(Part 4)
Moz awoke from his slumber with the sound of the ship's alarm ringing in his ear. They were getting close to their destination.
He got up from his bed, flipped a switch and headed towards the cockpit. The two sun's rays lit up the hallway. He sat in the pilot chair and flipped on the ship's reflector panels.
“E.T.A?” A voice asked.
Moz turned around in his pilots chair. And wearing a tank top with sweatpants was Sig. Moz jumped.
“I really wish you wouldn't do that.” Moz said.
“Do what?” Sig asked.
“Sneak up on me like that.”
“I wasn't trying to sneak up on you.” Sig said.
“Uh-huh.” Moz responded. “E.T.A is ten minutes. Where's breakfast?”
“Not ready yet. I just woke up.” Sig said.
Sig looked through the cockpit window and saw the Mos Eisley spaceport. It's known as one of the roughest places in the galaxy. Sig was thankful that they weren't landing there. She looked up and saw the two suns in the sky.
“A planet with two suns...” Sig said. “What a sick joke.”
“You've been here before?” Moz asked.
“Once, but it wasn't for very long. I'd like to go somewhere new for once.”
“Like the kitchen?” Moz asked jokingly.
“What did you just say?”
Moz felt a lump in his throat.
“I said: My hand is itching.”
***
The skies were the same red-blue color they always were. The smell of roses filled the nostrils, and even grass felt like a pillow on the back of his head.
Then he heard her voice.
“Jak.”
He looked around, but she wasn't there.
“Jak. Come back to me. Come back.”
Jak awoke from his sleep. His sheets soaked with sweat. A dream, but if felt real. He wiped the sweat from his eyes, got up from his bed and put on his clothes.
The dreams would go away he thought. As long as he kept the past where it belonged, they would go away.
***
The throne room was cleaner than most of the palace. That's probably how Jabba wanted it, Jak thought. The rest of the palace smelled like Bantha poo-doo, the Throne room smelled almost refreshing compared to how the rest of place smelt.
[“Welcome back to my palace, Rider. It's been a long time.”] Jabba said.
['Hello Jabba. You looked like you lost weight. Have you been working out?'] Jak asked in Huttese.
Jabba let out a laugh.
[“Still have a sense of humor. But I didn't know you were spoke fluent Huttese.”]
[“You'd be amazed by the things you could learn out in the outer rim.”] Jak said.
[“I noticed that a crate was missing...”] Jabba said.
“Yeah...” Jak said switching back to basic. “Our ship was captured by pirates, and to get out of that situation, one of the crates had to be left behind.”
Jabba's eyes narrowed. [“The job was for five crates, not four. You were to get five crates to me in exchange for five-thousand credits.”]
“Yes I understand that Jabba. Which is why me and my sister...” Jak said nodding to Sig, who was standing right beside him. “Have decided to ask for four-thousand instead of the previous rate that was negotiated.”
Jabba let out a laugh. Sig started to reach for her blaster, but Jak put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him, and he shook his head.
[“ I agree to your terms, Rider. I understand that you were put in a difficult situation and it was unavoidable.”] Jabba said.
Sig reluctantly took her hand off her blaster.
“Thank you Jabba.” Jak said bowing his head.
[But before you receive your payment, I must ask that you stay and let us be your host.]
Jak was tempted to say no, but he got the feeling it wasn't much of a request.
“We would be honored, Jabba.” Jak said smiling.
[Nya!] Jabba called.
Entering in the room was a beautiful woman, with a skinny frame wearing a blue dress, with red hair, and brown eyes.
“Yes, Mighty Jabba” Nya said.
[Please escort our guests into the main audience chamber.] Jabba said.
“As you wish.” Nya said.
She gestured to Jak and Sig. “If you would please come with me this way.” She said.
They followed her.
***
“What would you like to drink, sir?” Nya asked.
“I'll have a Corellian Merlot” Jak said.
“Okay. How about you ma'am?”
“I'll have a Powta.” Sig said. “ And please don't call me ma'am.”
“Yes Miss.” Nya said politely. “I'll get your drinks for you.”
Nya walked away to the kitchen.
Jak smiled at Sig.
“What?” Sig asked.
“She was being respectful Sig.”Jak said.
“I don't care. I don't like being called ma'am.” Sig said.
“Okay. Okay. I'm just saying, you could've been a little nicer and just accepted the compliment.”
“I don't see how ma'am is a compliment.”
“It's respectful. She was acknowledging you with respect as a full grown woman.”
“I'm not liking this subject. Can we change please?” Sig asked.
“Okay.” Jak said with reluctance. “How about we talk about what you did in those three years?” Jak asked.
“How about you first?” Sig said.
“Is this how it's going to be every time I bring up the subject?” Jak said.
“It doesn't matter what happened Jak. Me, you, and Moz are all back together.” Sig replied. “Shouldn't that be enough?”
“I just want to know, what happened that made you different.”
“Different?” Sig said. “What do you mean different?”
“C'mon Sis. You were energetic and always happy about something. And now it seems like you want to punch everyone that you see, and blow things up just for the hell of it.”
“You're different too, Jak.” Sig said. “Or did you think I wouldn't notice?”
“Notice what?” Jak asked.
“You were always a natural born jokester. But whenever you made a joke, you made it because you thought it was funny, not because you wanted us to believe that there was nothing wrong.”
Jak started to feel tense.
Nya finally came back with their drinks. Jak's beverage was a green liquid in a wine glass. Sig's beverage was in a green beer bottle.
“Would you like to order something from the menu?” Nya asked.
“No. This should suffice , thank you.”
“No problem, let me know if you need anything else.”
Nya turned away and started walking toward the kitchen.
***
Nya looked back at the two mercenaries feeling guilty. They were liars, killers, and undoubtedly thieves. But once they took a sip of their drinks, then Nya knew, that should would become a killer herself.
Jabba wanted them dead. Nya didn't see an issue with it at first, they were only mercenaries. But what if it didn't stop there? What if they ordered her to kill to kill people she knew was innocent? She couldn't do that. She could not go down that path.
And then Nya decided, that she would not go down that path.
***
Jak was going to take a sip of his wine, when all of sudden, Nya returned and snatched the drink out of his hand. And then she snatched the bottle away from Sig.
“I'm sorry.” Nya said. “These were supposed to be for someone else. I'll get your drinks to you in a minute.”
Nya turned around and walked toward the kitchen.
Sig looked at Jak with confusion.
“The hell was that about?” Sig asked.
Jak looked at Sig, with the same confused look on his face.
“I have no idea.” Jak replied.
He got up from his seat in the booth, and went after Nya.
***
Nya poured the poisoned drinks down the drain. She turned around, only to find Bib Fortuna's blazing red eyes looking at her.
Nya started to run, but the angered Twi-lek grabbed Nya by the throat and threw her to the ground.
He pulled out a knife.
[You dare defy the Mighty Jabba!?] Fortuna yelled. [You will pay for your disobedience!]
The knife was coming towards Nya. This was it she thought, her life was about to end right here. She closed her eyes. Then all of a sudden she heard a blaster fire, and a knife hitting the ground.
[You!] Nya heard Fortuna say.
Nya opened her eyes and found him turned around looking in the direction of the doorway. Nya looked in that direction, and the mercenary they called “Jak” was standing there leaning on the doorway wall with his blaster drawn.
“So that's how the Hutt's fire their people?” Jak said. “Can't say I'm a fan of that method.”
[You need to stay out of this!] Fortuna shouted. [“This is a internal affair.”]
“I was wondering why my waitress decided to snatch our beverages out of our hands, right before we we even took our first sip.” Jak said. “But judging by your reaction, I'm guessing she had a good reason for doing so.”
Jak looked at Nya and smiled. “I think you need to choose your employers a bit more wisely, Miss.” Jak said. “If you'd be willing to come with me, I'm sure we could find you a better job.”
Nya got up off the floor and walked to Jak's side.
[We won't forget this, Rider.”] Fortuna said. [And you will pay for this, Nya.]
Nya gave Fortuna an obscene gesture and walked off with Jak.
***
Sig, Nya, and Jak arrived where the at the ship's landing spot. Where they found a group of Jabba's thugs with their hands up , and the Star Rider's Ion cannons pointed at them.
“I told you that Slug couldn't be trusted!” Sig Said.
“And I didn't disagree with you.” Jak protested. “But I still think it was better to give the crates to him. Jabba will forget about this sooner than he would if we never brought those crates to him.”
“And now we don't get paid.” Sig said with disgust in her voice.
“The Izari job was more than enough to keep us in the air with food and other supplies. “
The ship's ramp opened. Jak looked at the guards, still with their hands up. He smiled and tipped his hat toward them.
“Good evening gentleman. You all have nice day now.”
***
Moz had gotten the ship out of Tatooine's atmosphere. He started to punch in new coordinates, but for some reason the Star Rider's Navigation computer wasn't working.
“Guys, we have a problem.” Moz said.
Sig, Jak, and Nya stepped into the cockpit.
Moz turned around in his pilot's chair, and noticed Nya for the first time.
“Well hello, what do we have here?” Moz asked.
“My name is Nya-Ray, but most people just call me Nya.
“Well Nya, my name is Moz, and you look absolutely gorgeous.”
“Moz. Perv mode: off. Pilot mode: on.” Jak said.
“Oh right. Well the Nav computer isn't working.” Moz said.
“Let me take a look.” Nya said.
She sat in the seat next to the pilots chair, and took a look at the wires underneath the Nav computer. Moz punched in the coordinates and they Nav computer was working again.
Both Moz and Jak were impressed, Sig was unreadable.
“Punch it Moz.” Jak said.
The sky filled with starlines, went mottled, and the Star Rider was in hyperspace.
“Where did you learn that Miss? Jak asked.
“Nya.” She said, obviously not caring for the title herself. “I've read a lot of books on how ships work. And I guess the rest is just a natural talent.”
“Are you good with engines?” Jak asked.
“I've never worked on them, but I think it's something I could be good at.”
“Would you like a job?”
“You mean on this ship?” Nya asked kind of shocked.
“Sure.” Jak said. “Me and my sister possess many talents, but we aren't exactly technicians or engineers.”
“Well I don't have anywhere else to go, and I owe you for saving my life...”
“You aren't in debt to me. You defied Jabba the Hutt for us, I'd say we're even.”
Nya nodded. She wasn't comfortable working with Mercenaries, but it couldn't be worse than working for the Hutt.
“Okay.”
Jak looked at Sig. She nodded. He could tell she wasn't happy about this, but she wasn't going to argue with him either.
“Welcome aboard, Nya.”