Chapter Nine: Found

Legolas observed his surrounding in awe. He had never seen such a diverse group of aliens in the same place. Coruscant was a fair example of diversity, but Tatooine seemed more diverse. It seemed as though every species from all over the galaxy was here.

"Tatooine is the home to Jabba the Hutt. He controls the bulk of the trafficking in illegal goods, piracy, and slavery that generates most of the planet's wealth." Obi-Wan exclaimed to the elfling clinging to his hand. "The jawas and the tuskens control the dessert, essentially. Tatooine contains a number of farms, as well. Most people avoid Tatooine. It's a rough and dangerous place. Its few spaceports have become havens for people who don't want to be found." Legolas nodded.

"I don't even know what half these creatures are called." Legolas muttered, his voice low so that only Obi-Wan could hear him.

"That's probably best, young one. Come on, we'll try this one." Obi-Wan replied. Legolas allowed Obi-Wan to lead him into a small, pale brown shop on their left. It was cooler in there, but not by much.

"Boota da nolia. Hi chuba da naga?" Legolas and Obi-Wan looked up as a fat, bluish creature with wings entered the shop.

"I'm looking for a slave." Obi-Wan replied. "She's an auburn-haired girl, not much older than him." He added, gesturing at Legolas. The creature stroked his chin.

"Whoever she is, she isn't mine." He told the Jedi. A grin crept across the creature's face, and Legolas decided he didn't like the look of it. "I could find her for you. However, that would come with a price." His gaze traveled to Legolas, who went rigid. Obi-Wan shook his head.

"My son is not for sale." The jedi retorted. "Thank you, though." And with that, the jedi and the elfling left the shop. Legolas relaxed slightly and tightened his hold on Obi-Wan's hand.

"Damn slavers." Obi-Wan nodded. "They think only of people they can enslave and the money they can gain by selling people." Legolas looked around some more, more than grateful that Obi-Wan was there to keep him safe. A slight wind blew through Mos Espa, flinging sand into Legolas's face. The elfling shielded his eyes with his arm, ignoring the sting of the grains of sand hitting the rest of his face.

"What if someone tries to take me, Obi?" Legolas asked.

"If that happens, Legolas, they will never see the light of day again." Obi-Wan replied before leading Legolas into another shop, which was dirtier on the outside than the other one had been. Legolas nodded. A nikto looked up as they entered the shop.

"Hi chuba da naga?" He demanded. Legolas observed that the nikto was a M'shento'su, or southern, nikto. It was rather ugly with white skin, no horns, and it looked like it had no nose, but rather a large white lump where his nose should have been.

"Do you speak basic?" Obi-Wan asked, his brow furrowed.

"Hi chuba da naga?" the nikto demanded, standing up abruptly.

"Waka nuto." Legolas piped up before dragging Obi-Wan out of the shop.

"What did you tell him?" Obi-Wan asked. He looked almost as confused as Legolas was.

"'Thank you,' I think." Legolas replied. Obi-Wan grinned and picked Legolas up.

The twin suns were now high in the sky and the heat was terrible. They still hadn't found any trace of Arella, but several slave owners had offered to buy Legolas in exchange for them looking for Arella. Each offer was met with Obi-Wan's retort of "my son is not for sale." The elfling was feeling a little sleepy, but he didn't dare fall asleep. There had been too many offers made against his freedom and Legolas was going to stay awake and alert until they left this barren planet.

"What about that shop, Obi? It looks like there are lots of… enslaved people there." The elfling asked as he pointed to a large shop. The sign above the door was unreadable, as neither Legolas nor Obi-Wan could read huttese. Legolas had recently figured out that he could speak very little of it, though. Obi-Wan nodded and they entered the shop. A scantily clad woman, who was sitting at a sort of desk, stood when they entered.

"Come to make a sale?" She asked seductively. Despite the fact that her trade was immediately noticeable, Legolas couldn't help but notice that she was actually quite pretty. Her long black hair was tied back in three individual braids, her bright hazel eyes shone in the sunlight coming in from the window, she was slender and tall, her short, slightly see through shirt was white and her short skirt was brown and looked quite uncomfortable, but she did not look nice at all.

"My son," Obi-Wan repeated for the hundredth time that day "is not for sale. We are looking for a slave girl named Arella. She has auburn hair and isn't much younger than my son." The woman smiled.

"There are no girls here. Only boys." She replied. "But if you do change your mind about this one." She reached out to touch Legolas, but before she could Obi-Wan had taken several steps back.

"Thank you for your help. We leave in peace." The jedi retorted. He raced out of the shop, a terrified Legolas in his arms.

"You can pick the shops from now on." Legolas whispered. He buried his face in Obi-Wan's shoulder, shaking like a leaf.

"You know, my padawan was once a slave here. He used to sing this song in huttese, and basic. Do you want to hear it?" Obi-Wan asked. Legolas nodded against Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"Feel my body growing
My bones have started glowing, ooh
Wow!
The time has come for showing
That I'll shape you up and work you out
My body feels excitin'
My soul is synthesizin'
My whole frame is jumpin'
I'm workin' out and havin' fun

Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Wow!"

Legolas laughed and Obi-Wan grinned. He was glad he could cheer the elfling up. Legolas reminded him of his own sister, Vara, a jedi like himself. Although she had certainly never cried the way Legolas had when he and Qui-Gon had first brought him to Coruscant. A small, sad smile crept over Obi-Wan's face. By the force, he missed his sister, and Qui-Gon. The smile slipped off Legolas's face when he noticed that Obi-Wan looked sad.

"Obi-Wan?" He asked. "What's wrong? Why are you sad?"

"Oh, I just miss home, that's all." Obi-Wan replied.

"Is it Vara? Are you thinking about Vara?" Legolas asked. Obi-Wan gave Legolas a look of shock. "I could hear your thoughts." The elfling explained. Obi-Wan smiled.

"Yes. Yes, it's Vara. I miss her very much." The jedi replied before they entered a small shop. A Green Twi'Lek male looked up.

"No, he is not for sale." Obi-Wan quickly told the Twi'Lek. The creature shrugged.

"I can't see why anyone would want to by him. It looks like he's never worked a day in his life." He replied, his voice neutral. Obi-wan nodded, a faint smile on his face.

"We're looking for a slave girl named Arella. She has auburn hair-" The jedi began. The Twi'Lek was frowning.

"And she isn't much older than your companion. More importantly, she's my property." He retorted. Legolas almost glared at the Twi'Lek. No one was born into slavery. Arella was no creature's property.

"What's your name?" Obi-Wan asked. The Twi'Lek regarded Obi-Wan for a moment before replying.

"Toroo Thoorn." He replied. Legolas almost laughed at the name. Toroo's parents might as well have called him tofu.

"Well, master Toroo, what do you say to a bargain?" Obi-Wan asked. Toroo did not reply for several moments.

"You mean the boy for the girl?" He asked.

"Yeah." Legolas replied. "Me for her."

Huttese Translation:

Boota da nolia- Good day

Hi chuba da naga- What do you want

Waka nuto- Thank you

Disclaimer:

The song is not mine. I borrowed it from .com