Star Wars: The Last Ride Chapter 1

Minuteman75

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I don't own anything from Star Wars or Disney just only my OCs.


Hanna City, Planet Chandirila

19 ABY

Outside an intensive treatment unit an towering and elderly Itohorian in white robe stood next to a Duros. The latter wore an emerald collared suit with matching pants and black shoes underneath. Despite his well tailored appearance the blue skinned man was utterly stricken. Both crimson eyes fell to the mostly clear floor as he stared down at the reflection below.

He squeezed his hands into shaking fists, fighting to control himself. As for the doctor she patiently waited for him to process everything he just learned. It was taking every fiber of his being from going out of control. The Ithorian despite her mostly professional posture displayed a sympathetic expression through her eyes. This part never gets easy and nor should it. The hammer-headed doctor concluded before the Durosian looked back up to her his eyes now pleading.

"Is there anything that can be done, Doctor Nalti?" He begged in a barely restrained tone, hoping against hope that there was another way.

Sighing sadly and shaking her head from side to side and she replied in a stereo-like voice through the translator collar top of her neck.

"Captain, please listen. We have done everything possible, you know that. There is nothing more to be done now."

As if it punched in the gut Hugo Ion's jaw dropped but he couldn't find anything to say in response. In denial he shook his head vigorously.

"No…no…no…no it can't be. Not like this…not after everything we..."

Placing a hand on the captain's left shoulder, Doctor Nalti regained his attention before she said in empathy.

"I'm sorry Hugo, I truly am."

Taken aback the thirty nine year old Duros closed his mouth, fighting down a sob threatening to break out. Doctor Nalti's eyes started to tear up at the sight of her friend's grief. Behind them a medical droid escorted a young human boy of olive skin in a hover-chair out of an adjacent room and headed to the end of the hallway.

Subsequently a half minute later Hugo was able to whisper.

"How long does she have?"

Clearing all four throats in mournful resignation Nalti was swift and honest to answer.

"Hard to say Hugo. A few hours or days perhaps."

Letting go of her comrade's shoulder the doctor paused briefly before adding.

"It's best you cherish what time you have left with her. I'll…make sure no one disturbs you both and handle everything else but she needs you now Hugo more than ever."

Nodding solemnly, the captain straightened up as the Nalti turned away, bringing out her datapad and typing away with her long fingers. Twisting around Hugo faced the door in front of him. There was an intense moment of hesitation from him but despite the heartache he pressed the unlock button and the door slid open.

Within the white stainless room, with a large clear window to the side was the hospital cot. There lay a Rodian woman of reddish scaled skin wearing a hospital gown, sleeping with a grimace in her expression. His heart felt stabbed to see his beloved in pain Hugo nevertheless closed the door while composing himself.

"I won't add to her suffering." He murmured in a determined tone.

Mustering courage he walked over to his chair beside the cot and sat down. They had been living in this room for over a week. As if sensing his presence Hugo's wife began to stir, large rounded blue eyes flickered and she managed to say with a smiling snout.

"Hello…helmsman..."

Eyes widened Hugo quickly grinned back in spite of his sorrow. "Greetings navigator, we need a status update." The Durosian answered in a teasing tone, causing his wife to groan in amusement.

"That's a bad impression of our old captain. He'd be crawling in his grave if he saw that."

Sharing a chuckle with his spouse Hugo took her right hand and held it as gently as possible before uttering.

"Shii…"

Keeping eyes on her husband, Shii rubbed the back of Hugo's hand with her thumb. Choking with a torrent of emotion he looked out to the window that gave evidence to the midnight sky. In addition there were lines of airspeeder traffic throughout Hanna's skyscrapers. Despite her condition Shii didn't fail to notice the restraint Hugo was putting on himself. Immediately the Rodian guessed what that meant but stayed silent as the Durosian said.

"I-I…saw the actor, Mukk from the holoshow, my Wookiee neighbor. He was hanging out with a bunch of kids at the cafeteria during lunch. A nice enough fellow I gotta admit."

Shii's countenance brightened at the mention of Mukk. "Really? He was here?"

Hugo nodded in confirmation, eager to discuss something positive.

"Oh yes he was. They had a great time from what I can tell. He handed out life day orbs to all of them and through a translator droid spoke about what the holiday is really about you know since it's coming pretty soon."

"Yes it is…"

Awkward silence followed between the couple as Hugo stared at the sheet. He was torn between wanting to look her in the eyes yet at the same time not wanting to see her suffering. She squeezed his hand, getting the captain's attention.

"Doc told you something. It's about me isn't it?"

Suppressing a sigh Hugo grimaced. They had known each other for years even before they ever became a couple. Of course she would figure it out. Feeling helpless all over again while fighting to remain calm Hugo glanced up and could only manage to confess with a weak nod.

Shii closed her eyes and bit her lower snout. In a way for sometime she had felt the end was drawing near yet… The former navigator had hoped that it would be many years and that Hugo and her would pass away peacefully in their sleep together. Instead she was suffering in immense pain and her beloved being forced only to watch.

The thought of him being left behind was heart wrenching.

Turning to her husband whose grief became more evident with each passing moment, Shii in spite of her own anguish managed to smile.

"Hugo, you remember that night on Endor? After the battle?"

Caught off guard by the question, the Duros paused for a moment. Memories awakened within him.

X-Wings soaring above the forest with fireworks sparking in the night sky. The Ewoks and rebels alike danced around campfires with beating drums, celebrating a victory that was theirs and the whole galaxy's. Oh yes he certainly remembered that night.

"Those little furballs knew how to party." He said with a chuckle and Shii giggled in return.

Then another memory, one more cherished, flashes through Hugo's vision causing him and his wife to smile at one another.

"The same night we finally got married." Shii said before adding. "By our own captain no less with the crew and those Ewoks watching."

"You were so lovely." Hugo declared, causing the Rodian to roll her eyes. "Oh sure, covered in sweat and my uniform all stained."

Shaking his head the other veteran insisted. "You were beautiful then and the same, now."

On his right hand's index finger was a simple grayish metal ring. In response Shii displayed her ring on the left hand. She remembered how they slowly danced as they held one another in their arms beside a great fire while many of their comrades cheered them on.

"That was the best night…ever." Shii whispered fondly. Hugo couldn't agree more, commenting. "In more ways than one."

Shii smirked at her husband's flirty expression before nostalgia overcame her.

"You know, growing up in the streets of Level 1313 I saw you as an annoying jerk half of the time."

Stiffening a chuckle that almost came out Hugo titled his bluish head. "Well to my younger self you were such a little stuck-up who kept butting into everybody's business."

In playful retaliation Shii pinched her spouse's cheek causing him to grunt before she let go.

"Mother of moons all the trouble and fun we got into. Us and Duxil."

Collectively their expressions became pained at the mention of their childhood friend.

"He was the one who brought our group together in the first place. Some urchins in the worst slums on Coruscant making mischief when we were not scraping by to survive another rotation."

Shii nodded in agreement with what Hugo pointed out. She remembered all too well those filthy streets. It was a wonder how they survived long enough to finally escape.

"Like us Druxil dreamed we could leave that wretched hole one day and reach the stars we often heard about when living down there."

As if guided by another will the couple looked out to the window, past the buildings and traffic and toward the midnight sky with its blanket of stars. Hugo couldn't help but remember the first time when they as kids alongside Druxil sneaked their way up to the Coruscant's surface.

It was on a night similar to this. The first time we breathed surface air. The first time we ever saw the sky. That most marvelous thing we ever saw up to that point.

Keeping those thoughts to himself Hugo just continued to look out to the heavens with his wife. He lowered his head while maintaining their shared grip on one another's hand. Not all memories were good...

He shuddered.

A gangster's boot violently kicking him as a child repeatedly while being cursed at. The crack of an electric whip inside a spice mine. Ships exploding in space, men and women screaming with agony. Now his beloved was going to…

Shii's other hand touches his face, causing Hugo to gasp in a near sob. Their eyes met again. There were a few moments of attentive quietness between them trying to comfort one another silently. Then a determined glint surfaced on Shii's eyes and she said,

"Hugo…I don't want it to end like t-this. Let's go do what we both had…dreamed and loved doing-g. P-please let's go fly together…"

Gasping again Hugo was taken aback. A part of him was desperately hoping that Shii will recover if she just stay here despite what Doctor Nalti already told him. But seeing the pleading in his wife's eyes made Hugo realize that this is her wish and…his as well.

"…Yes we will." He promised her.

Minutes later the door slid open and Hugo came out carrying in both arms Shii who was wrapped in a warm blanket. Immediately Doctor Nalti who was still outside blinked in utter surprise before raising a long hand in swift objection.

"Hugo what are you doing?!"

"We're leaving Doc."

Just as the Ithorian was about to said something in response Shii spoke up.

"Doc, please understand... I realize I don't have much time left but since that is the case I want to face the end on our own terms! By flying through the stars for the last time."

Hearing those words Nalti gave her patient a long and thoughtful look. She did indeed understood what Shii wanted. Subsequently the doctor slowly nodded.

"Very well. If this is truly your wish I'll authorize it while you both leave."

Hearing that Shii's eyes watered

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Doc."

Doctor Nalti turned her hammer shaped head away from the couple, her composure breaking with evident guilt. The old medic answered back her voice heavy with sorrow despite the stereo tone from the collar.

"No, no, I don't deserve it Shii. If only—I could've…"

"Nalti don't do that to yourself I beg you." The Rodian interrupted her. As the doctor and Hugo stayed silent Shii continued.

"We have known each other since the Mid Rim Retreat. You did everything possible to help and that's more than enough. I'm truly grateful for that and even more so for our friendship. Don't you dare blame yourself for what's happening to me and nor you Hugo."

Looking down at his wife Hugo bit his lower jaw, pained at what she was asking him of. Sighing again Shii then said.

"Farewell Doc, it's been an honor."

Moved by the words of her old comrade Doctor Nalti bowed her head.

"Likewise Shii Ion and may the force be with the both of you."

Then Nalti moved out of the way and the couple can immediately tell that the former ship's medic was smiling however, sadly. Grateful Hugo walked down the hall still holding onto his wife.
 
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