Answering the Call: The Ensign

Sleeping in his tree-home with his wife; an ensign wakes slowly, without alarm.  He doesn't know why he is awake; until about 30 seconds later, he hears drums pounding from outside. The steady “dum dum dum dum” was ringing throughout the trees.  The ensign walks over to the window to see what is going on, more are stumbling out of their tree-homes within the tall trees of the capital city of the planet Star Forge II. Above he hears the sounds and sees military transports swooping into the nearby landing pads; followed by the softer “zing” of a small but agile craft landing with them. He knows what is happening, for he remembers the day his father went away under the same circumstances. War was upon the empire yet again. 

Just waking up, his wife looks around in confusion; wondering why there is so much noise.  As everything cleared up she sees her husband with his shoulder armor on, putting on his bandolier, and reaching for his ryyk kerarthorr blades, the same blades that were passed down from six generations of warriors.  She springs out of bed and gives a grunt of confusion and fear.  Surprised, he slowly turns around to see his beautiful wife, six months pregnant with their first child, standing in confusion.  He grunts and nods towards the window.  As she walks over to the window, there is a knock at the door.  They both pause, paralyzed by fear and caution.

After a second of waiting, the ensign walks over and answers the door.  In the doorway is a tall figure with long brown robes, with the hood up.  After a few grunts and growls, the tall figure walks in and takes off his hood.  He is the Jedi Master, a renown hero of the empire.  As the hero entered, several elite soldiers followed, all with ryyk kerarthorr blades; their shoulder armor engraved with symbols meaning “Jedi Escort”. Their look was serious and solemn.

After a few grunts and several low growls and howls, the ensign puts on his helmet, the helmet that was presented to him the day he was told about his father's death.  The ensign walks to his wife and grunts to the Jedi Master and his escort for a moment alone.  After the Jedi and company left, the ensign looks at his wife; whose tears now infect the ensign's eyes.  After holding his forehead to hers', he grunts a sad grunt; which is returned by the same from her.

A low roar from one of the elites outside was met by a slightly more aggressive roar from the ensign.  He looks into his wife's eyes and gives her a tight hug.  He turned to walk out, both with tears in their eyes. He walks to the mantel, takes and sheaths the ryyk kerarthorr baldes (blades that have seen hundreds of years of battle, blood, and especially tears), grabs and straps on his modified bowcaster, and walks out the door. Shutting the door he turns to the Jedi Master and grunts to move on towards the ships; knowing he may never see his wife again, nor his only child.