A long time ago in a galaxy far far away

HOTH SUMMER NIGHTS

Season 1, Episode 9

40 years passed since

Emperor Palpatine was defeated.

For years and years chaos remained as

the remnants of the Empire tried to maintain control

of the galaxy and the leaders of the Rebel Alliance tried to unite

the people in an organized democracy. Such attempts failed on both sides,

and the galaxy fell back to the political structure it had known before the creation of

the Old Republic. Small systems, bigger systems, coalition of planets, yet some planets are still

divided and self-regulated countries. Democracies, monarchies, empires, warlords, anarchies, even

the Hutts control a few systems, and still some parts of the universe have not been explored or heard of.

Brett, Obu and Livan have followed a small group of ships all the way to the outer rim and beyond. These ships had attacked a convoy carrying weaponry to Mosester. Neeah, meanwhile, is on Dagobah perfecting her training directly with Master Luke.

##

Neeah is standing, with her eyes blindfolded, as Luke is throwing small rocks at her, from about 10 yards. She's blocking them all, without even touching them.

– Very good. Now stay focused.

He picks up a bigger stone and throws it. This time however, he himself uses the force to alter its trajectory. Neeah adjusts, bringing her left hand up and moving the stone away at the last moment. Luke then picks up branches, other stones, everything he can gather and throws it all towards his pupil, at a relatively fast pace. She blocks everything. Then Luke grabs a small flashlight from his belt and throws it. Neeah screams out of surprise, rolls over but cannot avoid it. She opens her eyes.

– Master?

It was more disapproval than question.

– You really didn't think I'd throw you my lightsaber, didn't you?

He was smiling, almost laughing. She wasn't.

– As a matter of fact, I did, master.

– Well that shows that you were focused on the object itself instead of on my thoughts. That can be misleading. But you control your fear, mostly, that's very good.

His Comlink beeped.

– Yes Brett

– we've tracked them. Near the Boclova system. Beyond the outer rim. Will be there in a few hours.

Boclova. An odd choice. Very remote but also the main planet had been rendered inhabitable when a Civil War led to the eruption of most volcanoes on the surface when one party destroyed a massive underground generator. Then again, it's probably a good place to hide.

– Anything else?

Luke asked Brett, and it was a Livan who replied.

– Yes, big time. It might not be a surprise they were after that ship. It has nothing to do with Mosester. They were after the weapons, period. The cost of buying weapons on the black market has quadrupled, as everybody is loading up, not knowing whom to trust and who Ambulia will go after again next. Aside from the Relians on Coruscant, everybody feels weak and unprepared for an attack. Pirate gangs and smugglers are also loading up, Tarm has told me he's been approached by several groups who are looking to merge and form a larger fleet and profit from the chaos.

– She has created more havoc than even she probably expected.

Brett's tone was severe, as was Luke's when he replied

– I agree. Keep your eyes open and keep me informed.

He turned to Neeah

– looks like this war is far from over. I'm afraid you're not going back home to Ambulia anytime soon…

– I know. I sometimes wonder where home is anyway.

– I can relate. I've been like that for 50 years. I only went back to Tatooine a few times. I like it here on Dagobah and spent quite a bit of time here because I can feel the force and Master Yoda's presence. All the other places I've been to and called home were just temporary. Yvain IV was fun, and we used it to train a lot as a group when Drika and Amirah were young. Endor is also a peaceful and charming place, but living there brings back too strong memories. Bespin was destroyed, I doubt I would have gone back anyway.

He paused to reflect.

– And the ice planet? » She asked

– Hoth? Why would anyone want to go back there?

He laughed. «The thought had actually never crossed my mind. It could be fun, you want to go?

– Now?

– If I'm right, it's summer right now. Very short, winter there lasts about three years, summer only a few months. I have a feeling it's going to be worth it…

##

Obu's vision took a split second to adjust when they came out of hyperspace. Brett's X2 wing appeared alongside hers, and the Candlebox was just behind.

– There they are » Brett said as a group of class K frigates appeared.

The pilots recognized the Candlebox and the X2 wings as the ships they thought they had lost thru their maze of hyperspace jumps. They had no clue, however, that Jedi knights were piloting the ships.

Within moments the ships started to twist and twirl, and the X2 wings were just too fast and too good at anticipating moves that they took control of the battle really quickly. They were using ion cannons to depolarize the ships' systems, rendering them useless. Quickly two of the alien ships were disabled by the X2 wings. The third one was so startled when a direct hit did not destroy his colleagues ship that he stayed precisely in the scope of Livan who took advantage and hit him point-blank with her ion cannon as well. The last enemy ship took a last chance shot at the Candlebox but missed, then he was hit directly by Obu.

– Hook them up, tractor beam, we will bring them down to the surface. It's breathable right?

– Barely yes, for a few hours or maybe a day.

As they engaged their tractor beams, one of the pilots from the smaller fighter ships opened his cockpit and let himself be sucked out of his ship, without a pressure suit, opting for instant death. The second one followed a second later.

– Focus on the other ones, Obu. But I get the feeling that they're not as determined and too scared to do the same.

##

The stars became lines in the aft window of Luke's old B-wing. He stood up from the pilot's seat and joined Neeah in the small cargo room, which was previously a loading area for bombs.

– You modified the ship to use this space as a living area. Very smart.

– Well, this way I can fly other people in the ship. And it's not like I intend to fledge a bombardment anywhere in this relic.

– Master, can I ask you a question if you don't mind?

– By all means

– back on Dagobah, when you threw that Big Stone at me, you used the force to alter its trajectory. That's the first time that happened in my training.

– Well, the official Jedi training ways didn't include that, you're right. But they were never expected to face other force sensitive beings in battle, therefore never practised that skill. We know for sure the Drika is out there, and as much as I'd like to keep you away from her, chances are you will come across her at some point.

– Do you feel we have evolved above the old Jedi, master?

– No, I don't. We were able to recover a lot of data from the height of the Jedi order in the Old Republic. But I never got a lengthy training like you, Brett and the others so it's difficult to compare. These Jedi were trained to maintain peace in a peaceful time. The galaxy has been at war ever since the Order was destroyed and ever since I picked up a lightsaber. So, I think we're just different, we've adapted and developed different skills for different times. But I'm afraid our overall wisdom cannot match Master Yoda's or Windu's. We just have to follow our path; the force will guide us…

– Thank you. At least we know we won't find foes to fight on Hoth.

– You never know, I can tell you from personal experience that an encounter with a Wampa isn't a walk in the park. Speaking of which, I wonder if they're out during the summer? Anyway, in case they are, I have brought you something.

He opened a drawer and took out a small box that he handed to Neeah. She opened it, puzzled, and took out a lightsaber handle. She looked towards Luke, asking for permission.

– Sure, go ahead.

She lit up the weapon. A white blade ignited as fast as the snap hiss sound could be heard.

– It's beautiful, and all elegant. Thank you, Master. Does that mean I can use it?

– It was also Brett's first lightsaber. I made it myself, a long time ago, for my first apprentice. When he became a Jedi, he built his own, and I kept this one, someday you will also build your own. Brett asked me to give it to you on Dagobah as he thinks you are ready to handle it like a strong Padawan.

She was so happy she couldn't speak.

– May the force be with you Padawan Neeah. Now, on with your training.

##

The planet was merely lava, solid yet unstable. When they landed, Brett and Obu immediately jumped out of their ships and lit their lightsabers. They had agreed that showing their identity right away was the wise thing to do, letting their counterparts know right away that they stood little chance and therefore preventing them from trying a useless but potentially harmful resistance.

The two pilots opened their cockpits and headed out, their arms up in the air, ready to surrender.

Immediately, Brett recognized the face.

– Beevoul? Really?

It was the man Tantrum had hired to slow Brett down on the day he met Neeah.

– Yes…that's me.

He looked down shamelessly, having recognized Brett right away as well.

– Now, who hired you this time? Still working for Tantrum?

– No, we act on our own. We need the weapons and cannot afford them. Nobody can actually.

– Two of your friends committed suicide. They obviously had a bigger secret to hide. Who were they?

Obu's question made them feel really uncomfortable.

– New allies. Aliens I've never seen before but who were roaming in this part of space. They joined us a few months ago as our group needed to get deeper, bigger and stronger with all that's going on. Ambulia having invaded these systems has put everyone on their toes. And rumours are flying about another group, the armies of Sedror, creating issues beyond the outer rim.

– Sedror?

– You haven't heard? They've destroyed a few groups of mercenaries who dared go hide beyond, even further than this planet. Rumours are flying, unknown origin aliens with, if rumours are to be believed, an Armada at their disposal, ready to rise and conquer. Others are talking about them as just another potential competitive pirate group.

– Anything else?

– Those could be just rumours.

– Yet you felt the need to grow your numbers in case they showed up. Any more of your friends hiding in this sector?

Beevoul paused. He didn't want to answer, so to Brett, the answer was yes.

– Where?

Brett had stiffened his tone. Beevoul was resigned.

– In the caves on the southern hemisphere.

– You know you can't lie to me. Where?

– I told you… In the… Okay, they're right here in the mountains with the rest of the group,

His colleague looked at him with disapproval.

– Including some of these alien new friends?

– Yes, two of them.

– Let's pay them a visit then.

##

They were approaching the Hoth system. Luke enjoyed himself and was playing on-board agent.

– Summer in Hoth: temperature around freezing levels, as usual and no precipitation to say so. They said the basic icecap never melted however some spots did every now and then and allowed some elementary forms of vegetation to grow.

He looked at the scans.

– I wonder what is left of our old base.

Neeah bent over to look over his shoulder

– this can't be, the shield generator is operating! They destroyed it, I saw it myself!

– That can only mean, master, that somebody else came back.

– Or that the Empire left a crew here that never left and got it operational again. That's odd but possible considering how remote this place is.

– You think we should stay in orbit?

– Why? With all the meteorite activity in this system, it is difficult to spot incoming ships. Let's get down there before we receive a greeting party of fighters. I'd rather fight hand to hand then with this slow and difficult to manoeuvre ship. This ain't a X2 wing…

They lowered their tragectory and landed a fair distance from the old rebel base.

– Let's pack. Camping gear. We'll go check it out.

– Should we bring sensors?

– With that shield generator, they are useless. We'll just have to use the force to sense the situation. It's good for your training.

They started walking towards the base. They had estimated it to be an hour but with the snow melting it was going to take them a lot more than that. To Luke's surprise they saw a variety of animals. Wampa food perhaps. As they got closer, they could hear ships coming in.

– Either they're out to check on us. Or they've got company.

The ship looked unfamiliar, triangular, green and grey. So, they were not imperials. As they approached, they saw a massive structure in the valley behind the base.

– Brand-new shield generator. I've never seen anything like this though.

Another ship came in, different size but similar in design.

– This one looks more like a cargo ship. Maybe there setting up the base and hauling in equipment, or that ship is coming in with stolen goods.

In the following hour they saw more of these cargo ships coming in but none that left. They were close enough to enter the base now and saw a few doors, including the big blast doors Luke at gone out from on his Taun-Taun back in the days. This is where he snapped.

– I get it. Ever since we looked at the base it looked odd to me. Look at these doors and the entries for the ships. Same for the shield generator. These people have not adapted their base for winter here, all these facilities will not be accessible once winter comes. That means either they don't know what's coming, or more likely, they don't intend to stay here very long.

Neeah could appreciate how wise Master Luke was, and she said.

– I had a bad feeling about this.

– Just concentrate on the moment and follow my lead.

##

Brett, Obu, Livan, Beevoul and his acolyte were walking towards the mercenary camp. As they reached it, behind mountain peaks and the masses of magma, they saw more ships: ragtag leftovers typical of groups like this, including a TIE fighter. Beevoul answered the question before it was asked.

– Former imperial mechanic.

As they grew closer the others got out of the shelters and drew their weapons. Beevoul interrupted them.

– Don't bother, blasters are useless against these guys.

Two of the men looked familiar to Brett so he assumed they were part of the ambush the day he met Neeah. He was right because they were the first ones to drop their weapons. The others went along. Brett could feel the two strongest minds, the ones who had kept their weapons the longest. They were an alien race he had never encountered. Before he could address them, Livan added

– you two should also dispose of the hidden blasters on your ankles.

Brett and Obu looked at her surprised, as the two men obeyed.

– What? Isn't it obvious to you as well? Your magic is good but sometimes a little street smarts are required…

Brett moved towards these two.

– Who are you?

– We're a part of this group.

He replied in a broken basic.

– And before that?

– That's none of your business.

– Two of your friends are dead, we would have spared them, but they committed suicide, you guys have something bigger to hide. What is it?

– Why should we tell you?

With a flick of the wrist Brett sent down both flying backwards onto their butts.

– Because I want to know. I would also spare you the wrath of your new colleagues who obviously feel betrayed now that they realized that you have a hidden agenda.

He walked closer,

– so, I'm going to ask you one more time. Who are you? And what were you hiding from your partners, and what is your purpose here.

– You'll have to kill us both.

The other started to speak as well

– will never… Reveal… And are willing to die.

They started to feel their breath choking as Brett raised both his hands, even though he had no idea how their respiratory system worked, it seemed to have an effect on them.

– Not in front of them. And on the single condition that you take us away from them or get you kill us afterwards.

Livan is the one who replied

– you are in no position to bargain.

The alien replied, in obvious contempt of Livan

– we got information you want and are prepared to die to defend it.

They left, as Livan picked up their weapons on the ground. They moved away from the rest of the group, directly from where Brett and his group had come from. Brett tried his luck again

– where are you from?

There was no answer.

– I asked a question, he added with a little choke again

– When we reach your ship we will answer your questions.

Brett was puzzled, as he tried to read the alien minds, it was very difficult as every new species is but this time it was worse. He didn't even feel their fear. Unless they were fearless. They had green skin, a split forehead and grey hair. As they approached the ship though, Brett could feel a surge of emotion for one of them, and as it grew stronger, he finally was able to identify it, but too late. Deception. At that moment he heard Obu's voice.

– Two more behind this hill, it's a trap!

Both lightsabers lit simultaneously, and Livan loaded her blaster. The aliens had planned this well, as they were much closer to her than to Brett or Obu. She received an abnormally strong kick in the face and dropped the bag of weapons she had picked up. The hidden aliens started shooting repeatedly at Brett and Obu. They were able to deflect the bolts but not redirect them towards the attackers. All four aliens were shooting at them now, and Livan lied unconscious at the feet of the two aliens who had come with them. Obu tried to cover her, and Brett charged the aliens. As he approached, he saw behind a small hill a triangular ship he had never seen before, big enough to carry five or six. As he was defecting the bolts, one of the aliens shouted:

– stop. Let us go and the woman lives.

He was aiming his weapon at an unconscious Livan's head.

There was not much of a choice. Brett knew that they meant it and were willing to die, and to kill her.

– Go then.

He kept his weapon lit however, ready for another deception.

The alien put a small device on Livan's ear.

– No funny tricks, or she dies. I see you value the female's life.

They walked toward their ship and as they entered, Brett picked up the device, whose countdown was almost up, and threw it away. An instant later it exploded, and the alien ship took off. Obu tried to throw a homing device on it, but it didn't stick to their hull.

– Some kind of magnetic shield… Interesting

She said that as she boarded her X2 wing in pursuit.

Brett tended to Livan, as he telepathically told Obu to be careful. He could almost hear her reply «I will ».

When Obu and her ship got to outerspace, she saw the alien ship disappear and some sort of bubble, completely different from a Hyperspace jump.

– Another cool piece of technology… Who are these guys?

She wondered to herself.

##

Luke and Neeah saw another ship comingin, triangular like the others, which seemed more like a combat ship carrying five or six troopers. As the hangar bay opened, Luke and Neeah followed inside, as it seemed to Neeah that everybody in the room was focusing on a small light flash at the other end.

– Remind me to ask you later how you pull this trick, master.

They took cover behind a pile of used containers that occupied the good part of the hangar. From their vantage point of view, Luke could see that the place had not changed much since he had left. Blaster shots were still visible on the walls, and some of the debris still had not been cleared away. 40 some years later.

– The state of this place confirms my theory. They have not been here for long and they don't intend to stay.

He took a better look at the guards. Alien of some sort Luke had never encountered before. Green skin grey hair, and what seemed like a split forehead. Feeling their presence was easy, but the reading their minds was difficult, as is usually the case with alien species, but this was worse even then.

Neeah found an open container, and signalled to Luke to take a look. Although they were not familiar with the design it was obvious these were weapons and explosives.

– I don't think they're here on a mercy mission.

– Gather some explosives. Look, this is probably the remote. We'll take a look around to see what they are up to and if we have to, we could blow this place apart.

She filled her backpack.

##

Over in the command room, the two aliens who had escaped from Brett were facing their superior officers.

– Why have you abandoned your mission?

– We were discovered, our cover was blown. And there is more. I believe we have underestimated the combat skills of the people in this area. We've encountered special warriors. They fly like they know where you're going. They use laser swords to fight and block blaster shots. They can push you with a flick of the wrist, and make your breath go away.

– Where are your partners?

– They committed suicide after their ships had been hit by ion cannons and trapped in a tractor beam.

– So these super soldiers also have superior ships?

– Hard to say, perhaps it's just piloting skills.

They stared at them in awe. The biggest and tallest member stood up.

– Impossible! If anybody in this part of the galaxy had this kind of ability, they would dominate everybody else and rule. They would have enslaved the entire quadrant centuries ago. They must have a flagrant weakness.

– The Pirates we worked with did not seem to think so.

– Who has power like that and chooses not to use it? It's preposterous!

– Remember we were not that different before the return…

They were interrupted by an alarm.

– Intruder alert. Two humans have entered the premises. We are proceeding to their arrest.

The leader asked:

– could you have been followed?

– Highly unlikely. One of their ships went in pursuit but we entered hyperspace before he got out of the planet's atmosphere. Plus it was a single occupant ship.

##

– Move aside Neeah

She had already done so; her danger senses having warned her of the blast shots coming from the other end.

She was ready to pull out her lightsaber when he stopped her.

– Let's preserve our identity as long as we can. For now, there are alternatives to fighting.

He pushed a small door to his left and signalled her to follow him in. They entered a dark passageway that led to another door, which led to another dark room, in which they could feel the wind coming in over their heads.

– Sorry, but we didn't have time to to fix the roof before we left!

In an instant Luke had used the force to jump two stories in a small hole over his head. She followed him; they were now standing on the top of the building.

– I'm getting too old for this, now I know how Obi-Wan felt…

Luke still seemed to know his way around the station, for he had helped build it.

– The command room is right there , let's go straight to the source.

When they got right besides it, he pulled his lightsaber and pierced a hole in the ceiling under his feet. They jumped down.

– There are at least seven aliens in the command room, master.

She said that before she could think that we already knew, but she was worried for him.

– Stay here hidden I'll be right back.

He smiled but felt she was unsure of that order, although she would never dare challenge it.

– Trust me.

He turned around and entered the command room.

The aliens all turned around in amazement as the doors closed behind him, and he raised his hands.

##

Neeah could barely stay there standing. She pulled out some of the explosive from her back back and started to place them thoughtfully in the small room, then she thought of the hangar bay they had come from. She was disobeying the order but delivering the overall strategy, so the uneasiness was bearable. She took a deep breath and left the room. In the corridor she could feel a couple of alien minds a little further ahead. With a flick of the wrist, she distracted them as they walked by her, hidden in a small shadow. It worked.

– Maybe I'm better at this than I think.

She continued her path and putting explosives on every power signature she found. When she got to the hangar bay she simply activated then dropped the live explosives in a container full of them, close to a few ships. Despite being completely unfamiliar with their technology, she assumed that any ship, therefore any hangar, would use some sort of energy source to fly, and energy sources tended to make volatile explosives. She headed back but the room where Luke had told her to stay was now full of alien action. She poked a hole in the wall using her lightsaber for the first time. She heard footsteps and felt she had been noticed. «Just a few seconds » she thought. She finished her hole but before she could turn around a couple of aliens were standing behind her, weapons drawn. Before she could move, they fired. Something amazing happened in her mind: time stood still. She could see the laser bolts coming towards her at a speed that felt like leaves falling from a tree. Her instincts took over, the white lightsaber in her right hand moved over to intercept and redirected the bolts towards the aliens, striking mortal blows to both of them. Time came back to normal. She got out in the cold, safe.

– I did it. Can't believe, but I did it.

##

The alien that Brett had interrogated said, as the others who carried pointed a weapon at Luke: «don't move! »

Luke never showed any stress or surprise. He he was focused on their minds. All strong minds, but the one who had spoken was obviously not the leader, perhaps the only one who spoke basic. Luke spoke first:

– What are you doing in this place? Who are you?

The aliens looked at each other at the same one replied

– that is our question to ask. Who Do You Think You Are to just walk in our premises?

Luke paused for effect, making sure he had the attention of everyone.

– I helped build this place, more than 40 years ago. I almost died here and lost a lot of friends. This is kind of my home.

He paused and took a step forward

– I am Luke Skywalker.

Silence. But not what he had expected. Usually, the sheer mention of his name put an end to any resistance. But here, for the first time in decades, the shocking reaction took Luke by surprise. There was no reaction. He could hear that the two who had spoken were translating to the others and butchered his name. It was a stunning scene. These aliens, unlike anybody else in the known galaxy, had no idea who he was. These people came from a long way. A long long way, and obviously did not have a very constructive agenda.

– This place is ours. You will die like all our previous enemies. The armies of Sedror will prevail, as usual.

– I don't have any armful intentions.

– We do.

It was the last thing he heard before he made his move. As he pulled the glass window from its frame with the force, it exploded in a million pieces in the room and let freezing air inside. Before they could recover, his lightsaber was lit, cutting the blaster-holding right arm of the alien behind him and of the alien next to him. He made his move towards the outside but one of the aliens had very quickly positioned himself to stop him. Luke had no choice but to cut him in half with his green blade, then turned to block a few blaster shots and jumped out of the window. As he fell on the snow, two stories below, he saw an explosion next to the command room. Neeah was right behind him with her finger on the trigger for the explosives.

– This place is going to blow. I set up explosives all the way to the hangar. The chain reaction…

She couldn't finish, there was no need to, there were explosions everywhere.

In a few seconds they saw ships salvaging their loss and leaving. The aliens had realized the situation and reacted quickly, but still there was nothing they could do other than leave.

As they watched the entire base collapse, Luke could feel dozens of minds getting silenced. This invasion force was just handed a big blow. Perhaps that would dissuade these aliens from coming back. Somehow he felt that this was wishful thinking. They would be back in even greater numbers.

Luke focused on the minds of a pilot, trying to understand where they were headed. It felt to him like it was the middle of nowhere, or somewhere so far and the galaxy that he wouldn't bother to double check on known star charts.

- Well done, Padawan.

But he wasn't smiling. Even Neeah could see how worried he was.

##