Chapter 10: The Payday

Tarkin Val'Tala was watching a spectacular show at the Cloud Runner Resort on Bespin. Trained thrantas were swooping around in the sky. Stunt cloud cars were zipping around and performing insane stunts. Dancers were up on high platforms, dancing in the whipping winds. And best of all, there were no bounty hunters wanting to be paid or business men telling him to come to a meeting. Yep, he was going to enjoy his vacation to Bespin. He sat back in his chair and put his sun visors on.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over him. A blaster was raised to his head.
"We have some unfinished business," said the Ubese assassin.
"Oh no, not you again! What do you want?" Val'Tala shrieked, stumbling back and falling off of his chair. He knocked over a passing butler droid, who spilled drinks all over Val'Tala. The Besilisk's white vest and shirt were now a splash of blue, pink, and orange. The Ubese was going to pull the trigger to his blaster when...
Pa-ping! pa-ping! pa-ping! A trio of laser bolts exploded against the assassin's jetpack, which malfunctioned and sent him flying. He crashed through a window and into the lobby of the hotel, slamming against a wall. He tried to get up, but then several Bespin police surrounded him and led him away to a shuttle.
Val'Tala grabbed the hand offered to him and pulled himself up. When he saw who had helped him up, he fell over again.
"Keth!" he shouted, surprised. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again! Especially when facing down a Dark Jedi!"
"Amazing, isn't it?" asked Keth cheerfully. "One day I'm a normal bounty hunter trying to make his way in the universe, the next I'm using the Force and have killed four wanted men and tons of pirates and policemen and Jedi. Now hand over the two million credits you owe me, if you'll be so kind."
"You're a funny man, Keth. Show me proof that you've killed all four of the pirates on my bounty! And then get me a towel..."
Keth had obviously been prepared to show him proof. He pulled out a bantha-skin sack and opened it. He poured out the contents onto Val'Tala's chair. "Doc-Far's blaster pistol, Krrathor's Ryyk blade, Baret Nuor's blaster cannon..." Keth held up an severed, armored arm with several buttons where the hand was, as well as a blaster barrel and trigger. "...and Mon Tifoke's lightsaber." Keth activated the lightsaber, swung it around a few times, and put it at his belt again, next to the blue-bladed lightsaber of the Jedi Padawan he had stolen it from. He then stuffed the proof back in his bag after Val'Tala had examined it.
"If you don't believe me, I have pictures," chuckled Keth, handing Val'Tala towel and helping him up again.
"No, that's quite alright..." the Besilisk muttered, getting out his wallet. He looked through it a bit, but then just took out his cards and pictures and gave Keth the wallet. "It seems that two million credits are all I have left in there! Oh well, I can always get more money from the bank..."
"Thank you, Tarkin. I'll be seeing you around...and if there is a bounty issued about you, I'll defend you instead." Keth turned, tucked the wallet in his pocket, and began walking away. He looked over his shoulder and muttered "...for a price..."