Hey everyone! This is a really important chapter and update for the rest of the story. That is one of the main reasons this chapter has taken so long to post. I really want to stress the importance of you guys leaving me and Ami feedback. None of you have left a single comment and it would really be appreciated. Anyone can comment! Anyway… I missed you guys and lets get back to the story shall we?
~Guns and Ships~
Vader Pov
I was in my study, meditating on my advisor's mission on Alderaan. In my vision, I saw her talking with Senator Organa, but then, as I watched, a bright white thing in the shape of a bird flew down and engulfed the two of them It turned towards me, and then changed into the form that had haunted my dreams of late. Her steely blue eyes, identical to mine, stared at me with a mixture of hatred and compassion, as the silhouettes of a multitude of black-robed figures wielding lightsabers.
A force of that size could destroy all that I have worked to create
I concentrated harder, and for the first time, the background became visible to me. A familiar desert planet with twin suns, a world I thought I would never visit again.
Suddenly, the door hissed open, and an officer ran into the room and bowed. "Lord Vader, the Empire has tracked several rumors of a host of surviving Jedi and rebellion officers to Tatooine. The Emperor himself has ordered that we investigate".
I faltered for a moment, but then my instincts kicked in. The girl's face continued to stare at me with disdain. She means nothing to me anymore
I rose, and my voice echoed through the room. "Set course for Tatooine. And alert the weapon. We may need it".
The man bowed and left, and I turned to my window, gazing out into space
No one will be left alive, not even her...
Mia's POV
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!..."
"Advisor? Mia, are you alright?!"
I collapsed on the floor, a mind-numbing, cold, violent image rushing through my brain. I saw my family, my fellow Hunters, being cut down by Imperial soldiers. Vader advancing towards me, red blade ignited. Star Destroyers over Tatooine. And finally, an immense space station, of a kind I had never seen before, fired an immense green laser at a planet, and it was as if I could feel my body being obliterated by the searing light. I doubled over, pain slamming into my mind me, and I could only vaguely hear the worried voices of Bail and the rebels behind me.
"The other Hunters", I managed to gasp out, "Vader's coming for them, and he has a weapon… that can destroy our entire settlement". Quickly, I got up, and gripping the table, said to the captain, Hera, "Deploy your forces to Tatooine, quickly! We don't have much time".
I then turned to leave, but was stopped by the Senator. "Where are you going?", he asked, confused.
"I have to warn the Hunters! They'll die for sure if I don't get to them in time", I said before quickly running out of the room. As I neared my ship, I saw Petrak waiting by the ramp of my cruiser. As I approached, he caught a glimpse of my face and looked worried, "Lady Teraan, a what's wrong?" Before he could react, I pulled him to the side into a corner, looking him straight in his stormy eyes.
"First of all, I'm not a lady, so you can quit calling me that. Secondly, you know where and why I've been sending those holo-journals, yes?", I said quietly. Seeing his fearful and reluctant nod, I continued, "Well, I need to warn my associates of Vader's coming, and I need you to take me to Tatooine, without raising suspicion. It will be dangerous and you might get into serious trouble. Can you do this?", I asked.
At first, Petrak looked confused and frightened, but his features shifted to reveal a determined face, and he nodded. I smiled and released his shoulder, and we both ran onto the ship. As I got into the pilot seat and started to prepare the ship for takeoff, I heard Petrak's voice from behind me.
"Just for the record, I would do anything for you, my lady, no matter how dangerous".
For just a second, my cheeks flushed, but I quickly shoved the feeling aside, and took off, leaving Alderaan behind.
Master, I'm coming.
Katie's Pov
Ships were being quickly loaded. The children fear in their eyes ran in panic to their quarters. I followed on the main ship of the fleet. We took off and set course for Mia's ship where we would finally reconcile with each other. We would come back together as master and padawan the most sacred bond in the galaxy.
"Captain we are preparing for takeoff you should head to the bridge to oversee us." A crew member who trained under Will said to me in an urgent voice.
"Yes, of course I will be there in a minute." I replied sending the frantic young king away.
Will was always strict and all people under him were well behaved and disciplined. The boy was an example of a soon to be Jedi knight out of our ranks. After thinking about this for a while I joined the crew on the bridge. Now fate would be the deciding factor. The Force that surrounded me was screaming at me telling me of the hardships and struggles ahead of me and my people.
The Jedi have always been resilient but since we are no longer scattered among different planets one blow could lead to the extinction of all of us.
Then suddenly a vision came upon me…
A scream passed across the grassy field. Mia my padawan stood in front of a red sword. I fell to my knees. She looked at me with such innocence and hope. A tear fell from her eye as she mouthed the word that I feared the most from anyone of my students, "I'm sorry Master, I failed you."
The vision was too much for me to handle I let out a blood curdling scream and fell to the floor drifting out of consciousness with the knowledge of my first padawans death… nothing is stronger than the bond created between Padawan and Master was sacred and the only thing that could separate that bond is death itself. You would hope the master would be the one to die leaving the Padawan to carry on your teachings and ways but no this time I knew that once Mia died her memory would be gone. NO I won't allow it to happen. I will protect her, if it's the last thing I do.
I woke up with determination to protect everyone I loved. I was still on the bridge the crew surrounding me. They looked concerned but soon continued with their work. One of the crew quickly said, "Master, Mia's ship is now in range. We shall start the tractor beam to ensure her safe extraction from space."
I smiled. "Please do so quickly there is much that must be discussed."
Someone said soon after " Extraction complete. The passengers have now entered the ship."
I ran to the back of the ship and saw the friendly face of my padawan. We gave a short embrace and began to talk.
"Padawan…" I started
" Master there's so much intel I must share with you."
"Surly that can wait for just a moment"
"Vader is still good Master, their is hope for you to save him"
"Padawan…" I say with more urgency
She continued, chatting away about the intel she collected, until I snapped.
"MIA" I said my voice cracking my eyes staring intently at her.
"Master, what is wrong?"
"The Force has given me a vision of something terrible."
"What was it master?"
"I saw your death… you were slain by a red lightsaber."
"Master, I have seen these visions too. Don't worry', Mia said, putting her hand on my shoulder reassuringly
"I will protect you. Fate can be changed!"
We looked at each other for a while and then, suddenly, the ship shaked. This followed with a cacophony of screams from the younglings on board. Then the sound of many explosions came from the headset I wore that connected me to the other ships. We began to fall out of space onto a planet, one I recognized as Opyol, a terrestrial planet. I screamed into the microphone "BRACE FOR IMPACT"
With that I felt the ship enter the atmosphere at an astonishing speed. Followed by a final bang from impact with the surface. Silence. Not a sound could be heard any where. I exited the destroyed ship, and saw everyone waiting under the cover of some bushes. They ushered me to duck and cover, and motioned for me to look up. Starships lined the outer atmosphere. I knew now we had to prepare for battle.
Mia Pov.
As impacts rocked the ship, I quickly ran to the bridge. We had dropped out of hyperspace above Opyol, but as the ship circled the atmosphere, I caught sight of three Star Destroyers firing at us, including Darth Vader's personal Star Destroyer, the Executor. The ship shuddered again, then began to careen towards the surface. I closed my eyes and used the force to level the ship as it descended, angling it so that we could crash in a large clearing. As the ship impacted, I caught a youngling that had wandered into the bridge and braced myself.
The sound of screeching metal filled my ears, and I felt a piece of metal slice my shirt, leaving a cut on my arm. Wincing, I picked up the youngling and, breaking the window, climbed out of the ship. I used the Force to move the ship on its side so that the others could escape. Looking up, I saw our other ships careening towards us, but they soon slowed down. I turned to see my master holding her hand out in concentration. The ships careened to a stop, and I saw the crew of my ship looking weary as they exited. As the Hunters gathered on the ground, many of them looking scared, I caught a glimpse o shuttles emerging from the Star Destroyers above, landing on the opposite side of the field from us, I looked at my master, standing at the front of the group, and even though the thoughts of my vision were running through my head, I nodded to her. She looked grim, but nodded back, as I ignited my vibrant green blade, standing out from among the sea of white blades, and charged at the enemy
Katie POV
The battle began and Vader's troops quickly closed in. All across the giant field, Hunters cut through waves of stormtroopers, the younger children even deflecting blaster shots with ease. I caught Vader's eye from where I stood, and he looked at me with such sorrow but with a glare that told me all I needed to know. He was here for me. My death was the only thing that he could think of that prevented him from truly being part of the dark side. Mia saw this too, and she went into battle. I watched with pride as she swept through the stormtroopers, using advanced maneuvers and force techniques that I didn't know she possessed. She looked back at me, and I heard her voice in my head, The rebels will be here soon, and both of my ships are still working. Pull the Hunters out, and I'll hold them off. I did as she said and ordered the retreat through my headset, but as I turned around,my heart skipped a beat. Vader was slowly making his way towards Mia, his blood-red blade ignited. I couldn't let her die! I'm the master, I should die first, I thought as I ran past the front line to meet my brother in the middle. I was quickly met by stormtroopers and gun fire. I ignited my lightsabers and began to block. The Hunters gathered around me as we fought on. Vader was swift and quickly moved his way across the field.
Mia saw him coming, and, slashing her blade across the chest of a stormtrooper, turned to face him. They regarded one another with contempt, before she rushed at him, striking and parrying his attacks quicker than I could follow. However, I noticed that she was tiring, and I could see her attacks slowing down as Vader attacked more ferociously. I used the Force to push back the stormtroopers, and ran towards her. She parried him and struck at his shoulder, dislodging his armor, and at first, I thought she had won, but as she caught a glimpse of me and turned her head to me, his sword sliced out, cutting her lightsaber in half and running right through her chest. The plasma sword left a burning hole through her heart, and her eyes widened in shock, before they turned glassy and cold, causing her to fall on her knees before she fell to the ground going lifeless.
All I could do was scream "NO"
I was in disbelief. But now wasn't the time to mourn so I began to use my force abilities to talk to him. I could sense his fear and sadness. I reached out with the force trying to talk to him. I screamed "You don't have to do this Ani. Leave the hateful life you live join Will and I. We don't want to see you like this." Vader stopped in his path and looked me in the eyes. Then I heard his voice broken and rough "You can't help me, this is who I am now. I don't have a family. They all died a long time ago." My heart sunk to my chest. That wasn't my brother. But still he called back his troops. Then I truly understood what would happen when a battle station appeared. "Everyone to the ship!" I cried.
Everyone retreated to their ships. I ran over to my Padawan's lifeless body and tried to carry her, but time was short. Looking down at her body, her eyes wide and blank, I sighed and closed them, before placing her down gently, a single tear running down my face. " I'm sorry", I said, before running to the ship, and we took off as the death laser began to fire towards the surface. All ships successfully got out on time. But one didn't take off. It was the ship of my best friend and padawan. I let my tears fall as I remembered her face, as she had whispered something before she died. A flashback rushed through my mind.I heard a small voice say what I always dreaded
" I'm sorry, master. I failed you"
"MIA!" But it was too late. She was gone. Tears fell down my face as one of my closest friends said goodbye to me. I would not let her death be in vain.
Now all I could see of the planet was the ground being vaporised by the laser that came from the Death Star.
My ship had set course for Yavin 4, the current base of the Rebel Alliance. The other Hunters headed to Alderaan where they would help with small projects to keep the planet safe from the empire.
Hey guys! Hopefully this chapter played with your heartstrings. Also anyone see the two references? Comment if you did! This is the kind of writing that you will see from me in the future so I really hope you enjoyed. Cause I certainly loved the board meeting with Ami that planned this chapter and the rest of the story. Please leave a comment and check out my Wattpad, WinterFrost22_, I already have started a Star Wars fanfic there about Ashoka so please go take a look. Thanks guys and I will see you next time!
Ami's Note:Just so you are all aware, our board meetings involve Wheat Thins and Vocaloid songs. Peace!
