Earthlings 2: The Dark Age

7

"Another order from Ryloth," Kendall announced, plopping the datapad on Cid's desk. "Apparently Gobi Glie got wind of your weapons haul a while back and bid 10,000 credits for a few crates of ammo."

"That guy always wants weapons!" Cid scoffed, crossing her arms. "What's he building, an arsenal?!"

"Well, Glie is a freedom fighter, isn't he?" Kendall pointed out. "Maybe the Empire's doing something to Ryloth-"

"They got plenty of weapons already," Cid muttered. "What're they gonna need more for?"

"Oh, perhaps the Empire took them all after the war ended," Kendall theorized. Demilitarization of local militias was commonplace nowadays. "And judging from how it's been elsewhere..."

Cid drew out a breath, tapping her desk a bit. "You got a point there... all right, fine. It's a deal. I'll call in the squad for a briefing."

--

19 BBY, Ryloth

Marien huffed, trudging along like a convicted criminal as he, Hera Syndulla and her droid were led into the courtyard of the Capitol building of Lessu by the garrison officer, Clone Captain Howzer. General Syndulla approached the group after the last Twi'lek dropped off her weapon, eyeing them quizzically.

"Sorry about this, General, but they were found inside a restricted zone," Howzer began as Cham regarded his daughter.

Hera scoffed. "We were just exploring..."

"I'm in a tough spot, Cham," Howzer said, stepping forward. "Between us, things are a little tense at the moment. I won't report this, but it can't happen again."

"I assure you it won't," Cham replied solemnly. "Thank you, Howzer."

With that, Howzer turned to Marien, who looked up at him. "C'mon, let's go find the Admiral, kid."

Waving sheepishly to Hera, Marien scampered after the clone captain. "It's not like Dad would miss me while he's talking business with Senator Taa..."

"He'd probably miss you once he's done talking business with the Senator," Howzer replied wryly.

"Yeah, which is a million years later," Marien muttered under his breath. "I don't always tag along in his work meetings, and most of them take forever, anyway."

Howzer chuckled softly. "Forever is an overstatement, kid."

In truth, Marien had opted out because he didn't want to be around Taa 24/7. That guy was a big fat moron who cared for little other than money, power, and his own life. Most of his Twi'lek peers in the Coruscant Academy had just 2 lekku; Taa had 4, and judging from that Marien had a feeling he would die soon from health complications. 

Great, now he was sounding like his friend Syril.

Thanks a LOT, Karn-! He wanted to shout to the entire galaxy. For influencing me to the point where our kriffing MINDS are alike-

They soon managed to meet up with his father and Commander Crosshair outside the office, the latter of whom regarded the two with a look before popping a toothpick in his mouth. Marien grimaced. He could never get used to that shady face of his...

Father crossed his arms before eyeing Marien. "Where have you been ?" 

"Exploring," Marien replied with a shrug. "Where's the Senator?"

"I just finished talking with him in my office. I thought you'd be away for half an hour at the most, not an hour and a half. "

"I was outside Lessu, how would you expect me to get back on foot? I can't even ride the speeders here..."