22nd Transmission: Memories [Action/Written]

[thefinaljedi]

Action

[Waking up this morning had been harder for Luke that it’d been in a long, long time. The past few weeks had been trying, with nearly everyone around him seeming to fall apart at once. Friends and family arriving from home, fellow Jedi and other people familiar with life in that galaxy so very, very far away were a blessing, but admittedly a mixed one. Each new arrival had seemed to come bundled with a bantha laden with baggage, a load of new problems to be dumped onto the growing pile that seemed to be collecting around the house Luke had called home for a little over two years. That house had seen many people come and go, and every single one of them had their own share of troubles, but never quite as bad as this. Han, Leia, and Anakin had been a perfect storm, a genuine disaster that Luke had no idea how to even begin to approach, and yet he still felt responsible for finding a way to resolve some of the tension. Ahsoka hadn’t helped matters, tearing off without much word to anyone, and all of this wasn’t even taking into account how Obi-Wan must be feeling with his emotions beyond his control.

And then there was today.

A reminder pinned to his mental calendar, a day he’d broken down and just completely failed someone he was supposed to care about. The last time he’d spoken that someone, someone he’d never see again, and one of the few moments he’d ever really regretted in his time in Luceti.

And of course, that had to be the day the Malnosso fulfilled his mission point request for a house expansion. A little bit of cruel irony that he’d expanded the house to better accommodate the influx of people into a home that felt somehow…emptier…than it should have. The second floor was lovely and put together precisely how he’d requested, but somehow stained for him. So, rather than face that chasmal emptiness he gathered up a few things and just left. Enough was enough, and there was only so much tension and emotional turmoil that a single man could take, even with the Force to aid one’s mind.

Luke strides the through the village with a purpose, Artoo rolling along behind him and whistling solemnly, the empathetic little guy the only person with any real inkling of what was running through his head. His first stop is the clinic, where he carries out his early shift with mechanical precision, but once that’s over he silently takes his leave, slipping out the back with the droid. Next, an hour or so in the Battle Dome running through a series of gymnastic exercises, and then he heads to by both the item shop and the flower shop. From the item shop, he picks up a fishing pole, and the flower shop a single winter jasmine and a sprig of wolfsbane. Finally, he’ll end this trip on Cherry Blossom Hill, planting those flowers.

After that, Luke heads straight for the teleporter, and to a place where he’d always liked to go and think: the beach. Sitting in the shade of a tree, he writes out a few notes, though he tosses most of them away before sending out three. After doing that, he lays out under a tree with only his droid and a small, glowing box for company, losing himself in conversation with the two machines.]



Written, Private to Red (Gameverse)

Red,

I’m going to be a bit preoccupied for the next few days, I was wondering if I could count on you to look after Hamal for me.

Luke





Written, Private to Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ben,

I’ll be away for the next few days. I need to get a little space from the house. I haven’t been kidnapped if anyone asks, I’m just out at the beach, fishing. If you need me, I’ll be out by the fort with Artoo.





Written, Private to Spock

Spock,

I’m sorry to bother you, but could you meet me down by the beach sometime in the next few days? I have a question for you and I’m not entirely comfortable asking about it over the journal.




[OOC: Luke will be out and about, and down at the Beach for the next few days, if anyone needs him or cares to run into him. Sorry for the lack of a more general message.]

Comments

[Action]

[jailbirdprosecutor]

[The moment Artoo starts spinning, Taka spreads its wings in an attempt to keep its balance. In a way, it's sort of comical to watch. Until the dish extends, that is. That's when Taka begins to screech, as if attempting to intimidate a non-existant opponent.

Simon's seen enough. He raises two fingers to his mouth, his own whistle powerful enough to cut through the kerfuffle and catch Taka's attention. One more screech echoes through the street, then the hawk returns to Simon's shoulder.]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke and Artoo track the bird, and the man blinks when it lands on Simon's shoulder. That's new.]

Hello there. Sorry about Artoo. He's a little touchy about his dome.

[jailbirdprosecutor]

[Simon feels rather similar to Luke, even if he doesn't let his surprise show. That little droid looks like something out of an old sci-fi movie. The robots from the Cosmos Space Center are quite different. Of course, if Aura were here, she'd still be fawning over this little... guy? ...Yes, guy, apparently.]

If anyone is meant to offer apologies, it should be myself. Taka's curiosity often gets the best of him. [Simon takes a few seconds to scritch the hawk's neck, just above its bandana.] ...He meant no harm.

[thefinaljedi]

Well, I don't think he'd be able to hurt Artoo, anyway. He's made of some fairly sturdy metal.

[The hawk and it's...trainer...are a little unusual, at least off of Kashyyyk. But then, the man isn't exactly a wookiee...]

Don't worry about it.

[jailbirdprosecutor]

[It isn't exactly the metal that Simon was worried about. It was more along the lines of the robot's paint job and what sort of impact sudden hawk landings might have on its AI. Still, if the owner says it's fine, it's fine.

He takes a few steps closer to inspect Artoo. He's not really into robotics the way his sister is, but at the very least, he has some knowledge about it. Aura liked to rub her odd hobbies in his face (and vice versa).]

... Did you design this robot yourself?

[thefinaljedi]

[Oh, it would not be a happy thing. Luke had taught Artoo to avoid using his zapper attachment, but his ornery personality could only take so much.]

No, he's one made by Industrial Automaton, but I've done a number of modifications over the years. And he's done the same himself.

[Like enhancing said zapper.]

[jailbirdprosecutor]

[Industrial Automaton... That doesn't sound familiar at all. Further confirmation that this person is from a different world than his own, he supposes.]

It- [He breaks off, then corrects himself.] He possesses enough intelligence to understand how to modify himself?

[thefinaljedi]

Artoo is as close to sentient as a droid can be. He thinks on his own, and while he has programming in place that gives him a personality, he's never had a memory wipe so he's grown and adapted.

[jailbirdprosecutor]

[A personality... So that sort of artificial intelligence exists in other worlds as well. Simon can't help but wonder how developed it is.]

What of emotions? Is he equipped with those as well?

[thefinaljedi]

He's capable of feeling some, but the nuances are a little different. They experience them, just not exactly like us.

[Artoo has, at least. Threepio...not so much.]

[jailbirdprosecutor]

Hm, I see. [It sounds rather like Ponco and Clonco, then. Emotions programmed to the best of one's ability, yet not quite the same as the emotions of a true human.]

I expect robots such as this one are relatively uncommon within Luceti, is that correct?

[thefinaljedi]

No, as far as I know, Artoo is the only one anymore.

[Canti and Robo-Ky being gone, anyway.]

I'm Luke, by the way. And this is R2-D2.

[jailbirdprosecutor]

[Only one... Limited resources would likely prevent the residents from building more. Such a shame. Then again, perhaps residents should focus less on toys and more on their own wellbeing.]

I am Simon Blackquill. As for my faithful companion, his name is Taka. [While he has a vague memory of mentioning Taka's name in passing only a minute ago, it's best to repeat it with a proper introduction.]

[thefinaljedi]

Well it's nice to meet you, Simon. and Taka.

[Luke nods his head and turns to one side, making ready to go.]

I'm sorry though, I've got to get going. Take care of yourself, alright?

[jailbirdprosecutor]

[It's been a long time since a stranger he's met in passing offered Simon genuine well wishes. Not since his incarceration, he's sure. Chances are, if he were still a convict in this place, Luke's attitude would be different. As it is, he'll take what he can get.]

And you as well. Perhaps our paths shall cross again some day soon.