Beyond - Legends Across The Galaxy (The Ongoing Series) New Episode 7/30

And where was I?! SQUEEing out loud, that's where. Yum! So that's where that cute siggy pair of lines comes from. That was delicious, thanks!

 

Very steam. I love how you're playing with the classic tropes we know from this crew but still moving all them forward.

 

Nyota's Heart
Sandy Candy

Thank you both for reading. I felt like Han and Leia deserved taking that step after the trilogy. But you gotta have Threepio mess it up somehow.

 

ACROSS THE GALAXY​

EPISODE VII​

​

THE ODD COUPLE​

​

Chewbacca waved Threepio on, encouraging him to climb into the speeder, of course dear goldenrod was apprehensive. Eventually Chewie tugged on the protocol droid’s arm and yanked him into the passenger seat of the tightly fitted speeder that had been loaned to them by Mon Mothma for easy travel across Chandrila. Tonight, though, it was not going to be used for performing chores.

“Are you certain you can comfortably fly this?” Threepio asked, he was concerned, observing the large Wookiee squirm in a seat that could barely fit his ample mass.

Chewbacca shifted and howled.

“Oh, I have a bad feeling about this,” Threepio moaned as Chewie ignited the speeder and zoomed toward downtown.

As the sun settled, the sky was illuminated with a gorgeous, mesmerizing violent hue, clear of clouds. It silhouetted the few towers of Chandrila’s skyline in a royal ambiance. Threepio admired the view while Chewie raced down the street, barking obscenities at a fellow driver who had cut him off at the light. It was the Wookiee’s right of way.

“Watch the road you lumbering oaf!” Threepio cried as Chewie weaved around a speeder slowing to turn.

Threepio cried and hollered at various intersections, carefully explaining the expectations of a speeder exam and doubting Chewbacca legally passed, or even he was even allowed to be flying a speeder. He certainly doubted he was trained by a proper instructor, as Chewie blatantly disobeyed even the most basic laws as observed by the galactic standards and no doubt recognized by the Alliance. Why he wasn’t pulled over was beyond him, but the pair somehow managed to arrive at a casual bar that was probably the sleaziest Chandrila could muster.

Vibrant green vines crept up the smooth stone walls outside, accented by faint, warm lighting. Chewie howled and barked, and Threepio was certain the Wookiee had not paid an ounce of attention to his suggestions or reprimands, and the droid shook his head in anguish.

“Ignorant fur ball, you’ll see when you’re arrested,” Threepio muttered.

Threepio awkwardly pulled himself out of the speeder and quickly fell into stride alongside Chewbacca as they pushed through the entrance and into a bar that was a finer attraction than the fare Chewbacca and Han had ended up in during their more illegal smuggling affairs.

At the counter Chewie ordered a Corellian Whiskey while Threepio investigated the tables established around the bar, a few were playing high stakes games of Pazaak, even checkerboard cylindrical fix with a hologram generator for playing Dejarik. A brilliant game in its relative simplicity, and a favorite of the Wookiee, alas, Han always preferred the gamble and allure of cards, and never managed to master the game of Dejarik.

After simply grabbing the entire bottle of Whiskey, Chewie trudged toward one of these very tables for a rousing game of Dejarik. He howled for Threepio and the droid begrudgingly obliged. Chewie had chosen a human opponent with one eye, and the other just an empty socket, Threepio was rightly disgusted. He should cover it or fear infection. He looked foul.

Chewbacca activated the board and the holo arranged and displayed a new game for the two. Immediately the man was awarded first turn and removed one of Chewie’s pieces from the board, and the Wookiee growled in tense aggravation.

“Don’t you dare overreact, you can easily come back from this,” Threepio snapped.

The Wookiee grumbled but took his turn. Carefully, and strategically Chewbacca played, gaining an advantage but losing it and howling like a child. While the foul human may not have realized it, Chewbacca was agitated, and Threepio was incredibly tense, shifting uncomfortably as the man set up a particular play that Chewie fell right into.

“Oh dear,” Threepio sigh.

It was a fork play on Chewbacca’s last two pieces, inevitably the Wookiee was going to lose a piece, but he chose wrong and played right into the man’s trap, quickly losing his last beast in a frenzy. Chewbacca smacked the board as the holo faded.

Threepio knocked Chewbacca on the back of the head. Then the man stood up and chuckled dryly.

“Next time let that droid play for you.”

Chewie’s lips retracted and he revealed his large pearly white fangs. Hurling his arms into the air, Chewbacca ripped the table from the stand and knocked See-Threepio onto his back. Threepio screeched loudly, piercing the ears of the other bar patrons. He struggled on his back as Chewie threw the checkerboard and crashed it through a window, completely missing the foul man as he dodged out of the way.

But Chewbacca snatched the small man off the growl and lunged him over the bar, shattering several bottles of whiskey and ale. The bouncers, a pair of Gamorreans, stomped into the main space from the back of the bar, brandishing stun sticks. Chewie huffed and snatched up See-Threepio, slinging him over his shoulder.

The Wookiee jumped through the broken window and sprinted down the cool streets as Threepio pounded on his back. The Gamorreans barely able to keep up pace at their weight.

“You petulant child, it was a fair game!” Threepio said angrily.

Eventually Chewbacca was confident the pair had evaded their pursuers, and certain no arrests would be made, the Wookiee set See-Threepio down on his feet. The protocol droid tumbled back but caught himself before completely tipping over.

“I’ve never been more embarrassed in my entire life!” Threepio scolded, chasing after Chewie as he strolled away. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Chewie barked.

“Fun?! That’s what you call fun?” Threepio repeated, shocked.

Chewie nodded and barked in affirmation.

“Hmph,” Threepio muttered. “I do suppose it could have been worse.”

Threepio fell into stride next to the Wookiee, the sun had set, revealing a clear sky alight with the arriving cruisers carrying key members of the Alliance for the Summit tomorrow. The galaxy was about to initiate a great change.

“But we’re never doing that again,” Threepio assured Chewbacca as the couple strolled through the park together.

 

What a contrast to the update before Totally. The personalities just shine through.

 

Nyota's Heart

Thank you. I felt like being silly.

 

Lighthearted and fun. I loved it.

 

ACROSS THE GALAXY​

EPISODE VIII​

​

HOUSE OF CARDS​

​

At some point he had to turn in for the night, and that felt more appropriate now than ever, after dear old Lando, using his smoothest of charms, enlightened the lovely lady he had obtained at the finest club on Chandrila that no, he was not paying for that. Apparently her services were not free. Rubbing his cheek, Lando strutted down the sidewalk toward the rotunda. A lone light flickering from one of the corner rooms, keeping that candle burning, so to speak.

He trailed his hand along the wall and tapped at the door when he approached it. The door squeaked as it slid open, revealing Han leaned back in his chair, casually tipping his hand to him, Nien Nunb seated awkwardly at Solo’s left, and to the smuggler’s right was the emerald speckled Selkath Tadu, while Lobot answered the door;

“Welcome home, sir,” Lobot greeted flatly, not because he wasn’t pleased, he just didn’t have an emotional response.

“Was starting to think you weren’t gonna show,” Han said, dropping his feet off the table.

Lando rubbed his cheek; “Some of us are still free me,” Lando noted.

“Looks like being a free man hurts just as much as it did when we stayed on Nar Shaddaa,” Han observed, pointing at Lando’s bruised cheek, apparently his escort wore a sizable ring.

“How was I suppose to know she was just sleeping?” Lando asked, shrugging his shoulders. “Got slapped with an harassment charge for that one.”

Nien laughed awkwardly.

Lando unclasped his cape and threw it over the back of the lone chair, opposite of Han. Honestly, that’s what this Sabacc game amounted to; Nien and Tadu were just collateral damage in a war between two men. Two driven card sharks, to be more precise. Han was determined to have Lando pay for the Falcon’s repairs one way or the other, while Lando was dead set to avoid it at all cost. Even if he had to fake his death, but no one at the table thought he would take it that far. Not even on principal. Right?

“Are we going to play cards or gossip?” Tadu asked finally.

“Who are you?” Han asked bluntly.

“This is Tadu,” Lando introduced before the Selkath could speak, slapping him on the shoulder. “Met him outside a beautiful fruit stand that I’m taking off his hands.”

Han had a flabbergasted look on his face. “Do you just pick up anyone?” he wondered, then looked at Tadu. “No offense.” He wasn’t even going to ask how he swindled the poor Selkath out of his fruit stand.

Lando held up his index finger. “We’re business partners now. Tadu’s fruit is too damn fine to be isolated on Chandrila, we’re going galactic!” You could just see the credit sign in Lando’s eyes. Han didn’t even have to ask, Lando was so ready to gloat about his latest entrepreneurial endeavor. A shame Bespin was still in Imperial clutches, and Lando was no soldier, he wouldn’t be leading a guerrilla war anytime soon. Leia, maybe, Han thought, she was military, even if she didn’t know it. But Lando? He belonged on a podium.

Lobot finally strolled over with a fresh Sabacc deck clutched under his right arm. He sat the deck on the table and, as the dealer, began to shuffle and deal out a pair of cards to each player while Lando monologued;

“Did you know Sabacc are tarot cards?” Lando quizzed.

“Here we go,” Han muttered, tiredly snatching up his pair of cards.

Tadu shook his head.

“Don’t encourage him,” Han moaned, rubbing his face.

“When I was younger I flew with gypsies for a few months, worked as a fortune-teller,” Lando explained. “My teacher, some crazy old witch, actually believed these cards would foretell your future. And, honestly, I started buying into it.”

“Who’s the more foolish; the fool or the fool who follows him?” Han quipped, and then nearly slapped himself on the forehead when he realized that was something Old Ben told him on the Falcon. That old fossil could get into anyone’s head.

Lando smirked and winked at him.

“Just place your bets,” Han groaned.

The first round of bets were fairly modest, Lando won the first pair of rounds, Han the second. And it was a tight series through the evening. Eventually Nien felt so overwhelmed he was the first to call it a night, couldn’t risk losing anymore. Lando and Nien hugged, and then the Sullustan shook hands with Han and Tadu before retiring to his own quarters for the night.

“-And I’m telling you, it was the finest seared Bantha I had ever ate,” Lando finished, summarizing the story of his time with a Jawa clan on Tatooine.

Another four rounds later and Tadu muttered a curse in his language under his breath before he finally admitted defeat, he had lost a fair amount of the credits he had put aside for the game, and now was as good a time as any to back out.

“Look at it this way; we’ll make that back, with interest, when your fruit hits the core worlds,” Lando comforted.

Tadu wasn’t feeling particularly encouraged, though. He waved bye, and parted for the evening.

“Sleeping alone tonight,” Han observed.

“Never,” Lando snapped. “I’ve got Lobot.”

“Ain’t that right?” Lando winked.

“Of course, sir.”

The pot had risen to five-hundred-thousand credits, more than enough to pay for the Falcon’s necessary upgrades, even slap a fresh coat of paint on it. Han was determined to win it tonight. He knew he was going to. He could feel it, and he wondered if this was what Luke meant sometimes, or if it was just gas.

“That’s a lot of credits to lose,” Lando noted. “Sure you don’t want to back out on a high note?”

Han shook his head. “Nope. ‘Cause I’m taking this home with me.”

Lobot dealt the final hand, a pair of cards to each of the men. Lando stroked his slim mustache while Han inspected his options; the goal of Sabacc was to be the player closest to the absolute value of twenty-three. And Han was sitting on a Positive-Ten and a Negative-One. Not a very strong hand, but he felt comfortable locking the ten and preventing it from shifting to a random number during the shifting phase. Instead he allowed his Negative-One to shift, and he bit his lower lip.

Lando, though, seemed absolute in his hand, and when the round ended, and the two players sat with their determined cards, Lobot called for them to show their hand;

Lando laid a Negative-Eighteen and a Negative-Five on the table, a full Negative-Twenty-Three.

“I know how much you were looking forward to fixing up our baby,” Lando said, a satisfied smugness on his face that Han desperately wanted to smack off.

Han shifted uncomfortably in his seat, then dropped his cards; his Positive-Ten, and a Positive-Thirteen; that was a Positive-Twenty-Three. And a Positive hand trumped a Negative hand. Han had won the entire pot of five-hundred-thousand credits. He pumped his fist into the air. Lando never could read old Han.

“You no good swindler,” Lando snapped.

Han stood up and pulled the credits into the satchel Chewie had loaned him.

“After I repair my baby, maybe I’ll take you for a spin,” Han said, a large grin on his face.

Solo slung the satchel over his shoulder and quickly strolled away proudly.

“One more round,” Lando suggested. “You could double your winnings!”

“I’m beat, and Leia’s waiting on me,” Han said.

And as the door closed behind him, Han smugly added; “You enjoy your night with Lobot.”

Lando slumped in his chair, lifted his arm on the table and dug his chin into his open palm. He looked at Lobot out of the corner of his eye.

“You wanna play?” Lando wondered.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you always lose.”

 

fantastic tale as usual! you capture the characters so well!

 

LOL! Yuppers, Han has reason to be smug - winning the large sabacc pot and Leia. Woot, the latter presented more of a challenge

 

Yes, fun interaction, great sense of the characters. I'm loving where this is going.

 

NightWatcher91
Nyota's Heart
Sandy Candy

Thank you and thanks for reading.

 

ACROSS THE GALAXY​

EPISODE IX​

​

FOUNDATIONS​

​

A new dawn was rising on Chandrila, the beautiful clear sky speckled with Alliance starships, including Home One, an MC80 Star Cruiser, the largest and most advanced ship in the Alliance fleet. Pivotal to the Battle of Endor, and a shining example of the Rebellion’s resilience. The last of the shuttles had already disembarked, and the Grand Rotunda was filling rapidly.

The coliseum rose twelve stories high, each floor containing dozens of booths to denote a district on Chandrila, but recent renovations were made to accommodate the Rotunda’s stage as the current center of galactic affairs. The center podium was modest in comparison, only able to accommodate three individuals. Like each of the booths, the podium too contained a microphone wired to speakers hidden throughout the Rotunda, all voices could be heard here.

The sun peeked through the open roof as Luke Skywalker stalked quietly through the corridor and arrived at the base floor of the Rotunda, he was not interested in being seen. Skywalker attended only as a courtesy to Leia. Luke wore a dark brown cloak, his hood up to hide his features. Beneath his cloak was an off cream colored top with long sleeves, unfastened at the chest. His black pants were tucked into a pair of buckled brown boots and his Lightsaber was attached to a modest belt that contained only a holocommunicator.

He scratched at his thin stubble and observed the Rotunda filling with representatives from Corellia, Naboo, Kashyyyk, Duro, Kuat, Malastare, even Neimoidia. Many other humans factored in, but dare not disclose their representation for fear of Imperial spies. As long as the Empire held Coruscant, fear would still run rampant. Even Luke could sense it now, swimming through the crowds like a Krayt Dragon through the Dune Sea.

The dense chatter sounded like nonsense, but quieted down as Mon Mothma approached and then climbed the stairs to the top of the podium. Her short hair was combed, and she was adorned in a white gown befitting an elected official. Then Leia arrived at the rear, standing erect at the base of the podium. Soon after Han Solo crept around the corner and leaned against the wall by Luke.

The two men smiled at each other. Han was wiping his hands clean with a white cloth, but the white was being buried beneath oil and grime.

"How’s that hunk of junk?”

"Chewie’s plying off the last parts, our shipment should be in tomorrow,” Han said giddily, there was no hiding his excitement. Luke assumed Han probably hadn’t even slept. He would have been right.

When the Rotunda fell silent, Mon Mothma finally spoke, her voice echoing through the chambers; “Bail Organa and Padmé Amidala believed this day would come. I must admit, I wavered and doubted. Today I humbly accept the office of Chancellor, but there have been many others before me who would have been a far better choice. And that stings the most. Too many lives have been sacrificed.”

Leia shed a tear but wiped it away quickly, Han frowned and sighed. He couldn’t have imagined what it must have been like to lose an entire planet to the Empire.

"Our trials have been numerous, I know. But dawn is coming, we have but to look upon the horizon. Soon the fighting will cease, and to ensure a stable transition, I have elected Commander Leia Organa.”

Mothma waved Leia to the podium. The small but impressive woman strolled to the top of the stairs, her blue uniform top fastened and tucked into her pressed gray trousers. Leia wrapped her arms behind her back and inhaled.

“Our Republic will not be an impotent one. Our forces have already begun the transition into the newly cemented Republic Aid Force, built upon the ideals of peace and stability among the free peoples of the galaxy and her Independent systems.”

The crowd clapped while Han whistled.

“We are not invaders upon your land, you have but to ask for our services and the Republic will dispatch a contingent of our Aid servicemen to accommodate your needs, whether disaster relief, or defending against an Imperial Remnant, we aim to maintain your freedom. No matter the cost.” Leia bowed her head and took a step back behind Mon Mothma. She watched the elated crowd, and wondered sometimes how she arrived here. Han had always told Leia she belonged on the front lines, and this was her first real step toward that reality. Han knew her too well.

“Through this tumultuous time I have sought the counsel of the galaxy’s finest; Admiral Ackbar, Crix Madine, Commander Organa, Jar Jar Binks, Sato. These are but a few of the people whom I consider my most trusted allies during these dark times. To the Independent systems of our free galaxy, these men and women are notably military, intimidating even. As my Vice Chair, I sought an individual with passion for even the smallest person, capable of taking great care in temperamental political climates where you need not a sword, but a shield. I would like formally introduce my Vice Chair and Republic Liaison; Lando Calrissian!”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Han muttered.

Lando strutted up the stairs to the top of the podium, his silky red cape billowing in the cool breeze of Chandrila’s morning. His hand stretched out, Lando waved proudly, winking and smiling. As the crowd simmered down Lando straightened his collar and smiled broadly. For a brief moment he soaked up the attention like a Bantha cooking in the hot twin suns of Tatooine. Then he finally addressed the coliseum;

“I’ve flown from one end of this galaxy to the other, I’ve seen firsthand what’s been taken from each and every one of you. That will never happen again,” Lando promised. “I am your representative. The voice of the free peoples.”

The crowd escalated into uproarious joy. There was an elation that had buried the fear deep.

“Today, we christen Chandrila as the Capitol of the Grand Republic, a home for freedom and unity,” Mon Mothma declared. “Our doors are open to all, whether you are a Republic world, or an Independent System, today we return to the ideals of the Old Republic, never will we turn away from those less fortunate or in need of aid. Today we lay a foundation bound by our blood and sweat. What we build here will last for generations, and our children will look upon what we’ve all accomplished together and know that nothing is out of reach!”

Mon Mothma was awarded a standing ovation, and Luke simply nodded.

“This is what the Republic should have always been,” Luke noted.

“None of this would have been possible without you,” Han tilted his head and said, but Luke had already vanished. Han smiled and shook his head. He couldn’t stand when he did that, quiet as a Nexu.

It was the truth, though. Luke Skywalker had allowed the Alliance its greatest victory. More than that, without Luke Skywalker, Han would have never found a cause worth fighting for. He would have never discovered this Alliance that he had served with pride. And he was proud, his chest swelled. Han had fought for these people, and he would have sacrificed himself for them. He laughed, never thinking he would have found himself with a new lease on life. A life he owed to Luke. They all owed him one. Han considered them even. Skywalker had been a force for change. And that change was upon them.

 

Excellent! Excellent! Choice for a capital world for the Republic that's being reestablished. Loved Han's reflections! Very much in character and all too true.

Luke's humility is also in character.

 

Nyota's Heart

Thank you. I was hoping it would all feel right.