When he suggested that the Senator needs a drink, Tremaine had a feeling that something was up. "I don't drink unless it's something worthy celebrating about." Tremaine doesn't play sabacc often, he prefers pazaak. It's hard to find a pazaak player around this era, though. He tilted his head a little bit to show Brandt that the Imperial was worthy of his attention. "Actually, let's cut to the chase right here. What do you want from me?" It couldn't be a goodwill gesture, since Brandt decided to kindly let himself into Tremaine's apartment a while back.

That was the moment he heard the doors locked up, and that they were taking a completely different direction. He had a feeling that Brandt was probably going to attempt and intimidate him, like most Imperial officers would have. Tremaine was a soldier, just like the Moff is right now. He had seen enough of Order 66 and subjugation of local resistances against the Separatists to choose something that most politicians wouldn't. That would be to die rather than to spill his secrets. Moff Brandt would see that the Telosian didn't show a sign of fear or nervousness. "I take it you aren't going to bring me to East Port? I'm a Senator of Telos IV, you can't touch me without any proof. So do not attempt to threat me." The politician continue to keep a firm stance.

"Now, before you do anything, you might have to consider the possibility of me taking this to the Grand Vizier." Obviously, Tremaine was referring to Sate Pestage. "I wouldn't want us to leave on a bad note, and I wouldn't want you to be punished. You've done such a good job running the Imperial Center. So, I'm going to do you a favor and let this slide. Please kindly take me to the East Port." Tremaine continued to stare at Moff Brandt, as if he was daring the Moff to attempt something he had a feeling that Brandt would try to do to him.

He lightened up, and even laughed—at Fowlkes, of course. "Really, Tremaine, you act like you're the only Senator who's ever skimmed money into his own pocket. I can't imagine what you spend it on. Prostitutes, maybe. Drugs, whatever. Everyone has a fetish. I've seen it all many times, so many times that if I reported every Senator who did it, well, I wouldn't be too popular on Imperial Center, would I?" He smiled, shook his head, and finished his drink with a contended sigh. Clearly, he assumed Fowlkes was corrupt—but not a rebel. Indeed, it wasn't a possibility that had even occurred to him. "I'm not unreasonable, and I won't report it. But," he added, straightening some of the creases from his uniform as he went on, "I only ask that you not be so greedy. Really, Tremaine, we're talking about tens of thousands of credits. You can share some of them with me—to ease my conscience, you understand. 20,000 should ease it enough that there will be no further investigation into your company's finances, or yours. You wouldn't want your investors to know about this, or the people of Telos, either."

"And just so we're clear, Tremaine," he said, the humor disappearing from his voice as his expression darkened. He leaned forward, and the passenger cabin would suddenly seem quite a lot smaller, "Now I've threatened you."

His Excellency, Rainier Brandt
Moff of the Imperial Sector (i.e. Coruscant, et. al.)

"Most of all," he stopped to clear his throat. "I'm not surprised that you or other Moffs would jump on to something like this. I assume that mean you aren't entirely loyal to the precious Empire, are you?" The Senator continued to stare at Brandt, letting the Moff know that he wouldn't be intimidated rather easily. "As of the disappearing credits, you have no idea where it had gone to. Before you decide to stick with your threat, perhaps you should check with Senator Thanatos. I am certain she would love to fill you in on why credits went missing. I also expect an apology from you the next time we see each other."

The Telosian looked away to the window, seeing whether they're still in the area he isn't familiar with. "Now, I'm going to do you a favor. I am not going to report to the Grand Vizier that you attempted to bribe me if you decide to back off. You better get me to the Eastport. My men is waiting for me. The Queen of Garos IV is waiting for me. I wouldn't want to delay them." It might strike the Moff odd that Tremaine considered them equals. But it may occur to him that Tremaine was a pro-democracy, even though he was a die-hard soldier. That's the difference between a soldier and a warrior.

But paradoxically, instead of enthusiastically leaping for the deal, Fowlkes was coming close to giving away his entire rebellion and the involvement of Senator Thanatos in it, too. What could he gain from this? From the vexed, confused look on Brandt's face, he couldn't possibly imagine. "Really Tremaine, don't be a damn fool," Brandt told him, "I'm not bribing you, I'm soliciting a bribe from you. 20,000 credits donated to my foundation, the Center for Journalistic Integrity—in 5,000 credit donations every 4 months—and your problem goes away. Surely you understand that if you refuse, your company is finished and most likely your career, too. Your shareholders won't stand for a CEO who 'misplaces' tens of thousands of credits, and Telosians aren't going to be happy when it becomes known you've been spending it yourself; on spice, or slaves, or whatever it is."

"Like I said," Brandt went on as he sat back in his seat, his brow furrowed, his glare intense and without mercy, "I'm doing you a favor, Senator. Take it or don't, it's your call. But if I hear another chickenshit threat about complaining to Pestage, I'm going to lose my patience with you. I don't think you're appreciating what I'm capable—" A soft beeping sound filled the cabin, and the driver's voice came over a speaker a moment later. "Your Excellency," the driver said, "We're pulling into East Port now." Indeed, the limo had simply been taking a shortcut (thus the unfamiliar neighborhood). Fowlkes was, in fact, ahead of schedule. Brandt continued to glare at Fowlkes, creating the impression of a bomb intensely debating with itself whether or not to explode. The TIE fighters peeled away, and the speeder came to a stop. Brandt sighed, unsteadily. "I'll let you think about it, Senator," he said, pressing a button beside him that unlocked the doors (which, naturally, would be locked while in flight). "But this isn't finished. I'll expect to hear from you when you return to Imperial Center."

In the meantime, Brandt reminded himself, he would have to talk to Senator Thanatos as soon as possible. What did she have to do with this, he wondered? He would continue to wonder, too, until he got to the bottom of it. For now, he managed a disingenuous smile at Fowlkes as he climbed out of the speeder. "Have a pleasant trip, Senator."

His Excellency, Rainier Brandt
Moff of the Imperial Sector (i.e. Coruscant, et. al.)