Imperial Chronicles/Chapter 2

A Stormtrooper walked back and forth down cellblock 9 of the Galactic Empire Prison. As he walked past, a single Zabrak male sat down on a bench in cell 905. He had dark brown skin, with black marking that ran down his face to his mouth. His horns were situated in a circular pattern, with a line going down the top of his head. His dark amber eyes were full of sorrow and regret.

Three cellblocks up, a Stormtrooper was sitting at a command station beside the Service Elevator. He typed on the computer, confirming that each cellblock was secured. Suddenly, all the lights went out. It was completely dark. The Stormtrooper looked around, and heard a banging. He turned on his helmet light in the same moment that three covered figures walked out through a hole and into the cellblock. One of them ignited a Lightsaber, and threw it towards the Stormtrooper. His head came clean off when the blue blade hit his helmet.

Trent used the Force to summon his Lightsaber back. Maxx took out two blasters from a bag, and handed one to Montha. "Be careful," he said, "That'll hurt."

Montha glared back at him, but continued towards the information center. She hooked up her tiny datapad, and the Service Elevator doors opened. She smiled at the other two and bowed. They ran into the Elevator, and it took them down three cellblocks to the 9th cellblock. The Stormtrooper on post there was looking around in the dark.

He turned to see the three coming out of the elevator, and pointed his blaster hesitantly at them. "Stop there! This level is off limits!" he exclaimed.

"You're off limits," Maxx said as he shot the trooper right in his skull, instantly killing him.

"What?" Trent said. "That doesn't even make any sense."

"I have no idea," Montha said. "Let's just get your friend and leave."

They walked down the cellblock, Trent's Lightsaber lghting up the cell numbers above the doors. They went down, counting them off. 901, 902, 903, 904... 905; Kris' cell. They looked in and saw Kris in black prison garbs. Trent cut the lock, and the day shield that held him in hummed off.

Kris slowly stood up. "What're you guys doing here?" he asked. He glanced at Montha, and looked back at Trent. "Why did you come here?"

"To get you out," Trent said plainly. "We have an edge up now."

Kris looked at him with a puzzled look, but shook it away. "Let's go then." They led him out of the cell, and into the main cellblock. When they turned the corner they saw a whole platoon of Stormtroopers waiting for them. Trent ignited his Lightsaber, hesitated a moment, and cut the lock to the prisoner next to Kris. That took the Stormtroopers' attention, and gave the four of them enough time to pass by them.

Fortunately, the criminal that they set free was a condemned murderer. So that would give them enough time. They went up the elevator, and made their way back up to the hole they came through. The lights flickered on just as Trent and Kris shuffled into the hole. They crawled through the hole, and back to their hideout.

"Emporer." Vader walked into the Throne room. Palpatine was sitting in his chair, facing the city.

"What is it?" Palpatine asked.

"A prisoner escaped," Vader said.

"Then capture him," Palpatine said.

"Sir, this is no ordinary prisoner," Vader said with great haste. "It is Kris Dartbolt."

Palpatine turned around to Vader. He slowly stood up and walked down to Vader's level. He looked straight into Vader's helmet's photoreceptors. "Then go get him." He turned back around and walked up to his throne. "And get the Journal while you're at it."

"But Master," Vader said, hesitating.

"No buts."

"Yes, Master." Vader bowed and turned to leave, the two Imperial Guards by the door following him.

Trent started up the hologram of Fives from the beginning section. After they escaped, Trent and Maxx had let Montha and Kris into the secret area in their house. They told Kris everything about Fives and the Journal and what Montha told them.

Kris now watched the hologram in shock. Trent started the hologram of the last chapter he read. "This is the last date that I read," he said.

"It's been about a year since the Order. I've fled to Ryloth, but I don't think I can stay here long. I have to flee, and I have an idea. There is a moon on the edge of the galaxy, a moon of Tatooine, which the Empire wouldn't dare trod. That's the only place where I can start it. I've finally found Rex, and now we're beginning it. If the Empire doesn't kill us first, we'll take them down. I hear Imperials. That's all the time I have. Until later, friends."

Kris stared at the place where the hologram was in shock and horror. "How could they do something like this?" he asked.

"Their being led by a Sith, that's how," Trent said. Kris sat down in a chair beside him, and just sat in horror. Trent put his arm around Kris. Trent took a Lightsaber, longer than his own, and handed it to Kris.

Kris hesitated, but he grabbed it. He stood up, put the Lightsaber on his belt, and said, "First we'll have to find his last location. RC, scan the last entry in the Journal for the name of any planets."

RC got right to work, and Kris took Trent's place. Trent leaned on the huge work table that was in the middle of the room. Montha and Maxx were beside him, watching Kris work. In a matter of minutes, the lights dimmed and the room filled with holograms of stars and planets. Kris got up and walked over towards the Outer Rim.

He tracked Fives' path from Utapau all the way to Tatooine's only moon, Ionda. "RC, when was that last entry put in?"

"About ten rotations ago, sir," RC said. Kris rubbed his chin, and walked around that one moon.

"Bring up the last entry, towards the end." RC complied and Fives stood in front of him.

"I've been tracking an unknown planet in the Togruta sector. It fills up the space between the star and the main planet in the system. If I can geta transport there, I might be ableto hide from them forever. That's the only way." The hologram faded off.

Kris was already walking towards the Togruta sector before the hologram faded. In fact, there was a tiny space between the star there and the first recorded planet of the system. Kris bookmarked it, and the hologram turned off.

The lights flickered back on, and Kris said, as he grabbed his Lightsaber and datapad, "Wanna go on an adventure?"