"So, that's Tolus Salini, huh?" asked Ky as they came into high orbit over the mostly oceanic planet interspersed here and there by mottled green and ochre land masses.
"Used to be an old Sith outpost back in the day," said Skavak. "Name means Far Away or something like that. Whole planet's gone independent and continues the fight to stay that way though Imps and Pubs alike are still trying to bring them into the fold. Damned if I know why. No exports or strategic value, but it's a known haven for those with underground connections, and the black market is alive and well."
"A bit like Nar Shaddaa then?"
"Yeah, minus the glitz, and the Hutts."
"Any customs issues I should be aware of?" asked Beryl. "I had enough of that shit back on Taris to last a lifetime."
"Not if you know the right people to pay off," shrugged Skavak. "Same old—same old."
"City's bigger than I expected," said Ky as Beryl brought them into the spaceport.
Beryl guided the Happenstance into their assigned hangar and cut the repulsors, the engines whining down to a stop. "Where to from here?" she asked.
"First we grab some of those credits from our stash, then stop by Spaceport Authority," said Skavak. "I know a guy."
"So does Gus," Ky chuckled. "Several in fact. At least, that's what he's always telling me."
"You two go ahead," said Beryl. "I don't like leaving the ship unattended especially with what we've got on board."
"Don't trust me to go alone?" asked Skavak.
"Not on your life," answered Ky.
Gravity pulled on the soles of Ky's boots as she walked beside Skavak to the Authority office. She hated heavy gravity planets, they tired her out too quickly leaving her at a disadvantage. The strain even showed on Skavak in the way he lifted his feet a tad too high with each step. Running would be a bitch, fighting more so. She hoped it wouldn't come to either.
A buzzer sounded when they entered the lobby, drawing the attention of a young towheaded man sitting behind a desk. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"Just here to check in with customs," replied Skavak, his eyes flitting to the closed door underneath a sign flourished in Aurebesh. "Olig still in charge?"
"Olig retired a little over a year ago. Amis Karnel is the new boss man, but I'm sure arrangements can be made," the young man tweaked his brows in an overt display of 'nothing's changed.'
"Good to know," said Skavak. "He in?"
"Out on rounds at the moment, but I'll give him a message."
"We're berthed in bay 36-Besh. Someone will be there when he stops by."
"Well, that was a waste," huffed Ky when they exited the building.
"Not really," said Skavak. "Things change fast out here on the rim, and it's always good to know up front where we stand. It's an odd society they've created with all the earmarks of a genuine democracy with a little Hutt thrown in for flavor. Even bribes get taxed as tips. A waitress would be lucky to make in a year what these jerks make in a day."
"Uh-huh. I haven't paid taxes since the Republic kicked me out on my ass. Their loss. I'd like to find an exchange bank to offload some of those Imperial ingots," said Ky.
"You're better off in the core worlds for that unless you want to take an extra special ass kicking on rates. The crystals, however, there'll be a market for them here." He smiled in her direction and winked. "I know a guy."
"Yeah, I'll bet. So, what now?"
"Back to the ship and wait for this Karnel fellow." He tipped his head toward the cargo bays. "They do have a police force of sorts, and unless you fancy a shakedown that'll rattle your molars, we need to have customs clearance papers in hand."
"Not so much like Nar Shaddaa after all," said Ky, as they made their way back to the ship. "At least where unregulated trade is concerned."
"That's where you're wrong. Folks are legal criminals here, card-carrying, paper signing, and tax paying. Laws protect the locals, outsiders abide by the laws, taxes pay for the upkeep. It's all a façade, of course, a lawful overlay to hide what moves beneath. Credits grease the wheels, but you're less likely to get a shiv in the ribs. This is quite the safe haven for certain types, and even I keep my asshat ways under control. It's a good place to have an in, and you can actually sleep with both eyes closed, though I never do."
"I wouldn't know," said Ky. "We've never gotten around to sleeping."
Skavak watched her profile from the corner of his eye. "I'd always figured you to be a spooner."
"Depends. I'm kind of particular on whose bowl I'm snuggled up in. That level of trust takes way more faith than I usually possess."
"Except the farm boy," he snorted.
"Except the farm boy," she echoed, "and he's not open for discussion. Especially with you."
They waited for close to an hour for Amis Karnel to show up giving them ample time to double check the sensor scramblers in the hidden compartment where they'd stowed away the credits and ingots. The rest of the goods were left open for inspection. Skavak was known for coming through with archeological finds from time to time, so nothing untoward was on display to raise suspicions.
Amis Karnel, medium height, and build, sandy hair, a dour expression and suspicious eyes walked onto the ship with an air about him that stated everything was his until he said it wasn't. Twenty minutes later he departed, expression still dour and leaving them fifty-thousand credits poorer. It could have been worse, Skavak reassured them, but at least the ship was flagged as a free trade zone, and Karnel's signature guaranteed them open access to the city with no interference.
Skavak made the call to his contact, packed two of the small statuettes and one of the binders in his pack and with Ky in tow, left the ship again in Beryl's care.
Keenet'Solin'Anneth worked out of the back room of Tapi's Pawn Shop in the Zocalo on the city's second level. An old-fashioned door that actually swung inward marked the entry and a bell hanging from the frame jangled merrily as they stepped inside.
Behind the counter at the back of the shop, a Sullustan raised his head and pushed his eye visor up, appraising the two. "Been a long time, Skavak. Solin's waiting inside, I'll buzz you in."
"Yeah, it's been a while," said Skavak, inclining his head toward Ky. "She's with me."
"He'll be armed," warned the Sullustan.
"I'm well aware," said Skavak, his eyes roaming around the ceiling, noting the security cameras. "We're here for business, not trouble."
Tapi nodded his head slowly. "Just remember the rules; you break it, you bought it."
"Shit, Tapi," chuckled Skavak. "You got nothing worth buying...or breaking."
Tapi's mouth stretched into a macabre grin. "Oh, how sharp the tongue."
A buzzer sounded from their left, a lock clicked, and a door panel slid open.
"After you," said Ky.
The room, although small, was richly appointed with a liquor cabinet, high back leather chairs, and overstuffed settees in an intimate sitting arrangement in one corner. Tapestries and paintings adorned the walls, and a thick area rug covered the floor under the intricately carved wooden desk.
"Hello, Solin," said Skavak to the man sitting behind the desk, whose crimson eyes had never left them since they entered.
"Tam," said the Chiss. "And who is your accomplice?"
"Just the pilot," said Ky before Skavak could open his mouth. "My name's not important."
"A woman of mystery, how intriguing." The Chiss pursed his lips and fixed her with a narrow stare.
Solin straightened his collar and gestured to the two chairs in front of the desk. "Down to business then, please be seated and show me what you have."
Skavak removed the two statuettes from the bag and set them on the desk followed by the binder. "There's more where that came from," he said as he dropped nonchalantly into the chair.
A blinding spotlight triggered from above the desk, bleaching out the dark blue of the Chiss' skin to a chalky gray and his black hair to violet streaked with white. His long fingers wrapped carefully around one statuette turning it to and fro, employing a magnifying device for closer inspection.
"An extraordinary piece from before the time of Ch'at bisatahn'ho htiseehn. Ah, please forgive, The Long Freeze in your rather quaint language. Note the more rounded human features, the crude chisel work. Beautiful."
He lowered the piece delicately to the desktop and lifted the other one with an almost timid sense of reverence. "We Chiss have a long and bloody history. At first glance you would think this was a mother and child, standing side by side, not so. This is Ticsen'i bah rin'hi, Mother of Blood. If you look closely, you will note the knife hilt still in her hand, the blade buried at the base of the child's skull. That is not happiness you see on the child's face, but horror. We killed so many, just to survive."
"And the binder?" prodded Skavak.
"Yes. Yes. I'm getting to that," said Solin testily, setting the statue gingerly on its base and opening the binder, turning the pages slowly. "Ah. A history of Csact'i bah ch'at bta'in, The Time of the Bluing, when our ancestor's skin began to change from human pink to more suitable tones. Something in the glacial minerals affected this transformation including the reddening of the eyes. A very detailed accounting." He glanced up at Skavak. "And you say you have more of these?"
"A whole crate full," answered Ky.
The spotlight extinguished as suddenly as it had illuminated, throwing the room into a twilight dullness and transforming the Chiss into an ebon silhouette folded in the drapery of shadow. An ethereal basso drifted out of the gloom. "I will visit your ship tomorrow morning at 09:00, galactic standard and appraise the remainder. You will have my offer then."
"Make it a good one," said Skavak, standing to leave.
"It will be quite equitable for all," answered Solin.
Arms dealers, jewelers, black market pirates, collectors and entrepreneurs, Skavak had a long list of prospective customers he contacted. The quality or quantity of the goods loosened purse strings and the laws of the planet they were on kept him safe from old grievances. Ky could only stand back and marvel at the way he interlaced overt charm and subtle threat into a masterful primer on how to close the deal.
Numbers followed by a dizzying amount of zeros continued to grow her account. What she'd profited from the sale of artifacts to Solin alone would pay off the Hutts plus any penalties and still have plenty left over to set her and her crew in good stead for the future.
Nearly three days they stayed on Tolus Salini, the cargo bay of the ship open for business from dawn until dusk, but there was one more thing for her to do before they left.
"You want me to tag along?" asked Skavak.
"If you want," Ky answered.
The hover sled glided among the rows of storage lockers as Ky looked for the number of the one she'd rented earlier that day. Every spaceport contained an area designated for such a purpose, the lockers used for everything from baggage to dead drops for spies and their ilk. A body or two had been known to be stuffed into the smallest of spaces, out of sight until the smell garnered the attention of the local authorities. Multi-purpose containers and tools of the trade and sometimes just a place to put your stuff.
Locker two-eight-three, Ky keyed in her access number and placed the crate with the binders and Jedi artifacts inside, along with her share of the Imperial ingots. The medallion, however, remained in her pocket.
"Why here?" asked Skavak.
"Figure it's as safe a place as any, honor among thieves and all that. Plus, I don't want any of this to fall into the wrong hands. All of it has a home, I just don't have time to take it there."
"You know we've been under surveillance for a while now," said Skavak. "And not by locals either. Bounty hunters, even the Geno, and other assassin's guilds don't do the bloody end of their business here, it's been an understanding for ages, but someone is watching."
"Maybe hoping to cash in on reporting our movements, time of departure? All the holonet feeds reach out this far, and I'm sure there are many thumbs on the pulse of what goes on here," said Ky. "The point is, we won't be safe no matter where we go and somehow they always know where to find us."
"Maybe coincidence," said Skavak.
"I don't believe in coincidence, but we leave as soon we get back to the ship. I guess we'll see who follows."
A lone figure watched the freighter lift into the sky and made the call. "They just left, destination unknown for now. Expect a transmission soon."