As the sands of time flowed with violent and unrepentant terror through the universe there was one constant on this desert planet. A fine establishment that had stood the test and had weathered more than it's fair share of storms that the galaxy and this wretched hive of scum and villainy had to throw at it. It was of course the talk of the town in it's heyday, a place where star pilots throughout the galaxy, especially those of the less reputable sort, would come and indulge in any vice that suited their fancy. The Jawa's Dirty secret did not discriminate in it's clientele all were equally welcome and everyone's money was good here, that is of course as long as they had it.
During the galactic civil war it was not uncommon for soldiers on both sides to visit and blow off steam so to speak from time to time, the Jawa told no secrets and had a strict no fighting policy. The proud establishment never took sides and while it was never seen on the property of the revered establishment there were often fights to the death between rival gangs and yes even soldiers just a few hundred meters off the property.
It was here that you could risk it all at the high stakes tables that did of course tend to favor the house in the most gentle seeming manner, or perhaps you preferred a game of chance and dumping your credits into some of the tightest slot machines in the galaxy.
Of course their was a full liquor bar which served everything from the cheapest swill to the finest wines and spirits that the galaxy had to offer. Ask the bartender politely and one might find themselves acquiring other more volatile mind altering chemicals.
There was something for everyone and as one ventured down the hall and too the beautifully decorated lobby there was indeed someone for everyone. The employees of course ran the gambit of species as everyone had different tastes and what would life be without a new adventure once in awhile?
The Jawa's Dirty Secret: Casino and Cabaret is a Limited Liability Corporation owned and operated as a subsidiary of Desert Doc's: Surgical Center and Cantina.
The Jawa's Dirty Secret: Casino and Cabaret
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Doctor Jenkins
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:11 pm
Re: The Jawa's Dirty Secret: Casino and Cabaret
A tall-cloaked figure began approaching the rather imposing casino. The building sported a rather impressive size, but the brilliant colors and dazzling décor seemed gaudy and hollow if you kept in mind the nature of the beast in front of you. Casinos always made sure the house won, and the fanciness and welcoming atmosphere was merely a trap for those desperate to salvage fortune out of their miserable lives or the lucrative bored who didn’t mind tossing credits away on an entertaining long shot. Fortunately for the new arrival, he had no intent of parting with any of his credits.
A scaly, clawed hand went up to the hood and lowered it, revealing the reptilian visage of Sskveesh. He had been using the hood to reduce the glare from the blazing midday suns hovering in the skies over the desert planet. He had decided that midday was the safest time to try and pull off this operation, for although it was broad daylight and that provided serious security risks of its own, casinos tended to be more populous at night, and the Trandoshan figured that the less people around the better. He was, after all, planning on taking something from the casino, and that was usually not the smartest idea. Sskveesh had no attention on robbing the vaults or liberating any credit chips from the staff, but he was planning on smuggling out a hidden person. While the casino may not be as heated about that, he had no doubt that the local police force and any soldiers of the Chancellor nearby would be far more interested.
He checked the digital readout on his datapad, reviewing the specifics of the building once more. Alex had given him what he needed, but having never been in the facility himself he wouldn’t be able to confirm this with his own eyes until the operation was underway. They didn’t have the luxury of time to spend a few days pretending to be interested in jackpots and wandering the casino. The enemy could be arriving at any minute and Sskveesh had no intention of getting caught in a fight with the Sith. While it was fortunate that the casino was not in the middle of town, constructed on the outskirts of the spaceport, it did little to ease the tension on the Trandoshan's mind. It was not even much of a consolation that he was not alone in this endeavor, as he glanced over his shoulder to look at his companion.
“You are prepared, yess?”
A scaly, clawed hand went up to the hood and lowered it, revealing the reptilian visage of Sskveesh. He had been using the hood to reduce the glare from the blazing midday suns hovering in the skies over the desert planet. He had decided that midday was the safest time to try and pull off this operation, for although it was broad daylight and that provided serious security risks of its own, casinos tended to be more populous at night, and the Trandoshan figured that the less people around the better. He was, after all, planning on taking something from the casino, and that was usually not the smartest idea. Sskveesh had no attention on robbing the vaults or liberating any credit chips from the staff, but he was planning on smuggling out a hidden person. While the casino may not be as heated about that, he had no doubt that the local police force and any soldiers of the Chancellor nearby would be far more interested.
He checked the digital readout on his datapad, reviewing the specifics of the building once more. Alex had given him what he needed, but having never been in the facility himself he wouldn’t be able to confirm this with his own eyes until the operation was underway. They didn’t have the luxury of time to spend a few days pretending to be interested in jackpots and wandering the casino. The enemy could be arriving at any minute and Sskveesh had no intention of getting caught in a fight with the Sith. While it was fortunate that the casino was not in the middle of town, constructed on the outskirts of the spaceport, it did little to ease the tension on the Trandoshan's mind. It was not even much of a consolation that he was not alone in this endeavor, as he glanced over his shoulder to look at his companion.
“You are prepared, yess?”
They have given me a ssecond chance...My giftss shall pleasse the Sscorekeeper and the Old One...
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Re: The Jawa's Dirty Secret: Casino and Cabaret
“As prepared as is feasible.” Zhi agreed with the calm flicker of a smile and the unperturbed tone that seemed to be either the lanky young man’s baseline demeanor, or some barely discernible brand of humor.
Somewhat self-centeredly, the young Jedi supposed that he would have felt a bit more prepared if his eyesight had shown signs of improvement. But it was what it was, and he was adept enough at navigating most environments either way.
He’d collected a few minor items with permission from Alex’s home, including a shoulder bag that he’d added his small knife to, along with a few decent first aid items from the cabinet in Alex’s kitchen. It was only a little more than Zhi had started with, but he felt like himself and had made a point to thank the older man. Zhi had also borrowed sand poncho which was forgiving enough that it fit his taller and leaner frame without issue. The bronze tanned Human-Panathan was garbed neutrally enough now that he looked less like a refugee and more like a free Tatooine native, or some lower-tier traveler come in from the spaceport.
As far as long-term care facilities went, storing a wounded fugitive at an establishment intended for indulgence and addiction was an interesting choice… even if it was somehow conveniently owned by a minor medical corporation. There was an unexpected logic and subtlety to it that Zhi found privately delightful, though.
“Here we go.” He said simply when they reached the building, and set a hand on the door.
The entrance swished open with a musical effect, and the most forgiving humidity level Zhi had encountered in over two years of his senses, along with the gentle scents of some sort of nectars and botanicals. Whether it was intentional or a fading effect, there were also the faint after-notes of something more potent.
“Come on inside loves. Keep in the air.”
Zhi couldn’t guess what color she was, not that it mattered, but the comfortably confident female who met them was Twi’lek, maybe the equivalent five or six years older than he was.
“What is such a spectacular pair doing here so early?”
Zhi glanced at the floor with a half-hearted smile. “Nothing much yet, I’m afraid. Checking on a guest of yours, in number Es14?”
The hostess shifted noncommittally. “Mmhn. That one’s quite boring, you know.”
It took a little banter back and forth and a casual phrase or two which Alex had given them, but sooner or later the lanky young near-human and the Reptillian man had sufficient direction and made their way down a hall and through a more sultry space filled with string music, to the upper level which was something more like a small hotel.
When they came to the specified room, something already felt correct to Zh’’s instincts.
“This would be the one.” He told Sskveesh quietly.
Zhi would probably have knocked, but the door sensors seemed set to the opposite of locked. The door swished open on its own before his hand touched the pad. Zhi quirked an eyebrow slightly, but entered and stepped in away from the door to leave room for Sskveesh… The planning part of his brain found himself hoping that his suspicious companion might do something to adjust the door settings, but Zhi wasn’t going to spend the energy trying to figure out whether that was a practical or intelligent idea
“Sorry about that. I would have asked,” he said with soft-spoken authority to the occupant of the room while he took in the details of the situation. Sight or no sight, Zhi had not realized until this moment how much the faint scent of synth-skin and bacta substitutes would return him to the quiet sincerity of his childhood. “It’s.. Jax, right?”
This was the right room. The occupant was Human, a little younger than Zhi. There was nothing currently critical about the injuries, but the healer’s palms and fingertips itched with sympathy at the degree of pain the younger man would still be in.
“I don’t think we’ve met, but we have some important traits in common. I don’t know if our time is limited. I need your help please and we should leave. But before that, I need to help you with that chest…” He paused. “And the arm.”
Somewhat self-centeredly, the young Jedi supposed that he would have felt a bit more prepared if his eyesight had shown signs of improvement. But it was what it was, and he was adept enough at navigating most environments either way.
He’d collected a few minor items with permission from Alex’s home, including a shoulder bag that he’d added his small knife to, along with a few decent first aid items from the cabinet in Alex’s kitchen. It was only a little more than Zhi had started with, but he felt like himself and had made a point to thank the older man. Zhi had also borrowed sand poncho which was forgiving enough that it fit his taller and leaner frame without issue. The bronze tanned Human-Panathan was garbed neutrally enough now that he looked less like a refugee and more like a free Tatooine native, or some lower-tier traveler come in from the spaceport.
As far as long-term care facilities went, storing a wounded fugitive at an establishment intended for indulgence and addiction was an interesting choice… even if it was somehow conveniently owned by a minor medical corporation. There was an unexpected logic and subtlety to it that Zhi found privately delightful, though.
“Here we go.” He said simply when they reached the building, and set a hand on the door.
The entrance swished open with a musical effect, and the most forgiving humidity level Zhi had encountered in over two years of his senses, along with the gentle scents of some sort of nectars and botanicals. Whether it was intentional or a fading effect, there were also the faint after-notes of something more potent.
“Come on inside loves. Keep in the air.”
Zhi couldn’t guess what color she was, not that it mattered, but the comfortably confident female who met them was Twi’lek, maybe the equivalent five or six years older than he was.
“What is such a spectacular pair doing here so early?”
Zhi glanced at the floor with a half-hearted smile. “Nothing much yet, I’m afraid. Checking on a guest of yours, in number Es14?”
The hostess shifted noncommittally. “Mmhn. That one’s quite boring, you know.”
It took a little banter back and forth and a casual phrase or two which Alex had given them, but sooner or later the lanky young near-human and the Reptillian man had sufficient direction and made their way down a hall and through a more sultry space filled with string music, to the upper level which was something more like a small hotel.
When they came to the specified room, something already felt correct to Zh’’s instincts.
“This would be the one.” He told Sskveesh quietly.
Zhi would probably have knocked, but the door sensors seemed set to the opposite of locked. The door swished open on its own before his hand touched the pad. Zhi quirked an eyebrow slightly, but entered and stepped in away from the door to leave room for Sskveesh… The planning part of his brain found himself hoping that his suspicious companion might do something to adjust the door settings, but Zhi wasn’t going to spend the energy trying to figure out whether that was a practical or intelligent idea
“Sorry about that. I would have asked,” he said with soft-spoken authority to the occupant of the room while he took in the details of the situation. Sight or no sight, Zhi had not realized until this moment how much the faint scent of synth-skin and bacta substitutes would return him to the quiet sincerity of his childhood. “It’s.. Jax, right?”
This was the right room. The occupant was Human, a little younger than Zhi. There was nothing currently critical about the injuries, but the healer’s palms and fingertips itched with sympathy at the degree of pain the younger man would still be in.
“I don’t think we’ve met, but we have some important traits in common. I don’t know if our time is limited. I need your help please and we should leave. But before that, I need to help you with that chest…” He paused. “And the arm.”
Re: The Jawa's Dirty Secret: Casino and Cabaret
"This would be the one"
He heard the words just outside his door and his eyes darted across the room as he sat up in bed, bare chested with a robe draped over his shoulders. In truth he didn't much like the flame red color of it, it did not seem quite Jedi enough for him but neither was staying in a place like this if he was being totally honest with himself. In fact the robe itself did it's jub keep his shoulders warm as wearing a full on tunic or a shirt would likely aggravate his still healing wounds at this point. The synth skin itched and so did the bacta patches around the deeper part of his chest wound that had cut through his sternum and barely missed his heart.
As he straightened himself he grit his teeth as the door flew open, a daily occurrence that he was used to at this point but one that became increasingly annoying every single time it had happened. His lightsaber was on his left side hidden by the folds of the faux luxury of the robe but he didn't sense that he needed it for these visitors. They were likely here for the same reason most of his visitors were here, to see if they could earn a an additional transaction out of him. He had thought once or twice for no more than a half second about just giving in as Alex was paying for the room and seeing that charge come through might be enough for him to come rescue him from this hell hole and take him to a more appropriate medical faciality. It was just a passing thought though and not one that he ever truly entertained, he recognized there was a hidden genius in keeping him here, no one in their right mind would think to go looking for a Jedi who had taken up residence at a house of ill repute.
Bacta patches covered a massive scar that extended from his navel in an upwards diagonal across his chest and into the bicep of his right arm. He quickly scanned the visitors as they entered, his brown eyes rolled after a moment and he relaxed a bit and fell back against the headboard of the bed.
"Sorry about that....should have asked..."
The young man let out a sigh and shook his head.
"It's Jax... right?"
He felt his brown eyes roll into the back of skull so far he thought if they went any further he might be able to see his brain. He leaned his head forward and his left eyebrow raised and a confused look appeared on his face. The good doctor at this point was really reaching for what the young Jedi might find attractive. A tall skinny...he wasn't sure human maybe or a mix of some sort and a Trandoshan. He let out another sigh and was just about to speak when the the more human of the two spoke again.
“I don’t think we’ve met, but we have some important traits in common. I don’t know if our time is limited. I need your help please and we should leave. But before that, I need to help you with that chest…” He paused. “And the arm.”
Jaxon's eyes widened, this was a new one. For weeks he had a veritable parade of all sorts of the doctor's special workers come in and offer their quote un quote services to him, but none of them had called him specifically by a nickname he had not heard commonly since his master had died, and he wasn't quite sure what this human...ish person wanted to do with his right arm and his chest but he certainly wasn't interested...and what was the plan for the Trandoshan? He swore his training never fully prepared himself for the things he had seen or heard in this place nor what the intruder was saying to him right this moment.
"You should have asked? When have any of you asked?! Okay. So the good doctor has really outdid himself this time, I don't know how many times you fine people have to keep coming in here offering me your "services" and how many times I have to politely decline, but I am simply not interested. I mean honestly a human and Trandoshan and your both guys, which...I mean I'm not going to say anything lest he get more ideas, but come on. No offense to either of you, I'm sure you both fetch a good enough price from someone who is into this sort of thing, but that's not me! What's next? A Wookiee and a Wampa.....?
He paused and turned his head.
"To be crystal clear, I don't think I need to be helping you with my arm and nor should you be doing anything with my chest...or any other part of me. So I'm sorry I'm out of patience for the good doctor's employees. Oh and what could we possibly have in common?"
He thought for a brief second.
"Please don't tell him I joked about a Wookiee and a Wampa or I'm going to wake up tomorrow with two of them standing over me and I'm just NOT INTERESTED."
He heard the words just outside his door and his eyes darted across the room as he sat up in bed, bare chested with a robe draped over his shoulders. In truth he didn't much like the flame red color of it, it did not seem quite Jedi enough for him but neither was staying in a place like this if he was being totally honest with himself. In fact the robe itself did it's jub keep his shoulders warm as wearing a full on tunic or a shirt would likely aggravate his still healing wounds at this point. The synth skin itched and so did the bacta patches around the deeper part of his chest wound that had cut through his sternum and barely missed his heart.
As he straightened himself he grit his teeth as the door flew open, a daily occurrence that he was used to at this point but one that became increasingly annoying every single time it had happened. His lightsaber was on his left side hidden by the folds of the faux luxury of the robe but he didn't sense that he needed it for these visitors. They were likely here for the same reason most of his visitors were here, to see if they could earn a an additional transaction out of him. He had thought once or twice for no more than a half second about just giving in as Alex was paying for the room and seeing that charge come through might be enough for him to come rescue him from this hell hole and take him to a more appropriate medical faciality. It was just a passing thought though and not one that he ever truly entertained, he recognized there was a hidden genius in keeping him here, no one in their right mind would think to go looking for a Jedi who had taken up residence at a house of ill repute.
Bacta patches covered a massive scar that extended from his navel in an upwards diagonal across his chest and into the bicep of his right arm. He quickly scanned the visitors as they entered, his brown eyes rolled after a moment and he relaxed a bit and fell back against the headboard of the bed.
"Sorry about that....should have asked..."
The young man let out a sigh and shook his head.
"It's Jax... right?"
He felt his brown eyes roll into the back of skull so far he thought if they went any further he might be able to see his brain. He leaned his head forward and his left eyebrow raised and a confused look appeared on his face. The good doctor at this point was really reaching for what the young Jedi might find attractive. A tall skinny...he wasn't sure human maybe or a mix of some sort and a Trandoshan. He let out another sigh and was just about to speak when the the more human of the two spoke again.
“I don’t think we’ve met, but we have some important traits in common. I don’t know if our time is limited. I need your help please and we should leave. But before that, I need to help you with that chest…” He paused. “And the arm.”
Jaxon's eyes widened, this was a new one. For weeks he had a veritable parade of all sorts of the doctor's special workers come in and offer their quote un quote services to him, but none of them had called him specifically by a nickname he had not heard commonly since his master had died, and he wasn't quite sure what this human...ish person wanted to do with his right arm and his chest but he certainly wasn't interested...and what was the plan for the Trandoshan? He swore his training never fully prepared himself for the things he had seen or heard in this place nor what the intruder was saying to him right this moment.
"You should have asked? When have any of you asked?! Okay. So the good doctor has really outdid himself this time, I don't know how many times you fine people have to keep coming in here offering me your "services" and how many times I have to politely decline, but I am simply not interested. I mean honestly a human and Trandoshan and your both guys, which...I mean I'm not going to say anything lest he get more ideas, but come on. No offense to either of you, I'm sure you both fetch a good enough price from someone who is into this sort of thing, but that's not me! What's next? A Wookiee and a Wampa.....?
He paused and turned his head.
"To be crystal clear, I don't think I need to be helping you with my arm and nor should you be doing anything with my chest...or any other part of me. So I'm sorry I'm out of patience for the good doctor's employees. Oh and what could we possibly have in common?"
He thought for a brief second.
"Please don't tell him I joked about a Wookiee and a Wampa or I'm going to wake up tomorrow with two of them standing over me and I'm just NOT INTERESTED."
"No one is coming. I expect to self rescue."
Re: The Jawa's Dirty Secret: Casino and Cabaret
The sand crunched and gave way beneath their feet as the duo came towards the colossal house of sin. No more words were spoken, for none were needed. Sskveesh was not sure whether it was confidence or stupidity that seemed to cause the care-free attitude of the lanky Jedi next to him, but the bounty hunter did not share the confidence. Despite the young man’s protestations that this was going to be fine, the Trandoshan could not help but consider this trap similar to walking into a Krayt Dragon’s mouth. Every bone in Sskveesh’s body told him to withdraw, but he was on the clock now. Technically, this was a job, and although the crazy old Jedi may not have been the ideal client, the reptilian mercenary could not deny the fact that this was more interesting than any job he’d taken in several cycles.
The doors to the main entrance were flanked by stoic guards. Sskveesh paid them no mind. They were of little consequence to the plan at large, and if the noose tightened these two wouldn’t be the killing blow in any way, shape, or form. The jaws to the giant beast open, and the unusual pairing of Jedi and bounty hunter walked into the climate-controlled prison. They had an inmate to break free, and Sskveesh was heavily invested in avoiding the guards completely if possible lest they warn the warden. A Twi’lek hostess seductively tried to suck the two males in, but the Trandoshan merely stared aggressively before scoffing and turning his head. The disinterest was apparently taken well, as she focused her conversation completely on Zhi instead. The bounty hunter was basically playing bodyguard for the time being, and used the time to scan the skies, mentally marking the presence of cameras. The blueprints received from Alex were scant, but this was of no surprise. The fact that they were available at all, public domain or otherwise, meant they were most likely outdated and would not contain anything threatening to the casino. This may not be an operation that rivaled a Hutt casino, but it still was going to be much more secure than your average tavern. However, Sskveesh didn’t blame Alex for this. Just having a layout was far more useful than not having one, and it saved the bounty hunter a step of procuring the building layout for himself. Barely listening to the conversation at large, he picked up Zhi mentioning the room of their target specifically. Although part of him wanted to snap and strangle the young Jedi right then and there, he maintained his professionalism as they began to move through the sea of people.
Faces and bodies swirled around them, each rushing to find their next big score amongst the barren fields of gambling. Sskveesh’s eyes darted back and forth, assessing each and every one of them as a potential threat. He felt naked without his rifle, but such an obvious weapon would only have raised concerns and questions that were not needed. Instead, he had forced Zhi back towards the ship so he could drop it off, and carried only the shortsaber he inherited from the Old One. It was incredibly easy to conceal and in this day and age the typical guards and bouncers would have been unfamiliar with it even if they had been searched and found. However, that had not happened, nor did any of the people surrounding them amongst the lights, the sounds, and the thirst for greed seem to wish to bury a dagger in their backs. Once they reached the elevator, Sskveesh focused his sight, using the special trick usually reserved for hunting in the wilderness or before landing a decisive blow on a target. The faces became muddled and truly flowed into each other, but the Trandoshan could not sense anyone following them in particular or standing out from the crowd. A cheerful ding and whooshing noise signaled the elevator’s arrival. Sskveesh heard Zhi stepping in, and the reptilian Hunter backed slowly in as well. Only once they had selected their destination and the doors closed did Sskveesh break the silence that they had maintained across the main casino floor.
“Do remember to try not to tell EVERY employee our sspescific target. Thiss iss a sstealth operation.”
The elevator dinged again and before the Jedi could reply Sskveesh moved forward. Each step echoed down the cavernous hallway. Like tombs in a mausoleum each door was labeled specifically with numbers, and Sskveesh ignored the lovely décor to mark each and every camera along the way. Finally they reached their destination, which Zhi whispered to them. The Trandoshan rolled his eyes. You did not need to be a Jedi in order to read doorplates, however this was not the time to chastise his eager partner. They opened the doors and walked in. The bounty hunter was disgusted: why was the door not locked? Could their target be so foolish as to leave the door open for anyone to try and come in and shove a lightsaber into his gullet? As these thoughts flew through his head, more began to swirl. Why hadn’t they been searched or even asked if they had weapons? Why were there so little uniformed guards and bouncers on the main floor? Every second that passed made this fetid corpse of a mission reek of potential danger even more, and Sskveesh would only be happy safely aboard his ship.
Once inside, Sskveesh noted Zhi’s nod towards the door, and the Trandoshan understood. He was no healer, and was much more suited for the task of securing the room than playing nursemaid. Approaching the panel, his claws clacked against the screen as he shut the door and began to lock it, one of the few disadvantages of clawed appendages versus fingers. Once the door was locked, the Trandoshan began sweeping the room, looking in the corners, the lamps, the decorations…looking anywhere hidden cameras could be placed. The calm words of Zhi were very discordant against the prolific and irritating noise pouring from their target’s mouth. Only after the target finished his unnecessary dialogue did Sskveesh allow a sarcastic remark to slip out from his fanged mouth.
“For ssomone on their deathbed you scertainly talk too much.”
He finished rooting through the potted plant before turning towards Zhi.
“The room appearss clear. Do your thing and get him sstabilized. We move out ass ssoon ass the tassk iss complete.”
Sskveesh wasn’t sure to feel happy or concerned by the fact he found no cameras, and took a position against the far wall equidistant from the doors and windows, fully ready to launch himself should a strike come from either portal of entry.
The doors to the main entrance were flanked by stoic guards. Sskveesh paid them no mind. They were of little consequence to the plan at large, and if the noose tightened these two wouldn’t be the killing blow in any way, shape, or form. The jaws to the giant beast open, and the unusual pairing of Jedi and bounty hunter walked into the climate-controlled prison. They had an inmate to break free, and Sskveesh was heavily invested in avoiding the guards completely if possible lest they warn the warden. A Twi’lek hostess seductively tried to suck the two males in, but the Trandoshan merely stared aggressively before scoffing and turning his head. The disinterest was apparently taken well, as she focused her conversation completely on Zhi instead. The bounty hunter was basically playing bodyguard for the time being, and used the time to scan the skies, mentally marking the presence of cameras. The blueprints received from Alex were scant, but this was of no surprise. The fact that they were available at all, public domain or otherwise, meant they were most likely outdated and would not contain anything threatening to the casino. This may not be an operation that rivaled a Hutt casino, but it still was going to be much more secure than your average tavern. However, Sskveesh didn’t blame Alex for this. Just having a layout was far more useful than not having one, and it saved the bounty hunter a step of procuring the building layout for himself. Barely listening to the conversation at large, he picked up Zhi mentioning the room of their target specifically. Although part of him wanted to snap and strangle the young Jedi right then and there, he maintained his professionalism as they began to move through the sea of people.
Faces and bodies swirled around them, each rushing to find their next big score amongst the barren fields of gambling. Sskveesh’s eyes darted back and forth, assessing each and every one of them as a potential threat. He felt naked without his rifle, but such an obvious weapon would only have raised concerns and questions that were not needed. Instead, he had forced Zhi back towards the ship so he could drop it off, and carried only the shortsaber he inherited from the Old One. It was incredibly easy to conceal and in this day and age the typical guards and bouncers would have been unfamiliar with it even if they had been searched and found. However, that had not happened, nor did any of the people surrounding them amongst the lights, the sounds, and the thirst for greed seem to wish to bury a dagger in their backs. Once they reached the elevator, Sskveesh focused his sight, using the special trick usually reserved for hunting in the wilderness or before landing a decisive blow on a target. The faces became muddled and truly flowed into each other, but the Trandoshan could not sense anyone following them in particular or standing out from the crowd. A cheerful ding and whooshing noise signaled the elevator’s arrival. Sskveesh heard Zhi stepping in, and the reptilian Hunter backed slowly in as well. Only once they had selected their destination and the doors closed did Sskveesh break the silence that they had maintained across the main casino floor.
“Do remember to try not to tell EVERY employee our sspescific target. Thiss iss a sstealth operation.”
The elevator dinged again and before the Jedi could reply Sskveesh moved forward. Each step echoed down the cavernous hallway. Like tombs in a mausoleum each door was labeled specifically with numbers, and Sskveesh ignored the lovely décor to mark each and every camera along the way. Finally they reached their destination, which Zhi whispered to them. The Trandoshan rolled his eyes. You did not need to be a Jedi in order to read doorplates, however this was not the time to chastise his eager partner. They opened the doors and walked in. The bounty hunter was disgusted: why was the door not locked? Could their target be so foolish as to leave the door open for anyone to try and come in and shove a lightsaber into his gullet? As these thoughts flew through his head, more began to swirl. Why hadn’t they been searched or even asked if they had weapons? Why were there so little uniformed guards and bouncers on the main floor? Every second that passed made this fetid corpse of a mission reek of potential danger even more, and Sskveesh would only be happy safely aboard his ship.
Once inside, Sskveesh noted Zhi’s nod towards the door, and the Trandoshan understood. He was no healer, and was much more suited for the task of securing the room than playing nursemaid. Approaching the panel, his claws clacked against the screen as he shut the door and began to lock it, one of the few disadvantages of clawed appendages versus fingers. Once the door was locked, the Trandoshan began sweeping the room, looking in the corners, the lamps, the decorations…looking anywhere hidden cameras could be placed. The calm words of Zhi were very discordant against the prolific and irritating noise pouring from their target’s mouth. Only after the target finished his unnecessary dialogue did Sskveesh allow a sarcastic remark to slip out from his fanged mouth.
“For ssomone on their deathbed you scertainly talk too much.”
He finished rooting through the potted plant before turning towards Zhi.
“The room appearss clear. Do your thing and get him sstabilized. We move out ass ssoon ass the tassk iss complete.”
Sskveesh wasn’t sure to feel happy or concerned by the fact he found no cameras, and took a position against the far wall equidistant from the doors and windows, fully ready to launch himself should a strike come from either portal of entry.
They have given me a ssecond chance...My giftss shall pleasse the Sscorekeeper and the Old One...
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Re: The Jawa's Dirty Secret: Casino and Cabaret
The young Jedi Knight and healer kept his expression almost neutral. Zhi was young enough that sometimes a hint of a calm smile drifted past his guard when he didn’t actually mean it to; but he wasn’t as young as the wounded Jedi on the bed. Zhi breathed in and listened as the the younger man deescalated from his initial fight-or-flight instinct to level an accusatory stream of grievances at them. He was aware of Sskveesh’s muted huffs or quiet scoffs while the Trandoshan fussed with the doorway and moved around to interact with the room plants.
Their newest and least able-bodied, companion emphasized for the second or third time that he was by no means interested in whatever offering he assumed Zhi…. and Sskveesh… had been sent to sell him… And, there. Finally it was Zhi’s turn.
“It’s not a deathbed.” Zhi commented to Sskveesh while he came to the edge of the surface and sat on the edge, not worrying about their newest companion’s reaction. “He will be fine. Whatever the physician, did.. It appears they genuinely did their best. It’s just a painfully slow and lacking resources. We can manage better.”
He sat on the edge of the mattress near Jaxon's knees and laid the small med kit taken from Alex on the bed, which seemed to be clean and free of the desert dust that coated everything. He left the med kit open for now. There wasn't much more in there than a knife and an injector or two that he intended to use, but it was better to have options than not. As far as infection risk went, having a sterile surgery space had rarely been practical in his life aside from the Temple or his training in the hospital on Coruscant as a child. It hadn’t existed on the forest planet, and the dead mine world wasn’t much better. Jedi didn’t really need or expect one in average situations, but still; there was no sense introducing more complications.
He leaned forward and borrowed the metal water bottle which was set on a small table in Jax's reach. Zhi took a square of borrowed fabric from Sskveesh's ship and poured more than enough water out to generously dampen it. He wrung the fabric neatly to sufficiently wet the whole thing. None spilled despite that there was a bit too much liquid, and the fabric settled to rest just above his hand with maybe a centimeter between his palm and the wet cloth.
Concentrated heat resonated between Jaxon and Zhi, and a low sizzle sound became the tiny bubbling and popping of boiling as a wispy puff of steam drifted up from the boiling cloth. When the temperature had removed anything unwanted, Zhi tempered the scalding wet cloth enough that it didn’t do much damage while he deftly cleaned his hands and wrists to the elbow. The irritation faded away from his hands with a little help a moment later.
‘That is nearly equal parts sensible and barbaric.’ His tired Master had commented sixteen months ago according to Zhi's memory. Luka's voice in his mind, aching from weakness but still coolheaded enough for dry commentary, brought the echo of a smile back to the young healer’s expression. Zhi sighed quietly and turned his face back toward the younger fighter on the bed. He was already thinking about synthskin patches and dealing with that damaged sternum.
“We come from the same family, Jaxon. Or a least we were trained by the same. It’s a long story, of which I seem to be missing a critical chapter. There were years on two planets. Then a decade of carbonite stasis until our friend here was kind or unlucky enough to wake me up three days ago…. I appreciate it, Sskveesh. Jax, your friend in the desert told me part of what happened last month. I can do much better than anyone here. Please don’t waste time and energy worrying about it. Let me help and then we need to leave.”
He paused. The Trandoshan had already checked the room over anyway. Even if there actually were audio recorders hidden, what did a first name matter at this point?
“I’ve been repairing wounds since I was a child… Occasionally even blindfolded. Jaxon, I've got you. Breath easy and let me work now.”
The thin and lanky young man had found the bed's manual reclining mechanism while he spoke, and adjusted it backwards with careful hands and support until Jaxon was nearly flat. He wiped his hands one more time with the steaming cloth and picked up the small knife he'd set in reach.
“My name is Zhi. I’d be grateful to hear who trained you if you want to tell me.”
Their newest and least able-bodied, companion emphasized for the second or third time that he was by no means interested in whatever offering he assumed Zhi…. and Sskveesh… had been sent to sell him… And, there. Finally it was Zhi’s turn.
“It’s not a deathbed.” Zhi commented to Sskveesh while he came to the edge of the surface and sat on the edge, not worrying about their newest companion’s reaction. “He will be fine. Whatever the physician, did.. It appears they genuinely did their best. It’s just a painfully slow and lacking resources. We can manage better.”
He sat on the edge of the mattress near Jaxon's knees and laid the small med kit taken from Alex on the bed, which seemed to be clean and free of the desert dust that coated everything. He left the med kit open for now. There wasn't much more in there than a knife and an injector or two that he intended to use, but it was better to have options than not. As far as infection risk went, having a sterile surgery space had rarely been practical in his life aside from the Temple or his training in the hospital on Coruscant as a child. It hadn’t existed on the forest planet, and the dead mine world wasn’t much better. Jedi didn’t really need or expect one in average situations, but still; there was no sense introducing more complications.
He leaned forward and borrowed the metal water bottle which was set on a small table in Jax's reach. Zhi took a square of borrowed fabric from Sskveesh's ship and poured more than enough water out to generously dampen it. He wrung the fabric neatly to sufficiently wet the whole thing. None spilled despite that there was a bit too much liquid, and the fabric settled to rest just above his hand with maybe a centimeter between his palm and the wet cloth.
Concentrated heat resonated between Jaxon and Zhi, and a low sizzle sound became the tiny bubbling and popping of boiling as a wispy puff of steam drifted up from the boiling cloth. When the temperature had removed anything unwanted, Zhi tempered the scalding wet cloth enough that it didn’t do much damage while he deftly cleaned his hands and wrists to the elbow. The irritation faded away from his hands with a little help a moment later.
‘That is nearly equal parts sensible and barbaric.’ His tired Master had commented sixteen months ago according to Zhi's memory. Luka's voice in his mind, aching from weakness but still coolheaded enough for dry commentary, brought the echo of a smile back to the young healer’s expression. Zhi sighed quietly and turned his face back toward the younger fighter on the bed. He was already thinking about synthskin patches and dealing with that damaged sternum.
“We come from the same family, Jaxon. Or a least we were trained by the same. It’s a long story, of which I seem to be missing a critical chapter. There were years on two planets. Then a decade of carbonite stasis until our friend here was kind or unlucky enough to wake me up three days ago…. I appreciate it, Sskveesh. Jax, your friend in the desert told me part of what happened last month. I can do much better than anyone here. Please don’t waste time and energy worrying about it. Let me help and then we need to leave.”
He paused. The Trandoshan had already checked the room over anyway. Even if there actually were audio recorders hidden, what did a first name matter at this point?
“I’ve been repairing wounds since I was a child… Occasionally even blindfolded. Jaxon, I've got you. Breath easy and let me work now.”
The thin and lanky young man had found the bed's manual reclining mechanism while he spoke, and adjusted it backwards with careful hands and support until Jaxon was nearly flat. He wiped his hands one more time with the steaming cloth and picked up the small knife he'd set in reach.
“My name is Zhi. I’d be grateful to hear who trained you if you want to tell me.”