Chief Librarian
Based on Yshiba’s claim that Lux’s was the best restaurant in the city, Kass had expected something fancy and expensive. In actuality, its vibe was closer to that of a diner or dive. Like most of the older buildings in the city, it had been carved from a white and brown enyaii, a type of giant mushroom with exceptionally hard and sturdy flesh. A large window made up of circles of many-colored glass added a touch of whimsy to the otherwise drab interior.
For once, Kass wasn’t the center of unwanted attention at a restaurant. Instead it was Master Farlander who drew curious stares from other customers. He took it in stride, utterly unbothered by the gawkers. A waitress quickly ushered them over to a booth with worn yellow seats, handed them holographic menus, and slithered away to another table.
Kass held up her menu as if she were perusing the options, but not a single one of her ninety-six eyes was actually reading it. They were all fixed on Oukranos, who was either oblivious to her staring or pretending to be.
Master Farlander glanced at them both, one of his head fins quirked in bemusement. The waitress returned with a steaming pot clutched in a pseudopod, speaking cheerfully in flawless Basic as she poured the contents of the pot into their cups. “Evening folks. My name’s Nata, and I’ll be taking care of you. Are you ready to order, or do you need a little more time?”
Kass watched the creamy drink trickle into their cups, its earthy fragrance filling the air. How long had it been since she’d drank zin? Not since she was little. It tasted best with those little round cakes… “Do you have kekjek?” she asked.
“Of course,” the waitress said. “Can’t have zin without it.”
Oukranos gave the menu a last once-over before saying, “I’ll have the same thing.”
“Kekjek is a dessert,” Kass pointed out. “You’d be spoiling your dinner.”
“So are you.”
“I already ate, remember?” She told him that earlier. Had he not been listening?
Oukranos didn’t respond, wordlessly handing his menu back to the waitress. Master Farlander eyed the bickering boy and girl with a mix of wry amusement and gentle concern, and ordered a salad. Once the waitress had left, he folded his webbed hands in front of him.
“Kassi, I hope you won’t mind, but I took the liberty of informing the Council about what happened last night.”
“What did they say?” she asked, leaning forward across the table.
“They advised me to cut this trip short and return to Kashyyyk as soon as possible.” He sighed. “I told them that I had already offered to send you back, but that you had declined, and that I would respect your wishes. That was all.”
“Thank you, master,” Kass said softly, releasing a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. The possibility of being ordered back to the Silver Rest had haunted her all afternoon, a nagging fear at the back of her mind that what she wanted wouldn’t matter.
Farlander bowed his head. “You said that the girl who suggested this restaurant to you was the daughter of Merit, who gave you the news about your father?” he asked.
“Yshiba.” Kass hummed in confirmation, recalling the other girl’s reaction. “She seemed pretty mortified.”
“Her mother could have used more tact,” Oukranos muttered. He sniffed his cup of zin, frowned at the pungent aroma, then touched the back of his hand to the mug to check its temperature.
“It seems strange to me that she just so happened to be there,” Farlander remarked. “And she was able to recognize you after all this time?”
Kass hadn’t considered the wildness of the coincidence. “I guess it is a little weird,” she murmured. But crazier things have happened.
She watched as Oukranos gradually plucked up enough courage to try the zin. He raised the cup to his lips and slowly tipped it back, taking a very small sip… followed by a bigger gulp. “That’s good,” he said, licking the froth from his upper lip. “Very good.”
“I’m glad you like it," Kass said, mustering up a few smiles.
The waitress returned with their food. Two plates of kekjek cakes, dark purple balls of seaweed dough covered in soft, sweet lilac spikes. Kass wasted no time biting into one. The gummy texture and rich flavor immediately took her back to her childhood… and twisted her stomach in knots. She dropped what was left of the cake back on her plate, her appetite vanished.
Stabbing his salad with his fork, Master Farlander held it up as if admiring the leaves. “Do you have any means with which to contact Merit?” he asked.
“N-No,” Kass mumbled. She didn’t think she’d ever want to see Merit again.
Oukranos stopped eating and looked sharply at Farlander. “Why do you ask?”
“I would like to speak to her,” the Jedi Master replied calmly. “I have many questions.”
For once, Kass wasn’t the center of unwanted attention at a restaurant. Instead it was Master Farlander who drew curious stares from other customers. He took it in stride, utterly unbothered by the gawkers. A waitress quickly ushered them over to a booth with worn yellow seats, handed them holographic menus, and slithered away to another table.
Kass held up her menu as if she were perusing the options, but not a single one of her ninety-six eyes was actually reading it. They were all fixed on Oukranos, who was either oblivious to her staring or pretending to be.
Master Farlander glanced at them both, one of his head fins quirked in bemusement. The waitress returned with a steaming pot clutched in a pseudopod, speaking cheerfully in flawless Basic as she poured the contents of the pot into their cups. “Evening folks. My name’s Nata, and I’ll be taking care of you. Are you ready to order, or do you need a little more time?”
Kass watched the creamy drink trickle into their cups, its earthy fragrance filling the air. How long had it been since she’d drank zin? Not since she was little. It tasted best with those little round cakes… “Do you have kekjek?” she asked.
“Of course,” the waitress said. “Can’t have zin without it.”
Oukranos gave the menu a last once-over before saying, “I’ll have the same thing.”
“Kekjek is a dessert,” Kass pointed out. “You’d be spoiling your dinner.”
“So are you.”
“I already ate, remember?” She told him that earlier. Had he not been listening?
Oukranos didn’t respond, wordlessly handing his menu back to the waitress. Master Farlander eyed the bickering boy and girl with a mix of wry amusement and gentle concern, and ordered a salad. Once the waitress had left, he folded his webbed hands in front of him.
“Kassi, I hope you won’t mind, but I took the liberty of informing the Council about what happened last night.”
“What did they say?” she asked, leaning forward across the table.
“They advised me to cut this trip short and return to Kashyyyk as soon as possible.” He sighed. “I told them that I had already offered to send you back, but that you had declined, and that I would respect your wishes. That was all.”
“Thank you, master,” Kass said softly, releasing a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. The possibility of being ordered back to the Silver Rest had haunted her all afternoon, a nagging fear at the back of her mind that what she wanted wouldn’t matter.
Farlander bowed his head. “You said that the girl who suggested this restaurant to you was the daughter of Merit, who gave you the news about your father?” he asked.
“Yshiba.” Kass hummed in confirmation, recalling the other girl’s reaction. “She seemed pretty mortified.”
“Her mother could have used more tact,” Oukranos muttered. He sniffed his cup of zin, frowned at the pungent aroma, then touched the back of his hand to the mug to check its temperature.
“It seems strange to me that she just so happened to be there,” Farlander remarked. “And she was able to recognize you after all this time?”
Kass hadn’t considered the wildness of the coincidence. “I guess it is a little weird,” she murmured. But crazier things have happened.
She watched as Oukranos gradually plucked up enough courage to try the zin. He raised the cup to his lips and slowly tipped it back, taking a very small sip… followed by a bigger gulp. “That’s good,” he said, licking the froth from his upper lip. “Very good.”
“I’m glad you like it," Kass said, mustering up a few smiles.
The waitress returned with their food. Two plates of kekjek cakes, dark purple balls of seaweed dough covered in soft, sweet lilac spikes. Kass wasted no time biting into one. The gummy texture and rich flavor immediately took her back to her childhood… and twisted her stomach in knots. She dropped what was left of the cake back on her plate, her appetite vanished.
Stabbing his salad with his fork, Master Farlander held it up as if admiring the leaves. “Do you have any means with which to contact Merit?” he asked.
“N-No,” Kass mumbled. She didn’t think she’d ever want to see Merit again.
Oukranos stopped eating and looked sharply at Farlander. “Why do you ask?”
“I would like to speak to her,” the Jedi Master replied calmly. “I have many questions.”