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"Ah, did the delivery go well?" The Devaronian obviously hadn't heard from his 'nurse', judging by the stupid smug way with which he greeted them.

"Yeah, we did your dirty work, you fraud! Now where's my cousin?" Corso gritted through his teeth.

She knew he was only holding back because he wanted info on his cousin. In one swift movement, Flashy was in her hand. "You keep us waiting, I've got a few things to implant in you, 'doctor'." She smirked as the yellow of his skin paled a little.

"Wow, easy there, Captain." He gave a nervous laugh. "You're looking for Rona Riggs, right? Well, she's the one who thought you two would be right for the job. Don't shoot the messenger."

Sweeping her gaze around the room, Liling's eyes fell onto a particular group of patrons a couple of tables away. She had caught the woman staring a few times before, but never paid much attention. Could she be…? After whispering into one of her companions' ear, the short-haired woman stood up and sure enough, casually but purposefully made her way towards them.

"Just like the old days, eh, cuz?" This was Rona? "Course, I'm a little more big-time now than Ma and Pa ever would have allowed."

As incredible as it seemed, Liling couldn't miss the accent, much stronger than Corso's; she was also able to discern a few freckles under the woman's tanned skin. However, those were the only traces of any farmgirl-ness. She then took in the oddly familiar garb. This wasn't good. And Corso was conspicuously silent at her side. Suddenly, she felt angry.

"What were you thinking? Sending us to smuggle spice?!"

This didn't seem to unsettle the woman. "How could I resist? I remember how much my baby cousin loved all our little pranks," she replied, a small smirk on her face.

Before Liling could tell her what she thought of her taste of humour, Corso finally spoke.

"Rona, what… what happened to you? What are you doing here?" The Mantellian sounded…sad and lost, and Liling felt herself disliking that Rona more and more by the second.

"I'm the underboss for the Black suns on this part of Coruscant," the woman replied calmly, confirming her suspicions. "Not bad considering five years ago, I was shovelling ronto dung, huh?"

She didn't need to turn around to see the crumbling look on his face.

"The Black Suns? You're a…gang member?"

"Gang leader!" Rona corrected. "You think I should write home? Make Ma and Pa proud?"

Liling frowned. She didn't like having to tell someone their parents were dead, but it must be even harder for Corso and so she made up her mind. "Sorry to be the one to tell you, but Corso's the only family you have left."

"They're all dead, Rona. Separatists got them."

Liling felt a pang of sympathy for the Black Sun gang leader despite everything. To her frustration, Rona merely shrugged it off, a joyless laugh escaping her.

"Ha. After all the grousing about the big, dangerous galaxy. Guess that showed them."

That seemed to shake the mercenary back. "How can you say that?! Don't you care? We obviously came just in time. Come on, Rona. We're getting you out of here." He made toward his cousin, but she stepped out of reach.

"Poor chivalrous little Corso… don't you get it? I don't need to be rescued. I chose this life."

She wanted to tell Corso he couldn't decide for his cousin. People made their own choices, and no matter how you try, you can only control your own life, if even that. Which was also why, she liked being by herself. But she felt like she had to at least try, if only for him.

"There's only two ways out of that life, lady. With us, or in a body bag."

"This isn't what you wanted, Rona." The Mantellian shook his head, as if not wanting to face the reality of things. "We talked about wild adventures, not…smuggling spice!" He looked up, and his face was full of desperation, clinging onto false hope. "You wanted to be like the Captain, right? Thumb your nose at society and use your freedom to make a difference! You can still do that."

"It was a nice dream..." For the first time during their conversation, Liling saw something other than complacence or indifference on the gang leader's face. There was a sadness and regret in her eyes that made Liling look away. By the time her eyes flickered back up, all trace of it was gone. "But this is where I woke up" Rona said, determination and self-assurance back on.

"Rona…" The way he said her name broke something in her.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this." She watched as the Black Sun underboss's face softened, before closing up completely. "Go with your captain, Corso."

She was about to take him by the arm and lead him away when he stepped toward his cousin, pulled a container of something from his bag and placed it on the counter, right next to Rona. The woman was studiously avoiding his eyes. Liling felt like she was intruding, and turned around, pretending to occupy herself. She couldn't help but overhear his words, however.

"I wish you would rethink this life, Rona. But I'll always be there for you, no matter what. You have my contacts."


A/N: I had Corso buy jogan fruit for Rona, because it was something they would eat in the summer, together when they were kids (according to whom? Why, my active imagination, of course. :) And apparently, they are sold in tubes.