The Smoke be for the Fires: (Book 1)

[Akirapryde]

Turning of Darkness
Capital City
Baklid VI, Outer Rim

Orchid paced the room like a caged animal. Her long flowing brown hair whipping about as she turned on the heels of her thick leather boots. The one inch black band tattooed across her eyes and face gives her a pure diabolical look. Despite the anger in her eyes and her mannerism as she paced back and forth, she was still a sight to be held. Her youthful pale skin almost glowed as she walked pass the open window. Her petite frame masked her mastery over combat skills. Her flowing dark cloak conceals her nasty curved sword.

She turned to one of the armored men waiting with her in the large room, “Where are they? What is taking them so long!” Neither of the men responded to her comment. They knew better then to speak up at a time like this. They stood like silent metal statues near one of the doors. She shook her head and returned to her pacing. Time was running out on her operation and she knew it. Her plans were starting to unravel and she blamed the local rebel leaders. More so she blamed Kam Orn the most. He was a high level rebel commander who has resisted her efforts here since the day she arrived. Kam did trust her, well that she understood, but he didn't have to cause her problems once the others had signed on with her plan. Just then she heard over her ear piece that the men she was waiting had finally arrived. She let out a sigh of relief and fixed her cloak. She never wore anything under it except a few pieces of chain mail. She really enjoyed showing off her body and it made others completely uncomfortable. Which gave her the advantage and she loved that. Looking in an old mirror, she made sure that she was showing just enough cleavage to make her 'guests' uncomfortable and out of place.

Within a few more moments, the five local rebel commanders walked in to the large room with their escorts. Each of them carrying some kind of weapon of some sort. She enjoyed an inner laugh as she thought how safe they must feel. She gave a glance to the two armored men behind her. They were out manned by over six to one and still the local rebel commanders were out matched. She shrugged off the thought of killing every last one of them for being late. For now she needed them if her plans were to work. 'Well, I need most of them at least. Fear was always a good means of keeping pawns in line.' she thought looking at Kam as he slowly moved forward. She could tell that he had been doing his best to undermine her plans, again.

She put forward such a soft and gentle smile, “So gentlemen, are all things in order?” She said as softly as possible. Doing her best to be the sweet innocent girl that her body presented.

The commanders looked at each other as they gathered themselves. They could easily see past her smile and soft voice. They all knew she was a cold blooded killer and dared not trifle with her. Kam took the opportunity to show some strength as he stepped forward, “We have most things in order. But do you really think it is a wise move to commit such a large contingent of our forces. This could leave us severely weaken in our long term goal. We have decided to withhold about half of our forces from this battle so that we can react should the government lunch a counter attack. WE have all discussed this and feel that this is the best option.” he explained.

Orchid's smile vanished from her face as she listened to what Kam had to say. 'WE' she thought looking at the other rebel leaders. “I see. All of you have discussed this and found that this is the best military option?” she asked still trying to hold on to that innocent appearance. Her anger for their defiance boiling up in her soul, that was if she had one. “So I am to understand that this change of Mother's plans is the best option?” She said. Her cold tone boiling up with her anger. She could easily see the strength of the others fade rapidly. Kam still stood his ground and she enjoyed that. It was time for him to learn his place once and for all. He was a pawn and needed to be reminded of that.

She walked over to Kam, who seemed to have self nominated himself as speaker of the pawns. “You see, you don't understand me gentlemen. I am expecting them to counter attack with everything they have. I expect to loss this battle. And each of you along with your highland counterparts have all been paid more then enough credits to keep this war going for years to come.” she explained to them as the others looked down knowing that this conversation was dead before it even began. “Has not my mother provided each of your armies with hundreds of new battle driods, thousands of tons of supplies, and some of the best trainers the CSA has to offer. Sure you will loss this battle, but this defeat will bring you all such riches and over all control over this pathetic planet.” she stepped up to Kam. With all eyes were on her actions, she slipped her hand under her cloak and gripped the hilt of her sword. She smiled as she saw their ranks disintegrating under her impressionable voice. “We all knew that this battle was a lost cause. That your armies could not possible take and hold the capital. But it is necessary for Mother's plans. Everyone has to see that the focus is here and not on the real objective. Murdering a member of the Jedi Council!” She moved even closer to Kam. She made sure that he could clearly see her form. Her body was almost touching his. He tried to move back but her hand on the back of his neck stopped any further retreat. He was trapped under her gentle touch and he knew it. Being almost a quarter meter shorter then he was, she had to look up at him. “I think your support has failed again Mr Orn. It would appear that you are once more out on that limb alone. Don't you remember us being here before. When I first arrived to this little shit hole, you said, 'We should not trust her” she said. Then she pulled his head lower while leaning up whispering in his ear. She could feel his fear and loss of control. The excitement of the situation grew deep inside her as she knew what was coming. “They should have listened to you, Mr Orn. Greed is a powerful flaw.” she whispered under her voice.

Kam let out a yelp and dropped forward. The sound of ripping flesh filled the room as she pushed her sword all the way through his body. His body guards reacted quickly taking aim at the assassin but her two men were faster. The sounds of silenced weapons filled the air for only for a brief moment. As the last of Kam's guards fell a eerie silence draped over the room. It was over as rapidly as it had begun. Orchid stepped back while withdrawing her blade from Kam's body with a sucking sound. Drawing her sword up to her face and without a word being said she pulled the bloody sword across her out stretched tongue. Taking a brief moment to enjoy the warmth of the Kam's blood, Orchid closed her eyes and smiled. She reopened her eyes and now looked each other man down. Her face now dripping with the blood of one of their own. Her eyes glimmered with the excitement of the kill and her lips curled upward showing her teeth and her smile. Unlike before, this smile was who she was. “Tell me gentlemen, will the attack take place on time and as my mother wants it?”

The leaders all looked completely terrorized for their own lives. Each of them nodded and agreed that all will be ready. She continued to smile at their change of heart. “Now I have a gift for you my loyal allies.” she said and waved her hand at a door. The door opened up and two armored men carried in a young human female. It was clear she was a jedi. “This is going to be your ticket to ensure that this defeat will not be complete. The Jedi will negotiate for her release. This will allow you to attack the city and then work through the Jedi to save as much of your troops as possible. But they have to fight for the first hour as hard as possible. All my mother wants is one hour of complete chaos and combat. After that, the rest is up to you gentlemen.”

The men all nodded their understanding as she continued, “Now seeing how you decided to try and change the plan, I find it only fitting to make another change.” she said knowing full well she was going to demand this of them before hand anyway. “I want all of your headquarters moved to this very building. This way all of you can work together and deal the most damage possible to the city.” she added and the fools all agreed mostly out of fear of her.

She turned and walked over to the jedi who was laying on a table. She leaped up and straddled her. “Look at how peaceful she is sleeping. How long with the drugs last?” she asked one of her men.
“She will be unconscious for about an hour my mistress.” His metallic voice filled the air as he answered her question.

She smiled, “Good” she said then pointed at one of her men, “You, give me a grenade and set the timer to zero.” The soldier replied with out question or delay. He handed her his grenade and she smiled up at him. “Thank you” she said taking the grenade in one hand and forced the jedi's mouth open as wide as she could. Orchid struggled to get the device in the female's mouth. “Damn she has a small mouth.” Orchid said then pushed the device all the way in to the female's mouth. “TAPE!” she almost laughed. Orchid took the tape and secured the device in place then pulled the pin. “There, this will ensure that the Jedi does not cause anyone any problems.” she said leaping down off the table. “Now I need some clothes.” she said then motioned for the leaders to leave her.

She waited for the last of the local leaders and their men to leave as they tended to the task of the attack, Orchid turned to her men. “Any word on that idiot Bund?” she asked.

Another soldier replied, “No My Mistress. We have not located him yet. However we did find his padawan and are watching her closely. Should he try to make contact with her, we will get him. His betrayal will not go unanswered.” he explained.

“Mother informed me that the battle with the Masters is going better then planned. They are surely distracted and soon a few of them might even will fall in combat. I just wish Mother would have allowed me to use some of you up there, my lovely bringers of death.” she said walking up to one of her men. She ran her hand up and down his armored chest then kissed his breast plate leaving behind a bloody kiss mark. “But Mother knows best. And we have our orders.” She said turning on her heels, “what of the other padawans?” She said running her hand through the Jedi's hair softly.

“They along with the kids are still held up in the Royal Palace. We are unable to reach them at this time. However we have located some old mines that run under the city. My men down there believe there is a chance we could come up under them and get the crystal and the kids.” He explained carefully.

Orchid nodded her pleasure at the report. Orchid closed her eyes while still running her hand through the jedi's hair. Jedi started to moan out in pain and shift about trying to break the touch of Orchid. Orchid only gripped the Jedi's long hair more tightly and leaned in to the Jedi's ear. “You will give me what I want. You will show me what I want to see.” she said as the Jedi started to scream out through the device in her mouth. Her eyes ripped open as the pain and suffering was clear to see across her face. Then as quickly as it started, the Jedi dropped back to the table unconscious and unmoving. Orchid smiled as she moved away from the Jedi. “Very interesting. I need to ask Mother if I may go hunting.”

A man walked in with some civilian clothes, “Will this due?” he asked her as she looked through them.
“yes they will do nicely. I need make up and a satchel.” she said taking the clothes. “Oh, seeing how you now trust me. Well fear me more then trust me, but I am okay with that also. I am going to send my troopers to the outer perimeter to ensure that the enemy does not threaten this headquarters. So I can show you that I trust you also. Let your fellow leaders know that we are committed to your cause.” she said softly.

The man nodded, “That will make things go allot easier with them. I know that your men scare us all very much. Knowing that they are killing the government forces instead of our own guards will help things. Thank you for your trust. Really is was all Kam. None of us wanted to go along with his plan. He pushed us in to it.”

She smiled as nodded. “See I am not so hard to get along with. Now get what I need please.” she said and watched the man walk out. She turned to her men while looking at her watch. “The battle is about to begin. These idiots don't have a clue.” she said as she pulled off her cloak and her armor. Standing completely naked, she smiled, “Engage the government forces and Jedi no more. Let these fools handle them. Focus on getting the crystal and killing the kids. If Bund shows his ugly face here, drop him hard.” He men nodded their understanding and she waved them off to fulfill their orders.

Once the rest of what she asked for arrived, she called for the rest of the Rebel leaders. “It is really important that you guard this Jedi. Should she escape then she will kill you all.” Orchid said as she placed compound over her face and eyelids. “You should remain here and command the battle from this room. This is the safest part of the building. With my men outside you are safe here.” she said hiding her sword under her new cloak and placing her own clothes in the satchel. “Once the battle begins in just a few moments, all hell will break loss. We are in this together and we stand together.” she said looking at herself in the mirror, then smiled, “How do I look?” she asked.

One of the leaders looked a bit confused at her actions. She looked like a normal civilian teenage girl. But he knew better what she was. She was a monster to be slain. But he was too scared to even think such a thought. He looked down at Kam's body and knew what it meant to cross her. “Um, surprisingly normal.” he said softly.

There was a loud crack outside and everyone looked around as the sounds of the attack started to fill the air. She nodded to them, “I have to go sneak past the enemy's lines and hunt. The day will be ours, I promise gentlemen.” she said and smiled. On that note she turned and walked out of the room knowing that she will never see any of them alive after this moment. “Pawns are so much fun.” she said giggling down the stairs.