Caged Beast

[Ecks]

They had received their payment for her, the Ravenwing woman who he'd kept locked in his UEC just in case. She hadn't shifted, but Montegue had been adamant that she could, and Ecks didn't feel like taking any chances. He was escorting her to the head of COMPNOR, R.S. Esalis, just to make sure there was no mishandling of her transfer.

The Stormtroopers resented it, he thought, but after what had happened with s'Ilancy a year or so before, he wasn't going to take any chances.

Either were the Stormies. Arya Ravenwing was strapped tightly to a gurney with at least six heavy-duty straps, hands and ankles stun cuffed together. A trooper kept a blaster set to stun trained on her at all times as they pushed the repulsor buoyed stretcher up the hallway.

Ecks walked along until they reached a point that he was not allowed access to. He narrowed his eye, but acquiesced, watching Ravenwing disappear around a corner.

[R. S. Esalis]

There was business to attend to before her time was given solely to Arya Ravenwing. Not unpleasant business, but business all the same.

R. S. Esalis had watched the bounty hunter, Ecks, as he accompanied Ravenwing to the point that he was no longer allowed, lofting a single eyebrow at the sight. It was not surprising, given the last Lupine that he had tried to deliver, as it seemed that the Falleen had learned his lesson the second time around.

"Once bitten, twice shy, no?"

Her pace was measured and solid as she approached him from behind, a datapad tucked into the crook of her left arm.

[Ecks]

He grunted, turning and looking down at the human woman who had approached him. "Something like that." Ecks' voice was a deep rumble in the quiet hallway.

"Looks like she's being handled right," he allowed.

[R. S. Esalis]

"She'd better be."

Falling quiet, the Director of Imperial Intelligence looked past Ecks to the doors through which Arya had been taken.

"I too find myself in that situation now; I had thought she understood her role to play. Apparently she did not, and I intend to rectify her disobedience."

Cold cyan eyes went back to the Falleen as she changed the subject of their discussion only slightly.

"You were the one who initially claimed the bounty on Loklorien s'Ilancy, were you not?"

Of course she knew that he was.

[Ecks]

The Falleen nodded slowly, his long black top knot of hair brushing against the shoulders of his armor. He wasn't sure who this woman was, but for now he'd answer her questions.

"Never got paid for it," he said. "The garrison on Cloud City was a joke. I hear that's been changed though."

[R. S. Esalis]

"That it has."

On that matter she could agree with the bounty hunter. Cloud City had been a rancid sore for too long, and with the Empire's retaking, policies had begun to change, order beginning to once more reign supreme.

Taking the datapad from under her arm, Esalis thumbed it on, scanning through its' contents.

"From the file that I have on that incident, it would seem that all of your paperwork was filed correctly, and your permits and license in order. The fault does not lie with you, but with those she was left with... "

It was easy to hear the disdain in her voice.

"... and by extension myself."

Her fingers ran in rapid succession over the screen.

"I will see to it that you are compensated accordingly for what amounts to my own mistake, and will have the bounty for Ravenwing as well as s'Ilancy transferred to your accounts within the hour."

[Ecks]

Ecks' craggy brows lifted with surprise, and he inclined his head to the human. "Thank you, Ms..." She wasn't wearing a name tag.

With ten million credits he could buy a new ship. Frell, he could buy a couple new ships. He shuffled his big feet a bit, ready to leave but unsure how to extricate himself from the conversation.

[R. S. Esalis]

It was a strange sort of smile that Esalis graced him with. Neither completely genial nor malignant.

"Esalis."

[Ecks]

The name was familiar, and the bounty hunter's eyes narrowed a bit. What he'd heard of R. S. Esalis didn't seem to fit the tall woman standing before him. But then, there was something about her smile, and those bright blue eyes...

He grunted. "No need for me to hang around. Maybe I'll bring s'Ilancy back in for you next time." His mouth cracked what might have been a smile, and as he stumped off down the hall there was a trace of pheromones left that caused her to turn and watch him go.

He needed a beer. Ten million? Well, seven and a half after Hugo's cut. Still. He needed a beer to think over.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya had had a lot of time to think about her situation. She'd received no mistreatment from the bounty hunters, not once she'd been in custody, but had spent the trip from Sullust to Coruscant in the strangest cage she'd ever seen. It had held her suspended in the middle of it, unable to touch the sides, and she'd been feeling very bizarre since having been removed from it.

Other than the whole "strapped down and stun-cuffed" thing, of course. There was an odd sense of vertigo after floating in air, or on an invisible force field, or whatever it had been. The lights in the ceiling went by one by one as she was pushed down endless hallways.

She looked to the side a bit, staring into the black of a Stormtrooper's eyes as he walked backwards next to her gurney, a blaster rifle pointed at her head. Arya stared and stared, unblinking, trying to channel all her anger into her gaze and into that faceless helmet as her nostrils flared and she was powerless to do anything but breathe in... and out...

The trooper didn't even flinch away from her heated stare, the blaster rifle never wavering even after their journey stopped and her escort stood silently in the hallway.

[R. S. Esalis]

The room that Arya had been taken to was sparsely furnished. Sequestered towards the back of the facility, it had little use except as a holding area with room only for a gurney and a small amount of standing space.

Esalis stepped through the door quietly, her eyes downcast as she studied her datapad and the information that had been downloaded upon it. She read the account of Arya's capture, and her lips remained turned down in a perpetual frown as she stopped beside the Lupine's 'bed'.

There was another few minutes of silence as she finished reading, and with a sigh switched the 'pad off. Once more it was tucked into the crook of her arm.

A chilled blue gaze was passed over Arya, the stormtrooper ignored for the moment.

"Welcome home, Arya."

[Arya Ravenwing]

"Fuck you..." Arya spat, muscles straining against the restraints. Her hate of Esalis was keeping the fear at bay, and that was a good thing. Because if she thought about it too much, she'd be terrified.

"...you fuckin' bitch!" She tried to lift her head, as though she'd bite right through the woman's neck with her bare teeth, but the straps held her down and her hands and feet painfully tingled as the stun cuffs did their work.

[R. S. Esalis]

A condescending smile was Arya's only answer, and Esalis tilted her head to the side, watching as the Lupine struggled to extricate herself. It was a futile exercise, as the bindings were secure and locked, leaving little to no room for anything.

"Come now, Arya. You should thank me for being so kind as to allow you back."

A single eyebrow rose as she looked to the stormtrooper from over the tops of her eyes.

"By all rights I should allow this fine gentleman to shoot you in the head for your disrespect."

Once more she looked to Arya.

"I gave you so much, and asked so little in return."

A silence lingered, and the Directer made a face, as if chastising a small child.

"So very disappointing."

[Arya Ravenwing]

She relaxed finally, eyes dulling as she determined to ignore what Esalis was saying. It would all end up the same, most likely being dissected alive on some glistening clean surgical table.

Although, the Doctor was out, wasn't he. Arya made eye contact with the Director, wondering if she knew where Erasmus Karrnage was. Perhaps he was here as well, languishing in a cell of his own.

[R. S. Esalis]

Arya's silence wasn't surprising, and the Director went on.

"Perhaps our arrangement was confusing. Was I not clear in laying out the necessary steps for your freedom?"

[Arya Ravenwing]

"I couldn't just hit her on the head and drag her back to you," Arya said tightly. "And finding s'Ilancy was not easy. Plus she's a Jedi. If those hunters hadn't pulled me out of there, she'd be here with me in a few days."

With her daughter. No... no. She wouldn't give Esalis that. Not the kid. The smuggler squirmed under her bonds one last time for good measure.

[R. S. Esalis]

Esalis listened patiently, then pulled her datapad out, switching it back on. She made a concerned face.

"Which brings me to another question."

Still she stared at the information on the 'pad.

"Loklorien s'Ilancy was taken to Cloud City by the same bounty hunter who brought you here. The strange thing about it however, was that soon after her escape, a ship was seen taking off from one of the docking platforms."

At that, she looked over the top edge of the 'pad to Arya. An eyebrow rose as she stared at the Lupine, and she lowered the 'pad to set it on a small circular side-table beside the gurney. It made a stark ka-clack in the otherwise emptiness of the room.

"A ship that bore a striking resemblance to yours."

[Arya Ravenwing]

"My ship isn't the only one of its kind in the galaxy," Arya protested, hands tingling from the stun cuffs as they shocked her, apparently for the hell of it as she was trying to stay still. "You can't hold me responsible for the actions of every pilot that has an old freighter."

There was no way in hells that she was going to give up on her story that easily.

[R. S. Esalis]

Her face was unreadable, and the Director simply pursed her lips as she looked down to Arya.

It was long moments before she spoke again.

"Be that as it may, I find it increasingly difficult to believe."

Clasping her hands at the small of her back, Esalis went on.

"But perhaps - since you insist that I am incorrect - you can enlighten me as to where you were at that time."

[Arya Ravenwing]

"At what time?" Arya was exhausted, and she tinged her words with frustration. "I don't know what you're talking about. I was on Umgul for a few weeks until a day or so ago. I think. I'm not sure what day it is anymore."