WPRT Ch. 6 (Updated 2021)

Milk, Money, and a Meeting

Jo:

I sat quietly drinking my blue milk, (which I have never been able to look at the same way again).

I was finishing up my first glass when Owen returned.

"Where's Aaron?" he asked, helping himself to a sip of the Coke Aaron had left behind.

He shuddered at the sudden sugar shock, seemingly caught off guard by the sweet, fizzy beverage.

"He went outside. He didn't say where he was going, though."

"He will probably be fine. I mean, even though there's a lot of scum out here, if he doesn't have any credits or anything else of value on him, he should be fine."

"What are credits?"

"Galactic currency. Here on Tatooine, they don't work as good currency, though, if you collect a bounty or something, it will be in credits. Sorry if that's confusing."

"It's okay."

"Come to think of it, there might have been a bounty on those Sand People. We can check in a little bit. I know I said I'd buy you guys one drink, but I think I should reconsider that. Would you like a second drink?"

"Yes, please, Owen," I said.

While he went to get us a second round, I took the opportunity to look around at the patrons. There were all kinds of aliens. Small ones, big ones, bald ones, furry ones, old ones, young ones, nice looking, scary looking, loud, and short. Directly at the bar, was a reptilian looking one, drinking what appeared to be hard liquor. He had green skin, gold yellow eyes, and wore a yellow jumpsuit. Across his back was what looked like it could be an explosive device, and next to him was a rifle.

"Owen, is he somebody?" I asked as Owen returned.

"The guy at the bar? He's Bossk, a bounty hunter. Local rumors say he stops in here after a mission's gone bad, but I doubt it. Jabba the Hutt, a gangster and crime lord, is based here, and so he's probably here for a job."

"Ah."

I didn't know what else to say to Owen. I usually got along well with men, but since we had so little in common, I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't want to pull out my phone. The battery was on its last little bit, so I didn't want to turn it on yet, though I was dying to know what time it was back home.

Two men came into the bar at once. One was one of the farmers from the night before, and the other was a hard looking man wearing silver and blue armor, a helmet under one arm.

The farmer went to the bar and ordered something, while the other man walked up to Bossk and started a conversation in hushed tones.

Normally, I wouldn't have looked twice at the man, but he was handsome upon closer observation. He had a full head of black hair, dark brown eyes, and a few well-placed scars. He didn't look over at me. Yet.

"That guy that came in with the helmet and armor is Jango Fett. He's one of the most vicious bounty hunters in the galaxy. He never fails. Ever. He doesn't care if he takes you in dead or alive. He will get his money. No matter what it takes."

The farmer was slamming shot after shot of whisky. I was both impressed and disgusted. But the man didn't stop until he saw Owen and I sitting in the corner. I was going to ignore him, but he staggered up and pulled my braid.

"You're the g-girl f-from last n-night. Where's your b-brother?"

"He's around," I answered.

"Hey! Everyone! This girl and her brother saved us last night from those T-tuskin Raiders last night. She's a hero. Pay 'em the bounty, Wuher."

The bartender, Wuher, looked me over and shook his head.

"No. Not without proof."

"B-but I'm tellin' you, she and her brother saved us."

"That they did," Owen agreed.

"That's fine, Geck, but without proof, she doesn't get her money. And that's final."

Now, we were being watched by Bossk and Jango Fett. I did not like being the center of attention. Heck, I hated being sung the birthday song and forget raising my hand during a lecture at school.

"I don't have a body, but I have this," I said while holding out the rifle I took from the camp.

My blue eyes met Jango Fett's brown ones, and I blushed.

There were murmurs of both approval and disbelief among the patrons of the bar.

"That's one of their weapons alright, but how can I be sure that you got it from them last night?" Wuher asked.

"I suppose you can't, but you should take the word of two witnesses," Jango Fett said.

I was surprised that he was standing up for a nobody, especially from somebody with such a violent reputation.

Wuher seemed to consider this as he mixed another concoction for a lobster-like alien.

"Alright. But if word gets back to Jabba that I'm giving out reward money willy-nilly, he could have my hide."

"Don't worry, Wuher. I'll keep Jabba happy," Jango said, as he approached our table.

Owen looked nervous.

"He your brother?"

"No," I answered, my ears hot from blushing, "he's outside somewhere looking around."

"I won't be here much longer, because my son and I had to stop back over here and he's outside."

That news cooled my ears.

Of course you have a kid. And probably a wife.

"I'm sure you and your wife are very proud of your son," I said, smiling a borderline fake smile.

That was a bad way to ask if he had a wife, dummy.

"I'm not married. I uh...he's technically my clone, but I'm raising him as my son."

That's really odd, but he's not married.

"Where did you receive your training?" he asked.

I don't have any training.

"We...uh...what?"

"Your bounty hunter training?"

"We don't have any," I admitted. "We were just in the wrong place at the right time, I guess. My brother is a strategic thinker and I'm good at following orders, so we just...well, we winged it.

Wuher brought over a card.

"That's 2500 credits. Spend them wisely," he sneered and walked away.

It was a chip about the size of a credit card. I reached into my pack and pulled out my wallet. I slid the chip into a vacant slot.

Jango opened his mouth to say something, but just as he did, the yelling of a man and a boy broke his thoughts.

"Boba?" he asked loudly.

"That's my brother's yell. He makes that sound when he's frustrated," I said, hopping up and sprinting out the door with the shotgun.

Jango pulled out dual pistols and followed me out the door.

I heard Owen say he was going to stay behind and watch our stuff until we came back for it.

END CHAPTER SIX