Latts woke up feeling a little bit dazed. Her arm was very sore, but movable. She could work with it. Dengar's warm cloth was still wrapped around her, reminding her of how caring he had been last night. As a blush painted her cheeks, she looked around for her arrogant savior. She finally spotted him slumped under a nearby tree. The fire had already died out and it was a good time to start moving again. She stood and, carrying his headdress in her hands, walked up to the sleeping man. Kneeling down, she grabbed his shoulder and shook it.
"Come on, idiot, we have to move," she said, sternly.
He moved a little and lazily opened his eyes. "Morning, Sunshine," he mumbled, yawning.
She gave him his headdress. His multiple facial injuries still made her feel a little sorry for him, but he was tough. He was probably proud of them.
Dengar stood up and examined Latts' injured arm. "Does it hurt?" he asked, with more concern in his tone than he wanted.
She gave him a soft smile. "Not anymore, thanks to you. Come on, we better get moving." She grabbed her pistol and started heading down the route to the base. Dengar finished wrapping his head with the cloth and followed her.
They got to a ridge and surveyed the area. They spotted the base in the valley below. It was a circular, walled compound, filled with droids, and one large command tower in the middle. It had a round elevator down the center where droids kept entering and exiting. Multiple guards walked the perimeter. However, Latts noticed that there seemed to be less of them on the eastern side.
"Well, this looks impossible," Dengar grumbled. "Got any ideas on how to get in?"
Latts gave him a confident grin. "I may have an idea. We'll get close to the east side under the cover of darkness. Then, we'll scale that weakly guarded section of the wall there, sneak into the tower, and take out the target."
". . . You may have an idea? That sounds way more thought out."
"Think it'll work?"she asked.
"Definitely," he said, nodding.
They spent hours on the ridge just enjoying each other's company, even though most of it was Dengar boasting and Latts hitting him for it. Eventually, nightfall came. The trees seemed to glow under the moonlight. It was rather peaceful, the only sound a low whisper of the wind as it brushed gently against the trees. It went unnoticed to Dengar, but Latts' heart fluttered at the sights and sounds.
"Okay, here we go," Dengar announced, confidently.
They started down the ridge and slowed as they neared the wall. They spotted two droids patrolling the perimeter and quickly disabled them. The two hunters then leaned up against the wall and looked up to see a super battle droid patrolling the top. Dengar quickly aimed and shot it in the head. With the guard disabled, they shot their grappling cables and scaled the wall. When they reached the top, they searched for more patrolling droids. Most of them must have been recharging, because there were very few outside. Dengar and Latts began to move toward the tower. They ducked into the shadows to avoid a droid patrol, and then continued on. Soon they reached the tower's main doors, which were guarded by a pair of Magnaguards.
"I call the one on the left," Latts said, winking at Dengar.
"Alright, then I've got the other one. Let's go," Dengar whispered, with his usual cocky smile.
Dengar shot twice, taking the right droid's head off. Then he swept its legs out from under it and shot it through the chest. Latts, ignoring her injuries, wrapped her scarf around the other droid's arms. She flipped it over her head, slamming it against the ground. Quickly pinning the droid in place with her leg, she drew her pistol and shot it multiple times.
"Well, remind me not to make you mad," Dengar chuckled.
She gave him a sarcastic smile and they continued on. Opening the doors, they started down a glass hallway. They got on the large, circular elevator and headed to the top of the tower.
Latts frowned. "This is too easy. Something is wrong."
"Good, I'm not the only one that noticed," Dengar smiled.
As the elevator reached the top floor, Dengar and Latts readied their weapons. The doors opened to reveal a circular room with a desk and chair facing towards a large window on the opposite wall. The two hunters walked cautiously to the middle of the room. As they neared the chair, Dengar grabbed the side and quickly turned it around. A beeping communicator lay on the seat.
"TRAP!" Latts yelled as droids started coming out of hidden corridors; Magnaguards, Super battle droids, Commando droids, and Droidekas. They were completely surrounded. Dengar charged a Magnaguard who kneed him in the gut and electrocuted him with its Electrostaff. Latts tried to help, but was stunned by a Commando droid. The two were dragged off to the Hold.
Latts, feeling very sore, opened her eyes to see Dengar barely conscious on the adjacent side of the cell.
"Dengar, are you alright?" she coughed out.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but I think we ended up captured," he sighed.
"The droids cheated. We almost got that slime. How did he know we were coming?" she asked, confused.
"I don't know, but we'll get him. These droids won't hold us forever," he declared.
Just then, a guard came in and grabbed Dengar's arm. "You are coming with me." Dengar struggled, but two other droids came and helped. They dragged Dengar away and Latts was left to sit in her cell alone. She began to worry, but remembered how tough and stubborn Dengar was. He would be fine.
Hours went by and they still had not brought Dengar back. She thought she heard screams, but hoped it was just her imagination. A feeling of dread spread across her body.
What could they be doing to him? What are they trying to get out of him? I hope he's okay.
She heard droids coming and looked to see two guards dragging Dengar behind them. The ray shield was deactivated and Dengar was thrown inside. He looked horrible. He had multiple new cuts and burns to add to his "collection". Latts could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She had never seen him so helpless before.
He always took punishment without showing pain, but this was too much.
She quickly pulled him to her side so that his head was lying in her lap. She stroked his cheek and checked his wounds. Dengar's body started to move and a silent cough came from his throat.
"Dengar, are you alright?" she asked, softly. A shaky tone was creeping up in her voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a few cuts. It'll take more than that to break me," he stated, his arrogance returning.
Latts began to cradle his head in her arms. She gently kissed his forehead and continued to stroke his cheek. He lifted his hand and caressed hers.
"I'll be fine," he said, sincerely.
Latts began to cry. She leaned down and kissed his lips. Dengar's eyes shot wide open. She pulled away, with tears still in her eyes.
Dengar, still a little dazed, gave her a small smile and wiped away her tears.
"Don't worry sweetheart, we'll get out of here. I promise," he said, confidently.
The droids returned to torture him more. Dengar gave her a wink and managed to pull himself up. The droids entered and grabbed him by his arms. Latts, knowing what the wink meant, tripped a guard and quickly twisted its head off. Dengar went for the other. He gave it a strong kick to the gut, making it bend over. A swift elbow shot to the back of its head followed, smashing the droid down.
Dengar smiled at Latts, "I told you we would make it out. Now let's get this scum."
With the ray shield down, they left to find their equipment. They came across the guard area where they found a battle droid seated at a table, examining their weapons. Latts sneaked up behind it and knocked the chair down. Dengar responded by stomping on the droid's head, making pieces fly across the room. They grabbed their weapons and headed for the elevator.
"Let's head for the top again. This time they're not expecting us," she said, hoping she was right.
"Alright, but be ready for a fight."
They reached the top floor and the elevator doors slid open. They crept in, guns raised. The room was dark and empty.
"Okay, no one's here," Dengar stated.
Latts saw the computer on the desk and started searching through recent files and documents. One described a back-up base on Mustafar as a response to the bounty hunter threat. Latts smashed her fist against the table.
"The target moved. He's on Mustafar."
"Then we're going to Mustafar," Dengar said.
The two quickly left for their ship to chase after their target.