As they headed out of the town and back into the jungle, Obi-Wan fiddled with the comlink. Calraen marvelled that he was able to walk through the thick undergrowth and concentrate on repairing the small device at the same time. He fixed it before they were halfway to the crash site and got in contact with Bail Organa immediately. She listened to Obi-Wan's side of the conversation as she walked. Obi-Wan explained their situation and asked if Bail had heard from Captain Antilles. There was no way they could make the rendezvous in time.
At the end of the call, he explained the parts she didn't hear.
"Bail is going to try to make contact with the Captain. Once he's done that he will call us back and let us know what's happening."
Calraen nodded. "I hope the others aren't in trouble with the imperials as well."
They reached the ship in much shorter time than Calraen had expected. But then, last time she had been carrying Obi-Wan's considerable weight on her shoulders.
The crash site wasn't pretty. The trees that had been in the way of their descent were ripped aside and there was a great trench of dirt where the nose of the ship had plunged in. The view port was shattered and the left wing was almost torn completely off.
Kar'ima studied it from the ground for a few minutes while the two Jedi waited for a verdict.
"Well, what do you think?" Calraen asked, impatient.
Kar'ima shrugged. "I have seen worse." He turned to them. "It appears to be fixable. Let me have a look inside first."
Obi-Wan nodded and the Twi'lek climbed up through the view port. He and Calraen glanced at each other. "Better news than I'd expected," Obi-Wan said. "But then I don't even remember the crash."
"I'm just surprised no one else has been here to check in out yet."
Kar'ima called out from inside the ship. "Could I have a hand in here?"
"I'll go," Obi-Wan said, stepping forward then pausing and turning back. "Could you watch the comlink, Cal? If Bail calls back let me know."
"Cal," she repeated quietly as she took it. "My friends used to call me Cal."
Obi-Wan paused, wondering if she would say more. When she didn't, he put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort, but she flinched away again.
When she saw the hurt look in his eyes she instantly regretted her impulse. "I'm sorry," she quickly mumbled.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said softly.
"I know."
Obi-Wan smiled half-heartedly before turning and following Kar'ima into the ship. Calraen leaned against a tree, disgusted with herself. Obi-Wan only tried to be kind, and she threw the gesture in his face. She wished she could control her reactions. She would try harder.
After a few minutes the comlink signal blinked and she called Obi-Wan back.
This time it was Yoda on the other end. Obi-Wan turned the volume up so they could both hear.
"Glad I am to hear both of you are safe," he said, and Calraen noted the sincere relief in his voice. "Grounded also is Captain Antilles and his crew. Prepared they now are to wait for you in the capital. Agree with you I do – find this Jedi, if exist he does. And these others you mentioned – meditate on this information I will."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said. "It appears that our ship may be repairable, but it might take some time. Is Captain Antilles prepared to wait a few weeks here?"
"He has agreed to do so. Obi-Wan – take greater care of your comlink, you must. Be in touch soon we will."
Obi-Wan cut the communication as Kar'ima jumped down from the ship again.
"I can fix it," he announced. "But it will take time, and equipment, and many hands. This I can provide, but not for free."
Obi-Wan nodded. "We understand. We do have access to credits, but-"
"No," Kar'ima cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I'm not asking for money. I'm asking for your help. Help us in the raid on the factories and in freeing the slaves, and in return we will repair your ship."
Obi-Wan glanced at Calraen before replying, and she greatly appreciated that fact that he didn't agree straight away without consulting her. She nodded at him; there wasn't any other way.
"Alright. We agree."
Kar'ima was excited. He shook Obi-Wan's hand enthusiastically before striding off back towards the village. "Come! We have to do something about your appearance!"
An hour later, the two Jedi stood before another Twi'lek, this one a female and the owner of a semi-legal supply store on the outskirts of the town. The building was solid, and plainly equipped with high-tech surveillance and defence systems in case of a raid. Kar'ima explained the situation to her and she was immediately happy to help, so he left them with her to go to his own shop for the day.
As soon as he left, her whole demeanour changed and she looked the two of them sceptically, as one would look over a dirty old pair of shoes. "So, do you want to be recognised as Jedi? Because you're doing a good job."
"We weren't aware that there was an Imperial presence on this planet," Obi-Wan said neutrally.
"Whether there is or not, you shouldn't be so obvious. Do you have any idea how big a price is on your heads?"
More than anything, Calraen hated being patronised. "Will you help us or not?" she asked impatiently. Obi-Wan gave her something of a warning glance, but she ignored it. "Because we've managed to do alright so far by ourselves."
"Well, Missy, Kar said you're helping us now, so you're not by yourselves anymore, are you? Bad enough that you're human, but worse that you're female. You stand out like a Hutt on this planet."
Calraen started to make a sharp reply but the Twi'lek cut her off dismissively. "For a start, you should do something about that Jedi haircut. Most being in the galaxy are going to recognise that rattail."
The Padawan took a step back, putting a hand protectively around her braid. "No, it's… I can't," she said, her confidence disappearing.
"Well, are you helping us or not? Because you need to decide now."
"But I-"
Her braid showed that she was learning – to cut it off would be arrogant, would be to declare herself a Knight, and to forsake her late Master's teaching. She couldn't.
To her relief, Obi-Wan stepped between the Padawan and the Twi'lek. "I'm afraid that's out of the question," he said with finality. "Perhaps a hat would suffice."
As it turned out, the supplier was quite talented with understated disguises. She quickly found a cap for Calraen and a dark blue jacket that made her look like a mechanic, and for Obi-Wan a variety of straps and holsters made him look like a common mercenary. She also insisted on dyeing their pants and outer tunics black, which neither of the Jedi liked, but at least it was better than cutting of Calraen's braid.
She let them wait in the store room while she dyed their clothes, and at first they both took the chance to meditate, but neither of them found they could get very far. Obi-Wan sat on a crate in his shorts and undertunic while Calraen sat leaning against it on the floor, wrapped in his big cloak again.
"Thanks for… before," she said, breaking the silence.
Obi-Wan shook his head in response. "She means well, I think, she's just insensitive toward our traditions."
Calraen nodded, fingering her braid thoughtfully.
"Maybe I should cut it," she said, restraining her emotions. "I hate the idea, but I don't want it to get us in trouble either. I mean, I'm not likely to ever be knighted anyway, so it wouldn't-"
"Cal, Cal, don't," Obi-Wan interrupted. "We still have Yoda. You will face trials, and you will pass, and you will have a proper knighting ceremony."
"But Master Yoda says I'm not ready to face the trials," she replied, despair in her voice. Compassion clenched Obi-Wan's heart and he slid off the crate to sit on the floor opposite her. "And I don't have a Master, so how can I learn and train to prepare for them?"
Now is the time, Obi-Wan knew. I'll ask her now. He pulled a knee up to his chin, gathering himself. He wasn't sure exactly what to say. And he was no nervous.
"Obi-Wan, are you alright?"
He looked back up at her.
"Calraen-"
The door opened loudly behind them.
"Your clothes are ready, come on."
Let me know what you all think. I know it must be a bit boring at the moment, but more exciting stuff is coming up, I promise!