This is a longer chapter than the others simply because I couldn't find a good stopping point. I still don't particularly like where I've stopped anyway, but whatever.
Oh, Inuyasha: To destroy the droids on the Star Forge, do as follows.
1. Make sure you have computer spikes. If you don't then you will have to kill more droids than if you have a ton of spikes.
2. The droids will be named with letters. I.E. "Star Forge Droid A" or "Star Forge Droid G". Each little generator that produces droids has a letter, so pay attention to which generators are which.
3. Ok, if you have computer spikes, press the "B" button on your Xbox controller to get out of battle mode. Go over to one of the consoles next to a generator and use spikes to shut it down. Do this for all of the generators and you'll get past the droids.
4. If you don't have computer spikes, then you will have to destroy some of the droids before you can shut down the generators. You will need seven spikes each to shut down a generator, so in essence, you will have to destroy seven of each type of droid to get enough spikes. So, say you want to shut down generator A, kill seven droids that have an "Star Forge Droid A" as a title. Then, go over to the little bins that are sitting next to the consoles, press the "B" button to get out of combat mode, get the spikes out of the bin, then use them on the console.
If that didn't make any sense, let me know. Basically, the only way to shut down the generators is outside of combat mode. Like I said, if this made absolutely no sense to you, email me or something and I'll try to explain it better. Hope it works for you!
Okay, "Osi'kyr" is just a Mandalorian exclamation of surprise.
Canderous laughed. "Didn't you grow up on a planet full of rock?"
"Rock, not sand. There's a big difference. Sand needs to stay on the beach, not get all up in my armor and into places that should not be touched by the elements," Vincent corrected him. At that, Bastila laughed as well, though she covered her mouth quickly and regained her composure.
"We're wasting time," she stated.
"Yeah yeah, I know. Hey, is that a Czerka office? Let's go in there. Maybe we'll find out something useful."
As soon as they got within ten feet of the Czerka building, they could hear the sounds of a heated argument going on inside. Upon entering, they found that a Duros miner was trying to convince the head representative for Czerka to find a non-violent solution to the problems the Sand People were causing. Flustered and done quarrelling, the Duros miner turned to Vincent.
"Don't bother with them, they don't see the importance of life," he stated before leaving in a huff.
"Oh, hello," the Czerka representative said in a slightly more friendly voice than she had been using with the poor Duros. "If you're here about the Tusken Raiders, please send all complaints to our corporate Kiosk in Coruscant. And don't ask about hunting licenses, we're no longer selling them."
"Okay, that's great. How do I get one?" Vincent asked, already irritated by the lady's presumptuous attitude.
"As I already stated, we're no longer selling them."
"Really? I had no idea..." Vincent said sarcastically.
The woman glared at him, but gave him an appraising look over nonetheless. "You look quite capable," she stated matter-of-factly.
"I can handle anything that comes my way honey. Of that you can be sure."
"Oh?" the woman stated with amusement. "Well then, if you'll agree to perform a small task for me, then I might have a hunting license for you somewhere..."
"And what would that be?" Vincent asked, unsure if he really needed that hunting license or not.
"Before you say no, unless you have a license, you can't get out of the city. So I strongly suggest you consider my offer. All I'm asking is for you to remove the threat of the Sand People. They regularly attack our Sand Crawlers, and maintaining those machines costs a hefty sum of credits. I don't care how you get it done; I just want those Raiders gone. I'll give you credits for each gaffi stick you bring in, but as proof of completing our deal, I'll need the all important chieftain's gaffi stick. Bring that in, and I'll pay you handsomely," she explained.
Vincent thought for a moment. She hadn't specified how she wanted the Sand People gone, so he might not have to kill them. The Sand People weren't known for their diplomacy, however, so Vincent wasn't sure how to go about solving this problem. He needed that hunting license though.
"I'll do it."
"Good. Here's your license, and bring in any gaffi sticks you collect for credits. Remember, I want that chieftain's gaffi."
"Fine. I'll be back when I have it." And with that Vincent left, not wishing to talk to her nay more than he had to. Once outside, the Duros miner confronted him.
"Let me guess, you're her killer for hire? Don't you realize that the Sand People were here first? Killing them won't solve anything!"
Vincent struggled to keep himself from snapping at the alien. "I never agreed to kill anyone, and I won't unless I absolutely have to. Trust me, getting into a brawl with a bunch of Tusken Raiders is not on the top of my to-do list."
The Duros looked at him with a new found deference in his eyes. "I see. Maybe you are not as heartless as the rest of your race seems to be. I only ask that you attempt at a peaceful solution. I know it's possible, though communicating with the Sand People is difficult. You'd need a very high-tech protocol droid to translate. I think Yuka Laka, the owner of the droid shop, just came into possession of one of these droids," the alien said before walking away.
"I might have to check that out," Vincent said to himself. "Okay, let's keep going. I'm sure that we'll find out pretty much all there is to know in a few minutes anyway."
The group was able to make it about one hundred feet before once again being stopped, this time by a desperate looking woman.
"Excuse me, sir," she said humbly. Something in Vincent's heart went out to the woman standing before him and he stopped.
"Yes?"
"Are...are you a hunter?"
"I have a license, yes."
"You do? Could you please help me? I don't have anything left..." she trailed and dropped her eyes, unable to meet his gaze.
"What do you need?" he asked kindly.
"My husband was a hunter. He was killed out on the Dune Sea, and my children and I are stuck here on this miserable planet. I don't have enough money to buy passage for a freighter out of here, and I don't have a license myself, so I can't go in the hunting lodge to sell this wraid plate. I know it's worth at least 500 credits. I was hoping maybe you could buy it from me?"
Vincent was about to agree, but a better plan struck him. "I can't buy it from you, but if you'd give it to me, I'll sell it for you."
The woman looked at him warily. "I...I don't know. How do I know I can trust you?"
"I can't prove it to you. You'll just have to take that chance. Please, let me help you," he pleaded.
The woman stared at him for a long time; clearly contemplating whether risking her future on Vincent was worth it. He simply stood there staring right back at her. Finally, she seemed to have come to a decision.
"Can I have some sort of insurance?"
"Here," Vincent said handing her his lightsaber. "You can hold this until I get back."
Her eyes widened. "You're a...Jedi!" she exclaimed. "Please, take it back!" She looked almost frightened at the possibility of touching his lightsaber.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded quickly. "Here is the plate my husband left. Good luck."
Vincent walked into Fazza's Hunting Lodge, purposefully striding toward the alien who was obviously in charge.
"Ah, a new hunter! What can I do for you my friend?" Fazza asked good-naturedly.
"I have a wraid plate here that I recently acquired out on the Dune Sea. How much can I get for it?"
Fazza peered in astonishment at the plate Vincent had handed to him. "This is the biggest wraid plate I've ever seen! I'd say...at least...500 credits should do."
"That's fine. Thank you," Vincent said upon receiving the credits. Pulling out a wad of credits from his pack, he counted out another 250 credits and added it to the 500 that Fazza had just paid him.
"What are you doing?" Bastila asked.
"You'll see," he answered walking out the door. The woman was waiting, and she looked at him with a mixture of fear and hope in her eyes.
"Did you sell it?"
"I did," Vincent said nodding. "He paid 250 more credits than you thought."
"250 more credits? That's...that's 750 credits! Oh, thank you so much! You have no idea what you've done for me...I wish there was some way to repay you for this."
"Please, just take your family and get off of this planet."
"I will! Thank you so much!" she said, flinging her arms around his neck and hugging him for all she was worth. Stunned, all Vincent could do was awkwardly pat her head and say, "You're welcome."
The woman ran off, rounded a corner and disappeared from sight, leaving a still bewildered Vincent standing rooted to the spot at which she had hugged him.
"That was very noble of you to help that woman like that," Bastila said placing a hand on his arm.
"Hmph," Canderous snorted. "She's too weak to survive."
Vincent glared at the older man. "What if all she needed was a little help? Maybe she would have died out here, maybe not. At least I gave her a chance."
"You gave her another chance to suffer! Another day to live out her miserable life and wish she had something better!" the Mandalorian shot back.
Vincent opened his mouth to reply but Bastila gently squeezed his arm. Closing it, he thought for a moment. Lifting his gaze back to the mercenary, he spoke in a hard voice that left no room for dispute.
"Then I'll take that chance, Canderous. Far be it from me to turn away someone in need of my help."
Canderous muttered something underneath his breath, but didn't immediately reply. When he did, it had absolutely nothing to do with rendering aid to those in need.
"Where the hell's the cantina in this place? I could use a drink."
"Is that it?" Bastila asked pointing at a door that had carbon scoring from multiple blaster shots to its metal frame.
"Let's find out," Vincent said, approaching a Duros who was walking out of the door. Before he could inquire if they were, without a doubt, standing in front of the cantina, the alien addressed them in a tone full of exasperation.
"I swear that woman gives humans a bad name! Tell me you all aren't like that! Helena must be your word for pit-rancor!"
"Um, Bastila, isn't your mother's name Helena?" Vincent asked quietly. Bastila looked put out.
"Yes, and I doubt she wants to be kept waiting. We should go see her."
"Okay," he said, slightly surprised that she actually wanted to see her mother after all this time. "Excuse me, I believe you said there's a woman named Helena in there?"
"Oh yes, she's in there all right. Probably won't be coming out soon, either. Nobody can knock that ice princess off her high horse, oh no. Wait, are you actually looking for her? You humans must be insane..." the Duros muttered while walking away.
"Ice princess, hmm?" Vincent looked at Bastila. "Like mother, like daughter."
"Don't you dare compare me to my mother!" she shouted.
Vincent visibly cringed and placed his hands in front of himself defensively. "Are we going in or not?"
Bastila sighed. "Yes. Let's get this over with."
As soon as the two Jedi and the Mandalorian walked into the cantina, an eerie hush fell over the occupants. Vincent felt his temper rising.
"What the hell are you staring at?" he asked loudly. Almost immediately, the music began to play again, the conversations picked up where they had left off, and the noise level in the cantina soon reached its usual dull roar. Scanning to room, Vincent picked out Bastila's mother fairly easily from the crowd of lowlifes and scum.
"There, in the corner," he said without pointing.
"I see her," Bastila said, her voice lacking enthusiasm. Vincent parted the small crowd easily, as he was quite a formidable figure.
"Ma'am?" he asked politely when he reached Helena.
"Excuse me, but do I know you?" she asked with reservation.
"It's me mother. Or don't you recognize me?" Bastila answered for him, stepping up beside Vincent.
"Well what do expect when I haven't had so much as a picture of you since you've been gone? My, you've grown up."
"Spare me. What is it that you need? Credits?"
"Can't a woman have her dying wish to see her daughter fulfilled?"
"Where is father?" Bastila suddenly interjected.
"What do you mean?" At Bastila's blank look, Helena's face fell. "So you don't know."
"Know what? What did you do to him?" Bastila asked accusingly. Helena turned to Vincent.
"Isn't she sweet? Is this how you treat your mother young man?" she asked with a tint of sarcasm.
"My mother is long dead, if you must know," Vincent replied candidly. Helena's eyes widened.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry. I fear I'll be joining her soon enough..." Helena sighed heavily and turned back to her daughter. "Your father is dead Bastila. He died out on the Dune Sea."
"How do you know? He could still be out there!" Bastila said, distress reflected in her eyes.
"Dear, a hunter who was there said he saw your father die! I can't ask for more proof than that."
"How did he die?" Bastila's voice was now flat and emotionless.
"He was hunting for Krayt dragon pearls. He was with a group of hunters, and only one of them managed to escape. He said that he saw your father killed by the dragon, and that he can only assume that his body is still out there." Helena looked pleadingly at her daughter. "I want you to find your father's holocron, Bastila, and bring it back to me."
"Why should I?" Bastila asked coldly.
"Is it too much to ask for a wife to see her husband one last time? Just find the holocron." And with that, Helena turned away from them and sat down at an empty table, clearly done talking to them. Vincent turned to Bastila.
"Do you think we should look for the holocron?"
Bastila hesitated. "Having father's holocron would be like having him here with you. He recorded all of his personal thoughts on it..."
"So we're going to look for it?"
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
"Alright then, let's go," Vincent said, once again parting the crowd to get through to the door. He squinted as his eyes were flooded with light from the twin suns of Tatooine, a far cry from the dim illumination of the cantina. Bastila was walking ahead of him and Canderous was presumably following behind, though Vincent wouldn't have been disappointed in the least if the Mandalorian had stayed in the cantina. Vincent was following closely behind his female companion; although he was quite sure she could take care of herself if a thug decided to attack, he didn't really want to take any chances. He had zoned out for a moment, lost in his own thoughts, and didn't notice Bastila disappearing around a corner. In the split second that it took him to realize that she was gone, Bastila was back around the corner pinning him against the wall with a surprising amount of force.
"Maybe we should go somewhere private? I mean, as much as I don't mind the thought of you taking me right here, we might scare the locals," he teased.
"Will you shut up!" she hissed quietly. "There are three Dark Jedi waiting for us around that wall, and I nearly just ran into them!"
Vincent sobered immediately. "Three of them? And you're sure they didn't see you?"
"If they did, I doubt we would be having this conversation."
"True." Vincent scanned his surroundings and frowned. "For the love of all that is holy, where is Canderous?"
Bastila looked around as well, her face stating that she had no idea. "I thought he was behind us."
"Yeah, me too. I'd rather not go up against Dark Jedi outnumbered."
She nodded resignedly, remembering their last encounter with Malak's followers. Needless to say, she didn't want that to happen again.
"Um..." she heard Vincent say nervously.
"What?"
He looked down, indicating the fact that she was still pinning him against the wall. His eyes met hers and she could see the glint of amusement in his emerald orbs. Mustering a good deal of self-control, she stepped away from him. She couldn't help a brief flashback of Vincent holding her gently back on Kashyyyk and the rush of feelings that it brought to the surface. Forcing her emotions back down, she chanced a look at the object of her forbidden affections. He was looking at her oddly, his arms folded over his chest and his right shoulder resting against the wall.
"Something's bothering you."
"I'm just thinking about my mother."
"Now you're lying." He pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer to her. "You can't keep things from like this Bastila. I know what goes on up here," he said, tapping a finger on her temple. His hand moved to her cheek, and he tilted her head up to meet his gaze. "Please tell me what's wrong."
Bastila hesitated for a moment, apprehensive as to whether or not she could share her feelings with him. Before she could respond, however, Canderous came jogging up next to them.
"Osi'kyr! I look away for two seconds and you're gone."
"That's your fault, not ours" Vincent said withdrawing his hand from her face.
"I told you I wanted a drink. I get up to the bar, order one, look around, and you're nowhere in sight. I wasted five credits on that drink!" the Mandalorian said sullenly.
"I'll pay you back later. Right now, we've got a bigger problem. Three Dark Jedi, other side of that wall," Vincent explained.
"Dark Jedi? Why are they here?"
"They're looking for her," he said motioning towards Bastila. "And possibly me as well. Either way, we need to take them out."
Canderous pulled out his Mandalorian repeating blaster rifle, fingering the trigger with a malicious look on his face. "This should be fun."
Vincent couldn't help a smile at the Mandalorian's eagerness for battle. "I agree. Let's go."
Rounding the corner, their gaze never left Malak's followers as they came closer to their enemies.
"Lord Malak – " the Sith began, but was cut off by Vincent's amused snort. "I fail to see what is so humorous!" he said angrily.
Though his mouth was smiling, Vincent's eyes were cold and hard, filled with hatred for the men in front of him. "Do you all rehearse the same speech? Wait, let me finish for you, and I quote 'Lord Malak was most displeased when he learned that you had escaped Taris alive. He has promised a great reward for whoever disposes of you.' Or something close to that."
The Dark Jedi spluttered, at a complete loss for words. Vincent turned to his Mandalorian friend. "Would you like the first shot?"
Canderous grinned and raised his gun, letting loose with a barrage of fire. Vincent's lightsaber ignited with a snap hiss and he charged the nearest Dark Jedi, slicing at the Sith's left shoulder. His enemy brought his crimson blade up in time to block, and Vincent smiled. The Dark Jedi was falling directly into his trap. Planting his foot, Vincent spun to the left, ramming his lightsaber into the Sith's unprotected right side. Catching the weapon that his enemy had dropped with the toe of his boot, Vincent kicked it up to his free left hand and ignited it, mildly surprised to see that it was the same violet color as his own blade. Returning his attention to the battle, he could see that Bastila had her hands full with a Dark Jedi who was also wielding a double-bladed lightsaber and that Canderous was fairing quite well considering he was fighting a lightsaber with a blaster rifle.
"Canderous!" Vincent yelled catching the mercenary's attention. He tossed the Dark Jedi's weapon to Canderous who nodded in appreciation. The Mandalorian dropped his blaster rifle and began to hack mercilessly at the Sith, forcing him against the wall of a nearby building. Trapped, the Dark Jedi had little chance of winning, and his lifeless corpse soon hit the earth with a large gash across his torso.
Bastila had finally discovered a weakness in her opponent's defense and took full advantage with a flurry of quick strikes, sending the Dark Jedi careening backwards out of control. He tried to bring his lightsaber up to shield himself from her attacks, but Bastila severed it in half with a flick of her wrist and impaled the surprised Sith on one of her glowing yellow blades, killing him before he slumped to the ground.
Vincent vaguely realized that they were being watched by the surprised citizens of Anchorhead, all staring with mouths agape at the scene that had just played out. He pressed the button on the hilt of his lightsaber that turned his violet blade off and clipped it back onto his belt. Canderous tossed the Sith's lightsaber back, and Vincent placed it in his pack along with an assassin pistol and a lightsaber crystal that he found on the bodies. Bastila had retrieved the double-bladed lightsaber that her adversary had wielded, and she handed it to Vincent as well.
"What should we do with the bodies?" asked Bastila.
"Leave 'em, we can't do anything else with them," Canderous stated.
Vincent nodded in agreement. "He's right. We've got nowhere to put them, and we can't use them for anything. Besides, it's pointless wasting time discussing what to do with the bodies of three people who deserved to die when we need to be finding a droid."
The group moved forward, Vincent in front, Bastila slightly behind, and as usual, Canderous lagged furthest back.
"Why do you dislike your mother so much?" Vincent asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between himself and his female companion. She looked taken aback by the question, and it took her a few moments to respond.
"I suppose it's because I always felt that she was trying to push my father. She enjoyed living in luxury, and when that luxury would run out, she would send him on treasure hunts. Treasure hunts that I was never allowed to go on," she answered.
"I get the feeling that you and your father were very close."
She smiled sadly. "Yes. We did everything together. I loved my father more than anything in the world, and now that he's dead...that leaves a hurt inside that you just can't imagine."
Vincent turned his head back and caught Canderous' eye, motioning for him to continue on to the droid shop ahead. The Mandalorian nodded and continued to walk, ignoring the fact that Vincent and Bastila had stopped. Bastila looked at Vincent curiously but he simply shifted nervously, averting his eyes.
"What?" she asked slightly annoyed.
"Look, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, okay? I just..." he rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand, a gesture that Bastila found ridiculously adorable. "I don't think that it's a good idea for you to be out here," he stated firmly.
"And why is that?"
"I don't want you to be distracted by your father's death. It...you could get hurt."
So he was being overprotective again. She couldn't get mad; he was simply looking out for her.
"Vincent, I can take care of myself. I don't need you to worry about me all of the time," Bastila said reassuringly.
"I know, but I do worry about you all of the time. I can't help it," he said shrugging. "It's your fault. If I didn't like you so much, maybe I wouldn't care..." Vincent realized what he had said and he felt a blush forming on his face. "Um...we should probably catch up with Canderous now."
"I think that's a good idea," Bastila agreed hastily. They both walked in the direction of Yuka Laka's shop, stopping in front of the door. Vincent opened it and motioned for Bastila to go through, following behind her. As soon as he entered the droid shop, he was inexplicably drawn to a copper colored droid in the corner. The robot looked similar to a protocol droid, but had the air of a combat model that had seen extensive battle and was quite comfortable with killing. Vincent walked over to it, and the droid lit up immediately, both literally and in an almost human-like fashion of happiness.
"Statement: Greetings prospective purchaser! I am HK-47 at your service, should you decide to remove me from the possession of one Yuka Laka."
"What's the HK stand for?"
"Statement: I am not sure. With the restraining bolt in place, I am not capable of fully accessing my memory banks. Suffice to say that from my superior craftsmanship, I believe I was manufactured by a prestigious company."
Vincent was intrigued by this droid. "What are your functions?"
"Statement: Once again, with the restraining bolt put in by that meatbag Yuka Laka, I cannot know the full extent of my functionality. However, I do know that what has been tested is in pristine working order. If you were to purchase me, and if that meatbag were to remove the restraining bolt, then my memory would be restored."
"Right. That'll be all for now." Vincent contemplated the meaning of "meatbag", but he didn't ask why HK referred to Yuka Laka as such.
"Pleading query: Will you please see about purchasing me from that imbecile?"
"Are you supposed to talk about your master like that?" Vincent asked, more out of amusement than fear of a faulty droid.
"Hasty clarification: I simply meant that Yuka Laka's repair skills are not the best, and that I feel I would be of much more use to you."
"Well, I'll look into it."
Vincent found Yuka Laka huddling in a corner by some spare parts. "Oh! Are you a customer? Have you seen the HK unit? He's in fine condition, and all the functions that I've tested have worked perfectly! He also claims to be able to speak the Sand People's dialect, though I can't be sure of that. Do you want to buy him?"
"I'm considering it," Vincent said slowly. "How much?"
"4000 credits, not a cent less!"
Vincent faked shock. "4000! Damn...don't you think that's a little high?"
Yuka Laka shifted nervously. "Well, I might have started a little too high...how about 2500? But that's as low as I'll go."
"You sure?" Yuka Laka nodded. "Fine. I'll take him."
"You will?" the alien asked incredulously. "I mean...of course you will. Here, allow me to remove the restraining bolt I installed..." Yuka Laka retrieved a hydro spanner and popped the bolt off, "There you go! All yours."
"Thanks."
"Thank you! I thought I would never sell this droid."
Vincent walked back over to HK smiling. "Well, you're mine now."
"Statement: That is a relief. Am I to join you now, or will you have me wait here?"
"Let that damn thing go with you two, I've had enough of this place," Canderous spoke up. "I'll be back at the ship." And with that, the Mandalorian exited, leaving Vincent with one obvious choice.
"Uh, I guess you're coming with me."
"Pleased statement: Very well master. My gears are practically quivering in anticipation. I would very much like to engage in some unadulterated violence..." Vincent looked at the droid with a raised eyebrow. "At your command, of course," HK finished quickly.
"So, has your memory been restored?" he asked.
"Statement: Much to my dismay master, it has not. I know little else than the fact that I am a droid proficient in languages, most interestingly the dialect of the Sand People, and that I am a combat-ready model."
"So you lied to me?"
"Clarification: Er, not so much. I spoke out of ignorance, not deceit. I was hoping that by removing the restraining bolt my memory would be restored, but I fear that isn't the case."
Vincent thought for a moment. "Have you been damaged?"
"Statement: I believe I have been damaged several times in the past, but I was always repaired. It is possible that some of my memory is in a lockdown due to this, or it may have been erased altogether. I cannot say. But that does not mean I am not a fully loyal droid...right master?"
"I'm not going to scrap you HK, don't worry."
"Relieved statement: Thank you master. I would sincerely like to avoid ending up in a junk pile."
"Do you know who your previous master was?"
"Statement: No master, I am afraid I do not. It seems that I am unable to access that, though the block on my programming seems to be purposeful."
"Interesting..." Vincent murmured. "You can speak the Sand People's language, right?"
"Proud statement: Fluently master. I do not know why I have been programmed with such a barbaric tongue and I can only assume my former master had some dealings with the Tusken Raiders."
"Good. It just so happens that I have some business with them, so you'll come in handy."
"Statement: As you wish, master."
"I can't say that I particularly like that droid Vincent," Bastila declared once they were outside of Yuka Laka's shop.
"Why not? I think he's great."
"He seems to enjoy violence..."
"Yeah, but if he's a combat model then maybe that's good thing. I don't know, just give him a chance. Or, at least more of a chance than you gave me," Vincent said under his breath.
"I resent that. I already apologized for judging you too quickly, and yet you still bring it up. What more do you want?" she asked in frustration.
"Nothing, I just took it kind of personally, that's all."
"By the Force, I'm sorry okay? You're being overly sensitive."
"I am not! You're the one who was insulting my ability to rescue you after I busted my ass to find you!"
"Statement: Is there a problem master?"
"I..." Vincent was surprised that HK had been actively listening in on their conversation. "Uh, no. No problems."
"Disappointed query: Are you sure? I can remove of her if she is bothering you..."
Vincent eyes got very wide at HK's offer. "What the hell? That's something I NEVER want you to do. Clear?" he threatened, his hand straying dangerously close to his lightsaber.
"Hasty retraction: Of course master! I will store your command in my memory banks. Shall I put her under the list of sentients I am to protect at all costs?"
"Yes, please do. In fact, put everyone on the ship under that list."
"Statement: As you wish. Processing...done."
"See what I mean?" Bastila asked with an 'I told you so' look.
"If he decided to 'remove' you then he'd wish that I was going to scrap him," Vincent said, mildly irritated.
Bastila smiled to herself. As much as much as his over-protectiveness could be annoying, it made her feel...wanted. Like she meant something to him, she wasn't just along for the ride. She could feel his eyes on her and it unnerved her slightly.
"Something wrong?" she asked without looking at him.
"Hmm?" He hadn't expected her to say anything. "No, just thinking."
"You can think without staring at me."
"As much as I'm sure you're right, I rather enjoy staring at you." She furrowed her eyebrows at him and he smiled. "What?"
"Men," was all that Bastila said in reply.
"What the...I apologize for the fact that your genes saw fit to bestow perfection upon you. Besides, I'd rather look at you than HK or the vast amount of sand that's on this God forsaken planet."
"I'm not perfect," she said, feeling warmth creeping into her cheeks.
"Ah, you're blushing! You liked that."
"Wouldn't you enjoy me telling you that you were perfect?" Bastila shot back.
"I would probably check your temperature to make sure you weren't violently ill first. You aren't big on compliments. Then maybe I'd think I had died and gone to heaven or something. Try sometime and see what I do," Vincent answered.
Though Bastila knew what he had said was true, she found that coming from him, it still stung. Vincent noticed that she looked almost sad, and he immediately regretted his words.
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that..."
"No, you're right. I may have been too hard on you in the past."
The words were out before he could stop them. "May have been?"
He saw her wince and he mentally kicked himself. "I see," she replied. "Is there nothing I can do to make it up to you? I would rather we were friends."
"Oh? And how close of a friend would you like to be?"
"Vincent I...you know I can't feel that way about you. About any man. It isn't permitted. We're Jedi...but I would still like to consider you a friend. We...we could never be anything more though. That isn't allowed," Bastila said quietly, her words unconvincing.
Vincent sighed in disappointment. "I'd like that I suppose."
Bastila looked up at him with gratitude. "I know my manner can be a bit taciturn at times. I know you must be getting sick of my lectures of the Dark side and...everything else." She smiled bitterly. "I spent all my life being hounded by the Jedi Masters. Being told how gifted and important I was until I was sick of it. I remember when I was younger, I used to swear that I would never become as self-absorbed and stodgy as the Masters. It's ironic, really."
"You're not self-absorbed or stodgy," Vincent said honestly. She was a little uptight maybe...
She smiled for real this time. "That's kind of you to say, but I know for myself it's not true. Being controlled has kept everyone around me at an arm's length; even those like yourself who are most in need of my understanding and compassion. Maybe it's time to change that. You deserve to know how much I respect and admire you." She paused, then added. "I had to tell you how much I care for you. As a friend, of course."
Of course. Sure, we'll run around a bazillion planets, save the galaxy, and oh, let's not forget, we're the bestest buddies! Damn Jedi code...
"I care for you too, Bastila," he said, purposefully neglecting to add 'as a friend.' Vincent noticed that she ignored this. They had reached the exit to the Dune Sea, and he pulled out his license.
Absently, he showed it to the man that guarded the gate to. Surprisingly, there was a woman waiting on the other side of the gate with a very smug look on her face.
"You're a hunter aren't you? You'd have to be to get out here. Anyway, tell my husband Tanis Marlena says hello when you see him."
"Um, okay. What if he has something to say to you?" Vincent responded in confusion.
"Oh I'll be long gone before then. I bought my own license just to see him get my little gift."
"What kind of gift?"
"A gift that symbolizes our years together. Something that will blow up in his face," Marlena said with a maniacal glint in her eyes.
Vincent blanched. "It sounds like you're planning to kill him!"
"Oh, I'm done planning. I've rigged up a little trap that he'll run right into. If he's smart, he'll get out. But he's not smart," Marlena explained, entering back into the settlement of Anchorhead.
"Wow," Vincent said rubbing the back of his neck again and looking at Bastila. "She's crazy."
