AN: Hey, I think I am earlier than even I thought with the new update! Either way here it is and now we are picking up on the plot. Eight more chapters and I think that specific plot line will be concluded. Do let me know what you thought!
To vos (guest):
Danke für die Review! Wirklich, ich habe mich so gefreut! Und ich bin schon gespannt, was du hier von hälst! Außerdem hatte ich meine Daumen für dich gedrückt. Was für ne Klausur war es denn? Und ja, die zwei stecken echt in der Klemme und es wird noch schlimmer kommen . Ohhh. Danke für die Idee! Bobas Sicht der Dinge in den ersten paar Kapiteln und dann kann ich mal zeigen wie er sich so zu sagen in sie verknallt! Danke für die Idee! Ich denke, dass ich das entweder das nächste oder übernächste davon sprechen werde. Ich freue mich schon auf deinen Kommentar für dieses Kapitel :D
"We are out of food." Boba stated letting go of her.
His shoulders had slumped, the tension that had held them up gone. He looked more at ease now than in the last few weeks.
"Completely?" She asked, rubbing her eyes that felt heavy still.
"Our freezer is empty." He pointed up, standing up to stretch his arms above his head.
"You are thinking of going to the shop now?" Groaning she draped herself over the arm rest.
Could they not?
"Yes." He deadpanned and dropped his arms to his side. "Come on, you are not that tired."
"Yes." She grumbled, but kicked out her legs so they were on the floor. "I ate too much yesterday."
"I told Tehra you liked those lemon bites."
"She told me." She replied and got up.
"Anyways, is she alive already?" He asked jokingly.
"She was staring deeply into a mug of caf when I left."
Sighing, Boba looked to the chrono. "If you want we can go and visit her once we are done with the groceries?"
"Sure." Altharya yawned. "Also, have you ever seen 'Everything and Nothing'?"
"Once." Boba raised an eyebrow at her. "Did Tehra run it yesterday?"
She nodded and followed him out into the hallway. Before he could answer, light tapping of paws on stairs were heard and a loud meow. Kihroya had run down the stairs and now sat on the third step, its tail tip swishing side to side.
"Not yet." Boba turned to face the tooka, frowning theatrically at her. "You know you are still too young!"
A very insistent meow and Kihroya puffed out its chest, the white fluff shining in the morning light. Ears were straight in the air and it stared at Boba, demanding to go with them wordlessly. She had to press her mouth into a thin line when Boba stemmed his hands into his waist and stared back. Two stubborn beings trying to outdo the other. Most days, they'd try to outdo the other. It was clear who would win, but Boba always enjoyed those little moments so she just watched.
A heartbeat later, Kihroya flatted her ears and lowered herself slightly with a low meow. The sign she yielded. For now, tomorrow they'd be at it again. Somehow Kihroya liked Boba more than her, always sitting on his chest during evenings not even sparing her a glance.
"Let's go." She prodded, opening the door. "Before the rabble descends on the shop and all the fish is gone."
"Don't let them hear you call them rabble!" Boba snorted as he turned around to followed her out. "Although, I will remember that for the next time Philip decides to be a little shit."
A few minutes on the way to the main center, Altharya felt herself finally waking up more. Her eyes were no longer heavy to keep open, nor was there any urge to yawn anymore.
"How was your evening? What did you guys do?" She asked.
They reached the first few houses where Rion stood with a crate in his hands talking to someone.
"Well, Philip made food for us." Boba recounted and waved at Rion who flinched violently, but waved back before turning back to whoever he was talking to. "We played this one game. Ever heard of: Tombs and Terentateks?"
It sounded outlandish… but she had heard of it? Maybe? Struhn had played it a few times, but said she had been too young back before they had moved to their final town.
"What is that?" She asked. "I heard about it, but Struhn never really said anything about it."
"How?" Boba's face fell, completely stunned. "It is one of the more popular games galaxy wide!"
"I heard of it, but never really played it? Or had the opportunity to."
"Oh." Boba bit his upper lip in thought. "It is a table top game, not as divisive as Sabacc though."
"That is a low bar." She laughed. "I mean, what are the rules?"
"Eh. There are no opponents in the sense that the other players are in other games. You have a world, you have a character you can skill whatever you want and then… you go on do quests."
She giggled. "Sounds a lot like bounty hunters."
Boba shot her a half-annoyed, half tempted to laugh look and shook his head. "In the very broadest sense."
"Without the risks?" She grinned back.
He sighed. "Yes. We have these get togethers once everyone is here for a while."
"Will there be another?"
"We have not talked about it yet, but I suspect in three or four days?"
"Oh, good. Tehra asked me if I was up to grab a caf or tea with her at some point."
"You can go to her whenever you want." Boba laughed. "If you go to her on that day, plan in a few hours. These sessions can stretch."
"How long did you run yesterday?"
"I think it was just under five hours?" Boba blew out a breath. "Once we ran at ten hours."
"And you held out for that long?" Altharya blinked in surprise. "I don't know… don't you get kind of sick of it?"
"You don't get too bored with it." Boba assured her. "It just doesn't happen."
They were walking past a house then where something caught her eye. Lanterns were hanging from its roof and the arches on the bottom floor. Blue, red, purple… very colourful and not lit yet. Yesterday there had been none and… looking around there were more lanterns or ones that were being hung up still."
"Oh." Boba spoke up. "The Iridescent festival is in a few months, but it is a sacred period for the Rishi and the bounty hunters were invited to participate. Which we do, just so there are no tensions between us and the Rishi representatives."
"So you need to get lanterns too?"
Boba sighed. "Yes. Completely forgot about it. Hopefully Mari has some left over and I need to ask her when the date is when it starts exactly."
"Tell me about it."
"What do you want to know?"
"What is the period for? What do we do? What does it mean?"
"The Rishi celebrate the moon phases as they happen on their homeworld Rishi. There the moon has two phases throughout the year, visible for one half and not for the other. In a myth, their moon god sleeps when it cannot be seen and in the three month period when it slowly becomes visible again, they think their god is waking up and brings rain and fertility. I think it is through his tears which bring the rain season on Rishi. Not here obviously, but they held onto that tradition. Anyhow, during the period they hang up lanterns to help wake up their god."
"So… is there anything else other than lanterns they do?"
"Once the moon is full, on that night there is a celebration or festival how they call it. But leading up to it, they had a period of fasting for people fit to do so. At the festival, at least here, they set up tables and we eat until we drop from the chairs."
"What type of food can we not eat during fast?" Altharya frowned.
"No fish, no meat and berries." Then he winked at her. "But it is not that enforced anymore. Right now, we mostly leave out any favourite treats or meals. Some even go as far and ask Mari to not order these things until after the fast period. Others take bounties away from here on 'accident'."
She chuckled and then squinted up at him. "So… that means no more caf bars for you!"
"If I have to, then you get no more lemon bites!"
"I can live without them!"
"Sure?" Boba teased, tossing her the most self-assured smirk she had ever seen.
"Want to bet on it?" She challenged.
"Let's see if you are serious about it once it starts." He waved her off.
"Hey! I am serious!"
"It is not now." He reasoned.
Altharya huffed and rolled her eyes at him good-naturedly.
Boba raised his eyebrows and then muttered. "I am too tired for this. When we get inside, see if you can grab some jam?"
"I could." She said, sticking her nose up in the air.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. A headache was prickling behind his forehead, worry and a sense of helplessness warring in a knot. Frowning, she rubbed her nose. There was nothing she could do to help if he did not tell her what was going on. Except medically. But it would not solve anything… Altharya looked away. Did they even have medication against headache in their kit? She would have to take stock again given that the burn and superficial wound salves have been depleted since that incident.
Oh and syringes. Ever since that fiasco they had only one left over. Though, she picked at a nail that had a slight tear in it, she needed to address it regardless. One day she won't be around anymore and he should know the symptoms and how to pre-emptively treat it. Swallowing, she regarded Boba from the side who had retreated back into his silent self. It was strange to think that she would leave… so far away, but still hanging directly above her head.
The town center was livelier today, Rishii sitting on the branches of the tree above their heads hanging several more colourful lanterns up. Children were running around the trunk, yelling and jumping in glee. Was the school on break already?
"When are the lanterns lit?" She asked as they walked underneath the tall tree.
"Once you have hung them up." Boba shrugged, stopping suddenly grabbing her at her forearm.
A streak of Rishii and Twi'lek children raced past them, chasing a metal ball flying fast in front of them.
"Also, a warning for the next few weeks." He pointed as the group disappeared into a blur of different colours. "This is a popular game to play during this period. Just be careful not to step in their path."
"I can see that." She snorted and stepped closer to Boba when a Rishii whose arms were laden with lanterns bustled past her.
"And in two weeks we will have a market going on here. Several travelling merchants tour the entire system and are coming for that week to us."
"What do they sell?"
"Mosaic supplies." He explained. "Every year we get a massive storm of tourists coming just to go to this market."
"Why not set up a shop here?"
"I guess it would not be economically viable." Boba shrugged. "And the Arions fund them to travel through the entire system and sometimes in other. Also Mari is trying to expand her shop to offer some more mosaic making tools. She got the permission and now has the funds to do so."
"Oh good!" Altharya smiled. "Will you make a mosaic?"
Boba blinked in surprise. "Eh, no. I don't think so."
"Why not? They are pretty and … imagine the colours in the living room!"
"Lorena told you, didn't she?"
"Yes! She showed me some actually! Surely there must be something in your life that you want to put as a mosaic?"
Boba remained silent, sadness weighing down his eyelids and… her chest clenched. Oh… right… how could she forget? Stupid, stupid….
"There might be one." Boba then said quietly. "Maybe…" He looked up to the sky. "I think I will."
"What are you thinking of?"
"You will see." He smiled slightly.
But then apprehension flickered over his face and he looked down to look at her.
"We will get a medic here soon." He informed her.
That was good? She cocked her head to the side in confusion. That meant he'd have a steady supply point for medical things.
"I know the guy who is coming." Boba spoke again. "And I know you have been looking through my datapads."
So he had noticed. Damn… she clasped her hands together. All she wanted to look for was if he had access to medical journals or textbooks on maybe one. There had been none, only technical manuals or literature. But at least she had tried. Only, the longer she went without practice, she'd lose her confidence and skill in treating people. Yesterday she forgot a minor symptom of the Xeni-plague! Even a rare disease, they had that disease once on Teth… she should know. And she was forgetting.
What kind of medic was she?
"I was…" She started to justify herself, but Boba shook his head softly.
"I asked him to bring some of his older study material with him." Boba said, his cheeks slightly darker. "He messaged saying that he can give you some of his textbooks that update.
She stopped in her tracks, her mouth hanging open in shock. Staring at Boba who looked anywhere but her. Updating textbooks? For her? Of all things she had thought he'd say if he discovered her going through his datapads… that had not been it. Never that! Textbooks… Updating ones meant official university books! The most expensive and unattainable ones for her. Struhn had tried Force knew how many ways and never got anywhere.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Words were jumbled in her head and she had to swallow before the right ones came.
"Thank you." She breathed out and could not prevent the large smile from forming.
Boba shot her a quick glance as he explained quickly. "I thought you might want to keep up to date."
Her fingers twitched towards his hand that was closest to her. But… she stopped. The rules. Remember? So she looked away towards a whole line of lanterns that now spanned from one side of the street to another. There was so much to say, but nothing could be said.
"Altharya!" Someone yelled out then.
She turned around, seeing Tehra jogging over.
"Did you forget something?" Boba asked Altharya, hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Nothing comes to mind?" She said.
Tehra arrived then, her face was bright and open. "Fett, you look like death."
"Not you too." He groaned in exasperation.
"Did you?" Tehra snorted looking at Altharya.
"Called him that first thing I arrived." Altharya informed a now loudly laughing Togruta.
"Are you two done?" Boba asked, giving them both a dark glare.
"I am." Tehra stopped laughing. "By the way, I had tea ready and I just saw you walking by…"
"We are getting food." Boba explained. "Do you want to talk to Altharya?"
"Do you want to?" Tehra asked her.
Altharya looked at the two of them. "Eh… sure?"
"Good." Boba gave her a reassuring smile. "I will come when I am done. Save me some of the tea." He gave Tehra a look.
"Don't worry, got plenty this time around." Tehra waved him off.
"See you then." Boba waved, turned around and kept walking.
Altharya's gut twinged slightly watching him walk away. Though… there was no ripple of disappointment going through his mind. Nothing to worry about then?
"Did you two talk?" Tehra's question made her turn around.
"We did."
"I wanted to talk to about something I had not the time to yesterday." Tehra explained quickly. "Something to consider."
"Is something wrong?"
"No." Tehra replied, grinning. "I wish to get to know you better."
Altharya stared at the Togruta, as warmth spread from her chest down to her toes and finger tips. Was this… maybe she'd have a friend here? Maybe she could dare to hope.
Tehra's flat had been cleaned up more when they arrived. The windows stood wide open, letting in the midday breeze in. It was blessedly cooler inside than the heat outside and Altharya sighed as soon as she stepped inside.
"Wait until we get to next month." Tehra joked. "That will be hell if you are not used to the heat."
"I lived in a town in a jungle for years." Altharya huffed. "I think I can handle it."
"Oh." Tehra winced in sympathy. "How hot did it get there?"
"It could get way over fourty standard degrees and humid."
Tehra flinched. "On my home planet, Shili, I grew up in the more Northern parts, so we rarely got high temperatures."
"So I guess the first time experiencing heat was here?"
Tehra grinned now. "Oh no. The first time, I foolishly accepted a bounty contract on Tatooine. That had been no normal heat. No! That had been skin-melting!"
"Tatooine? Where Jabba the Hutt is?"
"Yes, that slimeball."
"I heard about him." Altharya shivered slightly.
There had been one guy who had to have his arm amputated one day, screaming about the torture Jabba had inflicted on him. Ordered and watched with others laughing. Struhn had taken her aside and warned her to never ever get involved in any business a Hutt was connected to. Made her swear that she would never.
"I met him, unfortunately." Tehra sighed. "Turned in that bounty and got off that rock right after. Never took a bounty from him ever again. What he did to some there…" She shuddered, grief floating out. "I will forget that."
"Can't blame you." Altharya replied, sitting down on the chair Tehra was pointing at.
"Where did you live to even hear about his ugly side?" Tehra asked, setting down additional cups on the table.
"I lived on Teth. That town where that monastery is."
"I have been there!" Tehra exclaimed. "Well, twenty years ago. When did you move there?"
"Nine or eight years."
"Are the old Selonians around still?"
"They are! Kicking and keeping their claws sharp."
"Stars, they would bite death if they could." Tehra shook her head. "Anyhow when I came to that town that one time. I was running a bounty with a friend of mine and we made a stop at that town. First thing we did as any sane bounty hunter is look for the cantina."
Sane bounty hunter? Those existed? Altharya giggled into her tea cup.
"Laugh!" Tehra waggled her upper face markings. "This is just the beginning."
"Stars, what happened?"
"We couldn't find this stupid cantina!"
"How?!" Altharya snorted. "It is like the first building at the landing pads!"
"My friend, her name was Theopan by the way, and I had a bit of a celebration party before arriving." Tehra admitted. "And we stumbled out of this ship. I swear every building looked the same!"
"I think I heard about that." Altharya facepalmed, laughing into her hands.
"Were we that memorable?" Tehra cackled. "Did they tell you that the two Selonians decided to send us on a circle?"
"They said they drank their best wine watching you get lost." Altharya added. "They used to threaten us children they'd do the same to us if we drank too much sweet water."
"Oh they told you!" Tehra's eyes glistened.
"I mean they had the time of their lives telling us this pranks."
"Maybe! But a friend and I had a phase where we pranked them and they right back at us."
"And I used to wonder how you and Boba get along so well." Tehra commented looking up to the chrono on the wall. "What does Boba need to buy again?"
"Groceries and those lanterns." Altharya replied. "Can take a while since I am not there to carry the crate."
"The shop is going to be packed." Tehra rolled her eyes.
"As if Boba had ever trouble getting through masses of people."
"True." Tehra conceded. "How is the training going?"
"Didn't you call it murder?"
"I have not been convinced otherwise." Tehra sniffed.
"Still trying to teach me how to dodge with more hand to hand combat rolled in." Altharya said, rolling her left shoulder somewhat.
"Has he told you your options?" Tehra asked, frowning now.
"No? I mean all I was told to run and dodge once he catches up?"
Tehra released a long sigh. "Sounds like how his father trained him…." She shook her head. "Anyhow, I can give you a few pointers since he is not going to."
Advice? Altharya looked up, hope making her feel lighter than any time in her training. There were more options? Had Boba expected her to think more on what he was trying to teach her?
"Either, you do what you two are doing." Tehra held up a finger. "You get faster." Another went up. "Or, you land in a good kick."
"That is not dodging." Altharya pointed out.
"I think it lies in what he is trying to teach you." Tehra explained. "The fundamentals of bounty hunting: How to make a speedy exit. As we tend to call it."
"Running from authorities?"
"Not necessarily, but in that spirit."
"But…"
"I know who put that bounty on your." Tehra interjected, serious and tone hard. "What he is going is training you to have the ability to go on missions Vader will send you on. And the ability to run."
"I see." Altharya gripped her hair.
Of course Tehra would know.
"Boba is a brilliant bounty hunter. One of the best there is most likely. He can teach you many things… but his training was unorthodox to say the least." Tehra put a comforting hand on her hand that was gripping at a braid.
"Thought as much when he started to chase me around the house."
"No. Not like that. His father threw him straight into the job."
Her heart stopped. Thrown straight into danger?! A child?!
"How old was he?" She asked disbelievingly.
"Nine, maybe?" Tehra replied. "But most children started earlier where he grew up."
"On Kamino?"
Surprise flickered on Tehra's face. "He told you? Well, he only knows one way to train someone. You will have to diverge from that."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I could help, should you wish. Might speed your training up and we can teach you more until you have to leave." Tehra shrugged.
It felt like a genuine offer, as concern touched her cheeks and… she wanted to cry. What had she done to deserve this kindness?
"Why?" She finally asked. "You know who…"
"I know." Tehra interrupted her calmly. "You are a good kid. There is no way you will last under Vader's thumb. You need to know how to escape."
Tehra threw her a long look, imploring and begging almost. Clenching her jaw, she rubbed her eyes.
"I will ask Boba." Was all she could muster.
"You shouldn't and if you do, he will say yes." Tehra replied. "He is already giving you a lot of freedom and frankly he wants you to survive. And on top of that, you both get some space to be separate from the other."
"I suppose."
"Now, where were we before this got depressing?" Tehra asked sitting back down.
"May I remind you made it so?"
"It had to be said."
"We were with escape techniques." Altharya said.
"Oh! Right… anyhow, there is kicking, punching… generally I know Boba likes to blast things out of his way or into the way, depending what he feels like…"
"Have you done bounties with him?" Altharya asked, feeling reminded of that time on Teth.
"Plenty." Tehra giggled. "But he likes telling me about them too."
"So you are saying that there are more options than rolling out of the way?"
"Exactly." Tehra held up another finger. "And you need to use everything at your disposal."
Tehra gave her a meaningful look. One that made Altharya's gut tighten into a stone and she had to swallow heavily. It was strange to have the Force acknowledged like that. Even more since it was Tehra actively encouraging her to use it while Boba still flinched away whenever it hung in the air sometimes. Or even hinted at.
"What are you suggesting?"
"You need to learn how to use the Force." Tehra stated bluntly. "It is your greatest asset. The ones you will be dealing with soon have trained in it for their whole lives."
Altharya's throat was too dry to retort anything.
"I may not be sensitive to it. But I knew a Jedi before the purge and he taught me some meditation techniques. If you want I can do them with you."
Altharya snapped her head up. Techniques? Taking a breath, she felt tears pressing against her eyes. Was this the Force hearing her pleas for guidance?
"Altharya?" Tehra asked concerned, putting a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.
"I am fine." Altharya sniffed, rubbing her eyes. "I was trying to train in the Force, but…"
"You are not getting anywhere with it?" Tehra finished for her.
Altharya nodded.
"What is giving you trouble?" Tehra pushed a tiny bowl of the left over lemon bites towards her. "Eat. I cannot eat that many on my own."
"Moving things is giving me trouble." Altharya replied, taking one and popped it into her mouth. "I can…"
How to describe illusions best? Would Tehra even understand? Well… she could show her? Looking at the spot between hers and Tehra's cups, she focused on an image. A little bird she had seen around the village for a while now.
A chirp and a flutter of feathers and there sat a tiny bird on the edge of her cup. Beak ruffling its feathers.
Tehra jumped, shrieking in surprise.
"You can do that?" Tehra held a hand in front of her mouth.
Altharya shrugged. "Only managed to do it for the first time yesterday."
Tehra said nothing, completely surprised she stared as the bird shuffled on the tea cup, its tiny talons clinking against the material.
"Have you…" Tehra then frowned, pursed her lips. "If you can do that… have you been going invisible around people?"
"Unconsciously." Altharya admitted uncomfortably. "Emmett and Rion. Boba had some trouble explaining to them that I had been around."
"Rion?" Tehra was surprised, eyes wide. "Him?"
"Mind explaining?"
"I think you know that you going invisible means that you perceive them as threats."
"Yes. But Rion… he has been acting weird."
Tehra sighed. "He is normally not that way. Something happened and we are all concerned. Not that surprised with Emmet, he was transferred so quickly from a busier spot to this one, it was a bit suspicious."
"So…" Altharya started.
"But going invisible will help you in escaping. Illusions…" Tehra cocked her head to the side. "Have you tried making an illusion of yourself?"
"No." Altharya shook her head. "I suppose if I can it would be good to have as a distraction."
"Yes…" Tehra leaned back in her chair, hand on her chin thinking. "Either way, do not worry about Rion. He would never do anything… drastic."
"Not really reassuring." Altharya commented.
"I know him." Tehra said, making a dismissive hand wave. "But if you perceive him as a threat then." Worry lined her facial markings. "Oh Rion, what did you get yourself into?"
"I don't know." Altharya muttered.
"I can only hope he will talk to one of us one day or sort it out himself." Tehra shook her head. "Anyways, Boba should be here already."
How long have they been talking? Altharya looked up to the chrono. More than an hour already? Was the shop so crowded that he needed way more time than normal?
"Should we go to the shop?" She asked.
The air shifted. No longer comfortably warm, but freezing cold and a howl roared in her ears. Bile pushed into her nose and she coughed.
"Something wrong?" Tehra frowned at her, standing up to rub her back.
"I sensed something." Altharya wheezed. "It just happened or is going to."
For a moment, Tehra said nothing.
"We are going to Boba." She commanded. "He needs to know."
"What is he going to do about it?" Altharya asked, but Tehra was already pulling her out of the chair.
"If you sense something about to happen, our best bet is to be with him." Tehra explained, already marching to the door leading to the cantina.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to stay here?" Altharya asked, but ran after Tehra's long strides.
"No." Tehra argued as they rushed out into the open street. "If something is going to happen here, it has to do with the Brents."
"But…"
Tehra hurried around the corner and Altharya had to run to catch up.
"Fett!" Tehra's call was all she heard when she rounded the corner.
There he was, at the entrance of the shop. Crate in his arm, talking to Philip who was laughing at something Boba had said.
Both turned around, confusion flickering between them… her eyes shifted to the middle of the street where a speeder shot past her. Some loose hair flew into her eyes.
Time slowed down… a wail in her ears. She turned her head. Rion in the middle of the street. Frozen in place, eyes blown wide as he stared at the approaching speeder. There was no way the speeder could break or stop in time. Nor any time for Rion to react.
Her hand shot out. Searing pain shot up to her elbows and she had to bite back a scream.
She did not hear the impact, the sound drowned out by utter silence as she stared horrified as it rammed Rion and his speeder. A hole opened up in her chest and she closed her eyes. Heat washed over her face and Tehra's hand was gripping her, pushing her down.
Breathe in… breathe out.
Yells were the first thing she heard. Tehra's hand was still gripping her as she opened her eyes. In the middle of the street leading to the lake's bank were the smoldering remains of the two speeders. No way that either of them survived.
But... the other person on the speeder… they had a higher chance than Rion. If they did…
She ran over, calls of her name following her steps.
Scraps of metal were strewn across the ground, smoke rising from some. Most were twisted, black and she jumped over a charred steering console. Skidding to a halt, she stopped herself. A detached arm was in front of her, skin black and fingers missing. Both speeders were too wrecked for the other to be alive.
"Altharya!" Boba's horrified yell made her flinch.
She felt herself deflating, knees buckling. Both dead… and she had not been strong enough to stop the speeder…. Breathing out harshly, she forced herself to stand straighter. Later.
What were the protocols again on the galactic standard on death certificates again…? Exhaling she looked around the wreckage. The bodies need to be recovered and site needed to be secured.
"What are you doing?" Boba yelled right into her ear and she jerked away.
Good question. She did not know either.
"I need something to cover the bodies." She said instead. "I need some forms for death certificates…"
"I am calling the authorities." Tehra's voice piped up and Altharya felt herself nodding.
Authorities were good. But she had enough training and credit points that she could fill in a provisional certificates and… she looked to where she sensed more people approaching. Rishi and other bounty hunters.
"Altharya, stop." Boba begged. "You are no medic, only certified medics can sign death certificates."
She finally looked at him.
He looked miserable. Eyes were blood shot and his mouth was twitching. As if he was trying to decide what to show and what to feel. His hand was on her shoulder, gripping down hard and she could feel his fingers right down to her bone.
"Go sit down." She murmured to him. "I have this under control."
He stared at her. Confused and lost and then his hand on her shoulder started to shiver.
"Rion?" He asked quietly.
She shook her head. "Go."
"No." He said firmer now. "What can I do?"
He was being stubborn now. No point trying to argue against him even if she could pull the medic card.
"I need something to cover the bodies and move some parts in case a speeder explodes." She repeated again. "I need gloves."
"Alright." Then he was gone.
Murmurs were heard, Tehra's conversation with the operator on her com finally reaching her ears. Looked like she needed help to move the rubble around to collect the limbs. Not a pretty end to have. Would it even be… she frowned and squatted down. She might not know how speeders work… but this panel… no way the accident had twisted it that way. If only she knew what it belonged to. Glancing over to where Boba was walking towards Philip who was standing in front of Mari, she saw Tehra getting off the com and walking over to her.
"What do you see?" Tehra asked.
"Do you see these parts?" Altharya pointed at the panel. "Looks strange for being impacted from the opposite side."
Tehra hummed in thought. "No. These are the engine panels. They are twisted that way because the driver parts are sturdier so they crumbled into the engine and the explosion did the rest."
"I see." Altharya replied. "Do you have any securing tapes?"
"No." Tehra shook her head. "What needs to be done?"
"Securing the site. I need gloves and collect the bodies."
"Assuming two?"
"We will know once we have the limbs."
"Alright. The authorities say they need a few minutes before arriving."
"Where are they coming from?"
"The nearby town."
"I suppose this will be investigated?" Altharya asked.
"Definitely." Tehra replied. "If an accident this will be filed away…"
"If not?"
"Then we have a problem. We might have to move to a different town." Tehra replied, already looking defeated.
"How does that work?"
"Rehousing homes and businesses. The Arions do not hesitate long when it comes to that."
Boba returned then, a box of gloves in his hands.
"Here." He said. "Tehra, the Rishi council representative wishes to have a talk with you."
"Of course they do." Tehra grumbled and got up. "I trust you can handle this until the authorities arrive?"
"Yes, Tehra." Boba sighed and Tehra left, walking to a highly decorated Rishi who tucked their wings in as if he had just flown over.
"Is she a representative?" She asked.
"Unofficially yes." Boba explained, handing her the gloves.
"Thank you."
"Do you just need to collect the bodies?"
"Body parts." She grumbled and picked up the arm to place it carefully onto a sheet Philip had spread on the ground. "I have no scanner so I cannot assign what part belongs to who."
"Can you do that?" Philip asked. "Just move the bodies?"
"We are not tampering with the wreckage until they have documented it." Altharya shrugged. "But we can remove any parts lying around so no one steps on them."
"Fair."
For minutes, Altharya moved another arm, charcoal remains of fingers and … she sighed sadly. A piece of a skull. This was not pretty and she saw others shooing children and spectators away. The authorities arrived in a shuttle, several black uniformed officers and three who were in white lab coats.
"We can take it from there." The oldest looking of the three said, waving her off.
Boba practically pulled her away, towards the officers who looked like they wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Let's get the statements over with." He explained numbly.
"Are you alright?" She tugged on his elbow.
But he did not slow down. Did not answer. Only dead set on getting them both to the officers who had datapads out and were already talking to Philip.
"Stop." She pulled hard now, digging her heels into the ground.
Finally he stopped and turned around.
"I am fine." He answered.
"No you are not."
His shoulders fell and for once he looked small. He rubbed his forehead.
"I will tell you later."
"We do not have to make a statement right now." She suggested, not letting go of his elbow yet.
Sometimes a patient needed to be held back even when they were calming down from their mad rush to get somewhere. An old trick, one that had always worked.
"What point is there in delaying?" He asked, then looked down where she was clutching him.
"You need a moment to breathe."
He smiled sadly and grabbed her hand that was on his elbow. "We can breathe later."
"There…"
"Sir, Ma'am. We need your statements." An officer interrupted them.
She groaned. Of course they'd come to them right that moment! Boba already turned away from her and her hand fell off.
"We need your names, contact details…" The officer started to rattle off ignoring the death glare she was sending their way.
"Is he dead?" the hologram flickered in front of his eyes.
He sighed. "Yes. And the other one too."
"The one he talked to?"
"Yes. As far as I know the authorities are ruling it as an accident and the funerals will be held next week."
"Good." The woman replied smugly. "We need this village as our staging point. Do not let these leaks happen again!"
"You can count on me."
"Good, you know what will happen if I hear about another. Also since Fett moved back, we need to move the stash further into the forest. Is the stronghold ready?"
"Not quite yet." He answered, swallowing down the dry taste in his throat. "Transferring the supplies and keep the books clean is hard in such a small village. These things take time."
"Hurry it up." She ordered, drawing herself to her full height. "We cannot have Fett on our trail!"
"Fett is too busy with his friend."
"Friend?" She raised a pixelated eyebrow.
"Turned up one day without warning and he is training her I think."
"Training her? Is he getting a partner?"
"I cannot say. My job does prevent me from interacting too much with him."
"Have you seen her?"
"She is elusive." He admitted. "Any orders regarding her?"
"No." She frowned. "But if he is getting a partner he might be gearing up for a big job."
"Big job? Bigger than the ones…" he stopped himself.
If Fett was gearing up for a truly huge job… he swallowed. Given the recent political developments between the Brents and Arions… were the Arions this gutsy to openly prepare their biggest asset?
"Keep an eye on them and if you suspect something, kill the friend."
"As you command."
"Good."
The hologram fizzled out leaving him in his dark office. Sighing, he looked out the window. Where the lanterns colourful shimmer fell through. Just outside was the street where the accident had happened. Rion should not have twitched. Now he had more work to do and keep an eye on a girl that looked like nothing.
Would be a pity to kill her. Fett seemed invested in her and he liked the kid… but orders were orders. He had to obey.