Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Initiate of Light
Starting only one day after the events upon the Death Star, Galen Marek now finds himself in circumstances that he never though possible, within a matter of months he turned from an isolated sith assassin of the Dark Side to a new apprentice of the now decimated Jedi Order and now has the role of a father to Setra and a partner to Juno. With Master Rahm Kota dead Galen attempts to keep teaching young Setra but finds that he himself knows so little of the Jedi Knights that once existed years before and is still haunted by the past that he left behind and a future that still seems uncertain with new threats that have presented themselves before him. Now with the responsibilities as an agent of the Rebel Alliance the crew of the Eclipse travel across the galaxy and go out to build the foundations of the Rebel Alliance across the galaxy and find and collect a critical object to the alliance, the scattered Death Star Plans.
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CHAPTER 1
2 BBY – On the forest planet of Kashyyyk, on the morning after the birth of the Rebel Alliance
Setra woke up to the distant bird calls of the thriving and diverse forest planet of Kashyyyk. She picked up the large furry arm of Graddick from around her shoulders and jumped out of the makeshift bed in her father's old home. She heard voices outside where the senators and the crew of the Eclipse were discussing where to move on from now, what their first Imperial targets should be and where a suitable base should be established. Setra looked upon the sleeping from of Princess Leia who was sleeping on another makeshift bed adjacent to the one her and Graddick had slept on. Setra made her way to the large wooden table in the centre of the hut and looked admiringly upon the decently sized piece of parchment, which in later years would be preserved in the museum of the liberated Imperial Palace. The Corellian Treaty which had been signed by Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, Senator Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia and Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila. Setra quietly left the hut and decided to wander the forest floor just below the hut where she could find some peace and quiet so she could meditate. Setra settled herself by the enormous lake that the hut overlooked and began to concentrate on her surroundings until she felt an unfamiliar presence behind her. Cautiously Setra looked behind her and saw what looked like a man in a customised Jedi robe walking towards her. The Jedi had a small smile on his face and greatly resembled her father. She knew at that instant who it was and allowed the Jedi ghost to sit down next to her.
"Hello Setra" said Kento.
"Hi….grandpa" replied Setra.
Kento chuckled "How are you little one?"
Setra looked on at the lake sadly "Master Kota is gone. I just wish things could have been different. That he was still with us"
"He'll never leave you Setra. He's always with you, just as I am" said Kento.
"I know that but who will teach papa how to be a Jedi now" replied Setra.
"Many Jedi were killed after the purge began but there are still some that hide. All you need to know is where to look" said Kento.
"I know that to but I'm just worried about papa" replied Setra.
"Why little one?" said Kento
"Last night I heard papa in his sleep. He seemed so afraid and angry. He was dreaming about everything that happened to him while he was with Vader" replied Setra.
"I see" said Kento "Listen Setra. This time is critical for your father, especially because he has risen from such dire circumstances. He needs the support of you and Juno. It is the first time he would have felt love since before he was taken away from me by Vader. He needs this love to rebuild his life again and that means trusting in him and you need them both as well Setra to help you in your path"
"But why? I never turned to the Dark Side" replied Setra
"I know young one but you have been surrounded by it from a very young age. You may not sense it yourself but I can see you still harbor anger and resentment towards Vader for what he did to your family on Naboo when you were only small and for what he did to you for the six months that your father was being treated for his wounds" said Kento.
"But he deserves it. He has hurt so many people and creatures throughout the galaxy. I'm not the only one who's angry at him" replied Setra.
"I know Setra, but that is exactly what the Dark Side wants from you and Galen. It's a force that feeds from anger, hatred and fear until it will eventually bring its victim into an existence of constant despair and loneliness, one from which very few return" said Kento.
"Alright grandpa, I'll try" replied Setra.
"That's all I ask little one. Take care of your father for me and know that he and Juno love you with every fibre of their being. Trust in them Setra, trust in the Force" said Kento as he disappeared from where he came.
Setra got up from the shore of the lake and made her way back up to the hut and found Juno and Galen with the others on the balcony. Galen strode towards the child happily and picked her up in his strong arms and cuddled her. Juno followed closely behind stroking the child's cheek. Galen looked questioningly at the young girl.
"Are you alright sweetheart" said Galen.
"Yeah papa" Setra smiled back "as long as you're always here"
"We will be little one" replied Juno "We will"
Galen and Juno embraced Setra tightly and comforted the youngling. Suddenly Bail came to the small family.
"Sorry to interrupt but do you three have anywhere to go to?" said Bail
"Other then Kashyyyk Senator, not really, no" replied Galen.
"Then I ask if you three Maris and Graddick would like to come on the Eclipse and follow Leia and I back to Alderaan" said Bail "we have a very large retreat in the mountains where you can hide for now while we begin to arrange funding and militia for the Alliance"
"We'd be delighted Senator. Thankyou" replied Juno.
"Very good now….." Bail was silenced as distant blaster fire and the cry of Wookies was heard in the distance.
Graddick burst out of the hut and listened. He suddenly looked to Galen his face stricken with fear.
"(Galen. They're crying out for help. They say that they are being attacked)" said Graddick.
"Damnit! It could be remaining Imperials from before. Senator Organa, take Leia and the others and get off the planet as quickly as you can. We'll take care of this" said Galen to Senator Organa.
"But what about you. How will you get to Alderaan" replied Bail.
"Send the co-ordinates to the Eclipse. We'll follow after we've dealt with this now get out of here, they'll be here shortly" said Galen as he ignited his lightsaber and jumped off the balcony landing gracefully on the forest floor below.
Turning to the other senators Bail told them of the ensuing danger and they fled to their shuttles while Bail woke up Leia.
"But father we can't just leave Galen, Juno and the others behind to face what could be a lot of Imperial troops" said Leia.
"Leia, Galen said specifically to flee the planet while we still can. This is not our battle" replied Bail.
"That's exactly the reason why you were apprehensive about forming the Rebel Alliance. Things have now changed father and I will not wait by while innocent sentients are being hurt" said Leia.
And with that she quickly snatched a blaster rifle that they had taken from the battle on the Death Star and before Bail could stop her or protest Leia had already sprinted down the balcony and ran into the dense forest where Juno, Maris, Graddick and Setra had followed Galen in pursuing the intruders. Leia ran through the forest following the footprints made by her companions in the dirt until she found Setra hiding beneath a dense thicket of buttress roots under a nearby Wroshyr Tree. Setra looked up at Leia alarmingly.
"Your Highness what are you doing here?" said Setra
"I'm here to help. What are you doing under there Setra?" replied Leia
"Mama and papa told me to hide while they went with Maris and Graddick and fought the slavers" said Setra.
"Slavers? The intruders weren't Imperials" replied Leia.
"No. Papa said they were Trandoshan slavers who came to try and take more of the Wookies away" said Setra.
"Alright. Come on Setra" Leia said as she grabbed the girl's hand in her own.
"What? Where are we going?" replied Setra
"To help the others" said Leia.
"Are you kidding? Mama and papa would kill me if I came after them" replied Setra
"Tell them it was my fault Setra and besides there's no way I'm leaving you here on you own come on" said Leia.
Setra submitted to her request and holding tightly onto Leia's hand the two companions sprinted through the underbrush until they could hear the sound of blaster fire and lightsaber combat coming closer. Just in the nick of time Leia shot down three slavers that were just about to apprehend Juno as she was attempting to free a group of Wookies that had been locked into a portable prison cell. Juno looked behind her to see Leia and Setra running towards her. She was just about to ask why both of them were there when suddenly a booming roar sounded from the forest nearby. Suddenly a Terentatek leapt out of the scrub and bellowed at the three companions slowly stalking towards them. Setra his behind Juno knowing very well what this creature was. Terentatek were creatures that had originally been spawned upon Korriban by the Sith Lord Exar Kun thousands of years before to kill Jedi. Setra looked into the creatures mind and found something there, a remnant of what the creature possibly had been before it took the twisted transformation influenced by the Sith. Setra crept out from behind Juno who along with Leia was shaking in fear at the large creature. Juno quickly grabbed Setra back quickly as she was walking towards the giant creature.
"Setra, what do you think you're doing?" said Juno alarmingly
"Mama. I sense something inside him. Like that acklay on Felucia. I think I might be able to calm him" replied Setra.
"Setra an acklay is a natural creature, a Terentatek is spawned by the Sith itself. It has nothing but darkness in its mind" said Juno.
"Mama, I'm telling you I can feel something in it. Please just let me try" replied Setra.
"Alright. But if you find he can't be calmed let me know and these will do the job for us" said Juno pulling off her belt of thermal detonators "Leia, go and let the Wookies out of the cell"
Leia obeyed and worked on the lock to the prison cell while Setra, holding onto Juno's hand walked forward slowly towards the great creature. Setra remembered what Kota had told her about concentrating all of her power on one thing in order to gain the advantage over her opponent.
When you are fighting in lightsaber combat in real life your opponent will use many different attempts to try and sway your focus from them and as a result they gain the advantage over you.
If you concentrate solely on them and nothing else around you, it is you who will have the advantage as you can easily anticipate their next move and even stop it before they strike.
This method of concentration has been used by every Jedi in battle, including myself and I would not have survived for this long without it
Setra cleared her mind and gave a message of peace towards the beast through the Force but found it difficult due to the tight and secured bonds of dark force energy within the monster and then she remembered more of Kota's words.
What is mass! It's all in your mind. You're both Jedi! Size means nothing to you! Reach out and grab that ship or we'll all die on this trash heap
Setra concentrated harder and felt the Force flow throughout her being and into that of the Terentatek as if she and the beast where the only creatures in the galaxy. To Juno's utter amazement the growling of the dark side creature ceased and it looked down toward Setra with its large serpent-like eyes. Setra opened her eyes and talked to the beast.
"Go and kill the other slavers and then go back to where you came from" said Setra.
The Terentatek obeyed and lumbered quickly towards another group of approaching Trandoshans who were trampled by the sheer weight of the creature who continued to lumber on to where Galen, Graddick and Maris were. The imprisoned Wookies had already fled and Leia and Juno stood there gobsmacked at what has just occurred. Juno looked down wonderingly and in amazement as Setra who herself looked stunned at what had just occurred.
"Setra. How on earth did you do that?" said Juno as she placed her hand gently on Setra'a shoulders.
"I don't know" replied Setra.
Suddenly the three companions heard Graddick's roar off in the distance and figuring as much the three of them made their way to what was left of the ensuing battle. Upon arrival all the companions immediately stepped into action with Leia firing at slavers left right and centre and freeing any Wookies from surrounding holding cells that she could find. With Setra behind her Juno made her way to Graddick and both began making quick work of the reinforcements that were coming to help their fellow mercenaries and slavers. Maris and Galen were dealing with a group of Trandoshan elites who wielded modified viroblades. Maris continued to fight her lot while Galen easily disposed of them and turned to the battle hardened leader. The leader looked at Galen and it seemed that he recognised him.
"Wait. I know you. You are the boy. The son of the Jedi we were sent to find" said the Trandoshan.
"What's it to you slaver" replied Galen angrily.
"Nothing really. I just remember how easy it was to kill your mother" said the Trandoshan.
Galen looked at the Trandoshan with utter fury upon his face. Setra looked at her father, fearful of what he might do next.
"Oh yes Jedi. I was the one who killed your mother after she begged for mercy because she was a mother to a little baby boy. A weakling" said the Trandoshan.
"I"LL KILL YOU!" shouted Galen as he sent torrents of Force Lightning into the Trandoshan leader.
Seeing this display of power the other Trandoshans fled only to be met by the blaster fire of Leia and Graddick. Galen stopped the attack as he was about to stab the leader through the chest until Juno threw her arms across his chest stopping Galen in his tracks. Galen struggled against Juno's grip but forcefully she turned him around to face her.
"GALEN, HE'S DEFEATED. YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THIS!" said Juno.
"BUT HE WAS THE ONE WHO KILLED MY MOTHER! WHY SHOULD I SPARE HIM! HE DESERVES TO DIE!" replied Galen.
"HE HAS KILLED MANY MOTHERS GALEN! DON'T DO THIS OR YOU'LL WIND UP EXACTLY AS YOU WERE BEFORE AND I KNOW THAT'S THE PATH YOU NEVER WANT TO TURN BACK TO! LOOK AT ME GALEN" said Juno.
Galen shook as he met Juno's eyes and saw in them the utter love and devotion that she had for him and then looked at Setra who walked towards him and saw the same look in her eyes.
"A weakling, just like your mother" cackled the Trandoshan barely breathing.
"(SILENCE TRANDOSHAN SCUM)" roared Graddick
Setra screamed and buried her head in Galen's abdomen, who then knelt down and held her as Graddick picked up the Trandoshan like a rag doll and ripped off his limbs one by one and threw what was left of him in the surrounding scrub. Juno took Galen's face into her hands when he stood back up again and kissed him passionately. Galen still shaking looked down lovingly towards Juno.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me" said Galen.
"It's alright. I understand. I love you Galen Marek" replied Juno.
"I love you to, so much" said Galen as he kissed Juno again.
Galen looked down at Setra who was still clinging to his leg. He picked her up and embraced her tightly. Seeing Leia he walked towards her.
"Thanks for your help, your highness. I don't know what we would have done without it" said Galen.
"Your welcome Galen and please call me Leia" replied Leia.
"Of course" said Galen as she patted her shoulder and the companions made their way back to the hut.
Maris looked at Juno still shocked from what had just happened.
"I can't believe he just lost control like that. I thought he was able to control the Dark Side in him" said Maris.
"I know Maris but this life is something new and totally foreign to him, the Dark Side is all that he had ever known" replied Juno.
"Do you think he can make it" said Maris.
"He will. All he needs is us to support him and to let him know we are their. Don't worry Maris. We all have demons that we have to let go ourselves and we can do it together" replied Juno.
Maris smiled back at Juno and then walked up beside Graddick.
"You okay big guy" said Maris.
"(Yes. Sorry about that. I think I got carried away)" replied Graddick.
"Graddick, you're a Wookie. What else can we expect?" replied Maris as the group made their way back to the Eclipse.