The Lord Chamberlain didn't want to just stop the sabotage, whatever it was, she also wanted the terrorist caught and smeared across the Newsnets.

Because of her job, Yana already knew the images of suspected Imperial terrorists and there was no time to train someone else. Because of his job, Ren Entada knew a lot more people than that, and many of them knew him too- enough to slither into conversations that might be telling. In the speeder on the way, Yana painted on make up to make her look like a high-priced call girl and Ren flew, murmuring warnings and apologies for all the things he would have to say to fit in. Infiltrate and discover - that was their job tonight. And they were just the first wave of it, because Questah was right now trying to raise the Jedi and other loyal rebels in the Security Force to descend upon the place as well.

Still in his purple guard uniform, Ren lifted his elbow like a gentleman for Yana to take. Yana had changed into a slinky, emerald dress scrounged quickly out of someone's nearby closet. She took his elbow with the grace and poise of a true lady, and managed a simple smile on her face no matter what was happening. This was one time being mute had its advantages; she could spend less time maintaining conversation and more time observing the people in her surroundings.

Red neon lights lit up the letters so big that the sign stretched almost entirely the width of the second floor of the building. Through the upper story windows, swirling color lights and pulsing strobes pumped in time with the heavy beat and bathed the street with color and sound. Several bouncers stood guard outside to keep the place, but they weren't checking lists or identchips. People of all species and orientations flowed in and out of the front doors like blood through a heart. Even those who hadn't thought to stroll in, who were on their way to or from someplace else, paused at the banner hanging on the exterior wall, and opted to check the place out.

SOUTH BASE WAREHOUSE

Grand Opening Event

One Free Drink Per Customer.

(Retago or Ice Wine.)

The place was packed.

One bar spread half the width of the first central room. To the left and right, two grand archways opened up to equally large side rooms full of gambling tables, dance floors, and lounge seating. Even though she'd never been there before, Yana could tell the entire thing had been extensively remodeled. The flowery carpet still smelled of fresh wool. The neon lights were flawless. The music was crisp and loud.

But the decor itself wasn't new at all. Hanging from every available wall space hung old museum pieces of a war that only ended five months ago. Orange fighter T-suits. Black TIE uniforms. Taun taun saddles. Stormtrooper helmets. Alliance Rank insignia. Imperial Rank insignia. And all of it was separated, severed down the middle of the building, separating all the Imperial looking stuff to the right and all the Alliance stuff to the left.

With that sub-conscious suggestion, the crowds did the same thing to themselves. Yana recognized quite a few people in here, and most of her old acquaintances gathered toward the left, moving in and out of the left room where green neon pulsed and played like laser cannons of a TIE fighter shooting at Rebels. With Yana on his arm, Ren led her toward all the Imperial veterans hanging out on the right where that room pulsed with red lights like lasers of an X-wing shooting at Imperials.

Yana's eyes were everywhere. There were so many people it was shoulder to shoulder, and the dark room and pumping lights skewed recognition of any of these faces against her memory of mug shots. They stepped through the archway to the Imperial side to find the walls were painted black behind the Imperial war decor. Hovering over everyone's heads, cabled to the ceiling of the vaulted second story, hung an actual TIE Bomber.

Yana's eyes hung on it an extra beat as they entered. Ren touched her fingers on his elbow. "Don't stare."

He was right. She had to pretend she belonged here. Data admin didn't go into the field very often, but she knew enough about enough to have confidence she could do this right.

Ren got them two ice wines from the Imperial bar, to which they both received a glowing stamp on the back of their hands to signify they had received their complimentary, grand-opening drink, and led her to a dice table, where several Imperial acquaintances were already gathered and gambling. He didn't bother to introduce her. He simply launched into smiling greetings and shared complaints about having to deal with rebel scum.

Yana pretended she didn't understand any of their conversation and more so that she didn't care. She hung on Ren Entada like she was happy enough just to be hired for the night.

Janson, Jewie, Ommis, Rogan, Antilles, and Lendra The Civilian Emperor (as he was now nicknamed) all strutted in as if they were going to occupy the place like an invading an army. Conversation was bright and smiles were frequent. They waited in line together at the central bar to get their complimentary drinks, at which Antilles grabbed Lendra's hand and shoved it over to receive the stamp the same time Antilles passed over Lendra's free drink back to Janson for the wingman to drink instead.

This was a test, they told him, and they were glad to oblige. No one was going to get rip-roaring drunk tonight anyway, but they were all ready to babysit the Civilian Emperor so he could get used to hanging out with a gang and still not fall off the wagon. Nik was grateful and enjoyed this company immensely.

Once they all had a shot of retago in their hands, and Nik had a glass of water, Antilles lifted it into the air and shouted. "To the fallen!"

"To the fallen," they said in unison. They threw the liquor down their throats and threw the shot glasses back on the counter. With that procedure completed, they roamed to the archway on the left, all cranking their necks and smiling big at the second story vaulted ceiling where a full-sized X-Wing hanging by cables over their heads.

Amongst the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd behind the far end of the central bar, Kess snickered at all of them. She saw this place when she left Dex's in search of public transport, and the neon sign lured her in for the one free drink, which she was still nursing. She didn't want to talk to anyone, she had to go home soon anyway, so she tried a Force trick she hardly remembered and masked her facial features by clouding the minds of anyone who might recognize her.

She wasn't expecting Ren and Yana to walk in together. That was strange enough. But now Nik was hanging out with the Rogue Group veterans? She saw it when Wedge wouldn't let her brother have a drink, and made him get the drink stamp so he could sneak back for one later. Clearly, Nik was in good hands, so Kess let it be. Besides, she knew all too well the pressures of beginning Jedi training. Nik needed a South Base Warehouse too. And now he had one.

Kess looked over the clashing of Rebel and Imperial memorabilia and symbolism throughout the decor and muttered at herself, "This new management is an idiot if they think they aren't promoting a thousand bar fights with this set up."

Mentally, she shrugged it off. This place was cool, but it was way too crowded tonight to be the peaceful retreat she had been looking for. She stared at her drink and considered not even finishing it. What she needed more than anything was to go home, take a shower, meditate, and talk this crap out with Luke before it festered into something ugly.

She began to get off the barstool - and she sensed him coming.