Star Wars: Dar'Aliit

Chapter Six: Personal Business

4 BBY Nar Shadda

"Myren..." I look dubiously at the clothing bag. "You're sure this is a different suit?"

I trust Myren's fashion implicitly, mostly because she has a sense of fashion, and I don't. But I cannot see the difference between this suit and yesterdays. Not to mention the day before that. The disappointed look on Myren's face tells me that is no fault of the suit.

"Commander," she pauses what she's doing and faces me. "How many clothes do you own?"

I look off. "Well, two bodysuits, civvies, and a uniform. And now the suit you bought for me on Naboo." The urge to defend myself sticks in my throat. After all, not many people own two bodysuits. You have to keep one clean at all times, given the fact we wear these things every day.

Myren nods. "I see." She sighs. "Yes, it's a different suit."

I take her word on the matter and get dressed. Different or not, I do think I'm getting used to wearing clothing that would restrict my movement on a battlefield. I still don't have to enjoy it.

I do however enjoy the slight blush on Myren's face when I return to the room. And I am thankfully to see the dress she's wearing is a different color. She is beautiful.

"Ready?" I ask and offer my arm. It's awkward, I assume. I can feel the rest of the team staring. They can stare all they want.

"Yes," Myren agrees.

"You're beautiful by the way." I can't look her in the eyes when I say it. Someday, maybe.

I can however see the faint blush on her face from the corner of my eye.

"Thank you."

With a deep breath, I attempt not to think about the comments that will be made later and lead her down stairs. We landed here three days ago. It's harks back to a time I've almost forgotten, sneaking around undercover and trying to gather information. I never was good at being covert, but there's high stakes.

And there's high stakes sabbac, which I have to win today or else. My only two opponents left are Jabba and Molto Shore. Stopping future terrorist attacks will depend on whether Shore or I come out on top.

At least the one thing I have mastered is keeping my cool under pressure. We walk to the gambling floor. There's plenty of spectators. I let Myren go, she probably won't stay long today. It's been nice to have her there, mostly because having her around is in many ways a nice distraction from the weight currently set on my shoulders.

I did win the ship wide Sabbac game, so I'm also partly to blame for throwing my lot in for this. The universe will be a better place if I win, though. And—I try not to smirk at the thought—we could buy so many weapons with the winnings. The pot is already millions.

Myren vanishes into a crowd. I take my seat. My team is with me. They make for some impressive bodyguards. I know they have my back, so there's nothing to worry about. Nothing except the game of course.

Molto Shore isn't my favorite person. I actually despise him, mostly because of how much trouble he's gone to already and what he's involved in. Terrorism is nothing light. But for now, I have to smile.

To everyone here at this table I'm Rinn, a former clone trooper who took up arms dealing after the war. Believable story, and not too far-fetched given my own disposition toward weapons. Beautiful things. Beautiful and deadly.

Here in the underbelly of the universe on the backstreets of Nar Shadda, deadly gets you places. So, I flash my deadliest smile at Shore, and let the game begin.