First Reply Salt Life

[Jace Rhane]

Naboo Gardens, Mid-day
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The days after Life Day were always a blur. Jace didn't particularly celebrate- infact, he wasn't sure why most of the galaxy did seem to, either. But the festivities around family, love, and sharing one's space for gift-giving and friendship wasn't a bad idea to have. The whole galaxy seemed to relax, just for those few short weeks. And Jace got to relax, too. He knew the storm was around the corner, the approaching maelstrom of war. Not even the Republic was safe from it.

But he sat above a pond, a remarkable public art piece commissioned long ago. A child, a boy in a yellow jacket, walked along the red metal structures below, eyeing his own reflection. Jace thumbed a page in his book, turning the paper. A rather run-of-the-mill novella, a former SIA agent had once again, had to stop a superweapon and dastardly Imperial plot. The book wasn't bad, and the romance wasn't bad either. A forbidden, quiet exchange of glances early on, then steamy build up, a big fight, and currently, Jace was reading the inevitable make-up and heartfelt outpour of love right before presumably the climax.

He made a bet with himself whether or not the love interest- the pretty Zabrak, was going to make it.

He had money that she wasn't going to.

His other reading material- the local paper. Papers and news media were mostly gone, but Naboo was old-fashioned in many aspects. The High Republic certainly was, after all, they loved Queens, Princes, royalty, dances and fanfare. Newspapers seemed par for the course. He turned his head to the person sitting near him on the opposite bench, smiling. It was colder today, but not terribly cold. A light dusting of snow, but nothing harsh like Ilum or other biomes. What a lovely planet, Naboo truly was.

"Would you like the sport or funny pages, before I finish this?"

He said to the stranger, smirking as he read an article about the recent Republic announcement of the Outbound Flight initiative. It was good to read good news. Those brave explorers! He wished he had half the tenacity to commit to that mission. He turned the paper to continue reading the article. His eyes glanced up to the pond- so large that one could call it a lake. He smiled, taking a deep breath of the salty air so close to the water.

What a nice day.

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[Krotta]

“Take the sports section, I will.” Came a youthful male voice beside Jace, “Curious to see the latest phaseball scores, I am.”

To many ears, the owner of said voice was indeed speaking Basic, but the syntax was highly archaic. Yet one glance to being who spoke would immediately clear up the confusion. Diminutive stature, green skin, and ears as long as starfighter wings. Anyone knowing galactic history would see the undeniable traits. Krotta belonged to the same people as certain Jedi Grandmaster.

Yet, he was far from the visage of Yoda. For one, he was much younger than his famous forebear. To the human eye, he was aged around no older than a young adult just barely out of his adolescent age. His hair was a dark, brownish-black, tied in in a topknot. Unsurprisingly, he wore robes that outted him as some sort of Jedi, albeit one who had spent more time in the rougher fringes of the Galaxy than in a temple. On his belt was even the corresponding hilt of a lightsaber.

“Truly splendid is this world.” He smiled some. “Only heard stories until today, I had.”

And it was these serene moments Krotta enjoyed between helping his new friends in Wild Space. He had stopped to Naboo only to gather some needed supplies. He knew Gee-Tee would see to them just fine. Instead, he chose to breathe in this moment. The thrum of the Living Force, harmonic in the nature and people around him

Jace Rhane​