laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

"Why can't he carry his own garbage," the male voice complained from below as she watched their shadows grow long, then walk towards the tree covered temple which had been here long before the Empire's influence ever reached the sector. Stealthfully, the black clad snake slithered down the side of the freighter as the ramp slowly rose, then slid between and up into the vessel. She had spent eight months on this moon and was beginning to become stir crazy. Heat signatures registered in her helmet display to the distant left as they walked around the computer core whose heat was nominal. Gliding across the steel plated floor, she quietly padded towards the right as she reached the forward cargo bay door. Extracting the miniature spike, she hacked into the security system, then disappeared inside the dark confines, then closed and locked it behind her.

After a two-and-a-half day trip to the Azotusian System, the Nine Hells landed within the starport on Mycale'. The bustling starport that serviced the large city of Vesevolod greeted the party of well armed men as they descended the rampway, then closed it behind them. As they drifted into the crowd of men and droids, the young human male turned from the cockpit and headed to the gangway, then pushed the blue button lowering the ramp. Rude that they would leave without him like this. Opening to the brisk air, the cacophony of buzzing droids, whining skiffs passing by as well as the pungent odor from whistling repulsors in the freighter across the wide lane attacked her senses. Ilana knew that the simple disguise and forged paperwork would get her past any checks, they weren't looking for a twenty-three year old mechanic anyway. Green eyes scanned the intersection as port authority speeders whined passed, then disappeared beyond the landing gear of the nearest yacht as he walked to the starport's busy entry.
Being able to gain very little on her hosts since climbing aboard their ship, she did know that they had been working for someone named Muir and had decided that she would find out what they did for a living. As she glanced down at her chronometer, she noted the tiny blip to the north and knew that they still hadn't left the immense building yet. Jogging, he hurried to keep them within easy reach.
Out front, she noticed them pile into a rental speeder and the young man quickly turned and flagged down a shuttle which whipped towards the curb and stopped in front of him. As the door opened, he jumped in and pointed. "Follow the blue Digne there," his deeper voice stated.

"Okay," the droid replied and gunned the accelerator as the door closed.

Through tall, romantic suburbs and soon into the shimmering highrises, they coursed through traffic and busy intersections for nearly twenty minutes until finally reaching their destination in front of another, glass covered building which rose into the sky.

"Thanks," Vardon stated as he reached forward with the credstick, then opened the door and stepped out.

"Have a nice day," the droid bid and the smaller shuttle drifted off down the long circle drive and back to the main road as he trailed the group into the marble and transparasteel lobby. Each of her hosts dressed in varying styles but all had a jacket or coat which concealed a pistol or two and tall boots which also hid knives. One of them, the sandy haired, thinner and always studying the people around him concealed a lightsaber under his right armpit that hung from a shoulder harness. That made her nervous but, if he was of any skill, she never would've made it here unmolested.

They walked to the turbolift cluster as the pilot, Tak Yalarian hit the button to go up and they all waited. Shorter, his close-cut hair and thin goatee fit his persona as the ship's captain. He also enjoyed his DL-44's which hung from their shoulder holsters and she was amazed that the security sensors hadn't gone off at the front door when these guys walked in.

Illuminating, the soft yellow light above the entry lit as the rounded doors opened and he followed them into the plush carpeted interior. The door closed and they spent quiet moments as the capsule rose into the air and she watched, noting the floors go by as they finally reached the twenty-third and it stopped. Vardon, being the last off led them out into the plant-lined hallway that immediately turned left and into a large casino. Windows lined the right and distant walls beyond banks of tables and booths which flanked the central bar tended by droids. He approached the entryway and walked through. Suddenly, an soft alarm went off and the two armored men standing to her right stepped up, rifles raised at the ones she had traveled here with.

"Hand's up," the muffled voice stated.

"We're bounty hunters," Tak informed as he motioned to his right jacket pocket. "My IPKC is right here."

One of them stepped up and pulled out the identification, then nodded as he handed it back. "What about them?"

Each of his traveling companions produced their own and she nearly laughed that the one carrying the lightsaber even had a license. These men were rebels but, why were they coming here? Vardon continued on towards the bar and noticed the large dance floor on the far side of the casino that wrapped around the counter that cut off the banks of alcohol from their customers. Tall holoprojectors displayed games and sports of all types as suited older men watched as they sipped their whiskey.
Now cleared, the six men split up as some headed for the bar and others for the distant gambling tables. She watched all of them and soon noticed Tak and another approach a rodian at a booth. His own goon was watching from a neighboring table, well armed also. Leaning on his right arm, he adjusted the hearing aid in his ear and tuned in their conversation.

"Good to see that they hadn't captured you, I was beginning to wonder," the rodian stated calmly.

"We delivered what you wanted and he said to tell you he'd be at the party tonight," Tak informed.

Sighing heavily, the rodian sipped from his glass, then set it down. "Great. I also have your invitations here. It's at seven-thirty and don't bother bringing your weapons inside or they'll be confiscated. Understood?"

"Sure. How do we get there?"

"Here's a map," she heard a small disc tap the tabletop. "I'll see you there. Bring some dates if you like, the twi' lek's that attend are usually taken."

Tak chuckled. "I'll see what I can do."

Vardon needed an outfit, the invitation would be easy enough. She would just forge one of theirs.

* * *

Playing the part, Broc walked into the crowd behind his new employer as they headed through brilliantly dressed female rodians, twi' leks, devaronians and human females as they entertained their boyfriends, lovers, and owners who all tried to keep their standing with the hutt whose bloated body rested on the long, ornate couch that commanded the far wall. His squad of toughs not only guarded his flank but were also dispersed in the crowd. Music filled the air along with puffs from various tobacco's and drugs.
Ghoukas smiled and made his appearance with Muir and several other friends, then walked down a hallway to the right and grabbed two armfuls of entertainment who stood along the walls near a closed door. Broc noticed a gorgeous, blue skinned twi' lek that smiled at him and walked up to her. Barely covered, her healthy body called to him as he wrapped his arm around her small waist, then led her into the room which Ghoukas and three other of his trusted lieutenants walked into. The smell of stim, harras, melo and other hallucinogens hung heavily in the couch filled room. He still couldn't believe he was attached to this animal whose habits and thrills made Broc wish to kill him several times. But, he had a job to do, he thought as he sat onto the thickly padded couch.

He turned to his companion. "What's your name?"

She smiled as long, thin fingers carressed his cheek. "Does that matter," she asked, then kissed him. Her perfume intoxicated him and he soon felt like he was flying as their hands explored. Her strong, toned body made him wish they were in private when the flash of Sandra's face suddenly interrupted. He backed as she kissed his neck.

"What's wrong, baby?" Her deep green eyes looked up as he grinned nervously. He had to keep himself under control here.

"Nothing. I have to keep my eyes open, that's all."

She straightened, "I don't mind if you watch," she smiled.

"That's not what I meant," he glanced over to the devaronian who took advantage of both of the girls beside him. She turned and watched also as their spectacle through the fog nearly made him blush.

"That's Ghoukas," she asked.

"Yeah. That's him."

Suddenly, gunfire erupted out in the main hall which spurred him into action as he stood. His companion stood also as he drew his pistol, then walked to the door.

* * *

As the blue-skinned twi' lek approached the slaver, Ilana's blood boiled as the memories of her family being slaughtered for his own profit made her sick. She drew the long vibroblade that had been hidden on the inside of her thigh and stalked across to the trio who totally ignored the fighting outside the door. Leaning over, she yanked the girl from his right who faced her angrily, then backed wide-eyed as their twi' lek companion planted her spiked boot in the devaronian's chest. He cried out as she leaned over and planted the knife under his chin. His lieutenant's were busy and high while the human watched through the doorway.

"Remember me," she spat, pushing the knife into his jugular slowly.

"I've never seen you before," he said as sweat poured down his forehead.

She knew that the drugs floating in the air around them had already taken ahold of his lungs and brain which kept him from aggressively fighting back. It could also help in another way too, she thought as her left hand grabbed at the disguise and slowly peeled her head off, tearing as it rose. His eyes went wide and he began screaming as the blaster fire and yells outside muffled the cries. Soon, her tanned, human face emerged as long brown hair fell down onto her blue shoulders as her victim began crying uncontrollably. She stepped off of his chest and he reached for his pistol. Flashing to his hand, she yanked it away from him, spun the handle and fired two shots into his chest, then turned for the window as the twi' leks screamed and ran for the door, nearly knocking Broc down. Ilana fired into the window and dove through the holed pane as she glided over the heads of the involved duo on the couch underneath.

* * *

Broc turned and noticed the activity behind him in the room after dodging the two females. His eyes focused as he saw the red bolts and then heard the crashing and the silhouette going through the window. He leveled and fired, then ran towards the escaping assassin. As he passed the devaronian, he noticed the eyes staring into space and two smoking holes in the body. He had turned his eyes from the very one that he was here to find. Sprinting, he noticed the tree lined border that rose from the snow filled decline from the base of the large estate. No body. He jogged back, then turned and ran to chase her as he dove from the window himself.

Landing in the thick drift, snow exploded as he landed, then rolled down towards the trees, then stopped with a thud. That was going to leave a mark, one of many that he had collected over the years, he thought as he pushed himself up, then felt the barrel at the base of his neck.

"Who are you," she asked.

He raised his arms slowly as he sighed. "Broc Golvan."

"You chose the wrong career attaching yourself to an animal like him."

"Actually, I only did that to find you, Maggewetok."

The quiet lengthened. "Where did you hear that name?"

"Your uncle on Belsavis told me about you and your cousins. I wanted to kill him myself, but it looks like you beat me to it. There are a lot of powerful individuals in the galaxy that want you dead right now."

"No kidding." The shove to his neck softened, then a hit to the back of the head sent sparks through his eyes and then darkness.