HOLOCRON CURE

CHAPTER 1

Opening crawl: Disease flares. On the isolated planet of Biorphe, a town is under siege from a plague that's spread across its residents. Life is dwindling, death is looming. With no known cure in sight, hope is rapidly fading. Now, with breaking point almost within reach, a last chance appears...

The snow fell in thick flakes, slowly falling, but settling quickly, only deepening the snow upon the ground. So deep and so thick in fact that a town called Dieldem was almost buried in the sea of white. It was small, but remained an advanced settlement. Tall, tower shaped houses stood in rows, while landspeeders were barely in view from the amount of snow piled on them to such an extent they hovered a few inches lower to the ground.

With it being such a harsh winter, it was only natural for Dieldem to be so quiet, but not to the point that only the whisper of the cool wind was the town's only sound. Not even a droid walked, crawled, or wheeled about the streets. Yet this changed by the arrival of a figure, cloaked in black robes marching into Dieldem, with the only sound of crunching snow accompanying her. She hurried for one of the smaller towers, where a small starship stood right by with a coating of white on top. She typed in the lock code and the door slid open with a whoosh. In she went, now standing in a small sitting room with little furniture to spare. She made her way to another room, only this one had a far more depressing sight.

An aged old woman slept, looking pale as ice and breathing as deep as the snow outside. The figure sat down on this woman's bed, only staring at the weakened sight that was now all too common in this town.

'She's been the same since you left.' a voice called from behind. The figure turned around and removed her hood. She was a very young woman with sharply cut hair and dazzling turquoise eyes. Her face was etched with sadness as she looked at the old man standing in the doorway with a cane. He had tufts of dark grey hair on his head and possessed a strong jaw with a big nose. The young woman quickly returned to stare at the pale figure that was her mother.

'The winter will finish her off, won't it?' she said, already knowing the answer. The man walked a few steps forward.

'We can only keep her so warm,' he said grimly. 'But I don't think it'll be the cold that'll do that Carletta.' Carletta swiftly looked at her father, but showed no sign of being surprised.

'There has to be some way this can end without ... death.' she said heavily.

'I'm sorry, but I doubt it can end any other way. For me though it's only begun.' Carletta bowed her head. She knew this would happen someday, but it still did little in preparing her for it.

'I have to do something.' said Carletta quietly. 'And not just for the two of you, but for everyone around us.' Her father smiled weakly.

'My dear, I know you want it to stop, but fighting against the will of nature is a battle no different to ramming a stone wall. You're only going to hurt yourself than do any good.' Carletta's fists were clenched. He was right, but she hated it.

'Please don't say things like that.' said Carletta, not even looking at him. 'I know it looks like hope's gone with the wind, but I can't stand idly by and let you all-' she struggled with the last word. 'Die.'

Standing up, she left for the sitting room and stared out the frosted window. Her father, Doldike approached her slowly, sighing heavily.

'You're right.' he said reluctantly. Carletta looked round at him. 'There is,' he began slowly. 'Something that just might hold the key to our survival.' Suddenly, Carletta's eyes widened with interest.

'What is it?' she asked, sounding almost hopeful.

'Please don't let your hopes heighten too much Carletta.' Doldike warned. 'For all I know, it's likely to be a tall tale conjured from who knows how many years ago. You should think the same.' Carletta only made a steeled face.

'I do father, very much so, but if this is a chance of saving you and everyone else, then I will take it.' said Carletta firmly, which prompted another sigh from Doldike.

'Many times ago,' he began. 'There was said to be a Sith Lord that studied this very disease. She apparently found a cure for it and to keep her studies safe, along with the cure, she recorded it all on a holocron.' Carletta was not alien to such a unique device, for they also were in possession of one.

'Where can I find it?' she asked so keenly.

'That's what I find the worst part to tell.' Doldike grimaced. 'You see, being one of the Sith Empire's leading scientific minds, she placed it in the Vault of Knowledge.' Eyes widening, Carletta felt dark thoughts swell inside her.

'That's in Kaas City.' she murmured, but after a moment, her brow furrowed and resolve strengthened. 'Then I will go there and take it. There are no ifs and buts this time father, I must find it, no matter the cost.'

'Don't speak of it so lightly Carletta,' said Doldike darkly. 'We are talking of something that is hidden in the Sith's very heart. It's likely inside one of the most guarded places in the entire Empire. How are you going to walk in and come back with it alive?' Carletta thought for a moment, crossing her arms and staring at the floor.

'There is one way I know of, but you won't like it,' she began wearily. 'I'll join the Sith Academy on Korriban and train to become a Sith. Then, when I'm deep enough into their fold, I'll take the holocron.' Noticing her father's dark grimace, she continued. 'I'm not letting a chance like this go father, I can't.'

The snow continued to fall in the couple hours that Carletta prepared for the cruel journey ahead of her. She lugged the last supply crate inside the ship standing by the house. Doldike watched on from the doorstep, looking understandably nervous.

'I truly wish I could do this. I should at least help you.' he said as Carletta returned from the cargo hold.

'No father, you won't stand a chance in your condition,' said Carletta soothingly, 'besides, mother needs someone to care for her. I can do this myself.'

'Always confident in succeeding.' said Doldike, smiling sadly. 'As much as I lament saying this, you are right again. I don't think there's anything I haven't already taught you, yet I can't help thinking...' Doldike only looked down, words failing him. Carletta tried to look reassuring.

'I promise on the souls of our family that I will come back, along with the holocron.' she said firmly.

'I dearly hope so. Do even have a thought out plan?'

'Yes. I'll go to Nar Shadda and get the Sith to come to me, not the other way around. Nar Shadda is thriving with Imperial Intelligence contacts there. Then I will offer services as a bounty hunter, one that'll get the Sith to notice me if I get enough success. It's dangerous, but I'm aware of my talents father, I just don't blab about them.' Doldike sighed again, now with a face full of disgust.

'What really annoys me is not just the risk, but taking on the job of a bounty hunter.'

'I'm sorry, but I have no choice.' said Carletta apologetically.

'But even if you are accepted into the academy,' said Doldike sceptically, 'you'll be subjected to the full might of the Dark Side. Even you know how corruptive it is. You'll barely resist it.'

'Which is why I'm not going to.' said Carletta firmly, 'I'll accept it, just as we've tried to learn. It might be useful.' Doldike, of course, looked troubled, but then he smiled sadly.

'I can see there's no other option.' he sighed. 'So may the Force be with you my dear girl. Let it protect you from the corruption and darkness that will soon surround you.' Carletta gratefully nodded and walked back onto the snow towards the ship.

'Are you sure you want to do this now?' said Doldike as they stood beside the ship. 'Don't you want to prepare?'

'No,' said Carletta flatly. 'No more training. I'm ready for Nar Shadda and whatever the Sith will throw at me. And don't think I'm unaware of the scumbags that crawl about that moon. I've heard enough tales about them.' The two stared at each other in silence, when at last Doldike spoke again.

'Well, I suppose this is goodbye.'

'Not forever father.' reassured Carletta. 'I promise you, mother and everyone else will have the cure and I won't come back until I get it.' At last Doldike gave an encouraging smile, ushering them to embrace each other.

'Stay safe Carletta.' said Dodike warmly.

'I will,' said Carletta. 'I promise.' Finally, the two of them let go. Carletta went aboard the ship, while Doldike stood back. The landing ramp closed up, the engines whirred to life and with the creaking sound of moving metal filling the town, Carletta slowly took off.

Doldike watched on nervously as piles of snow fell from the ship's top. The craft simply lifted itself higher and higher, till it pitched up and with a burst from the boosters, it shot off for the skies.

Carletta peered from her window to see her world one last time. Biorphe was white with snow, its oceans a deep, freezing blue. This winter was now the most brutal Carletta had ever faced, even more brutal for the plague stricken people. Steeling herself with that thought, she set the navi-computer for the distant, crime ridden moon and with the simple pull of a lever, the ship burst into hyperspace.