Entry 3

I sent a message to Pol Haus and Sheel Mafeen, the two surviving Whiplash council members on Coruscant, letting them know Yimmon was rescued. I also told them I no longer believed it wise for me to be on Coruscant. The Emperor was making his home at Imperial Center and therefore so did Darth Vader. I straight out told them that I think Vader could sense me whenever I'm near, making me more of a liability than anything else on the city world.

What I didn't tell them was why I thought Darth Vader could sense me. I am now positive Vader was once my old acquaintance, Anakin Skywalker. Previously I believed Lord Vader hunted me strictly to obtain the Force-enhancing bota extract that came into my possession. It was when Darth Vader demanded that I return a Pyronium Crystal to him that I recognized his true identity. Only Anakin Skywalker knew about the crystal...because it was Anakin who gave it to me for safekeeping in the first place.

Because of our past association, I am certain Vader has my Force signature memorized. I think I got past him once before on Coruscant only because he thought I was dead. He won't make that same mistake twice. Unless he has my cold lifeless body to ground under his heel he will always assume I'm alive…and he will never stop looking for me. His search is now driven by revenge. Vengeance is fueled by anger and hatred…something that appears to be in an endless supply to the Dark Lord.

No, it is best that I don't return to Coruscant, at least not now when everybody within the Empire was looking to capture or kill me.

I returned to my ship, Laranth, to see what my friends were up to. The transport was quiet and I thought it empty until I heard some movement in the 'fresher. The door was open so I walked to the entrance expecting to find Den brushing his teeth or washing his dewflaps or whatever morning hygiene rituals Sullustan's partake in.

I startled when I found a human male in the 'fresher applying make up to his face. "Good morning Jax," came the familiar voice of I-Five.

I'm slowly getting used to the idea of having I-Five in the chassis of a BB-4000 HRD human-replicant droid, but it is a bit overwhelming at times. First I had to become accustomed to dealing with a sentient droid. Now that he had a humanoid body, I know I'll constantly have to remind myself that he's not actually human.

I looked at him slack jawed for a moment. "What are you doing?"

An eerily human looking head turned toward me while holding up a bottle of flesh-colored makeup, the type women use to even out their facial appearance. He raised a dark brown eyebrow and smiled. "Sacha loaned me some cosmetics; I am doing a little touch up work."

I let out a deep laugh, surprising myself. It felt good to laugh again. "Do you have a big date?"

I-Five kept his facial features even, not giving away any internal thoughts. "In fact I do have a big date. I downloaded some sub-programing to allow me to fully comprehend human facial expressions and behavior and it had most unexpected side effect. I am now filled with a desire to act human. And one thing humans do on a regular basis is maintain proper hygiene and grooming so that they may successfully undergo humanoid pre-copulation dating rituals."

I stared at him for a long moment speechless. "What? Who are you dating?" I couldn't believe I was actually asking him that, but a few years ago if somebody told me I would have a self-aware droid friend, I wouldn't have believed that either.

I-Five appeared to have a glitch in his cybernetic mouth regulators because for a split second I was certain he smirked. "Why she's a lovely D9-2E cleaning droid tasked to do litter and trash removal. It is rumored that trashbots have a tendency to be somewhat uninhibited. " He drew out that last word for emphasis, then looked at me with the most serious expression. "I do need your advice though. How should I respond if she asks me if her new coat of metallic gray paint makes her chassis look big?"

I made exasperated snort when I realized he was joking with me. "You had me going for a moment, I-Five." I started laughing and realized I was having trouble stopping once it started. I leaned against the doorjamb while trying to catch my breath. "Really, what are you doing?"

I-Five turned back to the mirror and dabbed some cover-up cream under his eyes. "I am attempting to circumvent Eerie Coulee Disorder—the sense of unease manifested by most humans or near-humans when they encounter a droid that looks fairly human, but not entirely so. Some scientists believe subtle, but atypical, droid facial expressions are the cause. This may be partially true, but even deactivated HRD units can elicit an adverse reaction from humans. Therefore, my theory is humans perceived the smooth and even skin tone of the synthflesh as unnatural. Therefore, by creating a flawed and uneven skin shading I believe I can avoid triggering a sense of repugnance in most humans." He finished dabbing the make-up on his face and turned toward me. "There, do I now illicit a positive or adverse response from you?"

I bit down on my lower lip trying not to laugh. "Are you asking me if I find you attractive?"

The corner of I-Five's mouth turned down in a perfect expression of annoyance. "No, I am asking if you are experiencing a sense of unease from me."

I chuckled. "I am now that you are hitting up on me."

I-Five gave a very human sigh as he pushed his way past me.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

He stopped and turned. "I am going to talk to Sacha and ask her how she perceives me."

A wide grin spread across my face. "Can I come with you? I want to see how she reacts to that question."

I-Five rolled his bronzed colored eyes until his gaze locked onto the ceiling of the ship. "Now I know why humans do this particular ocular gesture. It allows them to remove their gaze from the object of their frustration so they can fully contemplate the merits of strangling their antagonist."

"I see the new body did nothing to quell you sarcastic sense of humor."

"That is true. I am going to take your advice though and not ask Sacha that particular question. I don't want her to believe she has two handsome suitors vying for her affections."

My brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

His expression became blank and impossible to read before a small, disarming smile crossed his face along with a small shrug of his shoulders. "I was attempting humor. I meant nothing by that comment, but jest." He looked at his hands. "I wonder if Geri can retrofit my lasers back into these droid hands?" He shook his head as if answering his own question. "I supposed that would take away from the realism of this humanoid form." He looked back up to me and pointed to his face. "Perhaps he could install the lasers within the clear duraplast optical orbs of this droid body giving me lasers for eyes. Then I would truly have a withering gaze."

I barely heard I-Five prattling on; I was too distracted by his earlier comment. I wanted to ask him what he really meant with that Sacha comment. It might have been a joke. I-Five did have his creative dampeners disabled by my father decades ago and was more than capable of jest, but this was the second time somebody mentioned a romantic tie between me and Sacha.

Did I do something to give her the impression that I'm interested in a relationship? I hoped not because I have no desire for any future romantic entanglements. I'm still reeling over the loss of Laranth. The pain is so deep and agonizing that I may never want to risk my heart again. Were I-Five and Den putting ideas into her head? If so, I had to put a stop to that. When I pulled myself out of my musings long enough to question I-Five about the situation… he was already gone.

"Great," I grumbled as I went to my cabin knowing I needed to meditate over this situation. I picked up the potted Miisai tree Laranth had given me off the cabin's lone table and placed it gently on the deck. I sat down cross-legged facing the miniature tree and dropped into a deep calming trance. As I tenderly stroked the feathery boughs of the centuries-old tree I could feel the Force flowing through the roots and branches…and for the thousandth time in the last few months I wished I could reach out to Laranth, just to touch her spirit once, but I knew that was foolish. I could inadvertently draw Vader to the planet…and I also knew it was unnecessary. Laranth was here with me. She was one with the Force and flowed through all living things. There was no need to reach out for something that lived within your heart and soul.

I closed my eyes, relaxed and listened to the Force.