Inevitable {Tech}

Chapter Five: Jawas

"Alright negotiator, what do we do now?" Hunter whispered and remained alert, eyes continuing to scan the cave.

"We need to approach calmly, otherwise they might feel threatened and-"

A trio of Jawas suddenly jumped out and shot stun blasts towards the squad.

"-and stun us," Cass finished her sentence with a groan, jumping away from the blasts the best she could. Tech had her steady against his chest, using himself to keep her propped up. Instinctively, the clones reached for their blasters and Tech loaded up his translator, but Cass called out to the Jawas before any grave action was taken.

"Sabioto!" [Stop!] Cass yelled to the small humanoids. "Sabioto!"

The Jawas froze for a moment but kept their blasters aimed. Cass raised her empty hands and spoke again. Her voice speaking the foreign tongue caught Tech off guard, but he quickly processed it and began reading the exchange as it happened.

...[We are looking for our friends]...

Cass paused to gage their reaction.

...[will you help us?]...

The Jawas looked between each other and mumbled inaudibly.

...[We don't have time. The green lizard is out to eat]...

Cass shook her head and the Jawas didn't seem to understand.

...[We killed the lizard]...

Cass turned her leg towards them and they began murmuring again at the sight of her wound. They all began running up beside her, issuing hugs and kind words.

"What's going on?" Crosshair raised a brow and watched as the tiny humanoids surrounded them.

"Taa baa! Taa Baa!" [Thank you! Thank you!"] they cheered and raised their arms.

Tech kept reading his translator and glanced at Crosshair. "They're thanking us for killing the Scyk."

...[We owe you our lives. How can we help you?]...

Tech and Cass exchanged hopeful looks and leaned into each other. Tech's thumb rubbed against her shoulder without him even noticing, unconsciously confirming his support.

"They want to help us," Cass explained and the squad nodded contently. Tech continued to listen and translate for the group as the conversation ensued.

"She's asking about the clones...They're saying that the clones were sold...Sold to some Klatooinian gang in the North City...They will supply us with speeder bikes to get there," Tech translated.

He lifted his visor to see Cassiopeia clearly, silently taking in her presence. He analyzed and memorized everything about her, never missing a thing she said or did. She felt magnetic to him, and he imagined it impossible to let her go now that they were so close.

Was this magnetic feeling the force she was speaking of, or something else? A mix of both? Perhaps one couldn't exist without the other like a symbiote, or maybe intertwined like the Chenataaa rivers of Kashyyyk. Perhaps the force was telling him she could lead him to the path he was destined to follow, or she was the path?

It was all too much for him to comprehend in one instant, but he guessed that's what Cassiopeia had tried to explain before. That the force would show him his way even if he didn't know the way himself.