Juda tapped at her screen, quadruple checking her numbers. A tenth of a credit off in one hundred thousand was too much for a Hutt. She appreciated the significance of her job, and the collar it kept off her neck. As if on cue, Nem'ro's laugh echoed from the throne room. One of the hunters must have pleased him. She returned to her screen when it flashed red. Someone had crossed the sensor in the hallway. Part receptionist, she waited for Nem'ro's guest. In a moment, a giant Twi'lek entered the foyer. Pale blue and youngish, he already showed some combat scars. He was a bounty hunter, obviously, but not in a scary way. Juda had always liked muscular men, and this one had arms as big as her thighs.

"Hello there, handsome," the Twi'lek girl said with a smile. "Looking for something?"

"Hello beautiful," he replied. "Got a name?"

"I'm Juda, Nem'ro's paymaster. If he gives you work, I'm the one you settle up with when the job's done."

"I like a woman with money," he said. "Ter'viro Onoka. Good to meet you."

"Onoka?" she said. "Do you know a Xaldiba Onoka?"

He sighed. "My older brother. You and he-?"

"No," she said. "Too skinny. I like big guys. How tall are you, anyway?"

"Two oh five."

Her jaw dropped. "Wow." She held out her hand. "It's a pleasure meeting you."

He looked at her hand. "Sorry. I don't shake."

"My hands are clean."

"I broke a guy's fingers when I was twelve," he said. "Accidentally."

"Oh," she said, pulling her hand back. "Ever hurt a girl? Accidentally?"

"Not yet," he told her. "My first girlfriend had some ideas. They worked out pretty well."

"Good to know. Are you here for the Hunt?"

"That's the plan. Anything I should know before going in?"

"Don't brag to him or brownnose him," Juda said. "He likes professional."

"I can do that," he said. "Thanks for the advice."

She checked his ass as he left. Broke a guy's fingers, but an ass like that might be worth the kolto.

Carnus said, "Look, boss, little tiny- Never mind."

"Be polite, Carnus," Nem'ro said. "This bounty hunter has been sweeping the filth from my town's lovely streets. You stand in the court of Nem'ro. All you see in Jiguuna is under my authority. Welcome."

"Thanks," Ter'viro said.

"Your brother has worked for me twice," Nem'ro told him. "Good work, but I won't let you rest on his success. Tell me, do you think you're as capable as he is?"

"Yes," Ter'viro replied.

Nem'ro said, "Ha! Straight to the point, is it? Then I will do you the same favor. You want sponsorship into the Great Hunt. I can provide that. But why should I?"

"I can win."

The great Nem'ro laughed. "Mako says you are a famous bounty hunter-that hardened men run and hide just hearing your name. But Mako says lots of things."

"It's mostly true," Ter'viro replied.

"An honest bounty hunter?" Nem'ro said. "What next? A funny Jedi? You want to prove that you are this fearsome manhunter? I will give you that chance. I have targets here on wonderful Hutta that need eliminating. No problem for one with your reported skills."

"If there's money in it," Ter'viro said.

"A true mercenary. You'll do well with Nem'ro," the Hutt said. "Now, let's discuss your first target."

Two days later, Ter'viro rested in a kolto tank in the infirmary of Nem'ro's palace, compensation for the Beastmaster. The medic answered a knock at the door, and Juda peeked in.

"Okay to come in?" she asked.

Ter'viro waved her in.

"Nice to see you alive and well," Juda said. "That was really rotten what Nem'ro did to you."

"You could make me feel better," Ter'viro answered.

"You're as bad as your brother."

He looked at her.

"Okay," she said. "Maybe not that bad." She looked at the deep cuts on his arms. "Wow, those pits are brutal."

"That was one of those bug things," he said.

"K'lor'slug," the medic said. "We get them from Korriban."

Juda told him, "I've got a very large payment here for you, but it doesn't say what for."

"No big deal," Ter'viro said.

"Right. One large payment for mysterious reasons."

"Do you like mysterious men?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes. "I like reliable men. Win the Hunt, and maybe we'll talk."

"Am I done?" Ter'viro asked the medic.

"Close enough," he said.

Ter'viro nodded and stood up. Juda yelled and spun around.

"I'm really sorry," she said.

"Why?" Ter'viro asked and looked down. "Oh, right." He climbed out of the tank. "I grew up in a warm climate. We didn't care so much." He rinsed off in a shower stall and pulled his pants on. "Is that better?"

Juda turned back and thought, yeah, that's a body that could break bones. He looked strong enough to take down a Houk.

"Yes," Juda said. "Better. Here's your money. Don't spend it all in one place."

Mako burst into the room and said, "Ter'viro, we've been had!" She stopped and stared while he stretched the tension from his back.

"That was quick," he said and pulled on his boots. "Mako?"

"Yes!" she said. "You'd think people would secure their comm channels better."

"Got a name?" he asked. "Mako?"

"Yes!" Mako said. "I know who got Nem'ro's sponsorship token and how to find him. I'll tell you everything, but I've got a price. Take me with you. I want to be your partner in the Great Hunt."

"I know."

"I'm good with a blaster, and Braden was like a father to me. It's not fair that- wait, did you just say yes?"

"Of course," Ter'viro said. "I couldn't have made it this far without you."

"Thank you," Mako said. "I want to be there when we find Braden's killer. I want that more than anything."

"Be careful," Juda said. "He flirts."

"Have you been flirting with Juda?" Mako asked. She looked at Juda. "Okay, that kind of makes sense, but we can't do that. We need to focus on the Hunt."

"Okay," Ter'viro said. "Ready to go?"

Mako nodded. "Whatever it takes to get you into the Great Hunt. The hunter we're after-"

"Tell me on the way," Ter'viro said, and they headed out.

Yes, Juda thought, that ass was worth the kolto.

"I see my scaly friend Rarsk was no match for you," Nem'ro said.

"Got that right," Ter'viro said

"I am Grataa," a Kaleesh said, stepping forward. "It is my honor to represent the Great Hunt. I have been investigating possible malfeasance by one Tarro Blood."

"He slaughtered my crew," Ter'viro replied.

"I am aware," Grataa said. "I regret that I arrived too late to intervene. While dishonorable, the attack wasn't technically against the rules. Unless Tarro attacks another competitor, he cannot be punished."

"He cheats," Ter'viro said.

Grataa said, "Perhaps. I shall monitor Tarro Blood's activities. If he breaks the Great Hunt's rules, he will pay for it, but know that Tarro is protected by this competition's rules the same as you."

"The Hunt won't last forever."

"Indeed, but the competition is only beginning. For now, go to Dromund Kaas. Seek the Huntmaster in the Mandalorian enclave. He will answer all your questions about the Great Hunt."

"I wish Braden could see this," Mako said.

"Don't worry," Ter'viro told her. "Tarro Blood will get what's coming to him-that's a promise."

"You're the best," she said.

"You have my token," Nem'ro said. "And recognition as the most fearsome hunter on Hutta. For this, and the Beastmaster, you shall be rewarded. Tshala, Ettu." The slaves on his dais looked up. "Tonight, you belong to him."

"They do?" Mako said.

"Of course, little Mako. Your hunter has earned it."

The slaves left the dais, took Ter'viro by the arms, and drew him from the room.

"Oh," Mako said. "Right. I guess I'll go back to my room." She watched the door they took and then left.

The next morning, Ter'viro carried the human slave to the infirmary with the Twi'lek slave following behind them.

"She's injured," Ter'viro said to the medic.

"Put her on the table," he replied.

The girl winced while Ter'viro lowered her to the scanning table. Ter'viro stepped back, and the scanning bar ran the length of her body.

"You bruised three of her ribs," the medic said. "But nothing's broken. A little kolto, and she'll be fine."

"I'm really sorry," Ter'viro said.

"I know, master," the slave replied.

"Tshala," the Twi'lek said. "I have your clothes."

"Do you need help getting her into the tank?" Ter'viro asked.

The medic nodded. Tshala winced again when Ter'viro picked her up. He lowered her carefully into the kolto tank.

"Do you need anything else?" Ter'viro asked.

"No," the medic said. "It's really not that bad. You can go."

"The rest of it was really good," Tshala said. "Especially the stuff from last night."

"Thanks, but that doesn't make me feel better."

"You should go, master," Ettu said. "Nem'ro would be upset if you put us ahead of the Hunt."

"She's right," the medic said. "Tshala will be fine. I promise."

After Ter'viro left, Juda walked in saying, "Are you two slacking off?" Once the door closed, she ran to the tank and said, "Why did you need kolto?"

"It was an accident," Tshala said. "He's just really strong."

"It actually was an accident," Ettu said.

"I was on top of him," Tshala said. "And he was holding me. You know what it's like when a big guy holds you? And, he came, and he hugged me too hard."

Juda looked at the medic.

"It's consistent with her injuries," he said.

"He's just really strong," Tshala said. "The rest of it was good. He went down on both of us."

"That was pretty good," Ettu said. "He massaged my lekku and sucked on the tips."

"Oh, I love that," Juda said. "I told him I might reward him if he wins. Do you think I should?"

"Yeah," Tshala said.

"I guess," Ettu added.

"I know," Juda said. "You liked his brother more."

Ettu shrugged. "I will admit, Ter'viro has a nice ass."

Juda, Tshala and the medic said, "Yes."

Juda and Ettu looked at him.

"You didn't know?" Tshala said. "I thought everyone knew."

"Okay," Juda said. "I'll tell Nem'ro his hunter was rough with both of you. That'll get you a couple of hours."

"Do you have any regular food?" Tshala asked. "I'm sick of the food packs."

"He wants us skinny," Ettu said.

"I know," Tshala replied.

"It's Hutta," Juda said. "The regular food isn't much better, but I'll see what I can do."

A nice bounty hunter, Juda thought. They're rare, but they do exist. And on Hutta, a nice guy was definitely worth a few bruises.