Chapter 3

Confusion

Kalan got up late the next morning. She ate breakfast quickly and walked into the garage area where Bao-Dur usually was, but he wasn't there. Instead, the HK greeted her. "Greeting: Good morning, Master."

"How are you?"

"Statement: I suppose I am all right, Master, but I do tire of standing here doing nothing. Still, it is interesting to watch you meatbags."

"What have you learned from watching us?"

"Statement: Things you would not understand, Master. But I have seen some behavioral changes taking place this morning in particular."

"How so?"

"Observation: I saw the Miraluka talking with the Disciple. She usually speaks to no one. And I saw the bounty hunter with the droid-hater. That was also interesting. But perhaps the most interesting of all was the old woman, Kreia."

"What was so different about her?"

"Answer: Master, she looked very pleased. I do not know why, but something has made her very happy."

Kalan frowned. "I think I'll go talk to her."

Kalan left the HK and went over to Kreia's room. The old woman was sitting on the floor, pretending to meditate. "Kreia?" Kalan asked.

Kreia rose and smiled. "Yes?"

She really does look happy, Kalan thought. "You look…different…today. What's going on?"

"Different? I am afraid I do not know what you mean."

"You're…well…happy."

"Happy? Yes, I suppose I am. But it is nothing you should concern yourself with."

"I was just a little curious…"

"Curiosity can kill you. That is a lesson you must learn."

Kalan sighed and left. Kreia watched her as she walked away. I must not be so obvious. The Exile is smart…she notices things. She may be able to figure out my plan, especially if the huntress gives it away. I hope I have a strong enough hold on her…and I also hope Visas is doing her job well…

Kreia left her room and started walking up to the cockpit. She could hear Atton talking to Visas. Maybe I should not disturb them…no, they can always talk later. She strode up to the cockpit. Seeing Visas and Atton together made Kreia forget that she had actually ordered Visas to work on the Disciple, and it was Mira who was supposed to be Atton's…

"What do you want?" Atton asked, annoyed.

"To speak with you. Outside."

"Oh no. I'm not going outside with you. I'm not that crazy."

"If you would rather discuss certain matters in front of everyone, then that is your choice," Kreia said with a shrug.

Atton glanced nervously at Visas. "How long is this going to take?" he asked Kreia.

"It should not take more than a couple of minutes."

"Well…all right."

Atton followed Kreia out into the place where she had taken Mira. "Where are we going?" he asked.

"We are stopping right here."

"Okay. So what do you want?"

"Have you noticed that Visas has shown an interest in you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"She was talking to you just now, wasn't she?"

"All she did was ask me what my favorite food was. She had barely started talking when you came in."

Favorite food? Kreia thought angrily. She must be able to do better than that…

"I think she likes you," Kreia said, deciding to get right to the point.

"I don't believe you."

"It does not matter. You will like her."

"Huh?"

"I am telling you to love Visas. Do you understand?"

"You can't just order me to love someone! Are you crazy? No, wait, don't answer that. I already know."

"You will like her," Kreia said dangerously.

"I will not," Atton said angrily.

Suddenly Atton fell over. He got on his knees and pressed his hands on either side of his head. "No…please…"

"You will do as I say," Kreia insisted. She was glad Atton resisted her; she had been looking forward to this.

"I…won't," Atton said furiously. "You're…stupid…"

"Stupid?" Kreia repeated with a laugh. "Oh, you are in trouble…"

--------------------------------------

Mira looked up, frowning. "Did you hear anything?"

"Yes," Bao-Dur replied. "I think it was a bird."

"It sounded to me like someone screaming…but you're probably right." Mira stared at the forbidding jungle, then remembered something. "Atton and Kreia came off the ship together earlier. You don't think that sound…"

"No."

Mira remembered what Kreia had done to her to get her to make her promise about Atton and surprisingly felt sympathy for him. Poor loser. Probably was him screaming…didn't really think it hurt that much, but he's soft…

Just then, Kreia and Atton returned from the jungle. Kreia frowned at Mira. What is she doing here? She should be talking to Mical I saw him standing there alone on the ship…if he starts talking to Kalan, everything could be ruined…

"Hey, Atton," Mira said, making sure Kreia noticed. "I wanted to talk to you…"

"I'm busy," Atton mumbled.

"Oh…are you sure?"

What is she doing Kreia thought, outraged. This is Visas' job…unless Mira really does like Atton…no, that cannot be right…

"I'm sure," Atton said. "Sorry." He walked back onto the ship.

After teaching Atton his lesson, and after meditating a bit, Kreia decided to make some observations. First, she wanted to find out where Kalan was, and it didn't take her long to hear Kalan cheering up a (once again) depressed Bao-Dur in the garage. He is useless, she thought sourly. Perhaps I could kill him and all the droids with him and say it was some accident…no, they would figure it out. But I must do something…he looks like he may be fond ofKalan as well, and unless I could get Visas or Mira to like him, too, he could be the one to ruin my plans…oh, why do they all have to like the Exile, anyway? What is it about her? I was better-looking than her when I was that age and all I had was damn Sion…ah well. Maybe an opportunity will present itself…

Kreia went up to the bridge, where she saw Atton and Visas playing Pazaak. She watched them play. Visas lost three to nothing. "Better luck next time," Atton said, collecting up the cards. Visas folded her arms and said nothing.

Atton noticed Kreia standing there. "What do you want now?" he asked irritably.

"I will go," Visas said. She left.

Kreia walked up to Atton. "What were you doing?"

"Teaching Visas how to play Pazaak."

"You should have let her win!"

"I know what I was doing. I know a lot about women."

"I do, too, considering I am one!"

"Hey, maybe you were one five hundred years ago, but you definitely aren't one now. Anyway, this is how it goes…Visas is shy, but she's also competitive, you know? So she loses against me in Pazaak. Now I have a guaranteed way to get her attention—I ask her to play Pazaak, and she can't refuse, because she wants to beat me."

"As long as you attain her affections, I suppose it does not matter the manner in which you do it," Kreia mumbled.

Kreia left, and Mira entered. "Visas just told me you're unbeatable at Pazaak."

"I'm pretty good, yeah," Atton said. "Why? You think you can beat me?"

"Yes…but I don't have any credits, so we'll just have to play for practice."

"All right then…"

They started playing. Atton quickly became angry when Mira got two tens in a row. When she beat him two more times in questionable circumstances Atton became furious. "You're cheating!"

"So are you," Mira said.

"What? But…how…"

"It's obvious." Mira rolled her eyes in disgust. "I'm leaving."

It's over NOW, Mira thought, as she collected her deck and walked off. I'm sick of flirting with that loser. If Kreia cares so much she can do it herself.

Atton watched her go. Nobody's ever out-cheated me in Pazaak before. She's good…and she's hot. She offered to talk to me all those other times but I ignored her…could she really like me? She must! Damn, why didn't I notice before? She's perfect for me…better than Kalan, who's always busy 'meditating' with that Mical fruitcake…

As Mira walked by she passed Kreia, who was standing, bored, in the Main Hold. The HK was there as well. Mira went on across the room and exited without either caring.

"Statement: I am bored," the HK announced. "Why did you want to stay on this moon?"

"If I recall, you wanted to stay here as well," Kreia said.

"Statement: Yes, but you are the one who actually ordered everyone to do it."

Kreia folded her arms. "I don't remember ever saying that."

"Statement: Well, you did, yesterday, in this very room. It went something like this…Quotation: 'I am in charge of this ship and we will do what I say.' That was when everyone else wanted to leave. Later, in response to a question about what we were supposed to do for the next two days before the festival, you said, 'We wait.'"

Kreia scowled at the HK before suddenly realizing something. "Wait…you can imitate voices!"

"Statement: Yes, but I do not do it for any meatbags other than Master."

"Do you know that there is a Force power that can tear off your plating and deteriorate your parts? Slowly?"

"Reply: No."

"Then perhaps you would like me to demonstrate? Or would you rather imitate voices for me?"

"Eh…I'll go with the voices thing."

"Very good. Now let me see…what should I have you do…"

"Suggestion: Imitate Mical's voice saying rude things so that Kalan will not like him anymore?" the HK asked excitedly.

"How did you know that's what I…"

"I have been observing."

"Well, that is certainly an idea, but how to go about doing it? It would be difficult for her to believe anything that isn't well done…we could…no, that wouldn't work…unless…"

"Query: Unless what?" the HK asked impatiently.

"Follow me!"