-The tavern-

Rex sat at a corner, opposite Ahsoka and Kix, when he over heard the conversation from two farmers that sat in the booth next to him.

"I tell you, I saw them, and I know I was not dreaming because I was not on any spotchka." 

"Come on Reke. Those are just rumors. Look, you may not have gotten high on spotchka, but knowing of how much of a workaholic you are, you were probably just to tired, and you saw what you wanted to see."

"Cade, I'm telling you, I DID see those droids!" Cade quickly covered his companions mouth. "Hush down Reke. Do you really want to attract unwanted attention?" "What's wrong, I thought you didn't believe me. Seems quite out of place for to worry if I was just rambling about rumors." Reke spat out. 

"Well, whether its true or not, I'd rather not frighten these people any more. It's bad enough that rumors on Sorgan spread like wild fire." "Hey, it's not a rumor." Reke said in a hushed tone. "I did see those droids."  

Rex had shifted closer to listen up on Reke and Cade, when he decided to finally join them. "Reke, just go home and get some rest." Cade said. Just as Reke was about to reply, Rex had cut into their conversation. "Hey there. So, I couldn't help but over that you have some problem with droids."

---

-The plains- 

The farmer had let Hardcase into his village, only after a good amount of persuasion and proofing that Reetha in her wolf form was no harm to the locals. "Your pet loth wolf is very obedient and helpful." The farmer named Roku praised Hardcase. "Thank you, but she is not my pet. She's a friend." Hardcase said with a smile as Reetha hummed happily. 

"Well, it is unusual to see a tradesman such as yourself to be so kind to a beautiful creature such as this. Most traders that stop on Sorgan sell animals like your wolf as exotic pets or to a race show. Best you keep her in your sights at all time." Hardcase gave a sideways glance to Reetha. 

"I'll be alright."  she replied. 

"Well, thank you for carrying  my days catch. You can help me unload them, then I'll get you wolf and yourself something to eat." 

---

-The tavern- 

"I told you to keep it down!" Cade punched Reke's shoulder. "Hey, calm down. I was just asking a question." Rex quipped. "What makes you think I want to tell you. By the looks of your clothing, you might be some bounty hunter? Is that what you are. A bounty hunter?" "Yeah I am, as a matter of fact, and I have been searching for some droids that had fled to this sector. They captured my teammate." 

Reke looked to Cade, then to Rex. "We'll if its information your looking for, what's in it for me?" "Reke! Seriously? Come on, let just go." Reke pulled his friend's hand down. "No. It's about time someone did something, and if its not me, I'd rather this bounty hunter do something about it." Reke then turned to Rex. "So, like I said, ya want information, you better something of great value to return to me." "How about I spare you and your friends life? I am a bounty hunter after all." Reke was not backing down. 

"Hey, you kill me and my friend or so much as threaten us, you don't find your friend. So, I'll ask again, bounty hunter, what is in it for me?" Rex kept silent while he fished out something out of his pocket. Then, he dropped a small pouch on the table. "This is enough." 

Reke picked up the pouch and opened it. His eyes went wide and he showed it to Cade, 20 credits. A smile made it to Reke's face. "If you can pay me this much, you must have some more to spare." Rex's patience was wearing thin. 

He carefully slid his blaster onto the table. "You guys seem like good folk. So give me the information and be on your way. Your a reasonable person Reke, Cade." The two farmers eyed the blaster and gulped. "20 credits is good enough." 

"So, tell me. These droids you saw? What did they look like?" "Not like any normal droids we use for farming, that's for sure." "That does not say much." Rex said lowly. Reke scrunched his face and bent closer to the table, "They carried guns." he whispered. "Okay. How many were there?" "I'd say about 20. It seemed as if they were scouting." 

Rex raised an eyebrow and Reke continued. "Most people that have seen them, say that they always come from the Pine Hills." "Have you heard anything about a secret droid base?" Rex questioned. "Yeah, but I don't think its real. Someone saw it in the Pine Hills. I just don't see how a base could be built there." 

Reke took a sip of spotchka and continued. "There's no flat land to build a base. No land has been cleared either. I walked up to those hills and saw it myself." Rex kept quiet, digesting the new information he got. Reke went quiet. "Is that all you got?" Rex grumbled. "Y-yes sir. That is all." Reke replied.

 Rex looked into Reke's eyes, his expression darkening slightly. "...Sir?..." Reke shrunk into his clothes. "That is all. Thank you." Rex got up from his chair and started to walk to the exit. "Oh, and I wasn't here." the captain said as he dropped another pouch of credits on Reke's and Cade's table, and left for the twilight.

---

-The tavern- 

Ahsoka and Kix hadn't done much. While Rex had seemed do be engaged in a rather interesting looking conversation, they were waiting for the bone broths. "This is going slow." Kix stated. "Rex had fun. Those guys still look spooked." Ahsoka replied. "Yeah, Rex is a man of mystery."

"I am so sorry to have you wait, but here are your broths." The waitress had came back and set the bowls down. Kix and Ahsoka nodded a thanks. "Can I help you with anything else?" Ahsoka raised an eyebrow and Kix then look at the waitress. "Actually yes. We'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind." "Uhm. Sure." "Please, sit." Ahsoka instructed. 

"My friend and I heard about certain droid in this area. Word it, they have a secret base?" the togruta questioned. "Ah, so you have heard. Well, the story has been around for a while. Some locals have claimed to have seem droids patrolling somewhere near the hills." "Have you ever seen them yourself?" 

Kix asked as he propped his hands on the table. "No, I haven't. Most people have only heard these stories. So far, these so called droids have been seen by the hills." "What about the hidden base?" Ahsoka asked. "I am really not sure of that. Some local farmer apparently saw an odd looking building by the hills and saw droids coming in and out." 

The waitress then leaned in closer to them, Ahsoka and Kix copied her movement. "Between us, do you actually think that there might be a secret droid base here on Sorgan?" the waitress asked quietly. " We're not sure. We never thought a peaceful planet like Sorgan would see droids. The stories are interesting." said Ahsoka. 

"Well, adventures folk usually try to find the truth for themselves. I assume you are those type of folk. You can try out the Pine Hills. Just about 12 kilometers, southeast from here. By the Southern Ridge" the waitress offered. "That we are. Thank you." Ahsoka smiled. Kix dropped of some credits to the waitresses hand. "Keep the change."

"Reetha, we have a possible lead. Kix and I will head back to the Twilight."

................................................................................................................................................................

-The plains-

Hardcase had gathered the fire with the rest of the kind villagers. Reetha laid next to him, as Roku handed the clone a bowl of porridge, and set down a whole smoked fish for Reetha. "How long have you been on this planet?" Roku asked as he sat by Reetha. "Quite a while now. Long enough to hear disturbing rumors about some weird droids." Roku stroked his beard. "Ah, I see the stories continue to grow. Tell me what you have heard my boy." 

"Well,.." Hardcase started as his sipped a spoon of porridge. "..I heard they were not droids one would fine on a peaceful planet, and there is a hidden base somewhere here in the south." "Your not wrong. These stories have been circulating for a while. I know of any secret base, but many a weary traveler, like yourself should stay away from the Pine Hills." 

"What goes on in the hills?" "That is where most people claim to see these.. droids." Roku said as he stood up. "I'll be back. I'm going to get us some spotchka." 

"The Pine Hills. I've heard of them before."  Reetha spoke to Hardcase. "What about them?" "When I was younger, the elders of my village warned us about some hills in the south. Hills with pine tress. They said that these hills could cause people to hallucinate." "Toxic gasses?" "I don't know. Village elders are confusing, especially the ones in the western hemisphere"  Reetha stated and Hardcase laughed. 

Roku came back with the spotchka and handed a cup to Hardcase, who squinted as he drank the strong drink. "Good stuff." he managed to squeak. Roku laughed. "This drink would keep you warm through out the night. Your wolf's fur is enough to keep her warm. I have taken the liberty to pack you 3 bottles of spotchka." "Thank you, Roku, but you didn't have to." "Well, I wanted to. Your a kind traveler. Don't come across kind people easily now a days." 

After some quiet moments, Hardcase has asked the directions to the hills. "Why would you want to go there? Did I not tell you to keep away?" "What can I say my good man, when I don't find trouble, it finds me. That being said, I should head off to the Lost Pools. I still have a ship to fix." Hardcase stood up. Roku extended his hand to Hardcase.

 "Pull me up boy, these bones are not as strong as they once were." After bidding farewell, Roku walked Hardcase and Reetha to the village entrance and saw them off. Hardcase rode on Reetha's back to the ship to meet up with the rest.