Burning Shadows

Chapter 6

After sleeping for the night, Yumikaya awoke to Shae Vizla sitting at the end of her bed.

Shae Vizla smiled as Yumikaya sat up slowly and rubbed her wrists.

" Where are we? What happened? " Yumikaya was a little confused about what she was doing in a bed with no restraints.

Shae Vizla helped her up slowly as she told Yumikaya what happened. " We are on your cousins ship. He rescued you from the ship we were on and we are now headed towards Ilum. We are currently on Alderaan however, Your cousin had to make a small detour. "

" My cousin? " Yumikaya looked confused. She was unaware that she had any cousins.

" You didn't know? The Grand Champion of The Great Hunt is your cousin. He rescued you. " Shae Vizla smiled as Yumikaya walked slowly towards the door.

" Aratarus is my cousin?! Wow...I...I didn't know i had any cousins. " Yumikaya smiled happily as she walked towards the cockpit to sit and wait.

As Yumikaya and Shae Vizla sat in the cockpit waiting for Aratarus to return from his business on Alderaan, Mako walked in and handed Yumikaya a warm drink.

Yumikaya thanked her before asking who she was. Mako spoke with a voice that made Yumikaya feel relaxed and calm.

" My name is Mako. I travel with your cousin. We have become very close over the last year. He is a very special and very... unique man. He doesn't always follow the rules but always gets the job done. I'm lucky to be with him." Mako smiled as Yumikaya asked her how they met.

Mako was about to answer as her holo communicator rang softly. After answering it, Mako spoke to Yumikaya. " Aratarus has asked me to take you to him. He will meet us outside the spaceport. He has someone he wants you to meet. "

Yumikaya nodded slowly before following Mako to meet her cousin. Shae Vizla followed as-well, mostly to make sure that nothing else happened to Yumikaya before they got to Ilum.

After leaving the spaceport, They saw Aratarus speaking to an elderly man in a long cloak. He had a long beard that was braided on each side and had bright green eyes.

When he noticed Yumikaya walking towards him, The elderly man stepped forward swiftly and appeared to examine Yumikaya closely. Shae Vizla stepped forward and made to draw her blaster as Aratarus caught her arm gently.

" It's alright. He is an armour crafter and robe maker. He is going to make Yumi some robes that give her better protection than the horrible rags she is currently wearing. He means no harm. " Shae Vizla nodded and stepped back slowly as the armour crafter sighed softly and spoke as if he was in a trance.

" Mhmm... Mhmm... Some standard Jedi robes... No... Black would suit her better... Some Mandalorian decoration... And armour plating to keep her safe... Reinforced boots and gauntlets … Hmm hmm..." The armour crafter stood up slowly and spoke to Aratarus before walking back to his shop. " I will need some time. A few hours should do. Come by my shop later today. For now i need to get her measurements. Wait here please. "

After a few moments, The armour crafter returned to Yumikaya with a data-pad and measurement tools. After taking her measurements and putting them into his data-pad, The armour crafter walked slowly back to his shop to get started. Yumikaya looked up at Aratarus as Shae Vizla sat down on a nearby bench.

" So your my cousin? " Yumikaya examined Aratarus from head to foot as he spoke.

" Yes i am. Nice to see you in one piece. Your parents will be very happy to have you back. " Aratarus leant down and hugged Yumikaya gently. " And so am I. We have all missed you so much. It's good to have you back. Now come with me. Let's get you some food. After that we can walk around the city until your robes are ready. "

After having some food that made her senses tingle and walking around the very lively city for a few hours and seeing all sorts of market stalls, people and beautiful statues and artwork, Aratarus's holo communicator rang. After listening for a moment, Aratarus turned to Yumikaya and spoke softly. " The armour crafter has finished your new outfit. Let's head over to his shop so you can try them on. "

Yumikaya smiled and nodded happily. After arriving at the shop, The armour crafter took Yumikaya to the back of the shop and let her change into her outfit while he spoke to Aratarus.

The armour crafter spoke slowly at first but quickly got excited ." The robes will suit her well. They are black robes with dark red Mandalorian decoration and the markings you asked for. Also they are reinforced with Mandalorian Iron plating. The gauntlets are made from the same metal as the armour plating and I have added the modifications you requested. Her right gauntlet has a flame thrower and grappling hook launcher built into it while the left gauntlet houses her personal shield generator. Her belt is reinforced with plate armour and has several pouches to store any trinkets or tools she may use. It also has a built in personal cloaking device. To add a little fashion to it i attached a decorative skirt with the same Mandalorian decoration as the robes to the belt. Her pants also have armour plating. Her boots are reinforced and have the jet thrusters you asked for. This young lady should be very capable of defending herself now. Normally this outfit would have taken weeks to complete but i have a work shortage right now so all my staff made a piece of the outfit each. After-all, Six pairs of hands work faster than one. " The armour crafter smiled proudly after he finished detailing his work.

Aratarus placed a hand gently on his shoulder. " It sounds as if you have crafted a masterpiece. I am sure your work will be highly appreciated. Now let us settle the cost while Yumi tries on her new outfit. "

As Aratarus paid the armour crafter for his work, Yumikaya walked out in her new outfit. At first she didn't speak, But Shae Vizla saw her and spoke in awe.

" Yumi you look fantastic! That outfit suits you perfectly. " Shae Vizla smiled as the armour crafter stepped forward.

" Hmm... hmm... As i thought black does suit you better than standard Jedi robes. If you ever need it resized just come back and ill be happy to help. " As the armour crafter turned to walk away, Yumikaya spoke softly.

" Thank you for making my outfit for me. But i have a feeling you don't hand out Jedi robes to whoever asks. " " Yumikaya looked curiously at the armour crafter as he chuckled softly.

" Indeed not. I was once the armour crafter at the Jedi temple on Coruscant. After the temple was destroyed i decided to return to my home-world and apply my skills here. That being said, I know a force user when i see one young lady. " The armour crafter smiled and walked to the back of his shop. Yumikaya and the others returned to Aratarus's ship and set off for Ilum.

Yumikaya decided to sit in the cockpit with Mako while the others went to bed for the night. Mako fell in love with Yumikaya's outfit almost immediately.

" You look amazing! I should ask Aratarus to buy me a nice outfit like that. " Mako smiled as Yumikaya spoke softly.

" You should. I don't think he would ever say no to you Mako. So, How long until we get to Ilum? " Yumikaya smiled and relaxed in the co-pilot chair as Mako spoke.

" It's still a couple of days yet so feel free to look around the ship otherwise your more than welcome to sit in here with me and get some piloting lessons. From what I've heard you are already learning. " Mako smiled as Yumikaya spoke softly but with a small hint of sadness in her voice.

" Yes. The captain taught me piloting while i was on his ship before the Mandalorians took me. His engineers even fixed one of the star-fighters for me to keep. I... I really miss them. Although it has only been a few days... It feels like a long time. " Mako stood up and put her arms around Yumikaya as tears fell down her cheeks.

" I know how you feel. I got separated from Aratarus during The Great Hunt while we were on Hoth. I spent a week alone in the snow before he found me. I missed him so much that i thought i was going to die before seeing him again. When he found me i couldn't resist anymore. That was when i first told him that i love him. " Mako smiled and wiped the tears off Yumikaya's cheek before sitting in the pilot chair again.

" It's very hard.. Especially for someone so young.. To be away from the people you love. But you will be together with them again in no time. For now you get to hang out with me and Aratarus." Mako winked happily as Yumikaya smiled and hugged her tightly.

" I'm really just overwhelmed by it all... I'm meeting people that are family that i never knew existed. People that i thought had abandoned me... That didn't love me... And now they are all coming back at once and it's just... Overwhelming. But I'm not complaining. I've learned so much and met so many new people. " Yumikaya spoke shakily but seemed to almost glow with happiness.

Yumikaya and Mako sat in the cockpit for a few hours talking before Yumikaya fell asleep in the pilots chair. Mako put a blanket over her and kissed her forehead lightly before leaving to find Aratarus.

After some much needed rest, Yumikaya now has her own robes.

Feeling overwhelmed and excited at the same time, Will Yumikaya finally get to Ilum to meet her parents?

Read on to find out!

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