Saga rktho's Kessel Run Thread 2025

I'm always amused by which OC names people tend to misconstrue. I'm surprised nobody was tripped up by the fact that Ruth Himura had two versions of her name. (I guess it helped that the narration stuck to the Basic version.)

 

WEEK #7 SUBSTITUTE PROMPT

Title: Happy New Year 7977
Author: rktho
Timeline: 1 BBY-0 BBY/ABY
Characters: Original characters
Genre: Challenge
Summary: A young man reflects on the first week of the new year.

7976.363

Shomi says I read too much. What she really means is she wants me to spend more time with her before I go off to university at the end of the school year. I whipped her butt in some hologames.

I should start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Mom suggested I be more social. I told her I’m already plenty social. I have tons of friends at school. I just don’t go out much these days because I’m busy keeping my grades up. But maybe she has a point. The break will be over soon, and I should make the most of it before school starts again.

I haven’t picked up my moopsball racket in a while. I should invite some friends to play sometime. Maybe some of my old teammates from intermed would be interested in hitting the court.

7976.364

There was a huge mining disaster on Jedha yesterday that leveled a whole city. What a crazy year it’s been. As far as crazy events go, though, I don’t think anything beats Lothal seceding from the Empire. I still can’t believe that actually happened.

They told us Dad had been given the week off, but they called him in just a couple hours before the midnight celebrations. Guess it was an emergency. We don’t know when he’ll be back. He could miss the whole Fête Week, just like Mom was afraid of before they gave him time off. I hope they find the Rebellion’s secret base soon so this doesn’t keep happening. He had to miss our trip to Naboo during the Festival of Stars, and he’s had to work Empire Day two years in a row. Still, I’m proud of his example. I hope I can be half the supervisor he is when I join the ISB. That’s not for a couple years now, though.

7977.000

Dad’s still not back from work. Whatever they called him in for, it must be really serious. Mom sent me over to bring him a holiday package. He seemed pretty stressed when I stepped into his office, but he’s not allowed to talk about it. He told us to open presents without him and said he didn’t know when he’d be back home.

We’re all pretty bummed about him having to miss the celebrations. The Shaldania Parade was really good this year. They didn’t have any public executions, though. They just announced a list of rebels who’d been executed in private. I guess that makes sense after what happened last year. Can’t say I’m not disappointed, though. I follow rebel activity on the HoloNet and the ISB caught some big names this year. I was really looking forward to seeing their faces. I bet Dad’s disappointed too. He helped catch some of those scum. Shomi’s relieved, though. She hates watching the executions. She’s much happier now that they’re doing it behind closed doors.

We opened presents without Dad. We saved the ones he got us and the ones we got him. We’ll open them when he’s home again. I think I got pretty good presents for everyone this year. I got Shomi a new thermoblower since her old one short-circuited, and I got Mom a book, one of those romances she likes. I got Dad a book too. It’s a biography of Count Dooku. I hope I get to give it to him soon.

7977.001

I took Dad another change of clothes and a lunch. Mom packed some of the cookies we’d made yesterday. They’re his favorite kind. I asked him about what he’d been called in to work for. He said there was a huge data breach and he’d probably get in trouble for telling me even that much. His secretary came into the office and saw me. He shooed me out of Dad’s office and told me to just drop off my package at the front desk next time.

I took Shomi to the theater to see Chalice and Altar. I thought it would be good to expose her to some culture. She fell asleep before the third act. I enjoyed the opera immensely, though. Igern is one of my favorite composers.

I hope Dad’s back tomorrow.

7977.002

This year is really starting off with a bang. The Imperial Senate’s been dissolved, and I have to say it’s been a long time coming. They’ve been a hindrance to government efficiency for years now. It’s high time they were disbanded. Hopefully we’ll see some overdue policy changes put into effect now that the Emperor’s hands are no longer tied.

Shomi and I joined up with some school friends for a day out. Shomi’s friends wouldn’t stop giggling at my friends. That was bad enough, but some of that giggling was directed at me. Shomi was no help whatsoever. I’ve told her I’m not going to date anyone until I graduate, and besides, when I do start looking for a serious relationship, it’ll be with someone my own age.

Unfortunately, Dad’s still working. We went out to dinner at the new place he wanted to try. He couldn’t take any time off to join us, but we ordered a box for him. I’m bringing it tomorrow.

7977.003

I thought Lothal was crazy, but it’s only been four days into the new year and the galactic record for most unbelievable event has officially been broken. Alderaan has been destroyed. At first people thought it was an accident, but somehow people got it into their heads that the Empire destroyed it. I’m glad the vigils didn’t turn into riots until after I got home. The crowds on Level 3204 made it a pain to get Dad’s lunch to him before they turned violent. I don’t know what would have happened if Shomi or I had been out when they started attacking people. Thankfully the cops shut that down pretty quick. They told everybody to stay inside while they handled it. Naturally, that meant we couldn’t take the airbus tour like we’d planned. They probably cancelled it anyway.

7977.004

Dad officially missed New Year Fête Week. Today was the last day and he’s still showing no signs of getting off work any time soon.

They cancelled the Imperial Fair. Everyone’s pretty mad about it. Instead of celebrating the last day of Fête Week, we’re going to be stuck inside all day. They’ll hold the fair tomorrow, but it won’t be the same.

They’re rounding up Alderaanians for questioning after the riot yesterday. Apparently the Alderaanian government went rogue and had been funding the Rebellion for years. The news is saying the Empire has a planet killer and will be punishing rogue worlds.

I played hologames with Shomi since we couldn’t go outside.

7977.005

They cancelled the fair again. There was a big terrorist attack yesterday. Tarkin has been assassinated. They held a memorial for him instead of the fair. Director Yularen was also killed in the attack. I held my own vigil for him in my room after Tarkin’s memorial. Dad’s got to be devastated. The Emperor gave a speech promising justice for the victims.

What a year 7797 has been so far. I’m exhausted already.

Spoiler: Story Notes

A retcon of the BBY/ABY system implied that the gap between Rogue One and A New Hope takes place on the eve of the galactic new year. I've always found that implication fascinating. I borrowed from some Legends lore about the galactic calendar for this fic.

 

A nice diary from a young one loyal to the empire.

 

Paints quite a picture, doesn't it? Thanks for reading!

Shomi is actually his little sister— their interactions are intended to be sibling banter. It would be quite infantilizing for him to treat a girlfriend that way! He doesn't have a girlfriend— he mentioned that he's not going to date until he graduates, which is why he's very annoyed when Shomi's friends go gaga over him. His father works on Coruscant, and if he was transferred to the Death Star unbeknownst to his family, we don't get to find out here. (I kind of like the ambiguity, actually. As far as the narrator knows at this point, he's still sitting in his office on Coruscant. Had I more space for entries, I could have had him find out that hasn't been the case since he last saw him, which would make for an especially dark diary entry.) I didn't really have a particular character in mind when I wrote this, but I had a vague idea that the narrator's father is one of the nameless ISB board members who appears in Andor. Actually, I based the narrator on Light Yagami from Death Note, as I thought that would make for an interesting character voice. Light's father is also a law enforcement agent who's forced to work through the holidays due to an unprecedented development demanding his time.

 

Great tone you've given the diarist. He's concerned with how grand galactic events interfere with family plans and he of course is unquestioning about all the 'explanations' and justifications the newsfeeds are putting out. It all goes to show that depending on what side you're on you describe pivotal events in drastically different ways. Although the absolute and total destruction of Alderaan got a shockingly callous reaction.

 

Some people find it easier to accept the unacceptable than to question what has been a bedrock of their worldview. The Empire can't be evil, so Alderaan must have deserved it somehow. The narrator is preoccupied with punitive justice above all else. He's used to watching public executions and cheering them on. So he's primed to accept atrocities if he can be convinced the victims deserve their fate.

 

WEEK #8 PROMPT

Title: Camouflage
Author: rktho
Timeline: Somewhere between 5 and 2 BBY
Characters: Original characters
Genre: Challenge
Summary: A Jedi in hiding is nearly discovered.

“Focus. Concentrate.”

Leela held her father’s lightsaber, listening to the hum of the training remote. She yelped as the remote shocked her arm.

“Don’t use your ears, child,” Verjat admonished. “Stretch out with your feelings.”

Leela’s focus shifted. She raised her saber. The training remote fired three more shots. She blocked them in quick succession.

“Good.” Verjat waved his hand and the training remote whirled to Leela’s opposite side. She reacted like lightning, parrying the sneak attack flawlessly.

“Good!” Verjat deactivated the training remote. Leela deactivated the lightsaber and lifted her blindfold. “You’ve done well. Now fetch the shinai. Let’s see how well you do against a real opponent.”

Leela went to fetch the training swords. Verjat watched her proudly as she ran into the next room. He was grateful the Force had guided him to this child. Through her, the Jedi would live on. His comrades’ deaths would not be in vain.

He wished his friends could have met Leela. Tera would have called her one of the most brilliant children he’d ever met. And Com— Com would have absolutely adored her.

He wondered sometimes if any of them were still alive. His old master, Com, Unal… he knew nothing of their fates. He didn’t dare cling to any hope that they had survived.

Leela had just returned with the shinai when there was a knock at the door.

Verjat motioned for Leela to put the swords away as he assumed his disguise. His eyes shrank into their sockets, turning brown, and his rough green skin smoothed and became olive. He combed his fingers through his sudden hair as he went to the door and glanced at the display feed.

The visitor was a portly, middle-aged man with curly gray-blond hair and bushy muttonchop sideburns, clad in Imperial grey armor with an open-faced helmet tucked under his arm. The visitor smiled brightly as he waited for Verjat to open the door.

Verjat’s eyes widened to nearly their original size. He quickly composed himself. He had not spoken to this man in decades. As long as Verjat maintained his disguise, there was no chance that he would be recognized.

Verjat opened the door. “Good afternoon,” said the visitor cordially. “Is this the Koss residence?”

“Yes,” Verjat nodded, shaking the man’s hand as he attempted not to betray recognition. “How may I help you, sir?”

“I am with the Imperial Security Bureau,” the visitor said. “We have received reports of a changeling in the area. I was wondering if perhaps you have seen anything suspicious.”

“I’m not sure how I would know,” Verjat remarked calmly. “What sort of changeling?”

“Ah, to be honest, Mr. Koss, we are not entirely certain,” the ISB agent replied. “There are many changelings in the galaxy who are wanted by the law. This changeling could be any one of them. There are unlicensed bounty hunters, thieves, rebels, even Jedi.”

“Jedi?” Verjat issued a laugh. “I didn’t know there were any Jedi left.”

“A small number of them have regrettably escaped justice,” the ISB agent lamented. “For example, there is a Clawdite Jedi named Verjat Spector who remains at large. The reward for his capture is quite substantial. His abilities have made him especially difficult to apprehend.”

“Yes, I imagine they would,” Verjat said evenly.

“But as I have said, we do not know who this reported shapeshifter might be,” the ISB agent waved airily. “The chance that he is a Jedi is very small indeed. It is possible he may not even be a Clawdite, but some other manner of shapeshifter entirely. Which brings me to my point. We are taking blood samples of all residents in the area.”

Verjat’s throat caught. “Blood samples?”

“But of course, Mr. Koss,” the ISB agent grinned. “It is the surest way to determine whether the inside matches the outside, so to speak. A changeling may transform his appearance, but his genetics are another matter. You have a daughter, do you not?”

Verjat’s face paled. “Y… yes, sir.”

“She will, of course, be expected to submit a sample as well,” the ISB agent said, pulling a card from his belt pouch. “Please report to this address by the date listed.”

Verjat took the card. “Th… thank you, sir.”

“Not at all, my friend,” the ISB agent smiled with a twinkle in his warm blue eye. “When our shapeshifter friend is apprehended, we will give you the good news. Unless, of course, they turn out to be you. Then I imagine that will not be necessary.”

“Hahahahaha!” Verjat barked. “Good one, sir.”

The ISB agent nodded and turned away. Verjat watched him make his way toward the next house on the street before closing the door. He found Leela listening from the next room, her face full of concern. “Father? Who was that?”

Verjat relaxed his disguise, resuming his natural reptilian appearance. “Pack your things, quickly. We need to leave as soon as possible.”

Spoiler: Story Notes

This story is an alternate take on my story Stars In Their Multitudes. The character whose alignment I have changed is named Koss in the original story, a name assigned to him by the Republic state. In this timeline, he was not born in prison, and so was given the Clawdite name Verjat by his mother. Verjat Spector's Force-sensitivity was discovered early on by the Jedi Order, and his mother consented for him to be trained at the Jedi Temple. Verjat was mentored by Tera Sinube in the art of investigation, and collaborated with the Coruscant police on several occasions. Verjat's shapeshifting abilities allowed him to escape the initial Jedi Purge. He would go on to adopt a Twi'lek orphan named Leela and train her as a Jedi.

No comment on the identity of the ISB agent, but I will confirm it is not Kallus (which I hope is clear from the story.)

 

Superbly reversed for Verjat and Leela. I love that they've been able to be together and in hiding this long but whew, on the edge of my seat hoping they can get away.

 

Indeed! This might be an interesting story to continue.

 

I think what was most interesting to explore was the extent to which Koss is a product of his environment— that is to say, a very great extent indeed! Even his name is different— he has a proper one now, not one thoughtlessly assigned to him by some government worker a la Oliver Twist (although Oliver at least got a first name!) He doesn't have a complex around deception, so he changes his shape freely and lies to the authorities. And of course, he's not in denial of his Force sensitivity. Of course, just because Verjat's underlying psychological issues have been removed as a factor, doesn't make things a total picnic for him. There is, after all, the Empire to contend with, and as we see here, his changeling nature is not a foolproof means of protection. He didn't end up giving his DNA to the Empire, but the very act of violating the directive is incriminating. If you announce that there's a changeling in the neighborhood and a resident runs away, that makes it pretty obvious who the changeling is. So he'll have to figure out how to deal with that. Regarding the ISB agent, I might give one additional small hint about him, and that is that I have featured him before. I don't think I want to say more than that.

 

With that ISB agent telling Verjat to go and get his blood sampled and his daughter too, they have to flee. Nice alternative story

 

Thank you!

 

Another twofer of a review, I need to stop doing that sometime (not that it's likely to happen )

Happy New Year 7977

Well, what can I say, you got the voice of an ISB brat perfectly. He wants the Rebellion to go away because it spoils his family time during the holidays, he wishes executions were public (that alone was enough to tell me that his sister is a better person than him, before getting into how condescending he is towards her), he thinks the Senate is a useless institution, he's happily putting his plans for an airbus tour in the balance against the destruction of Alderaan... Yup, the perfect ISB brat, brainwashed to the core. I find it very difficult to write from the POV of such an unsavoury character, so much kudos to you for pulling it off so masterfully!

Camouflage

I've only skimmed through the opening chapter of Stars in their Multitudes so far, but the anagram Verjat told me immediately what was going on here... and now I'm even more excited to read SITM, because Jean Valjean and Cosette as Force-sensitives in the age of the Empire is a very intriguing concept indeed! But in this AU, seeing Koss/Javert/Verjat as the wanted man (and I know from what I saw in SITM that he's a Clawdite) who is being hit in his Achilles heel with the demand to hand over a sample of genetic material made for a very interesting storyline. I'm also very curious to learn the identity of the ISB agent that he knew in his "previous life", presumably as a Jedi. It makes the exchange all the more poignant to think that this man used to be Verjat's friend or at least ally in the past, and that he's now hunting him. The way the dialogue went, I almost had the sense that the ISB man knew precisely who Verjat was and was giving him the opportunity to escape by warning him, but then, maybe not – and either way, it's an encounter that has ominous written all over it!

 

Authoritarian propagandists have the staggering task of convincing some of the most horrible people in existence that they're normal, admirable folks. But that's not as difficult as it first appears, because people have a natural desire to believe in their own goodness. I'm not sexist, I just think my sister's interests could stand to overlap with mine. I'm not bloodthirsty, I simply love justice. I'm not indifferent to the suffering of people who have lost their homeworld, I just wish they would be reasonable and not block the streets and throw things. Honestly, this character came off a little less sympathetic than I intended— not because I intended to paint him as a better person, but because many of the people who think like this seem like decent and well-adjusted people until you dig into their political perspectives. I honestly didn't intend him to appear (too) unsavory outside of his morally reprehensible politics; if we see how normal he seems, we can see how he believes himself to be normal. He's just an average, everyday teenager who enjoys reading, hanging out with his friends, and watching people get beheaded. Integrating red flags into character studies is one of my favorite writing exercises.

It's funny because when I was outlining SITM, I didn't intend to have many Force-sensitive characters in it, but I ended up having most of the main characters be Force-sensitive in some way, and I think that really added to the fic as an adaptation and made it more than a reskin. As for the ISB agent— I'm not sure giving Verjat an opportunity to escape was what he had in mind. I think he believes he can capture Verjat even if he runs away— in fact, by running away, Verjat only makes himself look more suspicious. Of course, there are many reasons Koss may not want to submit a DNA sample, but the Empire considers them all suspect, so it doesn't even really matter if he's a shapeshifter or not, let alone a Jedi. The ISB agent will pursue him regardless. When I was deciding on the antagonist of this snippet, I thought about who Javert's Javert would be— and it turns out I already had a character who would fill that role quite aptly.

 

WEEK #9 PROMPT

Title: Truly, Deeply
Author: rktho
Timeline: 22 BBY, during Attack of the Clones
Characters: Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker
Genre: Challenge
Summary: Padmé did not expect the boy from Tatooine to grow up to be so... tempting.

This is not good.

Padmé has a crush.

At one less than twenty, Anakin is no longer a boy, but a man. It has been so long.

She can’t look at him more than momentarily or her cheeks will burn.

It is benign. Only a want of the flesh. This is not her first flame.

She has never wanted him before.

How he smiled at her.

Focus. What are you thinking, Padmé?

You cannot have him. He can only have your friendship.

That is all he is. A friend.

He must not become more.

But he has loved her all his life.

She hadn’t imagined she would want him too.

He cannot love her back. It would be too complicated. She does not want him to love her back. Don’t look at me like that, Anakin. We cannot.

We cannot have what we want.

Not forever. But perhaps, for a moment…

That face… those eyes… his voice… his touch… his lips…

No. She cannot.

How it burns not to.

They must not act on this, or his love will become her love.

She cannot love him back. It would be too complicated. She wanted him. She did not want him to want her. But he loves her with so deep a love…

That deep love is inside her.

This love is death.

She has died from the moment she saw him again.

They must be together. No force can come between them.

This is a universe-destroying love. What does she care? A lifetime without Anakin is death to her. Her universe would still be destroyed.

Time to stop running from it.

Anakin will be hers.

Forever.

 

Melts! You can feel the tug of war between what her mind is insisting and her heart knows must be.

 

I feel that's an underappreciated aspect of their relationship— he fell first, but she fell harder. The whole movie, she has this fantasy in her head of bagging this hot Jedi, but she's terrified of it becoming real, because if it's real, it has consequences. Unfortunately, her coworker crush can't remain a coworker crush if he's only encouraging her feelings. And then when she realizes they're about to die in the arena, she has nothing to lose by admitting the depth of her feelings.

And then she doesn't die. And loses everything.

 

WOW this is powerful.
Anakin was in love with her when he saw that angel from Iego.
But she, she saw him as a grown man, making love with her. And she was afraid but did and had nothing to loose when she was about to die on Geonosis

 

Yup. It started out as a silly little thing, but that silly little thing represented something she'd long dreamed of, a kind of freedom from the pressures of her station. Padmé could let her guard down around Anakin— and as dangerous as she knew that was, she could not resist.

 

WEEK #10 PROMPT

Title: Ecstasy of Greed
Author: rktho
Timeline: 9 ABY, during Skeleton Crew S1E7
Characters: Jod Na Nawood
Genre: Challenge
Summary: Jod Na Nawood sees the legendary riches of At Attin with his own eyes.

Never in his life did he think he would have the privilege of beholding the treasure of At Attin for himself.

He walks forward as the door to the vault rolls open. He’s not prepared for the sight. Stacks and stacks of gold on shelves so tall they might as well be skyscrapers.

He stops in front of a cart. Even this cart, so tiny compared to the vastness around it, is huge. This is all his. He could cry.

But when he plucks a single coin from the pile and watches the gold cascade to the floor, he laughs.

 

Very nice use of the word prompts as we read of his delight over the treasure.

 

Thank you! I really enjoyed Skeleton Crew, so once I remembered this scene, I knew it was perfect for this prompt.

 

A nice scene to see the treasure