A furtive smile played about her features.
"A name eh?" That wasn't so bad an offer, considering the pot was almost in her grasp now.
"Syla Highstar. Pilot and mercenary for hire." She played it with an air of confidence, expecting him not to see through her lie. It wasn't personal - she had simply found that it was best to have certain illegal activities not tied to your name.
"Ya gonna raise no-"
sparks flew off the door as a blaster bolt burned through the circuits. The guard, who by her standards was nothing more than a glorified lookout, came tumbling lifeless down the stairs. The people who sat near the stairway, all sorts of shady creatures, rose in shock and confusion. First with gasps, then with angry murmurs.
That all seized when the first of four troopers in stark white armour came down the stone steps.
"Dang farrik, why the kriff are they here?" She muttered.
"Umo. Umo!" Neri hissed toward the big shape seated opposite of the sabacc table, just behind some of the other players.
"We're leaving. Now!" The white-furred Gigorian let out a low grumble that was immediately translated by his cybernetics.
"But we were winning..." She rose from her seat.
"Gettin' away with our lives is what I'll call winnin'."
Attempting to stand up and leave proved to be a mistake. Heads turned toward her, including one of the troopers. Neri's eyes widened.
"You." She turned to glance behind her, then pointed at herself.
"You're wanted. Get up." She nodded.
"Yeah, I get that a lot." She made brief eye-contact with Umo, just enough to convey the message. Then, Neri continued.
"It's probably cause of the diet, y'know? Keeps me in shape." She moved back a little to stay out of the stormtrooper's reach for a moment longer.
"Say, you a man or a woman? I can't tell with that whole helmet stuff ya got goin' on." Her heart slammed against her ribcage with each rythmic beat. It was now or never.
"Ya know who's also got that issue?"
"You! Step away fro-"
"My friend Umo over here." She finished with a triumphant grin as the powerful Gigorian swiped for the troopers shoulder to yank her away from the sabacc table. Neri immediately made an attempt to capitalize on the opening - or distraction. Her hands found the edge of the table, and with surprising ease she managed to flip it over. The Sabacc pot, quite a sum for any man living in a poor colony such as this, clattered on the floor below the elevated platform and away from the alcove where the table had stood.
"Anyone in need of some credits? I'm in a generous mood today!" She purposely drew attention toward her now. The people both feared and respected the New Imperial Order, yes, but what drunk and or high customers of an illegal establishment respected even more, was cold hard cash.
A group of Bothans, Aqualish, a Twi'lek and three Yuzzums dove on the pot like vultures. More joined, creating a chaotic barrier of bodies between her and the troopers.
"This way Umo." She nudged toward a small doorway at the back of the alcove, where the sabacc table could be hidden from sight during inspections.
"Ya also comin' pretty boy? We ain't got all day." She threw another glance at the stormtroopers, whom she hoped would be caught in the chaos. Satisfied with the few precious seconds she had bought, Neri began to back away.
"Now. There must be some other way out..." She muttered, unholstering her blaster as she set foot through the doorway.