Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
More Than One Sort of Prison
Chapter Eleven
Calrissian took another small security detail back down to the cantina after he left Jyn and Lobot to look after Cassian once again, then the leader sat down alone at the very table where the murders within his city took place the day before. Few of the security officers with him stood in the corners of the room where they would be able to keep their eyes on the Baron Administrator from the shadows, while the others sat down at separate tables throughout the room in an effort to keep their eyes out for danger should it arise.
He sat alone for almost a half an hour in wait for the person he had come to see and considered leaving. But just as he was about to, a Balosar finally took a seat across from him and smiled smugly upon seeing that the leader was still waiting for him. He figured it meant that Lando was desperate for the information he had for him in regards to the smugglers' deaths and would most likely be willing to pay more than he had initially asked for.
The other species motioned to the bartender for a drink, indicating that this Balosar was a regular patron to this cantina, and then he turned back to Lando as he spoke first saying, "I'm glad to see you came. I placed a bet with a buddy of mine. He didn't think you'd show up. He lost, lucky for me."
Lando replied curtly, "You're late, Elan Sel'Sabagno. You were supposed to be here some time ago."
"I had to make sure you really wanted what I have for you," he answered and then nervously looked around him as if he suspected he was being watched. "For some reason, I can no longer bring myself to sell death sticks, like I used to. But I rethought my life as I was once told to do a long time ago. And this is all I could do."
"And what is it that you do exactly?" the Baron Administrator asked, sitting back more comfortably against the seat's back behind him while one of the waitresses came over and sat a couple of drinks down in front of both men. "You came all the way from Coruscant just to haggle unsuspected people for money by promising them information you don't have?"
The younger man looked at the leader across from him strangely as he questioned, "What makes you think I don't have what I promised? I saw who killed those two smugglers. I heard most of what they spoke of. Or at least what was most important. I was sitting at the closest table to them. But if you want it, you have to pay. I want twice what we agreed to."
Calrissian pulled out a coin parcel from his pocket inside the coat he was wearing and set in down on the table in front of himself, and while keeping his eyes on Elan, he said sternly, "This is the payment we first agreed upon. If you want twice this, your information better be worth it. Who killed those men here in my city?"
"It was a Rodian," he responded quickly. "A bounty hunter."
"We know of what species he was from other patrons, but did he actually say he was a bounty hunter?" Lando asked.
Elan Sel'Sabagno took a drink and then replied, "He said someone paid him good money to come here to gather information. Information that involves you. But he found something else too."
The Baron Administrator suddenly slammed his fist down on the table in front of the Balosar in frustration and called out angrily, "Stop talking in riddles and tell me what you know!"
"All right!" the boy answered nervously. "I heard him say that an Imperial Officer paid him to find out if you were loyal to the Empire, or to the Alliance. By helping two rebels, you've made it known you side with them."
"Did he mention who wanted this information?" Lando asked again.
He stuttered, "Uh… he said he was a Governor… I think. Governor Tark… Tarkin."
The city's leader sighed as he stated, "The Grand Moff of the Empire himself. I knew helping them would be a mistake. You said that this bounty hunter found something else. What else did he believe a man like Tarkin would be interested in?"
"For this, you need to pay me the extra fee," Elan responded snidely as he reached out and snatched the bag still in front of the man sitting across from him. "This isn't enough. I used to make good money selling death sticks."
"And you'll get more, but only if what you tell me is worth it," Lando replied as he pulled out another parcel, having come prepared as he expected the thief to ask for more all along. "Keep in mind, I already know that this bounty hunter tried to kill one of the rebels. So if that's all you know…"
The younger man interrupted, "He didn't try to kill him. I mean.. he… he… he did, but he knew you and the other rebel would help him. He did that to see if you sympathized with the Rebellion. You did… do. But that isn't all I know."
Calrissian glared at him while he asked curtly, "What else, Elan? Please just tell me."
"I think this bounty hunter plans to capture the wounded rebel so he can sell him to the Empire," he answered smugly. "He knows he's an Intelligence Officer. And he thinks this rebel must know much of worth to many."
Lando quickly stood up and tossed the parcel over to the Balosar as he left the cantina in hurry, followed closely by the men who came with him. When he arrived back at the med bay, he found Jyn was lying down asleep on the bed closest to the tank where her friend and Rebel Captain was fighting to recover still. The leader hated to disturb her because he knew that she's hardly allowed herself to do so out of worry. So seeing that everything was fine and the room was in peace for now, Lando turned to where Lobot was still sitting while he kept his eyes on them.
"Is everything all right here?" he asked his own friend as Lobot stood and walked the rest of the way towards him. "How did you convince Jyn to sleep?"
The man with the implants quickly pushed the buttons on the data pad he wore on his wrist, then the head medical droid turned away from the computer where it was logging in its patient's current vitals and responded for him, "She was exhausted and about to collapse herself. I assured her I would keep a close eye on Captain Andor for her. When she still refused, I offered her a drink of Charde. She didn't know that I also gave her something to help her sleep. If I didn't, we would have two patients to look after."
The leader of the city smiled and patted Lobot on his back and then replied, "You did right by her and I'm grateful, my friend. I just wish the timing was better. The assassin isn't here to try to kill Captain Andor, but to capture him so he can bring him to the leaders of the Empire. I want you to tighten the security here and when she wakes up, I need you to alert me immediately. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir," F5 answered, continuing to be Lobot's voice. "Do you know more about this Rodian bounty hunter?"
"Not much more," Lando responded in frustration. "It's obvious he's good at remaining hidden. But he will reveal himself eventually. That's why I need you to remain on guard. I trust you more than I trust anyone else. And keep me apprised on the Captain's progress as well."
Lobot nodded, then Lando turned and left the room. After doing so, he walked into his quarters, pulled out a bottle of Charde from his own private stash, and poured himself a drink in an attempt to free himself of his frustration. It didn't really work, but it never did. Lando always just liked having the excuse to drink, since becoming Cloud City's Baron Administrator meant that he could no longer get drunk, or even in the very least drink the way he used to when he smuggled for a living. There was a lot he missed from his old life. One day, he'd be free to go back to it, but right now he needed to be the leader he was and help his friends against the looming threat made against them.
