Page 111 - Star Wars Insider (Special Edition 2019)

EXCLUSIVE FICTION

INBRIEF

BY JANINE K. SPENDLOVE, WITH ART BY JOSE CABRERA

don’t care what those rebels are blowing up! Howl’s Instead of taking the drink, a gloved hand reached up and
old scow is in orbit, which means Twilight Company tapped the release on the neck portion of the bounty hunter’s
is here and that scum is—” The door burst open mask. Metal and mesh peeled back to reveal the face of a
and Governor Magé slumped forward over her woman. The faintest beginnings of age lines creased the dark
“I desk. The comlink she’d been shouting into slid skin near her eyes and mouth, though there were no laughter
from her now limp hand. lines. Her blaster arm remained steady.
“Good shot, Brand.” Captain Micha “Howl” Evon ran Shrugging, the captain set the rounded glass down on the
a brown hand over his bearded chin as he strode into the opulent redwood desk between the two of them.

office. “Can’t abide anyone making fun of my ship or my people.” “Suit yourself.” He pulled up another chair, eased himself
He admired Brand’s efficient handiwork and decided he wanted into the supple leather behind him, and took another sip of the

the recipe to whatever juice was on the dart sticking out of the amber liquid with a contented sigh. “This chair is wonderful.
Imperial governor’s olive neck. The Governor’s long, dark hair had I think I may have to take it back to the Thunderstrike.” Evon
tumbled out of her tightly wound bun, and she was already drooling, returned his attention to Brand and indicated the plush chair
as was her aide, who’d attempted to guard the door. next to her. “Have a seat; if you were going to shoot
These backwater worlds always me, you’d have done it by now, Lauren.”

underestimated Twilight Company’s effi ciency For the first time the bounty hunter’s
and resolve. Captain Evon always felt arm wavered and a glimmer of shock
sorrow at the unnecessary losses A GLOVED momentarily raced through her dark
that resulted. HAND REACHED brown eyes. “What did you call me?”
The noises from the battle Pulling a datapad from his vest
outside in the hallways of the UP AND TAPPED pocket, the captain scrolled
Imperial Headquarters were THE RELEASE ON through it with calloused, brown

already dying down and the luxury THE NECK PORTION fingers until he reached the
of the Governor’s offi ce explained screen he was looking for.
a lot about why Twilight Company OF THE BOUNTY He angled it toward Brand so
hadn’t met much resistance from HUNTER’S MASK. she could see the photo of a
the locals when they’d dropped youngling in a blue and orange
into Allst Prime to take out the METAL AND MESH checked dress, with colorful,
Imperial outpost here. PEELED BACK TO beaded braids framing her face,
“This’ll do nicely for the and an infant boy wrapped up at
recruiting interviews.” He waved REVEAL THE her hip.
vaguely behind him with his right FACE OF “Lauren Mel Coelho,” Howl made
hand while he holstered his blaster A WOMAN. sure to properly roll the R in her fi rst
with his left. name, and pronounce the “yo” sound
“Mind moving her over there?” in her last name. “Born approximately 38
Not one for many words, his companion years ago on Tangenine. Mother, Remba.
merely grunted in response, and gave the Father, Kelven. Brother, Julian, though you called
Governor’s chair a shove, rolling it noiselessly away from him Ju-ju.”
the massive desk.
“And if Governor Magé is like every other Imperial “Lau! Lau, come, please.”
leech with a taste for luxury…” The captain whistled as he Lauren stood up and shaded her eyes as she looked down the
pulled open a desk drawer. “Hope you like Nabooian whiskey. row of norango bushes separating her and her father. Her basket
I know I do.” He splashed the amber liquid into two crystal was already half-full of sweet red berries, and she had only snuck
glasses, savoring the spicy smell. “Go ahead and grab a chair a few to eat, so she couldn’t be in trouble. Not this early in the
for yourself, Brand. May as well knock out your offi cial inbrief; morning.
it’s long overdue.” Her father saw her worried expression and his mouth split into
Turning around, Evon found himself staring down the front a wide grin. His perfectly straight teeth gleamed like white stars
sight of a blaster. against his skin, black as the night sky. It was beautiful. Lauren
Finally. wished she could smile like her father.
He extended one of the glasses out as a broad smile split “Don’t worry, little one, you’re not in trouble.”
his black and gray-bearded face. Relieved, she hefted her basket over to him, careful not to
“We can get to you collecting my bounty in a bit, Brand. squash a single berry. Inspecting her collection, he reached

Have a drink first.” Evon took a sip from his own glass and out a hand and fluffed up her braids.

smacked his lips in satisfaction. “Ada!” she whined, pushing his hand off. “I am not a youngling.”
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