Heartless || Bad Batch

1. Who the hell is she?

- Ha! Nailed it! - Wrecker shouted with a victorious smile. His voice interrupted a few chatters around him.

Cid's parlor was bustling at this time of night. Crowded mix of various aliens and humans didn't really care about the two clones playing dejarik. Many different languages could be heard at the bar. Smell of cheap Kaff lingered in the musty air, filling the room with light atmosphere. Canteen was filled with crowd of locals looking for entertainment and travelers eaer to rest. Customers were walking past a game board table with either empty or full cups, some of them looking curiously at the current match.

- In a matter of fact, I wouldn't be so sure about that. - The corner of Tech's mouth twitched, as if he wanted to smile. He made his move and the last victorious hologam remained on the board. It belonged to him, of course.

- But... Huh? - Wrecker let out a groan of both disappointment and surprise, resting both hands on the edge of the counter. - It is impossible! I was outnumbered! You cheated. - He stood up, pointing to the scoreboard.

Unfortunately, pink Houjix easily defeated the remaining two pawns to emerge Tech as the winner of the game.

- Advantage doesn't matter much if you don't perform right tactics - he replied in his usual matter-of-factly voice.

Two giggling Twi'leks walked past, heading to the bar. The evening was almost too quiet. Sitting in the corner, Hunter had a nagging feeling that this was the calm before the storm. So he tried to make the most of the moment of respite, scanning the room from time to time with an inquisitive look.

- Relax, nothing's going to happen. - Phee pushed a glass with its not very encouraging content under his nose. - You're scanning the crowd as if you were trying to spot the Emperor himself - she sneered with an amused expression. Apparently she had already enjoyed everything Cid's bar had to offer.

- You can never be too careful - he replied casually, looking at the glass the woman was emptying. Well, Phee didn't need a special invitation to have some fun.

The light in the canteen blinked disturbingly, hardly attracting the attention of ordinary guests. But Hunter was definitely not one of them. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the entrance. Sharp senses caught the movement of a shadow on the stairs. It moved slowly down, and the closer it got, the bigger it became. As did the clattering noise that accompanied it. Even though it was drowned out by the noise of customers, the sergeant seemed to hear nothing else. He tensed, rising slowly from his seat.

First came the stench of blood and metal. A slender figure walked in its wake, stopping at the last step. Water was dripping from her leather coat, probably a souvenir from the relentless rain. The regulars fell silent and the visitors followed their example. The atmosphere became thick enough to be stabbed with a lightsaber.

Next steps echoed silently towards the high ceiling. The click of iron-shod boots was now sharp and distinct, as was the piercing gaze. Hunter couldn't tell whether there was a woman or a man beneath the layers of clothes and armor. He wasn't sure if it was even human.

- She's back - Phee whispered reluctantly, resting her entire weight on the table.

- Who? - asked Echo, sitting next to them. Up until now, he had been too involved in cleaning his prosthesis to pay attention to his surroundings. But the sudden silence distracted him from this activity.

- She doesn't have a name, we call her Hettir here. She's been doing Cid's dirtiest jobs for as long as I can remember. - There was no sympathy in the woman's voice, and Hunter noticed that.

Crowd parted in front of the slowly walking hunter, their eyes wandering over their shoes. It's not that they weren't curious. But the sight of red-stained sack on her back was not very pleasant. In turn, her steel irises seemed absent, hanged somewhere between the ceiling and the wall. As if it was not her eyes that guided her, but the path she had learned.