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Post by Abby on Jan 23, 2008 19:08:23 GMT -5
Scout tensed at the name, but did not back down. "So," she said. "You knew. And I won't lie and say I'm not tempted. But I have better things to do than be your Mara Jade or Lumiya." She was hoping for a reaction with those names, and got one, even if it was only a small tremor in the Force, like a far-away earthquake. At least Jaskia's intel had proven reliable... ut then again, when hadn't it? "Thanks, but no thanks."
Scout made her move then, coming at the Emperor in a Force-enhanced sprint. She took one more leaping bound, then pushed off with her foot, suddenly flying into the air and dropping as fast as an eagle onto Palpatine's chair--only he wasn't there anymore.
--
Jaskia felt a tremor in the Force, and unknowingly let out a moan. She glanced towards Sora. "Luke and Scout are on the Death Star," she said crisply. "There's a fight going on." The anger Jaskia felt from Scout seemed to have its' own heartbeat. And something else--a sudden fear. "Yeah... yeah, there's fighting going on up there." She left the rest of her thought unspoken. But who's fighting who?
She leaned over to the comm and typed in a private frequency. "This is Ghost Leader. All Jedi, listen up: we've got two of our own inside that station. If at all possible, try and figure out what's happening via mind meld."
"Who're the Jedi?" Nil, Ghost Two, asked sharply.
"Luke Skywalker and Tian Gash," Jaskia said. "Vader and our old friend are up with them now. There's a slim chance one might start to lose it. I can't meld right now from this distance."
"I'll do it," Nil replied. "And I'll see if I can't join you two up. Out."
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Post by hk47fan on Jan 23, 2008 19:26:47 GMT -5
Sora
"Why in Force's name are they up there?" I blurted "It may be awhile before that Generator is taken out, but they will have to try best they can to finish what ever they are doing, but if they're fighting Vader and Palpatine...there's no telling. But for now, they have time. Lets just hope they make it out."
The Emperor
I had darted out of my chair in time, and was quickly behind the girl, but just standing there. I knew I would not die here, and she would not kill me. "Oh, but I have so much to offer you. More than just power...haven't you ever wondered where you come from, if you inherited these powers? I might have answers. Don't you ever wonder what happened to those two people who gave birth to you and then left you to fend for yourself?" I queried in a monotone
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Post by Abby on Jan 23, 2008 19:45:50 GMT -5
Scout had her back to him, a precarious position indeed, and laughed. "You assume I care," she said gaily. She turned to regard the wizened old man behind her and moved into a defensive stance. She moved foreword faster than the eye could see, intending to behead the Emperor where he stood, when suddenly a bar of red light flashed towards her face. She turned her lunge into a spin under and through his legs--a sight that would normally have her snort in laughter--and suddenly jumped again, gaining distance to percieve this new threat.
Understanding clicked in her brain. The old prune still had his fancy lightsaber.
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Post by hk47fan on Jan 23, 2008 20:06:25 GMT -5
The Emperor
I cackled "Oh, but you could know so much. What if they actually loved you? What if they didn't want to leave you? What if they're dead? So many questions, and perhaps I could answer."
"However," I continued "If you are not with me...then you are against me."
With that I removed my lightsaber, and ignited it.
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Post by Abby on Jan 23, 2008 20:13:21 GMT -5
Scout pushed the thoughts of her parents out of her head before it got her into some serious trouble. "Then I guess we are, Your Highness,," she said. She bowed. "I'm ready when you are." She resolved that if she died, at least she'd still have the smirk on her face. She went quiet, then, and the two combatants circled each other, wary of one another's actions.
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Post by hk47fan on Jan 23, 2008 20:22:04 GMT -5
The Emperor
As I pointed the lightsaber at the fool, I said "If you somehow manage to kill me, what will you have left to live for? Soon all of your friends will be dead, their bodies burnt to a crisp."
As I jumped to the other side of the girl with the Force propelling me, I continued "Even that boy...the one you supposedly "love" so dearly...the one that I can feel is on your mind...I arranged something very special for him down on Endor...no other Rebel will get this "honor" that he will recieve..."
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Post by Abby on Jan 23, 2008 20:31:06 GMT -5
Scout felt her heartbeat suddenly speed up. She didn't even bother to answer. She turned quickly, dodging an unsuccessful thrust with his weapon and slid up to jam her lightsaber hilt into his nose, crushing bone and cartilage as easy as a tin can. Palpatine's skin was so immersed in the dark side that it practically burned upon contact. She could hear the whispers, coming from all around and seemingly all at once. Tempting her, ordering her to fail, to kneel, to submit...
She drew back her arm, shocked. Suddenly, the voices lost volume, but she knew they would always be there, like a disease spread by touching evil's face...
The split second hesitation was what saved the old man. She flipped high in the air and landed on the railing. Luke and Vader's intense duel had ceased momentarily... she briefly recalled a falling platform. But Luke wasn't dead. She knew it.
--
Ghost Two, Nil, Jaskia's right-hand man, got all the way to the edge of the shield before he could sense two flickering lights amidst all the darkness of the Death Star. He circled around at full speed, all the while feeling the two bright lights get stronger. Still fighting.
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Post by hk47fan on Jan 23, 2008 20:47:20 GMT -5
Naos
The battle had erupted into even more chaos, and it seemed we weren't getting anywhere. R2 had tried to help with getting the doors open but had been blasted, and I kept trying to get through the crowd of Imperials, while Chewie, some Ewok, and Erin had hi-jacked an AT-ST and seemed to be taking down the rest...
Erin
"You know, I'm getting really bored." I said as I watched as people "went to sleep" once we blasted them
The big ole teddy bear guy was helping move this...erm,. thingy...and the little teddy bear was using the blaster.
"Hey, I have an idea!" I yelled and quickly went over and shoved the Ewok out of his seat, and then sat down myself, and pointed the blaster at the door to the bunker...or, whatever that was.
As it seemed that Nah and Leeai saw what I was doing, they grabbed the robots and ran as I shot at the door "WOOOHOOO!" I yelled as the door exploded...
Naos
As I looked on as Erin blasted our way into the bunker, I thought You're kidding...you're kidding me...
The Emperor
I laughed and twirled my lightsaber as I immediately jumped up to the Jedi's level, and slashed ferciously at her. Then I used the Force to pick my chair up, and flung it at the girl to knock her off balance...
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Post by Abby on Jan 23, 2008 21:03:25 GMT -5
Scout cried out and somehow managed to duck both attacks. Not a real duck, precisely. If I went into more detail, I’d say that Scout made a ‘squak’ sound and did a horizontal spin which avoided Palpatine’s undercut and the heavy chair that was supposed to be bolted down. But, obviously, the construction-workers didn’t think of that. Both Scout and I wish death to those hooligans. Slow and painful. Though, I’m entertaining a longer well-thought-out death scene more than Scout is, at the moment.
Anywho…
She avoided the attack and landed on her entire right side, her lightsaber dropped and the hand that was supposed to be holding it twisted at the wrong angle. She knew it was broke by then, but fought past it. She grabbed her lightsaber before Palpatine’s boot smashed into her face and rolled off the balcony, landing somewhat lighter. Her wrist felt numb when unmoved, but now hot needles were prickling into the bone. She forced herself to turn on the activation stud.
As the Emperor sneered at her from above, Scout felt a distant pull on the back of her mind. ’Hey, am I interrupting?’
Scout pursed her lips. ’Sure took your time, Nil,’ she thought sourly.
’Meld. Now.’
Scout knew how risky it was, with her attention split into two different places. But Nil knew what he was doing… she hoped. She reached into the back recesses of her mind, unknowingly forging an everlasting bond and descending into the Battle Meld.
--
Darrina, sticking close to Naos, saw it all and laughed.
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Post by hk47fan on Jan 23, 2008 21:14:02 GMT -5
Naos
I shook my head and saif "Well, lets just go in."
I quickly hopped up and followed Han, Leia, and others into the bunker with Darrina at my side, and saw Chewie, Erin, and some Ewoks weren't far behind...
Erin
"See, that is why Niat should pay more attention to me than Juicekia." I commented to the big teddy bear as we ran to catch up to Noas and...uh...whatever that girl's name was...too hard for me to remember...
The Emperor
I cackled as I de-activated my lightsaber for a moment and shot bolts of Force Lightning into places around the young girl, and then ignited my lightsaber once again and jumped down to where she lay, and hissed "Get up. You won't give up this easily, will you? I know you will still fight..."
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Post by Abby on Jan 23, 2008 21:22:23 GMT -5
Scout smirked. “More than that,” she said. With Nil’s added strength, she could sort Palpatine from the space battle, could feel Nil’s added boost. Suddenly, Jaskia was there, gripping on tightly. ’I won’t let you go again,’ Jaskia snarled.
Scout just laughed. “Second round, Your Highness,” she said, and with extra contempt, managed to spit all the way over the Emperor’s shoes without using the Force. “Can you take me now?”
She ran at a slant, testing his footwork, and jumped to the right, then back to the left, bringing her left lightsaber around in a powerful ark.
--
The base was captured in mere minutes. Shaak Ti led the Imperials out herself, making sure they could see the lightsaber in her hand. They had been disarmed in an orderly fashion, and sent to the Sergeant to earn their rights--whatever they had--as prisoners of war.
"Plant the time bombs," Shaak Ti ordered. "Then contact our forces. Tell them that the shield is down."
Darrina nodded. A smile lightened her face. One of the Jedi knelt down to see to Princess Leia, who had been slightly wounded during the battle, but Han beat him to it. He flashed the Jedi a 'look' and knelt down to clean the wound himself. Judging by the way his fingers moved clumsily around her skin, Shaak Ti supposed he never treated a shot like this in his life... or he had feelings for the young lady.
Something to keep an eye on.
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Post by hk47fan on Jan 23, 2008 21:31:29 GMT -5
The Emperor
"Your power has increased," I said as I examined her "It seems you have gotten a sudden boost...from one of your friends, perhaps? Whatever the case, it will do you no good!"
I lifted one of my hands up and concentrated as one of the beams was disconnected and suspended in Mid-Air and then I hurled it at Scout, and once I released it I also poured Force Lightning down on her...
Erin
I walked over to the girl who was supposed to call our friends, and said "Oh, let me do it...er, um, no-name girl."
I grabbed the comlink, and contacted that Captain's ship, and said "Juicekia, Saor, and Niat...we blew up that big building, so you can attack the circle now! Bye!"
Sora
Once we got the...erm, message, from Erin, I ignored her stupidity and said "Its down. I can tell. Lets go."
I shouted and order into the open channel, and the Falcon and Rogue Squadron followed the Killer to the Death Star...
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Post by Abby on Jan 25, 2008 16:56:00 GMT -5
ScoutThe pillars? Easy to dodge. Unlimited lightning? Not so easy. I made a desperate leap to the right, narrowly missing a piece of evil construction and avoiding another. I felt Palpatine's hands track me during the roll, about to unleash his next volley... I grit my teeth and jumped back to my original position, reached out to the collumn he threw and swinging it back around, then shooting it towards him like an oversized bullet. I didn't stay to see if it hit him or not. Withdrawing my concentration, I glanced towards the flickering red-and-green lights a little behind me and to my left. Luke had Vader pinned. Even I could feel his anger, all stemming from a few well-placed jibes Vader had made. Luke attacked in a frezy, grunting as he struggled to keep Vader at bay. The Dark Lord was falling back. Another green flash of light. Vader's lightsaber hand flew down the floor. Luke moved in for the killing blow, a wild look in his eyes. Then he hesitated, and I felt Jaskia's relief through the meld. "Luke..." I said softly, warningly. I backed away slightly, keeping both Palpatine (apparently he dodged the counter-attack) and the two weary combatants in my peripheral vision. He glanced at me, then back at Vader, confusion written all over his face. The Dark Side was practically swirling around him. "The true test against being Jedi or Sith," I whispered harshly, "is the dark side. This is your chance. Killing him may feel right, righter than anything else in the galaxy. He killed Biggs. He destroyed Alderaan. He took Shira from you. But killing him won't ease that pain or make your troubles go away." Luke glanced back at me, and I felt my heart go out for the young farmboy. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Scout!" I twisted, bringing my lightsabers down in a low V-Block... too quick. Palpatine's smiling face was in mine, and then I was falling, falling, falling, unable to get back up again. I glanced at my chest, somewhat amused--and angry--to see the Emperor's lightsaber hilt buried in my chest. The pain didn't come, as I expected. My face went blank, and I glanced as if confused back at the old man. Distantly, I recalled a blonde woman holding me and telling me everything would be alright. I could hear her voice, so beautiful and enchanting, singing a nursery rhyme to calm me down. To calm me down before the bad men took me... "Come to the window, my baby, with me, and look at the stars that shine on the sea! I see a dear baby that should be asleep..." I smiled in the face of my killer, but I didn't see him. I only saw my mother, rocking me and singing. The darkness consumed me, and I felt my body thump on the ground before all senses departed. I felt large, comforting arms wrap around me, and I allowed myself to fall back in them. Those arms lifted me through the darkness, and I knew I was already dead. Except... I don't think I mind. -- Jaskia paled. "She's dead," she whispered. Nil's fury could be felt through their bond as he took out his anger on a pair of unlucky TIE fighters. Suddenly, the world seemed to fold in on them. Jaskia let out a sob. "She's dead..." Scout couldn't die! Not the sunny, bright girl she had met at the Temple. Not that girl. Scout had always shined with a strength that always baffled Jaskia, a strength that could hope for anything, do anything, laugh, cry... And she was gone. Her death caused such a ripple in the Force that pain shot through her head. --- Down below, Nait was experiancing the same feeling of loss. Tears streaked his face, and he no longer shot at the passing TIE fighters. All he cared about was his sister... And she was dead. --- Shaak Ti glanced up at the sky, involuntarily shuddering at the bright lights of battle popping in the sky. The other Jedi glanced around them, suddenly tense. Shaak Ti understood the message the Force had granted her, and bowed her head in sorrow. OOC: It's been SO long since I've done first-person. Need to keep up the skills. 
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Post by hk47fan on Jan 25, 2008 20:31:44 GMT -5
Naos
Suddenly as I sat on a log on Endor, I felt a sharp pain. Scout. I immediately realized, and looked to the sky as tears began to pour out of my eyes
"No..she's dead...they killed her...they killed my Scout..." I said
Sora
"WHAT?!" I yelled just as we were heading down into the Death Star, and the Killer nearly jolted when I heard Jaskia's announcement and almost hit one of the beams
I managed to keep it under control and said into the comm "Lando, you take the lead for now. We'll catch up."
"Who's dead?" I asked calmly, feeling a small ripple in the Force myself
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Post by Abby on Jan 25, 2008 20:54:45 GMT -5
Jaskia shook her head and blinked hard, struggling to keep the tears at bay. It didn't work. Scout was really dead this time. She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair, fighting to keep her voice under control. Nevertheless, it cracked when she spoke. "The Emperor has killed Scout," she said, sitting up straighter and rubbing at her cheek furiously to wipe away traces of tears. Her throat felt tight. "Nil was closer. He must have seen it."
She heard a cry from back in the turret area, one full of grief, of anger, or loss. It infected her like poison, and she leaned froeward to peer closer at their entrance. Already they were on their way in, albit slower than the others. They were in a large maitenance-ship tubing area wide enough for about two X-Wings to fit side-by-side. The Killer had problems due to the small width, but somehow Sora was making it work. "TIEs are approaching, faster than my Ghosts," she said stiffly. "We have to go in and hope our gunner retains his senses."
--
Luke's own pulse beat in his ears. He watched helplessly as the Emperor slid Scout's body off of his blade with distaste. She crumpled to the ground with a soft exhalation of the remaining air in her lungs. Her eyes, turning milky after death, stared at him from across the room. Their light had gone out, but he felt it was important to watch, to read her last expression. Trembling, he realized that she had not seen him, had not given him one last bit of advice except to spare Vader. Luke turned his head to glare mutely at his father, who had not gotten up. His artificial breathing was the same as ever, but Luke could sense a slight fear in him he had not known before.
He looked at Vader, then at Scout's body.
"Killing him may feel right, righter than anything else in the galaxy. He killed Biggs. He destroyed Alderaan. He took Shira from you. But killing him won't ease that pain or make your troubles go away."
In her own cryptic way, Scout was right again. The only thing he could do would be to honor her memory. He used the Force to bring her two lightsabers to his awaiting hand, and clipped them onto his belt. The deactivated hilts seemed to shine silver, as if she had polished it just seconds before her death. He knew she had made the hilts out of special mithral implants so it would always look that way, but now, looking at her weapons, Luke felt a longing for her he never knew he had.
Maybe he had loved her. More than a friend. All those times in training, she had pushed him to his limit, pushed so hard Luke wanted to strangle her. Yet, those teachings kept him alive, and they had had fun. All the while, she was twirling her mock lightsaber and taunting him.
Yes, he loved her. She was his mentor. His friend. The only person who had really understood.
And Palpatine stole her from him.
He could imagine her face now, calm, serene, looking at him from a distance. Suddenly, her mouth twisted into a wry smile and her eyes twinkled. "Now who's blind?"
With a shudder, Luke deactivated his lightsaber and turned to squarely face Palpatine. Ready to die.
Besides, he thought, he always imagined that Scout would drag him on a quest so impossible it'd kill them both. This was it.
--
Shaak Ti placed a hand on Naos' shoulder. "You cannot help her now," she said soothingly. She rubbed his shoulder and made him look her in the eye. "She is with the Force, where Fate has willed her to go. The best thing we can do now is wait for the outcome of the battle. Tian and Luke have bought us all valuable time. Do not let their sacrifices be in vain."
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