Chapter 13
In the night side of Eden
Master, if you ever read this, know this:
I am and will always be a Jedi, no matter what happens. Of this I am sure. No dream told me this. They don't need to. I know you easily forget this and are more likely to remember past failures and compare me to them… to him, but please don't ever think that I could ever deny the light like he did.
I know you will turn against me. I've seen it. You will forget me and your care for me will wane. It hurts me to know this will come to pass, but I will forgive you. Things will get better. It is not for me to know when, but the sun will come and the dark be banished, for a time. And we will come back together, better than before.
It's cruel that these years together will be so violently ripped from us when our years together are already numbered, but the force has a plan for you. For me. I have seen it…
…I miss you already…
-Obi-Wan's last journal entry-
5 YEARS LATER
The ship plunged head on into the heavy traffic as if it was being driven by a drunk driver unable to tell the difference between what was up and what was down. The surrounding traffic swerved this way and that trying to avoid the crazed ship as it weaved unpredictably through the throng. One unlucky ship, less than half the size of the struggling ship, was unable to dodge the other ship as it unexpectedly dropped in altitude. Sideswiping the large ship, the smaller one ricocheted off to the side uncontrollably, bouncing off another ship, before colliding into a building and falling below.
The out of control ship kept on its perilous course, ignoring the explosion behind as the smaller ship hit a fuel tanker on its way down. With a jerk, the ship suddenly shifted to the right then to the left. Then it seemed to pause in mid air, floating, before all its lights went off, its engine stopped, and it dropped out of the sky like a swatted fly.
Unknowing ships were caught off guard as the ship barged into them on its way down. As it fell, the ship was beaten and bruised, its hull crushed and pounded by the impacts. One severe impact by a large cruiser ripped into the heart of the ship, exposing it to the elements.
From within, a bloody hand reached out and clung to the hull as if it was trying to find a way off the dying ship. Blaster fire escaped from inside as the hand held on for dear life. Another impact sent the hand, and its body flying out of the ship. Only managing to hold on, the body was flung around like a lifeless doll as it clung to the hull.
More blaster fire escaped the ship, aimed at the body hanging on. But stubbornly, the body refused to let go. Another hand reached out to the edge of the hull. Looking out, an older man, looked for the younger man and swung his weapon; a shining blade of pure light.
With an unheard cry, the younger man quickly switched arms as the one holding on was hit with the offending weapon.
The older man swung back with his weapon in anticipation of another strike, but was knocked down by sudden movement of the ship as it collided with another ship. The force of the impact sent the man's shining blade flying out of the opening along with the struggling young man who finally lost his grip on the hull. Continued on its decent, the young man followed the ship as it fell down to the very depths of the city.
Seeing the blade the free falling weapon of the older man, the younger man reached out and miraculously was able to grasp it before being hit by a passing speeder. Stubbornly he held onto the weapon as he was drug through traffic by the speeder, his jacket having been caught on an exposed piece of metal.
As he was jerked about, he struggled to catch a glance of what had become of the ship he had just escaped. It would happen any minute now. Though he couldn't hear it, he felt the shift as a ship exploded. Looking behind him he caught a fleeting glance of a falling fireball below. Smiling to himself, he sighed in relief at the completion of his mission.
His relief was short lived as the speeder he was on rammed head on into a taxi, slamming his body into its fiery wreckage. The young man, unconscious and on fire, then dropped into the gathering darkness below to find his fate.
Up above, Coruscant's artificial sun was shining; its last rays of light reflecting brightly off the gleaming ornate senate buildings. However, down below, in the very depths of the city where no one dared go without being either heavily armed or extremely desperate, there was no sun, no light, and no hope. This was where a young woman sat on a filthy cargo box outside of a disreputable bar smoking a cigarette. She had blonde hair and lightly tanned porcelain skin. Her clothes were worn and had seen better days. The woman herself was young, but had the look of one who had seen and experienced much more than their years.
Sighing, she threw the cigarette to the ground. Jumping of the crate, she snuffed the fire out with her boot, threw her jacket over her shoulder, and walked into the darkness. Walking through the darkness with the grace of a dancer and the agility of a cat, sidestepping various objects though at times unable to see them in the first place, there was a certain beauty and awe that surrounded the woman. She had an aura of confidence about her, a mystic quality that no one around her could quite explain. None of this was lost on the woman. She knew perfectly well what they were thinking and she handled them accordingly.
Right now she was late.
But that was how she liked it. Her steps were quick and precise as she continued on her way. Her next client would understand as he always did. She had a certain way with a blaster that would make any one accept her lateness. She smiled at this thought. It was part of her job. She couldn't afford to be soft in any way.
In any way that would get her killed at least.
Up ahead she noticed something on the walkway. In the dim light it looked like someone had collapsed there. Whoever it was, they were still on fire and smoldering. She rolled her eyes; probably another murder victim. No one these days seemed to have the decency to properly get rid of a body. She approached the body warily.
Bending down, she checked for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there. Shaking her head, she took her jacket and started putting out the remaining flames on the man. Once that was done, she turned the man over on his back and took in his appearance.
He was filthy of course, covered in burns and blood. His hair was scraggly at best, chin length and dark in color. His long bangs were plastered in his face keeping his eyes from her view. He was thin, but she could tell he was strong and had some muscles. She tried to imagine what he would look like if he wasn't so messed up, but the way he looked in front of her clouded any possible imaginings.
What now?
She looked around her to see if anyone else was around, but she needn't have worried. It was as quiet as a tomb. She looked back down at the man and sighed. She couldn't very well leave him here, could she?
Making up her mind, she pursed her lips and started dragging the man along. She found he was much lighter than she had thought, but she wasn't about to try and pick him up in the state he was in and get herself all messed up before her meeting without any time to clean herself up.
Turning another corner, she found herself checking the area once more. She normally wasn't so paranoid, but she didn't want other people seeing her dragging what looked like a dead body around. No sane person would. It would raise too many questions that even her own high reputation couldn't overcome. Was there even a person who had a reputation that could take being seen with a dead body? She could think of a few, but they weren't her. Not yet at least. She had her goals, but she wasn't there yet.
Her place wasn't too far from here. Why she was doing this, she didn't know. Down here it was all about survival. You don't just help some random stranger because they might just take advantage of you. For all she knew, this person was faking and would rob her the first chance they got. But even with all her misgivings, she couldn't just leave this person here. She just knew that she had to help. She just knew.
Minutes later, she finally arrived at her apartment. Throwing open the door, she dragged the limp body into her living room and laid it on the couch as best she could.
"Don't you take anything" she muttered under her breath as she locked her apartment up.
"Going somewhere honey?" a sly voice said from behind.
She didn't even flinch.
"Just getting you your money," she didn't even turn around.
"You owe me two months worth," the man gruffly said.
The woman smirked and started to walk away.
"You know I like to live life on the edge."
The man shook his head in annoyance.
"Someday I might just push you over the edge so I don't have to deal with you" he muttered.
The woman only walked on ignoring the man as he disappeared into the darkness.
That was Georn. He always had more bark than bite, at least when it came to her. It was probably just his weakness for pretty girls that kept her alive. Make no joke about it, Georn was dangerous. Talk around town had it that he was a serial killer that tended to kill those who didn't pay on time and even those who did pay on time.
Either way, he had been no trouble for her. But then again, talk around town had it that she was a merciless Jedi killer.
Touché.
Up ahead, a measly excuse for a street light flickered on and off, giving the street a hazy yellow glow. She had arrived. Right next to the lousy light was a heavy steel door. She gave the surface a few hard raps and waited.
A small red light scanned her, head to toe, before the door finally opened. No one was on the on the other side to greet her; only a solitary staircase. As quietly as she could, she entered the room and started up the stairs. Behind her, the door closed with an echoing thud. At the top of the stairs, there was a long hallway ending at a door. She didn't make a sound as she approached it.
At the last moment, the door slid open. She was expected. Inside was a small, dimly lit room. In the middle of the room was a large bed. A man was laying on it provocatively.
"You're late sugar," he said, licking his lips.
Inside, the woman wanted to vomit, but on the outside she smiled coyly.
"I lost track of time," she said shyly taking a seat at the foot of the bed.
He smiled at her lustfully.
"Shall we begin?"
She sighed, looking sorry. On the inside she was only too happy to say what she was going to say.
"Not this time honey."
"Again?" the man said sitting up. "That's what you say every time."
"And I'll keep on saying it," she said standing up. "I need my money."
The man glared at her.
"If you weren't so pretty, I'd kill you now."
The woman laughed.
"You would never do that, you can't afford to."
"Throw that in my face again and I might just take the loss," the man said throwing a stack of credits at her.
Catching the money with one hand she tipped her head.
"I'll keep that in mind," she replied casually, then she turned to leave.
"You can't keep me waiting like this," he said darkly, "I might do something you'll regret if I don't get what I want."
The woman smirked.
"Why don't you just come to one of my little shows? I'm sure I could work you in…" she left off her words, internally cringing at what she was implying.
But she needn't have worried. He had gone silent.
"That's what I thought," she said shaking her head. "It's enough that I risk my life for you every day, don't push me."
The man was fuming as she disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.
As she undid the various security measures on her apartment door, she couldn't help but think about the dangers of her current occupation. Every day was a gamble on whether or not she would still be alive at the end of the day. She wished she could quit, but she was in too deep.
Stepping into her apartment, she closed the door, turned on the light and fell onto her couch only to be reminded of what she had left behind. She jumped up startled.
The man!
He was groaning. Slowly his eyes opened.
She stayed quiet as he slowly sat up in pain, taking in everything around him. Eventually he looked at her. As soon as his eyes met hers she could feel him start to search her mind. She put a halt to that and continued staring at him like nothing had happened.
"Who are you?" he asked curiously. There was an edge to his voice that revealed a calculating mind beneath.
"This is my place," she said authoritatively, "I ask the questions…who are you and what were you doing lying unconscious in such a dangerous place?"
"Jedi?" the man asked.
She cocked her head to the side.
"Are you Jedi?"
She smirked.
"What makes you think that?" her previous questions were forgotten.
The man seemed to regain more and more of his wits by the second. Though still in obvious pain, he was sitting up straighter and had the look of someone who was in control.
"The little blocking bit you just pulled on me, that's not stuff a little girl like you should know let alone be playing with," he said with rivaling smirk.
She crossed her arms, severely ticked off.
"And you're an expert on character now are you?" she said.
"Surprise me."
She snorted, then walked over to her door. Opening it, she pointed at him, and then pointed outside.
"Get. Out."
The man laughed, "Look at me."
"I'm looking and you're still not out there," she said further pointing out the door.
He crossed his arms stubbornly.
"Oh, I'm sorry" she said sympathetically.
The man revealed a smug smile.
"Where are my manners," she walked over to him and showing off her strength, picked him up, walked out the door, some ways down the alley, put him on the ground and walked back to her door. The man didn't fight or say a word during the few minutes it took for her to make the trip. He seemed too stunned to respond.
"Don't underestimate me," she said to him, "And don't call me a little girl."
Then, disappearing back into her apartment, the woman slammed the door, effectively putting an exclamation mark on her last words to the man who now laid alone in the darkness.