4
28ABY
My back glistened with blood and flames advanced ever closer towards me as I lay in the centre of the temple. Summoning strength I pushed myself up onto my hands and knees, trying not to concede to the agony that ran through my entire body. Time was running short and I needed to find a way to escape. 'Come on.' I instructed myself through gritted teeth, forcing myself up to my feet. I let out a small howl of discomfort before trying to move towards one of the stone arch windows. As I collapsed to the ground, I let out another cry of anguish before resorting to dragging myself over. Pulling my weary body up onto the ledge, I let myself topple out into the cool night.
Landing face first on a soft bed of grass was well met and I lifted my head up to take in fresh oxygen. My lungs felt as though they were about to explode as I drew more and more clean air into my lungs. Only now did the real pain begin to take over. I felt tears sting my cheeks as I sobbed into the sand, my back throbbing and burning. I lay there for what seemed like an age, crying for my fellow force-sensitives, Master Skywalker and Ben. My eyes searched the skies, hoping that somehow somebody would find me lying on the ground. However, deep down I knew that eventually I would have to find a way off of the planet by myself. Eventually I composed myself and once again willed myself upright despite the suffering it caused. Slowly, I walked a few steps distracting myself from the pain by trying to think of a plan. It wasn't until I rounded the back of the burning temple that I saw the small cargo ships that brought supplies to the planet. My eyes lit up and I found myself almost running towards them, breathing harshly out of my mouth. As I clambered inside the one that seemed the least damaged, I flicked the switches and it whirred to life. Relief filled me and I stared at the many buttons in front of me. I had no clue how to fly a ship, let alone with a gaping hole in my back that was making me delirious from blood loss. I leaned back in the driving chair and rubbed my temple, trying to focus. All of a sudden, I snapped my fingers and reached into one of the compartments on the side of the main circuit board. I pulled out a book of co-ordinates, opening it on a random page. I ran my finger down the page and stopped at the first planet I saw. 'Takodana, J-15.' Mumbling it to myself, I punched the co-ordinates in and grabbed the steering wheel. The ship slowly rose up, gurgling a little from the fire damage. As it rose higher and higher, I took one last look at the jedi academy, slowly crumbling away. Angered, I jammed the compressor and felt the ship jerk forward into hyperspace. Glittering lights of stars whizzed by and I felt my head start to swim. Looking over my shoulder, I saw the back of the chair was coated in blood and I felt physically sick. 'Come on.' I willed the ship onward, trying to focus on my breathing. It jerked some more, but I continued to press on.
Finally, the ship darted out of hyperspace but didn't stop. It tumbled towards the planet, flashing red signals to me. 'No, no, no!' I wailed, pressing buttons and pulling levers. I yanked on the wheel to no avail. Falling through the atmosphere, I could see the ground getting ever closer. 'Please stop.' I screamed frustrated, slamming my hands down onto the board. More red lights and sirens began to go off. Irritated, I pulled out my lightsaber and slammed the metal casing against everything I could, damaging it in the process. As I tried to switch it on, the green plasma flickered faintly but failed to remain steady. I threw it aggressively at the glass front of the ship and I buried my head in my hands. The blaring sirens, the flashing lights and the prospect of crashing filled my head and I let out an excruciating scream. I felt the force growing within me and stretched my arms out, steadying the ship. I willed it forward, the image of the burning temple and Ben's tear stained face filling my mind. I guided the ship across a large lake, towards what looked like some kind of tower. I dutifully landed on the ground safely, breathless. Ahead of me, beings of the galaxy stood staring in awe at me. At the front was a small orange humanoid woman with huge goggles over her eyes. Gasping for air, I reached my arm out towards her before collapsing to the floor.