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Pearls of Wisdom 1990/1999
Short story by Mark Newbold Six
years after Episode IV – A New Hope “You’d love
that, wouldn’t you.” whispered Jan Lomona into Leaara’s
ear as he pulled her even closer to him.
“I mean, it’d really get that old Womp Rat
of a husband of yours off his comfy butt if he saw us making out.” Leaara nodded and smiled a sweet smile. Jan liked it. “You know him,
Jan. He won’t interrupt a meeting just
to pay you. Maybe this will grab his
attention.” Leaara wrapped her hands
around the back of Jan’s head and opened up into a deep serious kiss, which
even took Lomona by surprise. Wow, he thought. I never knew Leaara could
pack such a kiss. One of the perks of
the job, I guess. As
long as Frans doesn’t find out. Sure enough, the theatrically staged kiss had the desired
effect and the doors to Lall Handers office slid
open as the security camera’s hovering near to the ceiling swung around the
corner. Jan gave Leaara a friendly
wink and entered the office. “Clever way to get an early appointment Lomona. Ignore the queue,
just play tonsil Hard-Ball with the bosses wife.” “Don’t worry
Lall. I wouldn’t do it if it didn’t
turn me on so much. Or
her.” Lall Hander smirked and pointed towards an empty seat
close to the large greel wood desk. Hander was Jan’s latest employer and a
friend of many years. Lomona hadn’t
worked with Hander for almost six years, but he had a window in his
operations with the Trac-Tran Transit Company and Glann was deep in
negotiations with a fellow ganglord and so Jan had the time and the desire to
come out to the Arintak System and run for his old friend again. Hander had agreed to pay Jan his fee after
he returned from his trip out to Turners World, delivering seventy cases of
highly illegal DL-8 spice and various other toxic substances. And now the job was done it was time for
him to return to the central systems of the Setnin Sector after he had picked
up his pay. Hander had kept him
waiting for almost an hour, and in a business where
swift payment was seen as a bonus and not a certainty Jan could forgive the
tardiness. However, lack of payment
bred contempt, even when the recipient was someone as financially comfortable
as Jan. But the credits weren’t the
most important issue it was the principle, and Jan Lomona liked to see
himself as a man of principles. Albeit ones that only applied to
Jan Lomona. Anyway, he had his reputation to think about. Staying at the top of an intrinsically
cutthroat game for almost two decades owed much to a reputation that he had
lovingly nourished. And despite his
friendship with Lall and his mock flirting with Leaara, he couldn’t allow
that reputation to be tarnished. After all, I’ve still got a Stock Heavy
Freighter to run, a daughter to bring up, a fiancée to live with. Jabba always paid up…eventually. Glann never misses a payment,
and even I’ve got taxes to pay in these enlightened post-Empire days. Hell, even the Rebellion pay up on time. There’s enough
charity in this galaxy for now. Air’s
free. I’m not. “So you’re here
for your pay? Four
thousand credits and a bottle of vintage Duarga?” Jan nodded and crossed his legs. “That’s right Lall.
Cash and good wine for a job well done.” Lomona smiled at the big man. Lall wouldn’t contest a run out to Turners
World that went as smoothly as this had, would he? It
was done and dusted in sixteen hours – Lall went to sleep and I was slicing
up soldiers on Turners. I should ask
him for extra. Frans is gonna kill me
as it is, I haven’t seen her for almost a month. Lall leaned forward and rested on his elbows. “You know that I
have several substantial holdings on Chancai.” Jan nodded slowly.
Hander had been a silent partner in several businesses on Chancai, all
of which were related by one thing - Lall’s
inability to pay his rent on time. As
a consequence there were several alter ego’s belonging to Hander that drew
money from the Bank of Zelon. On
Chancai, if the rent wasn’t paid the tenant never stayed. Jan’s friend Grin had found that out to his
cost. He had rented a Holo-printers
store on Level 15 and managed to stay in the unit for about a month. Lall Hander boasted a similar record. Lall continued. “Times have been
rather lean around the Arintak System lately.
All the tasty jobs are going to the central systems…Amagad, Wennicas,
even Cawbate.” “What are you
saying Lall? Thinking of packing it
all in?” Hander shook his head vigorously. “I really wish I
could Lomona. But that cute wife of
mine is an expensive treasure to keep, and even though I know you two are
just kidding about, maybe the next guy will be more serious.” Jan leaned back into his seat and crossed his eyebrows. “You don’t think
she just wants you for the credits, do you?” “No. But why risk finding out?” Jan smirked at the logic.
Yeah, why risk it? “This operation
needs cash.” “So what are you
saying Lall? You
pulling out of Chancai after all these years? Trying to make friends?” Lall poured two drinks and handed the larger tumbler to
Jan who accepted it with a nod and tossed back a large mouthful. Half a glass of vintage Geenau Whiskey had
just been downed and Jan hadn’t even blinked at the bite. Noticing Lall’s
reaction to this Jan laughed and leaned forward. “You should know
about us A-desandians and alcohol by now.
We mix very well. Too well in fact.
This stuff goes down like spring water.” Lall smiled and continued, rubbing his palms in a nervous
manner as he did so. “My partners
absolutely don’t wish to pull out of Chancai.
It’s making them far too much profit for that. But I negotiated from a position of
weakness. I don’t make half as much
profit from the Chancai operations as I should. So, I need the cash I have tied up there to
start something else.” He frowned and
shrugged his broad shoulders. “As you
can see, I’m in a bit of a predicament.” “You sure are
Lall. So why are you telling me?” “Because Lomona,
you’re not just a trader, you’re a
businessman. You ran that city on
A-desando for half a year, made it a centre of commerce in the sector. You’re financially stable,
you could pack this all in whenever you want.
So the reason I’m asking you is because I value your opinion.” Lall turned his palms upwards and shrugged
his shoulders again. “What would you
do?” Jan’s face betrayed no signs of emotion but inside he
swelled. I had no idea that people thought like that of me. Sure, Ecaps City was a success but it was
my hometown. If you can’t do it for
your own people, then who can you do it for?
Jan crossed his legs and pondered the question. “Well…for a
start I’d figure out a way to freeze your joint Bank of Zelon account. That’ll tie up all of your joint earnings
and will force them to sell some of their assets to pay a lawyer to get them
out of the legal mess they’ll be thrown into.
Of course, you’ll have to pay your wedge but you’ll get your slice of
the profits in the end. You could bung
the Rent Commission a couple of thousand credits and ask them to triple the
rent on the units for the next few months until they’re forced to sell.” He scratched his scalp in thought. “Or better still I could get my lawyer
Trace Dallagra, who’s a legal expert, to scan the deeds and cook up a water
tight loophole to get you out of the contract and away with your cash…make
them buy you out.” Jan smiled. “Apart from that I’d say gratuitous
physical violence is your only answer.” Lall nodded slowly and stood to his feet, offering Jan an
outstretched hand with a credit stick in it. “Cash it in at
the usual place.” “Food kiosk at the Chancai Hard-Ball Stadium, Level 8?” “That’s
right. And here’s your Duarga.” Jan accepted the vintage wine and turned to leave. Lall folded his arms. “I’ll think
about what you said Lomona.” Jan Lomona smiled and shrugged modestly. “You do that
Lall. My pearls of wisdom are absolutely free.” Pearls of Wisdom 1990/1999
Short story by Mark Newbold Six
years after Episode IV – A New Hope Histories – Written in 1990 during a busy
time of roleplaying, Pearls of Wisdom shows Jan
Lomona in a role he is rarely seen in – advisor. Working for old friend Lall Hander, Jan
is tapped for his extensive knowledge and experience by Hander who needs to
extricate himself from a tricky situation. Cast of Characters Jan Lomona Leaara Hander Lall Hander |