Negotiating with the Sand People

Tatooine

Danika

We had a lively discussion when we returned to Ebon Hawk. Canderous wanted to go along. I think he liked the odds. Carth was still growling about everything, and didn't even want to talk to me. Bastila would have volunteered, but I still felt too much through the link to trust myself with her.

Canderous came up with the easiest way to get us there. He left the ship, and came back an hour before sunset with three grav-chutes. Used by troops being deployed from a shuttle, they allowed you to drop into an area inaccessible on the ground. We pored over the maps of the region, and I marked a spot. It was about a kilometer from the village over rough terrain. It had the advantage of having an area large enough to land the Ebon Hawk if we had to.

I chose to take a minimal team. Mission wanted to go, and the idea of jumping out of the ship was terrifying, but she wanted to go anyway. HK had to go, and I went because I was in charge.

Hk's memory had not returned. He initially believed that the restraining bolt had been blocking it but admitted that all functions had not been returned.

But from what it could tell me of that additional function, Mission had been right. HK had been designed as an assassin. The fact that such a droid was illegal was secondary. It had a tendency to call living beings 'meatbags' for some reason, but I didn't have the time to find out why.

As Carth lifted off, I worked on the double lightsaber, using a couple of the modulating crystals we had picked up on Yavin. I checked the rest of my gear with care. I didn't take a blaster, but I did take half a dozen grenades just in case. When Carth signaled, we were ready.

I hadn't bothered to mention to Mission that I didn't like grav-chutes either. They had a distressing tendency to fail, and when set for HALO operations, high altitude, low opening as they had to be for this mission, were terrifying in their own right. We would be jumping at three kilometers height, and they would activate at 100 meters. That left you 2900 meters to contemplate your own chances that it would fail.

No help for it. I stood beside the ramp, holding Mission's hand. 'Ready?'

'No,' she admitted. 'But let's go.'

I nodded, and we ran down the ramp, launching ourselves into space. We had a full sensor pack, and as fell, I directed our flight, I didn't need to look behind me, because HK had been briefed, and his systems were actually better than the headset I wore. Mission stayed even with me, watching me instead of the darkness below us. I saw some fires, and angled toward them. I wanted to land as close as possible, but not so close that they would think we were an assault force.

I felt the chute grab, and suddenly I was falling at a brisk walking pace instead of a plummet. I hit the ground, and rolled instinctively. Mission had not been watching, and her fall was what we called a 'beginner's grav-chute landing fall' or 'toes, knees, nose'. Falling flat with a painful stop. She cursed under her breath as she stood.

We dressed in the Sand People's gear Iziz had delivered, and I got my bearings. A dark shape moved, and HK was at our side.

'The village is there.' I pointed.

'Affirmative. There are an estimated 200 of them including children,' it reported.

We started off slowly, watching for guards. From what I had heard, there had been no attempts to drop strike forces on them, but night attacks had been common.

Mission caught my arm, shaking her head. 'Plasma mine right in front of you,' she whispered. She knelt, sliding forward like an inchworm, then began the delicate process of disarming the mine. As we went, I mentally kept track of the placement.

'They didn't place the field correctly, I murmured as she disarmed the ninth mine of the evening.

'You're complaining?' she hissed. The mine slipped from the ground, and she slid it into her pack.

'No. I just expect some competency from my enemies.'

We came upon a sentry, and I knocked him out. I didn't want to kill anyone unnecessarily.

The tents were leather stretched over forms made of bones and branches, then waxed to make them hard. I walked through the village, looking for a larger tent, which would hold the leader. I found the tent but he was not there. I saw a larger fire, and a dozen or more of Sand People were gathered around it.

I motioned for HK to walk ahead, and we followed in his wake. When we reached the fire, I stepped forward, and slowly pulled off the wrappings on my face. They froze, and I could see hands reaching for weapons. I drew my lightsaber. 'HK, tell them we are here to talk, not to fight.' I knelt, setting it on the ground.

The sound that issued was a series of grunts and wails. They fondled their weapons, and one or two looked to a huge specimen. He replied.

'He says you defame his people. Remove the clothing so that if die you must, they will not be damaged.'

I motioned, and both Mission and I stripped. She left her weapons on the ground as I instructed her.

'You are brave, but stupid,' HK translated. 'Many of your kind have come, defaming our planet, using machines rather than walking or riding the sacred animals. Since you come to talk, we will allow your talk for a time.'

'Translate for me,' I said. 'Great chief, your skills are well known, and those who control the town fear you. They send those paid to kill you, they collect Gaffi to prove they have done so. I could have done this as they demanded, but life is precious to me. I come to you bearing words of life in one hand and death in the other. Which shall be spoken this day is up to you.'

He nodded. 'Let me hear your words of life.'

'I know why you attack the people of the settlement. I do not know why you hate them, but you are known to be wise, chief of the Truuata. They we would not fear you else. I ask if there is a way to end this fighting.'

'The ones in the town bring this. They defame our world, ripping the sand from it as if that is what they eat. Taking as their own the relics of those we have defeated in the past generations. Our people must move from here to the next oasis, but not even we can merely walk into the sands. Such is death even for us. Until there is a way to move, we must fight.'

'Your words of death are strong. But what does your people need to move in safety? What must you have to use words of life with me rather than words of death?'

He bent, talking with a couple of his advisors. 'Water is what we need. Water enough to reach the next oasis at least. That is what would allow us to withdraw.'

'Do you know of what are called vaporators?' I asked.

'This word is strange. What is this thing you speak of.'

'We need water as well. The small farms which grow plants in caves use what are called vaporators to take the water in the air and make it liquid again.'

'An abomination.'

'Such is true, great chief. But could you accept an abomination if it will deliver your people to the oasis?'

He conferred with his people again. 'We have listened to your words of life. They are strong. And what have you to say with words of death?'

'Death awaits us all. In the Gaffi you carry, in the blasters both my friend and some of yours carry.' I opened the clothes I had worn, and set out the grenades I had brought. 'In the grenades I carry, and my blade.' I lifted it, triggering it so they could see it. Then they stiffened as Mission laid the mines we had disarmed in a line. 'In the metal death boxes you have sown to trap your enemies.' I waved toward them. But you do not understand their use. If you wish, I can have discover is one of your droids was programmed to emplace them in a proper manner, where they have the best effect in stopping you enemies, yet are easily gathered later.' I looked into the mask the Chieftain wore. 'Death will collect all of us sooner or late. I only try to keep death away for a moment longer. For me, for those in the town, and for your people.'

The chieftain stood. 'I have listened to your words of death and life. They are strong in your own heart and beliefs, and resonate among us. It is good that warriors of honor meet in this time of death and life.

'It shall be life. Bring us these 'vaporators'. Show us their use. Have your droid teach ours this skill with the death boxes, and we shall see if your way is better.' He looked at the mines with distaste. 'They are abominations, weapons that do not care what they kill. But your kind doesn't seem to care what dies either so they are the perfect weapon for you.

'When I am sure that you have not used your words of life to betray us, you will be allowed to return.'

I picked up my weapons, motioning for Mission to do the same. 'May I ask my ship to pick us up?'

He looked at the sky. 'If you would leave you must walk. Your flying things are an abomination. I will tell my warriors to avoid the people of the town. But I cannot stop all attacks. There are those among your kind that do not understand the honor of death and life.' He dismissed us.

We walked back the way we had come. 'We didn't ask about Griff!' Mission said.

'I know, Mission. Wait a little longer.' I looked around. 'HK, are we being followed?'

'Yes, but they are not close enough to hear us.'

'Are they close enough to see the ship land?'

'Affirmative.'

We walked on. After another hour, HK reported that they were no longer trailing us. The ship came in, and lifted us back to town.

Tatooine:

Mission

I thought I'd have trouble sleeping, but I was out the instant my head hit the pillow.

We went over to the Czerka offices. The protocol officer wasn't there, but a Rodian was busy at the supply kiosk.

'Greeta Holda my name. I run supply section. If you have business with protocol officer-'

'No, it is actually you I came to see.' Danika said. 'I need some moisture vaporators.'

'That not something I usually sell to spacers. You no look like farmers. What you do with them?'

Danika looked around. 'I have convinced the Truuata to move, but they need water. The vaporators can supply that, yes?'

'Ah. Appeasement. Company not like that.' He hit some keys. 'Me, I think it great. We only have one model, the 400 series. Working in pairs they distill 10 liters an hour. Will do?'

'Yes. A pair of them.'

Greeta nodded, hitting a button. 'Will be delivered here. What else you need?'

'Is there a Bantha for rent?'

'Yes. But not here. Go to main gate, talk with Drooti the Aqualish. He rent.'

'Thank you.' She handed over her card and paid for them

Riding a Bantha is like riding a very slow speeder. They barely get up to 20 kilometers an hour but they can walk all day at that pace. The village was twenty kilometers away, but it took us three hours to get there thanks to weaving back and forth to avoid the more dangerous terrain. The Sand People stopped us before we got there. Man, those guys were good at hiding. One minute we're going along with nothing in sight, the next there were thirty of them. HK chilled them out, and they escorted us to the village.

Danika unloaded the vaporators, and with HK translating, was able to explain it. While ten liters in that weather is just enough to take care of three average people, to the Sand People it must have been a mobile oasis. Danika also showed them what buttons to push to reduce the thing to scrap. She then patiently explained how a minefield was laid, and more importantly, how it was swept. Again she showed him how to disarm them permanently. The chief was so happy he gave his Gaffi to her.

They didn't want to deal with slaves on the trek, so when Danika asked, they gave the lot to us. Thirty odd Jawas, three humans.

And Griff.

I was still burning about his comment. When HK asked about the servants, they had enumerated them. When they got to Griff, they said he was worthless for work, and he only lived because he amused the females. The chief wanted him out of there quick.

Griff tried to lie the instant he saw us. 'You there, I am a senior official of Czerka Corporation, and they will pay well for my release!'

Before Danika could speak, I stepped around her. 'Griff?'

'Who are-' He stopped, and his eyes were hooded. Then he was smiling like he'd only seen me yesterday. 'Mission! You got off Taris! Good for you!'

'No thanks to you,' I snapped. 'You left me there!'

'Hey, Lena said-'

'Can it! I talked to Lena.'

'Oh, you did. Well what did you expect her to say? After all it was thanks to her that I was broke when I got here!'

'Sure. Drew against a flat hand again, eh?'

'She was ruining my luck! Besides, you were grown up and taking care of yourself-'

'You Bantha dropping, I was twelve!'

'Well that's all water out of a vaporator. Once we get back to town, I have this plan! All I need is a stake-'

'After dumping me two years ago, stealing my share of that last job, running off with Lena, getting yourself captured by Sand People, you want me to stake you!'

'Hey, Mission, what is family for?'

'Well I have a family, Griff, and you aren't part of it! This woman is my family now, and Big Z is my family. You're just something that happens to share my genes!' She turned around. 'Leave before I decide to leave you here!'

'But Mission!' he whined. 'I owe the Exchange big time! They'll kill me!'

I didn't know I had drawn my gun until I felt Danika's hand pushing it back down. 'He's not worth it, Mission.'

I stared at him. My brother, the only flesh and blood I had in the Galaxy. I didn't care if the Exchange killed him. If anyone killed him. Hell the way I felt right then I would have killed him. 'Goodbye Griff.'

'I'll be at the corporate offices!'

'So what,' I whispered as he scampered away.

'Where's the Bantha?' Danika asked.

'The Twi-lek we rescued is on it,' HK reported. Sure enough, the thing was moving at a good clip with Griff slapping it trying to get more speed.

Danika sighed. 'HK, how fast can you run?'

'Fast enough to chase down a Bantha, Master.'

'Then bring it back. If Griff tries to stop you, ignore him unless you are in danger. If you are, disable him, but do not kill him.'

'You are ruining all my fun, Master,' HK replied.

We looked at the people we had rescued. The humans were emaciated and dehydrated. We weren't going to walk these people even the four kilometers or more that we needed to use the ship.

Twenty minutes later, HK strode back in, leading the bantha. He reported that one shot past Griff's head was all he needed to change Griff's mind, and my brother was running as fast as he could toward town. Danika and I struggled to hoist the humans onto the bantha. The Jawas were in better shape, but they don't move so fast. With HK there to translate, I had a the rest of the day and night to talk with them. The fund of knowledge they had about desert survival was amazing. I mentioned to them that maybe they should get hold of some of those wrecked sand crawlers and live in them. They had been repairing them and selling them back to the Corporation up to then, and the idea of living in them surprised and delighted them. I only hoped they wouldn't start, you know, boosting them.

We stopped at the front gate, and spoke again with Iziz. He was happy about his people, and gave Danika a map for the location of the star map thingy. Then we stopped at the Czerka office where I pointedly ignored Griff as Danika dropped the gaffi stick on the desk. The attacks had fallen off, and the woman was happy as she dialed the creds into our account. Me, I just wanted to get back to the ship, take a shower, and wish I had never had a brother.