TPF Chapter 8

That Senator was just Blu’s type. She had a wild side, but also a proper side. The fact that Blu hadn’t been able to wake up with her and see her reaction to finding herself in bed with Silvi and Blu would forever be one of Blu’s great regrets.

But not as great as her regret about how much she’d drunk the night before.

Head pounding, Blu stares at the ceiling of her cabin aboard the new and improved Seiki Ondori. She needs a drink of water. Her pants are still on, and one sock, but that’s all. A slight clinking indicates bottles rolling around on the floor. And if the floor’s moving enough to make bottles roll, that means the ship is slowing down or correcting course.

With a groan, Blu gets up to splash water on her face. She peels out of the pants and underwear, dons a robe, and shuffles blearily to the cockpit.

There, Silvi waits for her. The Togruta is fully dressed and looking serious.

Blu sprawls in the pilot’s seat and puts her foot on the console. Her robe is loose, but Silvi only spares the briefest glance for the view.

“I see that my account hasn’t changed,” Blu says warily, checking her balance.

“I’m not the one with the money, Blu.”

“When do I get paid?” Blu asks bluntly.

“Soon.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

Silvi looks over at her. “Don’t worry.”

“Do I look worried?”

“You look hung over. If you drink less, your powers will be stronger. Clearer. Did you dream?”

“Mind your business,” Blu replies with a yawn. “Where are we going, anyway?” She did trust Silvi, mostly. Well, she trusted that the Togruta witch wanted something from her and had no reason to betray her. That was why she’d allowed her to set this course.

Silvi just gazes out of the cockpit. Blu looks as well. For a moment, she doesn’t realize what she’s looking at. Then she sees the scale of the ship, still some distance away. She sees the crescent shape.

“That’s a Trade Federation ship,” she says, waking up instantly. “A warship.” Those things held tons of fighters and battle droids. They’d been all over the Republic News after what had happened on Naboo.

“You people work for the Trade Federation?” Blu’s eyes widen further at the idea.

“No,” Silvi replies, checking her reflection in one of the screens in front of her. She’s nervous. Blu has never seen her nervous. “The Trade Federation works for us.”

“What?”

“Get dressed. You’re about to get your payment.”

“All right,” Blu says. That’s enough to push the questions out of her mind. The Trade Federation’s money would spend as well as anyone else’s would. Silvi had transferred money after the job on Coruscant, but she still owed Blu for the thing with the Senator. Blu had enjoyed that immensely, but a deal is a deal. It’s her nature to collect on debts.

She dons a clean jumpsuit, holsters her antique blaster, pulls on her boots, and joins Silvi in the cockpit as she’s guiding the ship into one of the ship’s vast, gray bays. Enormous racks of skeletal-looking, beige combat droids hang from the ceiling over a row of starfighters.

It’s not the Republic, but it’s still not the most comfortable place to be. Silvi gets up, and Blu discreetly checks their coordinates after the Togruta is out of the cockpit. They’re deep in the outer rim. No chance of a Republic patrol out here; someone’s keeping a low profile.

Silvi has the ramp down, and Blu follows her to the floor of the hangar, which seems even more gargantuan when she’s on foot.

A single figure stands some distance away, by the opening to space, which is blocked by a **** field.

Blu halts in her tracks, seeing the instantly recognizable Jedi robes.

“A Jedi,” she says, putting her hand on her blaster.

Silvi snorts. “Hardly.” She doesn’t break stride. As they approach, the Jedi stops admiring the view and turns around. Her age is difficult to read, but she’s a human brunette about Blu’s size. She’s not unattractive, but even though they’re the same species, Blu senses something alien in her.

“Silvi,” the woman says warmly in greeting.

Silvi goes down on one knee, bowing her head. “Master.”

The woman smiles at her patiently, then settles her gaze on Blu.

“And you’re the clairvoyant,” she says.

“Who are you?” Blu asks rudely. She hopes that Silvi doesn’t expect her to kneel for a Jedi.

“My name’s Laki. Get up, Silvi,” the woman adds with a laugh. “How did it go?”

“Well, Master.” Silvi produces the cube from the Temple and the one with the Senator’s codes.

“Perfect,” Laki says, accepting them.

“And your mission, Master? How was it?” Silvi asks eagerly.

“Interesting,” Laki replies distractedly. “I got to see an old friend get fucked by his Padawan. It was lovely. Where did you get this?” she asks, indicating the codes with her eyes.

“The Senator from Naboo.”

“Is she still alive?”

“Yes,” Silvi replies.

“Hmm.” Laki focuses on Blu and moves closer. “I can feel how strong the **** is with you, Bounty Hunter. Have you never thought to use it?”

“I don’t believe in your magic,” Blu says stubbornly, although Silvi has demonstrated more than enough to be convincing. It doesn’t matter. She wants to be paid. “I’d like my money.”

“I could give that to you,” Laki says readily. “Or I could give you something better.”

“What’s better than money?” Blu asks with a laugh.