Note for the Reader: By the way, sorry for forgetting to mention this, but there is no Jedi or Sith, just the single "force-user." Sorry for being late about this, please forgive me. Oh, while I'm on it, there is no real Imp vs. Reb in this story, or any space battles. And did I forget to mention the main story probably won't take place on a Star Wars planet? I also hope it isn't too late to mention that their armor and weapons will be taken away, so no blaster fights, with the exception of one guy, but he's a bad shot, oh wait, ignore that last part. That is a spoiler. In the words of Dr. Patricia Tannis, go bash your head against something hard until it pops out of your head please. Thank you.
Chapter 9
The Denizens of the Cave
Lembert was being physically hurt by continuing. Aden was struggling as hard as he could. Mern was the only one who seemed to be not too affected, but he started to become more moody. "I have no idea why," said Mern, " but, I feel comfortable in here...like I'm at home..." Aden looked at him in disbelief, "how in the hell can you seriously think that?" Mern slowly shook his head. He was reminded of his worse moments in life. He would go bar hopping, trying new and exotic ways to get drunk. His reasons for starting was fuzzy, but then eventually he just thought of it as natural as eating and breathing. He never really lost anything. His family had died or had never talked to him, his friends were the drunkards, and he never sought a family. He didn't mind it at all. One day, he decided he needed a job and enlisted in the military, not because he grew ashamed of himself, but because he decided that a steady liquor supply came from a steady income. But now, in this cave, he starts to look back and becomes steadily more disgusted and ashamed. Not at his behavior, but at the fact that the smell reminds him of those days.
Aden didn't like the smell, but not at the fact that it was a putrid smell. When he threw up, it was the general shock of it at first, but then after a while he started to recognize it. He had recognized the smell as dead flesh, a smell that he was familiar with. He had been stranded on other planets before, but on his own. The planets were usually battle ravaged or primitive, which usually made his means of survival and escape much more drastic due to the either aligned population or the primitive state of the tribes. He had to do a number of things, none of which he wished to repeat or to tell others about. He wondered if there was any way to prevent or avoid any of the things he had done. He believed that if there was an authoritative figure with him, then other options could have been discovered or made. This was the main reason he had gone with Lembert, for he was the commanding officer. But, then the thought came to Aden, "aren't we going to do something not good, but now with the bidding of a commanding officer?" Aden quickly pushed the thought away, but as the smell grew, so did his doubt about the side he chose.
Lembert himself just smelled an unbearable odor. He isn't used to this kind of thing himself, but he goes on. His victory is close for him. A smell and ugly cave animals won't stop him, but in this case, will help him. His orders will soon be completed, and completing an assignment always gives him joy. When that stranger gave him the journal, he was quite confused until he read it, and became even more confused but determined. He gave himself an order, discover the secrets of the journal and the man and report any useful findings to Imperial High Command. He was also motivated upon stumbling upon the reference of the force crystals, which would do many things for him and the Empire. Now that his mission is so close to completion, he presses on. Some nasty fumes and deserting soldiers will stop him, not now, not when he is this close.
The small group were lost in their thoughts that they didn't notice the shadows on the wall. Then they all jumped when they heard the hiss. Then all around them there was sounds of screeches, growls, roars, and others. They stood there when a voice, gurgling and full of pain, slowly said, "who are you you?" Lembert stepped forward, he tried not to show his fear, "I am Colonel Seron Lembert, and I would like to help you in your situation." Eyes, furious and glaring and of a large variety of colors, stared at them in the darkness. Another voice, the sound of angry bees and insects, asked, "what situation would we require you for? We have control, we have safety, we even offer it to you! What would you help us with?" Lembert smiled casually, or at least attempted to, and simply replied, "well, for starters, the masked man?"