A Different Path [UNFINISHED]

Executing New Plans

He knew he was in trouble and he descended down into Coruscant again to help him. It had been so long since he had been there, but it hasn't changed since his last visit. He roams through the city, people, and buildings. He examines every variable that could stymie his plan and then he executes. First step: going to Lothal. But he would have to hurry because the boy wouldn't be able to live for much longer. They had already lost him, but they can't lose the boy now too.

He went to the Imperial Academy where Zare Leonis was nearly finished with the basic training. However, their true training began when they are shipped off to other systems to start working as stormtroopers. He was hoping to make the Empire transfer Zare to Coruscant--specifically for the boy's case. He knew there was a deal between them, so now would be the time for it to pay off. Quickly, he transported to Lothal and was secretly attending the final day of the basic training. The staff were about to announce the locations of the graduating cadets.

He was one with the force and used his abilities to swiftly change the place of Zare's name with another cadet's. After the commander read through the list, the cadets ran to their rooms, grabbed their belongings, and boarded Imperial ships that would take them to their new training place. Zare grabbed his things slowly with many thoughts cloying his mind and they were mainly about his sister, Dhara. She disappeared right about now in her basic training. He was hoping that he could uncover some information about her when he lands in his new training location: Coruscant.

"Hey, Zare!" Reagan waved his hand in front of his face. "You ready?"
"Oh yeah, I'm ready," Zare somewhat stammered.
"Come on, let's go! Only the best cadets go to Coruscant and we were chosen! What are you waiting for?"
"Uh...nothing. I'm ready! Let's get out of here!"

As they walked through the hallways, Zare continued to think about his sister and where she could be. He also wondered why the Inquisitor didn't accept him for not being able to lift a cup. He also began to contemplate the mini interrogation they performed on him asking him about Jai and Dev. Then he thought of his arch nemesis, Nazhros Oleg, who swore to uncover the truth about what happened between him, Jai, and Dev. However, Zare was happy to find out that Nazhros was relieved of duties, so that was one less problem for him. Besides Nazhros, he hasn't been caught by the Empire yet, thanks to Lieutenant Chiron, who had always thought highly of him.

"What do you think you might do when you're done with the formal training?" Reagan asked as they boarded the small ship.
"I don't know," Zare said. "I'm hoping to meet up with my girlfriend soon, though."
"Oh, that's right! Merei Spanjaf..."
"I've been kind of worried about her. She's just always looked really tired."
"Whatever, man. I just can't wait for Coruscant! I've only been there once and I didn't even step foot on a single building, but it's great!"
"I'm sure it is."

****

The ship finally landed and Zare could see stormtroopers outside waiting for them. Hopefully, he could turn over a new leaf in Coruscant. The ship finally touched the ground and the doors opened. The cadets exited the ship with their belongings and the stormtroopers began to assign each cadet to them.

"Zare Leonis," a stormtrooper called his name.

He followed Zare to his assigned stormtrooper and watched as the other boys were given their mentors. After the assignments, the stormtroopers began to take the cadets to different locations to start their formal training. Zare's mentor's name was Xelo Maran and Xelo had a top position on Coruscant as an ARC trooper. Zare would soon become an ARC trooper as well if his loyalty remains.

First, Xelo led Zare to his barracks and began to go over rules. Zare was given his own room in the barracks. After unpacking and going over rules, Xelo gave Zare an offical ARC trooper uniform with a small symbol embossed on the helmet and shoulder that identified Zare as a student ARC trooper. Immediately after receiving his uniform and putting it on, Xelo began to lead Zare to his training where he would watch over very dangerous prisoners and give commands to the lower-ranked stormtroopers.

The halls had black floors with small glowing red lights beneath them for an eerie look. The hallways were hexagonal shaped with strong gray metal plates for extra protection. Keypads were next to the entrance of each cell and in the middle of all the cells was the command desk where three stormtroopers stood.

"Hey Xelo," another stormtrooper greeted them, "I see you finally got promoted to mentor the cadets! Who's your student?"
"His name's Zare. Zare Leonis," Xelo replied. "Apparently, they've given him a really hard task to ensure his loyalty, so I'll be keeping a close eye on him."
"Ah, I see. Have fun, kid."

Zare stared at his surroundings as they continued to make their way down to a particular cell. Xelo finally stopped in a dead-end hallway and an intricate keypad appeared. He watched Zare study everything around him...for future reference.

"Zare, your case is on a particular rebel prisoner," Xelo said. "He's kind of like you, but not in the right mind. You keep watch on the inside when the...'machine' isn't in operation. I'll be out here. Both of our jobs is to guard. Right now, the last...'session' ended twenty minutes ago. He may be waking soon, but as soon as he does, let me know, because a certain Inquisitor would like to 'speak' with him."
"Who is this guy?" Zare asked full of interest. "He sounds really bad."
"I can't remember the kid's first--"
"Wait, did you just say 'kid', Mr. Maran?"
"You bet. I don't know how this kid did everything he did, but he's here now and we're going to recruit him. I'm not sure what the Inquisitor has in mind for that kid, but it's classified and there's a lot of tension in this case."
"What kind of tension?"
"Ever since the head Inquisitor died, these two Inquisitors have gone nuts over this one kid. I don't know who's captive he is, but it seems like to be hers."
"Hers?"
"Leonis, you ask too many questions. I can't answer them all because you can't know. I like you, kid, but for now, just do you duty."

Zare nodded as Xelo turned around and began to enter a long passcode. The door fell down and Zare entered as lights began to turn on. Just as he fully entered the cell, another question entered his mind and just as he was about to ask, the door slammed shut and now it was just him and the prisoner. Lights slowly focused on the prisoner as Zare tried to identify who it was.

"I guess it's just you and me, whoever you are," Zare sighed. "I guess I just have to stand here until you wake up. I hope that's soon."

Zare looked around the cell and saw the droid in a corner. He easily recognized the prototype and looked at the prisoner. Didn't Mr. Maran say this was just a "kid?", he thought to himself, Why is there an interrogation droid in testing just sitting here in this cell? Who the hell is this kid? Zare began to walk around the circular cell for a different perspective and then gasped at the scarring scene.

"This training is going to be so hard...," Zare mumbled in shock.