(A/N: Matsuyama is one of AD's useless male extras… but not the same as the one in the movie. He probably doesn't even have a minute of screen-time, but he's there. He's there.)


08: Alcohol and (Impaired?) Intelligence

The Imperials had set up checkpoints leading into Mos Eisley, of course. They were sparing no effort in their hunt for the fugitives. Before either of her passengers could even think to hide themselves, Sakaki pulled up to one of the posts and drew to a halt.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I need to talk to your passengers," the stormtrooper said.

Sakaki looked up at him in mild surprise. "Passengers?"

He stepped back and cocked his head to one side, confusion evident even through his armor. After a few seconds he shook his head and said, "Never mind. Sorry for the inconvenience. Move along." She nodded coolly and pulled ahead. Kagura and Chiyo came out of cardiac arrest and looked back at the guard, who was muttering, "Now I'm seeing things."

"Was that…?" Kagura started.

"Did you just…?" Chiyo tried.

Sakaki nodded shortly. She wasn't proud.

Mos Eisley got a lot of bad press. One famous columnist had pegged it as a "wretched hive of scum and villainy," and while he was no doubt exaggerating slightly, Chiyo could see why somebody could walk away with that idea. She flipped through the album absently as they nosed through the crowded streets.

Most of it wasn't terribly interesting; just some pictures of dunes with these mysterious golden blurs across them. She wondered what they could be until the last photo told all: a gorgeous picture of a sand panther lounging in the sun, gazing almost right into the lens with languid, tawny eyes. Success!

"It took a long time to get that," Sakaki said without turning. Chiyo gave a start and hurriedly stuffed the album back into the Jedi's pack. "It's all right. I was going to show you anyway."

They eased to a stop in front of "the Cantina." There were many cantinas in Mos Eisely, of course, but only one known as "the Cantina." It was the only establishment in the whole city that was murky, dangerous and unpleasant enough not to rank its actual name. You could tell just by looking at it that it was the very bottom of the barrel.

Kagura grinned. "Perfect!"

"We're going in there?" Chiyo asked.

"Of course. Only place we'll find someone stupid enough to take us up with a Star Destroyer in orbit."

"Stay close," Sakaki said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Chiyo didn't need to be told twice. When she opened the door, about seven customers looked up sharply then returned to their drinks in relief.

To be fair to its owner, the Cantina was very clean and well-kept. Judging by the general level of sobriety among the customers, the drinks were probably pretty good. It was impossible to say what malignant feng-shui brought so many undesirables to this particular place, but there it was.

"I know my way around these places," Kagura said. "Why don't you two wait at the bar? I'll find us someone in no time!"

Sakaki shrugged amiably. She could tell that the other was still in competition with her; no doubt Kagura felt pressured to come up with a way to match the "mind trick" that had gotten them into the city. If it made her companion feel better, she didn't mind cooling her heels for a while.

"Aunt Beru wouldn't be too happy…" Chiyo commented as they sat down. "An hour with you and I'm already in a bar." Sakaki smiled slightly, but didn't make a reply. "So you'll really teach me to be a Jedi?"

The tall woman hesitated. "It's… not as easy as that," she answered. "I can't teach you everything you'll need to know. I was just an Apprentice myself when Master Kenobi… went his way."

"Oh…" Suddenly, Chiyo was spun around in her stool to face a very unpleasant looking individual. In fact, he was probably the ugliest guy she had ever seen in her life. "I don't like you," he growled. "S-sorry," Chiyo stammered, starting to turn away. She was instantly turned back to face him by a rough hand on her shoulder. "I really don't like you!"

"I… I don't know what to say."

"Then how about you scr-?"

Thunk! Sakaki set her drink down heavily.

The tough looked over Chiyo's head and whatever he saw there made him pale noticeably. "Never mind. Not worth my time," he finished sullenly, and left. Very quickly. Chiyo turned back to Sakaki, who was watching him leave disinterestedly.

"Did you just use the Force on him?" she asked.

"That would have been like sandblasting a soup cracker," the Jedi replied.

"You-?" before she could go on, Kagura returned. "I found someone, but…" she noticed the glass in Sakaki's hand. "Good. You'll need that to deal with these two."

Kagura led them to a corner table, where there waited two women. One was about her height, with long dark hair and wide, slightly manic eyes. Her companion was taller and more solidly built, a voluminous brown mane framing her (comparatively) mild, bespectacled face.

"Takino Tomo of Corellia and Mizuhara Yomi of Valeria," Kagura introduced. "They have a ship." She turned back. "Ms. Sakaki, Jedi, and Chiyo-chan. They have money."

"Nice to meet you," Yomi said, rising and offering her hand to Sakaki.

Tomo wasn't nearly so polite. Chiyo took a step back from her venomous gaze. "Um… hi?" The starship captain's eyes narrowed. "It won't work, you know."

"What won't…?"

"You're trying to suck me in with your cuteness! Well let me tell you, it's not happening! You can forget it!"

Yomi swatted her. "Quit being an idiot!"

"I'm the captain!" Tomo struck her back. "I can be an idiot if I want to!"

As they continued in this vein, Sakaki took a deep swallow of her drink. Perhaps Kagura had been right.


"So, you know what's on my mind." Grand Moff Kimura said, blowing over the top of his caf. Sitting uncomfortably on the other side of his desk was Commander Matsuyama, a young officer who somehow managed to get away with keeping his reddish hair in a rather funky (and non-regulation) style. Though his rank wasn't very high, his actual authority was much more impressive; when you're a man of Imperial Intelligence, even Admirals step lightly around you.

"The new Grand Admiral?"

"That's right. I don't mind telling you that the pool's been pretty fierce. I stand to make seventy-thousand credits on this one. So which candidate made it?"

Matsuyama hesitated. "Who did you bet on?"

"Daala, of course. Who could bet against a face like hers?"

"Oh… because… the, uh, the blue guy made it."

"What? Him?"

"Yes, sir."

"The art lover? Glowing eyes? That one?"

"Yes… er, sorry, sir."

"Damn! That guy can't command his way out of a paper bag!"

"Actually, sir, he scored higher…"

"Forget it, forget it." Kimura waved his hand in the air. "Let's move on. What's this 'Empress's Hand' business you mentioned?"

"I've only heard bits and pieces, but from what I've been able to work out, Nochichi's been training this girl to aid him in his duties to the Empress."

"Another rival, then…" Kimura said grimly.

"I, uh, I wouldn't worry, sir. From what I've heard, she's a little… slow."

"Slow?"

"That's how my source put it. Nochichi got frustrated with her and stuck her in an administrative post somewhere… some backwater, gas giant or something. She was kinda young anyway. I don't think you'll have to worry about her for a while."

"Good to hear. One last thing, Matsuyama: my wife?"

"I've come up dry on that one. I'm very sorry, sir, but nobody knows anything. If you ask me, though, sir, I think it looks like she intentionally gave her guards the slip."

Kimura sighed angrily. "Well, you've done your best." He slid a paperweight across his desk, deactivating the room's shielding. "Keep at it, Commander."

"Yes, sir."