Entry 14

Recovered Memory

We rushed downstairs and caught our airtaxi. A blurry Phindian driver turned to us and said in broken basic, "Where to?"

I put my comlink near my face and whispered. "Do you have a place for us to go Sacha?"

"Tenth and Highroad Avenue," she responded.

I gave the driver the destination and turned to Magash. "Let's slave our wireless earpieces to my comlink. This way we can both hear what Sacha says and it won't be so conspicuous when we talk to her."

Magash nodded as she pulled a small earbud out of her jacket pocket and keyed it to my comlink frequency. I did the same and pushed the device into my ear. It is noticeable, but everybody has them nowadays. I did a communications check with Sacha to ensure everything was working properly.

"Sacha, you do have a location of the woman?"

In my ear I heard her reply. "She heading toward the location I gave you. She is still about two blocks away. When you get to the intersection walk south and you should intercept her. She's on the east side of the street."

"Got it." I broke contact and turned to Magash. "Did you hear that?"

She nodded. "As we make our approach let me initiate conversation. I believe she will be less intimidated that way and if she is monitored another woman approaching might not trigger an alarm."

"Okay," I whispered as the gravity of the situation began to sink in. "What happens if she tells us she's in jeopardy? What if she's being monitored? Some slavers put explosives in their captives' body for remote detonation. That might explain why she is moving around free."

"That is a concern." Magash turned to me and smiled slightly. "But I have confidence that together we can handle any situation thrown our way. We make a good team."

I felt my face warm at that compliment. I wasn't sure if she was talking about just the two of us or our entire group. Before I could get a clarification the air speeder swooped down to the surface street and landed with a jolt. The dour faced Phindian turned towards us. "Ten credits."

We handed him the proper amount of credit chips and exited the vehicle. I touched my earpiece activating the small microphone. "Sacha, we are heading south."

"We see you in the live feed. She is heading your way. You should see her soon."

The sidewalk wasn't too crowded in his area and within minutes we spotted the human female strolling about and window-shopping. When she was almost upon us Magash broke away from me and put on the most amazing performance. She made a very out of character girlish squeal of delight as she waved to the woman enthusiastically. "Ksassa!" she shouted as she quickly approached the lady. "I haven't seen you since you left Svang. How are you?"

By now I have caught up with the two. The woman looked positively confused. "You have me mixed up with somebody else. My name is Genna Tova."

Magash's hand flew up to her mouth to muffle a fake gasp of embarrassment. "I am so sorry. You two could be twins." She reached back towards me and locked her arm in mine as she pulled me next to her. "Honey doesn't she look exactly like Ksassa Lengrada?"

I looked the woman over, memorizing ever mole and blemish. It was then I saw a small portion of a tattoo peaking out from under her sleeve. It was exactly like the one listed in the missing person announcement. I was sure this was our woman. "You could be sisters," I remarked. "Are you related to the Lengrada family?"

The woman started to look a bit uncomfortable, but not more than any person would when accosted by two strangers. She shook her head. "No, I don't know any people with the surname Lengrada."

I turned to Magash. I assume she is trying to sense deception or apprehension from the woman using the Force. My Zabrak friend smiled apologetically. "I'm so sorry. I haven't seen her in months and I got all excited."

The dark haired woman smiled back warily. "No problem. Enjoy your day." She walked past us and continued down the street.

Magash pushed the earpiece button to talk to Sacha. "She claims she is not the woman and I felt no deception from her."

I unlinked my arm from Magash's and activated my microphone. "She was lying. She has three distinctive identifying features of the missing woman. A tattoo of a bird, a slight scar over the right eyebrow and a small mole on her neck. I am certain she is Miss Lengrada."

There was a slight pause before Sacha spoke. "Follow her. Den and I will keep an eye on her movements using the surveillance vids. Let's see where she goes."

Magash and I followed her for the next hour. We walked arm-in-arm trying to play the part of two young lovers out for a stroll. I must admit I like this part of undercover work. I truly enjoy her company.

We stayed far enough away so not to be noticed. When she went into a bakery Magash and I stopped and pretended to be fascinated with a jewelry store window display. A soft smile crossed my lips as I gazed at the diamond and jewel encrusted necklaces. "Do you see anything you like?"

Her lips pinched together before she shook her head. "Jewelry is worn by my clan members, but it is almost always symbolic. We don't wear expensive trinkets to flaunt wealth." She glanced over to me. "If a clan sister defeats a deadly predator such as a Saurian or a great dragon they will make a necklace from the teeth of the beast. It is a testimony to their hunting skills and bravery."

I should have known Dathomiri women wouldn't wear anything frivolous. "The men don't make jewelry to impress the ladies in your clan?"

Magash gave me the most incredulous look I have ever seen her make. "Men do not woo women in my culture. Women select breeding males. Once they fulfill their reproductive duties they are sent back to the fields to work."

"Oh." I turned my attention back to jewelry display not knowing how to respond to that comment.

Magash raised and eyebrow questioningly. "You do not approve of the way we treat males?"

I shrugged. "It is not my place to judge a foreign culture." She gave a noncommittal nod of the head before she turned to keep an eye on the bakery. I became curious if her opinions of males had changed in the months since she left her planet. I was especially interested in her feelings about me. "Magash, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course."

I hesitated for a moment trying to find the correct words. "Do you see me as a human male?"

I was a little disappointed she made a scoffing noise. "No, of course not."

"Oh…" My eyes dropped as a sickening feeling crept into my belly…or whatever is in my abdominal cavity. Once again I cursed my fate. I was a droid capable of feeling very real human emotions…and I was fairly sure what I was experiencing now was sadness and heartbreak.

Magash must have noticed the wounded look on my face. Worry darkened her expression as she put a hand on my shoulder. "Why do my words distress you?"

I let loose a breath that was half frustration, half disbelief. "You just told me you don't view me as a real person. Why wouldn't that bother me?"

She cocked her head to the side looking completely befuddled. She stared at me for a long moment before eyes went wide with a spark of comprehension. "Oh," she said before laughing. "You misunderstood my meaning. You asked me if I viewed you as a human male. In my culture males are inferior." She gave my shoulder a squeeze. "You are not inferior. You are my equal. Your question should have been 'do I view you as sentient and as a friend'. The answer to that question is yes."

The knot in my abdomen loosened as an embarrassed smile danced across my face. "Thank you." At that moment I saw our enigmatic female leave the bakery and continue down the street. "Our target is on the move."

Magash dropped her hand from my shoulder and wove it around my arm as we continued our walk.

There was an awkward silence before Magash cleared her throat. "I hope I did not offend you."

"No, not at all." I glanced over to her. "How about Jax? Do you see him as inferior?"

"Jax is a Jedi. That is similar to a male witch. I was impressed with him from the day we met. I would not have left my people to train with somebody I did not respect. As for other men...my feelings about human males are changing, but you cannot completely wipe away decades of cultural teachings in such a short time." I saw a change in her mood to one more somber. "But my views are changing. I do not think I can return to Dathomir and embrace our culture of misandry. I want what Sacha has. She is bonded to a male that is her equal. I will not find that on Dathomir." She drew in a deep breath and blew it out in frustration. "Unfortunately, my clan expects me to find a mate from within the clan breeding males. Maybe one day I will return to Dathomir to breed. I am approaching my prime reproductive age."

I could feel my cheeks heat up. That was more information that I ever expected from my usually stoic friend. Perhaps because I am a droid she finds it easier to talk to me. "What would you do then? Stay on Dathomir?"

"I believe I would become bored on my planet. I would leave after conception." She gave me a curious look. "Perhaps you can go with me when the time comes and help me select a mate with the proper physical and mental attributes."

I tried to mask my surprised scoff as a cough, which probably wasn't the best disguise since I doubt human replica droids cough. "Excuse me?"

She gave me a furtive glance before she focused back on the woman we were following. "I apologize. That is probably a role best performed by another female."

I heaved a sigh. "Probably. I don't believe I have the capability of selecting a suitable breeding partner for you." I tried to make my words sound upbeat, but there was an unmistakable dejected tone in my voice. I know it is ridiculous for me to feel jealous. I can't father children. I can't be anything to Magash but a friend. I hate these very human emotions. I feel like a man trapped in a droid's body. I hate this. I truly hope my brain self-repairs and I can once-and-for-all stop craving things that I can't have.

"She turned into a residential area." Magash's words mercifully pulled me out of my dismal musings. I looked up the road and saw the woman heading down a street lined with townhouses. As the woman neared one house a man outside gardening stood and greeted her lovingly. He gave her a tender kiss and hug before they walked up the stairs to their little townhouse, closing the door behind them.

Magash and I continued past the home and went around the block so we could communicate our observations to Den and Sacha.

Magash activated her earpiece comlink. "We've recorded the location of her home. She doesn't appear under any duress and I could sense in the Force that she believes she is who she says she is."

"Could it be amnesia?" I asked.

I heard Den speak up on my earpiece. "If she had an accident and doesn't remember who she was, she might have just wandered away from Svang."

"Possibly." I glanced over to Magash. "Did you feel any reaction from her when you mentioned Ksassa's name?"

"The surprise I felt could be the result of having two strangers approach her. She absolutely believes her name is Gena Tova."

"Come on back to the hotel," Den interrupted. "Jax sent us some surveillance video of the hotel in Svang where Magash was attacked. He found something interesting."

I put my finger to my earpiece. "We'll walk back to the main part of the city and flag down an air taxi. We'll be back soon." I keyed off the comlink and then turned to my friend. "Shall we go?" I offered Magash my arm, and despite the fact there was no longer a need to continue the young lover façade, I was greatly please when she accepted.

I guess 'Just friends' isn't so bad.