Chapter 13 Spice Disposal
If there was one thing to know about this entire situation was the fact that despite the promise of a short break they couldn't deny that they wanted to try the new ship they got from the Republic. The Consular was small but was comfortable especially with the bar it now had, all in all, the best thing they could do right now was trying it. And they decided to go again to another system to see what they could find mainly to make a test run.
"Well this new ship really is doing very good." Double D said as he was looking at the consoles.
"Never imagined we will pilot a ship like this to be honest, it goes very smoothly." Said the pilot droid.
"In how much time we will arrive at the system?"
"Well since we kind of went to the north of the galaxy, very far from out initial location I would say there are still 20 minutes to go if we go by the routs." Explained the co-pilot.
"I shall wait then send a droid when we arrive." Double D said as he left the bridge to go to the small bar in the ship that Jimmy had managed to fancy.
"What can I give you captain Eddward?" The battle droid who was programmed to be a bartender asked.
"Just water for me at the moment please." Double D said.
"With ice?"
"Not at the moment." He said as the droid prepared a glass of fresh water.
"Well the idea of making some bars on the ships we got really were good ideas from Jimmy, after of course scavenging the Republic ships that is." Eddy said drinking from a soda.
"We still need to work on the Fortune Favor still, but even with that taking this new ship for a drive to see how it works is an opportunity, at least we will not be a target for the Republic." Double D said.
"No kidding." Eddy said as he looked out at the window as they were still in hyperspace and truth be told if one only looks at the bright light of this 'wormhole' it could irritate the eyes.
"Maybe we could place some curtains here at least, my eyes irritate due to the bright light of the hyperspace when watching the port and starboard sides of the ship." Eddy said before Ed came in eating some toast with gravy.
"Anything to drink sir?" Asked the droid as he placed a glass with water before Double D.
"One soda please." Ed said before the droid get him a soda from the nearby fridge with refreshments just then they were out of hyperspace.
"Have we arrived?" Eddy asked through the com link.
"Sir there was a distress signal from a derelict ship before us, we had to stop." Called the pilot on the other end.
"A derelict ship?"
"Roger-Roger should we run a scan?" Asked the droid.
"Yes, do it now." Eddy said we are coming to the bridge.
"Wonder what kind of ship has problems and from what species. Wonder if it is zygerrians again?"
"Don't think it is a good idea to believe we could find someone like Amira a second time, you just heard her when we met, she explained the issue with her kind. In any case I don't want to risk with a pirate trick." Eddy said as they walked through the corridors till they reached the bridge.
"So what kind of ship is it?" Eddy asked.
"Transport ship sir. We already run a scan and unfortunately the results were negative, the crew must have either abandoned the ship or were lost in the void." Reported the OOM commander.
"How awful." Double D said with unease.
"Should we send a squad of 3 commandoes?" Asked the OOM commander.
"Yes, assemble one, see what they can find. Who knows maybe we find something useful." Eddy said.
"Roger-Roger." Said the droid as he went to activate the 3 commandoes.
"What do you think it could be there?" Ed asked with interest.
"Some cargo for sure, who knows? Maybe we can get something to sell, so let's wait." Eddy said before they noticed the 3 commando droids been going into space by jetpack, going towards the derelict ship. They had to wait for an hour till the report from the leader of the squad contacted them to confirm that there was no crew anymore but they did found crates which they brought in, a total of 8 to be more precise.
"Those are all the crates that were on the ship captain." Said the commando.
"Have you found any inventory or manifest as of what is the content?" Double D asked.
"Affirmative, unfortunately it is damaged." Said another giving it to the smarter Ed.
"Something should be salvageable still to find out what it is." Double D said.
"What is the reason in looking in it, open the crates." Eddy ordered.
"Eddy I advice against who know what it might be in." Double D said.
"Ed is very curious." Ed said removing the lid only to find some red to orange dust.
"Dust, who is transporting dust?" Eddy said.
"Aah Captain Eddy, it is not dust." Said OM-01 tracking the attention of the boys.
"What is inside the crates is spice, it is a highly addictive drug sold throughout the galaxy, it could be used in pharmaceuticals too but this depends on the who actually owns it." Explained the droid.
"Ooh dear this is really not good, maybe we could dispose of them." Double D said.
"I advice against that. This idea is a no go from the start." Said the droid moving towards the symbol on the crate.
"This is symbol of the Pyke syndicate; the pykes are drug dealers and are very cruel when they are crossed. Crossing for them according to the belief is like wishing for death." He explained before checking the tablet. "And according to the information here the ones who asked for it are the pykes themselves."
"What do we do in this case? We can't let the pykes know about us." Eddy said.
"We need in this case an intermediary to get rid of them." Double D said.
"We can get them to the Republic as it happens there is a fleet nearby." Proposed a droid.
"Yeah and then we got a job from them, again." Eddy commented.
"Well not every jedi knows of us and besides since we are in republic space we should to a degree inform them of this." Double D said, by all extent he also doesn't want another dangerous job from the Jedi but to all extent and purposes he wanted to still follow the rules, even galactic rules.
"Get a message to them."
"Roger-Roger." Said the droid as he went to the communication room and sent a message didn't take much for a clone to appear on the screen.
"This is a restricted communication please state your business." Said the clone behind his helmet before Double D came in.
"Ugh, good day me and my friend found a derelict ship containing a shipment of spice. We would wish to hand the stuff over." The boy said as politely as he could.
"Wait a moment, aren't you the boys that General Skywalker hired to do some jobs?" Asked the clone.
"H-how do you know?"
"I am part of 501 legion under his command." He said making the boys nervous.
"P-please sir we are not at this moment prepared for another job he wants we have an issue that we need to solve." Double D said.
"You don't need to worry the general is at present on field mission as for the situation with the spice this task is not for Grand Army of the Republic to resolve."
"W-we know that, we only wish to get rid of it since it looks like it belongs to some insidious people we rather wish to avoid. And we only want a small advice as to where we could get rid of it." Double D said.
"There might something you could do. You have to find an information broker that goes by the name of Sid."
"How could an information broker help us?" Eddy asked.
"The jedi have many information brokers they as information for different things. This one might be able to help you in this issue."
"Very well but where exactly is his sanctuary?"
"He lives in the nearby system on Ord Mantell. Ask around and you will find him, however hope your droids will be armed, the planet isn't for the faint hearted to visit especially by kids. Many still can't believe that 3 kids managed to pull the stunt of hijacking a separatist ship."
"At least we use it properly." Eddy commented.
"Hope you are able to hide it properly as well." The clone said ending the conversation.
"Well set course then for Ord Mantell and please get more information about it please." Double D said as the droids complied.
"We really need to take a break from exploring sometimes, who knows when we will be lucky to not be hired for something." Eddy commented as they entered hyperspace again. It didn't took long to get to Ord Mantell it was barely 2 minutes time in which Double D got a lot more information about the planet.
"Well we can't say this place isn't looking familiar for some of us." Eddy commented as they were flying through the bright skies for him the costal landscape was with all intents and purposes very pristine that one could use for holydays with the exception of the city that is where Cid is supposed to live.
"Who in whole galaxy thought it was a good idea to make the capital city so deep away from the coast." The shorter boy commented.
"Well sir since the planet is relatively lawless the main industry isn't that much tourism not to mention the unpleasant wildlife." Said OM-01.
"Thanks for reminding me."
"The city was however built primarily because of the mine that is nearby; the problem is that it is closed." Double D said.
"Ooh maybe it is closed due to big bugs lurking there." Ed said.
"As if that will be useful information." Eddy said before the ship landed at the space port, after doing the check-up the eds started to move accompanied by 2 commando droids and 3 regular battle droids. The thing that the place was lawless drove the boys especially Double D to take precautions in this regard and to tell the truth they were in luck that passersby were trying to keep distance from them, believing they were some big honchos that you wouldn't want to mess around.
"Well at least we know that no one will be trying to make us trouble with the precautions we took." Double D said.
"Ed doesn't like to scare others. And to find Cid we should better ask." Ed said.
"We don't have other options Ed especially in such a place." Eddy said.
"Yet Ed is right we wouldn't be able to go anywhere if we don't ask where Cid is." Double D said before stopping near what appeared to be a food kiosk where a pantoran female was preparing something like popcorn which gave Double D an idea.
"Hmm maybe we can try here to ask." Double D said pointing to the kiosk.
"Good one there, because I am also hungry besides wish to see what they got for popcorn." Eddy said as he went in his pocket to take out some credit chips as they went there.
"Excuse us madam." Double D said politely tracking the attention of the woman.
"Yes, what can I help you with?" She asked and before Double D could say anything Eddy came in.
"We wish three bags of what you are making now." Eddy said as the woman turned to the mix filling 3 boxes.
"Eddy I was about to ask about Cid."
"Remember in what kind of place we are Double D we need to first buy something before asking." Eddy said as the woman placed the boxes before them and then Eddy paid with some of the credits.
"Enjoy the Mantell mix dears you will sure find it very tasty." Said the pantoran.
"Ooh, thank you." Double D said as he took a box before and took one to see how it tasted and amazingly it wasn't like popcorn but it was spicy and yet pretty good and it seemed that Ed really took a liking.
"And madam can we ask you 2 questions we are looking for someone whom we heard lives in this city." Double D said tracking the woman's attention.
"Of course, since you bought my product no problem, what do you need to know?" Said the vendor with a warm smile.
"We are looking for the place belonging to a person named Cid." Double D started confusing the vendor.
"Aren't you a bit young to go there?"
"Pardon me?"
"The person you are looking for owns a bar and I don't think you have the age to drink." He said as the boys were taken aback.
"Ooh, no, no you misunderstood us. We are not looking to drink at the bar we are looking for her because we…." Double D started.
"We want some information that she might know, you surely had noticed we are not from around and we got something that she might be interested in." Eddy said making the alien understand.
"Ooh I see now. Well if you are looking for Cid, her bar is close, go straight forwards and then right her bar is fourth door on the left." She explained.
"Thank you a lot." Double D said before Eddy pulled out another 2 credits.
"By the way if someone asks about us, say you never saw 3 boys with some droids please." Eddy said bribing the woman.
"What 3 boys with droids?" She said with a smirk as the Eds went on in a sense the bar would have been hard to find if not for the instructions they received. Despite that they had entered into a bar but it wasn't too crowded luckily but the occupant that came to them was an old Trandoshan female.
"What are you three doing here?" She asked coming to them, of course don't get her wrong she would like to entertain any customer but, kids coming in her bar isn't something she wants.
"Sorry madam, but we are looking for someone named Cid, we have some business we need to discuss." Double D said tracking her attention.
"You don't say?" She started.
"N-now madam we don't want trouble we just need to…." Eddy started before Ed came.
"Eddy I believe Cid is before us." Ed said.
"Who told you that?"
"Them." Ed said pointing to the two aliens at a table.
"Your goofy friend seems a bit more intelligent then he looks." Cid said coming to the 3.
"Now what 3 boys need that you searched for me." She started as Double D started to explain about the spice that they had found and that they need to get rid of it because of which people it was suppose to reach. They took her to their ship to show them the cargo of spice they had.
"Heh well good thing you came to me it is something we could both benefit." Cid said taking her stuff up.
"You will help us get rid of it isn't it?" Double D said.
"Of course stick-boy, we only need to transport it, and don't worry I can keep a secret. Come with me." Cid said going down to what appeared like something for the underground.
"Aah here we are." The Trandoshan said pressing a button for the cap to open.
"Put your droids to get those down." Cid said as the boys went to the droids and ordered them to get the crates through the hole. One by one they were now in the underground tunnels of the city.
"Why do we need those underground tunnels?" Double D asked.
"Let's just say it will be a lesson I want to give to you." Cid said as they went with the crates to some electric wagons.
"Those wagons are old but they sure can be used if we activate the engines." Said the droid.
"No engines, we will do this thing silently, leavers only. Load them." Cid said as the droids and the Eds started to do it till they were in the wagons.
"Stick boy with me, Shorty and goofy in there and the droids in another." Cid said before thinking for a bit. "On second thought each of you to have a droid but make sure your vocabulators are low and no blasters in hand." She said as all complied as they went in and they went towards a large door.
"Here we are, goofy boy you open it." Cid said as Ed went in.
"Why are we going this way?" Double D asked.
"Nothing simpler Ord Mantell's mines have a slight, infestation problem. They could be provoked if you are too noisy that is one reason. The second one is you might want to learn the lessons of been silent from what I know you surely could be noisy, some of you." Cid explained referring to Eddy.
"Wasn't enough the fact that we had to give the spice to you and then ask you to not say anything?" Asked Eddy.
"You did well that you come to me, of course, someone from the republic told you to come to me since I am an information broker to the Jedi. But seriously boys from what you told me with your mis-edventures if I can call them. Plus you kind off get yourselves in some hot water with some especially with your scams. I mean someone who manages to capture a small CIS ship with battle droids isn't something kids like you do." Cid said as the trap door to the mines was opened.
"So you give us this lesson to know what to do in the future so we would learn how to somehow be stealthier?" Double D asked.
"That is one thing little hat. The second is I don't want competition to steal this, I might have a bar but opportunities like this one can't be missed. As for the pykes I do know the feeling that you don't want to cross them, but let me tell you one thing, there is nothing worst then when pykes don't get their payment. And just between us the thought of you trying to not be known by them is a good start. Dealing with them is like dealing with your worst nightmare when you can't deliver." Cid said.
"I don't know what the pykes would do to the person who lost the spice the one who had the cargo."
"If the one who made a deal with them was the one who was on the derelict ship he was the lucky ones if he is dead. The pykes have methods that one doesn't want to know, the ones who know about it probably are dead or who know." Cid said.
"How reassuring." Eddy commented although he is saying this more in an ironic manner.
"Now keep quiet." Cid said as they started to move the valves to move slowly above a giant hole. The sight of the hole covered by what almost seem like something from giant spiders or something like this was making one shiver. Ed of course been afraid of heights was trying to keep his eyes closed and to move on till they reached the other side and they started to move the crates upwards right in Cid's office.
"Well this was quite interesting." Said a droid.
"Yet, what kind of bugs is infesting the mines of Ord Mantell that we needed to go the classic way without the engine?" Eddy asked.
"Try to search for the word Irlings, the thing that I need to say is that down in that mine is a full hive and it very dangerous in reality that is why I told you to not make noise." Cid said as the Eds looked at each other.
"And why did you told us it could have been dangerous?" Eddy asked.
"Because you wouldn't have done what I told you." She said with a predatory smirk. "Anyways come." Cid said as the 3 and their droids followed her back to the bar and she placed them in a darker corner just when some people came in who Ed believe they were looking like fish heads.
"Woo look guys, fish head people." Ed whispered.
"Don't behave strangely Ed." Eddy said.
"And it is not a good idea to insult them, they are the pykes." Said OM-01 as the boys looked at them attentively as they talked with Cid it took them 10 minutes till the pykes took the cargo and left leaving Cid with 5 suitcases filled with credits.
"So I believe you got paid for our job isn't it?" Eddy asked and he can't believe that they did the work.
"Don't be mad, this one is for you boys." Cid said giving them one of the suitcases.
"A business is a business boy no matter what."
"Now we are talking." Eddy said before Double D came to him trembling.
"E-e-e-e-d-d-d-y?" Double D started tracking his attention.
"What is it?" He asked as he pointed to the group of pykes, they haven't left they went to Cid too early.
"Oooh."
"So, you are the ones who brought the spice here isn't it?" Said the leading pyke.
"W-well we came across it, the ship was damaged." Double D started trying to somehow solve this situation with those lords of crime and drugs.
"Well you were wise to come here so it could be returned to us, otherwise it could have been a long term matter."
"We didn't want to keep it in any case."
"Good to know, but what had happened to the ship that transported it?"
"Well the ship had given a distress signal and we went to see what happened, it was in essence much damaged and crew was dead and so we took the cargo, the ship seemed to have been hit by a comet. We didn't know that the product belonged to you sirs so we came here as to where we could give it back." Double D said trembling with every inch.
"How saddening is even with that the captain of that ship might have had trouble with us if he attempted to cross us. The one who propose him will be lucky thanks to you that he wouldn't be in trouble." He said darkly as the group departed, there was no way the Eds will try any business with them.
"You were lucky this time boys." Cid said giving them 3 cups with some mineral water. "This one is on the house from me."
"T-thank you Cid." Double D said taking a sip before something came to mind.
"Excuse me Cid but can we have a word with you in your office?" Double D said as the woman led them into her office.
"I was thinking about the idea that you want some information, isn't it natural enthusiasts and explorers." Cid said.
"Well, we are interested to find some places to explore with our ship." Eddy started of course they never told her that they got very big ships only the Consular whom they get after doing a job and then the Gozanti who they told her they had captured, they never told her of the station or the Fortune Favor.
"Well one of the places you might be interested is the forest moon of Yavin 4 pretty close or Shilli the home of the Togrutas. If you want to go to safe places those are among the ones at the moment or if you are interested in something more 'thrilling' you can try Zygerria but it might be a bit too much, I believe you know of the reputation of the inhabitants there." Cid said.
"We know, maybe we could try Shilli at one time and Yavin 4 if they are safer." Eddy said.
"Indeed, however do you know something that is more of historical value?" Double D asked.
"Hope you don't want to go to Koribam, that is one place you don't want to be."
"N-no, we aren't with the dark side." Ed said.
"Well the only place I can tell you about is the planet of Tenoo, it has a Jedi temple if interested to visit it."
"Much better, thank you a lot Cid."
"By the way if you ever find something, don't hesitate to come to me and we can make a deal." Cid said with a smirk as the boys looked at one another.
"We will think about it." Double D said.
"Please do you can contact me when you wish an information, for a price." She said before they left her office.
"Well it wasn't a waste of time at least we had been paid."
"Still we should be careful especially with Cid who knows what things could be. I try to not judge but our first impression of the trandoshans weren't too great." Double D said.
"I know that, still before returning home let's at least see the moon of Yavin 4." Eddy said.
"Sir I found what is infesting the mines." Said OM-01 showing them the tablet.
"They are called Irlings, they are night crawlers and sensitive to light, so during the night they could come outside." He explained.
"No thanks in a sense I can tolerate birds better than those big flying bugs especially after we went through their literal hive. Good thing we managed to keep quiet and didn't swarm over us." Eddy commented as they went towards their ship.
"Should we still pass by it sirs?"
"Well we could to see how they reach when provoked, it is possible they are sensitive to echolocations too, meaning they have sensitive hearing." Double D said reaching their ship. After going up in the air they went above the mine.
"Make noise." Ed called as he fired one round into the cavern and literally waking up the hive for all to see.
"Well it is no wonder that Cid told us not to make noise look at this thing." Eddy commented as he took some Mantell Mix(they bought another round before leaving).
"I don't want to be there at all." Double D said.
"Sirs, I have to tell you that one of the doors was open and we captured an irling, well more rather it flew here astray inside." Reported a battle droid.
"How come it came here it is still day?" Eddy asked.
"We made shade and it came, well it wasn't the only one actually." The droid said as the boys went to see what happened only to find some droids splashed in green from the insects alongside a dead one cut with a vibro blade from a commando.
"This one must be an adult one; it has the size of Ed's coat when opened on a surface." Double D commented as he measured the size of it.
"It makes me sick looking at it." Eddy said before a flash of light came from the camera.
"That one's a keeper." Ed said having a picture of it.
"Get rid of this one." Eddy ordered.
"Roger-Roger." The droids said as they took it up to throw it through the door before closing it again.
"Now let's see how Yavin 4 is and then back home." Eddy said as they went back to the bridge as the ship was moving outside the atmosphere and then go towards Yavin 4. The moon of Yavin 4 was by all accounts very different from Ord Mantell, however one thing to know was the fact that the Eds had managed to get some good pictures and also they had also landed near the temple where the Eds knew what things will happen in the future.
"Well this place is better than Ord Mantell." Eddy commented near the temple.
"Well this place one will later realize how things will be in the future." Double D said.
"Yeah but good thing it will end good in the end at least for the moment." Eddy said taking a picture of the temple.
"Double D look what I found." Ed called as he came with a small bioluminescent tree with roots and dirt.
"Do we have a pot for this one?" Double D asked as a droid showed it.
"Perfect." And no sooner was planted that Ed sprinted back to look for things this time in the temple.
"Yep we really should take a break after this one." Eddy said.
"Agreed, I know that Ed is in his world at this moment but he should also be back to reality at one point." Double D said just when Ed came back with what appeared to be a box but with some areas made of crystal.
"Look guys jedi holocron." Ed said.
"How come that it is here?" Double D asked.
"At how old this place is I am sure someone let it here." Eddy said.
"Yet this is surely an important artifact and who knows how important it will be." Said Double D said.
"From where have you found it Ed?"
"Over there." Ed pointed to the temple. "It was in a hidden chamber."
"Let's get it back in the temple who knows when it could be used." Double D said taking the holocron back by all accounts this place could be considered worthy to be a temple for the jedi if it hasn't been in the past.
"Well, let's better get home." Double D said he rejoined his friends and went back to the ship ready to get home.
"By the way how about for a time we take a break from explorations and do some normal stuff." Eddy said as they entered in the ship with the door closing and the ship going up in the air.