Nepharia

Vogga, while slimy and disgusting, was a very handy friend to have. Not only was he able to give me the credits I requested, but he also found me a top notch replacement ship that suited our needs. We needed to be gone since the Emperor was probably aware of where we were. I wanted to burn sky and see lines so we could disappear as soon as possible.

”I’ve been in these clothes for days now,” Selera complained as I pushed her up the ramp our new ship. “You said we would be able to buy whatever we needed once we got off Coruscant.”

”Honey,” I said pushing her on board, “I’ll take you to Gala and to the most exclusive shopping district I can find. But right now, we are leaving, not shopping.”

I went back out and down the ramp to get the last of our gear still on the platform.

That was when I saw Shrike walking onto the platform and march toward me in a determined manner.

”So you are still shipping out?” he said as he approached..

”Yes,” I answered. “It seems the prudent thing to do.”

”You know,” he began, “there are plenty of other bounty hunters out there.”

I nodded. “I know.”

He shook his head back at me. “I still think that you could bide your time smuggling. If you work for The Exchange or the Hutts, it would afford you a certain amount of protection – especially if you were good at it.”

”How so?”I asked.

”We are in the Outer Rim here,” he explained. “The people that hunt you have very little influence here – especially if you work for or with a player that does.”

”Such as the Hutts and The Exchange?” I interjected.

He nodded. “I still think it is something you should consider.”

I smiled and heaved a sigh. “I told you that I would consider it,” I began. “However, I still remember that you have close enough ties to the Emperor to make me wonder about your motivation.”

Shrike laughed lightly. “Are you still going to hold that against me?” he asked. “It was strictly a business deal, I assure you.”

”And how is it that, even though I had left my master’s service but a few days ago, you knew I was running and that I had a bounty on my head?” I asked.

I saw his head drop slightly and he smiled. By the look on his face, I could tell that he was in far closer contact with Coruscant than he was letting on.

”Lady Nepharia,” a voice came from the top of the ship’s ramp. Shrike and I both turned to see Devron – the Duros that had removed the tracking devices from our bodies several days before.

He walked down the to us, then held out his hand. I held mine out and he placed some small items in my palm.

”After doing a sweep, I found these on board,” he began, gesturing to the items in my hand. “There were others, but they could not be removed easily without damaging the components they were in. I have another of crew arriving with new components so those items can be replaced.”

”Thank you,” I answered, then asked “I trust your compensation was adequate?”

”Yes, My Lady,” he answered, then turned and walked from the platform.

I looked at Shrike, still holding the small tracking devices in my hand.

”Tell Vogga that, instead of tracking my movements,” I began as I slung the tracking devices over the side of the landing platform, “if he needs to contact me, to set up a meeting with our mutual acquaintance, Grav Breina,” I walked up the ramp and into my ship, where I would await Devron’s crew.