Poe hadn't known that he would begin that morning trading the city skyrise for a spire of ice.
Coruscant, a glorious ecumonopolis, was one giant city in itself, with towers impossibly high.
Too many took such architecture for granted, never mind arcane structures as with pyramids.
The Jedi and Sith knew how to erect temples, quite true, but they were not within Poe’s vision.
He woke up in a highrise, a large apartment complex that served well for a man of his function.
His place was typical—a bed, a hybrid television/holovision set, a closet, bathroom and kitchen.
Amenities were simple things, covering his needs, while his wants were limited to what he sees.
Out the window, watching vehicles fly beside the towers of civilization, he was a man of dreams.
He had gazed out that window sipping his coffee, wondering who else might be city-watching.
That morning, in the present, the modern world was on offer for the citizens, but he saw future.
He wondered how the blocks might shift ten, fifty, a hundred years later, if streets might yet turn.
Possibility went hand in hand with reality, but that man just as much sees the past like a painting.
Birds flying. A white peak. Poe Ett recited in his mind back at that window.
Hours later, from the window of his ship, as he landed to begin his mission.
Birds flying. A white peak. The frigid wind howled against it, pounding the hull.
A blizzard raging against this visitor, storming snow, as Poe flew into the cold.
Kaspas was an ice world, a total shift in direction like the wind from Coruscant.
The situation was dire enough to warrant a Sector Ranger to service the planet.
Whether there was a grand city, it was a remote town where Poe’s ship landed.
Beside gargantuan mountains, like a city’s buildings, roaring up into the dawn.
It was approaching morning on Kaspas, as if giving Poe time back from his own.
His courier, Star’s Honor, set its struts upon a landing pad connected to the town.
The settlement was simple, favoring practicality over imagery, bracing into ground.
The weather was cold and cruel out here, but these people held on, would not slow.
A slower way of living than out in the city though. Poe mused as he lowered the ramp.
A calmer existence. Less noise. Less traffic. Yet peace was being ripped from the land.
The wind bit into him as soon as the ship opened, battering against his layered garments.
No hair on the Rodian’s head, the hat protecting his flesh, gloved fingers dipping into a pack.
Securing the strap on his back, he descended the pad and headed into the town of Frostfang.
It was a tight settlement, buildings kept close enough to limit the distance one had to walk to.
It made sense given the frigid conditions. Poe spotted few residents outside, on the move.
Droids labored alongside, making routine repairs to beacons and dishes, sparing no glance.
Residential section. Town hall. Research station. Poe painted a mental map amid the snowfall.
His datapad had a digital map but nothing beat what the naked eye could see, he learned.
Further in, a child spied him from a window, a pedestrian turning to stare, another called.
“Hey! Stranger!” The woman waved. Poe did not look like a Ranger. “Best get into cover.”
She didn’t sound alarmed, more like someone offering advice on how to bake bread.
“A storm’s coming.” Poe offered her an arced brow at that. “Thought this is a storm?”
That caused her to laugh. “More a sprinkle of rain before the downpour, my friend.”
The locals know best. “I’m heading for the constable’s station. Show me which door?”
She tapped her hand on the wall behind her.
“This door to my right. Are you a police officer?”
Poe shook his head as he approached her further.
“Close. I’m an offworld visitor. I am a Sector Ranger.”
She nodded the way one does to confirm their own theory.
“Glad to hear it. As expected. Follow me. Just made coffee.”
I should have expected. Evidently she is not just lollygagging.
“Splendid.” Door opened. They walked in. I smell it already.
Coruscant, a glorious ecumonopolis, was one giant city in itself, with towers impossibly high.
Too many took such architecture for granted, never mind arcane structures as with pyramids.
The Jedi and Sith knew how to erect temples, quite true, but they were not within Poe’s vision.
He woke up in a highrise, a large apartment complex that served well for a man of his function.
His place was typical—a bed, a hybrid television/holovision set, a closet, bathroom and kitchen.
Amenities were simple things, covering his needs, while his wants were limited to what he sees.
Out the window, watching vehicles fly beside the towers of civilization, he was a man of dreams.
He had gazed out that window sipping his coffee, wondering who else might be city-watching.
That morning, in the present, the modern world was on offer for the citizens, but he saw future.
He wondered how the blocks might shift ten, fifty, a hundred years later, if streets might yet turn.
Possibility went hand in hand with reality, but that man just as much sees the past like a painting.
Birds flying. A white peak. Poe Ett recited in his mind back at that window.
Hours later, from the window of his ship, as he landed to begin his mission.
Birds flying. A white peak. The frigid wind howled against it, pounding the hull.
A blizzard raging against this visitor, storming snow, as Poe flew into the cold.
Kaspas was an ice world, a total shift in direction like the wind from Coruscant.
The situation was dire enough to warrant a Sector Ranger to service the planet.
Whether there was a grand city, it was a remote town where Poe’s ship landed.
Beside gargantuan mountains, like a city’s buildings, roaring up into the dawn.
It was approaching morning on Kaspas, as if giving Poe time back from his own.
His courier, Star’s Honor, set its struts upon a landing pad connected to the town.
The settlement was simple, favoring practicality over imagery, bracing into ground.
The weather was cold and cruel out here, but these people held on, would not slow.
A slower way of living than out in the city though. Poe mused as he lowered the ramp.
A calmer existence. Less noise. Less traffic. Yet peace was being ripped from the land.
The wind bit into him as soon as the ship opened, battering against his layered garments.
No hair on the Rodian’s head, the hat protecting his flesh, gloved fingers dipping into a pack.
Securing the strap on his back, he descended the pad and headed into the town of Frostfang.
It was a tight settlement, buildings kept close enough to limit the distance one had to walk to.
It made sense given the frigid conditions. Poe spotted few residents outside, on the move.
Droids labored alongside, making routine repairs to beacons and dishes, sparing no glance.
Residential section. Town hall. Research station. Poe painted a mental map amid the snowfall.
His datapad had a digital map but nothing beat what the naked eye could see, he learned.
Further in, a child spied him from a window, a pedestrian turning to stare, another called.
“Hey! Stranger!” The woman waved. Poe did not look like a Ranger. “Best get into cover.”
She didn’t sound alarmed, more like someone offering advice on how to bake bread.
“A storm’s coming.” Poe offered her an arced brow at that. “Thought this is a storm?”
That caused her to laugh. “More a sprinkle of rain before the downpour, my friend.”
The locals know best. “I’m heading for the constable’s station. Show me which door?”
She tapped her hand on the wall behind her.
“This door to my right. Are you a police officer?”
Poe shook his head as he approached her further.
“Close. I’m an offworld visitor. I am a Sector Ranger.”
She nodded the way one does to confirm their own theory.
“Glad to hear it. As expected. Follow me. Just made coffee.”
I should have expected. Evidently she is not just lollygagging.
“Splendid.” Door opened. They walked in. I smell it already.