Star Wars Fan Fiction Portugal

Double Cross

2009-12-14T11:25:00.003Z

Author's Title : "Double Cross"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Boba Fett sat by the fireplace he had lighten just a few minutes ago. The flames projected specters all around the improvised camp. Boba took his helmet off for the first time in days and smelled the smooth scent provided by the rich flora surrounding him.
This was the first time Boba visited such a luxurious planet. Wildlife was rare in such an explored and abused Galaxy. He closed his eyes savoring the moment. Few jobs like the one he had now provided such privilege.
While he did it, however sounds of movement alerted him to replace his helmet and stay on the lookout.
The helmet's sensors came to life revealing a multitude of small animals curious to his presence, but also something else. There was a large mass that his thermal sensors couldn't trace, but the motion tracker picked up. With a double eye blink, Fett brought the helmet built in range finder down to eye level and aimed. The rocket launcher on his back pack beeped and was ready to hit the elusive target.
Boba waited. Completely still and keeping a low profile towards the target almost lying down on the soft floor. The tension was palpable, he couldn't accept his failure to be ambushed like this. He was a Mandalorian, after all. He was caught in a moment of distraction, removing his buy'ce for a human weakness, the desire to breathe some "fresh air" as if his chemical filters didn't do the job right. Boba lamented his "human" condition. For a brief moment some memories of his father Jango talking to him about Mando tradition and how the original Mandalorian a species called Taung were such great warriors and hunters, lacking the human weaknesses.
Those thoughts were quickly set aside as the movement by the bushes repeated. This time, Boba wasn't going to give anyone a chance.
"Whoever you are, you picked the wrong target!" He said, using his voice amplifier to make sure the attacker could hear him, "I got a missile locked on you so if you don't want to become Hutt food, you better show yourself, hands were I can see them..."
There was a brief moment that felt like ages to Boba when the movement just stopped and his sensors ceased to give any type of information. He felt he was tricked for a moment, but while he thought about running into pursuit, a slim figure was produced coming from the bushes.
The skinny Zeltron female was shaking and approached cautiously towards Boba.
"I am sorry, Mandalorian!" She said with such a low voice Boba needed to boost his inbuilt speakers, "I was cold and hungry and just thought I could share your fire for a moment and ask for a bit of food..."
"That's quite a request... Where's the bargain?" Boba asked drawing his blaster towards the Zeltron.
"Whatever I may have you find of value, it's yours..." The Zeltron woman threw her backpack towards Boba's feet. He switched his sensors trying to find any further threats besides the Zeltron woman. His sensors detected no one else.
"Are you alone, Zeltron?"
"Yes, sir..."
"What's your name and how did you find me?"
"My name is Sah'ena and actually you found me... I was running lost here. I'm not even sure where 'here' is..." She sounded genuine, but Boba knew better than to trust a Zeltron running lost, though.
Theses aliens were known to have powerful telepaths who can transmit feelings or read minds... Furthermore, he wasn't even sure his helmet's filters could keep the powerful pheromones typical of such species, known to enhance the Zeltron's attractiveness, and Boba did find her attractive, then again his heart was as cold as stone, so if that was her game, then it was a lost bet.
"Why do I don't believe you, woman?" Boba asked sarcastically....
"It's the truth, Mandalorian. I am not using any of my species tricks. I wouldn't dare." She said, again sounding genuine.
Boba looked down to the satchel on the floor and quickly picked it up. Running through the contents he found some credits, some worthless jewelry, some holopics, a discharged gun clip and a few more uninteresting items. Picking up the clip, he threw the bag back to the woman's feet. "Better throw your gun here too, and slowly..."
"I lost it..."
"What will happen if I search you and find it?"
"You won't!"
He approached carefully and searched the woman. She appeared have nothing else on her until he found an object in her jacket inner pocket, cleverly concealed. At first he thought it was a gun, but then he dismissed the idea, producing a datapad. Boba picked it and browsed the menu. Zeltrons were no tech experts to carry around fancy devices but this one looked like a complex security module that contained a lot of encrypted items he couldn't decipher promptly. After much inspection a name came up. "This datapad belongs to some guy name Naveek Sa... Trandoshan... You don't look that green and you're definitely not as ugly..."
"I stole it!"
"Now we're getting somewhere... You were planning to do that to me too?"
"No I just want to get warm and eat something. If you can't provide that, give me back my datapad and let me go!"
Boba admired the woman's spirit. He figured she sounded too sincere to be preparing something against him. He could clearly see she was trembling from the harsh cold his armor prevented him from feeling. Reaching down one of his pouches he threw a couple of rations at her a pointed to a place near the fire opposite of where he was standing, keeping the fire between them. "No sudden moves or I will burn that pretty pink skin of yours..."
The woman complied with a smile and sat down feasting on the rations as if she really was hungry. Boba kept his blaster pointing at her but loosened the grip a bit, realizing he was almost crushing the weapon from the fear of being ambushed like this. It had been a while since he saw some action. Somehow this event triggered that adrenaline he so wanted to feel again. Only to regret that he had to feel like this... ambushed by a woman!
"You have a name?" She asked while chewing the last bits of ration.
"Yes I do!" Boba said.
"Well..."
"When you're done, take a blanket and get back to wherever you came from!" Boba said pointing to a stack of sheets and blankets inside a small travel case he brought from his ship.
"I don't know where I came from... I've been in this forest for days now... Can you tell me where this is?"
"Who's Naveek Sa?" Boba asked.
"He was someone I was supposed to seduce and steal that datapad. That's all you need to know, I'm not proud of my work, but that's what pays me."
"Looks like you need some practice to be stranded in some unknown planet..." Boba observed.
"It's not like I have a fancy armor filled with concealed gadgets and sensors, Mandalorian."
Again the woman's spirit was amazing. It also raised Boba's guard again. He became tense once more.
"Where did you steal this?"
"Where do you find a Trandoshan if not hunting for wookiees in Kashyyyk?"
"You came all the way from Kashyyyk and don't know about it? That Trando must have been quite a knock-out for you!"
"And where am I, anyway? Or do I have to pay for that too?"
Boba laughed slightly. He felt there was no point keeping the information from her. After all, if this was just an orchestrated hoax she knew quite well where she was by now... "Dantooine, we're on Dantooine..." He lied.
"I can see the large planet overhead, Mister... This is a moon..." She pointed up.
"There's no fooling you, huh? We're on the forest moon of Endor..."
"Endor? Where are the Ewoks then?"
"Far down into the equator. This can be a cold planet and not even their fur can keep those little bastards warm..."
"I find them cute... If only we could see one!" She looked around and began to rise."
"Hey!" Boba pointed his blaster directly at her, "Stay down! There's no Ewoks around like I said. But if alert anyone or anything for my presence here I'll make you become their dinner!"
"They're... cannibals?"
"They're meat eaters... anything not resembling a furry little terrorist is food for them... so stand down, eat your rations and leave if you want. Just don't force me to shoot you in the process!"
Silence took over. Only the soft breeze was felt over the trees above their heads. The Zeltron just watched the flames and tried move closer to the heat.
"So where are you from, Sah'ena?" Boba finally asked, braking the ice a bit.
"Why should answer you if you don't even tell me your name!" The woman froze the moment again.
"Fine, listen, take the blankets and leave, be grateful I don't use you to feed the fire..."
The Zeltron picked the blankets and walked away from the camp without a word. A few moments later the sound of her footsteps ceased and Boba's sensors indicated he was finally alone again. He lied back a bit and close his eyes. His sensors were still on and tracking. He was safe for now. No more taking off his helmet out of weakness. This sleeping need, however, was yet another weakness... One that Boba wished he didn't have. He wished he was back on Kamino and the Master Cloners just made him perfect... But a perfect warrior wouldn't let someone know where he was, ambush him and then let her go... but that was concession Boba had to make... he was tired and these problems had to wait...

It was only when the sensors on his helmet triggered that Boba felt that he had committed yet another mistake. He didn't have time to reach his blaster that was nowhere to be found and when he tried to get up several flashbangs blew up and rendered his sensors useless for a couple of seconds. He pressed a few buttons arming all the defensive items on his armor, including his flame launcher and stood ready.
When the effect of the flashbangs finally dissipated, Boba finally found at least twelve armed men and women surrounding him with a Trandoshan male right in front of them. Boba wasn't going to waste time asking questions, it was obvious these men weren't here to kill him or they would have done it already and it was even more obvious they wanted something he had or in the worst case scenario they wanted him... Either case, Boba Fett had been in worse situations before and came out of them with just a few scratches. But when he began to raise his wrist armed with the flame launcher, the Trandoshan introduced his leverage.
The Zeltron woman had her hands tied on the back and her mouth covered with a disgusting looking cloth.
"Quite the spirit, this one..." The Trando said with an ugly smile. If that was ever to be considered a smile at all. "I am Naveek Sa and you have something that belongs to me. Hand it over and well forget your face... well... your fancy looking mask..."
"It's called a buy'ce..." Boba said calmly, still ready to move if attacked.
"It's whatever you like to call it. I call it 'the guy who's smart enough to give me back my datapad' mask!"
"If you are having all this trouble for it, then it must be important..."
"It is... it contains all the recordings of my favorite holodrama, as far as you're concerned... Now, hand it over!"
"And your trading coin would be..." Boba said.
"You're in no position to bargain, Mando.... hand it over!"
"This isn't much of a threat, I could just jump out of here with my jet pack and your little theatrical display would be for nothing!"
"Oh... So you're saying that this little precious..." The Trandoshan's lizard hands picked the Zeltron's chin clearly hurting her, "is nothing to you? Didn't she play her charms on you as she did to me?"
"No..."
"Ah! I had to buy the most expensive concoctions there are against her kind! She's quite the artist of seduction." The lizards tong licked his own lips looking at the Zeltron with an animal desire, but as soon as he gave away signs of weakness he shrugged the thought and slapped her "There she was again! Ah! Doesn't work anymore, Zeltron!"
Boba didn't move muscle but he did almost jumped on the Trandoshans back with his concealed vibroblade. His self-control kicked in. Just like his father taught him.
"Kill her... I couldn't care less!" Boba Fett lied.
The Trandoshan looked at him with disbelief, then he looked around to his men as if looking for answers. After a few moments of hesitation, he took a knife from his pocket and placed over the Zeltron's neck. She moaned as the sharp blade softly cut her skin.
"Trandoshans are known to be quite brute with sharp objects. I may not know how to measure my strength to keep this blade from cutting her further..."
"Trandos are also known to be ugly chakaars..." Boba joked. Every men around him took a step forward.
"Just give me the datapad and well leave you!" The Trandoshan almost sounded like he was begging.
"I don't have any datapad..."
"She says you do! You robbed her of it!"
The Zeltron woman looked at Boba and a shook her head as if apologizing.
Boba sighed pondering the situation. He couldn't decipher the pad with what he had. So it was worthless for now to understand what it contained. Taking it away would put him on the run for his ship that appeared to be well concealed so far. If he gave it away, however, he wasn't sure they wouldn't give him further trouble. But if they wanted, they could just shoot him and take the datapad from his body... if they could. The Trandoshan identified Boba as Mandalorian so he knew this was no easy prey.
He could just jump out of there with his jetpack and blend with the forest somewhere else. He would be virtually invisible... But was this datapad worth it? How about that Zeltron... Something triggered Boba Fett deeply... He felt puzzled and he just wondered if those filters were any good again. His attackers were unaffected by the woman's pheromones which seemed strange, but Boba concluded the woman was just scared and couldn't concentrate on that chemical weapon... Even so...
"How about it, Mando?" The Trandoshan interrupted his thoughts. "The pad for the woman..."
"I said she’s of no use to me..."
"I got no time for this karking thing!" The Trandoshan was now yelling, he rushed to the Zeltron woman and cut her arm deeply, between her bleeding and screaming, Boba could swear he heard the Zeltron begging to him. "Chakaar mind control..." He thought.
"Fine... Send the woman over and I'll throw you the pad..." Boba said, shrugging. This deal was getting worse anyway.
"How can I be sure you'll throw the datapad?"
"We'll do it on three!"
The Trandoshan looked around and added, "You wouldn't stand a chance anyway..."
"Right..." Boba added, "Oh and do throw me my blaster..."
"Precious, huh?" The Trandoshan picked the blaster from a henchman's backpack, "Custom built, looking good..."
"Just send it over, lizard man..." Boba's disgust was palpable. Not just from the Trandoshan's looks but also from the fact that he was holding his personal blaster.
The Trandoshan clicked the ammo slot and removed the charge. The gun was empty. He handed it to the Zeltron and grabbed her by her arms.
Boba was even tenser with this. His weapon was not a toy. It was dear to him. Seeing it being handed from one savage to someone else, only aggravated the situation.
"I will kill you with my bare hands, Trannie!" He said with clenched teeth.
"Ah... How amusing, Mando! Do you really think you can threat me?"
"Oh... This is not a threat... it's a certainty!"
The Trandoshan looked around and saw his men trading suspicious looks. This situation was getting way out of hand and it would be better to end it soon, "One..." He suddenly began.
"Two!" Boba added, smiling under his helmet.
On "Three" Boba threw the datapad to the Trandoshan, while the lizard alien pushed the Zeltron to the floor, she landed with a hurting sound.
Boba didn't reach down until he saw the surrounding men lowering their weapons and dispersing. When they did, he reached down to the woman, helping her up.
"The weapon..." He said.
The Zeltron handed it quicker than what Boba anticipated. Her hands weren't tied after all. And only when she removed the cloth from her mouth herself, did he understand the trick that the woman pulled.
"Sorry, Mandalorian..." The woman said, producing the elusive blaster Boba knew all along she had, "No matter how barbaric, you men are always so easy to fool... You were right, though. I wasn't to be trusted. I could never fool you there, could I?" Boba didn't answer as the blaster aimed below the mask, "Where is it?"
“I should have searched you better…” He said
“I bet you would like that. Where is it?”
"Where is what?"
"The datapad, you can fool that leatherhead, but not me!"
Boba smiled under the mask. She was cunning, almost irresistible in her own way. "Lower pouch on the right leg..."
The Zeltron smiled and searched for it.
"Easy on the goods, darling!" Boba joked.
The Zeltron didn't find it amusing and roughly push the Mandalorian away, aiming her side arm. She slowly moved away and suddenly broke in a run.
"I'm sorry father..." He whispered, remembering all that his father Jango Fett a famous Mandalorian Bounty Hunter, the ultimate warrior type, had lectured in so many evenings on Kamino.
He suddenly felt an urge to recover something... His pride!
He ran down the hill and followed the tracks of the Zeltron woman. "Fool!" He whispered. It wouldn't take long for the Trandoshan to find that his datapad was a hoax. And she was running right in his path, by the looks of it.
Running down a clearing, he could see a ship landed near a small river. He arrived just in time to see the Zeltron woman being held by the disgusting lizard. They had found her first. But something was odd on the way the Trando was handling her. He suddenly looked around and released her... The Zeltron smacked the Trandoshan and screamed something, then hugged the disgusting lizard... A travesty...
The Mandalorian enhanced the helmet’s audio sensors and eavesdropped on the conversation.
“… I am sorry sweatheart, it was meant to seem realistic…” The Trando said.
“You cut me!” The woman yelled.
“I couldn’t risk it! He could be here for me!”
“No, he’s just a lowlife, he’s not trouble!”
“Why did you take my security keypad?”
“Leverage! You sent me there to spy on the guy, I could almost imagine you would sell me like you did your previous wife!”
“I’m a business man, deal with it!”
“So that was it…” Boba whispered to himself, “You were scared about me, you di’kut…”
Boba jumped with his jetpack igniting powering it up in mid air. By the time the henchmen raised their blasters to the Mandalorian, he had already trained all his weapons on them. The missile took two Devaronians by the ship, possibly the pilots, then his knee blasters took most of the surprised henchmen. His flame launcher was enough to scare away a couple of pseudo-snipers clumsy enough to drop their rifles while running.
A couple of persistent thugs opened fire while Boba was landing, forcing him to roll before he threw a thermal detonator on their feet.
The rest of the thugs eventually ran to the ship, now lacking the pilots and left the Trandoshan and the Zeltron behind lying on the floor still perplexed...
"We made a deal, Mandalorian..." The Trandoshan said.
"No, the deal was about the trade," Boba said aiming his wrist equipped with saber darts. "There was never a deal about sparing you and your girlfriend..."
"No! Wait, there's no need to do this! Tell me want you want and I will give it to you! I promise!" The Trando said.
Beside him the Zeltron tried her best to influence Boba using her Zeltron powers. Boba Fett, however, was not the type of man to be fooled twice. Using his empty blaster he knocked the woman unconscious. The Trandoshan screamed in fear.
"Wait! I can pay you, I'll make you so wealthy you will..."
"Shut up, lizard man!" Boba interrupted. "You got something I want!"
"No please... not the datapad... listen, it contains..."
"I don't care what's in it!"
"It can make us both rich!"
"I said, I don't care" Boba pointed his wrist gun at the Trandoshan's forehead, "I want my ammo clip!"
"What?" The Trandoshan was comprehensibly puzzled.
"Hand it over, or I will perform a new plastic surgery on you purse face!"
The Trandoshan gently pulled the weapon clip, shacking so much he dropped everything else he had on his pocket to the dry grass on the floor. "Please don't kill me. See? I am cooperating, see?"
Boba inserted the clip, analyzed the charge and when it satisfied him, he lowered the gun. Turning away, he jumped out of the clearing on an offset course back to his ship, just in case that Trando decided to follow him.
A few kilometers away, he landed near his ship "Slave I" and pressed a button on his suit. An almost imperceptible sound was heard as the ship's countermeasures turned off and security systems were shut down.
He climbed to the ship's ramp, and walked up. But before he did it, he stopped. He felt the urge to breathe that fresh air one last time. Somehow, though, it seemed that the sole ideal of being human was no longer that important.
While he climbed back to the cockpit, and while starting the ship’s computer for orbit he reached down to his pocket and took an object. In that instant a beep from the console alerted Boba for an incoming message when he was finally in the deep black orbit.
"Do you have the package?" His fellow bounty hunter Dengar was on screen.
"Yes!" Boba answered, still wearing his helmet.
"Something wrong?" Dengar asked.
"No, why?"
"You sound tired..." Dengar said with an unmistakable irony.
"As if you cared..."
"Was it hard to obtain?"
"No..." Boba raised his hand and looked at the Trandoshan Datapad, smiling underneath the mask, "I just wonder what that Trannie will think when he reads his datapad and find that it's a Wookiee distress beacon..."
"That will be a mess! Wookiees love stray Trandos asking for help!" The screen went blank. No goodbyes were traded among warriors.
Boba Fett examined the datapad, not really caring for its contents, since his contact was paying for it he felt it wasn't his problem what was in it. Somewhere in the Galaxy, perhaps still on Endor, the Trandoshan would know that no one should mess with a Mandalorian. No one should touch his weapon, either.
For some reason he recalled the Zeltron woman. "What people do to earn life" he thought. His plan was simple: Insert on Endor where that Trandoshan secretly hided his base and retrieve the pad. The Zeltron was an unexpected event, but eventually she delivered the desired pad into his hands out of sheer ingenuity. But why was she there, anyway? Perhaps she liked the rush of being with a smelly scoundrel. Perhaps she really was trying to make her living, but here protection eased the job for Boba Fett. And, in the end, Boba Fett wasn't about to begin understanding common people. His own ego was enough to deal with.
He finally took off his helmet in the safety of Slave 1. He smelled the rust and rubber of his old but reliable ship and it felt nowhere near as refreshing as Endor’s environment. But it was safe.
Picking up his cleaning apparel, he began 'purifying' his weapon removing the Trandoshan filth. He smiled imagining what those Wookiees would do to them...

Goodbye

2009-11-17T10:24:00.004Z

Author's Title : "Goodbye"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Dear Son,

As I write to you I am waiting to embark on a mission I am not sure I will come back from. Though this may sound strange to you now, I am sure you will someday understand what drives someone to his or her death when ideals and honor are at stake. We have allowed the Empire's grasp within this Galaxy for too long.
When this mission I am about to embark is over, hopefully with the outcome we all aim to, you will read this letter in peace and freedom. Those that may not return from it will do so thinking about their wifes, husbands, sons and daughters that deserve to live without the binds of the imperial oppression.
So, yes, I am doing this for you. But don't feel guilty if I don't make it back to you. I took this mission understanding its risks and potential losses. And weighting the possible outcome against allowing the tyranny of the Emperor, then, my son, I would willingly destroy this with my bare hands or die trying. So I am doing this with my perfect conscience and clear perception that, no matter the outcome, I did this with my own free will.
I don't know if you feel proud of me by the time you read this. But I am sure you understand what I did, when I did it. If anything, may this act become an inspiration for you, so that you may never allow anyone to dictate your freedom or lack of it. We are free men and women, not to be compressed against some surreal notion that freedom comes from the thoughts of one single man, no matter how powerful in the Force, no matter how politically influential.
By now you must be thinking I am some sort of activist or ideologist. I am not. I am just a man, a worried father and a caring citizen. I was born during the old Republic and remember your grandfather teaching me the principles of a thinking, proactive and caring society. Though in the end the Republic was but a shadow of the past, plunged into bureaucracy and corruption, nothing prepared us from the power of weapons the Empire brought. Add that the iron fist of their incursions led by Darth Vader, one of which took your mother away from us, and you shall have the main sources of motivation for your father's actions.
Again, my son, I am not writing this letter to make you proud of me. That's something you should ponder and conclude from that reflexion. I just wanted to let you know, from me and no one else, the reasons why I did it. So I may not be there when you grow up, when you meet your first girlfriend, when you join the local Academy, when you fly your first speeder or when you graduate from Flight School as you so often told me you would. I may also not be there when you fail to give you a helping hand, to help you stand when you stumble or to hug you when you have a loss. But I will always be there.
Your mother was a believer in the Force. I've seen so much these days with the likes of Luke Skywalker and the other Rogues, that I began to believe there may be something else driving us, showing us the way.
I bet you heard on how the Rogues destroyed the first Death Star. Well, those big things made by small people are what truly inspire us and make us believe there may yet be a special place reserved for us in History. Perhaps the Force has something to do with that, perhaps not. Either way, we all feel confident we're not fighting for nothing.
Some find strength in some project they have. Others have ideals to fight. Others think about their wives. Well, I am thinking about you right now and I feel this is the right thing to do for you. I am giving you a future. Even if I fail, you know that others will follow me and even if we all fail, our example will lead the way.

Your father.

(Intercepted Holomessage with unknown origin and destination from Imperial Probe Satelite XMB2213 near the Endor system. Imperial Archives - Imperial Security Bureau).

Twin Suns

2009-09-15T11:08:00.001+01:00

Author's Title : "Twin Suns"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Whenever the day ended, Luke would run to see the beautiful twin sunsets. Just like any child, Luke was filled with energy, but his tastes and goals were much different. He had learned to flavor the small details, enjoy the brief natural moments and, for some reason he was still far from knowing, he siphoned what he interpreted as joy from those events.
Little did Luke know that in his veins flowed the ever binding energy of the Force.
Obi-Wan Kenobi observed from far distance. The aging Jedi Master had sworn to protect the little boy but could never endanger his existence by approaching him. The Empire was hunting not only Jedi like himself, but also any Force sensitive child they might encounter. So, although the temptation to train the boy to use his power was consuming Obi-Wan, he knew better than create a situation where the evil Imperial Spies could encounter a Force sensitive boy in such a remote planet like Tatooine.
Still, it was amazing how the Force surrounded the little boy. One day, perhaps...
Obi-Wan looked behind to see the two suns almost fading. He would keep guard until the boy was safely back inside the Moister Farm. There were a lot o perils hidden in the dunes. Not only the native Tusken were rabid hunters with no compassion to avoid killing a small boy, but also dangerous wildlife that had adapted incredibly to the desert life, and picked the night to hunt for prey.
“Luke!” A voice was heard from inside the farm. A man’s voice. Obi-Wan recognized Owen Lars, the boy’s uncle. “There you are, lad… How many times must I tell you not to come outside alone?”
“But, uncle Owen, there’s no one around…” The small boy said without taking his eyes off the suns.
“Come on, I’m shutting the power down soon, you need to rest, my boy!” The man placed his hand over the boy’s shoulder. This wasn’t negotiable.
Obi-Wan admired the zealous protection Owen demonstrated. Sometimes it was exaggerated, then again, there was a whole Empire looking for the boy. Especially one tenebrous agent: Darth Vader…
“Uncle Owen, why do the suns disappear?”
“They must rest!” The man said with a smile, who would not smile from the boy’s questions, ”And so do you! Come on!” Owen grabbed the boy by his waist and tickled his belly.
Between chuckles, the boy looked again at the horizon… and beyond it.
Obi-Wan felt a chill down his spine. The boy was staring at him, kilometers away. He wasn’t just using his eyes, he was using the Force. But, of course he didn’t know.
For a moment that seemed to last ages, Obi-Wan felt the connection and smiled. The Force was strong with the little one. Perhaps the future was bright in the end.
“Someday, little one… I’ll wait!” Obi-Wan whispered.
Owen and Luke got in the first shelter of the farm and disappeared. Soon after, the lights were shut down.
Obi-Wan climbed down the hill and took advantage of the last minutes of light to return home. His job was over for the day. But his life work was far from over.

The Doubt

2009-02-11T13:48:00.004Z

Author's Title : "The Doubt" - The Clone Wars Chronicles

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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The round room was so shiny and so clean, Daryan had to look carefully not leave his own footprints. It was an exaggerated thought, of course, since his boots were clean as was his whole Jedi outfit.
Around the predominantly brown colored room, twelve empty seats, but one. Master Yoda sat in the one located right in front of the main entrance and watched Daryan very carefully, beyond sight, through the Force.
“Something to say you have, Master Sev?” Master Yoda said softly, breaking the nerve wrecking silence.
Daryan suddenly felt the urge to look down, like a child accused of misbehaving. His doubts were engulfing his mind, so much that words and phrases were hard to construct.
“Master, I am having trouble accepting these dark times…” Daryan finally said, “We’ve sworn to seek and maintain peace, yet we feed the war by driving innocent men into battle. Men that were literally built to kill.”
Yoda said nothing. He looked outside through the large windows that overlooked the busy Coruscant, as if he was listening to something.
“Feel their suffering, I do…” He said, while closing his eyes, “But even more pain comes from those oppressed by the Separatists!”
“Master, I don’t intend to defend any political side, but aren’t the Separatist intentions noble? To remove the hypocrisy and corruption of the political medium?” Daryan said softly, knowing he was risking his own position as Jedi Master. But if there was someone wise to fully understand his words was Master Yoda.
“Noble, they could be, but shrouded by evil they are! Remember the Dark Side of the Force every strategy of their fleet and army surrounds. Still to be discovered is the Dark Lord of the Sith…”
“And while we wait, must all those Clone Troopers die because the battle is against the Jedi? Couldn’t this be resolved in the Senate? With agreements?”
“Long passed are the times of negotiation. As we speak, form alliances with Dooku, more and more systems do.” Yoda leaned forward, “More and more Jedi join him as well”.
“It’s nothing like that, Master Yoda!” Daryan felt the chill down his spine, of course this could be interpreted as treason thoughts, “I am simply worried of the lives we lose, including Jedi Knights formed Generals who can only rely on the Force for guidance. Most of the times, the Clone Commanders guide the troops, not an inexperienced Padawan…”
“Time to teach, we do not have. On the battlefield they gain experience.” Yoda, lowered his head, “understand this, I did. Resolve, I could not!”
“Master! We need to talk to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and explain that the Jedi can’t prolong this war any further! There could be a time when even the citizens may turn against us!”
Yoda was silent again. Yet! This time, his silence wasn’t of contemplation but of lack of response. It would appear that a question had been made, but the answer was elusive. Daryan understood that there was nothing the great Jedi Master could do. And that scared him the most.
“We’re confined to the will of politics. The Clones are confined to their initial genetic programming. How long do you believe we can keep this charade, Master?” Daryan felt defiance taking over. It wasn’t the lure of the Dark Side, as he saw it. It was just his feelings, and Yoda understood.
“Those questions… many have made! Shrouded by the Dark Side we are. Losing he ability to interpret the Force the Council his…” Yoda confessed.
“Then the dark times are truly coming…” Daryan murmured.
“To Palpatine take this, we must not. The promise to hunt and capture Dooku and Grievous we must keep! Then no reason will war have to continue.”
“Are you so sure, Master Yoda? Is the Jedi Council willing to bet the lives of Jedi and Clones against the promises of a politician who have won so much since the war begun?”
“Hard to see, the future is… Trust we must have on those who didn’t fail the Council in the past!” Yoda said, observing Daryan’s reaction looking deeply into his eyes, “Defy this resolution you wish, Master Sev?”
Daryan understood the message. He trusted Yoda to do the right thing. In the end, however, he couldn’t turn his appreciation against the Jedi Council or any particular Jedi if the whole made him suspicious. He chose caution. But he would stand down.
“I do not!” He finally said, lowering his eyes again, but he continued, “But wish to be taken away from the front lines and aid the wounded Troopers and Jedi with my healing skills!”
“In the worst of the battle, Masters are needed. Many healers we already have!”
“I understand, Master Yoda. Still I must insist. I will not lead any more men into death!”
Yoda took some time as if pondering on the Jedi Master’s true intentions. One could master the art of lie and disguise his will with soft words, but not within the Force. Daryan was being honest and Yoda felt it.
He rose from his small chair and walked calmly to the window facing Coruscant. His small stature projected an enormous shadow throughout the marble floor. Indeed Yoda was a great Jedi, much greater than one could ever evaluate from his appearance. His shadow was coincidentally a perfect metaphor.
Without taking his eyes from the window, Yoda spoke, his voice clearly softened by the much suffering he felt these days.
“Accepted, your request is. To the Medical Centre you must go. A Master Healer you are.”
“Thank you Master Yoda.” Daryan couldn’t help but smile, “I’ll make sure I help those who suffer from this war in a proper way!”
There was nothing else to add, so Daryan turned to leave the room. Still facing the Coruscant busy landscape, however, Yoda still had something to add.
“Right you are about something!” He said.
“What is it, Master?” Daryan turned.
The small Jedi master turned to face Daryan, his facial expression was of tiredness and grief. His words came out like daggers, like a prophecy bound to be fulfilled even before it was pronounced.
“Coming, the dark times are…”
The sun was setting in the artificial horizon of the Republic Capital World, a day was almost over. And so were the days of the Republic.
Jedi Master Yoda knew it, Jedi Master Daryan Sev knew it, still the day was coming, unavoidable, undeniable and, someday, unforgiven.

Light Corrupted Part 1

2008-09-14T00:32:00.003+01:00

Author's Title : "Jedi Corruption"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Deception was his tool. At first it felt so odd to deceive, but eventually it became part of his nature. While the Force appeared so infinite, his resolution to create shadows around his persona became as standard as breathing. He had lost track of his personality a long time ago.
"In time you will tell me what I want to know, scum..." the Republic soldier whose name he never cared to know approached his face so close he could feel the stench of cologne camouflaging the intense smell of sweat and leather from his uniform, his breath was even worse when he added, "I broke harder thugs..."
Kael decided not to reply. He was too concentrated on his plan to give away that satisfaction to the officer. Instead, he smiled and looked directly into his eyes.
"Why are you laughing, pirate?" The Soldier asked with visible anger.
Johun Kael still kept the answer to himself. His grin still defied his current situation.
The soldier pulled his fist back and stroke the prisoner's chin as hard as he could. Kael, sitting on a chair moved back from the momentum but wasn’t impressed. This time it was the soldier laughing.
"Who's laughing now, eh?" The Soldier was massaging his sore fist.
The room was so dark that the brilliant glow rod on the ceiling only illuminated the two men. The cell walls were pitch-black, perhaps from years without a good wash. The smell of sewer and mildew certainly confirmed that theory. Kael could hardly see the faint line of light coming from the half opened door. But he needn't. He had other ways to guide himself out of that room. In fact, he was already free. But the soldier didn't know that. To him, Kael was as good as dead.
"You think you're tough, pirate? I've been in this room with far more dangerous scoundrels. They all ended up telling me what I wanted to know... and what I didn't!" A terrible breath.
Kael was getting bored. His hands were still restrained by some heavy binders, behind his back. With a slow movement he used the Force to release his right hand and for the first time he spoke.
"Take that bantha breath out of my face..." He said softly.
The soldier frowned at these words and felt insulted. He reached his fist back again for another blow, this time he added a bit more of hatred in order to finish this insulting prisoner. But has he did, Kael’s freed right hand grasped the soldier's fist with an inhuman speed and with such strength the soldier fought not to scream with pain.
"Give me your uniform..." Kael said, his voice calm and steady. The soldier appeared surprised and was speechless. Kael’s voice turned into a thunder, "Now!"
The Soldier stripped with his free hand, trying not to scream out the pain he was feeling from his right arm but he couldn't help to breath heavily and shed a few tears. So much for the strong muscled interrogator now.
It took him a few minutes to be stripped down to his under garments. By that time, Kael was up from his chair and was also taking his black armor off. Reaching out with the Force he grabbed the soldier's sidearm and aimed at his head, releasing the grip from the soldier's sore right hand.
"Put my armor on!" He ordered. The soldier was apparently having some delusions he could recover even before the threat of a Blaster.
Suddenly Kael realized the Soldier had his own little deception. The blaster was empty of ammunition. Knowing so, the soldier rose to charge at his prisoner. But no matter how quick he could be, he was no match for one trained in the arts of the Force.
His charge accompanied by a sounding roar was met by a raised hand that aimed at his neck. The gurgling sounds and both hands trying to grasp an invisible hand were the only evidence that Kael was using the Force to choke the man. He approached the man’s face, now sweating abundantly and turning red. His voice was unaffected by the latest attack.
“You will put this armor on or I will do it for you, but beware that you won’t enjoy it…”
The man rose floating in the air with the power Kael summoned from the Force. He stood there for a few seconds until the lack of oxygen almost made him faint. Then Kael released his grip and the man fell loudly on the floor.
“Do it and I will let you live…” The man was recovering his breath fighting for every bit of air. He was visibly weakened but still he had some spirit. He looked up at Kael and spat at his own trousers Kael was now wearing.
“You’ll have to get your hands dirty, Jedi!” The soldier said between suffering breaths.
The single word ‘Jedi’ filled Kael with anger. Still he couldn’t let go of his deception. Better to be mistaken by one of the Jedi Order than give away his true identity.
“Fine!” He finally said. Raising his hand, the Soldier was forced to rise from the floor by the invisible hand again. Only this time he flew around the air to violently hit the wall with a grunt. Falling on the floor, Kael picked his head and literally used his face to clean the spit from his borrowed trousers.
He placed the black armor on the unconscious body and sat him, hands tied on the same chair he was previously tortured in.
Reaching out for the soldier’s helmet he frowned for the even worse stench. A necessary torture to achieve his goal. He reached the half opened door to find a large corridor completely silent and empty. He followed the dim failing lights that emitted an eerie stroboscopic effect that could cause nausea to any man. But not Kael. His focus on his goal was more important that any physical complaint, even the obnoxious smell of his borrowed suit.
He reached a large thick door that he knocked with the same rhythm he had heard the other soldiers knocking to get the door open. A hissing sound followed by a metallic clang confirmed his ability to reproduce the signal.
Stepping out, he finally saw what he had felt through the Force when he was brought to this detention facility. It was a Republic vessel, filled with Republic Soldiers that apparently had the terrific mission of gathering the scum of the Galaxy. From Duros to Gungans, every scoundrel who felt the Republic was too zealous of its laws. “Broke another, hey Sarge?” A Soldier sitting by a small desk aside the door asked.
“That one will be least of your problems!” Kael said looking down the ship’s main deck.
“Could you sign the detention documents, sir?” The Soldier stretched out a holopad.
“I don’t have time for that, now… I’ll do it later!” Kael was still looking, searching for a hint on how to reach his goal.
“It’s protocol!” The Soldier said.
Kael sighed and still wouldn’t face the man. He needed to move quickly before his disguise was discovered. Not that he worried. He could take down every man in that vessel, but he couldn’t waste time with this nonsense.
“Fine! When was the prisoner delivered?” Kael asked, knowing that delivery records were often overlooked.
“I would have to check…”
“Well then, I’ll wait!”
Kael could use the Force to persuade the man to let him go about his business. But there were too many soldiers around and worse, there were too many security holocams.
The soldier looked below to his computer screen and typed a few words. When he finally had a result he looked up to call the ‘sergeant’ but he was long gone.
“Damn torturers! If only the Senate knew about this kark they do around here…” He said.
Kael was now deep into the crowd of Soldiers, Marines, Security Officers and other Republic personnel. With no war to fight, the Jedi sent the armed forces to every corner of the galaxy to clean up the mess the previous wars against the Sith had created. These missions ended up being simple police operations that became fearsome campaigns against organized crime.
The Senate, without any wars to decide using the political way, could only agree with fear the crime could reach the Inner Rim territories, or even the Deep Core where the beloved Coruscant stood with hypocritical peace.
None of that mattered for Kael anyway, since he had other pertinent issues at hand. For an instant however, he felt disgusted to see so many men trying to make their way within a visibly packed starship. It looked like the ship’s maximum capacity was overlooked. The efforts of enforcing were becoming anxious attempts to suppress uprisings and eventually a large number of soldiers would suppress anything.
He halted at a familiar door. He was never aboard that ship, but he had seen its images and schematics so many times he knew exactly where he was and where he was supposed to go.
This confusion was actually helpful as no member of the crew would bother to control every single soldier around the ship.
He reached the control panel and entered the sequence he had previously memorized. The door slid open and lights were lit inside the small room.
As he entered the door shut behind him and he finally got rid of the stinking clothes. Underneath the workbench he found the package where it was supposed to be.
He emptied the box revealing a large dark cloak, armor plates resembling his previous one and a shiny cylinder, his lightsaber. It felt good to feel its grip again. He had travelled without it and was arrested with a mere blaster to conceal his true identity.
He consulted his holopad and smiled confirming he was ahead of his schedule. There was still three standard hours for his pickup. He needed to be precise and work time to his advantage. Too soon in his strike and he could be overwhelmed by the amount of foes, too late and his ship would leave.
He looked around the room and studied the ventilation shaft he was supposed to crawl inside to complete his mission. It was large enough to accommodate a man. Not that he felt anything close to claustrophobia but he needed to move fast to evade the zero degree temperatures.
He sat on the floor with his legs crossed and waited for the right time. Closing his eyes he reached through the Force feeling everything and everyone in that packed ship.
As he expected he felt that ship was beyond maximum capacity. He found that some soldiers were resting in the hangar bays and there was a general feeling of boredom and fatigue. He circled the vessel through the Force and confirmed his previous torturer was still sitting on that chair unconscious and unaware he was covering for his prisoner. He was still alive, barely, since the cell had vital signs sensors. As long as he breathed no one would care if he was in pain.
Moving his concentration to more vital parts, he felt the holding cells were also packed with every type of villain he could imagine. Assassins, robbers, pirates, all generally miserable and a whole bunch of them in various different types of pain. Apparently none of them were exactly innocent. Some he knew from sight or from the Holonet news. They were all scum. And like he was briefed, most were bounty hunters or henchmen of various crime lords.
So it was true. His competition was being harvested. The Republic was apparently effective, but this was a rogue ship that applied wrong methods and, according to his hirer, the one behind it needed to be taken to justice.
So, he was only satisfied when he finally found his target. The being was like a beacon of light surrounded by darkness. A deep and terrifying darkness. He was at the Command Bridge and was unaware of Kael’s scrutiny.
Scanning his surroundings, Kael felt that the security surrounding the bridge was heavy with several armed soldiers and… another beacon of light.
Kael knew what he was feeling. His target was a Jedi Master and he was accompanied by his Padawan learner. This just made things a bit worse.
Still, he needed to concentrate in order to keep his mask to the Force. His whole operation was about deception and any slip in his cloak would be uncovered. Not that he feared to be caught, but he needed to complete his mission.
Suddenly his senses were alerted to someone that knocked at the door of the small room he was sitting.
Trying his best not to give away his position, he felt his cloak faint and clearly sensed both Jedi felt the disturbance he caused in the Force. He was compromised but not discovered. He needed to act fast in order to keep his whereabouts secret. He reached for his saber and igniting its red blade he hit the lights off and pressed a few buttons on the control panel to unlock the door. As it slid open he pulled the figure inside throwing it to the cold floor and aimed the saber to the neck while he shut the door and lit the room.
Marn Rem’la raised his hand shaking in surprise.
“Marn, you di’kut!” Kael said in his native Mandalorian language, shutting down his lightsaber.
“Sorry, Master, I came sooner. I see you found the package!” The human said, still recovering his breath, “I hope that soldier wasn’t too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all!” Kael let out a sigh, “The ship’s ready?” He asked.
“I had trouble with the release documents. We might need to delay our departure!” The human shrunk as if expecting a reprimand for his failure to keep the schedule.
“Fierfek!” The Mandalorian word was as famous as any other curse word in any language. Kael crouched to meet his counterpart’s face, “Focus, Marn! You almost ruined this whole operation!”
Rem’la frowned to the newfound smell his Master emanated.
“What’s that odor, Master? Did someone died in your armpits?”
Kael wasn’t known for his humor. Still he couldn’t help but smile at his servant’s observation and he conceded the moment. Even though he got rid of the smelly clothes, the stench appeared to be persistent.
“Perhaps a new fragrance for the Hutt clans…” Rem’la said.
The Corellian pilot had been Kael’s aid throughout every mission they had been hired. Even though this one was particularly messy, Kael relied on Rem’la’s skills to infiltrate and move unseen. He was wearing a standard issue Officer garment.
“Where did you steal that?” Kael pointed his uniform.
“You don’t want to know, Master…” Rem’la lowered his eyesight with guilt.
“How delayed are we?”
“I don’t know, but there are several ships departing right on scheduled time. Ours has been lowered in the priority list.”
Kael thought about their current odds and he felt this new turn of events, along with the Jedi now aware of a disturbance in the Force could rush the whole mission to a complete failure. Still, Kael felt the mission was still recoverable, if they moved fast.
“You will commandeer one of those ships on the schedule!” He finally said.
“What? I can’t do that, master!”
“It’s the only way to avoid the tractor beam. If the ship is scheduled, we will fly its slot out of here. You have one standard hour!”
“But…”
“No ‘buts’, di’kut!” Kael approached again. His finger close to his face like a powerful weapon. Rem’la could swear he felt a small jolt of lightning coming out of the finger. “There’s an outcome I wasn’t expecting.”
“What?”
“Our targets are Jetiise…”
The word was pronounced with disgust in Mandalorian. Rem’la had learned never to pronounce the word in basic.
“Jetiise… This changes things, uh Master? Should we abort?”
“No!” The sole idea to let go of such bounty was preposterous. “If Black Sun wants this particular Jetii, it could mean he isn’t exactly a conventional one. And if he isn’t, he’s breakable.”
“You said ‘Jetiise’, there’s more than one…”
“Probably a Padawan…”
“You need my help, Master?” The Corellian looked up to meet Kael’s second smile of that mission.
“No, I need you to take that ship, you fool!”
Kael picked his lightsaber and ignited it against a ceiling panel concealing the ventilation shaft.
“Right on the mark, hey Master?” Rem’la smiled.
“At least this you did right, picked the right room. If that wasn’t the case, you would be dead by now.” Kael’s look at the Corellian was enough to mean business. The Corellian felt a chill down his spine.
Rem’la swallowed dry. He had seen his Master in action before, he knew better than doubt his Master cruel thoughts. But couldn’t let go of his humor.
“Come on, Master! What would you do without me?”
Kael paused for a moment preparing his jump inside the shaft. Before he did he finally replied.
“I would probably perform clean missions for once…”
And he disappeared inside the shaft.
Rem’la waited a few minutes in order to understand if his master was alright. When he heard the previously agreed radio signal, the two taps that indicated he was on route and progressing with ease, he finally moved.
The Corellian composed his uniform again. He concealed the worn soldiers clothes, replaced the shaft panel and shut the lights. Opening the door he moved quickly within the crowd and was lost in it on his way to the hangar area.

Kael found the shaft pleasantly wide and that helped his movements towards the Command Bridge. He couldn’t tap into the Force now. The Jedi would be alerted to a disturbance, now. Any attempt to use the Force would be a beacon that would endanger his attempts to continue hiding.
Still, he needed to use the Force to move swiftly in the ventilation shaft, where any being would either be lost or cold dead, since the temperatures were incredibly low. Kael instructed the Force to warm his body. The other way the Force was helping him was by orienting Kael through the maze of pipes and shafts.
It wasn’t the first time he chose to infiltrate using this method. He had been close to hypothermia twice under these circumstances, and it was enough to make him master this way of using the Force. Even Rem’la felt this was dangerous and had suggested he used an environment suit. But eventually those suits constrained his movements and could interfere with the air flow revealing an obstruction to the various sensors, alerting maintenance. No! It was preferable to feel cold and move fast enough to escape that place than move slowly and risk being stuck.
But this particular mission was different. His usage of the Force could endanger his safety. For a moment he wished he had a holomap and an environment suit.
As he approached the final kilometer of shaft, he decided to stop using the Force and move by instinct. He concentrated harder to maintain his cloak and could feel the Jedi scanning the ship beyond normal perception. Their scanning, however, was apparently ineffective to find him.
There was light down the shaft. Nervous voices were overheard and he could swear he heard screaming. He couldn’t use the Force now, not this close. He relied on the fact that perhaps they were searching for something using the ship’s sensors and he could guess that the military were either puzzled to be looking for ‘something’ or confused by the Jedi orders.
The shaft ended in a large grid. Kael could see clearly beyond it, but avoided to reach closer. The light was too intense and would reveal him inside.
The ventilation shaft ended in the ceiling of a large v-shaped room. The Jedi were standing next to a console apparently looking at surveillance recordings. The screaming he had heard earlier came from one of the recordings. They were looking at the holding cells.
“Fierfek!” Kael thought. They would soon discover his movements. They would send someone to the cell where his torturer was now beingmheld unconscious and they would soon trace Kael’s plan.
He moved slowly to scan the room. He counted eight officers and seven soldiers. This was not going to be easy.
He needed a plan. A distraction, perhaps.
Kael picked his holopad and checked the time. His long progress through the ventilation shaft had caused the loss of precious time. He only had 10 standard minutes until Marn Rem’la would rendezvous with him in the upper docking bay.
He tried to create a quick plan. It needed to be effective, otherwise his whole efforts would be in vain.
Suddenly his commlink came to life. He heard Rem’la screaming into his hear.
“Master! I have a problem here!”
Kael couldn’t reply without giving away his position. He tapped his microphone twice.
“I managed to grab a ship, but they didn’t like it much.”
As he said this, a loud claxon was heard throughout the ship. A nervous voice was heard between the alarm waves. “Alert, Intruder hijacked diplomatic vessel. All stations on alert. Fighter squadrons one and four scramble to intercept”
Kael smiled at this. Rem’la had inadvertedly created the diversion he needed. He looked below to see all men, including the security enforcers, surprised by the latest alerts. The Jedi were the only ones suspicious enough not to fall for this. So when Kael finally made his move, the ripples in the Force had already alerted the Jedi to move to a defensive stance, blue lightsabers ignited.
Surprisingly, the Jedi didn’t move to protect the soldiers when Kael stroke them with powerful lightsaber strikes that had no reply and jolts of lightning from his fingers finished those still standing. When Kael finished the military, the Jedi were still holding their stance. Their lightsabers instinctively followed the attacker.
Kael was puzzled trying to decipher what he saw and felt. The Jedi were serene. Yet, the Master felt like he was expecting this attack… and accept it. He knew this encounter was inevitable.
Without warning, the Padawan attacked. Kael deflected every move with ease. The Master took advantage of this sudden burst of distraction and tried to surprise Kael by his flank. Again and again he was able not only to deflect their strikes but also managed to strike a few precise blows that sent the Jedi away. They were no match. In their despair they committed mistakes that actually amused Kael. The young Padawan was skilled and fast. The Master was experienced and precise. Still they lacked what Kael had mastered: Dare.
The combat was good training for Kael who didn’t have the opportunity to practice his lightsaber skills that much. But the image of a medium sized starship appearing outside the main window, flying dangerously close and being hit by heavy blasts from other starships was enough to alert him. The incredible timing was perfected by the sudden entrance of several soldiers into the command station.
Time slowed down for Kael. Without thinking he transmitted to Rem’la.
“Open the main cargo door and hold your position!”
The Corellian knew better than challenge his Master and although the order sounded strange, he complied. The word “Done!” was heard and Kael decided not to wait any further.
With a swift move he sent his lightsaber flying beyond the Jedi who ducked from the strike. Kael moved fast and kicked the Padawan aside grabbing the Jedi Master by his hood dragging him towards the window. The Lightsaber crashed against the window shattering it. The sudden leak of air threw objects flying out the window and into the vaccum. Kael jumped with the power of the Force, taking the Jedi Master and grabbing his lightsaber in mid air.
The transfer to the commandeered starship took a split second, but was enough to confuse the Jedi Master while his men fought not to be sucked into the vacuum before the security blast shields could secure the cockpit.
Inside the cargo hold Kael jumped to the control panel to shut the main door, still holding the confused Jedi by his hood. Before he could react, Kael took his lightsaber and used the hilt to hit the Jedi Master into unconsciousness.
He ran to the cockpit to find a sweating Rem’la.
“Master, I don’t think we’re going to make it. Even with your ‘space walks’ and all!”
“We just did, di’kut! Get us out of here!” Kael said.
The new ship wasn’t built for speed but was fairly maneuverable. Kael sat beside Rem’la and took over the controls. There was one thing Rem’la didn’t have, no matter how good of a pilot he was: He didn’t feel the Force as Kael did. And that gave them the leverage they needed.
The fighters were doing their best to keep up, but the stolen ship was too fast escaping their blaster fire.
“I got a lock, Master! We need to aim and jump!” Rem’la said.
“Enough of this, let’s do it!” Kael ordered!
The hyperspace jump was a beautiful sight when you were being pursued by so many hostiles.

Kael and Rem’la sighed in relief almost simultaneously.
“And the Jetii?” Rem’la asked.
“Happy with his first class trip!”
Kael rose and went back to the cargo hold to find the Jedi still lying on the floor.
“What if he’s pretending?” Rem’la said over Kael’s shoulder.
“He’s not… I can feel it!”
“I thought Jetii were undefeatable!”
“I’m sure he wished it was so…”
“Why would Black Sun want a Jetii and offered such a high bounty for him?” Rem’la kicked the Jedi’s leg.
“I don’t know and I don’t care…” Kael looked upon the Jedi with some level of disgust.
“You were once one of them right?”
“What does it matter? I’m not anymore…”
“You were with the Sith, right?”
“I was never with dar’jetii!” Kael looked deeply into Rem’la’s eyes. This was the second time the Corellian felt that chill.
“But you’re like them, but not like them…” Rem’la stuttered.
“Black Sun will deal with him!” Kael changed subjects, “Whatever he did it’s not our concern anymore.”

The trip took several standard hours. Upon arrival, they restrained the Jedi onto a wall using stasis binders. Powerful enough to avoid any burst of power from the Jedi.
When the ship touched, perhaps awaken by the bump, the Jedi opened his eyes and mumbled something Kael couldn’t decipher.
“Quiet Jetii… Your mere presence annoys me. If you plan on becoming noisy as well I can always use my lightsaber again, only this time I might turn the blade on”.
“Where… am I?”
“Does it matter?” Kael reached the door.
“Don’t deliver me… please!” A Jedi begging? This was new!
Kael felt something was incredibly wrong. This man was strong in the Force, he had no doubt. But ever since his attack, this Jedi had behaved very strangely. He stepped away from the door and moved back. For some reason, he allowed curiosity to take over.
“Why did Black Sun put a bounty on you?”
The Jedi was silent for some time. He appeared to be measuring his thoughts. The Force was confusing around him. He had doubts, but he also had something hidden.
“Just don’t deliver me to them…” The Jedi finally said.
Kael didn’t know what to think. Either disgust for this man’s lack of composure, or his strange weak spot knowing he was about to be delivered to a crime organization that didn’t like Jedi that much.
“Whatever you did, it was enough to pay handsomely for an expensive bounty hunter to enter a Republic vessel and retrieve a Jedi Master from it!”
“Others had tried…” The Jedi revealed.
“Hence the extra security officers aboard!” Kael concluded, “Hence the exceeded maximum capacity and thorough search for all those thugs, you were wiping the opposition!”
“Black Sun have money, they can hire a whole army to get what they want…”
“Or me!” Kael smiled.
“You are powerful in the Force… You’re not Jedi, you’re…”
“What do they want from you?”
“You were once one of us, weren’t you?” The Jedi was probing him for answers. That enraged Kael.
He stepped forward and grabbed the Jedi’s chin speaking closely to his face.
“What happened?” His voice echoed around the cargo hold.
“I… I… killed one of the dukes…”
“Liar!” A Jedi lying was yet another surprise. Could he actually believe he could do this and the Force would not tell Kael?
The Jedi felt ashamed for some hidden thought that he was keen to conceal from Kael.
“They sent you to kill me? Do it!”
“Your prize is higher if I deliver you alive!”
The Jedi trembled. It would appear that Black Sun’s interest in his capture scared him.
“Are we at…”
“Nal Hutta… “ Kael finished. It was one of Black Sun’s base of operations. “Why are you so scared Jetii?”
“Jetii? You’re… Mandalorian? And Force Sensitive? I…”
Kael was losing his patience. He ignited his lightsaber against the Jedi’s throat. Still the Jedi continued.
“You want to know because you feel no Jedi should be delivered to a crime lord! You are curious because you have doubts! You want to help… one of your kind!”
“I’m nothing like you!” Kael screamed.
Rem’la was suddenly alerted, after a few minutes waiting for the cargo door opening that never came. He stepped out of the cockpit to find Kael aiming his saber against the Jedi’s throat.
“He’s worth a lot more alive, Master!” He said.
Kael never took his eyes off the Jedi. But he did turn off his saber.
“Black Sun will adore you. I’ll collect the bounty and you can keep your small secret!”
“I smuggle slaves for Czerka… I used to work for Black Sun but they didn’t pay as much. I guess they aren’t pleased.”
This revelation made Kael stand very still analyzing the Jedi’s face. He wasn’t lying.
“I am not proud!” The Jedi continued, “But it pays well and it’s easy to bribe a whole legion of soldiers…”
Kael was speechless. He would expect this from all the scum of the galaxy. But not Jedi. He didn’t like Jedi, whatever they had done to him in the past sufficed to fill his hatred towards them, but he respected them and trusted they would never allow such a being among their ranks.
“You make me sick…” Kael said.
“You’re not the type to nourish such values. You’re hunting people for bounties across the Galaxy, you know it’s hard to make a living. Why not take advantage of a privileged position?”
Kael started to walk back to the door again, pushing Rem’la in pure disbelief.
“How about you, son? I got credits, how about we forget all this?”
Kael pressed the buttons to open the cargo hold. Walked back to release the stasis binders from the wall, but not releasing his hands from them. He picked and dragged the Jedi throughout the Cargo hold toward the door.
“I thought you liked money…” The Jedi said.
“I despise those who choose to live this life when such a high privilege was given…”
“Were you given that choice?”
Kael didn’t answer. It was obvious the Jedi was still trying to negotiate his release. A desperate attempt. He was clearly afraid to be taken to the hands of the Black Sun Crimelords.
“Come on! Name your price!” The Jedi begged.
Kael stopped half way the loading ramp and pulled the Jedi to face him.
“No money in the Galaxy would pull me from the satisfaction of seeing you rot in one of these cells. You are worse than scum! You are the gangrene of the Galaxy. If I hate Jetii, I hate you for ruining the last bit of respect I had for you!”
“What? You expected us to be saints?” The Jedi mocked.
“I’ll allow the local Vigo to judge that.”
Kael continued to drag the Jedi until four figures approached with blasters. One was carrying a bag with the bounty.
The exchange was quick and cold. The henchmen sent the money flying over the air and Kael threw the Jedi to their feet. No words were spoken and none were needed.
Kael turned to walk back to the ship when he heard the distinctive sound of lightsabers being ignited. He didn’t turn around to see the whole scene. He felt it through the Force.
The four cloaked henchmen suddenly took off their cloaks revealing Jedi robes and held their lightsabers against the corrupt Jedi.
He was going up the ramp and met an overwhelmed Rem’la, his mouth open at the scene he was witnessing. Kael pulled Rem’la’s arm back inside the ship.
He never saw or heard the corrupt Jedi’s death, but the Force made sure he felt it.
There were things credits didn’t buy. The only deal he ever accepted against his will was this one. But he accepted because it needed to be done. Where others had failed (Yes! He knew about them!) he wouldn’t.
He hated the Jedi. He cared not for a fallen one. But he cared if the Jedi credit was shaken by such a character. Because if the Galaxy lost their trust on the Jedi, who was there to bring back peace?
In the end, however, nothing changed in his mind. He still hated the Jedi. But he hated the scum of the Galaxy even more.
The next assignment would hopefully be much easier…

Treachery

2008-09-04T19:09:00.004+01:00

Author's Title : "Treachery"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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The eyes opened and he tasted blood. Lying face down he tried to look around. There were ismembered bodies scattered around him and his nostrils caught a powerful stench of cauterized flesh mixed with the distinctive tell-tale smell of ozone. There had been a lightsaber fight.
His lightsaber hilt was still in his hand, although he couldn’t remember using it. He tried hard to recall what had happened. Memories were confusing and vague, but there was a certainty that acted as a beacon.
No! It couldn't be the causer of this slaughter. His memories slowly returned. He was a Jedi and Jedi do not murder. This wasn’t his work. But was he really a Jedi or was he just holding the weapon of a murder? And if he was, did these people surrounding him deserve their death? Was he defending himself?
Whatever happened he was spared from death, although the headache and the numbness he was feeling wasn’t allowing him to move much. He fought every breath, every eye movent. He felt like every single muscle was sore.
He suddenly heard footsteps. It was so far in his damaged hearing, but it was clearly footsteps. Boots, most likely a soldier.
He fought to stand, but found it painfully impossible. He turned to lie on his back and faced the ceiling. It was low and brightly illuminated. Most likely a starship. The intense glare hurt his eyes.
The footsteps were louder now. He thought he needed to act now. He decided to call for help, since he couldn’t stand up. But surprisingly all he was able to do was let go a small grunt. Words formed in his mind, but his mouth wasn’t capable of pronouncing it. He felt pain as he tried.
But his grunts appeared to have some effect on the approaching steps. Voices were heard and the steps increased the pace.
His memories were slowly returning now. He remembered staring at some large window, then a faceless foe, then…
“My Lord? How do you feel?” A uniformed man asked.
He couldn’t quite explain, even if he could talk. His body felt numb, he felt weak and his ability to think was damaged. He couldn’t even remember his name, not that it mattered anyway.
“Can you walk, sir?” The soldier asked again.
The simple movement he attempted with his head was so painful that he almost collapsed. Still his grunt almost sounded like a “no”.
“Alright, sir, just stay here, I’ll get help!” The man said while his steps were heard fading away in high rhythm.
‘Help’? The soldier was ‘Help’. All he needed was to be taken to some Kolto tank and take some vitamin shots.
He suddenly recalled his connection to the Force. At first it was justa small glimpse of light, then it became brighter in his mind. He used it to scan his sore body and his… what was this? His mouth was still sore, especially his chin. The Force became a blur again.
He decided to make another painful move, this time to massage his mouth. Maybe something hit him, since the taste of blood was evident.
His hand slowly and painfully reached his face and he felt it was wet. Blood. There was a painful scar in his right cheek. But there was something else. The wound was cauterized hence the intense smell of burnt flesh in his nostrils. But has he reached down his lower chin, nothing prepared him for what he felt.
Or what he did not feel. His fingers touched a soft tissue pulsing and also wet with blood, but that was all. His sudden choke and nausea made him realize he was touching his own throat. His chin appeared to be completely gone.
He felt terror take over. What had happened?
With intense pain and groaning with his efforts, he turned to lie on his belly again. He used the full extent of his strength when suddenly he felt a newfound source of energy. He saw... No! He felt the sheer power that surrounded him again. In a split second he was back at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, a small youngling touching the realms of the Force for the first time.
Yes! He was a Jedi after all. He tried to exale slowly and concentrated on the living Force.
“My Lord!” The man was back running frantically. He never heard him and facing down, he could only see the man’s feet. There was another pair of boots beside them, “This is our Squad medic, sir!” The soldier added, while trying to catch his breath.
There was an intense fighting to rise. He needed a Doctor, of course. His chin… Perhaps the skin was so sore, his mind was playing tricks.
Still no words came out, only grunts as he tried to rise.
“Easy sir!” The soldier said as he helped him, arm around his waist.
When he finally was able to stand, the Medic could at last face him. His hand immediately to his own mouth and a look of disgust. Yes, he really was disfigured.
“Doctor!” The soldier holding him said, “Focus!”
The medic was shaking as he reached for his emergency kit, took some instruments but just stood there staring.
He felt he was being cheated by the men. Suddenly the Force felt even more reenergizing. But also darker. He felt the urge to understand what had happened. The Force was now feeding him.
He should ask... No! He demanded to see his face. He needed a mirror of some sort. But the word never came out, only the familiar grunt.
“Sir, we need to get you to the fleet Medic Center, I can’t…” The Medic was shaking.
He felt patience was gone and his sudden urge to choke the doctor was palpable. He thought of his hands around his neck. It became real in his mind.l Almost instantly the Doctor reached for his neck and emitted choking sounds.
“Doc?” The Soldier said. He turned to face the man by his shoulders, “My Lord, please, the Doctor is only trying to help. There isn’t much he can do, perhaps the fleet doctors can… recover… you…”
‘Recover’? He felt the grip on the doctors neck become loose. He was now dead.
The Force was feeding him fully now, only a different version of it. Something not taught by Jedi. Something primordial and visceral. Pure hatred.
And this hate was materializing into a shape, a familiar silhouette.
His grunt was more of despair. He let go of the Soldier's grip and reached the doctor’s kit to search the content, between syringes and several other items, he finally found a box of some pills, made of reflective metal, a rough mirror.
It took him some time to interpret the image he was seeing. There was a familiar tattooed bald head and his eyes, although severely swollen and deep red, he recognized them.
But the lower half of his face was horribly disfigured. He only had the upper lip and part of his upper teeth. His skin was pale white, perhaps from the loss of strength. But there was also some burn marks and signs of fight.
“My Lord, we were called to aid you… But we were cut off!” the Soldier broke the contemplation of his scarred face.
He felt there was no reaction to what the soldier said. It felt insufficient. Weakness felt very intolerable. And weakness should be purged.
He was still holding the box looking at his bizarre reflection. His memories suddenly became clearer and clearer. The shape that formed in his mind was now perfectly identified. A hooded figure wearing a mask, Holding a lightsaber. A move and a parry followed by a strike, so quick and precise. Then the shock of lightning that surrounded his body with pain. In that split second he thought he was dead. But the masked figure cared not for his life or death.
“My Lord, we should go…” The soldier reminded. His voice sounded annoying.
He felt he needed no help. His pain was feeding his anger. The desire to taste his executioner’s blood. And this was feeding him with power.
“Lord Malak, you should…”
He raised his hand and pushed the soldier beyond human strength. The Force was his weapon. A Dark weapon. The Dark Side was his ally. The lifeless body crashed far in the ship's tunnel.
His taste for vengeance, fed by his terrible pain only made him stronger. As he walked back to the ship’s exit, there was only one goal in his mind.
Kill his treacherous master. Kill Darth Revan.

Visions

2008-08-17T19:56:00.002+01:00

Author's Title : "Visions"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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"Look outside and tell me what you see..." The Dark Lord's voice was calm and yet filled with an unknown power, the Apprentice could only obeyed and looked outside the main window to the large barren plains filled with rock formations and ruins.
But of course, the Dark Lord wasn't asking what he could see with his eyesight. The Apprentice knew better than be so naive. Still, being in the forsaken planet, so strong in the Dark Side of the Force, made him confuse and he couldn't focus on anything in particular. He tried his best, which lately was never enough. There were several disturbances and ripples in the Force. But he wasn't so sure as to what they were.
"I see the Force, ever expanding, my Lord..." The Apprentice said never taking his eyes from the horizon.
The answer was filled with doubt. It was the obvious and yet dubious answer. Not entirely correct, not entirely wrong. A good escape. But his master wasn't pleased. He let out a soft sigh.
"I feel the last days of meditation and exercises meant nothing to you..." The Dark Lord observed with a bitter tone.
The Apprentice felt he had just failed his master. He needed to correct it, fast, before he would suffer the consequences. He concentrated further. He closed his eyes, very hard.
The Force was chaotic, twirling and he could almost hear the few creatures that surrounded them scream in fear. The very few manifestations of life were filled with terror. But the source wasn't easy to track, in fact he couldn't describe it.
"I feel the Force bending and rippling, as if there were a presences that disturbed life itself, distorting it and breaking it..." He kept his eyes closed. He could listen to his Master's hard breath.
"What is the source of this disturbance?" The Dark Lord asked, impatiently.
"I... I can't see it, Master..." And he really couldn't. He did feel some of the scarce wildlife of the desert planet through the Force, but none could ever create such a powerful print in the Force. There could be several explanations for this disturbance, but none seemed to fit his feelings or made any sense.
The Dark Lord let out another deep sigh. This time he didn't feel impatient at all.
"It would appear you still require much learning, my apprentice..." He said, while leaving through the large doors of the Sith Academy.
The Apprentice couldn't help but feel relieved. He let out a deep exalation when he noticed he was holding his breath for minutes now.
Suddenly the young Apprentice opened his eyes. The disturbance was now gone. The wildlife and the dark signature of the planet resumed its regularity.
The Apprentice looked back to see the Master, now deep into the corridors of the Academy. He then understood the origin of such powerful manifestation of the Dark Side, was his own master.
He began to wonder what powerful entity could bend, twist and break the Force with such might... He wondered how dark was his Master. How powerful was he that he could make such a silent and yet destructible manifestation.
He understood his failure to identify his Master as the sole source of the disturbance. And he was standing right next to him...
In his mind, he couldn't believe it...
His Master felt his thoughts and his voice echoed in his mind.
"Your foe could be anyone, learn not to trust your very right hand, not even the one standing beside you, who can teach you to destroy worlds of simply behead you..."
"Truly, Master Darth Revan..." The Apprentice said. And he switched off the holocron.

Han's Gamble

2008-07-05T20:47:00.002+01:00

Author's Title : "Han's Gambe"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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“That’s enough!” The voice came from behind, apparently scared and tired, “I can’t go any further…”
Han Solo sighed and ignored, they had to continue their pace.
“Han! Please!” The voice insisted.
“Alright…” He conceded, “I think we lost them anyway. How are you?”
In the shadows, Lando Calrissian was breathing hard. “I’ll live!” He said.
“That will be the last time you ignore me, right?” Han smiled in the darkness.
Lando finally lit his plasmatorch. He wasn’t smiling.
Both men were sitting in the round sewer tunnel, with a diameter large enough to allow a tiny Ewok to move freely. The smell was nauseous, both Han and Lando had ignored it a few kilometers behind.
“You were the one that cheated, not me!” Lando said while recovering his breath.
“Hey! I won that game fair and square! They didn’t know how to lose! I warned you about that scum.” Han said gesturing to the end of the tunnel where they came from. "You were the one who didn't listen!"
“Han, honestly! You are kark in Sabacc… I had a great hand to win. You couldn't stand still. You just had to cheat!”
“I did not…” Han was interrupted by a sound coming from the end of the tunnel, “we need to keep going! Can you go on?”
“Sure!” Lando rose turning off the plasmatorch, “Lead on… champ!”
Han smiled again speeding the pace. There was a faint light upfront, the tunnel was ending.
“I can see a light! We’re almost there!” Lando said.
"Thanks! I couldn't figure it all by myself..."
“I hear them coming, Han. So much for the escape route!” Lando joked.
“We could just turn around, how about that?” Han asked, aggravated.
They finally reached the other end of the tunnel. But instead of an exit, they found a fence. Han tried to move the fence but it didn’t budge. “Now what?” He asked.
“Blast it!” Lando said instinctively.
“They took our blasters, remember?” Han revived Lando’s memory.
The sounds coming from the tunnel were now louder.
“We need to do something!” Lando forced the fence to no effect.
Han picked his plasmatorch and had an idea. Moving fast he took the plasmatorch from Lando’s pocket and unscrew the bottom.
“What are you doing?” Lando asked.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m blowing up the fence!”
“You’ll kill us!” Lando said grabbing Han’s arms.
Suddenly they realized their voices were just too loud. The sounds coming from the end of the tunnel were now speeding up. Lando let go of Han’s arms.
Han spilled the plasma content of both torches on the fence and clicked the igniter. Both men covered their faces when the fence blew in an intense white explosion.
It took a few seconds for the dust, debris and burnt plasma to settle. Both men were coughing, covered in gray dust, while they finally jumped out of the tunnel.
“Great! We’re in the middle of nowhere!” Han vociferated.
“I think the ship’s this way!” Lando said pointing to their right.
“Then we’ll move this way!” Han said running the other way.
“You don’t trust me?” Lando asked, following.
“That’s where they’ll follow us.” Han said. “And no! I don’t trust you!”
There was a small road leading to a canyon. Just out of pure luck, Han found himself in the right trail to reach the docking bay.
“I guess I was right… Talk about luck...” Han smiled.
“But that will also bring them this way!” Lando pointed his thumb over his shoulder.
A group of thugs were heading their way. If they didn’t spot them, they would soon.
“Run!” Solo screamed.
Between stumping, pushing and falling, both men reached the entrance of the docking bay where they both landed their ships.
Blaster fire crossed over their heads.
They reached the building, pushing two surprised guards out of the way. But, running down the large corridor they reached a second group of guards. This time they had blasters aimed right at Han and Lando. They stopped.
The mob on pursuit was just entering the complex.
“Authorization!” One of the guards said.
Han thought fast… Sweating and desperate, he looked beyond the men’s shoulders and saw Chewbacca, the Wookiee and Han's friend near the ships. He looked surprised.
Han swallowed. He would use the oldest trick in the book. It would work. It always did. He looked at Lando, who appeared to guess what Han was thinking. He could only hope so.
“Look! That Wookiee is getting away!” He screamed!
When all guards looked back, both men pushed them away and ran down the platform to the hangar. When the guards stood up, the pursuing mob had already reached the docking bay entrance.
“Look there’s more!” Lando shouted.
In the confusion the armed men just opened fire. While the mob and the guards were trading fire at each other, Han and Lando ran to the ship, grabbing a surprised Chewie by the furry arm.
“Run Chewie!” Han screamed.
The Wookiee gnarled and roared.
“I’m sorry buddy, when we got to go, we got to go!” Han smiled.
Han and Chewbacca ran to their ship. Lando screamed.
"No! Take mine, you'll never make it out of here in that nut shell!"
Han thought twice looking at his, well, borrowed ship he took from Nar-Shaddaa a few days ago from a sleeping drunk man. He needed to leave. So he left. No questions asked. The Hutts were, quite persuasive. "The kark with it!" He thought. It was a light, low shielded transporter. They would be vaporized by any plasma gun.
"Fine!" Han said while grabbing Chewbacca's arm again.
The Wookiee gnarled again.
"It's a long story! Trust me, we smelled and looked worse a few minutes ago!" Solo said. When he reached the main room of Lando's ship he couldn’t avoid making his comment.“What a piece of junk, Lando! We’re did you dig this up? Looks even worse from the inside!”
“She packs more than she looks, buddy!” Lando smiled while running to the cockpit, “I need a co-pilot, Han!”
“You’re a kark at flying, Lando. Let me take it!”
“Hey…” Lando started.
“It’s me, Lando! It’s me!”
Lando replied with a worried face. But he knew Solo was a great pilot. Or so they said. He stepped away. Chewie followed Han to the co-pilot seat.
By now, the mix-up had been solved outside and both the mob and the guards were firing at the ship.
“Take us out of here!” Lando screamed.
“Punch it Chewie!” Solo screamed.
The Wookiee had time to study the ship’s systems, while his friends spent their own time and money playing Sabacc who knows where. Chewbacca thanked for that spare time, he knew exactly where to “punch”.
The heavy freighter was surprisingly responsive. They left the Hangar under heavy fire. The Security Defenses had been activated. Their giant plasma cannons opened fire. Fighters were inbound.
Han flew the ship as if he always had. It felt natural, the controls seemed perfect and built for him. So he was being chased by fighters, it was nothing less than thrilling. The ship was a dream of a flyer. Every system was tuned up. Every gun fire was avoided. The heavy freighter was even more agile than the smaller fighters Han had used in his days at the Military Academy. It was a joy!
“This is getting hairy!” Lando said. The Wookiee let out a comment. “Sorry, Chewie, I meant the odds…”
“He knows, Lando!” Han couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll tell you, this ship is a surprise!”
“And it still holds few more surprises!” Lando said while rising to the back of the ship, “Come on, I need help back here!”
Han tapped Chewie’s shoulder. The Wookiee replied with an accepting roar.
Lando reached amidships and pressed a small button hidden in the wall. A door opened revealing a ladder that went up and down. Lando climbed up the ladder, Han looked inside the tunnel. Up and down, two heavy quad-laser cannons were mounted on the top and bottom of the ship.
“Come on!” Lando screamed taking the seat on the top gun.
“I could have used one of these on Nal-Hutta!” Han murmured.
The next few minutes were spent firing at incoming vessels with average success. The fight was easier than Han thought. In the end, who would expect a Corellian Cargo Freighter was carrying such defensive heavy guns?
When their tail was clear, both men climbed out of the guns.
“When did you fit them?” Han asked.
“I didn’t, I got it like that…”
“Got it? You mean you won it playing?”
“Yeah, some desperate guy, smuggler by the looks…”
They walked fast back to the cockpit.
"They won't quit! I know these guys!" Lando commented looking through the windshield.
"Thank you for invinting us here... Wherever this is! They're quite friendly!" Han said with an approving roar by Chewbacca.
"If they find your... rented ship... they'll be alerting the Empire any time now..."
“We need to hurry, then!” Han said while seating in the Captain seat again.
“Hey!” Lando complained.
“Input the coordinates to… well, somewhere else!”
Lando was beginning to say something, but thought better. The planetary defenses were now alerted, for sure. Better to leave this place while they could. He would discuss ownership later.
The Freighter climbed fast and reached outer orbit, then hyperspace. As smooth as a gizka's back.
“Wow!” Han let out when all was finally over. “You were right! It does pack more than it looks! What do you call it?”
“I don’t know!” Lando replied still recovering, “Last owner called it Millennium Falcon. I think it sounds too pompous…”
“Falcon, huh?” He asked looking back to Lando.
“Yeah! And it’s time you let me sit there…” Lando said, giving away a nervous smile. For some reason he knew what would happen next.
“I kind of like it…” Han said looking around. “You want to sell it?”
“You couldn’t afford it, Han!”
Chewie barked a laugh. Han stared at his Wookiee friend.
“Well Chewie here likes it too!” Han said. “Besides, how many ships do you have, anyway?”
“Han! No!” Lando raised his hand. “It’s not for sale. You saw how special she is!”
“Yeah!” Han leaned over his shoulder, facing Lando, “Come on, buddy! What’s your price?”
“Forget it, Han Solo! I know your credit balance quite well!” Lando shrugged.
“Alright! I’ll win it from you…”
Chewbacca murmured. Lando looked directly at Han.
“You want to play Sabacc against me?” Lando laughed.
“Yeah!” Han replied. “What can you lose?”
“What are you betting?”
“My apartment in Nar-Shaddaa…”
Lando laughed even louder.
“…and my Kessel map…” Han added.
Lando suddenly stop laughing. The Kessel map was Han’s greatest treasure. Where he supposedly marked every secret hideout in the Kessel system. Something like a list of secret spots where pirates hid their stolen items and often forgot. A treasure map like the old myths. Only this 'myth' was being unfolded right in front of Lando’s eyes, held by Han.
“What would I do with it? You have it for years and could never make use of it…”
“I think you could figure it out!” Han smiled and raised his hand.
Chewbacca observed the whole thing. He let out a soft bark when Lando raised his hand to meet Han’s.
“Let’s play, then…” Lando accepted.
Han smiled. This would be interesting.
He liked the ship. And he wanted it… He would have it! Just like everything else in his life.
Fair and square…
Or not…

Aprendiz

2008-05-04T22:38:00.004+01:00

Titulo do Autor : “Aprendiz"

Autor: Stonezinha AKA Turista Espacial

Origem: Portugal

Linguagem: Português

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Quando o meu mestre me conheceu, viu potencial em mim, potencial para o Lado Negro. Estava enraivecida pelas mentiras dos Jedi, pelas mentiras do meu antigo Mestre. Sentia ódio em mim que era capaz de destruir um planeta.

Mas os meus sentimentos de revolta cedo se transformaram em sentimentos de culpa, de arrependimento. Nos meus sonhos era perseguída pelo assassinato do meu Mestre. O meu afecto e amizade pelos meus antigos companheiros não me deixavam evoluir.

A imagem que agora me persegue é a forma como o meu Mestre me olhou pela última vez. Ódio e desilusão transbordavam dos seus olhos. Nunca vi o seu ataque. Senti o meu corpo a arder de dentro para fora e apenas sobrevivi por não ser merecedora de morrer pelas suas mãos.
Enquanto recupero, escondo-me nas suas sombras. Aqui observo e aprendo. Absorvo todo o conhecimento que posso enquanto espero por uma nova oportunidade.

Losses

2008-04-04T18:11:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : "Rebel Heart - Losses"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Dust settled... I could see the Falcon...
"Robin," I said."Move out! Flank the ship and secure the area!" I ran down the left corridor of the enormous docking bay. I saw a man emerge from the opening platform of the Corellian Freighter.
"Scout!" Han Solo said as he joined me behind some cargo containers, taking cover, "I'm sorry for the delay..." He had a worried face, "How are you guys?" The question was very typical from the General.
Providing some cover, the upper laser turret on the Falcon was training on the approaching Sandtroopers.
"We ran into some party, guys dressed in white..." I tried to joke, but either the Falcon's whine or the blaster fire made Solo's forehead wrinkle.
"You're always calling me for a pick up, I was surprised it took you so long..." The General made his typical grin. A shot hit the wall at our flank, alerting us both to fire back in response. "What are we waiting for? Let's move out!" General Solo was impatient.
"Robin is running late, she fell back to cover our retreat to the rendezvous. That's when we found out it was trap and called you in."
"Did you accomplish the mission?" He asked firing his blaster.
"We did!" I waved a couple of holodisks containing some blueprints of a new weapon the Empire was building.
The plan was simple. Small task force, two teams, one was the decoy, mine would rapidly infiltrate the base and retrieve the plans while the forces were drawn to the decoy team. Simple. And was working, if we only our rendezvous waypoint wasn't crawling with Sandtroopers and we had to come up with a quick backup plan. Captain Solo and the Falcon was part of it.
More Sandtroopers emerged from the upper balcony on the docking bay. They were mounting heavy repeater blasters.
"You better call her, this party is becoming too crowded for my taste!" Solo turned to his comm, yelling something to Chewbacca, is first mate, inside the Falcon.
"No time..." I said, "Jules!" I shouted to my first officer, "Hit that balcony with the big one!"
Jules tapped another soldier in his back who acknowledged with a nod. The soldier placed a rocket launcher on his shoulder and aimed.
When he was ready, Jules shouted "Clear!".
The finger did press the trigger, but the shot never came. From the other flank a big blaster fire vaporized both men.
Looking underneath the Falcon, I saw the unmistakable feet of a AT-ST vehicle.
"Kark! It's a walker... Looks like you pissed them hard, huh?" Solo jumped out of the shelter provided by the crates and I followed, just before another blast made a hole where we just stood.
"Perfect..." Solo said, "That's it, Scout! Call your children, we're gone!"
"No, wait! Robin will show up, any time now..."
"Well pick her up on the way out," He picked his comm, "Chewie, shields up". Some roaring was heard from the commlink, it was hard to understand Wookiee speech, much less with all this blaster fire around us, but Solo, somehow, found a way to translate the Wookiee's growlings, "I don't care! That Walker will scratch the Falcon!" He turned to me, "Into the ship, or I'll leave you and your kids to play with the whites!"
I had a decision to make. I called all men to retreat.
What was left of our platoon entered the ship, luckily no more soldiers were shot badly, two wounded, nothing serious. I helped the last man in and being the last to enter, I could only look back for a brief moment... "I'm sorry Robin..." I whispered.
Suddenly, all gun fire was diverted to one specific area of the hangar. It looked like a small entrance to the ammo depot.
I tried to look beyond the smoke and flames the AT-ST was causing. Knowing I was risking the men's life inside the Falcon, I went forth, anyway. I had to!
"Scout, get the kark back here!" Solo was already swearing.
I moved between the debris, noticing the AT-ST lost interest in me and was aiming at the small entrance.
"Scout... this is Robin..." Her voice was calm over the radio, "Looks like someone is asking us to be permanent residents..."
"Robin, we'll cover your exit, take your men forth to the Falcon!" I looked behind to the Falcon's cockpit, "Solo! All fire concentrated on that AT-ST!"
"Are you out of your mind? My quads can't penetrate their shielding!" Chewie accompanied Solo's reply with a large growl "Chewie, this is suicide", he shouted at the Wookiee, but a few moments later the quads began firing at the armored vehicle.
It took me a brief moment to assess the situation. I was alone outside the Falcon. In no way I would risk my squadron's life like this. Although I know they would blindly follow my orders. But I wasn't obliged to spare my own life...
"Robin, I'm gonna try something." I tried to sound calm, but I was terrified. The plan was to lure the AT-ST and try to draw its fire. But a single armed man would be enough. I would require something else. Looking beyond the smoke I saw the key to my plan. The rocket launcher.
"Scout, this place is getting too hot. We gotta go!" Solo sounded stressed.
"I am not leaving without Robin." I said.
"Oh, that's great..." Solo sounded bored as if he had heard this over and over.
"Scout, this is Robin, just go, leave me here, I'm a grown girl..." Robin sounded terrified as the AT-ST's fire was dangerously destroying the walls. Beyond those walls were the ammo for all Imperial vessels that operated in that hangar. An explosive situation, to say the least.
Without much thinking, I jumped to the crater where once was the demolition's team and its rocket launcher. I grabbed it and felt surprised I was shaking so much. I aimed and fired.
The blast hit the AT-ST's left leg. Not really damaging it, but one or two more could be a serious hit. Realizing this, the AT-ST's driver aimed at me, as did all other Sandtroopers around it. I jumped to cover.
"Now, Robin, run for it!" I screamed over the radio and could only hope I wasn't too late. I couldn't see it either, since I was under intense fire. The crate that served as my shelter was blowing to pieces under the intensive heavy gunfire of the AT-ST and I could only wait...
"Scout!" Solo shouted, "Get out of there...!"
"I'm pinned down!" I said, "Get everyone out!"
Suddenly, I heard and felt a big blast from behind the crate. That could only be the AT-ST...
"Scout! Go for it, we got the AT-ST! Go!" Robin's voice was somehow weak.
Looking behind the crate, I saw the Imperial vehicle down in flames and a few Sandtroopers still trying to understand what happened. Looking behind them, there was some gun fire at the entrance where Robin stood. To my right, the Falcon was now hovering a few meters off the ground.
I felt confused. My plan had work to some extent, but I also had drawn fire to her again as she saved my life. The Sandtroopers were now assembling heavy repeater blasters aiming at the depot.
"Scout, come on!" Solo was once again screaming.
I tried to think fast. Perhaps the plan would work again. I stood up and ran to the opposite end firing frantically against Robin's attackers. The Falcon's quad-lasers were also training on the Stormies. This would work! The Sandtroopers began opening fire with the heavy repeaters as I aimed my blaster against them. I took two in my desperate attempt to draw their attention.
Suddenly, a big blast destroyed the depot into pieces.
I couldn't say a word as I felt a cold shiver down my back. "Robin..." I whispered...
Time seemed to stood still. I don't know how much time did I just stood there on my knees, defenseless and an easy target. I couldn't believe it.
I never felt the hairy Wookiee taking me to his shoulder under a barrage of blaster fire and entering the Falcon. My men, leaving the relative safety of the Falcon were flanking us.
As the Wookiee had no ceremony dropping me on the cold floor, I snapped out of it when I picked the radio and called Robin.
"Robin, come in..."
Static.
At the upper level, more troopers appeared and they carried anti-armor weapons.
"That's it!" Solo said, "We're saying goodbye..." He turned the Falcon and made a full throttle escape to the atmosphere..
The Millennium Falcon barely had shields when we entered orbit, followed by a few dozen Tie Fighters. This had been a close one. Beyond close... I reached the comm.
"Robin, this is Scout, do you read?"
Static...
"Robin, come in..."
I looked beyond the cargo hold where I stood and into the cockpit. Solo was again looking back at me over his shoulder. His expression was both of relief and I could swear he felt sorry.
The stars became lines and we entered hyperspace.
It was a sour relief. We left all hopes of retrieving Robin behind.
But if we waited much longer we would all be dead.
Robin knew this. She was a soldier.
She knew what to expect from war.
The question was... Did I take it well the loss of a soldier...?
Worse... Did I take it well that I had just lost her?
"She understood the risks..." Solo's words were as hollow as his expression. This was a cliché and he knew it. Loosing someone just wasn't that easy, no matter how much propaganda you fed your mind with.
"She did..." I tried to maintain my composure. I still held the radio. Now, at hyperspace, it was just useless.
"The mission was accomplished, nevertheless," Solo looked over to the other soldiers "We did a great job... considering..."
"We did..." I tried to sound confident "But, it's not over yet..." I looked up to Solo's eyes...
I believe he saw something in my own eyes, madness perhaps? He walked away with a curious expression. I heard about Solo's idea of the whole rebellion being a bunch of lunatics who believed they could take over the empire with a couple of blasters and will.
Solo never understood this. Since he didn't lose his love on the battlefield.
This was what made us all rebels.
This was what the Empire had thrown us...
I would fight every day with all my efforts to make sure Robin was avenged and the Empire paid for her death...
But for now, I had another task to perform.
I picked the holorecorded and began to speak the bitter words that become the worst part of being a Commander...
"Dear Sirs. My name is Corran Antilles and I am the Commander of Task Force 11, where your daughter served bravely. She was an example of courage for us all. I am sorry to report, however..."

Holo Message: #ISB 74thx421

2008-03-14T16:25:00.005Z

Author's Title : "Holo Message: #ISB 74thx421"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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-- Imperial Secure Transmission Commencing --

---- IBI - Imperial Bureau of Intelligence ----

CLASSIFIED - DELETE AFTER READING - CLASSIFIED

Holo Message: #ISB 74thx421

From: Imperial Bureau of Inteligence Director, Armand Isard

To: Grand Moff Jerjerrod

Subject: Special Operation Regarding the Safety of the Death Star.

*Holo-Message Begins*

Greetings, Grand Moff Jerjerrod.

His Royal Highness the Emperor, as commanded me to articulate a secret operation that will involve the lure of rebel forces to the new battle-station: Death Star.
This mission involves the release of sensitive information regarding the construction of the battle-station and its potential weaknesses.
The files to be placed at disposal are the Architectural Blueprints number DS21232, DS2312 and DS77633. This classified information must be moved in the Secure Computer System 0114322SB, and will be removed of all security protections. This way, we expect it to be retrieved by rebel spies within the next few days.
We have learned that Worker Group FJF7954, Bothan Species, contain infiltrated rebel agents that are key subjects for the success of this operations.
This group is to be reassigned for the finishing of Hangar Bay RF1138 Level 6, located just next to the Maintenance Access of Secure Computer System SB.
Once their settled, you may only monitor their activities and allow them to move freely, while IBI agents monitor them and "accidentally" grant their access to the computer systems to prevent the leak of any other sensitive information rather than the objective files.
Once the information is gathered by rebel agents, IBI will intervene to simulate a legitimate pursuit. Some subjects of the Worker Batch may be eliminated in the process to draw away the idea this was orchestrated by the Empire.
Some agents must be allowed to escape and it is the Emperor's specific orders that all Turbo Laser batteries should perform a maintenance overhaul effective immediately.
Also, Tie Fighter Squadrons assigned to Hangar Bay RF1138 must perform training drills at least two standard hours away from the battle-stations.
The Emperor Requests that no Bothan is to be placed under arrest before or after this operation is complete.
I predict you won't feel comfortable to release such sensitive information. Please bear in mind that His Royal Highness The Emperor has ordered this personally and wishes that his command may not be questioned.
However, if you wish to debate any of the aspects of this mission, I am sure you can present your concerns to Lord Darth Vader, already aboard your ship.
Your cooperation is crucial as well as your discretion regarding this type of operations. There can be no questions asked, you may not comment the content of this message or the mission itself with any of your officers.
Your total cooperation with IBI agents is mandatory.
I shall arrive within the next few days for the Battle-station's inaugural mission.

For the Emperor.

Armand Isard
Imperial Bureau of Inteligence Director

*End of Holo-Message*

CLASSIFIED - DELETE AFTER READING - CLASSIFIED

-- Imperial Secure Transmission End --

Dark Prince - Holocron Introduction

2008-02-04T15:17:00.000Z

Author's Title : "Dark Prince - Rise of Darkness"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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The Jedi Archives Reports

File - TK8311124 – HLCRN 323(S)

Description - Under Master Skywalker’s instructions, I was given the task to investigate this mysterious holocron that was found in the ruins of Darth Vader’s Palace in Vjun. Even though much of the Holocron’s contents were concealed from me, I was able to retrieve some recordings I believe were left to another unknown recipient, presumably this Sith Lord’s apprentice, whose identity or whereabouts are also unknown. - Jedi Historian, Tionne Solusar.

Source - Unknown Sith Holocron
Avatar - Unknown Sith Lord, presumably the one called Darth En Ghedi.

-Recording Begins -

The Dark Times are named as so because light was engulfed into nothing.
The Empire began a campaign, when unleashed the Order 66 and took whatever hope the Republic had to experience peace after the Clone Wars.
The Dark Times were a period of exile to many of the followers of the Light. But much more than that, it was a period of liberation for those who were strangled with the Jedi imposed restrictions for so much time.
To me, it was period of affirmation and of growth in both strength and power.

When I was but a baby, my parents discovered my ability to use the Force. The most amazing demonstration of my power, was when I cried from any of the needs of a small child, whatever was breakable would shatter to pieces.
Scared and ignorant, my father sought the wisdom of those he believed could bring peace to his life. The Jedi arrived in a rainy day. I don't recall much of that day, but one thing is very vivid in my mind, I could sense my father's relief to see me part. And I was but a child.
That was my sole memory. I was despised and delivered to the Jedi as a bargain for a better life. I couldn't find ways to forgive my own father, much less accept this condition. I grew up with the Jedi ways, but the more I learned, the more I felt the desire to leave. I felt deprived of my own life. But the Jedi was all I had.
In trade of this new Padawan, my parents were granted a treaty of confidentiality and my home world of Mashala was erased from the Jedi Archives. This treaty was endorsed by the Republic in the person of Senator Palpatine. Little my father knew that he was bargaining with a cunning adversary of the Republic itself.
My days in Coruscant were spent in training and learning. Many hours were taken studying the very architecture of the Force. I was a formidable scholar but also a promising fighter, always touched by boldness and curiosity.
And that curiosity led me to the Dark Side of the Force. A day I wish to forget but also a day I wish to recall over and over.
I had been called too aggressive in my training. In the end, I was always told I needed even more training, that I was but a boy. A boy… They kept reminding me of this disadvantage, but even so, I felt the Force in ways they couldn’t conceive. I had the power within me, I only held it back in respect for the Jedi Masters. Calling me a “boy” was not just disrespectful but was also an imposed defense for those who feared my power could overwhelm them.
I knew that… they knew that.
In the many hours spent on training we always had several breaks to regain strength.
All the younglings went to the canteen to take their midday meals. I decided to walk the corridors as often as I could. Absorbing the power of the Force from the very halls and floors other great Jedi stepped before me.
I learned to draw strength from the same places great Force wielders once dwelled, perhaps meditating on the many branches of the living Force or the many ways to defeat an enemy faced with a Lightsaber.
One cold day, as rainy as the day the Jedi had come to Mashala to take me, I was walking the same corridors I always did, when I felt a disturbance.
I was too inexperienced with the Force to interpret it. At first, it felt like an irresistible lure, but became colder and colder as I stepped closer to the source.
There was a dark room at the end of this corridor. I had passed beyond that room so many times, but that day I looked at it as if I had never seen it before. That was the source of the disturbance. I wondered if I was the only one who felt it, or that I might not be as attuned to feel it before, or even if the Masters were oblivious of this ripple in the Force.
As bold as I was known to be, I advanced to the room, picking up my training lightsaber from my belt. I felt scared, but somehow fueled by this disturbance in a way I couldn’t understand.
The room was poorly lit and it took some time to adapt to darkness. At first I felt that there was nothing there. But when I was turning away, I distinguished a silhouette next to the closed window. It was dusk and rainy in the weather inconstant Coruscant.
I was scared to notice the man was right next to the door, meaning I missed his presence when I entered it.
Believing he was some dignitary in the many Jedi Temple visits, I addressed the dark figure as I would any other person, threat or not. “There is only peace”, I cited the Jedi Code in my mind.
“Who are you, sir?” I asked. “This area is not open to visitors.” I trembled but was confident on my training to be a diplomat. As I ignited the small lightsaber, its bluish light revealed a man cloaked in very long dark robes.
When he spoke, the voice was a thunder in the once silent room, “Brave young man,” he said, “you shouldn’t enter a room with a stranger like you did… You will never know what is in store for you”, he smiled.
My innocence pushed me to the reply I gave, again, it was bold.
“I am a Jedi”, I tried to sound convincing, “and the Force is with me. You are trespassing…” The lightsabre turned from a light source to a weapon.
“Yes… Of course!” Only his chin was visible and just barely. Enough to notice how he was still smiling, “I have offended you…” he paused as if creating a momentum “Jedi… Allow me to apologize.”
The man extended his hand revealing a black pyramidal object with small reddish engravings. Now I know it was a Sith Holocron, but back then, I wasn’t familiar with it and it was intentional that I did not. The Jedi hide the information from the younglings they consider dangerous or easily misunderstood. Sith artifacts were certainly in these categories.
Still, I could sense it was tuned to the Force, somehow. There was a conflict in me. As much as I wanted to grasp it, the Jedi code spoke louder in my mind.
“I cannot accept it. Jedi are not meant to have possessions”, my voice as convincing as I could pretend, for I craved the small object, so alluring it was.
“Indeed! But, this is much more than a mere present. This is a true relic.” He stretched his arm further and the small object lit itself in a strange red aura. “It calls for you… listen…”
In the silence I could hear voices… and they were menacing… The Dark Side…
Steps were heard in the corridor. The man became impatient.
“I really…” I began to say.
“Take it!” The man’s voice was terrifyingly strong, now.
So tender in my age, my impulse was to cry and began stumbling away from the room.
My cries were responded by two Jedi Knights who were also walking down the same corridors I picked for my daily breaks.
Wielding their lightsabers they lit up the room and looked around. The window was closed and the room empty.
I was still crying, touched by fear. The Jedi asked what happened and between sobbing and tears I explained a man had been there and was strong in the Dark Side. I was honest. But my honesty was misunderstood with a child play.
“There’s no one here, Padawan!” One of the Jedi said, “It’s wrong to lie!”
“I am not lying, Master!” I was trembling, now by the fear of being punished for telling the truth.
They kept searching using their commlinks to contact the other Jedi, making sure the “boy” was actually telling the truth.
In the mean time, I heard a voice. At first it was as faint as a whisper, but it eventually echoed so loudly I couldn’t avoid listening to it.
“Take my gift, my young Jedi!” The voice said, as alluring as it was the object, lying somewhere on the floor, inside the room. The voice continued, “I mean you no harm, allow me to show you how you can become a powerful man”.
The Jedi were still distracted by the commlink communications. They seemed oblivious of the voice.
“Search for it,” it continued, “use your instincts…”
The temptation was too strong to be ignored. As the Light Side was advising me to run, the lure was too powerful.
“Let go of the Force,” the voice said, “pick it up…”
“Pick up what?” I started, but the words were never pronounced. I knew what I was supposed to pick. In fact, I felt it was my desire. And its lure was so intoxicating.
A dim light was able to reach my eye. At first the lights on the room did not enable me to perceive its source, but I knew where it was. Oblivious of all that surrounded me, even the two Jedi, I found the artifact in a corner, not loss, but placed irrevocably to be found.
At first I wanted to pick it up as an evidence of the man’s presence, but as I touched it, the feeling it caused in my hand was puzzling. Then the voice returned.
“Listen to what the object is telling you”, it said again, this time, it would appear it was echoing from the pyramidal object itself. So I approached my ear to it.
As I did, I felt an impulse of a million voices shouting at my year, into my mind, like echoes of many suffering voices and many other shouting. There were words of pain, and of menace… there was fear… But somehow, it was not my own fear, for I felt no fear from this phenomenon. Perhaps awe. Definitely not fear. I would say I enjoyed the tremendous power I felt in those split seconds.
In the mean time, the Jedi were no longer distracted and they clearly interpreted what was going on. They saw the artifact as I was not making any effort to hide. Nor was I attempting to hide my one enjoyment of that touch of the Dark Side.
“Drop the holocron, boy!” The closest Jedi Knight told me. His voice transmitted both authority and fear. “Do it!” He added.
But I was no longer listening. The voices were continuing to speak to me. The power of the Dark Side was tremendous and the Force was bending around me. I never recalled lighting up my training Lightsaber but I recalled its bluish light, so intense, it felt like the suns of many systems were concentrated on my own blade.
“Don’t do this, Padawan!” The other Jedi Knight was instinctively igniting his own saber. Perhaps understanding the damage the holocron was doing to me. He extended his hand “Give it to me, boy!”
The word “boy” suddenly felt awkward… then offensive…
“I am not a boy!” At first I said it almost whispering. Then I repeated in a burst of anger. The very same anger I had learned to avoid “I am not a boy!” The forbidden feeling was somehow sweet as I tasted it for the first time.
Suddenly, the two Jedi seemed so small, compared to the enlarged entity I had become by touching the Dark Side of the Force. They were only two Jedi Knights. I could take them.
“Strike them down with your new given hatred…” the man’s voice had returned... and I accepted it.
There was a new power I had never felt, a new type of reward for my efforts. I felt hilarious with so much adrenaline, but much more than that, I felt victory unavoidable. For the first time in my life, I felt there was power surrounding me and it was mine to take it. How could the Jedi have hidden this from me?
My small lightsaber travelled in an unconceivable speed and clashed the standard lightsabers the Jedi were wielding in mere defense, surprised.
But they were two, I was but one… and young.
When that feeling stroke me, the voice returned.
“They are strong, but not that strong… You’ll die if they disarm you!” The voice whispered as if behind me.
I felt the truth in the man’s voice and I saw the two Jedi suddenly changing their stance to attack. One of the Jedi made a slash that passed close to my ear, too close. I could smell the burnt hair. My Padawan braid… it was gone.
The image of the small braid on the floor refilled my anger. My eyes focused on the two Jedi. I can’t describe the amount of rage I felt. Only that it felt like the very foundations of the Jedi Temple could crumble, if I so wished.
“No!” I screamed, “Die Jedi!”
I crawled with a speed I never knew I had and cut in between the two Jedi. In their surprise, or perhaps overconfidence, both Jedi flanks were found unguarded. But I was also too close to the Jedi to perform an effective blow to both. So I picked one. And I took the chance.
The Jedi screamed as I clashed his right arm with my training saber. Those were tuned to only cause dormancy on the limbs, as they were not effective killing weapons as the true Lightsabers were. Still, my blow was strong enough to make the Jedi drop his own weapon. Without thinking twice, I reached the Force to make the Jedi’s saber float to my waiting hand.
I saw horror in the Jedi’s face as I carved his own weapon in his chest. I felt a mix of shock and pleasure. Absorbing this man’s terror and feeling the power of the Force unleashing its might around me.
“Minus one,” I thought.
The other Jedi was drowned in disbelief, but I had lost the element of surprise. I could feel he no longer looked at me as a boy, but as a true menace. A life threat.
His posture also changed as he cautiously studied me. He spoke.
“Please, Padawan, stop this.” His voice was surprisingly calm. “Don’t let the Dark Side take you…”
“It’s too late, Jedi.” The voice that came from my lips, sounded too adult for my age. “I was touched by this power I never felt before. I am attuned with the Force,” I said as I smiled.
“Don’t speak like that!” The Jedi felt confident he was going somewhere with this talk, “you’re just a boy…” these words, were again like a trigger within me, “that holocron is fooling you, recall your training!”
The rage built up, until it felt unbearable.
“I am not a boy…” The words were paused and in a low tone.
I never knew the Jedi’s names until I was given access to the Jedi Temple’s records. But their names weren’t important. Jedi Knights Vas Fi-Cres, a Corellian and Jedi Master Kin Rarok, the Echani I was now fighting, represented all the Jedi and their Order. In my mind, their deaths are the death of every single Jedi.
And it felt like it in my final attack and the Jedi’s final defense. A parry, easily overcome with a diagonal strike that beheaded him. In the last split second, I remember seeing his eyes closing in sheer expectance of the unavoidable.
I never saw his body fall. But could hear it… and felt his life fade away in the Force.
I was facing the wall, sweating and breathing heavily. The only sound was the humming of the saber, still ignited.
“What have I done?” It suddenly stroked me. Fear took over.
The once soothing mysterious voice of the man, who offered me the way to reach the Dark Side, was now a source of my own grief and I trembled to hear it… I was a boy again.
“You are now an agent of the Dark Side… the Sith Legacy can be yours!” The word “Sith” itself made me tremble, the voice continued to speak to me,“You’ve done well, my…” there was a pause that felt like forever, then he finished the sentence, “apprentice!”
I was shaking violently of the cold I felt.
“No…” I began, “I am a Padawan, I can’t…”
“Enough!” The voice interrupted me, “you are a Sith apprentice! I have chosen you…”
I fiddled the small pyramidal holocron in my hand and the man continued.
“You were told the Sith are evil. That they were extinct. The object you have in your hands is a Sith Holocron, created by the greatest Sith Master, Darth Plagueis. It was mine… now it is yours…”
The name Darth Plagueis… It was not familiar, except for the title “Darth”, the title of the Sith followers. That much wasn’t kept from me during my visits of the Jedi Library.
Still, I had much trouble understanding that I was to become a follower of the Sith, knowing what it represented. It felt like a tremendous lie. A lie I wasn’t prepared to listen.
“I…” the sentence was never completed. I was looking down at the Holocron. It was pulsing in an intense red.
“The holocron has many stories to tell you.” The man said, finally revealing himself from a dark corner, as if he was camouflaged. But I knew it was the Dark Side shrouding him from me and the Jedi all the time. “You are to become a great… man!” His words were carefully chosen.
The man’s voice now sounded different. Less menacing, warmer…
“You must leave now,” the man continued underneath his dark hood, “others are coming, alerted by the ripple of the Force…”
I was filled with terror. For moments I forgot where I was. The very core of the Jedi Order. But nothing had prepared me for the revelation I was given next.
“That hideous Skywalker is coming for you…” The man’s mouth almost expressed a faint smile.
Anakin Skywalker was the champion of the Jedi. Considered to be the Chosen One, he was arguably the most powerful Jedi there was. Also, he was known for his unique temper and lack of patience.
When he learned what I had done, I was certainly going to meet his famous wrath, some of us actually questioned if it was the way of a Jedi, but now, that seemed irrelevant.
“Where should I go?” I asked, finally turning off the lightsaber and dropping it on the floor with a metallic bump.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. I felt peace somehow. At least it was sufficient to appease me.
“I will guide you…” the man said.
The hand on my shoulder was gone and as I turned back he was gone. But I, clearly, felt his presence.
With a new found power I could sense everything around me. My senses were fine tuned and I could sense the Jedi approaching, the students alarmed asking the Masters in the training room what was this disturbance they were feeling. And then I heard a familiar voice echoing in my mind.
I closed my eyes to concentrate on it… It was Master Yoda, talking to someone… Skywalker… and his words were… of death!
“Eliminate this threat we must. Kill the youngling we must…”
I opened my eyes in sheer terror. I ran… I sought the guidance of my benefactor.
“Yoda wants me dead, that’s impossible…” I said out loud, “Jedi are not murderers…”
Little did I knew, then, that this illusion was so easily created with the power of the Dark Side. Still, it felt very real to me. The man took advantage of my innocence, though.
“They know of your potential. Jedi are weak, they choose to eliminate rather than confront, since they know they will never stand a chance”. He lied, but I wasn’t aware. He was all I believed to have between life and death. “You must continue to run, I will train you in your exile. You will become powerful in the Force, I have foreseen it.”
I was still digesting all the man was saying, while running down the corridors of the Temple.
The break time was still effective, so most of the Temple’s residents were resting or studying. I found no one in my escape, I believe now that my new Master had something to do with this.
I reached the deepest area in the Temple. I had spent many times hiding from the Masters there. Being a Padawan deprived us from the childhood plays of all infants. But we always managed to find a way to avoid their watchful eyes and played in the lower levels, close to the sewers, where we found a series of tunnels that were apparently used in the past to enter and leave the Temple without being seen. Other times, perhaps other missions, other fates. But these tunnels sufficed for my own survival. The only evidence of my presence would be my Padawan robes that I decided to leave there, by the tunnel’s entrance.
I was a Jedi no more…
Far from it…
The last image I have of the Jedi Temple in Coruscant, as it was known during the days of the Republic, was a brief glimpse while I turned back, emerging from a concealed exit, about two blocks away from the gigantic complex.
It was the last time I saw it in all its glory. I could hear the alarm sirens. There was trouble in the Temple.
I could see several ships approaching the Temple. Clone Troopers. Apparentlym, the 501st Legion.
All that to hunt me? Hardly. There was something else. I now know what it was. But then, I just felt I barely escaped certain death.
Since I hadn’t the time to stay and investigate, I let go of the last pieces of cloth of the Jedi vests and kept nothing more than my undergarments.
Adrenaline was still fresh enough, so I never felt the coldness of Coruscant’s dark streets.
And I disappeared within the crowd… until one day the Dark Times would summon me…
That day was closer than I had imagined.

- End of Recording -

Addendum - These dark corridors and tunnels underneath the ruins of the Jedi Temple in Coruscant were actually found during recent excavations. The records indicate that during the Mandalorian Wars they were actually built by the Jedi Masters as a plan to escape in case of Invasion. It is not known if they were ever used. Some tunnels extend themselves more than 12 kilometres. One of such tunnels ends where there was once a small alley, about two blocks away from the temple and it fits the above description.
There are no reports of Master Yoda being in Coruscant during the period described by the author that apparently culminated with the invasion of the 501st Legion and the slaughter of the resident Jedi.
There are no reports of any issued order to eliminate any Padawan. There is also no report of any running Padawan that may have perpetrated any murder within the Temple premises. Please, bear in mind, though, that much information was lost during the rule of Emperor Palpatine.
The two Jedi names described above are both reported to have been killed during the attempt to overthrow the Emperor. However, this report has been released after the execution of the so called Great Purge, in a clear attempt to hide the true objectives of Order 66 from the Senate.
I will personally oversee the further investigation of this event. - Jedi Historian, Tionne Solusar.

The haunted past

2008-01-02T22:14:00.000Z

Author's Title : “The haunted past" Part I

Author: Stonezinha AKA Turista Espacial

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Kashyyyk. The last time I was here was to visit my friend Chewbacca.

Now, with my Master, I was looking for a smuggler. We didn’t know who he was, but we had been tracking him for a few standard days. The last hint we got indicated that he was coming here. We found a trail that lead us to some ruins, maybe were he hid the cargo he stole.

Jedi usually don’t chase smugglers, but this one gave a lot of work to the Galactic Alliance.

I followed my Master a few steps behind at his side, always watching for his next move. We got to this big wall close to the ruins, but there was no sign of the smuggler.

- Jane, a test!

- Yes Master!! – The excitement built. I was always waiting for tests.

- Look inside, use the Force. Open your mind and find him.

I looked to the wall in front of us, I let the Force flow inside me. I searched through the other side of the wall. A path, a way in, a hallway and doors. I searched for the presence of the smuggler and there he was, just behind a door.

- I know where he is, Master!

- So, take me to him.

My Master gave me the sign to go in front, to lead the way. We jumped through the wall and I showed the way in, and when Master Hobir Thelm agreed, we followed the path I saw in my vision. Close to the door were the smuggler was hidden, we halted.

- He’s right on the other side. – I was whispering to Master Thelm.

He gave me the sign of silence and leaned his back to the wall. I knew exactly what he was going to do. A Force Shock, a tricky technique for a Padawan like me, but that my Master was an expert. I looked for cover and as soon as I felt the impulse I turn my saber, the smuggler was stunned but he was holding his blaster and shooting everywhere. We diverted the blasts with our sabers and trapped him against the wall. He was still shooting and master Thelm began forcing him to withdraw.

- If you surrender now the Galactic Alliance may be merciful with your punishment.

- I don’t need your mercifulness. I will never surrender.

- Your ammunition will run out and we will still be here. You have no choice.

The smuggler collapsed the external wall using is blaster.

- Master, I think we may have to run again!

- Maybe is time for you to show me all you have learned. Use the Force, Padawan.

I smiled, I knew it was my chance to make him proud of me. I used a Force Push and I threw the smuggler against a pile of rocks, my Master ran controlling the rest of the situation.

That was the moment I felt a pain in my back and all turned to darkness.

I don’t remember for how long I was in the dark. I was trying to find my Master in the Force, but all I could feel was the presence of my captor.

It was not the smuggler, it was someone else, colder. In all the time he kept me prisoner he never said a word. Not knowing what he wanted from me, there was never a right answer that I could produce. Electric shocks seemed to be his favorite way of torture.

I was trying to move my legs when I heard him coming back. All that time, his eyes were the only thing I saw. They were dark as a black pearl. But something was different. He took me into a different chamber, somewhere below where I used to be. That was when I heard is voice for the first time.

- Jane Bry, you are free to go, whenever you want. One of these tunnels will take you to the exit. The others… well, there is death. You know the way, you just need to remember. You were here before.

- I was never here, how can I remember?

- There are things from your past that you don’t remember, but I do. Use the Force, they are in your head, hidden, you just need to find them. I must leave now, but we will meet again.

A few moments after he left I heard an explosion, and all became dark again, except for a dim light from a glow rod. I still could move my legs, so I concentrated in a deep meditation sleep.

I don’t know for how long I remained in that darkness, the glow rod had extinguished long ago when I started to feel the Force coming back to me. There was something different, someone was out there. Not my captor, though…

I recognized the voice of Master Skywalker in the other side of the wall, I could hear the lightsaber cutting through the stones and once more my heart was filled with hope. I tried to stand up but there was so much pain in my legs that I kept falling like a defeated rancor. Finally I could see some light, but it was hurting my eyes. I closed them and waited.

I could hear the stones falling. I could hear the voices of my friends, my Jedi friends. I waited.

-Jane? Do you hear me? – Master Skywalker took me in his arms

-Master Skywalker, my eyes hurt!

-Just keep them close, we’ll be home soon.

- Where is Master Thelm? I tried to reach him, but I couldn’t.

- I’m sorry Jane, your Master is one with the Force.

That moment, I felt a pain in my body, like razors against me, inside me. Master Skywalker dropped me. He stared as if I scared him. It was the last thing I saw before blacking out again.

“I think I’m inside a spaceship, its dark, only the emergency lights are on. I hear noise coming from above. I’m scared, I don’t understand what is happening. I walk into the upper level, following the sounds, sounds of fight. When I get there I see the glow of red Lightsaber blades moving fast, so fast that just look like a big red ball. I hide behind a cabinet, I´m crying, I’m scared, and I don’t know what to do. I want to run away but I don’t know the way out. One of the blades hits the cabinet and I scream revealing my presence. A woman holds me by my arm throwing me into a far corner. I feel pain, but I feel something else to. Anger, mixed with fear of death, fear of losing my parents. Suddenly I see a light, everything disappears, the fear, the hate, comfort and peace filling my heart.”

I opened my eyes and I saw Allina Secura, she looked concern.

- It’s ok Jane, it was just a dream.

I looked around and I realised that I was in the medical centre, in the Jedi Temple. I heard the medical droid saying something to Allina. They were going to put me back to sleep.

- Allina, what happened? To me, back on Kashyyyk?

- Don’t you remember?

- I remember some things, but not all. I remember the pain, and a man.

- He left you to die, we got there just in time.

- I couldn’t find Master Thelm, he wasn’t there.

- You need to rest, don’t worry, you are safe now.

“I feel heavy, angry and scared. The man and the woman look scared as well, they are trying to comfort me with words, telling me to calm down, that everything is just a joke, a game. But I’m already out of control, I need to unleash whatever is inside me. I can see everything, I can feel everything, the machines, the life. The control panel in the spaceship explodes behind me and a strange wind passes through me. The man and the woman are pushed back to the end of the room, against the wall, imprisoned by the strength of the wind. Everything shakes around me and I don’t feel the weight in me anymore, I feel free, but then I feel a pain in my arm and when I look up I see a light so bright that it almost blinds me.”

Allina was on my side when I woke up, she was holding my arm. I was already in my room, and, even with my body cured I was still dreaming with terror.

The scientists from the Temple believed that the virus that was implanted in me, didn’t had the purpose off killing, but to release long lost memories.

Allina believed that my captor must have had a reason to do it and we were trying to release those memories, but we had a problem. Every time we tried to do it, the room ended up destroyed, even with Allina’s Force Shield, and we still had to go against the orders of Master Luke Skywalker.

I was looking though the window while Allina was resting, I was tired of trying to unravel my past with my dreams. I could only think about a way of resolving these from another perspective.

- I need to go to Kashyyyk!

- No! You can’t go back, you are not strong enough!

- Allina, it’s the only way. There must be something there that will tell me what all of this means.

- I will go with you!

- I can’t ask you that!

- So, don’t ask. I will go anyway.

- You just became a Knight, you can lose all that!

- Padawan… Knight… It’s just titles. I can’t let my best friend, my sister, go alone.

It had been fifteen years since Chewbacca found me all alone in this same forest. He gave me food and shelter, and took me to Luke Skywalker that taught me the Jedi way, the only life I ever remember. I counted that day as my first memory.

As I return from my thoughts, I saw Allina climbing a small cliff. She was a female Twi'lek, some say that she had a family member that was once a Jedi Knight, from the times of the Clone Wars, but if it was true, she never said anything.

I followed her in to the entrance of a cave.

- I think we can use it to spend the night. – Said Allina looking out.

- Yes! I don’t think the rain is going to stop before the morning.

As we made room inside the cave, I started sensing something cold, not from the outside, but from the inside, and not wind, just... something wrong. As I looked around, my eyes began adjusting to darkness, I saw a discreet red glow deep in the cave. Allina was distracted preparing the fire and I went closer to find what that red glow was, but I felt dizzy, cold and confused. The feelings I had during the dreams, of rage and fear, were coming to the surface, as if I couldn’t control them anymore. Allina felt it too. She was beside me looking to the red glow.

- It’s just crystals, I think they use them to make lightsabers for the dark side, leave them alone. They’re not bred by the Force so they can’t arm us. Let’s get something to eat.

- But, why are they here? – I had no response and I didn’t force one from her.

I couldn’t sleep, that red glow was in my mind every time I closed my eyes. I kept my thoughts clear, like a meditation sleep, but not as deep.

The morning was warmer, it had stopped raining, but the ground was still muddy. All the clues that we could have follow were gone. We found a path, though, and followed it. It led us in to a clearing.

- Something was here, a ship, I can’t say what type, but there was definitely one here.

- We didn’t land here! So, there was probably the one we are looking for.

- We should go into the ruins were we found you. I’m hoping that you will feel something there that will reveal to us his identity.

- Master Thelm and I went in that direction. There must be something there that will tell us more.

I walked beside Allina but I kept myself a few steps back, just like I did with my Master, wondering about what we found in that cave and why Allina brought the crystals and kept it from me. Yes, I knew. I wonder if she thought she could conceal the appeal those red crystals had on me. Maybe she didn’t trust me. Maybe she felt that I was weak.

The signs of struggle between Master Thelm and the Dark Lord were starting to show up. I looked through Force to try to understand what happened, but I could only sense feelings.

I sensed Master Thelm and his decision to protect me from that man. The man was enraged, still he feared for my life, but was determined to destroy Master Thelm, just to have me. But something took me out of my vision.

Allina was looking at me with a “do-you-feel-that?” face.

-Yes, I feel that too.

We turned on our lightsabers and kept our backs in to each other. We were walking in circles for a few minutes.

- It’s moving too fast, it’s everywhere.

She sent me her thoughts through the Force and I followed her lead. We jumped in to the tree tops out front, covering more ground. I stood in my place for a second when I heard sounds of a saber fight in Allina’s tree. I could only see the glows of the saber, one red and the other green. The leafs caught fire, cutting my passage. I was moving along the tree branches preparing for a Force Jump when I heard a deaf sound of something hitting the ground. I looked and saw Allina’s unconscious body. He was just beside her.

- Your friend is still alive, I just want to talk to you. Please, turn your saber off.

- Why should I?

- You already know who I am. I will not hurt you.

- You already did, don’t you remember?

- It was necessary, let me show you…

- No, let me show you who I am!

I raised my saber in to an attack position and moved forward.

- You can’t bring me down!

- I will die trying.

- I’m not going to kill you, Jane, you are my daughter and I love you.

- If you love me, why did you leave me all alone in the middle of the forest? Why did you keep me your prisoner and tortured me for days?

- That is the way of the Dark Side, I want to show you how powerful it his. I needed to make you remember, but your Jedi friends came too soon.

I jumped closer to him, but he didn’t move. He kept his lightsaber turned off, even with mine almost touching is face.

- I’m not your daughter anymore, I’m a Jedi.

- You are just a Padawan, you can’t fight me. Join me, be at my side, as your mother once was.

I lowered my eyes and took a step back.

- My mother?

- You don’t remember her, do you? She was as beautiful as you. She stole my heart as you did the first time I saw you.

- No, you are a liar! You killed her!

- No, I did not! You have to remember, Jane!

He took a step back and looked behind his shoulders. I too stepped back and turned off my saber and let myself fall in an old tree branch, thinking of everything he said, “What couldn’t I remember?” He approached me.

- He’s here. Please Jane, come with me.

He was reaching his hand to me but the doubt was too big.

He could answer all my questions about myself. Who I was, where I came from, my family, who was I to become?

- Jane, I have to go, I don’t have more time, please!

- I can’t go with you, not now, you have to understand.

- Alright! We will meet again, in time you will remember and you will come to me.

My father vanished in the shadows of the forest. I could now hear the voices of the Jedi Masters coming closer. I stood up and remove the crystals from Allina’s bag and bury them. I sat beside her and waited.

Sombras de uma batalha

2007-11-30T00:34:00.000Z

Titulo do Autor : “Sombras de uma batalha"

Autor: Stonezinha AKA Turista Espacial

Origem: Portugal

Linguagem: Português

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A iluminação oscila, e neste jogo de luz e escuridão as sombras tornam-se tanto aliadas como inimigas. Há demasiados obstáculos no caminho, que são agora aproveitados para abrigo. No escuro do seu improvisado esconderijo, Jayna Ran relembra os seus passos, onde errou, os pontos fracos do seu inimigo e o que poderá usar vencer. Dorida e impaciente pelo final, levanta-se. O seu único objectivo, encontrar o seu inimigo. Nunca antes o tinha visto, mas no momento em que os seus olhares se cruzaram soube que estavam destinados a morrer juntos. Jayna questiona-se se o seu inimigo sentiu o mesmo, se viu a mesma imagem, se a terá entendido.

A violência do duelo deixou-a exausta, só com a Força ela consegue manter-se de pé. O seu adversário, escondido, procura o mesmo momento, descanso, recuperação. O duelo foi mais violento do que ambos esperavam. O sangue corre acelerado pelas veias e o sabre torna-se pesado nas mãos ensanguentadas. O suor entranha-se nas feridas, mistura-se com o sangue, e o desconforto tolda a concentração. A visão falha e o corpo dói. Ela pensa no código que rege a sua vida e di-lo em voz alta, o seu adversário faz o mesmo, numa última batalha de palavras, tentam desmoralizar-se.

O barulho das turbinas irrompe o silêncio e numa última oportunidade ambos se procuram e se escondem. Ambos sabem que há apenas uma saída, nenhuma aceitável para ambos. Perdidos e confusos afastam-se. Sem fugas e sem mortes. Uma luta sem vencedores.

Resta as cicatrizes e a dor, e nas lembranças, a esperança. Um novo dia, um novo encontro, uma nova batalha.

Needn't Compassion

2007-11-12T16:44:00.000Z

Author's Title : “Imperial Tales - Needn't Compassion"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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It was dark and cold in the Imperial Center.
Much like the other nights, anyway. The planet was deprived of warmth a long time ago, when all natural life was replaced by the duracrete and durasteel buildings.
But there was another type of warmth that was also lacking the synthetic streets of this planet, once known as Coruscant, the Warmth of its inhabitants.
The Stormtroopers approached the cloaked figure. Apparently, a middle-aged human crouched on the floor covered with rags in an unequal attempt to fight the cold.
The Imperial couldn’t feel any sort of feeling for the man. “Compassion” was not in the Imperial Procedure Manuals, nor did they learn any kind of humanity in the Academy.
“Stand up, you scum, move!” One of the Stormtroopers kicked the man who responded with a grunt of pain. Another moved his rags away exposing the poorly covered man to the implacable cold.
The man, confused and cold, was crying out some words in a rudimentary Basic “No! No harm, I go!” as he stood up, shaking. That seemed to cause even a greater dose of repugnancy in the Imperial officers. That, or the incredible bad odor the man emanated.
“Go on, stinker! Get to the lower cities, move!”
The upper cities were VIP areas. Much like other planets, the rejected were expelled to the lower levels where not just the sun never reached, pretty much everything else didn’t…
TK332, was one of the Stormtroopers. He disliked city patrols, but it came with the job. Besides it was a lot easier to ticket speeders or arrest “death-stick” smugglers, than fighting rebels. Still, mistreating unfortunates was not a pleasant sight. He decided just that when TK6322 started to hit the man with the back of his blaster. “That enough 22…” The other glanced at the Commander with and stopped hitting the man. TK332 could swear he saw a face of disbelief if it wasn’t for the Stormtrooper’s helmet in 22’s face. He faced the homeless, “move along to the next elevator, sir, loitering is forbidden!” He added.
The man raised with a shout of pain and walked slowly, not just hurt from the stormtroopers hits, but perhaps for the hard times he had been through. There were blood stains all over.
For some reason, TK332 decided to do something. Something made him feel he should help the man… He never bought that story about some “Force”, but still, he felt the urge to make a difference. Besides, he didn’t like to see anyone suffer.
He pointed two officers of his squad “You two! Take this man to the next civilian hospital, then take him to the elevator, make sure he goes down!” The others couldn’t believe the order. “That’s an order, Soldiers!” He shouted.
It took a few seconds when they finally complied and took the man’s arms, fighting the smell not even their masks could filter.
They turned the corner taking the man by his shoulders. There should be a civilian hospital close. It was enough to heal the man and send him down to his certain fate. At least with some more strength to fight the lower cities of Coruscant.
Eventually, just delaying death… better than dying of his wounds…
TK6322 walked back to the commander and chose his words carefully, “Commander, we have specific orders to throw out the trash…” the commander shook his head, it was now his turn to experience disbelief hearing such words.
“I wonder if you were that zealous if you knew one of these people?” The commander faced him.
“Did you know this man?” 22 asked.
“Does it make a difference?” the Commander replied.
“They don’t teach us to have feelings, besides, some of these scumbags carry bombs…”
The Commander couldn’t help but grin at the officer’s arrogance. If humanity would depend on TK6322, then it was pointless. “You’re right, but you can still do your job without the insulting and the pushing. You’ll never gain their respect like that.”
“I don’t think they would respect us, anyway, if we kissed them.” There was sarcasm and arrogance, that only resulted in a tip of insubordination, TK332 couldn’t allow.
“You can kiss my report on your tone, after we get back to the barracks…” The Commander couldn’t help but smile. 22 was a good soldier, often too cocky, but a good man… most of the times.
“I can report you almost embraced that guy and cried. I could almost see the idea of giving him your cloak, building in your opticals…” The other soldiers laughed. 22 was speaking louder now. TK332 couldn’t help but maintain his stiffness.
“Shut it soldier! I mean it! Look at my rank and zip it!” He pointed a finger to his Commander Shoulder Patch, making it loud enough to sound menacing.
The others became quiet. Fun was over.
“Sorry, sir! I just thought we should make an example of these guys to tighten security in the cities, we can never know when the rebels can strike!” He had a point.
“You are right! But let’s not make everyone a suspect and let’s deal with them with rigor but not brutality. This is the Empire! Treating them like garbage will only create more reasons to strike us…” He looked at the others “You’re law and order… not just strength…”
Those words were interrupted with a large explosion from around the corner.
The Stormtroopers ran to the origin of the blast, holding their weapons and taking point by the corner of the street.
Their training kicked in as they moved forth instinctively to clear the street. The smell of the explosives was filling the air. The radios gained life with calls from other squads who were alerted by the explosion.
“This is TK332, we’re at the location!” the Commander said, “It appears this was an explosion caused by the detonation of a small device, by the smell I would say thermal-detonator. I count three wounded, request medevac… “He stopped for a second to ascertain the whole scenario.
He walked carefully to the remains of a speeder, still on fire. “There are some more bodies…” He then stopped to interpret what he was seeing. There were several bodies on the floor by the door of what appeared to be a dignitary’s speeder, perhaps a senator. All bodies were Imperial Black… “Men down!” The commander shouted “We got imperials down, repeat, Imperials down! Looks like a terrorist attack!”
Other squads arrived at the location and established a perimeter.
The situation was the worst possible, there was a terrorist attack on the sector under TK332’s supervision… and there were high dignitaries wounded or killed. This would be long briefing.
The Commander looked down as exalted voices alerted him. At the end of the block, Stormtroopers were blocking a group of men in civilian white with a red cross. Medics. They were screaming to get through the Stormtroopers who were holding their blasters against their chests.
“What seems to be the problem, officer” The Commander shouted from his position to the nearest trooper.
“I am a medic, it’s my duty to help those men…” One of the doctors said, not allowing the Imperial to reply.
How suspiciously convenient, doctors arriving so soon… But then he remembered… The Hospital… His Stormtroopers were taking that homeless there. It was close… it was… around the corner. He suddenly felt a cold wave travel down his spine… Where were they?
“Let them pass!” He ordered the other Stormtroopers. He walked alongside in high pace of the medics and asked “Did you see my men bringing a wounded homeless?”
The doctors looked at him, not knowing if they were surprised with the idea of a Stormtrooper talking to them under these circumstances or for the question itself.
“Of course not! There’s still to come the day when a Stormie brings a homeless to my hospital, what kind of a question is that? If you’ll excuse me, I got a job to do.”
There was another cold feeling. Something was very wrong… “I got a bad feeling about this…”
He connected to his squad frequency, “TK5454, TK2345, report!” There was silence ““TK5454, TK2345, were are you?” More silence “Squad, does anyone have a visual on them?” There was a choir of “negatives”.
Soon, a Tyderium Shuttle arrived with Marines and a medical evacuation crew.
They gathered information on the victims, two Imperial Guards were dead and one Commander and a Senator were wounded, the latter considered critical.
“A political strike! No doubt!” The commander thought. He took some time looking at the medics doing their work, and then picked up the comm again to call his men “TK5454, TK2345, report!”
There was still no reply. He became worried, but perhaps the signal was jammed by all the interference caused by so many units in the area.
“Cap…” TK6322 reported, “I think you should see this…”
The Commander shivered from the officer’s voice. It was soft… and sad…
He pinpointed the communication position using his inbuilt locator and ran to the location.
He met TK6322 and two other squad members by the entrance of an alley. 22 was knelt beside a white volume, the Commander’s visual filters took some time to adapt to the darkness. The 2 seconds it took for the light gain filters to activate, seemed to last forever.
He took his helmet off and was shocked to see the two stormtroopers he had ordered lying on the floor with blaster marks.
He shook his head… “Are they…” he began…
“Dead, Sir!” 22 said. He looked up to the Commander… “That homeless, sir, he…”
A blaster shot hit 22 in his back. The shot came from the shadows in the alley.
22 fell on his stomach while the squad opened fire in total surprise.
The Commander reached down to see 22 still alive, but breathing heavily. “MAN DOWN!” he shouted, he had forgot he didn’t have his helmet on.
The squad was blindly opening fire at the shadows…
TK332 helped the fallen man take his mask off. He regretted pulling rank on him earlier. Such feelings of regret emerged with wrong timing… still he couldn’t help it…
“MEDIC!” he shouted beyond the loud blaster fire.
“Kark! I knew that guy was dirty…" 22 spoke faintly, "well… even more than he looked… or smelled...” He smiled for his last joke…
Suddenly the Commander felt 22’s body relax in his arms… becoming peaceful between all that chaos… he took two fingers to 22’s throat… no pulse…
He looked at 22’s face for the first time since they met… always wearing those standard helmets made the Imperial Stormtroopers faceless… For the first time, 22 had a face… and he was no more than 25 standard years old.
TK332 felt rage…
He rose looking down at his three Stormtroopers’ bodies. Down, by misjudgement... by his stupid compassion... He needed to correct this... even if the men were gone...
“Cap, take cover!” One of the other Stormtroopers shouted.
But the Commander wasn’t listening. TK322 slowly picked up is E-11 blaster and walked slowly into the shadows. Blaster fire surrounded him, ricocheting the walls of the alley. TK332 wasn’t even paying attention to the inherent danger. He felt calm and aimed at his objective.
To anyone, it would be blind shot into the shadows.
To Commander TK322 it was clear, a shape was distinct in the shadows. The man in the shadows crouched for cover… the homeless he had spared. A rebel… in disguise.
He felt the urge to press the trigger. But he continued to walk instead.
The rebel couldn’t believe his sight. A unmasked stormtrooper moving his way in the line of sight, not covering. He aimed… but couldn’t fire. For some reason he felt fear… cold…
He began to shout in his panic, "Step back Imperial, Palpatine will never..."
The Commander picked the man out of his feet, by his throat. Tightening his hand, clenched teeth.
The man was couldn’t breathe, much less talk or scream.
When the rebel finally dropped his blaster, it was over.
“Rebel scum…” The Commander murmured.
The other Stormtroopers approached rapidly, blasters aimed. They were too confused to talk, instead the closest trooper placed his hand on the Commander’s shoulder.
“Cap… it’s alright! We got him… let’s take him in… “
“No soldier… Next thing you know, we’ll be blasted too…”
There was a blaster shot… The rebel’s lifeless body dropped to the floor.
The Commander walked back not looking behind him to the other troopers. He issued another order, “Clear this mess”, he calmly said.
He placed his helmet on and left the alley when a full squad of Marines arrived to secure the alley… “You’re too late, we already got the perpetrator…”
“Who was he?” A marine asked.
“Just another piece of rebel trash… and we took care of it…”
Commander TK332 never experienced compassion anymore… from that day on, war had another meaning… even in the cold streets of the Imperial Center.
Warmth was now truly gone in Coruscant...

Executing Order 66

2007-10-30T13:43:00.000Z

Publicámos no recém criado site World of Star Wars na Yahoo! uma Fan Fiction Short Story da autoria de En Ghedi. Tratando-se de uma contribuição para aquele site e respectivos Message Boards, convidamos a todos a visitá-lo para a ler.

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In the newly created site World of Star Wars at Yahoo! we published a new Fan Fiction Short Story from the Author En Ghedi. Being our own contribution to this site and its respective Message Boards, we invite you to visit and read it there.

"Executing Order 66!" Direct Link

The Precipice

2007-10-17T18:04:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : “The Precipice"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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“Master, please…” Padawan Jayna Ran begged while her hand slowly slipped from the lack of grip… The large stone that was keeping her from falling to the precipice was now sliding with the weight of the young woman. “Master…” She begged again.
Above her, in higher ground, her Master Sly Roanur, stared with sheer boredom. He looked at her as if nothing was happening and knelt before her blood-red hands, carving the ground for grip. “Are you begging, my apprentice?” He asked in a calm voice, clearly in contrast with the whole situation. He wasn't making fun. He was just too tired to care.
Jayna couldn’t help but scream in pain as her muscles were giving up and se literally fought for her life. This was no longer a test. The sore arms were now the only anchors of her life. Her bloody fingers couldn’t sustain so much pain… not much further. “Master, help me…”
“You do not require my help to be rescued” He calmly said, “You have a choice to make now… either quit or use the Force to climb up to safe ground”.
She continued to grasp any piece of firm ground she could. For a second, she looked down to the precipice and saw the ground so many kilometers down. Death.
Jayna tried to concentrate in reaching the Force. But the pain was too intense. She cried out once more “Master, I beg you, help me…”
“Don’t let fear cloud your thoughts!” Roanur’s voice became serious and no longer calm. There was a trace of frustration, “I sense much fear in you, Padawan!” He rose to his feet and walked away.
Jayna couldn’t believe it. He was a Master Jedi...
She felt something grow in her. At first, she was just incredulous then her thoughts turned to the sense of uselessness of the Jedi teachings towards the present scenario. But then she felt cold and humiliated...
She felt her hands loosing the last remnants of grip and the large stone was now clearly sliding down. Jayna believed these were her last moments. She filled her lungs with hate, as she gained speed towards the precipice.
Master Roanur, never looked back. He needn’t. He felt everything with the Force.
He let go a sigh, as if understanding the inevitable.
But then, he felt the Force twitch and stir.
Looking behind, he saw Jayna rising above the edge of the precipice, using the Force to levitate and land a few meters from him.
Roanur finally walked back to her and saw her kneeling, clearly regaining strength.
“You finally understood the power of the Force and how you need no one or nothing else” The Master smiled, “You are becoming strong with the Force, my Padawan…” He place his hand on her dusty shoulder.
Jayna was standing very still and breathing heavily. Roanur was trying to see through her feelings, but the Force was making him confused. He had trouble understanding what she felt. Still he trusted his own teachings. “You will become very powerful with the Force. You just needed to fully understand it and see that you mustn’t depend so much on others to support you.”
Jayna finally spoke “You are right, Master! I did feel the Force from a different perspective…”
She suddenly stretched her hand and using the Force, Roanur’s lightsaber swiftly travelled from his belt to her hand and, as quickly, ignited in Roanur’s lower torso. He screamed in both pain and the sudden surge of Dark Side that surrounded him.
“You were also right in the notion that I needn’t you…”
Roanur grasped her throat in a desperate attempt to kill her.
Even with the Force, she was still weak and needed to act fast. She reached the Force once more as the Master’s strength halted the blood to her brain. His eyes transmitted the intense pain he felt.
When Jayna finally focused, she opened her eyes and couldn’t help but grin at the idea she felt the power of the Dark Side. She controlled her movements to a steady Force driven movement with the Lightsaber, in an upwards direction, cutting her Master’s hands. So intense was the blow, that her Master fell painfully on his back.
“Jayna… don’t give in to the Dark Side…“ He spat blood from his mouth and rose to his knees fighting the pain from his wounded abdomen.
“There was but one thing I don’t know if you were right… that I would become powerful with the Force…” She made a smooth but decisive movement to thrust the saber with both hands. It stopped when it was carved into her Master’s chest, killing him.
“That you won’t be able to see…” She added in a low tone, as the Master’s eyes rolled to the final rest.
When the adrenaline faded away, so did the Force. She felt the pain of her bloody hands and fingers return. Her neck was also sore, but the pain she felt from it came from the heart, as she remembered her Master’s dying face.
She switched the lightsaber off and looked down at the dead body. Closing her eyes, she used the Force one last time do throw the body down the precipice.
Her grave was now his.
She felt the urge to jump too. But she decided to live another day.
Jayna would see if her Master was truly right… And the Force would be strong with her.

Death!

2007-10-08T14:32:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : “The Fall of the Jedi - Chapter III - Death!"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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The planet was uncharted and I could hardly define what kind of life it sustained. I looked away into its deep forests and all I could sense was an amalgam of life and the strong influence of the living Force.
I was sitting in the shadow created by the Sith Cruiser and admiring the virgin horizon and guessed few men ever stepped those grounds. But the Force told me some did.
Beside me was a bulge in the terrain created by the remains of my old Master. His lightsaber was marking the spot as if someone would ever seek for him. Not him… not here…
The Force was strong in this planet. And I fed from it. My Master told me about this planet as being as powerful as Korriban or Malachor V back in the old days when the Dark Side wasn’t so strangled by the Jedi everlasting pretentious desire to eradicate it from those planets.
Here the Dark Side was almost palpable and I could almost grab it in the air. It surrounded every living being as if the Force itself generated that life.
Then I felt something more. A presence. The Force was bending and twisting around it.
I stood up and walked towards what appeared to be the source of such disturbance. I was feeling sick and nauseous of the strong influence of the Force. I never felt it so strong. Not even at the tombs of the fallen Sith Lords… not even with my Master’s dark influence.
This was raw… pure…
The dense forest suddenly vanished as I erupted in an enormous clearing. The grassy plain was filled with wild unknown beasts. But as they saw me, or felt me, ran in a stampede and raised a cloud of thick dust that shrouded my sight. But I needn’t eyesight. The Force twirled around me. I was close.
As the beasts all escaped to the forest, silence took over.
The dust was slowly settling and I could distinguish a silhouette in the middle of the clearing. I remembered Korriban and I recalled my Master approaching with his intention to humiliate me.
But this figure didn’t move. Reaching the Force, there was a great shroud covering the person. I couldn’t figure who he was. The sickening became almost unbearable.
I walked down and felt the Dark Side increasing in strength and I approached the cloaked figure. If the Force was palpable when I landed, it was now solid rock.
The crouched person now stood up facing me. The dust didn’t allow me to see his face but I could sense he was a Sith Lord.
I hoped I didn’t have to break the silence, for I was speechless before such demonstration of power. But I never hesitated to walk down to meet him. I need to know who he was.
The figure then finally removed his cloak as I was only some meters away. The man was wearing an armor much like those I recalled watching in the Jedi Archives related to the Sith Empire. I trembled with such idea that I could be looking at someone from that age. But I shrugged that thought recalling it had been thousands of years since those times. Perhaps it was just someone with an exquisite taste for wardrobe.
Whoever he was, though, the Force was agonizingly strong with him.
I stopped at the distance of saber blow.
The man stood still. He was middle aged, human and his face transmitted a strange peace in much contrast to the apparent chaos of the Force surrounding him.
He finally spoke, much to my relief. His voice was surprisingly calm and inspiring me to react.
-You came alone…
-Yes… – I answered as if I knew the meaning of his observation.
He stepped forward and placed his hand on my shoulder. The Force made me shiver and I felt the coldness of the Dark Side taking over. Once again I was surprised how calm his gesture was. But the sickness worsened and I felt nausea taking shape of dizziness.
-It is the Dark Side in its full potential you are feeling. The nausea is due to the fact that no human is capable of enduring it without self-sacrifice. It can make you powerful. But I can also exhaust you. But you know much about exhaustion, don’t you? And how much once can regain strength from the least probable sources…
- Hate… - I whispered. He knew about Korriban.
-Yes, hate. You killed my friend with that much hate.
I was shocked and thought about the words I just heard. “Friend”. If my master was his friend, than certainly he didn’t enjoy my murder. I expected his vengeance, much like my Master once taught me about the vengeance meaning among the brothers of the Sith. Yet I expected nothing. If he wanted to execute vengeance he could have accomplished with a mere whisper of the amount of Force he was controlling and wouldn’t need to lure me here. With that much power he could even have done it while I was in orbit.
-I felt it was the time. There was little more I could have learned from him.
-Yes. The way of thinking of a true Sith.
I felt the urge to ask him who he was, but instead I was speechless with the amount of power I was experiencing. Words were hard to fabric. As if he read my mind, he spoke.
-It’s not really important for you to know who I am. But you will know what I represent.
He removed his hand from my shoulder and I felt a mix of relief and craving for that much power again. When he crouched I did so too, without any instruction from him. He continued.
-I come from a time when Sith were not just warriors or priests of some sort of tradition. The Sith were masters of the Force itself. Owners of its secrets. Controllers of its purpose. They reached a stage that the single thought could mean death or life to many. They also conquered the Force in a way that they could preserve themselves from physical death and endure in the Force.
-They were immortal?
-No! They couldn’t cheat corruption. But they managed to remain alive in different ways… as I did…
I felt the urge to interrupt him and placed the millions of questions I had in my mind. But he continued and amazingly answered them all.
-Your master was one of such men. He was my friend, my ally, my brother. I mourn his death, but I knew it would come to this when he told me he had an apprentice taken from the Jedi. It takes much power to lure a Jedi from the Light. Invariably he’s conquered through hatred. Eventually turned back to the one who caused his hate. He knew this. As I knew, too.
-Why would he bring me here to meet you?
He raised his hand to the air, and I felt the awkwardness of such gesture. It was as if I was waving to the sunny skies. But when I tried to interpret it I understood the meaning of his gesture.
The trees around us started to bend and grew impressively fast, until they covered the whole clearing.
-This is not sorcery. This is the Force in action. The planet was not supposed to exist. It was the will of the Force and a few men, who discovered the Force could be used to many deeper purposes, like the power to destroy a life… or to manipulate it…
-Manipulate life? – I was puzzled with such idea, beyond the ideas I had built in my mind, the Force being used to control life itself was an incredible idea.
-Is it so unbelievable that the same power you can use to kill can also be used to preserve life?
-I know how it can kill but…
-Life can be preserved within the Force. – He interrupted me – I was preserved with such teachings. You can be too. That’s why your master brought you here.
The question I now had in my mind was somehow stronger than my respect for the man before me, and I couldn’t hold it much longer.
-I need to know who my master was and who you are.
-You could have asked him whenever you wanted. I am sure he would tell you. But you were too concentrated in killing him.
-I want to know!
He faced me and his face no longer inspired peace but a fearful menace. Still his rage was bur a faint whisper. And when he looked away from me he started to speak.
-I am ageless. I cheated time and the matter. I am one with the Force. I am the Sith.
That was as vague as anything else my Master told me about this planet we were going to. I felt the coldness of hate return to me. I needed answers. But before I could persist, he continued.
-I come from the lineage of Sith Lords, greater than any of the traditions you could ever read in any scroll the Jedi could supply you or any holocron they allowed you to browse. I am a Dark Lord of the Sith from the period that title would inspire fear just to pronounce it… I am Lord Cauro.
The name echoed in my mind. Little was known about Cauro, except he had been a Sith Lord dated well back the Sith Empire. Thus he would be more than 6000 years old. It felt like a sick lie, but the Force told him otherwise. So I asked the obvious question.
-You managed to cheat death?
-I was one of those you took the teachings of the elders to the best possible accomplishment.
-So did my Master…
-And he wanted you to master this power too.
-I am ready to learn it.
-Yes… I would appear so. But you see… you need more than readiness to take this teaching. You need to earn it.
I felt a chill as the first time this Sith Lord spoke to me without the previous calmness he once had. I looked deeply into his eyes. Once again I expected all… and nothing.
-I don’t deserve to know this? After all I did kill the one that was supposed to be greater than me.
-The ability to kill your master does indicate ambition. But to kill him was a coward act.
-Much like his own deeds in Coruscant. Was he worthy?
-Your words are offensive towards my friend.
-Sith have no friends.
-True…
-Why was I brought here?
The Sith Lord rose from his crouched position and closed his eyes stretching out his arms.
I followed his move just to make sure I wasn’t surprised.
-Can you feel it? – He asked.
I tried to distinguish anything beyond the ever shouting Force around us…
-Not beyond… The Force itself… - He added.
I also closed my eyes and concentrated. I felt the nausea return. Still I concentrated to make sure I would understand what Cauro was talking about. I could then hear something.
At first it was a faint scream in the background. Then it became louder as I concentrated. The nausea became stronger as if poison was injected through my veins.
The screaming was of a man’s voice. Then more voices were added in a choir of pain. I felt a tear dropping from my eye and I was surprised to feel the strange shape of compassion forming. And then I could distinguish death itself. My own…
-Now you see Jeedai… - The voice came from within the screams. It was my old Master. Alive, next to Cauro. - You were never complete… never a Sith.
-This planet is a fabrication of the Sith. – Cauro added – It was built with the Force and the death of many who thought they were worthy and perished here in a pursuit for their own vengeance.
The nausea was my own slow death the minute I walked down to this planet.
I reached from the Force to stay alive. To every resource I had learned from the past. Either Jedi or Sith teachings they all seemed feeble to help me stop death.
-There is no hope, Jeedai! I said you couldn’t fully destroy me. I did fail you as a Master, but only to serve the purpose of feeding this planet with another life… another death.
I tried to grab my master’s ethereal body but I was too weak to even reach for it. I concentrated in the last thing I felt when Cauro had lured me to focus on the Force… The compassion…
Cauro suddenly grabbed my shoulder again and yelled so violently I felt each word snapping my skull.
-Don’t let go of the hatred you hate me and your master! Give in to your anger and die!
I knew their plans were being deviated… And I concentrated even further. I felt the faint Light turn into a bright supernova engulfing the dark side. Black turned to grey and Light simply took over.
Cauro screamed even louder…
-No, let go of the light!
My Master suddenly vanished as if he was destroyed into tiny bright shooting stars.
I opened my eyes to Cauro to see his face suffering and with the rage of the hundreds of Sith who had built this planet.
I concentrated with all my strength not taken by the drainage of life I was inflicted.
I let go of the Dark Side… I was free from its bonds. From the Force.
When I finally let go of the last trace of the Force within my mind and body. A large explosion was heard and the shockwave was felt in a tremendous blast that sent both me and Cauro through the air.
When I landed, it was as if I landed in the hot sand of Korriban again…
I felt Cauro’s body land beside me. And when I look I saw he was lifeless. So much for his attempt to live forever.
The Dark Side was now but a faint whisper around me.
I felt it drain away from the life forms that once fed on this dark power.
The twisted trees were now but mere bushes.
The grass was dry and yellow.
There were no animals.
I used my strength to absorb the last traces of the Force before I expired…
When all the turmoil had stopped I felt nothing.
But the Force was with me…
I looked at my mechanical arm as it was hurting me.
I took the glove off and to my amazement I had my physical arm again.
“Force could be used to many deeper purposes, like the power to destroy a life… or to manipulate it…”
I smiled and felt the Force, but a whisper, but there, talking to me…
It said that I hadn’t failed… I had used its potential engulfed shadows into light in a way not even the greatest Sith Lords ever thought possible.
That was enough for me.
Now was the time to reborn.
I had touched the very core of the Force and had earned the right to live… I had learned to cheat death from those who had thought they could do it eternally.
I wasn’t immortal, but I was Sith.
From that day on… I was to become the Sith itself... the Sith'ari…

Fear...

2007-10-08T11:16:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : “The Fall of the Jedi - Chapter II - Fear"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Fear…
That was all I sensed upon entering the Unknown Regions…
The star cruiser was no longer navigating. In fact there was no aids, no star formations for the Navicomputer to pinpoint its exact location. This was uncharted space. The Force guided us.
Beside me, was the Architect of my own sorrow. I hated every bit of time I had to be beside his dark presence. I hated every pronunciation from his mouth, every breath and every glimpse of the living Force manifested in him. Ever since Korriban.
He was sitting in the Captain seat, while I flew the ship.
The Fear took the shape of hatred as I used it to withdraw strength against my greatest foe.
Fear was my ally… not my weakness… While I recalled all my suffering during the days I was trained by my Master, it became hatred… I looked at my mechanical hand and remembered the pain of the Korriban sand...
My Master spoke with no words, through the Force.
-The hatred you feel can be channeled to much greater objectives, rather than merely your personal conflict with me… I trained you beyond that!
My own words were hard to pronounce. My hate consumed me… made me strong. My Master knew this. I just wondered how my power was superseding his and how much fear he had himself that one day I could destroy him. He said so, in Korriban. And I swore that I would.
I was concentrated on the panels trying to see any signs of menace. But I knew that, if any, danger was sitting next to me. I finally spoke slowly.
-You trained me to hate… That’s what I am doing. – I spoke faintly. Loudness wasn’t necessary as the Force was intoxicatingly strong in the ship’s cockpit.
My Master truly understood the meaning of my words and turned to me. My Master’s face was never shown to me. Yet I could have a glimpse of his mouth within the shadows
-I trained you to hate the light, to fight the Jeedai, to bring glory to the Sith…
-Yet you failed to make me forget the pain you caused me, or to minimize my losses…
-Your attachments to your past are strangling you. Your hatred towards me is senseless. I freed you from your chains. The Jeedai would have found you and feed your mind with lies. I gave you peace!
-Peace is a Lie… there is only strength…
The Sith code made my master tremble as if the apprentice did supersede the Master.
-Don’t use those words offensively. They are of much more value than that.
-Through strength, I gain power…
My Master was now facing me, feeling ignored. I was reaching another stage…
-Your stubborn mind will someday defeat you, as it did in Korriban. Only now you'll face complete defeat.
-Through strength, I gain power…
-You were never strong, you were always weak… incomplete.
-Through power, I gain victory…
-You will always be a loser… Even now you trust words to bring you comfort.
-Through victory, my chains are broken…
-Your chains are forever with me. I am your Master! – The words sounded unconvincing and weary. My Master was somehow fearful of what I would do. Still he tried to maintain composure. – Don’t use the code against the one who taught you how to interpret it…
-The Force shall set me free… - I faced him with all of my hatred. Hand on my lightsaber grip.
-I can feel your thoughts, my apprentice… My death will not give you the answers you need.
-I need no answers… not from you… but your death will appease my mind… You were the one who told me that only through hate could I destroy you.
-If you feel that's your choice, your goal. I thought I taught you that the Sith have higher objectives. Even if you do kill me, I shall return to remember how wrong you are…
My lightsaber ignites, drawing the fate of the Sith Lord. My words are not my own… My lips speak with the power of the Force.
-Your death will be complete…
-The Force is with me… I shall endure in it.
-Or maybe the purpose of your death goes beyond my obvious desire for vengeance. Perhaps you are no longer necessary to live… For I have grown stronger and must take your place in the living Force.
-You assume too much… you still need training to interpret the Force…
-Perhaps… But you are not so different, Master. – I faced him once more… Deadly bolts of rage flashed through his eyes - You see… You failed to foresee this moment and now you welcome this as inexperience when it’s the affirmation of my power. It’s too late though… your time has ended…
-You are my greatest failure… – His voice now a deep low tone, feeling the unavoidable end.
-I am your greatest accomplishment…
I stood up in the cockpit. The lightsaber cut the air with a terrible blow.
My Master made no effort to avoid it.
The saber’s power was sufficient to cut through cloth, flesh, bone and the co-pilot's chair as if it was made of nothing. No resistance… and no surprises.
The Master’s lifeless body hit the floor with a dry impact.
There was a moment when I waited to see if his comeback was a reality, but the Force told me otherwise.
I was finally complete. My former Master an expendable tool of the Force. Dead.
And I was the new Sith Lord. No longer Jedi.
The Sith spoke to me in a whole new way and I needed to learn from them…

Humiliation...

2007-10-08T11:13:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : “The Fall of the Jedi - Chapter I - Humiliation"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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My arms sunk into the hot sand as I tried to recover from the long walk… But it wasn’t physical pain that hurt me the most.
I used the Force to recover my weak muscles and I tried to clean my deep wounds… but the deeper wounds were not in the flesh…
There were feelings calling me back… Not the Force… It was silent. I was stripped from it.
As I looked behind to the Valley of the Dark Lords, I too wished my tomb was settled there. For the pain I was feeling was deeper than any strike of a vibroblade or lightsaber.
I noticed how my face was wet with sweat and tears. Not of sadness... but of frustration... I was weak and I couldn't escape the path of the dark side that had been extended before me. Still I tried to run to escape it... for I was a Jedi and the Light called me away.
I carved my hands into the burning sand of Korriban and I screamed beyond my own strength. I was in pain… but my wounds were irrelevant.
My mind was sore and that’s what made me scream… I couldn’t feel a thing. The Force was gone.
Apparently my presence was troubling the dark nature of the planet itself. The scream made my senses come back. As I recovered I slowly looked around with the remnant strength I had. Looking at the horizon I saw what troubled my faint senses: a dark shape. I knew that I was being pursued. But the figure seemed slowly approaching as if it knew I had nowhere to run.
I reached my lightsaber and stepped up, sinking my feet to stand ground to halt any attack on my person… Amazingly I found the power to remain standing up. But the lightsaber felt awkward in my hands.
In the hot horizon I saw the, now, familiar shape approaching slowly. It wasn’t a mirage.
The voice that emerged from the silhouette echoed around me… as if his words were cutting through my skin and I was defenseless. I sent my eyes back to the orange sand. The image seemed to trouble my sight... and it did... The Dark Side of the Force that the Sith Lord emanated was like fire through my eyes.
-The Jedi had you in such high esteem. I am curious to know if they were wrong.
Just his presence, so intense, made me kneel once more, weak and exhausted. I had no more power.
As I, finally, raised my eyes I could see the face of the one who had inflicted me the pain, both physical and emotional I was now feeling. The man who stole the Force from me.
His armor was dark as were his voice. The head was cloaked and all I could see was a chin. A man’s chin. His lightsaber on his right hand was off.
-Do you know who I am, Jeedai?
I had trouble regaining my composure, much less to talk. That last scream took away whatever strength I could have had. I tried to whisper my reply.
-Spare me, Dark Sider. No more pain. I am no longer with the Force… you took it…
The Sith Lord looked at me from his dark eyes covered by his cloak. For the first time I could see some traces of the strong visage the man had. He was young, but the rage in him was ageless.
-Spare you? – His voice sounded amused by my request – I am surprised now. Much more than I was when you thought you could defend yourself from me…
-I fought like you wanted… you won… let me die here…
Suddenly, I felt the fear return. That was my true pain. The wounds in my body felt trivial as I felt the inflicted visions of terror the Sith Lord was giving me.
-Enough! – I begged – Why so much torture? You have what you wanted… I am as good as dead!
I grabbed his hand holding the lightsaber and placed it against my throat.
-Finish me! I beg you… - I was desperately fighting not for my life, but for my death…
-You’re pathetic, Jeedai! – The Dark Lord Force Pushed me and I landed in the hot sand with a dry thump. – You’re "begging" me to stop your pain. Where’s your altruism? Your courage? Who are you, Jeedai? Just another mortal…
I stood up and I saw my lightsaber laying in the sand and my mind made a quick plan… A cunning one. Perhaps I had a chance.
I crawled back to meet my foe and I continued my begging. Between all the fear I was being inflicted I felt the enormous urge to grab the saber and cut the dark lord's flesh. Little did I know it was rage I was feeling. The Dark Side’s path. But the Force was stripped from me, so my senses were torn.
I heard the voice of the Sith Lord echo in my mind, one last time.
-That’s more like it…
He knew my plan when I was but centimeters from getting the saber and with a Force Pull e took it to his grasp. I landed on the hot sand, once again not in pain from its heat but from the humiliation I felt in that instant.
Suddenly the fear came back, as the Sith Lord resumed his torture.
-You see how your rage can make you powerful and how it can focus your mind. Only through your rage can you recover your senses with the Force… and attempt to defeat me…
-Never, Sith spit… I am a Jedi!
-Not anymore… Now you’re… scum…
The Sith Lord threw my lightsaber next to me, making the hot sand spray to my face. Another humiliation.
-Take your weapon Jeedai… Fight me…
It was an unbalanced match and the Sith knew. I was no longer with Force as my ally. There was no chance to be victorious. It was certain death.
Still I picked my saber. But didn’t light it up. I simply grabbed it and felt suicide was not a bad way to end my suffering.
I turned the blade projector towards me and smiled to the Sith Lord. Victory was mine, one way or the other. Then I pressed the button.
But the blade never pierced my chest like I intended.
It was somehow held at the source. That was when I realized the Sith Lord raising his hand.
He was stopping the blade from killing me.
-Don’t be a coward, Jeedai! – The weak wind blew ever so slightly. Enough to reveal his own smiling face to me. – Rise and fight!
Even though I was too weak, I battled my body’s call to lie down and precipitate a fight to end this grief.
I wield my saber towards the Sith Lord and the blade came to life, free from the influence of the Dark Lord. I cried out the words I couldn’t pronounce as I tried to cut through his chest.
But like I anticipated he was too quick and I passed beyond him to land in the sand again.
Only this time I felt the hot sand in an undescribable pain in my arms. That was when I found out what really happened.
The Sith Lord had cut my hand.
Another humiliation…
-FINISH ME, SITH! STOP THIS GAME! - I was desperate to end both the pain and the humiliation.
-You’re not worthy to die by my blade… You are a fool. You’re pathetic.
-Then… just… have mercy…
-Mercy? You should read your Jeedai archives more often… Sith have no mercy…
I closed my eyes and expected the worse. But when nothing happened I understood, at last.
The Sith Lord was walking back to the Valley and leaving me there to die…
I stood still for a moment looking at his figure until I couldn’t distinguish it from the horizon. I was not believing my fate… I was left alive… but at what cost?
I was robbed of by bond with the Force… I was badly wounded… I was humiliated… and now left to die in the middle of nowhere…
Suddenly I heard a voice coming from my own mind.
“When you wish to truly survive, when you feel that your anger can destroy me. You know where I am…”
I laid down one last time… and I closed my eyes… I wanted to sleep forever… still, the last sparkle of the Force was returning to me, as if it was an offer from the Dark Lord.
I used it to heal my wounds…
My mind…
Slowly the fear was abandoning me…
Rage took over… Revenge…
It was a dangerous path, but the Sith Lord was right… It was the only way to destroy him…

And I swore I would!

Vode An! - Our Vengeance!

2007-09-24T10:51:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : “Vode An! - Our Vengeance!"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English

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Time had come to take it.
Malachor V was a fierce planet and I was confident victory was ours.
I saw the Jedi fall around me as I fought next to my valiant brothers.
The Mandalorians would be victorious before the Republic’s impotence to make a stand and halt our mighty conquest.
To the glorious blood spilled by my fallen brothers, I honored with my vengeance against the arrogant Jedi who believe wars are won by mystical forces. We believe in the mighty weapon of the mind… But we trust only our vibroswords and blasters to conquer a system… not some delusional Force…
The many days I spent next to Mand'alor were enough to enlighten me of what needed to be done. And when the day came to meet my fate, I would deliver myself to the greater purpose: Our Vengeance!
His words were of strength, might and honor…

I was inspired… and those were the words that echoed in my mind as I rode my Basilisk against the flank of the Jedi line. Their shiny lightsabers were hopeless to repel the firepower of my Mandalorian Ride. Many fell with just one blast.
The battlefield was immense. Filled with energy, rage and noise…
We would be victorious. I was sure. So confident I was that I committed the error of lowering my guard and was hit by a thrown lightsaber.
My Cortosis armor resisted the fierce blow but I was thrown off the Basilisk.
The muddy floor was covered by shrapnel of my ride destructive passage.
I walked fast to get back in it and finish the work I had to do, but before I did I had a glimpse of an event that terrified me.
Mand'alor was at the entrance of the Trayus Academy with two Jedi holding lightsabers.
Even though Mand'alor,was a mighty fighter, even though he was a formidable sword-master, he was outnumbered and one of the Jedi was none other than Revan himself.
I let go of the Basilisk and ignited my backpack’s rockets to fly down the battlefield and help my leader.
But as I flew the shock of what I saw made me halt and drop hopelessly on the muddy floor.
Mand'alor was falling by the blade of Revan’s lightsaber…
I too felt with that blow.
The man I admired was gone. The leader. Te Ani'la Mand'alor.
Suddenly, the whole war felt hollow and vague. We were leaderless.
As I knelt on the floor I heard the humming of several lightsabers surround me.
The treacherous Jedi were there.
Their voices were distant and cold ordering me to stand down and surrender…
Surrender? A Mandalorian does not surrender…
I stood still for a moment… Digesting the sight I just witnessed of Mand'alor falling by the blade of the Jedi.
I felt rage and adrenaline kick in.
I stood up and drew my vibroblades to meet those Jedi surrounding me. I counted 6. Even though they acclaimed honor they knew better than to face a Mandalorian Neo-Crusader without some backup.
But this was coward. I knew I was not going to leave this battlefield.
So I took my share of the fight… And I didn’t give up.
As they stroke me again and again, the Cortosis held much… but not all.
I took two Jedi with my own blade but I was defeated by the strength of numbers…
Even if faint… with my death, my spilled blood I had my vengeance…
Our vengeance… Vode An!

The True Sith

2007-09-03T13:02:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : "Sith Reborn - The True Sith"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English
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I am timeless…
I see the years pass by me and I don’t meet death…
I am the Sith…
I don’t meet death for I am forever. A new breed of Sith Lord.
The Journey began when I was following the great Revan.
Among his loyal hands, I was one of the Jedi who followed him in the Mandalorian Wars. I served under the guidance of the one called Exile. I met the fiercest foes, under the mask of the Mandalorians.
I saw our victory in Malachor V when Mandalore perished by the blade of Revan…
That was also when I unveiled my true past…
The revelation came as a blow in my chest. There I was in the Trayus Academy… beside the man I admired and followed, I suddenly felt as a betrayer. The evidence showed me: In my veins ran the True Sith blood…
The revelation was made by the Sith computer... it was as harsh as truth can be...
I tried to accept my choice in oblivion, but the battlefield didn’t look the same anymore. When others saw victory, I saw defeat… death… my blood spilled in vain.
Even worse… I had contributed to this blood spill… I followed the lies of the Jedi.
That day I swore death to the Jedi… to Revan… and secretly embraced the Dark Side of the Force.
I did take my lightsaber to meet my foe… but I was too blind with rage to see what Revan himself was becoming.
I heard him speak of the Sith… speak of the power he sought…
I saw his desire for more… his might with the Dark Side of the Force… That day he revealed himself as an even more powerful leader.
Once again I was surrendered to this leadership. But only until the time came, when I would have my vengeance.
Revan had a search for power and a destination. Lehon. The Star Forge…
The events are all well documented… Needless to say I too was forced to the teachings of the Sith… but only to an extent I considered scarce…
I.. beyond Revan… wanted more… much more…
Revan took the title of Darth… as did Malak…
But I was already beyond any title…
Still I served Revan and his purposes a bit further… perhaps a touch of egocentrism… or simply a desire to keep my greatest foe beside me… close...
In the Unknown Regions, my roots took the shape of a weapon. I studied them, I drained the energy of mystical places like Korriban… I grew powerful… I was a True Sith…
But Darth Revan was not a fool. He felt my power growing largely and he became suspicious of my behavior among the troops.
One day in Lehon, I found myself being trapped by the mind of the Sith Master. He questioned my position… my integrity… and I decided the time had come.
I confronted him with the might of the Dark Side… of the Sith… The True Sith…
Darth Revan and Darth Malak fought with might, but we all saw that this battle could only end with death on either side.
So we backed away from destruction…
But I knew… Revan knew… we would meet again…
In honor we decided to end the battle. And even though there was no victory, I respected the men I was fighting against, I owed them my life.
As they owed theirs to me…
After Revan’s last fight against the Republic and the twist of fate that made him be captured by the Jedi, I took refuge in the Unknown Regions…
Not because I was not running as a coward would… I merely took shelter in the shadow waiting for the day I would rise again…
And I did… as the True Sith…

Stars...

2007-08-07T17:17:00.000+01:00

Author's Title : "Sith Reborn - Stars"

Author: Darth En Ghedi

Origin: Portugal

Language: English
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“Those dark dots you see are dead stars... blown into infinity. “
“Aren’t they infinite?”
“They are not. They have been destroyed by the will of the Force. In time you’ll be able to accomplish that too.”
“Can I try, Master?”
“You can, Sandrell. Just be mindful that it takes a powerful Sith to control its power… good… feel the Force surround the stars… pulling it, bending it… now summon the power to take them into infinity… into the realms of the lost time… where suns never set, lives never get born… death is eternal… See the darkness taking over and use it to accomplish your desire…”
“I can feel it… It’s so intense… So cold…”
“Concentrate on its power. Don’t let the appearance cloud your concentration!”
“I can almost touch it… I…”
“Feel the Force guiding you, don’t give in to anxiety. Use it as a weapon…”
“Yes! I can feel it… It’s surrounding the star… consuming it…”
“Take it… It’s yours…”
“Something is wrong… I can’t control it any longer, I feel it as weapon, it’s out of my control…”
“Focus, my apprentice… Feel the strength of the Dark Side…”
“I’m not holding it, Master… it’s aiming at… you…”
“In order to conquer the Dark Side you must endure the greatest sacrifice…”
“Master, please…”
“Commit the sacrifice… I’ll be one with the Force and you’ll be complete…”
“Master, no… I can’t…”
“Do it… Sandrell… your powers are greater now…”
“No… I… I… Love you…”
“Do you deny becoming a Sith to this Love?”
“I do…”
“Then I shall take over… And halt this destruction...”
“I’m sorry, Master… I failed”
“No you did not...”

And the stars became bright again… The Sith had changed…

Fan Fiction Blog - O Projecto - The Project

2007-08-03T15:02:00.000+01:00

Depois de algumas histórias publicadas no nosso Blog de Fan Fiction, decidimos elevar a dinâmica deste espaço privilegiado de criação artística.

Como sabem, estamos a preparar a publicação de mais e mais histórias de Star Wars criadas por fãs, mas também desenhos e outras formas de arte de artístas convidados.
Está prevista uma publicação dos desenhos originais de Sandra Martins, a nossa Admiral Tina para breve, bem como um convite muito especial a membros dotados da Fan Force internacional.
O que queremos, no entanto, é ir além disso.
Para todos os que gostam de escrever ou desenhar sobre este fantástico tema (Star Wars), mas também para todos os que apreciam esta arte tantas vezes reconhecida, informamos que estamos a encetar esforços para dar um salto gigante de modo a valorizar o nosso blog.
De que forma? Infelizmente, é prematuro dizer. Mas acreditem que nunca mais vão sentir que escrevem em vão!

Falo-vos pessoalmente: Este era um sonho pessoal meu de há algum tempo. Ao criar o blog, esperei sempre que um dia acabaria por ter utilidade. Fica agora claro que é possível. Além do primeiro (penso que até agora único) do seu género, este blog irá ainda servir muito bem a comunidade de escritores de Fan Fiction internacional.

Resta-nos esperar que os nossos projectos se concretizem muito em breve e que ainda possamos dizer que na comunidade se escreve e desenha muito bem Star Wars.

Lamentávelmente, no entanto, daqueles que esperávamos apoio, não tivemos. Mais uma vez somos obrigados a pensar que se queremos fazer alguma coisa, temos de ser nós mesmos a fazer.

--T--

After publishing some stories in our Fan Fiction Blog, we decided to move forth in the dynamics of this privileged space for artistic creation.
As you know, we are preparing the publishing of more and more Star Wars Fan Stories, but also drawings and other art forms from talented guest artists.
The publishing of Sandra Martins, our Admiral Tina, drawings is due very soon, as well as a special request to some other gifted international Fan Force members.
However, we do wish to go even further.
To all that like to write or draw about this fantastic theme (Star Wars), but also to those that enjoy this type of art so many time recognized, we would like to inform you that we are gathering the means to take a giant leap towards the objective of increasing our blog's value.
How? Unfortunately, it's too soon to say. But believe that you'll never feel you're writing in bain!

I speak to you personally: This is a personal dream of mine, for some time. Creating this blog, I hoped someday, it would become useful. It's now clear that it's possible. Further than being the first (and until now, I think the only) of its kind, this blog will serve very well the international Fan Fiction writers community.

Let's just wait that our projects fulfill themselves soon and that we say that in the community we write and draw very well.

Unfortunately, however, from those we expected the support, it never happened. Once again we are forced to think that if we need something done, we have to do it ourselves!

Que A Ficção Esteja Connosco! - May The Fiction Be With Us!

Old Man Ben...

2007-08-03T11:04:00.000+01:00

Título do Autor: "TD9976 Journal - Old Man Ben"

Autor: Darth En Ghedi

Origem:Portugal

Língua:Inglês

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Tatooine is known for its harsh bitterness... Implacable to many, home for a few, only the Tusken would dare to roam the hot sands... Only the vile scum of the Galaxy would attempt to cross it to support their hunger for illicit trade.
Only the desperate would wish to escape the iron fist of the Hutts...
If the sand didn't get you, the Sarlacc would...
I crossed the desert for years in my speeder... Now I ran in the hot sand, feeling the heat going through my boots.
The strong midday suns were also burning my flesh through the armour.
This was no place for a human to be.
I was thirsty and weak. Still I found strength to reach the rocky formations of the Jundland Wastes where, hopefully there would be some shelter and shadow...
I also knew that there would be Sandpeople or worse...
But I needed to take my chances if I wanted to survive.
I picked my small blaster from my holster to find it fully charged. A small blaster would never defend me from the massive attacks of the Sandpeople and their group strategies. Still, better have a small defense item than none...
I remembered my Academy teachings on survival. They would do me good, now. Or would they?
The Imperial drill instructors never told us what to do against the harsh suns of Tatooine... Or how to escape the deadly claws of a Krayt dragon or the hungry mouth of the Sarlacc.
As if they ever left they shiny white armors to thrive the hot desert sand after barely escaping the slaughter of their own squadron by the savage Tusken Raiders.
My own armor was my protection as well as my doom...
It kept me from dying in the middle of the desert but also attracted some non-friendly attention.
I needed to reach shadow soon and get rid of it...
Way before I reached the rocky formations of the Jundland Wastes, my batteries died after the 5 long hours it took me to leave of the Dune Sea.
My life support was now off, no filtering against the sand, no cooling, no communications, no visual magnification... no sensors... I was on my own...
I took off the heating helmet. And gathered my last strength to run to the nearest cliff formation. I finally has some shadow. I sat and time seemed to slow down and I managed to get some rest.
I was almost asleep when I heard noise coming from above the cliff.
My blaster met the origin of the sound... rocks rumbled down the cliff... Was it wind? Or someone?
My instinct told me to run, but my weak body couldn't afford it.
I waited and was ready to shoot at any threat.
Nothing...
I remained still for a few more minutes, blaster ready.
When I finally felt safe I dropped it to my holster, only to lift it again in the opposite direction when I hear a voice.
-Hello there! - An old man dressed like monk was waving at me. He apparently had come down from the cliff edge and was walking towards me.
-That's far enough! - My voice was as weak as me... still I managed some composure.
-I mean you no harm. I just wanted to help you, you seem to be in a terrible shape. - The man's voice was calm and I felt he wasn't a threat. Still I didn't take any chances.
-I don't need your help. This is Imperial business. - The hand holding my blaster was now shaking, demanding some rest. Adrenaline kicked in.
-Come now, there's no need for that anger. I am not here to hurt you. I live here and I know how implacable the desert can be... Stormtrooper or not, you need some shelter and some water. I can provide both as well as a working radio to call your friends.
-Thank you, old man. I don't need your help! I am fine. - The body was failing, the man was now but a faint blurry image. I never knew I fainted...
I woke up in a cosy little room inbuilt in a wall. It looked like a cave built into a living quarters, typical of Tatooine. The white painted walls offered some comfort.
I noticed that I was stripped from my armour and only wear the Imperial Standard Jumpsuit.
I jumped out of the bed, forget how low the small ceiling was and hit my head on it.
-Careful there! I used to do that a lot, you know. -The old man was sitting next to me - Eventually I got used to it.
I searched for my blaster, nowhere to be found.
-You can find your blaster and your armour in the living room. I took the liberty to recharge your batteries too.
I felt hopelessly defenseless. I jumped out of the bed to the central area, presumably the living room.
I found the armour and blaster intact. A power cell was feeding my batteries in the backpack.
-Thank you! I need to go now.
-There's a sandstorm approaching. These can be very dangerous, you know?
-I'll take my chances.
-I read your log, you were on drills in the far side of the Dune Sea. It's quite impressive you got here on your own.
-I don't need you praise...
-Well, I was only admiring your incredible resistance to this deadly planet. You must have skills beyond the obvious.
-I am an Imperial Officer, my training...
-No, I was talking about strength of mind... of will... of the Force. Obviously, your suit kept you alive, but this strength was what drove you here.
-I don't believe in that "almighty energy".
-To those that never saw the sun, how can you expect them to believe in it?
-I don't have time for this, old man...
-And where are you going? Your team was slaughtered. There isn't any outpost in a thousand standard miles.
-How do you know that my team was killed? - I raised my blaster to him, I felt something strange...
-Well, what's a sandtrooper doing here in the middle of the desert all by himself?
-I got lost...
-No you didn't... You were driven to escape... ran through the desert...
-You assume too much...
-I know it! The Force never lies...
-I told you I don't believe in that!
-Yet I am not lying, am I?
I picked my armour and dressed it. I could hardly keep myself standing.
-Look, I need to get back to somewhere I can contact the Garrison to pick me up.
-You do know Sandpeople will be trailing you too. It's only a matter of time.
-Are you delivering me to them?
-No! I want to help you! I have a radio. But I can't help you if you wish to go away alone. That's your choice, of course... - He looked deeply at me, I couldn't help but look back to him - You should learn about the Force...
-I don't know how that could help me escape the Tuskens...
-That would help you... You wouldn't need to run from anyone. You can use this power to make good to others... and to yourself!
I stopped dressing my armour. There was something in those words...
I shrugged those thoughts and continued. I was dizzy and felt weak, still I continued with my task, only to feel the man staring at me.
-I truly don't have time for this. The sooner I leave the better. If you are right and those Tusken are on my trail, not even the Force will help me, old man.
-Ben...
-What?
-You can call me Ben... I am an old man, I guess, but I do have a name...
-Well, "Ben", you said you had a radio. I need it.
The man picked an old Republic comm-link. It looked old and outdated.
-Oh! It's working. I can assure you...
I picked it and dialed the universal codes. I began my communication.
-To all Imperial Forces, this is TD9976, request rescue at the Jundland Wastes, I am turning on my locator beacon... over!
All that was heard in response, was static. I waited a few more seconds and repeated my request several times.
I got weaker and weaker. Dressing up the armour wasn't helping. And the dizziness I felt was taking over to the point of exhaustion.
-You shouldn't dress up the armour. You need to rest. - The old man approached.
As he came closer to me, I pointed my blaster again. He used some kind of a move that grabbed my hand, but not offensively, he just took the weapon from my weak hand and used his other arm to hold me while I dropped hopelessly...
Although I wanted to fight to escape, I was surrendered to my weakness... again...

When I woke up again I was laying the same rocky cliff I had sat earlier, exhausted from walking the desert...
It was hard to see, so tired I was.
Suddenly there were some big white blurs in front of me.
Instinctively, I picked my blaster again but I didn't find it in the holster.
-He's alive, sir! - A mechanical voice was heard. While I recovered my sight I could recognize the familiar traces of a Stormtrooper's helmet...
-TD9976, can you hear me? - An Imperial officer in his olive green uniform was crouched beside me.
I could hardly speak but I nodded in reply.
-We received your request for rescue. We are taking you into our medical facilities in Anchorhead. You've done well, officer! The Emperor will be pleased!
I found some strength to speak...
-My team...
-Yes! Unfortunate! You were truly strong to cross the desert like that, soldier. Your training was precious!
Not just my training.
While I was carried to the Shuttle, I remembered that old man Ben...
Whoever he was, he had helped me.
I felt a mix of frustration for my weakness and gratitude for his hospitality.
Either weakness or madness, I could pick one to explain this episode I had with that old man.
I wonder who that old man was... A product of my imagination?
I turned to the officer again while boarding the ship.
-There was an old man here. Did you find him? Name's Ben...
-Sorry, soldier. Our scanner only found you. Your beacon was found on the top of a cliff, great thinking, by the way, but we only found your tracks. Who was he? What's his last location?
The answer was as elusive to me. I never tried an answer. I didn't have it.
When I was laid down on the bed of the ship, I could swear I heard his voice again... "Remember the Force will be with you... Always!"
Still, I wasn't exactly a believer, but my perception of that so called "Force" was now different.

Just when...

2007-07-08T21:21:00.000+01:00

Título do Autor: "Just When..."

Autor: Darth En Ghedi

Origem:Portugal

Língua:Inglês

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Just when I thought I had no hope to endure, you approach me and sigh...
Just when I believed the emptiness was a never ending pit, you filled the gap...
And thus you gave me a new hope.
Within the realms of the Dark Side you snatched me to become complete to thrive the path I must follow, but not alone anymore.
Thus, the heartless hunter, the lone wolf, becomes strength, becomes power.
My love for you makes me destroy civilizations.
Obliterate planets.
Move galaxies...
I deny my past to construct my future alongside you...
Just because I love you...
Just because you breath...
Just because you exist...

Dedicated to you... You know who you are!

Dark Love

2007-06-19T21:58:00.000+01:00

Título do Autor: "Dark Love"

Autor: Stonezinha aka Turista Espacial

Origem:Portugal

Língua:Inglês

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We’ve met for the first time in a battlefield. That moment I felt that we should be together, even though we were on opposite sides. My master taught me how to control my emotions, but you felt them, you knew the pain I was feeling. When you came with your lightsaber to me, I just limit to defend myself I could not fight back. Something felt wrong. I could see it in your eyes you were feeling the same. But why? Why was there such a feeling? My legs were shaking, I could not concentrate and you almost hit me, even though you could do it. You threw me to the side with rage.
- Why don’t you fight?
Your voice was familiar to me, but I could not recognise. I did not answer to you. You kept staring at me, surrounding me and I kept doing nothing. Before you left you looked at me one more time and told me you would come for me.

My master knew I was different. He was training me to become a Jedi Knight, but I knew I was not to become one. Since we’d met I had been wondering what my destiny was laying for me. Your voice, I could not forget your voice. I had been thinking on what you said, about coming for me. What did it mean? Would you come to take me or to kill me? I couldn’t concentrate on my training, so my master sent me to the desert, so I could find a purpose in my life. He said that isolation is the best thing to the mind. I was trying to meditate, but every time I went deep into my soul you came to my mind. And then it happened. I heard your voice again. It was a whisper, soft and calm. I concentrated on your voice. You were sending me a message. Those words were intoxicating they were filling the void inside, but sometimes they were too much. You were teaching me, showing a side I did not know. This continued for several weeks, but one night it was different. More than just dreaming with you, I felt you. I felt your breath in my face, but I couldn’t wake up. It was just a dream. When I woke up I found something, a box. It was not a dream. You had been there. Inside the box was a lightsabre, the one I still use. The perfect sabre made just for me, made by you. You kept training me, sending me messages, tasks for me to do. And a month past, then another…
But one day was to be different. While I was doing my morning exercises I was stroke by sign of the Force. You were here! I wanted to rush out, but I kept myself in the same spot, just waiting you to come in. I thought my heart was going to burst with anxiety the expectation was too much. When I saw your shadow I felt pain in my heart, a good pain. When you came in you just stood there, staring at me with a smile on your face. You came closer to me. You were surrounding me, watching me, coming closer, watching all details. I could feel your breath on my skin, the breath I once felt. You were so close to me.
I could see that you were proud of me, but I was nothing without you.
I kneeled before you in a token of respect, given myself in to your teaching. You held my head by my chin, pulling me up.
- You don’t need to do this. Not to me.
You looked to the door with a worried face.
-Your master is coming.
I was scared, but you calmed my heart.
-This wasn´t meant to be. We don’t need to face them now. We can leave!
-No! I need to do this.
You smile to me and took a few steps back to hide in the shadows of the room, when my Master came in.
-I felt you were in danger. I sense something in this room. Who else is here?
-I’m the only one here, Master.
I Force pulled my new sabre, the one you gave to me.
-I understand now! I see you have a new sabre.
He turned on is lightsaber and I did the same. That was the moment to face him. In a moment I feared not to be ready, but I trust your teachings to guide me. The fight was hard, my master was strong and fast. I was defending more than attacking. I fell in one of the attacks, I crawled away and when I was getting up I felt the heat of the sabre coming to me but I could not deviate in time. My flesh was burning, the pain was too much. I cried to you, for your help. In that moment you came out of the shadow, horrifying my Master.
-Step away from her! – My master shouts.
-Didn’t you hear her? She wants my help!
-So, I guess I have to fight you.
I was in so much pain and it was so hard to breath that I crawled in to a safe place. I could only hear the blades touching and when I look up my master was already falling in to his death.
-It is done. – You said.
When you reached for me, you checked my wounds.
-You need care, my dear.
You hold me up in to your harms and took me in to your ship. You left me in the care of a medic droid while you were taking-off. When you came back, you talked to the droid, but I didn’t understand what you were saying. I was ashamed, I felt like I failed you, I wasn’t strong enough. I had to beg for your help. You came closer to me, but I could not face you.
-I failed you...
-No, you haven’t. I will make you stronger. You are going to be so powerful! I feel that. I wasn’t going to waste time on your training, if I wasn’t so sure.
And again your words calmed my doubts. You always seemed to know what to say. When you left the medical cabin there was only one thought in my mind.
I love you and no matter what happens, I will always follow you.

The Wounded Man...

2007-05-01T17:31:00.000+01:00

Título do Autor: "Tales of a Dark Jedi - The Wounded Man"

Autor:Darth En Ghedi

Origem:Portugal

Língua:Inglês

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The plan had been successful...
The infiltrated agent had accomplished his mission.
Reedius was safely taken aboard after a bold rescue mission attempted by one single man...
But in the last attempt to flee, he was wounded while struggling to reach his vessel...
Fighting the pain, the agent navigated the Starship Deviant out of the Super Star Destroyer and activated the hyperdrive to reach a safe distance.
"Good" he thought, "I outran them all".
But the pain was persistent. He dropped his lightsaber and was unable to stop a blast directly to Reedius, the only option was to take the shot in his place.
There was Force Sensitive being aboard, he knew it. That is why it was so difficult to escape. This being had guessed all his moves. Still he accomplished his mission and murdered the Vice-Admiral Thrawn. What a day!
The Empire would reach the darkest corners to find him now.
He struggled to keep himself awake.
R7 the Astrodroid was following him across the ship while he dragged himself to the sick bay.
The medic droid was powered taking care of the fainted Reedius. With the weak strength left, he hit the droid to call his attenttion. The droid immediately started to diagnose his own condition. The news weren't the best.
-It seems the blast penetrated deep into the torso, cauterizing the inside and damaging the lower part of the abdomen. It is positive that you are not bleeding, but I cannot repair the tissue. We require more bacta.
-Do your best, droid. - The agent was whispering lying on the medic table.
-Yes Master.
-How is he? - The agent pointed out to Reedius.
-He will be alright. We need to focus on you, sir. Now!
R7 was expressionless as always, but still his beeping sounded more like moaning...
-R7, broadcast the message to my Master. My mission was successful. But tell him I perished in it's accomplishment.
The droid beeped a very sad tone. And left the sick bay.
The Medic droid was not repairing the tissue. There was no anesthesia. A runner ship isn't exactly a mobile hospital.
The droid suddenly stopped and his mechanical voice sounded like a thunder to the weak human laying down and almost faint.
-I have no more healing instruments, Master. I am only prepared to deal with minor wounds. We should attend to the nearest campaign hospital...
-The Empire is there... - the sick man raised from the table with a terrifying scream.
R7 had finished sending the message and appeared on the sick bay, just in time to hold his master right before he felt on the ship's floor.
The droid beeped some more.
Through the Force, his master understood what he said: "We're coming out of hyperspace, my master".
-Raise the shields, help me reach the pilot console.
Almost dragged by the little droid, the wounded man reached the scopes of the main bridge to find the planet he had aimed with his coordinates.
Mashala was an lifeless gaseous planet. Only a few knew it. Only a few knew were it was, only a few knew what it had underneath the methane clouds.
Suddenly several attack ships emerged from hyperspace behind them. They were followed.
The rush of adrenaline helped him reached the blaster cannons.
He reached the force and fired them with immense precision.
There were too many of them. Still the man gave a fierce fight.
Slowly the whole battle seemed to become faint. But it wasn't the ships or cannon. It was the man who was becoming too weak to continue is resistance.
Suddenly another cannon came to life destroying the remaining ships.
The man looked behind to see Reedius awake and firing the cannon.
One by one, the enemy ships were devastated. The Force was strong with that one.
But even though he was smiling, the wounded man couldn't help but fall from the cannon's chair.
Reedius raced to him.
-R7 initiate the landing protocol. Use this. - The wounded man reached out a datapad with some sort of a key.
The Ship began the atmosphere entrance at an exact course.
Neither R7 or Reedius knew what was going on.
The Deviant navigated blindly in a steady course while entering the harsh atmosphere.
Suddenly it came to a halt and slowly descended.
The scopes showed nothing but blue emptiness of the gaseous clouds.
For Reedius there was nothing else to do but trust this man, but he now had doubts.
-The Force guides us, my friend... - The wounded man found strength to smile to Reedius
The Blue nothing was now fading to a bright white fog, and there was something appearing in it, like phantoms.
A city...
-Mashala is a last resort for those who seek shelter. Right now the Empire is searching for me. I have nowhere else to go.
The ship was dropping slowly to what appeared to be a landing platform.
It gently touched down and powered off instantly.
The wounded master was slowly walking down the ramp with the aid of his droid as the ship rested silent.
The door opened to reveal breathable air.
Reedius looked around and found no welcoming party. But what he saw surpassed any surprise his electronic brain could ever predict.
As far as his eyes could see, there was a city in a white sky. It looked like a bubble of life underneath the harsh upper atmosphere of the dead planet.
-Those who built it, call it the "Impossible One". And it looks like it is. What a beauty... - The man's eyes suddenly portrayed a man with no pain, but joy.
R7 also emitted some beeps with quite the thrill. For the moment his electronic computers were overwhelmed with such beauty.
Suddenly a silhouette appeared in the corridor halls of the hangars. Monumental and gigantic, the small figure could not be distinguished, except for some flashes in between the huge pillars.
R7 beeped in alert. Reedius raised a blaster.
The wounded man stood still.
-I told you there was beauty here. But this is the only true beauty. -His voice was faint but still filled with happiness.
A beautiful woman was approaching. Her hair had brown curls flowing over the wind, her eyes where crying in happiness. They knew each other... so well...
-En Ghedi - She was screaming from the end of the colossal hall.
The man was now on his knees, as if struggling to stay up.
Reedius was still motionless just watching the whole scene.
And due to that, he never felt his rescuer faint beside him.
Reedius and the little droid reached him.
-Don't worry... I... -words were hard to come out, but didn't.
The woman approached and her happiness gave room to sheer terror, as she realized something was wrong.
She grabbed the fainted man's neck and kissed him.
-My love, what happened? Talk to me!
But the man was not moved by the kind voice.
She began screaming louder as she realized he was seriously ill.
Reedius felt hopeless and didn't know what to do.
It was then he noticed some more shadows appearing from the gigantic columns of the hall.
R7 opened the small door on his hull and raised a small ray gun. Reedius aimed his blaster.
The figures were approaching slowly. Reedius figured there wasn't much to do against such a number of attackers.
And these were no ordinary attackers. There were strong built, armoured and armed with small cylinders... Lightsabers!
None were ignited, none felt Reedius or the droid as a menace. None were a menace. Reedius felt something in the Force. He then stand down.
Two of the men reached down to pick up En Ghedi. The Woman was crying. A much older man came forth to hold her. He appeared to be royalty.
As they moved away, the whole group moved silently and swiftly afterwards towards the building.
Reedius and the small droid just stood there. Speechless and confused.
They watched the crowd leave the Hangar, and noticed one of the guards came back and was approaching them.
-I believe we are in debt to you.
-I am in debt with En Ghedi. He saved me. I just thought I could help him and...
-En Ghedi will be alright. Everybody that comes home is alright. Don't you think?
R7 beeped a question.
-En Ghedi is the Royal Price of Mashala. He trained us all in the arts of the Jedi. We are his servants and apprentices. We hoped for the day he returned. But not under these circumstances.
-What will happen to him now?
-You did a splendid work. We are invited to stay... if you wish... - That wasn't a direct answer to what Reedius asked.
-I need to know...
-Prince En Ghedi is a sovereign ruler. We hardly know what happened to him during these years he went away. I think it is time for him to rest from his errand.
Reedius looked to R7 and back to the man. The Force was strong here. He felt En Ghedi was safe. But he, on the other hand was not.
-I don't belong here. I am to become a Jedi. I would put this reign in danger if I was to stay.
-It is your decision that we will respect. We fear no menace, though.
-Your confidence on this shield is very strong
-No, what's strong with us... is the Force. We felt your strength in the force against those attackers. You are a strong man... Jedi.
-Not yet...
Reedius and R7 entered the ship. The Deviant would help him fulfill his objective to become a Jedi Master.
He needed to reach Tatooine to follow the rumor of one the last Jedi was hiding there. If it was true, then he would fulfill his destiny. If not he knew where to find his friend...
Reedius returned to meet the man.
-Tell En Ghedi I'm just borrowing the Deviant.
-It couldn't be otherwise. - The man smiled and walked away.

As the Deviant departed with his new Captain, new horizons were drawn, new hopes, new expectations.
Reedius felt this wasn't the last time he heard of the former "Jedi Slayer".
The man he had learned to respect. The man who had beaten Darkness within.
Someday they would meet again.
But it all was in the will of the Force.

Royal Guard

2007-03-12T00:28:00.000Z

Título do Autor: "Royal Guard"

Autor:Darth En Ghedi

Origem:Portugal

Língua:Inglês

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Coming down the platform of the Imperial Shuttle, I was number 1 on the right side.
There were no ranks. I could be the 10th and still stand by the Emperor. I could be the 100th and still be caught in the line of fire to save the Emperor's life.
Long gone were the days at Yinchorr.
When the battleground was mere platform above a never ending pit.
When the failure wasn't acceptable amidst the elite we represented. Even then we were a number... But that wasn't so among us...
When we made friends in the barracks. When we shed blood in fearsome training jousts that seemed stages for hatred. Were friends were no more... We were brothers.
Even so, our duty went beyond blood ties or feelings. We were faceless. We were heartless.
As I reached my mark I turned to face the middle the fellow mate in front of me. The Emperor should pass amidst us. All the others repeated my exact move and we stood 5 on the right and 5 on the left, in a royal corridor.
Not even a whisper would pass through us without our knowledge.
Then the Emperor appeared from the shuttle. A tired old man, that emanated a power I couldn't understand. Alongside him was the other faceless servant, since the Jedi's end, Darth Vader.
While in Yinchorr he was the one who made sure only the best served at my post. Several times did I see him using his Force powers and light saber to trespass some of my brothers just because he felt they weren't fit.
Until today I can defy him. He killed the best among us. Somehow Vader feared one of us would take his place at the Emperor's right side... He knew it, I knew it... the Emperor knew it...
Still we were above any other Imperial Soldier. Even Vader, the emperor trusted us to protect him even from his most loyal Sith lord.
We were trained not to shoot weapons or throw a detonator... Not to stand neatly in formation or guard some outpost... We were the Elite in every aspect.
There was no room for failure. There was perfection.

This day the Emperor was inspecting the famous Outpost 34.
Standing in the front I started to walk behind him and Vader while the others followed.
Aside us all the Clone Troopers and Officers were standing in a perfect formation while the Emperor inspected them.
There was something wrong, though. In one of the lines, the second, there was a soldier with a different posture. As if staring at the Emperor directly. True defiance.
I noticed it before the Emperor, Vader or any of my brother Guards could...
Without making it visible I switched the power of my Force Pike to make a stand at any sign.
The trooper seemed to be predicting the Emperor's footsteps as if preparing for is passage.
He made a move I couldn't quite figure the end of it, but I wasn't going to wait and see.
He stepped forward and was screaming "The Republic lives!" and aimed his blaster.
But before he could pull the trigger, my Pike was hitting his arm making his shot miss the Emperor.
He was surprised to see me, but didn't stand down.
Taking advantage of the confusion, he pushed the trooper in front of him towards me and ran to the Emperor.
I avoided the trooper and jumped to his legs and grabbed his foot. He fought to set himself free, but I grabbed my blaster and pointed at his helmet,
He felt it and stopped.
All the other troopers were confused and didn't act in those split seconds.
When he tried to grab my blaster and I didn't hesitate and shot him point blank.
The attack was over.
Palpatine was evacuated to a safe location with Vader, who, by now, had his light saber ignited.
I took the helmet of the trooper to reveal a faceless foe. Perhaps a Rebel.
The Imperial Marines isolated the area and took his body quickly to make sure there was no more concealed threats.
As I raised from the ground I had a smile hidden underneath my mask.
A job well done.
It was then that I heard a muffled sound of someone calling for help.
I looked around to see my fellow guards on stand at the door the Emperor was taken safely.
They were 8. They were all looking at were I was standing.
I was intrigued with the reason why they stared at me, and then I realized something. There was one missing.
Looking at my side I saw two marines crouched over a fallen soldier. To my agony he was dressed in red. One of my brothers.
He was shot by the rebel's gun. That shot didn't miss Palpatine. It was stopped by this heroic brother.
He was crying in pain, the shot missed the armor and hit him in the chest.
I told him powerful words, but they sounded mechanical and senseless. "Hang in there!", "Remember your training".
By now the hangar had been evacuated and the troopers dispersed.
I saw the internal Physician Lieutenant Sweshar reach for my brother.
The blood was mixed with the red of his cloak.
They took his helmet, his identity, off to treat him... I saw his face for the first time and he was staring at me in terror.
So much training to end like this... I could almost read his eyes...
The crying suddenly stopped.
Sweshar looked at me and nodded.
The brother was no more.
I was then startled to hear the powerful voice of Darth Vader above me.
-He took his life for the Emperor. Deserves the best honors.
Indeed. Somehow Vader seemed to respect this man...
This was Vader's idea of loyalty. My brother did his job... He was committed to his duty. He gave his life to the cause.

But even when I was debriefed and honored for my courageous action, I couldn't stop thinking that I was guilty of his death.
But I had to set it aside.
I had a much greater duty to fulfill...
I had the Emperor to protect...
I was an Imperial Royal Guard...

SD2213

2007-03-06T09:17:00.000Z

Título do Autor: "História de um Dark Jedi : Prisioneiro"

Autor:Darth En Ghedi

Origem:Portugal

Língua:Português

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O prisioneiro SD2213 jazia no chão frio da cela... Estava emcapuzado e ninguém podia ver a agonia em que estava.
Estava exausto e dorido. Não sangrava, os seus torturadores faziam questão de executar um trabalho "limpo".
Há muito que SD2213 tinha perdido o senso de postura. Pouco lhe interessava a sua posição.
O seu conforto... a sua saúde...
Apenas uma coisa lhe restava, que era exactamente o que os agentes imperiais queriam:
A sua missão!
O efémero momento de paz de SD2213 foi interrompido pelo sibilante som da abertura da porta.
Surgiram os torturadores, oficiais Imperiais vestidos de negro e empunhando Force Pikes iguais aos que a Royal Red Guard possuiam. Objectos de tortura impiedosa, capazes de paralizar um Rancor... e matar um prisioneiro...
-Penso que já chega dessa resistência... -O Comandante dos oficiais falou calma e pausadamente como que um pai a falar com o filho- Não há necessidade de perdermos mais tempo. Um pouco mais e morres...
SD2213 nada respondeu, limitou-se a ficar prostrado, respirando com dificuldade e com a cara encapuzada virada para a porta. Como se conseguisse ver para além dela...
-Repara. Daqui a nada chega Darth Vader, tudo o que tu possas dizer agora, pode significar a tua sobrevivência...
Vader? Bluff! Ou o Lorde Sith estaria a caminho da sua cela?
SD2213 tinha mais truques do que aquele oficial alguma vez podia imaginar.
-Parem de fazer jogos. -Disse o prisioneiro, nítidamente em esforço. - Façam o que têem a fazer.
O Comandante esboçou um sorriso amargo e levantou-se.
-Continuem! - Ordenou aos outros oficiais.
De imediato os Pikes tocaram no corpo dorido do prisioneiro e descarregaram toda a energia sobre ele. SD2213 contorceu-se com dores e gritava de terror.
A tortura durou vários minutos sem que o prisioneiro cedesse na sua posição...
No canto da cela, o Oficial superior levantou-se novamente para falar com o prisioneiro.
-Basta que me digas quem te enviou! Só isso! Transferes a dor que sentes para a pessoa que te meteu nisto... é simples...
SD2213 nada respondeu, respirava forçadamente.
-Chega desta resistência...
O prisioneiro já não o ouvia... buscava alívio noutro lado... na Força.
-Temos ali uma unidade Bacta pronta para te dar. Basta que me forneças os detalhes da tua missão.
A Força falava com SD2213... Dava-lhe paz e recuperava as suas mazelas lentamente...
-Estás a proteger alguém que não quer saber de ti. Provavelmente está a sorrir de pensar que o seu peão foi preso pelo Império e que está a pagar em vez dele.
SD2213 sentia a Força rodeá-lo... Nunca antes tinha estado tão em uníssono com a Força.
-Tu até nem és um bom executor... Afinal apanhámos a tua nave sem combustível no meio do nada. Até tiveste sorte... não fosse teres atacado aqueles Stormtroopers e nem te tínhamos prendido... se calhar não serves para este ramo!
SD2213 estava a recuperar, embora fraco de tantos dias perdido no espaço, ainda manteve forças para lutar contra os Stormtroopers. Mas como em tudo no Império, o número ganha sempre... Por outro lado, a captura fazia parte dos planos do prisioneiro...
-Ao menos se nos disseres quem tu és, nós iremos proceder à investigação!
As forças recuperavam-se lentamente, o suficiente para falar.
-Eu irei dizer-te quem sou, mas será a ultima coisa que vais ouvir - Murmurou SD2213.
-Hum... Parece-me que não estás a perceber as tua hipóteses! Se isto é uma brincadeira para ti vamos entrar em coisas sérias! -Virou-se para os outros oficiais - Aumentem a potência. Temos de o vergar!
Os oficiais regularam os Pikes para o dobro da potência e começaram a atingir SD2213 com mais veemência.
Os gritos de dor, no entanto, não se fizeram ouvir.
-Que se passa? Eu disse aumentar!
-Comandante, isto está a 40% de potência!
O Comandante pegou num dos pikes e confirmou. Regulou a potência para 60% e testou o Pike no prisioneiro.
Nada! Nem uma reacção.
O comandante regulou a potência para o máximo.
-Meu Comandante, isso vai matá-lo! - um dos oficiais tentou parar o Comandante.
O Pike desceu lentamente sobre o corpo de SD2213, como se todos pudessem desacelerar o tempo e ver tudo a acontecer pausadamente. Uma descarga total daquele Pike mataria um homem instantâneamente. O bastão desceu até tocar nas vestes do prisioneiro.
Quanto o fez, de repente, SD2213 levantou-se e agarrou o Pike com toda a força e arremessou o Comandante para o canto da cela.
Os outros dois oficiais, perplexos ficaram imóveis sem saber bem o que fazer.
A figura do prisioneiro ainda encapuzado a falar com eles era, no mínimo, intrigante.
-Isto não é a vossa luta, deixem-me ir e sobreviverão!
Os dois guardas olharam um para o outro e ficaram sem saber o que fazer.
O Comandante recuperou os sentidos e aproveitando o que parecia uma distracção do prisioneiro, o que tinha o Force Pike decidiu atacar.
SD2213 repeliu o ataque e com um golpe rápido acertou-lhe com o Pike que tinha recuperado do Comandante, arremessando o oficial para o chão.
O outro oficial em desespero correu para a porta, mas SD2213 rasteirou-o com o Pike e ele caiu inconsciente.
Finalmente SD2213 tirou finalmente o capuz.
O prisioneiro encarava agora o Comandante.
Este lembrou-se da arma que tinha no coldre.
Como que adivinhando, o prisioneiro abanou lentamente a cabeça.
-Deixe a arma onde está... Eu vou sair daqui sem mais violência...
O Comandante, assustado mesmo assim decidiou sacar da arma, mas o prisioneiro arremessou o Pike contra a parece cortando o coldre e deixando cair a arma.
Antes que o Comandante pudesse apanhá-la, ela levitou no ar e foi para à mão do prisioneiro que a guardou nas vestes.
O Comandante principiou a gritar para os guardas lá fora, mas já a mão de SD2213 estava no ar e nesse momento o oficial sentiu uma forte pressão na garganta.
-Querias saber o meu nome... -Disse SD2213 com toda a calma possível, uma voz sombria - Como eu disse, seria a ultima coisa que irias ouvir...
A Força estava a bloquear a respiração do oficial, lentamente o Comandante caía em desmaio.
-O meu nome é... Darth En Ghedi. E não falhei na minha missão. Pelo contrário. Consegui concretizá-la na perfeição! E tu ajudaste.
O oficial caiu no chão indefeso e sem vida.

Em todo o bloco prisional 1138 soou um alarme.
Dezenas de Stormtroopers invadiram o corredor de acesso à cela em que tinha soado o alarme.
Era uma cela de interrogatório, sem holo-cameras. Só os mais perigosos prisioneiros lá entravam... e muitas vezes não saiam.
Ninguém sabia o que esperar.
Um guarda prisional conseguiu finalmente abrir a porta, bloqueada por um código de Oficial.
Lá dentro escuridão.
Os troopers estavam de blaster em punho pronto para disparar a qualquer sinal de perigo.
-Saiam cá para fora! - Gritou um Tenente - Imediatamente! Ou lançamos uma detonador térmico!
Um vulto saiu da escuridão, cambaleando e agarrou-se ao primeiro trooper ao lado da porta. Era um oficial de interrogatório, alta patente. Comandante.
-O que aconteceu, meu Comandante?
-O prisioneiro soltou-se e conseguiu atacar os dois guardas que me acompanhavam. -Murmurou quase sem forças - Ainda me atacou mas eu aproveitei uma distracção e consegui dominá-lo...
-Troopers! Avancem! - Gritou o Tenente.
Os soldados voltaram para trás com três corpos sem vida. Dois oficiais e um homem encapuzado.
-Levem o Comandante ao centro hospitalar. - Apontou para os corpos - Levem estes para a morgue.
Os soldados cumpriram de imediato.
O Comandante levantou-se e cambaleou com os soldados a ampará-lo.
-Meu comandante, o que é que conseguiram extrair dele?
-Muito pouco, era um bounty hunter em início de carreira...
-E foi capturado...?
-Era um falhado, este não era o seu ramo...
-Deveras...
Darth En Ghedi conseguia assim iludir os oficiais. Seria agora levado para a clínica e receber a tão necessária Bacta para o seu corpo dorido.
Mas o seu íntimo não sentia a dor... Não sentia medo de ser descoberto...
Não sentia nada...
Excepto que a sua missão estava a ser bem sucedida.

The Emperor's Hand

2007-02-11T03:26:00.000Z

Título do Autor: The Emperor's Hand

Autor: LaYa_ aka parafina falsificada

Origem: Portugal

Língua: Inglês

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I didn't use to dream before. Now, I dream everyday. They are not pleasant dreams, they are nightmares. They seem to pursue me, to torment me. I'd rather not have them.

But I think I know why I have them.

It is because of what I do. I kill people. Errands, like Emperor Palpatine calls them. Those people come back from death to torment me in my dreams. In my dreams, they repeat the same line that I tell all of them, before I kill them.

"Don't worry. Death is not that bad!"

They whisper it in the same way, the same dark way I whispered it to them. The same way that makes someone shiver. After that line, they know what's next.

Death.

That is what always happens.

I'd rather not have these nightmares; I'd rather dream with nicer things. When I was a child, I used to dream about such nice things...

But I am not a child anymore. I am a young woman and I have a certain job to do, for the good of the galaxy. For the good of the Empire...

Do the dreams torment me? Of course they do. But that won't affect my job, I won't let it... Let the dreams continue... I don't care.

Because I am Mara Jade.

An assassin.

The Emperor's Hand.

Revolta

2007-02-09T11:52:00.000Z

Título do Autor: "História de um Dark Jedi : Revolta"

Autor:Darth En Ghedi

Origem:Portugal

Língua:Português

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Com um golpe certeiro, consigo tocar-lhe nas vestes e fazê-lo recuar. O meu sabre de luz passou perto... demasiado perto! O tecido incandescente fumega...
Ataco pela esquerda... Ele bloqueia como se previsse o meu ataque...
Ataco com uma rotação... Ele anula tudo o que faço...
Parece que não terei outra hipótese como aquela...
Aqui estou eu a lutar pelo meu lugar como aprendiz. Para chegar ao estatudo de Dark Lord dos Sith.
Olho para o meu adversário como alguém a abater...
Partilhamos olhares, avaliando cada pedaço de energia, cada vislumbre de fraqueza, cada vacilação, olhos sombrios e penetrantes como lâminas afiadas em busca de presa. Mas apenas os meus. Os olhos do meu adversário nunca seriam por mim vistos.
Ele investe pela minha direita, o sabre surpreendemente forte e rápido.
Sinto a vibração da lâmina na minha face e uso o Force Push para a afastar...
- Ah! Mantém-te focado! - Vocifera o meu adversário, irado - Nunca cedas!
Se conseguisse vislumbrar a sua face iria ver um face de ódio e repugna. O meu Mestre odiava ser derrotado, mas parecia que a Galáxia caía de cada vez que eu perdia um embate.
- Outra vez! - A ordem ecoou no hangar desolado e eu levantei-me. Não iria falhar, desta vez. Focalizei-me e idealizei uma investida...
Com toda a minha fúria, investi contra o meu Mestre sem face. Ele limitou-se a anular todo e qualquer ataque que fizesse, mais ou menos elaborado, mais ou menos esforçado...
Busquei na Força o poder para o atacar, aliei à minha fúria, o meu temor... Saltei pelo ar e investi num golpe poderoso pelo seu flanco esquerdo e antes que ele pudesse recuperar, o meu sabre passou para a outra mão e mais uma vez tocou nas vestes negras do meu mestre.
Desta feita tocou em algo mais...
O Mestre Sith gritou de dor e afastou-se, não sem antes lançar-me pelo ar com a sua força sobre-humana.
Quando recuperou atacou-me como nunca o tinha feito. Nada pude fazer senão defender-me de cada investida. O Lado Negro tremia de tanto poder em volta daquele vulto.
A suar, senti que estava a perder a cada ataque, usei um Force Pull para mandar um pedaço de ferro na direcção do meu Mestre. Na sua defesa elaborei o meu ataque, um golpe com uma força que jamais saberei explicar de onde surgiu. Na sua breve distracção, o meu Mestre nunca percebeu como o meu sabre arremessou o seu para cima, ele quase que não o segurava...
O seu flanco estava desprotegido, investi, seria a sua derrota...
... Mas a Força, tão poderosa naquele ser, deteve-me. Não poderia aniquilar o meu Mestre.
Apercebendo-se da sua falha, o meu Mestre investiu com um golpe que me removeu o sabre de luz da minha mão...
A lâmina do seu sabre estava agora sobre a minha garganta...
- Um aprendiz nunca poderá bater o seu mestre!
Estas palavras ecoaram no meu crânio como se de lá não pudessem sair. Eu tinha falhado, não por falta de perícia ou conhecimento... mas por compaixão...
-Nunca serás completo...
Ao desligar o seu sabre de luz, senti que também se desligava a minha ligação com o meu Mestre...
Levantei-me rápidamente e ao tomar o meu sabre, liguei-o. Com toda a minha raiva, decidi não dar uma segunda hipótese ao traidor que se tornou o meu Mestre. Odiava-o por tudo o que me tinha feito, pelo terror que me incutiu, pelas odiosas missões que me atribuiu. O Lado Negro fluía. Não podia terminar tudo assim... ele é que tinha saído derrotado, não eu!
Sem ter muito tempo para decidir, o meu Mestre defendeu-se como pôde mas quem agora dominava o combate era eu. Com toda a minha ira debati-me sem medo e o meu adversário não conseguia anular as minhas investidas...
Com um golpe preciso removi-lhe o seu sabre de luz do seu punho fechado, milhares de pequenas peças voaram pelo chão do hangar...
Olhei-o. Derrotado e surpreendido, ficou imóvel no meio do hangar... A sua face escondida nas sombras parecia irradiar ódio... Naquele segundo percebi que o Universo estava nas minhas mãos. Não mais era o aprendiz de Sith. A vida do meu Mestre, ao terminar logo alí, já não fazia sentido... Eu era mais forte. E por isso mesmo... não o ataquei, não era assim que teria de ser...
O meu Mestre também se apercebeu.
-Bom! Muito bom! O teu treino está completo. Usas o Lado Negro de uma forma plena. De facto és forte na Força. - Ele chegou-se mais perto - Mas o teu íntimo trai-te. A tua soberba fez-te sentir mais forte e enganou-te. Tu não és mais forte que o teu Mestre, tu és apenas um instrumento. Eu dir-te-ei o quão forte tu és. E usar-te-ei sempre para fazer cumprir o meu propósito, o propósito do Lado Negro. Tu não podes combater o poder do Lado Negro. Tens que me obedecer...
Alí fiquei... impávido... imóvel... O sabre ainda no ar...
O meu Mestre voltou-se para as sombras e surgiram quatro Imperial Red Guards. Coloquei-me pronto para os derrotar, como já muitas vezes o havia feito.
Antes de sair, no entanto, o meu Mestre ainda me disse:
-Mas tu não és, nem serás, um Sith...
O meu Mestre desferiu o golpe final, como um tiro certeiro no meu peito, senti-me verdadeiramente derrotado. Tudo aquilo que tinha batalhado foi destruido pelas palavras frias do meu Mestre. Nem o seu sabre de luz que quase me matou me fez sentir tanto o ardor da derrota. Não conseguindo me bater na Força, o meu Mestre bateu-me no meu ego.
Todos os anos de treino e ensino, resumidos a nada.
-Irei contactar-te para algumas missões. Nada mais.
Olhei para as silhuetas na escuridão e avancei. Iria destruí-los a todos, talvez tudo isto fosse um teste à minha persistência... talvez...
Nas sombras surgiu uma outra figura que ligou o seu sabre de luz apontado à minha face.
A sua cara era horrível cheia de tatuagens Sith. O seu olhar era de ódio profundo e iria matar-me sem complexos naquele instante, não fosse...
-Lord Maul, deixe-o... Ele vai servir o nosso propósito...
De súbito, percebi que havia sido preterido... Outro ocupava o meu lugar como aprendiz de Sith.
Quando todos desapareceram nas sombras, senti que o Lado Negro me falava... mas dizia-me algo que nunca mais esquecerei... ajoeilhei-me perplexo e sem fala...
-Nunca serás um Sith... mas isso não significa que não serás poderoso!
A Galáxia esperava-me...

In Dreams

2007-01-31T17:49:00.000Z

Título do Autor:
"In Dreams"

Autor:
LaYa_ a.k.a. parafina falsificada

Origem:
Portugal

Língua:
Inglês

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In Dreams

In dreams, I still see you. It’s like you were alive and you were here. You are like a shadow that torments me, that pursues me, that reminds me of my past. A past in which I was Anakin Skywalker, in which you were mine and you were alive…

In dreams, I still hold you, just like I used to do. But only in my dreams. Because in reality, you are dead and I am alive. Though I am not the man I used to be. Now, I can’t breathe on my own, I can’t see the galaxy with my own eyes…. I am more machine than man.

You are dead. You are just a memory that stills on my thoughts. I killed you. In my anger, I killed you. You and the baby. I killed you both. I killed the ones I loved the most.

In dreams, I still hear one of the last things you said to me…

“I will never stop loving you, but you are going down a path I cannot follow.”

I didn’t want to listen you, I didn’t want to understand you, I only took attention to the power I wanted: the power to save you. And it was searching that power, that I killed you.

In my dreams, I think about what could have been. If this had never happened. If I hadn’t killed you, if you were still here with me, just like you are in my dreams. I failed you, Padmé. You and the baby. First, I failed my mother, now you and the baby. It is just too hard to think about it. I loved – I love - you so much and I murdered you. I spent all these years trying to protect you from death and I was the one responsible for yours.

I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life. I don’t know how, but I will have to.

In reality, you are dead. You are not with me anymore. And that hurts. So much.

But when I close my eyes, I still see your face. I still hear your voice. I still feel your touch. That is why I prefer to sleep. Because I know that in my dreams, you will always be alive.

Outpost 34

2007-01-27T20:25:00.000Z

Título do Autor:
"Men of Trust - Outpost 34"

Autor:
Darth En Ghedi

Origem:
Portugal

Língua:
Inglês

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“Only the best are sent to the "Empire's Pride"
Only the strong-minded… the Elite, can reach Outpost 34!”

A place in the limits of the outer rim, it was constructed in the early days of the Clone Wars. Back then, it had the best and most advanced technology, not to mention a whole legion of the best infantry and pilots the Republic had to offer.
During the Clone Wars it played a vital role in intercepting Separatist vessels and even combating piracy that would feed Dooku’s armies with supplies.
The Emperor himself had visited the outpost twice. Once during its early days, and again during an inspection.
The station was kept pristine and always supplied with the best the Republic and then the Empire could afford. Not because of it strategic importance, which was close to none, but because it was a symbol of Imperial dominance and a ode to control.
But as the Empire spread, the station began having less and less strategic importance.
With the end of the clone armies, the Empire started to engage in less expensive and faster to build technology, resulting in faster efficiency sacrificing quality.
The famous and fierce Stormtroopers never arrived to the station. The last infantry departed during the first indications of rebellion. They were needed in other places… real battles.
All that was left was a small garrison of Marine Troopers equipped with the extinguished Clone Trooper technology and six squadrons of old V-Wing fighters kept in operational readiness by the dedicated mechanics.
The whole station, however, was kept in full yellow alert status with information coming from Coruscant that the rebellion was becoming bolder. So, the once top of the line machines, weapons and systems were maintained in an impeccable readiness too.
Captain Marcus Habak was dispatched to the Outpost fresh out of the Academy and soon became commander of the station. Habak was now 58 and the years passed through him silently in this forsaken place.
His crew was dedicated, but as Coruscant contacted them less and less, it was hard to maintain discipline and make explanations to the men.
Still, the last transmission this morning, was somehow reassuring.
-Commander. Special message by emperor Palpatine. – Communications Officer Ord Getam, interrupted the Commander’s rest, via the intercom.
-Send it to my personal screen here in my quarters –The Captain said, still waking up.
-Very well sir.
Another face replaced the Officer. But, it wasn’t the Emperor. This only fed the rumors that Palpatine was now much less interested in the armies and more focused in his sick Sith religion.
Moff Jerjerrod was speaking on his behalf. He looked tired and spoke slowly. This far into space it was a monologue. Direct dialogue wasn’t possible due to the latency. So it wasn’t a communication. It was a message.
-“Commander Habak. I hope all is well in your outpost. The Emperor as instructed me personally to inform you that the latest weapon of the Empire, the Death Star, is finally operational. Therefore, the rebellion will reach and end soon. Fear will create order in the systems. And we all rejoice in this ultimate weapon. But not all are good news, I’m afraid. It seems the Imperial Strategists do not agree with the expenses wasted in keeping a misplaced outpost and we are considering transferring your garrisons back to the inner territories, perhaps in one of the fleet’s vessels. The Emperor feels we need to concentrate forces into putting and end to the illicit commercial activities and finally establish the Imperial dominance in all sectors. Thank you for your time, Commander.”
Habak was still for a minute after the screen went blank. Two feelings he had… It was great to finally leave that rock but Jerjerrod was omitting something. It seems his opinion was not unique.
-They are getting desperate to fight the Rebels… -First Officer Juak Nar, appeared in the screen- They are gathering resources to make a stand.
-What makes you say that, Captain Nar?
-Jerjerrod was never a good liar.
-Keep this message classified. I will address the men as soon as we get the final orders. We need to keep the readiness status.
-With all due respect Commander. But it seems unavoidable, now that we are abandoning this facility. Shouldn’t we concentrate in shutting the systems down and securing the Intel and sensitive items for our transfer?
-We don’t have orders yet, Juak. Telling that to the men now, will only create anxiety, we'll loose their effectiveness. Also, it will take some time to send a ship to pick us up. So it is best that we wait for the Imperial orders to arrive.
-Then at least we should warn Security of this situation to contain the men.
-Contain the men? What kind of phrase is that?
-I am only defending Imperial interests from the hands of opportunists!
-You are only defending Imperial interests if you obey to direct orders, Captain!
-But sir…
-Enough, Captain Nar. Keep this between us. I will handle this personally.
-Very well, Commander. But I must mention that I do not agree with this.
-Enough! Erase this message along with its log.
-As you wish...
Habak shutdown the screen and lied in his bed.
Captain Nar was eager to get the High Command’s commission to Captain-Commander. Always making sure the logs contained some of his bright ideas.
At his age, however, Habak couldn’t ask for more. He would command some Star Destroyer inspecting cargo freights and deploying troops for the rest of his life. Beats living in an asteroid with an outpost built far from everything and everyone.
He was terrified to die here someday…

Captain Nar was walking down the control station’s stairs to the barracks were he called Lieutenant Hoger.
-A word, Lieutenant.
-Yes sir. –The Lieutenant was armored with the old Clone Trooper Marine outfit.
Captain Nar gestured the Lieutenant to follow him outside the barracks. Hoger understood the message and predicting a low voice he removed his helmet.
-Lieutenant, what I am about to tell you is strictly confidential. Do you understand?
-Of course, sir!
-Some things are about to happen here. I cannot go into details, but this station will be vulnerable. Now, the Commander wishes that this happens smoothly. We all now that, at a phase of vulnerability, some find it easier to take what’s not theirs or to keep something for later profit. Things such as Imperial classified information.
-But sir, we are still in full alert, my men are spread in their posts, I don’t see what more we can do!
-You will relocate your men to guard more… sensitive areas. Like the archive and the vault. We must consider everyone here as potential thieves. We are at war, Lieutenant.
-I can’t do that without raising suspicion, Commander Habak must…
-No! This is between you and me, Lieutenant. This was issued to me, by the Commander directly.
-May I ask what’s so important we are protecting sir?
-No, you may not. It will suffice to know that if it falls in wrong hands it would endanger the Emperor’s plans. Why do you think the Empire keeps this rock?
-Very well, Captain. I will make it so. My men will be relocated shortly.
-Good! Make sure you only explain the essential to your men. Any details about this and you will be held responsible.
-Yes, sir!
-Oh, and Lieutenant... There will be weird things happening. It will look like I am being... silenced. I don't ask you to disobey to Commander Habak, but it's essential we keep in touch.
-Sir, I...
-Major, I shouldn't remind you how much influence I got in Coruscant. A man of your value could easily be recruited to the Imperial Red Guard. And your men. Any other station would be much better than this hole... I am a personal friend of the Commander of the 501st. You're men would make fine assets to this elite Garrison. And these are not promises.... I'm sure we will stay in touch, whenever I need you...
-Of course, sir! - Lieutenant Hoger smiled.
As Captain Nar moved away, Hoger looked at him and frowned. “What is going on?” he thought.
He cleared his mind and putting back is helmet he contacted the men in their posts to relocate them.

Commander Habak reached the Command Station and was joined the First Officer.
-What’s our status, Captain?
Nar looked around. He didn't exactly knew, but he would pretend to. Like he always did.
-Executing the standard Full Readiness procedures. All squadrons are on stand-by. We’re monitoring every route that passes through this sector. Activity insignificant. -Nar approached the Radar screens and pointed out a few blurs in the scope - We did have some hyperspace residue up in the left quadrant of sector 2-14. We oriented the scanners to check it, no sign of activity. Perhaps a passing ship in hyperspace.
-Perhaps! But protocol states we send a squadron for confirmation.
-Ah, yes sir. But I found it insignificant. It was just residue, there are no signs of ships in the scanners.
-Still, we are sending a fully armed squadron. There could be something up there. This is a dead communications zone; a ship could easily cloak itself in this area.
-But sir, the…
-Alert Squadron 6, deploy the V-Wings for interception – The Commander was no longer listening to Nar, he was talking to the Communications Officer. Nar was visibly angry. Habak turned to him- Don’t you ever create a debate over the protocol! – He whispered to the First Officer.
-But sir this is pointless! To send a…
-You will follow orders or I will find someone else to do it, did I speak clear enough for you? – Commander Habak was now shouting face-to-face with Nar.
-Yes, sir! – Nar had no choice.
-Good! I am the Commanding Officer of this outpost and my orders are to obey the protocol. This is not a democracy!
Captain Nar was sweating. He was humiliated in front of the men. Never in all those years as an Imperial Officer did he felt so powerless. Habak lost it…
-Commander, Squadron 6 has left the hangar and is moving at high speed to sector 2-14. Major M’leir is the Squadron Leader. – Officer Getam interrupted the aroused conversation.
-Very Well. Major M’Leir, this is Commander Habak, report anything you see no matter how odd it may look.
-Aye Sir. What are we looking for, sir?
-Scanners report hyperspace residue. Expect either debris or more than that.
-Ships, sir?
-Anything, Major. Beware that that’s a dead zone, we’ll loose communications for a while.
-Roger! – The communications ended with static. Out of range.
-May I ask what’s so special about Hyperspace dust, sir? – Captain Nar expected to regain his posture. The Commander would have no plausible answer. And he would look good to the man…
-Modern ships have cloaking devices. Our visual scanners can’t see them.
-But the electronic ones would detect them, and they…
-If communications are dead in that sector, do you seriously believe that scanners are effective? We must assume that a ship dropped out of hyperspace and could be shadowing itself in that blind zone.
The Commander was right. Still Nar wouldn’t budge.
-Sir, this is highly irregular, we are being over-zealous over something that represents no serious threat to this fully armed station. We are wasting valuable resources on a hunch.
-Are we?
-Well, yes sir. We have other issues at hand. And this is not the first time I am right about something you disagree!
-I see. And I should not be so over-zealous now that we have you and your righteousness?
-Well I don’t…
-I had enough of you Juak! – The Commander turned to the Marines by the door – Officers, take Captain Nar under custody on the charges of questioning the authority of a Commanding Officer.
Nar was petrified. Commander Habak approached him and removed his First Officer Insignias.
-It’s my job to call you to your senses, Commander Habak, in no way this is…
-I said, I had enough of you! Take him away. Lock him in his room.
Even though the Marines were aside him, Nar didn't move. Habak approached him with the clear idea to confront him.
The Medical Officer, Lieutenant Sweshar heard the aroused voices in the bridge and he ran out of the Medical Center to reach between the Commander and the Captain, before anything worse would happen.
-Sir, perhaps this is not the right time, but I overheard all this and I think we could...
-Ah yes, Lieutenant Sweshar. I was about to call you.
Sweshar was going to say something but the Commander continued.
-Carry on with our mission… First Officer Sweshar. -The Commander spoke in a higher tone, looking firmly into Nar's eyes and placed his rank insignia in Sweshar's uniform - Contact the squadron for their status, I'm sure you are aware of the current situation, if not, any man here can brief you. You will do a better job than Nar, I'm sure.
Sweshar immediately understood the whole situation. He stopped talking. He was now an High Ranking Officer. And now it seemed like an adrenaline shot hit him. The coming of Nar to this Outpost had demoted him back to the sick bay. So this was his chance. He tapped the Communications Officer on his shoulder. He was still shaking.
-Carry on. Contact the Squadron.
As Nar was being escorted out, he looked back. Habak was watching the screens. He didn’t face him. But Sweshar looked at Nar. There was some sense of vengeance... but also a sense of confusion from all this. But now Sweshar didn't wish to draw his mind out of this situation he looked away and wished that that was the last time he would see the arrogant Officer Nar.

Tower AD23 was facing the “Dead Zone”. It was boring job, no matter how much the officer kept telling the men how important it was to monitor the Outpost’s most vulnerable area. It had the most powerful cannons and the most accurate scanners. They saw nothing when the Conn asked them to monitor the upper left quadrant of sector 2-14. Now they were following the ships of V-Wing Squadron 6 that went into the area. Suddenly the ships disappeared from the scopes.
-Sir! The ships are gone! Maybe they were destroyed! I’ll contact the Conn…- Private Reedius was scared.
-Relax, rookie –Sergeant Dietl was sitting back in his chair – They’ll return. They always do… Big boys with their toys. Did you know I applied for the Tie Academy? I was the…
-Look sir! There’s a glare! – Reedius interrupted, he was pointing out to the horizon- Looks like an explosion… I better….
-Hey! I told you to relax; now sit down and don’t interrupt me!
-Sir, there’s something else…
-ANYWAY- Sergeant Dietl was shouting – The Academy was filled with Coruscant hot-shots, so a guy like me, used to the rushed skies of Corellia, would jump out of the crowd, right?- The private didn’t answer – Hey, I’m talking to you!
The sergeant jumped out of his chair to see at what the private was looking at… He was shocked…
Just above them a number of infinite stars were shinning but then more kept appearing. The sergeant realized those weren’t stars… There were hundreds of vessels of all types approaching slowly just above the asteroid's orbit.
The sergeant and the private were mute and static. This was unbelievable. The scanners showed nothing. Watching that immense group of ships they suddenly realized what that meant. “Security Breach” they thought. The early warning systems didn’t trigger.
Private Reedius did raise his arm to arm the defenses. But it was too late.
The small security tower was engulfed by a great white glare and was completely destroyed by one of the cruisers.
The inbuilt computer, however, worked faster than the two men. It contacted the mainframe computer in the command post and reported the intrusion.

-Lieutenant Sweshar, sir! – Officer Getam reached the new First Officer cautiously. The Commander was still waiting for Squadron 6 to report, so he wouldn't bother him with this- I have a situation.
-What is it Getam?
-Sir, we lost contact with one of the towers. Alpha Delta 23 to be more specific.
-So… We’re in the middle of something here, send in some droids.
-Ah, yes sir, but you see, this could be related, ‘23 is facing sector 2-14.
-Did you loose complete contact?
-Yes sir, we tried radio and holographic.
-That’s very close to the “dead zone”. It’s probably some interference. Do you have any teams out there to reach them?
-We’ve got some mining droids working on a nearby crater.
-Ok, instruct those droids to reach the tower and order the men inside to make the necessary repairs. This is an old station. Most likely they didn’t even notice they lost contact with us.
-Right away, sir.
But Sweshar felt something was wrong.
-When you say, “facing that sector”, how close are they?
-Well sir they are immediately facing the dead zone. The tower was built as an early warning station and it’s the most remote post, also the most well armed.
-How far are those mining droids?
-About 3 minutes.
-Do they have a visual on the tower?
-I think so, sir!
-Let’s see that image!
Mining droids were equipped with remote holocameras in order to help the engineers figure out a way to repair the fissures the asteroid had. This was a recent problem affecting the Asteroid's integrity. Worse than that, the base extended under the ground to this area. It contained a secondary reactor and several storage halls. It was necessary to make repairs before the structure would be affected. So the droids worked night and day. Using the droids the engineers could repair the damage without moving outside into space. The cameras were rude and with limited zoom, but Sweshar didn’t need high definition to understand what he was looking at.
Once there was tower there, now there was pile of rubble and debris floating in the zero gravity poor atmosphere…
-That tower was destroyed! What caused that? – On the screen Sweshar could see a grey blur moving above the tower.- Order that droid to look up!
-Up, sir?
-NOW! – It wasn’t exactly an order, it was more like a desperate request that caught everyone’s attention.
As the mining droid received the information it stopped in the rugged rock surface and slowly moved its metal body upwards.
In the black sky, hundreds of ships of all shapes and sizes appeared. It was an evident attack. But if there were doubts, the closest ship emitted what looked like a laser blast and the image went black.
Sweshar turned to meet the Commander, but Habak was standing right next to him watching the same screen. Before anyone could say or do anything the Commander ordered loudly:
-BATTLE STATIONS! Raise the shields at full power. Arm the heavy blasters, seal all compartments and evacuate the towers. – Turning to the Marines near the door- Seal off the bridge!
A Battle was imminent. The men, who were trained in drills almost daily weren’t nervous… but they were scared.

As all the lights went red around the base, Lieutenant Nar, locked in his quarters looked outside just in time before the blast shields shut his windows. He saw the ships… And he realized what was going on…
-Finally! - He raised a small concealed intercom- Lieutenant Hoger? It's time!

The Main screen in the bridge illuminated the men, it was a message from the invaders. Admiral Ken'horr, a known former Imperial Commander, who was wanted by the Empire for treason, was on the screen. Apparently he was the commander of this invading fleet. His voice echoed in the whole battle station.
-"Imperial Outpost, this is the Flag Ship "Seeker" of the Alliance, surrender your weapons. There's no point engaging a combat at this stage. You are surrounded and your weapons cannot even scratch the hulls of our vessels. We wish to board and take control of that Outpost. You will not be harmed and will not be treated as prisoners."
The message was dry. The men inside the bridge were petrified and silent.
Finally, Habak broke the silence.
-Ken'horr! I should have known. Only you could pull a stunt like this! You'll get no surrender, rebel scum. You are trespassing. This is an Imperial sector and I will not tolerate this lack of obedience to the Imperial laws of boundaries. You are hereby, processed as offenders and an entire imperial fleet is already on its way to intercept you. YOU will surrender and prepare to be boarded by US.
If the men were scared, now they were terrified. They were outnumbered, no match for the hundreds of Rebel ships. What was the Commander thinking? They would be killed. These rebels were offering truce and he just refused it.
-"Ah, yes... and you are, sir?" - Ken'horr asked.
-Commander Habak of the Imperial Navy.
-"I am sorry, Commander, I didn't know such an important officer was aboard this Outpost".
-Enough talking, Rebel, disable your shields and prepare to be arrested for treason.
-"I'm not sure you are analyzing your situation with care, I don't think you're in the position to demand anything."
Sweshar approached the Commander and whispered:
-Sir, please! He is right, we can't battle them, they have us! Please consider their offer.
-Surrender? Why?
As if hearing the question, Ken'horr answered:
-"Well, there's no point fighting, after all the Alliance as won the war against he Empire. Palpatine was killed inside his Death Star".
This was felt like a bomb inside the bridge, every man was looking at each-other, asking if that was true as if anyone inside that forsaken place could really give the answer.
It all seemed impossible, but still, something made them feel there could be some truth in that statement. If so, there was really no point in making a stand.
-That's impossible. You lie!
-"Really? Well then, call your friends in Coruscant and wait for their reply. Nowhere to be found... besides, if I was lying how could I travel around the Galaxy with this enormous fleet and not be intercepted by some Super-Star Destroyer? Simply because the whole Imperial fleet is gone and we are now... inviting the remaining officers to surrender... Some did not, unfortunately... Don't join those, Commander, for your men's sake".
-You'll never have that pleasure! This station is fully operational. Unless the Emperor himself order me so, I will not stand down.
-"Very well. I remind you that I came here with an offer of peace!" - The screen went blank.
The men just couldn't understand. Still they dared not to go against the Commander's judgment. But Sweshar had another go.
-Sir, please, if he's right, we're wasting our time and probably our lives too! They will destroy this base, let it be without us inside!
-Enough Sweshar! You're not defying me, are you?
-No sir!
-All commands - The commander ignored the first officer and was talking to the intercom - Be ready for any assault attempts. Stand at your post until called.
Around the base all men were alert and ready. This was not a drill.
Outside, the vessels appeared to turn their starboard sides directly to the asteroid. Some smaller ships were moving away from the bigger ships. They were going to strike.
-Bombardment, prepare yourselves for impact! - Sweshar ordered, he ducked behind the main console and looking behind him, the Commander was sitting his chair, calm and looking at the empty.- Sir? - Habak looked at him and raised from his chair.
-What are you doing, Lieutenant? -Habak came closer to Sweshar. In the main screens a red glow was forming from the main Calamari ships, Heavy batteries were firing. - Come to your posture, First Officer.
Sweshar couldn't understand. The Commander was obviously mad. When he grabbed his arm, though, he didn't fight, with that amount of firepower on it way, that console wasn't going to make much difference.
Looking above, the Laser blasts approached very fast and in a split second the impact was felt. The whole base shook violently throwing people aside and braking objects. It was a blast like they never felt. The Lieutenant was projected to the floor. But the Commander grabbed the heavy console and kept his equilibrium.
But besides some debris of broken objects and some minor electric sparkles, there was nothing. The shields have held the impact.
-Damage Report!- The Commander screamed above the crying man and the rumble sound - All stations, Damage Report!
One by one all stations reported some minor damage, no victims.
The Commander turned to Sweshar to find a confused man.
-How? - Words were hard to pronounce, he was shocked.
-This station may be old, but it has its secrets. It's shield is the same equipping the Imperial Palace in Coruscant. Impervious to any weapon.
Still amazed the First Officer still thought the Commander had gone too far. He was over-confident on this shield that due to its age could be malfunctioning. As a Doctor, Sweshar read all the signs of mental disturbance... perhaps the commander couldn't handle his position well, under stress.
-Fire the Heavy Cannons! - The Commander ordered. The men were still recovering from the impact it took them some time to react- Lieutenant Sweshar, put you men in order! - He turned to the First Officer.
The Lieutenant raised from the floor immediately and was screaming.
-You heard the Captain, make calculations for a full power cannon blast, Fire at Will!
In two seconds a loud hum was heard from the cannons charging and then four white lines of Laser were spotted on the screen hitting the main firing ship and a smaller Corellian freighter blasting the smaller to pieces. The big Cruiser however had it's shields up and was able to withstand the massive firepower, apparently with some minor damage.
The main screen was cracked but still was able to receive the incoming message from the Rebel fleet.
-"It seems you have some tricks up your sleeves... Well I wouldn't come here if I didn't have my own..."
The Commander couldn't reply since the communication had ended.
There was silence mixed with murmuring. No one could understand what exactly was happening, they just fulfilled orders and execute what they had trained for years.
The shields appeared to be holding. They sustained 10% of energy loss from the impact but the generators were renewing the layers so it was increasing defense power as time passed. The cannons were also amazingly powerful and fully functional.
-Remind me to thank the maintenance crew. Never doubted their skills. – Habak was smiling.
-I wonder what will they come up with, sir… - The Lieutenant was somehow confident but still scared. Even though he knew the Commander wouldn’t budge, he decided to try one more time- Even if they don’t succeed attacking us, they can blockade us…
-You are right, Lieutenant! – The Commander was surprisingly agreeing – Send an alert to the Imperial Security Channel before they can completely disrupt our communications. Any nearby ship should come to our aid.
-Sir, we’re too far, it could take days.
-The station will hold, we got supplies for many months.
-Are we to seriously consider making a stand in a blockade, sir? If the war is truly over, this could be in vain.
The Commander didn’t reply. He was becoming aggravated and didn’t reply to the Lieutenant.
-Add to the distress signal that I wish to have an Imperial Officer escorted back to Coruscant for a Court Martial. – The Captain turned to face Sweshar – Don’t make it two officers, Lieutenant!
As the captain left the bridge, Sweshar looked at him with suspicion. One day this man was an experienced Commander maintaining the men he so trusted in line, now he was destroying any trust the man had in him. It appeared the Commander was loosing it under pressure. Something had to be done! But later!
-The First Officer, has the control, I will investigate the damage throughout the base. Carry on! – The Commander left signaling a group of engineers to follow him.
He was leaving? Now? How much trust this man had in these old shields? What were the Rebels thinking next? Sweshar was feeling the pressure.
-I want every monitor we have on those ships! Every move reported, any action recorded. – Sweshar jumped to the communications officer – I want you to send a distress call to the fleet.
The Communications Officer looked at the Lieutenant with disbelief.
-I am monitoring enemy communications, sir…
-I know, this won’t take long… Believe me, it’s better to call for those ships.
The Officer recognized the importance of this call. He whispered.
-We’re making a stand here, sir? With the war over? We might as well lower those shields and let…
-Keep that kind of comments to yourself, I want the men united and mindful.
-Yes Sir! But with all due respect, the Commander isn't acting normally! He must be called to reason!
-That's enough Getam! One more word and I'll have you locked for insubordination!
-Lieutenant! You have to do something! Captain Nar is locked away, you'll go next. Why? Because the captain knows you're right! And he is putting away the competition. The war is over! This is pointless!
The Lieutenant looked around to find the men concentrated in the panels and not listening to the two officers in their private conversation. He approached Getam.
-Look, Ord, I know this may sound strange, but the Commander is doing the right thing. For what is worth, the rebels are our enemy. They must be lying! We need to trust the Commander! He won't fail us. I trust him! - He lied... for the good of the whole chain of command, but he knew Getam was right. But now was not the time - We have a crisis at hands, in war or not. Do your best to keep the men focused.
-Very well.
Sweshar went away to the Command chair. As he checked the monitors, the enemy ships were moving in a confused pattern.
-What are they doing, Corporal?
Corporal Sen-Har, Radar Officer was as confused as the Lieutenant.
-It seems they are repositioning the ships, sir. I just don't know for what reason.
As the main heavy ships moved, the smaller ones converged to the front sector of the Outpost, it seems they were positioning themselves to cover the hangars. Typical blockade maneuver, no one would leave the Outpost. But the main ships, those were moving in a strange pattern.
-Sir! They're blocking us!
-I see it corporal! Arm the main hangar blasters. We need to make safe passage in case we need to escape.
-Sir, should we drain energy from the Defense Cannons or the Shield?
-From the Cannons, it seems they don't make much of a difference...
A low level hum was heard while the main Defense Cannons were drained from full power and the Heavy Blasters mounted just above the V-Wing Hangars were armed.
They waited. No attack occurred.
-"Bridge, this is Target Command, Request permission to open fire, sir! We got them all trained in our scopes". - A radio transmission interrupted their silence.
-Stand down, Officer! We need all the resources we can get, Don't waste the power, they can outmaneuver the blasts. We need to do it when we get the evacuation ships ready!
-"Yes, sir!"
"This is a diversion" he thought. The bigger ships were preparing something for sure. They needed to prepare for a possible evacuation.

-What is the meaning of this? - Commander Habak had returned from his inspection he was looking at the gauges - Why aren't the Main Cannons fully powered?
-Sir, they moved to the front sector and appear to be aiming our hangars. If the shields fail, we'll loose any means of evacuation!
-The shields will not fail, let them throw all they got against us. Re-route the power to the Defense Cannons. They're the only thing we got that's keeping them away from landing in the asteroid to commence a land attack. Fire those cannons at them! Keep them away! This is a decoy!
-Very well, sir! Full power on the main Cannons. - As the order was fulfilled the low level hum was back. - Prepare them to Fire.
The Lieutenant was furious. A fury that burned inside. The Commander was stubborn to make a stand. Sweshar knew that they had to make a safe passage to a possible evacuation, it's protocol in blockade situations. These rebels would fire everything they had, and they needed an escape plan. No point arguing, though. It was time to act.

Before anyone could do or say anything, the heavy Rebel ships fired several blasts again.
Every one grabbed something to prepare for impact.
But something was different. The blasts didn't approach the Outpost itself, somewhere else. The asteroid's surface.
The impact was much lighter, but still strong, affecting the Asteroid ground with an immense tremor. In the few seconds these tremors lasted the lights and instruments shimmered.
Habak didn't understand at first. But then he figured the severity of all this.
-The third reactor is underneath the ground in sector 2-14! How could they know that? - Sweshar was scared.
- Relax, Lieutenant, the reactor is buried deep down, no blast could do any damage.
-And if the Asteroid's surface is becoming cracked?- Sweshar had no reply, but the Commander's expression said it all.
Everyone was petrified. This was a weakness. A weakness the engineers failed to address. They sent in droids to analyze, but still they moved slowly to come up with a solution. They were under orders of Captain Nar. That Officer just had another point to be addressed in court.

The Rebel ships fired again, this time the impact was much stronger. All the sensors and instruments went flashing and the lights shutdown. Reactor number 3 was destroyed, every system fed by it was dead. Part of the shield was also lost. The floor rumbled so much the men fell from their chairs.
-All reactors concentrated on feeding the shield. - Habak was yelling to the scared men. The whole bridge was in chaos.
-Sir, in order to maintain full power on the shields we'll need to shutdown several functions. We'll loose the cannons, we can strike now or loose them! -Sweshar knew the answer.
-Shut them down! Just leave the Life Support system.
-Right Away sir.
As the main shields came back to full power, most of the other systems were lost. Just one console was fully powered, the Communications console, which was activated by another incoming message. It was Ken'horr again.
-"And know, Commander, we shall discuss the terms of your surrender. Your battle station is crippled and your men are scared. Spare their lives. I'll give you some time to think about it!"
The screen went blank again. Habak was tired and hurt. Still he raised and cleaned the dust from his uniform.
- Damage Report! - He ordered to the intercom.
One by one, all stations had something to report, mostly power loss. Since all compartments were sealed with blast doors, the access to the third reactor wasn't affected by it's destruction, still there was some men on the floor, fainted. Marines reached them.
-"They appear to be alright, but they passed out, sir." - A Marine Trooper was reporting - "We request a medical team to come down here, sir, one appears to have radiation wounds".
-Radiation? Are you reading any leaks?
-"No sir. Perhaps he was pulled out from the closing blast doors by the other men, during the explosion".
-We'll send a medical party.
-"Aye, Sir"
-Sweshar, you're the best doctor in this Outpost, you will go with the medical crew.
-I truly wish to help those men sir, but I request I remain here helping you deal with this. The Medical crew is skilled enough to handle this, I'm sure...
-Request denied. You have your orders.
Once again Sweshar was burning inside. This was outrageous. For the first time in his career as an Imperial Officer, he had the chance to fulfill his dream of Commanding a Battle Station. Even if it was a temporary situation. After his decision to drain power from the cannons, he only wished his medical training had once again relegate him out of the Command Bridge. Hopefully he would help those men and return to his post. But something told him this wasn't the case. Habak felt his weak judgment.
But he buried those thoughts now. Above all, he was an officer that could not be influenced by feelings.

Lieutenant Rudolph Sweshar achieved the Highest score in the Officer Academy in Coruscant. He was pointed out by Grand Moff Tarkin himself to the highest honor a cadet could receive: The Imperial "Man of Trust" award. In every field he was brilliant.
One day, however, due to the high number of active officers he was given a choice to join the Imperial Intelligence or be recruited for the Combating Fleet. It wasn't an easy choice. If he chose to remain in Coruscant to join the Intelligence squad, he would be put behind a desk for the rest of his life. If he was to join the Imperial Navy, however, he would reach his dream, but with the expense of joining with a low level rank of Second Lieutenant.
He served aboard several Star Destroyers, until the Officers found him to be a threat to themselves and started to assign him with less important tasks.
Then there was a call for Officers with medical experience, when several physicians perished in the many battles against pirates, scoundrels and now the rebels. Even though that wasn't his ideal career, it would put him closer and above the chain of command. Closer to his objective of becoming a commanding officer, something he had tasted today. He had graduated as a Doctor in General Practice, and was easily selected.
To avoid the bloody battlefields he enlisted himself in Bases and Outposts. Little did he know he would end up here, the war was apparently over and he was serving an insane officer.
-It needn't be like this, Officer.
The voiced echoed in the corridor of the officers quarters. He didn't need to look to see who it was speaking from the room, where two Marine Troopers guarded the door.
-When an officer is locked away he must be... Locked... Troopers! - Sweshar was speaking to the troopers not stopping from his errand- Close that door.
-They won't do it, I ordered them to open it, I am a commanding officer.
-It seems, Captain Nar, that you are no longer integrated in the Chain of command - Sweshar finally stopped to face Captain Nar. He ordered the rest of the medical team to keep walking to their assignment- I am the First Officer of this Battle Station. We're not in the middle of some republic debate, so this isn't open to discussion.- He was clearly making a stand for those Marines.
-Really? I wonder when will Habak loose it completely to make you realize how serious this is, Doctor. Don't you care for these two Marine's opinion?
-Opinions are not of my concern. Not now. When this is over we will all be called to straight things out. Right now we are busy with much important things than your ego.
-I know you and I never got to talk. After all, my assignment here, has put your promotion farther away. I apologize. It wasn't my fault. You must believe me, I didn't wish to come to this place.
-I must go...
-Wait! Those men aren't ill.
-You're a Doctor now?
-They are under my orders. They're Ok. I just needed to talk to you, so I arranged this small diversion.
Sweshar was silent, he had heard of Nar's plots in other assignments. It seems the Emperor enjoyed his schemes. But for some reason, he wasn't successful all the time.
-A sane Commander wouldn't send you out on this errand, not now. This was an excuse to remove you silently and replace you for another officer. This is the evidence of his mad terror for questioning his position.
-And why are you so interested?
-The war is over. We should surrender. You and I know this. Besides this could be your chance! The Rebels often recruit former Imperial Officers for their ranks. The secret of war is not an issue anymore.
-The war isn't over. That's a trick to makes us stand down.
-Ah! So you don't know about the message we received this morning.
-I know there was a message. There's always a scheduled one. But I didn't have the time to read it.
-Forget it, the Commander erased it. He didn't want the men to know its content.
-And I suppose you know?
-I am the First Officer, I read the messages as the Captain also does. Only this time the message was so serious he deleted it.
-What was it?
-It was Moff Jerjerrod. He informed us of a historical fact... In one of the most amazing moves of the Force, The Death Star was... destroyed... The Rebels had won and he had escaped in time to transmit in the Emperor's secure channel. Don't you see? The Commander knew all about it! He's insane! His pride will kill us all!
-That's impossible. We still have some feed from Coruscant.
-But no messages!
-Were very far, messages take more time to travel and...
-Believe what you want to believe. This is the truth. Besides, Habak know that if the Rebels enter this base they will find some... sensitive material in the vault. So I guess he just wants destroy it and die alongside it...
-What sensitive material?
-Release me, and I will show you.
-It seems you are already free...
-The door is open, but... -He took an artifact from his table and threw it towards the Lieutenant. Before he could reach the officer, it was electrocuted to pieces in mid air revealing a small energy field - I'm sure the Commander himself is controlling this. Besides, The men could take my release as an act of mutiny.
-From you, this wouldn't be strange, at all.
-Even so. The Marines are loyal to me. Find a way to replace Habak and release me, and I will make sure you are rewarded by the Emperor himself.
-There's rumors about your methods.
-I'm in no position to lie, here...
-Those rebels out there?
-I contacted them. They would allow me safe passage back to Coruscant, no questions asked.
-What did you trade?
-Blueprints of the base, including the weak protection of Reactor 3.- Nar smiled...
-Traitor! Men died for this!
-Traitor to what? Habak is hiding... something... from you and me in that vault! He knows its value! So do the Rebels. Palpatine and his Empire are gone! Let's give the Rebels what they want. Save our lives... and guarantee our future in the process!
-You are no better that Ken'horr! You're a rebel traitor! I hope it's true the war is over, because if it's not I will personally make sure you are prosecuted!
-Why would those ships come all this way to this insignificant Outpost?- Nar was pointing to the window.
-No matter what their motives are. No matter what Habak is protecting, They're the enemy, with or without war. They would never do it without an insider. But this will come to an end soon. I bet the Emperor has already sent his ships here! He will make you an example!
-Are you willing to bet your life on that? - Nar approached the energy field as if he would cross it - Are you willing to bet these men's lives?
Sweshar looked to the two Marines who looked back at him behind their helmets. He couldn't resist to the fact that Nar had a point about the Commander, that he had nothing to lose, the Marines were with him and there wasn't much hope that help would come in time.
Sweshar was confused, but he knew that this blockade was a slow death if the war was indeed over. He wouldn't risk to wait and find out. He faced Nar again.
-If I do release you... What will you do?
-I will open the vault, remove what's inside and give it to the rebels! In exchange I'll ask for a full pardon for us and the men, and a request to go back to Coruscant to join the Alliance.
-Changing masters? They'll never agree on that!
- Ken'horr is with us!
"Us"... Nar used the word well, he felt Sweshar was sold...
-I must think about it. -A few seconds passed while Sweshar was digesting all this, he felt owned and powerless - If this is all just one of your schemes I will have your head.
The Marines suddenly moved to face the Lieutenant. Nar went back to the shadows inside his room. His voice was somehow enhanced by the menacing posture of the two Troopers.
-My young officer, your threats don't bother me now. I will be released with or without your help. I was just extending an opportunity. If you don't take it, others will. You see... -Nar approached once more the energy field - ...life is much more important than ideals...
The conversation was interrupted with the Medical Party returning with some hover-stretchers carrying the pretense wounded. He joined them back to the sick bay.
-I will expect your call, Lieutenant - Nar was smiling to the First Officer.
Sweshar didn't answer he was just lost in so many thoughts, he couldn't pronounce a word.

Reaching the sick bay, Sweshar tapped the Marines on the stretchers.
-You can go now. Report to your quarters! Take these bacta tanks and pretend you are using them to restore yourselves. By tomorrow resume your activities.
-If there is a tomorrow - One of the Marines replied before leaving the infirmary.
The First Officer decided not to reply. He looked back to the medical staff. They were speechless and confused.
-No word about this! This was just a drill. You did well, gentlemen.
The men seemed not to believe the Lieutenant. But he wouldn't loose time with them, he had other issues at hand.
Returning to the dark bridge, the Commander was now writing something in his data log, beside him the remote control to what appeared to be an energy locking system, probably Nar's.
The Command Center was now cold since most of the heating systems lost power to feed the shields.
There was some silence, only interrupted by the men reading the gauges, reporting to the supervisors and updating the enemy ships moves. No one noticed Sweshar entering the bridge. No one, except the Commander.
-How are the men? - He asked.
-They're fine. They fainted due to the impact, no serious problems.
-Radiations?
-Traces. Nothing dangerous. We isolated the site anyway.
-Good job! - Another moment of silence the Commander was listening to the frequent reports and kept writing whatever he was writing in his log. - Anything else, Lieutenant?
- No sir... I will resume my post. I would like a briefing of what happened when I was gone.
-That won't be necessary, Sweshar. You can report back to your previous post. I have assigned another officer to your post. You are needed in the sick bay. That's were you belong.
Sweshar felt colder now. As if ice was flowing down his back.
-With all due respect, sir! May I ask the reason for this?
-You lack the experience. I read your profile... Young and prosperous. Nothing more. Your decision almost killed us all.
-I wanted to create a path for a possible evacuation! You can't withdraw that possibility. If the was is over we will die here, cold and starving... - Sweshar started to speak in a louder tone - And I think you are not even considering the possibility that you can be wrong!
Habak looked around to see all his men looking at them.
-Mind your panels, men! - The men didn't obey. Habak felt he was loosing a battle. He raised from his chair to face the men - There's enemies out there! We need to be alert until reinforcements arrive! - The men didn't move.
-Sir, I believe I speak on the behalf of all men here, that you are not considering the odds properly, and can't accept the fact that we might die for a lost cause.
- Lost cause? The Emperor will have your head for this! -He turned back to the men. Sweshar took the opportunity to get the remote control - Carry on! I'm the Commanding Officer! - The men didn't move again.
-Sweshar! This is mutiny! You will join Nar in the Court Martial! Do you hear me?
-There will be no Court Martial... you are insane, Captain! Come to your senses. We lost this battle!
- No! Marines! I am declaring Martial Law in this Outpost, place Lieutenant Sweshar under custody in his quarters too. - He walked back to reach his remote control. Nowhere to be found.- Where is it? - He asked Sweshar - Where is it? Give it to me! It belongs to the Commanding Officer! Give it to me!
-It seems that you are no longer in Command, Captain Habak! - Captain Nar was entering the bridge, accompanied by a full platoon of Marines. - As the Second highest ranking Officer I am placing you under arrest for improper conduct and mental disorder.
- This man is a prisoner to face Court Martial. Take him back to his room, at once! - Habak was sweating and screaming now. He turned to Sweshar - This IS a mutiny! Marines arrest these men and everyone else not accomplishing my orders.
The Marines did walk down, not to arrest the two officers, but Habak himself. He didn't allow the Marines to grab him and they had to use force to secure him. The Captain fought with all his strength until a Marine hit him in the face with the back of his rifle. He passed out. Nar cowardly approached his blood-red face.
- I had enough of you, Habak! - Nar reached the captain's pocket to take what looked like a key. In that split second the Captain woke up and grabbed Nar's neck... The Marines aimed their weapons but where hesitant to fire.
-Shoot him! - Nar ordered while he choked... - Do it!...
Sweshar witnessed all this and reached the fighting men, but only to be halted by a nearby Marine who aimed his own rifle at him.
-You don't want to do that, sir! - Sweshar didn't move - Please, sir!
As Sweshar backed up, he turned his eyes away and heard Captain Nar scream one more order to make the Marines shoot the Commander.
One single shot echoed in every man's nerves was heard... then... complete silence.
- Take him away! - The Marines complied with a swift move and took the body back to the sick bay. They moved fast. No need for more spectacle.

Every man inside the bridge were shocked.
Every man except Nar. He turned back to the Lieutenant still massaging his neck. -You did well, Sweshar!
-Did I? - He couldn't be too elaborate in his speech.
-Of course! Now we will contact the Rebels and negotiate our escape. But before that, we will go to the vault together, to unveil its content. -There was an hesitant moment, then Nar continued - Well, First Officer, it seems you're in charge now... the orders?
Sweshar didn't know what to believe. Whatever it was inside that vault was so important to Nar he was willing to let go of his obvious post of Commander, almost too hard to believe that whatever it was, he would give it freely to the Rebels. He was willing to kill to have it...
Although disgusted, there was little Sweshar could do... for now...
-First, I want to know what is it!
-If only I knew.- Nar was good liar, but Sweshar knew better - We will find out together. These Rebels want this badly! So it must be very important to them.
- Very Well! - "Let's play the game a bit more" he thought - Lieutenant Getam has the Command. I will be in the vault. Keep me briefed. - He turned to Nar - I need the captain's insignias to access the vault.
-Well, sir... you can follow the body... - His disgusting sarcasm was unbearable, still Sweshar had to find strength to smile.
When he entered the infirmary he looked around his instruments and grabbed a metal box. He opened it to reveal a small blaster. "I knew it would become handy", he thought. Nar approached the door, just in time after Sweshar hid the gun in his pocket-
-Shall we? - Said the Captain.
-We shall! - Said Sweshar, taking the Commander's insignias from his body.

The two Officers walked to the vault escorted by a couple of remaining Marines. There was something strange about the way the Marines were so loyal to Nar. He sensed that those guarding the door of Nar's room, would obliterate him when he was talking to Nar. These seemed to be no different. Nar had spilled some poison on them too. They could turn on him anytime. Or could they?
The Vault room was strangely guarded by some more Marines. In a Red Alert situation like they were, these Marines should be placed in their battle stations.
-I had to protect our interests. - Nar unveiled who was behind this Marine assignment. - The Captain would destroy it when he had the chance.
Anxiety grew in Sweshar. Not only did he go against several major rules in Officer Conduct but now he was about to steal Imperial Property. He made sure Nar didn't have another trick.
-Marines, get back to your stations, the Captain and I shall open the vault. Its contents are classified.
The Marines stood there a few moments until Nar nodded at them and they obeyed, apparently. Two remained while the others went away. They turned around the corner and halted. They would be close.
-I see you know how to hold a leash. - Sweshar said and Nar laughed.
- Would you like to have the honors? - He handed the Lieutenant the vault key.
Sweshar refused. He couldn't open the door while holding a blaster concealed in his uniform.
Nar agreed and placed the key in the lock. There was some strange crackle sounds then a droid optical arm emerged from the left side.
-"Identification Please!"
-Ah... Captain Nar and Commander Sweshar to access the vault.
The machine seemed to process the information.
-"I'm sorry, Captain Nar, but your names do not compute. Only Commander Habak can access with that key!"
-Yes, but the Captain is unavailable, and the protocol states that the First Officer, as the second in command be promoted to Commander to access the vault in his absence.
Another minute passed. The Droid moved down to see Sweshar wearing Habak's Commanding Officer Insignias.
-"Lieutenant Sweshar, I can identify your insignias as Commander. Do you authorize the opening of this vault?"
Sweshar hesitated. He was not so sure now, he needed to violate yet another Imperial law.
-Well sir? - Nar was impatient, he pointed out to the ceiling - Enemy ships are out there, we must do this!
-Carry on, Open the vault! - Sweshar's response was followed by the retraction of the droid optical arm and some more crackling sounds. The vault door opened.
As Nar stepped forward, Sweshar pulled the blaster from his pocket.
-No funny tricks, Captain.
-Ah! Your life insurance. - Nar wasn't surprised. - No point having that, we're on the same side, now.
-Even so...
The two stepped inside the dark room. Some emergency lights ignited giving its inside an indigo blue tone.
There was so many items inside, Sweshar couldn't distinguish whatever these Rebels needed.
He found bags of credits from the taxation of routes, many artifacts and weapons confiscated throughout the time. There was even some outfits like a complete Mandalorian Warrior suit, with weapons and jet-pack.
In one corner he found many wild animals stuffed like trophies. His attention was captured to a cylindrical metal object... an old lightsaber...
Although Sweshar browsed the vault like searching for something, Nar was not looking around but aimed directly to a shelf in the front wall. It appeared to be some sort of a box. Perhaps the less appealing object in the room, but still Nar walked forth and picked it up.
-This is it! - He said. - We can now contact the Rebels. THIS is our life insurance.
Sweshar looked at the box with disbelief, it looked like any other piece of Kashyyyk wood he ever saw.
-Open it! - He ordered.
-I don't think I should, it's contents are...
-Do it! - He joined his blaster to the order.
-Alright. - Nar placed the box back in the shelf and opened it. Inside there was several small pyramid shaped objects. They all looked the same, but Nar picked one of them without hesitating. Sweshar noticed it was the only one that had a small glow inside it, a faint red light that grew stronger as Nar gave it to Sweshar.
-What is this? - Sweshar asked.
-Ah... This is an old artifact. It appears to belong to the Emperor himself. It bears Sith marks.
-Sith? This is a Sith Artifact?
-It appears to be a holocron. I thought the Jedi had destroyed all of them. The others inside the box are all decoys. Fakes... but this one... - Nar picked the small object from Sweshar’s hands to raise it to the bluish light. -... this one will give the Galaxy to the ones who hold it…
Sweshar felt uneasy before all this sudden knowledge of the Sith, Nar appeared to have. He didn’t seem too surprised to find it. He understood the situation. Nar wouldn’t fool him anymore.
This object was not Nar’s to have. Nor should he give it to the Rebels. Even if the Emperor was dead, this didn't belong in the hands of some rogue former Imperial Officer. It was too powerful… He could… feel it…
-Put it back in the box, Nar. I'll take it. There will be no bargain with the Rebels.
-What? You can't be serious, this is of no value to us! If they want it and if it means to save our lives, then let it be so!
-No! Put it back! This belongs in the hands of those who can control it. If the wrong person ever uses it, its power is enough to obliterate life itself. It belongs here for now.
Nar put it back in the box, when Sweshar aimed the blaster a bit higher.
-We should take it to those who can do good with it, or destroy it, Nar. We’re not worthy of such power!
Nar was surprised by the depth of the Lieutenant's words. But he wasn’t moved. His expression changed, he had that arrogant expression again as he signaled the Marines to enter vault and aim their blaster to the Lieutenant.
-I knew you would be weak! Drop you weapon! There's no way out of this vault.
But Sweshar had other plans. He kicked one of the shelves and all objects fell over the Marines.
He fired his weapon for cover fire while Nar tried to grab the box.
Sweshar fired his blaster hitting Nar in the shoulder knocking him to the floor in pain.
While the Marines helped Nar up, Sweshar made another move by hitting the fire detector that activated the Fire Control System, and grabbed the box.
All lights went out and the door started to close. Nar and another Marine jumped out, just in time before the door closed. Nar looked back as the door closed... He smiled...

Outside Nar could hear shots being fired as he imagined the Marine Troopers inside fired their guns against Sweshar... Suddenly there was silence...
Nar approached the lock again and placed the key once more. The crackling sound of the droid arm was heard but before it could say anything, the Captain said:
-Open the Door! The Commander is trapped inside!
-"I'm sorry, Captain Nar, but your name does not compute. Only the Commander can access with that key!"
-No! You will open the door at once!
-"I'm sorry, but..."
Nar grabbed on of the Marines rifle and blasted the droid into pieces. He turned to the Marines.
-Open that door, blast it if you have to!
-Sir, the only way in, was through the Defense Droid you just blasted. And that door is made of Zenium, we have no tools to cut it.
-Blow it!
-In order to do so, we would endanger the whole station with a 2.5 point Blast. And we couldn't say its contents would survive.
Nar was furious... He screamed in his frustration!
-FINE! Let him die inside!
As he said this, he heard some more noises coming from the inside of the vault. All the Marines outside aimed their weapons to the door. No one could really say what was that noise, but it seemed the door's lock was becoming orange... then bright yellow... the lock was melting...
-You just told me no weapon could open that!
The Trooper didn't answer, in his point of view, what he was looking at was impossible.
As the Zenium finally melted, the lock fell on the floor with a large clang sound. The door slowly opened to reveal a dark room where no person could be distinguished. Except a bright neon blue light with the distinguishable sound of a Lightsaber. The only weapon capable of cutting the hardest Zenium steel.
The Lightsaber was turned off.
The Marines waited. No one said a word.
Suddenly two bright spots ignited. It was a pair of flaming rockets. A figure jumped out of the vault and blasted several Marines as it jumped forth in a fast speed. It was a person in a Mandalorian suit. Whoever was inside fiercely fired his twin guns until there was only one person left by the vault door: Nar!
-Sweshar! You'll never get away with this!
Behind the Mandalorian suit, the Lieutenant smiled.
-I always wondered how Boba Fett could see behind this mask....
-Ken'horr will never allow you to live!
-We'll see!

Sweshar moved the Captain back to the bridge always aiming his gun at Nar's neck. As he crossed the halls and corridors back to the Command post, the Marines were both intrigued by the Lieutenant's suit but also confused on what to do, now that Nar was being captive.
Lieutenant Hoger met the two men and ordered the Marines:
-Hold your fire, you might hit the Captain! – Intrigued he followed the Lieutenant to his destination.
They reached the bridge and Sweshar finally removed the Mandalorian helmet.
-Contact the Rebel ship use Captain Nar's private channel. Tell them he wishes to send the following update… - He pulled the Captain to face him. - Tell them it's over, you have the object and you will deliver it to them at once. Guarantee that safe passage you promised to ALL of us. I'll let you live!
-Never!
Sweshar aimed one of the guns and fired at the Captain's left leg. Nar screamed in pain...
-You were saying?
-Argh! Never! Marines, help me! - The Marines were aiming at the Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Hoger took the men’s side aiming against Sweshar but made a “hold” signal.
-Stand down, men! Captain Nar is a traitor. He was about to sell this Sith Holocron to the Rebels! - Sweshar took the box and threw it to the closest console, it opened itself revealing the holocron - They will destroy this base and you inside it. They just came for this!
-He lies - Nar screamed with all his pain...
-Ken'horr his is associate! They planned to take this artifact from the most well defended Outpost where they knew no weapon could breach. The Emperor chose this Outpost as it was the Empire’s Pride! A symbol! You men were chosen to guard it so well as you did all this time. The only way to do it was to give them the blueprints so they could find a weakness. Then, he realized the Captain was mentally unstable and he used that to allure me and you to follow him! – He faced the Captain again. - No more tricks Nar! You're the lowest scum!
-He's fooling you, men! Fire your weapons.
The Marines were confused. In this tension, one of the troopers fired his blaster against Sweshar's shoulder. The Mandalorian suit repelled the blast but it was enough to knock both Sweshar and Nar to the floor...
-Hold your fire! - Lieutenant Hoger ordered!
Sweshar aimed the guns at Nar again...
But he stopped when a transmission from the Rebels ignited the main communications screen. It was Ken'horr.
-"Juak? Are you there? Do you have it?" - It appeared no one was in range of the holo-transmission so Ken'horr wasn't seeing anyone. - "Juak?".
Lieutenant Hoger was standing next to the Captain. He looked at Ken'horr's face and back to Nar's. Captain Nar was in pain, but was still able to resume his arrogant posture.
-Help me up, Lieutenant!
Hoger raised him and placed the Captain in range for the transmission.
-Yes, Admiral. I am here. I... - As the Captain started to talk he felt an object touching his back, it was the unmistakable feeling of a blaster aiming at him. Hoger whispered to his hear.
-Tell him what the Lieutenant ordered you...
Nar was shocked...
-"Well, Juak? Do you have the artifact?"
Nar wasn't talking until Sweshar moved next to him and aimed his gun to the right leg...
-Yes! I have it... - His voice came out faint - The day is ours!
-"Good! Now let's finish this, take a shuttle back to my ship. Don't forget to lower the shields."
Hoger pressed the blaster harder to Nar's Back.
-Admiral, It think we can let these men go and blast the Outpost only when its empty. There’s no point killing them...
-"What? Have you gone soft on me, now? You were the one who had the idea to kill them just in case they decided to question you behavior..."
All the men inside the bridge were looking at Captain Nar who knew this was his last hope to survive.
-Yes, but it doesn't seem rational now. Most of them will die wondering in space anyway. Besides, with the Captain dead, they won't have a Commander to follow...
-"And that Doctor?"
-Dead too, I killed him myself! – Nar could feel Sweshar laughing.
-"Very well, then! Just get back to our ship so that we may leave."
-Ask him which one! - Sweshar whispered to Nar.
-Which one, my Admiral?
-"I thought I told you I had some tricks up my sleeve" -Saying this, all ships shimmered as if they were holo-transmissions having an interference. Decoys. All shimmered but one, a Calamari Class Interceptor, apparently the only real ship - "Make sure your men don't get suspicious about this!"
-Yes! I will.
-"And, Nar?"
-Sir?
-"Bring the Captain's Insignias for my Trophy Room!"
-As you wish.
The image went blank.
The disgust from everyone's face was felt. Nar understood these were his last few moments. He closed his eyes and expected certain death. He felt a hit on his right leg that made him kneel. At least he would die honorably. But nothing happened.
-We'll let you live. You saved us, we owe you that. - There was a brief silence, Nar didn't die. Sweshar's voice was heard again- All men to the shuttles, we are leaving. - He ordered.
Nar couldn't believe it. He opened his eyes to see the men leaving the bridge. Two Marines helped him up. Nar was speechless.
Sweshar picked the black wooden box and offered it to Nar.
-You can take this to your friend, it's of no use for us now.
Nar smiled. After his betrayal, not all was lost, he needn't feel the Admiral's wrath. He tried to reached for it, but Sweshar brought the box back.
-No, no! Not like that. - Nar felt another hit, a Marine knocked him unconscious...

In the main Hangar at Outpost 34, Lieutenant Sweshar was looking at the crowd entering the shuttles and other ships. He made sure no man stayed behind, not even the Commander's body that was placed in the cargo hold of one of the ships.
He ordered the men to empty the main vault of all the valuable items which could come in handy in case they had to land for supplies during their journey back to the inner sectors.
His attention was caught for a ship departing the Hangar. Nar's shuttle was on its way.
-Lieutenant, here is the Commander Habak's remote, we made the programming that you requested. All shields have been dropped and power set, as requested, to the Cannons.- Lieutenant Hoger approached him.
-Good job, Hoger. You've done well today.
-Not quite, sir - Hoger looked at the Nar's shuttle, now far away in the asteroid's landscape.
-Don't blame yourself, Nar is a man full of tricks. - He raised the remote, changing subjects. - What's the range on this?
-Not much sir!
-We'll need to be careful.
A voice was heard from the other side of the hangar.
-All set, Lieutenant.
-Right! - He walked back with Hoger to his own Shuttle. He picked the small commlink in his pocket - All ships, power up and follow our lead.
At the ship's ramp he looked behind to the Outpost... A desolate place now... The Empire's Pride was now as good as dead.

Entering the ship he held a small bag. "The last resort" he thought. If the war was truly over, the Galaxy would be a bad place for an Imperial officer and his "private army", in his mind a plan was forming, new life... But his projects were sent away by the pilot’s voice.
-Lieutenant, which course shall we take?
-No course for now. We'll just move forward and away. - He looked at the remote... It appeared he made some mental calculation, then he continued, - Any time now! We should take-off!

Inside the "Seeker", Admiral Ken'horr followed the incoming Shuttle and eagerly waited for its valuable cargo.
-Sir, several ships are leaving the hangars, should we open fire? - A Radar operator called the Admiral.
-Do they have hyperspace capabilities?
-No sir, they are old Shuttles, poorly armed, and some V-Wing fighters.
-Let them be. We will hunt them down to destroy them. I enjoy hunts, - he smiled - Besides, I want that holocron in my hands...
-As you wish, Admiral!
The Shuttle was close and now the tractor beam of the Calamari class ship was directing it to the main hangar.
Ken'horr had a whole squad of troopers form up in this important occasion when finally he would have one of the most powerful objects to unveil the mysteries of the Force. A weapon beyond any imagination.
The Shuttle landed on the platform and the main door opened. No one exited.
-Captain Nar?
No answer came from inside.
-You two! - He pointed at two soldiers- Go inside and bring me the Holocron! - The Admiral grew impatient.
A few seconds later, the two men brought Captain Nar, bruised and with his mouth covered. Tied to his hands was a wooden box.
The Admiral was intrigued but still he ripped the ropes holding the box and took it away. As he walked away e ordered the men to untie the Captain.
Nar was agitated, so to untie him wasn't an easy job. He was impatient as if he was trying to say something.
Ken'horr opened the box to reveal the small pyramid shaped object. It looked as insignificant as an elaborate piece of art, but he knew it to be much more than that. He smiled and called an Officer.
-Maneuver the ship... We have what we wanted.
The Officer picked his commlink and contacted the bridge.
The soldiers were finally able to release Nar that started to scream to the Admiral.
At first, Ken'horr wasn't paying attention. But then he understood the man's impatience. He deciphered the words Nar was screaming: "It's a trap!"
Immediately the wooden box in Ken'horr hand became bright red as the thermal detonator inside it activated itself and blew. Nar jumped to the floor trying to avoid the blast...
All men were knocked to floor.
Nar was left on the floor… No one was there to reach for him… But he was strong. His convictions made him strong. So did his desire for power!
In his pain, he crawled to the Admirals remains and searched for the holocron…
He finally reached the object. It’s healing powers would help him.
But then he realized the object was broken in half… Sith Holocrons were made of the finest and hardest Sith metals… No blast, no matter how strong would brake it so easily… this was one of the fakes…
Captain Juak Nar, severely wounded, was still able to scream out his last word...
-Sweshar…

Inside the running shuttle, Sweshar felt something. He took the small bag again, as if to take a better look at its contents. Inside the real Sith Holocron was glowing brightly now. Sweshar could feel it's power... but he couldn't understand it...
He looked at the scanners the Rebel ship was still maneuvering. The bomb didn't do its work, not entirely.
The Calamari ship was still fully operational and fired all his cannons against the evading starships. They were no match to the powerful cannons.
The small fleet battled for its survival as all warnings came to life when the Calamari cruiser started their blasts against the small ship.
-All wings, evasive maneuvers! - Sweshar would put up a fight for sure.
Some blasts hit a few ships with variable severity, the Lieutenant had to think fast to take the men out of this...
As his shuttle made a 180 turn he picked the Commander's remote control... "This will work! I know it will!" He thought.
He pressed the buttons to no effect... Too far.
-Pilot, take us back to the Outpost!
The pilot didn't understand the reason for such order, but accomplished it, this could be a diversion.
Coming closer to the Outpost they were an easy target to the heavy blasters. Their shield was holding, but not for long.
Sweshar pressed the buttons on the remote with still no effect.
-Closer, we need to be closer!
The pilot nodded and made another pass, now much closer to the Asteroid that still had Outpost 34 in its landscape.
For the Lieutenant’s much satisfaction, the remote now worked and he sent some commands.
He could see the heavy cannons move to the interception of the chasing Calamari ship.
Although threatened, the giant ship continued its pursuit of the evading Imperial Ships, ignoring the Cannons moves.
-Hit the full power, take us out of here! - Sweshar ordered.
The Pilot moved the shuttle away from the outpost, flanking the Rebel ship and to its back. Once again, rain of laser blasts hit the small ship's hull, only this time with much more intensity. The shield wouldn't hold for much longer.
Sweshar grabbed the small remote and watched the countdown end.
In the outpost the Heavy cannons fired against the ship which didn't look like having the shields up. After all there wasn't any serious threat from small ships running away. Easy prey. Or so they thought.
The blasts hit the Rebel Cruiser violently and debris was spotted fleeing the ship.
Inside the shuttle, the men screamed in joy and, through the radio, they could hear the rest of the escaping crews cheering.
But the big Calamari, although bleeding, continued the pursuit.
Sweshar wasn't cheering with the men. His plan wasn’t exactly working. He decided to have another go.
-We're out of range again, we need to make another pass. They're still active!
More confident, the pilot made another turn. But checking his instruments he lost the confidence again.
-Sir, our shields are low!
-Carry on...
Sweshar didn't know if he would make it. But still he didn't hesitate.
The pilot responded with equal courage.
The small shuttle was again at full power back to the Asteroid. The giant Calamari was now just above the outpost. They approached from its back, muffled by the Calamari's enormous engines.
Sweshar pressed the remote again... nothing! They needed to be closer. At the distance the Rebel ship was now, the Outpost’s heavy cannons would inflict a deadly bow. There would be no escape...
Suddenly the Rebel ship made an unexpected move... It stopped...
-Switch all power to the shields, he's going to strike us.
The Rebel ship did power up the blasters only the cannons weren't pointing at Sweshar's shuttle.
The Lieutenant followed the laser beams to its target. Outpost 34 was once more and for the last time, hit with the tremendous blast. The shields weren't up and the three remaining reactors didn't resist this enormous amount of energy. Gigantic fireballs were seen as the “Pride of the Empire” was vaporized into millions of pieces.
Outpost 34 had made its ultimate stand…
Every men in those escaping ships were silent. Although tired of working there, although they just fled from that place where so many emotions were pushed to the limits, that destruction meant much more than a lost Imperial base. It meant the possible last remnant of a presumed falling Empire...
The last piece of resistance was now reduced to a small group of easy targets... The Empire’s last breath relied on those men... And the odds weren't good.
But they became worse.
-Lieutenant! - The pilot was screaming - The Calamari is training on us, we cannot out-maneuver this close...
-Do you're best!
-Sir there's more! Several ships approaching the right quadrant, coming from Hyperspace. It's more rebels, sir! They were cloaked by sector 2-14!
-Damn "dead sector"! - Sweshar was frustrated. He couldn't believe Ken'horr came here all by himself. Even with that holo-ships trick. - Full power to shields, we'll aim for their hangar and do the best we can to let those men escape! They got us! But they will need to fight for us!
The small shuttle climbed to reach the Calamari.
Analyzing the scanners he could see two incoming ships out of sector 2-14 with the size of the Calamari cruiser. These ships were making an attack pattern. "Now or never!" he thought.
-FULL THROTTLE!
Outside the Calamari's cannons were fiercely hitting the shield, then the hull.
-We lost the shields... –Hoger was looking at the scanners and pointed them - Sir! The other ships are firing torpedoes.
This was the end... The torpedoes from the other ships were approaching fast. He saw them through the scanners, reaching the ship's path. They were hundreds...
So much firepower on a small ship. They wanted to make sure they wouldn't escape.
-Impact in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2... – Silence… Every man held something instinctively for impact, as if it would mean something.
Nothing... suddenly, the missiles shifted course and avoided the shuttle. The men inside could actually see the missiles passing them. Were they too small to be intercepted?
Sweshar looked closer through the window and immediately he realized what happened...
-Turn the ship 180 degrees, down angle, NOW!
The pilot turned the ship backwards in a split second. Looking at the scanners the men couldn't believe what they were looking at.
The torpedoes hit the Rebel ship's hull tearing it apart in a blast that illuminated the skies around the shuttle. The chain reaction caused the main generator of the Calamari Class cruiser to collapse and then explode in a giant fireball.
It took a while for the shuttle pilot to control the ship after it was hit by the impact wave of the explosion. The Lieutenant’s move, however, saved their lives… or they would be engulfed by the blast.
Inside the shuttle, the men were confused, what happened?
-Sir, the "Seeker" was destroyed by those rebel torpedoes, I don't understand! - Hoger said.
-Those weren't Rebel torpedoes, Lieutenant. In fact, those weren't torpedoes at all. Those were Imperial Interceptor Missiles. "Cruiser Killers".
-Imperial?
Sweshar didn’t have to explain.
Their maneuver had placed them right in front of the other two ships approaching, at first, due to the debris of the “dead sector”, they couldn’t see much.
Then two perfectly distinguishable shapes of Imperial Star Destroyers were identified.
An incoming message was heard on screen.
-“Imperial Ships, this is the Star Destroyer Avenger, we heard your distress call, it appears we came too late”.
-Starship Avenger, this is First Officer Sweshar, not at all! – Sweshar smiled – You came just in time.
-“The Outpost was destroyed…”
-Yes, unfortunately, but all men managed to escape! You’ll find all our ships not so far away.
-“What was the reason of all this?”
-The Rebel Admiral Ken’horr took advantage of the war’s end to attempt a theft.
-“War’s End? It appears the long distance have made you pretentious. Don’t expect to rest much after this, if that’s what you mean. We’re still fighting those Rebels.”
The men looked at each-other. They all understood what this meant. The last of Nar's lies had just been unveiled.
-Well, take us back, so that we may continue our work.
-“We will welcome you in our ship, the other Star Destroyer will reach for your men. In the mean time, we need to move back to the Inner Regions, the communications are awful in this sector. The Emperor himself wants an update on the situation.”
-Yes, I’m sure he does... – Sweshar was now holding the holocron in his hands again…
The cold stone was now shinning with a faint red light…
Sweshar felt not just his skill helped him today…
He wondered if all those tales about a “Force” were true…
Because today…
it felt like it…

The End