Star Wars: Darkness Falls/Chapter Eight

Chapter VIII

Once again, I woke up in a dark room. Yes, the same dark room as once before. This time I was on my knees though. Too tired to raise my head up and try to look through the hood they put over my head.

“I guess you handled Rilek,” I heard Mr. Man, he must’ve been standing close to me as the sound was straight in my right ear.

“Yes,” was all I could utter from my lips.

“Oh, and don’t bother talking, I’m not actually in the room. But trust me, I’m on my way.” Well that explained the sound in my ear. “So back to business, you killed that bastard. I believe a thanks are in order,” he paused and I could hear the sound of a door opening.

“I he hadn’t pulled a gun on you, or whatever he did, I would have killed him myself. That bastard wanted me dead, so frak him.” I heard another door open and slam, though this time the vibrations shook my legs. There was silence over the coms for a few minutes, I took this time to think about my future. I had no clue if there was actually going to be a future, actually. I felt tender and knew there was probably another beat down coming my way.

I heard a door open in front of me, the door opening let in some light, which I felt on my bare arms and chest. “Hey idiot, take off his hood.”

“Yes boss,” I heard Raspy reply. Moments later the hood was off and I could see my surroundings once more. This was actually the first time I had seen the room, it was had wooden walls along with a wooden floor, there was some sort of fungus growing all over the walls, too. There was nothing remarkable about this place.

“Ah, now that’s better, isn’t it?” I nodded my head when Mr. Man asked. “So, we’ve received news that Noover is dead, his family has fled and we’re about set up to over take the palace.” He added.

“We?” I asked.

“Yes, we. As in me, many cities and the majority of palace workers.” Mr. Man answered my question with grace. “You see, this planet is in need of a savior. These Gevorian’s have ruined this planet for too long. What we need is someone who knows what they’re doing, me to be exact.”

“What, your going to be the new Grad?”

“Oh, no. I’m going to be, uh what are we calling it again?" He looked over to his henchmen, to which Raspy mouthed something I couldn't understand, "oh yeah, Kaiser. I’ll be kind, propose all sorts of laws and people will elect me increase my term and power soon enough.”

“You have a lot of faith in the citizens,” I said shifting on my sore knees.

“I’m about to be the leader of man, I have to have a little faith.”

“How do you know you’ll be the leader?” I asked.

“It’s already been determined, silly. They just don’t know my plans for the future.”

How many people know what he just told me? The realization that I would probably not escape this room set in. But I had to know for sure, “why are you telling me this?”

“Because I’m going to kill you,” he said brandishing his blaster.

“Are you sure, Nihalus?” I heard someone ask behind him. I could not see their face, but they at some length was the closest opposition to this Nihalus’ power.

“Am I sure? If I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t have hired him in the first place. I wouldn’t have promised him money and jobs, I would have let him continue begging!” His fury was obvious now. He hated this other man.

“OK, then. Go ahead.” The stranger walked off, leaving me to die.

Nihalus, approached me, weapon loaded in hand. He stepped behind me, pressing the gun into my head. “Your name will be written in history books, as the man who took the shot. Feel proud that you will live on.”

“Proud? I’m about to die you smeg-head!” Man, I hadn’t said smeg-head for years. It always has seemed to make me laugh, this time was different though. I was angry, scared.

“Don’t let your last feelings in this world be of anger, be happy that you freed us from Noover’s evil clutches.”

“How can I be happy when my brains are about to be spread across the floor?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never been put in a situation like this.” He said.

“Really? That surprises me,” I said, sarcasm present in my voice.

“Do you have any final requests?” He asked, the gun was still pushing against my head. It was a really aggravation feeling, any sudden movements would result in death. Maybe I had a chance to live.

“Yeah, could you not kill me?”

“That’s not possible, you know too much. Anything else?”

“Could you kill yourself?”

“That would just be stupid,” he said laughing. He probably had never heard that from a dying man before. I had a sinking feeling, though, that one more joke would end with me on the floor dead.

“Fine, this request is more than reasonable.” I said, I had the perfect thing in mind. My wish was noble and protected the one I loved.

“What is it?” He sounded intrigued. He probably thought it was some other joke, but this time I was serious.

“I never had a family, never had a chance living in the rear sector. What I did have, however, were friends who loved me. Two to be exact. I want you to make sure Larild and Jenn Ofscotcher are out of Belaham.”

“Is that all?” he asked, he made it sound simple.

“No, actually there’s someone else. A servant girl name Eshirca, I want her out of the city too. They all need to go somewhere safe.” I added, almost forgetting about the woman who saved my life. Once she finds out I did the killing, she will realize she had the ability to stop it. That sort of feeling, that self-anger, can drive a person mad.

“Okay, your wish is my command. I will see to it that those three are taken care of,” he said. I had to trust he would make the right decision, I just hoped he was a man of his word. I know, trust the man who has a gun to my head, I must be crazy, right?

With the gun pressed to my head, I felt it gently move as he shifted in stance. He was readying himself for this no doubt personal, close-up killing. He coughed, muttered some things under his breath and the tears finally started streaming from my eyes. “I don’t want to die,” I croaked out, tears trickling into my mouth. I closed my eyes, thinking of Jenn. I should’ve told her how I felt.

“No one ever does,” Nihalus said, pulling the trigger. Darkness. Ah, how I love you.

The End

5 Years Later

''The dark, stone lined basement filled with its last participant. A candle was lit, showing the face of an older women. The lines of her face were filled with streaks of stress, anger and most of all, determination. “You have all been called here for the revolution!” She said to wild applause. “We have finally reached the time where we will expose those murderous fiends for who they really are!” More applause.''

''Another woman took stage, she was much younger and despite her anger-filled face, she had an immense beauty to her. “For five years, we have been forced to sit back and watch the Par take our cities, one by one. First Loka,” a small group of rebels booed, “then Lo-Intob,” more boos, “and eventually Belaham! The whole room was filled with boos, “now lets go retake our homes!” The crowd immediately started cheering again.''

''An older man spoke up, “Almost two years ago, the Par began the deforestation of the Lahari Forest. They claim that it’s for ‘tourism’, well I say that they are liars and it’s the easiest way to keep an eye on us!” This accusation got the crowd even more riled up. The old man had prominent wrinkles and looked like he hadn’t slept in a long time. Fear does crazy things to people.''

''The older woman retook command of the meeting, “last week, my friend and I happened to come across a Par spy!” a sound of shock now filled the room. “And do you know what we did with him?” she called out.''

“Killed them!” they replied in unison.

''“No,” she replied to questioning glances, “we brought him here!” the crowd started cheering once more. They were hungry for blood. Then the younger woman walked off and returned carrying a bloody and beaten man. His hair was black, his eyes were purple. It was impossible to tell his age from what the two women had done to him. His hands, which had been tied behind his back were cut from their binds.''

“Now who wants to tear this frakin’ animal apart!” The young woman yelled pushing the weakened man into the crowd.

''“No, please I’m just a farmer!” he yelled before punches started flying toward his face. In an instant his wounds reopened, and even more appeared. By the time he was lifted off his feet, he had begun swearing at them and yelled “long live Nihalus.” This was also when the crowd had begun pulling and tugging on anything they could get their hands on. In their group effort, the man’s limbs were off his blood drenched torso within minutes.''

''The crowd dropped the pieces of carcass soon after defacing him even more, the two women then took the time to dip their hands in a pool of the man’s blood. With blood soaked hands, they touched their face. The man’s life-force had now become their own version of war paint. The mob followed their clear leaders as everyone in that room, excluding the dead Par and the old man, rubbed blood on their face. Some began chanting, others danced. This was one small victory in an otherwise long war.''

“Up next, we will slay the monster, Nihalus Cristoph!”

Continue the story with Repercussion