"What did she say?" Ter'viro asked.

"Just that she needed to talk to you," Mako said.

They reached their ship and activated the holoemitter. Crysta appeared and smiled at them. "Calling from your ship?"

Mako said, "Never trust the Nar Shaddaa holonet."

"Understood," Crysta said. "First of all, congratulations on the Zargnor Clan. It's not easy to out-stubborn an Ugnaught. Other than that, Mako, have you enjoyed your visit home?"

"It's Nar Shaddaa," Mako said. "Not much to enjoy. But, I met an old friend of mine, Anuli, which was great. He's another slicer. He's like a little brother, and we got to talk, which was great. But, it's mostly been work, which is okay. Why'd you call?"

Crysta blinked. "Right." She said to Ter'viro, "Tarro Blood has been spreading a rumor that one of your cousins is a Jedi. I don't know where he got that-"

"I've got three Jedi cousins," Ter'viro said. "It runs in my family."

"Oh," Crysta said. "That... does change it a bit. Any reason you didn't tell me?"

Ter'viro shrugged. "No reason. They're not helping me. They're probably busy."

"Oh, yeah," Mako said. "Two of his cousins led the assault on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. They stopped a bunch of Imperials that were setting off a superweapon or something. I couldn't find a lot of details on it. But, they saved a lot of people, I guess. I think they're on Taris now, or they were, they might have left already. Anyway, that was really impressive. All those Imperials. So, yeah, they're really busy."

Crysta blinked again. "Something about the Jedi Temple?"

"Coruscant news," Ter'viro said.

"I will look at it," Crysta replied. "And, I will inform the Huntmaster. Your victory in the Grand Melee should be more than enough to convince him you don't need the help. If you have anything else you wish to disclose, now would be a good time."

Mako and Ter'viro looked at each other and sighed. "One of my cousins is a Sith Lord," Ter'viro said. "He gave me some training before the Hunt, but kept his distance otherwise."

"Well," Crysta said. "You have an interesting family, Ter'viro. I am required to inform the Huntmaster of this, but he is not obligated to reveal it to the other hunters. I suspect he will watch and wait. I recommend you maintain your distance from your cousins. Anyone else?"

Ter'viro shrugged again. "My sister is Republic Special Forces."

Crysta held back a laugh. "After your cousins, that's hardly a blip on the screen, but, thank you, anyway. I will contact you when I have a response from the Huntmaster. Crysta out."

Ter'viro said, "You're doing it again."

"I am?" Mako said. "I guess I am. I'm sorry. I'll stop. But, that was really cool. I mean, the Temple and everything. That was cool."

"Just don't mention Agenord to Mau'te," Ter'viro told her. "They don't get along."

"I won't," she said. "But, I wanted to ask you about Anuli. If that's okay. I mean, do you like him? I know he's a little off, but he's a slicer, and we're like that. But, he's a good guy, really. And, he wants off Nar Shaddaa. I mean, everyone does. Except the Hutts, obviously. But everyone else. I mean, I know this is kind of sudden, but he asked, and he's like family, you know. Just, could we take him with us? Not forever, probably, just until he can survive on his own. So, what do you think?"

"Do you trust him?" Ter'viro asked.

"Yeah, I do."

Ter'viro shrugged. "Good enough for me."

"Oh." Mako said. "Thanks. For that. And for Anuli. I mean, thanks for Anuli. It means a lot to me."

"I'm glad to help," Ter'viro said. "Let's go."

"So, Ugnaughts taken care of?" Gele'ren said. "Good, good. My people are looking for signs the Eidolon is on the move. So far, it's quiet. I think he's watching."

"Makes sense," Ter'viro said.

"Exactly," Gele'ren replied. "I tell ya, I'd give my left lek to get that guy. If I-"

"I thought they were lekku," Anuli said.

"What?" Gele'ren said. "No, 'lekku' is plural. Anyway, if this works, the Cartel makes me a full-fledged boss with my own clan. What a franging deal, huh?"

"'Franging'?" Ter'viro said.

"Nar Shaddaa thing," Mako told him. "I'll explain it later."

Ter'viro shrugged.

"Mako said Ter'viro will take me away from here," Anuli said. "I help find the Eidolon; I get off Nar Shaddaa. Mako said so."

Ter'viro nodded. "Mako said so."

"He'll be back," Gele'ren said. "They always come back. Now that's settled, let's get back to the job of driving Eidolon Security outta business. What if you were to make all their confidential records public?"

"It has potential," Ter'viro said.

"Potential?" Gele'ren said. "You franging kidding me? Just picture it: every contract, every shady deal, all the security specs of every single one of the Eidolon's clients at anyone's disposal."

"How tough are these clients?" Ter'viro asked.

"Don't you worry," Gele'ren said. "We'll be selective. Just enough to get the Eidolon's notice, not enough to bring in the clients. But the Eidolon will know we have more. He'll have to deal with us, with you, personally."

"How do we do this?" Ter'viro said.

"You gotta slice into Eidolon's transceivers on site," Anuli said. "But you gotta get past Zee's encryption programs first. You need Zee's codes- from him."

"Zee's a Bith engineer" Gele'ren said. "Best HoloNet security expert money can buy."

Anuli said, "You also need a top-notch slicer to access Eidolon's network."

"Mako," Ter'viro said. "Best around."

Mako said, "Thanks, big guy."

Ter'viro said, "Where do I find Zee?"

Anuli said, "Zee's currently consulting for a Republic company called Nebula Communications."

Gele'ren said, "I'd suggest you blast your way into Nebula's corporate office in the Industrial Sector, grab some security slug, force him to tell you where Zee's at."

Ter'viro shook his head. "Mako can pull the data onsite."

Gele'ren said, "Hey, however you want to do it."

Three hours later, Ter'viro and Mako returned to the cantina.

"Thanks," Mako said. "For not killing Zee."

Ter'viro shrugged. "He wasn't shooting at us."

Mako nodded. "Braden always said it's just a job. It's not an excuse to be an asshole. That's probably why he picked you."

Ter'viro shrugged again.

"You're welcome," Mako said.

They reached Gele'ren's private room, and Ter'viro said, "We're back."

Gele'ren said, "Ha! Wish I could've seen the look on Zee's face. Anuli? We good?"

Anuli scanned the code and said, "Everything looks legit. Beautiful work. Zee's code is like music."

Mako said, "I know, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Gele'ren said. "Isolate the ones we'll need, so they can get going."

Anuli tapped the pad a few times, and handed it to Mako. "Eidolon Security's transceiver codes are marked. Easy to spot. They'll disable the encryption programs. No problem."

Mako read through the codes and smiled. "You finally figured out eighth dimensional recursive protocols."

"You beat me over the head with them enough times," Anuli said.

"This network is great," Mako said. "This is going to be more fun than the Czerka autocannon heist."

Gele'ren stared at her. "That was you?"

"Uh, no," Mako said. "Of course not."

"No wonder Anuli's always talking about you," Gele'ren said. "Here's a HoloNet transmitter. Once you've accessed Eidolon's network, put this on the transceiver. The transceivers are in the Network Access Sector. Security's gonna be tight. Feel free to cause as much damage as you want."

Two hours later, Ter'viro and Mako stood in the carnage of a burned out data center.

"I wish we didn't have to kill so many," Mako said.

"I know," Ter'viro said. "We tried."

He was right. He knocked out about half of them. The rest were too professional and wouldn't go down so easily. Mako wished Braden were there. He'd say something wise or kind, not a joke. He never laughed at death. She loaded Zee's programs into the transmitter and got to work, while Ter'viro watched the door.

"Okay," she said. "That should take care of Zee's encryption programs. Transmitter's in place. Let me slice into Eidolon's network. Wow, this is tough. Anuli wasn't kidding. The Eidolon's HoloNet guys know their stuff."

"He hired good people," Ter'viro said.

"I know," Mako said. "Too bad he pissed off the Hutts. I kind of respect him."

"Me too," Ter'viro said. "But that's the job."

"Come on, come on..." Mako said. "I'm in! I'll contact Anuli."

"Flag any names you don't like," Ter'viro told her.

"Flag?" she said. "You mean keep them away from Gele'ren? I know what you mean. He's a little too enthusiastic for this data."

"Hutt idea."

"Right," Mako said. "Expose their rivals, let Gele'ren, and us, burn. I'll block anything above a certain security level. What's left will be more than enough to piss off the Eidolon." She activated her holocomm. "Anuli, you getting this? That's quite a data stream, huh?"

"Beautiful!" Anuli replied. "Downloading the files onto the HoloNet now. Stand by."

"Let's get outta here before more of the Eidolon's mercs show up," Mako said to Ter'viro.

"Too late," Ter'viro said as more security arrived.

"Are you okay?" Mako asked once they were out of the building. That second group of security guys had been tough.

"Just grazed my armor," Ter'viro told her.

"You're always jumping in front of things," she said, looking over the blaster marks.

"I have more armor."

"You do not," she said. "Stop saying stuff like that. Well, the shot didn't penetrate. You got lucky."

Mako's holocomm beeped, and Anuli appeared. "Mako! He's found us! It's too late! He's here! He found us!"

Ter'viro grabbed the comm and said, "Run!"

"Nowhere to run!" Anuli said. "He's coming at us from all sides!"

"We're coming, Anuli!" Mako yelled. "We have to get there!" she told Ter'viro. "We have to save him!" They ran to their speeder.

They reached Gele'ren's private room ahead of Nar Shaddaa security and found nothing but carnage. The walls were scorched with blaster fire. The bodies of Gele'ren, his men, and Anuli laid on the floor, riddled with blaster hits.

"Anuli!" Mako screamed and ran to his body. She sobbed over his corpse. "He just wanted a better life. He never hurt anybody..."

Ter'viro saw Gele'ren's body. He'd lost his left lek. "I'm sorry," Ter'viro said to Mako. She hugged him and cried into his chest. He held her as gently as he could, then threw her behind him when three droids appeared. Cloaking was a power drain, especially on something droid sized. They'd be sluggish for a moment. Ter'viro took advantage of the moment to blast one of the droids. He dropped down and activated his personal shield while the droids aimed. He blasted a second droid and exchanged fire with the third before it went down.

"Don't do that!" Mako yelled at him. "I just lost Anuli! I don't want to lose you too!" She glared at him for a while. "I know how to fight. I can fight my own battles."

"Didn't lose me," he said.

"I know that," she said. "I can see that; you don't have to say it. I just don't like seeing you do that, so stop it." Ter'viro was about to respond when Gele'ren's holoemitter beeped.

"There you are," the Eidolon said. "It's been a bit of a challenge tracking you down. I figured you for a rogue agent, but the question was for whom." He saw Gele'ren's body. "I should've known. Gele'ren's the only one stupid enough to do this."

"I thought you'd come in person," Ter'viro told him.

"Advantages of wealth," the Eidolon replied. "I'm allowed to delegate. I must admit, I'm rather impressed that one person could be responsible for so much damage. How did he manage to hire someone with your skills?"

"Great Hunt," Ter'viro said.

"Of course," the Eidolon said. "I've become a threat to the Hutts. I didn't realize I'd stepped on so many tails. Well, that changes things a bit. If you wish to meet me, come to these coordinates. I'll be waiting for you. If you can get past my guards, that is. Good luck. Really. I'd love to face you." The transmission ended.

"Check the coordinates," Ter'viro said.

Mako scanned the HoloNet and said, "They look legit. Well, here we go. Let's be careful with this crazy."

"We go in careful," Ter'viro echoed. "We get revenge." Mako looked at Anuli's body and nodded.

"Unbelievable!" the Eidolon called from cover. Ter'viro and Mako blasted the last few battle droids between them and their target. The Eidolon's other guards lay wounded or unconscious behind them. "Did you just punch a battle droid?"

"Yes," Ter'viro called back.

"You punched a battle droid and won?"

"Yes," Ter'viro said.

"Quite impressive, Mister Onoka," the Eidolon said. "Yes, I looked you up. Your performance in the Grand Melee was spectacular." He fired on Ter'viro. "I must admit, this is the most fun I've had in years." He tried to access his security net again but found only static. That slicer girl tore apart his system like tissue paper. He wondered if she realized how impressive that was.

"I just got a priority message from Solash," Mako said. "He's another Cartel lieutenant. He's offering a huge bounty if you bring him the Eidolon. Alive."

"Oh, come now, you'll never claim that bounty!" the Eidolon said. "But then, if we don't have our dreams, what do we have?" No Hutts, he thought. No torture. Not for him. "Come. It's time to die." He aimed at the huge Twi'lek, and one of his own security turrets fired at him. He dodged for cover. No wonder the hunter covered her so much; that girl was worth more than twenty battle droids. Before the Eidolon could aim again, the hunter tossed a grenade at him, forcing him into the open. The two hunters fired at him with all they had, tearing apart his armor and destroying his weapon. He was more than just big. That Twi'lek had skills.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" the Eidolon asked as they approached. "You've done it. You've beaten me." He would have taken them with him, but his right hand was gone, and his left was too damaged from blaster fire. "Finish it now, and be remembered forever as the hunter who killed the Eidolon."

"Don't care," Ter'viro said. "You're just a job."

"Don't hand me over to the Cartel," the Eidolon said. "Kill me now. I'm appealing to your sense of honor. I deserve that much."

"Your friend," Ter'viro said to Mako. "You decide."

"He deserves to die, but nobody deserves what the Hutts will do to him," Mako said. "Give him what he wants."

Ter'viro aimed his pistol then paused. "You can do it if you want to. Your choice."

"You think I won't?" Mako said. She aimed a shaking blaster at the Eidolon. "I can still see Anuli's dead face." She began to cry. "I can still hear his scream. He was my family." She gripped the pistol with both hands. "For Anuli, you scumbag." She tried to pull the trigger and tried and finally lowered the weapon.

"It's okay," Ter'viro said. He hugged her, and she cried against his chest. Then he fired, and Mako gasped. "You didn't want him to suffer. Hutts would have made him suffer." Mako nodded and clung to Ter'viro and cried.

Three hours later, Mako stood in the morgue over Anuli's body. He'd be cremated by the end of the day, washed away like he never existed. Street scum to them, little brother to her.

"Mako?" someone said from the door.

"Taunt?" Mako said to the Lethan Twi'lek. "How did you find out?"

"I was his last contact," she replied. "Gele'ren, right? All talk, no action that one. I told Anuli he was useless, but he wanted out, like you. Wanted someone to save him."

"This was my fault," Mako said. "We had the job, and Anuli helped. The Eidolon killed him."

"That's a pretty big enemy," Taunt said. "And, who's 'we'?"

"My bounty hunter," Mako said. "We're in the Great Hunt. The Eidolon was our target." She stroked Anuli's hair. "And he did this."

"That wasn't you, honey," Taunt said, putting a hand on Mako's shoulder. "This was the Hutts, this was Gele'ren, this wasn't you." Mako nodded and wiped her eyes. "I kind of hate to tell you this, but we haven't seen Vette for six months. She said she had this big score; she was going to Korriban of all places. She was-"

"She's working with a Sith Lord," Mako said. "I saw her on Dromund Kaas."

Taunt blinked. "A Sith Lord?"

"He's actually really good to her," Mako said. "He even gave us some training before the Hunt."

"Oh," Taunt said. "Why is she working with him?"

"She needs to pay off a debt to the Empire for trying to break into a tomb," Mako told her. "But, really, I think she likes him."

Taunt sighed. "Drop her anywhere, that girl comes out on top. So, where's your hunter?"

"He had to talk to the Assistant Huntmaster," Mako said. "Which is very weird. That should never happen. It might be because of his family, but I shouldn't talk about that."

"Family? Are you working with Ter'viro Onoka?" Taunt said. "The Grand Melee guy?" Mako nodded. "I'm not surprised his family came up."

"Right," Mako said. "Twi'lek. Are they really that important, or famous, or something?"

Taunt said, "Not important, exactly. The Onoka and Secura families, they prove we're better than just slaves. We can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best Jedi in the Order and the best families in the Republic. We grew up with stories about them. I always wanted to be M'rret, the Tactician. But, they're not perfect. Trust me on that."

Mako shrugged. "Ter'viro's a nice guy."

"That's what matters," Taunt said. She looked at Anuli. "Should we say something?"

"He was like the perfect little brother," Mako said. "He was sweet."

"And annoying," Taunt said.

Mako smiled and nodded. "He tried his best. He always wanted to please you."

"He'd take your shit, but only if he liked you," Taunt said. "He was a child of Nar Shaddaa, but he was nice about it. He wouldn't give a millimeter, but he'd be polite."

"He deserved to get away from this shithole moon," Mako said. "More than most." Taunt nodded and hugged Mako. "Where are the guys?" Mako asked.

"Scoring some food," Taunt said. "It's a narrow window of opportunity. They could spare me, but that's it. And the camp just got three new kids."

"'The living before the dead'," Mako quoted. "I remember."

"I can tell them about Vette. That'll cheer them up. How does she look? Worn out from the shock collar?"

"He took it off of her," Mako said. "And he had someone train her. She's been eating and exercising. She looks really good. And he bought her new gear."

Taunt laughed. "How the hell does she do that?"

"I know, right?"

They covered Anuli and hugged again and left.

Mako returned to the ship and found Ter'viro preparing for takeoff. "We're not like the Eidolon, right?" she asked him. "We're different?"

"Different?"

"We kill people for money," she said. "How is that different?"

"We take them alive when we can."

"I wonder if that's any better," she said. "Maybe it's worse."

"The admiral was happy about his daughter," Ter'viro said.

"You're right," Mako said. "Maybe it's just Nar Shaddaa. I told you this place was ugly and sleazy." Ter'viro walked over to her and hugged her. "What are you doing?" she asked. "We're not supposed to do this." But she didn't pull away. He felt warm and strong and protective, and she needed that.

"I can help a friend," he told her. She nodded and wiped her eyes. "Am I hurting you?"

"No," she said. "You're not hurting me." She let him hold her for a while. "Let's get out of here. I want to get as far away from Nar Shaddaa as possible."

"Can't," he said, letting her go. "We need to go to Nal Hutta."

"Is that what the Assistant Huntmaster wanted?"

Ter'viro nodded. "Something's wrong. They need it cleared up fast. We're the closest team. That's all he told me. Juda knows the rest."

"Juda?" Mako said. "I hope she's not in trouble. I couldn't lose another friend today."

Juda met them at the spaceport and was clearly terrified.

Mako asked, "Juda, honey, what's wrong?"

"We can't talk here," Juda said. "I can get the Assistant Huntmaster on a secure line. We gotta go."

They reached a building guarded by a Mandalorian. He recognized Juda and let them pass. Juda sealed the door when they were inside then activated the holoemitter in the room and waited.

"Hunter," the Assistant Huntmaster said to Ter'viro. "We don't have a lot of time, so I'll be brief. The sanctity of the Great Hunt has been compromised. Seems a slicer got ahold of the Great Hunt's target list and intends to auction those names to the highest bidders. Exposure like that would destroy the Great Hunt. I need this dealt with quickly and discreetly." Ter'viro nodded. "Good. And don't worry, you'll be well-compensated for your time. I need you to find the slicer and learn how he got that list. Once the list is secure, eliminate every scrag stupid enough to show up to that auction." Juda shuddered, but the Assistant Huntmaster didn't notice. "You were one of four teams on Nar Shaddaa at the time, but the Huntmaster thought this would be..." He looked at Juda. "A sign of good faith."

"Because of my family," Ter'viro said.

The Assistant Huntmaster looked sharply at Ter'viro then Juda.

"It's okay," Juda said. "Every Twi'lek has heard of his family."

"Oh, you're like that," the Assistant Huntmaster said. "The Huntmaster is ready to give you a chance. His instincts are rarely wrong." Ter'viro nodded. "Good to hear. We can't afford any mistakes. Juda told us about the auction. She'll tell you the rest. The fate of the Great Hunt rests in your hands. Remember that." He signed off.

Mako said, "That guy takes his job very seriously."

"Juda?" Ter'viro said.

"Before I tell you what I know about this auction, I need to ask for a favor," Juda said. "There are bound to be some really nasty people at this auction, so please... keep my name out of this. I don't want to put my family in jeopardy."

"Won't be anyone left," Ter'viro said.

"That's a very good point," Juda replied. She started to shake.

"Not you, Juda," Mako said. "You're helping us." She put a hand on Juda's arm.

"I trust you," Juda said. "I don't trust the Hutts."

"You're Mako's friend," Ter'viro said. "You're safe."

"Thank you," Juda said and grabbed Ter'viro's hand, a little more clingy than Mako liked.

"Can't shake," Ter'viro said. "Broke a guy's fingers one time."

"Did you tell me that before?" Juda said. "I forget if you told me that."

"Auction, Juda," Mako said.

"Right," Juda replied. "I discovered the auction through one of Nem'ro's business associates. We were settling an account, and he asked if Nem'ro would be participating. I pretended I knew what he was talking about. That's how I learned about the slicer and the list."

"Do you know the slicer?" Ter'viro asked.

"I know almost nothing about the slicer, just that it all sounds legitimate," she told him. "The auction's taking place here in Jiguuna. The slicer left these details for Nem'ro, I hope they help. It should have already started. Please let me know how it goes; I won't be able to sleep otherwise."

"Don't worry," Ter'viro said and carefully put a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you," she said, nearly in tears. "Make this right, and I will give you the best blowjob ever. I mean it."

"You'll what?" Mako asked.

"We need to go," Ter'viro said, unsealing the door.

"You don't think we should talk about that?" Mako asked, following him out.

"Later," he said.

Ter'viro and Mako burst into the auction with guns blazing. The buyers, unprepared for the attack, fell quickly. The slicer hid behind some equipment waiting to be killed.

"Datapad," Ter'viro said.

The slicer held out the datapad. Mako took it and scanned the encryption.

"How'd you get this list?" Ter'viro asked.

"Some guy!" the slicer replied. "Said he was a Mandalorian! He got me the codes to break in. Said I could sell the names and make a fortune."

"I want a name," Ter'viro told him.

The slicer said, "I never met the guy! I got contacted via holo. He kept his face hidden and disguised his voice."

"He just gave you the codes?" Mako asked, still looking over the data.

"There were conditions!" the slicer said. "He said targets assigned to Tarro Blood were off-limits."

"That figures," Mako said.

"That'll help you find him, right?" the slicer said. "I've told you everything I know! I'll never talk about that list again! I swear! And I'll unlock the datapad!"

"I got it already," Mako told him. He stared at her, his only advantage gone.

"What do you think?" Ter'viro asked.

"No one with code this weak could have done this himself," she told him.

"Are there other copies?" Ter'viro asked the slicer.

"Nem'ro's paymaster, Juda, helped me arrange the auction!" the slicer said. "She has another copy."

"She helped?" Mako asked.

"I agreed to split the profits with her fifty-fifty!" the slicer said. "With everyone here dead, Juda's the only one-"

"Enough," Ter'viro said. "Run before the Hutts get you."

"No one will know I even existed!" The slicer took off.

"Juda?" Mako said.

"We'll talk," Ter'viro told her.

"I don't want to be there," Mako said. "If it goes bad." Ter'viro nodded.

Juda took him to her room, nervous that Mako wasn't there and knowing what it meant. "I was getting worried," she said. "Was everything... taken care of?"

"Going somewhere?" Ter'viro asked, noticing a packed case.

"That? No," Juda said. "Everyone on Hutta has one of those. If a Hutt dies, the other Hutts sometimes kill everyone still there, so there aren't any divided loyalties. Something happens, grab your case, and run."

Ter'viro nodded. "Give me your copy of the list."

She took a datapad from a hiding place and gave it to him. "It's not what you think, I swear. I'm the one who called the Mandalorians, remember? I didn't know about the Great Hunt list. All I knew was that Bilikin had some valuable information and needed help finding buyers. He gave me a taste, told me we'd split the profits. I didn't learn what the list was 'til later." She wiped her eyes. "Please understand, I only did it to pay off my mom's gambling debts. We're no better than slaves to Nem'ro. That's the only other copy of the list that I know of. And unless you left anyone alive in that auction, no one else knows about it."

"No one else knows," Ter'viro said.

Juda said, "Thank you for understanding." Ter'viro nodded and turned to leave. "Wait. Wait. Let me... let me thank you. Please."

"You don't need to," he told her.

"It's okay," Juda said. She knelt in front of him. "Let me do this. Please." She opened his pants and pulled him out. "I need to do this." She began to work, and Ter'viro moaned a little.

"Juda," he said.

"Please, Ter'viro." She continued working.

"Take off your clothes, Juda." He began to remove his armor.

Juda stood up and took off her clothes. Ter'viro scooped her up like she was nothing. She gasped. He could break her without trying. "I really do like big guys," she told him.

"I really wasn't going to hurt you," he replied. He carried her to her bedroom.

Some time later, he carried her to the medic while she winced in his arms. The medic's eyes widened when they arrived.

"Table, please," he told Ter'viro. "Robe," he said to Juda, then examined the bruises. "It's not as bad as Tshala."

"He was trying to hold back," Juda said.

"You'll need some kolto," the medic told her. "And, you'll be sore for a couple of days, but you'll be fine."

"Sorry, Juda," Ter'viro said.

"It's okay," she said. "I knew it could happen." She held his hand. "It was worth it. Really."

Ter'viro nodded.

"I'll be fine," she said. "You need to get back to the Hunt. If it's anything else, I'll contact you."

Ter'viro nodded again and kissed her as carefully as he could. He thanked the medic and left.

"Taking a break?" the medic said while he pushed the table toward the kolto tank.

"He helped me with something," Juda said. "He's actually a really nice guy." She climbed into the kolto tank. "And he did a lot of good stuff before this."

"I believe it," the medic said. "Tshala wants Nem'ro to give her to him as a reward."

Juda laughed and winced. "Sounds about right." She leaned back in the tank and sighed. "A guy like that is worth the bruises."

"Why did it take so long?" Mako asked Ter'viro. "Is she all right? Did someone find out? Did you do anything to her? Tell me you didn't do anything to her."

"She's fine," Ter'viro said. "Got the list."

"Okay, good," Mako said. "So, why did it take so long? Did you do something? Did you try to get the blowjob? She didn't mean that, you know. Tell me you didn't use her like that. That would be rotten."

Ter'viro shrugged. "Her idea."

"What?! Why? Why would she have that idea?"

"I think it made her feel safe," Ter'viro said. "Like she could do something about the situation."

"'Like she could do something about the situation'?" Mako said. "That... that is actually a very reasonable answer. But I still don't think it's right."

"She seemed to like it," he said.

"Did she really like it? I don't know if she really liked it. I mean, sure, she always liked big guys, and she did flirt with you before, and you did kind of save her life, so... Fine. All right. I guess. Sure. She probably liked it. We need to go. We need to get the list to the Assistant Huntsman. And he probably has our next target. So, we need to go. Let's go."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said. "I'm glad she's safe. I don't want to lose another friend. I'm glad I didn't lose another friend. Let's go."

They left for Dromund Kaas.