The Refugee Slave Trade

“I think he is waking up”. “What do you think he is?”. “I don’t know but he dresses funny”. “Look at those robes. Do you think he is a religious man?”. “No way. He had that weapon on him”. “Come on sis he barley knew how to use that thing”. “He saved us Nash”. “He almost got himself killed to Lilly”.

His greenish, hazel eyes slowly open up as he looks at the two children talking. “Where am I?” the weak man asks.

The two kids look at the Jedi laying down in front of them. “Oh good your awake” smiles the little girl. “You took a huge bump on the head” her brother added.

The two kids appeared to be Zabrak. Both with grey skin, no hair, and they both have tiny horns circling the top of there heads. “The brother appears to be in his early teens while the sister seems be younger. Probably around nine or ten. The Jedi Knight moves his hand towards his brown leather belt only to find his lightsaber is now missing.

“Where is my lightsaber?” he asks. “Oh you mean this” Lilly holds up the metal hilt. In a panic the Jedi takes a hold of his weapon. “Never ever handle this thing again!” he lashes out of worry. The little girl looks at him sadly as tears begging to appear from her brown eyes. “No don’t cry? Please don’t…” but soon enough the child began to cry hysterically.

“Good job. You made Lilly cry!” Nash yells. The Jedi in green and brown robes begins to panic. “I didn’t mean to! This weapon is very dangerous in untrained hands. I don’t want to see you two get hurt because of it” he tries to explain.

Nash gives him a cold stare. “Because you did such an awesome job handling it yourself” he retorts towards the Jedi.

Joga goes to think of what the kid was talking about. “The last thing I remember was…”

The memory plays back in his mind. He was inside a space colony with in the outer rim investigating a rumor that refugees were being used as slave labor. Of course this was directly out of the republics jurisdiction and as a result also out of the jurisdiction of the Jedi Order. However for Joga Crosswind that minor detail would never stop him. Especially when it had to deal with slaves. Being one himself as a child, he always made a point to try and help them when ever he could. Even if it was not his place. At times this made the Jedi Council cross with him. He was a Jedi Knight who has a big heart. At times too big to the point where he will ignore orders to do what he feels is right. Unfortunately he also has a reputation of being clumsy and one non to bright.

Walking threw the shadows he was wearing grey pants, black boots, a green tunic folded over a sleeveless green under shirt being held together by a tan sash. Over his sash he wore a brown leather belt that held all of his pouches and equipment, and over all of that he sported a baggy brown robe with a hood hanging over his head. He was very young looking and he had short dark brown hair. His eyes where hazel with a touch of green. He was not very big in size, only about five ft. nine and he had a very thin yet cut physic.

As he walked threw the dark corridor in the refugee camp he hid behind a corner spying on what appeared to be a Chiss. A blue skin humanoid, with black hair, and glowing red eyes. He wore fancy rich robes with a cape to match. He was talking to a older Zabrak who was in the middle of making a deal to sell the Chiss more refugees to him for slave labor. Joga seeing this Zabrak selling out his own kind made his stomach turn.

Two armored guns for hire walk out with two Zabrak children holding them by the leashes attached to there collars. There hands bound together by binders. Joga gritted his teeth as he started to think what was best for the situation. He takes a step forward and accidentally steps on an empty can.

The crushing sound of metal echoes threw the corridor alarming the slave traders and there muscle. The Chiss pulled out a small blaster out of his holster along with his two mercenaries who aim there blaster rifles directly at the clumsy Jedi.

“It appears we have a spy” mused the Chiss. Joga removes his hood as he steps out of the shadow. “Not a spy. A Jedi” he used his title as a threat. The Chiss smiled “Not a Jedi. A dead man” he retorted.

Joga in a panic pointed his finger out “What the hell is that!” he yelled out. The four villains look back as Joga picked up the can he stepped on and throws it at the back of the Chiss’s head. “Yes!” Joga congratulated himself but then goes wide eyed as they glare back at him and open fire. He quickly rolled out of the line of fire and took cover behind a dumpster. He leaned against the wall and kicked the dumpster out using the force to increase his strength taking out the two guns for hire. He quickly scrambled to his feet, running for the two kids. After he ignites his green lightsaber he skillfully cuts the two binders in half and then the two collars. “Run!” he yelled out.

“Behind you!” Nash yelled back. Joga looks back seeing the Chiss aim his blaster. After a wild panic, Joga slipped backwards barley avoiding the blaster bolt. As his back hits the hard floor his lightsaber slips out of his hand and cuts down the light above them. Joga scrambling to his feet dodges the falling light but then hits his head against a pillar knocking himself out.

Joga starts laughing “Oh yeah now I remember. I guess I was pretty clumsy, wasn’t I” he chuckles. “Clumsy? The only reason we got away was because Koran is a bad shot and you got lucky. How you stayed alive this long I will never know” Nash states. “Koran? Was that the Chiss who was buying you before?” he asks. “Yup that is him. He is a huge figure head here in this colony. Darus, our refugee leader has been selling us to make ends meat. I can’t say I blame him. For the bulk of us to survive some of us have to be weeded out”.

“No that is wrong. No one should have to suffer!” he yells. “This isn’t a fairytale. We are refugees and we need to eat. There is not always a happy ending” Nash argues. “Well this time there will be” Joga stands up. “If I can find Koran again maybe I can work out a deal with him”.

Nash takes a good long hard look at the Jedi. “How old are you?” asks Nash. “Why does that matter?” Joga asks. “Your still a kid yourself and you think he will take you seriously?”. “I’m old enough”. “I bet your not even twenty yet”. As a retort Joga sticks his tongue out at him still showing off his child like personality. “Listen kid never judge a book by its cover. Just because you see a child does not mean I am one”.

“No you just act like one. Listen Mr. I thank you for saving me and Lilly, as humiliating as it was, but what we need is someone who knows what they are doing. Not someone who gets by on lucky mistakes”.

There is a loud knock at the metal door. “Open up! This is your only warning!”. The three look at the door with fear in there eyes. Joga takes his hilt off of his belt. And hands it to Nash. “Take this and escape through the ventilation system. Take the next transport you can sneak on and try and find your way to Naboo. The moment you do show them this lightsaber. If all else fails they will come for me” he instructs.

“What about you?” Lilly asks Joga. “I am going to try and make this right. Hurry up, there is no time”. They both go to climb into the vent. Before leaving Nash looks at Joga. “You know you are absolutely crazy right?”. Joga looks back and smiles. “Sometimes crazy works”.

After the two leave Joga opens the door walking out with his hands up in a surrender. One of there mercenaries holds his blaster to Joga‘s head. “The slaves, where are they?”.  

Joga shrugs his shoulders. “Those two brats took my stuff and left me in that room while I was knocked out” he answers. Another mercenary walks in the room and searches it. “No sign of them anywhere”.

“Take him to Koran for questioning. He is going to want to know why there is a Jedi here in the first place”.

After placing Joga in binders they take him to Koran’s office. The Chiss smiles at the young Jedi Knight. “You certainly have made a mess of things haven’t you? I would like to know why a Jedi Knight is out of his jurisdiction”. “Well  to be technical we really don’t have a jurisdiction we just decided to reside in…” “Enough!” Koran yells out cutting Joga off. Joga submits to Koran’s anger, showing a look of nervousness. “No need to shout. You asked me a question so I answered it. I thought that is what you wanted”.

Koran walks over to Joga towering over the very young adult. “What is your name boy?” he asks Joga.

Joga smiles nervously as if he was playing into Koran’s intimidation. “Joga Crosswind sir”. Koran then has a small look of surprise on his face. “Did you just say Joga Crosswind?” he asks him. Joga just nods. “You are Jedi Knight Joga Crosswind. I find this hard to believe”.

Joga smiles in a child like manner. “I must be famous huh” he grins. Koran smacks Joga across the face causing him to spit out a little blood. “Don’t get coy with me boy. I have some contacts that have dealt with a Joga Crosswind. You seem to have grown a small reputation for getting in the way of good business and being untouchable as you do it. And the most common story I have herd out of all of them was that this Crosswind manages to get the best of them with out killing a single person. I do not care who you are, no one can take on the under belly and survive with out taking a life at least once. Now you are trying to tell me you, this raggedy boy who is barley and adult himself, who could barley keep a grip on his own footing let lone his weapon is that man!”

Joga continues to grin. “Guilty”. Koran punches Joga in the stomach out of anger. “Cocky little nerf herder” Joga falls to his knees as he holds his gut.

One of his men runs in. “Sir we found the two slaves”. Koran smirks and looks at Joga. “Good bring them to me. I think it is time to teach all three a lesson.

Joga grits his teeth but then looks down hiding a small smile. “Just as I planned it”.    

Joga looks up at Koran with pleading eyes “Have a heart! They are just kids” he tries to reason with them.

Koran grabs Joga by the robes and pulls him in close. “You really are naive aren't you. It doesn't matter if you are big, small, blue, green, male, or female. We are all stock in the end. The smart ones and the strong will over come and the weak will be by products”.

“Kids are innocent and under developed. How can you call them weak when they haven’t even had the chance to grow strong? You are not giving them a fair chance” claims Joga.

“Who ever said life was fair” Koran snarls. Joga is only able to respond with a glare at this point. “Don’t give me that look boy. This is the way of life. Only a fool cares, and only a liar is selfless. That is why those refugees are made to suffer”.

“You are wrong!” Joga lashes out. Koran smiles as he lets go of his green tunic. “As I said… fools”.

He looks at the blast door as it opens up revealing the two children that Joga was trying to protect. He looks at Nash who is now wearing a back pack. “Come on Nash I was depending on you to bring me back up” complains the Jedi. “It is not my fault we got caught! Besides you didn't do much better” he retorts.

Joga looks back at Koran with a stern look. “Ok I’ll bite. We are all stock so tell me what the refugees and the slaves on this ship are worth to you. Let us make a deal” as he now tries to use diplomacy on the slave trader.

“Please you are a Jedi. What can you offer me. You have no money, no belongings to equal my business. You have nothing I want” Koran responds.

“I am trying very hard to make this easy for us both. Make a deal. I will talk to what contacts I can. I will find what ever you want for there lives. I can negotiate with the Republic to make this deal happen just name a price” he tries to plea with him.

Koran begins to laugh. “A Jedi is suppose to have so much power and you are begging!” he laughs.

“No I am trying to solves this with a peaceful negotiation were we can both benefit. I want them free and I am sure there is something you would like as well such as a license to operate in republic space or maybe you need something from the Hutts. I can make this work if you will just let me” he begs.

“Very well then kill the younger Zabrak and I will free all of my slaves” says Koran in a sick tone.

Joga’s eye go wide as he listen’s to his morbid words. “Excuse me?”

Koran begins to laugh. “I knew it. So the stories are true. You can’t take a life can you. You are too soft, too weak. That is why you are using diplomacy because behind all of your training you are a gutless coward!”.

Joga sighs. “I wanted to do this the easy way. I guess in the words of my old master” he then looks up with a confident smirk “it is time to do this the fun way”.

He quickly holds his cuffed hands out ripping his lightsaber out from Nash’s back pack. As it enters his grip he ignites the green blade, cutting his binders in half. He holds his hand out force pushing the two guards back away from the kids and then skillfully moves his blade to Koran’s throat. “No more games, free them now or else…”.

Koran quickly cuts him off “You won’t kill me”. Joga grits his teeth and then looks back seeing the guards get back to there feet. “I don’t have to kill you”.

Joga does a flip towards the two Zabrak children and punches one guard in the face then elbows the one behind him. He turns around using his mastery of soressu to block the incoming blaster bolts from Koran’s mercenaries.

“If you could have done this the whole time why did you make yourself look like an idiot?!” Nash yells out. “I have no idea what you are talking about kid!” he answers. Lilly looks out of the door seeing more armed men marching in. “Mr. Jedi look!” she tries to warn him.

Joga looks back and freaks out. “Crap!” he goes to run the other way and runs right into Koran. “Get off of me you buffoon! Koran yells out as he pushes Joga back. As he gets pushed back he falls backwards  and does a back roll. As he tries to get up the back of his head bumps into one of his men’s chin knocking the armed mercenary out. Joga turns around seeing him knocked out and panics even more. “Jeez I am so sorry!” he bends down to check on him as another mercenary goes to swing at him thus accidentally avoiding the blow.

“Mr. Jedi sir!” Lilly yells out towards him. The mercenary goes for a strait punch towards him but again misses do to Joga stepping to the side to look a Lilly.  “What is it Lilly?’ he asks as if he was completely unaware of the attacker. “Behind you!” she yells out. “Huh” he looks back seeing the attacker swing at him again. Joga leans back and then comes in with a head butt, knocking the attacker out. Joga then holds his own head. “Ouch! That’s smarts”.

Koran grits his teeth as he takes his blaster and opens fire towards Joga. With out looking he starts blocking the blaster bolts with his lightsaber as he looks like he is lost in his own thoughts. “Damn you! Take me seriously when I fight you!” Koran yells out. Joga pops his head up and looks at Koran with a child like blank look. “I’m sorry I was just thinking to myself” he says as he blocks the blaster bolts.

Koran was getting angrier by the second. “This guy is a nut case. How can someone so stupid and so clumsy take out all my men. It is like he has an angel watching over him or something. Unless…” . Joga starts moving closer as he continues to guard himself from on coming projectiles. “No! How can you win! Your just a foolish monk! This is all luck, do you hear me! Luck!” he lashes out.

       Joga spins the saber behind his back as he turns his body around block one final blast. As he comes around he swings up cutting his blaster in half and then holds the green blade to his neck. As his face moves in close he offers Koran a childish grin. “No you just have no skill”. Joga then flicks Koran in the nose. Koran falls back as he looks up at Joga in disbelief. “Now I understand… The stories, they are all true. This is how you have gone so long with out taking a life. You aren't the dumbest Jedi to walk this galaxy. Far from it. You knew from the start what you were doing”.

Joga smiles as he turns off his lightsaber. “So about those slaves and refugees. I mean you don’t have to humbly except my request but then I might have to let it slip out to the under belly that you lost to a naive child”.

“Take them…” Koran submits. “I am glade we could find a peaceful resolve that benefits us both” Joga bows as he goes to walk off towards the two kids. “Oh by the way. If I find out that you or that Zabrak you are dealing with ever do this again I will be back and next time I won’t be so nice” he threatens before taking his leave.

The two kids follow Joga to his ship. “Are we coming with you?” asks Lilly. “Well I figured I can bring you to Naboo. The Jedi council there might be able to settle you in. I also need to speak to them about transport for the rest of the refugees who are now no longer bound to this colony”.

Nash looks up at him “So are you really as dumb as you make yourself look or did you really know what you were doing?”.

Joga smiles towards the kid “As I said earlier. Sometimes crazy works”.