Captain Howzer Short Story

Part 1

Captain Howzwer blindly reached a hand out to silence the alarm next to his bed. He swung the covers back and wiped the sleep from his eyes as he made his way to his refresher. Each day was beginning to blur together as he and his squad continued their training and patrols of Ryloth. It had been a few days since the new Empire had stated its reign over the planet and the Twi'leks were less than enthused. Today he would have to take a patrol around the doonium refinery. He was also scheduled to have lunch with Cham Syndulla, a former general in the Twi'lek army. He was hoping to talk some sense into Cham and not have any more conflicts with the Empire. He was hopeful Cham would listen to reason as he wanted to protect his family. With the last of his armor in place, he left his neat and tidy room and made his way to the training halls.

The early morning training and patrol of the doonium refinery was uneventful, and Howzer was thankful.  "You men go back without me. I am headed to the Syndulla residence for lunch," he said.  His second in command, Briar, saluted him, and directed the rest of the troopers back to the capitol.
Howzer climbed onto his speeder and followed at a distance. He enjoyed conversations with Cham and Eleni. Their daughter Hera was inquisitive also and he didn't mind answering her questions about the war and the army. She wanted to be a pilot more than anything, but Eleni and Cham both agreed she needed more education. Pyxis Koren, a refugee, and adopted daughter to Cham and Eleni, also served as a governess of sorts for Hera. She was a few years older and was in charge of Hera's schooling while also trying to keep the younger twi'lek out of trouble. But oftentimes Pyxis was a partner in Hera's crimes. Howzer smiled to himself. Both the girls were a force to be reckoned with. They were both too smart for their own good and while they did sneak around, they never lied. Howzer had caught them both on more than one occasion out at the markets or a rowdy party. Pyxis was a beautiful girl and Howzer hated to admit that he thought about her more than he should. No one had really caught his eye before she dropped into his life. Almost literally.
—-
Flashback:
Captain Howzer and a squad of clone troopers were just coming up a ridge, firing heavy artillery into the separatists forces. The droids were being pushed back and the Republic was gaining ground. "Come on, men! Let's get those clankers!" Howzer encouraged them.
Along side them, the twi'lek forces were using their blasters as well. Howzer was standing up on the ridge and was able to see the whole battle ground. He saw a ship coming in at an odd angle to the battle front, and it didn't look like a republic ship, or a separatist fighter. He raised his binocs and tracked the trail of smoke and watched as the ship crashed into a ridge just two klicks away. "Briar, Stinger! On me!" Howzer called into his comms. Cham Syndulla was also there and noticed the ship crash. He motioned to two of his men to follow Captain Howzer and assist him.
The group hopped onto a gunship and flew over to the crash site. As they approached the crash site, Stinger spoke up. "I don't see how anyone could have survived this crash."
"Keep your eyes open; we need to find out which side this ship belongs to," Briar said.
The men flinched as a small explosion rocked part of the ship. One of the twi'leks pointed his finger. "There!"
With the smoke as a background, they saw a small form of a young woman walking out of the wreckage with a blaster in one hand and her other covering a wound in her side. Her clothing was torn, her face smeared with soot and blood, and she had a dazed look in her eyes.
"You there! Lower your weapon!" Howzer called to her.
She shakily turned her blaster to where she could barely hear a voice through the ringing in her ears. She stumbled on some rocks, but still kept her blaster pointed.
"Sir, she's injured and probably in shock," Stinger told him.
Howzer took off his helmet and set down his blaster as he approached the young woman. "Hey! I'm right here and I'm not going to hurt you," he said as he inched closer. He kept his hands up as he looked at her. Her hair was shielding her face and blood leaked into one of her eyes as she panted heavily. She lowered the blaster and said, "Help me. Please." She stumbled to her knees with a groan as she clutched her side that was leaking blood.
Howzer and Stinger rushed to her side. Howzer held her shoulders gently as he laid her onto the ground. "You're going to be ok, miss." He smoothed her hair away from her face as Stinger handed him a wipe and some gauze for the blood. The young woman's vision was blurred and sounds were muffled. She saw teal and white and finally a face came into focus. She first noticed his eyes that were filled with worry and then a freshly healed scar on the side of his face. She couldn't understand what he was saying or who he was talking to. She winced when Stinger gave her a painkiller as he assessed the wound in her side. "It looks like the shrapnel is stuck through to the other side. I can't remove it here or she might bleed out," Stinger told him.
Howzer nodded his head. He turned back to the young woman as he was holding her hand. "You're going to be ok. We'll move you to the field hospital," he   reassured her. He held her hand in his to comfort her.  Her eyes wandered until they focused on his face. "My family? Where are they?" she asked.
He looked up at Briar who subtly shook his head. "How many people were on board?"
"Ten. Two families."
Howzer sighed as he looked down. He didn't want to tell her the truth and upset her more.
"Just rest now," Stinger said as he gave her a sedative.
"No! Please find my family..." she trailed off as the drugs kicked in. The last thing she saw was Howzer's face as the sides of her vision closed in.

——-
Present day...
As he pulled into the Syndulla residence, he was greeted by Eleni, with Pyxis standing right behind her. They both wore colorful dresses, traditional to the twi'leks, and Pyxis looked radiant, as usual. Her darker skin tone paired well with most colors. But what Howzer liked about her the most was her smile and her beautiful eyes. With strong eyebrows and expressive eyes, it was nearly impossible for her to hide her emotions. She was almost feline in appearance with her almond shaped eyes and faint stripes on the side of her face. Her brown eyes always lit up when he was around. They were very much friends and there had been some harmless flirting between the two of them, but Howzer was hoping for more from her. He didn't know what he could offer as a soldier, but he knew Pyxis was the only young woman he thought about.
"Good afternoon, Captain Howzer. How is your day so far?" Eleni asked.
"Not much to report on. I'm looking forward to having lunch with you and your husband."
"Please, follow me," Eleni said gracefully.
Pyxis followed behind Captain Howzer and Eleni as she led them into the house. "I'm sure you would like to freshen up before lunch, Captain. Pyxis, please show our guest to the refresher."
Pyxis nodded her head and quietly made her way down another hallway and through a set of doors. They walked in silence as Howzer admired her long brown hair and the sway of her hips. His cheeks warmed at the thought of holding her in his arms. He took a deep breath and started to think about anything else but the young woman before him.
"Captain, are you alright?" Pyxis asked as she turned to look at him.
He had spaced out a little bit and didn't hear what she had told him. "There are some wash cloths for you, and you can leave your helmet in the hallway," she said as she smiled at him.
"Thank you," he managed to stutter out. Once he was enclosed in the bathroom he let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. Get it together.
After washing his hands and face from the dust that had accumulated, he came out of the refresher, setting his helmet on a chair in the hallway. Pyxis was waiting for him and gave him a small smile and a wink as she led him to the main dining room.

Cham was already seated and saying something to Hera as she scampered off. Pyxis gestured for Captain Howzer to sit down and then began to serve the lunch food.  After exchanging pleasantries, Howzer began to talk about the reason he was there. "I'm honored to be invited into your home, Cham. The Empire is not working against you or the twi'lek people. If we work together-"
"Let me stop you right there," Cham interrupted. "The Empire is not here to help us. They have disarmed us and will make us slaves like past regimes have."
Pyxis barely paid attention to what they were saying. She knew the twi'leks were a proud people and would never let the New Empire take over. She and her family had escaped from a tyrannical government before and she would rather fight or die than let that happen again.
"Well, I hope you will reconsider, Cham. You are a good friend, but I'm in a tough position," Howzer said.
The conversation and lunch was wrapping up so Pyxis went back to the kitchen. Howzer had been coming to their house for over a year and he loved home cooked meals. She wrapped up an extra portion for him and some cookies. She carried the small parcel to Howzer's speeder as she waited for him to say goodbye to Cham and Eleni.

Howzer never tired of looking at Pyxis. She was always warm and welcoming to him, packing up extra treats to take back to his quarters and the barracks. "What have you packed for me this time?" He asked as he eyed the small bundle.
"Just some of the lunch and some fresh cookies."
"Thank you," he said shyly. He looked back towards the house but Cham and Eleni had already gone back inside.
"Something on your mind?" Pyxis asked him.
"Would you like to go out to dinner with me this weekend?" He was gripping his helmet nervously as he waited for her answer.
Pyxis smile brightened even more as she realized what he was asking.
"I-I'd love to. But I think I need to ask Eleni first. I don't think Hera will need me for the evening..." her words trailed off as she saw his smile.
"I'm sure it will be fine," she said at last.
"I'll come get you Friday night," he said as he mounted the speeder bike.

Pyxis quickly walked back to the house, trying and failing to hide the grin on her face. "Pyxis, come here please," Eleni called to her.
"So what did Captain Howzer ask you?" she asked with a small smirk.
"He asked me to dinner Friday night. Is it ok if I go with him?" she asked as she nervously wrung her hands.
Eleni laid a hand on her shoulder as she smiled at her. "Of course, and you are of age so you don't need my permission."
Pyxis blushed as she tried to not appear too eager. "Thank you, Eleni."

———

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I think everyone agrees, Howzer is swoon worthy. 😍