Chapter 4 - Shades of Grey

Six months later...

Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi left the grey administration building of the municipality

Sareyt on Hedola, relief visible on their faces.

"I'm glad this is over. It's impossible to negotiate with Hedolans." "I told you so, Obi-Wan."

The whizzing of the cars, the clanging sounds of the vendors scuffling past them were drowning

out his words. Finally, the negotiations had been successful, enabling them to leave the planet

behind, the capital city's uniform grey façades, the painfully cold atmosphere, the

unpredictable mood swings of its inhabitants. They turned into a smaller alley that was even

dirtier than the main street.

"Don't be so coy," a male voice commanded harshly in the darkness. A scantily dressed girl

climbed over a unhinged door, whose paint was coming off in large flakes, and stood in front of

the two Jedi. "I am at your service, gentlemen. Only five credits." She smiled coquettish.

The two men stopped in their tracks, unsure how to react to the situation.

A mere child! I can't believe she has to prostitute herself, for the price of a jug of water

I know. But there's nothing we can do. She is not the only one. We will only endanger the

outcome of our mission.

"Please to not hesitate, sir. I am certain your wishes will be fulfilled-"

"We have no intention of accepting this offer. Little one, you shouldn't be doing this." She

looked away, backing off slightly.

A tall man stepped out of the darkness. "Sirs, I am sure you'll reconsider as soon as you've

learned her qualities. Let me-"

"Leave her alone!" Anakin could hardly control his temper.

"She works for me, you have no right to interfere." Anakin reached for his sabre, bis his

former master shoved his hand away. He took a step forward, raising his hand and flicking in

front of the stranger's face. "You have no business here. You will leave now." The Hedolan's

eyes widened. With a start, he turned around and ran along the alley, disappearing round a

corner. A few seconds later, the petite girl scuttled off in a hurry. "Great. We can't just

confine her to this fate." "If Hedola joins the Republic, the Senate will have political

leverage over them and ban these practices for good. Patience, Anakin." "But-" Suddenly, Obi-

Wan indicated him to be quiet, closing his eyes in an effort to calm his mind. "Did you sense

it too?" "A fluctuation in the force." "It's quite close to our position." "Let's find out what

this is about."

-----

The force had lead them to a dented metal door in a seemingly desolate backyard. When Obi-Wan

knocked, a dishevelled-looking woman with bright blue hair opened. Her excessive make-up

betrayed her bland features. "You're quite early. Come in. I'm Madame Jeralla. The room's

upstairs." Her tight dress revealed every curve as she walked up the stairs, her hips swinging

seductively. "Since there are two of you, I will charge extra. But you won't regret it", she

said over her shoulder. She unlocked a second door and pointed inside. "Make yourself

comfortable." "Actually, we are not here to,um, employ your services."

"Ah. Who are you, then?" "We are Jedi. We-"

"Jedi, huh? What a pity. That would have been a first." Obi-Wan couldn't suppress a smile. His

former padawan shot him a disconcerted glance. "Madam, we are here because we felt a

disturbance in the Force. It is possible that there is a force-sensitive individual nearby." "No

clue what you're talking about, boy, I'm not familiar with that Force mumbo-jumbo of yours."

She jerked her head towards the door. "Girl, come over here! We have visitors." A short girl

came dashing up the stairs and bolted through the half-opened door. "Have you done the washing

yet?" "Mistress, I have just finished boiling the laundry." She was barefooted, her face

reddened and shining with sweat, her wide clothes and dark hair wet from steam. "Shall I

prepare some tea for the guests before proceeding?" Jeralla gave a curt nod and waved her away.

"That wasn't necessary at all." "Well, I have an inkling this might take longer than expected,

so we better discuss this in a more pleasant setting. Don't take too long though, or I will

have to charge you." "I'll try to make this short." Anakin laughed. The door opened again when

the girl entered the room, balancing a heavy tray with three cups. The Jedi eyed the brownish

concoction cautiously as she placed the cups on the wobbly table and, with a quick bow, left

for the kitchen. "Madam, may I have a word with the girl?" Jeralla looked alarmed. "Look, if

you're after pretty young Athreli girls, you should find plenty on the streets. She is just my

servant." "Madam, we have nothing sinister in mind. I think she is the force-sensitive we are

looking for." An exasperated sigh. "Go, talk to her. Whatever. And you-" she turned to Obi-Wan

"will explain to me what all this is about."

-----

She didn't look exhausted, but it was clear that she resigned herself to her work with little

pleasure, yet a high level of dedication. "Sir, is everything alright? Is something wrong with

the tea?" When she looked up at him, Skywalker noticed how serious her face was, her tired eyes

made her appear several years older than she probably was. All traces of childhood had

vanished. "I just wanted to have a little chat with you." "Alright, sir." She looked vaguely

frightened. "I'm Anakin Skywalker. What's your name?" "Kaliya. You are a Jedi, aren't you? I

overheard you and Mistress Jeralla talking." "That's right. Do you know who the Jedi are?" "I

don't know much 'bout them. We are too far away from the Core planets, we rarely get news of

any current affairs." "How old are you?" "Eight." 'Barely older than the street girl we met

earlier...' "Why do you work for Jeralla?" "She is very kind, gave me work and a shelter when I

came to the city." "What do you do when you're not working?" "Um, apart from sleeping? I don't

get much time off, but I usually spent it out on the streets or in my room. Come, I'll show you

my place." She indicated him to follow her and then hurried along the dingy corridor into a

tiny room that contained a bed, a messy heap of clothes and a stack of books. "I love reading."

"Who taught you?" "No one. You've seen those notice boards in the city centre? They also read

out the news. I listened to the speaker as I read along, until had memorized which letter

expressed which sound." 'Impressive.' He took a look around, but there were no other

possessions.

"Did you come here alone?" "Yes. It is customary for the oldest child in a Athreli family to go

to the city as soon a they turn five. To get an education, and then return an teach their

younger siblings." "What happened?" Kaliya smiled almost apologetically. "You mean, why do I

live here instead of attending school? The war changed everything. The Majority joined the

Separatists very early on. My people didn't agree with their goals, but we were eager to prove

ourselves, show the Hedolans that we weren't badly integrated immigrants. The Majority

leaders...they exploited that, they refused any official posts to Athreli applicants because

they wanted them to fill up their army's ranks. And they turned me away when I tried to go to

school." "What about your family?" The girl looked away, but her voice remained steady. "They

are dead. The village was destroyed in an air raid two years ago." Suddenly, she stared deeply

into Anakin's eyes. "Thanks for ending this war. That's the only thing I know about the Jedi,

that they ended this slaughter for good." "Would you like to become a Jedi?" "Me? Are you

kidding? How could I possibly to that?" "You clearly have a strong grounding in the Force."

"The Mistress would never allow me to leave." She shrugged. "Let's at least ask her." "Sure,

Master Skywalker. I don't think that'll help, though."

'I hope Obi-Wan has softened her up a bit.'

-----

Jeralla had asked for a quite exorbitant sum in compensation, but the Jedi persuaded her to

provide one of the street girls with a shelter. Kaliya had left her books and clothes behind

and was trailing after the two men, a genuine smile on her face that made her sharp features

appear more childlike. They were passing a run-down pawnshop when the Athrelian quietly

addressed them. "Masters, um, I feel bad about asking you for something after all you've done

for me. I pawned something I got from my parents and it just..." Obi-Wan patted her shoulder

reassuringly. "You're not indebted to us. We are here to help." "Thanks, Master Kenobi." They

got ready to enter the shop, but Kaliya stopped them in their tracks. "I'm not sure this is a

good idea. The owner is infamous for his short temper." "All the more reason to make sure you

don't get into trouble. We won't attract any attention, don't worry." The girl nodded

appreciatively and pushed the door open.

"Ah, little one, let's see what you have this time." "Actually, I'd like to get something back.

The jar I gave you three years ago." The brutish man leaned over the counter, bringing his face

close to hers. "Can you pay for it?" Silently, she handed him several credit chips. The

shopowner broke out in laughter. When he had calmed down, he snarled, "well, that's not enough,

girl, the interest level has gone up recently." "What?! You're a fraud!" The Jedi, who had

pretended to be customers, were watching the scene alertly. "But-", the shop owner's face was now

threatening close, Kaliya felt nausea rise in her throat, "I know a way you could repay me."

His malicious grin turned his face into an even more ridiculous grimace. The girl backed away.

"No. You will give me the jar." She clenched her hands into fists, repeating her words. The man

looked dumbfounded for a moment, then reached under the counter and placed the jar on the table

with a loud thud. Skywalker and Kenobi exchanged astonished glances.