Merrin and Cal - A Made up Love story

Christmas over Kashyyyk

The Mantis floated in orbit above Kashyyyk, a quiet respite in the midst of their travels. The stars twinkled brightly outside the viewport, and the crew had gathered for a special occasion: Life Day. Though the crew was far from home, they knew the importance of this tradition. For once, they would take time to be together, to share a celebration amidst the chaos of the galaxy.

Greez's "Holiday Feast"

The galley was alive with the unmistakable sound of something sizzling, popping, and... bubbling. Cal stepped inside cautiously, only to be met with the sight of Greez, his four arms working furiously over a large pot that was slowly spilling over with a thick, purple liquid.

"Greez... what exactly is that?" Cal asked, narrowing his eyes.

"It's a Stinger Mantis holiday stew," Greez said, grinning proudly as he stirred the pot. "Back in the day, I used to make this for the crew when we needed something special. You'll love it."

Cal's nose twitched. The smell was... potent, to say the least. "It smells... like it could double as fuel."

Merrin entered the galley, her dark eyes scanning the situation with mild amusement. She arched an eyebrow. "What are you making, Greez? A weapon?"

Greez puffed out his chest. "It's a feast! And I bet you'll all be begging me for the recipe after you try it."

Merrin exchanged a look with Cal. "I don't know if 'feast' is the word I'd use."

Without missing a beat, Merrin casually reached for a jar of spice on the shelf, added a small amount, and muttered something under her breath. As if by magic, the stew's color shifted from a sickly purple to a much more appetizing shade of red. The smell also became considerably more tolerable.

"Well, that's... a little better," Greez said, his hands raised in mock defeat. "Fine, fine, I'll give credit where it's due. Looks like I've got a new sous-chef."

Merrin gave him a sly smile. "Don't worry, Greez. I'm only trying to save the crew from certain disaster."

Decorating the Mantis

Despite Greez's confident assurances, the Mantis still needed to be decorated for Life Day. It was a tradition, after all. The crew was in no mood to miss out on a chance to make this small piece of normalcy feel special.

At first, Cere had been skeptical. She wasn't a fan of unnecessary fuss, especially on a ship in constant motion, but she couldn't resist when BD-1 began projecting small, holographic snowflakes onto the walls. She sighed and muttered something about "inappropriate distractions," but the small smile on her face betrayed her.

Cal, standing beside BD-1, wrapped strands of colorful lights along the edges of the bulkheads. The droid chirped happily as he zipped around, attaching more lights and occasionally knocking over a crate in his excitement.

"Careful, BD!" Cal laughed as the droid shot past him, clearly enjoying himself far more than was strictly necessary.

Merrin leaned against the wall, watching the chaos unfold. "You are strange creatures. Why do you hang lights everywhere?"

Cere smiled warmly. "It's not about the lights themselves. It's about creating a little joy—something to remind us that even in the dark, there's always light."

Merrin raised an eyebrow, considering this. "I see. A reminder of hope."

"Exactly," Cal said, glancing over at her. "And for a few hours, we get to enjoy it. It's not about the war or what's coming. Just... living."

Merrin looked back at the lights, her face softening. "I think... I think I understand."

The "Tree"

After a brief and chaotic attempt to decorate the galley, Greez returned carrying what could only be described as a creative attempt at a Life Day tree. It was made from various scraps of metal, wires, and a few strange, glittering components he had scavenged from the ship's storage.

"Ta-da!" Greez announced, placing the odd contraption in the center of the common area. "The Mantis Life Day Tree!"

The crew stared at it, momentarily speechless.

"That's... not what I expected," Cal said, his eyebrow twitching slightly.

"I would say it's unique," Merrin quipped, her tone dry but amused.

BD-1 gave a beep of approval, zipping over to place a blinking red bolt on top of the creation, clearly pleased with himself.

Cere crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Only you, Greez."

Greez grinned proudly. "What's wrong with it? It's functional! And festive!"

"Sure, Greez," Cal replied with a grin. "It's... festive."

Merrin gave a small smile. "It has character."

The Gift Exchange

As the evening continued, the crew settled into the common area for their Life Day gift exchange. Everyone had promised not to go overboard, and though the gifts were simple, the thought behind them was what mattered most.

Cere handed Greez a small, well-worn book of ancient Wookiee stories, a piece of her culture and history. Greez's eyes widened, clearly touched. "I... I don't know what to say. Thank you, Cere."

Merrin handed Cal a small, hand-carved pendant—a representation of a Nightsister's symbol, a simple but meaningful gesture of connection. "For you," she said softly.

Cal smiled, his eyes brightening as he accepted the gift. "Thank you, Merrin. I'll keep it with me."

When it was Cal's turn, he pulled out a small, delicate crystal—a remnant from his travels that he had found while exploring an abandoned Jedi temple. "This... reminded me of you," he said, handing it to Merrin.

Merrin looked at the crystal, her gaze softening. "It's beautiful, Cal. Thank you."

Greez had a much less sentimental gift for the crew—two jars of his "holiday stew" that he insisted were "better than anything you'll find in a galaxy far, far away." The rest of the crew stared at the jars in hesitant silence before agreeing to try it.

The meal, though still a bit questionable, was shared among the crew, laughter filling the air. Even if the food wasn't exactly what they were used to, the camaraderie was what truly made it special.

Together, Always

As the evening wound down, the crew of the Mantis sat together beneath the strange, glowing "tree," the soft hum of the ship a comforting backdrop to their quiet celebration. They exchanged stories, joked, and enjoyed the simplicity of being together.

It wasn't a perfect celebration. There were no grand feasts, no fireworks, no perfect gifts. But in that moment, the crew knew that it didn't matter. What mattered was that they had each other. In the midst of a galaxy torn apart by war, they had found something to hold on to.

And that was enough.

As the stars outside twinkled, the crew of the Mantis embraced the warmth of the season, each finding a little piece of peace in the company of those who had become their family.

Personal note - Merry Christmas Y'all! (Happy holidays)