INT. RUN-DOWN APARTMENT, NAR SHADDAA - NIGHT
Thatcher opens the door to his apartment and walks inside, closing it behind him. He turns on the lights. Almost immediately, he draws a blaster from his hip holster and aims it towards his bed, on which a twi'lek woman is currently sitting. She is scantily clothed, revealing her slender form and lilac-colored skin. She, too, is hoisting a blaster, her's aimed directly at Thatcher's head. On her face is a coy, playful grin.
TWI'LEK
Well, well. Getting slower with old age, it seems. A few years ago and I'd already be riddled with blaster holes.
Thatcher grunts and holsters his blaster.
THATCHER
Wanna tell me how you got in here?
The twi'lek smirks.
TWI'LEK
That's it? No playful remark? No running into my arms? No "Oh, Nomi, how my heart has ached for you constantly since last we parted"?
Thatcher simply stares at her, an exasperated expression on his face. NOMI VA'SUUL groans and releases her hold on the blaster's grip, but keeps her finger in the trigger guard, so that the gun dangles loosely from her finger.
NOMI
You really are getting old.
THATCHER
Will you please tell me how you got in here?
NOMI
Thatcher, you use the same passcode for everything. You always have. You're a very predictable man.
THATCHER
(Giving a forced grin)
Thank you. I appreciate it. Really.
Nomi bows her head sarcastically. Thatcher shrugs off his jacket and tosses it on the couch, then walks into the bathroom. He taps the cabinet next to the sink, opening it, and once again pulls out the bacta cream. In the bedroom, Nomi gets up off the bed, drops the blaster on the nightstand, and heads over to join him in the bathroom. She walks up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder, gazing at their reflections in the mirror.
NOMI
Fighting again, I see. You really shouldn't ruin your handsome face so much, you know. It's the only thing I actually like about you.
THATCHER
(Rubbing bacta cream on his face)
And here I always thought it was my winning personality. What are you doing on Nar Shaddaa?
NOMI
Sheesh, questions, questions. You'd think you'd just shut up and be happy to see me.
THATCHER
Sorry. It's just that you're the second unexpected surprise I've had to deal with tonight, and this time I actually want some answers.
NOMI
Ooh, what was the first surprise? Tell me.
THATCHER
Not until you tell me what you're doing here. I thought you had a good thing going on Coruscant.
NOMI
I missed you, Thatcher. Desperately.
THATCHER
I'm sure. But all the love in the world couldn't tear Nomi Va'Suul away from a steady flow of credits.
NOMI
You know me so well.
THATCHER
Tell me why you're here.
Nomi lets go of him and strides gracefully back into the bedroom, laying back on the couch. She picks up a pack of Thatcher's cigarras lying on the coffee table, pulls one out and lights it, then proceeds to smoke it.
NOMi
(Exhaling smoke)
Oh, you know. Just needed a change of pace. Coruscant gets much too dull after awhile.
THATCHER
That's not gonna work, Nomi. Tell me the truth.
Nomi sighs, waving her hand nonchalantly.
NOMI
Fine. I'm here to do business with the hutts.
Thatcher walks out of the bathroom, some of the bacta cream still smeared on his face.
THATCHER
What?! Did the big city lights fry your brain?
NOMI
Oh, don't be rude, Thatcher.
THATCHER
Nomi, working for the Hutt Cartel is no joke. Especially not on Nar Shaddaa. You'll get eaten alive out here.
NOMI
I can handle myself, thank you.
THATCHER
I've no doubt. But the slugs don't exactly treat their prostitutes nicely. And they definitely don't play fair.
NOMI
It's better money. The hutts take a bigger cut, sure, but my rates will be much higher if I'm working for the Cartel. At the end of the day, I'll be making twice what I did on Coruscant.
THATCHER
You'll also be a slave, Nomi. You'll work for them until the day you die. And it'll only be a matter of time before you're pulled off the streets and chained to Ommgar by the neck.
NOMI
Aww, you think I'm pretty enough to be Ommgar's personal girl?
THATCHER
This isn't a joke, Nomi.
NOMI
Thatcher, as much as I appreciate your looking out for me, I'm a big girl. Capable of making my own big decisions. This is something I want to do.
THATCHER
I'm just not sure you fully understand what you could be getting yourself into. Your attitude's not gonna mesh well with the hutts. You're too stubborn for your own good. And the hutts don't like their hookers stubborn.
NOMI
Then I guess I'll just have to find that out the hard way. Because my mind's already set on it.
Thatcher sighs.
THATCHER
Fine. But don't come crying to me when Ommgar decides to make you gundark food. I've had more than my share of run-ins with those assholes.
Thatcher turns and heads back into the bathroom while Nomi gazes out the window, stroking her lekku with her spare hand. After a moment, Thatcher reemerges, his face cleaned. He collapses on the couch next to Nomi, laying his head on her bare stomach. She takes her hand off her lekku and runs it through his ruffled hair.
NOMI
I do appreciate it, you know. And I did miss you.
THATCHER
It's been a long time. Almost a year.
NOMI
Don't pretend you haven't been counting the days.
THATCHER
Are you kidding me? I've been counting every second.
NOMI
Oh, I'm sure. So what was your other surprise tonight?
THATCHER
Oh, nothing exciting. Just some crazy lady with a death wish.
NOMI
What'd she want with you?
THATCHER
A job. Doesn't matter now. I respectfully declined.
NOMI
Planning to keep ruining your face for money?
THATCHER
Not anymore. Gornie laid me off.
NOMI
That old fart? Why not just enter as an independent?
THATCHER
It'd drive me broke. You have any idea how expensive buy-ins are here?
NOMI
Hmm.
THATCHER
(Yawning)
Speaking of, what's your going rate these days?
NOMI
Oh, you couldn't afford me.
THATCHER
Thought I had a lover's discount.
NOMI
Those days are long over, Cordell. Said so yourself.
THATCHER
(Yawning again and closing his eyes)
'Cordell'? We on a last-name basis now, Va'Suul?
NOMI
I just think it's a prettier name than 'Thatcher'. I've always said that.
THATCHER
(Beginning to doze off)
Yeah, well, I think you're a... prettier... than...
Thatcher falls asleep. Nomi looks down at him and smiles, holding the cigarra loosely between her fingers.
NOMI
(Sarcastically)
Your charm never fails to impress me, Thatcher Cordell.
FADE OUT