"I can remember it just like it was yesterday..."
A fresh blanket of ivory snow glistens in the jungle of Devaron. The air is filled with sounds of laughter and joy. A small Devaronian boy jumps up and down playful smashing the slush. He covers his small horns with the flurries and playful growl...
Submission Text
"I can remember it just like it was yesterday..."
A fresh blanket of ivory snow glistens in the jungle of Devaron. The air is filled with sounds of laughter and joy. A small Devaronian boy jumps up and down playful smashing the slush. He covers his small horns with the flurries and playful growls at his mother. His father picks him up and glides him over the frosted landscape, the boys arms stretched out as far as they can. The boy leaps into a bank of snow and starts making shapes in it. He throws a handful of the slush at his distracted father. The mother laughs.
The Nancora expedition had been … Interesting. Hyle had used his lightsabre in action for the first time since finding the brotherhood. Things were falling apart in this part of space as usual, but for Hyle himself, things seemed to be slowly coming together. The incident on Nar Shadda and the ...
Submission Text
The Nancora expedition had been … Interesting. Hyle had used his lightsabre in action for the first time since finding the brotherhood. Things were falling apart in this part of space as usual, but for Hyle himself, things seemed to be slowly coming together. The incident on Nar Shadda and the expedition to Nancora had helped him understand the cause of the Odan-Urr and his own role within that cause. He had promised himself however, that none of this would change who he was, which was why he had made various contacts. All the pieces were in place.
“Hyle, good to see you.”
“Good to see you too Nickle, it’s been a long time.”
“Too long,next time at the Crossroads eh?” The Crossroads was a station which stood more or less at the junction between two major trade routes on the Outer Rim, where Nickle Holker practised as a doctor. He was also married to Hyle’s sister and Hyle had last seen his brother in law at the wedding itself some three months before his mission had led him to the Odan-Urr. They had talked occasionally over holo net, but it wasn’t the same.
“Where’s Helaine?”
“She’s getting us a table at the Havoc’s Tether, she wants us all to hear the news?”
“News?”
“That would be telling.”
They made their way to the Cantina, where a droid ushered them to their table. Sitting there were two more welcome faces from the past.
“Zyra? Commander Docker?”
“Please, Hyle, Jyles will do. OF course, it’s good to see you again, all of you.”
Zyra smiled and they embraced.
“I’ve missed you.” She whispered.
“How?”
They sat.
“So, Hyle, it seems you have found your calling then?” Jyles. Jyles and Zyra had served alongside Hyle in the Sector Militia, occasionally doing tasks for Vice-Admiral Holdo. Jyles Docker was a devotee of the Church of the Force, and was the first to suggests that the feverish visions Hyle had been experiencing for years were just that. His hunch had proved correct when medical testing had proved that Hyle was Force sensitive.
“So it seems, and thank you, both of you.” Hyle said warmly, taking Zyra’s hand from across the table.
“Good evening.” Came a familiar voice.
“Helaine, I thought you were waiting for us.” Hyle greeted his sister with a smile and outstretched hands.
“Careful.” She said light heartedly. Hyle wasn’t quite sure what had given it away but he asked anyway.
“When?”
“Early next year. But you’re supposed to wait until the announcement.”
Drinks were served, and Nickle stood, making his way to the head of the table.
“I’m glad we’re all here, and I’m glad to meet some of Hyle’s closest friends, perhaps one day I might have that honour.”
“You’re family now, what more do you want?” Hyle asked, genially.
“Well, that’s why I’m here, family. Helaine is expecting her first child.”
“Father, Mother and Child.” Hyle raised his glass.
“Family.” Jyles and Zyra raised theirs in response.
Hyle didn’t remember much of the evening itself but they were all happy to see each other. Jyles and Nickle spent several hours exchanging anecdotes about the medical hazards of living and working in space, some were more amusing than others. Zyra had confided in Hyle that things were getting much worse with the First Order.
“We had to pull a lot of strings to get here, this will probably be the last leave I get for a while.”
“It’s really that bad?” Hyle asked. She nodded.
“We knew this would happen sooner or later.”
“We also thought we’d face it side by side.”
“The First Order is evil, but there are other evils in this galaxy, nd we face the ones we have to face. Even if we don’t fight together, we’ll still be together.”
…
It was late the next morning before Hyle awoke.
“They’re going to exploring some old landmarks they read about here. I told Helaine we’d be ready in a couple of hours. I’ve sent for something to eat before we go.” Zyra said with a smile.