Despite Coruscant being Zavvi's birthplace, she was at a loss at where to start to find Skavak, so her suggestion to go around 'shaking people's skulls' until he fell out was not a wise one. Fortunately, Corso had Viidu's list of contacts, and knew of someone who could help them; a gambler known as Darmas Pollaren.
It had been fairly easily to get him on the holo, a man in what seemed like his thirties, who playfully chided Corso for his long absence, but took an immediate shine to Zavvi. Interestingly, she noticed Corso's brow droop very slightly as Darmas flattered her, before giving them his location in the old Guild Market sector.
By the time they'd reached the Dealer's Den cantina, Darmas had been filled in the whole story, and the Twi'lek noted that Corso's description of where he would be was spot on; at a sabacc table, surrounded by fawning ladies. The mercenary noticed her stiffen very slightly at the sight of the women, but relax when they moved on of their own accord when Darmas came over to talk with them.
"Forgive me for being so forward, but you're more radiant than a Tatooine sunset." The older man purred. Zavvi noticed out of the corner of her eye that her crew mate straightened his back. He bowed slightly, oozing charm. "Darmas Pollaren, at your service."
Zavvi's lip twitched with amusement, leaning back against the table.
"I bet you say that to all the girls." She replied with a smirk. She knew his type, and well enough.
"Nonsense, my dear. I can't remember the last time this dark cantina seemed so bright and lively." Corso rolled his eyes.
"Give it up old man, she's not your type." He drawled, and for a brief second, Zavvi heard a sliver of steel in the mercenary's voice, and she eyed him. Riggs looked back at her demurely, but he was as coiled as a spring. It was only now Darmas regarded the younger man.
"Ah, Corso. Good to see you in person, my boy." Darmas smiled sadly. "I'm sorry to hear about Viidu. He was a man of refined tastes and a terrible card player. I'll truly miss him." The mercenary shuffled his feet, breaking eye contact at last.
"Life is like sabacc." Darmas continued. "The trick is to quit while you're ahead and enjoy your earnings. Exactly how I want to spent my twilight years."
"Doesn't everyone in this kind of work?" Zavvi replied, refusing to be hooked. Normally she'd entertain his flattery and flirts, but she was worried about her ship, and that was more important than a romp. Besides, where would she leave Corso if she went off? He'd be a prime target to be picked off if not on the security of her ship.
"Indeed." The gambler nodded, before his expression became serious. "Now, I know this isn't a social call. Corso says you have some troubles, and I'm prepared to help." Zavvi drew herself straight up, eyes fixed tight to Darmas's, though she noticed Corso's almost light up.
"Yes. I need my ship, the Skylark, back, and to get some payback with a guy called Skavak."
"We will find the former if we search for the latter." Darmas assured her. "Corso was equally emphatic about getting revenge of Skavak too." His blue eyes turned to Corso. "Though I think he can be a bit hot-headed sometimes." Riggs tried to compose his face. "Anyway, having met Skavak, I understand completely. Skavak is well known in the galactic underworld. He's earned death sentences from across the galaxy for everything from armed robbery and kidnapping. He's known to be in the Sith Empire's pocket, and he even cheats at cards. I'm happy to help you find him."
This time, both Zavvi and Corso rolled their eyes. As far as they were concerned, cheating at cards was probably the least worse thing Skavak did.
"Sound's like he just goes around causing trouble and making people angry at him." The Twi'lek grumbled. "Shame someone hasn't nabbed him."
"Yes, well, Skavak didn't earn the title 'Jackal of the Stars' for nothing, Captain." Darmas replied. "He's wily and slippery, so we'll have to be on our toes. As soon as Corso mentioned Skavak's name, I alerted my best informants, and I'm getting some interesting leads."
"What'd I tell you, Captain?" Corso grinned widely, past tensions forgotten. "Darmas can find out anything. We'll have Skavak in no time."
"Yeah, but that's no use if the info's crap, Riggs." That was his signal to shut up, which he did so. Darmas watched this with interest, and with a knowing smile.
"You have nothing to fear, Captain; my information is of the highest quality. Skavak recently used the services of a data slicer known as Kixi in the Migrant Merchants' Guild headquarters. Quite talented, I hear."
"Data slicer..." Zavvi mused. "Either he's wiping his record, or it's one of his many girlfriends." The tone of the last word was darker than the others.
"No, I don't think it's a romantic relationship, Captain." Darmas shook his head. "Skavak doesn't cavort with aliens - even near-humans like Kixi."
"So now he's racist, too!" The smuggler exclaimed. "Brilliant! No wonder he's in with the fucking Empire!" The anger that burned made Corso take a half-step back. "No wonder the son of Hutt looked at me like I was a piece of meat; probably thought I was!" She walked away to other side of the room, staring furiously at the wall. Corso and Darmas shared a look; the young man lifted his shoulders very slightly, and elder dipped his head. Neither had experienced this flare of temper before.
A brief silence descended before her shoulders relaxed, and she turned back to Darmas.
"Sorry Darmas, that was rude of me, please continue." Corso looked very awkward, for some reason.
"It's quite alright, my dear. I assume you may be right about him covering his tracks, but I think Kixi would be able to help you more. Be careful though, the guild is well armed and doesn't like outsiders." Zavvi nodded, and the seriousness evaporated from Darmas's face. "Excuse me darling, but there's a Chagrian with more credits than sense over there. I really shouldn't let him leave with all his money." And with that, the older gentleman left, the girls seeming to reappear as if from nothing.
"Lead on, Captain." Corso spoke, slipping back in file as the Captain walked away.
"Looks like the Guild is operating in this sector. Good for us, don't need to go and hunt all over Coruscant for them." Zavvi nodded, fixing her datapad back to her belt.
"Yeah." Corso nodded. "Darmas certainly gave us a good start to finding Skavak." The Twi'lek smirked.
"Are you jealous of him, Corso?" She asked sweetly, as they began their walk. He blinked, startled.
"Jealous? Of Darmas? What do you mean? Sure, I could always do with more credits, but I ain't jealous of him." He replied hurriedly.
"I was of the impression that you didn't like him flirting with me." She tried not grin too widely as he blushed hard, fighting for words to combat her loaded sentence.
"Well, it's just that, well, uh, you saw all them ladies 'round him, right? Well, I, I don't think it's right to lead 'em on like that..." He stuttered.
"You do know they're only attracted to money and power, don't you? Soon as he loses a game, they'll glom to next most powerful person. They're shallow and foolish, don't get me wrong, but they don't need some white knight riding in to 'rescue' them." She told him.
"Maybe but..." Corso shrugged. "Don't sit well with me. S'like what Skavak used to do...It ain't right, Captain."
"I never said it was." The smuggler replied. "But you can't go 'round trying to escape every woman you see that you think is being 'mistreated'. You'll make us seem like abused puppies." She gave him a stern look, and he looked thoughtful.
"You've got a point, Captain." He spoke quietly.
She wanted to tease him some more about his reactions to Darmas's flirting, but in this solemn moment, decided not to, but to ask him something.
"Corso, was it me, or did Darmas appear to know too much?" She asked him. He looked confused.
"What do you mean, Captain?"
"Well...I felt that Darmas knew a lot. In fact, much more than I thought he should know. Like he knew exactly where Kixi was, and far too much about Skavak. Sure, I bet he's met him before, but how much did you or Viidu ever know about Skavak? Not much, I bet, and I can't think of a reason why he'd tell Darmas..." The Twi'lek explained.
"Maybe he just has a lot of good informants, Captain." Corso replied. "Viidu always trusted him, and nothin' bad ever happened..." He shrugged. "Never really thought about it though, if I'm honest." He looked concerned. "You think there's something up?"
"I...I don't know. Maybe I'm just being paranoid after losing my ship and all." She shook her head. "It's probably fine, sorry." She looked up to him, and smiled warmly. "Still, you've done well, Corso. We'll get my ship back yet, I think. Thank you."
A great warm smile bloomed over his face.
"You're welcome, Captain." He replied, before he heard something, swinging his head around. "Captain, did you hear that? I heard blaster fire!"
"You're not the only one." Zavvi muttered, pulling Flashy and his partner from her holsters, watching Corso slip Sparky into his hands. They crept cautiously around the corner, to be greeted by the sight of Coruscant's security forces scattered along their side of a bridge, crouching behind hastily erected barricades and cover, shooting at groups of what Zavvi assumed to be the Migrants Merchant's Guild members.
"They're having shootouts in the street?!" Corso exclaimed, almost bouncing on his toes. "And here I thought Coruscant wouldn't be any fun!" Zavvi gave him at first a surprised/concerned look, before she said:
"You were born to fight, weren't you?" Corso grinned widely, brown eyes bright with energy.
"Uh huh. Nothin' I like better than a good brawl. Come on, Captain!" He cried, charging into the fray.
Zavvi groaned, shaking her head, before running after him. You have a strange idea of fun, farm boy...