Public Creatures Of The Night [OPA Faction]

[Eldin Daine]

The Glow Dome of Adarlon had a chequered past. Once the thriving centre of fine entertainment, and no doubt some not so fine, it had been the quadrants largest capital of bright lights and expensive resorts that those that had the cash could come and indulge and enjoy what it had to offer. But like anything, time writes a history that saw it go from a hay day to bankruptcy and back again. The place had changed hands several time in its life span, but today it had returned to Corellian hands, it’s proprietor a Corellian woman by the name of Cara de Costella. Probably not her real name but no one cared. She was famous for her looks, beautiful, elegant but sour, a straight razor toten woman ruthless and unforgiving.

The casino attached to the Glow Dome, The Tsar’s Palace sat just off the main strip of Balderdash City, a place known for it holomovie production houses, which drew in tourist and everyone that aspired to break into the industry. There was the seedy side of this place as well, a very healthy of holomovies of the more adult nature thrived just as equally. Nothing was ever as it seemed in this place.

The high ups at the OPA had received a report that there was trouble at the Tsar’s Palace, high rollers that came to gamble at the casino were going missing. Anyone that had beat the tables and won a sizable amount of coin vanished, not heard of again. Cara de Costella had demanded that OPA do something about it, it was bad for business as people were shying away from the palace and going to her competitors. The OPA higher ups decided this was a job for the Bespin Black Suits, and they had a directive to get to the bottom of it, by any means necessary.

Cara had given the BBS the top suite to use while they were here investigating the disappearances, and drinks were on the house. But first they needed to get to business and once settled into their respective rooms, they would meet in the main room in the suite. Eldin poured a drink for himself while he waited for the rest of them to arrive, a short glass of whiskey no ice swirled around his glass before he raised it to his lips. He stood in his black suit collar turned down, white shirt and tie, clipped whiskers and hair perfect, looking the part of a high roller.

For a moment, he looked out the window across the top of the buildings toward the setting sun, night would arrive soon and with it, the creatures of the night.


Shira Varanin | Yula Perl | Potentas

 

[Shira Varanin]

Shira paused at the mirror on her way out of her suite. She adjusted the fit of her black suit coat around the shoulders and ran her fingers through her short hair. No tie, couple of buttons out, a slim lightsaber up her sleeve.

"You are more than one thing," she told herself firmly, and opened the door to the main room.

###​

Eldin Daine was looking, you know, not totally disreputable these days. Complimenting his suit would have come off as fishing for a return compliment, and anyways the karker knew he looked good. Shira passed on the bar and went over to lurk by the window with Eldin.

"Nice view. Remind me who else is coming? That Zeltron with the bubble butt and...?"

 

[Potentas]

Potentas itched at his neck, bloody suit was itchy as hell. For an informal group that started out as a drinking club, the Black Suits sure had an annoying dress code. Still the mission itself should be fun and entertaining. It wasn’t often Potentas got to swagger with the muckity muck of the rich and reckless.

I wonder if we’ve got a budget to flash around. They did give us a top suite. Drinks for free. I’ve heard worst missions

Potentas supposed he should think of a war or battle as the worst, but truth be told he enjoyed combat, probably a little too much. The worst missions Potentas had was searching through garbage dumps for the crucial piece of tech or part to get his ship up and running again.

Potentas entered the suit.

“Speaking of Zeltron, anyone stock the bar with Zeltron Spice Wine?”

Eldin Daine Shira Varanin | Yula Perl

 

[Eldin Daine]

Ever since his arrival among the OPA, and being in the company of many people that used the force, Eldin was beginning to pick up on it. And no doubt they would too, after all he was not trained in any way and would not know the first thing about hiding it. The familiar presences of Shira Varanin entered the room and stood beside him. He smirked looking sideways at her, “Indeed it is a lovely view”. His head kept turning however, as Potentas arrived.

“I believe bubble butt is here, and so is he”, the glass pointed toward the man clearly not comfortable in his suit although he certainly looked the part.

A few steps and Eldin arrived at the round table in the centre of the room, on it sat two thin cases which he opened to reveal a crap load of casino chips. “One of us needs ta win, make a name for themselves and ‘vanish’”. One case contained chips given to the by the OPA, the other was on the house. OPA wanted their chips back however, they were on loan for the mission.

“de Castella has arranged table five for us, the croupier is under orders to assist makin’ sure which ever one of us sits at the table, wins”. He pushed aside the one of the cases allotting it to that part of the mission, “The other is ta go ta the card tables”. The rest of them on look out, mingling and watching for anything suspicious.

Yula Perl

 

[Shira Varanin]

Eldin Daine Potentas Yula Perl

"The making-a-name part can't be me. Gotta keep my day job." This basically was her day job; she was referring to being a Jedi and needing to conduct Jedi business around here at some point. Not that the Jedi had much business for her other than milk runs. They trusted her heart, probably - just not her capabilities. Not after getting so thoroughly trashed at Atrisia, and spending so long in rehab.

So her words sort of rang hollow to her. A wrench in the works wouldn't actually be the worst thing in the 'verse.

"I'll take overwatch." She tapped her temple. "Bad intentions."

 

[Eldin Daine]

He nodded his understanding to Shira Varanin. She needed to lay low and if anyone was to watch their backs, she was the right person for the job. That left Potentas and himself to play at the tables. Eldin pocketed the chips from one of the cases, and slid the other over to Potentas, Eldin would take to the card table that was his best talent when it came to gambling. He also threw Potentas a tracing device to place on himself just in case one of them was taken. After all that was the risk both of them took, but they needed to find out who was behind this.

Once they were ready, they would venture down to the main part of the casino. The elevator down opened up into the noise of the place, all manner of beings came here to enjoy themselves in one form or another, the Glow Dome had not suffered in patrons, and it was packed, the music and light show spilling out into the main corridor. However, their destination was in the complete opposite direction, along a wide hall to the double doors padded with black leather and two bouncers standing guard. As they approached the doors were opened for the three of them, and closed behind them blocking out the noise from the Dome. It was like stepping into a completely different place.

A hint of soft music played in the background of the sound of the croupiers, swirling smoke from cigars hang lazy at the ceiling and beautiful women flitted about like dancing butterflies going from table to table. They were clearly employees of de Castella. The woman herself was somewhere in the room, no doubt mingling with the more high powered guests. It was noticeable that added security as on duty, big set suited men and women patrol the parameter trying to remain invisible.

Eldin offered Shira his arm, "Shall we my dear?", he offered her a smile, "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight", the games had commenced, and the BBS was about to take to the stage.

 

[Shira Varanin]

Eldin Daine Potentas Yula Perl

"You too," said Shira, deadpan, without missing a beat. She didn't take the offered arm - it would have felt weird considering she was wearing a suit too.

The Tsar's Palace looked like an ideal place to lose everything. Shira stretched out to the Force and found dozens of people doing just that. They put on a good show, but frantic euphoria leaked out of their minds. That was going to be a problem: she doubted she could accurately sense ill intent against all that background noise. Not unless the intent was very ill indeed.

"There she is - Cara de Castella. She looks carved out of ice and pissed as feth."

 

[Potentas]

Potentas took the chips and the tracking device. It was a smart plan should one of them be captured. Potentas wondered what counter measures the casino had. While Force Users were relatively small part of the galactic population he was sure he wouldn’t be the first to nudge a dice in the right way, or read a persons mind for what cards they had in their hand.

Then again they were technically working for the Casino, or at the very least working in their interest After all if they were going to lure whomever was kidnapping the highrollers, they themselves would have to become those highrollers. A great opportunity as far as Potentas was concerned.

Potentas at his heart was a scavenger, junker and hustler. He’d help people in a pinch if it was required, but he also liked playing the angles for the best outcome. part of why he’d accepted this mission in the first place. If you could get a gig working for a casino, it was practically a paid holiday.

Potentas was appreciating the view. Alluring females, reckless spending. Potentas was amused. A long way from digging through the scrapyard for parts.

“I’ll be the distraction” Potentas whispered to his comrades.

“Right! Who wants to play, I’ve got 10 on Green. If I win next rounds on me!”

There was a cheer that went up through the crowd.

Eldin Daine
Shira Varanin

 

[Eldin Daine]

Eldin’s gaze shifted up from lighting his cigar, and looked through the thin swirl of smoke and found de Castella on the other side of the room. Shira was right, the woman looked like a wall of ice with a face to match, that was indeed one gal you did mess with. “Odd, don’t ya think?”, was his only reply to the captain beside him. Sure, the woman had every right to be pissed considering the events happening around the casino in recent times, but surely the woman needed to hold the pretence that everything was fine.

Potentas decided to make himself the focus and joined the tables, a good idea and it worked, playing the part of the flamboyant high roller. Eldin moved to the card tables, decided on the one closest to the wall and he sat in with his back it, more out of habit than anything else.

“Good evening Mister Daine”, the croupier greeting him, having been briefed by de Castella and dealt him in on the next the hand. Eldin stacked the chips from his pocket on the table beside his cards in neat little towers as he looked at the face around him, all studying their cards. He threw in two chips to enter the round, his cards were good, good enough call their bluff and win, but he would throw this hand. He had started counting the cards, and although in places like this a fresh deck each night starts to wear, and soon enough subtle marks appeared on them.

For the most part, the people at his table were here to enjoy themselves, except for one player who sat two seats from him. A woman, somewhat older and held a face like a brick wall, she was here to win.

De Castella was moving about the room, making sure patrons had healthy drinks and healthy wallets and when needed would smile, it was an unnerving to sight so fake and almost menacing, with ice behind her eyes. But for some reason, the woman avoided his table, but she approached Potentas giving him the attention and helping to centre the focus on the room there. Although she did not stay long, moved off toward her watching position once more and whispered something to one of her henchmen.

Something was out of place, he could feel a strange tingling on his neck, like something bad was about to happen.

Potentas | Shira Varanin

 

[Yula Perl]

Said bubble-butted Zeltron had arrived ahead of schedule (oops) and was already hard at work on the casino floor. It would look suspicious, she reasoned, if they’d all entered at once. It would look even more suspicious if they were all wearing similar suits. Hence the slinky black sequined number, for Yula had no qualms about plunging necklines and sheer fabric. She played the part perfectly, flirting with the high rollers and playing up the general role of Zeltron in a casino. It wasn’t really much of an act per se, so much as it was Yula just being Yula. Besides, anything less would be considered questionable behavior given the circumstances.

She’d garnered plenty of looks (some leering, some in disgust), but so far none had been scrutinizing as to whether or not she belonged. Right now, blending into the crowd of gold diggers was a good thing.

“C’mon doll, a kiss for luck.” She’d been sweet on an Atrisian big spender for the past few rounds, and now he was holding his hand out to her, dice enclosed by a fist. He wasn’t bad looking, save for the fact that he was probably old enough to be her father. Yula obliged with a flutter of her lashes, tilting her head down to press a brief kiss to his knuckles, right next to the gold wedding band around his finger. Her painted lips left a faint berry stain on his tanned skin, outlining where they’d been.

He let the dice fall, the pair clattering to the carpeted table which gave way to the silence of anticipation, then an eruption of cheer. The man pulled Yula closer as she gasped with put-on excitement at his win. Gambling had never really been her vice, but the rest of the atmosphere was good enough.

The celebration was cut short as the ovation from a nearby table resounded over their own noise, and Yula paused to look. Ah, so they were here—that was definitely Potentas . Apparently she’d been staring for too long, because her date for the moment grunted and tightened his hold on her.

“What’s the hold up, doll?”

Yula turned back to face him, flirtations suspended for the moment. “Wh—I’m sorry, huh?” An honest curiosity curled her tone, but the man didn’t seem enthused at the prospect of sharing her attention.

“I thought I’d be getting a kiss for winning this round.”

He pulled her intimately closer, a hand sneaking down to grope her behind. He didn’t make it very far before Yula smacked him in the face hard with her knockoff clutch purse and stalked off with a grimace, heels angrily clacking against the floor.

It appeared he'd forgotten the carinal rule: you gotta ask the cutie before you touch the booty.

Eldin Daine | Shira Varanin

 

[Shira Varanin]

These people were a lot. Not that Shira minded, but the place just had so much going on, it was easy to lose track of what was happening and what needed to happen.

Cara de Castillo, the joint's owner, was chatting up 'high roller' Potentas but looking very, very angry. Yula Perl was slapping some Atrisian guy. Eldin Daine was off watching from a card table, and doing a great job of doing feth all innocuously. Shira very much needed to focus if she wanted to take stock of any potential threats to all three of them.

She settled down at a sports bar section, where furious and casual betting alike attended a Huttball match. One eye on the game, one on the floor, she nursed a drink and stretched out to the Force.

 

[Eldin Daine]

The Black Suits of Bespin had been working the room for a good part of an hour, so far nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It seemed to be business as usual as far as the Casino was concerned and Eldin began to wonder if the criminals were going to show tonight. In front of him was an empty whiskey glass and several stacked towers of casino chips he had won, amounting to over one hundred thousand and by now the players at his table had gone bust because of it, replaced by others looking to take his pile.

He knew it was not enough to gain any attention from anyone wanting to nab him to take it all. And for some reason de Castella had stayed away from his table.

The croupier was about to deal the cards again when suddenly the lights in the room turned bright, momentarily blinding everyone and causing a murmur of discomfort from everyone in the room. The doubt doors leading into the place sounded a loud click and was locked from the outside at the same time, the security goons of de Castella pulled their weapons on everyone, including de Castella.

“Nobody moves!”, what appeared to be the leader of the group yelled at everyone. “Stay in your seats and no one will get hurt”. There was a couple of thuds to the floor as people fainted.

The ice lady was pulled close to one of them who held the point of the gun to her head, walking her backward toward the curtained wall. Another goon had a bag in which he was taking all the chips off the tables and anything of value from the players, ripping off jewellery and taking pocketbooks of men and women alike. While the rest of them, stood armed and pointing their weapons at people.

If this was the group taking the high rollers, they had changed their modus operandi, no doubt something had caused them to do so, maybe they had just decided on one last operation going for a big payday before pulling out of Adarlon. And it was clear now, this whole operation was an inside job. But there was something odd in de Castella’s eyes, Eldin watched her through the whole event. Gone was the ice-cold stare replaced with what he thought to be, glee. Very strange indeed for someone held at gun point.

By now the goon gathering all the chips had reached his table, an arm sweeping across scooping them up and into the bag. The eyes of de Castella locked with his, for what seemed like an eternity. Under the table, his hand moved to undo his jacket button, and slowly he drew his pistol.

It was time to call de Castella’s bluff.

Eldin pulled the trigger and the goon gathering the chips fell face first on the table, dead. “Everyone on the floor!”. The room erupted in screams and yelling but the players all hit the floor and tried to keep out of the way. Eldin up ended his table for cover.


Shira Varanin | Yula Perl | Potentas

 

[Zak Amroth]

"Alright, reach for the sky sleemos!"

Which planet was this again? Zak couldn't remember. He vaguely recalled Yula Perl telling him to wait on the ship and stay out of trouble. It wasn't his fault that trouble had a way of finding him. After all he'd only stepped out for some fresh air and more gin when the sound of blaster fire emanating from a nearby gambling establishment had drawn his attention.

Half of the bouncers turned their guns away from Eldin Daine towards him.

"Sheriff of Terminus," he flashed his Judge's badge, "You're all in big trouble-"

A flash of instinct in the Force was the only warning he had before the goons opened fire. Eyes wide in surprised terror Zak leapt for cover tackling a scantily clad zeltron girl in the process.

"Sorry about that, miss..." the kiffar trailed off, "Yula? I didn't know you worked here!"

 

[Yula Perl]

Something was going to happen at some point, and that point was right now. Goons flooded the casino and the party came to a screeching halt. Several patrons fainted, including Yula’s sugar daddy, and she ducked behind one of the tables on instinct.

Her eyes found de Castella, the woman of the evening looking somewhat pleased at the fact she currently had a blaster pointed to her temple. That didn’t bode well.

She didn’t know who opened fire first, but she was close enough to see Eldin Daine waste one of the mooks who’d been busy relieving patrons of their valuables. Reaching from between her brassiere, she produced a…decently sized blaster. Small, but not a holdout. The storage facility was generous.

The next thing she knew, Yula was flat on her back, having been tackled to the ground. Up went the blaster, pointed at the assailant’s head, but a flash of familiarity was what kept her from squeezing the trigger.

“Amroth!” She hissed, giving him a forceful heel-kick to the stomach before righting herself and dragging him over to the same overturned table Eldin was taking shelter behind. “Did you at least have the good sense to come armed? I’m not dragging your broken body back to Terminus.”

From her new vantage point, she took aim at one of the goons near de Castella. Hopefully Potentas was alright in the ruckus. “Don’t get in the way or I’ll send Emily after you.” It was an empty threat; the little bot had her own job, scurrying through the network of ventilation systems above them.

Turning her head slightly towards Eldin, she nodded. “I can probably kill the power to this place if we need it.”

Shira Varanin

 

[Eldin Daine]

Eldin popped up from behind the table which was only just good enough to provide them cover. He fired off several bolts, giving Zak and Yula cover as they crawled toward him, he managed to hit one of the goons dropping him dead to the floor. Zak was laying on his back, Yula was way to close to Eldin and she did not need her special Zeltron talent to make his head swim. Black lace is a killer to any man's rational thought, not to mention cleavage.

She said something about power, "Yeah yeah", he agreed, he would agree to anything the girl had to suggest at this point. A loud splintering noise as a bolt hit the back of the table snapped him back to the here and now. "We better do somethin' we are pinned".

Behind them was the fake wall, it was a long hanging red velvet curtain, and behind that was the actual wall. Eldin pointed to it, before firing again this time quickly moving to another table in the room up ending it, his distraction giving Yula and Zak enough time to get behind the curtain. In all the cross fire he noticed that de Castella had vanished from the room, along with one of the henchmen. This whole thing, from the start, had been a set up. For what purpose well that was yet to be discovered. Drawing attention from the OPA was not a smart move on the face of it, but there had to be more to it than that, de Castella was not stupid. So what was it she would gain from this?

Yula Perl | Zak of Amroth | Shira Varanin | Potentas

 

[Potentas]

Potentas had been on a hot streak when all hell let loose. Just when he’d had some luck. Potentas flipped the table and ducked behind it. A few of the more enterprising customers of the casino grabbed at their chips while the blasters let fly. A cynical part of Potentas had to admit and admire that it took a certain kind of person, to prioritise potential profit of casion chips during a warzone. It reminded him of when he was a kid working in scrapyards, one time he’d managed to steal a sweet podracer engine while to gangs fought over that very engine. Potentas shook himself out of his nostalgia.

Potentas glanced around for the rest of the crew. Eldin, Yula and Zak had managed to take cover behind another table. Potentas grimaced and reached into his boot pulling out his lightsabre as he did so. Then for the second time that night Potentas made sure the attention was him. Leaping out from behind his table Potentas sent a Force push in the direction of the enemies, in the same motion lighting his lightsaber.

“Come one you blastoids! Come at me!”

Potentas started deflecting shots using a basic Shien motion and set one of the earliest he’d ever learned. Though he doubted his former masters would have approved of his colourful language. Potentas redirected two bolts back at the people who’d just fired them. The others seemed to catch on finally and stopped taking pot shots, ducking behind their own cover. They were to spread out for Potentas to deal with all of them quickly and protect his teammates. Potentas made his way over to the table of his comerades.

“I can provide us cover. As long as they don’t have gats or slugthrowers we should be fine.”

Potentas dropped into a defensive guard in front of the makeshift cover the others were behind.

“Whats our next move?”

Yula Perl | Zak of Amroth | Shira Varanin
Eldin Daine