Call Trace
Previous Episodes
“Alright, that’s about it except for the enamel,” Cleaner said, setting down a section of a blaster rifle.
Kaliyo pressed a blue glowing ring into place, “Not bad. Wouldn’t fool me, though.”
“Careful with that,” Cleaner complained, “The pack was multicolored. If you break that one I’ll have to repaint the whole thing.”
“Poor baby,” she teased, spinning the ring with her finger.
“Come on, I’m serious,” Cleaner said, taking the reticle away from her, “plus it’s not meant to fool you. Just someone who reads a lot of flimsimags and thinks he’s a pro.”
Kaliyo surrendered the piece, “Fool the fool.”
Cleaner stood up from the parts table, “You need to call Yjal.”
“Oo, fun,” Kaliyo groused, standing as well, “Still think it'd be fun for you to play bounty hunter," she said. "We can play that later," he said, sliding a hand down her back. She leaned into his touch, "We could make a few credits and mess with Yjal." "You're messing with him already," Cleaner said, "and you hardly need the credits." he said. "Spoilsport," she teased. He patted her ass, "Come on, make the call. I gotta grab supplies and meet my contact." She stepped away, "Fine, fine, boring it is."
Cleaner followed her to the holoterminal and flopped on the acceleration couch, well outside image capture range, "We're still shooting up the place. That's hardly boring." Kaliyo's only reply was to stick her tongue out at him. "Mm. Afterwards, yeah?" he asked. "If you're good," she said with a sly smile. "I'm very good," he retorted, adjusting himself through his trousers. "Ha ha," she said. Blue snow filled the holoterminal display while it made the connection. Kaliyo went serious as the image resolved, "We need to talk, Yjal." "So now you want to talk," Yjal said. He looked in remarkably good shape for having survived a cantina bombing. "Yeah. I wanna talk," Kaliyo insisted.
“I heard about you and your Twi'lek companion on Nar Shaddaa,” Cleaner unfolded one leg, more interested. Which Twi'lek did Yjal mean? "Anspi's old news. I owed her one,” Kaliyo said, assuming the other. "You owe me as well, Kaliyo," Yjal said, threat darkening his words.
"The bounty wasn't very nice."
"On the contrary, it is an extremely nice bounty," Yjal said, "More than adequate for the purpose. You cost me business. Credits. Reputation. Very nearly my freedom."
Kaliyo rolled her eyes, "Come on,Yjal. You spent more on the contract." "It is the principle of the thing," he said. "How do I convince you to take it off?" Kaliyo asked.
"I hear you have a new Twi’lek friend. Where is he? You should introduce us." Yjal said, ignoring her. "Partner. Former partner. I ditched him," Kaliyo said, "Thanks for asking. Drop the bounty, Yjal. You're gonna get a bad rep with the brokers." "I do not believe you left your new friend," Yjal said, still ignoring Kaliyo's responses, "my information says you are still with him." She put a hand on her hip, "Info’s wrong." "I do not think so,” Yjal said, “You still have his ship.” "Out of date, then,” she groused, “I dumped him and kept the ride. For old times’ sake.”
“Sentiment? You?” Yjal scoffed, “I doubt it. Say you kept it to spite him. This I would believe.”
Cleaner fought the urge to laugh. Kaliyo flipped a rude gesture, equally applicable to himself or Yjal, “Had a fallout over your stupid bounty. Surprise surprise,” she said.
"A shame he did not try to collect it," Yjal said. "Why do you think I ditched him?" Kaliyo said. "Just as well," Yjal said, “Will you pay what you owe?”
“You spent more coming after me,” Kaliyo insisted, “That’s just dumb, Yjal. Even for you.”
Yjal sighed. Cleaner could see his frustration through the holo. "At least speak to me one more time." “We're speaking now,” said Kaliyo. “In person,” Yjal said. Kaliyo laughed, "In person? Right. Looks to me like you didn't show the last time." "Neither did you," Yjal accused. "That wasn't my fault-" "I am no fool," he concluded, "Had you come my men would have escorted you to me." “By men you mean thugs?” Kaliyo asked, propping a hand on her hip, "And by escort you mean kidnap?" Yjal’s image shrugged, "Semantics." "Hardly," Kalino glared, an expression likely unreadable through the link, "Bounty's just a third-party contract kidnapping anyway."
“If you prefer your words then keep them,” Yjal said, "You will pay or my hunters will bring you."
Kaliyo scrubbed at her eyes, “Fine. Fine. We’ll meet. Somewhere nice and neutral--”
“Port Nowhere,” Yjal interrupted. “You planned that,” Kaliyo said, “had it in mind all the time.” "I remember how you falsified holonet credit transfers," he said, "I will accept only genuine currency and only from your hands." Kaliyo stabbed a finger at Yjal's holo, "No flunkies and no hunters. Just you and me in a public place. And no weapons, either." Yjal crossed his arms over his chest, "Port Nowhere frowns on altercations. That is all the assurance I will give." "Call off the hunters," Kaliyo demanded. Yjal grinned. Cleaner could tell even without seeing his face, "I think not. The bounty stays in place until you settle with me personally." "Fine. Port Nowhere," Kaliyo agreed, "Three weeks." "Three weeks," he repeated, "Yjal out." The holo collapsed in blue sparks, suggesting Cleaner ought to realign the emitters. "You hear that little tremor in his voice? He's adorable," Kaliyo said with a smirk, "Whenever I stick my nose out he starts torturing people to find out where I am. He's obsessed with me." Sounded more like he held a grudge a parsec wide. "He agreed to a meet awfully quick. What's the story between you?" Kaliyo gave Cleaner a dismissive wave before settling in beside him, "We met on Farstine when he was selling hardcase ammo. Spotted each other's markings across the room. He had a line on top-grade Balmorran arms. Pretty good while it lasted." "Why'd you quit him?" Cleaner asked. Kaliyo shrugged and nestled into his shoulder, "He got all clingy. Like he owned me. So I sold a mixed lot of blasters out from under his nose and split with the take. He claims I owe him since they were his, but since he had his flunkies take 'em out the factory back door, I don't owe him a nerf turd." Cleaner ran a finger around the edge of her ear, "He sees it different." "Course he does. He wants to see me," Kaliyo said, "plus he sucked up to the Empire on Balmorra. He's probably short on credits now that the government changed sides." Not with the size bounty he was offering. Unless it really was a play to get Kaliyo to holo him. Stars knew not much else would. Cleaner stretched his legs out on the scuffed gaming table, "Port Nowhere, though," he said, changing the subject, "Bit far into Republic territory for my taste." Kaliyo levered up off his chest, "No worse than Czerka," she said. "Czerka's an actual op," Cleaner said. "Afraid?" she teased. "Of the ‘pubs? Hardly," Cleaner replied. Kaliyo squirmed around on the acceleration couch until she lay on her back with her head in Cleaner's lap, "That Daddy will find out what you're up to?" she asked. Cleaner bristled. She meant the Minister. He hated it when she referred to him that way. "I'd prefer neutral space." "Port Nowhere officials like credits just as much as Hutt Cartel ones do," Kaliyo assured him. She reached up to stroke his chin. He evaded her caress, "That's what concerns me." "Three weeks," Yjal said. The image in his holo, a human male, nodded, "And the location?" he asked. "Port Nowhere. She didn't even argue," Yjal said. "Excellent," the image replied, "Kaliyo requested the meet?" "Yes," Yjal frowned, "She says she's no longer with her Twi'lek partner." "She's lying," the holo said, "Though I am surprised he's not playing bounty hunter and trying to collect from you." "Perhaps he will," Yjal said, "she agreed rather quickly. Your people will be there?" "Of course." Yjal leaned in toward the image, "Kaliyo Djannis is mine. I want that perfectly clear. I have no interest in her partner or what you do with him but do not touch her," he warned. The holo nodded again, "Perfectly clear, Yjal. You get what you want, I'll get what I want. I see other lucrative contracts in your future if all goes well." "I hope you know what you're doing, Hunter," Yjal said. "Don't worry," the image replied, "I arranged everything. Hunter out." As soon as the connection broke Hunter quickly reconfigured the system and reopened a different channel, "Apologies, Master Kothe. Some of my contacts don’t tolerate delays as well as you do.”
“No apology required, Hunter,” Ardun Kothe said, his reassurance rumbling through the transmission like a purr, “I understand your concerns, but the Hoth mission must succeed. I cannot emphasize that enough.”
“After the word from Taris, though,” Hunter said, breaking eye contact and staring at the console, “I’d like backup. I’ve never asked for backup before, Master Kothe. That should tell you something.” Ardun Kothe took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, “I know. I can’t spare it, Hunter, I wish I could. Things are coming together quickly. All the pieces moving at once. We only have one chance at this." Kothe had that faraway look. The one he got when he was envisioning the Force or some such. Hunter brought him back to reality, "I shouldn't have left Chance alone," he said, turning Kothe’s remark around, "You asked me to observe. I should have stayed until his op was complete. It's my fault." "No, it's not," Kothe reassured him, "We don't know what happened on Taris--" "Legate dropped out of sight for a while," Hunter interrupted. His sources put her briefly on the Imperial Homeworld, which did not bode well for either of his affiliations, "before showing back up in Hutt space. I think we can guess," he said. "I need her on Hoth, Hunter," Kothe proclaimed, "whether we trust her or not, she is the only one of us who can locate the Starbreeze. There is no other way. You gave us her keyword -- " "It didn't much help Chance," Hunter retaliated. "There will be a time for questions later," Kothe declared, ending the discussion, "for now, we need her. The keyword works. I tested it. If you need to, use it. I trust your judgement," Kothe’s blue-tinged hand reached for the cutoff switch, "Your mission on Hoth is top priority. You must not fail." Hunter faked sadness, "Sorry," he apologized, "I took his death pretty hard. I felt responsible." Kothe favored him with a weary smile. "I know. That's why you're on my team. Have confidence, Hunter. May the Force be with you. Ardun Kothe out." His monochrome image winked out. Hunter checked the calendar. He'd be on Hoth, still, in three weeks. Unless Legate-Cipher Nine moved a hell of a lot faster on her objective than she had in the past and Hoth had an extended period of perfect weather. Hunter set about configuring the holotransmitter again. Neither of those were likely. He'd have to sit this one out.
