Firemane Studios

I don't own star wars.

5 years before Kal's Banishment.

A beautiful, busty purple skinned twi'lek in a threadbare half-shirt and skimpy panties ran down the hallway, her mascara was running, and her lipstick was smeared. Whimpering and breathing heavily as she yanked and struggled at the doors she passed. Finally, she reached the end of the hall, openly weeping as she yanked at the door.

"No. No. NO!!" she yelled, turning in place and whimpering as she slid down the wall, looking up towards her pursuer as the vibro-knife, as big as a butcher's knife. Raised in the air. "No! Please! No!" she cried as the killer got a good look down her cleavage, before the knife dropped, hacking away at her beautiful nubile body. Before everything froze.

"There!" the human man, a director of movies, said smiling proudly, as the bloody knife was held over the woman's body. Blood, or more likely ketchup really, stained her shirt with as she lay on the floor her eyes wide in 'death'. "I love it! How about you ma'am?! Ma'am?" he asked as the two other women in the room viewed the screen.

Well one of them did. She was dressed fully in Mandalorian armor, her blaster leaning barrel down next to her chair. Her green hair was cut short with the exception of one long but thin braid out the back of her head. Her face was adorned with dozens of mirialan triangle tattoos, arranged like medals on her cheeks. She was a very beautiful Mirialan, and honestly, the man would love to get her in front of a camera… in something a little more appropriate. Like a bikini.

The mirialan, really a Mandalorian which the idiot director didn't quite comprehend, looked remarkably amused, but not by the scene. By her friend and the CEO of Firemane Studios, Circe Firemane-Bessana.

Circe Firemane-Bessana sat with her face in her hands. Dressed impeccably in a perfectly fitting but still very sexy business suit and pants, not a skirt, PANTS along with her long, shimmering bright red hair combed majestically back to flow like a red curtain down her back. It looked like she was so scared she couldn't watch the scene… that's what it looked like to the director… unfortunately…

"…Oh Force who gave this idiot a budget?" she moaned as Mirai-Ken, her best friend and head of security burst out laughing. "Mirai this isn't funny!"

"It's HILARIOUS." Mirai said giggling as the director glanced between them, looking offended.

"Circe Please! This is a very important moment in the movie!"

"It's Ms. Firemane." She said, pulling her face from her hands as Mirai tried to restrain her laughter. "Is this really the best you have? It's just another slasher movie!"

Mirai coughed, clearing her throat as Circe glared at her. she shrugged as the director continued.

"Ms. Firemane I assure you with enough time…"

"Time's not the problem. It's your actors! And your direction! And generally everything!" she stood up and pointed to the 'dead body'. "Seriously? Who is she sleeping with to get this part?"

"Circe." Mirai said with a chuckle, "Come on that's pretty cliché don't you think?"

The director however loosened his collar a little and tried to move on. Mirai was quite thankful that Circe was her way into the holo-films and not this guy, not that she did much acting these days.

"I could still see her breathing when she's supposed to be a corpse! And half the shots of her are of her chest, and ass! I'd like to see one damn slasher movie where the twi'lek isn't just fanservice!"

"Well most of the ones you were in you were the Fanservice." The director noted and wilted under her gaze. "Uh… not that you weren't great in those films ma'am."

"Yes because my tits and ass are what I want to be remembered for in my films…"

"They are very nice." Mirai said unhelpfully.

"Not helping!" Circe informed her as Mirai rolled her eyes.

"Circe it wasn't bad. Besides this movie is for people who like watching scantily clad girls getting butchered. Sometimes Guys… like all slasher movies."

"Yes, but do they have to be so damn dumb?" Circe said with a rather unimpressed sigh, before suddenly switching into a bubbly personality, much like the twi'lek in the film had been moments before the killer chased her down the hall with a knife. "I think I hear something horrible outside. Instead of securing my door let me step outside half-naked so you can see just how cold the studio is!" she frowned at him. "Honestly where did you find these girls? At a holo-girl casting call?"

"Actually, one of them was a holo-girl." Mirai noted thoughtfully as Circe turned to her, glaring at her to silently be quiet but Mirai either didn't notice or didn't care. "A… 'Lexi Texi'. It was the one with the shower scene." Then realizing that there were a LOT of shower scenes she added, "The human girl with the really big butt."

"And yet I'm not surprised." Of course, that was a little biased, her mother was a former Holo-girl and she was an AMAZING actress. But she wasn't the norm, she was the exception.

"Oh lighten up Circe it wasn't that bad. And it's on a shoestring budget. Cult classic, at least." Mirai replied, trying to soften the blow but Circe seemed to be on a roll.

"This is C movie garbage. We are BETTER than that!" she said as the director looked hurt.

"Ms. Firemane I assure you my film will make at least 3 times the amount of credits it took to make it!"

Circe groaned exasperatedly, "I don't care about the credits, we make holo-film gold! The only reason we spent money on you is because we had to spend the excess on something! This… movie could bring us down. What's it even called?"

"…Benduday the 15th​" Mirai noted.

"Seriously? Fine whatever… how does it end?" she asked glaring at the director as he sped forward apparently to the climax.

"They find out that the killer is actually a-"

"Wait. WAIT." Circe said, watching the 'final girl' hit the obvious villain with a heavy wooden plank and then run off. "…What the hell is she doing?!"

"Uh…" the director's nervous eyes flickered between the skimpily dressed human girl and the 'killer'

"W-what the-Who's dumb enough to run away when your attacker is at her mercy? Double tap the psycho! Or for Force sake's take the damn weapon!" she glared at the director who wilted under her gaze as Mirai coughed and wheezed into her hand trying to restrain her laughter. The scene played further, and then it HAPPENED AGAIN. The heroine got the killer by surprise with a 2x4 to the back of the head and RAN AWAY AGAIN.

"…That girl has no survival instinct what the hell is wrong with you?" she asked the director. "Trust me. As a victim of kidnappings, and crazy stalkers. DOUBLE TAP is the reaction that most women have when chased by a violent pursuer! Change the damn scene!"

"But Ms. Firemane…" he whined, "My masterpiece…"

"Fix the ending." Circe said as Mirai followed her out of the screening room towards Circe's very big office.

"Kinda harsh Circe." She noted as Circe sighed, rubbing her head and trying to relieve herself of the headache.

"It's just… bad writing. I mean I know most of those girls are used to it…" she added sourly as Mirai snickered.

"Again. Only one of them was a holo-girl."

"Common sense is all I ask Mirai is that too much? Just one intelligent woman in a slasher flick. Just one damn smart decision. I mean really… if sex actually killed then Dad would be on his 800th​ life."

"To be fair if we had smart decisions in horror movies it wouldn't be a horror movie."

Circe sighed, shaking her head, "…Well… screw it then. Let's just move on. What's next?"

"No idea. I'm not your secretary." She then placed a pair of fingers into her mouth, releasing a sharp piercing whistle that made Circe flinch rubbing her ears.

"What was that?!" Circe mumbled, wiggling a finger in her ear as a mousy man with large spectacles and bright brown eyes and hair scampered towards them, fiddling with a datapad. "Oh. Towry."

Aldis Towry was in point of fact, Circe's secretary, he spent an absurd amount of time (not sexually) with Mirai and Circe. A little timid but good at his job.

"Did you… whistle? Ms. Ken?" he asked a little sheepishly, examining his datapad.

"I did. Good response time Towry." She said smiling at him

"…Might I suggest sending a message next time?" he asked blushing, pointing to the datapad.

"Nope. Itinerary Towry chop-chop." Mirai said as they walked on, Towry scampered to keep up, reading off Circe's schedule.

"Um. After the screening of Benduday the 15th​… your agent is supposed to call about your next Spy Wars spin-off…"

"Force I've already said yes, what more do they want?"

"Well they want to discuss payment." He mumbled sheepishly, "But it shouldn't take you long, Ms. Ken scares them." Mirai smirked proudly as they arrived in Circe's large and spacious office. "After that is a very brief lunch followed by the arrival of your nephew and an interview with-…"

"Oh Kiren! I almost forgot!" Circe grinned excitedly, scampering towards her desk with a smile as she immediately hit the message display. It made her face show up on all screens in the building… not on any of the recording stages of course but her message would still get across.

"Attention everyone. My nephew will be arriving!" she said cheerily as Mirai rolled her eyes. Then Circe's face got very serious. "Keep him away from all horror movie sets! I swear if he gets nightmares or sees another topless twi'lek SOMEONE is going to have a bad day." She smiled sweetly. "Also, free pizza in the lounge and happy birthday Munnana." She turned off the recording as someone, somewhere in the building Munnana had a very good day… the rest got pizza.

"Why do you even have me if you know these things?" Towry asked with a rather adorable smile as Circe winked at him… his face turned into a tomato.

"Well Towry sometimes even I need a little help…" she then began to do her make-up and hair in a small mirror. "Now go find my nephew and bring him here, keep an eye on him he can be slippery sometimes."

"Y-yes ma'am." He said rushing out of the room Mirai smirked at her.

"I think he likes you." Circe rolled her eyes, finishing up and putting her prettying up tools in her desk.

"…Well I imagine he grew up watching my movies." Circe replied, "…Apparently people find me attractive." She added sarcastically. Several attempted kidnappings and attempts of selling her into sexual slavery were done for a reason after all. But that's why Mirai's here… "Besides I'm not the only one with a young fan now am I?"

It was Mirai's turn to roll her eyes as right on cue Circe's agent began to call. "…To be fair your nephew is a Firemane male." She noted smugly as Circe answered and laid on the charm. Kiren had a bit of a crush on the Mirialan Mandalorian… he probably gets that from his mother Killa (and her fondness for warriors). However, naturally, they also couldn't rule out Mirai's subtle point. Three generations of Firemane men before him had a fondness for 'interspecies relations'. Was there any real question as to Kiren's possible (albeit excellent) tastes?

"Ms Firemane!" the door burst open and a rather slippery-looking human stepped in, datapad in one hand and a microphone in the other. Mirai went to intercept him but Circe held up a hand.

"Mr Carrol. You're early…" she said with a sigh, standing up from her desk as she finished her touch ups.

"Well what can I say I like to catch my interviewees off guard." He said with a slimy smile. "I just have a few questions for you."

"Very well." Circe said, although now she was getting suspicious. She only agreed to this interview because her agent said to do it, Jon Carrol did have a large base of fans but he was also a bit of an asshole.

"How does it feel to seduce your way to the top?" he asked, holding his mike towards her as her eyes narrowed.

"…Excuse me?" she said, absolutely offended.

"Well there are rumors that your mother was famous top holo-girl Milky Way. I'm sure she taught you a few tricks." He said looking lecherous.

Circe shivered for a moment, but not from fear. "What my mother did in her youth does not reflect on me. She met my father because of that, and they have had a healthy relationship. She doesn't even talk about-"

"Ah yes your father, I'm getting to him." He said, "An Aiden Firemane? Aka Aiden K-"

"MY FATHER." She shouted, jabbing a finger into his chest. "Is a respected Sheriff of a Republic Colony world! Along with my brother. And he used to be a professional bounty hunter! Unlike my mother he did teach me a few tricks…" she hissed coolly.

But Jon's smug smirk didn't change. "Well Circe… can I call you Circe?"

"Fuck. NO." Circe said coolly.

"Well Circe." His datapad clicked off, "Now that we're on the same page… surely we can come to some… arrangement?"

Circe's eyes widened, "…What are you-"

"Do you have any idea what you're worth? A fortune in credits." He said, sounding distinctly slimy. "If you could, perhaps, do some modeling for me… I'm sure we can keep your father's distinct heritage under wraps…"

Circe stared at him… was he really this stupid.

"Hi Aunt Circe!" a young twelve-year-old boy with fire red hair and emerald green eyes, scampered into the room, shoving the slimy interviewer out of the way and tackle hugging his aunt. Circe smiled sweeping the boy up in her arms and squeezing him tightly.

"Oh my favorite nephew! Look how big you've gotten!" she smothered him in kisses as he laughed.

"Aunt Circe stop!" she put him down as he turned to a rather annoyed looking Mirai.

"Hey Mirai." He said, smiling 'charmingly' at her.

Mirai, debating how to remove Jon Carrol's arms in the most painful way possible glanced at the young Firemane boy and gave him a friendly smile as he tried to play it cool. "…Kiren." She said with a wink as he lost composure and giggled with a hug blush on his face.

"And who is this?" Jon said with an attempt to be friendly as Kiren glanced at him, looking thoroughly annoyed. "…You look just like your grandpa…" he said giving Circe a smug look.

"…Who is this idiot?" Kiren asked as Jon frowned at the blatant insult.

"Someone who will be leaving soon." Circe said, "By the express door."

"The what door?" Jon asked as Mirai gripped him tightly around the collar and dragged him forward. "Hey what are you-?" Mirai yanked her blaster from its holster and shot the datapad out of his hand, leaving a smoking hole in the device as he yelped out indignantly. "Hey! HEY! That cost me a fortune!" Circe grabbed Mirai's wrist, lowering Carrol down as she glanced at her best friend.

"Mirai. That's unnecessary… Kiren get the door." She noted as Kiren ran to the door. "No the OTHER door sweetie." Kiren, grinning, spun on his heels and darted towards the large window that made up the far wall.

"…Oh dear." Towry mumbled nervously as the window slowly slid open letting in a blustery breeze.

Circe gripped Carrol's collar and dragged him towards the open window, he struggled impotently as he quickly realized what was about to happen. "Whoa whoa Wait-wait-WAIT!!" he was sent screaming from the room plummeting three floors, leaving a trail of urine behind him, before landing with a loud splash in the lounge pool as Circe turned away.

"Thank you, sweetie, you can close it now." She said as Kiren stuck out his tongue petulantly at the curse spewing Carrol before shutting the window.

"What do you know that pool was a good decision..." Mirai noted thoughtfully before turning to Circe "but I wanted to do that." she added sourly, crossing her arms as Circe shrugged, sitting in her chair and hugging her blushing nephew like an oversize hairless teddy bear.

"You can get the next one. Besides next time there might not be a pool." The thought seemed to improve Mirai's rather annoyed look as Circe then grinned at Kiren, "How are your sisters?"

"Well Nein keeps taking my stuff, and Hecate keeps following her around. But I guess they're okay."

"And did you like spending time with your Nana Scarlet?" he grinned excitedly.

"Yeah! She showed me how to use a blaster! Dad's going to freak!" Circe cuddled her nephew chuckling in agreement.

"I… don't want to interrupt your bonding time Ma'am but… what are we going to do about Mr. Carrol?" Towry asked hesitantly.

"Well, we will do the same thing we did the last time some idiot tried to blackmail us." Mirai said coolly, "We tell Torga."

"Its Worked the last time. it's amazing, and sad, how many people who attempt to do that have spent time in Torga's Jewel." Circe said as she began walking with her nephew, cheerily asking "So. Want to walk around the studio?"

"Yeah!" he cheered, skipping behind her as they walked out. "Can we check out the Benduday movie?! I heard it's going to be killer!" Circe sighed.

"...No." she said flatly as Mirai smirked

End of chapter