"Bloody innocent." Duan took another sip from her drink. "Fishies really have it out for us, don't they?"
Viglo leaned back in his seat, shutting his bloodshot eyes as the sea air wafted over his crimson face. "What the bloody hell did you expect? Last week, those drunken Republic dogs threw one of our droids in the ocean, and the Selkath had the nerve to claim 'both sides were at fault' because a technician accidentally left it out overnight."
"Yes, yes, the wonders of neutrality. As long as everyone gets their kolto, nobody ever asks what it costs." She stifled a belch in her fist. "Maybe if Taris was 'neutral,' we'd actually get some decent ale in this place."
Viglo snickered and raised a glass. "Let's drink to that."
The bar fell quiet, but for the sound of the ocean outside. Waves crashed against the edge of the city, spraying saltwater onto the busy street. Droids hovered along the courtyard, mopping up the water and spraying anti-corrosive chemicals on the ground. The night sky glistened with starlight, the neighboring world of Pyr plainly visible to the naked eye. To the Selkath, this was the closest thing they had to a moon. A few of them gathered near the edge of the courtyard to gaze at the sky in awe.
A well-dressed man in a red uniform took a seat next to Duan. "Barkeep," he said excitedly, "next round's on me."
The Selkath bartender hissed something in his local tongue. Most of the bar didn't catch a word he said, but eagerly accepted the drinks.
The man in red, a Republic officer, greedily slammed back a shot of whiskey, then asked for another one.
Duan swiveled over. "And what exactly is the occasion?" She asked, barely feigning ignorance.
"Don't tell me you haven't heard." The officer seemed all too eager to tell the story again. "Sunry's innocent. Frame-up from the get-go. Justice is finally served on this soggy wasteland they call a planet."
"Justice?" Viglo asked, mockingly. "A so-called war hero butchers a woman in her sleep, and that's 'justice' in your enlightened Republic?"
The officer chuckled. "The Rodian admitted to planting the medal, friend. Open and shut. Can't get much simpler than that."
"Yes, and this somehow proves Sunry innocent? He was the only one in the room with her! Everyone in the hotel testified to that fact, and even Sunry himself couldn't explain how a 'Sith Master' could have killed her."
"Well, I…" The officer tripped on his words.
"And the mere thought," Duan put in, "Of a Sith Master killing his apprentice over something so trivial. As if Dark Jedi are that easy to train. The lights-" She felt a belch coming on as the inferior ale absorbed into her system, stifled it. "-saber alone takes weeks to build."
The officer grinned cheerfully, though he found himself lost for words. "You know…"
Duan smirked in his face, barely staying upright.
"I thought we could have a civilized conversation about this." He chuckled, nervously. "Share a few drinks, maybe celebrate the wonders of a free and fair justice system." He pulled a small pie of credit chits out of his bag, and started counting. "But, I get it. You left the Republic, and don't want any of the benefits we bring. And that…" He left the bartender a generous tip, "Is fine by me."
Viglo leaned back, resting his legs on the bar, as he watched the man walk out. "Good hunting out there, friend. You're a credit to your government." Irony dripped off every word as he stared forward, not making eye contact.
Duan waited for him to leave. "What a schutta."
The other nodded silently, as he stretched his toes outward. The bartender was clearly annoyed, but said nothing for fear of causing a fight.
"I should have stayed at Czerka. At least their money's good. A posting on Kashyyyk doesn't sound all that bad right now." She sipped her last ale for the night, knowing full well that tomorrow she was back to loading kolto.
"What even is the 'truth?'" He asked suddenly, his eyes gazing through the open roof.
"Excuse me?" She hadn't been expecting philosophy from Viglo.
"The truth," he reiterated, solemnly. "What is it?"
She shrugged and took a sip. "I suppose it's just a statement of fact."
"Then you believe Sunry was truly innocent?"
She was taken aback. "What? Of course not. Don't even say such nonsense."
"Then why pay the Rodian to frame him? Why does the truth need the support of a lie?"
Pyr was in its waning phase, as only half the world could be seen from Ahto City. It slid gradually across the dome of stars.
"Well, I…" She searched for the right words. "I suppose sometimes the truth can't speak for itself." She wasn't half sure what she just said. "I'm not making any sense, am I?"
Viglo cleared his throat and shuffled in his chair. "That's Manaan in a cargo hold, isn't it? If there's any such thing as truth in this place, it's held up by so many lies…" He trailed off in thought, wordlessly contemplating the stars.
Duan finished his thought, "It may as well be a lie itself."
Viglo nodded, and calmed his thoughts with a deep breath.
"I should be getting back to the embassy." She started counting credits to pay her bill. "They'll have me skinned if I sleep through roll call again."
"Yeah, me too." He finally took his feet off the bar and stood up. "There's one thing I need to take care of, first."
Duan paid him no mind as she counted credits in front of the impatient bartender. Here she was, loitering after hours, arguing with customers, taking ages to pay. Even the Iridorian had the good sense to tip. What excuse did she…
The selkath turned his head as he heard something faintly splashing in the ocean.
Duan turned to see Viglo, standing on the edge of the city, grabbing a support strut for balance, facing the deep, blue sea as the splashing continued. They both stared, wordlessly, knowing the security cameras would be his end.
"Some spice for the kolto." His balance started to slip on the wet, curved surface. He gripped the strut even harder to keep himself steady.
Had she not known the man, she might have laughed. Assumed it to be some practical joke. But she saw no humor. Only a bitter young man with no idea what he'd ever fought for.
Viglo stood there, holding the strut, as Pyr passed over his head; the starry, moonless night stood before him as he sunk his military career into the ocean depths.
Duan walked out, silently taking a seat by the neighboring strut, as security droids approached from the neighboring courtyard.