Star Wars: A Contract of Life

Star Wars: A Contract of Life. Part 2

Chapter 5

Andraaya, Hyperspace

The only sound aboard the ship was the metallic scraping of Ryk sharpening his vibroblade. Cheya sat watching intently, while Thask caught some sleep.

"You know, I don't think it can get any sharper vod." Cheya said offering Ryk a glass of water.

"It's therapeutic," Ryk replied, shaking his head to offer. "Besides I've been brain storming a plan. All we need to know is where this Tabagus lives."

Cheya downed the water, retrieving a blanket placing it over Thask. She watched him for a second, turning back in her seat to face Ryk.

"This plan you speak of, shoot."

"Well it could be as easy as walking up to the front door, knock, and say 'we heard about your operation, hire some mando thugs.' Simple as that." Ryk said, inspecting his blade before returning it into his gauntlet.

"That seems pretty risky. If we get caught, then what."

"We leave Thask with the ship for a quick extract.

"You trust him with your ship?"

Ryk looked over to Thask, then back to Cheya, face completely calm. "I trust Thask with my life. He is all I have for family." Ryk picked up his helmet, picking at the chipped paint with his fingernail. "Besides, it's just a ship."

The console beeped, indicating the drop time was nearing. Thask immediately woke up moving to start the drop from light speed, blanket falling to the floor. As he eased back the throttle, the clouded translucent blue planet seemed so small in the distance.

"Alright, we find the closest cantina, and ask where we can find him. I triangulated the signal from Tabagus' comlink call to this continent here," Ryk said pointing to the holo display. "We'll need to make sure not to seem like we know anything about him."

As Andraaya made its way into the planets atmosphere, large spire-like formations appeared. Cities strung between them. As the ship descended towards a landing platform Cheya's comlink beeped, informing her of a missed call.

"What was that?" Ryk inquired, looking at Cheya intently.

"Nothing I need to deal with right now," She said, putting the comlink back in her belt pouch. "nothing at all."

"Sure wish I had some missed calls from some certain someones." Thask said, grinning ear to ear.

Cheya reached forward smacking the back of Thasks head. "Cool it laser brain, watch the.."

"Watch the what? Open skies? Yeah ill get right on that."

As Andraaya made its way to a landing platform Ryk secured his helmet to his belt and waited by the holding cell ramp. He didn't wait to be in the middle of whatever was happening between Thask and Cheya. He wanted to be alone.

When the ship settled on its dampeners, Ryk was the first off board heading for a cantina. Even with all going on in his mind he was still in awh by the structural differences in all the different cultures through the universe. The Cato Nemoidians, a precise, quiet culture. He was sure the cantinas would be a real blast.

Thask and Cheya caught up to Ryk just as he reached the door of the cantina. "This should be exciting," Thask panted. "never partied with a Nemoidian before."

The trio entered the cantina, to find an eloquent dining area, seating twenty or so guests all going about their own business and a clean looking bartender patiently waiting to take an order.

"Welcome to the Catono Club, we proudly serve food from over Fifty planets and can readily host a large party for you and your guests, for a fee of course." The Bartender said "Is there anything I can get you."

Ryk stepped forward drawing his blaster, placing it on the bar. "Listen up Slimo. We aren't here for a party, we need the location of someone. If you have half a brain in that green head of yours, you know where we are from and what we do. So I want you to think very long and hard about how you answer me. Also, don't even think about hitting that little panic button."

"I don't want any trouble." The bartender said "I'll tell you what you want to know."

"Ryk holster your weapon, it's not going to get you anywhere." Cheya said.

Ryk holstered his weapon, never breaking eye contact. "We're looking for someone, he goes by Tabagus.

"Ta.. Tabagus?!" the bartender hissed so the guests wouldn't hear. "He isn't exactly a popular fellow around here. Look, I can tell you where you can find him. Not here and not now." The bartender brought his voice even lower. "Meet me out back in 5 minutes. Then we can talk."

With that, the bartender poised himself in his normal professional manner and walked down the bar to other patrons, offering them refills.

"Well, what's got that guy so spooked?" Thask said, leaning against the bar, scratching the hard wood with his gauntlets. "It's almost like he knows a little too much for his own good."

Ryk looked around the dining area to see if any suspicion was gathering about three Mandalorian bounty hunters spending time in a high class establishment. "We really don't have much to go on right now. This is our best bet right now."

The three made their way out the door, putting on their helmets on. Not only to hide from prying eyes, but to keep a closed conversation between themselves. Ryk kept his thumbs looped into his belt to keep himself from