The Deviant Feeling
Título do Autor:
"The Deviant Feeling"
Autor:
Darth En Ghedi, Reedius Spid
Origem:
Portugal
Língua:
Inglês
Recuperamos aqui a primeira Fan Fiction feita pela Fan Force com vários autores.
Foi revisada e algumas partes alteradas, portanto releiam para perceber as mudanças.
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Chapter 1 - Deviant
Darth En Ghedi stood by the catwalk looking down at the "Deviant" starship. Looking around he saw a few Gomorrean guards playing chance and a Malastarian holding a 334 blaster.
"Should be easy" He thought.
He released his blaster, it would be an avoidable weight. Grabbed his lightsaber, just in case.
How he hated Jabba for holding his ship in this dirty hole he called a "docking bay". Looked more like a Bantha pit.
Silently he used the force to choke the Gomorreans, just enough to knock them down. They weren't worthy to die at the hands of a Sith.
Like a shadow he jumped from the catwalk to pilled crates... no sound... just a whisper. "Don't look back" he thought while approaching the Malastarian "you don't have to die today".
The Malastarian stopped.
So did En Ghedi.
Seconds passed by.
The Malastarian sniffed the air.
En Ghedi was close... too close!
As the Malastarian turned he never felt the lightsaber igniting in his wrist cutting his hand, dropping the weapon... When he felt the pain it was too late to scream
-Scream, and you die, Malastarian!
The Malastarian didn't comply and the Force choke did it's job... This one would die anyway... dignified to die at the hands of a Sith.
The Force was shaken at that time. En Ghedi had learned to interpret the way the Force reacted to death... But this was different... There was someone else... Powerful...
En Ghedi stood for a few seconds. He jumped using the Force and in the air, with a twist and swift move, e turned to find his threat. The sabre met the neck of the defiant... A woman...
-Who are you? - Rage like daggers expelled from his eyes- WHO ARE YOU, ANSWER ME!
-Laya... Skywalker... I am a dancer in Jabba's Palace.
-YOU LIE!
-No! I am, please Jedi!
-I am not a Jedi!
-I am sorry, you looked like one.
She trembled. The blaze of En Ghedi's saber made her sweat...
-The Force is strong with you, Laya.
-I was once a Jedi apprentice in the Academy.
-What do you want from me?
-I was appreciating your ship... It is yours isn't it?
-Why do you say that?
-Why would you kill to have it? Any man who kills a Jabba's Guard has a death toll. You seem to ignore this...
-It is my ship... Now leave!
-I will give 1000 credits to take me with you.
-I don't want your money, dancer.
-No please! I need to return to Coruscant... At least take me to Tosche I can pick a ride from my friends there, Jedi...
-Pick a ride from a Bantha, woman, I have my own problems...
-Please, Jedi, I will pay 1000 more when we arrive...
-Do you think I am some bounty hunter, woman? I'm not! Nor am I a Jedi...
-But you have good in you... I can feel it...
En Ghedi felt a kindness he haven't felt since the early days... Before he got twisted by the Dark Side... There was a conflict... But that was his secret... She shouldn't know... Or should she?
He felt rage take over... How could she know it? How could she arouse his weakness? She should die!
-I know you stranger. -Her voice again... it was smooth, her green eyes were poisoning, her hand touched his face... like fire! - I've been tracking you since you arrived in Tatooine... hidden by your own shadows... trembling in doubt. Let me help you, fallen Jedi.
-You allure me, woman! I shall not fall to your venom, I sense the Force in you, I cannot run away from the Dark Side. You... you cannot understand... - He wouldn't kill her... She was right!
He raised to walk back to his ship, switching off his lightsaber.
- Use your credits to go to Mos Eisley and look for Doominator. He owns a ship that will take you wherever you want. Tell him En Ghedi sent you. I will make sure no guard follows you...
-That is your name? En Ghedi?
-That's Darth En Ghedi.
-I will remember you, not as a Sith you pretend to be... But as the man who help me...
- You may remember me like you wish. Just don't cross my path again- He entered the ship, not believing how unconvincing his voice sounded... For the first time, En Ghedi had difficulties hiding his feelings.
-Perhaps we could meet again someday... In other circumstances... - Her silk voice faded away as he entered the ship.
-Perhaps not...
As he ignited his engines he felt the Force talking to him in a strange language... For the first time, the Light side of the Force took a shape in his heart... The shape of those green eyes that would torment En Ghedi forever...
He took off and keeping his promise he moved to open fire at the guards in the surroundings of Jabba's palace and the Scout Towers in the Desert...
En Ghedi saw Laya leaving the palace at high pace running through the desert. "A little help" he thought. Pressing a few buttons a small door opened in the ship's hull and a pack dropped in the hot sand... A survival kit with food, clothes and a blaster.
-Something tells me I didn't see the last of you, Laya - he spoke to no one but to himself...
In the hot sand Laya picked the items and ran to hide.
While reaching the orbit, En Ghedi felt good by finally leaving this big desert. Jabba made his life miserable by hunting him down and stealing his ship, stalling him in this corrupt system indefinitely.
He took nothing but bad memories.
Except one...
Two green eyes...
The conflict grew bigger...
Chapter 2 - There is no Conflict...
"The Dark Side of the Force has no mercy for the weak.
It is powerful and fills the gaps.
Never should you allow your fear or anger to be suffocated by love or compassion.
You are a Sith... A new breed of Dark Lords.
Not limited by the rules of your Master.
You are as powerful as any opposing Force."
The words echoed Darth En Ghedi's mind.
The voice of his Master, who's name he never heard. Who's face he never saw. But who's voice he always felt talking to him in his deepest thoughts.
Flying across the Outer Rim, En Ghedi struggled to stay focused using the Force to guide him to any place he would feel safe.
This was a luxury these days. The Empire was gaining strength as the Rebel Alliance was growing in support, specially in the Mid Rim. The Outer Rim was an oasis for the ones who needed to hide. The Rogues.
"You are the strongest of all Jedi... But your training is incomplete!"
En Ghedi fought to keep his eyes open, he didn't sleep for days, now. He engaged the autopilot and set a course to a neutral system and activated the cloak device. It would take a few minutes... or so he thought...
"-Master, is the Dark Side stronger?
-Yes, my apprentice! We are not chained to such feelings as compassion to choke our skills. The only choice a Sith must make is rather or not the being is worthy of dying from the hands of a Sith.
-But why must I hide from the Emperor? He is a Sith too.
-In time you will be presented to him. For now he his still blind to the Law of Bane of one Master and one Apprentice. If he was to know of your existence, he would destroy you.
-But, isn't there a bond between the users of the Force? He must know!
-The Force is strong with him, but not that strong, he is loosing his powers as he is his life.
-And Vader?
-The conflict is too strong with him. He will fail. The Emperor knows it. And when he fails you will become the new Lord of the Sith.
-What am I now?
-A sleeping menace..."
An alarm echoed in the cockpit. A system. En Ghedi looked outside to see a familiar planet... Tatooine. The ship had turned around. Why?
Observing his gauges, the fuel cells were almost exhausted. He must have flown for hours and the ship, observing the low fuel returned to find the nearest refuel station. Damn Artificial Intelligence.
By now, he was wanted not just by Jabba, but from all the Brotherhood of the Hutts.
A hard challenge.
"A Sith has no choice but to fulfill his destiny!"
A challenge he would pass with merit.
He hit some buttons and programmed a fast landing in Mos Espa outskirts. The ship's computer override his inputs and sugested to land somewhere else. A Desert plane. En Ghedi decided it would be better that way. Away from any settlement, specially scavengers or sand people. He allowed it.
As he left the cockpit he activated R7-E2 the astromech, to guard the ship while he went to Mos Espa to "buy" some fuel cells.
The hot sand was not inviting... at all. At the main door, En Ghedi closed his eyes to concentrate. Reaching though the Force he found the strength to battle against a two hours walk to the settlement. But he also felt something else... another presence.
He opened his eyes in terror. An ambush!
He walked back to the cockpit activating his shields and sensors. Weapons were hot.
The waiting was long. How could he have failed to see this?
"A Sith is always ahead of his enemy. No trap is ever successful!"
Using the Force he tried to count the hostiles surrounding his ship... Hard to see... The Force bends at places such as these were life was scarce. But there was one presence. One we could almost draw behind the sand... One...
Only one...
a woman...
two green eyes...
Laya...
He immediately left the cockpit wielding his lightsaber. He walked confidently to meet her. His rage was making him powerful.
"A Sith fuels himself from Anger. Use fear as an Ally!"
As he crossed the sand bank, he found her, lying in the hot sand, dehydrated and holding... a remote autopilot!
She had allured him here! She was to blame to make him waste time and fuel coming here.
Pressing her neck he found pulse. Alive! He ignited the lightsaber to kill her for this treachery.
But the Force talked to him. If the ship wouldn't take off he could use her as a trading coin, selling her as slave for fuel sells. Even better, he could return her to Jabba and collect a possible bounty. She could be of some use.
He looked around... She was alone...
He carried her on his shoulders back to the "Deviant". While the hot sand almost melted his feet under the two suns, he felt the Force talking to him again.
He buried his thoughts, this woman was of enough trouble for now.
As he came close to the ship, he regretted not to listen to the Force, as he heard a humming sound coming from behind. He only had time to drop Laya and ignite his lightsaber again to defend himself from the blasters fired from a Sail Barge, Jabba's bounty hunters. She betrayed him! She drove them to him!
He managed to kill some of the attackers with his saber throw but he was outnumbered and no longer concentrated. Looking behind he called R7 to open the main cargo door. Looking down he had second thoughts about this woman Laya.
"A Sith must have no attachments."
He carried her on his shoulders again into the ship. He should have left her there, but he didn't. He couldn't explain why.
Ordering R7 to observe Laya in the Medic bay, En Ghedi jumped to the cockpit to take-off using the last remaining fuel to fly to the safety of orbit. There he found some space garbage floating in Tatooine's strong orbit.
He was hiding... His ship was dead...
He was deceived to come back to this system. He was in danger and so was his plans.
All because of one being...
Two green eyes...
His rage was consuming him. The Dark Side took over...
There was no conflict.
Chapter 3 - Turning Point
The "Deviant" was floating between the space junk in Tatooine's orbit. En Ghedi decided to wait for a passing ship and attempt to hijack it out of there.
He looked outside. All those ships lost in battle either to escape imperial pursuits or to evade hutt's revenge. Tatooine was the last hideous hideout to scoundrels, pirates, opportunists, bounty hunters, slaves and... fallen Jedi.
Like En Ghedi...
The irony... His ship was right next to an old destroyed Jedi Fighter... markings were barely visible...
It reminded him of a certain time...
Darth En Ghedi fell into the Dark Side of the Force when he was just a child.
A cloaked figure approached him during a break in the
Still fresh in the ways of the Force, En Ghedi couldn't understand what the Force was telling him, but the voice allured him to enter that room. But caution led him to ignite his small training lightsaber. The bluish light barely allowed to see a cloaked man, tall, strong voice. The boy asked:
-Who are you, sir? This area is not open for visitors.
-Brave young man! - The voice was deep and filled with indescribable power. - You shouldn't enter a room with a stranger like that! You never know what is reserved for you...
-I am a Jedi, and the Force is with me. You are trespassing...
-Yes... Of course! I have offended you... Jedi... Allow me to apologize - He extended his arm revealing an old artifact the boy couldn't figure out what it was.
-I cannot accept that, Jedi are not meant to have possessions.
-Indeed! But, this is much more than a mere present. This is a true relic.
-I really...
-Take It! - The voice sounded somewhat menacing.
Trembling, the boy left the room and cried for help... He was afraid!
By the time the Jedi Guards entered the room and turned the lights on, the man was gone.
The boy was crying. It was too early for such an exposure to the Dark Side.
The cloaked man was gone...
But his voice spoke to him. "Take my gift, my young Jedi! I mean you no harm, allow me to show you how you can become a powerful man". The voice was intense, but looking around he only saw the two Jedi guards talking to the commlink.
"Search for it... Use your instincts".
But the Force was sending him away from the room.
"Let go of the Force, it's not needed for now... Pick it up!"
"Pick what up?" The boy whispered... As he said it a small light grabbed his attention. The artifact the man was offering him was lying on the floor. A weak red light was pulsing. The boy jumped to grab it. At last an evidence that the man was here! The guards would believe him.
He grabbed the artifact and the light stopped. Immediately the voice came back. "Listen to what the object is telling you"... The boy was puzzled... The approached the artifact to his hear.
As he did millions of voices were heard like a thunder. Echoed in his mind. The Force was bending around him, took many shapes, roared with menace... Fear...
But the boy wasn't scared.
The two Jedi Guards turned to him bearing their lightsabers.
-Drop the artifact, boy! DO IT!.
But the young padawan wasn't listening. The voices were talking to him and he felt the Force like he never did. His small lightsaber came to life.
-Don't do this, boy!
-I am not a boy!
The rage, the anger... The enemy was strong, but not as strong, they were only two Jedi guards... "Strike them down with all of you hatred"
A swift move and the two Jedi only had time to defend themselves. He felt power... unlimited power!
"They are strong, but not as you are... They mock you for your age, they are confident they will defeat you... You'll be nothing if you allow them to disarm you".
-NO! Die Jedi!
Two fast moves put the boy between the two Jedi before they can move away, the small lightsaber clashed one of the guards own saber to the floor. Reaching the Force he pulled the saber to him and carved it in the Jedi's chest. "Minus one"
The other Jedi was now taking this very seriously. The commlink was lying on the floor... broken...
-Please, Padawan, stop this, don't let the Dark Side take you...
"It's too late, Jedi. I know the true nature of the Force, now. I am one with the Force"
"You are just a boy, that artifact is fooling you, you need more training!"
-I AM NOT A BOY!
So much rage, so much power... The Jedi was smaller and smaller in En Ghedi's mind...
"Do what must be done!"
A powerful jump made En Ghedi reach the far side of the room, in mid air everything slowed down and he saw the Jedi's flank unprotected. Without time to react the Jedi only closed him eyes and expect the unavoidable.
En Ghedi stood facing the wall, sweating and with the saber still ignited. He had trouble breathing... "What have I done?"
"You are now an agent of the Dark Side... To become a Sith Lord... You've done well... my apprentice".
-What? No! I am Jedi Padawan... I...
"Enough! You are a Sith apprentice!"
-The Sith are extinct!
"That's your Jedi friends belief. Perhaps I can show you the opposite. That artifact you have. It's a Sith holocron. Hidden from ages with old teachings. Only a Sith master can have it. And now... It's yours..."
The boy looked at his hand. The artifact had the strong red light pulsing again.
"It has many stories to tell you... young... man!"
The faceless voice echoed in the room with a different tone... Like a father... he never had... This was something the Jedi never gave to him... They were cold... Emotionless... This hidden person was offering him something... he could not deny.
"You must leave now!" The voice sounded worried. "Others are coming! That hideous Skywalker wants you killed!"
Oh no! Master Skywalker was back from the frontline. He heard the stories about his skill. He must flee. "Where should I go?", the boy asked through the Force. "I will lead you", the voice replied...
As En Ghedi left the
"Yoda just authorized the use of deadly force to stop you!" The voiced echoed...
The boy couldn't believe it "That's impossible!"
The holocron lighted a small figure. It was Yoda's hologram he was standing in the room were the two Jedi Guard's bodies were. He talked to Anakin Skywalker "Stopped the boy must be. Scared is he. Allow him to leave we must not. Use whatever means necessary or an agent of evil he will become". "Yes Master!" Skywalker replied.
The boy felt colder after that answer. The ruthless Skywalker had killed many in the Clone Wars. Why would he not do it to an insignificant boy?
"You must run, let me train you to become a weapon. No Jedi will ever match your skills, I have foreseen it!"
The boy had no choice. He knew the ways of the Dark Side were lies and more lies. But Skywalker was hunting him. He was a formidable foe... a war hero... he was not strong enough to face him...
"Not yet, my apprentice, not yet!"
The boy ran...
The man ran...
The man became powerful.
The man became the hunter of Jedi's in service of his faceless master.
But Darth En Ghedi was more than a Sith.
He was a weapon.
He had accomplished his mission in Tatooine, but the Hutts cut his retreat when Imperial troops landed in Tatooine to hunt him down. He was still a shadow to the Empire.
His master never explained him why, but he was everybody's foe... Maybe it was meant to be so.
Even with so much power he couldn't avoid being trapped in a silly way.
He was trapped in space... in that room in the Jedi Temple again... Bounty hunters were searching for his ship between that scrap... The two Jedi guards were wielding their lightsabers...
He closed his eyes avoiding to remember the amount of fear he felt in that room...
He was suffering... He opened his eyes... Boys eyes... Hurt so soon in his life...
Two small eyes...
The eyes turned green...
He wished he never did kill those guards...
He wished he never entered that room...
The green eyes... where not his own...
The conflict...
He was sitting next to Laya, laying down in the sick bay, only he didn't remember how he got there. He looked at her. She had been treated by R7.
- You have suffered much, Jedi. - Laya was awakening.
- You know nothing about suffering, slave!
- I don't feel menaced by that voice...
- You will be, after I turned you to Jabba and save my neck.
-You're so powerful and still you fear the Hutts...
-I don't fear them, I wanted a peaceful getaway.
-Peace? You speak of peace... That's not a Sith talking...
-What do you know about the Sith?
-I know you're not one of them... They are sitting in the throne of the Empire... You're... in Tatooine's orbit...
-Thanks to you...
-I had to leave Jabba's claws...
-Great Job!
-You shouldn't have taken off like that. I had fuel cells hidden in a cave nearby.
-You thought of everything didn't you? A ship, some company...
-Not the best, I see...
-Perhaps you prefer to talk to the emptiness of space, slave?
-You wouldn't do that...
-Try me! - He approached her face staring in her eyes...- You know nothing about me. Don't judge me by your weak force sensitive intuition. I have enough of you... Next chance I have I WILL turn you to Jabba...
-You won't... - She flet the Force talking to her - There's so much good in you...
-Tell that to the Rancor when you meet it, woman.
-Why don't you kill me right now, Sith?
-It's now clear that I need a leverage out of this...
Silence took over.
Still face to face with the slave woman, he felt the Force talking to him again...
He felt a disturbance...
The voices from that holocron became silent in that room. The Jedi Guards would live... He was still a Boy...
-You disturb me, woman...
He left the sick bay, and sat on the cockpit reaching the Force...
But the Force was not there to answer.
The conflict was back...
Chapter 4 - Decision...
Reedius woke up, he was on his ship flying back to Tatooine, when suddenly he felt something in the force, something he hadn't felt for a long time, it was familiar to him, it was...
-Laya! It can't be...I thought she was...
For a long moment he just sat there, remembering her, feeling her through the Force, something that a week ago wouldn't be possible, he started to be in touch with the Force again, since that terrible disaster many years ago... memories started to pass through his mind, old memories, memories of another life, a life that was taken from him, a life that he wanted back...
He went to a tiny storage compartment and came back with a box, he put it on the table opening it slowly... there it was, his cloak, his uniform, and his... lightsaber.
For a few minutes he just stood there, looking at it... would he rise that lightsaber to take back his life? He wasn't sure. Jedis where severely hunted by the Empire, his only chance would be joining the rebels or continue hiding.
No!, he wanted to fight the empire and reunite all the remaining Jedis in the galaxy to form, once again, the Jedi council!
And so he took his lightsaber and ignited it...the decision was made!
He went back to his cockpit, the first thing he would do is find Laya!
Chapter 5 - The Impossible...
Long gone were the times of the Jedi.
The Empire ruled the galaxy with an iron fist. Darth Vader was fierce containing uprisings and hunting down dissidents. Stories and rumors about summary executions were frequent. Smugglers, pirates, assassins were not tolerated and could not ask for a fair trial. Their fate always met the Stormtroopers blasts or Vader's red saber blade.
In some ways, Palpatine's "Pax Imperium" was guaranteed to many systems.
But there was one thing no law and order could suppress. Something no strict laws could ever end with. Slavery!
Laya became a slave by accident. In her youth she witnessed the slow destruction of her home country of Naboo when their former Representative in the Senate, Palpatine, became the Dark Lord of the Sith and Emperor Darth Sidious. He chose his own home world to set an example.
Known to fiercely fight for their freedom, especially from the Separatists, the -Humans and Gungans of Naboo made a stand against the oppression of the new Imperial forces.
Laya's parents were among those who bravely lost their lives against the highly trained Imperial Troops.
The last memory Laya has from her parents, was being on her mother's arms when a concussion bomb exploded in their home... Laya's mother covered the young girl with her body and she survived...
She also remembered her mother's last words "Grow to become a great woman. I shall be with you... in the Force..."
She did become a great woman.
It was not long until the few last Jedis found her lost in Tatooine. The force was strong with her.
She was trained in tender age to become a warrior, trained in the Jedi ways.
Running away from multiple systems, she grew up to become powerful. So much she decided to use her skills in any possible way against the killers of her parents: The Empire.
But as time passed the Jedi became scarce, and so did the Force. Her powers grew weak as she spent so many years smuggling food to the blockade systems. She trained herself to suppress the Force from her life as she would endanger any mission which involved eluding the Empire, since Vader insisted to inspect the blockades himself.
Eventually so much adventures made her step into danger, deeper and deeper.
Like anyone fighting against the Empire would know, there's just too many of them spread across the galaxy and you just couldn't fool Palpatine forever.
She was double-crossed by some of her "friends" in exchange of some mere credits. Arrested by corrupt Imperial officers who knew how the Hutts liked human females and would pay large sums for such slaves.
But Laya was a fighter. She wouldn't stand down.
In the first opportunity she would escape. She would flee again. To resume her fate.
But a chance was failing to arrive.
Not until a certain day when the whole of Jabba's palace was shaken by some terrifying news.
A Jedi had been killed.
Jedi!
She remembered all those years of training. Some light was turned on in her heart.
That light grew stronger. The Force was talking to her again. Sleeping thought woke and forgotten teachings turned alive. She felt sorry that a friend of her's was dead... but other's lived... she smiled... Ben was still alive...
But there was yet another presence. Near.
A presence she haven't felt since...
- I know you aren't just a slave, woman.- En Ghedi interrupted her travel in time.- No one runs away from any Hutt... not like that.
-You did...
-I wasn't a slave in Jabba's throne room...
-What is so special about my escape? I failed to obtain a ship... Almost died in the desert... - She faced him.
-You used the Force to bring me back. That's something!
-Your insights serve you well- She smiled as she turned to him, sitting in the sick bay's bed. Deeply looking at the emptiness. En Ghedi was standing by the door. - I am... something else.
- Why did you put me into this?
-Since the Empire started this hunt for Jedis I can't trust anyone. Just a few days ago, the last of my Jedi friends was murdered.
-And you trust me? You believe I can help you...?
-The Force connects us. Even though sometimes I don't understand its ways, I tend to listen to it.
-Well, this is some escape... Perhaps the Force fooled you.
-It was not meant to be like this. I had it planned for a long time.
-You could have gone to Mos Eisley and hire a ship out of there.
-Like I said, the Force wanted it some other way. Besides I lack the credits.
-You trust the Force too much.
-It has never let me down. -En Ghedi entered the room to meet her - But I believe it hasn't failed you either, or else we wouldn't be here right now...
A few seconds passed while En Ghedi smiled. Laya had a bad feeling...
-Actually, the Force is failing you now, Laya... -En Ghedi's face emerged from the shadows under a dim light, his face was dark and firm... a fierce pair of eyes stared at her- I am no Jedi. The Force does not flow to me like it does to you.
-Some of us tend to distort the way we feel the Force. This is a legacy of the Jedi extinction.
-You don't understand... I am not misguided...
The Force was shaken with that phrase. Laya felt the meaning of such words.
This man had the conflict but there was still darkness in his voice. Reaching thought the mans grim, she felt pain, as if a voice was screaming in the distance...
Her friend...
A Jedi...
...murdered a few days ago. Not by some hired assassin or bounty hunter. She could see the murderer. He was holding a lightsaber, red in color... A Dark Jedi...
A Sith...
En Ghedi.
-Yes Laya. I am an assassin of Jedis in the name of the Empire. I came to Tatooine to kill one of the last Jedi, Ardo Muhaala. It seems he had some company... I thought it was another Jedi when I felt it. But it was you… Wasn’t it?
Laya should be fighting for her life. The Jedi assassin was sitting next to her. But she was feeling a strange peace. Somehow she wasn't scared. She stood still. Words, however, were hard to come over the disgust of this man's job.
She remembered other Jedis. Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda… She shrugged away those thoughts, she shouldn’t reveal their whereabouts. Her insides wouldn't betray here now!
-I feel sorry for your dreaded assignment. - She said slowly. Her hand searched some object she could defend herself from any strike.
-I don't need your pity. It's my job! - His words were unconvincing, like a recorded emotion. Empty. - You cannot understand the power of the Dark Side. My bond with my Master is very strong. A privilege. I am his... Weapon!
The man was looking at nothing, yet his eyes were studying every movement Laya made. Her right hand was slipping away into the drugs tray. She found a small knife.
-You’re sick…
He didn’t respond to the offense…
-Are you going to kill me too? - At last she looked at him. He didn't answer.
Laya made a quick move to meet the man's face, fast enough to slash his cheek, but he was also fast to grab her arms and hold her to the wall...
Seconds passed.
Laya felt the end coming...
The Force was clashing between them... those mere centimeters between their eyes felt like the whole rage of light and darkness were fighting against each other...
"Strike her, she's defeated"
En Ghedi reached for his lightsaber using the Force, he was about to ignite it when something happened...
In a split second the whole light and darkness fight disappeared... There was only a pair of eyes looking at another... no Jedi... no Sith... just a woman and a man...
The conflict was no more...
Light prevailed...
Laya felt the opportunity and used a Force Push to send En Ghedi away to the other corner...
She grabbed the knife again and jumped to meet her assassin, this time she wouldn't fail.
When she grabbed the man's neck, she too felt a distinct moment of peace.
She couldn't understand. The Force was silent. This was not its decision. Something else's...
As En Ghedi raised to defend himself he didn't fight back. He just stood there...
-Do you have a death wish... murderer? - her voice, shaken...
-No...
Minutes passed. En Ghedi's face was bleeding. Laya's arms were aching.
Suddenly they both moved towards one another. But there was no measuring of strength. No Force Pushing. No lightsaber. No knife...
The two bodies crashed...
The two beings kissed...
Neither spoke...
Neither tried to explain...
This was impossible.
Chapter 6 - Heartbeats, Part I
The "Deviant" was silent.
Outside, there was more silence.
The ones who never traveled through space knew nothing of silence. So they have quiet nights in their desert planes, but you can still hear the wind... So they had deep caves carved almost to their planet's core, but still they could hear the land rumble...
Space was different.
The silence was so intense one could hear their own heartbeat. A deafening sound. Not because it was loud, but because there simply was nothing else.
Except two heartbeats… two hearts were beating in a sweet melody… A type of melody only a few privileged ones could ever hear… Those united in silence…
Anything that broke the sound of those two heart beats, would be a roar, even a kind, gentle woman's voice.
- Well, I guess this will change a few things... - Laya said looking at the other corner. Hidden by the lack of light, En Ghedi was crouched in the medic bay. No words - Here we are in a dead ship... We don't even have power to light up the...
-I am willing to take you to Coruscant! - En Ghedi stood still in the shadows... - But you must promise me you'll never reach me again.
-I don't know what to say, one minute ago you wanted to kill me.
-Like you said, some things have changed.
-What happened here, Eh Ghedi?
-I thought you knew the answer.
-Why should I, you were the one who kissed me...
-I didn't kiss air, you know? It takes two to do the trick.
-Suit yourself, almighty Sith.
Silence took over again. En Ghedi was staring at Laya, even though his eyes were hidden in the shadows she could feel him looking at her, through the Force.
-You know your master will find out about this...
-What do you know about my master? You presume too much.
-I know a few things about the Dark Side. In fact this knowledge as forced me to leave my Jedi training.
R7 was calling En Ghedi from the cockpit with squeaking sounds. He raised from the corner, his face was no longer dark, he had a gentle look and smiled.
-Choices... We all had to make them. Like making the choice not leave you in the desert sand...
-You rescued me not because you chose to, but because the good in you forced the event.
-Well, the good in me doesn't offer me power cells to leave this damned rock.
En Ghedi walked away to the cockpit.
-Perhaps a miracle is the only way to save us.
-A Miracle or a bounty hunter with a death wish... Like the one I got here in the screen...
Outside the ship's scanners followed a dim light between the stars. It was sneaking around the space junk. It was clear the small light was avoiding Tatooine's scoundrels too.
A few minutes passed and the ship circulated the junk. The Deviant was cloaked but the energy was scarce so En Ghedi knew the danger was imminent if the cloak shield failed and the small ship noticed it. He armed the guns and ordered R7 to get ready to raise the shields.
The small ship was now perfectly clear to the naked eye.
-What is it? –Laya asked.
-I believe that’s a type 23-attack ship. Very typical to Trandoshan scum.
-Slave Gatherers…
-I don’t need to ask if they’re friends of yours.
-How can we fight it?
-With the amount of fuel we have left we could raise the shields and fire weapons but we would loose the cloak
-Give me a task!
-Sit in that chair and pump the AA Batteries. Hope you can shoot straight.
-I’ve battled before, dear Sith.
-We’ll see!
Outside the small ship was struggling not hit debris, it seems its pilot wasn’t experienced in this type of flying.
But has it reached closer and closer, En Ghedi understood why it had it erratic behavior… It was searching… Thoroughly!
-R7 get ready. Weapons are learning. Laya hands on the trigger…
-May the Force be with us… - Laya said watching En Ghedi’s reaction. Looking over his shoulder, he smiled.
The small ship came to a halt as soon as it detected something. It turned around and met the pieces of debris around the “Deviant”. En Ghedi followed the ship through the scopes and kept a hot lock on the target. The ship’s scanners picked up a life form on board, but the Force was quicker to mention that to En Ghedi and Laya.
Worse than that…
Laya felt a presence. Strong in the way she learned to recognize throughout the years. Whoever was inside that ship was strong with the Force.
-Talk about a Jedi gathering in this planet. I should start my hunt in this rock, I spent years searching the galaxy but it seems there’s a Jedi magnet in this planet. – En Ghedi felt the tremor in the Force too…
The small ship passed by the cloaked vessel, slowly but steady. The cloak had worked. They were invisible to the rude Trando ship.
The two frowned watching the ship disappear behind the wreckage. It appears the Force sensitive being didn’t feel them. Perhaps it was an apprentice or a…
A loud bell sounded in the cockpit. R7 beeped in terror. The batteries were critical, if they didn’t shut down the cloak device they would be drained in a matter of minutes.
-Disconnecting the Cloak device, activate shields R7.
-Won’t that drain the batteries too?
-My shields have their own generator. I would hate to be caught like this and feel hopeless.
-That’s very reassuring.
The cloak slowly dropped and the ship was visible. They waited, weapons armed. No sign of other ships.
-R7 stay alert, I don’t want any surprises…
The droid responded with a low beep.
Looking outside the big desert planet was rising from the lower part of the main window. Debris was visible but nothing else.
Laya took a deep breath. As she tried to release the harness of the deck gun, she was stuck and was battling to release herself.
Watching with a smile, En Ghedi approached her and with a Force move he unbuckled the harness. Surprised, Laya felt from the tall chair, but En Ghedi grabbed her before she hit the ground…
Face to face, En Ghedi felt the power of her eyes again.
-It seems this the second time I save you today…
-Third…
Lost in each other’s eyes, they weren’t aware of the Trandoshan ship emerging above them, R7 alerted En Ghedi, but it was too late, the small ship hit the hull of the “Deviant” with something. The Impact made the ship stumble into the debris, inside the artificial gravity failed for a few seconds and its occupants were projected to the walls.
The ship was stumbling and hitting debris and wrecked ships. Its shields were holding but the big impacts were unavoidable.
En Ghedi was struggling to reach the main panel to activate the tow cables that should put them to a halt. But this was a difficult task with the gravity failing. Looking back he didn’t see Laya, but he astromech was using his own thrust rockets to reach the panel too. As it did he managed to hit a couple of buttons and four repeatedly sound were heard: The tow cable cannons were fired to large shipwrecks.
Soon the intelligent hooks found strong grabbing points and the ship slowly stopped spinning. The artificial gravity slowly stabilized and En Ghedi stood still looking outside.-Where are you? – He murmured…
Chapter 7 - Heartbeats, Part II
Outside the pilot of the Trandoshan ship was following the hit ship at full speed. The small ship had it uses, no laser cannon or blast was going to make any damage to ship with raised shields. Besides the ship was wisely protected inside a maze of shipwrecks. No attempt to board it would be successful, not in those circumstances.
So he fired a ion missile directly to the debris.
As the wreckage blew the ship was expelled to the space and was exposed. Now he could follow and finally board it…
The “Deviant” gave its final moves stabilizing the systems then the last of its power, drained. With it, the hope that En Ghedi would escape by its own means. He needed another way out of there. But how…
Those Trando guys had the fame of boarding ships and taking people as slaves by force. But they were also known as fine ship engine builders.
That’s was it. He would let this one mere pilot to board and believe it would collect it prize. Then he would meet his fate… Jedi or not…
The Trandoshan ship docked with the “Deviant”. Its pilot jumped to the back and took his helmet off. He left the blaster inside the ship, it wouldn’t be necessary.
As he removed the helmet he whispered.
-May the Force be with me…- He knew the challenge that was drawing near him would be greater than anything he ever faced, the Dark Side of the Force was strong inside that ship. If only he had time to…
Redius Spid climbed down the ladder to the “Deviant’s” entry blast doors. There was no time. Laya could be in grave danger. In fact the Force was telling him only one being was inside it. He hoped it was Laya.
The blast doors opened and he felt the cold of a dead ship. Igniting his lightsaber, he looked around the main entry. No one was there to meet him. The ship’s impact with the missile could have knocked everyone down. He hoped not too much. He felt the pressure of the feeling he could have done something wrong.
Entering the cockpit he looked at the main panel where a astromech droid was on the floor, power off, it was out… No one was found.
He reached the Force seeking for anyone… That presence again… hard to see… It had been long since he used the Force, some skills were still hard to control. He followed the Force that guided him to the sick bay.
The door was open, He raised the saber and the bluish light revealed a lying body over the sick bay’s stretcher…
-Laya…
As Redius whispered the words the bluish light dimmed to another light, red in color. Two sabers clashed in mid air, Spid only had time to raise it to meet the aggressor.
Darkness didn’t allow him to see who he was but he was strong. Too strong. With a swift move Spid walked back from the sick bay into the cockpit. Tatooine’s natural light illuminated the cockpit and finally he met his opponent.
-I’m here for the woman!
-You are here to deliver me you ship, Jedi.
-Who are you?
-Your skills are feeble and you are in no position to ask questions, Jedi!
Redius Spid attacked his opponent in an act of rage, as the lightsabers clashed in the air he felt the fear taking over and he knew this wasn’t right… Still he kept fighting.
-Your fear has made you strong – En Ghedi knew where this would lead.
Spid was becoming confident and with one or two spins he had the advantage. Or so he thought. As En Ghedi was recuperating from a hard clash, Spid heard a beeping sound from behind, that astromech was on after all, and was touching his leg with something. Immediately he knew what it was, some hundreds of volts trespassed his body. Dropping his lightsaber he was going to fall to the floor when En Ghedi grabbed his neck.
-Never go a battle you know you can’t win. And never think you can beat the Dark Side of the Force. This was your final lesson…
As En Ghedi’s red saber was raised a voiced echoed from the sick bay.
-STOP!
Laya was awake her hands had picked Spid’s saber.
-This one is a bounty hunter to take us to Jabba, why spare his life? –En Ghedi looked at Spid’s faint black eyes…
-Don’t kill him, he’s not meant to die.
-Don’t talk to me about the Jedi code Laya, this one will betray us to Jabba.
-No he won’t…
-Why do say that?
-Because he is my brother… He came here to save me…
-Your brother? Sorry I can’t see the resemblance…
-We’re brothers in arms… We fought in defense of Naboo… Please, release him, he meant no harm.
-He tried to kill me…
-Tried…
Rage was emanating from En Ghedi’s eyes. Still he couldn't do it. If she was right, then there was no point to kill him...
En Ghedi felt Spid’s body fainting. He dropped him on the floor.
-Nice job R7.
-Spid…
-He’s going to be fine, R7 just had a bit more fun than he was supposed to.
Laya embraced Spid, and looked at En Ghedi.
-Thank you…
-This is just great. Now there are three of us… -En Ghedi took a deep breath, He looked to the emptiness and finally said, fixating his eyes on her's. - He’s your responsibility. Our ship is exposed we need to move quickly out of here.
He walked to the tool shack to pick up some tools and walked to the main entrance. He ordered the droid:
-R7, keep an eye on the scopes, I’m going to the green boy’s ship to bring his power cells to our core.
The ship was once again in silence.
But now there were three heartbeats sharing the same fate...
Chapter 8 - Last Hope
It's known to the general public that working with power cells is as dangerous as trying to pull the ears of a Gundart, even if this is a well known sport in Tatooine.
But the removal of power cells in a Trandoshan ship in the middle of space is not only tricky but also avoidable... at all costs...
Power cells must be handled in a controlled environment with the usage of anti-static devices. That's why power cells are never handled outside a ground power facility. Add to that the fact that the older gravity-generators computers were fed by these cells, that when removed caused instantaneous lack of artificial gravity, anyone who would handle these in outer space would be incredibly desperate or lost his mind...
The Trandoshan had such system.
Thus, En Ghedi was sitting in the engines room looking at the cells with a desperate look.
-Do you have them? - Laya crawled inside the small room.
-A XY344 system... I didn't even know they still made these...
-So...
-So, removing this will cause an immediate zero-gravity condition.
-Is that a problem?
-It is when you are handling power cells. You see, the power cells themselves are harmless, but when they are inside the generator sockets they generating energy in such amount they would explode with any twitch...
-So, handle them carefully!
-You don't understand, in zero gravity no one can guarantee not to touch the generators walls... These are packed with static energy, any touch with the power cells would be certain explosion.
-So what do you think we should do?
-I'm thinking of something...
Below, R7 was beeping a lot. En Ghedi picked his wrist translator.
He read what R7 was saying.
"Captain, incoming ship!"
His eyes opened with terror. He jumped to the generator's socket and grabbed the first power cell.
-What are you doing?
-No words. Just get to my ship and find cover with the green boy...
-What's going on? What's R7 saying?
-We have some old friends that found our nice ship, uncloaked...
-Jabba's mercs?
-Or worse! Now get down there and close the hatch.
-But...
-No buts! NOW!
Laya jumped to the stairs and gave a final look to En Ghedi, over his shoulder his eyes looked at her. Eyes met again. As if it was the last time.
Lost in her green eyes, he blinked and remembered his task.
Looking back to the sockets he removed the first power cell with slow and calculated movements. The cell was heavy, but when he took it out of the socket it suddenly became lighter. The artificial gravity was now at half power. One out, one more to go.
How could these guys go out in space anyway? These old systems were so rude.
Looking at slot 2 he knew this job wasn't going to be as easy. The side covers were melted, meaning that there was no room for the cells to be extracted. Nice going! The Trandoshans were dumb enough to steal their own power cells so they sealed of the second socket making sure they wouldn't be surprised by their passenger's skill.
Below R7 was becoming more and more impatient and the incoming ships were closer.
-What can I do, R7? - Laya felt hopeless.
The small droid moved around pressing buttons. None seemed to have any effect.
Laya looked up and whispered:
-Come on En Ghedi!
In the Trandoshan ship, En Ghedi felt those words coming to him with the Force.
He grabbed his lightsaber and reduced the blade's size. Aimed at the socket and started to cut.
It was a surgeon's work, the twisted metal was hard but the saber was cutting it with ease, one false move and the saber would hit the cell and... Well... he didn't thought about that.
As the blade was finishing its job a large explosion threw En Ghedi to the other end of the ship, someone was firing at them. With half the gravity En Ghedi was thrown hopelessly to another side as another blast hit the Trandoshan hull.
Whoever was firing at them wanted the "Deviant" intact...
En Ghedi fought to get back to the socket and grabbed the second cell. As he did he reached through the Force and concentrated. The slow movement brought the cell from its socket. Done!
Immediately he felt the zero gravity nausea. He fought to concentrate to get back to the "Deviant".
As he was reaching the stairs he dropped the cells.
-Put these in the Engine's room main sockets, R7!
The Astrodroid beeped in happiness, using a small arm he raced to the engine room and did his work. After he placed the sockets the ship gained life and a low level hum started meaning the ship was back on line.
-Come on En Ghedi! - Laya screamed - The ships are approaching!
As En Ghedi was climbing down the stairs another blast hit the Trando ship. This time the connection between both ships was lost and the emergency locking systems closed the main doors.
The last thing En Ghedi saw was two green eyes looking at him in terror. The Trandoshan ship was now adrift.
Outside the incoming ships rejoiced with their accomplishment. They managed to disconnect the slavery ship.
Laya cried in terror, as R7 raised the shields and armed the cannons.
Redius was still lying on the medic bay
En Ghedi was inside another dead ship, zero gravity... not much air...
But he had fought his way out of worse scenarios...
But hope is always the last to die...
Chapter 9 -
Stormtroopers TF332 was looking to the nearest gigantic flower with awe. "So big" he thought. The other Stormtroopers were just telling jokes near the AT-ST, TF332 was admiring the flowers and general vegetation, but... also the tremendous strength the Force had here.
A few weeks ago, TF332 joined the Republic Army when the Senate finally started recruiting other humans rather than just clones. But his task was hardly to combat for the Empire, not in the way those troopers did, that is...
- TF332, why did you leave your post? - Commander SK251 interrupted.
- I'm sorry commander I thought I heard something?.
- Focus TF332, this is not field camping.
- Yes sir! - If only he knew of his personal task.
TF332 walked down to the AT-ST, which started its routine patrol.
The 534th was on a scheduled relief of the battle worn 501st here in Felucia. The well-known troops of the 501st failed to locate a "disturbance" in the Force, that Emperor Palpatine decided that could be a hidden Jedi.
Since the 501st wasn't being successful and since Vader was on the other side of the galaxy overseeing the Death Star, Palpatine decided to send his new and secret executioner, Darth En Ghedi... or TF332 to the others.
Walking down the savannah, En Ghedi felt the Force was strong in this planet. The gigantic flowers were but a trace of such potential. There was something else here. Something only a Sith or Jedi could feel, something only a Sith or Jedi could create.
The troops were moving west to some settlement of some "not so friendly" locals. Even though very advanced in agriculture and plant investigation, the Felucians were primitive and aggressive.
But En Ghedi has no intention to follow the 534th. The Force called him in a strong manner now. It was coming from his left flank. Reaching his backpack he took a cylinder. His Lightsaber.
The troop Commander felt him leaving the formation.
-TF332 get back in line!
En Ghedi waved his hand.
-Continue your mission I will join you later!
-I will continue my mission. You will join us later.
Mind tricks were but one of the weapons of this Dark Lord.
Reaching what appeared to be the source of this Force Calling, En Ghedi found himself in the entrance of a small cavern.
The Force was strong here. He looked around the cave but didn’t enter it, a perfect place for an ambush.
Suddenly he felt a presence. He looked back and saw no one… He pretended to go back to the cave but he didn’t, instead he walked back into the foliage and used his blaster to move the plants… and he found something...
A body was half buried in the ground. Still had the clothes and a weapon… A Lightsaber. En Ghedi knew the body was lifeless; still the Force flowed around it.
Moving the body he found who once was that figure… Aayla Secura. The blast marks of her murderers, Clone Troopers executing order 66, covered most of here blue body. But there was something wrong with this body. Her face was strange but kept the general traces of a young twi’lek. Still...
He used his jungle knife to cut through the skin… wiring… this was a droid…
But why was a dummy creating such a disturbance. He immediately knew…
- Palpatine’s treachery has no end. Not only Skywalker does his dirty job, he must make sure the job is done with a… backup plan… Storm Troopers- A voice emerged from the back.
En Ghedi didn’t react. He calmly concealed his lightsaber, switch off.
-I thought that death, even if staged, was enough to stop a Jedi. –En Ghedi turned to see a silhouette, even though he couldn’t be sure, the Force was telling him it was Aayla Secura, alive.
-All of those who are strong with the Force endure. Even if we require some tricks to survive.
-I have a task, Aayla.
-I know!
-Why didn’t you strike me when I was exposed?
-To be confined to this planet forever, hiding from Stormtroopers forever… I didn’t have this in mind when I joined the Republic Army. I need to leave. You have the Force with you, trooper. Help me escape and I will help you control that power.
En Ghedi smiled.
-You don’t know who I am, do you?
-You were assigned here to guard this planet. I know your job is to kill all Jedis you encounter. But you are different. I can help you – Her silhouette moved in the shadows of the forest.
-You want me to take you elsewhere…
-Yes and I… - Aayla stopped… En Ghedi was no longer concealing his true identity. He ignited his lightsaber- Now I know why it was so hard to see through you…
-You Jedi always assume too much.
Her blue lightsaber ignited and clashed against En Ghedi’s sabre in a protective stance. But her face was in pain. She wouldn’t resist much.
In a swift move En Ghedi moved to an attacking stance and took his helmet off. His eyes were in rage. But only then his eyes could see as a human.
Aayla was knows to be a beautiful Twi’lek. The figure he was now looking at was a scarred face from blasters…
She really was shot…
-Finnish what you begun, Sith… -She whispered.
En Ghedi was stalled… He couldn’t move… He was terrified and shocked with such a ruined beauty.
-There is good in you –She smiled- It’s not a shame to feel compassion.
En Ghedi was confused.
Echoes emerged in his brain. Palpatine’s voice echoes…
“Do what must be done! A Sith doesn’t have any doubts”
He closed his eyes… Aayla also did… the blade dropped in a deadly blow…
“Good… good, you’ve done well Lord En Ghedi”.
He didn’t look at her… As he walked he picked his blaster and helmet and left that cave… The last resting place of the, once beautiful Jedi, Aayla Secura.
En Ghedi was now a Dark Lord of the Sith… or so he thought…
These images faded has En Ghedi woke up from his meditation. The Trandoshan ship was cold and silent. The Gravity was inexistent. En Ghedi floated in the cabin, figuring a way to leave. The “Deviant” was still below the main deck. Reaching the Force he knew Laya and Reedius were still inside.
He ignited his lightsaber once more and felt the cold handle again.
The red light showed nothing useful he could use in his escape. Floating around the ship there was some tools and some mining equipment. In the quarters he found some clothes and some personal items…
What would he do? This ship was drifting in Tatooine’s orbit, without power or weapons. There was no trace of life support systems, meaning he would run out of air soon.
En Ghedi thought, he reached the Force and… The Force replied.
An hermetic cargo container in the cargo hold.
It was a long shot but if he could jettison himself in that container he could only hope to be captured by the attackers outside, believing it was an escape pod.
In the worst-case scenario he would fell into Tatooine due to its gravitational force, but he would use the Force to help his descent.
He opened the container. Excellent, raw Bantha meat, more organic traces for the scanners. He shut the door and used the force to open the cargo hold and expel the container. Immediately he felt the vacuum of space bend the metal walls of the container.
En Ghedi would know if that would be a crazy idea in a few minutes...
Chapter 10 -
The large container started a fast descent into Tatooine. “Ok, plan B”, En Ghedi thought. As he reached the Force to help him on the landing, the speed dramatically dropper to a halt.
That could only mean one thing. Tractor Beam. Plan A was still on.
The container slowly moved back. En Ghedi could see the ship he was moving to though the eyes of the Force.
As the container passed the “Deviant” Ghedi could feel Laya through the Force. He talked to her.
-Give me a couple of minutes I’ll solve this quickly!
-No! Surrender yourself! You have no chance! –Her voice was firm but still he sensed some fear.
-I’m not the surrender type. –En Ghedi opened his eyes to the darkness inside the container –We’ll talk soon.
Outside the container came to a halt with a bump. It was already inside the attacking ship. En Ghedi could feel many soldiers outside bearing weapons. Even so well armed En Ghedi would be a formidable adversary to them. Small were their chances to live against a Dark Lord of the Sith no matter how well armed they were.
The container door was being opened with welding torches. En Ghedi closed his eyes. The Force was strong with him.
At the minimum movement on the door, En Ghedi jumped beyond it, lightsaber ignited, he jumped right into the middle of the soldiers predicting every move they made.
But there was no attack.
En Ghedi opened his eyes to see a whole platoon of Pirates aiming at him, but none opened fire. He was confused.
-That is enough brothers, Holster your weapons! – A voiced echoed in the hangar. All soldiers obeyed. –You are free to go, En Ghedi.
En Ghedi looked around, he didn’t see the origin of the voice.
-Who’s giving me that freedom? –He asked.
-I, Di–Ogon, Captain of this vessel. Everybody around the galaxy know me as “The Crow”.
En Ghedi looked around. He found a figure, blended among the pirates, he recognized the origin of the voice.
-If I am free to go, I want my ship back... – En Ghedi was still in defensive stance.
-Take it… You won’t go to far without your engines though.
The pirates laughed.
-…and everyone inside it…
The pirates stopped laughing.
-To think we had all this trouble to follow that blue boy, Reedius to capture Jabba’s bride and collect the bounty… and now give it away like that… What do you say, brothers?
The pirates yelled a sounding “No!”. En Ghedi was getting bored.
-Thank you for your help capturing the woman. I am a man who appreciates help. As a token of my good will, I’ll let you live. Savvy?
-There’s another bargain for you, pirate… Let me go with my ship and my passengers and I will kill you first, like a honored Captain…
There was a deep silence in the hangar. The pirates were nervous.
-You’ve got spirit! I’ll give you that! But wouldn’t you say you are outnumbered here? I’ve already given you your freedom… Do you believe your laser sword will help against my men?
-You have no idea…
The pirate raised his arm and pointed to his lightsaber.
-I advise you to holster your sword… Jedi…
That word sounded like terror itself was resumed to a single word.
-I AM NOT A JEDI! – And he jumped to attack the Captain.
So fast the other pirates only understood what was going on when they saw their captain’s right arm drop to the floor.
The confused pirates opened fire to what they could only see as a black blur. It was En Ghedi filled with rage eliminating the pirates one by one.
Until no one was left but the dismembered captain.
-I’ve given you the choice of not watching this…
-Continue your attack, Jedi, kill me… my blood belongs among my brothers…
En Ghedi raised his lightsaber, but his mind was playing tricks on him. Aayla Secura was now lying on the floor again, her eyes closed… En Ghedi shut his eyes too…
Seconds passed and his lightsaber dropped… hitting the floor near the pirates head.
-You don’t deserve to die by the hands of a Sith. – En Ghedi was once again hiding his emotions.
The Pirate leaned back and fainted.
En Ghedi stood there… breathless, he would recover from this battle… but his emotional wounds were now deep…
He had taken yet another step into uncertainty…
He came to the main platform to the bottom of the ship where it connected to the Deviant. He found more pirates trying to breach into the blast doors. R7 was doing a great job.
Inside the "Deviant", R7 and Laya were standing by the main hangar of the ship armed with turbo-lasers and blasters correspondingly, pointed at the door watching the sparkles of the welding torches breaching the doors.
The R7 unit emitted some beeps, but Laya didn’t respond.
She was terrified by the terrible disturbance in the Force she had felt a few minutes ago. As if dozens of voices cried out in death… so quick… so deadly.
That disturbance was felt once again. This time right in front of her…
The sparkles stopped.
There was a breach… a red glowing blade of a lightsaber.
En Ghedi entered the ship… A dozen bodies lied on the flood behind him.
-R7, we need to repair this door immediately! Other pirates will come.
Laya looked at En Ghedi with terror. There was no good in him… She continued to aim her blaster. Was she wrong about his goodness?
En Ghedi approached as R7 repaired the door. He felt her fear while approaching her and grabbing her Blaster still aiming at his chest.
-This is who I am… I know it’s hard for you to understand…
-You are darkness itself… -Her green eyes no longer had the shine En Ghedi fell in love with…
-I once was… I am nothing now…
They stared at each other for a while until there was a noise coming from their back. As they both looked, Reedius was against the wall standing but still droopy.
-Reedius! – She ran towards him avoiding his fall.
-I had this weird dream… -Reedius said.
En Ghedi left the two while walking towards the bridge, still holding the blaster.
-He’ll be all right once we jump out of here.- He said coldly.
Laya helped Reedius sit in the co-pilot’s chair while he recovered.
When she sat on the navigator's chair she saw En Ghedi handing her the Blaster.
-This is yours I believe...
She took the blaster and for a second she had a conflict... But her fate and Reedius were once again in the hands of this man... She placed the blaster on her side...
R7 finished his work on the doors and they were ready to leave.
En Ghedi released the “Deviant” from the pirate ship and began the hyperspace jump.
The jump would take them far from the pirates… far from Tatooine… far from everything else… They were already far from their feelings.
Laya and En Ghedi never traded eyesight for a second until they arrived their destiny.
Endor Moon was a perfect hideout and excellent to call a rebel transport which would never be found by imperial scanners.
-You will be safe here. – En Ghedi and Laya were standing by the main window, looking down at Endor approaching slowly while R7 navigated the ship.
-Were will go from here? –She asked.
-I don’t know. I should go back to Coruscant to receive my next assignment. But some… things… happened to me since I’ve been in Tatooine.
-You would be a great help with the Rebellion.
-Perhaps…
-Your… skills, they could be used for the good… I’m sure we could find a place for you in the officer ranks.
-Laya, there is only one place I would like to be… but I am afraid I lost that place…
-You did…
They both looked at each other, at last.
-There’s no place in your heart for me…
-I am sorry…
She looked down to the floor. He raised her face to look at her into her eyes.
-That’s ok. It wasn’t meant to be. You’ve shown me feelings I could never find by myself. I might not be balanced but I will seek myself out there… Besides, your heart is already divided…
-What? Reedius? –She Laughed- No! He’s like a brother to me. We’ve been through a lot together. He still thinks I am defenseless.
-And that… you are not…
-Perhaps we can meet again someday…
-You would be getting me into trouble again… Better not…
They both laughed. The ship came to a halt in the
-Be careful out there. I heard there’s some midget wookies around here…
-Oh, we know them well.
The door closed and the “Deviant” departed. Looking up Laya, cried… Looking down, En Ghedi felt empty…
They both saw each other disappear…
Until there was nothing else to see…
En Ghedi and Laya shared their thoughts through the Force…
-You know I will always love you… - She said…
-So will I… Until my last breath…
The “Deviant” ship jumped into Hyperspace. The Rebellion would come next… For now, all that stood were…
Two green eyes…
The End
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