The ramp of the Silverlight hissed open, making me cover my eyes as the sunlight made the polished metal so bright it felt like someone was already holding a shining light against my face, about to interrogate me regarding what I am doing here. As for the welcoming committee before us, it consisted of two combat droids and one human officer, waiting in front of the landing pad, already annoyed that we existed. Reaching out with the Force, I could feel that he was angry primarily because there was only a marginally slight chance to blackmail or rip us off, as our landing was pre-determined and also pre-paid... In his eyes, the worst kind of arrivals are the likes of us, who were 'invited.' Because when you want to make some money on the side, you can't really add extra onto an already paid service.
"Welcome." The officer himself was tall, wearing a clean uniform, his expression permanently set to mildly superior even when annoyed, knowing he held the cards and we had none. "Identification," he said, without any more decorum than was needed, looking at and comparing our faces to the one in his datapad.
"Morning to you, too," Vila muttered beside me, while HK brought up the rear, walking without uttering a word.
"Here," I said as we handed over our travel IDs. The officer barely glanced at them before swiping them on his pad, motioning to his droids. "Standard security check. Weapons are prohibited inside city limits."
As he was saying, the first droid came forward, waving a scanner wand over me, while the second focused on Vila. Both units beeped, flashed green, and stepped back, further increasing the man's annoyance at having lost another chance to rip us off, either for money or our stuff.
"No weapons detected," the first droid reported.
"I saw the light," The officer frowned in anger. "That can't be right." He eyed HK. "And this one?"
[Statement: Civilian protocol unit, serial number conveniently boring.]
Of course, the security droids scanned him nonetheless... Green lights again.
"..." The officer's jaw tightened as he began grinding his teeth, "Faulty equipment," he muttered, giving the droid at his left a whack. "No readings at all? That doesn't happen here."
"Maybe it's because we follow the laws of the land we visit?" I offered helpfully.
"Sure," He snorted, and watching me, his glare said 'Don't test me!' as he tried another angle instead. "There's also a docking tax. Three hundred credits. Each. Including the droid!"
"What?!" Vila crossed her arms, almost blowing her top, but she held back at the last moment, "There wasn't a word about that in the permit!"
"New regulation," he said smoothly. "Effective today."
"..." Suuure buddy, sure... I smiled politely and then lifted a hand just slightly. "You've already collected it, officer. Three hundred each, with a bit of a bonus, because the droid was a brand-new, shining model. Everything is in order."
"..." He blinked his eyes, a bit confused, glancing at me, "I… have?"
"Yes. And you did an excellent job. Efficient, polite, and the best inspection you've done all week." I continued, waving my hand again.
"Of course," The man straightened, an incredible amount of pride swelling through him like he won big at one of the casinos, "Well. Someone has to maintain standards!" He tucked an imaginary pouch into his belt, nodded sharply, and marched off with his droids in tow.
"Pft..." Vila waited until they disappeared down the ramp before whispering, "Your bribe was just... perfect. I could kiss you..."
"Technically," I whispered back, "I let him bribe himself."
[Observation: Manipulating weak minds is statistically superior to open violence for our mission. Approval registered.] HK's head swiveled toward me as we began walking.
"Thanks, HK."
[Compliment: You are welcome, Meatbag Unit Kael.]
We left the platform and entered the outer concourse, while I ignored the way he called me. The sound changed instantly after we left the landing zone, filling with the noise of hover traffic, music, and the hum of a thousand different languages bouncing between the massive, glass walls of the skyscrapers. Everywhere I looked, someone was showing off what they had: capes, jewels, cybernetics, their droids, or... slaves. Because I was sure, some people with collars around their necks weren't wearing them for fashion reasons. Next to me, Vila stared around just as I did, noticing the same things, but she just shook her head when our eyes met, telling me she would be fine and wouldn't lash out.
"This place is ridiculous," she said as we continued our trek towards our mark.
"It's what happens when people have too much money and nowhere to put it." I shrugged, "My Father once called it nonsense and a waste... because the credits flushed down here can pay for multiple Star Destroyers..."
[Observation: He was right.] HK, marching a pace behind us, added, [Addendum: Ridiculousness is profitable. Observe the efficiency of vice. New Idea: We should open our own casino and become rich. Jedi work doesn't pay as well as it should.]
"Were you always a philosopher or an entrepreneur?" I muttered, glancing back at him, "But kind of right... But we also don't do what we do for money, HK. Haaah... I guess our contact is also rich... I wonder what he thinks about Jedis."
"He should be friendly," Vila added, "Especially as he warned us about Iowi and Jalo disappearing."
"True." I nodded, "And the fact that he knows the Grandmaster has to be a big plus, too. I was just a bit on edge. This place is swarming with emotions and not all of them are good..."
"It's alright..." She smiled, holding my hand reassuringly.
"Thanks~!" I squeezed back, making her giggle.
"I wonder who he is," she muttered, and we hadn't gone twenty steps before a new voice called out to us, synthetic as a protocol droid approached us from the crowd.
"Excuse me! Are you by any chance our esteemed guests, Kael and Vila?" We turned toward the tall, silver protocol droid gliding toward us. His frame was polished to perfection, even his joints gleaming, and looking at it, the thing had to be one of the newest versions. Even his voice was pleasant, sounding as if he were educated and refined, speaking easily over the crowd. "Your arrival has been anticipated. My master sends his regards and requests your company immediately. He awaits at his establishment in the central district."
"Your master?" Vila asked. "Who exactly is your master?"
"...?" The droid tilted its head, as if it was confused, "He insisted that you would recognize this name to show his intentions: Luke."
I froze mid-step, while Vila's eyebrows shot up. Oh. So our contact was quicker than we were... Not a surprise, we did use the landing he provided for us.
"Right," I said slowly. "We'll follow and thank you."
[Dry remark: Predictable theatrics. I assume this 'master' also enjoys capes.] HK groaned a little but did fall in line
"Probably," Vila chuckled. "Please, lead the way."
The walk through the city was like strolling through a credit vault constantly sponsored by some conglomeration or something. There were dozens of floating billboards, projected holograms of card tables and smiling winners, inviting us to have a good time. And if not selling us the Lady Luck's blessing, they were advertising ships, weapons, food, or... women? Really? That part earned me a deep elbow into my ribs, as I stared a moment too long at the scantily dressed Twi'lek dancers appearing on one of the adverts... Khm. Well... Moving my eyes away, I watched as, everywhere in the city, a thousand droids constantly swept the streets clean before the dust even touched the ground, making sure the gleaming glitter was never obstructed. I felt my head tingle and was ready to hurt the more I looked... I hated this place. I really did. Holding my thoughts back, the protocol droid led us across a bridge and through a set of glass doors into one of the tallest towers amongst already massive high-rise buildings. The instant we stepped inside, the noise of the outside gave way to the click of roulette wheels, the constant clatter of slots, applause, and the angry shouts of someone losing their bets.
Just by following our guide, I counted three different Sabacc tables. I didn't even know there were that many variants? Corellian... Cloud City? And... craning my neck, I caught the sign of the third one, being Static Sabacc. Huh... Then, there were also Pazaak tables, which I had never heard of before, but HK's head was locked onto them for some reason. Then of course, there were more, the deeper we went... Dejarik, Huttball, Chance Cubes, Hyperlane Rush, bets on live Swoopracing, and a dozen other games I had no chance to ever recognize.
"I thought you said not to look impressed," Vila whispered, elbowing me.
"I said not to drool," I whispered back, shaking my head, "Anyway... want to play?"
"Ah!" She pointed a finger at me, "I am not losing my bet. Good try though!"
[Assessment: Ninety-four percent of meatbags here are statistically overconfident. This environment explains much about your species.] HK's photoreceptors dimmed slightly as he scanned the crowd.
"HK," Vila whispered, "don't start a fight."
[Reassurance: My combat protocols are temporarily set to 'polite.']
We followed our guide through the main hall, past a line of servers carrying drinks worth more than a starfighter, just by the way the gold glittered inside them. Can they... even drink that? Stop. Don't ask questions, Kael... Rolling my eyes, we stepped through a private elevator at the back, utterly silent as it began moving, completely gold-lined within. The music faded as the doors closed, and finally, there was some... peace. I took a deep breath, realizing that down there, I felt so many emotions at once that it added to the noise, making it even louder than it actually was.
As I realigned my senses, the lift opened into a quiet suite that might as well have been a different planet altogether. Gone were the marble, the polished metals, gold and silver, replaced by plush, coral-red carpets that muffled every step, including HK's. The walls, where there were walls, were lined with wood, and before us, a curved panoramic window ran along the far wall, offering a perfect view of the entire city glittering beneath and before us. Scanning the room, two security droids flanked the elevator entrance, unlike the ones greeting us in the landing zone, which were sleek, new designs. Then, at the center of the room, facing the window, stood a figure in an immaculate, blue, velvet cape... Damn it. HK was right. As we entered, he didn't turn at first; he just held a glass up to the light, admiring the red liquid inside it.
"So the Order still sends the young ones when trouble starts? Some things never change. Luke wasn't even older than you two when he was going against the Empire and blew up their Death Star..."
"Huh?" Vila glanced at me, nudging me, "Do you know this guy?" She mouthed, barely audible.
Maybe? I wasn't sure. Then, just as if he were ready to answer her question, the man turned, smiling at us. Even being this old, visibly old, I mean, he still had curly, lush black hair, a healthy, well-kept mustache, and a sly grin in his eyes.
"Welcome to my little corner of paradise," he said, pointing us towards two puffy, big leather chairs, "Sit, sit! And please, call me Lando."