Chapter Title: Shopkeeper

Series Title: Unlikely Brothers

Ages in this chapter: Tanner (10) Dashen (16)

POV - First part of the story: Declar'Bin (shopkeeper)

POV - Second part of the story: Dashen

Chapter Summary: Tannerlin visits his shopkeeper friend only to run into a pair of bounty hunters on the prowl for Jedi who escaped the purge.


Declar'Bin

I welcomed the young boy with open arms and a quick hug. Tannerlin Vai had become a regular customer of mine since that first visit last year at Scarlett Moon Festival. The youngster had a love for reading old paper books of which I had promised to stock as long as he promised to return.

His once every-other-week visit was reliable with my shop not being far from his school, he could walk here in an easy ten minutes time. I enjoyed his visits more than I ever thought possible. That and his affinity for antique and odd objects; items that were unique and rare in the galaxy. For one his age to care about such things, it brought great joy to this ancient shopkeeper.

"Always lovely to see you, young Tannerlin. I have a brand new stock of paper books. There, in the corner. I even found shelf space for them this time around. Go on now, take as long as you wish."

A huge grin on a happy face. "Thank you, Dec. I can't wait to see what you have."

Hurrying over, Tannerlin, as he usually did, began a slow and methodical visit with the new books on the rack. Carefully removing each one from the shelf, studying the cover, title page, back cover. Trying to make that all important decision if this was the next adventure that would absorb into his mind. The books were always fiction. Like myself, the boy enjoyed a good story to lose ourselves into wonderful characters and intriguing plots. I smiled to myself watching him enthralled with the new selections.

The bell on my door rattled and I turned to greet my new customers. Immediately, I was on guard. They were an odd couple. A dangerous couple. One male. One female. Both covered in chest armor with colored face paint, blasters and other various weapons strapped to their backs and belts.

Not customers. They looked and smelled like bounty hunters. I'd seen my fair share over the years. Kaolin was a haven for criminal types since as long as I could remember. But these two...they weren't here tracking criminals. They were here hunting something else.

Jedi.

The female pounded my counter. "Old man. You see much. The Empire is paying high bounty for Jedi. Dead or alive. What do you know?"

"Very little. My customers are honest types. If you want Jedi, you might try the criminal types around town and closer to the spaceport. They have eyes and ears that stretch much further than my tiny shop."

"Humph." The male huffed at me as they began eyeing my store. I took a quick glance to check on my lone customer, Tannerlin, who I observed was quickly tucking something behind his right ear and pulling his not quite long enough brown hair forward over it. His face purposely stuffed in a book, but I saw him watching carefully. Worriedly?

Something was off. Something was wrong. Something...and I began thinking. Back. Further back. My mind wandering to many years ago. The Jedi customer I used to have as a regular. Jinn was his name. There was one time he brought his apprentice with him. I remembered...the right ear, the boy had carried a braid there, tucked behind, with colored bands.

My large keen eyes missed very little and as the hunters had their backs turned, I looked closer to Tannerlin. Behind his right ear. A braid. A colored band. My heart dropped. He was...and they were...oh no. Not this boy. Not this kindly soul.

And then and there I made my decision between the light and the dark. Bounty hunters be damned. I would not be allowing anything to happen to Tannerlin. Jedi or not.

He caught my eye very quickly, I could see his shoulders pumping up and down in desperate, but semi-controlled panic. I motioned for him to turn around so that his right ear was not easily visible when the bounty hunters came near on their slow patrol through my shop. He turned and kept his head low. His eyes closed, trying to calm as the hunters were closing in on him. The female poked him hard in the shoulder, kicking at his feet.

"What you readin', boy?"

Tannerlin held the book out to the hunter without looking up.

"Heh. You want adventure, you need a bounty hunter gen. Char and I could give you a tale or two, right Char?" She leaned closer to him. "Look here boy, see these blood scars?"

No, Tannerlin, do not look at them. I had to do something.

"Excuse me there!" I called, trying to get their attention from the child. "I may have a suggestion for you."

For long seconds, it seemed they were more intent on harassing Tannerlin, but I finally did get the attention as they stood before me again.

"Northwest corner of the town. Well known for it's criminal activity. Several of the local cantinas keep the local spaceport busy with those traveling in and out. Business and pleasure. If anyone knows anything, I'd wager you'll find them there. Can't say I've heard of any Jedi activity here in town, but if the bounty is large enough..."

"Indeed it is," the female spat before pulling a glass ball off my shelf, flipping it into the air to the male who caught it, laughing as they walked out.

I waited a moment. "Tannerlin, do not move. Stay where you are."

Perhaps not what the boy wanted to do; he was most likely ready to run for his life out of here and out of town. Who was to say that I wouldn't turn him in for the large bounty that the Empire was supposedly offering for a Jedi.

Nevertheless, he stayed. I moved to the door, glancing out in both directions. The bounty hunters had already worked themselves toward the end of the street, apparently taking my word as truth about the northwest portion of the city. My word was truth, but it also took them a solid distance away from here.

I strode back into my shop to find Tannerlin sitting - hiding - in the book corner with a paperback clenched to his chest, moving up and down rapidly. Eyes darting left and right. One hand trying desperately to shove his braid as far from sight as possible.

"Young Tannerlin, it's all right. I didn't know. Until now. Honest. But I do not care. I want nothing to do with the Empire or their need to eliminate their enemies. Their enemies are not mine. I am but a shopkeeper. I promise you. Please don't fear me. Let me call your brother for you. Or Colton. I do not believe it's safe for you today to walk back to school or to home."

He watched me carefully. Trying to make his decision to trust or not. When he finally spoke, it wasn't what I had expected.

"When I first met you," his small voice wobbled, "You said a Jedi used to come here. Jinn you called him. He bought paper books for him and his apprentice."

"That's correct. You recall me saying that?"

"Yes. Do you remember his first name? Was his name Qui-Gon Jinn?"

My eyes closed and I took a deep breath to think backwards again. So very many years ago, but that man Jinn was memorable. His kindness alone was something I rarely saw. That he was a Jedi had made no difference to me at the time, nor after. He had such an assuring presence that made him easy to trust. Jinn. Qui-Gon? Yes...yes, that was it.

"It was. That was his name, I recall now. One of his visits he had his apprentice with him. I never caught the name, but the young man had brown hair and blue eyes and held great respect for his teacher."

That touched an emotion in the boy. I could see him change from panicked desperation to sudden sorrowful tears streaming down his face.

"Did you know them? Where they friends of yours?"

Tannerlin shrugged, not wishing to tell me. Afraid to betray more of what he was; more than had already already been revealed.

"I apologize, I will not press further. Please let me call your brother."

The one book still clenched to him, Tannerlin could not bring himself to stand. He was shaky and uncertain on what to do. I tried again to reassure.

"Young one. You are my customer. You are my friend. I do not betray either. I have sent the hunters on a chase to the northwest part of town. It will keep them busy for a time, and most likely they will discover nothing. Colton and your brother have done well at hiding any hint of you. I have no intent to betray any of that. I have known Colton since he was a boy your age. In recent years, he has come to my aid on more than one occasion when my shop was at risk. I owe him much. But even without, I have no quarrel with the Jedi. What happened to them was...horrifying."

I'd hit another nerve. What had happened to the Jedi. Tannerlin was but a child. The braid, at least from what I knew about the Jedi, meant he was an apprentice. He still had his braid, so either his teacher was still alive and also in hiding...or more likely...

...his teacher had been murdered by the Empire.

Yes. That was it. Somehow this child had survived and ended up here in Kaolin. Alone. It's why Colton had been so vague when he originally introduced Tannerlin to me. Not because he didn't trust, but because he was protecting the secret in every way possible, not wishing to put either the boy or myself at risk.

I would do the same. Protect. And I would push no further.

With my comlink, I called Colton's number and explained briefly what had transpired. Help would be on the way soon.

"Tannerlin, Colton will be here shortly."

From his huddled corner, he nodded. "Is my brother coming too?"

"I'm not certain. You just sit tight where you are." I motioned to the book in his hand. "You take that book with you, all right? You can worry about payment next time you come."

"You still want me to come here?"

"Of course I do. You're one of my best customers. Why would you think I would not want you here?"

"I don't want to put you in danger."

"Nonsense, boy. I've seen every type and every kind step foot through these parts. Not my first bounty hunter. Probably not the last. My door is always open to you. Always."

A short nod as he finally pulled the book away from his chest. "Thank you. I didn't mean to bring you trouble."

"You're anything but trouble, young man."

Thirty minutes later, a huge blonde human pounded into the shop, a black-haired teenager hurrying in behind him and shooting toward the back of the store. Tannerlin launched himself into his brother's arms and held tight. I turned my attention to Virgil Colton.

"He's safe, Colton. I didn't know and I would not have asked, but things transpired. The secret goes no further than me. I swear to you."

A large hand set on my shoulder. "Never had any doubt, my old friend. Thank you for looking after him. Did you get the bounty hunter's names?"

I told Colton what I knew. Description. The one name, 'Char'. Where I'd sent them and on. He would take care of the situation. One thing I knew about Virgil Colton was that he fiercely protected those he considered friends. And in this case, I got the feeling it was more like family. Tannerlin Vai was not his nephew as he'd originally been introduced last year, but now I better understood the cover.

For my part in helping Tannerlin and offering as much information as I could, Colton gave me the quick and dirty version of how a young Jedi boy came to call Kaolin his home. Information I would keep as my own. Forever.

To my left, Tannerlin hadn't yet let go of his brother, Dashen. Clearly rattled more than I had thought. His panic was clear, but I'd thought it had lessened some and he'd been calming in the moments before Colton arrived. Apparently, I was wrong.

Colton made a quick call to someone in his charge with information on the bounty hunters. I didn't know what would happen and didn't want to know; even if I did have my suspicions. None of that was my care. For now, I was simply worried for the small boy that I'd come to consider a friend.

When Tannerlin finally broke from his brother, he still stuck close. Dashen pulled a protective arm around the slight shoulders as they came to the counter. Tannerlin set the clenched book down on the counter.

"Not today, Tannerlin. You pay for it next time. Take the book home. Enjoy it. Does this one have meaning to you?"

"I think it's one that my mas...that a friend liked to read. The title is familiar. Even if not the same, it looks like a good story."

I'd caught his slip of the tongue. About to refer to by designation, what I now knew was his Master Ayden - slaughtered. It's why he had such an attachment to paper books and a few titles in particular.

I looked at the title. "Yes, I've read this one, you will enjoy it. A great adventure. Maybe we can discuss it next time."

"I would like that," he said softly, clutching to his brother.

Colton walked up behind the pair, hands on two shoulders. "We should go. Dec, my dear friend," he held out a hand to me, I grabbed it securely in two of my four. "If you ever need anything, you call me. I promise I will be there."

"I will. You just take care of this boy here, he's a good one."

Smiling down at Tannerlin, Colton agreed. "He is. Will see you soon, Dec."

They left, but not before Tannerlin turned back and waved me an emotional and heartfelt goodbye.

Yes. I would do everything I could to help protect this child.

I was but a simple shopkeeper. It didn't matter to me what he was or where he came from. He was a good boy. A good person. A good friend.

And that was enough for me.

Dashen Lesedi

Home. It was the middle of the night. Despite outwards appearances as we'd left Declar'Bin's shop, Tanner hadn't settled. This whole thing had rattled him hard. At some point I'd ended up in his room, on his bed, tucked behind him. My arms around his chest as his head lay across me. Only then did I feel any type of give. Breathing slowed. Trembling stopped. Tears dried.

Finally he slept.

I worked on doing the same, finding the most comfortable position I could with my brother curled to me when a low voice woke me from my light doze. Colton was in the doorway to Tanner's room. He knelt his large frame down closer.

"Figured you were awake. And here." He said quietly.

"I couldn't leave him alone. This was jarring. He even asked me what if the bounty hunter hadn't killed him, but had taken him. What would happen. I told him that we'd have come after him with everything we had and we could have found him."

"Of course we would have. Without question."

Tanner adjusted slightly in my arms, and I tightened my hold on him. He didn't wake.

"So you'll know, Dashen. The problem...is no longer a problem. Those two will not be hunting Jedi or anyone ever again."

I didn't comment, having known this would be the most likely outcome after Colton had comm'd his security chief before we'd left the shop. The bounty hunters would have been located, their history checked, and if there was reason, the issue would be eliminated. It's the part of Colton's life I tried hard to ignore, but knew existed.

"Sydenious checked into them." That was his devoted head of security. "They'd been responsible for two Jedi deaths in the last six months. Both of which they bragged about to more than a few. One of the Jedi, they killed themselves and dropped the body at the Empire's doorstep for reward. The second they delivered alive only to have her slaughtered on that same doorstep. They were bad people, Dash. And dangerous to Tanner and any others like him. I couldn't allow it to continue. My crew took care of it."

His hands were clean, as they usually were, and any second guessing I may have had that the end result was the wrong path, had been shot down once their dark history became known. That history, as it involved the unmitigated murder of innocent people. I'd shed no tears for either of them.

"What should I tell Tanner?" I asked, my tired eyes closing against the pillow.

"Tell him the truth. Minus the unnecessary details." Meaning leave out the part about the hunters having recently killed two Jedi. Tanner didn't need to know that, hell, he'd probably figure it out on his own anyway, eventually. But for now, he didn't need to haul that burden.

"Okay."

Colton smiled in the partial darkness, running a short hand through Tanner's hair and then down the shoulder length braid, the one that had almost gotten him nailed if it weren't for the heroic actions of a simple shopkeeper.

"You know," Colton began, "I may think you two are idiots and that you are the biggest pains in my ass ever. But you are my idiots and no one comes into my town and threatens either of you. Or hell will be paid. And that's the last I'll say on the subject of what happened tonight."

From my position laying on my side, huddled around my brother, my hand reached out and Colton held it firm for a moment. Releasing finally, he pointed to Tanner.

"Take care of him tonight, understand?"

"I always do."

"Yeah. You do. I'll see you both in the morning. I'll have breakfast ready."

Warm and happy thoughts for a mouth-watering breakfast spread over my mind as I secured arms around my brother, setting my chin on top of his head. He was quiet and still.

Most of all, he was safe.

Colton and me and now our trusted shopkeeper friend, planned on keeping him that way for a very long time.


END