The Togruta took out a map, placed it on the lock of the display case, and flipped open the lid. A case with its lid raised on a frame lay on the demonstration table.
"Five hundred credits, mister," the salesman rumbled.
"Okay," Nemo nodded. "I'll take it. I need two such cases. Put a block of foam in one, and two rolls of packing film in the other. And let's go to the register."
"Oh..." the Togruta was about to haggle for every credit, and the client had thrown him off. "Perhaps we could find a different model for the lady? We have women's options."
"I need both cases," the contr was very calm and polite. "And let's settle for nine hundred, considering everything."
Vaymi, who had been promoted to "lady," twitched her leku in surprise but remained silent.
"Nine hundred fifty, a discount for a large purchase," the salesman replied firmly. "I'm sorry, mister, but I can't go any lower."
"I'm in a hurry. And that's why I'll agree, but put each set of keys in a presentable box," the contr could have not haggled at all. But it would have been out of line with the accepted manners on the planet.
"That's acceptable," the salesman nodded, gave the necessary instructions to his assistant, and returned the case to its place. "Everything will be brought from the warehouse now, mister. These are demonstration samples. Of course, all merchandise is under warranty."
"I don't doubt it," the newly minted Rick nodded. He didn't dwell on what would happen if duplicates were found. "Let's hope it won't be needed."
While the Togruta processed the purchase, and the "lady" hid behind her master, the assistant brought two cases and demonstrated the full комплектация with film and foam, keys in boxes, and the operation of the locks to the clients. Everything was in perfect order.
"Come back again," the salesman bid them farewell.
"We'll definitely stop by," Rick said, putting the boxes into the bags and handing them to the girl.
Vaymi twirled the entrusted load in her hands and tucked the boxes into her chest pockets.
"Good job," the guy smiled and nodded towards the exit. "We just need to pick up my things, and then I think that'll be all for today. Aren't you hungry?"
"I managed to eat a little in the bar," the Twi'lekka swayed her tails. "I don't want anything yet."
"Excellent then," he said, opening the car door and inviting the girl inside.
Vaymi was slowly coming to life. It was easy and simple to just chat with this man, whom she had first seen as a simple repairman. He was not much different from her. Except he was free... Now... The situation had changed, and she was slowly getting used to these changes.
"It'll take us about forty minutes to fly," Rick estimated, getting behind the wheel, and slowly ascended. "For now, let's clarify a few things so we don't have any misunderstandings. What do you think, why did I buy you from Karvo?"
Vaymi shrugged helplessly, her leku draped around her.
"How would I know? Probably for the same reason everyone buys slaves?"
"Indeed, how would you know?" he smiled, the speeder turning left. "Tell me, if you were free, what would you do?"
The alien's round eyes widened.
"Free?!"
Vaymi was surprised. And scared.
"I... I don't know, Rick. I've never thought about it."
A born slave, she couldn't even imagine another life. She had no freedom, and those who trained her along with other young slaves carefully ensured that not even a hint of such thoughts could creep into their minds.
The girl honestly tried to imagine the consequences of being freed. She would just get out of the car, and... And where? When you have a master, you have a place to live and something to live on. Yes, every bite would have to be earned in full, but... It was an opportunity to live. It was protection. To touch someone else's slave would be too costly; the master might be displeased. What a displeased master on Nar Shaddaa meant, Vaymi knew.
"It's very scary," she whispered. "Where would I go? What would I do? I have nothing of my own, no home, no money, I can't even defend myself..."
"And I would be very scared to become a slave one fine day," the contr sighed. "That's not the point. Consider it an amazing chance: I promise you protection, shelter, money for personal expenses. In return... I ask you to try to stop seeing me as a master. Nothing has changed between us since that first meeting."
The girl looked at him with disbelieving surprise. Not to see him as a master? To behave as if she were still someone else's slave, and he was a simple worker from the lower levels who offered her juice and asked for nothing in return?
If he liked playing like that, it wasn't hard to do. A good slave would always play along with the master, and she had been trained very well. Except...
What he was offering this time wasn't a glass of juice. And it didn't seem like he was playing. And that made her uneasy.
Should she tell him? He had told her to always speak up when something was wrong. But he had told her – as her master, and he didn't want to be seen as a master.
"I... I'll try," the Twi'lekka finally replied uncertainly.
"A friend of mine once said, 'Don't try. Either do it or don't do it,'" Rick said with a smile, starting to gain altitude. "But you'll have a hard time fully understanding that statement. Alright, let's move on. As a team member, you'll have a number of duties. And there are a few things I ask you to do specifically for me."
He handed her a datapad.
"You can write it down or memorize it like this," he added, not taking his eyes off their "personal" route, which ran between two skyscrapers. "And one more thing. If you don't understand something, ask."
Vaymi obediently prepared to write.
"Overall, the scope of duties is still vague and can change," he began. "For starters, what did you do at Karvo's?"
"Almost nothing," her leku rose and fell. "I ran small errands, listened to what people were saying in the bars. Few people pay attention to slaves," she explained. "So they don't hold back in conversations."
"That's essentially what you'll be doing with us," he straightened the car and flew under a large neon sign promising heavenly bliss to all who desired it. "Running small errands, taking calls, and conducting initial conversations. If there are any. Plus, you'll read the news and report on all interesting and important events. We'll clarify the degree of interest and importance later. You might help our doc. She's an interesting person. And after that, you'll have to remember. What I say must remain between us. Okay?"
"Of course," Vaymi raised her head from the datapad. The very thought of betraying something her master told her to keep silent about was wild to her.
"In the team, you'll probably be the most harmless," he began indirectly. "Everyone has their secrets, and everyone keeps them as best they can. That must be respected. But one crew member... A creature that is extremely rare and helpless. You'll meet him soon and will have to take care of him and keep him a secret from the rest of the crew. That's a simple task. Task number two is to wake me up, make me wash sometimes, and generally make sure I look like a ship's captain, not a technician from the lower levels."
"So, iron the dress uniform and tie a tie?" Vaymi allowed herself a joke. "What knot do you prefer, sir?"
"Ties choke me," Nemo said sadly. Or Rick. He hadn't fully decided yet. Smiling, he glanced quickly at the girl. It lasted a bit longer than he would have liked. After all, she was very striking, and he wasn't a droid. And he... He hadn't had a chance to chase skirts in a long time. He would have to rectify this situation a little later. "But I'll trust you to choose the knot, especially considering I always thought there were only two."
"A child," the Twi'lekka guessed. "You have a child, and you don't want anyone to know about it. Well... I guess I can manage, although I wasn't specifically trained for it."
His smile stretched from ear to ear, the contr gripped the control yoke tighter, but managed to refrain from laughing.
"I think something like this has happened before," he said with restraint, so as not to burst out laughing. "No. Thank the stars I don't have a child. I'm not ready to have them yet. It's much more unusual."
He buried his forehead in the same control yoke, shook his head slightly, and whispered, "A child..."
"Then I really don't know," her leku and the corners of her lips rose in a reciprocal smile. "I don't know much about rare species, Rick."
"Then I'll leave you to ponder," he said, taking out a case. "I'll be gone for about twenty minutes. You'll sit in the car. It's safe here, and they don't let you in without an escort. I need a set of keys."
"Which one?" the girl pulled the boxes out of her jacket pockets and handed them to him.
"Who the hell knows," the guy shrugged, picking up the first set he found and checking it on the case. It fit. "I'm lucky."
He put two keys in his pockets, handing the boxes back to the girl.
"If anyone flies in here, don't talk to them; I don't think they'll care about you. And those who do... Local bosses have very short conversations with those who disturb their peace. Alright, I'm off."
With these words, he got out of the car with the case.
Inside the vault, the atmosphere was, as always, like a crypt. He was met by the same attendant and droids. After confirming the password and key matched, he led the guy to the storage chamber. With a familiar movement, they simultaneously turned their keys, and after a heavy container landed on the table next to the case, the contr was left alone.
I wonder why Rick?
He opened the case and the container, looking at the credits, the weapon, his little "scientific research," as he called it to Kailas. Rick... Ricard. He needed to get used to the new name.
Rick... Ricard.
He tried it out, and it tasted pleasant. Even familiar. And the short name consisted of the same letters as Rimon Rok. The first two names and the last surname.
And the surname? Monroe?
He smiled. Monroe was the name of an actress. Even two... But the second was known to few. Although... How to say it. And Rick was the name of one of the heroes played by, arguably, his favorite actor. Only that one was called not Ricard. Richard. Although they were different pronunciations of the same name.
Meanwhile, his hands carefully transferred the banknotes, the cube container, and other items, laying film underneath them first. Last, on the frame, went the blaster and parts for a still-unfinished lightsaber. Snapping the case shut, he called the attendant to put the container in the locker, and then headed back to the speeder.
He returned twenty-three minutes later and, getting into the car, placed the case between the seats. Then he smiled at the girl.
"Everything's fine, were you bored?"
"I was reading about rare species," the girl's round eyes smiled. "But I couldn't find any among them that I knew how to care for."
"Ah-ha, and yet we talked about them," he smiled, placing the case on his lap and opening it. Inside, on a separating plane, wrapped in film, lay the blaster and spare power cells for it, and other parts, unknown to the girl, with an impressive-looking datapad. "This is my scientific research..." he said, pointing to the parts, and carefully opened the bottom of the container. There were money. A lot of money. Something around one hundred and seventy-five thousand. In the center was an opaque cube, which he took out, placing it on the speeder's "torpedo." Putting everything else back, he handed the cube to the girl.
"This is your charge," a small blue button on the top of the cube clearly indicated it was for opening it.
Vaymi raised her eyebrows – she was surprised and intrigued.
"You hid it as if it were dangerous," the girl pressed the button.
Upon seeing what was hidden inside, only her eyes remained on her face. Very large and very surprised.
"But... Isn't this a gem from Gallimara, Rick?"
She carefully touched it with her finger, laid it on her palm, looking at it against the light.
"It's alive. It's been without light for a long time, but I don't see any irreparable changes..."
"That's why I need someone who knows more about them than I do," the guy nodded, taking out a second case and placing a knife next to him. "I found it in a cave. You could say I stole it..."
"I haven't seen anyone who would pass it by," the girl held the stone so that light fell on it. Even if it was diffused and dim, it was still natural. "It's not surprising that you took it. But that you didn't sell it..."
"Selling such a rare treasure is dangerous in itself," Rick mused. "Give me the second set. Besides, I don't like attracting attention. And it's a good listener."
Vaymi looked up at him again.
"Was there no one else to talk to? I sympathize..."
She carefully placed the jewel, worth a cruiser, back into the container.
"No one else can stand my chatter," the guy said with feigned sadness, opening the box and, in a few quick movements, making a niche for the container in the foam, he put the cube with the stone in it. "And... I don't know. There's something about this stone that draws me in."
Snapping the case shut, he placed it behind the front seats. "So, we have a few options now. We go to lunch and then visit my friends, we go to my friends and then go to lunch, or we can go to a quiet area, and we'll see if we can overcome your fear of weapons. What do you choose?"
"Can... can we cross out the weapon option?" Vaymi asked quietly.
A sigh of disappointment escaped the guy involuntarily. He turned on the speeder's engine heater.
"You know, I would have done it differently..." he said, starting to move with a turn. "But I was forced to hold a weapon in my hand from the age of seven... But I respect your opinion. And that's why we'll go visit my friend. I'll warn you right away, his manners are a bit rough."
Her leku made an indefinite movement. Vaymi almost said that manners were not a subject of discussion for a slave, but she quickly remembered the request to behave as if Rick were not her master.
"I think I'll survive it somehow," the girl smiled.
"That's good to hear," the car swerved into a gap between lanes and briskly took off. "Although, after our last meeting, he should have calmed down a bit."
Rick parked near "The Sanctuary," thoughtfully looking at the two containers. To let them go with weapons was easy... But to let them go with unknown crates... He'd sooner meet a Hutt Samaritan than an Anx would allow such carelessness.
"So... We need to make a call," he said to the girl, simultaneously dialing the Duro's number.
Jethro answered quickly.
"Listening."
"Greetings, you losers," he said with a smile, slamming his door. "I'm near the sanctuary now, and I was wondering if you could meet us at the cantina? We could drop by, chat, you could buy us a round."
"No problem," the Duro agreed readily. "But you owe me. You'll see why."
"I want to see that," the guy grinned predatorily. He really wanted to see why the Duro felt he owed him. "We're downstairs."
He hung up. He looked at the girl, and his entire demeanor, that of an Evoque ready for an attack, vanished.
"We'll go inside now," Kontar pointed to the more than modest sign, "The Last Sanctuary." "A Duro will meet us there. Try to stay so you can cover me from the Anx if he's there, okay?"
"Does he have bad manners?" the Lethan clarified. "The Anx?"
She looked at the man, who was a head and a half taller than her, with some doubt.
"I'm not sure you can hide behind me, but I'll try to distract him."
"The Duro has bad manners," Rick replied with a smile. "The Anx... We have a history, and he thinks I'm dead. It's doubtful he'll recognize me... But if he does, he'll definitely kill me. In a fit of joy. You can just distract him. Just... Not too much. I'm not planning on fending off a pack of fans today."