Chapter Nine: A New Life
Artus fell through the air towards the landing pad. He could see the shuttle Bene and Kruiz had been repairing on the pad. He hoped it was flyable. Artus tried to slow himself but could not stop himself crashing into the landing pad. Groaning, he turned onto his back. From the impact he reckoned several ribs had shattered. He heard a beep and turned to see R9 had wheeled over. The droid sprayed bacta on what remained of his arm. The initial sting soothed the pain. Taking a breath, the Jedi sat up. Ahead of him lay the turbolift to the building; behind him the shuttle.
"R9, get the ship ready…not much time." He said. The droid beeped and raced to the ship as Artus managed to get to his feet. He began limping to the ship until something stopped him dead in his tracks. The cold. The darkness. He could sense it approaching. A crackle of thunder boomed across the sky as rain began to pour down. Artus hobbled to the shuttle door. R9 was plugged in, frantically powering the engines. Artus turned to see the turbolift doors rip off. The doors flew through the air towards the shuttle, missing the port engine by mere inches. The figure emerged from the smoking remains of the turbolift. Steam rose from its lightsaber as the rain battered the landing pad.
"R9, take off!" Artus yelled. The ship began to lift off the platform. The figure raised its arm as if to strike. In an instance, a red flash flew past Artus as the blade returned to the figure. The figure threw his lightsaber again. The blade narrowly missed again as Artus slammed on the button to shut the doors. He turned to the cockpit and his heart sank. The figure's weapon had sliced through R9. The droid had been cut in two, with glowing red metal and sparks flying off where the lightsaber had struck. Artus sighed; R9 had been his faithful droid since the opening weeks of the Clone Wars. He scrambled to the cockpit and pulled the shuttle into the clouds.
"Karrablast. How is this thing flying?" exclaimed Artus. The lightsaber attack had damaged the internal controls. Despite this, the radar was online. Artus could see starfighters pursuing. He knew the shuttle would be torn apart in a dogfight. The bangs of blaster fire echoed around the ship. Alarms began blaring as Artus realised he was running out of options. His eyes scanned what remained of the controls. Pressing buttons, the Jedi began powering up the hyperdrive. Artus hoped he had enough fuel. The ship rocked as the starfighters unleashed their firepower. The engines whirred as Artus gripped the hyperdrive lever. He closed his eyes.
I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me.
The stars stretched and transformed into chaotic blue patterns as the shuttled blasted into hyperspace.
It had been three days of hyperspace travel. Artus hoped he could put enough distance between himself and the Empire. He knew that he had to adapt to survive this new Galaxy. The Jedi had no place in this new age of the Empire.
Artus retrieved a small metal box that had once housed some of Bene's tools. He tore off a piece of his tattered cloak and wrapped his broken lightsaber alongside Barran's hilt. The weapons were stowed out of view. He changed out of his robes into the engineering overalls in the storage compartment. With a sigh, he used a knife to destroy the robes. He couldn't take any risks; if anyone saw him, the Empire would find him. Artus grabbed the knife and stroked the blade along his face, shaving his beard. He used the knife to cut his hair. Returning to the cockpit, he sat at the pilot's chair. He turned to R9's remains resting next to him. Artus knew nothing of the Galaxy any longer. He knew nothing of what was to come or what the Force had in store for him. He only knew one thing about this new Galaxy, and the life he would have to lead in order to survive.
He was a Jedi no longer.