Ask Bad Gas Travels Fast

[Cipher 7]

Bespin
The Life Zone, Cloud City Sector

Jacen admired Bespin's sunset through the viewport of the nondescript light freighter they’d been assigned for the job. The conflagration of the setting sun made the churning gasses appear to be set ablaze.

His first mission as an agent had some chest hair and he was pleased with the challenge set. Karn had placed him under Six’s watchful eye. A prospect he wasn’t particularly thrilled about, but it beat being a glorified errand boy with Blackout. They’d reach Cloud City by nightfall which was about forty-five minutes out. That gave him just enough time to grab a coffee and his gear. He transferred control to the pilot droid in the seat next to him and stepped to his room.

He took a hit of his pen once the door closed behind him. He blew out a wisp of smoke then frowned and looked down. The light was flashing letting him know it needed to be charged, “Dammit…” he muttered before plugging it in and grabbing his shoulder holsters and jacket.

He landed in the lounge and started brewing a pot.

“Six, you want any coffee?” he called out.

He hadn’t seen her in awhile. He smirked as he pictured her going through some elaborate pre- mission ritual. He pulled out his datapad and went over the highlights again.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Despite HQ suggesting smaller scale ideas, Six constructed this mission herself. She needed to see the recruit perform to warrant the title of Cipher Seven, and a big job like this was the perfect proving ground. She joined him shortly after he began brewing the caf, having had her own smoke break recently. She had been quietly admiring the Bespin skyline, imagining what it must have been like living atop these floating cities.

“Yes please,” She said with a smile at his question. Six noticed him reviewing the brief, “Remember, this is your show. You will be doing most of the heavy lifting. Ciphers often work entirely alone or with a network they have built. In most cases you will have to rapidly adapt to the scenario with little to no contact from HQ,” She recalled her months of deployment across the galaxy when she was running the Oracle job.

Six pointed to a metal box, walking over to punch in a code. Opening it revealed small, capped beakers with bright fluid in them, “This agent needs to be added to the tibanna processing assembly line. This binds the chemical to the gas even when it’s formed into a solid. When the gas is activated it’ll cause faulty blasts and explosions even before vehicles can take off. Shouldn’t kill anyone, but it’ll be a nightmare for the corporation. Your job is to go in as a worker and plant this into the line without anyone realizing. That’s part one of the operation.”

It was a complicated gig, but Six had high standards. The missions she crafted often had multiple layers, but the payoff was incredible.

She paused before giving him a half smile, "You nervous?"

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

”Please?” he repeated, shifting his half-lidded gaze from the coffee pot to her as she entered, “Don’t start being nice to me now,” he teased, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he grabbed a second cup from the cabinet. Even if he wasn’t looking at her directly as she spoke he was listening. He’d noticed in their short time together she didn’t waste her breath with bullshit, so if she had something to say he figured it was worth listening to.

“Understood,” he replied to her reminder as he poured her cup first and then his own. He watched her walk over to the mystery box and punch in a code. As the lid slid back wisps of vapor drifted up from the opening accentuating the brightly colored liquid in the vials.

Six walked him through the mission, or at least it’s first part, and then asked him if he was nervous. It felt like this question was becoming a running gag between them, so he answered the same way he had when they’d first met.

“Nervous?” he asked, eyebrows lifting. “I don’t even know the meaning of the word.” he said, returning her half smile with one of his own as he took a sip.

It was true, not that he didn’t know what nervous meant, but that he wasn’t. He was excited. He’d trained his whole life for this, and he wasn’t going to let his usual lack of self-esteem get in the way.

“Guess I should get changed,” he said, glancing down at his chrono, “We’re fifteen out.”

He’d wait to see if she had anything else to say. He respected her position on the mission and wasn’t interested in pissing off the only other Cipher he knew. If she had nothing else to add he’d lift his caf cup and make for the “armory.”

He reached into the locker and pulled out the uniform he’d been issued. Flat gray coveralls with a name tag that said, Bubbah, was his uniform today. He stripped down and suited up, yes he could have done this in his room, but he wasn’t shy and it wasn’t like he was getting changed in the kitchenette, that would have been rude. He pulled up the pants and tied the top off around his waist as he pulled on a black t-shirt. Jacen picked up the holdout blaster he’d have in case of emergency and fitted it into his ankle holster.

Jacen wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of leaving his twin blaster’s behind, but this was an opportunity to show he was more than a killer or a pilot. This was his chance to prove he deserved the designation, Cipher 7.

15 minutes later…

He felt the descent of the ship and knew they were closing in. A burst of adrenaline coursed through him as the anticipation of the job suddenly became very real. His normally bored expression was adorned by the smallest smirk as he stood in the loading bay, waiting for the doors to open. He had vials of the agent strapped to his torso and hidden under his zipped up coveralls. He broke the job down in easy to consume parts. Get in, drop the agent, get out. The loading ramp began to lower. He took a breath and then stepped into Cloud City.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

“Are you wounded that easily?” She quipped back with a scoff. She couldn’t recall a time when she was less than ‘nice’ to this guy. Apparently asking him to brief his mundane mission had touched a nerve. Six was amused nonetheless, quietly sipping her caf and keeping to herself as she prepared for the mission. She gave him privacy as he changed right there, not glancing over as he did so.

She looked over at him in his getup, surveying him quietly. He looked the part, though presented with far more confidence than an overworked factory worker would have. Too polished, too put together. But she wouldn’t correct him - he had to adapt and learn on his own.

The ramp lowered and Six led the way. He would have been given his identity to study beforehand. He was Dav Gibbons, a worker filling in for Marley Cruz who was out ill. The ISB had to do a lot of meticulous studying to find an organic opening instead of creating one.

Before long, Jacen would find himself entirely alone with Six having vanished seemingly into thin air. She was watching, of course, but he wouldn’t know where or how. Ahead of him was one of the factories, the smell of industry filling the air already. Everyone wore lanyards with badges and were scanning in.

There was a grumpy Cathar waiting around. She glanced up to glare at Jacen as he walked in, “You’re the temp, right?” She called out in a raspy smoker’s voice. She gave him a once over, clearly wasn’t impressed, and looked down at her datapad.

“There’s a shortage in Block C, so gonna need you there first,” She said without looking up. Jacen was supposed to be assigned to Block A. Block C was an entirely different ‘skillset’ and he would have to figure out what to do.

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

Jacen kissed his teeth, “I was joking,” he laughed with a shake of his head.

As the ramp lowered Jacen fell into his training. His shoulders hunched slightly, he kept his eyes down, and his usual languid expression was replaced with a tight thin smile and nervous eyes. He was Dav Gibbons. Block A certified Temp worker. As his eyes glanced up he noticed Six was gone. Guess it really was go time.

Jacen found himself slowly shuffling toward the entrance until he came face to face with a real sour puss. She asked if he was the temp and he nodded, “Y-yes ma’am. Filling in for Marly Cruz,” he said, handing over his paperwork. She tried to blow past him and mentioned him needing to go to Block C first.

Dav didn’t miss a beat,"I’m afraid I only have Block A clearance ma’am,” he pointed at the Block A stamp on his paperwork. She grimaced, no doubt used to being able to do as she wished with the temp workers then jutted her chin to the side and muttered, “Get on with it then, I better not catch you slacking off!”

Jacen cowered back then scurried off with his tail tucked between his legs, making for the tram getting ready to head to Block A. He made it just in time, literally jumping into the open door as the vehicle started rolling away. He settled into a seat and kept his eyes down after surveying the patrons on the tram. He was good. No alarms, no missteps, not yet at least. Now all he had to do was combine the agent with as much gas as he could and hope it was enough to fuck over this company.

Roll: 19/20

@Sreeya

 

[The Storyteller]

Fortune favored Jacen as he was able to go right to Block A without any hurdles in the way. He would fall into line with others walking into the assembly line factory. He would see the processing plants and people at different stations manning various contraptions. Jacen would spot where he needed to be right away - a man working a station where he was mixing agents and chemicals into the canisters passing by. This was right before it became solidified.

The worker was a Gamorrean that had been there for a while. He was almost robotic with the way he worked, waiting for the canisters to pass before adding what was needed and then rinsing and repeating. This was where Jacen needed to go to swap in the agents by pouring it into the vat that the Gamorrean pressed a button to release into the canisters.

Before he could walk over, a female approached Jacen, smiling, “Oh hey! You’re Marley’s temp?” She asked, cheerfully introducing herself, “I’m Kala. Want me to show you around your station?” She was already flustered, clearly drawn to the new arrival, “You definitely look way too…cool to be here with us,” She giggled nervously, leading the way to his station and away from the Gamorrean.

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

The tram ride was uneventful, but he did overhear a couple of temp workers complaining about assignment mix-ups. He committed that to memory building out a believable story just in case he needed it.

Dav shuffled along following the flow of workers and scanning the layout of the facility for the Chemical engineer station. His eyes landed on a stone faced Gamorrean and he felt himself already thinking up the lie he was going to tell, when a cheerful voice stopped him in his tracks.

Dav looked in her direction and felt himself blush as she smiled at him. Those acting classes were really paying off. He fixed her with an apologetic smile and shook his head, “I’m sorry, actually there’s been a mistake, I’m looking for the foreman’s office and a Chemical Engineer,” he snapped his fingers like he couldn’t remember the engineer’s name, “Ugh, I can see their face, Gamorrean…”

Kala perked up, “Oh you mean, Currp?”

“That sounds familiar, am I close?” he asked, she laughed, “Actually, yeah he’s right over there,” she answered. With her hands clasped behind her back and swaying as she spoke, “The Forman’s a bit of a jog,” she pointed toward a series of windows built into the durasteel wall. “That’s his office, but you basically need a map to get there, I could show you the way.” She added all sunshine and hope.

“No thanks, I’m just here to fill in for a little while, it’s my anniversary. I picked up this short shift so I can take her out tonight,” he said. Kala deflated. Still cheery and bright, but more like a sunny day with a single rain cloud drifting across the sun.

“Oh, that’s so great… Well, good luck…” she managed. Dav smiled, “Thanks so much for your help.”

Jacen didn’t waste any time making for the Gamorrean. He just needed him gone for a few minutes. It wouldn’t take long to dump the vials. The next story started to come together in his mind. Now, he just hoped his luck held out.

Roll: 18/20

@Sreeya

 

[The Storyteller]

As luck would have it, Currp had some rumbles in his belly. Being part of the assembly line meant it wasn’t easy to get refresher breaks. However, when he spotted Marley’s temp wandering over in his direction, it felt like divine intervention. His face lit up, “Hey you!” He called out, frantically waving Dav over, “You’re Marley’s temp right?” He said eagerly, “I really gotta hit the head, can you take over for a moment?” He asked urgently, practically dancing in place as his stomach went to hell.

“Just press this button here and it injects the agents into the canisters. Easy peasy,” He said before practically rushing off in the opposite direction, barely able to contain the gasses that were bubbling over that had nothing to do with tibanna.

Dav would be left basking in his unnatural good luck, the vats for the agents all at his fingertips. He just needed to pour the agent in and this portion of the job was done. Because it was all done on a molecular level, it would be near impossible where things went wrong in the production once the explosions happened.

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

Dav was just about to fall into his spiel about how the fireman needed to see Currp, but the lie never left his lips. Instead the beaded sweat on the Gamoreans forehead gave him pause and he decided to let the pigman talk.

You gotta be shitting me, he thought as the Engineer left to do just that. Jacen blinked. He was standing in front of the console. The vat he needed to alter was right in front of him. Jacen took his position making sure no one was looking before easing the beaker of bright green liquid out of his coveralls. He dumped the agent in and then set to doing exactly what Currp told him to do. Of course the difference was, he was injecting each canister with the modified agent.

The procedure was smooth and he was able to personally contaminate a staggering number of canisters before the Gamorrean made it back. Currp’s guttural voice stole his attention as he pressed the button injecting one more canister before handing the reins back over to the Gammorean.

“I just swapped the additive, the last one ran out,” said Dav in his nervous “hope that’s okay” cadence. Currp snorted a laugh, “Saved my bacon and did a switch for me, I’ll put a good word in to the foreman, we could use more temps with some initiative. Sorry to hold you up, here.”

Dav glanced down and his eyes went wide, “I-I can’t accept this, sir, I’m—”

Currp cut him off, “Of course you can! Nothing better than skipping the line on the way out. Don’t tell anyone I gave you that, huh?”

Dav smiled, “I’d never dream of it.” He looked back down at the tenure pass. It would allow him to access the affiliated tram line, which would drop him off outside the intake area, meaning he’d get to skip running into that pissed off Cathar.

“Thanks again Currp!” he said as he started walking toward the station. Once Currp was fully involved with his job of unintentionally ruining countless amounts of tibanna, Dav doubled back and made for the tram. Time to get the fuck out of here.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Jacen found that his progress was unhampered the entire time. In fact, he was in and out of there so smoothly, Six was genuinely impressed. It was hard to impress her, and this new scrub did his part perfectly well. Either he was exceptionally lucky or he was just that good. She only judged by results, and he scored perfectly across the board.

Once he was out and at the rendezvous spot, he would find her leaning against a speeder, donning a pair of shades and looking like just another civilian. She had bags of takeout with her. Once he arrived, she gave him a fanged grin, “Well your mission report when we met was shit, but you’re pretty good at execution,” Six said, handing him a bag, “Local burger. It’s to die for,” Burgers had to be her favorite food of all time. She made a point to try out different burgers from different planets and apparently Bespin had some solid recipes.

“We have some time to kill before the mishaps begin,” Six said, checking her chrono.

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

Jacen’s baby blue eyes languidly took in the cityscape as the tram made it’s route back to the entrance of the facility. He’d already started to let go of Dav. The nervousness, rounded shoulders, and awkward smile all slipped away leaving only his half lidded gaze and pursed lips. He reached down and adjusted the hold out blaster on his ankle. Damn thing had been itching like a motherfucker that whole time. He felt the tram slow and he rose with the rest of the workers onboard.

Jacen kept his eyes down until he was off the premises. He turned a corner and slipped down an alley. He quickly unzipped the top of his coveralls and tied them around his waist. He hadn’t realized how much he’d been sweating, and was thankful his t-shirt was black. He pulled off his cap and tucked it into the back of his belt then ran his hands through his hair. As he stepped back around the corner his transformation from Dav Gibbons to Jacen Dolan was complete.

The glint of a reflection caught his attention and he spotted Six. She leaned up against a discreet looking speeder holding a couple paper bags covered in grease spots. In that moment he realized two things, she was incredibly easy to look at and he was starving. Jacen had to fight a small smile from flitting across his lips. His brow furrowed.

What the fuck was that, he thought as he regained his composure.

She teased him about the mission report he’d given back on Raxus, “I hate redundancy, why do I need to write the report and then read it out loud?” he said, no longer able to stop the smirk from coloring his expression. “I’m sure it was just beginner’s luck,” he replied, deflecting the praise.

He reached out and took the offered bag with a raised eyebrow. He confirmed there was in fact a burger in the bag, “Huh.”

“Didn’t take you for a burger girl,” he commented absently, “This looks amazing.” he said as she told him it was from a local spot. “Oh cool. Uh, thanks for this, what do I owe you?” he asked.

“Lucky us,” he joked in reference to their surprise freetime. “Is there a bodega around, I’m dying for a cigarette?” he asked when she mentioned they had time to kill.

“So, how long have you been Six?” he asked, keeping his gaze forward with the occasional glance in her direction.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six gave him a half grin, “What kind of girl did you take me for then, I wonder?” She asked flatly. People having their notions and perceptions about her always entertained her. She gave a faint wave of her hand when he asked what he owed her. This was all on the Imperial tab, after all.

“I may be inclined to share,” She said as she extended her box of cigarra. She’d light him as well if he required. Six lit her own and started walking towards a nearby bench so they could sit and eat. When he asked how long she had been a Cipher, she had to chuckle, “I didn’t take you for a small talk guy,” She said with a grin, turning his earlier quip on him.

“Why don’t you ask me a question you actually feel like asking?” She countered.

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

His rebellious little smirk winded at the flat tone of her voice, “I’m not dumb enough to answer that,” he quipped.

Jacen’s eyebrows inclined at her offer and he accepted taking a cigarra from her box. She gave him a light and he eagerly took a breath. He slowly exhaled savoring the flavor of the smoke as it leaked from his mouth.

“Thanks,” he said as he followed her to the bench.

He scoffed as she threw his comment from earlier back at him. “Well, what kind of guy do you think I am, I wonder,” he replied slyly.

Six’s counter got him to face her. He draped an arm along the back of the bench, while taking another drag on his cigarra. He let his half-lidded gaze follow her cigarra to her lips and suddenly remembered red being his favorite color.

“Fine, what are you doing after this?” he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out his burger.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six chuckled at his answer, but subsequently didn’t answer his own fishing expedition in asking what kind of man she thought he was. She quietly smoked the cigarra, blowing out rings before she started to nibble on some fries. Six never had patience for small talk, especially not when there was no cover to maintain. He knew she was a Cipher and she didn’t have to play some random new identity.

She shrugged at his question, “Checking encrypted channels for reports of our little agent causing malfunctions,” Six rattled off, amusement dancing in her eyes. She then proceeded to answer with what he was actually attempting to get at - something non-work related, “I suppose at some point I’ll be trying out the extreme bungee jumping off the edge of Cloud City,” She said with a fanged grin. It had been on her bucket list for a long time, and she wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to try it.

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

Jacen took a bite of his burger and scoffed when she started rattling off her to-to list, “You’re funny, you know that?” he asked, shaking his head. She was playing with him, and he knew it. Hell she was bragging about it with those smoke rings.

“Okay,” he said, swallowing his bite. “If you tell me you drink whisky, I’ll fall in love.” he held his hands up apologetically, “I’m just warning you.” he laughed.

“So, we’re skipping the paperwork and just going bungee jumping right?” he suggested. The nearly never-ending sunset surrounding cloud city had been captivating on the way in, he couldn't imagine what it would be like to plunge into it.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six chuckled to herself, “Alas, I’m a martini girl,” She reassured him, “But I won’t say no to a 136 ABY single malt Nabooian,” She said wistfully. It was hard to come by whiskeys from ISC space and she often craved it. Six checked her chrono and knew they had to wait a few hours before the impacts of Phase One were realized. She shouldn’t have been surprised at him inviting himself to the jump, but she was. Pleasantly so.

“All right banthaboy, let’s go,” She said with a grin as she quickly finished up her burger. A Firrerreo eating a burger was almost unnerving - all her fangs sliced through it neatly and with almost mechanized efficiency.

It wasn’t long before she was at the bungee jumping area. Six added him to her ticket, “You better pay me back somehow,” She said with a grin. She was using her own credits to add him, after all. The two would be able to see over the edge. The cord ran far down through the thick clouds where anyone jumping wouldn’t be visible anymore. They would fall till they broke through the first layer of clouds, given an unforgettable view of the skyline below.

Six looked at Jacen and smiled, “I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”

@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

Jacen breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s very secret spy of you,” He teased.

“Gin or vodka and shaken or stirred?” he aked taking a final drag from the cigara she’d given him.

She was rewarded with an apprising frown when she casually mentioned an expensive sounding single malt.

“You’ve got nicer tastes than I do,” he scoffed, “I’m a house whisky and beer guy.”

He’d worked as a barback while on summer break from the academy from the time he was fourteen until seventeen, and there was nothing better than a joint and a shot after a crazy shift.

“Banthaboy?” He said incredulously, with a smirk, “I didn’t realize we were already giving each other pet names, Tini-girl…” he said falling off as she ripped through her food.

Girl could eat.

He finished up his burger and fries, snagging their trash and throwing it away before following Six.

The view from the jump point was spectacular in every sense of the word. Six added him to her ticket which she didn’t have to do, meaning he was definitely going to snag that bottle she’d mentioned earlier. As a thank you.

“I’ll get you back on our next date,” he teased as they stepped up to the drop point.

Jacen took in the view he could feel his blood beginning to rush at the impending thrill. He’d expected to get some kicks from this job but everything had gone so smoothly he’d been left a little disappointed. As he peered over the edge an actual smile slipped through his guard. He double checked his bungee as Six stepped up.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, “Oh, I’m shaking in my coveralls, can you hold me close while we fall?” He teased satisfied with his harness and connection.

Jacen turned his back to the drop, “Last chance,” he said, arms spread wide and welcoming while the twilight hues of the setting sun bathed the vapor being him in mottled hues of orange, pink, and gold.

Next thing he knew, he was falling.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

“Date?” She asked with a raised brow, though amusement danced in her eyes, “Did you forget I’m technically grading your work?” Six reminded him playfully. She stood at the edge, feeling that brush of cold air as she looked down at the thick clouds below. One little snap and she would die while falling, long before she ever hit any kind of surface. The rush was thrilling, and she was strapped to the rope and harness.

Six rolled her eyes at his commentary, grinning before she actually nudged him off the edge in response. She watched him and she stepped forth and followed suit. Six didn’t hesitate to cheer loudly as she careened down, feeling that intense adrenaline high as the weightlessness and sensation of veering rapidly towards the ground took over.

She pierced through the clouds and could see the stunning backdrop of the sun reflecting along the surface. There were more clouds and it was a kaleidoscope of colors through the refracted light. She felt free then - liberated from the various identities she wore, from the roles she had to play, from the burden of being an intelligence agent. She simply laughed and whooped as she soared through the air, spotting Jacen in the distance as another dot against the vast oceans of skies.

That abrupt jerk of the cord sent her flailing in various directions and she loved every second of it. After a long while, she was finally hoisted back up. Six stepped back onto the platform, all smiles and with her hair completely disheveled. She looked over at Jacen with a grin, “What did you think?”

As if on cue, her comms systems began to blow up about tibanna mishaps. They could sit on this for a moment, but it was great to know Phase Two was a go.


@Zay

 

[Cipher 7]

”I said what I said,” he retorted to her reminder. She stepped forward and his pace quickened, his chin raised in a challenge and then she pushed him. He fell head over heels backward off the platform.

The sky surrounding him was a conflagration of warm hues. It was like shooting through hyperspace in the wrong color. The mottled golden clouds were beginning to fade to crimson as the sun began its final decent for the night. Then he burst through the clouds and could see the sun. It’s waining radiance cast ruby rays acrid the fire-like clouds.

Adrenaline was one of Jacen’s many vices. As the rush of the ride reached its climax he started to feel that creeping cold feeling run up his spine. The same feeling he got toward the end of every mission. The one that lived in his head rent free. The one that never let him let his guard down. Then he heard Six’s shouts of glee.

He broke.

Jacen laughed, adding his voice to her’s. Unbridled joy was a weird thing for a Cipher to experience, but here he was laughing like a lunatic. He felt his chord rising back toward the platform and he sighed. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed something like this.

He was mid-harness removal when Six asked him what he thought, he stopped, and took her in. His half-lidded baby blue eyes watched a strand of hair land across her face, he smiled and said, “It was nice to feel… free for a little.”

He reached out to move the strand when her comms went off.

“Freedom is ever fleeting,” he mused as he guessed what was happening, “Bad gas travels fast in a small town, huh?”

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six was still coming down from that high from the jump. Her heart was racing, her hair was a mess, but she was in a great mood. She looked at Jacen as he answered, her eyes widening slightly when he reached towards her face. She could guess at what he was going to do, but that didn’t surprise her any less. When he blurted out about gas, Six’s surprised look remained for a few seconds before she chuckled.

“Way to make the mission sound like upset stomach,” She said dryly, her gaze lingering on him briefly before it was right back to work. It was her turn to run the show, and she gave him a few pre-made media prompts. They were nonsense tabloids discussing corruption and calling out the corporation for faulty practices. His role would be to get into a Holonet agency and get it broadcasted. The how was up to him.

Meanwhile, Six made her way over to the company, now dressed in a business suit and a red wig. Unlike Jacen, she had done this a million times before, so it was a repeatable process for her. She strode into the lobby, a hired lawyer next to her.

“Good evening, I’m Alina Karr,” She introduced herself, “I represent Imperial Czerka,” (@Nor'baal and @Eccles for awareness). She was about to acquire a tibanna producing corporation plant while its value and profits were in the dumps by the Empire’s own design. The ISC could slowroll its sanction removal, but even the ISC didn't own every company on Bespin and the tibanna trade.

“Hello..” The disheveled owner said in response, clearly distressed about the takeover that was about to happen.

@Zay