A/N: Hey everyone! I'm excited that people are reading this story! Reviews are always appreciated and so you all know, from this point on there are SPOILERS to both the Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter storylines. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, or anything related to it in any way shape or form. The only thing I do own is the plot.

Hope you enjoy the second chapter of Wounded in an Alley!

The first thing Niira heard when she woke up was a steady hum of a hyperdrive. With a small groan, Niira opened her eyes and was greeted with the tan ceiling of the ship she was travelling in. Niira sat up and brushed her black bangs out of her face. I wonder what I need to do this time! Kill someone they don't like? Sabotage something dealing with the Republic? No that couldn't be it...The Republic has no jurisdiction on Hutta. Oh well, guess I'll find out soon enough what my new mission is.

It didn't take long for the speakers above her to crackle, warning her that the pilot was about to address the passengers of the small transport ship. Niira stood and changed into her disguise for the mission as the pilot spoke through the intercom.

"We have arrived on Hutta. Please er...enjoy your stay on this...planet."

Niira rolled her eyes at the message. Stupid pilot. He's making it sound like we're all here for a vacation! I don't know who in their right mind would come to Hutta for sight-seeing! Niira scanned the room as she looked for anything Imperial Intelligence would want her to take for the unknown mission. She decided that she would only need her sniper rifle. The rifle she was equipped with wasn't as state of the art as the Empire promised their weapons would be. Typical, Niira thought as she slung the strap around her torso and rested the gun on her back. It's a good thing I'm trained for this kind of thing; otherwise the "All Mighty Empire" would be out of luck!

With a passive look on her face, Niira strolled out of the ship with 5 other passengers. She glanced around her and came to the conclusion that Hutta was by far the worst planet she had ever been on. Niira walked through the spaceport with a cautious look displayed on her blue face. Imperial Intelligence drilled multiple rules and precautions into her head when they began training her. One of the most important things she learned was: Anything that can go wrong will.

Niira noticed two Gamorreans heading her way and it didn't take her long to find an area to blend in. Two rodians were conversing to her left and she veered her course to join them. Niira positioned herself to make it appear that she was intently listening in on their conversation, but she was far enough back to avoid interrupting them. A quick glance behind her made her realize the two Gamorreans were after the passenger that was behind her. Her brows furrowed in confusion for a moment before she decided to let the matter be, she was on a mission after all.

Niira pulled her rifle off her back and remained alert as she exited the spaceport. If anyone tried to take a shot at her, they would be killed almost instantly due to Niira's quick reflexes. There were multiple aliens scattered around Jigunna, grouped in twos and threes, but none of them attacked her on sight.

"You need to go to the nearest cantina Niira."

Niira narrowed her eyes as the annoying voice entered her head. I already knew that. Will you just leave me alone for this mission? There's nothing I could do to 'harm' the Empire anyways! Flashing lights on a building caused Niira to change the direction she was heading. When Niira was a few feet away from the cantina she raised an eyebrow at the name of the building. "The Poison Pit? Who would want to drink to a place called The Poison Pit?" Niira muttered as she entered the cantina.

The cantina wasn't too crowded, but Niira chose to ignore everyone inside so she could focus on finding a quiet, empty room. It didn't take Niira long to venture to an empty room in the far back of the cantina. To make sure she was alone, Niira glanced around cautiously before rewiring the holoterminal displaying a dancing Twi'lek. The image flickered for a moment before a man in an Imperial uniform appeared on the display.

"Secure transmission established. This is Keeper. We may speak freely, agent. Prepare to receive your orders." The man, now known as "Keeper" said.

"I'm ready, sir. What's the assignment?"

"In short? Subversion. You were chosen for this operation because of your exemplary performance during training." Niira scoffed at that statement, it's not like I had a choice.

"Imperial Intelligence needs agents capable of working independently in the field" Keeper continued, ignoring Niira's reaction to his last statement.

"Now you must apply your training to the real world. Nem'ro the Hutt and his organization run Jigunna, and you're in town to convince Nem'ro to supply the Empire."

Niira couldn't keep the sneer off her face as she said, "You realize I'm not exactly a diplomat."

"If the situation requires a diplomat, you will become a diplomat. But for now, a lighter touch is required." Keeper's response was cold and made Niira feel as if she was a small child being scolded. That thought made her flinch as she recalled her childhood. Stay in the present! Get yourself together!

"We need to know what Nem'ro and his advisors are thinking before we can act. I want you to obtain access to the Nem'ro clan's inner circle. You'll require a cover identity. One of our contacts-an alien named Jheeg- has prepared a background for you and will provide the details."

Keeper paused to give Niira a chance to absorb the new information and come up with a response. An undercover mission eh? Sounds simple enough.

"Trust me Keeper-I don't need any help to get close to a Hutt." Niira said with a small smile on her face. Even as a child she was able to get close to hutts, even if they didn't realize a street-rat was stealing valuable items from right under their filthy noses. Niira's mind wandered to the small boy she met while trying to get the small metal case. Immediately she pushed him out of her mind. He was nice enough to give her, an alien, credits to get by on, but he was probably dead.

"Don't underestimate the Nem'ro clan," Keeper warned his new agent. "Jheeg will be waiting for you at a safe house. Locate him, take what he offers, then report to me."

"Leave it to me" Niira said. Before Keeper signed off the holoterminal, he warned Niira about the harsh and unforgiving world she was on. Niira nodded again before the line was cut.

Niira quickly left the cantina and headed for the coordinates Keeper sent to her datapad. The sound of blaster fire caused Niira to turn her attention from her map to the battles around her. It didn't take Niira long to switch from her datapad to her rifle. Three gang members were standing outside the meeting place she was sent to.

Her eyes flicked to a speeder near the trio and she grinned to herself. Oh this is just too easy. Niira dove towards the speeder and took refuge behind it as the gang members began firing at her. When there was even the smallest of pauses between the firing of their guns, Niira aimed with her rifle and fired multiple shots in succession before taking cover again. This pattern went on until all three of the aliens were dead.

Niira smiled victoriously and walked inside the building. An alien, she didn't know what species, was standing behind a table looking at a datapad in the back of the room. When Niira approached him, Jheeg looked up and immediately introduced himself. After the pleasant, small introductions were over Jheeg got down to business.

"You know the Red Blade? Small-time pirate. Rich. Mysterious. No one knows true species, gender, color. I planted rumors, made Nem'ro think the Red Blade is coming to visit-enjoy Hutt palace, do business. You will be the Blade. No one will doubt you."

Niira wasn't sure this mission would be as easy as claiming to be one person and having everyone buy it. Someone was bound to get suspicious. "This sounds easy Jheeg. What's the catch?"

Jheeg hesitated before saying, "Yes. Catch is unfortunate. I will explain. Real Blade brings tribute to friends; brings presents bribes. Real Blade is far away now, exploring the Outer Rim; won't cause trouble. Only one concern: I arranged tribute for Nem'ro, gifts imported from Empire, but there was-interference?-at spaceport."

Niira rolled her eyes. "Of course there were. Where are the gifts now?"

"Gang members took gifts. I have proposed solution: You quickly eliminate gang members. Only method to recover gifts, remove witnesses."

"I'll handle it," Niira said before she headed out the building. She scanned her surroundings and spotted a building not too far away. She immediately headed towards it with her weapon ready in her hands. She wanted to get off Hutta and these gangsters were prolonging her stay.

There were three gang members in the building, and they were quickly disposed of. Niira searched the first two rooms for the gifts, but found nothing. The last room was rather large with items scattered around it. Even if it was messy, Niira set to work searching for the gifts. Relief swept over her when she found the stolen gifts. One step closer to leaving this world Niira thought as she headed back to Jheeg.