*** Chapter Two ***
Padme often did not fit in with her Peers. She was always the brightest girl in her class by far, but this was a very isolating experience. While her classmates were often interested in playing games, Padme has completed the full text of Qilakcs Guide to Civil Service and A Condensed History of Intergalactic Politics by her ninth birthday. Many seasoned politicians and government officials never even attempt such difficult volumes. Padme's tutors would note that she had an extremely advanced understanding of the tomes. Her Peers inability to discuss such works created a mutual disinterest between Padme and the other students at her school.
The Life and Times of Amidala, the People's Queen, By: Softa Jiane, Oralist and Historian
Han Solo had never been to Vitolo before, and truthfully, it was a world that even he was not interested in ever visiting, but he had no choice. Han, along with Chewbacca had been working on foraging new relations with spacecraft dealers. The New Republic Navy was growing quickly, while the suppliers that had done business with the Rebellion were still willing to serve the New Republic, they were not able to keep up with the volume. The more traditional suppliers were hedging their bets, and avoiding the New Republic until they were certain that Empire was truly gone many still selling to imperial war lord, more than willing to pass up opportunities for quick cash to ensure a long and prosperous future. The traditional suppliers were able to continue their business on private sales alone.
Han and Chewie had been working on brokering the deals for a couple of months now and had been to five worlds. The first couple of worlds were more than barrable. Legitimate and above-board suppliers who sold to mostly legitimate business used Casinos on luxury vice worlds to entertain potential buyers. On the both Corinth and Vonnegut, two such worlds, Han had started by taking in a couple rounds of Sabacc while drinking good Corellian brandy, the sort of stuff he was too broke to drink when he actually lived on Corellia. Once he played a couple of hands and had a few brandy's he would start asking around and then he would get a meeting. Things would seem to go well at first but would quickly fall apart.
On the third world, the suppliers were only semi legitimate and the brandy was cheap, but still Corellian. By the forth world, the suppliers were less than reputable, the Brandy was cheap and the world in which it came could not be identified. On the fifth world, Han didn't bother to investigate the brandy and instead stuck with the water supply on Falcon.
Stepping out on Vitolo, the lights on the lights landing pad were flickering in and out and Han could hear the scrying of vermin in the walls. Lando Calrissian has given him the tip, and when Han started out on this journey he thought is laughable he would even attempt to a trip to Vitolo, but after not securing any additional spacecraft, Han was desperate for even this deal. At this point, thought, it would just be a consolation price, Han was unlikely to find a supplier with enough inventory on this slum world to fulfill the New Republic's need. Han was really more interested in what was going on. If the scum of Vitolo were not interested in doing business with him, then it would be more than enough evidence to point to a larger conspiracy.
"Chewie, you coming?" Han yelled back to his companion.
"RAAAAAWARE," Chewie growled back.
"Seriously, your scared, you're a three-meter-tall Wookie, there are very few things that are a threat to you." Han Yelled back.
Chewie returned a growl.
"Yeah, Yeah, your right, stay with the ship." Han replied in mock conceit, but Chewie had a point, Han did not like leaving the ship alone in this particular port.
"RARWERWRERE," Chewie called back as Han stepped off the Falcon.
"What do you mean were out of Comm Fib Wire , you just realized this now, are you sure it can't wait."
"RRRRRAWERE."
"Fine, I'll see what I can do." Han replied as he double checked the charge on his blaster, he had a feeling it would be a useful tool on this particular planet.
As Han walked out onto the streets Vitolo, he knew to expect a planet that never got truly bright enough for human eyes. What Han did not expect was a sort of never ending twilight that was harsh on the eyes, somehow even worse than actual darkness. Vitolo was truly a world clocked in Shadows.
Only a few moment after Han had excited the bay an entered into one of the more busy streets of Vitolo, A reptilian species, a bit taller than Han stepped into his street and blocked his way through, "I Can make you feel things human boy, thing you have never felt before." It's long double prong tong, flicking in Han's face.
Han side stepped the reptilian, unsure of its species or gender, but it did not matter. Han was of course a Human man, and like all humans he had his vices, but paid companionship had never held appeal with Han. As an old pirate, Han was unsure he could admit it allowed, but he preferred meaningful relationships, the sort that were hard to form and harder to keep. He thought of Leia, unsure exactly where she was at the moment. It had been nearly two months since they had seen each other in person and by Han's measure it had been too long. Perhaps he could meet up with her once he was done on Vitolo. Taking a holiday would delay the inevitable of telling the top brass at the New Republic that he had failed on making any material purchase of spacecraft.
Han turned his attention back to the city streets, knowing that vigilance was important. Without it, he was likely to wide up dead. Luckily, the cantina that Han was to find his contact at was close to the spaceport. After walking past three brothels, two casinos and a spice shop Han entered a shabby looking Cantina called the "Rapture." With any luck, he would be able to find the craft dealer Lando had told him about.
The Cantina was like dozens Han had been in all across the galaxy. The stench of the place was disappointingly familiar, body odor of dozen's species, sour vomit, and stale cheap liquors. Like the rest the planet, the lighting was dim. The music was piped in through speakers rather than performed, musicians found other, better planets to populate.
Han walked up to the bar in the middle of the room, not because he wanted a drink in this sort of place, but because it an unofficial entry fee. What he was required to do to look as if he fit is this sort place. The bar tender, as were many of the occupants, was some sort of reptilian species though different than the kind that propositioned him on the street. Han figured the harsh light kept most humanoids away. Once he got the bar tenders attention, he ordered a sealed bottled ale in a brand he was familiar with, choosing a safe bet. In his younger days, Han would have gone for some sort of unspecified local spirit, but at some point, Han has come to realize his own mortality or maybe now he just had something to live for.
Han took a seat at the bar, inspecting bottle, looking for signs that it had been tampered with. When he was pleased that it was unmolested, he popped it open on the underside of the bar and began his scan of the smoke-filled room.
It did not take long for Han to spot a Recovet, a squat, reptilian species with a long wide tail and a long-rounded snout. Han was able to identify this Recovet was Kevion, a spacecraft provider, as he wore a thick pair of black square glasses upon his nose, a unique accessory for a reptilian. Han was relieved to see that while some sort of over grown rodent was attempting to hold conversation, the potential supplier looked bored.
Han got the bartenders attention again and order two small glasses of an overly expensive liquor called Zolocal. It as a neon blue and the actual alcohol content made it near toxic for true humans. While other species claimed it had a sort of earthy mellowness, no human had ever been able to pick up the taste. Lando had advised Han use it as a sort of peace offering, a way to single that Han was ready to do business.
Han walked over to the table and held up the two glasses so that Recovet would get the general impression that he wanted to the meeting. They two made eye contact and Kevion turned to the rodent species, and said something in a language Han did not understand. The rodent scurried to another part of the bar.
Han sat down and placed a glass of Zolocal in front of the potential supplier, but did not say anything.
Han watched as Kevion took a sip of the Zolocal, nodded slowly and then said, "I don't do business with the Rebellion." His nasally voice as dry as sand paper and his face yielded no sign visible sign of emotion, though Han was not sure if this purposeful or a trait of the species as a whole.
"I'm not with the rebellion." Han countered quickly, it was technically not a lie. The Rebellion had ceased and the New Republic had begun the day after the Batter of Endor.
"Fine then, what do you call your selves now, the New Republic, I don't do business with them either." Kevion bit back with a wheeze.
"Hey, buddy, I'm now with the New Republic either." Han lied, sure it would work. His ability to lie was one of his best attributes in his opinion.
"Hmmm," Kevion chuckled, "Clean shaven, well feed, enough money to by two Zolocals without a blink of an eye, even though we both know you'll not touch yours. If you were a private buyer you would have had enough money to deal with the suppliers on a world like Corinth, and even if you were doing something real shady, real illegal, you would have gotten something on Tatooine or Magiebay, both of those planets are much more suited to a humanoid. No, the only reason you would have sunk to this slim hole is if everyone else had blacklisted you. The only reason you would be here is if your New Republic."
"So, then you know why the New Republic cannot get suppliers even all the way out here?" Han asked.
"Sure," Kevion replied without given ay explanation.
"Any detail you'd like to share?" Han said, discreetly placing 20,000 credits in front of the Recovet. Enough money to but two land speeders at retail prices. Enough money to show that Kevion that if Han was willing to pay this much for just information, imagine how much we would be willing to pay for spacecraft.
"Sir, I am a wealthy enough man, the value of my life is much more than you are ever going to be able to pay." The Kevion said, without bothering to touch the credits.
Han shuffled the credits back in his pocket, hopeful no one else in the cantina saw the display, knowing it would create greater risk down the line.
"There must be something of value, some way you would be able to offer up this information?" Han questioned, annoyed that these tactics were not working. Up until a few years ago, this sort of back hand dealing had been Han's only livelihood.
"I'm afraid not."
"and when the war is over, you could be an established supplier with the predominate government." Han threw out, but it both felt and sounded desperate.
"Sir, I ask that you leave now, while your still alive. There is no business for you here and I can grantee that there is nothing you or anyone else can offer me to change my mind about the New Republic."
Han paused and ran his tongue over his bottom lip while he contemplated his next actions. There must be away around what the Recovet had just said. Before Han could come to conclusion, Kevion had placed his blaster atop of the table. Han decided that is was time he left the Cantina, defeated and with no more answers than when we had entered.