The Diadem Casino had the same glitter they'd seen everywhere so far on Cantonica: thick burgundy carpeting where the floors didn't gleam with polished marble, crystal and gold chandeliers, several marble fountains, and plenty of access to the beach of the world's artificial ocean which they'd carefully terraformed and cultivated for the wealthy here. The people themselves brought more of the sparkle: expensive, shimmering fabrics and excessive jewelry seemed more common than not. All of the staff moved through the crowd attired in black slacks and red shirts, but even balancing trays of drinks, they seemed smartly dressed and effortlessly poised to Lorash. Imperfection was more of a fashion statement than anything else: the few people here who weren't relentlessly beautiful or handsome wore their scars like badges of honor.

Seia's natural sort of magnetism fell into that category, leaving her with enough self confidence to drag a neutron star behind her still. Lorash felt far less certain about her position, unsure how to move through this new world of wealth. Fortunately, Eso was in the same boat, so she at least had company. The green-skinned young man had already grabbed them each a drink, which Lorash suspected was for their nerves more than appearances.

The sith didn't need it. She seemed to relish in the attention her natural charisma brought. The only thing that made the uncomfortable twisting in the pit of Lorash's stomach any better was that Seia had rebuffed any invitations to dinner or drink from attractive strangers.

"Where are we meeting him?" Lorash murmured close to Seia's ear just to get around the chatter in the place. Well, that wasn't the only reason she was being touchy: hanging off Seia seemed to discourage the less forceful interested parties.

"A sabacc game at a private table in an hour. Eso already looked when he was getting drinks. It is secluded from the rest of the casino out on one balcony, with plenty of room for bodyguards." Seia slipped an arm around her waist, a brief squeeze of reassurance. "Go play a game or two. You have a wager to think of."

Lorash's stomach knotted slightly. Since their arrival at the casino, Seia had already won several games of chance with dizzying stakes, attracted to risk like a moth to a bright light. The sith's tally was well over both Lorash and Eso put together. It meant Lorash was already buzzing with nerves about what the dance with Seia would entail if the sith won. "Alright. Will you come get me before the sabacc game?" The jedi padawan didn't like the idea of letting Seia out of sight, let alone arm's length, but she still had Kherang on her conscience. If Seia could tolerate jealousy, so could she.

Seia leaned her head down, lips brushing against Lorash's ear. "I promise all this stress will be worth the wait," she murmured almost innocently, almost giving the impression that she didn't know what that lower octave of her voice could do to Lorash's knees. She kissed the side of Lorash's neck. "Have fun."

The jedi padawan went crimson. "Don't tease me, Seia," she muttered as the sith pulled away looking altogether too pleased with herself.

Seia just winked and raised her untouched drink slightly in reply. "I have not even begun." The sith sauntered off towards the bar, striking up an animated conversation with a pretty twi'lek bartender.

"Need some, uh, burn salve for those cheeks?" Eso said, swooping in to save Lorash before she could start to flounder in Seia's absence. "I'd bet you we could fry an, uh, egg on them."

Lorash sighed into her drink. "She's up to something."

"It's, uh, Seia. For a woman who says she doesn't like scheming, she's usually up to something." Eso gave her a more considered look. "What's, uh, got you in such a twist, Lorash?"

"She just seems…different…here. Like she knows she could have anything she wants." Or anyone. "Even the dice adore her." Lorash looked away when she saw Seia lean across the bar to speak quietly with the bartender, sliding a few chips to the twi'lek in a hefty tip. "I miss battlefield Seia a little."

"Now, uh, I'm no expert on women, but I'm pretty darn sure you're the only one she's going home with," Eso said, reading between the lines. He put a hand on Lorash's shoulder. "I, uh, get that it's hard seeing how her charm affects people, but she saves the real her for you."

"There are a thousand women here prettier than I am, Eso," Lorash said quietly. "More experienced, more intelligent, more fun…"

"I doubt that. Also, you, uh, came back," Eso said pointedly. "Even when she, uh, didn't expect it from you. And you saved her after she got tagged. Trust me, Lorash. She doesn't say it with words, but, uh, Seia's face can be pretty expressive. Especially her eyes."

Lorash took a good swallow of her drink, regretting it immediately as the alcohol burned its way down her throat. She still didn't much like the stuff. "Help me gamble, Eso. I've got no clue what I'm doing, but I want to win."

Eso laughed. "I'll run you out of, uh, chips too fast. I'm a terrible gambler. You've done better without me."

"I had Seia. She's practically a good luck charm."

Eso leaned in close. "I think she, uh, well, y'know, doesn't leave chance to chance."

It took Lorash a moment to process that. Eso was definitely implying that the sith was cheating, but Lorash doubted it. Seia wasn't a fool and casinos were notorious for booting people who cheated. Then again, maybe that was why Seia had bounced from game to game, interspersing small losses with huge wins. She didn't win every time, just when it mattered. Besides, what casino was prepared for Force powers? "How do I beat that?" Lorash muttered.

"Well, uh, you could get really lucky or you could, uh, convince her you winning the wager is better." Eso suddenly froze, except for his hand, which twitched towards his empty blaster holster. "Lorash, we need to go."

She turned to look where he was looking and saw a face she recognized all too well, attired in an expensive set of black tunic and pants tucked into tall boots: Dren Organa. The way the sith inquisitor's apprentice looked at her made her skin crawl.

"You clean up better than I thought," Dren said. "Now I see Rafan's interest." He sneered at the pair of them. "I'm surprised your mistress doesn't have you both collared properly. Maybe senility on her part, after all these years. If she is who she claims to be, anyway."

"You might want to, uh, take a different tone, Master Organa," Eso said, hardening as he stepped protectively next to Lorash. "I seem to recall what happened last time you pissed her off."

Dren clenched his metallic fist, the prosthetic attached after Seia had severed his arm. "I'm here to make certain she does what she promised my master, not to indulge her vanity."

"Spared a boot licking? How fortunate I am. Your tongue would pollute the leather," Seia said from the crowd behind Dren, emerging with her hands tucked casually in her pockets. "Granted, I must confess some disappointment. The sight would have been amusing, though I suppose the night is still young."

Dren snarled openly, prompting several bodyguards to tense. "You had best do as instructed, Zadar. As much as I'd love a rematch, your pets would hate to see you burn."

"If I wanted your ham-fisted interference bungling things, I would have tendered my request to your master," Seia said calmly in a tone that suggested she found the whole thing mildly amusing, including his threat. When Dren's hand went to twitch towards his lightsaber, Seia's smile widened. "If I were you, I would remember what happened to the last apprentice of Szorda Zul to fail in front of an audience."

Conflict in the Force raged around Seia like a storm. Most people here were blissfully oblivious to anything except Dren's obvious anger and the female sith's utter lack of fear at the sight, but Lorash felt the charge in the air growing like thunderheads. Besides, she knew from experience that Seia was incredibly dangerous even without a lightsaber: close combat was where the sith excelled, and Lorash had been disarmed by even an unarmed Seia many, many times. Not to mention her mastery of the bind: Dren would be fortunate not to end up as a crushed bag of bone splinters oozing blood onto the burgundy carpet.

A tall, bearded man with a finely waxed mustache stepped out of the crowd, partially cybernetic as well, including a glowing red eye. Lorash recognized him from his picture: the arms dealer, his thumbs tucked behind his belt as he approached. A low-slung blaster stayed at his hip, a sign he was in better with the casino than most here. "I hope there's not a problem here, ladies and gentlemen," he said pleasantly. "I'm sure Zyras wouldn't appreciate trouble in her casino."

Seia laughed. "I have no intention of starting anything. The lauded Zyras Drii can be quite assured of my good behavior," she said, turning slightly to face the man. "You must be Corr Azrah."

He grinned right back at her. "And you must be Eso's mysterious friend. It looks like his taste in company has improved remarkably since Nar Shaddaa."

Dren pointed a menacing metallic finger at Seia. "This isn't over."

"I disagree," Seia said pleasantly, not even bothering to look back in his direction. "After all, I am certain your master would be most disappointed if he found himself persona non grata at the Diadem over something as crass as his apprentice's lack of control. The Empire might be an iron fist, but such delicate places require a velvet glove."

Dren seemed to understand that whatever his own personal strength, the positioning wasn't here for him to win without serious consequences falling on his head. He glowered and pushed past Eso and Lorash, checking hard into the jedi padawan with his shoulder as he left. "I'll be seeing you," he growled to Lorash as he passed. "You and your precious master. You can't hide behind Zadar forever."

Lorash stepped off line, letting his shoulder's slam become just a glancing blow. She felt calmer than usual despite the bundle of other nerves, like everything was coming into focus suddenly. There was no need to dignify his anger with a response.

Corr watched the exchange with interest. "You have interesting rivals for a smuggler. Most wouldn't lock horns with the Empire that way."

"Dren Organa is hardly the Empire," Seia said dismissively. "I'm sure the Imperial security services would breathe a sigh of relief if he bit a blaster. Less mess for them to clean up after."

The arms dealer chuckled. "Not wrong. Zyras pays enough in one year's bribes to build a star destroyer, and she can pitch a hell of a fit about burnt carpet. Still, most don't have the spine to tell him to back off like that."

Seia shrugged. "I hope we did not interrupt your evening prematurely. It is rather unfortunate enough we have business to discuss later. I am certain you would prefer pleasure."

"It's a rare commodity for people in my line of work," Corr said, twisting the point of his mustache. The two big, porcine gamorreans behind him in full armor seemed to relax now that potential danger was out of the way. Lorash suspected they were Corr's bodyguards or at least some form of hired muscle. "Most of the time, unpleasantness is the order of the day."

Seia raised her glass slightly. "Well, to a better evening, then."

Corr chuckled. "Perhaps we can pick up the sabacc game earlier than anticipated?"

Seia looked over at Lorash and Eso. "Are you two finished at the other tables?"

"Like we could, uh, catch up even if we wanted to," Eso said with a grin to hide his nerves. "Sure thing."

Lorash nodded, not entirely certain what to say. She focused on finding the calmness at her center for a moment, readying herself for the next steps. If it came to blows, she wasn't certain how they were going to make it out alive.

"I will warn you, I'm on a bit of a winning streak," Corr said pleasantly, waving his bodyguards towards the balcony and walking beside Seia on the way. "Though rumor has it, so are you."

"Casino rumor mills are legendary," Seia said dismissively. "Besides, I've lost enough to keep the house in business."

"I suppose we'll see." Corr took a seat at the balcony table. There was a slight, warm breeze blowing in from across the ocean and here the lively chatter of the casino became a quiet background noise. They were out of sight of the main floor, up on a raised level with curtains that cut most of the sound.

Lorash took a seat at Seia's right hand so Eso could sit at her left, with the holster holding the sith's lightsaber pieces closest to her. There were four guards, two inside the balcony facing the table with rifles slung and two outside the curtains walling them off to discourage any eavesdroppers. Corr himself seemed perfectly relaxed, even with his guards on high alert. "You must come here often," Lorash murmured.

"Every time I have a few extra credits." Corr gave Lorash a broad, affable smile. "You can relax, miss. The guards are just here for protection. You don't seem the type to do me harm, so you've got nothing to worry about."

Lorash nodded, feeling a little tinge of relief. Whether that was a lie or not, it was still comforting.

"Business is, uh, pretty good then?" Eso watched as a male twi'lek dealer in the casino uniform expertly shuffled the cards with an impressive flair, performing a few card tricks for the young pilot.

Corr leaned back in his chair comfortably. "I've been very lucky. Deals tend to go my way, though sometimes that leads to needing the guards. There's always someone out to screw you."

"Foolish of them," Seia commented with a half smile, settling in. She seemed very much at ease here, as if she and Corr had been on friendly terms for a while.

Lorash felt Seia's leg brush against hers under the table, a casual caress with a hint of reassurance to it. She reached over, putting her hand on Seia's knee and squeezing slightly, if very briefly, to communicate that the message was received: Lorash knew she was safe with Seia so close, no matter what happened.

"So, I hear you sold quite the krayt dragon pearl," Corr said, glancing at Eso for a moment as if measuring whether that maneuver had been the pilot's or Seia's. "Hard to come by such things. Mind if I ask where you got it?"

Eso shrugged a little. "The, uh, usual place. A krayt dragon."

Corr seemed amused by the deflection rather than offended. "You must be quite the warrior then, Eso. Didn't think you had it in you, by reputation."

"Why the interest? I hope it's not jealousy." Seia's tone was practically playful, something Lorash wasn't used to hearing away from the ship. Here, all smiles and charm, she seemed almost like a different person.

The arms dealer laughed and waved his hand. "Nothing so boorish, I assure you. I found it stirred at my curiosity. After all, my understanding was that the things were quite special to the natives of Tatooine. They typically only allow those who claim the pearls themselves to leave with them."

"A good smuggler is, uh, like a good magician," Eso said as they were each dealt a hand of cards. "Never shows the trick."

"Will you be charitably buying in your companions?" Corr asked, looking over at Seia. "Since you've had the best luck."

"Of course," Seia said, nodding to the dealer so he could adjust the tally of her winnings with a few deft taps on the console attached to the table. "An explanation of the rules, for everyone's sake? There are so many variants."

Corr nodded to the dealer, who explained the rules as he portioned out chips, much to Lorash's relief. It was relatively simple, a hierarchy of winning hands with various opportunities to bet and adjust cards. "I find the Hutta variant most compelling," Corr said once the explanation was finished. "That's why I prefer the Diadem over the other casinos on Cantonica: the appreciation of simplicity."

Eso had a taste of his drink. "Isn't there, uh, usually a blaster under the table in the Hutta version?"

"Usually several." The arms dealer chuckled and relaxed comfortably into his seat, picking up his cards. "Well, we make certain deviations from tradition to appease the more genteel decorum here."

"Oh good," Eso said with a hint of relief.

"I wouldn't invite you to a game if I intended to kill you, my friend. What kind of man do you take me for?"

"Perhaps the kind familiar with the unpleasantness necessary in such a perilous line of work?" Seia said mildly. It reminded Lorash that however genial Corr appeared, he was still very much in the business of arms and actively engaged in facilitating bloodshed, even if the side wasn't easily apparent.

Corr smiled in that same affable way, but this time Lorash was watching. There was a steeliness underneath, a hint of hardness just below the surface in case it was needed. "I reserve my unpleasant self for unpleasant people, and most fortunately, I don't see any of those in this room."

"How fortunate," Seia said as she perused her cards. She didn't sound at all concerned, but Lorash was absolutely certain that the sith would have noticed it too. "We start from the left of the dealer, yes?"

"Indeed. Which makes it your turn, and reminds me: I never did catch your name." Corr's good eye was hawkish and dark with intensity, in contrast to his bright smile. Lorash realized that he was being far more appraising of Seia in particular than she'd initially realized.

"My friends call me Seia."

Corr glanced down at his cards, then set them face down on the table. "And your enemies?"

"A question for them, I think." Seia shrugged and smiled disarmingly at him. "Yet I was under the impression this is a friendly game, so I think Seia would suit the occasion."

Corr nodded agreeably, his hint of scrutiny apparently dismissed by the reminder, at least until he turned his eyes on Lorash. She caught a hint of something from him: recognition, concern, and a hint of something hard again. "And your friend?"

"Lorash," the jedi padawan said softly, offering him a surprisingly calm smile. When she grounded herself in the moment, it was easier to maintain that rock-steady serenity that she most associated with Vori and Nabeila. Particularly without Seia acting to try and break it. The sith was being surprisingly tame with her touches: they'd barely made contact except the brief exchange at the beginning, everything just incidental. She missed it, but knew that Seia's distance now was distinctly meant to protect her if things went poorly with Corr.

"Yes, pardon my rudeness, but I recognized your likeness. It was circulating rather widely on wanted posters. You're fortunate the Diadem is neutral ground, Miss Lorash. Even with the warrant now nullified by internal politicking, there are plenty of headhunters who might like to try for the scraps it could get them with the right person." It was an absolutely true statement from what Lorash could read, but there was something else unsaid. She had a feeling that Corr either knew more about her than he was saying or more about the nullification. It was hard to pick apart.

"Fortunate for the headhunters," Seia said, a hint of her usual beskar certainty bleeding into her voice. She flicked a few chips into the center of the table with a smooth, delicate movement of one hand. "And for the Diadem's carpets."

Corr glanced at Seia and then slid a few of his chips in when Eso and Lorash had finished placing their bets. "You sound quite protective."

"As a krayt dragon is of its pearl," Seia said as she rearranged the cards in her hand to suit her thoughts, transparent as a lump of granite.

"Ah, yes," Corr said thoughtfully. "I have heard only bloody death can wrench their priceless treasures from their jaws."

Seia looked up at him, golden gaze implacable. "Then we understand each other perfectly."