17. Just Business

"What do you mean, to ensure we don't hunt you?"

"Many hundreds of years ago, the last of our kin was slain on the planet Dagobah by a Jedi that is the same species as the little green one." I said pointing at Yoda "Luckily, my egg had been laid, and we were able to recover after my hatching sixteen years ago. i was aware of everything that happened in the Hive-Mind even as an egg, so you can see why we dislike Jedi so much. I felt everything. the Queens fear, her pain, and her eventual death. We do not hate Jedi for this, we simply wish to ensure it does not happen again."

I knew they could feel it, these Jedi. The anger, the pain, the sorrow... They knew we saw them as cold blooded killers, as murderers.

"Before we begin negotiations, " I said, pointing at the eyes on the walls and ceiling. "Be aware that we are recording everything that occurs in this hangar, as a preventative security measure, and be warned. We may forgive, but we never forget." I allowed the full might of my Dark Aura to escape, to demonstrate to these Jedi that I am by far stronger than they in the Force. The one known as Windu seemed to be struggling to breathe, and swiftly collapsed.

Alarmed, I immediately reign in my Aura and apologize, saying, "My apologies, I did not anticipate your being so sensitive to the Dark. You may wish to improve your ability to use it, as you are not currently immune to its effects."

As his companions lifted him up, I saw that his eyes had a faint yellow ring around the outer edge of the irises. He had begun to fall to the Dark, he had been exposing himself to it for so long, that all he needed was a push. My Aura apparently accomplished that, sealing this arrogant Jedis doom.

After finishing my business with the Jedi, I registered my ships, and my personal shuttle, Concord, and went to speak with Dooku.

"Master, I have what you commanded of me to acquire. 20 humans, 7 twi-leks, and 3 iridonian zabrak. There are 12 male and 8 female humans, 2 male and 5 female twi-leks, and one each of male and female zabrak, along with their unborn infant. All of which are force sensitive with a count of ten thousand midiclorian or higher, as per your specifications." He said, kneeling, head bowed.

"Excellent work, Thrall. You have done well. Now where are they?"

"With your permission, I will have the transport bring them here."

"No. The Republic abhors slavery, they would take them from me. I cannot allow this, bring them to me on Endor."

"Yes, my Master."

All the business having been settled, I asked Remembrance to take us back to Endor. I went to sleep, and I saw the boy again.

"You. Your back. Why are you here, in my dreams? are you real, or just a figment of my imagination?"

"I assure you child, I am very real. as for why I am here, I do not know. The force seems to like you, and it works in many strange ways young Nymphling."

"What is the Force?" He asked, ignoring the fact I called him by our word for "little child"

"It is a sort of energy field given off by all things, even droids to a much much lesser degree. by using it, many cultures are able to do things many would consider unnatural. you possess an unusual degree of raw potential, your midiclorian count must be quite high. if you can tell me where you are, I would send a subordinate to seek you out and train you."

"You would have to ask Watto. He's my owner. I'm a slave, and I won't go anywhere without my mother."

"This is... Unfortunate. Do you know how much he would ask for the two of you?"

"I will ask, but I doubt he'd be willing to sell us."

"I have already begun coming up with a backup plan. Where are you? I will redirect my flagship to come and get you."

" The city of Mos Espa, on the planet Tatooine. Look for a shop called 'Watto" The boy responded.

I focused, and in the dream, my form became translucent, see through, to the boy. I spoke Hive Speak, and asked Remembrance if she knew where the planet Tatooine was, and the city of Mos Espa specifically. She responded, a gentle rumble through the Hive-Mind, indicating she did have navigational coordinates for the place. I thanked her, and asked her to redirect us there. We had a new brother and sister to retrieve.

(space ship exiting hyperspace sounds)

We had arrived at Tatooine, and I began to deploy a highly scaled down version of my scouts, which I had taken to calling Infiltraters. they were small, about the size of my claw, and had eight legs and eight eyes. I believe humanoids refer to them as 'spiders' these days. Needless to say, I loaded a one time use crash pod with as many as it could carry, and launched it toward the planet.

Anyone watching would have seen a very frightening sight, an organic comet hurtling towards the outskirts of Mos Espa. After it has crashed into the sands, it seems to writhe, and countless spider-like creatures pour out. they consume the comet, and then head towards the town, as if searching for something or someone.