Title: Misconception
Author: MsLanna
Timeframe: about 34 BBY
Characters: Leila Durmon, Jango Fett
Genre: General
Keywords: Bounty Hunter, Assassin, Seedy Side
Summary: Leila Durmon is stuck on a backwater planet with no way out, when suddenly an opportunity opens up.
Notes: Again I promise: no romance.
Misconception
Leila hated to be stuck on this backwater planet, hated it with a passion. And what was even worse, was that she had actually finished her job already. The message telling her employer about her success had already gone out, telling about the fate of unfortunate Eran McGry. The guy had been real eye candy and it had taken little to no effort to sneak into his life and bed. Even though he had a wife and two daughters. Men will be men.
Now McGry rested in peace under a few feet of earth, and one piece of him rested in Leila's pocket. Taking the uvular had become a habit and trademark. Usually, most people were loth to look a dead man into the mouth that far.
But Eran had also been a fool. He had managed to get CorSec onto their trail and as soon as the ship had went down on Tenjoo it had been dutifully impounded. Not only that, it had also been collected by the organisation for further investigation. Which left Leila stuck.
She had given Eran a good kick or two extra when she found out, but unfortunately, he had already been dead then. And she hated having to dye her hair in the middle of nowhere, no mirrors, nothing. At least, she didn't have to bleach them this time. And all those years of changing hair colour had apparently given her enough practice to manage acceptably without looking.
It was not as if she had come without a back-up plan either. She had set off an emergency call to the port authorities as soon as she and Eran had made it to the woods. The kidnapped lady routine worked well with male officials, but now that McGry was wanted for spice smuggling, she could not hope that, even as possible victim, she would get away easily if she was found.
Though she doubted that after the breathtakingly scantily clad and beautifully helpless blonde that had asked for help, anybody would give the drab brunette a second glance, that walked the streets with the grim self assertion of a pyro-cat.
And walk the streets she did. After taking a room with a motherly and rather fussy landlady, Leila roamed the space port most of her days. Or she drank spiced tea in the small tap café opposite of the port, or she talked to Derek, the only employee there, receptionist, customs officer and janitor all in one person. He was the best, and only, source for news concerning arriving ships, and glad to finally have found someone who would listen to his rants. When Leila had let on that she knew a little about space ship herself, he had spontaneously proposed to her, despite the fact that the assassin pretended to be waiting for the arrival of her betrothed. She suspected that Derek was now fervently hoping the fiancé never arrived and every day that went by without a ship arriving strengthened his resolve.
The landlady who rented out her room, was a little more suspicious about her but since the assassin paid in advance and was a quiet and easy customer, she kept her suspicions to herself. Most of the time. Leila sighed and closed the door of her room behind her. Another great day on Tenjoo was waiting.
At least, she didn't have to worry about somebody searching through her stuff. Even though the door had no lock, there was nothing Leila owned that she hadn't bought on planet. There were regular trips, of course, but the next was scheduled in three weeks and cautious questions about getting a ship ordered here to collect here had almost gotten the local police down on her. It was the first time the assassin was in a place that viewed space travel as something that either happened to other people or was something for thugs and lowlifes, or even both.
Still, the living expenses were not high, and only if she managed to stay grounded for another year would the bounty be consumed completely. Leila was sure she would be out of her mind if she had to stay another week. This planet bored her out of her wits.
"Good morning, Mrs. Tassall," she greeted her landlady as she sat down for breakfast. Toast as usual, and the local corn had such a bitter undertaste.
"Good morning, girl," the woman came and poured caf into her cup. "Derek has been here already, and very excited, too. He was talking about two ships that arrived, in the middle of the night, if you will believe it, but then he was called away. Important business, if I got him right, wouldn't tell me more, though."
Leila's mouth failed to connect with her toast. "Two ships, you say?"
"In hot pursuit, if one can believe Derek," her tone made clear that she did not.
"Indeed," the assassins agreed. "I'll see what this is all about, still. Thanks for telling me." Leila ignored the stern look of Mrs. Tassall when she grabbed her toast to eat it on her way. At least, she hadn't taken the cup of caf along.
The way to the space port was short, and as she entered, Leila scooped that last piece of toast into her mouth. Chewing, she wondered about Derek's urgent mission, as the young man was indeed nowhere to be seen. She ambled down the hall, glancing into the empty waiting room and the janitor's, but he seemed gone. So she went directly for the landing pad.
There were indeed two ships sitting there, a sleek, if official looking shuttle and, Leila hesitated, she remembered that one. The door-handle shaped vessel looked none the better for wear and if Derek had rushed off after it's owner, the assassin was sure she'd soon get the invitation to his funeral. Derek's of course, since Jango Fett was not the type to die laughing.
Leila walked around the ships, but both were locked. She would have to wait until the owner of either returned. With a sigh, she went back into the building. She could wait. She had just settled comfortably in Dereks chair, when a noise from the cell tract caught her attention. It had not been much, a short scraping of metal on duracreet, but it was enough. She got up again, and silently made her way to the cells.
And there he was, in one of the four holding cells of Tenjoo. A smirk crept over Leila's face. This was sweet.
"Well, well, what have we here," Leila commented as she stopped at Fett's cell door. "Got stuck, Mando'a?"
Jango Fett showed neither surprise nor recognition. He simply stood, facing Leila motionlessly.
"Yes, I'd say 'nice to meet you again', too, Fett, but my mother taught me not to lie." Leila cocked her head challengingly.
There was no reply.
"Either your vocoder is damaged, or you're being rude. I suspect the latter, but right now I have no time to take offence." Leila took a step towards the bars. "I also have no more time to lose on this dustball, and assuming you are none too happy about your situation either, I suggest a deal."
The assassin might as well have spoken to the wall behind the bounty hunter who did not even bother to cross his arms in front of him.
"So you're in no hurry personally?" Leila went on nevertheless. "I just wonder how long your bounty head will make it in whatever hiding place you tucked him away." She arched a brow.
Still Fett remained motionless.
"Don't tell me you came empty handed, Fett," she chided. "Your credibility is suffering."
Finally the bounty hunter moved. He shrugged.
Leila rolled her eyes in exasperation. This one way conversation was not going as she had hoped. Still, the man had moved, and she decided to take that as consent.
"I can see you are interested in a deal, so here it goes." Leila said. "I will get those annoying officials off your back in time and you just give me what you owe: a ride."
The Mandalorian helmet cocked to the side. "They are searching my ship."
"No problem, I will get them off without staining you precious carpet. How long do I have?"
"Twenty four hours," was all the answer she got.
Nodding she reached through the bars with her hand. "Deal."
For a long moment nothing happened. But Leila was determined to have things to her conditions this time. If he refused to punch in, he could rot here for all she cared. Maybe those officials were easier to deal with.
Finally, he took her hand, though. Not stooping to echo her 'deal', he simply inclined his head, though.
Leila nodded. "As you wish. Just tell me, are they really officials, or just disguised as such?"
"True officials, on a very unofficial tour."
Leila cursed. If the two had only been thugs impersonating authority, she could just have sent them into the hereafter. Now she had to find a way that would ensure their survival. Shrugging it off, she turned to leave. "No problem."