Requiem (story)/Chapter 1: The New Order

Requiem — Chapter I: The New Order

Alpha-09 patiently awaited his fate; sitting inside a small, seedy-looking office building in the Senate District of the galactic capital. He had been here once before. The clones were sent here after the war ended, and called up one by one. They were asked the same question: do you wish to serve the Empire or to retire? That was several months ago. The majority of them, whom Alpha-09 referred to as the "Old Guard", had said yes. What awaited them was a shiny new suit of white stormtrooper armor and a posting at some remote corner of the galaxy. Those who said no? Alpha-09 thought they were fools, or cowards, at the time. But after the experiences he had over the last several months, he realized he was wrong. The ones who said no were the smart ones. Alpha-09 should have joined them back then.

He had said yes, and was sent off to some remote base at the edge of the Outer Rim, at the border with the Unknown Regions. A place where careers went to die. As Alpha found out from the base's (only) engineer, they had been awaiting spare parts for their broken down A6 Juggernaut for the last 189 days. But that was not what annoyed him the most. The Imperial government had many things at hand needing attention—from issuing those shiny new uniforms to soldiers to keeping the economy from defaulting—and thus was not able to censor the HoloNet. Watching the unfiltered news reports, Alpha-09 (or as his old comrades called him, "Longshot", or as Imperial records listed him now, "Xaran Thoma", since they had to pick regular names) saw the crimes that the young Empire was already committing. He then realized this was not the Republic that he was born to defend. And not what he was willing to give his life for. As a clone cadet, he remembered, Alpha-09 had been an avid student of history. As he learned, at times of unrest and revolution, usually a powerful leader rose up and used force to restore order—and set the stage for the next tyranny.

This was why Alpha-09 was back in this small building in the military district on Coruscant. Asking his superior officers to terminate his contract, he was sent here. Alpha did not know whether that was allowed. But either way, at least he was off the hellhole he was stationed on earlier. As he contemplated all of this, the door leading to the next room slid open. An officer stepped out and walked through the room to the exit, leaving the building. A second one came out of the office after him. He had what appeared to be a major's insignia. He looked over at the clone.

"Captain Thoma?"

Alpha-09 stood up. The man nodded, and gestured for the ARC trooper to follow him inside, to his office. As they entered, the major sat down at a desk near the back. The room was dimly lit, but a window behind the desk allowed more light to come through. The major himself had greying hair and looked old. Too old. This was probably the last stage of his career before the bureaucracy would force him out of the armed forces, and thank him for his loyal service was a meager pension. By the man's saddened eyes, Alpha-09 could tell that the major knew this as well. He sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

"So," the major began. "I have been told you wish to leave the Empire?"

"Yes, indeed," the ARC answered. "Is that possible?"

The major nodded. "Yes, of course. I myself am thinking of doing the same."

"Well, this is definitely not the Republic I was born to serve."

"Indeed it is not," the major sighed after speaking. "Anyway, I have terminated your contract. An honorable discharge has been given to you."

"Thank you, sir, and good bye." Alpha-09 got up to leave.

"Good bye, and good luck. You can probably find better work than this anyway."

The ARC nodded, and left the room without another word.

As a Padawan of the Jedi Order, Zan not think he would have to go back to the way he lived before he became a Jedi—on the streets of Coruscant. After Order 66, his Master, a man named Eyrgen, left him to go visit the Jedi Temple. They were on an undercover mission for the security forces. He said he would check things out and return soon. He never did. And now, months later, Zan was living on the streets, mere kilometers away from the Imperial Palace. He figured it was a good place, as the Emperor's minions would not think to look for him here. Or so he thought. As the former Padawan passed through a shady street, he noticed a group of four individuals step out in his way ahead of him. The thugs—a Rodian, a Human, a Twi'lek, and a Devaronian—blocked his path. The lead thug—the Twi'lek—stepped forward as Zan approached.

"Look, kid, you will need to pay a toll to pass."

The Zabrak Jedi did not move. The Twi'lek gestured to his thugs, who pulled up their array of blasters.

"Don't make us do it!"

Zan slowly moved his lightsaber out of his cloak. "Then I am sorry to disappoint you."

The thugs' eyes widened in terror.

"A lights—"

The Twi'lek did not get to finish the sentence as Zan's lightsaber cut through his chest, killing him instantly. The other thugs, out of the shock, tried to aim their blasters at the Jedi.

Zan brought up his lightsaber and sliced through the stomach of the Rodian, the closest thug, and then picked up his body to use as a shield. Several shots hit the corpse, before Zan through it forward at the Devaronian. The Human tried to shoot him, but Zan deflected his shots and sent it back at the thug, who was hit in the arm and then the chest, being killed.

Meanwhile, the last remaining thug threw the body of his dead comrade off and tried to run, dropping his weapons. Zan ran forward after him, but he turned a corner. The Jedi followed him around—

—to see a patrol of four red-armored Coruscant Guardsmen. Three guards pulled out their blasters and rose them at Zan. The lead guard nodded to the thug.

"Good work finding the Jedi, Jiro. We suspected one was here for weeks, but could not get him."

The thug—Jiro—nodded, and began to back away. The guard squad leader yelled to Zan.

"Drop the weapon!"

In response, the Zabrak let out a Force push, knocking the four guardsmen back against the wall of a building, dazed. The guard leader, without missing a beat, pulled out a blaster pistol. But it was too late—Zan ran up to him, and grabbed onto his helmet. Pulling him down, the guard let out a help as the Jedi snapped his neck. Looking up, he saw Jiro trying to run away. This time, he threw his lightsaber, killing the man as it cut through his back.

Zan then remembered the three guards. Walking over to the unconscious figures, he put his lightsaber through each of them. No survivors.

It was done.

Now he had to get out of here. Not just the area, but the planet. The guard mentioned they suspected him being here. And Zan didn't even know. Good thing the main spaceport was not far. ..

Alpha-09 walked through the crowds of people at the main spaceport. After passing through security, he purchased a ticket to some random planet in the Outer Rim from a fat Twi'lek at the ticket booth. He asked to be given a ticket to a random Outer Rim world. He figured he could get work there, away from the heart of the Empire. Walking over to his transport, Alpha-09 got into a line, next to a young Zabrak. He looked like he was maybe seventeen or so years old, had red skin, and wore a brown cloak. The Zabrak noticed the clone looking at him. Alpha himself changed into a basic set of civilian clothes. His armor was taken from him when he left the service.

"Hello," greeted the Zabrak in a neutral voice." "Greetings," the ARC replied. "So. . . leaving Imperial Center? The jewel of the galaxy?"

The Zabrak laughed a bit. "Yes. Hoping to get a better life, else where."

He nodded. "Aren't we all?"

"My name is Zan."

The ARC trooper put up his hand to the Zabrak. "I am Xaran. Some friends call me Longshot."

Zan shook his hand. "Are you . . . a soldier?"

"Was. Left the Empire. My allegiance was to the Republic."

After a moment, the young Zabrak's widened as if he had a realization. "You're a clone, yes?"

Longshot nodded. "And you?"

Zan looked nervous. "I would rather not say."

"I understand. A lot of us would like a fresh start." Longshot said.

The Zabrak nodded. By that point, they reached front of the line of passengers. A customs official asked for their tickets. They presented them. The man gestured for them to board. Zan looked at the man.

"Can I have a window seat?"

The man had a blank look for a moment and then laughed. "A seat would cost extra!"

After that little exchange, they walked into then crowded main compartment of the transport. With people of various species sprawled out on the floor, they passed them and sat down near the back of the compartment.

A few minutes later, though, Longshot noticed a group of three men wearing worn-out clothes and holding blasters walk aboard. What the hell? he thought. Security, maybe? They looked around, getting stares from other passengers, as if they were looking for something. Zan looked nervous. Sure enough, when one of them saw the Zabrak, they walked over to them. The lead thug grabbed Zan by the arm while the other two formed a semi circle around him.

"You kept our clients waiting!" said the lead thug. "I see why the Empire had you—"

Zan punched the man in the throat, throwing him back a bit. The other two grabbed onto him. Enough, he thought. Pulling out his DC-17 commando pistol, Longshot fired at the nearest thug. The man fell with a yelp as the blaster bolt hit him in the back. The second thug had no time to react as he was shot as well. The leader tried to aim his rifle at him but the clone shot first.

Because of the commotion, several crewmen ran into the compartment.

"What happened!?!"

"Looks like a couple of criminals were after my friend here."

"What? They said they worked for the Empire."

Now the ARC was confused. He looked at the Zabrak again.

"Anyway, we'll get the bodies out. We will be leaving in a little bit."

Zan was thankful he did not have to reveal himself to the passengers and to Longshot. But then he noticed the clone gestured him to go towards the back of the compartment. He followed. Once they got there, the ARC grabbed him by the arm.

"Something you not telling me?" he asked.

"Well . . . "

Zan opened up his cloak and took out his lightsaber. The clone's eyes widened.

"Don't say anything!" Zan pleaded him.

The ARC stood still for a bit, then nodded. "We will talk about this when we get to the destination."