CHAPTER SEVEN
"This chase can't go on forever," Dax Goldam growled through Kadar's intercom. "Eventually, planet security will spot us and we'll both have to face the Allied Tion's wrath."
Kadar ignored him as he flew the White Rider through the day-time sky of Lianna, with Goldam's ship close behind him. While it was true that they could clearly be seen by the people of the continent below, he had no intention of making this a chase.
Flying low into the city of Anxarta, he set his eyes on a hangar bay in the spaceport. As he began to slow to a descent, he said to Goldam, "Let's make a deal. You tell me what your business is with Azul Obez, we settle it, and then settle our own dispute."
There was silence from the radio as Goldam likely considered the offer. Finally, he said, "You've got yourself a deal. I'll meet you at the Colliders Casino."
"Understood," Kadar replied as he landed next to a shuttle marked with the emblem of the Galactic Alliance. He briefly wondered what business the government had on Lianna, but then decided that he didn't care and depowered the White Rider's engines.
* * *
Wallen, in his career, had never been fond of casinos. Just like cantinas and bars, they served home to the lowliest, dirtiest, and sneakiest life-forms in the galaxy. Which, unfortunately, meant he had to go to all sorts of such places in order to find his quarry.
As he and Xemer followed Azul Obez through the loud and crowded rooms of Colliders Casino, observing the proud and snobbish winners and infuriated losers, Wallen then asked the Twi'lek, "You say that you know Salvan Tai?"
"He's an accomplice of mine," Obez replied. "Unfortunately, I do not know him well enough to know where he lives. But I have other friends of all sorts, one of them whom knows Tai as well."
Wallen spared a glance at a large Togorian who looked rather threatening, but seemed to be occupied with a dejarik game. He resisted a shudder; the bad feeling he had felt earlier had suddenly returned.
The three of them finally arrived at a gambling table, where two beings- a Devaronian and a Toydarian- were playing sabacc. As typical for a gambler who was clearly on a winning streak, the Devaronian was surrounded by attractive women of various species, while the Toydarian only had two Rodian lackeys.
The moment Wallen and Xemer reached the table, the Devaronian lay out his cards, grinning widely. "Pure Sabacc."
Infuriated, the Toydarian threw down his cards, sputtering foul words in his native tongue. Once he was done, he grudgingly gave his opponent the credits he had lost and then fluttered out of the casino, with his two cronies trailing behind him.
"Another win, I see, Vejo," Obez said to the Devaronian.
The sabacc victor chuckled. "It shouldn't come as much as a surprise to you."
The Twi'lek smiled. "I suppose not."
He gestured to Wallen and Xemer. "I have two visitors who would like to speak with you. Just the three of you...."
Taking the hint, Vejo murmured something to his female accomplices and the area around the table was soon free of them, through Wallen could still sell the foul perfume that they wore.
As the two detectives sat down where the Toydarian once had, the Devaronian pressed his fingers together in front of him and said, "How may I be of assistance?"
"I take it that you know Salvan Tai," Wallen said.
Vejo nodded. "Indeed I do. I often work for him."
"Then surely you've been to his estate."
The horned humanoid smiled. "I see where you're going with this. Before I tell you where it's located, please tell me why you wish to see him."
Wallen glanced at Xemer, who gave him a slight nod. Lowering his voice, he said, "We've heard that he had ties with Black Sun before its disbandment."
Vejo's smile began to fade, but not completely. "Yes, I believe that is correct."
"Right, and Black Sun has since been reorganized. You don't suppose that he still has...relations with them, do you?"
The Devaronian eyed him carefully. "What does it mean to you?"
"We are concerned about Black Sun's activities and their involvement with the Glorians," Xemer said. "Salvan Tai might be our only link to them."
Vejo glanced at Obez, who was standing near Xemer. The obese Twi'lek inclined his head and the Devaronian returned his attention to the two detectives.
"Would you like it if I took you to him?" he asked.
Wallen raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by this question. "Er, only if it's not too much trouble."
Vejo grinned as he got up from his seat. "Not at all. Follow me."
A bit hesitant at first, Wallen and Xemer rose as well. As they began to follow the Devaronian out of the casino, Wallen waved to Obez.
"Thank you for your help, manager."
The Twi'lek smiled. "Don't mention it, my friend. It's all in a good day's work."
* * *
"All in a good day's work," Azul Obez repeated quietly to himself once Vejo and the two detectives were out of sight. Beginning to head back for his office, he brought out a comlink and murmured into it.
"They're on their way. Be ready for anything."
"Understood," a feminine voice replied. "Viper out."
As he ended the connection, Obez suddenly heard the sound of a blaster charging up behind him, while at the same time, the crazy, energetic noises of the casino came to an abrupt stop.
Turning around, he came face to face with the barrel of a blaster rifle.
"Hello, Vigo Obez," Kadar said as other bounty hunters appeared behind him, also with their weapons aimed at Obez. "It's time for us to discuss business."
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