Chapter Two: A Few Hours Later...
--Alderaan--
"OPEN FIRE!"
Twenty Anti Air Cannons unleashed Crimson hell upon the walking behemoths that had dared to invade the planet. Unfortunately, not one high explosive round even penetrated the powerful shielding of the tripods. It did cause a few to Stagger, but the machines then easily compensated for the kinetic strikes and continued to move with fluid grace.
"Cannons Reload, ground forces, open fire!" Ordered the same voice from earlier.
Hundreds of small Crimson bolts flew through the air, striking the same area the large bolts had just before, only for the same outcome. No damage, no change, nothing.
"Sir, it's hopeless to stop them as of right now. The last civilian transport is in the air, we need to evacuate!" A Crimson striped trooper tried to reason, turning to his commanding officer to do so.
"NO, we will fight to the last man. They have to have a weakness and I will find it, FOR THE EMPIRE!" The officer roared, pushing another trooper aside before picking up his fallen weapon. Which he then fired directly at the nearest enemy.
"EAT THIS-" His sentence was cut short as bluish white beam reduced his atomic structure to Ash, leaving behind his uniform, medals and weapon.
"Idiot..." The Crimson trooper sighed, shaking his head before clearing his throat. "FALL BACK TO THE TRANSPORTS, THAT'S AN ORDER!" He exclaimed. He just prayed he was not to late.
"I hope the royal family is safe, then our sacrifice will be worth it.." he muttered.
--Tatooine--
"I would normally ask for payment, but as the economy is pretty much gone thanks to those things that have popped all over the galaxy, let's just say that you owe me a favour. Okay? Kid, you can man the gunner while the old man calms down the rest of the passengers. We've got a full ship, I've seen three dozen of transports fly off this rock in the last hour. If we don't leave now we might not at all." A tall, handsome nerf herder of a smuggler sighed.
"Thanks Mr solo, we won't take up much room." Luke smiled with relief, deciding to help the man move cargo and equipment that was taking up unnecessary room on his ship.
"Captain Solo, I found these gentlemen outside. They were abandoned by their shuttle commander so we will have to take them." Obi Wan told the man, walking up with a squad of tired stormtroopers.
"Imps? Fine old man but you owe me three favours." Han glared, gesturing for the troops to get on board.
"Wait you're letting imperials on board?" Luke whispered with a hint of disdain, making sure to be out of earshot of the Troopers.
"Yes they served under a tyrant, but they are people to. Just following orders and doing what they can to provide for their families, like any other person." Obi Wan reasoned, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder. "A Jedi must be compassionate and show empathy, even towards those who do not have the same views or beliefs you do." He added.
Luke nodded, feeling ashamed with himself. That shame was soon filled with fear as the horn of a nearby tripod filled the air.
"I believe that is our cue to leave." Obi Wan stated, gently pushing Luke onto the ship as the ground began to shake.
"I think you're right, chewie gun the engines we need to get out of here!" Han yelled, running up the ramp, pressing a button for it to be raised as he did so.
The large circular form of the Millennium Falcon rose from the docking bay, narrowly dodging two beams of blue energy before blasting into the sky.
--Hyperspace--
Darth Vader stood staring into the large cell at a creature that belonged to something from nightmares. "So now I see my enemy, face to face." He sneered, glaring at the dark form that stood before him.
"After coming out of it's machine, it slaughtered two normal squads before members of the 501st managed to stun it and bring it aboard this ship my Lord." A storm captain replied, having took off his helmet as soon as the Sith had entered the prison.
The grey skinned beast was larger than anybody on the ship, even Vader. It is was a tall, dark, and elegantly beautiful creature.
Standing at least seven feet tall, with a strong, firm body. On it's back were seven long tentacles, each appendage obviously used to pick things up, use tools, or feel around with.
It was standing upon three long legs, with three toes completing each leg. However, their two small arms were different, with each limb holding three long fingers. Each finger armed with a razor sharp talon.
It's head was angled, bulky, and huge, with the shape similar in looks to that of a curved triangle. Its face was handsome and yet incredibly frightening, holding two, big and round eyes. No pupils, no discerning colours. Just big, black, cold, intelligent and calculating eyes.
It had a rather small mouth for an organic being, However, it was filled with razor sharp teeth, making it easy work for the creature to tear up meat and flesh. Should it choose to.
"What are you?" Vader asked, reaching out with a few tendrils of the dark side to tap into it's mind. However he was not expecting what happened next.
Images of memory flashed before him. Of a dark, harsh world. Where these creatures fought one another for centuries over trivial things, food water and other things needed for survival.
Eventually though, they banded together, realizing too late that they had doomed their planet. So set out to colonise a new one. Upon doing so, the same problem occurred. Not enough resources, too many people. So they turned to genetic experimentation, where they found great success. They no longer needed physical food to survive, and they became immune to most bacteria, finding themselves able to easily live off of the nutrients found in blood. Which lead to a new problem, where would they get this vast supply of blood?
The solution was simple. Other beings that the found to be inferior to themselves, those that were no better than animals would be food for their kind. Cattle, so to speak. And so the Empire was born, and this species conquered and colonised, growing their technology, advancing their knowledge and feeding their appetite. But it was never enough, and still isn't. They still want more, they crave it, it is the one animalistic instinct that still drives them. The need to continue, the need to destroy and rebuild. The need to conquer.
'Cattle' that had grown intelligent enough to rebel and build weapons as well as space worthy ships were pruned, their colonies burned until nothing remained.
These monstrous beings had evolved out of their emotions and basic feelings, they no longer felt fear, sadness or bitterness. They had no room in their minds for mercy or empathy. They only held anger and greed. They had spread their infection across multiple galaxies, and now intended to do the same to this one.
'It is beautiful, is it not?' A raspy, ancient voice mocked. Causing Vader to stiffen and instantly exit the monster's mind, his hands actually shaking for the first time in years.
Not even Sidious had been that hungry, that full of greed and desire. These creatures were beyond evil, they were darkness and sickness incarnate. "Kill it and then have it's corpse dissected, I need weaknesses found. We must push this enemy from our galaxy, or all we know will be lost." He ordered, leaving for his meditation chamber.
The inhuman screams that came from the prison did nothing to erase the feeling of dread that had filled the Sith Lord. Yes they had captured one and would learn the secrets of their biology, but Vader knew that it was not going to be quite simple. This enemy was a true empire, one far beyond his own.
They had been conquering nonstop for the last few thousand years. They were experts in warfare and tactics beyond even the most skilled mind of this day and age. And that frightened Vader to his core. For the first time in a long while, the Sith actually felt fear for his own life.
May the force be with them all...
(End of chapter two)