Beauty in Danger

Zaiya currently sat in Five's car, staring across the parking lot at the little, dimly lit door of the club. She could hear the bass from where she sat and her gut churned with trepidation. She didn't like this, but she had a job to do.

Her current outfit consisted of knee-high platform books in a soft pink, and a similarly coloured outfit that was essentially a halter bikini covered in sequins, a skirt that was just strings of rhinestones hanging from an equally sparkly belt. She'd managed to get long fingerless gloves that covered her burns, and of course bright colourful neon makeup that obscured a lot of her features. Topping it all off was a black bob wig.

She was covered in a large trench coat Beth had provided her. The older woman had offered a few tips, though she didn't ask what the outfit was for, and Zaiya didn't tell. She was glad she'd listened to Beth's advice; it was damn freezing out here.

She was adjusting the earpiece that the wig was able to hide, hopefully it could record some of what she heard. Unfortunately it wasn't able to serve as communication, just a microphone.

"So you've just gotta go and knock on the door, ask for Lydia. She should be able to get you settled," Fives explained, he was shifting in his seat, uncomfortably. There was a long pause. "You don't have to do this."

"You've said that five times now," she said, looking at him pointedly. He sighed and scratched at his goatee. "And as I have said, this is the best way to get the information from him."

"It could be dangerous," he grimaced.

"This whole operation was your idea…!"

"I know!" he groaned. "But here… now… it's… Z I don't want you to get hurt." She looked at him, his big brown eyes, so soulful and genuine. She chuckled, he looked like a puppy.

"You're adorable, Fives," she smirked, "and I appreciate that you're worried about me." She reached out and laid a hand over his. "This is a good plan, and I'm a big girl, I can look after myself." She squeezed his hand gently, "besides, you said you're gonna keep an eye on me right?" Zaiya flashed him a reassuring smile. He nodded seriously.

"Yeah, I'll be a patron and keep an eye on the booths, I can't do much, but I will be nearby." He squeezed her hand back. "I haven't heard about him being rough but you never really know with powerful people."

"I'll be fine, now, you head in and I will too, I'll send a text when I can meet up again outside if I can't signal you beforehand." With one last worried look, Fives nodded and they stepped out of the car.

"Oh, what name were you going with again?" he asked, as he headed for the front of the club. Zaiya chuckled again.

"Angel."

Inside was loud and sweaty and she was sure she'd get a headache if she was here for too long. Zaiya was quickly introduced to the Club Mother, a no-nonsense but kind-faced woman who looked after the girls. Apparently her official job was Entertainment Manager, but she was more or less the emotional support for a lot of the long time workers.

She had been getting a tour of the place, introduced to all the girls on that night and some of the security and staff.

It seemed there was a little story for everyone, but Zaiya volunteered little information and kept quiet for now. Her next move was to find a way to get the target's attention.

His name was Nute Gunray and he was the DA of the City of Coruscant. A thin Neimoidian, wiry in build with an angular yet flat face and those two creepy and watery eyes. He always seemed to look unnerved in all of the surveillance pictures Zaiya had taken when she'd had the chance to tail him. She knew his face, and the type of luxurious suits he wore… she had to make sure he noticed her. She'd taken note of his type, and had seen the way he appeared to moon over his human secretary, and her black bob. Hence this particular wig.

It was unlikely she'd even dance on her first night, according to Lydia, so Zaiya had a backup plan. From what she overheard from the staff when she'd asked about him, he often got his own way when he was here.

"Watch out for him," one of the girls, going by the name Candi, said. "He seems to think he owns the place, he can sometimes get grabby."

"I thought the rule was no touching?" Zaiya asked in a sweet little voice that was nothing like her natural cadence.

"Yeah… usually, but someone starts throwing wads of cash around? And people put up with a lot more than they usually would," Candi scoffed.

"Great…" she said apprehensively. She did need to get him in a private booth but she didn't like the idea of being touched.

The things she did for this mission of hers.

As she suspected, her task for the evening was to serve drinks, and watch the other girls while she got used to the place. She had a tray and at one point sauntered past Fives.

"What can I get you, handsome?" she asked in her false falsetto.

"Yeah, uhm just a- whoa…!" he had begun answering before he looked up, and finally got an eyeful of her outfit. Suddenly he didn't know where to look and stared at his hands.

"Don't make it obvious, idiot," she scoffed at him.

"I know but I… I can't.. Look at you like that," he muttered under his breath. "It feels… disrespectful."

"That's very sweet but right now, you don't know me and you can't look like some innocent schoolboy, got it?" she hissed between a fake smile.

"Yes ma'am," he replied diligently and looked up, looking only at her face this time but he managed to make himself seem more relaxed. "It's so much easier to flirt with you when you have clothes on." He said, seemingly pained.

"Oh, were you flirting with me before? I didn't notice," she said with a little smirk and he laughed. He also visibly relaxed more. Good, she didn't want him to get kicked out for acting weird… but also it was a relief to see. He really was a good man.

She took an order for him, or pretended to while he quietly whispered to her about Gunray's whereabouts.

"Far booth in the back corner, that seems to be the VIP booth."

"Of course," she mumbled, barely moving her lips. "Least traffic, most hidden… let's see if I can get any drink orders in that direction." Suddenly she smiled wide and spoke in that high voice again, "okay thanks honey! Let me get that drink for you!" she said brightly and turned away.

She kept her eyes sharp, despite the stupid coy smile she had to wear. She would be hard to recognise as it was in this dim light, but the neon makeup helped… and moreso, the fact that no one was really looking at her face. That did make things a little easier.

Her walk was more of a strut like that of the other girls and she did her best to imitate the other dancers and waitresses in order to blend in. She was utterly uncomfortable. So exposed and the looks she was getting… ugh, it was like going into battle without her usual armour.

Undercover jobs were the worst.

As it happened, after she placed Fives' order, there was a commotion toward the back of the room and she heard raised voices. Zaiya took the opportunity and made her way over.

Apparently one of the girls had spilled a man's drink and he was cussing them out, and telling them to bring another. Sure enough, the ill-tempered patron was Gunray himself. As it happened, one of the other girls was passing by with a collection of drinks on her tray, and she was distracted by the commotion. One of the drinks, a short glass with ice and rosemary sprig, looked very similar to what she could see was left of the spilled one.

Taking the moment, she swiped the drink and placed it on her own tray while the girl was distracted and Zaiya made her way through the people and to Gunray's side.

"Here you are sir," she said breathlessly.

"...and if you were any kind of-" He spun on her and opened his mouth to swear at her presumably… but he stopped. Eyes wide and mouth open. "Pamela?" he breathed. The name of his secretary. She tilted her head quizzically as though she didn't know and he shook his head. "No, sorry no, I thought you were someone else."

"I'm sorry sir," she said sympathetically. "Is this the right drink…?" She looked up at him, doe-eyed and he suddenly seemed a touch shy.

"Y-yes…" he took the glass, brushing her fingers with his, his gaze drunkenly unfocused. "What is your name?"

"I'm Angel," she said with a sweet smile. He let out a breath and gestured for her to follow.

"Angel… well why don't you sit with me?" he asked. She glanced between him and two other girls who were nearby, they just urged her on, not wanting to deal with the man. She made an apologetic face, as though it were not at all by design.

Timidly, Zaiya approached and perched on the edge of the table, brushing the gaudy and uncomfortable rhinestone-string skirt aside. Most of her tattoos had been covered up by makeup but she didn't want to risk rubbing up against anything, she didn't want anything recognisable while she was here.

"Stunning…" She heard him mutter, "shame about your makeup…"

"My makeup?" she asked, "you don't like it?" She made a slightly sad expression.

"It's very pretty…" he slurred, looking up at her face, "but I'll bet you look even prettier without it." She giggled and it almost caused her to gag, having to fake a ridiculous noise. "Ohh you even laugh pretty…" he said with a grin, his eyes roving her hungrily and leaned in, his hands hovering near her knees.

"You said I look like someone?" she asked, countering his lecherous advance.

"Oh… my secretary… She has hair like yours." Gunray smirked and took a sip of his drink.

"I guess you like working with her then…?" Zaiya said with another innocent smile.

"With her yes… though I don't think she'd be as much fun as you-" he moved to touch her ankle again.

"What do you do?" she asked abruptly and he fixed her with an unfocused stare.

"You don't know who I am?" he asked with a frown. Zaiya let out a soft huff of annoyance.

"The other girls won't tell me! Like it's some sort of game on the newbie, but I do know you're very important," she poked her tongue between her teeth and adjusted his tie a little.

"Ah, well if you're new, that explains it. I-" he began, puffing his chest out a little, "and the District Attorney for the City of Coruscant." He said it like he was some kind of celebrity title. As required, Zaiya acted like he'd just said he was a movie star, her expression one of amazement.

"Wow! Really?!" she gasped, "that's so impressive! Are you running for re-election?" He let out a dirty chuckle.

"More'n a pretty face, aren't you?" he preened with a slight slur to his words, looking like the cat that got the cream.

"Well I'm no fancy lawyer, but I get by," she said with a sweet smile. "Do you like being the big man in the courtroom?"

"There are a few special privileges that come with the position," he bragged, "when one doesn't have to put up with the idiots running the show…" he scoffed. Zaiya's ears perked up.

"You mean your boss doesn't appreciate you?" Sure enough, Gunray took the bait.

"He acts like he's de biiiig man, but he has me doing his work for him…" his words started to slur even more and Zaiya realised she had to get what she could out of him now before he got too wasted to make sense.

"Oh so… you should be in this election then?" she asked with a tilt of his head.

"Haaah! It should be me on those ffffuckin' billboards!" he laughed. "I could do it… I know where all de pies are…" he tickled her ankle, "and what fingers go in dem…" he began to walk his fingers up her bare leg that was crossed over the other.

"You're not supposed to touch, remember?" Zaiya told him playfully.

"Heh… baby, I've gotta speeeecial room in d' back. Come wit' me and I'll make it worth it…" he grinned and squeezed her calf.

This was a predicament. She'd be alone back there, she could get him to talk… but he certainly didn't just want to talk… she would have to be careful.

"Alright then," she purred and led him by the hand to the hallway that led to the back rooms and private dance booths. As she passed, she spotted Fives, who was watching her like a hawk and flashed him a look before almost dragging Gunray along with her.

He pointed out the right room and to her disdain it was a room with a private bar, a dance pole and a long couch. Gunray immediately sprawled out on it and petted his thigh, beckoning her over.

"You really must work hard," she said softly, brushing the side of his angled cheek with the back of her forefinger as she circled him. To her disgust, he moaned softly and adjusted himself.

"Oh I do baby, I really do, and I play hard…"

"Of course," she replied, "I'm sure the burden of everything you know must be so difficult for you. I heard our office is under a lot of stress with the whole bomb thing."

"Oh fuck… 's a shit show…" That seemed to be the ticket, and it distracted him a bit. "Can' even believe the amount of- There's so mush of that ssssshit I have to route out an' questions that can' be asked. Only specific people are allowed to 'nvestigate…"

"Do you know who did it?" Zaiya asked curiously.

"No…! I am not permitted… just that I 'gotta "take care of it", make sure it "looks right" and that the "righ' people are in the righ' place"... 's if I fuckin' don't have enough to deal with…!" he spat and Zaiya hoped the microphone in her ear was picking all this up.

"Mayor Palpatine asked you to do that?" she asked innocently.

"'S like I'm his errand boy…" Gunray groaned.

"Do you have to do that often?" she probed. He looked over at her with unfocused eyes. "I just mean that it seems like a lot of work for you." He seemed to accept that and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Yeaaahhh… 's ridiculous. Th's a baddun… I can' even see all th' files," he drawled, blinking slowly. "This's bad as that girl a few years back -y'know thass how I became DA?"

Now this was interesting. She sauntered over to the bar area, making him a very watered down drink, but he must have been sloshed to be talking so much.

"What case was that?" she asked.

"Awh… yanno th' one, Pam… that girl in the alley… Lollie or some'ding?"

"Lola Organa?" she blurted before realising.

"Yeeeahhh! God… I really impressed th' boss then… made sure nothin' could tie it back… the boss… then the kid." Gunray rolled his eyes dramatically.

"What kid?" Zaiya asked cautiously, handing him his drink. He took a huge mouthful immediately.

"I dunno… some kid… creepy lookin' zabrak… had to make sure…" His words were slurring more now and Zaiya leaned over Gunray and shook him a little.

"What Zabrak?" she asked, leaning over his face. It morphed into a drunken smile.

"Aw Pam… fuck baby, wanna marry you…" Zaiya rolled her eyes.

"Tell me about the Zabrak," she insisted a little more firmly.

"Mmm you don't need no Zabrak, baby, c'mere." He tugged on her arm and it pulled her off balance, she half fell across his chest and then his hands were all over her. "Fuck Pam, I've wanted you so long…" he groaned and she tried to push his hands back and he caressed her face and groped at her chest.

"No, no Lola… tell me about Lola!" she insisted, pushing his hands down and away, but he wasn't able to be distracted this time, and his hands and touches became more insistent and firmer.

"She was jus' some office girl, baby, I had nuthin' 't do with her… I jus' made sure that some of the evidence… didn' turn up…" he shrugged as he gripped her arms just above her elbow, his fingers digging into her skin.

"What evidence?!" she hissed, pulling her arms away, "let go…!"

"Baby… you gotta sit still… you can't tease me like that and not play…" She jerked as his hand groped her breast and instinctively lashed out, smacking him across the face.

There was a moment of silence as the two of them realised what had just happened. She thought for a second he was going to calm down - until his half-closed fiststruck her in the cheek. She'd been able to pull back slightly but her reaction from this angle wasn't enough to avoid the blow.

She scrambled to get back off him but his hands were already at her throat.

"Lil bitch!" he shouted in a drunken rage. "Think you can tease me all th' fuckin' time an…" he devolved into incoherent babbling as he leaned his weight on her throat, his other hand fumbling with his belt.

Fuck! This had gotten out of control, and she had to get a hold of the situation. She clawed at his arm, and his face, though it seemed to make him angrier, her legs squirmed, pinned beneath him, but she wasn't about to stop trying to kick him. He might be slowed and drunk but he was far bigger and stronger than she was.

Rage flashed in her eyes as she swung her knee up with all her might, a hoarse scream escaping her. Her vision was starting to blur and fade.

BANG

The door burst open, and while Gunray was doubled over from the pain of her kick, two big hands yanked the lawyer back off Zaiya. She was on her feet in a second and swinging kicks at the prick's face, unable to really see anything, until those hands pulled her back.

Gunray was puking and bloody in the corner, and Zaiya looked up at the intruder.

"Fives…?!" she rasped, trying to get her breath back.

"We gotta go," he warned.

"I need more time-" her voice was a whisper at this point.

"We have none! The cops were called and we can't be here!" He grasped her shoulders gently. His eyes roamed her face and he looked horrified. She realised his hit must have left a mark… she was sure she had a split lip though she hadn't had time to assess it.

Zaiya cursed under her breath, she was right, if she was caught here, they'd charge her, or worse. She couldn't risk processing or contact with the cops. She gestured for Fives to follow her as she headed to the door.

"What happened?" she heard a woman's voice ask, one of the other girls had come over and she was sure more were coming. Zaiya hid her face as though she were crying and almost ran further down the hall to the back room, where her bag and coat were.

She caused a bit of a commotion when she burst into the changing area… or rather, Fives did, but in his black shirt, coat and jeans, he looked like one of the bouncers. She rushed to grab her things, hearing Lydia's voice calling for answers.

No time.

Zaiya and Fives darted out the back door, racing to his car as Fives threw her coat around her shoulders. Zaiya was in the process of tearing the wig off so she was immediately less recognisable to those inside.

"Take me back to my place," she insisted as they reached the car, her voice still raspy.

"No, no way, you need a doctor-"

"A first aid kit, maybe. Which I have." They slid into their seats and Fives turned the key.

"You still need-"

"To get changed." She looked at him pointedly. His mouth formed a grim line and he sighed.

"Fine, then I'll take you to see someone privately." He was insistent, but she was grateful. She nodded and he finally put the car in gear, driving off as the police cars pulled into the far side of the parking lot.

The blond man stared off in the direction of the departing car, a cigarette to his lips.

"Did you hear what they were saying?" he asked the big man beside him.

"No, I couldn't make it out," he shook his head. "I wasn't sure it was her at first, but when she took the wig off…" The older man turned, his suit neat and tailored, though this one was in the new colours of red and black. He dropped the cigarette and crushed it under his expensive loafers.

"You recognised her?" he asked slowly.

"Yes, Almec, sir." The younger man replied.

"Well who was it, Saxon?" Almec asked impatiently.

"Someone the boss is really gonna want to know about." Gar Saxon replied grimly. He wasn't looking forward to this.

Listen, Angel, to these words

Please let them reach you and be heard

There is a chance to take it back

To turn around and find the track

There is agony and doubt

Can you find your own way out?

The Devil sneers and laughs at you

This is what you feel you must do

You banished your love so long ago

I wish you could see that there's more to show

Angel

Why do you walk this way?

Is there nothing I can say?

To turn you from the path of hate?

I need to know if you're okay

I can't reach you where you go

Oh Fallen Angel

I can't reach you where you go

Mother's Letter - 3

Do you remember the fire?

You were about seven I think, still so young. I am sure you remember it, though, you may not know what really happened to lead to it. Sometimes I wish I didn't know as much as I do. But I swore I would tell you the truth.

It was in the summer, your father and I gifted you that little rancor toy for your birthday that year, the one with the yellow ribbon.

You loved it, I am glad to say.

Father Sidious, after years of complete control, was beginning to lose it, the people of Dathomir were angry, frightened, and he was becoming increasingly paranoid. Even with two more sons, he did not relax. Tensions were building, and he had begun to give long sermons, hours on end that would speak of loyalty, of doing anything for his 'cause'. He seemed to think that if we banded under his banner, he could make his 'Empire' and we would all reach salvation. It made so much sense at the time.

We would be called out at all hours, not permitted to eat or sleep. We would be given tests of faith. Drink the wine he had provided us and prove to him we were still loyal. He would tell us the end was coming… but it never did. After hours of waiting, waiting to leave this world to ascend to his 'Empire' he would tell us we passed another test, and we could yet live in the glory of his presence another day.

We grew weaker, in body and resolve, there were fewer of us every month. I tried to shield you from it, I hope you don't remember -for your sake.

Notes:

Hello!

It seems that I am a little late again this week... yikes. Well at least I make up for it with a good chapter!

The end of Chapter 3 hits with a bit of drama! What's going to happen?! Will anyone find her? Will Saxon tell Maul? What will Maul think of it? Also... Gunray is gross. I'm sorry you all had to read that nastiness. But also not sorry cos welcome to the underworld!

Next fortnight, we begin chapter 4 and Zaiya, Fives and Fox will have to go over everything they have and figure out the next stage of the plan.

As always I really appreciate your comments and feedback, it really helps me with motivation, knowing what you guys like and what is interesting!

I hope you are all doing well, I think you're all awesome and I appreciate all of you for reading!

Until next time!