Cassie's Tale
- 2 -
Half an hour after leaving the spacer cantina, she settled into a chair at another, more upscale establishment. Her spacer coverall was a little out of place, but her finely dressed company compensated. The man sitting across from her was tall, even accounting for the fact that everyone was tall compared to her. He was very well dressed, in fine robes of deep blue silk and gold weave. He was impeccably groomed, with the currently fashionable wire-thin mustache, and long hair pulled back to flow loose down his back. To her surprise, he did not seem the least bothered by her work-a-day appearance.
"Lord Shudin," she greeted him, settling into place.
"Jedi Lorus," he replied politely, "welcome, and my thanks for your time."
"I live to serve," she replied, grinning slightly.
"Indeed. Have you had a chance to review my proposal?"
Cassie nodded, remembering. "Certainly. It appears straight forward enough. An unidentified 'someone', probably Hutts, given your system's recent troubles with them, has threatened to kill Prince Hanjin during his return to the Firrenze Academy, on Coruscant. As their previous attempt killed his previous full-time bodyguard, you wish me to escort him to the Academy, where their security will take over. You already have a false itinerary utilizing a royal yacht, and have arranged for the Prince to travel incognito aboard a civilian liner."
"Most excellent," Shudin commented, "and do you have any reservations?"
"Only one. Does the liner have a hangar deck, or a cargo bay large enough for a starfighter? I don't want to leave the Spiral Dancer anywhere. Bad things will happen if I do," she waved her hand to clear any sense of threat to the words, "just a feeling, Lord Shudin, but I learned long ago to listen to these internal prompts. The Force is, at its best, subtle. Other than that, the pay is good, the job clear, and the threats revealed to the best of your knowledge."
"The liner is quite spacious," Shudin stated, "and carries a small wing of starfighters for defense. Space can be arranged aboard her hanger deck for your craft."
"In that case, Lord Shudin, you have a deal," Cassie told him, extending her hand. When he took it, she continued, "Prince Hanjin will reach Coruscant and Firrenze Academy alive, my word as a Jedi on it."
"You have my thanks, Jedi, and those of my King. Knowing one of your abilities is involved will settle His Majesty's mind greatly. The liner is named Gallant Venture, she is currently docked at Feydin High Station, and scheduled to depart tomorrow evening. The Prince is going aboard tomorrow afternoon, and we would appreciate it if you could meet him aboard?"
"Good enough," Cassie answered. "I'll fly Spiral Dancer up to the station this afternoon and get her docked. If you would be so good as to let the Gallant Venture know I'll be coming?"
"Certainly."
"Tomorrow, then," Cassie told him.
They shook hands again, and then she strolled out of the bar, headed for the starport again. Spiral Dancer was parked in one of the open landing pads, far out on the expanse of paved ground where she had been able to land the fighter for free, and it would take her a while to reach it. She didn't notice the cloaked figure detach itself from the shadows and follow Lord Shudin as he walked in the opposite direction, towards the palace.