Reetha Khan

I stood at the front with Wolffe and Ranz, the other Lew'elan guards waited slightly at the back. Not more than an hour later, as I rested by the fire, the sound of land-speeders woke us. 

The guards gathered their weapons and prepared to fight but I signalled them to stop. Ranz had agreed to open negotiations with these pirates, and hopefully, it does not fail. Wolffe followed me to the main square, where we waited for the pirates. 

"I do hope your negotiations don't fail you. I for one think these scum don't listen to anything, but violence." Ranz licked his lips as he anxiously waited beside me. 

"That does not mean they won't be open to it. You never know until you try." Wolffe checked his blasters, putting them on stun as I told him to, earlier. 

The first few speeders came through the jungle, and soon, we were standing face to face with a band of pirates. Although I believe that they could be reasoned with, I was still on edge, hand ready by my lightsaber. The Weequay pirates stopped at the border of the square, the Lew'elan guards tightened their grips on their weapons. Sparring one last glance to the two men beside me, I stepped forward, asserting my presence and hoped to draw out the pirate leadership.

Both parties did not make a move on the other as they partook in an intense staring competition. Finally, from what seemed like an hour, a Weequay wearing a red cloak boasted his greetings. "Well, well, well. Chief Ranz. I see you have come to greet me! And here I thought we could not be friends." 

"Hondo." I could hear the annoyance dripping of his voice. 

Hondo nodded to Ranz then turned to face me. "And who do we have here? A little lady, it seems. Might a handsome pirate like me get your name as well?" Reaching out his hand to shake mine.

While I nearly choked on my sentence, I spared him a mock salute. "Reetha. Commander Reetha Khan." 

Hondo threw his hands in the air and laughed. "HAHA! A Jedi. Pleased to meet your acquaintance. I assume you have your um, clones, with you?" he looked over my shoulder, scanning the background.

"Oh, there's one right there. Well, not much. Don't be much trouble now!" I turned to look at Wolffe. He was wearing his helmet, but I could already imagine the deadpanned look he wore on his face. 

"So, the word is you have been giving this village some trouble," I said, turning to face the jumpy Weequay. 

"My dear, and where did you hear that rumour? Is it from...the gangly boy?" He pointed a finger at Ranz, getting some laughter from his crew. "He, he now, is my best friend." Hondo walked pass me towards Ranz and threw a hand across his shoulder. 

"See, buddies. Like my mother used to say, make more friends than enemies. Then, you are less likely to die." 

Shaking my head, I decided to get straight to the point. "Save the theatrics. I know why your here." 

Hondo released Ranz and put on a frown on his face. "Straight to the point I see. It seems I cannot beat around the bush as I do with Kenobi." 

I shrugged and tilted my chin to Ranz. "You have caused much trouble for his people. As a Jedi, my duty is to protect the peace. In this case, the peace of his village." 

Hondo sighed and rubbed at his temple. "I am just a simple man, trying to make my way through this universe. Is that wrong?" 

"When the safety of the innocent is jeopardized? Yes." 

Hondo looked at me. I could tell that he was not expecting a Jedi to be involved in this. "What are you doing here anyway? This is not a Republic matter. It's not even a Republic planet. This is no Jedi business." 

"We came here to provide supplies for people, that's all," I spoke with confidence and shifted to lean on my right foot. "However, I did agree to help the chief overcome this problem." 

"BAH!" Hondo exclaimed. "A Jedi does not fight in a fight that does not involve them." 

"Hmm. You're right, but we don't need to fight." I gestured to the centre of the square. "How about we talk this out. Not as Jedi and pirate. But as a peaceful person and.... corrupted tradesmen." 

I could feel the nervousness rise in Hondo's crew and Wolffe, Ranz and the guards. Hondo folded his hands and sighed, deep in thought. "Your offer...... Is..acceptable." Hondo then dramatically turned on his heels and shouted out. "I SHALL OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THIS JEDI!" He waved vigorously to his crew.

As I called Ranz over, Hondo placed a hand on my shoulder. "I have a feeling that we will be, exceptional friends!" 

---

"The issue on the table, Ranz and his villagers have been suffering your raids. He's people have been forced to flee their homes just to protect their safety." 

"As you know Commander, I have NOT harmed any of his people. I just asked for eh, certain things. Roughly." Hondo leaded back on his chair. 

Ranz rolled his eyes. "That would be putting it lightly. You have forced us to give up our things at gunpoint. You even attempted to use children as shields!" 

"But I didn't kill them-"

"THEY ARE CHILDREN!" Ranz pounded his fist on the table. Several Weequay's from Hondo's crew quickly aimed their blasters at Ranz, and the Lew'elan guards trained their weapons on Hondo. 

Before anyone shot, I quickly stood up and told the guards to stand down, as well as the pirates. "Don't shoot." I tried to calm them.

"Why shouldn't we? These idiots have no sense of humanity in them!" Ranz stood up in anger. Now, more Weequay's trained their blasters on Ranz. Thank the Force Hondo didn't decide to add to the trouble. 

"Do not fire! Please." 

Hondo raised his hand, telling his men to stand down. Ranz noticed this, and thank goodness he told his men to do the same. I allowed myself to relax.

Hondo kicked his feet on the table. "Chief Ranz, if you had given me crew and I what we wanted, we would have left you alone aeons ago." 

Ranz leaned against the table. "If we gave you everything we have, we would have nothing to trade. If we have nothing to trade don't get money. If we don-" 

"I KNOW HOW IT WORKS!" Hondo quickly brushed off Ranz. 

"If you know how it works Hondo, surely there must be an alternative to whatever you want from them." I backed up Ranz, knowing Hondo would not listen to him. 

"Reetha, like my mother, always said, if you find a beautiful village out of nowhere, and that village has some fancy, hard to find things that you cannot find anywhere else in the galaxy, take it all." 

"Hondo, there must be something-" Hondo held his hands to my face, stopping me mid-sentence.

"Huh, some mother." Ranz scoffed.

Hondo threw his hand's to his chest in mock hurt and gasped. "DON'T YOU DARE MOCK WHAT MY MOTHER SAID!" The Weequay jumped on his chair and pointed a finger to Ranz. "Take that back!" 

"Take what back! The truth? You sick bastard!" Ranz stood up and glared at Hondo.

"Guys, wait. Let's think about this." I carefully stood up trying to calm the men. They were already drawing the attention of their people. "We can still figure something out." I calmly said. 

"No Reetha we can't. These scum are too prideful for their own good." Without thinking twice, Ranz pulled out his blaster and pointed it at Hondo. Hondo's pirates immediately trained their blasters on Ranz. Ranz people reacted instantly drew out their blasters and aimed them on the pirates and Hondo. Some of Hondo's men armed themselves with grenades as they prepared to throw it. I saw Wolffe take out his blasters and point it past my shoulders, in return, the two Weequays notices him and pointed their blasters to me. This is getting out of hand. 

"Enough! Wolffe put down your blasters." I turned to Hondo. "I came to negotiate Hondo. Tell your men to put down your weapons." 

Hondo only signalled to his men. "We will not shoot your clone or you, little Jedi. Don't worry, our fight is not with the Republic. This runt, however, " Hondo pointed to Ranz, who was now seething with anger. "If he raises guns against me, I will raise my gun on him." Hondo hovered his hand over the blaster by his hip. 

"Ranz, put the blaster down. Now." I said in a warning tone. Ranz didn't budge. "Hondo.." I looked at the pirate. He simple shook his head. "I'm sorry little Jedi." 

I looked at Wolffe asking for some help, but he shook his head slowly, letting me know that the negotiation was failing. I sighed and turned to the two men. 

"Must it really end in a shoot out? " I asked the two of them. 

"Yes," Ranz stood unmoving. "He does not deserve to live." 

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"Hah!" Hondo laughed and spread both of his hands. "So am I worthy to raid Chief Ranz's village?" Then he drew his blaster out and trained it on Ranz. "Or should I just kill you know?" He asked menacingly. 

"Don't shoot!" I shouted, more to Hondo's pirate crew and Ranz's guards. 

Several tense seconds passed, both parties waited for the other to pull the trigger. My hands were still up in surrender, one of us had to. Wolffe's eyes were only trained on me. 

"Kriffing scum!" Ranz hissed. 

Hondo just smiled and smirked, slowly letting his Kowakian Monkey Lizard run and hide in the trees. "Sorry. Old habits and all that." Hondo was about to pull the trigger on Ranz when two of Ranz guards ran to pin Hondo down. 

"Cease fire!" One shouted as he tackled Hondo's legs. "That's our chief your threatening!" 

One of Ranz's guards came in from the right, jumped on the chair and pulled Hondo's armed hand to the sky, while the other grabbed onto his legs. Hondo struggled and lost his balance, falling down, right side. Everyone was distracted by the scene.

His fingers pulled on the trigger while falling, blasting a bolt that whizzed pass an unsuspecting Lew'elan guard, in turn, startling him and causing his to fire a rogue blast that, somehow managed to hit another unsuspecting Weequay. 

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The poor Weequay looked to his leg in horror, shouting after five seconds, as if he finally came out of shock. The other Weequays snapped from the distraction and began looking back and forth between the now screaming Weequay and the Lew'elan. "HEY!" One of the pirates shouted angrily.

"Attack! Avenge me, my pirates! Shoot the gangly boy!" Hondo shouted as he tried to escape his two Lew'elans. 

I winced and bit my lip. 'So much for negotiations.'

Immediately a shoot out sprung to life between the Lew'elans and the Weequay's. Hondo managed to escape from his captors and punched him right at the jaw, but the other Lew'elan crawled up and tackled Hondo against. 

Ranz called his men to attack and they began running towards the Weequay's throwing un-aimed punches. The Weequays began fighting back with punches of their own. 

I stood in the middle of it all and stared blankly at the scene. It was almost pitiful to see the Weequays, not successfully throwing a proper punch without looking drunk. I turned to my side to see Wolffe already standing beside me, equally confused.

While I was stunned by the fight, I noticed Ranz run pass me, about to join the fight. I quickly pulled on his arm. "Time to go!" I yelled at Wolffe and dragged Ranz to run to safety.  

We started running through the crowd, dodging people from left and right. Since Ranz was the pirate's main target, I sensed blaster bolts coming our way. I quickly took out my lightsaber and deflected the shots to the ground. 

"Wolffe!" I quickly passed Ranz to Wolffe, much to his disagreement. "Protect him!" Wolffe nodded and began to stun the pirates that began to concentrate their fire on him. 

A Lew'elan ran passed me and nearly got shot on the shoulder, but I pushed him away and deflected the blast to the sky. "Follow,-" I pushed him down to avoid a thermal detonator (grenade) thrown at us and used the Force to throw the grenade in the sky. 

I quickly pulled him up and told him to get to Wolffe and protect Ranz. Sensing someone approaching me from behind, I spun and gripped their hands, twisting it behind their back and kicking them to another person. 

I quickly looked around to find Wolffe. He sheltered behind a thick bush. I ran towards him. 

"We need to stop this, otherwise they are going to tear each other up." Wolffe pointed to the fight. 

"What? You can't stop the fight! We need to show Hondo that my people are not to be pushed around." Ranz shouted over a loud blast just a few feet away from us. 

I felt a movement in the Force, a grenade was thrown at us but I quickly pushed it to the sky. "Ranz, can't you see what's happening! If you fight continuously, you are going to loose your men. And if you go in there and fight, your going to end up injured. There must be another way." 

"There is no other way!" Ranz pointed to the scene. "Negotiating has failed." 

I looked to Wolffe, asking for advice. "You know we can't fight their battle." Wolffe made a point, but I figured there'd be an alternative to my alternative. 

"Ranz, I know you want to fight, but trust me on this last, alternative plan." 

I watched as Ranz thought to himself, before hesitantly nodding. I reach for his hand and squeezed it lightly before signalling Wolffe to follow me, bringing Ranz and the Lew'elan guard with us. 

"Just cover my flank. This won't take too long." I crounched to the earth beneath my feet and placed both my palms face down on the ground. 

Calming my breath, I channeled the Force to my fingertips. I remembered what Master Plo thought me. I need to control how much of the Force that flows to me, manipulate it to suit my surroundings, but at the same time, not letting the power overcome my emotions. 

The sound of my surrounding blurss out and I connect completely with the Force. My fingers dig deeper into the ground and I feel the Force race through the ground and the air around me. 

Opening my eyes, I humm in satisfication. Around me, Weequay's and Lew'elans alike hover mid-air. I feel every movement of their limbs and I am suddenly aware of their weight in the Force, there and evident but no overbearing. Shot blaster bolts stay frozen in their place, vibrating aggressively.

Wolffe, Ranz and his guard stay grounded by my side, all looking at me in shock. 

Removing his helmet, Wolffe walks to me with a worried look. 
"You okay kid?" 

I only nod as I stand up firmly on my feet. "That's enough!" I command. 

Searching among the crowd, I find Hondo. I drew him from behind a few Lew'elans and brought him hovering just a few feet away from me. 

"Aha! Little Jedi. I see you are exceptionally talented in the Force. Kenobi would be proud of you." He was nervous. 

 "Now, drop your weapons." With one hand, I first released the blaster bolts and other suspended weaponry to the ground, then commanding the Force and placed everyone down on their feet gently. 

"You put down everybody, but me?" Hondo tilted his head felling a little disappointed. I played with some thought in my mind. This man would not leave unless he knows he's not welcomed here every again. 

"I will let you down, but in one condition." I looked him in the eye. 

Hondo averted my gaze. I held it longer. Wolffe and Ranz came behind me and glared Hondo down. Overwhelmed, he gulped, finally sighing in defeat. 

"Let's hear it."

I hummed. "Next time, I don't want to any complaints of you raiding these villagers, ever again. Or better, just don't bother raiding people in this planet." 

He continued to look at me. When I didn't sense any agreement coming from him, I switched my grip on him and held him upside down. 

"Ay aya ya! Do you WANT to make me feel sick!?" 

"I know you like this planet, Hondo. So, if your here next time, just remember that I have eyes and ears here. I will know instantly if you lay a hand on them." 

Hondo scoffed. "You calmness is scary." I crouched to meet his face, evidently scarring him even more. 

"FINE! Fine. I agree." 

Searching his mind with the Force, I find that he genuinely meant it so I turned him upright before gently placing him down. 

I turned to Ranz and urged him to walk to me and Hondo. 

"Do we have an accord?" 

Hondo sighed, again. "Before I say anything, I must say that as a pirate, never EVER had I seen a fight that ended like this. I never liked this planet." He sniffled and rubbed on his nose. "To much..eh, sea. Chief Ranz, I thank you for the fight you put up. Of course, it was nothing. Commands from a gangly and unexperienced boy like you, is ah.... terrible."

Ranz looked at me defeatedly but I smiled at the Weequay's deappan.

 "But your courage is unnoticed. Like my mother always says, bravery cannot be priced. So, you have my respect. Yes, we have an accord."

I smiled, finally able to relax myself completely as the Lew'elan and pirate shake hands. 

---

After the long hours of helping the Lew'elan villagers move back to their homes, Ranz, Wolffe and I walk up Hondo to his ship. I was surprised at first, but Hondo actually returned the items he took from the village. Not all of it, but at least he tried. 

We stopped the the mouth of the ship as a few of his crew wait for him to enter. 

"I, am actually going to miss this... whatever this is." He gestured to the three of us. 

Ranz huffed a chuckle. "I guess.I thank you again for leaving my village in peace." 

Hondo looked at the village behind us. "Yes. I, guess I am to." Then he turned to me.

"Commander Khan, perhaps this is not the last you see of me. It would be, ungentlemanly of me to simple not see you again." Hondo stepped in to, what I think was hug me, but retreated back immediately when he heard Wolffe growl. 

"On second thought, till we meet again. Chief Ranz, out of respect, I give you a pirates promise to be your ally when you village sees trouble." With a nod of his head, Hondo turns and walks to his ship. 

---

Wolffe, Comet, Boost and I sit around the fire. The villagers insisted we stayed to celebrate their return to their holmes. While enjoying  the festivities, I felt a nudge at my side. The three boys looked at me and smirked, Boost tilted his chin to someone behind me. Ranz. I walking over to him, I ignored the snickers coming from the boys. 

Ranz and I hung back from the crowd, resting comfortably on the ground. 

"Thank you." I turned to see Ranz looking at the fire, a smile on his face. He looked calm. I felt calm. 

"Your welcome. It was nothing really." I turned to look at the fire as well. 

Nothing but the muffled voices and music from the people around us, I sighed contently, just enjoying the peace between us.

"You know something Reetha," I hummed, acknowledging him. "I, have never seen any Jedi like you before." 

I side glanced him and laughed. "I'm the only Jedi you've met. Right?" I raised my brow, a smirking up at him. 

He chuckled. "Yeah. Actually, yes. You are the first. Do..do all Jedi to that, Force floating thingy?" 

"Not all Jedi, no." I whispered, not wanting to disturb the peace. 

Sipping from my cup I leaned slightly closer to Ranz. " You know, you actually make a really good chief." 

"Really?" I could hear the smirk in his voice as he leaned down closer to me. I hummed an nodded, looking into his captivating eyes. 

I turned to face the fire, humming happily. Stuck in the moment, I had not realized that Ranz had moved closer to me. It was when I felt something warm and soft touch my cheek. It lingered there for a while and when it left my skin I immediately turned to find Ranz's face close to mine, smiling sweetly at me. "Your wonderful Jedi, Reetha." Seeing as I was speechless, my mouth opening shut and close but no words came out. 

"Good night Reetha." He chuckled then left to join the conversation between the clones and some of the villagers. 

---

Our transport came early the next morning. I watched Master Plo exit an LAAT and walked towards me. 

"Wolffe told me about your work. You did well Reetha. I'm proud of you." He gently squeezed my shoulder then walked off the talk to Ranz.

"So, put in a word for me huh?" I smiled and leaned on Wolffe's side. 

"You did well kid. Very exceptional I might add." He glanced down at me before chuckling and rubbing my head affectionately, before walking off into the LAAT.

I turned around to find Master Plo walking towards me, and a little behind him was Ranz. Suddenly, I remembered last nights talk, I touched the spot on my cheek where he kissed me. 

Master Plo stopped beside me. "If you are ever in need of our help, don't hesitate to call us." 

Ranz nodded then turned his gaze to me. He smiled warmly. "So, I guess, this is it." 

"Yeah" I mumbled. "You seem a lot more happier now." I gestured to his infectious smile. 

He laughed and shuffled on his feet. "What can I say. I can finally relax after month of dealing with Hondo Onaka. Not to mention, I met you." He smiled softly and looked at me one last time. 

"Thank you." I said softly as I tried to absorb the comforting warmth that radiated of him.

He nodded. "Maybe, I'll come by Coruscant some time. How's that sound?" 

"Sounds great." I blushed a little at the thought that he might come down to Coruscant. "Maybe you'll see me here more often. Now the Republic knows your here and all." I winked at him. "I'll see you soon, Ranz." It was his turn to blush. 

I turned to Master Plo and nodded. The boarded the LAAT and watched at the villagers gathered below us and waved us goodbye. 

'May the Force be with you, Ranz'. I smiled.