Star Wars - Kenobi

“And right now, I could be in trouble.”
    “You’re already in trouble!”
    “A different kind of trouble,” Orrin said. “Legal trouble. The kind that will make it difficult for me to walk around freely, even if I get clear of the criminals and the bank.”
    Annileen raised her hands to the ceiling. “Why not? You’ve ruined everything else in your life.” She took a deep breath and grabbed his sleeve. “Orrin, that’s enough,” she said, yanking him toward the doorway. “Leave, and don’t come back. I’ll have the stuff in your office here cleaned out and sent to you!”
    “You don’t understand,” Orrin said. “This trouble. I’m in it, yes. But Jabe’s in it, too.”
    Annileen and Kallie looked at the boy, baffled. “Jabe?”
    Standing in the shadows, Jabe looked down and swallowed. “Yes. I’m in it.”
    His mother gawked. “What? What have you done?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Orrin said. He pointed his finger in Jabe’s face. “What matters is Jabe will go away, too, if it comes out. But it won’t come out. Only one other person knows, and I’m going to take care of that.”
    Overwhelmed and confused, Annileen seemed not to know where to look. Orrin changed that by getting in her face. “Did you hear me? I can make sure Jabe stays free,” he said, snarling. There wasn’t any reason not to let his anger show. “I’ve been helping your family for years. Bringing business here, watching over you. It’s time you paid me back! So you’d karking well better help me stay alive in the next twenty-four hours.” He jabbed his finger in the direction of the cashbox. “That means we pay Jabba off tomorrow. Me—and you . You’re in this with me whether you want to be or not.”
    Kallie moved to her mother’s side. “Mom, what’s going on? What’s going to happen?”
    “I don’t know, sweetie,” Annileen said, looking between Jabe and Orrin. “But I think we need help.”
    Orrin looked up at the chrono. A little over fourteen hours until Jabba’s deadline. The hoodlums would be serious, this time. However it had happened—and it was still a mystery to Orrin—Mosep Binneed and his minions had been embarrassed today in the town house. Orrin didn’t expect that anyone in Jabba’s organization could let that happen twice. Not and continue to draw breath. They’d have to be paid and taken care of.
    But he had to deal with Kenobi first. Reenergized, he opened the front door to the night. “I’ll be back in time, tomorrow. I’ll fix it all. You’ll see.”
    Her arms around her children, Annileen shuddered. “I see a monster,” she said.
    “I’m a farmer,” Orrin replied. “And I’m going to save my farm.” Adjusting the settings on his rifle, he called back to Jabe. “Kenobi—did he say where he was going, boy? Did he say anything ?”
    Jabe responded coolly. “He had a message for you.”
    “For me?” The tall man paused, curious.
    “Yes.” Jabe said. “Turn back now.”
    Orrin’s eyes widened as he weighed the words. Then he stepped out into the night.
    Annileen locked another door and barred it. She’d changed the passcodes on all the electronic locks, even from the entryway from the garages. Tar Lup would just have to knock in the morning. She’d thought then about entering Orrin’s satellite office in the store, until she remembered Jabe needed tending to back in the house.
    Her son sat under the lonely light at her kitchen table. Ben’s cloak was off and being folded lovingly by Kallie. Underneath, Jabe wore the rags of a Tusken Raider. He made no move to hide them, but he looked embarrassed and humiliated.
    Seeing her mother stare, Kallie spoke to the air. “I think I’m going to have ammunition in every fight from now on.”
    Jabe shook his head. “It’s a long story,” he mumbled. “You won’t believe it.”
    Annileen pulled up a chair and sighed tiredly. “Try me.”
    Jabe started speaking slowly at first, and then gained speed, rambling from one part of his young life to another. His lost father. His hated job. His need to fit in with the Gaults, whom he saw as doing something with their lives. And his desperate desire to please Orrin, a man of stature and independence.
    And he spoke of the favor Orrin had asked, in Mos Eisley.
    “He said it was a prank,” Jabe said. “We were going to dress up and scare the Ulbrecks.”
    The air went out of Annileen’s body. She sagged. “Wyle Ulbreck. My best customer, Wyle