Chapter 4

Revenge

"Whose idea was this, anyway?"

"I think it was Kreia's idea."

"That figures. I just don't understand the need for a 'buddy system.'"

"It is a necessary precaution. Kreia just wants to make sure none of us run into any trouble alone."

Kalan walked with Mandalore through the jungle, listening carefully for sounds of beasts nearby. After Kalan's, Mandalore's, and Mira's "success" the day before, Kreia had organized a cannok hunt where all the members of the crew went out in pairs that she chose. Kalan didn't mind being put with Mandalore, but she could tell he was on edge because of the festival that would be taking place the next day.

Suddenly a Mandalorian rushed down their path. He bowed to Mandalore. "Mandalore, could you come back to the camp? We need your advice for something."

Mandalore turned to Kalan. "You'll be all right without me?"

Kalan knew this wasn't a serious question. "Of course."

Mandalore left with his soldier and Kalan stood alone. She continued down the path by herself when she was sure she heard rustling. Hoping it was wild beasts, she snuck stealthily off of the path, but then she heard raised voices. She stopped moving, and, listening carefully, she was able to determine one of the voices to be Mical's.

"…From the ship, all alone, there's something I really wanted to tell you."

He and his partner must have gotten lost, Kalan thought. She was about to turn back when she heard another voice that could only be Mira's. "Really? What is it?"

"I love you!"

Kalan stopped moving. She couldn't believe it. That can't really be them…but…

"Oh, kiss me!" Mira cried.

This was accompanied by various noises that made Kalan feel sick to her stomach. She rushed back on to the path and stood there, still stunned by what she had heard. Then she heard another noise, coming from the other direction. Atton came crashing through the jungle, panting.

"What's wrong?" Kalan asked.

"Oh…nothing," Atton said shiftily. "I was just running."

Kalan raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, have you seen Mira?"

Kalan cleared her throat. "Oh…well…uh…"

"You have, haven't you? Come on, Jedi don't lie."

Kalan smiled. "You always get me on that one, and it isn't even true."

"Good Jedi don't lie. Now why won't you tell me where she is?"

"Well…she's down in that direction, you know, but…I…don't think she and her…er…buddy…want to be disturbed."

"You're kidding, right? You're not implying what I think you're implying?"

"Uh…maybe."

"How do you know this?"

"I…uh…heard her."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"Heard her what?"

"She was…you know…talking."

"And who was she 'talking' to?"

Kalan flinched. "Mical."

"I knew it!" Atton shouted suddenly. "I knew he was that type! That little pretty boy thinks he's so smart…I'll show him…"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't you see? The second I start talking to Mira he takes her from me! He didn't even look at her until he thought I liked her! And earlier, when I liked…I mean…when he thought I liked you, he 'suddenly' became interested in you!"

"Atton, you're overreacting…"

"No, I'm serious! I'm not letting him get away with this!" Atton paused, thinking hard. "Wait, I know! You can pretend to like me, and then he'll be jealous because he's stuck with Mira! He'll wish he had stayed with you when he had the chance!"

"He was never 'with' me, Atton. And there's no way I'm going to do this."

"If he really doesn't like you then he won't care, but if he does like you then you'll be able to tell!"

"Atton, this is stupid."

"Oh, come on! Please? Haven't I done a lot for you? I'm just asking you to do this one thing for me!"

"This is a bad idea…"

"I'll make it up to you! I can't exactly teach you 'how to meditate,' but there are lots of other things I can do for you!"

Kalan sighed. Maybe he's right…it is very strange that Mical suddenly likes Mira…perhaps he…no, he's not like that…or maybe he is…

"There's no harm in it," Atton persisted.

"Kreia won't like it."

Atton laughed nervously. "Well…uh…we'll just have to tone it down a bit when she's around, you know?"

"Okay, fine, I'll do it."

"You really mean it?"

"Yes."

"Thank you! Thank you so much…hey, where's your partner, anyway?"

"Mandalore had to leave. Where's yours?"

"HK suddenly went running off. He said he forgot something at the ship and never came back."

"Oh. Well, do you want to go back to the ship?"

"Sure. This cannok-hunting stuff is boring anyway. Later, when they're back, we can start off with Mira…it would be better if it's not only Mical who knows about us, but we have to try to get Mira alone because I'd rather not have Kreia hear…"

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Mira was sitting on a chair in the Main Hold of the Ebon Hawk. Only some of the crew had returned from their cannok-hunting, but all were outside (as far as she knew) except her. She had her eyes closed and appeared asleep. Mira liked to do this a lot; Kalan called it "meditating" but she just called it sitting and thinking. Mira had told Kalan about it once when Kalan had assumed she was sleeping, but every time the rest of the crew saw her they didn't know she was really awake. Once, Mira had actually heard Kreia holding a conversation with herself. She couldn't understand what Kreia was babbling about, but she was sure if Kreia knew someone might be listening the old woman would never have opened her mouth.

Mira heard some voices as two people entered the Main Hold. She remained still, listening intently. Usually nobody on the ship bothered to tell her what was going on, and this was an easy enough way to find out.

"See, I told you they were all outside," Atton said.

Mira could clearly hear Kalan next. "Mira's here."

"She's asleep."

"Are you sure?"

"If she was awake she would have said something by now." Mira heard footsteps approach her. "Mira?"

Mira didn't move. Apparently something important was going to happen and she didn't want to miss it.

"See?" Atton said, the footsteps returning to their original place. "I told you she was asleep."

"Atton, more people might come onto the ship," Kalan said nervously. "I really don't think it's safe…"

"You can use your 'Jedi senses' and say when somebody's coming," Atton interrupted.

"Well," Kalan said, her voice taking on a lighter tone, "I don't know how well my 'Jedi senses' will be working if I'm distracted."

"Then I guess we'll just have to hope nobody sees us."

Mira could hear movement, but they didn't say anything else. She had to try hard to keep herself from appearing suspicious, even though she was sure they weren't paying attention to her; she was just about to try slightly opening her eyes to see what they were doing when she heard a familiar rolling sound coming closer.

"Atton, it's the T3!" Kalan said in a whisper.

The T3 rolled into the room. "Get out of here," Atton said.

"Beep," the T3 announced.

"He says he needs to make repairs here, and it's important," Kalan translated.

"Wonderful. Come on, Kalan, let's go somewhere where rolling trash cans can't interrupt us."

Mira opened her eyes a few seconds after she heard them walk out of the Main Hold. She smiled. Ooh, Kreia's going to be so mad if she ever finds out about this…