, or that was what Missaa thought at least. "Very certain." The slight snarl in his voice did not go unnoticed, but she knew better than to mention it. "I'm just saying, I can have a bombing run lined up on that cheap club at a moment's notice." Finally the masked man's gaze flickered to the projection of the admiral and she silently cursed herself for the slight flinch that his attention brought her.

"If I wanted that wretched place destroyed, I'd have torn it apart myself then and there Trierarch. This little...." For the first time she saw the Sith actually contemplate his words for a moment, his head cocked at an odd angle as his gauntlet covered fingers briefly dug into the desk in frustration. Evidently he was even more hot and bothered than she had thought. "Discussion," The word was growled like some awful curse. ", wouldn't be happening at all. If I decide to have it destroyed then it will be done personally."

The Twi'lek bit her lip for a moment before offering the masked man a small bow. "As you wish, sir. Give 'em hell either way." With that the hologram flickered out and Darth Strosius was left to seethe alone. His office planetside wasn't all that different from the one in orbit, a sparsely decorated room that was clearly all business and no pleasure. Not even a portrait or painting to liven up the place. Usually the empty walls were rather comforting but now they were the focal point of his hidden glare, simply an outlet for the anger that he couldn't unleash otherwise.

Kainites on his world. Kainites. Had it not been for Ischano waiting on him outside that first day then he had no doubt that he would have ignited his lightsaber and started slaying everyone in that wretched club that he could get his hands on. Well, Ischano and the fact that he had denied external influence and eyes for too long as is. The lack of any Sepulchral priests on Faldos was starting to become noticed, a Kainite cell being publicly executed would draw even more unwanted attention than he already had. This game of false niceties and appearances that was Sith Politics was as tiresome as it was outright disgusting. And yet he had to play it.

:"My lord, Miss Djo has arrived.": The comm-unit on his desk clicked to life and drew him out of his wrathful haze, making him take a deep inhale before pressing on the call button. "Send her to my office. Now." He knew it wouldn't take her long, the administration building was right next to the spaceport for a very good reason after all. Ease of access for the locals and visitors alike. Darth Strosius sat up and folded his hands on the desk, conveniently covering the claw marks he had made earlier, as he steadied himself and adopted his usual composed appearance.

Lina Djo

 

[Lina Djo]

Lina noted the lack or personal touches. This was a practical man, one who would jot wste time on such things as luxury. Though she doubted that was entirely true, this simply wasn't home, it was just another place to conduct business. And business they would conduct. She'd heard him on the intercom, she'd heard the venom on his tone. She had no illusions as to how much work was needed on her part to recover this to a workable relationship.

But how much she could say, and what she could do was determined by the tattoo on her arm. She took a breath, bracing herself before the door opened and she stepped inside the office.

"Lord Strosius," she greeted with a smile, approaching the desk "A pleasure to see you again." Lina wasn't lying, and her smile, though well practiced was still genuine. She needed this alliance and though he didn't see it yet, he would need her too.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Miss Djo." His usual masked gaze, unblinking and still as it was, seemed far more intent and predatory than last week. As if the visor could barely contain his burning yellow glare. "I suppose it is good that one of us is pleased then." Darth Strosius managed to keep his tone fairly even and controlled as he idly gestured to the seat across from him, although the hint of malice and wrath was far from hidden.

"I will not pretend as though you are welcome, nor will I act as though I see you as anything resembling useful, and I expect you to drop any similar façade in return." The masked man sat forward slightly. "I looked into your company, dredged up all that I could find, even cached in a handful of favors that I would rather have used for personal benefit, and yet you know what I found?" He took a breath, one that rasped through his mask and seethed from clenched teeth.

"I found nothing." Despite the lack of obvious vents a chilling breeze swept over the pair of them as his hands tensed, as though they were holding each other still rather than simply resting there. "Nothing! Nothing of any note nor value nor importance! And yet, and yet," He took a breath, one that rasped through his mask and seethed from clenched teeth. "And yet here you are, an agent of the Kainate on my planet. In my capital city even! So do tell me exactly who you are, and spare me any more illusions or lies lest I carve you in half where you sit. Heretic."

Lina Djo

 

[Lina Djo]

Lina's smile dropped as she approached the desk, setting the dataslate upon it and taking a seat. He was full of frustration and while it was problematic she could not help but find it amusing. She waited until he'd finished his outburst, head cocked slightly to the side. "My my, we are full of venom today aren't we, Alisteri?" she said softly her head tilted, a smile threatening to tug at the corners of her lips the use of his true name was meant to be deliberately provocative. "How infuriating it must be that a little nobody like me can pass under your radar even when you are looking."

She shook her head chuckling. "Very well, I shall tell you my story. My true name is Calina Ovmar, though I've been Lina Djo for longer that I was ever Calina. My parents were Anaya Fen, the founder of the Inquisitors under Emperor Moridin's rule, and Jared Ovmar, an exceptionally successful entrepreneur and a sith mentalist that specialised in breaking people minds. They did not get along, but that's a moot point."

She paused to pluck a stray thread from her robes, unbothered by the fact that the man across from her very clearly wanted to tear her in two. She looked back up at him "Just over twenty years ago, my mother dumped me on Kaine's doorstep asked him to teach me some manners, because apparently she had lost the will to fight me. She died shortly after, killed by Jorus Merrill." she held up a hand to stop any interruption "I promise you these details are relevant. I, in my infinite and youthful wisdom, full of hate for Kaine, much as I still am, betrayed him and the Empire, feeding the Outer Rim Coalition information on his doings and even trying to shatter the temporary alliance he had brokered with the Mandalorians. It worked but I was discovered. I am sure you are familiar with his wrath when it comes to traitors. I fled."

She shifted in the chair, picking her next words carefully. "I've spent a long time in the shadows. Your inability to find anything of me is by design, I've been hiding from bigger monsters than you most of my life. A few months ago, Carnifex attacked a planet to provoke the Jedi. It just so happens I was on that planet, with the woman I love and believe it or not, Jorus Merrill . Now if that's not a cruel twist of fate, what is? I have nothing against Merrill, my mother was a vile woman my only regret in her death is that it wasn't by my hand. We escaped, with his help, but not before our dear Lord Zambrano worked out who I was. Safe to say he came for me, and my love." The tattoo on her arm shifted.

"I am bound to him, her life is forfeit should I betray him. So, you can spit insults at me, and call me a kainite, or a heretic as much as you like, but know that whatever hate you bear for the man, is nothing in comparison to how I feel." The calm demeanour and the smiles had gone, replaced by a cold unwavering fury. "Is that enough? Or would you like more?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Strosius." His correction was swift and just as venomous as could be expected. "You will call me Darth Strosius." These days there was only a handful of people that he didn't mind using his name, although it was something of a relic of the past. Still given that he had gone by Alisteri his entire life up until very recently it wasn't too surprising that it was still known and in use. That didn't mean that it didn't bother him however.

Just another grievance to add to the list that the woman before him seemed to be steadily accruing. The masked man's gaze remained on Lina's face as he seethed at her casual tone, as though she was completely unconcerned. Perhaps his wrath meant little in his mind, a possibility that did not bode well if such lacking concern was indeed justified in some way. To that end he would listen intently despite the temptation to lash out, better to learn more about his opponent before he struck.

So she spoke and he mentally noted down names to add to his little list of intrigue regarding her, his glare narrowing as the name 'Moridin' caused an unwelcome presence in the back of his mind to stir with the hints of recognition. He was quick to quell any possible uprising from her presence. The last thing that he needed was to be fighting an internal battle alongside this interrogation. For now he'd just have to grit his teeth and focus on the task at hand, no matter how much his fingers twitched as the urge to draw his lightsaber flickered across his mind.

Darth Strosius glared at her hand, as though he was the one that needed any sort of correction or command, but bit his tongue instead of letting out a snappy remark. She still hadn't explained who in their right mind would leave someone in the care of Carnifex of all people, unless they wanted said person to be killed or turned into a mindless slave of course, but he supposed it was just another question to add to the list.

Her betrayal was unsurprising but the mention of an alliance with Mandalorians made him raise an eyebrow. As long back as he could recall the Beskar-clad warriors were just as much enemies to the Sith as the Jedi and Imperials were. Fascinating, even if the idea of anyone making an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Kainate was rather unbelievable. Another eyebrow quirked up in response to him being referred to as a 'monster' as though he was the one at fault but again he bit his tongue before any smart remarks escaped.

As her story concluded he sat back and raised his clasped hands to rest against the chin of his mask, regarding Lina with the same unblinking stare that he had been giving her the entire time. "Hm...no I do believe that's enough." He clicked his tongue and idly wondered if she had thought of the prospect that her beloved was most likely dead already, what was the point in keeping around leverage when the target was far away after all, but chose not to mention that. He supposed that he could work with this, even if her love's survival was a matter of debate.

"So you're tied to him by the strings of your heart? Shameful indeed, to tear a relationship in two like that." His tone was odd to say the least. The malice from before was almost entirely gone, replaced by a contemplative and even somewhat wistful one. "If you wish to get her back and enact revenge upon Carnifex in return for his slight, then we have the same goal." He allowed a smirk to slip onto his face. "I must admit exactly why you were forced to become an agent of his rather than outright killed still escapes me, but that must mean you are either useful or dangerous in some way. And if you're useful or dangerous enough for Carnifex to keep you around, then I see no reason why we cannot help one another in our mutual goal. Yes?"

Lina Djo

 

[Lina Djo]

The tattoo on her arm tightened, squeezing her. A warning, she clicked her tongue and shifted in her seat, flexing the fingers on the same hand in an attempt to ease the pins and needles that spread through it. "Be cautious of your words in my presence Darth Strosius." she said softly. "Aligned we may be, speaking so plainly is unwise. When I say I am bound to him, I do mean in a literal sense."

Sitting forward she shook her head. "My love is a servant, I still have access to her. He is playing games with me, games I will endure for the sake of accessing his knowledge." A small smile tugged at her lip. No matter how bad her situation, she would always seek opportunities, and learning from Darth Carnifex was an opportunity she could not pass up, how else was she to learn how to kill him?

"I was honest with you in my reasons for being here. Certain developments within my intelligence network required personal attention and I have no interest in conducting business on the Malsheem. Faldos is a strategic foothold, the fact that you are its overseer was merely an added bonus." She couldn't stop the smirk that spread across her features, amusement glittering in her eyes once more. "I'd by lying if I said I didn't get any pleasure at slipping into your capital city and setting up shop without you noticing, awfully lax of your security. You should look into that, I dread to think what other agents might be lurking under your nose."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

An eyebrow quirked up beneath his mask as he noticed how she shifted and seemed to be stifling something. Perhaps the topic was uncomfortable to her in some manner? Her brief mention of the apparent bondage made his gaze narrow slightly, the exact details unclear but most definitely worth exploring later. He wasn't sure if Lina herself knew such details but he doubted they could be shared by her regardless if the bond reacted by words alone. "I broke into his fancy space station and declared his execution, nothing that I speak should be too surprising." He dismissed her concern with a shrug of his shoulders as he sat back in his chair.

Still having access to her beloved despite both of them being captured in one form or another was surprising, but also very intriguing. Evidently Lina must have been more valuable than he thought if such lengths were willing to be gone through just to keep her on a leash. The question of why still remained but it hardly mattered, he had the ability to interact with and disrupt an asset of Carnifex himself. He was not going to pass up that chance.

"Would you call it a bonus or a hinderance?" Darth Strosius idly cocked his head to the side as he noted the amused expression with a slight glare in return. "Oh don't you worry, I already have a few lockdowns and hunts planned to route out any potential...leaks shall we say. I was just debating whether or not your club should be part of that list." He had assumed that Faldos would be of little interest to the rest of the Sith Order, just a decently located backwater smuggler world, but as Lina herself had proven that assumption was wrong.

It was high time to take steps to ensure that his interests were protected then. "For now I'm leaning towards allowing it to continue operating. Even if just to give my council members something to do aside from badgering me with their incessant complaints."

Lina Djo

 

[Lina Djo]

Lina rolled her eyes at the threat of removing her club was dangled over her. In truth, most of her work had been completed, and while it still granted her access, to the core and the agents spread across it, it would not set her back if he were to demolish it. "It would be discreditable if you were to rescind on a deal already made, Strosius. Don't brandish empty threats to sour what has the potential to be a good relationship just because I'm getting under your skin."

Amusement glittered in her eyes as she tilted her head her green eyes watching him carefully for every flash of emotion in his eyes and the muscles twitches as she pushed more of his buttons. Definitely a bonus, she hadn't had this much fun for a long time. "There's a foot note at the end of the report, a list of candidates for management. Review them in your own time and take your pick, but don't take too long."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius shrugged at the warning and folded his hands together as he spared a smirk beneath his mask. "Do you think so little of me to call my threats 'empty' Miss Djo?" Perhaps they were given the circumstances, but she didn't have to know that. "Fear not, I see no reason to violate our agreement. Your club will continue without my interference, but not without my surveillance. Just in case any other agents of the Kainate find their way to it as a safe haven."

He perked up at the mention of the report and idly shifted once more to sit up a bit straighter. "Oh I can be quite decisive with my choices don't you worry about that." After glancing over the report he'd get the manager matter settled quickly, before he left the planet's surface to return to his office in orbit. Better to get everything done and over with while he was still planet side and able to respond if something arose. "I do hope my council members have learned at least a little discretion even with loosened tongues." Something made him doubt that hope heavily though.

 

[Lina Djo]

"If I thought little of you Strosius, we would not be having a conversation to begin with. I'm simply calling your bluff."

She scowled at his referral of her being a Kainate. "I'm not a Kainate agent, Strosius, and they are not welcome in my establishments but if it makes you feel better to watch it then by all means. It won't impact my business and if I need to move under the radar well..." she lifted her hands in a small shrug "We already know I can."

Lina gave a chuckle at the suggestion at the idea his councillors had learned anything. "Of course they haven't. They have a great deal to say about you. So much... unrest." she teased. "I wouldn't worry too much, its mostly hot air. Though there was some mention of a resistance that might be worth looking into."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man let out a small huff at the idea of him bluffing, or really more the fact that she was aware of him bluffing, but chose not to offer a rebuttal. For now anyway. "You may not be an agent, but you are tied to their operations. Even if it is unwillingly. Otherwise I wouldn't have any of his wretched printed soldiers on my world." Hopefully they would leave with Miss Djo herself once she departed Faldos.

If not, then he had some accidents to arrange.

Darth Strosius sighed at the news that his councilors hadn't learned their lesson, not that it surprised him. Simple admonishment and thinly veiled threats were starting to lose their edge it seemed, he'd have to switch up his tactics if he had any hope of keeping the elected officials from an early execution due to disloyalty. "Resistance amongst them or among the people they represent?" Either could be handled of course but knowing where to start would make matters much easier. "Because their positions only exist out of goodwill, and I do hold the ability to remind them of that without breaking any sort of agreement or law."

Lina Djo

 

[Lina Djo]

Lina gave a small chuckle at the term 'printed soldiers', but did not press the matter of being called a Kainate further. The guards would leave with her, they were Carnifex's final insurance policy, just in case his mark that told him exactly where she was and could inflict pain if she so much as breathed a wrong word about him, wasn't enough.

"The people they represent, though with some very clever financing through a business front. The owner is a regular downstairs and has requested a private room in a couple of days time. Assuming you make your decision quickly enough, I will not be here, but I will ensure the new manager knows to accommodate your every request."

She offered him a small smile. He might have dismissed her work as listening to the drunken ramblings of fools, but Lina's network was more than her clubs. Her clubs were simply the hub. He own spies would slip into Faldos ecosystem, a tool for her use, should she need it in the future. Though she doubted it.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man clicked his tongue at her response and idly shook his head in disgust. It seemed as if there were still more dissidents that had yet to realize that Sith rule, that his rule, over Faldos was permanent then. Nevermind the fact that the crime and corruption which had seeped so deeply into the world's organizations and population had been purged and replaced by order and law, all due to his will and work. Having a functioning planet free of such vile things and with a potentially prosperous future was evidently not enough for everyone.

"I shall make certain that this business front's owner and I have a very...in depth discussion then." Darth Strosius supposed that the offer was her incentive to get him to make his choice quickly, and potentially wind up with someone that he himself could not rely upon, but that was a risk that he had to take. The immediate threats were always something that he was concerned more with anyway.

He laced his hands together on top of the desk as he sat back and considered his words carefully for a moment. "I will have my choice made regarding your club's new management within a few hours. I trust that you've only given me capable candidates so there will be no need for me to waste time sorting through those unworthy for the job." He nodded and gestured to the woman across from him. "I trust that I will be notified if you should ever choose to return to Faldos or expand your interest on my world, yes?"

Lina Djo

 

[Lina Djo]

Lina might have taken the suggestion that her candidates would be anything but capable as an insult but she knew better. "Of course, I wouldn't want to waste either of our time. You've a world to run and I've an Order to...ingratiate myself to." she might have said infiltrate, but that would suggest she had someone to pass information to. No, Lina's quest to embed herself in the Sith Order was simply to further serve her ultimate goal.

Killing Carnifex.

"You can rest assured that I have little interest in your backwater world, save as a connection to the core worlds, but yes, should I need to return I will do so openly. Sneaking in once is fun for me, If I can do it again? Well...that's a problem for you and I'd hate to be the one to point out the flaws in your own security for a second time." She chuckled, rising smoothly to her feet. "Once your decision is made I will be out of your playground and on my way back to the Malsheem along with the...printed soldiers" She tilted her head slightly, a coy smile tigging at the corners of her lips "You do owe me a glass if wine. I will hold you to it, though I wouldn't want to encroach on your gracious hospitality more than I already have."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius clicked his tongue as he was assured that her interest in Faldos was fleeting, idly wishing that the world was less integral to the hyperlanes and the trade on them than it was currently. While it did provide a very nice source of income and did ensure that his position in the Sith Order was more secured and respected, it also brought unnecessary attention. Miss Djo was only one of many that eyed the trade and travel passing through Faldos for their own gain and he'd much rather have all those eyes blinded.

His masked gaze never left the other Sith as she rose from her seat, slightly shifting in his own to lean forward a bit. "Now now, your promise to rid my world of those wretched things almost makes me want to make my decision at this very moment." It was difficult to tell if he was joking or not but at the very least there was no venom or bite to his words. For now.

"The next time we meet I'll have an entire crate of wine at the ready, have no fear." He gave a little wave as though to dismiss any of her concern regarding his hospitality, if indeed either of them possessed such for the other. "Hopefully it will be under better conditions and tempers, without any of his little minions around to sour the mood. Do be careful Miss Djo. And...good luck." The masked man sat back with a slight incline of his head, probably the closest thing to respect that he was willing to give for the moment. "I'd hate to see you thrown aside like every other pawn on the board."

Lina Djo