Thank you so much for reading my story and the kudos you've given. I appreciate you all so much! We're getting close to wrapping up this arc and moving onto Kamino! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"We make a good team," Zam said as she hooked her arm through Cye's. The casual touch made her tense, but the smaller woman only pulled her closer with a laugh. "Relax. I don't bite."
"We haven't done anything yet," Cye replied as they walked through the crowd, weaving their way to the back of the club towards the private casino. Zam's client said their mark was here, enjoying some high stakes gambling. The ploy was simple enough. Gain access to the back room, get close to the mark, take him out discreetly.
"I just have a good feeling." She flashed Cye a stunning smile. "I like your hair up like that. You look great. Fierce."
"Thanks, I think." Cye was glad that the club light glowed with an orange hue. It helped mask the flush of heat she felt in her cheeks. She wasn't sure what Zam was trying to do, but Cye had to admit to herself that she was enjoying the other woman's compliments at least. Under different circumstances... Cye let the thought linger as they approached the broad, hairless, gray-skinned humanoid with cloudy silver eyes standing by the entrance to the back room.
They held up a meaty hand, partially blocking the entrance. "Invitation only."
"Would we be coming back here if we weren't invited?" Zam asked innocently. "We were sent here from Vorm Ral as a gift to Oril Nenba. Well, I was. My escort is here for Sabacc. Is he not here yet?"
Cye wasn't sure which name scared the bouncer more. They looked over their shoulder, squinting, as if weighing what would bring them more trouble, letting Cye and Zam in or turning them away. Their brow creased along with their tight frown. Before the bouncer had a chance to decline their entry she stepped up, invading their space and leaning towards their earhole.
"Ral spent good money on my girl here," Cye crooned as she let her hand glide down Zam's side, accentuating the other woman's curves. Zam leaned into her touch, making a show of it. Cye wished she wouldn't, but she was in no place to object and it made for a good show. "If I have to go back and tell him Oril didn't get the chance to enjoy his merchandise, well," Cye leaned back and adjusted their collar, patting their shoulder, and offering them a knowing smile, "I'll make sure Ral knows who prevented the exchange."
Silver eyes flashed between her, Zam, and a group at a card table towards the center of the room. Cye stared at them, keeping a level expression. After a tense moment the bouncer blinked and stepped aside. "Just don't cause any trouble."
"Wouldn't dream of it," she replied and walked past, snapping her fingers at Zam to prompt her to follow. When they were beyond hearing range the clawdite sidled up beside her and hooked arms once again. This time Cye didn't flinch. Her eyes darted around the room, assessing the people around her for threats and planning how they would make their escape if things went south here. She paused as she caught Zam smiling up at her.
"What?" Cye asked.
"I liked the way you called me your girl," she said playfully. "I could get used to that."
"Zam-" She couldn't think of a fast to say that she was flattered but no matter how easy it was to feel comfortable around Zam or how beautiful she thought the clawdite's current form was, Cye had spent the last two years trusting someone who'd ultimately cast her aside on a whim and there was no way she was over that. Not even close.
"I'm only kidding, Cye," she laughed, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze before separating herself and offering a little distance. "That was some quick thinking. I knew we'd make a good team."
Perhaps she didn't have to say anything, and that in itself was oddly refreshing. Cye smirked at Zam, nodding towards the table ahead of them. "I got us in. What do we do now?"
"How are you at Sabacc?"
"I'm no professional," Cye admitted, "but I've won a few hands at Canto Bight and even more in backwater cantinas that didn't end in blaster fights."
"See, you have some good stories after all," Zam chided. "I've never been to Canto Bight. You'll have to tell me about it later. Right now, you have to seduce Oril and convince him to leave with you."
"Wait a minute." Cye swiftly changed directions, grabbing Zam by the shoulder and pulling her aside and out of view from the target. "That's not what we talked about. It's a tail and tag. Besides you told the bouncer that you were his gift, not me."
Zam shrugged and smiled apologetically. "I know, but I thought we could have a bit more fun to cheer you up." Cye frowned, her brow contorted with frustration building behind her eyes. She moved towards the door but Zam snatched her hand, gripping it tight. "Wait. I promise it'll be fun and easy. I need to find his bodyguard while you keep him busy. Then once he takes you back to his place you can blow off some steam and I'll finish him off."
"I'm not going to sleep with some mir'sheb I just met," Cye hissed back.
"I never said you had to sleep with him," Zam retorted with a frown of her own. "The guy's a sleemo, I figured you'd enjoy putting him in his place. Besides, this body's not his type," she said with her hand showing off her slim form like a presenter. "He likes someone who can throw him around a little. Someone who's been in a fight or two, seen some shit with the scars to prove it. Someone like you."
"Like me," Cye replied, her face void of emotion as she reeled in the desire to strike out at the person who's supposed to be watching her back until Jango arrived.
"I honestly couldn't have planned this better even if I wanted to." The clawdite let go of Cye's hand, the edge of her lips creasing with the start of a hopeful smile. "It's like you were meant to be here. Come on, what do you say? A night of gambling, harmless flirting, and a toast over Oril's corpse while we split the credits."
"Fine." Cye took a deep breath, letting the tension go as she exhaled. She could take out her frustration on the mark if she wanted to later. "But no more surprises."
"I'll do my best to give you a heads up." Zam stood on her toes and kissed Cye's cheek. It was so quick that she didn't have time to react until it was over. Even then, her only response was her jaw dropping as she brought her arm halfway up to block Zam as an afterthought. "But no promises, honey. Here," she said as she took out a credit fold from her clutch and placed it in Cye's stunned hand. "This should get you a seat at the table. I'm sure you can handle the rest. Have fun."
Zam twirled and sashayed away. Cye couldn't help but watch her go. The woman was impressively skilled at keeping her attention and she wasn't sure if she didn't like it. This is why Jango keeps her at arm's length. Zam was formidable and far more dangerous that Cye gave her credit for. She wouldn't underestimate the clawdite's ability to manipulate a situation for her own benefit a second time. Cye sighed as Zam disappeared into the crowd and headed towards the Sabacc table.
It was easy to pick out Oril Nenba in the table of gamblers. The young Kage male's dusty lavender skin and swept back, straw spun gold hair made him stand out from the rabble. He was probably attractive to many, but too skinny for Cye's taste. Not quite enough to get behind, or in front of, Cye thought. She took a seat across from him and his already unnaturally bright green eyes lit up as he looked over his cards. She handed the credit fold to the dealer who gave her a large stack of chips in return. Cye raised an eyebrow at him and flicked the edge of her lip upwards, acknowledging his reaction. The game was on.
Cye played it safe for the first few hands, getting a feel for the other players at the table. Of the four others there, a human male and female couple seemed to have money to burn and didn't mind losing it. A rodian male was betting just enough to stay even with the house, like he was waiting for the right hand to bet big without needing to bluff. The zabrak female seemed more interested in Oril Nenba but was doing well against the others. Whatever attention Oril was giving to the zabraki before Cye arrived had disappeared. She almost felt sorry for the woman. Disappointment and even jealousy flashed in the woman's eyes.
Cye didn't care, didn't even look at her as she tossed in a stack of chips to the center of the table, splitting it between the hand and sabacc pots, and tucked The Evil One card into the interference field. She watched the young man watch her as she withdrew her hand. He noticed the awkward bend in her little finger, and his bright eyes followed the line of her arm to her shoulder and finally to her face. She knew the faded lines of the scars on her face would be visible, and by the way he focused on her cheek he took notice.
"It's not polite to stare," Cye said as the others took their turns. The human couple both matched, while the rodian folded.
"I've never seen you here before." Oril's voice was smooth and casual with the confidence that only youth provided. He flashed a smile almost as bright as his eyes.
"That's because I haven't been here before," she replied, bouncing his deflection back to him.
The man chuckled as he raised the bet in the hand pot. "That would explain it then. Are you just passing through?"
"Like a leaf on the wind." Cye smirked as she called up some amusement to keep her attitude light. The look on the zabraki woman's face as she tossed her cards down and walked away in a huff was funny enough. "What about you? You're pretty far from home."
Oril looked up at the woman as she stalked away and shrugged. "Home is where you make it. Right now, I've made it here." He nodded his head to the now empty seat next to him. "Care to join me? I promise not to look at your cards."
"And leave this seat open for some other pretty young thing to tear your attention away?" Cye replied as the shift rippled through the cards. She looked down at her new hand and kept her expression steady. "I don't think so. I like the view from here just fine." Cye pulled The Evil One card out of the interference field and shuffled it into her new hand then put another stack of chips into the hand pot. As she sat back she flexed her biceps just to see his reaction. The others left at the table folded in turn until it came back to the Oril. He eyed her, looking between her cards, her arms, and her face.
"How about we make another bet," he said as he pushed in his chips to call. "If I win this hand, you sit next to me."
"I'll take those odds. But if I win you cash out here and buy me a drink," Cye replied. She nodded over to the quieter end of the bar. "Top shelf."
"Deal." With a grin he laid out his cards. A mistress of Flasks, a three of Staves, and a five of Coins. Cye offered him a smile that said he got played by the best as she laid out The Idiot, Endurance, and The Evil One. He looked between his cards and hers with his mouth forming a perfect O.
"Winner goes to the lady with minus twenty-three," the dealer spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Well, I'd like to cash out now," Cye said as she stood, eyeing the mark expectantly. "Looks like you owe me a drink."
Once she no longer had to work for Oril's undivided attention it was much like other bounty jobs she'd taken in the past. The main difference was the mark wanted to know about her rather than talk about himself. She deflected enough to keep the man curious without offering any true details on her past. It was easy to pull from other lies she'd made in the past, weaving together a tale that was both intriguing and believable when someone didn't think too hard over it.
Even so, some things never change. A few drinks later and Oril wanted to whisk her away to somewhere more private where she could show him some more of her 'battle scars,' as he put it. She was surprised when he led her to the penthouse above the club though. Two human males followed them from a distance, stopping outside the door as they entered Oril Nenba's private suite.
"You seem a little young to own a club. Especially one this nice." Where are you, Zam? Cye inspected the room, sizing it up for both hiding spots and cover just in case. Nothing seemed off, but she kept her guard up. If things went sideways she had no weapons and potentially no backup.
"I got lucky, made some good business deals," Oril replied as he poured Cheedoan whiskey over ice into tumblers.
"So now you spend your time and your money at your own card tables?" Cye asked as she took the glass. The aroma of smoke and green fields was pleasant combined with the burning tickle as she sipped the whiskey. "That's a strange retirement plan."
"Oh I have no plans to retire anytime soon. I'm about to close on a deal that-"
A loud thud outside the door interrupted him. Finally. Cye wasn't sure what to expect coming through the door but the female zabrak from the Sabacc table was not it. She raised a blaster and pointed it towards Cye. She dove behind the bar dragging Oril with her, and spilling her drink as blaster bolts splintered the expensive wood.
"You're not going to steal my bounty," the zabrak shouted as tibana, ozone, and smoke filled the air.
What a waste, Cye thought looking down at the whiskey staining her dress. She looked around for a weapon, but the only thing close was a crystal decanter with clear liquid. She grabbed it, stopping to open it's contents and taking a swig of the spirit as the other woman kept firing.
"What is she talking about? What are you doing?" the young man hissed.
"Got a light?" Cye asked back. Oril fumbled in his jacket and produced an everlight match. Cye snatched it and crawled to the other end of the bar. She took a long swig of the clear, burning alcohol and hit the match before standing and spraying the alcohol across the flame.
The zabrak spun to shoot her, stumbling back with a scream as the flames hit her clothes and singed her flesh. Cye wasted no time, advancing on her and grabbing her wrists. She twisted the blaster from the other woman's grip, ripping the hem of her dress as she kneed the zabrak in the hip and brought her to the ground. Cye grappled the woman, grunting and twisting her arms away from the blaster and trapping her in a leg lock while pressing in on her throat with a chokehold. Oril managed to crawl around the bar and began scrambling towards the blaster.
This is not going well, Cye thought as one of the body guards stumbled into the room. They grabbed the blaster from the floor just before the young kage could snatch it up. Without a hint of thought the bodyguard aimed the blaster and shot Oril Nenba three times. He collapsed without a second to protest or defend himself. The zabrak stopped struggling for a split second and Cye released the woman and rolled away. Before she had a chance to look she heard two more blaster shots. When she turned back the bodyguard was grinning at Cye.
"You certainly know how to throw a party," he said in a deep voice as he bent down and placed the blaster into the hands of the dead woman. He then took out a small holdout blaster from his jacket and placed it in the hands of Oril Nenba. Then he dragged in the body of the other guard and shut the door to the suite.
"Zam?"
The man turned around and as he did he started... melting. Reducing in size and stature, then changing into the form Cye recognized. The suit hung off of Zam's slim frame and she waived her arms around in the oversized sleeves as she shirked out of the bodyguard's clothes.
"Sorry about that," she said as she pulled out the slip of a dress she had been wearing from the pile of clothing and started dressing again. Cye rose to her feet checking over the damage to her own dress. "I thought you'd have more time. Looks like someone was out for the same job."
"Or maybe two different people wanted him dead," Cye said back as she walked over to the bar and picked up the half-spilled bottle of Cheedoan whiskey. "Do you think we have time to have a toast over his corpse before security forces show up?" she asked while she swung the bottle.
Zam smiled as she finished dressing. "Probably need to bring it along. I'd say we have three minutes, five if we're lucky."
Cye found the top and stoppered the bottle. "Well then, let's see ourselves out."
They worked their way to the main floor, sticking to the walls, avoiding the main crowd of people and the Denon Security Force agents as they entered the club and barreled through the crowd to get to the penthouse. The two women exited the club, sticking to the shadows as they distanced themselves from the scene of their crime. Cye's dress was ripped up to the hip, but at least she still had her shoes. Zam watched where she stepped so she didn't get step on broken glass or worse with her bare feet.
"So," she said after they were sure they weren't being followed. "How was your night?"
Cye looked at her, a genuine smile warming her face. "You know, I'd say my night was pretty good. I was so busy that I completely forgot about my ex."
"Perfect!" Zam exclaimed back, taking the whiskey bottle, pulling the stopper and tossing it to the ground. "A toast then. To a successful night in every way." She raised the bottle to her lips, swallowing a large gulp before passing the bottle back.
"And to new friends, I hope," Cye replied before taking a long drink. She could hold her alcohol better than most, but by the time they reached Zam's place they'd finished off the bottle and her head was buzzing. They stumbled together, Zam's arm around her waist while Cye's arm settled comfortably across the smaller woman's shoulder. They stopped at the door, Zam fumbling over the keypad.
"You know, I've never had a partner before," she said as she focused on the door. "I liked that."
"We barely did anything together though," Cye slurred. "Can't call that a partner thing."
"We should change that then." The door slid open and Zam pulled Cye into the apartment. Her delicate fingers laced between Cye's as she wavered on her feet looking up at Cye. "You deserve better. I could give you better, you know."
The door slid shut, leaving them in darkness. Zam's other hand found her cheek in the dark, the familiar touch sobering Cye as she took in the moment. She covered Zam's hand with hers then bent down, wanting to lean in for a kiss but instead leaned close to the other woman's ear. Something didn't feel right.
"You didn't turn the lights off when we left," Cye breathed.