“Sandstorms, oceans of sand dunes, drought-stricken canyons, moisture farms, and unrelenting heat.”

[Lilla Syrin]

The air of Tatooine struck newcomers like a fist. Hot, dry air, so saturated with grit and dust that you could taste it on your tongue.

From the air, Mos Espa can look confusing, but not chaotic. You can still take out streets and alleys, even major roads that lead into the desert. It was complicated for sure but visitors always assumed there was a pattern.

But once they landed, off-worlders realised there was no pattern here. There was no logic, except the logic of buying, selling and stealing. But not necessarily in that order.

Around Lilla was a swirl of deep gold, pale buff, almost white. Ancient buildings made of cracked rock and brick; roads of broken stones and alleys of packed dirt. There were water harvesters and rusted tankers, and cracked useless water vaporators.

And there were life-forms everywhere. They hurried past, shrouded against the relentless wind and dust. Groups of tiny Jawas in stained, dirt-colored robes and hoods, their yellow eyes glowing the shadows formed of those hoods.

There were jabbering merchants, selling water and smuggled goods.

But Lila hurried on. Ahead of her stood a bustling, street cafe. Droids and aliens, recent immigrants and Tatooine natives all milled in front of it.

Her mouth was watering. She smelled the unmistakeable aroma of food and yet she knew she had no credits left, but maybe she might be able to swipe an unfinished platter of food. Off-worlders were notorious for not cleaning their plates.

Slowly but inexorably she edged closer.

Akim's Munch was a street cafe located in the heart of Mos Espa. Despite often serving undercooked and stringy food, it had its regulars. Lilla recognised them and could have told you before she arrived what each would be eating. People were typically creators of habit. It made her job easier. She knew who was an easy mark and who to be wary of.

But today there were a few newcomers and so she was wary. New equated to unpredictable — and that she did not relish. But her hunger was too great to ignore, so she continued to mover ever closer to the cafe.

[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

Ala'Tir was stuck on Tatooine for the moment. The shuttle he had been on had made an emergency landing in Mos Espa to fix the hyperdrive, and now the Gen'Dai was left with at least a day or two to wander around the desert world while the mechanics fixed it.

"How do people live here?", he asked himself. There was sand all over him, in the cracks of his armor, finding it's way onto the nerve clusters that made up his body. It was irritating, to say the least. And now his stomach was growling.

The completely armored figure sniffed the air. There was food nearby. Following his nose throughout the sandy streets, Ala'Tir found a rather rundown cafe. A worn sign hung on to the building by a creaky chain, reading 'Akim's Munch'. It would have to do.

Entering the establishment, the Gen'Dai caught the attention of almost every patron in the restaurant. It wasn't often people saw a figure so massive in their presence. Making his way to a table, a waiter eventually came up to him.

"I'll take a bantha party, please."

Ala'Tir's voice came out as a static garble, courtesy of his helmet, and the server scampered off to place his order. Sitting back and looking over the establishment, the Gen'Dai relaxed slightly as he waited for his food. He wasn't expecting any trouble. There were very few in the galaxy who would be foolish enough to start something with a hulking beast like he appeared to be.

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

s Lilla approached, a newcomer arrived. Her first thought was that he was an impressive size. Her second thought was that, with all that armour, it could just as easily be a she and of any number of species.

The voice decoder in the giant’s helmet further heightened the sense of mystery as to who this person was. The choice of food suggested someone with a large appetite. Lilla hoped they’d overestimated their hunger, and would leave plenty of scraps – but the unmistakeable sound of a grumbling stomach told her to curb her hopes. It was a sound she knew, sadly, only too well.

Aware she was staring, she diverted her eyes and re-scanned the other patrons and empty plates as surreptitiously as she could. But she was acutely aware she could only stand this close to the café for so long before attracting unwanted attention. So she moved position, glancing around, hoping to appear as though she was undecided as to what to do next.

[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

As Ala'Tir waited patiently for his food, a human female caught his attention. She had been staring at him, with an almost pleading look on her face, before realizing she had been looking at the armored figure a little too long and wandered about the cafe, appearing to be indecisive on what to do next.

'Poor child. Is she hungry? Maybe she doesn't have enough money to buy food,' the Gen'Dai thought. He had an excellent intuition when it came to matters such as this, a gift of his generous nature. Looking over to the woman, Ala'Tir beckoned her.

"Come, sit with me."

Once she made her way to his table, the Gen'Dai would do his best to put her at ease. His intimidating appearance required that most of the time.

"Are you hungry?"

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla’s initial reaction was to run. It was not wise to draw this much attention to yourself when casing a potential mark.

But then running would undoubtedly draw onlookers to see her and she didn’t want to have to write this cafe off as somewhere she was known and therefore unable to frequent going forward.

She even considered pretending she didn’t hear the armoured figure beckoning her and was about to sidle off behind an ample Rodian when the aroma of food reached her nostrils — and she was powerless to resist.

So she sighed inwardly and, lowering her head slightly, she headed towards the table and the chair that had been offered to her.

Sitting down softly, she did her best to act nonchalant and entirely at ease — as if she were simply meeting someone she’d arranged to eat with here.

She nodded when the man spoke. She’d decided the giant was a man — it was nothing more than instinct that told her. She was still on-guard — ready to run at the slightest hint of trouble. Folks around here never asked if you were hungry. Not unless they wanted to taunt you with a full plate of food that is. But those she instincts told her to relax.

She met her instincts halfway. She sat still and didn’t bolt, but she refused to un-tense her muscles. She was ready for flight — given fight was most certainly not an option.


[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

Ala'Tir could literally feel the tension in the woman's muscles due to his Gen'Dai physiology. He attempted to put her at ease.

"Relax. I can tell you're nervous. I just wanted to give you some food. You looked hungry."

The bantha patty arrived, steaming and aromatic. Once the utensils and plates were placed, Ala'Tir gestured towards the food.

"Go ahead. Have your fill, child."

Technically, he didn't really need to eat. In fact, he could survive years without any sustenance, although that was neither heathy nor recommended. Ala'Tir just wanted the taste of the food and something to do, and he was more than happy to sacrifice his meal to a fellow sentient being who actually needed to eat.

"What's your name?"

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla has survived for as long as she had by following a very simple rule — trust no-one.

She’d entered this world — as far as she could remember — alone and apart from a few seasons as a slave, she’d remained alone. She placed her trust in one person only. Herself. It had served her well so far and she was not about to change habits of her admittedly short lifetime now.

She cleared her throat to speak. The problem with being a loner is that she didn’t talk much. Days could pass without a word crossing her lips and when called upon to speak, she found her throat dry and uncomfortable.

“Not nervous,” she offered, he voice sounding hoarse yet soft. “Just tense. There’s plenty of cause to around here.” Her eyes were fixed to the table in front of her. She did not want to draw unwanted attention to herself, so she kept the conversation flowing — to all intents and purposes it would look like a pre-arranged meeting.

“And yes, I’m hungry.” She knew her stomach would tell the truth, even if she tried to lie to the giant. “I haven’t eaten for a while. I’ve been...busy.”

She looked at the food that was placed in front of them, although she smelled it before she saw it. She hadn’t been this close to this much food since…well longer ago than she remembered. She’d survived on scraps for months, if not years.

She went to pick up the patty with her hand but the heat dissuaded her. It was not manners that forced her to pick up a knife, but an appreciation that scalding burns would impact her enjoyment of the food. And she chose not to be polite, or even wary. Her hunger was such that she wanted to get a good mouthful in before the giant had the chance to change their mind.

“I’m Lilla.”

[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

"I'm Ala'Tir. At your service."

The Gen'Dai watched the young girl begin to tear away at the bantha patty, smiling slightly. He had done some good today.

"There's no need to be tense. Not with me here. Without a doubt, no one is going to be starting anything with us. My appearance is enough of a guarantee for that."

Truth be told, most sentients would be very hesitant in conflict with the giant in armor. Noticing her voice was hoarse, Ala'Tir reached for his utility belt and procured a canteen, which he set down on the table and slid towards Lilla.

"Drink. It's water, and no, I didn't do anything to it."

He would continue to watch on as the Human continued to eat, glad that he had taken the time to notice her hunger.

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Ala’Tir. It was impossible to tell a gender from that name – at least to Lilla. Not that the giant’s sex was important, but it made referencing them a little easier when you could ascribe a gender.

“At my service?” Lilla knew from her training it was a polite was of introducing yourself and not a genuine offer, but it still sounded a little funny to her. She glanced up between mouthfuls, aware she was quite literally demolishing the patty.

“You better tell me when to stop, or there will be nothing left.” She tried to smile as she chewed, showing she was being friendly – albeit entire truthful too.

And she visibly relaxed when he spoke. He was right, nobody was going to start anything with them any time soon – and she thought she’d already got the measure of the giant. There was a generosity in his manner and words. She recognised it and knew she was safe enough as long as she remained a little vulnerable. Once she appeared on the take, his (for she was now convinced he was a ‘he’) then that could change. So for now, she was transparently honest – a young woman who was quite literally starving and grateful for his charity.

Yet her eyes viewed the canteen warily. The food he hadn’t touched, but the drink? To refuse it would be rude. To take it would be a risk.

She sighed audibly and decided today was a risk-taking day. She was sitting here after all.

“Thanks,” she said and a little food left her mouth and returned to the plate. Picking it up with her fingers, she slipped it back into her mouth and then accepted the canteen.

The water reminded her of the crystal clear liquid that would condense in the caves outside of Mos Espa when the temperatures dropped. Unfiltered, uncontaminated and as nature intended.

She took a gulp and almost choked. Composing herself, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Sorry,” she added and then took a couple of slow sips before returning to the food.

Aware he was watching her and she was hardly engaging in conversation, she looked up at his helmet. “Why? I mean, I’m grateful, extremely grateful. But why?”

[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

Ala'Tir noticed that she was wary with the canteen, even though he had told her it wasn't contaminated with anything. Internally, he was surprised. Did no one's word count for anything anymore? And now she was asking why he was feeding her.

"You needed food more than I did, that's why. There's no ulterior motive, nothing like that. I saw that you were hungry, so I fed you."

Looking at her reaction for a moment, the Gen'Dai continued.

"It's a personal mission of mine to ensure that sentients around the galaxy know that there are still people out there capable of generosity for the sake of being generous. Even if it's just with one person, I plant a seed. And maybe, just maybe, in turn that seed will sprout into something bigger, and they'll lend a hand to someone else in their time of need."

Under his helmet, Ala'Tir smiled. He was quite proud of his mission.

"You can have all the food and water. It's on me."

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla listened.

To be more accurate, she listened and ate. And drank. You never knew when the next meal might materialise, so she savoured every last morsel she could and slaked her thirst on what tasted right now as the most wonderful drink she’d ever tasted.

And what she heard sounded alien to her, yet familiar. It was a peculiar sensation – on one hand the words sounded so at odds with the life here in Mos Espa. Yet, on the other hand, what he said made perfect sense to the part of her brain that she relied on to make decisions. Frustratingly, she could not articulate these choices – at least not any more eloquently than ‘they felt right’.

She appreciated it set her apart from the rank and file – but she had no concept of being right or others being wrong. Not on a macro level of social values or norms. But she knew what her heart told her was right for her – and she listened.

Yes, she scavenged, but only took things others had discarded. Yes, she stole, but only from criminals. And if she could return their ill-gotten gains back to the rightful owner (presuming they were law-abiding?) then she did. And she only took a small share of whatever she ‘recovered’ and chose to donate the majority to those worse off than herself.

But this stranger took that to a whole new level. He was charitable just for the sake of benevolence. He was not returning anything to its rightful owner. He was not taking from the criminally rich and redistributing to the innocently poor. He was giving his own money so that she may eat.

There was a small cynical voice in her head that surmised it must be wonderful to be in a position to have so much money that you could afford to simply give some away. But the louder voice applauded the giant for his selflessness.

“A seed,” she replied. She rolled the word around her tongue, as if tasting it. “A seed,” she repeated, clearly checking if she liked the flavour.

“Yes, a seed. Which makes me ripe for growth and, when the time is right, I can generate seeds of my own and one day a wilderness can become a forest. Right?”

She looked up at the giant, clearly seeking approval for her understanding of the concept.

[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

"Yes, exactly! I'm glad you understand."

Ala'Tir nodded approvingly. Most people simply looked at him like he was crazy, or flat out denied that his idea could ever work. It was nice to meet someone who understood the concept of benelovence.

"Will you help your fellow beings, which would perhaps inspire them to help others as well? That is the question, it seems. I hope you take it to heart."

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla nodded. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first. But the longer the idea remained in her head, the more it took root. The metaphor the giant introduced was apt.

“It is an interesting and potentially dangerous notion.” Aware he might interject, not sensing her true intentions, she smiled at him – reassuringly. “Please don’t misunderstand me, and I implore you to hear me out.”

“I suspect that even you, with your strong moral code would understand the difference between helping and inspiring from a position of superiority. Be that wealth, authority, strength, reputation…whatever. And to have the where-with-all to be benevolent.”

“Contrast that with someone who has nothing. No position to speak of, no credits – and for whom a lack of status is a boon. For with those things, on this planet, you become a target. Unless you can catapult yourself to the top of the pile that is. But the greater the hill you atop, the larger the shadow of the hill next to you.”

“So…what I’m not saying is ‘no’ – not by any means. But my efforts will be subtler. Less visible. Less…inspirational. I can help one person at a time, but I may never start a movement or turn back a sand-storm. But I can move as many grains of sand as I can – and keep on doing it for as long as I live.”

[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

Ala'Tir nodded as Lilla spoke. He understood. In places such as this, being generous seemed to only put a target on your head.

"I suppose you're right. I take for granted my near immunity to physical violence sometimes. But there are still small ways one can help others. And even if you only help a few, it is still worthwhile. At least that's how I see it."

He gestured a gloved hand to the rapidly disappearing food in front of him.

"I don't care if others scoff at me or picture me as soft for feeding you. To me, the most precious thing in the galaxy is life. To help others live a good one. If that means I will face ridicule or scorn, so be it."

The Gen'Dai was impressed on how eloquent and understanding the human before him was. Truly, one must never judge a book by its cover.

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla had never used her appearance to take advantage of the average citizen. Yes, she would play her apparent vulnerability when confronted by the criminal element – but she would never dream of using it to exploit a law-abiding citizen. Or anyone defenceless or disadvantaged.

And so she would often forget the image she typically portrayed. Most of the time she attempted to be invisible, to blend into the background and draw zero attention to herself. But when scrutinised, even when she wasn’t putting on a front, she was visibly underprivileged. Dirty, thin, young and wearing vagrant’s clothes. And this was no disguise but a reflection of who she was and her station here in Mos Espa. Washing and new clothing were luxuries she could not afford. Food was a necessity, but she ate the bare minimum to live, never what she wanted. Those credits could serve a much greater purpose shared between those that had nothing.

So she smiled at the giant seated next to her. “I think that anyone who judges you is really judging themselves – and finding themselves wanting. I shall endeavour to pursue this way of life – I am better equipped than most to help, despite appearances.”

Lilla would never admit to her training here on Mos Espa – at the Academy that taught spies and assassins alike, albeit they were slaves. But the education was invaluable, from unarmed combat to a rounded education befitting someone of status.

“And I really appreciate your kindness, believe me.”

[member="Ala'Tir"]

 

[Ala'Tir]

"You don't know how happy that makes me, my friend."

Ala'Tir decided that he trusted this Human enough to make her an offer. It may be the offer of a lifetime for someone in her situation.

"Would you like to come with me? All this travelling does leave one longing for more permanent company. I could take you to my clan, and they can teach you anything you wish to know. You seem to have a thirst for knowledge. Together, we could quench it."

The Gen'Dai really hoped she would say yes. If not, it wasn't the end of the world. Some had to make their own paths.

"So, what do you say?"

Ala'Tir extended a giant hand to shake if she said yes.

[member="Lilla Syrin"]

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla smiled, which was a challenge with a mouthful of patty. She never expected gratitude for what she did, but she did get great pleasure from knowing she’d made a difference to someone’s life — however small.

But she also accepted that what this giant was suggesting was a step up from that. It was not about giving material things — although they may be part of the equation. No, it was about giving hope and that was a much taller order — no pun intended.

And then he asked the question that she’d always avoided answering. Expect it was never posed as directly as this. Never before did she risk offending if she declined.

It was not something she could ever explain to anyone. Primarily because she could not understand it herself.

“The thing is…” she began to explain. And then she stopped. Silence followed for a few seconds and it was clear from the expression on her face that she was struggling to vocalise her thoughts. “The truth is I can’t explain it, but I feel a need to remain here. There’s nothing rational. I have no facts or figures to back up that decision, it’s just a feeling I have. Some call it gut instinct. Others say they feel it in their bones, or their heart.”

“I don’t think it’s any of those body parts informing me — but I do know that I can’t leave. Not yet. But I can promise one thing. Should I leave here, I will come and find you. I will seek the knowledge you so generously offer and utilise it for good.”

“You have my word,” she finished and put her slender hand into the giant’s mitt before shaking it.

[member="Ala'Tir"]