Kess and Luke were easily patient for most of the discussion between the Ketaris politician and his planet's own Farmers Union. The two sides of the debate didn't recognize it directly, but the real argument was that the farmers wanted to reap the benefits of the higher profits when their government sold their crops at inflated prices to certain off-world colonies. The urgency was that the Farmers Union had launched a full-on strike by preserving and storing all forms of grain produce in hidden locations. They would let none of it get distributed at all until the matter was settled.
The Ketaris Secretary of Commerce expected the Jedi to just go 'find the food' on the premise that millions of their citizens were starving.
Luke and Kess did no such thing.
Hungry? Sure.
Dying of starvation? Not hardly.
The strike only started a week ago. The Ketaris upper class was panicking only because they'd never seen the back of their cupboards before. And the farmers saw the back of their cupboards all too often because the price of their labors—prices set and profits kept by the oligarchy—made it difficult for the farmers to make a living.
Luke and Kess sat both sides down across the little round table in the little naked conference room of their Jedi Office and let the two men take turns explaining their case. Neither Jedi said a word to interrupt either.
But Raol did.
In the middle of the Secretary's rant, the conference room door slid open to a tall, thin man with a datafolio in his arm and a polite grin on his mouth. "Pardon the interruption," he bowed to the guests as if they were royalty, then turned his attention to Luke and Kess. "It's eighteen hundred. Your evening guest is here."
Kess clapped her hands and shot out of her chair. With a giant smile from ear to ear, she dashed out of the room as if Raol had called recess.
The politician spat, "I'm not done talking!"
Luke closed his eyes for a moment of peace, but the grin on his mouth was obvious. He licked his lips and spoke calmly. "Your forgiveness, Mister Secretary. We simply have an appointment that Jedi Lendra has been eagerly awaiting. We'll continue this tomorrow?" He didn't wait for an answer and pushed out of his chair.
Out in the office lobby, Yana and Kess were hugging hellos and Luke grinned to see the two of them together. The Ketaris Secretary stomped out behind them all and spread his hands at this audacity. The leader of the Farmer's Union followed behind looked equally perplexed by the sudden end of talks.
Luke patted a palm at them both, but smiled as he did. "I'm sorry. I really am. But she and I have to be somewhere. We told you when we scheduled this that we'd only have four hours today."
"Can't you reschedule it?" The Secretary demanded. "My people are starving!"
Luke's feet stopped short. His chin tucked closer to his neck.
Kess did a double-take. She could feel it that a Less Than Political Response was trying to erupt out of Luke's throat. Kess was annoyed by this guy as much as Luke was, but the playful side of her snarki-ness was enflamed by the girly girl company. She smiled bright and cheery. "We'll resume first thing in the morning, Mister Secretary. For now, let us find solace that your farmers are getting enough eat for a change."
The Ketaris Secretary of Commerce pinched his mouth at the insult. Behind him, the Leader of the Farmer's Union pinched a grin and fought an audible snicker. The Secretary stormed out the front door, and the other strolled easily behind him, half-waving and half-saluting as he left.
As soon as the four were alone, Luke swiveled on one heel with a caught grin and a dash of his head. "So much for us being neutral."
Kess whipped on an old Rebel jacket over her tunic. "Oh give me a break. We both know which side we were going to pick on this one."
"I hadn't," Luke stressed.
She stopped short, her brow cocked curiously. "Really?"
Luke began but whipped an undecided hand in the air and sighed, dropping his hand again. His eyes landed on Yana and smiled anew. "Good to see you. How are you?"
Yana smiled wide and nodded pertly. I'm fine, thanks. She'd been mute long enough now that she'd grown skilled to exchange basic small talk with expression and simple gestures. She still wore a wrap over her head to hide the missing patch of hair, but her long brown locks peaked out from the colorful scarf over her shoulder.
Kess eyed Yana. "You have a speeder again, right?"
Yana nodded affirmative.
"So. You drive me home," then to Luke, "and you take ours."
Luke agreed and teased them. "Don't do anything Kayla would do."
Yana let out a clear laugh. She nodded, half winked, thumbed to Kess and then to herself. She's safe with me.
Luke wagged a warning finger at the mute woman as he stepped to the door. "I'm trusting you."
As he pocketed his things to leave for the day, Yana elbowed Kess and thumbed over her shoulder at the man. Her brows wrinkled questions. Where is he going?
"He's going to stay the night at a friend's house so we can be true girly girls for a little while."
Yana's forehead wrinkled. Uncertain, she turned her green eyes from Kess to Luke. It didn't take Force skill to sense the sudden knot in her stomach.
Luke pressed a respectful grin, "Would you like me to tell him you said hello?"
Yana wrinkled her nose, shrugged, shook her head, and shrugged again. Nah.
But the Force pulsated with a dark wish and a dull heartache. Luke and Kess exchanged secret glances.
"Have a good time," Kess ordered him.
"You too," Luke smiled smoothly and strutted out.