Kai awoke the next morning more than a little sore from having spent the night with only a blanket between her and the floor. In an effort of being polite to her host, she had accepted the offer of staying the night instead of returning to the Comet. Aine had woken up early, saving Kai from having to spend more time on the hard ground, and they had rapidly made their way out.

   Walking through the busy morning streets of Gurggo outpost, the best time of day to go about one’s business before the heat started its daily reign, Aine led Kai to a transport that would take them to Jiirie. It was an old rusty piece of work that almost made Kai compulsively jump into a few repairs. Its large open windows had half-functioning shutters that she guessed were meant to be closed in case of a bad sandstorm, or an attack by raiders, but most likely a sandstorm she told herself. Aine and Kai took their place towards the back, holding on to handles hanging from the top of the transport.

   The trip took several hours but Kai didn’t have a moment to herself. Aine kept her entertained telling stories of Jakku, of its shifting sand dunes, of the tougher terrains that could be found to the north and of different cities, towns and settlements and what they were known for. The city of 10,000 moons, for instance, was named after its particularly white sand that at night would reflect the light from the planet’s two moons so intensely that it would seem as though the city was made of thousands of little orbs of light. Aine also found it important to share a few survival tips.

   “And that’s why you don’t ever want to go blindly shooting at the sand. You never know what you’re making angry,” Aine explained, finishing a story about a rather unfortunate merchant who would have done better to find another way of expressing his frustration.

   “Ah, we’re coming up on it now,” Aine said, pointing at the approaching settlement through the gap of a broken shutter.

 

   Jirrie didn’t seem like much to Kai and was even smaller than Gurggo outpost. With a modest spaceport, Gurggo served as a small trade centre, encouraging at least some activity. All Kai could make of Jirrie was a few of the same types of clay structures and very limited outside movement, most of which was coming from the passengers that had just gotten off their transport. Aine led the way through the settlement with Kai following dubiously behind.

   “It’s not far,” Aine affirmed, peeking around as if searching for something. “But first, time for some food,” she said, turning sharply left, seemingly having located whatever it was she had been looking for. Down a narrow alley, they came to a simple stand covered with different types of snacks and eats. Most of what was on display, Kai had never seen, and she was between curious and cautious of the collection of coloured dips and the differently sized deep-fried options.

   “What’ll it be?” Aine asked Kai with a side glance, certainly aware of Kai’s ignorance and perhaps curious to see what she would pick.

   Rapidly scanning the available options, Kai settled on what looked like a salad that had at least some ingredients she thought she recognised.

   Aine chuckled. “Good choice,” she said to Kai and turning to the food stand owner added “I’ll have the same,” with a wink.

   The two sat down on wooden stools nearby to eat, enjoying the shade and the refreshing breeze that occasionally made its way through the alley. The salad turned out to be quite appetising, the refreshing cucumbers contrasting with the spicy chickpeas and the agreeably sour little bits of red that she was told were pomegranate seeds, mixed together in a creamy tahini dressing.

   Back in the streets they soon arrived at what Kai hoped was their final destination. She wasn’t enjoying the feeling of being stranded on an unknown planet even if the experience so far hadn’t been utterly disagreeable. The concern Kai was feeling, however, was soon far from her mind. Entering the unassuming clay structure behind her guide, Kai was swept away by the wonder that lay in front of her. Drills were buzzing, hammers were banging and saws were humming as mesmerising sparks jumped in the air. Ship parts of all types and calibers were stacked in different piles around the main workstation where a few humans and aliens were hard at work.

   “Think you’ll find what you need?” Aine asked, although Kai hardly heard her. She had ventured to one of the nearby piles and had started examining one part after another, eyes wide with admiration. Before she had the chance to look at too many, she was rudely interrupted by a scruffy-looking man with grease marks on his face.

   “This ain’t a library,” the man called-out to Kai who reluctantly put down the part she was holding. “What’s your business?”

   “I need a transpacitor for a light freighter,” Kai said flatly.

   The man looked at Kai, an eyebrow raised. “You fried it with a faulty hyperdrive wiring, didn’t you?”

   Kai didn’t know if she should be impressed or offended.

   “It happens more often than you’d think,” he explained. “Rookie mistake.”

   Offended, definitely offended.

   “Loyd, stop giving her a hard time,” Aine interrupted, saving Kai from having to think of a snarky reply. It looked like Aine knew her way around this part of town as well, to no surprise.

   “All right, all right. Still a rookie mistake, can’t deny that,” Loyd insisted.

   “Well it looks like that mistake has brought you a customer so how about we get to it?” Kai said, snarkiness back at the ready.

   “Feisty,” Loyd said with a smirk. “I can see why you like her,” he said to Aine.    “We’ve got what you need. But it’s not cheap.”

   There marked the beginning of a tedious bargaining process that Kai was more than familiar with, although she wasn’t used to being in a position of such obvious weakness. Loyd knew very well how much she needed the part, and he had no reason of doing her any favours. Kai unhooked the datapad she had attached to her belt that served as a holoprojector as well as a comlink and a holocaster, and went through a few of the parts she had prepared to trade. Loyd’s only interest seemed to be in the jamming device, as expected.

   “It’s a neat piece of equipment,” Loyd said, taking a closer look at the scan, “but it’s not enough for a transpacitor.”

   “It’s not like anything you’ve seen, I can assure you,” Kai asserted.

   Loyd glanced to his right then to his left at the piles of parts surrounding them. “I can assure you, it probably is. If that’s all you’ve got, it looks like you’re going to have to get comfortable here,” he said, turning to get back to a sophisticated piece of machinery he was putting together.

   Kai held her datapad hesitantly. There was still one piece she hadn’t revealed, although she hated the idea of giving up her secondary accelerator. Hate it or not, she didn’t have much of a choice. She’d work up the credits for a new one back on Coruscant, eventually. Kai took a deep breath.

   “What about this?” Kai asked, turning the datapad back on to display the secondary accelerator.

Loyd came closer to examine the part.

   “That’s nifty,” he said, “I’m surprised you were able to hook this up given your trouble with basic wiring.”

   Kai glared at him, holding her tongue.

   “We have enough of those at the moment,” Loyd said casually.

Kai was utterly bewildered, her arm stretched out with the floating hologram of her most esteemed part as Loyd turned back to what he was working on without so much as another glance. At a loss for what else she could do to get her hands on that transpacitor, she left the workshop hoping to clear her head. Outside, Kai leaned against the clay wall with a deep sigh. Before long, Aine had joined her.

   “For what it’s worth, I thought he’d go for the secondary accelerator. It’s a good part,” Aine said.

   “You know ship mechanics?” Kai asked. “I’m starting to wonder what you don’t know.

   Aine laughed. “A lot! There is too much to learn for a single Ardennian to know it all,” she said, leaning against the wall beside Kai.

   The two stayed there in silence, with only the escaping sounds from the workshop as company.

   “Well. That’s that,” Kai admitted after a while, “I see no reason to stick around this place.”

   “Unless there is,” Aine said, readjusting her colored bangles.

Kai looked at her, intrigued.

   “I can’t be sure you’re up to the task, but I’ve only got one shot and your plan hasn’t exactly worked out. There may be a way we can help each other.”

   “I’m listening,” Kai said, encouraging her to continue.

   “How long would it take to fix your ship, supposing we get you that part?” Aine enquired.

   “Not long. I’ve already got the rest patched-up,” Kai explained.

   Aine glanced around at the empty street and lowered her voice. “There’s a special shipment I need retrieved from disreputable company, and it won’t be easy. Agree to get it for me and I’ll pay the bill for that transpacitor.”

Kai took a moment to consider the offer. She could’t deny that it sounded risky, but it didn’t seem like she’d be getting a better offer anytime soon.

   “I’m in,” Kai agreed.

   Aine did a quick job of her transaction with Loyd, even managing to lower the original price. With the part in hand, Aine and Kai made their way back to the transport. While they waited for the departure time, they huddled under the shade away from prying ears where Aine gave more details about the job. The newly formed and increasingly notorious crime cartel, the Scarlet Eclipse, had gotten their hands on something precious. Their main cruiser was bound to fly over Jakku the very next day, and it would be up to Kai to board the ship and retrieve the cargo. Aine had acquired the docking code and the cargo’s location, so it would only be a question of getting in and out unnoticed. Kai hadn’t done a stealth mission before, but she didn’t doubt the Midsummer Comet’s jamming abilities. She would just have to find the right distraction.

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