Scene 4 – Change of Plans
Captain Vacy Fiorst was ready to spit nails. "AGAIN? Dammit, Riggs, I made it perfeckly clear that I din't much 'preciate havin' my drink taken away early! Whyja let 'em grab it again?"
Corso cleared his throat. "Well, actually, Captain, there seems to be a bit more going on. I dunno if this is the best place to talk about it, though."
Vacy peered at him in puzzlement. "What? Why not? We're in a cantina; this's as private as it gets."
Corso looked around… for some reason, the large men at each doorway and near the bar and the stage seemed much more obvious now than they had a few minutes ago. "Well, you know. This is gang territory."
"Thank you for that brilliant obs'vation, Detective Riggs." Vacy folded her arms across her chest. "And it'll still be gang territory when we get outside. So whatcher point?"
Corso handed the holocom over to her. "I figured we could talk it over while we headed to see Darmas. He called, but…" Corso shrugged. "You looked like you were havin' fun, so I didn't wanna bother ya."
"Blast it, Riggs, you should know better than that! What'd he say about That Rat Fink Skavak?" she snapped, grabbing the com out of his hand.
He shook his head. "It wasn't anything to do with that. Just said he had some stuff y'might find useful." A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Believe me, Captain, if he'd said a word about Skavak, I'd've pulled you off the dance floor even if you were singin' along."
She peered at him carefully. "Who said I was singin'?"
"Oh, no, nobody. I meant… uh… you sing?"
Vacy chuckled, shaking her head. "Never mine, Riggs. I'm sorry – I shun't have snapped atcha like that." She patted him on the shoulder kind of heavily. "You's lookin' out fer me like y'always do. It's kinda nice." She headed toward the front exit, only a little wobbly on her feet, and he followed shortly after her.
"Didn't mean to pull you away from your party," he said. "Maybe we can come back later?" Better than staying with Darmas any longer than we have to.
She glanced over her shoulder and grinned slyly. "Don't think I didn't see you with that dancer on your lap, Riggs. Playin' it off, like we're coming back here for me? Smooth. Real smooth, ackshully." She touched a finger to her brow. "I'm impressed – oop!" Somehow her toe caught on the floor, or her ankle twisted, and she stumbled, reaching out unsteadily.
He had her by the elbow before she took another step. "Y'arright? Sure you wanna go talk to Darmas now? I mean, we can go tomorrow."
Scowling, she pulled her arm free with a yank. "I'm fine. I can take care of m'self perfeckly well, y'know." They walked out to the street, and headed down toward the boulevard. In a few moments, she turned to him, glancing around quickly. "So… what was it you wanted to tell me in there?"
Corso sighed. "Captain… those dancers… I don't think they're in there cuz they wanna be."
She slowed, frowning at the ground in front of her toes. "You think that cantina's run by slavers?" She stopped, then, and looked up at him. "What gives you that idea?"
"The dancer who came over to me." He lifted his shoulders. "I think they've got a retooled collar as part of their costume." Corso shook his head, his lip curling in disgust. "Right here on Coruscant, too. It's… I don't even know what to say."
"Filthy." Vacy shook her head in reply. "That's what it is – downright despicable. She watched Corso silently for a few moments, then slipped her arm through the crook of his elbow. "Well, so much for our night on the town. C'mon, let's get a taxi back to our rooms. I wanna get cleaned up before we go see Darmas."
Corso wasn't sure how he felt about that remark – no, actually, he knew exactly how he felt about it: didn't like it one little bit. "Oh?" he asked ever-so-casually. Just offhand. "Why's that?"
"Stars, Riggs, I can't go to the Towers all grimy like this! They'd never let me above the offices, even if I was invited!" Vacy shook her head as the taxi droid scanned her ID. She clambered into the driver's seat, punched in their destination, then sighed and settled back, leaning against him.
Corso let out a contented sigh as well. "Of course, Captain. I shoulda figured."