#tsuulo

“You really want to tangle with Imperials?” Han asked.

“Might not be so bad,” Tsuulo said. “The galaxy has been pretty peaceful since Palpatine became emperor. They’re the good guys, right?”

Oh honey, no. 

Does anyone else feel haunted by America politics when they read this? With all of the anti-alien propaganda and lies about the Jedi that Palpatine spread, it’s not as fictional as I’d like it to be. Hits too close to home.

“He wants to know if you’ve met any Jet-eye,” Han said. Then to Tsuulo, “What’s a Jet-eye?”

“Jedi,” Jenra corrected. “I’ve met a few. But they’re all dead now.”

Tsuulo sat back, slumping in his seat.

“Huh,” said Han, eyeing the Rodian. “Whoever they are, I hope they put up a good fight.”

“Not really,” said Jenra.

FUCKING ROASTED THE JEDI AFTER GENOCIDE. You know this Jenra is a bitch, like damn she really doesn’t care. I guess after working with the Empire, I should have expected her to be indoctrinated, but still...

fuck

They passed a line of beings waiting at a rickety food stand that advertised eel skewers. Han’s stomach growled. As soon as they were settled in Qi’ra’s safe house, he’d eat that dog biscuit he’d saved against her advice. Unless it was soaked in sewage from his swim. Well, actually, maybe even then.

The kids in the crime syndicates are eating dog biscuits to stay alive. That’s fucked up. Corellia is not a good place to be living, and I wonder how much of that is because of Imperial occupation. We saw a similar destruction of civilian life in Lost Stars, when the two main characters return to their home planet after training in the Imperial Academy. The Empire just sucks the life out of anything it can grasp.

It’s sad, but can we also take a moment to appreciate the they’re including this in Star wars canon? I love that we get time to hear stories from across the galaxy, in the best of places and the worst. It really immerses you in the universe. And the author didn’t forget to feed the characters during their adventure. I hate when the protagonist is running on no sleep and no food for like 72 hours and still manages to kick ass - that just doesn’t happen, humans need food. Even if it’s dog biscuits.

“You sure you can do this, Tsuulo?”

“Completely sure!” Tsuulo closed his eyes, breathed through his snout for a moment, and then said calmly, “The Force will be with me.”

“Whatever you say, pal.” Tsuulo wasn’t the only religious person Han had known. And it seemed that the poorer people got on Corellia, the more its centers for religious worship overflowed. He’d heard that the Temple of the True Vine now offered three services per day to accommodate. Han didn’t buy any of it, not one word. He didn’t believe in any god - not a Maker or a Force, neither a sun nor a moon. But if someone took comfort and inspiration from religion, who was he to argue? As long as they didn’t argue with him.

It’s so cool to see another person’s perspective of the Force. How it seems, to Han, that the Force is a god of some sort. I like his opinion. He doesn’t want to be a part of anything, but he doesn’t mind people who are. Live and let live. Very good characterization, imo.

“Tsuulo, did you tell anyone where you were going?”

Tsuulo blinked. “Of course not.”

Qi’ra looked to Han, who translated for her.

“Swear it,” she insisted. “Swear it on your dead parents.”

“There is no need,” Tsuulo said. “All is as the Force wills, and my word is my bond.”

That made no sense to Han, but he translated it anyway.

Tsuulo is the Rodian member of the White Worms, around the same age as Han and Qi’ra from what I can tell. And I LOVE that he is the one to believe in the Force. I also love that Han has no idea what he’s talking about. Is this where he first heard about it? I know he doesn’t believe it’s real in ANH. 

Isn’t it weird though? When people mention it? Gives me flashbacks to Order 66 and that’s never a good thing.

Han and Qi’ra are not the only non-worms in the crime syndicate. Turns out they have a Rodian acquaintance named Tsuulo, whom only Han can understand. Qi’ra only gets every third or fourth word. It’s cool to see that Han is able to communicate with Rodians before his famous scene with Greedo. He has already learned a lot before he even gets the chance to leave Corellia. Could have been a Jedi with that arsenal of languages, Han. Damn.