#who disembarks from the empire's flagship

[tennessoui]

ok i've had thoughts before about obi-wan going to stewjon post fall of the republic and recuperating/maybe even raising luke surrounded by a kenobi clan who hides him from the empire but what if like.

what if darth vader goes to stewjon post fall of the republic (& mustafar). he thinks maybe obi-wan could have possibly gone there because hey, it's his home planet and vader destroyed his other home. but he doesn't find kenobi. or he does--just not the right one. instead he finds like a whole clan of kenobis and none of them are an exact match for his old master who he despises, but obi-wan's third brother has his eyes, and his second uncle twice removed has hands that are just as rough as obi-wan's, and obi-wan's father, who is an old man now, has the same laugh.

and vader keeps going back to stewjon and the kenobis. once every year at least. ostensibly it's to ensure that obi-wan kenobi does not make contact or come to stewjon.

but it's just like. kenobi therapy. vader needs exposure to a kenobi every 6-12 months for his mental wellbeing, otherwise people will die.

sometimes he finds himself just sitting and staring at old man kenobi, obi-wan's blood father, and he's like. oh. that's what you would have looked like at that age. if i were still by your side to see you. if i had not taken away all your reasons to grow laughter lines.

(meanwhile obi-wan kenobi is across the galaxy on anakin's homeworld planet, all alone and wrinkling under the two suns, because when he'd lost his home to the empire, he'd run to the only other home he'd ever known: what remains of his padawan)

[swtorpadawan]

Left Behind

11 ATC Apalis Coast Alderaan

 Kira Carsen glared daggers at the smug Alderaanian noble. Jharkus Thul, the so-called ‘Wolf Baron’, (What a dumb nickname!) had just laid out his ‘proposal’ to Kira, her partner, Jedi Knight Corellan Halcyon, and to Duke Charles Organa. The two Jedi and the leader of House Organa were standing in a Thul field base – really a converted barn – just a few kilometers south of Castle Organa, having fought off an ambush by House Thul moments earlier at what was supposed to be a peaceful negotiation.

Small chance of that. Kira thought. House Thul is aligned with the Sith Empire. No way they can be trusted to bargain in good faith.    

Thul had decided that Corellan was effectively the lynchpin in Organa’s defenses at the moment. (He was probably right about that.) The Baron had therefore demanded that the Jedi Knight, who – with Kira’s help – had already fought off two attacks against Organa’s forces and had liberated the fabled ‘Spears of Organa’ besides, surrender himself in return for the release of three hundred forty-eight of Organa’s citizens who had been taken hostage by House Thul. He’d promised that he would not harm the Jedi Knight; that he would simply ransom Corellan back to the Republic after the Baron finished crushing House Organa. Likewise, he’d promised that he’d execute all the prisoners if Corellan refused the offer.

Now Kira watched as Corellan regarded the Baron with his cool, thousand-meter stare, his pale blue-grey eyes scrutinizing their foe unflinchingly.

You could cut through the tension in this room with a lightsaber. Kira thought. Any second now, she was certain, Corellan would give Kira the signal and they would attack. They’d dispatch the last of Thul’s flunkies, then they’d take the Baron prisoner and figure out a way to save the hostages. Maybe they’d barter the Baron back in return, or maybe they’d have to go charging in to wherever Thul was holding the hostages. Whatever it took. That was their motto. And Kira knew she would stand by Corellan’s side no matter what.

Any second now…

Instead, Corellan slowly unclipped both his lightsabers from his belt, then turned and handed them both to Kira. The Padawan blinked up at her master in confusion.

“Kira. Take these and head back to the ship. Contact the council so they know what’s happened, and then await further instructions.”

Kira’s confusion turned to sheer disbelief. “What?”

Corellan turned back to the Baron, still holding his weapons out to Kira. “I accept your terms, Baron Thul. Release the hostages.”

Duke Organa turned to the Jedi Knight with a grateful expression. “You will not be forgotten, Master Jedi. I swear it.”

“Corellan, no!” Kira cried out in alarm. “We can still beat him.”

Corellan turned back to his Padawan, his eyes softening. “Yes, we could, Kira. But we wouldn’t be able to save the hostages in time. The price is far too high.”  

“They’ll kill you.”

Corellan shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so. And even if he might, it’s a chance I’ll have to take. But the council needs to know the status of the mission so they can make contingency plans. That has to be the priority.”

“I can’t just leave you behind!” Kira exclaimed. The Jedi padawan fought down a surge of panic she felt in her heart. This was Corellan. This was the toughest hero she’d ever met, and the best lightsaber duelist among his generation of Jedi. They’d already saved four entire planets together – including the untold billions of people on Coruscant. With Darth Angral still on the run, the whole galaxy needed him right now.

Kira needed him right now.

He promised he’d protect me from the Sith. She thought bitterly. He’s my…. He’s Corellan.

Corellan’s pale blue eyes met Kira’s own deep blues squarely. His gaze was gentle but firm. Just like he was.

“You have to. Please, Kira.” Corellan pleaded softly.

So many things left unspoken in those five words. So many emotions that neither of them had dared to acknowledge. It was almost overwhelming.

Kira swallowed. Reluctantly, she finally reached out and accepted his twin lightsabers. She turned back towards the Wolf Baron, glaring at him again.

“I’m holding you responsible for what happens to him.” Every word was pointed like a threat.

The Baron, heedless of the danger he was in, merely scoffed dismissively. “I am a man of my word, girl.”  

Kira’s eyes narrowed, but she realized it was pointless to push any further with Thul. She turned back to Corellan, not trusting herself to speak again. The two Jedi exchanged one final, fleeting look, then Kira forced herself to turn away.

She walked out of the building and back in the direction of the spaceport, feeling her heart break with every step.  

  Two hours later, Kira was still pacing around the ship anxiously. She’d sent a quickly composed report to the Council about what had happened. Maybe they were sitting around the table in their chambers, debating their next course of action. Maybe they were all meditating on the dilemma, seeking guidance through the Force.

Maybe they should all get off their collective butts and do something.    

Kira let out a slow exhale, closing her eyes and pressing her hands together, and using one of the exercises she’d learned from the Jedi to restore some semblance of calm. She knew she shouldn’t be so hard on the Council. After all, they’d let her stay with Corellan on his mission even after her past as a Sith was revealed. She wondered if Master Kiwiiks was even back on Tython yet. She’d been so weakened by her experience on Tatooine… Kira worried about her old Master.

And now she was worried even more about her new one.

Teeseven had tried to get her to meditate, but she couldn’t focus. Corellan… he meant too much to her.  

She was about to mutter ‘kriff it’ and to run back out there by herself when her holo-communicator chimed.

Pressing the receive button, Kira felt an immense sense of relief when she saw a projection of Corellan smiling up at her. His robes looked a bit worse for wear –he had clearly been fighting – but he looked otherwise unhurt.

“Where have you been?” Kira blurted out before he could speak. Her cheeks reddened a bit at her own reaction.    

Corellan raised an eyebrow in bemusement but didn’t press. “Sorry, Kira. I couldn’t get to a transmitter until now.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“The Organa prisoners. When they heard I had turned myself in for them, they attacked the Thul troops and released me. Then we flanked Thul’s invasion force from behind. I managed well enough with a vibroblade until I could down a Sith carrying a lightsaber. I started using that.” He paused. “The battle’s over. Organa troops captured the Wolf Baron, his Sith support is gone and his remaining Thul soldiers are either being rounded up or they’re fleeing on foot into the wilderness.”

“House Organa is safe.”    

Kira bit her lip, happy that he was alright but also disappointed that she had missed the excitement, and that she hadn’t been at his side in the fight. It stung deeper than she thought it could.

“Oh.” She said finally.

“Duke Organa has invited all three of us – you, me and Tee-seven – to a ball at the castle tonight.” He smiled. “We’re the guests of honor. I don’t think Master Orgus would begrudge us a few hours of relaxation before we go find him.”

Kira’s eyebrows rose. The most infuriatingly driven man she had ever met had just asked her to a dance.

“I don’t have anything to wear.” She blurted out awkwardly.

Corellan waved his hand. “The Duke is taking care of all that. He’s having his royal tailors make a suit for me… and a gown for you.”

Kira felt her cheeks redden again. “A gown, huh?” she swallowed.

He nodded. “You and Teeseven should meet me at the Palace, alright? You and I need to get fitted, and we can get Tee cleaned up as well.”

“Right. We’re on our way.” She nodded, her confidence reemerging. “I’m not gonna miss a party.”

“Great. And Kira?”

“Mmm?”

Remember my lightsabers.”

Kira smirked at that. “Sure thing, tough guy.”

16 ATC Darth Marr’s flagship Wild Space

 “We’re free and clear… but it’s not looking good out here!” Kira shouted as the Defender disembarked from the Imperial destroyer.

All around them, the allied task force was being pulverized by the massive enemy fleet. Neither the Republic nor Sith warships seemed able to mount an effective response. As they had with Marr’s Terminus, these mysterious wild spacers were pounding through their shields, then launching boarding pods with battle droids were wrecking destruction on the ships’ internal systems.

It was a losing fight for the allies. Made even worse by the fact that with the airlock to Marr’s ship crushed, they’d been forced to leave Jedi Master Corellan Halcyon, the Hero of Tython and the Battlemaster of the Jedi Order, alone aboard the destroyer.

He was also Kira’s fiancée, but she didn’t think telling their attackers that would help anyone.  

“If you see an opening to escape, take it.” Corellan’s level voice came through their communicator. “Someone has to make it back to the Republic.”

A surge of panic rose in Kira’s heart. Years of experience and training had left her far more grounded and disciplined than she’d been as a Padawan. But the thought of leaving Corellan behind in the middle of all this still was as overwhelming to her now as it had been years prior.  

“I – WE can’t just leave you behind!” she exclaimed, catching herself. Kira could feel Doc and Teeseven looking at her for direction on the bridge of their Defender, but that wasn’t something she cared about right now.

Corellan’s voice was gentle but firm, just like he was.

“You have to. Please, Kira.”

The words were a plea. Kira knew that. And she could feel the meaning behind them through their Force bond; all the many emotions that there was no time to give a voice to.

Kira’s eyes pressed closed for a moment. It was almost overwhelming.

“All right… but you’d better be right behind us. May the Force be with you, Master.”

Kira quickly plotted a course away from the battle, then hit the emergency jumper. The stars outside the ship streaked as they entered hyperspace.

She sat back and exhaled slowly, finding no peace in it. Somewhere, Corellan was fighting a battle, and Kira wasn’t by his side.

He’s the Hero of Tython. Kira tried to tell herself. He’s the Battlemaster of the Jedi Order. The conqueror of the Sith Emperor. The champion of the Galactic Republic. The greatest warrior this galaxy has to offer. He’ll find a way back to us. Back to me.

“Come back to me, tough guy.” She whispered.

Then why did every light year of distance they put between themselves and the battle feel like her heart was breaking over and over again….

[heroineimages]

Queens, ships, and a bastard niece

Queen Sita of Illara is another character I’ve introduced in a few scenes who I look forward to using more extensively later in First Empress. Sita is a former colleague of Queen Viarra’s father and grandfather, and is hegemon of the second most powerful empire on the Vestic Sea. Her land army is nearly twice the size of Queen Viarra’s and (counting privateers) her fleet is possibly five times Viarra’s. Sita is currently locked in a stalemate with the Empire of Pellastor that fluctuates back and forth between cold-war status and open warfare. 

The initial conflict between Viarra and Sita is basically that Sita would love to drag Viarra’s army into the conflict with Pellastor, while Viarra would much prefer to remain entirely neutral in said conflict. Thus instead Sita has to content herself with distracting her enemy with phantom threats from Viarra’s direction. In the following scene, Sita visits Viarra, offering the gift of a quinquereme, a new type of warship that Vi’s shipwrights have never had access to before. While on the surface it comes across as a generous gift, its true intent is to make Pellastor see a phantom alliance between Sita and our protagonist. 

Elissa found herself staring in awe as the largest warship she’d ever seen rowed into the harbor of Kel Fimmaril, taller, wider, and longer than the pair of triremes escorting it. She could tell her awe was shared by everyone present as Queen Viarra’s entourage made their way to the harbor area.

“I’d heard about these ‘quinqueremes,’” General Derron commented. “But my understanding was that only Pellastor knew how to build them—that their construction was a closely-guarded secret. Clearly Queen Sita’s people managed to capture one and reverse engineer it.”

“What do you think: a hundred and fifty feet to the trireme’s hundred and twenty?” Ronnius speculated.

“I’d say all of that,” Derron agreed. “The deck looks to be at least thirty feet wide, and I count three tiers of around thirty oars on each side. From what I understand, the top two tiers have two rowers per oar.”

“Ferra’s breath,” Ronnius swore, “so we’re talking as many as three hundred rowers per ship, plus deck crew and marines. That can’t be cheap to keep afloat.”

“They don’t have a full complement of marines,” Queen Viarra observed.

Derron frowned as their delegation stopped up the beach. “You’re right,” he agreed, turning to her majesty. “They could carry as many as six-score hoplites between the three ships, but that doesn’t look like even eighty. Why would Sita travel with diminished security?”

“Because they’re not planning to return home with the quinquereme,” Queen Viarra answered. “I suspect she means it as a gift.”

“The intent of which is probably to spite Pellastor,” was Ronnius’s comment.

“Or at least make them nervous,” Viarra agreed. “Andivel’s navy is less than a quarter the size of Illara’s and possibly as small as a tenth the size of Pellastor’s. Even so, Emperor Orvandius is scared shitless of the possibility that we might ally ourselves with Illara and attack his empire from the north while Sita hits him from the west. Beginning production of our own quinqueremes would increase that paranoia a dozen-fold. Yet at the same time, we’d be stupid to not commission quniqueremes of our own to enhance our navy.”

“Sita was always a shrewd politician,” Derron nodded as the quinquereme’s crew beached the huge dreadnought along an empty stretch of sand. “She’s a consummate manipulator and has been the power behind the throne of Illara for twenty-odd years; she’s in a class of her own when it comes to getting into her enemies’ heads.”

“Or her allies’,” Queen Viarra added grimly.

The triremes waited until the larger ship was secured before beaching on either side of it. A pair of sailors lowered a ramp from the side of the quinquereme, allowing Queen Sita’s entourage to disembark. First came her honor guard, twelve swarthy Illaran men and women in black armor with crimson capes and plumes. Next came Queen Sita of Illara and her servants and entourage, including at least one woman who Elissa recognized as one of the Illaran princesses.

Queen Sita had aged well, to Elissa’s estimation. The grey in her dark hair gave her a distinguished look, and she had excellent curves for a woman in her forties who’d borne eight children. Or was it just seven? Elissa couldn’t remember. The Illaran queen wore an elegant dark blue dress with a violet shoulder cloak.

“Viarra, my darling, it’s been far too long,” Queen Sita hailed, striding forward to embrace her fellow monarch.

“It’s wonderful to see you again, dear Sita,” Queen Viarra laughed in return. The queens held each other fondly for a long moment before stepping back.

“By Nyrus’s teeth, you look so grown up, dear,” the Illaran queen said appraisingly. “You were what, ten years old last we met?”

“All of that,” Viarra smiled.

“I was sorely grieved to learn of your brothers’ murders,” Sita told her, voice quieting, “as well as your father’s death, for that matter. I may not have always agreed with his administrative policies, but I know he believed he was doing what was best for his people.”

“Thank you for your condolences, your majesty,” Viarra replied somberly. She turned to her retinue. “You remember General Derron of course,” her majesty introduced the commander of her island forces.

“Of course I remember the old flirt,” Sita smiled, stepping up to embrace the grizzled general. “You’re looking well, all things considered,” she said as she stepped back. “Where is that Verleki woman you married? How is she holding up?”

“Wonderful to see you again, your majesty,” Derron bowed. “Vola is doing well, despite a leg injury that didn’t heal properly. At the moment she’s on the mainland working on expanding and integrating our hegemony’s cavalry troops.”

Sita nodded appreciatively.

“This is Ronnius, my second in command and Steward of Kel Fimmaril when I’m away,” Viarra introduced next.

“Majesty,” Ronnius bowed.

“Steward,” Sita nodded in return.

Viarra turned to introduce Elissa next. “You may remember Elissa, my handmaid and now concubine.”

“No doubt there’s an interesting anecdote behind that,” Queen Sita smiled lopsidedly. “It’s lovely to see you again, my dear.”

Elissa curtsied, feeling herself blush.

“And my more recent handmaids, Naddie and Gwynnet.”

“Ladies,” the older queen nodded to each in return.

“And, lastly, I’d like you to meet Princess Juda of Valos.”

Queen Sita barked out a laugh—a surprising breach in her silky demeanor. “By Nyrus, that’s delightful. What did dear Xafod do that you need to keep his daughter under wraps?”

“He bankrolled several small privateer task groups operating within my territorial waters,” the younger queen explained, “claiming blackmail as his motivation.”

Sita looked surprised. “Do you believe him?” she asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Queen Sita laughed again. Princess Juda fidgeted uncomfortably.

“Not to worry, dear,” the older queen reassured the princess. “I’m sure your father is wise enough to not cross Queen Viarraluca again.” She patted the girl on the cheek briefly.

“Queen Viarra, my dear,” she continued, taking Queen Viarra’s hands, “my purpose for visiting is twofold. Firstly, I wanted to express my gratitude. You may not realize it, but you did my people a great turn by overthrowing the Tetrarchy of Andivel. My enemies in Pellastor were using the payments from Andivel to buy privateers to counter the privateers I hired to harass their supply lanes. Though inadvertent, it was your intervention that forced Orvandius to sue for peace last summer. And for that I wished to repay you in kind.” Sita turned and gestured dramatically at the dreadnought beached before them. “As a token of my thanks, I present the Myrmidonian Harpe, one of the newest quinqueremes from the shipyards at Descal. She is yours to do with as you wish.”

“She’s magnificent,” Queen Viarra smiled, appraising the great warship and doing an excellent job at acting surprised. “She’ll make a fine flagship, thank you, your majesty. I’ll have to ask your captain to take us on a full tour later—and I very much look forward to seeing what she can do on the open sea.”

“I’m sure you’ll know exactly how best to integrate her into your fleet,” Sita told her. “Secondly, I wanted to introduce you to someone very important,” she continued. “Landra, bring Tila here, please. You remember my daughter Landra, of course.”

“Of course,” Viarra said as the Illaran princess led forward a young girl with golden-brown hair. “I’m pleased to see you again, your highness.”

“You as well, your majesty,” Landra replied, her civil tone nearly masking her annoyance at having to be here at all. The shy-looking girl with her looked to be about seven or eight years old, with light green eyes and facial features that seemed eerily familiar to Elissa.

“Come here, darling,” Queen Sita commanded gently, taking the small girl by the hand and leading her before their hostess. “Viarra, my dear, I want you to meet my granddaughter Tila, daughter of Landra and your brother Arrol.” Elissa gasped at the revelation, placing a hand to her mouth. She could tell her shock was shared by the others present. “Tila, say ‘hello’ to your aunt Viarra.”

“Hello, your majesty,” the girl said, blushing as Queen Viarra knelt before her. “I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“And I’m very pleased to meet you, Tila,” Queen Viarra said in return, embracing her niece with tears in her eyes. “I hope we get to know each other very well during your visit.”

Elissa just covered her mouth, feeling stunned. The little Princess Tila looked hauntingly like the late King Arrol: similar facial features and identical shade of golden-brown hair. There’d been rumors that Arrol had seduced Princess Landra during Sita’s visit eight years ago—though Viarra had always suspected it was the other way around—and Elissa vaguely remembered hearing that Landra ended up pregnant not long after. But she’d never heard if there were efforts to confirm those rumors.

Looking down at the pretty little princess in Queen Viarra’s arms, Elissa felt no doubts that she was Arrol’s daughter. She could only imagine the joy and wonderment her beloved queen must be feeling at the moment.

[speedygal]

Nothing can come close to this - chapter 18

There was a long, green cigar shaped spaceship flying in space fleeing from three Defiant class spaceships that were firing at it relentlessly.

The spaceship seemed more of a long term botanical study vessel rather than a realistic conquering vessel that served the empire well. Not sleek, light gray, being spread out so that it would be hard to destroy it completely with elaborate designs that only made it harder to target one half of the starship. It seemed old and new at the same time with its design looking toward the future. Light gray metal hulls glided over the glass like fixture that revealed levels of decks coated in green. The camera moved in the nick of time unto the spaceship as the ship trembled loudly from inside with light intensity being bright displaying various fruits and vegetables covering the ship. It went up the stairs that took on articulate curves in the form of stairs leading from room to room to deck to deck. It finally came up the stair case to reveal two Ferengi figures standing close together away from the main chair up front that had a good view of the main screen.

“WHY DID YOU HAVE TO ACQUIRE A GREEN SHIP?”

“Because it’s prosperous,”

“It’s got nothing to it!”

“It’s going to get us latinum!”

“Is a fools errand!”

The Ferengi with a Klingon forehead crest crashed the normal Ferengi against the wall covered in vines.

“Shields are holding at ninety-five percent,” the computer’s voice echoed.

The green ship stirred.

“We can make a profit out of it,”

The Ferengi nodded, rapidly.

“You bought this for FIVE bars of latinum!”

The panels covered in green exploded sending them flying landing on to another.

“I did,”

The Klingon-Ferengi’s eyes grew big lifting himself up to his feet.

“Harack, FIVE. LOUSY. BARS?”  The Klingon-Ferengi grabbed Harack by the shirt collar lifting her up. 

Harack grew a protesting look.

“We can make a profit, Kar’Las!” Harack nodded, repeatedly, again.

“You don’t see the empire letting free green ships go wherever they want in the IMPERIAL TERRITORY!”  Kar’Las waved his arms.

Another explosion sent them flying away from each other landing on opposite sides.

“We escaped the authority with this from Deep Space Nine!” Harack replied. “Why not save our lives?”

“HARACK!”  Kar’Las replied. “WE! MIGHT! NOT! SURVIVE! THIS! ACQUISITION!”

Harack bolted over toward the pilot’s chair.

“Hold on a minute,” Harack said, as the ship stirred as another blast struck the hulls. “I can warp out of here.”

“This investment isn’t going to warp us to safety and you know it,” Kar’Las said.

Harack looked over toward Kar’Las with a resigned look that was heavily reluctant.

“I was talking about a different warp,”  Harack said.

“What warp?” Kar’Las asked. “There is only warp drive.”

“The seller told me this ship has transwarp,” Harack said.

Kar’Las’s eyes grew big.

“We lost ten of our business partners,” Kar’Las gestured toward the dead Ferengi behind Harack. “we are not going to lose our home next!”

Harack turned toward  Kar’Las.

“We have nothing left to lose,” Harack said as a panel from above cackled with electricity. “I have nothing left to lose,” Harack stood up. “There is a escape pod over there.”

“We made a contract,” Kar’Llas said. “and contracts are to be kept. We are partners.”

“Between Ferengi,” Harack said. “This is my profit and I will not allow you to be killed over it.”

Kar’Las nodded.

“You are more of a Ferengi than I am,” Kar’Las said.

“Rule 284, deep down, everyone is a Ferengi,” Harack said.

“Ah ha!”  Kar’Las said.

“Except you, you are more of a survivalist,” Harack said. “Go.”

Kar’Las spared one last look at Harack then bolted into the escape pod. Harack waited until the space pod disembarked from the spaceship then jumped into warp fleeing from the scene. Harack seated down then slid up the old fashioned bar on the leveler sending the ship into transwarp. The ship was coated in a thin, light blue filmsy layer of light outlining its nacelles located on the top and bottom of the the ship with the glass glowing a bright green rather than a familiar blue hue and vanished leaving the three imperial starships at a standstill.

“Admiral Kirk,” Kirk was on the observation deck on heavy contemplation looking on toward the Vulcan colony ship. “S’chn T’gai Spock,” Spock was in light meditation on his bed. “report to the bridge, immediately.”

Jerry tapped on the button ending the announcement looking over in the direction of the recently appeared starship.  It had appeared in a green center of light then slowly expanded from a small pen to a very long, large ship. Wednesday, the navigator, was looking at in awe. The pilot, Greg, was looking it in fascination with big eyes.  The red alert was raised echoing throughout the Enterprise. The Vulcan Colony Ship turned on its energy swamp as it came to hide behind the Enterprise for protection. The turbo lift doors opened from behind the bridge crew.

“What do we have out there?” Kirk asked, looking at the green ship warily.

“Unknown,” Wednesday said. “I detect one lifeform aboard the ship.”

“Recieving distress signal,” Jerry said.

Spock and Kirk exchanged a cautious glance.

“On screen,” Kirk said, seating down into the chair.

Harack appeared with her back to the screen.

“This is quite a pickle,” Harack said,

“Admiral James T. Kirk of the ISS Enterprise A,” Kirk said, making the Ferengi jump. “we received your distress signal.”

Harack turned toward the view screen.

“I am Harack,” Harack said. “I was being attacked by Cardassians.”

“Cardassians?” Kirk asked. “What kind of ship do you have?” he saw figures on the ground from behind Harack.

“A green ship,” Harack said.

“A green ship,” Kirk said.  “I  am somewhat familiar to that.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Harack said. “I was going to bring it out of the Cardassian territory when the imperial starships fired on me.”

“You just said you were escaping Cardassians not Imperial Starships,” Kirk said.

“Yes, I was escaping them too,” Harack said.

“Ah, you just bought it and didn’t get a permit,” Kirk said.

“No, of course not!” Harack said. “I would be a fool not to have permits of all types of vessels.”

“Then why is there dead Ferengi from behind you?” Kirk asked.

“They’re not dead,” Harack said. “They’re alive, just sleeping!”

Spock rolled a eye from the other side of the room.

“I beg your pardon,” Kirk said. “but my navigator tells me you are the only one on the ship alive.”

“I made a bad contract,” Harack said.

“A bad deal went wrong,” Kirk said.

“Exactly,” Harack said.

“And you want me to believe you’re the only Ferengi that draws the empires ire?” Kirk asked.

“Yes!” Harack said.

“Where did you just warp from?” Kirk  asked.

“The Kelpia sector,” Harack said.

Kirk did the math in his head.

“That is away by three months,” Kirk got up. That is away by three months repeated in his head. The thought occurred to  Kirk staring at the ship. Kirk slowly leaned forward with the flicker of hope in his eyes. “You have transwarp.”

“Yes,” Harack said.

Kirk made the gesture to end the communications then stood up pacing the bridge, rubbing his hands together, momentarily clenching on to his hands.  He came to a stop resting his arms on the thin, light gray rail looking up toward the Vulcan. Spock had a thoughtful look then motioned his attention toward the Vulcan colony ship and returned his attention on to Kirk shaking his head. With that simple gesture, the idea was moot. Kirk leaned himself off the rail rubbing his temples with a sigh and made the gesture to turn it back on seating down into the chair.

“As of right now, my ship is the NVC Enterprise A,” Kirk said. “We are making a Vulcan Colony Fleet. It is not allied with the empire in any form. We are keeping the old name until we are out of imperial territory.” The Ferengi on the screen visibly relaxed. “We have one thousand Vulcans on the ship across from you who need food on from a day to day basis, if not, a weekly supply. And I am willing to pay you over two point three million in latinum for your services. I will give you the payment sometime during the voyage. .”

“Two point three million?” Harack asked.

“Yes,” Kirk said.

“Two point five million,”  Harack said.

“I don’t give mercy often to law breaking Ferengi,” Kirk said. “I have a armed ship with torpedoes willing to take you out.” he tapped on the arm rest watching the horror spread on the Ferengi. “Have I made myself any clear?”

“Yes,” Harack squeaked.

“If you betray me, or anyone in this fleet, I will personally see to it that you are dead,” Kirk said.

“Yes,” Harack said. “But do you have any protection?”

Everyone’s eyes were on Kirk.

“This is a flagship,” Kirk said. “We are the protection for the time being,” he gave a confident smile back. “I like you to prepare watermelons if you have any for the other colony ship. God knows how much they need it. If you need help, I can gladly send over five helpers,”  Kirk waved his hand before Harack could speak. “Enterprise out.” He sighed. “Lower red alert, contact T’Pring, inform her that we have just made another ally.”

Spock joined the man’s side.

“Admiral,” Spock said. “It occurs to me now.”

“What does?” Kirk asked.

“This must be how it feels for the Battlestar Galactia to gain a fleet when it didn’t expect any,” Spock said. “Watching it happening.”

“It’s a miracle,” Kirk agreed. “But for how long. . .” he looked off toward the spacecraft that kept up it’s hull.

“TWO POINT THREE MILLION IN LATINUM!” Harack screamed. “TWO POINT THREE MILLION!”

Harack jumped, kicked her legs, fist pumped, cheered, and squealed until there was no more energy to release.

“Two point three million,” Harack panted, placing her hands onto her knees. “Two point three million.”

Harack looked over toward her fallen business partners as it finally sank in.

“Two . . . point. . . three. . . million,” Harack started to cry, covering her face with her bent over figure falling down toward the ground rubbing at her eyes with tears of sadness and joy at the prospect of hitting it rich with her not quite there business partners. Harack buried her face on to the figures chest clenching her hand onto the free hand laid by their side.

[insanebluegenius]

#also funny with suitless Vader #who disembarks from the empire's flagship #takes off his scary suit #and then just becomes like this random traveler that the Kenobis encountered one day and brought home #with no idea he's Darth Vader #he's just a lil guy#who looks really sad sometimes #and he and obi-wan run into each other once #and both try to pretend they don't know each other #so the Kenobis dont get caught in the crosshairs #(purely crack scenario at this point) #(mama Kenobi decides to set them up because both look really sad)

...I would read like 100k of this

ok i've had thoughts before about obi-wan going to stewjon post fall of the republic and recuperating/maybe even raising luke surrounded by a kenobi clan who hides him from the empire but what if like.

what if darth vader goes to stewjon post fall of the republic (& mustafar). he thinks maybe obi-wan could have possibly gone there because hey, it's his home planet and vader destroyed his other home. but he doesn't find kenobi. or he does--just not the right one. instead he finds like a whole clan of kenobis and none of them are an exact match for his old master who he despises, but obi-wan's third brother has his eyes, and his second uncle twice removed has hands that are just as rough as obi-wan's, and obi-wan's father, who is an old man now, has the same laugh.

and vader keeps going back to stewjon and the kenobis. once every year at least. ostensibly it's to ensure that obi-wan kenobi does not make contact or come to stewjon.

but it's just like. kenobi therapy. vader needs exposure to a kenobi every 6-12 months for his mental wellbeing, otherwise people will die.

sometimes he finds himself just sitting and staring at old man kenobi, obi-wan's blood father, and he's like. oh. that's what you would have looked like at that age. if i were still by your side to see you. if i had not taken away all your reasons to grow laughter lines.

(meanwhile obi-wan kenobi is across the galaxy on anakin's homeworld planet, all alone and wrinkling under the two suns, because when he'd lost his home to the empire, he'd run to the only other home he'd ever known: what remains of his padawan)