Geonosis was almost identical to Tatooine, except that there weren't as many lavatories and entertainment venues. Instead, there were many more buildings of unknown purpose, resembling factories, with smoke billowing from the pipes on some of the roofs. However, the terrain was also rockier than on Tatooine. But most of the technical buildings were still unfinished, and one of them lay in the path of the two Jedi. Along the way, they occasionally encountered local inhabitants — short humanoids resembling giant beetles, speaking to each other in an incomprehensible language that sounded like the wheezing of someone with asthma.
"Yes, and I thought the Hutts were the most disgusting creatures in the galaxy," said Anakin as another pair of Geonosian creatures passed by. "It seems I was wrong!"
"Trust me, that's not true," Ahsoka smiled at him. "Besides these harmless bugs, there are also the Homereans, the Yojan-Wongs, the Viquei, and many, many other alien creatures.
"I know the Duros, they're so nasty," Anakin shared his thoughts.
"You know, the Duros, although they look scary, are completely harmless at heart, but you have to keep your ears open with the Huttas, as you've seen for yourself!
"That's for sure," agreed the apprentice. "Jabba is a slimy character. I hope his son turns out to be different.
"I hope so," the Togruta shrugged. "But I'm afraid he might already be dead.
"Then let him be, at least not torn to pieces," Skywalker said hopefully. "Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep for a long time at the sight of Hutt guts hanging on the walls.
"And I suspect that if his father sees that sight," Tano grimaced in disgust, "then someone won't be able to sleep at the sight of our intestines sticking out of the Rancor's mouth, twitching to the beat of the music. That's how he gets rid of those who disappoint him.
Anakin wanted to flinch, but remembering that it was not fitting for a Jedi, he tried to respond as calmly as possible:
"I hope the Rancor likes the taste of slightly aged meat, slightly poisoned by the Dark Side.
"You're brave, if you're so sure he'll catch Dooku," said Ahsoka, smiling at his self-confidence. "I bet you think you'll deliver him to the Hutt's palace yourself.
"Right, and before that, for fun, I'll have both his hands cut off and feed them to the rancor on the third day," the teenager said fiercely, shaking his right hand, covered in a black leather glove, threateningly. He had long since grown accustomed to his prosthesis, but that did not mean he had come to terms with the loss of his hand.
"Be careful, or the galaxy will get a new Sith," Asoka jokingly reproached him as they approached the ruins that interested them, or rather, the former ruins, now a future construction site.
"I wonder why the KNS needs so many identical structures in one place?" Anakin said puzzledly, examining the perimeter of the construction site.
"I hope at least this isn't guarded," replied Ahsoka, resolutely approaching the intact and sturdy foundation, where she had already found a round hatch, behind which she could make out a staircase leading down into those very labyrinths. But she was wrong to think that no one was there. At the foot of the narrow, thin metal staircase, a droid with a square body and an equally square head was waiting for the teacher and her student. Its thin, twig-like arms waved indignantly when it noticed the intruders.
"Please leave the premises, the prisoner must not be disturbed," he said in a mechanical voice, blocking the Jedi's path.
"Please let us pass, we are here on business from your master," said Ahsoka, enunciating each word carefully.
"A new slave for Jabba?" asked the droid, clearly programmed with such questions.
"Yes? Is that what you think?" Tano snorted sceptically. "Does a simple slave have this?"
She said and held both her swords in front of the droid's face.
"You will take us to the prisoner, or my master will be displeased," continued the Togruta, keeping her calm gaze fixed on him.
"Follow me," replied the robot calmly, even a little sheepishly, and turning 180 degrees, he cheerfully rolled through the maze until he stopped at one of the rooms, stepping aside to let the visitors pass. The room was very small and almost empty. There was no furniture or other household items, and on a rag mat, a small Hutt cub, resembling a large snail without a shell, was rolling around and blowing bubbles.
"I thought he would be older," said Anakin, looking at the baby with interest.
"Yes, he's very small, but that's even better," Asoka muttered, approaching the child.
"He's okay, he's cute," said Anakin, reaching out to him.
"We'll see about that when he grows up," said Ahsoka sceptically, pursing her lips in disgust. "I can't stand Huttas.
"Well, at least this one doesn't want to feed us to the rankanors," replied Anakin, looking expectantly at his mentor.
"Did you take your backpack?" she asked, starting with that.
"Of course!" Skywalker said proudly, pulling a canvas bundle out of his jumpsuit pocket, which turned into a very spacious backpack when shaken.
"Then pack it and hurry upstairs, it's getting hard to breathe down here," said Ahsoka, covering her nose with her hand, hinting at the disgusting smell of Hutt slime.
"Why me?" Anakin tried to wriggle out of the unwanted role of babysitter.
"Well, you liked him, so take him," explained the Togruta very specifically and turned away, making it clear that the conversation was over.
"Of course I like him, he looks just like you," Skywalker said indignantly, taking the infant in both hands where all humans and normal humanoids have a waist.
"Well, you can grab me too, I don't mind," Tano replied without turning around.
Meanwhile, Anakin managed to pick up little Hutt and lift him up to chest level. The baby seemed to enjoy this "up and down" ride and happily waved his thin transparent arms in the air and squealed:
"Lapupa!" he said quite clearly, looking at the teenager with his huge green eyes and grabbing his pigtail with his fingers.
"What? What did you say?" Anakin immediately protested. "You're the one who... how did you say it, lyapupa!"
"Don't be like that," Asoka scolded him, forced to turn around again. "In Huttese, it means 'friend.'"
"Yeah, right, I've been dreaming of being friends with the Hutts my whole life," grumbled Anakin, trying to pack the little boy into his backpack.
"By the way, he's well-off and has all the right connections," the Togruta smiled, helping her student with the difficult task.
"Boo-hoo-hoo!" the Hutt exclaimed, waving his arms.
"Is he upset?" asked Anakin, finally managing to pack the precious cargo.
"No, he said he loves you," Tano replied sincerely, slinging the backpack onto the Padawan's back, and they both headed for the exit. No one else stopped them; the droid had disappeared somewhere, probably realising how wrong he was and hastily retreating in shame. No other pursuers appeared, and the only inconvenience was the backpack on their backs and what was inside it. The contents of the backpack were desperately twisting and groaning, as if dissatisfied with something.
"Just hang in there, little one, we'll get you back to your daddy soon, and you'll be able to watch the dancers together again," Anakin coaxed him, resigned to the fact that for the duration of the trip, he would have to become the "nursing mother" of this little monster. Ahsoka, at the slightest hint of a role reversal, put forward an ironclad argument:
"Then who's going to fly the ship?
Anakin sighed heavily and arranged the spinning backpack on his lap. The little Hutt immediately climbed out and began grabbing his saviour with his sticky hands.
"Listen, maybe that's enough," Skywalker tried to reason with him. "I understand that you love me, but I'm not a fan of such obvious displays of affection!
"Lapupa?" the little one asked, slightly offended, which should be understood as, "Aren't you my friend?"
"All right, all right," Anakin immediately felt ashamed of his rudeness, because after all, the little one was not to blame for being born a Hutt. "I'll be your huggy, just don't cry!"
The child immediately calmed down and his huge yellow-green eyes stopped filling with tears. He sighed peacefully and wrapped his arms around Anakin, pressing his head against his chest.
"Looks like our spoiled son has found himself a new toy," Asoka said sarcastically, seeing this idyllic scene.
"Are you sorry it's not you? It's not too late to replay everything," Skywalker replied, and suddenly shuddered when something hot touched his chest. That something turned out to be little Hutt's head. He touched his forehead with his hand and realised that it was burning hot.
"Ahsoka, I think the little one has a fever," he said in a different voice, alarmed.
"Quick, take him to the medical bay, there's a medical droid there. I think," said Ahsoka doubtfully, having no idea how to treat a Hutt. Anakin went where he was told, genuinely worried about the little patient. The droid was indeed there, but it was old and dusty, clearly not used for a long time due to its outdated model. Skywalker blew the dust off the control panel and tried to turn it on. It shook several times and began to show "signs of life" with an uneven hum.
"Hello, how can I help you?" a clear mechanical voice finally sounded.
"Here, take a look at him," said Anakin, placing the baby in front of him, who continued to whimper and squirm.
One glance was enough for the experienced droid to understand what was wrong with it:
"Let the baby swallow this capsule," the medic explained in detail, handing Anakin a small tray. "If his condition does not improve, contact the medical centre upon arrival.
Anakin opened the tray and took out a small green capsule with two fingers and held it over the child:
"Baby, open your mouth, Daddy brought you something yummy," cooed the teenager, not recognising his own voice. The Hutt looked suspiciously from the Padawan to the capsule and back for a few seconds, then finally seemed to make up his mind and, with a heavy sigh, opened his mouth. The capsule fell in and immediately slid down his throat. The child swallowed convulsively and soon sneezed, spraying poisonous green slime all around him. Some of it landed on the droid and Anakin's jumpsuit. He wiped himself off with his sleeve in disgust, but the little boy was satisfied and seemed to be cooling down. He began to fall asleep right there on the table. Skywalker laid him down on the couch, told the droid to watch over him, and went out to the cockpit.
"How's your friend?" Asoka asked first.
"Don't worry, you won't be having rancor for dinner. He'll wake up and be perfectly fine.
"That's the best news I've heard in a while," said Ahsoka, without looking up from the control panel.
"Of course, it's not coming from you, you Hutts' slime," Anakin grumbled, drying himself again. "And, as luck would have it, I forgot to bring a change of clothes.
"There's a spare set in the back compartment," Tano replied, looking ahead. "Use it, and don't be embarrassed by its bright red colour and open design.
"You know, becoming living currency for the Hutts is not exactly what I dreamed of when I was growing up," Skywalker said wearily as he sat down in the second chair.
"The main thing is that we'll be reunited with our family very soon," Togruta concluded as cheerfully as she could.
But that was only how it seemed to them...
***
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