The Stray

[Subject 37]

Zeltros
[member="Natalia Thawne"]

"She was your fathers Mistress, Malie." Slevin said as though it were a simple matter of fact.

In his right hand was a small glass filled with a purple and green liquid, slowly sloshing about as he twirled the drink just slightly. The mixture seemed to give off a gentle glow, a calm hue that barely carried over his palm. His left hand sprawled through Natalia's hair, fingers slowly raking over her skin and wrapping around painted locks. His eyes were settled on the girl in front of them, his posture relaxed against the back of the sofa.

He couldn't help but smile.

"She was the object of your fathers desire for half a decade." He continued. "She's the reason your family fell apart."

Malie looked up at him, then down at the blaster in her hand. "She persuaded your father to leave your mother with painted lips and honeyed words."

Slevin had no idea if that was actually the truth. More likely it was that Vies who had done all of that himself. The bar tender was a Zeltron, true, but they weren't usually gold-digger, they didn't need to be. Most Zeltrons could find themselves well taken care of by any number of men anywhere in the galaxy. They were charming creatures, and their extra assets allowed them to do pretty much as they pleased.

Though, whether or not it was the truth didn't matter.

"Killing her." He began again. "Is only right."

The tied up Zeltron on the floor let out a whimper mewl.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

A curl of white smoke slowly rose from the corner of Natalia's lips. She was sitting on a plush couch; long legs crossed left over right, wearing a slinky silver number that clung to full curves. Thick mascara coated her long lashes, the color as dark as the ink of the tattoo that graced her slender neck and pointed down towards her plunging decollete.

It was all a game, but it would serve their purpose. Maile already knew she was in deep in part to her last show of disobedience. There was a price to pay, but one that Slevin and Natalia were willing to milk until the last drop.

The young girl was well on her way into being conditioned. Manipulation was typically Natalia's game, but seeing Slevin inch into it was making the blonde rather excited.

"S-she did?" there was hesitation in Maile's voice; a crack that made Natalia's eyes narrow in displeasure.

"Of course she did, precious," Natalia said thickly, her voice as sickly sweet as poisonous honey.

"I could provide you access to the holovideos," she added, taking a deep drag of her cigarillo. There was a distinct sense of wolfish pleasure in her green eyes.

"Although she was so brazen she doesn't deserve clemency."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

The game was a relatively simple one really, get Malie to kill the Mistress.

Slevin knew that the Zeltron was likely innocent. She had committed no crime, done no harm, and wasn't actually a threat to anyone, but that wasn't what this was about. This was about manipulation, pushing and pulling Malie in the right directions. An idiot would assume they were doing this in order to blackmail the girl, but blackmail and extortion were for fools with no imagination. No this was going to go much much deeper. He smiled slightly, running his metallic fingers through Natalia's hair.

"You don't have to do it." He told Malie quietly.

This wasn't about forcing her either. The Zeltron would of course end up dead no matter what happened, that was already assured. She had seen too much, but the idea of making Malie doing? Of making her want to do it, that was delicious enough for Slevin to change his game just once.

"Maybe you can't do it." Slevin's fingers slowly wrapped around Natalia's hair. "Or maybe you just want a little help."

The girl glanced at him, then at Natalia.

She looked so unsure of herself, but when she glanced towards the whimpering Zeltron Slevin could see a fire in her gaze. His lips perked into a smile just slightly, and slowly he tugged Natalia's head back. He drew her close to him, his lips hovering right by her ear. "Help Malie, my love."

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Natalia brought the flat of her tongue out to sweep over the front of her teeth, a half knowing smile curving upward. She felt Slevin's hand caress down her bare back, fingers tracing over each vertebrate along her spine as she came to her feet.

A quick lean over to Slevin, and she gave him a lingering kiss. "Of course," her husky voice cooed out, a small knowing arch of her right brow perking. Straightening to her impressive height, the full-hipped woman gave a slow walk over to the younger blonde woman.

"It is alright, precious." Natalia began, the click-clack of her stilettos drawing her over towards Maile.

"I am here to help. " she breathed out with a deep murmur. Her sultry saunter brought her just behind the lithe, trembling girl.

"It is all in how you hold the blaster you see." Natalia's arms came snaking from behind Maile, the woman pressing herself close until the girl could feel the warmth of Natalia's body against her own.

"All in the wrist." fingers went skimming down those arms, caressing her with delicate care, provocative one might say, in the manner the blonde brought her lips close to Maile's ear.

"Just like this." encouraging the girl, Natalia adjusted her grip.

"But if you can't..."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

Natalia was interrupted by the sound of the blaster firing.

It echoed through the room just a heartbeat after Malie squeezed the trigger. The bright red bolt surging forward and striking the whimpering Zeltron square in the back of the head. A muted scream left the other girls lips as she collapsed onto the ground, her body letting out a heavy thud as it fell.

A smile pulled at Slevin's lips, and for a moment he said nothing. His eyes drifted from the corpse to Malie, the look of horrors on the girls face mixed with an odd sort of...pleasure. His smile grew wider, Natalia's fingers slowly lacing down Malie's arms and sliding over her stomach, as if supporting the girl so that she wouldn't fall to the ground. He could see the young woman's chest rise and fall, her heart beating faster and faster as the realizations of what she had just done began to dawn on her.

"Oh god."

She said quietly, her breaths becoming faster.

"Oh god. Oh god. Oh god."

Malie repeated the phrase over and over again until Natalia went to silence her, a hushing finger pressing against her lips. "You did the right thing."

Slevin spoke for his beloved, reveling in the game that she usually played. Manipulation had never been an interest of hers, raising the children that Natalia kept had always disinterested him, but this? This was a special case. Malie could be something more than she appeared to be, he could see it.

So could Natalia.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

"It's is alright precious," Natalia's throaty voice murmured along Maile's ear, taking hold of the blaster so it wouldn't hit the floor. A brief look passed between Slevin and Natalia, both smug in the carefully laid plans that were coming to fruition.

The long length of Natalia's fingers gently caressed the gossamer blonde of Maile's hair, sweeping it away from her pale, blanched face.

"Shusssh... It is alright. You did the right thing, my love. She would have ended you. Such a selfish little Zeltron. Nothing but an e'chuta that had been looking to line her own pockets." ever so carefully, Natalia coaxed the girl to head away from the cooling body over to her beloved.

"But now you are free." Natalia insisted. "You are free and a woman of independence." emphasis came in thick like honey, coating each word with manipulative guile. "Of power."

"Your father's legacy is now yours Maile... and you will do so much with it." She pressed a kiss along that pallid cheek. Green eyes glittered over towards Slevin.

"Isn't that right, my love?"

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

The girl nodded slowly.

That was really all the answer that they could hope for. The girl wasn't a killer, she wasn't a murderer, at least not yet. Turning her into something more than the sniveling runt her parents had raised would take time, probably months, but it would happen.

Already Slevin could see the fire in her eyes, the light.

It was a look that he often saw when Natalia was playing her games. She liked to do these sorts of things, raise and manipulate the strays that wandered to them. It entertained her, and Slevin allowed it without question. He knew that eventually the work she did would bare them fruit. Malie however, Malie was something special. She could give back almost immediately. Her vast wealth was inconsequential, but the influence her family could offer them? The power? That was something more. "You will."

Slevin affirmed Natalia's claims.

"You will build something greater than your father ever could." Slowly he straightened himself on the Sofa, leaning forward. "People won't fear you as they did your father, they will respect you."

There was an edge to his tone. "They will see you as so much more than your father ever was."

Silver tongue continued, Malie slowly nodding as her hands stopped their incessant shaking.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Sparing a glance over at her beloved, Natalia gave him a nod. With a gentle nudge of encouragement, along with a brush of her lips against Maile's cheek, the blonde murmured, "Go on, sit. I will take care of the rest."

That is, get someone to drag the bloody Zeltron's body away.

"We have so much to do," Natalia continued, her long legs taking her to a nearby bar. There she nonchalantly set the blaster down that had ended the bartender's life not a few minutes ago.

"So much to look forward to." those crimson tipped enameled fingers went reaching for empty glasses, she set two down in front of her. Without further ado, Natalia carefully began to mix two drinks.

"We are so proud of you, Maile, that Slevin and I were discussing bringing you in to help us." a glance over to Slevin encouraged him to continue the discussion. That is, making Maile believe that any of her input was necessary for the park. To a degree, yes, her families funds and connections would be what would allow them to spread the world.

"For the park, you see."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

The park.

That was why they were here on Zeltros in the first place. It was an interesting an idea, and an extremely profitable one. It had taken some convincing at first, but eventually Natalia had pressed Slevin into having her way. She had jovially described her idea to him, using some of the girls to put him in a more...easy going mood. Eventually he had acquiesced to her demands, and they had set forth for Zeltros within a few days. It was of course rather coincidental that a week later the Imperial Remnant decided to crash into Rishi.

The latter fact was slightly annoying, but inconsequential since they had so far left most of the Coratanni cartel completely alone.

"It will be your legacy." Of course, that wasn't entirely true. She was really just a tool so Slevin and Natalia didn't have to put their names or faces to anything. Neither of the Crime Lords wanted to be famous, neither of them wanted to be known. The minute their faces got out, that was when they would start to have trouble. So they would use Malie, having her be the front of the operation. To everyone but those inside she would be who had built this park.

"Beautiful." He mused. "Sprawling."

Slowly Slevin glanced out the window. "A true mark on this system."

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

"Have you seen the plans, Precious?" Natalia cooed, taking a few token high shelf liquors for the mixed drink. It was one of Slevin's favorites.

"The entire moon." she sang, the images of the hologram blooming from memory. "The largest park of its kind. Unique. Bold. Daring."

All due to Natalia and Slevin of course.

"Think of how many would come to experience the sort of life and risk few others could give them?" people paid for a measure of illusion, this park would feed into it. It would turn into the addictive drug that would bring patrons to it again and again.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

This time Slevin stayed quiet.

Natalia had a way of worming into someone's ear. Slevin could do it at times, but it took a certain type of person. They had to be open to his influences, willing, and most importantly wanting. It happened more often than one would expect, but the truth was Slevin had a silver tongue, though Natalia's was made of pure Aurodium. They had different approaches. She was subtle and smooth, while he was like a battering ram, doing what needed to be done.

His method were more a grab to the throat, while hers were a gentle caress.

That was how they worked, and it worked quite well.

They rarely ever encountered someone that their charms didn't work on in one way or another. It was just about picking the right person to do the convincing. For instance, Slevin had his tasks mostly with women, while Natalia went for the men. It was perhaps a bit sexist, but it worked. One couldn't argue with results.

He watched as Malie slowly shook her head, excitement crossing her features.

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

"Tell me, Maile," Natalia continued, finishing mixing both drinks. With her typical saunter, the woman came waltzing over to the pair. With her right hand she held out the drink to Slevin. With the other, to Maile.

"Why do so many sapients come to Zeltros?" she inquired, as if it was a test. To a degree, it was. But Natalia wanted Malie to think it through. Own it.

Maile turned her head, looking back at the bartender's slowly cooling body. Swallowing hard, her trembling fingers took a drink of the heavy liquor. It had a touch of spice in it, enough to promote a sense of well-being and calm.

"That's it. Drink up. Steel your nerves." Natalia encouraged.

Slowly, Maile attempted to speak. "Umm... to have fun?"

"Well, one of the many reasons, yes."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

Slevin of course knew the answer, it was one of the reason why Natalia had been able to convince him to go along with all of this in the first place. His beloved was clever, smarter than most beings and more cunning than even the most corrupt politician. She could see into the minds of men and women like no one else, and she did it all with an edge that was almost indescribable.

People came to Zeltros to forget.

They came here to fantasize, to be someone else. This world was an escape. It wasn't some family vacation spot, it wasn't something that you enjoyed if you were the kind of person who had settled with themselves. Zeltros was a place to be someone else. Here everyone could be a part of the party. Everyone could be someone else. That was why so many people came to Zeltros in the first place, that was why someone could lose themselves upon this world.

"Escape." He told her quietly.

Malie looked at him, surprise etched on her face.

"They come here to be someone else." He leaned back and smiled. "To get away from their wives, husbands, girlfriends, family. To be something more than themselves."

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

"Escape?" Maile echoed, fingers clutching her drink tighlty.

Natalia gave the younger blonde a wolfish grin.

"Precisely. Forget." Another tap of a long fingernail against Maile's glass and then she spun, turning towards her beloved. With an easy drape of her body, Natalia sat herself down beside Slevin.

"They want to create their own little worlds, where they are nothing but sad little kings on sad little hills." her chin rose high, feeling the cool drift of Slevin's fingers curl around the low of her back and upon her hip.

"We shall create that. Tempt them with that ability to create that sad little world... and get them so addicted that they keep coming for more. "

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

It really was that simple.

Most of the galaxy didn't live like kings. Most men and women couldn't do whatever they wanted to. They had to live within their own sad little world, within their routine. It was how things worked. Everyone had a job to do, and when they wanted to escape that job? They really wanted to escape.

They didn't just want to play. "That's why we're here."

Slevin chimed in again, his voice smooth.

"We will make something else." Addiction was a strong point of course, what was to be enjoyed and perhaps even cherished. "Something that they can't help but enjoy. That's why we need you Malie."

The girl looked at him, then to Natalia, his fingers gently tightening around her hip. "So you can help us build."

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Maile's face would contort in confusion. Need her? Why would they need her? A fine trembling still shook her, and Natalia encouraged the girl to continue taking another sip of her drink.

"I can?" she stammered, still a bit unsure. An emotional high and the spice mixed in with the alcoholic drink getting to her.

"Of course, precious." Natalia cooed. "We want you to be a part of it."

"We won't be tied to the pheromones of Zeltrons anymore -- nothing like that tramp of a little bartender that had her way with your father." a cluck of her tongue continued as if to suggest what a pity.

"No, we are creating from scratch." her knee swung.

"Life itself." A pause. "Perfection."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

The truth was more devious than that of course. They weren't doing this to create life, they weren't doing this for the good it would provide people, that was preposterous.

Slevin and Natalia were in this for themselves.

They were selfish creatures by nature, caring only about themselves and each other. Perhaps that made them bad people, but neither cared all that much. As far as the two of them were concerned the galaxy was their little jewel to play with, and whether they wanted to mount it on a pedestal or place it on the inside of one of their girl's a-...well that was up to them.

"Would you like to see?" He asked her with a smile.

Malie looked at Slevin.

"Show her my dear." Slevin asked Natalia. "Show her what we will create."

 

[Noire]

[member="Slevin Thawne"]

Show her? Natalia's smile grew broader. Turning to her right, she used a single finger to press the comm.

"I need a cleanup crew to take out the trash." she meant, of course, the bartender.

"Right away, Miz Thawne."

Drawing her finger away, Natalia swung her left free from her right. Rising to her feet, the blonde gave a small beckon to Maile.

"Come, precious." Maile would either follow or disobey. After learning her lesson back in the penthouse, the girl was quick to follow.

They had a few prototypes. The programming still being tweaked, but overall, they would soon be ready.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Natalia Thawne"]

Slevin stayed in his place on the Sofa. His eyes wandered towards the two women as they swiftly left.

He sat there, considering the future. The Coratanni Cartel had been doing rather well of late. Their influence had expanded to a point where they had real buying power, they grew their own spice, and the various lounges they were opening were mostly doing well. The deal with Miss Perl was no in place, and soon they would begin construction on Coruscant. Aside from the Imperial Remnant squatting over their home, everything else seemed to be working out deliciously well.

The Crime Lord shifted.

Perhaps it was all going too well. Slevin didn't often bow to Paranoia, but even though he had lost his arm he still felt as though he and Natalia had simply been winning too much. The Crime Lord was not a superstitious man, but he knew to expect the unexpected.

His lips thinned as his metal fingers grasped the glass. "Hmm."

Perhaps it was time to prepare.