My Little Fanfiction Corner | Fanfiction Short Stories

Qualification Entry: Order 66

Written for the Kessel Run contest held by the official Star Wars profile in 2020.

The various colours of the jungle were blinding to me, even after all the years I had spent here. Smoke filled the air, the smoke of battles that never quite left the atmosphere after they were over. It was a smell I was now used to. Everyone here was used to it.

It wasn't uncommon for clone troopers and the droid army to battle here, within the confines of the trees that towered high above everyone that entered. The colours were vibrant with so many varying hues. Perfect for hiding, perfect for battle. Despite this, many of us still considered this place home, even if the war had found its way here. Some of us fought to protect our homes and our livelihoods, whilst others protected their families in their households just in case the droid army came too close.

Hiding behind a tree, blaster in hand, I clutched it to my chest, praying to the Gods that everything would turn out fine. Red blaster fire whooshed past my head, the heat of it feeling like a furnace, even from this distance. My heart thudded in my chest as I looked around me, looking at those who were dying about me, trying to do something alongside the clone troopers who were laying down their lives for us.

Not a single man, woman or child were laying low these days like they once had. Everyone had a weapon to use in some form, everyone was fighting for what was right. What they believed was right. And they were dying for it.

Stood still, I stared at the civilians who lay on the ground, still, motionless, unmoving. No rise and fall of their backs or chests. Glassy eyes stared motionlessly up at the sky, their last laugh, smile or look of concentration etched upon their faces. Stand together, fall together. That had become the motto of recent days. Too many of us were dying. There would be few of us left once this war was over.

The clones were in formation, barking orders at one another as more blaster fire followed the next onslaught. Screams rang out around me, mingled with orders and the reciprocated 'yes, sir' from the clone troopers. The droid army did not relent, not needing stamina for they were mechanical. They trudged forth, uncaring of who died as they were in their way as they waded through the battle, uncaring. The mechanical stomping upon the ground echoing around us in the throng of battle.

PEW PEW! PEW PEW!

More blaster fire rang out around me, everyone taking cover, some only just making it whilst many fell to the ground, screaming. How many children had we lost today? How many would be lost in the future?

Then, a new sound entered the mingling cries of battle. A sound that gave me hope for the first time in a long while after seeing so many battles take place here. After losing faith as family and friends died, their graves unmarked, unnamed.

Turning towards where the sound was coming from, up in one of the highest trees a Jedi General crouched, perching on the thickest branch. Their black veil covered their face, none of us bystanders knowing what lay under there. They seemed to scan the outlook, watching the enemy lines draw further in as we drew further back. Springing to life, they somersaulted into the air, landing perfectly upon their bare feet, holding a stance, their green lightsaber glowing in front of them.

The droids kept coming as I began to shoot again, continually looking over my shoulder to see the Jedi fighting gracefully with ease against the enemy forces. Whoever they were, we were all lucky they had come here just in time to end the battle and drive the droids back.

Something was off, though. Electricity hung in the air, a light thrum rushing through the trees. I had little time to react. Mud and dust flung into the air, along with me, a scream erupting from my lips as I was flung backwards onto the hard ground. My ears rung from the explosion, the fighting sounding distant and as though it were echoing. A head splitting pain erupted by my temples, my vision blurred as I held onto my head, trying to fathom what had happened. My legs stung, feeling numb even though a shooting pain rang up them like lightning. I screamed, unable to help myself as I tried to get up and couldn't. It was useless. A wasted effort.

One of the clone troopers grabbed me around the shoulders, helping me up to shield me behind a large boulder in perfect view of the Jedi rushing at the enemies. They pierced their lightsaber through the heads of the droid soldiers before retreating, leaving the droids to melt as their comrades blaster fire bounced off the lightsaber.

Then a hologram appeared, the clone trooper bowing his head before turning to me. All the clone troopers paused fighting, aiming their blasters at the retreating Jedi who was none the wiser. Even the clone trooper who had helped me had their blaster aimed at the Jedi.

"What are you doing?" I asked weakly, reaching for my own blaster slowly, brushing my fingers upon the handle when I found it beside me.

The clone trooper turned to me for a moment before looking back towards the Jedi who was within their line of fire. "The war is over." I could barely make out the words through the hum of life, then all the blaster fire went through the Jedi's back. They were about to turn their lighsaber on the clone troopers, but they were too slow and the squadron around them was quicker.

"No!" I yelled, holding my hand out as though that would change the clone troopers' mind. When the blaster fire died off and the clone troopers looked to the clone trooper next to me for orders, I could not help feeling helpless, betrayed, murmuring one last word, "No."

Word count = 1000