Dolan inhaled deeply as he stepped out of the Far Star's open cargo bay into the hot, damp air of Kodai. The air was thick with the smell of the sea, overlaid with all the smells of the busy spaceport and the hundreds of people within, and faintly under all of that was the moist, fresh smell of the approaching storm. For a moment he closed his eyes and drew in the silence of their open-roofed bay before opening the entrance to the port itself and a wall of sound washed over him. He let the sounds meld with the smells and become background as he strode out into the esk wing of the spaceport.
As he walked down the wide corridor into the hub, Dolan dodged several large lifter droids carrying a number of large crates bearing the crest of one of the local fisheries. They never made the corridors wide enough in spaceports. Not that it really mattered all that much, he wasn't in charge of moving the cargo within the port, just from one to another. Emerging into the central hub of the port, he glanced up at the display monitor over the main entrance/exit. Nothing too exciting going on in Rena today, at least, not where he was headed. Still, one could never be too cautious, and he checked to make sure his blaster was free in its holster as he left the spaceport.
Exiting the spaceport, Dolan veered off to the left, heading in the direction of his friend's shop. Hopefully Ora Klorin had her shop open today, although he probably should have commed her to find out. Oh well. The Kel Dor had dependable hours, and Dolan couldn't remember the last time he had been in Rena and her shop hadn't been open. Of course, before she had come to Kodai and put a focus to her eccentricity...
Dolan snapped his hand backwards to grip the wrist of the Rodian who was trying to pick his pocket. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
The Rodian struggled and tried to get away as Dolan turned to face him. [Don't kill me! Don't kill me! It shouted in Huttese.
"You're not worth the price of the shot." Dolan spoke evenly. "Now get out of here and don't try that again." As he finished he shoved the Rodian back roughly, knocking the alien to the ground. Then he turned and kept walking, not caring to watch as the would-be pickpocket scrambled to its feet and ran off. Dolan snorted. "Idiot," he murmured under his breath.
What had he been thinking about before? He couldn't remember. That was fine, probably wasn't anything important anyways. Seeing he was close to the shop, he started walking again, humming one of his favorite classical pieces from Empress Teta.
Not only was Ora's shop open, but she was standing outside the entrance arranging several odd flowers in a large window box. "You do realize that the moment you go back into the store, they'll get stolen."
"If the thief is wearing a breather, maybe. But I doubt that just anyone could make off with a one of these Dorian spitting lillies." Ora didn't turn around to face Dolan as she spoke. "Master Amtar, really, you must have more faith in people and their capabilities."
"Ora, how many times do I have to ask you to call me Dolan?" He walked up and tried to glance over he shoulder at one of the flowers but was intercepted by a hand and pushed aside.
"As many times as I have to remind you not to stick your unprotected face in front of anything that has 'spitting', 'biting', or other nonfriendly name." The Kel Dor turned and gave Dolan what he could only assume was a withering glare from behind her eye protectors. "Your drugs are in the orange bottle on the counter. I'll be there in a minute."
Dolan started to ask how she had known he would be here, but thought the better of it and quietly entered the shop. He was relatively confidant that Ora wasn't a Force-user, but still, the way she just knew things was unsettling at times.
Ora's shop was dim and thick with the scent of plants. Bundles of dried leaves, bulbs, and stems hung from the ceiling while shelves and bins were full of live plants in various pots, tubes, and globes. Behind the long counter that stretched the length of the back of the shop there rose a high set of shelves filled with bottles of liquids, as well as leaves, petals, stems, and roots in various stages of disassembly. The whole place with its still, ancient air seemed out of place in a bustling city like Rena.
True to her word, a small orange bottle sat alone in the middle of the counter. Dolan considered ti for a moment, glanced back over his shoulder with a slight grimace, then picked up the bottle. A quick shake revealed the presence of at least a dozen pills within. Turning around to face the door, Dolan leaned back against the counter and opened the bottle, spilling several of the orange tabs into the palm of his hand.
Tipping all but one of them back into the bottle, Dolan replaced the cap and twisted his hand, catching the lone pill in midair. More out of rote than curiosity he held it up to the light spilling in from the door. "You know," he said loudly, "I think I preferred the purple ones better. Why do you keep changing the color?"
Ora did not reply right away, waiting instead for a few moments more to finish with the flowers outside before gathering her tools back up and reentering her shop. "One would think that with your learnings, you would know the answer." The Kel Dor brushed past him as she went behind the counter and began replacing her tools.
Dolan turned again, this time resting both arms on the counter, and smirked. "Yeah, yeah. You were able to get fresh Lessna wood from Naboo this time. The artificial stuff's not so bad, you know."
A large peach finger was shaken in his face. "You try my patience."
The smirk became a genuine smile. "You know you love me, Ora."
She dismissed the statement with a wave of her hand. "That changes nothing. Tell me, what have you been dreaming that brings you to me?"
He put the last pill away and set the bottle on the counter, twisting it idly. For long long while he said nothing, trying to organize his thoughts and put them into some coherent sense. "I'm not entirely sure. I can't remember much when I wake up. Just flashes of the war, the middle of battles. But more than that. Voices, things I can't explain or understand. And Kell keeps telling me I start screaming in Mado'a."
"What else?" Ora asked evenly after Dolan was silent.
Dolan ran a hand through his hair. "Sometimes when I wake up my bunk looks like it's been torn apart. Drawers opened and my things just scattered about the room. Other times when I wake I'm clutching that damnned box."
Ora very carefully caught his gaze from behind her eye protectors. "I told you that box was dangerous since we found it on that shuttle. You should know better than to keep Sith artifacts around. I'm sure the Jedi would pay handsomely for it."
"Or they'd arrest me and simply take it." Dolan said with a glare. "Besides, I've done some checking. The box I have is solid wood, or so Far Star's cargo scanners say. Once I find the actual holder of Darth Caries' lightsaber crystal, then we can talk about trying to sell it. Although..."
"Although what?" Her voice was laced lightly with concern.
Dolan picked up the bottle again. "It's probably nothing, at least, I hope it's nothing."
The Kel Dor's body language showed she didn't believe him.
"The Cooperative relayed a set of Republic orders to us. I can't say much, but if the orders are confirmed, we'll have to go to the Core for a while."
"You can make good money in the Core. Why are you so worried?"
Dolan frowned. "I don't know, I just have a bad feeling about this. Why the Far Star? We're well respected by the Cooperative, but even so, we're one of the smallest ships, certainly the smallest crew. Why would they give us this?"
His commlink interrupted him. With a heavy sigh he snatched it out of its pocket. "What is it?
"The orders were confirmed. Local office sent someone over to personally confirm them. Better get back soon, cargo's due to arrive within the hour and we need to be in the air immediately."
"I'm on my way back, Kell. Don't leave without me."
Kell's warm chuckle lightened the room's atmosphere. "I'll try not to, but no guarantees. See you soon."
The commlink clicked off and Dolan looked back at Ora. "Want anything if we hit Coruscant?"
"Many things. But none I think you could afford. Maybe deliver this to the Jedi?" She held out a datapad. "I would like to deliver it myself, but with all my work, I don't have the time."
He held it like it was a live nexu. "The Jedi?"
"I made a friend of one of their healers many years ago, and have recently learned things that may be of interest to her."
"Alright, I'll deliver it. Want a lightsaber while I'm at it?" The sarcasm wasn't light.
"Haven't lost my last one yet, so that won't be necessary." Ora said in such a way as Dolan wasn't quite sure if she was joking or not and was definitely sure he didn't want to find out.
"Alright. How much do I owe you?"
"I will soon run out of patience telling you that I give you those out of friendship, and will not charge you for them. Now go, Kell seemed to have more to tell you. May the Force be with you on your journey."
"The Force can leave me well enough alone, thank you." Dolan snapped before saying a quiet goodbye and walking sullenly from the shop and back to the Far Star.
It's standing there, the symbol and the sum of all that's me
It's just a travesty, towering, blocking out the light and blinding me
I want to see