“Is your village nearby?”
	The Twi’lek, still under the influence of the Emperor’s power and with an unblinking, faraway look in her eye, nodded. “It’s not far. I was out checking hunting traps and heard a boom. I thought it was a rockslide and came to look. I saw you from the trees.”
	“And what did you think when you saw us?” the Emperor asked.
The girl’s brow creased, as if she didn’t understand. “Think? I assumed you were lost, that maybe you’d crashed. Strangers are uncommon out here. You’ll be welcomed at the village, though. It’s custom.”
	His Master smiled. “That’s nice to hear. How many of you are there?”
	“Thirty-seven,” the girl said. “But Naria’s with child, so it will soon be thirty-eight.”
	“Indeed,” said the Emperor. He looked at Vader curiously.
	“Master?” Vader asked, but the Emperor ignored him.
	“Maybe you have some news of what’s happening in the cities?” the girl
asked.
	"Maybe we do," the Emperor said. Do you have a ship in your village?"
	The girl shook her head. "No, no ship. not even a working communicator. We lost it last year and haven’t been able to get another in trade. But we have food and warmth and songs.”
	The Emperor smiled. “Very good. Take us to your village.”
	Without another word, the girl turned and led them through the forest.
...
	“What’s your name, girl?” the Emperor asked her as they picked their way through the trees.
	“Drua,” the girl said. She looked at Deez. “What’s your name? And why do you wear that…suit?”
	Deez seemed momentarily taken aback by the question before saying, “My name is Sergeant, and it’s my honor to wear this armor.”
	The Emperor diverted the conversation. “So you’re out here on your own, Drua?”
	“Of course! I know the forest as well as any.” She looked up through a hole in the forest’s canopy. “The rain is going to end within the hour.”
	“Where are your parents?” the Emperor asked, and Vader thought it an odd question to come from his Master.
	The girl did not turn back to face them, and her voice fell a bit when she said, “My mother died two winters back. I didn’t know my father.”
...
	“You live alone, then?” the Emperor asked.
	“Of course not! I live with my grandfather,” Drua said.
	"Well," said the Emperor. "We will try not to be too much of an imposition."