Star Wars: Plight of the Padawan/Chapter I

Plight of the Padawan Chapter I • Chapter II • Chapter III

Itari, 32 BBY
 * A single cloud, stretching as far as the Human eye could see, loomed over the inhabitants of a small Itarian village as it struck fear in the residents' hearts with booms and threats of another heavy flood. In a rundown hut, Tatianna Kessler gripped her husband Salvor's hand tightly, nearly cutting off all circulation from his wrist, as she dealt with the labor pains of her very-soon-to-be-born son. With nothing to ease her pain, she screamed as the medical droid assisted in the birthing process. After what felt like hours, the droid looked up into the woman's hazel eyes and held in his hands an infant.


 * "A boy," the droid said with a subtly congratulatory tone. He handed the newborn to his assistant droids, and they cleaned him off before returning the baby to his mother. "His name?" the medical droid asked.


 * Tatianna looked into her son's eyes with a smile, and gently said, "Xero." Tears of joy halted just before streaming down her face as she fought back the urge to cry, though Salvor certainly wasn't afraid to show emotion. He embraced the medical droid, and turned to shake hands with his friend Koryn when he saw over his friend's shoulders two figures covered from head to toe in long brown robes, both equipped with shimmering metal objects on their belt. Hoods shrouded their faces in shadows.


 * The two figures approached Salvor and the others. Salvor asked, "Can I help you," and was ignored by one of the figures, who instantly made their way towards Tatianna. Leaning in, the figure—clearly a man, by the sound of his voice—whispered in her ear something unheard by the others. As terror struck her face, Salvor asked, "Who are you? What do you want? What did you tell her?!"


 * The figure above Tatianna removed his hood. He was a male Human, at roughly two meters in height. His light brown hair was slicked back and tied into a ponytail, and he had a scar running down his left cheek. The other figure, standing in front of Salvor, refused to remove his hood, let alone move from his spot. Salvor grew impatient with the two as they stood in silence. "I asked you questions, and I demand answers," he shouted.


 * As the man began to motion his mouth to respond, the other turned his head, and said calmly, "We've no need to explain ourselves to them." Turning back to Salvor, he continued. "All they need to know is that we've been ordered by the High Council to bring their son to Coruscant, through any means necessary." The hooded figure reached for his lightsaber as Salvor stepped nearer in confrontation. The other looked down at Tatianna, and saw his reflection in her glistening eyes.


 * Salvor swung his fist towards the hooded figure, who immediately activated his lightsaber. The man shouted, "Drosk, no!" and reached out his hand as if to try and stop him as he witnessed his Drosk slice Salvor's hand clean off in a flash of blue. Tatianna let out a blood-curling scream as Salvor fell to the ground in searing pain and Koryn activated his own lightsaber. The clash of the two blue sabers lit up the hut as they fought.


 * "Tainer, now is no time for peaceful negotations," Drosk said. "Take the kid and bring him to the ship. I'll be there soon enough."


 * "But, Drosk, you can't just leave the.... I mean, you cut the man's hand off. He was unarmed!"


 * "Yes, but he assaulted me. It was self-defense. Now, defy me and risk more than your own hand, or follow orders and take the boy!" Drosk grunted as Koryn knocked his lightsaber from his grip and kicked him in the chest.


 * With as much horror in his expression as Tatianna's, Tainer turned towards the woman, clutching her baby like her life depended on it. "I'm so sorry," he whispered as he removed Xero from her hands and ran to their ship. He couldn't bear to look back at the scene.