A Shi'ido, wearing drab gray robes, eyed the group of bounty hunters as they left the docking bay. So, that was them. The sly group that had prematurely ended his employer's business on Omman Minor. It was not all of them though. He spotted a Saurin, an Ithorian, a Human, a Stereb, and a Mandalorian. There were a few others, as his employer reported. Keeping his distance, he followed behind them, taking a peek inside the docking bay they had come out of. Their freighter was there. He spotted the other two, the Chev and Ubese, walking up the loading ramp into the ship. No matter.

He turned back, away from the bazaar, and headed to his comrades' hideout. One of the many plain looking houses dotting the spaceport. He knocked on the door once, then three quick taps, then two. The door opened and he walked inside.

Looking at his fellows, all armed and ready to get to work, he grinned. "You'll never guess who showed up in town, boys."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

We headed into the cantina. Many of the denizens there – smugglers and pirates – kept their cool, but eyed us suspiciously as we entered. The other four split up into two man teams to question the cantina patrons. Terran and Munshaan grouped up, while Palscho and Irkchik went together as another team. I went alone to the bar to chat up the bartender.

The cantina patrons were varied. Humans, Near-Humans, and a large diverse crowd of aliens were enjoying drinks and good conversation. A Bith Band played, while a trio of female Twi'lek dancers with the musicians performed on a small stage opposite the bar. As the other hunters milled about questioning the locals, I approached the bar. The bartender, a blue skinned male Twi'lek, wasn't happy to see me, either because I was a bounty hunter and therefore "wasn't good for business," or I was Mandalorian. Either way.

"What'll it be, Mando."

"Corellian ale on draught. And information."

The bartender pulled a mug out from under the counter and began filling it from the tap. He set it down in front of me and I set a 50 cred chip down for him.

"What do you want to know?"

"Looking for someone. Lot of big name players come through Socorro?" I asked.

"None. You see everyone in here? That's my usual crowd."

"How about someone hiring a mercenary outfit?"

The bartender blinked, was quiet for a moment before glancing around then back at me. "Yah, yah there was someone like that. Don't know where he is now though."

"You sure?"

"Listen, Mando, I know who you're talking about, maybe you got a personal grudge against the guy, but I don't work for him."

"Then who does?" I asked, leaning in.

"A rough crowd. You don't go looking for them. If you're here for him, they'll find you."

"Is that so?"

"Can't say anymore. Just watch your back. And tell your buddies to stop bothering my customers. They're wasting their time, none of these scoundrels here work for him."

I stared at the bartender, then noticed the gorgeous brunette who had showed up standing at the bar next to me. Either she was working for Cassus, or she was a prostitute. No reason a beautiful woman like her should be on this pit of a world, unless she had good reason to. I slid the mug of Corellian ale over to her.

"Drink's on me, doll." I said, before turning to leave. I caught her grin as I left the bar and regrouped with the other four near the entrance.

"Anything?" Irkchik asked the group. Terran and Munshaan shook their heads.

"We should go." I replied.

"What'd you find out?" Palscho asked.

"Tell you on the way. Let's go."

We left the cantina empty handed, and started back through the bazaar. I didn't like the idea of an enemy being out of reach, inaccessible, unless they came looking for me. It just meant one could be taken by surprise, and-

"So, this is the lot of bounty hunter scum looking for a fight?"

We had walked right into our targets, in the middle of the bazaar. Merchants and consumers scattered away, knowing what was about to happen. About 15 mercenaries, Human and Near-Human, including a male Mirialan and a tall Shi'ido in grey robes, confronted us. The male Mirialan was the one who began the 'ever-so-witty' dialogue with us.

"We don't want you. We want your boss, mercenary!" Irkchik shouted back. Good, some petty dick-measuring dialogue bought me some time to lock on to as many targets as possible with my helmet's battle system.

"If you surrender now, we'll let you live. You've caused enough trouble for our employer, but he's willing to give you one chance to leave." The Mirilian continued.

"Keep em' talking." I said, hushed, to Irkchik. He acknowledged, his fists at his side, with a simple 'thumbs up.'