Hunting a Bane

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Zenva smiled back, though her's was half hearted. Years of memories swam through her mind. To many allies had died needlessly fighting other people's wars for them. She ignored his question for the moment. Stoned out of his head, Sage was much less annoying than the smart mouthed wannabe drug lord she had been dealing with thus far. Her gaze drifted around the shuttle, her mind placing the last memory of each of her comrades in their usual seats. So very few of them where pleasant images.

Her focus and her eyes returned to Sage in time. "We are in orbit above Nar Shaddaa, Sage. If you mean what time is it at the spaceport we just left, than somwhere close to two in the morning I think. I'm not sure. If you need to rest than I will have F-three arrange a pallet for you. Of course than you will miss out on dinner, but you can do as you please for now. Once I have confirmed your brother's advance on my pay, I will take you where ever you wish. This shuttle isn't amazing but I can get you most anywhere."

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

As force of habit, Sage produced a deathstick from his pocket and lit as he shook his head vehemently at Zenva. "I'm not sleepy," he announced with hooded eyelids. He sucked in deeply on the noxious, carcinogenic substance and blew pink smoke out of the side of his lips. He put his feet up on Digger's table and leaned back, absently rocking in the chair. "You can drop me off at the Dragon Palace Casino, and please deliver me to a Mr. [member="Jalek Sathora"]. He smiled widely at the name and covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.

"Is that pallet that F-three is getting big enough for two? I don't know about you, but I'm not feeling very restful." Sage gave her a crooked smile, and reached out with his hand, to take Zenva's in his, attempting to play lightly with her fingers.

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Zenva's eye narrowed at the appearance of another deathstick. She didn't comment on the smell this time, Digger's table wouldn't allow her to become hostile over something so minor. That would violate the tradition. She just sighed and shock her head. "Alright Sage to Mr. Sathora it shall be."

Her brow raised slowly as the young man took her hand. Her back straightening as he played with her fingers. It was discomforting but she didn't pull away immediately. Maybe gentle was something she had to grow accustomed to. "Sage. Your high. I get that your trying to be sweet and charming, but I'm not going to bed you. You don't like me remember? You had plenty of insults about the kind of person I am all of ten minutes ago." Zenva gently freed her hand from Sage's. "Maybe tomorrow night. If you don't spend our whole date calling me names in...whatever slug tongue you have been insulting me with."

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

"You don't like my Huttese, pateesa? If you teach me some Zabraki, I could sweet talk you in your native tongue. We could start with the dirty words first, especially if you give me some demonstrations to go along with the dialect."

Sage grinned widely at Zenva. Did she actually agree to a possible date with him? He wasn't quite sure if, in his spice fog, he heard her correctly, but it seemed that way. He made a mental note to get her digits before he was taken to Jalek. "Ok, Zenva, your G-3 or whatever can get me that pallet." Here, he gave her a mock frowny face. "A pallet for one." As Sage's high started to wear off, he looked like he needed to get that pallet soon or else he was going to fall asleep right on Digger's table.

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

In short order Sage was escorted to a sleeping pallet. The FIII Footman droid was left to watch over him incase Sage tried to do something stupid like swallow his tongue or drown in his own vomit. One could never be to careful when babysitting junkies.

As for Zenva, well she set out to kill time while waiting for the elder Bane to deposit her advance. A light meal consisting of thick sliced meats with a blood gravy to soak them in. Sure, the meal was cold but it was the flavors that mattered to the Zabrak warrior. A fresh pot of thick blood tea. The taste was off. F-III was better with the preparation than she was. Eventually she ended up in the cabin of the shuttle, her data pad set up in front of her so she could watch her account. The doors were sealed while she cleaned blood from her clothes and armor. Finally stripping to wash herself.

It didn't take long. Maybe she shouldn't have been surprised when the money showed up. Annoying as Sage could be he was still a Bane, still part of the clan. "Right than. Raven's territory here we come."

Leaving her clothes spread out to dry, Zenva jumped into the pilot seat and started up the hyper drive. With a few system checks and a double check of the course, the shuttle made vanished from the Nar Shaddaa system.

Antecedent. Home of the Dragon Place Casino and heart of the Red Ravens organization. Once the shuttle was on the ground Zenva sent her droid to deal with the port authority and locked herself back in the cabin. Instructions were left that she was not to be disturbed until after Sage had eaten. Zenva had never been to this region of space so didn't know where the casino was. She was certain a taxi could get her there but that left dealing with a set of security and protocols she knew nothing about. Relax, she told herself. Slow down. It isn't time. Wait.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Breakfast wasn’t half bad, thought Sage as he ate in silence at Digger’s table with Zenva’s droid as his only company. He was groggy, sober, and itching to get dirtside.

As the half-Chiss finished his meal, he wondered if he’d actually get a chance to warn Zenva about the dangers of getting too close to his brother or if she’d simply ignore his advice. She hadn’t been the greatest listener on their journey so far, although in her defense, she probably found him an unreliable source of information. A lying little junkie, he thought grimly. It was her funeral, mused Sage, waited anxiously for Zenva to wake so that they could get off this karking ship.

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

When the doors to the cabin opened, Zenva emerged, trailing thin wisps of smoke behind her. The scent of Jasmine incense filled the air and clung to her like a perfume. Clean, rested, and refocused on the task at hand Zenva stepped up to Digger's table. Her long coat was draped across the back of her chair as she dropped her armored vest on the table. Roughly thirty pounds of solid durasteel hidden in her corset makes a surprising amount of noise when it hits a wooden table. For many it was difficult to tell what was going on in the mind of a Zabrak. Especially when they appear stoic and rigid, as Zenva was now. For those like Sage however, the amusement dancing in Zenva's bright yellow eyes was rather easily noticed.

Zenva watched the young man for several moments before she continued to prepare for the day. Her belt hung loosely from her hip, its knife and revolver already secured to it. Her blaster pistol was strapped to her right thigh as well. The shirt she wore matched her outfit well. Tight, small and revealing. Managing to cover only her breasts while showing off her well toned midriff. Tribal tattoos looped and thorned along her ribs and back. "Well your a poor sight in the morning. Do you want a chance to clean yourself up, baby Bane? You look like you got beat up by a girl." A real smile came to her face. Not her killing grin or her cruel smirk. A simple smile.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage could feel Zenva's presence as she awoke, even before she exited the cabin. When she entered the room, he turned slightly and watched her out of the corner of his eye. As she dropped the armored vest on the table, he raised an eyebrow at her. She had a very interesting Force signature about her, almost playful. Quite a different Zabrak from yesterday when her tongue was full of spite for him. Their eyes met for a few moments and then she began to putter around the cabin in a fetching outfit with her tattoos and lithe body on display. Sage couldn't complain about the view.

He ran his fingers through his greasy bedhead. "You smell good," Sage declared with a sideways smile. He ignored the nickname that she'd come to favor for him and chuckled, "I did get beat up by a girl, but what can I say? I like it rough." he raised his eyebrow to punctuate his last word, then he let out a long sigh and shrugged. "I guess I could use a shower." He stood up on wobbly legs, a raggedy foal of a man. "Which way is it?"

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Zenva's face turned away for a moment, her face had flushed with warmth and she didn't know what else to do but turn away till the sensation was gone. A sharp little laugh escaped her and when she turned back she smiled again. "Oh yes. I recall how rough you like it." Her voice took on a mildly mocking tone. "Wait. Cough. Stop. Weeze. My brother will pay you more. Just stop hitting me." She laughed again, a spirited little chortle. "Go on then. F-three can take you below so you can shower. There are a lot of low hanging beams, so don't go cracking your head open down there. I don't want to explain to your brother how you brained yourself."

With a dismissive little wave of her hand, Zenva went about readying her armor. Checking all the ties and ensuring the strike plates were all in the correct positions. The Footman droid moved off to open the lower level hatch and turned to wait for Sage.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

If he didn't know better, Sage could have sworn the Zabrak was blushing. He let out a little "heh," at Zenva's comments and followed F-three to the shower stall. Glimpsing himself in the mirror, Sage cringed. A large purple bruise had blossomed on the side of his face where his jaw had been decked, as well as a lump on his forehead from the goat-like headbutt. It wasn't a pretty sight. As Sage peeled off his dirty clothes and stepped into the shower, the steam rose throughout the bathroom and thankfully eclipsed his reflection before it could cause him too much self-loathing.

Even though he was wearing last night's clothing, he still felt much more refreshed after his shower and smelled a frell of a lot better, too. Almost bright and shiny enough to actually face his miserable bastard of a brother. He finger-brushed his hair into some semblance of order and stepped back out into the cabin, stealing a glance at Zenva's shapely, tattoo-covered back. Sage hovered nearby and produced a deathstick from his pocket, then paused. Zenva had been kind enough to offer him a meal and shower. The least he could do was try and and be less of an nerf herder for once. He reluctantly put it away.

Sage's hazel eyes searched hers for a moment and he gave her a half-smile that had noticeably less bravado in it than yesterday. "Well, beautiful, let's not keep the blue bastard waiting shall we?"

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Zenva nodded approvingly as Sage put the foul smelling deathstick back in his pocket. "Clever boy."

With the assistance of her servant droid Zenva dawned her armor. The droid's hands moving quickly to lace the corset in place. Her belt was pulled up and synched in place at her waist. She keyed the release on the loading ramp and left the shuttle.

Once in the city proper she hailed a taxi and waited for Sage to get in. Her eyes scanning everyone and everything for possible threats. This close to her meeting with Cryax, Zenva wasn't about to lower her guard. Settling in beside Sage she nodded to the young man. "Where to pretty boy?"

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage smirked at her comment and said nothing. He simply watched her unit help her into her armor with a raised brow. Then Sage followed her into the bustling Antecedent street which was smarming with tourists, most of them headed to the glittering casino off in the distance.

"Dragon Palace Casino, pateesa. Your new place of business." he said, leaning back into the speeder seat, arms crossed behind his head. Then his hazel eyes flickered to her weapons. "You know they'll never let you into the casino with all that heat you're packing, right? Have fun being spending ten minutes being disarmed at the entrance." He giggled with amusement and then lit his deathstick, letting the the smoke weave up through his nose and out through his mouth.

Sage tapped some pink ashes over the side of the speeder and stared off into space as the taxi took off. "You never did give me a chance to warn you about my brother, you know." Then his face took on a more serious expression. "I'm not karking around. There are some things you really need to know about him if you want to live long enough to keep hunting down more druggies like me." Sage paused for a moment, sucking in the pink smoke and blowing it out of the side of his mouth, away from Zenva, then continued in a softer voice. "I just wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to you."

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

"What does that mean anyway? Pateesa? You keep calling me that and I'm starting to think it's one of your cute insults." Zenva's eyes narrowed at the deathstick. She let Sage draw from it twice more before her hand lashed out, quick as a striking serpent, to pluck the foul thing from his teeth. "I told you these smell terrible. You will ruin the nice scent I have going." With a flick of her finger, the deathstick was out the window.

Dusting her hands off she returned to facing forward. "You will get me in with my equipment, pretty boy. You have already had one attempt on your life this week. Haven't you?" Zenva leaned against Sage's shoulder, and turned her lips to his ear. Her voice was low and her breathe was hot on Sage's ear. "You wouldn't travel about with a bodyguard and take all her toys away would you Sage?" She sat up again with a laugh. "Alright. Alright. What do I, so desperately, need to know about your brother? And don't go all mushy on me, pretty boy. You don't really give a chit about me. It would just be a waste of eye candy if I got killed."

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage laughed, running his fingers through his shaggy, windblown hair. "It's not an insult, Zenva. It's a Huttese term of endearment. Translates into Basic as something like 'darling.' If you'd rather have an insult, I could call you a tasueziuena, but you'd probably just kick me in the nuts if you knew what it meant."

When she stole his deathstick, Sage smirked and rolled his eyes. He was about to light another one when she came in closer, her lips enticingly close to his ear. Sage let out an almost inaudible growl of pleasure at her closeness. Then she pulled away and he frowned. "Fine, I'll text Cryax and have him get you weapon clearances," he grabbed his beat-up Datapad and sent his brother a message to make sure security didn't take away Zenva's "toys." Then he turned back to her, an edge of gravity in his tone.

"The less people you tell the better, but my brother has a Yorik-Kul in his head that allows him to be controlled by a Yuuzhan Vong overlord. Like a literal puppet. Not only that, but this mind link or whatever that this overlord put in my brother's brain allows the Yuuzhan Vong guy to hear everything Cryax hears and see everything he sees. I still haven't figured out exactly what he wants with Cryax, but just keep my brother at arm's length and you'll be fine. If he wants you to accompany him on missions, say no. Believe me, Zenva, unless you want to be captured and tortured within an inch of your life, run far away from my brother."

As the speeder taxi neared the gaudy neon lit casino, Sage sat back in the speeder, letting his warning sink in, and then he lit another deathstick.

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Zenva let out a dry chuckle, "Stick with darling, kid. I would hate to have to bust you in the teeth." Shaking her fist in front of him. Her smile was back and Sage would have little difficulty sensing her playful mood.

While Zenva waited for Sage arranged for her to have 'weapons clearance' she let out a rich laugh and reached over to pat the man's leg. "See I told you that you could get me in with my things. Besides, I'm being very polite today." She gestured to herself, still dressed in her leggings, mini-skirt and her corset from the night before. "I didn't bring my coat with a rifle hidden under it. All my weapons are right where you can see them. Chit, I didn't even bring grenades today. And before you ask, yes I had grenades last night. I'm not going to headbutt anyone or bite someone's fingers off. That's pretty karking sociable for me."

As Sage turned serious, Zenva's smile faded. She listened without looking at the young man. She couldn't help but think she might be out of her depth with this new job. Sane people avoided the Yuuzhan Vong at all costs, precisely for reasons like this. They were insane and had powers Zenva didn't fully comprehend. It wasn't until the speeder stopped and Sage had another deathstick out that Zenva spoke again, "Nothing to worry yourself over, pretty boy. I never trust my contractors. Nine out of ten will shoot you in the back at their earliest convenience. The tenth will do it to your face."

When she turned back to Sage there was no playfulness left in her expression. Only the cold warrior remained. "Let's go, baby Bane. We have to drop you off with your associate before my meeting." Stepping out of the speeder the Zabrak warrior scanned the area for threats. Goons at the doors and droid security forces. No noticeable gun men hidden in the alleys. Seemed 'safe.' Gesturing for Sage to exit the speeder Zenva moved forward to clear the door like a bodyguard should.

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Exiting the speeder taxi, Sage grinned and tilted his head to take in the view of Zenva in her little skirt and corset. "Oh your weapons are right where I can see them alright," he said with a chuckle. As they entered the glittering Dragon Palace Casino, bounty hunter and bounty were both scanned head to toe by security droids. As both of them technically worked for the Red Ravens, they were allowed in without a hitch and allowed to keep their weapons.

The raucous casino was packed full of humans, near-humans, and aliens hitting the slot machines and sabacc tables, some already drunk even though it was early in the day. People were drinking, dancing, and doing who knew what else in the darker corners of the place. Finally, Sage felt at home. "Well, this sure has been fun, Zenva, but I guess it's time for you to deliver me to [member="Jalek Sathora"]. He's probably around here somewhere. Let's text him shall we?" said the Chiss hybrid with a bemused smile. He sent Jalek a quick message that mentioned he'd been picked up by a bounty hunter and to please come free him. He figured there was about a fifty percent Jalek would ignore the text, but Sage still liked those odds. As he flicked off his Datapad, he raised his big brown eyes to Zenva's and gave her a sweet smile.

"I'll be around if you feel like doing something you'll regret in the morning with someone."

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Zenva meet Sage's gaze and felt herself start to smile in return. It had been fun, in an odd sense. She hadn't had someone to talk to or sit at Digger's table with her in almost three years. And than he did something stupid again. What should have been a smile turned into a perplexed look and she laughed bitterly, "Wow Sage. Just... wow. That's the worst line I have ever heard. If I want something to regret, really? I'm going to do something I don't usually do. I'm going to be blunt honest with you kid. I like you. No let me start over. I like things about you. I like that there are Wookiees that can't take a punch like you can. And if i think about that for to long it excites me. I like that despite us starting off with beating the chit out of one another, you still want to call me beautiful or darling. I don't get complemented often, I'm sure you figured that out. I like that you realized lighting another karking deathstick on my ship would piss me off. I even like half your stupid little come ons." Zenva stopped to take a deep breath, clearly struggling to keep her voice calm and level. "I have an appointment to get to. Maybe on my way out you could prove me wrong about you not giving a chit beyond the waste of eye candy. Try acting like a man not a damn burned out junkie. Do something... i don't know, maybe try dinner before you try jumping in bed with me."

Zenva didn't wait for him to respond or even wait to see his reaction, she simply turned away and started toward the elevator. She would find [member="Cryax Bane"] on her own or find someone who could direct her to his office on a different floor. She didn't want to stay near Sage or she would lose her temper.

 

[Cryax Bane]

With a view of every Holocamera on the premises, Cryax Bane had been watching Zenva Vrotoa bring his glit-biting sibling into the casino, where apparently they had some sort of dust-up which resulted in her storming off. The Chiss shook his head. Typical. Like a Blister flea on a dirty mattress, Sage skillfully got under people's skin. Too bad it wasn't a talent anyone could put to good use. It looked like the bounty hunter was headed towards the elevator. With a shrug, Cryax figured why not meet her halfway.

With two Mirari bodyguard droids following closely on his heels, Cryax took the elevator down, and when it opened he exited with a big smile. Unlike his disheveled brother, the elder Bane wore a beautiful black three piece suit, exquisitely-tailored to fit his lanky frame. He was a bit on the thin side these days, and hollow around the eyes, but otherwise looked like a camera-ready crime boss. Cryax spread his hands at the Zabrak, his red eyes gleaming. "I've been waiting for you, Zenva. We have much to talk about. Please, come upstairs to my office and we'll chat over some drinks." Before she could say no, he hooked his arm around hers, and escorted her into the elevator that took them to a more private wing of the casino.

His office was a pink and cerulean neon lit nightmare and much like the rest of the casino, there were dragon motifs everywhere. Cryax hated his office decor but out of respect for his old boss Lysle Rigger, he'd never bothered to redecorate. As he gestured for Zenva to have a seat in the Corellian leather chair opposite his desk, the Browncoat Datalogger on his wrist pinged. He smirked as he checked the message, and then turned towards Zenva. "My brother told me to tell you he wants to have dinner tomorrow night." Cryax shook his head and chuckled. "Should I let him down gently?" he asked with a raised brow.

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]

 

[Jalek Sathora]

That fifty/fifty estimation Sage made was just about spot on. Pulling up his retinue of messages seconds after the notification sounded, he sighed and rolled his eyes in the split second it took him to recognize the name. Some people really never learned when to leave well enough alone. But the contents of the text had sparked his curiosity enough to give him good enough cause to investigate, so with a faint amused smile on his lips he collapsed the message and stowed his datapad away, making for the main floor of the casino. If Sage was telling the truth, it was quite the situation he'd gotten into.

It didn't take long for Jalek to spot him across the casino floor, and without bothering with any proper introduction he wove his way through the crowd towards the man, glancing around as if in anticipation of there being another individual nearby. Either he’d lied in his message, which wasn’t a huge surprise, or the bounty hunter had already wandered off, presumably to meet with Cryax. That was just as well, because it would mean one less person to have to deal with retaliating to his comments.

Raising an eyebrow he finally appraised the man, his jade gaze holding signs of a vague amusement about the entirety of it all. “So, bounty hunter, huh? They must have managed to turn invisible, or you managed to irritate them enough that they walked off, no big surprise. What the kark is it you want, then?” It was no surprise that his tone wasn’t welcoming, after what had transpired between the two of them mere weeks before. If there was one skill he didn’t have, it was forgiving and forgetting.

“And don’t worry, I’m still not going to take you up on our offer for a date. That last time was more than enough for me.”

[member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Holy chit! The elder Bane stepped out of the elevator directly in front of her, his arms wide. Reflex took hold for a fraction of a second as Zenva's left hand came up for her knife. The pair of monstrous droids behind the crime lord however, stopped the Zabrak mid motion. Giving him ample opportunity to take her by the arm and lead her away. "Drinks? Umm, certainly." She had been taken by surprise and he had left her little choice in the matter.

When you think of the private office of a man that dressed like [member="Cryax Bane"], you most certainly didn't think of neon and pink. Zenva's eyebrows raised as she entered and accepted her offered seat without comment as her eyes moved around the room. "I like your suit. Does your tailor do women's wear?"

At the mention of young Sage, her eyes narrowed slightly. "No thank you Mr. Bane. I would prefer to handle Sage myself." She raised a hand in a placating gesture. "Not that I will damage him outright. You and I have already dealt with that matter I believe."

Straightening herself in the chair, her legs crossed at the knee. Her right leg atop the left, so her blaster could come clear of it's hulster easily. She didn't plan to use the weapon but the motion was trained into her. She took a moment to correct her skirt. Laying all the pleats out correctly. Zenva turned her gaze to meet the charming young Chiss' glowing eyes. "So Mr. Bane, what shall we discuss? Or would you rather have our drinks before the business aspect?" She smiled then. Her bright white, shark like teeth standing out vibrantly against her crimson skin.