Post by Caan-Jaal Noldorin on May 26, 2003 0:55:27 GMT -5
Here is the first part of the story I've been writing. It takes place roughly 45 years after ROTJ. Enjoy!
Embers of Darkness
Part 1
The grim visage stared coldly at her as he closed in. She couldn’t move. She could only stand there as the demon came ever closer. He was smiling, mocking her with the knowledge that he was superior, and that the end was near. With all her being she reached out for the Force, but it wasn’t there. She was alone to face the evil that now promised to destroy her. The dark warrior, now but a few feet away, raised the tip of his red blade to her throat. He thrust the blade forward…..
“Kareth!”
Kareth Mav, Jedi Knight, started out of her dozing.
“Wh-what?” she stammered, as her surroundings came back to her.
“Wake up. You were having a dream. And not a very good one from the feel of it.” Her friend and fellow Knight, Cune Hasbor, said. Being a Nautolan, he could tell the dream had upset her.
“Hmm…..wow! Yes I was dreaming. It was a rather bizarre dream, at that.”
Cune looked at her. “Do you want to tell me about it?” he asked.
“No. It was nothing, really. Just a weird dream. Besides, we have more pressing matters to discuss.” She replied, trying to change the subject.
“Are you sure?” the Nautolan prompted again, concern on his face and in his voice.
“Cune, don’t worry so much. It was just a dream. Probably from watching too much of the holo-vid. I’m fine.”
He looked at her a moment longer, his mouth bending to a slight smile. “You do spend entirely too much time in front of that infernal thing.” he stated, turning back to his instrument panel.
“I know, I know!” she said. “There are a lot of better ways I could spend what little free time I have. But, it is entertaining.”
“Entertaining! You call that entertainment!? My word, what is the Order coming to! If you think that is ent….”
Kareth cut him off “Alright, alright. Enough already. If I have to listen to another of your dissertations on the evils of the holo-vid network, I’ll shoot myself out the airlock. What would Master Skywalker say when he found out you were responsible for me doing that?”
“He’d probably ask how I kept from doing it till now.” Cune replied, smiling at his friend.
She stared at Cune in feigned shock and indignation. “With friends li….” Her snappy retort was cut off by the beeping of the proximity alarm. Cune reached up and turned it off. “Our discussion on the merits of the holo-vid will have to be put on hold.” he said. “Ord Mandell awaits.”
“Do you have any idea on what Master Skywalker wants us to look for?” Kareth asked, as Cune brought the ship out of hyperspace.
“I’m not sure.” He replied. “He only said the Supreme Chancellor had some suspicions about the activities of a certain senator, and that he would like us to check it out.”
“That’s not much to go on.”
“I know. But I figure we’ll just nose around a bit and see what the Force might lead us to.” Cune continued. “It’s about all we can do. I just wish we could have stayed out of it. I really dislike getting drug into the political arena.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She replied “I’ve grown to rather enjoy it. Watching them, I mean. It’s almost funny the way they go at each other over the smallest of issues.”
They were interrupted by Ord Mandell Space Control giving them clearance to land in Potha Ruun, the planet’s largest port city.
“Then hopefully you’ll have time to take in a few sessions of the Senate, when we get back.” Cune said “But for now, it’s time to get to work.”
With that, Cune powered the ship into Ord Mandell’s atmosphere.
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The Coruscant night was cool and damp as the lone figure moved through the shadows. The nocturnal scavengers were constantly under his feet, as the man made his way through the lower levels of the planet city. They growled their displeasure at him, as they were forced to scurry out of his way. He paid them no heed. Of more concern was the small group of ruffians that were trailing him. He really didn’t have time for dealing with petty vagabonds right now. He was running late, and his contact was notorious for bailing out at the slightest perceived sign of trouble. The man paused for a moment, listening to the night. He heard the group behind him for a moment before they realized he had stopped.
The man waited a moment longer, and then continued on. He knew his path would lead into an old park just a few blocks ahead, and he figured that is where the gang planned to move on him. He decided his best opportunity would be to force their hand before he got there. A few more steps and an alleyway opened to his left. He quickly turned into it.
Four figures moved out of the shadows and moved to where their quarry had entered the alleyway. The leader of the group, a tall, lanky human, gave some quick orders and the four spread themselves across the entrance and began advancing into the alley. They had gone about ten paces when a voice spoke softly behind them “It is unwise to hunt prey that you do not know.”
The four spun around in shock, grabbing for their blasters. Somehow they had passed by their target, and he had gotten the drop on them. This wasn’t going how they had planned.
“Put away your weapons, and you may leave unharmed.” The man at the entry to the alley continued.
The leader of the gang laughed. “I have a better idea” he said. “You die where you stand and we take whatever you have.” With that he raised his blaster.
There was a snap-hiss as the man at the entry exploded into motion, a blue beam extending from the weapon that had suddenly appeared in his hand. The leader managed to fire off three shots, but only managed to hit himself as all three were deflected back by the lightning quick blade of their intended target. The three remaining thugs stood dumbfounded, as their leaders lifeless body hit the pavement of the alley. The last thing they had expected was for their intended prey to be a Jedi.
The Jedi made a slight motion with his hand. “Drop your weapons.” He commanded. All three threw down their blasters as if they were white hot.
The Jedi moved his hand again. “Now, pick up your friend and go.”
The Jedi stepped aside as the thugs scooped up their dead leader, and scurried out of the alley and back up the street. He watched them go then deactivated his lightsaber and returned it to his belt. He moved back to the street and broke into a Force assisted run. Caan-Jaal Noldorin was late.
Embers of Darkness
Part 1
The grim visage stared coldly at her as he closed in. She couldn’t move. She could only stand there as the demon came ever closer. He was smiling, mocking her with the knowledge that he was superior, and that the end was near. With all her being she reached out for the Force, but it wasn’t there. She was alone to face the evil that now promised to destroy her. The dark warrior, now but a few feet away, raised the tip of his red blade to her throat. He thrust the blade forward…..
“Kareth!”
Kareth Mav, Jedi Knight, started out of her dozing.
“Wh-what?” she stammered, as her surroundings came back to her.
“Wake up. You were having a dream. And not a very good one from the feel of it.” Her friend and fellow Knight, Cune Hasbor, said. Being a Nautolan, he could tell the dream had upset her.
“Hmm…..wow! Yes I was dreaming. It was a rather bizarre dream, at that.”
Cune looked at her. “Do you want to tell me about it?” he asked.
“No. It was nothing, really. Just a weird dream. Besides, we have more pressing matters to discuss.” She replied, trying to change the subject.
“Are you sure?” the Nautolan prompted again, concern on his face and in his voice.
“Cune, don’t worry so much. It was just a dream. Probably from watching too much of the holo-vid. I’m fine.”
He looked at her a moment longer, his mouth bending to a slight smile. “You do spend entirely too much time in front of that infernal thing.” he stated, turning back to his instrument panel.
“I know, I know!” she said. “There are a lot of better ways I could spend what little free time I have. But, it is entertaining.”
“Entertaining! You call that entertainment!? My word, what is the Order coming to! If you think that is ent….”
Kareth cut him off “Alright, alright. Enough already. If I have to listen to another of your dissertations on the evils of the holo-vid network, I’ll shoot myself out the airlock. What would Master Skywalker say when he found out you were responsible for me doing that?”
“He’d probably ask how I kept from doing it till now.” Cune replied, smiling at his friend.
She stared at Cune in feigned shock and indignation. “With friends li….” Her snappy retort was cut off by the beeping of the proximity alarm. Cune reached up and turned it off. “Our discussion on the merits of the holo-vid will have to be put on hold.” he said. “Ord Mandell awaits.”
“Do you have any idea on what Master Skywalker wants us to look for?” Kareth asked, as Cune brought the ship out of hyperspace.
“I’m not sure.” He replied. “He only said the Supreme Chancellor had some suspicions about the activities of a certain senator, and that he would like us to check it out.”
“That’s not much to go on.”
“I know. But I figure we’ll just nose around a bit and see what the Force might lead us to.” Cune continued. “It’s about all we can do. I just wish we could have stayed out of it. I really dislike getting drug into the political arena.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She replied “I’ve grown to rather enjoy it. Watching them, I mean. It’s almost funny the way they go at each other over the smallest of issues.”
They were interrupted by Ord Mandell Space Control giving them clearance to land in Potha Ruun, the planet’s largest port city.
“Then hopefully you’ll have time to take in a few sessions of the Senate, when we get back.” Cune said “But for now, it’s time to get to work.”
With that, Cune powered the ship into Ord Mandell’s atmosphere.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Coruscant night was cool and damp as the lone figure moved through the shadows. The nocturnal scavengers were constantly under his feet, as the man made his way through the lower levels of the planet city. They growled their displeasure at him, as they were forced to scurry out of his way. He paid them no heed. Of more concern was the small group of ruffians that were trailing him. He really didn’t have time for dealing with petty vagabonds right now. He was running late, and his contact was notorious for bailing out at the slightest perceived sign of trouble. The man paused for a moment, listening to the night. He heard the group behind him for a moment before they realized he had stopped.
The man waited a moment longer, and then continued on. He knew his path would lead into an old park just a few blocks ahead, and he figured that is where the gang planned to move on him. He decided his best opportunity would be to force their hand before he got there. A few more steps and an alleyway opened to his left. He quickly turned into it.
Four figures moved out of the shadows and moved to where their quarry had entered the alleyway. The leader of the group, a tall, lanky human, gave some quick orders and the four spread themselves across the entrance and began advancing into the alley. They had gone about ten paces when a voice spoke softly behind them “It is unwise to hunt prey that you do not know.”
The four spun around in shock, grabbing for their blasters. Somehow they had passed by their target, and he had gotten the drop on them. This wasn’t going how they had planned.
“Put away your weapons, and you may leave unharmed.” The man at the entry to the alley continued.
The leader of the gang laughed. “I have a better idea” he said. “You die where you stand and we take whatever you have.” With that he raised his blaster.
There was a snap-hiss as the man at the entry exploded into motion, a blue beam extending from the weapon that had suddenly appeared in his hand. The leader managed to fire off three shots, but only managed to hit himself as all three were deflected back by the lightning quick blade of their intended target. The three remaining thugs stood dumbfounded, as their leaders lifeless body hit the pavement of the alley. The last thing they had expected was for their intended prey to be a Jedi.
The Jedi made a slight motion with his hand. “Drop your weapons.” He commanded. All three threw down their blasters as if they were white hot.
The Jedi moved his hand again. “Now, pick up your friend and go.”
The Jedi stepped aside as the thugs scooped up their dead leader, and scurried out of the alley and back up the street. He watched them go then deactivated his lightsaber and returned it to his belt. He moved back to the street and broke into a Force assisted run. Caan-Jaal Noldorin was late.