Post by laandon on Jun 29, 2005 3:56:42 GMT -5
I woke up to the screams of my fellow comrades and the smell of burning flesh. As I walked out of the tent, I realize where I am. It had been a long travel the preceding day. Across the arid surface of Lok, I could feel death, smell death. Our accompanying jedi, Arcronis, was busy in the distance, though I knew not with what.
My buddy Siege ran by me, shouting at me. He pulled me back into my small tent and gave me a breifing of the recent happenings. It would seem that the accompanying troops had turned on Arc. I couldn't dream of why. They were clones and followed orders without hesitation.
Siege and I suited up as quickly as possible and grabbed our weapons. My blaster had seen better days, though I wouldn't have traded it for any other weapon - it had saved my life and the lives of my friends countless times. As we walked out of the tents, we could see in the dark, night distance, the faint green glow of Master Arcronis's lightsaber and the numerous red bolts emitting from blasters, as well as returning to their origin after their unfriendly encounter with the blade of pure energy.
I fired a shot, stunning one of the clone troopers. We didn't know their stregnth, since we had never fought them nor had we seen them in any combat, since they were solely escorts and the local pirate activity had ceased since the arival of the thousands of Republic troops. The trooper turned to us, but oddly enough, turned back to fire on Arcronis. Could it be that they were only interested in this Jedi?
The battle seemed hot around us; you could feel the heat of a blaster bolt that was 50 meters away, like it was searing your very own flesh. A few times, small frag grenades or sonic emiters went off and you could hear the screams that followed it.
Siege and I opened fire on the troopers attacking Arcronis. One fell. Two. Three... At the time it seemed like an endless sea of enemies. Arcronis fought with such grace. A dance of blades with such perfection, it would take a lifetime to even comprehend. After a goodly time, Arc managed to finish off the last trooper. Siege and I stood at attention waiting orders from our commander.
"At ease boys, and thank you for helping me." Arcronis said to us, panting from the effort past. "You... what is your rank and how long have you been in my command?"
"Me, sir?" I asked cautiously. After he nodded I listed my information. "Sir! I am Corporal and Ace Republic Pilot Laandon Sancte. I have been a member of the Corellian Shield, the Coroscant Republic Guard and am now a part of the Lokian Expedition, sir! I have been with this company for 3 weeks, by Republic scale, sir!"
"I said at eas soldier. That's quite some resume you've got there. Do you fight because I am your superior or because it's what you think is right?"
"I don't know, sir. I'm not positive as to what's going on, so I suppose I'm just doing what I feel is right."
"I figured so much. You are strong, and I believe that you and your friend here will make it out of this yet. But you must not do anything rash, or you will not make it out. Understood?"
"I think so, sir. Nothing rash."
"Corporal, these troops have turned on me, not because they malfunction, but because Senator Palpatine has decreed that all Jedi are to be eliminated."
"But... why, sir? And how do you know this?"
"I am strong in the ways of prophecy. The Jedi council knew this day would come. Master Yoda himself called us in a short time ago to discuss the matter. The clones turn on us because Senator Palpatine has other plans. Plans for a great Empire, where he can rule the galaxy with an iron fist."
"We must get you to coroscant, Master Jedi. You might help remove the senator!" Exclaimed Siege.
"No, young ones. You must not underestimate the powers of the dark side. My master made the mistake, and I do not plan to follow his path. You must go in my place. But know that you cannot change a path that has already been treaded. You must make a new path, to lead new comers astray. Do you understand."
"I do... I don't know how, but I do." I said.
Siege turned to me and looked intently into my pale brown eyes. "Laan, this is madness. We cannot let the senator get away with this, nor can we betray the Republic!"
Arcronis straightened up, obviously having regained his breath. "The Republic is dead, do not let it impair your judgement. This war will tip the balance of the galaxy. You will be the ones who decide it's fate."
My buddy Siege ran by me, shouting at me. He pulled me back into my small tent and gave me a breifing of the recent happenings. It would seem that the accompanying troops had turned on Arc. I couldn't dream of why. They were clones and followed orders without hesitation.
Siege and I suited up as quickly as possible and grabbed our weapons. My blaster had seen better days, though I wouldn't have traded it for any other weapon - it had saved my life and the lives of my friends countless times. As we walked out of the tents, we could see in the dark, night distance, the faint green glow of Master Arcronis's lightsaber and the numerous red bolts emitting from blasters, as well as returning to their origin after their unfriendly encounter with the blade of pure energy.
I fired a shot, stunning one of the clone troopers. We didn't know their stregnth, since we had never fought them nor had we seen them in any combat, since they were solely escorts and the local pirate activity had ceased since the arival of the thousands of Republic troops. The trooper turned to us, but oddly enough, turned back to fire on Arcronis. Could it be that they were only interested in this Jedi?
The battle seemed hot around us; you could feel the heat of a blaster bolt that was 50 meters away, like it was searing your very own flesh. A few times, small frag grenades or sonic emiters went off and you could hear the screams that followed it.
Siege and I opened fire on the troopers attacking Arcronis. One fell. Two. Three... At the time it seemed like an endless sea of enemies. Arcronis fought with such grace. A dance of blades with such perfection, it would take a lifetime to even comprehend. After a goodly time, Arc managed to finish off the last trooper. Siege and I stood at attention waiting orders from our commander.
"At ease boys, and thank you for helping me." Arcronis said to us, panting from the effort past. "You... what is your rank and how long have you been in my command?"
"Me, sir?" I asked cautiously. After he nodded I listed my information. "Sir! I am Corporal and Ace Republic Pilot Laandon Sancte. I have been a member of the Corellian Shield, the Coroscant Republic Guard and am now a part of the Lokian Expedition, sir! I have been with this company for 3 weeks, by Republic scale, sir!"
"I said at eas soldier. That's quite some resume you've got there. Do you fight because I am your superior or because it's what you think is right?"
"I don't know, sir. I'm not positive as to what's going on, so I suppose I'm just doing what I feel is right."
"I figured so much. You are strong, and I believe that you and your friend here will make it out of this yet. But you must not do anything rash, or you will not make it out. Understood?"
"I think so, sir. Nothing rash."
"Corporal, these troops have turned on me, not because they malfunction, but because Senator Palpatine has decreed that all Jedi are to be eliminated."
"But... why, sir? And how do you know this?"
"I am strong in the ways of prophecy. The Jedi council knew this day would come. Master Yoda himself called us in a short time ago to discuss the matter. The clones turn on us because Senator Palpatine has other plans. Plans for a great Empire, where he can rule the galaxy with an iron fist."
"We must get you to coroscant, Master Jedi. You might help remove the senator!" Exclaimed Siege.
"No, young ones. You must not underestimate the powers of the dark side. My master made the mistake, and I do not plan to follow his path. You must go in my place. But know that you cannot change a path that has already been treaded. You must make a new path, to lead new comers astray. Do you understand."
"I do... I don't know how, but I do." I said.
Siege turned to me and looked intently into my pale brown eyes. "Laan, this is madness. We cannot let the senator get away with this, nor can we betray the Republic!"
Arcronis straightened up, obviously having regained his breath. "The Republic is dead, do not let it impair your judgement. This war will tip the balance of the galaxy. You will be the ones who decide it's fate."