Decisions Part 3 Destiny or Choice Is there a difference

by Jules Cesar

The Singing Mountain Clan has tricked the Nightsisters into believing Krillgan is dead. Now he has to leave Dathomir even though he has just become engaged. The Clan Mother has told him not to return until he can prove to her that he can properly support her daughter in his new life. Not easy with a bounty on your head. Recommend reading Part 1 and Part 2. Both are rated Mature.

1. Chapter 1

©2016

As soon as the ramp started rising, the ship's computer started telling all crew to get to their stations, and all passengers to the crew's lounge. Rasha had to drag Krillgan to the crew's lounge. Help him out of his backpack, and buckling him into a chair. After the computer gave the all clear, Rasha quickly unbuckled herself. Then she went up to Krillgan's chair, but instead of helping him to unbuckle himself, she put her foot on his buckle, and asked him. "Who are you, and what have you done with my Krillgan?"

Krillgan's face went dark, and she could still see tear streaks on his face. He looked down at her foot on his buckle, then he looked at her. "If you prefer? I will just sit here."

Rasha sighed, and took her foot of his buckle. She bent down to undo it. "I prefer to have my Krillgan back."

She told him that both crew cabins, on the first officer's side of the ship are open. He can take his pick.

Krillgan chose the cabin that his father had bunked in, on their trip to Dathomir. He threw his backpack on the top bunk, and sat on the bottom bunk, staring at the floor. Rasha asked him if he would like something to eat, she was going to prepare herself something. Krillgan told her he was fine. Rasha asked him, if he has had anything to eat yet today? He told her he could not remember. So she went and prepared two meals, with two teas, and took them to Krillgan's cabin. She sat down on the lower bunk, beside him, and handed him a tray. He might not have felt hungry, but his stomach started growling as soon as he smelt food. They ate together in silence. With Rasha looking at Krillgan from time to time.

When they both finished, Krillgan sheepishly asked her if he could have another. Rasha took their food trays back, and prepared Krillgan another meal. This time when she sat down beside him. She told him that Diennu told her the he and Ludia, are now engaged.

Krillgan stopped eating and looked at her. It looked like he might start crying again. She asked him how long they have been engaged for? He told her one month. Then tried passing the partially eaten meal back to her. She pushed it back, and told him he has to finish it. Then she asked him why he decided to ask her to marry him? First he started picking at the food in front of him. Then he told her about their trip to the settlements, and the other clans. He tried skipping over the details, but she wouldn't let him. She did take the food tray from him when he finished. He spent all afternoon telling her about it. She could tell he was very uncomfortable telling her about using Ludia as a decoy, by making out with her, while poor Diennu stole the seeds from the plant, and the soil sample. She showed him he wasn't happy with what he was doing. Rasha wanted to laugh when she heard what she did, but hid her emotions, because Krillgan, was looking at her. He told her about the trip back to the Singing Mountain Clan, while running beside the cart, he thought about all the young married couples he saw. Many of them were even younger than she is, and that one couple from the settlement, already had a baby, and named it Andriel, after mother. He knew it was wrong form him to deny Diennu or Ludia from having the opportunity to have their own family. He had to choose who he was going to marry, so whoever, was not chosen was free to find someone, to go start their own family with.

"Is it true, that you even thought about marrying me?"

"Yes I thought about you, because you are one of the women that I love, and I knew that you love me."

Rasha looked at the floor and asked, "Why didn't you choose me?"

Krillgan looked at the floor himself. He told her that she was the hardest one to look at. He really loves her, but knows very little about her, besides that she lives on this ship. He didn't even know if she was still a virgin. It wasn't as important to him, as it was to his parents' traditions. Rasha turned red, and told him that she was still a virgin, and asked him about his parents' traditions. Krillgan told her about father starting to teach him his traditions when he reached puberty, but did not mention why he started. He also told her about Ludia and Diennu becoming interested in learning about the traditions, so mother agreed to teach them. Rasha knew that Father Chitrah was father, and Mother Andriel was mother, because that was what she called them, when she was on Kindell's world. He told her why the traditions were important, in setting the ground rules for young people to help them establish healthy relationships, and set the groundwork for marriage. Going so far as giving details on how the newly married couple should conduct the first part of their wedding night together.

Rasha asked him, if he could teach her some of his traditions? Krillgan was embarrassed, and told her that the traditions are different for young men, than they are for young women. He did not know if he could tell her about the stuff dealing with sex and stuff. Rasha was a little red faced herself and told Krillgan that he did not have to. Then she asked him, if that was why he dismissed her as a potential wife? Krillgan told her no. If he had decided to marry her, he was sure that mother would have given her a crammed course on the traditions before they were married. The biggest hurdle for him was her father. No one on Kindell's world knew what her father thought about him, and if he would have agreed to let her marry him.

He knew that Ludia's mother, Amblin-Elu, really wanted him to marry her. Diennu's mother, Butashe, also wanted him to marry her daughter. Father Chitrah had even tried to talk with her father about this, the last time they had come to Kindell's world. But it wasn't something he wanted to talk about. So in the end, that was why he stopped considering her, and only focused on the two candidates that were closest to him. Rasha's eyes were all watery. She kissed him on the cheek, and thanked him for considering her, and being open with her.

She took the food tray, and told him that she needs to be alone for a while, to think about what he just told her.

Krillgan did not know how long he sat on the bunk for. Since he had no way of telling time. He was used to looking at the position of the sun and the stars, neither of which he could see from inside the ship, and he did not have his father's computer to tell him. He heard a knock on his cabin's door, and was surprised that it was Rasha, with a late dinner for both of them. He knew it was late because she said so. He asked her, if she had anyone else in her life, besides her friends on Kindell's world? She told him, that the only other people in her life are the people here on the ship. They don't stay long on any other planet. So she has not had the opportunity to make friends with anyone else. When she does go out on another world, it is either her father or Grimm who is always with her, and most of the people her age that she sees, seem to be intimidated by them. Even though next to him, Grimm is the nicest guy she knows.

Then she asked Krillgan, why he choose Ludia over Diennu? Krillgan reminded her about having to go to that one settlement with only Ludia to help him. How comfortable they were working together, even though they had never trained for this together, like he did with mother. After they killed the wounded Kamurith, and her brood. He was so taken in by how strong and how weak she was at the same time. He wanted to do more than put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. He wanted to take her in his arms and hug her and kiss here right there. He had never felt so drawn to her as he did right then. He had never experienced that with Diennu. Like he told Diennu, it seemed like for the rest of the trip, he and Diennu were being pushed apart, while he and Ludia were being pushed together. Even mother noticed, when he walked around the villages in the Great Canyon Clan, holding Ludia's hand. Rasha thanked him again for being open with her.

She told him that it was getting quite late. So she was going to bed, and that she would see him in the morning. Krillgan helped her carry the food trays back to the ship's galley, helping her put them away properly. (He wasn't sure he would have remembered on his own.) He went and used the crew's bathroom. When he was finished. He washed his face really well, to get rid of his tear stains.

Krillgan did not sleep very well at all. He kept having those dreams where he was hurting that lady. He did not know who she was, and it all seemed very real. He tossed and turned all night. When he finally decided to get up, he felt all filthy inside. Krillgan was used to waking up, and finding a basin of ice cold water in the house, that father had brought back from the water wheel's pool. It was a very invigorating way to start your day by washing up with that. Father always put a pot of water on to boil, so that he can warm the water up with it, for when mother woke up. Krillgan decided that a cold shower might be the best way to start this day. He walks into the crew's washroom, and noticed that one of the shower stalls is occupied, and says good morning. Elibet Vreemen is in that stall. When she takes a peek to see who is there. She sees that it is Krillgan, and he is undressing. She lets out a scream that freezes Krillgan, and sends a chill down his spine. He asks her what is wrong. She tells him that he is what is wrong. Krillgan is puzzled, and asks, if this is the crew's washroom? She tells him that it is, but he is not a crew member. Then she asks him if he often enters rooms where there are naked women inside. He was not sure how to answer that. So he said "Yes". She screams again and tells him to get out. He gets out, and ends up sitting on the deck, next to the washroom's door. Kran rushes in to the washroom to find out why his wife was screaming. Then he rushes out and starts yelling at Krillgan. Krillgan tries to tell him that he didn't know he wasn't supposed to use the crew's washroom. He is bunking in a crew cabin, and thought that he was supposed to use the crew's washroom, because he has nowhere else to go. Kran would not listen, and went to find the Captain to complain about him.

Grimm came by, and saw how dejected Krillgan looked. He touched him on his shoulder. When Krillgan looked up at him, he saw that the young man was very upset. He told him that he could use his washroom, and offered him a hand up. He led him to his engineer's quarters, and told him that his doors are always unlocked. He can come in, and use it whenever he wants to. Krillgan thanked him, and said that he did not know that he wasn't supposed to use the crew's washroom. Grimm told him it was all right. "Apparently no one else knew that either."

When Rasha got up, she heard about what happened. She wondered why her father had not told Krillgan, where he could and could not go. She went and knocked on Krillgan's cabin's door. She opened the door, when he said that the door was open. He was sitting on his bunk, like he had done yesterday. He still looked depressed, but could tell he was glad it was her, and not someone else. She asked him if he had eaten yet. He told her that he wasn't hungry. So she went and prepared breakfast for both of them, and brought it to his cabin. While they were eating, she apologised that the crew was not giving him a proper welcome. Krillgan told her, that like she said yesterday, Grimm is real nice.

Rasha was happy that at least someone was being nice to him. After breakfast, Rasha asked Krillgan to show her what has changed since he was last on the ship. She wanted to imagine what the ship looked like when he was first on it. They went out to the crews' lounge. Krillgan told her that the double sink was installed so that mother and father could do their laundry. She told him that the crew still uses it, from time to time. Krillgan pointed out that there used to be a lot more wires in the corridor just outside the cabin where he is now staying. Now there is only one. Rasha asked him how many were in her room. Krillgan thought for a moment, than told her there were only two. Mother would hang her undergarments there to dry. She did not want to hang them were everyone could see them. Rasha told him that there are still two. Her mother did the same thing, and now she was doing it. Krillgan than went with her to Cargo Bay 2, on the captain's side of the ship. He was surprised to see the crates of cargo spread out, and not stacked up, like the old crew used to do. He told Rasha where mother had her sewing machine, and where father had his sewing machine, and all his cobbler equipment. He activated the lights that had been installed for them. He was surprised that they were still there. He told her about the practise bag that had been in the one corner, so that they could practise their punching and kicking. The floor had also been covered in mats so that they could practise their martial arts. Rasha told him that the mats are now piled against the far wall of the cargo bay, behind some crates, and took him all the way in, to show him. Then she had an idea. She asked Krillgan if he could move the crates around so that they could put the mats back down. Then he could teach her the martial arts. She remembered how much Krillgan, Ludia, and Diennu, enjoyed practising the martial arts together. She was only allowed to watch, because she was only there for a short time. They were also afraid that one of them might forget, and use the force against her. Krillgan really wanted to. He had nothing else to do, and he was sure that she would be a good student. His only concern was that he had no clothes that were suitable for a good workout. She asked him to describe what he needed. He told her that the clothes needed to be loose, or baggy. Rasha told him that Grimm's clothes would be loose on him. She was sure that he would have some old clothes that he would let him use.

They went to Grimm. When Rasha told him that she would like Krillgan to start training her in the martial arts. He agreed to help them. He also gave Krillgan a pencil and paper to record where every crate is that they move. Because Kran will probably have a heart attack, when he finds out that they moved his crates. But if everything is recorded where it can be found, he has no grounds, to go and complain to the Captain. It was only Captain Chrashan and Rasha, who knew that Krillgan was a force user. The rest of the crew had heard Rasha's adventure stories, every time they came to Kindell's world. Because she said that the children that she was playing with were training to be Sisters. They thought that Ludia, and Diennu, were the force users, and Krillgan, like Rasha, was being empowered by them, so he could play with them. Grimm thought that the only crates they could move, were the ones that they could lift together. Which should be a workout in itself. Both of them went to change, than met back at Cargo Bay 2. Krillgan decided that they only need the back half of the cargo bay for their training. Since it was better lit back there. He carefully recorded all the markings he found on each crate, because he did not know what any of them where. Then he started stacking the crates. He chose to stack the crates together that had similar markings. While he was stacking them. Rasha returned, and started laying out the mats. They ended placing the extra mats against the bulkheads and crates, as an extra layer of safety. They would have classes twice a day. Then Rasha would watch Krillgan practise the more advanced moves, father taught him. Rasha was a good student, and was advancing quite rapidly. Rasha could also see, that the classes and practice, were helping to lift Krillgan out of his depression. She knew he wasn't sleeping well. Because he was always sad every morning, but once they started training, he would return to his old self.

Kran did throw a fit, the first time he walked into Cargo Bay 2, after they started training. He noticed that they kept going in there. He thought that Krillgan was taking advantage of the Captain's daughter, and wanted to catch them in the act, so that he could embarrass Rasha, and then go and tell the Captain. He flipped out when he saw the crates. He calmed down when Krillgan showed him that he recorded where everyone was, and would have no trouble retrieving them when he wanted them. Kran could never figure out how Krillgan could move the crates around without porter droids. But at every stop, when he told Krillgan which crates he needed. Krillgan always had them ready for him. He was also satisfied that there was no hanky-panky going on. After watching one class, and seeing Rasha do moves that he could not do. He knew those moves took practise.

The special dinners that Rasha had with her father, went from being once a cycle after her mother's death. To once every half month a number of years later, to now, when they get together, once a month. Rasha has always enjoyed this special time she shared with her father, and could not understand why they could not get together more often. She did not know that part of the reason, was that she was starting to look more and more like her mother, and her father had never fully come to grips with her death, as she has. This dinner was even worse, no one has yet to say anything. They could both feel the tension in the air.

Finally Captain Chrashan spoke. "Elibet said, that Krillgan said, that he was used to entering rooms where there are naked women."

"Why didn't you tell Krillgan, that he wasn't allowed to use the crews' washroom?"

"Why didn't you?"

"How was I supposed to know? I'm not the captain, and you did assign him to one of the crews' cabins."

Her father did not answer.

"Why haven't you asked Krillgan to pilot the Phoenix? His pilot rating is higher than anyone else's, on this ship!"

Captain Chrashan was surprised. He stopped eating, and asked his daughter to show him. They both got up and went to the bridge. Grimm was the duty officer, and sitting at the captain's console. Rasha slipped into the pilot's seat which was empty since the ship was on autopilot. She activated the console, only so that she could interact with the computer from there, to access the functions that could only be activated from there, or the captain's console. Rasha asked the computer to display the list of all active authorised pilots. The computer activated a heads up display projecting the list in alphabetical order. Right under Kran's name, Rasha pointed out Krillgan's name. Sure enough, he was rated higher in piloting skills than anyone else.

Captain Chrashan asked the computer to remove Krillgan's name from the list. He was surprised when the computer asked him under whose authority, was Krillgan's name to be removed from this list? He told the computer to remove the name under his authority as ship's Captain. The computer informed him that the captain does not have the authority to remove names from this list. They are only allowed to add them. Captain Chrashan asked who has the authority to remove names from this list. The computer replied that only the builders can remove names, or they are removed when the computer knows that they are deceased or retired. The Captain told the computer that Krillgan was retired. The computer did not respond right away. When it did, it informed the Captain that Krillgan has informed it, that he is not retired. It then asked the Captain, why he would lie to his ship's computer? The Captain did not answer, instead he asked the computer, if it still maintained a list of all previous pilots? The computer told him that it did. So he asked it to display Dreshelle Warman's rating next to Krillgan's. He was surprised to see that Krillgan had a higher rating. He asked the computer, if anyone has a higher rating than Krillgan? The computer told him there was only one. Then displayed Captain Richard Solo's rating along with his wife's and Krillgan's. He then asked the computer, who assigns the ratings? The computer told him, that it assigns the ratings based on the pilots handling of the ship. The pilot is re-evaluated every time they pilot the ship. It told the Captain, that statistically, Krillgan's rating should drop the next time he handles the ship, since he has not piloted the ship for so long. Just like his rating slipped below that of his daughter, based on the last time he piloted the ship. The Captain swore under his breath, and left the bridge, with his daughter right behind him.

Back in his cabin he sat down and started pecking at what was left of his dinner. When Rasha sat down, she asked him if he would now let Krillgan pilot the ship. In an angry voice he said "No!" Then he forced himself to calm down, and told Rasha that Krillgan was a passenger, not a crew member, and that there would be no more discussion about it. They both sat there pecking at what was left of their dinner. Finally Rasha asked her father, if they have any traditions? Her father stopped pecking at his food and looked at her. "No. Why do you ask?" Rasha told him that Krillgan told her, that father had started teaching him his traditions, since he started turning into a young man. (She was too embarrassed to say puberty.) Mother has also been teaching Ludia, and Diennu her traditions. Father and mother has told them that it is important for them to learn the traditions before they get married. Captain Chrashan stood up. Rasha could not tell if he was angry or scared. "I forbid you to talk to that boy again. He is filling your head with stuff you don't need to hear. Someday he is going to hurt you."

Rasha stood up. Was she ever angry with her father! "I'm not a little girl anymore. If you won't tell me the things I need to know, to grow up, and have healthy relationships, then who can I talk to? You don't have to worry about Krillgan teaching me his traditions. He has already told me that the traditions that he has learnt, is different than what is taught to young ladies. At least he has always been honest and kind to me. He has always shown me he cares about me. You just put up with me, because I'm your daughter."

Rasha ran out of the Captain's cabin crying. She ran past her cabin to Krillgan's cabin. She knocked on the door, then opened it before Krillgan could respond. Krillgan stood up right away, as soon as Rasha stepped into his cabin. She put her arms around him, and stood crying on his chest. Krillgan slowly put his arms around her to comfort her.

The first thing that came into his mind, when Rasha put her arms around him, was "Be careful Rasha. I'm a monster."

When Rasha started calming down, she started to tell him, that she thinks her father hates him, and is afraid of him. She also told him that her father refuses to accept that she is growing up. If Elibet had not noticed that she was bleeding when she had her first moon cycle. Then no one would have taught her anything about that. They sat down on Krillgan's bunk together. He certainly did not know what to do. He had no intention of coming between Rasha, and her father. But that is exactly where he is right now. All he knew, is that Rasha is his friend. He was going to help his friend no matter what. Even if he has to stand between her and her father. When Krillgan started getting tired, he told Rasha that it would not look right if she spent the night with him.

"The crew do not know that I'm engaged to be married, and they might think that I'm taking advantage of you. Your father will also have a fit."

Rasha did want him to take advantage of her, but she knew that he was too nice of a friend to do that. She did not want to go sleep in her cabin. She would be too close to her father. So she went back to her cabin, and changed into her workout outfit. Grabbed a pillow and a blanket. Then went to Cargo Bay 2, and fell asleep on the mats. The next morning, Captain Chrashan threw open the door to Krillgan's cabin, and demanded to know where Rasha was. He had expected to find Rasha in bed with him, when he noticed that she had not been in her cabin all night.

Krillgan asked him if he checked the crew cabin in the tail of the ship. The farthest cabin from his cabin. He said he didn't, and started turning away. Then he turned back, and told Krillgan not to talk to his daughter.

Krillgan told him that what he is asking is impossible. The ship is not very big, so they are going to run into one another. Not only that, but they are very good friends. Right now she needs a friend, because somehow she lost her father.

Captain Chrashan told him that as ship's Captain, he orders him to stay away from his daughter. Krillgan got up from his bunk, and stood toe to toe with him. "You have made it very clear, from the moment I stepped onto this ship. That you do not want me to be part of your crew. So you are not my Captain, and cannot order me around. You and your ship have been hired to perform a service. If you feel that you are no longer capable of performing this service. Then turn this ship around, and take me back to Kindell's world."

The Captain left Krillgan, and went back to his cabin. He knew that he could not take Krillgan back to Kindell's world. If he did, the Clan Mother would demand that he return all of the kegs they gave him. Of all the freight he handles, the kegs are the most lucrative. If he took Krillgan back, he doubted that they would ever deal with him again. Not only that, but he was pretty sure that Rasha would leave the ship, and he would never be able to see her again. If Krillgan had been an ordinary passenger, the Captain with Kran's help, would not have hesitated to throw him off the ship at the next planet they stopped at.

Krillgan was able to convince Rasha to go back to sleeping in her cabin.

When they stopped at the planet where Captain Chrashan had the ales and wine transferred from the kegs to bottles. The Captain took Krillgan to meet with another of Captain Richard's contacts. This contact was able to make up some plausible id for Krillgan. Krillgan gave Djo as his surname, the surname of the Clan Mother, and Ludia. He also had the contact list Shili as his birth planet. Even though he had never been there. He and father had discussed this. If he gave the Togruta home world as his birth planet, then PD Officers (Planetary Defence Officers) would be less inclined to give him a hard time, because of the Togrutas reputation of being good fighters. Now if Krillgan had given Mirranna as his surname. Which was on his birth certificate. Captain Chrashan would have found out about the bounty that was on his head, and the next stop for the Phoenix would have been Mandalore, where the Captain would have tried to collect on the bounty, and left the responsibility of getting Krillgan off his ship, up to the Mandalorians.

Captain Chrashan was supposed to pay for Krillgan's new id, as per his agreement with the Clan Mother. But when he saw how many credits Krillgan had, when he opened an account at the spaceport, under his father's instructions, he made him pay for his own id.

Chitrah had told Krillgan to open an account in Republic space. Then the banking syndicate was not obligated to inform the Sith Empire of any transactions on the account that took place in Sith Space. The banking syndicate often had a good laugh on how many Senior Officials, and even Sith Lords, took advantage of the cold war to sneak into Republic Space to open personal accounts in their name, so that the Sith Empire would not be aware of them. The Empire only learnt of them when someone foolishly performed an account to account transfer.

Before leaving with the Captain, to go visit the forger, Krillgan had asked Rasha to go to the market, and buy him some fresh fruits and vegetables, and handed her some credits. Rasha had never purchased anything in her life before. So when Grimm took her to the market, he made an initial purchase, so that Rasha could watch him, and learn how to argue over the price.

When Grimm returned to the ship, he shared what he purchased, with the Zabrack couple. It was only after a few days of snacking on fruits and vegetables, that Kran and Elibet, realised that their bodies needed this extra nourishment. The cheap meals the Captain was buying for the ship, was not good enough to supply all of their dietary needs. So each time Grimm escorted Rasha to a market, they gave him some credits to buy fruits and vegetables for them as well. Grimm would return to the ship with a bag as big as Rasha's.

Despite Krillgan's rocky introduction to the Zabrack couple, Elibet and Kran Vreemen. They soon realised that Krillgan was not the uncontrollable offspring that his guardians, Chitrah and Andriel, wanted to be rid of. As their Captain had implied to them. Since they only knew Chitrah and his son Erin, who would work regularly with Grimm, whenever they landed on Kindell's world. They found that Krillgan held to the same morals and ethics as his guardian. Which was in stark contrast to the statement he made to Elibet in the crews' washroom, that he often went into rooms where there were naked woman. They found Krillgan to be a good influence on Rasha, despite her father's objections. Kran appreciated the work ethic with which he trained Rasha in the martial arts. Both he and Elibet lamented that they got off on the wrong foot to Grimm, or they may have been able to take part in the training. Kran tried to keep as much of the new freight they picked up in their travels in Cargo Bay 1, so Krillgan would not have to stack it in Cargo Bay 2. Rasha was thrilled to see the crew warming up to Krillgan. So there were no further incidents, as they traveled through Mandalorian Space, and into Sith Space. On their way to their final destination, Ilos, in Hutt Space.

Because of the renewed fighting between the Republic, and the Sith Empire, many refugees were pouring into Hutt Space, looking for a safe haven from the fighting. Captain Chrashan had convinced the Clan Mother, that this would be the best place for Krillgan, and his forged documents. He should blend in with all the other refugees. He was probably hoping that he would be enslaved by the Hutts as many of the refugees were, and would be out of his daughter's life for ever. That way she can live a nice quiet life with him, until he has accumulated enough credits to retire like Captain Richard, and have no more thoughts about boys, or wanting to marry. In the end she will come to realise that he only had her best interest at heart.

What the crew did not realise, was that their Captain was no longer the stare death in the face and laugh type of guy. When his wife, Dreshelle, was killed. He developed the fear of dying in the vacuum of space, like she did. Literally having your life sucked out of you. So he had started skimming off of the profits, the ship generated. With the crew none the wiser. So that he could retire sooner, rather than later, and take his daughter with him. Space travel was no longer the adventure he dreamed about, when he was a child.

Krillgan had been doing two things on the trip that he thought were important. His father had warned him that most people either don't like, or are afraid of force users. So he tried very hard not to let Grimm, or Kran, or Elibet, know he was using the force. When Kran would ask him to help move some crates around, he only picked up what Kran picked up. So Kran could not figure out how strong he was. The only one he would let see him using the force, was Rasha, when he moved the crates around Cargo Bay 2. The other thing he did was to get Rasha to describe in detail, every trip she made to a market. Rasha at first thought that he was checking up on her. Not wasting the credits he gave her. He had to tell her that he had no idea of what a credit is worth, since they don't use any currency on Kindell's world. He was concerned that if he tried going to a market, her father would try to leave him behind. Rasha found it amusing that she was teaching Krillgan how to buy things, when she was still learning herself.

Grimm warned Krillgan, while they were still in system, approaching Ilos. Not to let anyone know, or see, how many credits he has on him. Everyone in Hutt space is trying to get as many credits as they can out of you. The price they will ask for things, whether it is an entrance visa, or fruit, will depend on how many credits they believe you have. Even guards manning checkpoints will expect you to pay them something, to get through. The best thing to do is to pretend you have nothing, but you have to get through, so you can start earning something. Or claim the last guard cleaned you out, when you went through the last checkpoint. Since Krillgan had so little luggage, and it was all in his backpack, there was very few places, he could hide things. Fortunately his father had sewn secret pockets, in all of his leather clothing.

He said his goodbyes to the crew, and to Rasha. Then he went through customs inspection. All the customs inspector found, was a couple of small coins that Rasha had given him, as change, from when she came back from a market. The customs officer took what he had, than sent him on his way.

Krillgan next found himself in an outdoor enclosure, surrounded by refugees. The two guards at the gate were turning everyone away, because no one had anything to pay them. It became evident to Krillgan, that the only thing the guards were offering was a way out. No papers, nothing to indicate that anyone had paid anything. If you could get past them, you were on Ilos. People were getting frustrated with the guards, and the guards were getting frustrated with the people. They believed that even refugees should have something of value.

The guards were Klatooinians, from the Outer Rim Planet of Klatooine, located in the Si'klaata Cluster. They have served the Hutt for more than twenty thousand years, since the signing of the treaty of Vontor. After joining forces with the Hutts, the Nikto, the Vodrans, and the Weequay, in overthrowing the warlord, Xim the Despot. Ruler of the Tion Custer. They are a canine-Based species with coarse brown or greenish skin. Standing on average 1.8 meters in height. Their canine face featured heavy brows over dark eyes. The only major gender difference, is that males tend to be larger than females.

The people could not go back into the customs inspection area, and there was nothing in the enclosure for the needs of the people. Children in desperation were just going to the bathroom against the exterior wall of the customs building. Krillgan suspected that the Klatoonians sense of smell was greater than anyone else that was present. So he convinced some children to start throwing poop at the guards, and he made sure that they hit them in the face. When the guards came into the enclosure, to try and find who threw the poop at them. Krillgan yelled that the gate was unguarded. All the refugees surged through the gate, with all the children getting through undetected. Leaving the angry Klatoonian guards all alone in the enclosure. Krillgan found out later that the guards weren't even supposed to be there. They had lost all their money gambling, and were trying to get some more, so that they could try and win it back.

Krillgan found Ilos to be a bland agricultural world dotted with small cities. Most people gambled as a form of entertainment, and with the hope that they might be able to win enough money to try and find a better life. When Krillgan entered a cantina, thinking to get a bite to eat. He noticed some of the people wagering against an individual trying to perform a feat of skill. The person had balanced a stack of local coins on his elbow, and others were betting whether or not he could catch them all before they hit the ground. The guy was never successful in catching all of them. So he kept losing his money. Krillgan felt that he was skilled enough to do it. So when the guy could not continue, because he had lost all his money, Krillgan stepped up and asked if he could try. They knew right away that he had just arrived from off planet, because he only had credits to gamble with. A Ryn who wasn't gambling, was holding all the money in a bag, and would divide it up amongst the gamblers, after every change of competitors. With a small fee for himself.

The Ryn are a nomadic humanoid species, with no known home world. They are often found in spaceports and cities throughout the galaxy, hawking jewellery, fortune-telling, playing music, or performing some form of entertainment, to try and make a living. They stand on average 1.6 meters in height. Their skin tones ranges from light purple to dark blue-black. Their chitinous nose slopes down over their thin lipped mouths. They have strong prehensile tails that they can use to grip objects, or hang from trees. With a short smoke coloured fuzz covering their bodies. The hair on their forearms, and the tip of their tails blends to a dark blue, and is stiff like quills. Capable of inflicting sharp wounds, when in hand to hand combat. A Ryn's facial and head hair is snow white, with the males wearing snow-white moustaches, that they grow long, and shape decoratively. Females wear their hair as crests of slicked-back, luxurious tresses, and often adorn themselves in jewellery. They have a most unusual tradition, which forbids them from sleeping in the same place, more than once.

Because of the Ryn's fortune-telling abilities, no one will allow a Ryn to place wagers, so all they can do is hold everyone's money. The first time Krillgan tried catching the coins. He hit them with his hand. He ended up smashing them against the wall. Causing everyone to laugh, as he had to go find, and pick up every coin. The next time he tried it. He was able to catch a couple, and smash the rest against the wall. When he put his credit in for his third try. He told everyone that he has to do it this time, because he is out of credits. When the people betting against him heard that, they threw more coins into the growing pot, expecting to get paid back. This time Krillgan was able to cleanly catch all the coins, before they had a chance to drop to waist height. He started jumping up and down like he had accomplished a great achievement.

For some reason the Ryn, when he realised Krillgan had won. Tried making a dash for the exit. Krillgan hopped on top of one table. Jumped to another, then tackled the Ryn before he reached the exit. He took all the money from the Ryn, and told him to get out. The Ryn wanted Krillgan to pay his fee. Krillgan told him that he forfeited his fee, when he tried to run with all the money. A couple of the people that had been gambling, picked the Ryn up, and threw him out the exit. Apologising to Krillgan. At least Krillgan now had some local money that he could use to pay for his dinner, and a drink, and maybe have enough to pay for a room for the night.

When they brought him his food, Krillgan noticed a couple of the people, who had gambled against him, eyeing his food. He suspected that they had lost all their money. He invited them to his table, and ordered a plate of the fried potato wedges, with the blood red sauce, that everyone seems to like. Which was one of the cheapest items on the menu.

In exchange for the food, the men told him everything they knew about Ilos. Including the different things that people gamble over. Krillgan used that information to go from cantina to cantina, and from city to city. Using his earnings, which took advantage of his martial arts skill, to cover his living expenses, and to start accumulating some wealth. He knew that he could not support more than himself doing this. So when he had accumulated enough money, he decided to take passage on a freighter to the next system.

In Krillgan's travels he also encountered many alien species that had come to Ilos as refugees, because of the war. Species he had never encountered before. He met the four armed Besalisk, a favourite enforcer for the underworld. The musical Bith, the technologically advanced, carnivorous pachydermoid, Chevin, and the ammonia breathing Gand. He met some primitive Askajian, and their females with three pairs of mountains each. He was told that the Hutts will easily enslave them, because they like to use the multi-breasted females to serve their guests at their feasts. Since they know that many humanoid males are fixated on seeing a woman's mountains, even if partially covered. Then there is the humpbacked Ongree, whose head looks like it is attached upside down. Since their mouth is above their four nostrils, and their large eyes are mounted on eyestalks. Which also appear below their mouths. He was told about the mercenary Gamorreans, a green- skinned porcine creature, often hired to protect Hutt interests. Another group employed by the Hutts, to help with security at their lavish feasts are the Kaleesh. With their faces always covered by their skull bone masks. They are an intimidating sight, whether they are only holding a primitive spear, or a force pike. If he sees the Nikto on any of the planets, outside of their home world Kintan, he can be sure that a Hutt is nearby. They are the most loyal and most dangerous of all the slave species that serve the Hutts.

Before leaving Ilos, Krillgan deposited all remaining credits into his account. He only carried the Hutts' currency on his person. Where sixteen Wupiupi, made up a Trugut. Four Truguts made up a Peggat. He still had to hide it on his person. But by using the local currency, he was no longer considered an outsider, and people did not try as hard to try and rip him off. From Ilos he traveled to Ilos Minor, an Ilosian colony world, which served as a transfer point, for foodstuff and minerals, which would then be moved to Sleheyron, or Nal Hutta. His plan was to go from there to Tal Nami. Krillgan did the same on Ilos Minor, as he did on Ilos.

After leaving the cantina, where he picked up a decent amount of Wupiupi, and Truguts, Krillgan noticed that he was being followed by two people. He did not want to go back to where he was staying, in case they decided to attack him while he slept. So he started walking through the maze of back alleys. That way if he had to use the force, no one would see him. One thing he had going for him was his Chagrian vision. When he found that he had walked into a dead end alley, he knew that this is where he would have to take a stand. It was a Rodian and a Besalisk that had followed him. As soon as they saw Krillgan, they both drew vibro-blade knives. Krillgan warned them that this was their last chance. If they turn around, and walk away, he won't have to kill them. The Rodian laughed, "With what?" The next thing the Rodian knows, is that he has a knife sticking in his throat. He makes gurgling noises, which attracts the attention of the Besalisk. When he reaches up with his free hand, and pulls the knife out. He sprays the Besalisk with the blood spurting out of his neck, and collapses. Krillgan uses this moment of distraction, to quietly jump behind the Besalisk and slit his throat with his other stone knife. The Besalisk made a "thunk" sound, as his body hit the ground. After Krillgan cleans his stone knives, and puts them away. He starts rifling through their clothing, to see if they have anything of value.

Two Klatooinian guards, had followed the pair into the alley. They suspected that they were going to rob someone, and then they would rob the two thugs. They heard some talking, but no sounds of fighting. Just the distinctive "thunk" sound of a heavy body hitting the ground. They were quite surprised, when they rounded a corner, to see a dark form of a man, bent over the bodies. They pointed their blaster rifles at Krillgan, demanding to know, what is he doing? Krillgan tells them they are late. Because of that, he was forced to kill two men who tried to rob him. The two guards are confused by this response. They asked him if he knew that they were there. Krillgan snorted, of course he did. It wasn't like they were being quiet or anything. This confused the Klatooinians even more, they thought they were being quiet. Krillgan only found a few Wupiupi, in their pockets. He walks up to the guards and hands them the vibro-blade knives, handles first. He tells them that they might as well keep them, because they won't allow him to take it on a ship, without paying a hefty fee first. As he walks away, he tells the guards that they need to take the bodies away, or when the sun comes up, they will start to stink, and everyone in the neighborhood will complain to their superiors. The two guards let him go. If he thinks so little of vibro-blade knives. It is probably best not to tangle with him. He was the victim after all. That was Krillgan's only incident on Ilos Minor. He made more money than on Ilos, because the workers are paid more, than they would be on an agricultural world like Ilos. Krillgan was wondering, whether he should open a second account, to handle all his Hutt money, it was getting harder to keep it concealed.

When he arrived on Tal Nami, he was surprised to hear the locals talking so openly about disliking the Hutts. He wondered for a moment, if maybe he was no longer in Hutt space. At the first cantina Krillgan entered, he studied the people gambling, to see if he could understand what they were doing, and see if he could take advantage of it. He also noticed a local Tal Nami, also studying them. What Krillgan did not notice, was the guy was studying him. Trying to determine his heritage. Trying to see if there was something about him that would give away what type of person he was. When Krillgan thought he understood what they were doing, and thought he had a grasp of the rules. He approached the group, waiting for his opportunity to get involved. Shortly after he approached the group, this local guy also approached. When Krillgan got his chance to try and show his skill, he was surprised that the young man bet on him, rather than against him. At first this bothered Krillgan, because when he won, he would have to split the takings with him. So he thought he would discourage the guy, by failing badly on his first two attempts. When the guy did not bail. Krillgan settled down and concentrated. He did not fail on his third attempt. So after giving the guy who was holding the money his cut. Krillgan split his winnings with the young Tal Nami. He even asked him to join him, while he ate. The young man responded, "If you want my trust, you have to earn it." Then walked out of the cantina.

Krillgan wasn't sure if he wanted this guy's trust. Krillgan ordered his usual drink with his meal, called "Nice Surprise". He was not surprised when the bartender told him he never heard of it. Because he had made it up, while on Ilos Minor. It was half a glass of mixed fruit juices, and half a glass of New Ale. If they didn't have New Ale, than regular ale would do. While on Ilos Minor, he remembered the meal he had on Manaan with his parents at the cantina. He remembered the fruit juice blend the owner mixed up for him to drink, and how he and mother both thought it would go good with her New Ale. So on Ilos Minor he had a bartender to mix it up for him and he liked it. Naming it "Nice Surprise". He always had two of them, so the bartender would not have to worry about a half open bottle of new ale going flat on him. What was even more important, was that the little critters inside of him were happy.

Because he hasn't healed anyone in a long time. He has had to bleed off the Kolto inside of him. He did not want to risk walking around with glass vials. They would definitely attract the attention of custom inspectors, every time he left one planet, and landed on a new one. So he bought absorbent material at a market, cut them up into palm sized squares, and bled some of the Kolto into them. Then he went out to the refugee shanties that seem to be just outside of every city on Tal Nami. He would walk around looking for injured refugees. He would tell them that he had used an ointment on a wound, and there was some still in the cloth. He did not want to throw it out, if it could still help someone. This way the person receiving it, knew that it held no monetary value for him. They usually took it, because they could not afford to buy anything. When they found that they had been healed, they would usually pass it around to their neighbours. No one knew the purple man's name. But they knew the power of the healing cloth, and some would take it with them, as they traveled from shanty to shanty, spreading the message of hope. That someone out there does care.

Unfortunately some people took it too far, and started worshipping the cloths, claiming a powerful deity had visited them. When they would ask the Tal Nami people. They would all deny that they had a purple god of healing.

The young Tal Nami man showed up at the next two cantinas, Krillgan went to. Each time he bet on Krillgan's skill prevailing. Each time Krillgan had to split his earnings with him. This made it harder on Krillgan, he was just barely making ends meet. The next cantina that Krillgan went to. When the young man showed up. Krillgan grabbed him by the arm, and told him that they need to talk. He dragged him outside the cantina. When Krillgan started dragging him down an ally, the young man started calling for help. Krillgan let go of him and glared at him.

"Why are you hurting me?"

The young man stared at him, "Hurting you. I thought you were going to beat me up."

"Why would I do that?"

The young man looked at the ground. "I don't know. But you did not look happy to see me."

"That's because, when I split my earnings with you. I can barely make ends meet. I believe I earned the money, and you're just getting a free ride."

When people started showing up, because of the young man's yelling. The young man had to apologize to them. He told them that he did not know that this man just wanted to talk with him in private, and did not mean him any harm. He believes that the man wanted to ask him to be his partner in today's competition. The people wished them well, and said that they will see them inside.

When Krillgan looked confused, the young man mentioned, that what people would be betting on today, in this cantina, was a darts competition. Participants would throw darts at a target. The different places on the target have a predetermined value associated with it. There are two people to a team. The first team to reach a predetermined value wins the match. There is a cost to compete. The price you pay to enter, is placed as a bet for you on your first match. Spectators can also bet, and can win some money on each match. Every time you win a match you get to play against another team who has won their match. It is expected that all the winnings from your previous match, are then bet for you on the next match, so the team that wins the tournament, usually has a nice amount of winnings. Krillgan asked him how much? The young man told him to take all his winnings from all the previous cantinas, and double it. Krillgan asked him if he was any good. The young man told him that he has always placed high up, but has never won the tournament. Krillgan grabbed his arm, and told him that they need to go inside and win.

Inside, Krillgan found that the people had already written down his new friend's name, "Talmi". They were just waiting for Krillgan's name, and the entrance fee. Talmi covered the fee, saying that was the least he could do, for hurting his new partner.

In this cantina, it was the bartender that held the money. Talmi told Krillgan that part of the reason, is so that if you can get past the second round, you will get at minimum, your original fee back, if you lose, if you keep progressing, you will get a small portion of your winnings, even if you lose at a higher round. It is the bartender's way of encouraging teams that did well to try again at the next tournament. Krillgan noticed that a large number of both spectators and competitors were drinking during the tournament. Which meant more money for the bartender. At the other cantinas, it was usually after someone had won some money gambling, that they had a drink or two. Talmi pointed out to Krillgan, which teams he expected to win in the first round, if he wanted to place any wagers as a spectator. Krillgan did. It showed him who he should watch, and it also gave him enough in winnings that he could afford to buy some dinner, and eat while watching the competition. During their first match, it was Talmi that carried the team. Krillgan realised that it was harder than it looked. All the areas of high value on the target were surrounded by low values, and Krillgan was just missing the high valued areas. It was a good thing they were playing a new inexperienced team. Because they just barely won. In the second round. Krillgan was able to pick eight out of ten winners as a spectator. Which covered his drinks for the night. Talmi wanted to try the Nice Surprise that Krillgan ordered, and liked it. Other competitors also wanted to try this new drink, and told Talmi that they enjoyed it. Krillgan threw much better in the second round. But knew he had to get better, because again, they just barely won. Krillgan knew that the competition was much closer in this third round, and only placed one bet, because he felt that the other matches were two close to call. He did not bet very much, so he did not win very much. He did throw better, this match, but again they just won. He had to get better, because the team he had bet on, was throwing almost a perfect game. Krillgan knew that at this point in the tournament, a near miss could cost them the match, and the tournament. One more round. If they win, they will be playing for the tournament. Krillgan started to relax. He knew from what Talmi told him. That if they lose they would still get some decent money. If he combines that with the bets he made as a spectator, he has already won more this evening, than he has won since first coming to Tal Nami. Talmi on the other hand was getting more nervous. This was the furthest he had ever come in this tournament. Krillgan gave Talmi a bit of a neck massage, to help him from getting too tense. It seemed to pay off, because they both threw near perfect scores, and won the match.

They found that their opponents for the final match, was the only team that Krillgan would bet on, after the second round. This tournament was progressing further into the night than Krillgan had expected. But the cantina was still packed. Every team that Krillgan and Talmi had beaten, was rooting for them. It meant that they were that much closer to winning the tournament themselves. Krillgan was tempted to share some force energy with Talmi. He did not know if he could receive it. He decided not to, because if he could receive it, the unknown sensation could throw off his game. So he massaged his neck again, then rubbed up and down his spine. When the final match began there was no noise in the cantina. Except the thud of the darts hitting the target. All four competitors threw perfectly in their first round. A perfect game only requires two rounds. No game in this tournament has taken two rounds. Most matches took three rounds, and it was the highest score that won the match because both teams would be over the minimum threshold for points. The first thrower for the competition got all his darts in the highest valued area on the target. Krillgan was up next. All his darts except one was solidly in the highest value area. The one dart looked right on the edge. The bar tender and their two competitors had to approach the target to take a close look. The bartender ruled that most of the tip of the dart was in the high value area, so Krillgan was given the full value for the score. The two competitors agreed. The second member of opposing team threw his darts. He must have been quite nervous, because his darts were just making it inside the high value area, except the last one. Again the bartender was called upon to make a ruling. Krillgan and Talmi were required to go with him. This time the bartender ruled that the majority of the tip was outside the high value area. And awarded the team the value of the low value area. Krillgan saw that just over half of the tip was in the low value area, and agreed with the bartender, as did Talmi. As they walked back Krillgan asked the bartender if his dart was that close? The bartender told him that he would tell him after the tournament. Krillgan felt embarrassed, because he just realised, that he was not supposed to ask during a tournament. Now it was up to Talmi, if he can keep all his darts in the high value area. They have thrown a perfect game. They win the match, and they win the tournament. Talmi seems as nervous as the last thrower. He too is skirting the edge of the high value area. He tries a dangerous manoeuvre with his last dart. He throws it just above the area where two other darts are sitting close together. The idea being if he did not throw it hard enough. The two lower darts would keep it from dipping into the low value area. The reason it is dangerous to do this. Is because there is a high chance that he can knock one of the lowered darts off of the target, and it would be ruled a complete miss, with no value, giving his team a lower score going into the third round. The dart hits where he wanted it. No darts fall out of the target. Krillgan and Talmi have thrown a perfect game. They win the match, they win the tournament. There is a lot of cheering in the cantina.

A lot of the spectators and other team members congratulate Krillgan and Talmi. The other teams know Talmi quite well. They ask him, where he found this stranger? Talmi admits that he has only known him a few days. Then they ask Talmi if he will be taking him on the circuit? Krillgan looks at Talmi, "What circuit?" Talmi laughs, "We need to talk."

When the bartender hands Talmi all their winnings, the bartender tells Krillgan that only the edge of one side of his dart touched the low value area, so the ruling he made for him was easy.

Talmi took Krillgan back to his apartment. There they divided their winnings, and Talmi tells Krillgan about the dart tournament circuit on Tal Nami. He had only had a team that was good enough for him to go on the circuit, once. So he has a good idea about where they can go each night, to try and generate some money, between tournaments. The tournament circuit is only a few months long. But if they can win just three more tournaments, they would have enough money that they could be set for an entire year. Anything else they win would just make that year that much more comfortable.

Talmi went on to explain the dietary requirements of the Tal Nami, and how that led to the way his people view trade, and why they hate the Hutts. Krillgan wasn't paying too much attention to Talmi's ramblings. Instead he was wondering if this was an acceptable way for him to support Ludia, and any children they might have. He was also wondering how he was going to get back to Dathomir. It wasn't on anyone's normal trade route. If he did get back, how long before another merchant ship came by, and allowed them to book passage off of Dathomir. He had no way of contacting the Fenelar Phoenix, and he doubted they would take him back if he could. He was sure the Clan Mother would no longer trade with Captain Chrashan once he reported how he was treated by him, on the trip to Hutt space. He is no longer the honourable gentleman they knew, the first time they met him.

Talmi had agreed to meet Krillgan in front of the building where he had rented his room, first thing in the morning. Before leaving the city Krillgan did open a new account in Hutt currency, to deposit most of his winnings. Talmi asked if he could also deposit his money in Krillgan's account.

As a citizen of Tal Nami, a servant planet to the Hutts, he was not allowed to open an account as an individual. It would only be as a licensed trader that he could open an account, and he would have to pay a hefty fee each year to maintain that privilege. Krillgan let him, providing he kept track of his own deposits and withdrawals. Krillgan said that knowing that only he could make the withdrawals. It was much easier to get through the checkpoints between the cities, as they had very little money on their person, claiming they had to keep what little they had, to pay for food and accommodations.

The first cantina they went to that evening, welcomed them, knowing that they were in the city for the tournament. Krillgan was surprised at how many of the locals were willing to pay them. Just to play one match with them. Talmi told him that this was a good way for new teams to judge whether they should enter the local tournament. He was also surprised by what the spectators were betting on. Not on who would win, but on how close the match would be. Not only that, but Talmi was designated as holding the money, since it was considered inappropriate for he or Talmi, to place any bets themselves.

That evening Talmi told Krillgan that the tournament organisers in this city had arranged for them, as winners of the last tournament to come to this cantina. "That is one of the reasons that the team who lost to us wanted to know if we would be going on the circuit, because if we weren't, then they would have needed to come here, instead of the one they went to."

Krillgan and Talmi had agreed to share a room, to reduce costs. They had also agreed that money for their meals should also come out of their winnings before dividing the rest up between them. Krillgan was impressed by how much they made this evening. Talmi assured him that there would be three more nights like this, before they actually play in the tournament. At the tournament Krillgan recognised one quarter of the teams, as having played in the last tournament. All of them advancing beyond the second round. There were a lot more teams that had signed up for this tournament than the last one they played, so the winnings would be greater. Some of the new teams, had played them at the other cantinas, and had done fairly well against them. Because there were more teams, it meant a longer night. This time they placed second to the team they beat in the first tournament. When Talmi divided up their winnings. Krillgan saw that they still did well for placing second. Talmi also told Krillgan, that he had mentioned to the other teams that were continuing in the circuit, that he had an account in Hutt currency. They had asked Talmi, to ask him if they could also deposit their winnings in his account, until they get to the next city. Krillgan understood why. The more money you had on your person, the more they would lose going through the checkpoints. Krillgan reluctantly agreed. Talmi hugged him, and told him that he knew he would, so he had already told them where they should meet in the morning. Krillgan was surprised by how many teams met up with them in the morning. Talmi had purchased a pocket ledger at the market the other day, so that he could keep track of how much of his money, was in Krillgan's account. So he started recorded all the money each team asked to deposit in Krillgan's account.

He was smart enough not to use names, just symbols. So if a guard found it at a checkpoint, he would not know what it was, and not demand a large sum of money from Talmi for him to be able to keep it. One time when a guard asked him about it. Talmi was stumped what to say, so Krillgan asked the guard, to let him see it. So when the guard opened it up, Krillgan pointed at a symbol that looked like wind. He told the guard that his friend told him that he had recorded how many times he heard him pass wind. Krillgan passed wind, and told the guard that he better give the book back to Talmi, because he needs to change the number again.

When they cleared the checkpoint and got back on their bus, the other people on the bus told Talmi to make sure his companion sits beside an open window, so he doesn't kill everyone, than they all started laughing.

At the next tournament Krillgan and Talmi played against the same team in the final, and won. It went back and forth like that for the next few tournaments. They were approaching the midpoint in the circuit, and word had already spread that there were two strong teams in the circuit, and they were seeing large spectator turnouts.

Krillgan realised that he had to again rid his body of the buildup of excess Kolto in his bloodstream. He decided to do the same thing as he did last time. He had a stack of palm sized rags, and put a few drops of oil on each. He went out to the refugees' shanty on the edge of the city, and started distributing the rags. Unfortunately, word had reached this shanty that this had happened before. So people started following him around. He was saddened to hear that at least one fight broke out after he had passed an area, and gave out a rag. There were too many people between him and the people who were fighting over the rag, for him to go back and stop it. All he could do was to yell back to the fighters to stop fighting. "Have respect for the Creator, and his creation."

When he did that, some of the people in the crowd fell on their knees and bowed to him. They claimed he was the Creator incarnate. After handing out all the rags, Krillgan knew that he could not go back into the city, the people would just follow him. Fortunately, the grain in the fields outside the city were about a month away from harvest so they were nice and tall. Krillgan walked into a grain field to try and make it look like he disappeared. Unfortunately the people were able to follow his tracks and started trampling the grain field looking for him. When he came to a road, the people following him had not yet caught up to him. He started making himself look small in the force, and used the force to help him run. When the road intersected another road heading back to the city, he took that road. Because there was traffic on the road and he was overtaking it, he had to run on the edge of the road. There was a checkpoint up ahead, but he kept running, and kept making himself appear small. He jumped over the barricade, and kept running. The passengers that had gotten out of their vehicles, to go through the checkpoint, said that suddenly they felt a strong breeze coming from the fields.

When Krillgan reached the city, he had to run into an alley, to slow down and stop, so no one would see him. Talmi was quite upset with Krillgan for showing up late. They were already an hour late for that evening's demonstration. Krillgan apologised and told Talmi that something unexpected had come up, and forced him to be late. Talmi could not imagine in the slightest what that could be, but he knew that Krillgan had never lied to him before. They stayed a little later at the cantina that night to make up for him being late. Talmi was not too happy about that, because the tournament was tomorrow, and he wanted to get a good night's rest. Since it looked like it was going to be another long one.

Talmi was the first to wake up, as he normally was. He went down to the local market to buy what they would have for breakfast. Refugees were everywhere. They were looking for a purple stranger that had visited their shanty, and distributed cloths, that had the power to heal. Some thought that he was the Creator, others thought that he was a healing god of the Tal Nami. Others were hoping that he had more healing cloths to give away.

Talmi, right away recognised the destructive potential, if these people saw Krillgan, and mistook him for the person they were looking for. They could disrupt the tournament to the point where it would have to be cancelled. After living so close to Krillgan for so long. He knew that Krillgan was not purple, but blue with a thin layer of red fur. He bought a pair of electric shears. Then he went to the tanners, and told them that he had some red fur, that he wanted to dye blue. They sold him a product, and assured him that it was safe, and would not damage the hide in any way. When he finally returned to their room. Krillgan had just gotten up and was looking forward to breakfast, because he was hungry.

Talmi suddenly realised that he forgot to buy something. He told Krillgan that some purple guy had made a whole lot of trouble for him. If he goes outside the way he is. He will instantly be surrounded by a crowd of people. He heard Krillgan mumble, 'again'! Talmi asked him if that was why he was late last night. Krillgan sheepishly admitted it was, and it took a long time to shake them. Talmi told him that there were too many, and they were everywhere. He wasn't going to shake them off today. He showed Krillgan the electric shears, and the blue dye he bought from the tanners, for dyeing fur. He suggested that Krillgan trim his hair with the electric shears, to the same length as his fur. That way he would look bald, like the Rattataki, only he would look blue instead of chalk-white.

The Rattataki were feared across the galaxy as a brutal, violent, warrior race. The Sith Lord Vich, had discovered them at the beginning of the Great War, and recruited a great army. With many force users amongst them. Instead of attaching the Republic, like he first planned. He attacked the Empire in an attempted power grab. The insurrection failed with heavy losses on both sides. Most of the surviving Rattataki were either executed or enslaved. With the remaining survivors scattered across the galaxy finding employment as mercenaries. When the Cold War started, the desperate Sith Empire, collected the force using slaves and sent them to the Sith Academy to undergo the rigorous trials in order to become Sith.

Talmi figured that he would look enough like a Rattataki, that the refugees would be afraid of him, and leave him alone. Talmi said that he still had to go and buy their breakfast, and asked Krillgan if he had any money on him. Before he left, Krillgan made him read the instructions for the dye, because they weren't in basic.

When Talmi returned, he was taken aback by Krillgan's transformation. The clothes were the same, but the blue bald person, looked more serious. He could hardly wait to see the reaction, when they showed up at the tournament that night.

After breakfast, Krillgan went for a walk to test his new look. He was surprised to find that people were giving him a wider berth than they did before. He could also see fear in the eyes of some refugees he walked by, which saddened him. When he walked by the market, he saw a board he had never noticed before. The refugees were using it to pass along messages to one another. What dominated this board were possible sightings of the purple man. Krillgan suggested to Talmi that they leave earlier than normal, to go to the cantina where the tournament was being held. He could see the organisers doubting who he is, and not wanting them to participate. Talmi did not think that he looked that much different. But that was because he was already getting used to Krillgan's new look. He had already forgotten his reaction, when he first saw him that morning. When he returned from the market with their breakfast.

At the cantina, the tournament organisers asked Talmi where his teammate was, and why he hired a bodyguard. Talmi told them that because of the refugees, and their hunting for a purple man that heals using rags. They have had to alter his teammate's looks. The organisers had trouble believing that the blue man was Krillgan. When Krillgan and Talmi's main competitor in the tournament showed up. They told the organisers that they knew of a foolproof way that they could prove whether or not this blue man is Krillgan. They told the organisers that Krillgan has an account in Hutt currency, and they had deposited a good portion of their winnings in his account. If he can withdrawal their money from his account, then he must be the real Krillgan. Because the banking kiosk had more sophisticated identity confirmation protocols than anything else on the planet. The organisers readily agreed, and went with the two teams to the nearest banking kiosk. When the machine confirmed the identity as Krillgan Djo, and allowed him to withdrawal the money. The tournament organisers were satisfied that the blue man was really their purple man.

When the tournament got underway, many of the competitors felt intimidated by this blue man, and had trouble focusing on their game. To make things even more difficult, many refugees were coming into the cantina, because they had heard that one of the major competitors was purple in colour, and they wanted to see if he was their healer. When they could not find him, they would become angry, and would demand to know where the Tal Nami were hiding him. This further unnerved a lot of the competitors, and kept the tournament organisers busy, trying to usher the refugees out of the cantina. The spectators started grumbling that this was the worse demonstration of dart throwing that they had ever witnessed. Their children could throw better than what they were seeing. This of course had the tournament organisers all upset, because only one team was throwing a good game. They were worried that this could affect the attendance for next year's tournament. Needless to say, Krillgan and Talmi won the tournament, but their winnings were way down, because not that many spectators were betting.

The organisers had all circuit competitors stay after the tournament, and locked the cantina, so that there would not be any interruptions. After chastising the competitors for their poor performance, they asked them, how they could salvage the rest of the circuit of tournaments? When no one spoke, Krillgan told everyone, that it was time for him to leave the planet, and move on. Talmi told him that he was going with him, because he needed someone to look after him. Krillgan thought that he could not come, because of the special dietary requirements of his people. Talmi just smiled, and said there are ways. That evening, in their room, Talmi told Krillgan that he does not need to eat fresh Egoa fruit. He can still get the nutrients from a special fruit jam that they make for Tal Nami that need to go off planet for an extended period of time. The Capabara root is dried, and ground into a powder, that resembles flour. In fact on Tal Nami, anything made with flour, has Capabara root powder blended in with it. So even Krillgan has been eating it for breakfast every morning. Talmi also told him, that the Egoa juice, is one of the juices that has been mixed into his "Nice Surprise" drink.

Before crawling into bed, Krillgan told Talmi, that he needed to go for a walk. He went to the message board next to the market, and posted a message addressed to the refugees.

When Talmi woke up the next morning, and went to the market to buy their breakfast. He noticed a lot of the refugees were crying. There was a large number of them gathered around the message board, with the look of shock on their faces. He made his way through the crowd and found a note written to all refugees.

"I asked nothing of you, for what I gave you. Hoping that in kind you would share it with those who were the most in need. Instead I found fighting and aggression in the shanty, and the lack of caring and compassion. I am leaving this planet, to find those who better understand the value of the gifts I can give them." Signed, the purple man.

Talmi bought the items for their breakfast, and rushed back to their room. He told Krillgan that he did not have to leave Tal Nami, because the refugees' purple man said he was leaving the planet. Krillgan told him that he had to leave, or the refugees would think that the purple man lied to them. That's when Talmi first started thinking, that maybe Krillgan, and the refugees' purple man, are the same person.

After breakfast Talmi went to special merchants and purchased six jars of Egoa fruit jam, and a number of special packets of Capabara root powder. When he returned, he told Krillgan, that the merchants told him that he had enough supplies to last him a year, if he was careful. Krillgan insisted that he take five of the fruit jam jars. Because customs would only see them as just jars of jam in his back pack. They should be able to hide three quarters of the Capabara root powder, because they would not be expecting him to have it. That way Talmi would have to pay a lot less as a departure fee. Talmi was surprised to see how many of their competitors were waiting to see them off, at the spaceport. He knew that they weren't there for their money, because they had settled all accounts last night, with their winnings. They were able to do that, since Krillgan withdrew all the funds for their major competitor, before that tournament began, just to prove his identity.

They made Talmi promise that he would let them know all about the dart competitions, in the casinos of Sleheyron. Whose casinos were second, only to the casinos on Nar Shaddaa, the moon that orbited Nal Hutta. The Hutts' main world. They play under different rules, and use different targets. But the dart skills are the same.

Krillgan had purchased a ticket, straight from Tal Nami through to Sleheyron. Talmi had purchased a series of tickets, the first being from Tal Nami to Ilos Minor. From Ilos Minor to Nar Kreeta, from Nar Kreeta to Nimban, and from Nimban to Sleheyron. The ticket cost was higher, but they would be traveling on the same freighter. Talmi only had to present his first ticket when departing Tal Nami, so he expected the reduction in what he would have to pay to leave, would greatly offset what he had to pay for his tickets. Also the customs people would not think they were traveling together, and would not think to check Krillgan for smuggling Capabara Root powder.

Krillgan did not want to admit it, but he was getting a bit of a thrill, being able to smuggle items undetected.

When Krillgan asked the captain of the freighter, if he could use any open space in his cargo bay, to work out, the captain knew right away that he was not a mutant Rattataki. They would have just gone and started shoving freight around until they achieved the desired area. The captain told Krillgan to help himself, but there will be much less room after every stop they make, and that he expects that the cargo bay would be packed tight when they depart Nimban for Sleheyron. Krillgan told him that he needed to work out now. He would figure out something else to do, when the cargo bay is full.

The first time Talmi came along to watch, he realised that Krillgan really is a warrior. But unlike any warrior he has met, he is fair, honest, a man of principle, and considerate of others. If he wrote that note for the refugees, posted on the message board, than he is also kind and compassionate. Every other warrior he has ever met, only seemed to have one purpose, when dealing with him. To make him feel inferior. Talmi liked watching the fluid flow of motion when Krillgan worked out. It seemed to be more than a physical exercise, it was almost like it had some sort of spiritual connection to it. After watching for a few days, Talmi mustered up the courage, to asked Krillgan, if he could teach him some of what he was doing. Krillgan said he could, but he did not expect him to learn very much, before they ran out of room to practise.

Things were tight, after they picked up all the grain from Ilos Minor. There wasn't enough room after they stopped at Nar Kreeta. Instead Krillgan started teaching him some modified exercises, to help keep in shape aboard a ship, when there wasn't very much room. Krillgan told Talmi that his father taught him the exercises. When Talmi tried to get Krillgan to tell him about his father, Krillgan seemed to clam up. He did tell Talmi that he is a very intelligent man, and he loves him very much, but there is not very much that he has permission to share. Talmi could not understand, when does a son, need permission to share about his parents?

Talmi shared with Krillgan a kind of dream he has. He wants to be involved in building something. Something impressive that people could enjoy, but that would make the Hutts jealous. He does not know what it is yet, which is why he was willing to come on this trip. He was hoping to get some ideas.

After they departed from Nimban, Talmi told Krillgan that it was a pity that they did not have access to a lot of standard credits. Krillgan wanted to know why? Talmi told him that the casinos all have hotels that are associated with them. When you take a room, if you deposit a certain minimum of standard credits. The room is free, and so are the meals. Because the casino uses your money as a buffer in the gambling rooms. So that it can handle wagers of extremely high values, and not leave themselves vulnerable, if a syndicate attempts to take over the casino. The casino knows that it will lose some money, at some point, throughout the day, but it also knows that it will be winning a whole lot more the rest of the day. If you deposit more than the minimum, than the casino will deposit money into your room's account at the end of the day. Based on their earnings on the total amount of their money pool. So it is always a good idea to deposit any winnings from that day in your room account when you return back to the hotel, so that your money, can earn more money while you sleep. Krillgan told Talmi to use the Halonet to find out which hotels on Sleheyron offer this service, and how much the minimum is. He might have access to that amount of credits. Talmi quickly did as he was asked. They looked over the information on each hotel. They all had the same room minimum of a thousand standard credits. Talmi had been hoping that it would only have been a hundred credits. He knew some successful traders that could deposit a hundred credits on a room. But he did not know anyone that had a thousand credits. So it caught him by surprise when Krillgan told him that he liked the one hotel, and asked him to book two rooms, so he didn't have to hear him snore. Talmi became embarrassed and told Krillgan that he doesn't snore. Krillgan laughed and said he knew that, he just did not want to be there when he started.

When they got off of the freighter on Sleheyron, they were surprised by how well the customs people treated them. None of them ever made an attempt to extort any money out of them. They found out later that the customs officials on Sleheyron were paid a lot more than they were on other planets. They were also handling people who were coming to the planet to gamble at the casinos, who were from outside of Hutt space. If any of them were found trying to exhort money out of anyone, they would quickly find themselves in a battle to the death, in one of the gladiator arenas, inside the casinos.

Krillgan went up to the first banking kiosk he could find. For some reason it appeared to be much bigger than any that he had encountered so far. It was time for him to close all of his parents' accounts. His father had told him, that when he does it, he has to close them all at once, and not transfer any of the money. He was sure that the Sith Empire knew of at least one of their accounts, and would be monitoring it for any activity. Once they saw there was activity, they would force the banking consortium to disclose the location of where it was accessed, so that they can try and hunt down the person who accessed it, to see if they knew where the Blue Ghost was. Krillgan told Talmi to stay out of camera view, and not make any noise, no matter what. He heard Krillgan activate the machine, and tell it that he wanted to access the survivor function for Chitrah Drashing and Andriel Mirranna, Talmi's eyes became very big. You only activate this function when someone is dead. Is this why he would not talk about his parents? He almost told Krillgan that he was sorry, but remembered in time that Krillgan told him to be quiet. When Krillgan gave the account number and mentioned that he wanted to close the account, he heard the machine tell Krillgan to place his hand in a slot, so that it could verify that he was indeed the survivor. After a minute Talmi heard the machine dispensing credits into the money slot. To Talmi it did not sound like there was enough credits for them to have one room, let alone the two they had booked. He was feeling disappointed. Krillgan made no attempt to collect the credits, he continued to communicate with the machine. He kept it on the survivor function, and entered another account number. He did not need to repeat the names of the deceased, or place his hand in the slot again. Each time he gave an account number, more credits would be dispensed. After the fifth account number, Talmi would have guessed that they had enough credits, but Krillgan kept going. Talmi wondered how he could have so many numbers in his head, and the kiosk never told him that he had one wrong. When it came to the final account, Krillgan did not ask to close it right away. Instead he asked for the account balance. When Krillgan heard that it contained Seventy One credits, Talmi saw that he was saddened on hearing the balance, then closed the account. The last account that Krillgan accessed was the joint account that his father had opened with the Ministry ladies on Barseg, to help them smuggle medicines to Lorrad. His father had told the women not to let the account drop below a hundred credits. If it did, than he would know something is wrong, and he would close the account. To Krillgan the account had not been used by anyone for a long time. They must have let it slip below the hundred credit value to warn Chitrah, and the banking consortium has been eating away at it ever since. Krillgan took off his backpack, and just shovelled the credits into it. When he had finished. He accessed the banking kiosk once again, and withdrew most of the money from his Hutt account, leaving the minimum, so that the banking consortium would not touch it. When Talmi asked him why he did that, Krillgan told him that he was hoping that the hotel had provisions for deposits of Hutt money, as they did for standard credits. Better to put the money where it would grow, rather than just have it sit and do nothing. As they were walking, Talmi told Krillgan that he was sorry.

"Sorry for what?"

"Sorry to hear that your parents passed away."

"Oh, about that. Never mind. Thank you."

Talmi thought that was an odd way to acknowledge his parents' death. At the hotel, Krillgan registered both rooms in both their names. So Talmi could have access to the credits, if he needed them, and Krillian was tied up. Because they had more than the minimum one thousand credits registered to each room, they were also able to deposit their peggats and truguts, in a separate account, like Krillgan hoped.

The Banking Consortium informed the Sith Empire that the account that they were interested in, has been closed. Even though they knew the Sith Empire already knew from the spyware they left in their computer system, the last time they hacked their main computer. Their technicians had no trouble containing it, and only fed it information they wanted the Sith to see. When the Sith government asked for the video files that went with the account closure. The Banking Consortium refused, sighting client confidentiality, since it was not accessed in their territory. The Banking Consortium knew the Sith would try to hack their system again, to try and get their hands on it, so they copied the original to a special memory storage system. Then they modified the original so that it would never be clear, no matter how much they massaged the data. Finally they imbedded spyware of their own in it. They knew that the account belonged to the blue ghost and his wife. The Sith were paranoid that the blue ghost knew how to hack into their main computers, without being detected. This spyware should find it, if such an access existed, and the Sith would be installing it into their computer for them.

For some unknown reason, someone in the Sith government, notified the Mandalorian government that the joint banking account for Chitrah Drashing and Andriel Mirranna had been closed on Sleheyron. So both governments sent someone to investigate. The Sith Empire sent a Rattataki Sith, that had done well in the Academy, and proven himself to his Lord. The Mandalorian government sent a bounty hunter. They both arrived on Sleheyron at the same time, and were not pleased to see the other. They both complained to their government, that an agent of another government, was interfering with their investigation.

After registering in the hotel. Krillgan had gone down to the local market, to purchase some fresh fruits and vegetables, to supplement his diet. While he was there, a group of Kaleesh mercenaries spotted him, and approached him. They thought like everyone else that he was some type of mutant Rattataki. Every species had their albinos. Since the Rattataki where white to begin with. They thought that blue was their version of an albino. So one of the mercenaries approached Krillgan and challenged him to a Death Match. They knew a Rattataki mercenary would never turn down a Death Match. Krillgan just looked at the challenger, and told him that he did not know him well enough to want to kill him. This amused the Kaleesh challenger, so he turned around and told the other mercenaries what the response was. Now they knew he wasn't Rattataki, but because he did not back down from them, or appeared frightened, like his companion. They asked him, if he was a warrior? He told them that he was, so they still insisted on fighting him. Krillgan told them that he would only fight one of them. Their best warrior. That way when he defeats him, they will all know that he is capable of defeating any of them. The Kaleesh liked his attitude. They agreed with his terms. They told him that there is a group that organises fights. That are not part of the casinos. They always have good places to fight, so they will make arrangements with them about a place to fight. They will come back to the market in two days, to take him to where they will fight.

Talmi asked Krillgan if this was wise. Krillgan pointed out that he was the one who suggested he look like a Rattataki. Talmi did not know how to respond to that. Krillgan assured him that he would be alright. Besides they needed something to do, before the darts tournament starts in two months' time. Krillgan did not tell him that he was looking forward to it. He felt that it would be the same as a challenge from a militia member. He always had a good workout, when one of them challenged him. They knew that he wouldn't use the force against them, yet they were always surprised when he won.

A short time later a group of Klatooinian guards, that had some free time, came to the market, and spotted Krillgan. Again one of them came up to him, and gave him a Death Match challenge. Krillgan responded in the same way as he did with the Kaleesh. He told him that he did not know him well enough to want to kill him. This comment made all of the guards laugh. Krillgan than told them that he had just been challenged by some Kaleesh mercenaries. They have gone to arrange a venue with some fight organisers, they are going to meet in the market in two days, than take him to where they will be fighting. He will make the same condition he made with them. He will only fight one of them, their best man. So when he defeats him, they will know that he is capable of defeating any of them. The Klatooinians talked amongst themselves. They all wanted to see the fight between this blue guy, and the Kaleesh. But none of them had that time off. They could arrange for one of them to get that time off, than that person could arrange with the fight organisers, for one of them to battle the blue guy, for when the rest of them have their next day off. They came back to Krillgan, and told him that they would have their next day off in eight days. One of them will battle him then. Krillgan agreed.

Talmi did not say anything. He just hoped that the healers were not overly expensive on Sleheyron. Before they left the market, some Nikto guards made straight for Krillian, and offered him a Death Match challenge. Again Krillgan told them that he did not know them well enough to want to kill them. They were surprised that he wasn't a Rattataki. Not only that, he spoke as a man with honour. The Rattataki have no honour, they just know fighting and death. Krillgan thanked them for the compliment. He told them about fighting a Kaleesh in two days, after they can make arrangements for a fight venue. Than he will be fighting a Klatooinian in eight days. He told them that they had promised him that he would only be fighting their best, so there would be no questions about how capable of a warrior he was, when he defeats their best warrior. Than they told Krillgan that they have no best. They are all equal. Krillgan told them that that was no problem. When he defeats one of them, it will be the same as defeating all of them. They just need to choose between them, who he gets to defeat. They can arrange the when and where. The Nikto guards agreed. They told him that on the day he fights with the Klatooinian, they will inform him when they will be fighting.

When they returned to the hotel, they both agreed that Krillgan should not be going to the market anymore, except on the days he has agreed to fight. Otherwise he could end up fighting every guard and mercenary in Hutt space. Krillgan than asked Talmi if he wanted to come work out with him. The reason he picked this particular hotel, was because they have a nice large workout area.

Krillgan met the Kaleesh at the market on the day they agreed to. He had Talmi take all of their Hutt money out of the hotel account, except for one peggat. He told him that if this is an organised venue, there will be gambling. If he doesn't bet on him, then he should not return to their hotel.

The Kaleesh keep themselves covered, except for their hands. Krillgan surmised that they all wore some sort of primitive armour, just like their skull bone face mask. They asked to fight with their primitive stone tipped spears. Krillgan agreed and told them that the leather jacket and pants he is wearing, is just like armour. The rule was that they would fight until one of them is forced to submit. They would only rest if both fighters agreed.

The venue was much as Krillgan expected. An empty warehouse with a dirt floor. There were quite a number of spectators, with a couple of people walking around taking bets. When Krillgan stepped into the lit fighting area, one of the Kaleesh mercenaries tossed him a spear. Krillgan tapped it on the ground to make sure that there were no cracks in the shaft. To Krillgan this was just like fighting with a fighting stick with a very small sword on the end. The Kaleesh were surprised that Krillgan was not standing with the spear end pointed at his opponent. This indicated that he had experience fighting with something similar. Krillgan started walking around his opponent, because he wanted to test how much peripheral vision the Kaleesh had, because of the mask. The Kaleesh was annoyed by this tactic, and quickly advanced towards Krillgan to strike. He swung his spearhead down to chop at Krillgan's arm. Krillgan was easily able to parry that blow, and countered with a spear butt jam to the Kaleesh's arm. They had a quick sequence of attack, parry, and counter attack. The spectators just saw a blur of the two spears moving, and heard the click-click-click sound of spear shaft making contact with spear shaft. The Kaleesh tried crowding closer and closer to Krillgan, and was surprised with the strength that Krillgan suddenly pushed him back. This time the Kaleesh tried to circle around Krillgan, trying to find a weakness in his opponent. While Krillgan circled around him. Suddenly they both attacked at the same time, with both of them sidestepping the attack, than the click-click-click sound of spear shaft on spear shaft. This went on for what seemed like a long amount of time to Talmi. From his perspective, they both seemed evenly matched. From the Kaleesh's perspective, he was getting frustrated. It seemed like his opponent was toying with him. His skill level was greater than any of the Kaleesh had expected. He tried to shake things up by trying a leg sweep with his spear. To Krillgan the leg sweep was suspicious. He wasn't moving as fast as Krillgan would expected for a real leg sweep. Krillgan suspected that he wanted him to jump, so that he could than change the direction of the sweep. If he could catch his foot while he was in the air, he could than spin Krillgan in the air, opening him up to all kinds of attack. Instead Krillgan planted his spear point into the ground. Letting his spear take the impact of the sweep. At the same time planting a side kick in the Kaleesh's abdomen. Forcing him back and lessening the impact of spear on spear. The Kaleesh charged Krillgan, who grabbed his spear, flipping him over his own body. Yanking his spear from his hand, while he was still in the air so that the Kaleesh lands flat on his back, and is winded. Krillgan quickly steps onto his chest, and places a spear point at his throat, asking him if he was willing to submit. The Kaleesh said yes, and started to lift his face mask. Krillgan moves the spear point, so it is pushing against the mask, stopping him. Krillgan tells him, "You fought with honour, and I do not desire to take your honour from you."

The spectators were disappointed, because they wanted to see what a Kaleesh face looked like. Krillgan puts both spears in one hand, than extends his hand to the Kaleesh to help him up. All the Kaleesh approach Krillgan and thank him for letting their comrade keep his honour. Telling him that he is a great warrior, and they were honoured to meet him. The Nikto were also impressed with Krillgan. They asked him if he has ever met any Togruta, because the move that put the Kaleesh on his back, looked like a Togruta move. Krillgan told them that when he was very young he met some Togruta. They allowed his father to train with them. His father has taught him everything he knows. The Nikto said that his father must be a special person, if the Togruta were comfortable having him train with them. Krillgan told them his father was respected by many people, and in his own clan he was looked upon as a great warrior who trained great warriors. The only ones more powerful than him, where the force users, put they still asked to be trained by him. The Nikto told him that they were looking even more forward to the day one of them would fight with him.

When the Kaleesh heard this, they said that they wanted to see that, and asked Krillgan when it would take place. Krillgan told them that he did not know. He just knew that he would be fighting a Klatooinian in six days, and the Nikto promised that they would tell him when, after that fight. The Kaleesh told him that they will be there to witness that as well. After they left Talmi approached Krillgan. He told him that he just made as much money betting on him, for this one fight, as they could have made, staying on Tal Nami, for the last half of the darts circuit. He also told him that betting was in both Hutt money, and standard credits. He was bringing some credits to the next fight. Krillgan warned him not to expect the winnings to be as great on the next fight, because he will no longer be an unknown warrior. The big money will be on the Nikto fight. Because everyone but the Nikto will be expecting them to win. Talmi asked him why the Nikto will not be expecting to win. Krillgan told him that when they first challenged him, he kept telling them that they would lose to him. Just like the Kaleesh, and just like the Klatooinians. So when they see the Klatooinian lose to him, then they will believe that they are next. Talmi asked him if he was being a little overconfident. Krillgan told him that being overconfident would be him saying that he could beat them when he can't. But he can beat them, so no, he is not being overconfident.

Krillgan and Talmi did go to some of Sleheyron's casinos between bouts. They believed that no one in the casinos would challenge Krillgan. They were not impressed with the gladiatorial fights in their arenas. Some of the Death Matches were no more than executions, the poor victim did not have a chance.

What did grab Krillgan's attention were the Rancor races beamed from Nal Hutta. The Rancor races were like an obstacle course. The idea was to get Rancor and rider from opposing teams close together, so that they would fight. There was betting on which team would have a Rancor and rider cross the finish line first, but most of the betting was on the outcome of the fights. If a rider was knocked off his Rancor, or killed, he would lose the fight. Krillgan told Talmi that he wanted to go to Nal Hutta so that he could talk to the Rancor before the race. They would have insight into who would win the race, and who would win the fights. Talmi asked Krillgan, how he was going to talk to the Rancor? It was not like they could speak basic. Krillgan told him that their beastmasters could communicate with them, or they would never be able to get someone to ride them. Talmi looked at his friend, "Don't tell me that you are also a beastmaster."

Krillgan smiled, "Something like that."

The day of the fight with the Klatooinian came. The clerk who handles the money at the hotel, did not even try to dissuade Talmi from taking Hutt money and credits out of their accounts. When he tried last time, Talmi returned with more peggats from only a few hours out of the hotel, than he could have earned for one month, by just having it sit in there account, earning money from the casino. The Klatooinians met Krillgan at the market, and escorted him to the fight venue, with the Nikto right behind them. The people in the market had mixed ideas about what was happening. Some thought that the Nikto were giving the blue man an honour guard escort. To others it looked like a condemned man being taken away for punishment.

They went to the same warehouse. Their appeared to be more spectators this time. The Klatooinians were all dressed in their guard armour, carrying their favourite weapon, the vibro-blade battle-axe. They had brought with them, two practice battle-axes, for the two combatants. Now the practice battle-axes are a dangerous weapon, all by themselves. They were basically a thick wooden stick with a metal weighted end. They could easily break bones, or crush skulls. The Klatooinians guard armour, was better suited for absorbing the impact of a hit from the weighted end, than Krillgan's leather outfit. Krillgan was also at a disadvantage, as he had no experience with this type of weapon.

The Klatooinian fighter opened the bout with a battle cry, and rushing at Krillgan, axe raised, ready to crush his opponent. Krillgan easily stepped into the attack using the Togruta move, to use his opponent's momentum to flip him over his body, landing him flat on his back. The Nikto saw that coming. They felt that if the Klatooinian had seen the fight between the blue warrior and the Kaleesh, he would not have opened like that. They also could not understand why the blue warrior did not press his advantage, and finish off the Klatooinian. Instead he let him get back up.

It was only as the fight progressed that the Nikto noticed that the blue warrior had no experience with the battle axes, and was using the fight as a training session. Either this fighter was very good, or he was very foolish. The Nikto believed the former, because of how easily he defeated the Kaleesh. The Klatooinian did not understand his opponent's tactics. He knew the blue warrior did not fully understand how to use his battle-axe, if he did he would know that he had to absorb his attacks on the weighted end, not on the axe handle. Because eventually the axe handle will break, and the fight will be lost. He could not understand why the blue warrior never initiated an attack. The Klatooinian attacked again. Instead of absorbing the attack on his axe handle, like Krillgan did before. He deflected the attack to his right, brought his right knee up into his opponent's abdomen, then followed through with a left elbow to the side of the Klatooinian's face. Then stepped back. The Klatooinian was momentarily stunned, and he thought he heard a ringing in his ears. The Klatooinian had to remind himself. Maybe he doesn't know how to use the battle-axe, but he still knows how to fight. He attacked again, but this time to the Klatooinian's surprise. Instead of deflecting the blow the same way as last time, which was what he was expecting, the blue warrior defected his blow to the other side, throwing him slightly off balance. The blue warrior was not off balance, as the Klatooinian felt his knee impact his gut, and the elbow smash to the other side of his face.

Krillgan suspected that his axe handle was now cracked after deflecting the last blow. Training time is over, he needs to end the fight now. The angry Klatooinian, started doing horizontal sweeps with his battle-axe forcing Krillgan to step back. After the third sweep, Krillgan suddenly jumps forward. Slams the butt of his practice axe into the Klatooinian's abdomen than brought the butt of the axe up catching the Klatooinian on the chin, knocking him out cold. Krillgan thought that he may have broken the Klatooinian's jaw. He did not want to use the force to examine the jaw, because there may be those present who could detect it. Instead he reached down and physically felt along the jaw. Nothing was out of place, so if he did brake his jaw, it was still intact. Krillgan let the Kolto flow until he sensed a slight change than got up.

The Nikto congratulated Krillgan on his victory, and asked him why he terminated the fight now. Krillgan told them that he thinks he cracked the handle of the practise axe. One of the Nikto picked up the practice axe by its weighted end, hitting the handle against the ground. Sure enough the handle broke. They asked him why he felt the Klatooinian's jaw after the battle. Krillgan told them that his mother was a Shaman, and he wanted to make sure that his jaw was okay.

The Nikto were impressed, he was a warrior, and a healer. A good man to have on your side when going into battle. They told Krillgan that they would meet him in five days at the market, so that they could battle. Krillgan agreed. After the Nikto, and the Kaleesh left, and the Klatooinians carried their comrade away. Talmi came up to Krillgan and told him that he was right, the odds were lower for this fight, but because he bet with both credits and peggats, they actually made more overall. Krillgan laughed, and told him that it was a good thing he decided to come along and look after him.

When they arrived back at their hotel, Krillgan asked Talmi if he could find anything that would show the Nikto's fighting style, and their preference for weapons. He did not prepare properly for his fight against the Klatooinian, and it almost cost him. When Krillgan came back from his modified workout. Talmi had found three bouts at one of the local casinos, in their gladiator arenas. The first two were obviously executions, and revealed nothing about the Nikto, other than that they could kill. The third video was also an execution, but it was a Nikto that was to be executed. There was a Weequay, a Nikto and a Klatooinian acting as executioners. Talmi told Krillgan that Weequay are very tough fighters, not because they are good. But because their bodies seem to be difficult to injure with blunt force trauma, or fire. Their bone density is higher than most species. Their skin is also tough, able to withstand blaster fire, and most conventional edged weapons. You need to be one tough fighter to be able to take one on single handed, and live. The executioners in the vid, entered the arena from three different entrances, fully armed. The victim had been bound, and left at the center of the arena. There were weapons scattered around the arena. Supposedly for the victim, if he was able to free himself before the executioners could get to him. When the Nikto victim did free himself, and stood up, Talmi froze the vid. He pointed out to Krillgan that the victim is a mixed breed Nikto, despised by his own people. Talmi told Krillgan that there are a number of subspecies of Nikto, with superficial differences between them. The species do inter breed regularly, with most of the children showing the superficial characteristics of only one of their parents. On the rare occasion, a child will be born showing characteristics of both the parents' subspecies. This child is labelled a mixed breed Nikto, and persecuted by the rest of Nikto society. They have to leave their home world of Kintan when they are old enough to travel, if they want any sort of life.

Krillgan told Talmi, that this Nikto has been fighting all of its life, and had learnt the style of fighting and techniques the hard way. On the streets. This means that he would have the best mix of Nikto fighting styles, and the weapon he will first try for, is the one the Nikto are the most comfortable with. He had Talmi play the rest of the vid slowly. The Nikto warrior chose to go for the force pike, even though it was close to the Klatooinian executioner. It was hard to tell if he showed disappointment, when he realised that it had no power cell. He used the force pike to catch the Klatooinian's vibro-blade axe, just below the axe head. He was able to disarm the Klatooinian, and use his own axe to kill him. He started to remove the power cell from the axe. When the other two executioners saw what he was doing, they rushed over to him, to try and get to him before he finished installing the power cell into the force pike.

The Nikto executioner, got to him just as he put the power cell in, but before he could activate it. So he stunned him with his force pike. This left a clear shot for the Weequay to decapitate him with the vibro-blade at the end of his force pike. The Weequay took too much pleasure in decapitating his helpless victim. Krillgan wished that he could avenge this Nikto's death. He watched the vid over and over again. There was no doubt in his mind that the Nikto warrior was a formidable fighter. He was sure that someone got into trouble, because he was able to free himself from his bonds, much sooner than expected. He could see the look of surprise when the Nikto got up, on the Klatooinian's face. He knew that he would go for the force pike, and he wasn't in a position to defend it. The Nikto warrior had good fluid moves, and handled the Klatooinian easily. Krillgan wondered how the fight would have gone, if he could have gotten the power cell in the force pike a second or two sooner. No doubt it would have been a bloody mess, because not even the Weequay skin can stop a vibro-blade. Every night before going to bed, he would watch the video.

On the day of the fight, he was confident that he understood the Nikto's fighting style. They met them at the market. As the Nikto led the way, a Weequay came up to Krillgan, and challenged him to a Death Match. Krillgan looked at him, and instantly did not like him. Instead of giving his usual response. Krillgan asked him, why he wants to die? The Weequay laughed, and boasted that it would not be him that will die. Krillgan looked him right in the eyes, and told him if he fights him, he will die.

The Nikto did not understand the animosity Krillgan felt toward the Weequay. They just understood that the Weequay was not behaving normally, and was delaying their fight. They told him to go back to bullying the little children, and leave the adults alone. They turned and left with Krillgan and Talmi behind them.

"So you're a coward. You don't want to fight me."

This got the Nikto upset. They asked the Weequay, how he could call the blue warrior a coward, when he is about to face a Nikto warrior.

The Weequay smiled, "I will come and watch you fight him, than afterward I will kill him."

The Nikto told him that he can come to watch. But there will be no afterward. The Weequay told them that he was not afraid of them, he has killed his share of Nikto before.

"Well we have killed Weequay, and it would be no trouble to kill another."

Talmi whispered to Krillgan that this Weequay was tainted. Krillgan whispered back to explain himself. Talmi told Krillgan that Weequay were normally quiet and reserved. They normally let someone they trust, speak for them. This one was bold and arrogant like a Hutt, he needs to be careful.

Krillgan realised that the Weequay fully intended to attack him, after he has defeated the Nikto. He is probably counting on Krillgan being tired and weak. Krillgan knew that he will have to kill this Weequay, and he may have to use the force to do it.

Krillgan whispered to Talmi, that after the fight, he would have to collect his winnings as fast as possible. He may have to go back to the hotel without him. Talmi understood, that Krillgan believed, that he would be forced to fight the Weequay, and that it would probably be to the death. There was nothing he could do to help his friend, but leave, so he agreed.

At the warehouse, the Nikto that had been chosen to fight him started undressing down to only a loincloth. Krillgan removed his leather jacket, and his shirt. He told the Nikto warrior that he wasn't removing his pants. The warrior smiled, the closest thing that a Nikto comes to laughing. He understood by this that Krillgan would not be attacking him below the waist, because he understood from his previous fights that his leather garments are a type of body armour. So he agreed. He walked out to the fighting area, with two force pikes in his hand. He removed the power supply from each, and tossed them to his comrades. He then tossed one of them to Krillgan.

To Krillgan this was just like fighting with a fighting stick, with a sharp double edged sword attached, the only thing missing was a Rancor to ride on. They both looked at each other than attacked. The spectators could just see the whirl of force pikes, and the clanging of the shafts. To Talmi it almost looked like they were dancing, only he wouldn't want a Nikto as a dance partner. They would stop take a couple steps sideways, like maybe it was better lighting, than they would attack again. In their third clash of weapons, the Nikto warrior was able to nick Krillgan in his upper arm, a few centimeters below the shoulder. It wasn't deep, just a flesh wound, but flesh wounds bleed. The Nikto believed that their comrade would win, because he drew first blood. In the next clash Krillgan was able to nick his opponent in the chest, above the heart. Again it wasn't deep. But it was close to the heart. The Nikto were now unsure about the outcome. What Krillgan had done, showed great skill. Not only that, but Krillgan wasn't bleeding. His wound had healed. Their comrade, on the other hand, was. They were each able to nick each other in the next exchange. Again Krillgan healed right away, the Nikto warrior didn't. Krillgan knew that eventually the Nikto warrior would collapse from blood loss. But that wasn't a fair way to win when he had a special advantage. Time to bring it up a notch.

Krillgan started attacking his opponent's fingers, not to break them, just to bruise them. Making them swell, making it harder to hold the force pike. He learnt this technique watching the militia battle his Sisters. After the next exchange Krillgan was able to knock the force pike out of his hands. Krillgan knew that the Nikto would not just submit to him, no matter his advantage, he knew that he would have to render him unconscious just like he did to that Klatooinian. So he threw his force pike away as well. The Nikto do not practise hand to hand. Why fight with your hands, when you have a perfectly good weapon. The Nikto warrior knew that he was at a disadvantage, because the Togruta know how to fight hand to hand, and the blue warrior had Togruta training. To him Krillgan just traded one advantage for another. Krillgan was able to get past the Nikto's feeble attempts at blocking and landed a number of body blows. When the Nikto made an attempt at attacking. Krillgan was able to knock him to his knees than quickly came up behind him, and placed a choke hold on him. To speed it up, Krillgan used the force to drop his heart rate, until he became unconscious, then raise it back up. He believed no one would detect it, because it was such a localised use of the force. He had to risk it, because as he was holding him, he was also healing him. So the Nikto was getting stronger, and would be able to use his hands and fingers again.

When the other Nikto came out to check their unconscious comrade, they asked him if rejuvenation was normal for his race. He told them it wasn't. When he was quite young, his parents took him to a place of much water. He called the Great Mother of the place, and she came and blessed him. The elders of that place told him that no one had been able to call the Great Mother in over 300 years. So she had given him a great blessing. She altered his life essence so that he now has the ability to rejuvenate. Because he had held their comrade so close to the center of his life essence, he was also able to heal him. They checked all of their comrade's wounds. They were all healed. Suddenly men armed with blaster rifles entered every opening to the warehouse, and surrounded everyone. The crowd started whispering "Slavers".

The Weequay walked to the center of the fighting area, and told everyone that they had just volunteered, to fight to the death, in the gladiator arenas.

The Nikto told him that he can't do that. Their Hutt would protect them.

The Weequay told them that they were protected, because it was their Hutt who told the slavers to follow his Nikto. He believed that they had found a worthy opponent to fight.

The Nikto where upset that their Hutt had used them like that, to trap a noble warrior.

Then men with ladders, and lights, and recording equipment, entered the warehouse. The Weequay told everyone that it was now time for the real fight. Now Krillgan recognised the Weequay, he is the one in the video that executed the mixed-breed Nikto.