Starlight Officer's Club

[Crystal Starr Light]

Run by a mysterious being that no one has ever been able to lay eyes on, the Starlight Officer's Club is a place where military personnel and others in uniform tend to congregate after long space missions or long hours on watch.

Anything a being wants or desires is available, from drinks and alcoholic beverages for multitudes of species to a quiet room for sleep or a massage to sabacc tables and gambling lounges to live male and female entertainment, the Starlight Officer's Club proves to be an exotic place to while away the night hours.

Welcome and enjoy!

-Management

[rainee]

Behind the lacy curtain, Riina "Rainee" Sarlin waited nervously for her cue. She glanced down at the pink and gold sequined dress and shifted it over her body. She really didn't want to perform tonight. She might not have performed tonight had Jerris Sartori, her best friend from childhood, not left her in the middle of the night on some bounty. Rainee would have given her pink painted toenails to go with him on a mission. But Jerris didn't trust Rainee on missions. He said she was a terrible shot with a blaster, worse as a pilot, and would likely scream if she broke a nail.

But Rainee didn't think that was fair. Sure, she wasn't that great a shot, but she couldn't seem to get her hands on a working blaster for longer than an hour. She didn't have a father, like Jerris, who taught him how to shoot and stuff. Same thing with piloting. Rainee didn't have a ship, didn't know anyone who had a ship that would let her practice (especially not after that one accident, which was not her fault), and had never been taught when she was younger.

As for the breaking the nail part...well, that was just sexist. Plus, Jerris obviously had never had a broken nail...those things hurt!!

"Rainee," the stage manager, a pudgy Gran holding an old datapad appeared to her left and jabbed a finger at her. "Get ready. You're up in 10."

Rainee took another breath and stepped into position on the sidelines. She kept an eye on the Gran as he counted down and then gestured for her to go.

At his command, Rainee put on her brightest smile and cartwheeled onto the stage. She landed on her feet and somesaulted towards the front. "Welcome, ladies and gentlebeings!" she said exuberantly. She spread her arms wide. As she looked down, she noticed that absolutely no one had paid attention to her performance.

She felt crestfallen. She had worked hard on that entrance. To have absolutely no one see it.

Rainee continued to gaze over the seats until she spotted one figure, in a corner that appeared to be watching. His--or was it her?--eyes followed her and seemed to invigorate her.

Well, at least someone is watching, she thought, feeling her spirits lift a bit. She bowed to the being and swore that he inclined his head in return.

"And now, for my first number, a little ditty I wrote myself for a dear, dear friend of mine," Rainee said, grabbing a lyre that had been placed on the stage for her. She strummed it a bit and then began to sing, her light voice filling the room.

[rainee]

Another day, another miserable day, Rainee sighed despondently, leaning on one hand as she stared out over the bar. She wasn't usually this melancholy, but today was particularly sad. Today was her birthday, she was far away from her parents, Jerris had been gone for eons it seemed, and no one remembered what today was.

"Rainee!" the Devaronian barkeep bellowed from the other side of the bar.

Rainee jumped and swiveled to him. "Uh, yes Hotep? Whaddya want?"

Hotep glared at her and sighed. "I asked you to take this tray of drinks to table 8." He gestured to the tray.

"But..." Rainee started. She swallowed. "But I'm an entertainer."

Hotep's eyes widened slightly. "So? Who's going to be entertained?" He swept his arms over the patrons.

Rainee followed his arms and looked out. There was a couple in the corner, snuggling, probably being romantic or something. Three men sat at a Sabacc table, smoking and drinking. A few other species were at the bar, staring into their drinks. She sighed and walked over to the tray. "Okay, fine. But the tips are mine. I'm not sharing with Qara," she said, jabbing a finger at Hotep.

Hotep nodded, wiping a glass with a cloth. "Fine with me. Worthless server," he said, quickly changing the topic to the absent server, Qara. "Doesn't deserve the tips if she is always late."

Rainee didn't answer, instead lifting the tray up and turning away. She didn't typically serve drinks and when she did, she had a tendency to be a bit clumsy. But poor Ari, the Lorrdian server trying to keep a human's hands off her at table 16, was completely overwhelmed.

Rainee skipped over to a table and began to set the drinks in front of a single human male. He glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow. "Uh, miss?" he said, waving at the drinks she was setting in front of him. "I'm by myself. There's no way I can drink all this." He leaned over and sniffed one drink. "And if I drank that one, I'd be on my way to the hospital."

Rainee tilted her head. "Oh?" She leaned over and sniffed the drink then reared back. "Ick, Wookiee ale." She smiled apologetically and set the drinks back on the tray. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't typically serve."

She heard a groan at the bar and looked. Hotep was there smacking his head against the counter. She grinned sheepishly and shrugged.

"It's okay," the man said congenially. He reached into his expensive suit, and that was when Rainee realized how wealthy and out of place this human was in the dingy bar. "When you're done serving these, I'd like to talk to you."

Rainee's eyes brightened. "Really?" She kept from squealing, but only barely. She whisked the tray off the table and hurried to deliver the drinks, the drinks sloshing slightly. She quickly laid them in front of the correct patrons--one of whom was in fact a Wookiee--and hurried back to the man.

She slid behind one of the chairs, tucking the slightly damp tray under her arm. "Hi, I'm back!"

The man set down the drink he was sipping and smiled. He leaned forward and extended a hand. Rainee gripped it gently. "My name is Brev. I happen to own this club."

Rainee's mouth dropped open, her hand still clutching his. "Really? Wow, I thought Hotep owned it."

Brev smiled and released her hand. "Well, I like to keep it that way. If the people I frequently interacted with knew I owned this place, it might look bad for me."

Rainee tilted her head. "Why? What's wrong with owning a bar?"

Brev glanced in an exaggerated fashion and then whispered conspiratorially, "I own Drayson Asteroid Mining."

"Oh," Rainee said. She glanced around and then whispered back. "So...if you are so rich, why do you even bother with this club?" She shook her head. "It barely breaks even most months."

Brev laughed, his eyes brightening. "Oh, it's so nice to talk with someone like you. So young and innocent. Untarnished."

Rainee raised an eyebrow, unsure if she liked the way he was talking about her. Brev stopped laughing and looked slightly more serious. "The Club is in honor of someone I love very much. Which is why I asked you over here. I believe you know a bounty hunter named Jerris?"

"Yeah," Rainee blurted without thinking. She clasped her hands over her mouth, the drink tray slamming loudly to the floor. She ducked and looked at Hotep, who appeared to want to strangle her. "Ur..."

Brev waved a hand. "It's okay, Rainee. I know."

Rainee's eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"

Brev smiled patiently. "I was here for your beautiful performance the other night. You sing very lovely."

Rainee blushed and ducked her head. "Aw...you're just saying that to get something from me," she said, although she really didn't believe it 100%.

"It's the truth, Rainee. You have a talent. I've heard many a singer, so I know." He resituated himself in his seat. "But I'm afraid, I would like some help."

"What kind of help?" Rainee asked slightly suspicious. Perhaps her mother was right about men...

Brev reached into a pocket and pulled out a holo. He set it in front of Rainee. The photo was of a woman with long dark hair, sharp blue eyes. She looked up at Brev. "You want Jerris to find this woman?"

Brev shook his head. "No, Rainee. I want you to find this woman."

This time, Rainee did squeal, the other patrons glaring at her. She covered her mouth and asked, "Really?"

"Really."

"But," she said, reality coming back into focus. "But, I don't have a ship."

Brev shook his head. "Don't worry about that, Rainee. I've got a ship for you to use...along with anything else."

"But why don't you just hire Jerris or someone else?" Rainee asked.

Brev sipped his drink then set it down, staring at it. "I've been looking for this woman for years, but I've gone nowhere. She's been incredibly good at avoiding me. Not to mention, most bounty hunters I've hired are incredibly obvious." He glanced at Rainee. "But you, Rainee, are someone she won't be expecting."

Rainee exhaled. She paused a moment. This could be a tough assignment--better bounty hunters than her had tried and failed. But if she succeeded... "How much do I get for bringing her in?"

Brev smiled. "I'll give you whatever you want for bringing her in."

Rainee thought a moment. "How about enough for me to become a real bounty hunter?"

Brev didn't even pause to think. "Done."

Rainee smiled. She extended a hand exuberantly. "Great. Nice working with you, Mr. Brev."

Brev smiled amused, extending his own hand and clasping Rainee's. "Mr. Drayson, but please, Brev will be fine. And a pleasure working with you, Miss Sarlin."

[rainee]

Rainee Sarlin was in her apartment over the Starlight Officer's Club packing when she heard the rap at the door. She glanced out of her bedroom and the luggage sprawled on the bed and on the floor and blew at a blond strand of hair covering her left eye. "Who could that be?" she said curiously. She glanced back to the luggage then to the hallway outside her room. "And should I get that..."

"Rainee!" a deep voice growled across the apartment. "Open up!"

"Jerris!" Rainee said, her heart pounding. She immediately dropped the garment she was folding and launched herself over the luggage, skipping out of the room, down the hallway, and to the door. She flung the door open and smiled broadly when she saw it was, indeed, Jerris, the bounty hunter she had known since she was a child. "Jerris!" she cried, even louder.

Jerris was wearing his Mandalorian armor and his helmet, his Verpine shatter rifle slung on his back. He seemed about ready to enter Rainee's apartment when Rainee flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She hung from his neck, her feet several centimeters above the floor.

"Rainee," Jerris groaned, his arms reaching behind his back to try to release her grip. He staggered into the apartment and kicked the door shut, swaying and trying to maintain balance. "You're cutting off my supply of oxygen."

"Oh!" Rainee yelped, leaping down. As she set her feet back on the floor, Jerris became off balance and tottered into a chair. Even though she couldn't see his facial features through the helmet, she could tell he wasn't too pleased at being knocked off balance. She grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "Hey...sorry, Jerris. It's just been awhile."

Jerris grumbled something in another language--probably Mando'a--and then removed his helmet. His face was gruff, but she could tell he wasn't that angry at her. "Yeah, well...whatever," he said, his voice brusque. He rose from the chair and set his helmet on the back of the chair. "Anyway, that's not why I came."

Rainee's face fell. "Oh...really?" she said, feeling tears well in her eyes.

Jerris rolled his dark brown eyes. "Fierfek, Rainee, you know I'm not going to stop seeing you." He stared at her, almost as if he wanted to say something else, but he didn't. Instead, his lips moved awkwardly. "No, the reason I came back early is I heard you have a job. A real job."

Rainee brightened. She began to dance around the living area, her heart bursting at the seems. She was finally going to be a bounty hunter! She would finally be up in the ranks with her idol, Zam Wesell! "Oh, yes, yes, I do! I do, Jerris! This guy came to the Club..."

"Who?"

"...and he said he'd been watching me..."

"Do what?"

"...and he said he wanted me to help him find this lady..."

"Where?"

"...and that he would provide a ship and money and get my reputation set up and everything!" Rainee finished breathlessly, sailing onto an old, worn conform couch. She reached for a soft stuffed toy next to her and clasped it to her chest, her eyes staring off into space and dreamy.

"Oh really?" Jerris said, his disgruntled voice breaking her out of her reverie. "This unknown guy is going to pay for all your costs and all you have to do is find some woman you don't know the name of." He walked until he was standing over her. "You are an idiot."

Rainee's head flew up to look at Jerris. "An idiot?! What do you mean?" She rose quickly from the couch and the toy slid to the floor. She planted her fists on her small hips.

Jerris shook his head, his short brown hair gently waving. "Look, Rainee, you're not established. You have no reputation or anything. Why are you getting jobs? Who is the person who is hiring you, what is his reputation, and will he pay you at the end? Plus, who is the person you are searching for, why does this guy want her and where was she last sighted?"

Rainee stared at Jerris, suddenly aware that she didn't remember asking any of those questions. She thought hard then said, "His name was Brev. Something." She shrugged. "I can't remember his last name, but I have a business card somewhere."

Jerris nodded. "Okay, did you do research on him before you accepted the job?"

Rainee's hands sunk to her sides. "No."

"Did you do research on the woman he's looking for?"

Rainee's head dipped so she was staring at her bare feet. "No."

Jerris shook his head and rubbed his temples with his right hand. "Rainee..."

Rainee tumbled into Jerris and wrapped her arms around his waist, her head clunking against his armor. Jerris awkwardly placed a hand on her shoulder and patted it. "Okay, so I did it wrong. But you know, Jerris..." Her voice was cracking and tears were spilling from her eyes. She swallowed and tried again. "You promised." She poked a finger at his armor. "You promised you would take me on a mission with you and teach me. But you don't."

Jerris pulled away from Rainee's embrace. "Look, Rainee," he said, looking anywhere but into Rainee's eyes. "Bounty Hunting isn't all fun and games. It's not like what the comics and holothrillers show. It's damn hard work and it's dangerous. You could get hurt," he added, his voice soft and almost vulnerable.

Rainee leaned closer. "You..." She sniffed loudly. "You...care about me."

Jerris shrugged and walked to the window, staring out at the crowd below. He grumbled something.

Rainee walked towards him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You didn't want me hurt."

"Rainee, I know you want to be a bounty hunter but..." He sighed. "I just don't think you know what it's all about. And that once you do, you'll either be mortified or..." His voice was oddly monotone. "Dead."

Rainee wiped a hand across her nose. She thought a moment. Jerris had been a bounty hunter since he was like 17--several years now. He would know bounty hunting. And he was, in his way, giving her the training she had always asked for. "You know, Jerris, maybe you're right."

Jerris' head whipped around to look at her. "Oh, really?" his eyes seemed to say.

Rainee took a deep breath. "Maybe I'm not cut out for bounty hunting. But how do I know until I try?" She put a hand to cover Jerris' open mouth. "So how about a deal...you help me with this mission. If it turns out too much for me, I'll go back to the Club and..." Her voice sounded despondent. "Sing."

Jerris pursed his lips, his eyes narrowing. Rainee could tell he didn't like it, but she also knew he had only two choices: go with Rainee and keep her alive or leave her to some unknown fate. "All right, fine. But you listen to me!" he said, jabbing a finger at her. "I'm the experienced one."

Rainee squealed and threw her arms around Jerris, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Jerris, thank you!!" She squeezed him close. "Let's go pack." She darted off down the hallway.

Jerris rolled his eyes and followed her. "Okay, so you will need to pack light and...HOLY FIERFEK!"