Fandom Fight for Control [closed]

[Lucyfer]

‘Do you really want to be dropped off with Schaeffer?’ Stupid question. Never trust cadets in pairs. Reveille managed it with Schaeffer at times, mostly because those situations would be hard to fake an accident in. Corellia, planet-side, hunting another group?

Obviously, it’d be easy to claim the other was just killed by the enemy.

Not that Reveille cared about Minka, or Schaeffer, but she cared about maintaining numbers. She, Minka, Schaeffer, and Jinah – who was, smartly, remaining silent, and Kylo Ren were already scant on numbers, though they’d make up for it in skill. “You’re staying with us, Minka. We’ll be the ones finding and confronting the party of acolytes. Schaeffer’s seeking Kiza in particular.”

She and the others? Clean-up duty. But she wanted Kiza dead most of all, and Schaeffer had the best odds if he surprised her. Reveille still knew how to use her assets.

“It’s just a freak in a mask with a red lightsaber, right?” Schaeffer was intentionally being vague in the description, but that’s really all Kiza was known for. Freak in a mask, with a red lightsaber. It may have also been a fitting description of several others, but…no matter.

“Basically – Pantoran, though, not human.” Reveille said as the descended into the atmosphere, and she found a roof to hover over, “Go.” She’d take the ship to a better location to actually land, but Schaeffer would get his head start. He rose from the co-pilot’s chair to take his leave.

~***~

Likely, true, though Armitage would not be surprised if these people also didn’t pay enough attention to faces, just to actions. At least he had made his own face synonymous with the First Order. People knew it far quicker than they knew Kylo’s face. That was some satisfaction, at least, however small.


Armitage was hardly pleased with the clientele here, or the various looks passed towards them – or, more particularly, Althea. At least his attire wasn’t earning any such looks or threats of harassment, though he imagined that wouldn’t have been the case regardless. Perhaps his FO uniform might have earned a few comments from those displeased with the FO, but little else.

His gaze followed Althea’s direction as she pointed out a man in a purple suit, with two women at his side. There, Armitage finally let out a sigh of exasperation.

Of course he would be flanked with two young women.

Of course he would play to every stereotype of the older gambling man.

Armitage knew he wasn’t going to enjoy this, but he approached with Althea regardless, “Atar?” He wouldn’t immediately assume it was him, especially as the man hadn’t glanced up and recognized him just yet.

 

[cleopat]

Minka didn’t really care that Schaeffer left ahead of her. The two of them alone? Easily, one of them wouldn’t make it back alive. And she knew she would have another chance to strike down Schaeffer. “Sounds like it will be a real party.”

Just a freak in a mask with a red lightsaber. Kylo turned to glare at Schaeffer. He knew the phrasing was intentionally antagonistic, just like the man who spoke it, but it still grated on his nerves. Freak. What were the chances that Schaeffer wouldn’t return alive?

“Hope you don’t die,” Minka offered in a sing-song voice.

Kylo almost scoffed at Minka’s antics with the urge to repeat her words back to Schaeffer. He also resisted the urge to push him out. “For your sake, I hope you don’t die either.”

~~

Atar held up one finger to Armitage as he watched the tiny ball whirl around the roulette board. It soon landed, which resulted in a shout of elation from the older man. “And that is how you play the board.” He lightly patted the waist of the woman on his left as he tipped back his drink in a celebratory manner.

Finally, he looked over at the person who called his name, and a toothy grin crossed his face. “Ah, General Hux, so glad to finally meet you.” He waved off the women, who turned to find another wealthy man to entertain. His gaze flickered to the woman standing next to the General. “And who is this beauty?”

“Lieutenant Althea Storax. I was the one to send you the message.” Lavinia wasn’t curt in her tone as she responded to Atar’s flirtatious behavior. She almost seemed to enjoy his attention. “Pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

“Likewise,” his voice deepened, eyes skimming her entire form. “I must say, I didn’t think that the First Order had any clothes other than those stiff, drab uniforms.”

“What can we say, we wanted to dress up for you.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Schaeffer doubted Minka’s sincerity quite a bit, and Kylo’s, but it didn’t matter. He had a job. The better he continued to do his jobs, the better his odds of one day having what he wanted. So, he hopped out of the ship, onto the roof, and made his way as the ship Reveille had took off to find an actual hangar to land in, landing by a familiar ship.

Terex’s newest creation. It heavily resembled the Carrion Spike of before.

Reveille docked the ship quickly; no one on Corellia cared enough to hail ships or try to direct them, so there was no hassle in sliding into a spot, and she was soon out of her own seat. She had changed since Spira, thankfully, and had quite a few more obvious weapons on her – blaster included, and now the whip was coiled at the hip opposite the blaster, while the telescoping polearm was on her back.

There were knives, but no one needed to see the knives.

Jinah’s own arsenal was quite a bit different from standard issue – a wroshyr wood spear with a kyber crystal carved into a blade. It allowed him to wield it fairly effectively, as if he had actual sight, as the Force flowed through it strongly, but he also had a bow and quiver of arrows, similarly designed, all with kyber glistening at the tips as the arrowheads.

Reveille would step out first, “Ideally, we’ll take a couple down with ranged shots before they notice what’s going on,” she glanced to Kylo, “presuming you have any ranged weaponry or talents that won’t be too flashy,” she noted. The flashy could wait.

Four down at once would be a good start, in any case. Three, if Kylo wasn’t able to contribute.

~***~

Armitage was certainly not pleased to be ignored for a roulette ball, but he let his gaze drift idly over to it. He knew better than to wish for bad luck that may foul the sellers mood, but he still did.

The universe didn’t hear him. It gave the win to Anolo, and though Armitage managed not to grimace at the celebratory comments and the way chips were pushed towards him, he couldn’t force a smile, either.

The women left as the attention left them, and their hopes of fortune with it.

He offered a nod to the greeting, and Althea introduced herself. Of course the older man would be looking to her, given his previous company. “Not all the stereotypes of the First Order are accurate,” Armitage opted to add as Althea noted why they had dressed up.

If it worked to their advantage to be conscious of their client and area? Fine. It went against the stereotype and might be appreciated here. “I extend my congratulations on your good fortune, it seems you have been having a good day,” based on his own reaction to his win, and the pile of chips now in front of him. “I hope we can come to an agreement to make it better for us both.”

It was likely rude to dive right in, and Hux knew the implications of his words weren’t subtle, but he thought it might at least be tactful enough.

He still just wanted to get the business done and get out of there.

 

[cleopat]

Minka, weapons already secured on her personage. Some, like the blaster and longer knife, were visible, and some, much like how they were hidden on Reveille, were also hidden on her. No one ever expected the petite girl to pack such deadly precision at the speeds she accomplished.

In comparison, Kylo lacked the weaponry needed for this mission. “I can manage.” If she didn’t want something flashy at first, he could deal. The Force granted many ways in subduing an opponent. He could be patient and wait for the flashy attacks later on.

He needed to focus on winning.

Kylo followed Reveille off the ship, with Minka not far behind them. “There’s much you still have yet to learn about me.”

“And we get the front row seat.” Light sarcasm laced Minka’s words, yet she couldn’t deny that she wanted to see the Force in action.

~~

“And yet, it seems that some stereotypes are indeed accurate.” He shuffled his chips into a neat pile before nodding towards the table hand in an indication that he would be stepping away for a minute. No one would dare steal from Anolo Atar.

“Always cutting right to the chase, wanting to get the deal done.” He led them over to a slightly more secluded corner of the room, where two black couches faced each other and a large, muscular man with a blaster strapped to his waist stood in front of. Atar’s bodyguard.

Lavinia spared no glance to the bodyguard as she passed him and sat on one of the couches. “We figured a businessman like yourself would believe in the mantra ‘Time is Money.’”

Atar took his own seat on the couch across from where Lavinia sat but on the end closest to her. “That is quite true, my dear, but I’ve found that when you already have that money, then money is power.”

“And do you have that power, Mr. Atar?”

He leaned forward slightly in his seat. “I have more power than you believe, Miss Storax, and I will be happy to show it to you one day.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille never thought she’d relate so hard to Minka’s tone, but she did. It was far better for her to know what she was working with. That she didn’t, was a problem, but so long as Kylo could play by the rules, it should work out.

The path to the square, and the meeting place, was fairly straightforward. Though some people paused with their passage – Reveille’s First Order emblem was in plain sight, with the gold stripes – no one moved to question them or step in their way.

“Just ahead,” Jinah was the first to speak, slowing his own pace, “Kiza is with them,” he knew the aura of the mask by now, “two others, strong in the Force, seem to be nearby,” but not with them, which was interesting to Jinah.

Interesting to Reveille, as well. “Closer to us, or further.”

“Further. Closer to Schaeffer.” He had found the area, but not moved yet to strike. “Terex is still there. The situation seems calm.”

‘Good….’ They would have the advantage, then.

And the Temple of the True Vine was a mostly open building. Really, it was more of a place to get out of the sun than a temple any longer, and while some clerics may have still remained to tend to the vining plants that grew over the dead roots which created the structure, the truth remained that the majority that stepped in there were not adherents. So it was no surprise to see Terex sitting on a bench, the helmet in his lap, and one ankle resting on his knee, with a bunch of cloaked acolytes around him.

And focused on him.

“Minka, Kylo, move to where you can get a good shot,” Reveille suggested. She would stay here with Jinah.

It’d be better if they all came from different directions, and the open structure of the temple gave plenty of opportunities. Roots didn’t exactly create good walls.

~***~

Some things were indeed true – Armitage wouldn’t argue that as he followed the man to a more private locale, almost roll his eyes at the discussion of power. He did not, nor did he interject that ‘money’ was merely a form of power, and hardly one worth collecting when it could be used to acquire true power.

He didn’t much care for the way that Anolo chose to address Althea, either.

“That someday is not today,” Armitage’s words were clipped. If he was already read as impatient, he may as well stick to it – he had other sellers to look at, after all. It was the one good thing about this galaxy, he supposed. If nothing came through today between Anolo and Aya, there would be tomorrow.

There was also still Sienar to deal with.

He took his seat on the couch, all the same. He doubted playing that card so obviously would benefit him, so he didn’t mention his pending meetings. He was there because he wanted to do business with the man, and he could sense if he pushed too hard, the other would just as easily wave it off and send him to those others. “I only need to know what you can offer in the way of doonium,” repairing the Supremacy came first, and he would have to keep his focus there.

Then he could move on to looking into ships, pre-built or supplies.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo doubted that the two Jinah mentioned that were strong in the Force would pose any potential risk for Kylo, but he kept his guard up. He could feel them too, feel how the Force flowed through them. And he did not needed to be caught off guard and risk losing any sense of threat in those around him.

At the command of the admiral, Minka moved swiftly, as if she became part of the shadows that lingered. This was the fun part for her, killing the enemy from afar. She could fight and often used her size to her advantage, a stealth kill would by far forever be her favorite method of taking out her enemy.

Kylo wasn’t nearly as graceful as Minka was when moving into a different spot, but he still remained quiet. He settled for a spot behind a nearby building, yet there was a clear view to the temple. And there was Terex, someone he could easily end just as well as their actual targets.

But he needed to focus on destroying the acolytes. They posed an actual risk to his goals, and thus created the absolute need for their destruction.

Both Minka and Kylo focused on the acolytes in front of Terex, both calm and prepared to take that shot.

~~

Lavinia was hardly phased by the older man’s comments towards her. They were words she encountered countless times before, and no doubt will encounter them again sometime in the future. But she held some small appreciation for Armitage attempting to divert attention back on track.

Anolo shifted in his seat, straightening out the jacket of his suit while giving Armitage a once over as if truly seeing him for the first time. “Ah yes, doonium. The very reason for our meeting, I suppose.” A sigh escaped him as he pulled out a datapad. “Quite a well sought after metal these days. You were the first to contact me about purchasing doonium in the past few days.”

Lavinia was eager to hear more about that. Was his other buyer the Resistance? Were they able to form an alliance with someone who was willing to shell out a pretty penny to help them rebuild?

“The price has certainly increased as a result. It’s all in good business.” He held up his hands as a gesture of good will, but Lavinia stopped herself from scoffing.

This man just knew he needed to try and bank off of a war.

“How much are you looking for?”

 

[Lucyfer]

The others moved, without question, without argument. Jinah and she would be the first shots, from a singular direction. Minka would know to make her shot then, while all attention turned their way. With any fortune, Kylo would also know to make any move he had planned then, as well.

“Can you sense the one besides Kiza?” Reveille asked Jinah in a low voice.

“Barely, but yes,” the mask engulfed everyone.

“That’s your target. Let me know when you’re ready.” It did not take long for Jinah to be ready, thankfully. A couple of seconds of lining up his bow, and he gave a nod, certain of his shot as the kyber started to shine.

Reveille had her own blaster at another near Kiza. She’d let Schaeffer have his chance. “Now.” A simple command, and Jinah loosed his arrow. Reveille only waited a couple of moments before sounding the blaster, enough time for the arrow to reach its destination without startling the others too early. It pierced through the Acolyte to the left of Kiza, and the one behind her fell a moment later.

All attention shifted their way, and Reveille did step into sight as the Acolytes started to rise, and Kiza’s lightsaber illuminated. Terex quickly kicked back, letting his chair fall and rolling out just as Kiza swung at him, suspecting him behind the trap.

~***~

Armitage was hardly impressed by the theatrics, and there he couldn’t help his own comment, “Then I suppose it will not be a huge loss to you if I find the price has gone up too much, given you have other potential buyers,” he didn’t need Reveille to tell him about this trick. He’d been through enough of these tedious meetings, usually in uniform, to know how they tried to upsell things by claiming other buyers, or that it was a hot item.

Doonium wasn’t as rare as people liked to believe.

Just as kyber wasn’t.

The Jedi had made it seem that way, and it was still difficult to acquire, but it wasn’t nearly so rare.

“Approximately 440 tons,” Armitage answered. The damage to the Supremacy was not mild, and doonium was the major covering of all their ships. Given an entire wing had been severed, it would take quite a bit to put that wing back on, even if it was just one vertical strip.

Any excess would be useful later, anyways. “I understand if you do not have access to that much. If the price is right, I am willing to buy it piecemeal from you, and others, who I intend to see,” perhaps it was better of Anolo knew he also had others lined up.

 

[cleopat]

Minka waited for her turn with bated breathe for her signal to fire. The entirety of the universe shrunk down to where the only thing that existed was herself and the targets within her line of sight. Just as she was trained to do.

At the sound and subsequent sight of Reveille and Jinah firing their shots, Minka made her own lethal shot, subduing an Acolyte that was next to one of the others killed in the first wave.

With the urge to slaughter every single figure ahead of him in the temple, Kylo waited with clenched fists and hard breaths for the first shot. Reveille had a plan, for a reason unbeknownst to himself, he elected to follow said plan. Like Armitage, she knew how to command troops, how to strategically place every soldier on the battlefield.

Kylo did not, a flaw that proved painful to admit to himself.

The first shot fired, and he was quick to raise up one hand. The Acolyte next to the one killed by Jinah’s bow grabbed at his throat, perplexed and frightened by his sudden inability to breathe. Kylo wouldn’t draw this death out though, as much as he enjoy watching his victims squirm under his power.

With a twitch of his fingers, he tightened the windpipe until crushed under the pressure created by the Force. He watched as the Acolyte fell limp on the ground, and in a move he thought would appease the Dark Side within, the tugging sensation started once more. The call to the Light that happened nearly every moment he had to try and erase it forever.

It only served to increase his rage and adrenaline for the battle. Another Acolyte quickly attempted to make an escape, but just as quickly, Kylo halted their endeavor with another crunch of the windpipe.

Minka remained hidden after the chaos unfolded, serving as a sniper to take out another Acolyte running away. Fucking cowards. She would come back out either when directed or when their targets were all laying stone cold on the ground.

~~

Anolo whistled at the number Armitage listed. “You are certainly asking for quite a bit. Sustained some heavy damage, did you?” Although that should have come at no surprise, Anolo stored away that bit of information for later, should he find himself in a situation where it could prove handy.

He tapped on his datapad, bringing up the necessary information he needed to further the transaction. Armitage’s thinly veiled threat did not phase Anolo in the slightest. He knew many of the other sellers, and he knew the games they played. The General would not find himself in an easier situation with them.

“Ah, here we go.” He hummed to himself as he read over the information before him, taking note of his inventory and recent demands for doonium. “The best I can offer right now is 250 tons at the stated price.” He turned the datapad around and held it up with both hands for the two to see.

Lavinia was quick to calculate the price difference between what he offered and what she calculated in Armitage’s office with recent price trends. “That’s a near 250 percent price inflation.”

Anolo leaned back in his couch and shrugged his shoulders. “You aren’t the only ones buying doonium right now. Every other seller will have a similar price to mine.”

Lavinia leaned forward with her forearms placed on her thighs, resulting in the shifting of the lacy fabric around her chest to an almost scandalous sight to anyone in front of her. Like Anolo. She could’ve scoffed when the older man’s gaze flickered to what her neckline hinted at. Like many other men, Anolo proved himself predictable when it came to a pretty woman. “Oh come now, Mr. Atar, surely we can come to a better deal than that? We are, after all, buying such a large quantity that maybe we can come to something more feasible.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Attention flew in several directions as two more went down, and Acolytes started to scatter. Kiza was among those who did not immediately flee, even as her strike at Terex missed and he opted to join the runners, though he wasn’t cut down.

Not that there were too terribly many of them here. Kiza had come with a group of nine; four had been taken out immediately, and three fled. That left Kiza with two at her side, and in her fury she slipped her mask on, dark hair whipping around as she focused the anger on the first visible sight – the woman in white.

Her scream was hellish, and she lunged forward, lightsaber prepared to thrust right into Reveille’s gut, but Reveille simply flashed her golden whip and caught the other woman’s wrist in it. A sharp pull up snapped that same wrist and the saber flickered out and fell to the ground, just as Schaeffer finally descended from the tops of one of the roots.

His blades cut cleanly through her neck, severing it at two points, high up, and lower. Her head rolled, and Schaeffer stepped back quick to avoid any of the bloodshed tarnishing his white clothes, as he noticed the others had been picked off by those in the shadows.

‘Something isn’t right.’ Jinah had indicated two strong in the Force. Unless they were caught up with the others, they didn’t seem to be down. Reveille moved to pick up the mask, and lightsaber, figuring those were at least worth taking back. Terex would probably want the mask. Kylo might argue for that.

An arrow went between her and Schaeffer.

It also came right to a stop between them.

‘Shit.’

The thought was practically synomyous as the arrow turned mid-air, and flew at Schaeffer. He dodged it, as Reveille moved out of the spot she’d been in, to take a look towards the direction the arrow had been fired in.

Two figures strode into sight, without question Acolytes, and without question the two that Jinah had sensed. One was an older Zabrak woman, golden skin and plenty of tattoos across her form, while the other, curiously enough, was a Chiss woman. That was enough to give Reveille pause, given the rarity of them out in the galaxy.

Let alone one with a lightsaber. ‘Why today?’ It was a stupid question. Because this was, in fact, not her day. Or her week.

The zabrak was the one to speak, her voice almost musical, honed from years of ritualistic songs, “Do you intend to keep those, Admiral Hux?” Apparently, no introduction was necessary. Schaeffer was already out of sight, back up on the roots. “I would advise against it. If you’d only just return those, I believe we can all leave here alive.” Jinah started to come forward out of his place, bow over his back.

The persuasion was in her tone, but Reveille shook it off without much thought. “If you are Acolytes of the Beyond, you will not be leaving alive.”

“I do not suppose being Sith makes much of a difference?” The Zabrak inquired.

~***~

The increase was notable even to Hux, his brows sharply lifting. He did not doubt Anolo’s words, but he also had other sources available. The Sienars would likely be able to talk down others for better deals, and while they did often sell the raw material themselves, Armitage imagined he could work out something – though perhaps not for how much he needed.

He was about to indicate that he didn’t care how many others were buying, he was there and willing to pay immediately, for the right price. Anolo, of course, likely had time to waste until Hux would meet his price.

However, it was Althea who spoke up first in protest, and then adjusted herself. Armitage had to resist the urge to roll his eyes, though he couldn’t prevent the disgust that rose in him at the way Anolo’s gaze flickered so obviously. ‘Of course.’

Whether or not a bit of skin was going to get them a better deal, Armitage didn’t know, but he decided to let Althea try her hand. If the fool was that easy to manipulate when he clearly had pretty women all around him, Hux would accept it. He’d complain about his stupidity, and be annoyed that Althea had to stoop to such a thing, but he’d accept the better deal.

Of course, a bit of visible flesh was as far as Hux was willing to let it go.

A discourteous request, and he would make it clear that was far over the boundaries of this discussion and negotiation. Perhaps Althea would be willing to make such sacrifices for the Order, but Armitage was not turning the Order into a system that promoted that kind of trade.

 

[cleopat]

Minka had her sharp gaze focused on the struggle between Kiza and Reveille, ready to fire her own killing shot should she need to do so. Although if it missed and hit Reveille instead, then so be it.

Schaeffer’s theatrical entrance erased her need to keep an eye on Kiza any longer. Her head rolled on the ground, expression of fury forever etched on her features. Her blood stained the ground, and if they lingered for too long, then a foul stench would permeate the air.

She didn’t wish to experience the stench of decaying flesh and dried blood.

Affter the last Acolyte he subdued, Kylo turned to witness Kiza’s head rolling on the ground and her body subsequently following in action. One less threat to deal with, but it seemed she wasn’t the only major threat they had to deal with on Corellia.

The display of the Force through the manipulation of the arrow caught both Kylo and Minka off-guard. Without attempting to stop the arrow, Kylo turned to the two Acolytes standing before them, whose characteristics were unexpected for him. A Zabrak and a Chiss. How intriguing.

Kylo perceived the lightsaber as an immediate threat, although curiosity flickered inside him. He readied his own weapon, hilt firmly in his grasp yet not ignited just yet.

After Reveille’s threat, Kylo opened his mouth to interject his own warning, but subsequently silenced by the Zabrak’s utterance. Now he was definitely intrigued. “What do you mean?” he demanded. The answer was obvious, though he wanted more. He needed answers.

If powerful Force users, powerful Siths, then he may be able to persuade them to help him. Somehow. “Who are you?”

~~

Anolo, inhibitions altered somewhat due to the alcohol consumed and the series of fortuitous wins at the roulette table, took the bait Lavinia offered. “And what is it that you’re proposing, my dear?”

Lavinia wanted to retch at the forward attitude of the man, but ever composed, she answered, “Do you mind if I get a closer look at those numbers? Just so I can have a better idea of what you have.”

Seeing no harm in giving her his datapad, he handed it over with a chuckle. “By all means, be my guest.”

She took the datapad with a coquettish smile, noting the drink he picked back up that was momentarily forgotten on the table next to his couch. “Corellian whiskey?”

“Chandrilan brandy,” he corrected. “A rather pricey drink, but I’d say it’s worth every credit.”

“A perfect fit for someone like yourself,” she mused, glancing up at him while addressing him before she turned her attention back on the datapad. The numbers of the doonium were pushed aside for the moment. Her attention focused on the other files in his datapad that interested her. Really, he should have a more secure encryption code.

Anolo seemed content as he sipped on his brandy and watched Lavinia strolling through, what he believed, were numbers concerning the doonium. “You deal in more than just doonium, right?” she asked, this time with her gaze remaining on the datapad.

“No one gets as rich as I am selling just one thing.”

“Oh, I’m quite sure of that, Mr. Atar. It looks like you even dabble in a few illegal businesses as well.” The corners of her lips turned up in a smirk as she observed the older man looking a bit startled.

“What are you talking about? What is it you’re doing?” He shifted in his seat and considered calling over his bodyguard to throw them out.

Lavinia proved to be one step ahead of him. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. We wouldn’t want your friend, Miss Kasabian, to know that you dabble a bit in the slave trade. That would lead you to financial and societal ruin, wouldn’t it?” The firm grasp on his glass and the clenched jaw confirmed her theories she developed once she seamlessly hacked into his files.

“You really shouldn’t make your passcode so easy to guess. Favorite liquor, really? You must think everyone to be dim-witted.” Both knew it took more than a simple passcode to get inside his other files, but his gaze merely hardened at the woman, not a trace of his jovial and flirtatious nature from earlier. “Now, what would you say would be a better deal for the First Order, General?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo Ren finally made himself known. The two ladies of the Sith did look over to him, as Jinah came forward and took the lightsaber from Reveille’s hand. She maintained the mask, but it at least freed up her hand.

It was the Zabrak who smiled, as the Chiss kept an annoyed look on her face, “Master Ren,” Master of the Knights of Ren, as she knew him, “I am Lord Vader’s former apprentice, Darth Nyx.” She answered him calmly, more than aware of his preoccupation with Lord Vader. He had been the one to find the lost helmet on Endor, something not even the Acolytes had found – and they found his lightsaber.

Not the one currently held by the miraluka. They had cremated the blade to return it to the Lord Vader.

They likely would have done the same with the helmet.

“This is my own apprentice, Darth Discord.” A fitting title for her own desire to ruin the autocracy the ruled Csilla with an iron fist. It was time all of that fell. “I have long wondered when I might run across Snoke’s apprentice. The fool was always making new toys and destroying them at a whim; he hardly knew what to do with them when he threw off the guidance of the dark side.” And the light side, but the light side did not matter.

Snoke had once sought balance – and it had ruined him. He saw the power in the dark, but he refused to listen to it. He tried to make it listen to him instead, and it had been his downfall, and the downfall of so many of his apprentices. It was why Palpatine still called through the Force, why his will and his influence could still be felt, whereas Snoke was just…dead. “You, too, seem to adhere to his teachings, to your own detriment,” she opted to point out, “You need a teacher.”

Schaeffer, meanwhile, dropped down besides Minka. "Tactical retreat?" He couldn't imagine they'd be blamed for getting the ship ready.

~***~

Armitage did let Althea work her magic. No untoward propositions came, she just asked for the datapad and was given it. He couldn’t help but glance at what she was doing, and it quickly became obvious she wasn’t just skimming for information on prices. He couldn’t help but wonder where she picked up these sorts of skills. This was the kind of thing he’d expect from his sister, not Althea.

It wasn’t too long before Althea called him out, mentioning a friend, Kasabian, who would apparently not be too thrilled to know Anolo worked in the slave trade.

It even soured Armitage’s mood immediately. If he didn’t need the doonium, he might even consider walking away entirely to make sure the man didn’t get any more funding for those side projects. “I rather like the thought of telling this Miss Kasabian what it is he does,” Armitage noted. “The First Order does not support the slave trade and I’d hate any of the funds I provided to go back into that wretched business.”

It was true, of course. “But perhaps if Anolo considers putting these credits into other businesses, we could make a deal for…what was the original price he marked up so drastically?” He asked Althea, “I think 25% off of that would be sufficient.”

He might have wanted to demand it for free, for his silence, but for the moment he would not play that card. They might have to deal with Anolo again. Or Anolo may have friends – he likely had friends – willing to add more to the hit already on Armitage’s head. Better to not play entirely too cruel.

Anolo would be wiped out later when Hux had the galaxy in his hand, anyway.

 

[cleopat]

Minka didn’t spare a glance at Schaeffer, nor was she surprised when he appeared beside her. “On one hand I feel like something very interesting is about to happen, but also I don’t want to get caught in the middle of a shit show if something does go down.”

She straightened up, giving the scene before them one last glance before turning towards Schaeffer. “Tactical retreat.”

Kylo’s gaze did not waver, not when she knew who he was. Not when she stated that she was a former apprentice of Darth Vader. He was far more intrigued by that. He needed to talk to her more, maybe convince them to come back to the First Order with him. Even if Reveille protests that decision.

Maybe they would be able to offer some guidance with how to strip away the Light that still pulled at him. Like now.

He knew of the detriments of Snoke’s teachings, though Kylo wasn’t so eager to admit that out loud. Maybe it would make him look weak. Maybe even foolish.

“This is certainly an unexpected surprise. Never did I expect to be in the company of Darth Vader’s apprentice.” Being his former apprentice, Kylo considered her potential abilities. Both of theirs. Would they prove to be a match to Kylo? Or nothing more than frauds in their skills and might?

“Are you offering to fill that position?” He couldn’t suppress the curiosity that peaked when a potential opportunity came forward to learn what Darth Vader taught all those years ago. And if he could sway them completely to his vision, then the galaxy wouldn’t stand a chance.

The Scavenger would be no more.

~~

Lavinia smiled sweetly at the older man, as if she would further play into his flirtatious nature from earlier. No such luck for him. She wanted to wring every bit of credit out of him, and she was half tempted to demand their supply for free, but that would be foolish. If he already didn’t want him dead, that would ensure a price on their heads as well as the potential for Anolo to blacklist their names from future sellers.

“I do prefer a nice, rounded number. I think 30 percent would suffice.” Anolo opened his mouth to argue, and Lavinia quickly interjected, “Or maybe 40 percent is to your preference?”

A flicker of pure rage crossed his face before it was wiped away for a neutral, almost calm one. Lavinia still held the datapad, still held the power to completely destroy Anolo’s livelihood. He would have to submit for now, but he won’t forget.

“You seemed to have given me an offer I can’t refuse. I will agree to your original offer of 25 percent, and I’ll even make sure none of the credits go into my little side business.” That he didn’t fully promise, but it’s what they wanted to hear.

Lavinia didn’t want to agree for them, not when the General was right there and had an agenda of his own. She already did her part in lowering the price to one that was more reasonable, to which she found herself questioning why.

 

[Lucyfer]

Something interesting was, no doubt, about to go down. Schaeffer could feel that just as well, but he’d rather be in a ship, and prepared to leave immediately than witness it himself. If Reveille were smart, she’d be leaving Kylo to his newfound interest, but, apparently, she was not. Or she valued her position more.

Likely the latter.

He gave a nod, and didn’t even waste his time to consider how he might execute Minka in the moment. He didn’t intend to follow her path, after all – he was better at keeping a high path, rooves and trees, and that’s what he intended to get back to, immediately, using a root of the Temple to get higher up, and then vaulting onto a lower roof and continuing on towards the hangar he had seen Reveille had towards.



All the while, Reveille and Jinah observed the situation of Darth Vader’s apprentice, and the other. A Sith, and an apprentice, still alive. Reveille couldn’t say she was surprised, but it was annoying. And it was also a threat to the stability of the First Order. “Certainly,” she answered easily, “though it comes with the understanding you would be ceding your position as Supreme Leader.”

“The First Order won’t—” Reveille really should have learned to stop trying to talk sense into anyone with the Force. It was the apprentice that reached out, and Reveille’s throat was clenched shut.

The lightsaber in Jinah’s hand lit, but he didn’t move just yet to act. Perhaps Kylo would get his shit together and realize this was not ideal. Or perhaps he’d kneel to a new master because of that Vader tie. If so, even Jinah knew he couldn’t take on all three. He likely could only manage one, in truth.

“You knelt to Snoke. You’ve knelt to Kylo. You’ll kneel to whoever is superior,” the Master noted, a smirk curving her lip. “The fools of the Empire knew not to step out of line or they’d be executed, regardless of rank.” The Emperor had not suffered fools, nor Vader. Only the Emperor’s command kept Vader from killing anyone who displeased him.

It was an effective system.

~***~

Armitage felt quite satisfied seeing Anolo put right back in his place by Althea. He did not like to consider what consequences may come of this, but did he care much right then? No. He would consider it later, perhaps. For now, he would be content with the amount he was having to pay for the doonium, which was significantly less than even the market prices that Althea had found.

He would indeed have money to spend even if he paid a bit more with the other seller.

Not that he’d ever do anything frivolous with it, but the thought of not wasting money was always a pleasant one. “I am glad to find you agreeable to this,” Armitage stated. “We’ll have the money transferred as soon as we have the shipments arranged. Lieutenant Storax, would you be so kind as to take down Miss Kasabian's information? I find that may come in handy later if anything goes wrong with our supply of doonium, or if it never arrives. Of course, for now we'll pay half up front. The rest, on arrival."

He wouldn’t be cheated at the last moment. His intent was to make his threat obvious so that Anolo wouldn't consider it.

They could hold on to this information to keep Anolo in line. Not that planned to drag it on for that long. Hardly. As soon as the doonium arrived, he’d go ahead and inform the woman about Anolo.

 

[cleopat]

Minka was quick to follow Schaeffer back to the ship, laying low in the shadows and quick on her feet. Reveille was grossly outmatched in the little circle the formed in the grove of the Temple, and while Minka would have loved to see her inevitable demise, she also knew a quick escape was needed for if the Admiral somehow survived and they need a quick escape.

But would Kylo be a part of that, or would he be the reason they needed to leave as soon as possible?


Kylo glanced over at Reveille when her words were abruptly halted by the apprentice, and he noted Jinah’s own silent threat when the lightsaber ignited. If he didn’t wish to battle them, then he needed to head his words carefully. They would no doubt prove their worth in battle.

His gaze lingered on the admiral a second longer than necessary before he turned back to the two siths. “I will be giving up nothing.” And he would not budge on that. The title of Supreme Leader was his and his alone.

“But if you come with me, you can be sure that many will see and kneel before your strength and worth.” Kylo’s strong suit wasn’t exactly persuasion, but he would be damned if he left without the legacy of Darth Vader’s training stranding before him.

“The Empire had many mistakes, ones I intend on correcting. Failure is not an option.” And he would be damned if anyone got in his way. Or threatened him with treason.

~~

“No need to, I already have her information.” Lavinia didn’t wish to express out loud that they would be seeing her next for more of the required doonium. It may give Anolo a chance to spread lies about them to her as soon as they left. But if she was a smart woman, then she would know not to immediately trust any word from Anolo.

Maybe she already didn’t trust him.

“It’s been such a pleasure meeting with you, Mr. Atar,” with her deceptively sweet smile still plastered on her place, she handed the datapad back over to him.

“And I’m sure you have others to swindle as well,” Anolo, still with the same malice as before, said, standing up from the couch as their meeting concluded.

Lavinia stood as well, with nothing more she felt like she could add to their discussions. They negotiated and agreed upon a price, and the First Order will get their shipment soon. “And I’m sure you are a very busy man, with all of your niche interests holding your attention.”

Anolo held out his hand like any proper businessman at the end of a meeting, and Lavinia took it. Instead of letting go, the man gripped her hand tight and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, “Don’t think I will forget about this, Miss Aburius. I’m not one to forget a face, especially of someone who left quite an impression in their younger days.”

Lavinia’s face paled a bit as he pulled away. Anolo turned to Armitage, offering his hand as well. “A deal’s a deal, and it will be done.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Darth Nyx had been certain Kylo would, indeed, give up nothing. There was no threat of him coming to her side, but she had to make the offer. She’d be a fool not to – given it was likely to stay with him for quite a while, that someone who had known Darth Vader lived, and had wanted to train him.

“Did it?” The woman inquired, “I suppose you do not know so much as I about the Empire.”

“The Empire lost.”

“You presume it to be gone.” She noted to Jinah, “You, who see the Force more clearly than even I – and you believe it is gone.” She almost sounded amused, “or perhaps you never learned what all those cracks in your vision mean, all those shatterpoints of possibility,” she gestured idly, then, “Discord, let her go.” And Discord lowered her hand then, finally allowing Reveille a breath.

One hand reached for Jinah’s shoulder to balance herself against as she glared down the Chiss.

“No, Master Ren, I will not be stepping into the First Order unless you cede the position. You are free to leave with me, of course. Let them run this into the ground and—”

“Ozyly-esehembo.”

The word interrupted, and Nyx didn’t know what it was.

But, she could see that Discord did. Her posture straightened, her confusion apparent on her face. “Who taught you that?” It was not in Basic, and after a moment, Nyx realized it was also not in Sy Bisti.

“What is she saying?” She snapped at Discord, who seemed, for the moment, to be wholly ignoring her master.

Reveille shook her head. “Not important. Who are you? I know Csilla. I know the Ascendency. Is this a task set by the Ascendency?”

Not even Jinah knew what was being said, though he’d heard this language before. Only between Reveille and Kos’tel’lanni. He could easily assume it was the language of the Chiss.

Fear. Fear overcame Discord with the mention of the Ascendency and Csilla, fear that Nyx could immediately sense. Whatever was being said, it impacted her apprentice in a way unexpected – and fear, when uncontrolled, was always difficult to reign in. Without a verbal answer, the apprentice let lightning touch her fingertips and she threw it at Reveille.

Reveille flinched back, but there was little need – the lightsaber came between the lighting and herself, Jinah stepping up to block against it.

“Enough!” Nyx ordered, and Discord slunk back immediately. “You will explain that, later.”

“Yes, master.”

~***~

The name of the next client had been forgotten by Hux in the moment, so he was pleased that Althea thought to already take the information. Armitage rose with the others, and noted how Anolo went over to Althea first, taking her hand and then drawing her close a moment to whisper. He couldn’t hear what was said, but that it was a threat was immediately clear.

He was a fool to make a threat against a First Order operative right in front of the General.

Armitage was already going through his mental list of bounty hunters. Swift was usually Swift to take up a task, though he was getting rather old….

‘First get the shipment.’ And see what telling Kasabian would do for them.

Then murder.

Anolo turned to him and offered his hand, as well. Armitage’s gaze flicked down to it as if bored, before returning to Anolo’s face. “Yes, it will.” He agreed, and stepped by the man, ignoring the gesture of a handshake. The deal was already made, he didn’t feel the need to play into needless formalities any longer, especially not with someone he now actively disliked more than the usual scum he worked with for these deals.

Stars, he couldn’t wait until this was unnecessary.

He stepped over to Althea and offered his arm once more, “We do have more business to handle today, you understand.” As if that would excuse his obvious rudeness. Did he care? No, not in the least. He wanted to get out of there, and find out what Anolo had said to her in those moments he couldn’t hear.

 

[cleopat]

They seemed to be the stubborn sort, which irritated Kylo. She seemed to be willing to teach him, yet not so willing to come with them back to the Supremacy.

Why did everyone had to be so damn difficult?

With slight shock appearing on his face, Kylo turned to Reveille when she began speaking in a language unknown to him. Judging by the Chiss’s reaction, he could only guess it was their language, a language they normally kept among themselves. And yet she knew it. No doubt due to her friendship with her Lieutenant-Admiral.

In a blink of an eye, Discord lashed out from her fear at Reveille, and Jinah was quick to deflect the lightning from Reveille before it hit her. Kylo now had his own lightsaber ignited.

He held his guard against the two, and even though the Apprentice didn’t directly insult Kylo, he still felt like she did when she attacked Reveille, and he couldn’t fathom why. Nor did he intend to think about that in the moment.

But it also wasn’t the best time to demand to learn how she did that. Not even he could manipulate lightning in such a way.

Kylo wanted some damn answers.

“Your apprentice still has much to learn.” He fully ignored how he often let his own anger control him in similar fashion. And like how she was at the receiving end of the lightning, Reveille endured Kylo’s anger. “Tell me, what is it that you want? Surely we can come to some sort of agreement.”

His lightsaber was still clenched in his fist, full ignited and prepared to strike should the situation turn further south.

~~

A part of Lavinia received great satisfaction when Armitage refused to shake Anolo’s hand. He might as well have slapped the man’s face. She knew she wanted to. Rather, she wanted to see a blaster pointed at his head. One less person to know her truth. But she’ll settle with what she could for the moment, even if it was something small as denying a handshake.

She accepted his arm once more as they took on their roles as every other eccentric and wealthy couple in the casino. Did she believe the man could expose her secret? The very fact that she wasn’t sure meant that Anolo was a dangerous obstacle who needed to be destroyed. Maybe she would message an old friend of hers.

Anolo said nothing more after Armitage’s snub. His lack of propriety did not surprise him, and so he said nothing more to them. He would remember their names and faces quite well, and he would see to it that he outlived them both.

Stars, she was happy that they were finally away from Anolo Atar. She could only hope things would go smoother with Aya Kasabian, but she didn’t hold her breathe for that one. “When we get back to the ship, I can alert Miss Kasabian that we’ll be arriving in just a little bit.” Her datapad didn’t exactly fit anywhere in her dress.

 

[Lucyfer]

Nyx hardly took offense to the comment made at Discord. “That is why she is an Apprentice, Master Ren,” she indicated easily, the cool demeanor starting to return, even if she was not pleased with this turn. The emotions around her were easy to read. Discord remained afraid. Kylo was growing angrier.

“I want the mask returned. I want the lightsaber returned. I want the helmet that Lord Terex escaped with.”

“Stars, is he going by that again?” Jinah asked, his nose scrunching up as he was unable to hold in that comment. He had been ‘Lord Terex’ in the Ranc Gang. He was hardly noble. In any sense of the word.

“You’re getting none of it.” Reveille stated.

“Do you presume to speak for—”

“I speak for myself, and for the Order.” Kylo Ren could do what he wanted – she wasn’t speaking for him. “You are enemies of the Order, and there is no further need to speak or negotiate, unless you wish to lay down your weapons and come as prisoners.”

Nyx almost laughed, before the realization that hit Reveille struck her. Triangular ships started to appear in the air over Corellia.

The scream of TIEs overhead reached her.

The cavalry had arrived.

Nyx lifted one hand and pulled a TIE into another, but just as she did so, a hail of fire seemed to unleash itself from – well, nowhere. The shock of it nearly had her fried by one of the shots as the Temple was quickly fired upon, but that was where her Apprentice did step up, and quickly redirect all the fire. She didn’t have a direction, so it just scattered around them.

Reveille could hardly hide the satisfied smirk as she turned around with her prize of the helmet, towards her invisible ship just as it started to make itself known in the sky, Schaeffer no doubt behind the wheel. Coward – but a smart coward.

~***~

The self-satisfied looks on their faces likely helped the pair to blend in, but they certainly weren’t halted or harassed as they moved to the exit. At her statement, he did arch an eyebrow, though. ‘Aren’t we seeing…?’ The name clicked in his mind. He recalled the first names, over the last names.

Surnames were a mark of respect in the Order, after all. He didn’t respect any of these people, so he had defaulted to first names. It was interesting that they were both considered terms of familiarity, and insulting, depending on the context.

“Ah. Yes, do let her know, it seems I do have more of a desire to see her now.” To get things arranged with her, and further his plot to destroy Anolo now that the man had gotten on his bad side. He wondered if he could find a way to make sure that Aya waited until he had his shipments before making their relationship difficult.

He might just have to read that situation when they got there. Reveille hadn’t offered much.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo decided that the requests Nyx made was far too much and too comfortable. All should belong to him, and him alone, even if Reveille said or believed otherwise.
She didn’t know how to properly use or take care of the items as he did. She didn’t know their worth like he did.

He opened his mouth to speak, but in an almost instantaneous realization, he glanced over his shoulder to see the familiar First Order TIEs flying in their direction. His features scrunched into a scowl as his plans for swaying Discord and Nyx were quickly dissolving before his eyes, erupting like the rain of bullets on the area.

When the Apprentice redirected the fire, Kylo had to redirect a few stray shots that headed towards him. His gaze further focused on the two, and while they still proved to be distracted by the fire of the TIE fighters, one hand shot out in an effort to freeze them where they stand.

If they weren’t willing to come along, then he would have to convince them otherwise. “It would be a shame to part just as we met.”

~~

“Then I will let her know as soon as we get back on the ship.” And leave the planet far behind. The sooner they created distance from Anolo, the better. Although she doubted the man would pull any sort of stunt in the middle of the casino, potentially havoc, she didn’t wish to test her luck.

It seemed to have already been tested enough today.

She had half a mind to contact one of her sources to see if she could plant a hit on Anolo. Destroy the man before he had the chance to destroy her. Her heart pounded as they made their way through the crowds, as if she expected the man to somehow alert everyone in the vicinity of her lies, yet nothing of the sort occurred, and Lavinia willed her heart to calm down.

“I don’t think she’ll request a meeting in a place such as this one.” Though she wasn’t quite sure herself if meeting in public or private was worse. In public there could at least be an easy escape if necessary. “Perhaps we’ll get a more private meeting with her.”

 

[Lucyfer]

The brief grip of the other man through the Force was felt, but nullified almost immediately, both by the Apprentice and the Master, who quickly called upon the Force to free them, moving the stagnant Force around them once more and retaking control. Nyx let out a derisive laugh at Kylo’s attempt, though Discord scowled and glanced her way, seeming to want the direction to attack.

“We’ll meet again, Master Ren. So long as the First Order and yourself refuse to accept the truth, we are certain to cross paths once more. You will remain an obstacle, but for now, I will allow that. Perhaps it will give you time to reconsider my request, or your own actions.” A wicked grin across her lips, “I can still feel how the Light pulls you.”

It was obvious, really, in a sense that spoke to her, in the way she’d been called to the Dark. She wouldn’t reveal any of that, though. The fact that Kylo didn’t recognize it – or if he did, he hadn’t gotten rid of it – said enough for his talents.

He was no threat to her, Skywalker bloodline or not. “I think you should be returning to your little organization.” She did not want to allow him the chance to lash out again, and she could see where his partners were abandoning him to. The ship had come into sight, lower to the ground now.

She could wreck it, but…well, where was the fun in that? Let them consider their options. Their enemies. Perhaps they would make the right decision.

For now, she opted to show something Kylo had, likely, never learned.

Rather than lightning , or the Force push, she called upon fire and sent a stream of it at Kylo Ren to throw him back into the ship, and leave him with some burn marks on his clothes and flesh to remember her by.

Jinah would at least make it into the ship before then.

~***~

Althea was not relaxed. It was obvious to Armitage in the way she addressed the situation, but more obvious as they finally left the casino behind. Her heart was racing. Though he only had a hand on her arm, he could still tell that much. “Breathe slower,” he found himself saying before he really thought about it.

It was a trick. If one breathed slower, the heart was forced to slow down with it.

Then he took note of her words about Kasabian. “Hopefully public, all the same,” he did not prefer private meetings when he did not know the person. Public usually allowed the public sphere to enforce its rules if anything happened. A private meeting usually meant he was disarmed and had to play by their rules.

He never agreed with that, unless he was the one setting the terms. “Though I wouldn’t enjoy another casino,” or any sort of place, something public was still preferable.

As they slipped into the hangar, he did ask, “What was it Anolo said to you that has you on edge?” And why to her? Yes, she was the one who hacked his datapad, but Armitage remained General of the First Order and had approved of her actions. Threatening an underling just seemed…foolish.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo nearly growled when his efforts in stopping the two proved futile. Snoke had been easy to defeat, bested by his own pride and arrogance. They knew better. He couldn’t catch them off-guard, and in that moment he knew he had lost the battle.

I will be certain we will meet again. He had to. He needed the information only they possessed yet so unwilling to hand it over to him. And though he didn’t want to state outright that he wanted their guidance, he did yearn for what they had to offer. But Kylo wasn’t ready to give up his position in the First Order for that.

As if she possessed the ability to manipulate the pull of the Light in him, he felt the familiar tug, stronger than ever. Back off and ignore her. With a furied yell, he drew back his lightsaber, still ignited, and charged in their direction, ignoring the small fact that he may just be outnumbered in the match.

The actions of the Sith caught Kylo off-guard, and before he could react, the heat licked at his skin and clothes, and he flew backwards into the ship. He remained on the ground for only a few seconds, but to him and his humiliation, a lifetime passed while he collected his bearings and ignored the burns he felt on face.

The crossguard lightsaber landed in the dirt a few feet from him, but with the stretch of his arm, that was remedied quickly. He didn’t process at the moment the unknown Force ability she directed at him, but rather he let his anger consumed him in someone else denying him, denying him what he deserved.

He would be sure they met again.

Standing up took a small effort, but Kylo stormed onto the ship with his hand still grasping the hilt of his lightsaber tightly.

~***~

Lavinia silently berated herself for appearing so obvious to Armitage. She couldn’t let him know she could be so easily phased, so easily readable. She’s been handed threats before, many she took without a blink. And yet now her body played her own traitor that Armitage felt the need to tell her to slow down her breathing. Which in of itself surprised her.

But she did as he suggested, and her heart resumed a normal pace. She would need to be more careful, if she wanted to prove unreadable for Armitage.

“I can suggest to her somewhere more public, if she had somewhere like her own office in mind.” And so she changed the subject in hope that he would as well. As she didn’t really know much about Kasabian either, a public location was highly preferred by her as well.

If Anolo feared Kasabian, then who knows how much she knew and how much power she held.

“So you didn’t enjoy Canto Bight?” At this, Lavinia did let the corners of her lips upturn ever so slightly. She knew he didn’t enjoy the trip. He made it clear his position on Canto Bight and the patrons of the casino city. Lavinia held a very similar view.

Once she saw the ship, she thought she could finally leave the planet behind, yet, once again, Armitage proved the opposite. She had to quickly think of a lie, and a believable one that would lead Armitage to believe a First Order officer could be shaken by such words.

Unless she bypassed it altogether. “I would prefer to avoid repeating his words, but he did threaten more than just my life.” Not the entire truth, yet not a lie. And it gave her just a few more seconds to think of more should Armitage continue to push the issue.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille hesitated only a moment. There was the opportunity, to go into the ship and leave Kylo. Or, better yet, order Schaeffer to kill him. He had a feeling Schaeffer wouldn’t mind doing so, and if Minka felt like ratting on them – well, she could die, too.

The moment passed as Kylo gathered himself, and Reveille quickly stepped onto the ship and moved towards the cockpit before the angry stomps of Kylo Ren reached her ears. She slid easily into the pilot’s seat as Schaeffer readjusted himself. “Are we going to continue to assist?”

“No,” Reveille answered. She would do better work from the bridge, and besides, things had gotten interesting. “I trust you have images of the pair?”

“Of course,” he said, “I thought our lieutenant-admiral might want a look.” Reveille passed the mask over to Schaeffer as she readjusted the cloaking of the ship and drew up the door, before twisting the ship and back towards the atmosphere.

Reveille might not have gotten a name, but perhaps Kos’tel’lanni would recognize the strange woman all the same.

~***~

Armitage nodded his approval to that plan. Somewhere more public was far more desirable than a private office. Especially as he did not yet know the woman. She may be against slaving but that hardly meant that she was an ally of theirs.

He ignored her comment on Canto Bight.

He honestly couldn’t wait to get back into his uniform, though he did think briefly of remaining in this suit. He didn’t believe that Althea had brought anything to change in to. He supposed the locale might better dictate if he did or didn’t. She spoke of the threat after the question, thankfully, and he took it into consideration.

Given his obvious lechery, some threats were easy enough to consider. His clear love of control also aided.

He didn’t address it until he had stepped into the ship, though. “We shall have to ask Kasabian to withhold action on Anolo until we get the shipment. After that, however, I believe his usefulness for the First Order will have expired. I will see what can be done about him.”

He would indeed call in a hunter or two. Threats to the life of an officer of the First Order should not go unpunished.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo found himself stewing in his own thoughts with his hands tightly clenching onto the empty seat in front of him. Not only did the Sith and her Apprentice rejected his offer outright, but they also had to make a fool of him, with the edges of clothes singed and a few angry red marks on his face evidence of that.

The conversation only a few feet away went unnoticed by him. The longer he allowed himself to get trapped by his own thoughts, the more his fury built within, and he did nothing to extinguish the fire.

With a cry that echoed his rage, his ignited the lightsaber within his grasp, and the empty seat in front of him proved to be his next victim. He slashed until the fragmented remains laid at his feet. With heavy breathes as his temper cooled, he disengaged the lightsaber without a thought to the others on the ship.

Minka, once slouched in her chair as she listened to Schaeffer and Reveille, now sat stiff and wide-eyed as she had her first-hand glimpse into the promise of Kylo’s rage. Well, shit. Remind me to never get on his bad side.

~~

Armitage seemed to have accepted her answer, and for that Lavinia was relieved. The fewer lies she told, the better. And she couldn’t care what happened to Anolo due to what Hux may have believed the man whispered to her in the casino. She should care though, right? Care that she may have indirectly resulted in a hit placed on the man.

Too bad she didn’t.

If she had time to dwell on the thought, she might have been disgusted in herself, but yet she didn’t. He was a man who only cared about profit and obviously thought little of others.

She took her usual spot on the bench after picking up her datapad to send a message off to Kasabian. “And what a waste to the galaxy he turned out to be,” she mused, typing out a message to the aforementioned woman to inquire where they shall meet. “I would say that he was the living embodiment of the vice that created Canto Bight.”

 

[Lucyfer]

There were few things Reveille held more dear than her ship. In regards to material items, there was nothing she held more dear than her ship. A chair was just a chair, but Reveille’s own reaction was certainly a reminder of the temper red-heads were infamous for. Schaeffer had to move to grab the wheel when she jolted out of her own seat at the sound of it, half-prepared to act to stop Kylo, before pausing in the realization she had no weapon that would do anything at all against a lightsaber.

Jinah did.

And Jinah was staying far back in the ship.

Kylo’s rage might have faded, but when the lightsaber was gone, Reveille stepped into his space and lifted a hand to slap him. She wanted to do more, so much more, but slapping him in front of other officers in the First Order would have to suffice – presuming it connected. Presuming he was oblivious.

Regardless – the words would slip her tongue, “You will see this ship is the next one repaired, Supreme Leader.” Her fury was colder, more contained, but driven up by the ruins of her perfect cockpit.

‘We’re all going to die~.’ Schaeffer thought, but he kept his attention forward. Mostly forward. Maybe a bit on the reflections in the viewports.

~***~

Armitage did not immediately resume his seat on the bench, more concerned about changing out of this damnable suit than sitting down to relax. He would, of course, wait a moment as Althea was sending the message on to Kasabian.

Then he realized it would take a moment for her to get back to Althea, and so he moved to take his seat.

“Too many are that way.” Wastes to the galaxy. The apathetic, the cowards, and the scum like him – he tended to lump them together. The Resistance, as well, for wanting to preserve a system that took advantage of so many disenfranchised. Their idea of ‘bettering’ things through separation rather than unity, of allowing each world its own rules and ways of being, was asinine.

Central governance was needed.

“He is not that. He is mortal. He will fall like a mortal.” As easy to kill as anyone of them. “Let me know when we have an answer from Kasabian. I want to make sure I can get out of this suit as soon as possible.” Though his own chirped.

He drew it out and gave a passing glance to the name, and the message that displayed on the summary. Kos’tel’lanni – the Corellian stage was set.

 

[cleopat]

Even in his post-destruction clarity haze, Kylo couldn’t care less about the chair. It was merely a chair, and much like the many other things that suffered in the path of his wrath, it could be easily replaced. And so Reveille not-so-subtly threatening him over such a minute thing? He did not like that.

He saw the hand before it connected with his cheek, and he grabbed it with speed that echoed his power. His grip on her wrist was tight, tight enough to potentially leave a bruise if he held on for long enough. Her wrist felt so dainty, almost breakable under his hand, that he nearly wondered if he would be able to crush it.

Afraid of being caught in the middle of a potentially tumultuous fight, Minka slunk off to the co-pilot’s seat. She faced forward, but just like Schaeffer, she tried to watch the situation in the reflections of the viewports.

At Reveille’s audacious order, Kylo’s grip tightened a little. “Are you commanding your Supreme Leader?” His ire was rising once more, but for an entirely different reason. If Reveille wasn’t so damn useful and important for the First Order, she would have a lightsaber in her gut by now.

~~

Lavinia placed the datapad in her lap as Armitage took his own seat. She wondered to herself who all Hux thought were similar to Anolo. Did he lump the Resistance in that same category? The group with conviction and purpose, seeking to rid the galaxy of tyranny for freedom.

But naturally they didn’t see eye-to-eye on such matters.

“A man who plays god to fall like any mortal. Almost poetic,” she commented, picking the datapad back up after Hux mentioned wishing to change out of his suit. She left her clothes behind, a foolish decision on her part, even if she wanted to continue wearing the dress. They still had no clue where they will meet Kasabian. What if it was some seedy cantina crawling with filth? She will stand out, potentially leading to catastrophe if the right person spots them.

Lavinia could only hope that they were meeting somewhere either private or just as ritzy as Canto Bight.

It wasn’t even a few seconds later when the resounding ding from her datapad indicated a new message. “Great timing,” she muttered, voice trailing as her eyes scanned the message. “We’re meeting on the planet Danon at some place called Opalescence. Well, I think we can guess at how we should look. My guess is that maybe she owns the place.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille was aware, of course, of Kylo’s temper. She’d seen it. She’d been on the receiving end of it. Yet, it was not something that had yet happened as frequently as it did with her brother. Having her equipment destroyed so recklessly, and so suddenly, was not something she was prepared to back down on.

Even if the pressure against her wrist was attempting to be a good persuader.

She took a deep breath, trying to steel her resolve and put it in a better fashion. “My Supreme Leader just destroyed equipment in a fit of rage because my Supreme Leader could not control his temper.” Dropping the possessive was almost amusing, if it wasn’t dripping with derision. Her Supreme Leader was getting on her last nerve, not to mention his behavior with the Sith was hardly professional.

They should have been killed on sight.

“It seems only proper that he acknowledge that, take responsibility for it, and make sure this is the first thing repaired.” Though her words came out more even, her tone was not at all apologetic.

She didn’t waste time trying to remove her wrist from his grip though. If he wanted to break it, he’d break. There was no point making things worse with a struggle…he’d probably enjoy that too much, anyway.

Meanwhile, Schaeffer could at least see the hangar and figured if they could just get the ship in, he could make his escape and not be involved in murder, or witnessing murder. Neither seemed like a good idea with these two.

~***~

Kasabian was not at all slow in responding, and Armitage was pleased with that, though not by the answer. He let out a frustrated sound when the name slipped, “I suppose I can endure being in this suit for an hour or two more,” he rose, “I’ll deliver the message to our pilots.” He moved on ahead and back into the cockpit.

The pilots had been awaiting direction, “Head to Danon. We are going to a location called the Opalescence.”

“Right away, General.”

Hux didn’t bother to stay as they started to get the ship primed to leave, he returned to the bench, “Can you find out if she owns it?” He asked as he took his seat, “It does not seem very public if it is her grounds.” He would have to consider having the pilots come in with them to serve as something of guards, even if it was just from afar.

He knew what happened in Hutt-owned places. Local law enforcement was hardly effective. He did not know much about Danon or its law enforcement, but he doubted all of them in the face of wealthy clientele. He also didn’t know Kasabian herself; even if Reveille did not seemed bothered by her, that wasn’t a complete clearance.

Reveille didn’t know everything about everyone.