Logan rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. He and Bastila were not three steps of the Ebon Hawk before they were stopped by a Czerka representative.
"Let me get this straight, you want me to pay you 200 credits jut so I can dock here?" Logan queried. The older man paused for a moment and smiled before continuing
"Yes sir. You must understand, the cost of running this little outpost is not cheap, neither is keeping this docking facility in check." the man gave a rehearsed smile as he held his hand out. Logan sighed inwardly.
"Credit grabbing bastards!" He thought to himself, the young jedi had barley set foot on the planet but he could already sense the suffering of its many inhabitants. He was sure he could put the money to better use. Logan stretched out his palm and slowly waved his fingers, he spoke to the man in a slow, relaxed manner as he subtly reached out with the force to influence his thoughts.
"I don't need to pay the docking fee."
"You don't need to pay the docking fee."
"Thank you, we will be on our way." As the two jedi walked towards the entrance to Anchorhead the man was left standing there trying to work out what had just happened. Logan felt a wave of irritation permeating from Bastila, he turned towards her and glared. Taking this as a sign to speak she began.
"I cant help but be disappointed in you Logan." she sated as she crossed her arms. Logan didn't speak, he waited for her to continue lecturing him, she didn't disappoint.
"You know a jedi is prohibited from using the force, especially such a dangerous ability, for personal gain."
"Bastila, do you honestly think that it was the right thing to do to give those credits to that leach? Cant you feel the suffering here, these could serve a better purpose."
"The lure of the dark side is subtle and inviting, you may feel as if you are working for the greater good but it can draw you in further and further until you cannot resist its power any longer. You may draw on its powers out of a desire to help but it soon twists you into everything you hate, everything you fought against, turning you into a mockery of everything you stood for."
"Oh please!" Logan snorted waving his arms about dramatically. "Don't give me the whole once you start down the Dark path forever will it dominate your destiny nonsense! I just don't believe it."
"Then you are a fool." Logan's face turned serious as he went to reply to Bastila.
"No, if you want to have a serious conversation about the nature and philosophies of the force fine, but you are naive to think the only aspect of the force that matters is the light. The Light side and the Dark side are two sides of the same coin, and there is a lot of Gray in between."
"You are foolish to think you can dabble in aspects of the Dark side and walk away uncorrupted."
"Really? I beg to differ." Logan lifted his hand towards his eyes as he looked around. "This is not the place to be having this conversation, we have a mission to attend to." The jedi walked along the sandy path until they were stopped abruptly by a distraught woman. She clung to Logan's cloak desperately in the hopes he would stop. He turned to face her and she fell to her knees. Tears were flowing freely down her face, a look of heartbreak and desperation stained her features. Logan immediately joined her on the ground.
"Please...please! You are a jedi? Pleas help me!" She managed through barley restrained sobs.
"Its all right, I am Logan, I will help if I can."
"Oh thank you Master jedi! thank you! My husband was a hunter, but he...he died, now I am alone and I have no way to feed my children, I only have one thing of worth...this Wraid plate of my husbands." The woman produced a best bone from a pouch. Logan inspected it and immediately valued it at 500 credits.
"I know its worth at least 500 credits...But I have no way to sell it, I have no hunters licence. Please sell it for me. I need to feed my children."
"A hunters licence?"
"You...you have no license?" A wave of despair washed across the woman as she realised her children would go hungry again. Logan got to his feet and looked down at the woman. She was just one of millions with a similar story, but if he could help just one he would of made a difference.
"Give me your hand." The woman looked up at the young jedi, his face held such wisdom, his eyes looked older than the galaxy itself. She took is hand and felt a renewed sense of hope. He pulled her to her feet and placed a hand on her shoulder. After a few moments Logan's confident voice broke the silence.
"I can give you 2000 credits."
"2000 CREDITS? That...that is...I don't know what to say!" He handed her the credits and smiled. The woman went to hand the Wraid plate to Logan but he shook his head.
"Keep it, show your children how their father provided for them."
"Thank you so much." tears of joy and relief now marked the woman's face.
"May the force be with you." Bastila placed a hand on Logan's arm.
"That is how a jedi should always act." He gave her a grim smile.
"It was just one person, just a drop in the ocean. But if one persons suffering can be healed I have made a difference...That woman said something about a hunting license, I presume we will need one to leave Anchorhead."
"Where will we get one?" Bastila queried. Logan pointed to the Large door on his left.
"Shall we pay Czerka a visit?" The jedi stepped through the door into the small building.
"Oh, hello." A female voice called out. Logan walked towards the woman and smiled. He studied the woman for a moment before speaking.
"I am here about a hunting licence."
"I am afraid we no longer sell them." Logan paused for a moment, he saw a glint of lust in the woman's eyes. He lent over the desk that separated them and a smouldering smile slowly yet deliberately spread across his features.
"I am sure a woman who is as clever as she is beautiful knows how I can get my hands on one."
"Well...you do look quite...capable."
"I am sure you will come to find I am more than capable."
"Of that I'm sure...I can only issue a licence if you agree to remove the threat of the Sand People, I will give you a handsome sum of credits for every Gaffi stick you bring me, an even larger sum for the Chieftain's stick." He flashed the woman another irrisistable smile.
"You've got yourself a deal.
"Great, here is your licence." She pulled a metal card out from under the desk and handed it to Logan, her hand brushed across his and lingered their for a few moments longer than necessary.
Bastila's cheeks began to burn, a bitter taste lay on her tongue, currents of jealousy throbbed in her veins.
"One more thing."
"yes?" the woman replied with hope in her voice.
"Do you know if there are any interesting landmarks out in the desert?"
"Oh..." A disappointed frown spread across her face. "Czerka doesn't have any information on specific locations in the Dunes...however you might want to try Yuka Laka, he owns the droid shop, it is just beyond the cantina."
"Thanks."
"If you happen to go in the cantina, I will be their later tonight." Bastila's jealousy overwhelmed her, she suddenly grabbed Logan's arm and pulled him towards the door.
"I am terribly sorry to break up this budding romance!" she spat, the venom was aimed equally at Logan and the woman. "But we are on a rather tight schedule!" As soon as they were out of the building Bastila faced Logan and if looks could kill, he would have been one with the force right then.
"What the hell was that?"
"I don't understand."
"You and that...that bimbo! She was all over you!"
"She had information we needed so I used my charms to obtain it." Bastila's face turned red.
" So that's how you treat women is it? Is that how you thought of me?"
"Since when do you care? You cant treat me like a toy Bastila! One moment you want me the next you don't! You change your mind more than you change your sodding cloths!" Logan studied her face for a moment, he saw the hurt and the anger that was there.
She couldn't believe he was acting like this, he forced her to feel for him even thought it was forbidden, it was his fault she was acting like this.
"Now just wait a minuet if I am acting crazy its your fault, I warned you what would happen, but you pressed on anyway! Well don't you worry I wont be bothering you any more! Are relationship will be strictly professional from now on! After this mission is over we can forget we ever met!" Suddenly he gripped her arm tightly and pulled her into a side ally. He slammed her against the stone wall and poured his steaming emeralds into her equally defiant gaze. Both jedi were sizzling with unbridled passions, as Bastila looked at him she was briefly afraid of what he was going to do. She tried to stare him down but he knew what she was feeling. His mouth hovered dangerously close to hers, their bodies were pressed so tightly together they could feel every inch of one another, even through their amour.
"Your trembling."
"I am not."
"Your trembling because you want me to kiss you." Bastila hesitated, she had vowed to herself she wouldn't let this man seduce her again.
"I...your...you cant tease me like this and expect me to resist!"
"I don't want you to resist."
"We cant...not here..."
"Do you want me to kiss you?" His eyes sparkled with unspoken desires, she knew her emotions mimicked his and she could do nothing to hide it, she didn't want to hide it.
"Yes...yes I want you to kiss me." As soon as she granted him permission, he pressed himself against her and delivered a ferocious kiss. Before his kisses transported her to a sensual paradise, now she felt smothered in lust, he craved her and she knew it. She loved every second of it. He kissed her with a desperation, his tongue began to caress her mouth. His left hand found its way under her long hair, while his right hand began to embrace every portion of her. Her hands found their way into his robes, she pawed at the fabric, desperate to feel his skin, familiar bolts of pleasure began to course through Bastila, an erotic cry escaped her lips. Her hands moved to the back of his head and began to rake through his ebony locks. Her fingers moved down to his neck and pulled him closer. She drank in as many sweet pleasures as she could, not wanting the experience to end. Their feelings were intertwined now, they both knew exactly what the other wanted. Logan wanted to please her in any way he could, waves of pleasure were rolling in and out, neither cared that anyone could see them. They were oblivious to the world around them.
"Yes.." She moaned into his ear, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her as close as he possibly could. This was the moment of his life, nothing else even came close, he was holding the only woman he would ever want and he knew she felt the same. Their eyes locked together once more. "Kiss me again." She begged, these moments of pleasure he provided her with were the moments she cherished.
Logan smiled and brushed his course thumb against the delicate skin on her cheek. Slowly his mouth drew closer to hers, she could feel his sweet breath against her face, their lips were only millimetres apart.
"Excuse me...oh I.."
Both jedi's eyes widened as they realised they were not alone. They scrambled apart and tried to look as casual as possible. An embarrassed grin spread across Logan's features whereas Bastila looked absolutely mortified. The female Twi'lek who interrupted them gave a knowing smile.
"I am sorry for interrupting, but I couldn't help wondering...you are Bastila? Bastila Shan yes?"
"I...I am Bastila yes."
"I am a friend of your mother. Are you here to see her?"
"My mother...what is this about?"
"Your mother has been trying to contact you for some time, she is here on Tatooine, I am afraid she isn't well." Bastila's eyes widened.
"Is my father with her?"
"Oh...maybe you should talk to your mother."
"Thank you." The woman walked off and left the two jedi alone. After a brief pause Bastila spoke up. "That was the most humiliating moment of my life."
"Why? We did nothing wrong, OK technically we are not allowed to do that. But men and women do it all the time."
"That woman caught us...going at it !" Logan couldn't suppress a grin.
"I doubt she is going to call up Master Vrook and tell him what we've been up to." Now it was Bastila's turn to smile, though she tried to hide it. "Do you want to go and see your mother?" the smile quickly evaporated and was replaced with sullen contemplation.
"I cant imagine it will be an enjoyable conversation, but if she is really sick...besides I would like to see my father." Logan held out his hand, after a pause Bastila took it. Even though his hand engulfed hers they seemed to fit together perfectly.
"Would you allow me to escort you to the cantina?" A twinkle danced across his jade depths, it caused Bastila's lips to quiver.
"You may." she said with a smile, he brushed his soft lips against the delicate skin on her hand and led her to the meeting with her mother.