CHAPTER SIX
If it wasn't for its geographic placement, Eriadu could have easily passed off for a Core World. Boasting a great amount of city growth, it easily surpassed a good deal of other Outer Rim worlds in terms of population. In the days of the Old Republic, it was primarily controlled by the Tarkin family, who were on good terms with the Republic and later the Galactic Empire.
Nowadays, Eriadu remained loyal to the Galactic Alliance, though it felt a degree of resentment towards the galactic government for putting a stop to alien slavery, causing quite a few economic hardships. Thus, it did not come as much of a surprise to Loth that Eriadu would secretly harbor a crime lord if it would benefit them financially.
Disembarking from their ship, Loth and Wes Janson begin to explore the vast cityscape of Eriadu's capital. It soon came to Loth's vexation that Governor Zurn had not told them where on Eriadu Scur Bodalla was located.
"Well, this is just swell," Janson said. "If this Bodalla was an alien, it would be a lot more easier to find him, 'cause I'm seeing a lot of humans."
"I must stick out like a sore thumb then," Loth muttered, warding off glares from Eriadu noblemen.
As they continued to move through the city, the duo arrived at a casino of sorts, the Aurebesh text at its entrance naming it the Gambling Gundark.
"You know, it would make sense for a crime boss to be here," Janson said. Before Loth could stop him, the veteran pilot headed into the loud and busy casino. Cursing under his breath, Loth followed suit.
To his mild surprise, the Gambling Gundark was quite diverse species-wise among its customers, considering Eriadu's humanocentric nature. While Janson set off to take part in games and flirt with pretty women, Loth went in search for Scur Bodalla. According to his info, Bodalla was a stout, light-skinned man with messy black hair and an expensive fur coat. Luckily, it did not take long for him to find his quarry....
"Give me another chance, Bodalla!" cried a Nautolan male at the Vigo's table. "I've already given you fifty credits for protection! Now you want my entire business?"
"Consider it payback," Bodalla replied, surrounded by people of immense wealth and protected by four Klatooinian brutes. "That speeder I bought off from you had a faulty engine that blew up in my face. Instead of requesting a refund, I thought of something better."
The corpulent man slid a credit-chip across the table. "There you go, lad. Should pass you by for a couple of years on Taris... in the lower realms, mind you."
Bodalla and his company laughed haughtily as the Nautolan grudgingly accepted the chip and stalked off. Once he was gone, Loth took his spot at the crime lord's table. The large man eyed the Bothan warily.
"And who might you be?" Bodalla asked.
"Special delivery," Loth said as he slid the Sith holocron across the table.
Bodalla's eyes widened with delight as he picked up the pyramidal object with his pudgy hands. "Ah, excellent," he said as he examined the holocron's exterior. "This will be of great interest to-"
He paused, his blue eyes staring in puzzlement. He then threw the holocron down onto the table and brought out a blaster pistol, which he aimed at Loth's head.
"This isn't the holocron," the Vigo said coldly.
Loth swallowed, doing his best to keep calm. "How can you tell?"
"The holocron Pol Zurn was to deliver had the phrase 'In death, there is power' imprinted on it in the Sith language. This one doesn't."
Loth dipped his head. "My apologies. I am simply delivering to you what the Governor gave me. I know nothing about the Sith language."
Bodalla slowly lowered his weapon, his vexation beginning to leave his face. "Yes, well... very few do."
"Then how do you?"
Bodalla froze and slowly turned in his seat to see a gray-cloaked man standing before him, arms folded across his chest. The crime lord instantly raised his pistol again while his Klatooinian guards readied their vibro-axes.
"And just who do you thing you are?" Bodalla demanded.
"I am a knight of the Force," the stranger said. "It is my duty to purge the galaxy of the Sith's influence. If you would be so kind, I would like to know how it is you know about the Sith and understand their language."
"I study a lot," Bodalla said with a sneer. "What's it to ya'? Now get lost before-"
He let out a yelp as his blaster flew from his hands and into the stranger's, who then crushed it. The Klatooinians lunged to attack him but were met by a shimmering violet blade. All of those in the casino scattered for cover. Loth shot up from his seat and dashed for a nearby vending machine, looking from behind it so he could watch the fight from afar.
The man was quite skilled and graceful, the Bothan had to admit. Deflecting the Klatooinians' attack with much ease, he disarmed the brutes and pushed them back with the Force, giving him a clear shot for Bodalla. The Vigo had smuggled the holocron into his coat and was now rushing towards the exit. The Jedi reached out with his arm and started to drag the large human towards him. Bodalla began to panic and searched his luxurious fur coat for something to fight the Jedi with.
His frantic search ended when a blaster bolt seared through his head.
Letting out a startled gasp, the Jedi released his invisible grip on the crime lord, letting the human's large form collapse to the ground. At the same time, Loth heard the distinctive sound of a jetpack blasting off....
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