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JANUARY TEST DRIVE MEME
You awaken to godawful static overlaying a female voice that's too monotone to be anything but a recording. The static makes it difficult to understand the warning, but it's clearly a warning if your surroundings tell you anything...
You're buckled into a sturdy seat bolted to the wall behind you. Around you, there are dozens of others like you, some awake and others still unconscious, but it seems most of the seats lining the walls are occupied. The lights are dim, likely auxiliary lighting, leaving you mostly in the dark. You smell smoke and hear the sizzling crackle of electrical systems popping and shorting out. Some of the seats were jarred off the wall, leaving the occupants either wounded or dead. Count yourself lucky all you have is a headache and various aches accounted to whiplash.
You appear to be in a drop ship or an escape vessel of some form but the pilot is dead and the hull bears a massive gash where it buckled under the impact and sheered off. Through the door-sized opening, you can see vegetation. The air that wafts in is heavy with a humid heat, but it's obviously breathable.
Once you make your way outside, you'll see greenery: Trees, grass, and shrubs tangled with vines that grow wildly and suffocate the trees they climb. In the distance, behind the ship, you can make out a sandy desert that seems to stretch on endlessly. Forward through the trees, however, you may see a crumbling wall, but more importantly, you'll see signs of civilisation. Buildings and other structures seem contained within those decrepit walls. Maybe the natives can fill you in on what's going on, because the last thing you remember isn't being in an escape shuttle. As a matter of fact, you don't remember much about your arrival or where you are. But it's going to be a bit of a hike, better get moving. Though you might want to grab the backpack of supplies under your seat before you go.
With that, the power dies, leaving the drop ship in the dark, crackling and groaning as the hull cools from its catastrophic re-entry.
ii
she approaches him with an inquisitive look, the heavy, intricate dress she's wearing entirely unsuited to the situation, but she doesn't seem to care, reaching for her flashlight and clicking it on. ]
Can you find something worth taking? I hope not everything was destroyed in the crash.
no subject
[ he spares her a cursory look — what is she, another princess or something? duchess? do duchesses still exist? — before returning his attention to the panel. she could be an empress; he'll still tell her to hold the light.
for want of gloves, he wrapped torn strips of cloth around his palms. it's hardly protection, but better than nothing. as soon as he has finished removing the last of the screws, han digs his nails underneath the panel's cover. ]
If you believe in anything, [ pushing the cover aside, ] now would be the time to ask 'em for a favor.
no subject
[ her introduction may sound a little pointed but not unfriendly -- a wordless now that you know my name, call me by it instead. she steps closer, taking care to avoid the power lines that are now visible under her feet and angles the light better.
his words make her pause. believe in anything? before, she would have said she believed in the republic, in the will of the people... in the force. but in light of recent events, it is hard to think of any of those things. ]
I don't believe in favors. [ her voice is quiet and strained, her free hand passing over her stomach. ]
no subject
Just as well. We're on our own.
[ in his probing, his fingers stray too close to a live wire and he hisses under his breath, hand shooting back. but he manages to find what he was looking for. ]
Looks like we're in luck. Took a beating, but comms are mostly intact.
no subject
The communication system? Can you see if it is still able to contact the home base of this ship? We may not have an idea of where that is... but any contact is better than being stranded here with so many wounded. [ even if the contact goes to the empire, she thinks privately. ]
no subject
It's not looking that good. It's going to need repairs first. New power source. Almost everything's fried. [ more to himself, he continues composing the to-do list: ] I'll have to check the antenna. This is all going to have to be taken apart to get at it…
[ remembering he has company: ] Anyone start an inventory yet?
no subject
at least until there's a question directed at her. ] I'm not sure, but I doubt it. Everyone's priority seems to be making sure those who have been wounded are treated. [ and, honestly, she agrees. if they're stranded here, there is still time to gather up all the survivors, make lists of what they know, what they have. though it will have to be done soon. ]
It is something that should be done sooner rather than later... we can't afford the group to descend to chaos. [ a pause. ] Where were you before you woke up here? [ she's heard various people speak of various places and is privately trying to make a list, establish some sort of common point. ]
no subject
but getting off this rock is also important for reasons not unrelated to where he last was. a place he's actually trying not to think about because being trapped away from his friends when they're in danger with no way of checking on them might just be the thing to drive him crazy.
han lifts an eyebrow. ] A little soon to be asking personal questions, isn't it, sweetheart?
no subject
It isn't when knowing the details of where everyone on this ship comes from, why they might have ended up on this ship, might help us find out the reason why we're here and who is behind all of this.
[ she pauses, continuing with an emphasis on her words. ] And it's Padmé -- I already said it once. Would it be less personal to ask your name? [ since he hasn't actually offered it yet. ]
no subject
[ straightening, han leans against a wall, arms crossed over his chest. his jaw sets in a straight line. ]
I ran into a little Imperial trouble. Does that help?