"Simple Chaos"
By: Raxis L'ygr - Bounty Hunter

Location: The Yallder District, New Plouton
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

Small, green numbers scrolled vertically down the side of Raxis' datapad as the credit transfer wired itself across the Guild's secure network. With the exception of the monitor's eerie lavender glow, the seedy hotel room was an abyss of cold and unforgiving darkness. Outside, thirty floors down, the low-lives and hooligans of New Plouton milled about the cantina district. From the shadows, Raxis lifted himself from a prone position to view the screen. Pale violet light masked his skin, as he rubbed his clean shaven face and tapped a key on the datapad.

"Slow transfer as usual...." Raxis hummed to himself. "Let's see what news there is on the network..."

Raxis tapped on the datapad's numerous keys and loaded the secure-line news network for the guild, keeping an eye on the data upload on the side of the screen. The Guild's news was always pretty informative, when it wasn't being used to lure in the bounties of another hunter. Since the Empire controlled which news was allowed onto the planetary systems, the Hunter's Guild news was regularly factual, being that it wasn't below the Empire to hire Bounty Hunters to do their dirty work. After all, they hired Boba Fett and Bossk to find Han Solo for being a leader of the rebels, and then handed him over carbonized to Jabba himself as a reward. The Empire wasn't stupid enough to rely on Bothans for rebel information, when they could pay much cheaper fares to have a bounty hunter bring in a few themselves.

"Ok, let's see here..." Raxis began, and started to sip his drink.

Mere nanoseconds later, Raxis saw something that made him inhale his drink, sending him into a violent coughing fit. Throwing the drink to the floor with a crash, Raxis knelt over the side of the sofa and pounded his fist against his lungs to clear the alcohol from his esophagus.

"It's not possible..." Raxis said to himself, and shook his head clear before returning to the screen.

"Jabba the Hutt has reportedly been slain on the dunes of Tatooine, and Boba Fett is reported to have been also slain at the scene?" Raxis read aloud in disbelief, to ensure himself that his eyes and ears were hearing the same thing. "Blasted Boba Fett?"

Raxis smirked and tapped the button to confirm his data's transfer was completed and lit a cigarra. He couldn't believe it. Five days before the Death Star exploded, he was reassigned to Tatooine. A few years later, he left Tatooine to work in New Plouton, instead of working for Jabba in Tatooine. For a moment he questioned if he was an avatar of bad luck, but quickly shook the thought. For the fifteenth time this year, Raxis was one lucky dog.

"Well Jabba..." He grabbed his bottle off of the floor and hefted it upwards. "You ran a good company, but you shouldn't have fed the guy that told you that messing with the rebels would kill you someday to the Rancor."

Raxis downed the remainder of the ale from the bottle, and rested back into his seat to continue the news. Reading entry after entry, he decided to load up the section listing for New Plouton itself. Raxis cracked a grin at what he saw.

"Masquerade Ball, eh?" Raxis mused. "Tsk tsk tsk. I guess this would be a good place to start."

He clicked the data transfer button to relay credits to his contact on Mos Eisley, who was charging 1500 credits for a professionally forged invitation. It was a reasonable price, especially since he'd worked with the slicer before.

"It's good to have connections," Raxis said with a grin.

---

"Dark Dawn"
By: Syan Daywalker

Location: Vessel Aesir, Tae'Remok System
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

The blade had been constructed by a master weapons maker from the lower depths of Coruscant and tested extensively before a king's ransom had been paid for it. The blade was eighty-five centimetres from guard to point. It was four centimetres wide, and scarcely five millimetres thick at the spine. The technique used to forge it was all but lost, and even now it registered far above the armor grade of an Imperial Star Destroyer. The hilt was twenty centimetres long and etched with crisscrossing lines just right to keep it from slipping, but allowed for some of the more complicated sword-fighting techniques. Presumably, that was one of the more delicate parts of its construction.

By some reckoning, the blade was some forty years old already, but showed no signs of wear - a testament to its design. It had belonged to the father of the man that now wielded it.

And wielded it he did. Expertly. His grip was firm, but his wrists supple. The blade sung its deadly serenade as it sliced through the air. He had been in practice mode for nearly forty-five minutes now and showed little chance of stopping. What had once been the main stateroom now served as his all-purpose room aboard Aesir. A long diagonal slash ended with a twist of the wrist that pointed the blade edge down. He shifted stances, dragging his foot lightly on the floor to maintain his balance as the slice came upward from groin to gullet. No sooner had his foot settled than it was moving again, knee bent, slipping across his body as he turned at the hip and turned his hands around on the katana's grip to a cross-body slice followed by a step through. By now the opponent would be dead, but Daywalker had been through this training charade dozens of times since he'd begun this session and the shadow opponent still hadn't fell.

He stepped back, bringing the blade around, up, and down diagonally, decapitating the shadow opponent.

"Excuse me, sir." The voice came from behind and Syan all but ignored it, continuing with a crossover and saddle into a left guard stance, stabbing the blade through where the shadow man's spine would have been. He withdrew the blade with exaggerated care, and out of habit, ran the blade between his fore and middle fingers to wipe off blood that was no longer there.

"What is it, Eighteen?"

AC-18 was a Cybot Galactica product, a relic from Aesir's previous owner. Syan Daywalker turned to face her finally, hazel eyes resting lightly on the silver frame.

Her mimicry was all but absolute. "Aesir's computer has asked me to inform you that we are two minutes from reversion, Master Syan." Her voice was high and reedy, and grated somewhat on Syan's nerves. But far from enough to suggest to him that he should do something about it, or her.

"Why didn't you summon me sooner?" he asked the automaton, picking up the towel that rested on a hook by the stateroom's doorway. AC-18 followed. If it was possible to look perturbed, she did it.

"But I did, Master Syan, from the cockpit."

Syan turned his hazel eyes on her once more, as if trying to measure the truth of her statements. She was a droid, and all but incapable of lying except under certain special conditions. He had no reason to doubt her. He looked at her instead to consider her words. If she had called, it meant he had been so deep into practice he had been oblivious until she'd approached him. That was not a good precedent to set; even though he was perfectly safe aboard the ship.

His eyes were a warm hazel, the color one often found in a friend. But the complete lack of empathy behind made them colder, more unsettling than even Ysanne Isard's legendary gaze.

The antiseptic corridors of the ship gave way to the cockpit. He leaned and took the sword into it with him. Normally he could have laid it on of one the cockpit's rear seats, but they had been ripped out to make space for sophisticated comm and tracking gear. Instead he handed it to the droid to hold and settled into the pilot's seat.

The old J-Type Nubian could be a handful to fly by himself, but in the last year, Syan had gotten more used to its eccentricities. A cursory check of the system readouts was enough to satisfy himself of the ship's status. He leaned forward and toggled the hyper drive levers. The mottling of hyperspace faded into shards of light before snapping into place as stars and the Tae'Remok System.

A look outside the cockpit windows would have revealed a beautiful sight, but it held no interest for him. Bounty hunters went through enough systems to lose any sense of appeal for sightseeing not long into their careers. Syan Daywalker was no different. His sensor board told enough for him to pilot the silver space blade in and that was enough for him. Aesir reached the outer markers before her comm board lit up.

A tired looking face appeared on the small screen. "Contact-704d , this is New Plouton Control. Please state your destination and the purpose of your visit. Current course has you inbound."

Syan flicked on the audio gain. "My destination is Thanatos. My purpose is my own." He flicked it off again.

On the screen, the controller turned to look at something Syan couldn't see. A supervisor most likely. Probably running a check on Aesir's ID. Syan wasn' t worried. The tags were legitimate, as was his trail for the most part. Preliminary checks on this world suggested it wasn't one likely to deny him access, or dig further into his reasons for visiting.

He was right.

"Transport vessel, Aesir, you're cleared for entry to Tae'Karadan airspace. Please, enjoy your stay with us."

Syan didn't deign to reply to the little ploteek and just switched back off the comm board. His ship was approaching the planet's atmosphere. He pulled back on the yoke to pitch the nose up and rolled slightly to the right. Aesir's dagger shape settled into the growing thickness of the atmosphere. Temperature rose slightly, but easily dealt with by the screens. The night sky came into view and Syan followed the beacons along the planet's longitudinal spin. From the sky, he could see the darkness cringing back against the onslaught of light and found some brittle humor in the vision. Light never won out. Darkness was always there, hidden, but never far.

Three kilometres out, he kicked in the repulsors and glided in low over the desert before firing the forward thrusters to slow the ship. The landing gear folded out of the ship's wings and nose like claws before touching dirt and settling in to hold the ship's weight.

Aesir sat on the hellhole's outskirts, which suited Syan fine. One-handed, he flicked down the switches and set the ship to standby. As he walked back out of the cockpit, he could hear the engines ticking softly as they cooled down and the condensation formed on the thrust blades.

Removing his training clothes, Syan stepped into the shower in the smaller room he used for sleeping and bathed ritually. He let the water flow down his head as he applied the topical cleaner. The bubbles hissed softly, stripping the outermost layer of skin to be washed away by the rivulets. That was followed by another, slower washing, across his chest and down his arms, torso and legs. He washed his face twice and then stepped out of the shower, moving in the dark. He got dressed by habit, pulling on his 'battle clothes'.

He pulled on the Dewback coat last and made his way to the egress ramp. Eighteen was waiting there with his sword. "Good hunting, Master Syan," she said in her reedy voice.

He took the sword from her. "Lock up after me."

A small snort escaped her vocoder, as if he needn't have bothered reminding her. "Of course, Master Syan."

Syan looked back inside his ship once more before descending the ramp. His boots hit sandy ground with a soft crunch that turned into long, purposeful strides toward the township. The katana glinted softly in the dawn light as it slid into the scabbard strapped to his back. He took out the small computer that ticked out the information that Eighteen had summarized for him. The man's face flickered to life and rotated, giving him angle shots as data ticked by with physiological and economic data.

In Thanatos, he was sure he would find all that he needed to dispatch Will "Crusher" Wessel.

---

"Delivery"
By: Zen Wayland

Location: Vessel Basilisk, Tae'Remok System
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

The Basilisk dropped out of hyperspace and headed towards the bright orb of Chimaeria, its engines humming at half speed. He wasn't in a rush. He was sure that slime ball Gregar could wait a day or two more for his weapons, and if he couldn't, maybe luck would have it the man was dead. Zen checked his sensors again. Five minutes till the Tae'Karadan border patrol made the checkpoint call. Enough time to grab something to eat. He switched to auto pilot and moved back towards the small kitchenette. He rummaged through his rations, determining that nothing freeze-dried tasted good no matter what the holo-ads said.

"Hey, Fuzzball. You want something to eat?" Zen called to his small furry friend, who was tinkering with R2-451. The small red droid beeped with thanks, hoping the little Ewok would stop playing with its innards.

"Chak. Gyessh, Jeeks gunda!" the little being said. It threw down his hypo-spanner and waddled over to Zen, his paws outstretched. "Toe! Toe!"

"Alright, hold on will ya." Zen handed the little being a blue stick, which Salab starting gobbling down. "How can you love this stuff so much?"

"Gunda! Gunda!" he replied as he munched away happily.

"Yeah yeah yeah," the man replied, looking up from his own meal in disgust. Maybe he could get a meal down on the planet, although Thanatos wasn't exactly the place of excellent meals or prices. Maybe he'd visit New Plouton while he was here.

"Goo! Goo!" Salab squealed from the cockpit. How the heck that little thing moved so fast was besides him.

"Yes, yes, I see the light." He lifted Salab out of the pilot's seat and into the one next to him and sat down. "This is the Basilisk."

"Contact-950A, Basilisk, this is New Plouton Control. Please state your destination and the purpose of your visit. Current course has you inbound."

"Oh, not you again." Zen sighed in recognition.

"Mr.Waylander. I can't say it's good to hear your voice," the man replied. Zen could just picture the annoying smirk on his face.

"Listen, Controller Relin, just give me access. You know I'm cleared."

"I'm going to have to check with my supervisor."

"Yeah, you do that. How's your sister by the way?"

"You know very well how my sister is," the controller stated. Zen could hear his anger rising.

"You clear me, and I'll make sure she stays in good health." He heard the man grumble, probably looking over his shoulder to make sure his supervisor wasn't watching. Ah, ferrying prostitutes had come through after all.

"Basilisk, you're cleared for entry to Tae'Karadan airspace. Please, enjoy your stay with us."

"Oh, I need somethign else." Relin made a grunting sound. Zen ignored it. "Did an old J-type Nubian come around here?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact. Haven't seen one of those things in years."

"Where'd it go?"

"Thanatos, but recent patrol stated seeing it heading towards Commerce City."

"Thanks. I'll make sure sure I say 'hi' to your sis for you. Basilisk out."

"Ahahhahahahehehehe!" The little Ewok squealed away slapping his little thighs with glee. "Relin chee lurdo!"

"Yeah, he's a loser alright. Now get back there and put 451 back together. I need to land this thing." He shooed the mass of fur out of the cockpit, unable to contain his own laughter.

The Basilisk shuddered slightly as it entered the atmosphere. He eased her down, setting her outside the city. A few other vessels could be seen in the vicinity, taking up residence outside the dank hole instead of trusting the docking garages. He tapped the computer twice, identifying the ship as the Aesir. Good, maybe he wouldn't have to spend too much time here. The landing gear swung out, their hydraulics puffing nicely as they took on the full weight of the ship. He heard the ship begin cooling operations and patted the console. Such a good ship. He looked out of the cockpit towards the city. Three kilometers, in blazing hot sun. Screw that.

"R2-145! Get A-wing one ready. I'm taking her into the city."

"Den! Den!" Salab cried from inside the ship.

"Why not?"

"Den yah wah." The ewok looked down at the floor ashamed.

"What do you mean no power? Is that what you were doing last night?" Wayland asked, picking the small being up and holding him to his height.

"Chak."

"Can I use number 2?"

"Chak. Salab zenga sujt 1. 2 e acha!" he said excitedly, his face lighting up like he did nothing wrong.

"Well, then have 145 ready. Load it with the box of blasters for Gregar. And get my weapons." Zen placed him back on the floor.

"Acha Zen. Acha." He waddled away, probably just happy that Zen didn't throw him through a wall. His fiddling would be the end of him one day.

---

"The Grand Masquerade Ball of Weibran the Hutt"
Starring: Weibran the Hutt, Crimelord and Party Animal

With appearances by:
Merrick Braston
Moril Astren
Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat
and Zale Tregat

Location: The New Plouton Arms, New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

A success! Truly the party was a success. Weibran the Hutt strolled through his marvelous party. He had noted a few notable absences, but he wouldn't let that ruin the evening. As he had requested, everyone wore a mask to hide their identity. Of course, there were some, such as himself, for whom the mask really did little as far as concealment went. But, he was the host, and he wanted everyone to know who he was.

"New trays of munchies are comin' out, boss," Padrick said as he stepped up beside Weibran.

Weibran's smile grew even bigger. "It's a resounding success, Padrick. I should throw parties like this more often."

"I really don' know 'bout that, boss," Padrick said. "We already had one of the representatives of the Geshredik family shoot one of the waiters. We didn't realize his prosthetic arm was also a blaster."

"Didn't the weapons scanners detect it?"

Padrick shrugged. "It should have. Don' know why it didn't though. I'm going to open a few more bottles. That band is drinking a lot, you know."

Weibran looked over to the raised platform where the singer Morrid, or Merrid, or Mandrake, or whatever was singing. After helping to track down the man's missing girlfriend, it was the least he could do to allow him to sing at the party. Besides, he was damn good. They were heading into their Jizz set, and people were beginning to dance.

Oh, a success indeed.

***

"Your music is splendid Malrick," Weibran said as he stepped up to the bandstand. "Just absolutely splendid."

"Merrick, sir," the musician said. "And, thank you. We're having a great time."

"It shows," Weibran said, and held out the platter of roasted chippin toward the man. "Chippin?"

"No thank you," Mampeck said.

"Very well," Weibran said and stuffed a few of the treats into his mouth. If the musician didn't want any, it just left more for him. "Well, I should mingle now. Good music. Do you think you could play 'The Bantha Made Off With My Wife And Now All I Have Is This Landspeeder?' That's always been one of my favourites."

The musician blanched, but recovered nicely. "One of mine too," he said. "We'll do it for you in our next set."

With that, Weibran wandered off to make sure his guests were doing fine.

***

The band was in full swing again as Weibran made a circuit around the edge of the dance floor. Everything was going well, and all his guests seemed to be in good spirits. He'd managed to commandeer another platter of chippin and was about to take a bite before he suddenly stopped. He sniffed at the meat and frowned. Underdone? No, not underdone, but there's definitely something not right about it. He flagged down a member of the catering staff.

"This chippin isn't right. Take it back to the kitchen and bring me a new platter."

The young man looked at the chippin and frowned. "At once, sir," he said. He took the platter from Weibran, and hurried off toward the kitchen.

Left with nothing to munch on, Weibran began wandering again. He came across a young woman and man dancing. The man's face was scarred from what looked like a vibroblade, but the woman truly caught the crimelord's attention. She wore a blue gown of diaphonous silks and other airy fabrics. The dress left nothing to the imagination, and the girl was truly beautiful and alive, perhaps a little on the thin side though. Around her throat she wore a wide band of blue silk that matched the dress, from which dangled a large sparkling blue gem. As she twisted away from him, his breath caught as he caught sight of the tattoo of a bird in flight on her hip. Simply breathtaking, he thought. I must have her as one of my dancers, he told himself. I must. Her feet moved perfectly in time with the music, feet clad in sandals made of nothing but thin straps that wrapped up to just below her knee. So delicate, so exquisite. Just looking at her, Weibran could feel himself getting hungry again. Where was the catering youth with the chippin? A man could starve waiting for service.

Weibran approached the dancing couple. It took a moment for them to pull out of their dance to notice him, but finally, the young man did spot him and ceased his gyrations. The girl followed suit and soon he found himself looking into a beautiful pair of eyes that reminded him of warm chocolate peeking out from beneath the mask she wore. Oh, quite scrumptious indeed, Weibran thought.

"Can we help you, sir?" the young man asked. "You throw a wonderful party, by the way."

Weibran grinned. He hoped it wasn't a leering grin, the kind he always got when Thellen put a full platter of Tarkayze lobster on the table. "Why thank you," he said. "I do hope to be able to have more. Perhaps a costume ball, sometime. I do think it would be quite grand. So, sir, how much for the girl?"

The young man stared for a moment while the girl gaped.

"Her dancing is exquisite, beautiful beyond compare, and I simply must have her for my court. She must be one of my dancing girls. So...how much?"

The man laughed softly and the girl looked like she was ready to do something naughty.

Her skin was the exact colour of baked espredaan tarts, and it set the crimelord's stomach rumbling. Weibran couldn't help noticing that a flush ran down all the way to her beautiful, pert breasts. Just like a Bespin rum cake.

Finally, the man spoke: "I am afraid that I am not the one who would make that sort of decision. The person you would wish to talk to would be Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat. She's across the floor over there dancing with Zale Tregat. You can't miss them."

Weibran grinned greedily. Oh, he would surely need a large meal soon, the excitement was too much. Oh, but what a meal it would be with the little brown-eyed lovely dancing around him. It would surely help the digestion. "Oh, thank you so very much, sir," he said. With that, he took the girl's hand into his, and planted a kiss into her palm. "I shall see you soon, my nimble, little lovely."

On his way to find Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat, a sudden commotion distracted Weibran and he rushed to see what the sudden crowd gathering to the other side of the dance floor was. When he got there, he was surprised to see an entire platter of chippin scattered across the floor. Oh the waste, he thought. Then his eyes were drawn toward the prone form amidst the upended fowl. It was the catering person he'd sent to get him more chippin. And, the boy's face was all blue.

People around him chattered in alarm. "He's been poisoned--" "Did you see who did it?" "Oh, he was the cute one, wasn't he?" "I don't think I've ever seen quite that shade before though--"

Weibran felt the room spinning. Oh, how could someone do such a vile and despicable thing? Food? How could someone poison the food of all things? Oh the horror! Why not knives or blasters or something dastardly and wicked, but not the food!

He quickly ordered the body removed and bid all his guests to return to the merriment. Oh, it was tragic. And, everything was going so well too.

Slightly subdued, Weibran set out to find Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat. Perhaps if he could acquire the brown-eyed lovely, he could lift his spirits. Or maybe another platter of chippin.

***

Weibran found Kaysa dancing with his fellow crimelord Zale Tregat. He gave them both a smile as he approached. He could tell they were married as they each wore matching masks. He adjusted his own mask and decided to get straight to the point. "Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat," he said. "I wish to buy your girl from you, the beautiful young blonde. I must have her as one of my dancers."

Kaysa stumbled in mid-step and squinted at the man as if doing so would facilitate comprehension of what the Hutt had just said. "You--" She glanced up at Zale with mouth agape, then slowly, her mouth curled into a smile. "So, you wanna buy Shiv." Her eyes focused on the Hutt again. "How much would you be willing to pay for my little prize? You know, it wasn't easy procuring her. Sex slaves as experienced and obedient as her are hard to come by."

Shiv! The beautiful little wench had a name, and as he mouthed the words, he knew it was perfect. Just like Tarkayze Butter Fowl, perfect. "Oh, I understand that completely," Weibran said with a nod. "However, she is truly exquisite. I will let you set your price for her, as you must certainly know her value."

Kaysa furtively glanced at Zale, who seemed to be giving an honest effort not to laugh. "Well, Mr...Hutt." She crossed her arms over her chest, giving the illusion she was more imposing a figure than her small frame belied. "Truly told, a slave like that...and the things she can do in bed..." Kaysa gazed across the room at Shiv dancing and sighed wistfully for effect. "I'm sure you've had many slave girls, Mr. Hutt so you must understand that some are just far too precious to place a price upon."

"But it's her dancing I need," Weibran said. "The way she moves. Look at the way her arms and legs move with the music, the way her torso twists with the tempo." He knew there was some sort of culinary metaphor for her movement, but for the life of him he couldn't imagine what it was. I really need something to eat, he told himself. "Oh exquisite. I'd go hungry for the chance to have her dance for me!" He thought about that, then turned back to Kaysa. "Well, maybe not hungry, but she's so beautiful and graceful. Surely there must be a price you would agree upon to let her dance for me."

Kaysa kept her face neutral and unreadable as she regarded the large human. There was no way she was placing Shiv into his sticky, grubby hands. She imagined it would take a week just to wash it away, and then the smell... "You know, Mr. Hutt, I'm afraid I can't make any final decisions on this matter alone. Perhaps you would care to propose your offer to Shiv's other partial owner." Kaysa raised her hand and extended her forefinger towards the stage where an up-tempo jizz piece was being performed, and the singer was practically cringing as he belted out the second verse of a song about a woman, a bantha, and a speeder.

"Mordock? Mordock's her owner?" Weibran laughed. "Well, I'll have to go talk to him. We're good friends, you see. I helped him track down his girlfriend when she was nabbed by some petty crook. That's why he plays for me. I think that he'll give me a fair price for her."

Kaysa chewed her lip to stifle a laugh. "Oh...I'm sure he will. It's the least he could do for a man who practically single-handedly rescued his sex slave girlfriend from the clutches of some evil fiend."

"Sex slave girlfriend? You mean that divine creature out there dancing is his girlfriend and his sex slave? Oh, quite delightful. But, he just lets her go dance with other men? A creature so lovely should be kept close so she's always ready to dance for you."

"Oh, she dances alright," Kaysa said with a knowing smile. "All night long too."

Zale quickly turned away so the crimelord wouldn't see him on the verge of falling onto the floor laughing. "I think I should get us drinks," he whispered. "Lots of drinks." He couldn't move himself though. The interchange between Kaysa and Weibran was too priceless to miss.

"Oh she does? Oh marvelous. Then I really must go speak with Marmack about acquiring her. Oh, isn't she beautiful? Just imagine what her dance would be like with little bells attached to her costume, and her hair pulled back in an intricate braid laced with golden thread. Oh, so beautiful. I'll go speak with Melbrick now."

Kaysa narrowed her eyes in puzzlement at Zale and mouthed, "Melbrick?" She returned her gaze to Weibran and forced a large, pleasant grin. "Well...good luck, Mr. Hutt. I hope to see my little, blonde sex biscuit dancing for you soon." She gave a polite bow to Weibran, then slipped her arm through Zale's and quickly pulled him away so they could emit the riotous laughs they'd been painfully suppressing.

With a gracious smile, Weibran started off toward where the band played. It was all going so well, so very well. Before he could reach the band, a man grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.

"Weibran," the man called out, his voice loud and boisterous despite the mere quarter of a meter that separated them. "You are looking good, boya. You don' remember me do you? Nimbre. Nimbre Fredketh. I ran a shipment of blasters for you a few years back. I got my own group now. Fredketh Inc., we call ourself. Nice, eh? Here, let me buy you a drink..."

"But," Weibran protested. It was pointless. "The drinks are free."

"I know," Nimbre said with a large grin. "I wouldn't be buyin' otherwise. You got good stuff here, Weibran. I like those little things with that green stuff."

"Chippin," Weibran said. "It's quite good. I had a platter, but the caterer who was bringing it to me had an accident."

"Oh, yes, I saw that. Poor kid. These days, you really gotta watch your health." He glanced at Weibran's bulk, and decided a change of subject would be good. "So, how's business for you, Weibran?"

"It's good," the hutt said with a smile. "So, how about yours?"

Weibran quickly learned that there was one thing Nimbre knew how to do better than anything else: talk. He must have been standing there for nearly an hour just listening to Nimbre Fredketh talk. With eyes shifting over toward the bandstand on one side and tables piled with food on the other, Weibran knew he couldn't leave. A dutiful host was attentive to his guests' needs...and Nimbre had a need to talk.

With only the chippin in his hand to sustain him, Weibran raised the food to his lips as Nimbre started in on his organization's operations in the core of the system, and just as the food touched his lip, it toppled forward down toward the ground. "Oh..." Weibran frowned as it hit the ground. He looked around, and quickly (as quickly as one of his bulk could move) bent down to retrieve it, muttering something about five seconds.

He popped the juicy morsel into his mouth and savoured its flavour. Delicious. The catering staff was truly to be commended. He turned to Nimbre and his eyes widened. A blade protruded from the talkative man's throat, blood gurgling out around the hilt. A smile spread across Weibran's lips when he noticed the sudden silence that seemed to emanate from the man. Thank the gods, he added; then he looked around quickly, and scurried off toward the band. At least he wasn't the only one who thought Nimbre Fredketh was a talkative boor.

***

Weibran had just reached the edge of the bandstand when a sudden commotion near the door brought him around again. "For the love of a Rodian hembri stew, what is it now?" he muttered. He saw white-clad figures pouring into the room, blasters held up and ready to shoot anyone that made a hasty move. "No!" he shouted, rushing forward. "Not my party. Not tonight!"

As he lumbered past a group of people, he overheard a snippet of conversation that seemed to be spreading through the room faster than the Stormtroopers flooding through the door. "The Emperor is dead. The Empire has fallen!"

The Stormtroopers seemed to be receiving the news at the same time as the party guests. They were stunned, confused. They were uncertain about what they could do. How could they arrest anyone in the name of the Empire when the Empire was no more? Some managed to escape before his guests turned on them. Gorr'gerarrar, the leader of one of the smaller smuggling organizations operating out of Thanatos picked up a Stormtrooper before the man could escape, and hurled him through one of the massive punch bowls.

As the pinkish-red liquid rained down, the barely contained chaos seemed to erupt like a starfighter pierced by enemy turbolasers. Weibran waddled up to the central dais, his seat of power, and made an attempt to calm the masses.

"No! No, this must not be! Stop the fighting. The party has not ended. The party must continue. The food! The drink! Do not do this! I demand that you all--"

The sentence was never finished as the chair atop the dais suddenly burst asunder, becoming an explosive shower of fire and debris. Weibran's scream filled the room and then was cut off. The concussive force of the blast shook the entire building, flinging people to the floor under its shockwave. Fire boiled up from the center of the dais, and stretched out to find the bodies of those nearby, to consume them in its fiery grip. The ceiling crumbled from the force of the blast, blackening under the searing heat. The explosion had served to achieve Weibran the Hutt's demand: the fighting had, in fact, ceased. Only to be replaced by panic.

---

"Of Masks and Murder, Part 1"
By: Raxis L'Ygr - Bounty Hunter
Ronan Dayre - Slicer

Location: The New Plouton Arms, New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

The day began for Raxis a calm one, awoken by the sound of a shrill alarm clock and freshened by the loving embrace of a lukewarm shower. He was already weaving through the marketplace like a spider spinning a web, and was smiling for a change. He was on his way to "Kapapa's Kantina" to meet a friend.

Friends were such a wonderful concept to a man whose world was filled with such violence and pain, and it wasn't a common occasion for him to mix business with pleasure. After wading through the sea of rank market goers, Raxis stood in front of the misspelled cantina with a grin.

"Someone should teach those Rodians how to write in basic..." Raxis mused as he adjusted the crimson scarf that held his hair in a ponytail, and disappeared into the collection of filthy spacers within.

It didn't take Raxis long to find him. Ronan Dayre always near the back of the cantinas, and was wearing his trademark violet coveralls. For years, Raxis had attempted to convince Ronan to wear less flashy apparel, but given his reputation amongst the Hutts it never caused him to be the focus of any cantina teasing sessions.

"Raxis you old dog..." Ronan mused as he neared the table. "What's a filthy low-life like yourself doing in a cantina that serves watered down Bantha piss?"

"I should ask you the same, Nerf herder." Raxis chuckled and warmly shook the man's hand. "Glad you could get here on such short notice."

"What are you talking about? Didn't you hear the news? Ever since the club got shut down I haven't had much to do other than lay low and spend my credits. Two birds with one stone, isn't that what they say? Vacations are a good thing!"

"You always were quite the extravagant, Rone," Raxis quipped. "Well vacation or not, I'm not on one. I've got a date tonight with a 300 pound pale-skin and we can drink later. As you see, the prince doesn't have but a thing to wear to the party."

"Business as usual? Seems to me you can't shake that totalitarian ideal they taught you when you were one of those porcelain troops. Yeah, I got the papers, you got the plastic?" Ronan mused in his effeminate manor with a debutante spin of the wrist.

"This should cover it..." Raxis added, as he flipped a cred-chip across the table into Ronan's drink. Raxis always hated being called a porcelain, but it was due punishment for being a reformed Stormtrooper. On one too many occasions during his service, he'd had the pleasure of arresting a few peasants who'd referred to him as one...conveniently listing them as seperatists.

Ronan scowled as the chips landed in his Rodian wine, and chuckled as he flipped the shiny envelope up into Raxis' nose. Raxis laughed and then slid the envelope into the folds of his tunic.

"So tell me, were you there when it happened on Tatooine?" Raxis asked, as the two began to share stories about the years they spent without eachothers' company.

***

"Oh you're going to the ball tonight? We've been getting customers in and out of the bazaar all day," the woman exclaimed. "We've even had Merrick Braston in here, he's so talented. We'll make sure you walk out of the store dressed to kill, sir," she added.

Of the many occasions Raxis loathed, it was shopping in the upper class part of town. The rich debutantes and the bustle of whining housewives always made him sick to his stomach, and the money spent to buy such frail clothing could easily be used to outfit a fleet of trading cruisers. However, Raxis could not afford to stick out like a sore thumb in a menagerie of crystalline puppets, and be easily remembered as the only one that could be described when the party came crashing to a halt. No, he couldn't afford to become the scapegoat for the night's affairs whether he'd caused them or not.

"I'm looking for something in a crimson shade..." Raxis began. "No lace, no frills, and no effeminate qualities. I want to look good, but not like a Rodian Jawa lover. Can it be done?"

The lady giggled and covered her mouth with a knowing wink. "A soldier, eh? I can always pick them from the way they order their garb. Now, if you don't mind young women taking your measurements, we can get started right away."

Reluctantly, Raxis moved to the fitting room and disrobed. A small fleet of employees surrounded him with sizing tapes, chalk, and fabrics. For what seemed like hours, he stood in his undergarments while attempting to not appear to enjoy it. The girls were attractive despite their overly spastic attitudes. Raxis was slowly reminded with each word they spoke, that the upper crust tendency to end every sentence in a quick exclamation made his stomach turn as much as the schools that taught them to speak in such a manner.

"So how long have you worked for the Empire?" a small, petite blonde asked him as she teasingly wrapped the measuring tape around his bicep, as she admired his tattoos.

"Retired..." Raxis replied, quietly.

"Oh? Sounds exciting, getting to see the universe and wear those neat uniforms. I bet you were a lady killer weren't you?" She grinned.

Raxis couldn't help but chuckle. The girl was obviously uninformed as to the thousands of women and children the Empire alone had been responsible for the deaths of.

"Something of the sort. It gets a little cold on the Star Destroyers," Raxis flirted, spinning his web around the impressionable young girl. "I bet this must trouble your boyfriend, sizing up men in such little clothing all day long."

"Girls that work this hard don't get out to the cantinas much to meet them," she flirted back. "I'm not much of an exception."

Raxis grinned and tilted his head heavily to one side, until the joints popped therapeutically. "Midnight, at the lounge of the Windsor hotel." At this time, it was a little too obvious what this was going to lead to.

"How ironic, I planned to eat dinner there tonight," she said with a wink. "Now let me show you to the assortment of masks we have on display for the occasion."

Raxis watched her walk to the rack of masks, sizing her form down as she did so. She was a small girl, standing to merely his neck, and was thin with voluptuous hips. She wore a tight skirt that fell a few inches above her knees to a length that the morality guards would protest. He would enjoy removing it. He raised his eyes, to meet her gaze. There could be no doubt from the grin upon her face, that she had witnessed him watching her. Her inviting grin looked down over his form, and she raised an arm to wave him over.

"You'll still be in the clothes at the cantina, I assume? I'd so prefer it," she mused. "Now let's pick a mask."

---

"Of Masks and Murder" Part II
By: Raxis L'Ygr - Bounty Hunter

Location: The New Plouton Arms, New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

The speeder came to a halt in front of the New Plouton Arms, and the chauffeur hurried to the side door to expose the new arrival to the party. It was dark again in the city, and the speeders awaiting their turn in line to drop off their guests were many. After a grueling thirty minute wait, Raxis could finally find himself a less impatient man.

"We have arrived, sir," the chauffeur announced, as the door slid open.

Donning his porcelain mask, Raxis stepped from the vehicle onto the platform. Pala, the girl from the Bazaar, had suited him extravagantly in a crimson suit with breeches the color of blackened smoke. A red cape flowed from his back, and was fastened to his right shoulder blade to an ornate shoulder plate. The buttons on his tunic that ascended from his left hip to his shoulder were connected with chrome chains and steel buttons that were shaped like serpent beasts. One, too small for the unwary eye to see, had red eyes.

Staring from eyesockets were Raxis' jade green eyes. His mask was colored the purest shade of white, adorned with emblems of a serpent's tail spiraling across his face. To his good fortune, Pala was also a beautician, and had elected to design his hair in a fashionable ponytail with a silken crimson knot. Complete with an obsidian cane, Raxis was indeed dressed to kill...which was the point.

He made his way up the platform to the security checkpoint, surrounded by the best dressed scum in the galaxy. Behind him, a man and a woman waited impatiently as they discussed the night's affairs. The woman, with a scar down her face from a blade, was beautiful despite her forced deformities. The waiting process, for this event, Raxis found to be tiresome and slow. However, the goons at the security gate patted him down and allowed him passage as the weapons scanner failed to detect his expertly created implement of destruction. It was a small amount of highly volatile liquid used as a component of hyperdrive applicator, shelled in a chromium ornament. It was completely common, completely inconspicuous, and completely deadly when combined with a homemade detonator.

For what seemed like ages, Raxis stood amongst the wall and made conversation with the debutantes. Tonight, Hutch Dobbs was his alias. He'd used it a few times before on Tatooine as a notification of his alliance with the Hutts. He couldn't believe that the host of the party was nicknamed the "Hutt" and allowed it to pass. What kind of fool would gain the Hutt's attention in such a manner, when the surname of Hutt was reserved for members of the family itself? It couldn't be allowed to continue, and Jadda would be pleased with his ability to act in the wishes of the Hutts without need of order. After all, Jabba had personally accepted him for assassinating a Hutt double agent, when Raxis was a mere outsider. It placed him inside the circle, and Raxis intended to stay within that circle.

From the corner of his peripheral vision, Raxis watched the monstrosity of a human waggle across the floor to introduce himself to his guests. Did he invite the Hutts? Raxis assumed that he didn't, for he didn't see a single Hutt in sight. Raxis found it to be quite pretentious for a grotesque low life such as Weibran to shake his riches in the faces of his fellow crimelords, and he was currently wooing the same scarred guest who sat in line behind him earlier.

Where does this fool get off, Raxis thought to himself. The universe knows that crime families need to obey their boundaries. This is, after all, his own fault. Is he trying to take business from the Hutts by inviting all of these crime families to dinner, and subsequentally wine and dine them into submission? I think not.

With slight of hand, Raxis slipped the red-eyed pendant from his tunic, and concealed it beneath his cape.

One large, pretentious corpse, Raxis thought to himself, grinning beneath the expressionless gaze of his mask. Again in the circle, and afterwards in the sack with a rich Bazaar employee. Raxis...you are quite the hunter.

With expert aim, he clicked the eyes of the pendant while walking past the dais. The head of the pendant flew and imbedded itself into the bottom of the throne's seat. With such a perfect location, all Raxis had to do now was wait for Weibran to grow tired and sit. Being that Weibran was overweight and lazy, Raxis assumed it wouldn't be long.

However, life had its way of complicating things.

A ruckus began near the door, as the metallic and muffled sound of Stormtroopers issuing orders flooded the entry way. Cowardly crimelords began to flee as their muscle began to scuffle with the soldiers, and the party began to dissipate as Weibran begged them to cease and desist. With luck, Weibran decided to head to high ground to yell over the crowd, and the only high ground in the ballroom was the dais.

"Thank your lucky star, Raxis," he mused.

With but a tap of his pendant, the chair exploded in a bright flash of flame and debris. Smoke curled up from the dais, and Weibran couldn't be found. Now was the time for Raxis to leave.

Fleeing with the crowd, Raxis pretended to be an upset debutante and made his way to the repulsorlift. An older lady hurried past Raxis, moving to the same lift. The old lady, however, was quickly silenced with a swift rabbit punch to her throat, and she fell to the ground gasping for air.

"You there, halt!" a metallic voice called from behind him.

Stopping still, blocking entrance to the lift, Raxis stood with his back to the stormtrooper. Peering into the small mirrors he'd installed in the sides of the mask, he could see a lone trooper behind him with a blaster rifle.

"I'm halted..." Raxis called, raising his empty arms to his sides.

The stormtrooper approached, lowering his rifle to pull a pair of binders from his utility belt. It was obvious that this trooper was unseasoned, and it was the last move the trooper ever made.

Spinning, Raxis grabbed the wrist of the Stormtrooper and twirled behind his back. He raised a swift knee into the ribs of the soldier, and spun back to his front side. Growling, Raxis twisted the wrist of the trooper with a resounding crack, as the bones in his wrist gave way. With lightning reflexes, Raxis grabbed the rifle falling from his hand and buried the barrel into the trooper's breastplate, pulling the trigger.

The world went black, as the Stormtrooper flew through the air, dying as the hole in the center of his chest began to smoke.

Raxis stepped onto the lift, and left the party to its own demise.

***

"Thank you for the clothing..." Raxis grinned as he kissed Pala. "I owe you many months."

"Many months is it? If the rumors of the fall of the Empire are true, you can owe me more than that, Raxis," she said with a grin, shoving him back onto the bed. "I'm so happy that you didn't get hurt...it must have been terrifying."

"I was alright, darling. I was a good soldier and was able to get free." Raxis grinned up at her. "You had none to worry."

"Oh, I doubt that, Raxis. I planned ever since I saw you enter the cantina in one piece to wash your wounds. You have none, so I'll have to ease your weary soul."

"Yes, I am feeling a little astonished, and could use a little warming up," Raxis said playfully, and rested on his elbows, looking up at her.

Grinning down at him, Pala unlaced the first bracers of her skirt, and it fell to the floor. Raxis, whether she knew it or not, was about to get paid very well for one of his rare, free of charge assassinations.

---

"Prelude to Eternity, Part 1"
By: Merrick Braston
Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat
Moril Astren [NPC]

Location: The New Plouton Arms - New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 7, 4 ABY

***

Through the closed refresher door, Shiv's voice, singing one of Merricks' many songs, drifted through the apartment. Only Kaysa and Shiv were there now, since Merrick had left an hour ago to meet up with the band. The door opened and Shiv poked her head out to where Kaysa was working at applying a layer of coloured polish to her fingernails.

"Which earrings," Shiv asked. She held up two different sets, one sparkled and shined as the light touched it. The other was shaped into the form a pair of miniature knives. "I can't decide."

Kaysa squinted as she appraised the two pair of earrings. "I'm thinking...go with the less threatening ones. You don't wanna frighten Moril away when he moves in for a kiss."

Shiv grinned. "Sparklies then," she said. "I'm done in there if you need it. I just have to put on my dress. Are you nervous? I'm really nervous? I've never really gone out like this before. And, I'll be going out with Moril wearing an equadi. It's just strange I guess, but are you nervous? My stomach feels like it has flutterbies in it. All flittery and such." She quickly turned back from her dress to look at Kaysa. "What if he wants to have sex?"

Kaysa's hand slipped and the nail brush ran a dark red line along her finger, missing the nail completely. "Shiv!" She quickly put the brush aside and began wiping the polish off before it dried. "What kind of question is that? I mean...do you wanna have sex with him?"

Shiv felt herself blush. "Well, I-- I wouldn't mind. He's very cute, and nice. But, I'm with you and Merrick. I shouldn't be off sleeping with Moril. I can kiss him though, right? Kissing's okay, like the other day. That's alright, right?"

"Of course it is," Kaysa replied after resuming the application of her red nail polish. She paused before placing the brush anywhere near her finger and asked, "With or without tongue this time?"

Shiv grinned. "Hmmm," she said. "That would be telling, wouldn't it? But, if Moril kisses me with tongue, it's not like I have much of a choice, right?"

Kaysa laughed dryly and shook her head. "Oh, of course not. It's not like you'd try to stop him anyway. You've got a crush on him, Shiv. I think Merrick and I should be worried."

Shiv glanced at Kaysa and raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think you and Merrick could ever be in danger? If it wouldn't mess up your nails and my hair and makeup, I'd pounce on you and show you just how worried you should be."

"You insatiable sex fiend," Kaysa teased affectionately. She replaced her nail brush within the bottle of polish and rose from her seat while gently blowing on her nails. "I'm not worried at all. In fact, watching you kissing him and knowing you'll end up in my bed anyway just makes me more confident of your love for us."

"You and Merrick are everything," Shiv said as she moved closer and brushed a hand along Kaysa's arm. "No matter how much I kiss Moril, I'm yours and Merrick's for good. For always."

"I know, Shiv. I don't doubt that." She leaned forward and kissed Shiv upon the forehead. "I love you and I know no matter how far your eyes stray, you'll never run off with anyone else. If you did, I'd just have to hire some goons to track you down and drag you back to my bed."

"Ooh," Shiv purred, "that sounds like fun. Maybe we'll have to try that sometime."

"Don't you dare!" Kaysa laughed and kissed Shiv. She tested to ensure her nails were set, then moved towards the refresher. "But kiss him all you want, Shiv. I know if you see Zale and I kissing, you'll get jealous and have the urge to kiss too. Since Moril will be the only one within proximity...I guess you have little choice."

"It's not jealousy," Shiv said with a grin. "It's just that I hate feeling left out. So, I have to kiss too."

"No need to justify your future actions to me, Shiv. I understand completely. You look up to me and wish to emulate me, so when I'm on the dancefloor making out with Zale, you just can't help but do the same." Kaysa laughed and stepped out of the refresher wearing a startlingly white gown that brushed along the floor as she moved. "Just have fun, Shiv. Don't worry about me or Merrick. You deserve to just let go, especially after all you've been through, my sweet."

"Really? Ooh! Then I'm gonna have sex with Moril," she sang, and started dancing around, setting the words to one of Merrick's more upbeat songs.

"Oh, you little tramp!" Kaysa wrapped her arms around Shiv's waist from behind and impeded her whimsical dance. "If you're having sex with him, how can you be in my bed too?" She slid her hands up to Shiv's breasts and chuckled softly. "I guess you'll have to make a choice," she said as she caressed them tenderly. "Whose bed would you prefer to be in?"

"Poor Moril," Shiv said with a giggle. "I'll have to give him an extra special kiss to get him through the night."

Kaysa pressed a kiss firmly upon Shiv's cheek and pulled away. She swatted her rear and laughed. "Go get dressed, my little nymph. Zale and Moril will be here soon to pick us up."

"I bet Moril will really like the one I picked out. Do you think the equadi is a good choice for this? I mean it's all crimelords and stuff, and I'll be practically naked."

"Oh, it should be fine. I'm sure Moril will fight them off if they get too close." Kaysa smoothed the bodice of her dress, then tugged on the strapless bosom to test how securely it fit, hoping it wouldn't slide down while she was dancing. "And Zale's there too. With one hard stare, the crimelords will think thrice about even looking at you."

"All sorts of protection," Shiv said as she lifted her dress and then started slipping into it. It felt like she was dressed in a feather, and knew the way the dress moved against her body she'd be more than ready to make love to Kaysa after the party tonight. "Moril looks like a good dancer, doesn't he? I mean, he's not going to step on my feet, right? I can wear those sandals I got, and not my boots. I don't think I should go barefoot like we did when we were Zale's slaves... I mean, the host is a Hutt. He's got to leave this slimey trail wherever he goes, and I really don't want to step in that."

Kaysa grinned as she took a seat and began slipping on her own shoes. "He's not really a Hutt, Shiv. He just calls himself that for some odd, jaded reason. Zale said so. Maybe he thinks it sounds more threatening...but I still wonder why anyone would name themselves after such an unflattering creature."

"They're gross," Shiv said as she settled her dress into place. "I hope I never see one. I think I'd probably...embarrass myself." She made a face that conveyed one emotion: yuck. "If I do see one, Zale will protect me." Once her dress was in place, she took a seat next to Kaysa and started putting on her sandals.

"I think you're infatuated with the image of Zale as your valiant protector." Kaysa nudged Shiv with her shoulder and grinned. "You've got a crush on my husband, don't you?"

"He is a very sexy man, especially when he dresses all in black and gets all businessy. He gets that look, and you know you don't wanna mess with him. He just oozes with sexiness...but oozing in a good way."

"Not like Hutts ooze, right?" Kaysa winked playfully at Shiv as she rose and moved in front of the full-length mirror to appraise herself one last time. "He is quite sexy," she muttered absently. She twisted around to study how the dress hugged the curves of her rear, then grumbled and tried to flatten her seemingly oversized buttocks with her hands. "A different kind of sexy from Merrick sexy. Zale's brawny sexy. But sexy really is sexy, so..."

"Yes, Merrick and Zale are both sexy in their own way," Shiv said as she moved closer to Kaysa to help with the dress. "And, then there's Kaysa sexy. Just gets me all heated up being close to her sexiness. And, Moril's got this innocent sexiness that makes you just want to hug him and kiss him."

"Oh, Shiv, you can't resist hugging and kissing half the population of New Plouton." Kaysa laughed and batted away Shiv's frisky hands as they began doing more than adjusting her dress. She looked at Shiv's reflection in the mirror and smiled. "You look beautiful, my love. Moril will definitely have the urge to hug and kiss you too tonight."

Shiv giggled. "Oh, and I'm too much the affection slut to stop him. I'm probably going to look really silly with the mask on, but that's what Weibran the Hutty Hutt Hutt wanted... You look beautiful too, Kaysa. You make me want to tell Moril to go with Zale, and I'll be your date tonight."

Kaysa turned and slipped her arms around Shiv's waist. "Just because I'm Zale's date doesn't mean I can't sneak away for a dance or a little face sucking during the evening. And you look cute in the mask, so don't worry about a thing."

"I hope Merrick plays that one he wrote for us, 'Whispers of Sunshine.' I want to dance with you to that one. It's so beautiful, and perfect for us to dance to."

"Then I'll save that one for you, my love." Kaysa kissed Shiv tenderly, then yelped as a horn from below blared. "Oh! They're here!" She grabbed Shiv's hand and pulled her along. "Get your mask, and no sulking, you're wearing it!"

"For you," Shiv said as she grabbed it, "I will!" She rushed behind Kaysa, careful not to get her equadi caught on anything.

Kaysa snatched up her mask from the dressing table and rushed out of the bedroom with Shiv. "The least they could have done was come up to escort us to the hoverlimo. That's it," she said with sigh, "Zale's not getting any tonight."

"Ooh," Shiv said with a giggle, "more for me! Moril doesn't get any either! Well, except for those kisses and hugs, and some dances."

Kaysa and Shiv ran through the apartment door in a flash of white and blue. "This is gonna be so exciting, Shiv! We're gonna be among the elite tonight...well the elite scum, that is."

"I hope they all spend the whole night lusting after us, knowing they can't touch us."

"Except for Zale and Moril, of course. Oh, and that cute singer Merrick Braston." Kaysa laughed and just about flung Shiv into the lift. It descended rapidly to the ground floor, but not fast enough to keep Shiv and Kaysa from exchanging some caresses and kisses. Once upon the ground floor, they stepped out and sauntered with light, excited strides towards the limo. "Gods, I shouldn't have worn white. What if I spill something on myself?"

"Oh Kaysa," Shiv said with a giggle. "You won't spill anything on yourself. Besides, just concentrate really hard on spilling on Zale if you have to spill. And, I don't think he'd mind, especially if you help him clean up. Of course if I spill anything on myself, it'll be like having my own personal wet equadi contest."

"Moril will faint, Shiv! Oh, the poor man has no idea what he's in for tonight."

"I'll be gentle," Shiv said with a smile. "Ooh! There they are!"

Kaysa pulled Shiv back before she burst through the doors, and grabbed her waist to hold her at her side. "We shall greet them like the ladies we are." Kaysa suppressed a grin, but to no avail. She laughed and released her hold on Shiv. "Oh, go on. Go give Moril a big kiss."

Shiv giggled. "I'll just make sure I don't leap up into his arms yet. And, you better give Zale a big kiss too...and one for me too. I don't think Moril would like me kissing your date."

Kaysa laughed and swatted Shiv's rear. "You can kiss who you want, Shiv. Kiss 'em both for all I care!"

"I will," Shiv called back. With screeching giggles, she rushed forward into Moril's arms. By the time Kaysa reached the hoverlimo, she and Moril were still kissing.

"Good evening, my beautiful wife," Zale said with a smile. "Are you ready to go impress the Tae'Karadan underworld?"

Kaysa slinked over to Zale, her head held aloft in a haughty manner, but she couldn't maintain the false display of sophistication for long. With a squeal, Kaysa rushed towards Zale and hopped up into his arms. "My dear husband, it's only your opinion of me that matters at all."

"And, your wild, lesbian lover," Zale said with a grin. "You two look very beautiful tonight."

"And you look handsome." Kaysa narrowed her eyes at him playfully and tugged on a strand of pleated hair. "Which rich female crimelord are you trying to woo, Mr. Kaysa Zenarr?"

"Well, that all depends," Zale said with a grin. "You haven't named yourself a crimelord yet, have you?" He pulled her into his arms, kissed her, and grinned. "You are the only woman I would ever wish to woo."

"You can do that at the party. You know, I never have seen you really dance before. I mean that night at the bar with Shiv, you were dancing...I guess. But real dancing...I've never seen. You'll have to show me tonight."

"Don't worry, my love," Zale said with a smile. "I'll show you some of my better moves at the party tonight. That is if Shiv and Moril detach and get into the limo..."

Shiv giggled. "I heard that," she said, her lips still pressed to Moril's. After a moment, she did detach herself and turned to Zale. "Oh, you are looking as hot as I told Kaysa you'd be looking." She then slipped her arms around him, and gave him a kiss that was only a little less intense than the one she'd just given Moril.

"Hey!" Kaysa protested. "Hands off my husband, wench."

"Keep your jets on idle," Shiv said. "You're next." Once she finished kissing Zale, she turned to Kaysa. Before kissing her though, she glanced back at Moril and Zale. "Do you mind? This is a private moment between me and my girlfriend."

Zale laughed. "We'll be waiting in the cab," he said as he motioned for Moril to get in. "Just don't make us late you little trollop."

Shiv giggled, and then slinked into Kaysa's arms. "Here's to a wonderful party." With that, she gave Kaysa a kiss.

Kaysa couldn't keep her hands from wandering to Shiv's rear, which was separated from her bare hands by only a thin layer of blue chiffon. "Oh my..." she breathed as she pulled her lips away. "We should maybe forget this party altogether and go back inside. I won't be able to keep my hands off you tonight."

Shiv made a noise halfway between a purr and a moan. "Oh I wish we could," she whispered. "But, Merrick's expecting us. And, I really want to dance with you tonight. We'll come back here after, and I'm going to make you scream." She kissed Kaysa again. "And, maybe we can slip away together at the party...to freshen up." Her lips brushed against Kaysa's ear. "And, you can help me adjust my panties."

Smiling slyly, Kaysa slipped her hand beneath Shiv's equadi and between her legs. "Oh dear... My love, it would appear you're not wearing any. I guess you'll just have to help me adjust mine at the party."

Shiv's moans grew louder and she giggled huskily. "Oh, I would love to adjust your panties for you, my love," she said. "Maybe we could slip back inside for a little--"

"No," Zale said from the door of the hoverlimo. "No, slipping back inside. You two will have to do that later. We're running late. Now, please get in before you get arrested by the Morality Guard."

"Again?" Kaysa withdrew her hand with a stubborn huff and dawdled towards the hoverlimo alongside Shiv. "I think we need to teach him to loosen up, Shiv. He's grown far too serious since I married him."

"He has," Shiv said with a grin. "I say you get his pants and I'll get his shirt, then we'll show him what we think of the morality guard."

Zale laughed. "Get in here you two," he said. "We've got some nice fruit juice and various little snacks. And, there's a holoplayer in here for our amusement. Get in so we can get to that party, and get dancing."

Kaysa's mood brightened and with a giggle, she literally shoved Shiv into the limo. She followed closely behind, settling atop Zale's lap and covering his face with kisses. "Our first social gathering as a married couple. Isn't this exciting?"

Zale laughed under the sea of kisses he was receiving. "It is," he said. "And, I think we're going to definitely draw attention to ourselves; the four of us that is. You know, I think I like going places with my wife."

"We've only really been out to dinner and to your various apartments. Hardly going places." Kaysa laughed and finally took her place next to Zale. She pulled her mask from her purse and turned away to put it on. It was white, as was her dress, but its borders and the eyeslits were limned with gilt. At the shop, she insisted to Zale that they purchase masks that concealed only the top half of their faces. Her reasoning: she couldn't slip her husband the tongue if their mouths were covered.

Once the mask was securely in place, she faced them all again and asked uncertainly, "Does this look stupid? I mean...why the hell masks? Is this Hutt guy so monstrous looking that he needs to cover his face with a silly mask?"

"I don't think he's monstrous," Zale said. "He just has some very...strange ideas. I can't explain it, or why he's still around. I figure someone would have killed him by now."

Kaysa grinned at Zale suspiciously. "Have you tried? Or too ashamed to admit that you did, but failed?"

"He's harmless," Zale said. "Usually the only ones that try are the ones who think they have something to prove. I'm secure enough in who I am, and where my business is at, that I don't need to prove anything by picking on Weibran. He's actually quite amusing, though not very bright."

"Then I hope to meet him tonight. Shiv, on the otherhand, is worried he secretes that slime all the Hutts do. I tried to tell her he was human, but... Kids will be kids." Kaysa shrugged her shoulders and playfully stuck out her tongue at Shiv.

"Promises, promises," Shiv said with a giggle as she snuggled closer to Moril. "And, since he's not leaving a trail of slime everywhere, I could have left my sandals at home. Though, if there's a crowd, I'd hate to have my foot stepped on." She glanced at her feet and realized with as little as the straps of the sandals covered, it wouldn't matter if she was wearing them or not when someone stepped on them. "Well, on second thought, Moril will have to protect me."

"I'll protect you, Maeren," he said quickly, and slipped his arms around her. His eyes held a dreamy look as he held her. He still couldn't imagine he was sitting there with her in his arms, or that she was his date, or that she was kissing him with as much passion as she kissed Zale and Kaysa.

"Oh, aren't they so cute?" Kaysa commented as she snuggled against Zale. "I might have to let the little nymph take him to her bed. I'm sure she will agree without hesitation. And if you asked me," she said with a silky smile, "I might just join you in your bed tonight."

"Really," Zale said with a smile. "Well, would you care to join me in my bed tonight? The four of us can go to one of my properties, and we can stay in one room while they're in the other."

Kaysa cooed with delight and ran her hands along Zale's chest. She was about to agree wholeheartedly, but she ended up only shaking her head and pulling away. "We should have asked Merrick beforehand. I don't want to just leave him at the apartment all on his own after the party. It wouldn't be fair. We didn't give him any notice at all."

"Well," Zale said with a grin, "maybe during one of the set breaks, we can talk to him. If he's up to it, maybe the two men in your life can make you feel loved tonight."

Kaysa laughed uncomfortably and once again shook her head. "I'm not ready for that yet, Zale. I... Not yet."

"Very well," Zale said, taking her hand into his. "We still have a whole lot of night ahead of us, and plenty of time to figure out what happens after the party."

"You're right," Kaysa replied with a laugh to relieve the tension. "Just you, me, music and a dancefloor...and not to mention this tight dress of mine. I bet we could have fun watching you try to find a way underneath it."

"Oh, I've already got a few ideas," he said as he brushed his hand down her thigh to her knee. "It's a very nice dress. I think you and Shiv should pose for a holoportrait together. I think this much sexiness should be saved for posterity."

"What about the sexiness you and Moril are exuding?" Kaysa looked over at Moril, completely absorbed in kissing Shiv, and laughed. "I think they'll definitely require a room after this party."

"If they don't slow down, they'll need it before the party," Zale said. He tapped Moril's foot with his own. When the kiss broke, he shook his head. "No sex on the dance floor, you two. I don't want to have to apologize to Weibran when the Morality Guard storm the party and drag you two away."

Shiv giggled. "Don't worry," she said. "I think we can contain ourselves. You just might not be able to separate us the entire night."

"We wouldn't even think of it, Shiv. Now," Kaysa said as she nestled against Zale, "you two carry on with what you were doing, get it outta your system, and we'll tell you when we get to the party."

"Oh thank you," Shiv said as she settled back against Moril and returned her lips to his.

Zale laughed as he folded his arms around Kaysa. "They are cute, that's for sure."

"Do you think we were ever that cute?" Kaysa sighed dreamily and laced her fingers with Zale's. "I bet we'll be the cutest couple there once we both have our matching masks on."

"I think we will be," Zale said. "And, I imagine we can be quite cute when we want to be. I think it's going to be a good night, Kaysa. And, the four of us will have fun, and Merrick will be hotter than anything. And, people will admire and worship us. How's that sound for a night?"

"One perfectly fit for a crimelord and his wife." Kaysa brushed her lips against Zale's ear and moved her hand deftly into his lap. "I love you, Zale Tregat," she whispered. "And not just for your money."

"And, I love you, Kaysa Tregat," Zale whispered. "And not just because of what you're doing with your hand right now."

"Well, we can't have you making a mess right before the party..." Kaysa moved her hand from Zale's lap to a safer area of his lower body, his knee. "You know...I still don't have a wedding band, Zale, which means you can't blame me if I'm overwhelmed with offers to dance from single men at the party. It is your own fault."

"Well, I'll have to do something about that," Zale said with a grin. "And, looking like you do, I wouldn't be surprised if you're getting offers to dance from single women as well."

"Shh! If Shiv hears, she'll get jealous." Kaysa leaned over to check on Shiv and Moril's progress, and determined that Moril's hand was progressing very smoothly up Shiv's skirt. "Okay...correction: she will not be jealous, which means I can accept those offers readily."

"I just hope they don't spend the entire night like that," Zale said. "Or if they do, that it's not out on the dance floor. How does she do it? How can she sway so many people towards her like that? It's uncanny."

"Well, look at her. She's young, beautiful, she exudes this warmth and happiness that is just so infectious. It's not hard to be swayed by someone like that."

"Well, she certainly got to you," Zale said. "And, I don't think I've ever seen you happier. Well, except for when you married me. And, then there was that moment when you saw me again in the prison before you rescued me. Times are good, Kaysa. And, they're only going to get better from here."

"Tell me about it. I've got three lovers who are all very capable of inspiring pleasure in me. How could I not be happy?" Kaysa laughed softly then pressed her lips to Zale's. As she pulled back, her eyes glanced outside the passenger window where she saw a large hotel come into view. "Oh my gods," she commented, barely refraining from vocalizing an expletive. "That thing's almost bigger than the entire Estri-Casren Tower. He owns that?"

Zale looked out the window and whistled. "From what I remember it used to be a hotel, but he bought it a few years ago. Rumour has it that there is a full kitchen on every floor, and every room has food dispensers, even the refreshers. I guess this may be an interesting party after all. If nothing else, the food will be the best you can imagine. This guy is some kind of connoisseur."

Kaysa clambered onto Zale's lap to get a closer view out the window. "Wow...I'm beginning to think I married the wrong crimelord."

Zale kissed the back of Kaysa's neck as she gazed toward the building they were approaching. "Do you want a house like that, a mansion for all of us? Or are you going to leave us all to run off with Weibran?"

"I don't know... I mean, I've always been so caught up on looks." Kaysa mused quietly to herself, then asked, "How overweight is he again?"

Zale thought about it for a moment and then glanced at Kaysa. "How heavy would you say this limo is?"

Kaysa grimaced and settled back down beside Zale. "I think being Mrs. Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat is good enough for me."

"Good," Zale said with a smile. "Though, I've heard rumours that he has a rancor, so we'd better be careful tonight." He kissed her. "And, I'm happy you're Mrs. Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat."

Kaysa laughed wryly. "Of course you are, especially since I came with a spaceport and a smuggling enterprise. I guess you really didn't marry me only for my body."

"I married you...well, I married you because you made me," Zale said with a grin. "But I would have anyway because I love you. Plus you come with your very own blonde trollop."

"I knew you were in it for the blonde," she replied with a playfully menacing glare.

Zale kissed Kaysa and smiled. "Wouldn't you be in it for the blonde? But then you're the real reason, especially the way you make the windows rattle."

Kaysa bit back a large smile, but seeing as Shiv and Moril were too occupied to notice her embarrassment, she allowed her cheeks to flush and her mouth to form a broad grin. "That's only because you do that thing with your tongue so well."

"I do, don't I," Zale said with a grin. "Well, I think tonight I should show you another trick I've learned with my tongue. I think you might like it. But only if you're a good girl."

"Am I ever?" she asked with a crooked smile.

"Never," Zale said with a grin. "I think that's one of the things that I love about you, and it's a trait your blonde girlfriend is picking up. I think we should be afraid."

"And I should feel threatened!" Kaysa slipped her arm through Zale's and pulled him closer to her protectively. "If I'm not careful, she'll snatch you up right from under my nose...or from between my legs, depending on what time of day it is."

"She may be extremely cute," Zale said with a smile, "but she'll never steal me away from you. Besides, I don't think she wants to steal; she just wants to have fun with us, well me. She's head over heels for you and Merrick. I think she'd only ever want to borrow me for a little bit."

"And Moril too," Kaysa added with a nod in their direction. "We'd better get out of this limo soon before the heat of their desires causes them to spontaneously combust."

"We're approaching the parking compound now," Zale said. "Moril, take your hand out from...we're almost there."

Moril and Shiv turned to face Zale and Kaysa, both of them blushing. "I really could use a dance floor right now," Shiv said with a grin. "I've...I've got to dance."

"You almost were a moment ago," Kaysa commented playfully.

Shiv's grin seemed to spread from ear to ear. "I love dancing," she said. "And, I bet Moril's gonna be a good dancer, aren't you?"

"With you as my partner," he said. "How could I not be?"

"See," Shiv said. "I think we should all dance together. Real dancing, not metaphorical dancing. Though, metaphorical dancing may be fun too."

"Save that for later, Shiv. Merrick would be horrified if we started doing...the other dancing while he was up there performing." Kaysa squealed and clapped her hands together as the limo finally halted and the driver exited to open their doors for them. "This is going to be so fun! Oh, Zale, I am so glad I forced you to bring me."

"You didn't have to force much," Zale said with a grin. "Now, everyone get your masks on before we get out of here. I can't believe we're doing this, but it should be very fun tonight."

"Oh, you're looking forward to it, Zale," Kaysa said. "You're just worried I'll do something to embarrass you in front of all your crimelord friends."

Zale laughed. "Well, we'll all have masks on anyhow," he said. "I'm sure they won't even know who we are."

Kaysa helped Zale on with his mask, one matching hers, then slipped her hand into his and waited for Shiv and Moril to exit. After some giddy laughter on Shiv's part, Moril helped her out and Kaysa and Zale soon followed. "You know," Kaysa commented as they strolled along the long, crimson carpet leading to the ornate double doors, "I think you look much better with a mask, my love. So mysterious... It's kinda sexy."

"Really," Zale said with a smile. "Maybe I should wear one more often. We could go out to dinner, and I'll wear my mask. We'll leave everyone wondering about us."

"About how crazy we are, you mean?" They were greeted at the doors by two guards, to whom they surrendered their invitations. The plastisheet cards were scanned using a handheld device Kaysa didn't recognize, and once their authenticity was verified, the guards ceremoniously pushed the doors open. A wave of upbeat, contemporary music, complete with drums and horns, washed over them instantly. Kaysa's excitement bubbled over and soon, she was practically dragging Zale into the ballroom. "Hurry! I wanna wave to Merrick."

Zale hurried forward, followed quickly by Moril and Shiv. "We have to request lots of songs, Kaysa," Shiv said as they hurried toward the large open area ahead from which the music seemed to originate. "It'll be like a Merrick concert!"

"Except no throwing panties!" She looked back at Shiv and was quickly reminded that she was bereft of all form of undergarment. "Ok, correction: no throwing panties for me."

Shiv snapped her fingers and gave a playful pout. "You spoil all my fun," she said with a giggle.

"Well, I'm sure Moril can make your evening rather enjoyable, even without the tossing Merrick panties fiasco."

They finally made it to the end of the long corridor and stepped into the large ballroom. Voices rose above the ambient music and attendees with guised visages were scattered about the entire span of the room. Kaysa's eyes were drawn to the large table extending the length of the large hall and covered with the largest bounty of food she'd ever witnessed. "Do you think he plans on eating that all on his own?"

Zale looked at the food and shook his head. "I really hope some of that is for the guests. I can't imagine anyone eating that much. That's...I think it's impossible. I hope. Maybe we should have brought a sack of food for ourselves...just in case."

"It's okay, I'm not that hungry." She glanced up at Zale with a sly grin and added, "Well...not yet I'm not. Maybe after enough dancing, with my body pressed to yours, I'll regain my appetite."

"Well, maybe we should get over near the band to request a good dancing song," Zale said. "My body's ready to press itself up to yours."

Kaysa purred and gingerly pulled herself into Zale's arms as they redirected themselves towards the stage. "All night, just you and me dancing... Oh, I'm gonna fall in love with you all over again."

"I do that every minute I'm with you," Zale said as he secured Kaysa in his embrace. "Maybe Merrick will play a special song for us. Hey, there he is, talking to that Twi'lek woman."

"Woman?" Kaysa turned around faster than she'd planned, portraying herself as quite the jealous lover. "What do you think they're discussing? Is that her hand on his arm? What-- Should I go over there and say hello...just to interrupt them?"

"I think you should," Zale said with a grin. "Though, be careful, she's a crimelord. Oot Kovan, head of the Tarabassic Syndicate."

"She's a crimelord?" Kaysa scoffed. She folded her arms over her chest and gazed suspiciously at the two. "She better be requesting a song." A tall, dark haired man suddenly swept in and joined the Twi'lek, assuaging Kaysa's fears somewhat, and certainly piquing her curiousity, as well as her feminine desires. "Well... Who's he? Another crimelord? If so, Zale, I think you'd better keep your wife on a tight leash."

"I've never seen him before," Zale said with a laugh. "He's not really much to look at. A pretty boy, really. You like that kind?" At her look, he grinned.

Kaysa frowned at Zale, then playfully swatted at his arm. "He's handsome, and he's got those intense blue eyes..." She laughed and turned back around into Zale's arms. "But he's too clean cut for me. I like the rugged, dangerous types...which makes me begin to wonder why I'm with Merrick."

"Good question," Zale said as he looked back to the three talking. "So, should I be scared of this new hunk of man-flesh? Am I going to have to step out into an alley to show him that you're mine? And, Merrick's. And, Shiv's."

"Don't worry about me. My days of promiscuity are over. I'm a married woman now...and a mother, very soon. I have responsibilities that preclude me from going to seedy bars and picking up stray drunks." She sighed softly and laid her head upon Zale's chest as they swayed gently to the music. "Do you... What do you think of kids, Zale? I mean, with Keeve coming...and I imagine you'll be seeing him alot... It would be easier on you if you tolerated children...I guess."

"Kids are...you know, I've never really thought much about that. I like kids, though I haven't spent much time around them. If you want someone to help you raise Keeve, I'd love to." He kissed her. "And, I more than tolerate them, especially your kid."

"You haven't met him yet. Not that I have either really..." Kaysa chewed her lip, a nervous habit she'd been meaning to shed, but one that helped her from laughing uncontrollably in the face of discussing a tense subject matter. "What about..." Kaysa deliberately avoided his gaze and despite all efforts, lost hold of a soft chuckle. "Have you...well...ever thought about an heir or... Well...you'll need someone to take over when you're..." She chuckled again. "Silly small talk, that's all. Can you really imagine me having your child? It's...comical," she ended quietly.

Zale watched Kaysa for a moment, and then grinned. "What are you trying to say, Kaysa?"

Her gaze flew back to his and she shook her head wildly. "Nothing! I'm just... I'm being rhetorical here. I can't discuss children with you?" She laughed nervously and looked down between them. "I'm just saying that...if you want children, we can talk about it and... Just...just forget it, okay? Let's talk about something else."

"What if I don't want to forget it," Zale asked with a grin. "What if I want to talk about babies and diapers and cribs and early morning feedings?" He laughed at the frosty look she gave him. "Okay, new topic. How about we talk about going over to talk to Merrick and his apparent new friends?"

Kaysa slowly exhaled and felt the tension being drawn from her body. "Thank you," she mumbled. She looked up at him and smiled gently. "We'll talk about this again when I feel ready. But for now, let's go inform that Twi'lek that Merrick is mine."

Zale kissed her and then slipped his hand into hers. "Come on," he said. "After we talk to Merrick, let's get ourselves something cool and refreshing to drink, and then a nice dance out with Shiv and Moril."

"Something cool and refreshing that also doesn't contain alcohol, right?" Zale was already well aware of her personal reasons for swearing off liquor, but it was for more precautionary purposes that she would abstain tonight. She wasn't for certain yet, but she knew the telltale signs from experience, but until she was absolutely sure, she would refrain from giving anyone even a sneaking suspicion.

As they crossed the ballroom, Kaysa's eyes fixed on Merrick preparing to return to the stage. She nearly plowed down a small gathering of discoursing revelers as she closed the distance to Merrick with a sprint, pulling a somewhat unwilling Zale along. "Merrick!"

Merrick turned before stepping up onto the stage. He laughed and started back toward Kaysa. The look on Zale's face was priceless as he was hurled along with Kaysa, and then Shiv and Moril dancing in the background were too cute to even be expressed through song. "You guys made it," he said when they were close enough that he didn't need to shout. "I thought for sure you'd show up an hour late because you couldn't keep your hands off each other."

Kaysa's smile was levelled by the comment and she almost stumbled in her approach. "Well...if you're talking about Shiv and I, we were good. If you're talking about...Zale and I, well...we wouldn't. I mean, we're married, but..." Kaysa stopped stammering before she said something to make the situation far more awkward than it was already. She pulled Zale up beside her and gripped his hand tightly to dissipate the anxiety.

Merrick took Kaysa into his arms and kissed her before she could stammer any more. "Yes you would," he said softly into her ear. "And, it's perfectly fine that you two... You both are married, and you don't have to hide your desires, Kaysa. Now, kiss me like you mean it, my love, and I'll play 'Whispers After Midnight,' tonight."

Kaysa moaned happily and slipped her hand from Zale's. "You know the way to my heart, you fiend." She laughed softly as her arms went around his neck, and her lips enveloped his in a deep kiss. She finally pulled back, needing a lungful of air, and gazed up at Merrick with a dreamy smile.

"So, have you met Weibran yet? He's rather unmistakable, though quite amusing. Oh, there he is. Over by Shiv and Moril. If you watch, he'll consume that entire platter of food. One minute there, the next it's gone."

Kaysa glanced over her shoulder at the man and laughed softly as he interrupted Shiv and Moril. "We only arrived a matter of ten minutes ago," she said as she faced Merrick again. "Zale picked us up in a hoverlimo. He's so romantic when he wants to be."

"A hoverlimo," Merrick said with a big grin. "I'm sure that would be fun with you and Zale, and then Shiv and Moril. They were stuck to each other's faces the entire time, weren't they? We're going to have to watch our girl, Kaysa. I have a feeling she's going to fall in love again. And, looking at him, it looks like Moril is well into loving her. They're quite cute together, aren't they?"

"They are, and getting pretty serious as well. You don't mind sharing her, do you? If that's what she wants...of course."

Merrick glanced across the way at Shiv and Moril and smiled. "I think it'll be okay," he said. "Moril's a very nice guy. As long as she's happy, and as long as she doesn't fall out of love with us." He kissed Kaysa. "And, I think the chances of that are about as great as a freak outbreak of modesty on this planet."

"I guess Shiv is acting as an accomplice to that grave affliction tonight." Remembering her date - and her husband - waiting patiently behind her and being completely neglected, Kaysa playfully skulked back towards him and smiled at her two men. "Well... Um...should you get back to your band? I think Zale was going to pour me some punch. Non-alcoholic, of course, my love."

Merrick waved to the two, and quickly hurried back up to the band platform. Once up there, the band quickly dove into a lively number.

---

"Prelude to Eternity, Part 2"
By: Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat
Oot Kovan
Moril Astren [NPC]

Appearance By: Weibran the Hutt

Location: The New Plouton Arms - New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 7, 4 ABY

***

As Kaysa and Zale danced away toward the table with all the drinks, they were suddenly approached by a very large, nearly round man. It could only be Weibran the Hutt.

"Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat," he said without preamble. "I wish to buy your girl from you, the beautiful young blonde. I must have her as one of my dancers."

Kaysa regarded the man with stunned amusement at first, but she humoured his request without betraying that it was one that would be impossible to grant. As he spoke, Kaysa had the distinct impression he was picturing Shiv jumping out of a gargantuan chocolate cake, then his raspy tongue licking off the confection from her not for sexual gratification, but to simply avoid wasting such a delectable dessert.

As the obese host continued stating his intent to purchase Shiv, Kaysa's attention strayed to Zale. She smiled at him and whispered through her teeth, "Is this man serious?"

"I think he's quite serious," Zale whispered back. "I've heard he doesn't have a sense of humour." He turned his attention toward Weibran and stifled a laugh. He couldn't believe the man was still in business, let alone alive. As Kaysa continued the exchange with the man, playing along as if speaking of buying and selling women was perfectly natural, he could barely keep his laughter inside. He found himself wondering how she was going to get herself out of the whole ordeal when Kaysa deftly pushed Weibran toward Merrick.

It wasn't much longer after that that Weibran waddled off toward the band to ask Merrick's permission to purchase Shiv. Once the man was out of range, Zale laughed. "I never realized just how...how bad he is. And, that was genius, sending him to Merrick. I imagine the whole night will be quite fun and exciting watching us all bounce Weibran around trying to find the right person to sell him Shiv."

"He's doing a good job of bouncing himself around. That man must be made up of about six different layers of fat. How do his legs even support his bulk?" Kaysa laughed and moved with Zale to the buffet table. "Gravity must be that man's biggest enemy, and not even aside from the crimelords. I imagine they think he's as big a joke as I do."

"I imagine so," Zale said as he slipped his hand into Kaysa's. "Let's go get you that drink. You should hear some of the things they say about him. Mostly fat jokes and such. And, I hear that he's got several contracts out on his life, including the Hutts who aren't happy he's using their name."

"But they've gotta admit, it's an appropriate alias. I bet they're just jealous that he can maintain such an abundant mass...especially for a human." Kaysa lifted her mask to alleviate the itch on her nose. "These things are ridiculous. Did he think you and your crimelord pals wouldn't recognize each other if you wore these?"

"Most likely," Zale said with a grin. "He's not exactly the smartest of the bunch. Though, you've got to give him credit for getting anyone to show up. I'm surprised there haven't been a bunch of blaster fights already. This crowd tends to run on the hot tempered side."

"Like you?" Kaysa asked with a knowing smile. "Although, I think I have tamed you somewhat."

"Am I tamed?" Zale asked with a smile as he started pouring them each a drink from the punch bowl. "I think you're worth being tame for. Though, I can't let these other types think they can walk all over me. I'll have to show them who's boss. If you want, I can point out the various nefarious types around here."

Kaysa cradled her rounded cup filled with red punch in one hand and surveyed the room briefly. "You know them all? How could you? I mean, anyone can just pop up onto the scene and appoint themselves as crimelord. Makes me think I should form my own syndicate. Zenarr Industries..." She chuckled and brought the brim of the cup to her red-varnished lips. "I could be your competitor."

Zale laughed. "We could be competitive partners," he said. "And, I actually don't know them all. Only some, the rest I was going to make up things about."

Kaysa mimicked a look of outrage and punched Zale in the arm. "You shouldn't lie to your wife. I might start thinking there are other things you've made up, like how your name really isn't Zale Tregat and you're not really a rich crimelord." She narrowed her eyes interrogatively at him and said, "Moril's the real head of Antorial Industries, isn't he?"

"Actually, he's second on the hierarchy," Zale said. "The real brains is actually Shiv. We noticed you and wondered if you might be a good addition to our enterprise. It just so happens we both fell madly in love with you. Merrick's actually the head of our security division; you'd never know it to look at him, would you?"

"Oh, so his inability to hold his own in a fight is merely a cover, right?" Kaysa shot him a grin, one that soon became a wince as a fork of pain shot through her head. She laughed softly to quickly conceal her discomfort from Zale and placed down her glass before it slipped from her hand. She'd had headaches while carrying Keeve too, which meant her suspicions were beginning to prove true. "It's...it's really loud in here...don't you think?"

"There are a lot of people in here," Zale said. "Did you want to step outside? We can get some air, and get away from the noise."

"No, it's fine," Kaysa assured him, meanwhile gripping the edge of the table so the wave of vertigo she was experiencing wouldn't topple her. "I think I'll just go off to the bathroom, wash my face... I'll be alright after that."

"Go ahead," Zale said. "You're looking a little pale, maybe you should take Shiv with you...just in case. And, you two can compare notes about us guys."

Kaysa managed a smile, one that felt haggard and wiry. "If I can tear her away from Moril." She leaned close to Zale and kissed him. She dared not close her eyes for fear she'd become even more disoriented and stumble into him. "I'll be back soon. Try and seem like you're having a good time without me...if at all possible."

She stepped past Zale, in time to keep him from witnessing another headache-induced wince. The idle conversation and music seemed deafening now and dissonant as her head throbbed with pain. She managed to weave her way through the conglomerate of dancers and find Shiv, not surprisingly so, kissing Moril ravenously. She staggered towards them, but maintained her composure long enough to grab Shiv's arm and her attention with it. "Shiv? Can you come with me for a bit?"

Shiv glanced at Kaysa, and her concern grew with the pained look on her love's face. "Sure," she said quietly. She turned back to Moril. "We won't be long. Now, don't you go off dancing with some other pretty girl, now."

Moril grinned and kissed her. "Not a chance. I'll just go get a drink and listen to the music."

"See you soon," Shiv said, and slipped her arm through Kaysa's. "You have that look of a killer headache. Oh, my poor love."

"Not so bad, really. It's just being exacerbated by all this noise. Once I have some cold water splashed onto my face, I'll be all better and you can get back to dancing with Moril."

"Well, not unless you're doing good," Shiv replied. "And, don't try to fool me to get me back to Moril. I'm going to take care of you, Kaysa. Prepare for pampering."

As they stepped into a foyer, away from all the music and conversation, Kaysa sighed heavily and pulled off her mask. She studied the inside of it idly and attempted to divert Shiv's attention with a trivial observation. "The clerk... She said it's made from this high friction material. That's why it stays on without any extra attachments." Kaysa surreptitiously leaned against Shiv as they walked without rousing her concerns. She was not about to admit she needed coddling or aid of any kind. "Let's find a refresher. We can check how my panties are doing."

"I'll make sure they're doing good for you, Kaysa," Shiv said with a grin. "And, maybe give you a nice long hug. Hugs are good for everything."

"Is that why you've been apparently surgically attached to Moril since we got here?" Kaysa chuckled and slipped her arm around Shiv's waist. "My girl, you can make anyone's sour mood sweeter with merely a smile. That's why I love you so much."

"Sweet is always better than sour," Shiv said with a grin. "At least I think so. And, if I can make your life brighter, then it makes me very happy. But then again, everything about you makes me happier. And, that's part of why I love you so much."

"You love everyone, Shiv. I'm beginning to think it's far too common a thing to be truly astounded by." Kaysa grinned and added, "But it still amazes me every day that someone like you could ever have fallen in love with someone like me."

"You were mean to me," Shiv said, "but I was so gone on you that it didn't matter. I'd do anything to make you love me, just to be with you, to be like you. And, now look at us? It's amazing how much things have changed in the last month. And, it's all good now. Everything is pretty much perfect."

"Don't curse it, Shiv! It's still too fragile a thing and I don't want you jinxing it." She grumbled irritably as they passed yet another set of doors that did not lead to a refresher. At least slipping away from the exuberant bruit from within the hall had managed to ameliorate the throbbing in her head. She still required, however, fresh, cool water to cleanse the beaded sweat from her brow. "So, Mr. Hutt wanted to purchase you, did he?" Kaysa put in finally. "Quite a compliment, isn't it?"

"He did," Shiv said. "I guess he liked my dancing or something. Can you imagine that? At least he wasn't all slimey. Though, he smelled like a...a kitchen. And, the way he looked at me! Have you ever had someone look at you and suddenly you find yourself feeling like a plate of food? That's how he was looking at me!"

"Let's just hope Merrick doesn't decide to agree and sell you to him." Up ahead, Kaysa caught a glimpse of a pair of women exiting from a room, one she hoped was the refresher. "So...what's Moril like? I mean, I've spoken to him before and he was very helpful and kind... Is he romantic? Whispering sweet, amorous words to you?"

"He is," Shiv said with a grin. "While we dance, he whispers into my ear. Sweet, romantic things. And, he's so gentlemanly. And, he worries! He's always making sure everything's perfect. He's so cute, Kaysa. He reminds me of Merrick! And, there's this way he looks at me, that it reminds me of you."

"So, you've got Merrick and I rolled up into one person. I guess you don't need us anymore. Oh, finally!" Kaysa and Shiv entered the elusive refresher, and knowing their behaviour would soon become inappropriate, they each checked the stalls to ensure they were alone. "If you want to have sex with him," Kaysa continued while pushing open the doors of the stalls, "I guess it would be fine... If it's what you want, then who am I to forbid you?"

Shiv slipped her arms around Kaysa and kissed her forehead. "It's you I want to have sex with," she said with a grin. "And, it's not you and Merrick rolled into one person. He's got some of your qualities, and some of Merrick's, and lots of his own. And, he'll never replace either of you. He's a very nice man, and he doesn't have anyone else. So, it's nice to be someone special for him. But, he knows that I'm yours and Merrick's, but he can spend time with me when I'm not with you guys. If that's alright. I don't think we'll be having lots of wild sex, maybe some as long as it's alright with you and Merrick though."

Kaysa caressed Shiv's arms lightly and smiled warmly at her. "You're such a benevolent little creature. Moril worships you, and if you choose to have sex with him, it's alright with me. Just because you share your bed with Merrick and I doesn't mean you can't follow your heart and be with others you find yourself attracted to. Besides, I like Moril. If you want to affix that smile permanently to his face, have sex with the man. He deserves it."

"Then I will," Shiv said with a smile, then kissed Kaysa passionately. "But, only if I get to make love to you after, or later, or soon. I love you, Kaysa." She felt her eyes tearing up and a wave of giggles working themselves free. "Now you're making me all emotionally giddy."

"You always are, my love." She ran her hand along Shiv's cheek, then sighed and moved to the sink. Kaysa set down her mask and placed her hands beneath the faucet. The sensors were triggered and a stream of cool, crystalline water fell into her cupped palms. "I don't know how I'm going to last the entire evening." She splashed the water onto her blanched face and felt its cold comfort envelop her body completely. "You wouldn't mind it if Zale and I left early, would you?"

"I wouldn't mind," Shiv said, moving behind Kaysa to gently rub her back. "Though, I'd probably worry about you. But, I'd be good without you...mostly." She kissed Kaysa's neck. "How's your head doing?"

"Better now," she replied. She looked into the mirror and watched the droplets of water cascade down her pallid face. "I guess I should have eaten something today. That's probably all it is. When we rejoin the men, I'll be sure and eat something."

"Well, we'll get you to the table that the Hutt hasn't cleared off yet, and let you do some nibbling. Before we go back in, would you like to step out for a cigarra? I haven't had one forever, and I'm dying for a puff."

Kaysa reached aside and pulled the draped cloth from the suspended bar on the wall. "No cigarra for me, thanks," she refused politely before flattening the cloth against her face.

"Did you want to join," Shiv asked as she held Kaysa's hair back while she dried her face. "Or are you just gonna go back to dance with Zale?"

Kaysa pulled the dampened cloth away and looked past her own reflection to Shiv's. "I don't think I'm ready to go back in there just yet. I'll join you outside, but only for a little while. The boys might think we've run off home to feast on our urges."

"Oh, wouldn't that be nice? A quick smoke, and then back to dance with our boys. Are you ready to go, or did you need me to check your panties?"

Kaysa laughed and threw the washcloth down upon the sink. "We can do that outside." She retrieved her mask and linked her free arm with Shiv's. As they started for the door, Kaysa looked upon Shiv's dress, which was far too transparent to conceal anything, and frowned with puzzlement. "What I'd like to know is, where in all hells are you keeping the cigarras?"

Shiv held up a small blue bag mixed in with the folds of her transparent gown. "Isn't it cute? It came with the equadi. There's enough room in there for a pack of cigarras, a credit chip, and my identicard."

"A good thing," Kaysa said with a leering smile. "I thought I was gonna have to dig for them," she added with a glance towards the area between Shiv's slender thighs.

Shiv grinned. "Well, I may have one or two in there if you want to search," she said as she pressed herself against Kaysa. "I bet we could scandalize a lot of people out there."

"I know we could," Kaysa ammended with a grin. "Let's go outside, you and I, where we can devise this little scheme of ours to embarrass Zale and Merrick...and Moril to no end."

"You know," Shiv said with a grin, "I love the way you think. Let's go." With that, they followed a wafting breeze fragranced with apple blossoms that lead them to a courtyard outside where they could plot and plan and scheme.

***

Zale found himself drawn back toward one of the tables after Kaysa had gone. He picked up a drink and started working on it while he watched those around him. As he was looking away, he didn't notice the woman slip up beside him.

"It is an interesting party, isn't it, Mr. Tregat?"

Zale turned, and found himself looking at the Twi'lek who had been speaking to Merrick earlier. "It is," he said. "Oot Kovan, if memory serves."

"It serves you well," she said. "I noticed you without your...wife, and figured I could talk to you without her staring vibroblades through my chest. A man like you, Zale, I am surprised you settled with a woman who gets jealous so easily."

"She has other qualities," Zale said with a smile. "And, I think her jealousy is cute."

"Only because yours aren't the eyes she'd scratch out when she is angered." She looked around, sighed, and then turned back to him. "So, have you made any astounding deals here tonight?"

Zale shook his head. "None so far, though I haven't been here long. Do you have any ideas, Miss Kovan?"

Oot smiled. "I think I have a few, but I think I'd rather discuss them somewhere more...private."

"An intriguing offer," Zale said, "though my wife will return soon."

"She has two other lovers to keep her occupied, while you have to settle for one, except on the rare days when she shares her girlfriend with you."

Zale watched Oot for a moment, intrigued. "You have quite the breadth of knowledge."

"I make it a point to know as much as possible about my competition," she smiled, and then added, "or my partners. Would you care to dance, Zale?"

Zale glanced toward where Kaysa and Shiv had disappeared.

"I promise I won't bite you anywhere that she'll see."

"She sees everywhere."

Oot smiled. "Oh, I don't know about that."

Zale laughed. "You know a few places she doesn't?"

Oot gave him a sultry smile, and stepped closer. "I know many things, Mr. Tregat," she said. "A woman isn't raised on Ryloth and doesn't know about things like that. Dance with me, and maybe you'll learn something new...something not taught in the Shac'Tae."

One of Zale's eyebrows quirked. Without another word, he gestured toward the dancefloor.

***

Kaysa perched herself comfortably upon the edge of the circular, stone fountain elevated above the lush grass and situated at the centre of the large courtyard. She wasn't surprised that the sculpture from which the water was spouting and trickling down was in the form of naked, young nymph dancing amongst a gathering of chippin. The image that formed in Kaysa's mind induced a chuckle. Weibran was most likely more interested in the chippin than he was the young goddess.

She hummed softly as her fingers waded through the pool of pristine water, distorting the perfectly shaped crescent moon reflecting upon it from the darkened sky above. It was a peaceful night, of which she hadn't had many, but with as happy and content as they all were now, she hoped there would be many more.

She sighed wistfully and glanced sideways at Shiv, who had just sparked up her second cigarra. "They're not good for you, you know," Kaysa commented idly. "One of the reasons I decided to quit." And the other is something I'm not ready to divulge to you yet, my love, no matter how much I want to.

"Just nervous, I guess," Shiv said with a grin. "And, I don't smoke very many of them anymore. It's just...with Moril...I guess I'm a little nervous about how the night's gonna go."

"You? Nervous?" Kaysa laughed and shifted around to face Shiv. "When have you ever been nervous, my love? Moril is bordering on worshipping you, and you're nervous? Look...if you're feeling obligated to have sex with him, don't. He'll understand if you wanna wait a while."

"I don't feel obligated," Shiv said with a grin. "It's just...well, that he does worship me almost. I guess I'm a little scared about where it will all lead and what will happen. And, I guess I don't want to disappoint him."

Kaysa laughed abruptly and grabbed Shiv's hand. She pulled her down next to her upon the fountain's edge and said, "How could anyone be disappointed in knowing you love them and are willing to share your body with them? Besides, you're very experienced in bed, and if you need the practice to hone your skills, Merrick and I will oblige gladly."

Shiv giggled. "Do you think we have time to practice now? And, maybe at the set break, I can practice with Merrick. Just so I know I still remember how to be with a man." She grinned and took Kaysa's hand. "You think I'll be okay?"

"Shiv...he's going to be more nervous than you are. You'll be fine, and if you are too anxious or afraid, just tell him you wanna take your time." Kaysa brought Shiv's hand to her lips and kissed the inside of it softly. "My beautiful girl, just being around you is enough to make anyone happy. Don't forget that."

Shiv smiled as she gazed at Kaysa. "I could never forget that," she said. "I see it whenever I look in your eyes. I love seeing you happy, Kaysa. I promise to always do everything I can to make you happy."

"That would be like taking the weight of the world upon your delicate shoulders, Shiv. You do enough. As long as you're safe and content, then I'm happy." She wrapped an arm around Shiv and pulled her closer. "My love, you always were the light in my darkness. Nothing will change that...ever." She kissed Shiv softly and tenderly, with the stars shining down upon them and enhancing the romantic atmosphere of the moment. "You should go back to Moril now," she whispered. "I bet he's missing you."

"You'll be okay out here?" Shiv asked with a concerned look. "Should I send Zale out to find you?"

Kaysa shook her head and smiled. "I'll be fine. I'm just gonna look at the stars for a little while longer, then I'll go back in to him. If he does wonder where I am, just tell him I won't be long."

"Okay," Shiv said, and then kissed Kaysa. "I'll see you soon. If you need me or anything, I'll just be inside."

"Good luck with Moril. Just...be yourself, Shiv, which should worry me. He'll have no trouble falling in love with you that way."

"I'll let you know how it goes," Shiv said as she started back toward the party. She stopped near the door, and turned back to Kaysa. With a grand flourish, she blew her love a kiss and disappeared inside.

***

Zale and Oot Kovan danced close, sharing a third dance. Each successive one had brought the woman closer, and her touch grew more familiar. Her lekku swayed in time with the music, acting as a counterpoint to the motions of their bodies. As the song ended and the next began, Oot made something close to a purring sound.

"You're a good dancer," Zale told her. She only smiled in response.

As the band started into their next number, something more up-tempo, it was suddenly interrupted as the front doors burst open and Stormtroopers started pouring inside. Zale reached inside his jacket and Oot put a hand on his forearm.

"They have blasters," she said. "You'll be cut down before you make it through to your second Trooper. Let them come to you, and take them at point blank where you will have the advantage."

Zale glanced at her again, raising an eyebrow once more.

He heard shouting behind him, Weibran by the sound of it. And, quite panicked. Zale laughed as the obese man struggled to calm the masses. Futile, he thought.

As Zale started to turn away, a loud roar filled his ears. The next thing he knew, he was tossed into the air like a child's plaything. His only thought as the ground suddenly rushed back at him was, "If anyone pulls my hair tonight, they're dead."

---

"Hutt Tribute and Contribute"
By: Vorgoth - Assassin
and Weibran the Hutt

Location: The New Plouton Arms - New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

Arriving at the party by foot, he had to frown. There were several people there who actually seemed amused at the party that was undergoing. They disgusted him with their drinking and laughing and dancing. Having fun had no meaning for him whatsoever and he despised those who saw such events as fun.

But this was something he had to do. He had been sent here by his Master, Jadda the Hutt, and he would never even think of leaving before delivering the message that Jadda had for Weibran. So, with no further time to lose he proceeded to the entrance where others were entering.

The guards were scanning people for their weapons. He knew the terms, and yet he carried his dual lightsaber with no intention of letting anyone take it from him. Vorgoth was standing next to a man with a mechanical arm of some sort. He had noticed a blaster in the man's arm but knew the guards had not. To prevent the security from stealing more time and be tighter in its ways of scanning he crushed the microchips of the scanner with his training in the Force.

The man passed clean and so did he. Inside they were playing music, which to Vorgoth sounded just awful. If he had more time he would consider slaughtering the band for leisure. But he paid little attention to them as he had to find Weibran. There were several waiters walking by carrying drinks and tables with exquisite food, but most of the waiters seemed scared or taunted as they looked at Vorgoth's tattooed face.

One drunken man approached Vorgoth and placed his arm around his shoulder, grinning. "Greath parthy huh?!" the man asked. Immediately, the Zabrak twisted the drunken man's arm forcing him to bend over and kicked him in the stomach, making him barf all over his shoes and pants.

Vorgoth was having no fun at all. He then saw Weibran and approached the little fat man who turned around to face him as he got near. Without saying a word, the Zabrak delivered a document from Jadda. It read:

"To Weibran, the fat crime-joke! You have no authority to use the name of the Hutts in your behalf or that of your Crime organization. However, in the spirit of negotiation, we the Hutts are willing to let you keep the title for the modest price of a billion credits monthly plus 20% of all your winnings. Unless this is agreeable you may not continue to use our family name.

In the Hutt's behalf, Jadda."

With a frown and a vicious grin, Vorgoth awaited for Weibran's answer.

Weibran read the document several times before nodding. "Very well," he said. "Have you tried the chippin, by the way? It's very good. So, they're expecting an answer now, are they? That's too bad. I will consider this, and respond to them after the party is over. For now, I have guests to attend to, and a dancing girl to acquire."

Vorgoth knew that Weibran's answer did not meet his master's best interest. But Weibran had said that he'd give an answer soon, so Vorgoth forced himself to restrain from striking the fat party patron... At least directly and in front of everybody's eyes.

Before Weibran could leave, Vorgoth turned around to get a drink. Fast and unnoticeable, he poured a fast and deadly poison into it, which dissolved quickly. He turned around and offered the drink to Weibran with a nod.

Weibran took the glass, smiled at the man while secretly wishing it was chippin rather than a drink, and then raised it in salute to the man's health. As he raised the glass to his lips, he was suddenly jostled by a reveller, and the glass tumbled to the floor to smash on the tiles below. "Oh," the man said with a shake of his portly head, "so clumsy of me."

Weibran reached out towards the table, picked up another drink, saluted again, and downed it. "Thank you, good sir," he said, "and I will have a response to your master tomorrow."

The Zabrak growled to himself as his attempt to kill the fat party patron was put to an end by a clumsy man who intervened. He turned his back and moved away to get back outside. He now had nothing more to do there, and he should report back to Jadda. He was about to get outside when a legion of stormtroopers came in, setting confusion all about. But as they did, there came the news that the Emperor was dead. Palpatine had perished and was no more...

Vorgoth stopped at this news. Could it truly be? The Emperor was dead? Who had killed him? And what of Vader? Would he take on the Empire, or was it its downfall... These questions were also the same for the Stormtroopers, or so it seemed, since they no longer knew what to do. Blaster shots began to scramble all about and without time to lose, Vorgoth made his way outside, tossing a large statuette to break a window and leaped outside.

As soon as he hit the ground he could see that the chaos had also installed itself outside, with people running about. But at least the party was over, and screams and shouts of panic were certainly better than the music that was playing before. As he had come, so was he gone, unseen and unnoticed.

---

"In Slip"
By: Syan Daywalker - Bounty Hunter
and Oot Kovan - Crime Boss

Location: The New Plouton Arms, New Plouton Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

The name Oot Kovan had been sold to him by an informant. A Twi'lek, female, almost two meters tall with pinkish skin and green eyes. Head of the Tarabassic crime family. Information like that usually went for as much as five hundred credits, but Syan's intrinsic charms convinced the snitch to part with it for three.

But the information had proven reliable. Two snitches later, the data bad been indirectly confirmed and he was on his way to her most likely location. He had contemplated returning to Aesir to retrieve his speederbike, but in the end thought better of it. The walk wasn't a hardship, and if necessary, he needed to know his environment. Soon enough he'd arrived on the outskirts of Weibran's property. The laughter and music riding the breeze had long ago hinted at its nearness, but only now, outside the ostentatious dwelling, could he articulate the wealth of the people involved. All the better.

His black clothing and naturally dark skin let him blend in easily in the shadows as he watched the residence. Decorative uplights accenting fountains and expensive, water-hungry trees cast crisscrossing bands of shadow across the yard. A cursory glance was enough to confirm numerous avenues to get close to the house without being seen. There'd be sensors of course, but a smart barve could get around those.

Small chips, microns across, had been surgically implanted in his retinas. They served as tracking sensors for the lenses he wore. They caused no discomfort, but the advantages were numerous. Small, micro-musculature movements of his eyes were interpreted by the small smartchips in the lenses themselves. The scene changed from real light to EM, the background glowed a ghostly orange as the patterns of sensor foci were overlaid in grossly-contrasting, but easily distinguishable colors. The rubber of his boots scuffed softly on the sidewalk as he shouldered off the wall and walked with purpose across the sidestreets and into the grassed yard. He followed the open areas, treading carefully. Ghostly afterimages of bodyheat showed him where the guards had walked previously.

As he approached the building, he relaxed his eyes and the view returned to normal. The sensors here were hidden in the shrubbery and around the windows. He wasn't going through there anyway. Instead, he reached around behind him to gather the tail of his coat and then ran full-tilt at the wall. Two meters out, he launched foot first at the wall and bounced off. The decorative plaster crunched under the assault. The distance between the home and the attached garage were well within his ability and two hops were enough to bring him up on the second-floor ledge.

Syan walked the ledge, and hopped over the rail to land on the upper balcony without a sound. He reached inside his coat to retrieve the phase degausser. The little black box would temporarily short the sensors in the door, reading like static in the line. It wasn't a particularly sophisticated trick, but an effective enough one when applied intelligently. It gained him entrance and moments later he was walking down the palatial staircase to the party level. He'd stashed most of his visible weaponry. Now he mostly looked like one of the hired thugs that were guarding the place.

From the second landing, Syan spotted a tinge of gown and coral skin. Kovan?

Oot Kovan sipped at the crystal goblet filled with green punch. Her gaze swept out over the crowded hall and then turned to the man standing next to her. At one of his comments, she laughed and nodded, the twin lekku draped down her back dancing with the motion. With a large smile, she handed the now empty goblet to her companion and shooed him off to retrieve another drink for her.

Syan Daywalker eyed the male unemotionally, pre-guessing possible responses to Syan's own presence should he return and find the bounty hunter there before Syan was done with her. It wasn't really a problem, but the job would go much easier if he wasn't noticed by too many people. Quiet equals good.

He straightened his coat and stepped off the carpeted staircase and on to the polished marble floor. The pomp and pagentry of the ball wasn't lost on him, but he was more interested in the amount of watching glances being shot around the dancefloor. Everyone was trying very hard to look like they were having a good time, when more than half of them were more involved with seeing who else was there. The mannerisms didn't fit that of partygoers. He didn't get any inkling of being the target of hostility, so he promptly ignored them all.

Slightly spicy perfume tickled his nose as he approached her. He stopped about arm's length behind her, letting his hands stand loose beside him. "You are Oot Kovan?" he said with no hint of question.

Oot turned to the dark-skinned newcomer. She studied him for a moment, and then nodded. "I am Oot Kovan," she said. "Though, I'm afraid I do not recognize you. I also don't recognize you as one of my rivals' errand boys. Independent is my guess."

Syan's eyebrow rose slightly at the 'errand boy' epithet, but he made no more acknowledgement of it. "Independent is the only way to operate. Based on your reputation I would think you know that." Syan shifted slightly in his coat and looked over her shoulder at someone who noticed him. The glance was enough to make the person think otherwise. He returned his hazel eyes to hers. "I require information. On a smuggler that goes by the name of Will 'Crusher' Wessel. It is my understanding that you can provide it."

Oot thought about it for a moment. "I have heard the name, and usually attached to a rather impressive price tag. He's never crossed me, and I haven't added any tags to his already long list, but you're in the right system to find him." She glanced around. "Last I heard, he'd been offending Jadda the Hutt. You'll most likely find him here in New Plouton or in Thanatos. You would want to concentrate your search around Jadda's enclave, and I'm sure you'll turn up more definite leads."

A thin smile, devoid of humor or affection, marred Syan's typical scowl. Behind the lips, smooth capped fangs showed as one of the very few embellishments he added for the benefit of his reputation. Popular rumor had theories about what he used the fangs for. "That is very useful to me, Oot Kovan. When Wessel is caught, I will see to it that a percentage of the bounty is routed to the Tarabassic coffers."

Oot smiled and nodded gratefully. "I thank you," she said. "I hope that, in the future, should I require the services of one of your talents, that I may call upon you. I wish you luck in your hunt."

"Luck is a tool for those without skill, Kovan. Should you require my services, contact the Guild. Ask for Daywalker."

---

"Something Wicked..."
by Dargus Kandran
and Elisia Melouet

with Liam Zaneth
and Oot Kovan

Location: New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 7, 4ABY

***

Dargus Kandran pressed at the flesh of his face and winced inwardly. If he wasn't aware that he was staring at his own face in the mirror, he wouldn't have recognized himself. But the surgery was necessary to keep himself concealed at the party. Too many enemies would be there, and to show up alive would create too much havoc, spoiling the plans he had devised.

The tuxedo fit perfectly, as he'd expected it would. And he'd even managed to rid himself of the horrendous stench of bacta in which he'd spent the entire previous day submerged. He wondered if Kace would be able to sense him. Tonight would be the true test of that. He turned to find Elisia watching him.

"You are looking very nice," he said. "I'm sure you will have Kace's eyes falling out of his head when he sees you."

Elisia looked down at the low top. The dress fell freely from her breasts to hide her growing abdomen and yet still give her a slim and feminine look. "I guess. It seems a little low." Her pregnancy had increased her breast size and she was a little uncomfortable exposing them so much. "How will I hide from him what we are doing? I mean, we have had a mental connection and he is stronger than I am."

"Then focus your mind on something other than our plans. I seriously doubt that Kace Mordin would delve too deeply in your thoughts without your permission, and therefore you need only occupy your surface thoughts with middling matters, and he will be none the wiser."

Elisia nodded. She was nervous, but she would do as he had suggested. She had planned to make sure she was guarding against such an intrusion but for some reason, the idea of guarding against Kace bothered her. "What reason do you wish me to give him for needing his assistance?" They had planned to stage an attack, but things had changed after finding the invitation. "A version of the truth would be easiest."

"You come to him needing help," Dargus said. "I am sure he will be unable to keep himself from helping one in need. Play on his nurturing instincts, and all will be well."

She nodded. Now that the time had arrived, a plague of doubts swept over her. What if Kylas was right, to seek revenge would lead her to a place she could not return from? "I am ready," she finally said. "I do not even recognize you. I think I liked you better before." He was still handsome, but something was missing that seemed to just be "him".

Dargus smiled. "I don't know," he said with a feral smile. "I happen to like the new me. And, I seriously doubt anyone will recognize me no