Entry 38

Dantooine and Toprawa are both outer rim planets located not too far from each other. The trip would take about forty standard hours to complete. Norro wanted to come along but I refused to bring him on a dangerous mission. He argued that Despayre was probably more treacherous than Dantooine and I have to agree, but I'm not going to risk his life because he wants to go on an adventure. I introduced him to Geri, the Rodian teenager mech-tech. It cheered Norro to see another person around his age. Geri was also an orphan, so they had something in common…albeit it's an awful experience to share. I grew up without my parents, but at least I had the Jedi Order as my family.

Den, I-Five, Sacha, Magash and I departed Toprawa onboard the Laranth. The flight so far has been uneventful, which is exactly how I like my flights, nice and boring. I am getting a little tired of having to elude Star Destroyers, avoid Darth Vader or his Sith wannabe Inquisitors. Boring is a nice departure from the usual mayhem. Den and I spent most of the time on the flight deck while the women and I-Five lounged in the dining area going over maps of Dantooine.

As the time of our sleep cycle approached I gave the ladies my cabin and I went to bunk down with Den and I-Five in the ship's other crew compartment. When I entered the room I was surprised to see that I-Five had Den switch his computer brain from the Police Droid chassis he was in earlier to his Human Replicate Droid body.

I gave him a curious look. "Why the switch?"

I-Five's very human face gave a slight smirk as he attempted to shrug his shoulders…a movement that came off rather stiff and unnatural. "I have discovered that if I am in my droid chassis and I am not actively communicating with Magash or Sacha…they will sometimes forget I am sentient and not the intellectual equivalent of a food synthesizer. In other words, they will talk to each other as if I wasn't there."

I let out a sigh knowing this was a sore subject for I-Five. He wants to be treated as an equal. "I have to admit, I-Five," I said somewhat sheepishly. "When you are in an Artoo chassis I have a tendency to forget. It is much easier having a conversation with you in your human-replicant body. It'll take time for people to get used to interacting with a sentient droid. I'm sure they didn't mean any disrespect."

"I don't believe they had any malice in their actions." A wide grin crossed I-Five's face. "And there are some benefits of being treated as a mere droid."

"Like what?"

"I have the opportunity to listen to uninhibited female discussions." He made a fairly good approximation of a laugh. "Their conversations are very enlightening."

I drew in a deep breath. "I-Five, you shouldn't be listening to private discussions."

His brows rose. "I was one-point-two meters from their location and clearly visible."

I let out a deep breath. "Well…you shouldn't be repeating what you heard."

"If you insist." His brows rose questioningly. "Do you happen to know who Sacha is dating on Toprawa?"

That question caught me off guard. This was the first I have heard anything about Sacha dating. "No. I haven't seen her with anybody. Why?"

I-Five crossed his arms across his chest and casually leaned against the bulkhead. "Because Magash was giving Sacha dating advice." He chuckled. "It was extremely interesting."

I sat down on the bunk next to Den who was grinning so furiously that I knew he has already heard the story from I-Five.

"We really shouldn't be repeating gossip."

Den held up both hands in a classic gesture of innocence. "Is it really gossip if he heard it from Magash and Sacha? Gossip typically involves details that are not confirmed as being true. As a reporter I would consider I-Five a reliable source. After all, his computer brain accurately records information and I am certain his description of the conversation will be entirely accurate, containing no conjecture or hyperbole."

I looked between the two, uncertain as to what to say. I don't like talking about crew members behind their backs, but I have to admit for some strange reason I was extremely curious. "Alright, I'll bite. What did they say?"

I-Five smiled. "I overheard Magash telling Sacha that if her intended mate is going too slow in a relationship she has to be assertive and confront the male, claiming him as her own. At that point Sacha pointed out that that might work on Dathomir, but not on Toprawa."

I coughed in my hand trying to disguise a laugh. "I feel sorry for any guy Magash becomes interested in."

I-Five continued with a convincing toothy grin. "You don't know how right you are. She told Sacha that on Dathomir a woman would select a male of suitable breeding stock. She then makes her intentions known and places a symbolic rope around the chosen man's neck. If the male does not make a formal objection to the union, she will march him to her hut where they will…indulge in a variety of carnal activities."

Den burst out in laughter. "I can just see Sacha trying that approach with her new beau." He turned to me grinning. "I can go out and buy her a rope and you can lend her your bondage mask and she'll be set."

My face burned with embarrassment. "It's not a bondage mask. It's a rebreather."

He gave me an obviously false look of confusion. "Really? I thought I-Five said it was a faux Ruusan Reformation era latex bondage mask."

"With a hook in the back for a leash," I-Five added.

I threw my hands up in frustration. "I had an Inquisitor following me and needed a disguise. Am I going to hear about this for the rest of my life?" I stood and glared at the two.

Den looked at I-Five before turning back to me. "Probably…at least until we find something better to tease you with."

"I am fairly certain that is what friends do." I-Five walked over and gave me a friendly slap on the shoulder. "And since I see you as a brother, I believe that entitles me to harass you to a greater extent."

I pointed a finger at him. "That goes both ways, I-Five." I walked over and grabbed my 'fresher kit off the cabin dresser. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a shower."

As I walked out the door I heard Den shout out. "Make sure you hang on to that towel really tight this time."

I gritted my teeth knowing that's another embarrassing story I'll probably never hear the end of.