Part Two!

Jayden knocked on the wooden door twice (Chalmun was

from Kashyyk so he was pretty insistent on getting a wooden door to his office). A cheerful female voice with a heavy accent answered:

-Come in!

Jayden pushed open the door (the occupant of the office liked the old-fashioned doors for one reason or another) and was met with the scene of a messy-ish office and in which a two metre tall Grayish-beige wookie and a much shorter human woman with grey hair and brown irises stood- Chalmun and Ackmena respectively. He closed the door behind him. Jayden cleared his throat awkwardly and raised his hand in greeting:

-Uh, hello!

Before Jayden could dodge the large wookie gave a joyful roar and barrelled towards him before sweeping the teenage boy up into a bone-crushing hug that ended with him dangling about a 20 centimetres off the floor. The wookie was exceptionally strong and not just naturally, he had gotten stronger from the gang fights he had originally been in - the scar running across his chest from his left shoulder was testament of that. Chalmun hadn't always lead this type of more or less "clean" life (as if anyone on Tatooine was clean), he'd gone through quite a rough patch before buying this place and turning it into a cantina. Chalmun rarely ever worked at the bar himself, preferring to keep to his office, but he was very loyal to his regulars and anyone who treated them poorly was promptly kicked out. Jayden owed a lot to the big guy, it was due to him he was still alive after all. He owed Chalmun his life and so much more. While being squished into a hug that was threatening to break his bones, Jayden heard Ackmena speak, traces of confusion present in her voice:

-Okay, boss man, you really should let go of our customer now. We don't want to kill him.

The Wookiee let him go and Jayden took deep breaths to compensate for the loss of oxygen in his body a few moment prior. Noticing that his mask and hood were screwed up as it was Jayden dropped the disguise, he pulled off his hood revealing his naturally messy jet black hair and he pulled down his mask so they could see his face. Chalmun roared happily:

-{ You're back! Welcome back!}

Jayden laughed at Chalmun's enthusiasm. Yes, Shyriiwook was among the languages Jayden had picked up back before he became a bounty hunter. He hadn't told Alana this because it had slipped his mind at that moment, but Jayden had always had an aptitude for learning languages - much like his partner did, he just lacked the patience and the drive. Jayden grinned up at the Wookiee:

-It's great to see you again, Chalmun. I see business is booming?

-{ Yes! Things have been going great for me. You've grown a lot.}

Jayden shrugged:

-Yeah, well it has been ten years.

Suddenly Ackmena, the night shift bartender, gasped:

-It's you! It's really you. Jayden!

The Mandolorian turned to face the woman and nodded with a smile:

-Yeah, sorry about popping in unannounced, but it's great to see you guys again.

Chalmun waved his apology off:

-{ Nonsense, you're always welcome here! We've missed you. How have you been?}

Jayden had a cocky grin on his face as he replied:

-Well, I've made a name for myself, that's for certain.

Ackmena cocked her brow thoughtfully:

-Have we heard of you? I don't remember anyone mentioning your name.

-You wouldn't have heard of me by my normal name. I go by Shadow in the criminal world.

Both the Wookiee's and the human's eyes widened with shock and recognition. Smiling smugly, Jayden shifted his cloak so the sleeve of his shirt was visible on which Shadow's mark was visible, Jayden's mark. Chalmun looked sort of proud as he beamed:

-{ That's my boy! You've become one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy! I've been hearing your name all over the place, you know. I'm proud of you.}

The Wookiee tried to rub the Mandolorian's head in what was meant to be an affectionate manner, but it caused Jayden to have to use all his strength to stand up. Jayden couldn't keep himself from smiling nevertheless:

-Thanks, Chalmun. That means more than you know. I'm grateful to all 3 of you - without you I doubt I would be here today. So thank you.

Ackmena shook her head:

-You're a strong young man, Jayden. You would have survived.

Jayden shrugged:

-Maybe, maybe not. I do know one thing for certain though: without the big guy saving me from being trampled by a crowd back when I was a little kid and without the three of you helping me get off Tatooine without them knowing - well, I wouldn't be who I am today. Now, I need your help again.

Chalmun frowned:

-{ I had a feeling. You'd never see foot on this again rock willingly, would you? Not unless you had no other choice.}

Jayden nodded, a serious expression on his face:

-Unfortunately, that is so. No offence to you guys, but I seriously hate this planet.

Ackmena sighed:

-We don't blame you. Well, it seems like you boys are going to have your business talk so I'm going to go home and take a nap. Toodles!

Waving her hand farewell, Ackmena easily slipped out of the office and closed the door behind herself. Sighing, Chalmun shook his head and sat down in his own especially large armchair, he motioned Jayden to sit down on the one across from him which was thankfully human-sized. Jayden sat down and interlocked his fingers, placing his elbows on his knees. There was a tense silence before Jayden spoke:

-I need your help.

-{ Yes, you told me. What is so important that it would make you come down to this planet? To face your nightmares?}

Jayden snorted:

-Chalmun, Tatooine barely appears in my nightmares at all. It's not Orvax IV.

The wookie growled at the mention of the planet's name and clenched his hands. Jayden shot him a warning look, asking him to not say a word about that place. Silence fell between the two. It was a while before Jayden took a shuddering breath and whispered:

-I need you to help me save her life.

-{Her?}

Jayden nodded, looking into one spot but not really seeing it. Sighing, he looked up into the wookie's blue eyes:

-My partner is sick. Horribly so. I think she's dying, but there's nothing I or my other companion can do. He, my companion, said that there's a doctor here who can help her.

Chalmun surveyed the young man carefully-he looked calm outwardly, but the wookie knew he felt uncertain and he had seen the shadow of fear in his face. He was afraid and yet he wouldn't admit that. Chalmun understood, he knew why Jayden would never admit that he cared about another's life deeply, he knew why Jayden had become what he was. The darkness... it had threatened to consume him and so Jayden did the only thing he could - he consumed the darkness himself. He was a part of it and so his heart was darkened too. For Jayden to feel fear for another's life who wasn't his blood family? Well, that was unexpected. Chalmun sighed and rumbled:

-{ You're talking about the Miracle.}

-The miracle?

-{She's called the Miracle Healer or the Kehopua.}

-Oh, "miracle" in Huttese.

-{Yes. Nearly no one has ever seen her. She helps the poorest of the poor and asks for nothing in return. Nearly no one has ever seen her or does remember seen her. She can cure even the deadliest diseases and in such a way that it appears to be a miracle so that's why..}

-That's why people call her the Miracle Healer, the Kehopua Pihog. Have you seen her?

-{ No. I've only heard rumours.}

Jayden frowned when suddenly his holocom began beeping. Bewildered , Jayden pulled it out and opened the file he had been sent. An image of a young female togruta popped up. She had large eyes, white markings on her forehead, under her eyes and chin. Jayden frowned when his chrono's time display was suddenly replaced by a scrolling text. Jayden was relieved to find it in aurabesh and quickly scanned it all. He shook his head when he saw the sender's signature. Of course it'd be him. Who else could find some solid information about a rumoured miracle healer only within hours of landing on the planet where said healer was rumoured to be located? Answer: only TK. That droid was someone extraordinary. Jayden looked up at Chalmun, grinning:

-I think I may have a lead.

The Wookiee looked genuinely surprised:

-{Really? Well, I see you get around better than most people. We've been hearing about the Miracle Healer for almost two years now and yet not one person has seen fur or claw of her and you've been here for how long now?}

Jayden chuckled, supplying:

-Oh, I'd say about 13 hours, counting the time I spent sleeping.

Chalmun gave a hearty chuckle before continuing:

-{ You've been here 13 hours and you've accomplished what people have tried doing in vain for years - impressive.}

Jayden laughed, standing up:

-You flatter me, Chalmun, but I can't take the credit for this - this is my teammate's find. He seems to have connections all over the galaxy. TK's quite a character. Well, it seems she was last seen not far from Carnthout, in the northeast Dune Sea so I better head out there before the trail goes cold.

Chalmun rumbled an warning:

-{ Traversing the Dune Sea is dangerous, especially in these months - the sandstorms are much more active now. It'd be better if you didn't go out and look for the Miracle Healer at this moment.}

Jayden shook his head, all traces of amusement erased from his face:

-No. I can't wait, Chalmun. Even if I could how long would it take? I just can't. My partner, Alana, she's...,- Jayden paused and took a deep breath before attempting to speak again,-she's...She's important to me. I don't know how to explain it, but she just is. I can't lose her, big guy. Not when I have a chance to save her life , no matter how small.

The Wookiee quietly observed the young man. His body was tensed and his right hand was curled into a fist - a habit, a way of dealing with emotions. He had control over his emotions, he normally did - that much was clearly obvious, but the Wookiee could see that when he encountered something new it threw him off balance, he lost control and this was that exact situation. In a way it was almost bizarre.

Chalmun had only known about the existence of a human being by the name of Jayden Callen for a little over a decade and their interactions had been brief, but a bond did exist between them. He had saved a young boy from being trampled by a crowd and from being beaten to death on an impulse, he hadn't really thought about what he was doing until he had done it. Before, Chalmun had always made it a point to stay out of not his own business, but something had compelled him to save that pitiful human offspring - to this day he had no clue what it was, but he didn't regret his decision. Chalmun had never been a kind being, or one people would find easy to get along with, that had been especially true at the time he had saved Jayden, but that kid... He'd changed him in a way, made him more open to others - it had been half the kid's idea how the cantina should work. Chalmun had also helped Jayden get off Tatooine despite knowing that this could indirectly cause him to incur Jabba's wrath. He had watched the kid fly off into an uncertain future only to see him once more ten years later and find out that he had become a killer, a person who could look after himself, Shadow no less. The Wookiee was impressed, the boy had grown up to be someone worth respecting and saving. He could see the resolve in the boy's eyes and the nearly 200 year old Wookiee was pleased to see that he had indeed changed from the weak child who was in need of saving. Chalmun cared about the kid, but if he wanted to risk the life he had had saved then on the kid's own head be it. Stars knew, the Wookiee knew what it was like to lose a friend. Chalmun gave a sigh:

-{ You're know you could die out there? Even a droid would not survive that sandstorm, it's impossible, a suicide mission.}

Jayden grinned over his shoulder as he pulled his cloak back on:

-Hey, if there's one thing I've learned from Alana it's that both of us specialise in the impossible. We're both too stubborn to give up. And yeah, I know, but I'm willing to try anyway. She's saved my life so many times...,- Jayden paused before looking at Chalmun with an odd expression on his face,- I owe her, Chalmun.

The Wookiee gave a low resigned growl:

-{ Stubborn, indeed. Teenagers. Alright then, Shadow, how can I help you?}

Jayden lip's tugged up into a ghost of a sly smile:

-Well, you could lend me a pair of goggles and help me track down a Jawa known as Fizz, you know? That would be very nice on your part.

==SW: LB==

A jawa stood in the shade of the wreckage of a once fine ship known as the Dowager Queen, peering up at a suspiciously familiar figure of a human wearing a white cloak, a grey facemask and walking towards him. The Jawa sighed when he realised it was indeed the person he though it may have been - well, this should be interesting. If memory served the last time Fizz had met Jayden Callen was when both had worked together to get out of a holding area on Manaan nearly two years ago. It was a long and convoluted story. How the Mandolorian had located him again and among many of his brethren no less was a mystery to Fizz, but now was definitely not the time for speculation because Fizz would rather avoid this conversation altogether. It was high time to disappear.

Jayden sighed in exasperation as he saw the precise Jawa he'd been looking for trying to scurry away and blend into the crowd. Nope. Not happening. Jayden easily caught up to the Jawa by sprinting and grabbed the creature by the back of his brown robe. Jayden shook his head tiredly as the Jawa tried to squirm out of his grip:

-Hello to you too, Fizz. Not quite the welcome I was expecting.

The Jawa huffed and quickly jabbered a frustrated statement in his native language:

-[ Fizz no like Jayden. Jayden know that. Fizz no speak to Jayden.]

Jayden sighed as he looked at the back of the creature he was holding up by the scruff:

-Yeah and Jayden also knows that Fizz owes Jayden.

-[ Fizz no remember anything like that! Jayden let Fizz go!]

-No.

Jayden stated simply, ignoring the odd looks he was getting. Oh many of the inhabitants of this accursed dustball knew how annoying Jawas could be, but still one seldom saw such an odd conversation between such an odd pair. A squirming Jawa and what looked like a young human man that was holding it up in the air by the scruff of it's neck - definitely not something one saw everyday, but Tatooine was, well, Tatooine so the beings in the city called Mos Eisely moved along impassively.

Jayden continued on in the same semi-amused, semi-bored tone:

-Seriously, Fizz? How many times are we going to do this? I mean this happens nearly every time we meet up, it's ridiculous.

The little Jawa kicked his legs furiously:

-[ No! Jayden let Fizz go. Stupid bounty hunter with big ego.]

Jayden sighed and turned the Jawa around so he was looking it right in the face:

-Okay, let's set things straight. Firstly - I will not let you go since I need to have a chat with you, secondly- I am not stupid, thirdly- while I may be a bounty hunter, I do not have a big ego.

Fizz crossed his arms and grumbled:

-[ Yes, Jayden does.]

-Yeah, okay, maybe I do. In any case, will you stop acting like a child?

There was a moment of silence during which Jayden glowered at the petulant Jawa, before the Jawa stopped struggling and acknowledged defeat:

-[ Fine. Fizz will help, but Jayden let Fizz go first.]

Jayden narrowed his eyes at the smaller being:

-You run and I shoot. And you of all people know how accurate I can be.

-[Yes, yes! Fizz no run. Fizz stay put.]

-Good.

Jayden easily dropped the Jawa onto the sand and with a grunt Fizz picked himself up again and grumbled:

-[Stupid Jayden. Why Jayden drop Fizz like that?]

-You wanted me to let you go so I let you go. Any complaints?

Fizz huffed, but shook his head:

-[No. What Jayden want from Fizz?]

Jayden crouched down to be on eye-level with the Jawa. He quietly spoke, making sure that nobody overheard them:

-Where's the sandcrawler, Fizz?

Fizz shrugged:

-[ Fizz no know.]

Jayden raised an eyebrow and carefully enunciated:

-You owe me, Fizz.

-[Stupid Jayden. Fizz no know means Fizz no know! Go away!]

Jayden sighed and raised a gun to the Jawa's head, making Fizz flinch:

-Fizz, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I need to know where the sandcrawler is and you will tell me.

-[Fizz no want to.]

-Tough luck. Give me the information now or I will blow that head off your shoulders.

Fizz hesitated. Something was off about this whole scenario, about Jayden's tone of voice. From all the previous meetings with Jayden Fizz knew that while the bounty hunter was reckless and occasionally impatient this was not standard behaviour for him - that meant that something important hung in the balance. Fizz sighed and mumbled, knowing better than to test the Mandolorian's patience:

-[ Fizz hear from Droydi that sandcrawler is just past Slauce Canyon. Why Jayden care where sandcrawler is?]

Jayden sighed and stood up:

-It's my business, Fizz.

Suddenly the Jawa gasped and pointed at the bounty hunter, his voice betraying awe and shock:

-[ Jayden going into the desert! Jayden really be crazy!]

Jayden shrugged, a small smile on his lips:

-Maybe. I just do what I have to. Thanks for the help, Fizz.

-[ Jayden looking for death.]

The Mandolorian's eyes glinted in an odd way as he turned around:

-Believe me, Death has long found me and I it. Sorry about dropping you, Fizz. Thanks for the help. Hope your business goes well.

As he watched the Mandolorian's figure becoming smaller and smaller as he walked away, the hot wind on Tatooine ruffling his cloak, Fizz mumbled:

-[Jayden be as crazy as ever. Fizz no understand him.]

And in all honesty the little Jawa hoped he never would. From what he knew of Jayden Callen if one understood him that meant that that one was as lost as he was and as close to the Darkness as the Mandolorian was. Jayden was playing with fire and even though he'd long been burned he danced around the flame, unable to rid himself of its influence. A flame, a dark flame burned in his own chest only darknening his blackened heart. Fizz sighed:

-[Stupid Jayden. Jayden no know when to stop. Sand sea - dangerous.]

The hot wind blew and the sands shifted as if confirming Fizz's words. The sand dunes whispered danger and any sane person would stay away, but Jayden Callen had never truly considered himself sane so he didn't heed the warning. He snapped on the goggles over his eyes and pulled up his facemask before clicking on his comlink:

-Hey, Tracker, thanks for the info - I'm going out to look for this Miracle Healer now.

TK's response betrayed his concern and uncertainty about the whole situation. Jayden sighed:

-Yeah, I'm not too hot on the idea either, but it's the only chance we've got. How's Alana?

The little droid reported that while her Life signs had started dropping in the last couple hours or so they had stabilised just an inch above critical level. He urged Jayden to hurry and the Mandolorian nodded, despite knowing that TK couldn't see him. Or could he? With that droid no one ever knew. Jayden frowned as he approached the exit from Mos Eisely:

-That's not good. I'll do my best, but only time will tell.

-Bee-dee-reet-dweet!

-I know, I know! I know that she doesn't have time, but I'm not a super human, tracker.

-Bee-fzzt-dwoot.

Jayden's shoulder's slumped as a sad smile ghosted across his lips:

-Yeah, thanks, TK. Wish me luck.

-Beep-dwop.

Jayden chuckled at the typical hotheaded response from the assassin-astromech and clicked the button which would end the transmission. As he headed for the gates that blocked Mos Eisely from the Great Dune Sea, Jayden fought to squelch that uncertainty within himself. He was Jayden Callen, he was Shadow, he was a Mandolorian, he was feared, but he was also human. A simple human young man who feared for the life of his friend. Alana's words echoed back to him from the deep recesses of his mind: "You are human, everyone has a weakness." Jayden shook his head to expel the absurd thought from his mind. Alana Sheelan being his weakness?! The very notion of such a thought was completely ridiculous and absurd. Why had such a thought even crept up in his mind? And there was that word again - " Why." It haunted him like a restless ghost. Jayden sighed and drew a simple conclusion as he stepped out past the gate and onto the hot sands of the Dune sea: Alana Sheelan and even thoughts of her would one day drive him mad. Jayden shook his head and expertly shoved those thoughts into the back of his mind, to the place where he kept unwanted thoughts that were a nuisance - for now he had a Miracle Healer to find and nothing would distract him from that goal.

==SW: LB==

Deep in the sand dunes, within a sand people camp a togruta kneeled beside her patient. She had bright red skin, large violet eyes that burned with determination, white markings on her forehead, her chin and under her eyes as well as dark blue and white montrails. The young togruta had an implant above her left eye and a scar that ran just above the right one She wore a black top that was ripped, exposing her left arm and her midriff as well as a pair of pants that matched the shade of the sand in the Dune sea, brown shoes, beside her lay a folded up electrostaff. In an annoyed, subconscious movement the togruta ran a her arm over her forehead, wiping away the rare beads of sweat that formed up there. Her movement were confident as she finished tying the bandages over the hand of the sand people's child. She sat up and smiled as she finished:

-There! You should be all better.

The child jumped up and after quickly jabbering anthanks in their native language ran outside. The togruta was about to call out to tell him to get some rest first, but sighed and simply rolled her eyes. She quickly packed up her supplies and attached her kit to her belt, before turning to the parents of the child. She smiled at them:

-There, chief. You son should be on the road to recovery. He needs sunlight though, the rot in his fingers needs to get burnt off. Just a heads up.

The sandpeople chieftain rumbled his thanks and asked where she, the Miracle Healer, was going now. The togruta made a face:

-I'm heading in the direction of Jabba's palace, there's a moisture farm village along the way where I heard there's been a bad outbreak of the bledeon disease.

The chieftain growled a warning and the togruta smiled as she picked up her electrostaff:

-Relax, Okh'rurrs, I can take care of myself. Besides I've sent my student, Shuxto, ahead. We'll be fine.

The chieftain grunted a thanks at the mention of the name of the togruta's student, one of his own people who she was training as her apprentice. He knew that this young outsider being was strong and talented, rough around the edges, but effective. She would be fine. Her and his mate bowed before her while the startled togruta desperately tried to wave away their thanks:

-Uh, there's no need for that, guys. I'm really not a Miracle Healer. Seriously who even gave me that name? I swear people keep forgetting that I'm just a togruta, called Risha Zyran.

Suddenly Risha's comlink beeped and she smiled. She winked at the chieftain as walked out of the tent, calling back:

-Take care of your people, okay? I'll visit you later!

As Risha passed through the sand people camp she often was stopped and thanked by the sandpeople who kept thanking her for one thing or other. Risha kept shaking her head and insisting that gratitude wasn't necessary. When she finally stepped outside the camp she was smiling brightly. However, a moment later that grin faded and was replaced by a frown. Risha glared as she detached her electrostaff and activated it:

-You again. Tell Jabba my answer is still the same.

The electricity switched on and crackled menacingly in her electrostaff. There was a moment of silence while the sand dunes shifted and the sand blazed before chaos ensued. The sands of Tatooine became still as this event occurred, ever silently watchful...