Youth Wars Part III: A New Age

Chapter 9

        Erk woke up after a surprisingly long nap. He sat up, then recalled everything moments earlier. "How are things going to work?" He said quietly to himself. 'Things seem to be changing; our plan may not work out the way we anticipated.' He thought about what the master said. 'He foresaw the attack? But... that would mean that he... then...'

...

'Oh poodoo. It's a setup!'

---

Ephraim sat with Rye, Erickson, Nikki, and Nicolette as they caught up. He sensed a disturbance in the force, said, "I'll be right back." and immediately retreated to his quarters. He sat down in the center of his room and closed his eyes.

- -

        Exar felt the same thing as he was following everyone back to base. He set his ship to auto pilot and closed his eyes. He and Ephraim felt a connection, then they opened their eyes. Exar found himself in Ephraim's room, and there he saw him. "This could be a really bad time. Did you get back already, or are you still on the Death Star? If you're still there, you could compromise your positi-"

"A bit of both."

"What does that mean?"

"It's hard to explain, and I have no time." Ephraim informed. "My master has the Republic backed into a corner."

"Your mast- would that be the silver stormtrooper?"

"Worse. He knows the attack is coming."

Exar took a moment and let that message sink in. "Tell me about him."

"You thought I'm the one who knows the most about the force around here? Well, Exar, I have news." Ephraim seemed to be starting to panic. "I've only scratched the surface. My master, is unbelievably powerful."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"Pray that seeing it won't be the last thing you do. I witnessed my master bring a room of workers back to life."

'Who killed them?' Exar thought. He didn't dwell on the thought very long; he was too shocked at the news he just received. "He's there? At the weapon?"

"He is. Exar, I don't think we should go on with the attack."

"Well I haven't had any bad feelings about any preceedings thus far. And who knows, Aang might have a little more up his sleeve."

"Whatever you do, you won't beat him. He'll get into your head and destroy you from the inside. Slowly." The way Ephraim said it seemed scared, and that concerned Exar.

"Did he do something to you?"

Ephraim hesitated before answering.

---

        Rye was laughing at a funny experience his wife told him about, then it immediately died down. He sensed something dark going on. He turned his head towards the hallway leading to Ephraim's bedroom and slightly frowned. "Brother." Rye called. Erickson stopped laughing and acknowledged Rye. "Do you sense that?"

"Rye." Nicolette called. "Would, Ephraim, happen to be force-sensititve?"

"He always said he wasn't. And, I, never sensed any trace of it in him."

"Well we're all picking up a strong sense of the dark side around." Nikki said.

"I'll talk to him." Rye said, getting up and exiting the scene.