1UNDER TWO SUNS
This is an adventure that happened during the Clone Wars featuring a young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Duchess Satine Kryze. Please comment nicely!
"More trouble in the Outer Rim." Obi-wan Kenobi shook the sleeping female by the shoulder. "Satine, wake up! It's Joolah Plunk. He's selling Zooze crystals to the miners of Carbide Four. That sort of traffic is expressly forbidden by the Galactic Senate."
"But Carbide Four is within our economic sphere." Duchess Satine Kryze sat up on the deep soft-cushioned lounger, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Order my space ship made ready at once!"
"Are you sure? It's a long journey, and the mines are dangerous." Obi-wan hadn't expected Satine to jump into action so quickly. She'd been sleeping when he first entered her private chamber, her night attire showing off shapely legs and a stunning figure.
"In that case we'd better get going at once. Would you mind stepping out of my chamber so that I can dress?" Satine didn't mean to snap at Obi-wan. But his searching gaze made her acutely aware of her body's primitive response to his presence. Last night she had dreamed of being toppled from power, pursued by assassins, and rescued by Obi-wan Kenobi. Yet in her dream the proud Jedi acted not out of duty but out of passionate love for her. And she responded by giving up all her power and authority.
That could never happen!
"More miners are dying in the Red Sector than ever before." Aboard her silver spaceship, Obi-wan reached into his robe and put a glowing memory cube on the table. The recorded images showed clusters of dead miners lying on piles of rubble, their lifeless faces wreathed in a ghastly smile.
"Very clearly they were drugged before they died." Musing over the pleasurable effects of the drug, Satine studied the images.
"They may have drugged themselves," Obi-wan replied. "Zooze crystals are synthesized from highly unstable mineral ores. Used properly they allow miners to endure fatigue and go days on end without sleep. Used improperly they can enslave the innocent. The user experiences a brief sense of bliss and unlimited power, followed by absolute exhaustion. The blissful state never lasts long, so the user craves the drug in greater and greater doses."
"Thus causing greater and greater profits for the manufacturer." Satine saw immediately the enormous potential for her planet. The New Mandalorian movement depended on profitable trade. But not at the price of transforming poor miners into drug slaves!
Carbide Four was a brutal and lawless planet, but when the space ship landed Duchess Satine stepped onto a rich red carpet and was greeted at once by a smooth-voiced droid in glowing gold.
"Duchess Satine Kryze, we are honored by your presence! Will you and your companion accompany me to the palace of Joolah Plunk? We have reserved an entire wing for your private use."
"I'd like to speak with Joolah face to face." Satine lifted a slim bejeweled hand, shading her blue eyes from the white-hot glare. Carbide Four orbited a double sun and true darkness was unknown. It was a very hot day, and the droid's glittering gold armor reflected the light of both blazing yellow suns.
"Joolah has a face that's mostly a long, flexible sucking tube," said a rough male voice. "It's only good for taking nourishment, so he communicates with others by clicking his long sharp claws."
"Hammer Haxton!" Obi-wan greeted the tall, sun-bronzed stranger like an old friend. The man wore a wide-brimmed black hat and had a shiny silver blaster strapped to his side. His tall boots and faded garments showed years of outdoor wear.
"You two know each other?" Duchess Satine sensed something strange in the connection between the young Jedi and the rough desert outlaw. But neither one seemed in a hurry to enlighten her.
"Haxton, we have to see first-hand what's happening in the mines. Who's really processing those crystals? The two of us need to find some answers."
"The three of us need to find some answers!" Satine stamped her foot on the plush red carpet. The two foolish males were so wrapped up in each other that they hardly even noticed her!
"It's important to respect the hospitality of the locals, duchess." Hammer Haxton tipped his hat to the steaming hot Satine. "You go along with the hospitality droid, rest a spell, and we'll meet you this evening at the Double Sun. That way you can see what's doing in Joolah Plunk's palace while we explore the mines."
"He's undoubtedly got spies watching us," Obi-wan put in. "You go with the droid, Satine. He's clearly the latest hospitality model, 2B-EZ4U. Remember this is supposed to be a diplomatic visit. Keep up the image of a visiting dignitary."
"Very well," Duchess Satine said brightly. She swallowed her anger at the two men and smiled at the shiny droid. "Lead the way, Easy Four. And please express my thanks to Joolah Plunk!"
