The Imperial reporter was cut off as a group of large, furry Gigorans climbed up onto the rubble down the street, well in the view of the camera.
“What the-?” the Captain said, unholstering his blaster as the furry white creatures waved theirs around in the air.
A moment later, they opened fire.
Civilians and storm troopers on the street went down in a hail of red laser bolts, and the Gigorans quickly advanced up the street.
The Captain took a blaster bolt to the face, and seconds later Synzia Mackalay, the reporter, went down as well.
“I’m hit, I’m hit!” she screamed, and the group horrifiedly watched as a stray bolt struck the camera droid. It crashed to the ground, propped at an angle just low enough to see Synzia holding her stomach and struggling to crawl away.
“Cut the feed!” they heard someone offscreen say, and Synzia was struck again just as the feed went dark.
After a moment of static, the screen was switched back on in the studio. One of the anchors was holding her face in horror, while the other adjusted his collar and cleared his throat.
“It seems we have lost contact with field reporter Synzia Mackalay and Imperial Captain Fitzgerald. As we try to reach them again and check on their condition, we come to you with breaking news about the ensuing conflict on Orta.”
At that moment, Philipe pressed a button on the remote and the monitor became a synthetic fireplace once more.
The group sat in silence, and Niles saw both Tarrah and Philipe lost staring at the floor. “Would that happen to them someday?” he wondered to himself.
He also saw Emilito huddled up, softly crying to herself in terror. He wanted to go comfort her ever so much, but he figured that now was not the time for that, and it would probably only ruin his prospective chances.
Jun-Woo initially seemed unphased, although Niles soon saw the concerned look on his face as he glanced from Tarrah to Philipe. He was clearly staying silent out of respect for the two.
As for Niles, he didn’t know what to think of it. He had seen stuff like that in films before, but what he just witnessed was real. It was really real. And it was live. He just watched people die, and yet he barely felt anything.
He tried to act shocked to fit in with the others, and possibly garner sympathy from Emilito, but something inside him actually longed for that kind of action. Tarrah and Philipe were lucky they got to go out and experience the adrenaline rush that came with skirmishes like the one they had just witnessed.
The rest of the evening was relatively quiet, as the drinks had all but run out, and Philippe’s servant droid was still in the shop.
There was some small talk, especially between Philipe and Emilito, but eventually they all decided to call it quits and head on home. Niles could tell the weight of their decision was really starting to dawn on both Tarrah and Philipe.
They all made their way to the door to, and Jun-Woo was the first to leave. He shook both Philipe and Tarrah’s hands, although Tarrah ended up giving him a hug. And Niles watched him walk away, not so much as looking back at the two friends he was surely losing.
Completely wasted, Tarrah walked over to Niles next and embraced him so hard he swore she cracked something in his spine.
“I’m gonna miss you and your stupid jacket, Niles. Do me a favor. I know you’re rich, so go out and buy yourself some more clothes. I’m gonna perform a full inspection of your closet when I get back.”
“Will do,” he grunted in pain, forcing a smile and patting her on the shoulder.
Philipe pulled him aside next as the girls said their goodbyes, “hey man, have you talked to your dad yet about it?”
Niles shook his head and stammered, “I don’t know, he’s dead set on me taking over the company. I feel like he’d disown me if I told him I wanted to go out and try to make it on my own…”
Philipe grabbed Niles by both shoulders and shook him, “listen man, my old man wanted the same thing. But look at me, I’m doing my own thing. And I’m happy!”
“What about what we saw earlier on the news? You aren’t scared of all the aliens out there? And the rebellion?”
Philipe smiled, “being scared is part of what makes it fun, bro. I’ll be making a difference out there. And I’ll be doing it my way. On my terms. If you don’t want to follow up on Tarrah’s favor, then do me one instead. Talk to him tonight. See what he says. You might just be surprised. And if you aren’t, do your own thing anyway. No one is going to hold the great and wonderful Niles Merrick down!”
Niles put his hands in his pockets, “you know what? For you I’ll try. As long as you promise to stay safe out there.”
“Deal,” Philipe said with a satisfied grin, and they both turned when they heard what sounded like a pitcher of water being poured out on the ground.
Tarrah was leaned over the side of the porch railing, and when she turned around to wipe her mouth, both men saw she had thrown up all over her designer outfit. Niles knew that little accident must have cost her a fortune, but she probably wouldn’t remember it in the morning anyway.
“A little help over here, Philipe?” she said weakly.
The young Imperial cadet embraced Niles goodbye. “I think she’s going to stay here with me tonight. We’ve got to leave out extra early in the morning.”
He motioned towards Emilito who had her hand clasped over her mouth, watching Tarrah continue to puke her guts out.
“Go take care of her too. I doubt I’ll be able to snag her while I’m out galavanting around the stars. Too many exotic, alien women. Maybe I’ll bump back into ole Geni…”
“Hurry!” Tarrah yelled.
“Coming,” he said running over to her before helping her inside, and Niles was now left outside alone with Emilito.
“That was kinda crazy, huh?” he said as she stood there, shifting her weight awkwardly on her heels.
Niles took a deep breath, and wondered why he was so nervous now. He had been with so many girls before, so why did this one seem so different?
“Yeah… I don’t remember much after that news broadcast. It’s weird to think that that stuff is happening out in our very own galaxy when here, everything is so calm and peaceful, right?”
Niles looked out across the dark, flat landscape of Fueller, and felt the cool breeze brush across his face. It was far too peaceful for him here… he needed to leave, and he needed to leave soon. If he didn’t, all his other friends were going to experience the wonders of the galaxy while he rotted away, eternally dwelling on these desolate plains.
There was a moment of awkward silence, while Niles thought about these things, and Emilito looked towards her landspeeder.
“I guess I better get going then, it’s getting pretty late.”
This snapped Niles back into the moment, “oh, yeah. Absolutely!”
He went to hug her goodbye, as he had done with the rest, but then he stopped short.
“Wait, this isn’t goodbye, is it?”
She smiled at him and tilted her head, “no, not for us at least.”
“So I guess that means I’ll see you again?”
Emi smiled at him, “I guess so.”
“Soon?” he asked as they walked to their landspeeders.
She sat down in her aquamarine speeder, “whenever you want.”
She started up her vehicle and smiled at him as she pulled off into the darkness.
He stood there, staring off into the plains of tall grass as they moved in waves like a sea in the darkness. While he didn’t feel anything when the situation on the news had gone down, he did feel something now. But he couldn’t describe it.
On one hand, he may have just possibly won over the woman of his dreams. But on the other, he had just said goodbye to two of his closest friends possibly forever. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized it hadn’t been a very meaningful goodbye.
But he would make it up to them, by confronting his father the moment he got home.
He hopped in his speeder and took off down the large hill Philipe’s luxurious home was perched atop.
The drive back to his estate was filled with many thoughts. Some of Emi and her adorably freckled face, but mostly of living a life free from the bondage of his family, and especially his father’s company.
They were so overbearing, always requiring him to go out and buy new droids. Or to sign off on legal documents. Or watch his sister when she was being more rambunctious than usual. And he just couldn’t take it anymore.
He had heard about vagabonds, wanderers who went where they wanted when they wanted. Traveling from world to world, making their money in exhilarating and exotic ways, and living off the land. And he wanted that now more than anything.
He pulled up to his family’s massive four story home, and parked his speeder among the dozens of others that lined the grassy courtyard. His sister must’ve been having another one of her “parties.”
He made his way inside and navigated through the crowd of young humans, all dressed up and conversing with one another. There were piles of food and cakes on tables all around the lower floor of the manor, and a large hologram of the singer Sema-Tawi Smart danced around in the center of the living room.
His younger sister, Kindra, weaved in and out of the crowd to grab him and pull him aside.
“Just a heads up, father is not in the greatest mood… but how was the party? Probably lamer than this one, right?”
Niles pulled away from her, taken aback by how quickly she skimmed over the entire “father is not in the greatest mood” bit.
“What’s wrong with him?”
She just shrugged, “I don’t know? But I definitely wouldn’t go talk to him tonight.”
Another Sema-Tawi song came on and Kindra’s face lit up in excitement. “Oooh, I love this one!!!” she squealed.
He wanted to ask where his mother was, but when he looked down, his sister had disappeared back into the dancing crowd.
He clenched his fists in anticipation as he slowly climbed the stairs towards the third floor where his father’s study was located.
He passed by the open entryway to his enormous set of rooms, and stopped off to splash his face with water from his sink. He started to take his old green overcoat off as he was beginning to feel hot, a side effect of the nervousness sweltering inside him.
But as he grasped at the coat, he glanced in the mirror. He didn’t even remember when he had first gotten the knee length apparel piece, but it offered him a sense of security now. As long as he was wearing it, he could take on the galaxy. And the only thing scarier than the galaxy right now was his father.
He slid the overcoat back up over his sweaty shoulders and marched over to his father’s study. He took a deep breath before opening the door, seeing his father hunched over a table full of blueprints on the far end of the room.
“What took you so long, Eliza? I need my coffiene now.”
“Actually, it’s me…”
His father glanced back momentarily, “oh, back so soon from the party? How were Tarrah and Philipe?”
“They were good, I guess. I’m excited for them. They leave tomorrow, you know?”
“Uh huh,” his father replied, already turned back to his outlines as he was furiously scribbling away at something.
“Although we were watching the IOBN and saw an officer and reporter get killed during a live report. I think it shook both of them up a little.”
“Oh really? That’s good,” his father said, clearly on mental autopilot at this point.
“Did you need something, or were you just coming to say goodnight. Because I’m terribly busy.”
Niles took another deep gulp of air. “I don’t want to take over your company…” he said under his breath.
“What was that, son? I didn’t hear you. You’re going to have to speak up.”
“I don’t want to take over your company, dad.” This time Niles was much more pronounced, and he knew his father had heard him.
The older man stopped what he was doing and stood there for a moment before lowering his pen.
“I still don’t think I heard you clearly, because I could have sworn you said you didn’t want to take over our family business.”
Niles held tight to the inseam of his coat, “you heard me. I love ships and all, but running a shipyard is not for me. I can’t stay here for the rest of my life. Something inside me wants to see the rest of the galaxy, it’s like an itch. And I’ll never be able to scratch that itch if I’m stuck here. I want to be free.”
His father just started laughing through gritted teeth, “how would you live out there in the galaxy? Because you know you won’t get a penny of your mother or I’s money if you abandon this company, right?”
“I’ll find a way, it can’t be that hard. And I’ll do it my way.”
His father stared Niles down with a fiery intensity, “if that’s the way you want it, then so be it. Your sister will definitely want to take over in your stead.”
“She’ll probably do a better job than me anyway,” Niles said, turning around to walk out of the study. He had gotten what he wanted, even if it meant sacrificing his relationship with his father.
“You don’t know how much money and experience you’re missing out on, Niles,” his father called out to him.
“Yeah… well I really don’t care anymore. This life just isn’t for me. It doesn’t scratch that never ending itch.” And with that he slammed the door behind him.
As he lay in his large canopied bed, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. It was finally done. Now he could finally go out and make memories just like the rest of his friends, and he wouldn’t get left behind.
That would show them AND his father. Like Philipe had said, he was the great and wonderful Niles Merrick. And he was going to thrive while traveling the galaxy and experiencing all of the sights, food, and women it had to offer.
Then he thought of Emi’s face. That sweet smile, and the look she got in her eyes every time there was a hint of trouble. Maybe he could stay here for a little longer…
He could wait to scratch that itch for at least a few more days. For her.
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