Good Jedi Bad Jedi: Below the Temple

Ch.6 - The Unseen

'Come on Tuk!' Master Arten tried coaxing the borderline unconscious elderly Sullustan, his head fallling forward once again, the being's large jowls and ears making a disturbing, wet slapping sound as they hit the the grimy table.

Without turning his hooded head, Master Arten shouted back through the empty bart at Mel who was busy behind the counter fiddling with an unseen appliance, 'Is that caf ready yet?'

'One minute Master Jedi, Dina is in her recharging cradle, and I am not so familiar with how this caf machine works.'

Calia was just glad she wasn't asked to wait outside the Sarlaac Pit this time.

Master Arten had been at it for almost thirty minutes already, but the Sullustan, Tuk, was clearly in no condition to say anything, he didn't seem in condition to be doing anything really, besides maybe sleep, and she didn't think he was doing a particularly good job at that either. Except for a Jedi Knight or Master enjoying an occasional glass of wine with a meal, Calia was almost completely unfamiliar with the effects of alcohol. Despite her lack of knowledge surrounding alcoholic beverages, she knew it wasn't good to be this intoxicated before it was even midday.

Tuk raised his head up again, and turned to vacantly observe the room with his large, completely black eyes bordered by deep wrinkles. He spoke again, but Calia's Sullustese wasn't great, without even taking into account how slurred his speaking was. However, she gathered he said something along the lines of: how good it was to see Master Arten again, how it had been too long, confusion at who Calia was, assuming she was his daughter or niece, again, telling him he had a great-grandson who would be a great match. All with the occasional word of Basic thrown in. It was the third time she had heard it all, and was fairly confident she had the translation down.

Sitting down at the small table, its surface peppered with old stains and dents, she leaned towards Master Arten, whispering as Tuk continued rambling, 'Master, are you sure we can trust anything he has to tell us? I don't think he even knows where he is right now.'

Master Arten, not bothering to whisper despite how perceptive Tuk's hearing must have been with his large ears, said 'Trust me, Ole Tuk might lose himself in the sauce, but I can always rely on him, right Tuk?'

Smack! Tuk's head was back on the table.

'Mel we really need that caf over hear!' Master Arten called back again without turning his head. Speaking to Calia again (the fact he never bothered to look at who he was talking often made it confusing), 'We just need to sober him up a bit.'

Calia wasn't so reassured. 'Master-'

'I keep telling you, just call me Arten.'

'Master Arten,' she corrected herself, he snorted at her stubbornness as she continued asking, 'What makes you think he'd know anything useful? Aside from the issue of how reliable it might be. If these weapons are so dangerous, and we are trying to find the sellers? Would it not be best to start with the buyers?'

Master Arten chuckled to himself, 'It's exactly that kind of attitude that makes beings like Tuk here so useful,' he said gesturing to the once again unconscious Sullustan. The growing pool of drool undermined his argument. 'My own master referred to beings like Tuk as the Unseen. They're the beings who are everywhere, but nowhere, see everything, but are never seen, who keep the galaxy moving, but always stay in the same place. Let's paint you a picture. If you and me where in some seedy, dank, dark joint-

'You are excusing me Master Jedi!' Mel objected, as he set down the steaming cup of caf in front of Tuk.

'Sorry Mel, was just trying to make a point.' Seemingly unsatisfied, but huffing with his usual snorting chuckle, Mel walked back to his bar to continue cleaning from the previous evening. Master Arten continued, 'If you and me where trying to make some kind of deal, because most smart dealers know to negotiate somewhere in public before bringing any hardware or product, would you think twice about an old Sullustan passed out in the corner? No, no you wouldn't, we'd assume he can't hear us, and even if he could no one would listen to him. It's because beings like Tuk are taken for granted that they can know so much if you just ask.'