Competition: [Odan-Urr] A Small Layover

Finished
[Odan-Urr] A Small Layover

Prompt:

Recently, your character, along with the rest of the Clan, got picked up from the Lyra System and dropped off at one of our military outposts called Pharos. Upon your arrival, your character was unfortunately told that any future travel plans off the station would be restricted for a few days due to military exercises. To help pass the time, several events have been planned around the station, including an invite to a station-wide feast (break out the drinks my friends) should it be accepted. For this prompt, write a story of how your character passes their time on Pharos, whether it be focused on a particular highlight or something more encompassing. How does your character decompress from the events of the war so they are ready for their next adventure? Do they hang out fellow Odanites or remain a solitary figure?

A minimum of 500 words is required. Also, Pharos station is pretty undefined still so feel free to use this fiction to create something on it that suits the needs of your fiction. In addition, it is highly encouraged for you to include a fellow Odanite’s character in your fiction, though it is by no means required nor will it factor in the grading rubric. Doing so will give your character more friends though.

Grading Criteria:

Grading will be based on the Fiction Rubric..

Pdf format is preferred but will also accept Word docs and Pages docs.

Competition Information
Organized by
Aurora "Aura" Ta'var
Running time
2019-09-25 until 2019-10-19 (25 days)
Target Unit
Clan Odan-Urr
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
Third Level Crescents and Clusters of Ice as per VOICE guidelines
Participants
3 subscribers, of which 2 have participated.
Results
1st place
Nikora Rhan
Member
Nikora Rhan
Submission
Nikora Rhan opted out of publishing her submission.
Placement
1st place
Member
Brigadier General Revak K'Urr
Textual submission

Revak Kur
12656

A Small Layover

Revak slowly walked down the ramp of his Lambda class shuttle and quietly made his way down the long corridors of Pharos station. He could hear the joy and excitement of the other members of the Clan off in the distance but chose not to partake in any of the festivities. Not just yet. He handles war well but gets drained after long deployments. He needs his time to relax and unwind. Revak made his way to his chamber and pressed his keycard against the security pad. It beeped at him but didn’t open. Tired and aggravated, he leaned his head against the door in defeat.

“Why doesn’t anything work around here?” he mumbled to himself.

He could open the keypad and tinker with the locking mechanism but chose not to. Instead he thinks of another place he could sit and rest. Pharos station, while being a military outpost did have a small garden area people could go that was peaceful. Chances are it was occupied. He reached under his robes and pulled out his comlink.

“Kur to Maintenance.”

“Maintenance on, go ahead.”

“I'm locked out again.”

“... okay, sending someone down.”

Moments later a human male approaches. He looked just as tired as Revak, worn out from long hours of repairs.

“This one seems to be getting the best of us, eh?” the man said jokingly to break the tension.

Revak struggled to smile slightly at the man’s statement. He didn’t want to be rude to the tired man but he just couldn’t muster enough energy for anything more.

After a couple minutes of the man tinkering with the keypad; the door opened.

“There you go Sir, I’ll be around in case you need anything.”

Revak thanked the man then walked inside. He tossed the comlink on the bed. The door slammed behind him.

In the room were a few personal items. Moving around as much as the House does, he tries to keep only what he needs with him so he can quickly pack up and head out again. The room has a bed, a locker for supplies, a computer kiosk, and a particularly comfortable chair that he stole from one of the other chambers when he was first stationed here. He could sit in it for hours and time would just pass by. He walked over to it, ran his hand over the soft leather arm and sat down. He closed his eyes and was lost in his mind.

Memories of the war appeared to him first. Moments that stood out. People that he encountered. Especially those who he would never see again. Sadness began to radiate through him. His body sank in the seat. The screams of the civilians. The hissing of lightsabers and blaster bolts. The explosions that silenced them all.

In his mind he gathered himself and his thoughts began to drift in another direction. He began to look back at all the decisions he made. Critique his actions. He viewed failure as a learning experience but it still pained him to make mistakes. This is why he favored quiet reflection over immediate celebration. He could look back and see where he could have made other choices. Possibly saving more lives. Lives that he would not have to blame himself for losing. This sadness that he felt, he never showed anyone. He kept it hidden especially from those under his command. Not that he was ashamed of it, just that he had to maintain an image of strength to help propel his command forward. He cleared his mind to allow these feelings to take hold of him. To bask in the darkness that these emotions bring.

*Bing!*

Revaks concentration broke as his comlink notified him of an incoming message. He reached out with the Force, took hold of the comlink and placed it on his lap before answering it.

“Revak, get out of your head and come celebrate.” his Aedile Tisto shouted obnoxiously loud so he could be heard over the loud music in the background.

Revak took a second to get back into the present before he responded, “Yeah, I’ll be down in a second.”

He stood up, fixed his robes then walked back over to the door. Instead of opening for him it let out two loud beeps.

He let out a long sigh.

Placement
2nd place