Chapter 2
The ship came out of hyperspace and they could see a planet orbited by two moons in front of them.
"The scanners say that there is a small spaceport on the southern side of the planet, we can refuel there," Azera said.
"But for that we need credits and I barely found any in the rooms," Shmi said.
"That's why I said those artifacts might come in handy, some do contain knowledge but others don't have any true worth to us, but to the right person on the other hand."
"I get it, you want me to find someone who would buy some of it, a collector."
"Yes,"
"Fine, I will land and then we will search for the potential buyer," Shmi used what Azera showed her to land the ship inside one of the hangers of the spaceport, the landing being a bit ruffer then Shmi would have liked. She glanced at the two lightsabers on the table and decided to take them just in case Azera would need them and walked to the cargo hold of the ship and pressed the button to open the door, she looked at the creat and noticed that the droid was still hiding behind it. As Shmi walked down she was greeted by a roidan that worked there.
"Good day miss, what can I do for you?"
"Nothing for now, just watch the ship," Shmi said as the cargo door closed and went passed the rodian.
"So where to start?" Shmi asked as she came on to the street.
"The nearest cantina is a good place to start, there is always information flowing there," Azera answered. Shmi asked around and found the cantina with ease. As she entered, she felt nervous but Azera reassured her. Taking in her surroundings she saw the bar in the middle of the room with tables and chairs scattered to the sides. Azera told her to go to the bar and ask the bartender for information, and to act like she fits in. "Remember you need to be convincing, confidant, act like a smuggler you look like," Azera advised.
Shmi approached the bar and the man at it looked at her with a smile "So what can I give to a fine lady like you? I have some Corellian brandy that just came in."
"I don't need a drink I need information," Shmi said trying to sound as confidant as possible. The bartender raised an eyebrow.
"Give him some credits," Azera said and Shmi took out some credits he had in her pocket and threw them on the counter, the man smiled.
"What do you want to know?"
"I'm looking for someone, someone who is interested in old artifacts, a collector."
The man moved his head right "The guy over there," Shmi looked at the man sitting at the table at the far right corner of the room. She nodded and went towards the sitting man. Shmi approached carefully and sat down opposite of him, now she could see that it was a zabrak.
"What do you want?" the man growled.
"I heard you have an interest in artists."
The man raised his head "And if I do?"
"I have something I wish to sell."
"And what would that be?"
"An ancient tablet from Korriban," said Azera.
"An ancient tablet from Korriban," repeated Shmi. This seemed to pick the man's interest.
"Where is it?" the man asked.
"It's on my ship," Shmi answered.
"I would like to see this tablet with my own eyes, to make sure it's real."
"Then I will bring it to you."
The zabrak leaned towards her "I think it would be better for me to go with you."
Shmi did not like this idea but by the look in the man's eyes, she knew she had no option. "Alright, follow me," Shmi said, got up from the table and started walking out of the cantina, the man just behind her.
They made their way threw the white streets and came to the hanger where Shmi left the ship. They walked into the hanger and Shmi left that something was off, she tried to look for the rodian but could not find him instead she found three men standing in front of the ship looking at it. Shmi approached them.
"You are you and how may I help you?" Shmi asked and the three turned to look at her.
"Where is Vilan?" The one in the middle asked.
"Who?" Shmi asked confused.
"The guy to who this ship belongs to."
"I have no idea who you are talking about," Shmi said hoping that it will work.
"Don't play dumb with us, we know that this YT-2400 belongs to Vilan so stop lying to us and tell us where he is."
"This ship belongs to me, I don't know any Vilan," Shmi said.
"Could be the man we killed on Korriban," Azera said.
"I could recognize that paint job anywhere, so stop lying and tell us where he is." The middle one said and all three moved their hands to their blasters.
"We need a plan, I'm too weak to take over soo soon again," Azera said and Shmi thought about what she could do.
"Fine, you want to know where Divan is?" Shmi said in a raised tone.
"We would," said the leader.
"I left him on Koriban, we had a little disagreement about how we should share the profit."
"And the rest of the crew?"
"Here, somewhere in the city, they sent me to find a buyer."
The middle man looked at his two comrades and then at her again "You lie," He said and pulled out his blaster. As they started shooting Shmi managed to get behind a wall and take out her blaster.
"You need to learn to lie better," Azera said.
"Thanks for stating the obvious," Shmi said annoyed as blaster bolts flew around her. She moved her hand around the wall and started firing in the direction of her attackers.
"You do need to look at who you are shooting to actually hit them," Azera said.
"Easy for you to say."
"Listen to me, breathe, breathe," Shmi slowed down and listened to what Azera was saying. "Now pick out behind the wall and find your target," Shmi carefully did as told and found one of the assailants standing right in the open. "Now aim at him and take the shot." Shmi quickly aimed her blaster and pulled the trigger, hitting the man in the chest. "Good," Azera said but soon more blaster fire was directed where she was hiding. "I suggest moving to a better position, move along the wall, you should find an opening somewhere."
Shmi did as told and followed the wall until she found an opening, a door. She looked and saw one standing behind some creates and the other was going towards where she was previously. She aimed and shot the one behind the creates and as the other looked at her now she shot him too.
Walking out and seeing that all three were dead, she looked around to see the zabrak coming out of hiding and walking towards her.
"Thanks for the help," Shmi said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry but honestly this seemed to be your problem and not mine."
Shmi glared at the man "You still want the tablet or not?"
"I do,"
"Good, wait here."
"I think I will come with you."
"I don't think so, after what just happened, I'm not letting anyone on the ship," Shmi said but she also felt a part of Azera as she said it. She got on the ship and looked around at all the artifacts, there were tablets, some armor, weapons like Azera used to kill the raiders and several small pyramid-shaped objects that gave off a red glow, strange energy coming from them.
"The one on the left," Azera said and Shmi looked at a tablet sitting on the creat. Shmi took it and looked at it.
"You sure?" Shmi asked.
"Positive," Azera answered and Shmi went back to the man waiting outside.
"Is that it?" The zabrak asked as she approached him.
"It is."
"May I see it?" He asked and outstretched his hand, Shmi reluctantly gave it to him. He observed it, looking at it to see if it's real.
"Seems legit."
"So you gonna buy it?"
"Oh no, not me but employer yes. Come with me and he will give you the money for this piece." He said as he gave her back the tablet and beckoned her to follow him.
Moving threw the streets they finally came to a large estate, the guards looked at them.
"I have a new relic for the boss," The man said and they were let in. Walking threw the mansion Shmi could not help but stare at it in wonder, she never seen something like this.
"Nice isn't it?" the man said.
"Yes, yes it is," Shmi said as she continued to look around. Azera's voice telling her to focus snapping her out of it. Soon they arrived in a large room with a dining table in the middle, a woman sitting in the front most seat, eating and reading a hole tab.
"Lady Lishara ," Said the man and she turned to them, putting the holotab down.
"Ah Keyl what have you brought me this time?" The woman said and looked from him to her.
"This smuggler has a tablet that might be of interest to you," he said.
"A tablet," the woman raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, from Korriban." This seemed to pick the woman's interest because she immediately got up and walked to them.
"You have it with you?"
"Yes," Shmi said and allowed the woman to see the relic.
"Might I?" the woman said politely and Shmi gave her the tablet. The woman examined it as the man did only with more detail. After a long moment, she placed it on the table.
"A fine specimen and I good shape, tell me how did you acquire it?" Before Shmi could answer the zabrak spoke.
"She killed some guy called Vilan and his crew by the looks of it and took their ship, she also killed three more guys who spotted the ship." Shmi could not believe, she quickly moved her hand towards her blaster, eyeing the two carefully.
The woman chuckled " Don't worry I won't kill you."
Shmi looked at her, not believing it, "You won't?"
"No, because you see I admire a woman who takes action for herself, one with a desire for more," Shmi relaxed slightly but Azera told her to stay on guard.
"You don't care that I killed someone to get this?" Shmi asked.
"Why should I, if you didn't then I might not had the chance to acquire this piece. Is there anything more?"
"We can't let them take everything, its too valuable," Azera said.
"I came here to offer this tablet for sale, that's it."
The woman laughed "Oh come dear I will offer you a good price, I'm not a cheat."
"As I said not for sale, only the tablet."
"Shame and I thought you were reasonable," the woman said. "But as you wish, I will take the tablet you have and give you its worth in credits. Keylbe a dear and bring me my case, please." The zabrak nodded and left, returning to the room several moments later with a case and handed it over to Lishara. "I think that this will be enough for you, wouldn't you agree?"
Shmi looked at the large sum of credits that she was offered. "Take it," said Azera. She thanked the woman and took the credits, saying a final goodbye before leaving. They now had enough to buy fuel and leave this planet.
"An interesting woman," Keyl said.
"Indeed she is. Do me a favor, find more about this Valon and his crew, if they were on Korriban they must have found something more than just a tablet and I bet it on her ship. Smart decision not to bring everything to one buyer, that's something I would do."