Shadows of Bankor

It was starting to get late when she finally finished her special project. Verse's revelation that afternoon had gotten Xanna thinking about what she could realistically do to help if...if the worst came to pass. Rather than dwell too much on the spiritual possibilities, meditation had been exhausting recently, she had decided to do something practical with her time. The results had been even better than dhe had thought possible.

Approaching the cabin door with a package under her arm she knocked firmly. "Master? Are you home?"

Veras opened the door and said, "Hey Xanna, come in."

"Hello Veras, it is lovely to see you. How are you coping with this strange new life?" She smiled at her young friend and gave her a hug as she entered the cabin. It could not have been easy going from orphan to farm kid, and now being kept away from that life too.

“I think it’s kind of fun, it’s exciting like in those serials, I feel like a spy or something,” she offered.

Oh no. That was not good. That was not good at all! With a hand on each of Veras' shoulders Xanna gave her a serious look. "This is difficult to hear, but you have to be very careful now. In Warrior's Heart the heroes always escape unscathed, even if they are attacked by a stealth-shielded mega-rancor. I think they had used up all their budget before that episode. But listen, my point is that in the real world spies get caught. Bad things happen to good people. The Empire would like bad things to happen to all of us, especially your father."

Her expression softened. "We do not want anything bad to happen to you Veras. So please be careful."

She nodded, "Okay... I am sorry."

The old man entered looking freshly showered as he dried his hair and said, "Xanna, is something amiss?"

Xanna shook her head slowly. "No, I am sorry Veras. You do not have to apologize. Just remember that we all value you and wish for you to be safe."

Oraka received a bright if slightly shy smile when he appeared. "No Master, I... After the discussions today I thought... Well, I wanted to do something, so...I have a gift for you." She pulled the package out and held it up on her palms. It was wrapped and there was a ribbon holding it together.

"What is it?" he asked as he looked at it.


"It's a gift, dad, just open it, no peeking with the Force!" Veras added.

The old man nodded to his daughter and accepted it and opened it and said calmly, "This is... where did you get this?"

She enjoyed the interplay of father and daughter and watched the reaction as he opened the package. A little purple tinge came to her cheeks.

"Oh, I made them for you Master." Her eyes met his. "Back in the Slums I have been repairing people's clothes for years. Then I started making my own, and when the Empire started cracking down I thought I would start to make something with more protection."

She looked at the bundle of clothes. "I mean, it's not full Cortosis weave or anything, but I scrounged up a little so I thought maybe it would help to deflect a lightsaber, just enough? And its stab and blaster resistant, but just looks like regular clothing. I thought... maybe it would help to keep you safe."

"Thank you, this is thoughtful, I am humbled," he said calmly.


"That is amazing, I can sew patches but not whole clothing," Veras added.

"You are welcome Master. Thank you, for giving me hope for the future." She bowed her head and then stepped forward and gave him a quick hug.

Stepping back she put a hand on Veras' shoulder. "I can teach you if you would like? I started with patches, and repairing socks."

The old man is taken back by the hug and then replied, "It is you young Jedi that give me hope, Xanna."

Veras seemed very pleased to take her up on that offer.

She nodded. "We are Jedi. We support each other however we can." A smile. "I hope you find them comfortable, I took notes on your measurements."

With her mission complete Xanna arranged to start teaching Veras as soon as she was ready. Her stocks were minimal after using all her best materials on Oraka's new clothes, but she would pick up some new materials at the market tomorrow.

/scene?

/scene