“My dear Ke’Dro.” Ke’Dar was not happy to see his tall, muscular Twi’lek enforcer sitting at his desk. But he didn’t make a big deal of it. “You seem to have brought attention to our operation.”
“You mean the Meedar?” She held up her glass and examined the brown liquid in it.
“I mean precisely the Meedar.” His voice was getting louder. “This business with Lordo and taking over his enterprise.”
Ke’Dro sipped the drink. “One of the clone troopers smuggled a bottle of Devornian Punga Brandy. Before my last mission we drank the entire bottle.” She looked up at Ke’Dar. “Occasionally I wonder what would have happened if that clone trooper had not shared it with us.” She sniffed the whiskey and sipped it again. “I was still under the effects of the brandy when I ripped that Droideka’s head off.” She touched her metal lek. “I’m not sure if I would have lost my lek and eye, or if I would have died.”
She took her feet off his desk and poured herself another drink.
“What is your point?” He was getting angry.
“Sometimes you have to take a risk.” She watched the fear in his face. “I wonder what would have happened. But I never regret what I did. If I hadn’t, that platoon of clones probably wouldn’t have made it into the city.”
She took another sip and looked up again. “Two months ago, when I started working for you, I was told you were expanding your operation.” She put her feet back on his desk. “For two months you have had me shaking down dock workers for uncollected debts.” She looked at the whiskey again.
“Fine. In that time you were content to let a nuisance become a real threat.” She swallowed the last of the contents of her glass and challenged Ke’Dar with her eyes. “Now, I have dealt with it and expanded your business.
Ke’Dar walked to the door and called Debin and Nolla in. “I need you two to deal with this disloyal wretch.”
Ke’Dro waited until they entered the room. Both looked confused. Debin was surprised to see the big Twi’lek woman in Ke’Dar’s seat but he made no move to do anything about it.
Nolla growled her annoyance at the interruption.
“I’m going to need an explanation of my disloyalty.” Ke’Dro shifted a bit in the chair to make herself more comfortable.
“You told me that I knew what must be done. So I did it.” She raised her eye’s to look at Ke’Dar. “Lordo was an active danger to your operation so I got rid of him for you. I also took the opportunity to expand your operation.” She thought for a moment. “I will admit it was somewhat personal. He sent a mercenary to kill me, after all.” She gave him a sinister smile.
Ke’Dar looked at Debin and Nolla for support, but neither seemed to provide it.
“You have some audacity telling me how to run my operation.” Ke’Dar was on the verge of yelling.
“You have a good crew. Well mostly, Hagerty is dead weight, but he’s your son, so I don’t mind making an exception.” Ke’Dro was baiting the old man into acting. “Their potential is being wasted on debt collection by hard luck longshoremen and the occasional shop clerk.” She took her feet off the desk and took out the datapad he kept in the drawer.
“When was the last time you collected from a Lancer? Or one of the middle city residents?”
Nolla howled in the old man’s defense.
“I understand.the logic of blackmailing them." She addressed the Wookie's statement. But one day we’re going to try something and it isn’t going to work.”
Nolla growled another excuse.
“How many Lancers have we actually gotten fired?” Ke’Dro responded.
Nolla gave a short growl and shrugged in resignation.
“Take a look for yourself.” She turned the datapad towards the Wookie. Nolla ignored the protests from Ke’Dar and took the device.
Ke’Dro was amused by the stupid look on their boss’s face. It was obvious he never considered Nolla as anything but hired muscle. He assumed she couldn’t read.
Nolla set the datapad back on the desk and growled.
Ke’Dro looked at the stunned Duro.
“It’s still his business.” She responded to Nolla. “He’s just surprised at the expansion.”
Ke’Dar stood silently.
“What about the Meedar?” The old man finally said. “Lordo was a small time operation. The Meedar control the drugs and prostitution in most of the lower city. They also have control of three of the clan holdings.” Things had gotten out of Ke’Dar’s control. He had dreams of building a criminal empire, and buying a hab in the upper levels of Concord Harmony. “He hadn’t considered what it would take for that to happen.
“Arrange a meeting with one of their people and we will explain to them that you have no intention of moving on their turf.” Ke’Dro tried to calm him down.
She stood and patted Nolla on the arm as she walked out of the room. Nolla gave a confused growl and Debin was still dumbfounded.
Ke’Dar could see that he was no longer in control of his organization. Nor was he sure he could do anything about it. He had underestimated the Twi’lek badly.
Kyla looked up as she sat down at the booth. “Ke’Dar’s going to tell me to kill you isn’t he?”
Ke’Dro leaned back in the booth. “Probably. And you’re welcome to try. But I’d hate to lose a skilled scrapper.”