Last time: Kait and Sasha left Op and Viran speechless.

Now: They hit up the club. *starts mimicking the bass bumping*


Chapter 11- The Nightclub

"So you go to many clubs?" Kait asked Sasha as they strolled down the street. The nightlife in this area was quite active, and they weren't the only ones out this evening. The other clubes in this area were just as bustling, and they were heading towards the busiest, with a line stretching out away from the door, where a tough looking Weequay was handling admittance.

"Not really," Sasha admitted as she walked alongside her. "But I've been in enough bars and canteens that I think I'll be okay."

"Wait." Kait said, looking over at her as they crossed the street. "Bars?" She asked, very surprised. She seemed too shy to have ever stepped foot in one.

"Yeah," Sasha said, chuckling slightly. "That always seems to surprise people. But Jedi can go to bars."

"Well, yeah." Kait admitted as they walked down the block, "I don't know anything about Jedi so I didn't know one way or the other. Just you seemed like the bar wasn't really your scene." She observed.

Sasha laughed at that. "Really? Huh. Well then I guess you're in for quite a surprise then."

"Oh?" Kait asked with a smirk.

"Let's just say I know my way around bars to handle myself," Sasha answered. "But nightclubs? Not so much. So I'll probably be following your lead there."

"I admit, haven't been to a lot of clubs. Just when I was younger." Kait said, "but yeah try not to have too much fun, this is business after all." She said with a slight laugh.

"Yes ma'am," Sasha said, chuckling too.

They approached the door, where the bouncer was keeping the line under a stern but passive gaze. Kait walked directly to the head of the line, and he glanced at them, looking them up and down. Kait looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk. Then with a gruff expression, he unhooked the line and let them through, much to the annoyance of the couple that was at the head of the line waiting to get in. Sasha gave Kait an impressed expression as they made their way into the nightclub.

The place was bustling with people who were either drinking or dancing. Lights strobed and spun around the place in various colors to the beats of the music that was so loud it made Sasha's teeth rattle. Sasha looked around to see if there was any sign of potential cartel members or possibly who the owner of the bar was. Their goal was to get into the back rooms and find any evidence of the cartels presence here so the others could come in and arrest the present members. There was plenty of seating lining the walls and edges of the dance floor, but none looked like they were housing anyone suspicious. That is until Sasha's eyes caught an elevated VIP looking area in the back corner. There was a younger looking guy with two beautiful women on either side of him in a large round booth and a bouncer just at the entrance of the area. He looked important enough to potentially get information from. She nudged Kait and gestured over there with her chin.

"Let's check the back rooms first." Kait said, almost shouting as quietly as she could in order to be heard above the music and general din of the club.

"Alright, lead the way," Sasha said with a nod as she too was shouting over the loud music.

Kait went over to one of the service entrances. Beyond they could see the kitchens and the utility spaces. The bathrooms were near it, and they saw another utility door that was in the same alcove as the bathrooms. Kait nodded to the latter in suggestion. Sasha followed after her after taking a brief glance back and making sure they weren't being tailed.

As they approached the door they had to move around two guys that were exiting the bathroom. Kait glanced around as they walked away and then pushed on the door to the backroom. Beyond the door was a large Togruta male guarding another door. He looked up when they entered.

"Sorry, ladies. This is a restricted area. No club guests allowed," he barked at them.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Kait said, stumbling a little bit and slurring her words like she was tipsy. "This isn't the bathroom!" She said with a laugh.

Sasha kept herself from quirking her eyebrows at Kait's acting as she wasn't expecting it. But instead decided to play along with whatever she had planned.

"No this isn't," The Torguta said, unfazed. "That's back down the hall. Now get out."

"Oh come now. We don't mean you any harm," Sasha said innocently as she acted drunk too and waved her hand nonchalantly in front of him as she tried to use a Jedi Mind Trick on him.

It didn't work. He just glared at them. "Don't make me say it again. Get out or I'll throw you out."

Sasha huffed at that.

Kait giggled drunkenly, "Sorry!" As she pulled on Sasha's hand, going back out the door. As soon as it was closed she glanced at Sasha. "Well that didn't work." She said frustrated as she stopped stumbling as soon as the door was closed.

"Yeah, my tricks didn't work on him either," Sasha observed as she followed Kait. "I sensed he had a strong mind and my tricks don't work on those with strong minds. But it was worth a shot. Unless we get him drunk. And I don't think he's going to be drinking anytime soon."

Kait glanced at her, having no idea what she was really talking about. "Well maybe we can find someone drunk enough, then." She said. "Or another back entrance. I think the kitchen staff will be even more wary than that guy, though."

"Yeah," Sasha thought to herself for a moment. "What about that VIP section? There was a guy there that looked like he has a lot of influence around here. Maybe we can buy him a drink and convince him of letting us back there?" She suggested.

"Uh… maybe?" Kait said uncertainly. They looked pretty good, especially considering the way Op and Viran had looked at them, and their easy admittance from the bouncer outside, but she wasn't sure they were going to be able to make it into the VIP section to charm whoever was the owner of the establishment.

"Unless you have a way to charm the bartender, it's the best idea we've got at the moment," Sasha said before glancing over at the VIP booth as they came around the corner. "Besides, I don't think he will mind a couple more cute ladies joining him." She observed as there was already a few gorgeous woman surrounding a singular man, the one Sasha was referring to, in the VIP section.

"Uh, okay. Follow my lead." Kait said, striding through the club over towards the raised dias. She walked expectantly over to the bouncer that was guarding the entry to the section, acting as if she would just stride though.

The man guarding the entry stuck his arm out before Kait to stop her. "Hold up there. You need a VIP wristband in order to enter here. And uh…" he looked both Kait and Sasha up and down. A smirk played at his lips. "You two don't seem to have one."

Sasha glanced past him and Kait into the VIP area. She recognized the man sitting in the booth as the Lieutenant she used her specialized mind trick on the last time she was on Caranas. They would need to get his attention, but she let Kait handle the bouncer.

"Oh come on." Kait said with a dazzling smile at him, "you don't think we'd be welcome?"

"Oh ho ho," the bouncer said. "You definitely would be, but not my call. Either you've got a VIP wristband or you're a guest of the boss. And I don't think your names are on this." He flashed a datapad in his hand before them that had a list of names.

"Well how are our names gonna be on it if he hasn't seen us yet?" Kait asked with a quirked eyebrow and a luscious grin.

The guard chuckled at that. "I admit. I have dealt with a lot of beautiful women trying to sneak their way in, but I like your style. I'll check with my boss," he said. He turned to the man in the booth. Sasha made sure she was visible as she was curious to see if the Lieutenant remembered her. "Hey boss, these ladies would like to uh… visit with you."

The Lieutenant looked over from his conversation with the pretty Twi'lek woman on his right with almost an unamused look. However, his eyebrow perked up as his eyes locked with Sasha's. She gave him a small, flirtatious wave. His lips quirked up in a smile.

"Let them in, Con," the man said to the bouncer. "These are old friends of mine."

"Yes sir," The bouncer said with an impressed glance to the ladies. He pulled back the velvet ropes to let Kait and Sasha through.

Kait glanced at Sasha, since she certainly wasn't an old friend of this guy. "You know him?" She asked in a giggly manner.

"Yes. We got well acquainted last time I was here," Sasha said then leaned in close to whisper, "he is one who gave us intel on Cordova last time." She straightened up as she shot a playful smile towards the Lieutenant.

Kait giggled like she had heard something scandalous, "well lucky us." She said as they approached his table.

The lieutenant shooed away the ladies that he was talking to as they approached, and the girls shot Kait and Sasha a death glare as they scooted away. He looked at them with a pleasant smile. "Why hello there ladies." He glanced at Sasha. "Long time no see."

"Indeed," Sasha said with a giggle.

"Well what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked as he leaned back, spreading his arms across the back of the large round booth seat.

"We're just out for a night on the town, and my friend said she knew you?" Kait said with another smile.

"I see," the man said. "Yes, we have met before. The name is Frey since we didn't get to do formal introductions last time. Though last time, you left me unconscious in a booth." He said with a slight annoyance.

Sasha smiled at him. She waved her hand seductively as she noticed he was already two or three drinks deep. "If I recall you passed out on us after you had the last drink," she said using a Jedi Mind Trick on him.

"Oh yeah, that's right," Frey said as if suddenly remembering.

"So do you own this place?" Kait asked, as though she was meeting a celebrity.

"I do yeah," he answered. "I opened it after the most popular bar in town. Uh…" He coughed at that. "Anyway, take a seat ladies and let me buy you both a drink."

"Don't need to ask me twice." Kait said, giggly as she slid into the booth. "My name's Kait, what's yours?" She asked him with a lascivious grin.

"Frey." He replied, eyeing her up and down.

Sasha slid into the booth on the other side of him. She leaned against the table giving him a seductive smile as she shot a brief glance at Kait. Now it was time to get the information and a way into the back.

"So we got lost earlier on our way to the bathroom and we noticed a rather handsome guard in the back," Sasha said sweetly while using the Force to mind trick him. "Whatcha hiding back there?"

Frey laughed. "You're cute. But that's none of your business sweetheart."

"Oh alright. Then how about that drink then?" Sasha responded with a giggle.

"Already on it," He said. He waved over a server who carried three glasses of what looked like Corellian Whiskey.

Sasha gave Kait a look as she gestured to the booze before making the universal signal for shooting back a shot then nodded her head subtly to the Lieutenant.

Kait picked up the glass and made a show of trying to slam the drink back, but didn't drink much. She sputtered a little, coughing. "Man that stuff is strong, going to my head already."

Frey chuckled amused as he sipped his whiskey. Sasha, however, shot the whole thing back without as much of a grimace as she set the glass down on the table top. The Lieutenant stared at her in shock. Kait also didn't have to pretend to be surprised.

"Whoa, that was impressive," he said. "Would you like another?"

"Sure, but this time why don't you join me," Sasha offered, completely unfazed by the liquor. "I always enjoy a good drink companion for something like this."

He chuckled. "Sounds good to me," he said before ordering another two shots of whiskey.

"So Op, I was wondering," Viran asked as he lowered his electrobinoculars.


Oppie looked stoically ahead and tried to hide how nervous he was for whatever question might have come to Viran's mind this evening.

"If you had to choose, would you rather ride a Tauntaun or a baby rancor?" Viran asked casually.

He was curious to ask Op about how the ladies looked, especially since his brother seemed just as flustered as he did when they came out of the hotel earlier and he had never seen Oppie react that way, ever. But when they arrived at their designated parking spot, they just sat there in a long silence as they listened to the comm chatter. However, nothing interesting was really happening on the commlines end and Viran just wanted to talk about something to break up the still silence that had built between them. Plus he could tell how uncomfortable Oppie had been acting since seeing the girls all dressed up, so broaching that subject right now may not be for the best. But maybe later.

"Uh," Oppie said, relaxing slightly. "I have to admit I can't imagine a situation where riding a baby rancor might be preferable. Would the tauntaun have to be on Hoth?"

"Nope, it can be anywhere," Viran said. "Same with the rancor."

Oppie glanced curiously at Viran. "Okay, under what circumstances would you want to ride a baby rancor over a tauntaun?"

"I don't know. Maybe if I'm charging into battle," Viran mused. "I think it would be awesome to come riding into a battlefield on a rancor. The enemy would have no idea what to do. Plus if they hurt the rancor, it would only make it angier."

"True, I guess." Oppie admitted. "I suppose it depends on how reliable a stead it is."

"Hm, fair point," Viran bit his lip in thought at that. "It could also buck me off and go off on a rampage of its own too. Either way, it would just be awesome to say 'I rode a rancor into battle.' Sounds like something you'd hear about in children's stories."

Oppie thought for a moment. "Yes. That would be pretty awesome." He said with a smirk.

"Exactly my thought," Viran said with a chuckle. "But a Tauntaun, now that would just come in handy like everyday when you don't want to fly a speeder around town. But I'm still partial to a speeder anyday."

Oppie blanched a little. "Oh man, don't ask Kyr. He'll want a whole herd of tauntauns."

Viran laughed at that. "Why do you think I asked you and not him?" He asked with a snort.

Oppie laughed as well, "I wonder if the buckets would filter out the oder, I heard the tauntauns had quite a smell. Can't imagine a rancor would be much better though." He mused.

"Oh good point. Hadn't considered that," Viran chuckled. "Maybe I'll just stick with machines then. At least I know when they start to smell, something is wrong."

Speaking of something being wrong, as Viran's chuckle died down he suddenly noticed in the side mirrors of the truck the militia troops moving from their vehicles and cover towards the nightclub.

"What the hell? Do you see this?" Viran asked Oppie, straightening up in his seat.

"Yeah." He said worriedly. "Let's move." He said reaching for the door handle.

Viran nodded and followed his lead. He opened the door and hopped out of the truck as more men passed them. His hand instinctively went to his blaster on his hip. Viran rushed around the truck to meet with Oppie as he still looked on in confusion. Oppie had drawn his own blaster as well as his smaller off hand lightsaber. "Trooper, what's going on?" Viran called out to the nearest militia man that was rushing by them to get into position.

"Cartel's making their move, the republic marshal ordered us in." The trooper said quickly as he swept past, only slowing a little to explain.

Viran felt his heart thud against his chest as he looked at Oppie. "Sasha and Kait are in danger. We need to get them out of there," he said, a little panickedly.

"Yeah, come on." Oppie said, hefting his blaster pistol up and leaving his saber unignited as he swept forward to try to get to the head of the team getting ready to breach.

Viran pulled out his pistol and held it at the ready as he followed Oppie. While he hustled after him, he also produced his lightsaber from his hidden pouch in his jacket and tightened his grip on it as he felt his adrenaline take over. Suddenly, just as they approached the nightclub, a few smoke bombs went off around them, clouding the area in a thick layer of fog. Then the sounds of blaster bolts being fired rang off from behind them.

"It's an ambush," Viran observed as he skidded to a stop before cursing under his breath.

"Kriff." Oppie said, igniting his saber in his left hand to provide cover while he brought his pistol up looking for targets. Viran did the same as moved into a position that almost put him back to back with Oppie as he scanned the smoke for targets while blocking any incoming bolts back. He could hear the militia men fighting back, but this smoke was making things very difficult.


Sasha downed her seventh shot of Corellian whiskey and slammed the glass on the table. The liquor was hitting her a little harder than normal tonight, but not as much as it was affecting the Lieutenant. The man was practically slurring every word that came out of his mouth. Sasha looked to Kait for her to try and get him to cooperate while Sasha attempted to clear her head. Frey hiccuped as he set his empty glass down.

"Yaa boof very preddy," he slurred out.

"Well thanks handshome." Kait replied with a giggle trying to act like she'd had more than just three shots of whiskey. "Man there are a lotta people here, be nice to go someplace more private." She suggested with another giggle.

"Oh hey. I know a placeshh," He said then hiccuped again. "It's in da back."

"Wanna take us back there for some more fun?" Sasha asked teasingly.

"Uh… sure. But you can't tell anyone a bout it," he said, pointing a drunken finger at them as if they would tattle.

"ShhhHHhhHhh." Kait shushed very exaggeratedly to Sasha, then laughed.

Sasha giggled at that before hiccuping herself. She really was drunk. "Then let's go," she said in a whisper.

"Okay. Appheer one more drink," Frey said as he looked around for the server so he could order another round.

"Oh come on." Kait said in a pouting manner, as she leaned closer to him, "why whait?" She asked with a giggle.

He looked at her then his gaze shifted downward before he started to giggle to himself. "Ah mm 'kay. Follow ah me… ladies." Frey started to move out of the booth and then realized he was trapped with Sasha and Kait on either side of him. "Loos like I'm trapped."

Kait snickered drunkenly as she slipped out of the booth, pulling on his hand. The Lieutenant allowed her to drag him out as he shuffled awkwardly along in the booth seat. Sasha scooted out of the booth as well with a drunken giggle. As she straightened up, she turned back to face Kait and Frey. She then noticed something rather strange. Despite his drunken state, Sasha found it a little odd that his hand was hovering over his pistol that was strapped to his hip as if he was ready to pull any second. The thought crossed her mind that it might be a reflex of some kind, but even while drunk no one had ticks like that. At least from what she had seen.

That made her stomach flip, uneasily. Well that and the amount of alcohol she had on an empty stomach. She reached instinctively for her lightsaber as if it was on her hip only to remember it was in her clutch which was still sitting in the booth. No matter what happened next, she couldn't leave that behind. Especially since she had this feeling she might need it soon. The Force was telling her that. Or at least attempting to through her drunken stupor. That was some really heavy liquor.

"Let's go!" Frey said before hiccuping again.

"Oh wait, my clutch," Sasha said as if now noticing it was still sitting there. She leaned down to grab it and looked back to Kait and Frey only to find herself staring down the barrel of a blaster. So she was right. He was ready to pull it on them.

The Lieutenant had his blaster aimed at her while his bouncer had one aimed at Kait.

"Nice try, Jedi," he said, completely coherently.

Sasha snarled at him. "What's going on? You were drunk two seconds ago."

"Yeah, that was an act," Frey told her. "I remember what happened last time we chatted. Selina told me everything." Sasha growled at that. "I was drinking juice the whole time. Pretending to be drunk. You, however, just drank seven shots of my strongest whiskey. So how are you feeling right now?"

No matter how she was feeling a mere second ago, she was completely sober now as everything suddenly made sense. This was a trap and she led herself and Kait right into it. Sasha reached into her clutch for her lightsaber, but he cocked the blaster as if ready to fire the second she would make another move.

"Stay put or else I'll have Con here blast your friend to wild space," He threatened.

Suddenly the back door burst open with a loud bang. Turning to see what was going on, she saw militia troops rushing in from the back with their blasters raised. Cartel members stood up across the bar and produced blasters from under tables and chairs. A wave of panic filled the room in that instant.

"Weapons down now!" The militia yelled out as a barrage of blaster fire opened up, and the militia started returning fire instantly.

Kait, who had frozen during the brief exchange between Sasha and the club owner, swung her clutch, hitting him with the blaster inside as hard as she could across the back of his head. Frey stumbled forward allowing Sasha to reach out and seize his arm. She jerked his wrist to the side causing him to lose his grip on the blaster. He let out a yelp.

Kait threw her clutch at the bouncer, Con was apparently his name, and he threw his arm up to ward off the bag. She reached down through the slit in her dress and pulled out a small holdout blaster and brought it up as she ducked to the side. He leveled his blaster at her but was just slightly too slow as she double tapped him in the chest. He fell to the ground in a heap as she turned back to help Sasha.

Sasha shoved the Lieutenant off and summoned her clutch to her. She pulled out her lightsaber and in the flick of wrist, brought it to life. The green blade shined as she turned back to Frey, who brought in his fist and landed a right hook across her face. Sasha stumbled for a second, dizzy from the punch and the booze. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.

Kait swept around and shot him in the leg, trying to disable him before he could take Sasha down, but they wanted this guy alive. Sasha recovered and turned back to see him drop to one knee in agony as he clutched his injured leg. Raising her hilt, Sasha brought it down on his temple, knocking him out. Frey slumped against the booth cushions, unconscious.

"Thanks," Sasha said as she wiped the corner of her mouth.

Kait just nodded, "Are you okay?" She shouted over the still loud music and the din of the blaster fire around them, putting a hand and Sasha's shoulder and pulling her down as the firefight around them intensified.

Sasha smirked at her. "Yeah. I'm fine. I've had worse punches. Now stay here and provide cover fire. I'm going to go help the troopers," she said as she moved into a standing position, kicking off her heels in the process..

"What?" Kait yelled, "No, Sasha-" She yelled incredulously as the other woman went out into the fray of the fight with nothing but her plasma sword. She moved out with her, grabbing her clutch along the way and retrieving her better pistol and trying to provide cover fire for Sasha, she had to be drunk to run out there like that.

Sasha flourished her lightsaber around, easily blocking blaster bolts away from her despite her drunken state. She sent bolts flying into cartel members, in the furniture, or up into the lofted ceiling where the light fixtures hung still illuminating the room in waves of different colors. She seamlessly moved to the dancefloor where a couple of militiamen were pinned down.

"Take cover," She yelled over the noise. "I've got these guys."

The two men nodded and hustled toward the nearest cover before popping back up to keep firing on the cartel. Sasha noticed at that moment as she had a clearer view of the nightclub that a majority of its attendees that were not with the cartel had started to rush out in a panic. However, there were still civilians in there that were trapped in the back corner by the bar. Unable to make it towards either exit due to how much blaster fire was going off. They needed to get them out.

"Kait, the civilians," Sasha shouted.

"Got it." She ducked from cover to get over to them and knelt next to them. "Go around the bar, through the kitchen!" She yelled at them as she kept up cover fire, trying to keep the cartel members pinned down.

Sasha noticed the civilians getting out during a brief moment. However, it distracted her long enough to not notice a cartel member lunging at her. When she turned back, she was knocked backwards onto the dance floor, her saber slipping from her grip and skidding under the nearest chair. Glaring up at the man, she kneed him between the legs and threw him up and over her. He landed with a thud and a groan as he clutched his lower area in pain. Using the Force, she summoned her saber back to her hand just in time to deflect another series of shots aimed for her as she was the most open target in the room.

As the clubbers got out behind her through the kitchen Kait watched shocked as Sasha blocked the blaster bolts with her sword, not quite understanding what she was seeing. She tried to duck to new cover, getting a better angle on the cartel gunmen that were showering Sasha with blaster bolts.

Back in the VIP section, Frey slowly came to with a groan as he placed a hand to his throbbing head. He looked out to his nightclub to see the chaos of the battle before him. This was not supposed to happen and he couldn't risk the Jedi or the militia getting the intel in the back. He reached into his pocket and produced a detonator switch. He had promised Cordova he would only use it if he was compromised. This was definitely a compromising situation. He pressed the button on the detonator as he wavered to his feet before limping as fast as he could towards the hidden exit they had installed into the back of the VIP area.

Suddenly the sound of small explosions came from the ceiling above the fighting. Sasha was tempted to risk a glance up to see what was happening, but the cartel men were not backing down on her. In fact, they had focused all of their energy on her as she didn't notice the militia troops start to back out to clear the building. Keeping her saber up, Sasha continued to deflect bolt after bolt, but she was starting to feel the strain in her arms. But she wasn't backing down. Force pushing a couple men back, Sasha kept up the fight.

Kait saw what was going on, Sasha being overwhelmed with fire but somehow still being able to deflect all of it with her sword. The muted explosions upstairs, though, had dislodged the huge gantry over the dance floor that held up the light rigging, and a few chance blaster bolts, misses and deflections from Sasha's furious blade work had hit the frame, leaving it listing to the side in a shower of sparks. Kait reached up and grabbed the most expensive bottle of booze she could find and threw it at the gunmen, and as she ran across the floor she pepperd it with a number of blaster bolts. One of them hit, sending shards of broken glass and flaming alcohol over the cartel men to give them a momentary distraction. She slammed into Sasha, pushing her across the floor and under a table just as the rigging fell in a shower of sparks and crashing metal.

Sasha looked up in shock, glancing behind her at the fallen gantry. Her heart was pounding her throat as she realized what happened. She looked at Kait, a look of annoyance on her face.

"Are you nuts?" Sasha asked. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"Stay down!" Kait yelled at her as she fired off more blaster bolts at the gunmen.

Sasha huffed. "No, you stay down. I'm finishing this," she said as she moved to her feet, reactivating her lightsaber.

"Oh for the love of- " Kait started as she got to her feet as well, trying to cover Sasha.

However, Sasha didn't need cover. She deflected the last of the bolts into one of the gunmen before using the Force to send another two flying back. Two that Kait wasn't paying attention to as they had snuck behind them when they were down. With that, the fighting was over. Sasha lowered her blade as she released a breath.

"How the hell much did you have to drink?" Kait yelled at her for how reckless Sasha had been.

"Only the seven shots," Sasha answered before turning to face her. "But what I was doing was not reckless. What you did was. You could have gotten yourself crushed by that." She gestured towards the broken gantry.

"You almost did get crushed by that." Kait said fuming.

"Despite how distracted I looked, I sensed it falling," Sasha replied calmly. "I was ready to catch it." She paused. "But thank you for saving me."

"Catch it? That weighs hundreds of kilograms." Kait said, looking at her like she was insane. "Only seven shots." She grumbled under her breath as she looked to see where the militia was.

Sasha just shook her head and looked around at the mess. The roof was still falling apart, but the risk of being crushed by any more lighting fixtures was non-existent. Except for one loose spotlight that crashed to the ground on the far side from them. However, they still needed to get out of there before the whole place collapsed. "Are you okay?" She asked after a moment as she thumbed off her saber and made her way over to Kait.

"Yeah." She started. Then she lowered his pistol, looking around the ruin. "No." She said, irritated, changing her mind. "The militia came in too early. And we almost got killed in the crossfire." She said annoyedly as she started making her way to the front entrance.

"Let's hope the others are okay," Sasha stated as she followed after her, summoning her heels back to her hand as she walked away. "I get the feeling this whole thing just fell apart."

"Yeah." Kait said in a foul mood. "Are you okay?" She asked more politely.

"I'm fine. Just a little… tipsy," Sasha admitted.

"Well that I can see." Kait said with a smirk. "How'd you do that with your sword?" She asked.

"Years of practice and the Force," Sasha answered with a chuckle. "But that was some really excellent shooting you were doing. I was impressed. Especially the bottle trick you did. That's not an easy shot."

"My dad was a cop so I've been shooting since I could hold a blaster." Kait said with a shrug.

At that moment, Viran and Oppie charged into the nightclub from outside. Viran looked at them frantically.

"Are you both okay?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes we're fine," Sasha said with a nod. "Are you two okay?"

"Yeah, we're okay," Viran answered with a sigh of relief.

"What happened?" Oppie asked, "the militia started coming in, we didn't get any warning about it."

"Yeah the same thing happened to us," Sasha said. "They just rushed in out of nowhere. However, it didn't help that the owner of the club recognized me from the last time I was here."

"How did he know you?" Kait asked her.

"Last time we were here, Cien and I needed intel on where to find Kyr and these two," Sasha explained as she gestured to Oppie and Viran. "Selina told us about a Lieutenant that always came to her bar regularly. We got him drunk and used the Force to influence his mind. He was able to give us the intel we needed to find Cordova. However, it appears Selina informed him of what we did and he was ready for it this time. My tricks didn't work on him." She finished, looking away.

"Glad you guys are safe." Oppie said, looking around the mess that the interior of the nightclub was now, not to mention the numerous wounded that were starting to be treated or taken into custody by the militia.

"What the hell was that?" J'onz's voice boomed as he came around the corner and stormed right up to the four of them. He looked a little ragged as he approached, but still seemed to be okay.

"You know we were wondering that too," Viran said, plainly. Oppie stepped aside and regarded the man with a glare.

"Well I ordered my men to move in when we noticed the plan falling apart," J'onz said before turning to face Sasha fully. "Care to explain what the hell that was about?"

"He recognized me from last time and was apparently informed of my Jedi mind tricks. He was ready for us," Sasha hissed at him. "As for the rest of the cartel members in there, it was your men rushing in that tipped them off."

"Damn it. Because of you this whole thing fell apart," J'onz accused.

"Hold on, I was ready to take him and drag him into the back myself if it wasn't for your guys busting the door down. Which by the way, that was awfully quick of you," She barked back at him. "We never called for help. How the hell did you know what happened in there?"

"We tapped into their security cams and were watching it all play out," J'onz said matter of factly. "We saw him pull that blaster on you two. And now he's gone by the way. You two let our chances of finding Cordova directly run out the back door."

"Then why didn't you catch him?" Viran asked, pissed that this man was yelling at his wife. "Your men were back there."

"I was attempting to get our intel from the back office," J'onz explained, shooting a glare at Viran. "I saw him through the security cams disappear. One second he was there. The next he was gone."

"Well we were a bit preoccupied," Sasha groused.

J'onz turned to face Kait. "And because of that he escaped. That was a pitiful excuse for marshal work if I have ever seen it, Deputy Messan. If you do something like that again, I will personally see to your removal from the marshal program. Do I make myself clear?" He hissed at her, practically towering over her.

"Sir, I," Kait paused, "given the circumstances we were attempting to gain access to the communications room without endangering civilians." She said, trying to explain, brought up short by J'onz's threat.

"And yet, there were still civilians in danger there," J'onz pointed out. "You were reckless and you failed. This is going on your record, Deputy."

Kait stood there somewhere between seething anger and shame at that rebuttal, and had no way to respond.

Oppie stepped forward. "She didn't put anyone in danger, the only one who put civilians in danger was you and your damned incompetence." Oppie said, stepping forward into J'onz's space. "You were the one that called them in too early, and started a firefight in the middle of a night club you kriffing idiot." He continued, seething, "you almost got not only those civilians killed, but Sasha and Kait also. I'll be happy to put that on your record." He glowered at the man. "And threaten any of us again, and your career will end."

Sasha and Viran stared in shock, but agreed with Oppie. J'onz just glared at Oppie. He straightened his tunic and turned away. "I see that we are going to get nowhere like this. I suggest you four return to the embassy and we will discuss this Colonel Ceros first thing in the morning," he said dismissively, but the anger in his voice didn't go unnoticed.

"We sure as hell will." Oppie growled. Then turned to head towards their truck.

Sasha turned and walked off towards the truck with Viran following shortly after her. He gestured to Kait to come along. After a moment she followed after them. When they got to the truck, Viran opened the back door for the ladies to climb in before moving around to the passenger door. Sasha climbed in and slid all the way across. Kait slipped into the passenger seat and closed the door behind her, while Oppie took the driver's seat. He sat there for a few moments in the silence of the truck, while watching the militia and the police move in to clean up the night club.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly, to the car as a whole.

"You don't need to apologize, Op," Viran spoke up. "If you hadn't said it, then I would have."

"Yes please don't apologize," Sasha agreed. "You stood up for us. So thank you."

Kait sat seething in the chair, looking out the window saying nothing

"It's been a long night, let's get back to the embassy." Oppie said, starting up the truck to take them back.

No one argued with him on that. They were all ready to head back as it had been a very long night.


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