Part Five: Lost in Spaceport

'What is it about men that makes them think a woman can't repair a hyper-drive? It's a whole lot easier than making a dress or cooking one of those fancy desserts they are always fussing over.'

Krista searched the job search programs on the spaceport data station. Security positions for women to do personal searches of other women- Extensive background checks required. Apply at the Imperial Loyalty Affirmation Society - "NO!"

Waitresses, Dancers, Bartenders and ... 'whoa definitely not! Next listing!'

Seamstress... Seamstress... Cook... Seamstress... Cook... Child care... Teacher... Seamstress... Wife... 'Is that why my mother married my dad? Lack of job opportunities?' She stood, looking at the word for several minutes then smiled when she remembered them sitting in the porch swing on cool evenings. 'No, she loved him. I do know now, why she made me learn to cook and sew. How about a tailor shop for men's casual clothing, that sounds simple... 125 Courtyard Square'

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Krista straightened her only non-mechanic outfit and pushed the door open. The overlapping scents of men's cologne mixed with the smell of new fabric and the musty smell of an old shop was somehow relaxing. Bolts of various kind of cloth covered the tables lining the wall. From the number of mirrors, it was evident men could be as vain as women when it came to clothes.

A tall, well dressed lady met Krista at the door and announced. "I am afraid you have the wrong shop Miss, this is a men's clothing shop."

"I know, I came about the add on the spaceport job search board." Krista tried to sound more confident than she felt.

"And what experience have you in making men's apparel?" The condescending tone only caused Krista to straighten even more as she answered.

"I made this outfit myself and I assisted in making the uniform for the... at the spaceport where I used to live," Krista said, flipping the cuff so the lady could inspect her needlework.

"I have seen better, but this is an improvement over the last six women that applied. Go back and tell Betsy I said to start you out hemming men's trousers. If she approves of you, you have a job."

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Six hours, and twelve pairs of trousers later, Betsy pronounced her capable and the snooty lady handed her a datapad for her to provide her information. Krista looked at the information and carefully questioned. "I do not have a permanent address as of yet; is there a place nearby that I could rent?"

"There is a room upstairs. It's simple and clean and the rent will be taken out of your pay. Here is the key," she said, opening a cabinet and removing the key from its hook. "The address is 125a Courtyard Square and you may call me Madame Xavier. Be on time, do your work well and we will get along. Oh! No men in your room!"

Krista looked down at the datapad and started filling out the information.

Name- Krista Lane

Address- 125a Courtyard Square Mos Eisley, Tattoine

Home planet- Dantooine

Age- 18

Species- Humanoid

Gender- Female

Imperial ID# 974296Dan-56261

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Krista collected her things from the spaceport locker and entered her new home. Yes, it was simple and clean, except for the film of dust that covered everything on Tatooine.

'How did I let myself get mixed up with Vader's son?' she thought again. She pulled a piece of fruit out of her bag and dropped, exhausted on the cot. 'How did I let myself fall for Vad...,' she thought as she dropped off into a fitful sleep.

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Time on Tatooine was a strange thing; days seemed to fly and nights were long and terrifying, but that was the way with all things Krista.

Betsy failed to wake up one morning, whether it was age or the bottle she hid from Madame Xavier no one knew. Krista envied her the peace that comes with death, especially now that she was head seamstress.

Rumors drifted in with the customers and occasionally she heard names and places as she worked. Han had a price on his head and several bounty hunters were drooling over him. Luke disappeared after Hoth was abandoned and no one knew where he went. Some thought Vader might have caught him trying to escape Hoth; others said he crashed in some hyper-drive malfunction. Both caused shivers to run up Krista's spine. Leia was running the rebellion all by herself; that rumor Krista believed. Some bounty hunter turned the Wookie into a rug for Vader's quarters.

Today, news came that someone collected on Han's bounty and Jaba mounted him on the wall encased in carbonite. Luke was missing a hand from a fight with Vader. "Loving father he turned out to be. I was right about him," she said to the ceiling, often feeling she was being watched by Ben, even though he didn't reappear after her shipboard moment of insanity.

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She sat, working on a cloak for a questionable character when she noticed the curtain move. No one came back here but Madame Xavier, so she didn't even look up.

"Slept in any storage closets lately?"