Star Wars
Luke moved through the station, trying to find the other people from the Falcon. They had stopped to refuel, only for a few hours and, so far, Han had gotten into a fight, Chewbacca had been arrested and Leia had gone missing. Luke had managed to get Chewie bail but was unable to find the other two. With his luck, he'd find them kissing in a cupboard somewhere.
'We can't exactly go overprotective big brother, can we?' Adelfi says, hopping along beside him. The hare is trying to listen for their sister but can't distinguish her from the hundreds of others in the space port.
'A few minutes older. It counts.' Luke bends, picking her up and tucking her under one arm. 'Let's go back to the Falcon. They'll head back that way.'
Adelfi nods, settling into his grip. They weave through all the people, many of whom move aside when they see the lightsaber hanging from his belt. Luke just smiles, Adelfi nodding at each of their dæmons in turn. Finally, he reaches the Falcon, stepping in and lowering his dæmon to the floor.
'At last.' Han's voice carries from the front. 'We've been waiting kid. Where've you been?'
Irman sat back on his haunches, staring at the other dæmons of the council with distain. The owls, lizards and cats seem to think they know everything and that the small dog at Leia's side can't possible have a better opinion than them. The beagle glares at a chameleon as her man goes on about how to attack the small army Vader left on a nearby dwarf planet.
'We have to clear the Sith from the galaxy. A full frontal attack will defeat them once and for all.'
'A head on attack will lose us too many people.' Leia says, staring at the older man. 'We cannot risk it.'
'If Skywalker helps-'
'My brother is taking a much deserved rest.' Irman barks, enjoying the way his words shock the councilman. 'If you want to fight, it will be with Resistance soldiers, not Jedi.'
The men begin muttering amongst themselves, causing Irman to turn his head and scowl at Leia. She smiles, shushing him.
'Madame Organa. We'll finish Vader's reach and the only way to do that is to fight.'
Irman smiles, showing his teeth easily. 'Well sir, I think I know my father better than you.'
The councilmen shut up.
'Chewie!' Han shouted over his shoulder. 'Chewie, get those repulsors!'
Payalata scrambles over the walls, getting to the doorway and shouting as well. 'Bring some chargers as well Phara! We're running out of juice!'
That settled, the lizard scuttles back to her man, resting on his arm as he steers the ship. Luke, Leia and the droids are discussing their action plan in the back room but someone needs to pilot.
'Need to get to this damned council don't we.' Han smirks, tilting the controls slightly to adjust the direction. 'Can't exactly miss it.'
Payalata chuckles, claws digging into his skin gently. 'Don't be snarky. I don't think Leia will thank us if you speak like that while we're there.'
'Oh, really.' Han quirks an eyebrow, leaning back in his seat and keeping the controls level with his toes. 'And why should I care about what the Princess thinks?'
'You know.' The lizard says coyly, curling up on his stomach.
Han straightens slightly as she walks in, finally changed out of the clothes she wore on the Hoth. She nods at him before leaving again, having checked he is doing his job.
'Yeah.' He sighs, knowing he's whipped. 'I know.'
Phara glances over Chewbacca's shoulder, watching the Stormtroopers as they shoot at them. Every time one of them makes a shot, she roars and the Wookiee ducks, turning to fire back and knock them down. He then roars back to her in thanks, spinning every which way to protect his friends in the station. Han pokes his head out every so often to fire his own gun but, every time, Phara shouts at Payalata to get down.
Both creatures from Kashyyyk snarl as a Stormtrooper steps up, a fire thrower in hand. Chewie turns to run away from the station, cursing in Shyriiwook as Phara falls from her perch. The scorpion's tail lashes out, wrapping around her Wookiee's wrist and dangles there for a few seconds until Chewie can pull her back up. They burst into the woods as the Stormtrooper activates his weapon, the trees behind them setting ablaze.
Phara roars at Chewbacca to run faster to which he replies with even more curses and swears. She sends back a biting retort as they make it out of the forest, both of then continuing to yell at each other.
Maybe it's a good thing that people can't understand them.
Cuna stares down the smaller dæmon, making him curl in on himself. The wolf snarls, stepping forward and opening her teeth to bite the lynx.
'Anakin! Stop it!'
Cuna turns and the lynx runs away, jumping into his girl's arm and fleeing the room. Cuna growls at Sikhana, pressed to Obi-Wan's side, as the two of them turn, leaving after her beaten opponent. Still scowling, she stalks back to Anakin, laying down at his side.
'I had him. It would have been easy.'
Anakin frowns, looking at the spot his master has just vanished through. 'I know, but we're not supposed to get angry. You know that.'
Cuna pulls a face, tugging on Anakin's clothes with her teeth. He sits down next to her, running a hand through her fur in an attempt to calm her. 'They can't put us in a fight and not expect us to be violent.'
Anakin smirks slightly, inclining his head in assent. 'Maybe not but try to be good. We'll never be a Jedi if you don't behave.'
Cuna glowers at the room, angry at the world. 'Maybe I don't want to be a Jedi.'
Anakin frowns to himself but doesn't say anything.
'Aren't you worried?'
Obi-Wan's eyebrows raise and he looks down at his dæmon, jumping over the sand dunes beside him. Despite her form being fit for it, she is still exhausted and barely managing to make each leap. He bends slowly, back still aching from too many battles and lifts the sand cat easily, ignoring her protests.
'About what?' He says wearily, although he knows the list is endless.
'Anakin. Luke, Leia. Yoda, the Council, our frien-'
'I get the picture.' He sighs, spotting a cave and heading towards it, Sikhana nestled in his arms. 'And yes, I am worried. I'm always worried.'
He sits in the shadows of the cave, eyes faced back the way he came, back to where Luke is.
'Not much we can do now but wait.'
Sikhana buries under his arm, curling in on herself as he watches the two suns setting. They are here to watch over their old friend's son and learn new ways of the force. It will be a lonely, sad existence for them for a while.
'I miss Anakin.' Sikhana whines into Obi-Wan's shirt.
'I know, Hana.' He says, scratching her ears, attempting to comfort her. 'Me too.'
Padmé stares across the lawn, lost in though as she watches the display. He wasn't intending to show off but, as soon as she sat down, his moves got a little more daring, more advanced.
'Enjoying the show?'
Padmé jumps, clutching her heart and glaring at her dæmon. 'Don't do that Raja! You gave a heart attack.'
The rabbit regards her with a cool stare. 'You should have known where I was, you always do. Unless, of course, you were distracted.'
Padmé's gaze flickers back involuntarily, causing Raja to laugh. She nudges him with he elbow, pushing him off the table and laughs herself, pulling the papers she was supposed to be reading closer to herself. Six different planets have sent alliance requests to her for what they believed to be an upcoming war. Another eight are asking for any information she might have.
'Quiet now, I'm busy.' She smiles as he scrambles back to the tabletop, pulling a face. 'These papers aren't going to ready themselves.'
Raja grumbles as he stretches out. 'No, you'll just get me to read them while you stare at pretty boy.'
Anakin looks up at the sound of a rabbit falling to the floor.
Malamin ducks, almost falling off Qui-Gon's shoulder, as the Talos natives shoot at them. Qui-Gon blocks most of the attacks but a few make it past his lightsaber, meaning they have to dodge. The owl jumps off her man's shoulder, flying at the Talosian's dæmon, catching the wildcat's tail as Qui-Gon pushes her man back with the Force.
Qui-Gon holds an arm out for Malamin to land on as they get a brief respite. 'They were waiting for us.'
'I noticed.' The owl sneers, head spinning around. 'Where's the boy?'
Qui-Gon, still trying to get his breath back, gestures to a cave, where Malamin can just see legs and a tail poking out. 'Are they okay?'
'As okay as they can be. I don't think he'll ever get used to battles.'
The owl shakes herself off, claws digging in when she sees more natives running at them. 'Well, you better get used to them. Get ready.'
Qui-Gon nods, drawing his lightsaber again and getting into stance. He spots Kenobi limping to his feet and nods at the boy. Malamin screeches at the oncoming attackers and Qui-Gon runs at them, his weapon swinging wildly.
The council room is silent as the sun began to set. The golden light seeps through the great windows, illuminating the single figure meditating in the centre, his dæmon curled up at his side.
A small noise outside makes the dæmon spring up, teeth bared and eyes wild. Gazda's man lifts a hand, eyes still shut, to rest on her back, humming under his breath.
'Peace, you need.' Yoda mutters, feeling his dæmon's fury. 'Anger, you do not.'
The honey badger breathes deeply, slowly pulling her tail back around herself and resting against him again. She says nothing, merely shaking with the emotions he is so good at discarding, at overlooking.
'An extension of me, you are.' He continues, feeling her gradually relax, the noise having startled her back into the dozens of battles they have been in as Padawans, as Knights and finally as Masters. 'To battle this alone, foolish it would be.'
The light shines on them as they fall once again into silence, each meditating and lost in their own thoughts and connection to the Force. Another noise startles Gazda but she settles easier this time. The council room is filled with humming as the sun sets.
'Execute order 66.'
Sotet almost shakes with glee as she hears those words said, hears their orders obeyed. The Jedi will be gone for good, only a few measly rebels left behind, easily taken down by their hunters. The snake climbs up her man's arm, fangs flashing dangerously in the light.
Sidious, known to the entire galaxy as Palpatine, smirks down at her, watching the scenes their clones are sending them, dozens upon hundreds of Jedi betrayed by what they thought were their own soldiers.
'It's good to win, isn't it?' The viper says, tongue flicking out at the screen, as if she can taste the destruction.
'Of course.' Sidious says, standing up and looking himself in the mirror. He must look presentable for the Senate, must make them think that he had to do it, that the Jedi were too dangerous. 'That's why we always do it.'
Sotet chuckles, constricting around his arm briefly as they leave their quarters behind. In barely a few years, months even, they will have the entire Galaxy under their thumb. Every species will bow to them.
Oh, yes, Sotet thinks as they pass Amidala and her friends. It's very good to be bad.