"Luxoria” Captain Zero announced, dramatically sweeping his hand across the Obsolete's holographic star chart. "Planet of pleasure, paradise of… potential peril." He winked, a nervous tic that made his toupee shift slightly. "And, of course, casinos." A gleam appeared in his eye, a far cry from the steely gaze he usually attempted.
Vee Korr rolled her eyes. "You're thinking about gambling again, aren't you, Captain?"
"Thinking? My dear Vee, I'm strategizing” he corrected, puffing out his chest. "A little bit of high-stakes poker might… lubricate our information gathering process. Think of it as… advanced interrogation techniques."
Flint Maddox, ever the pragmatist, grunted. "As long as you don't lose the ship again."
The Obsolete touched down on Luxoria, a planet that shimmered with a dazzling array of neon lights and opulent architecture. It was a sensory overload – a kaleidoscope of extravagant displays, shimmering fountains, and sleek, flying vehicles. Even Griz Mallory, usually unimpressed by anything that didn't involve explosions, whistled low.
They headed straight for the Golden Dragon Casino, a colossal structure that dominated the cityscape. Inside, the air thrummed with a mix of excitement, desperation, and the clinking of credits. The casino's opulent interior was breathtaking – glittering chandeliers, plush carpets, and rows of gaming tables where fortunes were both made and lost.
"Drake Valor frequents this establishment” Luna Silva informed them, her eyes scanning the bustling casino floor. "He prefers high-stakes games; he's got a penchant for extravagant displays."
Mira Sol, ever the pragmatist, added, "And a reputation for being incredibly difficult to deal with."
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Their search for Drake was interrupted by Captain Zero's sudden infatuation with a particularly flashy roulette wheel. He started with a modest bet, but soon, fueled by a mixture of adrenaline and misplaced confidence, he was wagering increasingly larger amounts of the crew's emergency funds. Vee, Flint, and Luna spent most of the next hour frantically trying to drag him away from the table, whilst Zee muttered about the "horrendous lack of ergonomic design" in the casino's chairs. Griz, meanwhile, found himself strangely captivated by a game of space-squid poker.
Finally, after a particularly embarrassing loss involving a strategically placed (and surprisingly effective) sneeze, Captain Zero was forcibly removed from the gaming tables. He was, however, surprisingly cheerful. "I lost a few credits” he admitted, "but I gleaned some valuable intel. The croupier told me Drake favors the high-roller poker room, and often chats with his associates during the game."
Armed with this less-than-conventional information, they headed to the exclusive poker room. There, surrounded by an aura of wealth and secrecy, sat Drake Valor—a tall, imposing figure with a piercing gaze and a smug grin. He was involved in a tense poker game with several heavily armed individuals who looked suspiciously like Zenith Corporation enforcers.
They needed a plan, and fast. Flint, as always, had one. “Distraction!” he whispered, eyes alight with mischief. The plan was audacious – Luna, using her amazing sniper skills (which she claimed were actually “precision aim with a strong sense of aesthetics”) would fire a perfectly aimed shot at a chandelier. The resulting chaos would cover their approach.
The chandelier crash caused a pandemonium as patrons scattered and guards rushed toward the damage. Seizing the opportunity, Mira, with a combination of verbal agility and impressive hand-to-hand combat, started a playful (but very effective) brawl. Captain Zero, attempting to assist, ended up knocking over a bar cart spilling expensive space-cocktails everywhere and getting himself temporarily distracted. It was just enough time for Vee and Zee to slip into the poker room and subtly swap Drake's datapad with a near-identical replica.
Later, back on the Obsolete, Vee confirmed their success. The data-pad contained a wealth of information: a detailed schedule of Zenith Corporation shipments, their secret locations, and even more intriguing – a hidden ledger detailing Drake Valor's illicit dealings with Zenith, going far beyond simply smuggling, revealing their shared involvement in the space-time manipulation device. Drake's betrayal was far more extensive than anyone had imagined. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, revealing a conspiracy far larger and more insidious than they could have ever guessed. The next move, however, was clear: follow the shipments.
Captain Zero, despite his gambling loss, felt a sense of satisfaction. "Well” he said, scratching his chin, "That was certainly… eventful." His gaze drifted to the ship’s remaining credits. "Perhaps a little less gambling next time." He smiled, but the gleam in his eye suggested that was a promise he might not quite keep.
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