To walk among the clouds

[Ezra]

Ezra’s ship the Empress Marva traveled along the hyperspace corridor towards its destination of Cloud City on Bespin. The time spent on getting there was not unusually quiet, being the only occupants on board had just met not too long ago on Corellia. Ezra let Maddox, as she called herself move about unhindered through out the ship as he busied himself with normal routines.

He did take breaks here and there to get better acquainted with his new friend. Couldn’t go into some “hot” zone, if there were any with someone you barely knew. The trust factor just wouldn’t be there. And Ezra was among the best at not trusting people. Oh, he went along with this adventure, but trust was being worked on. Back on Corellia, it was the situation they found themselves in that coerced the two into a mutual aiding for them to get free of what fell onto their shoulders. And with each break he took, Ezra found himself giving a little more trust to his companion of the moment.

Before the ships arrival, Ezra took a moment to contact Alexi on a private channel to say hello. She missed him as well as he missed his little girl. But both knew it would be much longer till his return. A few minutes of conversation and it was back to the ship.

The beeping on the nav-com let Ezra know it was time. Calling out, he informed Maddox of their scheduled arrival. “One minute to system.”

Returning to his pilot chair, Ezra slipped on a headset and began preparing for jump back into normal space. Counting down to himself, Ezra hit the button that blurred the silver vortex in the main view port and brought back the pinholes in the black fabric of space. The planet loomed ahead as Ezra guided it in. “This is the transport Empress Marva on approach vector. Requesting permission to land.”

A disembodied voice came through the headset. “This is Cloud City Control to Empress Marva, state your business with us.”

Ezra responded in kind and timely manner. “Refueling and purchase of supplies.” After a brief silence, the voice came back. “We read your transponder ID and have verification. Permission granted Empress Marva, proceed to landing pad forty-five.”

Changing course, Ezra ended the chatter with… “ Acknowledge landing coordinates, and we thank you Cloud City Control.”

After touching down, Ezra dropped the ramp so both could head out to the destination Maddox had come to mind.

[Bambi Maddox]

Maddox had done a routine service on her bike, helping herself to oil and tool supplies in Ezra's stock and using them without restraint. In fact, she'd pocketed a particularly nice hydrospanner she'd taken a fancy too, doubting very much the dark, well-spoken pilot would even miss it.

Speaking of whom, she peeked sideways at Ezra as he climbed up on the back of her bike. He was a friendly enough fella. Kinda nice, as far as loner types go. He'd piqued her curiosity when he'd snuck off to call some dame back on...wherever the heck he hailed from. She had been unable to hear the conversation, but Ezra had that far-away look about him when he'd finished the call.

Maddox had caught a name -- Alexi -- but that was all.

"We'll stop at Cloud 9, if thats alright with you." Maddox announced, revving the bike and making that loud zingging noise she was so fond of. "They got awesome nerf-steaks there. Last one I had, was so fresh, I swear it was still bleeting as it went down"

[Ezra]

Ezra settled down behind the woman who waited on the speeder bike to disembark from the ship. Making sure he had what he usually carried, Ezra tapped her shoulder to let Maddox know he was ready. Cloud nine? A bar no doubt, but interesting all the same. Living a secret life as a courier for paying clients gave him little chance to venture forth and see what was out there other than a paying fare or transport job. Of course being a single father wasn't much of a help either. One couldn't traipse around the galaxy in dives such as bars with a youngling in tow.

"Cloud nine it is then." Ezra answered. He didn't mind stopping at all, and the mention of food made it all the better. Ezra was hungry for real substance and not kriffing rations."Fresh nerf-steaks? Now that you've mentioned that, I may enjoy this." The revving of the engine gave him the notion they were ready to take off. Making sure his grip was secure, Ezra waited for the lurch that was sure on its way.

[Bambi Maddox]

They arrived at the bar and grill, and Maddox counselled Ezra to try not to look suspicious. She strode inside in her typical style and if anyone knew the meaning of a low-profile, Maddox was not among them, however much she might consider that she did.

She slid onto a stool at the bar, her long legs making the little "hop" unnecessary as she sat, but "hopped" she did, nevertheless.

Ezra slid less conspicuously onto the stool beside her.

"So..." she grinned at him, "Whats your poison?"

[Ezra]

Ezra was definitely a man who knew how to keep things on the down low. Shifting his belt as they entered the establishment so his modified blaster hung a bit lower. It tended to help with undesirables who wanted to start trouble to keeping it away from him, as well as did well for his force retrieval if the situation called for a very quick draw.

The look Ezra kept on his face spoke of " If you don't want trouble, keep walking." Slowly sliding onto the stool next to Maddox, Ezra rested his elbows on the bar top as he steepled his fingers together. Tipping his head to glance at Maddox, She was grinning at him as she asked. "So.... What's your poison?"

Ezra returned her grin with one of his own as his arms now moved downward to fold onto one another. "Me?" His eyebrow lofted as he thought for a moment. Then one drink came to mind as he remembered someone ordering it at one place he'd been too before. "I'll have an Afterburner." All Ezra recalled about it was that the bartender mixed three maybe four different alcohols together. Eh, why not he thought. Might be tasty.

Being a man in hiding, Ezra had the knack to survey his surroundings without looking like he was. And at the very moment he was doing just that after answering Maddox. So far, it appeared to be your normal pub of socializing. though even Ezra himself knew that appearances could be decieving.

[Bambi Maddox]

"Afterburner" well, that sounded good. "Two o' those barkeep" she ordered with a broad smile. Maddox was in good spirits and it showed.

"See anyone interesting?" she inquired of Ezra who was nochalantly scoping the joint out. Bambi swivelled on her rump and took a more blatant approach, looking the crowd over quite openly. "I could use a little diversion" she said, "been a long trip, wouldn't you say?"

[Ezra]

The two small glasses were placed before the two. Enough to hold at least eight shots by the look of it. Multi-colored liquid mixed among itself as it consisted of five different liquors since Ezra watched the barkeep create the concoction. As Ezra picked up the glass, Maddox had spun around to face the crowd. Ezra noticed she was in a good mood, and it seemed to rub off on him as well as he smirked to her question.

Looking over his shoulder, Ezra had noticed a few things as well as seen into a few open minds. "Well, that all depends on what type of distraction you'd like."

Taking a sip of the drink, Ezra's eyebrows scrunched at the bite it had. "Mmm, good drink." The smuggling Jedi commented as he took a glance at the glass in hand. Half-way turning in his chair, Ezra found one thing possibly worth getting their hands into. " To the right in the corner....a sabbac game going on, high stakes.... enough credits to purchase a small ship.... but the Rodian pilot is cheating." Ezra explained as he took another sip of the alcohol beverage. "We could, take in a game and see if we can make a little comfort money off of him." If she decided to let that be the distraction, Ezra had a plan in mind to teach the Rodian a lesson in deceiving.

[Bambi Maddox]

Sabaac -- a game familiar to Maddox in theory, but not so much in practice. Her former life, prior to that of an assassin, was as a dancer in many clubs and bars where sabaac was a staple. She often caught the eye of a 'winner' of the tables who, flush with creds, would often be looking for an excuse on whom to spend it. Maddox was happy to oblige enjoying free drinks and big tips from an easy mark.

But as to the playing - she was less astute. And Ezra's proposition was just intruiging enough to have her accept his offer. Lets just say, an education in any area was never a waste, and she raised her glass in agreement, "Lead the way, handsome"

[Jonas T. Remkah]

Remkah drew deeply on his cigarette, squinting his dark eyes at his cards through the curling grey smoke.

What a crap hand.

He exhaled through his mouth and both nostrils, wreathing his cards in turbulent swirls of acridity, and looking like a grim dragon seated in restrained stillness.

The shift pulse emitted and the Mistress of Staves changed her value to negitive in his hand.

A double-crap hand.

He noticed the rodian opposite him stiffle a short smile.

<i>One of these days,</i> Jonas thought to himself, <i> he really outta quit this game..</i>

[Ezra]

Watching the game, Ezra drank the remaining liquid as it came to it's end. Making the "smoking man" regret the wager he had placed. Closing the distance on cue, Ezra had placed his hand upon Jonas' shoulder and spoke softly. "Not yet.... I believe you have just one more game in you friend."

At the look from the seated and frustrated man, Ezra smirked. " I believe your luck is about to change along with mine." Glancing at the Rodian, Ezra turned his attention back to Jonas. "Trust me, I'm willing to bet big that you will win this game....." Letting it turn in his mind, Ezra lofted an eyebrow. "... will be worth your while, I assure you."