Ladies Night

Setting

One year before the Battle of Yavin (34:7:35) on the planet Axxila (Axxila cantina and Axxila spaceport) and aboard the Raging Star (Consular-class space cruiser).

Characters

Major Peed Archis, Barachi, Lieutenant Quar Klynn, Leela, Marange, and Lance Corporal Seekith Shardin.

The Raging Star had docked a few days earlier as part of a "Diplomatic Mission" to Axxila. Had it been a true diplomatic mission, and then they would have left as soon as their business had concluded. Most of those who had been sent on the mission were people who were owed some rest and relaxation. Quar was sitting silently, in his room on the Raging Star, reading the newest rags about the new line of Luxury Speeders. He smiled lightly as he read through the top speed of one that looked like a miniature yacht. He leaned back in his chair, propping his feet up on a small unpadded stool. The cigarra in his mouth was burning, a light grey smoke coming off the tip.

Seekith peeked his semi-feline head into the room, looking around nervously. As his eyes locked onto Quar, a devious smile broke onto his face. "Quar! Buddy! Pal! How you doing man?" He came to lean against the doorframe, crossing his arms.

Quar's hand came to his cigarra lit between his lips. He grasped the cigarra and removed it so he could speak, "Just fine, Seek. How are you doing?" Quar leaned forward and brought the cigarra to the ashtray, making sure that his literature did not fall off of his lap. He then leaned back into his chair, his head turning to Seekith.

"Actually I was looking for you. I have come across a great opportunity and I knew you were the right man for the job." That was a lie. Seekith had already asked five other men on board. He had even asked one of the female crew members in the off chance that she could help. "So today I was at the market, and I ran into the most beautiful Twi'lek I have ever seen. Pretty red skin, a smile that would make you join the Imps if she asked..." He drifted off for a second thinking about it, "Either way, so she invites me to meet her and some of her friends at the cantina down the street. But she said I needed to bring a friend. And who better to meet ladies with? Quar! Who would appreciate an opportunity like this? Quar Would!"

"Uh...huh..." Quar looked back down to his magazine and then back to Seekith. He hated playing wingman, but he had nothing else to do. He shrugged for a moment before removing his feet from the small stool in front of him. He tossed the magazine onto the stool and stared at Seekith, "So, are the friends hot?"

"Bam!" Seekith clapped his hands together as he stood up straight, "Klynn you are the man!. And about her friends, I'm betting they're hot. She's a dancer. Dancers hang out with other dancers, and you know they don't let ugly girls dance."

"Okay, I'll go. But if she is ugly, I swear I am going to kill you." Quar said softly. He smiled lightly, picking up his leather holster from the end table next to the chair. Quar quickly undid his belt and slid on the holster to securely rest on his hip. He then re-latched his belt and pulled his shirt out to cover the slug thrower which was now holstered at his right hip.

Seekith winked at Quar, "You're gonna need an army to try that."

The two of them were soon walking up to the cantina. They could already hear the music from outside. Unlike Quar, Seekith just wore his normal civilian clothes. He didn't bring any weapons, since he was large enough that he usually did not need them. He kept reaching down to brush off his shirt and straighten it out. "Do my civvies look okay? " He asked.

Quar raised an eyebrow as he looked over to Seekith. He shrugged his shoulders. Hell Quar wasn't a fashion expert. All he knew was that black went with everything, hence why that was all that Quar wore. "You look like a giant fuzzball. It doesn't matter what you wear." Quar said jokingly. He pushed forward into the Cantina. His eyes scanned the watering hole instantly spotting two Twi'leks sitting together drinking and laughing. A smile came across Quar's face as he looked to Seekith. "Please tell me that is her!"

"Nope! That's her!" Seekith pointed at a very beautiful Twi'lek coming right towards them.

Leela was adorned in an scantly clad outfit that looked like scrap of purple cloths laid across her at random intervals. She reached up and gave Seekith a peck on the cheek and then looked at Quar with an approving smile. "Well I see you did bring a friend. He's cute too... not as cute as you, but cute." She rubbed his jowls in a loving way.

It took Seekith a second or two to recover, "Oh I'm sorry. Leela this is the keen Mr. Quar Klynn."

"Hi." Quar said with a half grin as Leela extended her hand. Quar gripped it lightly in a friendly manner and shook it. He eyed around the bar swiftly for any signs of Leela's friends as his grasp on her hand ceased. Quar immediately spotted an Imperial Officer with the top portion of his uniform unbuttoned drinking. A sudden feeling of discomfort came over Quar - at first he thought it was because of the Imperial Officer. But no, Quar's instincts were extremely high. His head turned slowly as he noticed another two females approaching him. Any sign of a smile on Quar's face disappeared when he saw what was approaching. The first female was an overweight Rodian. This made Quar's hairs on the back of his neck stand up. The second female was a disheveled Zabrak who desperately needed a shower and smelled like some sort of fungi.

Seekith had not noticed the Imperial officer, being to enthralled with Leela, but even he could not have missed the other two girls.

"Oh hey! I want you to meet my friends. Seekith, Quar, this is Marang," Leela said pointing first to the fat Rodian, and then to the large horned Zabrak, "And this is Barachi."  Seekith eyes were huge but his mouth was shut tight, not wanting to erupt in laughter. He simply gave them a polite wave.

Soon, they were all seated in a booth, the Rodian and the Zabrak sandwiching Quar. Beads of sweat slowly started to drip down Quar's forehead. He would of brought his hands up to wipe his forehead but the overweight Rodian prevented him. Marang slowly started to bring her hands onto Quar's chest. Quar's eyes went wide and he immediately looked towards Seekith. Quar's mouth began to move and he lightly whispered, "I am going to kill you." to Seekith. Quar then returned his attention to Marang and raised his hand to remove her hand from his chest. "Sorry sweaty, am just getting over a rash. I would hate for you to get a rash all over."

Leela gasped at the thought, "Oh my! That would be bad. You dance tomorrow night and that would not look good."

Marang kept her black bug eyes on Quar, "No kidding. I mean so many men come here just to see me dance. I would hate to let them down. I am very good," She said it almost as if she was trying to convince herself as well. "would you like to see me dance some time Quar?"

Beads of sweat continued to fall down Quar's face. He jimmied his arms out from beside both of the alien women and placed both elbows. Quar placed his head in his hands and shook his head lightly, "I think I'm going to vomit." Quar muttered.

"What was that?" Marang questioned.

"I said.. I think I'd uhhh enjoy it" Quar said slyly. Marang wrapped her arms tightly around Quar and starting humming lightly in his ear. Thoughts of killing the overweight Rodian crossed his mind as he continued to bury his face in his hands.

Seekith was trying his damnedest not to laugh. His smile was so big that it probably could have been used to flag down a Star Destroyer. But his smiled quickly faded as he noticed the Imperial officer had no appeared next to them.

"Oppie! There you are! I've been wondering when you would show up" Leela shout out in glee as she spotted him, "You know the girls, but this is Seek and Quar."  The other two girls giggled and waved at the officer. They obviously new him intimately. Seekith managed a polite nod to the man but said nothing.

Quar's head moved back slightly from his hands as Marang and Barachi both waved to the Officer. Quar knew that his night had just gone from bad to worse. He placed his hands down on the table and nodded to the Imperial Officer, "I really appreciate what you guys are doing out in this area." Quar said with a bit of teasing in his voice.

Major Peed Archis of the ISB glanced at Quar for a second and then focused directly on Leela, "I told you not to call me that in public. As repentance, I would appreciate it if you would step to the bar and talk with me for a minute." Leela quickly complied and fallowed him away. The man's attitude irritated Seekith to no end. He tried to calm his nerves when he noticed Barachi smiling at him in an odd way.

"Well until she gets back, " she said, "I guess it is just us four. I have a feeling it's going to get wild around this table." It was then that he realized, he had not been brought here for Leela, but for the horned skank in front of him. She started to move closer to him, "Do you like it wild? I do. I can get real wild."

Seekith's eyes were locked onto her gruesome horns like they were a pod racer crash. "I bet you do with those handle bars."

"What was that?" she snapped.

"Candy Bars! I like Candy Bars. Do you? Waitress! Do you have any candy bars...maybe?...No? Okay, just bring us like eight shots...stat!"

Quar's began rubbing his hands together and started thinking, "Think damn it! You have escaped worse situations than this. Be smooth!." Quar turned in the booth and shouted, "I Have To Use The Refresher!" With that Quar pushed himself off of the booth with his hands until his legs were underneath him. He stood up on the booth, placed one foot onto the table and hopped off to the floor.

He turned around and faced the table to see Marang staring at him and waving, "I'll be waiting my love." she said.

With great fear Quar turned around swiftly to slam into the waitress which was bringing the shots to the table. The glasses fell from her tray onto the floor. A large quantity of alcohol spilled all over the waitress, "Sorry! Sorry!" Quar said as he made his way to the refresher.

"Oh man! Quar! Here let me help you!" He was out of seat faster then a mynock on spice.

"No wait!" Barachi screamed out," Or at least hurry back. Marang and I were going to do a private dance just for you two." She leaned in close to Marang in what was attempting to be a seductive pose. Had the two girls been Twi'leks, even two ugly Twi'leks, he would have been really turned on.  But of course, they were not.

"You ladies hold that thought and we will be right back," Seekith exclaimed. He turned and finished his comment, chasing after Quar, "just as soon as Alderaan just up and explodes."

Quar turned to look at Seekith as they headed towards the refresher. Quar pushed the door open and waited for Seekith to pass before he entered. "Remind me never to get a dance from any female on Axxila. They'll hire anything that walks by." Quar said. He looked around the refresher for a way out. His eyes set upon a small window on the far end. Quar pointed at it raising an eyebrow, "You brought me in this situation. You get me out. Find out what's on the other side of that."

"But the ladies were going to dance for us!" Seekith said in an overly sarcastic tone. He then looked to the side and shrugged as he almost started to rationalize, "then again, it has been a while and... No! No! You're right. Let make like an X-wing and jump to light speed to the hell on out of here." He moved to the window and pitched himself through it. Unfortunately, he got caught half way through, his legs squirming around like tentacles. "Aahh Damn it!"

"Hmm." Quar pondered for a moment as he watched Seekith stuck in the window.

"Boys! We are waiting!" Marang and Barachi yelled from outside the refresher. Quar's eyes went wide and instantly he went into panic mode. He ran to the far side of the room away from the window and turned around. He took a deep breath and charged forward towards Seekith's dangling legs. He jumped shoulder first towards the feline creature. The impact was just enough to push Seekith out of the window. Quar went flying out as well, landing roughly on top of Seekith.

Seekith became the meat of the Quar-Trash Heap sandwich. He nearly launched Quar off of him as he shot to his feet. "I swear I almost saw my whole underrated life pass before my eyes."

Quar was sitting in a piece of half eaten food. He stood slowly, dusting off his pants as if it would help. He looked over to Seekith and nodded, "You're telling me. When I saw that fat beast fondling my chest I thought I was going to die of some infection." Quar said matter of factly. He began to walk down the alley towards the main street slowly. Quar was shaking his head the whole way. He muttered softly, "Note to self, never go to a bar with Seek again!"

"Hey now, it doesn't always happen that way. I usually have money and just pay for the right ones." Seekith answered.

Quar stopped as he reached the main street staying in the dark alley. He nodded as Seekith spoke and began to glance over the main street. Quar reached into his left pants pocket to remove his packet of cigarras. He looked into his hand to see that all of the cigarras were crushed. He dropped the pack to the ground as he noticed that Imperial Officer walking down the main street with Leela next to him. "Seek..." Quar said as he stared at the couple.

Seekith's face turned to pure rage as he spotted the two. He brought up his hands, his claws protruding from his finger tips, "She set us up with her fat friends, and then leaves with the suit?! No way am I being a damn Imps' Wingman..." He started to make a straight line for them.

"Seek, wait... I have an idea." Quar smiled as he spoke.

"Leela!" Seekith stood at the gates of Major Archis' estate. The two story house had an almost Naboo like feel to it. It was surrounding by an overly decorative wall and sported many balconies. Again Seekith starting to scream in what sounded like a drunk stupor, "Leela I love you!  Leela why are you here?  Why did you leave me baby?!"

The lights turned in the upstairs bedroom. Seekith could see the silhouettes of the Twi'lek and the Imperial officer. He continued his whaling until the two of them came to the gate in their robes.

"By the force Seek, what are you doing here?" Leela asked.

"There you are Baby!" Seekith stumbled into the as he saw her, "I missed you. What happened?"

"You lowly Togorian wannabe!" Peed reared, "how dare you come to my home and disrupt me! I ought to..."

"Find a dark corner to kiss you mother in? Yes I know." Seekith retorted before drunkenly glancing back at Leela. "Thooo. I was at the bar and then you were gone. Those two fiends...Ha! I mean friends of yours took my poor buddy into the bathroom. And then... and then there were these funny sounds coming out. I thought a bantha had fallen onto dewback in there. So there I was alone, and the waitress just kept bringing me drinks. I stumbled out and some human, who i think may have have had four heads but I couldn't tell, said you went down the street. I fallowed your perfume to this dump. I mean I gotta bigger house then this guy... and loads more money too."

Leela looked sad and was about speak when Peed reached through the gates to shove Seekith over. "You stupid drunk! I should just kill you now!"

"No!" Leela screamed, "Oppie, baby. Call the for assistance for the local garrison. Let them handle it. Please?" Not even "Oppie" could resist those eyes. He pulled his comlink and requested that some Storm Troopers be sent to his house. Putting his comlink away, he returned to berating Seekith.

Quar was watching the events unfold from a few meters away. He had taken the time to return to the ship for a fresh change of clothes. Quar smiled while adjusting the black canvas backpack which rested over his shoulders. He proceeded to the far side of the estate where there was a side wall. Quar sprinted slightly as he came closer to the wall. When he was within a meter, he leaped with his hands outstretched. His black gloved hands grabbed onto the top of the wall surrounding the estate. With little effort Quar lifted his body up while swinging his leg on top of the wall. He smoothly swung his other leg around the top of the wall, dropping to the ground softly as his whole body had passed the top of the wall.

Quar's hand moved towards the silenced slug thrower which he kept on his hip. He was unaware of who else may have been inside of the estate. His weapon broke the breach of his leather holster as his muscular legs took him across the front compound towards the back door. Quar raised his slug thrower to chest height as he ran silently across the yard. As he approached the door, he arched his body back, aiming the pistol at the door as his other hand checked the knob. He slowly turned the knob until he was able to open the door. "Some great security agent.." Quar thought aloud. He slowly pushed the door open, crouching low as he entered into the large estate home.

The pistol was brought in front of Quar's field of vision as he skulked low near the ground into the home. He stopped and listened silently as he heard Seekith continuing to cause a giant scene on the front lawn. Hearing nothing else in the house, Quar stood and swiftly moved towards the bed room where the Officer and the dancer had been. He pushed open the door of the room with his empty hand, sweeping the barrel of his slug thrower from right to left as he entered the room. Noting no one else in there, he holstered the weapon in its holster. "Hm..." Quar thought.

All that was visible in the dark room were articles of clothing on the floor. He knew that there had to be a datapad or something around. Quar went towards the dresser and started opening drawers. Upon opening the second drawer he found a small data card for a datapad. Quar picked it up and slid it into the black vest that he was wearing. He closed the drawer and continued to glance around the room.

He immediately noticed a bottle of champagne still on ice. Quar's eyebrow raised as his gloved hand grabbed the bottle of Champaign. He slid one of his arms out of his backpack's straps to allow the bag to swing around to his front. He placed the champagne into a small pack in his bag and began towards the door.

As Quar was exiting he looked straight down at the floor out of instinct. There was the name tag and rank badge of the imperial officer. Quar kneeled next to the two articles and allowed his gloved hand to pick up both. He soon stashed them away inside of his vest. He then moved out of the door and swiftly towards where he made entry. He could hear once again.

He exited through that back door, closing it behind him. Once again he sprinted across the lawn of the estate but this time to the wall. Once again with little effort Quar leaped up and swung his body over the wall. He landed on the other side flawlessly and he removed a comlink from one of his vests' pockets. He brought the com to his mouth and spoke into it, "Okay we're good."

"Who you calling a wannabe Togorian!" Seekith screamed. He had been standing outside with the Leela and Major Archis while Quar had been inside gathering Intel. Leela sat quietly to the side while the two mean continued fighting. "Togorians are about as useless Hutt trying to apply for a job as a dancing girl. That and Togorians suffer from major Cathar envy, because of our huge..."

Right then he noticed three Stormtroopers approaching from the down the street. He was about to start getting really nervous until he finally caught Quar's com signal in his ear piece. He thought fast. He knew that if he was still conscious, that the security officers would want to cuff him. He started acting even more drunk then he already was. "Ah dam-nit! Where shid dey come fom!"

Peed's face turned to pure joy as he saw them approaching, "By the Emperor, you guys took for ever! Get this rat nest infest beast off my property at once!" As the three Stormtroopers tried to secure him, Peed and Leela turned to return to the house.

Meanwhile, Seekith was like dead weight in the troopers' arms. He was heavy enough that all three were trying to keep him up. Every time one went to put a stun cuff on him, he would turn away from them, shifting his weight enough to make all of them stumble. He appeared to be just incoherent enough that they figured they could get him back to the station a few blocks away with out to much trouble. Two of the Stormtroopers grabbed his arms, while the last grabbed his legs. The three labored to carry him away and down the street.

Quar watched the three men drag off Seekith. He smirked lightly since this definitely was not part of the plan. Quar noticed that the men were having major issues moving Seekith. "First the fat chick now this.. you so owe me, Seek." Quar said to himself.

Quar crossed the street swiftly, diving into the bushes. The Stormtroopers did not notice the commotion since they were so busy with the huge feline. Quar moved to the side of the bush so he would not collide with the roots. He allowed his elbows to pull him along the ground swiftly to pass the troopers attempting to restrain Seekith. After passing them, Quar shot to his feet covered in mud, grime, grit and dirt. He shook his head, this being the second set of clothes that he had to messy up. With great swiftness, he sprinted in the direction that the security officials were carrying Seekith. Quar stopped upon reaching a small statue dedicated to a local hero.

Deciding that the statue would make great cover, Quar kneeled behind it drawing his slug thrower. He held it in front of him as he waited for the Security to make it towards his location. The one Stormtrooper holding Seekith's feet was closest to his line of sight. Quar looked down the iron sights of his slugthrower to bear down at the Stormtrooper's head. He pulled the trigger swiftly, sending a single silenced slug into the trooper's head. A red mist came up into the air as the officer fell flat to the ground.

Seekith had been muttering semi-incoherently about fat Rodian and ugly Zabrak women the hole time he had been carried. He heard impact of Quar's shot and felt the Stormtrooper at his feet drop. In an instant his feet, and balance, were underneath him again. Seekith heaved the trooper holding his right arm, over his body and into a nearby wall. The other trooper had let go and was starting to draw his BlasTech E-11 rifle from his sling. Seekith's left hand shot out and jammed the rifle into the inside of the man's leg before he could fully lift it. The blaster rifle went off, burning a huge hole through man's leg. The man tried to scream, but Seekith had already made his hand into a knife, his claws extended, and stabbed it straight into the man's throat. The two fell to the ground with Seekith on top, the blood pouring out onto him.

The Stormtrooper that was formerly holding Seekith's right arm started to grab for his blaster rifle. He swung it forward from its sling and started to level it at Seekith's back. Quar, still in his covered position, saw the security official on the ground. Instinctively Quar brought his slug thrower to aim at the trooper's torso. With two quick pulls of his trigger he sent two silent slugs into the man's chest. The Stormtrooper slumped over to his side ... dead. Quar moved from behind the statue, placing his sidearm back inside of his holster. "Lets get out of here." Quar said as he glanced to the dead security officers.

Seekith snapped around to find another target, but Quar had taken out the last one. He took some deep breaths as he stood there, the gore dripping off of his right hand. Spotting Quar, he gave him and over exaggerate thumbs up. He waved for Quar to come over and then went about moving the bodies. As Quar approached, Seekith had move the Stormtroopers that had been shot into a position so it look as if they were holding each other for dear life. The last trooper was positioned as if he were in the middle of a complicated dance move.

"Nice." Quar said as he began walking down the street towards the space port. Seekith turned and began to follow Quar. Quar slowed to allow Seekith to catch up. "I got us something nice.." Quar said with a smile. He swung shimmied his arm out of the backpack allowing it to swing down. He reached into the bag pulling out the bottle of champagne. Quar then swung the backpack around allowing his arm to wiggle through the strap. He then brought his other hand to grab the cork and pull it out in a swift movement. Cool champagne overflowed from the bottle. Quar brought the bottle to his lips and took a hard swig of the expensive stolen champagne. He then extended the bottle to Seekith.

Seekith took the bottle with his bloodied hand, and took a swig. He start to chuckle as he handed it back to Quar, "So, the night wasn't a total waist."

Meanwhile, back at Major Peed Archis' house, the Major and Leela was preparing to settle back down. Peed walked to grab the bottle of champagne from the ice, when he noticed it was missing. Confused, he start to searching for it. It was slowly dawning on him what had happened. Sure enough, he checked his second drawer and his datacard was gone. The ramifications started flying through his head. As an Intel officer, he had kept many of the Empire's secrets. If his commanding officers were to find out that information was leaked to the Rebels from a piece of his data, not just would he loose his job, but most likely his life. He swore to himself at that moment that this would have to be his secret. As the days came, and Imperial officials came to question him about the night three Stormtroopers ended up dead, he changed Seekith's description. He wanted to make sure that they would not find these rebels and track any "lost" information back to him. No, as long as no one knew the Intel was gone, no one know it was his fault.