Estro sat quietly within his chambers as he examined this week’s status of the part of the Syndicate that he was in charge of while Orm moved about making business deals with other groups as the Syndicate expanded from what was formerly Jutraalian space and out into the rest of the galaxy. Already, there were rumors circulating that the Hutts weren’t too happy with these upstarts making moves into territories that they had usually dominated. This would also give a very good group to pin the upcoming assassination on.
Orm had to die
Estro knew that because Orm’s addiction to spice getting out of hand. Already he had seen the man acting like he could read people’s mind after one of his little sessions with his person stash of spice. The Syndicate couldn’t have a degenerate like that at its head, so Estro had decided it was now time to destroy him and save the Syndicate from him as well as begin the necessary processes to create the greatest dream of all; An empire without borders.
I will hold as much power as any ruler but my followers and I shall always remain in the shadows
Estro now looked up as the secret door opened again and a droid walked in. It was an old 88 account droid but this one was well distinguished for its ability to break any code and find out almost any information. The droid with what seem with some strain with his more antiquated limbs that most likely had constant oil baths. It regarded him for a moment before speaking.
“When someone usually requires information, they come to me, not the other way around, Sabrino,” 8t88 said, his vocabulator delivering the speech in a surprisingly cultured tone.
“Yes, well this isn’t your usual job, 88,” Estro replied curtly as the droid continued into the chamber took a seat in front of him.
“Well, what is it then? I do have other things to do beside make house calls to local crimelords.”
“I have a proposition for you,” Estro said with a smile.
“Oh really?” 88 asked with curiosity and skepticism at the same time.
“Oh yes, I have a deal that will guarantee you wealth beyond what you could possibly imagine.”
“I’m a droid, Sabrino, I can imagine quite a great sum,” 88 said snidely.
“Of course, but hear me out first,” Sabrino said as he sat there.
“Very well, you have my attention,” 88 said as he watched Estro.
“I wish for you to become an employee of mine,” Estro said calmly
If the droid had had any moveable facial features, Estro was sure it would have done a double take from the manner it first moved and then the tone its vocabulator had taken.
“Are you joking?” 88 demanded now in very harsh tones.
“I’m not one to joke with something as humorless as a droid. I’m simply making the offer to you before it is too late.”
“Too late for what?” 88 asked as he seemed to glare at Estro.
“Too late for you to join in what is to be one of the greatest ambitions to come since Xim the Despot,” Estro said with a grin.
“If I recall correctly, Xim met an unhappy ending at the hands of the Hutts. That doesn’t sound like a very lucrative business situation to me,” 88 said.
“True, but what if the Hutts were forced to work for us? What if every criminal organization was under the control of a single group? What if we could become a true power in the shadows of the galaxy?” Estro asked with a grin.
“Now that would be lucrative, but how do you intend to do something like that?” 88 asked, skepticism creeping into his modulated voice.
“Well, by you for one thing. I have a very special assignment for you as intelligence director of our forming criminal conspiracy. Are you interested?” Estro asked, knowing the droid couldn’t resist having a shot at more power than he already wielded as one of the best code crackers and information brokers.
“Assignment? I haven’t even accepted and you’ve already got an assignment for me? I believe your head needs examining, Sabrino. I’m not about to do anything for you for free. I’m still a free agent here,” 88 said sourly.
“Fine, then I have one job for you I can pay for, half now, half later. I wish for you to find some information for me.”
“Oh?” 88 asked, now going into business mode.
“Yes, now listen closely.”
3 Days Later
Orm walked about the Green Luck Casino’s office, currently yelling at Estro for the earlier execution of Treedo.
“Why the hell did you kill him? Treedo couldn’t possibly have been stealing spice from the managing plant!”
“The figures didn’t add up. Treedo is the only one who could have gotten to it without being noticed. I might add that the figures balanced out after he was executed. I think that is proof enough for liquidating him,” Sabrino said very coolly.
“I don’t care about the numbers! Treedo has been with the Syndicate since its forming and you just liquidated him like it was nothing! What kind of man are you? Have you no compassion?”
“Compassion is bad for business and my compassion died the day I was abandoned by my own people. Now, are you done lecturing me? I have managing to do,” Sabrino said in a very dismissive tone.
Orm’s face grew hard as he looked at the merciless man who had once been an Admiral in the Jutraalian Empire’s navy. His eyes were cold and merciless now, not like when he had first seen them during his court-martial so long ago. Life hadn’t been kind to Sabrino, that was clear, and now the ruined admiral seemed to be exerting more control over the Syndicate. Orm couldn’t allow that, which meant he would have to deal with this impetuous man soon and be free of him before anything bad happened.
2 Hours Later
Orm sat in the Gruvada Club, one of his many clubs that he operated lately to make some profit and to enjoy the dancers there for himself. After all, why would they say no to their boss? As he sat in his private booth, several dancers were performing when one blue skinned twi’lek drew his attention. She smiled at him flirtatiously and then continued to dance the current bands music. After the number, she walked over to his table and sat down.
“Hey, you’re pretty good. What’s your name?” Orm asked.
“Amila Trossk,” the twi’lek said with a smile as she edged in closer to Orm.
Orm smiled and thought she had a pretty shapely body. He wouldn’t mind seeing what some of her talents might be so he decided to find out now. He stood up and walked around the table.
“Care to come with my suite upstairs?” Orm asked with a smile.
“I’d love to,” Amila said with a smile and joined Orm.
They took the turbolift to the third level of the building where Orm had his personal suite set up for encounters like this. They walked in and then Orm closed and locked the door. He then turned to Amila and smiled
“You wouldn’t happen to know any form of massage, would you?”
“Of course, I’m a very talented dancer,” Amila said with a grin.
Orm lay down on the bed and then felt the twi’lek begin to rub his back in very soothing motions. She started at his lower back and slowly made his way towards his neck. She seemed to pause for a moment though and before Orm could look around, the twi’lek slipped a fiber wire she had hidden on his dancing suit around his neck and pulled hard. Orm felt his air cut off and struggled all he could to get free, but the twi’lek locked her legs around his waist, keeping him in place. He brought his hands up to his throat and tried to pull the wire free but to no avail. As he felt himself losing consciousness, the twi’lek leaned in and spoke.
“Estro Sabrino sends his regards.”
With that said Orm realized his lieutenant had gotten him first and died shortly afterward. Amila stood up and pulled a vibroblade out of her dancing boot and slit Orm’s throat from ear to ear, doing as Estro had ordered. With her job done, Amila calmly slipped out of the room and made her quick escape back to the Green Luck Casino where Estro would be waiting for her report.
Ten Days Later
Estro Sabrino watched as Prince Gorma entered his office through the main door instead of the secret entrance. Now that Sabrino had seized up control of the Syndicate within the ten days following Orm’s death, it was time for them to discuss their deal.
“So, we shall be partners then?” Gorma asked with a smile as the door closed behind him.
“Not necessarily,” Sabrino said as the secret door opened and 8t88 entered the chamber, his servomotors whirring.
“What is that thing doing here?” Gorma demanded as he looked at the droid.
“88 took up a job for me. I had him dig up some very damaging information on a number of associates,” Sabrino said matter-of-factly.
“Associates like who?” Gorma asked as he looked at the former admiral.
“Like you,” Sabrino said as 88 promptly plugged in a datadisc holding Gorma’s information.
Gorma looked at the display for a moment and gaped at all that the droid had uncovered. Half of the information there could destroy his legitimate fronts all over the galaxy and ruin Black Sun for good. All that information was right there. He looked at Sabrino and considered reaching for his blaster but then thought better of it. Sabrino surely had plans for if that happened.
“What exactly do you plan on doing with this information,” Gorma asked, maintaining his calm.
“Nothing,” Sabrino replied.
“Nothing?” Gorma asked skeptically.
“Well, nothing as long as you and Black Sun work for me,” Sabrino said with a cruel grin.
“So, we are to be lapdogs of the Jutraalian Syndicate?” Gorma now asked coldly.
“No, the Syndicate will serve me also. I have big plans, Gorma, bigger than just making you and Black Sun my servants. Life has achieved greatness in all facets of existence, except
crime! Now I shall change that. I shall unite the criminals of the galaxy. Together, we shall be a power to be reckoned with. Not militarily, not politically, but through influence. Crime can never be wiped out. It is an absolute of the galaxy like the light side and the dark side of the force. Crime shall exist as long as sentient life exists and the
Union shall control it all. Now, let us discuss your sway over the Falleen government since Black Sun’s headquarters is there. There is something there that I wish you to acquire for the Union as a sign of your new loyalty.”
“Very well,” Gorma said coldly as he clutched his fists in defeat and listened.
