Entry 74

The GA intel received information that the enemy was storing weapons and headquartered in the remote town of Skogen. So they had sent a company of ground troopers to the town to sweep the area for weapons and enemy combatants.

The town was the type we called DeRa hell. DeRa means Dense and Random. The homes are close together and built in no apparent pattern. The roads are winding and radiate out in irregular configuration. There were back alleys, dead end streets and all types of danger spots where ambushes could be set up. To make matters worse we were told there was an extensive maze of underground tunnels under the village that were used as emergency shelters during the planets many tornadoes and storms.

The company of GA ground troopers immediately came under fire not only by blaster fire, but by a mortar barrage, with the enemy showing no concern for the local civilians. The company was able to fall back and hunker down in a defensive position. That is when the Jump Troopers were called in as reinforcements.

Our job was to find the mortar teams. We didn't know if it was just one team or many, only that they were striking at will and then quickly moving to a new location. We dropped into the area where the mortars were last seen coming from. We encircled the area and had one platoon search the cordoned off zone while the other three platoons contained the area. My father and I accompanied the platoon doing the sweep. We were carrying heavy blasters and our lightsabers as we moved from building to building searching for the enemy.

We got halfway through the sweep when we started to take on enemy fire from the rooftops. Dad yelled to the platoon sergeant to cover him, he was going up to the roof. He then signaled for me to follow. We could have flown up to the roof, but we were sure they were expecting that. We hoped we could sneak up on them using the stairs, but they must have had a man guarding that approach and we immediately came under blaster fire. We ran up the stairs anyway. Dad is in the lead using his lightsaber to deflect blaster fire coming down the vertical shaft of the stairwell. The next thing I heard was the clunking sound of something metallic bouncing down the stairs.

"Thermal detonator!" My dad shouts. I look up and I can see the round explosive device rolling toward us. My dad and I are in armor, but not thick enough to survive a direct hit with this type of explosive.

"Force Bubble, Talon!" My dad calls out as he used the Force to halt the detonator's movement. I can then sense him pulling the Force around the explosive device. I concentrate on assisting my father. I remember my heart beating wildly while using every bit of concentration to envelope the deadly object. Within a few seconds the detonator exploded. I could see the Force bubble swell with the expansion of energy. I felt the pressure of the explosion pushing against the protective shield we created and I had to strain to maintain my Force grip. Just as I thought I couldn't hold on any longer my father raised both his hands and the bubble of explosive energy flew up the stairwell shaft and burst through the roof above. My dad and I press our bodies against the wall while using the Force to shield us from falling debris.

Once things stabilized we ran up the stairs and onto the roof. There were about six men on the roof blasting at us. Dad and I used our lightsabers to deflect the shots back to the shooters. Eventually the firing stopped and we approached the men lying on the ground. We checked for survivors, but there were none. Dad went over to a portable mortar system sitting on the roof and hacked it up with his lightsaber. Afterwards he got on his comlink. "The rooftop is clear." He turned off the communicator and looked up to me and opened his helmet shield so I could see his face. He has a wide smile. "You did great, Talon. I wouldn't have been able to contain the thermal detonator explosion without you."

I opened my helmet and smiled back. "Thanks." I really don't believe my father would have failed without me, but it is nice for him to say so.

"Come on, let's rejoin the platoon." We lowered our helmet shields and moved down to the street below.

We swept through the buildings and alleys with little resistance. Still it was nerve wracking because the enemy could be anyone. Our adversary lived among the local population.

I was following my father. He had his lightsaber blazing, but I had put away my lightsaber in exchange for my heavy blaster. Like my father, I don't like killing with a lightsaber. To be honest I don't like killing at all, but if I have to kill the enemy I rather do it with a blaster and not with a lightsaber.

My danger senses flared as we came under fire from somebody up ahead in the road. My father deflected the blasterbolts easily and the other members of the platoon concentrate their firepower on the shooter's position. I sensed someone coming from my right. I spun around and aimed my blaster and readied to shoot. I hesitated when I realize I was aiming at a young boy who was probably not older than seven or eight years old. As I lowered my blaster I heard a metallic clunk. I look down and saw a thermal detonator sitting next to my father's armored foot.

"Grenade!" I screamed as I attempted to create another Force bubble. My father looked at me and then down to where I was looking. He reached out with the Force and attempted to envelope the explosive…at that very moment the detonator went off.

The Force bubble held for a few seconds, but then our grip on the Force slipped and the explosion escaped from its confines. I remember flying through the air and landing hard against a wall.

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I heard the platoon leader calling the medic. I struggle to my feet and rushed to my father. What I saw made me sick to my stomach. My father was lying on the ground, his visor was open and I could see him grimace in pain. He perched himself up on his elbows and looked down at his feet. It was then that I noticed his right foot was gone and there was blood gushing from the wound.

The medic was frantically trying to remove his armor. I slid down on the ground next to him and attempted to assist. The soldier looked up to me. "We need to get the armor off to put on a tourniquet."

I nodded and pulled on the metallic latches but the heat of the blast fused them shut. I felt my father's armored gauntlet grab me by my arm. I looked down at him; his face was an expression of pain. "Use your lightsaber, Talon," he gasped.

"To cut off the armor?" I wasn't sure if I could do that without cutting him up also.

My father shook his head. "No, cut off my leg right above the wound."

"What?!"

"It will cauterize the wound," my dad said.

I looked at the medic wide-eyed. He nodded. "That should work."

I know it would work, but that doesn't make it any easier for me to do. This is my father. I don't even like using the lightsaber on my enemy, let alone my dad.

"Hurry, Talon!" My father urged me. I can see he is getting pale from blood loss.

I reluctantly took off my lightsaber and ignited it. The green glow of the saber reflected off my father's grey armor as I steadied myself for what I had to do. I lower the blade. It cut through the armor with some resistance. Once the blade touched his flesh it cut through quickly. I bit my lower lip as my father screamed. My hands were shaking as I finished the cut and then shut off the lightsaber.

The medic inspected the wound and then looked up to me. "The bleeding stopped." He put on an anti-pain patch on my father's face since he couldn't get to any other exposed flesh. I noticed the firefight was over and the platoon had set up protective positions around my dad. After a few minutes I heard the distinctive sound of an air transport. A jump trooper leapt down and landed next to us holding a hoverstretcher. I used the Force to levitate my father onto the stretcher and the evac-medic manned the carrier controls to levitate my father up to the air transport.

I intended to stay behind but the platoon sergeant came up to me putting his hand on my shoulder. "Go with him. I think we cleared this area."

I nodded and activated my jet pack and blasted up to the air ambulance transport.

I found a seat next to my father's stretcher and buckled in. My father turned to me and I could see him smile. "You're mother is going to kill me."

"I think Mom is the least of your worries."

Dad chuckled. "This is my worst injury. She's going to kill me and maybe your Uncle Luke." My dad's voice started slurring. I look up to the medic.

"The medication is kicking in," he explained. "It kills the pain, but makes people a little loopy. I wouldn't take to heart anything he says for the next half hour. People sometimes say crazy things or start slurring their words like they're drunk."

I nod my head. "Just relax Dad."

My father then starts patting his body with his gauntlet-covered hands. "Is my foot the only thing missing?"

"Yes Dad!"

My father put his hands over his crotch and smiled. "Good, all the important pieces are there still."

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Talon," my father said with some difficulty. "I love you."

"I know dad."

"I love your brother, but you were always my favorite."

I laugh. "I thought Jaden was your favorite. He was less trouble to you."

My father shook his head. "No, your brother is your momma's boy. You…you are so much like me. You act like me and you look just like me," my father mumbled.

The medic looked at my redheaded bearded dad and then at me with blond hair and blue eyes, then shrugged. I know what my dad meant. If he didn't dye his hair and eyes we would look just alike.

"Tell your mom that I love her." Dad said to me.

"Dad, you're not dying."

"I know, but I'll be in the bacta tank and unable to talk," my dad insisted.

"Okay, Dad. I'll tell her."

My dad started chuckling.

"What's so funny?"

"What's your Master going to say when she finds out you chopped my leg off with your lightsaber?"

"Dad! You told me to do it!"

"You are almost as bad a Jacen," my dad laughed.

"Dad!"

At that point the drugs must have kicked in all the way because my dad closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.