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(7.7) The Journey of the Lost
(7.7) The Journey of the Lost
Chancellor's Palace
Seat of the Republic
Inner Rim World of Hapes
March 3rd, 1938
What does the Republic mean to me? That is a question that I get so many times. I guess its because I keep framing the same question to others. For me, the Republic means freedom from slavery. A equal voice in Government. Liberty and Justice for all citizens of the Republic, not just those who can afford it. But most of all, for me, the Republic means Hope. That is why I named my Flagship Hope. So long there has been no hope in the Galaxy. With only suffering and hardship, I think everyone needs some hope. There is nothing I wouldn't do to ensure that everyone can enjoy that same hope that we all so badly need. Yes, Hope, that is what the Republic means to me. You can frame that as you wish, but it is still hope. And I mean to deliver on this promise of hope for every citizen of the Republic, no matter what the personal cost is to me.
Excerpt: I, Citizen Murl
The battle for Alderaan was by far the hardest fought battle the Republic has faced since the onset of war with the Reich. The Reich forces were heavily entrenched and highly motivated. The Republic had the defending Reich forces out numbered by a easy four to one margin. Still, it was the skills and slight technological edge that gave the Reich their advantage. The combined forces under the direct leadership of Chancellor Murl still pushed forward in to the heart of the defenders. It would go down in history as a tide turning battle. If anyone had thought that Victory was assured, they were not watching the same battle. Chancellor Murl watched as his unified forces start to break under the weight of the Reich's counter attack. It was only a matter of time till the line broke and the Reich overran the Republic forces. In the face of almost certain defeat, Chancellor Murl rallied his forces with a powerful speech. He commanded his own flagship to take point and push through the Reich lines. In what would influence the rallying cry of the Republic, Chancellor Murl cried out to his forces, “I are still fighting, We are STILL FIGHTHING! WILL YOU!”
The Republic flagship, Hope, took a number of direct hits with a few of them landing on the bridge. Still, Chancellor Murl could be heard calling for his forces to fallow him through the fires of hell. The Republic forces did fallow their Chancellor in to the fires of hell. The surge of ships and fighters broke the Reich lines and forced their navy to withdraw leaving the world open for liberate. In their moment of victory horror filled the channels as word spread through the fleet. The Chancellor was being rushed to medical bay in critical condition. Local commanders turned this news in to their battle cry for Alderaan, “The Chancellor still Fights, SO WILL WE!” Between orbital bombardments and fighter-bomber raids, the Reich ground forces were decimated. By the time the Republic's 1st Division matched on Aldera, the Reich had little forces left to hold on to the world. Still, the Republic General's ordered that the remaining Reich forces be hunted down and captured or eliminated. Within the days fallowing the fall of Aldera, the Reich launched a powerful counter offensive to reclaim the world. The Republic refused to give up the world. The Galactic News would report regarding Alderaan as being “the very first world that the Republic would liberate from the dark evil grips of the Reich. It will not be the last.”
The Republic's 1st Army would not continue to their next objective as they dug in and waited for word of their fallen leader. A week after the battle, Republic doctors would announce that the Chancellor would recover from his war wounds. The news rocketed through the army of the Republic and moral exploded as their beloved leader would survive. Four days later, Chancellor Murl gave a speech to his loyal troops. Before them, Chancellor Murl revealed the extend of his wounds. Not a voice could be heard as Chancellor Murl slowly revealed his robotic legs. The Chancellor expressed his gratitude to his men for giving him such a glorious victory on Alderaan. He took the time to recognize some of his troops for heroics during the battle. He spoke of his love for his troops and their courage. He spoke of the day with the grand flag of the Republic would fly over Coruscant. His speech was uplifting and inspiring throughout the ranks of the Army of the Republic. Never once did the Chancellor speak of his own wounds. He did say, that this day belonged to them, his troops. No one, not even the Chancellor should take that away from them. The Chancellor's speech which was transmitted through the 1st Army as well as all other Republic forces and their allies. At the end of the speech, the cheers from the troops were so loud that it drowned out all background noises from the near by spaceport.
Daz walked through the wide doors of his office. The sound of his robotic legs could easily be heard as he moved. Behind him, Sister Dar'rus gracefully moved. Beyond her near human appearance laid her Miraluka traits. The hood of her Church robes was pulled down so far to conceal her missing eyes. Behind her walked the twenty or so personal advisors and aides to the Chancellor. Daz hung his head low as he walked through his office and moved in to his personal chambers. Almost on cue, Sister Dar'rus turned at the threshold of Daz's personal chambers. She didn't look up from her hood as she spoke, “It has been a very long day for the Chancellor. Please excuse him as he takes his leave. Each of you have been given your next assignments. Please tend to your duties.” Her voice was as soft as the breath of a lover on a cheek. Her demeanor reflected what everyone else had bought a long time ago. That she was both healer and nurturer of the soul. It couldn't be further from the truth, as the darkness of what she really was had been carefully concealed. She slipped back and closed the door leaving the aids and advisors to tend to their duties.
Daz took his seat as he looked at his new legs. They were ungainly and hard for him to walk with. Still, he was alive despite the best efforts of the Reich to kill him. “I am so tired. I don't understand it. Why am I so tired?”
Daz didn't need to nor did it bother to look as he heard the voice answer him. “You used allow of energy during the battle.” Makarov said. Daz knew the voice perfectly but had no clue what the man actually looked like.
Sister Dar'rus secured the door as she looked over the room. There were nine armed guards in the room. Their blue body armor were near prefect copies of the Chancellor's Bodyguard. But these men were nothing like those guards of old. Daz knew that at one point, his former friends would make an attempt to murder him. These guards were training knowing what his friends were capable of. Once she was sure all things were in order she gracefully moved over to the sofa where Daz sat. She could tell that he was exhausted, “You have to be more carefully when you draw on the energy.” she said sitting next to him, “If you use too much too fast, it will wear you out.” she explained as she pulled a small red glowing ring from her pocket. “Here relax, I will share with you some of mine to help you” her hand glided over his head carefully as the ring's glow grew brighter. Daz lifted his head as the ring's red glow reached out to his forehead. She closed her eyes, “That's it Daz, open up yourself to me.”
Daz could feel her reach out through the force and touching him. The sensation still gave him a since of wonder. He could feel her heart beating, her breath, he could feel her spirit touching his. His mind washed over with a surge of emotion that over loaded just about every nerve he had. He felt her love touching his heart. He wondered if that was the same way that Swip had felt for him as Sister Dar'rus felt for Makarov. He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wonder back in time. He saw Swip looking up at him from across the fire. He could see the look in her aura, he could see her love for him. It was so warm and filled with so much passion. A tear slowly rolled down his face as he saw her form once more. He hated how he had betrayed her love and rejected it. He hated himself for not embracing something so pure and so filled with warmth and promise. “That's enough” he said placing his hand on Sister Dar'rus' stopping the transfer. It was because he had listened to Visst is the reason why he never had a chance to experience Swip's love.
“Is there something wrong?” Sister Dar'rus said. She already knew the answer, but she wanted to give him the impression that she cared. She didn't really care. After all, he was just another pawn to be moved across the board.
Daz sighed as he got up and walked over to a table near the wall. “I am just so tired” he said as he looked down at his legs. “I can still feel them” He added.
Sister Dar'rus got up and followed him, “I know you are tired. To carry the burden of the Galaxy is a massive weight for anyone.” she said as she walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
He turned his head and looked at a vase which head dead followers, “They died.” There was deep sadness in his voice. It was clear that the weight was taking its toll on him.
“The Force allows us to do great things more than what Master Visst would allow you to learn” she explained as she waved her hand over the followers. Daz could feel the darkness following around him as her ring glowed red over the dead followers. “Can you feel their life returning” she whispered over his shoulder.
“I know, and I can feel it. There is no dark side or light side of the Force. There is just the Force” Daz explained. Against all that he was taught by his former Jedi Master and Master Visst, Daz simply ignored those teachings. Daz could feel the dark side following around him, he could feel the cold grip on his heart. He knew that the light around him was dimming rapidly, but he just ignored those feelings. He watched the followers slowly come back to life. It was not true life as would be found in nature. This was nothing short of darkness emulating life. Daz could feel this but like his own feelings he just choose to ignore the truth.
“My lord, the Force choose you to led us and recreate the Republic. This is a great burden but you are not alone” Sister Dar'rus said as she watched the flowers returned to life. “I am here for you to lean on.” She could feel his emotions and knew where his mind was focused on. “Swip was a faithful woman who believed in you.”
He turned to her, “Did you ever meet her?”
“Yes” she said softly while nodding, “I met her two times while she was learning more about the Church and how to do God's work. She spoke very fondly of you” Sister Dar'rus explained.
He looked to her almost as if to look through her mind and find these memories. “Tell me” he said just before pausing. He thought almost about stopping the conversation right there. He wanted to know more. He needed to know more. “What did she say about me?”
Sister Dar'rus tilted her head to the side as she smiled, “She said that she had never met a man like you. That you were an inspiration for her. She told me about the first time you two met. She said that you were the only one that came looking for them. That you faced horrible numbers and you were willing to give up your very life to save her.”
Daz looked down with sadness as the emotions ran over him. He could remember that time he landed on that world. Her shuttle had been forced down by group of renegade Azgardian warriors. They had planned the shuttle attack as a trap for him. The innocent lives of the Dorin delegation were in the balance and he had to save them. Daz knew that they wanted his life. In the end, it cost him his arm. Still Master Visst didn't condemn the actions, instead, Daz remembered how Master Visst had criticized Daz's actions. The anger for Master Visst rose once more in his heart. Swip was so much more than Visst was. 'Why take her from me and leave him to torment me' Daz silently prayed.
Makarov voice echoed once more, “Daz, it is time for you to meet our leader.”
Daz turned and snapped his mind back on the moment, “Lord Murl?”
“Yes Daz, Lord Murl has come here to meet you” Makarov said coldly.
“Daz, I have watched you carefully.” the voice was dark and cold. There was no doubt in Daz's mind that this was a presence of evil on a level that Daz never faced before. “You have done great things so far. Now its time for you to prepare the Galaxy.”
“Prepare the Galaxy for what?” Daz said as he turned toward the voice.
“This war will end, but it is time for the Old War to be ended as well” Lord Murl explained.
Daz was not completely sure what Lord Murl was talking about, “What old war, my Lord?” Daz knew that this being was evil, but also saw the power of this being. There was something so familiar about the aura of this being. Daz had seen this before but couldn't place his finger on it.
“Daz, the Jedi Civil War existed between two conflicting philosophies. That war never ended. My Master taught me the truth of this war. And now I am willing to help you to finish it once and for all” Lord Murl said.
Daz nodded, “I sensed the war still raging. You are speaking of between the Sabbat and the Church. The Church will have to fall as well once the Sabbat is gone.”
“Yes, I agree with you Daz. The Church must fall as well. They are just as corrupt as the rest. My Master taught me that no truth can be found in any organized philosophy. True enlightenment comes from the acceptance of the Force as our faithful guide and we as it's servants. But this is only the beginning of it. There is much more beyond the Force. There is so much more to teach you. This is only the beginning, and beyond this life you will find a much broader future waiting for you. A spy has been caught and must be stopped before she escapes and will go and report to Master Visst what she has seen here. They will do all that they can to stop you from building the Republic in to the strong government that it should be. The Republic will be strong, we are ensuring this. But now, you must protect the future of the Republic” Lord Murl explained.
Daz felt the darkness moving once more around him. He knew that something dark was building. A side door opened and a pair of Chancellor body guards walked in pulling a hooded figure who was bound. “What do you mean My Lord?” He could see the patch on her shoulder. He had designed it, it was of the medical Coups, and within it was that she was a rare Force Healer. He knew that she posed no threat to him. However, he once more ignored the facts before his eyes and listened on.
“The future of the Republic rests within you Daz. No one will pick up where you leave this off should your murder take place.” The guards walked in pulling the figure behind them. As they walked in to the center of the room, one ripped off the hood exposing Knight Murl to Daz. Her mouth was gaged but Daz could hear her the concerns of her mind and he felt her fear. It actually filled him with a sense of rush. “I could easily ripped the knowledge from her mind of where THEY are hiding and their plans. I feel that this is yours to led. So long you have been pushed down by those around you. Forced to accept their judgments and their plans over your own. Even those who you are clearly more experienced than tried to push you down. I see the worth in you. But the dangers are still very real for you. My agents have worked to ensure that fate has shined on you and your Republic. We will continue to work for you and to help you build Republic. Clearly the lines have been drawn between you and your former friends. Already you know that they desire to assassinate you. Even as we speak, Senator Zall is holding a secret meeting plotting to murder you. With your death, the fall of the Republic as you built it will be assured. Is that what you want?”
Daz didn't need to see the look in Knight Murl's eyes. He knew that she was completely aware of what had taken place. He turned to her and drew out his sword and looked at it. “I have worked so hard and given so much for the Republic. I have betrayed all that I am so that the Galaxy will know peace. But I don't think that I can do this.” Daz looked at her as she shook her head at him. She tried to speak but only muffled sounds came out. There was conflict in his heart over this dark act.
“Daz, if you do not end her life, than she will report back to Visst. They will come after you and murder you. I can only do so much to defend you. At one point you will have to do what you must to ensure that the Republic is strong and can survive even your death in the future. Right now, the Republic is too weak to survive your loss. You must protect the Republic and the innocent lives within it. Do not just kill her, though. Anyone can take a life. Daz, I want you to use what my agents have taught you. Steal her life force from her. End her existence completely. Leave nothing left of her” Lord Murl commanded. “Only this way will she be stopped from crippling the Republic and assisting in ending your own life.”
Daz returned his sword and stepped forward as he looked closer at her. She tried to free herself from the guards grip so to defend herself. Their grip on her held tight against her struggles. Daz raised his hand and look deep in to her face and through her aura. He could see the strength she had in the Light side of the Force. He remembered her as the young Knight he had met back on Mearisa. She had seemed so alien to him at the time. Her features were that of multiple races, and her past would unlock the very reason why she had such a heritage. As he got to know her better, he learned how very special she was. She was a living descendant of Damaya Weirn and a very gifted Force user. He took in a deep breath and took another step forward. His heart was filled with conflict as he plotted out what he had to do and made all the attempts to justify it. There was no doubt in his mind that she was a light sider and what he was going to do was a dark act. He didn't want to do it, but he knew that the Republic needed him to led it through this war and the internal problems it was facing. He looked at his hand as it shook. He had done this before but those were dark siders and had all be found guilty of horrible crimes. Taking their lives was easily justified. This however was not justifiable at all. There was no where in his mind to hide from the fact that this was a dark act and was wrong. He lowered his hand in conflict, “I can't do this” he said softly. There was regret in his voice as he turned to face where the voice of Lord Murl was coming from.
“Daz I want you to think of this. Daz you and I want the same thing for the Galaxy. You have proven that you can do what must be done to achieve those things. Not to me, but to yourself. I have faith in you, that you can do this. How many times has someone pushed you aside because they felt that you didn't know better. I know that this is hard on you, and I know you can do this. Think of what would happen to the Republic if you were no longer there to lead it. If you can not do this, set her free. There is a ship waiting that can take her to Master Visst and Senator Zall. The Will of the Force brought her here to you. Her journey to you started once her Republic unit was caught behind enemy lines as the battle shifted. Even though they attempted to remain hidden, they were found by a passing patrol that was lost. A mix up in transportation place her in a camp separate from the rest of her unit. Than one of my agents discovered her. Not knowing at the time who she really was to you. They brought her here to help with your training. Only once she was here did her history become known. The only reason why this is happening, is because you are being tested Daz. The Force has given you a strong destiny and with each passing day, your own strength grows. Before you were tested time and time again. With each new test, they get harder to pass. Think of her in terms of the symbol that she is. The means for the Force to test your faith. This is not dark, this is solely the Will of the Force. As I have said, if you do not feel that you can pass this test, than set her free. Allow her to return to Master Visst and report what she had seen here. However, if you deserve this destiny that the Force has set out for you. Than now, its time to act, Daz.” Lord Murl's comments were convincing and struck a number of cords with Daz.
He turned to her once more as she renewed her struggles. Still the guards held her tight. Daz raised up his hand once more and could feel the darkness growing inside him as he remembered what he had to do to steal her life force. He closed his eyes and remembered the young knight just a few years ago. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. 'This is the Will of the Force' he thought to himself. He knew that if he completed this, than she would be forever gone. She would have no chance of becoming a spirit or rejoining with the Force. Her life would simply be consumed by him. He looked at her as he felt her mind calming and become more accepting of her fate. She shook her head in a last bid to save her life. He only looked back at her with no emotion on his face. She slowly lowered her head. Daz took in a deep breath and closed his eyes once more. “This IS the will of the Force” he said boldly and clearly as he raised his left hand and reached out through the force He could feel her neck in his gripped through the Force. He closed his hand and felt her neck under the pressure even though he was almost nine feet away from her. He jerked his hand and her body reacted by being ripped from the guards grip. She fought for air as she let out choking sounds, while the guards backed up.
Once more Daz reached out with the force with his right hand and ripped off her goggles and mask. Her eyeless face was now completely exposed to him as he looked right in to her very soul. Before he exposed her face, she had resembled a Kel Dor. Now she only looked like some deformed freak. He almost found his justification in killing her. He thought that he might actually be doing her a favor by ending her suffering. However, his heart knew better. As quickly as it came, the justification for her murder faded just as fast. She fought against his grip and Daz felt her attempt to summon the Force against him. However, she was too weak from her captivity to summon the Force effectively. She was defenseless and there was nothing she could do to stop what Daz was about to do to her. For the first time in her life, she felt pure terror. What calm there was was replaced by this terror now raging through her mind. Focusing his mind on Knight Murl, Daz reached out with his right hand while she was held in the air by Daz's left head. In that moment, Daz felt the dark side being summoned up within him as a bluish light slowly glowed across Knight Murl's face. It was her very life slowly being pulled from her body by Daz.
Her screams of agony echoed in the room as the blue glow grew brighter and brighter. Daz could feel her heart pounding as he held her neck through the force. Daz could have been merciful and snapped her neck in that moment before he took her life. But he didn't. Daz wanted her alive to feel every bit of what he was doing to her. He had to face this ugly thing so that he would be able to walk away from it later. Or at least that was his justification for this. The truth was far worse and something Daz would never admit to himself. He enjoyed what he was feeling as he started to feel her life within his own. Knight Murl's screams grew as more of her life was ripped away ever so slowly. Her body thrashed about as she did anything possible to break the hold he had on her. It was all in vain as she continued to slowly die. Never before had she ever considered such pain possible. Her life was being ripped from her in such a way that she felt each and ever bit of it. But then the pain was subsided suddenly. She lifted her head to see Daz looking at her. He had stopped what ever it was that he was doing to her. In that moment she realized that he was taking the time to savor her suffering. She shook her head and tried to plead for mercy. Daz only tilted his head and took a bit more of her life and once more her screams filled the large inner office. Then once more the pain subsided suddenly as she looked back at Daz. Once more he was taking his time to savor her suffering.
Knight Murl's body and mind were so weak that she could no longer even struggle. She just hung there in midair waiting for death to come. It would not come suddenly as Daz would start and stop the bleeding of her life often. Her screams and cries would fill the room and before it was over, she would beg for death, and still it would not come. For the first time in his life, Daz truly enjoyed what he was doing. The feeling and sensations that were running through him were nothing like before. Her life was pure and filled with energy on a scale Daz never dreamed if. Savoring it, increased the level of the rush he was feeling. Beyond the walls of the office, Knight Murl's screams could be heard throughout the halls of the Chancellor's palace. Some many heard her screams of pain and agony. It was clear that something horrific was taking place and someone was dying a very slow and painful death. There was no doubt what was going in behind those doors. An not one of those who could hear Knight Murl's screams of pain, even cared enough to take notice. For them, this was normal. Like their Chancellor, they simply ignored what was going on around them as they continued their work. Some even wished that what ever was happening would just end so the screams would end. It was more the guilt eating at them, rather than any mercy they wished for who ever was suffering. Once more the halls of the Chancellor's palace were silent as the screams stopped.
Daz looked in to the lifeless face of what was once Knight Murl. Her body hung in midair like a rag doll. There was no life in the empty shell that was once her body. Daz dropped the lifeless body on to the floor with as little regard as he would hold for some thing he was throwing away. His hand shook but for completely different reasons than before. There was no conflict in his heart now, all he felt was the rush of energy within him. He looked to the guards, “Take the body and make sure that she is found by Visst and his followers. I want Visst to know what he could have stopped. Let him see once more, his failures.” The two guards nodded and stepped forward as they picked up the body. Daz no longer cared for what was going on with the body. It was trash being taken care of. He turned to face Sister Dar'rus as he felt Knight Murl's energy surging through him. Controlling it was much harder than controlling the energy from the darksiders he killed. He made a mental note to research and find out if it had to do with her strong connection to the Force or her connection to the Light Side. Her life might have ended, but her energy existed within him now. “I am sure I know where the Inner Light is hiding.”
Lord Murl was who answered, “Do you? How do you suspect getting at them?”
Daz walked over to a side table with bottles on it. As he reached for a bottle he noticed his hand was shaking. “We don't have to. Once Visst finds the body, he will urge them to move once more and we will be in waiting to pounce. This however doesn't change my problems with the Humans and their current split. Nor does it change what Zall is doing. Should he marry the Crown Princess of the Humans, he could expand his power base and be in a position to cause me problems in the future.”
Lord Murl's voice was dark and deep, “Support the union between Zall and the Princess. Give them your blessings and hopes that the union will bring peace to the Republic. Don't worry about what Zall and this union will bring. Soon enough the Humans will show their true nature and you will capitalize on this. With that, Zall will be finished by his own doing. For the time being, you must show the Humans that you are their best ally next to Zall. Make sure not to attempt to over shadow Zall. For our plans to work, Zall must be their primary ally. Everyone must see Zall as the man who brought the Humans in to the Republic.”
Daz lowered his head for a moment in deep thought. There was a since of darkness that Daz could easily feel. However, it was no longer around Daz. He felt it much closer. Daz felt the darkness within his own heart for the very first time. Daz could no longer deny what he was. Daz had given up on the Light side and crossed that line. There was still conflict in his heart, but those voices have all but been drown out by the call of the Dark side. Daz knew that if he was to continue his education and life, he would have to continue to train for that one battle he knew was coming. The battle between him and Visst. Daz knew that he had to defeat Visst if he was to survive. This meant continued learning for Lord Murl and his followers. He turned from the table as he dropped to a knee with his head lowered, “Yes, My Lord.”
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