The Empire Emerges
Episode III.V
By Juliano Aka: AnotherAnimeGuy
Prelude: It has been 3 months since order 66 was initiated by Chancellor Palpatine. This order decimated the ranks of the Jedi Order to less than a handful of survivors across the galaxy. However, at Darth Vader's personal request, a special group of units began searching the galaxy for any survivors of the Jedi purge. Both Vader and Emperor Palpatine knew that if any Jedi's survived the possibility for retribution against The Empire might not be as unthinkable as many thought. The Jedi we're cunning and dangerously resourceful, both were traits dangerous to the successful control of the galaxy. The hunt for Jedi took these groups across hundreds of planets but so far, none were successful. Another group that benefited from this hunt was the numerous bounty hunters who often took jobs hunting down dangerous Jedi. This period for bounty hunters was known as the "Year of the Hunt" where many big names were made through hunting Jedi & those from the Old Republic who stood against the new Empire. Names such as Boba Fett, Bossk, IG-88, and a lesser known female Twi-lek named Malana Ras (Pronounced Rahz). Our story follows her as her dream to become the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy takes her on a journey that will forever change her life...
Data Log: 1 - Deep Space
The humming noise of the engine, the white noise of deep space, & the subtle tapping of shoe on steel were sounds all to familiar for Malana Ras. It's been 2 weeks since she left her business of assisting dangerous cargo shipments on Ryloth for a more lucrative job as a freelance bounty hunter. She like many others realized that the liquidation of democracy, while seemingly disappointing, was also a blessing as new jobs were on the horizon. Everyone from Separatists to Senators who refused to go along with the tyrannical regime were to be either terrorized into submission or killed. Malana was completely indifferent to the plight of either the Jedi or those who were against the Empire. As far as she was concerned the Old Republic was no different from the Empire. New logo, same methods to force compliance. This was her outlook. While deep in thought a transmission came through to her holocron. "Fzzzzz... Miss Ras?... Are you there?" asked a voice through a scratchy hologram. "Yes. I'm here" Malana said quietly as she shined her blaster. "Hold on... Im recalibrating this junk. I can't even see you" slowly the image became clearer showed a small begin that resembled a fish with large eyes and a yellow medallion around it's neck. "You can see me, but I can't see you my dear! hehe" piped the small creature. Malana rolled here eyes as she muttered "I don't feel like being looked at today. What the hell do you want Jahka?" Jahka frowned but then began talking calmly "I know this war hasn't been kind to anyone but you of all people know what's at-" "If you don't get to the point Jahka... Next time we meet I'll kill you" Malana snapped taking her eyes off her blaster. Jahka jumped "Really. That wasn't necessary Mal Mal" "Just cutting through the crap Jahka" she said coldly shining her blaster.
"Well anyways..." Jahka said while recomposing himself "I have a job for you that you might be interested in" At this, Malana stopped shining her pistol and spoke under her breath "Go on..." The fish smiled and resumed his detailing "As you know the Jedi Order dead and gone, much to my personal displeasure, but nonetheless it has now become Imperial policy to locate and eliminate any survivors. Also, the Empire is looking to eliminate those who spoke out about the shift of government policy. Your job is simple..." Malana looked up and gave him a 'continue' look as he paused but then resumed "The Empire has located a band of what they are calling 'dissidents' making a settlement on the ice planet on Hoth... Who knows why. It's crazy" said Jahka as he shook his head. Standing up to grab a box above her Malana yelled "How many make up the settlement?" "About 15 to 18 I think" said Jahka raising his voice to speak above the clanging of metal as Malana searched for something. "Why do you ask?" queried the fish with concern. "I was hoping to get a few more of these..." She said as she opened the box to view 5 lightsabers tied together. The fish looked at her smile with sadness and said with a depressed tone "It wasn't their fault Mal Mal. Your family-" Before Jahka could finish its sentence Malana switched off the hologram. "They all deserved it... If only I had been there, I could have helped kill a few more" she said curtly to herself as she put away the lightsaber box.
"Set course for the Hoth system Dema" yelled Malana to her spaceship. A quiet female computerized voice came on in response "setting navigation course for Hoth. Estimated travel time will be 30 minutes. Hyperspace drive activating... Now" As she sat back placing her feet above the navigation equipment the stars began to turn from specks in the night to streaks of light as she and the craft sped of into the distance. While in hyperspace she decided to take the time to go to sleep. Before going to sleep, by habit, she pulled a necklace out from under her shirt. On the end of this necklace was what appeared to be a small black orb. Pulling the orb off her necklace, she opened it to reveal the inside which contained countless bright green circle pills lining its walls. The pill was tiny, almost the size of the head of the pin. "Sometimes I wonder what i'd do without you..." she said to the small pill between her fingers. Without a second hesitation she swallowed it and smiled. Slowly she began getting woozy and finally slouching back passed out in that same position... "Activating cloaking device. Initiating first level untraceable lockdown" said Demas mechanized voice as the lights in the ship turned off to where the only light that could be seen was the light from the stars streaming past that glowed on her green skin... Thus the journey begins.