Luck Be A Lady

[Kalous Anson]

Stun, shock, and all around befuddlement surrounded Kalous' reaction to [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] and her unexpected question. All Kalous had expected was some form of threat, or boast, that would cement his veiled opinion about the woman who had just spent part of her night helping him--more accurately helping herself while he tagged along. Regardless of what he had thought of her before, anything he perceived during his time spent on this chase, the Nautolan couldn't help but soften to her plight. Kalous had a family once, and although they had betrayed him, he wished nothing more than to have things return to how they were before the incident that took them away from him and placed him behind a force field for the past year.

"I-I," he began with a stutter as he tried to contemplate how to say what he wanted without offending the woman that was pleading before him. "I'm sorry but I haven't."

Kalous didn't even have to really look at the picture to know that he would be of no use in her search. Unless the man had been in prison for the last year, or he had seen him within the last few weeks, there was no way he would know him enough to recognize seeing him throughout the days of rediscovering his own freedom. There was a wish in Kalous' mind--a wish to help "Z" with her problem--but at this point in his story there was nothing that Kalous could do. He knew hardly anyone that could help her and that was what really bothered him.

"If I see him I'll be sure to send him to break you out of whatever prison you're bound to be locked in though," he jested as he attempted to lighten the mood however he could--serious issues were far too intense for Kalous to discuss without a relatively neutral disposition. "I'll keep an eye out."

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

No. Another no. Another dead end. No more leads to follow. She sighed and put the picture back in her purse. She was beyond disappointment now. This was just the status quo for her now. No matter where she went, no matter how hard she looked, nothing.

"That's all I need ya to do. In exchange for that, you can keep the bounty. I... just kinda lost interest."

And that was the truth. The excitement had been completely drained from the situation. She looked up, hands on her hips. Time to go look elsewhere. She'd have to tell the rest of the crew she'd lost the bounty, of course. That would be a pain. She'd probably have to rob that casino to even get enough credits to get off this rock. Another pain. But, on the up side, she had someone else out there, keeping their eyes out.
And this one wouldn't turn her in. She was confident about that.

"If ya find him, send a wave here-" she pulled out a small card with a cantina's information on it, "They'll know how to contact me."

[member="Kalous Anson"]

 

[Kalous Anson]

Taking the card, Kalous simply put it away in a pocket before deciding what he should say next. It would seem as if this story were coming to a close but he wasn't sure if he wanted it to. It was true that she had helped him but he didn't feel even a tad bit guilty--maybe a tad bit--that he was taking this bounty that [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] had all but secured for him. Who was he kidding, she did secure it for him. His trouble was with trying to accept that his work, and his work alone, had helped to capture this man whom he now had laying at his feet. Could he really justify this to himself? Yes, yes he could.

"Alright," he began with a hesitant tone. "So, now we walk away and not shoot at each other. Sound good?"

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

He didn't realize it, but Zandra was glad he was taking it. It cemented the one thing she needed from him. He would not turn her in. He would not forget her either. Or the job she had set him to. And now, he owed her a favor. Zandra may be filthy pirate scum, but she knew when the push ahead and when to pull back. This was the right time to pull back. She'd shown him how to do it. She'd shown him everything he needed to know. And now, he could do his job and keep an eye out for her husband.
She grinned. Not a total loss today. She'd gained something greater than credits.

"A'right, big guy," she said holding her hand out for him to shake, "It's been a pleasure workin' with ya."

[member="Kalous Anson"]

 

[Kalous Anson]

"It's definitely been an adventure," Kalous replied as he shook the woman's hand--still wary in case she tried something sneaky.

It wasn't her fault that he was naturally distrustful; his life had been full of circumstances where he had been betrayed by those whom he had trusted the most. It wasn't as if Kalous even trusted [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] as far as he could throw her--although he'd wager he could toss her a good distance--but he just couldn't trust anyone after a single meeting. It would take a long time for any kind of bond to be built between these two--if one could be built at all--but Kalous was optimistic that she wasn't going to shoot him as he left with his shiney new bounty in tow.

"Do me a favor," he said with a pause--more of a statement than a question. "Don't end up on my list."

Quickly recoiling from their handshake; Kalous pulled Rael up from the ground and began to drag him backward toward his own docking area. He wouldn't leave "Z" with a view of his backside but he would leave her knowing that he respected her as much as anyone else with a blaster and an unpredictable disposition. Kalous didn't know her long enough to get a gauge of who she really was but he did get to know the piece of herself that she had shared with him, and for that he was moderately grateful. It gave him hope that he could find a few friends out there in the galaxy, one day, but they wouldn't arrive until he had already needed them.

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

She waved at his back, watching him walk away. Good. She'd fine Cal. One way or another, she'd find him, even if she had to get the entire Galaxy looking. One at a time. Little by little. And if she died before she could hunt him down, well, at least he would know she gave it her all. He'd know that she had truly, honestly, meant the vows she had taken.

"Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde," she whispered, pulling out her husbands picture to look at it once more while [member="Kalous Anson"] walked away, "'We are one when together. We are one when parted.' I know what that means now, Cal."

She carefully put the picture back in her purse, pressed the button on her wrist comm.

"Hey there, Spikey," she said into the comm, knowing that the Zabrak on the other end would answer, "Bad news. Someone got the the bounty first. Yeah, I know. Hey, listen, do we got enough to get off world? If not, I got another idea. Yeah? Alright. Good. See ya in a bit."