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You sat on the steps to your home. It should be a good day, as it was your birthday, but you knew better. Today was like any other day. The war was over but strife was not. The war was no peach but you almost preferred that to this new Empire.
You didn’t get to really celebrate for years. You remember as a child your parents used to do things for you. They’d get you a different color balloon every year for one. You kept track of it over the years, what color it would be. It was supposed to be green this year. Then they’d get you a slice of cake and a present.
Now you sat on the steps of your home, hoping your parents survived the day in the mines so you could have a happy evening together. Maybe a song and a dance.
“Are…you alright?” A small voice broke through your musings.
“Hm?” You blinked out of your daze. “Are you lost, hun? Need directions or something?”
To your surprise, she smiled. “No, I just saw you sitting here…looking sad.”
“Oh….we’ll.” You chuckled, “thanks for checking in, kid. Sweet of you.” You looked around. You hadn’t seen her before but noticed a ship docked a little ways out on your family’s property. “Where are your parents? Are you alone? Don’t you know the galaxy is dangerous? I could be a hardened criminal.”
Again she surprised you by laughing outright. “I’ve seen enough criminals to know one when I see one. I don’t have parents, only my brothers. They’re out getting supplies. I’m watching the ship while they’re gone. My name is Omega, what’s yours?”
You told her, trying not to wonder too hard what she meant by that.
“That’s a cool name. Can I sit with you?”
“Of course!” You motioned to the spot next to you and patted it.
“You seem nice. Where is your family? What are you doing alone?”
“…my parents work at the mines…” a dark look settled on her face. Oh so she’s heard the stories. “I’m waiting for them to come home so we can…” do what exactly? “…do something fun. Today is my birthday and…”
“Your birthday?!?!?” Omega’s face lit up. “Congratulations! Happy birthday!” She brought her hand up to her chin, concerned. “Did I say that right?”
You chuckled. “That was perfect! Thank you.”
“Clones don’t have birthdays, we have decanting days; sometimes I forget how to say things properly like that.”
“Clones?”
“Yeah!”
You looked at her a little harder. You knew something about her eyes looked familiar. She shifted uncomfortably under your gaze and you could only guess what the poor thing had to endure. You smiled gently to put her at ease.
“You’re a Clone? I knew a few Clones during the war. They were my friends. Some of the kindest people I knew, before they pulled out. Clones are some of the best people I know.” You winked at her. “How’d you end up here of all places?”
Omega regaled you with the adventures she and her brothers were on and you listened enraptured. You don’t know how long you were listening or at what point the conversation turned to you and you were telling her all about your family and your traditions. Somehow the balloon got brought up. Guess you didn’t realize how much that mattered to you. A little something that meant everything was going to be okay. Omega lit up at the mention of it.
“Hold on a sec!” Omega took off running before you could say a peep. You watched her bound away happily, excitement in her skip. She jumped up the stairs in twos and descended the same way, only this time followed by a string connected to a floating object. It was blue and bounced with her every step.
“The last planet we were on, Hunter let Wrecker and me get one. Here, you can have mine!”
Tears flooded your eyes. “Oh hun, I can’t take this from you…this, this is….” You started to get choked up.
“Hunter is sick of them floating around the Marauder anyway. You’re saving me from future trouble.” Omega took your hand and wrapped the cord around it.
“Kid, this gesture means more to me than you know. I-I…”
You were cut off when the mine runner came up to you out of breath. He was responsible for delivering messages throughout the mines to miners and the villagers.
“Hey, your parents said not to wait for them for dinner…I’m sorry.” You could tell he really meant it. It was a small knit community. Everyone knew what everyone’s business was. So naturally he knew. He gave you a sympathetic look before taking off again.
“What does that mean?” Omega inquired.
You sighed. “Means they have to work overnight now.” You looked over your shoulder to where your favorite meal was cooking away in the oven. Looks like you’d be alone after all.
Omega caught your line of thought.
“Why don’t you have dinner with us!”
“What?”
“You’ll like my brothers. They are really nice. They’re fun and interesting! We will have plenty of food after their run…”
“No!” You broke through her ramblings, remembering her mention of not having enough food at times. You didn’t want to take anything from her. “You all will be my guests! I’ve got lots of good food here! Why don’t you all come here! We can have a fire and music…”
As if on cue, you heard multiple male voices shouting for Omega. She lifted her comm and gave her location, waving when they looked over at the two of you.
“This will be so great!” Omega’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Birthdays are great!” She bounced and kicked her legs. “This will be a first for me but I’m sure it’ll be the best!”
Sure, this wasn’t like other years…not exactly how you hoped or expected it to go, but you couldn’t help feeling happy and excited. You had new friends who wanted to make you happy, and you wouldn’t be alone. You grinned slyly and looked down at Omega.
“How do you feel about dancing, kid?”
“We can learn! Never did it before!”
You eyed up the men making their way to you.
“What about them?”
“I don’t think they know either.”
“Well we’ll just have to teach them then!”
You bonked her nose with your finger and she scrunched her face up with a giddy laugh. This was going to be a fun birthday after all! You looked up to the beautiful bouncing balloon and smiled. You put your arm around Omega’s shoulder.
“Thanks, kid, for everything.”
Omega watched you look at the balloon and smiled. Guess Echo was right, the Force does work in mysterious ways. To think, if she hadn’t seen that stand when she’d crossed that corner, if she hadn’t begged Hunter for one for no distinguishing reason other than she felt she was meant to have it, she wouldn’t have been able to give it to you and make your birthday special.
If she hadn’t seen you sitting there all alone when she was supposed to be watching the ship, if she hadn’t left the ship in the first place and approached you; if she hadn’t felt the indescribable need to leave the ship for no known reason…you’d had to celebrate your birthday alone.
Yeah, she was glad the Force worked like that.