Star Wars: After the Rise

Chapter 4: Uncertainty

Nearly the entire village was gathered around Tryst's shack. Inside, the pilot was seated at their table. While Oliver offered him some of their spare food, he could hear Tryst trying to disperse the crowd.

"Alright, everyone, go back to your homes! I'll answer all your questions tomorrow, but right now I know as much as all of you. This will all be settled by morning, now shoo!"

With that, Tryst slammed the door and sat back down at the table. Oliver looked over at Tai, giving her a reassuring smile. She returned it, although it hardly made Oliver feel any better.

"Now son," Tryst turned to the pilot. "I need you to tell me just what the hell is happening."

The pilot took a large gulp of water and nodded. "I'll do my best."

The pilot told them all he saw. About the beings with laser swords who called themselves "the Sons of Maul." The magical amulet that led them to him, and now Zularsa. Their leader, a maniac named Morroth, was looking for someone on Zularsa, claiming they were a descendant of "the Destroyer." The pilot sent a distress signal, and managed to escape to the surface. The fact he wasn't blown out of the sky meant that they wanted those on Zularsa to know. While this all sounded terrifying to Oliver, his curiosity was piqued.

"Who is 'the Destroyer'?" Oliver asked.

The pilot shook his head. "I don't know. I think it was someone who killed an old friend of theirs. I just know it's someone like them."

The pilot continued to eat. For a while, the only sound throughout the shack was the pilot finishing his meal.

Tryst came over to take the cutlery. "We have an extra cot somewhere nearby. You can stay the night, and in the morning we can figure out what to do."

Oliver went with Tryst to their storage cellar to help look for the cot. While down there, Oliver decided to speak first.

"Look, Tryst, I'm-"

"Don't worry about it, Ol," Tryst replied. "We both said some things we shouldn't've. I'm sorry."

"S'alright." Oliver continued to search for the cot.

"For what it's worth," Tryst said, "I don't really think your parents abandoned you here because they didn't want you."

Oliver continued his search as he replied. "Then why am I here?"

There was another pause before Tryst continued. "This system isn't exactly the center of the galaxy. If I had to guess, whoever had you were lost out here. Ship was damaged, and only one escape pod. Your mother and father, or whoever was with you, probably wanted to save you before the ship was destroyed."

Oliver finally turned around to face Tryst.

"You sure that's what happened?"

"I don't know, son. Honestly, I'll probably never know the answer. It just makes the most sense."

Oliver sighed. "You have a point."

"I do get it, Oliver. The curiosity. Looking for answers. Part of me always wondered what really happened that brought you here. But that doesn't matter. Point is you are now. Wouldn't be the same without you."

"You sure?" Oliver asked.

"Of course. Without you, my days would be peaceful and productive."

Oliver laughed. "I don't know. Tai would probably still get in enough trouble for the both of us."

It was Tryst's turn to laugh. "You have a point."

Oliver's attention was drawn to a gray mass in the corner of his eye.