Estro Sabrino sat quietly in a cantina on Jutraal nursing a glass of Corellian ale. It was the only good thing that had happened to him since the New Order had taken the planet over since the Jutraalian Empire had shattered. He at least now had something to get blind drunk on that had more flavor to it than anything made on Jutraal.

"Damn you, Fearsons...." he grumbled before taking another drinks from his glass.

It had been some time now since the New Order had consolidated itself as the true Galactic Empire. They had taken out everything else that even dared to make itself out to be an Empire. The Demothesians had suffered from an internal coup and now all bowed to the New Order and their Regent. Jutraal had been even worse; the Empire came and in one fell swoop before the Jutraalian legislature, had forced them to surrender. With the loss of their empire, all memebers of the Jutraalian military were dismissed and left to rot. That was what Estro was bitter about the most. He had once been one of the Jutraal's admirals and how do they thank him for his years of service?

"A boot up the ass and a instant discharge from the navy," Estro grumbled as he finished the last bit of the ale.

Estro raised his hand and got the server's attention who immediately brought him another ale. This is all Estro did nowadays, nothing but a predictable bar patron. He raised his glass in a mocking salute towards a table of men who seemed to be minding their own business. Trouble is, they always seem to be minding their own business in Estro's proximity. Estro had instantly classified them spooks and most likely Imperial spooks. Of course, they'd never acknowledge he knew they were there, but it was pretty much a mutual relationship. They were stuck with the comfy job of watching a washed up naval commander and he was that washed up naval commander who tolerated their watching him since all he did was eat, sleep, and get drunk.

"What a life," Estro muttered into his glass.

"Doesn't seem like much of a life," A voice said from behind Estro.

Estro listened and watched a man walk around his booth and sit down across from him. Estro didn't even look at the man's face; instead he looked at the spooks who seemed to be paying less attention to him than usual which meant they were most likely watching this with greater interest than usual.

"Hey, I'm over here," the man said waving his right hand slightly to try to get Estro's attention.

"I know where you are, you piece of bantha fodder. What I'm looking at are my watchers."

"Watchers?" the man asked turning around.

"There, the table with the four men at it," Estro said glumly as he take a drink from his glass.

"They aren't even looking at us," the man said unimpressed.

"Precisely," Estro said as he took another drink.

"Exactly how much ale have you had?" the man asked skeptically.

"Not enough; I still know when I'm dealing with an ass who doesn't believe a man who knows what he's talking about," Estro replied sourly as he put his glass down.

"Now what the hell do you want?"

The man chukcled at that response as he took a drink from his own.

"Whats so damn funny?" Estro demanded, his temper reaching its end with this stranger.

"Now calm down, Estro...."

"Either you tell me who you are, or you're going to have a burning hole in your stomach," Estro said in a deadly calm voice as he slipped his right hand under the table and pulled his blaster pistol out of its holster strapped to his hip.

"Now now, no need for any violence. Wouldn't want whoevers watching you to get upset," the man said.

"Upset? They'd probably be pleased with me for removing one more Jutraalian they don't have to watch," Estro said as he clicked his blaster from stun to kill.

"Fine, but can I at least make you the offer I came to make before you vaporize my bladder?" the man asked as he sat there.

"Good question, depends on what that offer has for me. Also depends on whether you want my four friends to hear it also. They bug the light I think," Estro said tapping the light at the center of the table.

"What makes you say that?" the man asked now curiously.

"Where else would you hide a bug at a cantina table?" Estro asked calmly as he lifted the light cover and pulled out a small black device before replacing it.

"You're putting it back?" the man asked in surprise.

"Of course, no point in damaging their equipment. I'm stuck with them watching me, whether I like it or not. I prefer not to piss off whoever's watching me when I having nothing to look forward to."

"Perhaps you might if you'd care to follow me," the man said as he stood up and walked away from the table.

Estro watched the man walk away and then looked down at his glass of Corellian ale. He sat there for a moment considering what he was going to do. Either he stayed where he was and got drunk, or he went with this nameless man who might actually give him some purpose. He looked over at the watchers for a moment, then sneered as he took his glass of ale and dumped it on the light on the table, shorting out the bug in it. He then stood up and walked after the man who might give him some new purpose in life.

Estro walked up alongside the man who had grabbed his attention wondering what the hell he was now letting himself being pulled into. Whatever it was, the last thing he wanted was to end up on a prison bar due for some hellhole penal colony in the Empire to be used as slave labor.

No, I won’t let them make me into some number. I was an admiral damn it!

“So, what offer have you got for me, mr…..”

“Lieutenant; my name, as far as you are concerned for right now, is Lieutenant Glorid.”

“Of what? Jutraal? Empire? Coalition?”

“Why should it matter?”

“Because the Empire put me out of a job, that’s why,” Estro spat out sourly.

“Me too, but that didn’t stop me from making a living,” Glorid said as they walked on.

“Wait; there was a Lieutenant Glorid on the Charlemagne. That was you, wasn’t it?” Estro asked coldly as he recalled his former command ship which had been scuttled with the disarming of Jutraal.

“Perhaps,” Glorid said now in more careful tones.

Estro didn’t speak as they walked on into one of the seedier districts that dominated Jutraal since the disruption of its military forces. Many of the men had been paid well, but the world’s currency was almost worthless now in comparison to Imperial credits. That made most of them poor and down and out of luck. Estro had only been lucky enough to invest in some mining operations with his substantial Admiral’s pay and so he now made some Imperial credits, most of which were then invested into large sums of alcohol since his dismissal and inability to find any sort of employment since many Jutraalians had blacklisted former members of the military so that they wouldn’t draw the gaze of the Empire upon them..

“Where exactly are we walking to?” Estro asked as he remembered that he still had his blaster in his hand. He slowly placed it back in its holster and clipped the holder bit back over the handle so it wouldn’t slip out.

“My employer’s office,” Glorid said as he they were soon approaching one of the largest casinos in the district. It also happened to be one of the newest in the district also.

Estro looked up at the casino lights and thought them gaudy, acting like giant strobe lights drawing insects to it to be zapped or in this case robbed blind by the casino. Estro soon began to realize what bunch was trying to recruit him now. It was the Jutraalian Syndicate; an organization that had been born barely a year before the dissolution of the Jutraal military. It was rumored to be run by a discharged naval captain who had been fired for letting smugglers and gun runners go in return for kickbacks from their exploits. Estro remembered that well because he had been one of the military justices at that court-martial. Estro wondered if this now captain wished to carry out a grudge against him. If so, Estro intended to put up a fight. Either way, he would find out soon because they had already cleared the casino doors and were walking through the sabbac tables and head towards a turbolift. They were soon going up and reached an upper level where they were escorted by two large thugs to a massive and lavishly decorated office with a window looking down at the main casino floor. Facing the window was a large plush repulsor chair.

“Thank you, Lieutenant, you may go,” a voice said from the chair as a hand appeared from behind it in a dismissive gesture.

Glorid bowed and exited the chamber along with the two thugs. Estro stared at the chair and waited. Soon the chair rotated to reveal young man in a blue and white business suit. He seemed to regard Estro for a moment as Estro recognized the face. It was that captain he had helped court-martial, Mulod Orm.

“Gooding evening, Admiral” Orm said, his voice full of enjoyment at saying that since Estro was now the one out of a job.

“Good evening, Captain Orm,” Estro said in response as he grated his teeth at how Orm chose to dig into him.

“Ah, I see you remember me. I feel honored that one of the Jutraal’s admirals actually cares to remember the faces of his former underlings.”

Estro just snorted at that comment as he looked at Mulod. The man had apparently done very well with the Jutraalian Syndicate since its formation. Estro suspected that certain recent events helped influence that though.

“Well, what is it you want with me, Orm? Did you have one of your cronies drag me all the way here from my cantina and my drink just to gloat?” Estro asked sourly as he took a seat in front of the desk Orm sat at.

“Of course not, I’m here to make you an offer that I think you will find most beneficial to the both of us.”

“And that would be?”

“That you become one of my lieutenants within the Syndicate,” Orm said.

Estro just stared at him for a moment at this offer. He was actually being offered to join a growing crime syndicate by the very boss of it as a lieutenant at that. Estro didn’t like the idea of being anyone’s lackey, though he had pretty much been one for Emperor Fearsons. The difference here was that Fearsons had been his superior, here; Orm was at most levels nothing in comparison to Estro. Estro though didn’t even let the thought of saying no enter his mind. This was a perfect way to make a living now that his people had forsaken him and he didn’t have much chance of serving any true military cause.

“I think I just might accept that offer,” Estro said as he looked at Orm.

“Good, then let me welcome you to the Jutraalian Syndicate. So, lets set you up with a room here and then I can run you through what I’m going to have you doing,” Orm said with a smile as he stood up and walked around the desk to lead Estro out of the chamber.

Estro walked along the catwalk and looked down at the workers who went about processing packages of spice in the makeshift processing plant that had been originally just a warehouse. Of course, it still looked like a warehouse on the outside, but that was to hide the illegal activities taking place inside of it. Slowly but surely, the men moved down a stairway on the catwalk and up to one of the workstations. Orm reached down into the spice and brought it to his tongue and tasted it. He let out a satisfied shiver and turned towards Estro.

"Pure glitterstim, Estro. Enough here to buy a fleet of cargo ships. Care for a taste?" He asked moving out of the way and moving his arms in an inviting motion.

Estro stiffened slightly at the offer and looked at the glitterstim. A bead of sweat ran down the left side of his face before he finally can to his decision and his answer.

"No."

"What?" Orm asked surprised at that answer.

"Unlike you, Orm, I think I'd prefer to keep a clear mind while I serve the Syndicate," Estro said very calmly as he crossed his arms in front of him.

"Suit yourself," Orm said with a shrug.

Estro watched him walk along and then noted Orm's taste testing for later use in his own schemes. Estro would never touch glitterstim and that was because he knew what addiction could do to a person. He knew mainly because he currently craved a glass of corellian ale and if that was as bad as it was, he dreaded what would happen if he touched something even more addictive like spice.

I won't let that happen

That reassuring thought ran through Estro's headas he walked along, continuing to follow Orm on the tour. He'd seen a good deal of facilities so far and he was beginning to realize the Orm was likely making him one of his right hand men. That was also putting him in a position to get rid of Orm eventually and seize the Syndicate for himself. He would keep that thought to himself though until he could get a following of cronies of his own to do his bidding.

"Well, now that i've shown you the warehouses you'll be in charge of, its time to take you to the casinos you'll also being managing," Orm said as they walked towards the exit.

Estro followed along and continued to watch Orm, making mental notes of his vices and very few virtues.

All in good time, the Syndicate will be mine.

Estro looked down at all the casino patrons as he stood in Orm's luxuriously decorated office. He regarded them quietly and smiled.

"Greed is such a wonderful vice," he said as he watched one man being dragged off the casion floor due to the fact he had lost everything he had and was trying to force the machine to give him his money back.

"Indeed it is," Orm said as he poured over a balance sheet of the casino's current assets.

"Orm, exactly how large is your organization?" Estro asked calmly as he continued to watch the gamblers.

"Oh, I don't know, we run most of Jutraal's illegal operations nowadays. That hadn't been possible until the Empire came though."

"Really? Why is that?" Estro asked.

"Well,as you know, when they took over, our benevolent Emperor sacked all Jutraalian military personnel and officials."

"Indeed," Estro said, his right eyebrow twitching slightly at that fact being brought up.

"Well, with all those unemployed and skilled people, someone had to employ them. Thus, I promptly began recruiting as many former military men as I could. The Syndicate grew in leaps and bounds within months of this since all my new employees already knew how to handle weaopns. So, I've simply overwhelmed and overpowered all the others here on the planet to become part of the Syndicate also."

"Very clever," Estro said as he walked to the bar within the office and got a corellian ale. He sipped it as he turned towards Orm.

"Sure was, and now I plan on expanding."

"Expanding?" Estro asked now, more interested than before.

"Yep, we're going to give those other groups a run for their money. Soon, everyone will know to fear the Jutraalian Syndicate."

Just not with you at its head

Estro smiled slightly at that thought as he turned back towards the window and looked down at the casino partrons again. He would deal with Orm soon, once he had access to the information he needed to fully run the Syndicate. Orm, of course, might be aware of Estro's intetions, but Estro would like to see the fool try and stop his plans.

Estro Sabrino stood quietly within the innards of the Green Luck Casino on Jutraal. He had been appointed its manager as well as manager of several dozen similar facilities along with maintaining the spice processing warehouses on all of Jutraal. That was the main reason a twitching Rodian was now standing in front of him. There seemed to be a very nasty difference in the quotas and the actual proceesing figures.

"Please Estro, you have to understand, it isn't my fault! I just run the lab! Its not my fault that the figures aren't matching up!"

Estro look at the Rodian very solemnly as he considered what to do with him. He sighed for a moment and the walked up to the Rodian and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Of course you aren't responsible, Treedo. I don't think we need to discuss this anymore."

"Oh thank you, sir!" Treedo said and shook the hand Estro had placed on his shoulder.

As Treedo turned and began to leave, Estro nodded coldly towards one of his guards who simply moved as if to escort Treedo back out the elevator. Just as they stepped outside the door however, the large guard suddenly reveal thin strang of wire in his hands which he promptly moved over the Rodian's head and brought it up to his neck, cutting off his oxygen. With that sight, the door closed assuring Estro that they had taken care of the mismatching statistics. Now he had another meeting which he had scheduled. A secrect door into the office opened and a tall, regal looking Falleen walked in.

"Ah, welcome Prince Gorma. I hope your trip was pleasant?" Sabrino asked in as a host would to an esteemed guest.

"As best as possible for coming to a competitor's planet and conspiring with one of his lieutenants."

"I won't be a lieutenant much longer if our plan plays out correctly. Besides, once we have done this, we will have an organization larger than any other crime syndicate in existence. Your Black Sun, with the Jutraalian Syndicate. It would be quite a pairing."

"And what exactly does the Syndicate offer Black Sun what it doesn't already have?"

"A criminal network formed of ex-military personnel," Estro said with a grin.

Gorma had to bow his head in acceptance of that fact. The Jutraalian Syndicate was already formidable, having its stranglehold on all worlds of the collapsed Jutraalian Empire. They ran the underworld in that part of space and no one else had tried to move in because they would be facing an organization full of enforcers with former military experience.

"So, we must dispose of Orm," Groma said calmly as he stood there, his eloquant robes swishing with his moments.

"Yes, but let me handle that. It will be much easier for our merger to occur if someone inside of the organization took care of it."

"Very well, Estro, but do not fail. If you do, I shall deal with Orm myself. Until then, we will not meet again."

Estro watched Gorma exit through the same secret passage and then smiled slightly. Everything was falling into place. He would soon remove that troublesome Orm and then the Syndicate and Black Sun would combine their assets into a single organization that would then work onwards into there was only one syndicate within the entire galaxy that contrall all crime and illegal operations.

A true union of the underworld.

Estro sat quietly within his chambers as he examined this week’s status of the part of the Syndicate that he was in charge of while Orm moved about making business deals with other groups as the Syndicate expanded from what was formerly Jutraalian space and out into the rest of the galaxy. Already, there were rumors circulating that the Hutts weren’t too happy with these upstarts making moves into territories that they had usually dominated. This would also give a very good group to pin the upcoming assassination on.

Orm had to die

Estro knew that because Orm’s addiction to spice getting out of hand. Already he had seen the man acting like he could read people’s mind after one of his little sessions with his person stash of spice. The Syndicate couldn’t have a degenerate like that at its head, so Estro had decided it was now time to destroy him and save the Syndicate from him as well as begin the necessary processes to create the greatest dream of all; An empire without borders.

I will hold as much power as any ruler but my followers and I shall always remain in the shadows

Estro now looked up as the secret door opened again and a droid walked in. It was an old 88 account droid but this one was well distinguished for its ability to break any code and find out almost any information. The droid with what seem with some strain with his more antiquated limbs that most likely had constant oil baths. It regarded him for a moment before speaking.

“When someone usually requires information, they come to me, not the other way around, Sabrino,” 8t88 said, his vocabulator delivering the speech in a surprisingly cultured tone.

“Yes, well this isn’t your usual job, 88,” Estro replied curtly as the droid continued into the chamber took a seat in front of him.

“Well, what is it then? I do have other things to do beside make house calls to local crimelords.”

“I have a proposition for you,” Estro said with a smile.

“Oh really?” 88 asked with curiosity and skepticism at the same time.

“Oh yes, I have a deal that will guarantee you wealth beyond what you could possibly imagine.”

“I’m a droid, Sabrino, I can imagine quite a great sum,” 88 said snidely.

“Of course, but hear me out first,” Sabrino said as he sat there.

“Very well, you have my attention,” 88 said as he watched Estro.

“I wish for you to become an employee of mine,” Estro said calmly

If the droid had had any moveable facial features, Estro was sure it would have done a double take from the manner it first moved and then the tone its vocabulator had taken.

“Are you joking?” 88 demanded now in very harsh tones.

“I’m not one to joke with something as humorless as a droid. I’m simply making the offer to you before it is too late.”

“Too late for what?” 88 asked as he seemed to glare at Estro.

“Too late for you to join in what is to be one of the greatest ambitions to come since Xim the Despot,” Estro said with a grin.

“If I recall correctly, Xim met an unhappy ending at the hands of the Hutts. That doesn’t sound like a very lucrative business situation to me,” 88 said.

“True, but what if the Hutts were forced to work for us? What if every criminal organization was under the control of a single group? What if we could become a true power in the shadows of the galaxy?” Estro asked with a grin.

“Now that would be lucrative, but how do you intend to do something like that?” 88 asked, skepticism creeping into his modulated voice.

“Well, by you for one thing. I have a very special assignment for you as intelligence director of our forming criminal conspiracy. Are you interested?” Estro asked, knowing the droid couldn’t resist having a shot at more power than he already wielded as one of the best code crackers and information brokers.

“Assignment? I haven’t even accepted and you’ve already got an assignment for me? I believe your head needs examining, Sabrino. I’m not about to do anything for you for free. I’m still a free agent here,” 88 said sourly.

“Fine, then I have one job for you I can pay for, half now, half later. I wish for you to find some information for me.”

“Oh?” 88 asked, now going into business mode.

“Yes, now listen closely.”

3 Days Later

Orm walked about the Green Luck Casino’s office, currently yelling at Estro for the earlier execution of Treedo.

“Why the hell did you kill him? Treedo couldn’t possibly have been stealing spice from the managing plant!”

“The figures didn’t add up. Treedo is the only one who could have gotten to it without being noticed. I might add that the figures balanced out after he was executed. I think that is proof enough for liquidating him,” Sabrino said very coolly.

“I don’t care about the numbers! Treedo has been with the Syndicate since its forming and you just liquidated him like it was nothing! What kind of man are you? Have you no compassion?”

“Compassion is bad for business and my compassion died the day I was abandoned by my own people. Now, are you done lecturing me? I have managing to do,” Sabrino said in a very dismissive tone.

Orm’s face grew hard as he looked at the merciless man who had once been an Admiral in the Jutraalian Empire’s navy. His eyes were cold and merciless now, not like when he had first seen them during his court-martial so long ago. Life hadn’t been kind to Sabrino, that was clear, and now the ruined admiral seemed to be exerting more control over the Syndicate. Orm couldn’t allow that, which meant he would have to deal with this impetuous man soon and be free of him before anything bad happened.

2 Hours Later

Orm sat in the Gruvada Club, one of his many clubs that he operated lately to make some profit and to enjoy the dancers there for himself. After all, why would they say no to their boss? As he sat in his private booth, several dancers were performing when one blue skinned twi’lek drew his attention. She smiled at him flirtatiously and then continued to dance the current bands music. After the number, she walked over to his table and sat down.

“Hey, you’re pretty good. What’s your name?” Orm asked.

“Amila Trossk,” the twi’lek said with a smile as she edged in closer to Orm.

Orm smiled and thought she had a pretty shapely body. He wouldn’t mind seeing what some of her talents might be so he decided to find out now. He stood up and walked around the table.

“Care to come with my suite upstairs?” Orm asked with a smile.

“I’d love to,” Amila said with a smile and joined Orm.

They took the turbolift to the third level of the building where Orm had his personal suite set up for encounters like this. They walked in and then Orm closed and locked the door. He then turned to Amila and smiled

“You wouldn’t happen to know any form of massage, would you?”

“Of course, I’m a very talented dancer,” Amila said with a grin.

Orm lay down on the bed and then felt the twi’lek begin to rub his back in very soothing motions. She started at his lower back and slowly made his way towards his neck. She seemed to pause for a moment though and before Orm could look around, the twi’lek slipped a fiber wire she had hidden on his dancing suit around his neck and pulled hard. Orm felt his air cut off and struggled all he could to get free, but the twi’lek locked her legs around his waist, keeping him in place. He brought his hands up to his throat and tried to pull the wire free but to no avail. As he felt himself losing consciousness, the twi’lek leaned in and spoke.

“Estro Sabrino sends his regards.”

With that said Orm realized his lieutenant had gotten him first and died shortly afterward. Amila stood up and pulled a vibroblade out of her dancing boot and slit Orm’s throat from ear to ear, doing as Estro had ordered. With her job done, Amila calmly slipped out of the room and made her quick escape back to the Green Luck Casino where Estro would be waiting for her report.

Ten Days Later

Estro Sabrino watched as Prince Gorma entered his office through the main door instead of the secret entrance. Now that Sabrino had seized up control of the Syndicate within the ten days following Orm’s death, it was time for them to discuss their deal.

“So, we shall be partners then?” Gorma asked with a smile as the door closed behind him.

“Not necessarily,” Sabrino said as the secret door opened and 8t88 entered the chamber, his servomotors whirring.

“What is that thing doing here?” Gorma demanded as he looked at the droid.

“88 took up a job for me. I had him dig up some very damaging information on a number of associates,” Sabrino said matter-of-factly.

“Associates like who?” Gorma asked as he looked at the former admiral.

“Like you,” Sabrino said as 88 promptly plugged in a datadisc holding Gorma’s information.

Gorma looked at the display for a moment and gaped at all that the droid had uncovered. Half of the information there could destroy his legitimate fronts all over the galaxy and ruin Black Sun for good. All that information was right there. He looked at Sabrino and considered reaching for his blaster but then thought better of it. Sabrino surely had plans for if that happened.

“What exactly do you plan on doing with this information,” Gorma asked, maintaining his calm.

“Nothing,” Sabrino replied.

“Nothing?” Gorma asked skeptically.

“Well, nothing as long as you and Black Sun work for me,” Sabrino said with a cruel grin.

“So, we are to be lapdogs of the Jutraalian Syndicate?” Gorma now asked coldly.

“No, the Syndicate will serve me also. I have big plans, Gorma, bigger than just making you and Black Sun my servants. Life has achieved greatness in all facets of existence, except crime! Now I shall change that. I shall unite the criminals of the galaxy. Together, we shall be a power to be reckoned with. Not militarily, not politically, but through influence. Crime can never be wiped out. It is an absolute of the galaxy like the light side and the dark side of the force. Crime shall exist as long as sentient life exists and the Union shall control it all. Now, let us discuss your sway over the Falleen government since Black Sun’s headquarters is there. There is something there that I wish you to acquire for the Union as a sign of your new loyalty.”

“Very well,” Gorma said coldly as he clutched his fists in defeat and listened.