Lady Obscura: Vader's Shadow [Star Wars | Luke Skywalker]

Chapter 7

"I may have a job for you, if you are willing." Athara looked over to Madal, frowning beneath her deep hood. That wasn't exactly what she had envisioned when he said he wished to speak with her.

"A job," she repeated, not bothering to hide the skepticism from her voice. The Duro nodded.

"I've heard you've turned to smuggling with a hint of piracy on the side." Athara's frown deepened.

"Oh?" The Duro shot her an exasperated look. He wasn't wrong. Since work on the Amaran Flame (formerly the Tantive IV) had been completed several months previous, she had gone freelance, doing smuggling runs, some small-time piracy and even pursued the odd bounty. She was proving quite successful at it too. "You've been gossiping with Reem again, haven't you," she teased lightly. If Duros could flush, she'd have been willing to bet he would have.

"He mentioned that you have taken the odd shipment of his and a few others. And I've heard rumour that it was your ship that hit two of Black Sun's Shipping Transports." Athara let out a rather unladylike snort. Madal shook his head. "Do you want the job or not?"

"Depends on the job...and the politics involved." This time it was the Duro who made a derisive sound.

"Smugglers don't get into politics. I was under the impression that you didn't care about such things."

"Impartiality is something I haven't quite fully embraced." She turned to face the Duro, who had settled himself quite comfortably in a shadowy booth she occupied at the back of the Cantina. "Who's the job for?"

"It is simple; quite easy actually. It's just running supplies."

"That didn't answer my question." Madal sighed, eyeing her warily. Athara almost laughed. "You haven't looked at me like that since I commissioned you to fix my ship. What is this all about?" She stared right back at him, mind whirring. After a moment, he spoke again, his hushed words coming close to confirming a suspicion taking shape in her mind.

"Where do you stand on the Empire?" Athara cocked her head, considering both him and his question.

Since she had been forced to flee her Master's ship, she had severed ties with the Empire. There was a great deal she did not approve of within the Empire itself, and she certainly didn't like the Emperor. That was nothing new, though. She had never really been a supporter of the Sith Master, even when she had still been in some semblance of favour. Yet she harboured no particular sympathy for the Rebellion either. She had essentially become apolitical, something Madal had been somewhat right about. However, for all intents and purposes, she refused jobs for the Empire, though that was as much about avoiding Imperial notice as anything else. As he watched her think, though, she mused that, if it came down to it, she'd rather help the Rebellion than the Empire.

The instant the thought crossed her mind she frowned. A mere year earlier, she never would've considered choosing the Rebel Alliance over the Empire. She had changed since the Death Star's destruction. She had come to realize just what the Empire meant to a huge portion of the Galaxy. She'd had faint notions before of the depravity and corruption, but it had never really made an impact on her. In some ways, she had been far more sheltered that she could have ever guessed. She took a deep breath.

"Nowhere in particular. But I can't say I'm overly fond of it either." Her answer had been a gamble, though one where she was been fairly confident of the outcome. She could sense the relief that coursed through the Duro even though it made no appearance in his expression.

"You will have to work with Bek." This time Athara was surprised.

"Reem? He's involved with...them?" The Duro nodded.