TLS - Part II: A Crossing of Destinies - OT/CHAPTER 4: 10/26

Anxiously awaiting Part II!

Just remember the common theory is for every posting reader you 8-10 non-posting ones.

 

The Lightbearer Series ? Part II

A Crossing of Destinies

Chapter 1 -

A lone, dark figure stood looking out into the emptiness of space. Though once again sequestered aboard his flagship, the Executor, one would have been hard pressed to describe Darth Vader?s feelings as gladdened. Indeed, the Black Sith had not known happiness in nearly two decades. Still, he was alive, and he accepted that.

However, his survival from the destruction of the Death Star had not come without repercussions. What should have been a moment of supreme triumph for the Empire had suddenly become the heralding cry of the Rebellion. Planets, even entire star systems, had begun to boldly oppose the Emperor.

Still seething over the unauthorized annihilation of Alderaan, Palpatine was corybantic over the devastation of his most powerful battle station. Unable to wreak his vengeance on Grand Moff Tarkin, the merciless Sith Master turned his rage upon the lone survivor of what was now being hailed as the Battle of Yavin - his own dark apprentice, and with irreversible consequences.

Vader turned from the viewing window, his breathing noticeably raspier to all who were nearby. Searching for a means by which to vent his own anger, his visor fell upon a hapless junior officer, who was misfortunate enough to allow a small thought to cross his mind.

I wonder how long he will last, now?

The Black Knight grabbed the hapless officer by the throat, dangling him several feet above the ground, and slowly squeezed. Delicate muscles and capillaries began to pop. Bone splintered and cracked. Just before the last vestige of life escaped through the man's blue lips, Vader answered him.

?Longer than you will, Lieutenant.?

The Dark Lord released his grasp and the limp body fell carelessly on the floor. Without another word, he exited the command center.

In a dark and brooding timbre, the imposing cavalier made his way to his personal chambers. While not particularly extravagant quarters, the furnishings were of exceptional quality: sleek, simple and functional. The focus of Vader?s attention, at present, was the massive hyperbaric chamber where he spent long hours each night. Once the airtight door closed behind him, he sat down on a large black chair and flipped several of the switches that ran along the chair?s arms.

As a robotic arm removed the breathing mask from the Sith Lord?s head, his anger flared anew. This daily ritual was Obi-Wan?s doing. Drumming his gloved hands on the chair arms, Vader could not even find solace in his onetime mentor?s death. Like several of the Jedi who had died at his hand, Kenobi had simply vanished, leaving no body for the former Jedi Padawan to gloat over.

Even in death, you obstruct me, Obi-Wan. But - I will have my victory, yet.

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The time for celebration was short lived. Even as the medal ceremony was underway, more than a hundred workers and all the available ?droids were beginning the evacuation process. Soon, activity inside the rebel base resembled that of air traffic on Coruscant. Massive preparations were in progress to facilitate a smooth transition to another secret location. Everyone settled into a fast-paced, well scripted work routine. The fear of Imperial retaliation lay thick in the air.

The dozen or so remaining pilots were either on reconnaissance missions or out patrolling the sector. The promise of even greater reward ensured that the Millennium Falcon was put to good use, as well. Much of Leia?s time was spent sequestered in conference with the other leaders as they plotted their next course of action. Kira was busy packing up the medical center and seeing to the few patients left in the ward. Even Threepio was kept occupied with a variety of duties. Everyone was working toward a common, seemingly unattainable goal ? evac in less than six hours.

Returning from a patrol mission, Luke remembered the promise he had made to Kira. It would only take a few minutes of Artoo?s time and Luke did no

 

Awesome Post!!!!

I really like the interaction between Leia & Kira. It's a great balance between friends & a more traditional Sibling one.

 

A Crossing of Destinies

Chapter 2 ?

The topography of Tuuku was everything Han had described, and less. The Millennium Falcon set down on a plateau above the odd looking terraces he had mentioned. The plateau that stretched behind them was a continuous flat plain of little more than scrub bushes. At its base a thick lowland forest erupted from dry land, a good half a kilometer past the lower terrace. Well beyond that was the swamp, it?s humid malodor almost visible even from the distance.

Once out of hyperspace, they had received a recorded message from the High Council confirming that the base was successfully evacuated with few casualties. As they awaited the arrival of the fleet, the group wordlessly wondered who the ?few casualties? were.

Deciding to keep as busy as possible during the wait, Kira commandeered Threepio with the intent of finding a good place to establish the hospital ward and took what appeared to have once been a foot path down to the first terrace. ?This time it?s going to be in a place that?s easier to evacuate! Now, I am relying on you to keep us from getting lost, Threepio.?

?I?ll do my best, Mistress Kira,? the ?droid said nervously, peering into the dark, seemingly endless cave before them.

?Wait for me!? Leia hurried down the steep, rocky path. The tight-lipped visage of her face told Kira there had been yet another confrontation between her cousin and Han. Looking above she could see Han and Chewbacca as they stood near the rim of the summit. Chewie seemed to be berating his companion.

?Since when did you become so damn chivalrous? Hey, go ahead and join them for all I care. Get yourselves lost!? Han turned around and stomped back into the freighter.

Chewie threw his arms up in the air, stood still for a few seconds and then slipped and slid down the path toward the others.

The hill was excavated with four graded shelves, but by whose hands was beyond the comprehension of the little group of explorers. The rise was not particularly high, accounting for the low number of tiers but it was easily 2 kilometers in length. A wide ledge fronted each tier and had a series of irregularly set cave openings. Even the smallest of these appeared to be mammoth in proportion; several looked as if the Council Ship, itself, could fit snuggly inside. What seemed most peculiar was the fact that even though there was ample vegetation surrounding this odd outcrop the terraces were completely devoid of plant or animal live.

With uncharacteristic abandon, Kira boldly entered into the nearest cavern, her lantern held high. With a shrug from the dark haired senator the others followed.

Han dropped into the pilot seat, put his feet up on the console and waited for Chewie to follow after him. When a few minutes passed, the Corellian realized his furry partner wasn?t returning. He got up and stomped around the freighter, grumbling to himself. Finally he picked up the manifold cover on the galley counter, barely resisting the impulse to fling it into the wall. With a few choice words directed at no one in particular, he busied himself taking care of several minor repairs.

The Corellian had lost track of time when he heard the distant rumble of the Alliance fleet transports approaching. Wiping grime from his hands he stepped out of the Falcon just as the first of the ships became visible against the darkening violet sky. Nervously he headed toward the rim wondering where his friends where. When he heard a familiar growl, he smiled in relief. Han looked over the edge to see Leia climbing the rock path followed by Chewie.

Leia was practically climbing the difficult trail on all fours. Her breath was heavy and her movement labored. Chewie, thinking he was being helpful, placed a large Wookiee hand on her backside to give her a boost up.

?Why, you flea infested, walking haystack! Don?t you ever do that again or I?ll rip your scruffy arms off with my bare hands! Do I make myself clear?!? Chewbacca, nearly twice the size of his aggressor, was no match

 

Ooooo Goody, a new post!

Great work, the dynamic of the relationships are really working well together. You seem to have a done a fantastic job of capturing the essence of each one.

 

Chapter 3 with be up soon, too!

 

Woo Hoo!!!!

More MOre MORe MORE More MOre MORe MORE More MOre MORe MORE More MOre MORe MORE More MOre MORe MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A Crossing of Destinies

Chapter 3 ?

Leia received a summons to a meeting of great import to the Alliance Council aboard the new Council cruiser The Rising Dawn. Han volunteered to escort her; telling himself it was because he was bored to extremes - unwilling to admit it might be because he wanted to stay near the princess. And Leia agreed, not because she wanted to be close to the brash smuggler, of course, but because the Millennium Falcon could get her to the meeting faster than any other ship on base.

Although Threepio longed to attend the meeting, he uncharacteristically remained silent when Kira asked Leia to let him stay with her. ?Everyone I know will be gone. Even Roan will be out on maneuvers all the time. I?d feel so much better if See Threepio stayed here with me. You don?t mind do you, Threepio??

Kira knew that the protocol ?droid did mind. R2D2 had left with Luke and the bronze robot was feeling rather glum. Still, Threepio had come to deeply appreciate this petite human female. For someone who grew up with very little interaction with mechanicals, she had an uncanny way with them. She treated him as if he were sentient, and wasn?t dismissive or neglectful. So if Miss Kira wanted him to stay, he would stay. And he said so.

I would have made the same decision even if Master Luke hadn?t instructed me to take care of the young lady.

Leia tried not to let on that she was actually relieved. Threepio really could truly come across as a stuffy, over-pressed butler. Her thoughts instead turned to the one thing she wasn?t thrilled about - her wardrobe. Or lack of one, rather. She voiced this concern within earshot of Han.

"Don?t worry, your royalness! We?ll pick something up on the way to the meeting.?

Leia wasn?t sure just how they were going to manage that, but for once she didn?t say anything more about it. ?I?m sorry I won?t be here for your birthday, Ki.?

?I?ll be okay, Leia. Don?t worry.?

With a kiss goodbye, the princess, the smuggler and the Wookiee boarded the Falcon.

Kira breathed a deep sigh as she watched the freighter disappear into the violet sky. She turned around to find Roan standing nearby. ?I thought you might like a cup of caff.?

The pair sat down at a long table in the back of the nearly empty dining hall and silently sipped their hot caff for several minutes. Then Roan self-consciously cleared his throat. ?I wanted to apologize about the other day. I hope you aren?t mad.?

Kira reached her hand across the table and gently placed it on his. ?No, Roan. I?m not mad at you! I?m really not mad at anyone, now. I?ve realized since how silly it was to be upset about such a small thing. When Luke left on assignment, I didn?t even say goodbye.

?What if I never get the chance to tell him I?m not angry anymore?? Her voice trailed off as she pondered that dreadful possibility.

Roan put his other hand over her small one. He didn?t like it when Kira talked about Luke, not after finding out that that simple farm lad had kissed her, anyway. ?Well, I understand that. In war, nothing is certain. But, it was rather mean spirited of him to ? do what he did.?

?No, it wasn?t, Roan,? Kira sweetly disagreed. ?It was thoughtless, but he didn?t mean to hurt my feelings. And he tried to apologize. I just wouldn?t let him.?

Roan tried to make light of it. ?Well, you know, technically, you are still under my charge. When he gets back, do you want me to beat him up?? Please! He kept that thought to himself.

Kira laughed; the beauty of her smile almost took Roan?s breath away. He shook his head slightly. He finally had to admit to himself that he was falling for this slip of a girl. And he didn?t know what to do about it.

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Luke hunched over a tall frothy glass, idly stirring the frozen concoction Zute called a Chandrilian fizzer. On the other side of the counter, the old woman paused from her incessant cleaning long enough to give the youth a broad, toothy smile. She reminded Luke

 

Up!

 

As I am getting so few responses to this story, I am seriously considering dropping it from the JC. Not something I want to do, but this is too discouraging.

 

Please don't, I just know there are readers out there, other than the 2 or 3 of us posting. Honest!

 

Well, if I do decide to stop adding it here, you can always read it here in the Series section. I don't get a lot of feedback, but at least I know it's always in the same place and not hidden 20 pages back.

I also have other stories in other sections of the library, but you won't want to read them if you are a Mara Jade fan. . . . . .

 

Trying another bump up!

 

Jedi-Angel, I sent you a PM... sorry I haven't been around more! i still need to catch up in my reading.

UP!!

 

Thanks for the encouraging PM!

 

I hope to have Chapter 4 up by this weekend!

 

Cool!! I hope to have some news about another location for the first part tonight. First upload didn't work the way I wanted it too.

 

Well, I finally did it. I got my literature group website updated, and it now contains both a link to this thread, and also hosts the first part of The Lightbearer Series. If you click on the link in my sig line it & then go to the Obroa-Skai Libraries section you'll find some great fan fiction stuff, including one of my favorite authors, who also happens to be the author of our Featured FanFiction!

Waiting patiently (okay not so patiently) for the next segment.

 

Chapter 4 up with any luck by tomorrow, the next day at the latest!

 

Woo Hooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A Crossing of Destinies

Chapter 4 ?

Medical Assistant Kira Organa came off duty from a particularly grueling day feeling too exhausted to go to the dining hall for dinner. It seemed as if new bouts of an odd fever were coming into the center every day. She planned on talking to the base commanders about it in the morning, but for now, all she wanted to do was relax in a warm bubble bath. As that was not about to happen she would just have to settle for a good night?s rest.

When the young girl stepped inside her door she gasped in shock. In the middle of the room stood a beautifully arrayed dinner table, complete with lace tablecloth, fine china and lit candles. Threepio stood quietly to the side, his metal hands folded together.

?I?m afraid there are no flowers to be had on this god forsaken planet.?

Kira whirled around to find Roan standing in the doorway, looking quite the gentleman in his dress uniform. He bowed low from the waist, and then looked up with a jaunty grin on his handsome face. The astonished girl raised a hand to her collar as if to catch her breath.

?Happy birthday, Kira,? Roan smiled.

?How did you know??

?I have my ways. Now, if you?ll just have a seat, Threepio will begin serving.?

?No, wait. Let me freshen up first. I?m such a mess. Give me fifteen minutes and I?ll be ready.? She looked at him somewhat apologetically. ?Of course, all I have to wear is my other uniform, so I hope you don?t mind.?

?I?ll leave you to your ablutions. But, I bet you?ll find some old thing you can throw on. Besides, I don?t care what you wear or how you look just as long as you are sitting across the table from me.? Roan was amazed by his own words. Whoa, now. Don?t get carried away ? do you wanna ruin everything? Geeze! You?re a grown man, act like one!

Kira giggled, partly at the major?s expression and partly because she was unsure how to take his words. She shooed him out the door and then turned to the ?droid. ?You, too, Threepio.?

?Yes, Mistress! I?ll be right outside the door.? Threepio could barely contain his glee. While his main function was to attend to Kira, the android felt that his limited medical training often made him more of a hindrance in the hospital than a helper. He often found himself loaned out to other departments to perform a variety of usually unappealing tasks. At last! I?m actually a protocol ?droid again!

Kira quickly began to remove her uniform. In her haste, she only gave a passing glance at something that was lying across the chaise. With a start, she backed up to take a second look. Draped over the divan was a pale yellow gown. Kira reached to touch it, but caught herself, fearing she might ruin the lovely dress with the day?s grime. She hurriedly cleaned up, placed a couple drops of her mother?s perfume on her throat and a dab of color on her lips. Then the excited girl slid into the soft, silky sheath, allowing her golden tresses to fall freely. Pleased with what she saw in the mirror she walked, barefoot, to the door. She was not going to ruin the effect with her work shoes!

Roan waited patiently in the hallway, leaning back against the rock wall opposite the doorway. With arms folded he stared, unseeing, at his highly polished boots. He intentionally kept his mind as blank as possible, not wanting to spoil whatever the evening might bring with speculation. When the door opened, his head came up to behold a vision of astonishing beauty. For a few seconds he was not able to speak.

?Please, come in,? Kira offered after a moment of electrified silence. With a very pleased smile, Roan followed her inside.

Threepio?s electronic components were humming happily inside his metal clad body. He busied himself with servings and place settings and maintaining the correct atmosphere for an intimate dinner. He decided he had been completely wrong about the tall, dark human. Quite unlike the gruff Captain Solo, Major Dirk appeared to have a sense of style and decorum.

The couple dined on tende

 

BTW, when did the fanfic section become part of the Sith Council? Yeck!

 

Sorry for the delay and getting this up. I know my "2" readers have been anxiously waiting for it (I don't think my beta shouldn't count though ).

My husband was in the hospital, came home and just went back to the ER (pulmonary embolism) with possible complications. I'd really appreciate any thoughts and especially prayers from anyone who happens upon this post. Thanks!

 

You've always got mine!!!!

And everyone counts!!