~Nar Shaddaa: 19 BBY~
"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger!" Chancellor Palpatine began on the small television of the cantina.
"...In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thousand years!"
"About damn time," I muttered, taking a sip from my Gamorrean ale shot glass. "What is?" the bartender asked curiously, wiping off another wine glass. "The end of the Jedi," I answered briefly. "Are you serious?!" a man asked, limping up to me. From the looks of it, he was in his early 40s. Injury on the left knee.
"Both the Republic and the Jedi kept order in the galaxy and protected us against those wretched Separatists!" he shouted passionately. "But what would you know about it? From the looks of you, you are a supporter of Palpatine's path in destroying this galaxy"
"Okay tough guy," I said, standing up. "Have you ever actually seen the disasters they caused? The horror they leave in their wake? The aftermath of their battles? Or is all this talk just from what you learn on the giant TV you got at home? The Jedi have cost the lives of innocent people amidst this chaotic war."
The man looks on in disgust, "Chaotic war, ha! These battles the Jedi and Republic forces fought in are what kept order in our galaxy and are what kept those filthy Separatists from destroying us and taking over. Besides, those people you say were killed probably deserved to d-"
Blam!
I cut him off mid-sentence by drawing my WESTAR-34 blaster pistol and shooting him in the head. His lifeless body fell into an occupied table and dropped three full wine glasses to the floor as people looked on in fear. I turned back to the bartender, holstering my blaster and throwing him a Republic credit. "For your troubles," I started.
"Oh and by the way, you might want to spend that quickly. I have a feeling they won't be very valuable soon." I then proceeded to put on my helmet and walk out the door. Outside was mayhem. Many people who did not support Palpatine were outside rioting in the streets.
There were incendiary projectiles being thrown at small storefronts, speeders being wrecked by crowbars, and ATM machined being raided. I pushed my way through the crowd to get to my ship, The Tailgate. It was a Dynamic-class freighter on a landing pad 5 blocks away. Once I finally got there, I discovered 6 young adults armed with bats defiling it.
Without saying a word, I pulled my EL-16HFE from my back and shot them all. After that was done, I checked the condition of my ship. "Not too bad, other than a few dents," I grumbled.
I hopped into the cockpit and started the takeoff cycle. It would be bothersome to stay on the planet right now. As I left Nar Shaddaa's atmosphere, I received an automated message from an Imperial official, known as Vice-Admiral Rampart.
"Attention all bounty hunters, as a direct order from the great Emperor Palpatine, a bounty that you can choose to complete has been assigned to each of you. For the killing or capture of any of the remaining Jedi knights, you will receive 470 thousand Imperial credits per person," his hologram stated,
This was a great opportunity I could not miss. I set a course for Ossus, and let the hyperdrive do the rest.
~Cahera: 26 BBY~
"What are the Jedi?" I asked softly, sitting on the edge of my bed. My father sat down with me.
"The Jedi are peacekeepers, sworn to protect the galaxy by their code. They use a mystical energy called the force to do so, and a blade made of energy called a lightsaber."
I stared at him, awestruck. "Could... could I be a Jedi?" I asked. He smiled. "It depends."
"On what?"
"How strong you are with the force."
"Stop teaching our son that hocus-pocus. The Jedi are a cult," mom disagreed, walking into my room.
"A Jedi saved my life. They're not as bad as you make them out to be," he stated.
I started to zone them out, as my mind focused on what it would be like to be a Jedi. I imagined myself saving a village from a group of bandits, a white lightsaber at the ready.
YOU ARE READING
Star Wars: Shadow of Light
FantasyAstin Kale's life has been anything but a walk in the park. After losing his parents at age 15 to a Venator crash, the boy becomes a bounty hunter going by the name "Hound." But when the former nobody gets the attention of Lord Vader and the empir...