The Wheel of Fortune

[Seto du Couteau]

"Well I'm not exactly sure but," Seto hummed at [Member="Destiny"], he looked at his hand before placing down his bet but he smirked once. "I'm sure I'll get my next response wrong but," He added as placed his entire stack of credits into the pile. He was sure someone else had the better hand than his but he was certain he gave the entire table a taste of his confidence and would force the rest to fold. No one would call my bluff Seto thought smugly to himself.

His eyes caught a new player of their table, eyes targeting [Member="Mad Klay Grubber"] as he wondered what enticed him to join this table versus the rest of the tables available. Perhaps another challenge but at the moment he focused on his current hand and the round. "Perhaps an Engineer?" Seto asked.

 

[Aster Jen'allé]

*Destiny was surprised by the arrival of [member="Mad Klay Grubber"]. Usually people didn't buy in at this point, and this could seriously throw off her calculations. She couldn't wait another hand, she had to gamble it all on this one and get away with what she could and the surprise all in by Seto allowed her to risk just that. When the bet came to her once again she placed forward all of her credits. She would have to win or lose the day on less than an 80% chance of victory.*

Destiny: *to [member="Seto Du Couteau"]* "Wrong again, I'll tell you if I win this hand though"

*To Klay* "and do you mean that woman over there? I've noticed her. Why do you ask?"

*Of course Destiny had noticed her walking around the building. She looked foreign even for a place like this; however, it wasn't until her attention was brought more closely toward this woman ([member="The Queen"]) that she began to notice the powerful manner with which she carried herself and the fact that she appeared to be looking for something... Or someone... She awaited tensely the result of the hand.*

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

His eyes wandered back towards [member="The Queen"] before fixating on [member="Destiny"] , "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to know if you saw her.", he smiled at her -- although the expression was more or less fake he was telling the truth there; at least a partial truth. He played with his chis silently as the dealer moved the game to its final phase.

Klay turned his gaze to the man next to her ([member="Seto Du Couteau"]) and sized him up on visuals. "Didn't mean to interrupt your date.", he said with a half grin that subtly hid his greater amusement. The pirate knew that the man was just flirting with her, or well assumed, and intended to crack the joke for his own entertainment. The Queen seemed quite out of place even amongst the wealthy denizens whom frequented The Wheel. Whatever her business here was he knew it was a bigger deal than let on by her regal pacing. He still noticed that there was a hooded figure heading towards her; probably to avoid being caught for whatever reason.

 

[Seto du Couteau]

His eyes flashed at his cards, he laughed for a moment as he saw that his bluff failed to sway [Member="Destiny"] from calling his bluff and folding. His fingers running through, this time, his natural white hair instead of his dyed black part. His grin now a smile, he offered a nod to her challenge if he were to win the hand she would tell him her line of work. Sadly he knew he would leave with just an unanswered question after this round. Showing his defeated hand he gave back the cards to the dealer, his eyes offering Destiny a small show of respect through his eyes. "It appears I'll be left out in the dark," He sighed.

He frowned slightly at [Member="Mad Klay Grubber"] at his comment of Jennifer and himself on a date in 'The Wheel'. Certainly though he wouldn't had mind it being a date but currently it wasn't, but his attention turned to her to see what her reaction was to this man's comment. Clearing his throat, "You have business with her then?" He asked, slightly wondering if he was about to loose her company. Seto did not necessarily needed to win back his lost credits, but he did feel slightly regretful for not actively searching for his assistant. Slightly. Of course he was interested of what both Jennifer and the man wanted from The Queen.

 

[Popo]

[member="The Queen"] [member="Mad Klay Grubber"] @Destiny @Seto Du Couteau [member="Catalys Maijora"] [member="Dalvod Senroe"] [member="The Cartographer"]

Business continued as usual on the Wheel. The money flowed in all directions and from all sources, though it would take a well trained eye to spot that most traveled in a singular direction at the day's end. The population on the station was rather immense, but manageable. All walks of life were aboard from the high ends of society to the lower walks of life. Corporate tycoons brushed past armored mercenaries on the roads while cocktail waitresses served drinks to tourists and celebrities alike. It was a melting pot of society where all parts had the same common traits: greed.

Mercenaries were welcome and encouraged to seek work on board the station at the many job boards and corporate offices and were allowed their armor and weapons, but only with strict warnings from Wheel Security. As a precaution, all weapon carriers on the station outside of Tenloss personnel were fiercely watched through HWK-I and the technicians monitoring the control rooms and the holocameras. Security were alerted to weapon bearers in the vicinity and maintained a higher state of alert in such instances. The few times a Wheel visitor carrying a weapon decided to cause trouble with said weapon, it generally ended with ashes and a load of paperwork.

In fact, between the armed security walking the station and the technicians monitoring the computer systems, anyone attempting to slice into the Wheel's systems would find their work cut out for them. Between the various firewalls, alert systems, and the technicians monitoring the many systems on board the space station, they'd certainly spot a hack attempt relatively quickly. While intentions and targets of the attempt may be difficult or impossible to spot initially, the attempt itself could be rapidly discovered and the access point located on board the Wheel in a relatively short amount of time. [member="Ciara"]

 

[Aster Jen'allé]

*Destiny smiled at the remark made by [member="Mad Klay Grubber"] and picked up her winnings to leave the table.*

Destiny: "It appears my luck is at it's height and I will quit while I'm ahead. Come along now Seto, I'm sure losing has done enough of a number on your wallet, let me buy you a drink with all of your money that I just won."

*Destiny winked at [member="Seto Du Couteau"] and began to walk away. She wondered what Klay was doing and moreso the significance of the woman he had pointed out ([member="The Queen"])*

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto Du Couteau does not always win, but that does not mean he could not make things better out of a bad situation. Flashing a winning smile at [Member="Destiny"], "I'm not keen of loosing anymore tonight," He said with reluctance but shrugged. "But what kind of gentlemen would I be if I couldn't afford ourselves a few drinks?" Seto explained to her.

Looking over to [Member="Mad Klay Grubber"] he offered the man a nod, "Don't worry too much of the other players here, they take almost every bait," He whispered loudly after then he gave a quick laugh as he stood up and walked over to Destiny.

"I must treat the winner out instead Lady Jennifer," Seto explained to her, offering her a small bow, "And don't worry about my wallet, I'm too smart to loose everything in one night," He added with a small laugh.

 

[Ciara]

[member="Popo"]

Opening her datapad's external communication functions, Ciara probed carefully at the security system of the Wheel using her datapad. Although she did not doubt her abilities as a skilled slicer, it was clearly impossible to slice into the system undetected without prior preparation and within the time constraints of the contract. Thus, Ciara resorted to her old-school tactics and approached the nearest security outpost. Of course, this was not randomly chosen: Ciara carefully analyzed the security guards at each outpost and chose the least active, least protected, and above all, the outpost which had the most incompetent security guards.

Approaching, Ciara took out a previously stolen external security force badge and nodded to the security guard. Tapping a button on the side of her helmet, the visor of Ciara's helmet turned translucent and she nodded once again. In a strict, official voice, Ciara stated bluntly, "Hello. My name is Ciara and I am a member of an external security force and I am in search of a human replica droid which goes by the alias, 'Destiny.' Our security organization was contracted by an external corporation who states that this human replica droid has committed several crimes, which which is inclusive of corporate espionage. I am seeking your assistance regarding this matter, and I am hoping to have access to your security systems in order to peacefully resolve this issue."

 

[Aster Jen'allé]

*Destiny was amused and touched in a way at the chivalry of [member="Seto Du Couteau"]*

Destiny: "I won't say no."

*Destiny walked back to the bar with Seto. The crowd still bustled around them. [member="The Queen"] was still drawing the attention of Destiny, and now Seto was there with her. This had been far more interesting of a night than she could have expected. She was a regular at the wheel, the system knew her as Jennifer Drew just as any other person knew her by that name. She was respected on The Wheel in a way for the regularity of her attendance there, yet to them, who she really was remained invisible.*

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

Klay continued to pay a single round. "All in.", he had a pretty good hand to say the least but unfortunately a moment later one of the other patrons had clutched the game just a card higher. The pirate threw down his hand and left the table, looking back around to see who was in all sight. [member="Destiny"] and [member="Seto Du Couteau"] were still flirting, [member="The Queen"] was still being ... Well, regal. The one person he had just lost track of was the mysterious hooded figure ([member="The Cartographer"]) who was following her. Where did he go?

Either way he was finding it difficult to get his crew together here of all places, to say the least.

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto turned to face the bartender and ordered two of the specials the bartender had for the night. Receiving two shot glasses, Seto peered into the clear liquid and looked up to face [Member="Destiny"] and handed hers. Placing down a larger amount of credits than what the drinks could possibly cost he quickly downed his drink. Feeling the familiar burn he took to note the a sweet after taste dancing around his taste-buds. Raising his fingers to run through his black part of his hair offered a small grin, "What brings you to 'The Wheel'?" Seto asked, his free hand going towards his tie as he straightened it once more. "I usually don't meet people with the galls to call my bluffs, people tend to feel intimidated by such gesture," He explained. Curious he was, her matter of speech and process of how she won the game definitely felt something different than from an average gambler.

 

[Popo]

The Wheel Security guard seemed not to move for a moment, the faceplate of his Champio armor giving nothing away while the Type 8 SMG rested professionally and readily in his hands.. It was almost as if he was ignoring her or hadn't heard her speak. That is, until his voice came through external comms of his helmet.

"No external security force has jurisdiction on the Wheel," he said bluntly in a vaguely Coruscanti accent, his comm system rendering his voice harsh and mechanical. "This system is under Mandalorian sovereignty and follows their Mand'alor's laws, but the Wheel is a privately owned and operated establishment placed under its own rules and regulations. Wheel Security authority reigns supreme here and we do not restrict who enters unless they cause trouble here. If you have a criminal to bring in or a bounty to collect, I suggest you wait in a ship outside the system to collect on it. Fighting on this station will warrant an immediate eviction from the station, with or without a starship."

Wheel security took their jobs very, very seriously. Each was hand picked from hundreds of applicants and each applicant had years of combat and security service under their belts prior to applying. Coupled with a harsh, hellish training and indoctrination process and it was no wonder that Wheel Security held such a strict and harsh reputation. To make matters even more personal, all Wheel Security members defended and protected the station as if it were their personal property, which it was, to an extent. Each member was required, upon joining, to purchase stock in the Wheel. The concept was simple and highly effective, forcing each Security trooper to view the station as his property and his money. If the station did well and the trooper did their job efficiently and effectively, they walked away with more money than they'd ever earned while on the clock. If they did poorly, grew lazy, or allowed the station to become damaged through incompetency, they were lucky to be fired immediately rather than have their retirement pay for the losses.

Overall, there was very little to be incompetent about in Wheel Security. If anything, they rivaled most, if not all, elite troops in the galaxy.

[member="Ciara"]

 

[Ciara]

[member="Popo"]

Ciara paused for a split second and sighed. She began her harangue: "So...are you providing sanctum and refuge to the criminals of the galaxy? Indeed, if this private establishment refuses to apprehend, let alone allow for the apprehension, of sentient beings who have committed criminal acts, are you directly stating that the Wheel is of criminal nature itself? Regardless of whether or not external security establishments have jurisdiction on the Wheel, there should still be an enforcement of basic laws, but in your explanation of the judicial machinations of the Wheel, criminals will only be apprehended if they have committed a crime within the Wheel. I am not asking to fight the suspect aboard the vessel nor am I asking for Wheel Security to apprehend the suspect, but simply assistance locating the target so that I may apprehend her."

She taps the side of her helmet once again, making her visor opaque and begins walking away. Ciara mutters about the idiocy resulting from the lack of universal justice and begins heading toward the gambling den in order to search for her target visually.

 

[Tyuk Asha]

Tyuk steps out of his ship in the hangar. Looking around he is bombarded by the sounds of the bustling hangar. He walks to a turbolift and hits the button for the main floor. Checking to see if his saber is properly hidden under his robe, he adjusts it so the hilt is swallowed by the dark flowing fabric. The turbolift slows down to a stop as the door opens to the main floor. Tyuk steps of and mumbles to himself "Hm, what to do?"

After a bit of looking around and walking through the various casino floors. He spots what he was looking for, a small bar in the corner of the casino. He walks up and orders his drink, then sits down on a stool to watch the crowds go by.

 

[Aster Jen'allé]

*Destiny mused at the intuition of [member="Seto Du Couteau"] for a moment before looking at the drink before her and taking drinking it quickly. She might as well consume the drink while she had it.*

Destiny: "I visit the wheel fairly regularly. It's a nice place to meet people and make money. It's also a good place to find contracts."

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto's eyes focused in on [Member="Destiny"] , unsure by what she meant by 'contracts' but he guessed her job was simply that, accepting contracts. Placing a single finger on his chin and looked thoughtful for a moment, contracts here at 'The Whee'' were well, there was quite a variety here so that didn't so much narrow down his guess but simply made him even more curious and interested. "I don't suppose you'll tell me about what those contracts are?" He asked, knowing he had lost the deal earlier.

Stretching his hand out, "But how rude of me, I've been asking the questions all night, do you have any for me?" Seto asked, grinning slightly. His free hand resting on the counter, obvious now to the rest of the casino.

 

[HK-17]

Ikora was unaware of those that watched her, including the security camera's. She was unfamiliar with these places, but from what she gathered after her intelligence operation, resulting in a failed assassination on Romeo Sin, this was a large station-casino, in a way. What public information to be found dictated that the so called 'Wheel' had a population of three-hundred thousand, with public records stating the security force was merely six-hundred. She scoffed at the notion, as she mulled over this information. She was quick-witted and intelligent, any normal child who desired what she did needed to be smart to get where she was, and further. She did the calculations in her mind, and the security force equalled out to be one security office for every five-hundred civilians. Whoever ran this place may have want to reconsider their security force, lest someone, someday, starts a riot. She spied Destiny, but not much longer before she was called on her datapad from Ciara, and her entourage halted. "We'll discuss times in person," she sent back to Ciara through a message. She gave a cautionary glance around, and spied The Cartographer, and she recognised him from the recent bounty. "You shouldn't be in pubic places, Cartographer," she hissed, half-warning, half-threat.

​

[member="Destiny"]
[member="Ciara"]
[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael loomed beside her, and replied in a hushed tone. "Pardon my foolishness, but it was necessary to take this risk in order to request an audience with you. I would like to make a deal." His voice was quiet and hurried. He knew that [member="The Queen"] would most likely take him for a coward whenever he told her that he required protection, but he had very few options with such a popular bounty on his head. "And, should you choose to speak to me, please refer to me as Jareth. Unfriendly ears tend to hear from a very far distance away." As he spoke, his eyes darted quickly about them, anxiously watching the strangers that passed them.​

 

[HK-17]

The Cartographer was taller than Ikora, much taller, but she rose her chin nonetheless as if looking down upon him. She bobbed her head in agreement, clicked and motioned to her guard. She waved them to move back the way they had come, towards the space docks and hangers. "Very well, Jareth." Her footsteps were carefully measured, and she moved with afforded grace. She spoke as if to someone beneath her, "And how have you come to know me, hmm?" They passed through the crowd with ease as the taller four-armed Mynerysh were quite capable of pushing aside those in their way, resulting in more than two-dozen thrown curses at their inhospitality. She was making quick work on arriving at the dock, and spoke again, "And how may I help you?" she said, offering a hand in the direction of a shuttle that would transport them out to her corvette for a more private discussion. The others would have to wait.

​

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

If he were in a better mood, Bael would've been amused by her snobbish behavior. But right now, he was just thankful she would hear him out. He bowed respectfully to her and walked onto the shuttle. When they were safely inside with the door closed, he spoke. "To begin, I know of you from what my parents speak of you. The Lenasins have very good business transactions with The Concordat. I also know of you from talking with many of my party guests. They are either in awe of [member="The Queen"], or afraid of her. Now, as to how you may help me." He reached up and lowered his hood so that she could better see his face. "I ask for your protection. I take it that you are aware of the Vong that has vowed to take my life and placed a very unavoidable bounty upon my head. It has become quite a nuisance. I may be a wealthy man, but no amount of personal security will keep the hunters away from me for long. I have been forced into hiding, and to look for the aid of others. That is where I hope that you will come in."​