Hi All,
This is a story inspired both by Mai-Hime and the Star Wars Universe (two of my fav things) and will share both locations and characters. I do not own any of it. Hope you enjoy!
Edit - just did some editing on the verbiage and worked on the flow of the story.
Prologue:
(5 Months Earlier - Aboard the Rebel Fleet orbiting planet Yavin)
"Hurry up," Natsuki hissed. They were running out of time, time they did not have.
"Almost there…" Takeda spoke, "Just a bit longer," he added while he typed hastily on the terminal. "Slicing through system records under pressure makes everything twice as difficult." Natsuki glared at him. This was definitely not something she wanted to hear.
"Crap," he cursed. "Whoever encrypted this message definitely did not want us to see it. It appears that they used imperial coding."
Natsuki kept peeking outside the door, worried that the Storm Troopers would pave their way to them in an instant. Moments ago, the Empire discovered their carrier fleet. A breach in the security system releases sensitive data to their enemies. Natsuki and Takeda are both working under the assumption that the Empire Forces will board at any given time and overrun them.
"I can't believe we have a traitor within our ranks," she grinded her teeth in frustration. "We need to narrow the list of suspects down. There are 600 people aboard this space vessel and only 30 have security clearance to the hololink communications." Hololink was a form of communication via Holograms. Natsuki tucks a list of suspects into her pocket, for later analysis. She has had a few suspicions over the last few months, but this will provide more focus. "How can the rebel cause have such bad luck?" Natsuki pondered. A few successful missions, after the empire overhauled the free world several years ago, the rebel alliance saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Hope was enlivened. They secured ammunitions, there is a growth in rations, and the ability to keep their soldiers hidden and building strengths in numbers over the last few years has given room for that belief. Still, with all their clandestine methods, missions are compromised.
First, the Sith and storm troopers, the latter formerly controlled by the Republic, overran the rebel alliance fort in Naboo. After months spent on Naboo and its rebuilding of the city, by reestablishing a community and commissioning artilleries, the Galactic Empire eliminated it all in a single sweep. Everything the Galactic Empire touches causes a malignant downpour. Many of her friends died in the Siege of Theed, a city in Naboo. Next, the Empire expanded resources, using intelligent artillery droids. Now, they were stuck in space, attacked by those evil forces. The Sith are a huge threat, for they have no hesitations with the force. The force is power only a few have mastered. The force is all around us, guiding us, giving us abilities to perform acts beyond suspended belief. This ubiquitous power, when placed in the wrong hands, has caused endless destructions.
"Got it!" Takeda shouted with enthusiasm, snapping Natsuki back from her thoughts.
"Play it now," Natsuki demanded quickly, turning away from the door and approaching Takeda by the terminal. He has been a loyal friend throughout the years. They have known each other since their days in the Jedi Academy, as young Padawans or Jedi's in training. Usually, their missions paired them up and they worked diligently together, both becoming prominent members and securing the progress of the Alliance throughout the difficulties found in the last decade. They have also received numerous inquiries throughout the years, from non-Jedi's, about their relationship. Natsuki always assured others that they were merely friends. However, Takeda was always unnerved with the questions, stuttering in response. Deep down, she had always known his true feelings for her. Yet, as Jedi's, those feelings must be set aside. The Jedi do not allow romance in the order, for temptations like that paved the path to the dark side. Nonetheless, even if romantic passions were encouraged, she would never have been able to return his affection. Such sentiments she learned to bury a very long time ago and what now felt like a galaxy far away. Now all that remained was herself, her memories, and the force.
"My Lord Darth Cain," Takeda held out the holoprojector, revealing the message. A cloaked blurry image displays along with a distorted voice. "I have the locations of the remaining rebel bases and I am transmitting coordinates as we speak. As you have guessed, Hoth, Tattoine, and Yavin have alliance rebels hidden within their terrains. Our ship is currently circulating the Yavin moons delivering supplies to the rebel allies; I hope this message reaches you in time so that you can to take quick and decisive measures to prevent further alliance troop deployments. There must be no survivors in this venture, for my life is at great risk. For the moment, that is all I have to report," transmission complete.
"Shit," Natsuki cursed and slammed her fist on the nearby table, "This video does not betray the traitor and now we have a ticking death clock over our heads, we must escape."
"Let's take this with us." Takeda waved the holocommunicator and placed in his pocket. "If I can get this to Coruscant, I can clean the noise and reveal the asshole behind this treachery," Takeda assured.
Natsuki felt relief and patted Takeda on the back, "Now that's what I like to hear. Come on, let us find the nearest escape pod. This is highly confidential and the ability to get this to the Alliance is critical."
They ran down the corridor and found themselves paces away from an escape pod, when several Storm Troopers jumped into view. The enemy quickly unloaded several blasts at them but both Natsuki and Takeda deflected it with their light saber blades. All deflections easily penetrated their armor and dispatched them just as quickly.
They both managed to reach the entry to the pod, but the release hatch was not cooperating. Takeda kept pulling on it, hoping the door would open. Soon, they felt a malevolent force hit them and sent them sweeping the floor a few feet away. As they looked up, they saw a hooded figure. Natsuki stood back up, grabbing the handle of her lightsaber, revealing a green blade. She was ready to retaliate.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," The cloaked man shook his head. "After all this time, this is how you say 'hello' to an old friend?" Removing the hood from his head, he added, "I'm quite disappointed Natsuki. I was looking for a warm embrace."
"You bastard!" Takeda lunged at him blue blade in hand. "You betrayed us, your brothers..." He cried. However, his struggle slowly subsided. "Reito, stop this, come with us," he pleaded. "Abandon your cause!"
That act catches Natsuki off guard. She did not expect Takeda to attack the powerful Darth Cain. 'Know thy enemy,' it was once said - but the man who stood before them was no longer the Reito they knew. Half of what used to be a handsome face was now cybernetics and his eyes no longer held a brilliant brown tincture, they were a sickly yellow, one that surely causes his enemies to tremble in fear.
"Takeda," Darth Cain responded with a sinister voice, as his own red blade, deflected Takeda's swing. "You were always so pathetic," and with a flick of his fingers Reito threw Takeda against shrapnel.
Natsuki turned around and her face paled. Takeda had metal rods protruding through his chest. "No!" she whimpered and crawled to him. Suddenly, she did not know what to do with her hands. She found herself trying to stop the bleeding from his wounds by applying pressure to it with his cloth, but to no avail. She also tried pulling the rods out, but he cried in response. Next, she tried to hold his head straight to keep him conscious.
Darth Cain laughed in the background, she wanted to kill him, and so she turned her blade towards Reito...
"Natsuki…" Takeda whispered, reaching for her wrist in his fragile state, instantly releasing a moan. "Not now," he spoke, his words becoming weaker in every breath. "Don't do the same mistakes I did," he urged.
With every might in her being, Natsuki drew in the forces around her and collapse all the walls in front of Darth Cain, keeping them apart.
Takeda smiled faintly with her actions. "You must complete the mission, Natsuki. Save the Republic. Promise me, you will do what is in your power to restore balance."
"Don't talk like that," she expressed with sullenness. "Don't speak with such finality," she added.
"Promise me," Takeda emphasized.
Natsuki nodded, "I promise," her voiced cracked but kept her resolve, as she knew that now was not the time to grieve.
"I love…" Takeda vanished, leaving his robe behind and Natsuki clinging to its sleeves. He was now at peace and one with the force. He did not have to finish his sentence to know what he intended to speak. Takeda loved her dearly and for that, she will always be grateful.
"How does it feel, Natsuki?" Takeda shouted, behind the debris "How does it feel to have another loved one fall to protect you? He mocked. The words he spewed were poisonous. "When is enough, enough, Natsuki? When the Republic falls and all that remains of it, is you?"
Natsuki tried to ignore his contempt, but every word pierced her painfully. Thoughts of haunting red eyes surfaced in the back of her mind, but Natsuki maintained her composure. She began looking on the floor for the evidence, throwing debris around to see if it hid underneath it.
"And don't worry about the evidence, it's in good hands," Darth Cain spoke as he twirled the holocommunicator between his fingertips. He had grabbed it when Takeda attacked him earlier.
Natsuki stands up, feeling defeated and deflated by their encounter. Glancing up she saw that the escape pod was now open. It seemingly became ajar during the encounter with Darth Cain.
Darth Cain did not hear much with the debris between them, but he felt her presence. Hoping to rile her up more he stated, "Oh come on now, this death couldn't have hurt as much as the one's before. Do you remember her and her lovely red scarlet eyes?" He taunted. "I can say in certainty, they were just as red as the blood she shed saving your worthless life," he nearly barked.
"Cain," No longer able to remain silent, Natsuki spoke up and made sure to avoid mentioning his rank. "You better learn to sleep with one eye open. I'll be coming back to kill you," She threatened as she made her way inside the escape pod. He called out to her, but the walls between them now muffled his threats. She set the coordinates to Coruscant and switched to light speed.
The mission was a failure. The Galactic Empire has another battle won and their victory in this war was almost a near certainty...