[size=2]Chapter Three: The Gift[/size]
“Eila, where are you taking me?”
It was freezing outside; my arms were folded and my head was tucked inside my jacket, which really didn't help much. Nar Shaddaa is a cold planet, especially this part of the moon, where the sun is blocked by Nal Hutta. But at least the local cantina has a heating system, which is part of the reason why I'm there most of the time.
“You'll just have to wait.” she responded.
We've already walked about two miles from my house. I've never really drifted off this far into this part of the city, I usually stay within the perimeter of the cantina and the local spice association.
“Almost there.”
“Good, my mind's about to explode from this weather.”
“Stop crying.”
“I'm not crying!” I snapped. There was a pause of silence as we kept walking.
“You're cranky in the morning.”
“It's after midnight, what did you expect?!”
“For you to be happy. It's not every day your best friends gives you a gift on the exact moment of your birthday.”
“That's the point, can't you be like normal people?” I laughed.
“Can't you be different?” she quickly replied.
“But then I would be like you, annoying and perky.” Eila could obviously tell that I was joking, since we usually talk to one another like this.
“Well you're too stubborn, too sensitive, and have no sense of humor.”
“No sense of humor?” I acted as if this would be the only thing offending me.
Eila stopped walking, which led to the same for me. We stood in front of a huge warehouse, that had the name “Mitos” engraved on the front. Mitos is Eila's last name, so obviously I asked,
“Is this your dad's building? The one you were talking about before?”
“That's right.”
In our last discussion, Eila was describing this to me. She says that it holds over one hundred rooms, all which are security doors, and have well protection.
“I guess my gift is something special after all.” I stated. “Much better than the t-shirt you gave me last year.”
“I made it myself, you should have been grateful.”
“It said 'I'm Ace, hear me roar!' on it.” I mocked.
“Well, that's what I think when I look at you, obnoxious and loud.” Eila smiled, making me grin some.
“So... where's my present?”
“Well someone's a little greedy.” she concluded.
“Someone's a little hesitant. Come on, let's go inside already. It's freezing.”
“Yeah alright.” Eila and I walked over to the building, it looked much smaller than she described it. There was a terminal near the front door, Eila walked over to it, and said, “Eila Mitos”. The terminal voiced back, “Welcome, Ms. Mitos.”
The security door opened, and I peeked inside before entering. There was another door.
“A lot of doors...” I sighed.
“A lot of goods.” Eila explained. “Access second door.”
The terminal made a beeping noise, and the second door opened.
“Access granted. Welcome, Ms. Mitos.” the terminal repeated itself. “Security lock down in 3... 2... 1...”
Eila hurried to enter the small hallway between the first and second door, I did the same. The door behind us shut closed not a second after, and the second door opened. This time when I peeked inside, there was a gigantic room, full of many employees who all looked very busy. Boxes were being transported through shoots, droids were transferring data into computers, the employees were reported status to their holograms.
“Don't mind this, come with me.” Eila said. I turned to her, still amazed at the numerous amount of workers and all the actions being played. She continued to walk, with me closely behind. We walked down this hall which had countless doors on both sides of it; which had numbers that listed in order from least to greatest.
“The item is in room two hundred and twenty-two.” Eila said.
“Two, two, two?” I asked.
“Two hundred and twenty-two.” she confirmed.
I looked at the nearest door, the numbers showed “64”. I was getting more anxious to see what my birthday gift was, it really sounded special.
“So,” Eila began. “how was gambling last night?”
“Fine.”
“Did you make a lot of money?”
“Three thousand credits.” I made sure it seemed like I was bragging, I nearly shouted those three words to Eila.
“Sounds like a good night.”
“Yeah... I was sleeping well for a while too, then you came barging in my house.”
“It'll be worth it, you'll love your gift. I promise.”
“That's what you said about last year's t-shirt.”
“And didn't you love it?!”. We both chuckled at that.
I looked to the right of the hall, to see the number we were at. The door number showed, “178”, we were nearly there.
“So... wanna give me a tip on what it is?”
“Nope.” she quickly answered.
“Not even the slightest tip?”
“Haha, just wait Ace. You're so impatient.”
“You're too patient.”
Eila smiled, and stopped walking. I looked to where she was, we were at room “222”. This door was different from all of the doors in the hall; it was locked with a security of metal and steel, and was fat and bulged out into the hall. And to top that, there was a terminal screen placed on the wall near it.
“Something special..?” I asked, amazed.
“Something special.” she answered.
Eila walked to the computer, and typed in a sequence of codes. Soon enough, the door opened, along with the one hidden behind it. I raced inside, flying past Eila. It was a huge room, but it was very empty. The only thing inside was a little object, placed on an altar located at the center.
Without talking I walked closer to my present. As I got closer and closer, the more I could recognize what it was. And now, I was sure of what it was.
“Eila...” I said.
“Do you like it?” she asked.
I grasped the item in my hand, firmly and well. I looked at it up and down, front to back, and to both sides.
“Where did you find it?” I was bewildered.
I pressed the red button on the item, and in an instant a blue beam fired out from the tip. It was a lightsaber, my Jedi lightsaber.
“With you being affiliated with both the Jedi and the Sith, I was curious to which one it was.” Eila said.
I swung the blade back and forth, listening to the humming it sounded out. I turned to Eila, just remembering she was present.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” she replied.
