Shada slowly made her way in the direction of the Little Karrde, hampered by gathering crowds taking advantage of advertised Tatooine tours near the shuttle bays. Not up to pushing through the throng, she moved with the flow. She was almost healed inside and determined to resume workouts when she returned from the surface.
"Shada."
She looked around and saw the smiling Stollic's making their way in her direction. "Going to the surface?" She asked out of politeness.
"We are," Mavo answered. "I've been to a few disreputable planets, but Cleona has led a sheltered life."
"Mavo has promised this is one of those unsavory planets and I would see despots of the worst type." Cleona looked like she could be happy staying onboard.
"Tatooine is all that and more," Shada agreed.
"Are you taking our tour?" Cleona looked around. "Is your handsome husband joining us?"
"We're taking our own ship to the surface and he's getting it ready." Shada saw Thade pushing through the crowd.
"Shada, we just got word from the surface that Huff Darklighter is aware we're here and coming to pay us a visit. You're in no shape to take him on."
"Don't worry, Talon called in Aves, Lachton and Corvis for backup. They are already in Mos Eisley."
Thade looked relieved. "I'm sure the Bothan assassins are waiting also and after you killed that Bothan, they are more determined than ever."
"Maybe Huff made a deal with them; wouldn't surprise me." Shada smiled to the older couple, hoping the conversation didn't sound too bad.
"How did you kill the Bothan when shot?" Mavo looked skeptically at the slight woman before him.
"My niece is a trained assassin in her own right," Thade proudly stated.
"You make it sound as if I kill for a living." Shada rounded on Thade. "I'll have you know I'm more than that now. I help run the largest information service in the galaxy."
"Don't forget, co-owner to the biggest smuggling operation also," Dankin added as he and Chin sidled up to them. "Boss says you're dawdling and he's ready to leave."
Shada looked back to the shocked couple. "Don't believe a word these guys say. Talon is a great man, honorable and a good father." She allowed Thade to take her arm and waved goodbye.
"You think she really killed that Bothan?" Cleona asked her husband.
"No, I think she is telling us a story to put us in the spirit of visiting this world."
Talon's people were spread around the landing bay and his crew exited first, heavily armed. Aves, from his post on a building, called the all clear and joined them, running down an outside stairwell with dust obliterating half the steps. The large party made its way down the dusty street towards Mos Eisley's Cantina. H'sishi stayed close to Shada and snarled at anyone getting too close. Half way to their destination, a group of Bothan's rounded a building and the leader called out that he wanted to talk a truce.
"Recognize them, Rysa?" Talon kept his voice down.
"The speaker is Bothan Defense Forces and a General named Tafft Fey'lya; a distant cousin to the senator. He blindly follows the Bothan ways and I suspect is loyal to Borsk."
Talon's group formed a circle around the Bothan's, trapping them in the middle of the street, forcing landspeeders to go around, to the complaining of the drivers.
"We are hired to assassinate your woman, Karrde. That's proving to be a futile effort. We asked Emberlene to send Mistryl's and they said they agreed not to try and kill her, no matter her crimes. We attempted to kidnap Dr. Eloy and lost over half our group to the Noghri. If we return to Bothawui, we will be disgraced and our families ruined. I'll lose my commission and be dishonored."
"What do you propose?" Talon did the talking for Shada.
Taft'lya looked at Rysa and spoke to her in Bothawui, "You are one of the few of our species allowed near Terrik, Karrde or these humans, why?"
Rysa answered in basic, first repeating what the General asked her. "Talk basic. These are my friends, not you. Not all Bothan's hate humans, even if Bothawui is sinking into civil war over that very issue because of the propaganda of Nolaa Tarkona. Her Diversity Alliance is nothing more than an anti-human movement. The question is; what are you going to do about Shada D'ukal Karrde?"
The Bothan shifted his eyes to Shada and they measured each other. "The only thing I can." With swiftness, he quickly drew his blaster, as did the five remaining Bothan's with him. They all agreed before the encounter to target only the woman and were sure at least one would kill her before they all died. Their deaths would make them heroes on Bothawui, but only if they succeeded.
A small tour barge floated down the street and couldn't maneuver around the crowd of humans and Bothans in what appeared to be some type of showdown. The human tour guide gave his observation on the loudspeakers. "Here we have one of many encounters among outlaws and smugglers." The tourist craned to see the excitement.
"That's the Karrde's." Cleona grabbed Mavo's arm.
"Probably just a meeting among businessmen." Mavo tried to explain the gathering, but even he could see the Bothan's were surrounded by heavily armed mostly humans. Before they could flinch, shooting broke out and with unblinking gazes, the Stollic's witnessed a Mistryl Shadow Guard in action, a story they'd repeat until their dying days.
Shada pulled a zenji needle and pierced an eyeball into the brain, reaching for another needle as the execution of Bothan's took place. The Bothan's shots went wide, mostly due to a volley of blaster bolts raining in from all directions.
Talon drew quicker than ever and saw Shada's first target already falling. He took out the next Bothan he saw, who already had a blaster pointed in their direction. Within seconds, it was over and Karrde's people were dispersing as the body removal detail arrived, always on call and moving to the sound of any blaster fire. Talon threw a large denomination credit chip in their direction while Shada retrieved her needle.
The tourist watched in shocked fear. Several had seen a few of that group on the ship and they seemed so nice. Mavo held tightly to Cleona's arm, ready to pull her down to safety and regretting his insistence they visit this backwater. As quickly as it started, it ended and six dead Bothan's littered the street. Mavo noticed the Bothan female with Karrde's group did not hesitate to fire on her own kind.
Huff Darklighter pushed through the growing crowd of onlookers and would be pickpockets. "Talon, Shada, how nice of you to drop by our little out of the way planet again."
"Your greeting committee, Huff?" Talon squared off with him.
"I'd be lying if I said I knew nothing about them, but wasn't worried they would kill your wife with the army you usually travel with."
"Would you people get out of the street and let us pass," the human driver of the tour barge called into his speakers.
Rysa addressed Talon, "Karrde, I believe I'm done here. I'm joining Antilles and Ven in space.
"Have a good time." Talon watched her hurry back to where her X-wing was berthed next to his fleet in a block of landing pads. "Come, Huff, I'll buy you a drink and we'll catch up on old times," Talon offered and started moving to the side of the sand street.
Huff fell in step, wanting to get out of the blistering sun, even if it meant drinking with Karrde.
The barge floated past and Talon caught the shocked expressions of the Stollic's and saluted them, two fingers to his forehead and an amused smirk, knowing Shada gave them the show of a lifetime.
Huff sat his large girth down and took a draught of ale to cool his parched throat. "What brings you back here, Karrde? Besides the obvious, killing Bothans."
"Information."
"You buying?"
"If it's worth anything." Talon looked closely at Shada to see if the exertions harmed her. She was sitting and looking around, ever his bodyguard, even though his people were dispersed throughout the cantina. He reached over and took her hand. "Relax dearest, our people have us covered."
Huff addressed her, "I was mad enough to put a bounty on your pretty little head, girl." He saw the calculated look Talon was measuring him with, like where to put the blaster hole. "After Airen Cracken paid me a visit, I changed my mind and was relieved you kept a working weapon of that magnitude out of their hands. My personal animosity against non-humans is well known and I personally couldn't have cared less if they committed genocide against their own kind. Cracken explained I would spend the remainder of my days at Kessel if they succeeded. I remember Booster when he came out of the mines, tough as Yavin gems and a complete personality change."
Talon nodded, "Kessel does change those who survive long enough to come out."
"What are you buying, Karrde?" Huff got down to business. When he heard Karrde's people were amassing, he assumed perchance it might be profitable for him and arranged his path to cross Aves who only said the boss was coming for information. He couldn't get anything else from Karrde's number three.
"I need to know about a couple families on Ryloth; Vens and Kyns."
Huff scratched his thick, white mustache. "I might be able to link you with a few Twi'leks who are recently from there."
Talon pulled a ten thousand credit chip and laid it on the table for Huff to see the amount. "Any Kyn or Ven and it's yours."
"Another one of your tricks, Karrde?"
"Anyone not who I'm after is worth a thousand, providing they have useful information." Talon pulled another New Republic chip and set it beside the larger denomination.
Huff weighed Talon's request and pulled his comlink. "Rip, bring me the Twi'lek working as a bouncer at the Racetrack. Tell him, someone wants to meet him who is a friend of Nawara Ven. We're at Mos Eisley's Cantina." He didn't wait for a reply and pocketed his comm.
Shada spoke for the first time, "Is Rip over my kidnapping him?"
Huff's eyes twinkled. "His ordeal earned him the attention of many young ladies in Anchorhead and here. Word got around how he went up against a Mistryl and lived to tell the tale….and trust me, the tale has grown in the telling, down to him killing the baby sarlaac instead of me."
Talon chuckled, "Whatever line works for him."
"I have been keeping him here instead of letting him explore the galaxy like his cousin, Gavin. After Biggs, I don't think I could take another son dying before me."
Talon thought of his son's dying before him and knew he'd do anything within his power to keep them alive. "We're lucky the war is over and your other son's aren't enticed by the glamour's of fighting."
"I hope your son's and mine never see a war like that again or any war." Huff raised his glass in a toast and Talon gladly joined in.
Huff saw people enter, stop and look around. A human appeared to be guiding them and talking. He noticed they were listening raptly to the man's spiel.
Shada saw the group from her position. "Great, the tourist from the barge."
"Tourist?" Huff looked at them in disbelief. "Who would come here except heat loving species, like Twi'leks."
"These came out with us from Coruscant. Talon and I know that older couple." The group moved within hearing range and they could hear the guide.
"And that was the booth where Han Solo killed a Rodian bounty hunter named Greedo. You can still see the blaster hole in the table and scorch on the wall where Greedo missed." The crowd ooohed and awwwed and took holoshots.
Talon and Huff choked on their drinks from laughing. "Hey, Shada, maybe you can tell them about being here that day also."
"Don't you dare or there will be no more negotiating for Bot."
"You play dirty," Talon grumbled, but his eyes betrayed him and he winked at her.
The Stollic's saw the Karrde's at a table and before they took two steps in that direction several beings stood up from tables, blocking their way and they looked like outlaws Mavo told her to expect on this planet, making Cleona go weak in the knees.
Aves cautioned them, "That area is off limits, go another direction."
With a frightened look at H'sishi, they returned to their group that was crowded into the area made famous by Han Solo and ordering drinks. They accepted recommendation on a local drink that the bartender Wuher invented. The guide told them they would need the drinks for courage before visiting Jabba's palace and the sarlaac pit.
Rip entered with a slender, muscular Twi'lek of gray skin and escorted him to the table. The Stollic's saw the two walk unchallenged to the table from which they were barred. Sitting closest, they overheard the conversation.
"Shada, we meet again." Rip saw who was with his father and knew now why he got cut off abruptly.
Shada smiled up at him. "My uncles are here if you want another trip with us."
"I learned my lesson and hope to never mess with a Mistryl again, especially you."
Talon smiled in pride. "I don't know, Rip, you might find a night in the bed of a Mistryl a real adventure, one you wouldn't have to embellish." He laughed as the young man's face turned red.
Rip changed the subject. "I brought the Twi'lek." He moved to stand behind his father.
"Please sit." Talon motioned to an empty chair at the table.
The Twi'lek looked familiar. Silently, Talon looked into his face, while the man examined him just as closely. Without a word, Talon put his finger on the larger denomination chip and slid it across the table to Huff, who pocketed it.
"Nawara is here." Talon felt some relief for his friend's sake.
The Twi'lek nodded. "I was ashamed to contact him."
"Shame? For what?"
"Living." The Twi'lek twitched his lekku in anguish.
"And on that note, I've heard enough self-degradation and for one am very happy to see you, Cale. Are you alone?"
"I am."
"Come with me to the Errant Venture and see your brother. You'll relieve his braintails beyond any words I can express."
"Captain Karrde, I am unworthy."
"Nonsense. Have you ever seen your niece?"
The Twi'lek shook his head. "I met Jari when Nawara brought her home after their marriage."
"Any Kyn's or other Ven's here?"
"I don't know about Kyn's and no, I'm alone."
"Forgive my manners; can I get you anything to drink?" Talon offered.
"No, thank you."
Talon finished his drink, stood and looked at Huff. "You finally got some of my credits, and honestly."
"I may keep this as a reminder; you can deal fairly with people, if you choose."
Talon held his hand out. "Square in our dealings?"
"For now." Huff also stood and they shook.
Talon looked around and made a motion. Several tables stood at once and the large group moved to the door and into the street in advance. Talon helped Shada up. "You okay?" he asked quietly.
"I'm ready to go back to the ship," she said in a rare confession.
He knew for that one little line, she must be hurting. He put her hand in the crook of his arm and turned to the Twi'lek. "Do you need to retrieve anything before we leave?"
Again, the Twi'lek shook his head. When his brother learned of his disgrace, he would be banned from the Errant Venture and back soon.
On the way out of the cantina, Talon led Shada by the table with the tourists. "I overheard you point out this famous spot. My wife was also in the cantina that day."
The guide looked closely at her and recognition dawned. "Of course, you were masquerading as Brea Tonnika. I interviewed you years ago when I came to learn two Mistryl Shadow Guards were pretending to be local smugglers who worked for Jabba the Hutt." He looked around excitedly. "She saw everything and my holobook tells all about Shada D'ukal and her place in the cantina that providential day." He looked at Shada. "I see you're with another smuggler now. Ditch Mazzic or kill him?"
Shada shook her head. "Had a death mark and he dropped me."
The tourists took in her knives, blaster and needles, and realized they were looking at a trained killer who worked for the unlawful side of the galaxy.
Cleona had to know. "Shada, how come you are friends with the Solo's?"
Talon laughed. "Look around the booth. Han Solo is one of us, not you."
Someone else asked Shada, "Can we have your account of that day?"
"My wife is recovering from being shot. I suggest if you want the story, purchase the holobook and read it. I've read it and it's quite entertaining." He put in a plug for the guide's book. Talon told the tourist to enjoy their afternoon and led his wife and Nawara's brother into the bright sunlight. His crew was standing in the sun with hands shading eyes. Talon could hear the fighters long before they flew overhead.
Aves saw them finally emerge. "Antilles, Ven and Rysa are putting on a show."
Soon the tourist, continuing on their tour, appeared from the cool interior and also stopped for the impromptu airshow. Three X-wings flew in formation and split in three directions and each made a perfect loop and all converged on each other, looking like they were all going to collide, but actually flew meters apart, one on top of the other as they passed.
"One of those is your brother," Talon told the Twi'lek.
"Impressive," was all he replied with, but didn't take his eyes off the sky as the pilots made several passes with intricate twists and rolls. The X-wings lined up and with a final series of rolls and tip of their wings flew low over the growing crowd, angled into the sun and disappeared.
Talon landed in the private admiral's bay and settled next to Booster's shuttle. Shada was lying down on a cot and he went to help her up. "We're home, dearest."
Shada opened her eyes into the concerned blue gaze and reached up to stroke his bare arm. "I'm getting old, not bouncing back like I used to."
"Nonsense, you're still young enough to give me a daughter to dote on in my old age. I'd join you on the cot, but we have an audience."
"I want to see the reunion of the Ven brothers." She let him help her up. The entire group went down the hall and took a turbolift to docking bay 15. Talon pointed out points of interest to Cale'ven. Soon they were in the massive area waiting for the X-wings to enter and land.
Booster joined them, hand outstretched. "Cale, good to see you again. Does Nawara know you're here?"
Cale shook his head. "I was asked to meet a friend of Nawara's. Talon and I've met before, when he was a guest at my family's cavern on Ryloth."
"Well, he'll be surprised and relieved. He's been a handful without knowing the situation on Ryloth."
Before Cale could respond, three X-wings slipped through the magcon. Wedge and Rysa landed in their assigned spots.
Nawara spotted Booster, Talon and his people, and a Twi'lek standing with them. It took a moment for his braintails to identify his brother. He floated the X-wing to them and hovered, looking out his front viewport. The brothers looked at each other for a moment. Nawara turned his craft and landed. Forgoing proper shutdown, he was out of the cockpit before the ladder was pushed in place. Jumping to the wing, his next bounce landed him on the deck, with just a minor discomfort to his prosthetic where it adhered to his leg. He marched to his brother, lekku telegraphing a welcome.
Cale stood silently, knowing his news would anger his elder brother.
Nawara pulled him into a tight hug and spoke in Ryl, "At last, a face from home."
"We should talk privately." Cale didn't want his shame broadcast to the others.
"Of course. Jari will want to see you and you should see Ryman, a dead ringer for mother Ryma and her personality thrown in."
Cale smiled slightly at his brother's exuberance.
Nawara looked at Talon. "How did you find him?"
"Bribed Huff. You owe him now."
Nawara made a face. "Not sure my brother was worth owing Huff." He grinned at his brother. "Just kidding."
"I saw Talon give him ten thousand credits. I'm not worth that much."
"No you are not. I'll spend a night in the casinos and pay him back," Nawara joked again and wrapped a lekku around his brother's neck. "If you'll excuse us, I'm taking my brother home to meet the family."
Booster nodded, "I'll stay onboard while you Twi'leks search for information. Hassla'tak is on the surface combing Twi'lek haunts right now."
"I would be, but I did promise to go flying with these two." Nawara pointed his free lekku to Wedge and Rysa, who had joined the group.
"General Antilles, nice to meet you again." Cale'ven shook hands with Wedge."
"We're all worried with what's going on at Ryloth. Can you tell us anything?" Wedge asked.
Cale'ven looked down. "I need to speak with my brother first."
"If you will excuse us." Nawara led his brother away. He kept up general news as they made their way to the Diamond Level. "We'll stop by Jari's shop first. She should be working right now."
They entered the boutique and Nawara saw Moranda Savich look in their direction from the counter and Plakhmirakh lounging on a chair.
Nawara pointed in his direction. "That's a Noghri."
Cale took a good look and found himself the object of intense scrutiny by a ferocious looking small gray being with a row of sharper teeth than the Twi'lek sported.
"Jari here?" Nawara asked Moranda.
"She took a delivery to the Black Level for the urchins."
Nawara's red eyes darkened to dried blood color. "And you didn't send Plakhmirakh with her?"
"Mirax went with her if you need to know."
"I'm having a talk with Karrde about having you removed from this ship."
Moranda laughed, "You're all talk, Ven. Why don't you hurry after her. You haven't met your quota of stabbings this week, if you don't count Dankin."
"Come on." Nawara slapped Cale on the arm. "Nothing intelligent here."
"What's this Black Level?" Cale asked as Nawara entered a turbolift and entered an override code, unmindful of other beings in the lift wanting to go other places.
"No place for decent women. Jari is with kit again."
"Good for you."
"Did you ever mate with Seinna from the Tak clan?"
"I was going to. Hassla still here?" Cale asked as the lift dropped rapidly. They were talking in Ryl.
"He says no Ven is good enough for his baby sister. Prove me wrong."
They exchanged toothy grins.
They passed families with nothing, camped in the corridors. Nawara knew Jari took the scraps from her paying customers and made clothing for the children and indigent. However, it was exceptionally dangerous for women to traverse through these desperate beings. He passed a singing group of Ryn who ceased long enough to greet him as he passed.
"Droma, have you seen Jari and Mirax go this way?" Nawara asked the leader of the group.
The short Ryn pointed. "Fifteen minutes ago. Ladies of mercy, bringing clothes for the needy children."
They moved on. A couple corridors over, they found the women handing out garments to a line of women who were expressing their thanks. Jari took scraps of flimsiplast for more requests from the people. Mirax was looking around and spotted them just as Nawara and someone who looked kind of like him move behind Jari.
Mirax quickly switched her gaze to Jari. "We're being paid a visit by his highness, the first officer."
Jari smiled and turned as a pair of arms circled her waist. Expecting to kiss her husband, she almost got her lips to his when her eyes registered Cale. With a squeal of delight, she pulled him down for a more brotherly kiss and hug.
Nawara introduced his brother to Mirax. "If you two are done here, we'll escort you to a safer level." Nawara let Jari know with his tone he wasn't happy.
She lifted her chin. "You will not take that tone with me, mister."
Mirax laughed, "If Corran told me to stay off any level on this ship, I'd space him."
"I have to deal with the scum that resides down here and two beautiful ladies are a great temptation. I get the reports, remember. This month, eight rapes, two murders and nine stabbings. I admit three were mine trying to arrest the rapists. Then there were about a hundred thefts and that many fights resulting in broken bones. Your father shelters you from the harsh reality the underworld inhabitants perpetrate on each other."
"Well, he's going to stop. From now on, I want to see the reports also. Someday, this ship will be mine."
"I sincerely hope not for a long, long time."
"For what it's worth, Nawara, neither do I."
He escorted them through the corridors to a lift that went directly to the Diamond Level. Everyone parted when the first officer marched through their midst. Anyone who'd spent any time in that part of the ship knew he was deadly with his vibroblades and blaster, showing very little patients, always needing to be someplace else. A patrol of security met them and parted with a salute to the boss. Cale took everything in, including how his brother was treated. As a rule, Twi'leks didn't garner a lot of respect off Ryloth. Their long braintails, black talons, sharp teeth and red eyes scared the average human and many other species.
They stepped off the lift on the Diamond Level and Mirax told them she'd see them later and went on to the bridge.
Nawara poured his brother a drink as Jari called Moranda and asked her stay and close the shop. She returned from a bedroom with Ryman in her arms.
Cale grinned, "Another Ven beauty."
"I'm selling her into slavery to pay for my retirement," Nawara joked and both men laughed at the look Jari gave her husband. "You've stalled long enough, brother. What's the situation and why were you on Tatooine, and I have many more questions. You can either volunteer or I'll go attorney all over your skinny gray ass."
Cale's braintails drooped almost to the floor, a sign of submission and distress. He didn't look up for a minute. When he did, he took a drink for courage. "Nolaa Tarkona is from the ancient clan that lives deep in the planet. There are only about eight hundred of them, but they are completely loyal to her. At first, her speeches were about liberating Ryloth from the evils of slavery. Our family has been anti-slavery for generations and many of the younger leks, including myself were swayed by her persuasive lectures. They were broadcast into all the clan caves as she first took over the communications networks and cut us off from contacting outside worlds."
"I tried for months," Nawara interjected.
Cale nodded, "We tried to get messages out as well."
"How long have you been on Tatooine?" Nawara sipped his own libation.
"I'll get to that, but first you need to know how I ended up there. Nolaa started bringing in other species to do the jobs traditionally done by us on our world. She shut the Ryll mines down and when they reopened, no Twi'leks worked them, but her own version of slavery, captured humans or leks that sorely displeased her. No Twi'lek ships were allowed to ply their trade in the galaxy. Those gone couldn't return and the ships grounded were confiscated and given to those loyal to her."
"Who's in charge now?" Nawara exchanged a grim look with Jari, still holding and gently rocking Ryman.
"Nolaa Tarkona."
"She's a woman!" Nawara never heard of such a barbarism, allowing a woman to rule Ryloth.
"With her clan backing her, she stole power from the head clans."
"How did they let this happen?"
"She gathered the most prominent clan leaders and marched them into the sun." His blunt truth hit Nawara hard. The rumors were true and worse coming and from someone who was there. "They came for father and our uncle."
Jari gasped, "No," and clutched Ryman tighter.
"Nolaa came in person to the caves of the head clans. She saw me and remembered I'd attended her lectures. She told me if I joined her, she would spare my family. Father told me in front of her, he would disown me if I took her over the clan." He bore pleading eyes into identical red orbs. "I was put in the position of family honor or lives. It was no choice, I went with Nolaa and heard father shouting I was no longer fit to carry the Ven name."
Nawara could imagine the scene. "Twi'leks don't have much in the way of riches, but we have our clans. Father will forgive in time."
"He told Nolaa, he was willing to die rather than enslave one of his children to her cause. She laughed and told him I purchased his life and others weren't so lucky, like the Kur's. You know father and Bamla'kur were close all their lives."
"The Kur's are the leader clans this cycle until Bamla dies." Nawara had even tried to contact him.
"I started flying freighters for Nolaa and she used me when she needed a Twi'lek for something. I saw firsthand several clan leaders marched into the sun. All looked at me like I was a traitor and knew I was of the Ven clan and our name was now tarnished because of me. For the first time, I wished I could take back my decision and let our clan leaders die with honor. Now the Ven clan lives with shame."
"How did you end up on Tatooine?"
"I finally had enough of her lies and knew the Diversity Alliance was nothing more than hatred of humans. She's planning something diabolical, but I don't know what. She hired bounty hunters to find Borman Thul and bring him to her. I think he has something she wants."
Nawara remembered the news on Thul and was putting the pieces together. "All I know about Thul, is he's hidden so deep his family can't find him and all bounty hunters coming through the ship ask about him. Talon and Booster are trying to find him also, although not with a bounty hunter. Their quest is for information he is holding and the profit it might bring them."
"What if the information damns our planet?" Cale asked.
"They would never hurt our people," Nawara spoke with conviction.
"I was afraid to do anything for fear of retaliation against our clan. Nolaa was looking for a spy to put on planets heavily populated with Twi'lek to make sure they weren't planning retaliation and taking the planet from her. I saw my chance and volunteered for Tatooine. Another black mark against our family, but my redemption is this; I'm not sending names or serious information."
"You're in a real mess, but I'm glad you chose the path to save our elders."
"Is there any hope for me or Ryloth?" Cale spoke so softly, Nawara and Jari had to strain to catch it.
"Where there's life, there's hope," Nawara spoke with conviction he didn't quite feel.