A gambler’s den of the Vertical City’s greatest bettors, Club Vertica is a casino reserved for the wealthiest of Nar Shaddaa. Cardshark droids are used exclusively to deal hands to those willing to risk their credits at the sabacc tables. Cheating is rendered near impossible under the surveillance of the droid's six photoreceptors. That of course does not stop the downtrodden from accusing others of being a fraud, which can often happen before someone receives a blaster bolt between the eyes. The few that have able to use skiffers undetected are counted as some of the best swindlers in the Galaxy.

Cerulean lights illuminate the tables, making concealment during a game difficult. Seated around most of the oval tables are a mix of gamblers from different species, succumbing to their addiction for the ultimate prize—the sabacc pot. Credits are tossed onto the tables forming mountains that draw in fierce competitors with deeper pockets and faster wit than the usual patrons.

Behind the games of sabacc, drinks are being served from the alcove of a small bar. Most of these are a shade of blue in color, expertly mixed to dull the senses of all but the hardiest individuals. Onstage, a local band sets the mood of the venue with an upbeat number that deafens out most conversations. The stakes are always high at Club Vertica.

"This wasn't exactly what I had in mind when you said 'Club,' Alethia," Aurora commented, looking around as she tossed her cloak over the back of a chair. From the small table in the bar area — both women instinctively chose one in the corner — the Zeltron could see a considerable portion of Club Vertica's main floor. Sabacc tables, pazaak tables, tables for dice, tables for dejarik, tables for racing small creatures… despite the name, Club Vertica was obviously a gambling house first and foremost. There was a dance floor by the stage where a mixed-species quintet was belting out some sort of jazz tune, and maybe a dozen people swayed about in various stages of intoxication.

"Well, the dance floor was a bit more prominent the last time I was here. But that was, oh, thirty-five years ago now." Alethia glanced around for a moment, sizing up her fellow patrons. Satisfied that there was no immediate threat, she deposited her purse on the table. The gentle thunk of the blaster inside was muffled by the fabric and drowned out entirely by the band. Club Vertica's security had long since given up trying to prevent patrons from bringing in weapons.

"You know," the Human continued, "I used to be quite the gambler back when I worked in the Rim."

Her companion arched a blue eyebrow. "Yeah? Want to make a bet?"

"I'm listening."

"You remember when you showed me how you get a guy to buy you a drink?"

"You think you can do better?" Alethia smirked. "Sweetie, I've been doing this since before you were born."

"Mmhmm. Care to bet?" The Zeltron smoothed out her dress for emphasis, the deep blue fabric hugging her well-toned body save for the tastefully low neckline and her back.

"I think I can manage, dear. You have stakes in mind?"

"If I win," Aura started with a coy smile, "you have to kiss Mar."

"Really?" Alethia asked, mild irritation seeping into her voice.

"Really. During a Council meeting," the Zeltron beamed back at her.

"That seems appropriately humiliating," the Human nodded thoughtfully. "Albeit another transparent attempt to meddle in my love life. And if I win?"

"I kiss Mar during a Council meeting?"

"You wish," Alethia answered, her laughter ringing out like a bell. "No, I have something much more appropriate for you. If I win, you have to take a, let's say, provocative picture of yourself and forward it to a certain Ryn. I believe he's on Selen these days?"

Aura's eyes widened in horror. "How did you— nevermind. You had better give Mar one hell of a kiss when I win this."

Archenksova made a show of rolling her eyes. "I'll push him into a wall, lots of tongue, finish with a lip bite. Is that enough for you?"

"Not really, but you're a prude so I'll settle for it. Have fun sitting here alone while I go flirt with the bartender." Aurora made sure to glance over her shoulder and stick her tongue out as she sashayed over to the bar.

Shaking her head and smiling to herself, Alethia ambled over to the other end of the bar and slithered up next to a Twi'lek who was nursing a cocktail. She flashed him a smile that could coax the sun out on a cloudy day as she settled onto her stool and made a show of looking over the liquor selection. The Twi'lek managed to not be too obvious about it, but Alethia took some satisfaction in how much less engrossed he was in whatever sporting event was on the viewscreen over the bar.

Archenksova hadn't dressed with hustling in mind, but she might as well have. A backless dress of indigo fabric and black lace hugged her figure tightly, showing off just enough skin to make a man — or a Twi'lek — want to see the rest of it.

She had planned to indecisively scan the bottles on the wall, but that ended up not being much of a stretch. Everything was blue. Blue liquids and blue bottles took up most of the wall, with the odd shelf dedicated to clear bottles under blue lighting. Wow. A theme bar. This place really has gone downhill. Alethia bit her lip as she tried to make heads or tails of it.

"Having trouble picking one?" the Twi'lek asked with a cocksure grin.

"There's just so many," the Human answered with an apparently self-conscious smile. "And I don't really get out much. What are you drinking?"

"This, my sweet, is a holy sizzle," the man mused as he downed the rest of it.

"Sounds exciting. What's it like?"

"You're about to find out. Bartender!"

Aura leaned against the counter of the bar, letting loose a full dose of her pheromones as she perused the blue bottles. She doubted Alethia would play fair and neither would she. The Zeltron wasn’t sure if Archenksova was going to take the bait, but she wasn’t expecting the stakes to be so high. The creepy Ryn of Selen, code-named sticky fingers, would not get the pleasure of acquiring another trophy.

How did she know about Kashyyyk?

“You look puzzled. Need help darling?” asked the man behind the bar with a friendly smile.

The bartender was the sort of man in the twilight of a former glory. His stylized hair and dashing shirt gave you the feeling that he never really left the party all those years ago. She gave him a cocksure grin as she reached out a hand and grabbed his arm before he could put away what looked like a bottle of Coruscanti wine.

"One second, handsome. The party's just starting."

She loosened her grip, her fingertips grazing the top of his arm in a slow procession from his elbow all the way to his hand. Her fingers weaved within his own for a moment before she let go, smiling mischievously. She could feel a rush of hope, excitement, and passion bubble up within him. His eyes followed the shape of her figure all the way from the small of her bare back up to her chest, stopping short of her face and causing his heartbeat to flutter.

“I’m parched. Any suggestions?” The Zeltron asked as she gestured to the wall of blue behind him, getting the man’s attention.

“A few. I think I can wet your whistle,” chuckled the bartender.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.” Aura teased as she winked at him.

The bartender chuckled as he poured her a glass of bright fluorescent liquid and then swirled it in front of her just out of reach.

“You think this is my first rodeo? I’ve seen your kind before. What do I get?”

Aura paused for a moment, slightly shocked her pheromones did not work.

“Didn’t think I could handle a Zeltron?” The bartender smirked in amusement. “So, what do I get?”

The Zeltron thought for a moment, casting her eyes around the casino towards its drunk patrons before returning his gaze.

“My lovely presence along with whoever else I drag over here. Drunk people are usually good tippers.” Aura offered with a wily smile.

“Or you could…” The man tilted his head down as if he was begging for a treat, a finger resting on his lips.

“Maybe,” she teased, “but I’m nowhere near drunk enough for that yet. Help me get some free drinks first and we’ll see how the night goes.”

“Deal. Ready for your victims and that wonderful kiss later on,” the bartender teased as he set the drink down in front of her.

She finished the drink off in front of him and walked off to find more prey, shaking her head in amusement as he spun an empty glass on his finger. She could still feel his cocky grin as she walked away. As she approached the tables, she heard the faintest sound of broken glass and smiled even more.

Show off…

Aura edged her way between gamblers, ostentatiously putting her empty glass in front of them and seeing who would bite. With her pheromones at the ready, the Zeltron lightly touched her prey’s arm, sometimes wrapping her arm around their waist if they seemed willing. Then she put on a flirtatious smile, nodded toward the bar, and asked a simple question.

“Need a good luck charm?”

Sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not but nonetheless, she lured plenty of willing — often drunk — souls to join her for drinks. She then sashayed each of them separately to her favorite bartender, who then proceeded to drop a suggestive hint as he looked at Aura’s new companion.

“Lovely lady you got there. What will it be for the two of you?”

Armed with a new drink, Aura spent some time with her new friend. She laughed at their jokes, playfully teased them from time to time, and willingly drank whatever they would buy her. She trusted in her livers to keep her somewhat sober. Sometimes, she looked over towards Alethia, keeping tabs on her competition. Eventually, her new friends left her and went back to the tables, promising to return soon.

“I’ll be back later. Don’t go running off now.”

The Zeltron smiled. “Sure. I’ll be here. Have fun.”

Aura got up to mingle again, ignoring the faint sensation of dizziness, but the bartender held her back.

“Take a break for a bit. You’re getting a bit crazy lately.”

“Concerned are you?”

“Actually, I am. If you are too drunk, it won’t be as much fun to kiss you,” he teased. The man couldn’t help but let a touch of concern slip out. “Who do you keep looking at anyways?”

“Huh?”

“That woman across the way. You keep looking at her.”

“Well, you see. We have a bet. If I get more free drinks than her, she has to kiss this boy she has been pining over for the last few decades. Both of them look at each other longingly and then either run away or stand there awkwardly. Every time! It’s like they both choke up. Must be too much to swallow. Then I try to help and all she does is blow it and make pointed remarks. Just suck it up and kiss the guy,” Aura said loudly as she swung her arm around wildly to her right, trying to make her point. Thankfully, the rest of the casino drowned her out, ensuring that Alethia couldn’t hear her semi-drunk tirade.

“Ah. So this is a friend. Well, at least our kiss will be for a good cause. How about now?” The man puckered up but Aura was far too engrossed in Alethia’s business at the moment. “Wait! Stop!”

Ignoring the bartender completely, the Zeltron got up and walked over to Alethia and a man who looked like he was ordering drinks. Aura quickened her steps as she got closer. Her footsteps caught their attention, the man midway through handing a drink over to Alethia. Archenksov simply looked confused and slightly amused at Aura’s appearance.

I was just going to tell her off, but this is much better.

The Zeltron leaned in between the two of them and placed her hand on his, staring into the man’s eyes as she grinned.

“Hello there. Don’t mind my friend here. She can be a bit of a prude so I figured I’d get her out of the house. Aura Ta’var, nice to meet you. What are you drinking?”

The Twilek was silent for a moment as he looked guiltily back at Alethia, but he recovered quickly enough.

“Holy sizzle. Give it a try.” The man offered the Zeltron Alethia’s drink with a sheepish smile.

Cute. Alethia gave Aura a quick once over. Drunk and trying to poach my mark. I can work with this. Time to get your game face on.

First the I can't believe you just said that! Then, fade into Oh, you're incorrigible, complete with self-conscious giggle. A lingering smile, as if at a loss for words, then a slow shake of the head. Having laid the groundwork, Alethia started her attack.

"Love, I'm not a prude!" she began with mock indignation before leaning in close to the Zeltron. Speaking low enough to sound intimate but loudly enough to make sure the Twi'lek heard her, she purred, "Do I need to remind you of that later?" She followed up with a quick slap of Aura's rear, then took advantage of the Zeltron's surprise to pluck the drink out of her hand and raise it to her own lips.

"Ooh, fizzy! Not bad, but it's a little sour for my taste. Here, darling, give it a try," she said, shoving the drink back into Aura's hands. The Zeltron scowled, but nevertheless took a sip, nodding her approval at the drink. Turning back to beam at the Twi'lek, Alethia added, as if it were an afterthought, "My wife's a bit more fond of tartness than I am."

"Your… wife?" he asked as Aura choked on her drink. The Twi'lek furrowed his brow so deeply his lekku twitched. "So you…"

"Mmhmm," the Human cooed. Her Zeltron friend doubled over the bar, trying to hack up the holy sizzle she'd aspirated.

Realization dawned on the man's face, followed by a salacious grin. "So you little ladies decided you need a man's… uh, is she ok?" He peered over at Aura, concern and lust battling it out across his face.

"She's fine," Alethia snapped, her low but harsh. "I should have known I couldn't even get a drink recommendation without some… some male trying to pick up my wife like so much meat."

“Whoa, sorry!” The Twi’lek threw up his hands defensively and backpedaled a bit, “I just — sorry!” he stammered before skittering off.

“What the hell, Alethia?” Aura glowered, her voice still raspy from the coughing fit.

“You tried to take my toy, dear,” the Human began, taking one pink hand in hers and leaning in close, dropping her voice almost to a whisper. “And I broke it just to keep you from having it.”

The Zeltron jerked her hand back, her face contorted with shock. “What is wrong with you? This was supposed to be fun!” The bartender was watching with concern and slight irritation now, and a few other the other bar patrons were starting to take note of them. It was time to move in for the kill.

“What’s wrong with me?” Alethia answered, dancing along the line between a gasp and a sob, and loud enough to keep her audience’s attention. “You’re drunk! I don’t even know how you managed it. Probably cavorting around with half the bar. Don’t think I didn’t see that.”

“I’m not drunk!” Aura shouted with a slight wobble

“Yes, you are. You are! In another hour you’ll be on top of the bar.” Tears were streaming down Alethia’s face now, a black river of eyeliner and mascara. “Or on top of the bartender!”

“Who I’m on top of isn’t your business,” the Zeltron shot back.

“My mother was right about you,” Archenksova sobbed.

“Hey,” the bartender interrupted. He’d slipped around the bar during the argument, and put a hand on Aura’s shoulder. The Zeltron started, and reflexively jabbed her elbow back and into the man’s gut, knocking him to the floor.

“Oh god, I’m so sor— hey!” Ta’var’s apology was cut off by four strong hands grabbing her and pulling her off the floor. She kicked and squirmed, but to no avail.

“Sorry, toots,” the Besalisk bouncer grunted, hauling her to the exit. “Party’s over.”

---

There was a valuable lesson for her in all that, Alethia mused as she snatched her purse on her way to the fresher. I’ll have to figure out what it was before she sobers up. ‘Don’t touch my things’ seems a bit petty. ‘Stay out of my love life’ will never stick. She took the time to fix her face in front of the mirror while Ta’var no doubt fumed outside. Crying on command was a useful skill, but hell on makeup.

Once she was back in perfect order, Alethia went looking for a public holoterminal in a discreet corner of the club. She keyed a single-use holo address — this wasn’t an entirely appropriate use of one, but they were cheap and it was Aura’s fault anyway — and waited for the blue-hued figure to materialize.

“Councilor,” Mar Sûl greeted her dryly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Councilor,” Alethia replied warmly. “I’m just checking in. How are things?”

“You never ‘just check in.’”

Archenksova smiled as if she’d been caught in some good-natured mischief. “You know me too well. I think our Aurora might be in need of some bail money, and I didn’t bring enough with me to address that eventuality.” Not true, strictly speaking, but a good excuse nonetheless.

“Zeltrons.” Mar’s scowl deepened slightly. “I’ll transfer the funds. Was there anything else?”

“Actually, while I have you on the line, there is one thing. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to shave before the next Council meeting?”

“What?”

“Trust me.”

Aura grinned and took the slender glass from the Twi'lek’s hand, feeling what felt like an invisible glare on the back of her head. The faint click of a high heel punctuated the stiff silence between them. The Zeltron savored the moment as she took a sip, brushing off the faint worry in the back of her mind.

“Wow, that really takes your breath away,” replied Aura. “What’s in it?” The Zeltron leaned forward and rested her forearm against the counter, her fingers grazing the man’s arm in a steady drumbeat. Archenksova loudly cleared her throat. The Twi'lek grimaced guiltily as he gave Alethia a spare glance before smiling back at Aura, who ignored her companion on purpose.

“Well, first you take a quarter shot of Corellian Whiskey and add a smidgen of Rancor Tequila to it.”

Alethia sighed heavily and rustled around with what sounded like her purse. Aura resisted the urge to turn around as she heard her friend move its zipper. While he explained the second step with enthusiasm, she watched the male Twi'lek’s face carefully for any sign of movement behind her.

“Next, you put in a squirt or two of lime. Then if you really want to top it off, you coat the rim with a nice layer of sugar. Best to suck that off at the end.”

Aura laughed and she drank more of her ‘Holy sizzle’, already sizing up another free drink. “I think I messed up this one. I’ll have to try again.”

“Sure. Bartender, another over here!”

The Zeltron felt a tap on her shoulder, the Force telling her to flee. On the other hand, the drinks from earlier tonight told her she was going to win. Aura turned around with a triumphant smile, which was quickly wiped off her face as a heavy handbag containing a pistol smacked into the side of her head. The Zeltron staggered to her right, the bar sliding in and out of focus for just a few seconds.

“Suck on that, schutta!” Alethia yelled, going for another swing.

Aura shook off the dazed look on her face and raised her arms defensively around her head as she saw the pocket book coming back towards her. It hit the meat of her arm, pushing the Zeltron off balance as she fell to the floor.

“And stay down!”

Anger flared within Aura as she finally registered the hits, glaring at the handbag.

“Did you just pistol-whip me with a purse?!” Aura yelled as she got up and ran towards Archenksova, who swung her pocketbook around for another pass. The Zeltron batted it aside with her arm and plowed right into Alethia, tackling her to the ground.

Aura landed on top of her and quickly centered her weight over Alethia’s hips, promptly followed by lashing out at Archenksova’s face with a flurry of slaps. The woman beneath her squirmed as she blocked the volleys aimed at her face with her left arm and swung her handbag at Aura’s head with her right. The pair of women exchanged blows as they sacrificed well-being for a good position, crying out in pain as each hit landed. Despite the gun-laden purse, Aura wouldn’t budge, so Alethia decided to tip the scales.

Archenksova dug one-handed in her purse as she attempted to retrieve her blaster, her left arm blocking as many swings at her head as possible. Aura seized the moment, getting in a few good shots before the Force yelled at her once more. The Zeltron looked around her immediate vicinity, giving her a sobering dose of reality as she saw Alethia finally free the gun from the confines of her purse. She was already pointing it towards the Zeltron, who desperately punched her fist through the air as she focused the Force on Archenksova’s grip on the weapon.

Pew!

The shot went wide to Aura’s left, pushed off course as the tip of Alethia’s gun was pushed outward and flew safely out of her hand. The pair looked up in unison as an innocent man sitting at the opposite bar slumped over in his barstool, thankfully with no immediate signs of permanent damage.

“You set that to stun, right?” asked Aura, concern overriding her urge to fight.

“Do you really think I’d shoot to kill you?” Alethia replied sarcastically as she jabbed her fingers into Aura’s solar plexus, making the woman curl over to avoid further pain.

Archenksova grabbed Aura’s hair with her right hand and held on tight as she pulled the Zeltron down to the ground.

“Oww!” Aura screamed as half of her body slid off the woman and rested on the floor.

Alethia pounced on the opportunity and held on tighter by grabbing her hair with both hands. Aura reached for Alethia’s head but was quickly distracted by the woman’s knee thrusting into her stomach as she simultaneously pulled down on the Zeltron’s head. Aura crumpled to the ground and went on the defensive as she tried to block both her ribcage and her head. Alethia took full advantage, standing up and kicking her from above.

Damn, she’s brutal. Fine then…

Aura took a deep breath — or as deep a breath as she was allowed under duress — and pushed her hands out as she rocked away from Alethia, pushing the woman away from her with the Force. The Zeltron got up to her feet as quickly as possible, while Archenksova fell backward several meters and regained her bearings.

“Afraid to fight me like a woman, Ta’var?” goaded Alethia, brushing a trickle of blood from her face.

“You aren’t a woman. You’re a vicious harpy. Here I was trying to not hurt you too much and you cheated,” replied Aura accusingly.

“The pot calling the kettle black,” Alethia spat back.

Aura was about to respond, but the male Twi'lek they had both courted intervened between them, holding out his hands in a peace offering.

“Ladies, ladies, let’s not fight over me. There is enough to go around for both of you,” he grinned.

Aura glared at him and then flung herself towards him, leading with a punch. The Twi'lek attempted to duck, but Alethia was already swinging a fist his way as well. The man crumpled to the ground as both attacks hit, already calling for security as he started to crawl away to safety. The pair of women glared at him, momentarily forgetting their feud.

“Kriffing sleemo!” Aura yelled.

“Run away, tailhead!” Alethia added on, drawing the ire from a few of the bar’s patrons.

Aura looked at her friend, stunned at her performance. Meanwhile, several security guards were already rounding the corner from the far end of the bar, called on by the Twi'lek they had beat up. Both women looked at each other, reason finally making headway.

“Look, Ta’var, I’d love to beat you up some more but I think we should leave. How about we gather our things and get out of here?”

“Agreed. I’ll beat you up later,” said Aura as she ran to get her cloak.

“Hah! As if you could without your precious Force,” Alethia replied as she picked up her belongings and made her way to the exits, Aura right behind her.

Security guards chased them outside the club, leaving the pair of women to the seedy streets of Nar Shadaa at night.

“And stay out!” they shouted in unison.

Aura reached out to the Force around her while Alethia looked around, both appraising the situation.

“A fine mess you’ve got me into this time, Ta’var,” Archenksova complained haughtily.

“Please, you shot first! You’re just unhappy I won.”

“You wish. Are you even sober enough to remember how many free drinks you got?”

“Definitely more than you. Do you even remember how many you've had?”

A silent pause hung in the air as Aura stared Alethia down.

“We both know who won without cheating,” replied Archenksova, evading the question.

Aura rolled her eyes, tempted to slap her again, but thankfully something else distracted her. She had found something in the Force that made her feel anxious, the uneasy feeling that always came when danger wasn’t far off. It didn’t feel immediate but she could sense something… She thought for a moment how two women dressed for hustling might look like to the denizens in this part of the city. She grimaced, coming to terms with the best course of action.

“Look, as much as I’d love to discuss this with the committee, something doesn’t feel right. Put this cloak on and be ready, just in case,” ordered Aura as she handed over her cloak.

“What’s coming?” Archenksova asked seriously as she put on the cloak, her head on a swivel.

“I don’t know. Let’s just get out of here.” Aura straightened her dress and then the pair of women walked at what they thought was a casual pace towards the nearest shuttle.

“And what am I supposed to be, exactly?” asked Alethia in a whisper.

Aura walked closer, wrapping an arm around Alethia’s waist and leaning against her for a whispered conversation.

“Well, until we get to safety, I am your exorbitantly priced prostitute. It’s a perfect cover for a Zeltron if you can pull off the client. It might allow us to actually blend in.”

“You seem familiar with this tactic. You get this treatment often?”

“I’m a Zeltron. It is a misunderstanding that has happened often enough.”

“Fair enough, but I only paid you a moderate fee. I wouldn’t want anyone jumping me for credits.”

“Not fair.”

“The customer is always right. Now get off my gun. I might need to shoot it.”

“Is this how you and a love interest bond with each other? Sarcasm and violence?”

Alethia rolled her eyes, refusing to answer. Aura got off her and walked by her side, wondering why she let this woman complicate her life so much. Maybe Alethia was thinking the same thing...