CHAPTER FOUR
Lezarn's Lucrative Dishes was not the most popular of diners on Phaeda, what with its owner-- and head chef-- firing insults to his customers. But as long as the food was still edible, that was all the man-in-a-poncho cared about.
As he sat at the counter, Lezarn himself sneered at him from the kitchen. "What will it be, flabby one?"
"The usual, Lezarn."
The Jenet snorted. "Fried dewback. The tastes of humans leave a lot to be desired."
The man ignored him as he gave a cursory look around the diner. When his eyes fell on a girl about nineteen approaching him, he looked away, tipping his hat further to hide his face.
As she took a seat at the counter next o his, the girl said, "What's your name?"
"Jaster Mereel," he muttered.
"I don't think so. That guy's been dead for, what, a hundred years? Ninety?"
He looked up at her and noticed for the first time that she was wearing Mandalorian armor. "You are Mando'ade?"
She nodded. "Yup. And you're Mand'alor. We met once, kinda. You know my father, Orde Kaburn, right?"
"Name sounds familiar."
"Well, I'm his daughter Vessin. But most people call me Ves."
"Nice to meet you," he murmured as a Jenet waitress provided him with his meal.
"Sooo," Ves said casually, "what are you doing here?"
"None of your business."
"Aw, come on! You can trust me!"
"And I should why?"
"I could help you."
The man regarded her coolly. "Only if the name Sintas Vel means anything to you."
She gave him a blank look.
"Thought not." With that, he returned to his meal and paid Ves no further attention. To his relief, she got out of her seat and walked back to her booth.
* * *
"Well?" Bedo said expectantly as Ves returned to their booth. "What did you find out from him?"
"That he's looking for someone called Sintas Vel."
Keera's jaw dropped. "Did you just say Sintas Vel?"
"Do you know her?"
The Farghul scoffed. "How could anyone not? Far Away Galaxy named her the Most Beautiful Bounty Hunter of All Time-- until Kannen Doom took her spot, of course."
"Sorry, but not everyone reads Far Away Galaxy," Ace said pointedly.
"And those of us who do don't find some of those so-called 'Beautiful People' at all attractive," Bedo said. "I remember one centerfold being a Sy Myrthian. Not. A pretty. Sight."
Keera rested her chin on one hand. "The only thing is... Sintas Vel has been presumed dead for thirty-nine years. Why would Boba Fett-- of all people-- be looking for her?"
"Who cares?" Kyla said dismissively. "None of our business."
The crew sat in silence as they finished their meals. When they were done and got up to leave, they saw that Fett was already gone, leaving behind an empty plate and a credi-chip. The diner's owner was standing at the counter, fuming.
"That sack of Ranat dung! That meal cost 10.58 credits and he paid 11.00! Doesn't he know anything about consistency?!"
* * *
Even though Kadar had never been to Kamino in his life, he knew one thing about it: it always rained.
That was true, as by the time he had reached to entrance to Tipoca City's central building, his armor was glistening with drops of rain. He was eventually greeted by a tall male Kaminoan, dressed in black and white. He regarded the bounty hunter carefully with almond-shaped eyes.
"If you are here for the Prime Minister, then I'm afraid I cannot help you."
"I am here for Boba Fett."
The Kaminoan blinked. "Why would he be here?"
"This used to be his home, wasn't it? Surely he visits here from time to time."
The long-necked alien shook his head. "Hardly anyone but illicit individuals visit Kamino. We have become a shadow of our former self ever since the Empire collapsed."
"When was the last time he visited?"
The Kaminoan mulled over the question for a moment before saying, "Just last month, actually. He was looking for Taun We."
"What for?"
"Haven't a clue. I directed him to Vohai; Taun We's been working there for Arkanian Micro-technologies for the past few decades."
With this information, Kadar departed from Kamino and made a venture to Vohai. After dealing with stubborn officials, he eventually managed to make a quick visit to Arkanian Microtechnologies.
Upon his arrival, Kadar was directed to Taun We's lab. There, he found the female Kaminoan surrounded by large vats, hunched over a desk. Her white skin was sagged and her entire body frail; it was a wonder that she was still breathing.
"Make it quick," Taun We said to the ex-Mandalorian, her voice hoarse. "I have work to do."
"I was told that Boba Fett had visited you," Kadar said.
"What does it matter to you?"
"I'm the one asking the questions," Kadar retorted. "What did he want from you?"
Taun We hung her head, still not turning to look at the bounty hunter. "Information."
"I don't have all day. What kind of information?"
The Kaminoan spun to face him, her sunken black eyes brimming with tears. "He's dying. Bo... Boba is dying."
Kadar was taken aback by this revelation. "He is?"
Taun We nodded. "Clone degradation succumbs to all clones, even unmodified ones like him. It's a miracle he's still alive today. But he doesn't have much longer."
"Did you give him what he needed? To cure this affliction?"
"No. Only Ko Sai knew, having been Chief Scientist at the time, and she is long gone."
"Do you know where Fett is now?"
"He's gone to Phaeda, I believe," Taun We replied. "Said something about tying up loose ends."
"I see." Kadar nodded to the Kaminoan. "Thank you for your cooperation."
As he started to leave the facility, a dozen questions ran through his head, not the least of which being: Was he actually being sent to assassinate Boba Fett... or to euthanize him?
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