Chapter Edited 21/03/2013
A/N: Hey guys ! Sorry for the super long wait, but I couldn't make it any quicker. I'm just completely and utterly overwhelmed by my Med Studies. My exams are nearing, I have courses from 7am to 10 pm every day, and finding time to breathe is already difficult, let alone write the Black Hole. Anyway, I do what I can. Again, thank you so much for the wonderful reviews, that helps a lot. And with that I say enjoy!
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Chapter 7 : The beginning of an end
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"Good evening my dear watchers, it's time for the Republic Flash News."
"Finally after two days of investigations, we can enlighten you on the horrible attack on the Hotel Gerino, in the 58th sector of Coruscant.
A dozen of Advanced War-type Missiles were sent toward the Hotel, in our opinion to kill the Nabooian Senator Amidala, but they were stopped by Jedi Kenobi and Skywalker which were guarding the Senator at the time. Everyone thought that the danger was behind them, but the now discovered, previously hidden bombs on each floor of the building exploded, destroying a part of the Hotel and making the higher part of it fall to the side.
All the residents were doomed to a certain death, but an unknown young man arrived on the scene and stopped the fall of the building with the use of the Force. He then evacuated everyone by levitating them through the doors or windows. And once everyone was in safety, he collapsed the destroyed Hotel.
Nothing is known about that mysterious young man; the Jedi Council refused to reveal his identity, but one thing is certain: if it wasn't for him, out of the 2560 residents of the Hotel, there would have been much more deaths than 153.
So, whoever you are, if you are listening, know that the people of Coruscant and many other in the Republic thank you for you incredible actions.
That was Genna Rijo, Republic Flash News.
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"It's not possible..." a female voice said, Master Shaak Ti.
"But it is, my dear friend." continued an older male, Master Yoda.
"53000 midi-chlorians per cell, it's just not possible! He is dwarfing all of us, even the Padawan Skywalker, the Boy of the Prophecy!" Kit Fisto exclaimed.
"Losing your emotions you are, Master Fisto. With a clear mind we should analyze the situation."
"The situation is, that we were wrong about Anakin being the Chosen One. This...young man, and I don't even think that 'man' is a correct notion, is practically made of Midi-chlorians!" the Master Plo Koon continued.
"Indeed he is. But fluctuations in him I can sense. With his connection to the Force, something is happening. But what, a good question it is." Yoda said.
"He must be the boy of the Prophecy." the red skinned Togrutan Jedi said.
"Don't be so quick to dismiss Padawan Skywalker, Master Shaak Ti. Until now, all of us thought him being the Chosen One. And his incredible Midi-Chlorian count and his prowess in the Force can only vouch for it." Master Piell said. "For all we know, Harry Black could be the trigger to the Great Conflict. He can be the one that will unite the Sith again, and create the unbalance in the Force."
"I had to admit that if he turns toward the Dark side and the Sith rise again, with his potential, nothing would be able to stop them." Yarael Poof said.
"Apart Anakin Skywalker..." Kit Fisto whispered.
"Finally you see my point." Piell continued. "The boy cannot be trusted. He is way too strange for my liking. We should try to control him."
"Manipulate the boy we cannot. And even trying you should not!" the green sage advised.
"No, of course not. But having an eye on him wouldn't be too much." the long necked Jedi continued.
"Like it he will not. That spying on him we are, he will find." Yoda said.
"So we have to send someone he wouldn't mind following him." Mace Windu agreed.
"With Knight Secura he has a connection. Mind her presence he will not." the Grand Master proposed.
"Aayla Secura? Hmm...She is a good Jedi Master, but she is not really keen on the rules. I don't really believe that she will follow our orders, if she had a connection with him, as you say." Master Piell said.
"Agree she will, if our point clear we make." Yoda said.
Mace Windu nodded, and they stayed quiet for a while.
Finally, he spoke again.
"Another matter is still at hand. We can't ignore the two assassination attempts on Senator Amidala's life. The Vote is over; she is no longer needed in here. Coruscant is a dangerous place for her. I think that she will be safer on Naboo, with protection of course."
"Follow her to Naboo will Harry Black. That his intentions are to protect her, clear he made. And agree with him she will. Saved her life twice he had." Yoda said.
"And I'm in no way against that idea. He will protect her perfectly, but what about Knight Kenobi and young Skywalker? I don't think that he would let her leave alone, after what happened." the dark skinned Jedi remarked.
"Send we will Padawan Skywalker with Harry Black, for Amidala's protection, along with Aayla Secura. As for Knight Kenobi, he should investigate those assassination attempts, to find the culprit."
"What about the other? Sirius Black?" Shaak Ti asked.
"Decide by themselves on that they can. No authority over them we have." Yoda answered.
"Well then, I will go arrange all that." Grand Master Mace Windu said, and after a nod toward his old friends, he left the chamber of the Jedi Council.
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He opened his eyes, and the strong white light blinded him for some seconds. After adjusting to it he remarked the white ceiling and walls. Where was he?
He sat up on his bed and looked around. He was in a sort of hospital room, but the color white had left a bitter taste in his mouth. The secret laboratory he awoke in for the first time in this Galaxy, four years ago, wasn't a very good memory... Why was he here anyway? Ah… Yes... The Hotel... He had used much more Force than his body could handle. He remembered the feeling of his muscles ripping...his body being surcharged by energy... But strangely, right now he wasn't feeling any after effects. Maybe he was here for a long time now?
Suddenly he sensed a presence approaching the room, and not really thinking, he rapidly stood up and lifted his right hand toward the door.
And once the said door was slid open, Harry sent a powerful Force attraction toward the newcomer, and caught him by the neck. It was a man, and he was chocking because of the iron grip of the young Black.
"Where am I!?" the Force user asked strongly, but no reply came back. Maybe was it for his crushing grip, or the man simply refused to speak? Nevertheless, Harry's anger only increased, and he began to squeeze even more, not seeing that he was killing the man.
"Where am I!?" he cried out again, and nearly every devices in the room exploded. But fortunately for the man, and for Harry, the Hallo-graphic Communicator was intact and switched on, a figure appearing on the table.
"Harry!" the figure cried out.
The young man turned toward the source, and under the surprise, released the poor man.
"Adla! What...how did you...Where am I!?"
"Calm down Harry! You are in the Hospital wing of the Jedi Temple. You do remember why I presume?"
"Yes...hey! How did 'you' know?"
"Everyone in the Republic knows it now. You were on the Flash News." the old woman answered. "Quite remarkable what you did. But your heroic actions completely changed everything, and it's not for the better..."
"Changed everything? What do you mean?" the young man asked incredulously.
"First off all, now everyone knows of your power, and they would try to control you, or destroy you. You will be a target for the both sides. But that isn't anything new, is it? No...What happened is that you accelerated the process." Adla said.
"What process?"
"Jenro will show you." she said pointing toward the man he had nearly strangled to death.
Harry's eyes widened, as if only now remarking the man, and remembering his actions.
"Adla, why I have been controlled by my emotions...?" he whispered.
"All will be explained later, now listen to Jenro, he is my contact in the Jedi Temple."
Harry nodded and turning toward the said man spoke up.
"I'm really sorry about what happened. I don't know what got into me."
"Don't worry; Adla had explained to me what is happening with you. But first of all, you need to know that the Jedi are now familiar with your Midi-Chlorian count." the man explained and clicking on the screen of one of the still intact computers, showed him the results of the test.
"53000? But I had 50000! What happened?" the young Force user exclaimed.
"That is part of what happened." Adla said. "Sit down Harry, the explanation will take time."
And after he did as was asked, she finally began.
"When you stopped the falling Hotel, four days ago, and then evacuated everyone from it, you used too much Force. And I think you already know that. Anyway, the power flow was so great, that your body had to adapt to it, by creating more midi-chlorians to canalize the energy." she said. "And you know what happens when a being has many midi-chlorians."
"A connection is created with the Force. But when the connection, is already in place, it widens."
"Exactly, and you had already a great connection, so it expanded yours."
Harry's eyes widened. "So that means the Black Hole..."
"Yes. Your action created an endless chain. The rip in the Force you are creating is getting larger." Adla said. "Harry, if you use the Force for something greater than to lift a person, your connection will widen, and your body will produce more Midi-chlorians. That...will lead to a greater connection..."
"And a greater connection with the Force will make my body produce even more midi-chlorians..." Harry finished with shock.
"And once you reach about 69000 per cell, which I discovered after analysis, is the maximal amount that your cells can sustain,...the Black Hole will completely rip open the connection between our realm and the energy that binds us all, the Force..." the old lady explained. "You will be no longer able to restrain the flow of the Force, you will overcharge...and die...and everything around you will be destroyed."
"It can't be...isn't there a way?"
"No, you just have to stop using the Force."
"But what is a Force user, without Force? A swordsman!"
"Speaking of the sword, Harry... You can't use your lightsaber either."
"What!?"
"The Kaiburr crystal will widen your connection with the force hundreds times over...it will have the same end." Adla whispered.
"No! NO! I refuse! Do you hear me? I refuse! I will not sit down in the shadows and watch how people die, when I can stop all that! I will use my lightsaber, and I WILL use the Force! If I have to die, I prefer dying for something worthy!" Harry cried out.
Adla watched him for a few seconds and sighed.
"I knew you will say that. Take the device Jenro is offering you. It's a portable Blood Tester. A restricted device that will show your Midi-Chlorian count instantaneously. You just have to stick it in your artery." she explained, as Harry took the device in hand. It was a little rectangular metallic box, with a long needle.
"Harry, I will say it again, be careful. Use the Force only in extreme situation. If you over use it, you will die. And I don't think that by dying you can save the world." his old Master said.
"Alright Adla, I will be careful." Harry said. "But speaking of danger, do you know anything about what happened? Destroying the whole hotel to kill one Senator...I don't even know what to think."
"My contact in the Coruscant's Security informed me that they found little pieces of the missiles under the crumble. They weren't able to find its origins. At first sight, they were like typical War-Type Missiles, but upon further analysis, they concluded that they had never encountered anything of sorts." the old woman answered. "You can 'borrow' those parts, and investigate by yourself. Some underground Weapon-dealers should know something about it."
"That's what I will do. Thank you again Adla."
"My pleasure."
Harry nodded and turned toward the man. "Where are my clothes and weapons?"
"Just there, sir." Jenro answered, pointing toward a closet.
"I will contact you if I find anything new Harry." Adla said. "Be careful."
And with that the communication was ended.
The young Black rapidly changed himself and turned toward the secret agent. He had to admit that Adla was quite resourceful.
"So, Jenro. What happened during those four days?"
"The Jedi Council was in an uproar. The attack was a big blow toward their pride, them being peacekeepers. But most of all, the Senate and well, people of the Republic, were very worried. Most of them say that it's the Separatist's doing, and that we should counter-attack without wasting time. On another note, you are considered a Hero by everyone, even if no one knows your identity. On another note, your friends were most worried about you. Mister Sirius Black even got in a fight with a Jedi, for being forbidden to enter in your room." the man answered. "Right now, the Senator Amidala is in her quarters not far from here, guarder by a two dozen Jedi."
"Alright, thank you for your help, and sorry again for my behavior." Harry said. "I will go now. No time to waste with my...new condition."
And with that, he left the room, taking the direction of the Jedi Council Chamber. He had to talk to those old coots.
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The Nabooian Senator was deep in thoughts when a voice shook her out of her reverie.
"Senator, the Jedi Council requests your presence."
"Oh...Knight Kenobi, you've startled me. Alright, I'm coming." she said and followed the Jedi through the halls of the Temple. "What is it now?"
"The usual, your protection." the Jedi answered.
The young woman huffed and started to take heavy steps. "My protection...humph! I admit that I was in danger those last days but, isn't protecting the people more important? Take that Hotel attack for example. No one even suspected that such a dramatic event could happen, and it's only by chance, that Harry Black was there to save us all. But what if he wasn't there? All those people could have died, and no one would have been the wiser. They should spread their forces to protect the Republic, and not sit on their seats while people are dying!" she finished with blazing eyes.
Obi-Wan was quite frankly of the same opinion, but expressing it outright wasn't very Jedi-like. So he simply nodded and said: "We would do everything in our power, Senator."
They were near the large doors of the Council Chamber, when Amidala spoke again, this time with a much softer voice.
"How is Harry? Have you any news of his condition?"
"Nothing new, I'm sorry." Kenobi answered. "I will be waiting here."
She nodded and entered the big circular room. And like usual, Jedi were seated in a circle around the chamber. But this time, someone was standing in the center. The said person turned around and smiled to her. Amidala's heart skipped a beat.
"Hello there, Senator. Having a nice day so far?"
There stood Harry Black, with his usual arrogant smirk, his dark hair a little longer than usual giving him a roguish look, the day's light creating a halo around his lean built, his emerald eyes shining with power. There stood the mysterious Force user, the Hero of Coruscant...and for the first time in so many years, she felt that tingling sensation in her heart...
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The Chancellor Palpatine was lost. For the first time in his long life he didn't know what to do. All his plans, meticulously calculated, could blow at any moment, and he would be unable to do anything about it.
Yes, he knew about the heroic action of Harry Black, the new Hero of Coruscant. He had after all saved nearly everyone in the attacked Hotel Gerino. He still had difficulties to believe that he stopped the building from falling. The tremendous power he must have... He had never heard of something on this scale. Even, himself, the Dark Lord, Darth Sidious with all his knowledge and experience, he wouldn't be able to repeat the same feat. The boy was a force of the nature. A wild card. An uncontrollable bishop. The only solution was to kill him, because trying to control him wasn't an option. No, Harry Black had to die...
He would send every Bounty-Hunter after him, even if many of them would decline the offer after seeing the boy's power. He would send the Separatist's Droid Army. He would send ex-Jedi that worked for him. Then he had other...more, delicate ways. And if all that, wouldn't be enough, he will have to kill the boy by himself, even taking the risk of being discovered.
One thing was certain, he had to get the Black out of the picture, one way…or another
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"Please enter Senator. We were just speaking about you." Master Shaak Ti said.
Amidala advanced toward the center and nodded. "Good day to you, dear Council." she said and turning toward her body-guard, continued. "Mister Black, I'm glad to see that you feel better. And once again, you have my gratitude..."
"And the gratitude of the people of Coruscant, as we were saying, Mister Black." Master Plo Koon continued. "But we have already discussed that matter. Right now, the safety of the Senator Amidala is our major concern."
"Indeed. And we think that you should return to Naboo, with protection of course." Grand Master Windu said.
"In less danger you will be, away from Coruscant." the little Jedi Master said. "Safer your home-planet would be."
Padmé wanted to protest, but knew that they were right. She was in danger in here. Plus, she was endangering innocent people by her presence. Yes, she could only accept their decision.
"Alright, I will do as you wish. I will return to Naboo." she said. "But who will be escorting me this time?"
"Mister Black proposed again his services, and we agreed to let him continue his work as your body-guard. After all, he proved to everyone present here, that he was worthy of our trust. That is if you accept his offer once again." Mace Windu said.
"Yes, of course I accept." Amidala said without hesitation. "Will there be someone else apart from my Nabooian guards?"
"Yes, we think that, even if Mister Black is very good at what he does, a pair of Jedi will accompany you. Padawan Skywalker and Jedi Master Secura." said Master Fit Kitso.
"Secura? Why not Knight Kenobi?" the Senator asked.
"Busy he will be; investigate the assassination attempts he will." Grand Master Yoda explained.
"Do you agree with our decisions?"-Mace Windu asked.
"Yes." was the short reply.
"Very well, your flight will be tomorrow. The meeting is adjourned." the dark skinned Grand Master said.
The Senator nodded and turning around left the circular chamber, closely followed by Harry.
Once they were outside, they saw two persons waiting for them.
There were Knight Obi-Wan, and a woman she didn't know, a Twi'lek. Amidala wanted to introduce herself, but the blue skinned woman was quicker.
"Senator Amidala, I'm glad to finally meet you. I'm Jedi Master Aayla Secura." she said.
"The pleasure is mine." the Nabooian answered.
Then the Twi'lek turned toward the young Black, and slowly approached him. "Hello Harry, missed me?"
A playful grin formed on the young man's face as he responded. "What can I say, you are hard to forget."
Aayla smiled and got even closer to him. "You know, you still owe me one stolen kiss." she said.
"It's not like you were complaining." Harry said absentmindedly.
The Jedi Master's smile transformed into a smirk, and putting both her hands on Harry's chest, approached her face to his. "So, you wanna' play that way. Alright then. But you should be wary, Twi'lek can be...'very' tricky."
The young Black's smirk got even larger, and he closed the distance between them like before, but stopped just a half-inch away. His voice was a whisper...
"I think that I will take the risk..."
Obi-Wan's eyes were big as saucers...he couldn't believe that it had just happened. OK, he had talked to Aayla, and by her response, he could have awaited something of sorts, but…seeing it, and even worse, in front of the Nabooian Senator, he was just stupefied. And he wasn't the only one...
Amidala approached the Jedi Knight.
"Aren't Jedi forbidden to be emotionally connected to someone?" she asked silently. Pushing the little part of herself that was berating her for asking such a hypocrite question, away.
"Yes." Obi-Wan answered. And then turning toward Harry and the Twi'lek, continued. "But Aayla isn't a simple Jedi. She doesn't follow the Jedi Code anymore."
The young Politician frowned. This new Jedi was strange, not following the Code and all that, but something else was irking her...Secura's closeness to Harry. Why she had a problem with that, was a good question. After all, she wasn't falling for the Black, was she? Was she? No, that was impossible... She shook her head, and her impassive face returned.
Harry stayed that way for a few seconds and stepped back.
"Well, let's get going. We have to find little Anakin and my dear old godfather." he said.
Hearing that, Knight Kenobi walked toward him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Sirius isn't here."
"What do you mean, he isn't here?" the young Black asked with a frown.
"He left this morning. I don't really know where and why, but he seemed really bothered by something. He left you this." Obi-Wan said, showing Harry a little circular device. "It's a visual-recorder."
The young Force user nodded and took the recorder in hand. And seeing Harry's questioning look, the Knight spoke up.
"I haven't listened to its content. Nor had anyone else."
The young Black nodded. "Go and prepare for the flight, without me. I will catch you later." And without waiting for an answer, he turned around and walked away. A few seconds, and he was already behind the corner at the end of the hall. The sound of his steps was the only thing left behind.
"He doesn't trust us enough." Aayla remarked.
"I wouldn't, if I were him." Obi-Wan said. "Let's go. We have to prepare your flight, Senator."
Amidala stared in the direction he had left for a few more seconds, and nodded.
"Lead the way, Knight Kenobi."
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Harry closed the door to the empty room he had found, with a wave of his hand. And after walking to its center, he disposed the recorder on a table. With another wave, he switched the device, and a little silhouette of Sirius appeared before him.
"Hey Harry! Sorry that I was not by your side when you woke up, but something happened that forced me to leave. I can't say much, because I'm not one hundred percent sure yet of what I've found. But Harry, I've found something...something big. I...I will follow the lead I discovered, to investigate. And I'm taking the Delta-7. Oh, and don't worry for your old dog. I can defend myself. They wouldn't know what hit them. Ha! Anyway, do your mission, protect the Senator. She is very important in all this mess. It's not for nothing the Force sent you to her aid.
I will contact you trough Adla. I've talked to her before leaving. And don't bother asking her, she knows nothing. Oh, and Harry...be careful. Stop the recording."
The device died out and the room was silent once again.
The young Black frowned. What have you discovered of so important for you to leave without even waiting for me to wake up, Sirius? Hmm...Another problem to add to his already very long list of problems. Speaking of…
Harry opened his jacket's inside pocket and took a little rectangular device, the Blood Tester. Sticking the needle in his arm, he waited for the result...
53013...Damn it! Even without straining his body, the count was increasing. That was making his main task of stopping the incoming war a bit more difficult...to not say impossible... But 'impossible' didn't exist in Harry Black's vocabulary anymore. Yes...After all, his very existence was a proof of it...
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"I welcome all of you in my humble domain." an old and crippled voice said. "You must already know the reason of your presence here."
"Indeed old man." another said. "But why are there so many of us, is the question all of us want the answer for."
"Hmhmhm.,.I may be an old man, but you should show me respect nonetheless, little boy. Know that you are speaking to Lord Darth Sidious! A little whim of my finger..." the old man said, pointing his index finger toward the man. "And you will be begging for a swift death." he finished, and to show his point, the said man began trashing violently, as if strangled by an invisible force.
The Dark Lord continued to hold the man for some more seconds and then released his grasp.
"I called all of you for a reason…I need your skills for a mission. To kill a certain someone."
"Who is so important that you need three dozen of us?" a woman asked.
"You all may be the bests of the bests Bounty Hunters, but the target isn't like any you've hunted. I want for you to kill Harry Black." the Dark Lord said.
And instantaneously uproar began in the large room. Every one of them began talking about the new Hero of Coruscant. People may know little, but the Bounty Hunters had connections all over the Galaxy, and the identity of the mysterious Force user was known among them. And you could see hesitancy on their faces. But suddenly one of them spoke up.
"I will take the job. Don't lose your time on all those cowards."
"Irriz S'botess."-Sidious said. "Quite forward. I like it. But can you stand up for your words?"
"It's not a new little Jedi that will scare me. I killed many of those Force wavers, and I don't count on stopping now. The question that interests me though, is how much will you pay me?" she asked.
"Don't go over your head Irriz!" another Bounty Hunter exclaimed. "It is for a reason there are so many of us here. That 'Harry Black' is certainly someone to be not messed with. Am I wrong?" he finished turning toward the Lord.
"They haven't lied about your quick thinking, Cad Bane." the Sith answered. "Indeed. Harry Black is a very powerful Force user. His prowess and intuition are remarkable. And it is of my opinion, that you should ally yourselves. Create groups, or neither of you would be able to accomplish the mission."
"Groups! We are Bounty Hunters, not some vulgar Guards!" exclaimed another one. "We work alone, and in rare cases, by pairs. But never groups!"
"I second that." Irriz continued. "And you still haven't answered my question. How much will you pay?"
"10 million credits." Palpatine simply answered.
"Whoah! So why should we ally with someone if getting that much for ourselves is better?"-the woman Bounty Hunter asked.
"Because you wouldn't stand a chance against him by yourself..." the Lord continued. "But to say the truth, I don't really care what happens to you. All I want is that boy's death. The one that kills him and brings me his corpse will receive the reward."
"Well then, prepare the money! 'Cause your little Wonder-Boy will be at your feet in days' time." Irriz S'botess exclaimed, before storming out of the room.
And following her example, little by little, the Bounty Hunters left the chamber, with only some of them staying.
"I've heard that the Hotel Gerino disaster was caused by Jango Fett and his little transforming buddy. Is it the truth?" Bane asked.
"It may be, as it may not." Darth Sidious answered.
"It was him then." Cad stated. "I presume you aren't very fond of his style, are you?"
"Don't you know a little too much, Hunter?" the Lord asked, narrowing his shadowy hidden eyes.
"Just trying to get a little more information about the man that is paying so much, for a lone 'no one'." the Duros bounty hunter said, with a matter of hand voice. "I will leave you then, Lord Sidious. I will kill this Harry Potter, even if it would be the last thing I do." he said. And turning toward the other Bounty Hunters, spoke again. "Let's go, we have a prey to catch..."
And with that they all left the room, leaving the Sith Lord alone.
"Hmhmhm...How will you cope with this...Harry Black?"
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The Nabooian delegation was standing on the landing platform. They were waiting for their Senator, and her Body Guards' arrival. All was prepared for the long flight to Naboo. Captain Panaka wasn't very happy that they would be using only one Spaceship. Him, being a Guard, a Soldier, and most of all a warrior, he wanted a way to defend the ship in case they were attacked. But the Jedi Council had decided that only one will be used, a Coruscant's one. That way, it would attract less attention. They had a good point, but he was still against it. Was it experience, or instincts, he had a bad felling about that flight. Well, he will try to speak to Amidala once again, before their departure. Maybe she will change her mind?
"Captain, Miss Senator is approaching with her Guards. Do we prepare the Ship for the flight, or will you try to dissuade her?" one of the Nabooian guards asked.
"Prepare the flight, Denn. Even if I don't want to admit it, our Senator is too headstrong. I will try once again, but I'm sure she will decline."
"Yes, sir!"
"What will I decline, Captain?" a voice said behind him.
"Oh, Senator Amidala. Well, like I said before, I think we should have a little battle-ship accompaniment. In a case of attack, we will have a better chance to defend ourselves." the Chief said.
"I thank you for your worries, Captain. You've did a great job in protecting me all those years, but I think we should trust the Council on this one." Amidala answered with a smile.
"As you wish, milady." Panaka conceded. "Well then, let's board the Ship."
The Senator nodded and entered the Aircraft, closely followed by Harry, Anakin and Aayla.
The Captain looked around for the last time, and boarded the ship himself.
It hovered for a few seconds, and flew away from the platform, away from Coruscant, but toward even more danger...
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The Coruscant Spaceship was flying through the space for a few hours now. Harry was sitting alone in a room of the ship. Everyone else was in the main compartment. Why was he alone? He was meditating. His connection with the Force was greatly bothering him. The Black Hole was rendering him unstable. And he was sure it was only the beginning...
He opened his closed eyes, and raised his right hand toward a bottle on the shelf, and willed it to fly toward him. The said bottle rose from its standing position and began slowly flying toward the outstretched hand, but suddenly the Force's grasp on the glass item wavered, and it began falling to the ground. Harry frowned and rapidly concentrated more Force to catch the bottle before it broke. But another factor entered the equation...the amount of Force he used to catch it, actually caused it to break in thousands of pieces.
'Damn it!' His connection's fluctuations were becoming more and more frequent. He was losing control, too quickly.
"What do you want from me?" he cried out. "How can I fulfill your wishes if you don't even talk to me anymore? Is my death a part of your plans? Huh! Is it? Answer me!" Harry exclaimed and a wave of electrostatic energy escaped from him, causing every electronic device in the room to explode.
He was panting, his little outburst just showed how he was being overwhelmed by the power he possessed.
Suddenly, he heard a voice. 'The' voice...Finally, she had decided to speak. But it wasn't the answer Harry was waiting for...
"Death approaches..."
"What!?"
"Harry...death approa-..." but the sentence was cut short, as all of a sudden, a great explosion shook the Ship, and a millisecond later, a big part of the room he was in, was blown to smithereens... Harry was blown very violently toward a wall, making a dent in it...the air began rapidly escaping toward the vacuum, making breathing harder and harder with every second...every furniture in the room was sucked in the giant gap created by the explosion.
Harry was beginning to choke, the oxygen had nearly disappeared in the space, and his death grip on the wall was loosening...soon he will be sucked in the cold vacuum too.
Death approaches...Was the Force speaking about that? Had his death come so close? Would his life really end this way? No! He wouldn't give up without a fight!
His body was beginning to get very cold, he felt lightheaded, and his grip was nearly nonexistent. But with a mighty push of his Will, he summoned his lightsaber in his free hand, and switched it on. Instantaneously, he felt an incredible boost of energy. His lightheadedness disappeared, as if never been there, his body regained its former strength, his Force awareness was better than ever, and even his need in oxygen was gone. The Kaiburr crystal was really a remarkable artifact.
Turning toward the still intact wall, he cut a little passageway in it and entered the hall. The cut he made began sucking in the air, so with a rapid command, he closed the gap by compressing the metallic wall. Once he was done, he dashed through the hall of the violently shaking Spaceship...Time was not on his side, he had to hurry...
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Irriz S'botess, watched with glee, how the Coruscant's Travel Spaceship flew in an uncontrolled manner. The first Laser beam of her G5X-Laser Cannons wasn't very accurate. She wanted to blow the ship with one shot, but...well; she had to admit the scene was forth it. She just had to blow that damned ship with her next shot. That Wonder-Boy, Harry Black would be blown to smithereens. Never mind that 'Bring me his corpse' crap.
"Jo! Prepare the second shot!" she cried out to her left.
"Ready!" her second in command exclaimed.
Irriz slowly walked toward the Main Pilot seat of her Battle Ship, the 'Executioner'. A greatly upgraded Starfighter, that could outflow any Republican Ship, that could not be matched by anything in the terms of weapons, her Laser Cannons being ones of the most powerful in the Galaxy. No, Irriz S'botess wasn't some lame Bounty Hunter. She was one of the best. And now, that Black will taste of her ruthlessness...
She took in hand the Cannon's control, and pushed the red button. A massive energy was accumulated on the tips of the Laser, and with a deafening sound, the second deadly beam flew toward the Coruscant's Spaceship with perfect accuracy.
"Adieu, Wonder-Boy..." she said with a predatory smile, as the beam closed on the ship...
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The young Black stormed the main room and was met with a pandemonium of movements. Guards were running everywhere, with Captain Panaka giving orders, Anakin was seated at the main pilot seat, Padmé was standing near the window, away from everyone and was looking around with a worried look, and Aayla seemed to meditate.
"There you are." she exclaimed with closed eyes, after he entered the room. "I had lost you for a while after the first explosion."
"The room I was in is completely destroyed. I had some difficulties to fight the vacuum." Harry said. "How is the ship doing?"
"We still have the major control over it. But the ship wouldn't take on another of those laser beams." Panaka answered.
"Have you identified the attacking ship?"
"No, but we-..." began the Captain, but was interrupted by Aayla and Harry's shouts.
"Another one is heading toward us!"
"We can't dodge it time!" the Black continued. "Anakin, hit the Hyperdrive!"
"What!?"
"Do as I say!"
Anakin nodded and triggered the Hyperdrive. Harry looked toward the big window, and saw the rapidly approaching Laser beam.
Suddenly, everything starter moving in slow motion, as if time was slowing down. He already had had this feeling in the past, when he had fought Aayla. The Force was helping him again. He looked around and like the first time, he was the only one that was aware of what was happening.
The Hyperdrive had built up the necessary energy to go at the speed of light, but Harry knew that the Laser beam would touch the ship before it had time to enter the Hyperspace.
If he had calculated it right, the Laser's power and direction would cut the ship in half, and they all would die in the cold vacuum of the space. But they still had a little hope. If he got everyone in the little Escape Pod, made for the purpose of evasion in the case the ship was attacked, in time.
The ex-wizard pushed as much Force as he could in his muscles, and blurred toward the closest persons he found. Once he had a good grip on the three guards, he ran as fast as he could toward the Pod at the other end of the ship, disintegrating every door on his path. Once they were safe, he blurred again toward the main room, and grabbed Captain Panaka, Cordé and another Guard. He repeated the same procedure, and returned to the main room, after taking them to the Capsule. He gave a glance toward the window and saw that the Beam was nearly there and that the space around the ship was becoming blurry...they were entering the Hyperspace!
Harry pushed even more Force, if it was possible, and he too blurred again, taking the last guard, Aayla and Anakin toward the Capsule. When he returned to make sure that he had everyone, his heart skipped a beat...the Laser Beam had touched the ship and was slowly penetrating its metallic structure ; it had already cut a good 7 feet, and was only growing, but one last person was just in its way...Padmé! How could he have forgotten her? She had stood away from the others, but it wasn't a reason to miss her!
Harry rapidly took a good hold around her waist and began running toward the Pod at a break-neck speed. But halfway, he felt something...or more likely, he couldn't feel anything! No! His control was wavering!
He lost his balance and fell to the ground, bringing Padmé with him. The fall felt like receiving a sledgehammer hit to his chest. His breath was cut, he had probably broken some ribs, but more importantly...the time was returning to its normal speed...Oh no! God!
Harry rapidly stood up numbing his pain, and started running with the Senator on his back. He could sense the Laser beam closing on him, creating explosions, and Amidala becoming aware of her surroundings.
The time's speed was becoming normal...he would never be able to escape in time.
"Harry! What's happening?!" Padmé cried out.
"Hold me firmly!" he answered, continuing to run. The ship was shaking more and more violently.
Shit! He had no other choices...
The young Black concentrated on the Escape Pod with his Far-sight and switched the engine. He could sense the surprise from those that were in the said pod. He ordered it to fly away. And not a second later he sensed its rapid escape from the nearly destroyed ship.
All of a sudden, the time's flow returned to normal, and Harry with all his might jumped as far away from the Laser beam. And just as he hit the floor, the ship was cut in half by the second shot of the 'Executioner'. Like Harry imagined it, the vacuum began to suck everything away. His hold on Padmé tightened, the air was escaping, and they would be next in a short time. But something more dangerous happened...they entered the Hyperspace...
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Irriz S'botess watched as her second Laser shot cut the Coruscant's ship in half, with a maniac smile. And not a second later the ship entered the hyperspace. How was it possible? Maybe the ship had a double engine, with each having its own separated Hyperdrive? But it didn't matter, really. They were surely dead by now. After all, who would survive in the Hyperspace on a Space-open ship, without air, and at such a speed? The old coot should better prepare her 10 million.
Suddenly, she caught a sign of something, a little Escape Pod. Damn Wonder-Boy! How could they have escaped that shot so quickly?
"Jo! Shot that bug there, don't let him escape!"
The said man rapidly sat next to her and took in hand the Blasters Control. And aiming to the little Capsule, he began firing continuously. Much to his surprise, the ship began dodging very skillfully. Jo greeted his teeth and began firing more furiously. But it was still to no avail, because not a second later, the Pod too disappeared in a burst of the speed of Light.
"Damn it Jo! You let them get away!" Irriz cried out.
"Sorry, Iz…"
"Don't lose time. They will probably return to Coruscant. It's the closest Republican planet from here. We have to catch the ship."
Her second in command nodded and began giving orders, and like the other spaceships, the 'Executioner' disappeared in the Hyperspace.
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When they found themselves in the little Pod, and not in the main room, under the beam of the second Laser shot, they were surprised. The two Jedi were quick to analyze the situation, and found out that Harry and the Senator weren't among them.
"Where is Padmé?" Anakin exclaimed with worry.
"I…I think I sense her on the ship. She is with Harry. But why aren't they here?"
But before someone could answer her question, the little ship's engines switched on, and without anyone of them knowing what was happening, the Pod began flying away from the Coruscant ship.
"Stop the ship! They have to board it!" Anakin exclaimed.
"We aren't the ones controlling the Ship, Sir Jedi!" Captain Panaka answered.
"I can feel through the Force...it's Harry." the Twi'lek said.
"What!? Why is he..." the Padawan began, but was interrupted by something...
Their Coruscant Startraveller was literally cut in half and in a big explosion, the both halves disappeared in the Hyperspace…
"NO! Padmé!" the Padawan cried out in anguish. He couldn't believe what just had happened. It couldn't be... It just couldn't be...Padmé couldn't be dead! No! "NO!" He fell to his knees, his mind going numb. Dead...she was dead... He had failed in his duty as a Jedi to protect her, but most of all he had lost the woman he loved. Why? Why it all ended like this? Why all of them were here, in the safety of the Pod, whereas she, the Senator was left behind? How it was even possible that they were on this ship? On moment they were under the second shot of the Laser, and the other, they were flying away from the destroyed ship. He had a suspicion but he had to make sure…
"How we all arrived in the Capsule without even knowing?" he asked in a monotonous voice.
"I think that was Harry's doing. We all saw his incredible powers; he must have transported us here, to safety, very quickly." Aayla proposed.
"Then why were they still on the ship? And why hadn't he made sure that Padmé was in safety before everyone else? She is the Senator. She is the one, all of us were sent to protect. So why haven't he saved her?" the Padawan cried out, releasing a little wave of Force.
"Calm down, Anakin! We weren't able to protect her, and it's a terrible loss, I admit. But keep your emotions in check! Harry died as well by saving all of us!" the Master Jedi said, barely hiding her anguished expression.
"Keep my emotion in check? You are the one talking! Staying around Harry all the time, always showing your emotions, and never respecting the Jedi Code! So don't dare saying that to me!" Anakin exploded. His rant had rendered the Twi'lek speechless, and she was staring at him with wide eyes. "He 'should' have saved her the first! She was more important than anyone of you!"
"Sir..." one of the Guards began.
"What!?" Skywalker angrily asked.
"Something is heading toward us!" the man continued. And indeed, the big Starfighter that attacked them began firing toward their Escape Pod.
"Get of the way!" Anakin exclaimed to those in his way, and sat on the pilot's seat. Taking in hand the controller, he evaded every shot with skill, showing his remarkable flying prowess.
"We should leave this area, and return to Coruscant quickly." the Jedi Master said.
Without saying anything, but still silently agreeing with her, he pushed a handle, and they disappeared in the Hyperspace.
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He was pushing with all his might. The amount of Force he was using to maintain their two bodies on the ship's floor was becoming too great. The pressure on them was immense, and it was more and more difficult for Harry to resist the vacuum that wanted nothing more than to suck them away from the ship. The oxygen had nearly disappeared, and he sensed that Padmé began to choke. But suddenly something added to their already impossible environment...their bodies couldn't handle the pressure anymore...
He sensed, more than saw, as little pieces of skin were tearing from his body...on his hands, on his legs, his face...the pain was unlike any other he had ever felt before...and hearing the screams escaping from the Senator, he knew that he wasn't the only one...
The young Black sensed that after some seconds of this torture, she passed out form the pain. As for him, he resisted the pain and tried to numb it as much as possible.
The Hyperdrive wouldn't stop, because the engine was nearly destroyed. But if they stayed in the Hyperspace for a little longer, they would die...
Harry concentrated on his surroundings with his Far-sight, even if the pain was rendering it even more difficult. When he finally found the Hyperdrive, he destroyed every electronic device around it, and crushed the Hyperdrive. The reaction was instantaneous...
With a jump like movement, they left the Hyperspace, and appeared just before a planet... And just as quickly, the young Black felt as the ship began falling… They were in the Planet's gravity grasp!
Harry forced himself to stand up despite his pain, and looked around. Their speed was beginning to get to alarming levels. The strange forest-like ground was nearing very quickly...the crash was inevitable...
The young man took his lightsaber in hand and touched his Kaiburr crystal. Energy flowed again through his bruised body as he closed his eyes... And with his last push of willpower, he tried to slow down their descent... The ship began reducing its speed, but it was in no way a speed for a safe landing. Harry gritted his teeth and with a cry of pain, despair and anger, forced all the energy left in him toward the front of the Starship... All was still for an instant, but the next...the ship crashed to the ground with tremendous force, completely destroying the green forest around it... Then there was complete silence...
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Review please !
Daistaf