Star Wars: Lando’s Luck

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck — page 7 — There'd been no description of her contact and this was the third time Bazine had ended up in some back water back water cantina on an anonymous tip She hoped this one would pan out as something more than just a bunch of farmers imagining the most famous ship in the galaxy had crashed in their field Bazine had hoped to find her contact already in place when she'd arrived but a casual stroll around the cantina cantina earlier in the day had revealed only a single Ewok drinking a pitcher of purple glandis flower juice Bazine had taken up position at the bar to watch the door for any potential marks but there she was a few minutes to the appointed time and there still hadn't been any likely candidates She didn't know whom she was supposed to meet but she knew she was the first to show up Only when Bazine doubled back to the designated corner table a woman sat there a polite smile on her face I hope you didn't have trouble finding it she said Her brown skin was unlined but gray streaked the long braids she wore Her hazel eyes demanded a second second look and the woman raised a hand in greeting not offering to shake when she noticed Bazine's fingertips She did raise an eyebrow at the Rishi ink stained digits Strange attire for an archivist the woman said Her voice rasped and Bazine frowned trying to place the accent The woman was definitely human but she spoke like Basic wasn't the language she was used to

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck — page 8 — Are you the one who has a story for me Bazine asked ignoring the comment and settling into the chair across from the woman You're looking for information on a ship are you not A Corellian freighter modified past its original intent I am Bazine said Perhaps the old woman was insane There was an air to her that Bazine had seen before mostly in travelers who spent too much time in Wild Space away from the more civilized parts of the galaxy All those stars could sometimes make people lose track of themselves Bazine half expected the woman to jump up on the table and perform some kind of heavy stomping dance in the mag-boots she wore But the old woman stayed right where she was her gold-green eyes watching Bazine in a way she found unsettling Yes Yes I can tell you about a Corellian freighter I can tell you about the Millennium Falcon Bazine straightened slightly nothing that would be obvious to an outside observer but inside she felt as though a string had been pulled taut She'd never said the name of the ship and her initial contact hadn't mentioned it in his message But there it was all the same The Millennium Falcon A ship a wreck of one from what she could tell But one that had long been whispered about the way some still whispered of the Sith Lords

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck — page 9 — and their bygone deeds And this woman knew of it What can you tell me about this ship About this Millennium Falcon Bazine asked drumming her inky fingertips on the surface of the sticky table What can you tell me about payment the woman asked Bazine reached under her coat and produced a bag holding a thousand credits then dropped it on the table A hulking shape slightly larger and taller than Bazine appeared She got the quick impression of tufted ears three tails and fur that shifted color before the unknown alien grabbed the bag of credits and ambled off disappearing into the shadows of the cantina The entire exchange took mere seconds The woman smiled Bazine was impressed Not only had the woman managed managed to enter the Stinky Jawa without Bazine seeing her she'd managed to bring an entourage Who was she I know the Millennium Falcon I know it well Even flew it once the woman said laughing at some far-off memory When did you first see the ship Bazine asked feeling as though the world were shifting slightly every few moments as though she stood on the deck of a sea craft instead of sitting in a cantina on a deserted back water back water planet The woman made her uneasy Long ago when I was a girl The woman's eyes lost

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck — page 10 — focus as she drifted off into memory a slight smile on her face Bazine started the recorder under her coat but the woman didn't seem to notice She was already caught up in the spinning of the tale It was a beauty of a ship then refurbished by a man who loved that ship almost more than he loved anything but himself the woman said A smuggler who went by the name of Lando Calrissian

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