ABOARD A SPACE PLATFORM, SOMEWHERE ABOVE TATOOINE...
Trini Halrixien gritted her teeth, her hand groping beneath the table for the spot where a blaster usually rested on her hip. She of course felt empty space; the goons at the door of the cantina had taken her weapon.
"The card, Jakar, the deal was for the card."
From across the table, a pinch-faced Neimoidian sneered down at the diminutive Amaran. He withdrew a small object from an inside pocket of his robes, twirling it disinterestedly.
"My credits are no good to you, Miss Halrixien?"
Trini bristled, glancing down at the small mound of chits in the middle of the table. Of course Jakar was going to try and buy her off; he probably suspected what was on the card as much as she did. If Trini's theory bore out, it was more valuable than anything the young archaeologist could offer for it, and she knew it. Her only hope was to stick to the letter of the agreement she had made with the Neimoidian, and hope that stubbornness would win the day.
If not... well, she really missed her blaster about now.
"Your credits weren't what we agreed upon." She countered, glowering. "I agreed to acquire a piece that you claim has great sentimental value. I have, and you have seen the holos to prove it. As soon as the card is in my hand, the item you requested will be in yours. That was the deal."
This was a scene Trini, only months before, would never have pictured herself in. Nor would she have imagined herself habitually carrying a blaster, another thing she now did. Ever since the dig on Raxus Prime, however, Trini had found her life taking a decidedly more exciting turn, and though she still wasn't sure what she felt about it, she did wish to be prepared for it.
The Neimoidian smirked.
"I am a man of my word."
Trini watched as the green-skinned alien set the small object he had been turning in his hand on the table. He slid it toward Trini, but kept his hand on it.
"Let me see what it is you have brought, however."
Reluctantly, Trini raised her hand and snapped her fingers. An ancient server droid tottered over, holding a tray, from which Trini took a broach containing a single cloudy yellow gem. She slid it across the table toward the Neimoidian, who immediately snatched it, leaving Trini to grab the object and pull it toward her. She looked at it almost reverently, while across the table, the Neimoidian did the same.
"At long, long last... the remains if Noidama, first of my family line, are restored to my clan's protection. A momentous day."
The Neimoidian picked up the flute of amber liquid beside him, lifting it.
"A toast, Miss Halrixien, to great beings of the past."
Before Trini could think, the little Amaran lifted her own glass.
"To great beings."
She downed the drink in a single gulp. When she did, she failed to notice the Neimoidian's wicked smile.
"And now, Miss Halrixien, I propose another trade for you." He held up a vial of blue liquid. "The datapunch I just handed you, for this little vial."
Trini, uncomprehending, narrowed her eyes.
"W-What's in the vial?"
The Neimoidian laughed.
"Antidote." He said. "For the poison you just drank!"
As the Neimoidian and his thugs laughed, Trini could imagine she was starting to get light-headed.
"R-Really now..."
"The card, Jakar, the deal was for the card."
From across the table, a pinch-faced Neimoidian sneered down at the diminutive Amaran. He withdrew a small object from an inside pocket of his robes, twirling it disinterestedly.
"My credits are no good to you, Miss Halrixien?"
Trini bristled, glancing down at the small mound of chits in the middle of the table. Of course Jakar was going to try and buy her off; he probably suspected what was on the card as much as she did. If Trini's theory bore out, it was more valuable than anything the young archaeologist could offer for it, and she knew it. Her only hope was to stick to the letter of the agreement she had made with the Neimoidian, and hope that stubbornness would win the day.
If not... well, she really missed her blaster about now.
"Your credits weren't what we agreed upon." She countered, glowering. "I agreed to acquire a piece that you claim has great sentimental value. I have, and you have seen the holos to prove it. As soon as the card is in my hand, the item you requested will be in yours. That was the deal."
This was a scene Trini, only months before, would never have pictured herself in. Nor would she have imagined herself habitually carrying a blaster, another thing she now did. Ever since the dig on Raxus Prime, however, Trini had found her life taking a decidedly more exciting turn, and though she still wasn't sure what she felt about it, she did wish to be prepared for it.
The Neimoidian smirked.
"I am a man of my word."
Trini watched as the green-skinned alien set the small object he had been turning in his hand on the table. He slid it toward Trini, but kept his hand on it.
"Let me see what it is you have brought, however."
Reluctantly, Trini raised her hand and snapped her fingers. An ancient server droid tottered over, holding a tray, from which Trini took a broach containing a single cloudy yellow gem. She slid it across the table toward the Neimoidian, who immediately snatched it, leaving Trini to grab the object and pull it toward her. She looked at it almost reverently, while across the table, the Neimoidian did the same.
"At long, long last... the remains if Noidama, first of my family line, are restored to my clan's protection. A momentous day."
The Neimoidian picked up the flute of amber liquid beside him, lifting it.
"A toast, Miss Halrixien, to great beings of the past."
Before Trini could think, the little Amaran lifted her own glass.
"To great beings."
She downed the drink in a single gulp. When she did, she failed to notice the Neimoidian's wicked smile.
"And now, Miss Halrixien, I propose another trade for you." He held up a vial of blue liquid. "The datapunch I just handed you, for this little vial."
Trini, uncomprehending, narrowed her eyes.
"W-What's in the vial?"
The Neimoidian laughed.
"Antidote." He said. "For the poison you just drank!"
As the Neimoidian and his thugs laughed, Trini could imagine she was starting to get light-headed.
"R-Really now..."
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