Chapter 3 More answers, more questions
Jalien stared, transfixed, at the two women. Lords below… I can almost see the Colors…
"Jale!" Chedakki's warning snapped her attention away from the duel – just in time to barely dodge the first blaster volley.
"Shit!" Wildly she glanced around for their attackers and cover. Not necessarily in that order.
Chedakki brushed by her and the flash of Sturrick's blaster rifle caught the corner of her eye.
"Son of a bitch," she muttered and brought up her blaster pistol. Of course, she'd left her own rifle on the ship. Hell, this was just suppose to be a meeting…
She squeezed off a round that ricocheted off the edge of the roof, but at least she had the satisfaction of making the bastard duck. Suddenly, agony blossomed in her back, and she fell to both knees, twisting to the left.
"God's balls, woman," Sturrick appeared at her side, " just once I'd like to not see your – "
"Shaddup!"
" – burnt hide after a fight."
He covered her while she struggled to her feet, and stumbled against the near wall. It wasn't much cover, as most of the enemy had them dead to rights from the opposite roof, but it was something.
"Who are they?" she gasped and dodged another bolt.
"How the hell should I know? We're here cuz of you, remember?" he growled back.
Oh, fuck. Del. Adrenaline poured through her system. Heart pounding, her eyes darted back to the middle of the alley. Chedakki had knocked Del against the far wall, and under a small ledge, covering her body with his own. Small protection against the men over their heads, but more then either she or Sturrick had at the moment.
An image of sitting waterfowl flittered through her mind.
"Chedakki," Sturrick yelled into his com-link, "get back to the ship."
Across the alley, the young man nodded. "But, I don't see us getting through that."
Blaster fire rained down the middle of the alley, and chipped away the wall at Jalien and Sturrick's backs. The pirate yelped and barely dodged yet another close bolt.
"Argh! He's right 'rick. Del won't make it through that." At least I don't think so.
"Beautiful. Okay," the bounty hunter squeezed off two more rounds, knocking one attacker out of sight. "Okay, Chek, if Jalien will stop dodging to save her own miserable hide – "
"Hey!
" - long enough to lay some cover fire, there's a door to your right. You'll have to come out from under cover, but – "
"We'll make it. On three?"
"One. Two. Three."
Taking a deep breath, Jalien and Sturrick left the pitiful cover of their wall to return the hail of fire. Across the alley, Chedakki grabbed Del's hand and half dragged her toward the door. Jalien got a last glimpse of the soft red of Del's robe as it whisked around the corner.
"C'tra! Focus!"
"Fine!" she snapped back. "Okay, grandmaster. How do we get out of this mess ourselves?"
"We run. Come on!" Slinging the rifle back into its normal position behind his back, he barreled for the bar door.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." It became a mantra of sorts as Jale pounded after him. She slammed the door behind her and leaned her forehead against it, panting. Dear Lords. Now that the adrenaline began to fade, the score to her back burned like a bitch. I hate being shot.
She turned to find most of the bar staring at her and 'rick. Raising one dark brow, she gazed sardonically back. Sturrick shrugged idly and moved to the bar. After another second, the low bar rumble resumed as conversations returned to their interrupted topics and the band to its set.
"You want a drink?"
"Love one," Jale replied. "But, we better get back to the ship. Plus, I don't want to buy any for our friends back there."
"Fine, but you owe me."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do we happen to have a medi-kit?"
"Do you have your pack?"
"No."
"There's your answer."
"Lords. Hey, hold up for a minute." She leaned against a handy wall.
Sturrick turned and frowned. "What?"
"Just hold on for a moment."
He huffed, but settled next to her.
Jalien took a deep breath and tried to block out the pain and noise around her. She never was very good at this…
"Del," she murmured. "Del, can you hear me?"
"What?" Sturrick replied, annoyed.
"Not talking to you."
"Excuse me?"
"Just stand there and watch the door dammit!"
Sturrick glared at her. She blinked wearily. "Please?"
He growled, but turned his attention to the doors. Sweet Lady, but it was going to take drinks for an entire night to make it up to him at this rate.
Once again, she closed her eyes and tried that whole "centering" thing. "Dammit Del, I know you can hear me."
Of course, Jalien C'tra. Amusement tinged the mind touch and Jalien ground her teeth. You merely need to clear your mind enough for us to touch upon you without overwhelming you.
"Again."
A mental shrug. A serene mental shrug. Amazing.
The pressure in her jaw warned her to unclench her teeth. "Del, stay with Chedakki. He'll get you to the ship."
So we deduced.
"And you have to let me tell them something," Jalien hissed. Dammit, you Pledged me – have a little faith.
Silence. Del had withdrawn her touch.
"Okay, if you're done talking to yourself, tell me what the hell is goin' on. I hate dodging blasters for no reason."
"I can't. Literally."
"Really," he turned back to her, an obstinate look on his face.
"Listen, and shut up!" She exploded, earning annoyed looks from the closest tables. Anger boiling up within her, she grabbed his arm and started out the door. He obliging went along (she couldn't have moved him otherwise).
"Listen, 'rick. I literally can't tell you anything. Not yet. Not that will help you. Del is an old… friend. And I have to help her. I don't have a choice."
He snorted. "Like you've never wiggled out of a promise before."
"Not this time," she replied darkly.
Sturrick stared at her in blatant disbelief.
"Occasionally, I'm forced to follow a code of some kind. So sue me."
He rolled his eyes. "Okay, then. So, you don't know the thugs. Who's the other woman with your friend?"
"Kerna."
He waited expectantly.
She glared back.
"Not gonna tell me that either."
"Can't."
"Woman, you're killing me."
She made a wild shushing motion with her hands. "Let's get back to the ship, and let me talk with Del. Then, I should be able to tell you something."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"But, we're making a stop first."
"What? Where?"
"Like I said, I hate dodging from people I don't know. I've got some contacts to check."
Jalien's eyes widened.
"What?" he snapped. "I do hunt men for a living."
She bowed with a sweeping gesture. "Then lead the way oh mighty hunter."
A soft chime brought Celo's attention away from the ledger before her and to the front door. A tall, dark-haired woman entered. "This shop is your contact?" she complained to someone behind her.
Celo shook her head and returned to the books. From the shoulders of her violent purple vest to the toes of her scuffed thigh-high boots, the woman screamed "pirate." Jay-jay could take care of her needs without much fuss.
"Hey, I don't tell you how to fly, don't tell me how to hunt."
Celo's finger's slowed over the keys. It couldn't be…
The pirate snorted. "Please. You start complaining the minute the hatch shuts."
"That's color commentary. Different."
Celo rolled her eyes, and reluctantly closed the ledger with a small click.
"Riiiiight," the pirate drawled.
Jay-jay sailed forth, beaming. "Greetings, gentles. What can I help you find today? We have a wide collection on hand, and contacts to most other major dealers."
Sure enough – the pirate's companion turned and Celo got a good look at him through the one-way mirror. Same blunt, rugged features. Same blonde, if shorter, hair. Same ostentatious blaster rifle slung across his back. Ancestors help me. Sturrick.
"I need to speak with Celo," he growled.
Jay-jay smiled again, and shook her head slightly. "I'm afraid Ms. Celo only sees clients by appointment. I believe she is booked for the day. I would be happy to offer my modest services. However, if you insist upon seeing Ms. Celo – "
"I insist."
"Then I'm sure an appointment could be made for next week."
"Get her."
The 100-watt smile dimmed slightly. "As I said, Ms. Celo is unavailable."
Celo stood, taking pity on Jay-jay. The girl was loyal, and good, but if this continued, Sturrick just might walk through her. That would be bad for business.
"Sturrick," she opened the door to the back room. "Leave my poor assistant alone."
"Celo!" Sturrick brushed past Jay-jay happily, still nearly knocking the poor girl over. The pirate followed, shrugging with a grin at her partner's ill manners.
Jay-jay turned to Celo, questions written large on her face. A small hand motion allowed her to relax. "Thank you, Jay-jay. I'll take care of this client this time. Please continue to mind the rest of the shop."
"Of course, madam." She bowed and turned her attention to a newcomer just entering.
"Why don't you join me … in the back," she finished dryly as the bounty hunter brushed by her with much the same attitude he pushed past her assistant.
The pirate slid in behind him, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Good to see you again, Cee – umph."
His head snapped back, and Celo shook her hand briefly. Damn, she'd forgotten how hard his head was.
After a stunned moment, the pirate collapsed against the wall, giggles bubbling out of her.
Sturrick glared at her. "This is how you react to an attack on me?"
"Oh, please." She gasped in merriment. "I've got to meet more of your friends, 'rick, if this is the greeting you're gonna get every time."
He worked his jaw back and forth. "Still mad about Selik 3, huh?"
Flipping a multitude of tiny braids over her shoulder, Celo crossed her arms over her chest. "Annoyed, maybe. Truly mad and I would have broken it."
"You would have tried."
She bared her teeth in a grin at him.
The pirate pushed away from the wall with a roll of her eyes, and a small wince. "Good to see he has this effect on everyone. Jalien C'tra."
Celo took the offered handclasp. "Celo Trall. What information do you need now Sturrick?" She shoved by him to sit behind her desk.
"We were just ambushed outside the Dancing Jig. I want to know by whom and why." He just edged the pirate out of the only other chair in the room. She turned smack aimed at the back of his head into a sweep through her short, black hair when she saw Cee watching.
A woman after my own heart, Celo thought briefly. "Nothing's for free, Sturrick."
"Not even for an old friend, fallen on hard times?"
She raised one eloquent eyebrow.
"Fine. Ten credits."
She snorted. "Fifty."
"Fifty! I don't carry that kind of money around woman! Fifteen."
"Are we really going to do this the hard way? Forty-five."
"I haven't caught a bounty in longer than I care to think about. Take mercy on an old comrade. Twenty."
"Forty."
"Thirty."
"Done." They shook on the deal, while the pirate huffed in the corner of the room.
"Now. What information are we talking about here?"
"Standard blaster rifles. One wore an eye patch, another had a scar down the left side of his face, from check to chin. I think a third had a prosthetic hand, but not sure. Five in all."
"Hum. The Proncelli brothers. Standard thugs for hire. Currently working for a newbie, calls herself Kerna. I would love to have more information on her past."
Sturrick turned with a pointed look to Jalien. She gazed back, stonily.
"Fine." He returned to Celo, who watched the exchange with some interest. "This Kerna was there alright. What's her story on planet?"
Cee leaned back into the chair, and steepled her fingers. "Just landed, maybe two weeks ago. No past to tell, and lots of credits. Not unusual around here. She's been slowly hiring talent, both mental and physical."
"Do you know why?"
Celo shrugged. "Nothing definitive yet. She's only been here a few weeks. But, she's gathering quality to her Sturrick, quality that takes more than strictly money to buy."
"Any idea on why her thugs would shoot up an alley with me in it?"
"She's met you before?"
"Ha ha." He slumped into the chair, arms crossed.
The pirate snorted.
The corner of Cee's mouth lifted briefly. "Actually no. She hasn't made any major moves, nothing along those lines yet. But, you're also not the only one asking about her."
"Anybody interesting?"
"Aside from the usual suspects, low-lifes, and major players wary of her presence, yes. By the way, you're not working for any of those are you?"
"Obviously you didn't see that episode of Imperials Most Wanted a couple of months ago," the pirate muttered.
"And the interesting one?"
"Looked like another of her species. Tall, gold, but with black hair instead of blonde. She's been nosing around for the past week or so. Getting into some very dangerous places and coming out alright again. Much like Kerna herself."
"Great." He turned to his partner. "So, it looks like they were firing at your friend, and we just came along for the ride. Why am I not surprised?"
Jalien folded her arms over her chest, and met his pose stare for stare.
Celo leaned forward. "So, anything you two care to give me in trade instead of credits?" She could smell information in the air between them.
"Yes."
"No."
They answered in unison.
Celo arched her eyebrows at both of them.
The pirate took a very sudden interest in the shop outside the mirror.
"Nothing major, Cee. Not yet anyway." Sturrick growled in response.
"Promises, promises," the pirate breathed under her breathe.
"I thought that was my line."
"I'm not saying another damn word 'rick."
"Believe that when I see it."
Jalien snapped her lips shut, just after one inarticulate "App-" and spun around. A blaster score stood out livid against the vest.
"It appears Jale here knows both ladies. Friends from the past, whom she can't talk about."
Celo relaxed back into her own chair. "I hear that story twenty times a day, Sturrick."
"Well, I believe her. However, I do know there's something else going on Cee. Normally, Jale will wiggle her way out of a situation any way she can. She's not wiggling this time. I'll let you know as soon as I have any more information."
"Done." They shook hands on it.
The pirate shuddered at the window.
"I haven't figured out Kerna's agenda yet, Sturrick. From the tales I've gathered, she's walking both side of the line. As for the other – "
"Name's Del, by the way."
"Del." Celo filed that away. "Her only agenda appears to be Kerna. All the makings of a nasty twist."
"'rick," the pirate called softly.
"I'll be careful, Cee. Working with my present partners has increased my survival skills ten-fold," he said pointedly.
"Sturrick!" The pirate spun around and slammed her back against the window. The gasp of pain confirmed her injury "Time to go."
He frowned. "I'm still talkin' here."
"Now." She came forward. Celo got her first real look into the startling violet eyes. And shivered. "Please."
Sturrick's frown deepened. "Alright. Thanks Cee."
"Sure. Sturrick, one thing."
"Yeah?"
"The money?"
"Oh. Yeah."
