Current mood:	amused
Entry tags:	ornamenti

Ornamenti: Part 10
Ah, the weekend was filled with work and a long absence from the computer. Anyone curious to see what happened after 9, click below!

Part 10: A few hours later, there is peace and tranquility... and the politics of Tatooine as explained by Anakin Skywalker. And then... The Great Jedi Bullshit at the Mos Espa Slave Corral.



Obi-Wan gazed out the space cruiser's landing ramp into deep early morning; the Tatooine suns hadn't yet risen, and the sky was that paling shade of dark lavender blue that precluded dawn, a myriad of stars still clinging stubbornly to the edges.
His breath fogged in front of him.
Desert planets lost heat rapidly once the blazing light of their suns roamed to the other side, something about insulation or lack thereof.
He intended to enjoy the cold while it lasted; once the suns rose, the roaring, super-white heat of the desert would return and make the blasted place unliveable until the next sunset.
Rabe and Eirtae had communicated their approach a few hours ago, and it only seemed polite to wait for them. And their new compatriots.
He'd taken the time of waiting to meditate upon what he'd discovered during his impromptu exploration of the ship.
Bad business, that.

In the background his apprentice slept on his side on the cruiser's floor, draped in his own cloak and using one arm as a pillow. Despite youthful exubrance he was in fact exhausted by his ordeal, had needed to have the bandages around his reopened stomach wound changed, and the red marks around his throat from the strangling collar had turned an ugly, mottled purple and blue. He was a candle's flame at the back of Obi-Wan's mind, there just enough to throw off light and warmth, but innocuous enough to go mostly unnoticed at the moment.
Sabe had emerged from Naraka's cruiser with the remote for his collar in her hand, informing Obi-Wan that the Hata had given his word that he would try nothing against them. The remote, she said, with a smug expression, was entirely for insurance. She seemed no more and no less aloof and cold-mannered than she always did, though, having come to know her over the past few days, it was obvious in the way that she spoke to Obi-Wan that she'd grown fond of him.

He murmured grateful replies to her in exchange for this welcome information and relayed the imminent arrival of her compatriots, ever mindful of his slumbering Padwan nearby. Padme had retired to her rooms, if Sabe wished to ascertain the Ambassador's continued health after two days of harrowing exploits.

"Ah," said Sabe in response, putting the remote into Obi-Wan's hands and heading up the ramp past him. "Good. I was beginning to wonder about those two."

"It seems the man who bought the three children is giving them a ride." Obi-Wan smiled wryly at the irony. "They've got your friend Corde in tow as well."

She paused at the top of the ramp, and gave him a short smile in return.
"Humanitarian slave owners," she said. "Who would have thought?"

Obi-Wan shrugged, also smiling. "Apparently he took a shine to them- he also installed tracking devices in their hardware." In case they are no longer where Naraka took them.

"They're wonderful children." Sabe's expression lightened somehow, speaking of them. "Each and every one of them. It's difficult not to care for them."

"I consider it an honor to help recover them." Obi-Wan smiled, not bothering to hide the respect in his voice. "They ran a great risk in helping the citizens of Tooai; we need selflessness and bravery like that in the Republic."

"Isn't that what Jedi are for?" There was a possible note of amusement in her voice, as she arched an eyebrow at him. "To be selfless and brave for everyone else?"
On the floor past her feet, Anakin stirred a little with a soft groan.

Obi-Wan glanced back at his Padawan briefly. "...It seems when it comes to citizens of Naboo, we have quite a run for our money."

Sabe smiled. "We're a proud people with an even prouder history," she said, turning to head for Padme's room. "Just because we need help once in a while, it doesn't make us any less powerful."
This time from Anakin it was a definite whimper- he was dreaming, clearly, judging by the sudden cloud of expression on his face. He hunched more tightly into a ball.

Obi-Wan frowned and turned with her, heading back inside towards his Padawan. "I don't doubt it, Sabe."
He wouldn't have trusted anyone less to guard Naraka. The Hata took murderous sociopathy to a whole new level.

Sabe paused, glancing down at Anakin as he murmured in his sleep, shifting with clear discomfort, and said at last, "Keep an eye on him, too." Her eyes rose and found Obi-Wan's momentarily. "And I'll keep my eye on Padme." There was an unspoken message there. I know you've noticed it, too.

Obi-Wan met her gaze and nodded. If the "it" started to grow stronger, it would pose some serious problems for both his Padawan and her friend.
"Mm."

Sabe nodded in return, more a bow of the head than anything else, and disappeared into Padme's room.
Anakin made the same sound again, a pained noise, a half formed word. Almost a name. Almost /that/ name, spoken in tones of soft desperation.

Obi-Wan sighed. This was not going to be easy.

"Ghh," said the boy, and opened his eyes suddenly, body jerking with the abrupt awakening. He stared blankly for a moment, and then blinked, lifting his eyes to Obi-Wan in confusion. "Wh," he said, and lifted his hand to rub at his forehead. "...s'it morning?"

"Not yet, Anakin. Almost." The bearded Jedi's voice was soothing; Anakin's dream had obviously not been pleasant.

It relaxed him to a fractional degree; Anakin sat up, pulling his cloak around his shoulders and shaking off the last remnants of his dream, taking deep breaths, slowly. He looked up at his teacher questioningly. "Have you slept, Master?"

"Mm. Not yet." Obi-Wan patted Anakin's shoulder. "Bad dreams?"

Anakin smiled slightly, though it did not reach his eyes. "You should sleep," he said, by way of answer.

His Master raised an eyebrow. "That wouldn't be polite. The rest of our party should be arriving soon."

"Your eyes are tired," said Anakin, quietly. He was not arguing, though the line of worry was drawn once more across his young brow.

He sighed. "Very well, Anakin." Obi-Wan leaned back, head comfortably pillowed by crossed arms and the soft red-brown folds of his robe. His eyes closed, a sure sign of relaxation, if not full sleep. "I surmise you have not slept well."

"Just the usual." He shifted slightly so that they were touching, establishing easy, unpressured contact, seeking comfort in the least embarassing method he knew of.

One of Obi-Wan's arms uncrossed so that he could pat Anakin's arm. "I know. There's something else- unusual to just this ship."

"Death was here," said the boy after a moment, closing his own eyes. His fingers hooked lightly into the billowing sleeve of Obi-Wan's robe, curling into a gentle fist. "For a while, anyway."

"Yes." The older Jedi's closed eyes pondered this further, eyebrows knitting together slightly in thought. "It colors our compatriots as well. Some more strongly than others."

He let that statement sit silently for a moment- in truth he'd come to suspect it anyway on his own, the way Padme's face hardened sometimes when certain things were discussed, the slight tension she held in combat situations, beyond simply that of a hardened fighter.
For some reason it made Anakin mildly uncomfortable. He was already leaning on Obi-Wan, the motion automatic, and equally automatic was the drop of his cheek to his teacher's shoulder; when he spoke his voice was carefully lowered.
"Master?"

"Hmmm." Obi-Wan put an arm around his Padawan. The boy needed the comfort. "Yes, Anakin?"

Anakin let his eyes close. Here he was safe, and sheltered. Cared for. Obi-Wan would not angry at him.
"While we're here... may I visit my mother?"

The Jedi had been considering this question. He knew what was right in the Council's eyes. He knew what was right for Anakin's training. But he also knew the overpowering hope of seeing someone after a long period of separation... And considering the unexpected nature of their visit to Tatooine, Obi-Wan could not help but feel that this was the will of the Force.
He stroked his Padawan's arm, calmly grazing the surface of sleep. "Our primary reason for being here is finding the children, Anakin. Never forget that, even when you see her again."
Obi-Wan Kenobi smiled.

The surge of joy that punctuated Anakin's Force presence was tangible, and gratifying, and worth the risk of the Council's wrath. Anakin's thank you was murmured against Obi-Wan's mind instead, and fire stroked at him, soothing him further towards sleep.
I'll watch out for you, this time.

Obi-Wan chuckled a little at Anakin's elation, settling into a meditation that would assuredly turn into deep slumber. The thoughts flowed quiet and serene. I hope we won't find anything surprising in the morning. You know this world best, Anakin- we'll trust your judgment.

I won't let you down. And he was determined not to.

Mm. Any dangers we should hear about before we proceed?

Outside the settlements, it's dragons and Tusken Raiders, Anakin replied quietly. Krayt dragons are nonsentient, but dangerous. Tuskens are dangerous /and/ sentient, but sometimes you can bargain with them.
In the settlements, well... it's the Hutts.

Tell me of the Hutts.

Anakin sighed. Jabba owns most of the planet. He's disgustingly wealthy and nearly everyone's afraid of him. He and his friend Gardulla both trade heavily in slaves, though their tastes mostly run to pleasure slaves and dancers. They have spies everywhere. They're gangsters, they extort money, demand taxes, and they'll kill you if you don't play along.

Now it was Obi-Wan's turn to sigh. Wonderful. Let us hope whoever arranged Naraka's pay was not a Hutt.

It's entirely possible. Anakin paused, and said, delicately, Children do have uses.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was momentarily speechless. Both mentally and vocally. ...That is /abhorrent/, Anakin. Were you really owned by one of these things during your early life?

Gardulla owned my mom when I was born, he replied, quiet again. She lost us betting on the podraces when I was three. I only remember a little about it.

Ah. Obi-Wan stroked the boy absently, his usual calm returning once more. I am glad you and your mother escaped her service.

Anakin all but purred under the contact, subdued now, relaxed and comfortable. Watto wasn't a bad master, as far as they go, he said. You'll probably meet him at the shop.

Hm, perhaps. Obi-Wan smiled. Try to get some sleep.

Just a few more hours until second dawn, Anakin murmured, and gave the impression of a yawn. He seemed most comfortable at Obi-Wan's side, despite how hard he tried to pull away from his Master at other times.

The Master held the boy firmly within his presence, absently wondering when the rest of the handmaidens would arrive with their mysterious benefactor; he had feeling (a very strong one) that the expedition to recover the children would need all the help it could get.
And there, just beyond the reach of his senses, a ripple flickered far above the slowly lightening sands. Ah. Just a few more hours until they arrive, too...
Obi-Wan Kenobi fell into a fully deserved and fast sleep.



Double suns lanced the open sky with light, arcing high over the desiccated auction square, which was filled with the milling sweaty masses of multiple races all mingling together. Brave pickpockets worked the crowd, a touch here, a stumble there, and soon there would be food to eat tonight.
The dry plaster walls backing the slave stage were cracked and old; the slavers needed to apply a new coat of paint. Slaves intended to be bought and sold either waited in rusted metal cages or wore shackles and chains. More expensive slaves had better restraints- a particularly statuesque Twi'lek waited near the back with gleaming chains of bronze strapped to neck, wrists, and ankles, the marks of bondage clearly intended to showcase her possible use and therefore higher value. Inconsequential slaves like children waited in a long line, lined up from shortest to tallest. Babies and toddlers either lay with their mothers or slumbered the deep sleep of the drugged in shaded wire boxes.
The crier, a large puce-green mantis-like creature, tested his whips idly in preparation, multiple limbs unstiffening with every crack. A mandible or two sneered at a slouching slave, reminding it silently to stand up straighter and defy exhaustion.
Look strong.
Look valuable.
Otherwise, you're worthless.
Worthless slaves don't get to eat.

And here it seemed that Anakin Skywalker's time to shine had finally come.
If the sights of the auction bothered him he gave no sign of it; he had already claimed a seat on the stones and sat now, expression twisted with irritation and displeasure, though it was not focused on on the boxes and cages on the stage. He was loudly admonishing the slave that sat next to him, pale haired and black eyed and dressed very simply, wearing what was obviously a restraining collar. Naraka regarded him with calm indifference, which only seemed to serve to make Anakin angrier.
"We're going to need to spread out," he'd said on the ship, head tipped to one side as he carefully balled up his Padawan braid, securing it behind his ear with some of the special glue frequently used on Naboo for more elaborate hairstyles. "I'm taking the Hata with me. Everybody else... we don't know each other, except maybe in passing." Here he'd glanced at Obi-Wan meaningfully. "Let me do the talking, and follow whatever lead I throw you. All right?"
Sabe had taken to her part agreeably, fine actress that she was, and was currently engaging a merchant in conversation over a possible purchase of his foodwares.
When the Hutts made their entrance, it sent a hush through the gathering crowd. It was not so much a silence of awe as it was caution. Giant, powerful-looking slug-creatures, with large bulbous eyes, there were two of them, one much larger than the other and a mottled dusty red-brown color, smooth-chested; the other smaller one was darker brown with the vague impression of mammaries. They had quite an entourage in tow, translators, attendants, slaves already long purchased and cringing away as far as the lengths of their neck chains would allow them to go.
Anakin paid them absolutely no attention whatsoever.

Two rather plain-looking women in long robes held a conversation with a withered old woman; her new master had given her permission to view the auction of her only son, as it was quite possible she would never see him or her grandchildren again. One girl held the old woman's hand as she waited in solemn expectation. The other girl's gaze tended to wander towards the wares for sale with an appraising eye, remaining mostly silent in her hard, dusty seat.
The massive crier stalked about the stage, loosening his many joints and checking the suns above as a measure of time. Finally satisfied, he looked to the Hutts in their shady, conditoned seats.
The slaves waiting offstage shifted, their chains clanking and clinking.
Business could not continue without the permission of the powerful.

Jabba the Hutt gave a low grunt, and did nothing more than nod his massive head down at the crier, absently winding his hands more and more tightly in the chain that attached a pale blue Twi'lek girl to him, ignoring her unhappy cries.
Anakin finished his tirade and turned to face the stage, while Naraka blinked at him in good-natured bemusement.
And all lay ready to begin.

The crier marched typical unskilled labor slaves forward first; they were often cheapest, and those who needed to pick up such a slave generally wanted to select one before the suns rose too high and most of the day wasted without that slave working.
Slaves like that didn't live long anyway; they were only meant to work as long as they could last.
The old woman sighed in a dry heave as one of those was brought forward and auctioned away, her grip on the girl's hand tightening briefly before releasing in lost hope. The girl slipped her other hand out of the rusty brown cloak she wore and laid it softly upon the spot-marked bird's claw that needed such comfort. Padme didn't really need her sling anymore, but better safe than sorry.
That, and the children walking up to the dais looked absolutely terrified.

And that was when recognition clouded Anakin's face, and he shot to his feet, signaling impatiently at Naraka to follow him as he stormed down through the seats and towards the stage. His voice, raised, projected loudly enough for all to hear.
"PRIOR CLAIM!" he bellowed in apparent outrage, without hesitation or even a furtive glance towards the Hutts. "I call prior claim, and foul!" He stopped at the lip of the arena, eyes fixed on the crier, shouting with a finger pointed at the gaggle of children currently standing on the block. Naraka stopped just behind him, at his shoulder, and Anakin grabbed him by the collar with his left hand, giving him a good shake. "I didn't sell off my best personal cruiser to lose my property to a cheat!"

The gigantic mantis-like creature peered down at the puny human declaring ownership of the children. Its voice was thick and sloshed, multiple mandibles clicking swiftly together on each consonant. "You run a maggot farm, boy?"
The three children who had met Anakin previously upon Hoth waited in silence. Loolee tried to help a dark-haired girl standing beside him from falling over.

Anakin's expression was perfectly imperious, perfectly haughty. "Breeding," he announced, still gripping Naraka by the collar tightly. The Hata, for his part, only continued to look amused by the boy's apparent loss of sanity. "Those brats are prime stock, you've got to get them /young/ or they don't throw well- do you have any idea how much I spent to get them in the first place?" He gave Naraka another rough shake. "And then this /worthless/ piece of pudu slime, he gets it into his head he can sell them off and run off with the money!" Here Anakin spat to one side to indicate fully just what a ridiculous idea this was.

The crier made a shshshshshshdgh sound with those mandibles, his whole massive exoskeleton slowly moving torwards the shouting young man. "You have proof of this, yes?"
The fading girl let out a small sound. The crier absently flicked backwards with one of his whips; her bottom lip split through the middle, blood dribbling slowly down her chin.
The child stood up straight and silent.

There was no flinch from the young man, no backward glance to see if the girl was all right. No mercy. He held.
"Of course," he said, and drew out the required papers with dramatic flourish. "And I trust that these are good enough to pass your scrutiny, and that of our esteemed patrons." With the last few words he executed an elegant turn in the direction of the two Hutts, and bowed with perfect grace, the papers still held high above his head.
"I ask that these four be returned to me." Anakin lifted his head to Jabba, steady, calm. "As is only fair."
The great Hutt rumbled thoughtfully.

Reading the papers proved to be highly distasteful to the crier, because the stalks that bore his eyes curled tightly downwards, lids slitting angrily. He turned and gazed questioningly up at the Hutts, but not without shooting a purely venomous look at Naraka first.
The children waited at their posts.
Hutts bore the power here. Hutts would bear judgment down.

Anakin waited, gaze steady, without moving, though his muscles were tense, shoulders knotted together as he fought to keep hold of his perfect calm.
Jabba and Gardulla were rumbling to each other; she seemed highly displeased, but he, on the other hand, spoke with apparent amusement, and when he turned back again, he was chuckling. He made a loud pronouncement in Huttese, and a ripple went through the crowd. Anakin straightened up, letting out a huff, and tucked the papers away again.
"Thank you," he replied, and bowed again, deeply, releasing Naraka and approaching the stage to collect the children.

Ruwee did not smile as Anakin moved forward to relieve him of his chains, instead choosing to help Ficha loosen her ankle restraints and Loolee steady the other little girl. The group relief of the children (and those who had searched for them) rose and overwhelmed the Force in an overpowering tide.
Well done, Anakin. Smiled a comforting voice amidst the tide. Very well done indeed. Careful not to faint now.
It seemed the nameless child would beat him to that; she nearly collapsed despite the help of her friends.

Anakin was dizzied by the wash of feeling eminating from the group as a whole, but he remained steady and sternfaced, instead bending to lift the weary child over his shoulder, without any apparent tenderness.
"Come," he said to the others, without looking at them, as he took their remotes from the crier and tucked them against his belt with his free hand. "We're leaving."
And with that he stormed back up the stretch of stone stairs, doing his best not to wince at the feeling of the girl in his arms- her presence was like jagged ice against his mind. Clearly the children were expected to follow him like a trail of tattered ducklings.

And that they did, keeping pace with the huge steps as best they could.
Once they were far enough away down a back alley to speak freely, Ficha asked, "What's wrong with her, Master Jedi? Suldai's always been weak, but never like this."
Ruwee picked up Loolee and looked backwards, checking for any listeners.

"I don't know," Anakin said quietly, his hand against the girl's back. He was momentarily distracted, reaching for his Master, Padme, and the handmaidens alike, with a simple request to meet him back at the ship. They could not be witnessed together. "Give me a moment."
Once the rallying communication was down, he turned his inward focus on Suldai, letting the Force flow easily into her, following its currents. Can you hear me?

The three children gave him that moment, clustering around their savior and his burden with a faint protective air.
She reacted to the Force-touch as if he'd breathed life into a dying pile of smoking embers. Light came and faded, but it was more than she'd had before. ...Yes. I can hear you. It's cold here.
Nevermind that the sweltering suns of Tatooine were close to their midday climb. Nevermind that the children were covered in sweat.
To the six-year-old, this place was cold.

Even a layman like himself knew that wasn't good.
Anakin drew in a deep breath, channeling power, and let soft fire breathe out and into the little girl's body, warm and comfortable and undeniably his own life force. Be warm, he murmured to her, as gentle as he'd ever been. You're safe. No one's going to hurt you anymore.
"She must be sick," he muttered under his breath, distracted, and glanced at the nearest child. "My name's Anakin, by the way."

Oh I'm sure someone will, murmured the little girl with a smile, nestling close to all that lovely warm fire. I have a long life ahead of me, after all. Pain is part of life. She breathed as he commanded, inhaling and exhaling the freely given heat. ...You're warm.
Suldai slept.
That nearest child had been Ficha, but all three had heard him. "...Anakin /Skywalker/?"

Anakin's hand stroked her matted hair automatically, he disguising a small smile at her words, letting that steady supply of warmth continue. It made him a little lightheaded, and he was reminded of funneling heat to Padme on Hoth, but he ignored his own weakness, and blinked in surprise when he heard his own surname. "...Yes?" he replied, eyeing her cautiously, unsure as to how she knew him.

Ficha was looking at him seriously, with a kind of strange new respect. True, he'd just bullshitted this planet's version of a wrathful god into setting them free, and he was also a Jedi Padawan who'd lulled a sick friend into a healthier sleep, but this respect seemed to have a long-prior root that was frankly pleased to know it had been entitled to exist. "So you're the Tatooine boy they talk about all the time. Did you really blow up the droid control ship all by yourself?"
"Was it scary?" asked Loolee right after her, dangling like young monkey from Ruwee's neck. "Sister Corde says you'd never been in a fighter before but you flew it like a pro."
"But Sister Padme said he raced on Tatooine, Lee."
"She also said pods were very different!"
Ruwee, for his part, said nothing. But Ficha's respect for Anakin was echoed in his quiet look.

Anakin blinked at them, approaching a level of dumbfounded he had not quite touched before. He'd been expecting gratitude for their freedom, sure. But not sudden and unabashed hero worship for something he'd done years ago, that, at the time, had merely been a lot of stupid good luck.
"...yeah," he said, finally- he was careful not to let his touch on Suldai waver. She needed the warmth more than he did. "I blew it up, but it was kind of an accident..."

"SOME accident!" interjected Ficha, more determined than ever to pry the full story out of him, and Loolee looked like a close, worshipful second in that desire.
"Hey." Ruwee smiled, perhaps the first time the corners of his mouth had gone up in all the time Anakin had interacted with him. He looked amused, possibly both at the eagerness of his two companions and Anakin's dumbfounded reaction. "We should probably get back to the ship."
"OH the ship-!" Ficha waved this away as of no consequence.
"We're sitting ducks out here, if you haven't noticed." The boy was calm again, not smiling.
"...Okay. Lead away, Master Anakin."

Mild relief at the subject returning to the mission; Anakin nodded, taking a deep breath. He still felt lightheaded. Damn. "It's a ways," he said, letting his focus drift to his transfer of energy again, voice taking on a slightly detached quality, as it did when his attention was elsewhere. "Are you all whole enough to walk?" He could always make Naraka carry someone, he supposed, but he didn't trust the Hata for a single moment alone with one of these children, even if Obi-Wan seemed to think he had enough honor in him to hold to his word.

Ruwee nodded. "Except for Suldai."

"How long has she been like this?" Anakin rubbed her back, worried by that jagged, sharp feeling, the chill of her presence.

"Ever since we saw her again. Here." Ruwee frowned. "Apparently the slavers caught up to the others after about a week of chasing. She said they 'took part of us away and wouldn't give it back.' She couldn't explain anything more about it, only that they left her here because she was so weak afterwards."
Ficha looked worried. "Little Sister has never been very physically strong. What did they take away?"

"I don't know." Anakin frowned, unwilling to disturb the girl further to investigate. "Right now I'm just trying to keep her warm..." He sighed, upset about it despite himself, but grateful they were reaching the outskirts- the ship was just within sight now, a gleaming dot lost among the swimming humidity.

Suldai sighed and shifted in the Padawan's arms, pink moving into cheeks that had once been sallow.
"Well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it." Ruwee glanced back at the silently following Naraka, then back forwards. "It works."

He decided not to mention he was sharing life force- Obi-Wan would yell at him for the risk later. "My Master's stronger than I am," he murmured, making soft shushing sounds to Suldai, letting his cheek touch her hair momentarily. "I'm sure he'll come up with something." He hoped. Then again, Obi-Wan had never let him down before.
Naraka for his part said nothing, and walked without apparent trouble; he was the very picture of calm patience, unhumbled by the collar he wore. It was as though it didn't affect him in the least. There was nothing grudging in his movements. He had given his word to assist, and was doing so quite willingly.

The handmaidens were waiting for them.
They rushed forward to meet the approaching children like a tide running up to kiss the land.
The youngest three were fussed over, Suldai worried over, and Ruwee left with mussed hair that he bore with a solemn composure.
Obi-Wan Kenobi approached the reunited group from behind, hurrying once he noticed the odd connection between his Padawan and the sleeping girl. /Anakin./ That is dangerous.
But the words did not condemn as they would have if the boy had taken an unneccessary risk like jumping off a cliff into a fight. This was different. It was neccessary.

Anakin did not relenquish his grip on Suldai, would not until something better could be found other than his own internal fire to keep her alive. He turned and gave his Master a small, weak smile.
Sacrifice is the way of the Jedi, Master, he said. He was not going to let go of her. Not when he was doing good. Aloud he said, "No one followed you?"
"I got a few odd looks," Sabe said calmly, "But they were less suspicious and more interested in /other/ things." She had Loolee in her arms, was dabbing dirt and grime off the child's round cheeks. "That was some trick, Skywalker."

"Mm. It was." Rabe had peered at Ruwee until he pulled an annoyed face at her, then turned her attention towards Ficha, who accepted this with admiring silence. "Chulakidda pulai." She murmured absently in the Southern dialect of her home.
Ruwee shrugged and Ficha giggled.
Obi-Wan came forward and placed a hand upon Suldai's head; he was right beside Padme, who seemd worried but relieved the children were safe. "No one followed." I think you can disconnect now, Anakin. She seems to be out of danger. He frowned, but only where Anakin could sense it. If I didn't know better, I'd say someone had used a force disruptor on this child.

("Cast-iron balls.")

Ah, said Anakin, weakly. No wonder she's been draining me- can you take her, Master? I need to sit down. I feel like I've lost a few pints of blood.

Yes. Sit. Obi-Wan took the girl into his arms, feeling her regular heartbeat. But inside the ship, please.

To his credit Anakin did stay upright, and he nodded to Obi-Wan, giving him a broad, tired smile. "We did it," he said aloud, clearly pleased with himself and his own performance. "Thank you for trusting me." He unclipped Naraka's remote from his belt and held it out.
The Hata's eyes were on Obi-Wan, silently. He did not need to voice what he wanted.

"Mm." Obi-Wan took the remote and smiled. "It was the right thing to do."
Padme caught the look Obi-Wan exchanged with Naraka and started moving the children inside the ship. They were eager to return.

Sabe, too, had noticed it- she handed Loolee to Padme and held out her arms for Suldai.
Obi-Wan couldn't very well fight a duel with a sick child in his arms, after all.
Anakin was already trudging for the ship, stumbling a little, exhausted- he hadn't caught his Master's intention.
And Naraka only waited, patient, unhurrying. Obi-Wan would keep to his word. He knew that.

Obi-Wan gave up the child without a protest. All the young ones needed to be safe inside.
He would keep to his word.

(Next up on the menu: FIGHT SCENE.)