The Final Bounty--Dark Bounty Part 2

Dark Conversation

"How did we end up here?" Videsse complained rhetorically.

The hound slammed again against the door, as Videsse and Terrah sat in the opaque blackness.

"That chatty pirate on Indoumodo was Sleenwai's plant," Terrah deduced. "We picked up a trail meant for Cotrel. And here we are."

"Yeah, here we are," Videsse echoed with beaten humor.

Claws scraped on the outside of the durasteel door. Videsse winced at the screeching noise. The two bounty hunters remained silent for a few minutes, hoping that the sounds of the beast outside would cease. The slamming and scraping became less frequent, but the creature could still be heard pacing outside the door, sniffing and huffing with a defeated frustration.

Videsse started the conversation up again. "That Rodian. You know him?"

"Cheedo," Terrah answered. "He used to be a bounty hunter; a pathetic one."

"And now he works for The Third?" Videsse inquired, referring to the Third Republic.

"Yeah, and he's bad at that, too, if you hadn't noticed. When you're a snitch, it's best if no one knows," Terrah stated. "He failed at that, like everything else."

"So, what's he doin' here?" Videsse asked.

"Pirates, secret deals, bounties—looks like he's got plenty to talk to the Third Republic about. You wanted to make a name for Ohara Fett--if he gets back to the galaxy, you can be sure you'll make the Republic's list. That ought to make you happy."

Videsse did not comment, to Terrah's surprise. Terrah decided to change the subject to smaller talk. "I noticed you like the DX-2."

"Yeah, that pistol is light, and its trigger response is nice. Not much punch, though. And its long-range accuracy could be better. But it just feels right. You use the same one, I saw," Videsse replied.

"You said it well. It just feels right," Terrah agreed.

"What else you got on that belt?" Videsse continued, obviously interested in weapon-talk.

"Sonic and ion pulse charges, a cloak generator—that you shorted out. Thank you," Terrah replied. Those charges were only useful at incapacitating biologicals and droids but did not cause damage.

Videsse ignored the accusation and continued with a commentary. "What! No physical charges? What about your wrist darts? What are those?"

"Tranquilizers," Terrah replied.

"Tranq-darts!" Videsse exclaimed with astonishment. "You don't like killin', do ya?"

"Killing is a good way to have a trail of revenge-seekers hunting you. I avoid it if I can," Terrah defended.

"What do you do if you have to kill?"

"That's what the DX-2's are for," Terrah stated.

Videsse huffed in disbelief. "I'm amazed you're still livin'," she blurted out in a laugh.

Terrah smiled inwardly at the deeper significance of that statement. "You have no idea, how true that is," she stated.

For a moment their attention was directed back to the creature outside the door. Its pacing could still be heard through the thick blackness.

"Persistent, ain't it?" Videsse said.

More silent time passed. Their adrenaline-rush subsided as they began to feel the effects of their stress and exertion. The two of them listened, waited, and counted the minutes. Every shake of the shifting grates outside dashed their hope, starting their countdown again. The jet black room, the rhythmic pacing of the beast, the dull hum of the ship, and the counting of the minutes—it all seemed to steep them in drowsiness. Their shoulders dropped as they began to slouch against the walls. The time passed slowly. Terrah shook her head, fighting off hazardous sleep.