Part Six

Space Port Projenii had been named for the Projenii myth of Giimii III. The Projenii were the creators of the ancient Giimii culture and the artifacts from that long ago species were displayed in high security cases all over the station. The first artifact that greeted Ashanti and Qui-Gon was an ancient rowing boat in the days when water was the mode of transportation from continent to continent on Giimii III, long before space exploration had even begun.

Qui-Gon stood gaping at the giant boat until Ashanti nudged him to keep moving with a gentle push of her tail. He followed her, still looking around him with awe. Aliens of all sorts bustled around the space port, mingling with the crowd and giving off an exotic air. Bova the Hutt had followed them down the lead off ramp and slithered off to the right. Ashanti made note of who the Hutt spoke to before the two Jedi left the huge customs room.

A protocol droid.

'Interesting,' she thought, 'Why would a Hutt talk to a protocol droid in such an underhanded manner? If she owned the droid, then she would have no call to be secretive, so that means the droid doesn't belong to her.' She stepped aside for a Corellian space pilot to get by and then said outloud to herself, "Who does it belong to?"

"Maybe it belongs to whoever she works for? The merchants perhaps?" Qui-Gon answered her. They both looked at each other.

"Congratulations, Padawan," laughed Ashanti at Qui-Gon's stunned look, "it seems our link grows stronger everyday. But I agree, it could belong to the merchants, but somehow I get the feeling it does not. We might make note if Bova returns to the ship in a couple of hours."

"And if anyone is with her," added Qui-Gon. "Where are we going?"

Ashanti grinned ferally. "To see an old...friend."

The old friend was not happy to see Ashanti, Qui-Gon noticed, as the two foot alien found himself slammed against the wall. Ashanti had not been pleased to learn that Yee Yike had given away that Ashanti was on the space port. Certain people had been hunting for her, it seemed, and the leech had given her away.

"Now, Yee," Ashanti said calmly, the barbs on the end of her tail waving in front of the small bug-like creature's face, "you know I hate it when people rat out on me. Why would you do this? I was going to pay good money to learn about something on the Planet of Thoughts and here you rat out on me. I'm very disappointed."

Qui-Gon, in the spirit of things, piped up, "And you know how she is when she's disappointed."

Ashanti didn't bat an eye, though inwardly she was pleased at Qui-Gon's contribution. The boy was a fast learner. "I didn't know you'd be angry, Ashanti, I swear it!" sputtered Yee, terrified of the poison barbs just inches from his bare skin. That the poison would bring a slow death, Yee knew for a fact, for he'd seen those barbs do their deadly work.

"Did you think I'd be pleased that Marteene the Hutt's bounty hunters would be on my tail? Me, with a new padawan I'm trying to impress?" Her tail swung over to point in Qui-Gon's direction. Qui-Gon smiled a feral smile, hoping that it would impress the stooge enough.

It did. "I swear, Ashanti! They told me they wanted to talk to you about some fortune you took a long time ago. I thought maybe you stole it or something and they wanted it back."

Ashanti slammed him against the wall, no longer toying with the stoolie. "You thought I stole something?" she snarled. "Have you ever known a Jedi to do something like that, Yee, let alone me?"

"No, no, no, no," cried Yee, "but that's what they said!"

"Never trust a Hutt, and never trust Yee Yike when you can get the info yourself," spat Ashanti. "Come, Qui-Gon, I can't get anything reliable from him anymore. Be off with you, Yee, and you'd be wise to leave the station. Marteene will not be happy at this double-cross." Yee disappeared like the rat he was. "Prophecies!" blasphemed Ashanti, her lashing in an angry arch. "This is going to be difficult and I hate it when it's difficult."

"Ashanti," began Qui-Gon, "what fortune do they say you stole?"

Ashanti sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Never mind. It's a long story and I'll tell you later. I have one more informant I can check on and then we head back to the ship. Wouldn't want to miss it."

He followed her dutifully, but inside his mind thoughts spanned. What fortune and why would Ashanti have been dealing with a Hutt? Hutts were known as evil, greedy creatures, and definitely not to be trusted no matter the circumstances. Jedi knights were the exact opposite, honorable, well-intentioned and generous.

Ashanti's next contact was a member of her own race who owned a cantina down the corridor from where she had interrogated Yee. Qui-Gon followed her slight form into the cantina, tamping down his nervousness at the rough atmosphere. Pilots and travelers looked up and then down at their entrance, and a couple looked interested in their arrival. Qui-Gon saw one of the interested parties slip through the side entrance.

"Keep a careful eye out, Qui-Gon," Ashanti whispered. "This wasn't the most brilliant idea I've ever had." Qui-Gon was beginning to agree. The sight of the Jedi caused consternation in the crowd, and though most seemed unwilling to challenge them, a few didn't look that intelligent.

"Ashanti," nodded Sirasam Mohe, his own tail raising and curling in a traditional Titainien greeting. Ashanti returned it. "What can I get you?"

"I ask for the Generous Giving, Sirasam Mohe, can you deliver?" Ashanti spoke in the traditional language of their people.

"That depends, Ashanti, on how badly you want it?" Sirasam forsake tradition but spoke in the language.

Ashanti tipped her head to one side and leaned forward. "By the ancient codes, I ask for information concerning a lost Jedi knight and his padawan on the Planet of Thoughts. I go there now, with certain danger at my back, and I ask a fellowman of the trees to give me information that will even the odds against me."

Sirasam's eyes narrowed and he looked at Qui-Gon, who was busy keeping an eye on the bar's inhabitants. "The Jedi knight lives, the padawan died. 'Tis all I know, Ashanti Vende. I can only offer you rumors, not fact."

"Rumors work just as well." Ashanti quirked a grin at him and he returned it.

"The knight and his apprentice grew too close to the truth. It seems your old friend Marteene the Hutt controls a large portion of The Planet of Thoughts and didn't want to lose his investment."

"And the word on Marteene is..?" prompted Ashanti, sensing there was more.

"He's been hoping you'd come to him someday. A debt he owes you for a fortune slipped through his fingers?" Sirasam's greed glinted in his eyes. "We share, you know, our people. I will take portion of what you have in exchange for the information, Ashanti."

Ashanti grinned. "To yourself this will keep," she instructed him in the ancient language, "but the boy behind me is the fortune. Marteene thinks he has need for a Jedi padawan."

Sirasam burst into laughter, causing heads to look up at them in puzzlement or discomfort. Two Titainiens were unnerving enough as it was. Two of them laughing was downright frightening. The species' natural bent for mischief was often a cause for panic.

"You jest with me!" he accused, wiping tears from his eyes.

"I do not. The boy is what Marteene seeks, but he'll get him over my dead body."

"That is exactly what he intends. I take it you have just taken him as your padawan learner then?" Sirasam pulled two glasses down and filled them with liquid, one amber and one blue. The blue juice he pushed to Qui-Gon and the other to Ashanti. "Neither are intoxicating," he assured Qui-Gon when the youth frowned. "Ashanti and I go way back, before she left for the Temple."

"Yes, he is my apprentice. Thanks, old friend. I just wish I knew what the knight found out that Marteene deemed it so important he risked the wrath of the Jedi Order. To have a knight disappear is not so unusual. To have the knight disappear and the padawan's body returned.." her words trailed off.

"Is tacky," finished Sirasam. "Watch your back and your padawan, for trouble comes to you both."

"Let's go, Qui-Gon," sighed Ashanti.

"May the trees shelter you from harm," Sirasam told her as the two Jedi left his bar.

"And may the rain cleanse your soul," returned Ashanti.

Qui-Gon followed Ashanti out the door and back toward the transport hangar.