Mace Windu handed me a rather large sack. It was several times the size of the little pouch the Toydarian King handed me that contained those tracking fobs. Opening it up, I began confirming its contents. My eyes immediately lit up seeing what was inside this large sack.
Gold ingots stamped with the Republic logo, stacked to the brim, one over the other. Moving the sack around a bit, I heard a jingle I haven't heard in a long while. Music to my ears~
"One million credits. Please confirm its contents.", Mace Windu said with an observant gaze. It was as if he was trying to analyze me, but I wore my Power Suit. It was hard for him to read my current expressions.
"You sure know how to spend someone's money~", I replied, happily accepting it.
There were exactly one hundred gold ingots inside there. If I had to take a guess, each one equated ten thousand credits. That'd make sense. I'm not sure if this was ever explained in the lore, but I know that many planets like to use their own local currencies. Especially the Hutts. If I'm to operate out of Hutt Space in this next while, I'll need to find a way to convert these credits into the currency they use. Should be doable on the black market.
If I just wantonly walk up to Jabba himself and present him a sack of a million credits, he'd just throw me in the Sarlacc Pit, take the bag for himself, then have one of his underlings do the exchange and take it all for himself, haha!
I'm not going to exchange it all right away. If I recall correctly, it's a one to ten ratio of galactic credits to hutt credits. Having one-hundred thousand in their local currency should be way more than enough to do some transactions there, even if the interest rate is high. I'm expecting to walk away with around seventy thousand to eighty thousand local credits.
Hell, I'm sure even having ten or twenty thousand credits is plenty to do business with them. Just having ten thousand alone is enough to ship someone off-world, no matter who it was. They'd just turn a blind eye. That was basically your one way ticket to get the hell off whatever planet said person is trying to leave and start a new life.
A goal that many aspire to take, especially those who reside in the Outer Rim where it's much more dangerous and unpredictable.
But now, I don't have to worry about that. I've already received a steady amount of money by completing a couple missions with the Republic. How I handle it from here is going to be the hard part. As I mulled over that, I saw a glint of light streak across General Skywalker's eyes as he spoke out to me.
"Are you sure you don't want to stick around? Samus, was it? We'll be devising our next operation soon to take down whatever weapon the Separatists are currently using. We could use someone with your firepower to watch our backs while we launch our next operation.", General Skywalker asked, attempting to persuade me one last time while I prepared to depart. "It's not like we're lacking funds. We're in the middle of the war, any extra hands will be of great help."
Hearing that while I paused my steps. With my back now turned against them, I remained still while answering him.
"Just like with what I said to Ahsoke here, I appreciate the offer. But I have prior business to attend to and that takes precedence. Whatever operation you all devise, I bid you all good luck.", I answered.
"A shame. And here I thought you'd be interested in one of our new toys the Republic plans to unveil.", General Skywalker replied, grinning. And yet, that didn't disturb me one bit.
I had a toy. The only toy that matters to me, in that regard. I looked forward, and my eyes glanced upon the orange-clad gunship before me. I raised my left arm, and brandished its backside, and sent everyone a wave.
Just like how the original Samus does it. It's nice to adopt such a parting gesture, right? I didn't even turn around again. I simply waved my hand, bidding everyone farewell.
"Looks like even you couldn't persuade them in the end, Anakin. At least this way, we're leaving the door open. I wouldn't mind if they became one of our drill instructors.", Obi-Wan said, seeing the latch lift upward.
"Truly a shame.", General Skywalker replied, shaking his head. He then turned toward Mace Windu. "Has the High Council started their investigation as to who this bounty hunter is, Master Windu? I don't think they'd sit idlily.", General Skywalker continued, asking the Jedi to his side. Mace Windu shook his head.
"I had to confirm it with my own eyes by coming here first, but after putting two and two together, I don't think this will see light anytime soon. Master Yoda also inquired the High Council for this bounty hunter to remain anonymous. We can only treat this as a happenstance with the way our galaxy works. It's a big place out there and we understand so little of it. It doesn't help we're in the middle of a war.", Mace Windu said, giving some of his insight to the matter before them.
"I left one of my holopads with Samus, so they should have a direct line to you in case an emergency does arise, Master. I don't think this will be the last time we encounter them.", Ahsoka said, looking toward General Skywalker.
"I'm in the same boat. I'm sure she'll do fine wherever work finds her next.", Obi-Wan stated, calmly placing his hands at his side. He saw the gunship engage its engines, and started lifting itself off the ground. Before anyone could blink, the gunship sped off, quickly vanishing into the sea of stars. And yet, the moment that was said, General Skywalker paused. In fact, he raised his eyebrows at Obi-Wan.
"Come again?", General Skywalker questioned.
"Oh, did she not tell you?", Obi-Wan replied. It dawned on him, and he grinned from ear to ear seeing General Skywalker respond like this.
"No, she didn't. Are you telling me the bounty hunter we cooperated with is a woman?", General Skywalker questioned, eyes full of doubt.
"A mighty fine one at that. I was graced with the opportunity to dine with her while we were escorting Master Yoda back to Coruscant. If we weren't tied down by the code we follow, I wouldn't mind pursuing someone like her.", Obi-Wan said. General Skywalker seemed to not mind that comment and instead glanced toward his Padawan.
"And you were in on this, Snips?", General Skywalker questioned.
"Well, I wasn't entirely sure at first. Her mannerisms are questionable but she did move around like a woman, so I never questioned it. Didn't think she'd never tell you guys.", Ahsoka simply answered.
As the three conversed like this, Mace Windu stood beside them with his arms folded, unamused. His tone was as dry as a desert when he was next to speak out. "Does it matter whether or not this bounty hunter is a woman? She proved her capability. That's all that matters to us."
"Indeed. Without Samus's intervention, my squad and I would not be here. Titles and appearances mean little compared to actions. We mustn't let this go to waste. You've the data ready, right Ahsoka?", Master Plo questioned.
"I do. It's still encrypted and all of that, but you should make quick work of that, Master. We should go in and report back to the Council while we're at it.", Ahsoka said, tossing the encrypted datapad toward General Skywalker.
"Yes, let's.", General Skywalker said, only to look toward the closing dock. "And well, if we don't happen to cross paths again, may the force be with you on your next endeavor, Samus.", General Skywalker stated.
And just like that, the Jedi and the clones retreated back into General Skywalker's flagship, ready to take their next steps forward in trying to tackle how to take down the Malevolence.
As for me, my gunship sped off into the myriad sea of stars. I was now seated back inside the cockpit, stretched outward for a job well done. It was one of those moments that you could afford to spend some time releasing a big sigh of relief. Adding to that, if there was any form of reality check, it was this moment. I came across so many Star Wars characters that it was hard not to believe it. Master Yoda. Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan Kenboi. Ahsoka Tano. Plo Koon. And even Mace Windu and General Grievous. Oh and all of the clones on top of that.
If this was an elaborate dream, I would have woken up long ago.