Ask Nar Shaddaa It's Just a Holocron

[Param Vour]

Nar Shaddaa. An ecumenopolis ranging from villainous to righteous depending on the hour. Param hated it, and she’d only been on the planet for an hour or two. It was so busy, so loud. It made her senses in the Force scream. Everyone living, everyone dying, and the business of the in between, all mixing together into a concoction of white noise that blasted her senses to numbness. And worst of all there wasn’t a single garden as far as she could tell.

Param supposed that it was at least a good thing she didn’t stand out in the crowds of people. Her tight fitting black, sleeveless top and trousers seemed to fit right in with the people of Nar Shaddaa; even with the black half-skirt that billowed around her left leg with every step. She even thought she saw some fellow echani roaming around. They were all a long way from home, Param especially.

Rounding a corner into a new block, Param found what she was looking for. An antique shop lay between a casino and a general store, tucked tightly away like a protected grandparent. A neon sign flashed “Dopp’s Relics.” A smile spread across Param’s lips as she approached the doors and entered.

The shop was small and quaint. A counter followed the flow of the walls with a space in the middle to get to and from the back of the shop. Rectangular tables with display cases on them lined the floor in a grid, giving just enough space in the small shop to walk around. A lime colored Rodian stood by a register, perking up as the front door bell chimed when Param walked through.

“Ah! Welcome to Dopp’s Relics! I’m Dopp, can I help you find something?” the Rodian said in his native tongue. Param sauntered down the grid of displays, shifting her silver gaze from one relic to the next. Of course, she was after a specific relic. One that any smart shop keep wouldn’t keep on display in the front. She put on a warm smile.

“I heard one of your scavengers brought home something very valuable. Something I want,” she said. If looks could kill, Dopp would have been on death row with the way Param’s eyes fixed on him under her long silver hair. “A holocron. More specifically: a Sith holocron.”

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

One of his oversized ears swiveled as he shamelessly eavesdropped on the conversation. He was working in the back of Dopp’s shop, posing as a new worker so he could rob the place blind. If he weren’t such a bastard, he would almost feel sorry for the Rodian. The alien was eccentric, but his heart was in the right place. Which is what made him a perfect target to trick and rob.

His goal was to obtain an artifact shaped like a triangle. The job came from Crimson Dawn, so Kai could assume that it had something to do with the Sith. It took a lot of hard work to finally gain access to the lower levels of the shop. It was a walk-in display room that was temperature controlled, and it contained the especially rare artifacts. He could already tell Dopp didn’t suspect a thing - Kai was posing as a starving teen off the streets that needed a job to get by.

The Fiani slowly tilted back to poke his head out from the back room to study the interaction. From the looks of it, Dopp was about two seconds away from shitting himself and the woman looked about as fitting as Darth Raze in a tea shop.

“Sorry, we just sold that yesterday,” He called out to spare Dopp the need to speak and make things worse. He only hoped the Rodian would know to play along. Kai’s voice had an off-world drawl, but he certainly carried himself with ease as if he had been working there for years. He stepped out from the back room, hands shoved in his pockets with his bushy fox tail lazily swishing side to side.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

"Is that so?" she asked, catching the moment by the door before the call. Alternating her attention between Dopp and the door leading to the back. Dopp had been about to speak, but now looked about as confused as a rodian could look. Curious that the owner of the shop would be confused about something sold or not. Even more curious that they'd answer to someone else. Param's attention fixed on the man that emerged from the back.

She almost gasped as he came into full view, but held it back. The man was a species she'd never seen, and she had seen quite a lot of different species come through her slaver's false temple. Param wasn't even aware that an excited smile had spread across her lips. It was like he had all the fun of a cathar, with all the softness of a human. Her curiosity would have to wait, however.

"Uhhh- w-we di-" Dopp began but Param cut him off. The rodian wasn't exactly the best at hiding his feelings. Even Param could sense that he was confused by his employee's statement. There was no need to let Dopp dig himself deeper.

"And you are?" Param asked.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai looked at the girl, noting her stark alabaster hair, the bright eyes and the smile on her face that was almost unnerving. If he wasn’t sure she was likely to stab him through the face with a saber without notice, he might even find her appealing. For all the ways Dopp melted to the floor, Kai held his ground and projected a cool confidence that was a comical contrast to his fluffy appearance. If not for the eyepatch over one of his eyes, he could easily pass for a cute and cuddly down to earth guy.

“Kodi,” He said, using the bullshit name he gave Dopp, “Had a real sketchy buyer come in, hood up, bad teeth and general shady vibes,” He glanced at Dopp with a jerk of his chin, “Happened while you were visiting with a supplier,” He looked back at the girl, “Anyway, he…I think it was a he… paid us and took it off our hands,” He shrugged, “Can we interest you in something else?”

If she stared at him, there would be no obvious signs of lying. He had dealt with Crimson Dawn enough to know he couldn’t let them smell his fear. Internally, he made a mental note to disappear with the holocron at once. He could find a way to tweak the record books enough to give the appearance of an actual sale - he was already doing that with other inventory he had been nabbing.

“Ah yes..wh-what he said,” Dopp finally said, as if coming to life from buffering for a while. The Rodian's nervous sweating meant the shop now had a rancid odor that was enough to make eyes water. Kai tail twitched in agitation the slightest bit at his incompetence, but his face remained otherwise blank.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param leaned forward on the counter, resting her elbows on the glass top with her chin in her hand as "Kodi" explained everything. Her smile never faltered, much like her eye contact. She had to admit that Dopp would have been far better to deal with it, but this one was going to be far more fun. Without much more training than her own self-teaching via holocrons, she wouldn't be able to tell if he was lying or not, but there was another way she'd be able to tell if he was. Like a little mystery; where did the holocron go?

"I see," Param said. "Would I be able to look at the relics you have in the back, then? I'm sure there's something I'll find interesting." The pungent odor from the rodian crossed her senses, and it took everything she had not to gag. Without breaking eye contact with the man, she erected her stance, reaching out with the Force behind her as her arms dropped to her sides. In the deep corner of the shop near the entrance there was a display of old coins and tablets, worthless by most measures. She flicked the Force through the glass, shattering it.

Dopp jumped, looking over at the glass spilled over the floor. Despite his utter confusion, he scrambled to collect the supplies needed to clean the mess. Param glanced over her shoulder at him. It wouldn't stop the odor, but it would certainly take it more time to reach her nostrils. She returned her gaze to the calm and collected man before her, her smile no longer there.

"He'll be a while. Mind showing me around, Kodi?"

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai stiffened as the glass ‘mysteriously’ shattered. He felt a chill running down his spine, but he didn’t budge where he stood. Dopp gave an involuntary squeak and Kai wasn’t sure if it came from his mouth or rear end. Despite the tension, even Kai was thankful to have Dopp step away and busy himself with something else. However, this did present an entirely new dilemma and he had to pivot on a dime.

He looked at the girl and flashed a fanged grin, resting an elbow on the counter as his tail swished playfully, “There’s nothing down there worth your time, m’am,” His delivery was impeccable, "However..There's a Toydarian named Kifku that deals with assets from the Outer Rim two doors down. Last I heard he snagged a pretty sick Sith blade. Personally I think it’d look pretty slick on you,” He said with a lazy flick of his eye doing a onceover to check her out.

“By the way… I told you my name,” He said, “A bit rude not to tell me yours.”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param leaned over the counter with the man, resting her elbows on the counter and her chin in her hands. A smile returned, but it wasn't as excited or warm as before; this time is was laced with feigned amusement. He seemed to be trying very hard. She'd experienced this once or twice before with some particularly shady clients of her former slaver; even if the holocron wasn't here, there was something in the back worth seeing.

"I'd really like to see what's back there, Kodi," she said, her eyes sliding down his frame and back up as she feigned a pout. Two could play that game, and she probably had just as much experience as he. "You see, anything can be a blade. What I'm after is more to keep the mind sharp."

She straightened herself, folding her arms across her chest. The vibro-knife and lightsaber, albeit unable to use it safely, were as plain as day on her hip. Dopp was busy cleaning the mess she had made; she was sure the man in front of her knew it was her. He could have assumed she was interested in Sith artifacts based on her question about the holocron, but she was smart enough to know that he knew.

"A bit rude to deny a customer a look at your special wares," she said, raising an eyebrow. "How about I tell you my name, and anything else you'd like to ask; in exchange you show me what you have in the back room?"

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

He knew he was walking a dangerous line. As she was a Sith, he knew she could snap his neck with the blink of an eye if she so pleased. A part of him found it almost exhilarating, mainly because she looked so unassuming. Perhaps that was what people found appealing about him too - cute and cuddly until the claws came out. She wasn’t buying his bullshit, so he decided to stop selling it.

“Deal,” He said with a smile before he turned around and used the key to open the lock that led downstairs. He had to play this carefully. The holocron was downstairs, but it wasn’t exactly out in the open. The Fiani walked down and gestured to the rows around them, “I told you.. It’s interesting stuff, but nothing in the league of what you’re looking for,” He said as he allowed her to take a cursory glance. At the end of it, he very casually positioned himself in front of the shelf that had the holocron hidden away behind a statue.

“Fair’s fair,” He said as he crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head. That head tilt was the stuff of magic, allowing one of his giant ears to flop slightly, “Your name and why you got into the mean kids club?"

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

"Thanks, Kodi." Param had to stop herself from squealing with glee as the fiani agreed to her counter offer. Instead she smiled and winked. She followed him to the back room. As he took his position she slowly walked down the aisles of display cases, eyeing each and every artifact and relic they had on display. It was a ruse. She reached out in the Force. If there was one thing she had learned in her time with her slaver, it was that holocrons were steeped in the dark side. She wasn't very good at sensing, but she could at least sense the source of a small dark side essence, like a distant scent.

She finished her rounds of the aisles, sauntering towards the man. The scent grew stronger, and she knew. Anyone else she would have pinned to the wall with her vibro-knife, but she really couldn't get over just how adorable the man was. Especially that ear. That fucking ear.

"Param. Param Vour," she said, stopping just inches from him and folding her arms. Her eyes met his. Mean kids club? Interesting way to say a Sith. She supposed it made quite a lot of sense though. "I was a made a slave when a Sith slaughtered my village. He only took the kids. While in his... care," she said the word carefully, insinuating that it was anything but care. "I found his library and studied holocrons behind his back. A year ago I put this blade through his heart." She tapped the pommel of the vibro-knife tucked in her belt.

"Now I want to get powerful enough to live without chains," she said. If she looked at that ear she was done for and she knew it, but couldn't stop herself. Fuck this guy was adorable. Param had seen half the sentient species in the galaxy and this one of all of them does her in? "Now, Kodi, I know you didn't sell that holocron; I can sense it still here. Since you're so charming, I'll make you another deal, how's that sound?"

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

He had no intention of handing the holocron over. When she was looking through the aisles, a quick sleight of hand nabbed it from the shelf before he realized he didn’t have anywhere to stash it. He briefly stood there awkwardly before shoving it right down his pants. He adjusted it so it didn’t look like he was suddenly happy to see her, but it was safely out of sight.

Naturally he didn’t bank on Param sensing the thing like a damn bloodhound. He was always caught off guard by how Sith operated, and this was an awkward lesson to learn. He couldn’t tell if she was bluffing or not, but he was already tense and on edge. She was standing inches away and he had a Sith holocron down his pants. How was he going to explain his way out of this? Even if he did want to cut a deal, she would probably behead him because of where the holocron was. Though Sith could sense darkness, they couldn’t pinpoint it. Though he didn’t know that.

He played it cool, remaining where he stood as he gave her a fanged grin, “I’m listening,” He said as he stepped away from where he stood. She would see clearly there was no holocron there, “Perhaps what you’re sensing is a desire to get outta this stuffy basement and let me show you 'round the city,” He said confidently as his tail playfully swished back and forth. It hovered just a hair’s breadth away from her thigh, but didn’t graze it yet. He knew how to be a gentleman.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param's eyes lowered to the display case that had been behind him. No holocron. For a moment she frowned, doubting her own abilities. The holocron was still there, but not where she thought it most obvious to be. The entire galaxy stopped when he suggested he show her around the city. It was a trap right? Definitely a trap. There was no way he could be serious. The first time a man offers something to her without a command attached and it was from some adorable guy with adorable fucking ears just trying to stay alive.

"Maybe it is," she said after taking a moment to flush the burning from her cheeks and collect her wits. "I think a show of the town is exactly what I need... on one condition: you have to escort me properly." Flustered or not, she knew that if they left the shop and she could no longer sense the holocron, it was still in this room. She also couldn't risk him running away. Param couldn't focus on two entities at once just yet in the Force, so for now she kept her focus on the dark side the holocron gave off.

She held out her hand. Part of her wished he'd just hand over the holocron, but the hand itself was more for him to offer his arm than anything. Hell, why not? It'd been a while since she had some fun.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai knew he dug himself deep. There was no getting out of this now. He scored a date with a hot chick, and he had to make sure she couldn’t get anywhere near his pants. If there was such a thing as fate, it was laughing its ass off at him right then. He managed a charming smile, offering his arm as he walked out to the main shop. He almost considered making up a bathroom break to drop off the holocron, but he knew she was onto him. He would simply have to go with the damn thing in his pants and poking him in the sensitive bits.

“I’m clocking out early today, Dopp,” He called out to his Rodian employer that was still complaining about the pieces he had to clean up. However, he was pleased to watch the Sith leave and that Kai was taking her off his hands.

Once they were out, the cool air brushed against his skin and he could hear jazz music in the distance. The night was young, the neon lights shined bright far ahead, and there was a murderous Sith on his arm.

“I hope you can handle spicy food, because there are some amazing food speeders that line the streets ahead,” He said cheerfully, always wary about his situation. He rapidly pondered ways to get himself in the friend zone. Overly nice guys always ended up in the friend zone, right? He decided to start asking her about her problems. Maybe if she saw him as a venting target, she wouldn’t think about getting busy with him.

“So…why do you think you’re still in chains? You seem pretty free to me,” He asked, thinking back to her explanation earlier.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param couldn't help but let out a giggle as she took his arm and he lead her out of the shop. She gave a quick glance to Dopp. Poor guy. All things considered, he was fortunate though. From the few Sith she'd met, Param knew it would have gone far differently had she been like most. At least Dopp would get some relief. As they stepped out the front door, Param feigned breathing in with a smile. She looked like she was taking in the sounds of music and the smells of food nearby, but she was reaching out and making sure the small scent of the dark side was still there. Sure enough, it was still there.

"That sounds amazing," she said excitedly, turning her gaze toward him as they walked. It was a good thing she clung to his good side; adorable features aside he was very pleasing to look at. The date existed only because she wanted the holocron and he refused to give it, but that didn't stop the fluttering in her core. She could enjoy the date and deal with the holocron business later.

"I am free," Param said, keeping her eyes on him with a warm smile. "But there's always something, or someone, stronger that doesn't want that. Would you fight to stay chainless, or accept a fate someone else imposed on you?" It was the only way she knew to describe it. She'd been a slave for twelve years before she freed herself, and had promised herself never again.

She turned her eyes to a speeder parked with a small trailer behind it. A sign that read Tatooine Authentic was tipped against the speeder. The chef behind the bowl and utensil covered kiosk was human, but his two helpers were Jawas. Param pointed at the kiosk across Kodi's chest, also pressing herself into his arm more.

"That looks delicious," she said, eyeing the menu items displayed on the sign in front of the kiosk. Another quick check in the Force. Still there. Kodi you sly, cute, man.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

He couldn’t deny that he was getting used to her cheerful little smile. He wasn’t entirely sure how fake it was, but it was certainly pleasing to look at. Kai gave her a slightly quizzical look at her question, “If someone threatens my freedom, I just go somewhere else,” He said nonchalantly with a shrug, “The galaxy’s a big place. No need to crowd the same spot,” It was clear he didn’t concern himself with silly ambitions of power and rising. It was all a waste of time. The bigger you got, the bigger the target on your back.

He sniffed at where she pointed, nodding in agreement. With her still on his arm, he walked over to order two bowls. He forked over the credits for it, grabbing some chopsticks to try the spicy noodles. It was delicious, but it definitely had a kick. His tail swished back and forth rapidly as his ears flattened a bit, “Wooo, this is spicier than I remember,” He said with a cough. Kai chuckled to himself before looking over to see how she was faring, “Let’s see if you can handle it.”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Just go somewhere else? Now that was a thought. She had gone somewhere else, and yet the thought of being put back in a cell terrified her. The thought made her cling a little tighter to his arm. "Hmmm," she hummed. "Maybe you're right." She loved power, loved obtaining it, but it was always out of a need for self preservation. If she could get as strong as possible, and live the rest of her life in some garden in the middle of no where, she would. No matter how much power she got, though, it never seemed enough.

Param accepted her bowl with a small nod of thanks to the chef, but didn't dig in quite yet. She waited, watching Kodi as he took the first bites of his. A giggle left her lips as his ears and tail betrayed just how spicy the food was. A little spice never hurt anyone, until you weren't ready for it. "This should be exciting," she said. Param pinched some noodles, making sure a vegetable was in there too for good measure. The moment it hit her tongue, her mouth felt as if it were on fire. She chewed quickly, pale cheeks flushing, trying to get it down as soon as possible.

Swallowing only made it worse, spreading the spice down her throat. Her silver eyes widened at Kodi. Opening her mouth to the elements and sticking out her tongue didn't help; neither did fanning her tongue with her hands. The entire time she whimpered at the heat. As soon as the chef passed her a glass of water, it was gone, chugged clean.

When the heat had mostly passed, she turned to Kodi, tears streaming down her cheeks but she was smiling. She erupted in a laugh. "Maybe I wasn't quite ready for that kind of spice," she said, wiping the tears from her face with her hand. "It is delicious though."

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

For some reason Kai expected a scary Sith chick to totally brush off a bit of heat. Probably add a maniacal laugh to boot. However, watching her fan herself, stick her tongue out and all around lose it made him start laughing. He was doubled over with tears brimming his eye as she had a crisis. However, he quickly collected himself and scrambled to be the one to get her the water. He chugged one down himself as she did, wiping his eye as he slowly collected himself.

“I’m sorry I didn’t-” He saw her trying to smile through the tears streaming down her cheeks, “Will you stop trying to pretend this isn’t setting your mouth on fire?!” He said as he burst out laughing again when she did. The laughter was infectious, and it got them both going. After he finally calmed down again, he drank another glass of water. He didn’t even realize his tail had been eagerly wagging the entire time. The moment he caught it, he quickly stopped the wagging, a bit embarrassed.

“So uh…there’s some live music that way, want to go check it out?” He asked, hoping she didn’t notice tail action. He offered her his arm again, leading her towards where a band was playing upbeat music and some of the crowds started dancing. They had been drinking, of course, but the atmosphere was lively. Kai didn’t want to admit he was actually having a surprisingly good time with Param, and he certainly didn’t want her to catch the way his eye flicked over to look at her when she was staring off in a different direction.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param couldn't stop laughing. Every time she thought she'd collect her thoughts, she'd glance over at Kodi, and a new bout of laughter would begin. At least the laughing made her stomach hurt which took her mind off the inferno that was her mouth. It took a while to collect their wits, but finally she managed it. Taking a few deep breaths she cured the laughter. There was nothing she could do about the tears staining her cheeks, nor the blush that had settled in. The food was delicious but she was thankful when he suggested the live music. Another bite just wouldn't have done her any good.

For the first time that night she took her mind off the holocron, well, most of it anyway. "As long as it's not as spicy as this," she said, placing the unfinished bowl down. Param wrapped her arms around his, and clung tightly as he lead her to the live music. The mindless animations of his tail and ears weren't lost on her. It was quite hard to miss a fluffy tail, in fact. It went beyond her not caring, though; she rather enjoyed it. She'd even say in his benefit that it was just him enjoying the music if it weren't so off beat.

"I've never experienced a live band before," she said, her silver eyes roaming the dancing crowd and the stage with wonder. "Does this happen every night?"

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

He thought he didn’t hear her clearly. He stared at her in wonder, his ears swiveling, “Never?” He asked in wonder. He couldn’t imagine going his entire life without having heard live music. His tail swished from side to side, once or twice ‘accidentally’ brushing against her. He acted as if he didn’t notice, continuing their walk towards where everyone was dancing.

“Well, you’ve definitely danced before, right?” He asked. No one was that sheltered to where they’d never danced before! Regardless, Kai stepped back and grabbed her hand, letting her dance however she pleased. He wasn’t a big dancer himself and preferred the routine of standing there and letting the girl grind on him. Also, he was worried that too much movement could cause the holocron to slide down his pants and pop out by his foot.

The crowds grew a bit rowdy and at some point another girl tried to grab Param by the arm to drag her into a dance. Kai didn’t object, silently hoping for the distraction to allow him to slink away and stash the holocron somewhere for hiding.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

"Never," she said, shaking her head. "We weren't allowed to have much growing up." Slaves usually weren't allowed anything. The fact that she at the very least was able to listen to whatever music her slaver's clientele wanted on the holonet was good enough for her. She even found herself swaying to the music once or twice. Without realizing, it was happening again next to Kodi, that was until he stepped back.

"Um, well," she stammered, cheeks burning. "Echani dancing is more like, sparring. I don't think you want to see that kind of dancing." Her eyes flashed with amusement. Imagine the spectacle of having a spar on the dance floor? It would be a good way to catch him with the holocron, considering most echani spars were done with minimal clothing. The burning in her cheeks grew a whole lot hotter when a fleeting mental image of Kodi in the nude crossed her thoughts.

It was a fool's hope to think he wouldn't notice the blushing against her pale complexion. She needed to distract him from her cheeks, and judging by Kodi's lack of movement himself, she got an idea. Spinning around, she backed up into him, slightly swaying her hips while holding his hand to her stomach. It certainly wasn't good dancing by any means, but it was the only non-fighting dancing she knew how to do.

Of course that's when a girl tried to drag her further into the dance floor. The fact Kodi didn't object made Param very curious. She could still sense the holocron on him, and if she danced with the girl, and left him alone, she wondered if he'd return with it still, if he returned at all. Param flashed a knowing smile toward Kodi and accepted the dance from the girl.

The girl was... eccentric with her dancing. Param more just swayed her hips in front of her while watching with a very concerned and confused expression while the girl spun, hopped, shook, and every other movement her body could possibly do without breaking. In that moment, holocron be damned, Param really really needed Kodi to save her.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

He only grinned at her, “I bet you can make any kind of dancing look good,” He quipped back, his ears swiveling and tail swishing playfully. He didn’t miss the way she began to blush all of a sudden, and it caught him off guard. He stared at her in surprise, wondering what crossed her mind. However, she moved on by starting to dance, turning around till she pressed against him. Damn. He felt her move back and sway her hips, his arms coming around to wrap around her lithe frame.

Kai began to rock with her, trying to ignore the way she ground herself against him and the desires it invoked in him. He leaned in close, starting to get into the groove. His lips just barely hovered near her ear to where she would feel his warm breath brush against her skin. However, he pulled away right when the other girl interrupted. Param would see a lopsided grin from him as she walked away from him, his head cocked to the side and one of his ears flopped over like before.

The moment she disappeared into the crowd, he straightened up and spun on his heel, walking with purpose. He had only a small window to operate, and he discreetly reached into his pants as he disappeared behind a food speeder. He took out the holocron and stashed it under the steps of a shop completely out of sight. This was a terrible idea, but he didn’t anticipate anyone finding it.

In no time at all, he emerged again with two fizzy alcoholic drinks in his hands. When Param looked up, it would appear as if he simply left to get them drinks instead of running away like the completely sketchy guy he actually was.

“Yo, you need to chill out before you take someone's eye out!” He called out to the girl that was in the middle of shaking Param like a rag doll. She gave him a mortified look when she realized he only had one eye, quickly releasing Param. This drew an amused laugh from the Fiani, watching the girl awkwardly shuffle off.

Kai flashed the Sith an apologetic smile, “My bad, didn’t realize you were in need of a rescue,” He chuckled as he handed her a drink. She would still sense the holocron in the vicinity, but like before, she would have no idea where it was.

@TheDudeMike