Would this be the time to confess I always had a hankering to be coated in a precious metal, Mistress Aphra?

APHRA:

We all have our unfulfilled desires, Trip. Staying hungry forces us to strive for personal betterment.

TRIPLE-ZERO:

Goodness! Do you really believe that?

APHRA:

Of course not. But there’s no way you’re getting any of the sparkly, sorry. And anyway, I think you’re beautiful the way you are.

TRIPLE-ZERO:

Well, Mistress Aphra, now I’m feeling extra unfulfilled.

APHRA:

For the moment, you’ll have to stay that way. Our best bounty-huntin’

pal should be here any minute…

BLACK KRRSANTAN:

GRROWWWWWLLL!

APHRA:

Santy! There you are. I know your previous career had you in front of a crowd, but I didn’t know you were that good an actor. Remind me never to play cards with you.

BLACK KRRSANTAN:

GRRRWAAAAR!

APHRA:

Yeah, it’s five times your score. And I’ll help you with your other problem—the thing we talked about.

BLACK KRRSANTAN:

RRROOOOWWWWWL!

APHRA:

Yeah, yeah, I do like my arms attached to my body. We’re in this together. Cross three bounty hunters? Sure. Four? Even I’m not that suicidal.

But, hey: Pleasure working with you, eh? And I almost never say that.

Well. I almost never mean it.

BLACK KRRSANTAN:

[a pleasure for me, too…]

RAAAWR!

APHRA (narration):

As he lumbered off, struggling under the weight of all his treasure, our eyes met once more. And I felt that pulse of familiarity again. That knowing.

I knew why he kept volunteering for these brutal fights. Why he was constantly chasing these risks that came with no reward—except the possibility of immediate death.

He hungered for the sheer thrill of it. He needed to feel it, deep down in his oversized Wookiee bones.

He needed to feel himself…surviving.

I understood that.

I knew I’d see him again. I wondered if our eyes would meet in the same way. I wondered if he knew I’d meant a lot of what I’d said to him—and that I hardly ever mean anything I say.

Don’t…say anything. I know what you’re thinking. And I…well, maybe I should say this now…

The recording turns fuzzy.

APHRA (narration):

Recording: Delete that last bit. It’s boring and no one cares.

Let’s talk about something more scintillating! After Santy took off, it didn’t take Vader long to show up. I was eager to dazzle him with all I’d managed to accomplish on my first solo mission.

We hear Vader’s telltale breathing…

APHRA:

Hey, boss, nice to see ya. I promised the Wookiee help with finding the people responsible for enslaving him and cutting him up. Any chance of helping me out?

DARTH VADER:

We will see.

APHRA: