Author's Note: This chapter is a little short, butthe shortness is, actually, inevitable, as you will find out. I haven't started the next chapter... I have two directions I could take it in and I haven't decided which way I want it to go. x.x

pip: Thank you:D I'm glad you're enjoyin'.
Dovasary: xDDDDDDDD Nope. Not any of those. He knows of him, but who doesn't? Haha, you thought that was funny? Interesting. Tell me of you think it's funny after this chappie. - shifty eyes -

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Everyone was on their feet within one second, including Tyl and I. Tyl already had his blaster out and pointed, and I my lightsaber, humming at my side. The Ewoks had their spears and bows and slings with them, while the children were being ushered into a hut.

Boom.

Another one. Somewhere ahead of us (formerly behind, Tyl and I had to turn around), a large branch had been torn off of its trunk. In other platforms, the inhabitants of this village were already armed and ready.

Boom, boom.

A ripple in the Force. My lightsaber twisted around behind me, and I felt a shock go through my hand a blaster bolt was absorbed, just barely. I swung around, blocking two more.

"What the hell is going on?" Tyl shouted at me, returning the blaster fire. I see a human fall out of a tree three-hundred meters away.

"You're a hell of a shot!" I answer. The platform around us is turning scarce, as the Ewoks prepare to ambush those coming onto our platform. Tyl grabs my sleeve, and pulls me behind a hut as unmarked men make their way up the winding staircase.

"You didn't answer me!"

"I know, I can't!"

He rolls his eyes, and I take the opportunity to escape his clutch and attempt to cut off the path of entrance with my lightsaber.

Thing is, the lightsaber isn't a real lightsaber. Yes, it can burn quite severely if I wanted it to, but I haven't yet graduated from the Academy, and one test is constructing my own real one. Which is why the blaster bolts weren't deflected, but absorbed.

Naturally, it merely charred the wood and did little cutting.

I was cut off by a strong hand on my wrist, wheeling me around, and my hand bearing the lightsaber flew out in retaliation at the unknown attacker.

"Damn it!" Tyl said, angrily, slapping my hand away, and rubbing bright pink, blistering flesh just under his eye. "What the hell is wrong with you!"

"You grabbed me!" I retaliate, but lower my saber.

"Here, this'll work better." he says, thrusting a blaster at me, which is slightly smaller than his though still in good condition. I power down my lightsaber and attach it to my belt.

"Thanks."

"Anytime, kid. Let's take cover, that's not gonna work in time."

I peer down and, yes, he was right. A few more rounds around the tree trunk and they were here.

"'Kay. Let's go." I agree, diving as a blaster bolt whizzed inches above my head.

"Damn..." I hear him mutter, and I look to see him touching the burn under his eye.

"Sorry." I grin at him, but it slides off my face as I check the entrance to the platform. "Any idea what's happening?" I mutter, discreetly aiming my blaster, fixing it on the entrance.

"None. Who'd attack the Ewoks? Other than Imperials, but they wouldn't come all the way over here to get revenge on Ewoks, and these guys aren't marked like Imperials. My guess is that they're part of a private brigade by some rich guy. Slave or illegal spice trader." he mused.

"Good p - dammit!" I duck as a shower of fire is thrown at us. I hear a cry, and the blaster fire stops long enough for me to glance up and aim. Tyl is already shooting away, but I hesitate.

I have never killed anyone before.

These people were definitely enemies, but...

My eyes focus on those of a particularly young one, couldn't be older than nineteen. He was hidden partially behind a box, shooting at us. His eyes are brilliantly blue, and hold so much concentration, and memory. All I can think of is, in a very different scenario, that could have been my Uncle Luke. Years and years ago, if I were Imperial, this boy could have been Luke, a farmer from Tatooine, with friends and a past and interests and a life...

In that scenario, I would be killing my mother's brother.

...But I cringe, and pull the trigger anyways.

Little Luke is thrown back by the force from my blaster bolt, and lies motionless on the floor.

I stare, numb, unable to move, and am met by a blinding pain. Burning, throbbing. Damn, the pain is too much. Pain like I've never felt, pain that I've never known reality is capable of. I barely feel my head hitting the wood panels underneath me, it is absorbed like a prick of a needle among a wall of knives. The blaster given to me by Tyl slips from my fingers.

Gods, I can't see.

I can't think.

I can't even damn hear.

The pain...

Beautiful, light bronze eyes are boring into mine, concern...

I can't see, it's blurring, the eyes are lost in a sea of shades of beige...

My vision is darkening, it's turning night rapidly, everything with a blue hue, navy, black hues...

Soon enough, there is no color, no feeling.

The pain has ended.

It's all black.