Xamusel: Alright… this is gonna prove to be very difficult to handle. Why do I say that, you might be asking yourselves? Well… honestly, I'm preparing this A/N for when Takeshi and I write the story as a whole. Currently speaking, as of this offline writing (April 5th of 2017), we don't have the introductory arcs planned out yet.
Anyway, this chapter marks the beginning of the introductory arc for group 1, AKA the (currently) two-man crew of the Elsa expy. Yes, Takeshi has a thing for Xenosaga, not that I blame him for it. It's a good thing, I think, for him to be able to use things from other franchises to help fill in the gaps for the time being.
…then again, I worry that he might not be able to write an original story, which I don't want for him to have as a problem. I know it'll be a massive problem later on down the road if it's not corrected.
*ahem* In any case, I suppose Takeshi would love to have some work done in this story before I ramble on like an idiot, so… HENSHIN! *transforms into a Showa-era Kamen Rider and rushes off to defeat the Underground Badan Empire*
EDIT 4/21/2017: Had to take care of a grammar error that cropped up.
Star Wars: Unsung Heroes
by Xamusel and Takeshi Yamato
Group 1 Arc 1 Chapter 1: Into the Void
VCX-100 Light Freighter Elsa
Hyperspace
The VCX-100 was one of Corellian Engineering Corporation's largest light freighters, much more so than the YT-series. It was also somewhat famous (or maybe infamous would be a better term) thanks to the actions of the Ghost several years previous. This one had a different paint scheme than the Ghost, however, having blue trim running along all its edges and in stripes along the hull.
Inside the ship, a T7-series astromech unit, practically an unheard-of antique, was watching over the systems as the ship flew through hyperspace, while the ship's human occupants were having quality time together.
"Hey, Takeshi?" the adult lady of the group asked her co-pilot and husband, while holding their daughter in her arms. "How's Kenji doing with you?"
"He's doing alright, Katrina" the adult male of the group replied, while holding their son. "Definitely got a grip, though… he's definitely going to be a strong one as he gets older. How's Larcei?"
"Doing good," Katrina answered. "However… she seems to desire milk at the most inopportune times for me, most of the time." She glanced down at Larcei for a short time, before turning to her husband again. "Is this how come all the women of your clan are so busty compared to everyone else?"
"I wouldn't be surprised," Takeshi replied. "I don't have too many memories of back then anymore, but Sayane apparently had to feed a lot, too, from what I overheard Mom saying, sometimes."
The Yamato Clan was a large family of galactic explorers, making their way into the far reaches of the galaxy to blaze new hyperspace trails. Of course, some had found their calling in other walks of life, as mercenaries, smugglers, soldiers… one of the most famous had even been a Jedi, way back when, and a fair amount of the clan had still had Force Sensitivity to a degree.
Takeshi was one of the strongest, but most of their records of that era had been lost, so his parents had taken him to the planet of Orb Mansel, quarantined by the Empire (likely because of the Jedi ruins there) when he was nine. His little sister, Sayane, had been four at the time, and left behind.
Unfortunately, his parents were killed when the Empire found their ship and campsite, and bombed both, and the clan was wiped out on the same day - though he didn't know that part right away, as he was stranded on the planet with just the clothes on his back, his father's hunting blaster, the native creatures of the world, and the Jedi ruins.
At the very least, that was all there was to be found on the planet, until Takeshi had put his parents distress beacon back together and activated it. At the time, he didn't know why he was working on it then, but now? He knew it to be the Will of the Force.
Shortly after he activated the distress beacon, the Elsa came flying down to pick him up, the hatch opening to reveal a woman, who Takeshi now knew as his wife, getting him off the jungle floor. It wasn't exactly the most pleasant of meetings, though, but it smoothed over soon enough.
He had had her take him back to Corellia, where he had learned the Yamato Clan was pretty much wiped out the day his parents were killed. His sister was apparently the only survivor, and that only because she was seemingly 'taken in' by the Empire.
Takeshi had sworn that he would find her, and that he would have vengeance on the Empire. Katrina had offered him the use of her ship, and the two had traveled together ever since.
That had been three years ago. Over the course of those three years, Takeshi had seen countless atrocities, both by the Empire and by criminal elements, and had realized that the deaths of his clan was just a symptom of a much greater problem - a galaxy taken over by injustice and tyranny. His desire for vengeance had cooled down at this point, and while he still sought to bring the Empire down, it was simply to halt their atrocities and restore justice to the galaxy.
Though he was still rather reckless, and tended to just charge in and attack without bothering to come up with battle plans. If it hadn't been for Katrina, or T7-X5 (whom they had found a year into their travels together), he probably would be dead hundreds of times over.
As far as things went, Takeshi was lucky to have met Katrina Romanov, now Katrina Yamato.
"Hey, honey?" Katrina asked.
"Yes, dear?" Takeshi asked in reply.
"Were you thinking of the time we met?" she asked him.
"Yeah," he replied. "I admit it was a bit awkward, given how I hadn't had any human company for fifteen years, but honestly, I can't really see things going much differently…"
"I'll bet," Katrina nodded once as she spoke. "We still need to find their auntie, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," Takeshi replied, looking off into the distance. "I know we will someday… and maybe we can introduce them to their other aunts and uncles."
Katrina nodded again for a moment, before she stopped in mid-motion. Jerking her head to Takeshi, she asked incredulously, "How did you find out about my half-siblings?!"
"I looked up the name Romanov in the Holonet," Takeshi admitted sheepishly. "I'd never had the infamous 'meeting with the in-laws', and you never really brought up the subject, so I guess I was curious."
Katrina sighed in defeat. "Okay, I guess I'd better tell you the whole series of events," she acquiesced. "But where to begin…?"
"Well, might as well start from the beginning, more or less," Takeshi began. "What was your home like when you were growing up?"
Katrina nodded once more. "Alright," she started. "Home was… well, it was tough living in the house when I was younger. For the first five years of my life, it was a matter of staying alive while my brother Carlile was working odd jobs, having been born ten years prior while my parents were 17. Still, things were less than pleasant… especially since father was a Spice addict, albeit a recovering one then."
"Wow," Takeshi replied in a bit of shock. "That… yeah, that definitely sounds like it'd be less than ideal. I assume things got worse after the Clone Wars?"
"Yes," Katrina answered. "I'll admit that my father, Carmine, had a lot of hope to recover while the Republic was in control… and my mother, bless her soul, was a workaholic who dared not cheat on him then. It's just… I was lucky that my brother was alive at the time, and still working those odd jobs, given that mother was sacked from her job one month before she was forced to leave it behind."
"Why was that?" Takeshi asked.
"Due to my uncle on her side having sided with the CIS," Katrina answered, tears threatening to flow from her eyes. "It only went even further downhill from there."
Takeshi was by her side quickly, a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I… I'm sorry to hear that," he said. "That must have been tough."
Katrina wiped the tears from her eyes, before she continued, "Anyway, that my mother was sacked for something my exiled uncle had done was only part of it… the Empire basically force fed a cocktail of Spice into my father's systems, Carlile was killed in a pirate attack by a remnant of the CIS on assignment as a Stormtrooper, and it was up to mother to be the breadwinner for us once more. Her first job? Working as a secretary for the planetary governor for the Republic. The next job she got was as a Moisture Farmer…"
"Wow," Takeshi replied in shock again. "Talk about a downgrade. Blacklisted from all the good jobs because of her brother?"
"No, not blacklisted," Katrina shook her head. "She was a firm believer in starting at the bottom to go to the top. She was planning to take over the moisture farm from the owner, due to complaints even the men on staff had made about his hiring ethics." She fell silent for a few more seconds. "But, then…"
"Something happened that she didn't expect," he guessed.
Katrina nodded, before she admitted, "My mother, when I was a week past 15, was forced into prostitution that night after a late shift." Her hands would've clenched into fists were it not for Larcei occupying them. "She was gangbanged by, if the reports were to be believed, about fifteen men… and her undying devotion to my father was killed and buried in an unmarked grave."
Takeshi took a moment to set Kenji on a bed, before enfolding his wife in an embrace. "I… I'm sorry…" he whispered comfortingly. "I… I didn't mean to bring up bad memories…"
"You can't choose your family," Katrina whispered back to him. "That was what my mother, Clarissa, had instilled in me all this time. She may have been broken by the rape in mind and body, but she still loved me, which is all that matters."
Takeshi nodded. "So… I… I guess that's where your half-siblings came from…?" he asked. "Your mother being forced into… prostitution…?"
Katrina nodded in reply. "Yes…" she answered. "I was the last breadwinner for the family, and mother had enough on her hands as it was, having to take care of fifteen children… so I went to join the navy after I reached the age of majority."
Takeshi nodded. "Makes sense," he replied. "You probably didn't know just how bad the Empire was at the time, so joining the navy would be a good way to make money."
"Bingo," Katrina said. "Of course, it took me until about five years ago to want out… but my family was held hostage against me leaving the service alive." Trembling slightly, she said, "I never wanted my family hurt… not because of being in the navy."
Takeshi took Larcei from his wife's hands, and set the little girl next to her brother, before enfolding Katrina in an embrace again. "I can understand that," he said. "Family… family should always be important."
"Thanks, Takeshi…" Katrina said. "I have to admit, though, I was scared about what to do. I needed to get out, but couldn't risk my family's safety… it was thanks to the man named Desolas that I could save them."
Takeshi had heard a few things about Desolas from his wife already—that he had helped her out of a bad situation, and helped her get the Elsa, in exchange for several favors that could be called in at any time. This had to be the bad situation she had been talking about. "How did he do it?" he asked.
"Well, Desolas was able to redact a lot of military files," Katrina said, some of her chipperness filling her tone again. "All these files were mine, from when I was stuck as a military supply pilot… and even beforehand, too. He even bribed a Moff into letting me get enough credits to start up this smuggling operation. All he didn't do… was provide me a potential lover."
"Huh?" Takeshi asked.
"Yes, you heard me," Katrina smirked in a teasing fashion. "At least, that was the case before he told me to head to Orb Mansell those three years ago, anyway."
Takeshi's eyes narrowed. "Something tells me this Desolas guy knows a bit more than he lets on about things," he said. "I mean, I'm grateful to him for directing you to where you could pick me up, but still…"
"I know, I know," Katrina answered. "It does sound fishy… or maybe he's a Jedi who escaped death?"
At that moment…
A red-headed and green-eyed woman in her mid-twenties sneezed. "Is the Force telling me someone's talking about me behind my back?" she wondered aloud, before shrugging. "Oh well… better get back to my Desolas persona soon."
Back with Takeshi and Katrina
"Maybe," Takeshi replied. "Either way, though, I'm glad we managed to meet, and fall in love." He gazed into her eyes, and began to pull her into a kiss.
At least, that was the plan, before T7 contacted Takeshi on the PDA. {Master Takeshi + Mistress Katrina = incoming message from a mister Desmond Ole,} it said in droidspeak.
Katrina looked at Takeshi and asked, "What did T7 say?"
"Looks like we're getting a call," Takeshi replied. "A mister Desmond Ole, according to T7."
"Okay, let's hear this Desmond Ole out, then," Katrina said, making sure to walk with Takeshi to the bridge.
Takeshi nodded, walking up to the bridge with Katrina before the two took their seats. "OK, T7, put the call through."
T7 beeped an affirmative.
At once, the comms came to life, as a hologram of a middle-aged man appeared. "Greetings, Mister and Missus Yamato," he said. "I am Desmond Ole, a man who would like to hire you for a delivery run."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mister Desmond," Takeshi replied. "May I ask what you want us to transport, and where?"
"The pleasure is all mine," Desmond answered. "As for what you need to transport, I have supplies for living alone to deliver to my granddaughter, who is currently living on Yavin XIII."
"Yavin?!" Takeshi asked. "As in the gas giant? The place where the Rebel Alliance blew up the Death Star last year?"
"Yes, that would be the right place," Desmond answered. "Is there anything you need to say about being in the Yavin system?"
"I've heard the Empire's swarming the place with patrols, in case any Rebels come back," Takeshi remarked after a moment. "You sure we're needed for supplies, and not an extraction?"
"Yes, Mister Yamato," Desmond replied. "It is indeed fortunate that my granddaughter is doing alright on Yavin XIII, considering that she knew how to hide her presence. With that said, could you please head to Acteon station in your next stop and pick up the supplies? If it turns out she needs to be extracted, then do so, but please stick to the assignment otherwise."
"Understood," Takeshi replied. "We'll do the job. How much are you offering?"
"I am offering 250 million for making sure she gets her supplies," Desmond answered. "Double that for in case extraction is needed."
The pair's eyes widened. 250 million?! That was… that was more than either of them had ever seen in a long while! Granted, a fair amount of that would go into the Elsa's maintenance, but still!
"You have a deal," Takeshi informed. "We'll contact you when the job is done."
"You have my thanks, Mister and Missus Yamato," Desmond replied. "Money isn't a concern for me, anyway, so that helps. Well, in any event, good luck." With that, the connection closed, leaving the two of them alone.
"250 million credits…" Takeshi whispered. "Double that if we have to make an extraction…"
Katrina nodded dumbly, before she realized that Hyperspace was about to spit them out. "Well, better look presentable," she said, heading to get her shirt back on.
Takeshi nodded. As much as he liked the sight of his wife shirtless, he didn't want any other men to see it.
Part of him had always entertained the thought of a small harem, but he never really pursued that, and Katrina kept him happy enough.
"You say something about a harem, honey?" Katrina asked over the PDA.
"Um, uh…" Takeshi stuttered, panicking. Frak, had he said that last bit out loud?!
A small chortle was heard, before Katrina calmed down. "I wouldn't mind being the head wife, honey," she said, playfulness in her tone.
Takeshi felt his face flush. "Umm…" he said, trying to say something more but nothing really coming out.
"Just keep it in mind, dear," Katrina said. "No rushing into it right away."
Takeshi nodded. "Right… right…" he said, trying to calm down.
He couldn't keep images about his wife and several other women all naked around him out of his mind, though…
"Honey, please don't let your nose bleed you to death," Katrina said seriously.
Takeshi had to wonder if he and Katrina had developed a Force Bond - he'd read about them on Orb Mansell, both he and his wife were Force-sensitive, and it seemed the only reason why his wife was capable of reading his thoughts!
On Yavin XIII
144 Standard Hours later
In a clear patch of land dedicated to viewing the ocean water, a large house was visible from about all directions. In this house, there was a young woman who lived here alone… alone with her pet Nexu.
She'd had a bit of a scare one year ago when that artificial moon had shown up, only to be destroyed by fighters launched from one of the other moons. She may not have had telescopes, but she was still able to see the battle, to a degree.
And something about the artificial moon had felt evil, so she'd used her abilities to lend what aid she could to the fighters attacking it.
"Hmm… Nataku, it's been a few years," she said to her pet Nexu. "Do you think grandfather forgot about us?"
Nataku growled, which the woman understood as «He could have had difficulty arranging for the supplies to be delivered, Mistress. After all, with that artificial moon, and now the giant wedge-things that we see far overhead every week or so, this system might be off-limits to common transport.»
With a sigh, the woman said, "I see… I think you might have a point. Thank you for bringing it up to me. Now, what do you suppose is with the giant wedges?"
«Possibly guard ships, Mistress,» Nataku replied. «I… I cannot quite feel things the same way you can, but I can feel some things and… they almost feel like that artificial moon did.»
The woman's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious, Nataku?!" she questioned.
«Yes, Mistress,» Nataku replied. «The evil is not quite as… potent as that of the moon, as if diluted, but it still seems to saturate them.»
Before the woman could reply to that, however, her personal datacomm went off. "Hello?" she asked.
"Your supplies are on their way, my dear granddaughter," Desmond, the caller, said.
With a gasp of surprise, the woman squealed in delight. "Thank you, grandpa, thank you!" she exclaimed.
"You're welcome, dear," he replied with great humor. "I just hope you stay safe, for your parents and my benefit, but that's up to you to determine."
The woman nodded, before she asked, "When will they be here?"
"Possibly tomorrow, at the earliest," Desmond answered. "Take care of yourself."
"You, too," the woman answered fondly.
Takeshi Yamato: And that's the first chapter.
Regarding Xam's notes up above, I will admit that I do tend to have problems with originality.
Characters are doable, though it's a lot easier to do imports than full OCs. Worlds are a lot harder. I just find I work better working within established settings.
Anyway, no real dice-rolling to be done this chapter, just establishing characters for the group and such. Tomorrow might be more of the same, though we might do some dice-rolling, as well.
Furthermore, characters will have varying numbers of XP, depending on how much experience they have before their appearance, and will also gain XP at the end of each arc they participate in. We might have little 'mini-chapters' detailing what our characters have and acquire between arcs, or we might not.
Anyway, see you next chapter! :D
*Edited 4/12/2017 to fix an issue brought up in a PM to Xam.
