> Disclaimer: Star Wars and all of it's Intellectual Properties is owned by George Lucas and Walt Disney, This fictional work and all of it's original characters are however mine.
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The woman sized me up once more, and I felt her eyes dissecting every detail before she finally dismissed me with a slight tilt of her head.
Probably decided I’m harmless, I thought, breathing out a bit easier. Good, let’s keep it that way.
But before I could quietly fade into the background, Kado cleared his throat. “This here’s Jake. New... helper in the shop,” he said, gesturing toward me. I gave a small, polite nod, hoping it was enough.
The woman finally offered me a proper introduction. “Mira,” she said curtly, her gaze steady. Her tone was no-nonsense, and it made me wonder if she’d ever needed to say more than a few words at a time.
“Nice to meet you,” I managed, relieved she didn’t seem too interested in my background.
Then Mira turned back to Kado, explaining, “Heard about a shipwreck nearby. Figured you’d want to know. Haven’t seen Jawas or Tuskens around it, but that might not last.”
Kado nodded thoughtfully, his eyes lighting up. This was probably how he kept his shop stocked—with scavenged tech and parts from fresh wrecks.
I looked over to Davik, trying to work out his role in this little operation. Definitely the muscle, I guessed, given his build. Looks like they’ve got a whole team setup here, scavenging what they can, selling what they don’t need.
I wasn’t sure how, or if, I fit into this picture. But watching them plan, my curiosity was piqued. If they’d have me along, I had a feeling I’d get a lot more insight into this strange place.
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Kado and Davik exchanged a quick glance before both turned to face me. Kado’s eyes narrowed, but there was something close to approval there. It seemed he’d come to some internal decision about me.
“Well,” Kado began, “since you’ve kept up your end of the deal, I’ll keep up mine.” His tone was firm, as if concluding a business agreement. “Do you have anything else you need to finish up, or are you good?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m free,” I replied, a little unsure why he sounded so formal but grateful all the same.
Beside us, Davik leaned in close to Mira, still drilling her for details about this possible salvage. “So, the ship—what kind?” he asked quietly. “Anything to worry about?”
“Looked like a transport ship, medium-sized,” Mira replied, her tone clipped but calm. “It’s fresh enough that if we get there first, we won’t have competition. Not from Jawas, anyway.”
Only bits of the exchange reached me, though, as I kept my attention on Kado, whose eyes still held that scrutinizing glint.
“Right, then,” he said. “If you’re really looking to keep a low profile here,” he began, “I’ll make sure you’re sorted out.”
I was both relieved and a little baffled that he’d so readily decided to help me blend in. It was one less thing to worry about, even if I didn’t fully understand his reasoning.
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Kado led me toward the back of the shop, away from the ongoing conversation between Davik and Mira. As we moved through rows of stacked crates and supplies, we eventually reached an area with shelves filled with assorted clothing. Dusty jackets, lightweight tunics, sturdy pants, and headscarves were arranged in no particular order. It looked like the perfect wardrobe for surviving the heat and sandstorms of a desert world.
“You can take your pick here,” Kado said, gesturing to the rows of clothes. “Outer Rim wear. Nothing flashy, but it’ll blend in well enough.”
“Thank you,” I replied, grateful for the chance to finally ditch my pajama situation. I immediately started searching for something that looked breathable but durable, ideally something that wouldn’t melt me in the scorching heat.
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Kado’s eyes flicked over to my clothes, a curious gleam in them. “You want to sell those?” He tilted his head, clearly sizing up my pajama top and bottoms. “Those fancy fabrics are worth a bit of wupiupi.”
I blinked at him, unsure if I’d heard that last word right. Wupiupi? I’d never heard it before, and my confusion must have been written all over my face.
Kado raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement. “You’re really not from around here, are you?” he murmured, mostly to himself.
I chuckled awkwardly, doing my best to cover my confusion. “Not exactly.”
Kado’s expression shifted slightly as he leaned against one of the shelves. “Republic credits?” He shook his head. “You won’t get far with those around here. Out in Hutt territory, we trade in wupiupi—currency the Hutt clans like to use. Republic credits are as good as sand here.”
“Oh,” I managed, processing yet another piece of information that made this world feel even further away from home.
Kado eyed me, crossing his arms. “You’re really lucky, you know. Walking around dressed like that, no idea where you are… Anyone else might’ve handed you over to the slavers, or maybe the pirates, or worse—the Tuskens.”
He paused to let that sink in, repeating, “You’re really lucky.”
A chill ran down my spine, and I could feel my stomach twist with the realization. He’s right… if Davik hadn’t found me first… I shuddered, the thought settling heavily in my mind. Outwardly, though, I kept my expression in check, forcing a tight smile that I hoped looked appreciative rather than strained.
“Yeah, lucky,” I echoed, my voice barely a whisper.
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After a bit of sifting through the options, I found a set that looked durable, breathable, and thankfully, protective. Lightweight enough to handle the scorching heat but layered to keep the sand out of… well, the more sensitive areas. I gave Kado a quick nod, then stepped away to change.
The new outfit wasn’t exactly comfortable, but at least it was practical. When I returned, Kado sized me up with a raised brow, clearly amused.
“So,” I started, gesturing to my old clothes, “you said there’s some value in these?”
Kado’s grin widened as he took the garments, folding them carefully. “Absolutely. Silk and stitching like this? A bit of polish, and some rich client will pay a good few wupiupi.”
It was strange seeing him so happy over a set of pajamas, but I bit back my questions. I still had a lot to learn about this world, and maybe fashion was… different out here.
As Kado tucked the pajamas away, he kept his eyes on me, the faintest hint of a smirk on his face. “You really must be from the Core,” he mused, chuckling to himself.
“Oh?” I replied, unsure where he was going with that.
He nodded, still grinning. “Takes someone from those parts to trust folks out here this easily.” His voice held a note of warning, even if it was wrapped in humor.
I smiled back, a touch sheepish. “Guess I still have a lot to learn about Tatooine.”
Kado’s expression shifted slightly, eyes narrowing just a bit as he leaned against a stack of storage crates. “One piece of advice—don’t trust folks too easily out here,” he said, his voice low and a bit more serious than before. “You never know who’s got the Hutts’ ear or who’s workin’ for ‘em.”
The reminder struck a chord. I felt a slight chill at the thought, imagining what might’ve happened had I run into anyone else out in the desert instead of Davik. As if reading my mind, Kado nodded at my empty belt. “Especially if you’re not even armed.”
I gave a slow nod, taking it in. Kado was right—this wasn’t the kind of place where you walked around unprepared. “Good advice,” I replied, thinking I’d need to find a way to remedy that lack of protection, and soon.
Kado’s gaze stayed on me a beat longer before he asked, “You got any plans on gettin’ back to the Core worlds?”
I blinked, taken aback. So that’s what they think happened, I realized. Not that different, really. Just swap the Core with Earth.
It wasn’t a bad cover. It explained my unfamiliarity with Tatooine, the clothes, and the cluelessness I must’ve exuded. And if I could somehow make it to the Core… the Jedi Order might have some answers on what happened. Or maybe not, but it was better than nothing. I’d take “purpose” over “aimless wandering” any day.
After a few moments of thought, I looked back at Kado. “No specific plan on getting back to the Core yet,” I admitted.
Kado gave a small, approving nod. “Since you’ve got no specific plans yet, securing some funds is as good a start as any. You’ll need ‘em if you’re planning to make it off-world,” he said, pausing as if measuring my reaction.
I nodded in agreement. “True, but it’s not gonna be easy getting credits without risking getting accosted or worse. This place isn’t exactly welcoming to newcomers.”
Kado gave a wry chuckle. “That’s why I’ve got an offer. Normally, when we go out for salvage, we end up hiring extra hands. Problem is, it’s usually the sort who wouldn’t think twice about knifing you if it meant a bigger cut. We could use someone with your... skills,” he added, eyeing me pointedly. “You’d help us on salvage runs, earn your keep, and work your way toward whatever it is you need to get to the Core.”
The offer was almost too good. “I accept,” I replied, a bit surprised at myself for saying it so quickly. “Just know my end goal’s getting to the Core.”
“Understood,” Kado said, clapping me on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get back inside. There’s more to discuss.”
He led me back into the main shop where Davik and Mira were waiting. Kado gave them a nod, then gestured to me. “This here’s Jake,” he said with a bit of flourish. “And officially, I’m Kado Hallen. This,” he gestured to Davik, “is Davik Tren, and our friend here,” he motioned to Mira, “is Mira Voss.”
I took each of their names in, glad to finally put full names to faces.
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