Predator and Prey

Chapter 4

20 years later

Zheth glanced around the bar cautiously before slipping into a booth at the back of the busy room to avoid any unwanted attention. She had become quite a legendary, and a bit of a myth, bounty hunter after Boba Fett had died. It was great for earning a living but the thought of just how her mentor had died still hurt; especially considering it had been her fault for not following him. Ever since that moment, she had trained harder to become someone he would've been proud of... though her uniform had been altered a bit so the armor that was on her arms was gone to show off the white scars from where the original protection had burned into her skin.

She could see the owner of this castle turned cantina, Maz, from where she sat and was glad Maz was pretending not to notice her arrival. All Zheth wanted was a bit of peace after her last assignments, there were just so many and the rewards were great but at this point she just needed a break from killing unwanted humans and humanoids. In a place like this, no one should bother her anyway unless they were doing business, which was why Takodana had become a refuge for her whenever she was looking for a place to lay low and do her own thing. A silence swept through the members around the room a moment later, barely noticeable for most as it only lasted a second, but Zheth tensed up and looked around.

It didn't take long for her to see the two newcomers walking straight towards her, the pilot displaying the Resistance's symbol on his uniform while his companion held herself with authority despite her face being hidden. Zheth started to get up, what if they were after her for helping out the Empire as a child? However she relaxed again as she realized most of those members were probably dead by now, these two must need her for something else... hopefully... besides she didn't resemble a child anymore.

The pair sat down across from her and she stared at them through her purple tinted vision on her visor. "What do you need me to do?"

"Who says we need you for anything?" The pilot arched his eyebrow as he stared at her.

"You sat down here, you sought me out... it was easy to tell considering you started walking my way the moment you saw me." She leaned forward. "Why are you here? What do you want?"

"So you know we were looking for you but can't figure out why?" He was playing with her now. "Some predator you make."

"Something for the Resistance." Her voice sounded bored even with the manipulator distorting it.

The woman spoke up this time. "Yes. We need more supplies and your reputation makes our leader think you're the perfect fit for the smuggler."

"Our leader..." Zheth repeated the phrase, the woman in front of her was giving off an aura of authority and power; a smirk came over her face as she leaned back again. "You mean yourself."

"You're observant." She nodded. "I am General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance."

"And you want me to smuggle some supplies in for you, war essentials." Zheth tapped her finger on the table several times before nodding slowly. "What does it pay? I'm sure the First Order would come after me as soon as they catch wind of someone smuggling for you, probably why you need a replacement, and I don't intend on risking my life for something cheap."

"I bet you just have a ton of people to pay off." The pilot commented, his dark gaze boring into her helmet. "Most of your kind does."

"My kind?" She glared at him; her tapping ceased as she took a blaster from her belt and put it on the table. "My kind don't take orders from anyone unless they're paying us, not the other way around."

"Is that so?" Her teeth clenched slightly as he stared back unfazed.

Zheth gave a scoff before leaving the booth, though she could hear the two following her. "I can't help you anyway. I'm retired from smuggling for the most part, I mainly kill for a living... not for a war but I'll take out a small group of people if you need."

"You will help us." General Organa's words seemed to tug faintly at Zheth's mind but she cast it off. "We could use your skills."

"I'll ask again then, what does it pay?" She sighed and turned around to face them again.

"Take her to our ship and show her Poe." General Organa ordered. "I have to speak with Maz before we leave."

Poe flashed Zheth a charming smile and held out his arm for her to take. "Follow me and I'll make sure you never want to take another bounty again."

She rolled her eyes and ignored his hand before walking outside, only allowing him to take the lead so he could take her to the ship. It wasn't very impressive but that was obviously to prevent anyone from figuring out who was on board. Zheth came to a stop as she saw the cases on board when Poe opened the hatch, a smug look on his face.

"Told you so." He leaned against the wall, a ball of white and orange rolling up to him and beeping a few lines. "She's going to be working with us now, aren't you Predator?"

"I get all of this just to smuggle a few trips of supplies?" She questioned, trying not to show how impressed she was. "Why? Is there something special with the supplies?"

"Not that I'm aware of." Poe shrugged, his eyes still trying to figure her out. "I found it strange that the General came personally to be honest. You must be someone very special."

"Not really." Zheth commented dryly. "Just a bounty hunter with a good shot and quick come backs in an argument."

"There must be something." He took a step closer and she pressed against the wall. "Who are you behind that mask? Why did she risk her safety by coming here just to see you without any back up?"

"Who am I?" She smirked and slowly pulled off her helmet so he could see it. "I'm just a bastard orphan from beyond the outer rim... raised to be merciless and take what I want."

That seemed to shut him up though the droid was staring at her still as though it wanted to know more. She glared at it and tried walking around it but the small thing kept rolling near her feet. "Tell this ball to stop following me."

"BB-8, leave her alone." Poe finally spoke before cocking his head to the side as it gave another beep. "What?"

The droid repeated itself and Zheth frowned as she put her helmet back on.

"He says you are hiding something."

"Yeah, well, I'm not telling you my life story." She sneered. "This is a job not a friendship thing."

"If you betray us, you'll die."

"Already tried that didn't go so well." Zheth gave a laugh. "Death is nothing on me. Everything dies in the end but apparently fate said 'not today' when that fire hit."

"Just giving you a fair warning." Poe told her.

Zheth left the ship with him following her to her own. "Just tell me what my first task is."