[Episode V – NR][O12 – Reytha – WW] Bri-Sen's Goldfruit Farm

Bri-Sen, much lesser known younger cousin of famous Talz Chieftan Thi-Sen, had a lovely Goldfruit Farm on the world of Reytha. Unlike most Talz, he enjoyed warmer climates. He also got stranded here after he missed his connecting flight back home. So, he decided that he might as well participate in the local economy. He had grown to love life on Reytha. Unfortunately for him, the imperial remnants choose this exact moment when he was finally enjoying things to ruin everything. His neighbour, a local Evocii named Iicari, came to bring him the bad news...

In the distance, the golden fields of Reytha were blackened. Smoke filled the air since yesterday. At Midday, the sun had even been blotted. And it was summer! The sky should have been peacefully dotted with clouds and the grass and lush ferns should have been gently swaying with the breeze. However, this was strange indeed. Unnatural even. Thankfully, the smoke had lifted for a few hours during sunset. But it wasn't really a relief. The smoke would only move with the wind currents to blot out another farmers field. 

Bri-Sen had stayed inside his house most of the day and covered the entrances and windows with curtains to block the smoky air from entering his home. He had bought it shortly after he was stranded on Reytha. It was supposed to have been a quick layover at the spaceport. He was visiting his cousin Thi-Sen on Orto Plutonia and had missed his connecting flight back to Alzoc III. His anger at the star cruiser corpos had quickly subsided once he realized that he actually liked Reytha - and the Reytha cat that he'd adopted.  

"Snoigit!" he swore loudly. It pained him to have to use his beautiful curtains this way. It'd be a mess to clean up. At least he could breathe. Alzoc III was an unpoluted world. His lungs weren't used to these conditions. How could anyone live with this all the time, he wondered. His ears twitched. The low rumble was faint, very faint. A speeder? A speeder could only mean one thing: enemies. At least that's what it meant on Orto Plutonia or Alzoc III. And Bri-Sen seldom had visitors, except for one. He quickly pulled on large yellow boots over his furry feet and blue and yellow gloves before he pushed the carpet aside. The Reytha-cat poked it's head beyond the carpet and decided that it was safe enough to explore. It was indeed a speeder on the horizon and it was coming straight towards his house. 

"P'zircha'kichi!" he chirped loudly at the speeder. It had been a while since he'd fought, but his home it was! He loved his life here and he wasn't too keen on giving it up. 

As the speeder slowed down, he could see the rider, and Bri-sen fealt incredibly stupid. The rider was his neighbour, an Evocii named Iicari. They'd only met once but he had quickly learned that she was friendly, even if they couldn't understand her. She spoke in what to Bri-Sen sounded almost melodic language compared to the familiar chirping and buzzing of Talzzi. 

Seeing that it was just Iicari, Bri-Sen went to inspect his goldfruit. His pride and joy. He was pleased to find that there was only a light dusting of ash on the goldfruit and his curtains. The curtains had retained their bright turquoise and pink pattern. He brushed a little dirt that he'd found off. It seemed the wind was at least going away from his house. But the happiness only lasted briefly as he realised that someone else's farm must have been ruined then.

Iicari sat patiently on her speeder as Bri-Sen inspected his goldfruit and house for damage. His house hadn't been hit too harshly. Hers hadn't either but the nearest village was swimming in ash and smoke. And worse: the imperial remnants had arrived. After several minutes, he was satisfied. He walked over to Iicari, chirping quizzically - or at least that's what she assumed - and motioning with his arms. Iicari dismounted her speeder. Bri-Sen gave her a tight hug. She drew in the dirt the imperial symbol. He instantly recognized hit and chirrped angrily. He'd seen the same symbol on these great big machines that tore up and marred the earth. They were evil. Were they now here too? Iicari continued drawing in the dirt while uttering in her melodic speech. He could sense the sadness in her voice. Farmers. Warriors. Battle. The farmers lost. Farmers like he and Iicari. 

"Muhzmarcha'kapookang" he chirrped sadly. Maybe he should have made that connecting flight after all.

To be continued... (maybe)

I used the Wookiepedia article on Talzzi for some of Bri-sen's dialogue: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Talz_(language).

It's been a while since I have written an actual story so I'll admit that it's not that great.