Et tu, Brute
(A Pictures story. Can be read Seperately as well)
“We’re in the tractor beam of an Imperial ship, sir.”
He could feel a presence, one that was familiar but…mottled. Dark.
Oh no…oh no no no no no.
“Legally we’re not doing anything wrong. We’re a neutral planet that is giving aid to another system. The Empire can’t fine or arrest us for that.”
The Captain turned around to face him - actually one of his cousins, because Mandolorians bred like rabbits. “We’re allowing them onboard?”
“Do we have a choice? Tell everyone to stand down, keep doing their jobs. I’ll handle it.”
Eyes flicked down to his lightsaber, then back at him. Korkie tried to give a reassuring smile, knowing he might be a cold body by the day alone.
He went to the loading bay alone besides the guards starting to line the halls, putting his helmet on while walking. Waiting. Heart racing, naturally. Wasn’t everyday the Empire boarded your ship…
Wasn’t everyday Darth Vader boarded your ship.
The doors hissed, steam enveloping the hallway. A jolt of fear went up his spine, the monster stepping out of shadows flanked by stormtroopers. He’d heard troopers were no longer clones…
“Lord Vader - it isn’t everyday the Empire comes aboard our vessels.” Korkie held out his hand, knowing the man beneath the mask (if he was right) knew typical Mandalorian greetings. Though they were alone, it would somehow spread in high circles that Vader and Lord Kryze met.
Vader grasped his wrist, shaking it once before dropping it.
“Standard probing of your ship, sir,” one of the stormtroopers said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“That is, if you have nothing to hide. You’ve been known to associate yourself with the Rebellion,” Vader said, folding his arms over his chest.
Korkie watched the troopers file by, and looked down the halls to the guards…his mother’s old guards. The comms of his earpiece was still on, and he knew they heard everything. With a nod he let them go, waving them away before turning back to Darth Vader.
“Mandalore is a neutral system, as I’m sure you are aware. It was during the Clone Wars and it is now. We give aid to those who need it…and unless the laws here changed and I’m not aware of it, I do not see the harm.”
Vader eyed him, somehow, with that mask. Though it seemed impossible to convey emotion through the mask, the glare was ferocious. “Your aunt taught you well.”
…bombshell time. He wanted to mess with this man as much as possible. Gesturing for the cyborg to follow him, Korkie did his best to keep his voice even. “Mother, actually. Nephew is just a polite term for a bastard in high society.”
The gait of Vader’s boots faltered slightly, as did his breathing.
“Did you know her?” Korkie asked matter-of-factly. “I don’t quite know the timeline of when you joined His Excellency or - “
“She was a remarkable woman. Passionate, but a fool in believing Mandalore could become peaceful.”
Korkie shrugged, palming open the door. He could hear some of the troopers down the hall asking the crew questions.
“This ship is a relic of the Old Republic.”
Korkie nodded, trying not to let his guard down. He didn’t exactly want to know how powerful Vader was - Beskar was strong, but he didn’t want to test its limits. “It was the Duchess’ favorite ship. She named it The Coronet.”
They reached the galley, the guards stepping back with mild curiosity. There was a time this room could - and did - hold fifty to seventy-five people.
Today it was just the two of them.
“Please, take a seat. Do you want any refreshments?” Korkie removed his helmet as he sat, placing it next to him while the serving droid rolled forward. Without a word he removed his main weapons - a blaster, a knife, and his lightsaber. Another Mandalorian tradition, putting weapons on the table.
Before the lightsaber hit the table it was in the air, flying towards Vader's hand.
Korkie put up his own hand, stopping the weapon mid-flight. He could feel the pull of the Dark Side, oozing through his fingers and down his wrist.
"Where did you get this?!"
"Mandalorians and Jedi have a long, passionate history together." Korkie felt the force grip tighten, and redoubled his efforts.
"Your mother was always a Jedi sympathizer. She would have gladly bedded one."
"Well she did, if you believe the rumors." Korkie felt the grip on the lightsaber slackenz and forced it back to his hand. It came nearly, and he set it back down gently.
"Every Force Sensitive must be registered with the Empire."
"And as we both agreed - Mandalore is neutral. I respect your right to search my shop, as I am in Imperial territory. Respect mine and enjoy refreshments, please. I'm sure being the right-hand of the Emperor is tiring.
Vader stood there, the harsh breathing filling the room.
In. Out.
Vader pulled out a chair and sat, the chair groaning under his weight.
Korkie looked at the serving droid. "I'll have caf please. Black."
The droid wheeled off, squeaking merrily.
"There are newer versions of serving droids."
Korkie shrugged. "True - but why replace something if it works well enough?"
"Efficiency."
"Fair. But the Galaxy isn't as prosperous and wealthy as our circles."
"The Empire will resolve that in time."
The droid came back, carrying a tray with two cups of steaming caf. It gave one to Korkie, then wheeled around to Vader and deposited it unceremoniously in front of him. Some drops splattered onto the tablecloth and his arm.
"I did not ask for a drink."
"Mandalorian custom. A guest will get a drink regardless - it's to show respect." Korkie took a sip of the caf.
A comlink beeped. Vader unhooked it from his belt and turned it on.
"We're all good sir," the trooper said. "How should we proceed?"
Vader stared Korkie down, taking his features in for the first time. A long breath left the Sith Lord. "...meet me back at the loading bay. We have no reason to be on this ship."
"...sir?"
"Those are my demands."
Korkie rose when Vader did, forcing a smile. "A pleasure talking, my lord. If you ever need a rest, we fix up and fly old ships for sport on one of our moons."
"...your thoughts are gracious, young one."
We're nearly the same age dude…
"Of course. I've heard you have quite the collection."
Vader stopped as the doors slid open. "Yes. My prized possession is a starfighter, an Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor. From the Clone Wars. Yellow."
Gotcha.
"Interesting. My father flew a red one. Same model."
They stared at each other, the knowledge of who each other was settling in.
There was part of him that wondered if he was about to be impaled.
"May the Force be with you, Korkie," Vader murmured before turning away, cloak billowing behind him.
"And with you, Anakin. And with you."
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Imagine............ Your older brother Han Solo finds you hiding in the Millennium Falcon with a boy. (Part 3/3)
At this point Han would have already asked Chewi to beat him up but he didn't.
"Why do you like my sister?" Han asked your boyfriend.
"I don't just like her......I love her." Y/B/F/N said and you were in complete shock.
"Why? What's one thing you love about my sister?"
"Well, she's brave, smart, badass, her smile, her laugh, her personality and she's really pretty. Inside and out."
"AWWWWW." You say. They heard you and told you to come out and you said,
"Crap."
Han looked at the too of you. And not gonna lie you were scared.
"First of all I......approve and Second," He said and the two of you were overjoyed. Han continued,"If you ever and I mean ever, break my little sisters heart, I will track you down and ask Chewi to eat you alive. Are we clear?"
Your boyfriend was scard and said,
"Crystal."
Han smiled at himself for successfully scaring your boyfriend.
"Good. Oh and Y/N?" He said.
You were now confused and replied,
"Yes big brother?"
He looked at you with a smirk on his face and you knew it wasn't gonna be good.
"Your grounded for......two weeks." He said and high fived Chewi.
You were in shock once again and said,
"What?"
Han gave the 'Sorry not sorry' look and said,
"Witch means... No Y/B/F/N."
Now your Y/B/F/N was in shock.
"What? No Y/B/F/N?" Your boyfriend exclaimed.
"NO Y/B/F/N." Han says in a high vioce.
The two of you looked at each other and in unison said,
"That's fair."
Even though Han approved he was still getting used to it, but seeing you happy mad him happy.
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Andor: Season One (2022) - REVIEW
SYNOPSIS
Set during the peak of the Imperial Empire, Andor tells the story of Cassian Andor in his formative years that would ultimately lead him to become a spy for the Rebellion.
I was not expecting this. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gave us our first live action peek into the internal politics of the Empire and the Rebellion that consequently added a lot of grey into the black and white morality of the Star Wars Saga. Andor takes this to a completely new level while it covers serious and recognizable themes as a Star Wars property that is the most un-Star Wars yet and a significant improvement over the major misfire that was Book of Boba Fett. This isn't a fast paced space western with a soaring score like the Mandalorian, this is a carefully paced drama with a measured amount of action but spread across a much larger canvas with complex characters who are often disconnected from one another. The major set pieces when they do come are thoroughly earned with clearly established stakes and executed to thrilling perfection. With Andor we've got something that is not just very different but so much more mature. This is, putting is bluntly, Star Wars for grown ups.
Andor plays out against an incredibly vast canvas consisting of several new planets including the worlds of Ferrix and Aldhani but it also includes one strikingly familiar world in Coruscant. More than simply being a quick edit to a CGI backdrop, each location is unique from one another and explores a different aspect of life under the cold and bureaucratic tyranny of the Empire. So much time is spent in these locations that includes a variety of Imperial facilities such as the Imperial Security Bureau on Coruscant and the prison on Narkina 5, that they feel just as lived in and real as anything seen in the Original Star Wars Trilogy. This is world building of the likes we haven't seen from Star Wars while at the same time it treads into darker depths and murkier waters of morality with characters who often can't be divided into a simple category of good and evil. So striking is its pace and tone that I often felt I was watching something closer to Blade Runner than Star Wars. Tonally it also shares similarities to the Hunger Games with the run down, oppressed worlds of Ferrix and Aldhani versus the high society and politicking of Coruscant being similar to the Districts and Capitol of those movies.
Throughout its 12 episode run, Andor tells a slow story of radicalization; the Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) we're introduced to here isn't the committed Rebel agent we see in Rogue One. This is a Cassian Andor who's simply about survival but then finds himself in the sights of sinister Imperial Security Bureau agent Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), who is convinced of the existence of an organized rebellion. Andor is as much an origin story for the Rebellion as it is for Cassian himself as Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) attempts to navigate the complexities of Imperial politics while trying to fund the fledgling rebellion. The characters that feature here are often located separate from one another with only the mysterious and ruthless Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard) providing the link between all arcs. There are few characters to truly root for but many who are interesting and complex with Cassian himself, Fiona Shaw's Maarva, Luthen, Dedra Meero and Andy Serkhis' Kino Loy being particular standouts. This is a show with plenty of interesting characters.
The show is very patient with its storytelling and doesn't rush into one set piece after another which will disappoint anyone looking for the more traditional thrills of Star Wars. The set pieces however are all unique in terms of their specific stakes and structures, but all of them serve to make the Empire feel more of a threat than its ever felt before. From the escape from Ferrix, the raid on Aldhani, the escape from Narkina 5 and a few others. The visual effects are always stunning and look especially effective from the use of practical locations and sets. The pace of the storytelling means that each set piece is carefully laid out and understood beforehand by the audience leading into one which generates great tension. For a show that can feel tonally very bleak, these set pieces give Andor several moments of exhilaration and satisfying pay offs. But the real pay off is Cassian's journey as the 12 episodes perfectly capture the cruel, unjust and relentless essence of the Empire. Cassian's arc from a nobody to a Rebel, much the series as a whole, feels completely earned.
VERDICT
Andor is the Star Wars show I didn't know that I needed or wanted and is a rare show that manages to stick the landing with a thrilling finale that perfectly sets up season two. This is arguably the best Star Wars property of the post-Lucas era.
5/5
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