This is another episode from the No-Force Rentals Round Robin, this one by Crysta Novelli
I'm only snipping the Tarkin portions out of thie story! For the whole thing, go here.

Her encounter with Thrawn left Kabira wondering how many other people at the party now knew who she was. She considered leaving, returning in the morning to meet Calrissian and get the items she needed from him. She hadn't planned on staying at the party in the first place. If only Calrissian could have taken her to get those things right away... But he couldn't, and there was nothing she could do about it until he was off duty in the morning. It was a good thing she wasn't in a hurry.

Kabira sighed softly, then made the decision to stay. She had a good feeling about her talk with Thrawn, despite how he'd managed to unnerve her so.

She crept into the ballroom, noticing that it had thinned out quite a bit. The couples dancing in the center of the room were quite a spectacle, as well. All manners of dance could be seen, some extremely provocative, others not much more than blatant groping. There were a few couples out there that were more reserved, as well as many lingering around the outskirts of the dance floor.

One of the observers was Grand Moff Tarkin. Kabira spotted him eyeing the couples on the dance floor and caught herself wondering what he was thinking. She knew this man by reputation alone, but reputation often told little about the soul behind the face. In no time at all she'd decided to go speak to him.

Kabira's gaze drifted around the ballroom swiftly before approaching him. She knew Rukh was here somewhere, watching her. She couldn't see him, but she knew he was there. 'Good,' she thought. Maybe Thrawn would think Tarkin was her target. She wasn't sure what that would accomplish, but it might prove to be fairly interesting.

Pasting a sultry smile on her face, she crossed the floor towards the Moff, her hips swaying just enough to rustle the material around her legs.

"A credit for your thoughts," she purred softly from just behind him and off to his right. Her hand drifted out to lightly brush against his arm.

The uniform clad Imperial turned slowly to gaze at her, and Kabira stared back at him. She studied him intently for a brief moment, then dropped her eyes slightly to avoid challenging him. What she had seen in that moment backed up all that she'd heard of him - cold, unnerving, regal, and powerful. A man whom no one dared mess with. Except for Kabira I'tali, that is...

"What is your name?" he asked, still looking at her, yet not turning his body.

Kabira took that as an invitation to step around and face him. She smiled shyly. "Kabira." Under normal circumstances, she would have used an alias, but all she needed was Calrissian coming up behind her and yelling, 'Kabira', and she'd be through.

Tarkin scrutinized her, and Kabira pretended not to notice. "What brings you to this party, little one?" he asked.

'Little one?' she thought, but managed not to roll her eyes. Instead she smiled sweetly and responded, "Why do you think, Sir? I mean, a chance to meet so many powerful men, and sample their services... for free, even..."

Tarkin smiled down at her. The sultry bimbo character was Kabira's most successful, by far. It got 'em every time. Stupid fools.

"You're not from around here, are you?" he asked then.

Kabira smiled suggestively. "Why do you say that?"

He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Because if I were a gambling fool, I would put money on the fact that you were from the Outer Rim. Tatooine, perhaps?"

Damn, he was good! How the hell did he do that? Kabira somehow managed to keep the stupid smile on her face, yet she knew the shock had shone in her eyes. True, she hadn't been disguising her voice in the least, but unless he was from Tatooine, he shouldn't have been able to tell that easily! Unless he knew who she was, that is...

Tarkin spotted the brief look of surprise that passed over her face, and suddenly put two and two together. He knew he'd seen her face somewhere before. "Kabira I'tali," he breathed softly, staring into her deep green eyes. "Jabba the Hutt's favorite little vornskr."

Kabira saw his eyes narrow as he suddenly figured out who she was. Suddenly she was frightened, though she didn't let it show. Messing with Tarkin could be a *very* bad thing.

"Now, Miss I'tali, tell me honestly, if you're able - what brings you to our neck of the galaxy this evening? Is someone paying you to charm me? I sure hope they offered you a lot of money, because from what I've heard of you I'd have thought you'd be smart enough not to try coming after me." His voice was hard, and cold. He was a very different man than Thrawn was. It was no wonder Sidious liked him so much.

The dumb chick act having worn itself out quickly, Kabira dumped it and pulled herself up to her full 5 foot 6 inch height, looking up directly into his cold gaze. "I'm impressed, Grand Moff Tarkin," she replied, letting it show. "Of course, I have no way of knowing that that you didn't know who I was before I approached you... but what I've heard about you appears to be correct."

Tarkin raised his eyebrows, slightly taken aback by her abrupt change in character.

"I can assure you honestly, Sir," she continued, this time meaning the respect behind his title, "that no one has paid me to 'charm' you this evening. I don't take suicide missions," she half-joked, allowing herself a small smile to ease the situation.

The smile appeared to go unnoticed by Tarkin however. Refusing to become noticeably intimidated, she held his gaze.

Tarkin was impressed. She had gall, that was for sure. But she did have respect for authority. Many bounty hunters and assassins liked to think they were more important than the men who hired them, forgetting that bounty hunters were a credit a dozen and could be hired for just as cheap. This woman had built up quite a reputation for herself over the years, yet to her credit she knew when to be respectful. If one could consider her stubborn stare to be respectful, that is...

Suddenly realizing that holding Tarkin's gaze for so long could be very unwise, Kabira lowered her gaze slightly. Just enough to let him know that she was not intimidated by him, yet enough to make her seem respectful and unchallenging. Kabira rarely dealt with men as powerful as Tarkin - she decided it best to be cautious.

Tarkin nodded as she lowered her gaze. She was a feisty one, all right. She could be a good prize to receive from this party tonight...

"Very well, Miss I'tali," he responded. Tarkin raised his hand to her cheek. Kabira resisted the urge to move away as he slowly caressed her cheek with his long fingers. No one dared touch her... Not when they knew who she was, that is.

"If you aren't here to kill me, who are you here for?" he asked pleasantly, or as pleasantly as a Grand Moff can get, anyways.

His thumb slid down her cheek and Kabira took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly before replying. "Calrissian," she replied. "But I'm here for equipment, not to kill him," she clarified.

"Oh?" he returned, raising one grayed eyebrow. "Then I take it you are waiting here for him to finish?"

She nodded, wishing he'd stop touching her. His caresses were intimate, and she didn't like them. Not in the least. Men like Tarkin sickened her. Men who used their power and position to intimidate and control. Men who took advantage of their power over others, over women-

"Then perhaps I can suggest something to help pass the time? Calrissian won't be off-duty until morning..."

The look in Tarkin's eyes scared her. There was no way she would let him touch her. If he had been anyone else, she'd have pulled out her blaster and been done with him. But somehow she knew that wouldn't work with this man.

"Thank you, but no," she replied, smiling sweetly. "I try not to indulge when I'm working... And I'd hate to screw with our new found relationship," she added, intending the pun, hoping he'd get the hint and release her.

"Ah, but you aren't working now, are you?" he insisted, grinning wickedly.

Kabira's stomach turned. "I'm sorry, Grand Moff Tarkin," she replied, still keeping her voice sweet and respectful while wracking her brain for something to say that would make him leave her alone. Somehow she doubted that telling him she was a virgin would work... With the look in his eyes, she figured he'd be more adamant about bedding her if he thought he'd be her first... Telling him flat out that he disgusted her probably wouldn't work either...

"I just don't think that would be such a good idea, on a professional level," she finished. "I know," she added as he opened his mouth to more than likely disagree, "I'm sure you could take care of it, but professionally, and personally, I would rather not." Kabira held her breath, waiting for his reply.

Tarkin eyed her, wondering if he should push further. Finally realizing that while he could easily take her against her will without her harming him tonight, doing so could be a very bad idea in the future. All he needed was the problem of disposing of several talented bounty hunters and assassins that suddenly wanted him dead for violating her.

Severely disappointed, he dropped his hand from her face. He noticed the minute sigh of relief she allowed herself and cursed mentally. She was beautiful, and deadly, and completely off limits. Which of course made him want her even more. Damn it all!

Kabira extricated herself from Tarkin quickly as soon as he'd removed his hand. She knew that this might not be the end of it. When a man like Tarkin sets his sights on something, he doesn't tend to give up until he gets it.

She cursed herself for approaching him in the first place as she headed to the refreshment table to get something to drink. Her mouth was dry, and her nerves needed soothing. She wondered where the alcoholic beverages were located.

"Um, excuse me..." a soft voice sounded behind her. Kabira turned to see a young woman in her early twenties standing behind her. She wore a pretty blue, rather conservative dress, and unlike most of the guests, seemed to be sober.

"I'm sorry to bother you," she said, "but I was wondering if you know who Ziggy is."

Kabira noted the worry in the young woman's eyes, and recalled talking to Gillian earlier. She had pointed out Ziggy as the manager of Rent-a-Sith. No, Rent-a-Jedi. Ziggy was the female Jedi dancing with the young one with the goofy haircut that had gotten hit by the dart.

"Sort of," Kabira replied. "I know what she looks like, but that's about it."

"Okay, that's great," the brunette continued. "Do you happen to have any idea where she was going? I'm sure she wouldn't have told a stranger, but maybe you overheard something, or saw her talking to someone..."

Now this was interesting. Kabira hadn't even noticed that the woman named Ziggy had even gone anywhere. This girl seemed to be really worried about her. Kabira's gaze swept the room again and picked up Solo, the Jedi boyfriend, Gillian... and another blonde Jedi asking people questions.

"I remember seeing her dance with the Jedi with the funky haircut," Kabira informed her, "but that's all I noticed about her. I'm sorry."

The young woman nodded. "Okay, thanks." She looked disappointed that Kabira couldn't offer any more helpful information. "I'm sorry to bother you," she added.

"That's all right," Kabira responded. 'You took my mind off of Tarkin for a moment. I should thank you,' she thought as she watched the girl approach a couple at the other end of the refreshment table.

Suddenly Kabira spotted someone she hadn't seen in years. "Sith!" she cursed quietly. Why hadn't she seen him earlier? And what the hell was he doing working here? He obviously hadn't seen her yet, either. Because if he did... Kabira didn't want to think about it.

~ tbc ~