Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Authors Notes: Hello everyone. I made a Star Wars fanfic a while back that didn't get any reviews (well only three but that's not enough to have me keep going) and got cancelled. Hopefully this one will have better luck. It's a fanfiction version of the classic 2004 videogame. I also made this as a bit of a way to cope with the fact that I can't play that game anymore as of now. My laptop just suddenly stopped playing the game on steam cause of compatibility… sad face. Well maybe I'll be able to get the remake coming out apparently in 2024. Just to let you know I will be making some small adjustments to the story for the sake of being a bit more realistic as opposed to a videogame. Now onto the story.
Prologue:
Four thousand years before the Rise of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy was in a state of unrest. The Mandalorian Wars came to an end five years ago and should have brought an age of peace when the Jedi Knights Revan and Malak along with their followers defeated the Mandalorians. But after returning from the Unknown Regions, Revan and Malak became Sith and turned against the Republic they fought to protect. With the Jedi that followed them against the wishes of the Jedi Council, they wage war across the galaxy with seemingly endless resources from a fleet of old Republic ships and an unknown alien technology.
The Jedi sprang a trap to capture the Sith Lords, which ended in Revan's death. Now Malak leads the Sith in a more ruthless but still effective conquest. Only one thing stands in Malak's way. The Jedi Padawan Bastila Shan. She leads a mission near the world of Taris on her Republic Warship the Endar Spire with a command of soldiers to aid her.
Chapter 1: The Endar Spire
The Republic Hammer Head Capital Ship known as the Endar Spire soared through space above the outer rim planet of Taris. At first, everything seemed peaceful, then it all went to hell. Sith Fighters and a trio of warships appeared, firing on the Republic Cruiser and overwhelming them. The Sith Warships held back, as they wanted a certain someone on that ship alive.
Darth Malak, Dark Lord of the Sith now that his Master Revan was dead, watched from the bridge of his command ship, the Leviathon with Admiral Saul Karath at his side. Malak was a very large man, over six feet tall. He was dressed in a suit of red armor with a half cape over his back. His lower jaw was covered with a mechanical helmet and gray marks covered his bald head.
"Disable all their turrets and their engines!" Malak commanded. "Make sure they can neither fight back nor escape! Once those are destroyed cease your fire. Prepare all available troops for boarding parties!"
"At once Lord Malak!" Saul said.
"I'm on my way Master," a voice said on the intercom.
"Very good Bandon. Find Bastila and bring her to me. Alive if possible," Malak said to his apprentice.
"As you command master."
…
The sound of alarms and explosions filled the Endar Spire, a certain soldier tossed and turned in his bed on the ship. But soon he opened his brown eyes that matched his hair. His name was Calak Star, a new recruit to the Republic Military from the remote world of Deralia. He sat up and immediately realized the ship was under attack. Getting up he looked around the room, knowing he had to get himself armed. His equipment was stored in the white foot-looker nearby. Right now, he was only dressed in his one piece white and yellow undertunic that covered his core, shoulders and upper legs.
Before he could move, the door to his quarters opened. A man with spiky blonde hair in the standard Republic armor of red and yellow emerged with a blaster pistol in his hand.
"We've been ambushed by a Sith Battle fleet! The Endar Spire is under attack! Hurry up and grab your gear. We have to save Bastila!"
Calak nodded. He ran over to his footlocker, there was no time to lose.
"Who are you?" he asked as he opened the locker.
"Trask Ulgo, your bunkmate!" his fellow soldier said. "We work opposite shifts, I guess that's why you haven't seen me before and you're pretty new."
Calak had only been on the ship a few days.
"Right, I'm Calak Star," he said as he reached into the footlocker.
He pulled out his combat suit. He'd only joined the Republic recently so he hadn't gotten the armor that Trask or most of the other soldiers wore. He'd trained in various blaster arms and even a little melee weaponry on Deralia during the Mandalorian Wars. With conflict brewing back then, he wanted to be ready to defend his planet in case of an attack. The news of Mandalore the Ultimate's death at Revan's hands was a time for celebration that quickly turned to terror when Revan returned as a Sith. Finally, it had been decided by the Derlian army that they would join the Republic as they couldn't afford to simply stay on their planet any longer and wait for the Sith to come to them.
Calak changed into the combat suit and picked up his weapons. A blaster rifle, backup pistol, and a curved longsword made of white metal. He put the longsword on his left hip, and the pistol on his right. The rifle he took in his hands as it had the most ammunition. The pistol would work if he ran out of ammo and didn't have the chance to reload, lastly the sword would be ready in case an enemy got close. With lightsaber wielders now be counted among their enemies, as well as the occasional foe with a vibroblade, the training in the Republic Army now included hand to hand and melee combat.
"Alright I'm ready!" Calak said turning around to face Trask.
"Okay follow me!"
Trask ran up to the door and punched in a code. The room was on lockdown. There was another door out. They were about to run for it when-
A voice spoke from their wrists where they wore communicators.
"This is Carth Onasi, the Sith are threatening to overrun our position! We need to get to the escape pods!"
"That was Carth! He's one of the best soldiers!" Trask said. "Better hurry!"
He then ran to the next door and punched the code in again as Calak followed. As soon as they emerged Calak saw other Republic soldiers in the same armor as Trask (but with a helmet on) fighting the enemy Sith soldiers in their own white armor that covered their entire bodies. Shots came from both sides, but by some force of luck the Sith quickly overwhelmed the two Republic soldiers. These Sith must have been the advance boarding party that had docked within this part of the ship.
"For the Republic!" Trask shouted.
Calak affirmed by pointing his blaster rifle and letting out a series of rapid shots at one trooper. Trask held onto the trigger of his pistol, charging up a beam of energy that released at the other one. The first Sith fell under the multiple shots by Calak. The other managed to get a shot toward Trask before he could unleash his blast but missed. Trask's shot then hit him in the chest, tearing through his armor and piercing his organs with it.
The two soldiers advanced forward. The next room was empty of fighters, there were only a few dead bodies. The long hall after that leading up to the bridge wasn't so lucky. The Sith were attacking more of Calak and Trask's comrades and winning. There was the sound of a scream from nearby that was quickly followed by a grenade exploding. Multiple muffled screams sounded as Calak and Trask slowly edged along the hallway and peered out to the side passage. More bodies were just a few feet away. Three republic soldiers and a Sith trooper holding a double bladed vibrosword. A scorch mark from a grenade scarred the ships floor where the bodies lay and a trio of Sith troopers were just ahead. The gears in Calak's head began to click. One of those troopers had thrown a grenade at the Republic soldiers, ignoring the fact that one of their own was in the vicinity. They'd sacrificed that comrade for victory. Despicable!
Calak hid back behind the wall and reached into his pocket. There were too many for and Trask and him to take on blaster to blaster. But he had a few grenades of his own. Frag, concussion and sonic were in his pockets. Calak looked into his pocket and pulled out a Frag Grenade. Those would be best for inflicting damage, concussion would stun and sonic would hurt the victim's ears.
"Take this!" Calak shouted as he threw the grenade out so that it was right in the middle of the trio of Sith Troopers.
They screamed and shot as Calak hid behind cover again. The frag grenade hit the ground and exploded a second later, taking the trio of Sith with it just as they'd done to their comrade and three of Calak's own. They fell as shrapnel flew from the grenade and pierced them through their armor.
Calak and Trask made to move forward and get to the bridge not too far away, but before they could round the corner another pair of Sith troopers appeared from just behind the now dead trio! Seriously how many were there?! Calak rotated his blaster rifle horizontally back and forth for a moment, firing rapidly so that his shots hit both of them. They had just aimed their rifles as they were gunned down.
"Nice shot Calak!" Trask said.
Calak grinned. "You want to take the next two?"
Trask gritted his teeth uncertainly. "Eh… I'm not sure."
"That's okay. Just don't leave them all to me!" Calak said as they turned the corner before more Sith could show up.
They got to the next door, hearing something like banging… but also not banging… inside. Pressing the button next to the door which was unlocked the two soldiers saw the source of the noise. It was a pair of lightsaber wielders. One a man with a red lightsaber, the other a woman with a blue one.
"It's a Dark Jedi!" Trask said motioning to the red lightsaber wielder. "This fight is too much for us! We better stand back. All we'd do is get in the way."
Calak hated having to stand on the sidelines. But he'd heard tales of the Jedi, able to deflect blaster bolts back at their attackers. It wouldn't do this Jedi any favors for him to get himself killed. He put his rifle over his back and drew his pistol, quickly shifting it to his left hand before drawing the sword. He didn't know what would happen, but he wanted to be prepared for any situation. If that Dark Jedi defeated the good one, then Calak wanted a melee weapon out to defend himself. Maybe he could use the sword to block then shoot. That might work.
For now, Calak watched the duel. The two lightsaber wielders clashed, energy sparking from their blades. For a moment it was unclear who would win, then the ally Jedi kicked the Dark Jedi and landed a quick strike through his torso. He fell with a cry and Calak grinned at the ally Jedi accompanying Bastila on this mission. But the victory was short lived. A frag grenade suddenly appeared at her feet. It exploded as those from earlier had, striking her before she could react. The Jedi screamed and fell.
"Damn! We could have used her help!" Trask cursed.
At that moment, the Jedi's killers, another pair of Sith Troopers rounded the next corner, seeing the soldiers. Calak and Trask opened fire with their pistols. There was little room for either side to dodge in this situation. But it seemed luck followed Calak and Trask in this ship. Or was it something else?
The Sith Trooper that Calak targeted fell, seemingly unable to keep up with him. The other Sith Trooper aimed at Trask and fired. The bolt him in the shoulder, Trask screamed and clutched the wound a second before gathering his resolve and shooting. The shot hit the Trooper between the eyes, he fell over, dead instantly.
"You okay?" Calak asked.
Trask grit his teeth. "Yeah. I just need a little kolto."
He reached into the medpack on his utility belt. Pulling out a small injector filled with kolto, a powerful healing agent that he injected it into his wounded shoulder. That would heal it up quickly, the pain already faded for Trask. Calak meanwhile, looked at the Jedi's body. Her lightsaber, and that of her enemy, were broken from the explosion, but there was a component that looked like it was intact nearby. Calak picked it up and they continued forward. The bridge was just beyond the next door. It was small in there, so blasters wouldn't be a good weapon. The enemy would have swords or lightsaber ready. Calak didn't fancy meeting another Dark Jedi. At least his sword was equipped with a cortosis weave so it could stand up to lightsabers. That had become the standard of the newly inducted swords for the Republic since this war with the Sith began.
Trask got out his sword as well. It was shorter than Calak's who had opted for a longer blade when he bought his equipment. They touched the door button, it opened. There certainly were a lot of Sith and Republic Troopers here. They were all engaged in sword fights at this point, each carrying a vibroblade, a more technically advanced long-knife or short sword that vibrated and allowed for easier cutting. Calak's standard longsword was of a more ancient, primitive design, but could still get the job done.
The only two people not fighting, were two Sith Troopers right in front of the entrance to the bridge, facing Calak and Trask. Seriously there seemed to be enemies around every corner and behind every door here! They had their swords drawn and charged as soon as they saw the soldiers. Calak and Trask ran at one each! Calak blocked his Trooper's strikes and threw all his weight behind his less advanced but larger weapon. That broke the troopers guard and cut through his armor. Did that stuff even offer protection? Trask managed to finish off his opponent as well. Now if they could just help all the soldiers here…
That was cut short as the upper section of the bridge where the controls were seemed to explode out of nowhere! That took many lives of the Republic and Sith Troopers here! How had that happened? And why did everyone but Calak and Trask seem to be dying here on the Republic's side? They must really be lucky.
"Bastila's not here on the bridge!" Trask said. "They must have retreated to the escape pods. Come on let's go!"
They continued forward into the next part of the ship. Just a way's to the Starboard Section and then onto the escape pods. But as they opened the next set of doors a soft hissing sound came from the one beyond. Trask moved forward to investigate, his sword in hand.
"There's something behind here," Trask said pressing the button.
Both soldiers shivered at what they saw. A bald man with a very short beard in dark armor, his eyes were narrow and filled with hatred. In his hands he carried a red bladed lightsaber with blades coming out of either end of the long hilt.
"Damn! Another Dark Jedi!" Trask said. "I'll try to hold him off you get to the escape pods! Go!"
Trask stepped forward at the Dark Jedi, pressing the lockdown button on the door side as he did so. That would prevent any attempts to open it with the button. Calak gritted his teeth as he saw his fellow soldier step into a room with almost certain death. He wanted to help, but he knew he couldn't. Trask had been a reliable comrade in the brief time he'd known him. They'd fought through a dozen Sith Troopers. Tears formed in his eyes before he turned to the passage to the Starboard Section. He couldn't let Trask die in vain. He had to survive. If he stayed that Dark Jedi would come after him.
He ran through the door.
…
On Malak's ship, Karath gave him a report.
"Many escape pods have launched from the ship onto Taris, Lord Malak," Karath said. "There are few lifeforms left on the ship now."
"Bastila is probably lost to us then," Malak said. "Give the word to have our troops withdraw. Kill any stragglers and board their ships out! Then we blast that hull to Taris!"
"Yes Lord Malak."
…
Calak continued his way to the escape pods. Soon he got another message on his communicator.
"Attention Calak Star! This is Carth Onasi! You are the only man left on our side here besides myself! Get to the escape pods. I'm tracking your position. We need to get out of here now!"
"Yes sir!" Calak said.
He turned the next corner and saw… a single enemy trooper! Well, that would be easy. The trooper hadn't even noticed him yet! What luck!
Aiming carefully, Calak shot at the trooper with his blaster pistol. It hit him and he fell. Calak continued on. Just a little more to go! A few more doors and he'd be at the escape pods! The first door had another pair of enemies in the room. Crouching just behind the doorway, Calak shot the first enemy who had a clear opening at him. The second one came out to get a better view, but Calak stabbed him with his sword. Just a little more, if his luck lasted. It had run out for Trask!
…
Trask managed to hold off the Dark Jedi for a few minutes, his skill with the shortsword was enough to buy time. But the attacks of the Sith were overwhelming, with two blades on his enemy's weapon, Trask could only last so long. They came in quick succession! Trask managed to block two but felt agonizing pain in his hand as it was cut off. Trask screamed and it was over as the Dark Jedi beheaded him.
Bandon gazed down at the man he'd just killed. He was brave, Bandon would give him that. But he was a fool as well, to stand against the apprentice of Darth Malak himself. But there was the matter that this door was now closed. Bandon would have to use his lightsaber to open it and that would take time. He'd missed so much action already, and it infuriated him! He wanted to shed more blood. He'd get through that door and find more Republic soldiers to kill!
Suddenly a message came on Bandon's communicator.
"All Sith retreat from the Endar Spire. Only one enemy lifeform is on his way to the escape pods. Kill him and retreat to the Leviathon!" Saul Karath's voice said.
It must have been that one that had gotten away thanks to the others sacrifice. Bandon seethed. He didn't have time to go after that lowly soldier. Not when there was a ship about to be turned to space dust. He turned back the way he came. His troops had hung back to wait for him.
"Sir!" One of them said with a salute.
Bandon snarled and threw his lightsaber. It spun around at the two troops that had stayed behind. They screamed as the lightsaber cut them to pieces. Bandon called the weapon back to his hand, growling. He would have to do more to satisfy his bloodlust. Any unlucky soldiers who got in his way, enemy or ally, weren't safe.
…
Calak had just a couple more doors to go. He was about to go through when another message came in.
"Be careful there's a whole squad of Sith Troops in the next room," Carth's voice said.
Calak gritted his teeth. Even as good as he was, he'd never be able to fight a battle of four to one! He needed to be smart about this. Looking in the room around, Calak saw a computer terminal and an assault droid. Both of which could be useful. The assault droid looked like it just needed a little work to be operational. But the computer would be able to work the security on the ship, which included traps. That must have been how they got the bridge to explode!
Calak walked over to the terminal and worked the controls. Locating the trap in the Starboard Section just before the escape pods, he activated it. An electrical sound came from nearby and screams followed. The power conduit in the next room had overloaded and released a blast of electricity that killed everyone. That cleared it for Calak to move forward. He opened the door and walked over the bodies of the Sith. Though he noticed something, one of them had a red suit on. A more advanced Trooper, and he carried a unique weapon. A purple vibroblade. Calak had seen those on display in some shops on Deralia, a prototype that was meant to be the starter for the new line of advanced weapons. They were more adaptable than the common gold handled vibroblades and could be upgraded with special equipment to have advantages. He bent down and picked it up. It was light in hand, who knows what he could outfit it with if he found the supplies?
Picking up the weapon he made it to the last door. Finally, the escape pods. He pressed the button, it opened. A man in an orange jacket was there. He had a light beard and wary brown eyes. Two blaster pistols at his hip and a pair of vibroblades as well.
"You've made it just in time! Come on! There's only one active escape left!" Carth Onasi said. "We can hide on the planet below!"
"Right, let's go!" Calak said.
They climbed into the last escape pod and launched. Just in time too. The Sith fired on the ship. They watched as they fell and saw it seem to explode in the atmosphere as they entered the world below. Taris.
They fell for several seconds then… bam!
Okay, one chapter down. That's usually my first save in the game. I play through the whole Spire section before doing my next save in the apartment. You may have noticed I added a few feats for Calak, like rapid shot and power blast. He would also have both dueling and two weapon fighting. I just felt it makes more sense for him to have a few more skills in combat as a soldier. In the actual game you only have a certain number. I can often blend lightsaber and blasters if I want to. But if you want the full experience of lightsabers you have to forgo the developing blaster skills and focus on melee. Hope I did a good job and I will be adding more as time goes on. Calak Star was my original name for Kotor that I really liked and never forgot years ago when I was in Elementary school. It was the same face that is Re-Ut ut ut ah! Let's not say it too soon. His canon face from Wookiepedia that matches the one shown in SWTOR.
Well, hope guys enjoyed this first chapter. I managed to write this whole thing in one day! Let me know what you think in the reviews, and I will see you next time. Not sure how often I will update. Got some other stories to work on but I might finish one of them soon.