Project Boussh: Epilogue: Toasts
by Josh Nolan, Majick, Prophet Kristy, scifantasy

In a break between songs, Josh spied an unused microphone, and ducked up
to it before someone decided it was a bad idea to give a mike to a
partygoer.  He grabbed it off its stand and examined it, and failed to
make any sense of the Aurebesh on its side.  He scratched the head of
the mike, and a rumbling came over the sound system in response.
"Hello!" he called.  "Excuse me - could I have your attention, please?"

After a while, the chattering died down, and Josh grinned sheepishly.
"All right.  In Russia, they define a drunk as anyone who drinks without
a toast.  Now, I wouldn't want anyone in this room to be a drunk - at
least not yet - so I propose a toast."  He held his beer aloft.

"To the ones who didn't make it here.  The crew of the Defiant.  Korak,
and the rest of the Ewoks.  To the Mendellians who gave their lives,
both out here and on the ground.  And to Alison."  Josh lowered his
stubby.

"They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old.  Age shall not
weary them, nor the years condemn.  At the going down of the sun, we
shall remember them.  Lest we forget."
With that, he drank.
-----
Mike coughed slightly, his own mic increasing the
effect to seismic proportions. The party goers lowered
their drinks, and Mike smiled. He raised his glass.
"And another, an old Irish toast, I believe: May they
be drinking in heaven, afore the devil knows they're
dead."
-----
Kristy choked back the threatening sobs that Josh's toast and the
thought of Alison had started.  She squeezed Korren's hand in thanks for
his support, then dropped it and stepped forward, closer to her new
friends.  She raised her glass to eye level, unashamed of the tears
running down her face.


"Thoughts from one of my favorite authors, Katherine Kurtz:


May the compassing of the great God be upon you,
Alison, my friend--
        the peace of God,
        the peace of Christ,
        the peace of Spirit.
May Michael shield you in the shade of his wing,
to bring you swiftly home to the court of the Chief of Chiefs,
to shield you home unto the Three of surpassing love."


As the now-silent gathering raised their glasses in response, murmuring
their affirmation, she stepped back and found an equally tearful Morwen
offering a comforting embrace.  Suddenly she wished there was actually
alcohol in her drink.
-----
Sci, just back from his conference with Cracken and Ackbar, grabbed the mike.
He looked around until he found the large fireplace against one wall, swallowed
the lump in his throat, and held up his glass. "To Terra Group. May its 
existance be long. And to the hero of Terra Group who could not be here:
Lieutenant--" He glanced at Cracken for confirmation; Cracken nodded.
"--Alison Sky, who I hereby nominate posthumously for the Borleias Medal of
Valor." There were nods and some scattered applause. The Borleias Medal was
given for "Bravery above and beyond the call of duty, in overwhelming--"
impossible-- "circumstances," and was awarded only to personnel skilled in
both piloting and ground-based fighting. Sci drained his glass. "Corran,
this time I can say it in advance. It's on the list." He whirled around, 
throwing his glass into the fireplace, where it broke. Whistler beeped in
laughter. Sci looked around at the faces, mostly confused, and grinned.
"All right, newly-minted officers, we need to have a brief meeting. Come
with me."
-----
Russell Crowe staggered up to the vacant microphone, blearily eyeing the
crowd on the floor.  He leaned over to the microphone and spoke.

"IS THIS THING ON?"  The actor's voice boomed over the noise of the
party, attracting almost everyone's attention.  Russell leaned back
slightly, and asked, "Is that better?"

Since no-one fell down clutching their ears, he nodded.  "Right.  I'd
just like to say, I've never been on a spaceship before, so today's been
kind of weird for me.  But I've got a toast."  He raised his stubby of
VB.  "To George Lucas.  May he never offer me a bloody job on Star Wars,
because I've seen it's just too bloody dangerous!"
-----