can you smell that? that's the smell of another chapter! happy new year to all!
sorry you had to wait, but i'm back at college and so the updates may not come as quickly as before. wish me luck and enjoy!
Chapter 12:
Cloud City
Once the Rogue Shadow was hovering above Cloud City, Juno swiftly sliced into the security cameras of the various cantinas. As they watched the various feeds, a question popped into the pilot's head. "What happens if he recognizes you?"
"He's been blinded," the apprentice said simply. "Lightsaber burns."
"Your voice?"
Starkiller only smirked, "I'm not the talkative type when I duel."
Juno frowned and thought on other ways to punch through the seemingly flimsy plan. "Okay," she said slowly. "But he's a Jedi right? Can't he sense who you are or something?"
"That person died," Starkiller said darkly before refocusing on the screens. "There," he said pointing. "The Vapor Room."
Juno squinted at the feed. Gone was the tight precision bun, replaced by bedraggled hair the hung over dirty bandages wrapped around the eyes. His cheeks were covered in stubble and sported new scars as compared to PROXY's image. For the most part, he hid himself from view with his arms, only moving to pour himself another drink…or release gas. "Is he…drunk?"
"If not, he's a very good actor," the apprentice mused. "Drop me off at the supply dock."
Juno nodded and swiftly lowered the ship into position and dropped Starkiller off before swiftly returning to orbit just as quickly. With the apprentice away, the pilot watched the security feeds in the cantina while PROXY monitored any outgoing communications regarding Starkiller or Kota. The pilot watched as Starkiller quickly located Kota and kicked his table. "I've…I've paid for this table. So…whoever you are…get lost," the general slurred before hiccupping. "You aren't a uh…bounty hunter are you?"
"Not quite," she heard him respond before he leaned closer to whisper.
"Captain," PROXY said with urgency. "It seems somebody contacted the Empire of General Kota's whereabouts several hours before we arrived."
A sweat broke out on Juno's forehead. "Then that means they'll be here soon," she said nervously.
"They already are," PROXY said, pointing out the forward viewport at several Lambda-class transport shuttles filled the very same supply dock to the Vapor Room.
"Eclipse to Starkiller," Juno hailed. "You're about to have some unwelcome guests."
"Thanks. We'll need another extraction point," he said calmly as the snap-hiss of a lightsaber could be heard.
Juno activated the stealth systems and furiously began scanning for an open landing zone. "Scanning."
"Don't hurry on my account," replied the apprentice sarcastically.
"I have PROXY working as well," the pilot replied irritably before checking his locator. "You're not even out of the Vapor Room yet."
There was a cry of pain from another unlucky stormtrooper; "The General is slowing me down."
Juno gave a derisive snort and returned to her task of securing an extraction point. Another Imperial shuttle flew overhead, dumping more forces onto the various platforms. "How did the scanners not pick the shuttles up PROXY?"
"The only thing I can think of Captain would be private forces of the Emperor himself," the droid said after a moment.
"The Emperor knows we're alive?"
"Don't be ridiculous Captain," PROXY assured. "It is likely that it is a response to General Kota's presence."
Juno released a breath she did not realize she was holding as the console pinged. "I've found a landing zone. I'm transmitting the location"
"And I'm out of the Vapor Room."
"You'll have to hurry, I don't know how long it will stay open at the rate Imperials are dropping off forces," the pilot said.
"Understood," he replied before an explosion sounded over the comlink.
"Are you alright?"
"Note to self: Sith lightning and carbonite do not mix," came Starkiller's voice between gasps of breath. "We'll meet you as soon as we can."
Juno grimaced and guided the Rogue Shadow below the great floating city. "Captain Eclipse," called PROXY from the jumper seat. "It seems the locals are organizing a resistance against my master and General Kota."
"The Ugnaughts?" she queried. "What could they possibly do?"
"They seem to have plans for mechanized walkers," PROXY replied. "That is, if I'm translating this correctly."
"Juno, I could use some help," strained Starkiller.
"What?"
"Instead of just gaping at the landing shuttles, why don't you at least try to prevent them from landing?"
The pilot mentally slapped herself. Of course! How could she think that she could just stay back and not take the initiative. "Understood, bringing the ship around." As the Rogue Shadow came around the city, five shuttles could be seen heading towards the coordinates of the intended landing zone. "No you don't," Juno gritted out before opening fire. Three of the shuttles lit up in a brilliant explosion before the two survivors managed to haphazardly drop off its cargo.
As she looked down at the white of the stormtroopers and the red of the Emperor's Royal Guards Juno gasped. There amongst the red and white was an all-consuming black. Although it was but one person, Juno felt that his dark cloak would envelope the galaxy in shadow. Vader! But then the figure moved. It was not mechanized, slow or encumbered. And it was not a lightsaber, but rather a staff with the blade of a lightsaber on the end. That was certainly not Vader.
Adding to the mass confusion was the involvement of the Ugnaughts. PROXY's translation was indeed correct. However, Starkiller easily dealt with the porcine humanoids. However, when the apprentice's gaze fell upon the black-cloaked figure, he froze. Juno tried to hail him on his comlink to reassure the warrior that it was not Lord Vader. But it was no use. Starkiller stayed glued to the spot, only occasionally throwing Royal Guards and stormtroopers from the platform to their death.
Juno had to act quickly as every second wasted, the looming shadow got closer to Starkiller. But what in the hell was she supposed to do? The only things available to her were the laser cannons. She could not simply fire on the platform; it would put Starkiller and the trailing General Kota in far too much danger. The black-clad figure threw Sith lightning at a nearby turbine causing it to spin faster, threatening to blow Starkiller off the platform. And there was the answer! She quickly pulled up the targeting controls and aimed at the many containers surrounding the turbine. Upon firing, there was a brief explosion that was quickly extinguished by the carbonite gas. As it cleared the black-cloaked menace was indeed frozen, but Starkiller and Kota were also down on the ground.
What have I done?
The pilot swiftly set down the small craft and was dashing down the ramp before was even lowered all the way. He could not be dead. Not by her hand. If he died fighting against the Empire, she could handle that. In fact, it was something he probably would not mind either. But not by her hand damn it! She knelt next to Starkiller's cold and prone form. Slipping off her flight gloves, she feverishly searched for a pulse and closed her eyes in a silent prayer. The pilot let out a sigh of relief as a steady beat was felt. When it suddenly skipped irregularly, Juno looked at his body nervously to find that he was staring intently at her.
"What the hell was that?" he asked, sitting up.
Juno's hand quickly went back into her glove when PROXY came to assist Kota. "I was…erm…saving you."
"Well it worked wonders," he said sarcastically groaning and brushing off any accumulated crystals.
"She saved your life boy," came Kota's drunken tone. "You could at least thank her."
"For blowing us up?" he asked.
"Everything feels intact boy."
"Thank you," he mumbled.
Juno smirked at the young man's admission, knowing that according to all of his or her excuses, she was the only one that rescued anybody. "Well that's all well and good boy," Kota said. "But nobody fights the Empire and wins. The army is infinite, you'll all die eventually…or worse."
"We did not come here to wallow in self pity," Juno retorted. "Surely you must be able to help us in some small way."
Kota smiled slyly, "Some bark to go with your bite boy. I have a contact in the Senate. I'm sure he could use your 'talents'."
Can i just say that while the book was a great read, it stole my ideas (sigh) oh well i guess more canon will have to be booted, but you guys didn't seem to mind before.
Oh, and i'm really grasping at straws in an attempt to write a different ending...suggestions?reviews?