“Solo’s on his way, witch. Carabat said he might consider letting bygones be bygones if this goes how you promised,” the helmet the Mandalorian wore didn’t do much to hide the disdain in his voice, but Engg didn’t really care. She was used to Wrurei and the rest of Muren Clan talking down to her. Rather than respond, she gave her notorious Nautolan grin as the dozen or so Mandalorians piled into the grey-green freighter.

As the ramp raised behind them, Engg dropped her smile and let out an anxious sigh.

Hurry up, Solo, you’re my ticket out of this.

Of course she felt bad betraying the smuggler like this, but it’s not like Han didn’t do something to earn a mark this big. If it wasn’t her, then it would’ve been some sap like Bossk or Dengar, and those nerf-herders would’ve just blown their credits on cheap times and swoop races. She climbed on top of the red x-wing closest to the circular opening in the hangar, letting her focus clear her senses.

No, unlike them, she had a purpose.

After the 800th speeder passed by, Engg turned her attention to taunting the x-wing’s astromech. She liked the reddish R3 unit that came with the burgundy fighter in particular because of how fiesty it was--none of the droids snapped back at her for calling them scrap, but Pinkie earned itself some special treatment. She was only halfway through her classic ‘Jawa-Ugnaught-Rancor’ threat when the hangar’s blast doors began to open.

As the heavy metal began to slide apart, Engg slid off of the red x-wing, giving the pink astromech in it a crooked grin. She was beyond thrilled to finally have something to do instead of wait around. For the past hour, all Engg could do to not lose her mind was watch traffic streaking overhead, and with the rain pouring down on her, even that seemed dreary. Sitting in a hangar alone with fighters and a single freighter didn’t seem like it would be this boring, but it was.

Took you long enough, Solo.

“I’ll come back for you later, Pink,” she cooed darkly. Pinkie retorted with some colorful beeps directed towards the Nautolan.

Her heavy black boots splashed water on her already damp cape. Coming from an aquatic species, she didn’t really mind being wet, but she hated her clothes being wet.

I finally make a deal on a climate controlled world and they choose today of all days for rain?

She was a few meters from the blast doors by the time they began to close again, and she eyed her guests. One was a mildly handsome, brown haired man with a face as trustworthy as a Neimoidian, the other was--

“The buyer,” Han Solo pointed with his finger to the white haired human next to him.

She didn’t say a word.

“I know you don’t like the unexpected but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“I’ll make an exception for it--this time,” Engg smiled.

After all, she had been expecting Solo to have a couple of tagalongs…

The white-bearded man took a step forward. “Our friend tells me that you have an unmarked ship fueled and available for no questions asked. Is that true?”

Gesturing in a sweeping motion, Engg directed the buyer’s attention to her inventory.

“As you can see, I’m very well-stocked with fighters at the moment; however, I only have one larger model,” she nodded back to the green ship, “a PR9-4B Socorran Streaker: enough space to hold up to 40 humanoids, multi-directional manual anti-ship defenses, auto-turret security, enough fuel to reach Ryloth and back twice, and fast enough to do it in under a standard week.”

“Now hold on,” Solo moved to stand next to the white haired man, a look of incredulity filled his face, “the Falcon can’t even pull a stunt like that. Matter of fact, I’ve never seen one of these Streakers in action--or even in inaction--before. How do we even know it’s up to snuff?”

Engg ran her tongue over her teeth before giving a toothy explanation, “trust me, Solo, you don’t want to see one of these monsters in action.”

“Then why are you so willing to part with it?” The buyer’s eyebrow raised.

“Because this one is just a prototype. My,” Engg’s voice caught in her throat as she spoke, “my masters… they found a better way to build more of them. This one’ll be obsolete by the time the others hit the market, so I suggest you enjoy your month of being ahead of the curve. It’s quick enough to avoid most questions and has enough firepower to answer the rest.”

Han and the old man traded a quick glance of disbelief before speaking in unison.

“Show us the ship.”

Engg smiled. “Follow me, boys.”

The trio’s footsteps were dampened by the light rain. It wasn’t that far to the freighter, it was parked a bit farther away from the fighters, directly under the circular opening in the ceiling. Engg could hear Solo and his companion whispering to one another, but it didn’t really bother her. From what she could tell from Han’s transmission, the buyer was desperate--they wouldn’t back out, not after coming this far.

This is it...

Engg stopped in front of the Streaker’s main hatch.

“Before the tour, let’s talk price.”

They didn’t bother to share a look this time.

“What’s the starting price?” Han replied gruffly.

Running her hand along the hatch’s side, Engg let her blue fingers hang on the open-lever.

“This ship is worth more credits than any smuggler will see in their lifetime.”

“Then how much is it with the ‘Han Solo’ discount? You know I’ll pay you back.”

The nautolan gave another sharp grin, her dark eyes glowing in the low light of the hangar.

“70,000,” she pulled the lever and the hatch hissed open, too late, the old man pulled Solo behind him, “dead or alive.”

Ducking behind the lowered ramp, Engg smiled to herself as the sound of a dozen Mandalorians opened fire.