Ep V: Chapter 34

Enthea did her best to reassure Myra, but that didn’t mean telling the whole truth.

The pirate attack hadn’t appeared to be an attempt on Scora’s life, but it might well have been cover for one. If not that, then at the very least, Enthea did not care for the timing.

All the same, Scora herself was there when a heavily armored vehicle with treads braved the storm to rescue them, its approach given away by blaster fire to ward off chanwolves.

Inside the vehicle, a shaken-looking Scora clutches relieved Myra during the ride back. Oddly, Scora seems to be the one most bothered by the experience. Back at the resort, Myra’s examined in the infirmary while Enthea tends to her own injuries in her room. Miraculously, there were no fatalities among the guests, although several were injured. Enthea doesn’t really care about the well-being of the resort, although that’s going to relate to Scora’s mental state. It’s for the best if this situation resolves without unpleasantness.

Some guests will have found all that very exciting. Others will not be pleased.

Scora is not pleased. Not with her security, at least—it appears that Setna did more damage to the raiding party than all of Scora’s security guards combined. Scora has compensated by rushing in even more security from off-world. Enthea worries initially that might be the point: to spook Scora so that she’ll panic and bring in more personnel without proper vetting, but why bother? The pirates proved how easy it can be to get at her. There’s no need for elaborate plans.

If Laki wants Scora’s life, she won’t bother with any of this. She’ll just come and take it. Her, or the other one—the one who killed Ryoke. Enthea kneels in her room, meditating, but all of the meditation in the galaxy can’t change how happy she would be to run into that Sith. Even now, she wishes that she were out there, looking for her.

But she’s not. It’s dinnertime, and she has a job to do.

Things were chaotic out in the Stormlands and Scora was shaken up, but there’s no sign of that in the resort’s main dining room, full of music and laughter.

Scora and Myra are at their table as though nothing happened.

Enthea doesn’t join them, which draws some puzzled looks. Instead, joins Setna, whose behavior hasn’t changed at all. She stands watch on the balcony overlooking the diners, tapped into the security communications channel. Enthea says nothing, instead using her senses.

The Mandalorian seems placid. Enthea detects no hostility. Maybe a little irritation, which is justified. Although Scora’s security isn’t an army, her little spaceport should’ve detected those pirates on a long-range scan. Scora already knows that it probably means someone on the inside was paid off.

Enthea doesn’t love being a bodyguard, but at least it’s simpler than trying to run a resort.