Thread: Star Wars: A New Dawn (TheCorsair, Xanaphia)

STAR WARS EPISODE IV A NEW DAWN It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empires ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empires sinister agents, Prince Bail Organa races home aboard his starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save his people and restore freedom to the galaxy. Bail shivered in the iron grip of the Stormtroopers, trying not to show any fear. It was a futile gesture, he knew, but it was the last thing he could do. A last moment of defiance, a final effort to buy a little more time for the droids to escape. The spinal corridor of the Tantive IV stank of ionization and smoke and death. Bodies littered the floor, a few in the white assault armor of Imperial Stormtroopers, but far more in the uniforms of his own crew. Brave men and women, dedicated to the cause of freedom, who had given their all to buy him the last precious minutes he needed to enact a desperate gamble. The Stormtroopers shoved him forward, and he nearly went to his knees before the two black-cloaked figures that approached. Swallowing his dread, he squared his shoulders. Lord Vader, he said slowly, masking his fear, only you could be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not... One of the figures pushed back its hood, revealing a handsome young man with sandy blonde hair. Don't play games with us, Your Highness, he said. You weren't on any mercy mission this time. You passed directly through a restricted system. Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by rebel spies. He stepped closer, blue eyes flickering with red and orange flame. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you. I don't know what you're talking about, Bail replied, forcing himself to meet that deceptively mild gaze. I'm a member of the Imperial Senate on a... The second figure threw back its hood, revealing a dark-haired, imperious young woman . You are a part of the rebel alliance and a traitor! she snapped, gesturing to the Stormtroopers. Take him away! As the Stormtroopers dragged him away, an Imperial officer approached the two. My lords, holding him is dangerous. If word gets out, it could generate sympathy for the rebellion in the Senate. We have traced the rebel spies to him, Luke replied, voice deceptively calm. Now he is our only link to their base. The officer glanced past his black-cloaked shoulder. He'll die before he tells you anything. Leila smirked. Leave that to me. Emperor Palpatine, ruler of the galaxy, looked down upon the figure kneeling before him. Rise, my daughter, and approach me. She rose, and before his court he did her the honor of descending the three steps from his dais to take her hand. You have made us proud, my daughter. You have made me proud. He smiled, the effect hideous thanks to the burn scars that made a mask of his features. There is but one test more, to prove yourself worthy of elevation to the Sith. Walk with me. He strode the length of his throne room, discretely shadowed by the crimson-armored figures of his Imperial Guard, escorting her into an office that overlooked the Coruscant cityscape. Once, he said, staring out the window, this room was the meeting chamber of the Jedi Masters. Before we purged their weakness from the Empire. He watched her reaction in the reflections in the window. Lord Vader was most... effective. It was a goad, those words. Vader had slain her mother, not long after her birth. He smiled at her response. But the galaxy is vast, and the Jedi are clever cowards. An Inquisitor, Twelfth Brother, reported that he may have found one in the Outer Rim. A pause. That was three months ago. Twelfth Brother has not reported since. He turned, staring at his daughter with burning red eyes. The Inquisitors are not Sith, but only a Sith could defeat one. Or a Jedi. And his last transmission was from a world named Tatooine - a barren rock notable for only one thing. He paused, letting the tension build. It is the home world of Darth Vader. He strode forward, resting his withered hands on his daughter's shoulders. Go to this Tatooine. Find me this Jedi and bring me his head. Or find me proof that Lord Vader acts against me. He squeezed her shoulders, looking deep into her eyes. Prove yourself worthy. Prove yourself to be my strong right hand, Mara.