"Good to see you, old friend," remarked Obi-Wan. "I see you're still enjoying the fast, action packed pace in life." Obi-Wan could not help but chuckle at his Kiffar friend. It seems that whenever they encountered one another, Obi-Wan or Quinlan were always getting into trouble, and more often that not it was both. "Let me help you up old friend."
"Was that A'Sharaad Hett who just slayed an old Grey Jedi and stole his ship, or are there more Tuskens running around Tatooine with lightsabers these days?" inquired Vos with a note of annoyance and surprise in his voice. "As savage as his upbring was, I always found him to be calm and serene, very wise for being raised by those creatures."
"Indeed it was, Master Vos. It would seem that Master Hett blames me for Anakin's failings and his turn to the Dark Side, and wishes to halt my teachings from corrupting others. We fought each other to a stalemate, until he happened upon this hangar and found a ready transport. I fear he's gone to find Vader and let him in on my little secret."
"Besides your being alive, I sense you have an even greater secret, which is keeping you here on this sand ball. Something catch your fancy all the way out here?"
"Ah, my feelings have betrayed me, it would seem. However, I think it for the best that we don't pull at this thread and allow my thoughts to remain my own. It would be best for us all, I think. Tell me Vos, what brings you out here to my sand ball? The pod racing no longer takes place out here, and the ale is terrible. Heck, I wouldn't even bother with the sabbaac games. I don't think there's an honorable person out here anymore," said Obi-Wan in his amused tone.
"Actually, the Force has brought me here, with a little guidance from an old friend. Seems you were in some trouble, and I thought you could use my help," said Quinlan dryly. "Master Tholme warned me that the situation was dire."
"Hmm, so you too have visits from the Force. Qui Gon and I have spent many a day conversing and training during my time here. I take it that it was the same for you and Master Tholme?"
"Actually, not so much training and conversing, as running and hiding. Someone has tipped the Empire off to the fact that I didn't die on Kashyyyk like they thought, and have been sending Death Squads after me in abundance, and now I have a Sith Assassin on my tail as well. I shook her out past the Outer Rim in the Unknown Regions, but she's very strong, and I fear she's still tracking me somehow."
"Keeping them all away from Khaleen and Korto, eh," stated Obi-Wan cautiously. He knew of their existence, and the fact that Quinlan had married Khaleen after Order 66. His meditations with the Force showed him a great many Jedi after that nightmarish time. Maybe that's how A'Sharaad had found out about Luke.
"So it would seem that my secret isn't so much a secret any more. Tell me, how did you find this out?" asked Vos in an annoyed voice. "And who else knows of this?"
"As far as I know, only myself. I've been spending a great deal of my time, meditating with the Force, reaching out to the stars to find my fellow Jedi. It brings me peace, and sometimes, it brings me visions of their lives. Yours is a strong presence, one that came to me very easily. I do not know why," said Obi-Wan. "However, the Imperial Garrison are sure to be on their way, since that ship of yours blasted it's way clear, so perhaps we need to find a more suitable setting for talk."
"Lead the way, old friend," said Quinlan, turning back to where his newly found and lost friend laid motionless on the ground. "Should we move him, or at least strip him of anything relating him to the Jedi?"
"Moving him will slow us down and get us caught. We can search him quickly, though I'd be willing to bet that he has nothing of his past life among him. After all, he was a Grey Jedi."
"Very well, Kenobi. Let's get out of here."
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"I have failed you, my Master. My life is forfeit, I give it to you," growled Cheai Xatal. She seethed with anger at losing Vos, when she had him cornered in that cave.
"You have failed me indeed, Bothan" echoed Vader's booming voice through the holoprojector. You shall be punished for your incompetence. However, it will have to wait. I have another task for you. I've felt a disturbance in the Force, and I believe your skills will be needed. You may indeed redeem yourself, if only slightly, should you complete your next task." Even as a transparent blue video, Vader's presence made the hair on Xatal's neck stand on end. He was thousands of light years away, yet he could crush her throat with but a thought. Cheai Xatal had a long way to go in her studies and trainings before she could begin to hope to do the same.
"As you wish, my Lord. Your will is mine. What is it you require of me?" asked Cheai. She drew herself up to her full height, her black Bothan fur gleaming in the azure glow of the holoprojector.
"Go to my castle on Bast. There, you will await an old Jedi Master by the name of A'Sharaad Hett. He is a vile Tusken Raider, and as such, should not be trusted. The Force tells me that he is seeking me out. More importantly, I'm getting tremors in the Force telling me that two others hunt him as we speak, and they are the true prize. Keep Hett alive until the others arrive, and then I want him to suffer great pain before he dies at my hands. I will arrive on Bast after you have defeated all three. Do NOT fail me again, Witch," menaced Vader, pointed his onyx gloved finger at Xatal, as if poking her directly in her twisted, black soul.
"I will not fail you again, my Master. I'm setting the course for Bast now."
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"You're right, this ale is horrible!" spat Vos as he choked down another drink of the putrid beverage. "Isn't there a better place to hide out than Wuher's Cantina? I've been here before, and it was a stink hole then. I never imagined it would actually be worse than then."
"Young Wuher is not a fan of the Imperials, and offers them no special privileges. The Hutts still control Tatooine, and even the Empire isn't strong or stupid enough to take them on, so we are as safe here as anywhere. Besides, this is a great place to find a pilot. I have a few contacts, so we'll see if anything pans out," chortled Obi-Wan. The aging Jedi Master sank into his seat in the booth, stashed in the back corners of the cantina where prying eyes had difficulty seeing. He sat huddled into his robes, his right hand stroking his greying beard while his left stroked the handle of his concealed lightsaber. True, this was the safest place to be right now, but even that was dangerous.
An Aqualish strode across the room, glancing almost unnoticeably at the pair of Jedi fugitives in the corner, as he made his way to the bar. He was a blue skinned Aqualish, his tusks polished white - a sharp contrast to the thick black bristles of his mustache. Dressed in a crisp, clean green jumpsuit with polished black boots, he certainly looked out of place in this filthy hovel. He glanced back towards the door, where four large, muscled individuals stode in, casing the place with their eyes and implanted scanners. Two were human, both of whom looked to have been carved from rock. Another of the quad of surly looking beings was a Nautolan. It'd been a long time since Obi-Wan had seen one. Not since Master Fisto was slain by Darth Sidious twelve years ago. The final brute was a Quarren, with eyes that burned an orange of such intensity, it made Obi-Wan feel as though they stared into his very soul. It was clear, the four were in the employ of the Aqualish, and were scanning the cantina for trouble, Imperial or otherwise.
The Aqualish turned from the bar and headed nonchalantly to where Kenobi and Vos sat, carrying a steaming cup of caf in his meaty hand. Without saying a word, or asking for permission, he sat down in the booth next to Obi-Wan. "It's not easy to reach me, Kenobi. I sure hope you have a reason for meeting in a place like this. I'd hate to have to vaporize the entire cantina just to cover my escape." The Aqualish's voice was full of menace and disdain. His gruff demeanor was definitely aimed at Obi-Wan as a means for intimidation. The Aqualish had miscalculated who he was meeting with.
"Korto Vos, may I introduce you to an old friend from back in the days of the Clone Wars, Xurxes Calpath, one of the best pilots in the galaxy. He runs a very tight...business operation in the Hapes cluster," said Kenobi calmly, clearly not bothered by Calpath's bluster. Xurxes, old friend, how's the galaxy treating you these days?"
"Oh, you know I can't complain, Kenobi. I'm staying busy, raking in tons of money the Empire isn't touching. I just bought a mining cluster, actually. Selling Tibanna gas is quite lucrative, it seems," warbled Xurxes, clearly relaxed in his tones now. "I hear you're looking for transport off of this rock. Might I ask to where?"
"That depends, Xurxes," said Obi-Wan with a smile.
"Depends on what," asked Calpath with a slight annoyance.
"On how adventurous you feel, and how much you want to help me out," remarked Obi-Wan cryptically.
"Enough games, old man. Where do you need to go, and why?"
"The why is not important, and the where is not known yet."
"Do you expect me to cruise throughout the galaxy until your silly little Force powers tell you where to go? Do you think I have nothing better to do?
"Of course not, my good friend. Our location is dependent on where a ship that blasted out of her yesterday had traveled to. I believe, since they clearly broke every Imperial edict, that the ship we're after may have left an ion trail, and that some Imperials are tracking it. I thought perhaps-"
"You thought that my men would be able to crack into the Imperial Databases and find mention of where your little star ship flew off to, and that I'd be willing to take you there," snapped Xurxes. "Do you really think I'll fly you into the waiting arms of the Empire? Believe me, while your well being is the least of my concern, make no mistake that my well being is."
"What I need is indeed for your men to find out where the ship we're after is heading, and get us to that star cluster. Then, I will need to borrow a light starfighter capable of carrying two passengers, to follow the ship. You won't even need to be in harm's way. And you're get your fighter back, or at least one of comparable value," said Kenobi.
Calpath eyed the pair of Jedi, mulling the idea in his head. He did owe Obi-Wan Kenobi for his life, and even though Calpath would just as soon shoot you in the back than live up to a debt, this was one he couldn't ignore. Kenobi not only saved his life, but the lives of his wife and children from a Separatist massacre led by General Grievous. Calpath knew the choice was obvious, and had little danger that his men couldn't handle, but liked to toy with the Jedi Master a bit, just for fun. "Fine, you have yourself a deal. But if you lose my starfighter, I expect one of even greater worth in return. When do we leave," asked Xurxes.
"We are ready when you are, Xurxes. We can meet you at your ship when you have finished your preparations."
"Docking bay ninety-four, one hour. Any later, and you're on your own," barked Calpath as he got up and made his way to the exit.
