Nar Shaddaa

There were very few places on Nar Shaddaa where one could find natural surroundings. Even the gardens were arguably manufactured, but they were a welcome escape from the urban landscape that choked the rest of the moon. Galen didn't visit the enclave often, but the gardens were a good place to relieve stress and ease his nerves.

Of course, there weren't usually so many visiting Jedi.

"You awe not one of the Jedi," the Rodian announced in Basic. He paced about the outsider, looking him over. "Why awe you hewe?"

Galen studied the Rodian studying him.

"I'm enjoying the garden. It's one of the few places on this moon where one can enjoy nature, and the least expensive."

"I can thenthe the Fothe awound you," he continued, apparently uncaring of his lisp. "Tho again, I athk you: why awe you hewe?"

He had practiced that answer many times. He really thought it would work. Galen hadn't expected this. He looked at him with confusion, either because of the question or because of the way it was spoken.

"Tenth of the fourth... round? Is that a Huttball thing? Yes, you were in the game! Well done! I usually don't enjoy the games."

"You awe twying to dithwact me." He continued to pace about. "I bawy pwayed at aw."

He shook his head.

"Look, I really don't understand Huttball. The truth is, I don't know the positions or other terms. All of that is just going over my head."

"Ith a thiwwy game. Now, I athk you again: why awe you hewe? I do not thenthe the Dawk Thide fwom you, tho that ith not my concethn."

He's getting harder to understand. Is he angry about something?

"Look, I just wanted to enjoy the garden. It calms me. I'm sorry if I've upset you, somehow. Here, do you want a Star-Cola?"

He held out a bottle of soda.

The rodian looked at the soda and then back to Galen incredibly confused. "You awe hewe jutht to vook? You eveh twain with any Jedi?"

He shook his head. The rodian was clearer when he was calmer. "No, I'm self taught."

"Self taught." He continued to look at the stranger with his big eyes. "You neveh thought to join the Jedi dethpite coming hewe?"

"Why would I?" be shrugged. "I have nothing against your order, but there's little about it that interests me."

"You come to the gawdens and you awe not intewested in the Owdeh?" He shook his head. "The sewenity hewe ith repwethentative of the Owdeh."

"No." he shook his head. "It is a representation of the natural order of the universe. It pales in comparison to true untouched jungles or forests, but compared to the rest of this sector it is more in line with the primal aspects of life. That is what calms me, just as it does when I am on less developed worlds."

"So you awe a man of natuawe, attuned to it via the Fothe." The rodian then nodded happily. "I am thattified by that."

"So am I." he smiled. "Galen Sol."

"Feth A'vuto." He stared a bit more and then nodded. "A pweathure."

"I am pleased to meet you." he nodded. "This is an impressive garden. Who maintains it?"

"Wethmi Thun. Thee ith othd Jedi. Awawi Zian aidth Thun with the gawden."

Damn, another long answer.

It took him a few moments to work out what was said, but one name did stick out.

"Arali? She helps with the garden? She was a passenger on our ship."

The rodian nodded. "Awawi thpendth a wot of time with Wethmi Thun."

"And, what about you? What is your role here?"

"I am not uthuavvy hewe. I twaveu the Gawaxy as the Fothe guideth me.."

"Like Lyshea Mersl?" he asked. "Do you have visions?"