Chapter 4 is up. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
I had spent the remainder of the day using the Force to familiarize myself with the area. Though, to the naked eye, the planet looked like little more than a frozen wasteland, to a Force user, it was teeming with life. The ecosystem was harsh, but the native inhabitants didn't just survive, but flourished in the environment. It was fascinating.
It wasn't until well into the evening that I realized that I hadn't eaten all day. I had to laugh at myself. This wasn't the first time I had forgotten about my physical needs when connected with the Force around me. Master Kiwiiks had told me once that a powerful Jedi could survive on the Force alone, going into a kind of stasis. I found the concept fascinating and hoped to one day make it to a level where I could try the theory out for myself.
I stood, allowing myself to come back to my physical surroundings before attempting to remember how to get to the mess hall. After only one false turn, I found my way and had seated myself to enjoy my meal, when I was approach by Colonel Windborne and another man I did not know. He looked familiar from my tour, but we had not been introduced. Both men were carrying trays.
"I see we are not the only people around here who seemed to have forgotten to eat. My we join you, Master Jedi?"
I nodded. "Of course, Colonel. And there is no need to address me an Master Jedi, Zanthia will be fine. I am neither a Master or a full Jedi, yet."
"As you like, Zanthia. I never did understand how to address a Jedi properly. To be honest, I have dealt with very few of your order."
I smiled at the two men as they joined me at my table. "I honestly don't know, either. I'm only a padawan. I'm not sure if there is a protocol for such things, but I prefer to be addressed by my name."
"Very well." The Colonel motioned to the man next to him. "This is Lieutenant Harking. He commands one of the security details here on base."
"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant."
"Likewise, Master Jedi….I mean, Zanthia."
"I have asked the Lieutenant if he would take you on a little tour of the outside. After dinner, of course, if you feel up to it. There should be light left for a quick look."
"I would love to. I can't wait to see it. I have spent the last few hours getting to know the Force signature of this planet. Master Kiwiiks told me this planet is a totally different beast than any place I had visited before and it would seem she was right. At least from a Force user perspective. It will be exciting to see what I felt with my own eyes."
Harking shook his head in disbelief, chuckling. "You are the first person I have met who actually wants to go outside. It must be a Jedi thing."
"Actually, it's probably a Jedi Padawan thing. I'm still learning about the Force and I tend to let my excitement over new experiences show more than most Jedi. I've been told by several masters that I can be a tad hyper, on occasion."
"It's not a bad thing." Windborne said. "I wish more of the men had that kind of enthusiasm."
"It's this planet, Sir. Give anyone a few weeks here and they quickly lose whatever optimism they came with. This frozen rock will do it to everyone." Harking said between bites.
Dinner conversation continued as we ate. The Lieutenant, despite constantly joking that Hoth had a way of robbing a person of their will to life, held his own unique energy about his station. He may not have liked his posting very much, but he certainly seemed to thrive on it. I could feel his excitement through his negative talk.
His youth probably helped with his attitude. Harking couldn't be more than twenty five. He had the physique of a career military man who was still in the middle of his prime. It was obvious he worked out and he kept is dark red hair neatly trimmed, even in this place. He was the picture of a model soldier, but his green eyes still held a certain excitement reserved for people who had yet to witness too many of the horrors the universe held.
After dinner, Harking and I both dressed in winter attire and headed outside. I noted the construction of the base was just as impressive on the outside, as on the inside.
The sun was just beginning to set, but there was still light enough to take a look around. The Lieutenant had not been wrong about the outside. For the first time since my arrival, I was genuinely cold. The specially made winter gear helped, but the wind still held a biting cold which seemed to drain away any warmth you brought with you from inside. I found new respect for the native wildlife who survived on this planet with nothing more than what nature granted them on the day of their birth.
We walked around a corner of the base, allowing us a full view of the mountain behind. The sun was just starting to dip below the peak, giving the ice and snow on the mountain a almost rainbow effect. The colors danced in a way I had never seen on any other planet. It was stunning.
"Now that sight is worth enduring a little cold." I said outloud.
Harking stood next to me. "Is that a Jedi talking?"
I smiled at the comment, even though he could not see it through my face mask. "No, it's purely the comment of a living person with eyes. Every planet has it's own beauty. Even Hoth."
We stood and watched the sun descend below the mountain, taking with it most of the light.
"We should probably go back in, so they can lock down the facility for the night."
I nodded, turning my back to the mountain as the last bit of sun dipped below the tallest peak. We began to trudge back but the beeping of the Lieutenant's holo stopped us in our tracks. He pulled the device out and it came to life, sending an eerie glow on the surrounding snow.
"Lieutenant, are you back inside?" Windborne asked.
"On our way, Sir. Is there trouble?"
"Report to the control center when you get back in here and bring the Jedi with you. We have a situation developing."
"Yes, Sir." Harking replied, turning off the holo.
We took a more hurried pace back to the base and didn't bother to remove too many of our layers before reporting to the Colonel. I had a feeling we were going to need them again very soon anyway.
In the control room, Captain Kooper was feverishly working at one of the console, while the colonel stood about a foot behind him, his arms held behind his back in a very command posture.
"What do we got, Sir?" Harking asked.
"Good, you're here. It looks like The our Beta team is being attacked by unknown assailants. Dr. Yucca holoed a few minutes ago with a distress call. He seemed to think they could hold them off for a little while, but we can't wait until morning to send aid. I've already scrambled your men, Lieutenant. Go out there and save our team. If you could go with them, Zanthia. Hopefully the sight of a lightsaber will deter them from pressing their attack."
"It will take about an hour and a half to get there, if you push your bikes to their limit." Kooper added, not looking up from his console. "But be careful. You'll be running right into the last remnants of the blizzard the team encountered."
"You got it, Sir." Harking replied.
We took off at a run and once again headed outside, only stopping long enough to grab a few more articles of wind resistant gear. On the way, I went over a few Force calming techniques, centering myself the best I could. I needed to stay focused. This could turn out to be my first true battle and I didn't want to let down either myself or the men who were counting on me to be the Jedi they all believed I was.
We arrived at the bike pad to find just over a dozen men, all suited up and ready to depart. There were two bikes in the front, but Harking turned to me before we could mount up.
"You do know how to ride one of these things, right?" He asked.
The bikes were the same as the ones we used on Tython to travel between the various training locations, except these had been retrofitted to operate in the colder temperatures.
"I do, quite well." I replied, getting on the bike. I began to warm up the engine, looking up to find Harking giving me a very satisfied look.
He spoke up to address everyone. "Listen up, people. We will be riding right into a snow storm. Keep five feet and only five feet between yourself and the bike in front of you. Keep formation and pay special attention to those around you. Without daylight, we'll need to rely on each other to keep together and on target. Once we arrive, I want you to fan out and try to flank the enemy. Master Jedi, you will follow me into the center of the camp, understood?"
"Not a problem." I replied.
Everyone mounted their bikes and the outside was now a sea of sounds. It was almost deafening. Harking waved his arm over his head and yelled.
"Move out!"
As one, we headed out into the night.
It had been cold standing outside in the wind, but standing in it felt like a summer day compared to riding a speederbike at high velocity against the same bitter wind. The extra clothing did little to lessen the bone chilling effects of the cold.
I focused on staying in formation with Harking, who was just slightly up and to the left of me. He was pushing his speeder well beyond the limits the Captain had made reference to in the control room. I used the force to help make sure we weren't heading towards any steep cliffs or valleys, but I mostly used my power to keep my own bike in place, trusting Harking to take the lead.
About a half hour into the trip, we ran into the blizzard. Our visibility was brought down to almost zero, making it a challenge to stay in formation. I stopped trying to see the path ahead of me and started to ready myself for battle. I allowed the Force to wash over me, allowing my muscles to remain warm and relaxed, so when I did get off my speeder, I'd be able to take up a battle stance if necessary.
After another half hour or so, we came to a stop. Before us was a brilliant exchange of blaster fire. We could just make out the lights of the makeshift shelter the team had erected to wait out the blizzard. Harking waved his arm and his team began to break off into groups in an attempt to flank the enemy.
I reached out with the Force, allowing myself to feel the lifeforms attacking. They had formed a semicircle around the camp, since the shelter had been built at the side of a larger ice hill.
Harking looked to me.
"Stay close to me, Lieutenant. I'll try to block as many incoming blaster bolts as I can."
He nodded and we pressed forward, as fast as we dared. As soon as our approach was witnessed by the enemy, we began to take fire. Fortunately, there were only a handful of people shooting in our direction, Three at most, so I was able to keep us safe until we made it behind the blockage.
We got off our bikes and hurried towards the men shooting over the barricade. I could tell that Harking was stiff from the breakneck speeder ride, but I was happy to find that my Force exercises had left my muscles loose and ready to fight.
One of the soldiers approached us and saluted Harking. "Take goodness you made it, Sir. They've been firing on us for almost three hours now, without letting up. We can't tell who they are or how many of them are out there, but they're well armed."
I closed my eyes and opened my senses to the attackers around us. "There are a dozen of them. Three on each side, with six concentrated in the middle. They seem to be slowly pushing in toward the middle of the shelter."
"That would make sense. Most of our more valuable equipment is in the center of the camp." I opened my eyes to see we had been joined by a Mon Calamari who was dressed like a civilian.
"Dr. Yucca, I presume." Harking replied.
"Indeed. I hope you have a plan to end this onslaught."
"My men are circling around the enemy as we speak."
I walked up next to them, clearing my throat. "I have an idea."
"Go ahead, Master Jedi." Harking replied, calling my by the more formal title.
"Let me go up front in the middle where most of the men are focused. I'll rebound a few of their blaster shots back at them. See if I can push them back."
Harking nodded, but I could see the concern in his eyes. "Do it, but be careful. We won't be able to cover you much."
"Understood." I pulled out my lightsaber and made my way around the outside of the barricade, so I was standing in front of it. The blaster bolts started almost immediately and I repelled them, this time trying to aim them back at their origin. I silently thanked Master Kiwix for all the tedious hours of training with a little remote probe, which simulated the situation I was currently in. Repelling blaster bolts was something most Jedi needed a lightsaber to do, but I had a talent for repelling them with my mind and the Force alone, though it was still easier with a lightsaber.
Once I made it firmly to the center of the barricade, I ignited my lightsaber, it's azure blade sending blinding light in all directions. The new light didn't break my concentration, since I was currently seeing with the Force, not my eyes. My attackers, on the other hand, were disrupted by the appearance of a lightsaber. Their bolts became sporadic, then ceased entirely.
I could sense the attackers turn tail and run towards speeder a short distance away. I could also feel Harking's men as they took out all of the attackers on either side of me. Soon, the battle was over.
To Be Continued...