Hey everybird! What's up!?
So yeah, back to Star Wars, because why not!? It seems like these days it's always a good time to be a Star Wars fan, especially since Andor is coming up and it looks like it's going to be great!
Anyway, just something I thought of and tell more of Blu's story during The Two Brothers: A Star Wars Story. Hope you enjoy and lets get to it!
(Blu's POV)
With the alert that I'll be arriving at my location in two minutes, I quickly stretched myself, shaking my head to ward off the tiredness as I held the flight stick. Checking to make sure everything was in working order and all systems green of my very old T-65 X-Wing, I turned my head to look up and back at my loyal astromech.
"You good Jewel?" I asked the droid as she beeped back a "Yes" at me. "You think we'll ever come back here one day?" To which Jewel responded with a "No.".
As my ship reached the end point of the hyperspace route plotted out, we exited hyperspace as we returned to the blackness of normal space. To my side was a bright green and blue planet and up ahead was a space station, my destination. To anyone else this would have just been another planet, but to me it was a place which brought back painful memories and haunting nightmares… Scarif.
As I neared the space station, my comm unit came alive as a voice sounded.
"Approaching X-Wing, please identify yourself." The voice requested.
"This is Director Blu from Hosian Prime, here for the speech and inspections." I replied. "Sending in clearance code now." I finished as I punched in the code, sending it to the space station.
"Code confirmed director, you're cleared to land in hangar 5." The voice told me. "And welcome back to Scarif." The voice ended as for me, it was no welcome.
"Yeah I know Jewel…" I told my astromech who was speaking to me as I flew my X-Wing towards the designated hangar. "Don't worry, I'll try to be done as soon as possible and we can head on back."
As one of the directors of the New Republic's starfighter academy on Hosian Prime, my job also took me to the other academy locations on other New Republic worlds. And well owning to my past experience, I was selected to come to Sacrif to the academy there, which was a space station above the planet, to give a speech to the cadets and for routine inspection of the facility. However Sacrif, while being one of the legendary battles of the early rebellion against the Empire, was also the place I lost my father, who died down below, fighting in the skies above the ground.
Taking a deep breath, I steadily landed my X-Wing on a directed spot for me by the hangar crew, touching down and then shutting off the engines. Taking off my helmet, I opened my cockpit as a ladder was brought over for me and I could see cadets and hangar crew lined up to welcome as they all held a salute while an officer came up to my ship. Climbing down, I met the officer with a wingshake.
"Welcome director." The officer greeted. "I must admit I am surprised you didn't arrive in a shuttle."
"Well, I like to fly alone sometimes." I replied.
"I can respect that, right this way sir." The officer leading me into the facility. "As you can see, we're operating at peak efficacy."
"Even so, my job requires that everyone, not just the cadets, are up to standards." I reminded the officer.
"Of course sir and I will show you all of the facility, I'm sure you will be satisfied." The officer smiled as she led me throughout the station.
And everything and everyone was operating to their full extent as I took note, meeting and congratulating everyone on their jobs. It at least helped take my mind off other things, but of course I knew it would come to haunt me when I had to give the speech to the cadets stationed here…
Before I would, I was directed to the mess hall, where a decent meal was prepared for me and I could use some hot food. As I was standing down with other cadets and station crew, a group of pilots came into the mess, looking for a meal themselves as I noticed one of them, putting on a smile as I called him over.
"Hey Pedro, over here!" I called out to the pilot, the leader of Gold Squadron, a red crested cardinal, who gave me a smile.
"Hey Blu, nice to see you!" Pedro called back as we met, giving each other a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, usual inspection and speech giving." I answered. "What about you?"
"Oh, Gold Squadron just finished a relief mission to Felucia and this world was along the way back to Hosian Prime, just here to give my pilots a rest and a hot meal before we finish out trip back." Pedro answered. "How's Nico by the way?"
"He's doing okay, misses being squadron leader but doesn't regret giving you command of it." I informed the cardinal.
"Well, I'll make sure I see him when I get back." Pedro smiled. "I'll go get some food and I'll come join you."
Pedro got his meal and returned to Blu and the two friends resumed their conversation.
"So, you have your speech ready?" Pedro asked.
"I think so, I just need to say some inspiring words to encourage the cadets, you know." I shrugged my shoulders, although inside I knew it would be hard, considering the location.
"Maybe I and Gold Squadron can come too, give you some support." Pedro suggested. "We got nothing else to do anyway."
"I'll like that, thanks Pedro." I smiled.
After my meal was done, I left to get ready as I would give the speech to all of the cadets in a large meeting room, rows upon rows of seats where I would say some words to the next generation of pilots who would help keep the New Republic safe and sound. As they all filed in, eager to hear me speak, my nervousness grew as the last of those who came were Pedro and Gold Squadron.
Sweat rolled down my body as my throat felt dry, no amount of water could help me, panic creeping into my mind as haunting memories came back to me.
"Hel… Hello everyone…" I started, finding it hard to begin. "My name's…" And I just stopped and the next part of my mind told me to run as I left, leaving behind a very confused mass of cadets.
I ended up stopping next to a viewport, the planet of Scarif filling my eyes as I felt like I was about to collapse, struggling a little to stand up as I was greeted by Pedro's voice.
"Blu, are you okay?" Pedro expressing his concern for me.
"No, I'm not…" I answered honestly. "I should have never agreed to come here today… All those years ago during that battle that was fought here…"
"I know." Pedro simply replied.
"You know sometimes I wonder why the Force decided to spare me, but take away my whole family, most of those I care about, and a number of those under my command." I revealed to Pedro my feelings. "To me the Force doesn't just bring hope, it's also a curse which I will never get rid of." I let out a tear as Pedro put a wing to my shoulder.
"Look Blu, I know it's tough, remember I was present during that day too and our actions helped the Alliance to win the day." Pedro reminded me. "Your father believed in our fight just as much as anyone else and his sacrifice wasn't in vain, the Alliance destroyed the Death Star soon after and the galaxy finally had some real hope."
I knew Pedro was right, the battle at Scarif and the destruction of the first Death Star marked a real turning point in the war against the Empire, the rebellion's first victories which helped pave the way for more, especially at Endor. I knew my father would gladly give his life if it meant that the Alliance would win in the end and it was up to me when my father passed to uphold his legacy by taking his position. I just wish my family was still here to enjoy the peace that was so fought for, but at least I knew wherever they were, they were happy too.
"Thanks Pedro, that does me help me a little." I formed a little smile.
"You're welcome, ready to go back there?" Pedro reminding me of my job here.
"Just give me a minute alone, I'll be there." I requested as Pedro went back and left me alone. "I miss you so much dad, I know you're down there on Scarif, I hope you're proud of me…" I closed my eyes, trying to imagine that my dad was here besides me.
Calming down, I made my way back to the room full of cadets as I took a deep breath, now ready to speak…
"Sorry about that cadets, thank you all for being patience with me…" I started. "First, I want to tell you all a story…"
The cadets of course were visibly confused, expecting just the general words a director like myself would say, but Pedro knew what I was getting at as I saw he had a big smile on his face, silently urging me to continue.
"A story about a great battle once fought here many years ago…" I began to the now interest of everyone present as I fought through the pain I felt to deliver the story of hope.
And that's a wrap on this!
I hope you enjoyed and if you haven't read Hope: A Star Wars Story, that will help provide context on this one shot.
With that, see everybird later!