Warrior ◊ Star Wars

prologue

2 years prior

Darkness.

It's everywhere, in every shadow, every dark crevice, even snaking its way into the light. It leeches into every corner, casting itself just for someone to stumble upon. There are many ways to find it, to wander into it, perhaps even to fall straight into the trap. None of them are quite pleasant and not one is nicer than the others.

The first way is being born in darkness. To have known nothing else in your life but fear of evil because it is ever-present. The demons inside of them are always there because the enemy always is. The fear becomes anger, the anger a need for control. Once you realize there is no possible way for complete control, that is when you lust for control and want it, no matter the cost.

Then there are those born to darkness. These people grow up in the dark, grow up in evil when they really don't understand what it is. They don't know right from wrong until it's too late, and they are forced to look in the mirror to see what they have become. Then there is a choice; to embrace, to blame, or to run.

The most common one seems to be those who are pushed into darkness. They could have been isolated, normal, or maybe just able to see the light there whole life. They are thrown head first into the dark, and must figure out how to navigate so they don't lose their own soul.

Then, the last, fall into darkness suspecting it's the light. They reach so far for something they believe is hope or love, but merely just give into the abyss. It's not until it's too late do they understand what happened, and most choose to stay in the dark because it is just too hard to get out.

Whichever way it seems, the darkness is always there. It is the light's greatest enemy, because without, what would light be? What would joy be without pain? What would love be without hate? Day without night?

In the most horribly twisted way, the light must have the darkness, meaning everyone will face it, whichever way it'll be.

Mara was in darkness her whole life. She knew all of its forms and had taken every path to get there. She could survive in the shadows because she was accustomed to it. But when the end of the line came, Mara ran to the place where there was no darkness or light.

Except for literally, because Jakku had a relatively normal solar rotation. And sand, lots of sand.

That was the first thing Mara noted about the place, but there wasn't much else worth noting besides the lack of water.

It had been two days since she'd landed on this horribly hot planet, which meant two days without food or water, with the truly wonderful present of sunburns.

Mara was now barely trudging, contemplating if she should have just stayed instead of running. Her throat burned and hurt whenever she swallowed, and her stomach wasn't exactly full. Her skin burned, and her chapped lips were cracked. Mara's vision was fading, or maybe it was the heat playing tricks on her. Her head...she couldn't decide if it was lightheadedness or her brain was turning into air.

Then there was the sand. It stuck to her sweaty skin, itchy and irritating. No matter what she could scrape off her now coarse skin, more would be caked onto her burnt and reddened flesh. No matter how many times she'd scratch at the grime for it to come off, more would always be there.

Then the heat. She wanted to physically shoot the sun with whatever left she had in her battered pistol.

Mara had been walking miles and miles through the desert, trudging and stumbling in hot sand. When night fell, it brought much-needed relief and relaxation, but the sun would always come up. And Mara would resume her death march.

Her feet stumbled and swayed underneath her, and she fell to her knees. Her faulty vision was obscured by sweat and whatever the heck dehydration did to your eyes. She was frustrated and tired, so tired.

Her face hit the burning sand, and Mara rolled to face a cloudless sky. Her lips ached in pain as her scratchy voice cried out to whoever was listening, or maybe just in frustration in the galaxy. She pounded her fist in the sand with what was left of her energy.

This is what she got for doing the right thing?!? This is what she got for finally freeing herself?! To die in a wasteland!

She should've just stayed with Dameron and his cute little droid. She should have gone with them.

Mara's eyes threatened to close and go to sleep, to ignore the heat and escape. Yes, the idea tempted her, but her defiant nature wouldn't let her. If she did, she wouldn't wake back up. She'd become a skeleton out here in this useless place, which just made her shudder at the thought.

Mara didn't know how long she laid there, just staring at the sky deciding whether to let herself rest or just get up before she heard footsteps behind her. They were quick and light, closing in fast enough to run her right over. The blonde's instincts told her to get up, but her body told her to just close her eyes. The nameless alien came closer, within ten feet of her head, stopping right before it would've hit her. She reached for her pistol in her holster, gripping onto the handle in anxiousness.

Tantalizing moments passed as she tipped her head back, searching to put a face to the thing right behind her. A human figure looked over her, and Mara stared right at the fellow woman leaning over. Hazel eyes studied her bright blue as the blonde just waved using the last of her strength, uttering, "I come in peace."