Chapter X: A Toydarian encounter

Beldorion glided silently across the marketplace, looking for signs of the Jedi. Tatooine again, he pondered, and that fool boy with his so-called "prophecies". A faint voice drifted its way to him: "...and how're you going to pay for all of this?" There they go, better meet them before he breaks something. He hurried toward Watto's shop, arriving as he berated Qui-Gon: "...you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don'ta work on me-only money. No money, no parts! No deal!" He took that as his cue to intervene, and interjected smoothly. "He IS in fact a Jedi, Watto. And a trusted associate of mine, as well. Now please explain again, please, to my face, how Republic credits are no good here." He followed with a bright smile, that seemed to hint at hunger and fangs, though, of course, Hutt had no teeth at all.

"M-master Beldorion, welcome again!" he bowed deeply, "it's just, you know how it goes, His excellency Jabba charges so much to exchange..." He was interrupted by the Hutt, while Qui-Gon decided to wait and see. "Yes, of course. But that doesn't happen to be any of your bussiness, or is it? Your bias is showing, and it saddens me. I could ask that you take their credits and the hit from however much the exchanger charges, but instead I'll only let you point them their way, and dearly hope you learn politeness by the time we return." Qui-gon decided to add his two credits, defending Watto. "Master, well met. I am sure Master Watto meant to explain just that before you arrived, do not be cross with him on our account." He bowed to Beldorion as he finished speaking. Watto, caught between them, glared furiously at Qui-Gon, but still took the out he offered. "It... is... as your... colleague tells it, my Lord, you merely... arrived as I explained." He lowered his eyes, as he haltingly apologized.

Beldorion acknowledged his words with a nod, and warmly replied. "Never worry, my good male, you are the best tech dealer in this market, and I will always treasure your services. Think no more of this, and be well." Turning to Qui-Gon, his smile faded. "And you. Come on then, let's get your credits problem sorted. try not to "barter" anymore, or you are bound to sell yourself or your companions accidentally" Qui-Gon felt as if the air quotes slipped a dagger beneath his ribs, and thought to himself, I am a trained diplomat, I'll have you know. He wasn't of course dense enough to say that out loud, and opted to endure his tongue lashing with as much grace as possible. "I'll endeavor to avoid it," he drily replied, "let me just gather the rest of my companions then. I guess we won't be avoiding attention anymore," he added in a lower voice, then shouted, "R2, Miss Padme, time to go!"

Rolling his eyer, Beldorion replied. "Yes, your subtle infiltration in Tatooine where you were silently about to acquire a replacement hyperdrive. Shame on me for ruining that. Just get everyone out and follow already." Not looking back, he crawled towards the east end of the market, where the stalls seemed to become nicer and more permanent. "This here," he lectured, "with the huge Money exchange sign in front, is, big surprise, the place where Republic meets Outer Rim. Note the money exchangers exchanging..." Qui-Gon heaved a put-upon sigh and interrupted, "Yes master, I think I understand..." Beldorion went on as if oblivious, signaling to his right towards a bigger junkyard than Watto's. "And here, in this second part shop, which incidentally takes Republic credit, I would wager you can find whatever part you burned (I didn't burn it, Qui-Gon mumbled to himself) for three fourths the price Watto quoted at you, while to my left..." Qui-Gon stepped in front of him, which did stop his tirade, and raised his hands in a placating manner. "Very well. I was rash, and I ran like a brainless Bantha into the first wall I found, head first." Beldorion smiled a tiny smile. "Well, as long as you know it. This exchange here is sure to try and charge you thirty percent of your credits as an exchange fee. There is no exchange fee, that's what the rates are for, you pay 60 credits for a peggat, and there's no percentage cut, this is very important. If the charge you more than 60 credits per peggat or any exchange fee, I'll have to come in to negotiate for you, and I will make your padawan watch. Do not make me come in." Qui-Gon shuddered, and girded himself to enter into a hard negotiation. "No mind tricks either, I will know." Qui-Gon deflated, and re-girded himself for an even harder negotiation. "Miss Padme, if you and R2 could go with Master Beldorion to the ship, and tell Her Highness I might take some time yet..." Padme, who had followed quietly as befit a simple handmaiden, took a second to gather herself after the browbeaten Jedi addressed her. "Of course, Master Qui-Gon, I suppose we will get going then, Master Beldorion?"

Smiling, he turned to the princess. "Charmed, my dear." He bowed and took one of her hands to kiss it. "I am, as you surely wondered, just another Jedi, and old acquaintance of Master Jinn's." He gestured expansively at himself. "an old enough slug, but a Jedi Master still." Beldorion looked to the exchange and the plaza in front of it, making sure Qui-Gon had vanished inside and the Gungan was occupied with the droid. "But a slug that will do his utmost to protect the Princess of Naboo." He added, in an undertone. Padme froze, berated herself for it, and dismissed his words with a laugh. "Thank you, but I'm just Her Highness's handmaiden, sent to advise and keep master Jinn company." He smirked, and bowed his head. "As you say. But let me tell you that he knows too, but prefers to let you have your little fiction. Times were that Jedi knowing everything was taken as a matter of course. We never did, but thinking a bit of makeup is enough to fool us is just insulting." Padme darkyl remembered her clever ruse, imagining Qui-Gon laughing at her. At least nobody tried to kidnap or kill me. I guess I will count my blessings. "Now, my lady, I'll be glad to escort you back to the Princess." Padme was mortified to notice that he was obviously winking at her as he said "Princess."

Author's note:

A glimpse of the future that may be. A few hundred years away still.