The Jedi step out of the tunnel onto a raised platform wedged between the tunnel exit and the back wall of a building. The platform is bent at a slight curve, escalating up the side of the massive rock formation to their left, or to the right lowers into the city. Menyoo turns to look at the tarp that Mill closed behind them, and cannot help but comment on how the faded and blotchy brown coating over the tarp makes it stand out from the rest of the rock. Whoever runs this smuggling operation clearly does not fear it being exposed. Mill and company make their way down the ramp. At their feet, small raised bars spaced 20 centimeters apart help with their footing— necessary for smugglers carrying heavy contraband down the grated walkway. Bits and pieces of the City peak out from slits between neighboring buildings. Small bulbs in petal-shaped glass hang above the streets, about level with the Jedi, four meters in the air. Approximately every third bulb is out, and since the lights are spaced several meters apart, this leaves wide swathes of the street impossibly dark—and too dangerous for leisurely travel.
Menyoo is surprised to see how quickly the sun had gone down, and the quick difference in temperature it has made. He wants to put on his pull over, but does not want to give Mill the satisfaction, and notes his childishness for thinking that way, but confounds it with stubbornness. The team continues to wind down the platform until the decline tapers, ending where the grating meets the ground. The path leads them directly in front of a general merchandise shop. The building looks to be made out of a tent and clay brick hybrid, shaped like a rectangle with a triangular roof. The bricks lay stacked on one another with thick tarp-like material hanging from the spaces between each brick.
Mill turns to the left and begins walking, when Sbeit audibly clears his throat, "I remember us taking a right at this point. I know it has been years, but my memory is not failing me. Has Plank changed residence or…?" Sbeit holds the r so that Mill must interrupt him with an answer.
"No, same place. I just wanted to, uh," Sbeit's features drop in opposition before he commences a callous stare, until Mill reconsiders, "Fine, we'll go right to Planks. But Menyoo and I are going to take a trip without you some time, and it will be great."
Sbeit starts walking before Mill can finish his thought, taking the lead for the remainder of the walk. Menyoo and Mill fall in behind Sbeit as he grumbles to himself, "Fine by me, I never liked this place anyway." After a minute, Sbeit turns back to face Menyoo, "Menyoo, stay sharp." That shook Menyoo out of his lull. He was examining the many layers of the city. Ostensibly, very little is happening at night. Each set of lights hanging above them illuminates a circle of light about a meter in diameter in the center of the street, yet nothing sits under or crosses through the light, creating the impression of a subdued nightlife. As the eyes focus in the dark, small objects surrounding each lit circle come into view: the end of somebody's leg who is sitting on the ground nearby, the handle to a wheelbarrow, the passing tails of street pets, or rodents. Affording a closer look reveals an entirely different scene in the areas entrenched in the black: small huddles of people in thin alleyways between shops; mats and other makeshift bed material lay across the city floor; one alley has a small table set up only a half a meter off the ground, surrounded by men rolling dice in the dark.
Each building is about the same size, with varying color schemes dyed into the desultory tarp-material hanging from between bricks, dimmed and obscured by lifetimes of dirt and neglect. Almost every shop has activity inside, but only half of the store fronts are open to the public. For those curious enough to enter the other half, side access from the crude alleys is available, evident by the bobbing legs of people rummaging through goods or bartering with shop keeps under the closed entry fabrics. A few of the shops feature a small window and ledge that separates the owner from the people outside. These shops are completely black inside, but business is still being done through most of them; the buyers lean in through the window to speak with the salesmen inside.
One alley they pass is lit with red, flickering bulbs. The silhouettes of people can be seen standing near the entrance, but far enough in that none of their distinguishable features can be made out. Menyoo speeds up a bit to walk beside Mill and asks him what happens down those alleys; he remembers seeing similar lighting in-between a pair of buildings while descending from the tunnel exit. Mill whispers to him, "Especially avoid areas like that, don't even look inside. Dangerous guys hang out in there. Here on Soccoro, there is a drug called Spice. It's all over the outer rims, but here on Vakeyya, it is everywhere. The red lights mean it's a spice den, for people who need a fix. Only half of them have spice in them, the other half are full of thugs ready to take your money and rough you up, or worse. The locations change every night, so nobody knows which are which unless they know somebody who runs one.
Menyoo has trouble making sense of that system. "But why would anybody take the chance if it is that likely that you'll just get mugged and beaten?"
Mill looks at Menyoo's right eye and says with a sad expression, "when some people need a fix, they don't have a choice. Vakeyya is a place for a lot of things and a lot of people. The vulnerable are not those people. That being said, it has a way of making strong people vulnerable. As I said before, don't stare, eyes ahead."
Menyoo continues to walk and study his surroundings. They pass through one section of the street where two of the hanging lights are out in a row, creating a hall of darkness down the center. Chatter and whispers defy the apparent lack of life down the dreadful corridor. Menyoo takes two steps into the dark, and bumps into somebody standing in the center of the street. An alien shout rings out from the loitering mass, and Menyoo backs up quickly, hiding from the upset pedestrian. A hand clasps around his wrist and pulls him farther into the street. He follows in the direction of his shepherd, but resists the physical contact by twisting his wrist away from the strange hand. Mill comforts him with a whisper, "With me."
They walk into the next cone of light and Menyoo exhales, "thank you."
Mill smiles and says, "Don't mention it. I know it's a tad scary, but it's not so bad when you get used to it. And we have to try street food before we leave, that will make you change your mind about this place in an instant! There are none on this strip, but we'll pass some on our way back to this district's tunnel exit. It's farther down from where we left the tunnels. You won't be disappointed,"
Menyoo smiles at Mill, appreciating his attempt to comfort him, "I'll look forward to it. Your treat." Mill's face curves to fit a toothy grin, then he forcefully pats Menyoo on the shoulder and continues on behind Sbeit. All things considered, Menyoo does not hate the city, and certainly not as much as Sbeit. The divisions between people and the street politics are fascinating, but admittedly scary too. He has yet to see a single person he would want to talk with, but he would like to stop and look at some of the shops. Unfortunately, that would have to be a return trip, as Mill said. Was he serious about taking Menyoo back to visit? With no mission or objective, just to visit? He figures it would be best not to ask, especially with Sbeit ahead in ear shot, but that wouldn't be a bad trip, Menyoo thinks to himself.
The group moves in a diagonal formation so that when they cross through the dark sections stationed between each hovering light, a shoulder or foot is under a lamp from either Sbeit in the front, or Menyoo in the back. The group is pretty well protected, but the most vulnerable is Menyoo in the back. He pushes that thought out of his mind. They walk for another couple minutes, until the line stops moving forward. Sbeit stopped under a dome of light—which appears to be the last lamp on the street— leaving Menyoo in a patch of black. Sbeit waves them forward, then takes a step into the darkness ahead. Mill leans back and says to Menyoo, "We're here. quick tip, don't touch anything inside. Plank is wary about strangers." Menyoo nods and steps through the last circle of light before plunging into the dark with his companions.
They walk past the last shop in the street, and face a fork with both roads leading into darkness, featuring patches of rock and dirt running up the middle of the two paths. On the left side is a long building, different from the rest: It is short and looks to be constructed by one long rectangle, with four squares added on to each corner, and a domed center over the top adding half a meter to its height. The building is not brick and tarp like the shops, but one solid, chalky-grey material, like a stone dwelling, but not orange like the majority of rocks found on the planet. Mill makes his way to the front and steps up to a circular metal door— one of the first metal fixtures Menyoo has seen since being here. Mill knocks on the door. He then whispers, "come on," and Menyoo and Sbeit follow him to the back end of the dwelling. Mill feels the wall in the dark until he comes across another section of metal, then knocks on it too. A couple seconds pass, then somebody speaks through the door, "business?"
Mill clears his throat, "always pleasure my friend, you know better."
Another couple seconds pass. Mill's eyes dart back and forth near the top of his eye lids, inspecting the building. He hopes Sbeit picked the right place, because this is the sort of thing that could get somebody into trouble on Socorro if not. "Kandor, is that you?"
"Oh, thank the force," he mutters to himself in relief. "Yes, it's Mill. open up!"
"Anybody with you? You don't have your glowstick on, I can't see anything."
"Yes, two actually, but they're friendly. Jedi."
"Hmm, one stays outside. Things have been touchy around here as of late."
Mill looks at Menyoo, then Sbeit. Menyoo begins to tell Sbeit he can go ahead, but Sbeit quickly dispels his politeness, "Please, I insist. No hide off my back."
An electric sound rises from the crack under the door, gets increasingly louder, then stops. A second passes in silence, then the door opens from inside with a gentle push. Mill and Menyoo step in. Mill immediately accosts his friend with an enthusiastic handshake, covering Plank's knuckles with his other hand as an extra friendly gesture. This is the first Neimoidian Menyoo has seen in person, but he has seen plenty on his holovids. They are the target of many jokes in galactic programming for their robotic behavior, insatiable greed, and the funny way they talk. Most Neimoidians have a wicked accent, consisting of a breathy drawl, and a manner of speaking that makes it sound like they are always answering after having been surprised. This Neimoidian is taller than what he has seen on his holovids, standing well over two meters tall, with long, skinny fingers to match. The headdresses they wear add significantly to their height, and Plank's was no exception, being about half a meter tall of colorless fabric, thick and bunched at the bottom and folding craftily into a point at the top. Although Menyoo does not know what they look like under the bland, full body robes they wear, he assumes they have a sluggish body, based on their wrinkly, slimy faces and large, amber sack-like eyes.
The room is dark and cramped, or at least it feels stuffy to Menyoo. The outer perimeter of the room is cloaked in shadow, so he cannot see well enough to accurately gauge how far the room extends. The building cannot be too long judging by the walk from the front door to the back.
Plank looks at Mill, then Menyoo, back to Mill, "Another apprentice? What happened to the green one?" He waves his bony fingers down dismissively when he says the green one.
"Sbeit, he was our third you had remain outside. This is Menyoo. Menyoo, Plank. And Padawan, we do not have apprentices. But no, Menyoo is just tagging along for the mission. And Sbeit is no longer my padawan, he is a full Jedi now. You already know all this, don't play coy. You probably know more about him and me then him and I do."
The Neimoidian smiles— rigidly and with mercantile intentions, but a smile nonetheless, "You are too kind, but yes you are right. However I do not sell information on friends," another forced smile follows that comment," What is it you have come for? And how would you like to pay for my services?"
Mill laughs and looks down at the floor that he likely cannot see, then looks back up at him, "Plank, we have known each other a long time. Since I was a kid! Remember when I was a kid, I was so cute wasn't I? And my father and I have done favors for you before, and over the years, then it was just me, and you've done favors for me too, and we go back and forth doing favors for each other…"
Plank snorts, "You have no money and waste my time. It isn't that I am not happy to see you, but as I said, I have sensitive matters to tend to." Plank begins herding Mill and Menyoo toward the door, waving his hand and telling him how he hopes to see them again soon.
Mill stands stiff in place and takes on a more serious tone, "Look Plank, it is a small favor. I just want to pick your brain. And besides, you owe me after sending Sbeit and me to those mines without warning us first. And, I ought to add, I have not heard from you since." Plank stops pushing him out the door, but the look on his face suggests he won't be giving in. Mill continues with his rhetoric, "I mean it, it will be quick. I just need you to read a paragraph and point your finger in the right direction. Then we'll be out of your… uh, head thing."
Mill and Plank go back and forth about what they have done, and whether any favors are owed between one another. Plank does not accept that Mill has an unclaimed favor, and Mill is saying anything he can to get him to look over the passage. The crafty, avarice-driven stereotype of the Neimoidians seems to hold true with Plank. He clearly remembers anything that relates to value, currency, or exchange, and seems to be the type that can derive value out of anything he can get his lanky fingers on. Plank is adamant on his position, but seems to be giving in to Mill's passion; however, Menyoo can see that this will end up costing Mill in the long run, trusting that Plank has his ways of making sure of it. Between his crude appearance, incorrigible greed, and passive interest in friends and associates, Menyoo can't help but think of the banking clan from Mygeeto when Plank speaks, and five minutes into meeting him, he already understands why Sbeit hates him. That being said, Mill never said he particularly liked him either. If he is useful, Menyoo should keep him in mind for the future.
After Mill makes it clear they have already wasted enough time going back and forth, which Plank pointedly states has been five minutes and 43 seconds—wow, he really does itemize everything, Menyoo thinks to himself— they settle on an agreement: Mill and Plank were in fact equal hitherto this meeting, but after he helps this time, Mill will owe him a favor—something Mill guarantees to be a good thing to own from a Jedi, which of course Plank already knew and took into consideration. Plank walks over to a desk and turns on a small light built into it. It lights up the surface of the desk only, causing the rest of the room in contrast to fade further into the darkness. Plank reads the passage quietly to himself, then gets up and walks to one of the hidden corners. He returns with a book. He looks back and forth between the two, then closes the book abruptly and says at Mill, "easy, I know exactly where you are to go."
Mill puts his hand up in the air, "two minutes, you really are the best Plank. I told you Menyoo. So where are we off to? And who is D.G.?"
Plank hands the delicate papers back to Mill and says, "Only where, I do not now to whom. Between lost roads protected by a shield of black, the roads are the Kamat Aegit and Kamat Krote, and the black shield is the Stygian Caldera. They are ancient hyperlanes through what was once Sith space. The Stygian Caldera is a nebula, and immensely dangerous and difficult to pass through. I would recommend avoiding it at all cost. The planet is Jaguada, that is all it could be. Dusty rock, nothing of value there, barren desert wasteland. Good luck. If there is a home there, it should be easy to find, it will be the only one. That is all."
He again begins rushing the jedi toward the door before Mill can even put away the papers, "Hold on, hold on, you don't know anything about D.G. or who wrote these? None of your books can help? I would like to know what we are getting ourselves into."
"I have a theory, but I cannot share it with you. I will say I think it best you stay away from that place. Especially with your, uh, background. I fear if you go to Jaguada, I will not see that favor you now owe me, and then Sbeit will have to come and pay me back instead. That would be a shame."
"Whoa, then tell me your theory at least. Please? Come on, we go way back. I have kept secrets for you. You know you can trust me. I'll send Menyoo out." He then looks at Menyoo, "sorry, but then I'll share the okay bits with you."
Plank shakes his head with certainty, "This is different. I am not afraid you will say anything, I am simply afraid of uttering a name. Please leave me, much work I have to do. Thank you again. You will hear from me."
This time Plank gently places his hands on both Mill and Menyoo's shoulders before attempting to push them out the door. Menyoo arches his back to avoid the Neimoidian's touch. Mill presses back against the force of his hand, letting the backpack fall slack off his shoulder, "Just one more thing quick, I have a book. Could you just look at it and tell me what language it is so when I need it translated, I can go to the right person. It is unlike anything I have ever seen." Plank shakes his head and keeps pushing, but Mill is resilient, "Come on, you know when I come to pay you back, it will take far longer than two minutes. Just a quick look, it's right here in my bag."
The three stand grouped near the back door, while Mill hunkers down to protest Plank's refusal. Plank sighs aggressively and says, "Fine, give it here. Quickly." He opens the book and fingers through the pages, his leading digit nearly as long as the book itself. He reads for a bit, then says abruptly, "No" then closes the book. "You must leave, do not show that to anybody else."
He continues his pushing, this time more aggressively. Menyoo opens the door and hops out before the Neimoidian leans over him to open it himself—avoiding close proximity with his sluggish face. Mill turns back one final time, "What is it now? I just want to know the language! Why can't you tell me at least that?"
Plank becomes precariously serious and shooshes Mill, then extends his head forward out of his door and looks in both directions before speaking directly into Mill's face, "You are right, I have known you for a long time. So, I ask you this. Whatever you are getting yourself into it, get away from it now. As a business partner, and out of respect to your old care-taker, burn the book, or throw it off a cliff, and do not go to Jaguada." Then before another moment passes, he slams the door. A whirl of electricity buzzes through the door again.
The three leave the way they came, winding through the streets with attentive eyes. Sbeit argues with Mill about going to Jaguada, assuring both of them multiple times that this is the only time he will agree with Plank. Mill keeps saying the same thing he has said the entire time: it is his mission, and if Sbeit does not like it, he does not have to be part of it. The two go back and forth similarly the whole walk back. They pass by the first shop in the circuit, where the tunnel dumps smugglers into this district, and continue past toward the exit leading back to the port. After only a minute since passing the general store, Menyoo begins smelling the food Mill spoke so highly of. His hunger makes itself known through angry rumbles in his stomach. As the two senior Jedi fight back and forth, Menyoo works his way in between them. "So Mill, are you keeping an eye out for what you want to eat? Or do you have a place in mind already?"
Sbeit rolls his eyes, "ugh, not you too."
Without averting his eyes from the path ahead, Mill says to Menyoo, "Actually, no food for now. I'm trying to get us to a courtyard that I remember from when I was a kid. It sits a level below this district. There will be less people there this time of night."
Menyoo and Sbeit both look at Mill with confused expressions, "Why?"
Mill says back, still watching ahead vigilantly, "Because I don't want any civilians to get hurt. We're being followed."