Chapter Seven

Stinging ice crystals slammed into the two Jedi as they pulled their cloaks tight to protect against the biting wind. Their pace was quick as they moved over the dusted path leading to the Bin'hai Market, a trading center that brought beings from all over the galaxy in search of new, used and rare goods.

Siri pulled her hood down over her face with gloved fingers but allowed just enough of an opening to see into the white valley they were entering. At the base of the deep bowl shape cut into the snow pack rose a strange buzzing in the Force and it grew more powerful with every footstep down the sloping path.

Ice formed walls created the oblong shape of the Bin'hai Market. Its ceiling a powerful generator that formed an energy dome that could be expanded and retracted at will to serve the ever changing needs of the marketplace.

Peering into the bright, white sky, Siri glanced over the shimmering dome that possessed a constant bluish discharge as it evaporated snowflakes that drifted too close to the shields.

With a slight twist in her step, she glanced over at her companion and stole a soft smile before burying her cold reddened face deeper into the billowing cowl. A small laugh bubbled up at the memory of the previous evening's activities. The look on Obi-Wan's face just as she flipped him out of the cot was priceless and it would go far to warm her on this cold world.

Of course, she was certain revenge would be soon in coming. She would just have to keep her lightsaber handy.

Inside the gateway of the Bin'hai Market, Siri was relieved to find protection from the driving wind and bitter cold that had pounded them all along their walk to the nearby marketplace. Even though the air inside was still quite chilly, it was far more tolerable than the outside.

Brushing the snow free from the rich brown of her cloak, she tugged at the material, so that it would drape over her form as it was designed and not pulled around her like a blanket. Choosing to keep her hands gloved in the chill air, she rubbed them together for a bit of warmth as her gaze swept across the bowl of the marketplace from their high vantage point.

In the booths and crooked aisles that made up the large chamber, a myriad of alien species wandered about selling and shopping while quite a few members of the Y'Begaar quietly patrolled the footpaths.

Sensing no immediate threat other than what was natural for a place like that, Siri abruptly announced, "Let's split up. We can cover more area quicker."

Obi-Wan, who had also brushed the snow free, turned to study her. After a moment, he silently nodded in agreement.

Laughing while she brushed her fingers through her short blond locks, Siri teased, "Are you still giving me the silent treatment? Don't pout, remember that Master Yoda is fond of saying–"

"Master Yoda would not have tossed me out of the cot and stolen it."

"After you stole it first," she corrected.

"That was different." He grinned in return.

"Thank you for warming it up for me," she playfully purred flicking away a few snowflakes that had gathered in the fold of Obi-Wan's sleeve, then slinked off before he could do something to her. She could see it behind that cool Jedi mask that he was planning something.

Moving with the confident step of a Jedi Knight, she took the first path that opened to her. Passing silently among the makeshift booths that lined both sides of the gravel path, her senses noted the multitude of life forms that teemed all around her. This place was no different than any of the thousands of markets spread across the galaxy.

Voices in all dialects and tongues called out to her. Heavily garmented figures held out trinkets and junk, shaking it as they bid her to take a look at their offerings. Wanting her to buy whatever overpriced item they were trying to pawn off.

For a time, the search was relatively pleasant. Her attentions drawn from the sellers and their wares to the Force as she searched its energies for the weapon of a Jedi. Along the way, she wondered if the Force could guide her to the lightsaber. Certainly it would be the will of the Force that it be found and returned to the Jedi Order.

Rounding a corner and entering another row, the thought bubbled up inside that the Prak'sha was no longer there. And if it was not? Then what would they do?

Of course, that little voice inside whispered, it may never have existed at all.

She hated that little voice, the one that pointed out all her flaws.

"Hey, pretty Jedi!" a gruff voice called from further down the aisle.

Looking up, Siri was faced with an old, gray Toydarian flapping his small wings toward her. Quickly shifting her gaze away and silently praying to the Force to spare her, she focused her attention on a booth lined with spare parts from old speeders.

"Pretty Jedi!" the Toydarian called out as he hovered close. "Come, pretty Jedi, I have perfumes. You like." He motioned to her.

Turning to face the squat gray figure that blocked her path, she announced, "I am not interest in shopping for perfumes."

"Pretty Jedi like you likes perfumes!" the foul smelling creature repeated. "The finest Banuumori Oils from Dalar! Pretty Jedi wants, yes?" He held out a small bottle to her.

"No, thank you." It took all of her Jedi training to remain calm while wishing the repugnant creature and his bottled pheromones would go away.

"Oils will make pretty Jedi irresistible to all beings. Yes, pretty Jedi wants?" He pushed the tiny crystal bottle with its red contents into Siri's face.

The disgusted Jedi retreated. "No," she repeated still trying to get out of his reach as he moved with her every step. "I do not want to buy anything."

"Pretty Jedi will be loved by many with these oils."

It was a common item found in the darker trades and completely legal under galactic law. Its legality did not make its uses less bothersome to the Jedi though. She wanted nothing to do with it and worse, feared what a single drop of the red liquid would do if the persistent dealer did not back off.

Unwilling to give up, the Toydarian shook the bottle in Siri's face. "You want. I sell for good price."

Spying the black cork that held the oil in she leapt back a step. Then with the slightest motion of her hand, she called to the Force and popped the cork from the bottle while simultaneously knocking it back causing the dealer's fat fingers to struggle and catch it.

Red Banuumori Oil exploded all over the Toydarian.

"You should always check your bottles to make sure their lids are secure," she calmly told the stunned creature as red dripped all over his mottled gray skin.

"Eeeaaaggghh!" the Toydarian screamed struggling the wipe off the oil that was quickly absorbing into his rough flesh.

The pungent odor caused Siri to withdraw even farther, drawing a cloaked hand over her nose to protect it from the stink. Certainly no creature could find such a foul stench pleasing.

A warning spiked through the Force moments before a large green something barreled down the narrow walkway between the booths and nearly sent her crashing into a pile of broken power converters for TL-18 class land skiffs. She quickly out maneuvered the beast and landed in a crouch.

Half the creatures in the market drew their attention to the wailing Toydarian as he flew as fast as his wings would carry him. Beings all about howled and bayed as they took after the trader as he darted about in terror still trying to free himself of the red oil.

For a few moments, she remained crouched on the gravel packed ground until most of the action had left her area. Slowly straightening, Siri peered over the shops just in time to see the Toydarian flee the market trailed by twenty other beings.