Survival, Dark Times 2

[Rain]

Serra

Another blast hit us, then another. Mona wasn't letting up. Then I felt it. The feeling of movement. "Do you guys feel that?" I asked, "We're being drawn in by the orbit of the planet!"

"Just keep calm!" The unnamed woman said to everyone. "We have to keep moving!"

"Our ship is probably trashed by now-" Daron said. He was cut off in the middle of the sentence as another blast hit. He was caught offguard and slammed into the back wall, landing unconcious. Uli, who had also fallen, gathered himself and ran to Daron, checking his pulse.

"He's just outcold." The doctor said. He looked around and seen one of the Security members also on the floor. He done the same for him. "This one isn't so lucky."

Yet another blast hit the ship.

"We're definately going down!" I shouted.

Li

I could barely keep my feet as we ran and the ship lurched sideways. To make things worse the ships artificial gravity generators must have been damaged, as I was now running along the wall of the hallway.

Then another blast hit, just as I was running was an outlet, which due to the messed up gravity was actually above me. I looked up to see a durasteel toobox falling towards me. I tried to get out of the way, but failed. It hit me just above my left temple. I put my hand on where it had hit, then I felt all my energy drain, before falling.

[hk47fan]

Marlena

The ship jolted once again, and my head slammed into the wall. Everything was spinning for a few seconds as I tried to regain my balance. I barely remained conscious. "We need to get out of here, somehow!" I shouted.

"No shit, Sherlock!" Allison snapped.

"Daron was right, our ship is probably trashed by now...I think the escape pods are on this side of the ship, if we can get to them we'll at least li-" Alsia began as she moved forward.

However, suddenly, as I felt another blast, a large board came down from the ceiling and hit Alsia right in the head. She collapsed to the ground, much like Daron, unconscious.

"They're dropping like flies!" Wey yelled.

Jan suddenly jumped towards Naos. "Grab my hands! I need you to hold me!" she yelled.

"Hold you?! You psycho, this is not the time to come on to me-" Naos started.

She cut him off, turning her back to him as she grabbed both of his hands with both of hers. "This isn't me trying to come on to you, trust me! If we make it through this, I'll explain everything, just keep me in this position!"

Trika

Finally, after some flying through space, we reached Coruscant. We immediately headed towards the spaceport, and docked as fast as we could. My mind was racing...Jabba the Hutt had Olee, Mona was still out there, Leia was going to be popping out a kid soon...

We finally landed, and the exit ramp extended inside of the docking bay. "Kurt, it was good to work with you, for what it was! Leia, come with me!"

I grabbed Leia's hand and yanked her down the ramp, not even paying attention to what Kurt was doing, though I expected him to just leave now that the mission was over.

We rushed out of this particular bay and into the halls of the space port. The further we got into it, the more and more that I saw security swarming the place.

I didn't know why, but it was probably a good thing, considering Leia's current state.

I ran up to one of the officers with Leia in tow. "Excuse me, I need to find the Head of Security." I told him as politely as possible.

He blinked. "Uhh, we're not even sure who Head of Security is right n-"

My politeness faded, and I groaned.

I shoved my way past the officer, still pulling Leia along. "Baby daddy runs a tight ship!" I told her. "His own security team members don't even know who he is! Any idea where to find Solo?!"

[Rain]

Leia

"He should be at Coruscant Security Headquarters." I answered, as I yanked my arm away from Trika's, "And easy on, I'm heavily pregnant remember!"

[hk47fan]

Trika

"Well I'm not going to have you waddling along slower than ever, and then suddenly scream that the baby is coming. We need to find Han before that preferrably. And he needs to know about Olee as soon as possible. Come on!"

I then went running in the direction of HQ, with Leia behind me...

[Rain]

Leia

I sighed before running along with Trika. The Headquarters were fairly close so it didn't take too long. I seen Threepio and Chewbacca inside and ran towards them.

"Where's Han!" I gasped as I tried to catch my breath. I really needed to keep my exertions to a minimum right now.

"Leia?" I heard Winter say as she appeared behind us. "Leia are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I blurted out, "I need to speak to Han, right away."

There was a long pause. "You... you haven't heard?" She asked, looking rather nervous.

"Heard what?" I enquired, sharing a confused glance with Trika, "Winter? What has happened? Where is Han?"

[hk47fan]

Trika

I blinked. "Okay, Han runs a really bad security team, you know that? None of his officers can find the man!" I yelled in frusteration.

"Mrs. Taban, Mistress Leia, you've returned safely! Thank the maker! As for Captain Solo, you do not know of his departure?" Threepio asked.

"His departure?" I repeated. "What the hell are you people on about?"

R2 tweedled something in response.

"R2 is correct...it was not a departure per se, but a removal. Master Sora relieved Chief-of-State Haltzilakas and Captain Solo from their respective positions!" Threepio exclaimed, the fear creeping into his voice again. "Oh dear, just thinking about it reminds me that we're doomed!"

I snorted. "Oh please, you droids need to straighten out your cores, brains, or whatever you have up in those heads. Sora would not remove anyone from duty." I told them. "We don't really have time for jokes, here."

R2 made an annoyed noise.

"I will not repeat exactly what my counterpart said to you, as it was not very kind, but I am a protocol droid, Mrs. Taban. Joking is not in my programming, and even Miss Winter can confirm it. Anyone can." Threepio said.

My jaw dropped. They were serious.

[Rain]

Leia

"I'm afraid that C-3P0 is correct." Winter hesitantly confirmed, "Han and Miss H were relieved earlier today."

"What?" That wa sall I could say. Miss Haltzilakas and Han had lost their jobs, and it was down to Sora. My step-father? What had gotten into him? "But... but he can't do that!" I protested.

"Apparently he can." Said Winter with a slight grimace, "His actions have outraged everyone. People can understand him to a certain degree, due to what he has been through, but this latest move seems erratic and irrational. Several otehrs have expressed their distaste with his actions, including Admiral Ackbar... who also stepped down, albeit voluntarily."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Had Sora lost his mind?!

"I... okay." I said blankly, still somewhat confused by the situation, "Do you know where Han is now? He may not be the Head of Security, but I need to talk with him urgently."

Winter glanced down at my stomach. "About... you know what?" She asked.

"Partly." I replied, "But we need to talk to him about something else. Something that happened whilst we were away. Do you have any idea where-"

I froze.

"What is it?" Winter said, looking concerned.

I looked at her in disbelief. "My water just broke!"

[hk47fan]

Trika

As if the story about my own brother going crazy wasn't enough, as if Leia having contractions wasn't enough, her water had to break. Her water had to break right here in Security HQ, with no sight of Han in sight.

And what was going on with Sora? I knew he had taken Padme's death real hard, but this was very unlike him. I wasn't Solo or Haltzilakas's biggest fan by any means, but this was insane.

I'd figure that out later.

"You are pregnant, Mistress Leia?! What?!" Threepio yelled as R2 beeped in surprise.

I tried to calm myself. Yes, I, Trika Trok Taban, tried to calm myself.

First time for everything.

"Don't have a cow, Threepio, we don't need two people giving birth." I said, taking a deep breath. "I am no labor expert, but its a long process...your baby is definitely coming, but we still have some time. We really need to find Han."

[Revan Jast]

Kurt sat slumped against the wall of the ship, across from the loading ramp. He'd remained that way for the past while, deep in thought. He'd barely moved when they landed, and he didn't even twitch when Trika called out her sentiments to him as she and Leia left. He was thinking about the time when he'd been out of it. About the dream he'd had. Or was it a vision?

---------

It was dark here. Kurt wasn't surprised because that was natural when you were knocked out, but he was pretty sure that somehow feeling that the darkness around you was alive was pretty unnatural. He was aware of his surroundings, whatever that might be.

A few moments seemed to pass, but then again it could have been forever. The darkness around him remained the same, but now he could hear something as well. It sounded like...

"Kurt..."

The merc blinked a few times (well, he thought he did) and looked around. A light was coming for him, floating above the ground (was there ground?) like a ghostly orb.

"Kurt."

As it drew closer, he realized it was a crystal ball or something, and that someone was holding it. He saw robes behind the light, but there was no face where the hood was.

"Who are you?" he asked, genuinely scared for the first time in years. It wasn't just plain fear... he could feel the coldness seeping out from the thing before him.

"You know who I am," it said.

"Anziar? Why can't I see you?"

"You wouldn't want to, trust me," the robed figure said. "I'm not... quite the same."

"What-"

"Silence! We don't have time. I need to leave and you're going to wake up soon. Do you have ears or not?"

"What? Of course I do!" Kurt replied, starting to get confused.

"Good. Now listen closely."

--------

Kurt got up and made sure he had all his equipment. He did. Walking down the ramp, he tried to figure out what his best course of action right now would be. Probably would be better off with the Killer crew at the moment, but he didn't want to be seen with them when things got hairy. Those events would be his key to getting close with Sora.

Anziar had told him so.

----------

"Sora is going down a dark path with no intention of turning around anytime soon. I'm not completely sure why, either. Sora wasn't supposed to be like that... it's almost as if there's an outside source influencing him. Then again, it's possible we could have been wrong. He might not be the right man for the job."

"Right man for what job?" Kurt asked. "And where are we?"

"You'll find out someday. As for where we are: inside my head, of course. Don't you recognize it?"

Kurt looked around at all the blackness. "Well, I guess I should have. Why your head?"

"We're communing at a spirit level. You're completely passed out, so it's best that I brought you to me. I'm not in the position to come to you anyways."

"Why? What are you doing?"

"Getting ready," the robed figure replied.

"Ready for what?!"

-------------

Kurt kept going, not really paying attention to anything. It wasn't till he'd passed the Headquarters building that he noticed Trika and a very pregnant Leia standing on the other side of the glass doors. Breaking into a run, he darted across the street and inside.

"What's going on?" he asked.

----------

"Things are slowly being set in motion. Sora... he's going to become a cold man that rules with an iron fist if he doesn't change. I don't think he's going to change, but I could be wrong. He has a long time to think over things."

"You planning on doing something?" Kurt asked, narrowing his eyes.

The figure had been pacing back and forth, but it suddenly stopped. "I might be. What's it to you?"

"Nothing. Just curious, is all. So you're going to let time just pass till you get around to doing this thing of yours?"

"No," the figure said. "That's where you come in. I want you to be my eyes and ears, Kurt Jervada. You're going to find some way, an event that will no doubt be soon and one that'll involve those closest to Sora, and use that to get close to him. I need you to be his friend."

"How do you know that? I thought you said you only help guide things, not directly know or influence them? There's no free will if you know what happens!" Kurt said.

Anziar chuckled. "You're right. I don't know for certain... but Sora is growing darker each day, Kurt. I can feel his heart... see his heart. And what I see tells me things."

Kurt felt almost disgusted. "And after you're done with me being your spy? You want me to kill him?"

"No, Kurt... Sora is already dying. The Hero of the Republic... the solid foundation, the cornerstone of hope... that's decaying as we speak. However... I'll be there to kill the man he becomes."

Kurt could feel himself slipping away. He was waking up.

"Count on it, Kurt."

That was the last thing he heard.

-------------

[hk47fan]

Trika

I whirled around to see Kurt rushing in. He had probably spotted our ongoing situation. "Well, Kurt...Leia's gone from having contractions to water breaking. Not sure if her kid is coming right now, but it'll be on the way sooner or later and we just found out that Sora fired the Chief-of-State and Head of Security!" I exclaimed.

This is all getting way too crazy. Mona's still out there, Olee's frozen in carbonite, Leia's got Han Solo's child on the way, and my brother has decided to randomly remove people from their jobs. How can this be happening?

Sora

I walked through the Rotunda, trying to get everything organized...as hard as that was. People were still bustling in and out, the media was still everywhere, Solon was still trying to get set up, I was trying to get updates on current missions. Taking control like this was hard work, but it would be worth it in the end.

It has to be. This is providing safety for everyone, including my friends, even if they don't understand.

I could hear everyone's words...many were either confused, or irked by me suddenly deciding to take on a huge amount of power. I didn't expect random employees to understand, especially not after everyone else didn't. However, power like this was necessary.

I continued walking, but stopped when I heard an interesting conversation.

"I just came from the Soft Heart...I could overhear our new Supreme Admiral's old friends talking...sounds like they weren't too happy. They even talked about something of a...resistance, I think." one person said.

"Whoa, seriously? His own companions rebelling against him?" another person said.

"They sounded a bit serious about it. Not like they're starting up anything, but it seemed like they weren't going to let this happen."

My jaw dropped. No, no...they wouldn't. My own friends, my own allies...I knew they were upset, but they wouldn't actually try to do something, would they? They had to at least have more loyalty than that.

No, its impossible.

I kept on walking, trying to shrug it off, but my mind continued to focus on those thoughts...now was the time to put my foot down. I had to be firm...I had to stop crises before they began. We had let things like this slide by before, but we couldn't risk doing it now.

I...I can't chance it. I have to stop this before anyone gets hurt...

I stopped, staring in disbelief...only one option was there, and it was an option I dreaded. I dreaded it worse than relieving Han and Miss Haltzilakas from duty...this was something truly horrible, but it had to be done. Yet again, it was necessary.

I was going to stop all potential threats right now.

I grabbed out my comlink. "Security," I said, tapping into Coruscant Security's comm signal. "This is Supreme Admiral Trok. I am hereby issuing an arrest warrant for Han Solo, Renee Haltzilakas, and all of my Killer crew. I need them brought in...they should be at the Soft Heart Cantina. Waste no time."

I gulped. I'm sorry, but I can't let any of you destroy what little peace we have.

[Junk Angel]

Sem

The superstructure of the ship shook mightily as weapons pounded against it. Explosions could be heard in the distance and sirens blarring.

An explosion came closer, the blast singing Sem and hurling Li out of consciousness. The former padawan managed to barely get up before the hull imploded around her. The sudden rise of pressure being enough to drive air out of her lungs and force her into a slow spiral of unconsciousness as well.

[Rain]

Serra

It was true. We were dropping like flies. I actually wished I would be rendered unconcious. I didn't for a minute fancy being alert whenever this ship hit the ground. Then I noticed the blasts had stopped. I looked at those who were still awake. Not many it had to be said.

"The blasts have stopped!" I said, probably with abit too much optimism, as my hopes were dashed as the ship lurched again.

"That wasn't a blast!" Jenn said as she held onto one of the pipes on the wall. "We just entered atmosphe- ARGH!"

"Jenn!" Arthren shouted, as a piece of sharpnel came flying out of nowhere and went straight into her abdomen. She put her hand down, and when she brought it back up it was covered in crimson blood. "Jenn, are you OK?"

The woman looked shocked. "I... I'm not sure. Just hold on!"

"Stay there!" Uli shouted as he began making his way towards her, but he was then shoved back against the wall. "What's happening!" He shouted over the increasing noise.

"You tell me, doc!" Arthren snapped as she too was pressed against the wall.

"Damn it, I'm a doctor not a physician!"

"The ship is spinning as it's entering atmosphere." I answered as calmly as I could, "The massive centripetal force has effectively stuck us to the walls. Best to relax, it's probably safer like this-" There was a really loud groan, and the sound of metal bendiong and snapping was evident.

"Son of an akk dog..." I muttered, "I think the ship just split." That left no doubt in my mind. "Li and Sem... they are gone..."

Winter

"This is Supreme Admiral Trok. I am hereby issuing an arrest warrant for Han Solo, Renee Haltzilakas, and all of my Killer crew. I need them brought in...they should be at the Soft Heart Cantina. Waste no time."

We all froze.

"What?! What's he talking about?" Leia shouted manicly.

"Leia, calm down!" I said firmly, "In your position the last thing you need is to get worked up. Sora has lost his mind, that much is clear." I turned to Chewbacca, "Chewie, take Leia to the Soft Heart cantina. If I'm not mistaken that is where Han and the others are, and I believe there is a doctor among them. Threepio, R2, Trika... you go with them."

"What about you?" Leia asked.

"I'm staying." I said calmly,"

"What? No Winter you have to come with-"

"Leia, I'll be fine." I assured her, "You guys could really use someone on the inside, and to Sora I'm just another Coruscant Security member. We have never met in person, and thus he won't suspect a thing."

Leia reluctantly nodded.

"I guess I'll see you when I see you!" I said smiling.

"Count on it!" She replied.

As the others prepared to leave I looked at Kurt. "So, looks like you're an unlikely hero. Where do you stand in all of this?"

[hk47fan]

Marlena

As we all were pressed to the wall, we could hear more chaos, only this time it was much worse than gitting hit by blasts. The ship just split in two...thankfully, we were all still together, but Li and Sem...they were on their own now, if they were even still alive.

A look of horror crossed Wey's face. "Gone?! But that can't happen, we came here to rescue them, we have to-"

"I know you guys really care about those two kids, but uhh, we sorta have bigger problems to worry about before we go find them." Allison said, also looking at Jenn with concern.

Jan and Naos were now clamped right together to the wall, and Jan was glancing from her injured friend to Naos. "Damnit, we can't die like this!"

I tried to remain calm...there was no point in everyone getting worked up, which quite a few people were at the moment. "Do you think Li and Sem are still alive?" I asked.

"Normally, I think I would have felt their death through the Force...but right now, there is so much insanity and they are getting so far away that I am not sure how possible it would be." Naos replied.

"I'm not sure any of us are going to live at the moment," Wey said, still looking extremely concerned. "As the ship, or whats left of it, pulls further and further into Tattooine's atmosphere...we're going to go plumetting downwards."

We could all feel the ship lurch forward, and only seconds later, it began to spiral out of control. I could barely see anything as it all moved so fast, and I could hear a few yells of surprise.

Lady in Blue

The ship split in two, and was out of my sight as it finally fell into Tattooine's atmosphere. I looked on in partial triumph...my revenge may not had gone as planned. It may had gone a little awry, but Sem, Marlena, and Li...now they could die, and I'd never have to deal with them again.

"I wasn't about to let any of you three escape that easily...you got what you deserved," I growled, even though no one else was in the escape pod. "I guess I gave Li one final shock when I told him about his brother...too bad he won't live to deal with everything. Ah well."

But, my overall plan had not been a total failure...Sonas and Ivy were dead. Sora lost his wife and was getting more delusional by the hour. Most of my revenge had been successful...it was only my mother and that little brat ghostling that escaped, but now they were dead, so it didn't matter anymore.

I looked at the control panel for the pod. It was high time for me to dissappear...I had fufilled everything, for the most part. Xizor wouldn't need me anymore, either. And as much anger as I still felt towards Sem, Li, and Marlena for how the situation on the ship went, I could be satisfied in the fact that they were dead.

"Enjoy your new life, Sora," I muttered outloud. "Those three sure won't."

I set a random course, and looked back on Tattooine, my mother and former allies' gravesite, one last time as the escape pod made the jump to hyperspace.

Trika

"Oh, this is just terrible! We must get to Captain Solo, Miss Haltzilakas, and the Killer crew before its too late...oh we are doomed! How could Master Sora to do this to so many friends?! R2, you and I may be turned to scrap metal!" Threepio yelled as we walked out of HQ, going as fast as possible.

"My brother is doing this," I muttered aloud, still in disbelief. That order had completely winded me...firing was one big thing, but arresting everyone? That took this to a whole new level. I looked to Leia. "My brother, a man you look up to as your father...I never thought this could be happening."

My mind then began to try to rationalize things...I knew there probably wasn't much rationalization other than the fact that he's in emotional pain, but I began to come up with all these scenarios.

"Maybe...uh, Solo does like to sleep around with women he works with...that Tharen girl, Olee, you..." I slowly started, still looking to Leia. "Maybe Sora found him and Haltzy getting it on in his office or something, but that wouldn't explain him wanting to arrest the Killer crew...crap, there's no logical explanation for any of this."

[Revan Jast]

Kurt turned and looked out the window, towards the evening sky. "As the sun sets on this day, so does it set on us all." The line sounded like something Anziar would say, and it made him shiver.

He looked back at Winter as she spoke to him. "I have my place in the upcoming events, but right now it's not with you. Maybe... in time... we'll speak again. But for now, I have a task set before me. Know this, however: I'm on your side, no matter how it looks where I stand."

The merc extended his hand. "Good luck to you, because the shit just hit the fan."

---------------

"Oh hell," Caleb said, looking out the window at the approaching planet. "No way is this gonna kill me. I can't die like this."

He pulled out his data-pad and skimmed through it, looking at old journal logs and pictures of his wife and family. "Heh, Trika... you may have had a crazy side, but I loved you all the same. Hope everything goes ok back home..."

He choked up, a sob escaping his throat. He felt something trickle down his cheeks and he realized that he was crying for the first time in what seemed like forever. He wiped his eyes with the palm of his hand and sniffled. "If only I'd known that the last time we spoke would... would have actually been the last time."

Oh shut up, he thought to himself. You'll be fine. You all will be. None of you came this far to die in some shitty shipwreck.

"Yeah, guess that's true," he said aloud, moving away from the window. "Yeah... we'll be fine. Maybe we'll even get tans."

Putting his data-pad away, he smiled and looked back out the window.

[Rain]

Uli

"Hey, that's easy for you to say!" I managed to get out. The force pressing against my chest made it harder to breathe. "I burn!" I had been in enough near death experiences to know that it was best to face it with a smile. I was scared of course, but I had to block my fear out. Besides, this wasn't nearly as frightening as sitting in a shuttle whilst being pursued by none other than Darth Vader, just waiting for him to shoot you out of the sky.

Being a doctor I weighed up the odds in my head. We were in the central corridor of the ship, so therefore we had a chance of surviving this. A slim chance... but a chance nonetheless.

After all... without hope, is life really worth living?"

Leia

I gave Trika a glare, then remembered that Sora was her brother. Of course she would react this way. I knew I would!

"What happened, happened." I said, holding back tears as I remembered my mother, "We just have to deal with what comes our way as best we can."

I felt a pang of pain in my stomach. The contractions were coming, I could feel it. "Trika... we have to go..."

Winter

I smiled.

Despite my mind telling me to turn and run a mile, I believed in my heart that the mercenary was telling the truth. I extended my hand to oblige him in the handshake.

"That's not the way I would have described it, but it's quite apt nonetheless. And likewise. See you around, Kurt."