Private Scintilla: Paradiso Protocol

[Madame Cognito]

-Scintilla Slums 0900-
-Twas a Calm Morning-

Holograms of tropical foliage framed the ornate neon signage, "THE PARADISO CLUB." A prideful display piece of a four story upper class beacon of debauchery within The Slums district of the Scintilla. Within it's walls, a nightclub with a side gig. The nightclub itself appeared to the patron like a jungle oasis complete with towering palms, lowly ferns and modified flowering plants that gave off aromas of an aphrodisiac nature. Tables, chairs, and booths were of a sleek metal finish. Performance zones were cages with a mix of hologram and live dancers of nondiscriminatory natures. An absolutely massive circular main stage rested against the back wall of the club complete with oscillating running lights that brought flair to each act's unique performance. Greeting guests was a fantastically ornate bar with all of the amenities and desired beverage recipes that a local and traveler could request.

LEVEL ONE: NIGHTCLUB
LEVEL TWO: PERSONNEL and KILL ZONE AREAS
LEVEL THREE: TRAINING FLOOR
LEVEL FOUR: ARYA'S OFFICE/PENTHOUSE

Arya, her assistant, and head of security/talent together handpicked all the elements of the club from the heavies (bouncers), the ladies, and the bar staff to the decor and training regiments for the girls during their non-performance hours. As a former assassin for hire herself, Arya decided many years ago to mix business with pleasure. Her love of nightlife and the credits earned from taking on contracts in her younger days was her motivation behind The Paradiso Club's existence. Eventually, Arya semi-retired from assassination contracts and moved her club from the Core World planet of Coruscant to the Scintilla by a real estate tip from a close business associate and friend, Salem Norongachi . With that move, her twi'lek personal assistant Talina and her head of security Layla Litri established a new nightclub/base of operations for them.

On one such morning, Layla Litri, Arya's head of security was on the third level of the nightclub. This level was designated as the training level for the dancers during off days. Training in what? Assassination training was a requirement to work at the Paradiso. "Ladies, I need to see each of you before noon for your evaluations. This is not optional and failure to do so is a lesson in fatality. " Of course, the performers knew that to shirk their mandatory duties, was to break their contracts which to do so meant to forfeit their lives. The third floor was a series of training rooms that taught the girls the trades of speechcraft/seduction, workplace defense/ CQC techniques, subterfuge/espionage, and lastly CQC/ long range assassinations. Layla Litri was formerly a member of a cadre of assassins that worked quietly with the Agents of Chaos. Her training and Arya's interview and subsequent hiring of Layla came while she was on a job competing with Madame Cognito. Layla lost to Arya, but her being so close to victory and her attitude was all it took to prove to Arya that she was of quality. This particular morning, Arya and her assistant Talina were out of the club. They were away from the Scintilla seeing Arya's family on Naboo, which left Layla in charge of the place. On a high platform overlooking the training grounds, Layla spoke with her lieutenant quietly out of earshot of the thirty plus girls currently sparring, running the parkour course, and working out with one another below. "Palo, I'm not certain of this crop of girls. After that incident the other night..."

---Cut two nights prior---
A pool of blood. A dead patron. A panicked dancer being escorted off of the nightclub level and up to the second floor. Alarmed patrons being paid off by an angry Arya. Layla reprimanding and disposing of the dancer for her actions at the end of the evening.
---

"That was bloody business. Her actions on the club floor were regrettable, but no one discredits your training nor the protocol involved. She, as well as the others, knew the rules involving in-house assassinations. You only drill it into their heads during these exercises..." Palo sternly put as he looked straight down to the training dancers. "If only Arya saw it that way. She was livid. I was almost fearing for my own life after that." Layla stated matter-of-factly. The girls were taught that assassination on the nightclub floor was permitted only if the mark was not keen on diverting their evening to the second floor, where the girls engaged in shift/costume changes and out of sight seduce-and-kill practices. The kill zones of the second floor were beautifully appointed suites that mirrored most high end hotel offerings, but with the added addition to concealed cameras for evidence purposes as well as sound proofing for obvious reasons.

The hours ticked by as each of the girls complied with instruction and received their evaluations from Layla. By the deadline each girl had finished. These evaluations were in the form of a verbal display of knowledge on their received training as well as a demonstration of their prowess on specially programmed "patron" droids. All in all, a crop of eighteen dancers passed their evaluations and received their kits for use on nightclub floor. Those that did not pass were paid a heavy sum and informed that speaking on the club's side activities to outsiders was to accept their demise.

Salem Norongachi

 

[Madame Cognito]

- Theed, Naboo - First evening planet side -

A cigarette smoldered in the crystal ashtray, a minute trail of smoke effortlessly billowed up from the smoldering cherry on the end. A small, sterile white desklamp lit a portion of the silvery metal desk like a spotlight. In the light of the lamp, various datapads were stacked precariously upon one another. Near the datapads sat a crystal champagne goblet with a faint burgundy tinted lipstick stain on the rim partially visible in the light of the lamp. A glimpse of a portion of an empty red velvet, ornately crafted desk chair was visible. In another portion of the room, A curve-hugging blood red dress was visible in the light of the moonlight of Naboo that trickled in through the four paned window. The bottom of the dress spilled down and out across the dark, marble floor. A beautiful raven haired human woman gazed out upon Theed, the city that she loved coming home to.

A distant clacking of heightened heels upon marble floors echoed through the late night hour, through dimly lit halls of Cognito Manor, which stood proudly in the heart of Theed. The clacking grew louder until they stopped for a mere second at the foot of the door before proceeding inward. Arya turned from the window and greeted a smartly dressed human woman that looked to be in her mid 60s. The clacking of the heels resumed again for a moment and stopped at the desk. The older woman picked through the pile of datapads and grabbed up a datapad and slid it into the crook of her elbow. "My dear, you've kept yourself up here for the whole evening, I know you're up here waiting up for your father to get home, but I would love to spend some time with you some time during your stay here." Malida Cognito stated sweetly

Arya chuckled and gave her mother a loving embrace followed by a gentle kiss on the cheek before returning her attention to the clear, starry night. "I love you, mother. This is only the first day of my trip, mother. Don't you worry, I will make my way downstairs in a moment. I am just taking in this wonderful view of my dearly missed hometown and I needed to do some thinking."

Malida smiled widely and said, "All right, dear. I shall see you in a moment." Malida took her leave, headed back down the grand staircase into the main hall and entered into the exquisitely decorated room off of the left of the stairs, the den. She took a seat on a cushy couch near a fireplace that was being stoked by a smartly dressed butler droid, R3MU5. Malida started reading over the datapad, Recent Political Rulings of the Naboo Judiciary, while enjoying the warmth of the fire as it grew larger. Malida was a corporate liaison that kept her employers secret for their contract bond anonymity. Torin was a political sciences professor at Theed's Alta Vista Academy. It was his job to help groom younger generations in the ways of politics. Torin was working late at the academy. He had been in a lengthy meeting with the academy's leadership, then grading final exams in his office.

Arya removed herself from the window as a handsome male Cathar in a black tuxedo shot a grapple hook that hooked itself in a roofing tile. He ascended the exterior wall towards the second floor and the balcony of the manor. With a smirk on his face, the Cathar lightly tapped on the window. Arya turned with a bit of a start. "Wha-who...?" Arya said heading back toward the window. When she saw that it was her family friend and former lover, Teimar, was waving sheepishly at the window, Arya let out a laugh and shook her head as she walked to the double doors next to the window and allowed Teimar to enter.

"ARYA! A little sabercat...I mean your mother told me you were in town for a bit. It's good to see ya, darlin!" Teimar said pouncing on Arya, knocking her on the floor and hugging her tightly. Arya and Teimar descended into a fit of laughter and embracing. "It's good to see you too, my old friend! It is always great to be back."

Out on the balcony, Teimar and Arya saw the luxury personal vehicle that had been purchased years ago by her father gliding into the drive of the manor. Her father exited the cockpit of the vehicle and entered the manor after waving up at Arya. Arya smiled widely and waved at her father below her. Teimar and Arya knelt against the stone railing of the balcony and silently looked out upon the busy, yet still peaceful and beautiful city of Theed. Both of them sighed deeply in unison and chuckled at that fact.

Teimar broke the silence and his tone softened to one of contemplation and musing, "You know Arya, I have missed you...we all have. I have come by quite a bit to hang around the manor and talk to your mother. She mostly talks about you and the latest political goings on of the area. She talks quite a bit about how proud she is of you developing a business of your own. Doesn't quite agree with your methods, namely the bordello thing, but she still raves about how she's glad you've become independent. I agree with her...except for the bordello part. I happen to like the whole bordello thing...for obvious reasons."

Arya revealed a content smile to Teimar, "So what possessed you to grapple our roof to see me rather than using the front door?"

Teimar smirked, "My new gig gave me a cool toy and I wanted to try it out."

Arya laughed and stated, "Haha, I missed you, Tei. What's your new gig, what's with the outfit?"

Teimar smoothed out his suit jacket. "You're looking at a professional bartender at the Onyx Club with a stolen grappling gun I confiscated off of a guy that was attempting to be all secret agenty on the Onyx Club. Trying to sneak in after hours and steal the safe. Didn't account for us bouncers working late to make sure the entertainers got home safely. Caught him mid scale of the wall, electr-O-fied his stupid ass, hogtied him and tossed him at the foot at the local city security office's doorstep with a note."

Arya ruffled his Cathar mane and asked, "So any word from your sister, Mira?"

"Mira's fine, I think. Last I heard from her, her trooper regiment was being mobilized. The regiment was heading to aid the Jedi against a Sith attack on an Outer Worlds temple and city. I haven't heard from her since. Mom's worried with what she's seeing on the holovids, but I keep assuring her that everything will be all right." Teimar's wavering tone betrayed his confident words.

"Teimar, your sister is resilient. She's going to be fine. I'm sure of it." Arya said confidently as she placed her right hand on her best friend's left clawed hand and squeezed assuredly. Teimar noticed the action and moved closer to Arya. Her put his furry head against hers as they both silently enjoyed the view of the city below.

"That's what your mom said too." Teimar said with a weak grin.

"Me, personally, I have been too busy expanding my operations with Zann Consortium to focus on the Core World drama playing out. Just finished up dreadful business with a territory dispute on the Scintilla. I also started the groundwork for the bordello girls there a couple months ago...oooh you'll love this!" Arya said getting excited.

"What? What am I going to love?" Teimar said with a playful smirk.

"My call girls in the club...not the men. Hot men in that sector are a rarity I'm keeping them in the club....a select group of my girls are currently in training in the art of the assassin."

"Ooooh, you're right Arya! Call girl assassins...excuse me while I visualize that in private for a moment." Teimar said laughing hysterically.

"I have one of my best confidants and assassins in her own right working on their evaluations as we speak." Arya turned her attention back to what was going on at home. "Shall we rejoin the family downstairs?"

Teimar smirked and looked up at the grapple hook lodged in the roof and down to the dangling end resting just above the rounded off entryway below. "As long as we can take the fun way down." Arya nodded quickly and enthusiastically. Teimar grasped Arya tightly around her lithe frame. His yellowish feline claws around her waist and pulled her toward him before leaping off of the balcony and sliding down the grapple wire. The pair reached the ground with a tender embrace that followed. Arya had grown fond of her friend and truly missed him dearly. Teimar and Arya entered the front entrance of the Cognito Manor. The pair were greeted by R3MU5, "Your mother and father are expecting you in the den, Madame Cognito." Arya thanked R3MU5 as Teimar and herself stepped over the den. Teimar and Arya sat close to one another as they enjoyed a couple hours of stimulating conversation about the latest Alta Vista academy goings-on as well as humorous stories involving R3MU5 and Malida. At the end of the night, Arya escorted Teimar to the door. In a feeling of tingling, Arya opened one of the manor's front entry doors and exited with Teimar onto the top of the steps that led down to to the U shaped drive. Teimar moved in close to the abnormally silent Arya and placed a gentle kiss upon her smooth, maroon tinted lips. "You have a good night, Arya. I have been wanting to do that for a long time." Arya was taken aback, but not wholly. She was feeling the same way. She, too, had developed a deep fondness for Teimar. "You have a great night, Teimar. I will have to catch you again before I return to Deep Space." With that, Arya returned to the interior of the manor was a smirk before ascending the grand staircase up to her bedroom. Malida, who had remained unseen in the den still reading over her political science datapad looked up with a quiet knowing chuckle to see Arya walking up the stairs before returning to her datapad. "It's about time..." Malida said quietly to herself.



-A few nights later-
Arya was a lover of Naboo nightlife. She enjoyed the classy, elegant style of Theed based clubs and lounges. Tonight was no exception. The Madame of Galactic Nightlife was thoroughly enjoying the ambiance of a particularly lovely and lavish bar situated on the main drag of the capital city. A beautifully garnished burgundy beverage in a tall stemmed cocktail glass was placed directly in front of her on the gorgeous teal marble table by a professionally attired young humanoid female waitress. Arya shifted backwards in the maroon cushioned horseshoe booth that was constructed within a curve walled alcove that had perfectly dimmed wall sconces on the left leveling of the curve, the central back portion of the curve and the right leveling of the curve. Arya sighed contently as she took a generous sip of her cocktail. She was happy to be in her home city. Even happier after the events at the end of the evening a few nights ago. She was also happy to have a brief reprieve from her enjoyable family time during the day. Her parents were super busy on their own with their political science and corporate liaison workloads so they were understanding of her taking her leave at night so they could take a break from hosting their daughter in order to prepare their lessons for the following day.

Arya felt this trip was a sorely needed vacation from her time on the Scintilla which was work nearly all day, night and every waking moment. She enjoyed her nightclub ownership job, but felt like she needed a bit of a moment away. The only people she brought with her were Talina, her assistant, and her newly hired pilot and Rodian work contact, Malon Gorei. Malon was once a prominent contact for the Tatooine Hutt Cartel, but due to a slowdown of contracts had to seek further employment. He still was in contact with the vast criminal network built by the Hutts. He, however enjoyed the steady paycheck provided by Arya for his services.

After Arya had finished her cocktail, she threw a sizable stack of credits upon the table and stood from her booth and her creamy white gown draped downward covering her expensive white stilettos as it softly landed upon the beautiful limestone flooring. Arya exited the lounge having been there for a couple hours just enjoying the gentle music and crowd ambiance. She decided on taking a moonlit stroll down the main drag of Theed. An oncoming couple enjoying the cool, crisp evening air passed her by. She smiled sweetly as she sauntered slowly by them. Another content sigh passed through her ruby red lips, then returned to neutral as she strolled down the lane. Her raven black mid-back length hair gently bounced in the breeze of steps as she progressed.

 

[Madame Cognito]

-Scintilla- Paradiso Club - A few nights later- 23:45

Tonight was to be a demonstration by the head of security for the dancers of the club. Rapidly, The lights that illuminated the stage dimmed to black. A spotlight struck the red curtained stage. Once preoccupied patrons eyed the stage. A jazzy, burlesque song erupted from the band. A sexy blue Rodian in whorish makeup and a blue Twi'lek in equally explicit makeup erupted from the curtains covered by full body sized blue feathered fans. They danced coyly to the style of the music. Flashing bits of scantily clad skin. The patrons started to whoop and cat-call the girls as they went to the left and the right of the center stage. They stood statuesque in their positions. The curtains opened to reveal an opulently designed Naboo sitting room staged scene. A bright red chaise lounge sat the middle with a raven haired beauty facing away from the crowd in a cerulean hued gown and a black boa. A long stemmed martini glass was being slowly moved to the music. The clear contents moving to the music as well. A coy look back from the raven haired beauty revealed her to be Layla Litri. She carefully spun herself around the face the crowd not spilling a drop of liquid before a sip with a seductive smirk. She felt her body up and down as the music intoxicated her. The slow sexy tones of the music carried her off of her seat and towards the crowd. Layla tossed the black boa and the drink to the left of the stage as she danced. Her curves moved and were accentuated by the different lighting that had had arise to meet the scene. Suddenly the lowered the shoulder pieces of the dress down to the crook of her elbow. As the music played more, her girls flipped the blue fans on her and she shed her dress to reveal navy blue star nipple and crotch pasties. That were flashed in every playfully exposing shot deliberately done with the blue fans during the song.

Layla eyed her target at the foot of the stage and smiled seductively down at him. Relon looked on lustfully. Relon did not know this "dancer" would be his death. Layla stepped off the stage and played with Relon a bit. She gyrated on her prey. Layla placed her knees on his lap and started to give him a face full of her perky size C breasts. As she did this, Layla grabbed his drink, pretended to take a drink as she slipped a vial of clear toxin from her pinned up hair. Her hair fell down to a wavy shoulder length. The vial's contents were discreetly emptied and the vial tossed to the ground under the table as she removed Relon's head from her tits. She kissed his lips and returned to the stage for her finale movements. As she took her final powerful gyrations and shimmies, Layla saw Relon start gagging and lay his head against the table. The crowd went wild as the song stopped and Layla blew them a kiss before turning on her barefoot heels to the area behind the closing curtain. At the Paradisio Club, anything goes was the creedo. Most people didn't bat an eye at the passed out patron at the foot of the stage. They noticed bouncers peel him from the table and carry him out of the club. The stage returned to exotic dancers put on burlesque and almost vaudevillian performances.