#enough to chomp through the sword going through his mouth. made him more monstrous like how koku was about to do and it had the same 'is | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

miss-agent-e-15-jedi · 7 years

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Chapter Two

I came around to an excruciating pounding in my head, accompanied by a caked, frozen, sticky feeling across my face which, along with bits of ice stuck in my lashes and brows, made my eyes feel like they’d been glued shut with cement. I forced them open with great effort, an effort that was also needed just to take a breath of freezing air. My spine ached horribly and my arms felt like they’d turned to stone in their sockets. I couldn’t feel anything from my ankles downward. I’d been cold while out on my patrol mission, but now that seemed like nothing compared to what I was experiencing in my new surroundings.

A terrifying roar sounded through the air, loud enough to send all the icy walls around me vibrating and my aching head throbbing unbearably. I glanced in the direction of the sound, and a moment later, after the echo of the first roar waned, a louder, even scarier one could be heard throughout. By this point I was certain I was in a cave of some sort; the entrance was right behind me. The only way I knew this was because of the petrifying wind that was blowing against my stiff, hurting back. The noise was accompanied by the breaking of bones, gluttonous chewing, chomping, and gnashing of teeth, and chunks of flesh being ripped apart.

Forcibly I craned my neck upward, and realized why the world was upside-down. I was upside-down, hanging like a piece of meat with my feet frozen into the ceiling. No wonder I couldn’t feel them.

Painfully, I curled myself into a C position, trying to free my feet from their petrification, but they were in pretty good, and the weight of my entire body painfully pulled me back down to my upside-down position. I heard my attacker roar again, and at that moment, I thought of my lightsaber. That would cut me free! However, when I looked down the side of my utility belt, it was gone. Panic was about to swell inside of me when suddenly I looked down and saw the hilt of my sword sticking out of a patch of snow.

Desperately I stretched my arm out towards my lightsaber. The weapon of a Jedi Knight, as Ben had told me when he’d first given it to me, and the closest kinship I had to the father that I never knew. My sword was out of my reach, and I couldn’t get it, no matter which arm I used or how hard I stretched them. The two circular screws on the bottom of the handle seemed to be staring at me like a pair of lifeless mocking eyes.

I thought again of Old Ben, and the training I’d started on the Millennium Falcon. Ben had told me that the Force could somewhat control actions; not just mine, but the actions of other things around me. If the Force could manipulate movement of small objects, then perhaps if I concentrated…

I heard the frightening crunching of snow in the distance where I’d heard the roars and eating. I shut it out of my mind, and in the darkness of my closed eyes, reached out, thinking of the lightsaber in my hand. I felt its weight, its shape, its activation switch behind my thumb, its smooth, shiny, metal body in the palm of my gloved hand…

In less than the blink of an eye, the hilt of the laser sword smacked into my palm, and I wasted not a second in freeing my icy bonds. I got up just in time to see my big, furry, vicious attacker coming at me with his angry, beastly eyes and monstrous claws. With a single swing, the creature’s right arm was severed from its body; dark, red blood stained the snow beneath its socket. If the creature’s previous roars had been loud before, they were now about twenty times as loud; loud enough to send numerous stalactites falling from their ceiling foundations.

I glimpsed the now right arm-less monster for a second, and then raced out of the cave as fast as my legs could carry me. It was extremely difficult to move post haste because of my feet sinking into the crunching snow. I was soon at the top of a minute, hilly snow drift, and as I attempted to charge down it, my legs gave way and sent me rolling several feet to the bottom. The merciless snow stung my eyes and nose like white-hot pokers. I forced myself to stand up and trek forward, to where, I had no idea. It seemed like I had come out of the cave into a snow hurricane. In addition to the torturous storm, the dark of night made it impossible to see less than a meter in front of me.

I might as well not have any fingers or toes, I thought, they were so numb. I closed my eyes, pressing my scarf against my face to shield it from the malignant wind, even though, I knew, doing so was as futile as trying to reason with a brainless lunatic. Each step I took was harder than the last, and even breathing was exhausting me. My back seemed like it would snap and paralyze me at any given moment; each vertebra weighing me down like sand bags. Gradually I began to lose feeling in my legs, to the point where I was afraid to even bend my knees for fear of collapsing. But being afraid of collapsing wasn’t enough to stop them from giving way, sending me back-first into a hard patch of snow.

After my head fell back in brief hesitation, I curled my upper body to one side and stood again, locking my knees and setting my entire weight on top of my legs. I couldn’t go on; I didn’t have the faintest idea where I was, the cold had become excruciatingly unbearable, and I barely had the energy to even suck in a breath. My face contacted the icy ground, dark grey glitches filled the space beneath my eyelids, and a strange, warm sensation spread throughout my body. I thought, I just need some sleep. I was waiting for the warm nothingness to consume me completely when…

“Luke…”

I barely recognized it as the sound of my own name. Surely my mind had to be playing tricks on me, or was that the howling wind?

“Luke!”

When the tone suddenly turned insistent, I began to deliberate whether or not what I was hearing was real. I looked up in the direction of my name, and what my eyes picked up made more warmth spread through my body; a single firework of surprise burst in my heart. About three or four meters in front of me, completely unfazed by the raging snowstorm and still dressed in the dark brown, hooded robe and shabby tunic he’d worn on his final endeavor, was my former mentor, Ben Kenobi.

Ben Kenobi was dead, I knew, so how could he possibly be standing before me? Yet he seemed so real, so alive, and his voice had rung loud and clear in my ears.

I was fairly certain I wasn’t seeing things, but I still wanted absolute confirmation, so I weakly called out, “Ben?”

I’d expected him to respond with, “Yes, Luke, it’s me,” or something like that. Instead, he refused to acknowledge my call to him and then told me, “You will go to the Dagobah system.”

“Dagobah system?” I asked, hoping I’d heard him correctly.

Again, not a yes or a no, but he didn’t object to my response, so that was enough of a yes for me.

Ben continued, “There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me.”

I knew right then and there that I wasn’t hallucinating, that the voice I’d heard in the hangar of the Death Star and during the Battle of Yavin had indeed been real. Hearing “Jedi” sent another burst of warmth through my body. It meant more to me than anything else than to become a warrior of the Force who strove for peace, justice, and freedom throughout the whole galaxy. My mind filled with a million questions at once. I looked up and realized that Ben was fading away. Why was he leaving me?!

“Ben!” I called out, reaching my hand toward him. “Ben!”

The last audible sensation I was vaguely aware of was a low moan in the distance; not the wind, but of some kind of animal. Before I could comprehend what it was exactly, I was once again swallowed by nothingness.

* * *

I no longer felt the snow pressing against my face, chest, and kneecaps. Now the snow was against my spine and the creases beneath my knees. With each breath that I forced in, my throat seemed to be vibrate each time I forced air out of my lungs. Suddenly, my shoulder blades were cupped and pulled very hard, and the crunching snow scraped across my back. I was soon overwhelmed by a horrible, nauseating odor that filled my nostrils, along with a wet, slimy sensation that seemed to seep through my clothes.

“…smelled bad…on the outside!” groaned a familiar voice that I couldn’t fathom.

Drowsiness overcame me a second later, a drowsiness that even the awful smell couldn’t impede, and once more I submitted to the dark with no protest.

* * *

A bright light blinded me when I attempted to force my eyelids open. I was sure that I’d died in the middle of the night, and this was my first glimpse of life after death, of becoming one with the Force. But, if I really was dead, why was I still hurting from head to toe and why was I still so cold? Maybe I would be healed if I went towards the light, I thought, but I couldn’t move. I tried to turn my neck, and experienced an icy, semi-solid sensation of cold beneath my cheek. I was still in the snow, I realized, still lying in the middle of nowhere, waiting for some scavengers to get their first bite of my frozen, lifeless corpse, waiting for…

I gasped in surprise as I felt myself lifted up and my back pressed into something flat and soft, something that definitely wasn’t snowy terrain. I was suddenly overtaken by warmth on all sides. Something thick and plastic encompassed my mouth and nose, and mild vibrations coursed through my body. Some mysterious g-force pressed me downward for a moment, and then released its hold on me, leaving me relaxed and with no pressure against my chest. I became drowsy again and decided that sleep was probably the best and only thing I could do at the moment. I closed my eyes, and the second I did, I heard another familiar voice—not the one I’d heard in the snow, but still familiar nonetheless—call out jovially:

“Echo Base, this is Rogue Two. We have Commander Skywalker and Captain Solo. Repeat, we have Commander Skywalker and Captain Solo!”

Stay tuned for Chapter Three!

#star wars #episodev #The Empire Strikes Back #first person narrative #Luke Skywalker #hoth #ben kenobi #chapter 2

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raithlyn · 6 years

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Arena Fight: S’guum

"This is your cue, pretty boy." The demon brandished a claw towards the lit opening to the arena floor, its face twisted into what could have been a smirk if it had a distinguishable mouth. Kevin paid it no attention as he strode confidently past, quietly activating his newly acquired flight magic but being careful to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

The arena was massive. Tier upon tier stretched in ridiculously unrealistic vertical layers farther than he could see, writhing with all manner of creature. A burst of color caught his eye and he noticed a familiar dragon skull, projected in magical image on the surface of the interior wall that protected the audience from the combatants, the words 'GO KEVIN GO' scripted with dragonfire in ever-changing colors from its mouth. He smiled, wondering if the Sisters would be more or less angry knowing he'd changed the terms of the contract from enslaving Inoue to himself.

There was no fanfare, no music, no dramatic announcement to herald his arrival. Kevin calmed his nerves; his plan involved keeping the vavakia off his guard and taking advantage of his confidence to end the fight quickly, so he couldn't do anything too flashy or he would risk gaining S'guum's discerning attention. And so, against his instincts, he walked firmly but slowly from the arena entrance towards the center platform, pulling his rope from his belt pouch as he did. A chorus of boos filled the audience, and Kevin took solace in the fact that this part of his plan, at least, was working. He flicked the rope upward and it found purchase on some part of the platform, allowing him to climb up to the center and get a good look at his surroundings.

The central platform was hollow, a large and very deep spiked pit in its center. Several other such pits ran in crisscross around the arena floor, but Kevin was under no delusions that they would be fighting on the ground. The vavakia would use its advantage of flight to gain the high ground, and use his abilities to keep Kevin far enough away that he couldn't use his rapier. Of course, S'guum didn't know that Kevin could close that distance, and the swordsman only hoped he could avoid the creature's massive weapon well enough to land a good hit to start.

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for!" The announcer's voice was not terribly loud, but magically projected across the entire arena. At first it sounded like the crowd started booing, but after a moment Kevin realized they were chanting S'guum's name.

The beast appeared, looming larger than life, its bulk impressive even from the great distance across the arena. Kevin felt the adrenaline rush through his arms, quickening his breath and tightening his muscles, but he maintained his stance.

S'guum spread his wings and arched his head upward, releasing a gout of flame that filled the ceiling of the arena with a terrifying visage of writhing green. Shapes that resembled tortured souls appeared for a fraction of a second before disappearing back into the ragged green edges of the soulfire, which belched forth a sound like a thousand agonized screams. The cloud hung for a few moments, then withdrew back into the gaping mouth of the vavakia to a roar of approval from the audience.

Kevin grit his teeth - this impressive display was meant not only to intimidate and impress, but also to show Kevin that he had no plans to use that particular weapon in this match. That was worrisome, because part of the swordsman's plan had been to take advantage of the time it took the vavakia to recover his breath to get in an extra attack, but that opening was denied to him now. The subtlety was lost on the Sisters, who had animated their decapitated dragon's head to show it comically chomping down on its own flame-writing in an exaggerated parody of the demon's soulfire.

The ground shook as S'guum slowly advanced to the central platform. "Now we will see how well you can boast when I have crushed you beneath my boot," he growled. Its voice was so deep Kevin could feel the ground rumbling.

Kevin smiled. "I think you've underestimated my abilities, demon. I can boast from anywhere!"

The vavakia chuckled approvingly. "You will make a fine addition to my collection."

The announcer's voice blared across the field. "Combatants! On your ready!"

S'guum lowered his head and spread his wings in anticipation, his eyes a pair of thin yellow slits glowing dimly across the field. Kevin crouched but held his ground, waiting for the official start.

"Combatants - FIGHT!"

The instant the announcement was made, Kevin burst forward with blinding speed, drawing his sword as he moved. If he was to have any chance of winning, he needed to land the first blow. Thankfully, the vavakia was still soaking in the crowd's adoration and was slower to react. He hefted his massive bladed pole and swung it wide, trying to catch Kevin in the arc, but the swordsman had anticipated this move and launched himself into the air to spring off of the blade as it swung, using the momentum to push him even faster past the demon's defenses. Every inch of it was armored with fitted metal plates or thick scales and wicked spikes, but Kevin spotted a small opening in its throat just wide enough for the rapier to poke through. Air rasped through the hole, leading Kevin to think that perhaps that was the creature's true nose. With a deft turn of his wrist, his blade found purchase and he was rewarded with a screech of pain from the vavakia as thick black blood began to gush out of the wound. Kevin's surge of optimism was tempered, however, as he felt the overwhelming magical power that radiated from the demon's presence. It pulsed up his sword arm like cold water and made his fingertips numb.

"The first blow goes to the human," the announcer called out against the roar of the crowd. Kevin looked for his next opening, and found it in the space between the demon's armor plating where shoulder met torso. The scales were thicker than he had anticipated, however, and he was able to do little more than scratch their surface as he slid to a stop on the platform and prepared to defend against the beast's attack. He shook out his hand, hoping the tingling sensation in his fingers was temporary.

S'guum growled angrily and turned with ferocious speed, blood still gurgling from the hole in his throat. At first he looked to swing his ranseur, but the blade was only a distraction as he pushed off hard with his front feet and butted Kevin backwards off the platform. Kevin tumbled back helplessly, trying to control the spinning and regain his breath, but the crowd's jeers turned to approving shouts as the swordsman's flight magic took hold and he corrected his course. He let the momentum of the blow carry him to the arena wall, then vaulted off to charge once more at the demon who was holding his ranseur high over his head in a victorious pose.

As before, Kevin avoided the swing of the massive weapon and closed the distance with the demon. He made for the gap in the shoulder armor, but his rapier was repelled by one of S'guum's claws as the demon rose to defend. Kevin tried another angle, and then another, hoping to outclass the creature in speed. Each attack was parried, and the rapid-fire sounds of striking metal were almost enough to rival the screams of the crowd in volume. Finally, Kevin pushed through and plunged his sword nearly to the hilt in the gap he'd been searching for. S'guum's arm spasmed and he screamed in rage and pain.

Kevin almost smiled - things were going better than he had hoped, and it definitely sounded like he was winning the crowd to his side. S'guum seemed to know it too, and erratically swatted at Kevin to force him back a pace. Too late the swordsman realized the haphazard attack was a ploy to force him into position, and he quickly threw his sword up as the vavakia's long neck snaked down and he bared a set of monstrous fangs. S'guum didn't seem to care about the sword; he grabbed the entirety of Kevin's arm in his teeth, sinking the fangs into the swordsman's shoulder.

Kevin cried out, but swallowed down the pain as he pulled free with a twist, leaving the sleeve of his shirt dangling from S'guum's teeth. He glanced down at his shoulder, expecting to see long lines of blood where the demon's teeth had marked him, but instead there was a sort of congealed darkness where flesh should have been left exposed and it oozed a thick trail of green smoke that made his stomach turn. There was no time to worry about the unearthly wound, however, as Kevin danced back towards the demon's flank to avoid getting buffeted by its wings. Remembering the tail, he jumped blindly and vaulted backwards, but ran into one of the creature's claws which raked him across the back and left deep bloody gashes in his side and matching trails of scarlet stripes splattered across the stone of the platform. The arena exploded with sound, as chants of "S'guum!" filled the stands.

"Your move, little human," S'guum smiled, spitting Kevin's shirt sleeve and a mouthful of blood back to the platform.

Kevin's vision slid in and out of focus, and he found himself even more grateful for his flight magic keeping him aloft. He knew the outcome of this match would be decided by the next move, one way or another. Tightening his grip on his sword and whispering a prayer, he darted back in past the vavakia's defenses and aimed for the one place he dreaded getting any closer to: its mouth. Ironically, by biting him S'guum had inadvertently given Kevin the key to its demise, and it was with utmost satisfaction that Kevin observed the demon's complete surprise as he thrust his arm into S'guum's gaping maw. There, he felt the tip of his blade touch against the soft tissue in the roof of its mouth, and with all his remaining strength guided the blade upward through the demon's head. The wave of cold numbness washed over his arm again, but he held firm.

S'guum didn't have time to react. His claws reached futilely outward to try to pick Kevin off, but the relentless sword had already carved its path down the back of his spine, severing the demon's head from the inside.

The beast's head fell faster than its body as it hovered for a moment longer, its wings shuddering erratically and billowing outward as the creature fell into the pit. Its weight drove it down deeply against the spikes, holding its lifeless form instantly immobile. Dead silence fell upon the crowd.

It lasted only a moment. There was a tremendous uproar of screams, shouts, applause, boos, and a blended cacophony of both excitement and anger. Kevin flicked the blood from his blade and reached subconsciously for his shoulder, attempting to staunch the blood that should have been flowing there. He grimaced at the sensation of the smoke trailing through his fingers, but maintaining awareness of the crowd twisted his mouth into what he hoped could be read as an arrogant smirk. He sheathed his blade with a flourish and began floating downward towards the arena's exit.

His limbs were shaking, his breath coming harder than he had expected. S'guum had been every bit the challenge he had anticipated, and he found himself whispering a prayer of thanks to the Lady of Stars as he touched down on the landing. However, as soon as his feet hit the ground and both the adrenaline and flight magic faded, his legs gave out completely and he pitched forward to sprawl ungracefully across the stone.

He could barely move his arms. He vainly pushed off against the ground, hopelessly struggling to stand before he could be discovered by the predatory demons, but try as he might he could not get up. Desperate, he dragged himself back towards the cage, and managed to rise to a sitting position with his back against the wall just as the cell-keeper appeared in the hallway holding a handful of wands. His head pounded, the injuries left from S'guum's claws throbbed, and sweat dripped down his neck from his recent exertions.

"You look awful," the succubus grinned, sliding through the door into the cage. She looked over Kevin like a butcher sizing up cattle for slaughter, then pulled a wand from her bundle and held it aloft.

Kevin held up a hand. "I'd rather speak with the person in charge of my contract first, if you please."

The succubus arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You just made a lot of people angry, and you don't look like you're in any shape to defend yourself." Her grin broadened. "If someone just happens to get past my guard, you would be in very dire straits indeed."

Kevin managed a weak smile. "True, and I meant no offense. I only want to confer with the case manager before accepting anything that might deepen my debt here and extend my stay. I may still require your timely assistance."

Demonic eyes twinkled as the succubus looked appraisingly at the swordsman. "Beauty and brains, a rare combination." She leaned in closely and licked her lips. "I bet you taste delicious," she growled before standing up quickly and walking away, swishing her tail as she went. "I'll summon the contractor."

After making sure the succubus had safely disappeared from view, Kevin relaxed his shoulders and sank his head back against the wall. 'Still alive,' he thought, reaching over the telepathic link. 'For how much longer remains to be seen.'

Arueshalae's voice echoed comfortingly in his mind. 'You're not out of the woods yet,' she said. Kevin wasn't sure if she sounded relieved or if he was just imagining what he wanted to hear. 'S'guum was a prominent figure in Alushinyrra's slave trade, and his death means there are more than a few feathers about to be ruffled. Not to mention all those who just lost money betting on what they thought was a sure win.'

'Understood. And the victory was… costly. If someone did decide to attack, I doubt I could defend myself.'

'You're going to have to,' Arueshalae said severely. 'Like it or not, you've gained a lot of infamy today. That comes with benefit, but also considerable danger.' There was a moment of tense silence, and when the succubus spoke again she sounded softer. 'Part of the reason I declined to come to the Abyss was the temptations of falling back into old habits, it's true. But I was also afraid that my reputation would do more harm than help.'

Kevin closed his eyes. 'Right now, hearing your voice is help enough.'

Arueshalae was quiet for a long time. Kevin was worried he'd offended her, and so he shifted his focus to trying to bind his wounds. He used his knife to tear strips from his ruined shirt and tied it as tight as he could manage around the deep gashes in his chest and arm, although the latter was still oozing smoke that made him feel weak and sickly. He was sweating again by the time he finished.

'How bad is it?'

Kevin's relief at hearing Arueshalae's voice was almost palpable. 'I'm not going to lie: it's not pretty. He caught me with his claws, but that should heal eventually. Of more concerning note, he got past my guard with his teeth and we both know what that means. Between the bite and his aura I can no longer stand.'

'You're definitely going to make me come down there, aren't you?'

Kevin chuckled, but had to bite his tongue as he heard the unmistakable sound of approaching hooves against the stone.

#pathfinder #wrath of the rightous #PAZIK

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