Chapter 11

Bane went to his room, hung up his hat on a hook by the door, and poured himself a drink.

"How did it go?"

"I just gave her the comm", Bane said annoyed having even listened to the droid. The only reason he did what Todo had suggested is to prove his droid wrong and maybe settle a bit of his paranoia.

"Well rest assured I will let you know when she does, I have full access to the ship to include alerts for incoming transmissions" Todo went back to the small desk to plug into the ship's mainframe.

Bane walked over and sat on the edge of the bed kicking off his shoes and took a long swig from his glass. She will probably be calling any time now that he left her to her own devices. Bane got back up, before he got comfortable, and went ahead and grabbed the whole bottle before walking back to sit back on the bed. Now we just wait…

Bane woke up with a slight headache he looked at the clock and 4 hours has passed by.

"Todo" barked Bane

"Nothing yet Sir" Strange he was sure she would have called by now. Maybe she doesn't want to be with the Jedi, maybe she can stay around a bit longer. If she doesn't want anything to do with them maybe even … a soft beeping started going off on Todo.

"That's the signal sir"

He grabbed the bottle he left by the bed and looked in it though he already drank most of it, it still had some left, he took a drink.

"Well, what are you waiting for" Bane spoke impatiently "This was your idea". Todo typed in a code on the screen and voices could be heard from the other side.

Nova: Hello….

Skywalker: Hello? Nova? Is that you?

Nova: *signs* Yep, it's me Sky guy how have you been

Skywalker: How have I've been? I have been worried sick, I thought you were dead!

Nova: I don't understand? why would I be dead?

Skywalker: Because I went back for you, like I promised. But when I got there blood was all over the floor in the hanger. I checked the footage and I see you pull up with Bane bleeding, broken and naked getting yelled at to get in a ship by this killer. I believed the worse, what was I supposed to think?

Nova: I … don't … It's not what you think … see …

Skywalker: Just tell me where you are, and I'll come get you.

Nova: *long pause* I can't do that.

Skywalker: *pause* Nova is someone in the room with you right now, are you in trouble? Why can't you tell me?

Nova: No, no, nothing like that I am safe.

Skywalker: How can you say that your safe? Nova I saw your condition when you left Tatooine. You are probably in no condition to be by yourself right now. If your safe, then let me help you.

Nova: No, you see Ani I am free now, no longer a slave. I am currently … traveling … looking for work.

Skywalker: Free? But how, you could never afford freedom.

Nova: Ouch, but okay your right I couldn't. My master would have killed me for even suggesting it.

Skywalker: Then who …

Nova: It was Cad Bane; Bane is the one who freed me even got Jabba's blessing. I'm really free not just a runaway not anymore. See I don't have to hide I can do what I want to go where I want.

Skywalker: With who you want.

Nova: I suppose.

Skywalker: So, you chose Bane … you are with him right now aren't you. That's why you won't tell me where you are because you know we are looking for him! Tell me where you are. Right. Now. If this is how you feel you have to pay him back by ….

Nova: DON'T! even accuse me of that … I called you to talk to you as a friend and let you know I am free and my own person and that I wanted to see you again. I thought you would be happy.

Skywalker: I am happy you are free I am, trust me. But Cad Bane is a ruthless killer, he will hurt you. The only reason he freed you is because he wants something from you. There are not many skills I can think of that you would have that Bane can use you for but *Skywalker stopped himself* … Not that you don't have skills just as a slave they don't teach you much.

Nova: I am. Not. A slave, I have plenty to offer besides sex, since that is all, you can think me good for. Bane can see that. That's why he helped me, that's why he saved my life, he has only treated me as an equal and has never been inappropriate in the manner that you speak of.

Skywalker: How did he save your life? He doesn't save people he kills them and does it for a living. Do you even hear yourself? Answer me.

Nova: You have changed, you are not the same sweet Ani I know when we were kids.

Skywalker: Look I just want what's best for you and you are not thinking clearly. Tell me where you are, and I will come get you. Then we can talk about this …

Nova: Goodbye Ani

Skywalker: Wait don't end the call. I'm sorry I'll do better, just please call me back I want you in my life. I'm just shocked is all. Please Nova, please don't leave *silence* Nova?

Nova: I'll think about it *Call ends*

Bane put the empty bottle down on the floor, well that went better than expected. So, she was telling the truth, she really didn't have ties to the Jedi after all, just happens to know one. Which lucky for him the Jedi turned out to be a total ass. She will not be running to them anytime soon.

"Looks like now I can be Nova's friend" Todo said happily un plugging himself from the ship.

"Good for you" Bane stood up and walked to the door leaving his boots and hat behind. He walked towards the kitchen in order to grab a new bottle for the room. As he approached the kitchen, he could hear some slight muffled crying coming from the other room. Shit …

Bane changed course and walked over to the sound of the crying. Nova was on the couch facing away from him with a book in her lap and using a blanket to help muffle her cries. Bane cleared his throat. Nova sat upright still not facing him and started using her sleeves to wipe her face dry, but at this point there was no hiding it. "Oh, didn't hear you there. I was just reading."

"You good?" Bane wasn't sure what to say in this situation he doesn't talk feelings. He should have just gone back to his room and shut the door, let her cry, and be done with it. But hearing her cry rubbed him wrong and he felt the need to check on her. What the fuck is wrong with him.

"Yes, I'm fine" Oh good she doesn't want to talk about it. Nova wiped away a fresh tear "okay maybe not totally fine" damn it

"You talk to the Jedi?"

"Yes, I wanted to meet up after this. See my friend. But he didn't care, get this he was more interested in seeing you then me" Nova chuckled slightly

"That so" Bane half smiled "well unfortunately for Skywalker I prefer the company of women over men, sorry to disappoint"

Nova started to laugh "That's not what I meant" once the laughing died down, she continued "he just thinks so little of me"

"So let him"

Nova looked at Bane like he had something on his face. "Look" Bane continues "It is best if people underestimate you. Let them. It will only help you get the upper hand… They will never see you coming" he smiled which she returned with a small smile of her own.

Bane walked over and took a seat next to her on the couch kicking his feet on the table in front of them. "What are you reading"

"its just a book about mechanics"

"That sounds like a tough read, so it is a manual"

"Yeah, kind of, I don't know most the words, but the pictures help tell the story. It just shows the parts of the commonly found machines and electronics, it helps explain what they do so you can use that info to build other stuff"

"Did you want me to read some to you?"

"You don't have to do that Cad" As Nova uses her sleeve to take another pass on her face. She has stopped crying but you can tell she was still upset. Bane ignored her response and grabbed the book from her lap and opened it to where there was a page folded in place of a book mark. He settled in the couch and started reading. Once Bane started reading Nova scooted close and sat beside him following along in the book. Bane would randomly read using his finger as a guide in order to ensure Nova was following along. This allowed the words that he was reading outload to her to match the words that she saw in the book so she may pair it together and learn.

After a while Bane noticed the weight on his shoulder shifting. Nova was starting to drift off on him, crying must have wiped her out. He allowed himself to just let it happen just for a short while, it felt right. Looking down at her he moved a strand of hair from her face, she is beautiful. This action started to stir her awake and she opened her eyes meeting his. "Oh, I didn't even realize I dozed off…" Nova now turning bright red started sitting back upright and moved away from Bane.

Bane cleared his throat before speaking "I don't know how you read this stuff, it's boring" Bane closed the book and handed back to her.

"Thank you" she whispered, taking hold of the book.

"Books are fine but the only way you are going to learn anything is if you apply it" Bane thought for a minute "follow me"

They made their way to a workbench inside Banes room. "If you are coming with me on this contract, you need gear" Bane thought for a minute. "Most of my stuff will not fit you, we will have to get that later, but you can make yourself vambraces. Similar to mine" Bane took his bracers off his wrists and set them on the table. "All the parts are here for modifications, use mine as a template if you want. But you will need to make your own. Make sure you have at the least comm access on them if nothing else".

"Okay, I can do that". Nova was now smiling

"Good you have about 30 hours before we reach our destination" Nova didn't reply and just started grabbing parts and tools. When she was working like this it seemed like there wasn't anything else going on in the world around her.

Bane left the room and let her be for the time being. He needed some distance away from her, maybe Todo was right and he is getting attached…