Chapter 1: A Simple Girl
As the Empire's grip tightened around star systems throughout the galaxy, the small, backwater planet of Markos-Delta failed to garner the notice of the Imperial Governors or the outnumbered and outgunned Rebel Alliance. The peaceful, friendly, pre-industrial civilization had begun to develop without Imperial interference. The particular village of Norath was a hive of kindness and routine, as people went about their own business. The machinery was somewhat primitive, relying on water and cogs. No one really wanted to change, and Markos-Delta remained merely another planetary name in the Galactic Empire Databank and a navigational entry in the Rebel Alliance's hyperspace computers.
Norath was a sleepy little town near the edge of a dark and deep forest. The best hunters had only probed and settle the proverbial tip of the iceberg. The bakers baked, the slaughterhouse had carved the meat brought by the hunters, the shopkeepers kept up with the demand of the population of barely over two hundred. Everyone always went about their routine, enjoying the monotony and stability.
Well, with three exceptions. The first is the old bookkeeper, Mr. Zachariah, who is usually a very lonely individual, for the people of Norath, save precious few have no interest in reading. He is an old man, who relies on his books for company. He will believe almost anything, which had led him to be the victim of several cruel practical jokes. However, there is one person he can rely on for company, and to spare him from several other jokes.
Exception Number One was an old man named Martise. He was well past his prime physically, but his mind was sharp as a tack with an almost child-like curiosity about the numerous mechanical feats he manufactured on a daily basis. Now was the time of year that he would be working his hardest to get his amazing new contraption to the fair that was held in the big city a few days away. There would usually be the clattering and occasional explosion from his basement, causing several odd looks from numerous sources. People regarded him as something of a mental case, belonging in the asylum not a days ride away, but it was his only living relative that stood between that and the life he lived now. Ironically, this relative was the same who is the somewhat guardian angel of Mr. Zachariah.
That person is the third mentioned exception, Martise's young daughter, named Belle. She was a young lady, regarded by many to be the most beautiful girl for miles around. Martise had always remarked that she looked amazingly like her mother, which was true. Her hair was a lovely dark shade of red that came down to just below the nape of her neck. Though most of the young women would have had their hair done so many different fancy ways, (The most popular was one that had their hair in two large, bun-like spirals just above each ear.) Though she was a petite girl, she did not go through so many dresses like all the others, but sticking to simple and plain fashions she made herself. Her eyes were a lovely, light mixture of green, gray and turquoise, nearly creating a new color. But most people, beautiful as they thought she was, regarded her with an air of uncertainness, for she was a peculiar girl. They gave her a wide berth in town, as she walked with her nose in a book. A book! What woman in the right mind would want to read?
However, the narrow visions of the townsfolk never stopped Belle from enjoying herself. For she read anything and everything, possibly because one thing she disliked the most was the monotony of the day-to-day routine. She would read to take her somewhere else, for her to escape…
Now was no exception. She sat in the hilly meadow to the north, sitting under an ancient tree, and engulfed in a book that had her by the throat and would not let go.
"'Your father wanted you to have this, when you were old enough.'" she read. " 'But your uncle wouldn't allow it. He was afraid you might follow old Obi-Wan on some "Damned fool idealistic crusade, like your father did.'
"Luke finished patching up his droid's arm, giving Threepio permission to power down for the moment and walked over as Ben removed a cylindrical, silver object. 'What is it?' The farmboy inquired.
" 'Your father's lightsaber.' Ben replied, mysteriously. 'This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as blaster. An elegant weapon for a more… civilized time.' He was seated as Luke weighed the saber in his hand.
"The saber ignited into a half-meter column of blue energy. Luke jumped in the initial surprise of the weapon's nature, but it hummed and glowed mysteriously as it moved. A thought came to the young farmboy and he deactivated the saber, taking a seat beside Ben…no. His name was Obi-Wan, not crazy old Ben Kenobi.
" 'For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic.' Obi-Wan continued. 'Before the dark times. Before the Empire.'
" 'How did my father die?' He asked.
"Obi-Wan released a sigh. 'A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. Now the Jedi are all but extinct.' He said, in a tone devoid of the fatherly tone it had before, replaced by solemn seriousness and a multitude of painful memories behind it. 'He betrayed and murdered your father. Vader was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force.'
" 'The Force?'" Luke asked, furrowing his brow.
Just as Belle was asking the exact same question, a drop of rain fell on her page. She marked her page and closed the cloth-bound book. She walked back into the village, envisioning what she had just read in her mind. This was why she loved this story so much. It appealed so much to her, on the scale of her imagination. Pity Mr. Zachariah wanted it back now.
The bookshop Mr. Zachariah kept was a run-down little place. The paint needed to be lathered on again, there were some repairs to be made, but it just contributed to Belle's fantastic imagination of the place.
Mr. Zachariah sat behind his desk, reading a much thicker book than Belle had ever seen. He looked up when he heard the door lose and a smile crept over his features. "Belle." he greeted. "How are you, my dear?"
"Oh, very well." Belle smiled back. "I've brought your book back."
"Oh, capital!" Mr. Zachariah grinned. "Just on time. There was a special reason why I wanted it back today."
"Oh?" Belle said. "What?"
"I wanted to give you these." Mr. Zachariah brought out another two books, one with a dark blue cover and the other with a dark green cover. Both were in the same style of that which Belle had just returned. He placed the two with the old one that she just brought back and gave them to her. "For you." He smiled.
"Oh!" Belle gasped. "Are you sure?"
"Quite sure." Mr. Zachariah said. "The other two in the series, for my young friend."
"Well," Belle was flustered. "How can I ever repay you?"
"Just promise to keep visiting me." Mr. Zachariah said. He leaned in close and lowered his voice as if someone were listening. "And perhaps some of your sugar cookies?"
Belle smiled widely now, revealing two perfect rows of white teeth. "Thank you, so much." She kissed her friend on the cheek and promised to return tomorrow with the cookies.
Now, the rain had stopped after a light drizzle. After a brief flash of irritation, Belle decided it was for the best. Supper had to be cooked, for her father usually forgot to eat while he was inventing.
As she walked along the well beaten path out of town, a very large, muscular and undeniably handsome man walked along the path coming towards her. His rifle was slung over the back of his shoulder and he boasted loudly to his small friend beside him.
"…And three fully grown boras before that! All in the same hour."
"Gee, Jussen!" His friend, Ruddy said beside him. "There's sure no one like you around! I…"
But Jussen had seen Belle walking along, her nose in her beloved book. "Shut up!" He quickly shoved Ruddy off the path, out of sight and into a particularly thorny bush. He puffed out his chest and slicked back his hair, making himself as attractive and seductive as possible…
…Only to have Belle walk right past him, ignoring him completely. He did an about turn and followed her. "Hello, Belle," He said, overly loud.
This got Belle's attention. She looked up, and merely said. "Hello, Jussen." And she promptly went back to her book.
One thing that must be known about Jussen Reed is that he is an extremely stubborn individual. He kept up to her and turned up his nose. "What's this rot you're reading now?"
"It's not rot!" Belle protested. "It's wonderful. It's a great adventure. Full of action, rebellion, romance, duty… but I'm sure you wouldn't understand such things."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jussen whined. "I have action and adventure every day! I am a romantic and my duty is to you." He slung his arm around Belle, and drew her close. She nearly lost her book in the process. "Think of it now. You and me, together forever in holy matrimony. I can give you anything your little heart desires. Try me."
Just as she was about to protest and say something along the lines of "You have noting I could ever want." She thought. "Well," Belle said carefully. "There is one thing I would like from you."
"Anything, my muffin." Jussen said.
"I would like," Belle slipped out of his arm and walked away. "for you to go away and leave me in peace."
Before he could reply, Belle had vanished over a hill, leaving Jussen spluttering. Ruddy came out of his bush, pulling an unusually large thorn out of his backside.
"Oww…" He complained. "Y'know, I don't know why you're still wasting your time with her. There are plenty of other women out there…"
"Ruddy!" Jussen's voice was like a gunshot. "Am I not Jussen Reed? Dashingly handsome, strong, brave, daring, ridiculously successful hunter?"
"Well," Ruddy said. "Yes, but…"
"Well, Jussen Reed always gets what he wants! ALWAYS! Belle will be my wife, within the month if not the week! All she needs is some gentle prodding."
The rest of the walk was silent. Jussen had believed his own words so well, almost forgetting his true essence, with his concealed ultimate weapon on his back. No one here knew of who he really was, or whom his real duty was to…
…
Belle arrived back home shortly after her little run-in with Jussen. She immediately put her new treasures by her bed and started to cook. However, she was usually distracted, her mind up in her book, following the adventures of Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi. She looked out the window, dreaming as she looked into the sunset, longing for a change, an adventure…
End of Chapter.
Well, there be chapter one. Will update soon, and if there's anything you don't understand, that's in the Star Wars context, just ask. I am the second foremost authority on Star Wars in my school, so chances are I know what I'm talking about. Hopefully. Don't be shy to ask. Now, please review!
