Zoe nodded, then went and took a bath, a little more at ease with it now. She quickly dried herself off and got dressed, brushing her hair thoroughly. She went into the livingroom and sat down, waiting for Jaina, staring down at her bare feet.

Jai came out a little later in dark pants, heavy black workboots, and a form-flattering white T-shirt. She had a vest drapped over her arm and a gun/tool belt hanging loosely about her waist.

"Ok, kiddo. Power up that communicator for me. Just, uh...push the purple button ok...purple, then red, then green."

Jai slipped on her vest and mussed with her hair. She left it down, which was unusual, and tossed it back over her shoulder. She then took a thuggish stance in front of the com center located right next to the couch in the living room.

"And, uh, Zo'?...try not to scream when this guy comes up on the vid-screen. He's a little touchy about the scars."

Zoe did as she was told, then stood back. When Jaina told her not to scream, she decided it would be best to look away. She didn't want to risk not being able to control her reaction and if she couldn't see him, then she couldn't react to him.

A gruff, fire-scared Chiss came up on Jai's com's center screen. He was ugly...and that's putting it as lightly as one can. But he paid good, and that's all that mattered to a true smuggler.

"Solo...you lowlife bantha drool pool...."

"Jank...it's good to see you too..." Jai sighed heavily. The pay was good, but the cutdowns were almost too much of a blow to her Solo pride.

"Mmm, your looking well. I see no reason for an emergancy week of leave. You look quite lovely...for a human...in fact. What's your ailment."

"It's not me, Jank..not really. I just inherited this kid, see...and I want to get her use to my lifestyle and such before I just toss her into my world. It'd be too much of a shock."

"Poodoo! Solo you get your butt back to work...I don't want to hear it."

"Mr. Jankerson...please..."

"Silence!!!!!!!!"

Jai gasped and shut up quickly. This man was the only legit employers she'd ever had. She had to keep this job to keep her record somewhat clean.

"You'll be in here at 5 o'clock...just like the scheduale says. Got that, Smuggler Spawn."

Jai gritted her teeth and swallowed her pride, 'Got it...Sir."

"Good. Jank out."

The com connection closed and Jai narrowed her eyes and spat at the screen. "More like go 'jank off'..damned fool. Thinks he boss me around, pah!" She turned and looked at Zoe, and turned a bit red.

"Well, kiddo...looks like you and me are going to work in a little while..." Jai groaned and plopped down in her oversized armchair sadly.

Zoe moved around behind Jaina and started to gently massage her shoulders, something she used to do for her mother all the time



What work is it you do?

Jai tensed up at first, but Zoe was good at massageing out the knots that Jai got from stress. And it was easeing her migraine also, and anything that helped make those go away was A on Jai's list.

"I'm a smuggler, professionally...but, to keep the authorities off my back, I'm a mechanic at a shop downtown. Not galmorous...but it's what I live for..sometimes."

Zoe just kept massaging Jaina's shoulders


Is it fun?

"It is to me...but ya gotta be made for it. It's not like being a waitress or a postal worker or a desk jockey...it's dangerous, tough work with killers and pirates as your allies. The feds breathing down your neck all the time and botching your runs up...jail, gunfire, bad employers, bounty hunters.

I live for it. It's in my blood. But...I've been trying to go legit for awhile, you see, Kid, but my reputation preceeds me, haunts me. Almost like a curse. No one wants to hire a smuggler for anything other that smuggling."

Jai sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to make her migrain lessen...

"And now with you...I just don't want you to get into that world, the underground one, I mean."

Zoe went and got some pain killers from the bathroom, bringing them and a glass of water of to Jaina.

When are we going shopping?

"Thank you, kiddo."

Jai downed the pills and pressed the cold glass of remaining water to her forehead.

"Shopping? Oh, that's right. I said we'd go shopping. Sure...let's go. Maybe spending money will make me feel better." Jai let a sly smirk show.

"We'll take the speeder, aiight?" Jai went over to what looked to be a freight hoverlift and jumped on. "Get on and hold on."

When the young girl got on, Jai pushed a little red button and the lift zoomed up 20 stories to the top of the building where everyone's speeder were parked...