Title: The Righteous Die First

Author: Essie Aster

Category: Star Wars

Genre: Probably (mild) Horror

Rating: PG-13 most likely, R to be on the safe side

Summary: A sorta-continuation of "The Dream." (could be a continuation, could be a fanfic of my own work o.O) Sorry, but major plot-bunny attack. I'd go hunting, but I'm too tired to do that :P I guess this could fall into the Mary-Sue category, but since it's kinda an AU, I don't feel bad about throwing a real world character into the situations. Basically, the woman from "The Dream," she has a name now, course you won't know it for a few chapters, but hey, it's there, is taken to Coruscant to bear a child. Sounds corny, I know, but there's really more to it than that. Course, I could summarize the entire plot, but I prefer to keep the actual summary part down to a sentence.

Warning: I would advise reading "The Dream" before this, only because I'm not sure how much, or even if, it will make sense. There may be massive confusion for a while, there may not be. To cover my butt, a word of warning, "The Dream" is rated R for very good reasons. I could tell you exactly what, but I'm pretty sure you can guess. Choice is yours. You may not need to read it, you may want to, *shrug* dunno. I'm not sure if this is going to completely destroy the effect of my last piece, but, hehe, I suppose that's up to you to risk if you actually liked that one.

A Word of Explanation: I'm saying it's AU, but I'm not really sure about that. "The Dream" definitely was. This one, I mean, it's set four years prior to TPM, and it has all of the big characters (yes, to be honest, Qui-Gon actually has a non Essie-hates-the-oaf role o.O) but some of them, ok, I'll say it, the Sith, the Jedi, don't act in the 'traditional' George Lucas manner, which is really evident as the story progresses. (then again, I can't think of anyone who actually buys the whole Lucas-Jedi/Sith characterizations *shrug*)

Please realize that this is all based off of a dream, so it does have its cheesy, unrealistic moments, but they're intentional. I don't normally write fics like this, mostly because I know, as a reader, I despise reading stories that throw off traditional characterization and have odd (and probably over-used) plots. However, this is in my head, and dammit, if I don't write it down, it's gonna drive me nutz. Besides, I'm sure there's someone out there that'll read this and like it. *not gonna say anything about some of the other DM fics out there, just not even going there*

I know this intro's really long, but I want to let you know something of what to expect. I know, I for one really dislike misleading summaries, so I'm just letting you know now. I don't think it's incredibly cheesy. Looking over the plot outline, it is kinda hokey at parts, and it doesn't always make sense. While I don't think this is my best work, by any stretch, I'm enjoying taking on a new genre and being more relaxed about it. I know I've got a really long intro here, and I'm really only writing it to cover my butt, avoid angry readers and flames telling me that people are out of character and the setting isn't correct. I honestly don't care if you flame my work, that's not really a big deal to me. However, this way you can't say that I didn't warn you :P

Prologue

She cowered in the darkness, unable to resist the overwhelming terror that held her. The frigid air from the open window washed over her bare form, only adding to her uncontrollable shivering. Tears streaked down her cheeks, falling unheeded onto her swollen arm. A part of her consciousness registered the ceaseless bleating of the alarm, but it was only a dim hope, fading away as the minutes slipped past.

She had seen evil before, had felt the terrible auras emanating from the spiritual bodies. She had even heard them call to her, taunt her, abuse her. But never before had it been so tactile. Never before had one touched her and left its mark. This was different. Her broken body was the irrefutable evidence to the horror of the night. Evil was no longer a terrible phantom incapable of physical contact. It had done more than just touch her, and now it stood before her, shattering all that was left of her courage.

A man, a monster, a demon, she did not know. She could not make sense of what had happened, nor was any reasoning ability available to her in the fear induced trance. Time progressed as if it was part of gel compound, everything slowing and hovering as it moved.

Her attention was captured by a whisper of movement, the barely tangible vibrations of a footfall. She looked up again, trying to meld into the wall as the too familiar creature came within an arm's length of her. She wanted to turn away, to close her eyes and shut out the image before her. Yet she could not tear herself away from his demonic gaze.

He seemed to speak to her without words. She knew what he wanted. She did not understand how or why, but she understood that she was only a tool, to be used and discarded.

'You're not real,' she disputed, more to convince herself than anything.

The creature turned from her, disappearing briefly into the shadows across her room. When he emerged, he tossed a dark bundle at her. She let it land on her, slapping her face and stinging her damaged skin. A new sob choked her as she pinched the coarse fabric between her fingers.

Carelessly, he grabbed her broken arm and pulled her to her feet. She cried out as her nerves rushed white hot explosions to her brain, pulling her mind into sharp focus. Somehow, she managed to maintain a feeble grip on the familiar cloth - her grandfather's World War II overcoat. The creature ripped it out of her hand and hung it on her shoulders.

She winced as she pushed her arm into the sleeve, shame rising in her cheeks. She quickly closed the front, holding it tight with her good hand as his hand clamped onto her shoulder. He turned her away from him, toward the window.

'I'll die first,' She whispered while the wind froze the tears on her cheeks.

She knew the fallacy in her words even as she spoke them. This creature would do whatever it took to keep her alive. The death she had experienced was not complete, and for a purpose she could not imagine.

She tried not to think of what he would do to her, of what would happen if she failed to produce the results he wanted. As she looked out into the autumn night, she caught her last glimpse of the celestial bodies she knew so well. She held that image in her thoughts as she felt his grip on her shoulders tighten and the atmosphere shift. She was torn away from her life, away from this world, into darkness, into a nightmare that had only just begun.

A/N: short, vague, symbolic, I know. Chapter 1 is almost finished. Should have it posted within the next few days. Summer semester's almost over! *cheer*