Edge of the Empire: Book 02: Escape from Mos Shuuta

Chapter 3: Defining Moments

Teemo's Palace: Slick's private chamber

Slick leaned over the data map going over what he had learned so far. There was still so many pieces missing and yet much was already clear. Teemo the Hutt wanted to control Ryll operations on Ryloth and he had an operative on site prepared to make it happen. It wasn't merely for credits either. This was a power play; a small part of a larger scheme. But where did Tersen Aboleth fit in? Teemo had acquired the Lannik technician months ago and had him constantly tinkering with a bunch of old B1 Battle Droids with minimal success. Then there were mentions of activities on Geonosis.

So many questions and yet very few answers.

Still, the Pantoran had what he needed and quickly sent off the coded message to his contact, maybe his handlers at Ryll Corp would know more.

"You spies and your spy-craft," a female voice chirped behind him. Slick wasn't startled to hear it. He'd known Era Oldessi had been there the entire time. The lithe green skinned black haired Mirialin female sat on a small workbench. While he'd worked Era had been toying with an Imperial Blaster Pistol she'd acquired at some point in her adventures on Onderon. She wore a dark jacket over a white blouse, outdoor trousers, and rugged boots. An ever-present satchel hung across her torso.

"Speaking of," Slick quipped walking over and taking the blaster from her and hefting it, "you been keeping your ears open lately?"

Era and Slick went way back to the point that the bounty hunter trusted the rogue archeologist/explorer with his primary mission in Teemo's palace as a spy. Unlike Slick, Era grew up nurtured by a loving family, far from the reach of the Empire and, in truth, civilization. While Slick's home since leaving Pantora had been whatever he could put over his head, Era Oldessi's was amongst the ruins and dig-sites of ancient civilizations. Unlike Slick, Era ended up an activist against the pro-Imperial Onderonian government in an effort to stop their destruction of the ancient world.

Era's idealogy, however, did not survive her first contact with the enemy. While on a dig outside Onderon's capital, her group was attacked by pro-Imperial forces. Era was the only one to survive, hiding in the rugged hinterlands of the planet.

Her loyalty to the cause gone, Era began selling her skills as a researcher and scout to the highest bidder. While business on Onderon was quite good, Era was eager to leave the planet where she had lost so many of her friends. An opportunity arose when Slick came to Onderon and needed help tracking a bounty through some trap-laden ruins. Era led Slick to his quarry and, in return, the Pantoran gave her a ride to Mos Shuuta on Tatooine.

In its own way, Tatooine had its fair share of ancient mysteries, and Era was able to continue serving as a freelance scout, which helped fund her own private research into the ancient Rakatan Empire and various other pursuits that caught her fancy. During that time, she struck up friendships with Slick and Teemo's lead mechanic, a Lannik named Tersen Aboleth. The true danger on Tatooine for Era was the rule of the Hutts and their minions; enough of Oldessi's idealism remained that in service to Teemo she'd discovered the evil that lurked beneath the galaxy.

"I heard what happened," the Mirialin acknowledged taking the blaster back to finish calibrating the sights, "Glad they're still alive." She arched an eyebrow at the Pantoran, "They are still alive right?"

"For now," he confirmed then added, "Teemo put a bolo out on them."

Era grimaced before hopping off the workbench and holstering the blaster. "He must be pretty sore about that lost cargo then."

"And the ship," Slick supplemented, "He's very angry about losing the ship too."

A brief look of fear crossed the former archeologists face before hesitantly asking, "...angry enough to...kill them?"