Bang!
bang


True, the beast weren't his but finders, keepers so keep your mouth shut. Not to mention the last owner of this Stathas-class freighter ship (called the Tyaonon Ranger from what the computer records say) was Black Sun. It was a game of hot potato. The ship's cargo hold was filled with all sorts of goodies: Gallinore rainbow gems, Beskar armor, ryll spices, treasure chests of blastswords, wristblasters, palmblaster parts and too many exotic animals in cages. There was no way he had the connects to unload all this. Not without tripping an alarm; the smuggler's moon Nar Shaddaa needed to stay in the rear view. Why frack it up? Well, to live it up in paradise of course. Look at him lean at the door, counting the credit's he could get as he smirked at a cage. A diamond fox blinked back at him. They call it a Vulptex. It had never seen such a tall, chocolate, handsome Sithspit. The man swung about, earring jingling, lights went off and the creatures sat in the dark.

"Master Sir-dee," the ship's RWW-series protocol droid had already been reprogrammed. Sirdi was quick. "Your client calls are awaiting your response. Shall I forward further incoming messages & calls to your personal holo-device?"

Sirdi barely waved his hand. "Eh." The man couldn't be bothered.

He was off to the cockpit. Out the pit's windows was the docking bay chambers. Pit droids were playing about. Sirdi ignored and clicked keys on the panel. Up projected in that holo blue hue a Chagarian lady from the holopad. Hands folded infront of her, decked in robes -- too formal. Sirdi crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on his back foot. Then cocked his head to the side.

"Uh, yes," she stuttered out the gate. "Word has got to me you possess a Runyip and Kod'yok mix and--" Before another word, Sirdi clicked the panel. The four legged mixed breed image rotated on the feed.

"I don't want credits. I want gold." Imperials did not take Alliance credits and visa versa. Currency exchange rates went up and down like lifts. Only thing that stood the test of times was precious metals. "Gimme 25 ounces."

His fingers showed her: Two. Five.

"Sir, I do not know if its worth that m--" Click and the holo-feed cut out. Sirdi did not have the time. Zeltros was full of high-rollers. Casino gambits were cashing in. Everyone had money to spend. Syndicate folks were probably already on his ass. They'd be looking back at camera feeds from Hutt Town's port. Those slacks, long sleeve white shirt, jacket combo and baby faced grill of his was cheesing slicing into the docking bay all for the security cameras to watch. More often than not he'd hit his licks in hyperspace lanes; only the stars could watch his skills there. But, he had to get off-world quick and with no ship (lost it in a cantina stick-up that morning) or trade he was stuck. Sirdi did not do stuck.

Another call came in. The RWW chirped, "It's the Chagarian"

"Put 'em through."

Beep!

"Twenty four ou--"

"Look, I'm selling it to someone else." Click!

Cutting people off was sort of fun. Sirdi flopped into the pilot chair and tossed his feet up. The ship's panel lit up again not even seconds later. All that buzzing and he just looked at his nails for a moment before clicking the transmission through.

"Ok, ok! Twenty seven ounces."

"Pleasure doing business with you Miss...?"

"Nakia Meeto"
_________________________________

See, Sirdi did his homework and knew about Miss Meeto before the call ever went through. Nakia Meeto was a Naboo born retired jockey from nobility. Funds weren't a problem with her but big game had long been an issue. Back before the Princess Leia stood up in the Galactic Imperial Senate and Aldeeran went poof, her homeworld hosted big races. Nakia was a bright-eyed teen with guarlara tearing up the track. However, the Empire would not let an alien face flourish.

Intergalactic ranks always seemed a bit off and despite the obvious talent Sirdi saw on the holo-feeds and database playbacks, she was not moving up. Before you knew it the itty bitty Chagarian packed up her sack & went back home to Naboo to fall in line with the family business. Plasma deals and trade was no place for a jockey. Not that she did much. She couldn't even negotiate a fair price on a crossbreed.

Sirdi knocked at the force cage. Repulsor lifts floated the half-Runyip down the ship's ramp. At the foot waited the pit droids and the RWW unit. Sirdi had not come up with a name for the RWW or the animal. Both deserve titles. They were going to make him rich. A little tinker here and there and the RWW had led him to tap lines, slice a few contact listings, putting him in contact with big money. Yeah, not the most cautious approach. Databank security and sparkheads might follow the wires back to his ship. Sirdi was betting on that. The RWW was still in the Black Sun's name. So, it was that "guy's" bill to pay.

"Where's this Meeto at?"

RWW handed it's master his Corellian cutlass and blaster. "Indicators place the estimated time of arrival within two minutes and twelve." The weapons went right to his waist.

One deep inhale and Sirdi's head went back to gander at the sky. Fireworks lit the Zeltros' sunset set. Zeltron's being Zeltron, partying it up. Big band horns blew off somewhere distant. You could hear it. Another Zeltros night was coming and the tourist were already lost in the revelry. Spacers loved the stars. He was no different. Still, on Zeltros you couldn't help but smile. No one else could. You'd need a mask to hide the glee. He exhaled. The whoosh of the automated dock doors opened. Nakia stepped out followed by KX-series security droid. In her droid's hand was clear box of gold plates.

"Good afternoon, sir"

"Nice to meet you." The RWW droid waltz over to his counterpart. Sirdi guided the force cage forward. "Plan to give it a test ride?"

"I'll just give it a quick inspection." Nakia looked into the cage. The half-breed was asleep. On the side the readings told the animal's vitals. Years on the track taught her a few things. If anything was off, she'd have an eye for it.

"Everything good?" For a moment she did not respond. Sirdi watched as she peeked in and scrolled through the vitals. Once, twice and thrice over the ex-jockey ran through the goods, murmuring something or another.

"Yeah, yeah. Looks like it," she smiled and glanced over. "Amazing. For the two breeds to even cross, domesticate, rare as they come. I can't imagine how they ride. This one is young too. A bit of rearing and training, who knows what it'll become. Seems to be strong, look at those hi--"

"Appreciate doing business with you." Sirdi was already turned around, walking up the ramp with the RWW & the gold. It was going to be a delightful night. The fireworks boomed. Then there was a loud bang. So loud Sirdi ducked. "Frell!" The cross was startled awake. If not for the force field the cage would have shook. Still the vitals spiked. Heart rate jumped and that strength showed; confirmed a good buy, but when Sirdi looked over the buyer was gone. Magic, right? Nope. She was still there, just not in spirit. Limp, lifeless, and laid out on the durasteel with smoke coming from the KX's blaster rifle. "Ah, frag..."

Point blank range, too -- brutal, Sirdi reached for his own blaster and rolled behind cover at the ramp door. He knew the KX was not done. More bolts stormed his way. He eyed his RWW unit then pointed hard in the direction of the cockpit. They needed force fields ASAP. A security droid unit gone rogue was unlikely. This was a hit. He should've known. But, he did get a jackpot -- the gold.

"Quick. Move it!"

Who knew how many times he was marked for death. Over the decades any scumbag keeping track lost count. Or, was lost. Moreso the latter. Either way...

The Black Sun was on his ass.

___________

BOUNTY TARGET

Private Bounties

Wanted
By PRoclamation of

his nar shaddaa spaceport industries
$ 150,000 Reward $
Alive

Last Seen: zel system