Chapter 2: Maz's Castle
977 years later...
Business was bright these days for Maz, more and more smugglers and pirates seemed to pass through here since the end of Battle of Yavin, Maz's castle glowed an orange light, tinted by the brown walls, the whole place seemed perfect to Maz. Maz's castle hasn't seemed to be in this kind of shape since the early days, before all of the intergalactic conflict. Music seemed to brighten the mood of the place to Maz, such an odd thing music is, it can change a place in an instant. Maz thought to herself.
A green Nikto headed over to the bar counter and they exchanged looks.
Maz slammed down a Starfire Skee onto the table, "Ludrik, long time no see? What's your business in the Western Reaches?"
The Nikto leaned over the table, "Do I need a reason to come to the infamous Maz's Castle?" Gesturing around him. "Come on Maz, we're practically family!" Ludrik beamed.
"Always a gentleman." Maz fake laughed, "now spit it out, what do you want?" Maz said flatley.
Ludrik took a sip of his drink and stared at the table, "how do you do that?"
Maz waved her hands, "never mind that. Tell me what you need help with, and I'll consider… we've known each other for a while and this Castle still needs to run…"
"Yes and I can help you with that if you help me."
Maz pointed at him, "you my friend, are planning something, and I don't want to be around to see it. Ever since that stunt you pulled with the Black Sun…" Maz acknowledged.
"Hey, we're still alive though!"
Maz dismissed that memory, "I'll help you." Maz sighed. "But."
"Always a catch."
Maz slapped him upside his head, "hey, complaining doesn't get you anywhere, you should know that by now." Maz paused. "But, you haven't even told me the gig." Maz chuckled.
Ludrik hesitated. "An imperial-"
"Hold up, hold up, you know me Ludrik, I don't do the empire."
"Hear me out Maz." Ludrik assured. "He's an imperial target-"
"Even better!" Maz said with sarcasm.
"He's an imperial target. Ludrik continued. "Well, he was. He was a Politician in the core worlds and even knew the princess of Alderaan, a little too well if you ask me. Anyway, he was rumored to have been seen near the Mid-rim worlds last. His coordinates were -401.72, -561.84, 004.32." Ludrik whispered.
"So what do you want me to do?" Maz countered.
"Well, you're the pirate queen and have all the connections." Ludrik replied.
"Fine, fine I'll help you just, stay here for a bit." Maz skidded from behind the counter and into the Castle's basement.
Ludrik took a sip of his Starfire Skee, slid it to the front of his table, and peeked around at the bustling Castle, people from all over the galaxy came to this outpost, all kinds of species at that, but as always, there were people that caused trouble; crime lords, identity thieves, and spies were just some. Careful that no one was being suspicious and hearing in on his conversation, Ludrik looked all around, checking the guests, none seemed to be paying too much attention to anything aside from their beverages and their intimates. He decided that the crowd was safe but there could still be some sort of bug or transmitter hidden somewhere, casually Ludrik peered under the table. To his surprise a bright red dot was blinking very steadily…
Ludrik got out of his seat and ran to the Castle's basement, Ludrik cupped his hand and called, "Maz! Maz!"
A door slid open down the hallway, Maz came out and ran towards Ludrik, "What, Ludrik?" Maz said.
Out of breath Ludrik gasped out, "Maz, someone was listening to our whole conversation! The coordinates, everything!" Ludrik panicked.
Maz's face straightened. "It's a two-way transmitter, they were hearing it in real time Maz. There's no way to take back what they heard." Ludrik spit out as they ran down the rustic old stone hallway and up the cracked stone stairs.
"Well that's not good." Maz said to the Nikto.
"Always an optimist."
Maz reached the Castle's entrance room as a humanoid walked through the metallic sliding doors.
Maz dashed through the entrance to the castle and faced the field, Maz looked all around, spinning, and found no person or ship. Maz growled in confusion and anger, why would someone come here just for that information… coordinates for an old politician, Maz thought. She decided that running helplessly into the forest to find a ship or being was useless, even if Maz knew Takodana's forests inside and out.
Ludrik came rushing to her side. "This is not good." He murmured. "Not good. Maz, the target has valuable information."
Maz pondered for a bit, finally coming up with a conclusion she spoke, "That, that must have been the empire." Maz tensed up, "Imperials on my planet! And you, you! Did you bring those bucketheads to my planet!" Maz scolded.
"No, of course not!"
"But you had the intel about this politician! And that's clearly why they came to my planet in the first place." Maz threatened.
"But Maz, that politician can change the tide of this never-ending war, he is the one that knows stuff, he has the intel, him! And I need to find him!" Ludrik insisted.
"And Ludrik, you never even told me who he is, you keep calling him politician, not a name or anything!"
Ludrik paused, "He was an old friend who devoted his life to fighting the bad in the galaxy, he did so by earning power and trust, becoming a politician. He went missing a while ago after he witnessed his home planet, Alderaan get destroyed." Ludrik said solemnly. "He had established a relationship with tons of people from the core worlds. He was said to have been in contact with the Onaka gang."
"An old friend…" Maz pondered.
"He wants to destroy the empire. Before too long the empire will inhabit all planets destroying everything under it's finger. We will be driven into the shadows if not hunted down." Ludrik continued.
Maz nodded. "Well, you better give him a visit." Maz sighed, slightly regretting her choices. "We will keep in touch and I'll give you enough credits and equipment for the trip." Maz paused. "Don't let me regret this Ludrik, Hondo's crew are not the friendliest bunch… and you know how much I hate politics, just make sure you help wipe clean the mess the empire has made." Maz added.
"Thanks Maz, thanks a lot." Ludrik gleamed.
"Just be careful." Maz remarked. "Make sure to come back once you've found what you've been looking for."
Ludrik nodded and headed his way.