Video 001 | Week 78, Thursday

[sfoils]

[ The speaker looks positively average: brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin. His voice is composed despite the message. ] I am Commander Wedge Antilles of Rogue Squadron. [ He shifts closer into view, wincing in pain. But as quickly as it comes, it goes. He settles his expression back into neutrality. ] I've crash landed here and I'd appreciate help fishing out my snubfighter. Or at least getting my cargo and astromech out of it.

I don't have much in the way of payment, but there's three bottles of my world's best whiskey in there. [ And Kettch, Wedge remembers absentmindedly. ] Oh, and some food rations. [ Wryly. ] Unless you like cardboard, I wouldn't recommend them.

Antilles out. [ And the transmission ends. ]

Comments

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Despite the heartache of knowing that now Wedge is stuck here with the rest of them Luke can't help but grin softly when he hears his old call sign. That sure feels good. At the notice of his beard however, Luke's grin fades a bit. He'd completely forgotten how different he probably looks.]

Oh! Uh, a few weeks ago. Long story. [Mostly having to do with depression and hiding from everyone after a very not-fun incident. Wedge will surely get to hear all about that later along with the weird time differences thing.] Look, uh... we'll get your ship out, don't worry about that. I can call some locals to help us. Wes is here too and I think he has access to some machinery.

You've obviously already found Edmund, the guy handing out comm devices. Did he, uh... explain anything? I mean about this planet in particular?

[sfoils]

[ Wedge's not altogether here yet thanks to the pain in his leg, but even so his senses are not so dulled that he can't pick up on his wingmate's change of demeanor. There's a story to this, the kind that means leaving won't be as simple as repairing one snubfighter and flying off into space. ] Wait, Wes is here? [ Mild-mannered as Wedge tends to be, he can't hide the surprise in his voice. Wes, Luke, both here?

This doesn't add up. He'd seen both of them not that long ago in Coruscant. ] Not really, no. [ And Wedge too much in a hurry to care for an explanation just yet. ] Listen, I got a shard of transparisteel stuck in my thigh and I'm going to need help removing it. [ Swimming with a wound leg, what a wonderful idea, Wedge. That salt sure hurt. ] I got a medkit in the X-wing's cargo.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke's eyes go wide and his tone has suddenly changed.] Woah wait, you're hurt? Nonono, forget a medkit, you've got to get to the hospital! You're going to want a doctor for that. [Though Luke can already hear Bones' voice in his head ranting about crazy space jockeys.]

[Then he realizes the problem with telling Wedge to get to the hospital on his own.] Alright hang on, where are you?

[sfoils]

[ Yes, Wedge thought of that. But 1) he didn't have a map of the place then and 2) he still doesn't know if the locals are friendly. You don't live this long by making assumptions.

But if Luke Skywalker says he has to go to hospital, that means the hospital must be safe. Wedge sighs in relief. ] Right outside Edmund's, sitting against the wall.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

Right. You stay there. I'm coming to get you. If Edmund offers to help, let him. He's a good guy and he'll look after you. Anyone else... eh, better just wait until I get there.

[Most people are friendly but some are strangely hostile towards 'outsiders' and Luke's trying to avoid giving Wedge the impression that this place is completely safe.]

[sfoils]

[ Throwback to Yavin. ] I'll stay put, boss.

switching to in-person

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[About fifteen minutes later Luke rolls up to Edmund's on a motorcycle and he looks relieved when he sees Wedge as he toes the kickstand.] Hey!

[Despite the seriousness of the situation Luke can't help but smile at the sight of his friend. It's been far too long. As he rushes over though, he's eyeing that wound and then frowning a bit.]

Think you can stay on the back of my bike? The ride's not too far. [Luke holds out a hand if Wedge needs help.]

[sfoils]

It's been a while, Rogue Leader. [ Even though Wedge is Rogue Leader now, it feels right to use it here. Wedge, despite the pain, matches Luke's cheer. ] Yeah, I'll be fine. [ To demonstrate, he stands up, hobbling but still upright. ] It's embedded on my upper thigh, lucky me. [ His face scrunches at the word.

He takes Luke's hand for stability. ]

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[As he helps Wedge over to the bike Luke gives a small, giddy grin.] It's been a long time since anyone's called me that.

[Now he slides back onto the bike, waiting for Wedge.] Hold on tight. If you fall off while I'm trying to get your injury treated it'll be the worst joke ever.

[sfoils]

Then you shouldn't have left the squadron to me. You'd have plenty of pilots calling you that, day in, day out. [ A grin. ] I've almost forgotten my name.

[ The climb's more painful than Wedge cares to admit. He holds on tight. ] Didn't that happen to Hobbie once? It sounds like something that would happen to Hobbie.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke's about to correct Wedge and explain that he hasn't left the squadron to anybody yet, but then remembers that Wedge has yet to learn about the timeline thing and... best leave that for later. Instead he smirks at the Hobbie comment.]

If it hasn't I'd be very surprised. It seems like everything's happened to Hobbie at some point. [Talking about people he hasn't seen in years with someone he hasn't seen in years means Luke just can't keep the smile off his face. When Wedge is holding on Luke hits the gas (carefully) and they're off towards the hospital on the north side of town.]

fast-forward;

[Luke pulls up the bike in front of the hospital and glances around for Wes whom he asked to meet them there.]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Let it not be said that Wes is unreliable. He's already there, waiting. He's happy to see Wedge after about three years, but that doesn't mean he's about to escape some good natured ribbing. THere are rules, when you crash and are not in any immediate danger of dying, after all.]

Still got all your limbs?

[sfoils]

[ It hasn't been that long since Wedge saw Wes, no more than a couple of hours. Yet he missed this. Near-death experiences always leave you craving normalcy. Even if it comes in the form of your XO ribbing you. ] Do I look like Hobbie? [ To make a point, he jumps off the bike, and regrets it immediately. ] I guess Wedge Antilles does hop on one transparisteel leg now.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[As he slides off the bike Luke grins at Wes' joke, but then quickly cringes when he turns around and just catches Wedge's hop. Quickly, he moves to grab his arm to offer some stability. That looked like it hurt.]

Hey hey, take it easy! We know you're not Hobbie, alright? You can prove yourself when you're not bleeding everywhere. [The joke was funny, but let's not encourage Wedge to do that again. Luke lifts his arm up over his shoulders and starts leading him into the hospital.]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Wes squints, trying to determine if Wedge looks like Hobbie. Not particularly, he decides. OTher than the blood. Blood looked like Hobbie.]

Some of the doctors get seriously grumpy about it.

[Not that he would ever make a medic grump]

[sfoils]

[ Wedge wants this giant shard out of his thigh. A refresher so this film of salt and sweat and sand will slough off his skin. A stiff drink, and the company of good friends.

Exhaustion's starting to set in. He leans against the bike a bit too much, eyes half-closed as he fights hard not to let them close. ] Just...get me inside, alright?

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke presses his lips together. Yup, Bones will get a kick out of this. And by kick he means an ulcer.]

Alright, alright, we're going.

[Luke takes as much of Wedge's weight as he can manage and helps him into the building. Once inside he waves with his free hand at any staff on duty who can help them.]

[sfoils]

[ Continued here. ]