FTL Chapter 9

Blu has dealt with enough of these guys to know the type. This one doesn’t look like much. She likes the look of the Togrutas.

She follows the Bodyguard into the boss’s office. The boss, whose name is Karso, has a blaster within reach, but he’s not going for it.

“We’re interrupting,” Blu says mildly, taking in the state of the man and the two Togrutas.

“They’re finished,” the Bodyguard says coldly, drawing her blaster.

Karso places a pillow over his groin. “What’s this about?” he asks.

“You killed my client,” the Bodyguard replies, aiming at him.

The man looks baffled. “I what?”

“It was your men,” Blu confirms, standing beside the Bodyguard. “Don’t deny it.”

“Wait a minute.” The man peers drunkenly at them. “You’re the bodyguard.”

The Bodyguard’s scuffed helmet tilts slightly to indicate her puzzlement.

“And?” she says.

“You’re supposed to be dead.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” she replies. “Tell me why you killed her and I’ll make it quick.”

Karso shrugs at them. “I didn’t. I mean, I didn’t kill Nar Uned. She’s the one who hired me to kill you.”

That gets Blu’s attention. She folds her arms and reaches out with the ****. Karso doesn’t seem to be lying.

“Me?” The Bodyguard is visibly taken aback. “Why?”

“To make it look good, I guess.” Karso shrugs again.

“She faked her ****,” Blu murmurs to the Bodyguard.

“She said that her bodyguard had been with her for a while. She thought that would sell it, I guess,” Karso says. “Please don’t hurt me. It was just a job.” Sweat has broken out on his forehead. This conversation is sobering him up quickly. The two Togrutas discreetly edge away from him.

Blu touches the Bodyguard’s arm. The helmet turns toward Blu, then the Bodyguard lowers her blaster slowly.

“Where’s Nar Uned now?” Blu asks.

“I don’t know. She paid me to set up a fast skin job. She won’t stay. Things must’ve gotten hot for her. I don’t know. She was in a hurry,” Karso blurts. “She paid well.”

Blu sees the Bodyguard’s gloved fingers squeeze the handle of her blaster.

“Don’t,” she cautions the Bodyguard. “He’s just doing a job. Same as you.”

“Thank you,” Karso pipes up.

“Don’t thank us,” Blu tells him. “You need a new crew?”

Karso stares at them. “Huh?”

“She’ll be trying to leave the system,” Blu tells the Bodyguard as they leave the building. As they reach the street, it’s impossible to miss the vast, luxury cruiser that’s taking off on the far side of town. It’s a kilometer long with thousands of passengers.

Blu and the Bodyguard draw up short, gazing up as the majestic vessel slowly rises through the clouds.

Blu clears her throat after a moment.

“You don’t know that she’s aboard that thing,” she says.

The helmet turns toward her. “Do you have a ship?”