章 72: Moff Kane
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"Give me a moment." I informed my guest and turned my attention to Cipher-3. His face a firm grimace as I led him down the hall towards the highest office on the planet next to the emperor's… we walked in silence as the door scanned me and opened abruptly. We entered together.
She lounged in the chair as if she was drunk, but I knew she was depressed, her hair was unclean and disheveled, there was a half-empty bottle of Corellian whiskey near her hand, and she continued to stare at the muted holo-screen of the Grand vizier making an announcement. I sat across from her, and Cipher-3 chose to remain standing.
She was quiet, she just seemed… broken…
…It was delicious… I could barely contain my smile. In fact, I chose not to. But I still hid it from her for now with my hands. Letting her think I was trying to find a way to get her out of this situation I put her into.
"…Altora." I said finally, relaxing in my chair and using my hands to hide my smile.
"…I can fix this…" she said blearily, "I can… do something. ANYTHING." She slowly turned her head towards me, "Zero… tell me you have good news."
"Oh exceptional." I said pleasantly, and she sat a little straighter in her chair, "In fact, it's downright joyous."
"What?" she asked staring at me hopefully, "What is it?!"
"You've been voted out of the Moffship." I said, lowering my hands and letting her look at my shit-eating grin. "Apparently the fact that you've wasted funds, got a Darth killed, and blatantly failed to kill your own estranged son has raised some questions and opinions on your ability to lead and function..."
The room went cold, I liked the cold.
"How is THAT good news?!" she shrieked angrily, "They can't do this to me! They cannot!" she swung her hands across the desk, sending its contents shattering to the floor in her rage as she shrieked angrily. Visibly angry Altora was hilarious. "I am Altora Kane!"
"You should have been more specific. The news was exceptionally good news to ME." I said with that smile I'd been hiding. "…Honestly Altora I am amazed at your opinion of yourself."
"FIX THIS" she ordered angrily, pointing at me dramatically, "I know you can fix this!"
"Why would I fix it? I helped CAUSE it." I said, and she froze, completely and utterly shocked. I looked at her quizzically. "…You really haven't figured it out yet? All of this? All the failure, all the upsets, your plans just… POOF-ing away? Me."
She went limp and gazed utterly shocked, "But… I… you are…"
"Watcher Zero because of you, yes? No. I am Watcher Zero because of ME." I declared proudly, but implying something far different, "You threw me away remember? I had to scrape and claw my way back into your 'good graces' but I became what I am because of me, not you." I got comfy in my chair, "Now, of course, we've reached the endgame."
"Kill him." She ordered Cipher-3, choosing to ignore me but he held firm. "Kill him now!" she commanded, I laughed as Cipher-3 stood just a little straighter, and raised his weapon on Altora.
"Yes… about that, he won't take orders from you." I said simply, "It is the Cipher-3's job to be the personal agent to the Moff of Dromund Kaas and that is not you, not anymore. I gave him a choice to continue his duty to serve the Moff or serve you and he is surprisingly loyal, I will have to commend him later…" I clapped a hand on his shoulder. "But to him, one redhead in the seat is as good as another."
"What are you…?"
At that well-timed moment the doors to the office opened, rather dramatically, and the new Moff of Dromund Kaas entered.
"Hello, Mother." Tolara said simply, striding into the room like she owned the place. And she technically did. Cipher-3 retrieved a chair and held it out for her to sit on while still maintaining his blaster on Altora. "Lovely to see you." She said coolly, casually sitting in the chair..
"…No…" Altora stared at her eldest daughter as if she was facing a firing squad, which she wasn't thanks to me but that wasn't a favor for her. "No…" she hissed again glaring at me, "You! She's a puppet! You've turned my daughter against me and made her a puppet!"
"I have done no such thing." I said dismissively, and a little indignant. I knew all sorts of things about Tolara, one of which is she shot people for even hints of such manipulation attempt, she was far smarter than most gave her credit for. Including her mother apparently. "You turned your daughter against yourself, isn't that right Moff Tolara?"
Tolara glared at her mother as if she was the most disgusting thing to be scrapped out of a septic tank and then left to rot in the suns of tattooine "…You sold Aiden to a SITH LORD." Tolara spat venomously. Altora visibly flinched at her daughter's anger, she had never been spoken to like that by her before. "Like he was a Dunas for the slaughter. Did you think I'd let you get away with that?!" her fury was palpable with a somewhat tranquil calm that chilled to the bone.
"That… little bastard is why you sold me out!?" Altora shrieked at her daughter. "Damn him!"
"Well to be fair that was mostly your fault." I smiled conversationally, "I'd never be able to do half of what I did if it wasn't for you being a terrible mother. If your son had the same amount of loyalty for you as he has for his sisters I would have never been able to manipulate him so easily. He'd probably would have shot me on sight, actually..." Tolara glared at me for that comment but I needed to make a point; I'll apologize to her in full later, "With you so easily focused on him I was able to do much, much more…grease the right palms, blackmail the right morons."
"You…" she scoffed angrily, her whole body trembling as if resisting the urge to strangle me. Not that she'd be able to Cipher-3 was still armed. "…What is my fate then hmm?" she scoffed, proudly, spitting on me in disgust. I really didn't mind, she often did when she spoke. "Firing squad? Torture? Public execution? Imprisonment?"
"Exile." I replied flatly and she glared at me in shock, "You heard me."
"Exile?" she hissed, "You're going to exile me?!" she added laughing, "Don't be ridiculous. Kill me and get it over with." if I didn't know better I'd say she was begging.
"My dear Altora." I began slowly, "…I don't want you dead. As we speak all your dirty laundry is being spread to the corners of the empire. Your schemes, your plots, and even the parentage of your son… Tohmas will be rather surprised I expect." the color of her face drained and she collapsed back into her… correction: Tolara's chair. "Oh yes… EVERYTHING." I grinned coolly, "You'll never work for the empire again. No position, no credits, no ambition or glory… your very record is literally being pissed on as we speak. Your title? Taken. Your credibility? Gone. And one of your most proud accomplishments?" I gestured respectfully to Tolara who stood a little straighter, "You own progeny..."
"Estranged." Tolara finished for me dramatically, "…Goodbye mother…" then she added the very words I told her to say, the ones Altora told Aiden so long ago on Korriban, "You won't be missed." She stood up and approached Altora who stared feebly up at her daughter. "…You're in my seat." She said accusingly before turning to Cipher-3 "Please have this… woman…" she spat dismissively, "Escorted to the grungiest, and farthest traveling transport you can find." Then noticing her mother's clothes she added, "And make sure it's in something common looking and send it to the farthest reaches of our space."
"…You will regret allying with this… SPY. This shadowmaster!" She spat looking at me, but trying to appeal to Tolara, "We're family Tolara…" Wow... Altora Kane trying to tug at heartstrings...
She glared for an uncomfortably long time at her mother "…When I was on my ship… accepting death." She began slowly, "You sent Kavilla to blast me to atoms… Aiden saved me." Altora shivered in surprise, knowing where this was leading. "Aiden risked everything to save me and you sent my own sister to KILL ME. Do not speak to me about family! So keep your serpent tongue behind your teeth before I have Kavilla knock them out! TAKE HER AWAY." She ordered harshly and firmly at Cipher-3, it actually made him jump in surprise. He quickly dragged Altora to her feet, and led her from the room as, like a queen, Tolara sat in the Moff's chair, and smiled wonderfully at me.
She was very beautiful. Like a better version of her mother, but time would tell. I however would have to push those thoughts, the dangerous sexy thoughts, away. I knew Aiden's instincts about his sisters were very protective; in a very violent way. Regardless, for the first time in what felt like centuries… I relaxed.
"…I think I'll take a long… long vacation." I said grinning deliriously. I couldn't remember the last time I was so goddamn happy!
"…A very long one." Tolara said warningly, and I looked at her, suddenly concerned. "…Oh I'm not doing anything uncouth Zero." She said with a dismissive hand wave, "But I think it would be best for everyone if you stop manipulating the empire for your own vendettas for a few years, actually raise your son maybe? We all know how an ignored son tends to turn out." She smiled at her dark joke but I still noticed the dangerous look of warning in her eyes.
Inwardly I chuckled to myself, this was a woman who was well aware of my abilities and my habits and she was no fool. An accomplished strategist and shadow politician if I ever knew them. The Devils of Dromund Kaas was so broad a description. I always knew it would be a huge personal sacrifice to reveal my hand to the Kane sisters, especially Tolara. But I accomplished my goals, and achieved my desires, and I couldn't help but feel… accepting. I think if she pulled out a blaster and shot me now I still would go out happily with a smile…
"You are dismissed Zero unless you have anything to add?"
"No Moff Tolara." I smiled, getting to my feet and bowing respectfully to her, "If you excuse me, I have a…" I hesitated to call it a 'booty call' to her. I wasn't talking to Aiden it might be a little crass. "Meeting with my secretaries, I'll make the arrangements for my vacation." As I turned to leave she made me hesitate.
"While you're at it, arrange for the current Cipher-3 to be transferred to another Moff and have my current Cipher-10 take up the position." She noted absently, tossing her mother's belongings crassly from the drawers of her desk to the floor or as close to the fireplace as she could, smiling as she made a game of it.
Ten minutes in and she's already showing favoritism? Ah well… I wouldn't trust the man who blindly served Altora even if he was doing it out of blind duty… besides, Newt would love the position. I bowed to her again. "I'll see that is done Moff Altora." And with that, and a broad smile on my face I walked out of her office and onwards towards my own… already imagining my pair of beauties ready to help me celebrate.
I also had to remember not to tell Aiden about the current events. I'll leave that for his sisters. I wouldn't deny them the privilege and risk my neck over it. As I left the building I saw Altora being restrained into a transport and our eyes met…
I smiled at her… as the armed escort shut her in and I walked away. And thus, ended the Imperial career of Altora Kane, and even as I entered my own speeder and my driver headed off. I could see the fortress she had built crumble around me, and a true Imperial palace rose in its place… Not my palace, however, of course not.
But a palace for the leaders yet to come…
End of Chapter
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