008 | video

[aftersomething]

—lo? Hello? Finally.

[The ID is familiar: Han Solo, it reads, same as it always does. The face, however, looks different: younger, less careworn, the hair shorter than before. There's a lack of Han's usual easily casual demeanor, too, because instead this version seems somewhat agitated. Suddenly finding oneself in the driver's seat of an incredibly bad car and nowhere near where he's supposed to be will do that to someone.

Han runs a hand through his hair. He doesn't yet have the smuggler's bravado he'll find so easy to raise like a wall around him in fourteen years—he's still raw, still soft, idealistic and even poorer at hiding it than he will be.]

I got a couple of people I'm looking for: a Wookiee named Chewie, we've, uh, kinda been working together a while. You can't miss him, he's a seven-foot-tall furball. Beckett, he's human, kinda old, might be using a fake name if he's here. Qi'ra, she's—

[He stops, hesitates. Someone I love, he doesn't say.]

She's an old friend of mine, she's got dark hair, brown eyes, real pretty girl.

If you see them, tell them Han Solo's looking for them, and if you guys are watching this? We need to talk about how we're getting off this planet.

[A beat. Then:]

This'll be a long shot, but has anyone here heard of a guy named Lando Calrissian? I'm looking for him, too. I got a job for him.

Comments

[smugler]

Han! [ Yup, still pronouncing it wrong. ] Look no further, I'm here. It's about time you got the rewind treatment.

[aftersomething]

[There's a beat of silence, as Han squints at Lando. Then:]

You look a little shorter than I thought you would be. [As an afterthought, and with a tone that says he is definitely not affected by this nosirree absolutely not at all:] And it's Han.

[smugler]

[ Squint... ]

Wait. Don't tell me... You forgot me? Oh, what a cruel mistress this porter is!

[aftersomething]

Forgot you? I haven't even met you before right now.

And—where are we, anyway?

[smugler]

Well, I guess it's going to fall on me to explain everything. [ What a terrible hardship. ]

You're on a planet called Earth. I know, dumb name. We were all brought here by this thing called the Porter. It's a teleportation device that's... alive... somehow. Don't ask me.

You were here before, but older. You won't remember, because it hasn't happened to you yet.

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[flightforfreedom]

Ah, kriff, you pulled a Lando!

[ Normally Poe would be more upset by this development, but at the moment Poe looks 18 years old and honestly a lot less is phasing him. It seems more like an adventure, than anything else. ]

No Chewie, I hate to say, and other than Lando I have no idea who you're talking about. Leia's still here, though. [ A thoughtful pause. ]

Though I haven't seen her since this weird shit started. Maybe she's younger, too?

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[aftersomething]

I did what.

[Seriously, you people are weird. Han stares at this kid about his age, wondering what the hell he's talking about.]

I've got no idea who you're talking about. I didn't say anything about anyone named Leia. [And now he's just running a hand through his hair. This is all giving him a headache.] Slow down there, what's this "weird shit" that just got started?

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[flightforfreedom]

You pulled a Lando. Same thing happened to him a few weeks ago. Disappeared, came back younger, and incredibly attractive. Didn't remember anything.

You've been here for a while, Han, you were just, uh - damn, I've no idea. How old are you now? Or, well, think you are.

And yeah, I know you didn't. I'm not sure you've technically met her, yet, but uh - you will. Ooooh you will. [ He offers a grin laced with meaning. Sexy meaning.

Also, he's not slowing down. Sorry, Han. Poe doesn't do anything slowly. ]

Anyway, looks like weird things are happening to everyone. It happens a hell of a lot more often than you'd think - the Porter loves to mess with us. I woke up like this yesterday. Not that I'm complaining. At least I can remember everything, which seems like a bit of a crap shoot, for everyone else.

Oh right - I'm Poe, by the way, Poe Dameron. Not that it would mean anything to you, which is fine. You'll remember my name again pretty damn soon when I show you just how fast I can go on this skateboard.

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[aftersomething]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but stang, man, slow down, I can't catch everything. [But he did catch one thing, and he raises an eyebrow and smirks:] So I'm attractive now, huh?

[He might be flirting back, a little bit.]

I'm nineteen. [He says with the surety of someone lying through their teeth.] Your age, or 'roundabout that time, anyway. [A pause, before he adds:] I think I'd remember if I ever met someone by that name who's as attractive as you're telling me she is.

[Which he kind of doubts, because, well, Qi'ra.]

Okay, then show me. In person, not over this network.

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[flightforfreedom]

[ Poe grins, wickedly. ] I mean, you've always been attractive, but I definitely wouldn't kick you out of bed, if you know what I mean. [ Poe, everyone knows what you mean. ]

Yeah - I've no idea how old I am. I mean, I was thirty-two, but I'm definitely not that, now.

Yeah, you just haven't met her yet. Or something like that.

Oh- Oh right. Okay, one second, I can do this fast: The Millenium Falcon is a piece of shit and I could out fly it any day of my life, on a couch.

[vanto]

No one is getting off this planet any time soon.

[aftersomething]

[A derisive laugh. Sorry, Han at this age is a little punk.]

Yeah, right. You're telling me there's a sentient teleportation device and superpowers but no way to get off the planet? Come on.

[vanto]

I'm not very good with jokes so yeah, I'm telling you this as fact.

[aftersomething]

Anyone ever tried, y'know, talking to the teleportation device? Getting it to get us off this rock?

[vanto]

Trust me buddy, it won't work.

Voice

[igniculus]

[ It's because of how young he looks that Leia doesn't bring anything up. Whatever she'd bring to his attention, it likely won't match with what he's brought up to the network.

Still. How hard can it be to swallow down the lump of emotions caught in her throat, wedged there so hard that it takes a full moment before she can gather her voice. ]

I know Lando. And I'll chime what another has already said: we aren't leaving any time soon.

[aftersomething]

How do you know Lando?

[It's been a long day, so when Han's voice comes through, it's frustrated and snappish, tired from all the bombs that keep getting dropped on him and catching him off his guard. It's not a good feeling.]

Gotta be some way off this rock, though. Maybe they don't have a space port, but from what I hear they've got something.

[igniculus]

We fought together, against the Empire. He is— [ She almost drops the was before catching herself. ] also a friend of the family, you could say.

They do have something. There's just not a lot we can do to get to that something.

[aftersomething]

Huh, Calrissian's a rebel now? [Him and, apparently, this older Han Solo. Who Han is trying very hard not to think about. He's not dumb, he's figured out that the car and the clothes and the life belong to this older version of him, but he's trying very hard not to fall into an existential crisis.]

But we could get to that something. Yeah, it's pretty limited, but it's possible to get there.

[igniculus]

You could say that, yes. [ Should she go more into it? Probably better to just take it slow. ]

I don't see why not. The only thing really stopping any of us is the government. However... I've been here long enough to know that even though it's possible, it's better to just leave it be.

[ Because discussing it over a public network won't get them any where in particular that's good. ]

[Video]

[faithfulson]

Who names a wookiee Chewie? I thought they had cooler names than that?

[ Although, they couldn't be all like that creepy black furred one that attacked Uncle Owen. Maybe the nice ones had funny names. ]

[Video]

[aftersomething]

[Where is this kid's parents???]

His full name's Chewbacca, but that's a mouthful, so I just call him Chewie instead. [A huff of breath.] You're a little far from home, kid.

[Video]

[faithfulson]

That's still a funny name.

[ Luke let out a huff as well. He wasn't a kid, he was eleven! ]

You're far from home too.

[Video]

[aftersomething]

It is, isn't it? Don't tell him that, though. He's pretty proud of it.

[Aw, what a cute kid. Han leans forward and smirks a little.]

I'm a pilot, kiddo. My home's my ship, and I'm never far from it. [He says, with no ship and no idea how to get out of here.] Usually.

[Video]

[faithfulson]

Wait, you're a pilot too?

[ Han, suddenly you've become the most interesting person on the planet. Luke scooted a little closer to the communicator, his expression lit up. ]

What do you fly? Is your ship here? Can I see it?