STAR WARS: ADVENTURES OF BUCK RYDUR - BOOK 1 PART 1 FREEDOM'S PRICE

Chapter 7

Not feeling particularly hungry, I sipped a mug of hot Narisbud tea and nibbled on fruit and bread rolls.

"What, goin' on a diet?" Robyn teased me. "Or have ya suddenly turned vegetarian?"

I glanced over as he poured thick yellow Elpam syrup over his stack of steaming Franjo flatcakes. "I always eat light in the morning."

"No ya don't," he countered, puzzled.

"Just not hungry, mate."

"Okay, okay." He looked somewhat apologetic, then raised his glass of blue milk. "Well, here's to hopin' ya feel better."

"Thanks."

When he'd finished, Robyn got up and tugged on my sleeve. "C'mon, we better go meet Cash. Buck?" When I didn't move he nudged me. "Hey."

Snapping out of my thoughts, I finally stood, sliding one last slice of fruit into my mouth.

"You're sure actin' weird, mate," my friend commented. "Don't have a temperature, do ya?" He placed a hand against my forehead.

"Nick off." I pushed his hand away moodily. "I'll be fine."

He raised his hands. "Alright, sorry; no need ta bite my head off."

I followed him to a turbo lift for our ride up to the bridge, a wide, complicated chamber with computers, controls, and pirates everywhere. On the far side of the bridge was a kind of platform overlooking everything.

Beyond that was a large viewport, and through it I saw the hazy blue field of hyperspace. Standing in front of it were four men and a woman. One was Cash, and I recognized another as the Rodian I'd seen the first time I met the pirate. The woman was Nora, Cash's Togruta mistress.

The last two men I'd never seen before. One was a Duros, a humanoid with rubbery blue-green skin, red eyes, lipless mouth, and a long, thin noseless face. The last man was Human. He had a swarthy look about him, his skin being a deep, coppery tan, and his leathery face sported a long goatee. Beads and tassels were woven into his shaggy, chest-length auburn hair.

Cash turned as we approached. "There you are; what took you so long?"

"He--" Robyn began, but the pirate went on before he could answer.

"Never mind. Buck, I want you to meet my partners. You already know my second-in-command, Ogen Odo--" the Rodian inclined his head slightly. "--and Nora." The Togruta fluttered her fingers at us in greeting. "This is Sthir Jago, a part-time bounty hunter." Cash motioned to the Duros, who crossed his arms and stared coldly at me. "And my smuggler buddy Dac Farrow."

The long-haired man rolled his eyes slightly. "Captain. Captain Dac Farrow."

I gave a small nod in their direction, but stayed silent. I don't like the look of that Duros.

"Oy," Robyn spoke for me, squeezing my shoulder. "Bucky's a bit under the clouds today but I'm sure the pleasure be all his. Good to see ya again, Farrow." He held out a hand, smiling innocently.

Dac Farrow hesitated, then reached out and shook it. As their hands dropped, I caught Robyn's arm and forced open his fingers.

"Hey, hey!" he protested, pulling away, but not before I snatched the ring he'd slipped off the smuggler's finger.

"No thievin' the poor," I reminded Robyn.

He sniffed. "Ha! Farrow's not poor."

Farrow caught the ring I tossed him, slipping it back onto his finger. "I like this kid," he remarked, giving me a half-grin.