OTF's Blue Publication October 2017
Ashi enjoyed a meat turnover for breakfast as he walked through the meager home he lived in. “Morning R1.” He nudged an old droid that had not activated yet today.
R1-77 beeped and whistled as its systems all came online. It was rusted, dented, and had seen more time active than many of the old R1 series, but, it was all Ashi had. There weren’t many droids this far out. R1 bounced back and forth on its two stubby legs and beeped loudly.
Ashi stopped eating and gave the droid a surprised look. “Are you sure?”
R1 stopped and checked its readings and then projected a hologram of a ship. It was a small, fast class of ship often used by raiders in the Far Reach sectors of space.
Ashi became angry, “Why didn’t you wake me? That ship entered orbit five hours ago, it has probably already landed.”
R1 beeped shrilly at Ashi.
“Okay, okay, I know. You’re old. No time to argue. Let's move.” He put his breakfast on a table and picked up his pair of swords from the corner. He dashed out of the door with R1 following.
While Ashi ran for the village to make sure no one got hurt by attackers, R1 went to their ship and activated the cloaking shield, so it would not be detected. It would be horrible if anyone discovered one of the old Jedi craft here.
Ashi’s strong hearing caught the sound of a child screaming, and this made him run all the faster. He skidded in the dirt as he reached the main road of the village. To his horror, he found two Jahalan fighters dead on the ground and villagers running around in a panic. Five green skinned men grabbed children and shot at the defenders of the village. These weren’t your average raiders; they were slavers coming to get stock.
“Damn,” Ashi whispered. There were five, it was hard enough fighting the normal two or three, but five would tax his ability to fight without revealing his hidden talent. He pointed a metal sword at the slavers, “Stand down! Release those children!”
The Rodian raiders snickered and then pointed weapons right back at him. One fired, but Ashi was quicker with the force and sidestepped the blast. He lowered himself and rushed at the five. Instinctively he let out a ferocious roar to startle them.
More than once they shot at him, but he carefully moved so to avoid the blast. They thought they simply had poor aim, they didn’t realize he could sense their actions before they took them.
Upon reaching the five he launched himself into the air and swung both blades down, slicing the head off of the nearest Rodian. They stopped their attack and jumped back when they saw their captain in pieces. These Rodians presumed farmers were easy targets.
Ashi, who did not enjoy killing, also stopped. He pointed his blade at them. “I warned you. Put those children down and leave, or you will end up dead as well.”
Three held Children with one arm, the fourth took up two guns and shot at Ashi. In response, Ashi deflected the blaster shots with his swords. He spun his whole body around as he reacted to the weapons fire. He got close enough to stab the Rodian in the gut. It was not a fatal wound, but it did stop him.
“You…you move like Jedi, furry man.” The Rodian fell to the ground and held his green blood stained side.
Ashi smiled and held out his swords threateningly at the others, “I'm no Jedi, just a trained warrior. Put our children down and leave.”
The Rodian yelled something at his men in their native tongue and they each put their blasters to the heads of the children they carried. Then he stood up, still holding his side with one hand, with the other he pointed a gun at Ashi. “No kill you, maybe. But, you let us go, or children die.”
Ashi heard several of the parents scream in horror at the sight. More of the other Jahalan defenders prepared to fight, but they were no match for these raiders, only Ashi could save this day.
To the dismay of his own people, Ashi dropped his swords. He could sense the ego of the Rodians growing, they were about to execute him and take the children. He said, “I have seen too many children die. I have witnessed too much evil and not fought back. I won’t let it happen again. Not today.”
Suddenly the guns in their hands flew away and tumbled across the ground. Ashi looked up with vengeance in his eyes. He summoned the force and the arrogant Rodian without a hostage flew backward through a wall. The other three dropped their captives and scurried to get away.
“It's a Jedi!” One screamed.
Ashi twisted his body around and thrust a hand out, sending a wall of force at the fleeing raiders. They were lifted and thrown through the air, smashing into buildings and ultimately perishing in the dusty streets. The first one he threw into the building weakly reached over and retrieved a fallen gun. Ashi saw this and quickly reacted by running straight for the man. He put his hands down and both swords flew across the ground into his palms. With a quick strike, he buried the swords in the Rodian’s chest, pinning him to the ground.
Instantly the crowds of Jahalans began to cheer. A few ran out and took up their crying children, others wept by the side of their fallen guards. However, most rushed out to thank their protector. Ashi quickly pulled out his blades and cleaned the green blood off of them.
“Thank you!” The chief exclaimed as he patted Ashi on the shoulder.
Ashi didn’t seem as happy as the others, he never liked taking lives. “Please, have the bodies removed and burned. It isn’t good to have dead men here for our children to see.” Ashi said solemnly.
“Of course.” The chief pointed to a pair of village defenders and went to tell them what to do.
The village was ready to celebrate the victory, but Ashi knew he had one more task. These men had a ship and it could have a tracking system that would lead others here. He would need to find it and turn it off. Suddenly, he heard the sound of engines. In the distance, the Rodian ship lifted off the ground, quickly heading for space. Ashi wasn’t relieved to see it go, he was worried.
“Ashi, come. You should have something to eat.” The chief pulled on Ashi’s shoulder.
Ashi bowed his head to him, “Thank you, but I need to go and meditate. This has been difficult today. I’ll tell R1 to keep scanning for any more ships.”
“Oh, I see. Then have a good meditation.” The chief, like everyone else, never fully understood the complexity of meditation as it applied to the force. However, he respected Ashi’s choice and took no offense.