Chapter 4: Please read and review
When it came time for Harry's first trip into town, he was actually looking forward to it. That was because it ended the monotonous activities that had been going on for the past two weeks. Setting up the vaporators to begin collecting moisture had not been a short process. Just piecing the components together had taken a couple days, but then holes had to be dug so they could install pipes to collect the water. Obi-Wan had informed him that thieves would be less likely to come after their supply if the ran it back into the hut. Harry had done most of the work, with Obi-Wan providing direction, and he had finished after a week. There had been a few kinks in the process at the beginning, but Obi-Wan had proven to be skilled in operating the computer system on the vaporators.
They had waited an additional week, so that Harry would have a significant amount to take to the market in the capitol city of Bestine and sell. After living his whole life on a planet covered in water, seeing so little called a significant amount was a little shocking. They were able to get about a liter to a liter and a half each day, and now had accumulated about ten total to sell.
On his second week, when not tending to their moisture venture, Harry continued to train on getting his magic to increase in power. He would guess that currently his stunner was about a half of what it had been before, but it was slowly improving. He had also been successful in performing some other relatively easy spells, such as setting a fire and producing a shield. His only worry was that once he mastered the spells that he had learned during his time at Hogwarts, he would be completely stuck. He doubted that he could just wish for something to happen, without having some knowledge of how it worked beforehand. In that regard he was pretty well limited, because he had only the knowledge he had appeared with, with no access to magical text or his professors. He would just have to make due, and hope that Obi-Wan's notion about him being able to use the Force were correct.
They had not delved into his Force potential to that point, because Obi-Wan had wanted to make sure that he was fully prepared to make a solo trip into town. Obi-Wan had provided several data pads and books for Harry to look at so that he could familiarize himself with some of the finer points of life on Tatooine. He had taken a crash course on creatures such as the Jawas, and learned about the Hutts who pretty much ran the planet. Obi-Wan had also taught him phrases in several useful languages in case it was necessary, but the Jedi assured him that there would be a significant portion of residents who would be able to talk and understand Galactic Basic. After all, it was better for business if proprietors could talk to a more diverse clientele.
As Harry looked down at his self after stepping out into the morning light, he couldn't help but think that he could now successfully pass himself off as a resident. The previous residents of Obi-Wan's hut had left a good amount of clothing behind, which were now Harry's. Everything seemed to be handmade, and the long sleeve white shirt he wore was extremely light so that it wasn't suffocating. His dark tan pants seemed to be made of an extremely durable fabric and his boots were a little big, but still useable. His favorite accessory though was the belt, which now held his very own blaster. Obi-Wan insisted he take some form of protection, and refused to provide him with a lightsaber, noting that while Harry might be able to strike someone down with it, he would probably sever his own limb in the process.
Harry really liked all of his extremities where they were so he decided a blaster would be best for the first time. He was amazed the first time he shot it when, instead of bullet, a blast of reddish-orange energy shot out and singed a hole into the rock he was aiming at. After practicing with it for a few days he was confident that he could hit anything that wasn't too far way or too small. Still, he hoped not to have to use it if he could avoid it, but it was better then showing his magical ability which for sure end with him on a wanted poster for an escaped Jedi.
Yet, the thing that he was nervous about most was now sitting in front of him, with Obi-Wan adjusting something on it. When Obi-Wan had first showed him, Harry had asked why he had a motorcycle without the wheels attached. That was when Obi-Wan explained that it was a swoop bike and showed how it used repulsor technology to hover off of the ground. He was hesitant the first time he rode it, but after a few laps through the desert, it began to feel somewhat like flying a broom, only with more restrictions and less reactive handling.
"Is it all set?" Harry asked as he stepped up to the bike.
Obi-Wan pressed a few buttons into the console that was set in between the bike's handles before looking up. "I've set up the navigation computer to take you to into Bestine and then bring you back. I've set our location as a default, so if for some reason the navigation falters, just reset and come back."
"I think that's everything then," Harry commented walking around to inspect the bike. "I loaded the water container into the back."
"Good, good." Obi-Wan took a step back and stared intently at Harry. "Remember, don't argue too strongly over prices. It's important to blend in, and merchants speak to each other about business. Walk around and familiarize yourself with everything and the area. And do not act out of the ordinary if Imperial troops are in the city. They have no idea who you are, and no reason to stop you unless you give them one."
"Got it," Harry replied trying to sound confident. "Let's do it then." Harry grabbed his extra robe from his shoulder and tucked it into a case on the side of the bike. Then, grabbing onto the left side handle, threw his right leg over the bike. "I guess I'll see you later," he said revving the engine. "Hopefully."
"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan stated before stepping back to avoid the exhaust from the bike.
Harry cautiously pressed down onto the accelerator and started off into the unknown.
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He rode straight on through the desert for an hour, and luckily didn't meet any unwanted attention. There were several other moisture farmers in the area that he passed, but they didn't seem to pay him any mind and he was pretty sure one man had the courtesy to wave to him. After seeing the vast expanse of emptiness that surrounded him on his way he felt a strong appreciation for the resolve of the people who called Tatooine home. He had only been on Tatooine for a little more than two weeks, and he already found it distasteful.
It was another fifteen minutes before his navigation alerted him to the fact that they were approaching his destination. Sure enough, a walled city started entering his vision in the distance. It was the same familiar yellow stone that everything seemed to be constructed out of, but it was more civilization then he had seen since he had arrived. As he approached, he was greeted with his first unwelcome sight, a group of white-armored imperial soldiers gathered at the entrance, blasters clearly displayed to all. He unconsciously slowed down, as he began to control his breathing and try to act as natural as a wizard transported to another galaxy could.
He wasn't the only one approaching the city and had to queue in line between two other larger speeders. As the person in front of him approached the waiting stormtroopers, Harry heard loud rumbling sound coming from within the city. As the noise grew louder and louder his attention was drawn into the sky as he got his first look at a spacecraft. The small, personal, ship floated up slowly before it took off at a speed faster than anything Harry had ever seen. He wasn't surprised to see it as Obi-Wan had informed him of the city's spaceport.
"What's your name and business in Bestine?"
Harry looked back down startled, when he realized that the soldier was addressing him. Apparently those in front of him had entered when he had been gawking at the sky. "Sorry, it's Harry Potter. I'm a moisture farmer here to sell." They had decided not to worry about creating a new identity, seeing as there would be no record of him, and it was easier than worrying about maintaining a fake name. There was no one who would connect him to a missing Jedi master.
There were five stormtroopers and the city entrance. The one who he guessed had addressed him, as they were all wearing helmets, stepped up to his bike and took a cursory look around. After seeming to be satisfied with Harry's purpose, the trooper waved him past, and Harry breathed a large sigh of relief that it had gone so smoothly. Pressing down on the accelerator again, he entered into something like he had never seen.
He knew that Bestine was the capitol of Tatooine, and seemed to be justified. There was activity everywhere, and beings nothing like Harry had ever imagined. There creatures snouts, long, feeler-like eyes, some shorter than goblins, and some that looked like they could kill him with a swipe of their arm. He tried to ignore the shock of it all by concentrating on the fact that there were also a good amount of human walking around, all in various types of dress and cloak.
There were buildings of all variety which creature and human alike were coming and going from. There were also what seemed to be dozens of stalls that were selling thousands of different types of foods, mechanical parts and weapons. The streets were wide enough that he was able to maneuver his bike with little problem, only having to watch not to hit any of the considerable foot traffic. He was still also very cognizant of the stormtrooper patrols that were making their way up and down the streets, surveying the activity. As he continued on, he was suddenly stopped by the sound of someone calling near him.
"Boy! You there, boy! Are you looking to buy or sell?" Harry looked over to his right and saw a middle-aged man, with graying thinning hair looking at him. He was dressed in a deep red robe, with a black sash tied around his middle. The man was situated behind a large tiered table that was full of what looked like various fruits and vegetables the likes of nothing Harry had ever seen. It was situated in front of a long, ragged tent that backed up against the city wall. Inside the tents were various boxes and gadgets.
Harry pointed to himself, obviously making sure he was the person the man was referring to. "Yes, you boy. So how about it?"
Harry pulled his bike closer and applied the brake. Hopping off he approached the man who was waiting expectantly. "Selling today," Harry answered. "I've got water." Harry pointed back to the container on his bike.
"Water you say?" The man asked, clapping and rubbing his calloused hands together. "Well, can never have enough of it around here. How much you have?"
Walking back to his bike, he detached the airtight container and sat it on a flatter piece of the buyer's table. "Around ten liters," Harry answered him, opening the container so the man could look for himself.
"Hmm, not bad. You're lucky the supply is running low around here because I can offer you a good price on what you got. I'll give fifty peggats for the lot of it."
Having discussed the pricing with Obi-Wan beforehand, he knew that it was a fair offer and there wasn't any need to haggle over it. "I'll agree to that."
"Excellent," the merchant said, clapping his hands. "I'll go in the back and empty your container, while my daughter gets your price." The man disappeared behind some very large containers, and Harry could hear him conversing with another person. After a minute, a woman probably a bit older then Harry, came out to meet him. She wasn't tall, only a few inches over five feet, but she looked like she was built very strong under her dark blue dress. Her shoulder length hair looked like it used to be a darker shade of brown, but exposure to the sun seemed to have lightened it several shades. She had an attractive, full face, and her hazel eyes were focused on Harry as she walked closer.
"Hello," she started in a strong voice as she reached the table that separated him from the interior of the tent. "Apparently my father owes you some money. Fifty peggats was it for your water?"
"That's right," Harry answered, watching as the girl pulled out a pouch from behind the table and began counting out a number of small gold coins.
"...Forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine, and that's fifty," she counted out loud as she showed him the hand full of coins. She reached her hand over the table and Harry held his own, receiving his payment. He opened a pouch on the side of his belt and emptied his hand from the burden. "My father shouldn't be much longer he was just emptying your water into our storage tank. Are you in the city often? I don't think I've seen you around, especially not selling with the other farmers."
Harry had to think quickly to make sure he had his story in order. "I've been on Tatooine for as long as I can remember. I mostly stick to the other cities though, that's probably why you haven't seen me."
"And how long have you been a moisture farmer? You're a little young for it. Most people we meet are old grizzled men." she commented.
Harry casually ran a hand through his windswept hair. "I'm new to it honestly, at least on my own. My father passed away recently in an accident, and left everything for me to work." Harry had to say he thought he delivered the fake backstory pretty convincingly. He would have gone for tears, but thought it would be pushing it.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," she replied sincerely. "I've lost some close family recently as well. My family was the unfortunate victim of-"
"Nola!" The merchant had reappeared from the back carrying Harry's container, and was looking at his daughter with an anxious expression. "No talk of that here girl. We don't need certain ears hearing things like that." He walked past his daughter and handed the container to Harry who took. "I'm glad we could do business..."
"It's Harry," he replied, knowing that was what the man was waiting for.
"Harry it is. I'm Ordol, and you've met my talkative daughter, Nola. If you're looking to sell again, make sure to come back and do business."
"I'll do that. Have a good day." Harry offered both a smile and headed back to his bike, reattaching his storage container.
After mounting his bike again, he decided it would be beneficial if he gained a good knowledge of the area and the layout. He passed a significant contingent of imperial troops while riding, trying his best to keep a count in his head so he could report back to Obi-Wan. After a while of making a mental map, Harry decided to try his hand at observation inside one of the local cantinas. He pulled his bike up next to one, and made sure the security code was on so that no one else could drive it.
His first impression on entering the cantina was that it was probably similar to any other pub or bar. There was a large circular bar in the center of the room, but there weren't any seats, so people had to stand around it. That was probably practical considering some of the patrons in there were members of different species that Harry wasn't sure were capable of sitting on a barstool. For those looking for seats, there were plenty of tables around the room, which were currently about half occupied.
No one paid him much mind as he walked up to the bar, except for the bald, portly man who was standing behind it. "What can I get you?" he asked.
Not having any idea what was normal to order in such an establishment, or even what was safe for him to consume, he decided to just rely on the bar tender that was a fellow human. "Whatever you recommend."
"Sure." The man turned around and pulled out a corked bottle of what looked like wine. He pulled a cup out from below the bar and poured out a generous portion of the blood-red liquid. "It's from Alderaan. This is much better then the local stuff. It'll be three peggats."
Harry pulled out three coins and paid the bartender. He grabbed the glass in front of him and took a hesitant swig. At no time would he pretend to be an expert on wine, but he had to say it wasn't bad. It started off sweet then had a little bitter kick at the end, but it was drinkable. Leaning against the bar with his elbows, he looked up a noticed an array of monitors over the bar that were displaying various video images. The one farthest to the left was displaying what looked like some kind of sport, and the two creatures sitting beneath seemed to be placing bets with each other on the outcome.
He was more focused on the screen above him, which featured a droid that seemed to be broadcasting the news.
A spokesman for his excellence, Emperor Palpatine, issued a statement to us today informing that another plot against the Emperor's life has been foiled thanks to the tireless efforts of his Imperial Soldiers and Officers. In what was said to have been an elaborate plan orchestrated by a fugitive member of the criminal and now defunct Jedi Order, rebel soldiers planned to infiltrate the Emperor's security force to make the attempt. All conspirators were captured and quickly executed to put the threat to rest.
The Emperor would like to remind all citizens that it is their lawful duty to inform on any possible instances of rebel activity so those disloyal to the Empire may be brought to swift justice. To those who would take an even more active role in the administration of the Empire, you are to be reminded that Imperial Officer Academies are now taking applications.
Harry stopped listening to the coverage as soon as it turned to financial news. He wasn't sure how he should take the information that had been broadcast, knowing that it had come directly from the Emperor. It wasn't clear if they were blaming the attempt on the Jedi because one had been actually involved or because it sounded for propaganda purposes. He wasn't sure, but he was sure Obi-Wan would be interested both in the rebel activity as well as the possible Jedi involvement.
Deciding that his first venture into the city had been long enough, he finished the rest of his drink before turning around and heading to the door. However, as soon as he reached the exit, he found himself staring down the barrel of a dozen blasters aimed in his direction.
