7
C2 wasn't the only new addition to her ship. Skavak had been busy, it seemed.
"I expected to be the only woman on this ship. Are you one of Skavak's 'special friends'?" the auburn-haired* woman greeted her.
"I was just about to ask you the same question," Liling quipped back.
The woman introduced herself as Risha and explained that she had been travelling with Skavak as part of a business arrangement. She went on to say that considering Skavak's unreliability, she'd be happy to make a deal with her instead.
"Lady, I barely know you. Why would I agree to any deal?"
"Because I'm willing to earn your trust." Risha arched a brow delicately, a small smirk on her face. "The real question is: will you give me the chance to make you rich?"
Just as she was about to answer, they heard the sound of the ship's holo.
"What do you know, that's Skavak. This should be an interesting conversation," Risha said.
Liling followed her to the holo room.
"You're late Skavak, and I just made a new friend. I think you two will loathe each other."
"Congratulations, Captain. You're officially number one on my list of people to kill. When I get my hands on you, you'll wish you never left Ord Mantell."
When he got his hands on her? He'd been the one running away every time. "Come and get me any time you want," she dared him.
"You can bet on it, and I guarantee you won't see me coming," he replied, finger pointing at her threateningly. "Don't know how you got away from those Imperials, but next time I'll kill you myself. Assuming Rogun the Butcher doesn't get you first. I sold all those blasters you were supposed to deliver to him on Ord Mantell. Can't imagine he'll be happy you lost them."
She'd guessed as much, but still…damn it! She cursed mentally, not about to give him the satisfaction. "I'll make sure Rogun hears who really fouled things up for him."
Skavak sneered. "I'm sure you'll have a lot to say while Rogun tortures you to death."
"Are you done posturing, Skavak? The Captain and I have cargo to deliver," Risha cut in.
"Don't even think about cutting me out of this deal, Risha!"
Well, how about that, the situation was reversed. Leaving the pig-lizard in the dirt felt good.
"'Finders keepers', isn't that what you always say? Not my fault the Captain here beat you to the big prize," Risha continued sassily. Liling was starting to like her already.
"Sweetheart, you two just made the biggest mistake of-" The gunslinger's image flickered before disappearing, and she looked at the responsible.
"Thought that blowhard would never switch off," Risha said, smirking. "So, we were discussing how I can make you fabulously wealthy?"
They ran into Corso on their way back to the cargo hold. "Captain, is everything-"
"Riggs, this is Risha. Risha, Riggs. We were just about to discuss business, want to come along?" she didn't wait for an answer.
Risha and Corso nodded to each other, before following her back into the cargo hold.
"So, what's all this?" Liling gestured around her. A giant caged-beast, an old –no, ancient-looking droid, a man in carbonite, and…was that a severed human head?
"These items here are pieces to a key. A key that unlocks the lost treasure of a very rich dead man named Nok Drayen," Risha explained.
Did someone mention a treasure? "Now you're speaking my language," Liling said appreciatively.
"You're not saying the Nok Drayen?" Corso asked, eyebrows shooting up.
Risha smirked. "Just wait. It gets better."
"Wait a second, who is this Nok Drayen?"
Risha and Corso shared a look that clearly showed their incredulity at her ignorance, but the auburn-haired woman explained to her nevertheless.
"Nok Drayen was the greatest gangster who ever lived. He personally wiped out the Rath Cartel and the Vandelhelm Combine during the Syndicate Wars. When he died ten years ago. Nok had more wealth than some Outer Rim worlds Even the Hutts were jealous."
"Nok sounds like my kind of guy," she decided.
"He was ruthless, bloodthirsty and vindictive. The only criminals who didn't fear him were the dead ones," Risha replied. Liling glimpsed a glint of something in the woman's eyes, before she turned away, and started pacing along the 'special cargo'. "Nok hid his fortune right before he died. For ten years, treasure hunters across the galaxy have searched for it in vain -until now." She glanced back at them, hand resting on the droid. "You see, I've finally figured out how to get the lost riches of Nok Drayen."
Well, Risha clearly wouldn't be telling her all of this if she could get the treasure herself. "Sounds like you could use a professional," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Working with a professional would be refreshing," Risha agreed, slowly making her way back. "Whoever gets Nok's riches will become an underworld legend. Skavak had his chance and blew it. Now it's your turn. Help me deliver these items, and Nok Drayen's wealth will be all yours."
All hers? "What are you getting out of this?" Liling asked.
"I'm after something personal. The money doesn't mean anything to me, Captain. I'm the only one who can trade the items to get Nok Drayen's treasure, but I won't tell you everything up front. To get the riches, you trust me the same way I trust you: one step at a time." The auburn-haired woman came to a stop, a couple of meters from Corso and her. "Deal?"
There's something she's not telling me, Liling thought as she watched Risha study the carbonite figure in what was probably supposed to be a casual manner. But still, it was too good a deal to ignore. She wouldn't have gotten this far in life without taking risks every then and now…
"We'll see if this treasure hunt of yours is worth it," she finally answered.
At once, some tension seemed to leave the other woman's body. "Once you get a taste of this job, I think you'll be hooked. We have deals set up on Taris and Nar Shaddaa. I'll make all the arrangements and introductions for you on both planets. Until then, I'll be in my bunk. That caged beast there isn't much good for conversation, so come visit if you feel like chatting."
Liling gave a chuckle. "I'm sure you have some good stories about Skavak."
"Enough to make you glad you never dated him," Risha answered with the same humour. "Looking forward to working with you Captain."
A/N : I don't know about you guys, but I thought Risha's offer to make the smuggler 'filthy rich' without wanting any of the money for herself was suspicious at best. She should at least find a more credible-sounding deal, like bargaining for a piece of the cake. Or maybe it's just me.
*I just realized that Risha's hair is actually brown? I don't know why I thought it was auburn, but I hope you don't mind if I keep it that way in the story, in my opinion, it suits her. :)
