Sorry this chapter took so long. I had the hardest time figuring out how to put a new one in, but thanks to some help I finally have it. Hope this chapter lives up to expectations and once again please let me know about any inconsistencies in story, characters or dialogue and if you have time let me know what you think and how I can improve. Thanks.
It was not far to the outskirts of Mos Eisley, the city Luke had grown up near to. It was weird coming here after so many years.
Even when he lived here had not come here often; he had seldom been allowed to leave the moisture farm.
As they got closer Luke quickly slowed down to walk in pace with Data who was at the back of the group.
"Here," he said giving Data his cloak.
"You should hide your face. People dislike things they don't understand and that are strange to them and you, well, you are definitely strange to them, considering you are not even living technically speaking of course."
Data looked back at Luke curiously. "I find it very odd to believe that such enmity could be produced by my just being unusual."
Luke gave him a slight bow.
"Welcome to Mos Eisley."
He answered jogging to catch up with Picard who was walking out in the front.
The others are all weird looking Luke thought.
But there was not much he could do about it beside using the Force and trying to keep them away from the natives and out of trouble, which from the looks of that Mr. Sparrow was going to be hard.
He tried though to put down ground rules before they reached the city.
"Before we reach the city I just want to make sure you all know what to do. Don't talk to any one if you can help it and avoid eye contact with natives. Most of them are criminals and cutthroats so watch yourself. Um, if someone approaches ignore them-"
"What is this, a bloody tour?
Jack coughed dramatically in the background. Luke easily mastered his initial feeling of embarrassment, (at least the war with the Sith had taught him to hide his feelings, including annoyance) and turned towards the captain.
"If you see any women and you touch them, their husbands or slave masters will cut your fingers off. And don't touch the drinks either because most of them are potent enough to knock your braids off."
Jack smiled at him.
"Don't worry about me mate, I like me women half as much as I like me rum and I like me rum half as much as I like myself so I shall not touch a singled drop of whatever you green people drink around here. As for me braids, they aren't braids their…."
Here he paused trying to find the word and Luke seeing his opportunity to exit quietly quickly headed back over to were Picard and Will were walking, both eying the other in mutual dislike
They entered Mos Eisley moments later.
Luke watched Jack cautiously hoping the man would have the
sense to ignore the blue skinned woman reclining next to a nearby
shop door. Jack eyed her rather cautiously as he passed and then
muttered quietly,
"Do all your wenches have three legs?" Luke
smiled happy at the sight of Jack's obvious disgust and surprise.
"No, most of them have four."
Luke answered hiding his smile.
Picard coughed gently and Luke looked at him. Picard raised his
eyebrows. Luke smiled, but did not say anything more as they walked
on.
"Eh, boyo! How bout you take a ride in my cart, eh?"
A small
winged creature fluttered in front of them. Luke shook his head.
"No,
thanks, we want to walk." The creature growled irritated, but let
them pass.
"Such a friendly neighborhood."
Jack muttered as a
couple of bug eyed blue aliens gave him an eying. Luke shrugged.
"Better then living in Hoth."
They walked a little farther,
finally turning into another street.
"The jeweler is down here."Luke said.
The jeweler had a tiny shop that though small was packed
full and Luke had to squeeze through and do his best to apologize in
several languages to the various aliens, even having to stop once and
pull Data from a disagreement with a particularly large and hairy
individual.
"Never disagree with those guys. They are as bad as
wampa's when they get mad."
Data frowned.
"But, sir, if he is
in the wrong, would it not make more sense for him to apologize to
me." Luke shook his head.
"No, no, here size is all that matters.
If he is larger then you by three feet, you apologize to him." Data
frowned again.
"I find this passive aggression most intriguing."
"It won't be so passive if you step on his foot again." Luke
warned. Data opened his mouth to protest that the creature had
stepped on his foot not the other way around and Luke quickly slipped
away to where Picard stood looking a little lost.
"If you will just
bring the ring up front to the man in the apron, sir. He's a friend
of mine, he will help us no matter how busy he is." Picard and Data
with the silent and brooding Will behind them stepped forward to the
counter.
"Hey, Brhusu!"
Luke called over the raucous. A large,
sweaty man with a white apron turned to them.
"Luke! What are you
doing here! I thought you where still offworld down in Hoth!" Luke
shook his head.
"I came back early for some reason. Can I talk to
you in private?"
The man looked nervously around at his customers.
"It's important."
Luke called again. Finally the man nodded and
beckoning an apprentice to take his place left his spot behind the
counter to head over to where Luke and the others stood.
"Here, we
will go to my workshop. These guys with you?"
Brhusu asked
motioning a large hand at the others.
Luke nodded. Brhusu raised his
eyebrows and led them through into his workshop.
"So, what appears
to be the problem master Luke?"
Brhusu asked. Luke motioned for
Picard to give him the ring and he did so, slowly. Luke finally had
to grab the ring from his hand and when he did so cried out and
dropped it, holding his hurt hand.
"What is wrong?" Picard asked bending to look at Luke's
hand.
"I, well, I just suddenly felt this disturbance, in the Force
as if this thing was almost like a Siths object."
Picard stared at
him blankly, but Brhusu clenched his fist and looked worried.
"Sith,
eh?"
Will pushed forward to stand between Luke and the others.
"What are you talking about?"
Luke eyed him cautiously and then
replied slowly and quietly.
"Well, the Force is an energy that
surrounds us all. We all belong to it. Some of us learn to use it
such as myself. Keep it quiet, but I am a Jedi knight and the Sith-"
Jack popped up.
"Quiet? Keep what quiet? Rum? What is this Jedi
nonsense matey?"
Brhusu glared at him.
"What type of sand
crawlers whelp are you? Do you not know when to hold your tongue you
insolent pup?"
Jack looked affronted.
"I'll tell you what you-"
Will cut him off quickly. "Please Jack, just let the man tell us
what this Sith thing is."
To everyone's relief Jack turned away
and complained audibly to himself instead leaving them to finish
discussing the ring and Sith. Luke tried a weak smile,
"Well, as I
was saying a Sith is a dark Jedi knight. One who follows the dark
path. We defeated the last one fifteen years ago, but this could be a
left over object, something imbued with the left over malice. It
seems to have some influence over us or at least over me." Picard
nodded.
"Very well, Mr. Data would you be so kind as to carry the
ring. It seems not to affect you in anyway." Data nodded.
"That
is a logical assumption, captain. I do not have the same emotional
pathways that could be affected by anything the ring exudes and therefore am-."
"That's enough Mr. Data. Just kindly get the ring." Picard interrupted.
Data stopped mid-sentence and quite complacently
bent down and picked up the ring.
"Brhusu would take a look at it,
Mr. er Data can hold it for you." Luke said.
Brhusu nodded and
jerked his head for Data to follow him who carried the ring cupped in two hands.
"Here comes the bride all
dressed in white."
Picard muttered softly. Data turned back to look
at him."I am sorry sir?" Picard shook his head.
"Nothing.
Continue."
Data confused, but obedient followed Brhusu to the long
metal table.
