Chapter Text
Syd walked through the corridors of the spaceship heading to the bridge.
As she drew close to the doors she swiped a card at the terminal next to them.
The doors opened and she stepped inside.
At the viewport Lumi was standing studying a relic.
Her ears, protruding from her hair, were twitching in an agitated manner and her three tails were swishing around.
The whole crew of the bridge would sometimes nervously look at Lumi trying to understand what is upsetting her.
Syd nodded to captain Ymin as a greeting.
Ymin responded with a respectful nod. Then glanced at Lumi and pointed at her as if to say: ‘Can you talk to her finally?’
Syd moved over to stand next to Lumi.
The relic she was studying was hovering above her fingertips.
Syd felt an acknowledgement of her presence from the connection between her and Lumi.
Syd was the first to start the conversation.
“You felt it too didn't you?” Syd said silently so no one could hear them.
“The change in the Weave?”
“Yes… it's odd. I can't sense all that Fury anymore. Almost as if we were… out of reach?”
Lumi nods, she lets the relic fall into her hand and puts it into her pockets.
“Should we contact the Unity?” Syd asks. [Unity=council]
Lumi shakes her head. “Not yet. We don't have anything except what we feel is different. It's not enough to worry them all over.
Besides, the Weave has been growing weaker as we went further away.”
A silence falls between them. Lumi seems less agitated but Syd feels that she's frustrated and nervous.
Syd reaches out and lets Lumi feel her own emotions, a calm with a mix of fear and worry.
Lumi seems to relax when she realizes she's not the only one that's worried.
“So… what did you find about the relic?”
Lumi opens her mouth to answer Syd's question but before she can someone else enters the conversation.
With a quiet cough captain Ymin makes them aware of his presence.
Both Lumi and Syd turn to him.
“We are approaching the Atani galaxy. In a day we will reach its outermost planets.” Ymin informs them.
Lumi tilts her head and looks at Syd.
“Could this galaxy cause such a change in the Weave?”
Syd shrugs.
Ymin looks at both of them confused about what they're mentioning.
Lumi frowns. “Gimme a second.”
Before Syd can stop her she closes her eyes and drops her mental shields.
Syd feels a powerful Life presence wash over her spreading outwards through the Weave.
A few light objects in the room start floating before as quickly as it came, everything is back to normal.
Everyone on the bridge glances their way before they hurriedly go back to work.
“Reckless.” Syd notes and shakes her head. “Did you at least find out something?”
Lumi pouts. “The Weave gets stranger the closer to the galaxy we get.”
Ymin observes the whole interaction between them with a forced neutral expression but Syd can sense that Lumi's carelessness and nonchalance puts him on edge.
Syd sighs.
“Let's just hope we didn't alert anyone hostile of our presence.”
~
Anakin was having a great day.
After a long time of not being able to meet Obi-Wan and Luke because of the hoards of missions they were finally on a mission together.
While waiting to get to their destination Anakin and Luke were currently dueling in a small training room.
Parry. Attack. Block. Go into offensive…
Anakin was still better than Luke but he was happy to see Luke's progress which was noticeable since the last time they sparred.
Swing to the side. Block. Attack. Step back…
Luke was actually giving Anakin a hard time.
Suddenly Anakin felt something in the Force.
He froze.
It felt like a big explosion of power somewhere far away.
Just as it appeared it disappeared as if it never even was there.
He tried to return to the duel but quickly realized Luke also froze and was now standing with his head tilted as if trying to hear something.
“You felt it too?” Anakin asked.
Luke nods and looks at him.
“What was that?”
Anakin shrugs in response.
He activates his comm. “Obi-Wan, did you also feel that?”
“I would assume you mean that disturbance in the Force that just happened.”
“Yeah.”
“For me it was pretty faint. What do you and Luke make of it?”
Anakin and Luke glance at each other. Luke shrugs.
“We don't really know what to make of it, master.” Luke answers.
Anakin can hear Obi-Wan sigh.
“Let's meet in the meeting room and discuss this. I'll contact the council and other Jedi in the nearby area and find out more.”
Luke stepped into the meeting room with his father.
He notices Obi-Wan standing before the holos of most of the council.
“-ind out what it is you must.” Luke hears Yoda say.
Obi-Wan nods. “We will.”
The call is ended and the holos fade out.
Obi-Wan turns towards them.
“The council told us to abandon our current mission and check out the disturbance. I have also sent a message to any nearby Jedi asking if they felt the disturbance too. I have not yet received any replies.”
Obi-Wan turns to the table sitting in the middle of the room and activates the projector which displays a map of the nearby sectors.
“Can you two tell me where approximately you felt it?” he asks as he turns back to them.
Luke studies the map. They are in the Outer Rim. Currently in the K-3 grid square and heading to Arbiflux.
Luke looked up as he caught Anakin moving.
“Somewhere here.” Anakin says as he points to a place beyond the range of the map and beyond the edges of the galaxy.
“I agree. It was somewhere around there.” Luke adds.
Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow. “Beyond the edges of the galaxy?”
Luke and Anakin nod in unison.
“So we head there.” Obi-Wan says.
The Force silently starts whispering in disagreement urging him to think.
Luke shakes his head. “No. It won't be there.”
Anakin nods in agreement.
“Where will it be then?” Obi-Wan queries.
Both Luke and Anakin look down at the map.
Luke glances over it and his gaze lands on the corner of the map and the system there.
Birukay.
It's one of the closest to the edges of the galaxy.
“Here.” Luke and Anakin say in unison as they point at Birukay.
Obi-Wan gives them both an amused look.
“Well. It seems we will need to recalculate our jumps and head there.”
~
Lumi was studying the relic in her quarters when the doorbell beeped.
Without a second thought she used the Weave to open the door.
“You sure are getting more restless, Lumi.”
Lumi looked up at Syd who was standing in the doorway.
“We have been stuck on this ship for… 13 inyten by now! It's been long and boring! Of course I'm restless. Also please come in.” [13 inyten is about 6-7 months]
Syd smiled, entered and sat down on Lumi's bed.
She nodded towards the relic in Lumi's hands.
“What did you find out?”
Lumi puts her hand higher and lets the relic hover over palm.
“It's not a storage of information like the Unity believed. It's actually a very powerful weapon. I believe it's reusable but wouldn't dare to test it while on any kind of ship.”
“Ah. The Unity probably wouldn't have given it to you if they believed it to be dangerous.” Syd says thoughtfully.
Lumi grimaces. “Anything that the Aestus created, even if just information, is a weapon or can be weaponised, or is in other forms dangerous.”
Lumi feels a sense of agreement emanate from Syd.
“How many relics do you have left to study?” Syd enquires.
Lumi smiles bitterly. “This was the last one.”
“Oh well.” Syd smiles mischievously, “Pray that you won't have to use it.”
Lumi cracks a smile and looks down. She places the relic on her table and sighs.
“Look. I know the crew is on edge because of my restlessness. I apologize.”
Syd smiles gently at her. “I know you want to be back home and help but our mission is important. The crew trusts us even if you've put them on edge the past few inyten but it's okay.”
A smile starts tugging at Syd's lips. “Some crewmembers have even pranked you but you haven't noticed which most of the crew found very funny.”
Lumi blinks, shocked. “They've pranked me?!” she asks incredulously.
Syd snickers at Lumi's shock.
Lumi starts giggling. “Was I that blind?”
Syd nods while trying to suppress a laugh.
She leans towards Lumi and pats her on the head between her ears and antennae.
“Sometimes you really don't see anything.”
Lumi pouts. “I'm mad I didn't notice it because now I can't return the favor.”
Syd can't suppress her snickers anymore and falls into a fit of laughter.
Soon after Lumi joins in.
A beep of Syd's and Lumi's comm earpieces interrupts their laughter.
While Lumi struggles to regain her composure, Syd activates the comm with the Weave and puts it louder so Lumi can also hear it.
“Syd. Do you know where Talumi is? She hasn't responded right now.” Lumi can hear captain Ymin say over Syd's comm.
“I'm right here. What did you want to tell us?” Lumi replies.
“Both of you better get on the bridge.”
Lumi and Syd share a concerned glance.
They stand up in unison and head towards the bridge hurriedly while Syd asks into the comm: “Something bad?”
“Not really. Just… you'll see.” Ymin responds.
As they find themselves at the doors to the bridge Lumi uses the Weave to open them.
Captain Ymin turns towards them, his four eyes glancing at them.
Syd nods to Ymin respectfully.
Lumi is about to do the same when her gaze falls on the viewport.
Her breath hitches.
A ship, smaller than theirs is floating before them in space.
Somewhere behind the ship Lumi can spot a planet.
She takes the image in.
It is exactly as it was in the vision she had some time ago.
~
Obi-Wan, Luke, Anakin and Artoo were standing on the bridge of their pretty small ship.
They have finally reached Birukay but…
“I do not see anything out of the ordinary.” Obi-Wan noted.
“Give it some time. A few minutes.” Anakin replies.
They stare out of the viewport while Artoo is checking the sensors.
At some point Luke starts meditating.
A while later Anakin starts pacing while Obi-Wan watches him with his arms folded.
A few more minutes pass when a faint surge in the Force makes them all glance out of the viewport.
A ship appears before them, most likely it just dropped out of hyperspace.
The ship is about twice as big as theirs which isn't much considering how small their ship is.
It's smaller then a Star Destroyer but it's a type of ship that Obi-Wan has never seen.
They all stare at it unsure what to do or say.
~
Lumi throws her hand outwards and says: “Prepare to contact the other ship on all frequencies you can find, old, unused, used. All of them.”
Lumi marches over to the comm station.
“Prepared to record?” she asks the officer at the station.
They nod in response. “Yes, sir.”
“Let's see if they will understand our language. Hit record.”
The officer presses a button and glances at Lumi expectantly.
“Greetings. We come in peace. We mean no harm. If you understand this message please respond.”
Lumi then glances at the officer and they press the button again.
“Send it to them.” she orders.
Then she walks over to the viewport where Ymin and Syd are.
“I see you're taking the initiative.” Syd tells her.
Lumi glances at the unknown ship. “Someone always has to.”
~
The first to break the silence is Artoo.
His chirp disturbs the silence and brings all of them from shock or surprise.
“Yes Artoo?” Anakin asks.
Artoo twitters. <The other (ship/vessel) is (sending/broadcasting) a (message/information/letter) on most comm frequencies we can (detect/see/sense).>
“They're sending a message?” Luke reaffirms.
<That's what I (said/informed/meant/told).> Artoo confirms.
“Patch it through.” Anakin inquires.
They hear a voice speak a brief message but it is in a language none of them recognize.
Obi-Wan leans over the console and starts working. “I'm going to run it through the database if it's a language we have encountered before. In the meantime you should perhaps answer with our own greetings.”
Anakin stutters. “We- we don't even know if they're friendly or not yet! Shouldn't we wait until we can find out more?”
“They haven't fired at us yet. I would consider that friendly enough, Anakin.”
Anakin huffed and moved over to the comm console Luke was already standing over.
They chose one of the frequencies the other ship contacted them over and opened a transmission.
“Hello? Does anyone hear us? We do not understand the language you contacted us with.” Luke speaks.
“Could we maybe send them a list of languages we do know or can let the computer translate?” Anakin offers an idea.
“Good plan.”
It takes them a while but they end up sending them a list.
No response comes from the other side yet.
~
Syd, Lumi, Ymin and the android, Ady, lean over a list displayed on a screen.
“Nothing that can be understood. It's not even close to the writing system we use.” Ady observes.
Syd sighs.
Lumi grins. “Good thing we were ready for this then! Plan B it is!”
Lumi runs from them and starts working on something on a computer console.
“To be honest. I do not like the times when Talumi is hyperactive. She's too much to handle.” Ymin notes.
Syd smiles mischievously. “You tell me.”
Syd walks over to Lumi.
“Are you going to send the dictionary you compiled?”
Lumi nods enthusiastically. “Just double checking.”
It takes Lumi only a few moments before she moves over to the comm station while Syd trails behind her.
“Can you send it to them?” Lumi asks the officer.
“Yes, sir!”
A silence falls as the officer works.
“Sent!”
“Inform me if they respond in any way.” Lumi says as she pats them on the shoulder and strides over to the viewport.
~
“They have sent us a rather large file.” Luke informs.
“Artoo can you scan it for viruses or any other potential danger?” Anakin asks.
Artoo twitters an answer and goes silent as he works.
It takes only a moment before Artoo warbles that it's safe.
Obi-Wan moves over to them. “That definitely wasn't a language we have encountered before.” he says thoughtfully as he strokes his beard.
“Well they sent us something. Want to take a look with us?”
Obi-Wan nods and they open the file.
“It's a dictionary!” Luke exhaled.
“Interesting. It seems to be made with the idea that the two sides don't share any common language in mind.” Obi-Wan notes.
Anakin abruptly starts working on the console.
Obi-Wan and Luke watch him for a moment.
“What are you doing?” Obi-Wan queries.
“Letting the computer learn the language from the dictionary so we can use it as a translator.” Anakin replies.
After just a few more seconds Anakin steps back. “Give it some time.”
They all wait (impatiently) while the computer works.
At some point Obi-Wan tells them he'll go inform the council about what they found.
Even after he returns the computer is still working so they all return to waiting.
“Finally!” Anakin says, exasperated, as the computer finishes.
They let it translate the first message they were sent.
‘Hello. We come in peace. We mean no harm. If you understand this message please respond.’
“So they come with peace in mind.” Obi-Wan notes.
“Unless they aren't lying.” Anakin retorts.
“I would focus more on how we should respond.” Luke interjects.
“Perhaps something along the lines of: ‘Thanks for the dictionary. We don't want a fight either’ and stuff?”
~
‘Greetings. Thanks to your dictionary we have been able to set up a basic translator. We do not mean any harm either and strive for peace.
That does bring us to the questions of who you are. And why are you here?’
Syd reads the response they got out loud.
Lumi pouts. “It would be nice if we could learn their language.” She notes.
Syd pauses.
“That might not be the worst idea. You could then learn it and we could maybe meet them face to face.”
Lumi considers Syd's idea.
Then starts writing an answer.
~
‘We are travellers from far away.
The reasons why we came are complex.
I understand you have questions and rightfully so, but may I ask if it's possible you shared your language with us? We may be able to add it to our translators so we could meet face to face.’
The three Jedi read the message.
“It will take a while to do…” Anakin says thoughtfully.
“We can warn them.” Luke replies.
“Do it. I'll start working on it.”
~
‘It will take a while. Please wait.’
Syd reads out loud.
Lumi huffs disdainfully.
“It's just a little bit more time, Lumi. Nothing compared to how long it took to travel here.” Syd says, amused.
Lumi rolls her eyes.
“Contact me when they finish.”
Lumi starts walking towards the bridge door, then she pauses.
“Better yet. Send it to me when they finish. I'll start learning it right away.” she adds.
Then she leaves.
It took them pretty long but when Lumi finally got her hands on the info about their language she found it funny they used her dictionary as a basis to build on and add to.
“So how long will it take to learn?" Syd questions.
“Give me a cycle.” Lumi answers distractedly, already going through the dictionary. [cycle=one spin of planet/day]
“They have asked us if we can meet on the planet below.” Syd adds trying to keep Lumi's attention for a while longer.
“Is there a problem with their idea?”
“The planet has a type III atmosphere.”
“That isn't necessarily dangerous…” Lumi trails off.
“The current idea for a team is you, me with a translator device and Ady as the atmosphere is completely safe for all three of us.” Syd informs.
Lumi smiles. “Since you and Ady don't need to breathe.”
Syd shrugs. “Yeah”
“Let's land on the planet. Tell them to give us a cycle. While I learn, setup your translator.” Lumi says.
Syd nods and leaves Lumi in peace.
~
A day. They're meant to give them a day.
It can't be that bad. Right?
It really wasn't.
Obi-Wan was worried at first but Anakin seemed pretty content with spending time with Luke which… honestly? He should have expected.
It always was that way.
After noticing the other ship landed on Birukay they decided to do the same.
The day passed by fast.
It was time to meet these travellers from far away.