Guttural screams vibrated off the side of the metal walls. A Selkath had been chained onto a table—his claws gripped the edge as a gray-dressed Sith soldier stabbed him with a shock stick. A red mask observed the torture as if watching a boring holodrama.
Once the Selkath ceased shaking, Darth Revan waved his hand and the Sith interrogator stepped out of the cramped room. The Dark Lord paced around the Selkath like a firaxan shark eyeing his prey. Eventually, he stopped at the end of the metal slab and tilted his head.
The fish sat up a smidge so that he could spit out saliva. His beady eyes narrowed as he spoke in his watery language. "You can physically torture me for months. Years. I'll say nothing. I refuse. The secrets of kolto are ours to—"
The Selkath's body slammed onto the cold slab, pressed down with powerful energy. Revan held out a dark hand and the fish twitched as the pressure in the Force increased. A cold sensation washed over the room.
The Dark Lord's distorted voice echoed. "If this was about kolto, I would have grabbed some other idiot. But you know something far more valuable. The ruins you found in your research. Where are they?"
"How...how did you…? My research is…" The Selkath hissed as the pain ramped up. "Only...Selkath...only Selkath are allowed knowledge of what is below the sea. When the courts find out you have kidnapped me, then— "
The darkness mounted and the Selkath let out a whimper.
Revan approached and his red mask bore down on the alien like a shadow. "Knowledge is easy to acquire after using the proper pressure points. If physical torture will not convince you, mental torture will. And what do you know? I happen to be a master at both."
Tendrils of pain seeped into the Selkath's limbs as his internal organs were pricked and prodded using the dark side. Revan reveled in it.
"Though mental torture is a far more effective tool. The mind is a fragile organ, after all. As a doctor, you would know that, wouldn't you?"
"Just...stop..."
Bones cracked. More guttural screams.
"So then why am I breaking your bones if I could just break your mind? Well, I don't care if you talk. Not really. I can get everything I want without you blubbering a word." The Force squeezed the Selkath's neck. "This is for wasting my time. And I happen to like my time. Very much."
"Please…"
The Selkath was released and his muffled gags cut through the silence. Without giving him a momentary respite, Revan lifted his hand once more, this time over the doctor's head.
Flashes of white. Memories. He was there. Inside his mind. It took effort. Power. Pain. It was worth the pain. The Selkath swam within a vast ocean, its warmth wrapped around him like a tight blanket. The memories blurred and Revan tried to focus on what he wanted. But too much poking and prodding and the fish's mind would be destroyed. If that happened, all of this would have been for nothing. It would be safer to find something else. Something sentimental.
Revan peered past the fish's mental block. Further into the past. He flicked through his mind like a datapad then stopped once he felt the warm sensation of happiness.
The doctor was on the surface city the Selkath created for off-worlders—Ahto City. He shuffled towards a welcoming silver door. It swished open revealing another Selkath. His wife. Before he could show any sort of affection, a child jumped into the doctor's arms, laughing, screaming with joy.
"Daddy, you're home! Tell me, tell me! Where did you go? What did you see? Did you see another firaxan? Did you?"
The doctor chuckled. "Actually, I…"
"No, wait! Make me swim! I wanna swim!"
"You're getting a bit old for that, flounder…"
"So?"
The Selkath doctor sighed. He lifted his daughter in the air then guided her around the house. The child giggled as she moved her arms, pretending to swim in the air.
"Shasa."
When Revan uttered that name, the doctor flinched.
"No…"
The Dark Lord hadn't released the Selkath. "You have a daughter."
"Don't hurt her, you monster, you—!" The pressure of pain returned and the doctor sucked in another watery breath. "Please...don't...please…"
"Give me what I want," Revan whispered, "or she will suffer twice the amount of pain that you've suffered."
He didn't have to wait for the Selkath to vocally relent. The memories revealed themselves to him.
Deep. Deep below the ocean. A giant chasm seeped a bubbly, milky substance that drifted to the surface. The Hrakert Rift. Kolto. The Selkath doctor swam past the rift, brushing his webbed claws near the bubbles. After he scooped up a sample into a bottle, the doctor swam away...but he was lost. Too close to the Progenitor. No one was allowed to disturb the ancient creature.
The doctor was going to swim back up but that is when he saw it. Statues. Monuments. A strange metal device sat near the source of kolto. It opened revealing a swirling galaxy. The Star Map. The Selkath swam closer, taking out instruments in order to make measurements...
Fascinating! For a machine to thrive down here—
The memory and thoughts blurred back to the landscape of the interrogation room. Revan took a step back. The Selkath shivered and heaved once the Dark Lord left his mind.
"You…" The doctor coughed again. "You got what you wanted. Now...let me go, please—"
Crack.
The doctor's body sagged to the cold slab. Eyes rolled back. Dead. Revan lowered his hand and marched out of the interrogation room. The body and the research would have to be properly disposed of.
It wouldn't do to leave evidence, after all.
"Kid?"
The sensations of the waking world hit like a blaster cannon. A cold sweat. My blurry vision focused on Jolee Bindo who stared at me with concern. I was standing in the hall...somehow. My head pounded. Another hangover? How much did I drink exactly? I opened my mouth to ask the old man that, but…
I grabbed my mouth and ran to the closest fresher.
Stepping over another kriffing gizka, I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet. The foul stench of Twi'lek liquor wafted into my nose and I almost wanted to throw up again. After coughing out the remnants of dinner, I remembered.
The vision. The Selkath. Darth Revan tortured him. Butchered him like an...animal.
"Kid, you alright?"
I staggered to my feet while trying to calm my shaking. Impossible really. It was just a vision. A vision of the Star Map. Breathe, idiot. I took a breath and leaned over the sink, glaring at my reflection. Red veins marked the whites of my eyes. Dark bags. Mussy hair. Five o'clock shadow. I looked like a homeless stowaway. I flicked on the faucet and splashed water on my face.
The fresher doors swished open. I flinched at the sound.
"Relax, it's just me," Jolee said.
"I am really not in the mood, old man."
I grabbed the razor and soap from the cabinet. My hands were still shaking, so the sharp tool clattered to the ground.
"Did you...have one of those visions?"
I didn't bother to pick up the razor. Instead, I twisted towards the old man, pointing the bar of soap at him.
"Fuck. Off."
Jolee raised his hands. "Alright, alright..."
The old man closed the fresher door again, leaving me in tranquil silence. Well, except for the occasional slap from the gizka. Better than nothing.
I shaved, showered, existed. As the burning water hit my body, my thoughts drifted, going to places I didn't want my mind to wander to. To yesterday, the battle, so many died, to the vision, the torture, to...Bastila.
She, Sul Koth, and his Padawan climbed aboard the Ebon Hawk that night. Koth announced to the entire crew that he was going to monitor the mission during our time at Manaan. Our brand new babysitters.
No one seemed pleased by this revelation. I tried to ask Bastila why this was happening. Why were we getting a Jedi Master guardian after successfully gathering two Star Maps without one? Did Koth not trust in our abilities?
She acted like I didn't exist.
Whatever they talked about changed things. For the worse. The bond had numbed like it had on Tatooine. We were back to square one.
So, I grabbed a bottle, poured a glass, collapsed on the bench in the main hold. Drank until I was unconscious. Anger, frustration, sorrow. All emotions I knew she would feel through the bond. Good. They were emotions I would have tried to suppress before to pretend like I didn't care.
What a fool I'd been.
And now? Nothing changed. The hot water seared my skin as I tried to sense the bond again. Mostly to see what she felt about...about what we saw in the vision. It…I didn't really want to process that alone. What Revan did…why the Force wanted us to see that…
But I felt nothing from her. Not even disgust. Fear. No emotions. There is no emotion, there is peace.
She'd cut me off.
Abandoned me.
Snap!
The metal faucet broke after I twisted it shut with too much force. It clattered to the ground. I didn't bother fixing it. Instead, I dried off, put on a tunic, threw on robes, then stumbled out to the dorm room.
Jolee Bindo was still there. Except instead of bumbling about, he sat in the middle of the room, crossed legs. Meditating. The old man actually looked like a Jedi for once. Of course, there was no way I was about to get into a conversation with the geezer. So, I snuck past him towards the hall…
"Let me tell you something." Right, he probably sensed me. I faced Jolee once more, crossing my arms. He hadn't moved or opened his eyes. "Once you've lived as many years as I have, you'll have yourself a long, long list of memories. If you're lucky, most of them will be good. If you're not, some will be bad. If you're really unlucky, some will be so bad you never want to be reminded of them again...ever. You'll go far away, to a place that doesn't hold any memories at all. And there you'll be happy just to forget and be forgotten."
My face, which had tightened in anger, slackened.
"Okay…and?"
"What I'm trying to say is...all of us have regrets, kid."
"Well, I don't regret anything."
Jolee snorted. "You say that now, but I'm talking to you from across the breadth of many years experience. That is a gap I simply can't cross for you."
"Is that why you ran away to some jungle?" I asked. "Because of something you regret?"
Jolee's shoulders lifted into a sigh. His eyes finally opened. "Let me ask you this: have you ever been in love? Truly in love, I mean, and not simple infatuation."
My gaze darted away.
"I…"
Before I would have been sure of the answer. No. Never. I couldn't afford to have attachments when I was a smuggler. It had been a mistake to even trust my crew—they kriffing betrayed me. Love? Fuck that. Other people could love, sure, but I...that wasn't possible for me.
But now? Now I was unsure. And that terrified me. I'd convinced myself on Kashyyyk that I'd moved on from what happened to Deralia. What other emotions had I inhibited? Love itself? That was even more terrifying of a prospect. How would I even know if I was in love if I'd never felt it before?
The old man searched my face as I remained silent. He nodded.
"The Jedi, with their damnable sense of over-caution, would tell you love is something to avoid. Thankfully, anyone who's even partially alive knows that's not true."
"Wait...are you giving me love advice? You of all people?"
"Hey, you could use my advice. I had a wife, remember?"
"It's a miracle that happened," I muttered. "If it happened."
"I'm not deaf yet, kid." Jolee jumped to his feet then scrutinized me, quietly, thinking, before speaking slowly, purposefully. "The Jedi...they are doing it all wrong. Love doesn't lead to the dark side. Passion can lead to rage and fear, and can be controlled...but passion is not the same thing as love. Controlling your passions while being in love...that's what they should teach you to beware. But love, itself, will save you...not condemn you."
"What are you rambling on about?"
"Ah—you're right. Listen to me go on as if I had all the answers. What do I know of love anymore? I'm just a lonely old man who's not even a Jedi."
"Why did you even bring up 'love' in the first place? What does that have to do with regret?"
"Uh, I didn't bring it up. You did."
"No, I didn't!" I pointed to the ground. "You asked me if I'd ever been in love before."
"Oh, right!" Jolee scratched his goatee. "Strange. Thought you said something about it. I really am getting forgetful in my old age." His warm eyes sparkled. "Though, I don't quite remember you answering that question. Rather suspicious if you ask me..."
"How is that suspicious?"
"You're either in love or you're not. There's no middle ground. If you have to sit and think about it, well..." He smiled. "You're in love. Congratulations."
I crossed my arms again and heat flooded my face.
"I've never been in love. Happy?"
"You really are a bad liar."
My mouth twitched. "Since you seem to know everything about me, who, exactly, would I be in love with?"
"If I've gotta tell you that, then you are in complete denial." The old man slapped my shoulder. "For your sake, I hope you snap out of it, kid."
I opened my mouth to protest again, but Jolee sauntered away with a skip in his step.
The blue sphere projection of the planet Manaan hovered within the holodeck. We were an hour away from exiting hyperspace so the crew (discounting the droids) had gathered within the main hold to go over the "plan of action."
Normally, these meetings were led by Bastila who would start by describing the vision we shared. And, normally, we would have then thrown out ideas as to where to start looking for information on the Star Map. After two maps, it was our go-to methodology. So far, it worked well for us.
But Bastila was our mission leader in name alone now.
Sul Koth and his Padawan—who had failed to introduce herself—observed our group as if we were some foreign species. Occasionally, I'd meet Koth's gaze but the Master was quick to pretend like I didn't exist. Odd. All of the Jedi Masters may have expressed a cool ire over my ignorance of the Jedi ways, but they rarely outright ignored me. Actually, they paid so much attention to me that it was uncomfortable…
As Bastila spoke, the rest of our crew listened at varying degrees. Juhani stared at Koth's Padawan the entire time. It was unusual since she always had an apt attention span when it came to these meetings…
"...which means the Star Map is somewhere in the Hrakert Rift. Under the ocean."
Bastila finished describing the vision after censoring the more...violent details on how Revan acquired the information. Koth rubbed his rough chin while watching the blue projection.
After an awkward silence, Carth spoke. "I had a short posting on Manaan at the beginning of the war. The Selkath are...a difficult bunch."
"Difficult?" That had been Mission. "Why would they be difficult?"
"Kolto." Verena's gaze didn't waver from the blue planet. "Manaan is the sole producer of kolto. It's the only export the planet has—unless you count their tourism industry. The fish know this so they use whatever measures necessary to protect their market."
"What measures?" Mission asked.
"They restrict off-worlders from their oceans and only allow access to a floating city. Ahto City."
Carth tensed. "It sounds like you've been to Manaan before, Verena."
"Nope, never been." She shrugged. "Listen to the news and politics for fun, is all. I like to keep myself informed."
"You do that...for fun?" he asked. "Why would you submit yourself to torture for fun?"
Bastila huffed. "While this is all very enlightening, the Selkath's restrictions pose a problem. We need to access the seafloor. Maybe if we enlist the aid of the Selkath—"
"The Selkath don't tell anyone about what's down there—even for research purposes," Carth said. "They're afraid that if we learn anything about how kolto is produced, we'd be able to synthesize it. And the map is right next to the source of kolto. There is no way they'll help us."
Bastila pursed her red lips. "You have a point…"
Carth raised a brow—possibly shocked that he talked some sense into the Jedi. She did have a one-track-mind on occasion. This agreement, of course, was ruined by Sul Koth.
"The Selkath government are not easy to deal with, sure, but it is possible. It may just take some time. We need to negotiate with the Selkath concerning the Star Map. The Embassy will have to arrange—"
"If it took Darth kriffing Revan mind torturing a Selkath to get information, how could we do the same without resorting to his methods?" I asked. "Wouldn't it be better to not let the Selkath know what we're up to? That way we can sneak down there without them being the wiser. Revan and Malak were able to, so it shouldn't be—"
"The major difference, Padawan, is that we are not Sith Lords." I could sense intensity and rapid discontent from the Zabrak. "I'm not sure if you've heard but the Selkath take their laws very seriously. If you are found guilty by their courts, they will cut off the kolto supply and Republic soldiers will suffer for it. Revan and Malak didn't have that same concern for their troops. We will not stoop to their level."
My mouth slammed shut. For once, I was left speechless. I was about to argue back against the Zabrak, but Carth did so before me.
"I'm sorry, Jedi Master, but Wes has a point. We don't have time to wait around for the Ambassador and the Selkath Government to arrange a proper agreement. They move about as fast as the Senate—which is at a Hutt's pace. The more time we waste, the easier the Sith will find a way to stop us. Either way, the Republic—"
"Patience is a Jedi virtue," Koth interrupted. "And while you are not a Jedi, Onasi, you are a soldier of the Republic. A commander in fact. I expected more from you."
Carth's eyebrows creased and his eye twitched.
"You—that is—"
The Jedi Master didn't pay the pilot any mind as he swished his robes. "Inform me once we've landed, Onasi. I will be meditating in the meantime." He turned to his Padawan who hadn't followed her Master. "Belaya?"
Wait. Belaya?
I met Juhani's gaze. The Cathar immediately pretended like she hadn't heard that name and stared down at her boots. The stoic Padawan, Belaya, snapped out of her reverie then followed at the heel of her Master. I thought back to that vision…of course. That had been Belaya. Had that been Juhani's memory then?
It would be their last day together...for a long time. If not forever...
They were in love, weren't they? That feeling of strange, unfamiliar warmth…was love. How did I not realize that at the time? And why would the Force give me a vision of something so personal? I wanted to ask Juhani about it, but I didn't want to pry into her business like that. Not after last time...
Everyone left the main hold, going about their business. Except for Bastila. She stared at the map of Manaan in some strange trance. A deep frown curved her lips. Her expression betrayed her distress...but I didn't sense anything of the sort. So, she was still blocking me out.
I stepped around the holodeck.
"Bastila, are you—?"
At the sound of my voice, she turned on her heel and made for the cockpit.
Pain that I didn't want to feel burned my chest after she ignored me again. It would have honestly been better if she stabbed me with a lightsaber instead. Because at least then the pain would have been over with by now.
Though I said I was a masochist, I'm beginning to question the validity of that claim.
The blues of hyperspace disintegrated into cold space and the orb of Manaan.
The Ebon Hawk lifted out of the Republic cruiser along with a few shuttles carrying the refugees from Uyter. Sul Koth watched the window with his Padawan, a forever-frown adding to the cracks in his face. Carth spoke low over the comm about the incoming shuttles.
The Selkath port authority blubbered back telling him to land in docking bay 26-C. Carth piloted the Ebon Hawk through the misty atmosphere of the ocean world. Once the mist parted, a silver dot shimmered in the horizon. A minute of flying later, and the silver dot became Ahto City.
Hotels, casinos, resorts, shopping centres, theme parks. The perfect tourist, honeymoon, and retirement destination for those who wished to escape the troubles of the war. And for those who could actually afford it. Appearing like a bulbous mass, Ahto City floated on the ocean's surface. The city itself had been trapped within that metal mass while the resorts shimmered and encircled the occasional craters that acted as spaceports and deep-seaports.
Manaan had been another one of those planets I'd never been to. Too risky even though high stakes gambling, swoop racing, and entertainment of the "erotic" sort were allowed. That isn't to say other things like spice was allowed. In fact, anything illegal was punished with far more severity on Manaan. The death penalty wasn't something the Selkath shied away from.
The Ebon Hawk glided to the edge of a massive crater into one of the many hangers. Droids flew past the windows, scanning with a red laser. Carth shut off the engines after we were given the "all clear." Sul Koth nodded to himself as if he'd orchestrated the whole thing.
"Ambassador Roland Wann is expecting us," he said. "Release the ramp, Onasi."
The pilot sent the Jedi a glare after being ordered like a servant. Koth strode out with his head high, followed by Belaya and Bastila.
After a minute of silence, I rolled my eyes. "Patience is a Jedi virtue." I forced my voice to sound nasally in order to mock Koth. "You are stupid, pleb. Yes, I do have a lightsaber up my asshole."
A smile cracked onto Carth's face along with a snort. A moment passed, and the pilot's voice began to mock Koth's as well.
"We are not Sith Lords, dumbass. No, you don't have the most experience finding Star Maps. I do. Because I have a lightsaber up my ass."
"I expected more from you, Onasi. Let's reveal our plan to go under the ocean and waste precious time with politics. After all, I have a lightsaber up my ass!"
Carth let out a laugh and cough. "I'm sure the Sith would be grateful that we went through the proper channels, Padawan. And I do have a lightsaber up my ass!"
"Uh…what?"
Mission had rushed to the cockpit. It was obvious she'd only caught the last part. Carth flinched and a grin spread on my lips.
"Wow, Carth, too much information!"
Mission exploded into uncontrolled laughter.
"What? No!" The pilot shot to his feet. "You—that wasn't…!"
We both walked away towards the ramp, Mission still laughing her headtails off, leaving the poor pilot stunned.
A salty sea breeze brushed across my face as I left the Hawk and entered the docking bay. Some of the Republic shuttles landed beside us. The refugees mingled about or were hovered away in stretchers down the halls.
HK-47 observed the commotion behind me, scanning the crowd. Koth and his Padawan made faces at the dangerous-looking droid. They would have to deal with it. HK had a habit of complaining about being left behind. Didn't want a repeat of the Kashyyyk incident.
"Ah! Manaan. Strange place, wet place—good for the old bones." Jolee stretched and his back cracked in a few places as he did. "I wish I'd retired here!"
Mission blinked at the old man. "Um...then why didn't you?"
"Why? Too many kids who ask too many personal questions, of course."
"Hey! It was just a question." She pouted. "And I'm not a kid!"
"Ho, ho! If you're not a kid then I must be ancient!"
I drowned out Mission's rant to watch the procession. The injured refugees passed us to the next room. The numbness in the bond broke and the feeling of something twisting my gut replaced it. Bastila's back had tightened. Her pigtails waved in the wind. The pain disappeared as soon as I felt it, but...it had been there. She still blamed herself for what happened.
This isn't your fault.
Her shoulders flinched after the sound of my thoughts entered her mind. Bastila didn't respond or look back. The frustration caused by this stonewalling was getting to a breaking point. I could only pretend oh so much that this wasn't pissing me off.
Are you okay? I asked over the bond. Why are you ignoring me? What did I do?
More silence. And I'd thought she would have continued ignoring me. But…
I'm...sorry.
Force. I didn't want an apology! Just an...explanation. I glared at Koth's back. It wasn't too difficult to deduce what was happening here. The damn Jedi Master was making her avoid me. More than likely it was because I was "falling to the dark side" or whatever.
My shoulders fell. I'd thought we'd reached some kind of understanding. Trust. That we'd been...friends at the very least. Did that mean nothing?
A man dressed in a smart Republic uniform marched past the train of refugees. Ambassador Roland Wann, assuming. A few soldiers followed at his heels.
"Welcome to Ahto City, Jedi." Wann saluted and a grim expression marked his square face. "I heard from the Admiral about what happened at Uyter… A tragedy. Truly. Darth Bandon and Malak will pay for the atrocities they have committed."
Bastila folded her hands behind her back. "Has the Admiral briefed you on our current goal and mission here on Manaan?"
Wann's face tightened. "Yes, yes...the Star Map." His militaristic type posture slackened and his gaze darted about to the corners of the room. "It's probably best that we speak at the Embassy. You know how it is."
I raised a brow. Interesting.
We followed the Ambassador into a spacious room. Once our crew filed in, the doors behind us shut with a hiss. HK-47 straightened, grasping at his blaster rifle. Canderous shrugged while Verena also watched the doors as if we were going to be attacked by them.
A calm voice—speaking in Selkath and in Basic—echoed from a PA system above.
"Entering the Ahto City security zone. Cameras activated."
Red lights blinked on in the corners of the room—indicating the location of said cameras. The doors opened and we continued down the clean halls. More red lights blinked every few meters. Every wall, every corner, was covered. No blindspots. It was a surveillance hellhole.
The ring-like hall turned and we passed civilians, Selkath, merchants, Sith.
The gray-dressed Sith soldiers marched past us and the refugees in neat lines. Their leader, a dark Jedi, sneered but didn't attack. The cameras watched their every move. The fact that the Sith could just walk around like this, right next to their victims...it was sickening. Why would the Selkath agree to help these tyrants? Any aid they gave these monsters resulted in more innocent deaths. How could they say they were "neutral" at all?
As we followed the signs to "Security Inspection," Mission skipped to my side. I gave the young Twi'lek a strained smile and she smiled back.
"Yo, Wes! So...what are you going to do about the gizka?"
"Oh!" I slapped my forehead. "Kriff… Well, when we get a free moment, I could find someone to take them off our hands…"
If that person even existed.
"Aw—er—I mean, great!" Mission laughed nervously. "I'm asking, actually, cause I brought one with us. I found him by his lonesome in the storage closet." She dug into her bag and took out the gizka. It meeped. "Say hello to Guppy!"
"Wait, the storage closet? That's Gil."
Mission tilted her head and her face deflated. Gil meeped.
"Oh...that's why he was trapped."
"I mean…" I scratched the back of my head. "You can keep him for now if you want. Probably appreciates not being locked up."
She nodded. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him, promise!"
HK-47 sighed as if he was aggravated by Mission. Or pissed that he couldn't murder the small creature. Likely both.
"Also…" Mission tucked Gil under her armpit. Her voice quieted. "What's wrong with Bastila? I tried to get her to play a game of pazaak with me last night. You know, to try to cheer her up after what happened. But...she ignored me. Ignored Little V too when she asked about those new Jedi."
I sighed. Should have known I wasn't the only one affected by this cold act.
"I...have an idea," I whispered back. "A theory."
"Theory?"
I lowered my voice further so the Jedi couldn't hear. "Jedi aren't...well, we aren't allowed to have attachments." Mission stared up at me then nodded. "Master Koth could probably tell that Bastila was getting too 'attached' to us. He had a few words with her, and, yeah."
"Oh…" Mission once again deflated. "But if that's true, then why didn't Koth talk to you too?"
"Uh, because…he knows that I'd be impossible to convince."
I said that, but at the same time, she was right. It was odd. Other than a disagreement or two, Koth hadn't lectured me once. I'd expected some sort of insistence to go over the Jedi Code or to meditate, but the Jedi Master chose to instead distance himself from me. It was strange that he'd lecture Bastila of all people and not the neophyte Padawan who was the likely source of her disobedience.
I could tell that Mission didn't believe in my half-assed statement. A statement that was really made to convince myself that things weren't kriffing weird at the moment.
"I hope Bas goes back to normal when the other Jedi leave," Mission said. "I kinda...miss her."
Bastila's tight stride never wavered. Yet I could still sense her underlying anxiety.
"Yeah. Me too…"
Finally, we arrived at the gates to the "Security Inspection Zone." More cameras watched our every move and holoscreens blared annoying advertisements to the tourists and soldiers below.
"There is no war in Ahto City! Enjoy the cool beaches, warm Manaan sunlight, and delectable dishes made right before your eyes! Rest easy knowing that the Selkath Security Forces are always alert and watchful, even while you sleep. Their constant vigilance keeps the peace on the streets and prevents needless interruption of relaxation and commerce.
"There is no need to worry in Ahto City! There is no war in Ahto City! The Pearl Vacation package comes with a love suite, five-star dining, resort, and theme park access! Pricing starts at the low, low price of 7,099!"
The hyper voice of some woman from Corellia or Coruscant repeated this over and over while showing images of the hyped-up attractions. If we weren't fighting the Sith at the moment, I would have gladly taken part in those attractions. Kriff, I needed another massage...no, more than just a massage. A vacation.
A large crowd formed before a massive security gate and shield. Said crowd was a strange mix of serious, war-hardened soldiers (both Republic and Sith) to joyous, careless Inner Core slimes. Droids scanned the tourists as they passed and the soldiers raised badges up to the Selkath security guard who waved them through without a scan.
Our group stopped when the droid flew up to us. The hovering tin can's lights flashed red after scanning Canderous.
"Warning: Unauthorized armaments detected. Please wait for interrogation and confiscation. Attempt to flee and the SSF will shoot to contain."
"Ah, damn it." Roland Wann lowered his badge. "Stupid droid, that won't be needed. They're with the Republic."
"Attempt to flee and the SSF will shoot to contain," it repeated.
A Selkath appeared past metal doors within the gate. He wore a security outfit with the words "SSF'' stamped on the breast. The Selkath Security Force. He shuffled towards us with a few battle droids behind him.
Wann waved at the gate. "I told you to let anyone in my company through."
"Ambassador Wann." His blubbering language cut through the sound of the excited crowd. The security droid floated away and scanned the next tourist in line. "I would let them through, but we did a scan of their ship. The Ebon Hawk…the registry is originally from the Republic world of Transel. It was reported stolen from the Republic. By law, I am required to confiscate weapons and interrogate all those suspected of crimes or with a criminal record."
Ugh. Thanks, Davik.
"We are the Republic," Wann whined. "Why would we steal our own ship? And any laws broken in Republic space is our business. We can police ourselves."
The Selkath grumbled. "I don't know how many times I have to say it, Ambassador. You are not above the law. We have to protect Manaan from off-world criminals—"
"The ship was confiscated from the thieves. Sith thieves," I said, interrupting. "We are temporarily using it to evade those Sith. The Republic plans to return it with interest."
Wann stared at me with a tight expression.
The Selkath blinked before nodding. "Hmm, okay, yeah, that makes sense. But this will go on record."
The shields blinked green which meant we were allowed into the shuttle station. Ambassador Wann chuckled to Bastila and Koth as we passed through.
"Heh, apologies. The Selkath are sticklers when it comes to their laws. Surprised that line actually worked." Wann looked back at me. "It normally takes a lot of...convincing."
I shrugged in response.
We entered the shuttle station. A hundred or so tourists and soldiers waited by the track. A few Selkath weaved through the crowd handing out datapad pamphlets. As I wondered about, impatiently waiting for the shuttle, one ended up in my hands. Another annoying advertisement, but this one was for the casinos on "the Ring" owned by some "Takaon Company." It went in the trash immediately.
A loud voice boomed over the crowd.
"Carth?" A Republic soldier dressed head to toe in uniform beamed. "Carth Onasi? That you?"
"Jordo?"
The Republic soldier, Jordo, brought Carth into a rough hug, thumping his back—his roaring laughs splitting through the sounds of the crowd. I raised a brow and walked towards them—curious.
"You old spacedog you! How have you been?" Jordo released the pilot with a slap. "I thought for sure you'd be fighting on some ship out there. "
"I was." A grin split Carth's face. "It exploded."
Jordo shook his head. "Taris, was it? A shame what happened. Heard you became a datapad-pusher. Commander Onasi, eh? What are you doing here? I can't imagine what it would take to keep you grounded. You hated being stationed at Ahto City, if I recall…"
I cleared my throat.
"Ah, who's this? A Jedi?" Jordo snorted. "Didn't think you made friends with Jedi, Carth. Always called them…" He flinched. "Eh, heh, my big fat mouth almost got you into trouble again."
"He's not a normal Jedi," Carth said. "No, not normal at all."
I glared at the pilot who smirked back at me.
"Carth has friends?" I asked Jordo, smirking. "That can't be right. What dirt does he have on you?"
"Ha! Too much!" Jordo slapped then shook my shoulder. "A Jedi with a sense of humor. You're right, that isn't normal!"
Carth's smirk dipped.
The lights overhead blinked, signaling an oncoming shuttle. Jordo nodded. "I'd like to chat more—catch up. Me and some other guys have been stationed here. I think there was an accident of some kind. A fight in the streets...soldiers found dead, dumped in the water…Selkath courts...conspiracies…yadda, yadda. It's a mess." The talkative soldier paused, looking at our group. "I can see that you're with the Ambassador though. After my shift, we should grab a drink. How about that old place we used to go to—the Silver Tide? 2100. On me. Bring your Jedi friend if you want. The more the merrier."
Jordo didn't wait for Carth to agree. The soldier shot off, boundless energy, like a rocket.
"He's a...character," I said.
Carth sighed. "Yeah, that's Jordo, alright…"
"He from Telos?"
"Yup. An old friend too. A lot of us from Telos were stationed on Manaan after…our planet was destroyed. It was supposed to help ease us back into service. Some didn't react well to what happened. After a few months, I couldn't stand it. I had to leave—do something. Lost contact with everyone from Telos and, well...I got promoted." He shrugged. "Soldiers shouldn't really hang out with commanders. I'm not sure if I should go. The mission—"
"Well, hanging out with friends may actually do you some good, Orangy." I smiled. "Everyone could use a little bit of R&R. Don't want to burn out, right?"
The pilot thought for a moment before smiling back.
"Yeah...I suppose you're right."
The shuttle arrived with a swish, and the doors opened. We all clambered in with the tourists and soldiers, ready to see what this Embassy had in store for us.
"Leaving the Ahto City security zone—entering the Republic Embassy Zone. Cameras deactivated."
The droid-like voice said this as we passed through another security gate—this one being minded by a Republic soldier.
The Republic Embassy Zone could have been it's own city. Buildings towered over the metal walkways and the setting Manaan sun reflected off the mirror-like windows and the ocean waves. Shops, all with Republic goods, lined the streets. There weren't any Selkath here. In fact, it felt like I was walking through the nice part of Coruscant rather than a resort planet in the Mid Rim.
The main Embassy building was at the end of the street by the sea. That was where Roland Wann led us. It took us a while to wade through the crowds, but we arrived at the metallic fortress.
An older woman with a megaphone screeched at the Ambassador as we walked up the steps.
"The Sith murdered my son!" The protestors responded with angry shouting. "Dumped into the sea like compactor waste! And what does the Republic do? Nothing! Starting a fistfight doesn't mean the Sith can get away with murder! Self-defense my ass! We can't let the Selkath defend us in court! They don't know the meaning of justice! The treaty—"
Wann gave a sigh of relief once multiple battle droids and Republic soldiers surrounded us. We were ushered inside the grand building—the doors locking with a hiss. The hall still echoed the muffled shouts from the protestors. I stared back at the angry faces of the crowd. The protest was being broken apart by the droids and Republic soldiers.
"What the hell was that about?" I asked.
"Forget that," Wann said with a hiss. "Follow me to my office—Jedi and Republic soldiers only. The rest of you—wait in the lobby."
Bastila and Koth followed while Carth and I hesitated to do the same. I...wasn't too sure about this.
An elevator ride later, Bastila, Koth, Carth, and I entered the cool space of Roland Wann's office. Not much decorated the place except for military paraphernalia like awards and datapad shelves. No holophotos or paintings—the type of stuff I would expect in a politician's office. Bastila and Koth sat at the two chairs before the metal desk while Carth and I were forced to remain standing.
Roland Wann sighed as he collapsed into his own rolling chair before folding his fingers together.
"Ah...I thought this post would have been easy. Boy was I wrong."
Carth and l gave each other raised looks.
Bastila sat forward. "Ambassador, it is very important that we find the Star Map. We know that it is somewhere near the Hrakert Rift. The source of kolto. We were thinking that you could negotiate something—"
"Yes, yes, I know, I know." Wann waved a hand. "I'm afraid you won't like the answer, Ms. Shan. The Selkath forbid submersibles from either being produced or brought to the planet. They only allow surface access for the kolto and even then they monitor the collection."
Koth sat back. "Then you will have to convince them to get the Star Map coordinates for us. We do not need to be there to get them, after all."
"That is…" The Ambassador's face twisted. "No, that won't work."
I flinched. "Won't...work? How do you know that?"
Yeah, I knew it wouldn't work either, but...Wann wasn't even going to try?
"We're on...thin ice, Jedi." Wann sighed. "The security zone doesn't work as well as the Selkath hoped. Both the Sith and our soldiers have gotten into brawls on numerous occasions. The courts are skewed against the defense. It's gotten to a point where Arbiters from the Inner Rim have refused to litigate out of principle. I don't blame them."
"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked.
Koth interrupted Wann before he answered. "Surely the actions of a few soldiers wouldn't affect your negotiations, Ambassador? It isn't like you have broken any laws."
"Oh, no—the Selkath keep a careful record. Even disorderly conduct affects how much kolto we are given. They think it is a deterrent against crime…couldn't be further from the truth." He shook his head. "Recently, our record hasn't been...great. Through no fault of our own. Sometimes the Sith kill themselves and leave evidence that a Republic soldier committed the murder. Disgusting. The Selkath Arbiters...they don't care about putting up a defense for off-worlders. If I ask for a favor after our 'crime spree,' the Selkath will just laugh in my face."
"We need the Star Map," Bastila said. "If we don't, this war will be won by the Sith. There has to be a way to make the Selkath listen."
Wann pursed his lips and sat back in his seat, watching Bastila in deep thought. Eventually, he nodded.
"There...may be a way." He opened a drawer and took out a datapad. "We have some spies that watch the Sith Embassy. They tell me that they bring suspicious parts into their base—like the parts used to make submersibles—along with oxygen tanks. Not exactly proof that they've broken the treaty, but if we do find concrete proof, well…the Selkath would happily listen to my request." Wann rocked in his chair. "How about this—give me a few days to gather information. I can talk to someone and get your group somewhere to rest your head. Take these few days to relax. Ahto City is also a resort town. I'm sure you'd enjoy it after everything that you've been through."
Koth crossed his arms. "I'm sorry, Ambassador, but while I understand these things take time, we do not have time to relax."
"Then just wait. I will send someone to your hotel once I know more. I'm sorry, I wish I could be of more help."
Bastila stood. "Thank you, Ambassador, anything you do has been a great help to us."
The Jedi shuffled past me, along with Carth, but something about what Wann said seemed...strange.
"How are the Sith able to get away with blaming the Republic for their suicide?" I asked. "Wouldn't it be...obvious with all the surveillance?"
Wann froze. "The cameras don't watch private residents, Jedi."
"They watch the doors though, right? The street? If the Republic soldier never entered the crime scene, how could they prove they did anything? All the evidence in the galaxy wouldn't matter if the cameras didn't pick it up."
Ambassador Wann drummed his fingers on the desk. "I don't know, I'm not an Arbiter, Jedi. As I said, the Selkath don't care about defending us."
"So? You can still mention this suspicious detail."
"A detail that could prove we can hack into their database and manipulate security footage?"
"Why would you erase the footage and not get rid of the body and the evidence? That is what is suspicious. Only an idiot would—"
"I think we've heard enough." Koth interrupted. "Let the Ambassador do his job, Padawan."
Wann raised a brow at me, his shrewd eyes narrowing. I grit my teeth before marching after the Jedi. Carth was shooting the Ambassador a suspicious look as well.
Something...was off here. The Ambassador was lying about something. No one was this incompetent. And even if he was incompetent, I doubt he'd find any proof that the Sith was breaking the treaty. Either way, we couldn't rely on the Ambassador to "do his job."
We had a few days. Enough time to relax. Enough time to...investigate.
A lot of setup this time, but I hope it was entertaining enough! Also, my update schedule has been all over the place recently. I will try to return to Friday but won't make any promises. Especially since Manaan is…a complicated beast lol.
As always, thanks for reading!