Fallen Fighter

Endor

Written for starwarsfans' 2018-19 Kessel Run Smackdown

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If Androm never saw another tree in his life, it would be too soon.

He'd been dragging himself through the forests of this stars-cursed moon for the last two days and had seen no sign of another being. Though he was sure he had seen that same twisted tree several hours ago.

His landing had been right on the borderline between "emergency landing" and "crash." The clearest place to set down had been just too small for his TIE, and the trees were not the only things to suffer from that. His fighter, already damaged by the rebel attack in orbit, had been battered by the rough limbs, landing not-at-all-smoothly on the forest floor.

Fixing it would have been a long, arduous process even for maintenance techs in a fully-stocked hangar. Here, it was impossible. So he'd ditched the craft and the bulky flight suit and struck out through the forest.

Androm shouted a curse to the empty trees as he spotted a stone outcropping he'd passed twice before. He was completely lost. Any chance of him finding an Imperial base was out of the question. His only hope was that one of the Imperials would find him.

He fingered the Imperial logo in his pocket. His sleeve had caught on a branch and had torn at the material where the insignia had been. Androm, not knowing who he might encounter, had eventually decided to pull the symbol off completely. Now he was wondering bitterly if there had been any point.

Something rustled nearby. Androm turned towards the noise, and saw a small fuzzy creature standing at the base of a shrub. The little creature looked at him, head slightly cocked like it was wondering what to make of him. Androm regarded the thing with surprise.

A motion out of the corner of his eye. Androm glanced over to see another pair of the creatures emerging from behind a tree.

More of the creatures appeared. Ewoks, Androm thought they were called. He might have thought they were kind of cute, if not for their weapons. Several had slings, and a large percentage had spears. Androm had only the clothes on his back, and a branch he had picked up to use as a walking stick. He wondered how good their aim was, and how fast they could run.

A voice rose over the Ewok's chatter. "Back off, you little furballs."

Androm turned to see a human male appear from the trees. The Ewoks glanced at him, chattered amongst themselves, but didn't come any closer to Androm.

Androm was relieved. "Thanks," he said. "I'm completely lost."

He decided to act the part of a civilian who'd ended up here by accident, at least until he knew more about who this new arrival was. He surely wasn't an Imperial, but that proved nothing about his loyalties.

"This is Endor," the man said. "Except for Imperial bases, everything looks the same."

Androm glanced at the Ewoks, wondering if they would be offended or if they even understood.

"Is there anywhere here where I can send out a message?" Androm asked. "I crashed here... a few..."

He trailed off. The other man was looking at the tear in Androm's sleeve, and didn't seem to be paying attention to what he was saying. Androm followed his gaze as though in confusion, though in reality it was because the man's attention was making him nervous. What if he realized...

"You tear off the Imperial logo so that the rebels won't mark you as an enemy," the man said. "But you made it look like an accident, and I bet you've held on to it so you can keep the faith of any Imperials you meet. Am I right?"