#SoroSuub

[sw5w]

SoroSuub Hush-98 Comlink

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 00:50:48

[baronneutron]

PT-19 Patrol Bomber

Concept: A Star Wars version of a B-17 (or B-24 or B-25) combined with a PT Boat built by Koensayr Manufacturing. A Purpose built bomber of similar size to a light freighter with a crew of a dozen or so, very little free space.  Its a Fast Attack Vessel with a primary role of bombing and assault with secondary roles as Recon, SAR, and as a Picket ship.  The goal was to make something that looked as little like a Corellian ship as possible. 

One of the key concepts is that this is purpose built, it is not a modified or converted light freighter.  The backstory I have in mind is that it is created by Koensayr Manufacturing, but that perhaps its major sub-contractor was SoroSuub and after the first line was produced there was a breakdown in the contract between the two companies.  For this reason, there aren't many of these, but perhaps the talented and innovative engineers of the Rebel Alliance got their hands on the plans and have been able to produce some more.  However, these are expensive to build and maintain, so they are fairly rare yet highly sought after by Rebel leaders.  These ships are over-powered and over-gunned and take a talented crew to maintain and operate. 

Weapon systems and equipment include:   - 6 Quad Laser Cannons (tail, nose, dorsal, ventral, port, and starboard)  - Proton Bomb system (like the TIE Bomber)  - Either Concussion Missiles or Proton Torpedoes (forward facing)  - An Ion Cannon (forward facing)  - an excellent ComScan suite  - On board is perhaps a medstation (but not a full medbay), tight packed quarters, some storage but not alot of space for extra cargo, a small crew "lounge" which serves for dining and recreation

Crew Compliment of 12:  - Pilot/Capt (1): Experienced pilot and leader; an Officer  - Co-Pilot/XO (1): also an experienced pilot and leader just typically less experienced than the Captain; an Officer  - Tactical (1): experienced warrior to coordinate all weapons; a Warrant Officer  - Bombardier (1) : the most important position on the ship, the whole reason it exists; an experienced Petty Officer  - Quartermaster (1): Astrogation assistant, ship systems control, Comm-Scan, Damage Control, loadmaster; an experienced Petty Officer  - Engineer (1): ship's engineer, backed up by the Quartermaster and gunners in emergencies; an experienced Petty Officer  - Gunners (6): all have a 2nd position: asst. engineer, asst. bombardier, damage control, medic, etc; Junior Enlisted - Petty Officers

Commissioned by me; art by Colourbrand

[klmwrites]

As promised, here is the 1st of 2 deleted scenes from my now completed fanfic: When Generation X met Z! Pls enjoy ☺️

2nd deleted scene

DELETED SCENE #1: The Talk (original draft) - from When Generation X met Z

With a grimace on his face, Count Dooku stepped off his ship and held in his breath in a poor attempt to not breathe the smog that choked the breathable air of the planet that was Sullust.  Amongst the sea of smog stood a petite figure, who clearly had been expectant of his arrival. 

“I am representative Kap Klyp of the Sorosuub Corporation. We are so pleased that you could join us to continue the contract negotiations in person.”

“As am I, Representative.” The lie slipped through his teeth as easily as breathing. An experienced diplomat in his own right, Dooku knew what was coming next: a substandard tour of the city in which the representative would attempt to sell Sullust as the ideal planet in which Serenno could become long term trading partners with. If he had his way, he would march straight into the corporation's office, make them sign the piece of paper and leave. But unfortunately for him, he wasn’t here solely on Serennian business. His Master, Darth Sidious, had instructed him to seek out a group of rebel Syndicates whose interests, he believed, aligned with theirs. Even if they didn’t align he was given the free hand to make it so.

Just as Dooku predicted, the tour in itself was lacklustre and generic. Dooku’s mind mulled on the various possibilities of where the Syndicate could be hiding as his host droned on about the metalworks Sullust had to offer that could complement Serennian Silver. Dooku almost pitied the representative - he was nothing but a glorified salesman in these circumstances. 

From the corner of his eye Dooku noticed a shadow not too far away from his person. He was being followed, ever since he and the representative had stepped foot into the town square. The person who was tailing them was skilled in their own right, but this was Count Dooku, former master Jedi that they were up against. They never stood a chance. The shadow now moved abruptly, causing Dooku’s hand to twitch slightly. He could not draw his sabre here - in an environment that was so exposed. His keen eyes now roved along his peripheral vision, wondering where the shadowed figure would end up next. Normally, he enjoyed the game of cat and mouse, but not when he was at the disadvantage. 

A movement flickered on his left side, and it was approaching rapidly. Dooku's right hand curled slight, bracing himself to draw his blade -

“Master Dooku? It is you!”

Dooku took a double take, surprise etched onto his face. A Togorian Jedi? This was unexpected. At this revelation, Dooku relaxed and allowed himself to focus entirely on the conversation at hand. As such he failed to notice the figure that was in the same direction, behind a pillar not far away from the group eyeing his every move before disappearing into the darkness once more.

.

.

.

.

With a huff, Dooku walked away from the warehouse which was now the resting place to several dozen corpses, including that of the Togorian Jedi Jak’Zin. He was pleased with himself - he had managed to kill two birds in one stone, the two birds in question being subjugating the syndicate and making sure that the Jedi Order had one less member. 

Walking back to his quarters, the Count of Serenno passed by what looked to be an upscale bar, and decided that after all his hard work, he deserved a drink. The location did not disappoint: soft jazz music greeted his ears as he walked past the clientele - all men and women from the upper class. He slid into an empty booth and ordered his drink: whisky neat. As soon as the waiter walked away he noticed a figure walk in his direction and take a seat at the booth behind his.

Dooku sighed. He started questioning why the force had chosen on this very day to make his accomplishments a bitter pill to swallow. 

“Isn’t it lonely sitting by yourself there?” He now asked, making sure his voice was loud enough for the person behind him to hear. “It just so happens I’m nor expecting anyone either.”

“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not here for you.” the figure hissed back. “I actually have a genuine appointment. Now keep quiet, here he comes.”

Another figure approaches that booth. After an exchange of pleasantries the two figures got down to business. They were speaking in a language Dooku did not understand, and after a few minutes of trying to decipher he decided to concede defeat and allowed the pair their privacy by deliberately tuning out their conversation in favour of listening to the repertoire of music the pianist had to offer. The next time Dooku’s attention was on that booth was when the distinct sound of a body slumping against the table could be heard, followed by the sound of the waiter being hailed over. The figure claimed that their companion had drunk too much, and was unsure on what they should do next. After apologising profusely to the poor waiter who had to carry the man into the sick room and giving him a generous tip, the figure now made their way to Dooku’s booth and slid in the space opposite him. 

“Hello Dooku.” the figure’s tone of voice had now completely changed - from sweet to that of a tired and jaded individual.

“Lokun.” Dooku acknowledged, taking a sip of his drink. “What brings you here to Sullust?”

“Private business for the Council. I’m sure you understand.” Dooku stiffened involuntarily at her choice of words. Lokun laughed in response. “I’m sure you wouldn’t pull the same trick twice, and even if you did I’m sure I wouldn’t fall for it - don’t want to end up like poor Jak’Zin, would I?” 

“Your apathetic response to your colleague’s death is concerning.” Dooku deliberately chose not to directly respond to the question.

“Says the man who lured the Jedi into doing your dirty work before snuffing him out as soon as he had fulfilled his purpose.” Lokun laughed once more, bitterly this time. “I have lost so many colleagues in this line of work to even give a shit anymore, frankly. One death is a tragedy; many is simply a statistic.”

“You are clearly not coping well.” Dooku responded sternly. “Pull yourself out of the field, and go see a psychiatrist.”

“If it’s not me, then it's another Jedi. What difference does it make in the end?”

“The difference being that I am concerned for your wellbeing. The Order kept pushing you, even after Katri’s death. You were not given any proper time to grieve and cope with your sudden change of circumstances. Instead you have been thrown hastily into knighthood and out to do their bidding that’s where you have been ever since. You were not even given the opportunity to mentor a padawan of your own, were you not?”

Lokun looked down. “No. It doesn't matter, because I never wanted any. Why do you care?” the woman now huffed, one eyebrow raised stubbornly. Dooku resisted the urge to reach over and shake the woman to her senses. For all her brilliance, she was indeed rather idiotic when it came to the emotional quotient. 

“You know why.” Though his tone of voice conveyed a sense of confidence and absolution in his convictions, the truth is he didn't have a proper answer. Why her indeed? It was the one question that reappeared time and time again in the recesses of his mind. Though he prided himself as being an individual who deals with adversity head on,  this was the one question in which for the past 10+ years since knowing her he never committed to answering.

“Spare me the bullshit.” Lokun spat through gritted teeth. “Don’t think you can pull off that same trick you did with Jaz’kin in order to get him to reveal information to you. I know you too well to fall for that.”

“And I’m not asking you for any. I’m just suggesting that whatever you need to do here, finish it up and get back to Coruscant with haste. Step down from your role as espionage agent and take on a padawan.” Dooku now looked towards his former student. “You have always been a natural with the younglings. You will make a better teacher than I ever had been.” the last sentence was muttered softly mostly to himself, almost like a confession. 

Lokun now exhaled sharply from her nostrils and the duo fell into an awkward silence, each deep in their own thoughts. After a few minutes the Jedi got up to leave.

“What about the man in the back? What are you going to do about him?”

The woman turned around and simply smiled, the dim lighting of the bar giving her heavily made-up face an eerie undertone.

“Nothing. He died 5 minutes ago.”

[elpeladoysuspops]

Luke Skywalker with speeder 175 #StarWars «Desde que salieron los XP-38, ya no están en demanda.» - Luke Skywalker después de vender su deslizador terrestre X-34 a Wioslea. El X-34 era un #deslizadorterrestre civil de cabina abierta fabricado por la Corporación SoroSuub. Un famoso propietario fue #LukeSkywalker. Siendo duradero, aunque sin estilo, el X-34 contó con pantallas holográficas, una computadora para la navegación en tierra y una serie de repulsores de contrapesos para un viaje suave y constante en un terreno accidentado. Su altitud máxima era de 1 metro (100 cm), pero su altitud de crucero habitual era de aproximadamente 10 cm por encima del nivel del suelo. Utilizaba tres motores de turbina para impulsar el vehículo hacia adelante. La cubierta donde se albergaba el generador repulsor estaba ubicada detrás de la cabina del piloto. Su circuito de potencia estaba ubicado frente a la cabina del piloto. El X-34 se vendió por aproximadamente 10.550 créditos nuevos y 2.500 utilizados. Era ligero y sin armaduras y carecía de armamento, por lo que no era adecuado para aplicaciones militares. Extras… El X-34 utilizado en “Una Nueva Esperanza” se construyó sobre el chasis de un Bond Bug (un extraño auto de 3 ruedas). En “La Amenaza Fantasma”, se ve un X-34 verde en el fondo en Tatooine. Este es el mismo deslizador que se usó en la fabricación de “Una Nueva Esperanza”, sólo que repintado. Utiliza #PelaPop22 en tus post! 🤝🏼 Insta-friends🔝 @fonsopop @thegeekduck @funkopop503 @t3re.weasley @gera_skiwalker @thunderpopsmax ☺ Insta-partners Argentina ♥ @lasfotitosdemispops @funkopop1990 @pop.in.the.storm @funkopopuniverse616 @buttz.pops @matypop90 @myvillepops @fpopgoestheworld @rox.n.pops @popsville92 @laspicsdemispops @superheroesxleo @insert_pops_here #funkopopargentina #funkoargentina 🇦🇷 #LasFotitosDeMisPops #TheGeekDuck #RenaiPotd #rinconfunko #jnb60 #LordFunko #fkoshotmx #Funkoleccionistasv #Wolftoys #AFunkear #EstacionateFunko #funkopopmoments #edrod89popcollection #FunkoLover #funkoverse #ToyPhotography #PopCollectors #ToyShots #WeFunkoPop #EpicPhoto #OriginalFunko #FunkoPhotoADayChallenge #ofp_iaintafraidofnoghost #EDT_ICanEatThisAllDay (en Tatooine) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkR28AvMAXO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[oh-no-eu-didnt]

Sullust was a volcanic planet located in the Outer Rim. Home to the Sullustan species, Sullust was rich in minerals and an important industrial planet due to its position in trade routes. Sullust seceded from the Republic during the Clone Wars, and subsequently was taken over by the Empire. Hardline stances by the Imperial-influenced SoroSuub Corporation led resistance cells to develop, who took control of the planet.

Source: Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook (Art: David Ardila; 2014)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi (1983)

Read more on Wookieepedia.

[looking-to-the-future]

SoroSuub Factory Concept Art for the Star Wars Battlefront by Anton Grandert

[jadecrusades]

Illustration by Storn Cook. “Cracken's Threat Dossier.” June, 1997.

The West End Games roleplaying supplement “Cracken’s Threat Dossier” first depicted Mara Jade’s ship, the Jade’s Fire, a SoroSuub Personal Luxury Yacht 3000. Storn Cook illustrated dozens of ships in “Cracken’s Threat Dossier,” and was kind enough to answer questions for Jade Crusades in 2002. Below is Part 2 from that interview!

You produced the first illustration of Mara's ship, the Jade's Fire. How did you come up with its appearance?

Heh. Gundam's War in the Pocket? I have an old cell book from that anime movie with prelim starship designs.  I borrowed some design elements off some of the starships in there. And combined it with the pleasure barge from Return of the Jedi. I'm not sure what I read in the text to combine those elements. But I'm pretty happy with Jade's Fire.

What was it like creating so many illustrations from different Star Wars books - “The Courtship of Princess Leia,” "The Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy," and "The Corellian Trilogy."

A blur. I had just met my girlfriend, and I was working on these illustrations 12 hours a day. Since she was an interior design student and had art experience, I pressed her into service (thanks Susanne) doing black backgrounds for space and dotting it with stars. But I remember feeling that it was a turning point in my career. That my work was kicked up a notch. For so many illustrations in three weeks, I look back on it and I'm fairly happy with the "fairly" consistent quality.

[imkeepinit]

[manfrommars2049]

SoroSuub MF-63p Missile Frigate By Shoguneagle & AdamKop via ImaginaryStarships

[ashxllbey]

Starman - Poe Dameron x fem!reader - Chapter 7: You're All I've Got Tonight

GIF by gffa

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Word count: ±11.1k Warnings: mild language, mentions of canon-typical deaths and violence.

There were many things Y/N had never expected to experience in her life. She had never thought she would survive the war - she had. She had never thought she would see the day when she would join the Resistance— she had. She had never thought she would, one day, find herself flying something else than a TIE fighter— she had. Sure, life had found a way to prove her wrong on many things. But finding herself traveling in a YACHT was something she was SURE she would never get to see during her lifetime. After all, she was a nobody, a nameless pilot caught in the crossfire. And yet, here she was, sitting on the overly-comfortable seats of a SoroSuub 3000, basking in the luxury the Senate had to offer. To say she felt out of place would have been the understatement of the cycle. Y/N didn't even dare to look at anything, fearing she would break it and accidentally owe her whole life as payment. This had caused Finn to laugh his ass off. He, Klana, and Y/N were seated around a table that was probably worth ten years of standard salary, a glowing crystal blue thing the woman found ludicrous. Tarsen was doing Maker knew what, and Y/N was happy he wasn't sitting with them - she was still pissed at him being here in the first place. But she knew better than to discuss the General's order. The said leader, Poe, was currently piloting the bulky ship. He had loudly complained about that, seemingly displeased with having to fly, quote, a big-ass shiny bucket of useless crap. He wasn't wrong.

Although, Y/N wasn't going to complain. The Senate surely knew how to travel in style, and apparently, they were eager to fly the men who freed the Galaxy in the coziest ship they could find. The fringes dangling from the curtains made of silk probably weren't necessary, though. "Remind me again, why am I here?" Y/N asked, turning her head toward Finn, who was busy testing the amenities, wiggling on his seat to try out their padding. He gave her the same dismissive shrug he had when she had first asked, and the pilot groaned loudly. She wasn't really complaining, but she didn't like the thought of finding herself in the company of Senators, most of whom she had probably gotten very close to murdering more than once under Ren's orders. She was just starting to become used to the idea she was now part of the Resistance — hanging out with the new members of the government was a whole other level of self-acceptation she had yet to reach. "We all have a role to play," Klana chimed in, putting a comforting hand on her friend's knee. Y/N huffed. "Even that Rancor?" Finn snorted, and Klana smiled. The bitterness of Y/N's tone hadn't gone unnoticed. Everyone knew she didn't like Tarsen, and the feeling was mutual. "I'll leave you to that talk; I don't want to hear anything in case Poe questions me about how things are going with you two when I'm drunk and can't lie," Finn interrupted. He stood up and turned a smiling face toward the two women. "Don't have too much fun while I'm gone. I'll check on Dameron." And off he went, leaving the two women to their gossip. Y/N smiled. He was truly a sweetheart.

"Yeah, well… Tarsen is the nephew of the Senator of Duro. He is basically royalty to the Senate. He tags along whenever we're called to Coruscant," Klana said once the expensive, golden door (who built doors out of gold? That was a terrible idea defense-wise) whooshed close. She popped her feet up, resting both of them on the expensive coffee table without a care in the world. "He is related to a Senator? Kriff, no wonder he is such a dickhead," she mumbled to herself, causing Klana to erupt into a loud laugh. Her brown eyes twinkled in amusement. "Can't say you're wrong. But Tarsen has his uses. He is good at smooth-talking drunk Senators. Don't worry; he will be too busy mingling to pay attention to you or any of us." Hm. At least that was a relief. It still didn't answer her question regarding her presence within the delegation, though, but Klana had told her already that she didn't know when they had boarded the ship a few hours earlier. "Okay. And why are you here, then? Don't get me wrong, I'm super happy you are, but I don't understand the need to travel in a big group like we are…" Her friend smiled and leaned back a bit, her brown curls cascading down her back as she tilted her head. "Well. I'm the negotiator. I'm fluent in fifteen languages, and I'm usually with Finn. Poe speaks a few languages, but Finn doesn't." Okay, that was super impressive. Seeing Y/N's surprised face, Klana chuckled. "It's a long story," she answered her unspoken question. Y/N took it as an invitation not to push it. She would tell her the whole story when she felt like it.

The silence stretched between the two women for a moment before Klana broke it with a polite cough. "You should try to get some rest while you can. Tonight's celebrations are going to be exhausting." Y/N frowned. Celebrations? What? What were they celebrating? Was that the reason they had been invited? She imagined Poe and Finn didn't both travel often to the capital planet. Having both Generals leave their base at the same time wasn't such a usual move. "What do you mean?" She asked, and Klana answered with a look of surprise. "Poe hasn't told you? Tonight is the honor ball that celebrates the first anniversary of the Battle of Exegol." Y/N froze on the spot. No, Poe had conveniently left out that part of the briefing. He really hadn't said much — he had barely spoken to her that day, now that she was thinking about it. That was really weird. They had parted ways on excellent terms after their training.

Uneasiness settled in her stomach as Y/N fell silent, turning her face away from Klana and leaning on the comfy couch she had been sitting on. But she wouldn't fall asleep, quite the contrary. Klana's revelation had rattled her and had she been standing, her legs would have felt like jelly underneath her. What was she doing here? This was a commemoration of the Resistance's sacrifices. She had no role to play. She had played enough of a role as it was as a perpetrator of the horrors which end they would be celebrating that night. She felt she was insulting the memory of everyone who had given their lives for the worthy cause of the Galaxy's freedom. She tried to calm down her breathing, looking around to ease her nerves. Klana had softened the lights, but it was still bright enough that Y/N could keenly inspect the decoration. The walls were immaculate, white, and hostile. But the floor had been covered in heavy carpets, and richly decorated pieces of furniture furnished the room, spots of colors contrasting against the paleness of the walls. It was grotesque, really, the difference between the sterile aura of the room and the opulence of its furniture. Someone had thought of the mix as relevant, and to some people, it might have been, but Y/N saw it as a poor attempt to give a luxurious feel to a ship requisitioned by various generations of soldiers. The remnants of the war were never too far away and couldn't be hidden, no matter how many coats of cold you used.   It didn't really matter. Soon enough, their group would reach Coruscant, and Y/N would find herself in a hostile environment. She was terrified. Truly terrified. But she also trusted Poe. And she knew he had asked for her by name. He must have had a good reason to do so, and she had to trust his vision. She couldn't allow herself to doubt him. He had, after all, never given her a reason to.

As expected, they landed an hour later. Finn had popped up out of nowhere, startling the two women who had dozed off. Y/N had grabbed her blaster before her eyes had even registered who was standing in front of her. Fortunately, he hadn't seen it. Being the nice guy he was, he would have been worried to witness her tenseness, and Y/N wasn't particularly fond of answering questions. Both Klana and Y/N gathered their stuff and met Finn and Tarsen near the boarding ramp. Of course, the said pilot huffed when the two women walked in, sending Y/N a thinly-veiled glare she held without saying a word. "I'll never understand why you're here," he all but growled under his breath as Finn went to check on Poe. "You have no business here." Y/N didn't say anything, mainly because she agreed with him. Instead, she just stared blankly, until Klana took a step forward. "Piss off. General Dameron asked for her to be here. Do we have a situation? Should I get him so we can discuss how you think his orders are irrelevant?" Wow! Klana wasn't usually this aggressive, but her usually gentle gaze was as hard as Beskar, glaring vibroblades at Tarsen. He just rolled his eyes right as Finn came back. The ship landed softly, and they gathered their bags. Y/N looked up right in time to see Poe jumping down the ladder leading to the cockpit, a large smile on his face. "Look alive, guys. Welcome to Coruscant." His eyes met Y/N's for a split second, and he looked away quickly, causing the pilot to frown. What the hell was going on?! She opened her mouth to question him, but her question was cut short by the hissing sound of the ramp opening. Sun flooded the docking bay, and Y/N had to squint to counter its brightness. Several people were waiting on the other side, richly dressed. Y/N suddenly felt very much underdressed in her simple clothes.

"Generals. The Senate is pleased to welcome you to Coruscant. I trust your journey here was pleasant?" A Togruta —a very polite one — had stepped forward. They were draped in a golden cape held together by a broach representing the logo of the New Galactic Republic. A perfect mix between the Starbird of the Resistance, and what Y/N recognized as the insignia of the Jedi Order before its fall. Poe being the outspoken man he was, immediately stepped forward as they disembarked from the ship. Y/N followed behind, making sure to never find herself too close to who she assumed was an officer of some sort. She didn't want to draw attention to herself. But even though his men were all heavily armed, he showed no sign of weariness or even agitation. His smile was as bright as the sun of the planet.

As Finn, Poe, and he exchanged pleasantries, Y/N used the opportunity to look around. She had never been to Coruscant before, even though she had seen quite a lot of holograms from the most important planet of the Galaxy. And Coruscant was, well… truly coruscant. Endless skyscrapers climbed toward the sky, their metallic silhouettes blending with its blueness as they stretched upward. Countless ships were flying and buzzing around them, giving a hive-like feeling to the ever-so-busy planet. As far as her eyes could see, everything was grey, a sea of metal and glass against which the sun reflected. The architecture of the building was simply spectacular, and Y/N suddenly felt very, very tiny in such a big world. Due to the prize on her head, she had always shied away from the Core planets. Curiosity had always gnawed at her, though. Now that she was seeing what the fuss was about, she was hoping to go back to the quietness of Kuat as fast as she could. It was too much for her. Stunning, but overwhelming.

She focused on her friends once more when she realized the subject of their discussion was now Tarsen and Klana. "Ah, yes, Senator Berno's nephew. A pleasure, as always." Y/N silently huffed. Whoever knew Tarsen and was willing to say his presence was delightful was obviously kissing his ass. "And Miss Omaso. What a delight to have you joining us again! I hope we can pick up our last conversation regarding Nabooian policies." Klana gave him a polite smile as an answer. Now, please, don't look this way, don't- His eyes fell on Y/N, and he raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Y/N mirrored Klana's expression and smiled politely as he got closer to her. He was way taller than she was, and she tried to look as confident as possible. "And I do not believe we have met. I would undoubtedly remember a stunning woman like you." Y to the I to the K to the E to the S to the YIKES. He gently grabbed her hand and kissed its back. "We haven't met, indeed," Y/N answered, and her eyes found Poe's, who didn't look pleased at all. He huffed, but Finn elbowed him, and he cleared his throat. "Colonel Kwool, meet Y/N Thunderbird, my personal advisor."

Y/N was sure her veins had just popped from her forehead. First— what was he thinking, giving him her REAL NAME?! Didn't he realize just who she was and what she had done? Second— his what now?! But Kwool didn't seem to connect the dots and simply nodded with a charming smile. "Ah, so she is as smart as she is beautiful. A rare mix, to be sure. You truly know how to choose them, General Dameron." Pardon the fu- "Yes. She reminds me of your wife, Colonel, don't you think?" All eyes went to Tarsen, who had spoken with a polite tone. Had he just… Had he just saved her ass? His interruption seemed to bring the Colonel back to his senses, and he smiled awkwardly. "Yes, yes indeed." They were interrupted by BB-8, who rolled down the ramp, happily beeping. He ran circles around the bipeds, and Kwool welcomed the distraction, gesturing for his men to move forward, and they all started walking. Y/N felt the need to trail back, falling next to Tarsen, who glared at her and huffed. "What do you want, Thunderbird?" Yikes. Such a nice guy, really. Was she really about to thank him? Y/N grimaced and rolled her eyes. "Just… Thanks. For interrupting" He gave her a humorless snort as an answer, eyes still staring forward. "I didn't do that for you. I'm here on a mission, and I'm supposed to make sure everything goes smoothly. That won't be the case if Kwool's wife finds him flirting with a random girl again."

Wow. So much for being polite. Y/N lowered her voice. "I was being polite, you Rancor. Would it kill you to act like a kriffing adult for a second? Maker, I swear, you remind me of Hux sometimes." He turned toward her, his face a mix of fury and outrage. "How kriffing dare you-" he hissed, but Y/N interrupted him with a gesture of her hand. She knew he couldn't fight her while they were mere meters away from a very important man they were apparently trying to charm, and she would put that fact to good use. "Listen. I want things to go smoothly too. So how about you take my gratefulness, swallow it, and then stay out of each other's way for the rest of the day, huh?" He fell silent, but he was still fuming. And after a moment- "Fine. Now get the hell out of my sight." Okay. She'd take it. She walked faster, getting closer to Poe and Finn. Now that she had done the mature thing and showed her gratitude to the asshole, she had another mission that needed to be taken care of — interrogating Poe.

Unfortunately for her, Kwool was talking the pilot's ear off, and there was no way she could get his attention discreetly. Dammit! She would have to wait. Ah, it didn't matter. Y/N was a patient woman, and she would find the right moment to get him alone to question him. He wasn't getting off the hook that easily. Kwool came to a stop when they reached a crossroad and smiled at his guests. "This is where we part way. We shall see one another tonight, but I have urgent matters I need to attend. My guards will show you to your suite. Please, let them know if you need anything." He politely saluted the Generals and went on his merry way, his gold cape trailing behind him. Ha! This was her chance. Y/N made a beeline between the guards, reaching Poe's level. "General Dameron, I-" "Not now, Y/N." What was WRONG with him?! Y/N bit the inside of her cheek, stopping herself from sassing him in a very unprofessional manner in front of the rest of the delegation, but she made sure he could feel her glaring a hole into the side of his head. What was going on?! BeeBee beeped apologetically by her side, his little head tilted toward her, and Y/N smiled at him. The poor thing was just as confused as she was.

Frustration and confusion bubbled up her chest as they continued walking, and she barely paid attention to her surroundings and the gigantic hallways they were walking in. Everything was tinted in a golden hue, and opulence was the only word she could think of that would express just how rich this place looked. She definitely didn't belong here. They finally reached heavy-looking doors, and the guards talked briefly with Finn before walking off. At this point, Y/N was so frustrated she was almost tapping her foot against the ground. She must have radiated annoyance because Klana suddenly looked at her and frowned. When she realized who her friend was glaring at, she unceremoniously pushed forward Finn and Tarsen, who sent her a curious look that quickly turned into understanding. The little ball rolled inside as well. Poe stepped forward to follow them, but Y/N quickly jumped into action, grabbing his arm to stop him from going further. "General. A word." She heard him curse under his breath, and had the situation been different, she would have laughed at that. "Yes. Of course."

They walked away from the doors, standing alone in the deserted hallway. It was eerily quiet, save from the distant voices coming from a mother part of the building. That's when she noticed. Poe looked very much ill at ease. That wasn't normal for him. He was never rattled by anything. And he wouldn't even look at her. Y/N huffed. "General, I don't understand what's going on. I had to ask Klana what the kriff we are doing here. And although I really enjoy talking to her and she did a great job explaining the reason for our visit, I don't think you have ever not briefed me yourself. What am I doing here?" He finally looked up and bit his lip. Okay, now, he was worrying her. "Promise you won't be pissed?" She was already pissed! Y/N let out an annoyed huff. "Fine! Just… please. Why me, and not Skylen or Mala or… Anyone else? I'm not your advisor. I'm a pilot." He winced. "Not my proudest moment," he mumbled, and Y/N rolled her eyes but remained silent. "Skylen isn't here because he hates the Senators," he finally answered after a moment of hesitation. "And he wouldn't even listen to me when I tried to talk him into coming with us. You're the only one who doesn't know how boring these things are. So I knew you wouldn't say no, and I needed someone with us tonight."

Y/N stared in disbelief, mouth open, both of her eyebrows raised. She was sure her face was pure shock, and Poe intently watched her reaction, his hazel eyes studying her face with great attention. "You kriffing TRICKED ME!" She finally hissed, louder than she had intended to. Poe rolled his eyes and groaned. "I- well- you see-" He stopped mid-sentence, searching his words, before letting out a sigh and awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, okay, I tricked you. Too late to run away now; we're here, and you're stuck with me because I'm the only one who knows the code to the garage where we left our ship," Poe quickly added. She fell silent, staring at him in disbelief. A group of guards walked past them, and she barely noticed them, too busy staring at Poe. His usually confident demeanor had been replaced by one of uncertainty. "I-" "But- I had a good reason. Kriff, I hate these events, too. I would rather be home with my men, sharing drinks and stories about the people we lost. Instead, I'm stuck here, forced to talk with those idiots who left us alone when we needed help. And I just can't-" "Poe-" "I can't do it alone. I mean, I'm not alone," Poe quickly added, shaking his head. "I have Finn and Klana, I'm not counting Tarsen because he is an ass, but they're always busy, and I have to talk to stupid Senators, and I kriffing want to pull my hair out " "General-" "And I know it's not cool of me to drag you into this mess, but you're good company, and if I have to spend an entire evening talking with old dudes in costumes, I'd rather do it with someone I like talking to by my side-" "Oh, Force, just SHUT UP!" She screamed, exasperated.

Although it wasn't super polite, it worked. Poe fell silent, both eyebrows furrowed. Y/N rolled her eyes and leaned against a column, arms crossed against her chest and a look of disbelief on her face. "With all due respect, Poe, you're an idiot." He looked offended and then seemed to think about it and shrugged. "Yeah, okay. Can't argue with that. But I had to, or you would have said no." "Yes, and then you would have told me why you wanted me here, and I would have said yes. Instead, you kept me in the dark and didn't even let me prepare for what's coming tonight," Y/N indignantly interrupted. They looked at each other for a moment, hazel eyes against her bright orbs. He had beautiful eyes. Wait. That wasn't the subject! And then, Poe let out a chuckle. "I'm an idiot." "Yes, yes you are," Y/N instantly answered, and they burst out laughing. Their laughter echoed around the empty hallway for a few moments before it died down, and Poe bit his lip. He looked at her for a few seconds before breaking into a soft smile. "I'm sorry. I really didn't want to spend tonight alone. Or with Tarsen. I should have just told you the truth." Hey, at least he had realized he was in the wrong. Y/N couldn't stay mad at him, not when he had good intentions. And if she was being honest, she was also very flattered that he wanted her by his side that night. Her. Not only had he accepted her into his team, he actually enjoyed her company. That was… Unexpected. And nice. No, scratch that. It was heartwarming to feel appreciated.

"No, it's my fault. Maybe you felt like you couldn't trust me with-" "Oh hell no." Y/N blinked, only to find Poe frowning at her. "You're not blaming yourself. Actually, you know what? Don't ever blame yourself again for something you have no control over. I know you're used to taking the blame for literally everything, but that's not how we do things here. So don't. I was the idiot. I'm the one who needs to apologize. And that's an order." She closed her mouth as he stared, making sure she wouldn't try and argue with him. He was right, though. It wasn't her fault. And she shouldn't apologize, but it was stronger than her. That urge to take the blame. It was now ingrained in her very soul. Always blame yourself, never blame your officer. They're never at fault. Y/N let out a shaky breath. She had to remind herself that accepting that wouldn't get her to be hurt. That Poe looked so genuinely sorry he wouldn't suddenly turn on her and reveal it was all a test. He isn't Kylo Ren. He isn't Kylo Ren. This is not the First Order anymore. This isn't the First Order anymore. The woman nodded, and he patted her shoulder with a smile. "Okay. Now come on, Keebler. We need to get ready. Trust me, we will need the extra time." As they walked back to the door, Y/N huffed, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips. "You're not dropping that nickname, are you?" "Nope."

Y/N had been so sure Poe was simply exaggerating when he said they needed hours to get ready for the gala. After all, who kriffing needed so much time to put on a dress and brush their hair, huh? Well, she had been glaringly wrong. She was now three hours into hair and makeup and was ready to jump through the window. Klana was ever so patient, buzzing around her like a busy bee. She was, as Y/N had discovered, quite talented when it came to prepping for luxurious receptions. Yet another mystery to add to the ever-growing list she was making about her friend. Klana hadn't piped up on the matter yet, and Y/N wasn't going to push her — she felt there was much more to the story than what met the eye, and she was one of, if not the most, well-equipped person around here to understand how hard it could be to share secrets.

Instead, she had eased her mind by watching her work. She pulled, brushed, and combed through her hair with impressive accuracy, her fingers fluttering around the hair strands, pinning them in place while she hummed softly. Y/N wasn't used to this amount of pampering. Usually, she wore her trusty leather jacket with her hair high up in a ponytail or tied in a low bun when she was flying. She hadn't put on makeup in… Years. In fact, the only time she recalled using the products had been during a similar gala, the only one she had attended with Hux. Ren had sent her to a negotiation with the General, and she had spent the whole night standing stiffly by his side. In heels. And Hux was a tool. At least, this time around, the company would be much more interesting.

She probably had zoned out at some point because the gentle hand of her friend suddenly tapped on her shoulder. "Hey! I'm done! Ready to see my masterpiece?" Y/N giggled at her enthusiasm. She wouldn't call herself a masterpiece under any circumstances, but Klana looked so genuinely pleased with her work that she didn't have the heart to say anything. Instead, she grabbed the handle of the mirror she was presented with and raised it in front of her face, smiling at Klana's expectant gaze. "Wow." Wow, indeed. Klana had done a remarkable job. Her face was immaculate, makeup perfectly applied, and all the tiny scars she was used to were gone from her skin. She had plucked her eyebrows, given her hair a slight trim, put red lipstick on her lips, and geometrical-like golden eyeshadow that spread above her eyes like two little wings. She had never looked more regal in her life, that was for sure. "I… know you said you are technically from Tatooine. So I tried to give you desert vibes. To remind you of home. Because I know you're in this foreign place, and you don't like it." She was toying with her fingers out of sheer nervousness as Y/N just stared at her in awe, the stunning makeup on her eyes now the last thing on her mind. What had she done to deserve such an amazing friend? She was so genuinely thoughtful and caring; it was astonishing. "Klana, I don't even know what to say… This is… Thank you."

Y/N wasn't a sentimental person by any means; she had never had the luxury of being able to share her emotions. But at this moment, she wanted to cry. It was such a simple gesture that meant so much — not only had she listened to and remembered her story, she was going out of her way to make her feel comfortable. But the curly-haired woman, as usual, brushed off her thankfulness with a soft smile. "No need to thank me. I won't be the one trapped at Poe's side for the whole evening. He always attracts the weirdest people… You need to look your best to face them, trust me." Yikes! So it was a honey trap of some sort, huh? She must have been pulling quite a face because Klana laughed out loud. And gently hit her shoulder. "Now, get out of here; your dress is on the bed in the room." "Do you… Need help getting ready? We don't have much time left…" Y/N asked tentatively. She wasn't really great at making, but she knew how to follow orders, and truth be told, she was feeling bad about how much time Klana had spent on her and how little time she had left to take care of herself. But she waved her off. "Don't take it the wrong way, Y/N, but getting you ready was much more work than what it takes to get me into gala mode." The pilot winced but smiled nonetheless. Yes. She was right. Evidently, she was used to taking care of herself, more than Y/N was. She was a beautiful woman who took care of her appearance to some extent. Her hair was healthy-looking, she didn't have blemishes of any sort and her eyebrows were always trimmed. Her eyes were framed by long, luscious black eyelashes. She was already stunning and would only need a small touch of makeup to be ready. Y/N might have been slightly jealous of that. "Now get out! Get ready! I'll join you soon enough."

With a laugh, Y/N obeyed and left Klana to her brushes and various beauty tools, closing the door of the expensive room behind her. The whole suite was larger than the control room back on Kuat, richly decorated. The bed looked very comfy, however, which was worth it. Y/N had never slept on such a fluffy mattress. It was a nice change, even though her accommodations back home weren't exactly too shabby either. This time, though, she wasn't interested in the quilted comforter or the silky sheets. No, her attention had been called elsewhere; namely, to a red dress lying on the bed. Y/N gulped her uneasiness away, or at least, she tried to. It was… So different than what she usually wore. Even though she was still dressed in a bathing robe and hadn't even put it on yet, she felt self-conscious only looking at it. Okay. She could do it. It was easy, zip it open, slide it up, zip it back up. Don't trip on the way out. With a heavy sigh, she discarded her silky robe and grabbed the dress. Its material felt heavy in her hands, much heavier than her usual flying suit, even though it was weighted when she had her full uniform on. Ah, what was the saying again? Beauty is pain? It sure felt like it.

It took her a solid five minutes to put on the outfit, and kriff, it felt like a cage. It was a full-length dress that clung to her body like a coiled snake, going from her toes all the way up her throat. The high collar fit snugly around her neck, and the whole bust was one piece, leaving nothing but her arms bare, stopping straight at her shoulders. The sleeveless, bodycon gown was made of slight see-through lace, and Y/N would have felt almost naked in it hadn't it been for the detachable train made of silk, and wrapped around her hips to make them stand out even more. It made it feel puffy from the waist down, which contrasted starkly with the snug fit of the upper body piece. It was stunning, truly, but it was also very red and very… Not her. Red was a color made to be worn by confident people, and she didn't exactly fit the bill. Sure, it wasn't a revealing dress; all things considered, it was pretty modest; there was no deep plunging neckline, no strapless back, no high-slit on her thigh; but it was both incredibly tight and uncomfortably flowy. A weird mix made possible by the two separate pieces. Y/N looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror in front of her. With her heels strapped to her feet, she was ready to go out, but she didn't feel like it. In fact, she wanted nothing more but to curl up in bed and stare at the bustling planet through her huge bay window. But she was there on a mission, and Poe expected her to show up. At this moment, she deeply hated him. With one last sigh and a nervous fidget of her fingers, Y/N opened the door and walked out, ready to find Klana.

She wanted to see her before she saw everyone else, but her friend was nowhere to be seen. The pilot looked around the small living room they were sharing, and there was no sign of the curly-haired woman. Great. As she listened closely, she could hear voices coming out of the main room, behind the two heavy doors left slightly ajar. Poe's laugh was heard, and she understood they were probably waiting for her. Maker, she was screwed. She wouldn't make it through the door without face-planting on the ground out of sheer nervosity. At least that would make some Senators laugh. Y/N then noticed some jewelry had been laid down for her on the coffee table, and she took her time clasping the gold armbands around both of her arms. Where had they found a dress that fitted her and jewelry to match?! Ah, yes. They had taken her measurements when she had first arrived on Kuat. Had she known it would be used like this, she would have run away. Too late for that now.

Since she had no more opportunities to stall, she knew she had to face the music. Her stomach was in a knot, and her heart felt like it was in her throat. She walked toward the doors, stopping with her hand extended, hovering about the old-fashioned handle. No, she could do it. She had survived Kylo Ren; she could survive an evening with Poe Dameron. She could hear him loud and clear now. "… I hope they'll have champagne. That's the only thing that will make this damn party bearable." Klana's laugh answered him. "Hey, you'll be in good company, for once. I don't think Y/N will be drunk as hell before the party ends like Skylen was last time." "Kriff. Don't remind me. I had to lie to Senator Gladius and tell him he had an allergic reaction." They burst out laughing, and Y/N found herself smiling. Things weren't so bad, after all. They were still the same people, albeit in much more formal clothes. "I wonder if she's-" Klana's sentence was cut short when Y/N pushed the doors open and stepped out of the room, an uncertain look on her face. She looked at her friend expectingly, eyebrows raised in anticipation. "Hey. I did what I-" "MAKER, Y/N, YOU ARE GORGEOUS!" She let out an uncharacteristic squeal, and her face lit up. Y/N laughed incredulously. What on Kuat was happening? She had never seen Klana so happy before. She must have really liked dressing people up.

"Oh, I just knew you'd look great in that dress. I picked it up myself. Finn wanted you to go for black; I told him it wouldn't do. You can't be Poe's date wearing black, come on." She continued babbling as Y/N looked her up and down. She was wearing a stunning royal blue gown, with cape-like sleeves that went all the way down to the floor, with a modest v-shaped neckline. It hugged her body, too, and seeing that made Y/N feel slightly less self-conscious. Maybe she wouldn't stand out too much, which was a relief. "You look beautiful too, Klan." She brushed her comment off with a snap of her wrist and 'tsked' loudly. "Oh, hush. Give me a twirl, woman." Y/N laughed again and did as she was told. She wouldn't dare to upset her personal stylist. The train swooshed around her, but her hairdo didn't budge, and Klana smiled fondly. "Oh, I'm so proud of myself. You look truly perfect. Don't you agree, General?" Poe had been uncharacteristically quiet until that point, and Y/N finally mustered enough courage to look at him.

And his face was priceless. He was staring, seemingly very surprised, both eyebrows raised. Klana elbowed him, and it seemed to do the trick. "Yes, you look… Really nice. I mean, not nice. You look good. Very senatorial. It looks really nice on you." Y/N chuckled, and he bit his lip like he usually did. It was obvious he wasn't expecting to see her dressed like that, which wasn't exactly a surprise, considering he had only seen her in the shapeless jumpsuit and her usual leather jacket until that point. Klana huffed. "Wow, aren't you a smooth talker, huh? Nice? That's it? Come on, Poe, you can do better than that. Where's that silver tongue of yours?" Y/N turned as red as her dress as Poe mumbled something incoherent. As he glared at Klana, who was obviously having the time of her life teasing him, Y/N took the opportunity to look at his outfit. And it was her turn to be speechless. Poe Dameron was a handsome man; there was no doubt about that. And he pulled off the pilot look like nobody else could, but he truly looked stunning in his military uniform. He was wearing a tight-fitted wooden jacket, one she had seen so many times on officers. Except his was gunmetal grey, and a small, horizontal bar made of several colored squares adorned his left breast. His pants were matching and tucked inside the boots he was still wearing, even though this pair was in much better shape than his usual one. But the most interesting piece was the cape, draped over his shoulder and blood red, perfectly matching her dress. Undoubtedly Klana's work. It was held together by a gold brooch, a Starbird standing proudly on his right side. Maker, he was absolutely- "Alright, I'll leave you two for a bit; I need to go and see Finn. See ya at the gala!"

And before Y/N could even make a noise of complaint, she had bolted out of the door in a fit of low giggles, running uncharacteristically fast in her high heels. Both the pilot and the General shared a look of disbelief before they burst out laughing. "What the hell just happened?" He asked, and Y/N shook her head wordlessly. "You've known her longer than I have. You tell me." They laughed some more before Poe's amused smile turned into a smirk, and his usual confidence came back. "She's right, though. You do look beautiful. And look, we're matching." Y/N humored him with a giggle, blatantly ignoring the fact that it had been the second time in two days that he had complimented her appearance. Truth be told, it made her nervous. He was a notorious flirt. But he didn't seem to have turned on the charm for once. He was just being candid, and that was perhaps worse. She knew how to handle flirty men. But genuine Poe? Heck, she wanted to run for the hills. But since she would break an ankle if she did (and there were no hills on Coruscant anyway), she opted for a diversion instead. "You clean up nice, General."

He snorted and looked down at his outfit. "This old thing? I had to have it made specifically for stupid parties like this one. I don't like it. I've always hated schmoozing. Leia was way better at this than I'll ever be," he concluded under his breath. Leia… Princess Leia, General Organa. Even though Y/N had made it her mission to stay the kriff away from the war once she had deserted, she still knew that name. She had had a bad idea, mentioning it once in front of Ren, and he had almost given himself a serious case of whiplash when he had turned his head in a snap, glaring vibroblades at her through his helmet. Y/N knew she had been his mother. And although they had never met, she knew who she was, what she had done. The whole Galaxy did.

A fond smile was on Poe's lips as he spoke of her. It was quite obvious that he had cared for her very much. Y/N gently spoke up. "She seemed like a remarkable woman," she tentatively said, and it seemed to break Poe out of his daze. His hazel eyes met hers, and he nodded thoughtfully. "She really was. You would have loved her." And then, after a brief pause, as if he had been thinking about it some more, "I'm sure she would have loved you, too." Of all the things he had said to her, this one hit her like a Bantha at full speed. Y/N wasn't an idiot, she knew Leia and Poe had been close, and she didn't need anyone to tell her that. It was evident in his eyes when he spoke of her. As if he had just realized what he had said, Poe cleared his throat and added: "You're feisty like she was. I'm not sure anyone told me to shut up a week after they arrived." She chuckled as he took a step closer and extended his arm for her to take, swiftly changing the subject. It was the second time in two days that he had done that, too. He was very good at it.

"Milady, shall we?" Y/N pouted and looked at his arm, then at him. "Do we really have to?" He winced. "Don't tempt me." Oh, she really wanted to. But he had duties he needed to tend to, and she wasn't wearing a ten kilograms dress for fun. With an exaggerated sigh that elicited a laugh from him, she linked her arm with his. she could feel his muscles tensing even though the wooly material of his jacket, and she shuddered. It was weird, being so close to him. Sure, they had done it the day before, but the circumstances had been very different. "Come on. You've got this. We will be fine." She gave him a side glance, only to find him staring at the door through which a giggly Klana had disappeared a few minutes ago. Y/N chuckled. "Who are you trying to convince, General? Me, or yourself?" He groaned and gently pulled her forward, muttering under his breath. "Feisty, I said. I was damn right." Y/N's laughter echoed down the hall as they walked toward the ballroom. She felt slightly less nervous with Poe by her side.

——————————————————————————

It was not remarkable for the Senate to host social gatherings in luxurious venues. It was, after all, made of various wealthy individuals gathered to discuss several political points. These people —most of them at least— were used to the finest delicacies the world had to offer. Hence why it was not so surprising to find yourself in a fancy room should you be invited to attend. But this exceeded Y/N's craziest expectations. The reception lobby was located in the same building as their suite, undoubtedly at Poe's request and for strategic reasons. As they got closer to the rendezvous point, the music grew louder, joyous conversations became gradually more distinct, and anxiety grew bigger in Y/N's stomach. She had sent Poe an apprehensive look, to which he had answered by squeezing her wrist softly as they found Finn, Klana, Tarsen, and BB-8, stationed in a private lobby on the other side of which two high doors separated them from the main room. "Y/N! You look incredible!" Finn had exclaimed, and Klana had nodded enthusiastically. Tarsen had merely rolled his eyes. He was dressed to impress in a black suit, but he was no match for Finn's elegance in his royal blue ensemble, perfectly identical to Poe's military uniform, though different in color. He, too, matched his date's outfit, which was a very amusing touch underlining their unity that night. They would need to be to make it through the political summit that would play out.

"We're not late, are we?" Poe had asked, and Finn had shaken his head. "Chancellor Gladius will announce the both of you as guests of honor in about…. Now," Tarsen interrupted, glancing at his commlink. "I'll go inside with the droid and save you some appetizers." A snort from Finn had been the only answer he had received, and with one last nod, Tarsen had disappeared, a queasy BB-8 trailing behind them. Poe had watched his droid disappearing with visible distress. His agitation was palpable, and it had been Y/N's turn to gently squeeze his arm. "Hey. You've got this, Poe." They had only had the time to exchange a glance before a booming voice had echoed from the other side of the doors. "And now, to honor the fallen and remember the historical victory that was earned a year ago, please welcome the leaders of the Alliance. The men who led the charge on Exegol and freed the Galaxy from the tyranny of the First Order. General Finn and General Poe Dameron!" The doors had opened. Showtime.

They stepped out of the small but luxurious lobby into a humongous — even more richly decorated— ballroom. It looked like it had been sculpted inside a gold bar. The flood was made of intricate designs carved in a golden surface, and the shining material went up to the high ceiling, coiling around tall columns like a rich, lazy snake. The room was circular, with a dome-like crystal ceiling towering over the guests. The columns spread out into arches at the ends. Everything was round, smooth, immaculate. It made Y/N feel dizzy. But the worst thing about the scene they had walked into was the roaring thunder of applause. It was a standing ovation, without the shadow of a doubt. Richly-dressed people clapped, cheered, and clinked their glasses with fervor. Poe and Finn exchanged a glance. They, too, felt out of place in such an environment. They were welcomed like kings when none of them had ever wanted to be anything else than soldiers.

Y/N suddenly felt very underdressed. Of course, the two men were everyone's subject of interest, but she felt unworthy of walking by Poe's side like she was. She had to, though. Poe had requested her presence, and from how tense he felt under her fingertips, he needed emotional support. As the Chancellor spoke up again and they slowly made their way to the center of the room, Y/N leaned toward Poe very slightly and whispered: "Don't be impressed. I bet half of them wouldn't know what a hyperdrive is if it bit them in the ass." He snorted under his breath and bit his lower lip, taking a second to compose himself before he whispered back: "Dammit. Don't make me laugh right now." But his tone was playful, and his muscles relaxed under Y/N's vigilant hold. She smiled, the first sincere smile she had worn since they had entered the room. Yes. They needed each other.

It didn't take long for both Generals to be separated as people rushed forward to talk their ears off. Senators and rich guests all came to congratulate, thank, or smooth talk Poe, who graciously answered their questions without missing a beat. He had grown used to rubbing shoulders with the rich, undoubtedly taking a leaf from Leia's book. He wasn't infallible, however, and more often than not, he would be a loss for words or too close to blurting out a politically offensive joke. They were talking to the Senator of Chandrila when Poe just froze after a particularly insensitive question from his husband. "It must be difficult, coming back here after losing so many of your men last year… How are you dealing with that?" Poe's mind had gone back to that day in a flash, it was obvious to anyone who had fought and lived to tell the tale. His smile faltered from his face and Y/N jumped on the opportunity. "Both General Dameron and General Finn have worked remarkably hard to replenish the ranks of the Alliance and to honor the memory of those who lost their lives to the war. The Galaxy will never forget the sacrifices made by the Resistance, and we won't, either."

She didn't see it, but she felt Poe's gaze on the side of her face as she smiled at the couple, who looked rather pleased with her answer. "Ah, but of course! I do not think we have been properly introduced, Miss…?" "Thunderbird. Y/N Thunderbird. My advisor. A real lifesaver, she is." Y/N shot him an amused look as he mouthed a discreet 'thank you,' taking advantage of the Senators being distracted to take a second to compose himself. She was glad to be of use: to provide a distraction when he needed it the most. From then on, things clicked into place. Y/N no longer felt like she was an accessory —she hadn't minded, she didn't require any attention— but rather like she was Poe's teammate. They weren't fighting a war, but it sure felt like a battlefield anyway. Seemingly innocuous questions, blatantly ignorant inquiries, and the need to put on a perfectly polite front at all times. "I'd rather be fighting the Last Order again, right now," Poe whispered between two annoying discussions, right before he stuffed his face with a mouthful of appetizers Tarsen had politely brought them earlier. The said pilot was now talking with the Chancellor and looked way more at ease than Finn and Klana on the other side of the room. The pair was just as annoyed by curious guests as Poe and Y/N had been. "Kriff, I'm parched," Y/N mumbled. They were surrounded by food and hadn't dived in before, only snacking on the toasts they could grab as they made their rounds. "Honestly, I would fight a Bantha with my bare hands for some champagne right now," he whispered back, cursing as he saw another Senator coming their way. Y/N laughed under her breath. "I'll grab us some. You handle that Togruta, and I'll deal with the resupplying." He sent her a panicked look, his hazel eyes going from the Togruta to her. "What do I say? Should I speak first? Should I let him speak first?" Y/N laughed as she untangled her arm from his. "You'll figure it out. You've been trained by Leia, haven't you?" He let out an audible grunt that startled a server passing by with a trail of mini quiches. "Wherever she is right now, I bet she is laughing her ass off watching me right now. Hurry up, I need my partner for that. Senator Clover! It's a pleasure to see you!" He said out loud, addressing the new guest he had to entertain, and Y/N took it as her cue to leave.

She made her way through the room as elegantly as her puffy dress let her. Klana had good tastes. She had gotten countless compliments, and although she still didn't feel like herself, it had boosted her confidence. Y/N was finally getting closer to the grand prize, the bar when she heard her name called and turned around to see Finn and Klana making their way toward her. She smiled brightly at her friends. "Guys! You've survived!" "Barely," Finn grunted, sending Klana into a fit of giggles that was uncharacteristically loud for her. She must have had quite a bit to drink already. "If I have to explain one more time how I heroically blew up the transmission tower, Maker helps me, I will punch someone." They burst out laughing, and loud beeps echoed from behind Finn. He stepped aside, and a confused BB-8 rolled forward. Y/N smiled at the little droid. "I know, baby. It's no fun for us either. Don't worry; we will be out of here in no time." BeeBee answered that he had gotten a lot of attention from the Senators, and the little ball was obviously feeling exactly like Poe was: out of place. Finn laughed. "Hey, they like you because you're cute. You don't have it too bad, buddy."

As he engaged in a talk with the droid, Klana leaned forward conspiringly. In addition to her usual vanilla perfume, Y/N could smell champagne on her breath. "Sooooo," she said, dragging the syllable. "I've watched you and Poe for a while. You two seem to be hitting it off pretty well, huh? Is there anything I need to know?" Oh, come on! When it wasn't Skylen that was pestering her, it was Klana! But she was right to some extent; they got along magnificently well. Poe had called her his partner, and it was the right word. They were working together remarkably efficiently. It was a strange thing, to get along so well with someone she had met only less than a month before, whether it was on a professional or a more personal level. But then again, it was true for everyone in her squad, too, so Klana was really grasping at straws by insinuating Poe was so different… Fortunately for Y/N, her tipsy friend didn't get the opportunity to tease her some more because Finn —bless his soul— interrupted. "I don't wanna be rude, but Klana and I were actually headed for the appetizer buffet. And I saw you walking toward the bar, so we will leave you to it. Please tell Dameron that if I had known I would have to do things like that, I would have said no when he offered me the job." Y/N laughed, and they parted ways. She was on a mission, after all.

She finally reached the bar and grabbed herself some much-needed (and well-deserved) champagne. She drank the whole glass in record time and grabbed a second one for Poe- Right before it was snatched away from her hand. Y/N squealed in surprise and spun on her heels, ready to destroy whoever had deemed that gesture acceptable. She was pissed. What the kriff where they- But her furious comment died in her throat as she was met with Poe's smiling face. He smirked, raised the glass in a mocking gesture, and downed the whole thing in one go, eliciting a stunned look from Y/N. "What the-" "Thanks for the drink, Keebler. But we need to get moving. Kwool has been looking for us. And unless you want to deal with him drunkenly flirting with you, I suggest we get the hell out of here." Uh-oh. Y/N visibly winced as Poe gently led her away from the bar and further into the ballroom, dodging guests with his piloting accuracy he apparently hadn't lost even with his two feet on the ground. But then again, he wasn't the one wearing heels.

His hand was resting against her lower back, and she was suddenly glad to be wearing a dress that didn't leave her back naked because she was still adjusting to the feeling of someone's skin against her, especially in such a gentle way. "Poe, where are we going?" She asked in confusion. They weren't going for the doors. Instead, they were walking toward the… "Dancefloor. I owe you a dance. That's what I said to everyone when I went looking for you." Y/N gave him a snort of disbelief as the music conveniently changed to a less upbeat rhythm. Couples formed on the shining floor, hands joining and hips brought closer. "If you wanted to dance with me, you just needed to ask, Poe," she said jokingly. He answered with an unimpressed look and a huff. "Sweetheart, I don't need that kind of stuff to invite someone to dance, trust me." This time, Y/N laughed as Poe spun her around to face him and gently placed his hands on her back and in her own hand. Wow. They had suddenly gotten a whole lot closer.

So close, in fact, that she could see the gold flecks in his irises and the finest lines at the corner of his eyes. Blame it on the alcohol, but she was suddenly at a loss for words. They swung for a few moments before Y/N frowned. "You don't know how to dance, do you?" Poe laughed warmly. "No, why do you think I don't actually need tricks to invite a woman to dance? I don't dance. At least not like that. I've learned some moves, but that wasn't in my General handbook." Y/N rolled her eyes because she was sure someone had taught him, but he hadn't paid attention. She gently pressed her hand into his. "I will lead and show you. It's a Nabooian waltz. Super simple steps. Just watch me."

They swung for a while, Poe quickly catching up on her rhythm until he was confident enough to lead. They waltzed across the dance floor, and Y/N smiled proudly. "See? You're a natural! You can't cook, but at least you can dance now." He looked very surprised to hear she remembered what he had told her about his cooking skills. He shouldn't have been; Y/N always paid attention, especially when she liked talking to someone. But his surprise quickly morphed into a smirk, and that was the only warning he gave her before he rudely interrupted her teasing by dipping her backward, securing her with a hand down her back, and bringing her back up effortlessly. Y/N yelped in surprise as she fell backward, and the air was knocked out of her lungs. She suddenly saw the room spinning, heard people clap, and before she could fully register, she was back on two feet with her head facing the right way, glancing in the eyes of a laughing Poe. She hit his arm. "You tricked me again! I could have broken my neck, you Rancor!" He burst out laughing, and he looked so genuinely amused that Y/N felt her annoyance melting away. His eyes were bright and shining. "I thought a pilot like you who's used to enduring G-force could handle a dip. I would never let you fall." She rolled her eyes, and his laughter doubled as they remained their dance, the song far from over. "You done?" She asked, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably. "I'm starting to regret trusting you, General." He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, clearly still amused, and answered more seriously: "If I hadn't tricked you, you wouldn't be here."

He fell silent for a second, his smile fading slowly. His expression grew more serious, although it wasn't in a concerned way. "And I wouldn't have survived that night. So, thank you. For helping me out. Tonight is… It's difficult. But it's nice to have a friendly face by my side." Y/N stared into his eyes for what felt like ages. He was being honest, there was no doubt about that. The music faded out in the background. Poe was friendly with everyone, but it seemed like they had developed a genuine friendship in record time if Skylen and Klana's reaction was any indicator. It was so strange if you thought about it; their backgrounds were so different. He had always served the light side; Y/N had served the dark side. And yet, here they were. "I'm glad to be here. But you owe me, Poe. Preferably a nice bottle of something." He laughed and smirked. "I have something better. Access to the private baths of the Chancellor." Y/N gasped playfully. "No! You don't!" "Oh, I do. I'm not supposed to, but who cares? It's a funny story, actually. I stole the key pass from a guard last time I was here…"

They continued to dance as Poe humored her with various stories of his senatorial visits. From the shenanigans he and Finn had been up to, to the prank they pulled on Kwool which involved a droid, and, of course… "That's how Skylen got himself banned from the cantina we were in. And he was so drunk that night we had to fake a medical intervention to save his reputation with the Senators. He called them, and I quote, a bunch of dicks dressed in fancy bathing robes." Y/N burst out laughing, tears prickling her eyes as she barely contained her hilarity. Poe's chest was rumbling against hers as he tried to chuckle. He was biting his lip very hard, but he still snorted. "Kriff. I can see his face and-" "No. Shut up!" Y/N squealed as she stifled another laugh. The music was quietly dying down, and soon enough, everyone would hear them laughing. And Y/N was way too tipsy to cook up something. The song came to an end, and they stepped away from each other, still laughing. Y/N found herself missing Poe's hand on her back. He was the first person, along with Klana, whose physical contact didn't make her recoil in fear. She didn't really know what to think about that.

Fortunately —or not— her introspection was cut short by something coughing politely, and both she and Poe suddenly became serious again, turning toward whoever had interrupted. It was a man in his seventies. He had a kind face with bright blue eyes, and his white hair was combed back. His costume was different from the ones Y/N had seen on others in the room —much simpler— and a tiny broach was pinned on his breast. One she had seen countless times during her visits to the medical ward: the medics' sigil. "I must apologize; I didn't mean to intrude," he said politely, but his voice could barely contain his excitement. "My name is Gale Xalun. I am the Senator of Forsen. I am delighted to meet you." Poe introduced them both, but curiously enough, the eyes of the old man weren't focusing on the General. No, he was looking at her. Which earned him a surprised look from both pilots. "I'm sorry. I won't bother you for too long, but… Was your mother's name Kaya, by chance?" Y/N froze on the spot.

She blinked countless times in perfect silence. What? Why was he asking that? Why would he come to her and ask about her mom? Did he know something? Had she met him before?! She sent Poe a hesitant look, and he nodded. He, too, seemed curious. "I don't know. I'm sorry, have we met before?" Y/N didn't exactly sound polite, but the old man wasn't offended. In fact, he smiled even more gently. "No, no. We haven't. I apologize. It's just… You look much like one of the patients I treated in my homeworld. A beautiful woman. But my eyes are quite old now, and I realize I've made a mistake. I offer you a sincere apology." Okay. That was a relief. Y/N felt the tension leaving her shoulders as she smiled in return. Even though it had been years since she had woken up on Tatooine, she still wasn't at ease with her memory loss. The idea of running into an old acquaintance terrified her. Oh, how many times had she thought about how she must have walked past people she used to know before she lost her memory? How many pieces of her past were scattered around the Galaxy, desperate to be found, and she didn't even know they existed…

The three of them chatted for a bit before they parted ways. Senator Xalun apologized again. "Please, do forgive me… Ah, when I tell my son Jaso about that, he is going to laugh at his old man. Have a wonderful evening, General Dameron. Miss Y/N." And off he went. Y/N watched him walk away. He hadn't taken three steps that a wave of pain came crashing into her mind, and she winced. Poe frowned by her side. "Hey, you okay?" "I'm fine," she mumbled as the pain returned, even stronger this time. "It's my head; it's killing me. I might have had too much champagne… I'll go and get some air." The pilot nodded and gently grabbed her arm again. "I'm coming with you." Had she been feeling well, Y/N would have noted how well-mannered he was. She grunted in pain. What was happening? Her head was pounding, and an intense feeling of dread was slowly creeping up on her. It grew in her chest, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe.

Fortunately, Poe had reacted quickly, and soon enough, the chilling night air kissed her face as they made it outside on a balcony. Y/N leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. "Are you feeling better?" Poe asked, and he wasn't even trying to hide his concern. He was frowning, and his eyes were shining anxiously. Y/N smiled weakly at him in a vain attempt to ease his worries. "I'm okay. It will pass. Must be something I ate." He hummed, not convinced. His hand came to rest against her back to support her gently. "Right. Are you sure it has nothing to do with dear Senator Xalun back there? He was weird. Maybe you used to know him." Y/N sighed. The pain subsided. "I've thought about it, but it's not that. My head is killing me, but it's more than that. I have this weight on my chest. It's like- I have a bad feeling about- About-" About what, she didn't know. But she wasn't feeling any better. Her chest suddenly felt so constrictive around her lungs… What was she thinking about, again? What was going on? Why was she feeling so bad? "Something's wrong, Poe. I can't breathe. I…" She never got to finish her sentence. Another wave of pain suddenly hit her, and the last thing she heard was Poe shouting her name as she felt herself falling to the side and consciousness leaving her body.

[sw5w]

My Ship Will Be the Entry Fee

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 00:44:45

[mortallyclearwonderland]

Star Wars Alien Species - Sarkan

Sarka was a Mid Rim planet and the homeworld of the Sarkan species.

Sarkans were noted for the wealth of their society, thanks to the mineral riches of their home world. Sarka was the only known source of nova rubies, a gemstone common on Sarka but impossible to find on any other known world. Sarkans often wore loose robes decorated with gemstones. Though valued by non-Sarkan "barbarians", Sarkans actually considered the gems to be mostly useless.

Sarkans were also noted for their excruciatingly complex and protracted protocol rituals. For example, when greeting an ambassador, it was necessary to begin with a greeting in one of the five major Sarkan languages. This greeting had to include the greeter's life story, an account of all of the battles the greeter had won, the value and number of gems mined, and all of the mates acquired in the greeter's life. If a greeting took less than one full hour, the ambassador would either take it as an insult (thinking the greeter considered the ambassador not worth a proper greeting) or as proof that the greeter was unimportant and could be ignored. Diplomatic greetings could take up to eight hours. After the greetings came ritual dances, which could themselves take three hours. Though tailless species were excused this duty, any breach in the protocol of the dance by someone with a tail would be taken as a flagrant insult. Those who violated the protocols of the greetings or of the dances would be removed from an ambassador's presence, sometimes violently.

Sarkan culture originally revolved around a caste structure. As a hold-over of this time, Sarkans in later years almost always traveled in groups of three or more. Lone Sarkans were usually outcasts from Sarkan culture, exiled for some offense committed on Sarka.

Sarkans valued the natural beauty of their homeworld, especially its dense jungles and its bejewelled mountains. Their few cities were located in complex cave systems, usually near underground hot springs to keep the cold-blooded Sarkans warm at night. These cave cities, while apparently crude at first glance, contained all forms of modern luxuries and amenities. The Sarkan cave networks were also connected to their rich gem mines.

When the Galactic Empire was in power, the Sarkans reluctantly relaxed their protocol requirements when dealing with Humans and while negotiating with corporations with strong Imperial connections. This changed after the Sarkans learned of Palpatine's death. Refusing to countenance any further insults, they quickly reverted to their old standards. In one incident, they surprised a representative from SoroSuub by demanding a formal greeting, and cut off trade relations with SoroSuub for several years when their demands were not met. After the fall of the Galactic Empire, the wealthy Sarkans became one of the more powerful factions in the New Republic. During the Thrawn campaign, the New Republic and the Sarkans were negotiating a shipping treaty. In return for access to Sarkan trade, the Sarkans hoped to have the Republic establish a military presence on Sarka. By 19 ABY, Sarkan traders were seen as far from Sarka as Iphigin in the Core Worlds.

Sarkans, a tall species, with sharp fangs, thick scaly skins, and small claws on their fingers. The Sarkans' yellow eyes gave them excellent night vision. They were a cold-blooded species, who could die in less than twenty minutes if exposed to freezing temperatures.

Sarkan claws were not their most effective natural weapon — instead, trained Sarkan martial artists whipped or bludgeoned their opponents with their thick, muscular tails. Sarkans varnished and painted their claws for decorative purposes.

Sarkans were apparently related to the Barabels, though no conclusive genetic links were known.

Sarkans were a tall species, often over 2 meters or 6.6 feet tall.

Sarkans age at the following stages:

1 - 2 Child

3 - 18 Young Adult

19 - 50 Adult

51 - 79 Middle Age

80 - 95 Old

Examples of Names: B'neer, Demesk, Fisuran, Ganis, Jilieren, Melas, Siran, Sonus, Tybellor, U'vala.

Languages: Sarkese, the native language of the Sarkan species. It was a complex language that used subtle body gestures as well as sounds.

Most Sarkans, specially diplomats and scouts, were fluent in both Sarkese and Basic, although they were only literate in their own language.

[rswtotd]

The Lady Luck—a SoroSuub Personal Luxury Yacht 3000—was the personal starship of gambler and Rebel Alliance/New Republic hero Lando Calrissian. The ship was named after Ymile, the girlfriend of Dominic Raynor, who secretly helped Lando win Cloud City from Raynor, and whom Lando nicknamed his "Lady Luck" for her assistance.

[jedilegacied]

Do love dyon stealing the sorosuub that Ves brought there and naming it “Bright Sun”. I know he didn’t cut it in the Jedi academy but I love Dyon all the same

[oh-no-eu-didnt]

Nien Nunb was a Sullustan smuggler who eventually fell into service with the Rebel Alliance. A successful spacer, Nunb started working illegally against the SoroSuub Corporation after their Imperial takeover. After officially joining the Rebellion to effect further change, Nunb was chosen by the illustrious Lando Calrissian to serve as his copilot during the Battle of Endor.

Source: The New Essential Guide to Characters (Art: Michael Sutfin; 2002)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi novel (1983)

Read more on Wookieepedia.

[fuzzydemolitionsquad]

The tractor part three

A greater whipkillow flew high above the winding mountain road, its vee-shaped body held aloft by warm thermal updrafts. It followed the racy Sorosuub speeder for a few klicks– then, deciding that its occupants were too large to make a meal of–gracefully rolled toward the west and soared on. Zeb handled the winding two-lane with no trouble whatsoever. After all, he had cut his driving fangs on roads like this one when he was a kid no bigger than Puggles. Speaking of Puggles. He thought to himself. He checked his chrono and sighed. One agonizing hour of awkward silence had passed. Under normal circumstances, it was a blessing when Puggles was quiet but this silent treatment was driving Zeb mynock-shit crazy. He cleared his throat and pointed over his shoulder to the small back seat of the speeder where a plastoid packing crate sat. “So, I found the perfect parts for pa’s tractor.” There was a long pause, then- “Whoop-dee-diddley doo.” Puggles finally said, under his breath. “Actually,” Zeb continued. “I found a lot of good parts. Do you think pa would like a high performance tractor engine? Sure would make pa Lunxx jealous.” The little brown lasat sat up in his seat and tagged his cousin with a glossy-eyed stare. “ I cain’t believe yew! Yer jus gunna ferget what y said t’ me back there in thee city? Talk to me like nuttin' ever happened? Puggles ain’t got no feelin’s, huh? Tis a’right t’ tear him down. It ain’t like he’s a normal lasat anyway.” “Puggles, about what I said– “Hells, Zeb!” The big purple lasat was cut off. “I know I’m a drunk. I admit it. I ain’t never hid it from nobody. Not Jenni, not Ma nor Pa nor thee bounty hunters’ guild. Sure I got the thirst. I got the shakes right now thinking ‘bout my next cold one. It hurt a little when yew threw that in my face, but when yew called me disgustin, I don’t know’. . . Twas like a dagger in th’ heart. Like ol’ Puggles is so unpleasant and rotten and such that yew wanna un-relate yerself to him.” Zeb’s eyes widened. “No, no. You’re getting me wrong. I didn’t mean that at all. I was just mad.” “I could feel it, Zeb. Deep in my innards. I has t’ get it through my noggin that yew is all growed up and smart an’ stuff.” The little lasat knocked on his fuzzy head. “My brain ain’t like a citified brain. I cain’t keep up wit yew there. I unnerstand why yew hate me and hate me bee’in round yer friends. I’m a bigger shame t’ yew than yer no-good daddy.” Great big tears spilled down Puggles’ cheeks. Zeb pulled off the road onto the evergreen needle strewn shoulder. “Shows how little you know.” He grabbed Puggles and squeezed him tight. It wasn’t as much of a comforting hug as it was a need-to-be-comforted hug. “I love you, cousin. It's just. . . Well, it’s really me, not you. I have a lot of new friends, and I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I feel out of place in the city. In the academy. I doubt myself. I always wonder if I’m smart enough or strong enough or if I give off the right ‘warrior vibe’. Lasats make fun of my accent. Sometimes my superiors say I’m extremely talented . . . for a hayseed! What’s that supposed to mean? Am I impressing them or not? My grades speak for themselves, but what am I saying? Will lasats take me seriously? Am I Honor guard material or am I some sort of joke?” Puggles squirmed out of Zeb’s crushing grasp, grabbed his shoulders and looked at him. The purple lasat was panting. His eyes were bulging and his stress-scent was blooming. “They called you a hayseed? A karabastin’ hayseed?? What a bunch of . . . y’ know what? Kark them book-humpin’ tea drinkin’ art gallery attendin’ formal attire and what-have-you wearin’ assholes! I seed you study war strategies all day, straight thru suppertime and into thee night! Yew’ve climbed ironwood trees to the tippy-top and down in twenty seconds and bench pressed hammerhead calfs until they wuz full-grown bulls!! Yew is smart enough and strong enough and y’ has a right-impressive dignity. Ain't no lie Zeb. All yew gotta work on iz yer patience. Y’ cain