Of all the planets in all the bars, she had to be here.
This was my goddamn favorite...
I thought she understood that I didn't think she'd come here.
I didn't want to talk to her; I couldn't stand to look at her.
I hadn't seen her since Daskin 9 with those elok traders, where she royally screwed me over to stay out of jail.
That was a long time ago, though, and people do change.
"Keep your head down, Kellen, and maybe she won't see you," my AI chirped to me.
My AI was a low-grade home-raised AI, meaning she had a personality and cared about my wellbeing while also being smart enough to manage my business, schedule, and life, apparently.
"DeDe, I can take care of myself." I said it in my whiny voice.
"You know I don't like that voice, Kel."
"Sorry, Dee, I'm nervous."
"She did screw us over, though. We should make her pay!" Ok, maybe DeDe has a bit of an angry side, I thought to myself.
"I don't mean kill her, Kellen. I just mean teach her a lesson."
Sitting down at the bar, I waved to the bar tender. I didn't recognize him; he must be the new guy John hired while I was away.
"What can I get for you, sir?"
"Kellen's special."
"Wow, when John taught me that, I never thought I'd ever make it, and tonight I have two people asking for it. Who would have figured?"
Damn it... It really is her.
Closing my eyes, I can still see her. A petite elf with that dusky purple-hued skin that the Rearidon system is known for. Blonde hair is so bright that it practically glows in the dark. A figure so alluring that most humanoid creatures stop and stare. Actually, some non-humanoids stare too.
Oh god, her face. So perfect that it almost looks fake, that small scar above her left eye is her only blemish. I don't think I could ever forget her if I wanted to. She was the best-looking woman I've ever seen.
We went our separate ways after the Daskin incident. Well, she went on her merry way while I paid the fines and did the time, and here she is at my run-down bar flirting with the few people that still come to places like this.
"Kel, open your eyes."
"I don't want to, DeDe."
"Hi Kellen, are you still talking out loud to Dee?"
Using her external speaker, Dee responded immediately.
"You don't get to call me that bitch!"
"Dee relax. Hello Sarah, it's been a long time."
"Listen guys"
"Grrr" Dee growls
"Ookaay, guy and girl, listen, I just want to say I'm sorry."
Sarah apologizing is like every sad-looking puppy you've ever seen trying to peer into your soul. Good thing I left mine back in the Daskin prison.
"Fuck off, Sarah. I don't want to see you; I don't want to talk to you."
"Kel.... Don't be that way. I never meant for that to happen to you. I tried --"
"You never meant for him to be thrown in jail for years and for me to be turned off!"
"DeDe! Let her talk for fuck sake."
"Fine."
Taking a deep, calming breath, I looked at her.
"So, you were attempting to curry my favor; please pray to continue."
Looking at me with surprised eyes and a hurt puppy-dog face, she continued with her charade.
"I'm sorry, you two. I never meant for you guys to get arrested. I tried to get them to drop the charges, but they wanted to set an example. Nothing I said or did could get them to change their minds."
"Uh, huh, I'm sure you tried real hard as you jumped out of the system," I forced out through clenched teeth.
"I did, Kel. I really did. I offered to take your place; I offered money. I offered them everything. Nothing worked!"
She seemed sincere, although she seemed sincere when shutting the shuttle doors in my face too.
"Leave me alone, Sarah."
"Kel, please don't be that way."
"Sarah, leave me be."
"Yeah, bitch, get out of here!"
"Fine, I'll leave you two alone!"
Watching her storm back across the bar, I realized we may not have given her a chance to properly explain herself. Oh well, at least Dee and I can drink in peace now.
"Kellen, you know I can't drink."
"Maybe we can rent one of those android bodies for you, Dee?"
".............."
Assuming her pause was Dee accepting the idea, I started to look up rental agencies on my holo watch. Considering this is a backwoods planet, there were not a lot of options. Settling on one that didn't seem too seedy, I started scanning through the options. The choices were between expensive and cheap. Leaning toward cheap, I picked out a busty brunette I thought Dee might like. Reading through the fine print, I was going to accept the terms and conditions and have the droid sent over to the bar, but Dede stopped me before mentally accepting.
"Do you trust me, Kel?"
She asked in such a timid, soft voice that it was totally unlike my normally rambunctious AI. I was momentarily struck speechless. Before I could voice an opinion, she changed the screen faster than I could see. Before I knew it, several hundred dollars were removed from my wallet.
"Geez, Dee, did you go for a delux model?"
"You'll like it, I promise, Kel."
"Sooo, what was it?"
"You'll see"
Not understanding her sudden need for secrecy, I decided to leave it alone and continued to sip my drink. Considering the closest droid shop was 20 minutes away by speeder, I figured I had time to kill.
"Hey barkeep, can I get another!?" I shouted.
Depositing one in front of me, the new guy quickly hurried off. Letting my eyes wander around the room, they quickly settled back on Sarah.
She was like a queen, surrounded by her subjects. The subjects are greasy old psychopaths in a dive bar, but subjects none the less. She thrived on attention, wrapping each person around her finger with a mixture of sexual innuendo and verbal teasing.
It was supremely frustrating knowing that I was once one of those sycophants bent on doing her bidding. Downing my drink in one gulp, I yelled for another.
"Take it easy, Kel. I don't want you wasted on the surprise."
"It's alright, Dee. I'll slow down now. I just wanted to numb the pain a little."
Picking up my fresh drink, I just held it in my hand and stared at the condensation dripping down the glass. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear the scuffle start.