Episode 1: The Search For An Apprentice

Hashum · Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 10:50 pm Post subject:

As I started to regain consciousness I opened my eyes. I didn’t really remember where I was at first, I saw some chair’s on the floor and a table, and then the decaying limbs brought it all flooding back. Safia trying to kill me, she was lost to the Dark Side now, and then someone in the corner, I never got a good look at him or her.

As I started to pick myself up from the floor pain shot through my entire body and I collapsed again. It was then the flash of light from the corner came back. I could still feel and smell the burning. That on top of the smell of decay was enough to make me sick.

It was then I remembered the other man who had been in the house. I felt for my saber but it wasn’t on me, I tried leaning myself up against the wall behind me, every inch was agonizing but I was eventually able to prop myself up. Every inch of my body seemed to throb with pain. Luckily the room was still very poorly lit, I don’t think my head could have taken any bright lights.

I scanned the carnage all over the room and was glad to see my saber lying on the floor. I didn’t hear or see the other man from last night but I couldn’t see down the hall from my position either.

I rested my head back against the wall and closed my eyes again. I just didn’t have the strength to move any further…

I must have dosed off because I woke up to find myself lying on the floor again. I had no idea how long I’d been there, it could have been days. With that thought I felt somewhat relieved at the fact I was still alive. I almost chuckled to myself as I tried to stand again. My body still ached all over, every muscle seemed to scream out in agony. I managed to crawl over to a chair on the ground, and used that and the table next to it to help pick myself up off the floor.

I looked around and again saw my saber on the floor. I was far too sore to bend over and pick it up and instead had to call it to me. I clipped it back to my belt, it felt like I was clipping a huge weight to my side. I couldn’t take the smell from the house any longer and stumbled to the nearest wall. Using it to help support me I managed to slowly walk to the door.

As I pulled the door open and the sunlight flooded I quickly closed my eyes and the door, but not before my head started screaming. I’d never been one to drink much, but from what I’d heard this must have been much like having a hangover. I slowly opened the door again letting the light slowly seep in so my eyes could adjust and then started making my way back to my hotel…

Clinging to alleyways and probably looking like any other drunk in that part of town I arrived back at my room hassle free. I immediately went to my bed collapsing on it and was probably asleep before landing…

When I woke again my body was finally starting to recover. Instead of a sharp pain with each movement it was more a dull ache. I stood up and got a glass of water before taking a seat at the small table in the room. I rested my elbows on the table and held my head with my hands, trying to sort out what had happened.

I should have just let them kill me, really they could have, why didn’t they? Was it possible Safia was only trying to save me? No, I don’t think so, she had been full of hate and anger. But who was pushing her along? I tried to concentrate on that one corner in my memory. Had there been anything to give the person away? I couldn’t remember anything, I don’t even think they said a word. But whoever it was, they were evil, pure evil. Thinking about it now send a shiver down my spine. We would meet again, that can be the only reason they let me live.

As I lifted my head from my hands I thought I heard a beep. I looked around but didn’t see anything, and then it beeped again. I continued to look around, and then stoop up as it went off again. It took me several minutes to realize it was my datapad beeping with a new message.

I opened and displayed the message.

....ash,
Shi.........hit by spa....debris.....ain controls and communica...syst....
..amaged. R2..........got communications....unning.....soon as.....ain
controls......orking I will....ack to.....atooine.

Lov....af

I chuckled to myself, if they’d wanted to kill me so quickly why hadn’t they just gotten it over with when they had the chance? I sighed and thought to myself “there’s only one way to find out”.

I packed what little I had left now, paid the manager for the room and made my way back to my X-wing in the Starport…