NAR SHADDAA

Teffa Darkstar stood and looked about scanning over the cityscape beyond the large window. Rising towers and pulsing neon were everywhere. Nar Shaddaa was both a paradise and a gutter. Above with the pleasure barges and towers and neon, it was heaven for those that had the credits. Below in the lower levels it was the dredges of the galaxy, black markets, and a haven for thieves and cutthroats. Of all the places to hide, this was both the riskiest, as well as the safest. Nobody would think to look here, and credits talked after all. Teffa knew his bank account might be a bit smaller afterwards, but it was worth it.

The Star Cluster Casino had once been used by underworld bosses for secret meetings after the Treaty of Coruscant had been signed. The place was the perfect venue for getting in and out without being seen. It also provided them a measure of comfort, knowing the only way to get there was by shuttle. There were also plenty of tourists and locals all gambling it also provided plenty of cover to get lost in the shuffle of the crowd.

Getting here had been simple enough. Setting up small jamming devices Mako had designed about the room was equally as simple. It ensured their privacy, and allowed Mako to monitor things as well from the safety of the ship. She had not been happy about staying there, but she also knew he had his reasons. The least of those had been his child in her belly. Having Gault and Skadge aboard as well gave him a measure of comfort she was well protected too.

"Nice choice." Tormen Darklight commented moving to stand next to the bounty hunter, staring out at the view.

Teffa glanced at the man without turning his head, staring through the filtered eye slot of his helmet. He knew Tormen would know the history of the place as well as he. Being a smuggler, the man was exactly the type to enjoy Nar Shaddaa and all it provided. Of all of them, he and Teffa were the most comfortable in the environment they found themselves in.

"Seemed the best option to be able to get us all together safely to try and sort this all out."

Tormen nodded at that answer before looking back over all those that were present. The pure blooded sith, Necrolis, was pacing the length of the far wall restlessly wearing a hole in the plush rug of the room. The blue skinned twi'lek sat on a couch watching the man. Tormen's recent friends, Jaesa and Pierce were standing off to the side close by them, talking quietly among themselves. Teffa had left most of his crew back at the ship, including Mako. The other two sith who had come with Necrolis were both off on their own. The warrior in black and red gree armour, Aela he believed her name to be, stood by the door watching out into the casino. The other woman, Bloodshade, stood with a giant monster of a creature off to one side away from everyone else silent and observing.

Tormen was about to ask Teffa what their backup plan was when Aela called out from by the door, backing up from it towards the middle of the room. Necrolis moved quickly to join her, even as Tormen's hands went to his blasters.

"Here we go!" Vette commented moving to stand just off to Tormen's left, angling in where she could fire without worry of hitting the sith.

The door to the room hissed open and the green robed figure stepped inside and paused just inside the threshold. Tormen groaned and relaxed even as everyone else tensed and readied themselves for a fight. Teffa laughed behind all of them and that sound made everyone turn to cast a glance back at the bounty hunter.

"Welcome, jedi." Teffa guessed and greeted the figure with a small wave of a hand.

Asha Lightstar looked about, blue eyes scanning quickly and finding Tormen Darklight back off and behind the two sith who stood with their hands hovering at their lightsabers. Asha fought back the urge to let her own hand wander down to hers, remembering Tormen's warning. Seeing those in the room she could now understand why. If it was a trap, it was a damn poor one, she thought though did not believe such was the case.

"Tormen Darklight, you have some explaining to do!" The jedi said sternly.

"Looks like she knows him well!" Jaesa jested and almost everyone laughed, the moment broken by the levity.

"I thought Vette was the comic relief of this group?" Pierce muttered with a grin only to catch a sharply thrown elbow to the ribs from Jaesa, and an annoyed glare from the twi'lek.

Asha moved into the room further, letting the door close at her back. She recognized Necrolis from the Jedi Council updated holo files. She nodded her head to him and gave a small smile. The rest she was not as familiar with, save Tormen.

"Emperor's hand."

Necrolis gave a nod back to the woman, the calm and emotionless expression on his face never changing. It was only his eyes, Asha noted, that gave him away. She could see the uneasiness in them, the distrust. At least his hands had moved away from his weapons at either hip.

"Hero of Tython." The sith greeted right back.

Asha grinned then at his greeting. It seemed their reputations were not just well earned, but also well known among their enemies. The jedi had to admit he had an air about him that set him apart. In truth, she was rather impressed by his presence. Of course being the Emperor's Wrath, she guessed that was to be expected.

"I thought you'd be taller." Asha joked and gave the sith a wink, watching as the man scowled even as the blue skinned twi'lek nearby burst into laughter. Necrolis shook his head and cast a glare at Vette who was laughing.

"Everyone's a comedian!"

Teffa coughed loudly and intentionally, getting everyone's attention. Moving over to the large table in the room, the bounty hunter settled his large frame into a chair and motioned for the rest to join him. Necrolis gave a grunt of annoyance before moving and settling beside him, Vette to his right. Bloodshade settled as well before Aela and Tormen took the next few seats. Pierce took the other end of the table with Jaesa to his right across from the smuggler. Asha then settled on Teffa's left leaving space between her and the sith.

"Ok, we're not going to beat a dead tauntaun here. We've got a real problem, all of us, because someone wants us dead." Teffa stated pointedly.

"I had a warning not to trust the Dark Council, so whoever is behind this is pretty well connected." Bloodshade stated, watching the rest as they reacted to her words.

"When did you get ties to the council?" Necrolis asked leaning forward to stare down at his sister. "I haven't seen your name on it."

Bloodshade grinned before leaning forward, that skull looking helmet turning to meet Necrolis's gaze. "Darth Nox."

Necrolis arched an eyebrow and stared at the woman. He had seen that name. Thanaton had fallen and Nox had been the one named to his seat. He had no idea it had been his sister, however. It seemed surprises were the order of the day.

"So basically we don't know who, we don't know why, but our asses are on the line here." Pierce growled, thumping a fist against the table top.

"And they are targeting not just those of the Empire, they are targeting Republic members as well." Asha added, to which Necrolis nodded back across the table at her.

Jaesa listened and watched, already well past bored with the conversation. For her it all seemed like nothing more than wasted time. If it was up to her she would have just started killing everyone sent after them until she could make one of them squeal. Sooner or later there was always someone who valued their neck over death and would talk.

The sith glanced about as the others continued to talk over things, her yellow eyes falling on the smuggler across from her. She smiled as he glanced over at her. He had a friendly enough face, handsome and not that old either. His hair both head and goatee were a dark rich brown, his eyes a bit darker and they seemed to hold the promise of mischief. He had forgone wearing that faceless helmet, rare as everyone else had kept to habit and worn their armour, all save Pierce who had not brought his helmet with him in the first place.

Tormen saw the young sith smile at him and gave a small quick smile back as he tried to follow the conversation going on about him. It was then he felt the pressure against his crotch, and he shifted. It didn't help at all and Tormen frowned even as he felt as if a hand were cupping and fondling him. He coughed lightly and shifted again to no avail, even as he felt himself stirring despite not even being touched. Looking about he noticed the sith woman leaning forward a bit and licking her lips. Tormen coughed slightly, shifting again.

"Are we keeping you from something?" Asha asked, wondering what the smuggler's problem was. He was antsy in that chair.

Necrolis glanced down the table, quickly noting the look on Jaesa's face and scowling as Tormen shifted and muttered some excuse about an uncomfortable chair. Jaesa caught the glance her master sent her and bit her lower lip before settling back and hands returning to settle on the table top in sight of him. Necrolis just shook his head and returned to the conversation.

Tormen had not missed such and the moment the sith woman had sat back and brought her hands above the table the sensation afflicting him had stopped. Risha would have killed me, and then her, had she been here, Tormen knew. Damn force users!

"Was it good for you?" Jaesa mouthed at him before winking and smirking at him. Tormen shook his head and made a note not to get left alone with the woman.

Teffa sighed as the talk quickly degenerated into arguments back and forth over what to do, where, to whom. Speculations and accusations were becoming common and it was getting them nowhere. The bounty hunter was suddenly reminded why they never got together all at once. Even in the old days as children they had argued and fought and quarrelled as family often would. At least he assumed normal families all did such. He was about to say something when the chirping of the room communications system brought the conversations to a close abruptly.

"Who else knows we are here?" Necrolis asked, casting a worried glance at Teffa.

"Asha, Tormen, Vette take the door." Teffa growled getting up.

"Pierce you and Jaesa with me." Aela Darkstar did not wait, calling to the others as she moved to cover the large windows that lined one wall, peering out and half expecting to see shuttles all full of enemies hovering outside. Teffa glanced at Necrolis who shrugged and motioned to the control panel inset on the wall.

"Only one way to know."

Teffa pushed the button and put through the call. The comm speakers came to life and Necrolis glanced at Teffa before back at the control panel in confusion. The sith could tell Teffa was as surprised as he was at the voice that greeted them.

"Hello all, it's Shadelis." The voice said. "You all need to get out of there and now."

"It's not possible." Teffa growled getting angry. Whatever trick this was, someone was going to pay.

"Sorry, we're not buying it." Necrolis growled just as upset and angry as his brother. "Our sister is dead. Whoever you are, you just made a big mistake."

"Necrolis it's me. You used to take care of my skinned knees all the time after Teffa beat the hell out of me." The voice said and Necrolis exchanged glances with Teffa. Not many at all would have known that. "I'll prove it once you guys get your asses out of there! Hurry, they're coming!"

"Who?" Teffa demanded, glancing to the trio at the door who were peering through the window in it out at the casino. "Who's coming?"

Teffa's answer came from the doorway as Tormen gave a curse.

"We are so screwed!" The smuggler yelled out as he drew his blasters.