Hey everyone! Long time since I've posted anything here, but this is going to be a little different. I'm taking on a new challenge: writing an original Star Wars story. Unlike normal fanfics which utilize a relatively small existing world, Star Wars is an expansive universe spanning hundreds of books, comics, and movies. There are countless known systems within the galaxy, all of which have at some point played a part in a story in the Star Wars timeline. This story will utilize systems and places from the expanded universe, as well as some characters related to those systems, but my main cast and plot are all original. You won't find any information about them anywhere else, but you can search up and read about many of the named systems, planets, some of the people, starships, races, cities, you get the idea. Another reason this story will be challenging to write is because it was originally meant to be a fan film. I work with a group that aims to create many lightsaber fights and fan films, and this story was my most extravagant idea. I got a little too ambitious, though, and sadly this story will only ever be written. So consider this the novelization of what would've surely been an epic film, inspired by the musical talents of Samual Kim. Whether or not the entire story gets written and posted here depends on you guys, though. Read, review, and tell me if you want to see more!
Sanctuary of HopeA Star Wars Story
Chapter I - "The Relics"
16 BBY, Krant System. Three years ago, a terrible genocide marked the ending of an era. The end of a terrible conflict which rocked the galaxy parsec by parsec. The Confederacy fell, and the Galactic Republic evolved into something sinister. The Empire rose from the ashes of war, as if it had been laying in wait for eons. Order 66 was given, and every Clone in the Grand Army of the Republic turned on their Jedi generals. As a religion, the Jedi were all but wiped out. Then, the newly dubbed Imperial forces marched on the Jedi Temple, led by one of their own: Anakin Skywalker. Only a handful of Jedi survived, spread thinly across the galaxy in exile.
The sun slowly rose over the horizon on the surface of Krant. Lush forests came to life under its warmth, and its light signaled the start of another day. The small trade town of Echoy'la was slow to start, as if a darkness loomed over every soul inhabitant. The town sat on the edge of a massive forest. People came and went as they traveled between two of Krant's major cities, Peche and Theenes, so the inhabitants were used to seeing new faces every day. Outside of town, hidden in the forest was a primitive house made of wood and rope. The sun's rays pierced through the canopy above and shed a glorious light which seemed to breathe with the swaying of the shadows. Through the front door, six individuals emerged. Each of them (with one exception) was holding a strange wooden stick, about three to four feet long.
"Warm them up, Thorne," one of them ordered. She was clearly older than the rest of them by far.
"Yes Master. Ready position," one of the others replied, taking a forward stance and holding his stick as if it were a sword. Each of the other four followed his movements. "Set. Suko! Kireh, Daiki, Kireh, Kisay, Daiki..."
With every strange word shouted, each of the five swung their practice swords in an identical way. It was a training routine that they followed every morning. When the sequence was complete, they all stood calmly and waited for their Master's lesson. She soon took her place before them and spoke a few cryptic words of wisdom, which few of the students truly understood.
"Over the last few years, I've seen great improvement in all of you. Some amongst you have even decided to branch away from Shii-Cho, and take on the lessons of a new form. But take care not to become complacent. Just because you are above some of your peers does not mean you shouldn't continue to climb, and just because you are not as advanced does not mean you shouldn't strive to one day surpass them. The only one whom you should be competing with is yourself. Be stronger than you were yesterday. Now, resume matching. Sha'veen, Tarro, ready position."
Most of the students formed a large circle, like an arena. At its center, two of them faced off. One, a female Mirialan, and the other a male Iridonian Zabrak. They both held up their swords and prepared for combat. Soon enough, a steady rhythm of wooden impacts sounded through the forest. Tarro was smaller than his Mirialan adversary, and less skilled. He did what he could to get through her defenses, but she was easily able to weave around him. Shortly after, her blade struck him in the arm.
"Very good, Sha'veen. But watch your extension," the Master said, walking up to the Mirialan and demonstrating her over-lunged position. "Commiting your strength to an attack is important for it to be effective, but if you over-commit and the attack does not end the fight, you will have only slowed your recovery and made yourself an easy target. Had Tarro been able to successfully defend himself just one more time, the match would have been his."
Sha'veen listened intently to her Master's advice. She knew the level of experience the older woman had in combat, and wanted to take full advantage of her knowledge. Tarro also listened closely, realizing his own mistake in the fight as well. He was closer to victory than he ever imagined he could be.
"And Tarro," she said, shifting her attention, "you are more skilled than you seem to think. Your fellow students are not so far ahead of you that victory is impossible, yet you fight like your only goal is to stave off defeat for a few more moments." She then turned to address the entire class. "The field of battle is not unlike the force. If you wish to harness the force, you must first believe it can be done. It is a powerful ally, a flow of energy in the universe that can be directed for your needs. On the field of combat, energy flows wildly, and if you wish to harness that energy and control the flow of battle, you must first believe that you have the skills necessary to do so."
Every student both in the circle and forming its ring bowed respectfully. "Yes, Master."
All of them were Jedi. Survivors of the great purge, now so far removed from existence by the Empire that the very practice of their old religion made them like relics of an ancient time. One Master, Volka Ee'lan, and her Padawan, Thorne Calari, saved the other four: three Padawans and one youngling. The six of them had been in hiding since the great purge. Sha'veen Goondi and a human, Shen Va'poor, were both the same age in the temple. They were Padawans recently assigned to different masters near the end of the Clone Wars. Neither of them had seen a single battle before Order 66 came down. Tarro Amanti was a few years younger than them, and had not yet completed his trials to earn the rank of Padawan. Then the youngest, Mila Vang was a brown-skinned Twi'lek girl and a youngling at the temple when Imperial forces marched in by the hundreds. She was only six years old. Volka carried her out of the temple with Thorne and the others at her side. Together, they took an old freighter and fled out where they thought the empire would never reach them. A planet once controlled by the Separatists: Krant.
"Next match. Thorne, Shen, ready positions."
Thorne took his place in the ring without hesitation. Being the oldest, he had seen many battles and was quite skilled. He and Shen were the same height, but he had the muscle structure of a warrior. Shen's build was more athletic, not nearly as bulky. The younger Jedi looked less sure of himself as he took his place, but the determination was strong in his eyes. Both of their starting stances were wildly different, as they had both taken to different forms. Thorne was adept at Form Five, Djemm So, known as one of the more aggressive styles. Shen, on the other hand, was a practitioner of Form Two, Makashi. This being the duelist's form, he was very patient in his defense and calculated in his attack. Shen had never managed to best Thorne, but did always try his hardest.
"Begin!"
Thorne was the first to strike. His sword moved like a fan blade between them as he attacked without end. Shen did what he could to defend, occasionally having to dodge the strikes which came in too fast. The older student was clearly trying to throw him off balance with sheer power, but the footwork of Makashi was solid. Eventually, Shen was given the opening he desired. With a quick shunt, Thorne's blade was thrown to the side and Shen's blade was primed for a thrust. Determination filled his eyes as he drove his blade towards his opponent's chest, but it would never make contact. With speed faster than he could follow, Thorne brought his own blade back to swat the incoming attack away. Following the momentum of his parry, Thorne spun around and pulled his back foot into the air. As he turned, he then brought it down in a heel-kick across Shen's face, breaking his defensive posture. Thorne's blade followed around him like a wheel, coming down for a hard strike to Shen's head. This strike stopped centimeters before making contact, sparing the younger student the pain of impact.
After a moment of silence in this position, Thorne spoke. "You did well, Shen. You very nearly got me that time."
Shen smiled up at his fellow student, rubbing his face where the kick had made contact. "Another moment and you'd have been mine." They bowed to each other respectfully.
"You might have bought yourself that moment if your footwork weren't so rigid. You have to move more if you hope to create openings for yourself."
"If my footwork wasn't so rigid, you would have taken me sooner."
Volka smiled as she watched her students learn on their own. "That part is true," she said. "Had your footwork been weaker, you would've been on the ground after only a few strikes. But that is only because you are trying to stop his energy blow-for-blow. Thorne is too strong for you to do that. Instead, you should redirect his energy to a safer area through fluid movement. That way, your stance will be free and you will be more difficult to pin down."
Thorne smiled and gloated. "You see? If you keep yourself planted, you'll never-" he was cut off by a swift but soft smack to the back of his head.
"Do not think yourself so mighty, young one. Rigid footwork may be a hinderance, but if not for your Tip-Yip legs bumbling around, you'd be a better duelist than I am."
Thorne blushed as her lighthearted insult garnered laughter from the others.
"Thorne, you are skilled with the blade. But blade skill alone will not be enough to save you when the time comes. How you navigate the field of battle is just as important as how you face it. If you are not steady on your feet and able to shift positions in an instant, you will be easily defeated."
The matches went on like this for some time. Eventually, training had to come to an end. Sha'veen, Thorne, and Shen all had jobs in Echoy'la. Thorne worked as a cargo loader, helping lift heavy crates on and off of transports. Sha'veen held a position as a jewelers merchant, peddling beautiful jewelry for any and all special occasions. Shen was an assistant mechanic; basically a consultant to give advice to those needing repairs on their ships. While those three went into town to earn what credits they could, the other three stayed behind at the house. Mila and Volka spent most of their days together, doing chores and working on the young girl's education. Mila was never one to enjoy combat, unlike her peers, and sought to unravel the mysteries of the universe. She was also a well-versed pilot, for her age, knowing the ins and outs of their ship like the back of her hand.
"Tarro," Volka called out, summoning him from wherever he had been.
He quickly joined them in their lounge room. "Yes, Master?"
"It's nearly time to rotate supplies. Go check the ship, see if anything has been spoiled and make sure the main power cell is still functioning. Bring the food in and I'll have Thorne pick up the next rotation."
Tarro was quick to begin the task he was given. Knowing that the reach of the empire was far, Volka took no chances. Their ship, which Mila named the Mirrorbright, was an old YT-2400 from the Correllian line. They kept it hidden in the woods with a large net of vines covering it, so that nobody could easily stumble upon it. Inside, they always kept a month's worth of fresh supplies in case they had to flee the system. When they needed more supplies or food for the house, they would bring in the old food from the Mirrorbright and restock it with fresh supplies. Volka had taken to calling this process a "rotation." While inside the ship, Tarro couldn't help but remember. It was the Mirrorbright which whisked them to safety as the temple went up in flames. That was the last time any of them saw a Jedi Temple, or their home planet of Coruscant. The young padawan slowly made his way through the ship, checking on all the rooms and quarters for signs of decay.
The Mirrorbright had six rooms for passengers to sleep in, which made it the perfect size for their crew. The cargo bay was spacious, as well as the main common room. The cockpit was large enough to seat four, and the ship had two main guns. One set of dorsal and one set of ventral cannons, which were accessible through a vertical ladder at the back of the common room. Tarro soon found himself in the cargo bay, looking through their supplies to ensure nothing had begun to spoil or decay. As usual, everything was in good condition. Before grabbing the crate of food, the young Jedi took a moment to gaze back in time just one more time. With a heavy sigh, he walked over to the cargo ramp where they load and offload supplies. Tarro slowly strolled past the door, stopping just to the right of it. His hand reached out and gently trailed along the panels on the wall, stopping on one that was at about chest level. Using the force, he pulled the panel off of the wall, revealing a secret compartment. Inside, a medium sized box was hidden. It was covered in dust, and adorned with the crest of the Jedi Order. Tarro gently wiped away the dust before lifting the lid. His breath was shaky as he reached out, laying his hand on top of its contents.
"There is no emotion, there is peace," he said, his voice quivering. "There is no ignorance; only knowledge." His fingers wrapped around one of the items in the box. "There is no passion, there is only serenity." His voice sounded more confident the more he spoke. "There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death…"
Tarro's voice trailed off as he lifted an item out of the box. It was a strange yet elegant item, cylindrical and weathered by years lying dormant. His fingers trailed over it, until his thumb found a small button. Aiming it straight up, he pressed the button. Suddenly, a Sapphire blade erupted from it.
"There is only the Force."
It was a lightsaber; his lightsaber. Inside the box, six more lightsabers sat, untouched for years. Tarro smiled as he wielded the blade, hearing its distinctive *hum* as he moved it around. It was nostalgic bliss as he went through a short training set, swinging it around like he was a youngling at the temple again. It hadn't been long since he'd constructed his lightsaber when the order fell. Wielding it made it feel for a moment like it never had. He weaved the saber around his body like it was a dance. But all at once, the sound of his sword cutting through durasteel brought his dance to a halt.
"Oh dank farrik!" he cursed, deactivating his saber and inspecting the damage of the wall he just hit.
Tarro sighed in relief as he found that he hadn't hit any major systems. He had only cut a safety tether; a lifeline meant to catch you should you fall while standing on top of the hull. Thankfully, there were two such tethers available and he had only cut one. Putting his lightsaber away, he assured himself that he would repair it before anyone noticed. After quickly stashing the sabers back in their hidden home, Tarro grabbed the food and headed back to the house.
Out in town, the three elder student's shifts were starting. Thorne's day was working with his team to inspect and transfer a shipment of building materials bound for Theenes. He and his crew were acting as their midway point, ensuring that all the cargo was still accounted for and nothing had been added or removed. Once their supervisor gave the OK, they began transferring the cargo to the transport which would go the rest of the way, so that the first driver could return home.
"I still don't see why you lot have to be so thorough when you're checking this stuff," the driver complained.
The inspection supervisor sighed as he pressed a few buttons on a hollo screen. "I'm not the one who makes that call. The Lord of Theenes and the Lady of Peche have agreed. These rumors of a militia somewhere on Krant rebelling against the Empire are spreading."
Thorne couldn't help but listen in to the conversation.
"If these rumors were to make it off world, we would be a target for the Empire. We've had peace for three-"
"Yeah yeah, three years, I know. But it's not like I'm trying to smuggle weapons here. You make it look like I'm a criminal!"
"Take it up with our fearless leaders, I'm just an inspector."
As Thorne listened in to their conversation, similar talk could be heard elsewhere. Shen was speaking with a Rodian who seemed to be having trouble with her hyperdrive. Together, the two were looking over a hologram of the ship which they had scanned a few minutes prior.
"Look here. Your hyperdrive itself is fine, but there's a crack in the third condenser chamber. Without a proper seal, your third hyperdrive booster won't give you the thrust you need to enter hyperspace."
"Ok ok, so fix. You fix it, yes?" The Rodian asked.
"This isn't something you can fix. It's a decay fracture, needs full replacement. I don't have this model of condenser in stock right now. I have a shipment from this manufacturer coming in two months-"
"No, no! No two months. Need to leave soon. Very soon." She seemed quite upset.
"Alright, don't worry, let me see what I can do. I'm not sure how far you want to be able to go, but I can rig a compressor to the inside of the chamber. That should make up for the thrust deficit you have," Shen explained, trying to calm her down.
"Ok, so you fix, then?"
"It isn't a full fix. You're flying a freighter. Compressors are racer tech, meant for speed. It's gonna put a lot of stress on your hyperdrive. You can probably make it to a mid-rim system before any damage, but you'll need to get this replaced soon."
Soon enough, the Rodian had paid and the temporary repairs to her ship were underway. The other mechanics working beside Shen were chatting amongst themselves. He soon interjected into their conversation with his own topic.
"Hey, why do you think she was so eager to leave the system?" He asked, continuing to weld with his ion torch.
"Why do you think?" The senior mechanic replied. "Everyone's been talking about it."
"You mean the rumors of a rebellion?" Another crew member asked.
The senior was quick to continue. "Ever since the order came down to increase inspections on all shipments, people have been worried. It's been three years since the Empire rose and they haven't been here yet. But now that there's a rebel cell here, it's only a matter of time."
"I thought it was only a rumor?" The crew member said.
"Rumor or fact, it's all the same in the end."
Shen continued working, trying not to be bothered by the risks. He knew eventually they would have to leave as well, and they were ready for that day. Elsewhere in town, Sha'veen sat idly chatting with her team of jewelers. She was only a merchant on the team, unable to design or create the beautiful items. It was her job to sell them, whenever someone happened by. While they waited, those with nothing to do sat around and gossiped about the only topic anyone could talk about.
"I think it has to be Le'Roche," one of the girls said, garnering an exasperated sigh from the others.
"Not this theory again."
"No, I really do! Think about it. It's the third great city of Krant. Out there on an island, separate from us? It's the perfect place for rebels to hide. I bet the old Daimio out there even welcomed them."
Sha'veen soon chimed in. "Nobody would welcome rebels here, Kama. Standing up to the Empire-"
"And why shouldn't we stand up?" Kama asked. "What gives the Emperor the right to decide how we live?"
Every other worker at the shop shushed her. After a moment of silence, Sha'veen spoke again.
"It is a one way ticket to Imperial occupation. The Empire took down the Republic and the Confederacy in one day."
"But not the Jedi."
"Quiet, Kama! The Jedi were wiped out just the same."
"Then why does every visitor from Imperial space talk about the bounties placed on the survivors?"
Suddenly, the manager of the shop appeared in the room. "Enough of this talk!" She barked. "You three can chatter all you like on your own time, but I will not have the Empire knocking down my door because of your loose tongues. Back to work! If there's nobody to sell to, then find something to clean."
One by one, their shifts came to an end. Sha'veen was the first to arrive home, followed by Shen and Thorne arriving together. It was the late afternoon, and dinner was in the making.
"The unease in town is growing. Ever since the rumors of rebellion started circling, things keep getting harder," Shen said. "People are preparing to flee the system."
"I'm not sure where they intend to go. Nowhere is outside the Empire's reach anymore," Tarro replied.
Thorne was the next to chime in. "Our shipment inspections are getting more and more stringent. They're having us scan for secret compartments, weapons, even Coaxium is being regulated. The Lord and Lady of the great cities are one step away from banning all trade with Le'Roche. Any new information coming from the gossip chain, Shav?"
"Nothing we haven't heard before," she replied. "But if there is a rebellion, they do have supporters on Krant. I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before the Empire arrives."
"Well, if there is a rebellion, shouldn't we join it? We could help them fight," said Tarro.
"Not if the fight is futile. We would only be painting a target on their backs," Sha'veen retorted.
"Shav is right," Shen agreed. "I'm afraid the fight is over. There is no defeating the empire; there is only our survival."
"And if the Empire comes?"
"We evacuate, like we've always planned," she replied.
"And go where?" Thorne asked. "We always talk about evacuating but we have yet to decide what system we go to next."
Mila was the next to make her voice heard. "What about the Sanctuary? It would be a safe place for us and we might even find more survivors there."
"Mila, we've been over this," Thorne said. "The Delriss sanctuary was abandoned and destroyed during the war. Master already investigated it."
"No, not the Delriss sanctuary. There used to be another one, didn't there? Before the clone wars?"
"The location of that sanctuary was lost when the archives were wiped. All that is left of that place are the stories we were told as younglings," Tarro said. "Do you honestly think we have a chance of finding it? Don't be so naive."
Without another word, the young girl stood up and pressed a button on the table. A hologram came to life before their eyes, showing a map of the entire known galaxy. "Look. The stories which you've all apparently forgotten talk about a system, primitive, hidden in wild space. Those stories weren't just stories; they were a code." Mila then began pointing at one quadrant of space on the outer rim. "Now I believe that the sanctuary has to be somewhere out here, in the Shiritoku Spur."
"Well that certainly narrows it down," Thorne said sarcastically. The young girl glared at him.
"Mila, the systems in that quadrant are wild, primitive. The only spaceports in the region are owned and operated by criminal empires and pirates," Sha'veen explained. "It would be too big a risk, flying blindly through the Spur."
"I don't think that's what she's saying," Shen replied. Looking the young Twi'lek in the eyes, he asked, "are you actually suggesting that you can pinpoint which system the sanctuary is on?" His question grabbed everyone's attention.
"I don't want to make any promises, but maybe? I just need a little more time to do the calculations. But if there's a chance we might find more Jedi, we could rebuild the order together."
Shen, Sha'veen, and Tarro all exchanged hopeful glances as their young counterpart explained her theory. For a few silent moments, they relished in that feeling, knowing there might be a chance for their lives to return to normal. That hopeful silence was broken by Thorne, who scoffed at the idea.
"Be real, Mila; all of you. You know the truth. We lost, and there's no going back to the way things were."
"Thorne!" Sha'veen scolded.
"Let us at least have some hope," Shen agreed.
"False hope will only lead us to despair. We have lives here, a chance to start over. You all need to wake up, and not squander that chance away trying to turn back the clock."
With that said, Thorn left the room in a huff. Mila stood where she was, unsure of what to say, but feeling defeated. Sha'veen was quick to her side, kneeling down to be at eye level with her.
"Pay him no heed," she said, smiling warmly. "You have done a good thing here. You have given us hope, and if you can find the sanctuary, you will have provided us a future." Sha'veen then pulled her into a comforting hug.
"Thank you," the young girl said as they broke apart.
"You should go wash up," Shen commanded. "Dinner will be ready soon."
Mila exited the room without another word, leaving just the middle three students behind. Sha'veen and Shen exchanged an uneasy glance.
"He's right, you know," Tarro said. "As long as the empire stands, the order can never rise again. We shouldn't hold on to childish fantasies."
Shen was quick to retort. "He may be right about that. Maybe we never find another Jedi, maybe the order dies with us, maybe we're even the last Jedi alive. But we will never stop fighting to stay that way. We protect each other, and stay together no matter where we go."
"But why allow her to believe we'll magically find a thriving colony of Jedi?"
"Because we are lost in the darkness without a path to follow," said Sha'veen. "And hope is the only thing that can light our way. Hope for something more than a life in exile. Hope for somewhere safe from the empire. Whether or not it is possible, hope is the power that staves off despair, not the source of it."
The six of them were more or less silent at the dinner table. They graciously thanked Volka for preparing their meal. Mila and Tarro sat beside her while Thorne sat exactly opposite. Sha'veen sat beside Mila, and Shen took the final seat. Volka was the one to break the silence as they ate.
"It's time for the next rotation. Thorne, will you be able to get what we need to restock the ship?"
"Yes, we should have enough credits for the month," he replied.
"Will we get any allowance this month?" Mila asked, seeming excited. "I was hoping I might be able to upgrade the COMs system. I think I can program it so that we can listen to transmissions as they broadcast. I won't always be able to decode them, but it would help us stay ahead of the Empire."
Thorne smiled. "I'll see what I can do, you little womp rat."
"Make many more modifications to that ship and we won't be able to call it a Correllion," Shen teased.
Volka breathed a sigh of relief. She could feel the tension in the air as they all sat down, but was glad to see they had resumed their normal cheerful selves. Together, they all finished eating dinner and cleaned up the table. Tarro took care of the dishes in a primitive valve-operated sink while the others cleaned off the table and prepared to turn in for the night. One by one, they each went to their respective bedrooms. The boys all shared a room separate from Mila and Sha'veen. The two girls also bunked together, and Volka slept in the common room, where she could monitor everyone. Slowly, they all began falling asleep.
…
A shrill scream shook everyone from their peaceful slumber. Shen and Thorne were quick to their feet, while Tarro reflexively hid beneath his covers. Mila's terror-ridden voice continued for a few moments, before Volka arrived in her room. The older Jedi quickly took up the youngling in her arms, rocking back and forth.
"Shh, It's alright. You're safe, it was only a dream," she spoke softly, but Mila continued to cry.
"W-we were back in the Temple. Everyone was dying. I couldn't…" her voice trailed off as she sobbed.
Volka continued to hold her and rock back and forth, trying to comfort her. It was easy to forget how young the child was. Even as a Jedi, witnessing what she had to witness at only six years old was traumatizing. And even three years later, she still had not recovered. Sha'veen, who lay awake in her bed, gently pulled a small box from her bedside cabinet. Her hands turned it over, revealing a little silver nob. Three times she turned it, before soft chimes began sounding in a comforting melody. Volka soon began humming to that melody, and soon again began to sing.
"Mirrorbright now shines the moon
It's glow as soft as an ember
When the moon is mirrorbright
Take this time to remember
Those you've loved but now are gone
Those who kept you safe and warm
The mirrorbright moon now let's you see
Those who have ceased to be
Mirrorbright now shines the moon
As fires die to their embers
Those you loved are with you still
The moon will help you remember
As her voice faded out, so too did Mila's cries. The young girl fell asleep in her arms, and Volka would hold her all night long. A tear streamed down Sha'veen's face as she mourned the lost childhood of her young friend. Tarro remained in bed, staring up at the ceiling as terrible images played through in his mind. Shen sat on the edge of his bed, wondering if she would ever recover from her trauma. And Thorne stood in the doorway, secretly taking comfort in his Master's silky voice.