Chapter 10
An hour and four drinks later, Khunth headed for his small starfighter. I can't stay here. It doesn't matter now, both Anakin and Drengin are gone, who knows where they went. Perhaps somehow they will wind up at the Jedi Temple. Perhaps this mission is not as failed as I think it to be.
He sat down in the cockpit and closed his eyes, trying to hold back tears. I'm acting like a scared kid. I shouldn't be afraid of Redav, but I am. I guess I should be, I have failed him. And because I've failed him, I have to do what I promised. But I can't, I can't do it.
"Master Drengin," a droid's tinny voice called as he walked into the cabin and turned on the lights. "Master Anakin says that if you want a hot breakfast, you need to wake up."
Drengin groaned and reflexively shielded his eyes with his arm. "He didn't tell me he had a droid," he mumbled to himself.
"I am C-3PO, human cyborg relations. I've been programmed for over thirty secondary functions. You could say that versatility is my middle name. I am also well versed in six million forms of communication and protocols that are most useful when dealing with different species. I am quite sufficient at cleaning, preparing meals, sending messages and operating the ship in case of an emergency. Of course I usually prefer ---------"
"Aaah! Ok, I'm up, I'm up. Just please stop talking," Drengin yelled covering his ears.
Although somewhat indignant, Threepio promptly silenced himself as Drengin climbed out of bed.
Drengin looked at Threepio and shook his head despairingly before heading for the door. "Tell Anakin I'll be there in a couple of minutes."
"Yes, sir," Threepio replied and exited the cabin.
Once Drengin had finished washing up and changing into fresh clothes, he headed for the kitchen and found Threepio standing near the door. Rolling his eyes, he headed for the table and sat down opposite from Anakin. "When were you going to tell me you had a droid?" he asked before taking a bite of the scrambled eggs.
Anakin smiled and glanced over at Threepio before answering. "I take it he had no problem getting you up?"
"He talks up a storm," Drengin answered, taking a sip of his milk. "No, he didn't."
Anakin chuckled in amusement and laid his fork down on his empty plate. "Good. If you want, you can go in the workshop with me and help me work on Threepio."
Drengin nodded his head as he finished chewing and grinned. "That'll be fun. Can I rewire his mouth?" he asked.
Anakin chuckled and shook his head. "Actually I was thinking of giving him silver plating," Anakin responded as he wiped his mouth with his napkin.
Drengin scrunched up his nose in distaste. "That doesn't match his personality. Maybe he should be gold plated."
Threepio, who had been listening, cocked his head as he looked at Drengin and then at Anakin. "Master Drengin, I'm offended."
Anakin snickered and nodded in agreement. "You have a point. Gold will be quite suitable for a droid that can be offended."
Drengin smiled and looked over at Threepio. "Can't wait to see your new look, Threepio."
"Oh dear," Threepio moaned melodramatically, causing Drengin to laugh.
"You'll look fine Threepio," Anakin said gently as he began to clear off the table.
"Do you think I can make my own droid?" Drengin asked as he found a washrag to clean the table with.
"You can but it's harder to do than it looks." Anakin informed Drengin.
Drengin looked at Anakin thoughtfully. "Then you can help me."
"There are some schematics in a drawer under the worktable." Anakin relented. This will be interesting to watch.
Drengin smiled and put the rag into the sink. If Anakin can do it, then I can do it.
Darth Milter got to the hanger bay just as the ship landed. His face was grim as he watched the ramp lower. Darth Redav descended the ramp and greeted him with the formal bow. "Darth Milter."
Darth Sidious watched Darth Milter and Darth Redav walk away with a sly look on his face. Soon.
"A Sith was killed in the hanger earlier today," Darth Milter remarked casually. When Darth Redav glanced at him he continued. "I believe you knew him – Darth Seront."
Redav's face remained emotionless and cold, not pausing in his stride he asked. "Do you know who killed him?"
Milter shrugged. "It could have been anyone. Of course, if he had been a Council member then we would conduct an investigation. The Council is expecting your mission report in two hours." With that said, he left Redav's company.
Redav quickly strode down the hallways to Khunth's quarters. A grim look on his face. He typed in the code and walked into the room to find it empty with no sign of Khunth. Fury weld up inside Redav as he sensed where Khunth was.
/Anakin has left the Temple Redav/ Khunth said through their bond.
/Where are you/ Redav asked, his annoyance evident.
/My apprentice went with him. The mission is over, we can only hope now that we have reached Anakin. There's something else…Garen is dead./ Khunth reported.
/Who killed him/ Redav asked, carefully enunciating each word.
Khunth swallowed hard before answering. /I'm sorry Redav, I really am. I didn't want it to end like that. He tried to kill my apprentice and attacked me afterwards. He lost his focus, I didn't stop my blade fast enough./ Khunth squeezed his eyes shut, unable to say the words. /I am so sorry that I failed you. Forgive me./
/You killed him!/ Redav shouted through their bond, anger tinting his words
Tears spilled from Khunth's eyes as he felt the bond snap and the Dark Side pour from Redav in waves. Khunth opened his eyes, and focused on the starfighter's instrument panel, lifting the ship off of the top of the Temple's roof.
Drengin bit his tongue as he concentrated on putting the droid parts together. "Yow!" he yelped in surprise as a spark zapped his fingers.
"Be careful not to let your fingers get too close while you're putting it together," Anakin instructed as he heard Drengin mutter under his breath.
"Thanks for the warning," Drengin replied sarcastically before he returned to what he was doing.
Anakin chuckled as he fitted the last of the plating on Threepio's head. Give it up Drengin, I didn't learn how to repair a repulser until I was seven. He said silently as he felt Drengin's frustration.
"So, have you decided where we're going yet?" Drengin asked.
"We'll head to Tatooine first. I want to do a little shopping."
"I thought we had everything we needed?" Drengin asked in confusion.
Anakin smiled. "We do. The kind of shopping I'm talking about is also known as information hunting."
"Oh," Drengin said as he successfully got the part into place. "So what information are we looking for?"
Anakin turned around to face Drengin while cleaning his hands on a rag. "Any kind of information that will be useful later on will do. I also want to find out how my old friends are doing."
"Sounds like fun," Drengin answered.
Anakin stood up and activated Threepio. "Now let's see how Threepio likes his new look."
Threepio stood up and found himself facing a small, built-in mirror on the wall. "Oh my." He walked forward and examined himself. "I look---"
"Fantastic," Drengin said, finishing Threepio's sentence. "Now you're all set to go to Tatooine."
"He'll be staying aboard the ship," Anakin said as he eyed his handiwork in approval. "Threepio, head to the cockpit and increase our speed by five. It's time we see how fast this baby can really go."
"Right away, Master Anakin," Threepio said and headed out of the door.
Anakin sighed and tossed the rag on top of some tools. "So how is your droid progressing?"
Drengin picked the small droid arm up and watched it swing crookedly. "There's too many parts. I think I messed the wires up."
Anakin smiled understandingly and pulled up a stool to sit by Drengin. "You're doing pretty well for your first time. Here, let me help you with that." Well at least he'll admit to having trouble. However, the arm is the easy part.
Drengin handed the droid arm to Anakin and looked on as Anakin expertly fixed the wires. "So what's Tatooine like?" Drengin asked while he watched.
"It's very hot with endless miles of sand all around. Tatooine has two suns and two small moons. Fortunately, the temperature cools down considerably at night. Jawas and Tuskin Raiders are the native inhabitants of Tatooine. The Jawas collect scrap metal in the desert and sell them to moisture farmers. The Tuskin Raiders are nomads and live in tribes. Occasionally, they'll attack moister farms but more often than not they stay away."
"That's neat," Drengin remarked as Anakin handed the droid arm back to him.
"Well, yes, if you don't live there, I suppose it is. I grew up in Mos Espa, one of the largest cities on Tatoonie. Mos Eisley is one of the primary cities and the busiest. Mos Ethna is a smaller city and not likely to have many visitors. Some other small cities are Mos Nytram, Mos Taike and Mos Zabu. Motesta is basically a small farming community consisting of farmers working much closer together. Bestine is another farming community and considered the official capital of Tatooine since it was one of the first settlements founded."
Drengin shook his head at Anakin's rambling. "So I take it we're going to be landing in Mos Espa?"
Anakin nodded and picked up a piece of wire. "Tatooine may seem like it would have the smallest history of all the planets, but in fact it probably equals them. Mos Espa is a city in my history and the first city I have ever lived in."
"So what do the farmers farm? I'm sure they can't grow things there," Drengin asked.
"They're called moister farmers. In other words they farm water," Anakin explained. "Maybe if we have time, we can stop by a farm and you can get a tour of how it all works."
Drengin picked up a tool to screw a small bolt into the metal plating. "I suppose." He looked up from his work, meeting Anakin's eyes. "How are we going to find what we seek?"
Anakin pressed his lips together in thought. "We'll let the Force guide us," he said after awhile, the words sounding foreign to his lips.
"Do you think my Master will try to follow us?" Drengin asked softly.
"I don't know, but we'll find out sooner or later," Anakin answered truthfully.
Drengin bit his lip and then turned back to the droid parts that lay scattered on the table. "I hope not," he whispered.