Never Talk to Strangers...

Chapter 7

A soft breeze blew through the trees, causing the branches to sway as if dancing to some inner music. The smell of dark fertile earth damp with rain filled her senses as she opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. She heard a man laughing, deep and clear. The sunlight glistened off the spiderweb stretching across the porch, turning it into a kaleidoscope of twinkling lights. She heard the laughter again, softer now, behind her, and felt his arms enfold her, his breath on her ear, his voice barely a whisper...

The alarm sounded, loudly, breaking into her dream.

Aislynn rolled over and slammed her hand down on it. She sat up and stretched, yawning. The slightly acrid smell of smoke clung to the room. The ventilation systems were so bad, that the whole place constantly smelled like smoke and old beer. She rose and showered quickly. Water was a luxury on this planet, and expensive, but it was the one thing she refused to do without.

She opened the closet and rifled through her clothes, noting that it was time to make a run to the cleaners. She took a dark blue tunic and a pair of flight pants from the hangar and dressed quickly. The flight pants were the closest thing she could find to jeans in this place. She pulled on some socks and then slipped into her boots.

Kip had been trying to get her to replace them. He considered them bulky and decidedly un-feminine. Aislynn liked the weight of them; it gave her a sense of security. The first time she’d been forced to kick someone had been the last time. She’d been aiming for his knee, but unfortunately, that species had it’s genitalia in a different spot than the men she was used to.

She chuckled at the memory as she brushed her hair and twisted it into a loose braid. She strapped on her pistol, and picked up her sun shades and a cooling helmet - which was more like a skull cap. Then she locked the door and walked downstairs to the bar.

Kip was wiping down the bar. He smiled at her as she walked past him into the kitchen. “You made some money last night, I hear?”

“Mmm hmm,” she agreed, around a mouthful of energy bar.

“Any problems?”

“Nope,” she said, quickly finishing the rest of her breakfast and washing it down with a half pint of water. “New bouncer is really great. Where did you find him?”

“Do you think I share all my secrets with you,” Kip teased.

She threatened him with a discarded bar towel. He just laughed.

“Can you send my clothes over to the cleaner’s later? I’m going for a run.”

“I will never understand you, girl. You have perfectly good air conditioning in here, and you want to be out there,” he motioned for the door. “Do you want me to have one of the droids accompany you?”

“No thanks, Kip. If I’m not back in an hour, just wait another hour,” she said, then bolted out the door before he could argue with her.

She jogged out into the street. The suns were blazing in the sky. She didn’t understand how they even had night on this planet. The days were far longer, and the bar hours were erratic depending on customers. She despised the sand and the dust so much, sometimes it hurt, but the running drove all thoughts from her mind. She let herself fall into the rhythm, the soft falls of her boots on the sand abnishing old memories.

She circled the main marketplace and stopped at her usual spot, a little waterbar next door to a junk shop.

“Still training for the Imperial Academy,” the owner quipped as she entered and made her way to her usual table.

“That joke stopped being funny two months ago, D,” she answered, and took the cup he offered.

“Heard you got a new bouncer,” he said, seating himself at the table across from her.

“Yeah, Wookie. Can’t understand a word he says, but he’s good at his job,” she stretched her arms over her head. “I still can’t believe this place, you know. I mean, water is more expensive than beer. Don’t they use water to make beer?”

“I wouldn’t ask questions like that!” D barked with a laugh.

“Nothing but sand, and more sand, as far as you go. Where I come from, there are rivers of water and the earth smells so good after it rains. You can feel the whole world coming to life after a good rain. I miss it.”

“So why don’t you go back there?” the other man asked quietly.

She shrugged. “It’s really far away from here. Transports don’t go there. And Kip needs me.”

The man snorted. “Bastard’s made a fortune off of you, granted, but I’m sure he’d survive.”

She finished her water and stood up. “I’ve got to finish my run. Thanks, D. For the water, and the conversation,” she stretched out one final time.

“I’ll put them both on you tab, Ash,” he called after her as she left.

She jogged back towards the bar, wondering why she had suddenly started thinking about home. She hadn’t done that in a while. She paused as she reached the door. An unmistakable silhouette was framed by the doorway, with his back to her.

“Boba!” she cried, running up to him.

He whirled around, clutching his rifle to his chest. She stopped short, somewhat taken aback, but he relaxed when he saw who it was. He nodded to her and stepped out of her way. She walked past him, and he followed her into the building.

He leaned the rifle against the wall behind the bar.

Kip cleared his throat, and said, “Well, then, Fett, I’ll...be in the basement taking inventory. Lock the door, would you, Lynn?” And he left.

Aislynn walked to the door, “Paranoid son of a bitch, isn’t he?”

“Paranoia is not always a bad thing,” the bounty hunter said, removing his helmet and setting it on the bar.

Aislynn saw there were dark circles under his eyes and a new scar across his right cheek. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

“You seem happy to see me,” he remarked flatly.

“You shouldn’t have left without saying goodbye,” she replied.

“I never say goodbye. It’s bad luck. Implies you won’t be coming back,” he sounded exhausted.

She finally broke down, rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck. “I missed you so much.”

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well,” he said. “Although I am surprised you are still here. I would have assumed you would have caught a transport out of here by now.”

“And go where?”

“Anywhere but here,” he said, walking over to a table and pulling out a chair for her.

She bowed melodramatically and took the offered seat. He seated himself across from her.

“I talked about leaving. There was this boy who came through and he swore he could get me a job in Coruscant. I think he was being serious. I even packed my bags, but I couldn’t do it.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to see you again.”

“That’s a foolish reason,” he said gently. “There’s nowhere in the galaxy you could go that I couldn’t find you. It’s my job.”

“Well, I didn’t think about that. I knew you would come back here, and I just hung onto that.”

The door from the basement opened. They both froze. Kip came in and set two glasses of water between them, then went back downstairs. After the door shut, Boba muttered, “nosy bastard.”

Aislynn laughed, and the smile flashed over her face. It didn’t linger, but it was there.

“I brought you something.”

“Oh, presents. Fun,” she teased.

He took a pistol from one of the holsters on his hip and placed it in her hands.

She laughed. “Trust a bounty hunter... don’t you know most men bring their women flowers.”

“This is much more useful,” he told her, folding her fingers around the grip. “And much more expensive.”

“I didn’t mean to laugh, it’s just... Are you coming to the show tonight,” she quickly changed the subject.

He nodded.

“Good. I know how to use the synthesizer, and we’ve put in new speakers. I’ve even started writing some of my own stuff.”

“So I’ve heard. You’re starting to garner a bit of a reputation in this town.”

“That’s because all the music in this town sucks,” she replied. “Did you get the ship fixed?”

“Good as new.”

“Where did you get the new scar?” she asked.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” he said, standing up.

“I’m sorry, Boba, I shouldn’t have asked. Don’t leave. I swear I won’t ask again...” he stepped around the table towards her and pulled her against his chest.

“Don’t,” he said.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t ever apologize to me,” and he kissed her.

She hadn’t expected that.

“I have some things to do, but I will be back tonight. You have my word,” he released her.

She walked over to unlock the door as he replaced his helmet and picked up his Blastech.

As he passed her at the door, he reached a gloved hand up to touch her face. “I have missed you as well.”

The sunlight glinting off his armor half blinded her as he walked away, but she waited until he was out of sight before re-locking the door.

She came back into the bar, pressing her hand to her lips. In a daze, she walked into the kitchen, refilled her glass and then returned to the table.

The basement door opened and Kip came back into the room, taking the seat across from her. “Care to tell me what that was all about.”

She looked up at him in surprise. “I... I don’t know.”

Kip sighed. “I know it’s not my place, girl, and honestly such rumors are good for business, but I’d be careful with that man. Bounty hunters are not the most...reliable, perhaps is the right word. Not the most reliable of men. I know the two of you have a past. I know there is a reason he brought you here. And I’m aware it’s not my business, but...”

“I saved his life.”

“What?”

“I saved his life. He crashed in my back yard, and he was hurt really bad. He stayed with us until he was well, but there were...problems. And I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Kip regarded her with unreadable eyes for a few minutes. It was more than she had ever told him before, and explained a little. He reached over and patted her awkwardly on the arm. “Then I won’t ask you anymore questions. I’m sorry Lynn-girl. Just be careful.”

“I will, Kip. Thank you,” she went over to check the sound equipment. “Are we expecting a crowd tonight?”

Kip shrugged. “No idea. We’ll open up in a few hours. I’ll send out for lunch. What do you want?”

She shuddered at the thought of the last thing he’d brought back. “Anything that I don’t have to kill first.”

He chuckled.

~ ~ ~

True to his word, Fett came for the show. He stood by the door, Blastech over his chest, and didn’t say a word. She sang well that night.

The next day, he was gone again.