No POV
Two months had passed. Two months since the Fall of Edenia. Zillum ruled with iron claws from Coruscant, entrusting his vile lieutenant Mortikran with enforcing his rule in Chimaera.
Former citizens of Dilania were enslaved, and if they saw fit, killed by Galactic Stormtroopers.. There was no freedom whatsoever..
Strict curfews were enforced, and on many major cities, the looming from a Star Destroyer, the scream of TIE Fighters, and the omnipresent platoons of Stormtroopers kept the city under the direct control of Zillum. Small towns were often allowed to have de jure autonomy, but their leaders were chosen by Zillum directly, and they had nothing that could even come close to combating Zillum's legions.
For the citizens, soldiers, and leaders alike, it was hell.
Most were allowed to live. Drew, Stan, Simba, Nala, Kovu, Carandial, Apollo, Owen, and Kennedy were allowed to at least live…"normal lives". But Kylie? She was taken to Zillum's fortress on Coruscant, and no-one had seen her since. Zillum was even rumored to have taken Amelia and Kitana, the last children of Jack Anderson and Drew as his own apprentices and assassins.
They were now dark enforcers of their "father's" will.
In the city of New Orbispira, former Admiral Carandial stepped into a local bar, wanting to sate his newfound habit of alcoholism. As he entered into the bar, he looked around a bit.
Everyone inside looked at him funny. They knew what he once did, and saw it as strange seeing him in this position.. But that's how it was these days..
The Basileus sighed, and walked to the bar. "I'll take a tequila." He growled, avoiding eye contact with the bartender.
"One tequila coming-" The bartender spoke, before he gasped. "Carandial!?.." It was Butters Stotch.
Carandial sighed, rubbing his head. "Yes. I remember you. Kylie's friend, correct?" He stopped, before looking down. "Make that two tequilas. I don't want to think about that awful day."
Butters nodded.
"Right away.." He whispered, beginning to make the drinks. "Though if I were you, the best way to forget has always been a few glasses of scotch.." Butters shrugged and finished, "But maybe that's just me.. I don't blame you for coming here.. I think we all would rather forget that day.."
Carandial nodded, and looked down, before Butters brought him his drink.
The news came on. "Two more rebellious cities were destroyed! As with all enemies of the Grand Dominion-"
Carandial immediately began to down the drink. He did not want to hear this. Butters turned the TV off, noticing that it was bothering him.
"Yeah, that's the hard truth.." Butters muttered. "Fuckers.."
Carandial chuckled. "You sound just like Drew." Butters chuckled back.
"Well, I always did like him.. We talk often.. I can tell that he only wants the best for everyone.."
As if on cue, Drew walked in. Carandial hadn't seen him at all. Immediately, he turned and motioned to Drew, though somewhat discreetly, so as not to attract attention. You never knew who could be a spy…
Drew sat down right beside Carandial, before saying,
"Glass of scotch, Butters.. Better bring the bottle again.." Butters nodded.
"Right away.."
Drew turned to Carandial and asked,
"So.. What's new in Hell?.."
Carandial had to stifle a laugh. "Well, two more cities got destroyed by aerial bombardment. And I'm still dealing with the guilt of what happened to...Kylie."
Butters set the bottle down and poured Drew a glass, on the rocks, as he always got it.
"Thanks, Butters.." Drew said. He turned to Carandial and continued, "I understand you feel guilty.. Hell, I feel responsible every day for what happened to her! To my family! To everyone! I'm the one that pushed that button and sent the distress signal.. I sent thousands to their death.." He downed the entire glass before he poured another, awaiting a response.
Carandial nodded. "I hear Apollo and Roslia are on the run? It seems Zillum went back on his earlier declaration. Again."
He took another drink, before sighing. "I swear, I would kill to have a Star Destroyer again. Show those fuckers the full meaning of Imperial justice." He stopped, before looking around, to make sure no-one heard.
"I would kill to bring my brother back.. To bring them all back.." Drew said, a tear coming to his eye. He quickly downed another glass.
They stopped when a man walked in. Drew cocked a brow when he recognized it as Owen.
"Oh look.." Drew whispered to Carandial. "It's Double D from the Ed Edd and Eddy trio.."
Carandial chuckled at that. "I remember when you showed me that show. That was art right there."
Owen sat beside them, and immediately said.
"Admiral Carandial? Drew King?" He asked.
Carandial sighed. "What is it?" He groaned.
"You found us.." Drew explained.
Owen nodded. He turned to Butters. "Butters!" He said quickly.
Butters quickly rushed over.
"What'll it be-" He was cut off by Owen.
"I need to speak to you three in private!" Owen said quickly. He looked around, before pulling something out his pocket. It was...a replicator.
All three of them gasped. Drew leaned in and demanded with a whisper,
"How the fuck did you get that?.." He wasn't angry, just extremely shocked.
"Stole it from the Magistrate."
Carandial's eyes widened. "You could be killed just for having one."
Owen nodded. "I know. I've gotten in contact with an old friend. He told me you three would be interested in a rebellion?"
Drew looked at Carandial and Butters, before looking back to Owen.
"Yes, we are.. But-" Drew paused. "What old friend? Who did you speak to?.."
"He goes by the name Antediluvian." Drew widened his eyes slightly.
"Oh I know who that is.." Drew said. "It's Tyromairon.. Kylie nicknamed him 'Anteddy' long ago, and he just combined the two names.."
Owen nodded. "Yes. He says he has been recruiting a number of new arrivals, and has an army. He just needs generals to lead it. I'm in. But he wants you three most of all. As well as Stanley Marsh and your other friends. For Kylie's sake."
He stopped, and added. "Apollo and Roslia are both in. Simba, Kovu, and Nala also joined. He just needs you three."
Carandial looked to Drew and Butters, before, for the first time in a long time, the Basileus Admiral smiled.
"This fucker's going down.." Drew declared with a grin of his own.
"I'll do anything to have it the way it once was before he showed up.." Butters added with a smile.
Owen nodded. "Get your affairs in order. Tonight, he'll send people to pick each of you up."
The three of them nodded in understanding.
Stan's POV
Two months..
Two long months had passed since that fateful day..
Life seemed to drag on like an eternity! Kylie has since disappeared and I had no idea where she was! None of us did..
I felt completely hopeless..
Right now, I was with Cartman, Kenny, Tweek, Craig, Clyde, Token, Heidi, Wendy, and Bebe.. My old friends from South Park.. At the very least, I still had them..
A lot of the older adults from South Park, or pretty much anywhere, were forced to do hard labor for that bastard, Zillum! My Mom and Dad were among them.. Though usually it was males who did the labor, and the females who…
I don't even wanna think about it..
"I'm so hungry!" Cartman complained. It would usually be typical of him to say, but this time, we had to agree with him..
There was barely enough food given to us to survive.. It was a living hell!
"We all are, Cartman.." I replied with a sigh. "We all are.."
"I miss Dilania.." Clyde said.
"I miss South Park!" Kenny interjected. We all nodded in agreement. It was goddamn hopeless!
There was a sudden knock on the door, which caused us to flinch.
Oh no..
"Who could that be!?" They all whispered among themselves, fearing someone might have heard us.
The door opened, revealing...Carandial…
For the first time in a while, though, he had a grin, and his eyes looked like they had a new fire in them.
That.. had to be good, right?..
"C- Carandial?.."
Carandial nodded. "Tyromairon has finally made contact. He is forming a rebellion!"
Everyone looked among each other in absolute shock. They definitely didn't expect to hear that!
"A rebellion!?" Token questioned, though he kept it more quiet. "I'm in!"
"Me too!" Tweek replied with a smile. Before long, everyone was on board.
Carandial nodded. "Come, there is much to be discussed. We should be leaving shortly."
Everyone nodded in understanding and prepared to leave with Carandial. They wasted no time!
As we all left, Carandial stopped me. "We're going to save her. I promise you that."
I looked down for a couple seconds, before finally looking back up with a genuine smile.
"Thank you.." He said.
He nodded, and as we headed off to the shuttle, we noticed at least two dozen people had snuck over to join the rebellion.
Then, I saw Drew and Butters talking with a man I didn't recognize.
"They should be here soon enough.." Drew explained. "Carandial went to get-" He cut himself off when they all looked and saw us.
"Oh, there they are!" Butters said aloud.
Carandial nodded, before he stepped onto a small pillar that elevated him over the other rebels.
"It's been a hard few months." He began. He then continued. "But right now, our salvation is at hand. Right now, all those we lost are here with us. And today, we begin something new. Today, we begin the liberation of our nation! Today, we restore the Dilanian Empire!"
He then turned to Drew. "Our time has come. The road ahead is going to be long, but one day, when we return, it will be as free men and women, not slaves of Zillum."
Drew gave a smirk and a nod and continued on.
"We will avenge all of our fallen brothers and sisters.. Their deaths will not be in vain.. Our fight.. will not be in vain!" He looked among everyone and finished. "Zillum is a cunt! And he deserves to die! And you know what?.." Drew paused before smirking. "That's exactly what we're gonna give him!"
The rebels cheered, while the shuttle finally landed, and its ramp descended, allowing us to board it.
As we did so, I began to wonder: would we finally be free again?
Kitana's POV
"Wake up!" I demanded, opening the locked door to the dark, unforgiving dungeon.
Me and my sister, Amelia, were tasked by Father to bring the prisoner her rations of food. We gave her just enough to survive, but not enough to satisfy hunger..
"She said wake up!" Amelia shouted at the prisoner, who was lying down on the floor.
The prisoner finally got up, and looked at us with sadness, but said nothing.
I tossed down her potato peels, stale bread, and meat scraps that we usually gave her.
"Eat up.." I said.
The prisoner sighed, and began to eat, before finally muttering. "You two have no idea what you once were."
"Oh?" Amelia began, cocking a brow. "I'm pretty sure we do! Father has raised us since birth! We wouldn't be alive if it weren't for him."
The prisoner laughed humorlessly. "If only you knew your true fathers.." She began to eat another piece of meat, only for me to knock it out of her hand.
I unsheathed my dagger that Father had given me and held it at her neck.
"Hold your tongue, mortal!" I shouted. "You know not what you speak of! Father would not be so generous.. We grow tired of your tales!"
"Not yet, my children."
We both turned to see Father stride in. I sheathed my dagger and we both stood at attention.
"Forgive me, Father.." I said with a bow. "The prisoner was speaking ill of you.."
Father nodded in understanding. "Again? Perhaps we should teach her the lesson for defiance?"
Me and Amelia looked at each other with devious grins.
"You mean.." Amelia began, waiting for Father's confirmation.
Father nodded. "Remember what I taught you. Painful, not lethal. She must be alive for a while longer..."
"Yes, Father.." Me and Amelia both said with a bow.
Father nodded. He held out a knife, and offered it to us.
Amelia took the knife, while I unsheathed my dagger.
"The prisoner will pay.." Amelia responded.
"Very well then. Show me what you learned."
Me and Amelia looked at each other and nodded. We walked up to the prisoner, who widened her eyes slightly.
"Make her scream." Father gave the order.
I slipped underneath the prisoner's arm and grabbed it, twisting it back and snapping the bone in two.
The prisoner screamed in agony as Amelia slowly led the blade down her side, cutting into it deep. Blood began to trickle down as I sent a kick into the prisoner's head, knocking her to the ground.
"We will teach you to respect Father!" I yelled at the wounded and crying prisoner.
This continued for another hour, before Father finally motioned for us to stop.
"Enough. Let her wallow in her misery." He said.
We immediately ceased and sheathed our blades, before standing at attention once more.
"Have we done good?.." Amelia questioned.
Father cocked a brow. "Acceptable. You let her lose too much blood. I may have to call in a medic. And she should have screamed more. You will train more before you do this again. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Father.." We both said with disappointed bows. We should have shown more discipline..
Father nodded. "Nevertheless, I believe you are ready for your first mission."
We both perked up slightly.
"What is this mission, Father?.." Amelia asked.
"My spies report a rebellion has begun in New Cyrannica. You are to assume command of the Second Fleet and use whatever means necessary to destroy it. Do not lose a single town to these rebels. If you do, I will have to intervene personally."
We both bowed and I promised,
"You will not have to intervene, Father.. We will make certain of that.."
Father nodded. "Grand Moff Tarkin will supervise your mission. Follow his orders to the letter. You both still have much to learn."
We both hung our heads. I didn't like the fact that we had to report to someone other than Father, and neither did Amelia, judging from her expression.
Father strode out. "Come, how would you like a birthday present? It has been two months this day since I rescued you."
Amelia and I perked up with excitement.
"A birthday present!?" I said aloud, unable to contain my excitement. "Daddy, I-" I cut myself off, realizing what I had just said..
I went against protocol..
Father turned, and leaned down to look me in the eye. "What did you say, Kitana?" He asked calmly.
I sunk back, fearing what would happen.
"I'm sorry, Father.. I-"
He shook his head. "Amelia, teach her the punishment for breaking protocol."
Amelia's eyes widened, and she looked to me with horror.
Father stood up, and repeated. "Well?"
She looked down, and I knew what was coming.
I held out my arm, and rolled up the sleeve, revealing cuts from past...mistakes.
Amelia cringed, and sliced my arm with her knife. I cringed, but didn't scream.. Screaming only resulted in another cut..
"Excellent." Father said.
He motioned for us to follow him, and the two of us sullenly followed.
"I'm so sorry." Amelia whispered, seemingly trying to hold back crying.
"Don't cry.." I whispered back. "I don't want Father seeing you like that.. He would force me to do the same.. I'm okay.." I reassured her.
She nodded, and we followed Father out of the dungeon area, until we came to a large window. "Daughters, this is your birthday present." He said. It was a Finalizer-class Star Destroyer, the latest and most powerful of its kind. Only a few had been built so far.
I could barely contain my excitement, same with Amelia. We kept it in check, though, so as to not break protocol..
Father turned. "I expect the rebels to be dealt with. Use the Malevolent as your sword in this fight."
He looked down, and asked. "And what have I told you two about mercy? Towards civilians, subordinates, and especially the enemy?"
"Show none.." I said.
"Mercy is for the weak.." Amelia finished.
He nodded. "Tarkin will assist you. Do not harm him. I require him for...future projects. But anyone else, feel free to dispose of, with justification of course. That applies only to our soldiers. Feel free to harm civilians however you wish."
We both bowed.
"Yes, Father.."
"Destroy the Rebellion." He finished, and without another word, he strode off.
We finally arrived on the bridge of the new Star Destroyer. An officer in a white uniform turned and grinned. "Ah, the Imperarch's daughters." He greeted.
"Grand Moff Tarkin." He introduced. We both gave a nod.
"What is the first step?" I asked Tarkin.
He turned to a screen, and pointed to a map of the New Cyrannica province of the former Dilanian Empire. "Rebel activity is most notable in these small towns to the northeast. We will move there and sack a town as an example. I trust you children are capable of leading the attack?"
"Most capable.." Amelia said as we both nodded.
He nodded. "Very well."
He turned to an officer. "Set course for New Cyrannica."
"Yes sir."
Drew's POV
"Isn't she beautiful?.."
Jade had said that to me as soon as our daughter, Kitana, was born..
I smiled and replied,
"Yes, she certainly is.." I looked up at Jade and finished. "Just like her mother.."
A tear began to roll down my cheek as the flashbacks began to take hold. I snapped out of it and wiped the tear away.
Fuck I miss them.. I miss all of them!
Jade.. Kenzi.. Adia..
And now Kitana..
She was still alive, yet I couldn't see her..
All because of him!
I gritted my teeth in anger and slammed my fist into a nearby table. Zillum caused all of this pain! All of this misery! He will die for this!
That I can promise…
"He will. By your hand."
I cocked a brow and looked around for who had said that. It sounded all too familiar, though..
"Drew King." Tyromairon began. "You will one day end this war. You are the only one who can defeat Zillum. But you must train. That is why I'm here."
I sighed.
"How could I ever defeat Zillum?" I paused. "I mean, I'll admit, it would be satisfying, but Jade hadn't finished teaching me what she knew.." I perked up though, remembering the last thing he had said.
"You mean you're going to train me? As you did Jack?.." I finished.
He nodded. "Yes. You hold great power, but, as with Jack, it is not yet tapped. I will teach you all you are willing to learn. But I can't be the one to end Zillum's rule. I am too weak..."
I widened my eyes.
"You? Weak?.. That's crazy!" I paused for a bit before asking. "How?.."
"Galaxies, planets, nations, people. All rise, and fall. I am the last of my kind. I am losing my power, Drew. And if I don't find an heir or heirs, the legacy of my people will be forgotten. We were the ones who shaped the dimension. We aided all races. But we fell. And my time is coming to join my fallen kin. But you, your time is only beginning. You and Kylie are the heirs of the Oikoumene. Jack was as well, before his demise. Kylie is missing, so I will take a more proactive approach with you. You are this world's last hope."
I looked down, absorbing Tyromairon's words, before replying,
"Know this, Tyromairon.." I looked up at him and declared. "Zillum will die! And I will show him no mercy! He has caused everyone here nothing but pain and misery. He is responsible for it all!" I sighed and finished,
"I will learn everything you are willing to teach me.. For the sake of this world.."
He nodded. "Very well. When we arrive at the base, I will begin instructing you in all the ways of combat I know of. And when the time comes, you will lead this rebellion to victory."
I nodded with a grin, before hanging my head down and shutting my eyes.
'Don't worry, guys..' I began to talk to my fallen family and friends. 'Your deaths will be avenged.. I will see to it that your names and legacies live on..'
The shuttle finally arrived. There were six Star Destroyers waiting, though these were painted with the proud blue of the Dilanian Empire, not the colorless gray of the Galactic Empire.
As the shuttle landed, I stood to my feet and started for the exit.
'Let the rebellion begin..' I thought as I stepped off the ship.
A/N: Zillum, Carandial, Tyromairon, Apollo and Helo Roslia belong to Cyrannian on the sporewiki! I just got permission to use them!