Page 70 - Star Wars Insider #176

FICTION

IN THE

UNKNOWN REGIONS

here’s gallivanting business that he wouldn’t and turns around as if desperately
something approve of and can’t know about. interested in the hyperspace swirls
comforting Much as she could use a friendly darting around them. When the
about chat to warm her heart after the chill Resistance assigned her the droid, Gigi
hyperspace. of this assignment, the general is was the factory colors—white and
Running to or expecting her to check in soon. blue—but Vi painted her new friend
from trouble, “Sorry, brother,” she says, fl icking yellow and copper to match her own
it’s always the the button to shuttle his call to her bleached-yellow hair and burnished-
same. Steady, beautiful, soothing— busy message. “You can tell me all brown skin.
even for spies carrying highly about the new job and lecture me Vi turns back around and knits
sensitive intel that plenty of people about my lack of focus once I’m done furiously. Her hair is cropped short just
would kill to possess. with this mission and giving you this now. The last time her image popped up
As the stars zip by and Vi Moradi sweater in person. But you’d better on a wanted list, the long dark locks had
settles into her pilot’s chair, she sighs meet me somewhere civilized and been far too noticeable, so she’d hacked
and pulls a bag from the fl oor. She’s comfortable, because I’m done with them off immediately and ejected them
been working on this lumpy mess on impossible environments.” into space. Wiry and petite, she’s had a

and off for weeks, knitting the thick, The comm goes still, and she feels hard time finding Resistance uniform
soft yarn into a sweater for her older a small ping of guilt for ignoring pieces that fit her well. The cobbled-

brother, Baako, a dignitary recently him. Most ships can’t even handle together costume she wears now has
“THE ANSWER IS IMMEDIATE AND, AS ALWAYS,

MYSTERIOUS. THEY NEVER SAY MORE UNTIL
SHE’S CONFIRMED HER IDENTITY.”

stationed on Pantora, of all places. communications at this range, but the been altered and shows its long wear
She’s not very good at knitting, but it’s Resistance does have some wonderful in rips, scuffs, and patches. Even the
relaxing, and Baako always told her she toys. Vi puts her boots up and leans soles of her boots are torn to shreds.
needed to spend less time gallivanting back in her seat, focusing on the Her current assignment has involved
around and more time creating unwieldy wooden knitting needles that some very physical work in a terribly
something worthwhile. Of course, she look more like primitive weapons than unpleasant place, and she’s looking
had to use her “gallivanting” contacts elegant tools. forward to a few days of rest on D’Qar.
to obtain this highly coveted but “It’s all about forward momentum, Hyperspace lulls her to sleep, and
not “quite” illegal hippoglace yarn. Gigi,” she says to her astromech, U5- Vi manages a short nap tangled in
Hopefully the warmth and brilliant GG. “Better a hideous sweater infused thick, soft yarn before Gigi beeps and
azure hue will hide all her dropped with love than . . . I don’t know. What whirs to let her know they’ve nearly
stitches. Since she must hide her work other gifts do people give their only reached their destination. She sits up
with the Resistance from him, Baako living relative? A nice chrono? I shall and stretches as much as the cockpit
still thinks of her as his mischievous, continue to the end, if imperfectly.” will allow, wishing the Resistance had
unfocused dilettante of a little sister. She spins in her chair and holds up provided her with a roomier ship but
Little does he know. what she’s accomplished so far. “What knowing that for ships, much like for
Her comm blinks, and she sees do you think?” herself, being small and unassuming
who’s calling and grins at Baako’s Gigi beeps and boops in what sounds often means avoiding detection. The
uncanny way of knowing exactly like apologetic disappointment. ship emerges from hyperspace to fl oat
when she can’t talk. Not only because “You be nice, or I’ll make one for you. A gently in the middle of nowhere,
she’s elbows-deep in a lumpy sweater, droid cozy to clash with your paint job.” exactly according to plan.
but also because she’s on offi cial The droid gives a cheerful whistle Taking a deep breath, she puts

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