A Vigo Affair

[Sorsha Kasajian]

After a brief conference with her enforcers, they left with instructions to meet with certain contacts. Tirsa would be meeting with Clive Jerrad, and Corvus would be paying a visit to Sanis Prent. Time was of the essence, and Saaseeri, if she had to guess, was moving to expand her network as well. The Cizerack was the only Vigo that could really stand up to her, but Sorsha took nothing for granted. She had already called down hits on 5 other Vigos that she knew couldn't be trusted. The raids were swift, brutal and sudden. Her ties to Rodia supplied the muscle she needed, and her longtime friend and lover was providing the financial backing (and spy network) she needed to become the new ruler of the Black Sun. Word had been sent out to all the other Vigos that an important meeting would be taking place at endweek, but as far as Sorsha was concerned, it merely formality. Those that failed to fall in line would become dead.

But for the moment, there was a more immediate concern. Miranda had not returned her calls since last night, and her instincts were telling her that something dire had happened.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Finally. After been in meetings all morning inside the Imperial Palace, Miranda was free from her civic obligations. For now, at least. It was a guarantee that Ms. Tarkin would be called in for more damage control at a later time.

The lift was empty when it arrived. It gave her time to check messages in private. Unfortunately because of how sensitive her duties were, Miranda had to keep her private comm off. Knowing Sorsha, she was probably going insane with worry.

She flipped her comm and then sighed. Ten messages. A combination of worry from both her mother, Lise, and Sorsha. Damnit. She hadn't even contacted her mother yet, dreading the break down that would most certainly occur. Miranda hadn't even the time to let her mind process that her father was dead.

As for Sorsha, she had to have know something about Endor and what happened to her father.

As the lift continued to descend, Miranda put in a call to Sorsha, foregoing the messages, and waited for a reply.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha answers the com, relieved to see her lover's face on the monitor, but her expression was a grim one ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

"Sorsha." She feigned happiness with a smile. "I apologize for not responding sooner. Things have been ... hectic today."

Miranda took note of the expression on Sorsha's face. "I take it you know something?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Yes, but I'd rather discuss it behind closed doors. How far away are you?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

An understandable precaution. The lift came to a halt and the doors opened up onto the docking level. "I'm at the Imperial Palace and heading to my ship now. Where did you wish to meet?"

The cloak and dagger games were required to keep their relationship a secret. Far as the pubic knew, Sorsha and Miranda were close friends since two. Their families were rich and powerful, their mothers met at a Royal Ball by chance well before Miranda was born. The media just didn't realize how close.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"At the usual place of course." she replied, referring to the Chatsubo, a bar she owned in Chiba District.

[Miranda Tarkin]

"See you in two hours then. Roughly." She clicked the comm off and boarded her personal speeder. Miranda was far from the Chatsubo and traffic was murder at the lunch hour. Two hours was pushing it but she knew a few short cuts.

After receiving clearance from the Imperial Palace, Miranda took off and merged into the speeder traffic lanes that would take her into the Chiba District.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha took care of some other business in the meantime, which included sending out a warning to a lowlife named Salas, who was trying to set up shop in her territory. Then, after relaxing in the refresher, she got dressed and went to meet Miranda ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

"Nice to see you again, Ms. Tarkin." The Valet, a teenage boy who had been parking ships for the last six months, had gotten used to her presence and always enjoyed seeing her. Miranda wasn't sure when the sixteen year old began crushing after her but at least he wasn't too obvious about it and therefore, tipped him well.

Her back was stiff. Too much sitting all day. As she made her way up the red velvet stairs, she brought her hands behind her and arched her back. A few pops of tension were released and Miranda felt a little better but her legs were still a bit wobbly.

The Chatsubo. She really didn't want to come here but she was too drained to argue. Right now the club was mainly opened for food and drinks, but that didn't mean the music wasn't playing. The loud obnoxious music was just a replacement for bickering politicians as far as she was concerned.

Those that weren't staffing the bar greeted Miranda with smiles, forced and not. There was no sign of Sorsha yet. She wasn't that late...

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha steps out of her office and looks down into the club from the raised loft on the second floor, and makes eye contact with Miranda as she waves a hand ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda's irritation faded once she spotted Sorsha. She raised her hand in acknowledgement and took the elevator to the second floor. Her legs would continue to protest if she had to walk up more stairs.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha waited inside her office, and closed the door after Mira entered ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

The pressurized hiss of the doors sealing finally meant Miranda could relax. She fell back against the door with her eyes closed and sighed heavily. This was the first time today that her mind was able to focus on reality and the weight of her father's death was suffocating. Her fists began to clench in defiance.

She didn't want to cry. Not even in front of Sorsha.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha sensed instinctivley the pain Miranda was hiding. They had grown up together, and their bond was almost empathic. She holds out her arms to Miranda, and holds her ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

She fell into Sorsha's arms and held her tightly, saying nothing for a long time. Sorsha wouldn't say anything until Miranda was ready out of respect. Trying to pry information out of her lover would always degrade into denial and then turn into a fight. Sorsha knew better and simply held Miranda quietly.

Burying her face in the nape of Sorsha's neck, she finally said it. Hearing the news wasn't the same as admitting the news, and Miranda squeezed at her eyes, demanding them to not water. "My father died at Endor." Her voice was muffled but it still ended the silence sharply. "Mother doesn't know yet."

Then after thinking it over for a moment she added, "I think."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha drew back to look Miranda in the eyes as a tear ran down her own face ::

"Tell me ..." was all she could choke out as she tried to swallow a growl.

[Miranda Tarkin]

"The Rebellion," she snarled and broke away from Sorsha's embrace. Miranda was now pacing the office while her rant continued. "Always it's the Rebellion taking my family from me."

She stopped next to Sorsha's desk, needing something to take her pent up aggressions on, and slammed a fist on top of it. All of the nick-knacks rattled. A cup tipped over and tea spilled all over the floor. "They were able to take out the Executor by a stroke of luck. Damnable cowards!"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"These vermin, do they still live? I can arrange to have them hunted."

[Miranda Tarkin]

"Of course they do," she snapped. "Their fleet was able to escape into hyperspace. They hurt the Empire's forces badly before doing so, but the favor was returned."

Miranda turned and leaned against the desk now, arms crossed, "The Rebel heroes Han, Lando, Luke, and that bitch Leia are dead."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Then they sleep in hell, for what they've done. And so will the rest of them."

:: She touches Mira's face, catching a tear with her fingertip ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

She pulled away from Sorsha's touch, looking off to the side, "I hate allowing you to see me like this."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha frowned as Mira pulled away ::

"I understand, Mira, but you don't have to protect yourself from me. Not ever."

[Miranda Tarkin]

"I know." Miranda admitted after a long silence and looked at Sorsha once more, not liking the expression on her face.

She reached out a hand and traced her thumb slowly across Sorsha's lips, "Don't do that."

Miranda felt safe with Sorsha. It was why her anger often got the better of her around her lover's presence. She could vent and express her feelings without anyone judging her, but it always ended up hurting Sorsha in the process. A fact Miranda hated and wasn't sure how to change.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha's lips form into a kiss at Mira's touch ::

"Andron will be honored as a great man, just like your Grandfather."

:: She closes her eyes, and holds Miranda's hand against her cheek ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

"I know." Miranda, who was quick with eloquent words, found that she was repeating herself. Her uncertainty passed and pulled Sorsha closer, "But I do not think that was the only reason you wanted to see me in person."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Yes. I also wanted to tell you that the time is right for a takeover of Black Sun. I've called hits down upon 5 vigos who I know can't be trusted. Saaseeri will prove to be difficult, but I am going to offer her a chance to make the right decision before I call a war down upon her head."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Disappointment crossed Miranda's face, "I was hoping I could stand beside you when the time came, but I'm afraid I can't. Not with what has happened at Endor. Eyes are turning towards me from inside the Imperial Palace. My work with Anar is only beginning, and I will help the Empire crush the Rebellion."

Her eyes narrowed in determination, "And I will."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Not to worry ... "

:: she kisses Miranda's hand with deep affection and smiles, her eyes sparkling in that way that Miranda knew all too well. Sorsha had been born into a family of assassins, and she was very much like her Father ::

" ... I know you will."

[Miranda Tarkin]

She blinked, looking at Sorsha as if noticing her there for the first time. "I need to go see mother. Otherwise I'd stay."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: She says nothing, but holds Miranda's face softly in her hands and kisses her before she departs ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

She returned the kiss fondly and said nothing more when she left. Miranda was relived that Sorsha didn't ask to come with to see her mother, Lise. The confident woman that showed signs of cracking in her lover's presence would be completely gone when she reached her mother's condo.

This would be a private moment reserved for only mother and daughter, and Miranda had put it off for long enough.