Journal Entry: 25.12.24 – Navi Topaz
The Festival of Renewal had always held a special place in my heart, a tradition from Lothal that I carried with me across the stars aboard the Mayhem. This year, I decided to introduce the crew to this cherished celebration, a touch of home in the cold expanse of space.
I gathered the crew in the common area, which I had adorned with bioluminescent Glowleaves native to Lothal, casting a serene silver light over the room. Tam Lantra leaned against the bulkhead, arms crossed, a smirk on his lips.
“Renewal what now? Sounds like another excuse for a day off,” he scoffed, ever the cynic.
Unfazed, I launched into an explanation of the holiday, sharing its origins tied to the twin moons of Lothal and the spirit of community and new beginnings it embodied. “And it’s customary to share gifts,” I added, noting the raised eyebrows and curious glances from the crew.
Reaching beneath a draped table, I retrieved a series of modestly wrapped packages, each bearing the name of a crew member. Approaching Captain Kir Tessa, I presented him with his gift, a small, carefully crafted box.
“In the glow of the moons, we renew,” I said, echoing the traditional Renewal greeting. To my surprise, a soft chuckle escaped Kir’s lips as he reciprocated the sentiment, his hand producing a similar package from behind his back, labeled with my name.
We exchanged gifts, and I watched as Kir unwrapped his — a handheld astrogation device encased in a polished shell of Lothalian wood. It wasn’t just any astrogator; it was one I had tinkered with, imbuing it with an AI that could learn from Kir’s navigation style, making it a unique companion for plotting courses through the stars.
Kir’s eyes met mine, and I could see a rare glint of appreciation as he turned the gift over in his hands. “Navi, this is… thank you,” he said, a rare moment of warmth breaking through his usual stoic demeanor.
My own package was equally thoughtful. Inside was a leather-bound journal, the cover etched with a map of the Lothal system. It wasn’t just for recording thoughts; embedded within was a piece of Lothalian silver that served as a protective talisman, a piece of home to carry on our journeys.
“Every leader needs to document their saga,” Kir stated, a knowing look on his face.
I could only smile in return, clasping the journal close. “And every captain needs to navigate with intuition,” I replied. In a moment of mutual respect, we hugged, an unspoken acknowledgment of our shared past.
With Kir’s expression of gratitude still fresh in the air, I moved to Werdna Cutlass, or ‘Werdy’ as we sometimes called him fondly. “In the glow of the moons, we renew,” I greeted him with the customary Renewal phrase, handing him a large, sealed crate.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he pried it open to reveal a complete suit of First Order Stormtrooper armor, gleaming under the common room’s lights. “Just like mine,” I explained, a grin spreading across my face. “Snagged it from a thrift store on Aurora 9. Thought it might come in handy next time we need a disguise.”
Werdna’s excitement was palpable. “This is brilliant, Navi!” he exclaimed, his usual reserved demeanor giving way to childlike enthusiasm. He thanked me profusely and, with the crate in tow, he hurried off to his quarters, no doubt eager to don the armor.
Next was Tav Skytte. I approached him with a small, velvety pouch in hand, from which I withdrew an ancient alien coin. “In the glow of the moons, we renew. A relic from a long-forgotten race,” I told him, relaying the collector’s tale.
Tav’s response was dry, his skepticism as sharp as his engineering skills. He rolled the coin between his fingers, eyeing it with a mix of curiosity and disdain. “I highly doubt they ever existed, Navi. This is probably a worthless trinket. Essentially garbage.” With that, he left the room, his arrogance trailing behind him like a cape. I shrugged off the dismissal; Tav was Tav, after all.
Next, I approached Luap Outback, whose broad smile was tinged with a hint of bashfulness.”In the glow of the moons, we renew,” I stated. “What could you possibly have for me?” he asked, an eyebrow raised in mock suspicion.
I produced a sack filled with psychedelic mushrooms from Mon Cala, their colors vibrant and otherworldly. Luap’s laughter boomed through the Mayhem, echoing off the metal walls. Without warning, he wrapped me in a bear hug, lifting me off my feet in a show of affection only Luap could manage. “You really know how to pick ’em, Navi!” he bellowed, still chuckling as he set me back down.
Then, I turned to Tam Lantra, holding an item that carried the weight of history—his history. “In the glow of the moons, we renew,” I stated. Unfolding an old wanted poster, yellowed with age, I held it up for Tam to see. It was from Nar Shaddaa, and it featured a younger, perhaps more reckless, image of Tam. I cleared my throat and began to read the list of petty crimes attributed to him: “Wanted for Petty Theft, Forgery, Illegal Gambling, Trespassing, Vandalism, Smuggling Contraband, Public Disorder, Evasion of Law Enforcement, Unlicensed Swoop Racing, and Hacking into Public Terminals.”
Tam stared in silence, a rare moment of vulnerability in his eyes. “How did you find this?” he asked, voice edged with a mix of shock and curiosity. I handed it to him, and he took it, fingers trembling slightly. “It wasn’t easy,” I admitted. “But I thought you should have it. A reminder of how far you’ve come.”
He clasped my hand firmly, a silent thank you passing between us. The poster wasn’t just a piece of paper; it was a testament to his journey, from the alleys of Nar Shaddaa to the ranks of the Sarlacc Squadron.
Lastly, I approached Nyar Jetta, the middle-aged man with a past shrouded in mystery and a future entwined with the Force. “In the glow of the moons, we renew,” I stated as I presented him with a small object wrapped carefully in cloth. His eyes reflected the glow of the lights as he unwrapped it to reveal a small, metallic ball. “What is it?” he asked, turning it over in his hands.
“Look at the inscription,” I urged. Etched into the metal was the word “Halcyon”—the name of a star cruiser renowned for its luxury and comfort. “It’s a cooling ball from the Star Cruiser Halcyon. You use it to cool your spirits.”
Nyar, whose life as a Jedi-in-training had left him with few personal belongings, looked at the cooling ball with a sense of wonder. “I’ve always wanted one of these!” he exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement.
“I know,” I said with a smile. “I lifted it for you during our last stop on Chandrila.” It was a small act of thievery, perhaps insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but for Nyar, it meant the world.
A tear glistened in the corner of Nyar’s eye, and he quickly embraced me, a gesture of profound gratitude. His embrace was gentle, yet it conveyed the deep appreciation he felt.
As the evening wound down and the crew dispersed, each with their new tokens of the past and present, I realized that the Festival of Renewal had taken on a new meaning aboard the Mayhem. It was more than just a tradition from Lothal; it had become a celebration of our shared stories, our collective resilience, and the unwritten future we were all hurtling toward together.
Later that night, I could swear I heard maniacal giggling from Luap’s quarters.
Navi Topaz
First Mate of the Mayhem
