Chapter 34. Smuggler
from Part 5. Corrupted
Galaxy Without End
*
Ruth had Quinn now. She had Quinn all over the damn ship—well, Vette couldn’t prove that, but the looks they gave each other steamed up every common area. Vette was happy for Ruth, she really was, she just regretted that it came at the cost of Quinn getting nice things.
It might not be a sign by itself. But a used XS Freighter 240C came onto the GTN from Balmorra. Vette arranged a test drive before she got her breath back.
When she got back to the Light Red, she sat Ruth down. They were in orbit over Balmorra, relaxed. Everything was fine.
“Ruth?” Vette poked at the red velvet upholstery on the holo room couch. Then she rushed the words: “I'm buying a ship.”
“You can use mine,” said Ruth.
Sometimes her being nice made things so hard. “No, I mean... to go solo for a while.”
“Oh.” Ruth’s light blue eyes still got huge sometimes. “That sounds exciting! What kind are you getting?”
“Corellian XS Freighter 240C, single mount cannon, heavy lux engine array.”
Ruth grinned. “You've got it all figured out.”
“I won't abandon you if you need me. But things seem pretty stable, and you've got Jaesa and Quinn and Pierce...”
“Each with a very different relationship. They're not really the same. But I'm happy for you.” Ruth leaned back and grinned wider. “Do you have pictures? I want to see pictures. Is it big? Did you just buy a tanker rig? No, you’d want something that can maneuver.”
As Ruth chattered, Vette realized that she was trying to cover. Trying not to let on something else, maybe even disappointment. But she was so cheerful, and so determined not to sink into sentiment, that Vette gave her what she asked for: pics and stats on the new acquisition. And Ruth’s interest, while strained, wasn’t at all fake. The whole plan got more real as Vette described her ride, and her hopes.
*
Vette holoed Plasmajack and got nothing. Odd. She tried Taunt.
Taunt and Flash answered together, and Taunt took the lead. “Vette! We were going to holo you!”
“What’s wrong?”
Flash’s hands wouldn’t stop wringing. “It’s Plasmajack. He’s at the medcenter. Something about his heart. Doctors say he’ll be okay if we’re careful from now on.”
“No,” Vette breathed. Her heart felt bad, too. “I wasn’t even there.”
“It’s okay. We’ll watch him for you. Why did you holo?”
“I…got a ship. I have my own ship. It was supposed to be for us.”
Taunt smiled first. “That’s amazing news. You’ll bring it to Nar Shaddaa, right? Not yet, but when Plasmajack gets out. He can tour grounded ships, we asked.”
“You bet,” said Vette. “You just bet.”
*
“Sooo. Hi, everybody.”
Ruth’s crew sat along the circle of red velvet couches. Vette perched on the cold edge of the holoprojector and felt like she was on display.
“Is everything all right?” Jaesa said.
“What, me? Yeah, of course!” Vette found herself looking at Ruth. Ruth sat with her legs crossed, her body angled forward in an attitude of thorough interest. Her eyes were as calm as could be. She gave Vette a little nod.
“So, it’s a funny thing, but I somehow came into possession of a sweet little Corellian freighter, and…I’m taking it out.”
Pierce looked intent. “Does she maneuver better than this?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t believe.”
“Great. Can I go with her, milord?”
Ruth bridled. “The Light Red is not that bad!”
Quinn was scowling. “After the tuning I arranged, I should hope not. However, if you feel strongly, Lieutenant, the two of you—”
“I’m taking her out solo,” Vette rushed. “I can have houseguests after she’s broken in.” That was the hard part, the part she couldn’t surrender. She had been a dependent for a year and a half. Sometimes a girl just needed alone time with solid engines and an open sky. Then: Nar Shaddaa, Plasmajack, Ruth, anywhere, all of it. Just not yet.
“Where will you go?” Jaesa said thoughtfully.
“There’re a lot of credits in running materials along the Republic’s borders. I’ll be far out of the Imperial places that clap slave collars on you for breathing. No offense, Ruth.”
Ruth raised her hand to face level, palm open. “Fair critique.”
“My lord,” Quinn said, “I will of course update our requisitions to reflect the change in crew complement. And maintain the chocolate bar quadruple ration that always seemed to disappear out of the kitchen.”
“That could’ve been Pierce,” Vette piped.
“For the past year?”
“He’s a very forward-thinking guy.”
“We get chocolate here?” said Pierce.
“We will now,” Quinn said stiffly.
Well, that had gotten out of hand. “Anyway! I’ll be leaving you guys at Balmorra. Ruth already has the holofrequency.”
“We’ll miss you,” Jaesa said. Quinn did an absolutely amazing eye roll, after he had tilted his face away from Ruth. Vette opted not to call him out on it. She would not miss having him around.
“I’m proud of you,” said Ruth. “I mean that in the nicest way. You shouldn’t have to spend your whole career working for a mid-tier Sith. At least these three get to look forward to promotions, all I ever gave you was food and chores. Oh, and I got you something for your ship.”
“Wait, really?” Vette never knew how extravagant Ruth was going to be.
Ruth handed her a small metal case. Vette opened it to find a pair of white fuzzy dice joined on an aurodium chain.
“For luck,” said Ruth. “I read a lot of Twi’leks use viewscreen ornaments.”
“Well, this one does as of now. Thanks!”
“Still, I’m keeping your room reserved for you.”
Aw, Ruth. “Well,” said Vette. “I thought that went without saying.”
*
Quinn stopped Ruth in the hallway. “My lord, her abandonment—”
“It’s okay.”
“Are you all right?”
Ruth felt the thaw running through her limbs. “Yes,” she said. “I’m fine. I’m happy for her.”
“You are as strong as your friends. Will this loss weaken you?”
Ah. The practical consideration. “I’m losing her immediate company, not her friendship.”
Quinn’s calculation raced, and it always made her heart try to keep up. “Then distance doesn’t matter?”
“No. Of course not. Not to a true heart.”
She couldn’t read his eyes while he stared into hers. Finally, quietly, he said, “I am always learning something, my lord. You’ll want to file her ship as a former and legally sold possession of yours in Imperial records. That protects far more than it exposes.”
“Good thinking. Thank you.”
He cupped her chin and kissed her. He cut a look back toward the crew, still gathered in the room around the corner. Then he moved on.
*
Vette had had her practice runs. If a big guy named Rogun wanted to run some blasters to the border planet of Ord Mantell…Vette would take those credits. She wasn’t afraid of the space blockade.
“Captain's log,” Vette said to the holo.
Day 1: I need to prove I can stand on my own without hiding behind friends and bosses. The Ebon Crock is mine, and I’ve taken on cargo for Ord Mantell.
Day 2: My ship has been stolen and I need a hug.
*
Vette got unexpected help in the form of an Ord Mantell native named Corso Riggs. No, literally, unexpected help; when she stood up after a firefight he wrapped an arm around her waist and offered his other arm in front of her, elbow crooked.
Vette went rigid. “What. Are you doing.”
“Helping you walk.” Corso seemed to realize he wasn’t getting a desired result. “Uh, if you need it. Miss.”
As a change from Quinn it was......a change. Vette stepped free. “Let's just go, huh?”
Skavak had fooled the separatists here, too. Vette just chased.
*
Why was Vette in the bowels of a separatist base, stealing things? Right, because this would lead her to Skavak, and her ship. She worked furiously at a console, trying to download the necessary files.
“Hello, comrade—wait, I don’t recognize you.”
There was a boy, no older than sixteen. There was a tall droid.
The droid said, “There are deactivated organics nearby.”
This was where Ruth would step forward. This was where she talked them down, or intimidated them, or broke the droid and scared the man. When Ruth stepped in, things got fixed. And for a year and a half, Vette had been the beneficiary.
But Ruth wasn’t there.
Vette thought as fast as she ever had before. “By the stars!” she yelled. “Republic troops have invaded our base!”
“This organic is not in the main database,” the droid said.
“You really oughta get its optical sensors cleaned,” said Vette. “Stay here. I’ll check out the problem.”
She booked it.
*
The separatists had a secret volcano base, which was actually one of the most metal things Vette had ever heard of. Corso insisted on going with her, all the way uphill; when it came down to it, he seemed to think executing a sep was a good idea. A sep younger than both of them, whey-faced and scrawny and helpless on his knees.
“Stand back, Captain. This is justice for my family.”
She wasn’t really sure how old he was, but he was clearly too young to be running around executing people. His arm was extended, holding a blaster to the sep kid’s skull. Vette placed a hand on Corso’s upper arm. “Somebody told me once that in the entire history of the galaxy, nobody was ever brought back through killing. I have my own reasons for believing her…I guess you have to decide whether it changes anything.”
Corso’s tension broke. He let his arm fall. “Your wise woman, what did she do when everything got taken away?”
On Korriban, when she’d had nothing but a practice blade and some distant well wishers? “She stayed true to herself and stayed alive. And got me, so actually, she ended up way ahead.”
Corso holstered his blaster. The sep started crying. “Go,” Corso said. “Before I change my mind.”
They didn’t catch Skavak that day. But they did catch a shuttle to Coruscant.
*
Darmas Pollaran was one of those personalities that would fold up to two dimensions and fall over if exposed to true power. And yet, for most of Vette’s life, men like him had been the movers and shakers. It was a matter of context. In transactions without Sith, he really did have influence.
Anyway, she liked the way he looked at her. As a player in her own right, she could flirt with no one staring. Well, except Corso, but he could choose to leave at any time. It was a wide, free Galaxy out there. Sticking together was not a matter of life, death, and Forcible attachment.
Darmas was personable and generous and he had a low, ready laugh that gave Vette more confidence than any more direct flirtation could. The Great Korriban Drought of 10 ATC might just end today.
They talked about Skavak. They talked about Miel Muwn, who had deputized Vette to bring the scoundrel to justice. Darmas idly speculated about scoundrels in this very room, and laughed when Vette did.
“Before you risk yourself with the Justicars,” said Darmas, “can I interest you in a private game of sabacc?”
“We’re on a tight timeline,” Corso said.
Vette wouldn’t let that slide. “Corso, we’ve been running for eighteen hours. Even Skavak has to sleep. Darmas, can you suggest Corso a place to stay?”
In a total reversal, Corso said, “I’m not so sure we should trust him.”
“Corso.” The protective routine could not be allowed to interfere with living. “No one’s asking you to watch.”
Corso looked like a kicked puppy. “You want me to go, Captain?”
“Not in the greater scheme of things. Darmas, anything?”
Darmas gave clear directions to a hostel that was definitely out of earshot. “Now then, Captain. Will you be going with him?”
“I was promised a private game. I’m not letting you off that hook.”
And, oh, she didn’t want to.
*
Corso’s pique, and there was some, lasted until they reached one of Skavak’s ex-whatever’s, trapped in Black Sun territory. She was a slicer and she was not happy with her day job.
“I have Skavak’s record right here,” she said. “And he deserves a terrible one. Which STD do you want placed on his public profile?”
“Which ones can Humans get?” Corso made a choking noise. “And let’s add solicitation on seven planets. Seven’s good. And a death mark in three jurisdictions for crimes against sentience.”
“The breakup was that bad?”
“He stole my ship.”
“Yikes. Crimes against sentience it is.”
“After you’re done with the creative work, we’ll walk you out. Least I can do for someone willing to kneecap Skavak.”
*
Skavak fled without Vette’s ship. She raced into the hangar by Coruscant’s finest spaceport and felt her heart pitter-patter. She could redeem herself in the eyes of her friends. She could go anywhere.
“Still good-looking,” Corso said cheerfully. “The ship, I mean. What do you call her?”
“The Ebon Crock,” she said proudly. “Come on, I’ll show you everything.”
If he read into that, he didn’t say so. Vette bounded for the ramp.
“Hey,” she bellowed in the curving hallway. The ship had clearly been emptied of cargo, which was bad for Rogun, but it meant there was a pleasing echo. “Vette is back, baby!”
A different voice sounded from the direction of the engine room. “The who is back?”
Vette put a hand on her blaster and sprinted. Then staggered to a halt.
There was a woman in a long duster. Her hair was up, not loose like it had been when they were both eleven years old. But her face…
“Risha. Risha! Risha?”
The Human didn’t look much more collected. “Vette. You’ve got to be kidding me. Vette! This is your ship?”
“Well, it was for a day and a half. Name’s still on the registration. What are you doing here? You’re not working for Skavak, are you?”
“More ‘with’ than ‘for,’ but it’s lost its luster. I have a plan, Vette, a plan that’s going to make us rich beyond our wildest dreams. This is perfect! Skavak won’t know what hit him!”
“I like the sound of that.”
Risha leaned aside. “Who’s your friend?”
“Corso Riggs, uh, ma’am. I’ve got a score to settle with Skavak, too.”
“Vette, we’re not going to have enough bunks for all the people Skavak has pissed off.”
But this one had backed her up, and he had a good attitude when talked down from summary execution. “Corso’s good people.”
“Fine.” Vette could see the wheels turning in Risha’s head, but the Human settled on, “Welcome aboard.”
“Let’s go sit. Did Skavak stock the kitchen?”
“I think he thinks you pick completed three-course meals off trees. At least, he was surprised that neither one of us intended to make one.”
“Oh.”
“The booze, however, is out of this world.”
“No wonder he was so possessive. Come on, let’s sit down! Let’s catch up! Let’s bounce in any direction in between!”
Which was how three shot glasses and three people came to interact with lubrication in between, there in the Ebon Crock’s cramped mess.
Risha said, “Anybody else from the old days?”
“No. I hit Hutt space and pretty much soloed it for a while. Made some new friends, also a long story. What happened ten years ago? The kids just started disappearing.” Vette’s friends and peers, rescues and strays, taken from the homes of Nok Drayen’s enemies after the kill. They’d had a home together, a happy one.
“Nok placed most of them before he finished his plan. He was sick, Vette. His lieutenant infected him with something that was eating him alive. He went into carbonite, and I’ll get him out again once we’ve finished our plan.”
“A cure?”
“Nothing so profound. It’s all right. I know what we have to do.”
*
Plasmajack was at home when Vette knocked. He answered the door and split into a smile a mile wide. “Vette! What are you doing here? I’m not supposed to take big shocks, you know.”
“…I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No. Best shock.”
Flash and Taunt crowded in behind Plasmajack. “Love!” Taunt cried. “What brings you to Nar Shaddaa?”
“Just making deliveries. Like a Smuggler.”
Flash laughed. “Your head’s gotten six sizes bigger.”
“How do you smuggle here?” Plasmajack said. “What’s illegal on Nar Shaddaa?”
“Oh, you know. There are some applicable interstellar treaties that are very boring to read. Currently I’m trying to pair up the last representatives of an animal species.”
“Oh!” said Taunt. “Are they cute?”
“As a Hutt’s backside.”
“Well, good thing you’re smuggling them,” Plasmajack reasoned. “In another day, they’re not your problem.”
Flash finally leaned around Plasmajack. “Who are your friends?”
“Oh, me?” Corso bounced one hand off the other in an idle way. “Nobody important.”
“This is my friend, Corso. He saved my life when an asshole stole my ship.”
“Somebody stole your ship?” Taunt boggled. “Way to bury the lede!”
“Hey, I got it back. Thanks to Risha here.”
“Charmed,” Risha purred.
“You all have to take a joyride before I leave.”
“Are you hungry?” Flash said. “Your friends, too. Come on in, we were just about to eat.”
And there was so much more food than Vette or Risha or even Corso could put away.
*
After a nourishing dinner, Vette went to Drooga the Hutt to deliver the beastie.
Vette had noticed something, since she got her ship back. People noticed her. Back when she was running around with Ruth, Ruth was the center of attention. She was the Sith, the commander, the star-crossed lover. People paid attention. Without her in the room, though…something about Vette caught people’s eyes. Made them willing to talk, eager to make a deal. Made handsome men interested. Vette wasn’t really sure what or why. She was wearing different clothes, more mid-rim Spacer chic, and they did make her ass look great, but that wasn’t quite it.
She held her head high, and she answered to no one. Could details that small make that big a difference?
“Corso, if I were a man, would you have come on this crazy trip?”
“Why would you want to be a man? You’re about the prettiest spacer I’ve ever seen.” Dread struck him. “I mean that respectfully.”
“I know.” Poor kid.
“And I would. I would go. Skavak still has Torchy.”
“Excellent point.”
Drooga the Hutt was more interested in showing off his slave combat Wookiee than taking Vette’s delivery. That got awkward, but Vette finally found herself jumping into the ring to help the slave, Bowdaar, take on an unfair number of Gamorreans.
Drooga bitched. Vette said, “Well, you don’t have to keep him if he’s so disappointing.”
“Take him out of my sight,” Drooga whined.
So Vette, to her own surprise, directed Drooga’s critter cage to the barge, handed over the coordinates for delivery of the starship part she needed, and walked off with two Humans and a Wookiee.
Bowdaar stopped the moment they were out of view of Drooga’s barge. “What would you have me do?”
Vette blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Drooga handed me to you. You must have a use for a slave.”
There was a sudden flashback. Lord Baras assigning Vette to Ruth. It had been the best move of her life, but in the moment it had been terrifying. Ruth had been one huge unknown with total legal and physical power.
She said, “I don’t have a slave. You’re free. Do what you want.”
“I will eat.” Bowdaar started a purposeful stride toward the taxi stand.
Vette trotted to keep up. “Are you interested in a berth on a light freighter? We move stuff around and get in trouble with the law, mostly.”
Risha managed to look graceful moving at half again normal walking speed. “Vette, you’re off the public relations team.”
“I am grateful,” Bowdaar said. “Perhaps, for a while, I could help.”
“Hey, I don’t mind a Wookiee,” said Risha.
“He could get things off the top shelf,” said Corso.
“Welcome to the team,” said Vette.
On the Promenade Bowdaar stopped and sniffed. “Eating. Eating is good. They kept me hungry so I would fight for my next meal. I cannot remember eating to satisfaction.”
“What’s your pleasure?” said Vette.
“Lots,” said Bowdaar.
“Right, we start with the Tionese food cart and work our way down.”
An hour and a half of ferocious eating later, Bowdaar paused, and wrapped a hand over his stomach. “Satisfaction gives me a belly ache.”
“Let's get you a place to lie down.”
“Where are we gonna fit him?” Corso reflected.
“The acceleration web closet has space. Made for two people your size. And I'll knock out a wall, make a real room from it.”
“My own room?” said Bowdaar. “With walls instead of bars?”
“That’s a house rule specifically,” said Vette. “Come on, let’s get you a place to sleep off your first feasting binge.”
Risha caught up with Vette. “You big softie,” she whispered, but she was smiling.
*
“You’re welcome to come. You’re all welcome to come.”
Taunt looked at Plasmajack, who was still on medical rest. “It’s okay, Vette. This is your dream. And you’ve got two gunners and a Wookiee. We’ll be cheering you on.”
Flash sneezed and cast a suspicious look at Bowdaar, but said nothing. He didn’t volunteer to go on the ship.
They parted after one more huge meal, and a lot of hugs.
*
“Okay, we’ve got a contractor coming to knock out that wall. You’re going to have a funny shaped room, but the bunk will be long enough. That all right with you?”
Bowdaar was lying down on the couch in the holo room, head propped on a chair Vette had dragged over. He was holding his stomach again. Evidently he hadn’t yet calibrated hunger.
Vette dragged up a second chair. “Okay. We didn’t really get the chance to talk. So you were a performing pit fighter for a Hutt. On the scale of slave statuses, that’s not great. To set context here, I was a slave. For a while, when I was a kid, and again when I was old enough to know better.”
Bowdaar had jewel-blue eyes, a surprising sparkle on a coarse canvas. “How did you escape?”
“I was given to the right person. She freed me, took me on adventures. She even let me go, when I realized I wanted all this.” She gestured at the ship at large.
“A good friend.”
“The best. Were you always a slave?”
“No. I was captured when I was thirty.”
“You don't look a day over thirty-five. How long?”
“A hundred years.”
“Whoa!” Vette almost fell over. “They made you fight stuff for a hundred years?”
“I'm good at it.” She hadn't known a Wookiee could deadpan.
“You're out. Okay? You're free.”
“A Wookiee should pledge you a life debt for what you did. But a life debt is another kind of bondage.”
“Then don't worry about it. We can just be friends.”
“Friends are sold. Or forced to fight to the death.”
“Buddy…not here. Not us. You understand? Whatever insane rules you had to live by…we’ll talk it out. And you'll be okay.” She didn’t have much, but she had a ship and the stars. And a little, growing crew.
Bowdaar growled. “You are no Hutt.”
“Thanks, but neither is a bantha’s leavings.”
“You are no Hutt,” he insisted, like that established her social and moral place. “I will protect you, if I can.”
“Oh, boy. You and Corso should have a chat.”
*
Vette compared every Sith she met with Ruth Niral. Vaverone Zare was taller, more elaborately coiffed. Harder, like if Vette tapped her with a hammer it would slide right off. But calm. She wanted contact with Diago Hixan. Which coincidentally, was what Vette was trying to get.
Zare talked just a bit too much. She wanted a “little box” Diago had. Sith only liked one kind of box, and it wasn’t the kind you got for birthdays.
“What’s in that holocron?” Vette said.
Zare’s mouth thinned. “Then you have a history of nosing where you’re not called for. No matter. The holocron is of interest to my master, a great Darth.”
She was trying to sound impressive. “I once asked a Darth whether he had activated his lightsaber before or after he lodged it in his ass. True story.” Yeah, Ruth hadn't loved that, but Vette would treasure the lack of expression on Baras's mask forever.
Vette, and Zare, and a Jedi who had turned out to be very bad at bar fights, converged on the reclusive Diago’s hideout. The arguing was unbelievable.
Vette and crew kept their mouths shut while Jedi and Sith squabbled. Finally, Zare seemed to notice them. She waved one manicured hand. “You want to draw your weapon. You want to kill the Jedi.”
“I want to draw my weapon,” Corso said dizzily. “I want—”
Bowdaar raised one fist and brought it down on Corso’s head. Corso folded.
“He'll thank you for that later,” Vette muttered.
The Jedi waved her hand. “You want to go. You want to rethink your life somewhere far away from here.”
Vette glared. “If I duck, will you two put the whammy on each other?”
Diago lost patience around then. Vette let the Jedi and Sith take out their aggression while Vette’s crew removed Diago’s battle droids. Diago himself managed to drag out a blaster and nearly took Vette out from behind. Bowdaar jumped in and hit him harder than he’d hit Corso. It had a bit more effect.
Then Vette found the sensor computer, and a few other valuable items, and they got the hell out of there.
Corso didn’t make eye contact for hours. Finally, on the ship, he followed Vette and muttered, “’m sorry. About the Sith back there. I would never…I would never hurt you.”
“Corso, you punched a wraid in the face to get it away from me on our way out there. I know you’re loyal.”
“Yeah?” When he cheered up his whole body radiated it. “I just want to help, Captain.”
“You do okay. How’s your head?”
“Bowdaar did something with kolto. No hard feelings.”
*
Vette delivered the ugliest gonk relic she’d ever seen to the prettiest proprietor she’d ever laid eyes on. Sometimes weird pairings happened.
The Tirall siblings all but tore the gonk droid apart looking for something. The sister Cedonia got to it first. “According to these instructions,” she read, “we need a document from our old holdings. House Baliss usurped them some time ago.”
“You get me something nice if I go find it?” said Vette, not expecting a serious response.
Lenn Terall hadn’t taken his eyes off her after his sister started reading. “A private dinner, if you’ve the time and inclination.”
Vette picked her jaw up. “Me? Are you sure?”
“Do you see any other dashing spacers of the fairer sex here? Let me prepare you an experience to make up for what will undoubtedly be an annoying errand.”
“Consider Baliss burgled, my friend.”
She got what she needed. Even grabbed a few curios that House Tirall might like having back. She delivered it all, got gushing praise from both siblings, and ran back to the ship to prep for the night. Her crew all wanted to know about it.
“You shouldn’t go alone,” opined Corso. “If you even have to go.”
“You’ll call,” said Bowdaar, “if you need him taken down an arm or two?”
“You two are sweet,” Vette said. “I’m going alone, and you don’t have to wait up for me.”
“Eye on the prize,” Risha said idly. “Don’t give away the ship.”
“Hey. I don’t think the ship is what he’s after. If that changes? Shoot to kill. No way am I adding another Skavak to our problems.” Vette matched her smirk, and went out into the cool, still evening.
Vette showed up at House Organa in her best cropped jacket, drapey knee-length dress, and dark tights going into black ankle boots. She wore dangly earrings that picked out “Blue Bitch” with rhinestones. It was the fanciest gear she owned. She topped it all with showstopper red lipstick. She was killing it.
The guard of House Organa looked at his opposite number and said to Vette, “What do you want?”
“I have an appointment with Lenn Tirall.”
The guards gave each other a way, way more meaningful look. Then they stepped aside.
Well, Vette had already gotten one warning from Lenn’s sister. A ladies’ man was completely within scope for fun opportunities. Ignoring all stares and assumptions, she strutted through the squared-off spirals of the Organa palace until she reached the Tiralls’ chambers.
There was a guard. Of course. “I’m expected,” Vette said, conspicuously checking her nails in a totally casual manner. The guard bowed her into the antechamber where she’d delivered the gonk droid and met with the siblings.
But Cedonia was not there. Lenn was.
The carelessly handsome Human stood from his comfy-looking chair, with an expression as if he’d just woken up to be surprised by the best thing ever. “Vette. You look divine.”
“I should have one of your fancy dresses. But I just didn’t like the catalog at all…” Or the price tag, but who was counting?
“You're perfect,” he said fervently. “I have no use for a run of the mill noblewoman in some lunatic's idea of high fashion. You look like a commander of the stars…and that is exciting. Please, come with me.” When she got close he touched a hand to the small of her back in a little guiding gesture that she found she liked. He conducted her into a dining room about half the size of her ship, dominated by a long narrow table with chairs at either end.
Only Lenn’s hand on her back kept her from jumping at the sigh of strings. A string quartet in flawless formal wear had set up in one corner and was playing something unbearably classy.
“Please, allow me.” Lenn pulled out a chair at the head of the table and seated her before going to the far end. It seemed nobles liked yelling across the room.
So Vette talked loudly. “I've never had music at a private dinner before. Are they getting paid?” They didn’t have slave collars. Were four people getting paid a day’s wages to make this dinner special?
“Oh, yes. A luxury, but a pleasant one. Unless it displeases you?”
“No, keep it!” Vette leaned over in her oversized chair. “Do you know anything by Green Nebula? No? That's all right.” The string players stared at their sheet music without comment.
Servants poured wine and brought in small silver cups of soup. Vette wasn’t sure what to expect from Alderaanian cuisine, but the first mouthful was outstanding. “I want to marry your cook!”
Lenn smiled. “Do I have competition so soon? I'll pass that along.”
Between bites, Lenn laid it on with a trowel, which was very pleasant. Vette would not have thought she could eat three courses no matter how good the food was, but she ate slowly, answering Lenn’s questions about galactic travel and gradually discovering the outline of why such an unsatisfied person could have stayed in one place for so long.
“I am not proud of my world,” he said once. “It is my home, and I am bound to it, but its dangers bore me and its rewards pall after a while.”
“You can always find another one. Advantage of a big galaxy, there’s a planet that’s perfect for everyone.”
“And for you, Vette? How long is that search?”
It wasn’t angsty question for her, not while she was young and fabulous. “Well, Korriban got old fast, I can tell you that.”
Lenn sighed. “This life of yours. Is it lonely?”
“I have good friends.” She thought of Ruth. She thought of Risha. She thought of Taunt and the others, back on Nar Shaddaa. “I never have to be alone. Actually kind of have to work to get alone time. Slip off the ship. Find something fun to do.”
“You're not alone here, either. Isn't that convenient?” Abruptly he stood and put his napkin aside. “Would you care to dance?”
“Dance? Me? Just us two? I…have almost certainly never done that in the way you’re thinking.” Dance? Yes. With men? Yes. Ballroom snootiness? No.
“It's easy, if you will trust me.” He reached out. The strings changed their tune at precisely the moment Vette’s fingertips met his. He tucked her into the crook of one arm and swept her away.
Piecing things together from holodramas she’d seen, Vette put her arms around Lenn’s neck. “If I’d known,” she said, and laughed. Through the laughter she managed, “If I’d known about the dancing I’d have taken lessons first.”
His return laugh was quieter. “If I give you something strange and breathtaking, I’m only returning what you’ve done here today.”
She was getting the hang of it. She didn’t have to look at where her feet were going or where the wall or table or string players might be. Lenn quietly took care of his half of that, and all she had to do was go along.
Later, maybe much later, they stopped. He held her gaze with his and kept her securely in his arms. Vette tried to think of what to say, and couldn’t. It was the glitz or the music or the pounding in her lekku where her system was trying to vent heat by pumping it down and up as hard as possible.
“Ha!” she said intelligently. “Yes. Water.”
He unhanded her with an expression of regret and darted to the table to pick up a dewy, chilled pitcher. Vette took a glass and let him fill it. Water, though she would have accepted anything. She pressed the glass to her forehead, then her throat, letting the wet chill unwind her a little bit.
“All better?” Lenn said, half smiling.
“Uh-huh. I’ve been a lot of places, but I haven’t danced like that.”
“Then even I can bring you something new. It’s encouraging to hear. You’re pleased?”
“I don’t think I want this to stop. But your musicians might get tired.” It wouldn’t do to forget the staff.
He tilted his head. “For what it’s worth, the night doesn't have to end in this exact location.”
Vette sipped water and set the glass aside, managing not to laugh. “I would recommend the table, but we're not alone.”
“You are a little wild, aren’t you?” He seemed to like that. “Let me give you one last indulgence in luxury.” Again he put a hand to the small of her back, and squired her further in.
His bed, surrounded by satin curtains, was in fact a luxury. And it turned out that, sheltered though he was, he had at least one truly useful life skill.
But being away from her ship more than a few hours made her lekku itch. When she had finally forced herself away from his not at all unpleasing body, she sat up and yawned. “Stars. They’ll kill each other over there if I don’t go look after them.”
“So soon?”
“Hey, my droid got your house’s prospects hopping. You should be a happy man.”
“Certainly happier than I was six hours ago.”
Vette patted his very bare leg. “It’s been real. I have to see to the ship before anybody else can steal it.”
“When you find the planet that’s perfect for you…someday you might show me.”
“Lenn, you’ll get the best damn postcards they print.”
“Goodnight, then. I hope you’ll keep one good memory of Alderaan.”
“More than one. Mostly involving you.”
*
What drove Vette up the wall was, Corso was up when she got back to the Ebon Crock. He was in the mess, gently swaying.
“Captain!” he slurred. “Ever ride a ronto in circles ‘til it got so dizzy it, ah, it, fell over?”
“Have you been waiting for me?”
“I am not…not doing so.”
“Okay, big guy, it's time for you to zonk out.” Vette walked into the very sharp haze and took Corso’s hand. “C’mon. Can you stand?”
He took her lead with childlike docility. “You go to bed anywhere you like. With anyone you like.”
“You don't want to keep talking. —Easy on the doorway. C’mon. There you go.”
“Some girls worry about their reputation. Not you.”
“Corso, think. Or shut up. Either one is a viable solution.”
“You'd go for anyone. Anyone but me.”
“There are six unforgivable things I could say to you right now. Probably more. But I need to get you to your bed.”
She had never in her life lived with a lover. It would feel crowded. Heck, she hadn't even picked a lover yet. Some candidates, sure. But she wasn’t close to settling down. That didn’t mean she was just sleeping with anybody.
She got Corso to the door of his room and, when he swayed at it without managing to get in, waved it open and gave him a push. “There are tons of guys I don't go for,” she said to no one. “Ithorians. Lawyers. Quinn.”
Bowdaar appeared out of nowhere. “Who's Quinn?”
“An evil spirit from an older time. Bowdaar, you wouldn't date me, right?”
“Do your head tails pick up static electricity?”
“A little? When it’s dry out.”
“It would ruin my fur. Stay back.”
“Yeah, see? There are lots of guys I don't get involved with.” She turned around, but Corso had already collapsed on his bunk, snoring.
“He is young,” Bowdaar said.
“I'm young. Nobody ever cut me slack for that.”
“You steer every barge you're put on. No one thinks you're a kid.”
“But I'm so winsome.”
“No one who's paying attention thinks you're a kid. Now go to sleep, I don’t want to hear what you’ve been up to.”
“We played parcheesi and oohed and aahed over his model railroad collection. It was the most wholesome evening I’ve ever had.”
“You broke Corso’s heart for that?”
“To be clear? My previous statement is not what happened.”
“I guessed that. Sleep, little Vette.”
*
Risha was laughing. Risha was laughing so you could hear it all over the ship.
“That’s what you ditched us for? Tell me he’s good in bed so this isn’t a total waste.”
Vette turned the sound back on on her holo. “Of course I’ll defend Tirall’s honor in a duel. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” She’d been practicing quickdraw for weeks.
The holo switched off. Vette said, “So House Baliss got annoyed I stole Tirall’s stuff back, and now there’s a duel.”
“Any kind of man would fight it himself,” Corso said morosely.
“We do have to get that hyperdrive,” Risha said. “We might consider that instead of blood sport.”
“It’ll just take two minutes,” Vette said.
The idiot duelist didn’t even manage to outdraw. Vette shot him before the duel started. Just in the leg. He whined, so she shot him again. The look on Lenn’s face could feed her for a week. The Baliss duelist surrendered.
“Love to stay,” said Vette, “but I’ve got a grudge match waiting.”
“Vette!” Lenn closed the distance to her with long, swift strides. And he leaned down and kissed her as if this entire planet weren’t waiting for her to get her act together. When he drew back his nice forehead was all wrinkled up. “I won’t keep you. I never could.”
“Hey. I’m leaving you as free as I found you. And, babe? Don’t keep that to yourself.”
“Oh,” muttered Cedonia, “he won’t.”
“Captain Vette. May all your roads be delightful.”
“You, too. Always.”
*
The astrogation chart, the Arkanian hyperdrive, the Gree sensor computer, the starship engine, and the anti-radiation shield. It meant that Vette and Risha could locate, approach, zero in on, board, and loot Nok Drayen’s treasure at their leisure.
But Risha wanted to go to Nar Shaddaa first. They had one last delivery, and it was Nok Drayen himself. Corso and Bowdaar were left with the ship and some spending money.
A Selkath technician took one look at Risha and began preparing a stim. “At last,” he said. “Bring him here.” He rolled out a soft pad in front of the carbonite figure. Nok Drayen would not wake up to bruised knees.
In fact, once the carbonite had melted from around him, he made it to a chair with little difficulty.
“Thank you,” Risha told the Selkath. “How is he?”
The Selkath read a small instrument. “No improvement. The deterioration has already resumed.”
Risha’s lips thinned. “I see. Thank you. —Father?”
And he looked up. An old man, carved from wood. His ravaged face was crisscrossed by cybernetics. “Risha? Is it time?”
“It took me longer than I expected. I’m sorry. But everything’s prepared. We’re equipped to reach your treasure ship.”
“Then take it. Bring me a golden reliquary…it is the only piece I care about.” He finally seemed to notice Vette. “Little Ce’na? I left you where this life would not follow. I should have known I could not separate you and Risha.”
“I dunno, you tried pretty hard. And I took a weird path to get here. Nok, I…don’t know what to say. You don’t look great. I guess we’ll get you your stuff.”
“Go on,” he said. “You survived, at least.”
Vette and her crew went into space. Deep space, a decaying orbit around a black hole, just the kind of creepy edge of doom where legends might wait. Bowdaar insisted he heard a whining from the hyperdrive, and took up vigil beside it, insisting he would hold it together with his bare paws if he had to. Corso paced the halls impatiently, but did concede that a pilot had better be on board for a quick retreat once the goods were on board.
Nok Drayen’s fabled treasure was guarded by a holo figure who claimed to be a King Drayen. When Vette found the reliquary, she didn’t tell Risha until after opening it.
A fancy crown lay inside.
Risha looked like she’d been caught red-handed. “So,” she said. “Drayens are royalty. Did I never mention that?”
“You know you never mentioned that. But Nok isn’t in any shape to be sitting on a throne. Who’s ruling your place now?”
“Usurpers. I don’t have the army to take over as queen. But I have the crown.”
Vette couldn’t imagine abandoning Risha to that fight alone. “And you’ve got three crazy spacers.”
Risha smiled. “I do, at that.”
“I just like to know when I’m supposed to bow.”
“Oh, do not start. For the moment, all I can do for you is be a mechanic.”
“Until a coup becomes manageable. It’s a rough job market, my friend.”
“Hey, let’s take everything here and sell it for unimaginable sums.”
“Right! Eyes on the prize.”
*
But Skavak was waiting on their ramp.
“Hey, Captain. Bet you didn’t expect me.” His forearm was braced on his knee, and his hand loosely held a blaster.
Vette put down the crate she’d been carrying. “Did I not change the access code?”
Skavak pulled out a narrow datacard with his free hand and flipped it between his fingers. “A professional could get in in seconds, and I had a professional helping me prep just that.”
“Great, did you screw her over, too?”
“You seem to think I intentionally harm people all the time. I guess more to the point, you think I care. Funny little brain you’ve got between those ears. To be generous.” He stashed the card. “You have made my life hell for months. But I always say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Then beat ’em. So I stowed away.”
Vette reviewed her options. There was overwhelming force, of course, but he might get one person down before Risha and Vette got two bolts in. Yes, Vette had been practicing quickdraw. No, she wasn’t ready for this test.
But she thought about everything she’d internalized on Alderaan. Everything she might use. She promised herself a full-body disinfecting scrub and mouthwash after this conversation. “Skavak. This doesn’t have to be a fight.”
He looked skeptical. “What are you talking about…?”
She drifted toward him with all the care of a treasure hunter in a trap-laden tomb. “A man with that many ex-girlfriends must be getting the first hour or two right. Color me curious. And after we can, ah, roll dice for the Ebon Crock here.”
“That’s a stupid-ass name, Vette.”
“I’m flirting, Skavak. Keep up.”
He stood, keeping the arm belonging to the blaster half ready. “I have to admit, I’ve wondered whether you’d be less of a bitch if we’d started on a better footing.”
The first hour or two must have been unbelievable. “Maybe. Anyone who can keep this pace this long might be worth something.”
“Even with the Colicoid Nether Rot on my record?” he grumbled.
“It is impossible to keep you on topic,” she sighed, and pushed up, and kissed him.
He adjusted the blaster against her side. She would have one chance at this. And she’d wanted it for so long.
She ran a hand up his arms to muddle the beginning of the hardest knee kick she had ever issued. She pushed the blaster’s barrel toward him and he just croaked as he folded. A blast went off at no one.
She seized his blaster and let him writhe on the floor. “So it’s just gonna be like this, huh?” she said. “You’ll keep coming after me. And keep coming after me. I left the Empire to stop this kind of shit.”
“Bitch.” His voice wasn’t all the way back yet. “I’ll kill you. I’ll kill your friend. I’ll kill everyone who ever told you I’m bad news, twice if they’re important to you.”
“Mm. Uh-uh. You don’t get to hurt my friends.” Ruth had encouraged her not to kill without need, but she’d also been very honest about when force would prevent future trauma. “I'm actually extremely reasonable about not starting fights, Skavak.” She pointed his blaster. “But I can finish one.”
*
Story Index