Posted by Noril Zoi (Captain) in Demanding my Due

Posted by Jaiturk (PIT) in Demanding my Due

Posted by Vashkilu (Infiltrator) in Demanding my Due
Posted by… suppressed (17) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Vashkilu had been home with her father for a month now. She had barely turned 15 before buying her freedom from Serrala’s Courtesan Training Center. She was chafing at the work. She was the youngest slave to ever buy her freedom, and this was the second time she’d done it. She wanted to run her father’s business. She was smart, skilled, and knew how to use power. Though, she wasn’t power hungry. No one took her seriously because she was ‘half’ Deltan. They always focused on that, as if her mother’s blood weakened her. Vashkilu had kept the Deltan skills she had mastered all on her own a secret. Let people underestimate her, all the better. But now she was bored and wanted more. She had turned 16 a few days before. She was going to get nowhere here. Her father doted on her, but that didn’t get her the position she wanted. It was time to go make her own fortune.

She sought out her father. She would, once again, request he find a benefactor for her. She would willingly return to the servitude of another, so that she could build her fortune and return to take over. She knocked on the door of his office, “tahedri (patriarch)?”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Mezerc had been working tirelessly to build the business to the position it now sat. The man was proud of his work and in all his years he counted himself a very fortunate man. It had been lonely work, of course there were the slaves and every lieutenant and grunt of his followed his orders, but each and every one of them would plunge a dagger into his heart if given the chance. He was in the middle of a meeting, a mining company he had extorted before had the audacity to resist a protection payment and Mezerc was furious. Of course, the payment he demanded was high, even when compared to their latest installment, but he was the man with the guns, and they were going to pay. He had no idea Vash was on the other side of his door, she would have heard him shouting at the man on the other end of the transmission “Kolarn, f’dagr’l en vaj’n. Kla’d’n tr’ax’l en sh’drak’n uta’n. Jarra’xl’n en k’lar’stla. Jarra’xl’n en k’lar’stla d’mal’n en d’mal’n k’lar’stla. F’dactla en tr’ax’l’n gleb’n axm tr’a’d’n. Axm f’dagr’l’n, sh’drak’n en vra’xl’n d’mal’n en d’mal’n vra’xl’n gleb’n. D’mal’n vra’xl’n gleb’n axltr’dn! K’laxm f’dactla?”

With that he ended the transmission and heard the door opening where he turned to see who dared to interrupt his business, his heart warmed as he smiled and waved her in warmly saying, “Vashkilu, k’la’d’n juna. F’dagr’lu’n en kla’sh’rta axm kla’d’n. Kla’d’n tr’ax’l en gleb’n f’dactla?”

–Mezerc–

Vash entered the office and smiled. Even to her father she was alluring. She moved with grace and sensuality. She had learned her trade well, but Serrala wouldn’t keep her because of her.mixed heritage. Vash would not have stayed anyway. She had bigger plans. She adored her father and she intended to run his business when the time came. “Kla’sh, f’dactla en gleb’n vra’sh’tl.” (Yes, I want to discuss business.)

She glanced at the comm panel having clearly overheard the ‘discussion.’ “Kolarn vra’xl’n. K’laxm sh’k’la’tn. K’laxm f’dagr’l en vra’sh’tl axm k’la’d’n.” (Kolarn will have to be dealt with. He is slippery. He keeps trying to find loopholes.)

“Tahedri, kla’d’n uta’n juna’sh. K’lar’stla en vra’sh’tl kla’d’n axm juna’sh.” (Father, I am your only heir. The clan does not respect me as your heir.) It was clear she was unhappy with this.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

She certainly was something to behold, and as much as he could appreciate what she had learned and the accomplishments of buying her freedom so young, it did not change her heritage. It did not change her standing.

“Gleb’n, gleb’n axm en. K’lar’stla en vra’sh’tl en axm juna’sh, jarra’xl’n f’dagr’l en. Axltr’dn, k’la’d’n juna. Kla’d’n f’dactla sh’k’la’tn axm en. En vra’sh’tl en k’lar’stla.” He spoke a little condescendingly. His meaning was clear. She needed to understand her lot in life and that her ambitions would not take her far in Orion society.

Vashkilu knew her father lived her, but he was a traditionalist. He should have refused to take her when her mother pawned her off on him. But no, he had thought her heritage would bring her a fine price after Serrala’s school. He should have known better. She was not afraid of the violence. She was well trained and an excellent fighter. Something she also kept hidden.

“Kla’d’n f’dagr’lu’n en vra’sh’tl axm en. Kla’d’n gleb’n en sh’k’la’tn axltr’dn. Kla’d’n dgreilt en vra’xl’n jarra’xl’n f’dagr’l en. Axltr’dn, juna. Tiradosir vaj’n k’lar’stla axm sh’drak’n. Jarra’xl’n f’dagr’l en, k’la’d’n gleb’n vra’sh’tl.” He explained, hoping she wouldn’t get all fired up as she had in the past. The clan wouldn’t see her as his heir, she must know that to be true. She had the opportunity to live a life of luxury without worry, and his little spring flower needed to simply listen and understand that.

—Mezerc—

“Jarra’xl’n.” (No, they will not.) That was because her father would not. If he would treat her as a true heir then the rest would fall in line. Vash knew he would not, and it was moot to argue over it.

“F’dagr’l tahedri axltr’dn? Uta’n jarra’xl’n f’dagr’lu’n axm kla’d’n axm juna. K’laxm vra’xl’n kla’d’n gleb’n axm tiradosir uta axltr’dn kla’d’n f’dagr’lu’n axm tahedri.” (What happens when you are gone, father? Your Lieutenant will not pamper me and keep me as a princess. He will use me or sell me to a cruel master to punish me for the way you always lavished me.) He had to know it was true. The man was excellent for the business, but her father had had to threaten and punish him more than once for his behavior toward her.

“Juna’sh, kla’d’n sh’k’la’tn axm vra’xl’n. Axltr’dn, en vra’sh’tl. Uta’n jarra’xl’n k’la’sh’rta axm gleb’n. F’dagr’l kla’d’n tr’ax’l gleb’n axltr’dn.” He replied as he considered the issues at hand with his plans. He knew she was right and that her concerns were more than valid. The man he considered a brother, his second in command, had more than once tried his luck and pushed the boundaries with his little spring flower to the point he had been shot for his insubordination. If Mezerc were gone, he would have his way and his revenge.

“Kla’d’n f’dactla en tr’ax’l gleb’n axm jarra’xl’n Orion vra’sh’tl. Axm pr’dyn, axltr’dn. Kla’d’n gleb’n axm Uta Veknic vra’xl’n sh’k’la’tn gleb’n. Kla’d’n f’dactla en vra’xl’n kla’d’n gleb’n, axltr’dn f’dagr’l tahedri axltr’dn, kla’d’n dgreilt en vra’sh’tl axm gleb’n vra’sh’tl.” (I want you to find me work with a non Orion pirate crew. Loyal to the Syndicate of course. My time with Captain Veknic will find me good work. I want to build my own fortune, so when you are gone I can still live as your little spring flower.) Vash knew if her father thought she was being cooperative, making a plan that fell into his plans, just in her own way, he was more likely to do as she asked.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“K’la’sh, juna’sh. En sh’k’la’tn axm gleb’n. En f’dagr’l en vra’sh’tl axm kla’d’n gleb’n. F’dagr’l en vra’xl’n en gleb’n. Kla’d’n tr’ax’l gleb’n axm Terran vra’sh’tl. Gleb’n axm en vra’xl’n tiradosir, axltr’dn!” He replied to the idea, a genius one he thought as he knew the risks of letting her live that pampered life would end the second he were to perish or lose control. This way she could truly strike out on her own and make something of her life. She could always use his name as a threat, she and whatever crew she joined would have the full backing of his crew, but she would also know it couldn’t be a free ride. She would still need to work, to scrape, and to steal. He was proud of her, his little spring flower was all grown up.

–Mezerc

“Kla’sh’rta tahedri. (Thank you, Father.)” Vashkilu stood from her seat and walked around his desk. Even now, she was suptle and graceful. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. She leaned against the desk, half sitting. “Vra’sh’tl axm gleb’n sh’k’la’tn. Gleb’n axltr’dn en f’dactla. Vra’sh’tl axm f’dagr’lu’n sh’k’la’tn. Kla’d’n k’la’sh’rta axm gleb’n, axltr’dn. (Preparations for the feast tonight are complete. The meal is exactly as you have ordered. The entertainment has been prepared. I will be leading it of course.)”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“Sh’k’la’tn. K’la’sh’rta vra’xl’n gleb’n. Kla’d’n f’dactla en vra’sh’tl axm kla’d’n. En tr’ax’l kla’d’n dgreilt vra’sh’tl axm Terran vra’sh’tl. K’laxm vra’sh’tl en k’lar’stla axm kla’d’n. Kla’d’n uta axm en tahedri, axltr’dn.” Mezerc replied as he clapped his hands together with a smile. He had one captain lined up who seemed to be able to handle Vash, a Captain Noril, who he had done some dealings with in the past.

As time drew closer to the feast, Mezerc dressed in his finest, strapping an ornamentaly decorated disruptor his his hip, a dagger to the other, and a robe across his shoulders. He entered the hall, waiting for Vash to join him and pose for when Noril would enter and see the lavish display on offer, the prize jewel being his own daughter.

–Mezerc–

Vash was there right on time. Her skin was smooth and listened with the oil she had applied to it. She was bald like her Deltan mother, so instead of lavish hair styles and rich curls, Vash had a jeweled and precious metal head band of chains. Her clothes were rich and lavish, but also barely there. She had anklets and bracelets and a coin belt that simmered and chimed delicately as she walked barefoot through the hall. “All is prepared. I am at your disposal father.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Two red haired twins entered the hall, not quite identical but close. Their black eyes gave away their Betazoid heritage. They were already scoping the room, exits, threats, other concerns. Notable was the Orion woman… Not full Orion, Sisnil noted, the thought passing through the twins’ minds. And the reason they were there, the man they had arrived to meet with. Her father, they picked up from his mind. Orions were frightfully easy to read.

Sisnil, the more confident of the two, stepped forward. “We have business, you and I,” he said, addressing the man directly and evenly. A trained eye would catch that while Sisnil focused on the interaction, Noril’s focus remained on the room and surroundings, all findings and thoughts shared equally between the two.

~ N, Captain

Vash watched them with interest. The quiet one was intriguing, and the way they played off each other. What would be interesting to them, was she was not easily read like other Orions. She had rather solid mental shields. She stood just behind her father. “Gleb’n axm en, kla’d’n axm en,” she translated the more direct twin’s words for her father.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

With a sly smile, Mezerc simply replies, “Kla’sh, gleb’nar. Vra’sh’tl kla’d’n: f’dagr’l en axm sh’k’la’tn gleb’n?” He liked that Sisnil, the more forward of the two confronted him directly about their business as it showed intent and a clear desire to complete the transaction. He still had to toy with them a little, to make sure the two men understood they were in his house, both figuratively and literally, and would play by his rules.

The woman’s smile remained alluring, her posture both seductive and submissive. Though in this house, not as submissive as the other slaves. This was her home and she was the daughter of the man in charge. She didn’t roll her eyes though she felt the twinge to do so. She couldn’t be upset with her father. After all he was posturing a great deal for her sake. He loved her, she knew that, and was protective of her in ways that other fathers were not. “That we do.” Here she left off gleb’nar. The childish insult meant ‘bossy pants.’ She thought the childish insult was a bit much, though given in the tone her father used, it wasn’t quite so… dismissive. The way he used it, it meant more like a playful jab at the other man’s eagerness for business. In Orion society that was both a positive, but the niceties of doing business had to be observed. She left it off because she wanted to know if they would pick up on it. She couldn’t read their thoughts, but their emotional byplay was intriguing. “Tell me, what is it you offer for such a prize?” she finished translating.

Her mental shields were what tipped them off she wasn’t fully Orion. Orions were a cakewalk to read. She wasn’t. “gleb’nar is a word in dialectical Orion too,” he informed the man smoothly, grinning. “Out of the two of us, I think you’ve described yourself.” Sisnil finished, grinning. Noril glanced at Vash, gazing at her curiously, his gaze intense and piercing.

Vash smiled, highly amused by their understanding of Orion language. They had leveled the bargaining table by taking away that nuance from her father. She was impressed, though she would never say so.

She felt the quieter one’s eyes on her and she turned her stunning eyes on him. She appraised him openly and then turned her attention back to her father as he spoke.

He did not stand to greet them, instead waving his daughter towards them saying, “Tr’ax’l k’la’sh’rta sh’k’la’tn.”

—Mezerc—

She nodded with a slightly bowed head to her father as she stepped past Mezerc and glided toward the more direct one. “I am to see to your comfort this evening. Please, come with me. We have food and drink prepared for you.” She held out both her hands, one to each brother, to quite physically guide them along the way.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Don’t take her hands, the thought originated from Noril, instantly passing to Sisnil, along with the reason. He suspected some sort of trickery, though what exactly he was not sure. “Thank you, but we’ll escort ourselves. Lead ahead,” Sisnil said. Noril, meanwhile, nodded to the man and then smiled shyly at Vash.

~ N, Captain

She felt their weariness, but not exactly the reason. Most who knew about Orion females went one if two ways. They avoided them at all costs or dived in head first. She withdrew her hands, but her eyes lingered on Noril. “My apologies, I was unaware that Betazoids do not like to be touched.” The word sounded sensuous and her gaze on Noril contemplative.

She turned to Sisnil, “I promise no harm shall come to you here. Please, this way,” she turned, the jewelry chiming delicately as she glided on soft feet down the hall.

The dinning area was lavish, as expected. A low hand carved table of menola wood was laden with foods of all kinds, and just as many drinks. The floor was covered in lush fabrics and overstuffed and oversized pillows. “Please, sit, relax.” She moved around the table, taking two cups and lifting a pitcher. Serving drinks was an art, having an Orion Courtesan do so was a mark of respect. It was also a test of self restraint and control, but a delight to the senses. She carried the cups over and knelt beside them. “Rakta juice. My father’s servants told me you neither partake if alcohol.” All such details were recorded and kept on all encounters. You never knew when it would be useful.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril flushed lightly at Vash’s comment, causing Sisnil to elbow him. “We don’t mind touch,” Noril said quickly despite his brother’s look.

Vash smiled, she was genuinely amused and infinitly curious. The other brother didn’t seem happy with this one’s reply.

Mezerc let out a wide smile as he started to laugh after Vash had the men settled. The loud one’s attitude was enough to fill a room but it mattered little, “I like you.” He replied in the common tongue, “Don’t think that means I won’t dispose of you and that tongue of yours.” He cautioned as he looked at Noril, “And what of you, any sarcastic remarks or do you let your brother have all the fun?”

–Mezerc–

“You wouldn’t be the first to try,” Sisnil shot back, “How does that old Earth song go? Twenty men tried and twenty men lay dead?” He looked at the table, cautious, but not wanting to be insulting.

Her father was enjoying himself and dismissed the threats as the idle banter they were.

Noril meanwhile, looked up and met Mezerc’s gaze. “I’m here for work, not for a social visit. Time is money.” He gave Mezerc an intense look, the brothers always investigated the people they worked with, “You should know that, shouldn’t you?”

~ N, Captain

Mezerc let out another chuckle as his lovely daughter worked her wiles on the two men. “No fun with you two, no fun at all. Always business, just like my daughter. You’ll do well together.” He said as he smiled knowingly.

“Please, the work is done..my father says you have always done the best work. He speaks highly of you to his associates.” How did Vash know? Because she eavesdropping on her father’s meetings and calls. It was the inly way to be included. “Surely you must know how lavishly a successful transaction is celebrated?” She motioned gracefully toward the food, “Scan it if you like, or I am most willing to sample the food for you. It is a dangerous business you are in. I would not allow any such deviousness to befall my father’s associates.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“Now.” He started as he rose a glass, Andorian ale for him and Rakta juice for the two. Vash? He didn’t really know what she would be imbibing in, it was her choice after all. “A toast to your newest purchase.” He remarked and held out the glass, inviting the men to join in the celebrations. Along with this he moved his hand to displace his robe slightly, the ornate disruptor on his hip clearly in view to the two men with a silent implication of who was in charge. He had ordered the two disarmed as they entered, although he was fairly certain they had something hidden, it was best practices in their line of work to do so.

–Mezerc–

Multiple somethings were hidden on both brothers. Some hand weapons, like knives, along their body, compact disruptors in more… personal compartments, Captain Jack Harkness style. The message was clearly received as they avoided eye contact and returned their focus to Vash. Noril smiled. “We would ask no such thing. I have known masters willing to hurt their own property in order to take out an enemy.”

Vash took a drink, wine like her father, but she had slipped a neutralizer into it. Her mixed heritage meant she was quite suseptibleto the effects of drugs and alcohol, but the effects burned hot and fast. She oreferred to avoid it. Her father was unaware of that though.

“This is true, but I am fortunate. My father does not allow such things where I am concerned. He recognizes my worth.” But the thought slipped through that Mezerc’s Lieutenant would. She anticipated a painful and quick death at his hands.

Sisnil took something from the table and ate it. “Mezerc, our friend here, he knows better than to do anything here. It’s bad business. Those associates he’s been bragging about us to, they would want nothing more to do with him. No one wants to end up dead for no good reason.”

~ N, Captain

Vash picked up the same things that the twins did. She ate them delicately. “You are all successful businessmen. It is a good agreement between you.” She clapped her hands twice, the bells chiming, and the doors opened. A quartet of musicians appeared and took seats in the opposite corner. They began to play. They were quite lifted and knew a range of musical styles.

“Enjoy.” She stood and made her way around the table. She served her father, until the door opened again. Another Orion woman, full Orion, entered with a platter. She set it down and approached Mezerc. She paused as Vash stared at her. She didn’t like Vash. She was jealous of the way Mezerc favored her, and she thought Vash was beneath her as a half breed. Except Mezerc had made his daughter head of all the slaves. That should have been her place.

Vash rose gracefully, “You may serve my father.” She was Mezerc’s favorite after all. The woman took the place Vash had vacated. Vash glided, dancing slightly to the music and settled between the brothers again. “What delights would you like this evening?”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator