Idiot's Array - Cinematic Post

It was an unusually tense game of sabacc. There were six players, a healthy game but the competition seemed to be exclusive between two human; a Corellian named Claaus Dalcor and a Fringer named Jasgera Tippisa. The Clear as Mud Cantina hummed around them. Lights from the various slot machines and games flashing wildly and reflecting the kalidescope of lights and colors across the long stemmed glasses the servers carted back and forth. Massive steins of a dark ale were laden on most of the trays, a resident favorite of the Cantina. The proprietor of the establishment, a Wookie named Groomaw, was famed for making a particularly intense collection of homebrewed ales. The pungent liquors sloshed around in the steins and were served to the thirsty patrons.

As the drinks were placed on the sabacc table none of the heads turned. All attention was upon the game and the dealer droid as it slowly distributed the cards with a precision akin only to a droid. In the center of the table there was a sizable stack of credit chips, notes, and marks along with what appeared to be actuator keys for a landspeeder. A tired looking Sullustan at the far end of the table quickly consulted his hand and then scanned the other players. His jowls quivered in frustration as his eyes flitted from each of his opponents. Their faces were either wry and misleading smiles or as blank and emotionless as an Imperial Probe Droid. Cursing under his breath he toyed with a stack of credit chips in front of him. After another grueling moment of hesitation, he sighed and tossed the stack of credits into the pot. The Claaus smiled and motioned for the droid to continue.
"Nothing to add?" Jasgera chided. Clauus glared and shuffled his cards as if the futile gesture would somehow change the symbols on them.
"Ain't got more to trade," he grunted.
"Tsk tsk," Jasgera said with wry smile. A woman sat on his lap and nuzzled into his neck planting kisses up his cheek. He appeared to ignore the attention although the smile on his face and the air of arrogance emanating from him said otherwise. "You're a Corellian Free Trader, you've always got something to trade. Perhaps a hidden stash of credits? I've heard you've got quite a nice ship in the ring there? Bit old but the pit crew tells me you've made some special modifications to it...I could always use another ship. I have too many to remember sometimes but it would be hard to forget something as nice as yours" he said and laughed, the others at the table laughing sympathetically around him.
"Ships not for sale," Clauus said.
"I guess I've cashed you out then?" Jasgera said. "To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed. I expected more...well...depth to the pockets of the famous Clauus Dalcor. I guess trading in whispers and secrets is not as profitable as you led us all to believe," he said with feigned sympathy. Jasgera turned his attention to the Sullustan and stared hungrily at the large stack of credit chips.
"What about you then, anything else you'd care to donate to the venerable charities of Jasgera Tippisa?"
"I got more for you, ya kriffing sleemo." Clauus suddenly blurted out. Jasgera seemed genuinely surprised at the outburst and the general din of the casino died down. Even the burly Groomaw perked up from behind the bar, suddenly very interested in his patrons.
"I got credits. More credits than some Outer Rim Huttstain like yourself could even possibly know what to do with. But ain't wasting more credits on this table. Nah, I've got something bigger in mind. Let's up the stakes a bit shall we?" he said and leaned forward. Jasgera became quite interested and batted the woman still raking his neck in affection.
"Go on. Consider me, intrigued." he said. Clauus smiled and nodded.
"Of course you are," he replied with a smiled. "Not all secrets are useless. Some are worth more than all the credits in Cartol's vaults," Clauus said. "Some...even more than that," he said.
"And I'm assuming you know them? If so why are you here gambling for another night in the cantina and not off in some Chandrillan manor sipping the finest and rarest Alderaanian vintages?" Jasgera said.
"Got my reasons," Clauus said with a shrug. "Do you want in or not?" he asked. Jasgera tapped his cards against the table and stared at them pensively.
"I'll need some details," he finally said. "I need more than lucrative whispers."
"Understood," Clauus said and leaned forward. The entire cantina fell silent and the press of the room tided slowly towards the table as all attention was suddenly on the table. The collective breath of the patrons was being held in anticipation of the Corellian's secret tale.
"I know where Etirem Vio-car is," he said quietly. There was a gasp from the room and a small growl from Groomaw as he stopped polishing the surface of the bar. Jasgera sputtered and then tried to recover by covering his shock with a laugh.
"The kiffar? Bah! If you knew you would have already scuttled off to Nielk to collect your reward and not here jawing with us. You're bluffing."
"Maybe," Clauus said with a smile. "Maybe not." Jasgera scowled and tapped a finger on the table. The information, if true, would be quite lucrative, if not the most lucrative piece of information on the Emporium. Kirred Nielk, the current proprietor of the Vio-car luxury and full-service hotel was not the original owner. Etirem Vio-car was a well-to-do and affluent Kiffar on the Emporium. She was quite close with Cartol himself and had worked hard to open Vio-Car's to cater to some of the more refined tastes aboard the Frigate. Shortly after the grand opening of the hotel, she disappeared without a trace. Hundreds of rumors circulated and accusations were lobbed back and forth. Cartol eventually suppressed the inevitable mob from forming and the mystery fell back into obscurity. It had become somewhat of a legend aboard the vessel; one with a lucrative prize of Nielk's bounty for any information to discover her whereabouts or unfortunate fate.
"Where did you acquire this highly coveted information then?"
"Old man told me. Also he gave me this," Clauus said and with practiced grace, casually flicked a data card between his fingers.
"Old man? He's a myth. A legend that Cartol propagates to generate business for the Emporium," Jasgera said.
"No he's not," a man with dark scruffy hair and a thick mustache. He was wearing a flightsuit with the top folded down and tied around his waist. "He's helped me a few times...for a price. Never met him though. Stanging shadow he is. Hides likes a womp rat in a sinkhole. He spoke to me through comms boxes and dead drops; but his information was good," the man finished. Clauus tipped his glass to him and smiled. Jasgera turned back to the Corellian and pointed to the data card.
"What's on the card?" He asked.
"Oh this?" Clauus said with a casual nod. "Just the access key to the Lethal Blossom," he added. Another round of gasps and whispers circulated through the cantina. The Lethal Blossom was Etirem's personal ship, a modified VCX-100 Light Freighter. A beautiful ship but with some pretty deadly countermeasures. It had remained locked, its defensive systems preventing anyone from entering without the proper codes. Any attempt to slice or manually deactivate the security system has so far resulted in three near fatal and one fatal incident. After the death, Cartol had the hangar bay on ringside locked down and discouraged any further attempts. Many believe the ship is the key to solving the mysterious disappearance of Etirem Vio-Car.
"Another bluff," Jasgera scoffed. Clauus just shrugged and tossed the data card into the pile of credits.
"Yours to call," Clauus said. The Sullustan stared curiously at the pile of credits and the datacard perched atop them. He looked down at his own now meager pile and to his card. With a whimper he tossed the cards at the dealer droid who efficiently scooped them up and deposited them into the discard deck. Clauus nodded and looked to Jasgera.
"What do you want?" he finally asked through gritted teeth.
"I raise the pot to an even 5,000. I hate uneven numbers. Also, I'd like one of you ships. Apparently you have too many to remember but fortunately for you, I have an excellent memory." he said. "There's a KR-TB Freighter in ringside south. A big red one. That'll do nicely," he finished. Jasgera scowled deeper but nodded reluctantly. He reached into his pocket and tossed a blue glowing actuator key into the pile.
"Will that be all?" he asked.
"No, I'll take her as well," Clauus said with a wink. The woman guffawed and leaned in to wrap her arms around Jasgera.
"I'm not for sale," she said with a thick Mantellian accent.
"I'm thinking more of a rental," Clauus quipped.
"How dare you! I would never-" she said and tried to stand up in outrage. She yelped when Jasgera yanked her down and glared at her.
"Enough," he fumed and seethed at the woman who withered under his gaze. "Everyone has a price," he said to her through gritted teeth. After a moment he looked back to Clauus, eyes cold.
"Done," he said and then motioned to the dealer droid who quickly collected the pot of credits and played out three more cards.
"Present your hands please," the droid said. A wicked smile formed on Jasgera's face and he played out his hand.
"Pure Sabacc," the droid chirped and there was a chorus of laughter and cheering from the cantina. Some patrons reached forward to pat Jasgera on the shoulder in celebration but the man remain with his eyes fixed on Clauus. His smile began to falter as he stared at Clauus' unfettered slouch in his chair. The smile quickly turned to panic and his eyes race rapidly from the Corellian's sheltered hand to Clauus' small wry grin.
"No," he whispered.
"Oh yes," Clauus said.
"You can't," Jasgera bellowed and stood up, chair tumbling down behind him.
"I can," Clauus said. "Thanks for the ship Jas," he said and placed down his hand.
"Idiot's Array," the droid said. "Game." the droid said. Jasgera let out a cry of anger and frustration and watched in desperation as the data card, credits, and the actuator for his ship were transferred to a strongbox at the end of the table. They'd be transferred to Clauus later at a secure date and time to protect him from getting jumped outside the cantina after hours. Clauus stood up and stretched and motioned to the confused looking woman beside the disgruntled Fringer.
"C'mon then. I don't think they can fit you in that box," he said and motioned for her to follow. Jasgera slumped down onto the floor, face sullen and pale with shock, as the Corellian wrapped his arm around the woman and strode from the cantina.