Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. The events portrayed within this fiction do not represent events or people in real life. Any similarity is pure coincidence. I, the author, give anyone who wishes to host this story, advance permission to do so, as long as they are not making any profit on it.
I the author, also acknowledge that outside my literal text, I do not own any of the respected properties which are represented within. They are copy written and trademarked by their respective owners. I thank them for creating such worlds, which not only give me great joy, but an opportunity to write and express myself.
Chapter I
"Of wishes and dreams"
A strange silence loomed across the transport ship, as it wormed through the higher plane of existence, known as hyperspace. The velocities which hyperspace allows, speeds the ship speeds across known space, are magnitudes greater then the fastest and best sub light drives would have taken centuries if not millennium, to cross a fraction of distances it traveled within seconds of elapsed time. Hyperspace is often described as a plane of existence, where one could observe the known universe, from the perspective of a tachyon. The discovery of hyperspace travel had revolutionized their galaxy, and inevitably transformed it into the melting pot it is today.
This fact meant little to the occupants, hidden within the secret areas of the ship, who had little hope left to hold on to. The once free, now slaves, meat for sale to the highest bidder. Their ship was taking a course which would lead out of republic space. This was done in order to avoid the ban of slavery, within the galactic republic. A rational mind might assume that cultures, which had the ability to cross the known galaxy within months, would have grown beyond such practices.
Such is life, cruel and unfair; the truth which every soul faces, hoping to overcome it. The fallen are many the successful few; Despite life's cruel and unfair nature, every once in a while, Life can also surprise you. In rare occasions, it can do something unexpected and wondrous, which affects more lives then quantifiable by the human brain.
In some cultures, there's a saying, "a dream is a wish your heart makes ". The slaves wished and dreamt, within the confines of their dark bleak cages. Desperate dreams, even knowing the futility of such dreams, a ray of hope still gleamed within their souls, despite their current situation. The only thing they had left to loose was hope, and that was a thing they clung on to. Their grip was slowly and surely, weakening. Reality settling in that no one knew of their peril, no one cared; no one had the power to save them.
They where wrong, for the dying wishes of an old man, having seen and experienced , pains and horrors, unfathomable by most; suffering of the heart, the soul, and of the body, mere results of his tortured existence. Still he knew that his suffering, his pains, his worst nightmares were insignificant to his crimes. He had sought redemption, to make up for his deeds. He did it for love, for family, for everyone he had hurt. For this he was paying a steep price, his life, yet he felt no regrets or remorse, since he would regain his ultimate prize, his soul. Falling into a deep sleep, one he knew would be his last, he dreamt.
Dreams of a better world, a different life, an existence, in which he had made the right choices. His family would be whole, and the atrocities he had committed in the misguided attempt to help the galaxy purged from the time line, a happy existence. This dream, a wish made within the last moments of his mortal existence. A wish so profound, so strong, so pure, that it traveled beyond time and space, transcending the mortal planes of existence. It was heard, by a being, which not only had the power, the will, but also the desire to grant it. Thus the path life had taken was changed, its destiny altered, its tracks derailed. The universe adapted, as it always does, proceeding to pave new tracks, on which to travel upon. The dawn of a new life, the dusk of the old.
The slaver's foot steps echoed throughout the hull, as he made his rounds, inspecting the cargo holds. The lumbering thunder of his footsteps, terrified Jayde, unlike anything she had heard in her short life. For one so young, she had seen a lot of tragedy. Her parents' death, being one of the bigger blows she had burdened. She held her knees tight, telling her self, that things will turn out better. At least she was not alone. An older woman with a baby, named Shimi, and her younger brother Keith, who had been with her when they were kidnapped, occupied their corner of the cell. Their cell being the cargo hold, as it was formally named. Keith, fortunately, was fast asleep, head resting on the knees of Shimi. In fact, if it was not for her, they would have been far worse off. Shimi was a kind and gentle soul; she acted as a surrogate mother, comforting them when needed. There where several others, scattered within the area, she could not make out, due to the lack of proper light, though she could definitely hear them. She could smell them as well. As the cargo hold lacked the proper accommodations, which even convicted criminals would have. It was hot, humid, and smelly. She was tired, uncomfortable and terrified of the life she is being forced live.
"Are you okay dear?" Shimi whispered kindly to Jayde, obviously concerned.
"No, not really," thinking, "How can anyone be!" looking down at the ground "in this place?"
"You have to have faith dear, I am sure there is a light at the end of this tunnel." patting her child's head, "for his sake and yours."
"How can you be so sure? How can you not feel fear?" fearful of the future, Jayde demanded.
"I do dear. . . The key is to not fight it, I acknowledge its presence then I let it pass." she motioned to her child again, "he gives me courage, he is destined for more, I can feel it."
"Ah," she shrugged nodding, in the hope that Shimi instincts where correct, "I wonder where we are headed?" She gazed at the walls in wonder.
"Probably Kessel" Shimi, replied frankly, "it is a place for such people." privily wishing that they make it safely.
The ship started shaking, brining panic to the rest of the slaves, who until then where very quiet. Voices of panic and queries of what was going on echoed throughout the hold.
"Calm down you pests," a voice was heard through the door, "it will be calm again soon enough; we are passing through the Maw. Now shut your traps!" he banged at the door, leaving the now quiet, yet more terrified group.
She heard a loud metallic noise, as if the door had been blown off its hinges. Panicky footsteps were heard as the crew scrambled to see what was wrong. She prayed, hoping it was not a collision with a real space object as this would certainly spell their doom. She whispered to her brother "are you okay squirt?"
"I' fine, stop calling me that, I'm not a child anymore, I'm eight years old" retaliated her brother Keith. "Isn't that right aunt Shimi," his eyes looking towards the women who's lap he had been sleeping in. Her child, a babe barely a few months old, was in his arms.
"Of course, you are a buckling young man," Shimi encouraged.
Blaster fire was heard as yells of panic from the crew echoed the room. Jayde was also starting to panic.
"Calm down young lady," Shimi's voice tried to relax her "at best we get rescued, at worst; we end up the property of another slave trader. We are not worth anything when we are dead..." the voice of reason, logical yet terrifying. The yells got louder as the fight seemed to be getting closer to their holding cells. This caused Jayde, to huddle close to Shimi, cuddling her brother, her tears running.
"You stronger then this Jayde MoonDreamer" Shimi encouraged. For the firs time in the few days which amounted to her capture, she felt comfort. A comfort she had only felt with her mother, who had died trying to stop the slavers form capturing her and her brother. The slave traders tended to go after the weak and it was generally unwise to walk alone, especially at the dark of night. These slavers where braver then most, however.
A thud was heard against the door, as a small bulge extruded the shape of a humanoid. A series of blaster sounds echoed again across the room, as the door's impression was pock marked with the evidence of the blasts. Whoever it was was defiantly dead, and bracing the door, making indentations in it. The thud of the dead person, was heard as a thick viscose material came oozing under the door.
"Eww" Shimi said as the blood, smelled an odd smell, "that is not human blood, everyone hold on to each other. I am sure we are going to meet our new masters"
The door cracked open, as light shown through the once dark cell. The slaves could finally see one another. Jayde looked up to the door. There was a man, He had obvious blaster marks on his body and blood stains across him. Human mixed with other varieties not uncommon in this part of the galaxy. This aside, he had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. It reminded her of home, when she would look out the balcony and pretend she was a bird, flying among the sky. The wind would rush across her once long hair, making it flap like a flag. The memory quickly vanished as the new comer, came over towards them, as they where closest to the door.
"Don't hurt me" she begged as he grabbed her arm and unlocked her hands. "Thank you"
He seemed to say you're welcomed but she could not understand him. He pointed to the others and motioned to the key. She nodded and proceeded to unlock Shimi and her brother from the slaver collars. He then went outside and quickly disappeared.
"I wonder who he is?" inquired Shimi, who was unlocking the other slaves while Jayde held her baby Anakin, "whoever he is he can't speak standard, or any other language I have heard of."
"We need to call him something." Tim muttered as the man came back, he had a few blaster rifles and guns with him. Distributing them among the ones who where able to fight.
"I know," proclaimed Jayde "let's call him 'Blue Eyes'"
"Good as name as any" remarked another slave with a blaster in his "I'm Lorien, let's take over this tub and win our FREEDOM!" Cheers came from the rest of the slaves who where somewhat armed and ready to kick some tail. They ran out of the room, Blue eyes leading the way. They where headed to the control room. They encountered a few dead/dieing bodies along the way. Apparently the ship was lightly crewed as they never expected any resistance from the slaves nor an outsider.
They entered the pilot's compartment, where a man, lay, dead. His hands fallen near what appeared to be a switch.
"The force is with us, "exclaimed Lorien "he almost hit the self destruct"
"They all appear to be dead" came the voice of another man in the back, "we will sweep the ship to make sure"
Jayde looked concerned towards blue eyes, as he was loosening his footing.
"Here let me help you," said Shimi at their savvier, she helped him sit in the lounge, which was situated behind the pilot compartment. "Are you ok?" concern washing over her face as she noticed his bright sky blue eyes for the first time, a smile came on his face as he lay back closeting his eyes, resting.
"Someone get a medical kit, he appears to be severely hurt" ordered Shimi
"He is dead, more then likely, we need it more" complained the man.
"He saved our lives you ungrateful," yelled Jayde as her message got across. Shimi put 'Blue Eyes' in a laying position on the coach as she took off his top. She winced at the battle scarred body filled with blaster wounds and several cuts. "It looks bad, but "she noticed that the wounds where better off then they should be "it looks like their healing, rather fast too"
"What is he?" asked Lorien
"What ever he is He is 'Blue Eyes' our savior. He seemed in and out of consciousness as she asked talked to him. "Thank you for all your help, I'm Shimi, this is Jayde", this seemed to stir something inside of Blue eyes as he seemed to get the gesture. He spoke a single word before he went unconscious.
"Data?" asked Jayde "what is a data?"
"His name?" propositioned Tim.
"Thank you Data" echoed the voices of the once slaves, now free people.
The journey is far from over, as wishes, even when granted, never come without a price or without effort. Nothing in life is ever simple or easy. Life will give you a break, a sign of hope. To the ones bold and courageous enough this is all they need to make their wishes and dreams come true. For the others. The eternal damnation of doubt, fear and loneliness.
The ship, screaming through hyperspace, with the freed slaves, now its masters, journeyed to an undiscovered territory, as time and space began to rewrite itself.
