Jedi Council Forums - Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2

Yarael Poof and this forum are dead. But they both live on in our hearts.

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Classic Fan Fiction »

Locked Topic | Read Only Topic | Previous Active Topic | Next Active Topic

« 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 - Previous | Next | Reload

Author	Topic: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 7/26/05 9:25am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	I am SOOOOOOOOOOO way late in posting, even we my own DRL issues. Sorry about that. It's good to hear that the clouds are breaking up around your life. My problems are pretty small compared to yours, but those clouds are lifting for the both of us. Hopefully, we'll get our writting mojos back in no time! You did really well here in description and limiting conversation. This big, nasty ship is no pleasure cruise and by the sounds of it no one was really supposed to enjoy being on it at all, if enjoyment was ever the goal that is. Nice of Karrade to have those 'tasty' patties handy, but hopefully he has enough to serve billions and billions; sounds like it's going to take at least that much to blow up such a large ship. (yeah, I know, 'billions and billions': lousy Mickey Ds reference). ') Anyways let's get our collective butts in gear and bust out some words! And hey: HOCKEY SEASON is just around the corner! I can't wait! FORWARD! -----signature----- "I have been charitable to politics: I've been donating large sums of my butt to Senators for years now!" - Nadja Moranna, Jedi Knight, screwloose
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 8/7/05 9:49pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Yep, things're finally getting back on track for me. I'm back from my vacation, saw my Dad, and was amazed at his now-positive outlook on life. He's determined to be walking with a cane by next Christmas, and I can see it happening. Now, all I need is a lottery win or a new job and my life will be perfect. Here's a bit of a long one for y'all, and hopefully with some time and my trusty notepad at my side, there'll be more soon. If she could have, she would have purred like a kitten. The sleep had done her a world of good, and now she felt refreshed and eager to tackle the day ahead. It had been a long, hard night, fraught with nightmares and horrors, but now back in the conscious world, she felt safe once more. She rose from her place of sleep amidst the field of wild flowers and grasses…a vast area of green mixed with a veritable rainbow of colours throughout. It was paradise to her. The aroma of the flowers was sweet…full of life and promise. She could coat herself in this scent and be the object of everyone’s affection…all of them vying for her attention. Yet…there was only one whose attention she wanted. Where was he? Surely such a place as this could not be enjoyed alone. She had to find him…to bring him to this place where they could both bask in this paradise of nature. Not really knowing what direction to go, she decided to let the wind decide, moving in the direction the wind now gently pushed her. She walked for what felt like hours, but she felt no fatigue as she approached what looked like an oasis of sorts. Amidst all the green and the flowers lay this pool of water, surrounded by several tall trees and all but sheltered from any but the most determined observer. A mischievous smile twisted on her lips as she thought of bringing him here and enjoying more intimate company, but she had to find him first. Perhaps she could refresh herself with a cool drink before carrying on. She approached the pool and was pleasantly surprised at what she saw. The water was a deep azure colour and her nostrils were filled with its fresh scent. She knelt down on the edge of the pool and dipped her hands into it. The water was cold but not overly so…the perfect temperature to rejuvenate the body and mind. She splashed the water onto her face and head, letting the coolness soothe her body. Afterwards, she cupped her hands in the water and brought it to her lips, drinking deeply of it and savouring the fresh flavour. Yes, she would definitely have to bring him here, if for no other reason than to have a drink and feel refreshed. Sated, she continued to kneel by the pool, gazing at her reflection. For some reason, she became transfixed with her image in the deep blue water, unable to turn away from it. It wasn’t vanity that kept her watching…it was something else. A movement in the water…a kind of twitch beneath her reflection that eluded her conscious sight, but appeared the instant her thoughts wandered…only to disappear once more when she focused. Determined to solve this riddle, she let herself wander mentally for a bit, thinking of him again and perhaps bringing him here. That’s when she saw it, only this time she continued to think of him, while keeping a lazy eye on the disturbance beneath the water. Slowly it began to take shape and it became more and more difficult for her to not focus on it, yet she did, her determination winning out. Her own reflection seemed to waver suddenly, replaced by that of a man…an older man…a human. He looked familiar, though not as familiar as some. His face seemed recent, as if she’d met him not that long ago. Yet she couldn’t place him in her mind. Still, the face seemed to smile at her politely, so she guessed at the very least they were friends. Her relief turned to horror as she watched him say something, then his eyes widened in fear as from out of nowhere a fist collided with his face, knocking him away and dissolving his image from the pool. The horror increased as the image of another familiar human filled the pool, and again this one was roughly cast aside via a fist to the face. She stifled a cry of shock as she focused once more on the pool, making the visions disappear and showing her only her own reflection. She reached out a hand to touch her face on the water, only to have her hand suddenly gripped by another. A gnarled, scarred hand rose out of the water and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to scream as, with a yank, the hand pulled her fully into the pool. Within moments, the waters were still once more, and no trace of her remained… * * * // Help me… // He moaned softly, moving his head from side to side. // Please…help me… // His eyes flickered open slowly then shut as the intrusive light burned his retinas. // Help…Please help… // Finally, he was able to open his eyes without pain and realize where he was. Slowly, Borjin Qel’Has sat up, his body physically weak but his mind nearly at its usual level of sharpness. He grunted and winced, his back singing a symphony of pain both from having been on his back for the past several days, and from the… What exactly had happened to him? Once the light-headedness cleared, the Chiss swung his legs over the side of the medical bed he was on. His legs felt more like rubber than actual limbs of flesh and bone, and he refrained from trying to stand on them for the moment. Instead he concentrated on trying to remember how he’d gotten here, and why his back was in so much pain. Moreover, why did his body feel so weak and sickly? He touched his head and suddenly realized…by the Force…he was bald! He ran his head over his hairless cranium, shocked at this turn of events and the apparent blow to his vanity. He could just hear the other Initiates and Padawans back at the Academy now, comparing his bald blue head to the equally bald and oddly-hued head of… Feslira…where was she? He turned his head towards the other sick bed, and all at once the memories came flooding back to him. He remembered Endrie…the processing plant for the radioactive fuel. He remembered entering the facility that held the dying planet in its titanic grasp…remembered his Master all but ignoring his want to be cautious…pragmatic about the route back to the ship. He remembered the radiation spike…and the nightmare that followed… With shocking clarity he recalled shoving his dear Shamed One away from the approaching blade, offering his back to the Dark Trooper in exchange for her life. His last thoughts…his last sight…was of her face, seemingly asking why as he succumbed to his fate. He’d hoped that in that moment…in that one final gaze into her eyes she knew why he’d done it. He then remembered afterwards…after the Dark Trooper had been destroyed by her hand. He felt her warmth through the Force healing him…bringing him back from the edge of the abyss and far enough into this realm to continue living. He remembered wrapping his arms around her unconscious form that one last time before the sleep took him again. The Chiss felt a small, thin smile twist on his lips as his eyes finally beheld the bed next to his…a smile which quickly faded when he realized the bed was empty. Empty? But how? Why? // Help me… // On reflex, Borjin stretched out with the Force, only to groan and rub his temples in pain. He was still far too weak to perform any large-scale deeds. He slid off the bed slowly, making sure his legs could support his full weight before allowing himself to let go of the bed and walk on his own. It was an ordeal of stiffness, weakness, and dizziness, but Borjin finally made it to the ‘fresher. He splashed some cold water on his face and rubbed some on his bald head, enjoying the cooling sensation it gave him. He did it a few more times before reaching for a towel to dry his face off. He stood upright as he finished drying his head, taking a moment to gaze into the mirror above the sink. He smirked, running his hand over his bald cranium once more. Assuming the radiation treatment hadn’t been too damaging, he’d look like his old self again in a few weeks time. Perhaps he would keep his hair short this time, with the exception of his Padawan braid when it grew back. Feslira always seemed to like him more with shorter hair… As he watched his reflection, the Chiss’ eyes grew wide in horror as the background began to twist and change. Gone was the antiseptic, boring look of the sick bay, an in its place was a scene directly out of a nightmare. Walls that seemed to pulsate with twisted life surrounded him. The stench of rotting vegetation and other things invaded his nose and what sounded like the screams of a million tortured souls filled his ears. He wanted to blink or to at least turn away, but he couldn’t. He was transfixed to the image, and part of him feared that should he look away he would no longer be aboard the Wild Karrde. Instead, he would be in this…this…hell. Out of the darkness a figure approached from behind…a feminine figure for that matter. She wrapped her arms around his chest. His heartbeat quickened as he recognized the garish armour and headgear, but the face he couldn’t make out. Again, he tried to move but he was transfixed by the horror and amazement of it all. It was when the figure spoke that the revelation hit him. Her soft, venomous words broke through the funk that was his confused mind with an almost divine clarity. It nearly made him fall over. “Come, my love…we’ve a galaxy to conquer…” “NO!” Borjin snapped his gaze away from the mirror, the vertigo and his weakened state sending him toppling to the floor of the ‘fresher. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that he had not landed on a floor covered in organic matter, but rather the cool durasteel floor of the sick bay. He tried to push himself up, but the most he could do was drag himself back to his bed where, with a supreme effort, he pulled himself into a kneeling position, panting heavily. // Help me. // In his mind he heard the voice again…the same whisper he’d felt moments before waking up. It was faint…hardly a breath’s worth of voice, yet now he could hear it as plainly as if it had been shouted. // Help me. // Through a supreme effort of determination, Borjin pulled himself to his feet. He staggered over to the medical supply cabinet and pulled it open. He grabbed a handful of stim-sticks, stabbing one of them into his right leg. Instantly, the synthetic adrenal fluid coursed through his bloodstream, giving his body a much-needed energy and power boost. With energy came clarity and focus, and from that, the Force was found. Again, Borjin sent out a signal, searching the entirety of the ship in a mere thought…searching for any trace of Feslira only to find nothing. What he did find, though, was equally distressing. Summoning his Jedi robe and lightsabre to him, the Chiss hobbled out of the sick bay and headed towards the cargo area of the ship. Once there, he saw the crumpled forms of Odonnl and Dankin on the floor near the crates of McNerf patties the Chiss had noticed earlier. His heart raced as he approached them, and then breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed they were still alive. He dragged them towards the crates to prop them up. Odonnl groaned audibly, reaching for his jaw and wincing as he touched it. “What happened?” asked Borjin, his crimson eyes betraying his concern. “It…it was that other Padawan,” replied Odonnl quietly. “We were getting the charges ready when…” “Charges?” Borjin looked over, seeing the McNerf crates had been opened, exposing the cases of supposedly frozen meat within. However, instead of that, the Chiss saw these crates were packed with explosives…very powerful explosives. In spite of the distress of the moment, Borjin couldn’t help but smirk. “She took a case,” said Odonnl. “She was rambling something about a holy fire or something. She might’ve overheard me ‘n’ Dankin talkin’ about the other Eclipse-Class ships…about the fore reactor.” Borjin’s blood ran cold. He remembered with haunting clarity that the bow of the Eclipse and the Eclipse II each housed a molecular reactor, mainly dedicated to the superlasers mounted there. If such a beast existed on this ship, then a case of mining explosive charges could be enough to break the reactor’s containment, consuming the ship in an explosion akin to a star’s birth… Washed clean in the holy fire… “I’ve got to find her,” he said. He wavered slightly as the effects of the stim-stick began to wane. He withdrew another from his robe and stuck it in his leg. “I’ve got to stop her. Will you be all right?” “Go,” said Odonnl. “We’ll keep the ships hot for all of you.” The Chiss nodded, exiting the Wild Karrde in search of Feslira…or rather…what Feslira had become… -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 8/12/05 12:20pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Nelly Belly, things have gone helly: time for some jelly....spread! Bjorn better get his Chiss going and find Fes, or what is left of Fes, before those beffy concoctions do more than give the heroes indigestion. And it's good to hear the good news, Whiskey. Very good news. -----signature----- "I have been charitable to politics: I've been donating large sums of my butt to Senators for years now!" - Nadja Moranna, Jedi Knight, screwloose
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 9/2/05 5:06pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Football season just around the corner: you know what that means..... PUNT! -----signature----- "I have been charitable to politics: I've been donating large sums of my butt to Senators for years now!" - Nadja Moranna, Jedi Knight, screwloose
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 9/23/05 6:43am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	FORWARD! -----signature----- "I have been charitable to politics: I've been donating large sums of my butt to Senators for years now!" - Nadja Moranna, Jedi Knight, screwloose
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 10/6/05 5:52pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	GET UP: IT'S HOCKEY TIME!!!!!!!!!! -----signature----- "I have been charitable to politics: I've been donating large sums of my butt to Senators for years now!" - Nadja Moranna, Jedi Knight, screwloose
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
SilverBlaze09 Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 10/22/05 3:26am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Man, it's asleep. XD This is a good story; I started at the beginning and read all the way through, and I've enjoyed it. And now I shall sit and wait for the next installment. By the way, is it just me, or are those Mark I Dark Troopers thoroughly antisocial? SilverBlaze09 -----signature----- Christian American, and proud of it Only male padawan of the supreme Jaya Solo. ph34r ^that means I'm number 7 backup when they go campaigning Bring the liberal media up on charges of treason. When in Rome... Eat lasagna and pizza
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 11/7/05 8:25am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Hey all. A case of literary sobriety, coupled with yet another CRAPPY year has contributed to the stalling of this little work here. Fret not though, dear readers, for the intoxication is slowly returning and, as time is allowing, I'm actually making progress on the next couple of posts. With any luck I'll have something this week to post. Oh, and welcome aboard, SilverBlaze09. Glad you like it so far. Hopefully you'll like what happens next. -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 11/9/05 4:53am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 11/9 - The End of Chapter 16
	I don't know if this is the beginning of another writing binge, or a brief window of clarity, but I'm finally feeling a bit more inspired to write once again. So, without any further ado or fanfare, let's finish out this bloody chapter and move the story along, shall we? The mag-lev car finally slowed to a halt. As they were when they started, the group was in some kind of tunnel, away from all the macabre scenes they’d observed on their way to this place. For most of them it was a merciful end to this journey, for what they’d seen while en route to this place would surely be the source for many a nightmare to come. Ryn had been correct in his analysis of this transport’s purpose. It was indeed an observation vehicle, designed to give its passengers a grand overview of certain goings-on aboard the ship. At full operational status, the Prometheus was more than just a warship, it seemed. It also housed within it the birthplace of things so macabre and bizarre that had the Emperor survived Endor, the galaxy would have resembled a physical, living Hell for all life. Cloning chambers, animal experimentation, biological warfare research, cybernetic augmentation…the mag-lev car had taken its passengers through all of this, each area more horrific than the last. While thankfully there were no living test subjects in any of these areas, anyone with a vivid enough imagination could easily envision what could take place. H’sishi, being more feral, nearly had a panic attack when she saw the huge pens and operating tables, all with bulky restraints hanging off them. Were it not for Shada helping her, the poor Togorian would have fallen unconscious. Everyone else tried hard to keep their feelings of revulsion hidden, but even the straight-faced Talon Karrde seemed more on-edge than before. The others were also uneasy, for unlike a dead world like Korriban, whose legacy of evil was in ruins, this ship was at least partway operational. That meant that whatever those areas were designed for had the potential of being used in the near future. While other monuments to the Sith were but part of history, this ship had the potential of being their future. It could not be so. The doors to the car slid open, soon followed by the doors to the access tunnel. Deep blue light poured into the car, illuminating everyone with a deep indigo glow. Wordlessly they all emerged from the car, Jacen and Anakin taking point to ensure the way was clear. The group found themselves in an immense chamber, whose ceiling was impossible to see. Where the blue light came from was impossible to determine, which only added to everyone’s growing apprehension. All they could see was the same obsidian walls and floor they’d seen before, and a single black cylinder in the apparent centre of the room several metres away. “The lift,” said Ryn, recalling what he’d seen aboard the mag-lev. “That’ll take us straight to the bridge.” “Let’s get moving,” said Leia. “The sooner we blow this thing the better.” Everyone seemed to agree with her statement and they set off cautiously towards the cylinder. All weapons were drawn and senses stretched to the limit, searching for danger along the way. However, save the weighted silence of the chamber and the myriad of questions on everyone’s minds, none could be seen, heard, or sensed. Suddenly, a large mechanical sound filled the chamber, stopping everyone in their tracks. The sounds of immense gears turning…metal sliding on metal…motors and servos whining. Then, with a final BOOM, the sound stopped. Memories of the trash compactor aboard the Death Star suddenly sprang to life in both Han’s and Leia’s minds. They’d heard a mechanical sound like that before…moments before they were destined to be crushed by the chamber’s auto-compression routine. Their pulses quickened, Han thankful his heart had been repaired all those years ago. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he said quietly. No one in the group got the chance to chastise him for making that remark, for another sound filled the air. More servos whined to life, followed by several clank…clank…clank sounds that were getting closer. Weapons were raised in response, but none of the Jedi present activated their lightsabres. They still preferred to see exactly what was coming towards them before deciding what action to take. “Attention intruders!” The voice bellowed from some unseen source. “Lower your weapons or be destroyed!” The clanging sound grew louder…closer…more foreboding as the voice spoke again. “Lower your weapons or be destroyed…this is your final warning.” “Do as he says,” hissed Karrde, lowering and dropping his blaster. The others followed suit, the Jedi relinquishing their lightsabres to the ground along with everyone else. Only when the last weapon clattered to the floor did the source of the clanging sound make itself known…and the group all felt sick to their stomachs. Like metallic behemoths they approached, walking in measured unison with a frightening precision. Each one stood well over eight feet tall and nearly four feet wide at the shoulders. Grey/black armour covered them from head to toe and through emotionless black eyelets, they scanned the group before them. Shon felt his throat tighten as he looked at the approaching machines. Nestled in the right hand of each of them was something he’d seen once before on the barren world of FaJa…a weapon that had been used to massacre an entire legion of beings. Now, as he looked around, at least a dozen of them were pointed at he and the others. A cold wave of fear coursed through those sensitive enough to feel it, and all senses turned towards Ryn. He gazed at the machines before him, a wide-eyed look of horrified recognition on his face. As they became more visible, Han, Leia, Karrde, Shada, and Lando all took in a quick breath. They’d never seen them before, but they all knew someone who once had…a very long time ago. “This is impossible,” said Karrde, his voice barely above a whisper. “Dark Troopers.” Of course, the well-named prince of smugglers was spot on in his conclusion. Twelve Dark Troopers – mechanical monstrosities capable of destruction on a massive level – now surrounded the group, plasma blasters drawn and ready to deal instant death should any one of them do anything foolish. “I thought Kyle Katarn wiped these things out,” said Han, referring to the only known member of the Rebel Alliance to have tangled with these behemoths…and won. “Silence.” The metallic voice of one of the Dark Troopers echoed like thunder in this chamber. “You will proceed to the elevator for transport to the bridge. Any attempts to run or resist will be met by lethal force.” Wordlessly, everyone assumed a double line and were marched towards the central spire, everyone flanked by the dozen Dark Troopers. When he could, Ryn stole a few glances at the robotic terror beside him. In spite of the machine’s intentions, he couldn’t help but marvel at it. He’d only heard of these machines, and had only gleaned a small amount of information about them off the Holonet. To see one now in full working form almost made up for the fact that an earlier version of this monstrosity had nearly killed him. The group finally reached the lift and one of the Dark Troopers opened the door. In spite of how small the spire had looked when they first arrived, the actual diameter of the lift was respectable. The entire entourage fit inside rather comfortably. Once everyone was in, one of the Dark Troopers punched the control panel’s buttons in a complex sequence and the lift began to move upwards. The tension in everyone’s minds rose proportionally to the lift. Naturally, their first thought after being captured was that they were not destined to die yet, otherwise the Dark Troopers would have vaporized them in that ominous room an unknown amount of metres down. However, as Leia well knew, there were worse things than dying when the Empire was involved. As the lift slowed, the prisoners all tensed up. None of the Jedi could sense what lay beyond the doors due mainly to their collective anxiety over the matter. This was the greatest tactical advantage of the Dark Trooper: Psychological warfare. Unlike stormtroopers, whose sinister images were far overshadowed by their incompetence as soldiers, the Dark Troopers were tried and true killing machines. For the brief time they saw active duty they wreaked havoc against the Rebel Alliance until Kyle Katarn put a supposed stop to them by destroying their only known source of manufacture: the Arc Hammer. Even Anakin Solo could not shake the rising panic in his mind long enough to stretch out with the Force. Mental images of his Padawan falling before the Mark I Dark Trooper at the Endrie station filled his mind and he tried to keep his growing anger down. While thoughts of his apprentice lying in the Wild Karrde’s sick bay managed to calm him somewhat, he was still in no mental shape to help his situation. Finally, the lift stopped and with a barely audible hiss, the doors slid open. The group was nudged out of the lift by their captors and into another vast room. However, while the chamber far below had been all but bereft of any features, this place was abuzz with activity. Beings milled about all over the bridge, some carrying components to one station or another while others received these components and began installing them into different places. They all looked like technicians and support personnel, but their uniforms were of an unknown type. They weren’t the normal grey of the Imperial forces, nor were they of Republic design. Instead, they were a combination of a dark, almost black grey with deep blue sleeves. Even Talon Karrde was at a loss for words. Shon, however, spotted something familiar and it confirmed what he’d feared all along. Milling about the workers as they assembled the bridge were several armoured figures, all wearing what looked like stormtrooper armour, were it not for its dark grey colour and slightly altered appearance. These were the new Mark II troopers…a company of elite soldiers hand picked by the Empire’s generals. Unlike the typical stormtrooper, these soldiers were better trained, far better equipped, and fanatically loyal to the cause. Their weapons were all upgraded version of existing Imperial hardware to the point that the armour’s heads-up display actually gave the trooper a tactical advantage. The Dark Troopers pushed their prisoners along, moving them towards what appeared to be the command chair. It stood a good 2 metres off the deck, and offered its occupant a near perfect panoramic view of all the bridge stations. As they approached, the prisoners could see that the chair was facing away from them, concealing the identity of its occupant from their eyes. To the left of the command chair stood two guards, one a Mark II trooper, and one a Dark Trooper, though it seemed somewhat smaller than those currently herding the prisoners along. The chair began to move only when the prisoners were stopped a metre or so away. Everyone’s thoughts as to who was sitting there ranged from some lowly pirate all the way up to the Emperor himself, once again born of the Dark Side. However, as the occupant came into view, everyone was struck with the same air of confusion at the same time. He was a middle-aged man, his hair just beginning to succumb to time and go grey. Judging from his seated posture, he wasn’t all that tall, nor was he muscular. In fact, he was bordering on slight…waif-like…the kind of person a bouncer could easily break in half. Immediately, everyone had him pegged as an academic, not a soldier. “Well…well well well,” said the figure, his fingers steepled in front of him. “What do we have here? Fame hunters? Treasure seekers, perhaps?” He glanced off to their side towards the pair of Dark Troopers holding their weapons. “Ah…Jedi Knights! How delightful!” He clapped his hands gaily and it was all Shon could do to suppress a smirk. Whoever this individual was, he was gone…far gone from this reality. “Welcome,” he said, jumping down off the command chair and onto the floor. “Welcome to the Star Destroyer Prometheus. I’m Dr. Ghesprin Malatov, at your service.” He bowed with a flourish so garish and outlandish, everyone had to stifle a groan at his actions. “It’s been so long since I’ve had visitors…so very…very long.” “These intruders have come to destroy the ship,” spoke a voice. All eyes turned to the stormtrooper that had been standing beside the command chair. He now walked towards the group, the Dark Troopers moving out of the way to give him a better view of the prisoners. “These are the ones I warned you about.” Shon winced as the trooper spoke. He knew that voice all too well. The second he and the trooper locked gazes, the latter seemed to relax his posture a bit, his confidence apparent. “Well, this is certainly a nice surprise. Hello again, Shon…or should I say…” He reached up and removed his helmet, revealing the young redhead underneath. The resemblance was too close to cast any doubt on anyone else. “Little brother.” “Jastro,” said Shon slowly, his voice laden with defeat. “How long?” “We’ve been tracking your progress since the beginning.,” replied Jasto Corvain. “I must admit you and your group did well, following the route the Emperor had laid out perfectly. Even more impressive is the fact that you were able to extract the destination of the next stop from each one.” He nodded in Ryn’s direction. “I didn’t know Jedi were trained in the art of slicing.” “How did you…” Shon was flabbergasted at seeing his elder brother here…ahead of him. Then he remembered the conversation he’d had with Ryn after the near-massacre on Endrie. “There was a shortcut from there to here…you knew about it.” “Yes,” said Jastro with a grin. “In spite of the key falling into your hands,” he gazed at Lando for several long moments, “we were still able to home in on the beacon you set off on Nyphidonia the moment you accessed the computer system. Once there it was a simple matter to contact the good doctor here and arrange a quicker route.” Dr. Malatov moved closer to inspect the prisoners. As was normal for an Imperial officer, he made a rather large show of snubbing H’sishi, turning his nose up at her in some feeble gesture of human superiority. The Togorian felt the growl rise in her throat at her pride being so insulted, but she quickly calmed down, remembering the twelve mechanical nightmares surrounding her and her friends. “So many Jedi in one place,” he remarked. “How is it that the Emperor allowed you to exist?” Stunned silence was the only reply he received. “No answer?” he asked, stroking his chin. “Curious…I always thought that when it came to defying Imperial rule, the Jedi were far more outspoken.” “These Jedi have a new protector.” All eyes, especially those of the newcomers, turned toward the second figure that had been standing next to Dr. Malatov…the short Dark Trooper. “These Jedi and those remaining have fled to a sanctuary of sorts…one the Empire cannot easily deal with.” The trooper walked forward, and everyone marvelled at its grace. Where the twelve ones surrounding them were definitely machine in nature, this one approaching them lacked the subtle side-effects of mathematic-based movement. In fact, the movements were so analog in nature, everyone wondered if it was a machine at all. Was it possible? Was it…alive? “A haven, you say,” said Malatov. “Surely the Fleet could deal with such a place.” “It is in a region of space highly controversial these days,” said the trooper. “However, with this ship and these hostages, I’m sure something can be worked out.” Shon stole a glance over at his brother. He felt sick to his stomach when he saw the smirk on Jastro’s face. It was one of those silent yet powerful expressions, one that screamed to an adversary that they’d been beaten and beaten hard. The rogue talent felt his pulse quicken as the icy grip of haunting recognition touched his soul. He looked again at the Dark Trooper who’d been talking. “No…way,” he said, his voice betraying what he was feeling. The trooper turned towards him and froze momentarily, as if Shon’s voice had some kind of power over him. Jedi and Imperial locked gazes for what seemed an eternity before the trooper took a step forward. Jaina moved to defend Shon, but the sound of a Dark Trooper weapon being cocked forced her back. “It can’t be,” said Shon, his face growing pale. The Dark Trooper said nothing, but reached for its head and pulled. To everyone’s shock, they heard the sharp HISSSSSS of a pressure seal being opened, and watched as what should have been the machine’s head was pulled off…revealing a human head underneath. “Hello, Shon,” spoke the voice of Terin Corvain. “Been a long time.” “You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Shon…mere moments before he felt the pain of a stun blast in his back…and his world turned dark. Man, did it feel good to post that. -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 11/16/05 10:10am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	UGh, sorry for the delay in posting: I got off schedule. But MAN, it is great that you're posting again. Right on the mark with the tension. Finally, we have the family reunion Shon never wanted. Here's to more and more soon! FORWARD! -----signature----- "I have been charitable to politics: I've been donating large sums of my butt to Senators for years now!" - Nadja Moranna, Jedi Knight, screwloose
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
SilverBlaze09 Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 11/18/05 9:25am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	I like this, especially the promise of imminent doom from Feslira running loose on a ship of such, erm, power as this one. And this guy just made my day, for who can help wishing lightning upon him? Whiskey in the Jar-Jar posted: “Well…well well well,” said the figure, his fingers steepled in front of him. “What do we have here? Fame hunters? Treasure seekers, perhaps?” He glanced off to their side towards the pair of Dark Troopers holding their weapons. “Ah…Jedi Knights! How delightful!” Now I'm wondering if Dalan and his gang will be sent to where the rest of the group is and the Invids mop them all up... XD Ah, well. If they don't, somebody else will hafta do it. XD Prometheus, hmm, wasn't that in ancient Greek lore? The Prometheus? Hmm, wonder if there's something to that... 8O Well, yeah, continue entertaining. XD This is pretty good. SilverBlaze09 -----signature----- Christian American, and proud of it Only male padawan of the supreme Jaya Solo. ph34r ^that means I'm number 7 backup when they go campaigning Bring the liberal media up on charges of treason. When in Rome... Eat lasagna and pizza
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 11/18/05 9:44am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	WHOA! FEEDBACK! Casper: Sure feels good to be back in the writing saddle again. That last chapter was a real grinder, trying to word things just right. Glad I pulled it off to your satisfaction and standards. SilverBlaze09: A Yuuzhan Vong loose on any ship like the Prometheus is cause for concern. Glad you like the good doctor. I'm kinda going for a combination of Dr. Hans Reinhardt from 'The Black Hole' and a bit of Zaphod from 'Hitchiker.' Hopefully it'll work out. And, as for our resident feline nutbar, we'll be seeing what's up with him next chapter...once my home PC is off the disabled list. Until then... <glug glug glug glug> <hic> -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
SilverBlaze09 Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 11/19/05 11:00am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	WITJJ posted: Glad you like the good doctor. I'm kinda going for a combination of Dr. Hans Reinhardt from 'The Black Hole' and a bit of Zaphod from 'Hitchiker.' Hopefully it'll work out. And if it doesn't, you can always kill him. Or have him walk into a scientific discussion on the origins of a Hutt's need to be rotund. XD WitJJ posted: A Yuuzhan Vong loose on any ship like the Prometheus is cause for concern. Especially a Force-sensitive one. 8O WitJJ posted: And, as for our resident feline nutbar, we'll be seeing what's up with him next chapter...once my home PC is off the disabled list. Hmm, and the demands for patience go on and on and on... XD 8D Yet again do the computers prove their intention of quelching all fanfiction ambitions. XP XD salutes And may the Impeccably Cool Energy Field be with you. XD One thing though. I think I may just be in simple confusion due to not rereading properly, but wasn't there a Mark One Dark Trooper on the big space station on the last planet the gang visited? And wasn't it a robot? So now I'm kinda wondering about the names. Mark One Dark Trooper: Robot Mark Two Trooper: Human Dark Trooper: Robot Actually, never mind. I see the difference now. XD NOW the Impeccably Cool Energy Field can be with you. SilverBlaze09 -----signature----- Christian American, and proud of it Only male padawan of the supreme Jaya Solo. ph34r ^that means I'm number 7 backup when they go campaigning Bring the liberal media up on charges of treason. When in Rome... Eat lasagna and pizza
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 12/8/05 8:06am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	FOWARD! -----signature----- "I have been charitable to politics: I've been donating large sums of my butt to Senators for years now!" - Nadja Moranna, Jedi Knight, screwloose
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 12/8/05 8:27am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Good news My PC's back off the disabled list (bad memory caused a heating problem) and I'm writing frantically to get the next bit up. My problem's actually been a lack of time to actually sit and put out anything legible. More coming soon my faithful group of...er...two readers :P -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
	~~Locked Topic~~ \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History

« 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 - Previous | Next | Reload

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Classic Fan Fiction »