The Spider and the Storm

Senator Mothma frowned. "And how can I trust that this isn't all an elaborate ruse?"

"I think we're past that. You haven't deflected my implications that you're up to treasonous activities; we're both complicit now. You're listening, even if you wish you weren't."

Mothma rested her chin on her hand, thinking. "...Those are very steep demands."

Thalassa nodded.

"Most rebel sects wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole," she went on. "You're morally bankrupt as it is, but your connections place you in a position to make or break whomever becomes your ally, further lessening incentives to work with you." Her brow furrowed. "I believe your story, but I cannot and will not trust you."

"That's unfortunate."

"I'd be crucified if I accepted your offer without consulting my partners and finding corroborating evidence to support your claims. I'm cautious, but my allies are more cautious still." She leaned back, tilting her head as she looked back at Sirejj. "A Dathomiri killed the queen of Mandalore, did you know that?"

"I am aware." Thalassa's tone cooled again.

"Dathomiri bearing such tattoos have historically aligned themselves with dark powers--Separatists and otherwise." Her fingers drummed on the table. "Far be it from me to take your bodyguard's prior allegiance into account, but I know you wavered at the beginning of the war despite your husband's enlistment. The Motti family was caught in the middle, as it were, and your sympathies were somewhat skewed from what I remember..."

"If that's your concern," Thalassa said, "you should know it was my husband that found Sirejj and hired him. Sirejj chose to work alongside me not long ago, well after his investigation into Garoche's death was completed. As far as I know he has no ties to the Separatists, and my loyalty is to myself and my family alone. You needn't worry about me dredging up old ghosts and dead ideas, nor do you need to worry about Sirejj."

Sirejj's scalp prickled and his stance shifted. Few things perturbed him as much as the ignorant assumption that he was in any way associated with those who slaughtered his kin.

"If you remember, My Lady," Sirejj spoke quietly, his old rebellion rearing it's head. "It was the Separatists who reduced Dathomir and her inhabitants to ashes. My disdain for them is second only to the savages in servitude to these dark powers you speak of." The light green of his eyes darkened slightly and he continued to speak from behind sharpened teeth. "I may not share the Jedi's righteous indignation, but I certainly am no slave to the Sith or their kind, or was I ever."

Mothma dipped her head, chastened. "Perhaps I should not speak of what I do not know. You have my apologies, sir, though I don't know what the Sith are."

"That word's been tossed back and forth in certain circles more knowledgeable about factions of the Force than us," Thalassa said with a shrug. "I was led to believe they were long dead, but Sirejj has indicated otherwise."

"Hmm." Mothma stared off into the distance for a moment, the wheels in her head turning.

"A discussion for another day, perhaps," Thalassa said, raising an eyebrow. "I see you have thoughts on that, and I'd like to hear them. But for now, I want to know if you'll make my case to your partners."

"I will consider making your case," Mothma allowed, "but I will need time to do so."

"Three days."

"Done. If you don't hear from me, assume I want nothing from you."

"I'll hear from you," Thalassa said coolly, leaning across the table to shake her hand. "Thank you for hearing what I had to say."

The Senator took her hand after a moment's hesitation and shook it loosely. "You're a hard woman to ignore, Lady Tarkin."

"Motti. And I do my best." Thalassa rose. "I had expected this meeting to run longer, but I think perhaps it's best that it went so quickly."

"Agreed. I'll see you to the door?"

"Please."

Sirejj shifted back into Thalassa's shadow. His nose twitched as if he was restraining a smile. He felt his pride that had hidden itself for the past year begin to return. He wondered if Thalassa would consider it out of place, but he didn't care what she thought of this matter. He'd controlled the sharpness of his tone to one that at least mimicked respect. If the situation had been different, his words would have been far more cutting.

He followed her to the door with his quiet stride. He carried his staff so it didn't touch the ground as they walked. It was an extension of his own personality, his weapon. Tapping the ground as he walked could indicate boredom or indifference to the conversation. Touching the ground in stride with a slower pace was intimidating. Carrying it was silent and watchful. His staff was a part of him, and for now he kept his weapon quiet. He did not need it currently. Thalassa had taken care of herself.

"Until we meet again, Senator," Thalassa said as the door slid open.

"Until we meet again." Mon Mothma nodded to her, and they stood looking at each other in the walkway, backs straight. Thalassa's face bore an expression of satisfaction and superiority, the expression of a victor. Mothma merely looked pensive and a bit puzzled. Then Thalassa turned and swept out the door without another word.

Mothma watched her go and looked at Sirejj before he stepped out. "If you hate the Separatists," she said quietly, "you should ask her about her and Tarkin's ties to Count Dooku before the war. She wasn't lying when she said she serves herself. Think about whose side you want to be on."

He turned slightly to face her, again studying what lay behind her cutting blue eyes. "Times have changed. Stronger than the oaths of allies is the spilled blood of kinsfolk." He flashed a sharp toothed grin. "After all, far be it for me to take the Lady's prior allegiance into account."

Mothma's mind was tense, flipping through possibilities and mulling over the conversation at top speed. Flits and flashes of three people kept appearing, just on the edge of being recognizable: Two men and a woman, gentleness and weariness, and one with a deep anger and pain behind his eyes. What would they say to this proposal?

She smiled sadly at his response. "Even so, take care. I am sorry you lost your people; that can be no easy thing."

"Pity will remedy nothing. While I still draw breath, Dathomir is alive." He gave a slight nod and stepped away. There was nothing in her sadness that moved him. What could the wealthy senator in her ivory halls know of real loss? Precious little, he'd wager.

Mon Mothma watched them go, then turned and closed the door behind them.

Thalassa had paused not far from the elevator to let Sirejj catch up, her hands folded into her sleeves. "Well," she said when he was back at her side, "that was interesting."

"It was." He agreed. There was more to say but he would wait till they were no longer in her home

Spoiler

oh it's like a penthouse on one of the top floors of a building. They're basically out of her house now

Thalassa stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for one of the lower middle floors, where their cruiser would be waiting. "She seems to think she has a choice," she mused. "Now that I've made a plain offer, though, she's backed into a corner. That said...." She tilted her head up to watch their descent through the upper levels of Coruscant. "...She might refuse me and turn me toward another faction instead. Saw Gerrera, maybe, though he'd certainly take that as an insult. Hm." She chuckled. "Wouldn't that be something."

Spoiler

oh rip lol

"She has a noble heart. Those are always easy to manipulate. She's intelligent and I wouldn't put it past her to do something to spite you." Sirejj noted. He doubted she would but there was always the chance. "You two share an enemy, but her scruples are in the way of your partnership."

"I noticed. It's a fatal flaw of the selfless." Thalassa's thoughts, despite her outward confidence, carried mild uncertainty. "She's in a desperate position, though. Ideally that will cancel out those scruples. Besides," she went on, "I have access to knowledge the Senator would never have dreamed of accessing before. Insights into Imperial High Command and the like."

"Her selflessness may allow her to compromise her morals. She would be doing her cause a disservice to not accept your offer." He thought about it for a moment. There was a slight hesitance in his spirit to all-out opposing the Empire, but he was again reminded that if he was to be at odds with them, he might as well do so with resources behind him.

"I agree, but we'll see what her compatriots think." She frowned. "I haven't yet tracked them down. I have a few guesses, but it's difficult to say. Republic loyalists play it close to the chest."