Last time: Sasha saved Oppie from the Mando.

Now: The family calls Von.

Chapter 27- Taunting Call

Cien opened the door from the bedroom out into the corridor with a slight wince, the light still bothered her, though the horrible migraine she had spent the night dealing with had abated to a dull ache. She swallowed, and went towards the lounge where she saw Viran and Kyr eating a light breakfast, and had two mugs of caf steaming in front of them.

"Hey Cyar'ika." Kyr said, "feeling any better?" He asked.

"Yeah." She said, with a slight wince.

"Do you want anything to eat or drink?" Viran asked. "Or any painkillers?"

"I think just some breakfast." She looked over.

"Want me to get it for you?" Kyr said, already standing up.

Cien hesitated for a second, about to insist on getting it herself, before just nodding. "Yes, thank you." She said, moving over to sit down at the table instead while Kyr passed her over to the gally.

Viran watched Kyr go then glanced at Cien. He frowned. "I'm sorry about earlier. Are you sure you're doing okay?" He asked, worriedly.

"Yeah." She replied, "And don't apologize." She said, looking over at him, "did you guys make any progress through the night?" She asked.

"We talked with Scamp about potentially getting help from the 19th," Viran explained. "However, they won't be able to help us with a planet wide search or make it here fast enough to do so, even if they were allowed. Especially after what we saw last night. If Sasha really is sick." He paused for a moment. "But they did offer to meet us halfway between our locations in case Sasha and Oppie need serious medical help, and if what Kelce has isn't enough. As for the search," he shook his head, "still nothing."

Cien nodded and looked downcast. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to really provide anything other than worry." She said quietly.

"Please don't apologize," Viran said reassuringly. "You've done so much so far to help and pushed yourself to the limit in the process. I'm just happy to know they are both alive."

She just nodded at that. Kyr walked over, putting a plate of eggs and other protein items in front of her, as well as a fruit cup since she usually preferred that for breakfast. He also put a mug of caf down in front of her, which she looked at quizzically.

"It might help with the headache, and also to make you feel a little more alive." He suggested as he took a seat.

She shrugged, and started picking at the eggs.

"So what do we think the plan might be today?" Kyr asked, now that they were both here. "The Admiral said she was sending the Valor our way on an 'extended patrol'" He used fingers to quote that, "Kitsu suggested we expand our search a bit and look for Von's ship to see if it's hidden in some other region, like the mountains or something. Maybe we can beat the information out of him."

"That's not a bad idea. Whatever finds them, I'm up for," Viran said as he took a bite of his food.

"Why haven't we been able to find his ship yet?" Cien asked, she took a sip of the caf since Kyr suggested it. He had loaded it down with sugar, since he knew about her sweet tooth, and she grimaced slightly at the bitter brew, but found herself kind of liking it.

"I have no idea," Viran answered, gripping his fork tightly as he tried to hide his annoyance.

"Probably sensor mesh." Kyr said, "it was a trick the Alliance used to use against the Imps, it absorbs the sensor waves and blocks the return from things like ships, and if he got the right color, it'll act as good visual camouflage for them too. It's not impossible to spot, just makes it hard, especially looking for it over the surface of the planet. Tac and QT are sifting through all the sensor data, trying to spot areas where the sensor returns aren't right, and the visual sensors looking more like netting than tree tops."

"Oh, have they found anything yet?" Viran asked, hopeful.

"Evidently not." Kyr said with a grimace.

Viran frowned at that and looked away. "Well, let's hope that changes today."

"There's a fair chance it will." Kyr said evenly.

"Have we tried taunting this Von guy?" Cien suggested, remembering her experience dealing with psychopaths like him. "He might respond if we start sending out open transmissions calling him out into the open."

"That's not a bad idea," Viran perked up at that slightly. "Let's contact Kitsu and Illara and see if they can get a hold of him."

"Yeah, I'm down for some taunting." Kyr said with a smirk.

Von sat unmoving, eyes transfixed on the monitors. Xar'ii was so close to killing the Jedi Oppie. So freaking close. The woman was a Mandalorian for crying out loud. It's practically in their code or something that they are the enemy of the Jedi. And the girl had to show up and ruin everything. And the way she killed Xar'ii… He was at a loss of words as he had not expected that level of brutality from the girl. Sasha was sick and injured and literally useless right now. Yet, she still managed to kill his last hunter. He was the only one left.

Von watched almost his entire bounty hunting business fall apart as he was now short six hunters. However, he also watched his retirement become even more likely. And now that the Jedi have that speeder bike, he assumed they would be heading here as the hunters all parked their ships in the field next to the temple. A maniacal laugh escaped his lips as he realized it wasn't over yet. He would still be the victor in the end. All he would need to do is capture them.

And he knew just how to do it too.

"G3, get the droids ready," Von ordered as he placed a fresh cheroot in his mouth and lit it up. "We have company coming."

"Sir, speaking of company, we have three ships in orbit sir. Looks like they are New Republic," G3 informed him.

Von choked on the puff of cheroot he had and looked at the droid incredulously. "What. Did. You. SAY?" He asked.

"I said that…"

"I know what you said! Learn when I am being rhetorical with ya droid," Von hissed.

"Sorry sir. What would you like me to do with them?" G3 asked.

Von sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what to do. He knew that he couldn't risk getting caught yet. The hunt wasn't over yet. Someone needed to still collect those two million credits. And that someone is going to be him.

'"Do nothing," he ordered. "We can't get caught. Ignore any transmissions from them and continue to monitor them."

"Yes sir," G3 said. "Do you want the messages they have already sent to your commline? They are quite rude sir."

He groaned. "I'll listen to them later," he said. "For now, just ignore them and get ready for the Jedi to arrive."

"Yes sir," G3 said before shuffling away to follow his orders.

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