Saga "A Game of Hide and Seek." The Younglings' POV during the execution of Order 66, very angsty!

In answer to the the Tales of Order 66 challenge in the Fanfic Resource boards. My second SW fanfic, and it?s very angsty!



A Game of Hide and Seek

?It will be done my Lord??

They came in their thousands. Legion upon legion of clone troopers. The Jedi never stood a chance.

***

?Run? RUN!? He screamed at the uncomprehending younglings.

?But Master Drallig, I don?t under??

?RUN! Run, my brave Bear Clan and? and Hide!? The Jedi Master pleaded desperately, trying to make them understand, ?It?s? a game of hide and seek. Except this time don?t, just don?t whatever you do, allow yourselves to be caught! Now? RUN!?

They ran, still not understanding but terrified of the despairing look in their Master Drallig?s wide eyes.

Scattering they fled, hiding themselves in all the nooks and crannies, all the darkened corners and cubbyholes of the Temple that they knew like the backs of their hands. There they waited in the dark, their little hearts pounding, as they listened to the steady thump of the approaching soldiers coming closer and closer.

Younglings fidgeted, beginning to panic, and anxious whispers passed from one to the other, carrying across the silent hall. Suddenly there was a hushed silence as the main gate ponderously swung slowly open, creaking as it did so.

The sounds of marching increased until it became a noise and younglings clamped their hands over their ears, whimpering quietly. A solitary lightsaber hummed into life.

Then came the horror? The sounds of the blasters screeching through the air, the muffled thumps of fragile bodies hitting the floor, the screams?

One youngling peeped from his hiding place, and witnessed the death of Cin Drallig as he was cut down. He clamped a hand to his mouth as he screamed but it was too late. A clone trooper pointed in his direction and another aimed his gun. The youngling?s life was snuffed out as he ran from his hiding place, out of sheer panic.

Several other younglings broke cover as fear took control of their bodies. Their carcasses soon also littered the Jedi Temple floor.

Little Mirax Darsten curled up into a ball, tears spilling down her cheeks, as she hid in the darkest corner she had found in the Jedi Temple. Her little mouth working in horror, ?No, no, no, no, no, no, no? over and over again.

This wasn?t right, this wasn?t fair? She flinched as she saw a clone trooper kick the body of a fallen Jedi Master and walk on, pointing fellow troopers in opposite directions. Hiding in the shadows behind a large pillar she sunk to the floor slowly, her heart crushed in grief and terror. As the hall emptied, she knew she had to find the others, any others who were left. Slinking in and out of the shadows, as quickly as she dared, she headed off down a corridor.

***

In the darkened Jedi Council room, little Hawan Charke and his gang hid easily behind the large round chairs. The girls huddled close together, holding each other and crying softly. The boys too had by now come to realise what was happening and glanced at each other grim and tight faced, and very close to tears themselves.

The doors slid open and all the younglings tensed, trembling at what was to come through the doors. But it was only a fellow terrified youngling, tiptoeing in silently. Mirax sobbed with relief to see her friend Hawan still alive and breathing. Racing towards him she grabbed at him with her hands, pulling him close and hugging him fiercely.

?They?re? they?re all dead!? She cried into his soldier. ?Master Drallig? he?he??

The young boy wrapped an arm round Mirax?s small frame; suddenly thrust into a situation he should never have had to be in for his so few years.

?Hide with us Mirax.? He whispered, ?Whatever we do we must not be seen! That?s what Master Drallig said.?

Mirax nodded wiping her eyes on her sleeve. Taking Hawan?s hand, he led her to his hiding place and there they hid together.

Brooding silence fell again in the room. Dim echoes of blaster bolts however could still be heard and Mirax cringed, clinging

 

So sad. You know what's going to happen, but find yourself holding your breath anyway...

 

Thanks for your comments Ishtar. It was in some ways, torture writing this...

 

Yes, it's always a torture to have to write violation of something innocent. It's something that fundamentally rebels against what we know to be right. I do understand.

 

Poor Master Drallig trying to get the younglings to understand.

You could really feel the growing fear of the younglings and their horror at what they were seeing.

Then their growing hope that maybe they had hid long enough, and Harwan?s happiness at Anakin arriving to take over the burden of leadership.

And even with knowing what was coming it still feels like a shock when Harwan?s question is answered and his trust repaid by Vader?s lightsaber.

 

You actually made me flinch reading some parts! Horrible, absolutely horrible!

I mean this in a good way. Amazing writing here... it makes me sad...

 

So sad,yet we all need to know thier terror a hundred times over to even start to understand.

 

Thanks for the comments everyone, they're very much appreciated. Well I'm glad I made you all cry, this piece of angst has done its job then I suppose!

 

that was amazing.

 

Why?! Why must the younglings die?!

 

[face-cry]

You brought tears to my eyes. That's something so few do. The strength that Hawan must have had... how Anakin betrayed the little one's trust without so much of any thought... HOW COULD HE! Yeah, that sounded cliched, but it just sickens me, expecially when you write it like this. Lovely job, lovely.

 

Poor Younglings!

 

So much emotion....the younglings terror comes through so strongly...

 

I liked it. Very powerful ending.

 

Dear Lord that was brillant.

Just in those few moments at the end, I think you manage to capture the essence of Anakin's turn.

Fantastic.

-SE