Star Wars: Nark Malcom

Chapter 6

Lights flashed, the hall stayed dark. Camera droids hovered by the exit of the hallway, their red dots on showing they were recording. Crowds cheered, voices chanted names. From the dark hall emerged Nark. Wearing a grey tank top and black pants he stepped into the arena with his hair slicked up and his anxiety slightly risen. The announcer called his name loudly, people cheered and booed. His fanfare played loudly. From the stands watching was Yurl. Watching from their temporary apartment was Thorla and Lössi. Nark calmed himself for the cameras as droids flew by him videotaping. Soon his music changed to a new one. A more sinister, scary one. The DarkLord walked out in a large black cloak that dragged behind him. The lights darkened as he stepped on stage. Two lights, one on Nark. One on him. As the music stopped, he exited the cloak wearing all black. His long hair hung loose. He screamed loudly, the music picking up. The hype man did his job as the announcer shouted his name. Watching, Lössi smirked. "I'm rooting for him." She smiled. Thorla sighed watching as the word FIGHT played. Nark took a defensive stance as The DarkLord charged him. The contender for champion leaped at Nark only to feel the young brown haired man's foot between his legs. The DarkLord yelled loudly as he fell to his knees holding below his waste crying in pain. The crowd went silent as Nark's rival slowly got up and took a swing. Nark dodged it but was caught by a punch. The DarkLord then grabbed Nark and began beating the life out of him, his face full of blood. Just as Hope was lost, Nark threw an uppercut hit that hit right into The DarkLord's chin. The large man stumbled back but recovered and punched Nark in the jaw. Nark jerked back and nearly fell. His rival stood over him and put his foot to Nark's back.

"Star Jumper, right?" He asked mockingly. Nark couldn't answer due to the pain. He looked up but couldn't hold his head in position. "Star Jumper, pathetic. Weak. Foolish. Just a pretty boy who sells tickets." DarkLord mocked. Nark then felt the urge. He jerked back sending the DarkLord back. He jumped up and kicked the man in the head making him fall back. As he got up, Nark kicked him in the chest. He caught himself and slowly got up but soon saw Nark leap up and punched him right in the face. The DarkLord saw stars, and then passed out. The lights came on as the crowds cheered for Nark. Yurl ran down from his seat and hugged Nark. He smiled as the two walked off stage. Yurl and Nark celebrated all the way to Nark's dressing room where a nurse was. Nark entered the room and sat down. The nurse treated any bruises or cuts he had. She then cleaned his face of blood then left.

"Nark my man." Yurl smiled. "So proud of you. Way too proud. You won the championship." Nark's agent smiled.

"Now I gotta go to a senate hearing." Nark sighed.

"Sadly, we'll celebrate afterwards." Yurl smiled.

"Sadly it takes a few decades for the senate to decide anything." Nark said. "Hell," he started laughing. "if they decided who won these fights, the participants would be retired by the time they got an award." Nark laughed hysterically. The two laughed together, meanwhile Lössi and Thorla watched the after show. Soon Bat walked in with a datapad and squad of clones.

"Briefing of the meeting. Before you ask, the others with you besides Nark will be handing in reports. Torver will appear later on to represent the Jedi. We must leave soon." Bat said as Thorla took the datapad.

"Understood." Thorla replied.

"If you may, we must hurry." Bat said leaving the room. The two followed out with him into the blue halls and toward the large landing pad where a security ship sat calmly. "This way." Bat said walking toward the ship. The two followed him to it, the senate building not far from. It was in the near distance, traffic the only thing slowing them down. The ship took off with all aboard and headed to the senate building. The ship eventually landed on a private pad where they were met by more clone troopers. "This is my squad." Bat said gesturing to the men with similar armor markings.

"This new armor, I like it." Lössi smiled.

"New weapons and armor, you guys got what I wanted for Life Day." Thorla sighed. The group went down a hall where they saw Gerfar and Nark standing with a yellow marked clone trooper. Thorla and Lössi walked toward him and the yellow clone, stopping in front of him. "Hey Nark!" Thorla exclaimed loudly.

"Oh hey guys!" Nark smiled turning and looking at the two.

"Congratulations on the win." Thorla smiled. Nark smirked then looked down briefly. He looked back up and smiled.

"Thanks." He replied with a smile.

"I was rooting for the other guy." Lössi said killing his smile.

"And I thought we were friends." Nark sarcastically said looking at the girl in the green dress. Soon a voice called out to them, a familiar voice. The three turned, all with a smile. Torver walked over, a large patch on his temple and his arm patched up. Everyone smiled greeting their Jedi friend. The four all together now were soon met by several blue senate guards. Their commander waved the group to follow, which they did.  The four followed the elite guard to a door where they'd tell their stories. "Did you hear any news of an offensive?" Nark asked looking at Torver.

"No, sadly no." The Jedi replied. "But we must be patient." Torver stated.

"You'd think the words of the men would be enough." Lössi muttered.

"They didn't see what we saw." Thorla replied.

"Whatever." Lössi groaned as they entered the senate chambers. Chancellor Palpatine was high above them. Stepping onto their hovering balcony the group rose slowly to meet the leader of the republic.

"Hello your highnesses, Jedi, and Nark." The chancellor replied. "What exactly happened in the Asgard System?" The Chancellor asked.

"Some guys in red—" Lössi began.

"The Confederacy of Independent Systems was making small aggressions, a man in red attacked us. His armies the same. Legions of what seemed to be possibly organic troops took the capital and then broadened their invasion to the entire planet." Thorla said.

"We have reason to believe they're with the CIS." Torver said. "A direct move would've been to premature for what seemed to be a sparking fire." The Jedi added.

"Legions you say?" Palpatine asked.

"Many." Thorla answered.

"The captain of the peace keepers unit was killed by one of their troops." Nark said. "They also posses a navy." Nark added.

"Captain Gerfar mentioned star fighters. Apparently one of our ships had been destroyed, and a piece of it struck yours?" The chancellor asked.

"Memory of the crash is vague." Nark said.

"Do you suggest you blacked out in the crash?" The trace federation representative asked as their stand moved toward the center of the room.

"I did, so did Torver. Gerfar nor the princesses did not." Nark said.

"And you, the Jedi suggest the CIS are involved?" The federation leader asked.

"Yes, the council and I concluded on it." Torver said.

"They're delusional. The crash! They know nothing!" The federation leader shouted at Palpatine.

"Chancellor—" Thorla began.

"I will not risk anymore lives then I already have." The Chancellor said. "But I do know when I must." He added.  "Sadly," he began. "the Asgard Kingdom is not part of the Senate and I cannot risk troops." The chancellor concluded. "You may seek safety here until they leave your kingdom." The chancellor finalized. "This case" He said sharply as disparities between the four grew. "is closed." The chancellor said. Loud eruptions broke out amongst the entire senate as the verdict was made. Nark looked at Thorla and Lössi. Torver looked down. The four felt lost. Their balcony slowly fell back into place. The four walked out into the main hall where Gerfar, Sledge, and the last of the peacekeepers were.

"Did an invasion be green lit?" Gerfar asked.

"No." Thorla said depressed.

"I figured as much." Gerfar replied walking closer to the group.

To be continued