Chapter Twelve
Multicolored lights gave a warm glow to the atmosphere of the small diner on the outskirts of the Bin'hai Market. Inside was mercifully warm allowing travelers and locals the comfort of shedding gloves to enjoy a meal.
At a narrow booth in the far corner sat two Jedi enjoying a light meal. Conversation was soft, unheard over the din of patrons enjoying a decent serving before returning to their work and ships.
"There was this café," Siri began between mouthfuls of a layered nerf and vegetable sandwich, "that made the best pappo stuffed nerf." With a free hand she tried to describe the dish to her luncheon companion. "These little orange fruits–they're sweet–with the insides scooped out and filled with shredded nerf sautéed in some lovely sauce." Without missing a beat, she bit into the corner of the green roll. "Mmm."
The warm lighting, gave gentle shadows across Obi-Wan's face and offering a myriad of colors dancing in his eyes. He just sat there, quietly watching Siri devour her meal with barely a breath in between bites. Fearful that any attempt to do so and he would short a finger or two. Studying his own plate he poked at the pile of pickled urbi fruit next to the last few bites of his sandwich.
"It's not going to crawl anywhere," Siri mumbled between mouthfuls.
"One can hope."
"What? You don't like it?" she asked while reaching across the table and with her bare fingers, scooped up a helping of urbi fruit and stuffed some of it into her mouth. "I thought you could eat anything." Then crammed the rest of the stringy purple food into her mouth.
"Not urbi fruit." The older Jedi made a face when he looked back down at the pile that stilled remained on his plate and wished Siri would help herself to the rest. It left a slight unsettled feeling in his stomach looking at the stringy fiber and seeds. "At least not since Garen blew it out of his nose."
Siri abruptly stopped eating and swallowed the mouthful with a loud gulp. Her bright blue eyes reflecting the unspoken shock. "Was that before or after the incident with the Lugaberian berry juice?"
"After."
"You would think he would learn not to play with his food." A light laugh escaped the female Jedi. "Has Bant ever forgiven him for the juice incident?"
"Not that I know of. She still refuses to treat him in the healing center. Even when he isn't suffering from food poisoning."
"It wasn't like he drank enough of that stuff to sicken a dozen beings." She laughed again.
Obi-Wan found he liked the sound. It was far better than the snarling personality she had adopted of late. "Well, her face was covered purple splotches for over a week."
Siri grinned before stealing another bit of urbi from his plate. "Lugaberian juice stains terrible."
Noting Siri's longing look lingering on the pile of fruit, he pushed it toward her. "More?"
"Out of his nose, huh?"
"He sounded like Maser Yoda for a week."
Smiling, Siri traded the few remaining fried red roots for the pile of urbi fruit on his plate. Picking a small group of spongy purple, she finished it off quickly, pausing long enough to add, "When I am on long missions, this reminds me of home." She glanced away, looking a little embarrassed. "I know sounds silly, but it grounds me."
"Why? There is nothing at all silly about it. Sometimes we need to be reminded of who we are and the things that are important to us. It gives more meaning to why we serve, especially in these trying times."
Siri stared at him for a moment, but when he did not further elaborate, she turned her attention elsewhere. Fishing into the folds of her draped cloak, she dug into one of the pouches on her utility belt and produced the blue focusing crystal.
Finding a free space near the center of the round table, she placed it for Obi-Wan to see.
The other Jedi looked from the gem to the pleased expressing glossing Siri's face. "Where–"
"Eight credits," she softly–but proudly–announced. "Nearly six hours wondering the market, I spent eight credits and didn't get the slightest lead on the existence of the phantom lightsaber."
Reaching across the plates and drinks, the ginger haired Jedi picked up the prize and turned it over with roughened fingers. He recognized that it was a focusing crystal even under the hardened muck that partially encased it. Careful fingers applied pressure to the reddish layering and broke it away allowing the crumbles to fall to his lap and the floor.
"It is in good condition," he said softly. Taking up a napkin and dipping the edge into his water glass, he then carefully wiped away the remaining muck that clung to it. "Very usable. If you ever need a spare."
"I carry spares and blue isn't my color." She scooped up another small pile of urbi fruit. "Besides, it could have been worse. The dealer didn't know what it was. He was trying to pawn off worthless stones with fabricated names and the real prize he practically threw away."
"Then we should be grateful. They are rare on the market and even rarer in the hands of the uninitiated." Placing the stone back in he center of the table, he then folded his hands together and waited patiently until Siri's gaze sought him out.
"What?" she asked.
A sweep of his hand pushed his plate to the side and he leaned forward, propping his elbows on the edge of the table and folded his hands together before him. Grinning, he began to speak softly, his words meant only for Siri, "A very old looking lightsaber with strange writing carved into the hilt was very recently in the possession of Devoli Finn A transient of sorts that comes to the market every now and again to sell what he scrounges up. I never mentioned the markings on the casing."
Siri just stared at him, her food having lost all interest. "So how do we find this guy?"
"Find this guy!" a girlish voice chirped as a gray cloaked figure flopped down in a free chair next to the table. Pushing the hood back, Janua grinned as one of her red hands reached out and snatched up one of the fried roots off Obi-Wan's plate. "I can help," she said just before jamming it into her mouth. She started to reach across the table again.
"This is a private conversation," Siri said, snatching up the focusing crystal from the center of the table.
Janua giggled, shaking her head as she caught Siri's hand. Her leather banded lekku shifting about as she struggled to examine what Siri was desperately protecting.
"Pretty," she cooed, prying the Jedi's fingers apart.
"Do you mind?" Siri asked, freeing herself and the focusing crystal out of the troublemaker's grip.
The young Twi'lek grunted something and turned her attention to the remaining food on Obi-Wan's plate. Snatching up the bit of sandwich, she finished it off in two large bites. "I can help you find the Dug," she mumbled through a mouthful. "I am helpful."
"We can do just fine without your help," Siri replied.
Obi-Wan studied the other Jedi and wondered why she was so caustic toward the Twi'lek. Certainly, Janua was annoying but that did not warrant the harsh responses.
"You don't know where on the Iced Sea Finn is," came the Twi'lek's playful reply.
"We can ask around."
"No one will tell you, Jedi." Janua stuck her tongue out at Siri then reached to steal a bit more food from Obi-Wan's plate but her wrist was caught in a firm grip holding it just centimeters from the food. "Hey," she growled as fingers strained to grasp the last fry.
"What will you get out of helping us?" Obi-Wan calmly asked before releasing his hold.
Her bangle cover wrists jangled as she grabbed up the last bit of food on the plate. "More food. Jedi to keep the Y'Begaar away. I am helpful."
"Helpful at cleaning plates!" Siri growled.
The ginger haired Jedi calmly raised a hand silencing any more protests from Siri.
"I can take you to Finn the Dug." The Twi'lek smiled happily as she pulled her gray cloak close.
Obi-Wan studied the young woman, noting that she was older than she pretended but still far too young and too on her own to be living the kind of life she was. He also noted that there was something hidden about her. Ekaro said she was a pickpocket and a nuisance, someone to keep a distance from. Lightly searching through the Force, he found no immediate threat in her presence, short of any scenes Siri might cause. He would watch her.
Janua leaned forward, enthusiasm radiating off her like heat. Her dark eyes sparkled in the ambient lighting. "I am helpful."
"Food, a few credits and a few hours protection, but do not try our patience," Obi-Wan warned.
"I'll be good." She playfully grinned at her new protector.
Siri just gave him a withering look.