Star Wars: Return of the Sith

Marius

Daelon's fault?
How?
I looked around, clueless. Around me stood the other pilots, some I knew, but many I didn't. I didn't spend much time conversing with the squadrons. Jedi training had been the focus of my attention. As I met eyes with some of them, I felt like a stranger...and a fool.
Their eyes looked back with compassion, many understanding that I'd lost a friend, but many also knowing that I'd lost more than that. My life may have just come to a stop, here, on this starship with the loss of one person.
I wanted to shout at them to look another way, but I knew better. Their compassion could not be disrespected.
I'd lost one; they'd lost many more than that.
"My condolences," I announced, breaking the silence that had grown around me. "We've lost many today, some friends and some not, but all good of heart. May they be well-remembered for their brave sacrifices that we may live on."
A few nodded, a few spoke their agreement, but none acted against my words. Honor, I thought. In every heart among us.
I exited the hangar, hoping to find Daelon just outside the door but not being so lucky.
In the hall, I paused, reaching out across the stars with the force, hoping to catch some sign of her out there, breathing if not unharmed altogether.
Nothing; not even a lost thought floating around out there.
Moving through the corridors, I felt more alone than I could ever remember feeling before.
 
Mogo

As we lifted off, I began to feel some ease. Why I wasn't sure. Look what I'd gotten myself into.
"We'll need to stay relatively discreet. Should any customs officer search the craft, they'll find nothing wrong, but it's better not to be reported at all. They'll record our location."
The bounty hunter.Her I liked, but I wasn't sure why just yet. Underneath the mask she wore, she was quite beautiful, for a human anyway. I always thought creatures looked rather stupid without wings, but she carried herself well for a two-legger. Not many smiles, though. She was all business, this one. Which my uncle Watto would have loved.
"You know where we are going?" I asked her.
"Vaine'll send us our destination when he figures it out. until then, we just head out of here and not jump into hyperspace until we get word from him," she responded.
She'd removed the body armor as well, and as she sat in co-pilot's seat, I could see Orin eyeing her frame from the seat behind her. Now, she wore a tight black body suit, perfect for fighting I was sure, but capable of putting different thoughts in certains males' heads.
"Okay," I said.
I took the vessel out of the atmosphere, heading off in a random direction.
"So, who is this guy, anyway?" Orin finally asked.
"He gives me the creeps," a mechanical voice said from behind me. They'd insisted the droid might be of help...help in what, I had no idea. "I certainly donot want to see that man again."
"That's a good question," she replied. "I only have half an answer."
Silence.
"Well?" He asked, after the silence had gotten to him.
"You don't want to know," she told him.
"I think she's right," the droid added. "Like I said--"
"What makes you think that?" Orin asked, interrupting the tin-can.
"Because I know," she replied. "And I wish I didn't."
 
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Luke

He watched Tynan bobbing in the tank, his wounds healing before his eyes. He knew he wouldn't be in there for long. The medical guys had told him so. They said he had managed to heal most of the serious stuff with the Force.

Luke couldn't suppress a shiver. The Force. What had he done? He wasn't sure, but he could tell by the expression on Tynan's face that it wasn't good.

"You're going to have to wait outside, son."

Luke started. "Hmm?" He looked up at the man who had spoken.

The man smiled at him. "You're going to have to wait outside. There's a lot of wounded coming in." He handed Luke a small transmitter. "We'll call you when Jedi Tynan is out."

He took the transmitter and thought about whether he should tell the man that Tynan wasn't a Jedi, but decided against it. They might treat him better if they thought he was.

"Ummm, ok," he answered, then frowned. "You won't forget, right?"

"I won't," the man answered.

"K."

Luke took one last look at Tynan, and turned for the door. He found himself in a long corridor. He had never been in a ship like this. Why not explore a little? Better than sitting waiting for Tynan. He started out on his tour.

He turned down passageway after passageway, and incredibly found nothing interesting. At one point, he practically ran into a pilot and what he guessed was her boyfriend. They were kissing. Blech! "Why would anyone want to do that?"

Eventually he found the room were they kept all the fighters. There were a few people still hanging around, but most were gone. He walked up to one of the fighters just to touch it, but was chased away by a mean looking mechanic.

Luke scowled at him, and walked on. Tynan must be getting ready to get out soon. Maybe he should go back?

He turned a corner, and practically walked into a man. No, a Jedi. He could tell by the lightsaber. He remembered seeing him on the planet, but couldn't remember his name. He was staring at his hands.

Should I talk to him? Why not... I'm going to be a Jedi, too, right? He felt himself getting nervous. He had no idea how scared they made him. Especially without Tynan nearby. Jeez. What do you say to a Jedi Knight?

He slouched a bit, trying to make himself look casual, and tilted his head to the side. Basically trying to imitate that deadly grace that Tynan had. He hoped he was pulling it off.

"You OK?" he asked.
 
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Bal

Bal flew through shot after shot from the Star Destroyer that was getting ever closer in his cockpit window. He knew that he couldn't keep dodging all the shots as he knew the gun crews on the ship would start getting better and would hit him soon. He traded all the energy from his weapons into his shields and even though he knew they wouldn't hold up from the constant barrage that was being rained down on him from the large capital ship he knew that it might give him a chance to live long enough to fly away.

Suddenly his comm system sparked to life and a voice came over it, "Rebel pilot, this is the captain of the Palpatine, you are ordered to lower your shields and be brought into this ship. If you fail to follow this order you will be destroyed, repeat you will be destroyed."

Before he could give an answer the fire from the Star Destroyer intesified, rocking his X-wing as if on an invisible rod. He looked at his read-outs and saw that his shield energy was going down quickly and knew that if he didn't do something fast then he would be destroyed. He switched on his comm unit and boosted it with as much power as he could and said, "Attention any ship in the area. This is Lieutenant Bal Isalias of Rogue Squadron. I am under fire from an Imperial Star Destroyer and am in need of assistance. Repeat I am in need of assistance. Can anyone hear me?"
 
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Mogo

We dropped out of hyperspace in time to see it. The X-Wing being attacked by a Star Destroyer.
We saw first, then heard the request.
"Attention any ship in the area. This is Lieutenant Bal Isalias of Rogue Squadron. I am under fire from an Imperial Star Destroyer and am in need of assistance. Repeat I am in need of assistance. Can anyone hear me?"
"Rogue Squadron?" I asked. "Isn't that?"
"Yep," the bounty hunter replied.
"A Star Destroyer," Orin muttered. "We wound up in the wrong place at a very wrong time."
"Actually, this is exactly where we need to be," Nastasia replied.
"Huh?" I asked, and Orin echoed me.
"This is where we need to be."
I looked at her, disbelieving.
"We need to get to a rebebl base, one in particular. THis'll grease the wheels a little, put us on their right side of those we need to get better acquainted with."
I blinked.
"How fast can this thing move?"
"Pretty damn fast," I replied. "We're smugglers, if it was slow, we'd be out of business."
"Good," she replied. "And you're equipped with at least the least necessary weaponry?"
"Yep."
"Good," she said. "Arm the weapons and move in closer. We're gonna try and distract them, give him a chance to get away before the shileds on that thing give in."
I didn't think much about it. She spoke her mind, said what needed done, and did so so matter-of-factly that it was like having Kerra back again. Force of habit took over.
"Orin," I began. "Hit that blue switch to your left. It'll shift all auxillary power to back up our shields."
Nastasia slipped into the co-pilot's seat.
"Wait," Isaid, floating from the pilot's seat and motioning for her to sit. "Orin, co-pilot for her, just do as she says. I've got to handle the counterfire."
"What? We're doing this?" He asked, astonished.
"Yes, we are," she answered.
He sat in the seat. "What do I do?"
"Just hold on, for right now." SHe replied, moving quickly in toward the Star Destroyer."Rogue pilot," she said, flipping on the intercom switch to speak with the pilot, "We'll try to distract the enemy fire as much as we can. Hopefully, we can both get out of this with the least possible amount of damage."I was out of the cockpit then, moving up the small ladder to the weapons control room above. Once there, I switched on the lower and upper guns, and got ready for whatever came our way.
 
Bal

Bal looked down at his read outs again and wondered who was going to help him. His shields were going down rapidly and he knew that the end would be near for him if he didn't get help soon. Suddenly he heard a woman's voice come over the comm system and looked back to see a freighter moving quickly towards his position.

He was about to tell the freighter pilot to get out of the area; that they would be killed but before he could the freighter began to open fire on the Star Destroyer.
 
Daelon

Daelon snapped to attention as the boy spoke to him, quickly lowering his hands and looking across at him. He frowned, wondering why a child was allowed to roam the ship alone. Then, suddenly, he remembered seeing the boy earlier, back on Mached V. And the next thing he felt was the boy's latent power.
"I am fine... Luke, isn't it? Shouldn't you be with Tynan, little one?" Daelon said, stepping forwards and placing a hand on the boy's head, ruffling his hair. "I don't think a spaceship is any place for kids like you to be wandering around alone."
 
Bailen

He looked back at the final ships, all disappearing into the horizon. One by one they left, shot out of sight by their hyperdrives.
A crooked smile appeared on his face.
"How are we on casualties?"
The general came running up with the latest numbers, "We lost around a hundred men, both on the ground and in space. 37 tie fighters are unaccounted for, but from what we can tell, they got off a lot worse. Only around 70 percent of the rebels made it."
He nodded, not really caring, "Excellent, how is the base?"
He began walking over to one of the flight bays, as the general followed behind.
"It's pretty much intact, but as we figured there are a few traps set. They must have secret plans or something they couldn't take with them."
He waved his hand in the air, mere technicalities.
"We know where they are going, there is no need for that. The traps might prove bothersome however."
Bailen paused, thinking for a minute.
"First send a ship to that sith down there, let him go where he chooses, but don't give him any help, and keep track of his ship. I want to make sure he's on our side, something is very peculiar about him."
The general saluted, "Already done, sir."
"Next, use the turbo lasers to blow up the last buildings of the base. I want nothing more than rubble. That way the dig teams can get in there and start excavating."
He saluted another time, "Sir yes sir."
With all that rubble it will take more time to get the Remnant, but as the jedi were already hurling themselves away from this place, he had no need to worry about time.
Good, update me. I want things to be on schedule for our next appointed stop."
The final plan was coming into focus.
 
Marius

"She was headed toward a darker planet, unihabited to our knowledge, but we never did more than a surface scan of the place, and the atmosphere...well, let's just say that it's a bit too thick to get a proper reading from orbit," Beegas explained, trekking off of subject, but I guessed it was a touchy subject to stay on. "She was being pursued by a TIE, and if I remember correctly, another cut between Daelon and the one pursuing her. He couldn't take out both any faster or better than he did. There was no way. But he did get them both. She cut toward the second he shot down, was too close when it blew, and the explosion caused some kind of damage to her fighter. She went down, then. She was still in sight when we jumped, but..."
"There was nothing anyone could do?" I asked, more stating than anything.
"I'm sorry, Marius," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
He turned to walk away.
"Seargant," I said, halting him. "Did you get the plans?"
"Yes," he replied, patting his jacket pocket. "Got them right here on disc, but I didn't have time to erase them from the system computer."
"We have a copy, and they might too?"
He nodded.
I nodded back, then turned and headed out of the "recovery room." Around me, several of the rebels from the base and the pilots were crowded together, the ship not made to hold so many at one time.
I needed to find a quiet place to think. And, possibly more importantly, I needed to speak with the Counceil. If Raine was gone, my training may have just come to a bad end.
 
Mogo

"Well, we've got their attention," Nastasia's voice came through the headset. "Nice aim by the way."
"Like I could miss something that size..." I returned.
Then their fire was coming at us, seemingly from everywhere, through from only a few places in reality. THe ship dodged the first few before taking a hit. This girl knew how to fly.
We moved in...
"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked.
"Getting closer?"
"Closer?" I almost shouted.
"Yep. They'l have more trouble firing with us in close range. Ships that size are meant for larger targets than this little ship," she replied. "And we might be able to disrupt their scanners when it comes to aiming at our friend there."
"Hope you know what you're doing," I replied, firing another spread from the upper and lower decks. The shots did no damage, merely exploded against the large ship's shields.
SHe brought the Owl in fast, taking it as a turn, the fire of the Destroyer often missing with the close range, as she'd suggested. As we cut between the DEsroyer and the X-Wing, the fire was almost entirely concentrated on us.
I hoped the Mechs in Cloud City knew what they were doing; because if our hyperdrive failed us now...
"Here's your chance Rogue pilot," her voice said.
 
Little kid?

"Hey, I'm almost nine! And Tynan is in the Bacter tank." Bacter? Bacta? Whatever. "Although he should be out soon."

His eyes lit up. "You wanna go see him?" Then he realized that Tynan probably wouldn't want anyone visiting him while he was sick. Luke didn't like people visiting him when he was sick, either, so he knew how he felt. Who wants visitors when you have boogers running out of your nose? Although Tynan had worse than a runny nose.

"Hey, when do I get my lightsaber, anyway? How old were you when you got yours? Tynan said we're supposed to make our own, but we need to get one to practice with, right? I think there cool. Is it true they can cut through anything?"
 
Daelon

Daelon couldn't help but smile at the boisterous kid.
"Well, I was a fair bit older than you when I made my own. And you shouldn't take them so lightly; they're a deadly weapon, and death isn't something you should be eager about, any way you're approaching it. And yes, they can cut through anything; as I said, a deadly weapon." Daelon fell silent a moment. "I hope Tynan gets better, but I think he'll get better faster if we leave him alone. And besides, I have to go find my master, Kelson. Did you want to come with me? He's a strong Jedi, much stronger than me."
 
Luke thought about it for a moment, then bobbed his head yes. he wanted to get back to Tynan, but he really wanted him to get better. And if it would happen quicker if he weren't there, then he would stay away. For a little while. He stepped up beside the Jedi, ready to follow him.

"Is Kelson really a Jedi Master?" Luke asked, his eyes going wider, as they started to walk. "Tynan told me some about the Jedi Master who trained him. He had the same name as me. Well, same first name anyway. Weird, huh?"

"His last name was Skyflyer or something. I wish I had a last name."

He noticed the jedi looking at him with some amusement, which made him realize he had been running his mouth almost non-stop since he saw the man! Tynans lessons came back to him.

He could still here the bounty hunter's quietly intense voice. "A Padawan should be silent, and watch his Master. Observe everything. Study your surroundings, both with your eyes and ears, and with the Force. Your duty is to take your Masters lead. Any questions should be saved until you are alone with him or her. Never question his intentions in front of other except in extreme circumstances. You'll begin to understand what those circumstances might be when you get more training."

He heard the words echoing in his head, and realized he hadn't been learning anything about this ship, or the man with him. Sure, he had been looking around, but he hadn't been seeing.

His mouth shut with a click of his teeth, and he tried to fall into that relaxed glide that Tynan used. The one where all your limbs seemed loose, but your spine seemed straight. As if you were ready for anything, which of course he wasn't.

"I seem to remember someone calling him to the bridge. Maybe he's there?"
 
Daelon

Daelon could sense the change in the boy; he indeed was strong with the force. Even the little concentration he could gather was enough to make his presence obvious.
"Yeh, that's where he'll be. I remember hearing that as well." Daelon said, delibrately avoiding the questions about Kelson, his mind plagued by his own lack of confidence in his own ability to reach the level of the Jedi Knight, let alone the Jedi Master. "Down this way." Daelon said, gesturing to the left as they approached a junction. The two turned into the corridor. "You're very quiet all of a sudden. Is something wrong?"
 
Luke tried not to blush.

"No, I'm fine. Just remembering my lessons. Do you get to pick your Master, or do they get to pick you?"

Luke wanted Tynan as his Master. He felt safe with Tynan. Although Daelon seemed nice too. But he was a Padawan, and couldn't have an apprentice. Marius was nice, too. Raine made him feel uncomfortable, though. She didn't smile. Granted, Tynan didn't smile much either.... but that was different.

Damn, the lessons! I've got to clear my mind...

He kept his breathing even, and tried to clear his mind of questions, but they kept popping in there. It was hard.

"Do you ever get the hang of this whole clearing your mind thing? Sometimes I think I have it, but then something pops in there..."
 
Charis Du'Thar, Sith Apprentice

"Very well, Councilor. Welcome to the New Alliance."

On the viewscreen, the Ithorian bowed, and the screen blinked out. One more under her master's control.

Charis' face grew serious. "Commander, contact the pirate ships, and inform them that they will be expected to begin they';re attack on the next system. Tell them to make it seem convincing, we'll be longer in arriving this time."

She knew, and so did the pirate Captain, what 'convincing' meant. Death. Most likely not more than a few thousand, but you never knew. Oh well.
 
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The doors slid open silently before the Jedi master and he slowly entered the bridge, seemingly completely calm as if nothing had happened this day.

"I believe we have much to organize, but I will require my Padawan, please be so good as to call him up here. We shall speak of what is required when he arrives."
 
Captain Thandor

Dar nodded to the communications Officer to do as the Jedi Master requested. Then he positioned himself before Kelson.

"Welcome to the Solo, Master Kelson."
 
Nodding his head in respect, Kelson glanced around the bridge for a short moment.

"Thank you for your help."
 
Captain Thandor

"I just wish we could have gotten there sooner. And with more firepower," Dar replied, with a hard edge to his voice. "As long as there are factions in the Rebellion, I afraid that we'll be outnumbered more often than not from now on."

He looked around the bridge, then lowered his voice. "The Empire has shown some organization, lately. Far beyond the norm. Not too much, they're still fractured, but someone has consolidated some of those factions. If we don't do the same..."

He left the rest of his feelings unspoken.
 
Luke

Luke heard the voice call for Daelon on the speakers.

"Where is the bridge, anyway? I haven't been there, yet!"
 
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Daelon

Daelon chuckled, before turning to the boy. He opened his mouth to answer the boy's questions, but before he could say anything, he was cut off by the voice of an announcement.
"Daelon Eldritch, to the Bridge. Please hurry."
"That's me." Daelon said. "C'mon, let's pick up the pace a bit. The bridge is just down this corridor." he said to Luke. He then walked onwards a bit faster, causing Luke to have to jog after him. After a moment's more walk, they came to a door, and Daelon pressed the button by the side, watching as the door slid open. Before him was the bridge, but the first thing Daelon saw was not the ship's large array of technical equipment but his master and friend, Kelson. Daelon strode over towards the Jedi.
"Kelson, it is good to see you alive and well." Daelon said, bowing his head in respect.
 
Tynan, Bounty Hunter

Tynan waited while they handed him a towel to dry off. He could still taste the telltale metallic twang from being submerged in the bacta tank.

He looked down at his chest, and at the now faded, but still visible, burn scars he had aquired. At least I still have full mobility, he thought, while flexing his arms and shoulders. That should count for something.

He took the towel from the droid, and toweled himself off thoroughly.

"We've supplied you with some clothing, sir. It's over there," the droid said in a tinny voice, and gestured to a set of low hung shelves.

Tynan looked and winced. They had supplied him with Jedi robes. True, he hadn't told them he wasn't actually a Jedi, but...

"It's just temporary," he whispered, and reached for the robes.

Once he was dressed, and his long black hair was dried and tied back with his own leather cord, he set out in search of the boy, Luke.
 
Dartum

He was simply amazed at the efficiency of the ship. From what they have gathered in the past, he knew about technical things, where the cargo bay was, how to get to the bridge, where the engines were, but to see it, in front of him.
He couldn't begin to describe it.
On any DeathStar, work got done, but it was slow. After a battle like they had just finished, repairs would be a solid week, but here... He could swear that within a couple of days things would be running perfectly again.
It was almost as though the people wanted to be here, and help out. Clones did exactly what they were told, but they lacked a certain something to keep them on the ball. Excitement wasn't quite the word, more like determination. Here, it was everywhere.
Like a well oiled machine. And he didn't deny that he felt proud to be a part of it. Well, at least until...
He felt the crystal under his robes, what was he feeling? At this moment, he couldn't decide. Mixed emotions of hate and love and rage and understanding all fought inside the talisman that kept him aboard this ship.
And for the first time, he wasn't sure which side he wanted to win.
One thing was for sure though, now there needed to be a discussion, something for everyone to sit down and decide the next move. If there was one.
He stepped inside the bridge, seeing two jedi already there. That was a start.
 
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