"Gimme one job- just one job, Lumos! I swear I'm good for it!"

Lumos, the one-eyed Rodian dealer, gave Horis an up and down glance with his one good eye, and promptly laughed. His beak bobbed up and down and a few droplets of liquor sprayed out of his snout onto the smuggler's dark jacket, the rolls of fat beneath his shirt wobbling as he kicked back in his chair. The Rodian was grotesquely fat and, if not for his face, could've been mistaken for a young Hutt in the right lighting. Horis edged out of the way, sliding his chair so most of the liquid ended up going over the railing of the cantina, probably falling on the head of some poor peasant a dozen floors below them. The interior of Lumos' favorite watering hole was a dank and smelly, cramped place with poor music and worse service. The balcony at least gave them "fresh air" from the city and a place to speak where they could be heard. 

Horis was not so amused by Lumos' laughter, but the confusion on his face made it apparent he would need an explanation from the Rodian.

[b]~Stupid human! You think I just keep contraband lying on the side for someone to pick up and move for me?~[/b]

Horis rolled his eyes at Lumos, raising his gloved hands toward the vertical city stretching above them.

"Lumos, this is Nar Shadaa! Everyone has contraband to sell- from the politicians down to the mynocks!"

The Rodian chuckled, wiped the liquor droplets from his snout and settled back into his chair.

[b]~Maybe so, but I've got nothing worth moving at this time, friend. Not until the price of certain goods goes up dramatically. War was good for business. Now there are too many smugglers to pick from and not enough buyers.~[/b]

"Lumos- Lumos we go back. Way back."

[b]~Too true.~[/b]

"Remember Hapes? And Alderaan? I ran spice into the squeakiest clean planets this side of the galaxy and got you a full count. Didn't cheat you out of a credit."

[b]~I also remember the ship I loaned you for those runs,~[/b] Lumos snarled. [b]~The one you took to Coruscant without consulting me.~[/b]

"The one I paid you back for with the money I made on that run. I knew you'd say no to all that money but I still made you a profit when I could've got you cut out!"

[i][b]~AND NOW LOOK WHERE THAT'S GOT YOU!~[/b][/i] Lumos stirred his beverage, turned his one good eye to the skyline, and heaved a sigh.

[b]~Horis, my boy. You've got talent but no check on your arrogance. I know it's not greed because you could've left me high and dry after the Dwarf was destroyed. But that red ship you bought is Republic Military. There is no way to reconfigure it to show up as anything else on sensors. You will draw attention to everything you do. Every Sith will shoot at you on sight and every Republic cruiser will demand you heave-to until the paperwork for ownership clears. So no, I will not help you.~[/b]

Lumos waved at a droid hovering through the air with a platter of drinks, calling for the bill.

[b]~Is there nothing else?~[/b]

Horis shook his head, tacking off another contact from his list of old business associates- a list that was growing shorter with every passing day. His ship's fuel tank was as empty as his cargo bay, and pretty soon he wouldn't have any credits to pay the docking fees. 

"Nothing," Horis said, standing from the seat. He didn't offer so much as a goodbye on his way out, which was just fine with Lumos as another smuggler approached to see the old boss.

Horis thumbed the datadrive in his jacket pocket, casually sauntering through the crowded interior of the bar, trying his best to keep a low profile while headed out, back to the docking station where his Defender Corvette was parked...