STAR WARS: Fugitive

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Finally – a change of events that will make a positive difference, thought the Neimoidian with the fresh news of a new bounty being brought in by one his best bounty hunters, Chum’lee Atums. Shyk relaxed back in his custom-design sofa, wearing one of his favorite solid-colored shimmersilk tunics, rust-colored today, to match the tone in his eyes, or so he had been told at least. He glanced across the myriad of beings in his courtroom at his entertainment, the smaller Askajian woman and two of her Twi’leks dancing on his corner stage to pre-recorded music – still a shame I had to fire the last band of musicians. Their body movements always seemed hypnotic in a soothing sort of way, as if empowering his own stature to be the ruthless being that everyone knew him to be.

Shyk enjoyed forcing his several patrons to wait on him for audience. Today was no different as several associates and cohorts from numerous businesses and cartels all over Ryloth along with neighboring worlds accumulated inside his courtroom to endure the expected wait for their turn to take his audience platform. The bounty was merely one more inconvenience to inflict on his patrons. The timing was early for dealing with this sort of business, but for some reason he felt a deep imperative for the matter to be given immediate attention. After the disturbing news earlier in the day of the riot that had begun in several parts of the city – that wasn’t supposed to start until tomorrow – this new matter also, somehow, involved old property he was meant to claim several standard years ago from an associate on Roon – I don’t even remember the name, but I never forget a loss!

“My Lord,” boomed the annoying voice of the larger Askajian woman, “they are here!”

Shyk rotated his sofa to see the new arrivals make their way onto the audience platform. He recognized some of the armored beings who had blasters trained on a few of the others that were with them, but he did not see Chum’lee Atums. This disturbed him, mostly because he did not know the names of the others, but something stirred extreme disappointment within him.

“Where is Chum’lee?” he demanded.

The blasters trained on the taller, female Human wearing body armor over a dark green bodysuit. For being tall, she had an excellent figure. Her hands were shackled with stun cuffs, and her head was bowed low.

One of the bounty hunters stepped forward, “Lord, Shyk, this woman has killed him.”

Shyk sat up straight, wrinkled his brow above where a nose might have started for any other humanoid species. His dark red eyes with golden brown pupils narrowed to scrutinizing slits. “Who, then are you supposed to be? Why haven’t you handled this already? Where’s my property I’ve been apprised of?”

“I am called Twizz, my Lord, and this,” he turned and took the tall girl by the arm and escorted her forward, “is the property spoken of,” he said forcing her head up with his hand under her chin. She jerked her head free of his hand and held it up on her own, a look of betrayal crossing her face.

The entire courtroom fell silent, even the dancing stopped, in spite of the pre-recorded music playing softly. Shyk’s eyes widened with understanding seeing her notched eyebrows, and her face looking oddly familiar to him. His mind raced through memories until he suddenly released the breath he was holding with sudden realization and settled back into his sofa and said, mostly to himself, “…Tykos!”

The girl’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped slightly when she heard the name mentioned. It is her, then, he thought to himself.

“After all of these years, the contract has been paid at last. And her other companions? Apprehended in the saloon?” he asked turning to regard the larger Askajian.