A Politician's Smile

[Gambler]

Kesh's boots clicked on the carpet. The sound shouldn't have been possible, but he wouldn't have it any other way. He stamped his heels against the carpet, creating little indents where he stepped. The force in each step resulted in the muffled clicking, as his boots hit the metal beneath. He grinned in wry satisfaction, much to the chagrin of those around him.

His entourage consisted of twelve men and two women. The men all wore overlaying plates of armor and carried rifles with the cocky grace of bodyguards. Their eyes scowled when they weren't searching for danger. The black and white insignia of the Galactic Alliance stood brazenly on their chests. They wore it proudly, with the same ease they carried their guns.

The women were a different story. They were young, somewhere in their early twenties, and beautiful. The blonde one had a sultry grace about her. She turned heads with the way she walked. The curve of her hips, the way she swayed both contributed to the appearance. As if that alone wasn't enough, her blue eyes were teasing, hungry. Kesh caught several of the men shifting uneasily every now and then. It wasn't because they were scared. Not with that look in their eyes.

The other woman was equally beautiful, but subtler. Her dark hair contrasted with the first almost as much as it did with her pale skin. Her eyes were brown, a dark, liquid color that held unspoken promise. She was less flamboyant than her companion, but in a way far more lovely. It was her quiet demeanor, the calm way she moved. She didn't show herself outwardly. She knew her beauty and, more importantly, knew that everyone else knew. The knowledge made her entice and leave to the imagination rather than brazenly display. If Kesh was in a position to choose either for himself, he would choose the brunette.

The group made their way to the Chief of State's office, where they were met by a group of guards. The newer ones in the bunch scowled, having heard stories of Kesh's antics. The veterans smiled, well aware of their High Commander's lack of protocol.

"So soon, Kesh?" one of them asked. His smiled was returned by Kesh, equally light.

"Of course. It has been far too long since I've made a public call on Valafarafar, hasn't it?" One of the guards in particular cringed at the name. Kesh narrowed his eyes. "Oh yes, I remember you! The man at Valafarafar's gates a few nights back. Why, it's good to see you too."

The man didn't return the smile. "Sir."

Kesh sighed. "Is it too much to hope for competent service with a smile?" he asked.

"You should know the answer to that by now," the first guard replied.

"Anyway, you going to let me in?"

"Do you have the right paperwork?"

Kesh's stare was absolutely withering. "Paperwork? Me? I think my shiny name tag should be enough... unless the old man gave you guys another 'no Kesh' order. He just doesn't learn..."

"Yep. So what is it this time? Paperwork? No paperwork? If you don't have it, we can't let you in." The guard rolled his eyes. They had been through the same several times before. Each time Kesh ended up having his way.

"Nope, no paperwork," he said, "but I do have a request."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"I request for you to open the doors before something dreadfully risqué happens concerning these lovely young ladies." He paused. "Hmm, I do believe that Valafarafar's restraining order does not pertain to people aside from me, do they?"

"Nope."

"And if I decide to send them in to see him, well, as my guests it would only be polite of me to take them in myself, wouldn't it?"

"Yep."

"So, I think I'll request an audience with Valafarafar for my guests over here. Any objections?"

The guard smirked. "Nope."

"Good. So, doors?" They opened almost before Kesh finished his question. The guards didn't call ahead for him. If Valafar didn't know by now that there was no place where Kesh couldn't reach him, then he would never learn.

 

[Dread]

A Man Who's Name is Political Suicide​

"Chief Lamartine," a voice crackled to life on Valafar's comm.

"If it's not something important, Nel, could it wait?" Valafar answered.

"I saw him." There was a particular tone of worry in Nel's voice. Inwardly Valafar groaned hearing it. He was pretty sure he knew who she was talking about.

After a pause, Valafar finally mustered up the will to ask, "...Who?" He found himself cringing as the word slipped out.

"Him,"

"Kesh..."

"Chief...he was with two scantily clad women."

An awkward silence settled between them. Valafar broke it with an odd laugh. He cleared his throat, feeling his eye twitch in anger.

"I'm sure their just some friends he brought along...inappropriately."

"Yeah. You can say inappropriately again," one of the receptionists snickered in the background of the comm, laughing.

"Shh!" Nel tapped her pen on her desk. Valafar could hear the ticks on the receiving end of the comm. "Chief, did you want me to-" Nel's voice became overwhelmed when the volume of the laughter increased. Valafar's cheeks inflamed with embarrassment.

"NO," Valafar snapped. He rested his forehead onto his palm before he continued, "But..thanks for warning me, Nel."

"Of course, Chief."

The comms white noise dyed out, leaving Valafar alone to himself.

"If he makes another joke about politicians and lying again. I'll kill him. I swear. RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. I don't care about witnesses," Valafar mumbled to himself, rubbing his temple with his thumb and index fingers. He inhaled, and exhaled then sat back in his chair. Waiting for Kesh. He was calming down as he did, by thinking about what the two women Kesh brought looked like. Maybe one was a platinum blond. Mmm...yes, that would be nice, Valafar thought. Hopefully one looked just like a certain woman Valafar knew, a woman named Maria. A woman whom Valafar's thoughts were often drawn to.

 

[Gambler]

The room fell silent with Kesh's entrance. The bodyguards remained outside at a gesture without protest. There was no need for so many men inside the Chief of State's office. The two women trailed him. The blonde one strutted ahead so that Valafar's eyes would fall on her first. The brunette walked with a more subdued air, shoulders hunched as if to be invisible compared to her companion. Kesh noted the attitudes with a smirk. Interesting in any case.

His eyes fell on Valafar. The aging man was almost fuming in his seat. If he squinted, Kesh could imagine smoke rising from Valafar's ears. He couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, excuse me," he said when he settled down. "I must have forgotten my place." He let Valafar simmer for a moment.

"This lovely thing to my left is Valerie." He nodded to the blonde. "Breathtaking, isn't she?" To emphasize his point, Valerie leaned forward, displaying a generous amount of cleavage below a pouting smile and smoldering eyes.

"And this," he said, motioning towards the brunette, "is Erin. Less... flamboyant than Valerie, but I assure you no less breathtaking." Erin smiled at Valafar with dead eyes. She bowed slightly, her posture accentuating her demure demeanor.

"Take your pick. I'm buying this time around."

 

[Dread]

"KESH!"

Maybe he would of kept yelling if the first girl who caught his eyes wasn't blond. But that wasn't the case. No. She was beautiful, curvaceous, and very, very blond. Valafar's eyes smiled, dancing up and down her body before fixating on her bosom.

"My lady, you're breath taking. Mhm..yes. Heh heh heh..." His eyes sparkled. His mouth seemed permanently gapped open. "Come here, a bit closer hmm? That's a good girl. Tonight, your name will be Maria." Valafar raised his hands in the air, making a grabbing gesture.

Under his breath, Valafar quickly said, "Kesh, remind me to kill you later? Kill you or thank you. I'm not sure which one yet."

 

[Gambler]

Kesh choked on his laughter. "Not in here, Valafarafar, unless you've forgotten all of those nifty security cameras. I'm fairly certain you don't want some jumped up secretary to see these tapes and sell it on HoloNet. In fact, I'm very certain." He rolled his eyes.

"Contain yourself, Valafarafar, if only for a few minutes longer," he said. He looked at the brunette for a moment. "I suppose that makes the beautiful Erin mine." He kissed her hand. Erin blushed, eliciting a victorious smile from Kesh.

"Ah, there's a speeder out front. We aren't going far, don't worry. There's a nice bunker a short drive away, and I have the keys." That twinkle was back in Kesh's eyes.

"For my own sake, I'm voting for a thankful reception. But..." he trailed off. "Maria? Honestly? I swear, you are perhaps the most lecherous, single-minded person I have ever met. You really should have chosen a better example for your second in command."

 

[Dread]

Valafar didn't respond back immediately. Instead, he thought. His thoughts seemed to gather together and click when his eyes opened wide. That's when he realized how carried away he had gotten.

"Right, the cameras," Valafar replied, standing up from his seat. He held out his hand to Valerie. "My lady," He echoed himself. She placed her hand in his. He ran his other hand over her thigh up to her waist. Valerie was so soft and delicate to the touch. Her eyes locked with his, her warm body drew close as she leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Valafar was about to react when Kesh's voice ruined the moment.

"You really should have chosen a better example for your second in command."

"It's not too late, you know." Valafar snorted. Purposely ignoring the comment about Maria. Kesh knew about Valafar's attempted affair with Maria and should of known that until Valafar was able to bed Maria, he wouldn't be able to get her out of his mind.

"Alright, let's go. I guess it wont hurt to have an early day once in awhile." It took him a moment but he maneuvered around Valerie so that once he made it to her side, his arm was wrapped around her waist.

 

[Gambler]

"Oh won't the rumors just fly when Nel sees you like this," Kesh said. "You know how that girl likes to talk. I don't know why you keep her around. Sure, she's pretty enough under the glasses and suit, but her eyes..." He shuddered.

"Well, that's a subject for another time." He cut himself short. It was never opportune to disrupt Valafar from his moment too many times. Kesh being Kesh, and Valafar knowing exactly that, the Chief of State was liable to get violent. When it came to the game of passion, not even diplomatic immunity could be used as an excuse.

He said, "The car's out front. My guard will follow us in, and a second speeder will double back as your doppelgänger replaces us. To anyone looking, your going back to your estate early. For the dozen or so of us who know, you're coming with me to a nifty little bunker." That smirk was back.

He slipped an arm around Erin. "So, love, I guess we're going steady now, aren't we" It was hard to tell if her answering laugh was fake. She's good, he thought, but I'm going to crack her.

The four slipped out of the office, flanked by his dozen guards, each exactly as stoic as they had been when he left them. They passed by the front desk without comment. Kesh frowned. He had hoped their exit would be a bit more... stylish. Nel let him down.

He shook his head before entering the speeder, dragging Erin into the seat next to him. He brushed the red nerf-hide with a knuckle, motioning for Erin to move closer. The speeder had two benches facing each other. He nodded to Valafar to seat across from him. When the doors closed, the speeder began it's short journey to the bunker.

"So," he said. "Any reservations?"

 

[Dread]

Valafar gave a quick nod to Kesh and said, "Alright." The security precautions had become second nature to him. Expected and appreciated.

When they left, Valafar was surprised that Nel didn't make any comments or cause a little scene like she usually did. She was losing the sparky edge Valafar loved in the woman. She was getting too use to the job and Kesh. Kesh had a way of breaking in women. Poor girl had been exposed to Kesh for more than her own good.

As he entered the speeder a smile cracked across his lips. He ran his tongue over his lips in thought and relaxed into his seat. Valerie sat right beside him without being instructed to, pressing her curved body against his. Her hip grinded on him, sending a chill of excitement through him. Valafar chuckled, casually draping his arm over Valerie's shoulders. He liked her, a lot. It took everything he had not to just jump on her in the car.

"Reservations? Nothing that I'd want to talk about now." Valafar sighed. "What have you been up to, anyway? Besides hiring this angel." He scanned his grey eyes over her again. She winked at him and giggled seductively. Valafar couldn't help but widen his smile in return.

 

[Gambler]

"Nothing in particular," Kesh replied. He cast a subtle glance Erin's way, mouthing the word "later." He draped an arm over her shoulders, leaning into a little more. She made no attempt to move away, but neither did she lean into it. He smiled at her, not caring that she pretended not to notice. If nothing else, that confirmed his opinion of her.

"Just a few meetings here and there," he said. "You know how bureaucrats are. A couple of hints there, some veiled threats there, and a refusal to meet with me on the couch." He sighed.

"Do you know how hard it is to get someone to agree to that? They think I'm mocking them or something. Oh well. I still get my afternoon nap in there, and the occasional bold representative thinking that acceding to my ridiculous requests will make me go easier on them." His chuckle was far too dry.

"But enough about me. What about you? Have you been keeping up with the news? Found any new noblewomen to chase? Decided to take up pottery to fill your waking hours?"

 

[Dread]

He paused for a moment. Didn't he order Kesh's couch to be removed? The thing was old and stunk, at least by Valafar's standards. Maybe it just smelled a lot like Kesh's drool from him sleeping on it every day. Valafar shook his head, dismissing the thought.

"Despite what you may think," Valafar said in fake upset voice, just to be melodramatic. "I don't spend that much time chasing after noblewoman." He had clearly lied. It was a known fact, at least by his closest friends, that Valafar was either engrossed in his job or enjoying women, physically and mentally. He didn't think he would ever fit the role of a family man; Valafar liked women too much to marry one. Although there was a distinct possibility that he was a father. There had been...accidents here and there, but he had never stuck around to see the results.

"All the latest news has a way of making it to my desk," Valafar frowned and tapped his finger on his leg. He had said he didn't want to talk about anything that concerned him right now.

Valafar felt a delicate touch on his other leg. His eyes snapped down to Valerie's hand as she slipped it higher up his leg. With that his smile returned.

"Ah, sweet Maria. What do you think about all this boring talk?"

"I think you should kiss me." Valerie smiled.

"I think I can handle that." Valafar leaned down and kissed Valerie passionately.

 

[Gambler]

Kesh watched the city roll by through tinted windows. The glass muted colors, blurring objects as they passed. The sun would be setting about now. Coruscant sunsets were beautiful. He could imagine the crimson backdrop with violet and orange weaving their ways into it. Only a few clouds would block the sun. They would be drenched in color, all but glowing as the light dimmed.

"What about you?" he whispered to Erin. "What do you think of the Coruscanti sunset?" He studied her face as she thought of an answer. He noted the slight furrow of her brows and the way her eyes narrowed a degree before she opened her mouth. Luscious, full lips, completely natural. She didn't overdo the makeup, as some would. What she wore accentuated her beauty, nothing more, nothing less.

She returned his casual study before answering. "It is the same it has always been, my lord." He cringed at the title. It was only protocol for an escort to use titles and pet names, but he would have preferred it otherwise.

"Yes, that it is," he said. With no response forthcoming, he dropped the conversation. He could see the answer in her eyes anyway. "I am not paid to talk," they said.

"Ah, well, we're getting close now." The speeder eased into a turn, gently decelerating. "We're heading to room twelve B. It branches off into two suites," he said.

"Oh, you might want to mind your step. The maglift we're taking down is made for security, not convenience."

 

[Dread]

The speeder came to a smooth stop. The soft purr of the engine cut out. Valafar looked through the tinted windows at the bunker. Outwardly the bunker was unassuming - military standard, it looked like a box. He knew once they got down to the shelters underneath it would be much nicer, but it was still a little unappealing. Valafar remembered running off to Catina's while he was younger; it was thrilling, and something he couldn't just go off and do anymore.

"I hope I wont be taking that maglift after I have a few drinks." Valafar said, half-joking.

He helped Valerie out of the speeder, holding her hand. She gave him another wink which he met with a wink of his own. With the stoic guards flanking them, Valafar began to walk, slipping his arm around Valerie's swaying hip.

 

[Gambler]

The maglift descended. Unlike turbolift travel, Kesh hardly noticed the descent. Maglifts moved at a constant velocity, negating acceleration. Pressurizing the capsule prevented change in air pressure from affecting one as well. Thus, with all variables considered, the descent could be forgotten if not for the steady pulse of vibrating yellow lights.

At the bottom, the doors swung open to an anteroom of sorts. A plain hallway led to an equally plain set of doors, each opening up into a presumably plain suite. However, the bunker had been designed with comfort in mind by Senators too rich for their own good. They wanted the best if their lives were ever threatened, and the Alliance provided it for them. Whether the people knew where their hard earned taxes went was a different story... as evidenced by Valafar's peculiar habits.

Kesh tapped a code into a wall console, unlocking the first set of doors. They slid open, using a primitive magnetic lock mechanism for cost and power efficiency. Almost immediately, the gritty, military bunker transformed. Durasteel floors became carpeted walkways lined with sofas and entertainment centers. A breakfast bar cut the room in half, fully equipped with several stocked mini fridges and heating platforms. Holomonitors hung on the walls, their static filled images flickering to designate low power.

It took a while for the eye to slip past the gilding, but when it did one would notice the racks and safes strewn about. Rifles, police-shields, gas-masks, and other equipment reinstated the purpose of the bunker. They were a last ditch effort should an invading force knock on Coruscant's door. A futile effort at best, given the main denizens of the area would be pampered Senators, hardly capable against even half-trained assassins. At best, they could say they died fighting.

Kesh indicated the room with a flourish. "Well, here we are. Now, you'll be heading to room... B-7 did I say? Yeah, that'd be it. I've made arrangements for it to be stocked with the best of your general desires. Oh, but please leave the bourbon on the shelf this time—you always, always make a mess when you get your hands on it." His eyes took most of the sting out of the words.

"You, my dear, will be coming with me to a less... ostentatious room. I dare say the beds are more comfortable without the pomp and ceremony your high-and-mighty Chief of State generally demands. But I would never say it aloud." He shot Erin a wink. "At least, not to old Valafarafar's face."

The giggle he received was more than sufficient payment.