Dark Resurrection

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

After a brief subluminal journey, three imperial cruisers appeared from hyperspace and entered Chakar III’s atmosphere. Their colossal triangular shadows obscured the sunlight and, like a grotesque, ominous eclipse, terrorized the population below. Merchants, children, thieves, and prostitutes all stood still, looking up at the incredibly unnerving spectacle looming over them.

The huge starships hovered in the sky as four spheres emerged from the belly of one of the ships. Propelled by thrusters, the strange objects sped towards the urban settlement.

As panic ran rampant, and most of the colonists took shelter in their homes, the spheres came to a halt a few arns from the ground and opened, revealing their true nature. Probes sprouted from their half-dome heads, and creepy, tendril-like appendages slithered around with their pincers clacking. Like mechanical jellyfish, the Empire’s spy drones started fluctuating, scouring the streets of the settlement.

From the speakers embedded in their metallic heads, the same message started playing over and over: “This colony is now under imperial domain. Whoever is found harboring rebels, non-humans, or enemies of the Empire, will be executed.”

Not far from there, camouflaged in a mob of scared miners under the frame of a housing capsule, Dan-Lee e Zui Mar peered out, worried.

“Damn them, they’re already here...” Zui Mar whispered under his breath.

“The old Seer is losing her touch.”

“Show Organa some respect, Dan!” Zui replied, raising his voice. He then regained composure and went back to whispering. “Organa is a Grand Master. If it hadn’t been for her and her abilities, we would’ve been caught long ago.”

“I know, Zui. Too bad that her premonition came a little too late this time.”

One of the probes flew by the group of miners while its scanner panned and drew a laser grid over the bodies of the terrified men. It then beeped twice and quickly turned into the next street.

Zui and Dan had ducked behind the capsule, avoiding the probe’s scan.

“Those machines sure are pretty stupid,” Dan said, as he observed the eerie metallic jellyfish drift away from them.

“Lucky for us. But if the Empire is following protocol, assault troops will soon be on the ground. We have to hurry.”

In a nearby alley of stones and sheet metal, the two men covered in their Malhkis joined a slim figure who seemed to be waiting for them. Zui furrowed his brow at the sight before him: an attractive young woman clad in a miner’s jumpsuit to which different armor pieces had been crudely attached. From the heavy blaster fastened to her thigh, to the pauldron still bearing part of the imperial emblem, the Master’s surly gaze quickly noticed details that could spell trouble or even be a threat. He also noticed her wrist computer encased in her bracelet and understood that she must have been an electronics expert. Dan, however, seemed to be more focused on other details: her mesmerizing emerald green eyes, luscious full lips, and short hair that accented her elegant long neck. The armor-clad jumpsuit did not hide her graceful, feminine curves. She was gorgeous.

Dan smiled with all the charm he could exude.

“Are you Ruya?”

She peered at the two peculiar individuals in front of her, and her beautiful face became overcome with fury.

“You damn sons of bitches. I bet this mess is all your fault!”

“Sorry, what?” Dan asked, taken aback.

“She’s talking about the Imperials,” Zui suggested to his companion.

“Ah... well yeah, I guess that would be our fault, in a way...”

“Damn, just when this forsaken place was starting to become somewhat decent… now those bastards will raze it...”

“We’re sorry. We all have our own predicaments,” Zui Mar briskly interjected. “Can you or can you not get us out of this system?”

“Yeah, but given the circumstances, it will cost you a hefty sum.”

Zui Mar grabbed the sack from Dan-Lee’s belt and threw it to her.

“20,000. Half of everything we have. You’ll get the rest when we arrive at destination.”

Ruya opened the purse to make sure it actually contained imperial credits, the only currency accepted in every system, then she raised her fiery eyes to the two men. She resented them, fugitives, with the Empire hot on their tail, looking like major trouble. It would have been a good payday to simply shoot them and deliver the bodies herself, but there was one thing she loathed more than anything else, and that was the Empire.

“Alright, I’ll drag you outta this mess!” she agreed.

Once again, Nemer observed the sky invaded by the three immense cruisers. She clung to her frayed cape, and a lock of her short white hair fell out, fluttering in the evening breeze. The Imperials had come sooner than she expected. She and the others would have to really struggle to get out of this one. She kept her fear in check, trapping it in a cage of cold discipline, and turned around, almost pretending she hadn’t seen any sign of danger outside. Yet, some of her rage still transpired, hardening her face. She went down into the shelter and looked at Organa who had been sitting cross-legged on the cold, hard floor, meditating. “They were supposed to be back already. Maybe the Empire found them.”

The Seer opened her eyes. They were full of sorrow, although her lips showed a faint smile. She got up and touched her companion’s hands, who turned around, almost irritated.

“Do not worry, Nemer. They will be here, soon.”

Nemer reacted coldly. Her scowling glance crossed that of the Seer’s, then she looked away. She was struggling to hide her emotions, but Organa could read her better than she could the future.

“I feel a great rage within you, this time towards me.”

“I am sorry... I... you had never been wrong before, and this is putting all of us in danger.”

“I know. Something changed within the Force... things transpired quickly.”

“Will we be able to pull through this time, too?”

Organa closed her eyes, as if the future were available to her anytime she wished for it to be. Unfortunately, that was not the case this time.

“It won’t be easy,” she replied, forcing a smile, “but we will get through it.”

When her companion turned towards the exit, the Seer became gloomy under the weight of what she knew.

Zui and Dan appeared in the archway. They entered abruptly and uncovered their faces.

Zui Mar firmly addressed the two old Masters.

“Gather everything you need. We’re leaving now!”