Shadows of Bankor

Closed for Sedition
Kriff the Imps
Jays for Life

Hands on hips Xanna looked at the bland signage, amusing graffiti, and crime scene tape that had been plastered over the door. Fortunately the building repair work had proven be to be rather robust and she suspected the locals had been back to repaint and spot weld in her absence.

With a nod she walked over and started to tear off the tape. It felt satisfying, even she knew it wasn't ever going to be the same. Things change. Hopefully for the best.

Vuxia assisted a bit unsure of what to do with all the changes but at least she had survived the fighting without too much harm.

A tall and lanky figure would enter the doorway and pause to look at the mess the imperials had made.

Bowze bowed to both ladies ''Miss Xanna, Miss Vuxia''

"Bowze!" Xanna gave him a hug before he could complain. "Thank you for coming, this is very sweet of you. We were just dealing with...all this."

She turned back and looked at Vuxia, then pulled the last piece of warning tape off the doorway. "Well hopefully they just closed it up and that's all..." she pulled out her keys and opened it up. "We never did get to bake those sweet rolls Vuxia."

As the door swung open she noted the absence of rotting food smells, which boded well.

''I huh...'' Bowze seemed to shrink wuth awkwardness when the pantoran forced herself in his bubble ''Hum...of course''

"I think... Yes! They were in too much of a hurry to trash this place." A half-hearted effort to look for evidence seemed to have ended with the realisation that there was nothing here but the kitchen and food supplies.

She righted a few chairs that had been knocked over and set out three. "Stocktaking can wait a few minutes I think." She turned to her two friends. "It has been an intense time, these last few weeks. Have you thought about what you will do next?"

She greeted Bowze and then said, "I am sure now we have some time to bake plenty."

Bowze paused as he observed the place with more care

''I intend to leave the planet to prepare. There is much to do and the Empire will be back for revenge''

A sad smile crossed Xanna's face as she looked around at the old place. So many memories. Good times. Hard times. Struggles, and the sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself once again.

She nodded. "I know Bowze. Your place is out there." She turned back to look at both of them. "And so is mine. I will be back though, from time to time." Her head tilted slightly as she looked at Vuxia, contemplating something.

"Folks like you, probably have bigger things than living a simple life," she said honestly.

"You will be missed, but life goes on."

"It is the great cycle Vuxia. The force has other plans for me, but you are right, life goes on." She stood and walked over to where she kept a spare set of keys hidden under a tile on the wall. Removing them she walked back and placed them on the table next to Vuxia.

"At least I can go knowing this place, and everything it has meant to so many beings, continues."

"Wait?" she looked at the keys.

"Are you serious?"

"This is exactly what I was saying when JB gave me his keys and asked me to keep it running for him." She imagined the wily old Besalisk would be pleased with this turn of events.

"I mean, it sort of runs itself." She shrugged. "I'll show you." She half turned to make a start then turned back. "Unless...unless you wanted to keep working behind the bar?"

"Well, I was looking to leave all this behind one day, but this would work... no just unexpected of course, yes, I would love it," she said honestly.

A broad smile was forthcoming when she accepted. "It is becoming a tradition then. JB set off for the Rim after leaving this place to me. Now I am heading out into the galaxy and leaving it to you. Just find someone you trust to keep making a difference when you are ready to move on."

"I don't see myself leaving my home," she said honestly. "I like hearing about the galaxy but no real desire to go out there."

That actually took a bit of a weight off.

"Well in that case I look forward to seeing you here again someday. I think Bowze and I will manage to send you some news about the wider Galaxy. But before we get to all of that, I had better show you the recipe for my Nerf Stew."

"Thank you," she said warmly.