16

It was a very quiet, very awkward flight.

Phee sat in one of the landing seats, a bemused expression on her face as she watched Crosshair staring at her from across the ship, hand resting casually on his blaster. She'd tried a few offhand attempts at conversation, but when no one had risen to the bait, she'd fallen into a smug sort of silence.

Fuming, Saedii watched the whole thing from her spot at the computer. Not only were they trusting someone who had only ever lied to them, but the group was in trouble again because of Saedii. The guilt and anger this knowledge brought was eating away at her gut like corrosive acid.

Omega seemed to be the only person enjoying herself. She'd taken the seat to Phee's left and had been peppering her with questions, much to Hunter's dislike.

"Where did you get that artifact you gave the Spice Queen?"

"I found it on Ordanelle." Phee crossed one leg over the other and leaned back, as if she were in the lap of luxury.

Omega frowned. "What were you doing on Ordanelle?"

"Looking for treasure, of course."

"So you really are a pirate, then?"

One corner of Phee's lips quirked up. "I prefer the term liberator of ancient goods."

Saedii rolled her eyes. Crosshair made a face as he shoved a toothpick between his teeth.

"Do you have a lot of treasure?" Omega pressed, oblivious to the hostile looks Saedii and Crosshair turned in Phee's direction.

Phee gave a little shrug. "I don't usually keep what I find. Most of it goes into the Archium on Pabu, for safe keeping."

"Why?"

"Most of the artifacts I find don't have monetary value."

"Then why steal them in the first place?" Saedii couldn't help herself. She had to ask.

The look Phee turned on her was eternally patient. "You'll see when we get to Pabu."

That wasn't exactly a comforting answer. Saedii crossed her arms and ran a comforting hand over the lightsabers at her belt.

Echo stood at Saedii's shoulder. The Force was frenzied around him – the only sign of his anxiety, as his face was carefully blank. He, too, was still armed and kept his blaster in easy reach, though he wasn't making as much of a show of it as Crosshair.

Finally, up front, Tech called, "We are approaching our destination."

The soft hum of the Marauder's hyperdrive cut off as they emerged from hyperspace.

Hunter silently got to his feet and went into the cockpit. Surveying what was waiting for them at the end of Phee's coordinates. Saedii casually leaned to her left, trying to catch a peek.

What she saw waiting for them made her jaw drop.

It was a planet alright. A small, water-based planet, dappled in shades of blue and with a delicate layer of soft white clouds around it.

Saedii jumped to her feet, taking a step into the cockpit. Stunned. She had been sure that Phee wasn't telling the truth.

"What planet is this, Tech?" Hunter asked gruffly.

Tech was looking at his holopad. "That is unclear. According to my information, there isn't supposed to be a planet at these coordinates."

"I told you." Phee's voice sounded right behind them as she lingered in the doorway. "Pabu's a secret. No one will find us here."

Saedii frowned. Even though Phee hadn't sent them straight into a star, Saedii still didn't trust her. Not entirely, at least. Judging by the tense hold of Hunter's shoulders, he didn't trust her yet either.

Tech guided the Marauder down through the upper atmosphere. Soft white clouds parted around the bow of the ship, leaving drops of water along the glass, glistening like crystals as they raced backwards. Below, the vast expanse of blue unrolled towards every horizon.

Dark navy and sapphire splashes marked deep water as they emerged under the clouds, interlaced with the occasional black splotch that marked the shadow of a passing cloud. But between these deep valleys of water, soft plains of turquoise and teal marked shallower waters – reefs chock full of shimmering fish and vibrant corals and underwater plants.

"Whoa." Omega had appeared, standing at Tech's side. Her wide brown eyes reflected the glistening water ahead of them. "Is this whole planet made of water like Kamino?"

"My scans indicate a sizeable land mass just up ahead," Tech replied. His cautious brown eyes flicked up to Hunter as he added, "There are indications of civilization."

"I told you." Phee wasn't even trying to hide the smugness now.

Discretely, Crosshair whispered into Hunter's ear, "This could still be a trap."

Hunter nodded back and gave the hand signal to stay armed.

"At the top of the island, you'll find a landing place for your ship," Phee directed, pointing just as a tall but thin island came into view.

This time, even Saedii breathed in surprise.

Crusted like shells along the cliffs of the island, small houses created a sort of mismatched town. Each house was painted in different colors – pink, blue, purple, green, red. Each more vibrant and shocking than the rest. Some of them were small – nothing more than a shack built into the side of the island, clinging to its bluffs like a crab. Others were larger – built partly into the mountain itself and unfolding over the landscape like a carpet of sea moss.

As the ship came lower, people began to materialize on the winding streets lined in bright pink and purple flowers. They were all different species, sitting and chatting with one another – humans and Gammoreans and Pantorans and Bothans, and other species that Saedii had never seen before – all clustered down an avenue that appeared to be a market of some kind. Down near the base of the island, a pack of kids chased a ball close to the water's edge on a small sliver of sandy beach. They were all different species, too, Saedii noted.

"Who are all those people?" Omega asked.

"The inhabitants of Pabu." Phee turned slightly in Saedii's direction and her voice grew surprisingly gentle as she added, "They're refugees from the war."

"Refugees?" Saedii's sour expression melted. She thought back to the dozens of planets she'd visited – to the survivors peeking out from ruined homes as Saedii and the 104th marched past to protect them.

She'd always wondered what had happened once the battle had been won. How the people left behind in the rubble pulled themselves back out. The only time they'd been able to provide aid had been on Ryloth, and that had been brief. She hadn't really gotten a chance to participate in rebuilding efforts.

"Most were displaced from the war efforts. Some lost everything. But all the inhabitants of Pabu have one thing in common: they came here for safety. For a fresh start," Phee said.

The way Phee said it was almost like she was trying to convince Saedii that all of her lies had been worth it. That she'd been justified to blackmail and steal because she was doing it for her people.

"Still think I'm a monster?" Phee pressed.

Saedii looked away, unable to answer.

But Crosshair scoffed. "Just because this place exists doesn't mean you've told the whole truth."

"Maybe. But it does prove that I don't always lie."

At the very top of the island, a wide plaza covered the entirety of the crest. On one side, a tall, thin glass-domed building sat beside the shade of a wide tree. Pink and white blossoms swayed along the spindly branches, sprinkling petals along the base of the trees like a lush carpet. At the other side of the plaza, a tall watch tower stood sentinel over the eastern side of the island.

The Marauder landed directly in the center. As Tech began to power down the engines, three figures emerged from the tower, heading in their direction.

Crosshair tensed at the sight of them, but Phee laughed. "Relax. The only ones here that are armed are you lot. This is just the welcoming committee."

"Welcoming committee?" Echo frowned at the term. Like he'd never heard of such a thing.

"We don't get many new people. You're going to be like celebrities here." Phee gave a wink in Tech's direction, who flushed pink.

Hunter exchanged a bewildered look with Wrecker.

Phee turned towards the exit ramp. "Come on. I'll introduce you."

Saedii turned to Hunter, unsure for the first time in her life. Parts of herself were warring with each other – the cynical part, that demanded Phee was playing a trick, and the empathetic part, that whispered she wasn't.

"Stick close to Wrecker," Hunter whispered to her. At his side, Saedii saw that his blaster had been switched from stun to kill.

She did as he said, staying in Wrecker's shadow as they exited off the ship.

Warm, salty air greeted her, heavy against her skin. She inhaled it, catching the faint smell of fish and low tide and wet rock – the usual smells of an island this small. But there were other scents too – the faint lingering of baking bread and sweet flowers. Nearby, the keening calls of swooping birds was just audible over the low roar of the ocean.

It was...beautiful.

"Welcome to Pabu." Phee gestured to the island around them, as if sensing the direction of Saedii's thoughts.

Wrecker was looking impressed. His attention was down near the docks far below, where a fisherman was hauling in a net full of bright green and red fish. His mouth stretched into an unconscious smile.

"It's amazing," Omega breathed, eyes on the ancient and wild looking tree.

"It's a hidden sanctuary of sorts. For the lost and misplaced."

Lost and misplaced? Saedii couldn't help but think that they'd fit right in.

Phee pointed to the tall, thin building at the edge of the plaza. "That's the Archium. That's where I put all of the artifacts I bring back. It holds treasures from all over the galaxy."

"I do not understand. My scans indicate that there are not many things of great monetary value inside. No gold or silver or precious jewels," Tech said, frowning.

"Treasure can be many things. Remember how I said the villagers here are refugees? Some of these artifacts are all that remain of their cultures."

Saedii looked up in surprise. "You risk your life to bring back pieces of their culture?"

The smile on Phee's face softened. "Not all of us can wield lightsabers, you know. Preserving their culture – that's how I do my part."

For some reason, the way Phee said it made Saedii believe her. In her own way, Phee was protecting these people – preserving parts of them that the war had taken away. It was something that Saedii couldn't do. Not while wielding a lightsaber. And somehow, this made Saedii hate her a little less.

"There you are!" a booming voice called. "We were starting to worry that you'd been lost!"

The large figure of a human man approached, arms spread wide. The deep brown skin of his face wrinkled with a friendly smile. Modest white linen breeches and shirt covered a body that looked as though it had never once seen a battle – his skin was soft and uncalloused, unscarred, and a large rounded belly stretched at the belt looped around his waist. Even though he was tall, he didn't appear intimidating – not at all like Wrecker, who looked like he could crush you with his pinky.

Whoever this man was, he was definitely no warrior. He didn't even have any weapons, Saedii noted as she looked him over from head-to-toe.

"Miss me, Shep?" Phee's voice grew warm. She walked forward to embrace him like a brother.

Low under his breath, Wrecker chuckled to Tech, "Looks like you've got some competition."

Saedii and Omega giggled at the perplexed look at crossed his face.

"Auntie Phee!" A young girl around Omega's age raced forward, launching herself into Phee's side.

Beside her, a tall, gangly boy around Saedii's age followed. Dark locs decorated with little shells and cuffs of silver hung down past his shoulders, and the pushed-up cuffs of his shirt revealed strong forearms.

"Did you get it?" the boy asked eagerly.

Phee reached into her pocket, holding up the chunk of arminite. "I did, thanks to my friends here."

The group turned to look at Saedii and the Batch. Immediately, Saedii felt the gaze of the teenage boy fall on her. His mouth dropped and he gaped at her like some kind of globfish. She eyed him uncomfortably.

"Gentleman – and ladies," Phee said grandly, gesturing to the tall man beside her. "This is Mayor Shephard Hazard. He's the one who created this place and keeps everything running smoothly. And these are his kids – Lyana and Aren."

Lyana gave a little wave. Aren shot Saedii a smile that she didn't return.

"Please, call me Shep." The man smiled at them. Around him, the Force was gentle and peaceful. Happy. It reminded Saedii of Master Plo.

"Shep, kids – meet my new friends: Hunter, Crosshair, Echo, Omega, Saedii, Wrecker, and Tech." Phee pointed them each out in turn, lingering with her hand on Tech's shoulder.

Lyana and Aren looked over them eagerly. Shep, meanwhile, gave them each a firm shake and a friendly, "Welcome," in greeting.

As Saedii shook his hand, one of her lightsabers tapped against her hip with the strength of his shake. The movement drew Aren's attention.

"You're a Jedi!" His mouth parted in awe. Suddenly, his gaze was far more intent than it had been only moments before.

Alarm bells rang in the back of Saedii's mind. She looked to Hunter in a panic, going still. Sure that she'd just gotten them into trouble yet again.

But it was Phee that jumped in and said, "It's alright, kid. We're good with secrets here on Pabu. No one will be calling the Empire to turn you in."

"You're sure?" Saedii asked uncertainly.

"I give you my word."

Crosshair muttered, "Like that means anything to us."

Aren didn't seem to hear. Instead, he just stared at Saedii. "I've never met a real live Jedi before."

"As opposed to a fake, dead one?" Saedii grumbled. The way he was looking at her made her feel like something in a zoo.

His mouth opened wider, this time in surprise.

The look Hunter gave her was admonishing, but Wrecker and Crosshair both chuckled under their breath. Saedii was even sure she saw Echo fighting a smile.

Phee, too, looked slightly amused, though she did a better job of hiding it. "You'll have to excuse her, Aren. For all those amazing things they taught her at the Jedi Temple, it seems they never taught her any manners."

The look Saedii turned to her was scathing.

Lyana didn't seem too impressed by Saedii. She was far more interested in Omega, who she approached cautiously. In a timid tone, she said, "Phee's never brought any friends here before."

"Never? Not even Cid?" Omega asked.

Saedii couldn't help it. She smiled along the rest of the guys.

"I wouldn't exactly consider Cid a friend. More like an ally." Phee rested her hands on her hips. "You guys are the only ones I trust to see this place."

Crosshair was instantly on guard. The small smile vanished and he looked to Hunter.

"Why us?" Hunter asked gruffly.

That smile of Phee's grew mischievous. "Makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

Crosshair's eyes rolled so violently, Saedii was surprised they weren't stuck in the back of his head.

"Phee must really like you," Lyana supplied.

"Alright." Phee gave her an affectionate pat on the head. "That's enough out of you."

Omega and Lyana giggled.

"Will you all be staying for a while?" Shep asked, looking to Hunter.

"We're not sure." Hunter suddenly looked lost. Perhaps he, like Saedii, had been so sure that Phee was leading them into a trap that he didn't know what to do with a planet that could actually provide them with some modicum of safety.

Shep smiled, as if he understood. "You should at least stay for the Spring Tide Festival. It's tomorrow."

"You lot can stay with me at my place." Phee's attention drifted to Tech. "I've got the room...and I'd enjoy the company."

Tech blinked.

Hunter rubbed at his head. "Uh –"

"Great! It's settled." Shep clapped his hands. "While Phee readies her place for guests, I'll give you all a tour of the city. We've got perfect weather for it."

Saedii was sure Crosshair muttered something that sounded like, "Kill me now."

But Omega and Wrecker were looking thrilled.

Low under her breath, Saedii asked Echo, "Are we really just going to go on a tour of this place? Like we're not in the middle of a war?"

"I guess so." Echo sounded just as perplexed.

"So we trust Phee now?"

"I think that's still up in the air."

Saedii eyed Phee. Noted the way she looked at Shep and the others. They might not have been her family, but she cared for them very deeply. Cared for this whole planet, if she'd been willing to risk her life just for a chance to keep it hidden.

Even though she was still mad at being deceived, Saedii could understand what it feels like to want to protect your family. And she couldn't hate Phee for making a decision that Saedii would have made herself.