An Accelerated Stratagem

Posted on Sat Oct 13th, 2012 @ 4:37am by Zorbo the Hutt & Mentis & Axion & Nala Sao & Trey†

1,679 words; about a 8 minute read

Chapter: Chapter I: Web of Fate
Location: Casino Zorb, Nar Shaddaa
Timeline: Day Two (Following the duel in the alley)

"I hope you realise they have failed, my Master," came Nala Sao's sultry and seductive tones, as she sauntered up towards the black-clad Dark Jedi Master by the massive sloping window. Beyond the clear material that made up the near-indestructible window of the VIP suite atop Casino Zorb's spire, the smuggler's moon of Nar Shaddaa continued on its business as usual. Traffic zoomed from a variety of angles, smog and smoke arose all about and the millions of inhabitants - rich and poor - went about their un-enriched lives.

Axion lamented at his chosen apprentice's words, truthful though they were. When he had seen the power of Trey, the young spoiled (but undeniably talented) Human he had recently discovered, he was certain of the service he would provide, of the riches he would bring to the Cult of Axion and its revered master. The two Jedi had already slain one of his flock - stolen one of his servants - and now they had beaten two of his best, whilst Nala gloated over the failure of her newest rival.

As the Nautolan continued to smile that evil smile behind him, she was not expecting it when he suddenly spun about on his heel, grabbed her by the neck in one fluid movement and smashed her face-first into the unbreakable window. True to its design, it did not shatter as Nala's pale green face was pushed into it.

Not having moved from the spot of the twirling motion, Axion ignited his lightsaber and rest its crimson blade awfully close to the side of his apprentice's cheek.

"I may have raised you from the gutter since you were a wailing child, apprentice," he hissed into her ear, "but that does not mean I will tolerate this mockery." As he drew the blade ever closer, the heat from the blade began to cause crackles at the surface of her skin.

Not willing to show absolute weakness, Nala kept her voice level and barely winced at the pain. "Yes, Master Axion," she forced from herself, "I have never doubted your wisdom or power."

"Liar," he declared in response, but released his grip and let her slump as he turned away from her and the window. Sheathing his lightsaber, Axion walked towards the large red doors of the lift - the illuminated numericals above displaying an inbound carriage.

Rubbing her neck and regaining her composure as best as possible, Nala walked slowly up to stand to the side and just behind the Cult's Master, silently awaiting the arrival of the cultists who had failed in their task. Not disappointing her, the doors parted to reveal both Trey and Mentis.

Although she was certain Axion must be engulfed with rage within, his cold and calculating blue eyes gave nothing more away than usual, although his tattoos and goatee seemed to grow darker at the presence of the two other cultists, as did the illumination within the suite.

Trey's shirt was still missing, with multiple craters of red all over his upper body. They looked shiny from the skin being burned off, but it failed to wipe the small smile from his face. It widened a little at the sight of Axion. Maybe he could add some more injuries to his current trophies. "Your Purple-Handedness." He nodded at the apprentice, eyebrows raising. "Nala."

Everyone could feel the hatred building within the Nautolan assassin at Trey's words, her desire to gut the Human overpowering, and radiating about the room. Axion took a secret pleasure as he flared his distinguished nostrils at the sentiment, but aside from that, his eyes did not move away from the two arrivals - he did not even care to examine the wounds Trey had received, but he was pleased by the attitude of the young man, despite his failure. The grimness of Mentis, however, was less pleasing.

After letting the silence stew, Axion stepped forward, and let his reserved and cold demeanour slip into something akin to a caring persona, and he cupped a hand around Mentis' good cheek as he examined the damaged side with thoughtful and concerned eyes. "Oh, what have they done to you, my dear boy?" He muttered.

Mentis scowled but did not pull away, "It is the mark of my failure, master. The Jedi were aided by the Mandalorian Rezer. I was overwhelmed and had to flee," his eyes shifted to his left before adding, "Not before my partner here, though."

Trey laughed mirthfully, grinning at Mentis. "Partner? So now I'm your partner?" He smiled amiably at Axion. "I just wanted to make sure he lived so he could show off his new face paint to you." He tilted his messy head of burnt hair, eyeing the Ratattakin. "Looks kinda hard to breathe in, though."

"Mentis, my child," Axion went on, not paying any heed to Trey, "it is better to have a friend than a dead fool; I'd choose to have you beaten but alive than a heroic corpse." In part, it was true; whilst he did not 'love' his cultists (and certainly not as a father), he would rather they lived to fight another day than die in some fool's errand. "Get yourself into a bacta tank, but have yourself ready before tonight." He stepped away from the maimed Rattataki and went back towards the window, stil slightly smeared where Nala's face had been rubbed against it moments before.

Not facing them, he continued speaking. "With the Jedi pairing up with Rezer, they will now be aware of why we are here and who we are - and they will do whatever they can to prevent our success, that is a certainty. I shall tell Zorbo that we must accelerate our plans." Axion now let himself turn back to the others, his gloved hands clasped behind his back, the gold gilding of his extravagant and dark clothing glinting in the light. He addressed Nala now. "Have every cultist on Nar Shaddaa prepared for the attack and ready to leave this world."

Nala lowered her head in confirmation, and gave Trey a quick - and razor-sharp - glare in the short movement.

"It is time for us to claim what we came here for," Axion went on, extending his hands out to the three disciples. "When we next speak as one, we shall be that much closer to eternal power!

---

"Most venerable Zorbo," the Dark Jedi Master said to the corpulent and bearded Hutt sat before him, where they had met for the first time before, "I believe it is now time for us to make our most daring move against the unworthy and stagnant Grogga. It is time we exterminate your most hated rival, remove the unworthy stunted slime from the face of the galaxy, and leave space for a new, younger and more intelligent Hutt - we should wait no longer, my friend."

"Grancha!" beamed the Hutt raising his arms towards Axion, which appeared to be an effort for the crime lord as the gesture was short-lived, "It's about time we struck at that Sleemo. My forces will follow you into battle and aid you in claiming your precious gem... as soon as Grogga is out of the picture, of course."

Zorbo slid forward from his window lounger and came close to Axion, bringing himself up to his full height. Axion was clever to charm him with compliments but he could not let him think he was calling the shots, "This will be a glorious day for Nar Shaddaa - the day I take charge and run this moon. You will not let me down."

"Your Munificence," Axion said, bowing low and with a wide smile upon his closely-trimmed bearded face, "perish the thought. Today will be a day to be remembered across all of Hutt Space, as the day the rightful ruler of this kingdom came to his throne! The Cult of Axion shall be a mere footnote in the annals of history for this most momentous occasion, but that - and, of course, the crystal - are all we ask for our contribution." Pulling his lightsaber hilt from his belt, he activated its shimmering red blade and raised it to the sky. "This is the day that Grogga the Hutt takes his last breath, and Zorbo the Great claims his crown!"

What Axion kept silent, however, was the fact he now had little interest in fulfilling his end of the arrangement. Shadows, both himself and his cult, they could not be traced, even by the most capable of Hutt crime lords, as once they were certainly within Grogga's Palace, the Dark Jedi Master would move with haste to claim the Kaiburr shard. Of course, it would be agreeable if they were successful in killing Grogga all the same (Zorbo would make a wonderful long-lasting ally), but it was not necessary. Once Axion had each of the shards united again, the allegiance of a slimy worm would be the least of his concerns - or needs.

Empowered by the might the Kaiburr shards would warrant him, Axion would have no need for such cretins. His power absolute, his every whim and desire the mere flick of a wrist away... He could almost taste it; unlimited riches, power and enjoyment, and he was now that much closer to attaining it.

Indeed, he would help Zorbo make his assault. Indeed, he would kill those in the way. Indeed, he would end Grogga if possible. But truly, his only genuine goal, lay within Grogga's Vault - and nothing else was of importance to him, not truly.

Turning from Zorbo to meet with the rest of the Cult, he indulged himself an evil grin that grew wider as he paced away, his fingers tingling with excitement at the prospect of gleaning all he could from the shard - and it was just mere hours away. A brief act towards a grand finale. This would be a historical day, but it would be Zorbo who would be the footnote.

 

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