27 BBY
Cye stopped mid-pour, her glass of tihar forgotten about in an instant. "A fortune teller?" she asked, her face twisting in incredulous disgust. "Seriously?"
"I know!" Zam leaned forward resting her chin in her hand. She'd not stopped talking about her meeting with the head of the local gambling cartel. "A damn good one apparently. Rhyls Nemk says that up until a couple of months ago Dardua could predict when one of their dens was about to get hit." Cye hummed as she finished pouring drinks, setting one in front of Zam.
"What changed?"
Zam picked up the tihar and sniffed. She snapped her head back, blinking her eyes rapidly as her nose flared. "Wow! You Mandos really don't mess around with your alcohol. Hold on." She set down her glass and made a beeline for the kitchen.
"You need some ice?" Cye asked, keeping her amusement to a barely contained smirk.
"A mixer more like," Zam replied as she opened the conservator. "Maybe a chaser too, my stars." She searched through it, coming back with jogan fruit juice, hibiscus syrup, and mint. "This should do the trick. Anyway, where was I?"
"Two months ago the Nemk Cartel lost its fortune teller," Cye said. "So what happened?"
"Oh yeah," Zam smiled as she combined the new ingredients with the tihar. "There's a new player on Azterri. This Rodian gang. They call themselves Ali Saba or something like that. Apparently they came with credits, and the first thing they bought was Dardua's loyalty." Zam stirred the mix with her finger for a few turns before sucking it clean. It was unfair how easily she could set Cye's heart fluttering. "That's much better. Want to try?" Zam held out the drink towards Cye, her lips turned up at the edges in a knowing smirk.
More than anything. Cye wanted to knock the drink aside and have Zam's lips for herself. The woman was more intoxicating than a whole bottle of tihar. The more time she spent with Zam, the more time she wanted to spend with her. It was terrifying and exhilarating to think about a future that included her.
Instead of acting on her desires, Cye shook her head. "No. I'd like to get to the part where we have a plan."
"Suit yourself." Zam didn't take her eyes off Cye as she lifted the glass to her perfect lips. Cye forced herself to keep her expression disinterested and focused on the task ahead. Zam took her time, savoring her drink while Cye drank in the sight of her. When she finally relented, Zam broke into a grin. "Well, if you're sure you want to skip straight to business, we can get your man and a hefty payday for his corpse from Nemk."
"How much do they want for him?" Cye picked up her tihar and swallowed it down in one swift motion. It's stinging warmth helped mask the heat rising in her neck.
"A hundred. Thousand. Credits," Zam said, emphasizing each word. "I already took the bounty puck. They must really be pissed."
"They must really want him dead," Cye replied as she poured herself one more shot. She held it up with a conspiratorial smirk. "Too bad they didn't know I'd have done it for free."
"Well I thought we could split it, but I'll certainly take all the money if you don't want it."
"I think we'll have a lot of celebrating to spend it on," Cye said. She tapped her glass against Zam's. "Are you ready to have some fun?"
"I never stop." Zam winked as they downed their drinks.
It felt good to have her arm across Zam's shoulders as they wandered the crowded marketplace. It felt even better to have Zam's arm around her waist, her thumb hooked casually in a belt loop. The original plan was to play the part of a lovestruck couple honeymooning in Talos. The plan may have been a ruse, but the infatuation that swirled Cye's heart definitely wasn't. Being this close to Zam in public made her simultaneously nervous and giddy, like she was fourteen again sneaking out with her first boyfriend.
They were on the hunt, searching The Revels for the wayward Jedi. It was easy to blend in with the crowds here. Everyone was out for a good time, focusing more on their own enjoyment than the people around them.
It wasn't only revelers fueling the neverending party. Merchants of all types were selling their wares and services. Food and drink were in endless supply. They passed vendors selling street food as simple as glowblue noodles to skinning live bloat eels. Drinks came in every color of the rainbow. And if someone had their fill of both, there was a plethora of spice and cocktail drugs to enhance the evening further.
"So what are we going to do to celebrate after we get him?" Zam asked as they wove through a crowd cheering on a Devaronian fire breather.
She didn't want to plan too far ahead. It was important to stay focused on the hunt. That didn't mean she didn't have any ideas, just none that she wanted to dwell on until it was over. "What do you want to do?"
"Don't push it back on me, sweetheart." The scheming glint in Zam's eyes matched her impish grin. "I asked you first."
Cye glanced down with a smirk. "Sweetheart?"
"What? Just staying in character." Zam leaned up and kissed Cye quickly on the cheek. Heat bloomed from where her soft lips touched skin. "I can make up a better nickname."
"I'm sure you'll think of something," Cye laughed as her blush spread across her face. It was hard not to focus solely on Zam. She radiated unabashed enthusiasm for everything she involved herself in. Her spirit was infectious, and Cye basked in the clawdite's glow. "I don't care what we do to celebrate, as long as I'm with you I know it will be a great time."
"Oh now you're just flattering me," Zam replied. Cye caught the quick glance away as Zam bit her lip. It was a rare show of nerves from her. "Maybe we'll just skip the Revels and go somewhere a little- quieter."
Cye let her arm drop and pulled away enough to take Zam by the hand. "I'd like that, cyar'ika."
"What did you say?" she asked as she arched her eyebrow as she glanced down at their hands.
"I said I'd like that."
Zam paused in the middle of the crowded thoroughfare. "Really? I thought-" She paused, her delicate eyebrows arched high and her lips slightly parted. "What did you call me?"
"Cyar'ika. Sweetheart in Mando'a," Cye said with a grin. She tucked a misplaced strand of hair behind Zam's ear and let her hand linger on her neck. Zam's pulse raced under her fingertips. "I can think of something else," Cye said, her voice low and feeling suddenly unsure. She tried so hard to avoid distractions on a job. This was the first time in years that her resolve was failing.
"No," Zam finally said back. "I like it." She stretched up as Cye leaned in, wrapping her arms around Cye's neck.
Zam's lips were feather soft on Cye's. It felt as if she was melting into the kiss. It had been a long time, and the nerves that fluttered around in her chest brought with it self doubt. Was this a good idea? Was this what she really wanted? Did Zam like it? The last question was easily confirmed as Zam pulled her closer so that Cye could feel the woman's curves pressed against her. A soft moan escaped her as she slid her arms around Zam, running her fingers through her short blonde hair and down her back. She decided at that moment that yes, this was what she wanted and she didn't give a shab if it was a good idea or not.
Still, as they separated Cye couldn't help the flush of shy embarrassment. She smiled sheepishly, looking around the crowd to see who was paying them attention. Zam's eyes were level with hers. For a moment she assumed the smaller woman had simply stood on her toes, yet when she looked down she noticed the slight elongation of Zam's neck.
"Did you just?"
Cye cocked her head with a quizzical smile and let the question linger unfinished. Zam offered a playful grin in response along with an exaggerated shrug. Cye sputtered laughter as Zam relaxed her shoulders once more and returned to her normal height.
"What?" Zam said as she entwined her fingers with Cye's. "It's more comfortable when we're the same height." She pulled Cye's hand and started walking again. "Come on hun, the sooner we get this finished the sooner I can show you what else I can do."
Cye let herself be pulled along, keeping Zam in front as they made their way through the crowds. She enjoyed the way Zam moved, like a water flowing downriver weaving between stones. Every once in a while her body shifted in an unexpected way to avoid rowdy partiers from knocking into her. Cye had always thought that clawdites could take other humanoid forms, but Zam had a mastery above and beyond what Cye understood.
They passed a Toydarian merchant with a snake curled around their arm shouting about deals on their creatures for sale. Crates and cages of various sizes held exotic animals from all across the galaxy. Loth cats, Vulptex, Kowakian Monkey Lizards, and even a few Kiros birds were scattered amongst the other species on display. Along with all the bright colors and plumage was a familiar, potent stench.
"What is that smell?" Zam asked at the same time, wrinkling her nose. It stopped Cye in her tracks, and she spun around checking to make sure Walon Vau hadn't left Kamino. "What is it Cye? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, it's fine. I just need to look for something." When she didn't see the other Mandalorian she inspected the cages more carefully, walking further into the backstreet as she searched for the source of the odor. There was only one creature who could emit that scent, and Cye'd only seen one of them, constantly following Vau around Tipoca City.
"Look for what?"
"That."
Near the end of a line of crates she found the source of the smell. The strill looked older, definitely past its prime with scar tissue covering the wrinkling folds of skin around its face and legs. The thing was curled up in the tight space, growling at everyone that got too close as they passed by. Cye stopped in front of the strill and crouched down for a better look at the creature.
"What is that thing?"
"A striil," Cye said. "Native to Mandalore. There aren't many left. I've only seen two my whole life."
"Well it smells awful." Zam stepped back and crossed her arms. "Can we go now? We have plans you know."
It was filthy, in desperate need of a bath and care. It bared its teeth at her, several of them rotting. The strill had to be in great pain. It was a wonder that it was still alive. It snarled as she held her hand close to the cage.
"Udesii oy'ika. Ne'kadala," Cye whispered. The strill paused it's growling and cocked it's head. "Kar'tayl Mando'a? Haat verd'ika. Ni'hiib yaim, ne'baat."
"You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?" Zam asked. She'd stepped closer, her arms still crossed over her chest. "We don't really have time for a pet."
"This isn't a pet," Cye insisted with a stern frown. "Strill are hunters, they worked side by side with Mandalorians for millennia. It shouldn't be locked up like this."
"Would you look at that?" A toydarian fluttered over. They reminded her of Roz, if Roz had been a sleezy peddler in a tourist trap. "First time that fleabag has shut up since I got it." The comment bristled Cye and her expression must have shown it as the Toydarian fluttered back a meter.
"How much for the six legged dog?" Zam asked, putting on her best naive smile.
"Oh you don't want that thing," the Toydarian replied. "People as pretty as you two deserve a pet just as lovely. How about a-"
"How much. For. The dog?" Cye said gruffly, without a smile.
"Well if you insist," the flustered Toydarian mumbled, "I can sell it to you for uh, five hundred credits."
"Five hundred!" Zam exclaimed. "For that? We'll pay you two hundred." Cye was thankful to have Zam there. Cye would have readily paid what the Toydarian asked. The two dickered back and forth for several rounds, Zam whittling away at the price the Toydarian initially wanted.
"I can do three seventy, and not a credit less."
"Throw in a leash and you've got a deal," Zam replied with a grin.
Cye rolled her eyes but pulled out her cred chip. The strill was likely to die within the week, but at least it wouldn't die locked up in a cage. She keyed in the credits and sent them over to the Toydarian's waiting datapad then bent back down to unlock the crate.
"Be careful, it's dangerous!" The toydarian said as they handed Zam a cheap leather collar and lead.
"Maybe to you," Cye said. "I'll be fine, you might want to help someone else. Now."
"It's your hand," they said before flying towards the main road and finding someone else to bother.
The strill inside was sitting quietly, looking up at her with a cocked head and curious eyes. "Mhi gan'bora, oy'ika. Gar jahaala. Tayli'bac?" The strill snorted and Cye took that as an affirmative.
"Does it know what you're saying?" Zam asked as she held out the leash.
"I think so," Cye replied. "Well trained strill can understand language even if they can't speak it."
At least that's what she was betting on. Walon Vau's strill, Lord Mirdalan, seemed to know everything that his master said, far beyond basic commands other hunting animals learned. The fact that this one responded to Mando'a made Cye certain that it had similar training. She hoped that it would be an asset, but if it ran off she wouldn't care as long as it was free. Cye opened the crate and stepped back.
"Olar oy'ika," Cye said in a firm tone. "Ca'nara oya."
The strill crawled out, stretching it's full length and standing almost hip height to Cye. It was longer and lankier than Mird, and probably severely underweight for its size. It shook its body, the wide skin folds in between its legs slapped at its sides. It was an ugly creature, maybe even uglier than Mird, but it looked up at Cye with such gratitude that she could look past that.
It sniffed at Cye's face as she knelt beside it to fasten the collar around its neck. The strill had so much extra skin that the collar disappeared into the wrinkles. Once Cye was satisfied it wouldn't run off on the first successful tug she rose and nodded to Zam.
"I wasn't expecting us to get our first dog so soon," she said with a sly grin.
"This isn't-" Cye stopped herself, and shook her head. "I wasn't expecting it either. Come on, cyar'ika," Cye said as she smiled back and held out her hand. "Let's go find our fortune teller."
Zam walked on one side of Cye while the strill walked on the other, brushing up against Cye's leg and growling at anyone who it felt got too close to it's new master. It was strange how quickly the animal took to her. Maybe it wanted to repay her, maybe it wanted to stick close to someone who spoke it's old master's language. Cye decided she'd have to ask Walon about it once she got back to Kamino.
They went through the Revels, taking their time, avoiding the larger crowds and main thoroughfares. Lights began to glow brighter as the sun set in the early evening. Cye wasn't concerned about the Revels after dark, other than the raucous crowds might make it more difficult to get around. She'd waited that long, another day wouldn't necessarily hurt. She was about to mention that to Zam when the clawdite stopped at a small sidestreet.
"There it is." They rounded a corner into a narrower causeway. Between the various gambling stalls and bars a yellow neon light blinked ' Fortune's Told for the Rich and Bold ' in Aurebesh. "Not exactly subtle."
"No," Cye agreed. "Especially for someone with a price on his head."
"Well, the Nemk Cartel doesn't come down this way now that Ali Saba's taken over," Zam mused. "And most bounty hunters aren't exactly subtle either." She looked up at Cye with a sly grin. "Maybe the others never got this far because they stood out too much."
"Or maybe this is a trap," Cye replied. "Or he's more formidable than Nemk told you."
"He is a Jedi," Zam whispered.
" Was ," Cye corrected. "We stick to the plan. You go in, scope it out, confirm it's him. I'll come in and finish the job while you have him distracted." Whatever happened, Cye wasn't going to let Waikali get away. She set her jaw, her eyes serious with determination as she glanced at the woman beside her. "Last chance to back out, Zam."
"And let you have all the fun, sweetheart?" Zam flashed her a smile and squeezed her hand. "You know how much I'd hate missing out."
Cye tilted her head down and touched her forehead against Zam's. This close she could see the warm gold that seemed to glow from the clawdite's eyes. "Oya!" she whispered before claiming Zam's lips with her own. Cye held her for only a moment. They were already in danger, and there was little time to waste. Zam stared up at her with surprise as Cye broke away. "Jate'kara."
"You're gonna have to teach me some Mando'a," Zam replied. "So I can sound heroic when we're about to do something awesome."
"There's a lot more I'd rather do once we're done here." Cye was already backing away with a smirk, but held Zam's gaze. She took out the hearing bead and pressed it into her ear far enough so that it couldn't be seen. "Keep the channel open. I'll see you on the other side."
Zam blew her a kiss and put the bead in her ear. "See you inside."
With that Cye tugged on the strill's leash, ducking back into the streets of the Revels. Keeping her bearings on where the Jedi's base of operations was she made her way around to the next side street over. She paused there for a moment and looked down at the strill. It looked back up at her, its eyes bright and alert.
"Let's go," Cye said as she patted its head. "Jetii ash'amur."
Mando'a Translations:
Cyar'ika - Sweetheart
Striil - strill- highly intelligent six-legged hunting carnivore, capable of gliding and flight
Udesii oy'ika. Ne'kadala. - Take it easy little hunter. I won't hurt you.
Kar'tayl Mando'a? Haat verd'ika. Ni'hiib yaim, ne'baat. - You know Mando'a? You're a true little warrior. I'll take you home, don't worry.
Mhi gan'bora, oy'ika. Gar jahaala. Tayli'bac? - We have a job, little hunter. Then you get healed. Got it?
Olar oy'ika. Ca'nara oya. - Come, little hunter. Time to hunt.
Oya! - Let's hunt (in this context, stay alive!)
Jate'kara. - Good luck.
Jetii ash'amur. - Jedi need to die.