Rowds staggered into his quarters nearly ready to fall asleep. The Overwhelming Odds simulation had been his singular focus for the last four hours and his brain was dead tired now. He went over to the closet and tried to find some clothing that would be a little more comfortable. He couldn't seem to find anything that would be anywhere near comfortable. All the clothes he could seem to find were the uptight clothes his family would only allow him to buy.

He started to remember about another time a similar situation had happened.


A six-year-old Rowds followed his family to the white-armored guards, who, for some reason Rowds never understood until a few years later, stood with their black blaster rifles pointed toward their left shoulder. The clothes he was currently wearing were slightly uncomfortable. However, the regality would have made up for it, if Rowds would have noticed. As it was, at the time he was more concerned about comfort. Two hours at a boring party where adults would be talking about various topic that had neither to do with nor concerned a six-year-old would have been boring enough without having to sit there squirming trying to get into a comfortable spot. Although this party would be nothing of the sort, the six-year-old thought that was what all parties were.

Today, however, would shatter that supposition and, additionally, forge his singular dream about what he should do in life, for this was to celebrate the victory at the Second Battle of Ord Biniir.

Those white guards, who towered over Rowds, did nothing. However, a person in a dark-olive green-gray uniform took the invitation that had been sent to his family. The man, or officer as Rowds now knew, scanned the invitation with his eyes, checking for something. Whatever he was looking for he found because he turned it back to Rowds’ father, who accepted it. The officer let them through with no pomp or ceremony.

They were led through the gate and led into the restaurant by one of the waitresses. The restaurant which had been rented out for the occasion had a dark red overtone although all the walls, chairs, and tables were gray. Today, the restaurant had created one grand table in the middle using all the chairs and tables they had. The lighting was a dimmed grayish-white. In the front, or what could be considered the front, there was a fairly good sized stage.

Today, unlike the thousands of the parties before this one, they were served extremely quickly. The family ate while talking about the victory somewhere.

Somebody quietly whispered about some type star being blown up.

Another responded, “But if one squadron, I say again, one single squadron could take back an entire world, then why do we need the Death Star. A battle station of that size only attracts unnecessary attention.”

Clearly, the first person was not about to give up as he responded, “What about the wing, the entire wing, that lost the world in the first place? I say the Empire will fall, but we could be hailed as triumphant heroes by the Rebellion, if only we threw our lot in with the Rebellion. Together we could provide the monetary support needed for the Rebellion.” As he spoke the last words, a bolt dashed across the table, striking him in the chest.

The officer that had admitted them into the restaurant stood with a drawn blaster. “For your information ladies and gentlemen, treasonous speech will not be tolerated,” he spoke. Everybody nodded in support. He continued, “During the First Battle of Ord Biniir, the entire wing was ambushed and destroyed as they tried to take off. However, in the second battle, with both sides having no element of surprise we destroyed them. We took the worst squadron of the worst wing and utterly destroyed them." The officer waited to make sure nobody had any comments.

"You may return to your festivities.” He quickly signaled the staff to take the body out.

Paying the staff no attention, Rowds thought about it and then set his mind on one thought, the one thought that never would change.

He would become a member of the Empire's Navy.

OOC:

Word Count:704

This story will give some important events leading Rowds becoming a member of the Navy.