Flight of Fancy (Month 6, 28BBY)

The resort was very nice and the casino was massive. There were all sorts of restaurants, bars and clubs, a few on each level of the complex. There was also shopping and even a medical facility. The beaches were exquisite but Ranik would have preferred to come here with Kaia. What was he going to do about the woman? He truly didn’t know and at this point, he wasn’t even certain he was going to go back.

He had Hark remain with the ship to guard it. Between Hark and the ship’s own defenses, anyone who tried to make off with it would be in for a pretty hard fight. Ranik wasn’t certain he wanted to get pulled into a war...again. He just wanted Kaia and though he wanted to help people, he couldn’t fight a war for them.

“Ichba!” The hostess said again to the cheers of the players around her table that won. She was a Twi’lek, a very pretty one with blue and green and violet flesh and pink eyes. She was scantily clad and what fabric was there was practically see through. She smiled as she used her chip pusher to push chips to all of the winners. Ranik had accumulated a pretty good pile as he sat and played...he did not even know what the game was called but it had a horizontal wheel and holo creatures raced around the wheel as the wheel spun the opposite way as they ran. She gave Ranik a wink as she set the wheel up for another spin. Everyone began to put in their bets but Ranik really didn’t feel like playing anymore. He didn’t even know why he was here at all. Every woman’s face he saw resolved into Kaia’s face. One of distinct disapproval.

He didn’t know what square or even what color he pushed his winnings toward but the moment he did the Twi’lek spun the wheel again. Ranik downed the rest of his drink and slid the chip he held to the hostess. As he did though the wheel stopped. “Ichba!” The hostess yelled again to the cries of far fewer voices this time. However she smiled at Ranik. To his surprise, he had won but he didn’t even really care. She exchanged his winnings, the odds were 32 to 1 on the bet he placed and she handed him back a stack of the gold chips, the ones of the highest value. Those around him looked at him enviously as he nodded a thanks to her and left the table.

Up in the security room news of the win had alerted them to Ranik. He had won a large sum and when that happened they were commanded to inform Asena Vos. This was one of the casino’s she ran for her father, Dryden Vos. When it came to the decision to investigate winners for cheating computers or comping them with free room stays or throwing them out, Asena had the final say on that. The door was opened for her and she strolled in as if she owned the place, which she actually did. They directed her to the monitors where one of her security detail sat down and began going through the security footage. Ranik’s face was clear as day on the monitor.

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Ranik Zane had come into Asena’s life like a whirlwind and left the same way. She would have left everything, her father, his money, everything for Ranik. She had fallen for him hard and even after 6 years she still felt a pang of heartache over him. He had been younger then but somehow, as she leaned in further to look at him, he looked even better now and she caught herself as she bit her lip when she did when she was unsettled about something. She stopped quickly before anyone noticed. “What room is he staying in?” She asked and the man in front of her began to type on the keyboard. His room number showed up on the monitor. “I’ll take care of this personally,” she said.

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6 years earlier…

Ranik didn’t like finding out that Asena was actually Asena Vos. Daughter of notorious mobster Dryden Vos. The man was a murderer and a crime lord. Now it all made sense. The way that people treated Asena made sense. He was on Cantonica in the casino city Canto Bight. He had just hacked into Asena’s credentials and found out who she was. He sat on the edge of the bed and he turned to look at her as she stirred. He had done things to her last night and made her do things to him that he was certain would get him killed if her father ever found out. Ranik Zane was not a coward but Dryden Vos was a very dangerous man. They had been together for weeks now and though he had only intended on staying a week, being with her had turned out to be wonderful. Asena was beautiful with her large, dark eyes and dark hair. She was a Manka Cat in bed and rich to boot. He saw her open her eyes and she smiled and lifted up her head to look at him. She had a way of letting him know how she felt by just her eyes and right now she likely wanted him back in her bed.

“I thought I’d go take a sand cruise today, wanna come?” he asked. He knew she wouldn’t and it would give him time to get the hell out of there…

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1 Month earlier…

Canto bight was a haven for gamblers, wealthy tourists and war profiteers Ranik was pretty good at gambling but he actually just wanted to lay low for a week..maybe 2. He was dressed in black pants with a white strip up the sides, black boots and an off white shirt with a matching black jacket. He had, dark, wavy hair down to his shoulders and his ice blue eyes oozed trouble if the wrong sort messed with him. The club was dark but the neon lights that flashed were very bright in contrast. Several Twi’leks, 2 women and 1 man danced in the center on a platform that stood above the bar that went all around it. He sat back from the bar at a table with his chair turned to face the door. There were no weapons allowed but he still had 2. A holdout blaster hidden in his left boot and a knife in his right. He was a pilot now and he ran freight and people to just about everywhere it and they, needed to go. He preferred the cargo be legal but his last haul had brought him here and so he decided to stay for a while. The bar was just about filled he noticed as he looked around. There were booths, tables and seats at the bar. In several nooks there was private seating for the wealthier sort and there was alot of wealthy people in the bar tonight. He did not know if it was always so, he had never been here before.

Asena had been born on Canto. Her father, Dryden Vos, ran the entire city...although not officially. As the leader of a well known crime syndicate, he dealt money under the table to the right hands to ensure officials turned a blind eye to what he was doing. Asena had never known her mother. She had died when she was a baby. Her father had never re-married, but he was almost never alone. Her father often told her how much she looked like her mother. Now in her early 20's, Asena had reached the full height of her beauty. She had black hair that almost shone blue in certain lights and dark, mysterious eyes. She had long legs and curves in all the right places. As his only child, her father was grooming her to take over the family business. In addition to the underground crime ring, they owned several casinos and clubs, including the very one Ranik was currently sitting in.

Asena had needed a night off to have a good time. She had gathered a few friends and they had gone to one of her father's clubs. Of course their drinks and food were free and the girls were sitting in a corner booth laughing and having a good time Asena was wearing a short, black skirt, knee high boots and a top that clung to her curves. It was low cut, showing off just enough cleavage without giving everything away.

Ranik saw a small group of women back in one of the cubbies. They had comfortable looking couches and tables to put their drinks on. Well muscled, male waiters wore golden bands around their heads, a golden skirt and sandals and not a stitch more. The women waitresses wore similar carb but it included just enough to cover their nipples but did nothing about the bulges of their breasts. Even with that the club was one of the nicer ones. Clean and well kept, the music thumped loudly but Ranik found it to be...stimulating along with the drink the bartender made him. ‘A Black Void?’ he had never heard of a drink called that before but it was very strong and completely opaque in the glass and had a smoky, spicy taste. He suspected that it was made with spice, an illicit substance but he wouldn’t tell if they didn’t. What else was he going to spend his money on? He had never paid for sex in his life and would not. He didn’t have to.

Cilia, a olive-skinned beauty with green slanted eyes was one of the women with Asena tonight. Not one of her best friends but she was fun to be around and she had an eye for beauty in men and in just about everything else. She wore a dark green and silver dress that shimmered under the lights and her hair had some kind of silvery net laced into it and she had it up off of her long, thin neck. She wore a thick silver necklace that had to be around 2 inches high wound tightly around her neck. Her lipstick was dark red wreathed in black and her eyes were dark as well and she had long, dark lashes.

“Juoni...have you seen that man before?” Cilia asked as she lit a cigarra and took a puff on it. Juoni was a very pale beauty with long, waves of gold that floated down over her large breasts. Her dress was gold and white but very sheer and thin so it showed off her curves to the point of indecency. She had large dark blue eyes and red lipstick. “No, he looks like a pilot to me,” she said with a smile. The other girls were having a discussion about one of the games in the casino but Cilia saw Asena look at the man who sat alone and watched the dancers up above the bar. The waiter unloaded all of their drinks and Juoni reached around and placed a cred chip up under his skirt. He was a very dark-skinned man, quite tall and completely hairless. His dark skin shone in the dim light as if he had been rubbed with oils and he gave off a musky, heady scent. He smiled and nodded as he stepped away.

It wasn't often that Asena was able to get out with her friends and just have a good time. Since she was getting older, her father had placed more and more responsibilities on her shoulders. However, tonight she didn't want to think about any of that. She just wanted to spend some time with her girls, have some drinks, and perhaps find a guy to have some more fun with. Because of her looks and who her father was Asena could have any guy she wanted. She currently had three guys she was rotating between, but she was growing bored with them. She wanted some new...flesh.

Asena had been talking to Juoni when Cilia asked about the man sitting alone at one of the tables and was watching the dancers above the bar. Asena did not recognize him either, but based on the way he was dressed she could only guess that he was a pilot. Something about that...excited her. Not only that, but he was extremely handsome. She could already imagine the fun they could have together.

"He's mine," she told the other two girls as the waiter unloaded their drinks onto the table.

The two women made high-pitched groans but that was just the way it was. Asena got what she wanted or they got on her bad side. And no one wanted to be on Asena’s bad side. “I don’t know...he looks young but he also has that look like he’s seen things,” Cilia said. “If that’s a Black Void he’s drinking and he’d still on his feet…” Juona said musingly. “You in the mood for dangerous tonight Asena?” Hessani asked. Hessani was her bodyguard. She was tall and lithe and wore a full red and black body suit that fit tightly over her shape. She wore no weapons but Hessani didn’t need them and her suit was armored and fireproof. She held up a monocular scanner and looked at him.

“Well that’s ballsy, he’s carrying two weapons on him,” she said as she lowered the eyepiece. Hessani was Sarkhai and she had white, straight hair cut short. Weapons were an arrestable offense on the promenade but some people carried them anyways. Usually criminals did and a few others.

Asena was used to getting what she wanted and tonight she wanted him. Cilia and Juoni knew not to argue with her. They were in her inner circle and getting there was tough. If you got thrown out of the inner circle there was no getting back in. Asena glanced at Hessani, her bodyguard. Hessani had been her bodyguard for many years and Asena trusted her with her life.

Asena took her drink and took a sip. She grinned when Hessani told her that he was armed. "I'm liking him even more," she admitted and licked her lips. "I wonder why he's here."

"Want me to go and invite him to our table?" Hessani asked.

Asena looked over at Hessani and smiled and then nodded. She adjusted her top as Hessani walked over to Ranik's table. Asena watched with anticipation. "He's even more handsome than Airen."

Hessani nodded and rose from her seat. Now all of the women were paying attention. Cilia whispered into Juona's ear and Juona nodded with a grin. Hessani stopped by Ranik's table. "Sir, the women at that table over there would like you to join them. Asena, the pretty one there would like to talk to you," she said politely. Ranik looked over at the area where the women all looked back at him. He smiled and nodded respectfully at them. Asena was beautiful, they all were but this was very strange. He wasn't intimidated, not exactly but he leaned back into his chair and looked up at Hessani.

"I think not. I'm just here for the drinks...whomever this Asena is, she looks like trouble to me and I'd like to stay out of trouble," he said and gestured with his drink. Hessani smiled and moved away back toward Asena. She didn't need to say anything she only made a slight shake of her head...no, was his answer. Cilia sighed and slid a green cred ship over to Juona who took it and put it between her breasts. Obviously they had made a bet and Juona had won that bet.

Asena watched with anticipation as Hessani walked over to his table and spoke to him. She saw him look her way and she flashed him a smile. When Hessani came back over empty handed Asena became angry, embarrassed, and upset. Who the hell did this guy think he was?!

"Excuse me," she said to the girls and they quickly got up and let her out of the booth. Asena was aware that Hessani was following her as she made her way over to the man's table. "Who do you think you are?" she demanded as she stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest. "I offer you a place at my table and free drinks and you turn that down? There are plenty of other men here who would have fought over that invitation, but I chose you. Now, I want to know why you turned down my invitation?"

Ranik blinked at the onslought and his eyes shifted from Asena to Hessani back to Asena. His grin never slipped though and he turned back toward the dancers. Some 'vermin' when presented with food would take it even if it were poisoned. Take it and eat it. Some were more finicky though. They smelled it, looked at it and knew if it was tainted. He was more like the second kind. He also knew that Asena was one of the 'privileged' woman that always got what she wanted.

"Plenty of other men," He said sarcastically as he took one last swallow from his glass and set the glass down on the table. Did she realize how much she just had insulted him right then? By her expression he didn't think she did.

"Then you have no need of me," he said and got up. Hessani took a step toward him. "I think you'd better answer her question," she said in a dangerous tone. Ranik raised an eyebrow at Hessani. "A bodyguard? Do I need any more reason than that?" he asked her.

Asena's blood was nearly boiling at this point. She couldn't believe this guy! And yet every word that came out of his mouth made her want him even more. This was a game now...one she intended on winning.

"Don't bother Hessani," she said. "Now that I'm up close to him I can tell he wouldn't be able to handle me anyway. I'll just find someone else...a real man," she said as she looked at Ranik. She then turned and started to walk away.

"So that's all you're interested in? Another sycophant in your entourage highness?" he said at her back. "I'm sure you'll find alot of 'real' men willing to be that," he said sarcastically. Hessani sighed. She didn't really want to hurt this man, she appreciated courage but insulting her mistress was not going to be tolerated. She stopped and turned back to face him. There were several eyes on them as well now. Asena was well known all over the promenade and they all knew who her father was.

Asena gritted her teeth at what he said. Now...now she was just plain angry. She heard Hessani sigh and watched as she turned back to face him. Asena wasn't going to stop her. She turned and crossed her arms over her chest as she got ready to watch Hessani beat some sense into this young man.

Ranik had no illusions, he knew Hessani would likely be very dangerous. He needed to talk fast or end up in a brawl he might not walk away from. "I'm not much for performing for a crowd princess," he said casually and he hadn't even moved into a fighting stance yet. "I'm more of a one on one kinda guy," Ranik said.

A waiter had brought over her drink and she casually took a sip as she watched the young man. Slowly, her anger started to dissipate. He was smart enough to know when he couldn't win a fight. She knew he was just trying to sweet talk his way out of this fight, but she decided to take him up on his offer.

"Well, that can be arranged," she said with a little smile. She downed her drink and handed the empty glass to a waiter. "Come with me," she said to Ranik. She then led him out of the club and down the street a few blocks. Asena had her own penthouse apartment and that was where she was taking him. The apartment was massive and decorated with very expensive furniture and decor. Hessani came as well, but Ranik would notice that once they got into the apartment she all but disappeared. She was close enough to be there quickly if there was trouble, but far enough away to give Asena her privacy.

"Would you care for a drink...," she asked, trailing off because she did not know his name yet.

"Ranik...Ranik Zane," Ranik said. "And yes, Whiskey if you have it...neat," he said as he began to look around her apartment. It was extremely nice and he wondered who the woman really was. He heard her pouring and making the drinks. He moved over to the massive aquarium. It had a blue glow inside of it and several of the creatures in there were extremely rare. He heard her move up behind him and he turned to face her and accepted the drink. He took a sip just as she did.

"Do you always get what you want or is that just what you want everyone to think?" Ranik asked as she looked at him.

Asena had a very extensive alcohol collection and she grabbed a very expensive bottle of Whiskey and poured it straight up into two glasses. She walked over to where he was looking at the aquarium. She had other exotic animals as well. She handed him his drink and took a small sip. She watched Ranik...her eyes taking him all in.

"No, I always get what I want," she responded with a little grin.

“Well. How about we do something unexpected...a change in the norm for you,” he said and he smiled as he said it. “Tonight you do exactly what I tell you to do. You can’t say no and you can’t deny me. Now, I realize you just met me but I think you’d benefit from a little lack of control. Besides I promise you’ll enjoy everything I ask of you he said. When she looked at him considering he moved to the couch and took a seat on it. He waited for her to agree or disagree to his suggestions.

Asena was surprised by Ranik’s request, but also intrigued. No man had ever made such a request before. She was starting to really rather like Ranik. He certainly kept her on her toes. She grinned at him. “I agree.”

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In the last six years Asena had thought a lot about Ranik. She had fallen hard for the man, but then he had up and left and never returned. She had had other men over the years, but no one had made her feel like he had. This time she didn’t plan on letting him escape. She instructed the casino manager to give Ranik their best room due to his winnings. She let herself into the room and sat on the bed. She heard the lock disengage and as he walked in she looked at him.

“That sand cruise lasted a lot longer than I thought.”

Ranik had a feeling that being comped a new room sounded fishy. And now he knew it, though a little too late. He smelled her perfume as soon as he opened the door. He thought about bolting and running for his ship but he knew she’d try and stop him. He needed her to ‘let’ him go or he would not be ‘going’ anywhere. He came in fully and set down his bag by the dresser.

It was obvious that Asena had changed but the flower that she had been was now in full bloom. She was very beautiful but he could not help the feeling of wariness being this close to her.

“You didn’t tell me who you were. Asena Vos? A detail I think you intentionally left out. The daughter of Dryden Vos? Are you serious? Asena...I thought we had something but I want nothing to do with...that,” he said and hoped she understood. He knew she was likely angry, and he didn’t blame her but her father was a crime Lord and a murderer.

Asena's confidence had fully blossomed since she had been running this casino on her own. She could handle any situation without even breaking a sweat. But this? Ranik suddenly coming back into her life? That was throwing her off, although she hid it extremely well. Old feelings that she had once felt for him came rushing back to the surface and she had to fight herself from walking over to him and throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him.

"You also never asked me my last name. At the time you didn't seem to care. You sure did like fucking me though."

Ranik frowned at her words. He didn’t know really what to say. He moved toward her but stopped near the bed. “We both liked that I think. And we enjoyed one another’s company,” he said honestly. “What did you want to happen Asena? Once you got bored of me, you’d toss me aside like the others,” he said. He had taken her on his ship and they did a lot together in those weeks. They swam in the ocean, hung out together on the promenade. They danced at the clubs and made love on the beach under the stars. He really was into her but finding out about Dryden made all the difference.

“I want no part of what your father does, I still don’t,” he said. It was difficult to talk to her. His heart was still hurting and he was feeling more than a little vulnerable rigjt then. Kaia felt so far away rigjt then, would he ever see her again? He didn’t know and he felt if they did meet again he’d just get in her way from what she needed to do.

Asena had liked it, but at the moment she didn’t feel like admitting that to him. She wanted to stay angry and upset, but the truth of the matter was that she loved Ranik even after all this time. She wanted him...needed him.

“I would not have gotten bored with you,” she told him as she stood up. She walked over to him and slipped her arms around his neck. “I was...am in love with you.”

Ranik groaned inwardly he didn’t want to get back into anything and as far as he was concerned, he still didn’t want to get involved with someone attached to a crime lord. He gently put his hands onto her wrists and looked into her eyes.

“Asena...I know nothing has changed for you...except maybe you’re further in than you had been. And the Crimson Dawn has made a name for itself now. But the truth of the matter is...I recently just got out of a relationship. I’m damaged goods emotionally right now. I’m not the man you think I am,” He said in hopes it would ward her off. The feel of her against him did feel nice and the smell of her...it frazzled his thoughts.