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Author	Topic: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
obaona Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 11/9/04 5:57am Subject: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic) - Date Edited: 1/10/05 12:36pm (5 edits total) Edited By: obaona
	Thanks for clicking. Title: Mad World Summary: An encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic. A/N: Eh - unbeta'ed, inspired by the cover (I believe it is ) of 'Mad World' that Gary Jules did. Just written today - and I hope I cleaned up all my tense issues. Also accidentally posted before I intended to, hehe, so editing muchly ... [edit] The Jedi Purges - a Challenge. This is a rather dark story, and - well, not pleasant. You have been warned. Feedback is, as always and ever, appreciated. He's finally quieted. We've been quiet for a while now, hoping to escape attention. Lan is hardly breathing next to me, sitting very still in a tight position with his eyes squeezed shut. I don't blame him, and I would almost join him, but I can't keep my eyes off the Jedi. I doubt the Jedi can see Lan or I from where we're sitting, behind this shattered control panel that he blasted with his Force powers; but I also have no doubt that he knows we're here, regardless of whether Lan's eyes are shut or not. I wonder if the Jedi knows this isn't our idea. He's standing still, wavering a bit like he's exhausted. Did we sign the bill? No, the Senate did. Did we want to hunt Jedi? No, the Chancellor said it was a 'sad necessity'. I guess it's Emperor now, which seems a bit odd for a man claiming to love democracy, but no one really dares to argue with him at this point. Certainly not me. And I know the Jedi don't have a choice; Palpatine picked their side for them. The Jedi turns to face in my direction, and I stop breathing. A young man. Definitely an adult – I had been able to tell that before when the Hunter dragged him half-drugged aboard this picket ship, but . . . young. He's younger than me, with power like that. But those eyes, that glow in them, that's not normal. He blinks at me, looking almost normal for a moment, then brushes his hand through his brown hair. He looks puzzled when he finds his hand smeared with blood, and I shudder. He walks over to Lan and me, and I hear something wet hitting the floor. There's suddenly a smell of urine. I stand up, while Lan is still. He knows I'm here, after all. "Are you going to finish the job?" the Jedi asks me with an odd calm, like he's the one in danger. Very normal, not loud and screaming like before. I shake my head. No. I have no intention of touching this guy. I'm a soldier, not a bounty hunter. I'm not going to die for this, and regardless of whether or not he's a twerp, Lan doesn't deserve to, either. Besides which, the Hunter already tried that, and he's spread across the ship right now. I hope the Jedi senses my honesty. He nods at me, though I have no idea why. "He's dead?" he asks after a bit, like he's not really sure what's going on. I stare at him. "What do you think?" I don't gesture at the bloody clumps that remain of the Hunter. The Jedi glances around anyway. "I didn't mean to," he whispers. I laugh in disbelief, high and hysterical. "You tore him to pieces without even touching him!" I look around involuntarily, and wince. The Jedi's face twists into grief. "I know. I know." He jerks up suddenly. "Do you think it's true, then, that we deserve to be hunted?" he says as he gazes first at what remains of the Hunter, then continues onward to the bodies of the control crew that had tried to flee the bridge and are lying in the hallway. I clear my throat uncomfortably. What kind of question is that? Why is he asking me? I'm just a communications officer. I serve the Republic. I don't do this sort of thing. The Jedi stares at me. "I'm sorry." Apparently I do this, whatever that is, now. "Would you have done this," I ask shakily, "if he hadn't hunted you?" Slowly, the Jedi shakes his head. "I shouldn't have, still," he says softly, and he begins to play with the tattered edge of his cloak sleeve. "I'm sorry." He glances at me sharply. "I won't – I won't hurt you." He moves back, eyes flickering around desperately. "I'll go. I'll . . . go somewhere. I've got to get away." I swallow. "I don't think there's anywhere to go, unless you take this ship." Lan grabs one of my pant legs and jerks, making me jump and briefly hyperventilate. Well, it's true. The Jedi just looks on blankly. "Um, I think we've got – we've got to get to the nearest inhabited planet," I begin. I cautiously take a step towards the Jedi. "What about your – friends?" the Jedi asks, glancing furtively at the hallway. I don't want to throw up. I don't look. Jason who always beat me at sabacc, Liini who always flirted, Jek who never wanted to argue but always managed to anyway . . . "They'll keep." I gesture at a control panel. "Um, I've got to . . . " The Jedi steps out of my way, and I get almost within a foot of him as I pass. "The ship has automated navigation," I explain feebly, pulling up the program with some clumsiness. "I'm sorry," the Jedi says over my shoulder. "Stop saying that!" I yelp, and scramble away from him. He looks absurdly hurt, but it quickly smoothes from his face, leaving something of self-loathing instead. He walks over to the console I just left, and with much more deft movements than mine, programs the navigation in for some planet. I can't see what and can't remember what's nearby. "Drop your lightsaber!" Lan suddenly squeaks, and I jump, looking at him. Lan has a blaster in hand, and he's pointing it shakily, if with some determination, at the Jedi. His pants are wet, but his dark eyes are wide and alert. His face is pale, and he's too young to even have a shadow on his chin. "You fool," I hiss, helpless. The Jedi responds to this rather mildly. He looks at the blaster, then at Lan. "Lan, drop it," I order, seeing that the Jedi isn't doing anything for the moment. Lan shakes his head at me, lower lip trembling. "He killed – killed the Captain, and Liini . . ." Beautiful Liini, who wanted to introduce Lan to the ways of adulthood. "And us, too, if you keep this up," I snap. I breathe heavily. "Listen. Listen. He was defending himself from the Hunter. He, uh, he won't do that again. He's sorry, you heard him right?" "I'm sorry," the Jedi says again, obligingly. It appears heartfelt, and I feel sick, because it probably is. A tear slips down Lan's cheek, and he wipes it away with his free hand. "He's got a lightsaber," I say softly. "A blaster isn't going to work." The Jedi glances at me emotionlessly. He seems to be falling into the cool, collected state he was in when killing – just . . . killing. I panic. "Lan, please," I say. Don't end up dead, too. The Jedi holds out a hand, and I nearly piss myself. But the blaster is jerked out of Lan's hand and flies to the Jedi's. Lan stumbles back in shock, not falling but coming close, and I nearly fall over myself when the Jedi hands the blaster over to me. I grasp it, not sure what to do with it. I'm not about to use it as a weapon, training be damned. "Enough people are dead," the Jedi says to me, blue eyes suddenly calm and full of emotion again. I nod quickly. "We'll . . . be there soon. Then I can leave," he says. "The planet is close." I nod again, feeling like acknowledgement of some sort is necessary. The Jedi's eyes close. "You can contact your superiors then. I'll have a head start." That seems like an odd thing to say, but I ignore it. I look at Lan, who is leaning against the dented bulkhead. He's shaking, but still seems aware of his surroundings. I wonder if he's going into shock. I wonder if I am. Maybe we all are. It's quiet. Lan sits with a broken sigh. He pulls his knees up and locks his arms around them, watching the Jedi and I. I put the blaster on a console table, and abruptly notice little bits of blood are smeared around my fingernails. It arrests my attention for a moment, but the Jedi moves, and I stare at him instead. He turns to face me. "This," and he almost glances at the hallway, and the blood, but doesn't, "isn't the Jedi way." "But aren't you a Jedi?" It seems the logical response, if not the wisest. "Aren't you a soldier, not an executioner?" he responds softly, and I flinch, nervous. He smiles sadly, but it quickly transforms into an expression of grief and pain. "I am sorry. I am truly sorry." He shakes his head. "I – the Hunter, it was all so fast and I could hardly see . . . There's no explanation," he finishes uncertainly. I look at him for a moment, my heartbeat slowing in spite of myself. "Neither of us wanted to be here," I mutter, not sure what to say. "I probably won't get far," the Jedi adds. I flinch, meeting his even gaze. "On the planet. It's Imperial now." I shiver, looking at Lan. "How old are you?" I suddenly ask the Jedi, because I want to know, how this kid younger than me did this. Though how knowing the answer to that question would tell me that, I don't know. "Twenty-two," the Jedi answers, as if it were a normal question. "Not so old," I say. "Not so wise," he says softly, closing his eyes. I look away from Lan, shaking my head. "Don't – kill yourself. Run," I tell him. His mouth drops open. "What?" "Run," I insist. "Liini . . . the Cap – they weren't supposed to die. But neither were you," I whisper. "This isn't – this isn't sane. Just run." His mouth opens and closes, as he clearly grasps for an answer. "I don't deserve forgiveness," he says hoarsely, and I see him cry. I never thought Jedi cried. "This isn't," I tell him hoarsely, my throat tightening. "Understanding is all I can offer." He nods jerkily. "I think we're all . . . victims," I say, and the Jedi nods. "You're wiser than me," he says, and something settles in his eyes. "Thank you." I stiffen. "Don't." "For your wisdom," the Jedi says. "To know a thing is different than to experience it. We're all victims; you're right," he says, looking away blankly, eyes filling with tears again, but not spilling over. "I forgot that. No one . . . no one is my enemy," he whispers, looking at me like I should meet his eyes. I finally do. And something inside me stops and breaks. Like moments do sometimes. Just like that. I want to cry again, for Cap and Jek and Liini, but at the same time it doesn't seem needed right at this moment. "The Hunters who come after me, they'll question you and Lan," the Jedi says. "I'll make him forget. Soothe the memories." He's looking at Lan. Lan is shaking, watching us talking. Like civilized beings. "You won't be tainted by my words in their eyes," the Jedi finishes. I nod, finally. I don't say anything more. I don't want to look at the Jedi, and something about him quietly retreats, I can feel it. I go to Lan, and he cries into my arms, which should feel strange, with this kid I hardly know, but it doesn't. The Jedi waits. We all wait, actually. And let the tears out. We really are all victims, here. [finis] -----signature----- atty is the bestest! MS Word is designed by sadists with masochists in mind. - teh atty
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DreamOfKenobi Registered: Jul '04	Date Posted: 11/9/04 6:09am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	That was beautiful, powerful, and overwhelmingly sad! Amazing vignette. -----signature----- Counting the days 'til Episode III "What happens in the cave stays in the cave." "You're going to be the death of me..." We are the Vaders and we plan to take over the galaxy!
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Laine_Snowtrekker Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 11/9/04 7:25am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	Whoa. This was so...so.. I don't know. It was right there. The emotions were great--beautifully done! -----signature----- Stealth and subtlety work well, but for making lasting impressions, a blaster does just fine. -Han Room full of gold and jewels, and Dr. Daniel Jackson finds the one book. -Cam Palso's #1 Fan JO: RS1, Admiral, SC Fanfics are linked to in my bio
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 11/9/04 8:01am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	WOW! That was beautiful! So heartbreaking! As usual, another powerful work. Take a bow! -----signature----- The Night Shift http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/30112305 Legal, Schmegal http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28454351 Soldiers' Angels http://soldiersangels.org/ 629 soldiers waiting for someone to care
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 11/9/04 9:33am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	Incredible, the emotions of the characters just seemed to blaze in this. I felt so awful for all of them - all the victims. Poor Jedi, that he knows he shouldn't have but had to. And we all know that he will die anyway. Wonderful job. You have such a gift for emotion. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 jedidas3's Master
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StarFighter5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 11/9/04 1:21pm Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	How beautiful, terrible, and sad! It leaves me slightly unsettled, but I love it anyway. -----signature----- "I hope I slept with you to get the job. if not, then who the hell was that guy?" - Carrie Fisher "Now that I'm a pez and a lego, I shall want for nothing else." -Jeremy Bulloch "Thank you for going to the movies. Especially mine." - George Lucas
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JediNemesis Registered: Mar '03	Date Posted: 11/9/04 2:01pm Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	I find it kind of sad, the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had . . . Loved the song, love the viggie. Dark but brilliant. -----signature----- BeTS Best Author '08 NEW Bad Dreams - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b1/29893091 Eleven Summers - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b1/29657584 Into The Shining Day - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b1/29224914
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Mistress_Renata Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Sep '00	Date Posted: 11/9/04 5:19pm Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	Nice one, oboana. I've got no idea what "Mad World" is, but there are enough modern parallels that it doesn't matter. Very nice. -----signature----- "For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the Guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times." Denizen of the Crotchety Old Mods' Home... approach with caution...
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Pallas-Athena Title: TFN Fan Fiction Archive Editor Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 11/9/04 6:00pm Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	Powerful, oba, chilling It's something to wonder at, what happens when a hero becomes the villian to the galaxy he protects? Is he not supposed to defend himself even against those that are just doing their job? In a situation like that, nobody wins Bravo, oba -----signature----- Do you ever get bored and find yourself scrolling down a thread just to read the signatures?
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obaona Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 11/10/04 7:44pm Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	DreamOfKenobi: Thank you. Laine_Snowtrekker: I think 'right there' is good. I wanted it to feel very intense and in-the-moment. Thank you. VaderLVR64: bows feels silly Thank you. dianethx: Aye, I wanted it to be intense with strong emotions - ones that I don't necessarily express right off the bat, aka, he's scared. I just - wondered what would happen if a Jedi lost it, and how others would react, and this just came out kind of viscerally (if that's a word ). Thank you. StarFighter5: Thank you. Interesting that it leaves you unsettled - I think it's rather difficult, in what it covers. JediNemesis: One of my favorite lyrics of the song. Thank you. Mistress_Renata: I used 'Mad World' as a title just because, well, it was easy and expresses how insane their lives are now. 'Mad Galaxy' might be more apt, but it doesn't flow off the tongue so easily. Thank you. Pallas-Athena: Good question! That's exactly it - no one wins, especially not with Palpatine in power. Both are left with a struggle whether to do the 'right thing', or even what that is. Morals and government don't always get along, I think. Thank you. -----signature----- atty is the bestest! MS Word is designed by sadists with masochists in mind. - teh atty
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Odd-Thomas Registered: Jul '04	Date Posted: 11/12/04 5:33am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	That was superb! Extremely well written and very realistic. -----signature----- Peculiar things happen to me that don't happen to other people with regularity, if ever. The dead don't talk. I don't know why. Elvis is restless...
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SarkaVrae Title: PR Emeritus Chattanooga Registered: Jun '04	Date Posted: 11/12/04 10:10am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	i really like your writing style. I felt like i was sitting there on the bridge with those three. And you accomplished that through their emotions/reactions, without much visual description. Very simple. Very clean. The emotions were done well--no one sure what they should feel. Which is such a symptom of fear! Interesting to see the young Jedi "go off" like that--it's a good excuse to have a Master, isn't it? But now the Order is gone and he's being hunted. I could so see the younger ones especially fighting like that. Good job! -----signature----- are you crazy? it's a very dangerous thing to do exactly what you want TwiLekJedi is so silly "I will sin my own sins, with my eyes open"
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CapNJaxWench Registered: Jul '04	Date Posted: 11/12/04 10:32am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	Really loved it! It was very compelling. Amazing viggie! -----signature----- But you have heard of me, right?
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Ana_Labris Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 11/12/04 2:37pm Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	"Victims.. aren't we all." Had to quote that. And I love this.. it's insane, it's correct and would have been a bit confusing if I didn't know who it was. But who else would it be?! -----signature----- K.E.P.P. Agent #19! I am the one and only Angry Scientist. Darth Vader is my hero.
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obaona Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 11/13/04 8:04pm Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	Odd-Thomas: Thank you! I wanted it to feel very real. SarkaVrae: Thank you. I'm glad. That's what I wanted - a feeling of immediacy. I wanted it to be very fast, focused on them, so that's where there is so little description (which I am not overly fond of anyway ). Thank you. And aye, well, in my mind the Jedi was probably a Knight by then, which I don't think really means he would be able to deal with things - or even that a Master could, necessarily, in that situation. Thanks! CapNJaxWench: Thank you! Ana_Labris: What was that from, if I may ask? Who else could it be? I intended for them all to be OC's - are you seeing something that I'm not? rereads story Anyway. Thank you. -----signature----- atty is the bestest! MS Word is designed by sadists with masochists in mind. - teh atty
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Gabri_Jade Title: Fan Fiction Archive Editor Emeritus Registered: Nov '02	Date Posted: 11/17/04 10:41am Subject: RE: Mad World (Jedi Purge vignette - an encounter with a Jedi that's not so pleasant or heroic)
	Told you I wouldn't forget. You're right, this isn't pleasant. In fact, it's more along the lines of sorrowfully gruesome, and you write it very well. I'd never thought about the Jedi Purge in very specific terms before, and this really brings home how barbaric it must have been, and in rather vivid detail. I'm quite impressed with the power of your writing with this; you capture the moment and all its negative emotions perfectly, and from all angles as well. Very well done. -----signature----- Evil Twin of LadyPadme This concept of "wuv" confuses and infuriates us! - Futurama All I can do is be me. Whoever that is. - Bob Dylan Serendipity (Leia-Mara vig) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/30178069 !!11!1eleventy
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