Artel rose early in the morning and woke Ballo and Doc. The sun was only just rising up over the tall green tree tops, the sky a light pinkish hue, and there was a soft breeze blowing. Artel took three speeder bikes from the back of the shuttle, handed Ballo a tattered old robe and a trainee lightsaber and the trio set off. Artel took a moment to look back over his shoulder at the sleeping figure of Opa before disappearing through the trees and towards the city.
Artel felt alive as he sped through the trees, but the Rodian looked half-asleep, slumped in the saddle of his bike, and Ballo looked set and determined, yet had large bags beneath his eyes.
It was a couple of long hours before Artel felt his communicator, which he wore on a chain around his neck, vibrate. He pulled it out with one hand while skilfully navigating a cluster of trees and activated it.
"Master?" a voice came through.
"Opa!" Artel exclaimed, a smile lighting up his face. "What is it?"
"I'm just checking you're alright."
Artel chuckled. "Of course I'm alright. I'm your Master, remember?"
She laughed too. "Well... good luck, Master."
"You too. You take care of yourself, alright?"
"I... I will, Master." She sounded rather nervous.
"Don't worry," Ballo added, his voice deep and gruff "My clone troops will look after you alright, Opa."
"See you soon, Master. And, Master... May the Force be with you."
"Goodbye, Opa. And may the Force be with you, too."
They broke free of the enormous forest later that morning and skimmed across the mass of dry, cracked ground leading towards the city. Artel could see the shield, glowing faintly red in the sunlight, but didn't see the city until they were right on top of it.
The capital city of Atairis-Deta, and of the Atairis System as a whole, was surrounded by a massive wall that blocked the city from view. As Artel and his companions passed into its shadow, they could see several gun emplacements along the edge of the wall and men looking down on them suspiciously.
They joined a short queue to enter the city. Several dozen people were lined up outside the massive gates; farmers pulling supply wagons, traders carrying their wares on their backs, refugees riding tall, camel-like beasts known as Acreppos and all manner of others. Artel, Doc and Ballo took their place in the line behind a weary Twi'lek dressed in rags and dragging a sled piled with droid parts scavenged from all across the planet. He stopped, breathless, letting go of the sled and bending over, his hands on his knees.
"Let me help you with that," Artel offered kindly, taking one of the ropes of the sled while his speeder hovered by him, like an obedient pet.
The Twi'lek looked up at him suspiciously. His skin was a light pink and his head-tails made their way down to his waist. His eyes were sunk back into his skull and his arms were thin. He looked almost like a ghost.
"It's alright," Ballo added, following Artel's lead and taking the other rope of the sled. "We'll help you get it into the city."
The queue moved and the group of them shuffled forward. The Twi'lek eyed them both suspiciously, but as they made no move to steal any of his wares, he unbent and smiled at them. He had very few teeth and his breath stank.
"Me name's Ajiarr," he introduced himself, pointing to his chest with a thin pink finger tipped with a grubby nail.
"I'm Artel," Artel introduced himself. "Bolo Artel."
"Ballo," Ballo said gruffly.
"And I'm Doc," finished Doc.
"What are you going into the city for?" asked Artel.
Ajiarr scoffed, grinning again. "You're not the brightest Caloophi in a brood, are ya?" He motioned towards the sled. "Floggin' my wares," he explained briefly. "You?"
"We've got business inside the city."
The Twi'lek drew in closer. He was rather small, hunched over, and wrinkled from head to toe. "What kinda business?" he wheezed, eyes bright.
"Business with the Baron Administrator," Doc explained.
Ajiarr's eyes gleamed in the sunlight. "You don' look like the sort to 'ave business with the Baron."
"Or the type to own speeder bikes?" Ballo pointed at the three bikes, still hovering beside them.
Ajiarr looked them up and down. "Not bounty 'unters, are ya?"
"No," Artel said decidely.
"Then who?"
Artel pulled back his robe and showed the old man his lightsaber, buckled to his belt.
"J... Jedi???" The old man's eyes grew wide with fear. He snatched the ropes from Ballo and Artel and let them pass, his eyes never leaving them. He took his place in the line several places behind them and hollered, "You leave me alone, alrigh'? You jus' leave me alone!"
It took them almost an hour before they reached the gates of the city. They were let in almost immediately and parked their bikes by the entrance before making their way through the city towards the central complex, a tall spire right in the centre that housed the Baron Administrator's apartment.
Artel pressed the doorbell and they were let in almost immediately by a young Neimoidian secretary. She looked calm and collected on the outside, but Artel could feel the doubt and the conflict in her mind as they stepped into the reception area and stood by the desk.
"We're here to see the Baron Administrator," Artel announced.
"May I have your name, sir?"
"Bolo Artel."
The Neimoidian checked the computer screen, quickly scanning the list. "You're on here," she said. "You're an hour late."
"We got held up at the gates."
She shrugged. "Ok, then. Can I have some authorisation?"
Artel unhooked his lightsaber from his belt and placed it on the desk in front of her. "Here's my authorisation."
She looked it up and down, nodded, then pressed a button on her desk to bring the lift down. "The Baron doesn't have ay other appointments at this time, so you can go straight through."
Artel, followed by Doc and Ballo, made to enter the lift, but the Neimoidian stopped them. "Who are these?" she demanded, pointing at Ballo and Doc.
"They're with me," Artel replied. Ballo lifted up his robe and showed the Neimoidian his training lightsaber.
Apparently satisfied, the Neimoidian let Ballo through. "And who's he?"
"The personal doctor to Master Artel," Doc explained.
"Alright. He'll be upstairs."
All three of them entered the lift and began the journey to the top of the spire. Artel caught one last glimpse of the Neimoidian lady before she disappeared from view and they were flying.