WROTE this for a contest on Deviant Art so everything else got put on hold temporarily. Hope I win! :p
http://theirishrogue.deviantart.com/gallery/ Star Wars
-- Falling Rain --
Short Story
:Exodus of Ara-ty Nokta:
The three hulking engines of the Consular-class Cruiser, Constitution, heavily vibrated as it decelerated from the safe blue haze of hyperspace. Now at a slight hum, the ship slid effortlessly through space. Aboard was relatively young Jedi Guardian who had excelled through the faceless guardian ranks; his name Shakkra Kien. With him were a number of Jedi auxiliaries who were often sent with a Jedi to support them in unstable situations.
Their mission, far from routine, was to Jabiim. A civil war has ripped apart the northern hemisphere as warring factions fight over raw resources using desperate measures to undercut one other. Such a loss of life inevitably sent ripples through the force as entire continents died out. Jedi Master Nada Athura had taken his padawan, the young and impulsive Aira-ty Nokta, to quell the hostile factions before the entire planet became a lifeless rock. Effects of the war are worsening the various climate conditions.
Shakkra Kien slowly paced into the compact bridge of the cruiser. Placing his blue hued hand upon the captaining pilot’s shoulder, the Jedi asked, “Have you been able to break through the storms to make contact?” Turning to see who it was, the captain quickly turned back to monitor his controls, “I’ve tried sir, but with these conditions it’ll be nearly impossible!” The red diplomatic ship pierced the atmosphere, jolting as the dense air and storms began pounding the plates. The blue hand lightly squeezed his shoulder with encouragement,“..Nearly Impossible..”
Turbulence shook the ship as it neared the planet, shaking it violently while it continued punching through the large thick clouds. Lightning flashed and spread like fingers extending through the sky, illuminating the dark gray thunderheads for seconds at a time. Click clack click..TACK..tic..KHACK! The pitter-patter of rain drops splashing against the windows of the bridge were replaced by loud crackling; hail and sleet battered the hull relentlessly.
The captain’s resolve was dauntless, “This is some heavy …” his sentence interrupted with an abrupt jostling of his seat. “Steady yourself Captain. This storm tests your very constitution hence the namesake of your ship. Push on!” The Jedi spoke confidently in a hushed voice. The captain’s crew found resolve in his words; driving through the storm as though it was a training challenge.
Kien sat in a chair behind the captain, securing his safety harness’ clasp. Rolling his eyes back, the Jedi’s eyes closed as he dove into meditation. “Descend captain.” The co pilot turned to face the jedi, his eyes contorted in disbelief. The co-pilot then leaned to the captain, “What the hell is he..” Chuckling the captain gripped his instruments tighter, cutting off his co-pilot mid sentence, “Have you not flown with a Jedi before? Here we gooo.”
The Constitution heaved towards the surface at a steeper angle. The clouds began to lift while the ship quickened its descent. “SIR, THE TREE LINE!” shouted the co-pilot anxiously. “Level off the ship and look to a clearing in that crevice between the mountains. It is there we shall land captain.” The Jedi spoke assuredly, his eyes opening once again. “Yes sir.” The captain looked to his window and scans to find the spot alluded to by the Jedi.
The Constitution slowed above a large gap separating the tremendous mountains; lowering itself slowly to the ground with the use of its glowing, blue stabilizing thrusters. Leaves and limbs blew about as the thrusters hurled gusts of wind forcefully into them. The landing gear of the consular ship touched- down upon the surface, sinking partially into the thick gripping muck. Kien disconnected his belt walking purposefully to the hatch way.
His boots press into the muck of the ground noticing a pair of cloaked figures approaching from the tree line. Bowing his head and protruding horns in acknowledgment of Master Jedi Athura’s status. Beside him stood a small female, eagerly smiling to meet the new visitor. “Guardian Kien, may I introduce my padawan, Aira-ty Nokta.” Smiling in return, the tall brightly clothed guardian reached to shake her hand. Aira hurried over to the knight wearing her signature smile. “She seems so vibrant” Kien thought to himself. Athura gestured to the bowing guardian to accompany him on a walk toward one of the faction base camps.
Aira-ty shadowed closely behind her master as he spoke to the newly arrived Jedi. Athura began, “The situation here is dire...and that is simply put my friend.”
Kien in reply outlined his task ending with an air of frustration in his voice, “That may be, but I am here to collect you and your padawan. You know civil wars are not under our jurisdiction. Its and internal affair and you know it! Why deviate so recklessly from your record?”
Athura looked adoringly to his young padawan, “Because the most important lessons we must learn cannot be done in a classroom or through meditation. They must be seen, felt, experienced.” The tall Kien pulled the Jedi Master aside and in hushed, edgy tones, sharply questioned, “Why do you take such risks Master? I fail to..”
Locking eyes with the horned knight Nada Athura replied, “Don’t you recall a certain Chagrian Jedi doubted by many? I seem to remember how little faith various masters had in your lesser known species. It was I, who reminded them the purpose of accepting the masked service of the guardians, “others above self”. The fact you were identifiable was irrelevant…it was your sacrifice of identity and self for the order’s sake that made the difference.”
Shakkra Kien’s brow relaxed, accepting the point being made. Master Nada Athura made a habit of taking on the padawans who had more difficult trials. Master Athura’s reached behind Kein’s shoulder guiding him back towards the pupil, “Aira-ty is like you in some ways. She’s rare which leads to bullying and being outcast from others. She jokes and pranks them with good intention, but many do not “see” her. Aira-ty is extremely compassionate towards others. Her sensitivity through the force opens her up to being emotional. I’ve brought her here to teach her how to control and use those emotions in a positive fashion.”
Kien nodded as he walked beside the young ocean-green haired padawan. “You’re not alone in being alone you know” he spoke as the three walked in a line through the trees and into a heavily defended, but mostly improvised camp.
The people were impoverished.
The camp’s leader approached; a clean cut professional politician with a clear military background spoke, “More Jedi? Have you brought an army or are you just another negotiator?” Aira-ty spoke boldly, pouncing on the opportunity to exhibit one of her master’s teachings, “Our presence here is to save lives..not just yours, but the people on the other side too! Wouldn’t you prefer it happen before your war finishes its transformation into a stale rock shadowed by death?” The leader partially stepped back, crossing his arms, his head tilting with a degree of skeptical arrogance. Master Athura took a step forward toward a holographic table to stand behind Aira-ty, placing his hands on her shoulders in support, “If both sides agree to a ceasefire, it is an effort that must be under taken.”
Her youthful, round, orange eyes penetrated deep into the commander, “Please, your people are suffering. The pain from this planet is thick enough to hold. Can’t you feel it? Won’t you try?!” Aira-ty’s lip quivered as the last word left her mouth.
“It’s not that simple..” argued commander Granich.
“Do or do not commander. The path is ahead of you. As a leader, you must choose the way.”
Aira-ty leaned forward in an outburst, her master gripped her shoulders tighter, “What’s the point in leading a planetary system that cripples under its own weight?!..OR it’s people..who are all dead?! HUH?! WHAT?!” Shocked by her cavalier notions, Granich thought to himself for a moment.
“Though rash, your point is quite true. I’ll set up a meeting, but I warn you…it won’t be the first trap we’ve walked into.”
While the commanding officers negotiated a neutral rendezvous, the three Jedi sat at the base of a large tree trunk. Leaning against it, Kien observed Aira-ty using the force to manipulate falling rain drops. She playfully entertained the children with innocent tricks, preventing the rain from landing on the heads. The children mirrored her force gestures, thinking they too were capable of suspending rain drops.
“She’s providing a small reprieve from the hell that slowly engulfs this planet. Though we practice restraint as Jedi, Aira does well..providing a glimmer of hope to these young ones.” Kien remained in silent agreement.
Somberly, Kien raised his horned head from watching the water manipulation he was toying with in his lap. “We need to leave this place. I feel the balance tipping further from us Master.” The experienced Jedi leaned back, “Time will reveal its lesson Guardian Kien.”
Commander Granich and a squad briskly appeared from behind a large crumbling structure. “We’re meeting the opposition leaders in the valley at these coordinates.” Looking over his shoulder, Master Athura rose to his feet, watching his padawan hug each child while they were gathered. Aira-ty slowly walked toward her masters, one hand resting on her saber, the other slowly wiping a tear that ran down her cheek.
The Jedi and commandos boarded four different speeders, accelerating away towards the rendezvous...
