Chapter 37
Bearding the dragon
Melissa tightened the last bolt securing the canon generator and put down the wrench, before reaching for the activation button
"Starting it up." She reported
Canderous was seated in the gunners chair as the screen lit up and a long set of lines of mandalorian text was running across it. Again she made a note to spent more time refining her knowledge of the intricacies of the language as she struggled to keep up with the rolling texts
"Looking good, the power supply could be a bit better but it will work." Canderous stated
Short of test firing the canon, something she planned to do outside of the walls at the first opportunity, this was the best they could do and the Beast mark two was fully operational. She jumped from the cabin and inspected her handiwork
The freight barge it was based on a was a newer model than the mark one with the downside of being slightly smaller, The profile of the mark two was also smaller than the first on, making it possible to dock this version on the Satin claw, barely.
Said freighter was currently still docked in an adjacent bay waiting for them to finish their current task before leaving for Arkaxia with the jeweller and his granddaughter. Terri had also convinced the wife to of the murdered hunter to relocate there. The woman, a legal secretary by training, had been hired on the spot by Doreen when Terri had enquired if there was employment available on Arkaxia. Seemingly Doreen was being swamped by all her responsibilities as magistrate and was desperate for competent help
The end result of the craft being smaller was that only five would be able to comfortably use it. Zaalbar adamantly refused to leave the Hawke and the comfort of the life raft slash paddle pool. The fact that the twin suns were going trough a solar flare phase, thus increasing the already intolerable heat not making him change his mind. Having welded a plate to the back of the beast had given them a place for HK to mag lock himself in place, bringing their complement to six. Only being given the duty as rear gunner had pacified the droid, another casualty of the smaller size and extra generator was having to discard the rear gun position.
Bastila, Mission and Terri came walking out of the Hawk carrying their kit. Carth staying on duty in the Hawke with T3. Juhani was on the claw, officially to help Beleya with repairs, though Melissa seriously doubted any work was being done by any of her hired crew judging what she was feeling coming from the adjacent bay in the force. She hid a grin as Bastila threw a look of both frustration and longing in the direction of the second ship
"I am changing my bet to three days." Melissa told Canderous
"You are still going to lose." Canderous informed her
"Right, like she is really going to jump Terri the moment we get back." Melissa snorted
"Care to double your wager?" Canderous asked
"You are on."
Approaching the main gate one of the recently established settlement militia stepped into their path. Canderous scowled as he recognised the man
"One of Sakara's ." He commented
Melissa opened the plasteel hatch on her side and stuck her hand out holding their hunting license. The man scanned it and handed it back. He also handed over a datapad
"A hunter named Komad Fortuna asked that this be passed to you." He said
Melissa passed it over her shoulder to Mission as they were driving out. Mission already having her slicer kit opened and ready for use. The girl had been more animated in the last few days but not to the point of where she was before, Griff's death having changed her. The degree yet to be determined. After a few minutes she spoke
"Just a request to meet at a spot to discuss a hunting opportunity of a lifetime." She reported
" So a definite trap then." Terri commented
"Care to explain? I did not see anything wrong." Mission replied
"From the hunter, no. The request is probably legitimate, the problem lies with his delivery boy." Terri explained
"We know he is in Sakara's pocket, the question is how many others own him." Canderous added
"And what Sakara knows a certain short shit will know in short order." Melissa concluded
Bastila entered the coordinate for the meeting spot on her pad, before lowering her pad
" The coordinates are exactly at the possible coordinates for the Star Map." She said
"Shall we go there straight?" Melissa asked
" Let us go deal with our pig problem first, the tracking signal is starting to fade so the beacon must nearly be out of power." Terri replied
The fading signal led to a crashed freighter in the shadows of a ravine. Melissa stopped a distance from it
"HK, take a walk. Weapons free." She spoke into her comlink
" Grateful: Of course mistress."
They watched as the droid slinked of. Melissa winced as the comlink crackled
"Mocking encouragement: Here piggy, piggy."
Terri nudged Bastila
"Shall we go lure them out?"
"Beats sitting here waiting on Melissa's homicidal droid." Bastila replied
"He is not that bad." Melissa objected
Canderous was typing on the canon's interface.
"Target locked on the freighter." He said
"Let us test the cannon, hit the ravine wall above the freighter, spook them out." Melissa suggested
" Adjusting, on your mark." Canderous replied
"Fire."
A lance of light jumped from the barrel and impacted moments later. A flurry of rocks dropped on the hulk, Moments laters a swine of Gamoreans exited the freighter in a rush, more disturbingly several jumped out from holes in the ground that had been covered by plasteel plates. By rough count there was sixty in the total swine. The ones armed with blasters opened fire on the Beast while several armed with axes were lumbering towards them at a surprising speed
"Weapons free." Melissa remarked
Depressing the fire button on the steering column the front mounted rotary blaster spat a barrage of bolts at the charging line. The bark of the heavy repeaters following shortly thereafter. The Beast jerked for a moment as Canderous fired the cannon into a group. A Gamorean disintegrated.
"Where did that droid get a disintegrator rifle? They are illegal" Mission demanded
"Where are not exactly bound by Republic law here. Probbably found one on one of the bounty hunters he killed or bought it with looted credits from the same source." Melissa replied
"Why has it been killing bounty hunters?" Mission followed up her demand
"Seems Calo Nord has posted an unofficial bounty on us. He wants Melissa's and me alive or our heads if not, and proof of death for all the rest." Canderous answered. "Seems he did not like being deep fried."
Melissa slid the beast slightly back and to the left to clear a new field of fire. The charging line was down with the shooters now scrabbling for cover.
"Mission you are up." Melissa ordered
Mission stood up and approached the periscope tube. A new addition to the mark one's was the addition of a firing button linked to the grenade launcher attached to the underside of the nose. Moments later there was the steady crump of the launcher firing. Explosions blossomed over the dessert sand, the squeelling of the Gamoreans muted by the firing of the weapons.
Moments later all movement stopped and they seized fire. Hk tomped into view from the far side and paused at a Gamorean. Melissa was about to ask him what he was planning when the droid produced a blaster pistol and fired into the Gamorean's head. The spray it produced proving that yet another weapon on the droid was not republic approved
"Remind me to convert one of the smuggling holds into an armoury for HK." Melissa remarked
"Why is it doing that?" Bastilla asked
"Either the Gamorean was playing dead or he is making sure." Canderous replied
HK moved on to the next one and repeated the procedure.
"Making sure then." Melissa said
The five stepped from the beast and immediately wished they had not as the heat slammed into them. Both Melissa and Canderous immediately engaged the environmental controls in their armour
"Why don't Canderous and I check out the freighter and you three stay ready in the Beast?" Melissa suggested
"Sounds like a good idea to me." Mission replied, scrambling back in
The two walked past where HK was going through its self appointed task and cautiously approached the open cargo bay door. The cargo bay area was trashed with remnants of crates and cages littering the floor, a large pile of bones attested to the fate of those killed by the swine, a large pile of equiptment lying in the corner. The hatch to the inside of the freighter was locked, the door showing marks of where they tried to force their way in. Popping a panel on the far side of the doorway showed there was auxiliary power avaible.
Melissa activated the panel and lights flashed on to a keypad. She toggled her comlink
"Mission, sorry we are going to need you here for a data slice."
"Can we move the beast closer?" Mission asked
"Once HK has made sure there is no surprises." Melissa replied
"Fine I am coming, but it will cost you two tubs of the ice cream you have been hoarding."
"Wait a moment. I thought we were out of ice cream." Terri broke in
"I have no idea what she is talking about." Melissa denied, hastily
"We will confirm the truth later." Terri threatened
Minutes later a cloaked Mission stepped into the cargo bay and proceeded to down a bottle of water. Slicing the door took moments and the tree stepped into the body of the freighter. Surprisingly the layer of dust was minimal. The area eerily lit by the power of emergency light. Canderous and Melissa cycled to night vision and Mission pulled a torch from her kit.
The door to the cockpit required to be sliced as well. Two bodies were strapped into the seats and the body of a splice cat was lying in the corner. The two strapped in bodies had pieces missing and a floor plate was slightly lifted in one corner.
"HK, Get in here." Melissa ordered
She opened a comlink channel to the Hawk
"Carth, you there?" She asked
"Standing by." Cart answered immediately
"We found a crashed freighter out here, I am going to send you the ship data from the control panel. Damage seems to be minimal." Melissa said
"You are thinking of salvage?" Carth asked
"If you think it is worth it, I will send it as soon as HK can plug in." Melissa replied
Mission was leaning in the doorway.
"What do you think happened here?" She asked
Melissa pointed to the body of the splice cat
"Those things are highly poisonous. I think the two in the chairs were bitten and the ship crashed. Judging from the cages in the hold they were smuggling exotic animals."
"Then how did the Gamoreans get in?"
"Safety feature on the Naboo C thirty, in case of a crash the hatches are supposed to automatically open to facilitate escape. Though that was taken out almost immediately after it became known." Canderous explained
"Why? Sounds like a good thing" Mission asked
"Imagine you are in deep space and a pirate tractors a piece of asteroid into your flight path." Canderous replied
"Full decompression" Mission grimaced
"With the older models like this one they were unable to get the programming out of the cargo bay doors as it works on a different system than the rest of the hatches. Some software issue that was to expensive to fix. So in case of a hard landing or a crash the cargo bay door would open." Canderous concluded
HK had come in and connected to the droid port while they were talking. Carth came back in moments.
"There is nothing wrong with the main systems, this ship will fly. There is enough fuel to reach Anchorhead. And the flight system is intact, you may have to slice the control lock."
"I am coming in." Bastila broke in.
Melissa and Canderous each grabbed a body and pulled it from the seats and moved them to the nearest open space
"Wonder what killed the cat? It had food." Mission mused
"Dehydration probably, even with food you still need water." Melissa replied.
The engine started on the third try and Bastila got it to hover on its repulsor coils as she backed away from the ravine wall. They winced at the scraping sounds being made till the craft was in the clear of the dessert.
"The cargo bay controls are too damaged to close it, I will have to fly with it open." Bastilla reported
" Back to Anchorhead then?" Mission asked
Melissa pointed to the cargo bay.
"Before we do, I think we must give the remains of the victims a decent burial first." She said
"I agree." Canderous replied
Bastilla deployed the landing gear and sat the freighter down, she did not initiate the power down sequence though
"Need to top up the emergency power and I don't want to take chances with the engine not starting up again." She explained
The comlink channel to the Hawk opened up
"I got a third bay opened up for us." Carth reported
"We are probably going to need repair crews as well." Bastila replied
" Already got some on standby. Also got T3 ready to do a deep dive on the ships databanks to see where it comes from." Carth stated
"We will be there in about an hour." Bastila estimated
"Standing by, Hawk out"
Terri and Mission joined Bastila in the freighter. Leaving Melissa and Canderous along with T3 to return with the beast. Having found id cards on the bodies of the pilots she had HK scanning the databases he had access to see if he could track the names
"Urgent Enquiry: Mistress would it be possible to stop at the hunting lodge before proceeding to the docks?" HK asked
"I assume you found something?" Melissa sked
"Confirmation: Indeed I did, Mistress."
"Proceed to tell me then." Melissa invited
" Placating reply: Forgive me mistress, I forgot that your physiology makes you unable to receive data directly. I am sorry for your misfortune."
" Just remember that I, the poor deficient creature, am the one doing your maintenance. I might accidently replace your programming with that of an astromech droid or a mouse droid."
"Horrified retraction: Mistress you are clearly superior to the other meatbags in your retinue, I merely erred in comparing you to their baseline."
"AS amusing as this is to be called a useless meatbag by a rusted tin can, can we get the information now?" Canderous broke in
"HK don't retort." Melissa ordered
"Sullen acknowledgement: As you order, Mistress. The two deceased meatbags had extensive bounties on them and a personal capture order by Sakara the Hutt. The Hunting lodge doubles as the bounty office, it would be expeditious to claim the bounties before someone else attempts to."
The Ithorian acting as the Lodge administrator looked up from the terminal he was using to confirm the bounties
"Normally we would require further proof of death but with your reputation we will waive the regulation." He said
"I can give you the coordinates to the graves if you really need further proof." Melissa suggested
"Please do so, it would just make it easier to keep the record straight."
There was a message alert chime from the terminal and The Ithorian sighed as he read it.
"Sakara wishes to speak to the claimant of the bounty." He informed them
"Very well, do you have a holocom unit here?" Melissa sighed
The ithorian pointed to an alcove with a cloth curtain.
"I will send the relay link there."
Moments later the hideous visage appeared in front of her
"Greetings Sakara, I believe you wished to speak in regards to a capture order you placed." Melissa stated
"Finally we meet young Mandalorian. Was the terms of the capture order unclear, they were to be brought to me alive."
"They were already dead when I found them. It seems part of the cargo got loose and attacked them in the cockpit causing them to crash." Melissa explained
"And the rest of the cargo?" Sakara demanded
"I suspect eaten by the swine of Gamorean hunters who found the freighter. And before you ask, all the Gamoreans are dead as well."
The Hutt was struck speechless before a grunting laugh started shakings its body.
" Denied satisfaction again."
"I can send you the visual confirmations of their deaths, at least the ones that were still in one piece to get confirmation on, as well as gun camera footage." Melissa offered
"Do so." The Hutt ordered
Melissa nodded to HK and the droid plugged in to the terminal and sent the necessary files. The Hut nodded as the files were delivered
"Seeing as the capture is no longer possible the reward is no longer available." Sakara imperiously stated
"That is more than fair." Melissa acknowledged
"Finally a being who accepts reality. Normally I would have to listen to whining requests for cost incurred" The Hutt sighed
"Would you have any objection to me claiming the crashed freighter?" Melissa enquired
" You are welcome to whatever you find in the wastes, so no, you can claim the freighter. I have no use for it."
"Thank you for your generosity. I will take up no more of your precious time then." Melissa gave a half bow
The Hutt cut the connection without acknowledging.
"Secure that recording." Melissa ordered HK
"Nice of the planetary authority to acknowledge salvage claims so quickly." Canderous sarcastically remarked
Melissa tapped her helmet as her comlink chirped
"Terri, did you guys land already?" She asked
Canderous casualy leaned against a counter as he waited for the conversation to end, keeping an eye on the room. The ithorian was busy pottering away behind a bar counter, while several small whispering groups were huddled at tables. He opened up his comlink
"HK, get ready, we are about to exhaust our welcome here."
Two large groups formed one by the door and one moving towards them. The Ithorian was pulling down shutters over the bar. Canderous idly played with a mug standing on the counter
"Tell me, what shape is this going to take? Full plasma or just a knock about?" He asked
"We may not have liked the pigs but they were hunters. So we are going to beat the crap out of you and get your girly to do a few sexy dances for us. I always wondered what your women looked like under their armour" A brutishly large human said
"You should not have said that about my daughter." Canderous sighed
He threw the mug right at the man and lashed out moments later with a high kick. The mug shattered on the man's face knocking his head back, setting him up nicely to have his nose crushed by an armoured foot
"Yow bwoke my dose." The man gasped
"I am going to break a lot more." Canderous promised him
"Gwet teim" The man tried to say
The mob surged forward but was thrown back immediately through the furniture as Melissa unleashed a force push.
"I believe some of you wanted to see me dance." Melissa said innocently
She stepped forward as one Rodian got to his feet. Her gauntlets delivered a nice added kick to her punches as she activated the taser function. The Rodian dropped into a whimpering pile in his own faeces and vomit as the twin shots of electricity played havoc with his system.
"Lets dance." Melissa proclaimed
As they were approaching the hunting guild they saw people flocking to the plasteel window of the building.
"What the hell are they up to now?" Terri asked in annoyance
"It could not be them you know." Bastila said placatingly
"Bas, we know it is them, you know it is them, The only question is, is how bad is the mess they are making." Mission sighed
The crowd suddenly surged away from the window. Moments later the plasteel window shattered and two armoured figures came tumbling through
" Hurry they need back up." Mission said sprinting forward
"You know only one is Melissa." Terri called jogging forward
The two figures got to their feet. The second one was in deep blue alterran rangers armour. The second combatant took of her helmet and tossed it to the side. Melissa looked in shock at the revealed face. Curly red hair cut into a bob framed a heavily freckled face, two dark green eyes twinkled merrily in enjoyment, a small scar marred the mouth corner. The girl spat out some blood in her mouth
"Going to show your face?" She asked
" Bonita?" Melissa asked in amazement
Melissa lifted her helmet and dropped it
"Well, well, well. If it is not little miss Mellie." Bonita grinned
"Do I need to call you Bon Bon again?" Melissa replied
Bonita lifted her fists.
"Shall we get back to it?" She asked
"Loser buys the beer?" Melissa offered
"Beer is for boys, I only drink decent stuff." Bonita replied
Terri stopped between the two.
"Go help Canderous, I got this." Melissa said.
Terri nodded and stepped through the broken window, Bastila close behind. Mission paused and stepped back to keep an eye on her sister. The two girls started circling each other. The crowd no forming a large circle around the combatants. Mission was hearing the betting going on behind her
"Twenty credits on the red head."
"Be more specific, they are both red heads, you Schutta"
"Twenty on Curly."
"You are on. Straight has been knocking hunters out in there."
"And Curly has yet to fight, so she is not tired yet."
The two moved in. Blows and kicks flashed between them. Occasional grunts came as some blows went through. The noise from within the guild died down as the combatants were pacified.
The two girls went down in a mass of writhing limbs as the grappled in close quarters. Some enterprising idiot opened up a fire hydrant turning the arena into a mud put, this caused extra cheering from the crowd. The two got to their feet both covered in mud and swaying. Melissa had a closing eye and spat blood from a swollen lip. Bonita had blood dripping from her nose and from a cut above a rapidly closing eye
"Had Enough? I can do this all day." Melissa stated
"Me too. Let's go." Bonita replied
The two were lifted from the ground as Bastila and Terri stepped out of the guild buiding and lifted them in force grips
"Time out children. The naughty corners await you." Bastila quipped
"Will you spank me?" Bonita asked hopefully. "I have been really naughty."
"What?! No!" Bastila exclaimed
"Come on Bas. You can use my paddle." Melissa snorted in laughter
"Where did you find a kinky Jedi? I have only dealt with the straight laced ones." Bonita complained
"I take it they know each other?" Canderous remarked from behind them
The two girls were released suddenly and they dropped back into the mud. They crawled to each other and helped each other up before embracing tightly. If not for their respective armour they would have likely crushed each other.
"What is an Altaren Ranger doing here?" Melissa asked
"Ex Ranger, me and the guys in command have had a serious disagreement and then a parting of the ways." Bonita replied
" Okay and what is the truth?" Melissa asked
"Fine. The General did not enjoy finding out I banged his daughter on his desk, while he was in a conference in the next room. We might have forgotten to switch of the com system in the room as she was supposed to take dictation of the meeting." Bonitsa rolled her eyes. "Now I am thirsty and you owe me a drink
"Thirsty or Thirsty? And I was winning so you owe me"
"Both and now you lost when your girlfriends saved you from me beating you."
Still quarrelling the two stepped into the shattered room and plopped themselves down by the bar counter. Canderous was already enjoying a large mug of beer. The floor was littered with broken furniture and groaning bodies. The Ithorian was badly shaking as he was busy mixing drinks.
"I think we are done for the day. Somehow I don't think we are returning to the outside today." Terri remarked
"Might as well have a drink." Mission said making her way to the bar
HK took up a position and surveyed the crowd. Terri shrugged and extended a hand to Bastila.
"Can I buy you a glass of wine or six?"
Bastila took her hand and stepped over the window sill
"Are you trying to get me drunk?" She giggled
"Of course not. I am a lady after all, that would be against all custom."
Melissa woke under a pile of limbs, feeling slightly chilled and damp with a horrendous noise banging ringing in her ears. Blrarily she opened her eyes and saw a wall of orange interposed between black and brown hair, lifting her head saw a mass of blue on her chest. She paid for that movement in seconds as laser bolt of pain hit her head, she tried to move her legs but found them to be pinned. She wondered why she was damp and chilly and ran a hand down her side and found she was dressed in her underwear.
"Rise and shine!" Canderous called out, beating a spoon against a pot lid
"Up and at them ladies." Carth added, banging two pans together
"Someone shoot me or the idiots." Bonita groaned from atop Melissa's leg
"Alive are we?" A new voice asked
"Sukura" Bonita gasped
The weight on her legs were gone and Mission rolled of her groaning. Melissa sat up and looked over the top of the life raft they had been dumped in. Bonita was face down on the deck holding onto a girls ankle, grovelling for all she was worth.
The girl was a Yuki. A short feline type bipedal species. Two ginger furred ears stuck above her green hair, her ginger furred tail was swinging in agitation, unaware her tail was lifting a short skirt . She was looking away from Bonita , a cute pout on her face.
"Must not pet." Melissa muttered
Sukura must have heard her as she was now being glared at with stormy purple eyes.
"So this is the trollop you have been cheating on me with." Sukura hissed
"No, my lovely kitten, I would never cheat on you." Bonita begged
"Then why are you all undressed?" Sukura snapped
"I don't know, I woke up like this. Fluffy tail, believe me."
Terri sat up with a groan.
"How did we get here?" She moaned
Carth banged his pots again and everyone in the life raft or on the ground cringed.
"So there I was, working hard on getting the new ship fixed when I get a call from Canderous that he needs help extracting you lot after having been in a fight." Carth began his tale
"I was planning a nice romantic dinner with Beleya when I get a comlink call from Carth thet he needed our help." Juhani added
"We rush down to the hunting lodge expecting to deal with injuries and what do we find? Please tell us what you remember." Carth challenged
"Bit blurry on the details." Bastila admitted
"The five of you shit faced drunk trying to operate a sing along terminal. I never knew anything worse than Verpine opera till that moment." Beleya broke in
"Okay, how did we wind up here?" Mission asked
Carth sighed and pointed at Mission
"After we dragged the five of you here, you instigated a life raft wrestling contest, of course clothing optional." He said
"Somehow the five of you managed to get all the water out of the raft and decided to continue your party in here. So we left you where you were and locked up and went to sleep." Canderous concluded
Bastila hanging over the edge pointed a shaky finger at Sukura.
"Then where does she come in?" She asked, her face a green tinge
" Miss Naruku sliced her way in through while following a tracker beacon our astromech somehow missed." Carth grumbled
"Really babe, a tracker? You do care!" Bonita exclaimed
"Humph." Sukura pouted again
"Babe, I am sorry. I simply haven't expected to meet Mellie here. You know how I have missed her." Bonita was back to groveling
Sukura looked critically at Melissa
"This is little Mellie. The one you wanted to go back to Alterra for."
"Well, not so little any more. But yes, I wanted to go back and get her out of that orphanage."
Sukura stuck a finger under her chin and frowned in concentration, Melissa resisted another urge to pet the girl.
"Fine I believe you were not cheating, but it still does not excuse you getting drunk."
"Tippy Ears, I will make it up to you. I will get you fish for an entire week for all your meals, the best milk I can find." Bonita babbled
Melissa could not help it. Tippy ears had pushed her over the edge and she started giggling. She held her head in agony as she tried to suppress her giggles. Sukura stamped her foot on the deck and crossed her arms over an impressive chest, tail flicking from side to side again.
"What is so funny?" She demanded
She was not the only one having problems. Canderous had left the room chuckling. Carth was holding a hand to his mouth, pretending to cough. Beleya had her head in Juhani'ss shoulder, her shoulders shaking. Juhani was looking just as puzzled as Sukura. After a moment Carth cleared his throat
"How about you all get dressed and we continue this over breakfast?"
Of course the breakfast was eighty percent grease and the five were forced to clear their plates, no excused tolerated. Sukura, Zaalbar and Canderous were discussing hunting and weapons, the little catgirl was apparently a weapons aficionado and loved hunting. Melissa pushed her plate away with a shudder before turning to Bonita
"You never told me last night, what are you doing here?" She asked
"We have been stuck here when the IGBG had a repo team waiting for the freighter we were flying, the holding company had gone bankrupt. We have been looking for legitimate work since, but jobs for a pilot and astronavigator is a bit on the slim side if you want to stay legal."
"Who is the pilot?" Canderous asked
Bonita pointed to Sukura
"May I present ex wing commander Sukura Naruka of the fifth Yuki fleet fighter wing. Don't ask what they nicknamed themselves and their unit motto. They get upset if people start laughing at it"
"Now I have to know." Mission demanded
"No, not going there." Bonita shook her head
Sukura got to her feet proudly
"We called ourselves the furious pussies and our motto was Fortuna"
"And how did the Mon Calamari feel about your motto?" Melissa managed to say straightfaced.
"What do the fish have to do with anything? Have they been talking about us? Our scratch fighters are four times better than anything they build." Sukura replied
Muted snickering filled the room. Bastila coughed a few times before speaking.
"Do you by any chance have your qualifications on file, by curious coincidence we are looking for people with your skills."
Sukura spun to Bonita
"And you said praying to the great feline would not help." She said
"His wisdom is great." Juhani stated
Sukura threw her arms in the air
"Why do only us feline species get it?" She asked
"I don't get their humour either." Juhani shrugged
"But you have to admit, once you tamed one, they make great lap warmers and snuggle partners." Sukura replied
"Just feels it takes to long for them how learn how to use a brush properly sometimes." Juhani remarked
"I know right, and sneezing when they smell catnip."
Sukura sat down next to Juhani and continued their animated conversation about what is wrong with humans, Zaalbar jumping in as well. Bonita stood up.
"I will go get our datapads, she will be busy for a while."
The Bounty hunter spotted the trail of dust approaching their position fast. She kicked at another sleeping against a rock
"Wake the others we have movement. Might be them this time."
Melissa cocked her head as they drove past a gulley on the way to their destination.
"There they are. I sense fifteen of them." She reported
"Feels about right." Terri replied
"Shall we smoke them out?" Canderous asked
"As much as I would like to we cannot risk a breach with the Hutt, if they fire first we are free and clear." Terri shook her head
A twi'lek male stepped from a tent as they approached. Melissa mad sure to put the bulk of the vehicle body between them and the watchers before opening the hatch and stepping out. Terri was the first to speak
"Komad Fortuna, I presume." She asked
"Indeed. Thank you for responding to my call." He replied in Twi'leki
"So what is the great hunting opportunity you spoke off ?" Terri asked
He pointed to a cave entrance.
"I have found a Kryatt dragon and propose a combined hunt."
"What species of Kryatt are we talking about here? Greater Kryatt ? Cave Kryatt?" Canderous asked
"Species?" The Twi'lek asked surprised
"You thought there was only one type, did you not?" Terri sighed
"It lives in a cave so assume it is the cave species." Komad replied
"How did you plan to draw it out? Steal a Bantha and use it as bait and shoot it as it comes out." Melissa asked
"I was going to suggest mining the entrance first, but yes." Komad replied
"How are you still alive? Never assume anything when you hunt a predator." Canderous stated
Komad looked at them in bewilderment.
"A barely adult Kryatt cave dragon weighs about two tons and is at it shortest 50 metres from nose to tail. The greater Kryat as the name applies is between a third to half as much bigger." Melissa explained.
"As reptiles they have organelles on their noses to help track their prey which allows them to sense the electronic emissions given off by the proximity sensors found on mines. And as for the bait do you know when last it ate? They can hibernate up to two years between feedings." Canderous added
Komad was now beginning to back away.
"I can see you are not interested, I shall return to Anchorhead and find another group to help me then."
The Twi'lek jumped on a swoop bike parked behind the tent and sped off
"Idiot." Canderous muttered
"Now that raises the question as to how do we get that thing out of there?" Bastila asked
"I assume those coordinates leads right into the cave?" Terri stated
"I am afraid so." Bastila replied
Melissa thought for a while before opening her comlink channel to the Hawk and opening it for all to hear.
"Rover three to Hawk." She said
"Hawk standing by." Carth replied
"What type of missiles are we carrying? And can they home in on a beacon." Melissa asked
"We have two baradiums and six standard high explosives and yes they can home in on a signal." Carth answered
"What is the maximum effective firing range?" Melissa continued
"Technically I can fire it from here as long as does not go beyond a hundred kilometres they will stay on target with a persistent target. What are you planning?" Carth asked
"We need to take out an unknown type of kryat dragon. Some unconfirmed information suggests that they can sense if a ship flies over them." Melissa explained
"If it can sense a ship it should sense the missiles then." Carth pointed out.
"Not if it is too pissed off to think." Melissa replied
"Now I am getting worried." Terri remarked
"Ad, what are you thinking?" Canderous asked
Melissa pointed to the cave
"What do all predators do when challenged by something in their territory?"
"They fight for dominance." Terri answered
"And what is more challenging than a bunch of humans shooting at you with a cannon?"
"You want to draw it out and drop a missile down its throat." Canderous realised
"Not a missile, a bunch of missiles." Melissa corrected
"And how do you keep it in place and from charging at you or diving under the sand when you lure it out?" Canderous asked
"Mines, set for proximity and remote detonation. It goes like this. We fire a shot into the cave to draw its attention. It comes out and while it is being painted by a laser we set of random mines to distract it. All goes well we blow it to shit, if not we are in a vehicle and we run for it away from Anchorhead."
"You know those things are very fast once they get under the sand."
"It gets to eat some bounty hunters we just happen to pass as we run . Hopefully they will last long enough as a distraction to let us get some distance before it chases us again. We get picked up by the hawk along the way and we lose another vehicle and think of another way of doing it."
Canderous shrugged
"Sounds like a half decent plan and it is not like we have anything else to try." He said
"If we get eaten it is your fault." Mission stated
"If it goes bad we can always find out if there is truth in the old hunters saying." Melissa replied
"And what is that old saying?" Bastila asked
"When a predator is chasing you, you do not have to be the fastest. You just have to be faster than the slowest in the group." Canderous answered
One of the Rodian bounty hunters lowered his binoculars and absently stroked a peeling headstalk
"Me, no understand. Why cave entrance being mined?"
The female bounty hunter looked to the swoop bikes where their "volunteer guide" was furiously trying to remove it bindings. It had been muffled and tied up when it first tried to run. Now it was almost frantic in its efforts. She moved over and removed the gag. She kept hearing a word repeated in it screeching. Kryatt.
"Oh, fuck." She said paling
"What?" Calo Nord sneered behind her
"There is a fucking Kryatt dragon in that cave and they are going to screw with it. I am out of here."
"Go. Just remember no pay will be coming your way."
"Pay is useless if you are dead." She answered
She jumped up on her bike and grabbed the Jawa by its scruf and set it on the running plate. She reversed out of the gulley, hand on her blaster. Once a distance away she spun the bike around and opened the throttle and zigzagged away, arming a shield on her back. She looked at where the Jawa was holding on for its life to her leg
"Short shit, I believe we are equal now. I saved your ass and you saved mine. And for the record I was against grabbing you to act as a guide."
She looked forward as she run for Anchorhead. It was time to get of this rock. There should be better paying and safer work on Nar Shadaa. She was sure of it.
The air was tense in the beast as they waited for the right moment. The comlink chirped.
"Hawk to rovers. We are in position. We are at four hundred feed and thirty kilometres out. Locking onto your beacon, we are ready to fire." Carth reported.
Melissa moved the beast directly in front of the cave
"Are the recorders running?" She asked
"They are. Why are we recording this?" Mission answered
" This is going to be either the ultimate hunting story or a cautionary lesson in dumb ideas to piss of alpha predators." Melissa replied
"In case I don't get to say it later. This was a dumb idea." Mission stated
"Seconded." Bastila said
Melissa sighed and kept her hands firm on the controls
"Knock on the door." She said, a slight tremble in her voice
The craft rocked slightly as the canon fired. They followed the flash of the projectile as it went into the dark cave. A brutal roar erupted from within
"Knock again." She ordered
The second projectile lashed out. A darker shape formed in the cave entrance and the projectile hit it face on and exploded. This time the roar had an element of pain to it. The dragon that stepped out was at least triple the size quoted before and it was pissed.
"Carth. fire all and I mean all." Bastila said, fale calmly
"Baradiums included?" Carth asked for confirmation
"Them first, high explosive second, then get ready to come get us. We will be running shortly."
"Firing all."
Melissa fired the nose gun to draw its attention and the beast trundled into the mine field.
"HK, Lase it. Mission random fire on the launcher, Terri fire in whatever sequence you want. Canderous fire at will."
The Kryat dragon roared an stepped toward the puny thing that dare challenge it. A mine blew up under its tail. It swung its head and looked at the spot, another blew by his fifth left leg then by the seventh right. Another bigger bolt hit its nose and spit venom towards the challenger.
Melissa backed away rapidly and the venom sizzled as it hit the dessert ground. The beast roared in anger. Canderous managed to get a hit to its one eye and it bellowed in agony as the eye exploded. The air was suddenly filled with turbulence as the missiles came tearing in. Massive blooms of explosions filled the air and the crew of the beast were flung about in their seats despite being strapped in. The vehicle itself spinning like a toy speeder that had been flung from its track.
They stopped spinning and the ground stopped heaving. They looked in amazement as the large reptile was still standing
"One more shot. That is all this cannon has left" Canderous said
"Fire." Melissa ordered
The shot struck true and the dragon stood there. Then slowly its back legs buckled and it dropped its tail before slowly dropping to the ground as if it was preparing to take a nap. The force sensitives felt when its heart beat its last. Melissa lowered her trembling hands from the steering column and slowly straightened her cramping fingers. They picked up a strange noise coming from HK's channel
"HK? What is going on?" Melissa asked
"Orgasmic Sobbing: That was beautiful Mistress. That was the best moment since my creation. So many beautiful explosions."
Melisa lowered her comlink
"Okay. I am starting to believe you, there is something wrong with that droid."