Galaxies Opera House

Oh boy was this place extravagant. Large tables made from stone similar to marble dotted the hall. Each of them covered with silver and gold plates that held all sorts of bite sized luxuries. There was seafood, meat, and vegetables. I doubted that I could name any of them.

The floors were lined with large velvet carpets that converged so perfectly that it was barely noticeable that there was more than one. They balanced well with the rest of the room and didn't pull too much of my attention.

Large marble pillars supported the roof. The pillars were carved elegantly with soft swirls and rounded edges. The ceiling was covered in art like the churches of old. Scenes of epic productions were painted on it. These must have been historic performances of eras past.

The people filling the hall were no less extravagant than the hall itself. There were all types of executives, aristocrats, and government officials.

I found comfort eating cubes of meat that appeared to be similar to the Wagyu of Earth. It was packed full of umami and had the perfect crust seared onto it.

It had been about a half an hour since we arrived. I was speaking to the CEO of an arms manufacturer named Axillus. He was wearing a white tuxedo with a black shirt and bowtie. He had black hair and green eyes with no particularly notable characteristics. He looked somewhat ordinary but acted nothing of the like.

He sighed. "This war is so bothersome. The only thing it gives me is more sales. All of my distribution channels have been disrupted and I had to rebuild my supply chain from scratch. I'd have lost my mind by now if I didn't take a week's vacation every other month."

I nodded, taking a sip of my drink. This whiskey was truly exquisite. "I understand. I've fought on the front lines."

Axillus nodded, holding up his drink. "Ah! Yes, I keep forgetting that you are a Jedi. Thank you for your service, by the way. It's weird though, I've never heard of a Jedi owning a business."

I shrugged. "I was involved in the business before I joined the Order."

He tilted his head, clearly confused. "Were you not taken as a child?"

I shook my head and enjoyed another sip of my whiskey. "Nope. They've been making exceptions lately. It's most likely due to the war. It would be nothing if not catastrophic if the Sith were to outnumber us."

He nodded, quickly understanding. This man was extremely intelligent which also meant that he was eccentric to a certain degree. "I see. Your identity must make your business dealings a bit easier."

I smiled. "I'm sure that it would provide a bit of credibility, but I'm not very involved in that aspect barring my status as a board member. With me being a combatant, I'm more involved in our rapidly expanding armed forces division. However, being a Jedi does provide a direct channel to the military."

Axillus held his champagne glass up in the air. "Cheers to that."

I clinked my glass with his and glanced over to the side. Violet was speaking to Axillus' three wives. I smiled and chuckled internally. Three wives, huh? I then turned back to Axillus. "So, where do you go on vacation? I'm on a bit of one myself right now."

He smiled, clearly excited about this topic. "Having been cooped up in a lab for a large portion of my life, I love to see the galaxy. I'm a big fan of exploration so I often accompany a wide assortment of expeditions that I sponsor. I've been to various worlds with many different environments."

His eyes lit up like Christmas. "Oh! Just last week I accompanied a multidisciplinary expedition that I'm sponsoring to Tatooine. It's a fascinating planet!"

I raised my brow upon hearing the familiar name. Tatooine was a planet where many events that would effect the entire galaxy would take place. "How so?"

Axillus was visibly excited now. He was barely able to hold his glass steady. "Well, over the past few centuries, the temperature of the planet has been rising rapidly. The oceans are drying up, the plants are dying, and the best part is that no one knows why! Even with the millions I'm giving to these scientists, they can't figure it out. It's a complete mystery but that's what makes it so exciting!"

I sighed. "I guess it is destined to become a desert world. Do you go on expeditions every time you go on vacation?"

He clicked his tongue. A slight irritation escaped his otherwise happy aura. "It's the only safe way to vacation these days. All of my usual spots have hyperspace blockades in the way. Oh, the things I'd do for a relaxing tropical destination. It's too bad. Despite having more money than I know what to do with, I wouldn't even know where to start on creating something that isn't a weapon."

I chuckled. "I understand what you mean. A sandy beach with a bar nearby… Few things are better in the sun than a cold drink."

Suddenly, the lights dimmed slightly and pulsed a few times. It was time for the show to begin.

Axillus gestured towards the theater. "Shall we get some refills and then head in?"

I smiled and nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."