The shuttle, called the Swamp Frog, came out of hyperspace. Ranc checked the sensor readings. Hmm... I looks like Flakk was wrong, she thought. She waited for the inevitable alarm of approaching hostile ships, but none came. I guess Flakk overestimated the value of the cargo. Ranc shrugged, set course for Esseles, and engaged the hyperdrive.

Ranc experienced the same odd silence over Esseles.
“Vessel, please identify yourself.”
“Shuttle Swamp Frog, code 1289X,” she sited.
“Cleared to land in docking bay 78.”
Coordinates came up on her navcomputer. Ranc started to set the shuttle down, but one of the hydrolifts broke, so it was a rough landing. Ranc got up off the floor and went into the cargo hold. There was only one container there, a small box that could fit into her pocket.
“Well, you’re smaller than I thought.”
She placed the box in her pocket, and started down the ramp.
“Freeze.”
Ranc felt cold steel press on her neck.
“Just walk nice and easy over there,” the man pointed to the side of the hangar, “and you won’t get hurt.”
Ranc walked over there. A team of men started searching the ship. What a bunch of banthas, she thought, as she slipped away from the hangar. A few blocks away, she turned around in time to see a ship, she identified it as Bossk’s Hound’s Tooth, blast the docking bay to smithereens. She patted her pocket. Maybe you are a bit more valuable than I thought.

Ranc stepped into the seedy cantina. If I can’t find information on how to find Mikar here, I never will. She strode up to the bartender.
“Have you seen a guy called Mikar around?”
“Eh, and what’s it to yer?”
‘I have some business with him.”
“Yer may wanna try that stinkin’ Hormanian over ther,” her pointed a hairy hand over to a booth.
Ranc walked over and seated herself across from the snake-like Hormanian.
“I’ve heard you know where I can find Mikar.”
“Yesssssss, I heard your conversssssation withhhhh thhhe bartenderrrr,” he contracted his pupils, “I thhhhink I can trussssst you. I am Mikkkkkarrrr. You arrrre sent frrrrrom Flakk, I sssssuposssse.”
“Yes.”
“Yessssss. Herrrre issss yourrr datapad, wherrrre issss tttthhhhe hypernnnauticcc?”
Ranc grabbed the datapad, scanned the writing, and placed the hypernautic in Mikar’s hand.
“Thhhhhhannnkssss. Ifff you plannn on sssstaying herrre forrr a bittt, conttacttt Yarrrrol at the Nine Eyessssss.”
“I might just do that.”
Business concluded, both creatures walked out of the cantina.

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