Disclaimer: Only Rae and her Crazy is mine!
Time-line: two years and ten months post Naboo.
Chapter 20: Business Ventures
It had been four months since Shiva had left Kamino and one since Phantasm had returned from her mission to Naboo, but already the Nodes of The Network there were sending interesting rumors and tid-bits from the Mid Rim to the heavily encrypted datapad set aside for the 'Freelance Intelligence Agent'. Some of those rumors were sending sparks though Rae's spirit. Rumors of slaver strongholds, of greedy pirates, of hurting peoples. She sighed even as she fell into the persona of Phantasm and funneled certain rumors into ears in just the right place to do something about it. She couldn't leave it like this. As the days dragged on, Phantasm and Shiva poked at Rae, urging her to move, to act. They whispered that she was a coward, that she was holding back, that she could do, could be, more. Finally, Dex noticed her unease and held her back after closing. "Alright Kid, I know enough to see when somethin's bothering you. What is it?" he asked. She sighed and sank down to sit in one of the booths, idly flicking on the jammer her boss, the low-key information broker he was, had installed. Obviously, he noticed, but said nothing.
"You know that 'vacation' I took a month ago?"
"You mean that mission you finished a month ago?" Rae gave her boss a flat look.
"What do you think you know about that?" she asked. Dex grinned and sat back.
"I think you have a thing about Naboo and it's government. I think you found something that lit a fire in your soul and sent you to Naboo to investigate. I think you're Phantasm. I also think you've got the start of an impressive contacts list," he said. Rae sighed and sat back with a faint grimace.
"Well...you're not wrong," she admitted. "And I trust you to keep your mouth shut. You've been in the business far longer than I have after all. But, you asked what was bugging me."
"That fire hasn't died out, has it?" Dex asked, growing more serious. Rae shook her head.
"If anything, it's gotten stronger. Phantasm started something on Naboo and I... I got a taste of what I could really do. With a stronger Network, various safe houses, a string of trusted medical professionals, and a good ship..." she paused and looked Dex in the eye, feeling the pulse of righteous anger and the thrill of adrenaline coursing through her, "with all that, I just might be able to change the galaxy. One illicit Ring at a time." Dex chuckled, shaking his head.
"You've got a beauty of a fighter..."
"Too obvious," Rae said, waving her hand. "At first, I thought a small ship like that would be perfect, but if I'm running liberation and/or relief missions... while trying to fly under the radar..."
"You're going to need at least a shuttle," Dex said, reaching for a datapad. Rae sighed.
"Probably," she said. "But I'm not ready for that yet, and I'd ask Jazz for help with it. No offense, but he's got the inside scoop on ships like that. No, what's missing is the medical professionals and safe houses." Dex nodded.
"I have a few contacts in some shadier clinics. I'll pass along your name," he said. She grinned and slid him a data-chit.
"Do me one better and pass them Phantasm's code," she said. Dex chuckled, but accepted the data-chit.
"You drive a hard barging. Might just survive in this world, Kid," he said. Another grimace went across her face. "What?"
"I need some advice on how to keep Phantasm a secret. I want to run missions but keep a public persona. And it's not fair to you for me to go running off and expect a job when I come back," she said. Dex hummed, leaning back in the booth.
"That's a tricky line to walk, Rae," he warned. She sighed, her head drooping slightly.
"I know... but I want plausible deniability, Dex. I've been trying to head... certain things... off but... " she trailed off with a sigh. Dex regarded her with sympathy as she took a deep breath and continued. "It doesn't seem to be working well enough. Sure, it's only been two and a half years but..." she shook her head sadly and heaved a heavy sigh. "The time is coming when I'm going to need a good deal more autonomy."
"Just stay as a part time waitress here. I'll cover for you, and if Jazz knows anything about this..."
"He's about to," Rae answered. Dex nodded.
"Good. We'll co-ordinate then, create a civilian cover for you. You gonna keep up your Bouncer certification?" he asked, unruffled. She raised her hand and waved it, uncaring, above her head.
"Nah. That was part of my 'throw things at the wall and see what sticks' approach to finding a job. It's cool to say I have that training and some experience, but I'll let it lapse for now."
"The guys are gonna be sad to see you go," Dex said. Rae scoffed and pulled herself back upright.
"They're still my guys, Dex. And I'll beat them into the ground as many times as it takes for them to believe that," she said, a slight growl underscoring her words. Dex blinked, then grinned.
"You're scary when you're determined," he remarked. Rae scoffed again and reclined in her seat.
"Ever met a determined Mando, Dex?" she asked, thinking about Jango and his fiery intensity. Dex nodded, clearly remembering something from his more colorful years.
"Yeah, but you're still scary," he said. Rae laughed and bobbed her head in an approximation of a bow.
"Then I'll take that as a complement. Thanks, Dex," she said, feeling rather out of her depth. The large cook/information broker across from her boomed out a laugh then clapped a hand on her shoulder.
"Sure thing, Kid," he told her with a friendly smile. "Galaxy needs more solid people like you in it, going out and doing good." She grinned up at him and clasped his arm as high as she could reach.
"Thanks, Dex. I really appreciate this," she told him. "What do you say to joining our Networks? I doubt anyone knows the goings on of Coruscant as well as you!" Dex boomed out another laugh.
"You keep letting me sell your baked goods and you've got yourself a deal!" he said. Rae nodded again and pulled out a flimsi notebook and a stylus.
"In writing, good sir!" she said a moment later, tearing out a page with an open ended agreement written on it. Dex chuckled, but added his signature and the two shook hands. It was the beginning of the next stage in their beautiful partnership.
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A/N: Because Rae's life is a mess and she needs to clean it up some!
