Shadows of Bankor

Having been near the base all day, Elaranu decided what she really needed was some fresh air at this point. So she'd gone to one of the larger islands near the Sword and found a clearing she could land the New Hope in. That accomplished, she took out some food and relaxed, doing a combination or snacking and cleaning the outside of her ship with a pressure washer.

It was quite tropical and breezy, so she slipped down to some gym shorts and her tanktop, not wanting to get her flight suit or overalls wet.

A vessel was cruising by. A small speed yacht by then name "The Hornblower" if the writing on the starboard was to be believed. It was being steered by a familiar figure, a tall imposing man of steel skin colour and even darker tattoos, his toplessness utterly justified by the presentability of his musculature.

Ela looked out and blinked incredulously; Was that that assassin on a boat?

It was, and he had noticed her too, now guiding his boat to throw anchor at her island.

Ela peered through the trees a bit more, wondered who thought being out on a boat was an enjoyable experience, then gave one wave and turned back towards her ship. She decided to take a break in her cleaning and start unpacking the rest of the food she'd gotten out.

Daunt hopped into the surf and waded his way to the shore, emerging with his pants stuck to his body. "Long time no see." He called out.

Ela waved a spatula from where she was, having to speak up thanks to the distance and the sounds of the surf, "That is true. You show up in the oddest places at the oddest times, Mister Daunt."

"Wonder what makes this time and place odd for you." He chuckled, what she couldn't see as the distance was still too big. But he crossed it, dripping. "So you're a professional rebel now?"

A shrug, "What makes you think that?''

"You're hanging out in the territory Resistance has claimed as their own. If you were not accepted, they'd have done something about it. That's my thinking at least."

"Fair enough; That must apply for you as well then.''

It wasn't really even a question. Ela appreciated that she did not need to speak up as loud as Daunt got closer.

"I was just out for some personal time to myself. Not that you exactly count as a crowd."

"There is nothing too attractive about this island itself so if you prefer quiet solitude I am on my way." He shrugged.

That got a chuckle from her, "You misunderstand; I did not mean to imply I wish to be alone. Merely not in a crowded base. And as I just said, you are no crowd; You are company. And I am more than fine with that. Shall I get you a chair or something?"

"I'd like a hammock between two palm trees but that may be beyond your scope of fast procurement?" He tilted his horned head.

"Mmm... never underestimate a mechanic. Wait right here."

Going up the ramp to her ship, Ela came down a minute later with some cut cargo netting, some rods, and a coil of rope. As she was gone, the meat patties she'd been broiling continued to sizzle away in their skillet. And maybe smoke lightly?

Seemed she had forgotten about them, regardless.

Daunt was a homemade cook by dedication, especially when meat was concerned. Not being able to bear the meal being abandoned, he knelt by the skillet and took care of turning the slabs.

A little bit of tying and wrapping later...



"There. It is basic, but I suspect it will hold your mass sufficiently."

She dusted off her hands before putting them on her hips.

"My mass, how considerate." He chuckled, walking to appreciate the hammock. "Great job, looks like. Can't wait to test it. I've returned favour by looking after your dinner."

"Dinn... oh my, the Bantha steaks!"

Rushing over at a brisk walk, she saw they were indeed well tended to, "They did not burn indeed, thank you."

Sitting near them on the stump she'd set the stove next to, she picked up her spatula, "And mass should be a consideration for any structural engineer. Especially when the comfort and safety of the end user is paramount. It is my reputation on the line if that were to break or deform from strain."

"Let's see if you calculated me right then. Does the design support leaping onto it from a run-up?" He simply grinned at the mention of steaks, proud of his meat-cooking skills.

Her eyebrows went up a bit, "Um... I actually did not consider momentum at all in what I was thinking of."

She turned back to the steaks and took them off onto a waiting plate as she thought.

"...It is cargo netting though, so that part should be fine. I would be more concerned about the points of joining."

"Then I'll be gentle." He laughed and flattened and nestled himself into the hammock, then started the swinging controlled by his leg on the tree trunk. "Perfect."

She made sure to turn off the camping stove as she looked over at him, "I mean, if you want to put it through more rigorous testing, feel free. I would actually be interested in the results at this point. Now that you have brought it up."

He looked up from his position of relaxation, made a thoughtful frown, and then started bouncing left and right and up and down in the hammock, his mass thrown around putting quite a strain on its fabric.

Fortunately, the simplicity of the build also meant there was relatively little to go wrong with it. The hammock swayed a little, almost threatening to throw him out. But with the thickness of the chosen trees and ropes, and the solidness of the knots, the most that happened was the metal rods serving as the ties for the sling seemed to slip a little to one side.

"...perhaps not too much of that, from the look of things. Still, satisfactory considering the cost and effort. I will need to buy some new netting, but that would be less expensive than buying my own hammock."