KOLUS CITY SPACEPORT, BRENTAAL IV, BRENTAAL SYSTEM, DAY 175, 3644 BBY/10 ATC, - 0750 HOURS
Kat walked through the spaceport, bags in tow with her parents - they had just gotten off a 18-hour transport flight.
The spaceport was the city's main gateway of getting on and off the planet, and it's reflected in the numerous ship bays for vessels of all classes, and rows of cantinas, diners and shops for those not wanting to pay exorbitant prices for any food and goods onboard ship.
She felt her stomach grumble - she hasn't eaten since the Warrior's Breakfast, and the long flight after. "Mom… Dad… Do you wish to have breakfast? I'm starving…" "Of course. But not here, Cathria… Would you like if we go to Barri's Diner?" "Of course, dad! I'm famished!" "Let's go!" he smiled as they picked up their pace.
They exited the spaceport out into the taxi road. Carus hailed one and they put Kat's bags in storage before entering. "To Barri's Diner, please…" Kat sat in the backseat with her mother, and the speeder then drove off. She looked out onto the city's towering buildings, neon signs and tree-lined walkways - a sight she had missed since leaving off for bootcamp.
"Just returned from the army, eh?" the taxi driver said, glancing at her from the rearview mirrors. "It's the Marines, but thank you, sir… Much appreciated," "No, thank YOU! You younglings are the ones keeping us safe from the Imps!" "I haven't done anything of note yet, sir… I've just finished bootcamp," "Don't sell yourself short, youngling! It's much more than I would have done,"
Carus then talked about local politics and current events with the driver for the rest of the ride. They stopped at the building where the diner is located. "How much is the fare?" "Nothing. No need," "Come on, sir, I'm not getting off this for free. Think of your family," Kat said as she pushed a stack of 15 credits onto the drivers hand. "I..Thank you, young one. Thank you for your service. You're a good one," "Thank you for your support, sir. Have a good day," she said and stepped out to the rear storage. She took her bags and they entered the building.
They went up 5 floors and entered the diner. The diner was a small, family-run business. Kat and her family had been going there since her childhood. It was the type of business where the employees know their customers. It was already office hours, so there wasn't a lot of people.
They picked out a table and set themselves in. Kat didn't need to look at the menu. She waited for her parents to pick out a meal. When they did, she signalled a waiter to come over. A short-haired lady came over. "Ah, it's the Merricks! Welcome… can I take your order?" "Hello there, Laja… It's been a while… I'll have the breakfast special and a mixed-berry juice, please…" "Alright. Mr. and Mrs. Merrick?" "We'll have two padoi-chicken sandwiches, and i'll have a cup of milk caf...Leessa?" "I'll have a warm breakfast tea, thank you…"
"Got it. Thank you," and she walked off towards the kitchen. Kat tried to settle and calm herself down. "How was everyone else back home? Who's still around?" "It's only been three months-" "C'mon, dad," "Well… Kord's sister is now married to that Coruscanti lady a couple of months back, Kord himself is now working at AgriCorp. Your old friend Orla just joined the Brentaal reserves. I'm sure she'll be back soon, like you… That best mate of yours, Redd, is now working at your mother's old company - I saw him out there once. I also saw Hayree, Pora's son at the Main Park last week. She's still waiting for her uni entrance results. And the old shoy you used to see from your old school… Hazly… isn't it…? He's off to Brentaa City University now...Doing bioengineering, I think,"
She tried to take it all in. "What about the others?"
"I don't know," he sighed. "Something on your mind, bahee?" her mother interjected and put her hand on her arm.
"Just wondering about my old friends, that's all. I never had time to think about them during boot camp… I was busy,"
The food arrived. "Nice get-up there, Kat!" she said as she laid out the food. "Thank you, Laja! It's my Marine dress uniform," "Is that why I haven't seen you recently?" "Yes, I just returned from boot camp…" "That's amazing… I would've joined but mom wanted me around for the business since Gada went off to Alderaan, you know?"
She felt pity and yet at the same time, a moment of annoyance at her. She remembered someone who chatted with her about the same topic at the spaceport yesterday - " I would've joined, but I'll hit the trainers if they yell at me, you know?". She wanted to punch him right there and then. Not Laja - her reason at least made sense.
"Hey, Laja… You're doing your part with the family, I'm doing mine! Don't feel guilty," "Thanks, Kat. It's good to have you back. How long will you be here?" "Four days planetside - then I'm off to Corulag," "Good luck!" Laja said before she walked off.
Kat stared at her breakfast - two large pieces of bread, a meat sausage, gravy and some vegetables on the side.
They spent their meal in silence, as is their custom.
It's good to have a taste of home again.
When they finished, Kat went up first, saying "I'll pay," "No, you are not, daughter," replied her father. "Please, dad, I just got paid for the first time. Let me do something for you once," he relented and let her hand over the credit chips to Laja.
"Thank you, Kat, and Mr. and Mrs. Merrick. I hope to see you soon."
MXOVA SUBURBS, KOLUS CITY, BRENTAAL IV, 0850 HOURS
As soon as the door of their home opened, the first thing that she did was to unpack her issued clothing and throw them in the washer, then went to her room and dozed off.
She woke up to check her wall chrono. 1900 hours. It was the longest and best sleep she had since she left home. She went out and watched the HoloNet. It's the same it's always been - chock-full of sports, celebrities, politics and various other shows.
"Dinner's on the table, sweet," called out her mother from the kitchen. "Okay!" and walked to the table to find a bowl of meat stew with bread on the side.
As she ate, she contemplated on what to do. Her parents were only children, and so was she - there were no uncles or aunts or cousins to visit, and her grandparents had passed before she was born. And she wasn't the popular type - she never had a lot of friends, and she couldn't relate to a lot of the people around her. Even so… It couldn't hurt to visit. Cherish any and all friends while you can, they say.
She finished her meal and decided to retreat to her room. She opened her commlink and tried to call her friends who are still around - Kord, Redd and Hayree. She called Kord first. No one popped up. Then Redd. He showed. "Kat? Is that you?" "Redd! Yeah, it's me…" "It's been too long! Why suddenly call me?" "Just trying to catch up on old times, that's all…" "What have you been doing, Kat?" "I joined the Republic Marines… I just got back on leave from boot camp," "You joined the military?I…" The line went silent for a long time. "Redd?" "Yeah?" "You OK?"
"Yeah, it's just I'm shocked. I knew you wanted to join, but I never thought you'll go through with it… And you know how I feel about the military- I don't hate you guys, it's just- I hope you won't be one of those," "One of what?" "Those war criminals. Sure you aren't the Imps, but… remember the Dvrera Massacre? That was the Marines," "Wow. Redd. I… I just-" "Promise me you won't forget to be a good person while trying to be a good Marine," "I appreciate your concerns, Redd. But the military of today isn't like before. And even if I couldn't stop the entire Marine Corps, I can help those around me. I promise," "Thank you, friend,"
Kat immediately wanted to divert the topic. "Yeah, with that settled… I was just about to ask about you. I heard you went to NutriBio - my mom's old company?" "Yeah… yeah, I did… Worker receptions. I just started three weeks ago," "What's your plans? I mean… after that?" "I don't know. I'm going to work there for a couple of years, then go to Kolus College if I could," he said, with his hand on his chin. "That's good… hey, you've talked to Kord recently? I tried to call him before I did you, but he didn't pick up," "Last I did was around four months ago, sorry," "What about Hayree?" "I think she worked somewhere - I can't remember,"
"Dammit. Hey, wanna hangout? I'll be leaving in 4 days," "Why not? Let's meet up after work tomorrow. Meet me at the offices, yeah?" Yeah. I gotta go - I wanna talk to Hayree, now. Good luck, Redd and goodbye," "Good luck, Kat. Goodbye, too," and disconnected. She sighed. She never thought that he would react in such a way.
She tried to place a holocall to Hayree. She took a swig from a caf cup she had brought in. Hayree appeared on the holo. "Hayree! This is Kat…Kat Merrick! How are you?" "Kat… it's been a while… I'm fine, and you?" "I'm fine? What have you been doing?" "Oh, just working odd jobs, trying to wait to continue my studies… somewhere… And what about you? I've heard from my mom that your mom said you joined the military!" "Hell yeah I did! I'm with the blasted Marines now," Kat chuckled.
"Wow…Marines? So that's why I've been hearing that you're gone for a few months now… How was it like? Is it like in those holofilms?" "Some of them… The yelling, the lack of sleep, the running, the shooting…" "Sounds like fun… Maybe I should go," "I'm not stopping you, but join the AeroSpace Forces. Or the Navy instead. You won't get yelled at and be muddy all time," Kat said, smiling wide. "Hah, who do you take me for? A little mud won't stop me!" "Hmmmm... if only you knew," she whispered to herself.
"What are you up to, Hayree? My family says you're still waiting to go to uni," "Oh, that! Yeah- Still waiting..." she trailed off. "What'dya applied for?" "Everything. From 'Brentaalian Art History', "Galactic Republic Law", "Galactic Basic Linguistics"... Everything. I don't know what to do," "I wish I have the answer to that. I don't know where to go from myself… That's why I joined the Marines," "Maybe I should… join…?"
"Hey, take it from me - I joined because it's the thing I wanted the most when I signed. I love it so far, but there are a lot of things that I didn't expect. If I were you? I'd take time. Go to uni… and join as an officer! You get paid higher… and you have people saluting you from the start!" Kat laughed, then Hayree joined, before it subsided. Kat looked at her as they were silent for a while - she was obviously pondering her opinion.
Then she said, "Remember a few years back? Me, you and Reddy were camping out on the beaches down south around… 4 years ago?" "Yeah," "And you suddenly pushed him into the sea," "Which cost me 300 credits when I fried his percomm device!" Kat snorted. "My dad was NOT pleased when he heard about that! I had to pay him back for months after!" she continued. "You always make rash decisions, huh…?" "Not always!" Kat said with the widest grim. She noticed Hayree going into deep thought again. Is she ok?
"Kat, I- thanks for the chat. I- I think I should go now," "Goodbye, Hayree… and good luck. And uh… wanna meet up with me and Redd tomorrow? At my mom's old company..." "I..don't feel like it, Kat. I just went out today. Just feel a bit lazy. Sorry," Hayree switched off. Kat noticed she was still deep in thought as she disconnected.
She lied back on her bed, hoping that her friend would be OK.
