Invitation

A few months into the adventure of racing the Captain to the big prize had left Skavak with a peculiar revelation. It came to him that afternoon when a strange holofrequency had dialed him up while he was busy procuring the fake head to sell on Alderaan; he answered only to be disappointed and stunned when Feylara appeared. And then a moment later a voice he had come to know so well said, "I miss you, too, honeybunch," and the whole scenario had changed.

That was the moment that Skavak realized that he had become fond of the vile, schutta-bitch that had stolen his ship and made his life more complicated. They were a lot alike. So much so, in fact, that it had crossed his mind more than once that it was too bad he would have to kill her. And he would kill her. In fact, he couldn't believe she was still around to vex him. None of his problems had ever lasted so long. None of his relationships, either. Alico was the longest relationship he'd ever had, and certainly the only woman he had ever wanted and not ravaged. It would almost be endearing if he didn't also want to put a blaster bold between her eyes.

Skavak returned to the Gorno spaceport where the small ship he'd acquired—Ellenstar—was docked. There was no way this small hunk of junk was going to get him to Nok Drayen's treasure, but it would get him across the galaxy to a ship that could.

The Nostalgia for Infinity.

Skavak ate, took a shower, and was just about ready to get some sleep when he saw his holocommunicator in the bundle of clothes on the floor. She would probably be awake. The Captain. Damn it, Feylara's ridiculous ambush had caught him off-guard, and now he couldn't stop thinking about her—about Ali, his nemesis. Ali? he thought. Where did that come from? It was personal, but everything about their affair was personal. To the death. So he decided he would keep it.

Skavak pulled on his sweatpants and fished the communicator out of the pile then dialed the frequency before he could give it any serious thought.

"You miss me already?" Alico asked as soon as she opened the line. She had answered almost immediately, like she knew it was him, like she was expecting it.

"I was hoping to catch you before bed again," he said, noting that she was fully clothed.

"You did. I was just about to slip out of my clothes and into the sheets." Alico took her jacket off, exposing the thermal underneath. "Tonight, I'm wearing nothing to bed."

"Don't let me stop you."

"I can spare a few moments for my favorite nemesis. We didn't get to talk much between the droids and your ex-girlfriend. How are you, Skavak?"

He grinned, enjoying the banter. Enjoying the honesty. He had played many roles in front of many women, but Ali… she knew him for who he was, and he knew her for what she was. They were liars and thieves, the both of them, and they were enemies. There was no posturing, no theatrics, just two people who wanted to kill each other.

"Fantastic," he replied. "Making deals, plotting and scheming, and laying the ground-work for your ultimate demise."

"Ooh, I can hardly wait to see what sort of lame trap you'll catch me in next."

"Trust me, Ali. You'll enjoy it."

"Ali?" She raised an eyebrow and grinned. "You giving me pet names already?"

"Don't get your hopes up, sweetheart. I was trying it out. Turns out you're the longest relationship I've ever had with a woman."

"That's sweet. Speaking of, I missed you interfering in my last payoff. Did you finally give up on killing me yourself?"

"Don't kid yourself. I can't chase you around all day, sweetheart. I've got my own deals to make."

"Small time in comparison."

"There's nothing you have that I can't steal."

He was so caught up in the back-and-forth that he almost missed the beat of silence that seemed to change the mood of the call. And then she spoke.

"They say the best things in life are free…" she began in that sultry tone of hers, "and I'm the best."

A bolt of excitement ripped through him. "Don't be a tease, Captain," he purred. "My heart is fragile."

"I didn't know you had one."

"Mm, there's a lot about me you don't know. But we can fix that." He stroked his chin, wondering just how far he could take this, how much he should reveal. He had no intention of giving her any upper hands. "Can't say I never thought about you and me together."

"Between the paranoia and betrayals, I'm sure we'd have some real fun."

"Without a doubt. Too bad we'll never find out. Too big a risk."

"You're right," she agreed. "Feylara might try to kill me again."

Skavak wanted to laugh but resisted. "Jealous, Captain? It suits you."

"I don't like to share." Alico pulled the thermal off, leaving just her tank top behind. He imaged what was under that tank top and felt his blood start to rush. "You know, I was thinking, this ship is big enough and the treasure's already going a few ways. You might as well give up this grudge and join my crew."

Skavak stared at her. It was the usual banter, true enough, but it was more of a suggestion than a joke. It wasn't even a terrible suggestion. It was smart. They were so much alike, working together would be easy. Plus, he was confident their relationship would branch beyond the professional. He would have a money-maker, a fuck buddy, and a gorgeous ship all for the price of one small compromise: that he and Alico get over their wounded pride and agree to a truce.

And that would never happen. Not for him and not for her.

"That's sweet, darling, but I'll have to pass."

Nothing in her expression told him she was surprised. In fact, the opposite. She had expected that response. Of course she had. They were too much alike.

"That's cruel," she said. "I get lonely, too."

Lonely? Was she serious? Not that he had considered it before, but she was flying around the galaxy with Corso and the boy had been drooling over her since he met her. Hadn't she been fucking him this whole time? Something about that bothered him. He didn't like thinking Corso was getting to play with toys he couldn't play with, not when he knew he was a much better playmate than that farm boy.

"Yeah?" He smirked to mask his annoyance. "Have Corso comfort you."

"Are you jealous, Skavak? Afraid I won't have enough cuddle time for the both of you?"

"I don't like sharing, either."

"You can't share what you never had."

Skavak stopped smirking and stared at her in disbelief. The whole conversation had changed. She was serious. This wasn't flirtation and innuendo. This was real.

"Is that an invitation or a dare?" he asked.

"Take it as a bit of both—if you're man enough. I'll even tell you where I'm going to be. Anchorhead, Tatooine."

"You're serious."

"Guess you'll have to find out."

Alico hung up, leaving him staring at the empty space where her blue projection had been standing. He leaned his head back against the wall and sighed through his nostrils, considering. Tatooine wasn't far from Gorno. It would be a quick jump to the planet, and finding her in Anchorhead would be easy—especially if she wanted to be found, which it seemed she did. But was it just a plot to kill him? And if it wasn't, would he use it as a way to get her?

Skavak was hard just considering it. If her invitation was on the level… there was a very good chance he would play it the same. He wanted her—wanted to fuck her and wanted to kill her—and he would be happy if either scenario played out, but he was really hoping for the first one.

So he immediately set a course for the Tatoo system.