I'm sorry for the delayed chapters, life kind of got hectic but getting back on track

Chapter 9

It had been two weeks since Nova got her first shooting lesson from Bane, her injuries have healed dramatically, and she now has access to most of the house. Since Bane was starting to trust her a bit more, he was allowing her some freedoms. They have found themselves in a somewhat small routine in the mornings, Nova wakes up to find Bane smoking as he reads some stuff on the holonet out loud to her (might just be more talking to himself or thinking out loud but she appreciates it nonetheless). As he read, she finds herself in the kitchen, in the adjacent room, cooking them some breakfast humming some songs she knows from back on Tatooine.

She never knew what they were doing for training that day, but the mornings were always the same. Since training with Bane, she has learned how to shoot, some hand-to-hand combat, and even starting to learn to read in the evenings, this was by far her weakest subject though Bane stayed patient (most nights), and if he couldn't then Todo would help her instead. While in the kitchen she heard beeping coming from Bane's comms. He has had a few business calls since her being with him, he normally just left the room to answer them. But this time he just groaned glanced at me but didn't say anything. Does he not care that I'm here? Should I leave? But Nova didn't want to leave, she made sure to turn off the stovetop and stopped cooking temporarily to avoid making any noises while he talked to his client so he may remain professional and then Bane answered the call.

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A steady beeping started to come from Bane bracers on his wrist. Bane groaned when he saw who it was and looked over at Nova in the other room. It's not like she didn't already know about the Holocron…

Nova had never given him any signs why he couldn't trust her, so far. He even gave her access to the house (minus his room) watching her to see if she would slip up or if she would try to contact the Jedi, anything. But no, she just followed orders exactly to the letter, guess there is a benefit to a prior slave working under you.

Bane waited thinking for a moment and noticed Nova turning off the stove waiting in silence for him to answer his call. Fine. Once quite he clicked his device on his wrist.

"Evening bounty hunter, has it been done?" As a silhouette of a hooded figure appeared to flicker on his comm device.

Bane ignored his clients' formalities "I have your Jedi Holocron, as we agreed". Though Bane felt like he had been holding on to the damn thing for way too long. He was given a generous window of time in which to complete this task. He is not one to procrastinate a job if it when it comes to his credits.

"Good, change of plans, I am going to need that Holocron unlocked prior to delivery"

"That was not part of the deal" Sure he has been trying to figure out how to unlock this box for some time. Why would his client (a Sith Lord no doubt) be so interested in it if there wasn't valuable information inside? But at this point, he was just ready to rid himself of this headache.

"I am altering the deal, do not freight bounty hunter, you will be paid in full… Or perhaps this task is too difficult for you and that your reputation has been… exaggerated." This Sith Lord was purposely pissing him off in order for him to accept the mission, if that was the case, it was working.

"What would I need to do in order to unlock this Holocron"

The Sith Lord smiles, "Two things are needed a Jedi and a Kyber crystal and I just happen to know where to find them." He waits until Bane nods in agreement before disclosing any more information.

"A Jedi named Bolla Ropal is located somewhere in the Devaron system. He is the keeper of the Kyber crystal, which holds the data on which can only be read by Holocrons."

"What's on the crystal?"

"That is not I am paying you for, not yet. Get the Jedi to unlock the Holocron and insert the crystal, then deliver it to these coordinates"

"To capture a Jedi alive is not easy not to mention deadly..." Bane waited to respond for a moment as if to think the whole ordeal over. "If you want this Holocron, I want a Rogue-class starfighter with elite weapons, cloaking device, the works. Oh, and triple my usual rate. Half now, half once delivered."

"Your price is of no concern"

"Then you've got a deal"

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The silhouette of the hooded figure flickered away ending the call. Nova stayed standing there in silence as Bane slowly stood up from his chair. He wasn't looking at her but still, you can see his mind racing thinking of his next step, he always seems to be one step ahead of any deals he makes.

"Todo" Bane barked. Todo came out from the garage and shuffled over to Bane.

"Yes?" the droid

"Get our shit together, we're leaving"

"But we just got here, I do quite like it here over some of our other hideouts"

"I didn't ask what you preferred, now go" Todo moaned, turned on his thrusters, and hoovered out of the room. Bane finally turned and looked at Nova.

"You, make sure the ship is ready to fly, we need to make a stop before heading to our Jedi" he spoke as he places one of his hands under his chin.

"We?" I get to come along too?!

Bane looked up at her from his thoughts. "Did I stutter? You don't really think I am just going to leave you at my hideout unsupervised." Oh, right…

"Is that where we say goodbye?" Nova didn't move

"What are you talking about now women" Bane was already starting to type some stuff on his datapad, no longer looking at Nova.

"A few weeks ago… You said you would drop me off at the next planet so I can start a new life once you taught me to survive on my own"

Bane stopped what he was doing and was now looking at Nova. "Is that what you want?"

"NO!" Nova panicked "I want to be part of your crew"

"hmm... Well, I don't know about all that. I don't have a "crew" I work alone." Nova's face drops as she broke her eye contact with Bane and looked at the floor out of habit.

Bane spoke breaking the silence "But I do need some extra hands on this particular contract if you're interested in a very small cut of the credits to start this new life of yours."

Nova's head snapped up "Yes, please! I want to join you on this mission."

Bane put up a hand to indicate Nova to stop speaking for a moment "Contract, not mission because that's all it is. No need to make it sound honorable in any way because it's not. We get paid to do other people's deeds, so those rich bastards don't have to get their hands dirty. But it has its benefits. Do you understand"?

"Yes," Bane seemed lost in thought then walked straight up to Nova and stood right in front of her leaving very little space between them. She looked down at the floor again feeling a bit self-conscious for whatever reason but then Bane softy gripped her chin and forced her to look at him.

"If you are to come with me you will do everything I say as I say it, no hesitation. If I say jump, you jump. If I say go to the ship, you go to the ship. If I say kill someone you…" Bane waited for her to answer

"I kill them… Yes, I understand Cad." Nova seemed to pale; Bane then removed his hand from her chin allowing her free motion of her face again and took one step back.

She figured in Bane's profession that killing may take place but maybe it can be avoided, she wasn't sure. It's not like she hasn't been around death, but she has never been the one to take a life.

"I'm not sure that you do. But we will see… Oh and don't call me by my first name while others are present, got it?"

"Okay Bane"

Bane rolled his eyes, "Go get your crap and prepare the ship, we leave in 2 hours".