It's time for a new adventure in the story of Rykrof Enloe... read through, and please be sure to share your thoughts!
For reference, you can catch up on the past chapters at the links below -- plus character profiles too:
The Enloe Trials Prologue: The Baron's CrusadeChapter 1: Seeds of InsurrectionChapter 2: AtrocityChapter 3: RevelationsChapter 4: Shadow of DeathChapter 5: Depths of DespairChapter 6: Seekers of the Dark RelicChapter 7: Veils of DeceitChapter 8: CatastropheAnd the character profiles are as follows...
Rykrof Enloe - Homeworld - Naboo. Former Republic Commander, who is now an enemy of the Empire. He has a history of entanglements with the Badoo Corba terrorist organization, dating back prior to the Clone Wars. He is a former close friend of Imperial Baron Tylin Gere and has been forced to embark on a desperate mission to acquire an ancient Sith artifact for Tylin - which has recently ended in failure. He now carries an unbearable burden... the only way to save his family is to betray his Jedi ally, Kala Mly Shundi.
Alyssa Enloe - Homeworld - Naboo. The wife of Rykrof Enloe, Alyssa has lived a hard life being married to Rykrof, and has been the target of Rykrof's enemies over the years. She is a survivor, but is now in the captivity of Imperial Baron Tylin Gere.
Caldin Enloe - Homeworld - Naboo. The son of Rykrof and Alyssa Enloe. His grandmother was a Jedi Master. Former Jedi, Kala Mly Shundi, has sensed that the boy is Force-sensitive. Caldin is now in the captivity of Imperial Baron Tylin Gere and has grown to resent his father.
Freelo Macklar - Homeworld - Dak. Former freelance scientist who became friends with Rykrof Enloe during the Clone Wars. Freelo has been known to be timid, but is extremely loyal to the Enloe family.
Kala Mly Shundi - Homeworld - Coruscant. Kala was once the apprentice of Rykrof Enloe's mother, who was a Jedi Master. Kala has flirted with the Dark Side of the Force and experienced terrible visions of the future. He barely survived Order 66, getting ambushed by clone troopers on Braatos VII. He now works with the Rebel Underground in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
Traedon Cusiro - Homeworld - Corellia. Former bounty hunter who once worked for the Badoo Corba terrorists. He helped Rykrof escape from Separatists on Dathomir during the Clone Wars, but later attempted to kill Senator Padme Amidala. After escaping from prison, he swore an oath to bring down the Empire and joined forces with Kala Mly Shundi.
T-3PO - Homeword - Cybot Galactica. Protocol Droid that has served the Enloe family for years. He survived an Imperial attack on the Enloe homestead and a terrible ordeal on Dathomir.
Baron Tylin Gere - Homeworld - Naboo. Former close ally of Rykrof Enloe, the two served as Republic Peace Officers prior to the Clone Wars and later as officers in the Grand Army of the Republic. Tylin thirsts for power and has become obsessed with acquiring an ancient Sith artifact, which was recently acquired by Darth Vader, who he secretly sees as a rival. He has taken custody of Alyssa and Caldin Enloe, and ordered the death of Rykrof's father.
Emperor Palpatine - Homeword - Naboo. Dark Lord of the Sith and the undisputed leader of the Galactic Empire. Attempted to mold Rykrof Enloe as the ideal Imperial officer but failed. He takes great interest in Baron Tylin Gere's personal quests for power and admires his ambition.
Darth Vader - Homeworld - Tatooine. Dark Lord of the Sith and follows the instructions of his master, Emperor Palpatine. During the Clone Wars, he was once friends with Rykrof Enloe. He considers Rykrof a traitor to the Empire but also is fully aware that Rykrof once helped protect Padme Amidala. However, his loyalties to Emperor Palpatine are secure.
Banyss... once the perfect escape from the watchful eyes of the Empire...
...and a sanctuary for a small Rebel cell...
...until Rykrof Enloe unwittingly revealed the planet's location to Darth Vader!
Former Senator Tame Heem was promptly escorted to safety...
...but, before the Rebel faction could organize a full evacuation, Darth Vader's Imperial forces moved in...
...swiftly dispatching troops...
...and crushing the Rebel forces!
As the remaining survivors fight for their very lives, the Dark Lord exits his shuttle.
"Lord Vader," the commanding field officer says, stiffening his posture.
"The rebels are on the run. It won't be long before these scum are all destroyed."
"Where are the Jedi?" Vader asks, ignoring the ambitious officer's comments.
"As you ordered, we have them... contained, my Lord."
"How many are there?"
"There's two of them... Sector Nine," Vlarra smiles.
"I have a squad of my best men ready to assist you."
"I do not require assistance," Vader responds as he walks past the ambitious officer.
Just then, Baron Tylin Gere cautiously exits the shuttle.
"I was not notified that you were part of this mission..."
"...welcome to Banyss,
Baron."
"The pleasure is all yours, I'm sure," Tylin snidely replies.
"You know why I'm here.
Have you located Enloe?"
"As expected, he's refused to surrender... Enloe's still out there; and he's all yours."
"He is no longer of any use to me. I do not want him leaving this planet alive."
Nearly a kilometer away, Rykrof watches as the rebel soldiers are overrun...
...and manages to slip away from the advancing troopers.
Throughout the complex, the rebels have begun to capitulate...
...and are rounded up by the invading army.
However, some of the Stormtroopers still encounter resistance...
...as the Jedi refuse to give in!
"Be mindful," Attpo Teacro tells Clorri Lislo.
"Our attackers have positioned us in this area intentionally..."
"...they are setting us up."
"Setting us up for what?" Clorri shouts above the blaster fire.
She then realizes what is about to happen...
...as the laser blasts cease.
Darth Vader then approaches the two Jedi.
"Use caution," Attpo advises his companion as the two gauge this new threat.
"There is no escape..." the Dark Lord hisses before turning his head towards Clorri.
"Don't make me destroy you."
With Clorri incapacitated, Vader turns his attention to the senior Jedi...
...feeding on his opponent's fear.
"Kala Mly Shundi has
abandoned you..."
Vader then summons the Force...
...violently snapping the Jedi's neck!
Nearby, Rykrof carefully moves among the shadows as the Imperials round up their captives...
Keeping his distances, he watches as an Imperial officer speaks to a pair of prisoners.
His stomach drops as he identifies the officer...
...Tylin Gere!
"We don't who you're talking about," one of the rebel troopers pleads.
"
Rykrof Enloe is his name!" Tylin barks.
"He was
here! He's the one that led us to this wretched planet!"
"We're just soldiers doing our job," the other rebel says.
"We don't know the names of everyone that comes through this place."
"Very well then," Tylin replies reasonably.
"To your feet,
soldier. Now, tell me instead,
who is the
leader of this facility?"
"You mean Imperial Intelligence didn't brief you on that already?" the prisoner smiles.
"These men know nothing," Tylin says to the nearest Stormtrooper.
"Kill them both."
The Imperials then open fire on the helpless prisoners...
...ending the lives of both men.
Horrified, Rykrof's concern then shifts to the well-being of his friends...
...who have barely managed to make it out of the complex!
Making as much distance as they can from the Imperials, Traedon and Freelo sprint through the forest.
Consumed with guilt, Freelo can't help but question the decision to abandon the fight.
"We should go back," he decides.
"That would only get us killed," Traedon reminds the Mon Calamari.
"All we can do now is save our own skins... or scales, in your case."
"Rykrof never would have left
us behind..."
"
He was the one who begged me to get
you out of there," Traedon reminds him.
"If you won't come with me, then I'll just have to do this myself," Freelo insists.
"Look, I've got a shuttle out here," Traedon says.
"We can live to fight another day, unless you and your
helper want to try and take on a couple hundred Stormtroopers."
"My
helper?"
"Oh my, I forgot!"
"Oh, thank goodness!" T-3PO exclaims.
"I'm no longer in that dreadful battle!"
"Wait... you forgot the rest of me!"
"Come on," Traedon suggests as he turns back toward his destination.
"The ship's right here."
"I've decided we will stay with you," Freelo admits.
"Good. All we gotta do is wait out the Imperials," Traedon says.
"That'll give me time to figure out our next move."
Back inside the complex, Clorri summons her weapon!
"Good," Vader taunts her.
Her lightsaber then hisses to life!
"I feel the hatred flowing through you!" the Dark Lord says as the young Jedi attempts to strike him down.
"But you are
weak..."
"...your connection to the Force is...
inadequate."
Overpowering the young woman, Vader strikes her down!
Meanwhile, Tylin approaches his landing craft only to find several of the escort troops have been killed...
"Baron Gere!" the lone surviving Stormtrooper reports.
"We were ambushed!"
"Why didn't you report this?"
"They just struck moments ago," the trooper replies.
"Well, where
are they?" Tylin insists.
"Where are the rebels
that did this?"
"It was Enloe, Sir! He took off around that corner!"
"I
knew it," Tylin growls.
"
Find him!"
Just then, the Stormtrooper shoots Tylin's guard!
As Tylin turns, he can hardly believe his eyes.
"You son of a bitch," Rykrof says, aiming his blaster directly at his former friend.
"Get on your knees."
"
Rykrof!" Tylin gasps.
"This is a terrible misunderstanding... you see..."
"Don't feed me another sack of lies," Rykrof snarls, aiming his blaster at Tylin's forehead.
"Where have you taken Alyssa?
And my son?"
"You have about two seconds before I blow your skull to pieces."
At that moment, a sizzling laser blast strikes Rykrof!
He then falls to the ground, lying motionless.
"Fate has a strange way of working itself out," Tylin smirks as he regains his footing.
"Rykrof Enloe," Vader observes as he approaches the shuttle.
"See to it that he survives."
"But Lord Vader, is that wise?" the Imperial Baron softly objects.
"He's dangerous. Look at what almost happened."
"He may be my only link to finding the leaders of this Rebel faction," Vader insists.
"Commander," Vader continues, "have your technicians extract all data from this complex... then burn it to the ground."
"As you wish, my Lord."
Tylin then watches helplessly as Rykrof is lifted to his feet.
"
Damn that man," Tylin groans.
"Fate has a strange way of working itself out,
Uncle," Vlarra Gere sneers.
