Skin Deep/Act 1

Skin Deep Twilight was one of Dru Kuza’s favorite times to be outside; the last rays of sunlight sparkled against the panes of transparisteel and made the city shine like a jewel. Lianna city had some of the prettiest architecture known galaxy-round. Kuzas’ wagered that it was even preferable to the vaunted architecture of the Republic center, Coruscant.

Kuza suspected his bias was attributed to his birth and upbringing on Lianna. Nevertheless, Lianna’s architecture was a one-of-a-kind sight. The beauty of the place compelled Kuza to tour the city in his speeder whenever he had the time and especially at twilight. This time around Kuza chose to view the vibrant entertainment district. It was true that the place suffered from one of the seediest districts outside the Core and that most of the people weren’t a sight to behold, with prostitutes and gang members freely mingling between the various gambling establishments, the interplay of visuals that assaulted the eyes was nearly breathtaking.

Lights flashed, swirled and blinked all around, each one trying to entice a being to visit their place rather than their neighbor’s. It was a chaotic dance of flash and art.

Citizens gawked at the impressive cobalt speeder Kuza was currently controlling. In hindsight it was probably best to have gone with a little more subtlety to avoid all the attention and a possible confrontation in one of the most desperate sectors of Lianna City. Kuza knew that his face was recognizable throughout the city regardless, but people probably wouldn’t have noticed him had he driven something less bodacious.

Kuza slammed on the brake controls when a scarlet-skinned Falleen popped from the crowd and jumped into the street. The male shouted as a few other brethren moved to flank Kuza’s sides, “Hey Kuza! Spare a little cred’? We know you ain’t sufferin’ like us.”

Kuza knew this type and without hesitation drew his DC-15 blaster pistol, “I may not be suffering, but I also am not a charity. Unless you want a crater the size of plum in your head, I suggest you leave me be.”

Without another word, the Falleen and his cronies skittered back into the murmuring crowd. Kuza replaced his blaster into its compartment below his seat and restarted the speeder.

In his younger days, Kuza would have been fooled into taking pity on the thug for his rung on the latter of society, but he had taken enough muggings to know better. That isn’t to say he was completely cold, but when they cop an aggressive attitude and bring company, they want more than you are willing to give. Kuza’s family had garnered renown and wealth for its role in the running of Sienar Technologies, the major company on Lianna. While Sienar received all the press, deserving for their convincing the investors into keeping the Sienar name on the sign, his ancestor was the co-developer of their early vehicular ventures and a board member. Needless to say, he gained immeasurable wealth and prestige in the higher circles which subsequently filtered down to the Liannan masses. From that time on his family had a target on its back, either by corporate fraudsters or petty thugs looking to have a big score.

It also made it difficult to sort social and romantic life.