Chapter 11: Playing your Cards Right

It had been a gruelling three months in Imperial prison as she was interrogated, tortured and at times ignored completely. Intelligence couldn't cipher anything from her because she genually was telling the truth: She was innocent and she didn't know how to say it any other way, but for all her previous crimes against the Empire she was locked up anyway. Every day was the same morning and night. The same meals every day with her daily exercise just being a run and a stroll around the prison grounds before they were herded like Uxbibeasts with troopers at their back to their cells where they would be detained for the night. Iz'phal marked a tally on the wall with a piece of chalk she'd found outside whilst on her usual walk and was crossing off the days.

Two weeks to go…Just got to survive until then…she thought bitterly, sick to death of this place as she just crossed her legs, made her normal slash on the wall next to the one she'd made the previous day as with days on end with nothing to do. She hummed a traditional Twi'lek lullaby, one her mother had always sung to her when she was little girl as the tune brought back memories of her past she never wanted to think about again. The brutal murders of her kin and family, the moment she was…She shook her head, screwing her eyes shut on the impulse to want to cry as she just sat alone, in a small space where all these thoughts could come back to haunt her but in the heart of Imperial occupied territory she remained strong…Had the strength of her parents and if she made them proud it made life liveable.

She sat there thinking and as she allowed her mind to wonder it came back to her…His piercing blue eyes so beautiful and true, his handsome face vivid in her mind's eye. Sometimes these visions of the man she used to love were so real she swore she heard his voice from time to time. She was still refusing to accept him being absent from her life as she just rested her chin on her hand and drifted with the thoughts. Yes they made her sad, but anything was better than knowing and accepting she was in this dreadful place…

"Izzy are you okay?" His voice, always attentive snapped her out of her trance slightly as she gave him eye contact, the depths of his blue eyes always so warm and inviting.

"Yeah I'm fine I guess…" she paused then shook her head knowing lying about her feelings to her best friend was going to be the worst thing she could do. "I'm frightened…" Iz'phal managed to utter the words as she shrunk against him just wanting to feel as small as possible as his comforting voice soothed in her ear.

"Iz you're okay…Everything's going to be okay…I'll always be here…Talk to me…" he soothed gently, running his hand up and down her forearm as she just let it out slowly and vented her frustration.

Iz'phal snapped from the memory, tears falling down her cheeks, hands bunched into fists. She'd allowed herself to weaken at the recollection of her past and it angered her slightly. Just seeing his handsome face, envisioning his loving voice…It was just so difficult to let go…How could she just let him go? She would always have a best friend in Corso but Iz'phal knew that in the end she would have to turn her back on the man she had once loved and it hurt her, hurt her a lot. She was still in love with him even now and wanted to hear his voice, even if it was for one last time. What she didn't understand as more tears leaked from her eyes was how could he turn so quickly against her? What had she done? When he had talked about his career it was as if she meant nothing to him but she refused to believe that. Exhaling slowly she pushed the memory away and counted down the minutes until her next exercise hour. It was slow but just to be outside, even if it was surrounded by the enemy was better than being here. As the years went by without Quinn ever speaking to her or visiting her she made the strongest move she'd ever made. To disown him with a heavy heart and leave him behind. It cut a wound in her so deep it would be difficult to stitch up but at the end of the day she didn't want to live with constant heartbreak and so the only way to forget about it was erase him from her life completely. She thought on the positives as throughout her long and close friendship with Corso she had developed feelings for him but didn't want to let him know as at the time she was still in love with Quinn. She knew Corso had the same feelings for her, told her that he loved her and now the guilt rose up inside her for pushing him away. She knew she meant a lot to him and that when the time was right one of them would make the first move…Everything was going to be okay…Just as Quinn said but this time it was her own voice telling her…This was her life and no one was going to hold her back.

Feeling like her heart and head were both made of durasteel to endure the vicious treatment she had taken in, in Imperial prison she breathed deeply letting out a sigh of relief to see the prison gates, beckoning the hour of her release then grimaced in pain looking down at her arm. The Empire had not let her go without a parting gift but she admitted their medics were skilled, the procedure taking less than a millisecond, the slit in her wrist barely visible. A small microchip, no bigger than her thumbnail had been shot with pinpoint precision into her main artery: a chip with a tracking device, Imperial branded and created. She had tried to dig her nails into the precise cut to remove the device from her wrist but to no avail. It made her ill to think that now the Empire was going to be tracking her every move and sometimes when she flexed her wrist she felt the minute yet irritating slip of the metallic shard inside her arm. Glaring at the device in hatred and knowing the eyes of the Empire's best operatives were on her even now there was nothing she could as she was escorted through the prison gate, two armed troopers at her side before the prison walls were behind her. She was free! Breathing a sigh of relief as she made her way to get a transport into town as the troopers watched her go on her way before returning to their stations. All her belongings and money had been stripped from her on arrival as she hailed a skycab but she was one of the best smugglers in the galaxy and could charm the snout of a Gungan. She knew where there was money to be made in this galaxy and she was going to get it. It was the only way off this disgusting world and she would do anything to put this all behind her.

The smell of spice and intoxicating liquor hit her immediately as she made her way through the door to the Mos Esley Cantina. It made her think on the dark days in her childhood when she had become addicted to spice as she just pushed the memory away, shaking her head, long blue lekku swishing down by her waist, her shapely hips swaying elegantly with her confident stride as she perched at the bar, breathing as little as possible and ordered a mug of Andolan Ale. It was all they had to drink in here: The only thing that wouldn't kill you anyway and besides she needed to remain undercover…She needed to wait for the right moment…For an easy target. The barman, a well-groomed golden fur faced Cathar well within his thirties addressed her, rummaging under the bar for something or rather.

"You come from far?" he asked seeing Iz'phal peek under her eyebrows to give him her attention, realising he was talking to her. Her voice its usual laid back and relaxed tone as she replied, taking a sip from the mug.

"Been here for a long time. Just got out of prison actually…" Iz'phal laughed, amused, thinking whether he'd believe her story or not as he flashed a suspicious glance at her before polishing the glasses he'd set aside.

"You don't look to bad. Must've kept your head down" the cathar guessed as she shook her head, a mischievous smile lighting up her face as she placed her forearms on the bar and leaned closer to him.

"Yeah kinda but actually but in trouble a lot recently. Empire's got tabs on me you know…" Iz'phal sighed as he realised she'd been through a lot and probably didn't want to talk, besides he had work to do.

"Well you stay out of trouble you here!" he smiled as appreciating the friendly comment she pushed her empty mug away and ordered another, but this one was one the house as she accepted the free drink and still gazed around the room, her eyes peering into the patrons coming into the bar, as if going through target acquisition. This job had taught her to play unfair when she needed, to use people's natures and emotional sides against them but knowing she was in a public place had to be respectable, otherwise she would go straight back from where she'd come from. The young twi'lek smuggler was just about to get bored of waiting and order another drink and something to eat when the person she'd been looking for showed up. She knew he was living on Tatooine now and guessed he'd put in an appearance soon. It was the famous pirate and scoundrel Andronikas Revel and judging by the glint in his almost blackened eyes he was in no mood for games. Two identical blasters, Iz'phal knowing the make exactly were holstered at his sides as his face was even more attractive in person than behind a hologram. Iz'phal had never met him in person but the two had traded exploits across the galaxy in the hopes that their paths would cross. She had heard from several townsfolk that he was not one to fool around and would sooner put a blaster to your head than welcome you as an ally. The people around him seem to back away, almost as if in fear but Iz'phal thought they knew him as anyone would give the pirate a wide berth if they knew what was good for them. She was going to have to play this carefully and it may well lead her to getting money through a friendly face to face rather than an armed robbery. When she had been desperate throughout her childhood she'd robbed all kinds of people: Galactic senators, nobles, Imperial soldiers even Republic citizens but she was better than that now and had paid for her crimes. She just wanted to do good for the galaxy and that meant being honest and playing a good, fair hand. She only hoped he would do the same. She wondered after all this time if he would recognise her. His tone was laid back like her but was a rough growl most of the time but even that didn't deter her from flashing a devious smile his way, just resting her cheek against her hand gazing dreamily at him as if to get his attention.

"A mug of whatever is your best and don't make it take to long" Andronikas scowled, Iz'phal remembering his patience as always short and quipped seeing him flick a glance at her, his eyes obviously peaking interest as he took in her attractive face but she quickly averted her gaze, fingers drumming on the counter, pretending she didn't know him. She wanted him to speak first, to make the first move. After a moment and a swig from the mug slid to him from across the bar he addressed her, Iz'phal knowing that he recognised her and it made her proud to know that one of the most famous pirates in the galaxy was a fan of her work. "Well, well Iz'phal Trua. Hw'd you end up in this place?" he asked, propping himself against the bar, folding his arms across his chest, Iz'phal cracking a smile at him but knowing he was not the greeting by hugging type and saw best to keep her distance but nevertheless responded. She was almost flattered he remembered her name from all that time ago as she left her seat and wondered towards him, ordering in another for herself as to her surprise he pulled up a seat beside her and seemed genually interested in her.

"Andronikas Revel, we meet at last!" Iz'phal grinned, the two downing their drinks before her question seemed to unsettle his usually tough disposition. "You do remember me right?" Iz'phal reminded him, her deep brown eyes almost snapping his concentration in half before he got himself together but admitting she was attractive and was slightly surprised she was out hear all on her own.

"Iz'phal girl I've been following your exploits across the galaxy for as long as I can remember. It's impressive what you do, but not as impressive as me" he goaded, the dark skinned pirate, always knowing what to say and how to distinguish his friends from his enemies. "Friends" was perhaps the wrong term as Iz'phal didn't know anyone that Andronikas did call friend. Instead they were contacts or business partners but she thought that maybe one day they could be friends…If he ever thought of the idea…But Andronikas was not the man who wanted friends. He just needed people who could help get things done and if it one thing the pirate couldn't stand it was relying on people who couldn't be trusted. He'd been stabbed in the back one to many times and refused to let it happen again.

"Yeah, yeah alright…" Iz'phal sighed as he offered her another drink and gladly she accepted, pulling up her stool to sit beside him, some people offering strange looks to Iz'phal as if confused. She was sitting next to a wanted and feared man and he hadn't tried to put a bolt through her head…Perhaps he knew her, some of the more intelligent beings in the crowd distinguished. "So what you been up to then? Still working on that spice ring?" Iz'phal asked as he arched an eyebrow at her. Her memory sure was impressive. That had been years ago and yet she'd still been able to recall it to mind. It was indeed a project he'd been working on, to profit from the spice trades in the richest parts of the outer rim but for now it lay dormant as the pirate was rolling in credits and needed no more income for now.

"That's long gone Iz, course it's there if I need it…" Andronikas replied then saw all was not right with her when she averted her gaze and looked down at her hands, anxious, as if expecting something. "You okay?" he asked as she suddenly snapped from her trance and scolded herself. She'd just made herself look weak in front of the toughest spacer in the galaxy and she didn't want that to damage her reputation as she nodded immediately, her eyes full of their usual enthusiasm again, just letting the whole experience of prison and the loss of her love come to the surface again.

"Yeah Revel I'm fine…Just me being stupid, that's all…" Iz'phal growled then her eyes lit up at his invitation, a dangerous glint dancing in his dark eyes.

"You wanna talk about it over a game of Sabacc? Got my chip set right here!" he flashed a grin at her as she agreed instantly. She had been known as the Sabacc Queen, Ryloth national champion when she was just seventeen but she hadn't played in years and hadn't got the chance to until now.

"Oh man! You know that's my game! That'd be great…Just don't expect me to take it easy on you!" She teased as they made their way to a clear table in the corner of the room, somewhere they wouldn't be disturbed as he laid out the playing board.

"Don't think you'll beat me Iz girl, you ain't got a hope in hell!" he laughed, returning her wager as immediately when they were both set he dealt out the cards, both of their faces adopting serial expressions. This was where she would win and make her money…All on a game of luck and chance but Iz'phal knew the rules, knew how to bluff and would show that pirate a thing or two about the way a Smuggler worked.

More than two hours in and the game was the most intense match Iz'phal had ever played, keeping an eye on the mounting pot growing in the centre of the table as people were beginning to watch the spectacle, two twi'leks and a Republic officers betting on the pirate's hand. He was talking to her but he didn't want that to distract her. She was one card away from the unbeatable hand and that was a Pure Sabacc and always won hands down. She'd only ever got one Pure Sabacc in her life but she needed one more…just one more card and jackpot! His voice broke her concentration slightly and as she peered over the rim of her hand, to see his dark eyes fixed on her, analysing his chances, matching her latest bet.

"You been up to much Iz?" he asked as he scowled when an Endurance card came up, adding nothing to her total at all as she discarded the card.

"Been eventful yeah…" Iz'phal sighed, accepting another card from the cardshark machine, revealing nothing, giving nothing away. "Got out of jail literally just now…" Explaining her situation as she threw some more chips into the Sabacc pot.

"You been to prison again girl! Damn it, what for this time…" Andronikas scowled, knowing the spacer had done her time in cells and detention camps one too many times for her treachery against the Empire.

"It's that damn stupid Empire! They just need to back off!" Iz'phal almost snapped, letting her anger get the better of her as he realised he'd touched a soft spot within her and withdrew his next question as almost seething in fury she drew another card then laid down her hand, smirking. "Idiots array with double points. Hand it over!" Iz'phal hollered, people from the tables around them looking up, the twi'leks rushing from the side of the pirate to gaze at her hand, cursing one another.

"Hw'd you pull that one off Iz?! I'm impressed!" he complimented as Iz'phal blushed slightly before taking the winnings away. It wasn't like him to admit to someone's skill but she would not let that deter her concentration, there were still a few more rounds to go and Iz'phal wasn't finished.

"I'm not done yet!" The wily twi'lek woman laughed as she nearly gawped at her hand, it was game over if the right card came up and the whole pot was hers as bets immediately went in on her hand. The serious expressions both etched on their faces, trying to read one another as Andronikas laid down his cards, he too having the hand known as Idiots array but a much weaker one than her, nevertheless it beat what she had and he took some of his money back.

"The Empire huh?" Andronikas drawled in a laid back tone, placing another bet down before fixing his eyes on her. "You got in trouble with them again?" he sighed as she took a deep breath to calm herself, trying to get the images out of her head, those small cells, the cramped spaces, the terrible treatment…

"Yeah it's been bad. But hey I'm here now" Iz'phal tried to crack a smile but deep down the pirate knew he'd reminded her of something she was trying to forget about, as like her he was excellent at reading people and guessed what she'd been through and guessed she didn't want to tell him.

"Sorry to hear that Iz, but you're okay now right?" he asked, almost concern etched into his voice as she nodded slowly, her face a mask of concentration as slipping back into the flow of the game her heart stopped in her mouth as the next card turned up…An eight with a six value…Just what she needed for a Pure Sabacc! Grinning almost from ear to ear she almost wanted to take a photo of it before he arched an eyebrow at her, corner of his mouth twitching, slightly annoyed. "Okay girl don't tell me what you got. Another array then I suppose?" he sighed, getting tired of her winning until his mouth nearly fell open when she turned her hand over as the two twi'leks behind her, now growing into a sizeable amount of people gawped at her. "A Pure Sabacc…Iz that's just insane! No one's got that hand against me ever!" Andronikas scowled, almost furious at himself for losing as she scooped up the entire pot and placed it into her pouch on her hip, placing her cheeks in the palms of her hands, gazing at him.

"Well now someone has! You got your behind handed to you then admit it!" Iz'phal laughed as to stop her celebrating he just complied with her, packing the game area away before quirking an audacious smile at her. He was about to reply when from out of nowhere a local leapt at her, tearing at the pouch trying to rip it from her. It took a while from her to respond to the shock as she tried to get him off.

"Hey lay off me!" Iz'phal yelled fiercely as without even thinking Andronikas stepped in, bashing the butt of his blaster against his head knocking him out cold. For a moment she was almost shocked he'd intervened as the sight of the great Andronikas Revel helping anyone was a sight for sore eyes. Nevertheless she accepted the aid and got to her feet, while the local authorities were being called to get the man into custody.

"Iz you okay?" he asked seeing her nod as she hid the pouch in the folds of her coat but was still slightly wobbly from the incident as it had all happened so fast it took her a while to process what had just happened.

"Thanks Andronikas…Yeah I'm fine…" Iz'phal breathed as he supported her with a strong arm around her shoulders, as Iz'phal thankful for the gesture took his aid to get to the door. Just as the pair were leaving a cat call was thrown her way and she had learnt to ignore it so many times but he hadn't and refused for her to just lie down and take it.

"Shame you had that guy with you. We were here you know…" the soft voice reached her ears as she knew exactly who he was without even looking at him. Surprised he'd suddenly stopped in his tracks she urged him to let it go but he took her by the shoulders, gazing at the pained expression in her eyes and read by her face she'd been hurt more than he could possibly think. Stroking a hand under where her lekku began and her ear he uncovered something she'd never wanted anyone to see: An ugly, purple and black bruise winding down the back of her neck and head. She clamped her eyes shut on the impulse to want to cry as he didn't know what to say, found it difficult to feel anything but in the end he had to let his ruthless side drop for a moment. It may have seemed a distance world away but Andronikas did have a human side to him, especially when it concerned a woman who had been hurt and like Corso had grown to care for her, through all their years of working together. "Pretty girl don't ignore me I'm talking to you!" the voice almost snapped as all of a sudden Andronikas went from holding her brooding in silence to an angry Manka cat, hatred staining his eyes as he knew exactly the kind of people they were.

"She don't wanna talk to you and if you wanna get a girl then lay off mine!" The voice of the pirate menacing, with a vicious streak of threat in its tone and immediately the Imperial officer who had made the remark, thought he wanted his head so just kept his thoughts to himself. "Come on Iz, we're getting outta here now!" he almost ordered her pulling her by the waist through the door and into the deserted sand covered streets around them. Once they were clear of the cantina Iz'phal's resolve finally melted as tears sprang up from her eyes, scolding herself for crying in front of him but in the end all of her past, everything came back to haunt her in that one moment and he would never full understand how deep her suffering actually was.

"It's just so damn hard you know!" Iz'phal sighed, as not expecting him to do anything he just let her rest her head on his chest, not wanting bore him with the details of her long, messed up childhood and not wanting to recount the dreaded memories either. "I get it all the time and I just want them to leave me alone!" It took her a while to stop crying as she just looked into his eyes, eyes strangely like Corso's with an expression of regret on his face. "I've just been through a lot that's all…" she finally managed to say as the only person who she wanted to know was Corso, the only genuine person in her life that she could trust as he just held her against his chest, a sliver of sympathy panging inside him, wanting to say something but in the end he just let her speak, just wanted to protect her. "Thanks for helping me out back there…You kinda saved me…" Iz'phal winked as he lifted her chin with his thumb where she was momentarily hooked by his handsome eyes. Blushing slightly at the sudden closeness that had developed between the two she smiled shyly, the rosy colour heightening in her cheeks. Andronikas had just forgotten what it was like to hold a beautiful girl like her in his arms, all those years he'd been on his own and now in that moment just holding her he realised how pleasant it felt.

"For a girl like you I wouldn't do anything else…" he crooned against the crown of her head as he was about to plant a kiss on her lips, his warm crooning voice sending a pleasant shiver up her neck, Iz'phal just closing her eyes at his gentle touch when a cheerful, all too familiar voice rang across the air and she immediately broke from his hold and dashed towards him.

"Izzy knew I'd find you here!" Corso beamed, her best friend covering the space between her and him as quick as he could as her face spilt from ear to ear in an overjoyed grin as he flung his arms around her as she almost knocked him to the floor, just glad she was safe.

"Hey Riggsy! Hw'd you know I was here?!" Iz'phal cried, her arms drawing tighter around him, just glad the most precious person in all the galaxy had come to find her and all her worries in the world seemed to melt away. Andronikas was left momentarily stunned for a moment, slightly irritated they'd been interrupted but it had been fun while it had lasted. The moment having past he helped her to her feet, Iz'phal having been hooked by the eyes of the pirate but the eyes she was gazing into now really meant something to her, the eyes of her closest friend, the face of the one who had always been there for her: Corso Riggs. Feeling slightly jealous the fact another man was holding her he called after her, throwing a wink her way.

"I get it Iz, I get it. Your man's come to get you…That's okay…" the pirate growled in his usual husky tone as he turned his back and walked away from them, his step firm like he owned the very ground he was on. "Be in touch soon ya here?" he called before disappearing into the cantina, Corso looking down at her confused, wandering who that person was but Iz'phal just laughed.

"Man he thought we were together! You should've seen his face!" Iz'phal giggled as he just gazed over her shoulder, a hand resting behind her head. One day perhaps they would be. He had told her that he loved her, loved her a lot but those feelings couldn't exist between them just yet, not after everything she'd been through. It was not the right time. He had to just be the strongest friend he could for her and then when all was mended he would tell her how he felt.

"Who was he Iz? A friend of yours?" Corso asked as Iz'phal just shook her head, realising the amount of money she'd won and was going to take them both out for a drink on it.

"Nah just a business partner. Haven't seen him a while but was good to keep in touch" Iz'phal smiled warmly, as he linked an arm through hers guiding her in the direction of the spaceport.

"Getting you away from this place Iz. Got lots of places and people to see you know" Corso said, nudging her in the ribs gently as she stared at him wide eyed, heart almost sagging with the weight of the relief.

"You got my ship?! How on earth…" Iz'phal began but he just playfully smirked at her, handing a spare ID card to her as she was just stunned at what he'd done for her.

"Trust me Iz. I know what those nasty Imperials did to you. What they took from you. It was all safe and sound really with me. I'm not your best friend for nothing…Now let's get out of here!" his tone warm and inviting as she still stared at him before throwing her arms around his neck, her heart almost about to burst with happiness, just gazing at him with her large expressive eyes.

"You came back here for me. Corso you're the best!" Iz'phal harped cheerfully as the two were cleared for the hangar bay, the two best of friends engaging in conversation all the way, still linking arms as they approached the entrance to her ship.

"Well I try and be Iz. You know I've always got your back…Now let's go" he ordered, excitement evident in his voice as with her best friend back on board with her, but with a heavy heart the Imperials would be tracking her it was time for a fresh start, a new life, with nothing but the endless regions of the galaxy to greet them…She wouldn't have it any other way.