Rage
The moment Skavak entered that empty hangar he was awash in rage and disbelief. "No," he shouted. "No, no, no." He darted out into the hangar, which proved to be a stupid gesture. There was no way to hide it. The ship was gone. A string of curses poured out of his mouth and he picked up the nearest object and hurled it across the room. "Schutta!"
Skavak stormed up to the control room and quickly dialed the Nostalgia for Infinity's holofrequency. It beeped several times before Risha answered, but she wasn't the one he was looking at. His eyes were locked on Alico's. There was a smug sense of satisfaction on her face. This time, desire was the last thing he felt, replaced by an overwhelming urge to kill her. Why hadn't he killed her when he had that blaster pointed at her skull? No fuck was worth this trouble.
"You're late, Skavak," Risha said, "and I just made a new friend. I think you two will loathe each other."
Skavak looked from one bitch to the other, glaring. Was he looking at a thief and a betrayer?
"Congratulations, Captain," he growled. "You're officially number one on my list of people to kill." He wanted to reach through the holocall and strangle her. "When I get my hands on you," he murmured, flexing his fingers in anticipation, "you'll wish you never left Ord Mantell."
"Ready when you are, Skavak," she said casually. "Come and get me anytime you want, 'sweetheart'."
"You can bet on it, and I guarantee you won't see me coming." He clenched his jaw, trying to figure out how things had gone so wrong. "I don't know how you two bested those Imperials, but next time I'll kill you myself." Another idea popped into his head. "Assuming Rogun the Butcher doesn't get you first. I sold all those blasters you were supposed to deliver for him on Ord Mantell." He laughed. "I can't imagine he'll be happy that you lost them."
If he was looking for a reaction, he didn't get it. She didn't frown, didn't sweat, just narrowed her gaze on him and said, "He'll be even less happy after I fry him."
"You honestly think you can kill someone like Rogun the Butcher?" he asked. "Where do you get these delusions?"
"Same place you got yours when you thought you could steal my ship and get away with it!"
"You just wait, schutta."
"You sound angry. Did I make you mad?"
"Are you done posturing, Skavak?" Risha interrupted them. "The captain and I have cargo to deliver."
Skavak shook his head, narrowing his gaze on her. "Don't even think about cutting me out of this deal, Risha!"
"'Finders keepers.' Isn't that what you always say? Not my fault the captain here beat you to the big prize."
He was going to kill her. He was going to kill them both. "Sweetheart," he said darkly, "you two just made the biggest mistake of your lives."
He mashed the disconnect button and punched the console. He had underestimated the good Captain. It wouldn't happen again. But she had underestimated him, as well. He hadn't gotten where he was by playing nice and he wasn't about to start. He had gone easy on her before because she—well, it didn't matter. The reasons why pissed him off just as much as the fact he had done it.
Skavak punched the console again.