New Anar City: southern New Anar coastline, Anara III

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If Aven had forfeited his friendship with K'yer, at least he still held the Jedi in favor. Not only did the Tanaken adoptee provide them with food and other essentials, he had managed to spirit them into the presence of the Unakan, Matek Aka. Seeing the two men standing together, Nick could see why Aven considered himself to be a runt: the hunter stood nine inches taller and was very muscular. Where Aven sported hair the color of burnt-umber, Matek's was a little more yellowish, although Aven had lighter eyes. His clothing was all composed of leather and fur, with several knives of various sizes attached to his belt and knee-high boots. He had the look of a fighter--- and a fierce one at that.

Towering over even Master Jinn, the weather-scarred features of the reknowned Hunter had studied them thoughtfully as they waited for his assessment. Without a word, the big Anaran had walked out only to return a short while later with three sets of Hunter's garb, including that Unakan sect's predilection for long, concealing capes of leather. Some skin and hair dye, and---at first glance anyway---the Jedi were made to look passably Anaran. But for Nicholas it was obvious that no amount of coloring dye would avail to conceal his overly furred form. To him, the suddenly uncomfortable-looking Aven proferred a loop of smooth leather cording with a slightly thicker band at one end. There was a small, metal tag attached to the band which was imprinted with the Unakan House symbol.

Nick grimaced disastefully at the thin leather. "And this is?" his expression asked, already guessing the answer.

Refusing to look him in the eye, Aven unclasped the collar band and moved closer to the wary ex-Human's neck. "A pet restraint," he mouthed aside to Qui-Gon. "Matek's suggestion. He's too obvious to conceal should that hood fall back," Aven responded. "This will provide a good enough excuse for his presence to all but those in the know, such as Pohl or the Inquisitors."

"And how is that?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Captured Kievet of... um.. lesser quality were given to the Unakan for use in hunting. This will show that Ayar is Matek's personal property.

His target swiftly jumped out of reach. "What!" Nick growled, baring his chisel-sharp teeth. "I will *not* be *leashed* like some kind of dog!"

His outburst startled the two Anarans, though Matek recovered almost immediately at the revelation that 'Ayar' had spoken.

"Then you will nah be receiving any help from me," Matek finally spoke up himself, eyes cold. "It's bad enough your taller than a true Kievet. I will nah risk *my life* any more than necessary, regardless of profit or work relations."

"Now, now, Ayar, you must try to understand," Aven began speaking to him slowly, carefully enunciating each Basic word as if speaking to a small child. "Without an owner you will be considered fair game. And as a House Director, Matek holds enough clout with everyone save Royalty and my own family to keep you safe. You want to stay safe, donah you?" He addressed the rest to the Jedi. "I'd take him myself except for the fact that every Tanaken knows I'm personally against keeping pets. Also, as a Hunter, Matek travels a lot more easily than I. He doesnah need to get his House Director's permission."

Nick was borderline furious now. He glared at the Anarans. "No! And further more, I'm *not* some brain-damaged idiot, I'm--"

Jinn quickly stepped between the two parties. "Perhaps if the collar was not actually locked, *Ayar*?" he suggested soothingly, but urgently to Nick, stressing the name.

"Well..." Nick hesitated. The Jedi Master's eyes held a warning look: "Don't reveal yourself. Go along with this." He bowed his head and nodded his aquiescence to the silent instruction, grinding his teeth a bit at the thought of being restrained even in a token manner.

Satisfied that Nicholas had control of himself and was not about to go ballistic at the two natives--- Master Poof had warned him of the human's intense dislike of captivity---, Qui-Gon turned to the hunter. "And if I or my padawan held the leash? Would that be acceptable?"

"I donah care who holds it--- the little crit can even hold it himself," Matek grumbled. "Just as long as Ayar wears it and accepts my commands. I cannah afford to have my property openly rebelling. Got too many young toughs eyeing me as it is."

"Each House has their own rules in their own hierarchy. Royalty is determined by Heredity; Tanaken Directors by intellect. Unakan Farmers chose by production ability, while Hunter Directors are chosen by physical fights, and only the Ruenam know how they choose their leader," Aven explained to the newcomers. "Matek has to quite literally *defend* his authority." He scowled, "Life is tough in the Lower Houses. You see why I'm nah terribly fond of lying to Pohl? I owe him everything I have and am."

Nick's anger melted to nothing at that admission; replaced with empathy. How very alike they were... torn between both wanting to be loyal to, and yet at odds with, their adopting 'fathers'. It was a situation that made for some really emotional and heart-rending battles. Not a good way to go through life.

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Okay.... it was only a bit of leather. Nothing terrible. Not even truly uncomfortable since it was resting fairly loosely around his neck with plenty of fur between it and his skin.

So why did he feel as if he was back on 19th Century Earth wearing one of those damned, cardboard-stiff collars again?

Matek noticed his smaller companion's discomfort as he expertly bypassed the office door lock with a slender knife. "Too tight?"

Nick quit squirming; his small claws hooked onto the inner rim of the collar as if to stretch it away from himself even more. He glanced up at Kenobi who was standing guard, one concealed hand resting near the lightsaber clipped to his belt. The young Jedi smiled humorously at the big Unakan. Qui-Gon having reluctantly agreed to Aven's suggestion that they split up on separate missions: The Master with Aven to sneak into the Science Building's secured files section; Matek, himself, and Nick to scan Pohl's office for his personal papers on the Kievet. Obi-Wan was not happy at being separated from his master, but they *were* on something on a deadline. And the faster they got the information, the faster they could get back to their transport and Coruscant--- hopefully never to lay eyes on this world again.

"Too... *there*, I think." Obi-Wan translated with just the barest disapproving clip to this voice.

Matek grunted as he led them inside the Science Director's office and pointed out a large file cabinet. "What you need will be in there."

Obi-Wan sent to the cabinet and pulled out the top drawer. "And what is it we are looking for, exactly?"

"A list of Etwan words translated into Anaran."

Pulling out a few papers to scan through, Kenobi sighed heavily. {{ Well, Bantha poodoo. }} He tapped the papers against the outside of the cabinet in mild disgust. "I don't suppose you'd care to help sift through all of this? Seeing as my own Anaran is rather sketchy as yet?"

Matek reluctantly took some papers and squinted at them. Then he turned the pages end over end as if unsure which part was the top.

"Uh... you *can* read, right?" Obi-Wan asked with dawning suspicion.

The hunter scowled sourly at him. "More than most of my House. I *am* the Hunter Director."

"Which means?"

"I can... get by.... usually." Matek tossed the paper's down in defeat, "but I donah *recognize* any words in those. He's camouflaged them somehow."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Wonderful. It might be a tad suspicious if we're seen walking out of here with a file load of documents stashed in our arms." Nick snickered at that.

"The guards might find it so, aye," Matek agreed.

Obi-Wan felt a tug on his sleeve, but his mind was distracted by this unexpected snag in their mission. More than anything, he hated failing Qui-Gon. There had to be an answer to finding the needed information.

"So.. what would you suggest we do now?"

"Go home and eat dinner."

"Oh, *that's* an idea."

"You asked, Jedi."

Another tug on his sleeve.

"Just a moment, Ayar," he told Nick, absently.
"Are you *sure* you don't know what 'K'tlysa' means?"

"Aye, I'm sure," Matek snarled impatiently, already aggravated at having had to look 'weak' in the alien's eyes. "I told that Jinn of yours already: the 'Ke' means it has to do with their mysticism, and the 'tly' stands for singing. But I donah remember what 'sa' means. I only remember the first two because those are the major components of the males' general name. Learning Etwanese wasnah big on my 'to do' list in the first place. Nahr was keeping it in memory after we left that raparishly cold rockpile!"

Nick glanced from one to the other in mounting anxiety. If only Kenobi would pay attention to him for just a second! {{ Oh, to *heck* with it! }}

"Excuse me---- but should that red light be flashing like that?"

"What?"

"Huh?"

Both men turned around and saw the blinking ruby bulb winking on and off on a panel above their heads.

"Oh, Sith!"

Matek was at a loss. Technology was still fairly new in the cities; almost unheard of in the yarcus. He---as did all Hunters---tended to distrust anything that didn't have a heartbeat to go with it. "What is *that* doing up there?" he grumbled. "Something else of that Serg, I suppose. Though, what good--"

"It's a *security* alarm, you big oaf!" Obi-Wan swore between his teeth, already making for the door. "You must've triggered it off! We have to get out of here *now*!"

He yanked open the door only to come face to chest with a squad of goons almost as big as Matek. All sporting wicked looking guns with the barrels pointed at their heads. Even if he could reach his lightsaber in time, there was no way he could prevent at least one of his companions from getting their heads blown off.
"This is definitely *not* good." He slowly raised his hands in surrender while sending a telepathic message to Qui-Gon.

[[ Master?]]

++ You found something, Padawan? ++

[[ Not *exactly*, Master. ]] He sensed his teacher frowning thru their training bond.

++ Would *exactly* be best interpreted to mean you're in trouble? ++

[[ Most would translate it that way, yes. We've been caught in the Director's office. ]]

++ On my way. ++

Qui-Gon sent a wave of comfort to his padawan, before bringing himself fully back to the here and now. "Aven, it seems the events of the day decree a change in plan. Where would intruders of of an important office room be taken to?"

Aven paled noticeably. "To the Director."

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End of Episode Two: Part Three