Star Wars VIII: Shadows of the Past (5)
#5 of Star Wars
You wouldn't believe how many different drafts of this chapter I created. The way I write, I want every sentence of every chapter to fit perfectly with the storyline. Sometimes it can take a while to make a good story, but its worth it.
PM me if you have any requests for future stories.
"All pilots, please report to your ships. Cargo ships are being loaded at docking bays 4 and 7. The main priority is to have as many of our ships off the planet before the bombing run." Leia's voice could be heard on the intercom throughout the whole base. Almost everyone was busy loading crates and barrels filled with food, weapons, ammo, and building materials. Important documents were being downloaded into astromech droids.
Still on the command bridge, Luke and Leia were finishing gathering data from the base's computer. "Have you figured out where all of the ships are going to rendezvous at?" Luke asked his sister.
"No, and that's what worries me. We had two other bases on Kashyyyk and a moon near Taris, but both had to be evacuated because of the First Order," Leia was rapidly typing on a keyboard. "What about the planet with the first Jedi Temple? Only we have the coordinates."
Luke replied,"It won't work. Most of the planet is made up of a deep ocean, except for small scattered islands. Tell the pilots to head to the planet Tython."
As the Finalizer soared through hyperspace toward D'Qar, Kylo Ren walked up and knelt before his master. Darth Plagueis stood on the observation deck and looked out as millions of stars and planets zoomed by. He did not turn to look at his apprentice but said, "You have been doing well in your training." The Sith Lord had grey-colored skin, and was over 7ft tall. His big green eyes were unblinking. He wore a simple black robe.
"Thank y..."
"However," Darth Plagueis interrupted. "You still lack...determination. You train hard, but it is unclear whether are of your loyalty is pledged to me and...to the Dark Side." Kylo grew a little worried and confused.
He replied, "My Lord, I pledge my self to you. To do your bidding. As a servant of true power." Kylo's last remark angered his master. Plagueis now faced his pupil.
"You are a fool! You do not know the true power of the Dark Side. I can read your heart, and it tells me that the Jedi Order stills calls to you. To me, you are blind...blind to to what you truly hold your allegiance with."
"Then, master, what must I do to prove my dedication?"
"By ridding yourself of that which still holds you back," Plagueis answered. "By killing...Luke Skywalker."
Back at the Resistance base, the evacuation was going very slowly. With each medical and transport ship that departed, two X-wings accompanied. The remaining ships stayed behind to hold off the bombers. Little did they know that there were no bombers coming. The buildings were abandoned, as everyone was outside on the docks. While Finn and Chewbacca readied the Millennium Falcon, Ray accompanied Luke and Leia, who were still organizing the fleeing ships.
"Well, all of the pilots have set course for Tython. But you still haven't told me what to expect there," Leia told her brother.
He replied, "Tython was the birthplace of the very first Jedi Temple. The Order had been formed there thousands of years ago." As the three continued walking, C3-P0 and R2-D2 came up to them.
"General, Master Luke, I have urgent news!" the golden protocol droid declared.
"What is is, Threepio?" asked Luke.
It replied, "R2 said that he detected, what appears to be, a resurgent-class star destroyer coming out of hyperspace near one of..." The sound of a dozen TIE fighters overhead drowned out the rest of the droid's sentence. The fighters were accompanied by five stormtrooper transport ships, which immediately started landing among the smouldering ruins of each X-wing that was blown up. Pilots that still had their ships tried to take off, but most were unsuccessful.
"We have to get to the Falcon!" Ray yelled over the ruckus.
"I need to stay and make sure everyone evacuated," Leia told her brother. "You two need to leave." The three of them flinched as a flaming piece of concrete fell from the side of the building a few yards from them.
"No, Leia, we're staying with you," Luke replied. Suddenly, another ship was descending from the clouds.
"That's Kylo Ren's ship," Ray said, almost in a gasp. She turned to the two droids who were still with them and told them to get to the Falcon. "Tell Chewy to move the ship somewhere safe." As the droids left, Ray saw the incoming shuttle land. Steam surrounded the ship, as several stormtroopers filed out and joined others, who were busy in scattered firefights. Upon seeing Kylo walk out, Luke started for a nearby hangar, leaving Ray and Leia in the open.
"Go after him," Leia said. "I'll be fine." Ray, hesitant at first, eventually ran after her master, who was hiding behind some crates. He told her to do the same, as Kylo Ren walked up to Leia.
"General Organa, what a nice surprise," he said. A few stormtroopers came up aside him and pointed their blasters at her, until Kylo motioned them to stop. "I was wondering if you could tell me where Luke Skywalker is? I've heard that he is no longer missing." All around them, stormtroopers and Resistance soldiers were fighting. Even in the air, X-wings were locked in dogfights with TIE fighters.
"Don't call me general, Ben. I am still your mother."
"And you are also his sister," Kylo said, igniting his red, cross guard lightsaber. Just as he was about to swing at Leia, he was hurled into a pile of rope. Luke had used the Force to protect Leia from Kylo's attack. Coming out from the hangar, Ray used Luke's blue lightsaber to attack the stormtroopers. Having learned how to block incoming laserbolts, she ploughed through the enemy with ease. Meanwhile, Luke walked over to Kylo Ren. "My old master...Impressed with how powerful I've become?" said the Sith.
Luke gave a small laugh and replied, "Considering how you're the one on the floor? I wonder which is worse: Snoke's training or his student's performance." Angered at this, Kylo stood up and faced his rival.
"His teachings have made me more powerful than you could ever have done."
"Your arrogance shall be your downfall," Luke said. He reached into his robe and pulled out a second lightsaber. Igniting the saber, it revealed a bright green blade.
"Oh, I'm not the one who's going to die" Kylo Ren raised his own ignited weapon. Charging at the Jedi, he swung the blade horizontally at the neck. Luke ducked and quickly stepped backwards. This time, a diagonal attack upwards came from the green blade. Kylo easily blocked and countered it with a thrust forward, which was also blocked. Stepping back a few feet, he tried to throw nearby crates at Luke, with the Force, but the Jedi master was prepared. Planting his feet, Luke sliced through two crates, dodged a third, and sent the last one into a stormtrooper. Kylo, then, leaped at him and delivered a strong kick to Luke's chest.
"Master!" Ray yelled, running to his aid. Using Luke's other lightsaber, she struck at the Sith's shoulder. Kylo, who was standing over Luke, stepped to the left to avoid the attack. As Luke got back on his feet, he rejoined the fight. Kylo now took on both Jedi at once. He blocked a slice from Ray and dodged a jab from Luke.
"Surrender Ben," Luke said. The fight had moved the Sith into a corner. He was surrounded on each side by either concrete or Jedi. Suddenly, there was an explosion that drew everyone's attention away from the battle. An X-wing had managed to blowup three of the transport ships and Kylo Ren's shuttle. He, however, took this opportunity to swing his lightsaber down on Ray's head. *SWOOSH* His lightsaber fell to pieces as Luke's green blade sliced through the hilt with ease. "It's over."