Chapter 27 – Of All the Cantinas on All the Worlds
The cantina in Anchorhead didn't actually have a door – just a hallway that doubled back on itself to keep out the worst of the blowing sand. It was actually pretty common on Tatooine; Vacy figured it was because it'd require top-notch tech to stand up to the harsh weather, and most folks out on the Rim weren't about to spend that kind of credit on a door. But even though there wasn't anything but an open entryway, Corso stepped aside to let the rest of them head in first.
Although Vacy bit back a grin, Risha wasn't about to let it pass. "What, feeling nervous, Mouse?" He shot her a dirty look, but didn't say anything, and followed on in after Bowdaar.
Risha paused, her brows lifting in surprise. "Well isn't that wonderfully convenient. Captain, unless I'm mistaken, the bartender is our contact – he's the one who can get us in touch with Diago Hixan." And before Vacy could think of a reason to protest (besides the truth, obviously) she found herself following the curvy mechanic up toward the bar.
The nikto looked up and a broad grin added more creases to his craggy features. "Well, well, well. Good to see you. The lovely Risha has far better taste in business partners than I'd realized. She'd originally told me I'd be dealing with a real sleazeball. Glad to see the situation's changed. I'm Tookreek."
Vacy found she couldn't help smiling back. It was always nice to meet someone else who thought poorly of Skavak. Seemed to be quite a few of them around. "Go ahead and get us a round. Ale – local's fine; we'll call it 'being adventurous.' I'm Vacy Fiorst," she replied, hoping her blush wasn't as visible as it felt.
Tookreek took out four mugs and set them out on the bar, then filled them from a large, lumpy jug. "First one's on me, gorgeous. Face like yours… not likely you're ever gonna be buying your own drinks around here."
From behind them, Corso piped up, "Thanks, pal. I've always thought of myself as classically good-looking."
Rolling her eyes, Vacy grinned over her shoulder at Corso. "Well, then, it's an awful shame you don't drink," she said pertly, picking up two of the mugs and taking a long drink from the one in her right hand. She looked back to Tookreek. "How's things around here?"
He shook his head. "Tense."
"Oh?" Vacy's brow creased in concern. She took another drink – might as well enjoy it while she could. "You got problems? We might be able to help out."
Tookreek look past them with a sigh. "Stick around, and you'll see for yourself." He nodded toward a large fellow heading up to the bar, who looked like he'd had his face smashed in one too many times. "Probably won't take long."
At the other end of the bar, the mook leaned in on a small blonde woman wearing a simple dust-brown robe. "Hey, pretty face," he said with a leer. "You don't belong here."
Out of the corner of her eye, Vacy saw Corso's posture tighten up, but she glanced at him and shook her head faintly. So far it wasn't anything more than words, and there was no sense butting in where they weren't needed.
The woman looked up at the large man, her expression relaxed. "I'm not looking for trouble," she replied.
The mook snorted a laugh. "Then you definitely don't belong here," he said through an unpleasant smile.
Tookreek let out another long-suffering sigh. "Can I call it or what?" He folded the towel he'd been carrying and draped it over his shoulder. "If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go put away anything breakable."
"I'm just a simple traveler." The woman gestured to the stool beside her. "There's room for both of us here, my friend."
His eyes narrowing, the mook balled his hands into fists. "You're not my friend, got it?"
At that, Vacy took a step forward, as it was clear the woman's gentle-soul tactics weren't having any effect. "Hey, back off, buster. She's not causing you any problems."
Risha tilted her head toward the captain. "Are you sure you want to get involved, boss?" she murmured. "I wouldn't stake a decicred on him being here solo."
The woman smiled somewhat primly at Vacy. "I can handle this," she said, tilting her chin up a bit. She turned back to the man beside her and gazed deeply at him. "You want to leave me alone. You want to stop noticing me."
But the mook just growled at her. "Now you're REALLY pissing me off!" he snarled.
Down at their end of the bar, Vacy ducked her head to hide a laugh. "Damn, even I could've done better than that," she snarked to Risha, who was also giggling.
Flatface looked over his shoulder; several others who appeared to share his grooming habits had just walked in. He smirked again, flexing his knuckles. "Let's show this pretty face what happens to people who piss us off."
Vacy downed the rest of her first drink and set the mug down with a nice resounding thunk. "Aw, c'mon!" she hollered down the bar. "If you're spoilin' for a fight that bad, why not pick somebody who'll actually enjoy it?"
She heard a deep chuckle behind her. "I was hopin' you'd say somethin' like that," came Corso's voice.
Vacy lifted a shoulder. "Well, the Jedi can take care of herself." She'd learned long ago not to mess with anybody in a plain brown robe. "Probably," she added, with a bit less certainty. She looked over at the woman, who seemed completely unruffled by the group approaching her. "… Maybe," she added. Although a few of them had noticed Vacy and her group, and had broken off from the others, heading toward them.
Stepping back from the bar, Vacy turned to her crew, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Still. Ain't any reason for us to miss out on the fun." She looked at Corso sternly. "No weapons unless they draw first."
His eyes widened at the not-quite-accusation. "Course not, Captain!" he protested. "Wouldn't be sportin' of me."
She felt a rather large presence behind her and turned around again to find herself face-to-chest with one of Flatface's goon buddies. "You've got a big mouth," he sneered, looming into her space.
Vacy set her other mug down and took a step toward him – even though it had to be a small step, since they were already quite close and she wasn't exactly keen on embracing someone with his particular scent. "Oh yeah? What's it to ya?" she retorted, chin thrust forward, eyes alight.
There was a particular order that these sorts of things followed, a tradition that, despite his strong odor, the mook seemed to respect as well. His mouth curled into a smug grin, and he reached up, shoving her backward. "I'm gonna enjoy—"
But discovering just it was that he would enjoy would have to wait, for he was abruptly cut off by an armored fist implanted in his cheek. "Real men treat ladies with respect, asswipe!" hollered a furious and no-longer-restrained Corso Riggs.
Well, so much for tradition. Vacy grinned right back at the howling mook. "They also watch their peripherals," she added, bringing her knee up sharply.
His howl twisted into a keening whimper about three octaves higher than it had been as he dropped to the floor.
Corso had already moved to the fellow next in line. "There's more where that came from!"
Holding the drink that Vacy had set down as well as her own, Risha stepped gracefully away from the chaos, taking a stool at the very end of the bar. She looked up at Bowdaar, who was doing an impressive imitation of a furry tree as he leaned against the wall. "Not going to join in the fun?" she asked dryly.
He lifted a shoulder casually. "It does not seem that my interference is needed," he replied in a soft rumble.
Just then, Corso tumbled over toward them, crashing through one of the chairs. He jumped right up to his feet, eyes flashing. "Oh yeah?! You ain't shed of me that easy!" he shouted as he charged back in.
The enormous wookiee let out an enormous sigh. "And it would be such a shame to take away any of their fun."
Leaning back, Risha lifted her mug and took a long drink to hide her grin.