You Usually Live Once! [MN10]

[Moyr Ahaya]

A Lethan girl in fancy jacket, stovepipes and some party top walked into the casino. Most of her face was covered by big shades which were not reflecting light, just absorbing it. She got herself a drink and joined one of the tables of Corellian Spike.

[Jo'ren Rath]

A large sith in heavy clothing entered the casino. He looked around for the person who had invited him, knowing full well that she was almost impossible to locate if she wished it. Eventually he saw the glasses and the shapely form and walked over.

"Let me buy you a drink."

[Moyr Ahaya]

There was a pause, and a small smile as the shades faced the monumental Sith. The lekku slithered slightly on her shoulders.

"I suppose you're handsome enough for me to permit this. But the second can happen only if you join my table."

[Jo'ren Rath]

An amused smile crossed his face and he nodded. "Whatever the lady desires..." Looking around at the others present he took a seat next to Moyr. "I like your style. Quite an exciting day on Nar Shaddaa, wouldn't you agree?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"After yesterday's fireworks it almost feels dull. But I suppose I cross the line by being humorous about that."

She smiled wryly.

"But you know how it is on Nar Shaddaa. Yesterday it was a tragedy, today is just another tense day as usual. The Moon is quite forgetful on most issues other than money. And if we're on this, we should be betting."

She pushed 250 credits-worth of tokens into the pool, daring him with a slight head tilt.

[Jo'ren Rath]

"Well, you know I like to live dangerously." He gave her a roguish smile and pushed 250 credits worth of chips into the pool, topping up her bet.

"You've always struck me as the lucky type. Let's see if you can play." He sipped at the drink that had been brought over by a waitress and watched the ebb and flow of the game.

[Moyr Ahaya]

It was an elegant and seemingly fair game of Corellian Spike, full of occasional jokes and teases, with both Jo'ren and Moyr engaging other participants in the conversation. In the end, they ripped them off either way but decided not too push it to the hilt so as not to attract the attention of the house.

MN10. Gambling (Tier 2). Cheating (Deception). Influence. Jo'ren's Boost.: 2eP+1eA+1eB+1eF+1eC+2eD 1 success, 2 threat, 2 Light Side


[Not converting, -20% off original bets from Threats]
[+200 net gain per cheatsy Sith]

"Looks like we have a good party budget now." The Lethan smirked.

[Jo'ren Rath]

"Good game people. You win some you lose some, is all in the game." He winked at Moyr as they collected their winnings.

"You know I kinda wish we'd done this sooner. How's it been these last couple of days? I was expecting a call about more exploration but I guess you got what you needed."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"That last part got complicated. Let's find a place to chat. Just get me a drink, a rocky Dorian Quill." She said quietly once they were away from the table. "I also tried to do something to put a stick in the spokes of the SIS scum that cut us off the business we had been on, but it proved to be too little too late. All in all, a lot happened."

[Jo'ren Rath]

Ordering the drink he walked over to a secluded table with her. "Yeah, last few days have been crazy." His thoughts went to Thy and Revan's secret, leading to a smile.

"And I killed a shitload of assassins and assorted scum who deserved it. So I can't complain too much."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I heard and I saw." Moyr chuckled. "How is your time with the queen going by the by?"

[Jo'ren Rath]

He chuckled. "Indeed, I made the news didn't I. You know I scored a new hyperdrive off of all that action? Terror Star is now the second fastest ship in the sector.". He raised his glass to her.

"I enjoy Jug'tih's company. She is a creature of impressive will and deception, now in the body of a mighty warrior. What's a Sith not to like about that?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"To the Terror Star then."

She clinked the glass with him, but after a sip an easy smile flaked off.

"If you like the Queen you should guard her better though. Zash almost possessed her earlier today."

[Jo'ren Rath]

Jo'ren's face immediately shifted to cold fury and the air temperature began to cool noticeably. "Explain. What has that witch done now?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Earlier this evening she sent an assassin after me, Dynos Val. I was speaking with Baes at that time, we put up a fight but he mauled us both. Baes lost an arm. He stole my mask, the Queen's gift." She sighed darkly. "Jug'tih had played with me, unbeknownst to be she had tied her will to the mask so she could monitor my actions. When I got angry one day and just braved my way down the kriffing lake and got past the guardian and into the pyramid, she took the acquired knowledge out of my head right after and bound it to the mask. Once we talked about it, she finally agreed to make our relationship more healthy, but before I could have the findings restored, Zash's hitman intervened. She probably needed the ritual from the sunken temple to enhance her Force draining. When I met Jug'tih, Zash tried to use the mask to dominate our Queen, but I anchored her and that attempt failed. So I think she's here, on Nar Shaddaa. I tracked Dynos Val down to an estate in Uptown, and tried to mobilise intelligence assets, and then talk to Xevious. The fact that I am here rather than elsewhere probably tells you how it went."

[Jo'ren Rath]

Zash. It always came back to her. His expression shifted to pure hatred. "Have you got the place under surveillance? Tell the Hutts you have credible Intel the building is Crimson Shadow HQ and that they should destroy it from orbit. It might set her back at least."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"The place is under surveillance and the spaceport authorities have informed of what to monitor. Beyond that, it comes down to Xevious and his peace talks. Politics is vaping us here." Moyr said somberly. She had tried to be brave but her whole body was more or less a sea of pain now that stim anaesthesia was wearing off.

[Jo'ren Rath]

"Wait. Xevious voted against her in the Dark Council meeting, if it's painted as the Hutts destroying their own building to get at the Crescent Shadow that's hardly going to derail the peace talks."

He was quiet for a time as an idea dawned on him.

"You said that Zash was able to reach out to Jug'tih through the mask. Doesn't that imply Jug'tih can do the same to Zash? Remember that ritual back on Yavin IV? What if we could channel enough power into Jug'tih to help her dominate Zash?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I know how Xevious voted back then. Same like Vengean and Tanathon. I told you, I talked with him. It is deeply ironic for me to say it as a Radical but I am afraid the Conservatives are not ascendant in the Council right now. The Zash case has already weakened their hand."

She quickly drained the whiskey to ease the pain.

"We need to explore this option. Any opening we can get, frankly. She's getting more powerful by the day. Soon even other Darths might not be able to stop her."

[Jo'ren Rath]

"Yeah, the council were small-minded fools that day. Let's talk to Jug'tih, see what she has to say about all this."

He sipped some more of his drink and smiled wryly.

"Oh, and quit getting into fights when I'm not around."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Initially she was too proud to even consider getting help on this, but I convinced her to reach out to your master at the very least. The best we can do now is to make the bunch aware that today it's Jug'tih but tomorrow it may be them. Though too many think that Zash is not their biggest problem."

She chuckled darkly.

"That would be kriffing preferable. But you tend to be busy with girls, sports and slaughter most of the time."