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It's been a few weeks since that whole messy business with the Empire and things have definitely been quieter without those laser brains coming and going at all manner of wild hours. Less money coming in as well.
Cid scoffed as she angrily wiped down the bar top. What was she supposed to do? They brought too much attention too close to her. That's hardly mutually beneficial. Especially with how much they've been botching everything lately.
Lost in her thoughts and the tiresome noise from the rigged gambling games in the background. She nearly leapt out of her skin when she saw the helmeted figure sitting at the end of the bar.
"Quiet ain't ya? I didn't hear you come in or sit down. What do ya want?
The customer removed her helmet and offered a lopsided grin. Her wild hair jingles with the tiny bells and crystals woven throughout.
"Looked like you were thinking pretty hard. Didn't want to interrupt. Just looking for a drink. My son mentioned I should stop in if I was ever in Ord Mantell.
Seems like you have a lot on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?"
Cid evaluates this chatty customer. Small humanoid, facial scars, armored, alone. Probably a Bounty Hunter. Cid is definitely not in a charitable mood, and if this one wants information, she's going to have to pay.
"Bah! It's not important. What are you drinkin'?
The scarred woman smiles again "Tihaar if you have it, on ice."
Scowling, Cid grabs a bottle, plops some ice in a short glass and pours the spicy, herbal and savory liquor.
She pushes the glass to the Bounty Hunter with one strong claw.
"Don't see many Mandalorians around here, I'd remember if one came through recently."
The Bounty Hunter took her drink, nodded in thanks, and took her first sip.
"Just a boy, trying to figure out his place in the galaxy. I haven't seen him in a while. Apparently, I've got a granddaughter now. Can you believe it?"
Cid did not want to talk about kids or anything really. "Life happens fast like that." She turned her back and began to organize and restock the back shelves, hoping that's enough to end the conversation.
It didn't
The Bounty Hunter huffed a small laugh. "That it does. Do you have kids?"
Rolling her eyes and wondering what she did to deserve this today, she continued her task and grumbled. "Nah, not really the motherly type."
Another little huff of laughter. I've got four sons. It's not for cowards or the weak." The Bounty Hunter set her glass down and activated a holo puck. "Handsome, aren't they?"
Rolling her eyes, Cid turns back to her customer, her surly reply died in her throat and her heart dropped as she recognized Bandana, Muscles, Goggles, and… and not Killjoy glowing above her bartop.
Her eyes snapped to the Bounty Hunter. The armored woman uttered a feral growl and launched herself over the bar and had Cid pinned to the back bar wall in an instant, bottles and glasses shattering.
The Trandosian woman was extremely aware of the barshelf digging into her back, liquor running down her face and collar, and a blade digging into the scales at her throat.
"There's a lot of credits in this galaxy, Ciddarin, but no one quite like my sons. The Bounty Hunter's hair softly jingled and chimed with each sharp movement she made. "Who did you call? Where did they take my boys?"
"I don't know who took them! It was an anonymous tip line! I don't know where they are! It was just business!" Cid squirmed to try and get her feet under her.
The Bounty Hunter slammed Cid's head back into the glass shelves, shattering them and sending the rest of the liquor bottles crashing to the ground.
"The worst business decision you've ever made. From now on, your business, this operation's entire focus, is figuring out who has them and where they are. Do you understand me?" The Hunter’s tone was colder and blacker than deep space.
"They're long gone! There's no way to find them! The Empire is too big, too powerful!"
Cracking Cid's head back once more, the Bounty Hunter let Cid crash into a mess of glass shards and wasted, watered down booze.
"For your sake, you'd better hope that's not true. The Hunter made her way to the end of the bar, glass crunching under her heavy soles. "I'm going to follow up on some possible leads and attend to some other matters but, I'll be back here soon. When I return, you'd better have something useful for me or, I will burn this place to the ground and carve enough leather from your scaly carcass to make some fine new boots."
Cid struggled to get to her feet. She leaned heavily on the bar and found herself face to face with a new holo. The kid and her four brothers, smiling back at her, hovering over five single credit chips, one for each of them.
The Mandalorian Bounty Hunter was gone and Cid was alone.