Typhin stumbles back a few paces, wobbles where he stands, before finally collapsing into a chair. He seems desolate, to say the least. Which I can sort of understand, I mean… all his crewmates are off floating in space, and he isn’t even allowed to try to retrieve their bodies for a proper funeral. Still, this is all good news, isn’t it?

I walk up to him, mustering a small smile. “Isn’t that great, sir? You’re going to be rescued!”

The look he gives me says everything about how unhappy he is. He takes a deep breath. Looks away. “Nobody was prepared when it happened. No sirens, no screaming and shouting, just silence and then a crash. All I could do was stand there like some idiot while the ship collapsed around me. And you know what saved me? What kept me alive? When the minutes grew short and all hope was lost, the one who got me into a spacesuit, who got me safe, it wasn’t me. It wasn’t even a technician. It was a stormtrooper. Some no-name rank filler. He saved my life, and now I am to forget he ever existed.”

...There’s nothing you can say to that. No words that can comfort such an experience. So I just sit down right there on the ground next to him. And there I sit for a pretty good while until I see something approaching outside the mountain.

I turn to Typhin. “They’re here, sir.”

He turns back to me. “Then we will meet them.”

By the time we’ve gone back outside, a small bunch of spaceships have all landed at various points around the mountain, some over by the Jedi temple, others here on the mining side. The only reason I’m able to see both sides is that my large body is about as tall as the mountain, making it perfectly able to see how small landing plates open on the hulls of the ships and people step out, some dressed in black, others dressed in white, with what seems like guns pointed at-,

Huh? Why’re they pointed at me? That’s both weird and rude! Even worse, assuming they’re anything like that little gun that Typhin shot me with, those things could probably hurt me pretty badly!

From where I and Typhin stand, right in the entrance to the mines, the situation is all too visible to both I and Typhin. A gloved hand falls on my shoulder. “Remain both calm and still. Any movement will cause them to panic.”

“Yes, sir.”

We continue walking, but I keep an eye on those guys. See, some of them are getting kind of close to where I stand. Even though I’m trying to stay as still as possible, something about their body language just oozes caution and fear. Not that I can see it on their faces. Most of these guys, excluding the ones in black spacesuits, are wearing a weird white armour, including helmets that cover their faces. The helmets are… I can’t tell if they’re cool or weird?

But now that I and Typhin have gotten close enough for them to see us, they actually turn away from my large body to look at us.

“Ah, Commander! Glad to find you ali-, what manner of creature is that?” one of the white-armoured men asks, jogging up to stand close enough for me to really see him, but keeping at an appropriate distance. He seems just about ready to whip up his big gun.

Typhin places a hand on my chest, touching the robe I’ve borrowed. “He is my saviour, and you needn’t fear him, trooper. Neither have you any reason to point your blasters at the local fauna.”

The trooper seems to relax a bit as other similarly dressed troopers approach, apart from one black-dressed man. The troopers part to allow him to talk to Typhin through the coms inside their helmets, letting him act as what seems like a leader. He’s wearing a little hat beneath his spacesuit, but even then his complexion is kind of similar to Typhin, apart from that his ears are more rounded. Wait, he’s giving me a weird look. “Commander. I’ll assume this would be the creature that you reported as your rescuer?”

“That is indeed so. He will be coming along with us.”

“Are you sure that is wise, Commander? His complexion does not match with any known species. Is he even sentient to an acceptable degree?”

Typhin’s eyes sharpen. “This is a matter better discussed inside the ship, as my oxygen might run low at any time. Treat him as a guest, not as an animal. I owe him my life, and once I am able to personally report my findings to the Commodore, the Empire will be glad to have known his use.” A pause. He glances at me. “Furthermore, he has already sworn his allegiance to the Empire.”

“...Very well, Commander. Come along, I’ll bring you to the main cruiser.” With a wave of the hand, the man urges Typhin to walk beside him, with the troopers flanking them in rows or two by three.

Huh? Wait, what’s happening, who am I supposed to-,

The man in black turns his head slightly. “Troopers, escort our guest.”

“”Yes, sir.””

I’m not sure how it happened, but all of a sudden, I’m surrounded by these guys on both sides. I really wish I could see their eyes, but I can’t, so…

Typhin and that guy up front are both talking, so, I guess…

I look up. One of the troopers happens to turn a little my way. “Hi! What’s your name?” And, boy, the man practically jumps out of his suit, almost dropping his gun, before finally bringing himself back together. “Are you okay?”

“Don’t-, are you talking to me?” he asks, pointing between the guys walking in front of him and himself. I nod. “Uh. My operating number is AT-1409.”

“That’s not a name. My name is Mort! It’s short for something longer but I’d rather you just called me Mort. Easier.”

The trooper searches about his fellow troops for a second, clearly seeking some sort of guidance. Maybe it’s not okay for them to speak to me? That’d be sad though, I don’t like being alone. Like, Typhin and that other guy are still at the front, just sort of talking, and I don’t want to just walk about awkwardly, so… The trooper finally turns back to me, voice hushed and low. “I don’t-, I don’t have a name.”

No name? Impossible. “Everybody has a name.”

“Well, I don’t, and neither do my comrades. At least, not anymore,” he answers, and kind of solemnly, too. But it’s wrong. All humans have names, and this guy is a human, which means that he has a name! Flawless logic.

I cross my arms. “Hmpf.” A thought flashes through my mind. “Can I call you Atte?”

“Atte?”

“Yeah! As a - what’s that word - a nick-name! It’s not a real name, but it is something to call you by that isn’t random numbers.”

He watches me for a few seconds, considering my offer. Then, with a defeated sigh, “Fine, sure. As long as it isn’t some alien slur I guess it should work?” Aha! I gottem!

I stretch out my hand to him as we walk. “Happy to meet you, Atte!”

He looks over my hand for a second, taking in the fact that I only actually have three fingers, and then, with a sigh and a curse, he balances his gun in his left hand and shakes my hand with his right. Heck yessssssss. I grin toothily, feeling how his hand flinches a little in mine.

We walk past my large body. Man. Big as usual, huh? Not a single trooper can resist craning their necks to try and see the top of it. Even Atte, walking right at my side, seems a bit off-put by it.

“Don’t worry Atte, I won’t move a bit!” I say reassuringly.

His head snaps around to face me before pausing a moment. “What do you mean by that? What does that-,”

“Ah, Commander! Glad you arrive in one piece!” some guy beside one of the many large ships says with open arms, unabashedly approaching Typhin with a grin on his face. Unlike that other guy, he’s wearing a green outfit, just like Typhin. But he seems much younger, almost childlike. “And we only lost a single ship in this rescue mission! I’ll assume that creature streaking about in some Jedi robe is your so-called saviour?”

“You are most perceptive, Lieutenant. I hope you will allow him good treatment on this short journey?” Typhin answers like I’m not even here, which feels kind of weird, but he seems to have my best intentions in my mind, so I guess it’s fine?

The Lieutenant cocks his neck to take a look at me, his face twisting in ill-hidden disdain. “...Of course. Though, you are aware that this treatment of such an unknown creature may reflect poorly on your loyalty to the Empire?” Typhin doesn’t answer. “Though, as always, Commander, we will make sure to feed it well. Would it be acceptable should it find housing alongside the droids, or should I make space in the barracks with the troopers?”

Typhin glances back at me for a moment. I try to smile, but it’s kind of hard because I don’t think what the Lieutenant just said was very, uh, kind? Either way, I smile, just to ensure Typhin that I’m fine with anything. Just being around humans is enough for me.

“...A bed with the troopers will do him well, I’m sure. Now, before we all freeze, may I enter?”

The Lieutenant claps his hands together and steps to the side. “Of course, Commander! With all due respect, come, join us. This cruiser may be a tad smaller than your own vessel, but it will house us all, I’m sure.” As the Lieutenant said, this spaceship is actually pretty big. Like, not immensely big, but maybe the size of a couple of houses stacked on each other? Big enough to hold a couple of dozen people, that’s for sure.

Accepting the offer, Typhin steps inside while I and the other troopers follow. Well outside, I can see other white-clad troopers hold their hand to their helmet before stepping back inside their own smaller ships.

The ships aren't small by any measure, but compared to the one we’re going inside, they're like matchbooks next to a kettle.

I step onto the platform leading into the ship. Metal clanking hollowly beneath my feet.

My first step towards a better life.

Heck yes.