Diary of a Fallen Hero -Part I

Measured footsteps fall lightly upon the packed earth, highlighting the passage of an armored figure. Clad in gear traditional for the bounty hunters operating in the territory of the Hutts, this bounty hunter patrols the top of a high earthen berm.  His current patrol is one that combines instinct and boredom, as all indications suggest that the battle is over for the day. A quick glance backwards would show the shattered remains of nearly two dozen HK-7 battle droids buried beneath what appears to be the foundations of uprooted Anti-Aircraft gun batteries. Despite the apparent peacefulness of the moment, the bounty hunter continues his smooth and measured patrol.  Battle trained senses keep his movements quick and efficient as he pulls up his rifle to scan through the scope.

Looking down from the berm, he is able to see into a major processing plant. Most of the plant is obscured to his vision, only various catwalks and machinery is visible against the backdrop of the massive smoke funnels in the distance. No threats catch his attention as he constantly sweeps back and forth with his scope watching various maintenance droids busily working to keep dilapidated machinery in working condition. Continuing his alert scan, he notes the patrolling groups of HK-7 droids on the periphery of the processing plant, marking them once again in his memory. Even as he watches for any hostile movement, his scope keeps floating back to center on a particular section of the catwalk where he last saw the flowing black robes adorning a certain feminine figure.

With no threats appearing in his scope, and his companions behind him seeming content to trust that all is well, the bounty hunter allows a brief moment for a small part of his mind to flash back to the moment when he first met the young girl that would figure so prominently in his current situation. Only a year previously in the chronological sense of time, so much was different then and the universe seemed to be smiling upon him and all of his plans. He had woken that morning with the glowing confidence of a military man receiving every validation possible and knowing that everything was safe and secure.  Recently released from the hospital after a vicious pirate attack, his new Captain uniforms had already arrived. The memory of receiving the promotion and being told that the Alliance could never do without his bravery and courage still rings in the mind of the bounty hunter. He was wearing shiny Alliance uniforms back then, of course, and not the dirt smeared jetpack and generic armor that coated his body now. A slight moment of regret flickers through the bounty hunter’s mind before he returns to recalling the events of that fateful day.

In the back of his mind, the scene plays out with absolute clarity. He enjoyed a brief and intense moment of quiet celebration with his few friends in the barracks, then moving on to join to his prestigious new post as part of the Honor Guard at the Jedi Temple. He glowed inside at the honor and glory that was being heaped upon him, and felt that his days of combat were long over. Everyone knew that becoming part of the Jedi Honor Guard meant very little fighting or intense action, as very few people would wish to attack such a mighty bastion. And so his thoughts of the future at the moment were very shiny and filled with fantastical ideas of how to live out his days in glory. These thoughts continued for most of the day and even into the evening hours, as he learned his new duties and toured the grounds that he would be guarding. It was right as he was heading back to his bunk to lay down and get some rest that it happened, he saw her.

She was only a small wisp of a thing, appearing as if she could barely keep herself from floating away in the wind. Gracefully dancing through a training regimen, she nearly glistened due to a light sheen of sweat coating her delicate blue skin. While Twi’leks have always been recognized for their beauty, there was something in her eyes and the way that she moved which set her apart from even those that were prized for their beauty. Her familiarity with the Jedi training regimens and her interactions with the trainers made it apparent that she had been lucky enough to have been in the Temple since her earliest childhood memories. Unlike the majority of her race, she had never felt the lash of a slave master and most likely did not know that most would consider her only in terms of the value she would bring on the market for be slaves.

He had stopped then, the bounty hunter recalled, and simply stared as this young Twi’lek cavorted through complicated practices and seemed to draw pleasure from annoying her instructors as she pushed the boundaries. It was the life that positively glowed from her eyes, he decided during this reflection, that was what had so captivated him. He had met driven people before, people who had a purpose and goal and marched forward relentlessly to achieve it. However, never had he seen someone who seemed to demand and expect the very most out of every breath and who enjoyed bending it to her will. A sudden urge swept through him and he found himself pacing over towards the training grounds and pretending to inspect a security terminal nearby; his eyes soaking in every detail of this young female apprentice.

Even infatuated Alliance Troopers know their role and how to act, however, and so quite a few days passed as he went about his duties and tried not to think about the young Twi’lek. It happened that one of his patrols found him steadily marching down one of the silent corridors of the Temple when he overheard a stern reprimand being issued by a Jedi Master. “Beq,” growled the distinct voice of Master Dan-ki, “You must practice balance and equilibrium. You must control your desires and emotions. A Jedi has no place for emotion when dealing with others, you must cleanse your mind and your thoughts. Focus on the force and meditate, do not simply reach out and grab what you desire. Work for it, find a peaceful solution.” The girl’s response is lost to the trooper, as he mentally dances in joy. He finally knew her name, and that very knowledge brought with it a great longing to know more about this mysterious young girl.

Back in the present, the bounty hunter scans the catwalks and watches the perimeter once again as he silently resumes his self imposed duty. Traveling in the presence of very powerful Sith tends to make a bounty hunter and his guns feel feeble by comparison. Movement captures the bounty hunter’s attention and he zooms in to watch as one of the stealthy infiltration party suddenly floats up the air and crumples on top of the catwalk. Recognizing the Imperial uniform, the bounty hunter can only chuckle as he realizes that the poor man was helped by a rather inexperienced Force user. Lowering the angle of his scope, he attempts to spot the dark robes but the object of his desire is hidden by the corner of a building. His attention slides back up to the catwalk and he watches as another member of the party joins the Imperial. Sliding his sight across the catwalk, the bounty hunter suddenly catches a brief flash of movement heading towards his companions. Activating the zoom, he alertly attempts to find the source of the movement but it was simply a blur in his vision. After a moment of thought, he decides that he did not see enough to know if it was a threat. Focusing his attention back upon the visible party of the party, he stands at full alert and attempts to monitor the situation from afar.