Shadow of the Saber

Part 1: Trouble, Thy Name is Lumiya

A Tale of the Force and Fate

A Warm Invitation

Esteemed Readers,

I invite you to embark on a journey to a galaxy far, far away, where the echoes of the Force still reverberate. In the wake of the Empire's fall, a new threat emerges from the shadows, a darkness born of the very heart of evil.

Join Mara Jade, the fearless hand of the Emperor turned champion of the New Republic, as she confronts her most formidable adversary yet. Amidst the desolate sands of Tatooine, a battle for the soul of the galaxy unfolds.

Will light prevail over darkness?

I implore you, dear readers, to delve into this tale of intrigue, courage, and the enduring power of hope. Vote, like, share, and comment to let your voice be heard and influence the direction of this story.

May the Force be with you,

Respectfully,

Sir Charles Dickens 

Mara Jade's fingers brushed her lightsaber as the sand-barge's security alarms suddenly went silent—all of them, at once. The desert wind howled against the hull, a keening sound like lost souls crying out across Tatooine's endless dunes. Something was wrong. The Force whispered its warning through her bones.

Her boots made no sound on the polished deck plates as she moved. The diplomatic transport Desert's Grace continued its steady glide across the sea of sand, oblivious to the darkness gathering within its walls. Through viewport windows, twin suns painted the afternoon sky in shades of burning copper and molten gold.

The corridor ahead stretched empty. Too empty. The usual patrol should have passed three minutes ago. Mara's chrono clicked softly in the silence. She reached out with her senses, feeling for the crew she knew should be there. Nothing. The Force pulled at her again, more urgent now.

A door hissed open to her left. Captain Reeves emerged, his uniform crisp despite the heat. "Lady Jade," he said, inclining his head. "Is everything alright?"

"Your security systems are down." Her words came out clipped, professional. Don't let him see you know.

"Impossible." He tapped his datapad. "I'm showing all systems nominal."

"Check again."

The captain's fingers moved across the screen. His expression shifted—confusion, then alarm. "This can't be right. The readings... they're on a loop."

"How long?"

"Three hours." He looked up, face pale. "We need to—"

The blast caught him in the chest. Clean shot, professional. Mara was moving before his body hit the deck, rolling into an alcove as two more bolts scorched the wall where she'd stood. The shooter moved like a shadow in Imperial armor. Not stormtrooper white—this was midnight black, gleaming like oil.

Mara triggered her comlink. "Bridge, security breach on Deck Three! Captain Reeves is down!" Static answered. Of course. She should have known.

More armored figures emerged from cross-corridors, weapons raised. Six of them. No, eight. Their movements spoke of elite training. These were no common mercenaries. The closest raised his blaster—and hesitated for a fraction of a second.

They want me alive.

She used that hesitation. The Force flowed through her as she sprang, but subtly—nothing too obvious. A nearby service panel tore free, providing cover. Two quick shots from her holdout blaster found gaps in armor. The remaining attackers scattered, seeking positions.