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<blockquote data-quote="LostSoul" data-source="post: 618583" data-attributes="member: 386">Arthur crawled out from one of the Bee-A's maintenance shafts covered in grease, hydrospanner in hand.&nbsp; &quot;The damage is pretty bad - to both ships,&quot; he called out from atop the Bee-A.&nbsp; &quot;Bessie's blown all of her hyperdrive coils, and the only thing working on your new toy is the hyperdrive.&nbsp; Just what did you do to it?&quot;&quot;Nothing you wouldn't have,&quot; Troy said.Arthur climbed down.&nbsp; &quot;Well, it'll be a couple of weeks work, at least.&nbsp; And Bessie'll need a new set of coils.&nbsp; Those don't come cheap.&quot;&quot;I'll see what I can do to improve our accounts,&quot; Troy said.&nbsp; Arthur sighed and went back to work.--- Star Wars ---Darius had gotten to know the Casino well over the past few months.&nbsp; Too well, in his opinion.&nbsp; Nothing to keep his skills sharp, nothing to hone his edge.&nbsp; He worried he was getting soft.&quot;Another pint?&quot; the bartender asked.&nbsp; Darius nodded his head.&nbsp; He was getting used to staying out of his armour.&nbsp; Another bad sign.Darius sipped the foaming dantic.&nbsp; He looked down into its dark waters, thinking about the life he had led.&nbsp; Was it worth it?&nbsp; He had spent years on the hunt.&nbsp; Was it time to give up?&nbsp; Was the hunt what he truely wanted?It was what she would have wanted, he thought, and took another drink.A familiar face in the bar's mirror caught his attention.&nbsp; Darius turned casually, scanning the bar.&nbsp; When he saw what he needed to, he settled his eyes on a buxom young halfer with her legs crossed.&nbsp; He smiled at her, keeping an eye on a tall and thin man at the other end of the bar without being obvious.Damn it, Darius thought.&nbsp; Jib Raltair.&nbsp; With his pack.&nbsp; He looks like he's on the hunt.&nbsp; Probably been here for a while.&nbsp; I should've been keeping an eye on the docking logs.&nbsp; Damn it.&nbsp; With my luck, he's going to be after Arthur.Darius stood and walked toward the halfer, loosening his blaster as he went.&nbsp; As he approached the girl, he continued to watch Raltair.&nbsp; He doesn't recognize me, Darius thought.&nbsp; Why would he?&nbsp; I've never brought in the big marks.&nbsp; Never worked for the Empire.&nbsp; At least I've got that going for me.&quot;I was wondering when you'd ask me to come sit with you,&quot; Darius said to the halfer.&nbsp; She smiled at him and gestured to an open seat.&nbsp; Darius took the offer, making sure he could keep Raltair in the corner of his eye.&quot;First time at the Royale?&quot; Darius asked.&nbsp; He noticed Raltair wasn't drinking.The halfer laughed.&nbsp; &quot;I work here, in one of the shows.&quot;&quot;Really?&nbsp; Which one?&quot;&nbsp; Raltair's waiting for someone.&nbsp; Wait and see.&quot;The Emperor's New Clothes,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;It's one of the newer ones, and really hot.&nbsp; We do a couple of shows a night.&nbsp; You should come by and check it out.&quot;&quot;Yeah, I'll have to do that.&nbsp; My name's Darius.&quot;&nbsp; He extended his hand.&nbsp; The halfer put down her smoke and took it.&quot;Misty,&quot; she said.&nbsp; Her blue-green eyes glittered.&nbsp; Darius recognized them as cybernetic implants, used by most of the poor and aspiring or the old trying to recapture fame.&nbsp; This girl couldn't have been a woman for long, and already she had traded her eyes for ones made of steel.&nbsp; Or was forced to.&nbsp; Darius sighed; everyone needs to eat.&quot;Something wrong?&quot; Misty said.&nbsp; Something about her was too needy, too ready to accept him into her life.&nbsp; This drew Darius to her.&nbsp; He shook his head.&quot;No, it's nothing, just - aww, <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />!&quot; Darius cried out.&nbsp; Jib Raltair was gone.--- Star Wars ---&quot;Yeah, that's right - docking bay 72.&quot;&quot;We'll send a crew there right away, Mister Chase.&quot;&quot;Good.&nbsp; There'll be a bonus for you if it's done soon.&quot;&nbsp; Troy passed the maintenance officer a bundle of credit sticks.&quot;Thank you, sir,&quot; the officer said.&nbsp; He stood and nodded and left.&nbsp; Troy smiled.&nbsp; He knew this place like he knew himself.&nbsp; All it takes to get things done is the right attitude and a healthy account.&nbsp; Now it was time to get the account back into shape.Troy left the lounge for one of the more expensive areas of the casino.&nbsp; In time, he was accepted into his game.&nbsp; It didn't take long for him to get a reputation - the man to beat, the man to watch, the man who tips.&nbsp; This was all part of his game, almost as much as the cards were.Night passed to night before Troy called it quits.&nbsp; His winnings were impressive, but not enough.&nbsp; That would be left for the next night, after the Casino Royale's commerical news ran their story about him.&nbsp; He knew it would draw those with money and the pride to lose it.Troy sighed and wiped his forehead.&nbsp; His body was at its drug-pushed limit.&nbsp; Sleep was calling to him, but he wasn't ready yet.&nbsp; A glass or six of whiskey would calm him down.Troy felt a sharp poke in his lower back.&nbsp; &quot;Your money or your life,&quot; a soft voice, full of grace and hidden beauty, whispered into his ears.&nbsp; Troy felt the warmth of her breath and the moistness of her lips.&nbsp; He knew that voice, that breath, those lips.&nbsp; He had dreamt of them before.--- Star Wars ---&quot;We've got trouble,&quot; Darius said as he entered the private docking bay.&nbsp; He headed straight for his locker on the Bee-A.&quot;What's up?&quot; Arthur asked.&quot;Bounty hunters.&nbsp; Good ones.&nbsp; Here.&quot;&quot;What's the big deal?&nbsp; You're a bounty hunter.&quot;Darius stopped and turned to look back at Arthur.&nbsp; &quot;You don't get it, do you?&nbsp; You're wanted.&nbsp; Millions of people are depending on you.&nbsp; Thousands are dieing in your name.&nbsp; That bounty hunter could be after you.&quot;&quot;Yeah, could be.&nbsp; Nobody knows I'm here.&nbsp; Nobody's come looking for me for the past six months.&nbsp; I think we're okay.&quot;&quot;I'd rather play it safe.&quot;&nbsp; Darius disappeared into the ship.&quot;He makes a good point,&quot; Feyd said, waking from his trance.&nbsp; &quot;There is something special about you.&nbsp; You are the meeting of many paths.&quot;&quot;More mumbo-jumbo from the stone-cold killer.&quot;&quot;You may make light of the Force, but it will not treat you the same.&nbsp; If you do not guide your destiny, other forces shall.&quot;&quot;Listen, just let me work on these ships so we can get out of here.&nbsp; Then I'll be safe again.&nbsp; Just don't bother me.&quot;Jeez,&quot; Arthur said under his breath, &quot;didn't know you cared.&quot;Darius stomped down the gangway carrying his armour and a bag of weapons.&nbsp; He put them down beside Arthur and began to dress himself.&quot;We're going to draw them out,&quot; Darius said.&nbsp; &quot;No point in letting Raltair pick and choose when to take you.&quot;&quot;But I'm working here!&quot; Arthur protested.&quot;I just called Troy.&nbsp; He hired a maintenace team.&nbsp; And you need to buy a new hyperdrive, right?&nbsp; This will be the perfect time for it.&nbsp; I heard there's an Imperial-class drive up for auction.&quot;Arthur pouted.&nbsp; &quot;Okay, fine,&quot; he said, throwing down his hydrospanner.&nbsp; &quot;Bessie don't need no new hyperdrive,&quot; he mumbled, &quot;just a few coils.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="LostSoul, post: 618583, member: 386"] Arthur crawled out from one of the Bee-A's maintenance shafts covered in grease, hydrospanner in hand. "The damage is pretty bad - to both ships," he called out from atop the Bee-A. "Bessie's blown all of her hyperdrive coils, and the only thing working on your new toy is the hyperdrive. Just what did you do to it?" "Nothing you wouldn't have," Troy said. Arthur climbed down. "Well, it'll be a couple of weeks work, at least. And Bessie'll need a new set of coils. Those don't come cheap." "I'll see what I can do to improve our accounts," Troy said. Arthur sighed and went back to work. --- Star Wars --- Darius had gotten to know the Casino well over the past few months. Too well, in his opinion. Nothing to keep his skills sharp, nothing to hone his edge. He worried he was getting soft. "Another pint?" the bartender asked. Darius nodded his head. He was getting used to staying out of his armour. Another bad sign. Darius sipped the foaming dantic. He looked down into its dark waters, thinking about the life he had led. Was it worth it? He had spent years on the hunt. Was it time to give up? Was the hunt what he truely wanted? It was what she would have wanted, he thought, and took another drink. A familiar face in the bar's mirror caught his attention. Darius turned casually, scanning the bar. When he saw what he needed to, he settled his eyes on a buxom young halfer with her legs crossed. He smiled at her, keeping an eye on a tall and thin man at the other end of the bar without being obvious. Damn it, Darius thought. Jib Raltair. With his pack. He looks like he's on the hunt. Probably been here for a while. I should've been keeping an eye on the docking logs. Damn it. With my luck, he's going to be after Arthur. Darius stood and walked toward the halfer, loosening his blaster as he went. As he approached the girl, he continued to watch Raltair. He doesn't recognize me, Darius thought. Why would he? I've never brought in the big marks. Never worked for the Empire. At least I've got that going for me. "I was wondering when you'd ask me to come sit with you," Darius said to the halfer. She smiled at him and gestured to an open seat. Darius took the offer, making sure he could keep Raltair in the corner of his eye. "First time at the Royale?" Darius asked. He noticed Raltair wasn't drinking. The halfer laughed. "I work here, in one of the shows." "Really? Which one?" Raltair's waiting for someone. Wait and see. "The Emperor's New Clothes," she said. "It's one of the newer ones, and really hot. We do a couple of shows a night. You should come by and check it out." "Yeah, I'll have to do that. My name's Darius." He extended his hand. The halfer put down her smoke and took it. "Misty," she said. Her blue-green eyes glittered. Darius recognized them as cybernetic implants, used by most of the poor and aspiring or the old trying to recapture fame. This girl couldn't have been a woman for long, and already she had traded her eyes for ones made of steel. Or was forced to. Darius sighed; everyone needs to eat. "Something wrong?" Misty said. Something about her was too needy, too ready to accept him into her life. This drew Darius to her. He shook his head. "No, it's nothing, just - aww, :):):):)!" Darius cried out. Jib Raltair was gone. --- Star Wars --- "Yeah, that's right - docking bay 72." "We'll send a crew there right away, Mister Chase." "Good. There'll be a bonus for you if it's done soon." Troy passed the maintenance officer a bundle of credit sticks. "Thank you, sir," the officer said. He stood and nodded and left. Troy smiled. He knew this place like he knew himself. All it takes to get things done is the right attitude and a healthy account. Now it was time to get the account back into shape. Troy left the lounge for one of the more expensive areas of the casino. In time, he was accepted into his game. It didn't take long for him to get a reputation - the man to beat, the man to watch, the man who tips. This was all part of his game, almost as much as the cards were. Night passed to night before Troy called it quits. His winnings were impressive, but not enough. That would be left for the next night, after the Casino Royale's commerical news ran their story about him. He knew it would draw those with money and the pride to lose it. Troy sighed and wiped his forehead. His body was at its drug-pushed limit. Sleep was calling to him, but he wasn't ready yet. A glass or six of whiskey would calm him down. Troy felt a sharp poke in his lower back. "Your money or your life," a soft voice, full of grace and hidden beauty, whispered into his ears. Troy felt the warmth of her breath and the moistness of her lips. He knew that voice, that breath, those lips. He had dreamt of them before. --- Star Wars --- "We've got trouble," Darius said as he entered the private docking bay. He headed straight for his locker on the Bee-A. "What's up?" Arthur asked. "Bounty hunters. Good ones. Here." "What's the big deal? You're a bounty hunter." Darius stopped and turned to look back at Arthur. "You don't get it, do you? You're wanted. Millions of people are depending on you. Thousands are dieing in your name. That bounty hunter could be after you." "Yeah, could be. Nobody knows I'm here. Nobody's come looking for me for the past six months. I think we're okay." "I'd rather play it safe." Darius disappeared into the ship. "He makes a good point," Feyd said, waking from his trance. "There is something special about you. You are the meeting of many paths." "More mumbo-jumbo from the stone-cold killer." "You may make light of the Force, but it will not treat you the same. If you do not guide your destiny, other forces shall." "Listen, just let me work on these ships so we can get out of here. Then I'll be safe again. Just don't bother me. "Jeez," Arthur said under his breath, "didn't know you cared." Darius stomped down the gangway carrying his armour and a bag of weapons. He put them down beside Arthur and began to dress himself. "We're going to draw them out," Darius said. "No point in letting Raltair pick and choose when to take you." "But I'm working here!" Arthur protested. "I just called Troy. He hired a maintenace team. And you need to buy a new hyperdrive, right? This will be the perfect time for it. I heard there's an Imperial-class drive up for auction." Arthur pouted. "Okay, fine," he said, throwing down his hydrospanner. "Bessie don't need no new hyperdrive," he mumbled, "just a few coils." [/QUOTE]

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