Past and Future

He was slumped against the wall of a building, hidden in shadow. Hera dropped the food at his feet.

"It's for you," she told him in Basic.

"Keep it," he told her. "I'm not worth the effort. I might as well die here."

"I paid for it. Don't listen to Pindor. He . . ." Hera paused, trying to find the right word, "speaks . . . that to all who can't talk Twi'leki."

"Why do you care?" the figure asked. "Why would you want to help me?"

"I don't know enough Basic to answer you," Hera admitted. The figure stood and lowered his hood, allowing Hera to see his face for the first time. He was a human, perhaps only a year or two older than Hera herself. He had blue eyes and brown hair.

"I'll teach you Basic," he promised. "As payment for the food."

Hera hesitated. She had always wanted to learn to speak proper Basic, but her father wouldn't let her. She only knew the Basic she did by listening to merchants and traders. Now a stranger was offering to teach her.

"I'll be back tomorrow," Hera promised. "My name is Hera. What is your name?"

"I'm Kanan," he said. "A pleasure to meet you."