Competition: Maximum Brevity Series 3: Calling it a Day

Finished
Maximum Brevity Series 3: Calling it a Day

In no more than 250 words, describe what planet your character would retire to (if he or she were forced to retire immediately), and why he or should would choose that planet.

Competition Information
Parent Competition
Maximum Brevity Series
Organized by
/competitions/7597
Running time
2014-02-24 until 2014-03-03 (8 days)
Target Unit
Clan Arcona
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
Fourth Level Crescents
Participants
6 subscribers, of which 5 have participated.
Results
Member
Kookimarissia Mimosa-Inahj
File submission
Maximum_Brevity_Series_3.docx
Placement
1st place
Member
Magness Dritch
Textual submission

For the final time, I completed an orbit. The cockpit was blue with vapours and my chest felt thick. The planet was lush, with minor civilisations and was peaceful, its inhabitants and fauna relatively calm. It was the last one on the list. I barely had the energy to move let alone feel disappointed.

The holo-screen in front of me flashed, the autopilot button highlighted for descent. I didn’t want to. I couldn’t. It would be pointless. An image of a sunset flickered in his mind, a strong light that coated a vast sea. I sat up and punched in coordinates. The ship moved into place and the creak of the hull sounded so similar to the oars of a boat. My heart beat a little faster. Faces passed through my mind, connections reassembled themselves with ease. It suddenly wasn’t complicated anymore.

A little house by the ocean. The caws of hungry scavengers overhead as they eyed a prize from simple work. The sun and its reflection. It was a cycle fully realised, my tenure as a Dark Jedi fading fast until I realised I had moved on. The ship stopped and I stood, my vision extending from the Force. I finally found my home.

The console lit up, and in a neutral voice said, “We have reached our destination of Alpheridies.”

Placement
2nd place
Member
Master Ruka Tenbriss Ya-ir
Textual submission

“So, wait, you’re going where?”

“Zeltros.”

“I thought that place was all bad memories and things and whatnot.”

“Well, yeah, frak went down, but where else am I gonna find beautiful ladies and strong drinks? Hapes sucked.”

“…fair enough, lady.”

“So.”

“…sooo?”

“So are you gonna help me pack some more booze or what?”

“Yeesh, Blinky, how much more do you need?”

“Meaning, ‘bitch, how much you going to leave on the ship for me?’”

“…yeah, that, sure. Uh-heh.”

“Well, considering I’m not coming back, probably all of it.”

“Whoa, whoa, woman, you’re just, uh, leaving? What the fluff, lady?”

“What? Don’t give me that look—yeah, you’re so doing it, I can tell, Blueboy. I can retire if I want to.”

“This is…retirement.”

“Yes.”

“And…you can do that?”

“In theory.”

“Cethgus doesn’t even know, does he?”

“Neither do Marick, Legorii, Enrordeth, Valt, Timeros, Andrelious, or anyone conceivably connected to the Summit, really.”

“..and you’re telling me why?”

“So you can help me pack booze, obviously. That, and tell everyone where we’ve gone.”

“We?”

“Me and all the ladies.”

“…the ladies.”

“Yes. Ladies. As in females. As in Arcona’s females. They’re all coming with me. Nath, Etain, K’tana, Inarya, Verse, Kooki, River, Saskia, Adi’ka…everyone.”

“…”

“You’re staring again, aren’t you?”

“I…you…wha…how…?”

“Vornskr got your tongue there, Blueballs?”

“…you mean boy.”

“Yeah, I’m taking all the girls in the Clan with me and I meant boy. Obviously.”

“…”

“So, booze?”

“You’re not human, lady. Just…no.”

“Well, duh. C’mon! Get packing.”

“…kark.”

Placement
3rd place
Member
Troutrooper
Textual submission

>ARCONA PERSONNEL DATABASE V. 6.12.4
?PROFILE 7656 ***************
> Access granted to profile #7656. Welcome TROUTROOPER!
? EDIT PERSONAL_HOME
> Current personal home: ALZOC III
> TEMPORARY or PERMANENT
? Temporary
> New home:
? Mon Calamari
> Duration
? ...
> INVALID DURATION
> Duration
? 1 year
> Reason:
? Dying wife wishes to see home one last time.
> PROCESSING
>
>
>
> Permanent home: ALZOC III
> Temporary home: MON CALAMARI
> Duration: 1 STANDARD YEAR
? EXIT
> Goodbye, TROUTROOPER!

Too much time.

I've returned before.

But she's always been why I've returned, why I keep sending myself headlong towards death.

I will return. She wouldn't want me moping around the house.

What house will you return to? The frozen cottage is gone.

Arcona is my home. House is just semantics. Now, Mr. D. Advocate, time to prep our wife for transport.

Placement
No placement
Member
Adem Bol'era
Textual submission

Adam Bolera would choose Kashyyyk as his retirement destination. It provides him with a largely unknown place to explore, as well as being one of the most nature-centric locations in the galaxy. The planet is simply alive with the Force, and Adam has always had a fascination with it since he first learned of Kashyyyk's existence. He finds the culture of the Wookiees to be curious, regarding their weaving of primitive culture into space-age tech, and wishes to understand them better. Adam had meant to go there regardless of his reasons, to meditate and train himself to better understand his relationship with the Force. He couldn't be happier anywhere else.

Placement
No placement