A Fire-side Chat with the Devjil

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Kajeela was ushered into the opulent inner office of Emissary Keerrourri Sarrtarroa by a crisp and neatly pressed officer of the Cizerack Royal Guard. The guard kept his eyes front and his back ramrod straight as he formally announced the "Djirrrectorrr of the Keji Aji' Rrree, Kajeela Tarrrrrruurrrrrrji"

Kajeela hardly saw the servant, infact he barely registered on her psyche at all. Her gaze was only for the man she had come to speak with, and on the purpose of her visit.

As the Director advanced into the room, the two polite, but far from amiable Cizerack's stood before each other and bid one another a cordial greeting.

Kajeela was dressed in her KAR uniform - starched and proper with her white shirt buttoned up high about her throat. Her petite but highly toned figure was accentuated by the form fitting jacket that cinched at the waist. Her tapered skirt and her mid-height heels added length to her shapely legs. She looked efficient, dangerous and beautiful all at the same time. Her appearance was designed to send a message to all who came into contact with her. Look, but dont even think about touching.

Her bearing and demeanor exuded the confidence of one that has power, and the intelligence with which to weild it. She was disciplined, determined and dedicated. She was, in a lot of ways, the mirror image of the man before her.

Keerrourri commanded her respect, but he also was the source of her evny. His high favour with the Pride Mother was a neverending goad to her ambitions, and Sarrtarroa knew it. But tonight it was time to stir his perfect world a little, and see just what Kajeela could coax to float to the top.

A blazing fire crackled and popped in an ornately mantled fireplace that took up a large portion of one of the room's walls. Its fire was reflected in the Emissary's amber flecked eyes as he looked down at her, and Kajeela wondered if he could see similar flames in her grey/green ones.

She smiled politely,

"Emjissssssarrrjy Sssarrrrrrtarrrrrroa, jit jisss kjind of jyou to fjind tjime to sssee me."

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

"But of courrrssse, Djirrrectorrr Tarrrrrrurrrrrrji."

Sarrtarroa's eyes twinkled in the flickering firelight, as he put aside various clerical affairs that populated his desk. He regarded his professional nemesis with a sterile facade of genteel grace, smiling for aesthetics only. An attentive onlooker might have noticed the length of Keerrourri's claws as Kajeela entered, but ever the collected visage of calm, Keerrourri had neatly retracted his talons, interlacing his fingers together in a sign of well-manicured relaxation.

"Pleassse, be ssseated. Can jI get jyou anjythjing?"

A small table rose from a hole in the floor, adjacent to the desk. On it were various decanters and containers, made of crystal and ornately designed. Several cosmopolitan varieties of liquor could be seen, as well as various Cizerack finger-foods.

Sarrtarroa dissected Kajeela's face, blue eyes looking for some unsaid message that might betray her purpose of meeting. He was not obtuse, and there were star-flung comets less frigid than the relationship between the Director of the KAR and the Emissary to the Pride Mother. They both vied for the same good graces, and both saw the other as a threat. Of course, Sarrtarroa's handicap was readily evident. He was male. His entire social standing was an extension of his mistress, and the vast power she wielded. Indeed, she could not take care of every task, and thus Sarrtarroa's duties were to act in the Pride Mother's stead...since few females could be trusted so implicitly. Yet without Rourrsseeri Feessarro's good favor, he was nothing, and was simply another servant. As long as he kept his mistress pleased, he would have his place in the sun. However, few forces in the universe are as strong as a Cizerack female's ambition, and few among those are as intense as Kajeela Tarrurri.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

The Director took her seat, pouring herself into the luxurious settee that held pride of place before the raging fire.

The table arrayed with a generous selection of refreshment was typical of the Emissary's style. If anything, the Pride Mothers honored manservant was the epitome of good taste and perfect manners.

"A ljittle wjine, perrrhapsss, Emjissarrrjy."

Keerrourri poured a deep red merlot, its rich and sweet aroma flooded the delicate senses of the two Cizeracks. Kajeela leaned forward a little to take the glass, a coy smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Fjirrrsst, let me extend mjy condolencesss on jyourrr mjisssplacjing of the vagabond Prrrent durrrjing the Prrrjide Motherrrsss recent parrrade thrrrough Carrrssshouljisss Prrrjime."

Only a very slight hesitation of hand, a faint balking movement was signal the Director's thinnly veiled barb had hit a nerve. She was of course referring to the debacle of the escape of Sanis Prent 6 months ago right from beneath Keerrourri's watchful eyes. Turns out it was a bold rescue attempt by a bounty hunter Azure Regalia and could not have been foreseen by any - even the Kei Ai' Reei. Kajeela omitted to mention this point though.

"jIf yjou rrrequjirrre sssecurrrjitjy assssssjissstance jin the futurrre, Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji, jI wjill be happjy to lend jyou some KAR forrrcess. jYou need onljy asssk."

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Keerrourri paused. So, this was the order of the evening.

"The jincjident wjith Prrrent wasss unforrrtunate, but not djirrre. Forrrtunateljy, mjy mjissstrrressssssesss tassstesss arrre fjickle, and cerrrtajinljy a low classssss forrda won't be mjissssssed."

Taking in some wine, he let the dry flavor linger, bitter and tart, before swallowing.

"jYourrr help jisss noted, but not needed, Djirrrectorrr. jI assssssurrre jyou, everrrjythjing jisss well jin hand."

His ears perked, and ever so slightly, his demeanor changed.

"On anotherrr sssubject...jit hasss come to mjy attentjion that jyou arrre....jinterrrrrrogatjing a Jedji Knjight...frrrom Calan, jyesss?"

He allowed a small, polite smile, reaching into a small container, and plucking a white-furred sajoi by the tail. It chirped and flailed, as the Emissary set it on his desk, keeping its tail tethered by a fingertip, letting it run about in vain.

He tisked.

"Wouldn't jyou sssajy that jisss a rrrjissskjy venturrre? A warrr wjith the New Rrrepubljic would be cossstljy. jI do hope jyou arrre carrreful. Mjy mjissstrrressssss would rrratherrr not get jinvolved jin a fjight we cannot wjin."

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Her smile held, but in the back of her mind she wildly looked for the person who could be blamed for letting information of this nature leak to the Emissary. She was certain her bases were all covered. It was not as if the torture and subsequent brain washing of the Jedi Jubei was the first she had engaged in such activities. Mind you, the Jedi was a high-profile target and a big risk. But big risks had big payoffs. Kajeela was confident that the odds were stacked in her favor.

However, it was a tad worrisome that Keerrourri knew of it all.

Sipping her wine, allowing herself a moment to secure her game face, the Director answered, her voice confident and assured.

"jYou need not worrjy, Emjissarjy. Sssecurrrjitjy jis what jI do. The Jedji forrrrrrda wjill neverrr know what hasss happened to Jubeji. Jubeji hjimssself wjill neverrr know."

She set her glass back on the table. Her tail curled about her own leg and rested comfortably there.

"jIt jissss jin fact, ssssecurrrjitjy that brrrjingsss me to jyou..."

The director placed a floppy plastic file folder onto the small table, right beside the bottles of wine and spirits.

"Open jit."

She was quite bold in her request.

Keerrourri simply sat there and arched an eyebrow at her.

"Verrrjy well. jI ssshall do the honorrr."


With one perfectly manicured claw, Kajeela reached over and expertly flipped open the file. She had done this many times before, to many other Cizeracks, but never to one so important or formidable as Sarrtarroa.

Staring up at him from her glossy print, was a woman (http://abberition.homestead.com/files/Estkar.jpg)Keerrourri knew intimately.

Tarruurri watched the Emissary like a hungry wolf.

"jYou rrrecognjissse herrr, jI assssssume?"

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Sarrtarroa smiled.

"Mjy mjissstrrressssss apprrrovesss, jI assssssurrre jyou. A morrre, ssshall we sssajy, sssubtle method of gettjing the anssswerrrsss the Prrrjide ssseeksss."

His ears perked.

"jI would sssuggessst the sssame to jyou, though jI thjink jyou would fjind the monk'sss vowsss of celjibacjy to be annojyjing."

He dangled the sajoi upwards, and dispatched it in a bite, eliciting a brief squeak from the creature. The tail twitched once, before Sarrtarroa slurped it up.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

The Director's keen eyes followed the short death-trip of the sajoi as it was plucked up by Keerrourri's hand and popped wriggling into the Emissary's mouth, disappearing all except for the twisting tail as his lips closed around it. It flickered about his mouth for the breifest moment, and then that too was gone.

Kajeela thought how appropriate an image it was in reference to the little jedi bird Sarrtarroa had in the palm of his hand. The insipid Miss Russard wouldnt know she was doomed until the lights went out and she was at the fate of Keerrourri's buttered flattering lips.

"jYesss...jI am ssssurrre jyourrr ljittle sssparrrrrrow sssjingsss verrrjy prrrettjiljy..

But jyou take a grrreat rrrjisk, Emjissssssarrrjy."

She pushed Estelle's picture aside to reveal a second glossy photo beneath it.

"Thjisssss man," She paused to make sure Keerrourri looked at the photo,


http://abberition.homestead.com/files/kazkar.jpg



"jisss a notorrrjioussss Bountjy Hunterrrr and jis alssso a conssssssorrrt of jyour Jedji bedwarrrmerrr. jYourrr assssssocjiatjion wjith thjisss female jis a comprrromjissse of sssecurrrjitjy."

Her tail unfurled from about her leg and swayed languidly in the air.

"The sssecond brrreach of sssecurrrjitjy, asss we dont forrrget the Prent epjisssode, jin a few ssshorrrt monthsss.."

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

His ears lowered a bit, as he leaned back in his seat. With a sigh, he slid the photo away.

"Forrda crrrjimjinalsss do not concerrrn me, Djirrrectorrr. Prrrent wasss a ssstatjissstjical outljierrr, an anomaljy, nothjing morrre. jI assssssurrre jyou, thjisss one wjill not be ssso pessskjy."

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

"jI do not sssharrre jyourrr confjidence, Emmjissssssarrrjy."

Her eyes hardened at his flippant dismissal of this potential threat. She took it as tantamount to scoffing at the Director.

Certainly, the Pride Mother's palace was secure, and Keerrourri in his male arrogance felt no danger.
However, a slipped detail here, an unguarded word there to his pet hjuu-mann and this dark-haired assassin could in turn be privy to knowledge that could compromise the Pride Mother's safety.

Even an innocent whippet such as Estelle could give information unwittingly that could aid in an attempt against her majesty's life.

And if so...Kajeela would see the blame laid squarely at Sarrtarroa's feet.

'jIt jis easssjy forrr malesss (and by this, she meant him) to asssume a frrrajiler female ssspecjies jis harmlesss, essspecjialljy when thejy appeal to thejir phjysjical appetjites."

She returned the photo's to their flie and closed it. But she was not finished here yet.

"jYou arrre underrr the djirrrect orrrderrr of the Keij Aji' Rrreeji to currrb jyourrr attachment to thjisss Jedji and are underrr no cjirrrcumssstancesss to brjing herrr to Carrrssshouljisss Prrrjime."

Her pert lips pulled back to reveal her sharp little teeth and her ears flattened slightly.

"jIsss thjisss clearrr, Emjisssarrrjy?"

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

His smile had dissolved, as she was now moving directly for his throat.

"Djirrrectorrr...jI am sssurrre that jit vexesss jyou asss much asss jI that nejitherrr of ourrr jurrrjisssdjictjionsss hold ssswajy overrr the otherrr. That meansss that thrrreatsss and orrrderrrsss, sssuch asss the one jyou now gjive me, have no meanjing."

His voice softened, as he reached for a crystal decanter.

"But, bjy all meansss, feel frrree to rrregjisssterrr jyourrr concerrrn wjith the Prrrjide Motherrr. jYou have herrr earrr, and jI wjill dutjifulljy ssspeak of jyourrr concerrrnsss."

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Her ears twitched in aggrivation. This is what comes when males are given too much power. They become uncontrollable.
Keerrourri could be certain the Pride Mother would hear of their conversation, and would no doubt be coloured badly against himself, in true KAR style.


"Then let me put jit anotherrr wajy, Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji - the Keji Aji Reej ssstrrrongljy sssuggesssts jyou do asss jI have jinssstrrructed."

She stood, collecting the file with a swoop of her hand, while Sarrtarroa poured from the decanter.

"Unforrrtunate thjingsss happen everrrjy dajy jin the galaxjy, Emjisssarrrjy. jI trrrussst jyou wjill gjive no caussse forrr anjy accjidentsss to happen to yjourrr ljittle parrramourrr." A cruel little smile played about her lips and left Keer no room to mis-interperet her meaning.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

"jI wjill take jyourrr...sssuggessstjion...to hearrrt, of courrrssse. Ssshe wjill not come to the homeworrrld. But, jI cannot guarrrantee anjythjing furrrtherrr. Mjy efforrrtsss arrre jussst now rrreadjy to bearrr frrrujit."

Sarrtarroa rose, bowing to Kajeela in true genteel fashion.

"Djirrrectorrr, good dajy to jyou. Jaa'Seena'Ai'Jaarruu'Ka."

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

"Then we wjill look forrrrwarrrd to jyou sharrrjing anjy inforrrmatjion jyou aqujirrre frrrom thjisss Jedji wjith the Keji Aji' Reeji.


The meeting was over.


Sarrtarroa was ever the poised and confident professional. If something ever touched him, one could not tell simply by looking at him, so disciplined he was.

However, though the eyes may lie, the senses never do, and Kajeela could smell Keerrourri's scent. He was bristling underneath his impeccable uniform and probably resented the Director even more than before.

Her message was clear - the KAR were watching his moves closely and that even one as powerful as himself, was not beyond the eyes of the Pride's Secret Service.

He gave her the traditional farewell "Jaa'Seena'Ai'Jaarruu'Ka"

Keerrourri was such a fine specimen of male. His body was what every Cizerack female craved, he had no fear and was extremely intelligent. No wonder the Pride Mother never tired of him. Kajeela thought what a pity it was that they were destined for such emnity.

Her eyes raked him over once from head to tail, before she turned to leave.


Stopping just before she moved out through the door that the guard had now opened.

"Jaa'Seena'Ai'Jaarruu'Ka, Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji"