27 BBY - Azterri

Cye sent the Monnok after the Kintan strider. The holographic image moved across the board and raised its tiny staff and brought it down over the head of the strider. The strider swayed but didn't fall.

"Damn."

Zam's bright laughter filled the main hold of Elthree's Dynamic-class freighter. "I don't understand how you can keep track of and use all that fancy Mando equipment to kill someone fifty different ways with ease but can't manage to remember how much damage the striders can take."

"I told you I'm no good at Dejarik," Cye said with a huff. It was only the company that kept her mood from dropping below general annoyance. Zam had insisted on playing and Cye obliged, if only because the other woman had been so damned excited about the new holographic table. Her enthusiasm was worth the frustration. "I've lost every game I've ever played. Too much strategy with no tangible results."

"Are you sure you're not trying to let me win?" Zam asked with a playful smirk as she had her Kintan strider attack back on Cye's Monnok piece. It brought down its giant maul and flattened the Monnok with a splat effect. "I'm not a Wookie, you know." She winked and leaned forward, stretching her arms through the flickering holographic pieces. They became thicker and hairier and she grinned. "Unless you want me to be?"

Cye leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest as she rolled her eyes. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" She asked innocently as she reverted back to her human form once again.

"That." The way Zam's eyes glittered as her mouth curled in a mischievous smile flustered Cye even more than the quick shape shifting. "Do the people you spend time with want you to be something different every time they see you?"

"Not always," Zam replied. Her casual flirtatiousness shifted to a sultry, concerned interest as she leaned forward, cupping her chin in her hands. "Does it bother you?"

"It's not that it bothers me." The feelings racing through her heart were jumbled. She inhaled deeply and let out a sigh to give her time to put words to thoughts. "I just can't figure you out. Do you think you have to change yourself for me to be comfortable around you? Or do you want me to be bothered by you?"

The clawdite's smile faltered ever so slightly. Whatever banter Zam had planned for, Cye's probing questions weren't it. Her eyes fluttered with annoyance and she huffed. "You're just as good at killing the mood as your brother."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

As far as Cye knew, Jango'd stayed well away from any personal interactions with Zam. He was the one who pushed her to bring the clawdite along. He wouldn't have done so, playing a stoic, pragmatic kind of matchmaker, if he had any interest in Zam himself. Before she could reply Elthree's metallic voice cut through the ship's intercom.

"We're dropping out of hyperspace in ten seconds. Thought you might want to get ready."

Cye nodded as she leaned forward, laying her arms on the table as she steadied herself. Zam flicked the Dejarik off and headed for the quarters to begin gathering her things, leaving Cye's question unanswered. Not that she had time to bring it up at the moment. Her head buzzed lightly and stomach felt momentarily weightless as they exited hyperspace. Her body swayed to the right, but her grip on the table and planted feet kept her from losing her balance completely. She took a deep breath and shook the lingering fuzz from her mind and carefully stood.

She entered her quarters and stared at her neatly packed armor. She wanted to put it on, go in blasters firing and take out everyone who stood in her way until she found the bastard Jedi. That would only serve to let him know she was there for him. The hut'uun would only run and hide again, but harder the next time around. Patience. Instead she opened her other case and took out her armored jacket and concealed holsters for her holdout blasters.

The well worn black jacket had been tailored to her needs. Tevrin, the Togruta seamstress who'd swept her brother off his feet a decade ago, had made it for her when she took jobs that required a low profile. Slimmed down versions of the weapons in her vambraces were sewn into the sleeves. They weren't ideal, but they were concealed and would do the job should she need to utilize them. She pulled the jacket on, slipping a charge pack into the front pocket to power the hidden equipment.

"Are you really going to wear your hair like that?" Zam waltzed in with her coy, playful demeanor back on full display. She wasn't wearing her normal kit either. Instead of her bounty ensemble the clawdite was dressed more like a glow club girl. The bright iridescent dress hugged her slim frame, shifting colors as she came to Cye's side.

"Why wouldn't I?" Cye countered as she fastened her jacket.

"Because we're trying to look like we're here to have a good time," Zam said. "With your hair pinned up like that you look like you're ready for a fight. Plus with it down we can cover up that scar. It's pretty recognizable."

"Fine." The trainers and cadets on Kamino never gave her scars a passing thought. She'd almost forgotten that people might focus on them. "Are you really going to wear… that?" The semi-sheer fabric left little to the imagination. Cye focused on Zam's bright green eyes as the other woman smiled.

"Of course I am." Zam reached up and started unpinning Cye's braid. She tensed but made no move to stop Zam and her hair fell free. She ran her fingers through Cye's thick curls so they fell loose over her shoulders, leaving a trail of goosebumps as she brushed her fingers down her neck. "I like seeing you - bothered - by me." Zam leaned in, lightly tugging on Cye's jacket to pull her closer.

"Stop." Cye took a step back, instinctively balling her hands to fists but kept them at her side. "This is not why we're here, Zam. I need you helping me, not distracting me."

"Not even a little bit?"

"This isn't a game." Cye kept her voice low, forcing her frustration through her teeth. "We're not here to run a bounty on common gutterscum, and we're not here to get over an ex. You give someone like Dardua Waikali an opening, a glance the wrong way, a touch out of place, and you're dead."

"I know that, but you're so focused on killing the man and we don't even know where he is yet," Zam sighed. "He's a Jedi. He's gonna sense you from a kilometer away with his Force feelers or whatever if you're too focused on him. You need to relax."

"You need to be serious," Cye said, barely containing her anger now.

"I am being serious." Zam's voice rose along with hers. "The people here will suck you dry leading you down a rabbit hole that goes nowhere if they know you're desperate enough."

"I'm not-"

"You are," Zam interrupted. "I can see it." She inched closer, her hand reaching out. Her fingers were cool against Cye's. Cool and calming. "I know he hurt you. The bastard's gonna get what's coming to him. I'm on your side, Cye. We just have to be patient." Zam gave her hand a gentle squeeze and she offered a half smile. "And if we happen to have a good time along the way, then I'd call that a bonus."

Cye nodded, letting her fingers curl around Zam's delicate hand. She closed her eyes, keeping her anger quelled inside as she calmed herself. "We'll do it your way."

"I promise you won't regret it."