Chapter 9

Mandalore's Favorite Color Was Green…

Canderous wanted to get as far away from the Ebon Hawk as possible. He was thinking about sitting alone in a cantina somewhere when his comlink beeped.

He grew annoyed and considered not answering until he realized that it could be Ayla. Damn, I haven't bought the tickets yet!

He immediately answered. "Yeah?"

"Canderous," the voice he recognized as Bastila said, "I need to talk to you."

"I'm busy," Canderous said bluntly, hoping this would deter her.

"This is important," she insisted.

"Well, I'm doing something important, too."

"Buying tickets?"

"As a matter of fact, that is exactly what I'm doing."

"All right. I'll meet you by the ticket stand."

Canderous was about to object, even though he did not have a good reason why he should, but Bastila cut off the line. He vaguely considered leaving her there and going along with his previous idea but knew that it would only make her very angry and bother him even more. He mustered all his willpower to go to the ticket stand.

Before he even caught sight of the ticket stand, Bastila was quickly approaching him. She did not appear very happy but it did not surprise him. He wondered what she had to say; she usually only spoke to him on occasions when she was mad or disappointed in him.

Bastila spoke the instant she reached him. "As I understand it, you are going to the dance with Ayla."

Her anger, combined with the dance topic, led to Canderous feeling amused. He smiled. "Yeah? And?"

"She is a Jedi and should not attend these functions."

"It's her choice."

"Not really. I have a say over what she does because I am her guide. Certainly, you understand chain of command."

"In the Mandalorian military, my superiors didn't order me on what to do during my spare time."

"But you must have had some rules, some limitations on what you could not do…your people do have some sort of law?"

Canderous folded his arms and smirked. "You think we're just lawless animals, don't you?"

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"But that's what you think."

Bastila sighed. "What about your laws?"

"Sure, there are certain things we're not allowed to do. Is going to the dance breaking some sort of ancient Jedi law?"

"No, but what I say should be taken seriously. My advice should be followed to the letter."

"Why? Why should Ayla even listen to you? You're—"

"The Jedi assigned me to watch over her. I've had far more experience and am far more disciplined."

Canderous could no longer bear to hear her speak, perhaps because of her accent and also perhaps because it was about Ayla. "Bastila, you're a bitch."

Bastila was so surprised she did not speak for a moment. The momentum built up in her to the point where she could barely control herself. "How dare you call me that!"

"It's true. What makes you so great that Ayla has to follow your every order so religiously? You're not such a perfect Jedi yourself. You do realize that, right? In fact, I think Ayla is many times the Jedi you are." Canderous took a step towards her. "And what gives you the right to tell me what to do? Talk to Ayla yourself if you want to, but you won't be able to convince me." Canderous paused, surprised at himself. "Guess I needed to get all that out…"

Canderous walked away, leaving a stunned Bastila alone, rethinking the words he had said.

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Canderous was pleased when he finally bought the tickets. He looked at them over and over before putting them in his pocket. He kept an arm at his side, brushing right against the pocket with the tickets, and heightened his senses to make certain he would catch anyone attempting to pickpocket him.

It was because of his alertness that he noticed the line of stores, located right near the ticket stand. People were crowding in there, buying gifts. Most of the people who had just bought the tickets were entering into the shops. Canderous dismissed his thoughts, labeling everyone as losers, but only for a moment.

Canderous cut right in front of a person just about to step up and buy tickets. He said nothing, perhaps intimidated by Canderous' appearance.

"How many tickets?" the droid ticket taker asked.

"This whole…festival thing, does it involve buying gifts?" Canderous asked.

The droid appeared annoyed at first but answered in a bored tone. "On Shlekfest, it is customary for couples to exchange gifts. It is especially necessary for the male to present a gift even if the female does not have one. The gift itself should be very special, reflecting the event and the person it is bestowed upon."

Canderous nodded. "Right."

He left the droid and kept his focus on the direction towards the Ebon Hawk. Dumbest thing I've ever heard. Gifts should be earned, not just given away. Why did the Mandalorian Empire have to fall? These cultures with their stupid ideas and traditions are so pathetic compared to ours.

Canderous walked by the first set of shops but his pace slowed and his head turned towards a particular one. It was a jewelry store, which many of the people were crowding into. He looked at the window displays, especially at the necklaces. His first thought was how easy it seemed to smash the glass and pocket a couple before the law enforcement would arrive. His second thought was how Ayla might look wearing a nice one. His mind then moved on to how Ayla might look wearing only a necklace.

Canderous forced himself back to reality, realizing he had stopped walking completely and his head was turned to the store's entrance. He cursed himself for being a warrior swayed by advertising and continued back to the Ebon Hawk.

In a few seconds, Canderous had changed directions and was entering into the store. Just for a look.

The place was large but not as crowded as he thought. Most of the people present were either males or couples. He watched as the women would point to perhaps the most expensive piece while their partner would shift nervously, fingering the credits in their pockets. What a bunch of morons.

Canderous' eyes then shifted towards the jewelry displayed through the glass. He wondered whether Ayla even had any jewelry on her and if she did, why he could not seem to remember seeing it.

"Do you need any help?"

He looked up at a young Twi'lek girl. It surprised him how much she looked like Janice Nall. I wonder if she had any sisters? He then realized that she had asked him a question.

"Uhh…" Canderous replied.

"Do you know what you're looking for?"

"Just got in."

"I meant do you know what kind of jewelry does your partner like."

"I…I don't know."

"Does she have her ears pierced? We have a special discount on earrings."

Does she have pierced ears? Canderous never recalled seeing any earrings on her, but that did not necessarily mean that her ears weren't pierced. "No earrings."

"Then I would suggest maybe a necklace or bracelet."

Canderous remembered how the enslaved civilians working for the Mandalorians would wear a manacle around their right wrist. "Necklace sounds good."

"Excellent. You should try to get something that will match her dress."

Canderous hesitated. "It's…sort of…supposed to be a surprise. I don't know what she's going to wear."

"That's fine. Is she silver or gold?"

"Huh?"

"Does she prefer silver or gold?"

Canderous thought for a moment. Silver was a good color, especially since it reminded him of metal. Mandalore the Brave had a silver dagger and was passed down from one Mandalore to the next until it was lost. Gold, on the other hand, was weak and dented easily. "Silver."

The woman nodded. "I'm a silver girl, too. It matches with most things. What kind of stone would she like?"

Stone. Canderous kept thinking of rocks and the only precious stones that came into mind were diamond and ruby. "What do you guys have?"

"We have just about everything. Here, I'll show you a list."

Canderous followed the woman to the counter. She handed him a datapad, where he could scroll through the types of stones, giving a name and showing a picture. Canderous went through it quickly at first, then far more slowly. He had little idea what stone Ayla would like. He did not even know her favorite color. Mandalore's favorite color was green…but this is about Ayla! How should I know what she likes?! It then struck him how awkward he felt, standing in a jewelry store.

He set the datapad down. "Sorry, not interested."

"Oh, what about the bracelets? We have some—"

Canderous was no longer listening to her and headed right out the front door and away from the store. Can't believe I nearly bought something that would've spent all my credits. Ayla returned to mind. She doesn't care. She wouldn't care. She'd be happy that I didn't waste my credits…but would it have been a waste? Dammit, think practical!

After going some ways, he realized that it was in the wrong direction. He turned around, about to go back, when his eyes caught sight of another type of store. Canderous grinned. Perfect! He rushed inside.