Space Cowboy

[Sanis Prent]

(Arcan IV. The planet had long since become a backdrop to my misadventures. Its splendors had become routine. Another stepping stone on the way to making it big, the planet was yet another abode, an intergalactic pitstop, where you could get a drink, smoke, a bed to lay in, and maybe somebody to share it with. The irony that the Jedi planet would become my second home was apparent. But there were others beside Jedi who came to Arcan, and they were the kind that carried credits, and better things.

My plans were in place on Coruscant, and things were proceeding on Bothauwi. That left a window of opportunity for me to tie up loose ends. On the other hand, time was a double edged sword that never seemed to swing in the direction you wanted. For every minute that I could seal another deal, that was a minute that Sasseeri could sniff the whole thing out.

Sasseeri Reeouurra. Pretty face. Pretty body. But anything past skin deep was just plain rotten. CEO of Sector Rangers and my boss, but it was all a sham, a house of cards with a duplex paint job. In reality, she was the most ruthless of the Black Sun vigos since Xizor. I'd seen her handiwork. She popped Jole Zakath in the stomach and left him to bleed to death. All over a handful of credits. What she'd do to another one of her boytoys who took a few million was something I didn't have an imagination for. The only thing covering my ass was the fact that there wasn't anything covering my ass. She had her claws in me...or so she thought. She was a hot number, but I'd known all along she was damaged goods. Nothin there but trouble, and even though I was sitting in the catbird seat, I was biding my time. If this score went down, I'd breeze out of the Sector Rangers payroll, and take half of it with me...

...well almost.

I glanced back from the Layla's cockpit, noticing the figure snoozing on the couch. Saarrreeaa. She was the wild card. Sasseeri's niece, a full-blooded Cizerack girl that had all the earmarks to be just as bad as her aunt. So far she hadn't disappointed. Greedy and energetic, we were shackled in the same pair of cuffs by Sasseeri. The shrewd gangster knew how to keep her underlings in line, and that was to have them compete against each other. Except that the plan had backfired. Saarrreeaa wanted out from under Sasseeri's thumb as bad as I did, for entirely different reasons. So the plan was to join forces. The unholiest of alliances, all in the name to screw over Miss Reeouurra, and make both of us filthy rich.

Well, in theory. But putting theory into fact took a lot of time, money, and the countless other things wiseguys like me bring to the table. But it was a textbook start.

Coming out of the hyperlanes, I adjusted azimuth for a standard orbit, slipping into autopilot long enough to walk aft, and rouse my "partner" from her beauty sleep on the sofa)

Hey, get up.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She turned over on her bed ...and opened her eyes. Saarrreeaa was not on her bed, she was on a couch of sorts onboard Prent's dirty frieghter. Peering from beneath her lashes at her business partner, she yawned. "Arrre we therrre?"

Saa slid her legs out from under the blanket Sanis had given her, and her bare toes touched the deck as she pulled her aching body upright. The couch was no substitute for her bed. And it certainly was lacking in companionship. After Sanis had rebuffed her in the early stages of their partnership, she didn't expect him to warm her bed for her.

Although there was always hope. Cirrsseeto would never forgive Prent for his refusal of his mistress. She rubbed her eyes with a dainty hand.

[Sanis Prent]

Yeah, we're goin into standard orbit. Get your gear together. I wanna touch down and head into town within the hour. From there, we can check out the local shipwrights and chop shops for what we're looking for.

(I glanced back from the pilot's seat, swiveling the copilot's chair to face her)

You sure you wanna do this? I know how to fly these birds, but I haven't exactly taught anybody before.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

As she stood up Saa adjusted her clothes, and walked nimbly to the copilot's seat. "jI am sssurrre." She looked sideways at him, and lightly touched the console.

"Wherrre do jI ssstarrrt?"

[Sanis Prent]

(There was a part of me screaming inside, wanting to take back everything I'd said before. Letting Saa anywhere near the helm of my baby was a stroke past insanity. I nipped a flask of some good Sullustian whiskey I kept in my jacket pocket for just such occasions, calming down enough to guide Saa around the helm)

Alright, first off, bring your ion speed to idle orbital...its the third lever to your right.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She pulled the third lever on the right until the ion speed adjusted, and then looked back to Sanis, who had a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. Saa could smell him, and could smell the whiskey he was trying to hide.

It didn't do him much good, as he was always drinking, so she expected no less from him. Saa turned back to the controls and flicked her eyes over them. "What now?" The ship was listing to the side, so she carefully straightened it out.

[Sanis Prent]

(I glanced over the controls, to check and make sure nothing cataclysmic was happening to cause me to take the helm.)

Alright, plug your speed and descent angle into the planetary guidance computer...on your right. It'll take care of rotating the navigational deflector and any microthrusts. From there, its smooth sailing until the lower atmosphere.

(Then, the awkward silence crept in, as we prepared for re-entry.)

Saa, do you ever think that what we're doing is really risky?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa frowned in momentary concentration as she input the information into the guidance computer. Turning her head towards Sanis she grinned suddenly, "Rrrissskjy? What, me fljyjing, orrr the deal?"

She shifted in her seat, not wearing a skirt for once, but skin tight pants of some obscure reptillian leather. "jI thjink about the rrrjisssksss alwajys...jyet jI trrry not to thjink about them. jIf jyou know what jI mean." Saa's eyes flicked over the console, and then back to Prent.

[Sanis Prent]

Yeah...

(I returned my attention to the controls)

Ease portside ten degrees.

(I still couldn't get that nagging feeling out of my gut)

You know, its like a hand of Sabbacc, I keep telling myself. Or anything else I've ever risked my tail in. But...I just keep feeling a gnawing in my gut...

(I looked at her, almost for the first time)

You know, if this doesn't go down right, we'll never be safe. Thats an awfully big gamble to get out from under her thumb. To be honest, I've never screwed over anybody this big before. Even if we do get it...we're gonna be looking over our shoulders for a long time. Thats a helluva lot to think about.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

The Cizerack female adjusted the Layla, and pursed her lips thoughtfully. For all her business sense, and in spite of the miracles she could work with numbers, she also felt fear in the pit of her stomach. Always in the back of her mind, it nagged her.

Saa was just as stubborn as her aunt, yet still lacked the hard edge that Sasseerri concealed under her hedonistic lifestyle. Nothing felt more right than this job...and yet...

"jYou arrre rrrjight, jyou know. But we won't be caught. jI am sssurrre of jit." Underneath her youthful bravado there was a thread of doubt, however. As long as Sanis had seemed sure that things would go down without a hitch, Saa had gone after this deal with all her might. She was ready to make her aunt pay for the misery she now had to live in.

Now that he voiced doubts, however, Saa felt a little uneasy. She turned to him again, "jIs therrre a hole jin ourrr plansss? Sssomethjing we mjight have overrrlooked? The messssss wjith the booksss...jit was rrresolved qujickly weeksss ago. Ssshe doesss not sssussspect. Doesss ssshe?" There was a note of accusation behind her words, as well as a moment of vunerability.

[Sanis Prent]

(The slow path down to the planet was ample time to hash out any uneasiness over the situation. In a way, it was each of us, getting things off our chests, and trying to bury something that might try and bury us instead. Talking kept me from second-guessing myself on the inside. Just an uneasiness of a friendlier sort.)

You know, I'm somewhat of a savant when it comes to lying. I've lied, cheated, and stole enough from people to write a novel on it. Its all like cards...you've got tells, and you gotta know how to hold onto them. I thought I could read anybody. Even you...you know, when you brush your hair over your left ear.

Well, Sasseeri's one of those people like me, I guess. Not the thing you wanted to hear, but if I wasn't following her every move, I wouldn't know what she was doing until she did it. I can never tell what she knows and doesn't. Thats the most unnerving feeling in my life.

(I reclined in my seat, glancing to make sure that the controls were good)

Your trajectory's on, switch to the orbital drive for the next few minutes down.

Yeah...

(I glanced back at her. Somehow, I'd written her off as just another Cizerack nuissance in my life. After Sasseeri, it was all baggage. But now, I could see that she was unsure, and worrying, and had the same "human" emotions as I did on the matter. She might be as greedy or greedier than I was, but I knew we both had more or less the same train of thought. I'd trusted only one person in my life, and she was dead now. Saarrreeaa would get the closest thing to a consolation prize.)

A year back, when she had Zakath killed...you would've never seen it coming until you heard the blaster shot. I was in the room, and had myself convinced...that shot was for me. I haven't been that scared since I lived on Nar Shadaa...and thats a can of worms that should never be reopened.

(I shook my head)

I know I'm not a saint, dammit. Not by a long shot. And I'm pretty damn mercenary in the things I do...but I wonder what things are out there that make people like your aunt. She's soulless, and its people like those that make it big in crime.

...Unless, we have anything to do about it.

(I smirked)

So I wouldn't say I'm at the cold feet phase just yet.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa toggled to the orbital drive, and sat back a little in her seat, relaxing in a feline stretch. "jIf ssshe wasssn't mjy aunt, ssshe would have alrrreadjy kjilled me. Orrr Cjirrrrrr." Her tone hardened against Sasseeri as she thought about Cirrseeto. "Ssshe hatesss the Prrrjide ssso much... mjissserrrrable half-brrrreed. Therrre's a rrreassson half-brrreedsss arrre dissscourrraged. They caussse contentjion among usss."

She smiled at Sanis, "That...and ssshe jis jussst plajin mean. jI've ssseen jit jin herrr eyesss when ssshe doesssn't thjink jI am jin the rrroom and ssshe jis talkjing to sssome underrrljing." Saa shivered slightly, "Sssasssssseerrrji enjojysss what ssshe doesss.

"And jI am gojing to enjojy what we do to herrr even morrre." The ship bumped suddenly, and she frowned at the controls. "Djid I forrrget somethjing?"

[Sanis Prent]

Ah, um...

(I glanced across the board for anything wrong)

...no its all clear. Sometimes there's a little turbulance while the orbital guidance corrects downward. Nothing too bad. If it rattles too much, you can boost the forward nav deflector by quarter power. There might be a storm down there.

(And once again, the awkward silence. I looked back at Saa, thinking that we'd hit some kind of breakthrough in our professional relationship)

I know its cliche', but...Credit for your Thoughts?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

"jI wjisssh jit wasss overrr." She tapped her manicured nails on the arms of her seat, and wrinkled her little nose at the thought of Sasseeri finding out about their plans.

Saa looked sideways at him, trying to figure him out. Whenever she thought she knew all there was to know about Sanis Prent, the man turned over a page and showed another side of himself. It had happened once before, when she had practically propostitioned him early on in their professional relationship. He had turned her down. It boggled the mind to think about it, as he was well known as a "womanizer" ..as the hyuu-mann's put it. Cirr had not forgiven Sanis the blunt refusal.

The more she thought about it, the more her urges were excited. "What about jyou? What arrre jyou thjinkjing?"
Saa tapped her fingers some more as she waited to hear his answer.

[Sanis Prent]

Thinking about what happens when its over, I guess.

(I half-smiled)

Despite my renaissance-man reputation, I've been under somebody's thumb for a while now. At first, the street gangs on Nar Shadaa. After that, the Hutt Syndicates. Now, Sasseeri. You know...whenever we do finally get our slice of the pie...we're gonna have to think of what to do with it.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa pursed her lips thoughtfully, and absently fixed her hair. "jI sssuppossse that jI wjill brrreak awajy frrrom Sssasssssseerrrrrrji and go jinto busssjinessssss forrr mjyssself. Asss sssoon asss would be prrrudent, of courrrssse."

She gave Sanis a saucy wink, "jYou arrre welcome to worrrk forrr me, of courrrssse. Frrrom what Sassssss sssajysss, jit would be jinterrressstjing to have an emplojyee of jyourrr... talentsss" Saa raised one of her eyebrows.

[Sanis Prent]

(I had to laugh. Maybe I'd given Saa a little too much credit. Cizerack can't change their stripes, it seems.)

Yeah, well, I don't think either of us would like working for the other. We'd drive each other crazy. The only way we could ever work out is on equal terms, or not at all.

You know, maybe...we could continue working together, after all this mess. Probably sounds as crazy to you as to me...but I dunno, the more I think about it...the more I'm liking it.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She narrowed her eyes at the thought. To continue working with Sanis...with all his hyuu-mann stink and awful habits... To her surprise it wasn't as repulsive a thought as it might have been before he had come to her with this deal. The deal. The one that would either make them both very rich, or very dead.

Saa pushed the thought of death away. She was still very young, and death had yet to take a real hold on her imaginations. Her aunt, Sasseeri, was capable to dealing death to her, and she knew it, but it never really worried her all that much.

But to work with Sanis, as an equal - the Pride would choke on the thought of Saarrreeaa Meorrrei, aspiring businesswoman, taking an equal partnership with an inferior species. Forrda they would say. Inferior. Prent had proved himself to be a savvy businessman in his own right, and with her knowledge of accounts...

A smile tugged at her lips. "jIt hasss a cerrrtajin...charrrm to the jidea, yesss." Saa frowned, "Cjirrrrrr would not apprrrove of jit. He doesss not apprrrove of jyou at all." She smiled again at the thought, and then realized that she missed Cirrseeto. He was down there on the planet, waiting for her. And during this time of her life, she needed him very much. He had been away on Sanis' little errand..no, their errand. Whoever had sent him away, it had been too long.

She looked down at the planet as they approached.

[Sanis Prent]

Well...the big oaf sure let me know it. I had to check into the hospital after that.

(I snapped on the comm)

Arcan Control, this is the Freighter Layla, requesting landing clearance.

(I switched off)

Just keep on course until they come back and confirm.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa kept her hands on the controls, keeping the Layla straight and steady on course. As they waited for the confirmation from Arcan IV Control, she looked sideways at Sanis again.

To steal millions of credits from her aunt, right under her suspicious nose was one thing. To steal Sanis from her would be something else entirely. Sasserri would ...to be honest, Saa didn't want to think about what the half-breed would do to her. It did have a certain appeal to it, however. Prent was...well he just was. Saa bit her lip lightly as she concentrated on piloting the freighter.

[Sanis Prent]

Freighter Layla, you are cleared for landing on Pad C. We are transmitting approach vectors now.

(I glanced at the controls, making sure the numbers checked out.)

Okay, see the blinking green indicator? Those are new vector priorities. To feed them into your nav system, hit the blue button underneath.

(The clouds drifted out from around us as we descended)

So what did you do before getting drug into all of this?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa pressed the blue button, and shrugged her slim shoulders. "jI wasss jin ssschool forrr a good manjy jyearrrsss, bejing grrroomed bjy mjy motherrr forrr the posssjitjion jI wjill take when jI rrreturrrn to the Prrrjide worrrld. jIt wasss herrr wjisssh that jI jinterrrn underrr Sssasssssseerrrrrrji."

She muttered under her breath, "jIt wasss not mjy wjisssh."

[Sanis Prent]

(It was almost good to pick at Saarrreeaa's brain and find things out about her...aside from the obvious things.)

So what did you want to do then?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

"jI don't rrrememberrr." Her curt answer was intended to stop the direction the conversation was taking. Saarrreeaa had wanted to do her internship under a well respected business woman on Carshoulis Prime, but had not dared cross her mother. For some reason, sending her daughter to her half-breed sister was a way of snubbing Sasseeri; rubbing her face in all that she could have had. What Motherrr neverrr rrrealjized jis that Sssasssssseerrrji neverrr wanted what the Prrrjide had to offerrr...

Saa eyeballed the readouts, and cleared her throat a little. "Anjy lassst mjinute djirrrectjionsss beforrre jI trrrjy to land thjisss thjing?" Her tone had a lilt of playfullness to it.

[Sanis Prent]

(I took her short answer as it was. No sense in dragging something out that didn't need to be.)

Yeah, uh...the orange lever draws down the landing struts.

(I hit a blue button on a console above me)

I've switched the screen onto the ventral viewer. You'll be able to line up over the landing pad. The small swiveling joystick to your left controls the retro-repulsors. Pull it towards you, and the retros will engage full on, and the ion drive will power down. From there, just ease her onto the pad. Blue button on the stick lowers retro power. Red increases retros.

(I smiled.)

The Layla's tough, but don't beat her up on the way down.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

The Cizerack girl bit her lip slightly as the Layla burned through the atmosphere of the planet, and waited until they had pierced through Arcan's sky before letting the landing struts down. The beacon from the landing pad guided her over the top of it, and she lined up over the spot, bringing the freighter down and engaging the retro-repulsors.

As the ion drive powered down she slowly settled the Layla to the permacrete mat. There was a slight bump that made her wince, but soon the ship was down and cooling off. She looked at Sanis. "Almossst perrrfect?"

[Sanis Prent]

(I was impressed. Landing and taking off were the hardest things to learn in space piloting, and Saa had done pretty damn well)

Hey, thats a good landing in my book.

(I grabbed my jacket and gear, running down the lowering gangplank)

Power down systems. I'll get you a beer at the bar.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

As Sanis vaulted from the pilot seat, Saa set the Layla's systems to power off, and quickly followed him. She grabbed up the bag she had packed before taking her nap, and slung it over her shoulder, wishing, not for the first time, that Cirr was there. If nothing else he would carry her bag for her.

Hyuu-manns had no sense of the female's proper position. Except in some instances. Saa licked her lips as she walked lightly down the ramp, stepping off as it reversed direction to seal up the ship. Sanis activated his security systems, and then lead off towards the bar.

Saa followed him, the disgusting smells of the busy city full of lower species filling her nostrils. She wrinkled her petite nose and grimly dogged Prent's steps.

[Sanis Prent]

(Halfway to the bar and grill, I froze in my tracks, staring across the tarmac with a look of astonishment)

Oh my God...

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa ran into Sanis' back as he suddennly stopped, and she frowned, before looking in the same direction as he was.

[Sanis Prent]

(It was a Geocore. You didn't just see ships like that every day. Geocore was a small company that built super-high performance ships for rich people. In fact, the last three Kessel Runs had been won by Geocores, much to the frustration of the usual smugglers who took the prize. The ships were amazingly fast, beautiful, and were all built custom, by a Mon Calimari shipmaster named Reilkik Antoo. Despite being legends in modification, few smugglers on the rim could match the output of a Geocore yacht. Even Han Solo's Millenium Falcon would be hard pressed to compete.

This particular beauty was a metallic burgundy, with accents in chrome, and stylized angel on each side with a flaming sword. Her curves were beautiful as artwork, and the engines deserved a double-take...and another for good measure. You couldn't even draw a base industry standard, and there was no telling what the ship was packing under its hood. Only one thing was for certain...she was fast.

I frowned at the man climbing out of her. He was middle-aged, with a receeding hairline, irritated look on his face, and a look of total ineptness. He looked nothing at all like somebody who deserved to fly a bird like that. Likely another silver-spoon who saw a Geocore in a sports ship magazine and decided to wave some credits around.

I whirled to Saarrreeaa, with a look of a kid's face in a candy store.)

Thats a Geocore yacht! They're one of the fastest ships in the galaxy.

(Magnetically drawn, I returned my gaze to its sleek curves...and thats when he interjected...)

You like it don't you? Sure puts that rust block of yours out to pasture, doesn't it?

(He smiled a sneering, cocky smile)

There's probably more credits put in this ship than you've made in the last ten years, grease monkey. Back away from my baby...I don't want breath marks on the chrome.

(It pissed me off. No lie there. Pissed me off alot. Sure, I was a grease monkey of a greater degree, and sure, I wasn't dressed to the nines, or flying a Geocore. But when some rich prick stares down his long nose at me...

...it makes me wanna make them look dumb.

I returned the cocky smile.)

You make it sound like you've got something fast there, moneybags.

(I glanced back to Saarrreeaa, winking.)

Or do those engines run on hot air?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa looked between the man and Sanis, and she pulled her bag up on her slim shoulder a little higher. Sanis winked at her as he talked to the owner of the Geocore. She could feel the testosterone building up in the air around her.

Therrre jisss a rrreassson we don't allow malesss to own prrroperrrtjy on Carrrshouljisss.... They thirsted for competition. At least hyuu-manns always did, and Sanis was a fine example of a hyuu-mann male.

And Sanis having her standing next to him surely didn't hurt his image any. Saa, with no illusions as to her eyepopping beauty, stepped out from behind him, and eyeballed the Geocore. It was quite a piece of work. She threaded her arm in Sanis', pressing up against him with a slight purr in her throat.

[Sanis Prent]

(His nostrils flared when he was angry. I knew this, cause I could see up almost into his brain now. He was venting, and I was still cool as a cucumber)

You didn't just challenge me to a race. I know you didn't. You think you can get your ship fast enough to even catch my vapors? Even with that Cizerack whore as a good luck charm? I paid big bucks for this beauty, and I'll bet you out of house and home that the Apex Dutchess will leave you in the engine wake...

(His beady eyes narrowed, and he smirked, his nostrils returning to their normal size.)

What do you say, smuggler?

(Its what I wanted to hear from him. I'd smile at it if I didn't know better. Instead, just a cool smirk to Saa, and back to moneybags. He couldn't have said it better if I stuck my hand up his butt and moved his mouth for him in a ventriliquist act. A practised look of caution on my face...)

So, let me get this straight. We bet on a race. My ship versus yours.

(The man made a condescending face)

Yes, thats right.

(I nodded)

And, my ship versus yours, the winner takes whatever wager I decide on?

(The man nodded, and now, I couldn't help but let the smile filter through. And with a beautiful girl at my side, I felt ten feet tall, bulletproof, and able to make the Kessel Run in less than 10 parsecs.

My eyes kept drifting to his Geocore...the Apex Dutchess. I finally returned my gaze to moneybags.)

We race for pink slips.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa growled a little at the "Cizerack whore" comment, and pinched the inside of Sanis' arm just a little. Just enough to let him know she would tear the other male apart if he'd let her. Better to let them play at their little race. If Sanis could humiliate the owner of the Geocore, all the better.

After that, she might just tear him apart anyway. His insolence towards her was intolerable. However, playing the part of Sanis' girl toy was amusing, and possibly useful. Sasseeri would eat her four hundred credit heels if she could see them right now. Saa grinned at the thought.

[Setzer Aistal]

The unlikely pair stood in front of him. The female Cizercak was obviously angered by him, as she kept casting looks that could kill. Good he thought. Setzer loved to play the role of the instigator, especially before a big race. If he could manage to throw off his opponent's game even for a second, he would ultimately have the advantage. How else had he won so many races?

< Well one down, one to go, this other one might be a little more difficult. Must be some way to rattle him though. >

His eyes moved from the "cizerack whore" < He couldn't help but laugh at how easy it was to get her going >, to the one who had originally approached him.

"You know there hotshot, if I had a credit for everytime someone wanted to race for pink slips, I'd be rich. Oh wait, that's right I am. I'll be happy to further add to my account. Only thing is that tub isn't good enough for even jawas to scavenge let alone be in the same race as I. You'll be lucky to attain orbit."

The wily veteran reached down, and adjusted his glove, pulling it up slightly on his hand, and then readjusting the strap, making it fit tighter.

He knew there was probably countless modifications done to the ship. These local grease monkeys were always good for that. No matter though, he had one of the best mechanical crews that money could buy. Still, it would be best not to underestimate him

"But if you think you can have that oversize paper weight at the start line, then I'll be glad to take it off your hands after the race. I could use the spare parts."

[Sanis Prent]

(And now it was time to turn the tide in my favor. He may have a fast ride, but I was pretty sure he'd never had any experience against a hustler. I'd seen these kinds of playboys breeze in before. It was one thing to have a fast ship, but you had to have a fast brain to keep it.)

Hold on there, slick.

(I grinned)

I said My ship versus yours...

(I jerked my thumb towards the Layla, shaking my head)

Not necessarily that ship.

(I smiled, glancing down to Saarrreeaa)

Docking bay 42...lets go.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa wrapped her tail around Sanis' leg, and looked up at him as he mentioned docking bay forty two. Not willing to actually be the dumb blonde, she simply smiled, and winked at him.

She had no idea what he was talking about, but it was his party, after all.

[Setzer Aistal]

Setzer was no fool. Having been around racing all his life - both the legitimate side and the seedy underbelly of it - Setzer knew this kind. This man was one of two people. Either he was a naive and gullible man who had no idea what he was getting into, or he was a hustler. Setzer didn't think it was the previous. The racing veteran knew he would have to tread carefully around him.

Hmmm....He's far to anxious to get me in my ship on his terms. I'll have to be on my guard with him....

" So what, did your mother just buy you a new ship that you're just dying to try out."

He really placed the emphasis on the word "dying".

"It would be a shame for you to lose your new toy so quickly. Like I say though, I'll be happy to take whatever off your hands. Maybe even that cizercak whore would like a ride."

The cizerack cast a look the could kill from a mile radius. Setzer only smiled and winked back at her.

"We'll have time for that later.....Docking bay 42 it is. Ya might want to have your slip ready for me when i get there."

Setzer turned on his heels and sauntered back to his ship whistling all the while.

[Sanis Prent]

(The stroll to bay 42 wasn't far. The three of us approached the massive bay doors, which I parted with a remote device. The doors rolled away on massive tracks, revealing a shape equally as sleek as the Geocore. Its lines were smooth, and aerodynamic on a level that made it sexy. A shiny coat of candy apple red only amplified the look of a caged tiger lurking in the engine holds of the ship. Its fuselage was long and curvatious. In the back, four massive pylons split at 90 degree angles, each supporting a massive engine. The intake manifolds alone were wide enough to stand two people inside.

I glanced back at the rich guy. I could see the gears turning in his head, trying to guess the sublight acceleration ratios that my engines could output. He could keep guessing for years and still be wrong. The engines were beautiful and obviously powerful, but just as in the case of the Geocore, you couldn't guess the output on looks alone. His ship might have been built by a Mon Calamari shipmaster, but mine was put together by an imperial research lab, on a 10 million credit budget.)

Ladies and Gentlemen...the Incom/Freitek XGP-15A2 Interceptor... Silent Princess

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa stood slightly apart from Sanis, and studied the ship. It was the Silent Princess. She wasn't dumb, even though her hair was blonde. There was only one silent princess in Sanis' life. No wonderrr he doesssn't fljy jit.

She kept her observations to herself, and waited for the forrrda to speak.

[Setzer Aistal]

As the doors opened to the bay, more and more of the ship was revealed to Setzer. He had to admit, it was a beautiful piece of work, its hull gleaming under the lights in the hangar, seemingly calling out to him. Casually, he began to walk over to the ship, trying to disguise his excitement at the sight of the ship. He may be a competitive racer with all the traits of one - cockiness and an abundance of arrogance - but he could appreciate a thing of beauty when he saw it. Setzer walked closer to the ship, running his hand over one of i's curves. The hull was cool to the touch, but just as smooth, if not smoother than a baby's bottom. It was unbelievable to feel. There was no doubt in Setzer's mind that this piece of machinery could move. Before turning around to face his soon-to-be-opponent, he let out a loud and long whistle.

"Well flyboy, I've got to admit, it is an impressive ship. I'll be honored to take her off your hands and make her mine."

The calm cool demeanor of Sanis was starting to get to Setzer. No matter which approach he took, he could not seem to break it.

Saarreeaa stood off slightly to his left, he turned his head so that he was looking at her, and winked.

"Like I say, she's impressive...."

He let his words sit with them for a second, not really making it clear whether or not he mean't the Silent Princess, or Saarreeaa.

"But it takes a man to handle a woman like that. No worries though, she'll soon be in the hands of a real man."

The confident race veteran turned back to face Sanis.

"If we're going to do this thing hotshot, tomorrow at 1300 hours. I do my winning after lunch. We'll meet here. "

[Sanis Prent]

(I watched him walk away)

1300. I'll see you in high orbit. Quarter billion miles to the edge of the system, full sublight burn. There's a radiation spike from the sun every 17 minutes. We'll go on the first one past 1300.

(A smile grew on my face. I knew I'd caught him with his pants down on this one. He left the hangar looking at me in a completely different light than when he came in. And tomorrow, he'd see that I had even more on my side than a fast ship.

I laughed quietly, walking over to my ship, slapping Saarrreeaa on the bottom as I passed. She could play the part when she needed to.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa waited until the other male was out of the hanger, and then she walked briskly behind Sanis, and grabbed his shoulders. She pushed him against the landing pylon of another ship, and held him there easily. "Whjy arrre we wastjing ourrr tjime herrre? jI wjill not stajy back asss that forrda jinsssultsss me to fullfjill jyourrr male prrrjide." She spat on the ground, and pressed herself against him, keeping him quite helpless against the landing pylon.

"Don't we have...busssjinessssss to attend to?" Saa had a lot on her mind, but it wasn't exactly business. Her anger dissappated as quickly as it had arisen, and she trailed a finger down the side of his cheek.

[Sanis Prent]

Ahhh...

(I winced as my head smacked against the pylon. Saa was just too damn rough sometimes. You think you know somebody, until they start tossing you around. I rubbed the back of my head, still pressed up against the pylon. And as quickly as the throbbing died from my skull, her disposition changed. I knew exactly what she was thinking. She wore more thoughts than clothes on the outside at times.)

...hmm...yeah, well...

(I grinned, my head cocked to the side)

...no harm in clocking off the job for a day or so.

(I looked at her, as if scrutinizing her face)

You know...you're kinda cute when you're feral and half-cocked.

(I glanced down at her clawed hands, pressed tightly against my shoulders)

Just don't hurt the leather.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa loosened her hold on him, but slipped her hands inside his open jacket, and wrapped her arms around him. "Don't plajy gamesss wjith me, Sssanjisss." She nipped at his chin lightly, as if asking a question.

[Sanis Prent]

(I ran a hand along the side of her face, tracing down her jawline, to her neck, and down the side of it, as if to go further down...)

Why not? Afraid I'll win?

(I winked, tugging lightly at her tail with my other hand, and catching her more than a little off guard)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Actualljy, jyesss, jI am afrrrajid jyou wjill wjin. Sanis was...he was what she wanted. Claw retracted, Saa ran her hands up his back underneath his jacket. "jI beljieve jyourrr schedule jisss open untjil 1300 tomorrrrrrow, Sssanjisss."

He was not like the mindless males she knew from Carshoulis Prime. Sanis was her equal in many ways, and Saa found it exciting as well as dangerous...which made it more exciting, of course. She waited a moment...which was an unusual move for a Cizerack woman. Saa was not going to initiate further.

[Sanis Prent]

(It was something more than a maneuvering twist of words, and I wasn't expecting it. Maybe it was the truth, or what she thought was the truth at least. She held back, looking at me, and almost expecting something. No games, no divide and conquer, and no preludes to foreplay. It was something else...something honest from her, like what I saw before we landed earlier.)

Yeah...

(I ran a finger back up to her face, to the corner of her lips...then stopped. I had to realize this was Saa, and not exactly somebody that I could trust. She'd spilled a few of her thoughts here and there, and I was getting inside her head more...but I still didn't trust her much more than I trusted Sasseeri. Of course, Saa wasn't quite as ruthless and didn't have the kind of reputation her aunt had, but she had that look in her eye, and I'd come to tread carefully around those slitted blue eyes.

I sighed.)

...I gotta test the maneuvering thrusters.

(I turned away slowly, shaking my head as I palmed a hydrospanner from a nearby toolbox)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa also sighed, her eyes narrowing again as he rebuffed her again. Again, it wasn't something she was used to. jI can underrrssstand whjy jyou drrrove Sssassssss crrraazjy forrr all that tjime. She disengaged her arms from his chest, and turned away, slightly confused at the same time.

What had she been thinking? jI am ssspendjing too much tjime among the hyuu-mannsss. Saa put a hand to her forehead. The drink he'd promised her back at the Layla sounded good right about now.

[Sanis Prent]

(Okay, so testing the thrusters was a diversion. They were in perfect order. I'd only flown the damn ship twice. But it was needed to give me some time to think. Saa'd given me more than enough to put on my plate for a day.

Tossing the hydrospanner aside after five minutes of spot-checking, I walked down the ship's ramp again. She was still there, and looked like she had things on her mind as well. I thought about avoiding her, and it was probably the safe thing to do. But then again, I listened to the gambler inside me more than my concience.)

I'm hungry. Wanna grab a bite?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She looked up at him from her seat on the end of the ramp. "jYesss." Saa's tone was more than half frustrated as she got to her feet. "And what about that drrrjink jyou offerrred me back at the ssspaceporrrt?"

[Sanis Prent]

(I had to smile. She kept me nailed into my promises)

Offer's still good.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

"Then what arrre jyou wajitjing forrr? jI am onljy gettjing thjirrrssstjierrr." Saarrreeaa threaded her arm in his and pulled him off the ramp onto the permacrete.

[Sanis Prent]

(The walk to the bar and grill was short and sweet. We sat down in a booth, and put in our orders. I took a pint of Honey Brown, with some blackened-battered Kaadu strips, and spice sauce. Something with a little fire to it.

The server droid then turned to Saa, and I involuntarily clenched the padding of my booth seat with my right hand. I did offer to flip the bill on this one...and when it comes to Cizerack, that could be a big mistake. Not to mention, she had that preoccupied look on her face that she had when organizing the books. It meant stress. And I'd seen the kitchen enough mornings after to know that meant stress food.

I smiled...nervously)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa looked at the waitress, and licked her lips. "jI'll take a whole rrrack of rrrrjibsss, rrraw, and about thrrree of the larrrgessst bantha sssteaksss jyou have jin the kjitchen, also raw. jI wjill alssso have two bowlsss of krrrjisss'aa frrrogsss. Jussst brrreak thejirrr backsss and gjive them to me aljive." She pondered the menu a little bit more. "Alssso, jI'll trrrjy the dewback brrrajinsss, chjilled. And add anotherrr rrrack of rrrjibsss to that."

She handed the menu to the waitress, and added, "To drrrjink jI would ljike a carrrafe of blood merrrlot. And jif anjythjing getsss cooked, ssso wjill jyou." The woman walked away, a little shell shocked after taking the order.

Once she had ordered a Bloody Mary, but it wasn't bloody at all...it was disgusting. She looked across at Sanis, and smiled.

[Sanis Prent]

(My mind reeled to catch up with the price tag. 2 racks of ribs...that was 65 credits there. Three 68 ounce bantha steaks...96 credits for that. And I didn't even see dewback brains or...whatever the hell frog things. But I was damn sure that live food was somewhere a la carte', and thus, definitely gonna burn a hole in my wallet. Force only knew about the dewback brains. Add Carshoulis-imported blood merlot at a whopping 88 credits for a carafe. It all equated out to nearly three hundred credits...for lunch! And I was eating light!

I swilled down half of my Honey Brown, thinking about it. As the server droid wheeled away, I sighed.)

Better keep the brewskies coming.

(The droid left, leaving me and Saa once again staring at each other in silences that were proving to be more awkward each time.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa yawned and stretched, arching her back with feline grace. She had seen his reaction to her order, and also knew enough about his accounts to know he could afford what she'd ordered. Saa tapped a claw on the table, and waited for her drink.

The silence dragged on as they both sat, waiting for...for something to distract them from the other's presence.

[Sanis Prent]

(I killed the dregs of my first brew, and the server returned with my second Honey Brown, and her merlot. For a moment, we just drank, watched each other drink, and drank some more. Idly, I began to drum my fingers against the side of my pint, the glass making a clinking sound.

...more awkwardness. Finally, I couldn't take it.)

Did you have something better in mind for the next few days?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She pondered that a moment. "Therrre jisss one thjing... jI have sssome perrrrsssonal jitemsss that jI left behjind on Carrrssshouljisss Prrrjime. We could drrrop bjy and pjick them up frrrom mjy motherrrsss housssehold."

Saa leaned back away from the table as the food arrived. Her platters of meat overpowered the surface, and Sanis carefully pushed the dewback brains away from his plate. She picked up a spasming frog, and bit its head off, chewing slowly to savour the flavors. "Unlesssss, of courrrsse, jyou have sssomethjing elssse morrre prrressssssjing to take carrre of afterrr the rrrace tomorrrrrrow."

She finished the frog and was into her third when the thought took her, "jYou had betterrr not lossse..." Saa swallowed her mouthful, "jI don't jintend to be ssshuffled off asss a prrrjize becaussse of jyourrr jinferrrjiorrr cussstomsss, and prrrjideful posssturrrjing."

[Sanis Prent]

(I kept my food to a small, reclusive section of the table. Saa's smourgasbourg covered the rest, leaving almost no space at all for me to maneuver. She snapped up a few of the squirming frogs, leaving me to stare at her culinary carnage like it were a train wreck...knowing its wrong to gawk, but not being able to look away. It certainly wasn't making my kaada strips any more appetizing, and I just found myself downing some more Honey Brown.

She mentioned Carshoulis Prime, and I raised an eyebrow. It was a stone's throw from Arcan, but I'd never been...and for a reason. The place had a reputation for not exactly being a good tourist attraction. Not to mention, their somewhat barbaric response to smugglers and such got my self-preservation instinct going.

But then again, I'd never been to the place. My gambler's instinct got to ticking again. After all, sometimes the best place to pull a job was where nobody expected a job to be pulled.)

Alright. After the race, we'll make a stop. Just hope you know what you're doing. I've heard its not exactly a cozy place.

(I smirked)

Lose? Me?

And besides, I'm racing for pink slips. If I'd had the foresight, maybe then I'd have bet you instead of my ship.

(I winked)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa growled and cleaned the meat off of the rib she was holding. The dewback brains were getting warm, so she dug into them before they ruined. "Beljieve me, we won't be therrre forrr long."

[Sanis Prent]

(My fourth honey brown was taking the grotesque edge of revulsion off having lunch with Saa. Now I was keeping a straight face.)

Anything I should know? Or should I just play the part of the little foreign guy who drives you around and opens doors?

(She was finishing up her rounds, or so it seemed. Three steaks from here and her feeding frenzy would be over. And I'd finally have the willpower to eat mine.)

[Kitty Anne Pryde]

:: Panting, I turned the corner into an alley and crouched behind a dumpster. The stench was horrible, but it was a good hiding place. I listened carefully for the running footfalls of those persueing me. As they came closer to the alley, they seemed to slow down. I held my breath. Then, much to my relief, the footsteps continued onward at a fast pace, past the alley. ::

:: I peeked around the dumpster to see if the coast was clear. Sure enough, business was going as usual on the busy sidewalk. Smiling, I eased myself from my hiding place and looked in the direction the two law officials had run. I could see them disappearing around ahnother corner. Without another thought, I turned and headed down the way I'd come. ::

:: Reaching into my little backpack, I took out the wallet I had swiped from the fat man aboard the travel liner that had come in only moments ago. Stowing aboard ships and then picking pockets wasn't exactly an honest job, but it kept me alive. ::

:: At that moment, my stomache growled, interupting my thought and reminding me that part of survival was food. Quickly looking around, I spoted a small bar and grill. It was near the space port, so this would be a good place to eat and then find a pilot inside. Spotting pilots was easy. They always had this attitude about them that was easy to distinguish. ::

:: Crossing the street at the intersection, I made my way down the sidewalk and entered the bar and grill unnoticed. It was easy for me to slink into places without being seen. It came with the territory of having to stow and steal. Making my way to a small table in a dark corner near the door, I set my backpack down on the bench, and sat myself down. A small server droid came by, inquiring as to what my order for the day would be. Glancing at the menu, I was able to pick out something I could afford, let alone pronounce. Having been seperated from my family at such a young age, education had been difficult. Only through trial and error had I learned how to read and write a little. But it was still difficult. The droid tootled an affirmative at having placed the order, and rolled away to bring it to me. ::

:: While I wait, I looked at the many beings inside the place. Oh yes, there were plenty of pilots in here. And a few Jedi, it seemed, from a good number of lightsabers hanging from various belts. I continued to scan the different pilots, trying to finally decide on three I thought would get me somewhere new. At that moment, my food came, and I dug in hungrily. It had been a good 24 hours since I'd had a decent warm meal. Good thing root stew was cheap. ::

:: While I ate, I kept watching one pilot in particular. He was among interesting company. Maybe that's whay I kept observing them. I made sure not to be noticed and sunk deeper into the shadows. His companion was certainly eating a LOT. She looked that she'd wolfed down enough for three people! Hmmmm... he must be a wealthy pilot then. Just as I was going to make my decision to stow aboard his ship, another pilot entered and went straight for the bar. This one wreaked of a hot "I'm better than you" attitude. And the jacket he wore stated he was quite well off. Well, then, decisions, decisions. ::

:: At last, I decided on my course of action. I would get pilot #1's wallet, and disappear aboard pilot #2's ship. Then while onboard, I'd pick pilot #2's pocket, and disembark the first chance I got. I'd make out like a bandit and be actually able to eat well for the nxt few days. ::

:: Satisfied with my plan, I continued to eat my stew, waiting for just the right moment to proceed with my scheme. ::


http://www.caligirls.bluemoondomain.com/KittyAnnePryde/kitty.jpg

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

"Trrrjy the rrrole of the ljittle forrrejign gujy that drrrjivesss me arrround and opensss doorrrs forrr me." Saa polished off a steak, and reached across the table for more while drinking her merlot. She put the food in her mouth before she realized what it was, and had it swallowed before Sanis realized she'd just eaten half of his lunch.

Saa dug into her two last steaks, hoping he wouldn't notice his food missing. He was touchy sometimes, and she didn't want to set him off after they'd been having such a "good time" together. Good time...yeah, right

[Sanis Prent]

(I reached down for a Kaadu strip, only to see six, and not twelve, like there should have been. I glanced up at Saa...as she finished devouring everything edible at the table, like some maelstrom of culinary vortex power. Its always the little things, things that get you long in the face. And my honey brown was getting warm. Blah.

For what its worth, I finished off what part of my lunch that she didn't get to first, dabbing a napkin at the corner of my mouth where hotsauce had accumulated. Killing my brew, I moved to pass Saa some napkins, only to find her fastidiously licking her fingers clean of the grease, juice, and ichor left behind in her wake. She may have eaten like a slob, but she cleaned up nicely, I guess.

The server droid came up, and I nodded to it)

Check, please.

(Sighing and shaking my head, I looked back at Saa.)

Well that was a good lunch. Got any ideas what we can do this evening that doesn't require me spending any more money?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

jIdeasss? Saa fastidiously cleaned her hands, getting the last morsels trapped beneath her claws. "jI have been ssshut up wjith mjy booksss farrr too long. Let usss experjience Arrrcan'sss njightljife, ssshall we?" She grinned at him, a little mischief sparkling behind her eyes.

[Sanis Prent]

(Vague and open-ended. Nothing bad about that)

What, you mean like...dancing and stuff?

(I raised an eyebrow)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

"jYesss, dancjing and ssstuff." Saa finished off her merlot, and set her glass down. She looked at Sanis expectantly. "jI am sssurrre jyou know of a place we could go..."

[Setzer Aistal]

Setzer made the short trip back to the hanger where his beloved GeoCore was currently being housed. After seeing his opponent's ship, he knew that he'd have a little tinkering to do. He wasn't getting the acceleration that he was used to out of his baby and that would be key to winning this race.

I'm going to have my work cut out for me this time. he's got that ship, but it's still a question of skill I've got him there, no doubts about that.

The hangar bay was empty save for a few repair droids that were servicing the GeoCore. He made his way to the large toolbox mounted on the wall beside his ship. There were many tricks of the trade that Setzer had up his sleeve, and he would be employing every one of them to get every last ounce of power and torque and most importantly acceleration out of his ship.

Hmmm, wonder if there's anything to be found out about this guy or this ship

"LX87 ! I want the gear ratios adjusted so that I can get off the line quicker. You might want to adjust the timing as well. I need every millisecond shaved off that I can. We've got ourself a race tomorrow"

The droid scurried off beeping away instructions to the other droids that were around the ship. Setzer smiled as they began their work. He began walking to the door. Normally he would surpervise and even do the work himself, but he had other matters to attend to.

[Sanis Prent]

For dancing?

(I smiled)

But I don't know how to dance.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

"Nonsssenssse." Saa got to her feet and pulled him up out of his chair. "We arrre gojing." Sanis barely had time to pay the bill before they exited the bar, Saa holding onto his hand firmly.
________

Saa could feel the beat of the music before they even reached the building, and the music was loud outside the door. Sanis ushered her inside, and her ears laid back a little at the crowd and the noise. He noticed, and leaned in to shout in her ear, "Wanna go back to the bar?"

She shook her head, her eyes taking in the gyrating bodies out on the floor. "jYou cannot do that?" Sanis looked blank, unable to hear her over the music that blared from the speakers. Saa grabbed his arm, and pulled him to the dance floor, pressing her lithe body against him. "jItsss easssjy!" She shouted in his ear, and he shook his head.

"No-" She grinned and ignored his protests, dancing against him in a way that could only be classified as highly suggestive.

[Setzer Aistal]

Setzer had been around a while, and as a result he had his contacts. Some of them were legitimate, while others came from the seedy underbelly of the universe. He knew which of the two groups he would be contacting this time.A favor or two would have to be called in.

The bar was a fair hike from the hangar bay. Setzer didn't have a moment to spare. There was a swoop boke outside the hangar bay doors, it's owner a few feet away, conducting some business of his own. Withouth a second thought, Setzer hopped aboard the bike and sped off in the direction of the bar.

How he loved riding these things. It had been a long time. He opened up the throttle, accelerating faster and faster into the night. The wind blew through his hair and the familiar adrenaline rush that he got every time he raced came back to him, flowing through his veins. If there was a drug to be addicted to, this was it.

[Sanis Prent]

(I was bumping and rubbing against her, vaguely to the beat of a massive bass system behind me that rattled the clothes on my back. If what we were doing was horizontal and with less clothes on, it might as well have been foreplay. Saa was enjoying herself, of course, and I was just trying not to look conspicuous, and also not to step on her feet. Her hands moved around all over me, and I followed suit enough to keep pace.

My head pounded a little. The bass rhythm was unrelenting and repetitive. I wondered how they could even call this stuff "music". It sounded too processed for me. At any rate, I kept up with it for as long as I could. Finally, I had to break the monotony of it all. I peeled Saa away from my body)

HANG ON A SECOND

(I shouted over the music to her sensitive ears, and walked over to the DJ. He looked down, and I glanced from side to side, before leaning in and making my request...

...his response made me feel a little out-dated)

"Yeah, lemme blow the dust off it, but we got it. Don't know if anybody here's even heard it though."

(He laughed, and as the bass-ridden trancer faded to an end, he put it on.

And a very different kind of music began to play)

www.planetz.net/midi/arti...s-hell.mid (http://www.planetz.net/midi/artists/squirrel_nut_zippers-hell.mid)

OOC: play it in a new window.

[Setzer Aistal]

The bike swerved through the streets, passing between other vehicules as if thread the eye of a needle. Setzer was clearly talented, and no one on these streets could match him. Not in a million years. The high pitched whine of the bike echoed off the buildings and into the night, as he pressed onwards to the bar.

It didn't take him long to reach the bar. With a nimble touch, he shut off the bike and then hopped off of it. Setzer glanced around, taking notice if there were anyone that he should be aware of in the vicinity of his bike. That's when he remembered that it wasn't his

Hmm, force of habit I guess. Just hate to see a good machine go..

Without another thought to the bike, he waltzed into the bar, his head scanning around looking for his contact of old. After a second he found him, sitting at what seemed to be his usual table in the back.

The table was surrounded by 4 other patrons, each with a hand of cards. Setzer had to wonder which of them was being hustled this time. He stiffled a laugh and approached the table.

"Marius, still up to old games I see"

Setzer extended his hand to him, and when the man extended his to shake it, setzer slid two fingers under his sleeve, pulling out another card, the wild card at that. The other players at the table began shouting obscenities towards him, before throwing their cards down in disgust and walking off to other parts of the bar.

"You bastard! I was going to clean them that with that hand!"

"Good to see you too. I've got a job for you. I need to know everything about the Incom/Freitek XGP-15A2 Interceptor, and I need to know yesterday. I have a lot riding on this. I'll double your usual wage."

"Hmmm, Imperial, eh....I'll see what I can dig up. Where can I contact you this time? I have no doubt it won't be at that senator's daughter's place."

Setzer eyes the man, a mischievious smile forming on his lips.

"Not this time no. Not if I want to keep my uh...friends intact."

He laughed again, as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a data pad, tossing it on the table in front of the splicer.

"The frequency is in there. I need it asap"

"See what i can do"

The smile on Setzer's lips turned into a grin. This race would be easier then scaring off Jawas. He turned and walked towards one of the bartenders as Marius left the bar, scurrying out the door to complete his job.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa bumped against Sanis again as he returned to her on the dance floor. "jInterrressstjing chojice of musssjic." It had a swingy beat that intrigued her ears.

She looked at Sanis a little blankly. "jI don't know how to dance to thjisss."

[Kitty Anne Pryde]

:: I slurped up the last of the root stew just as pilot #1 was paying for the bill to the meal he and the alian woman had shared. Well, more like the meal she'd eaten. Towards the end, it'd looked an awful lot like he'd made a desperate grab for whatever was left. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Weird. Eh, but to each his own, I guess. ::

:: I waved the server droid over and asked for my bill, hoping to pay quickly and take a stance near the door's frame just outside. I'd noticed a small corner of shadow the overhang outside created, shielding that particular part of the sidewalk from the hazey sun. Now, all I had to do was figure out which side of the door to stand on. ::

:: The droid came back with my bill and I paid it in cash, gulping down the rest of my water. I looked over the the strange couple and watched them stand, the female taking the man by his hand and nearly pulling him out of the bar and grill. She laughed about something and I disticntly heard the word "dancing". ::

:: Grabbing my backpack, I scurried out the door through a throng of people, and stood on the side walk, looking both ways to see if I could see a dance place or club of any sort. Knowing I was running out of time before the two made it out of the bar, I quickly pulled someone aside and asked them politely for directions to the nearest dance club. The person pointed to the right of the bar, and I all but ran smack into the pocket of shadow on the approriate side of the door. I was taking a shot in the dark assuming this was where they were headed. But it was all the information I had to go with. ::

:: No sooner had I disappeared unnoticed into the shadows, the couple began their slow walk out, the man definitely being pulled by the female. No time to think on the odd peculiarities of couples, I carefully reached out my hand as the wind blew his jacket open. The cred pouch he had in the pocket was sticking out half way, and it took no trouble to swipe it. With so many people milling about and with so many noises, the man continued to be pulled by the female without so much as knowing what had just befallen him. I quickly stuffed the pouch into my pocket and melted back into the bar. ::

:: Once inside the bar, I headed straight to the ladies room. I locked myself into one of the stalls, and looked inside the cred pouch. My face contorted into a pout for a moment and then I shrugged. There were quite a bit of credits in the pouch, but I could see the meal had taken a toll on the man's cash count. I shook my head. Shoulda gone for his wallet where the credit cards were. Sighing, I pocketied the creds into my own little cred pouch, and then tossed the man's into one of the trash cans. ::

:: Exiting the ladies room, I went back to my table and ordered another water, keeping my eye on pilot #2, which I noticed had moved to a back table and was playing cards with some other men. Yes, I had decided to tag him as the one I would use to get off this miserable rock, when a screech outside the door made my head turn slowly. And I thought pilot #2 screamed "I'm more important than you". But, I was proven wrong by the big man that walked through the door. This one was definitely screaming "I'm too sexy for my ship..." just by the way he carried himself. ::

:: Intrigued, I watched him weave through the tables, straight for the table where pilot #2 and the card game were well under way. To my surprise, pilot #3 interrupted #2, making the other men angry for some reason I could not make out from where I was, and both began to talk. So they knew each other? This was too perfect! Excited, I eased my way in that direction to hear what they were saying, remaining behind a tall Duros so as not to be seen. When I reached within earshot of the conversation, I caught broken snipets of some pilot talk... something about wanting information about some ship. Having used pilots, without their knowing of course, for space travel, I'd taken a liking to ships. especially fast ones. I'd learned which rides would get me to a destination faster just by studying the types of ships out their on the market. And the way these men seemed to pay respect to the ship model they spoke off seemed to indicate it's power. And it had been Pilot #3 that had asked about it. So, maybe he was the owner of such a ship. ::

:: Making this conclusion, I walked back to my table and sat down again, changing my plans to tag #3 instead of #2. I watched #2 walk out, thinking to myself he had been spared my talent of picking pockets and stowing. I smiled. But pilot #3 wouldn't be so lucky. ::


OOC: <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/image/emoticons_classic/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"> Catchy toon, though I must admit, I had a hard time not laughing as it played while I made my post. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/image/emoticons_classic/smile.gif ALT=":)">

[Sanis Prent]

(At first, my feet started to move. Then, it rose slowly, up my body. I strode over to Saa, reaching forward, and taking her by the hand, winking as I did.)

I lied. I know how to dance... a little.

(I rushed in, then spun outward, pulling on her arm as I did, causing her to spin towards me, until her momentum stopped, backside pressed against me. I crossed my other arm over, grabbing her opposite hand, and then twisted one over the other, bending her body around her spinning arms as I brought her to an about face. With rhythmic strides, I pressed forward, and suddenly swept her over, to the point where her left leg kicked in the air. As her platinum hair spilled back and her face registered suprise, I pulled her back to me, in a somewhat more classic dance position.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa gasped, "jI am jimprrressssssed!" She followed his lead, and picked up the steps quickly, spinning around to the beat. She would have prefered dancing the way that they had been before, as it fit her mood better. The Burning was still upon her, and she had been deprived of her manservant for too long. Sanis simply did not understand.

Saa smiled at him as they danced to the new music.

[Sanis Prent]

(The music picked up its pace, and my feet began moving frantically. I danced a tight circle around Saa, then looped an arm around her waist, picking her off her feet as I rolled her body sideways around my hips, changing hands as I put her down on the other side. I spun away, returning with slow, long footwork as my hands made overemphasized loops, almost like I was swimming)

[Kitty Anne Pryde]

:: I continued to sit at the table, sipping my water slowly, and pretending to read a magazine, all the while keeping an eye on pilot #3. ::

:: My, but he certainly was taking his precious time flirting with a few of the ladies at the bar. He was getting close to be drunk, or so I cermised from the amount of beers he had ordered. ::

:: I sighed, looking back at my magazine and turning the page, telling myself to be patient. Soon I would be out of here, following him back to his ship, and finally getting off this blasted rock. ::

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Sanis did seem to be a good dancer, and Saa was intrigued by this new way of moving to music. As the song finished, she grabbed his hands, and pulled him up against her. She whispered in his ear as they slowly danced, tangled together, "Wherrre arrre we ssstayjing tonjight?"

[Sanis Prent]

(If it were from anybody else, it would've been an innocent question. But from Saa, it was every bit as loaded as my shell gun. Her one-track mind kept pressing the issue, as if she knew it were never in doubt at all...and just a matter of time.

She was probably right, although I'd prefer her not to be.)

I put a down payment down on an apartment here, since I'm here almost as much as I'm on Coruscant. We can stay there, I guess.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Wrapping her tail around him, as well as her arms, Saa laid her head on his shoulder, and tried to forget that he would resist her until he died. The music played on, a slow beating rhythm underneath. It was the sound of Sanis' heart under her sensitive ear.

Saa tried not to think about all the conflicting emotions within her. The burning was what she served, as did all other Cizerack. It was especially hard as a young female to control her urges, and it was looked down on in respectable society to use restraint. Especially at this time of her life.

She turned her face upwards, her small nose pressing lightly into Sanis' neck.

[Sanis Prent]

(I looked down at her. I couldn't tell if it was ennui, or something more heavy on her mind, but from the way she shuffled to the late-hour duldrum, and the way my feet hurt, it was near closing time. She held tight, but not in her typical domineering fashion. I was being held, because she needed to hold. Once again, it was strange to see real feelings filtering through. Saa was a lot more personable when she was like that. More...well...human. And despite emotional baggage on my own, I found myself liking what I saw.

Gently, I lifted her tired head off my shoulders.)

C'mon...its late. Lets jet.

(I called a hovercab, and it arrived within the minute, speeding us away to the apartment. We arrived, and I crashed on the couch for a moment, a day full of strangeness on my drifting mind)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa stepped into the apartment, and looked around momentarily as Sanis threw himself onto the couch. It was a nice enough place, although it was definitely a part of Arcan IV. She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, her eyes drooping sleepily.

Walking slowly, Saarrreeaa sat on the edge of the couch, and leaned back against Sanis' legs, letting her eyes close.

[Sanis Prent]

(I struggled with the thoughts on my head and the nagging insomnia, trying to make some sense of the night. I found myself drifting back to Saa, every time. I couldn't avoid the issue. It was a riddle inside an enigma. Before her, I was convinced Cizerack had no feelings except self-gratitude. Then, my thoughts drifted elsewhere...to Daleethria. Even though she couldn't speak, her voice was always in my head. I'd always told myself I'd be my own man, and do my own thing, but ever since I'd met her, I wondered if thats what I was doing. Dalee taught me how to feel, and Saa was teaching me how not to assume. Then again, the possibility there might be feelings there was almost as daunting as the thought of being involved with Saa itself. A part of me felt like I was selling Dalee out. I kept it hidden, but I was starting to actually care about Miss Meorrrei. We thought very alike on some things, and very different on others. She was the second woman I'd met that I'd not simply interacted with.

Then, something crossed my mind.)

Saa, you know when...

(I looked down, and she had fallen fast asleep. She looked serene and comfortable...a stark contrast to her mood when she was awake at times. I thought about sliding out from under her to make it to bed, but it might wake her up. Quietly, I leaned over, sliding my legs up onto the couch, and shared the sofa with Saa...drifing into sleep together.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa was dreaming about the Burning when something nudged her and she opened her eyes sleepily. It had to have been about five thirty in the morning - her eyes opened a little wider, and she saw who was holding her.

She didn't move her body, afraid suddenly that Sanis might wake up and leave her. Saa blinked, mulling over her last thought. As the female, she had every right to force him to stay, even if he did wish to leave. Males did not matter, they were uneducated and simple, living only to please their females.

But the hyuu-mann's were different. Sanis was educated, and her intellectual equal in many areas...and better than her at many things. It took humility to admit that, even if it was only in her thoughts. Again, Saa found her thoughts drifting places that she preferred not to dwell on, and she closed her eyes again, snuggling close to Sanis' chest.

He smelled faintly like whiskey and cigarra smoke, and a little like sweat. It was interesting finding herself in a submissive position, under his arm and nestled against him. In fact, it was nearly driving her crazy. He was so close... it was intoxicating to inhale his scent. Saa bit one of his shirt buttons off with her teeth, and let it fall to the cushion as she nosed his shirt.

And then, inexplicably, she stopped. Her mother would have thrown a fit if she could have seen her daughter behaving in such an irrational manner. Her aunt would have had her flayed alive for touching Sanis.

Saa chose to close her eyes...and drifted back to sleep.

[Setzer Aistal]

It had been a long night for Setzer. After making his request to Marius, he stayed at the bar and had a couple of drinks. Then he'd met that floozy. Sure she was attractive and took his mind off things for a while, but that's about all she was good for.

Beside him, someone rustled in their sleep. Setzer turned enough so that he could see her, but now enough so as to disturb her. He couldn't help but smirk at how easy it was to have her join him tonight. That thought was interrupted by something on the floor vibrating. The datapad...

No longer caring if he woke her up, Setzer hopped out of bed and retrieved the pad. He answered the call, and found the familiar face of Marius staring back at him.

"Wow, you look like you've had a good night. I've got good news and bad news. Think I should meet you though to show you what I've got"

Setzer rubbed his face, trying to wake himself up fully.

"Alright"

He stifled a yawn.

"Meet me at the entrance to docking bay 38 gamma.."

"Yeah yeah, I know the place. I mean you've only been using it for how long????"

"Alright. give me 20 mins or so"

Setzer thumbed the switch terminating the communication. Amidst the conversation, the woman in bed had woken up. She was now looking at Setzer with pleading eyes as he got dressed.

"Sorry babe. I've got to see a man about a horse. Feel free to stay though, breakfast is on my tab."

And with that, Setzer left the room, the door sliding shut behind him.

[Kitty Anne Pryde]

:: I had hoped pilot #3 would have left to his ship several hours ago, but the woman he had met at the bar had shattered that hope. I had groaned inwardly, watching as th two had made their way up to the second floor after booking one of the rooms, knowing I'd be waiting for some time while he... they... well, until he'd finished his business with the woman. Either way, I had known he would have to leave at one point or another. ::

:: In the time he was gone, I had struggled to stay awake, wondering around outside in the cool weather to keep myself awake and alert. Every now and again, I would pop back inside the bar for a warm cup of coco, and each time sit at a different table, all the while keeping an eye on the stairway that led to the upper floor. ::

:: By the time he had finally emerged, I was standing to walk back out into the cold, fully pumped with sugar and lack of sleep. I didn't stop my stride and headed straight out, turning the corner to lie in wait against a wall, pulling my coat tightly around me. ::

:: I didn't have to wait long. Pilot #3 walked out, lighting a stim, and waving down a transport. Quickly calling down a hover-cab, I gave the driver instructions to follow the transport, and to be discrete about it. I told him I'd pay him a bit extra for the trouble. The driver more than complied, and soon we were on our way, following pilot #3 from different lanes and a few vehicles back. I could only hope now he was finally heading to his ship. ::

[Setzer Aistal]

It hadn't taken him long to find a transport back to the hangar bay. After all, he was pretty well known, and his exploits were told all over this system. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to say they had THE Setzer Aistal in their transport.

The driver seemed to be trying to show off for Setzer. Weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds, not much unlike how Setzer would've done it. Mind you the driver was lacking the style and panache that Setzer had, not to mention the skill. The skilled veteran could only smile at the driver's eagerness to please and show off for Setzer. It seemed to happen all the time.

"That's not some bad driving there mate."

He would always make some sort of empty comment to the driver. Never hurt to boost some egos. Helped him get most of his contacts. And those contacts were the ones that helped him stay on top, although he would never let them know it.

Finally they arrived at the hanger. Setzer paid the man, tipping him with the usual 15% and sent him on his way. He walked through the hanger bay, looking for his compatriot. His walk oozed of confidence, it was borderline arrogance. It's not like he didn't have the credentials to back it up though.

In the far corner, a figure emerged. It was Marius. Setzer turned and walked over to him, Marius meeting him halfway. Under his arm was a datapad. This would be the datapad that would ultimately lead to the downfall of Sanis tomorrow.

Marius spoke first, a slight lisp in his voice which only occured when he was either excited, or knew something was wrong. He handed Setzer the datapad and began speaking.

"There's not too much I could find out, I hate to say it, but this ship is highly classified or was. Only thing I could get on it, is that it's Imperial. That thing that you're up against spent many years in the old R & D labs. Any reference made to it, is simply but it's serial number and that's it. As for what's under the hood, so to speak, good luck buddy. You'd have a better chance of walking into Jabba's old palace with an "I love Han Solo" shirt on and living. Sorry man."

Marius cleared his throat some, before continuing.

"Now this other fellow Sanis Prent. Here's one to watch."

He handed Setzer another datapad, this one with the information on the brash pilot who had approached Setzer those many hours ago.

"All the dirt that you need to know on him is in there. Don't know if any of it will help ya out mind you, but there it is. I'd like the credits transferred to the account you'll find on that second pad. My other account...uh...we'll let's just say it's no longer open"

He said the last part with a wink.

Setzer quickly looked over the pad, before nodding at Marius. He then turned on his heels and made his way to the cockpit of his beloved ship, ready to go over the files he had just aquired.

This would be a good race, he thought to himself. Maybe finally, I'll have some competition

[Kitty Anne Pryde]

:: Rubbing the side of my head where I'd hit it against the cab during one of it's sharp turns, I paid and tipped the driver handsomely, with the instructions to wait a few minutes. I wasn't sure if this was pilot #3's final destination or not, and I didn't want to get stranded. ::

:: Stepping out of the vehicle lightly, I casually followed the flow of pedestrians towards the hangar bay in which the pilot I was tagging went into. Sliding around the corner, I peeked past the door way, greeted by the sight of several berthed ships that definitely boasted speed, and saw pilot #3 conversing with none other than pilot #2 from the bar. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but I did see several data pads handed from pilot #2's hands to pilot #3. ::

:: Not caring about the info past at the moment, I watched as pilot #3 smiled to himself and walk to a sleek ship on the opposite side of the hangar bay. Needless to say, I was impressed with the curves his ship had. I could only imagine it's top speeds, not to mention it's cost! ::

:: Intrigued, I walked along the wall, tailing a group of beings heading towards their ship on the far side of the bay. As we reached pilot #3's berthing area, I slipped unnoticed behind some crates, peeking around them to see if anyone had been looking. No one had. Satisfied, I slid across the deck, from crate to tool box, until I was squating beside one of the landing struts to his ship. Looking around to make sure no one saw my next move, I dashed for the lowered ramp, and slid inside the ship, squashing myself into a tiny ball between a bulk head and crate. ::

:: At this point, all I could do was wait and hope we took off soon. Belated, I thought perhaps I should have used the refresher before the trip. ::