Chapter 305 - What Is In It For Me? (1/2)
Dageer had been on guard since they entered the pirate's den. When he saw the bounty hunter, Aurra Sing, he had to exert a lot of self-control not to lift his blaster and kill her. She had killed many of his brothers.
”Dear Hondo, I didn't know you were bringing me a present.”
”What? A present? I ain't... Oh, oh, oh!!! Aurra, what are you doing?!”
Hondo had been smiling the entire time, exchanging pleasantries with General Kenobi and General Skywalker, and already had a drink in his hand, so it took him a few seconds to notice something wrong with Sing's words. When he did, he turned around to find her with an old Watchman pistol on her hand, aiming it - curiously enough - at one of the clones, who had a horn painted on his helmet.
That prompted the clones and Jedis to pull out their own weapons, followed by the pirates and bounty hunters. In a second, the entire bar was in a standoff.
”Wait, wait, wait! Calm down, everyone! Put down your weapons! Now!”
Albeit hesitantly, the outlaws obeyed him, except for Sing. Hondo was bold, but not stupid. If it was one or two Jedis, they could handle it, with heavy casualties. Four of them, plus half a dozen clones, was suicide. Although sc.u.m like his crew was easy to find, it still took effort and credits, and he didn't want to bother.
”You too, Aurra. Now.”
”That bastard put me in prison twice, Hondo.”
”And you escaped like always. Now, remember this is my turf. Either you put that blaster down immediately, or I will make you.”
Aurra Sing looked at Hondo, and knew he was being serious. They might have some kind of relationship, but business came first.
”Grr... You get to live for now, clone. But someday I will find you.”
”Hell Squad will be waiting, bounty hunter.”
Dageer didn't say anything, but Cell, like always, couldn't keep his mouth shut. All he received was a curse from Sing, as the woman left the building, and the planet. The Jedis looked at Dageer curiously but he just shrugged, his body language saying 'I will tell you later'.
”I am sorry about that, Jedis. Aurra told me many times about how she hated a few clones, I just never imagined we would have such a coincidence. Haha! Such a small galaxy, right?”
”Cut the small talk, Hondo. We need you to get us somewhere.”
”Oh? And what might be that place?”
”Somewhere.”
Putting on his business face, the pirate tried to extract as much information as he could from General Skywalker, but the Jedi was short and cold. They couldn't risk being heard by a Separatist spy.
Hondo also had done many shady dealings before, and he knew that discretion was a must.
But he had other worries.
”I can discuss the job later, Skywalker. But I have to know if it is even worthy of my time. I am a very busy man, you know?”
”We can see that.”
General Tiplar raised an eyebrow, and looked around to the drunk outlaws, and the dirty bar. She muttered something under her breath, which Hondo ignored.
”So, what is in it for me? I love the Republic, but I don't work for free.”
”Fifty thousand credits.”
”Hahaha! Bhuahaha... You are funny, Jedi. A hundred.”
The pirate exploded in laughter, taking a few seconds to calm down, and faked whipping a tear of laughter.
”Fifty thousand. You will take it.”
Moving his hand in front of Hondo, General Skywalker used the Force to influence the pirate's mind, but he was unsuccessful.