Hi, it's Holly Hellstorm here. Witch caught a bad flu and got taken to the hospital, but after she got better she asked me to add this story. So, here you are:) as she would say, enjoy!


What a strange place to find a hunter.

Shinning Demon; A casino for the awfully rich.

Also, a luxurious brothel.

I look around, carefully maintaining a slightly bored facial expression. Sitting on a high stool, I try to look neutrally interested in some whores that walk through the crowd, searching for potential, money-packed buyers for the night. All of them are gorgeous, from the most arousing races in the Universe and I'll have to congratulate the owner on his taste. If I get to meet him, that is.

They will ignore you. You won't be acknowledged the first night. Not the second night. Maybe not even the third night. But you have to be there. You have to show yourself.

It is my fourth night at Shining Demon. I still have to follow the instructions. I find that with each visit it's harder to remain unnoticed. They all seem to notice me, bouncers, whores of both sexes, waiters and even some guests, all expect the bartenders. These bastards are so oblivious of my presence that it is too unreal already. And to think that I have to find one of them…

"Anything more for you, sir? Are you waiting for someone?"

I look up from my drink, only to see the friendly smiling face of the barman who has been ignoring me for at least three hours now. However, the smile doesn't reach his eyes. My training lets me classify that stare as one that's coldly assessing me...

One of them will ask if you're waiting for somebody. Not a woman, a man, a bartender. It's a code.

"I'm looking for someone." I say, observing him. He narrows his eyes a tiny amount, but the smile still remains in place.

"Can I help you?" He's one of them; I explain now, straight-forward, who I'm looking for and the man nods with a serious face. If I didn't know that all of the staff here are trained hunters and fighters, I'd find it strange that he is acquainted with the real purpose of this club. He looks fragile, slim and rather short, but I know better than that. I encounter people like him on daily basis and know well enough that they are all seriously dangerous.

The owner of Shining Demon employs the best fighters from this sector, thanks to that he's created a casino that has its own security doubled. Even whores here are hunters, or at least some are ex-soldiers or warriors. It pays off, as all of them don't need additional security. Not to mention, they all are in perfect physical condition. Important in their job, you would think.

The barman throws me cautious glance, before smiling and asking me to wait for a moment. He leaves his place on the other side of the counter, to disappear in the back door, while another bartender pops out of nowhere, asking if he can make me another drink. Well, why not? This one is younger and taller, muscled and just exactly how I like them. Lady forbade me to contact privately with any of them, but this one is appealing. I like his dark skin and longer, greenish hair in thin braids. He looks me directly in the eye, but before I have a chance to talk him into meeting me later, the previous bartender is back, now with a woman by his side. She comes near, allowing her companion to take away my green haired whore-to-be.

"Marco said that you are looking for someone, sir. Can I help you?" the woman says and I smile, just a little, just to show her that I don't really care. From the spark in her eyes I know she isn't fooled, though. Is she a fighter as well?

She is small, thin and has a fragile look, but all of them do. It's semi-dark in here, so only when she steps into lights over the counter do I notice something which nearly makes me inhale sharply. However, thanks to my training and teacher, I'm able to push back such an urge.

Cat's ears. Two black ears, peaking from her straight, dark hair. Cut high over nape of her neck, strands of her hair are longer near her face, hiding the place where normal, human ears should be.

She must have noticed my amazement, but said nothing. She smiles, turning a little, for me to see her tribal tattoo, beginning at and enveloping right side of her neck, disappearing under her shirt collar.

"What should I call you?" I ask, ignoring the first question. She still smiles.

"You may call me Blackie, sir Stafador. (1)" she says with friendly expression. Her eyes narrow when she smiles like that and I involuntarily think that she's cute, only to kick my mind back on track a second later.

Stafador, Emar Stafador. I'm pretty sure I haven't introduced myself. And that only shows how good their network is.

Begin normal conversation. Your contact will only answer general questions; any mention about what interests you now will be ignored and will disqualify you immediately. Take your time. Wait for their move.

"So Blackie, what would you suggest I drink?" I say, now looking at her carefully, burning every detail of her face and figure into my memory. She seems to like that, not averting her gaze, and suggests a drink called a Desperado as my mind whispers helpfully to me, as I got drown in the whirlpool of her unnaturally big, amethystine eyes.

I spent more than two hours in her company, being graced with her attention focused on me, exclusively. It's a strange attitude knowing that she's a bartender, but then again, she is a bartender in Shining Demon. That explains a lot. We parted in friendly atmosphere, with her calling after me to come again, with so much warmth in her voice, that I nearly believed her.

/

"So? How did you like him, Blackie?" the green haired young man sneaks his arm to hug her around the middle, taking the opportunity while she is spacing out. The woman grins, all her sweetness gone, replaced by faint, disturbing aura, surrounding her like a second skin.

"He's quite something, Sam. Force-sensitive, for sure, even if untrained" she says, her voice now few octaves lower, deep, hoarse. She hugs him back, encircling his neck with her own arms, quickly kissing his lips. "And he's damn hot."

Sam laughs.

"Yeah, babe. This may be interesting" he says, kissing her again, this time possessively, erotically. People from other side of the counter cheer for them, whistling and clapping. Blackie allows him to touch her some more, before elegantly releasing herself from his grip, smiling sweetly again to the audience and going back to work.

/

I have been meeting with Blackie for three days now, keeping our conversations carefully neutral, as I was told to by the instructions. To be honest, the delay is getting on my nerves, but well, this only allows them to be sure of their customers' discretion. I'm in no place to complain, needing them as much as I do.

Today, however, is bound to be different.

Blackie isn't there, in her place on the other side of the counter, where I was expecting her to be. Instead, some different bartenders are looking at me curiously, as I've stopped right before them. I don't know these two; they haven't been here yet. New staff maybe? I think what to do, what have I done wrong for her to so suddenly cut the contact, but yet I can find no fault from my side. What's wrong?

I feel a hand on my shoulder and have to fight the urge to grab it and throw the person over my shoulder in defence attempt. I haven't notice any presence near me.

"Please follow me, sir Stafador."

I see the bartender, Marco, the one that sometimes appeared earlier than Blackie. He asks me to wait for her a little longer, as she had some assignments to attend first. What the assignments were, I didn't know and to be completely honest, I didn't want to know. However, an uninvited, unpleasant thought found its way into my mind and returned now. If she is a prostitute, as the majority of the staff here is, maybe she just didn't manage to get here after being with one of her clients? It wouldn't be that surprising; no matter how much I don't like it…

"What for?" I ask, turning to him.

He just bowed, "Master wishes to see you, sir Stafador."

I follow Marco, wondering, "Why now? Why today?" at the same time checking a position of my knife in my sleeve. The bouncers outside took their time molesting me, to find any hidden weapon, but they seemed to have more fun in groping me than in searching for real. Good for me then.

I feel Marco observing me and I quirk an eyebrow at him.

"Will you not ask, where are we going, sir?"

Interesting.

"Should I?" I ask, only to see that the bartender smile. I must agree, he is an attractive man, even if not to my taste. But, nonetheless, it's pleasant to look at him.

We walk through a whole lot of doors, the man leading me further and further into the building. I try not to lose track of our position, according to the map my Lady gave me, but it's not that simple. So, when I see next door being guarded by two huge humanoid creatures, I sigh inwardly with relief. We are here.

Marco opens the door and steps aside, for me to walk in. The door closes immediately after I walk in. Oh my, how scary.

The man sitting on the couch in the center of the room is fat. Incredibly, at that. His loose robes are supposed to cover at least part of his fatness, but, if one were to ask me, it's a total failure. I hate looking at such a disgusting example of treating one's body, but then again, I'm not here to admire his looks or to choose a lover.

I bow shortly, before looking the owner straight into face. He must liked what he saw, because without words, he gestures me to sit down, on a couch opposite to the one he is half sitting, half lying on.

After I move to take my place, he chooses to speak.

"I heard that you have some business to make with me, Emar." his voice is as sickeningly oily as his whole posture is to me. But I fight back a grimace, only to answer politely. I need him and besides, he wouldn't be who he is now, if he was only a flatterer fool.

"Indeed." I say, cautiously choosing words. "I need to find people qualified enough to perform a mission my Lady designed. I was told you are the one who can help me." I can see that his triple chin moves along with his head movements, when he nods in thought. Who is he kidding, we both know what I want. Maybe he even knows more than I do. Still, we have to play this farce, for him to make sure that I am who I claim I am.

A glass with colorful drink appears on the table before me. My head snap up, only to see Blackie smiling, a tray with another glass in her hands. She winks to me, before silently going to the owner and placing a highball before him, in a reach of his fat, heavy hand.

"That's true, Emar, I can help you. If you are Lady's apprentice, that is." He smiles, observing the swing of Blackie's hips and tail, when she walks back towards the bar that I can see in the corner of my eye. Blackie joins another bartender behind the bar and disappears from my sight.

I focus my gaze on the owner again.

"My Lady trusts me." I say, rolling up my right sleeve. A few seconds more and owner's face is lights up with an understanding smile.

"I see. Now, I think we can play with our cards on the table. Who do you need, Emar?"

I grit my teeth. His demonstrative familiarity is irritating me to no end. Still, I answer with calm, indifferent voice my Lady could be proud of.

"Hunters, Jedi hunters to be specific. The best you have, as the one to capture is an exceptionally famous diplomat."

"Lady had someone in mind?"

My eyes narrow with sudden suspicion, but he gestures me to speak. Seeing his fat hands looming over cocktail glass, I feel my own hands clenching in irritation. That man is so fucking disgusting! The way he talks, moves, the way his body shakes because of fat… ugh…

"My Lady chose Kusj Blackstone and Talik Samos, the ones that are said to have an agreement with you." I say harshly. The need to get out of here, to get out of this room is slowly overwhelming me. But, a voice from behind me makes me freeze in my seat.

"Ya heard that Sam? She chose us! Woohoo!"

A sudden realization hit my mind in time with the owner's smile, which shows his contentment. I look at the two approaching me and shake my head in resignation.

"Sam and Blackie. Samos and Blackstone. I should've known."

Blackie happily jumps on the couch she decided to sit on. The owner beams with his smile on them, on the small, tattooed woman and green haired, tanned man. Are the pair of bartenders really the two most dangerous hunters in this sector? I very much doubt that.

Taking a second look at the pair, I don't know anymore. I thought I managed to classify them both from our conversations during past three days, but it turns out that I was wrong. Blackie is grinning now, her smile broad and showing her fangs, eyes with dilated pupils, not blinking, observing me with fascination. The way she moves, oh Gods, is as if her joints were tied with elastic bands instead of normal bone structure. It's terrifying to see how far she manages to snuggle on the couch. The killing intent emanating from her makes my skin crawl …

"Yeah man, my babe is an insane one here" I hear Talik-Sam and I manage to rip my eyes from the woman, only to look on the man instead. I was right, he is really handsome; his body muscular, tall, features rather sharp, skin fetchingly tanned. He puts his arm on the back of the couch, near woman's nape, caressing her hair. And is grinning as well.

I pinch a bridge of my nose in annoyance. Now I know who I have to deal with, Blackstone and Samos are rather famous here. A madwoman and an obsessive sniper. Great. Oh my Lady, why do you need a pair of such nuts? Then, I feel like slapping myself. Of course I know, why she needs them. But this doesn't change the fact that I don't like it any tiny little bit.

"So, you want us to catch a Jedi for ya?" I hear Kusj-Blackie say, her voice now deeper, lower, with hoarseness that suggests addiction to drugs, most likely Heffas. I nod.

"And who that unlucky fellow is?" Sam smirks, looking at me from under his long eyelashes, but I'm not interested in him as my sexual partner anymore. The aura surrounding these two is terrifyingly heavy and makes me suffocate with a faint stench of blood filling my nostrils.

I get a grip of myself, then straighten in my seat. My Lady is counting on me and I have to accomplish my mission for her sake, even if I have to turn to someone as despicable as these two.

Blackstone and Samos observe me with interest, when I sigh deeply. They are like two predators, in step with each other, agreeing to wait if their prey will be able to provide them any more fun than it already did. But, they aren't the only one who have secrets here. That thought makes me smile a little, startling them. Then, I remember that a question was asked and decide to get to the business again.

"Lady wants you to capture and deliver a diplomat that will be attending Trade Summit on Crasjania in two weeks time." I say in matter-of-fact tone. Then, another look on the woman makes me add "Alive."

"And his or her name?" Samos starts to caress his partner's shoulder in a lewd manner, with Blackstone completely ignoring that, looking at me with a steady gaze of a maniac.

I smile.

"Qui-Gon Jinn."


(1) Emar Stafador is a play of words: : estafador (Spanish) swindler, cheater.