"So, there's a thing called a horizon, it's this line where you can see the-"
"I know what the horizon is."
"Ah, just making sure. Sometimes you Coruscanti kids freak out when you go off world for the first time. Something about the open space. You don't feel secure unless you're surrounded by buildings."
Kallus ignored him, knowing the ribbing was good natured. He was the rookie on this trip and there were a lot of eyes watching. He'd graduated top of his class at the Academy, and this would be his first mission with the Imperial Security Bureau. The others surrounding him had their own expectations. Graduating meant nothing if it didn't translate to quality field work.
No one cares about how much you know, the advice from Colonel Yularen echoing in Kallus's memories. They care about how you act. Stay level headed, remember your training, and I expect you'll be taking my spot one-
"And there's blue skies," Agent Taneleron broke Kallus's thoughts again. "Empty blue skies. And silence. You've never experienced silence before."
"Charms of life outside the capital, hmm?" Kallus answered.
"There's the elitism at last," Agent Hunder chipped in, his voice as aged and gruff as the man himself. "So tell me, what benefit do you think you've got by staying on one world your entire life?"
When Kallus didn't answer right away, Agent Hunder growled a response, "Lack of experience can kill a man. Remember that."
"I will, sir," Kallus chirped back, a little too enthusiastically for Agent Hunder's liking.
"You think you're prepared because you can recite the correct regulations and write a stellar report," Agent Hunder said. "But until you prove yourself in the field, you're no agent of the ISB."
"This bird has to land first, sir," Kallus said, smiling. Agent Hunder gave him a last stern look before returning to ignoring that the rookie even occupied a seat on the shuttle.
Agent Taneleron put his arm around Kallus's shoulder, giving him a shake.
"Hey, don't worry, kid. Stay by me and I'll keep you safe."
"Safe from what?" Kallus said, trying to duck out from under his arm. "Agent Gyomer?"
From across the aisle, Agent Gyomer lifted an eyebrow. She was the only female on the shuttle, and one of the few females tough enough to graduate from the ISB.
"Stay out of my way, rookie," she said. "Or I'll kill you before the insurgents will."
"If we find any," Kallus said.
"Oh, we'll find some," she said.
Another few minutes dragged on, the shuttle buffeted by the planet's atmosphere.
Kallus could feel his heart rate start to climb, the adrenaline making his hands tremble. Despite trying to look professional, a smile kept creeping back to his face. He looked around the cargo bay. Out of the twenty or so agents, he seemed to the only one making a big deal out of this. Kallus couldn't help it.
This is it.
"Alright, agents, plus one," Agent Hunder stood up as a control panel next to the ramp flipped from red to green, signaling their landing was eminent. "Our mission on Onderon is simple, and vital. There are reports of a growing rebel insurrection. 'Saw Gerrera's Partisans.' They've claimed responsibility for attacks on Imperial buildings, and just last week, they began targeting Imperial citizens for harassment. Our job is to interview these citizens, find out what they know. Make some solid leads, and we might even be able to find their base of operations. If we run into these Partisans, we try to take as many as we can prisoner, to be transferred to ISB headquarters on Coruscant, for interrogation."
"Easy peasy, one two three-sy," Agent Taneleron said, grinning.
"How is that no one cuts me any slack," Kallus asked. "But you-"
"Because Taneleron has done something," Agent Gyomer said, standing up, adjusting her protective vest. "Until you actually do something, keep your mouth shut."
The shuttle jostled as it settled down on the world's surface. Kallus drove the doubts of his superiors out of his head. They haven't seen you work yet, he reminded himself. The hydrolics hissed, and the ramp started to drop.
Kallus jumped up from his seat. There was something about it – the first off world experience he'd had. The moment the humid air touched his face. The smells of exotic … he didn't even know what. He had no words to describe them. As the ramp continued to lower, Imperial officers standing by to receive them, storm troopers in… sand colored uniforms? This was great. It was real.
The only thing Kallus wished he could do was share this excitement with someone. But professionalism… he plastered a serious face over his smile, locked his eyes in scanning mode, started to think like an Imperial agent.
Look for patterns. For breaks in those patterns.
Their brief with the Imperial officers of the receiving party was thankfully short but unfortunately pointless –the same information Agent Hunder had put out. Kallus tried to reign in his eagerness to start working. Your time is coming.
"We're very happy you are here," the lieutenant said as the ISB group began to disembark.
Since no one responded, Kallus gave him a nod and answered, "We'll restore order here."
Okay, the silence really is noticeable, Kallus thought to himself as the agents began their way down what he assumed was the main street. The buildings were… so… small. And the sky really was empty. But it was the silence that kept tripping him up. It was somehow louder than any noise he'd remembered hearing on Coruscant. It was more intrusive than the sounds of weapons fire.
Granted, Kallus had never heard a blaster fired in anger. Coruscant was peaceful, pleasant. People walked down the streets, with security and happiness. It was something Kallus loved about his world. Something he wanted to share with all worlds. The idea that there were people – regular civilians – who had to question whether or not to leave their house, whether or not they should let their children play outside – it was hard to conceive living such a life.
You're here to make it better, Kallus told himself, a grin escaping.
It was the last thought he had before the explosion.
Kallus opened his eyes, his vision blurry. Something was dancing in front of him, but the more he tried to focus on it, the fuzzier it became.
Use your other senses, he told himself.
The smells…. Fuel maybe. Something strong and chemical. And burning… carbon maybe. Dust in the air… concrete split. Maybe the ground unsettled. And … something else. Something he didn't know.
And the sounds… the rippling sound of fire, quite close by. A scream warbled in and out of Kallus's consciousness. A creaking of metal, as something slowly collapsed in on itself.
Kallus felt an involuntary cough rattle his chest, and tasted… blood.
We've been attacked.
Kallus tried to widen his eye, to force information into them, and slowly, ever so slowly, the picture came into focus. There was a speeder maybe ten feet in front of him. A speeder, maybe, it was so badly disfigured by an explosion it was hard to tell what it had been.
A scream nearby shook Kallus, and he drowsily moved his head. But the source of it, he couldn't tell.
The boys…
Kallus tried to prop himself up, but the only answer he got from his body was a tightening in his chest. It was the only movement he was capable of. Panic started to set in. He tried, again and again, against his stubborn body. Get up.
A figure moved in front of him, and Kallus watched as a figure – taller than any human he knew – slowly emerged from the smoke and fire. It was… some kind of creature. Large, green eyes, hungrily taking in the carnage. When it smiled, it revealed sharp, demonic teeth. It's pointed ears perked up… it was… the sort of satisfaction a beast might have when stumbling upon easy prey.
Get up, Kallus told himself again, feeling his blaster within reach, safe in his drop holster on his thigh. But his fingers wouldn't budge.
"Check it out, Saw," the beast said, it's pace quickened. Kallus felt his stomach drop a little at it's feet… giant toes, almost as big as individual arms, swarming together as it lifted it's foot, and spreading out as it contacted the ground again. It was… repulsive.
"Agents of the Imperial Security Bureau," the beast said, deep and rippling. "We must not be doing a good enough job if this is all they send us."
Saw Gerrera, Kallus recognized him immediately from their briefings, stepped through the black smoke, scanning the wreckage. Scattered bodies, some still, others recovering from the shock of the blast.
"We need to send a stronger message, then, don't you agree?" Saw said. The beast's grin widened it's face.
"That's more like it," it said. "All this hiding in the shadows stuff, it's not the Lasat way."
A Lasat?
Kallus felt his chest tighten up again, frustration marring his face. Get up. But every time he tried to force his body to obey, it only answered with that pitiful strain in his chest.
The beast, the Lasat, strode up to the first agent. Kallus couldn't remember his name. But he'd given Kallus a little nudge as they stepped off the shuttle, a quick smile, a nod of understanding. I've been in your shoes before. Another Coruscanti rich kid having to prove himself.
The agent was badly burned. Kallus could see the red dominating his face, the tendrils of smoke lifting off his black uniform. He was struggling to crawl, a blaster lay just out of reach. The Lasat straddled over him, grinning.
"Go on, you've almost got it," it mocked. But the agent didn't give up. The second his fingers touched the grip of the blaster, the Lasat lifted his foot and…
The sound… Kallus felt the air get sucked out of his lungs. A wet crunch… the Lasat lifted his foot, laughing.
"Probably shouldn't have lost your helmet," it laughed at the bloody, decapitated mess that used to be a human being.
Kallus thought he'd known panic before, but this… each heart beat sent a spike of pain, pulsating throughout his body. It hurt. This kind of fear actually hurt.
Get up.
The Lasat scanned the wreckage for his next victim. Kallus could only watch helplessly. At least this death was obscured behind a mound of debris. But the sound… nothing could shield the sound. Another crack of bones breaking, a wet gush of blood.
Kallus could feel his chest heaving, his heart stamping in protest. The only movement he could force out of his body was an overwhelming trembling. He was just going to have to lay there… and wait his turn.
Another three agents, all of them dispatched in the same way. But there was hope. Kallus could recognize Agent Gyomer from her pony tail, fluttering in the breeze as she staggered to her feet. Dazed, like they all were, she struggled to hone her blaster on her target. The Lasat jumped up, planted on a building behind her, and pushed off, knocked Agent Gyomer to the ground.
"Stop!" her voice eerily desperate, a plea that hung in the air long after her body went still.
"That's all you've got?" the Lasat wheeled around, glancing at the other bodies. "Agents of the Imperial Security Bureau? But you've come to stop us."
Agent Hunder… Kallus recognized him by the mustache. The Lasat grabbed the man with his toes, a squeeze and the air popped with the crunch of broken bones, and flung his limp body away… like he was garbage.
Kallus felt his foot kick suddenly, hope ceased him. GET UP. His winced, nothing answering his desperation except the tightening of his chest.
The rubble next to him shifted, and Kallus nearly stopped breathing. His eyes darted to the sound, and saw, his heart rising. It was Agent Taneleron! Their eyes met, Taneleron glanced down, reached for Kallus's thigh, took his blaster.
They were going to be-
Taneleron moved so quickly, Kallus didn't know whether he'd acted on his own will or not. But no – he'd sprung up, screaming a painful roar as he forced his body to stand, pointing the blaster at the Lasat. The beast had no chance…
But blast after blast struck the beast, and it barely budged. Shots began missing their target, and Taneleron was on the ground again, gasping in pain. Kallus quickly looked him up and down – the mangled meat hanging off his leg… how did he manage to stand?
The Lasat approached, calming dodging a few more wild shots. The scowl on its face hardening as it placed its massive foot on Taneleron's chest.
No words this time, just an angry growl.
Kallus winced, blocking out his sight, but unable to stop the sound from reaching his ear. He gasped, a cry, as it happened.
"You. Plead," Kallus heard the Lasat demand.
His eyelids fluttered opened, and found the Lasat had another agent by the throat. He'd lifted him clear off the ground, the agents hands digging at the claws around his neck.
"PLEAD," the Lasat roared.
"I have two kids," Kallus heard the agent whisper hoarsely. "Please-"
Kallus didn't close his eyes fast enough. Another cry escaped his lips. He felt his chest rise and fall in pained spurts, his heart beating so fast it was shaking his entire body.
A shadow blocked out the sun.
"Look at this baby face," the voice taunted.
Kallus opened his eyes again, felt a tear escape his eye. The Lasat was on top of him.
"Here, let's man you up," it said. Large claws clamped over Kallus's jaw, squeezing his cheeks together. Clawed fingers, warm… and wet… with blood. The Lasat didn't waiver, didn't look away, didn't blink. Kallus could feel his own eyes grow larger and larger… waiting for death.
And then the beast laughed.
"You'll do," it said, dropping his hold and straightening up. It laughed again, and turned away. Just like that. It vanished once more through the smoke it had arrived in, and then… there was silence.
The silence.
Soon replaced with a lonely sob.
"We all have things we don't forget. I remember my first unit, the boys and I were sent to Onderon to bring peace to a troubled world. We were on a routine patrol when we ran into one of your rebel friends, a Lasat mercenary who worked for Saw Gerrera. I was lucky, knocked out by the first blast. I came to, but found I couldn't move, and then I saw him. The Lasat calmly walked through smoke and fire to finish off my unit one by one. The injured never had a chance, always wondered why he let me live."
If there's enough of a response, I might continue with Kallus's experiences on Lasan 😉 As the poor agent attempts to bring peace and stability to another world rebelling against the security of the Empire.