No one around them gave any sort of notice to the landing of one of the Republic's famed renegade hero ships. The dock was crowded with workers, merchants, and Anellians in general. It was loud and boisterous, but it didn't look like there was angry mob waiting for her here.
Katrina allowed her grip on her lightsaber to relax.
The redness of the sky extended itself to the redness of the mountains in the distance. Through many open windows in the dock, she could spot many structures built into the sides of the peaks, some looking so rooted and permanent that the mountains appeared to have grown around them rather than the opposite.
The dock they had landed on seemed itself to be perched atop one of them, large buildings of half manufactured-materials and half rock attached to it and rising in the distance.
The majority of the people were humans, though a few aliens wandered around the dock. She wondered if they were merely travelers or a proportionate example of the aliens that lived on Anelli.
"I don't suppose there's a visitor's center?" Bastila murmured.
"Or a friendly tour guide with a brochure," Katrina added, beginning to walk towards the large doors that undoubtedly led to the city of Fornia.
"Extrapolation: Master, I believe I remember your having said Fornia reminded you of what Coruscant might have been had it not become the headquarters for the Republic. This approximation may in some way explain the indifference of the occupants to our presence."
"Had it not become a Republic planet?" Katrina turned around, moving closer to HK.
"HK, did I say this because this planet is allied with the Sith? Did I ever say anything along those lines?" Already she was looking around suspiciously, analyzing every Anellian for possible concealed blasters or hidden Sith markings.
HK seemed to be trying desperately to wince despite the fact that his mechanical head could never accomplish the task.
"Request: Master, there is no need for you speak so loudly into my auditory units. I assure you, my aural capabilities are more than up to the task of hearing you from a distance."
"The planet, HK," she pressed.
"Answer: Negative, Master. Never at any time did you say anything that implied that Anelli was of a politically Sith inclination."
"I'd say that comment implied it pretty explicitly," Katrina murmured to Bastila.
"Perhaps not. We should reserve our judgments until we have had a chance to see the city for ourselves."
There is no impatience, there is no frustration over grasping futilely for knowledge I once had.
"Owner of the Ebon Hawk?" They were stopped by a worker standing near the doorway, a self-assured air around him and a datapad in his hand.
"Who's asking?" She was more cautious around those who recognized the ship now. Recognizing the ship meant you might recognize those who flew it, or had flown it in the past. Besides Davik's unsavory past, she hadn't the slightest clue what kinds of people might have used it as their flagship before him.
Not to mention her own track record.
"100 credits for docking, please," the man added tersely, ignoring her question.
"Don't tell me you're with Czerka?" His face scrunched up angrily.
"Czerka? Listen, lady, you one of those rich industrialists who thinks a planet doesn't have to charge them docking fees?" Katrina held out her hand, reaching into her pack for the credits.
"You're the port authority then, I take it?" The man seemed to calm down.
"Yes. I'm an employee of the Anellian government." He stressed 'government' as if it meant he was a Corellian king.
"You say that as though I should be impressed," Katrina added, handing over the credits. The man eyed her skeptically as he took them.
"I'm going to take a stab in the dark here and say you've never been to Anelli."
She nodded in response. There was no point in trying to explain that she had been here before, only she hadn't because she had no memory of it.
There were times she thought she remembered something, a wisp of recognition, but they always turned out to be her unconsciously inventing the memories from what people had told her of her past.
"I'm no welcoming committee, but the first thing to know about our world is that government and politics are part of our everyday lives. We're all involved in the decisions of the planet in one way or another. I myself am part of the committee for the Sith." She felt a sinking feeling somewhere within her chest.
"For the Sith?" He nodded amicably.
"Currently, Anelli is trying to decide which side to help supply with our massive amounts of demolitions- all under the table, of course," he added conspiratorially.
"But you are a Republic planet!" Bastila exclaimed.
"Perhaps so, but that doesn't mean we're obligated to give up our resources for them." There was passion in his voice, but no anger.His explanations were calm,likeaplanned debate he hadgone through many times already/
"Surely you must have heard of the destruction of the Star Forge, and the fall of Malak. Surely you must have heard of the great evils he and the Sith inflicted, including the destruction of Taris," Bastila added.
The port officer shrugged.
"The Sith might have methods that make most sane people cringe, but the reality is that they will eventually win this war. When they do, Anelli cannot afford to be forgotten and abandoned to their whims."
"So you agree that the Sith are evil, but you're lobbying to give them weapons?"
"It sounds a lot worse than it is. Keep those in power happy, and they won't crush you. Then if those in power screw up, you have the resources to rise up and stop them."
"Observation: Master, I believe I understand why you spoke of this planet fondly." If admiration was possible in the voice of a droid, HK was dripping with it.
Katrinaadmitted silently to herself that she almost saw the logic in that point of view.
"If you're all so politically involved, why is it that you are so distant from the Republic war effort? You belong to that body of government, so why not be active on agalactic scale as well as a local?" Bastila finally continued, looking slightly irritated at the fact that Katrina had not loudly sang the praises of the Republic as well.
"The Republic pays no attention to us, therefore we don't involve them in our plans." It wasn't the port officer answering, but a man going through crates of cargo behind him.
"I suppose you support the Sith too?" Bastila called to him.
"No, I support helping neither. Why get ourselves involved in a war when we're prosperous and strong enough to defend ourselves against either party?" The man walked towards them, brushing his hands off on his clothing.
"Because one side represents death, destruction, and the dark side twisting everything in its path." The man raised an eyebrow at Bastila.
"You sound like you know what you're talking about." His comment seemed to catch the Jedi off guard, and Bastila grew silent.
"So you support neither, you support the Sith, and I'm hoping there's a couple around here who support the Republic," Katrina said. The port officer nodded.
"A whole party of them."
"But you don't seem to want to shoot each other over it." The cargo handler cocked his head towards her lightsaber.
"We make weapons. We don't carry them around with us."
"Everyone here has their beliefs, their secrets. As far as they're willing to go for them, well, that's their business. To keep the peace, we accept each other's views and battle it out in words," the port officer added.
I think a good blaster shot might turn some of these Sith-loyal ones over.
The thought, like all her other violent thoughts, rose up like a menacing wave, ready to topple the rational parts of her brain.
She sensed no anger from any of them, and the absence of upset among so many differing views confused her for a moment.
"What do you mean, the Republic pays no attention to us?" Both officer and handler exchanged knowing glances. She tried to ignore her irritation.
"We're out in the depths of space. Practically the Outer Rim. We pay our taxes to Coruscant, but that seems to be all the Republic cares about. They never approached us about anything else, not even the war. We seem to be the forgotten planet." Bastila furrowed her brow.
"Would it be possible for us to speak with those in charge around here?"
"Normally I'd say good luck and tell you to look for a hotel while you wait around for a couple weeks, but since you're Jedi-" The port officer pointed towards their weapons again. "You'll probably get bumped to the head of the list."
"You'll need to inquire at the nearest government office," the handler added. "You can't miss it- It'll be one of the only buildings with a crowd of people around it." Katrina nodded.
"Exactly who is the leader on this planet?" Bastila called out as they opened the doors into the city.
"The Committee." His voice was derisive, as if this was a fact as universal as hyperspace travel and he couldn't believe Bastila didn't know it.
"A weapons factory out near the Outer Rim, far enough out of the Sith's reach to keep them at bay for a while, and the Republic 'forgets' it?" Katrina murmured to her.
"I can hardly believe the Republic would make absolutely no effort, especially in the midst of a war. Perhaps we will learn more if we speak to someone with a more intimate knowledge of the planet's dealings with the rest of the universe. This 'Committee' they speak of."
"Advice: Master, I remember you speaking negatively on the subject of the Committee. I would advise you to take caution in meeting with them."
"Negatively? How so?"
"Answer: Your exact words were, 'I've seen herds of bantha that had more sense than the Committee.'"
Katrinasmirked. It was somewhat comforting to know that Revan hadn't been so steeped in the dark side that she was above common insults.
"So I've met them before? They would remember me?"
"Extrapolation: I am unable to find a record of your having met with them during my years of service to you. Of course, you may not have shared the information with me," HK looked slightly hurt by this, as if he had been her sole confidant.
"Even if you had, it is doubtful that they would recognize you now."
"Why not?"
"Answer: In that time you were partial to wearing a mask."
Words defeated her and instead she began walking into the city of Fornia.