Competition: Galeres - Trouble on Gethsemane - Week 1 - Fiction

Finished
Galeres - Trouble on Gethsemane - Week 1 - Fiction

Details:
- Two possible prompts for this week: 1) Write a short fiction about getting your gear together, gathering supplies for use in the cleanup or 2) write a short fiction about what your character is thinking as the Nighthawk is moving towards Gethsemane.
- Minimum of 500 words, no maximum amount.
- Entries must be submitted in .pdf or .txt format or using the submission box on the Brotherhood website. No GoogleDoc links or .DOC files, please download as a .pdf using "File" -> "Download as" "PDF Document (.pdf)" and submit through the website.
- If your entry is not PG-13, please make sure to hide your entry by unchecking the “Allow people to view your submission after the competition has been judged” box
- AI assistance is not allowed and will result in disqualification.
- Grading per VOICE grading rubric

Competition Information
Parent Competition
Galeres - Trouble on Gethsemane - Week 1
Organized by
General Ood Bnar, Aedile Zosi'val'ria
Running time
2024-01-08 until 2024-01-14 (7 days)
Target Unit
House Galeres
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
Fourth Level Crescents and Clusters of Ice as per VOICE guidelines
Participants
4 subscribers, of which 3 have participated.
Results
Member
Master Ruka Tenbriss Ya-ir
File submission
Gal Week 1.pdf
Placement
1st place
Member
Ghost Luka Zarkot
Textual submission

Vreva propped her feet up on the wall of the Nighthawk, braids dangling down past her seat. She watched the others from her topsy-turvy view as they gathered their things for the mission ahead. Everything she needed was with her pack. Her rifle was already cleaned and loaded, her blade sharpened.

She was so bored.

"Blood rushing to your head, yet?" Paum mused as he checked his pack.

"Not yet," she replied, though when she righted herself she felt just the slightest bit of nausea. She exhaled with a deep sigh as she bounced her knee. "When the kark are we getting there? Want to get this cleanup done so we can count the creds and be on to the next."

"On to the next?"

"I need to kill something."

Paum let out a whoosh of air through his blowhole. "Vreva. Not every mission has to be to the death. Creds are creds."

"Not for me." Vreva drew one knee up to her chest and wrapped her arms around it. She stared ahead at the far wall and refused to meet whatever look he gave her.

She could still hear the disappointment in his tone. "Vreva..."

"You knew what you signed up for, big guy. Just let me complain." She dragged her pack closer and started to sort out its contents on the seat beside her. Anything to keep her focus elsewhere. Paum wouldn't understand. He couldn't.

"How about a spar when we get back? You and me, like old times. Get some of that energy out."

"It's not that." Her brow furrowed as she returned each item in the same haphazard jumble within her pack.

"You want a challenge."

"I want to kill something." Vreva's yellow eyes turned on Paum. His own ruddy hues met her intimidating glare with a calmness that stifled her anger.

"What's wrong?" Paum asked.

His words caused her fire to flare again. Her nose wrinkled. "Nothing."

"Just a murderous streak?"

"I'm a paid murderer, Paum-Paum. It's what I do."

"You're more than a killer, Vreva."

Vreva laughed loud at that. Loud enough for others to glance her way. She gave a manic grin, daring them to say anything. This is what they paid her for. A Sith. A weapon.

"Didn't think you'd drink before a mission," she said in a biting snarl. Vreva knew it wasn't the truth, and Paum didn't flinch from her words. They both knew she was deflecting, concealing herself from him.

"If only. Might make this trip go by faster." Paum chuffed, then placed a large hand on the zabrak's shoulder. She shrugged off his touch as if burned by it, and his expression turned to a deep frown.

It hurt her in turn to see him so hurt, though she refused to give up her vitriol. "Let's just focus on the mission ahead," she said bitterly as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Get this done, and see what comes next."

Paum remained silent at that and mirrored her stance. It was a quiet trip to Gethsemane.

Placement
2nd place
Member
Ellisyn Kendis
Submission
Ellisyn Kendis opted out of publishing her submission.
Placement
3rd place