The White Twi'lek/Chapter 10

Just going back to the prison, even if it wasn’t Coco Town, brought back memories to Jali. Memories that he wished he’d never had. The artificial smell of the air that so seldom left the building, the measured tread of metal-toed boots coupled with the thock of the stun baton against the guard’s thigh, and the sound of the security grid coming on. Jali shivered, he still hadn't forgotten his first night.

From the front desk, Antiene and Jali followed the guard to the visiting room. The guard took out a ring of code keys and pressed one into the lock panel. The door slid open and he let them inside, closing the door behind them after they went in.

Sitting at a metal table in the middle of the room was Tira. Jali hardly knew her, even with the barely-hostile look she gave him that he remembered from her trial. Her face was thin and pale, her cheek bones more pronounced and her collarbone perceptible beneath the grey prison tunic. Tira’s hair hung in lank curtains around her face and it was dark at the roots, her hands were cuffed and were folded in front of her.

She glared at Antiene as they both sat down opposite her.

“I always knew he preferred blondes,” she said bitterly, “glad to see some things haven’t changed.”

“She’s a Jedi, Tira,” Jali said pointedly.

Tira turned to look at Jali. “Well you have done well for yourself, then,” she mocked.

This was one of the reasons why he had asked Antiene to come with him to see Tira. He knew she still held a grudge against him for what happened to her, though Jali wasn't sure what Tira had expected him to do. Probably move half the galaxy from it’s current rotation, he reflected.

He put his packet of cigarettes on the table and lit one up.

“I was wondering if you could help me, Tira,” Jali said.

Tira snorted. “And give me one good reason I should.” She nodded to Antiene. “Unless she can get me out of here.”

“I doubt whether even my influence can commute two murder convictions,” Antiene replied in a low voice. “But I could get you transferred to something better, unless…” She let the word drag on, not needing to finish it.

“Give me one of those,” she said, nodding to the cigarettes, “and I might.”

Jali pushed the packet towards her, Tira took two, putting the second one behind her ear for later. She lit up the cigarette and looked straight at Jali. “What do you want to know?”

“A Twi’lek female named Trevali,” Jali said. “I need to get in contact with her.”

Tira nodded again at Antiene. “Haven’t you got enough?”

“Tira,” Jali warned.

“Fine, I knew her when I left the Seventh Star,” Tira spat, blowing smoke in Jali’s face.

“Why doesn’t Miarka know her then?” Jali demanded, he had spoken to Miarka shortly after Nobu had been killed, but the Zeltron hadn't been able to tell him anything.

“Because Miarka doesn’t know her!” Tira shouted back. “I met her after I left the Star, she worked for Senator Stoll.”

“Senator Stoll of Vergoda?” Antiene asked.

Tira rolled her eyes, waving the cigarette with her fingers and covering Jali with smoke. “Is there any other?”

“What did she do for the Senator?” Jali asked. “Other than the very obvious.”

Tira ignored this. “She was some sort of go-between with him and Nuada, at least she was until I took that position.”

Tira’s reticence was almost exasperating. “And then what?” Jali prompted.

“Well, she’d have to be a little higher up since I replaced her,” Tira answered, clearly enjoying the fact that she had Jali in a position where he needed her. “But it will probably better if I contacted her first.

“Didn’t think you’d be worried about my safety,” Jali chided gently.

“I’m not,” Tira spat, “I'm worried about hers.” She tilted her head to one side. “I’ll tell Trevali to find you, it shouldn’t be that hard.”

“I’ll keep a look out,” Jali promised.

“So, what’s this going to get me?” Tira asked.

“That depends,” Antiene answered.

“On what?” Tira asked.

“Whether the information is worth it or not,” the Jedi said. “Of course,” she added with a smile, “if it’s worth as much as a glass of iced water on Ilum, we’ll be back for another chat.”

“And if it is worthwhile?” Tira asked.

“Then someone else will be in touch with you,” Antiene replied crisply.



“You are going to help her, aren’t you?” Jali asked when they were outside.

“I’ll keep my promise,” Antiene assured him, “provided you tell me how your interview with Trevali goes.”

“Don’t you want to be there to meet her?” Jali asked. Antiene had said she would play a minimal role, but for some reason Jali found her presence reassuring.

“It’ll probably turn out worse for you if I’m there.” She gave him a half-smile. “And,” she added, “if Trevali is anything like I expect, you’ll do a lot better if I wasn’t there. I’ll be seeing you,” she said, turning a corner and she was gone.