Chapter 33
The blazing suns
Melissa grunted slightly as she placed the last crate of water bottles onto the pile filling half the cargo bay. Mission was lying face down on the bed exhausted by her labours.
"Sure we have enough water there, I think we have half of Mon Cal in here." Mission groused
"We are going to a desert world, I think overstocking is a good idea at this time. We can always sell at a profit if we get done there early." Melissa replied
"With our luck we will have to come back for another load." Mission remarked
Melissa walked over and slapped her on the rump.
"Come on, we still got to load the food." She stated with a sigh
"Hey, hands of the merchandise." Mission complained.
"The sooner we get it done the sooner we can rest." Melissa answered
"How about I lie here, you load the food and I let you stare at my perfect butt while you work." Mission countered
"No teasing your ex, besides a little work will help tighten up the flab you are getting there."
Melissa sat down next to her on the mattress and ran her hand across Mission's back in comforting circles
"Or you could tell me, what is really bothering you."
Mission sighed
"It is about Griff. I want to find him of course, but what will I find when I do?"
"Been talking to Lena again?" Melissa replied
"Hard not to when I want to see Selina. But it is not just that, I know he is a grifter, always running schemes and getting into trouble. But he looked out for me, you know." Mission said
"We will find him. Then you can get your answers." Melissa promised
"What if I don't like the answers?" Mission asked
"Hey, at least it can not be as bad as mine was. A brother with an incest fixation and a rabid fan girl; a mother with more issues than a psychology textbook." Melissa answered
Mission snorted slightly at that. Melissa leaned in and hugged her
"Besides, Aliit ori'shya tal'din." Melissa said
"What does that mean?" Mission asked
"Family is more than blood. If anything else you are part of my family, an annoying bratty sibling at times true, but still my family and no matter what, that will never change."
"A sibling you almost slept with." Mission teased
"Well there goes your invitation when I go visit the Fett triplets, I will just have to conquer them by myself." Melissa replied airily.
"No need to be hasty, you will need backup for that mission." Mission backtracked
"You are right. I will take Juhani with me." Melissa said straightfaced
"As if Belaya would let you." Mission snorted
A voice spoke from the doorway
"What would Belaya not allow?" Juhani asked
"A prolonged visit to Mandalore. Is it safe to use the coms room again?" Melissa asked
Melissa and Mission started sniggering as Juhani turned red.
"It was a once of incident." Juhani protested
Carth had walked in the previous day on a rather intimate holocom call that had been made on the newly installed holocom receiver. His shout of surprise had of course roused the entire ship. Juhani had been unable to look any one of the crew in the face for the rest of the day.
"Seriously now. Is she settling in okay on the Satin Claw?" Melissa asked
"She is happy as the new engineer on your ship, she again asked me to thank you for the job." Juhani answered
"What is the point of nepotism if you cannot find a job for a sister's girlfriend?" Melissa replied
"We should call that ship the Love Freighter with all the horny ex Jedi you have got on it." Mission snickered.
"What my employees do to each other in their down time is their business. As long as I don't find butt prints on the surfaces I don't care." Melissa shrugged
Carth rapped his knuckles on the door frame
"If the mandatory union break is over we need to do the pre flight briefing. And yes the food has been loaded while you three slacked off. Canderous and Zaalbar are finishing loading the munitions."
Canderous was standing by the holomap when they all had assembled in the crew lounge. With a short stab at the button a holographic planet appeared above the surface. He stubbed out his nicotine stick before speaking
"Tatooine, probably the most useless planet in the galaxy. Twin suns and sand, that is the only way to describe that place. For some reason the Hutts absolutely love the place and is going to war with each other constantly to rule over it. It produces nothing, the indigents consist of Jawas and Sand people. One is likely to steal you blind, the other will just kill you. The animal life consist of Wraiths, Bantha's and the occasional Kryatt dragon. The main centre of population is called Mos Eisly, a poor rip off of Nar Shadaa. Our landing area is Anchorhead, currently owned by the Czerka corporation. Simple rules for this dust bowl is keep hydrated and shoot first ask questions never." He reported
"That was quite the presentation, could have been less informative, but you really gave us everything we needed to know" Melissa teased
"Sounds like a charming place." Mission quipped
"Fly Ebon Hawk cruise lines, see the dives of the galaxy." Terri remarked
"So shall we go get sand everywhere?" Carth asked
Carth hit the alarm button moments after coming out of hyperspace. The space was filled with freighters and luxury cruisers and yachts.
Terri and Melissa stood to the side as Bastila slipped into her seat as the co pilot and activated the coms relay
"Incoming recurring message in basic and Huttese." She reported
"Play it." Carth ordered
She switched the internal speakers on.
"The peace of the benevolent Sakara The Imperious Hutt upon all visitors, welcome to the sale of the century, Feel free to land and inspect the wares at the market of flesh. New traders are reminded that no unlicensed selling will be permitted. Buyers are reminded to register as well. Visitor are requested to keep fighting to a minimum."
Melissa wanted to be sick at what she was hearing, none of the others looked any happier either. She could feel the anguish of thousands in the force and the sensation almost send her crashing to her knees.
"We need to inform the council." Bastilla demanded
"This is Hutt space, they will not interfere." Carth said bitterly.
" Let us just get down there and get this done." Terri gagged
Melissa went looking for Juhani. She was not in her usual places. A floor panel sticking slightly up betrayed to where she had gone. Juhani was seated in the smuggling hold trying to meditate. Melissa could feel the conflict within her as she dropped softly in. She sat herself down behind the Cathar woman and embraced her. They sat there for a while without a word being spoken or Melissa softening her embrace.
"I was a slave once, or as they call it on Taris an indentured servant." Juhani finally spoke, rubbing scars on her wrist
Melissa tightened her embrace and leaned back against the bulkhead, keeping Juhani in her embrace
"My parents had fled there from Cathar with me while I was but a kitten. My father had gotten into cage fighting and drinking and one day he got into a fight he could not win. My mother worked even harder than she did before, eating less than she should so I could have more. Then the debt collectors came and we were taken to the blocks." Juhani narrated, softly
"Juhani, if this is too painful for you…"
"No, my story must be told. I was standing on the block my mother having just been sold when they came. The first Jedi I ever saw, a woman younger than you their leader. They broke up the auction and freed us, broke our chains. The leader was the one to free me, it was she who sensed I was force sensitive and it was she who led me to the upper city to the shuttles bound for dantooine, filled with children from the lower city who would otherwise not have had the chance they were granted."
Juhani gave a small smile
"It might not seen like much but once she realised I was hungry had sold a pendant of hers to buy me food, she did not get much for it, enough for a few meat pastries. Never had I tasted food that wonderful before, she even gave me her share."
"Did you ever get her name?" Melissa asked
"Meetra Surik, they call her the Wanderer now." Juhani answered
"The General at Malachor five, that Meetra Surik?" Melissa asked, stunned
"The same, the only one of Revan's knights to return to face the council. Despite what the masters had to say about her I saw her as what it is to be a Jedi."
Melissa thought for a moment
"I owe you a deep apology." She said
"What for?" Juhani asked
"I have been parading my mandalorian heritage in front of you while forgetting what my people did, I am sorry for the hurt I caused you by doing this." Melissa explained
"What you believe and what they did is different things. In a way I feel jealous that you have an unshakable believe in your creed and all is see is the inconsistencies in the Code." Juhani replied
Juhani sighed deeply
"I came down here to meditate on the Code. To not feel anger at the despair outside, to not slip back into the dark."
"Juhani, we are sentient beings, emotions are part of what makes us sentient. To deny that is to deny sentience. The line is do we acknowledge and thus control our emotions or do we let our emotions control us or let indifference rule us. The dark side for me is letting emotions rule me. There is something I have never told anyone before. I nearly fell on Lothal."
"You nearly fell?"
"When facing my brother I started giving in. Then someone saved me. I was about to lose myself when I faced the apprentice. You saved me from falling that day. I was wrung out and tired, both emotionally and physically. The only way I could have fought that girl was by falling. So thank you for saving me from myself."
Juhani was silent for a moment.
"When did you decide that leaving the Jedi was the right thing?" She asked
"I had issues with the code from the start and with the perception that the code was all there was to being a Jedi. For me being a Jedi was about being a good person first and foremost and how can I do that if I cannot empathise with the people I am serving. That day in the raider camp when that knight decided he had the right to decide justice for someone because he believed he was in the right was the moment I knew. Jedi are supposed to serve the people not an institution be it the Senate or the council. I don't have to call myself a Jedi to be one, or my interpretation thereof."
"There is wisdom in what you say." Juhani conceded
Melissa loosened her grip slightly.
"Now that is enough deep thoughts for one night. I got a quart of ice cream hidden away in my room calling to me, I might also have some cream hidden away as well." She said softly
"I am not a stereotypical cat you know?" Juhani wryly replied
"So you do not want that cream then?" Melissa asked teasingly
"I will take it of your hands to keep it from going bad, nothing more." Juhani loftily said
Melissa kissed Juhani's forehead.
"I am here for you if you need anything. Now let us go be irresponsible and shirk our duties and be gluttonous."
The Ravager, system unknown
Saul Karath looked up from his reports as the door to his private office opened and his flag captain entered. The woman handed a datapad over
"Urgent report from Intelligence, Sir. The ship named the Ebon Hawk has been spotted approaching Tattooine." She reported
"What resources do we have there?" Karath demanded
" The Acadamy has six graduates stationed there, the fleet has an officer and thirteen soldiers on monitering duty. The bounty hunter Calo Nord has been reported to be in Mos Eisly." She answered
"Activate the graduates and Nord, the monitering team is to observe and record only. The knight Shan and the woman Cazor are to be captured, all others are to be terminated." Karath ordered
"At your orders, sir."
The captain reached the door before Karath spoke again
"My quarters tonight."
"At your order, sir."
Melissa decided that Tatooine can be described as a brown blur with a hazy blue blur if you looked up and wanted to risk frying your eyes looking into the twin suns. She was beyond thankful that Karana had insisted on an environmental control package to be built into her armour, sure the package drained the limited battery power but being cool in the sweltering heat more than made up for it. She grinned behind her helmet at the looks being thrown at her and Canderous for being unaffected by the heat. Juhani, Bastilla , Terri and Mission were dressed in loose hooded robes and she could see sweat patches already forming on their clothes. Carth had decided to stay on board and Zaalbar was near passed out in a life raft he had filled with water and dragged underneath an air conditioner vent in the loading bay, having pushed her pride and joy out into the blistering sun to make space.
Terri was busy arguing with a dockmaster
"I don't care what your orders say, I am not taking on a crate of Gizka. You have the wrong ship." Terri stated firmly
Noticing the workers trying to edge closer with the crate Melissa stepped into their path hand on her blaster
"You heard the lady, no way, no how."
The dockmaster waved his datapad
"What do you want me to do with them, the warehouse refuses to take them back." The Rodian demanded
"Sell them as lunch for all I care, they are not going near my ship."
The dockmaster and the workers retreated and Terri pulled her comlink
"Carth better lock down, they might try to load dodgy cargo again."
"You wont hear me complaining if it means keeping all the cool air in." Carth replied
"Rub it in, why don't you." Terri muttered
Stepping from the laoding bay and making sure to lock the door they noticed the lack of movement in the streets. The limited of pedestrians darted from vendor to vendor before disappearing into the roads and alleys leading to their homes.
"Something has got them really spooked." Mission stated
"Probably nothing to do with a slaver armada in orbit above." Canderous remarked drily
They ambled down the road to where a sparking neon sign marked the location of the Czerka store and offices, incidently also the only building not a drab brown colour. Melissa pretended to look at the wares at a stall
"We are being followed." She casually reported
"How many do you count?" Terri replied, buying an intricate hand fan each for the four hooded women
"Discounting the street urchins, something on the roof and one Sith trooper pretending to be a local, plus some scurrying from alley to alley" Melissa stated
"Not splitting into two groups as planned earlier then." Bastilla remarked
"Being a large group is probably what is keeping them from getting bold and try to swarm us." Terri answered
Terri looked at the merchant
"And surely a reputable trader will not wave them off now that they have been spotted." She remarked
The Toydarian dropped slightly as he forgot to flap for a moment.
"Never endanger a paying customer." She squeeked out
"That is nice to hear, especially as the customer could always return to spend more." Juhani remarked, "accidently" flashing her blaster
The casually strolled up to the Czerka compound and entered the air conditioned building. Several displays and holoterminals scattered the floor. The actual merchandise kept behind the counters on shelves. Heavy durasteel covers ready to to be dropped in a moment, to deny access to any would be robber. A human women dressed in Czerka corporate uniform was tending to a counter labelled enquiries. Mission made her way over to the woman.
"Good afternoon. I wonder if you could help me?" Mission asked
"Certainly Czerka corporation will do anything to help a paying customer." She replied
"I am looking for one of your employees, Griff Vao. He is my brother. I would like to speak to him, off company time of course."
"One moment I will escalate your request to the manager, she is currently busy if you would like to wait a moment. Feel free to peruse our wares, after all a gift when visiting family is always appreciated."
Melissa scanned the room in thermal vision and noted two presences beside the door and another two in what appeared to be an office. Cycling back to normal mode she saw two thick columns by the door. Reaching into the force she could feel boredom radiating from the positions. Canderous looked over and tapped his rotary rifle and jerked his head to the columns. Melissa nodded.
After a few minutes another human female came striding into the display area.
"I am Jana Lorso. The regional manager, she introduced herself
"Mission Vao. I am the one enquiring about Griff Vao, an employee of yours."
Jana typed the name into a datapad and grimaced when she saw the results.
"Not a model employee, I take it?" Melissa commented
"I am sorry, I am not at liberty to discuss that. It seems that mister Vao will not be available for some time." Lorso replied
"Due to?" Melissa prompted
"Sorry, Miss? How is this of interest to you" Lorso querried
"Melissa Aliit Wren Ordo. I am a friend and business partner of Miss Vao. Hospitality enterprise." Melissa explained
"Nar Shadaa I assume?" Lorso sneered
"Dantooine actually. A real emerging market, Miss Vao will be able to help with construction if your company expands in that area."
Lorso stepped back in surprise. Mission handed her two business flimsies one for Vao Construction and Engineering and one for the Last Round.
Rapidly typing she verified the details before becoming more friendly
"It pains me to admit that as of the moment your brother is unavailable as the mining vehicle he had been assigned to; had been attacked by the Sand People."
"Any word from your rescue party?" Melissa asked
"Due to the hazardous nature of the mining exploration detail, the crews sign a waiver indemnifying Czerka from all responsibility once they exit the safety of the company town. Of course once they return they get to benefit from a handsome salary package with excellent medical care."
Melissa grabbed hold of Mission as she staggered
"Can we have the last known location of the mining group?" Melissa asked
"Unfortunately it would be of no use to you as Anchorhead is under lockdown till Sakara has finished with her market, as a responsible company we take the welfare of our residents very seriously. Only licenced hunters can leave Anchorhead at this time." Lorso explained
"And I am guessing the license can only be procured from here?" Terri stepped in
"Of course, the local hunting guild has ceded all administration to us." Lorso proudly stated
"And how much would a license cost?" Bastila asked
"I am afraid no licenses can be issued at this time as there is a limited capacity for hunters here and they are currently at capacity."
Terri pondered for a moment
"Surely someone as senior as yourself can make an exception, especially if the applicant would be willing to investigate matters discreetly for the corporation. At no risk to the corporation of course." Terri tried to charm
Lorso looked conflicted for a moment.
"We do have a few problems that needs to be resolved discretely." She ventured
"Give us a test job and if you are satisfied we negotiate further for the license." Terri suggested
"Very well, recently a shipment of machine parts had been stolen en route from the landing docks to the warehouse by a local gang, They have refused to return the merchandise. Return our merchandise and we will discuss the license further." Lorso ordered
"The name of the gang? Details as to what needs to be recovered" Melissa prompted
"The Blue River gang. Carina can supply you with all the details" Lorso replied, pointing to the woman at the desk
Terri moved towards the woman and Melissa pulled a shaken Mission closer
"We will find him, he is probably hiding in the garbage chute of their mining vehicle or somewhere. You said it yourself, he always manages to get away."
Stepping from the store they noted that there was no activity or sound in the square outside the store. Blast shields dropping down in front of the store windows
"Ambush. Always just as we have something better to do" Juhani sighed
"It is not like we advertised our schedule." Terri shrugged, dropping her robe
Lighsaber in hand she stepped to the middle of the square, Juhani and Bastila following her lead. Melissa handed Mission her rifle and drew her blaster pistol. Canderous gripped his rotary blaster and leaned back slightly against the weight, barrels spinning in anticipation. Mission dropped to one knee and started sweeping the rooftops. Cycling to thermal mode the two Mandalorians started checking for snipers.
"East side, third building second floor second window" Canderous called out
Mission swung her scope onto the position and aimed, before continuing her sweep.
"Got that one." She reported
"West fourth building rooftop, next to an a satellite relay dish." Melissa marked out
"Got it." Mission replied
Figures started drifting from the alleyways to form a perimeter around the group, armed with a mishmash of close range weapons and a several blasters. A more elaborate dressed figure started swaggering closer once the perimeter was in place.
"Take the shots." Melissa ordered
The Devaronian was about to start speaking when Mission fired two shots, Canderous started sweeping the right flank with Melissa rapidly firing into the left. The trio in front moving to deflect blaster fire back to the shooters. Terri deflected a blaster shot back into the Devaronian with a flourish leaving the attacker to try and crawl away as the bolt hit her hip.
"Would the real attackers please come out now. I don't want to get sunburn waiting on you." Terri called out
Six figure strode out of an alleyway and spread out, casually stepping over the dead and wounded cannon fodder they had send out first. One by one they lit their lightsabers in an attempt at intimidation.
" Think they practiced that." Mission remarked
"Most likely, have to really get the menace effect just right." Terri replied
The leader swept his hood back, revealing a Zabrak male. He flourished a broadsword sized lightsaber blade
" Zole, Pentra. The Mandolorians and the Twi'Lek trash is yours. Remember no killing Shan or the black haired one, Malak has plans for them." He snarled
" Didn't Malak lose his balls as well as his jaw, when Revan slapped him down." Canderous remarked
"Heard the same thing, but then again it is easy to miss a small target. Right mister Sith?" Melissa taunted
"Size of that blade, he is definitely compensating." Bastila agreed
"Alive does not mean whole, and I will show you there is nothing to compensate for." The Sith roared in anger
" You did not think that statement through." Juhani sniggered
Two of the Sith started moving to the sides. Expecting the Jedi to move to protect the weakest of the group, they were surprised when the three Jedi made no moves.
"Sis, you got them?" Terri asked
"Yes." Melissa replied
Realising something was very wrong here they stopped. One grasped suddenly at his throat as he was force choked before his head turned to an unnatural angle as his neck was snapped. The second Sith suddenly had an armoured Mandalorian in his face and burning sensation in his chest as a lightsaber punched through it.
Melissa pulled her saber up through the body, partially bisecting it. The Four Sith were momentarily rooted in shock as the body dropped
"So how are we dividing them, first come first served or do we draw lots for mister compensation?" Melissa asked
Canderous and Mission dropped back as flurry of light started flashing in the square as the two groups engaged. Bastila taking on the leader as her saber staff was more suited to defend against the broadsword type blade. Juhani taking on a duel wielder with her own blades. Terri and Melissa closed on their respective fights clashing their single blades against their opponents.
Spotting a distortion in the sky, Mission fired a shot. The cloaked drown exploded in brief flash of flame and remnants dropped down to the ground. There came a scream of rage and pain as Bastila cut the legs of the Zabrak before plunging her blade deep into his chest. Juhani decapitated her opponent in a scissor slash of her blades. Terri and Melissa spun around and stabbed, each taking out the other's opponent.
The only sound in the square was that of the blast shields being lifted from in front of the store. The cannon fodders leader was doubling her efforts to crawl away. Her motion was stopped by a boot on her uninjured leg
"Not so fast." Canderous growled
Taking a look at a tattoo on her neck, Canderous gave a whistle to draw attention to him
"Might want to have a word with this one." He called out
Terri strolled over, leaving the others to police the bodies of their opponents
"What do you have?" She asked
"Neck tattoo." Canderous replied
The tattoo was an almost childlike drawing of waves done in blue. Two red dots underneath it
"Seems we have a lead on our current job." Terri replied
"Where is the hijacked cargo?" Canderous demanded
"I will never talk." The Devaronian snarled
"They always say that." Canderous snorted
Terri dropped to her haunches and made eye contact
" There is no need for this to get messy. Just tell me and you can get to a doctor."
" Stycks will kill me if I talk." The Devaronian whimpered
"Stycks will kill you anyway for losing all these gangers. Tell me and I will get to him first." Terri soothed
The fight went out of the Devaronian
" Landing Bay sixty one. He is waiting there to offload merchandise to a buyer."
Terri stood up and pulled her datapad out. Checking the recently down loaded map she looked for the location.
"Close enough to get there fast." She commented
" Me and Tails will catch up. You four get there and secure the area." Canderous ordered
"At your orders, Alor." Terri quipped
"And don't you forget it, now get going." Canderous laughed
The four left at a full force speed sprint. Mission was collecting the fallen robes they had left behind. Canderous strolled between the fallen dark Jedi and collected their lightsabers, fully aware of the eyes watching them from the alleys.
"Lets go, the scavengers will clean up." He commented to Mission
On most worlds small airfields would be an expanse of open space surrounded by a fence of some sort with demarcated landing areas and maybe a small tower and some hangers. Dantooine was a curiosity that all landing fields was built like a set of hives with a landing pad surrounded by walls and secure doors to the outside and a small storage space, relative to the size of the landing pad. All utilities were self serviced with fuel and water top ups done to external tanks by a central depot once payment had been made. Normally infiltration would be more problematic as the smooth walls outside the pads would hinder any attempt to scale it, but that precaution proved easy to surmount with a few Force jumps
The four were lying prone on the wall marking the locations of the gang members, The Czerka merchandise standing in the open in a corner of the docking pad. Heavy security was present on the doors to the storage area, and that was a fact that was bothering Terri
" Can you pick up anything on thermal?" Terri asked
"Too much heat from the door and the stone is too thick." Melissa replied
In the area below them thirty or so gang mebers were scattered around the surface, Six were guarding the door to the outside and another six the store room and some were setting up barricades in the corners. Whatever deal that was going down was not likely to be with. A Falleen male was walking in circles trying to raise several people on his comlink, swearing everytime he failed to make contact
Melissa tilted her head slightly as she got a message from Canderous
"They are almost here, they will set up an ambush by the front door." She reported
There was a commotion by the front door as a street rat tried to force his way inside. One of the gaurds grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the Falleen. The boy made a report to the man before he was brutally struck down. The Falleen motioned to the secure area and the guard dragged the barely moving boy to the door. Melissa gasped as she finally had a clear view as the door was opened. A huddle of children were pressed into the small space. The Falleen started screaming and the gangers moved to either the barricades or the doors, training their weapons on the front door
"Looks like we just lost the element of surprise." Terri mused.
Melissa rolled a grenade in front of each of the other three
"Aim for the corner barricades and drop down in the aftermath." She suggested. "Make sure not to let them get to the storage area."
"What is in there?" Bastila asked
"At least twenty children." Melissa replied
With grim nods the others took their grenades.
"East corner for me." Juhani declared
"I will take the front doors." Bastila pointed
"Cargo bay door." Melissa stated
"West for me, then." Terri concluded
As one they primed their grenades and threw them with augmented strength, before jumping to their feet and jumping to their designated corner, lightsabers igniting mid jumps
Canderous and Mission reached the area as the grenades exploded. The two outside sentries spun around and looked at the door as the inside was rocked by explosions, the sounds of desperate firing filled the air along with screams of terror and pain. Canderous scythed them down, before moving in and placing a breach charge on the door. The beings in close proximity all found other places to be in a hurry. The charge fired and the door jumped open to a scene of carnage. Four figures holding brightly lit blades were standing among piles of bodies as Canderous and Mission swept in.
Melissa pointed to the cargo bay door.
"Mission, slice that."
The door opened to reveal several older children standing protectively in front of the younger ones. All showed signs of having been beaten at one point or another, their clothing was worn and threadbare. The oldest was reeling on his feet from his recent beating, but still determined to fight to protect the youngest.
"Come on. You have to get through me if you want them." He declared.
Melissa took of her helmet and placed it on the ground, before taking a canteen of water from her pack. She took a sip and swallowed before extending the bottle.
"We are not here to fight or hurt the young ones." She said
"Then drop your weapons." The boy demanded.
Using two fingers Melissa hurled her in front of the boy and spread her hands to the side showing them to be empty except for the bottle in her hands. The boy moved in and grabbed the canteen before thrusting it behind his back towards the younger ones. Slowly bending down, Melissa pulled more water bottles and a medpack from her kit.
"We only want to help." She stated
"Yeah right, no one helps a street rat." One of the older children, a girl scoffed.
Melissa slowly sank down till she was seated.
"We saved you, did we not? I gave you water and medical supplies, did I not?" She stated
"And you will want something in return." The older girl retorted
"What we came for initially is in the corner over there. Helping you was a bonus." Melissa replied
"Do they have food?" A voice asked from the middle of the pack
Melissa lifted her hands.
"I can take you to where there is food and more water, you have my gun. If it is a trap shoot me. My friends will stay here and take what we came for." She offered
The kids grouped deeper into a huddle, the cynical girl keeping a wavering gun barrel on Melissa where she sat. They came to a consensus.
"We will go with you, one of us will wear your helmet to make sure there are no surprise meassages, we will take their comlinks." The boy demanded
"Can we make one call to our friends with the food to tell them to get the food ready?" Melissa asked
"Fine, as long as we hear the conversation."
Carth and Zaalbar stood in the shadow of the Hawk with two hover trolleys filled with food and water as Melissa led the group in, a gun firmly stuck to her back.
"Let them eat first, make sure it is not poisoned." A girl demanded
Carth opened a sealed container at Melissa's nod and took a bite from the cold food, Zaalbar following his example. They waited for several minutes before the gun was slowly removed from Melissa's back and handed to her.
"Help yourselves." Melissa offered, holstering her blaster
The older ones moved forward cautiously taking sealed containers before handing it to the smallest ones first before going back for more to feed the rest. Finally having eaten enough the older boy looked at Melissa in confusion.
"Why?" He asked
"Why what?" She answered
"Why free us? Why feed us?" The boy replied
"Instead of selling you to whoever was going to be the buyer?" Melissa concluded
"Yes."
Melissa sat down on the ground
"Do you know what a Jedi is?" She asked
"An enforcer for the Republic Senate." The boy answered
Carth and Melissa snorted at that
"Depends on your point of view, I suppose." Melissa replied
"Jedi are peacekeepers for the republic. They help the republic by keeping the laws." Carth tried to explain
"So they are enforcers, what does that have to do with anything?" The oldest girl demanded
"Three of those who rescued you are Jedi. They are sworn to defend the helpless." Carth stated
"The republic has no say here, so why should they bother?" The boy asked
"Just because the Republic has no authority here, does that mean we should not do the right thing when we can?" Melissa stated
"It has not stopped anyone else, no one cares for the street rats." Another child answered
Melissa paused for a moment
"I grew up in an orphanage on Alterra, though I have not had it as bad as you have I can sympathise with what you go through and if I can help I will."
"How?" The girl demanded
Melissa pointed where the youngest was playing with her helmet.
"You have several options open to you. One we give you the rest of the food and water and you disappear to wherever you hid before and we will not come looking for you. Two I can find work and a place to stay for you on Dantooine, you will be given a salary and schooling and you can leave whenever you want. Or the third option is the one I was given, become a Mandalorian. The only difference between two and three is where you go and a cool set of armour."
She leaned forward
"With option three you become part of something bigger than yourself, be part of a clan and a people, a family."
"So you want child soldiers." The boy bluntly stated
"Not all Mandalorians become fighters, we have mechanics, engineers, doctors and yes even lawyers, though very few of the last. If the life of a mandalorian does not suit you again you can walk away."
Melissa shrugged
"I will not lie to you, the training is tough and as a people we want others to join to start making up our numbers again. It will be completely different from what you know. But ask yourself this, what do you have here? What do you have to look forward to?"
Melissa pointed to the outside door
"Out there you are looking at being a street rat till you are old enough to become a whore or a gang member. Both will end with you dead in a few years assuming you live long enough to reach that stage, chances are another gang might hunt you down for infringing on their territory or looking for something to sell. Or a Hutt tries to press gang you into service or grab you for the spice mines"
She stood up.
"At the end of the day, it will be your choice as to what you want to do. Now I am going to call my adopted grandmother. If you have made a choice please tell Carth or Zaalbar or just leave if that is what you decide."
In the com room She started warming up the relay system and input the Com code for the Dawn strike. After several minutes she received a response and switched on the hologram function. Karana's figure swam into view
"Hey little cousin, how is the endless sands treating you all?" She asked
"Did not manage to get out of Anchorhead so far, but really not looking forward to the sand." Melissa replied
"I agree with you there, so what were you up to today?"
"Fought a gang, some dark Jedi, another gang and maybe found forty foundlings." Melissa casually remarked
"Forty foundlings." Karana echoed
" They are deciding on the offer."
"Stay right there I am relaying you the estate, this is way above my paygrade if I actually got paid."
Daria listened impassively as Melissa explained as to what she was trying to achieve when Carth knocked on the doorframe.
"The others are back and all the kids are taking your offer." He said
Daria smiled deeply at that.
"I will launch with the dawn strike immediately once I spoke to Marina, we can be there in a day at full burn. It would be best to have the Serpent with us in case someone decided to get stupid. We will bring enough supplies to make sure yours can be replenished and enough for the children. Do you know which age groups we are dealing with?" She eagerly stated
"From four up to thirteen. Sorry, I cannot be more specific" Carth replied
"Don't worry, we will take care of that, see you soon." Daria signed off
Karana's figure reappeared
"You just had to up the ante. Did you not" She told Melissa accusingly
"What did I do now?" Melissa complained
"She was happy with Lance finally getting his head out of his ass and getting a doctor with a child. Then you go and present her with forty grandkids at once, now the nagging for more grandkids will start again. And I and poor Fay will have to produce them." Karana ranted
"If it makes you feel better I will leave my orphanage idea for the Wren side and let the twins deal with that fall out." Melissa said soothingly
"It does not count if you do not get the stretchmarks to prove it." Karana replied
Melissa ran a hand across her body
"And ruin perfection. I think not. I stay the favourite child with no damage to me. So I win."
"You are Evil." Karana retorted
"That is not what the Ba'buir's are saying." Melissa rejoined
"See you later, brat. I had better get the ship ready in five minutes before I have mother breathing down my neck to get going."
Melissa found the children in the cargo hold sprawled out on whatever bedding was available in the Hawk, the youngest on her bed, T3 was playing a holomovie on the wall of the hold through his projector. Several food containers were spread between the children.
Terri, Juhani, Bastilla and Mission were lounging in the life raft slash wading pool in the loading bay. Melissa stripped of her armour and bodysuit before climbing into the cool water to join them.
"The Ba'buirs are on their way to get the kids." She reported, sighing in bliss
"Not that we are complaining about helping the kids out, but why?" Mission asked
"I simply want to give someone the chance I never got when I was their age, is it a bit radical? Yes, but when have we ever done things normaly?" Melissa answered
"Before you came along. Everything." Juhani retorted
Melissa splashed her in response and in moments water was flying through the air as everyone joined in the battle