02
POWER
Standing in wait, Qi'ra's fingers fidgeted with the golden ring on her left hand. She felt the imprint of the circular emblem under her fingertips—the same emblem that was branded on her opposite wrist and the back of her neck—the split circle of Crimson Dawn. Even after a week from arriving to the organization's base on Dathomir, she still wasn't quite used to the atmosphere. The dark hall of his chamber was still unsettling to her, even without the acidic tinge of the humid air. It was a far cry from the suavity and luxury which her employer had surrounded himself and his associates with.
Dryden Vos had been a business man through and through, with all the poise and courtesy that would easily draw his associates close enough to get what he wanted or, if necessary, to drive a blade in their back. But he was different. Standing beside him Qi'ra had to tell herself this his was what she wanted. She stood where Dryden Vos once stood. His power was now her power and His power, Lord Maul's power, would one day be her power.
An alert chimed from the four legged hologram projector as it obediently crawled in front of the throne. Maul without a word pressed a button on the armrest of his throne. From the top of the projection pad, a hazy blue image appeared of a man with broad shoulders, made all the more apparent by the black shoulder bells of his Mandalorian armor. Adorned on both shoulders, the Mandalorian wore the symbols of Crimson Dawn and on the other, a symbol of his heritage, the jagged red claw mark of Death Watch. Qi'ra recognized the armor well, the personal set of her former employer was still displayed proudly in her former boss' office onboard his star yacht, First Light.
With a chillingly calm voice, Maul spoke. "Hos Brenth, your report?"
"As you predicted, my lord, word has spread quick about Vos' murder and some of the syndicate was getting emboldened. But it's not a problem any longer."
"Then I was right to send you. To remind them of my power," Maul said.
"The Pykes however are demanding repercussions for the losses on Kessel and the death of Director Quay Tolsite," Hos continued. Qi'ra felt a chill surge through her veins, causing her to stand a little taller and stiffer. It was after all her hand that drove the Pyke leader's security pin through his throat as a part of the heist she played part in.
"Yes," Maul hissed. "With the syndicate put back in its place, now is the time to hunt down the traitor, Beckett. He and his accomplices will pay for their insolence." Qi'ra fought every urge to react. She couldn't risk the price of giving herself away. "Qi'ra," he said turning his blazing yellow and red eyes her direction. "What leads have you found towards finding these traitors?"
Qi'ra turned to the Zabrak, careful not to avoid his sinister eyes no matter how badly she wanted to. "None," she lied. "Dryden was killed with his own blade and the rest of the crew by blaster fire. Beckett's team wiped the security records all the way back to the day they arranged the Coaxium job. They were very thorough." This wasn't a lie.
"And what of the records on Kessel?" Maul inquired turning his attention back to Hos' hologram.
"As Qi'ra said, the team was thorough. The facility's entire security system was vandalized in the riot."
Maul bared his yellow teeth. "Unacceptable," he growled. The lines on his black and red tattooed face eased. "But here you both have an opportunity to prove yourselves. Whichever one of you hunts down Beckett and his team will have earned Dryden Vos' place as my second in command." Hos' glare darted venomously from Qi'ra to Maul, disdain quite visible on the Mandalorian's strong, dark face.
Qi'ra looked wide-eyed at the crime lord, another electrifying gust of air filled her lungs. "It would be a pleasure, my lord."
Maul smirked at her. "Yes, I'm sure. Failure, on the other hand will be punished."
