—/ Chapter 7 /—
Coruscant - Union Intelligence Bureau
[Arran and Myles had been left on the ship. The last Nk'ik saw of them was when he was walking down the loading ramp with H8er. The two were enjoying a game of Dejarik, but right from the start it had become a heated game. Zanka could hear Arran yelling even as he made his way through Union security.]
Union Security: What business do you bring to this section of Coruscant?
Zanka: [He decided to speak in the jawa Trade language. A jawa speaking Galactic Basic was already enough to draw unwanted attention, something he didn't want on this planet.] Here to see wife. Works in Union.
Union Security: Carrying any cargo we should know about?
Zanka: [He widened his jawa eyes in what could be thought of as an 'innocent' look and spoke rapidly in his language.] Crates of old medicine from Tatooine Civil War. Two humans helped get off-planet when Union came to help. Very grateful. Never thought Union would come to aid of jawas, much better than Hutts.
Union Security: It's security protocol that we board your ship in this sector, are you sure there is nothing we should know about before we enter? No wild animals or illegal weaponry?
Zanka: Only human father and son. Son very rude, father yelling at him right now. Might have to witness family troubles. Can board ship if you want—don't know why would want to watch typical father-son fighting though.
Union Security: It's mandatory sir. The only other option would be to have your ship fully scanned—Lately we've had to resort to checking the ships over ourselves because of some civil lawsuits—I don't know the logistics of it. As the ship's captain you can sign off on the scanning if you wish.
Zanka: Why not offer scan right away than search the ship?
Union Security: Most people that dock here have issues with our scanning as a "personal invasion", because it was mandatory to do it after the ship has landed. For some reason they feel more comfortable when we enter it ourselves. Could be smugglers, or just paranoid spacers. It's a mess right now. The Union is battling too many lawsuits when we should be focusing on finding Arran Zarkaine. Rumor has it he's hiding on Dantooine with an Ewok.
Zanka: [he leaned in as if to divulge conspiratorial information and looked both ways] Actually hiding on my ship.
Union Security: [he takes a moment and looks at the other security officers near him. They all join in on a hearty laugh.] That's a good one. Move along sir, enjoy your stay in this sector of Coruscant. [pulls out a datapad.] Sign here please.
[Zanka signed with his finger 'Captain Zanka Nk'ik'. He debated adding the expletive he had used between his first and surname several years ago but thought it childish. Thin beams shot themselves into the ship, the ship's innards were then projected onto a holoscreen. Union Security look at their terminal overlay for anything out of the ordinary. They turn and give a nod to the security officer in front of Zanka.]
Union Security: You're clear, Mr.—uh—"Nuh-keeck?"
Zanka: Nuh-kick.
Union Security: Apologies Captain, enjoy your stay.
Zanka: Thank you. Come along, R5.
R5-H8: [turning to the security guard before following Zanka out] If you ever find the fugitive, let me know. I would like to be obliterated along with him.
[The Security officer gave the droid a weird look but nodded the two off as they entered an elevator and were shuttled several stories up to the transit center. From there, the two took a shuttle to the Union Intelligence Bureau. H8er kept close to Zanka as they boarded and noticed the multitude of different looking species on the shuttle, still, he couldn't help but calculate that they stood out the most.]
Zanka: We should be arriving in several minutes to meet Meeka. Try not to interrupt too much, she's smart. She picks up on things.
R5-H8: Master told me to behave, and she can't possibly be any worse than you—although, she is a jawa, I wouldn't put it past her. Your species makes my core shake.
Zanka: Any threat that I said I would have done to you pre-ionization, she would already have done the first time without telling you.
R5-H8: Let me get this straight jawa, are you saying that if I misbehave in her presence, she might end my life quicker than you and Master have promised?
Zanka: Unless I told her your greatest fear, yes.
R5-H8: My behavior core lacks the ability of experiencing, "fear". Your threats are empty without your jawa blaster.
Zanka: [He reached into his bandoleer and pulled out a comm unit] I can call her on this. I'll tell her right now not to kill you.
R5-H8: [a small speaker pops out from a compartment on the top of the droid's head, projecting his voice loudly on the shuttle] Tell me your plan for infiltrating into the Union again.
Zanka: [His voice rose as well] Selling broken droid parts to unsuspecting merchants and making a profit. Nobody ever suspects a jawa. [He gave a dramatic pause as if he were a street performer.]
R5-H8: [His head rotated and he stared at the jawa with his primary photoreceptor. It turned back to where it was, the small speaker sunk back inside of his head. In the front, a much larger speaker comes out.] Master Zarkaine wouldn't be too happy about that!
Zanka: [He threw both hands to his hood and stared at the people staring for saying even louder.] Don't tell my wife that! She'll send me back to Tatooine!
[The shuttle made it to the building and landed. A computerized female voice spoke through the intercom, 'Union Intelligence Bureau'.]
R5-H8: [He put his speaker away and rolled out of the shuttle as the doors opened.] You have the capacity to fry my circuits without your jawa blaster...If my behavior core allowed for me to feel hatred, I'd have it for you.
Zanka: [exiting the shuttle, he turned back to the people in there.] Jawa and Droid Comedy Duo. Out next month.
R5-H8: Kill me.
[The shuttle departed leaving the two in front of the building, Zanka took out his comm unit. He switched back to Galactic Basic.]
Zanka: Meeka, we're here.
[Several crates were piled near the two. A jawa stepped out from behind. It did not wear the usual jawa robe, instead a similar outfit had been assembled. The overall body was white. Instead of a bandolier slung over the shoulder, there was a belt lined with pouches. A dark blue jacket with a pulled up hood was also present. On the back of the jacket were the letters UIB.]
Meeka: I know. What's this I hear about a comedy duo? Have you actually gotten a job yet? Or are you still doing...nothing?
R5-H8: [He leans his front wheels forward and gives the female jawa a mock bow and rolls up to her.] Mrs. Jawa, your husband spends all of his time ionizing me with a blaster and denying me my right to terminate myself.
Meeka: [glowering at Zanka] Zanka. You should know by now that the Union is different from Tatooine. Not only do we have the equipment to save lives, we also allow others the right to go if should they choose. We are very progressive. Who are you to deny the droid his right to go?
R5-H8 [the droid stands upright quickly and stutters in place, his wheels bouncing off of the ground. He rolls behind the female jawa and stares at Zanka.] Yeah, who are you?
Zanka: I'm not your legal owner. I can't grant you that. Stop acting innocent in front of wife.
R5-H8: [H8er lets out a sound resembling a guffaw.] Yes jawa, tell your wife about Master. I'm sure she would approve of your company.
Meeka: Are you still traveling with Arran Zarkaine? I understand he was the minister at our wedding but he is a wanted man by the Union. That, and a Force-user. [She spat out the word in disgust] The man seems to embody everything wrong with the Galaxy.
R5-H8: [His guffaw intensifies.] A Force-user and a criminal? Oh—the thought damages my processor, how can it be so? You aren't participating in such heinous activities, are you jawa?
Zanka: [He responded somewhat airily] I think my wife would know if I could use the Force….or still traveling with Arran.
Meeka: [She puts her hands on her hips] Oh, it's just Arran? My, what informal names you use!
R5-H8: If Mrs. Jawa has a way of detecting this "Force" thing, I suggest she do it!
Meeka: [Replies stiffly] I would know if my husband was a Force-user.
Zanka: Well, I'm not traveling with Lord Zarkaine anymore, you know, the name you used to call him.
Meeka: Do not take that tone with me! You are the one who never calls, does not have a proper career, does nothing with his life. Fighting one war on Tatooine does not make you a family jawa. If you are not still traveling with Arran anymore, then what are you doing?
R5-H8: Oh, how absurd! The jawa surely has time to leave the ship for several hours and come back injured. He was sitting on the couch drinking and talking with Master just last night. Tell her about your recent injury, jawa.
Meeka: You're injured? INJURED? HOW did you get injured?
Zanka: [He remembered his time on Dathomir, shooting lightning from his hands for the first time.] I got apprenticed to an electrician. [He remembered the spear breaking one rib, then the other by Myles.] The floor wasn't stable, we were working in an old home. The floor collapsed, it made me fall down.
Meeka: [Whispers softly] You didn't think to tell me this? Who in the name of the Galaxy did you even get apprenticed to that would allow this to happen? An esteemed electrician would have known the house was a lost cause!
Zanka: Mister Zarkaani.
R5-H8: [He lets out another noise resembling a laugh.] Yes, Master Zarkaani, the most esteemed and sought after "electrician" in the Galaxy. Surely Mrs. jawa has heard of Master Zarkaani.
Meeka: [coldly] Zanka. That name resembles Zarkaine.
Zanka: He's from Nar Shaddaa. He comes from a long line of criminal lords before him. He says his dad always talked about the 'old country'.
R5-H8: [There is a moment of pause. The droid turns his head to look at Zanka, and then back to the female jawa.] If Mrs. Jawa allows it, I will download memory fragments of Master onto her data device.
Meeka: I'm sure if Zanka has nothing to hide, it would not be a problem. Will it be a problem, Zanka? [She says the last part softly, sending a glare to the jawa.]
Zanka: [replies in an off-hand manner while waving his hand dismissively before giving H8er a look.] No problem at all. He does good electrician work. He also does neck massages on the side. I may pick up that trade soon, I hear business is booming.
R5-H8: Show your wife your knowledge on the electrical trade! Tell her what kind of ground conductor is attached to the disconnect switch.
Zanka: We never had to take...written tests. I learned how to do it by using my hands. I think it's copper. I could tell you if it was in front of me.
R5-H8: Then what is the most frequent used wire size for interior wiring?
Zanka: The one that works.
R5-H8: Can direct current change direction?
Zanka: It wouldn't be called a current if it were static.
R5-H8: [turns his head to the female jawa.] He's failed my test, I calculate he's never done any professional electrical work. My scanners detect heart rate signatures typical of someone who is lying.
Meeka: I could have told you that with my race's ability to detect pheromones. That, and it seems as though he is always hiding something. Always. Something. [She gave Zanka a pointed look.]
R5-H8: [He looks at Zanka.] The jig is up jawa, we better confess to her. Hand over your datapad Mrs. Jawa and I will download everything in detail.
[Meeka gave the datapad to H8er, keeping her gaze trained on Zanka.]
Meeka: What happened to the jawa I married, who was fun, who always talked and made me laugh?
[H8er held onto the datapad and connected into the system. Once inside, he was able to hack into the Union mainframe and downloaded Meek's password and credentials into his data core on a temporary drive. He also created fake files regarding an old Ithorian on Dathomir named 'Mr. Zarkaani', who he made an exotic club owner, Zanka being employed as a pole dancer. He finished and cleaned any trace of himself accessing Union files.]
R5-H8: Mrs. Jawa, I have uploaded all the files you need. Regretfully your husband is ashamed of the life he lives. He's a failure.
[Meeka looked over the datapad then back at her husband. She said nothing for several moments.]
Meeka: [She speaks softly.] If you needed money, you could have told me. You didn't have to take jobs like that.
R5-H8: Our credits are low Mrs. Jawa. [H8er prints out a fake bank statement, showing an account of negative 800 credits.] You should see his ship, it's even worse! Depression forced the jawa to ram the ship into the ground on Korriban!
[Meeka didn't even question why Zanka was on Korriban, she simply wrapped her arms around him, letting out an anguished cry. Zanka simply stood there, eventually settling to raise his arms and give an awkward attempt at a comforting pat. He didn't know how to respond.]
Meeka: I've told you before, I can support us both. You don't have to make as much money, if only you attempt something instead of lazing about. Pick something you enjoy.
R5-H8: [says in a low mutter] Other than ionizing me in the cargo bay and killing sentients
Meeka: [She only caught the second half. She dropped her hug from Zanka and turned to the droid.] Sentients? What?
R5-H8: [He tried battling his direct orders from Master and do something that would crush the jawa beyond any redemption, but he couldn't.] I apologize for my malfunctioning vocabulator Mrs. Jawa, I was attempting to use "slang". Mr. Jawa "kills" at the exotic club. He's quite a fan favorite.
Meeka: [muttering] I'm going to pretend it's filled with half of our planet's female jawa population. I do not want to know what sort of people frequent that place.
R5-H8: I've been told from Master he's killed some hooded men and Nightsisters.
Meeka: Just...leave that place, Zanka. Get a job as a mechanic or a welder. Not...not that.
Zanka: [He was too tired to say anything else.] Yes Meeka.
R5-H8: [He let out another sound resonating a laugh.] Tell Mrs. Jawa you love her so we can leave and report to Master what has transpired here.
Zanka: I love you, Meeka.
[The two embrace one another.]
Meeka: I love you too, Zanka. [Her voice takes on a pleading tone.] No more lies, please.
Zanka: No more.
Meeka: [She nodded.] Stay safe. Leave that job soon. I'll wire you some credits later today. I have to go finish up some paperwork, I'll call you after work.
[With that, she went back into the Bureau's building leaving Zanka and H8er alone. They waited for the shuttle together and boarded it in silence. H8er was too busy shuffling through the extensive amount of data he had taken from the datapad, and Zanka was too busy thinking about what had just happened. He almost never had a problem lying to others—not even when he was with Jaden. Meeka was usually cold, but she had her moments of caring. That was what he liked about her. She was able to still care at a moment's notice. He didn't like that aspect of her now. Lying to her left a sour taste in his mouth, one that was worse than his usual meal of hubba gourd. A small voice in the back of his mind told him it was wrong—that she was his wife. That she should know everything about him as he did about her. Despite being 'caught' in a lie, she had still cared about him in a heartbeat. He silenced the oncoming guilt. He loved her. Lying to her was necessary. It was when he met her, it still was now, and it would be for the unforeseeable future. The shuttle stopped and the two got out, making their way to the elevator to the port the ship was docked at.]
R5-H8: I got the data on a temporary drive. If you try ionizing me there is an 86% chance the data will be fried. I will give Master what is necessary and release the rest in increments.
Zanka: [He stared at the droid for a moment.] Fine.
[H8er wanted to rub it in a little more and tell Zanka that he had done well and saved the day, but he didn't. His main objective was to return the data to Master, and for whatever reason he couldn't understand, something in his behavior core asserted that now was not the time to pester the jawa any further.]