The events leading to the collapse of the Galactic Republic went back centuries, if not millennia. Or even eons. Did it begin with the Goranian Cluster tearing a rift in reality, disrupting hyperspace for centuries and creating a black hole cluster? Did it begin with the drafting of the Republic Constitution, which ensured power would remain tied to the founding worlds? Was it the doctrinal schism amongst the Jedi, creating the Sith? Was it the tensions created as more and more worlds were terraformed and settled but found themselves increasingly marginalised? Was it the subtle shifts in weapons technology, allowing for starfighters to become an increasing danger, one that was easily within reach of malcontents and ne'er do wells?
Or was it Darth Vader? Chief enforcer of the Galactic Empire, the most hated man in history, the Galaxy's most famous villain? Certainly Palpatine would never have been able to hold on to the power he seized without Vader, just as Vader could never of managed the vast apparatus of Empire without Palpatine. Certainly those two were the proximal cause of the end of The Republic.
Much is known of Palpatine but Vader remains an enigma even today. Who was he? Where did he come from? Why did he decide to overthrow Galactic Civilisation? Who was he?
Alas, we may never know. The greatest terror of recent Galactic history is a mystery and likely to remain so.
from Ooyay Colph's 'The Fall of the Republic'
It was a hot, dry, dusty day. That went without saying. Mos Espa was a small city on the planet Tatooine. Marginally terraformed, Tatooine was a hot, dry, dusty planet. It is a place of sand. Rough, course, irritating. It really does get everywhere.
Anakin Skywalker mused on this as he swept the sand out of his small shop. It had seemed so exciting last year. Starting his own business, building and repairing things, tinkering on speeders and racers, Anakin was an excellent mechanic. He quickly had a sizable client base and growing reputation. By the standards of Tatooine he was well off.
He didn't think it would be so dull. Every day was pretty much the same. Everyday he said hello to the same people, fixed the same machines and swept out sand. Why couldn't something exciting ever happen?
He had just put the broom down and was picking up a laser-arc to see to Gordo's heat exchanger when the door opened blowing more sand in along with the visitor.
She didn't look like a local. Shimmering, non dusty clothing, water fat curves and a smooth, pale complexion all said 'not from here'. A Galactic. Galactics meant money. Real money.
Anakin looked up.
The stranger moved quickly for the door in the rear. Her gaze briefly met Anakin.
"I was never here, you did not see me." she said as she went through the door and into the garage.
To say she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen was more a comment on Anakin's prior lack of experience. She was certainly the most exotic. There was a brief pause as Anakin's brain caught up on events.
"Hey, you can't go in there." he said and followed after her.
Anakin caught up with the intruder in the garage. She was pulling on the chain to open the garage door.
"What are you doing?" he said.
"What are you doing? I told you to ignore me." she said tugging the chain the other way. The door refused to budge. "What's wrong with your door?"
"It doesn't work. Are you in trouble?"
In answer there was a crash from the other room and several angry voices in Huttesse.
"Yes. and it's here. Tell me there's a way out."
Anakin grinned and activated the remote in his pocket. The ceiling began to open. He leapt into his speeder and switched it on.
"Certainly milady, hop in."
Seeing little other choice the woman clambered into the speeder which then rose through the roof. Once clear, Anakin closed the roof and sped off.
"Where to?" he asked his passenger.
The beautiful stranger pointed to three hoverbikes accelerating towards them.
"Away, from them." she yelled.
Locals call it the Dune Sea. A seemingly flat, barren swath of sand, the 'Sea' is loosely packed. A slight tremor and the sand becomes liquid in nature swallowing anything beneath the dunes.
Anakin raced across the sand. In his custom built speeder, in the company of a beautiful woman and finally getting the chance to really push the engine's limits he could ignore the minor niggling details.
Who was this mystery woman? Why was she being chased by three goons? What had he gotten himself into?
But those were questions for later. Anakin laughed as the wind whipped about them, the sun beat down and he enjoyed a perfect moment.
The pursuers chose to mar it all by opening fire. Anakin flew through the explosions bursting around him. His passenger rummaged about her handbag before drawing a silver blaster from it. She turned round in her seat and began firing back.
Oh yeah. Anakin thought. I'm in love. And I don't even know her name.
"Can you drive a bit smoother." she said, missing with her shots.
Anakin continued to serve wildly to avoid being hit. "No."
"Well, we cant do this forever." she said, still firing.
Why not? Oh, very well. He made a hard right sending the speeder hurtling towards a mass of rocks and pillars. His passenger, not being properly supported was thrown down on the seating her head landing in his lap.
"What the hell are you doing?" she said.
"Heading for the Painted Spires. No one can thread them like me. While you're down there." he answered.
He got a slap in reply as she got up. Well okay he deserved that, probably. Anakin did not really care.
Today was the best!
