Chapter Text
The Mantis cruises steadily through the dark vacuum of space, Greez had no particular course in mind but as long as it’s anywhere that isn’t interested in severing one of his arms and make a kebab out of it—it’s fine, until one of the indicators in the main control panel in the cockpit started to beep erratically while blinking red on its screen.
“That is not a good sign,” Greez groaned.
“Are we losing power?” Cal exclaimed.
“The external engine is heating up after that goose chase with the pirates in the Totera Maze! They shot us, remember?”
“Greez, what is the nearest system in our proximity?” Cere asked demandingly.
“Tatoo system, my nearest planet is Tatooine—nothing special about it but I guess we’ve got no choice!”
Greez floored it as Cere rushed to send a transmission to any available outpost on the planet—nothing. Once the ship entered the atmosphere, Greez flicked all the switches and pressed all the buttons that could help soften the Mantis’s landing.
“Come on, baby, pull through!” Greez shouted as he struggled to pull up the main steering lever as the ship darts down to land.
“Everybody brace yourselves!” Cere warned.
The ship plummeted down to the planet and practically tore the surface as the Mantis scraped the landing. Greez was able to prep the landing cycle in time but the velocity of the landing was still too great for the ship to make a soft landing. Luckily, it’s nothing but a scratch on the old girl—saves you from the trouble of Greez’s ceaseless ranting and directionless blaming that may cost you five minutes or so.
“Happy landing, huh?” Cal jabbed.
“I’ve seen worse,” Cere added.
All of you regain your composure after that intense landing, checking yourselves for bruises or cuts—no injuries so far. Cal jumped out of his shotgun seat and ran up to you at the lounge where you braced together with Merrin. He thoroughly checks on you for any bruises or cuts, you insisted you’re fine, and joined everyone outside to check the damage.
The Mantis hasn’t much damage on the outside, but if you want to get farther into the galaxy, the ship is going to need some repairs.
“We can’t simply tow this to the nearest mechanic bay, we’re probably at the boundary of the town,” you point out.
True, you were at the boundary. The only way getting to the town proper is by walking, before heading there, all of you took your time in preparing for the stuff that you’ll be needing when dealing and haggling. Earlier before Cere let you go pack your things, she mentioned something at the very end with great importance, she told you to bring “lots” of stuff.
“When Cere said ‘lots,’ I assumed she meant a lot,” your tongue curled between your teeth when you said the last two words for emphasis.
“That’s the only thing that makes these dealers talk,” Cal replied, at par with your playful sarcasm.
“Don’t I know it,” you scoffed back, remembering the scum and villainy you had to endure before you became a part of the crew.
He looked around the quarters and noticed that he’s missing a poncho. It was one of his favorite ones and you have “borrowed” it.
“Looking for something?” you teased, leaning over the doorway to the quarters.
He sighed, “So, that’s where my favorite poncho went,”
You made a face, a playful yet enticing one at that, an expression that screams, “Come and get it” as you flicked both of your eyebrows up as response to Cal.
All of a sudden, Cal Force-pulls you close to him, holds you down with his arms locked around you tight, and tickles you into submission.
It was a battle of “Gimme!” and “No!” in between laughter, at the same time, he pokes you in all of your weak spots. For every time you refuse, you receive the blood-curdling punishment of a thousand tickles under the wrath of Cal Kestis.
You retaliate, you know his weak spots too; and he stumbles to the ground with you. The little brawl eventually ended up in a deadlock with both of you on the floor.
Cal proposed a truce with you and you caved. You helped him stand up; when you gave a quick, strong pull of your arm, he landed a quick peck on your lips to seal the deal and strode out of the quarters.
“Wow, I love that sucker,” you told yourself as you slung your bag over your shoulder.
BD-1 chirped happily and you giggled. He was teasing you with your swooning. You took BD-1 into your arms and went out of the quarters to join with everybody else.
Greez and Cere were checking the damage on the ship, the captain assessed on what parts the ship needs and all of you were guessing how much all of the required parts are going to cost. None of you have any prior knowledge to Tatooine; not even Cere, Greez contributed very little information about this planet except describing it as a backwater planet and a perfect hideaway for fugitives. The youngsters—you, Cal, and Merrin—absolutely have nothing in your minds about this arid place until now.
“It’s a planet far out of the reaches of the Republic, lawlessness is their law,” Cere deduced.
“We’ll be careful,” you softly say.
“We’ll split up. We’ll cover more ground that way and maybe we’ll have our luck scattered here, keep your comlinks open,” before she could mention her last condition, she raised her finger at the three of you. “And my cardinal rule when in unfriendly planets: stay alive.”
“Yes, Cere,” the three of you youngsters say in chorus, almost as if she was your mother—which doesn’t seem too far-fetched, she is always looking out for you all this time.
Greez stepped in, his second pair of arms on his waist while the first pair were raised in mid-air as if surrendering to something.
“Look, I can’t believe I’m saying this but since we’re splittin’ up with the kids, Cere, I think I’d like to have the Nightsister with us—you know, just in case some mooks try to do something funny on us,”
“Warming up to Merrin, are we now, Greez?” Cal teased.
“Look! I’m saying that if blasters don’t work, and since the only two Jedi are together, magick is my best bet here!” Greez defended.
“It’s okay, Greez, I got your back,” Merrin sincerely said, although you noted the teasing tone she uses to freak Greez out.
Now that it’s settled, the crew trekked through the barren outskirts and split up the moment that you’ve reached the road to the town.