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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Beyond - Legends Collapse of the Empire: Anthology thread

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction- Before, Saga, and Beyond' started by Amidala_Skywalker, Jan 17, 2004.

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  1. Amidala_Skywalker

    Amidala_Skywalker Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2001
    The purpose of this thread is to host stories entered in this challenge.

    Participants: You may have posted your story in their individual threads, but I also ask that you post them here so that we have them in one place. Thanks! :)
     
  2. darthmace7

    darthmace7 Jedi Youngling star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 15, 2003
    Hereit is. Enjoy and please review.
     
  3. Raven

    Raven Administrator Emeritus star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Oct 5, 1998
    Wedge flew out through Death Star superstructure, almost imagining he could feel the wave of fire behind him. The Millennium Falcon was behind him, as was the last of the TIE fighters that had followed them into the superstructure. Wedge had gone into the superstructure fast, diverting all his power from lasers into engines and shields, and it had taken all of his piloting skills to avoid crashing. Going out, he was faster. No power was being diverted into shields, and even life support and every other non-essential system was going into the engines. But the fire behind was going even faster.

    He rocked forward instinctively in his X-Wing, whispering to himself as he tried to coax every possible bit of speed out of it, his piloting skills stretched to the very limit to avoid the superstructure around him. ?Almost there, almost there,? he whispered, then stopped as he realized on some level that he sounded like a friend who had died in a different Death Star run.

    And then there was open space ahead. He heard Lando say something over the comm, but the words were meaningless, not directed at him. They were out, and the Death Star was going.

    Wedge caught sight of Imperial Star Destroyers going to hyperspace, Mon Cal cruisers pounding those that remained. But he didn?t slow down. The explosion would take out everything within a wide margin around the Death Star. But with open space ahead and the Death Star directly behind him, there was no longer any need to steer. Wedge lay back in the acceleration couch and closed his eyes for moment, then felt a jolt as the shockwave from the Death Star reached his X-Wing.

    The small ship tumbled through space and alarms filled the cockpit. Wedge snapped his eyes open and checked his status. But the damage was only minor. His astromech whistled an all clear, and Wedge laughed helplessly. Another Death Star gone. The Imperial fleet defeated in a full scale engagement for the first time ever. It would take a while to sink in. But what about Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, did they escape? And what friends had Wedge lost in this Death Star run?

    As if to answer his question, Wedge?s comm beeped. Curiously, the source of the transmission seemed to be an Imperial shuttle. He flicked on the comm and spoke, surprised by how hoarse his voice sounded. ?Calling to surrender?? he asked.

    ?No, Wedge, calling to look for an escort,? said Luke Skywalker. He sounded amused by Wedge?s question, but there was an undercurrent of sadness to his voice. ?I?d rather not be shot down by some hotshot on our side looking for more kills.?

    ?Luke! You were on that thing?!? Wedge asked.

    ?Yes, I was on it. I was? captured on the planet, and brought up to the Death Star. It?s a long story. For now, can you give me an escort down to the planet??

    ?Sure thing boss,? Wedge said, and then hesitated. He decided to ask his question. ?Luke? do you know what happened to the Emperor and to Vader??

    There was a long pause. ?The Emperor and Vader are dead. They killed each other.? Luke?s voice sounded tired and sad, and Wedge didn?t ask any more questions until they reached the surface. They brought their ships down into a small field in the midst of the forest, and Wedge hopped out of his X-Wing to go to the shuttle. Luke came down the ramp, dressed in black, his lightsaber at his hip. A palpable aura of power was around him, and his eyes seemed far too old for his face.

    Wedge was suddenly reminded of the brash farm boy that had arrived on Yavin four years previous, with nothing to recommend him but that he had rescued the Princess Leia and that Biggs Darklighter had spoken well of him. Wedge remembered being surprised that this kid who hadn?t logged a single hour in an X-Wing was made a part of the Death Star run, remembered being horrified when he realized that Luke had turned off his targeting computer. He shook his head and couldn?t help but laugh, thinking of the long road behind them both, and perhaps thinking the same thoughts, Luke laughed as well.

    Four years ago, who could have pred
     
  4. New_York_Jedi

    New_York_Jedi Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 16, 2002
    I've never written a fanfic before, but this was intresting enough to inspire me to do it.

    A True Imperial

    Businessman Arnx Coale, of Courscant, was wakened from his bed in the early hours of the morning by the sound of quite a racket outside. Groaning, he rolled out of his bed to see what the commotion was. He was tall, with close cut black hair and a carefully trimmed goatee. He walked over to his balcony overlooking a square on Courscant (Being wealthy gave him some advantages), and was amazed by what he saw. Hundreds, thousands, of people were celebrating in the street.

    The sight dazed coale. Where was the Empire?s law enforcement to put such rebellious activity down? Then he caught site of one of the large holo displays over the street. It read, ?The Emperor killed by rebels.? Coale couldn?t believe it. He refused to. He caught site of Imperial storm troopers forcing their way through the crowd, cutting down demonstrators. Coale smiled cruelly. It showed those damn rebels right. Putting up false propaganda of the glorious Emperor?s death and rioting in the streets. They?d be shown that the Empire still had complete control over them. Satisfied that the news of the Emperors death was false, he went back to sleep.

    The next morning he was getting ready to go to work. He had just brewed a cup of caffeine and flipped on the news, where he caught the tail end of a news report.

    ?Beginning today, the official year of mourning begins?? Coale zoned out. The Emperor wasn?t dead, he couldn?t be dead. Who would lead the Empire against the rebels and dissenters?

    Coale didn?t go to work that day. He sat on his couch and watched, as news people reported the death of the Emperor. They showed footage of thousands of planets celebrating, wholes worlds rebelling. And yet, Coale refused to believe in his death. He had devoted himself to the Emperor?s New Order, and he refused to believe some rabble, filled with aliens nonetheless, could triumph over his imperial majesty.

    One of Coale?s friends came over. He sat besides Coale and tried to get him to accept the news. Coale just numbly nodded his head in disagreement.

    ? Arnx?maybe you should just accept it,? offered his friend, ?Maybe it?s a good thing, you know, the Empire isn?t perfect.? Coale rose to his feet.

    ?I will not tolerate that rebel speech in my home!? Thundered Coale, brought to life by his friend?s assertion. He was amazed. He had always thought his friend had been a loyal member of the Empire, a believer in the New Order.

    ?C?mon, you have to admit that there are some things wrong with the Empire,? His friend began but Coale cut him off.

    ?The Empire is perfect! Anything wrong you see is due to the Rebels, not the Emperor!? Coale practically screamed, and then shot his friend dead with the holdout blaster he always carried with him, for protection. For a moment he stood there, looking at the smoking hole in his friend?s corpse, and then he realized his purpose. The Emperor was not dead. This was merely a test, to see who was truly loyal to him, yes, that was it. Coale would prove his loyalty, yes he would. He would cut down anyone who dissented, furthering the reaches of the Emperor?s new order. Coale?s heart swelled with pride as he considered his vital role in the Emperor?s plans.

    Some weeks later, Coale?s friends stood watching him as he ranted about the evil of the Rebels. He was confined to a padded room, and they watch him through a video camera imbedded in the ceiling. One of his friends turned away sadly.

    ?A true imperial, he was,? He said softly, ?Completely devoted to the Empire. Its unfortunate that it had to end like this.?

    In his room, Coale continued to scream himself hoarse at imaginary rebels.
     
  5. darthmace7

    darthmace7 Jedi Youngling star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 15, 2003
    Here's mine. Sorry for posting the link, I was being hasty and didn't realize what you meant. Enjoy!

    I have been told that he Emperor is dead. Many are celebrating; dancing in the streets. They find this news reason to celebrate. They are traitors of the Empire. They will be put to death, which is the fate that all traitors to the Empire deserve. The Empire has survived the loss of one Death Star. I have no doubts that they will survive the loss of one other. The Empire endures. Forever. The Rebellion is weak, striking and then retreating. They will fall in good time, whether the Emperor is at the helm or not. It is inevitable. I am sure that Darth Vader will take the Emperor's place and lead the Empire to ultimate victory. It is the Empire's destiny. No foolish Rebellion can change that.

    Still, I must know more. I have to know how the Emperor was killed. I have not seen the Emperor, but I have heard tell of his deeds. He is said to be a user of the Force, the same power that the Jedi Knight of the Old Republic used. It was even whispered at the Academy that he could shoot lightning from his fingertips. What kind of a man could stop someone with power such as that? I surely know of none that could.

    I am looking for answers. I immediately know who to go to. I head for Zerk's home, only several blocks away. Zerk was with me when I was at the Academy so long ago. He is an Imperial as well. Zerk will know what to do. I run in the streets and catch an air taxi.

    We finally arrive at his home and I tip the driver. I rush out and to his door. I quickly speak into his comm unit.

    "Zerk, it is Aoler! Let me in! We have to talk. Quickly, Zerk," I speak quickly, cringing with the explosion of every firework. Their celebration is foolish, but I cannot stop them.

    The door to Zerk's home opens. I rush in. He looks pale and upset, obviously as unsettled by the celebration and the events as I am.

    "How did he fail?" I ask frantically, "How was our all-mighty Emperor beaten? He was said to be unstoppable, the perfect leader. Who challenged him?"

    Zerk hesitates.

    "Calm down, Aoler. We must remain calm. These are tough times for the Empire. The Rebellion has struck at our heart, and landed what I fear might be a death blow."

    "This cannot be true. The Empire will not fall. It has been built to preserve through time. No mere Rebellion can defeat it. We must not submit defeat. We will not surrender."

    "I fear that we are finished. The Emperor is dead... along with Vader."

    I am shaking. I cannot control my anger and surprise, "How could anyone kill them both? They cannot die. They can't!"

    "I am afraid," he hesitated, "That Darh Vader killed the Emperor. The Emperor was also responsible for Vader's death."

    I clutched at my chest, not believing his words, "No... no...."

    "Do you have a blaster?"

    "Yes, but you cannot fight them. The people are too numerous."

    I found his blaster pistol. I pulled it out of its holster, ignoring his words.

    "Don't do it. You can't kill them all. You'll die."

    I laughed and turned the blaster pistol on my head.

    "Goodbye. If the Empire is dead, then so am I."

    "No!"

    I pulled the trigger.
     
  6. Sara_Kenobi

    Sara_Kenobi Jedi Grand Master star 7

    Registered:
    Sep 21, 2000

    Dawn's Final Light


    By Sara Kenobi





    ***************************************************************
    It was late in the night the explosion rocked the skies of Endor. The Death Star was gone. The Emperor and Darth Vader were dead.

    Commander Jolie Sera stared blankly at the data screens of the AT-AT walker she had been trapped inside of for hours now. Her comrade-in-arms was stoned dead, laying just a few feet away from her crushed shoulders.

    The data screens flickered as the announcement came.

    ["The Imperial Airborne forces have fallen! All remaining grounds men retreat!"]

    With a cry of unadulterated fury, Commander Sera screamed in desperate outrage, as she kicked hard at the top door of the broken and battered machine, in a last effort to free herself from her prison. In one pitiful and final attempt to rush to the defense of her fellow comrades.

    But she didn't move. She couldn't. Her legs were bloodied and nearly broken. It hurt far too much to move anymore.

    "No!" was a soft cry from her chest.

    The star dust from space danced in the heavens of Endor's great sky, and shouts of thrump and victory could be heard in distant rumbles from the night, and now rising dawn of a new day.

    The Empire had fallen. It was true. Everything she had ever fought for and believed in was gone.

    The Rebellion scum had stolen victory from the Imperial might.

    It was the commander's final thought as death took her before dawn's final light.






    **************************************************************


     
  7. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Here's the first of two. The first is kind of humorous, stemming from a brainstorm that I had with my BiPolar Beta regarding the Iraqi Minister of Information. The second is about more ordinary people.

    WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST
    By DarthIshtar

    "The Empire only needs to know what we tell them," he had often said. "We leave the unpleasant reality out until it is corrected."

    Today, however, unpleasant realities were abounding and it wasn't certain whether they could be corrected.

    There were many odious jobs in the Empire, such as any that involved direct interaction with Lord Vader, the Coruscant Planetary Defense, or anything involving an enclosed helmet. But Kir Vulena had long since decided that there was none so apalling as the Ministry of Information.

    The people needed to know what was transpiring, why things happened and it was his job, with the help of overactive imaginations and a loss of touch with reality, to break bad news to the survivors. Usually, disaster could be averted by bluffing until Lord Vader murdered those responsible or the Starfleet garnered another victory. Hopefully, today would be no different.

    The first reports had come in one standard day ago, around midnight local time. Their flitterfly on the wall at the new Death Star reported that a landing craft had caught his attention. Two hours later, a clever use of pirated software and intercepted transmissions from the bridge had identified the pilot's voice as a certain Han Solo.

    The Rebels had come to the forest moon of Endor.

    The morning headlines, however, had proclaimed a more optimistic appraisal of the situation. When the reports of a Rebel fleet massing near Sullust had materialized, they had proclaimed: REBELS FLEE IN TERROR TO SULLUST, STARFLEET PURSUE THEM TO VICTORY.

    "This could be bad," Kir admitted to his aide over morning caf. "We don't know if they are aware of the situation, much less if we will know when it blows up in our faces."

    Aikia shrugged casually. "That's the point of holojournalism," she countered lightly. "It doesn't have to blow up in our faces. We're as far from the front lines as you can get in the Empire, but we still are privy to the same information whether they fail or not."

    He nodded, but his eyes still did not focus, drifting somewhere to fixate on the flow of traffic outside the window. Directly outside was the gigantic holoscreen that kept the community updated with the latest news every eight hours. A story on deathstick sales in Invisisec was still playing out and even if they did come to a quick decision, it would be another four hours before anyone was informed of the day's headlines.

    They had time to bluff.

    "So," Aikia continued, "I don't deem it necessary to mention this minor intrusion."

    Finally, his brain kicked into action. "Exactly," he crowed. "We focus on more pressing matters and if more materializes, we'll quote a hapless officer as having suspected such things, but not reporting them because they were inconsequential."

    "Lying," she chuckled.

    "Adapting," he corrected.

    It had been difficult to adapt at times. He had risen slowly through the ranks in the Ministry and had just attained the desired position when Alderaan was destroyed.

    He had harbored little doubt that it was a necessary measure. Organa was traitorous, the leaders of the allegedly peaceful rise an insurgent plague to the Empire. But nevertheless, as an Alderaanian, he had found himself unable to reconcile those thoughts with what the Empire required them to publish.

    Bitter experience had brought him to his current state, where it did not matter any more. He was a man of information, not opinion.

    "No need to cause undue alarm."

    "Someday, they'll adapt your adaptation and then where will we be?"

    He didn't bother to repress the shudder. "We'll then adapt their lifespans, simple as that, if we survive the attempt."
    *****
    The next morning found him contemplating an adaptation of his own lifespan as the datafeed would not stop transmitting.
     
  8. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Wow, this is so depressing. Everyone commits suicide, but the stories are well-written. Shall there be no hope for the future?
     
  9. Calandria

    Calandria Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 12, 2003
    Last Tale Told

    It's over. How could it be over so soon. A government is supposed to last more than a few years, more than a few decades. Especially one so great. It was supposed to last for millennia.

    Thera set her data pad down, and leaned back in her chair. Five hours since the news of the Emperor's death had come. Five short hours in which the face of the galaxy had forever changed. And she didn't doubt that it had changed. There was no one left to take over, no heir, no strong leader. Palpatine was the only one strong enough to lead this galaxy. A time for Chaos is falling.

    If only he'd done more. More to erradicat the non-humans. More to quell that disgusting sentiment of kindness for those of lesser status. Humans are the greatest, they alone are fit to rule.

    With the Fall of the greatest leader this galaxy has seen, and will ever see, the galaxy is plunged into a state of chaos. The weak usurpers have not the means, or the strength to hold this wonderful creation together.

    With Palpatine gone, where will she go now? What will she do? As the court chronicler her life rose and fell with the great ones coming and going. As Palpatine's chronicler, her life was essentially over. She turned to glance at the holo screen. Flashes of celebration flitted across the mute screen. Crowds cheering, people tearing down statues of her ruler, desecrating his memory, Stormtroopers shooting down the infidels, attempting to bring order to the chaos. And everywhere, on every world, shows of light, flashes of light, not to celebrate a great leader's passing due to a natural cause, but to celebrate his assassination.

    Few try to rise and fill the vacuum left by our Lord Protector, but those are damned to fail. Not even Lord Vader, the one to supposedly kill him, had the necessary competence to lead this, our Great Empire to Glory.

    She rubbed her eyes wearily. What more is there to say? That he was brutally murdered? That even his most loyal henchman turned on him? She'd heard the rumors, claiming that Vader Killed him. But somehow she doubted. Could his darkest minion turn on him? Destroy the man who'd created him? She tried to remember what she knew of the Sith Lord. Not much. So maybe it was true.

    But that would be someone else's tale to tell. As a chronicler for the losing side, she had no voice, no future. The chroniclers, the historians, of the winner will decide what is truth and what is falsehood. Her time has passed.

    May there be someone to come again, and lead our once great Empire, to new glory. May our light shine bright once more, years, centuries, millennia down the road. My voice must now fall silent. Signed: Thera Weriel, Court Chronicler

    She set the padd down and and read her few lines again. Yes this will do. There isn't much left to tell. The Rebels have done full work. Entering her code, she accessed the palace network one last time, and submitted her brief article, adding a few pictures of their now defunct ruler. Then she stood, and shut her terminal for the last time, stretching muscles sorely tested from five hours of inactivity. Determined, she walked into her 'fresher. In a small locked chest in the cabinet, she kept something against a day such as this. Her final solution. She would not bend to write the victor's tale. She would not forsake her master's memory. He had risen her to this rank. To him her loyality belonged. And she would follow him to the grave. Had she not been ill, she would have died with him, five hours ago. Swallowing the small, tasteless pill, she went back to the main room, and settled down onto her couch, closing her eyes for the last time.

    *******

    hehehe... sorry Ishtar... I'll try to write a second story with no suicide in it... :D one from the Rebellion's side...
     
  10. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Great story, all the same, but for heaven's sake! If I read one more Imperial suicide, I might be joining them! ;) Then again, I'm a hypocrite because the story I won the Halloween Challenge with involved a suicide.
     
  11. Ty-gon Jinn

    Ty-gon Jinn Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jan 12, 2000
    Okay, I'm working on one involving Imperials working in the palace complex...

    No suicides, Ish, but there is quite a bit of death.

    The rebel supporters have a bit of an ugly side.
     
  12. Sara_Kenobi

    Sara_Kenobi Jedi Grand Master star 7

    Registered:
    Sep 21, 2000
    Hey, my character didn't commit suicide. She did die though I guess. 8-} [face_blush]
     
  13. Calandria

    Calandria Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 12, 2003
    Okay I did promise a second postie without suicide... hell I think it even turned out pretty funny :D

    *******

    Rise with the Sun

    Yet another dull and dreary day started for Vibekka Senra with the blaring sound of her alarm; another day in a stuff office in the vast, unwelcoming skyscraper canyons of Coruscant... or rather Imperial center as they insisted on calling it. Her hand groping along the small table along side her bed, she reached to turn off the deafning sound. Why did she have to keep it so sithing loud? An annoying little voice in the back of her head answered: Cause you wouldn't wake up other wise.

    With a pained groan - she really should stop staying up late and drinking so much - she pulled herself out of her bed and padded to the 'fresher on bare feet, winicng as the cold ground assaulted her flesh. Either she should buy a carpet or buy slippers. The thought came to her every morning. Just as she curses herself every morning for forgeting.

    Once she'd showered - hot, woudln't to test her body's limits more than she had to - she dressed and padded into what served her as a kitchen, no more that a small counter along the common room wall really, and set her caf too brew. While she waited for the steaming hot liquid - which really should be on the list of dangerous substance through out the known galaxy considering how strong she made it - she considered the day ahead, pent up in a tiny little office with files stacked up to the cieling and barely room to move.

    Craddling her cup, after having taken that first blissful sip, she plopped down inot a large, scratched up, stained, and other wise ill-treated looking recliner and switched on the local holo news station. Time for the morning news.

    "Citizens of the Empire. Today is a great day, a day all should remember," Vibekka looked up at the screen, nearly dropping her cup of caf. The exiled and hunted former senator, Mon Mothma, filled it, blocking out a scene of joyful celebration, "Scant hours ago, a group of dedicated and loyal freedom fighters battled against the emperor's forces in an attempt to destroy the second Death Star, not only preventing another massacre such as Alderaan, but also avenging all those fallen at the hands of Palpatine's tyrany," all throughout her speech, images of the exploding death star filled the screen, her soft, yet strong voice, overlaid over the events of the past few hours, "I bring you these great news today, to announce, to all the galaxy, that the good in people does prevail. A little more than two hours ago, the lives of the two most terrible opponents freedom and liberty ever faced, ended. The Emperor Palpatine, and his henchman Darth Vader, have died. A new dawn rises over the galaxy, bringing light and warmth to all."

    Vibekka vaguely realized that she'd spilled her caf. Just as she vaguely realized standing and staring at the screen open mouthed. A whoop of sheer joy suddenly escaped her. He was dead. He was finally dead. Maybe she'd finally get that long deserved vacation. Though she doubted it.

    After careful reflection she realized not much would change. Or at least, not until the Alliance got around to liberating Coruscant. With that said, she'd better get changed - the caf stain was slowly drying into her dank gray clothes - and get herself to work. She'd better not be late if she wanted to keep her job. And with the sun rising over the endless canyons of the city - well as much as the sun ever rises on that sithing world - she set out for yet another dreary day at the office.

    ****

    there... no suicide :D just a healthy dosis of reality... :p
     
  14. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Wonderful!
     
  15. Ty-gon Jinn

    Ty-gon Jinn Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jan 12, 2000
    Evacuation Protocol Alpha

    A noise wakened Lieutenant Colonel Brady Y?saiah. He could hear something outside, though he was unsure what it would be at this Force-forsaken hour.

    It was true, of course, that he lived on Coruscant, and noises at all hours were expected, but this had been jarring, completely unexpected. Living in the Imperial Palace complex, he thought he had seen ? and gotten used to hearing ? just about everything one could be expected to run into there. But this was insane.

    He heard it again, a loud popping sound with an echo. Trying to convince himself that he could see what it was and still get back to sleep, he rolled out of bed and just managed to get his feet under him before he stood up. His wife stirred next to him, but stayed asleep, and he pulled the sheets back up before walking over to the window.

    The button that would have opened the shades was on the wall right next to him, but he didn?t press it, afraid that the lights from buildings and traffic and every other sort of flashing thing would awaken his wife. Instead, he touched his hand to the glass, and pushed gently upward, triggering a sort of ?wipe? through the shade that allowed him to see through.

    He squinted as the light bombarded his eyes; not from traffic, from buildings, or from signs, but from a ball of bright, sparkling lights quickly fading, sparking, and falling downward. Another sharp pop, followed by a dull roar reached his ears.

    What idiot was setting fireworks off at this hour? That wasn?t nearly far enough away to be on the daylight side of the city, and in the wrong direction for an evening display. Sliding his hand back down the glass to close the shade, he shook his head.

    A look at the holonewscasts couldn?t hurt.

    After all, it had been more than a month since his superior officer here on the palace staff, Moff Jerjerrod, had been dispatched to the Second Death Star, and only days since His Highness himself, Emperor Palpatine, had departed for Endor. Most likely, the idiots with fireworks were marking a massacre of the rebel fleet. He had seen the headlines, ?Rebels Flee in Terror to Sullust.? Surely, that had to be it.

    He flipped on the HoloNet receiver, and watched as the footage was reeling through several feeds from across the galaxy. He looked at the tiny timestamps behind the picture in the bottom of the screen; all the shots had been taken within the last galactic standard hour. There were fireworks over Endor, where an enormous cloud still lingered in the sky. That was not much of a surprise; it was probably the remains of a few capital ships. Dusk was falling, and he could not make out who was moving around on the ground in the dim light, save a few little creatures that looked like plush Wookiee toys. The feed switched to Corellia, where the night sky was packed with explosive displays. Y?saiah smiled; he had always sympathized with the Rebel Alliance to Restore the Republic ? they had a noble goal indeed ? but was always glad to see such proud displays of Imperial spirit. No matter how high the calling of the Rebels, the Empire had its Ideal to defend, and the patriotic displays he was seeing made him smile.

    Then the feed changed again, showing the dayside of Tatooine as confetti rained down on what looked like Mos Epsa, or possibly Mos Eisley. It puzzled him, to be sure, to see a feed from Tatooine, which had been mostly apathetic to the struggles of the rest of the galaxy. Of course, by now, Lord Vader would probably be considered a hometown hero to those people.

    Brady leaned back as the feed changed again. This time, it showed Cloud City on Bespin.

    Now, he was thoroughly confused. Bespin had been completely antagonist to Imperial control since Lando Calrissian had escaped and warned the people to evacuate. Several people had managed to get away, while a few others had staged an uprising. Many just hid in their homes and hoped the danger would pass. His mother-in-law, in fact, never a fan of the Imperial regime, had been living on Bespin for years now, since he
     
  16. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    This is such a great idea for a challenge, and I enjoyed all these vignettes. I am hoping for a bunny to hop my way so I can join in, but as usual, when you want them, they run away. Keep it up, and by the time this winds down, I may finally have the germ of an idea!

    I can understand the rash of suicides, though. Just remember what happened in Germany and Austria when people heard that the Russians were at the gates? I know one woman of German ancestry who told me that her grandfather shot his dog, then himself, and left his wife and toddler son to deal with the Russians!!!
     
  17. Sticks

    Sticks Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jan 27, 2001
    This looks like fun--fun enough to drag me from a long hibernation. What follows was written at 11:00 p.m., without the benefit of a beta, and serves as sort of a teething ring for me... Enjoy.

    -----

    Departure

    All over Coruscant, Imperial loyalists and Alliance supporters alike were watching the newsfeeds.

    Iria Norta watched the real-time Holonet reports from her room, keeping the volume on her datapad barely audible so as not to attract attention. Sound carried through the plastsheet-thin walls, and she could not afford to let the other occupant of the tiny apartment know what she was watching. She knew that somewhere nearby, perhaps in the kitchen or in her own room, her mother was watching the same reports. Both women waited in suspense, but for entirely different reasons.

    The reports were purposely vague, and Iria had to hunt for any substantial details about the battle at Endor. It seemed to her that the media was trying to gloss the whole thing over, saying that the Alliance had taken ?heavy losses? and wouldn?t ?last the day.? It smacked of a cover-up; the full story was not being told.

    And then at last, there was a hint of what was really going on. The phrase ?ample movement to and from the Death Star,? gave her pause, and she wondered if that included escape pods. In any case, the Alliance seemed to be gaining the upper hand?and then the reports suddenly ceased.

    Just to be sure, she refreshed the screen. Still nothing. She continued to refresh the report screen for a quarter of an hour, and when no new developments appeared, she stood from her desk, walked over to her sleeping pallet, and stooped down to retrieve the packed bag that had been waiting underneath it for weeks.

    Iria shrugged into her jacket and slung the bag over her shoulder after making sure she had all her credits and identification. Now the need for secrecy was past; she walked out the door of her room as tall and proud as a cadet at graduation.

    The lightpanel was on in the kitchen, and it shed enough illumination through the apartment to reveal Iria?s mother in the living area, seated stiffly on a couch, a deactivated datascreen on the low table before her. Before, the woman had always been slim, austere. Now, in dress uniform complete with all her medals and decorations, her greying hair pulled back into a severe bun, and lit from the side by pale blue-ish light, Soloma Norta looked gaunt; skeletal. Her cold blue eyes focused impassively on her daughter, and Iria stood obediently, as if her mother?s gaze was a command she could not disobey.

    ?It doesn?t mean anything,? Colonel Norta said quietly. ?Just a bad feed.?

    Iria didn?t blink. ?They?re gone, mother.?

    The thin woman jerked into action, leaning forward just slightly on the couch, eyes wide and expression fervent. ?And that doesn?t mean anything either! The Empire is strong. We will overcome this setback. They cannot crush us. They never will!?

    A derisive, long-suffering sigh escaped Iria, something she never would have allowed the day before. To her surprise, it stopped her mother?s tirade cold. ?You sound like a propaganda holo,? she declared.

    ?It would seem that I never made you watch enough of those,? Soloma shot back bitterly.

    For a moment Iria stood there silently, letting her gaze wander over the apartment and the woman who raised her. Then she straightened again and said, ?I?m leaving now.?

    Colonel Norta remained stubbornly mute, her eyes fixed somewhere on the wall opposite her, and Iria wasted no time. She walked briskly across the living area and out the door. On the other side, she took a deep breath and looked up at the light-polluted night sky.

    All over Coruscant, grief-stricken Imperial loyalists were ending their lives.

    All over Coruscant, newly-liberated Alliance supporters were celebrating their victory.

    Iria wanted nothing more than to get off of Coruscant. She brought her gaze back down from the sky and headed for the nearest docking bay, and she never once looked back.
     
  18. Laine_Snowtrekker

    Laine_Snowtrekker Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jul 8, 2003
    Dawn
    ____________________________________________________
    The couple sat within their favorite cafe in Coruscant watching the infomation feed from the Rebel Base. It was almost midnight. Everyone had turned out for this event; the place being the Rebel hangout and all. Tension hung thick in the air--if they lost this, they lost it all.

    The man turned to the woman sitting next to him. "Dear," he said, "what do you think will happen if we win?"

    "Life will go on, I suppose," she replied. "It will be different for our children, though. Hope will have been brought back to the galaxy."

    "Our children? We've never talked about having children," he said, glancing down at his cup which he held with both hands.

    "But that's because we've always been too busy fighting the Empire. It wouldn't have been wise to raise a child under the Empire's grip, for we would always be protecting them, always on the run. That isn't the life for a child. At least, that's what I've always thought."

    "You know, I've always wanted to be a father," he said quietly. "If we win, let's find a nice quiet planet and settle down on it and raise a family."

    She smiled, and took a sip of her drink.

    Then they were interrupted by the information feed. ATTENTION! The second Death Star has been blown up, this time by General Lando Calrissian, a friend of General Han Solo, who helped Luke Skywalker blow up the first Death Star. Both the Emperor and Lord Vader were killed. The Empire's reign is OVER! It then showed footage of the Death Star's explosion, including the footage of the Executor crashing into its surface.

    The man stood and swept his wife up and kissed her. He set her back down and they ran into the street and looked up at the stars. He held her close, and whispered, "And what planet would you like, midear? There's millions out there. I don't think anyone's ever explored them all."

    "Wherever you are," she whispered back, "that will be home. And in that home will be love, and happiness."

    They stood, laughing, staring up into the sky, watching as people shot off fireworks and fired blasters into the air. A squad of stormtroopers ran by, hurring to Monument Square. "I wonder what's happening there," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the Square. Suddenly she pointed. "Look! Rioters are pulling down old Palpatine's statue! Good for them!"

    "Shh! There still might be Imps around."

    "What does it matter, Alex? We're free!"

    They hurried back to their tidy little home and watched the feed coming in from other places: Bespin, Tatooine, Endor, Coruscant, and many other places.

    "We're free. And our children will be free as well. Safe from the Empire's cruel grip," said Alex, realization dawning on his face. "I'm glad we chose the right group to align ourselves with."

    "I wouldn't have joined if it hadn't been right," she replied.

    They sat, looking out their window, watching the sun peek through the skyscrapers, watching the dawn of a new age.
    __________________________________

    There's mine. No death in this one. At least, yet.
     
  19. Jedi_Hood

    Jedi_Hood Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    Feb 10, 2000
    The shuttle from the Inflexible touched down on the tarmac of the main landing area at Falcon Base, the main Imperial bastion on Averam. The ramp lowered slowly, and as it touched the ground, an Imperial lieutenant strode briskly down the ramp, his duffel slung over his shoulder and a smile on his face. He paused at the bottom, took a deep breath, and looked around slowly, savoring the sights and smells of his homeworld.

    It was good to be home.

    Lieutenant Devon Erle was chief gunnery officer aboard the Inflexible, an Imperial-class Star Destroyer charged with patrolling Sector 47, on the edge of the Core regions. The ship and its veteran crew had acquitted themselves well in the ongoing fight against the Rebels. Devon had performed his duties well, as the several commendations in his record attested. He was on the fast track for promotion, and he could expect to be given an executive officer's slot when the promotion boards next met.

    But right now, he was on leave, and his career was the furthest thing from his mind.

    Lieutenant Erle proceeded into the processing area, intent on completing the paperwork necessary for any Imperial officer upon beginning of leave. Fortunately, it didn't take long, and fifteen minutes later he was striding through the swinging doors into the waiting area. The woman and the little blond girl seated there jumped to their feet as soon as they say him.

    "Dadddddeeeee!!!"

    Four-year-old Silvie Erle raced across the floor, long golden hair streaming out behind her, with her mother only a few steps behind. Devon dropped his duffle and scooped up his fast-moving daughter. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging tightly.

    "Princess!" Devon swung his daughter around, holding her close. "You're getting so big....I can barely pick you up anymore."

    "Am I a big girl yet, Daddy? I growed three cennameters since you left."

    "Course you are, princess. Soon you'll be almost as tall as Mommy." He kissed her forehead and set her down, turning to his wife.

    Nora Erle stood behind her daughter, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. Devon stepped to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. She kissed him briefly but passionately, then rested her chin on his shoulder.

    "I missed you, love," Devon whispered in her ear. She tightened her arms around him and whispered back, "And I you, dearest."

    "What do you say we head home?" Devon released her, scooped up his duffel with one hand and Silvie with his other arm, and headed for the door. A Twi'lek wearing a formal suit was standing there.

    "Noth'una, good to see you." Devon smiled at his family's servant.

    "And you, sir." Noth's demeanor didn't change at all, but then it never did. Though he was a paid servant and not a slave, he semmed somehow to resent working for them. But he performed his duties impeccably and never complained. "May I take you bag?"

    "Thanks." Noth took Devon's duffel and led the way to a nearby airspeeder. He placed the duffel in the cargo compartment and moved behind the wheel. Devon and Nora moved into the back seat, and Silvie as always insisted on riding up front with Noth. He made sure she was properly restained, then pulled the speeder out of the space and headed out of the lot.

    The Erle family home was in downtown Ver-muz, the capital city of Averam, located only twenty kilometers from Falcon Base. As they headed deeper into the city, Devon noticed that the street seemed fuller than usual.

    "Noth, is something going on?" Devon inquired, glancing out the window at a particularly large knot of people.

    "I don't know, sir. I've heard rumors that there was a major battle somewhere in the Outer Rim, but that's all I know," Noth replied. His statement was a lie - Noth knew quite a bit more than he was letting on. But Lieutenant Erle evidently didn't realize that. Noth turned off the main boulevard and onto the street on which the Erles lived, three kilometers down.

    "I've heard rumors in the Fleet, about a big military buildup at a place called Endor. Some secre
     
  20. Calandria

    Calandria Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 12, 2003
    Cala's Reviews


    hehehehe I decided to read them all... and give me 2 cents worth on all the stories posted... well except mine... I'm pretty bad when I'm supposed to review my own stuff :p

    Raven Write a story with wedge... and I'll read it... He's one of my favorits by far... especially when being on the recieveing end of a janson prank :p Awesome view of the last minutes of the DS existance. Pretty much as I always imagined it to be. :D

    New York Jedi Whoa... a true imperial to say the least :D love the padded cell part [face_devil]

    Darthmace7 Very vivid. I can imagine that there's people out there just like that. People who would prefer death over any kind of change. Very good :D

    Sara Kenobi That's so sad. She died for what she believed, without even getting the chance to go and help her comrades.

    Darth Ishtar Somehow that struck me as funny... the worst part being that someone else took over their broadcast :p actually I think it's a pretty good rendering of any propaganda machine...

    Ty-gon Jinn Hope for a future on Bespin... then that ending... The galaxy has a twisted sense of humor sometimes...

    Sticks Comflict of generations? made me wonder why Iria left... Did someone she care for die on the DS? Her father maybe? It screams for more :D

    Laine_Snowtrekker :D mesa liked it. It just seemed so everyday normal. I can just picture it. Wonder what world they'll end up on ;)

    Jeid_Hood That was... :eek: ... I didn't see the end coming. I thought it would be something like that... but i didn't see it coming... awesome job... :D


     
  21. Laine_Snowtrekker

    Laine_Snowtrekker Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jul 8, 2003
    Thanks. Actually, it's a setup for the fic I'm working on that involves their son.
     
  22. BigE

    BigE Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Here's my shot at this scenario. I hope you enjoy it.



    [b]After the Fall[/b]


    [b]Morning[/b]

    D?havelan Wayland stood on the stoop of his ceramic shop, nestled between a café and a clothing store in the modest shopping district of Jhandihr. His business was small, but profitable enough for a widower whose children have moved on. There was a bustle of activity outside: people running in all directions, waving their hands and shouting. He couldn?t make out exactly what was being said, but the populace seemed to be elated. It was something virtually unseen on this world for many years.

    A boy of about eight years was running in his direction, and when he was within arm?s reach D?havelan grabbed him. ?Whoa, whoa there.? The child?s momentum nearly wrested him from D?havelan?s grasp. He looked up at the shopkeeper.

    ?What is it, mister? I need to go home! I need to tell my mom!? he said.

    ?What do you need to tell your mom? What?s everyone making such a racket for?? D?havelan asked.

    ?Haven?t you heard?? the boy replied. ?The Emperor has been killed. Vader too! The Rebels beat ?em!? he exclaimed excitedly.

    D?havelan was so shocked at the news that his grip lightened on the boy and he ran off. [i]The Emperor? Killed? Impossible. Everyone knew that the Rebellion wasn?t strong enough. Were they? Certainly nothing else would explain the ruckus.[/i]

    He was surprised at how his mood evolved into joy. [i]I thought that a day like this would never come.[/i] He went back into his shop and started to display more prominently those wares that were akin to the designs of the Old Republic.



    [b]Lunchtime[/b]

    The news resulted in a slower business than usual in the morning, but D?havelan was confident that the lunchtime crowd that frequented the café meant that business would pick up. He waited with agitation as the first of what was usually a fairly profitable couple of hours went by with only a few customers coming in.

    [i]Profitable? What?s going to happen to my Imperial credits? Will the economy sustain this thing that has happened?[/i]

    He ignored the now more sporadic bouts of noise from the outside. When the sound did swell it somehow seemed a bit more restless. The occasional sound of TIE fighters passing overhead drowned out the crowds.

    The electronic chime sounded as another customer came in. It was one of his friends, a regular customer to his shop from the café crowd. ?Good day, Reghan,? he beamed. ?How about that news, eh??

    Reghan forced a smile in reply, ?Yes, quite good to both, I?m sure.?

    ?You don?t seem that certain my friend. Surely the death of a tyrant so feared can only result in good, don?t you think?? D?havelan insisted. ?Your trading business ought to flourish without the heavy restrictions of the Empire.?

    ?Perhaps in the long term, yes, it may. For now things are not so bright. The news apparently has caused great turmoil in the office of the Moff,? he replied, as the smile he put on melted away. ?All requests to go off-world have been denied. TIE?s patrol the air with increasing frequency to quell phantom revolts. Fools! Their actions instigate the very disquiet they think they?re trying to prevent!?

    Reghan paused to calm himself down. ?My business is on hold, which is deadly in the world of trade. I need to move my goods. Who knows how long this will last??

    D?havelan noticed that Reghan didn?t have a cup of his favorite brew in his hand, as he usually did. Reghan followed D?havelan?s eyes and knew that he had to fess up. ?I can?t afford to sit pat,? he said quietly. ?I don?t know what will happen, but if I make it and things settle down I?ll be back?and this time I?ll buy one of your ugly Old Republic-style vases,? he said, forcing another smile. D?havelan silently watched his friend walk through the doorway.



    [b]Evening[/b]

    [i]The noises are now more frequent and come in waves. Rather than sporadic displays of joy, the people in the street are like a mob.[/i] The Moff had issued a curfew. No one
     
  23. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    Very nice, BigE. Rings true, particularly the joyous crowds which turn to mobs of looters, and the stormtroopers as a reminder that the Empire isn't ready to die yet.

     
  24. BigE

    BigE Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Thanks, Mistress.

    All I had to do was reflect on how East Lansing reacts whenever the Michigan State Spartans do anything noteworthy.

    ;)
     
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