Golden Link Casino

[Durose Roshan]

Leaving the bar, Durose rounded the corner and leaned against the wall. What was was he doing? What was he doing?

 

Slowing his breathing and composing himself a little, Durose glared at the silent wall in front of him. How could this have happened? First the poison, then the coma, and now this!

 

In his head, his mind tried desperately to decipher the wrong from the right, the truth from the lies. He obviously needed some kind of marker. Some person, thing, or information that he could use to collaborate his story with. Maybe then he would truly know what was really true.

 

Once again, his anger began to flare. Holding himself back with all his might, Durose pinned himself hard against the metallic wall. His eyes were beginning to redden and his breathing was rough. Maybe he had underestimated Tal Raza more than he thought... if Tal Raza really existed...

 

---------

 

Nodding, Victoria lead Procs to the hangerbay.

 

"From our information, he was recently spotted on Corellia...so I guess that's where we're headed."

 

Turning to Procs with an excited smile, she exclaimed, "Let's do this!"

 

((To Corellia))

[Zara Nargal]

Zara ignored his slap happy actions, instead sending silently for a security guard with a device to check for bugs once they parted company.

 

"I have a comm number in which you could contact one of the Jedi with."

[Brina Thalin]

Brina nodded and headed off in the direction Durose had gone. It didn't take long to find him, as he hadn't gone very far. He was pushing himself into a corner, his breathing staggered and his eyes red and puffy.

 

"Durose?" she asked tenatively. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

 

She didn't want him to be startled or to suddenly charge her. He obviously wasn't doing well...She stood by, ready for however he responded.

[Durose Roshan]

A little surprised to see her, Durose almost immediately melted as he felt a calm come over him accompanied by a warm smile. Moving up to hug her, he suddenly stopped himself. His eyeballs began to jitter rapidly as a flood of conflicting memories surfaced.

 

"H...i...," Durose closed his eyes for a second to decide on how he wanted to approach the situation. "It's good to see you," he finally said giving her a hug.

 

Releasing his embrace, Durose chose to begin with an appology.

 

"Were you in the bar just a moment ago? I'm... I'm sorry for that back there. I lost control. The poison seems to have left me with some personal issues. But I'm sure I'll sort them out. I... It's good to see you," Durose repeated himself with much warmth found in his voice.

 

Closing his eyes as he rubbed his palm against his forehead, a smile and a little chuckle overtook his mouth.

 

With a sigh of relief, Durose remarked, "You look lovely today, as usual. It's good to see a familiar face after all I've been through. Were you on your way to get a drink? Come on. I need something to loosen up, myself. A drink on me."

 

Durose awaited Brina's response.

[Lobo]

The guard wouldn't find any bugs. Lobo didn't like to use tracking devices. They were for weaklings. If he intended Zara harm, Lobo would have just attacked her right then and there.

 

"Alright, let's see it. What's the name of the Jedi it contacts?"

 

Lobo was trying to get serious now. If he got in contact with this Jedi, it would be the culmination of a lifelong dream.

[Zara Nargal]

((Can't blame a girl for being cautious... ))

 

Zara observed him carefully. She had a few of the Jedi comm numbers. Deciding on a course of action that might protect the parties involved and keep the Link in it's neutral position, she spoke,

 

"If you could tell me a message to send the Jedi, I will do so, giving them your contact details for them to contact you."

 

The one thing Zara didn't want to do was to get in the middle of a hit on one of them. She wanted to remain neutral, and she did have Jedi that were friends... one being more than a friend as the father of her youngest daughter. By giving the Jedi Lobo's contact details, it would be their choice to contact him by either open or encrypted means.

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

A sleek, knife shaped ship slides its way into the Link's docking bays, moving, slowly, easily reflective of its owners hesitancy. Bankrupt, out of options, but with a wily mind, Ganelon still had a final card to play to at least get him back on some footing. He would return to his homeworld and reclaim his estate again, he felt sure of it now, but for now he had to square things in the more civilized parts of the galaxy.

 

When he exits from his craft, he is well groomed and his threadbare clothes have been replaced with a finer looking set. At first glance there is no way anyone could suspect he was anything other than a wealthy nobleman. True enough at one time, but appearances and posturing were worth more than the reality here.

 

He boldly strides up to the casino entrance, noting whistfully the familiar sights. That was an exciting time for him, but alas fate dealt him a cruel hand (as he saw it). Still, he was hedging his bets on this last move and hopefully far from cashing in his chips.

 

At the entrance to the casino, he is stopped by a couple security guards. "You two," he begins imperiously, "please be so good as to tell Ms. Nargal that an old acquantance of hers wishes to speak to her. She'll recognize me on sight, but if she asks for a name, it's Lord Ganelon of House Bozel."

[Lobo]

"You can't be serious."

 

There was absolutely no way a Jedi would every agree to see Lobo no matter what he said. First, he was a bounty hunter, second some of his jealous detractors considered him insane, and third what he wanted to ask them could only be done in person.

 

"Look, I'm just going to come right out with it. A long time ago I was the apprentice of Aryian Darkfire. I need to find him again and resume my training. Now, if you tell a Jedi that, there's no way they'll help me. For one thing, they don't just take back those that flee the Order, even someone as awesome as me. I need to meet with one."

 

Lobo knew Zara was trying to be "neutral" or "cowardly" as he referred to it.

 

"What about if you just convince one of them to meet me here. Lie to them or something. Don't forget, the Link owes me."

[Brina Thalin]

She was surprised by the reception she got. She hadn't known what to expect, but him suddenly calming down and offering to buy her a drink was probably the last thing she could have guessed he'd do. Taken aback, she didn't know what to do.

 

"I...I don't know...Are you sure you're okay?" she asked finally. "Maybe you'd better just go back to your quarters and rest."

 

She didn't really know how to respond. His sudden mood swings were throwing her off-guard, and she didn't want another of them to take hold while they were in the bar, especially if he was going to drink alcohol.

[Durose Roshan]

Durose smiled, "I've been 'sleeping' for the last few weeks. Now that I'm finally out of my coma the last thing I want to do is sleep again. Plus... Plus, everything's ok now. I was confused... but now you're here, Bre. And everythings going to be just fine."

 

Pausing, Durose added, "Plus, I've missed out on being with you all this time I've been out. I'm sure there is much to catch up on. What better way to catch up than over a drink of slightly intoxicating liquid. I insist. After you..."

 

He motioned back in the direction of the bar entrance.

[Brina Thalin]

Brina shrugged. "Well, alright then..."

 

As he escorted her back to the cantina, she continued to puzzle over his behavior, but decided there was nothing to obsessing over it. Perhaps he had decided to start things off new again too, and Brina didn't mind that. They had both gotten off to a rocky start, and if they were willing to put aside the past and start again new, it could only be an improvment.

 

She sat down at the bar and ordered a Corellian ale.

[Zara Nargal]

Zara listened to him... thinking of how it could be arranged.

 

"I can send a message to have a Jedi come here. It's a neutral location so it's up to you and them what happens after you leave here. I'll just let them know that I have someone here to speak with a Jedi... and see if they can get this Aryian Darkfire to come here."

 

Composing a message, she sent it out to the couple of Jedi contacts she knew, using the internal comm unit and encrypting the message, having it bounced from place to place so that it couldn't be traced.

 

"There... hopefully soon they will send a representative."

 

"Excuse me Ms Nargal... there is a Lord Ganelon of House Bozel here to see you."

 

Zara raised her eyebrow, surprised that he would come to the Casino... wondering what he was up to now. Was he turning himself in? Or was it for another reason? She would have to find out.

 

"If you will excuse me Lobo. I'll have one of our Staff members show you to a room while you wait for the Jedi to show up."

 

She requested the staff member that had passed on the message to her to show Lobo to his room, then headed into the room Ganelon had been shown into... she observed him closely.

 

"I'm surprised you're here Ganelon. After you took off from the Last Call."

[Sabian]

What a coincidence. The long flight to the ever mobile complex never felt so nostalgic as he cornered the loaned Bespin Cruiser, shaped more in the ways of a bloated wamp rat then a delicate streamlined fighter, into port. She landed just the same, as slow as the vessel could go, and took up twice the average space of an average gambler's spot. Lucikly, as the man had exited, there was little to no notice taken by any of the casino's personelle. Quite releaved, the tall scruffy man took his leave and walked across the crosswalk to the inner sanctum of the casino's chambers.

 

At the door, they manual inspected the single briefcase he had; taking up any objects that warranted suspicion. A tube of gel, some arbitrary personal toilteres, and so forth, were all turned another to a blind eye. Flashing a smile in the direction of the officers who conducted the search, he clamped the suitcase shut once more and strode off further past the first hall and into the main gambling quarters.

 

As usual, noise and excitement seemed to fill the space between the long arched walls. Yet, there was a different atmosphere about it. Every turn of the head didn't keep with it the same streak of the average hoodlum. Much more catered and cultured folk took stay here, only about half even taking any risks with their stockpiles of credits. But this wasn't the time to remain idle and thinking about such matters.

 

The thin man, appearing in his early to late forties, adorned in a long flowing uniform of sorts, approached one of the staff members obviously observing the main hall. Slipping low the oval shaped shades below the bridge of his nose, his brillant blue eyes shown through the wrinkles, speaking in a much louder and lower tone to the foreground noise.

 

"Pardon me, but there is a select matter which I was called in to this exact location for. It's in regards to a certain bounty hunter's request. Please inform your boss that one of the members that was contacted has arrived and is anxiously looking for a room to stay in after a long flight."

 

Giving a quick wink and a satisified look of approval after the manager responded with haste, he settled down at the bar, taking the time left to wait in pondering about the atmosphere he was now drawn to yet again; this time for less conventional and honorable duties then the first diplomatic mission the man once named Sabian Devanus had done long ago. Although, they were just memories, not his own. This body, this face was anew, not dwelling on such trivial measures from the past. He would enjoy his time here and hopefully, with it, gain a steady job.

[Damon]

A com was returned to the link.

 

COM

-----

I am sorry but at this moment things are out of control. A rep will not be avaible for some time.

 

Damon.

------

COM

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Smoothing out his fine and newly purchased doublet, Ganelon does not meet Zara in the eye. "I was a bit under the weather at that moment and decided it would not be in my best interest to try negotiations with you then and there." He gives a faint half smirk, leaning back in his chair. "As it is, I'm finding it in my interest to do business in more settled parts of the galaxy again. You have no idea how hard it is to conduct legitimate business with a rather large bounty on your head." He gives a small pause, his orange, cat like eyes finally meeting Zara's. "Then again, you did operate while in Black Sun's radar, so maybe you can appreciate that. My initial offer still stands, conducting services with said organization and similar less desirable ones that the Link cannot afford to publically work with in exchange for you lifting the bounty that you placed on me, though I'm open to counter offers."

[Durose Roshan]

Durose took a seat next to her and ordered one Antakarian Fire Dancer. Finding some down time as they waited for their drinks to be poured and served to them, Durose turned to Brina.

 

"So how have you been? What have I missed?" I grin suddenly broke on his face, "Aside from you, of course. But really. I feel so lost. Almost as if I was in a coma for years. You and Zara manage fine without me?"

[Brina Thalin]

"You've missed a bit, but not much," Brina replied, ignoring his earlier comment. "Zara and I just got back from a meeting with Kal of the Black Sun at the Last Call. It was interesting. He claimed to be the leader of BS, then Piccolo showed up...and the others were acting a bit insubordinate to his leadership....and other things. Basically he couldn't make any promises that he would be sure of keeping, and he had to leave, so we decided to pick up negotiations at a later date."

 

She took a drink. "We'll see if anything comes of that."

[Durose Roshan]

As the drinks arrived, Durose took a sip of his fire dancer.

 

"The Black Sun suing for peace? It figures. Everyone always wants peace when they're in trouble. Too bad they didn't think about that before they decided to attack the jedi and get completely destroyed."

 

Durose laughed a little and shook his head as he took another taste of his drink.

 

"You ever tried a Fire Dancer?" He asked raising his glass. "I don't know. I might be a little strong for you if you can't hold your liquor. Still, it's definitely some good stuff."

 

His eyes hooked onto someone walking in the background as he drank some more.

 

Locking them back on Brina, Durose questioned, "Why does that name sound familiar? Kal? I could have sworn I've heard or read about that name before..."

[Brina Thalin]

She raised her eyebrows at the challenge in his voice regarding the Fire Dancer. She set down her unfinished ale and ordered one, then took a sip. It was potent stuff alright, but Brina had drunken worse in her days. After all, she had been a smuggler before joining up with the Link, although Durose surely didn't know that.

 

"It should sound familiar," Brina replied to his question. "Kal used to work for us, then betrayed us to the Black Sun, bringing Zara to be captured by Piccolo. Turned out he was working for them all along. That was when the history between Zara and Piccolo really got started."

[Zara Nargal]

The staff member nodded to the man and contacted Zara, finding out where the Bounty Hunter was. Having found out the Staff member then booked the accommodation for the man in the name he had been told and approached him with the print card for his room.

 

"The Hunter's name is Lobo and I believe he is over at the other bar still. I will take you to him now. Here is your print card to your room Sir. You just have to place your print here [he slid back the protective cover so that the print could be placed there] this will be recorded to your room so that you only have to put your print on the door pad to open the door. We find it is much easier than having people losing their keys.

 

Right this way Sir. Will there be anything else you require?"

 

 

Zara had received first one, then another of the messages from the Jedi. It seemed they were not in touch with each other. Regardless, she gave instructions to the staff member that had contacted her before she turned her attention back towards Ganelon. She would be civil with him and see how things panned out.

 

"If you hadn't of ripped us off like you did you wouldn't have had the Bounty placed on you. It was not a wise move you made."

 

She listened to his 'offer', tilting her head to the side as she regarded him.

 

"Do you also agree to work off your debt?"

[Durose Roshan]

Durose found some humor in her move.

 

"I like a woman up for a challenge, but I'd be careful. The Antakarian Fire Dancer is known for being a very potent drink that few human sentients can hold down. But alas, you've been warned." Durose laughed, "I remember the first time I tried it. Talk about buzzed. The hangover was what really got me. Fortunately, I don't have them as bad as the humans I know."

 

Durose paused, thinking back on the past, "The funny thing is, I found out about the drink through my past business deals. You ever been to Kothlis Starport? There is a bothan named, Dakkar. A topnotch information broker I might add. If you were looking for someone or needed information about something, Jaded Jawa bar was the place to go. Basically, you had to order an Antakarian Fire Dancer and ask your question. After paying his price upfront, you would wait for him to bring you a drink. Dakkar used the information datadisk as the drink coaster. If he had the information, he served you a glass of Ragnook spring water. Fortunately, for me at the time, he usually had the information."

 

Durose grinned before finally focusing back on the situation at hand, "But I appologize for boring you with irrelevant information. Count it as your history lesson of the day, I guess. The end of the story is, after having it enough times, I got used to it. Heh heh heh... it's definitely a specialty drink with one of those kicks that scares most people way. I imagine that's probably why Dakkar used it for his front. Still, it's definitely worth it. Good stuff..."

 

Durose drink a little more before continuing, "Yes, Kal. I knew I knew that name from somewhere. Sounded awfully familiar. Yes, he was quite the villain, wasn't he? From what I hear, though, he made quite an impression during his stay on the Link."

 

Durose smiled as Brina as he took another sip of his drink.

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

"My debt?" Ganelon asks wryly. "Certainly, that is easy enough in and of itself, presuming of course you mean the share that Black Sun entitled me for performing the job. While I usually receive credit for planning and executing the job, bare in mind none of it would have been possible without my backers in Black Sun offering the aid and materials to pull it off. My own take of the heist, no more, no less. That is more than fair, especially in light of the services some of my former comrades on that mission offered to expunge their debt." His pale blue lips draw back in a smile. "As for the terms of my work, no binding contracts. Payment gained for services rendered. I will also be more than happy to cut out that debt by funneling what liquid reserves I have left from my profits, the rest being... tied up... with my holdings on Seneferia."

 

The latter was more or less true. Following an ambitious bid that fell short on account of the nobleman's disposition for drinking, wenching, and other assorted vices, the Seneferian ruling Council, threatened by the wealth put forth by House Bozel to take over the planet ruled to seize his private holdings, his estate and all. Ganelon planned to correct this mistake when he had enough capital- probably hiring some mercinaries to rough up his former friends on the Council and gain influence through force to take back what was his. The details of this would be availible only to a Seneferian insider, and since that world was off most galactic charts, it really was none of Zara's damn business.

 

"So, my canny, connections, and skills applies against the appropriated share of the overall heist or what I'm able to funnel back to you. With my bounty lifted, I can get you an inside man with Black Sun or any other similar crime organization. As stated before," he admits candidly, "you still probably have little reason to trust me, but my back is against the wall insofar as doing business in this part of the galaxy is concerned, so you have my pledge as a nobleman of house Bozel that I will do my best to serve you."

[Zara Nargal]

"Your word as a nobleman?"

 

Privately to herself she thought that that wouldn't mean much... not from the reputation he'd shown.

 

"Before anything is decided. I think Brina should enter these discussions."

 

She nodded towards one of her security people who sent a message to Brina that her presence was requested in an interview with Lord Ganelon. (It would be up to Brina if she brought their Head of Security with her.) Zara wanted Brina's opinion in these discussions, figuring that between them the ... proper deal... could be worked out.

[Brina Thalin]

((OOC:....I think I'm going insane...I swear I posted this morning...I could even remember what I wrote... ))

 

IC:

 

The drink was powerful, but then again, Brina had grown used to powerful drinks in the past. She listened as Durose told his story. There were many information brokers around the galaxy, each with their own ideas and things they did to keep themselves amused.

 

"No, it's not a bad story. That kind of stuff goes on all around the galaxy, and it's always amusing to hear about the tricks people play on the ones coming to them for something," she replied. Just then her comm chirped. It was Zara, requesting her to come down for talks with Lord Ganelon. She raised an eyebrow. The man had followed them here? Perhaps what he had said in the Last Call had been more than the bumbling of a drunk. Perhaps he really was interested in having his bounty lifted.

 

She rose. "I have to meet with Lord Ganelon of Seneferia. Do you want to come, or stay and finish your drink?" she asked Durose.

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon's black pupils narrow, followed by a pervasive eye-roll. "Ms. Nargal..." he begins, his voice dripping with undisguised sarcasm. "If you cannot make a relatively simple decision like this on your own, your problems are worse than I initially thought." He sits up in his chair, his tone formal. The sarcasm is gone, replaced by a cold steel, though it still cannot escape the hint of rust from his past several months of hard drinking. "My first piece of advise: Be decisive. Trust Brina as an administrator, but do not rely on her as a crutch when you alone are given an offer. Trust your own senses when confronted with a new situation. Take action and stick to your guns. Bureaucracy can kill the best of organizations with its slow, dull knife. You are the one running this show, so it'd be a shame to see you thrust yourself on that bitter, poisoned blade."

 

The nobleman stands up, drawing himself up to his full, towering height at nearly seven feet. "Now, before Ms. Thalin arrives, consider my offer and make the decision on your own. Take it, or leave it."

[Durose Roshan]

Durose raised an eyebrow.

 

"Lord Ganelon of Seneferia, eh? Sound like he might be dangerous. I'm in. I'd hate to let me a good drink go to waste, though."

 

Rising from the table Durose gulped down the rest of his drink in one swig. Durose sat back down as he held his head for a few second.

 

"Wowee. Remind me never to do that again... Ok. Let's go see what's up."

 

As he headed for the exit, Durose suddenly paused, "Wait. Isn't that the guy we have the huge bounty on?"

[Sabian]

He took the device which, upon sealing with the end of his finger, would become his own room key. No less skeptical by the contract as any other, the man took a couple steps across the ornate floor before stopping dead in his tracks, emptying his hands into his pockets in a stiffened stance.

 

"The only thing else I would require of the Link is for a simple minded employee to merely point out where I can locate this man and nothing more. No escort, no survelliance whatsoever. Now, can you handle that much, lad?"

 

A steady, stern glance was all that was needed to further enduce the point. There was little time to spare and, when men grow older, their patience and trust seemed to wear thin as their hair. He was an example of both at that moment, even caressing the bit of his scalp that still had a thick tuff of hair before continuing his cold stare.

[Zara Nargal]

"What you may not be aware of is that Brina is now a full partner in the Link. Not just an Administrative assistant. And since this does involve her as well, she has every right to be involved in this. As for my senses... they tell me not to trust you one little bit. You backstab and betray as soon as change from rags to riches."

 

Zara's steel grey eyes narrowed as she stared up at him, every part the Dathomir Witch.

 

"Now if you want that Bounty lifted, you will sit down and shut up until she gets here. Do I make myself clear?"

 

The security staff moved to bar the doorway, eying Ganelon cautiously.

 

----------

 

The young lad bowed his head stepping a pace back.

 

"Yes Sir, sorry Sir. Won't happen again Sir. He is over there. The large man that acts like he's a superstar."

 

The young staff member backed away then to a position where he'd be available when called, otherwise unobtrusive."

[Lobo]

Meanwhile, the "large man that acted like a superstar" was entertaining a gathering crowd of Link patrons with his tales of heroism and triumph.

 

"So anyway, I was surrounded by a whole group of battle droids led by some Sith wannabe named Slicer in the midst of an Imperial base. I lied and said I wanted to be an Imperial, it's always how I get my bounties. The morons fall for it everytime. Once he figured out what was going on, you know when I punched him in the nose, he and his tin cans tried everything they could against me. They froze me, burnt me, beat me, and a lot of other things not appropriate for the ears of younger folks here. Suffice it to say, the great Lobo was not deterred. I took my hammer and BAM."

 

Lobo smashed a table in half.

 

"Knocked his block off. Oh and trust me, he did not die fast. It was slow and painful. Good times."

 

The crowd clapped in admiration, begging the bounty hunter to pose for pictures.

[Sabian]

After the thunderous applause, admist the cloud of rubble and spectators, the man who had been kindly directed to the bounty hunter's location now stood in his step, watching the crowd die down before making his way towards him. Underneath the veiled gaze of dark round spectacles, he approached the man of great stature directly, folding his arms infront of his chest with the crane of his neck lowering down slowly in a less then formal bow of the head.

 

"Quite the spectacle,'" Falling on the edge of old age and youth, his rugged appearance and toothy grin while he spoke always seemed to deter the latter. Grey stubbles of hair lined his chin and beard, falling down to the base of his neck, "Mister... Lobo the Great? Or was it the other way around? Hearing in my left ear ain't so good after a single rev of this one smuggler's hot-rod engine came whizzing past me, nearly blew out the 'drum inside and then some."

 

A hand extended from the long, loose sleeves worn from the fairly foreign attire. It was laced with red and yellow bands, thin yet enduring as it did not hide its wear very well, flowing as one full piece down his body, save the tie at the waist.

 

"Can I buy you a drink?"