CHAPTER 10 – The Auction

The ship returned to the city of Addukai and landed in the temporary berthing area of the spaceport, just as the yellow sun peaked out behind some purplish grey clouds.

Wazhay strode into the crew lounge where Trest and Puhl were sitting. "Ah, good. Did you connect to the local holonet and find a landspeeder dealer, preferably one that is a little strapped for credits?"

The ship's mechanic nodded affirmatively. "Yep. I did find one that fits what you're trying to find. The shop owner is an older Zabrak woman. Elaiwa Bomin."

Trest scrunched his large face up in bewilderment. "Wait. That doesn't make any sense Waz. We're trying to sell spacecraft, not speeders. Did I miss a crew meeting or something?"

The Twi'lek snickered as she responded. "No. Sorry. I discussed it with Puhl and Ayala in the cockpit. We are going to pay a decent sum of credits to a speeder vendor and get them to tell us if they know a ship merchant here or in a nearby star system that they might know or have heard about."

The large human tugged on his single beard braid and shook his head up and down. "Ah. I get it. Someone who might know someone and needs some coin. Got it."

Ayala walked in as they were chatting. "And someone that isn't a rival business and is old enough to know a lot of people in a somewhat similar business. You should really hang out in the cockpit more and listen."

The mercenary rolled his eyes and made a fist. "Ah, whatever. Just tell me when I need to bust some skulls or shoot something."

"Let's hope not. It's early in the day so you and Puhl can go enjoy yourselves, but not too much. I'm hoping to leave in a few hours max. Ayala and I will take the speeder bike into town. There are several tapcaf's and cantinas in and around the spaceport. Nis left to get his fighter and move it to the short-term berthing near the Dancer."

Trest craned his neck to gaze at Puhl. "Do you think it's too early for dancers?"

"Probably. But I'm sure we can chow down on some snacks and drinks."

An older humanoid woman with short sharp head spikes and dark hair with streaks of grey shuffled over to the sales counter at the used speeder dealership and scrutinized the dyed red-headed human woman and the blue Twi'lek. "You asked for me. How can I help you? Have you found a model you like in our showroom or in the lot?"

"Unfortunately, no. But we do have something else that we would like to buy," Wazhay said as she pulled out and rustled a bag of credits toward her direction.

The older woman discreetly peeked at the bag, but her eyes closed to slits as she tried to figure out what kind of trouble they might be.

Noticing the reaction, Wazhay added, "it's nothing illegal, I assure you. We just need some information."

"That depends on what information," the shop owner said in a skeptical tone.

"We've got two ship's that we are selling. A transport and a star fighter. I know you don't deal in that business, but we were told that you might have some contacts or acquaintances in that area."

The Zabrak woman gazed off into the distance for a few seconds before answering. "Perhaps. What's it worth to you?"

The ship's captain pulled out several chips. "How about two hundred credits."

"I could point you to a junkyard of ship parts in the next continent for that much."

"How much will it cost to get a qualified buyer?"

"A thousand credits, up front. What ships are we talking about?"

"A modified Suwantec TL-1200 transport, and a Blade-32 Superiority starfighter. Three hundred, up front and another two fifty if the sale is completed. But only after we confirm your buyer is interested. That's as high as we go." The Twi'lek twirled her fingers around the room. "We do have other options around here or other nearby planets."

The store owner's tattooed face crinkled as she shifted her gaze between the two humanoid women. "Okay, deal."

The Zabrak accept the payment. "I've got three contacts. It's been a while, but hopefully they're still in business. Wait here while I go and try and contact them. It may take a while. Feel free to go get some snacks and drinks from the break room. They aren't much but they're edible. No telling how long it'll take for those dealers to get back with me."

She stopped and turned her head back. "You do have both ships here on this planet, correct?"

"Yes. We do."

Elaiwa Bomin reappeared back at the sales counter just short of an hour later and motioned the two humanoid women over from the break area. "Here is the deal. I was able to contact two of the three and they are both interested in buying them if the price is right. The first is Dawde, a Feeorin woman from Iseno at the confluence of the Hydian Way and the Correllian Run. The other is Luoti-Tagy Nitis. A female Nikto from Bacrana which is farther along the Corellian Run. I made them both aware there are two potential buyers. They both agreed to meet here in five days. They are a couple of sectors away."

Trest ran a meaty hand across his face, as he glared at Wazhay. "Why do we have to clean up this ship. I wanted to stay in a real bed instead of our bunks. And why is Nis not helping with this. It's his ship."

Wazhay returned a stern eye at the mercenary. "Feel free to go pay for a bed in town. But you're still helping get this ship ready if you want a cut of the credits we get from the sale. You know what Nis said. He wasn't ready to see that ship, the reminder of his dead sister. Have some compassion. He is making up for it by doing some work on the Dancer."

"Fine. Let's just get this done, and the boring haggling poodoo out of the way so we can hunt something down. I'm getting restless."

Puhl nudged him with his elbow to the outside of Trest's shoulder. "So, work harder. That'll cure your restlessness. Get that junk stowed. We want to make it more presentable, and ergo we get more money."

Trest gave a 'hmmmph' noise in response as he picked up some random tools and shoved them in a locker.

Ayala walked up beside the captain. "What will happen if the buyer's bid is too low for us?"

The Twi'lek sighed. "Then we'll have to fly three ships somewhere else and start over. Chances are we'll run out of credits and fuel before we accomplish that. So, let's make sure we get the spaceship traders to buy them at a decent price."

Several hours of cleaning, repairing, and stowing, the crew ate their last meal before they hit their racks. "Alright tomorrow, we'll meet our benefactors and if all goes well, we'll make some credits. Then we can get on with our main mission."

The ships were moved out of the hidden area in the clearing out to a wide-open area nearby, where the coordinates were given to the prospective buyers in preparation for the auction. The two ships for sale, were sitting side by side, while the Crescent Dancer was parked across the way. The ships were cleaned, painted and repaired inside and out after four and a half days of labor by the crew. Most of the work had been with the Suwantec transport because the mutinous mercenaries had little regard for the conditions onboard.

Two different elegant yacht-classed ships arrived around the arranged meeting time, relatively close together. The first one to arrive was a red and gold SoroSuub 3000 yacht, that had a long shuttle type frame with a second flat deck on top where it housed an observation deck. The main hull had a dozen large vertical transparisteel windows along the center of the hull. The first buyer, a tall, broad leafy-green hued Feeorin woman emerged from the ramp in the front of the ship. She had long tendrils flowing from the back of her head, each decorated with thick golden rings. Her yellow-orange eyes surveyed the area as she straightened her knee length orchid-shaded dress with matching elaborate derby hat, accented by gold-orange ruffles along her upper arms. A silver and black humanoid shaped droid moved ahead as they approached the crew of the Crescent Dancer.

The second to arrive was a white and silver trimmed Ghtroc Luxurious class yacht, a wider ship with a very large dome viewing station fifty feet in diameter in the front. A reptilian humanoid with aqua-green shaded scales dressed ina slate-bluepadded utility suit with metallic armor plates covering all of its joints disembarked from the ship. Trailing behind the armored humanoid was a brown, scaly reptiloid Nikto woman wearing a calf-length dim-grey gown with white trim, and a fine silk durasteel-blue sash draped diagonally across her chest.

The Nikto woman addressed the other buyer. "I see you made it, Dawde. It's been a while." She walked gracefully toward the smuggler crew. "I am Luoti-Tagy Nitis, proprietor of the Cometary Vessel Emporium. I see you have the ships ready and prepped. Very good. Where is Miss Bomin?"

Wazhay advanced toward the buyers and their likely bodyguards. "Miss Bomin said she couldn't afford to leave her shop, so she sends her regards."

The Feeorin woman moved ahead and announced herself. "And I am Dawde of Dawde and Kinuum Industries." She waved her hand toward the Twi'lek captain. "Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"I am Wazhay Asassa, captain of the Kazellis-class ship called the Crescent Dancer." She nodded her head toward the vessel. "I presume you would like to take a tour of the ships. We can start with the Blade-32, and then onto the Suwantec transport. Your security can come as well, of course. This way..."

The Feeorin interupted, "Excuse me captain. I would like to ask which of you are the owners of these vehicles?"

Wazhay turned back. "These vehicles belong to my Bith friend here."

Nis nodded his head. "Yes, I own the fighter outright. The Suwantec I inherited from my sister."

"Inherited?" the woman with the head tendrils asked in surprise. "I'm sorry for your loss. Was it recent?"

"Yes, it has been almost two standard months. I don't need both vehicles and I have joined with these merchants, so I'm ready to sell. The freighter reminds me too much of my sister, so I must let it go. They are good ships."

"That is a shame. My uncle recently passed away. I understand your grief. They do appear to be fine ships. Let's go and inspect them, if you don't mind."

"Of course not, ma'am."

The Twi'lek eyed the Bith, knowing his issue with seeing the ship.

He gave a quick nod, let out a relaxing breath and stated, "I will give you the tour. I know the ship best."

The group of buyers and their aides followed Wazhay, Nis and Ayala to the star fighter. They inspected the insides and controls. Once they were done the Nikto woman asked the Bith to start the repulsors. He complied as the engines kicked on. "Could you please fly it, max acceleration. Out and back. I want to see how well it performs," the Nikto requested.

Nis glanced to Wazhay and she nodded. He hopped into the cockpit and took off, accelerating pushing the engines to one hundred percent power and then banked hard around and headed back toward the meeting area and landed again. He climbed down from the open canopy.

"Everything appears to be working well. That's good. Tell me the fighter's specs."

"It has a very recently upgraded hyperdrive to class 2, two forward linked laser cannons, and two aft. Two concussion launchers with a full complement of sixteen missiles."

Both buyers keyed in information on their respective datapads. The group then made their way aboard the Suwantec transport. Nis helped point out the features of the ship, which was upgraded on shields, weapon systems and sublight engines.

The Bith stopped in the middle of the tour and pulled out a dried-out flower, which was once red, but now more of a rustic maroon. He laid the flower down inside of the airlock.

The Feeorin woman watched him intently. She gave him a pitying look. "Is this where you sister died?"

The Bith's black eyes glistened as tears meandered down and over his mouth flaps.

The buyer sighed. "I won't ask how it happened. But if I buy the ship. I will leave the flower there."

"No, thank you. But can I ask that you open the airlock in space and let the flower join the cosmos. I shall look up to the stars and know her essence is up there somewhere."

The Feeorin likewise shed tears over the scene and wiped it with a fancy embroidered handkerchief. Wazhay and Ayala came and gave the Bith a hug.

The Bith stood up. "I'm sorry for this. The ship was stolen from my sister. She was killed by the marauders. This fine crew helped me to find it, and fix it up. Because of their honorable actions I have agreed to join their crew. We plan to bring those responsible to justice on my homeworld of Klak'dor."

They finished the tour and started to bid on the starships. The Twi'lek announced once they walked outside. "Please bid on one or both ships, as you wish."

They both bid, back and forth as they each upped the sale price. Dawde, the woman with the head tendrils topped the bid at two hundred forty thousand credits for both ships. 'That was a generous price for the used ships', Wazhay thought but she didn't really care to question it. She checked the credits and all was there. "Thank you both for coming and congratulations to Miss Dawde. You have two fine ships."

The Nikto woman huffed. "Dawde, you overpaid. You let them spin a sappy tale to take advantage of you. You should never let personal feeling get in the way of business."

"No Luoti. I don't believe that. I can read people well enough to know the Bith was sincere. Personal feelings may not be the best for business or profit, but relationships are more important to me. I'd rather run out of credits and have many friends than be successful and have only acquaintances that only care about what you can give them. Once you are broke, you will be totally alone. I've seen it all too often to families that think they are untouchable."

"Bah. It's your money. You can celebrate your bad deal all you want. I've done well enough by making savvy deals." She frowned as she intoned in an agitation, "Good day." The woman gestured to the Trandoshan bodyguard to head back to their ship. "Let's go, Kassk. We wasted enough of our time." The reptilian-like humanoid flashed his rows of sharp teeth toward the others and then turned to lead his benefactor back onboard their vessel.

The Bith approached the buyer and clasped both of her glistening green hands solemnly. "You are most kind. May the Great Harmony bestow you with good fortune."

The Feeorin smiled at Nis' gesture and then returned her attention to the Twi'lek. "Captain Asassa. Perhaps our paths shall cross again. I will contact you should I need to transport goods. Until then I shall bid you and your crew farewell."

The crew returned back to the Crescent Dancer as Trest watched from the top of the ramp. He queried the others as they ascended. "Well, how'd it go?"

"Unbelievably well. We were able to sell both for two hundred forty thousand credits."

The mercenary's green eyes bulged as he let out a low whistle. "Wazhay, I don't how you pulled that one off."

"It wasn't me. Nis had a little ceremony in the middle of the tour. He laid a dried red flower in the airlock and told about what happened to his sister. The Feeorin felt a kinship with his loss. It was quite touching."

The captain lamented. "If I didn't know Nis, I would have thought he was a con artist. But the way that he stared at the spot of his sister's demise. It was genuine."

The mercenary stared at Nis for a few moments and didn't know whether or not it was a ploy. It made his head hurt to even think about it.

The captain continued, "Let's get back on the hunt. We have a long way to go we have to travel across almost two entire galactic quadrants. Then we can complete this mission, and get justice for our new crew member. We got enough credits to do some major upgrades and an overhaul, once this is all said and done."

Trest displayed a toothy grin. "I like the sound of that. The Dancer could use an upgrade in weapons, for sure."