"Not on me, but - everyone else." She places a hand over Bastila's. "You had trouble accepting it too, didn't you? That I'm not her. And - you have a really big advantage for feeling that."

"No. Because you aren't her." 

And that...finally settles something in Bastila. 

So she lifts Ri's hands to her lips, and kisses them.

She's happy, she's fond of Bastila, there's something warm and deep in her chest -

"Which is why I - want to do whatever I have to, to prove to other people I'm not. So they trust us." To Karl - "What would satisfy you, there? You and - anyone else in a position to question."

"It will satisfy me, because I trust Bas. But I cannot speak for the Jedi Council. And you will face them."

"We will have to go to Dantooine, at some point."

"Alright."

"I want to make sure the girl - Thekla - is okay and safe first, though."

"We would never harm her. That I swear."

"I know. But - she was recently injured, and this is a rough place, and she might not want to leave. I want to make sure she'll continue being okay."

"Not a terrible idea. And one three Jedi would certainly follow through on." 

He checks Thekla's temperature, and is relieved to find no fever. "You know the girl well?"

"I spoke briefly to her after we came to this planet. She's nice. And then when Bastila told me to hide while she contacted you - I did for a bit, but then I heard a commotion, and when I went to investigate, she was being attacked. But I don't actually know her that well, no."

“You sensed someone in danger and helped. More than that, you ensured their safety. Very noble.”

“We could wait here until her family returns? To ensure her well being.”

“We’ll want to lie low for a time anyway.” Karl runs a hand through his hair, and sighs. “I’m trusting your judgement, padawan.”

“Thank you, Master.”

"Thank you," she repeats.

Karl waves off Ri-Sei’s gratitude, and settles on the floor next to Thekla, settling in to meditate. 

Bastila wraps an arm around Ri, and hugs her tight for a moment. “Are you okay? Even with the force, taking a group of thugs on is not fun.”

Snuggle. "I'm alright, though I'm worried I might have given away my abilities - I was trying to avoid letting them know I could use the Force."

Bastila bites back a terrified scolding, as she wasn’t there, and so cannot pass judgement, but does squeeze Ri a little tighter. “We’ll just have to hope they didn’t pick up on it. Karl and I decided that taking a public shuttle out to a Republic world would be the best way to go unnoticed, so we just have to wait for the next one.”

"Alright. Do you know how long that'll be?"

"Two days, so I hope Thekla's family are back in time. I don't want to suggest leaving her alone, but-"

"We can also decide then... Though if she's not conscious, I'd rather not leave her."

"If she's still unconscious in two days, there's a lot more wrong than just a wound to her side. But I understand your concern." 

"Yeah. But we should also involve her in the decision some."