Heart Of Darkness (Star Wars)

Chapter 21: The Frog Lady

"What's the not great news?" Din inquired.

"Nothing, it's all great." Peli mentioned.

Din gave her a nod before turning away. "Okay."

I could sense that there was something Peli wasn't telling us. I narrowed my eyes. "There's something you aren't telling us."

Din glanced over at me before looking over at Peli. "Is this true?"

Peli grimaced. "Yeah, unfortunately there is one small skank in the scud pie."

"Which is?" Din asked.

"The contact wants passage to the system." Peli commented.

"Do you vouch for them?" Din questioned.

"On my life." Peli confirmed.

"Fine." Din confirmed.

"And..." Peli trailed off.

Din turned back around, becoming slightly irritated, not expecting there to be more. Peli continued. "No hyperdrive."

Din and I exchanged a look. I didn't need to see his face to know he was taken back. I knew Din didn't like that idea nor did I.

"You want me to travel sublight?" Din asked, rather baffled.

"Oh no, deal's off." I protested. I quickly turned towards Din. "We can find other ways, this isn't the only way."

Din turned towards me. He let out a sigh. "I wish that was true, but your brother isn't available."

"It's one sector over." Peli commented.

"Moving fast is the only thing keeping us safe." Din argued.

"These are mitigating circumstances." Peli replied.

"What do you mean mitigating?" Din asked, tilting his helmet.

All of the sudden, a female frog creature walked into the hangar. She wore a brown dress with a scarf around her neck. On her back, she carried a container filled with eggs.

"I'm not a taxi service." Din protested.

"I know, I know, I hear you. But I can vouch for her." Peli urged as she raised her hands.

The frog lady then approached us. I could feel Din becoming irritated rather quickly. I placed a hand on his shoulder. He glanced over at me, and I gave him a reassuring smile. Once he was calm enough, Din turned back to face Peli.

"What's the cargo?"

Peli spoke to the frog lady in her language. The frog lady replied to her. Peli then turned towards us, translating her words. "It's her spawn. She needs her eggs fertilized by the equinox or her line will end. If you jump into hyperspace, they'll die. She said her husband has settled on the estuary moon of Trask in the system of the gas giant Kol Iben."

"She said all that?" I questioned, rather baffled.

Peli shrugged. "I paraphrased."

"Is she sure there are Mandalorians there?" Din asked.

Peli looked back at the frog lady, speaking to her. She replied at once. Peli was quick to translate her words. "She said her husband has seen them."

The frog lady then walked off, making her way to the Razor Crest. Selba walked off, following the lady as he stared at the eggs in awe. Din then spoke up. "You you know her husband?"

"No. I met her ten minutes before you both walked in." Peli confessed.

Din and I were both baffled by her words. But she said she vouched for her life? Treadwell approached us with a plate filled with the cooked meat. Peli grabbed a piece of the meat before taking a bite.