Asphodel | ch 20
[Excerpt:]
“You are needed once more, Master Kenobi,” Sheev Palpatine spoke, offering a sympathetic look to the man who stood before him, tired and still adjusting back to normal life.
Mas Amedda jumped right into the fray, speaking up, “Now that you are back from the dead, so to speak, you are still scheduled to serve as the Republic’s Jedi emissary in the Mandalore sector. The departure is tomorrow morning.”
Obi-Wan nearly swallowed his own tongue in surprise. The emissary trip. He had forgotten all about it. It felt like it had been a topic of conversation so long ago, when in reality, it had been a matter of perhaps six weeks at best. He shook his head and tried to appear as calm as he possibly could as he protested, “With all due respect, Chancellor, Vice Chair, I must advocate for my own well-being at this time, and I do not believe I would be suitable for the trip in my current state.”
There was a flicker of merriment on the Chancellor’s face as he gestured widely with his arms and remarked, “Your current state? What could be wrong with your current state? By all accounts, the medical bay within the Temple issued you a clean bill of health upon your return to Coruscant days ago, and based on the initial reports we are getting from the criminals who were arrested, you showed great tenacity and judgment while undercover. You are possibly sharper than you were before, Master Kenobi!”
Swallowing hard, Obi-Wan felt warm, as though his body temperature was beginning to rise under the self-scrutiny that was occurring in his mind. He narrowed his eyes and frowned, “Physically, yes, I am well, but mentally, I am enduring a bit of a struggle assimilating back to regular life.”
It was Mas Amedda whose condescending tone struck Obi-Wan as cruel as the Vice Chair remarked, “You are needed and therefore, you will go. You are not being asked, Master Kenobi. I would take the four days of travel to Sundari to focus on your meditation, and do the same on your journey back. There is no one the Jedi Order holds in higher esteem for relations with Mandalore than you.”
The urge to sigh heavily came to Obi-Wan, but he resisted and focused on staying calm and collected. This felt like a set-up. He looked between the two and inquired casually, “I must say, that seems rather flattering. I’m not sure why I of all people would be best suited for dealing with Mandalorian politics? I do not adhere to a pacifist stance nor do I best understand the culture itself.”
A sickening smile spread upon Sheev Palpatine’s lips and for a moment, the lighting in the room seemed to enhance the very crooked lines of his facial features. Ominously, he rose from his chair and slowly walked around his desk to where he approached the Jedi Master face to face. Reaching out with a hand to Obi-Wan’s shoulder, the Chancellor’s voice was low and nearly a whisper as he revealed, “Our dear boy, Anakin, confided in me about your history with the Duchess Satine.”
--
Chapter 20 is up.
(Thanks, Zai, for more little header images. They're both just so pretty, why the hell not, right?)
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Sins of the Father - 2:6
-|- Page header by space-b33 -|- Masterlist -|- Prince of Dathomir Masterlist -|- Sins of the Father Masterlist -|- Art Masterlist -|- Check out my : Ko-fi / AO3 -|- Prompt Challenges -|- Art Attack Weekly Challenge -|- Commissions Open -|- Join my tag list -|-
Maul x Nightsister OC (Zaiya Valessa) - Modern/Crime AU - Sins of the Father Masterlist
Word Count: Approx 1500
Contains/Warnings: None
Chapter Summary:
Notes: (at the end!)
Puzzle Pieces
“Dammit Fives,” Zaiya scoffed as she stared at the jumble that was the box he’d just handed her. They were currently in his apartment, his small, dingy apartment. Clearly losing his job and respect in the city had caused him to find accommodation in a place as run down as her own. The carpet was threadbare and it wasn’t disgusting, just untidy everything worn down through years and years of general wear and tear. She noted very few personal trinkets lying about. There were empty pizza boxes and take out containers… though even in the corner of the room he had turned into his office was only one photograph. Clearly Fives, but he stood beside a man that was almost identical to him, aside from the clothing.
She looked at the ratty box that had once been for a pair of high end sneakers. Though by the tears and duct tape now holding it together, that had been some years ago.
“You wanted all my research so far, here it is, I kept a lot of it in physical form to avoid digital traces,” he explained but she waved a hand at him.
“I can see that,” she retorted, “but a shoe box? No organisation? How do you find anything?” The pale woman frowned at him when he laughed.
“You sound like my brother,” he said with a grin. She figured that to be the twin in the photo. “I’m sure you’ll have fun with that-- buuuut…!” He beckoned her to follow her from where they stood by the kitchen and headed to his desk. She laid the box down and followed as he directed, his laptop the brightest light in the entire apartment. “I found something interesting.”
Zaiya nudged Fives aside playfully and took the seat, looking at the screen.
“Y’know you could have just asked to sit on my lap?” he teased.
“Mhm, sure thing, sunshine,” she retorted and went back to reading. After a minute she frowned. “Am I reading this right?” she asked.
“If you read that the CEO of the charity New Visions has been accused of corruption, then you would be correct,” Fives chuckled. Zaiya’s eyes narrowed, where had she seen this woman before?
“How does it relate?” she asked.
“Well, the old man had a bunch of charitable works in the last few years. New Visions was spearheading a reconstruction of one of the slum areas of the city. Though it was rumoured by a few of my contacts, that all the money didn’t quite go where it needed to.” The man explained, and pulled up a few files to show the stated output of funds, though it did not quite match up. “On this document it says five million, and the other says four point five… so where did half a million credits go?”
“And if this is just one project… who knows how many others have been done the same way?” Zaiya speculated. Trying to remember where she had seen the CEO woman’s face before. Smiling, wide face, blonde hair… standing in front of a house-- “Oh shit…” she whispered.
“What?” Fives asked.
“I saw a photo of her on that lawyer, Kenobi’s desk. Are they married?” She looked up at him and he made a surprised face.
“That might explain how she has avoided prosecution…” He leaned over her and began to type away into the search engine.
“Maybe… he didn’t seem the suspicious type… and didn’t you say this… Kryze woman was friends with the new runner, Amidala?” Zaiya clarified.
“Yeah they have been seen together multiple times, usually at charity functions or at restaurants,” he confirmed. “Amidala I could never find dirt on, so if there’s corruption, it stems from Pal--uh the old man… probably.” He tapped a few more keys and brought up a few photographs. “Here, this is Satine with her family, it mentions a husband though no pictures so you could be right… There’s a sister, it’s an old picture but you might… oh here, yeah it mentions the husband is a lawyer so I think you’re right.”
“Huh.” Zaiya said suddenly in surprise, looking at the picture Fives had just brought up. Two women stood side by side in the photo and were smiling, though the secondary woman stood out to Zaiya. A mostly stern face, red hair and focused eyes.
“What is it?” Fives asked and Zaiya tapped the screen where the red haired woman stood.
“I’m just marvelling at how small the world is. I’ve seen her too.” She brought her hands back and folded her arms. “Following me on a motorbike.”
“What are you talking about?” Fives asked, shaking his head. With a sigh, she began to explain that after the first meeting, Maul had her tailed, though she didn't get far into the story before the former reporter interrupted in shock.
“You met him?! And he's been following you? What if you lead them here?!” He jerked back to face the window behind him amst peer out of the curtains, looking paranoid. Zaiya rolled her eyes and twisted her body to look at him better.
“I think he rescinded the order, especially after last time.”
“Last time?” Fives’ eyes widened.
“He may have put a gun to my head when I tried to slap him,” she said with a shrug.
“Ar-are you insane?! A gangster-- and you…” he sputtered and gaped like a fish out of water, clearly wondering if he should rescind his offer to help her in this endeavour. Her black lips split into a white grin and she began to laugh. Fives almost doubled over, a look of relief on his face.
“Oh God…! Fuck, I thought you were serious!” he rested his hands heavily on the desk for a moment then ran one over his face. She just laughed harder. Oh he had no idea. Though if he was more comfortable believing that she would not do something like that, then fine. Whatever helped him sleep at night. The thought did occur to her of course that she needed to ensure her actions did not blow back onto Fives negatively. She didn’t want that for him, her laughter faded and she looked at him fondly. Despite being an outrageous flirt - not that she even minded that aspect - he was a good man.
“Still, I know she is one of his people and where they hang out, perhaps I can ask her about her sister?”
“You really think that’s a good idea? Asking questions like that of a known criminal?” He frowned, and she could see in his eyes that he was once again questioning just how far she might be willing to go, as well as how far he too was willing to go with this. She petted his arm.
“I’ll just see if I can have a conversation with her, who knows, maybe I’ll make a friend?” She grinned and stood, watching him gape at her once more.
“You’re crazy. Absolutely insane.” He shook his head as he followed her back to the kitchen where she’d laid the shoebox.
“Maybe but life would be so boring if I wasn’t,” she shot back with a playful laugh.
“I don’t know if I’m scared of or in love with you,” he retorted, though there was little heat behind his mumbled words and she was laughing again. She caught his sheepish smile as she picked up the box and turned back to face him.
“Don’t tease my fragile heart like that, Fives, you’d break it,” she smirked and he rolled his eyes at the gentle touch to his cheek, looking away and fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
“Yeah yeah,” he mumbled.
“Send me those files you just found, alright?” she prompted and pointed past him to the laptop and the desk. He nodded and reached up to grab her hand before she turned away.
“Zaiya…?” he began and she turned back curiously. He suddenly seemed serious, his expression soft but concerned. “Please be careful, alright? These are dangerous people, and you… I don’t want anything bad to happen to you like everyone else that has gone poking around and asking questions in this town.” He squeezed her hand and she offered a closed but genuine smile of her own.
“I will, Fives. You don’t need to worry about me, I’m a big girl, I can make my own breakfast and everything,” she chuckled, trying to ease his worry and squeezed his hand in return. His smile was small but it was there.
“Then you had better, and look after yourself.” It was her turn to look a little sheepish as she probably hadn’t been looking after herself too well.
“Yeah yeah,” she repeated.
“I’ll send you those files, they’ll be there before you even get back.”
Heading out into the cold on her bike, back along the rain-slick streets toward her own apartment, she began to think on his words and the look in his dark eyes. She had never doubted how far she had been willing to go for all this… but she had not thought how those actions might affect others she had roped into this plan of hers. How far was she willing to drag them down with her?
Notes: Hello again!
I hope you liked this one, yes it's a little short but I think that the next part will make up for it. In the next installment! The last part of chapter 2, a longer chapter where Zaiya helps maul uncover a deception. We will also get another part of Tailli's letter! There a touch of romance too sooooo stay tuned!!!
As always I love love love comments, feedback, or anything like that. I always love seeing them, even if I can't reply right away. You guys really help keep me motivated. Thank you! See you next time!
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