Chapter 5

"Arakai wake up!" Shetka pulled his friend out of the bed. "Come quick! Hurry!"

Arakai lazily stumbled into the front room where Amee was sitting on the sofa, eyes glued to the holonet projector. "What's going on?" he mumbled.

"The Republic has declared war!" Shetka began filling him in, "Something about a huge battle on Geonosis. Like, the whole Jedi Order was there, and they had this huge clone army."

"A clone army?" Arakai was surprised, "That's not right."

"I don't follow…" Shetka said.

"Using clones as an expendable military force is degrading to their humanity," Arakai explained, "It's unjustifiably immoral. They shouldn't do that."

"Well, where else are they gonna come up with an army of that magnitude?" Shetka asked.

"They could have a draft."

"While each planet has the right to a draft for its own military, the Republic as a whole does not."

"Well, who are they fighting?"

"There fighting some separatist movement," Amee entered the conversation, "Apparently a ton of planets have joined it and are attempting to secede from the Republic."

"That's not good," Arakai said; wide awake now, "This will be detrimental to your business Shetka. And what right do they have to just up and leave the Republic?"

"That's what I said," Shetka agreed, "The only good reason for doing something like that is if the Republic was run by corrupted officials who-"

"Quiet, I wanna hear this report," Arakai interrupted.

"…Many Geonosian citizens, as well as more than a hundred Jedi, were killed in the fighting," the reporter claimed, "The total death toll on both sides has reached 150,000 and rising, with at least 500,000 reported as injured and well over a million still missing. The Republic's brand new and massive clone army won the day putting down the rebellion of the Geonosians. It has also been reported that the Geonosians were helped by Trade Federation battle droids…"

"No, not the Trade Federation," Shetka's excitement turned to a frown, "I have to do business with them. They import everything I sell."

"If it's true that they're against the Republic," Arakai commented, "then you may have to find someone else to buy from."

"Yeah, but it will be twice as expensive," Shetka remarked sadly, "I don't know if I'll be able to stay in business."

"Don't talk that way," Amee tried to cheer him up, "you'll get through this. We all will. This war will blow over in a year or so and everything will go back to normal."

"One can hope," Shetka said, a little less dreary, "Good thing you got that speeder when you did. If worse comes to worst, that may be our only currency."

"It will be worth more too," Arakai added, "If the Republic sweeps the galaxy of any metal and fuel, then speeders will be in high demand. Who knows? We might make a profit off of it."

"See?" Amee pointed out, "always look for a bright side."

Unfortunately, the war did not last a year, but rather much longer. Year after year the turmoil and bloodshed never seemed to end. All the time Arakai felt less and less of a liking for the Republic. He felt like because of its use of clones, it was becoming more destructive than healing. But even then his focus was drawn elsewhere.

"Amee?" Arakai asked, "You wanna take the speeder and go out to Mos Eisley? I here there's a spectacular sunset over there."

"Arakai, this is Tatooine," Amee laughed, "Everywhere has a spectacular sunset."

"No, I know, but like, this one is really good."

"Alright, here let me get a blanket," Amee agreed and headed for the bedroom. For the past couple of years the two had become very close to one another. When they arrived at Mos Eisley, Amee laid the blanket out on the sand.

"You realize that will do practically nothing to stop our clothes from getting dirty," Arakai joked.

"Just shut up and get on the blanket," Amee smiled as Arakai climbed out of the speeder. They sat for about 30 minutes watching the twin suns fall leaving he planet in darkness.

"Um… Amee?" Arakai began.

"Yes?" She responded.

"I… uh…" Arakai felt rather sheepish at the moment, "I have something for you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a little box. He opened it to reveal a small piece of jewelry. "I had it sent here from Cloud City… I know it's not much but-"

"It's beautiful!" Amee was delighted.

"Amee, I know we've only known each other for maybe a few years, but felt like I need to say… how do I say this…" Arakai started to stall.

"Just spit it out, Arakai," She urged him on while putting the jewelry on.

"I love you Amee," Arakai said finally, "I want to know if you'll marry me." Man, he thought, really coulda put that better.

Amee gasped. For a moment there was silence. Neither person really knew exactly what to do so they just sat there awkwardly waiting for the other to say something.

Arakai broke it saying, "So who talks first, you talk first? I talk first?"

"No, it's fine, it's just…" Amee trailed off again, still too shocked to reply.

Well this is going awfully well, Arakai thought as he tried to make sense of the situation. Finally Amee spoke up.

"I'm sorry, yes. Yes of course I will. You caught me off guard there, I wasn't sure if it was real or not."

Arakai smiled, "Don't worry," he said, "however nervous you were, I was ten times as nervous."

"You realize ten times zero is still zero, right?"

"My jokes are only funny when I make them."

"Ha!"

The two came together once again for a long hug. Unfortunately it was interrupted by the blackness that was the sky after the suns had finished setting.

"You're piloting." Amee said grinning.

"Yeah," Arakai said. He knew just how much Amee hated flying the speeder in the dark. When they arrived home they found Shetka passed out and drooling on the floor.

"Well that's a sight for sore eyes," Amee commented.

"And we're back to normal," Arakai laughed as he headed for the bedroom, "Goodnight Amee."

"Goodnight Arakai."