Author Topic: Old Warhorses (during Fury, Wedge, Wes, Corran... [ISSR] ? )
Maggy  3284 posts
Registered: Oct '04
8040_Natalie's Eye
Date Posted: 4/2/08 1:35pm Subject: Old Warhorses (during Fury, Wedge, Wes, Corran... [ISSR] ? ) - Date Edited: 4/2/08 2:14pm (2 edits total) Edited By: Maggy
Title: Old Warhorses
Author: Maggy
Timeframe: Fury – after Wedge met with Luke
Characters: Wedge, Wes, Tycho, Corran, Syal, Jaina, Jezza (OC)
Genre: vignette
Keywords: alte Haudegen



[SW belongs to George Lucas, I only play with it.

Thanks to my beta thesporkbewithyou hugs
And once again Durell can be blamed for a vig whistling
She is such an overeager muse but at times on holiday tongue


This contains spoilers for Sacrifice and Fury – and then – not really tongue ]





Old Warhorses

The Cantina was nearly empty, a sight the aging General wasn't used to seeing.

Then again, he thought, It is a Jedi base. Nothing is going to work like it did when I was in the military. And the pilots aren't going to be like some of the ones I've flown with over the years...

A grin spread over his face as he fondly recalled times he had spent with his friends in other cantinas. But that was long ago. Some of those friends were long gone, lives taken by one war or another, while those still living were spread across the galaxy.

Some of his good cheer faded.

He took a sip of his whisky and waited. Soon it would fill when Janson was done with the dressing up and word spread to the other pilots on the base.

The door opened and a Jedi entered the room. Wedge, still in thought, did not really recognize him and starred simply ahead. Suddenly a glass landed before his nose and Wedge focused back to the now.

“If I would have been a GA you would be dead now. General, you’re getting old.”

“No, I correct you, I AM old, Corran, I am old.”

“Now you are being dramatic.”

“No, it’s just a fact.”

Corran sat down opposite him and his blue eyes bored in the ones of his former commander.

“Corran,” Wedge started a bit unsure, “how is Luke holding together. I was talking with him earlier and he seemed okay but with Jedi you never know. Well, you know probably better then me anyway.”

Corran shrugged. “He is troubled, and I think he lost faith into himself. Losing Mara was a terrible blow; I can only imagine what Luke might be feeling. Myself..." the Jedi took a sip of his drink before he continued, "I wouldn't know what I would do if I lost Mirax. Probably lose focus and just go through the day like a droid, not really caring. But at least my job's not that important. Luke's responsible for the whole Jedi Order; everyone looks to him to make the decisions. Before, he could do that no problem. Now... he falters, but he tries not to let it show.

Wedge gazed into his drink. “I have no idea what I would do without Iella. She's my rock, even with all this distance between us. The graying General took another sip, trying to get rid of the foul thoughts and the bad taste they left in his mouth. "How's Ben?

The Jedi shrugged again, “Better then Luke, actually. He's all set on getting Mara's killer. I think he's not happy with acting all passive and withdrawn.

Wedge made a face. “Maybe not a wise thing, then, to remind him he is kind of the president of the Jedi and he has his own government when he does not associate with any.”

Corran lips twitched, “He can take it. And Luke certainly did know anyway. He is just too absorbed with grief. Eventually he will learn to live with the loss and not let it dominate his life.”

Certainly, he will. I remember when I first met him... in another life time, it seems. It was at a briefing on Yavin, the former Rebel base. I told Dodonna that it was impossible to get a direct hit on the vent opening of the first Death Star. Luke, in his naive, farmboy-ish way said, "It's not impossible. I used to bull's-eye womp rats in my T-sixteen back home. They're not much bigger than two meters. I hated his over-eagerness back then, and I can remember thinking, 'you'll learn your lesson soon enough'. I was wrong. It was just like that for him: he bull's-eyed the Death Star just like he would have a womp rat."

Corran grinned at that. “He didn't say that, did he?”

“He did.I remember it as if it were yesterday. Then, after the first victory, we shared a room.”

Corran’s grin grew. “Wedge, you are really old. Luke let me stay in the room you, Biggs, and Jek stayed in when the Jedi Academy was on Yavin. When I stayed there, I could feel arrogance of the kind that you attributed to Luke during the briefing, except it was yours.”

Wedge eyes narrowed, “You might be a Jedi now, Corran, but I still can shoot you out of the sky, be careful what you say. Arrogant, me! Really!” But his eyes sparkled, betraying his amusement behind the harsh words.

Corran continued grinning, not faltering, “You just said you are an old man, why should I be afraid of you?

“You owe me a drink now, Jedi,” and Wedge wiggled the empty glass before Corran’s nose.

“Yes, Sir,” the Jedi answered sharply and got on his feet to get the new drinks for them.

“Corran, make it three,” said the Taanabian accented voice behind him.

“No, four,” came from another well known voice.

“Rather five,” said a very familiar female voice.

Wedge's face lit up. "You made it!" he greeted, and gave the young woman a tight hug.

“Certainly we did, General. Do you think I would have trouble delivering her?

“It is nice to see you too, Tycho. Had any trouble?”

“No, not at all... though I suggest you keep a close eye on your daughter. You might find her doing business with Booster and Karrde. She's real good.

“You don't have to tell me that my daughter is good, I do know that.” He turned his attention back to her, “How have you been doing? Did the old man give you trouble?”

“No, Dad, not at all. We even talked about a new business plan. Myri will probably like it.”

“Do I want to know?”

“No, not really, Dad. How is Mom?”

“She's doing fine. She's working from Corellia.”

His daughter's face darkened. "Stupid war.”

“Yes, yes it is.” Wedge gave his two other friends a handshake, “Nice to see you, Wes. What's it like to be back on Endor?

“Wedge! Why did you start with such a question?!” Corran growled when he handed each their drink.

“For the entertainment, for the entertainment.”

“Oh I know, Endor,” Wes started. “It is all so fabulous. You know? Have you met the Ewoks yet? Well I have. And ... it is just great. I met this cute and nice and fluffy girl, you know-”

“Wes!?” Tycho was shocked by the confession.

“Not just a girl Tycho, not just a girl. I'm telling you, I think she might be the one. I've never felt the way I feel when I'm with her before.

“That is great for you Wes. You deserve to settle down. Who is the lucky girl?”

“Her name is Jezza.” Wes's face lit up, and he flashed the group a bright smile.

“And when are we going to meet her?” Wedge asked.

“She is a bit shy, you know. She is not used to big groups of humans.”

Wedge noticed that everyone was just was confused as he was, but Wes was still grinning.

“Not used to humans? She is not human?”

“No, no she is not. She is a native of Endor.”

Wedge felt as would his jaw hit the surface of the table. Tycho looked like a gapping fish out of water. Corran managed to keep a plain face. How his daughter did he couldn’t see with her sitting beside him.

“You're not serious, are you? An Ewok? Wes, have you gone -”

“Can't you just be happy for me Wedge?!”

“Just making sure you don't make a mistake, my friend. Well, I think, congratulations,” he raised his drink to him.

“Thanks, Wedge,” also raising his drink and the others followed suit. They cheered and then took a sip. Four empty glasses hit the table again while one was still kind of full.

Wes still grinned and was obviously enjoying the rather shocked faces of his nearly lifelong friends. “Kettch already agreed to be my best man. Sorry, Wedge, but he suits far better than you.”

“Anyway you have to do the wedding so you can't be best man. And you all are certainly invited.”

Wedge just stared at his ever joking friend. "You almost had me there, Wes. But I don't believe a word. Not when Kettch is involved.

“That gave it away, no?”

“Yeah it did.” Corran grinned at Wes, “Just be happy that you did not end up with an orange cape ... naked.”

Wes' cheeks flushed slightly red.

Syal looked skeptically at her father, “Orange cape? Naked? Do I want to know?”

“No not really,” Tycho answered. “Let us just say Wes had an accident with an Ewok years, years ago.”

“On second thought, maybe I don't want to know what you guys did back when you were still in the same squadron. I don't think any kid wants to know the stupid things their parents did,” Syal said with a shrug.

“Kiddo, you have parents that have done a lot of stupid things over the years,” Wes said, more than amused. “I remember that he let me wait for a whole night on a stairway keeping watch while he was entertaining himself with a lady.”

“WES! I don't even want to know!” Syal replied disgusted. “I don't want to know about Dad's girlfriends.”

“It was your mother anyway.”

“And I don't want to go there either.”

“Stop with the old stories or it might get embarrassing,” Wedge tried half-heartily to stop it.

“For whom? For you?” Tycho looked at his friend.

“I remember that it was you who was all nostalgic just a moment before,” Corran added.

“That was before my daughter was sitting at the table.”

“I can go and catch up with the younger folks so you old guys can share all those happy old stories the kids shall better never hear of,” Syal was about to rise.

“Erm ... Syal? I did not mean to dismiss you.”

“I know Dad. But I also have a reputation to uphold. Do you think I want to be seen with you old and famous people? They'll just think that I'm the General's spoiled brat. So I'm better off this way. Good night. It was nice to meet you all again.” Syal kissed her father's cheek and was out of the room before he could even respond.

“Great, now you've scared her off. This is my only chance to see my daughter after all these months, and you make her run away. Thanks a lot, old buggers.” Wedge scowled.

“Ah, come on Wedge. You'll find time to catch up with them. And at some age they stop telling you everything anyway,” Corran said soothingly.

“Now that the kid is off to bed, how about another round of drinks?”

“Then go and get them, Wes. It was your idea anyway.”

“Yub Yub,” he replied.

Wes returned with a new round of drinks, “So guys, what have you all been up to? I heard of at least two of you retired. Judging from the uniforms, you did not after all.”

“Wes. you know full well how the government is. Once in the army, always in the army. You can't escape them no matter what you do. They literally kidnapped me out of my own house on Corellia.”

Wes chuckled. “Are you telling me you can’t even defend your own home, Wedge?”

“Obviously not as well as I had hoped.”

“Seems so. And because of that you left and are now fighting for the Corellians while your kid flies with the GA as does Tycho. What a mess. Why are you even here? They're calling anyone who's seen with you a traitor.”

“Well-”

“No, don't answer. Because otherwise, I might have to report you as a faithful citizen would.”

“Oh you, shut up.”

“Nah, you have no command over me.”

“Try me, Wes. I still can assign you kitchen duty.”

“I remember that you told me Luke is the boss around here, what does it make you?”

“Shut up, Wes.”

“He did not change, Wedge,” Corran grinned over his drink. “Maybe you get him to get the next round of drinks?”

“It would mean Wes does something useful for once,” Tycho teased.

“Nice friends I have,” Wes scowled. “But well, you get your drinks, maybe it makes you shut up.”

Wes stood to get the next round, “Any preferences?”

“Nah, just ale, thanks,” Wedge grinned up to him. Wes left to place the order.

“Do you think he will give a nice bachelor party before the wedding takes place?” Tycho asked innocently.

“Well, it is Wes after all. Would he do something without party?” Corran answered.

Suddenly the door panged open and an Ewok walked in. The curious black eyes scanned the room and settled on Wes.

Tycho and Corran must have seen Wedge's shocked expression as they turned around to see what had caused it.

“Tell me I'm not dreaming”, Tycho muttered.

“I see an Ewok,” Wedge whispered.

The Ewok tottered toward Wes and hugged his leg. The aging pilot pet her head, grinning broadly.

“You think that is his love?” Wedge asked the other two.

Corran's eyes narrowed. The General knew that expression from being around Jedi so much, and knew that Corran was channeling the Force. Carefully, he watched the rapid changes of expression on his face, and saw a knowing smile spread around his eyes...

“Corran?” he asked.

“We might see a surprise soon, just wait, I don’t want to spoil it,” he simply answered. “But I'll tell you this much. The Ewok is not what it appears to be.”

“Faked? Is that my girl's work?” Wedge chuckled.

The door opened again, Wes was still busy with the Ewok and petting her carefully and also getting his leg released from the fierce hug.

A woman stepped into the room, her Jedi robes billowing around her, indicating she had rushed down the corridor.

“That is … Jaina?!” Tycho yelped.

Corran nodded in agreement, “Yep, that’s her.”

“Wes Janson,” the Jedi Knight grinned up to their fellow pilots. “Syal Antilles just told me you got married. Is that the lucky lady?”

Wes looked rather confused at the woman. Wedge could tell it was getting slightly too much for him since he obviously wasn't expected to be attacked by an Ewok in the cantina.

“Don’t hurt me and tell me I did not leave an impression on you, Janson.” Jaina sounded hurt.

“Nah, I’m just – I’m just a bit busy right now, lady,” his voice was slightly annoyed and panicked. “Did Syal tell you this?”

“You don’t remember me? Years back you bowed to your goddess. Time passes too quickly if you don’t remember even that. “What tales? Syal said you are quite happy ‘bout that,” Jaina stated.

Wes eyes looked like to bulge out. “You are … you certainly grew up, girl.” Janson was still trying to keep the Ewok on distance.

“Is that your lucky girl?” Without waiting for an answer Jaina slightly bent down and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Jaina. Congratulations on getting married.”

“Yub yub,” she got as an answer.

Jaina looked back at Wes. "And when will the wedding be? I'm sure you'll invite your former goddess, no?”

“Now you don’t give me any other chance then do so, lady,” Wes scowled jokingly.

“There you are right,” she chuckled. “But you still did not give me a date.”

“Well, I have your comm. contact, I suppose.”

“Do I also get a drink?” Jaina teased.

“Oh well, certainly,” he sighed.

“Can I help you with them?” but instead of waiting for an answer Jaina took the first four glasses and carried them over to the table. Wes followed her with the remaining ones, with Jezza still clinging to his leg.

Wedge got to his feet when the three arrived. “Nice to meet you, Jezza. When can we expect the wedding?”

"You'll just scare her," Wes answered, placing the drinks on the table. "My lady, these people are Wedge, Corran, and Tycho."

The Ewok just nodded indifferently.

Corran grinned up at Wes. "Why don't you get it over with right now?

The shocked expression was genuine on Wes's face.



- fin


review anyone? praying

~ Mags ~




 

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The Revenant - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b10477/28313064 - co authored with Jedi Ant
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Idrelle_Miocovani  9117 posts
Registered: Feb '05
50635_H1239: Draco Malfoy
Date Posted: 4/2/08 2:25pm Subject: RE: Old Warhorses (during Fury, Wedge, Wes, Corran... [ISSR] ? )
“You're not serious, are you? An Ewok? Wes, have you gone -”

“Can't you just be happy for me Wedge?!”


laugh laugh laugh

That's just... so Wes! laugh

Perfect, Maggy! I love these kinds of fics. Definitely gave me a good laugh -- thank you!

applause applause

 

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thesporkbewithyou  1044 posts
Registered: Feb '05
43710_Dr. Cox Kenobi
Date Posted: 4/2/08 4:39pm Subject: RE: Old Warhorses (during Fury, Wedge, Wes, Corran... [ISSR] ? )
Thanks to my beta thesporkbewithyou hugs

hugs You're very welcome dear! It was a pleasure.

I love the fic! Somehow you manage to capture the dynamic between them all perfectly, and it was nice to see Myri, even if just for those few seconds. They completely ignored her after the first couple of books.

There are a couple of grammatical errors I still see, but otherwise it's perfect.

Well done!

 

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