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 been 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.

Nar Shadda - Club Vertica

The night had been a long one, and down below at the street level people were returning home after an honest day of work. At Club Vertica however, the night was still young. Upbeat techno music was being played, much to the joy of a part of the crowd at the club. Some danced to the popular tune and the numbers after them, liquor and other intoxicating drinks in hand on the dancefloor. The majority of the crowd, however, was more busy trying to get lucky at the Sabaac tables.

On the club's floor, furniture and seating arrangements were plentiful, to rest and play at. There was still plenty of room to move around as the club was huge. After all, it was the most famous and indeed the most notorious one at Nar Shadda.

At one of the Sabaac tables gathered an assortment of species. One of the players is of special interest. He had glowing red eyes and bluish skin: a Chiss. He wore a voluminous Thermal Cape with his hood drawn down. Few people paid him any special attention as his garb was quite common. His expression showed a mix of frustration and rapture. He had won a few rounds at the start (or was he reined in?) but afterward lost round after round. By now, he had lost quite a lot yet he had the wish to play a few more times. He just could not get up at this point! "The next round...the next round...and then I'll win the Pot!"

As the next round came, the Chiss grew excited and almost leaned across the table. But alas! The droid serving the table declared someone a winner. He himself lot a lot now.

He swore loudly, making a few passers-by jump. He swung hard behind him in frustration without seeing. He was too shocked at present. However, the problem was that his wild swing connected with something very solid and muscular, and particularly large. Soon enough a huge, black-covered hand grabbed his shoulder and positively.

The Chiss beheld a massive, and positive towering Shistavanen glaring down at him. Irked though he was, he was almost shocked at the size of what seemed like a monstrous beast.

"You gamble too much, Sith," said the wolf-man in a matter-of-fact tone as he glared down at him. He voice was deep and guttural and he spoke slowly. At the word 'Sith', people and even droids started to back away in alarm. "I am told to fetch you."

The Chiss Sith sneered "Fetch me? Fetch...me??? Who told you to do that? And I don't...gamble! I just like...umm...trying my luck!"

The Shistavanen growled softly and advanced on him slowly. "Nevermind who! You will come quietly."

"The hell I will, " the Chiss Hunter started to turn back and walk away defiantly, and people all around widened the circle around the two.

However, at that moment he heard the unmistakable sound, the 'hiss' of a lightsaber being activated. The Hunter spun around and saw, slightly alarmed, that the massive beast had drawn his lightsaber. Its red blade cackled menacingly at him. "As you wish, Chiss. I shall drag you away by your hair."

By now, the room was almost empty.

"Oho! A challenge! Now that is what I want!" The Hunter lit his own Armory lightsaber and got ready. He felt a tinge of fear, yet the excitement for a fight was stronger. Besides, the beast just challenged him. He held his weapon tightly and stood firm.

The tension rose between the two combatants for several heartbeats as they stared each other down. Their eyes may have been locked together, but their senses were elsewhere. Khryso Mallus, newly appointed Sith Hunter of Clan Plagueis began to run variables through his head as he searched out a way to find victory against his much larger adversary. Fenrir, Knight of that same clan, waited just long enough to drink in his surroundings. What little allies there were to call upon in a place like this wouldn't be of much use in the battle ahead, so meeting blade-to-blade seemed to be the clearest course forward. Once he had come to that conclusion, the massive Shistavanen pulled his blade into a high guard and leaped forward.

In their desperate scramble to clear away from the fight, the customers of Club Vertica had given the two plenty of room to spar. However, they were still inside a building, corralled inside rows of tables, chairs, and gambling machines. Fenrir's leap was easily able to close the distance and clear anything that would have been in his way.

Khryso quickly flicked his saber up into a block, catching the Disciple's blade on his own. After his initial vertical slash, Fenrir immediately transitioned into a flurry of fierce blows against his smaller opponent. Khryso was forced to stay defensive and give ground; the speed and strength of each strike was almost too much for the minimal dueling experience that the Chiss had under his belt. Most of his plans had to go out the window. This was exactly what he needed, however. To be pushed to his limits, forced to level up his ability or pay the consequences. That was all easier said than done, however.

It didn't take long for the barrage of strikes to drive Khryso's back into a sabacc table. Without anywhere further for the Hunter to retreat to, Fenrir was able to turn up the pressure. As expected, the Chiss couldn't measure up to his power. Now that he had the blue-skinned Sith cornered, this would be over in a matter of seconds. The only downside being that the Shstavanen knew he would have to hold back just enough to avoid killing the man. He was supposed to bring him back alive.

Khryso knew this was over for him if he didn't pull something out in the next few seconds. His last several hands at the table hadn't turned out in his favor, but this was really when making the right gamble would pay off. Khryso kicked his feet backwards, falling down roughly onto his knees and sending a jolt of pain through his legs. The Shistavanen's size may give him reach, but also raised him further from the ground. The sudden change in height gave enough disruption to the Knight's attack patterns that Khryso was able to drop to his side and roll underneath the table he had just been pinned against.

While the Chiss' shrinking act did throw things off just long enough for him to slip away, Fenrir wasn't planning on letting him get away that easily. With a vicious uppercut of his blade, he severed the card table in two, flinging aside both halves with sweeps of his arm. His target had rolled onto his feet only a couple meters away, but Fenrir wasn't planning on giving him time to catch his breath.

A single second of concentration was all Khryso needed to call the Force into him. Strength flooded into his legs, giving him the power he needed to bound away from the wolf-man's next assault. Somersaulting into a crouch, Khryso spun to see that the Knight was hot on his heels. Pushing himself to his feet, Khryso vaulted over a nearby abandoned sabacc table, switching his lightsaber to an uncertain one-handed grip while he reached under his cape. When his feet his the ground again, his LL-30 was clutched in his hand.

In the twenty-five seconds since their battle began, their arena had continually expanded in size as more people fled. Those that did stay to watch the action kept their distance, calling out encouragement to whoever they'd decided to back in the tussle. It was only a matter of time before some kind of security showed up, but the combatants were too focused on each other to worry about that.

Khryso did his best to keep his distance, dancing around the outside of the arena while peppering blaster bolts towards the Shistavanen. He was surprised, however, when the Knight slowed his chase. Deflecting the haphazard blaster bolts with his lightsaber, Fenrir gathered the Force to him, allowing his annoyance at the Chiss' futile resistance to bolster his pull. Reaching a hand out, Fenrir cast out a metaphysical blanket that draped itself over Khryso. Just like that, the Chiss felt himself falter. The strength lent to him by the Force was suddenly gone. Sliding to a rough stop after a surprise landing, the Hunter grimaced. Looks like the wolf-man had just played his hand.