Saga "Twists in sobriety", UDC XX complete now, a thanks to everybody!!!

DarthUncle, earlybird-obi-wan, Kahara & Darth Gangrenous I finally made it:





“Twists in sobriety”, drabbles 11:


WEEK XI


51. Go

You are not important. Ina is valuable. To the Emperor, to you. “For freck's sake, 5537, cover her!” you yell on top of your voice.

“Negative, Sir!” the Death Trooper answers. “You are my priority.”

You feel like face-palming. His programming is flawed.

“Run, Ina!” You hope that the so-called guardians of the Whills can grant her sanctuary. “Run for cover! We'll catch up with you!”

You wish you could go with her, but for the time being you need to fight Gerrera from here. With all that you have in stock. Even with tooth and claw if you must.



52. Wait

A good night's sleep in her arms. That is all that you allowed yourself tonight. “I have to go,” you mumble into her right ear and you can hear her sigh deeply.

“I know,” she says and, ever so gently, she releases you from her hug.

With every hour that passes more and more Jedi artefacts on Coruscant will fall into the false hands.

“I will wait for you, Lor!” she ensures you, her voice somewhat hoarse by tears. “Right here on Lothal!”

You thank the Force that Nagina's loyalty towards you, her fiancé, is only surpassed by her kindness.



53. Rise

“Lord Vader! Rise!” you command your latest Sith apprentice.

While you witness his spasms, you have to admit that he is half the man he used to be. Perhaps he is not even more than a piece of trash you retrieved from the lava shores of Mustafar.

You are strangely reminded of a horror story that you once read to Nagina when she was but a teen: “Frankenstein, or: The Modern Prometheus”.

At the end of the book she had posed an anxious question to you, “Will you create such an atrocity yourself?”

You must make sure they never meet.



54. For

There are words in your throbbing head. Sometimes teasing you, sometimes threatening you. The loudest voice is his, the man that you used to be.

“If you're not with me, then you're my enemy.”

Had you already been Lord Vader when you said that? Or had you been still him, foolish Anakin Skywalker?

From now on there will be no remorse. The enemies and critics of your master will be crushed. No questions asked.

But now and again you will make a kill more personal. For your own pleasure. You still have a score to settle with remarkable Mistress Samye.



55. Against

You switch off the connection, but the face of me'suum'ika remains in front of you. As if it is burned on your retina.

How can she be so careless? Playing private detective right under Krennic's large nose?

Whoever Galen Erso is, you are sure that he is not worth the trouble that Nagina will get into.

Krennic is not exactly a psycho, but a carte blanche.

You lean back in your bunk.

If you would not know her any better, you would say that she pulls tricks like that on purpose.

“Argh!” you curse.

Against common sense you will investigate.




“Who is who”:


51. Go
= Orson Krennic during the Saw Gerrera attack in Jedha City (19 BBY)

52. Wait
= Lor San Tekka saying good-bye to his fiancé Nagina on Lothal (19 BBY).

53. Rise
= Darth Sidious with his new apprentice Lord Vaderon Coruscant (19 BBY).

54. For
= Inside Vader´s head, who is on Coruscant (19 BBY).

55. Against
= Boba Fett after a holo conversation with Nagina (19 BBY).

 

Will comment more later, but I really like the resulting #54. For - your subject has expressed a similar interest in Nagina before, but not in this way where he is almost clear himself that he's using her, and other 'annoyances' to increase his anger, clinging to it in order to survive (and rather than rely fully on self-loathing).

 

Actually you saying so DarthUncle triggered an update inside my Nagina vignette thread with a totally different outcome.

 

Vader sure is angry. Like what you did in this set

 

Oh, I forgot to write the "Who is who" explanation, earlybird-obi-wan, but RL matters kept me busy the past days.

 

Okay, I have to ignore my cold sweat and post in here anyway. I wish that I could pretend that I do not know why my throat is tight when I post in here. But because you asked me to DarthUncle, I will do so now. Perhaps Kahara, earlybird-obi-wan & Darth Gangrenous will like it, too:



"Twists in sobriety", drabbles 12:


WEEK XII


56. Break
You fear that Ina will break from the inside out when you push her too far. But you need to tell her your set of rules.

“Whether you like it or not: I am in charge here. Therefore I will control everybody that sets foot over your threshold. Including that mysterious neighbour of yours.”

Her tears gut you. She is the last person in the universe that you want to upset. She was the sunlight in your troubled childhood.

Now your urge to protect her somehow makes you the villain here. A role you do not like a single bit.



57. Quiet
Your niece can be as quiet as a night shadow if she needs to be. The two of you practised that over and over again in her early childhood years. But right now she feels the need to speak up against all that you have become.

“Are you implying that you are jealous of me? Because you took the blame? And only made me the victim? Denying yourself the same attention and also the humiliation to be Cosinga's punch ball?”

With the pride of an Empress she rises from the shabby dinner table, well-controlled and aloof.

You simply love her.



58. Lives
Countless lives have been taken and not only on Coruscant. You need to know why and the answer seems to sit right in front of you, blowing her nose into your handkerchief.

“Nagina, I can see that you are a good person. That you have somehow gotten yourself in a big mess. But please, if there is anything that you can tell me who is responsible for all that mindless slaughter. Perhaps even for the death of Senator Amidala and her baby, then this is the right moment to do so.”

You cannot help getting lost in those big eyes.



59. Dies
It is a fifty-fifty chance. Like in a shady Sabbac game. When your troublesome godchild dies, it might either solve all your problems in one clean go or make them much, much bigger.

Sheev will gather names and look around. He also might show up in front of your door, asking questions. You must find an ally who is not afraid of his scorn. Somebody who wants Nagina under ground, too. But who?

You stare into your bathroom mirror.

An old Naboo fairy tale comes into your mind.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the boldest of them all?”



60. Story
The story of your life is complicated. Leave alone the way that you entered life in the first place. You cannot even claim your face as your own. But you are the son that your father Jango wanted, unaltered by acceleration of growth.

And unexpected, you got adopted according to the gai bal manda ritual right next to his decapitated body.

You gaze into the river that heads towards Lake Sah'ot.

In the distance you can spot me'suum'ika and her Imperial caretaker on a picnic blanket.

“You will cause me to have grey hair before I am even twenty, Nagina.”



"Who is who of the most important men in Nagina´s life:

56. Break
= Orson Krennic during his 2nd visit on Lothal (19 BBY)


57. Quiet
= Sheev Palpatine during the night out in "Dexter´s Dinner" on Coruscant (19 BBY).


58. Lives
= Lor San Tekka during his first meeting with Nagina on Lothal (19 BBY).


59. Dies
= Sate Pestage in his Coruscant apartment (19 BBY).


60. Story
= Young Boba Fett secretly comes to Chandrila to check out on Nagina and Krennic (19 BBY).

 

51 to 54 were good stuff, particularly the first one with Krennic trying to send his escort.to cover Nagina.

 

Aww, 58 was very sweet; followed by a chilling 59 that fits right in with that update in your Nagina Vignette thread you mentioned, and that I just read/commented on, plus the newest Disney Challenge entry with Tarkin. And 57 is sweet, and great how you show Palpatine as a human being, a being who can love, but somehow isn't less, but rather more chilling for it. Boba is sad but cute at the same time. I wouldn't have thought Krennic to dislike being a little bit of a villain, though in context of Nagina being the one labeling him such, I do see that. And so him to whine about his poor little self, sheesh. W**ker

 

I always love your stories and art.

 

Love what you did to this set of prompts

 

Sith-I-5: Thanks for popping in and giving me feedback.

The scene that you refer to actually happened in Chapter 23 of the main Nagina story "Rage, rage against the dying of the light":


With some delay there is a lot of screaming and running. I hear it subdued as if I am underwater. Orson's body still blankets mine. “Backup!” he shouts into his mic.

There is an answer, but I cannot make out the words.

Blood rushes through my veins, while other strange sensations spread inside me. Most of all nausea.

Orson lets go of me and struggles to his feet. Blinking in quick succession I watch him producing his blaster.

A giant of a man comes running towards us, unerring. It seems that he is desensitized to the resulting 'Flash' and 'Bang' of the dazzle grenade. Or he is a Korriban zombie after all.

“5537!” Orson barks through all the chaos. “Cover the parcel. Now!”

The Death Trooper lifts me into his arms and I hold on to his broad neck.

More bombs go off simultaneously.

My eyes water.

Smoke-bombs.

Coughing and hurting I cling on.

Orson is on high alert, his fingers on the trigger. His narrowed eyes are trying to scan our surroundings.

We are in the middle of a battue, I am sure of it. My uncle enjoys the wanton slaughter of game at the end of a hunt. Therefore I get the impression that Saw Gerrera wants to drive us towards the temple. I suspect him waiting for us in the holy halls.

But before I can voice my suspicions to Orson there is a different kind of explosion.

Then a coating of dust and debris cakes everything.

“Putty explosives!” roars Orson through the smoke. “Really?”

Suddenly, blaster fire crackles through the air.

Perhaps this is no battuebut a killer commando.

I hear a roar from Orson when he gets hit into his left shoulder.

The Death Trooper, who carries me, acts by pure instinct. In favour of his master he drops me like a hot potato.

“Ouch!” I yelp, but there is not much time for complaining.

More bombs go off.

I press myself to the ground.

“Fire works?” wonders Orson. “What the kriff?”

When it is silent again, I quickly sort out my limbs and struggle to my feet.

Some blood flows out of my right nostril. A thin spurt, but enough to let Orson panic. “You clumsy oaf!” he snarls. “She is hurt!”

The soldier gives me a brief scan. “Negative, Sir! But you are.”

Worried, Orson gazes at me, while his bodyguard takes care of his injury. “For freck's sake, 5537, cover her!”

“Negative, Sir! You are my priority.”

Orson rolls his eyes, but then his gaze is back on me. “Run, Ina!” he instructs me, love and despair in his eyes. “Run for cover! We'll catch up with you!”

DarthUncle, thanks for taking the time to read and comment AFTER a certain person read it to you. What a spoiler!

The Vader vignette that you refer to came to me as a huge surprise. These days I am so uncertain about my ideas that I drop them like a hot potato and do something else.

But once I wrote about Vader my Disney challenge about family came to mind and to go for Tarkin & his screwed view seemed logical.

And yes, I will get dressed for Tempelhof and the e-car race right now. You deserve taking me out on the hottest day of the year in so far. For watching cars going round and round and round and round...

Darth Gangrenous: Thank you!

earlybird-obi-wan: Thank you! My husband goes crazy here and wants to be at the race.

 

AzureAngel2

Thank you for the source of that first drabble.

A good battle, and Orson showing some heart with his "putty bombs, really?"

How often has he been hit in that left shoulder?

 

Altogether I would say twice, dear Sith-I-5.

He got shoot in that shoulder in 19 BBY in my fan lore. Around 17 BBY the Erso family, according to the SW novel "Catalyst" escaped Krennic´s golden cage on Coruscant. About 4 years later, as seen in the SW movie "Rouge One". Lyra shoots into that very shoulder on Lah'mu.

 

Surprise, DarthUncle, WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, Kahara, earlybird-obi-wan & Darth Gangrenous



“Twists in sobriety”, drabbles 13:


WEEK XIII


61. Uprising
There seems to be an uprising on Jedha. It does not surprise you to hear that your god child went there with Lieutenant-Commander Krennic.

“She knows,” you hiss.

Vede Kennede lowers his head slightly. “The master gave her too much insight on his plans.”

“Or she figured 'Project Celestial' out all by herself.” You tick your index finger against your lip.

Due to Sheev she is well-versed in Sith lore. Which is fatal. Teachers analyse legends, myths and fairy tales before they work with them.

“No matter how Nagina found out, she used her networking skills amongst the local community.”



62. Negotiate
To negotiate her terms of freedom with Ina is a farce and she knows it. But she plays along nicely, getting one board game after the other on the kitchen table.

You are proud of the woman that helped to raise you. She does not have a nervous breakdown or screams at you.

But deep down her situation guts you. She is a hostage of the Empire and will remain thus for the rest of her life. You will try to make her exile here on Lothal as comfortable as possible for her. She shall not lack for anything.


63. Convince
Your private quarters have a visitor. She lounges in your chair-of-office with acted buoyancy. “Nagina!” you call out while your guards get ready to blast her into oblivion.

“Sheev,” she greets you back. “Imagine, Child Protection Services want to call you back about Mara.”

It pains you that Nagina makes you responsible for the death of the girl´s mother. The real villainy lies elsewhere.

Since the beginning of the Clone Wars you steal Force-sensitive children. They are to be the new elite of well-trained hunting-dogs. But not little Mara. You will spare her.

You only need to convince your niece.



64. Overthrow
Nobody can overthrow the Emperor. Not so soon and easily anyway. Sheev Palpatine has made himself a foundation of intergalactic society. He has erected an image of himself, that only a few people doubt. You are among those who do not believe him to be a friendly gentleman in his best years.

“Gita,” you say while you march into the kitchen.

Your wife stops the blender. “Yes, dear?”

“Have you seen Mara this morning?”

She grins and points outside the kitchen window.

The girl stands on the meadow in her pyjamas, punching the air.

“Shadow boxing,” you say in awe.



65. Unite
To unite with members of your foster family is always a bit much for you. There are too many hugs, kisses and questions. You are not a very social person. This is why you became a secret service agent in the first place, but Crix and Berch needed to follow you. Sometimes it is a blessing, but mostly a curse.

To bond with persons makes you vulnerable. There are things that you like to keep to yourself.

But Nagina is flying towards you like a rawwk from Bespin. Her lips are hot on your skin. “Oh, Dravits,” she sniffs softly.




“Who is who”:

61. Uprising
= Sate Pestage and Vede Kennede put their heads together on Coruscant (19 BBY).

62. Negotiate
= Orson Krennic during his 1st visit on Lothal (19 BBY).

63.Convince
= Sheev Palpatine has an unexpected visitor inside his Coruscant apartment (19 BBY).

64. Overthrow
= Chetan Anil learns that his latest foster daughter Mara is into martial arts (19 BBY).

65. Unite
= Dravits Draven comes home to Chandrila for the 41st birthday of his foster sister (19 BBY).



This update is sponsored by my larynx inflammation and the anti-biotics making me miserable.

 

Nice set, showing more of Nagina

 

earlybird-obi-wan: Thanks for taking the time to comment!

I hope that I am not up for any kind of trouble here on the JC boards this week because I am so ill and bored at home. Writing and reading helps me immensely to get distracted from the pain that I am in. Once more I managed to get a nasty bacteria infection all over my throat, robbing me of my voice and making my sinuses swell in addition.

Just put a culture dish in a normal kindergarten room that has nutrient solution in it. Then you have the perfect biological weapon. But mind you, there is no cure for whatever grows inside the solution!

Anyway, I was so silly last night that I started another drabble thread elsewhere with my old crossover aquarel paintings.

 

Great use of the prompts, showing the confidence of the Sheevster and the warmth of Nagina's family.

 

WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: The "Sheevster"? That is a very cool name for old Palps.

As for the warmth within Nagina´s foster family, Orson unfortunately is not able to enjoy it being who he is. Last night I wrote Chapter 27 and I can tell you... ah well, spoilers!

Darth Gangrenous, I "force" you to read a lot these days, don´t I?



“Twists in sobriety”, drabbles 14:


Week XIV


66. Talk
You wring your hands, while you look at your darling girl who is packing for Alderaan. “We need to have 'the talk'!” you announce as you step further into her room.

Nagina pauses. “But I already know where babies do come from.”

“Oh,” you laugh and relief fills you. “This is actually about the Krennic boy.”

“Please, dad!” Her face and voice are filled with pain. “Orson cannot help his anger.”

“He blew your birthday party!”

“If I can forgive him for that, you should be able to do so as well. You are a social pedagogue.”

“Your father, too.”



67. Silence
Her silence is worse than her wailing. It shreds you, but you have no choice. You need to fly to Serenno tonight.

All you can do is to send someone to look after her, while you are gone. Somebody who keeps her company.

It needs to be a woman, but it can neither be Sly Moore who hates Nagina very much nor Gita Chetan who loves her too much. No, it has to be somebody who is ruthless, but obeys you at the same time.

Asajj Ventress. The Sith assassin in training.

Hopefully, she possesses a tooth brush. And pyjamas.



68. Smile
Mistress Samye has such a sweet smile. Too sweet for a Sith lady. No, she cannot be evil. The children she works with would notice that otherwise. But you need one last check.

“I have something else for you still.”

Saying thus, you give her the daisy, that you plucked for her. It does not wither in her hands, but seems to recover instead.

“Now I better get going again. Your overnight guest wears a uniform of the newly formed intelligence forces.”

“Orson is more an engineer and scientist,” she offers. “Always was.”

Nagina always sees the good in people.



69. Laugh
Her eyes are round and big. “I am so, so so-sorry,” she stutters and, to your surprise, kneels down to be at eye level with you.

You shrug. “It´s okay. I always asked myself how it feels to have a shower in expensive Naboo blossom wine.”

Her full lips form a perfect ´o´.

“It is quiet elevating,” you add with a lopsided smile. "And, to be honest, sticky."

Then it happens. She laughs, the most wonderful laugh that you have ever heard. Her entire body wobbles while she rocks back and forth on her heels. You like what you see.



70. Cry
“If fate is kind, we will not meet again.” You look Nagina straight in the eyes. “Give me hope, little sister!”

With that you leave her behind at the feet of her goddess, fully aware that all the candles in this prayer room can not banish the darkness that reaches out for her.

You hear Nagina cry out loud, but you do not turn around.

Her uncle used to call her ´little star´ and experience taught you that the strongest stars have a heart of kyber.

Nagina is strong. And in the Force she burns as bright like a sun.



“Who is who”:66. = Chetan Anil on Chandrila (48 BBY)

67. =
Sheev Palpatine on Coruscant (21 BBY)

68. =
Lor San Tekka on Lothal (19 BBY)

69. =
Barin Samye on Corellia (31 BBY)

70. =
Maul on Jedha (19 BBY)

 

I'll update this for my wife AzureAngel2:




"Twists in sobriety", drabbles 15:


71. First

Your first kiss ever and you just manage to kiss Nagina on her brow, muttering a Jedha community prayer that you grew up with. But she badly needs protection. She is the niece of a Sith lord. That means she exists in a very dark place: inside the prison of her own reproaches.

Being a relative of a user of the dark side of the Force is like having an addict in the family. Just the addiction itself matters. Neither reason, nor tears.

May the Force be with you, but you have fallen in love with her head over heals.




72. Impressions

You never cared about first impressions. Those can be misleading. What you do care about is the only person that means family to you.

In the battle arena she preformed a full Mandalorian battle adoption, even though she is the most unlikely warrior that there is. But her unselfish deed brought you back to your senses.

Through me'suum'ika you were able to escape the Jedi order and the iron grip of Child Protection Services.

Aliit ori'shya tal'din.

You would even freeze Nagina in Carbonite to keep her safe. She courts disaster non-stop. But she deserves your love, understanding and attention.




73. Safer

For your kind there are ugly words. Growing up on the streets of Coronet City you perhaps heard them all, preferably in a lot of intergalactic languages.

Now you are standing on the Golden Beaches of Corellia and are about to say the words that will end your days as a bachelor.

Nagina basically stumbled into your life, almost drowning you with a glass of Naboo blossom wine.

To be with her you even accept the burden to be family to the notorious politician Sheev Palpatine, whom you simply nickname “Steve”.

With you Nagina's life will be safer, more sane.




74. Check

You need to check on Ina. And to achieve this task you do not care whom you gun down with your laser blaster. Between you and her are a lot of terrorists and civilians.

This is not the peaceful pilgrimage you imagined for Ina. Jedha is a place of religious fanatics and backwater idiots. That Saw Gerrera wants a payback about Galen adds an extra stress level to your stay on this moon.

You should have stayed on Scarif with Ina, serving her Piña Coladas and sing every freckin' song that you know.

Over and over again you fire ahead.




75. Last

Your last meeting was not very successful and you sneaked out on her like a thief in the night. It scares you that you were tempted to stay on with your niece, at her Scarif bedside. She has so much power over you.

But Vader, your promising new Sith apprentice, has turned into a nuisance.

You also feel that you need to put Wilhuff Tarkin and a lot of others back in line: Imperial Headmaster Gentis, perhaps even Grand Moff Trachta.

The more enemies you will destroy in the time to come, the less you need to worry about Nagina.

 

Sniff, thanks, DarthUncle!

 

Both first and Safer are very sweet, romantic bits of text. And also tragic when knowing how these two people end up, ultimately thanks to the uncle of the person they love.

And Boba, his story with Nagina keeps developing, I wonder if we might sometime see a spin-off of that investigation he's doing now for Nagina, as well as the 'real story' of Boba. I am sad for Nagina in a way, as both he and Orson seem to have turned out bad. Maybe she knows it deep down, but can't help but try to safe them? As she'd really would want to save her Unlce.

 

DarthUncle, here is the



“Who is who”:

71.First = Lor San Tekka on Lothal (19 BBY)

72. Impressions = Barin Samye marries Nagina Anil on Corellia (37 BBY)

73. Safer = Young bounty hunter Boba Fett in his secret hiding place (19 BBY)

74. Check = Lieutenant-Commander Krennic on the moon of Jedha (19 BBY)

75. Last = Emperor Palpatine on Coruscant (19 BBY)

 

Love to see this here. Keep posting those beautiful insightful pieces