Golden Link Casino

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon takes the time to read the contract. One of his green eyebrows rises at the repayment clause, his mind working fast and coming to only one conclusion. With a steady smirk, he signs the contract and slides it back over to Brina.

 

"If I'm not mistaken," he begins smoothly, placing his arms behind his head, "I believe we're in the clear." He gives a small, though still polite chuckle. "The terms there in required repayment to 'compensate' for the losses incurred in the robbery. Since that occured already from an outside source from what I heard tell..." he continues, refering to the insurance given to the Link from her usually silent partner. He watches Brina's reaction, sure he just got the best of this deal, but also careful too.

 

He lets this news sink in, then speaks up again. "As it is, that would still lift the bounty and the debt, but I would otherwise be without a penny or any sustainable job options." The smile draws back into a steady half-smile. "And in that regard I am still your man."

[Bad karma]

An unmarked, top of the line freighter enters real space fifty kilometers away from the Casino. The design of the ship seems to be a cross between several older models with the best features taken from them and put together. The pilot, Trowa, sits quietly in cockpit debating whether he should just eject Piccolo into space now or allow the Link to take him into custody. He wasn't even sure if they would want him, but after all the trouble he had caused them in the past”¦surely they would. Especially since he wasn't asking for a bounty, rather he just wanted the cybernetic freak off his hands.

 

He opened a line to the link”¦”

[ObliviousKnight]

It was rather ironic, Armiena mused, that a place so vivid in lights and energy could be so grey and dead in the Force. It was Armiena's first visit to the Golden Link Casino, and even though she had heard about its unique design, she couldn't help but freeze for a moment to gawk at its form from kilometers away. She was jarred out of her silent admiration by the voice of the station's traffic controller, who efficiently assigned her a landing corridor once she was identified as having an appointment with Ms. Nargal.

 

Just a few minutes later, Armiena was on board the station, completely juxtapositioned in her white Jedi robes. For once, it appeared that the Jedi Grandmaster didn't have a clue where to go next, and she was clearly uncomfortable, courtesy of the station's Force-nulling field.

 

((I'm hoping that you guys are watching the absent thread. I'd originally had planned to knock out Armiena in a freak accident (man that was a fun post to write, even though I'm not going to use it now), but when I found out that I would have at least a little access to the Internet, I decided to go ahead. Still, my activity isn't going to be exactly stellar.))

[Brina Thalin]

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes, we were insured for the damage. But the bounty was set for you to repay what you took personally from us. It doesn't matter that it didn't hurt us too much financially in the long run. The point is that the bounty won't be lifted until the money you stole is paid back by you."

 

She had half-expected something like this. Waiting for his response, she was notified by comlink that several people were trying to reach Zara. After the meeting, perhaps she would try to step in on Zara's behalf in some of the cases. Her partner couldn't talk to everyone at once.

[darth shadowlord]

The Grand Duke landed once more in the hanger bay of the Golden Link Casino and from it's depths stepped the Count Shadowlord. He had returned to see if he could aid Zara with her request to him.

[Lobo]

Lobo was very displeased at being held up here so long. He'd lost at least half his savings on gambling.

 

"Whatever. Look, the Jedi think isn't going to pan out. I need a new job. I know that some green skinned freak named Piccolo tried to kidnap you and your children once. So I have a plan. Let me become the bodyguard of your family."

 

Lobo held up his hand.

 

"I know what you are thinking. How could you have a celebrity as a bodyguard? It is strange scenario, but I think it can work."

 

Lobo picked up the drink she'd given him before thinking twice. He slid the glass back over to her. There was no doubt his offer was something Zara would be reluctant to take. He had to show some character.

 

"I don't drink anymore."

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

For a moment Ganelon's face turns completely unreadible, giving the room an uneasy silence. Then without warning, Ganelon breaks into laughter.

 

"Very well then, Ms. Thalin," he chuckles. "One can always hope though. Anyhow," he adds with some undisguised sourness, "I suppose this means we'll have to see about that wrist device. While that's being fitted, do you have any idea of what work I can do specifically?"

[Brina Thalin]

She offered him a small smile. "Well, once everything is set, I do think there is someplace you can start. We have recently signed a peace treaty with the Hutts, and as part of their side of the deal, we agreed to allow them office space at our main headquarters on Coruscant. I've been meaning to pay them a visit again and make sure they got all settled. I suppose you can start with that."

 

She rose and picked up the contract. "You'll be under the jurisdiction of Victoria, one of our employees. You can report to her, Durose, Zara, or I."

 

She held out a hand in the direction of the door. "If you will, I can escort you to the medical bay to get the wrist device fitted."

[Zara Nargal]

Zara looked at the drink that Lobo pushed back her way, her eyes showing slight confusion as he'd been drinking up until that point.

 

"Let me get you something else then... non alcoholic"

 

She picked up both glasses, moving over to the bar. Zara placed the glasses down on the bar, slipping her hand into her pocket to bring out a few credits, placing them on the bar. Before she gave the bartender the order for drinks, she listened to an internal comm message stating that the Leader of the Jedi had arrived. "Please bring a jug of juice over to the table, along with a few glasses."

 

She paged one of the other staff members to guide the Jedi Master to her location as she moved back to the table. She had been giving his ... request for employment a bit of thought.

 

"It is true that my family need guarding. I will have to give that a little more thought. As for the Jedi, one has just arrived at the Casino. I'm having her shown here before I meet with her privately. I'm sure we could arrange for you to speak with her also."

 

The comm announced another message, one that a ship was waiting to be given permission to dock. The message was from an associate of Barton's company. She sent permission for the ship to dock in one of the more secure areas and for some guards to be sent to meet them. She sent another message to Brina with regards to that as well.

 

--

 

A staff member approached the Jedi Master. "Welcome to the Golden Link Casino Master Jedi. If you would like to come with me, I will take you to Ms Nargal. She is currently in one of the Lounge areas with one of our... celebrity guests." The staff member then proceeded to lead Armiena to where Zara and Lobo were sitting.

 

--

 

edit to add what I missed before:

 

Another staff member approached the Count. "Welcome back to the Golden Link Casino Count Shadowlord. We have your room ready for you Sir. If you would like to come with me. Ms Nargal is currently detained with several meetings so couldn't greet you herself." He was led to the same rooms he had been in previously. "Is there anything else I could do for you Sir?"

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon smiles. "Ah, dealing with the Hutts, and on Coruscant no less. Not often do you hear about them operating outside of the outer rim, much less in territory traditionally occupied by Black Sun." The smile dours. "Of course, we're also a long way from the days of Diasaku and Whyl ruling each with an iron fist that even the Empire feared. This will be interesting to say the least."

 

Ganelon rises, smoothing down his suit. "My Huttsees isn't the best since I usually worked the Inner Rim and Galactic Core. I'm thinking," he adds. "More so than just a wrist device, can you do anything resembling a stripped down protocol droid? Also, if you can add the proper firewalls, any chance of using the signal on it to establish either a direct line with data you would feel comfortable with me having access to, or establishing a direct line with you or Zara? Well we can work out the details en route to the medical bay. After you, madam."

[Brina Thalin]

She listened to his proposal as they walked. "I'm sure something could be arranged. A direct line to my comlink is definately possible. As for the protocol functions, I think we could incorporate our customer databases into it, as well as a few less-classified files on who our allies are, et cetera."

 

They made their way to the med bay, where the doctors were waiting. Brina quickly explained the peramiters of the device to them, and they presented Ganelon with a device. It could be clipped on, worn on the wrist, or implanted, and was small enough to fit under the skin if he so desired.

 

"It appears that they are ready when you are, Lord Ganelon," Brina said. "If you don't have any more questions, I shall leave you to your session and assignment."

[darth shadowlord]

Draken sat in the Starview Restaruant in the Golden Link Casino. He sat in a back corner, looking out the rear viewport at the stars. In his hand was a glass of red wine.

[Bad karma]

Trowa received permission to dock as he had expected. He adjusted the ship so that it was moving in the proper direction and little more then five minutes later he touched down inside the docking bay. He didn't quite lower the ramp just yet though, rather he moved to the back of the ship. In the cargo hold were several crates of various clothes for all sorts of shapes, sizes, and occasions.

 

After a few minutes of form alteration, he selected a form fitting, sleeveless blue top and a pair of slightly looser black pants to go with the pair of goggles just above his eyes. They were the sort of goggles one wears on the planet of Tatoonie during the dust storms. His skin tone fit what one would expect from the plant as well. Already he was growing bored with this entire scenario, so he hoped to be gone from this place as quickly as possible.

 

The ramp lowered, with the Tatoonie man leading a hover cart down that had a large form bound in some sort of silk. The silk extended from the man to the side of the cart, being stuck to it in various places giving the illusion that it was some sort of spider silk, but surely using so much of such a thing just to bind a man would be very cost inefficient and time consuming. He let the cart hover at the bottom of the ramp as he approached one of the workers.

 

”œDa' name's Tak, got a delivery for Zara. She's gonna like dis' one, but I've been informed to insure that she comes to receive this gift personally. Make it quick too, cause I ain't gotz a lot of time. Ya hear?”

[Guest]

Azure eyes swept across the crowded bar. The stars illuminated dimly the tables and chairs. Her gaze kept going flowing over the recesses and the nooks and crannies where a few couples were cuddling and some business deals were being brokered. It was the perfect place for clandestine meetings.

 

A half smile crossed her face as her mind went over the fashion show. It was one of her best. The flourish of fabric and the rainbow of color had impressed the audience. The gasps of pleasure had sent tingles down her spine. Serena had known it was going to be good, she didn't know how she knew and she couldn't back up her feelings. But she knew that this line was going to be a hit.

 

Seating herself at a table in the middle of the restaurant, she pressed herself into the back of the chair and crossed her legs showing the flesh of her legs as they cut through the slit in the side of her skirt. Her toes tucking under the bottom leg; slowly she continued to look around the room.

 

She was about to signal the bartender for her usual when a presence neared her from her left. Serena turned her head to see a gentleman with black hair and unusually dark eyes. ”œIs there anything I can help you with?”

[Zara Nargal]

The Staff member nodded his head towards Tak, his eyes scanning the cart. He took in the unusual silk bindings that held the large form to the cart.

 

"I'll inform her immediately Sir."

 

A message was sent to Zara with regards to the "special delivery" in the secured hanger bay.

 

Receiving the message, Zara found herself intrigued at what it could be that was being delivered to her by Barton's company.

 

"Please excuse me a moment Lobo. There is something I must see to. I will be back soon."

 

She signaled for the barman to take care of anything that Lobo may wish for while she was busy elsewhere, and to take care of the Jedi Master Drago once she arrived as well. Zara then made her way down to the secure hanger. Arriving at the hanger with her were a detachment of security guards.

 

"I believe you have something for me Sir?"

 

*******************

 

Seeing the woman that had just entered the restaurant, the head waiter gathered up a bottle of vintage wine, waiting until she had seated herself before approaching her.

 

"Excuse me Ma'am. Please accept this Dathomirian Vintage wine in honor of your Fashion Show, compliments of the Golden Link Casino. Ms Nargal was very impressed and would like to meet with you later. If there is anything you need, please ask."

 

The waiter bowed to both the Count and the woman, then left the table, seeing to his other duties.

[Durose Roshan]

Durose was pleased to see that the "gentleman" had decided to be civil and agree to wear the device. It would aid in their tracking of him as well as assure protection of their investments. Needless to say, Durose took special care when readying the device. He wanted to make sure that there would be no way to disable the device short of sending 50,000 volts of electricity through his body. While putting the finishing security protocols, encryptions, and such on the device, Durose paged Victoria.

 

A few minutes later, Victoria entered. Durose glanced up.

 

"What wrong? You look a little depressed."

 

"I don't look that bad. I'm just a little sad that Procs took off."

 

"Procs took off, did he?"

 

"Yeah. He had other business to attend to, I guess."

 

"Ah. So now you have no one to bug?"

 

Victoria slapped Durose across the shoulder.

 

Durose laughed a little as he responded, "Ow. Hey. What was that for?"

 

"You know exactly what that was for. Trying to say I'm a nuisance or something."

 

"Hey. I didn't say all that. Now you're putting words in my mouth. All I said was that you have no one to bug now... in a good way, of course."

 

Victoria give Durose a look before shifting the direction of the conversation.

 

"So what did you want?"

 

"Actually, I have someone new for you to...uh... watch over."

 

"Who?"

 

"I don't remember his name. Some lord guy. A very dangerous fellow judging by his past."

 

Victoria got a little excited, "A Lord? What is he like? One of those rich gentlemen type?"

 

"Something like that."

 

"Is he cute?"

 

Durose glanced up from his work to give Victoria a look.

 

"Well, that's hard to say seeing as I don't judge guys. Nor do I have any interesting in doing so any time in the foreseeable future."

 

Victoria rolled her eyes, "Well, I bet he at least knows the correct way to treat a woman."

 

"Calm down, missy. Just because he's some Lord doesn't mean he's suddenly your sugar daddy or something."

 

"Wow. I wasn't talking about that. I was refering to your rudeness. You're unbelievable sometimes, you know that."

 

"I'm just saying. Just because he's rich doesn't mean he knows how to treat a woman, and any treats he has better be kept wrapped up because this is not one of those business with pleasure kind of assignments."

 

Victoria give him a disgusted look and rolled her eyes.

 

"Ha ha ha. You're so funny." Victoria replied sarcastically.

 

Durose responded with a laugh.

 

"I know. Only I'm not joking."

 

Turning from the device, Durose faced Victoria, "Listen. He's a dangerous man. I have no doubt he will play you if you give him the chance. A man like him is a manipulator. He is devious and not trustworthy. I don't care if he was the Alliance President and the head Jedi master. He's scum and he's trouble. I know you can handle this job and that's why I'm giving it to you. I'm trusting you to do the right thing. Understand?"

 

With a more morbid expression, Victoria nodded her head slightly to the side in agreement. Walking towards the other end of the room, Victoria glared at a few of the equipment devices. Touching them and pressing buttons, Victoria suddenly looked back at Durose who is putting the finishing touches on the device.

 

"It's still my life, you know. I'm plenty more than a big girl. I can take care of myself. I don't always need you looking over my shoulder. Really."

 

Durose slightly moved his head enough for his eyes to look back in her direction before he returned his glance to the device in front of him. Instead of responding, he ignored the comment and continued working. Meanwhile, Victoria found herself a seat and sat down. Waiting silently, the two awaited the Lord Ganelon's arrival.

 

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait very long. Within a few minutes, Ganelon entered accompanied by Brina. By this time, Durose had already finished the security modifications. Approaching the two alongside the doctors, Durose motioned for Victoria to follow suit.

 

Nodding to Ganelon, Durose added, "This is my assistant, Victoria. She will be accompanying you on your assignments for the time being."

 

Stepping forward, Victoria gave a respectful nod and then a little smile.

 

Sticking out her for a handshake, Victoria chimed, "Nice to meet you, sir. As Durose said, I'm Victoria."

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon waits patiently as they snap on the device that ultimately seals his fate to the Link. In the back of his mind he thinks of a few ways he could remove it, and times where it might even be necessary, but he knew that his fortunes and future were once again tied to the Link. Betrayal was absolutely out of the question.

 

His orange, cat like eyes view Durose and a lady whom he can only guess to be the Victoria that Brina mentioned. Internally, Ganelon's mind starts spinning fast. As Durose aptly warned her, this Lord was a bad individual. While not dangerous (in part owed to his cowardice and his skills lying at something other than fighting), he was devious and full of vice. Drinking and gambling were now secondary in his mind.

 

Never the less, he remains calm and steady, as would fit a Lord of his stature. He takes the time to inspect the device on his wrist adn try out a few buttons. He gives a faint smile, at least admiring its functionality. Rising from his seat, he turns, appraising Victoria up and down in a slow, dignified manner. Instead of taking her hand, he gives a formal bow.

 

"Ssi' ssi' harkagua ssi narg'toth. Bozel ahght Ganelon ssi'."

 

The words come out in a low hiss per the Seneferian tongue, though with surprising strength and determination.

 

"In Basic, it roughly translates I am Lord Ganelon of House Bozel, at your service by my debt of blood and honor." He shakes her hand, then ttaps the device on his wrist. "Our next stop should be Mos Eisley on Tatooine and from there by speeder to the Hutt Palace. Will we be taking your ship, or mine?"

[Durose Roshan]

Victoria returned the bow as she looked at the Lord curiously.

 

"Nice to meet you, my lord," she replied respectfully with a hint of tease at the end. "I guess we can take yours. I actually had all my things pack and ready for another assignment that didn't pan out so I'm ready to go whenever you are."

 

Looking at Durose and then back at the Lord, Victoria shook her head, "I swear. How do I always get teamed up with giants. I feel like a midget."

 

Durose grinned and replied with a little chuckle, "That's because you are."

 

Victoria glared at him before rolling her eyes, "Not like you can talk now. He's at least half a foot taller than you. Who's short now!"

 

Durose laughed.

 

"No. He's just tall. You're still short."

 

Looping her arm around his, Victoria stuck out her tongue at Durose.

 

"Whatever, Durose. Come on, Lord Ganelon. Let's leave the rude person to think about his words."

 

Durose just chuckled a little and shook his head. As the two walked away, Durose turned to Brina.

 

"So what do you think? Think he'll do right by us this time?"

 

Heading for the door, Victoria couldn't help but ask, "I love the hair. Is your hair naturally green?"

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon feels an indignant lurch in his stomach, not being out of ear shot of Durose's question. Gritting his teeth, he forces himself to smile as he answers Victoria's question, mentally swearing some small payback for that insult- nothing to jeorpardize his position at the Link, but a small, subtle humiliation if he could muster one.

 

"It's a racial trait," he states, giving his thin, shoulder length green hair a toss. "Though I have to say despite what I know of humans, your hair looks perfectly natural, and almost dare I say a match for the color of a Seneferian's skin." At this, Ganelon rubs a gloved hand down the very smooth and almost fine scales on his handsome face. At first glance one would not even realize he had scales, but normal flesh per the norm for most other mammals.

 

Making his way to the docks, the willowy nobleman finds himself rather focused, almost as much as when he last served as a chief factor for the galaxy's biggest commercial enterprise. Still, he finds the time to elaborate on typical Seneferian characteristics, partially for the sake of small talk, and in his own mind, bridge building for future endeavors.

 

"We're a rather insular species, usually divided among various faction lines in our own muddled internal politics and bloodlines. We can trace our ancestry back to some sort of amphibious creature that evolved out of our homeworld and that no doubt shows," he adds, posing in his almost frilly, high collared overcoat. "Of course there are some that view are race as a kind of offspring of the Falleen or even Chiss given our appearance and similarities between the two. This is absurd though as we're probably smarter than either of them put together." This last part was probably not true, especially given exemplars of each of those races such as Thrawn and Xizor, but one can also add a mild ethnocentrism to the nobleman's flaws. "But." he adds, "such a charming creature as yourself no doubt realized that from the go."

 

Being a gentleman, particularly where what he thought was an unnattached lady involved, Ganelon helps Victoria into his craft first, then takes off into hyperspace. The destination: Tattooine.

[Brina Thalin]

Brina made a face. "Don't be rude, Durose."

 

She waited until they had left, then turned to him. "We'll see what happens. That's all I can say."

 

She checked her comm. It seemed the man with Zara's "gift" had arrived, and it gave Brina an idea. "Durose, I think this gift Zara is being given might be interesting. I don't know about dangerous, but I suppose you can never tell. Why don't you join her?"

 

She paused, checking the status of new arrivals in the main computer. She could talk to some of them if they would talk to her instead of Zara. There was the Count, the Jedi Master, Lobo, and this delivery man.

[Bad karma]

”œYous Miss Nargal, I'm assuming.”

[Zara Nargal]

Zara felt uneasy, her eyes going between 'Tak' and the prisoner. It felt like the environmental systems were on the blink as she felt the moisture in the air. Silently she sent a message to the Control room to have the environmental systems checked over. Something wasn't right, she just couldn't place what it was.

 

"Over Naboo you say?"

 

She caught the datapad, checking the document before putting a signature and throwing the datapad back to him.

 

"You might want to warn your boss that there's a substantial bounty on his head. As we've had dealings in the past, if he needs somewhere to lie low for a while, tell him to contact me."

 

The security detachment that had come with her had their weapons trained on the cart with the prisoner. Zara kept a hand close to one of her weapons, though currently didn't draw it. She could in a split second however. It 'felt' like Piccolo. She didn't trust him even if he was bound and strapped to a cart. After all of their history, she had every right to feel wary.

[Ary the Grey]

Armiena's comlink recieved a message, to be viewed at her leisure.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo had said nothing during the entirety of his imprisonment. He was torn between rage at Trowa Barton and anger at his own stupidity. The situation was embarassing. He had of course tested his restraints as often as he could. But there was no escape. He would have to wait for Zara and hope he could trick her into showing leniency.

 

So basically I'm doomed.

 

As Piccolo was wheeled before Zara Nargal, he tensed up. He couldn't see her of course, in his position, but he caught her scent. It brought back many memories. Piccolo rarely had a personal animosity toward his enemies. But with Zara, there was no denying he had greatly enjoyed torturing her. That made it almost a certainty she would repay his deplorable acts ten fold. It was not a pleasant thought. Resigned to his fate, Piccolo did not bother to try to break free anymore. He listened to the conversation between Tak and Zara.

 

There's something off about this Tak fellow's tone.

 

Piccolo's reliance on his senses left him with a sensitivity to such things. He could also sense the shift in the air. It was similar to how Trowa had froze him on Naboo. Piccolo had been able to feel the same iincrease in moisture. It didn't take a genius to figure out Trowa was probably affecting this area with his power. But he couldn't be sure. Trying not to get his hopes up, Piccolo carefully jerked his wrist as slightly as he could. The webbing snapped. Piccolo did not move again. By now Zara had sensed something was off, but he still needed to play this out appropriately. If he stood up guns drawn, he would be taken down in seconds. He wasn't sure if this was a fluke or part of Trowa's plot. It would make sense to keep him in the dark given Zara's Force abilities and Piccolo's inability to shield his thoughts from her. But until he had confirmation, he had to assume he was alone.

 

In a den of lions.

 

Zara was so close now. If he was going down, she would certainly not survive either. That was of great comfort. Piccolo heaved himself up, the webbing snapping away. He rolled to the right, taking stock of the situation in a brief glimpse of those gathered in front of him. It was not good. With one arm, Piccolo gripped the side of the hovercart just as he fell off. His Doshan strength pulled the cart over on its side, swinging it between him and the blaze of blaster shots that were surely coming his way. The hunter lifted it with both arms now, and threw the cart with all his might toward Zara's soldiers.

[Bad karma]

The walls around the doors began to move as if they were liquid being held in place by an unseen force. In a blatantly supernatural way they began to move towards the center of the wall and form large hooks and other jagged blades. Trowa did not bother attempting to move away from the area he and Piccolo inhabited when the hunter burst up, rather he waved his hand and sent just over half of the soldiers flying backwards only to be impaled upon the very real objects on the wall.

 

The scent of blood was in the air, but this was not his fight. Piccolo had neglected to specify just how much help he wanted in capturing Zara and so now Trowa would take his leave. Before the first blaster could fire his muscles were pumping; carrying him down the hallway as fast as the force and his genetically altered form would allow.

 

He had appreciated Zara's offer to allow him to hide out here, but Trowa hid from no one. A whisper upon the force was carried back to Piccolo. It was a fiendish chuckle that carried Trowa's amusement with it. If he was any sort of man, Piccolo would find a way out of this, but his death could not be ruled out since he was on the women's territory.

 

His form faded and he silently boarded a cargo freighter that had just dropped off some supplies and was leaving the system. He only just boarded when the ramp was lifted, almost catching the tail end of his shirt in it. Once in hyperspace he would make his presence known and commandeer their ship, preferably the easy way but as always he was not above using force.

[ObliviousKnight]

As Armiena was guided through the glittering main hall of the Casino, the Jedi Grandmaster suddenly began to gather a feeling that something was entirely not right about the whole situation. Worse, when the helpful aide showed her to a bar where the head of the Casino was supposedly waiting for her, the fact that she was no longer present only helped to reinforce her instinctive suspicion.

 

Sighing, Armiena ordered a bottle of a highly potent liquor and turned her attention to the aide again.

 

"Boss... is a little bit late, I guess?" Her comlink began trumpeting an old love song, indication that her fiance was trying to reach her, but she slapped it down. Granted, it was a bit rude of her, but under the circumstances, she had a hunch....

[Zara Nargal]

Her spine tingled with the awareness that something was very wrong, that she was in danger. Her hand clutched around her weapon, beneath her robe though still unseen as to what she held. Her eyes darted from Tak towards the cart to see Piccolo rolling off it, pulling it with him. She drew her weapon, diving for cover behind some metal crates as she saw firstly half her security detachment force pushed and impaled on the wall by weapons that weren't there previously, and others being hit with the cart that Piccolo threw. Zara knew Control Security would be watching everything going on within the Hanger on the security systems and would send reinforcements, though that wasn't any comfort for her right then.

 

She caught sight of Tak... no... the way he used the force against her people it had to be Trowa ... run from the hanger. She sounded the alert, calling more security to her location and for them to lock down the Hangers until the current crisis was dealt with. Zara knew she would have to face Piccolo, here, now. The remaining guards fired on him, taking cover where they could, the injured and dying making it sound more like a battleground than a Casino's Hanger. The turret lowered from it's hatch in the ceiling, tracking Piccolo's movements.

 

"Surrender Piccolo or face certain death."

 

Having regained her composure, Zara emerged warily from behind some metal crates, her hand holding her saber hilt. She was close enough to dive for cover if she needed to and she had other weaponry on her she could use. For once she was relieved that she hadn't gone to her apartments when she'd first gotten back from hers and Brina's last trip to get changed, having been going for a drink that never happened. She still had her Dathomirian armor and her weaponry on and had thrown the robes over them to cover what she'd been wearing. The woman's grey eyes were stormy as she looked upon the man that had kidnapped her previously and kept coming after her. Why did he keep up with this vendetta? ... this fixation he seemed to have with her? Just because she wouldn't give in to Black Sun's demands for protection payments... he kept coming after her and her children. She really wanted to know why. One thing she did know was that her children were safe and protected.

 

 

---

Another staff member approached the Jedi Master, stating that Zara had been called to the hanger to 'receive a gift' and that she shouldn't be long. Not long after this message had been passed on, the staff of the Casino began to covertly examine all within the lounge area. The doors were guarded with droids and sentients alike incase of more trouble. A security guard approached the Jedi Master, "Excuse me Ma'am. We have just had word that Ms Nargal has run into trouble down at the Hanger Bay. It appears she was drawn into a trap. Security footage show that a man was seen running from the Hanger, though escaped somehow. Ms Nargal is still in the Hanger and the Bounty Hunter Piccolo is loose. We've lost nearly all of the security detachment that was with her. Master Jedi, would you be able to help us?"

--

Brina and Durose were also alerted of what was going on in the secured hanger by Security.

 

 

((unless you want this done another way, modded duel?))

[Brina Thalin]

Brina, having decided to go meet with the Jedi Master, had just reached the appointed meeting place when her comm buzzed. Raising her eyebrows, she checked it...and when she saw it was from security, she didn't even have to look at the message. The Jedi could wait. After all, they did proclaim patience to be one of their strengths.

 

Brina did an about-face and headed at a run for the hanger, checking the power levels on her blaster as she did. She hadn't gotten the chance to remove it from her person when they arrived, and the owners of the Casino were the only ones allowed to remain armed besides the security personelle.

 

As she entered the hanger, she stayed back to assess the situation. Blaster fire was flying, and Piccolo was in the middle of the hanger in a rage. Zara was crouched behind some crates, and Brina could tell all of her Dathomirian training was coming back to her full throttle. She caught the glimpse of something moving near the cargo freighter that had delivered the "gift", but when she looked again, there was nothing, and the ramp was raised. Not that it would do the ship any good to leave. When the security systems were activated, there was an immediate lockdown on all ships. No one would enter or leave the Casino until the security systems were deactivated and the situation under control--something only the top clearance could allow.

 

There was also a bunch of odd, shadowy things along the walls. Brina had no idea what they could possibly be, but decided they couldn't be good. For good measure, she accessed the nearby terminal and put up force fields around all the walls. It was a measure meant for hull breaches, and Brina only hoped they'd stop whatever shadow creature things they were.

 

As she waited, she was joined by a large group of reinforcements. She gathered them into formation around her, and marched out in the hanger.

[Piccolo]

Trowa had betrayed him, but not in the way Piccolo had expected. He had not fulfilled his end of the bargain. He had merely thrust Piccolo into the depths of the Casino, with no hope of surviving. Trowa intended for Piccolo and Zara to throttle each other.

 

I'm no one's trained monkey lizard. I don't fight for the amusement of any self-important Sith.

 

Piccolo took cover behind one of the ships in the hangar. He pulled his blaster pistols. Zara was within his grasp. But that did not have the appeal it did upon his arrival. Piccolo would only take her down with him if he had to. He would rather let Zara live if it meant his own survival.

 

Trowa Barton is back on the list.

 

Piccolo's mechanically filtered voice echoed in the hangar.

 

"I have no intentions of surrendering Zara Nargal."

 

Piccolo took a few poorly aimed shots at the remaining guard to keep them from getting courageous.

 

"But I have no desire to kill you right now either. It is your fault I am here, after all. You keep this feud open with that silly bounty. Call off your dogs, and we will talk. Or if you prefer, we can both kill each other here. I will be satisfied in either case."

 

Piccolo had a clear line of vision to the exit. He wasn't sure if anyone could get through after Trowa's Sith wizardry. But just in case, he had enough explosives with him to stop any advance. This was between him and Zara alone.

[Zara Nargal]

Projecting her order to her people with the Force as well as verbally, Zara called for a cease fire. She kept her saber ready to block any blaster bolts sent her way, though stepped out further, still very cautious and ready to dive back to relative safety if need be.

 

"You threaten me and my children, kidnapped me, and expect me not to take action because of it? It is you that continue the feud. Just what is your problem? Just because The Link wouldn't play Black Sun's protection payments game...? Or do you have another reason to keep after me?"

 

Zara had her children to think of... she didn't want to leave them motherless. She would protect them with every fiber of her being, but hoped that it wouldn't come to that.

 

((OOC: Trowa's gone, left on another freighter in a different hangerbay just before the lockdown. The one they are currently in, contains only the ship that they came in on, being that it was suggested to be in a 'secure hanger area'. Hopefully this can be worked out without a duel... too much on atm for that))