Time: Ten years before Episode IV
Ranma Saotome looked down off the rooftop. Below her, a squad of Storm Troopers stood around, seemingly awaiting orders. She sighed and stood up. She could avoid them easily, but that made at least twelve squads that she had seen through this city in the past hour. Tanith was a small world, with little to interest the Empire unless they misbehaved - and they didn't, fearing the results.
The only thing that could have drawn them here was her. It seemed that she had been careless, and word of her abilities had gotten to the Imperials. Quite possibly an Imperial spy of some sort. While she was talented in the Force, she wasn't a god, and there were spies everywhere these days.
And yet... she didn't feel any danger directed at herself. Was she the target of this? Or was there something else going on?
Scowling to herself, she considered her options. The fact was, the moment she revealed her true nature, then the Imperials would do everything in their power to destroy a Jedi Knight. "It could be worse," she mumured. "They still could have had the clone facilities. Those people were relentless."
Stay and try to find out what was going on, or get off the planet before she was discovered? There were problems with both options, not counting the fact that she disliked running away. She was still considering her options when the Storm Troopers reacted, marching off.
"Now where are they going?" Ranma asked herself. Not really expecting an answer, she followed the squad, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Their march took them across about half the city, taking them to a rather dingy residental area that had seen better days. As they got closer however, Ranma felt a growing sense of unease. Something was about to happen. Something very wrong.
Soon enough, she got her answer. A second squad of storm troopers were dragging a young girl from a house, some of their weapons aimed at the parents. Standing among the Imperial soldiers was a man decked out in what looked like a mockery of the old Jedi robes, dark blood red in color. Although Ranma couldn't see his face, the scars across his bald head were enough of an indicator. As if that wasn't enough, she could almost smell the Dark Side rolling off him in waves.
A turncoat? she thought to herself. More then enough Jedi had been seduced by the Dark Side over the past few years. Slandered by Imperial propaganda, hunted and attacked at every turn, it was no wonder that so many had given in to the anger. But this man seemed to be one of the worst offenders. One that now served the Emperor, hunting down and killing his former brothers and sisters.
And then Ranma looked at the girl - and all thoughts of the traitor left her mind. The girl had talent in the force, of that there was no doubt, but she was young, untrained. And in the hands of the Emperor...
"No," she whispered as she stepped off the rooftop. She couldn't let this happen, not if there was any way to prevent it. But moments before she touched the ground, the storm troopers fired, cuttig down the girls parents in a blaze of energy. The childs screams echoed in Ranma's ears as she approached the group, none of them having noticed her yet.
Then the traitor turned, and smiled. "So, I was right," he said calmly. "I thought I could sense the presense of a trained force-wielder here, although you do an excellent job of hiding it." The Storm Troopers raised their weapons, taking aim. "No, lower your weapons. I will handle the Jedi."
"Who are you?" Ranma asked as the white-armored soldiers stepped aside, clearing a path. She removed her lightsaber from inside her jacket and waited, keeping it inactive for now.
"I am..."
See other episodes by Matrix Dragon
(Posted Tue, 11 Mar 2003 10:52)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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