OBI-WAN

As the large lift continued to descend deeper and deeper into the underworld of Coruscant, Thalia inched closer and closer to Obi-Wan with every new being that swayed, clambered on wobbled into the lift.

When a particularly drunk looking individual tried to sell Thalia some Death Sticks by tapping her leg, she jumped violently and grabbed his arm in alarm.

"Try not to focus on your anxieties." Obi-Wan said, slightly amused by how unaccustomed she was to dodgy individuals and surroundings.

"If you tell me to think about something else…" She began, but stopped when Obi-Wan reached up his hand and wrapped it around her's, which was still clasped tightly around his arm.

She looked from his hand to his face, her eyes wide. He smiled gently before using a Jedi trick to calm her. He'd seen Qui-Gonn perform it once before on a Gungan, but he'd overdone it, so Obi-Wan could only hope his guess was right.

He watched as her shoulders relaxed and her eyes dulled as the pressure behind them eased. Obi-Wan thought he'd done a good job, but his smile quickly disappeared as Thalia turned back to the creature who'd tried to sell her Death Sticks.

"Actually…" She began, but he quickly grabbed her shoulders and turned her away from the confused being.

"Too much." He muttered to himself as Thalia gave him a bleary smile and draped her arm across his shoulders.

"Where is the Kasakar Club?" She asked.

"At the heart of this level." Obi-Wan said slightly tersely now that he had Thalia to worry about too.

"Hey, Obi. You need to relax." Thalia said wisely, as the lift doors groaned open.

"Come on. This way." Obi-Wan said, pulling Thalia off to the left. They made their way through the thick crowd of people towards the dingy club with its flickering red, neon light.

As they reached the entrance, Obi-Wan's anxieties were at an all-time high. What could possibly go wrong investigating the Black Market with a delirious Princess?

The doors slid open and instantly, the thumping music filled his ears and the hypnotic lights made his head feel heavy. Most of the people seemed just as woozy as Thalia, so he decided that in this circumstance blending in was his best option.

So, as Thalia's arm remained around his shoulders, he slipped his own around her slender waist and steered her over to the bar.

"What's your poison?" a long-necked Kaminoan asked from behind the counter.

"We're looking to buy some crystals, my friend." Obi-Wan replied, placing two silver credits on the counter.

"Through there. Third door." The Kaminoan replied slowly, slipping the credits into the deep pocket of his apron.

Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder towards the far end of the room where a low, long corridor stretched further into the rear of the building.

Obi-Wan knocked four times on the door, which had one too many blaster burns on it for his liking and after a moment, the door was pulled open and a Rhodian appeared in the doorway.

"Who are you?" He demanded in a sly tone as his eyes drifted greedily over Thalia and Obi-Wan protectively tightened his grip around the Princess.

"Are you Luca? We want to buy some Kyber Crystals." Thalia said calmly, smiling blearily at the Rhodian.

"Hmm, had a little too much to drink have we?" He asked slowly and an idea suddenly popped into Obi-Wan's head.

"How dare you?! I am a P…" Thalia began, holding up a lecturing finger.

"We are people who are interested in what you are selling." Obi-Wan quickly jumped in before she gave the game away. "How much is one crystal?"

"Not here. Inside." Luca said and ushered the pair into the dark room.

"One crystal. Like this…" The Rhodian began, holding up a crystal about an inch long. "…forty thousand units."

"Forty thousand?" Obi-Wan cried in mock surprise. "No way, that's too much. Come on dear, we're leaving." He added, starting to pull Thalia away as he concentrated on her mind.

'If you can understand me, go with it. Agree to his price.'

Obi-Wan waited with baited breath as they walked back towards the door. He hoped with all his will that Thalia had heard him and understood. But alas, the door was already closing on them.

"Hang on." Thalia whirled around, tripping back through the doorway as she went and Obi-Wan slipped through just in time. "How rare are they?"

"Well my dear, you know the caves were closed a year ago, so these are very hard to come by." Luca said as Thalia bent down and lent her elbows on the table to gently run her finger over the crystal. "The properties inside are…"

"I like it 'cause it's shiny." She grinned lopsidedly and picked up the crystal, turning to Obi-Wan. "I think it's a good price."

"No, absolutely not. He's trying to rip us off. We won't pay that much." He said to Thalia giving her a meaningful look to keep up the ruse.

"Well how much would you offer?" She asked.

"It depends." He replied thoughtfully, quickly glancing at the Rhodian who was watching their exchange intently. He wanted this sale. "How did you get them?"

"I can't discuss my method with my clients." The Rhodian said, frowning slightly.

"See, dear? We don't know where they're from. They could be fakes for all we know." Obi-Wan said reasonably.

"Oh please, I'd really love one." Thalia whined before smiling warmly at Luca. "Won't you please tell us? What could we do about it? It's not like we can tell anyone who'll listen."

"Ah…alright. The Troskan Prime Minister has been selling them to me on the Black Market since the caves were closed, but this is my last box. That Princess threw him in jail I heard." The Rhodian sighed.

"She is very pesky, isn't she?" Thalia nodded forlornly and Obi-Wan only just managed to keep his face straight. "And that was the only way they've gotten out of Troska? Through you?"

"Well, yes. But why does that matter?" He asked.

"Because when they end up in the wrong hands people die." Thalia said, straightening up to her full height. Her voice steady but still a tad wobbly.

"Hey, hey. Who are you guys?" Luca asked nervously, backing away from the table.

"People who do not take kindly to those selling weapons of mass destruction." Obi-Wan replied. He held out his hand, and the Rhodian was sent flying against the back wall and the pipes hanging down from the ceiling wrapped themselves around his wrists, holding him in place.

Thalia picked up the box and turned to leave.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing? Those don't belong to you!" The dealer yelled.

"Actually, they do." She replied, as Obi-Wan followed her out the door.