Without answering the captain, Gennaro turned the taxi around, rapidly gaining speed. He didn't exceed the permissible acceleration, and the autopilot remained silent.
"Clean papers," the security officer turned his head slightly towards the back seat, Sher's blue iris became visible. "Today. Work and official housing. Citizenship after a year of service. Agree."
Sher looked up in astonishment, her eyes overflowing with lakes that were ready to spill. Was he offering this to her?
But about clean papers... That was definitely about her. The girl remained silent. It was hard to believe what the stern officer had said, but even harder to find words... to refuse.
"Gennaro," she finally said quietly, catching his gaze in the rearview mirror, "thank you... Thank you very much... I would have been happy to agree, not long ago. But... I already have obligations to Rick, to the crew. They are my family now," she finished, not looking away from the mirror in front of the security officer.
"Thank you, Mr. Gennaro," Day, who had somehow climbed back into the seat, hastily tidied herself up. "I never would have imagined I'd be such dangerous cargo."
For a few seconds, the security officer held Sher's gaze, then switched to the spaceport that appeared ahead.
"I had to ask," it reached her. "At least you've stopped crying. That's good. But if one day your obligations cease to be valid..."
"Thank you," the lowered eyelashes could be interpreted as a sign of agreement. She shouldn't have told the security officer that her obligations would only cease to be valid in one case...
"But I will never forget, Mr. Gennaro, what you have done for us. May everything be well with you. I wish you this with all my heart," Sher said sincerely, glancing in the mirror, even though the security officer wasn't looking at it.
"Nick..." Sher thought, seeing the dome of the Spaceport appear. "How I need you..."
"We'll figure out, Mrs. Kale, who needed to hire two dozen thugs to get to you," Gennaro promised, and didn't utter another word until the very takeoff field. The next thing he said was a curse in Huttese. There was suspicious excitement around "Happy Chance."
"Thank you," Day managed to say, "your squadron... I'll never go unarmed again in my life!"
"Nick..." Sher exclaimed in fright, fumbling for the comlink on her belt, but it wasn't there. It was next to her, on the seat where it had fallen from her lap during the attack by the militants. And it was on...
"Nick!" the girl shouted, grabbing her blaster again. "Do you hear me? Guests around the 'Chance'!"
"Don't approach!" a gruff voice barked from the comlink. "I won't let them in until Rick arrives. Stay away, or better yet, find that fluffy brat and Veymi, for God's sake!"
"We can't go there!" Sher said quickly and turned off the comlink. Her eyes darkened even more rapidly, as if a deaf night had suddenly fallen upon Ammu... "The navigator ordered us not to approach and to find Veymi and Bus in the Spaceport," her voice dropped, as if not only anxiety saddened it.
"You can't get rid of us, Gennaro," she sighed and, leaning towards Day, stroked her head.
"Don't worry, Day... Everything will be fine. We'll break through."
She wished she could believe it herself as she spoke.
Day caught her hand.
"Sher, I'm okay, but you'll teach me to shoot when this is over."
"When this is over..." Sher echoed. "Definitely."
"Alright, everything ends, and this will end."
Ignoring the conversation, Gennaro flew to the service entrance. Two fit young men immediately rushed to the car.
"Ladies, until everything quiets down, please stay under guard in the service room," the security officer said curtly, leaving the car. "You'll be safe here. And I'll remove those vornskrs from Captain Monroe that they're hanging on him."
"Wait a minute, Gennaro!" Sher exclaimed, previously lost in her thoughts. She even leaned forward, holding him by the sleeve, and immediately pulled her hand back, frightened by her action. "Excuse me... Please... I need to ask you..."
The blue-eyed security officer turned to her.
"What did you want to know, Miss Lonely?" His voice became velvety.
Sher looked helplessly at Day, but she probably wouldn't get another chance. Never.
Gray eyes met blue ones and darted away.
"Why did you mention 'clean' documents in our conversation? We took a taxi, and you assumed we couldn't fly just because of stress... You... I... Do you know something about me?" she finished quietly, looking up at him again.
"Miss Lonely..." the security officer shielded her from Day and the guards, lifting her face by the chin so she couldn't look away. "I see a person who doesn't get lost in a critical situation, helps the wounded, carries a lighter of curious caliber and design in her purse, and has no trouble shooting live targets... And yet she doesn't serve in special structures, but clings to a very questionable crew like a safety line. What conclusion should I draw, Miss Lonely?"
He spoke almost affectionately, and his blue eyes didn't burn with ice.
"That Miss Lonely is a questionable person," Sher said bravely but almost silently, trying to hide her embarrassment with a smile. The security officer reminded her too much of Nick. Even with that gesture... And yet, she felt better. He didn't know. Perhaps Paul Karrad was no longer listed among the living?
"Thank you for everything, Gennaro," she lowered her head. "Can we look for our people in the Spaceport building?"
"That Miss Lonely has some difficulties with the law," Gennaro said with some regret, releasing her. "And she can't ask for help herself... I'll take care of it, and I'll be calmer if I know no one will touch you. It won't be for long."
Sher just nodded, struggling to cope with her confusion. She returned to her seat, thanking the gods of Coruscant and their ilk that she wouldn't have to walk around the Spaceport disheveled, with the blood of that unfortunate man on her jacket. And especially that the security officer, who looked like Nick, wouldn't embarrass her with his presence.
"Let's go already," Day said grumpily, taking Sher by the shoulder. "We're standing here like two trees in the middle of Tatooine."
"There aren't any trees on Tatooine," one of the guards smiled at them. "Such a rare phenomenon would have to be well guarded. Please..."
He led them to the service lounge, left them alone with an auto-chef and a bar, and disappeared behind the door.
Sher glanced at herself and Day, disheveled, smelling of smoke, with brown stains on her jacket, but with bouquets of flowers and colorful bags in their hands...
"Had a good time, didn't we?" she chuckled bitterly. "I probably shouldn't have dragged you along... You've had to go through so much today," the girl shook her head, taking the luggage and bouquets from the Corellian. "Probably the first time like this?" Sher asked sympathetically.
"Forget it," Day replied simply. "But we learned a lot. The main thing is that none of ours got hurt. Damn it, when we get to the ship, I'm getting drunk."
"A lot..." Sher nodded, finishing to herself: "and a lot of people." "But I really want to go home, to the ship... And fly away from here. Quickly," she added quietly.
Day hugged the girl by the shoulders.
"Don't worry, little one, everything will be fine, really. We have such a crew that no pirates are scary. Want a candy?"
Sher nuzzled her light head into her friend's shoulder and smiled weakly. Pirates aren't as scary as... And she had behaved... incorrectly. And given that security officer a reason to embarrass herself.
"A candy?" Sher asked. "I'd like that. Do you have any?" she smiled, looking at Day. "How about with caf?"
"Of course!" Day unerringly pulled a bag of candies from the pile. "Choose! And caf is a good idea, although... I could do with water too."
"And I think I can too," Sher realized only now how much she wanted water. And there should be very tasty water here, on this planet, with such valleys, such clean air... As a memory of this planet, something completely unrelated to nature almost came to her, but she waved it away, rummaged in the bag, and pulled out a sour ice candy in a blue-and-blue wrapper.
"I wonder if I'll ever have enough children to name them after those who saved my life..." thoughtful Sher took two bottles of water from the bar, which immediately fogged up in the warm room. "What kind do you usually drink? Sparkling or still?" she looked at the planetologist.
Day walked over to Sher and hugged her shoulders again. She wanted to say a lot, but with some inner intuition, the woman understood that words could only do harm now. She felt so sorry for the poor, exhausted girl: she was as fragile and defenseless now as she had been bold and brave there. And something else kept spinning in her head, having flown in from nowhere: "Just went for bread."
Day gently stroked her friend's shoulders. And mentally prayed to the Mother of Existence that this girl and the stern navigator would have as many children as they wanted. Such beautiful people should have simply stunning children. Finally, Day said,
"Here's what, my little bird, exhale, and drink some water, it'll get better, believe me."
Sher suddenly sank onto a chair, shaking her flaxen head.
"No, Day, thank you... But I can't swallow anything..." the candy, which she hadn't unwrapped, went back into the bag. "I feel unwell..."
She couldn't even continue the conversation about children. The feeling of cold rain, heavy, monotonously falling directly into her soul, not only stirred but also disturbed her. What was happening there? When could they finally return? Nick, most importantly... And... one more thing...
Her fingers touched the comlink, retreated, but couldn't resist.
"Nick... How are you?" she asked calmly, although she should have screamed like a little girl: "I want to go home to you now – take me away from here..."
The navigator responded immediately.
"Everything's fine, kid. They'll check the cargo now, make sure there's nothing extra there, and we can load up and leave. Are you safe?"
"Yes, we're being guarded," Sher replied, her face and eyes coming alive, but she still asked, "What are they looking for, and... is it for long?" – this sounded with a note of hopelessness.
"They're looking for drugs," Nick replied. "Someone really wanted to get on board. I'd check if the entire assault group made it to the landing pad, or if someone was replaced on the way?"
"Do I need to contact Gennaro?" she tensed slightly, looking at Day.
"I assume all local security is listening to us anyway," the clicking fangs sounded again in the navigator's voice.
"Well, let them listen," Sher smiled slyly. "Take care of yourself... and I miss you..." she said in a voice that dropped to a whisper, not making too much effort to hide from Day. If all of Ammu's security forces were aware...
The navigator smiled. And replied. All the security officers who heard him inevitably had to blush.
Sher gasped silently, her entire flaxen hair flushing from surprise, losing her speech for a moment, but remembering who such a demonstration was intended for, she coughed, imagining the faces of those who were listening.
"I love you," Nick finished his exclusively censored and equally indecent tirade. And disconnected.
Sher hung the comlink on her belt, trying not to look at her friend with ashamed eyes, and stammered.
"Now water will be just right..." the bottle, pressed to her hot cheek, felt pleasantly cool, and the bubbles, tingling her dry throat, invigorated her. All that remained was to wait.
"We made quite a bit of noise here, didn't we?" Sher looked at her friend. "But it was always quiet and peaceful on your Corellia, well, if you don't count the fans of the local 'aged'," she chuckled. "Although that was so long ago. And so briefly."
Suddenly Day burst out laughing.
"Went shopping, your squadron. You know, in forty years, this is the most fun I've had shopping.
Laughter choked her, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Quiet, quiet, my dear," Sher reached for her and hugged the woman, stroking her head soothingly. "It's all behind us now, everything will be fine..." she coaxed her gently. The woman with such a peaceful profession had experienced today what not all men could handle. She understood that tears needed to be shed, tension needed to be released, so she fell silent, rocking Day in her arms.
"Sher, stop – this isn't hysteria, it's a release," and Day stroked the girl's hand. "Although the comedy has dragged on a bit."
"I also think it's time we sat in our galley and drank caf," Sher sighed thoughtfully, getting up from the sofa. "But for some reason, they're looking for a shipment of spice on the 'Chance'."
"Are they completely out of their minds?" Day twisted her finger at her temple expressively. And then added worriedly, "What if they plant something..."
Sher's eyes widened further, she smiled, looking at the Corellian, touched her lips with her finger, and pointed her gaze somewhere upwards.
"I don't think the security officers here can use such forbidden methods," she said loudly and clearly.
"I really hope so!"
Sher also hoped so. Although she understood that special services are special services, no matter who they belonged to – the great Empire or peaceful Bakrana. And it's better not to encounter any of them. But for some reason, she didn't want to be disappointed in the blue-eyed security officer who had been saving them all day.
Meanwhile, the waiting was becoming oppressive. The water had been drunk, they had tidied themselves up, washing the smell of smoke from their hair, but they still didn't know what was happening around the "Chance." It seemed like a string was ringing somewhere inside. And it was stretched to its limit.
Sher was tired of pacing the service room. The cold shower brought only temporary relief.
"And why did you become a planetologist?" she suddenly asked.
"Why?" Day asked back. "I don't know. Fate, probably. When I was little, I wanted to be a doctor, but my mother was very much against it. And then... at the KIK boarding school, there were good psychologists, we were all future employees there and nothing else, you understand? So it turned out that with my inclinations, I could only be a planetologist. And then I liked it. I love to travel and work in silence. That's about it," and she shrugged.
"In silence..." Sher chuckled sadly. "Like today, for example... And why did your mother advise against being a doctor? Well, yes, this work requires a lot of soul effort, but the reward... The feeling when you've helped someone, with which little can compare. Well," she smiled. "Don't look at me, my specialization is somewhat..." Sher didn't elaborate, remembering that the service room was being bugged, and turned to the droid, which was methodically humming while cleaning her jacket. "Can you finish already?"
"She thought that this work required too much effort, including emotional ones. Patients can be different. And then... there are always those who can no longer be helped. It just so happened that medicine remained a hobby for me. And thank the Great Mother. Most stones don't feel pain."
Sher shook her head.
"They don't feel it, you say? Well, I don't know... Shay even talks to them. And they tell her a lot. And medicine probably lost a good doctor in you," she continued. "You held up so well today, you are composed and calm. A doctor can't do without these qualities."
"Thanks for the compliment. But no. Medicine isn't for me after all," she couldn't say that she was holding on only by willpower, and that what she wanted most right now was to hide somewhere and cry to her heart's content. "And yes, I also talk to stones, but I have no reason to consider them alive."
"What compliment..." Sher sighed. "After such a walk... Yes, I don't understand anything about stones, but Shay says very interesting things about the inanimate," she flashed her eyes at the woman. "You know, I regret one thing... Stopping on such a planet could have been pleasant if not for these murderers. And instead of flowers and the sky, I'll remember the militants, the shooting, and... And the local security officers," she finished.
"Sher, sunshine," Day said quietly, "humans are such creatures that they can choose what to remember. So remember the grass and the sky, and forget everything else. Or don't remember it."
The woman rubbed her forehead with her hand.
"I'm so tired today. I want to sleep."
"Rest, Day," Sher said softly. "The most useful thing we can do now is fall asleep."
She moved to the neighboring sofa.
"Day was right, we choose what to remember. What will I remember about Nar Shaddaa in many years, if fate has them in store for me? Only meeting Nick... And today, which didn't go well from the moment I woke up? It turns out, there was so much good in it... Warm Day... the synthesizer... kind people nearby..."
Her eyelashes closed on their own, though the images still flashed in her mind. Waist-high grass... the chirping of insects... the intoxicatingly fresh air of this planet, where she was offered a life, no less... Vincent Low, looking like her father... She was still able to smile, feeling her safety in Nick's tenderness and care, not letting him feel her tension... His words in the bridge...
"My good one..." she thought. And fell silent.
As often happened with her, wanting to sleep and falling asleep were very different things. Day watched the dozing Sher and replayed the events of the past day in her memory. The courage of the fragile, golden-haired girl was astonishing and simultaneously alarming. Only those who were taught could shoot like that. So, the girl was from the former military, and it was unlikely that their savior from the local Public Safety offered her a job and a clean passport for nothing. She felt sorry for the guy who died by mistake, but somehow very distantly. And Day also clearly understood that now her hands were untied, and she could, with a clear conscience, give the captain the maps, plans, and everything else. Because, according to what they found, there wasn't a single report, and even the resources weren't protected. Therefore, all this wealth, as it were, didn't exist. The captain should like it.