Post by ender on Apr 5, 2009 21:40:32 GMT -5
The Prologue
3000 years before the Jedian Empire
3000 years before the Jedian Empire
There are things…places…that stand against what our minds have grown to understand. We understand that all understanding begins with the intellect. We know that the intellect is permitted to falter, that we have the will to make mistakes. We know that we cannot change reality; we can displace reality, but ultimately, reality is not influenced by us; reality simply is. In the world of dreams, the strongest mind can shape reality, but should that mind dare falter, it shall be consumed by that which lies beyond the veil. The veil separates chaos from natural order. Who would dare try and cross the veil?
The heavily armored Mandalorian ship abruptly appeared out of hyperspace and began to position itself over the forested moon of Yavin 4, aiming its rusted nose to the mountains. The ship, known as The Executer, has been the faithful tool of Darth Grevan, for many assassinations. Grevan had ordered that Madnock’s loyal servants be killed, and now The Executer would destroy the last and supposedly most powerful servant that Madnock relied on. As the old, worn warship of many generations shakily made its way to its position, the small moon below seemed to tremble with fear. Another mission, another target, another scream, another death.
The Mandalorian ship stopped over the mountains and positioned itself for deployment. Docking bay Doors engraved on the bottom of the ship slowly opened over rusty plates, making a painfully high screech that radiated throughout space. Grevan had always enjoyed that screech, he had said. It reminded him of the sound made when tearing flesh from bone. The Executer did well in its services to its master.
The Basilisk War droids, upgraded versions from the old ones, began to drop out of the hangar and race to the moon, hundreds of them. It seemed as though The Executer were shooting massive canons at the planet, from the speed in which they fell. They look like hundreds of fiery comets raining down onto the moon. Surprise was one of the natural elements of the Mandalorians.
As the mountain ranges of Yavin 4 reached up to meet the comets, a soldier named Thom Geridles parted his lips in a menacing smile.
Thom had always found riding the Basilisk Mk III fun, but these babies topped even his expectations. He had never seen droids fly through the atmosphere this fast. He didn’t believe that they would stop in time, his face felt like it was going to rip away from his skull, but that didn’t matter; death had always been part of the soldier’s life. The only thing that could have made this more fun is if they had been allowed to crash these things into Madnock’s palace. Despite the fact that he was the leader of this Mandalorian group of assassins, he always preferred to be in front. In fact, it was a necessity, for him. There was greater honor in being the first to be the target of enemy fire. If it had been up to him, he would have crashed into Madnock’s palace and crushed the emperor himself. He would have been the first to step out of the droid and onto his gooey, compressed remains. See if his force could stop the might of the Basilisk War Droid.
“We may not get the honor of fighting at the Capital City,” Thom reassured his two men beside him, “But this will be one hell of a day nonetheless.” Despite the fact that they wore armor on their faces, he could feel their cold smiles.
“Brace yourselves,” Thom quickly grabbed for a handle bar to steady himself as the Droid forcefully planted itself into the rocky surface of Dhelesin Mountain. Rock splattered like egg in every which direction. As the droids behind him reached the surface, the whole mountain shook and dust and rock kicked into the air. He could hear rocks that must have been the size of a man’s head hitting the top of their droid like rain. Rocks began rolling down the mountain and crushing trees and smashing boulders. Thom’s legs felt weak from the exhilaration. He couldn’t believe these droids could withstand force like that.
Thom looked out of the eyes of the War Droid and could see craters everywhere along the side of the mountain. It was said to be one of the biggest on Yavin 4, and the top was about a 100 yards wide and a 100 yards long. From the holocrom he had studied of the mountain, it looked as though someone had taken a giant vibroblade and sliced off the top of the mountain. Grevan had told him that he would find his target up top of Mount Dhelesin. Thom had found that circumstance very odd, that anyone would remain here on top of a barren, lifeless mountain when there was forest beneath, but that was where Grevan said he would be, so that was where Thom Geridles went.
Droids were beginning to scramble out of the craters, while a few men were getting out of the droids to climb up the mountain as scouts. Thom felt his own droid begin to move and grabbed the handle bar again to keep himself standing as the droid heaved upward and out of the crater. Thom looked through the droid’s eyes again, and saw that most of the dust had cleared by now. As soon as the scouts reported back, Thom would order the ascent.
Thom looked across the terrain down the mountain. It was vast expanse of woodland, and from the way it looked up in space, it was like this all the way around the planet. A spring appeared to be coming from a part of the mountain. It widened into a river as it traveled downward and eventually divided the forest as far as he could see. The river appeared to branch off somewhere far off. The forest seemed pretty tame from up here; soft and tame. A place that would shelter a soft and unworthy foe. Thom gave himself a disgusted shake of the head and looked up towards his destination. His men were good mountain climbers, and were pretty close to reaching the top. Not only that, but they were adept at stealth, rendering them very useful in learning the exact position of his enemy without being seen. Not that it mattered here. If the enemy didn’t’ know they were there, then he had cut off his own ears and thrown them down the mountain.
Thom smiled when he remembered in his younger days, he climbed a mountain similar to this. He had been a fresh recruit, and not held in high esteem. On top of the mountain, there had been a group of Jedi knights that were holding a garrison against them. He remembered that he had wanted to be the first one up there to kill the Jedi Knights. He remembered taking a dagger and stabbing the foot of his fellow soldier so that he would not beat him to the top. When he finally reached the Jedi, he had thrown a pack of thermal detonators and had nearly blown the top of the mountain off. The Jedi barely escaped, but to no avail. They were gunned downed by his comrades while they were regaining their senses. He had been promoted that very day by his superior. He still had one of their lightsabers up on The Executer.
His communicator at his belt gave a small red glow. Thom glowered. This would be but a simple execution; nearly a thousand soldiers and 300 basilisk war droids against one man. It seemed that Lord Grevan greatly overestimated the position that this servant of Madnock was in. Perhaps if he finished this quickly, he could get to the Capital before Madnock’s palace was completely overthrown.
Thom gave the signal and the war droids began their ascent up Mount Dhelesin. Interesting name, almost reminded Thom of death, for some reason. Perhaps it was a fitting name. Nonetheless, he hoped to have this over and done, he had a real battle to attend. But who knows? Perhaps this will be more than just a simple joy ride in a crashing Basilisk War droid.
It wasn’t long before Thom’s droid heaved itself over the edge and was walking on a flat surface. Other droids around the mountain could be seen making their way up as well. Thom peered through his droids eyes. Was the window fogging? Thom shook his head and opened the entry hatch.
Flanked by two of his best men, Thom jumped out of the droid and landed softly on his feet, placing himself in a crouching position. He quickly observed the terrain, blaster rifle at hand. It was difficult to see, like trying to look through a horribly stained window. The fog was unnaturally thick, and he didn’t see how it could sustain itself this close to the sun. It was thickest in the center, but he thought he could see someone, or something, inside it.
The plateau was now completely bordered by mandalorian soldiers and droids, if anything moved, it would be gunned down from all sides. Thom tried to make out who was in the center. Whoever it was, they were almost entirely concealed.
Thom frowned and shifted his feet. He should probably just order that the entire plateau be decimated. He was wasting time, but Thom couldn’t help himself. He wished to know who he was he had to kill. Thom pointed his gun just above whoever it was and fired a warning shot. The blast from his rifle echoed throughout the entire mountain range. Silence.
Thom shifted his feet again and looked at his men. From the way they were standing, they appeared to be just as confused as he was. What’s going on? Always one for adventure, Thom walked forward alone. His men’s armor clucked as they went down on one knee and prepared to cover him with friendly fire. Good soldiers, they are
As Thom approached the center, he realized that the cloaked figure was actually in the shape of a woman. Upon risking a few more steps, he was able to see that her dress was full length, blacker than the dead of night. Although difficult to tell from the fog, it appeared as though her hair were a brilliant silver. Her skin glowed a pale blue.
What Jedi magic is this? Thom grabbed a handful of grenades from his belt and continued to make his way cautiously towards her. His eyes widened when he realized that her eyes had no pupils. They were solid globes of silver. He couldn’t tell which way she was looking, but it looked as though he were facing a little bit to her right.
Thom cried out when his head felt as though it had become an echoing audience chamber, THOM GERIDLES. He staggered backward and put a hand on his head as the voice seemed to bounce off his skull. Thom knew that he was fine, it was more of the shock of having the voice speak inside his head. Jedi had done this to him before, but never to this extent. It was as if it radiated throughout his entire being. The woman was now facing him.
“How do you know my name, witch!?” Thom yelled angrily.
The woman wore a cold, uncaring smile, I know everything about you, Thom; your lusts, your wants, your needs, your personality, and more. I know your wish to go down in history. I know the iniquities that you embraced to get you to where you are..
“What are you rambling about!? Speak quickly, or I will have you dead where you stand.” He made a gesture with his hand, one that would signal to the men to get ready to aim….to kill. War droids and men shifted into attack position.
The woman didn’t even flinch or look anywhere other than where Thom stood, You believe that with your weapons you can make law. Are you so certain of your reality?
“I know that I can destroy this mountain anytime I wish…with you on it. I make my own reality.”
And I destroy reality Suddenly, the fog seemed to come alive. It pulsed plae blue as it began to form a large dome that covered the entire plateau. Thom’s eyes went wide with shock. He looked at his body, and he nearly swore. He thought he could see through his armor, see the ground that lay beneath his feet, through his leg. He felt…insubstantial.
“Men! Fire now! Kill this witch.” Guns fired and missles fired.
As guns fired, men screamed. Confused, Thom turned around and saw that the guns fired…backwards. Thom’s eyes nearly popped open when he saw that the men who fired, got shot by their own weapon, jumped into the air as though their own projectile were propelling them, and through the dome…coming out from the other side! Uneffected by gravity, his screaming men collided into each other as they continued to move from one side of the dome and appearing on the other, breaking bones and snapping necks. Droids didn’t fire missles, they fired men. Bits and pieces of bone splattered all over Thom as one of the projectiles flew their way.. He wiped some tissue off his helmet and raised his hand to order an immediate cease fire.
And I destroy deception
Suddenly Thom was hanging in midair beneath a burning volcano. From it, he heard a high-pitched cackling laughter that cut deep into his bone and sent rivers of ice up his spine. He saw men, many men; men that he had killed. Most of them were men he killed out of spite, out of hatred, those he had held a grudge against. Some of them had simply been in his way. Others were enemies, but most were his own soldiers, whose lives he had sacrifice to gain an edge on the enemy. They all looked accusingly at him. They all pointed down into the pit of the volcano. Thom stared down in horror. He could see bodies of men and women crushed up all against one another. Fire spurted out of every pore, mixing with sweat. Horrifying images floated all over them, and a fuming stench of sulfur stabbed his nose. The cackling laughter beat in harmony with their high pitched screams. He looked down, and saw what they were pointing at; an open slot in the bodies of people, a very small space; one just big enough for him.
Thom stared at the woman, “Who are you?”
Her face was apathetic, uncaring for life, I am a breach in the Veil, Mistress of Chaos, and I am your bridge to beyond it. Thom cried out when he felt something stab his heel. He would have jumped if he had not felt something dragging at his foot. He looked down and saw a half rotted corpse that hadn’t been there. It clasped a dagger in Thom’s heel. He looked at its face and Thom went white with horror. He had stabbed that corpse, years ago, on a mountain similar to this. The thing cackled with high-pitched laughter. It opened its mouth wide, skin flaking off of its face, and fire spurted out. Thom screamed as he felt the flames eat away his flesh.
You make others suffer Thom, for your own sake, but I can send you to where you will suffer for all eternity…
Clothed in white, Humilia stepped out of the gateway that had appeared before her. She clasped Callandor cautiously. Although she could not use the One Power, Daniel had said that she could still use it. She just had to get close enough. Her mouth opened in horror at seeing clumps of something clashing at each other over her head. Her knees went weak when she thought of what those lumps could possibly be.
The woman in black, standing on the opposite side of the plateau, stared down at a lifeless burnt body, and then looked at what was left of the mandalorians, “Power over rationality,” the woman whispered, “A powerful cockroach is the same to me as a powerful user of the One Power, wielder of Callandor.” Suddenly everything except the two women on the plateau clashed together in a big ball of metal and flesh. Vines began to grow over it and clasp the mess together. A branch spurted out of the middle of the ball and then spread out. After a few minutes, a large oak tree stood in the middle of the plateau, dangling a juicy, blood-soaked ball of metal on one of its branches. Drops of blood dripped on the ground from a ball compressed to the size of her head. The blue dome vanished, “Lustbalia is my name, and I wear anarchy on my shoulders.”
Humilia felt her heart break for those poor men. She knelt softly and spoke a few words, “May the force be with them even in death.”
The woman in black spoke again, “It has been long since I last met one I could not penetrate.” She looked at the tree and shook her head, “Whoever gave you that sword is wise beyond all measure. Do you know your place, woman?”
“My name is Humilia, and I know my place. Daniel Burkett ordered me here because he knew you were too dangerous for him. He gave me this sword because he knew there was no other way.” She bowed her head humbly, “I only hope that you will not allow yourself to suffer more.”
“Suffering is what I am, I cannot drop myself as easily as you can drop your flesh.” Lustabalia stepped closer, “Life has little meaning. It does not shine for me, nor will it ever for all the good of man. To compare it with the violations wrought in Madnock’s war for power would be to place the moon on one side of the lever and the galaxy on the other. I am a plague, Humilia. Do not pity me, I am too dangerous.”
Humilia stepped closer to her, “You were brought into this galaxy by the One Power.”
“And you will be foolish if you believe that something as finite as the One Power can truly restore balance.”
“Perhaps men will learn from their mistakes.” Humilia said softly.
“Not from your power.” Her eyes were frozen globes of frightening silver, “Man will never change, and I will always be ready to show them for what they really are.”
“Daniel Burkett has destroyed Lybus Madnock.” Humilia said soothingly, “Let go, he has no power over you anymore.”
“He never had,” Lustabalia said coldly, “He feared me, and rightfully so, just as those that come after him will fear me. Finish your business, Humilia. A thousand years will be a flicker of an eyelid.”
“I pray that it is longer,” Humilia whispered, and then she threw Callandor into the air. As if caught by something unseen, it came to rest in midair. The sword, hilt down, began to spin, faster and faster. As it gathered momentum, it grew brighter, and brighter. It was as though it were a second sun. There was a great flash of white light, and it consumed all vision. And when all became clear, the wind blew over the abandoned slopes of Mount Dhelesin.
Down in the forest, a crystal sword made its way down river, gently making its way around age worn rocks and past soft, white sandy beaches. As the end approached, the river forsook its burden, sent the sword down into the mist, and it was seen no more.
