Ezra Lost

Chapter 34

34

CIKATRO VIZAGO'S black market camp was set up exactly where it typically was. The grass was cleared from the ground. Vehicles large and small were parked here and there, each guarded by one or more towering droids. More of these droids milled around, unloading one of the bigger vehicles. It was filled with crates, which were undoubtedly filled with goods deemed illegal by the Empire, or at least goods which the Empire would not approve of being traded to certain individuals.

Vizago himself assisted the intimidating droids in unpacking the transportation hovercraft. He looked up as four familiar clients approached - and more or less precisely when he had expected them to.

He straightened and strolled over to meet them. "Ah, my friends!" he greeted, a wide, pointy-toothed smile plastered across his tan face. "What brings you to do business with me today?" He paused as the rebels stopped before him, the three who were not wearing helmets looking generally unfriendly as usual. "Hmm." He fingered his chin, regarding them with a sly gaze. "It appears that you are one rebel short, no?"

Kanan narrowed his cyan eyes at the Devaronian. It was pretty clear that Vizago was trouble, even if you didn't know who he was. The man was muscular and nicked all over with battle scars, most noticeably the long one that sliced down over his hairless right brow and diagonally across his face. His elongated, pointed ears were studded with gold rings. His hooked, lumpy nose also sported one, and there were so many on his fingers that getting punched by him would probably feel like he was wearing brass knuckles (those last rings, Kanan noted, must have been new). To complete the look, one of his tall, dark horns had been broken off, leaving a jagged stub that was only a couple inches tall. "What do you know, Vizago?"

Vizago looked surprised. It was difficult to tell whether or not the expression was feigned. "Know? What are you talking about, Kanan? That is to say, I do know a lot of things - but you must be referring to the absence of the short, scruffy one." He raised his scarred brow, his maroon eyes sparkling in a way that made Kanan even more suspicious. In fact, Kanan's mind began to spin with paranoia. What if the man standing before him was Ezra's kidnapper? "I assumed he decided to stay behind in that beautiful ship of yours."

Hera folded her arms. "Actually, it's not his ship - it's mine."

Vizago's eyes widened in a display of mock horror. "Do forgive me, Hera. I did not mean to offend you."

Hera lifted an eyebrow. "You didn't. I'm just trying to communicate across that the Ghost is not Kanan's to sell." She shot Kanan a look.

Kanan stared at her, like, Why can't you stop bringing that up?!

Vizago smirked. "Ah, I do business every now and then with Mr. Lando Calrissian. He has regaled me with that tale once or twice. Quite entertaining. In fact, it is one of my favorite Calrissian stories!"

"Cut the chatter, Vizago," Kanan snapped, scowling. "You know that we're here for a reason, and it's not to make chitchat."

"But of course, Kanan," Vizago drawled. "Why didn't you just say so?"

Kanan growled.

Zeb grabbed Kanan's good shoulder. He probably wouldn't - but you couldn't be too careful. "We've lost something of ours," he told the Devaronian warily.

"Yeah," Sabine said. "The small, scruffy one."

Vizago chuckled. Kanan was analyzing the crime boss' every expression, and the complete lack of surprise Vizago displayed was not at all to Kanan's satisfaction. "I see, I see. Care to elaborate?"

"His name is Ezra Bridger, as you might recall," Hera said, narrowing her green eyes. "Last night, he headed to the Imperial docking bay in Capitol City and never came back. Increased Imperial activity and common sense suggest that the Empire had something to do with his disappearance, but our sources mostly denied that probability. However, one of them did turn up something that did resemble a prisoner file - but it was encrypted."

Vizago stroked his chin, brooding over this. "Hmmm. Yes... your dilemma does seem rather familiar." He eyed the four rebels as they appeared to perk up hopefully. He surmised that they would go to infinite lengths to find Ezra, especially after that whole escapade with Kanan and the Empire. That desperation would certainly pay off handsomely for Vizago. "I may indeed have the information that you are searching for."

The rebels' eyes widened.

"How much do you want for it, Vizago?" Kanan demanded urgently.

"We have the credits," Hera jumped in, her voice increasing a few octaves. "We can pay."

A slow smile spread over Vizago's lips as he drummed his fingers together. The golden rings glinted in the sunshine.

"Oh, I have plenty of credits," he mused. "But there is no such thing as too many, am I right?" He laughed, but no one laughed with him, so he silenced himself with an irritated frown. "Still, it is notcredits that I am looking for on this beautifully fortunate and profitable day."

All four of the rebels groaned internally. They'd been afraid of this, and they were more still afraid of what was coming. Just how terrible would the op Vizago was surely about to send them on be?

Vizago's glimmering violet eyes settled on Kanan Jarrus.

"I believe I am owed a favor," he smirked. "From a Jedi."