Jedi Artisan 012

After the captives turned in for the night, and the tribesmen dispersed, Zane and Shaak Ti made for the shaman’s hut under the cover of darkness. 

The shaman’s hut stood slightly apart from the others, it was larger, reinforced with woven reeds, and decorated with bone charms that clinked softly in the night breeze.

Zane heard the faint sound of two men arguing inside, and shared a look with Shaak Ti. Although he could barely see her expression in the low light environment, he knew they were on the same page. Just like old times, she'd sweeten them up with her compassion, and Zane…well, Zane wouldn't play bad cop necessarily, but he had a way to get people to talk! 

Waving his hand, the latch on the wooden door came undone by itself, and it slowly creaked open. Fog rolled into the building, and the pair of Jedi-walking with their hoods up-glided into the room. Igniting his lightsaber so as to create light, an ominous white glow surrounded them, casting long shadows behind their backs. 

“I knew it man, they're gh-gh-ghosts!” The pale skinned, shaggy haired Human stuttered in fear. 

“Those are Jedi.” The Weequayan man said from the side, lowering a rock. 

Although the alien didn't strike, his posture said he was ready at any time to meet violence with violence. Zane narrowed his eyes. This one bore watching. 

“Yo.” Zane lazily waved, then walked past the Weequayan, and plopped down in a rocking chair. At the same time, he secretly set up a camera so that the entire conversation could be recorded. 

“You are safe for the moment, my name is Shaak Ti, this is my partner Zane. It is as you have surmized, we are Jedi Knights.” Shaak Ti inclined her head politely, and spoke in a soothing, reassuring tone. 

“I hope our little magic trick didn't frighten you two.” Zane yawned, playing with his lightsaber, knocking away a couple gnats that were too curious. 

“Ha. Haha, that was you two? I always knew there was no such thing as Gods. Thanks…thanks a ton! My name is Dain, and that surly fellow is Chec. I mean, wow, real Jedi! I never thought I'd see one in the flesh. What they say about you glowsticks is true-uh, I mean, no disrespect.” Dain nervously spewed out a paragraph's worth of words in a single breath. 

“What you did with the statue. It was unnatural.” Chec slowly said. 

“We were happy to help!” Zane replied overenthusiastically, matching Dain's tone. “If we didn't rescue you guys with a little trickery, it'd be a little more messy!” 

Holding out a hand, Zane yoinked the rock out of Chec's hand, and casually sliced it in half, establishing dominance. 

Dain’s wide, nervous smile froze in place, and the stoic Chec had a bead of sweat drip down his forehead. 

“You are Dain Jarstone. And you are Chac of Sriluur.” Shaak Ti suddenly stated into that breath of awkward air. 

Instead of calming them down, the pair seemed to become spooked. 

“How do you know that?” Dain briefly lost his fear, and sharply asked. 

“Because we are Jedi.” Zane dangerously smiled, and began to play with a credit in his offhand. 

The truth of the matter was, during their trek towards this tribe, he had sent a message to Lieutenant Garm Bel Iblis to look up information on the downed ship, as well as its crew manifest. Strictly speaking, they didn't really know dick about these two chuckleheads beyond their names. But did they need to know that? 

Repressing a smirk, Zane could practically taste their nervousness. Oh, they were definitely hiding something. 

The hut grew quieter as the pair of men shared a quick glance. Outside, a swamp creature croaked.

“You crashed here a month ago. Your ship’s manifest listed agricultural equipment and survey tools. Yet you carried advanced antiviral agents not commonly stocked for civilian transport.” Shaak Ti stated in a level tone, as if she were stating a common fact, like the Earth is round, or one plus one equals two. 

Dain swallowed.

Chac remained still.

Zane clasped his hands behind his back and began to slowly pace around the hut. 

“Shortly after your arrival, a Coway tribe fell ill. A very specific strain of hemorrhagic swamp fever. Remarkably rare. Very contagious.” Zane continued where Shaak Ti left off, and spoke as if he were an academic discussing a very interesting research topic. 

“You can’t prove-” Dain began, only to be interrupted. 

“Shut. Up.” Chec hissed, and glared Dain into silence. 

“That tribe just so happened to sign away the rights to the energy mine beneath their sacred temple. Signed them to Damask Holdings in exchange for medicine less than a month after your ship supposedly crashed.” Zane continued, and looked the two of them dead in the eye as he flourished his saber. 

The hum of his weapon was constant, and an ‘accidental’ scorch mark was furrowed into the carpeted floor as Zane paced past Dain’s back. The burnt smell was…extraordinary. 

“Medicine that perfectly countered your disease.” Shaak Ti smoothly added. 

The implication hung heavy in the air.

Dain looked away, and Zane stopped pacing.

“I suspect you deliberately spread this disease. That you knowingly created a dilemma with the intent to seize natural resources.” Zane continued, voice losing all humor. “Are you gentlemen aware of the punishment you'll face once we return to Coruscant?” 

“Judicial Code: J.C. Section Five P-L-4-G3. For purposefully spreading diseases amongst Republic member states, the perpetrators shall face no less than 20 years in hard labor prison, and have their assets seized until all damages have been paid.” Shaak Ti stated. 

Dain’s composure cracked slightly, and his jaw silently worked up and down. 

“You’re making a serious accusation, man. Taking us to Coruscant? Isn't that too far away? We barely survived the crash, you can't go around pointing fingers like that.” Dain shakily replied. 

“I am a Jedi Knight. You may have heard rumors about us on the Holonet, but believe with your eyes. You saw what the ‘Great One’ said for yourself. Don't make me do something drastic.” Zane said in a low voice. 

Shaak Ti placed her hands lightly in her lap, and smiled beautifully at them. 

“If the illness was introduced deliberately, then the contract signed under duress is invalid under Republic commercial statute. Coercion voids claim. Which would make Damask Holdings’ claim to the energy mine null and void. There is a way out for you two. Testify, and we can grant you immunity.” Shaak Ti said in a peaceful tone. One look at her, and anyone would believe she was speaking the truth, and truly wanted to right all wrongs in the world. 

The words landed with weight, affecting both men differently. Dain’s eyes flicked between them. He was shaken, but was calculating something. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The shaggy haired man ultimately said.

“You almost became soup tonight. Forgive me if I find your devotion to corporate confidentiality to be rather misplaced." Zane clicked his tongue, and looked down at Dain in disdain.

“You must be afraid of retaliation. Anyone would be. We understand your concerns.” Shaak Ti turned to Dain, and spoke in a comforting tone.

Dain looked at her, some of the tension left him as his shoulders slowly lowered. 

“We can protect you. The Republic can offer immunity for testimony given in good faith. There are protection programs. Start a new life on a distinct world, receive employment, a new identity.” She continued. 

Dain rubbed his wrists where the vines had bitten in, and was both angry at them, and filled with self pity. 

“You don’t get it. Damask isn’t some minor outfit. They have reach. Influence. The Banking Clan and all the Muuns have a hand in this honeypot, I'm just another insect trapped in their nectar. Look, Jedi, I'm grateful for what you did, but I'd rather not end up in a Sarlacc pit.”

“And you think I wouldn't lop off your leg right here right now? We're in a swamp in the middle of nowhere, no one would hear your screams.” Zane stated in a deadpan, and brandished his lightsaber. 

Of course, he wouldn't really torture him or cripple him…probably. Deliberately spreading a plague was kiiind of grounds for execution to be honest. Just because he was a lazy Jedi, and fought for Team Good Guys, didn't mean such scum could get off scott free…unless they were willing to squeal, of course. 

Dain flinched at the threat. 

Shaak Ti gave Zane a mild look before turning back to Dain. “No one is asking you to martyr yourself. Only to speak honestly.”

Chac finally made himself known, and coughed into his hand. 

“I will speak.” The Weequayan said flatly.

Dain shot him a sharp look. “Chac-”

“I will tell you everything, for five thousand credits, and a transport off this miserable swamp world.”

“A wise choice.” Shaak Ti smiled, then glanced at Zane’s pocket, and signaled with her eyes, as if to say ‘pay the man!’ 

Zane rolled his eyes, and shushed her, they were just getting to the good part! Watching this betrayal in real time, it was quite exciting! 

Dain stared at his companion in disbelief. “You’re negotiating with them? But the Sarlacc pit!” 

“We were nearly sacrificed for a few creds, and all of our companions are dead. I am looking forward to seeing the Jedi tear a piece of flesh off that duplicitous corporation's bottom line.” Chac viciously spat. 

Zane studied him for a long moment, and then slow clapped. “Well said.” 

Shaak Ti tilted her head thoughtfully. “If your testimony exposes corporate malfeasance affecting Republic citizens, there are provisions for compensated witnesses.”

“Tell me, did you release the fever intentionally?” Zane asked, 

Chac held his stare.

“Yes.”

Dain’s breath hitched, and he stared at Chec in horror, as if their fates had been predetermined. 

“It was in the cargohold. Our boss ordered us to deliberately crash the ship.” Chec slowly explained. 

Shaak Ti’s expression hardened, though her voice remained calm. “On whose orders specifically?”

“Boss Drer is my Captain, a pirate of some fame. He communicated with Damask Holdings, and hatched this plan.”

“Pirates are involved, you say?” Zane mischievously stroked his chin, and glanced at Shaak Ti, wondering if she recalled their bet. 

“And the medicine?” She asked, deliberately ignoring his foolishness. 

“Distribution wasn't my end. All we needed to do was act as carriers for the package.” 

Shaak Ti rose slowly to her feet. “Will you both swear this before a Republic magistrate?”

Chac nodded. “For five thousand credits.”

Zane exhaled through his nose.

“You drive a hard bargain for someone who almost became a snack to some stone deity.” Zane heavily spoke, trying to instill some humility in the duo, and more importantly, drive down the price.

“Six thousand.” Chec suddenly demanded. 

Zane held up a hand. “Five.”

A beat passed, then Chac inclined his head. 

“Five.”

Shaak Ti allowed herself the faintest sigh of relief.

“Then we have an accord.” She said.

Zane yawned, then looked at the only bed in the room, and glared at Dain who was occupying said bed. 

“Congratulations, You’ve just become very valuable men.” He mirthlessly declared, shooing the shaggy haired guy away so he could find a place to sleep for the night. 

Dain reluctantly moved away. “And if Damask comes after us?”

“You should've thought about that before deliberately spreading a plague.” Zane coldly smiled, then with a wave of his hand, [Mind Tricked] them to sleep.