Star Wars: Apprentice of the Jedi

Veiled Encounters

Kossi sat in his small office within the machinist shop, his attention fixed on the viewscreen mounted on the wall. The news outlet displayed a headline that caught his eye: "Accusations Surrounding Leia Organa, Stepping Down as Senator." Intrigued, he leaned forward, his brow furrowed.

The news anchor's voice filled the room, detailing the allegations of Leia Organa being the secret child of Darth Vader, the notorious Sith Lord. Kossi's face twisted with skepticism as he shook his head. "You can't trust those politicians these days," he muttered under his breath, reaching over to switch off the viewscreen.

Just as he turned it off, the door to his office swung open, and Ben walked in, his tools clinking in the bag slung over his shoulder. Kossi looked up, giving Ben a nod of acknowledgment. "Hey there, Ben. Another day of hard work behind us, eh?"

Ben returned the nod, a hint of exhaustion in his eyes. "Those speeder engines were more stubborn than I expected."

Kossi chuckled, patting a nearby workbench. "That's what I like to hear. You're becoming quite the skilled machinist, my boy. You may go now."

Ben gathered his tools and prepared to leave for the day. He turned to Kossi. "Thanks, Kossi. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ben made his way out of the shop and onto the bustling streets of Corvan Prime. He followed the winding path to a popular cantina situated on the lower levels of the city, a place where locals and visitors alike sought refuge and camaraderie.

The moment he entered, the cantina owner, a young and charismatic woman named Selena, greeted him with a warm smile. "Ah, Ben! Good to see you again. How was your day at the shop?"

Ben returned her smile. "Busy, as always. Managed to fix everything that was on the pallet for today. Kossi seems to be impressed with my progress."

Selena led him to a booth tucked away in a cozy corner of the cantina. As they settled in, she leaned forward with a grin, genuine curiosity in her eyes. "I see somethin' goin' on. Tell me, Ben, what are you really up to? Do you want to work at a fun job? You don't want to be working on dirty speeder parts all day."

Ben hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "I... I'm not sure what you mean, honestly," he replied with a hint of uncertainty and cautiousness. "I've been so focused on work that I haven't given it much thought."

Selena chuckled softly. "Well, take your time. Let me fetch your drink, and you and I will have that talk when I come back."

As Ben sat alone at the table, waiting for his drink, the atmosphere in the cantina began to change. The raucous laughter and friendly banter were disrupted by the sound of a scuffle. Two heavily intoxicated Weequay hunters started a brawl, their drunken antics drawing the attention of the entire room.

In the chaos, they stumbled towards Ben, bumping into him and invading his personal space. Their eyes fixated on him with a dangerous glint.

"What you lookin' at, boy," one of the hunters said.

Ben, unsure of how to diffuse the situation, tried to step back, but they pushed him forcefully, sending him sprawling onto the floor. As he lay there, disoriented and vulnerable, a figure suddenly burst into the cantina. The cantina fell into an eerie silence as the mysterious figure raised his blaster, aiming it at the two drunken troublemakers. Without a word, a powerful blast echoed through the air, striking both aggressors, who crumpled to the ground.

Who was this person, and why had they come to Solo's aid?

Ben's gaze shifted from the fallen hunters to the enigmatic savior who had intervened on his behalf. Their eyes briefly locked, and in that fleeting moment, Ben knew he had seen this figure before.