I really need my R&R (Past)

“Blast it!!”, I found myself in the Bestine cloning center. Still groggy from the procedure, I tried to remember what happened. Lets see, I was on my way to my last way point on my list before my scheduled R&R, and a chance to meet up with Highway on Naboo. I was to going to check on some supposed thugs that were reported to have been assisting the Rebels on raids.

I was just about to the designated area, when I spotted a band of Jawa’s milling about an enclave of boulders. Though Jawa’s are a common sight on Tatooine, there was something about them that just didn’t feel right to me. I pulled a camo kit from my pack and set about applying it to myself. Generally Jawa’s are not an aggressive group as a whole, but I didn’t want to raise any alarm from them, hence the kit. I mean, I am just on a scouting mission.

I was able to move within 80 meters of the Jawa’s, before having to drop into a crawl. I had maybe gone an additional 30 meters, when all of a sudden my proximity alarm started going off in my ear. I froze in place, and cautiously scanned my surroundings. That was funny, I didn’t see anything. I was thinking that I had gotten a false read from my detector, and was about to resume my crawl toward the Jaw’s when all hell broke loose.

Several Tusken Raiders had managed to set up a pretty good ambush, whether they did so purposely or were just lucky, I was caught in a fierce cross fire. So much for seeing what the Jawa’s were up too, I now had me to think about. There is a reason I wasn’t taken down by the first volley of shots, Tusken’s are not know for their proficiency in weapons, and most of their shots went wide, and those that didn’t were deflected by my light armor.

I returned fire and dropped two right off, one didn’t think to seek cover and was just standing there right in the open, the other had decided at that moment to change his position and I took them both down at the same time as the one move directly behind the other. I turned and took a bead on a third, when I was hit from behind. That shot dropped me to my knees, and I could feel the warmth of my blood begin to trickle down my back under my armor. “Damn” Staggering to my feet I quickly found my initial target and popped him right between his eyes, and watched him drop in a heap to the ground as I spun around to locate the one that hit me in the back.

He stood there in all his magnificent. He wore an elaborate headdress, and necklaces of fine bone. His face and arms were adorned with intricate tattoos. His clothing was not like most Tuskens, they were of better quality then most. He was a Tusken witchdoctor! I stood there facing him off, each of us looking right into each others eyes. I knew I was in trouble, I can handle most anything I run across on Tatooine, but not this. A Tusken witchdoctor is a very bad thing to run into when not prepared. I was not. To face off against one, one on one, you need to be medically pumped up by a doctor, and have on some of the better composite armor to have a fair chance of taking one on, I had neither!. My only hope was to make a retreat and hope that my terrain negotiation skills would allow me to put some distance between him and I.

I popped off a couple of bolts at him, and turned to make for a hill behind me that offered crags and crevices to hide in, and possibly allow me to escape, but I didn’t get three steps when I was again hit by this guy. I felt as if my muscles turned to jelly, my head shrieked in agony!. I fell to the ground unable to move. I was helpless!. I hadn’t gone unconscious, I could still see, but my view was of the Tatooine sky. I could still hear. I heard the Tusken warriors grunting and hissing in joy at what their leader had done to me. My field of vision was eclipsed by the face of this witchdoctor. He stood over me grinning a wicked grin. He let out a chilling yell, arms above his head, glorifying his powers, and swung his weapon. That was the last thing I saw, before waking up in the cloner.

A letter From Scarlet (Present)

I received a letter from Scarlet today. Its funny how your thinking about things, and something like this pops up. I had been thinking of Max and Scarlet…a lot. I worry for them both so much. Scarlet having difficulties with her pregnancy, and having to deal with both Max and Deomo, and Max…well…I just worry about Max all the time, I can’t help it.

I opened the letter to read that Scarlet wants me to find Deomo…Deomo!!?. (Groan) It seems he has gone missing on Endor. What does she mean by a “battle with a demon spirit in a pendant he has?. Oh great!, his memory has been partially wiped, by this pendant?, and he was last seen with some ancient pike that does poison damage to boot!…wonderful, she wants me to find him, comfort him and keep him safe…uh huh…right!. Last time I had any real close contact with Deomo, I was trying to kill him, and knowing Zebrak males, memory loss or not, he wont be all to happy to see me.

Blast!, if it had been anyone, and I mean anyone else besides Scarlet that had asked me to do this I would have laughed in their face and walked off. I couldn’t do that to her….her letter had a tone of urgency, desperation to it that I can’t ignore. OK, I’ll set off for Endor and see if I can locate a mentally challenged, death toting, gypsy Zebrak, and try to keep him safe. (wonders safe from who? himself? or am I the one that’s going to need protection?).

Definitely a New Interest (Past)

Highway comm’ed me! I was between assignments on Tatooine, when my comm. buzzed. Highway wanted to know how I was, how things were going, and to tell me he had a very nice time in the cantina the other night. *Smile* He said he was on Naboo outside of Theed, checking some harvesters he had built and set up to extract minerals in the area. The mention of harvesters sounded funny to me coming from a ranger, for some reason I couldn’t fathom why a ranger would ever want one, but to each their own I suppose.

Highway asked if it would be possible to get together again sometime, that he really enjoyed my company, and was interested in learning more of my being a ranger, and of me in particular. I sure was glad we were on comms, for if we had been using vid units he would have seen me blush deep red.

I checked my data pad, one to make sure it still worked (I’m forever destroying the dang things), and two, to see what and where my next assignments were. “Good” I thought, I have nothing pressing after these next couple of way points and was entitled to some R&R, I should be able to travel to Theed, and meet up with him in a day or two.

I told Highway That I had some unfinished business dealings of my own to complete on Tat, but that I would meet him in Theed in three days, and that I would comm. him when I touched down on Naboo. He said that would be great!, and that he was looking forward to seeing me again. I clipped my comm. back onto my belt and let out a “Woop!” that startled a small herd of Banths that were grazing near by.

I headed off to my next way point, a big grin on my face, and as happy as I could be. The thought of once more seeing this most intriguing man again racing through my mind..

Decision Made.

I have made up my mind, having resigned from the Imperial army after max was taken into custody and subsequently tortured by his peers, and wandering aimlessly for weeks around the galaxy, I humbly dragged myself to the nearest recruiter and asked to be reinstated in the Imperial army. I know, I know, your thinking how the hell could I stoop so low and go back to working for these Bantha turds. I really did not want to, but having talked to some individuals working for the other side (the Rebellion) I was convinced I needed to be on the inside to better their cause. I agree, I think going back to work for them will definitely place me in a better position to make changes. Hopefully for the better.

I found out from the recruiter that I would not be reinstated to officer status, as I was when I resigned, instead I will have to start off in the enlisted ranks (groan). Well at least I was given the choice of being in a line company or since I am a ranger, working as I had before, as an independent. (Being a Ranger has its advantages, *smile*). I choose the latter. I had to use all my skills to keep from having to start at the very bottom (Private), The skills I learned as an officer, and those god gave to me for having been born a woman, to be reinstated to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

I was told to report to Captain Veniese in Bestine, Tatooine. (groan) why does it seem like I always end up on Tat? Oh well, off I headed to my TIE fighter and the Tatooine sysem. I arrived Bestine and made my way to the outpost just outside the city. I was then directed to where the captain was, and reported in.

Captain Veniese office was pretty much as I expected it to look, a simple desk, with a data reader and small lamp on it. Various paper work lay scattered around on top, several file cabinets arraigned on the far wall, and a couple of service plagues and awards hung hap-hazard about the office. Captain Veniese, also looked as sparse as his office, drawn, taunt, and tanned from the twins suns that hung above Tatooine, he had a look about him that suggested long hours in and out of his office.

I stood in front of his desk and gave him a brisk salute “Staff Sergeant Lightcloud, reporting as ordered for assignment”. He acknowledged me with a curt wave of his hand and motioned me to a chair. He didn’t even look up, he just reached across his desk to a pile pf papers and extracted a file folder from it. Looking through the folder I heard him mumble under his breath something about “karking retreads”. Finally after what seemed like an hour, but were only a few minutes, he spoke, again not looking at me. “Staff Sergeant Lighcloud, I see here that you recently rejoined. Your records show you to be a competent soldier, but that you may have a problem with authority”. “am I going to have any problems with you?” “no sir”, I said. “good, I better not find you to be a problem or I’ll have your ass sent so far out of the system, even the infamous Han Solo would never find you to smuggle you back, is that clear?” “yes sir” I stammered. “I have been having some trouble with some of the local riff raff in the area but my men are having a hard time getting a position of their where-about, I want you to find them and relay the information back here to my office so we can deal with them properly”, “you will be operating alone, as I see in your file your qualified to do such work”. He reached into a lower desk drawer and produced a data pad, and handed it to me. “Here are some of the last coordinates we had on their possible location, I want you to get your things together and get started on this right away”, is there any questions?”, “no sir” and with that he dismissed me. I stood, saluted and headed out. “great” I thought back to tracking pirates and thugs, what joy…not. I took a look at the data pad and seen that their must have been over a hundred different way points contained within. I sighed, and headed off in the direction of the first one…

Highway Ranger: A New Interest? Or Just Interesting?

Damn I really need to make the time to write in my diary. *makes a note to the front of the binder*, that reads; “Make the time to write dummy!!”.
There *smiles* Now all I have to do is follow my own advice.

I met him on Tatooine, in Mos Eisly, at the local cantina. I had come to the cantina to have a few drinks and rest my weary mind after a long couple of days tracking and hunting. I like coming to the cantina in Mos Eisly, there are a lot of new dancers and musicians to watch and listen to. You never know whether the entertainment will be truly entertaining or a bust. I was sitting in a corner nursing a Jawa beer listening to the band play a soothing slow ballad, and watching a particularly pretty woman move in an intricate dance to the melody, when he walked in.

Right off I knew this man was different from all the other men in the place, just by the way he carried himself. As he strode across the dance floor towards the bar, I found myself not able to take my eyes off of him. He must have sensed he was being watched, for he turned his head in my direction and looked right at me, right into my eyes. Embarrassed I hurriedly turned my attention away from him, but not before I caught a knowing self confidant smile on his face.

I was staring at my beer glass, thinking how silly I was to have been staring at this man, when I felt a presence standing close to me. I looked up to see this handsome stranger standing next to my table with a couple of Jawa beers in his hands and that same confidant smile on his face. I turned beet red!! And just stared up at him. He chuckled, and introduced himself, “Evening my lady, would you mind terribly if I sat at this table with you? It would appear that all the other tables are occupied” I quickly checked around and sure enough, the place had become packed and my table was the only one with a seat left. “umm, sure” I stammered, “suit yourself”. With that he set down and slid one of the beers he had been holding in my direction. “This” he said, “is for allowing me to sit with such a fair looking lass as yourself”, I blushed even more crimson then I had before, totally self-conscious of how I must look to this guy. “my name is Highway, Highway Ranger” he said. I quietly answered, “I’m Ebe, Ebe Lightcloud, nice to meet you Highway” I thanked him for the beer with a warm smile, and studied him, pretending to watch and listen to the entertainment.

There was a familiarity about Highway that I just couldn’t place. It was as if I knew him, but that wasn’t right, for I had never seen him before this night I felt a vague feeling of kinship, or of being part of the same fellowship with him somehow. I took a sip of my drink and was going to ask him if we had ever met before, when he turned to me and asked “So, what brings a pretty girl like you to a dust hole like Tatooine?” I thought for a sec…wondering if I should tell him anything. Should I tell him a story of some sort?, the truth?, or say nothing at all, and just give him a smile. He seemed so sincere, his voice so disarming. I choose to tell him the truth.

“I’m here running scouting missions for some clients. I’m looking for some high quality herbivore meat that’s supposedly been found in this part of the galaxy. I came to the cantina, to rest my mind and quench my thirst. You know how hot and dusty this god forsaken planet is” *smile*. Highway nodded at me knowingly “Are you a scout or ranger by chance?” he asked. “yes” I said, thinking “ok here we go, he now knows I’m a ranger and he’ll probably get up and leave, as it seems that most men are put off by rangers in general, and me being female, he’ll think that I’m to much the tomboy like most do”, but instead of getting up and leaving, he just sat there grinning at me. “well my Lady, it just so happens that I am a Ranger too” and his grin turned into the most charming smile I had not seen in a man in a long, long time.

We sat in the cantina talked about our experiences, our lives, how it turns out we both had a very similar story on how we ended up in the same part of the galaxy. I found out that Highway is pretty much a loner, as I am, but he wasn’t attached or had a significant other in his life at the moment. I thought that maybe he had something going with one of the dancers in the cantina, but he had been helping her on Naboo, kind of a sightseeing thing, and she just happened to be in Mos Eisly performing that night.

We chatted well into the night. The suns of Tatooine were just starting to come up when we both agreed to call it a night. We exchanged Comm. And stepped out into the morning. He wished me a goodnight, lol, and hopped to see me again. I told him I would like that very much. He gave me a tender kiss on the cheek and set off to take care of some minor things before sleeping. As I watched him drive off, I could only think how lucky I was to meet another Ranger in such a isolated part of the galaxy and such an interesting one at that. I hope he calls me *smile*, I really want to get to know this one a lot better.

Maxell Snow and I: Part two

Max had many responsibilities as mayor of Eden’s Grief, but with those responsibilities came some nice distractions form his daily grind. Max has many friends, and one day one of these friends asked Max to officiate at his wedding and perform the ceremony. Max asked me if I would accompany him to the wedding and stand with him as he performed the ceremony. I told him I would love to go, I had never been to a wedding before, so I was excited to say the least. The wedding took place at the Lake Retreat on Naboo. Max and I were met at the shuttle by the groom and his bride and shown to a tailor that had made up special wedding apparel just for the occasion. Max was given a wonderful suit befitting a king; I was given a gown made for a queen. I was introduced to so many people that day, and had a wonderful time just chatting with everyone before the wedding; both Max and I received many compliments on our dress. The ceremony was incredible, and all went without a hitch, Max did a fantastic job.

Congratulations for the new bride and groom were mostly finished and all were invited to the cantina for the reception, the groom spoke up to those gathered and announced that Max wanted to address everyone. I was pretty much oblivious to what was going on at the time, still enjoying the festive and happy mood from the wedding, I was standing beside Max when he glanced in my direction then turned to face me. He looked into my eyes and started talking, not addressing the people around us, but to me. He spoke of our time together, how we had fought together side by side, how we loved each other, how when we were together we were as one. As he spoke, my eyes misted, I knew what was coming, I was keenly aware of all the eyes on Max and I. He dropped to one knee, took my hand in his and looking into my tear filled eyes, and asked if I would be his wife. My heart burst at that moment, I was so filled with joy! I took his hand in mine and pulled him up, close to me, and in an almost inaudible voice said “Yes, of course” The crown cheered almost with more enthusiasm for us then for the original bride and groom. We held each other for a long moment, then bounded up the steps to the cantina to party the rest of the night away.

Max and I were married not long after that day. The wedding was held in Eden’s Grief, with the ceremony done by a very good friend of Max and I, Kasek Zon. The Guild EGO granted us permission to use their hall for the wedding and they did a awe inspiring job getting it ready. My girlfriend Elizabeta made my wedding gown and all the bridesmaids gowns, and I have to say we all looked incredible! We had lot of friends come from all over the galaxy attend, some from as far away as the wanderhome and Bria sectors. The wedding went without any big problems, and the reception was a blast!.

I own a house in EG, next to my former guild, max didn’t waste any time moving in *smile*, he set up an office in one of the lower rooms for conducting city business out of. We both were so happy, spending time all of our time together. Soon though, the honeymoon was over, it was time to get back to business. Max, was in constant demand as mayor, and had to spend more and more time away. I was being called away to due contract hunts and tracking missions.
Max and I found time together becoming less and less. When Max and I would get brief moments, we seemed to spend it more and more discussing our work rather then just enjoying our time together, we would get into arguments over silly things. Edens grief was going through some tough times back then, and and looking back to those times, I think poor Max was just overwhelmed by all the maneuvering going on that he just couldn’t separate his work form his home life. I was also having the same thing happen to me, with orders to find special meats and hides, and an ungodly amount of requests to go to Tatooine to track wild boars and moisture farmers for some unknown reason. All of this being separated was having undesirable effects on both of us. Max, when not having to fight with the citizens of EG, was spending more and more time in the cantinas. I would come back from the wild to find him either drunk, or flirting with the dancers, and more arguing would ensue. Even I was not immune to being separated from Max, and found comfort with some of the company I was with, while on extended hunting trips, but I never went any further then flirting, I mostly needed the companionship of good friends during these time. Max on the other hand had an affair with a certain woman, who’s name I will not mention. Though all of this upset me, I really could understand the reason’s behind the actions. That’s not to say at times I didn’t want to shoot somebody.

I sat down with Max one night and we both decided that it was in our best interest to part, and go our separate ways. We both knew that we couldn’t go on with the way things were. Max and I have since become much better friends then we were as a couple, and we still go out of each others way to help each other. Max is now happly in love with a beautiful woman named scarlet, they are very happy together. Me? I’m still out in the wild searching for the good meat and hides, tracking stupid boars and moisture farmers.
A lot has happened in both our lives since we parted, some very happy, some very scary, but all of it exciting. Did I mention we had a son? This will be something I’ll need to put pen to paper on in the future.

Decisions, Decisions…

I awoke to the smell of the forest; I had pitched my camp out in woods near Keren, Naboo. I hadn’t been hunting; I had been doing the same thing I seemed to be doing a lot of lately, just wandering around with no real purpose. I slowly extracted myself from my sleeping bag and peeked out of my shelter. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, the morning cool and slightly damp, the air fresh, and clean, filled with the scent of the trees and flowers.

My small fire from the night still smoldered, so I knew getting it going again would be easy enough. I had some eggs and cured meat in my pack from a gnort lair I raided a day ago, so breakfast would not be a problem either. I climbed from my tent and stretched the kinks from my still sleepy muscles, breathing in the morning air. I busied myself with breakfast and packing my camp away, with no real thoughts as to what I was going to do for the day. I finished eating and packed the remaining items of my camp, when all was secured, the fire fully out, I set off to wander once more.

I knew I was fairly close to Hendola, only 4k away. I had a couple of sheds there for storing hides and other supplies. I had not been to check on them in quite some time, and they were probably in need of a little maintenance. So with a quick glance at my compass, I set the rising sun before me and headed towards Hendola. For the most part the trip was uneventful, I tracked some Gungan’s and investigated their camp, I ran across a couple of small flocks of Giant, and regular Peko-peko’s that I took down with my rifle, but other then that nothing else.

When I arrived at my sheds near Hendola, I was mildly surprised to find that they were actually in pretty good shape. I spent the late morning putted around in them, taking care of some minor maintenance, and sorting some of the provisions I had left in them. When done, I rode over to Hendola proper, and boarded the shuttle to Eden’s Grief. I still own a large house in this city, but have slowly over the last couple of months, packing up all my belongings, with the intent of moving to a new location. Eden’s Grief is not the city it once was, a lot of the citizens have moved out, and the place has become a virtual ghost town. Again I did a little minor maintenance, and straightening up of the place. I was a little surprised to find that it was late afternoon when I finally took a break.

I went up stairs to stand on the balcony, and contemplate my current situation. What was I going to do? How was I to get my life back on track? I mulled over a lot of Ideas, but kept coming up blank. I figured I might as well go into Theed and see what was happening in the Cantina, I thought maybe a good drunk was what I needed. As I headed down the stairs, a thought came to me. Scarlet is a priestess, she knows techniques on meditation that maybe I could learn. I thought maybe through meditation I could find some of the answers to my many questions.

I ran for the shuttle in Eden, barely making it in time, I rode it back to Kitan, then to Keren, as that’s where I had parked my Sorosub. I boarded my ship, ran to the bridge, and hastily ran through the preflight checks, while contacting Keren Spaceport authorities for permission to launch. Permission came just a minute later, and I launched for the stars. Once in orbit around Naboo, I set my navigation computer for the Dantooine system, an engaged the hyper drive.

Once in the Dantooine system, getting permission to land was a bit of a chore, the approach control operator at the Dant space station kept asking me if I was sure I wanted to land there. Finally I convinced him I did indeed want to go to Dant, he grudgingly processed me through, and I headed down to the planet. I landed my ship at the Argo Outpost, un-stowed my swoop, and rode in the direction off Scarlets temple. Riding along I started having doubts as to whether my idea was in fact a good one, I mean, I really don’t know all that much about Scarlet, and for all I knew Zebrak meditation techniques might not even work on humans. The closer I got the more doubt filled me.

I was 500m from the temple when I got off my bike and started walking the rest of the distance in. I make it a habit to not just ride up on a location with out first checking out the area around where I want to go. This has kept me out of trouble more then enough times to make it a bit of a habit with me. I checked the perimeter of the temple, finding nothing to be concerned with, I walked up the step to the door. I hollered “Hello!” but didn’t get an answer. I thought maybe I shouldn’t go in if no one was there, but I had talked myself into asking Scarlet for her advice on my idea on the way out, and figured I could wait awhile for her to show up.

I removed my boots, and quietly went inside. I went into the main room of the temple and again asked “Is anyone here?” I was startled when I heard Scarlet say “Don’t come in! I’m in the blue room meditating, just don’t come in”. I was floored by this. Scarlet had always been accommodating to me and everyone else I met at the temple, and this was not I expected. I humbly begged her forgiveness for intruding and ran for the door. Just as I got outside, I ran smack into Max, damn near bowling him over in my haste to get out. Max tried to stop me, but I got around him and ran out into the Dantooine evening. I was crying, my feeling hurts, wondering what I was thinking to even have bothered to come here. Sorry for myself, for being such a little girl…Damn it!! I had been an officer in the Imperial Army, I should know how to control my emotions better then this!.

I ran several hundred meters from the temple, when I heard Max yell for me to stop. For what ever reason, I did. I collapsed on the ground, sobbing, waiting for Max to catch up. When he got to me, and started asking me what was wrong.. I didn’t know what to say. How could he understand what I’ve been going through, the lost, desolate feeling I was having since resigning from the army, how could I tell him that he had been my anchor, even though we had grown apart, I still needed him to be in my life. That now that he was involved with Scarlet, I felt I was losing the only person in the universe that understood me. But Max wouldn’t quit, in his patient, understanding way, he kept asking me over and over to tell him what was wrong. So I did. I told him about everything that had happened, the how, the why, and the unknown. I let my feelings that had been pent up flow freely. Max sat there and listened to me go from one incident to the next, from crisis to crisis.

I felt like I must have vented to Max for hours, and through it all, Max remained calming and thoughtful. He understood what I was going through, he a listened to what I had to say. Max’s ordeal at the hands of Cauil and Deomo took him to the same place I was in, the difference being that I had the opportunity to get out and he did not. He told me that though he is devoted to Scarlet, and she is everything to him, that I was still also held within his heart and that he would always be there for me if I needed him. This I needed to hear from him more then anything else we talked about, I needed to know that there was someone out in the universe that still cared, that knew I existed. I felt a heavy weight lift from my soul at that moment.

Our conversation turned to what I was going to do, now that I was no longer in the army. I reminded Max that I was still enlisted in the Flight Corp. and that I would remain flying for the Navy as long as I was able too. I told him I would go back to being an independent hunter again, like I was before joining the army, that it would be nice to see how I could do as a civilian earning a living. I didn’t tell him that I had already been out on a couple of hunts and had, had a couple of interesting conversations with the other side. I think Max may know this already, just not how deep.

It was getting late, and I was feeling a lot better about things. I thanked Max for being there for me *smile* and got up to go. He stopped me and suggested I stay at the temple, that I stay in the guest room. I wasn’t sure if I should, I mean after what happened when I first got to the temple earlier still fresh in my mind. Max assured me it was ok, that he would make everything ok. So I agreed.

When we got to the temple Scarlet, greeted me like I remember. It turns out she was instructing a student on meditative techniques and I misunderstood what she meant when she said not to come in. We talked a little about how she was feeling and other news. Her teachings and training. I could see she was tired, so I asked to be excused. Max escorted me to the guest room and helped me get settled in, I wished him and scarlet a good night and shut the door. I lay in the bed for awhile, in the dark, thinking about my conversation with Max, about what I was going to do. AS I slowly drifted off to sleep I decided I would try it alone for awhile, that I would get back in touch with the people I had met while hunting the previous week and ask some questions…

Maxell Snow and I: Part One

I met Maxell Snow, out in the wilderness of Naboo one day, while in the mountains east of Edens Grief. I was doing some hunting and tracking of wild Fambaas and had been following the tracks of a small herd. I had crested a hill, where I found a small group of hunters standing below me in a dell, where they had a small camp set up. It appeared they had been trying to take down the Fambaas I had been tracking, and were taking some time to regroup and tend wounds. I stood there on the ridge, debating whether I should go down into their camp and offer assistance, as I have some training in triage, or just disappear back down the way I had come, and work my way around to where the Fambaas had settled. Just as I was getting ready to backtrack my way down, one of the group members looked up and spotted me standing on the ridge. Sithspawn! How stupid of me to be caught silhouetted against the sky. I know better then this, and had allowed myself to be complacent.

Before I had a chance to disappear into the woods, this person had mounted up and was before me in no time. As he was dismounting, I realized that I knew him from along time ago while still a recruit in the Imperial army boot camp. We had had a very short fling, and I had become pregnant, and subsequently miscarried from our indiscretion. While still on the ridge, he greeted me with a friendly “Hi�, and introduced himself as Maxell Snow. Obviously he did not remember me, and at the time I did not feel inclined to tell him *smile*.

I introduced myself to Maxell, and after the formalities, he told me how he been guiding this group of fairly new, and undisciplined people out on hunts to help them get experience and much needed work in organization as a group, I had happened upon them, just after they been a bit over whelmed by the fierceness of this particular herd of Fambass. I offered any assistance I could to help get his team back into shape, so they could continue their hunt. Max was very curious about me. He asked me endless questions about where I came from, how long I had been in system. How I had choose to be a Ranger and my rifle abilities. I guess a woman carrying a high-powered rifle was a bit unusual to him. Max invited me down to his camp, and to join him and his team on their hunt.

I followed Max, and cautiously descended the slope to the camp, taking in the scene of how many there were, how they were armed, and where they were situated around the camp. A person can’t be to careful when stumbling across a camp in the wilderness, as there are plenty of bandits out here, and if you’re a woman, it pays to be especially careful and leery. Their was a doctor in the group, and most of the team was being taken care of by him, so I busied myself helping with minor cuts and scrapes. Soon, it was reported to Max, that all were patched up and they were ready to resume the hunt.

All of us headed down the slope towards the herd of Fambaas, with most of the group taking the lead. I held back with Maxell, preferring a wait and see strategy, over just rushing in, as most of Max’s group seemed to like to do. Max it turns out was a very capable handler of wild beasts; he had tamed and trained some wild cats to assist him in hunts. Max sent his cats out with some of the group to help them take down the Fambaas, while I kept and eye on another group and placed some well-aimed shots, not to kill, but to allow the others an easier time trying to bring the beasts down. Max was busy coordinating his cats, when a large male Fambaa broke from the herd and started to charge in our direction. I know Max saw what was about to happen, and he tried in vain to recall one of his cats, but it was involved with assisting another hunter to come to our assistant. I watched the creature come. I could see out of the corner of my eye, Max tense, and start to draw his pistol. I think he was going to suggest we move, but I already had my rifle raised. I knew all I had to do was time my shots right and this monster would be history. I waited just a fraction longer, and squeezed off three rapid shots in succession. My shots were true; the beast took all three of them right between the eyes and fell with a thunderous boom right before us. Max just stood there with his mouth hanging open, a look of disbelief on his face.

To say Max was surprised would be an understatement. I don’t think he had ever seen what the power of a good rifle in capable hands could do. Couple my expertise in rifles with being a woman made the look on his face all the more sweet. I turned to face him, gave him a simple matter of fact look, and smiled. The rest of the hunt went without a hitch. Everyone got much needed experience and learned a few things. I think Max most of all. *Smile*.

Max, it turned out was the Mayor of Eden’s Grief on Naboo, and I had at the time just moved into this city, as this was where my guild had chosen to relocate from the Lake Retreat, also on Naboo. I kept running into Max in and around Eden, in Theed, or out in the woods, and as we got to know each other, we started going on hunts together.
I found I like being in Max’s company. The more time we spent with each other the more I liked being with him, and I think him with I. There was something about this man, something I could not place a finger on, just something that perked my interest in him. It could have been his sureness in the way he handled himself, the way the others in a group when hunting reacted to his instruction. It could have been his uninhibited curiosity. There were so many things about this man, but three things stood out about him over everything else. One was his disarming smile, a smile you instinctively trust, and two, the way he spoke, He had a warm, soothing voice, a voice I could listen too all night long, but also a voice that carried an underlying tone of authority. The third and last were his eyes. I had never in my life seen such curious, fire filled, enigmatic eyes such as this man had. They were the darkest blue, but shown ever so bright at the same time. When he looked at you, it was as if he were looking right into your soul. Honestly I found it hard to look into his eyes for this reason.

I found out one night just how interested Max was with me, when he invited me to dinner at a comfortable place he knew. I was a bit hesitant at first, for up to then I had been seeing an Imperial bounty hunter, named Otaski, but I hadn’t heard from him in several weeks since he had been ordered out on a mission. (I was later to find out that Otaski had perished on this mission serving the Emperor). I accepted Max’s invitation, and then proceeded to panic! I don’t think I owned anything to wear suitable for a date back then. I didn’t think Max would have been to upset if I had shown up wearing my utilities, but I would not even think to do that!. I wanted to make a good impression on our first real date. Max said he would pick me up at my place the following night, so I didn’t have much time. I called my friend Elizabeta, a Master Tailor, and asked her if she had a dress I could use for the occasion. She found me a beautiful gown in black with grey, that I first thought was way to formal for a girl like me, I mean I hadn’t worn a dress since before I started hunting with my father, but she convinced me I looked perfect in it. Elizabeta found some heels in my size, and gave me one of her necklaces to go with the dress. I left her shop with my new dress, shoes, and accessories feeling like I was on cloud nine. I was excited, nervous, ecstatic, apprehensive, and scared all at the same time in anticipation of the following night.

The next day I was a wreck; I couldn’t get anything done, and spent most of it running in circles. Finally it was time, Max would be arriving within the hour, so I got dressed, making sure everything was in place and went to the balcony of my house to wait for his arrival. It was a beautiful evening, the sun was low on the horizon, with a light breeze blowing in from the east. The first faint glimpse of stars could just be seen, when I sensed I was being watched. I turned and looked down from the balcony to see Max down below staring up at me with the same look on his face as that day I brought down the Fambaa the first time we met. I think Max was more self-conscience and embarrassed then I was at that moment. Max had never in the whole time we had seen each other in town or been together on hunts seen me in a dress, and I think he was honestly shocked at how I looked *smile*.

I met him Max at the door, and without a word between us, he took my hand and we started up the street. We didn’t head to the shuttle like I thought we would, we instead headed towards city hall. Max led me around behind the building to a house, his house! As we got closer I was surprised to see two individuals standing just out side his front door, a musician and dancer. Max had hired these two to provide entertainment while we dined. I entered Max’s house and saw that he had set up a small table in a quiet corner of the main room, already set for two. I couldn’t help but smile, Max knew just how to impress a woman.

As the entertainers were setting up I was given a short tour of his home. I was very impressed with how neat and ordered his house was; I really was fascinated with his hunting collection. The entertainment started, with the musician playing a very lovely song and the dancer swaying to his rhythm. Max seated me at the dining table, and from there, through the rest of the evening, we chatted about everything, I had endless questions, questions about his past, his childhood, about what it was like to be Mayor of Eden’s Grief, on, and on I went. Max must have thought I was the chattiest woman he ever met. I just couldn’t shut up. That evening was the most enchanted night of my life, one I will never forget. After that night Max and I would spend almost every waking moment with each other. We were both very happy with the way our lives were working out.

Lost

Ever since the rescue of Max from Dantooine, I find myself aimlessly wondering around with no goal, no objective, no meaning. The torment and torture that Max had to endure at the hands of Colonel Cauli opened my eyes to what aligning myself with the Emperor and his minions really was about. It sickened me. It sickened me so much that, that I resigned my commission from the Imperial Army that very night. To know that I had been a part of the killing of innocents on behalf of the Empire as I had thought the Rebel Alliance had been since that fateful day on a transport I was on seemingly so long ago.

I thought that I could take my mind away from this confusion I felt. I thought by diving into hunting, like I did when I first arrived in this system, I could make things like they used to be. Out in the wild by myself, camping under the stars, tracking wild lairs, honing my rifle and trapping skills, would be just the ticket. This seemed to be working, but I found that it only seemed to be working. All that it really has done is allowed me to get into my own head, and relive moments in my past.

My thoughts wander about as much, if not more then my physical body, I think about Max, how we used to think our life together would never end. To all the fantastic times we had together hunting, or just sitting down in the open with nothing but each other to hold on to, and the stars to light our way. I think about how Max and I slowly grew apart, max frustrated with running a growing city as mayor and having to be away for extended periods, and I constantly away on contract hunts or tracking for different clients. I think of our son Avios, and what a beautiful gift he is, and how far he has come in his life, but also how I almost lost him, how I was told that I had miscarried him, while still in boot camp, when in fact the Empire had stolen him from me, and had used and abused him, robbing him of his youth and me almost of my son. I think of Scarlet, a small, but very fierce Zebrak woman, with a will and determination that knows no bounds, and how she is now the woman in Max’s life. I was introduced to her one night, when Max and her happened to find the same cantina I was in. Then later she called me to help in the rescue of Max. Since then she has become pregnant, of this all I know is that it is not by Max, and she has been having a difficult time with the first trimester, due to complications. I think how I fit into all of this. I know I was asked to midwife Scarlet when the day comes, but what after? My god what before?

I find myself wandering aimlessly around different cities, on different planets, with no thought as to why I am there, sometime with no real idea as to how I even got there. This is not a good place to be. I know I can never go back to the Imperials, not after what I’ve seen them do, what I have done. Right now I’m out of the conflict, and this may be what is getting to me. I have had thoughts of what it would be like to join and be on the other side, but I don’t know if I’m willing to go that far…yet…but… not yet.

Part 3: Imperials, Rebels, and Planet fall

(I want to apologize for this being rather long. I felt I needed to get this last part out of the way so that I can move on with current events. EnjoyJ).

I do not know how long I wept by that door. All I could think was that my whole family, my life, gone in a single blinding flash. I was still in a state of shock, for I did not hear the person approach. The first I knew he was there was when he tapped on my shoulder. I slowly looked up into the face of one of the uniformed people I had seen earlier in the corridor during the battle. “ma’am?� he asked, “Are you ok, hurt?� I had no idea; I was still in a state of shock. He helped me to my feet, and led me away from the door and towards the corridor. In a voice that carried genuine concern, he said, “we need to get you off of this ship, it’s not safe. It could nova at anytime�. I helplessly allowed myself to be led by this man through the damaged corridors of the ship. We eventually came to an undamaged airlock, and told to go in; what lay before me was a large ship with many seats, most filled with passengers and crewmembers from the transport, many in need of medical attention, from the battle that took place previously. The uniformed man that had brought me here said he had to go, that he was needed elsewhere, but stated as he left “someone would be along shortly to take you and other survivors across to an Imperial star destroyer�.

“Imperial star destroyer? survivors?� Could my family have survived after all? I anxiously searched the shuttle passenger area hoping that I would see my mother, father and brothers waving me on to join them, but they were not amongst the many passengers and crew that came here from the all but destroyed transport, and brought to this shuttle. I made my way back to the air lock and waited, hoping that my parents and brothers would come around the bend in the corridor, happy that they and I had not come to any harm. I waited until the shuttle was full, I made up my mind that I would go back into the ship and search every deck if need be to find my family, but just as I started to leave, I was stopped by another of the uniformed men, an Imperial crewmember. He told me “don’t even try to go back in there miss, it’s not safe. You are going to have to take a seat, as we are sealing up right now, and heading to the ship�.

I tried to explain to him about my family, that they were not on board the shuttle, and that they may still be on the transport, that I had to find them. He would not listen to my pleas, and turned a deaf ear. I tried to force my way past, but I was no match against him, and was dully escorted to a seat and strapped in non-too gently. I was struggling with the straps trying to get them undone, when with a hiss, the airlock door to the shuttle closed and we launched. My heart sickened, became like a dark cloud, enshrouding my soul, I knew at that moment I would never see my family again. I started to weep uncontrollably, again.

The trip over to the star destroyer was not very long, but it was long enough for me to hear a couple of the crewmembers from the transport talking about what happened.
“I told the first officer it wasn’t a smart idea to bring those rebel supplies on board, I hadn’t a doubt they would bring trouble�. “Shush� said the second to the first, “you want these Imp goons to over hear you?� “I really don’t give a bantha butt if they do! All I know now is that we are in deep picket poo with the Imperial forces because of what our captain did�. “Well, at least they (rebels) were able to remove most of their supplies, and get their supply ship away before the Imp navy boarded�. "Yeah, well the Rebs did not have to blow their other ship next to ours, as they did. That is what tore that gaping hole in the passenger area, and left us stranded�.

“Oh My God�, I thought to my self, this was all about the Imperials and the rebels, and the conflict that was going on, because of them. I now knew the reason for what happened to the transport, and it was all because of the Rebels placing their supplies on a supposedly neutral transport. They not only placed themselves at risk, but all the innocent passengers as well. I thought back to when I was hiding in the cargo hold and the tall scruffy man came in. He was not a pirate as I thought, but a Rebel! Moreover, because of him and his cohorts, my parents were gone!

My thoughts were interrupted, when a violent explosion buffeted the shuttle, nearly all of the passengers and most of the transport crew started shouting and carrying on. I heard one of the previous crewmembers say, “there she goes, didn’t think she would last as long as she did�. With that, I swore a silent vow, to do whatever possible to help stem the aggression of the Rebel forces, and keep them from doing more harm against innocents.

We docked with the Imperial star destroyer; all the passengers and I were taken aboard and then separated from the transport crew. Crew from the star destroyer led us through a maze of corridors and down many decks of the ship. We finally arrived at what looked like a hastily converted storage hold, filled with berthing bunks and small lockers. One of the imperial crewmembers told us to find a spot, and to make ourselves comfortable, that an Imperial transport would be meeting us shortly to take us to a planet, a planet called Tatooine.

I settled onto a bunk in a far corner of the room. I wanted to be alone, to suffer in my personal tragedy by my self. I had no clue what I was going to do; I was alone, with out family, on a strange ship, amongst strange people, going to a strange place. I lay on the bunk grieving for my loss, and started crying one more time. I must have fallen asleep, for I was woke by a fellow refugee, and told that the Imperial transport had arrived. I had nothing much of personal belongings on me, so I gathered what little I had and followed the rest of the passengers to the docking station. Onboard the transport I was taken to a dorm style room by a nice enough crewmember, where I settled into another bunk to wait out our trip to this new planet.

For the most part our passage was uneventful. On the last day of the trip when I was being shown how to operated the banking terminal, and other necessities of living on a new world and preparing to go planet side, a commotion broke out in one of the corridors. One of the crew from the destroyed transport, had some how freed himself, and had gotten a hold of a weapon. He had barricaded himself in one of the cargo holds. I only wanted to get my stuff and leave, but he was keeping everyone from getting down to the planet bound shuttle. I approached one of the Imperial crewmembers that was holding back all of us, and told him I wanted to leave. He told me it was not safe as long as that person was down there. I became irate at this man, thinking what a scrawny coward he is. I told him let me pass, I’ll take care of him, I could talk him out of what he was doing and we all could then leave and get on with our lives.

I looked at him, and I noticed he was visibly shaking. I rethought my assessment of him, knowing that he was not a coward, but was scared. He had just joined the Imperial Navy and had no combat training yet. Again, I offered my help, after a moment, he told me it was my life, and offered me a pistol, just in case. I slowly headed up the corridor, listening for trouble. I rounded a bend, and then saw what I was going to face. A haggled man, standing in the center of the room holding a pistol, yelling at the top of his lungs, “You’ll never take me alive; I’ll kill anyone that comes to close. I have a pistol and some grenades. I swear I’ll use them if you don’t give me what I want�. I startled him when I spoke, and when he turned he immediately started shooting in my direction. I dived for cover, thinking that this was not good. I returned fire, aiming for his legs to bring him down so that others may take him and help him. He was quick, and all I could manage was to graze him. He reached into his coat and pulled out a grenade. He was about to throw it when the darn thing went off prematurely, killing him instantaneously. All I could do was shake my head, sadly thinking what a waste, and left him where he lie. I found an exit on the other side of the hold and let myself into the next area. I was greeted as some sort of hero, by members of the transport crew, and offered a reward. They told me that because I was told because of my heroics I would be able to get a job as soon as I landed planet side, and that they would also put me in touch with an Imperial recruiter for demonstrating my abilities and coolness under pressure. “wow� I thought, a job and the chance to serve in the galactic conflict, just what I needed right then and there to take my mind off of the loss of my family.

I was shown to an office where there was a very strange looking sentient, asked what I would like to do. He…I think he was a he… offered many different occupations to choose from, ranging from entertainment to the medical profession. What I choose is what had already been taught to me by my father and brothers, I choose to enter the scouting profession, with the hope of finally obtaining my life goal to be a Ranger. I boarded a shuttle that was to take me down to the planet Tatooine, and land us in a city called Mos Eisly. Here I was told I would find everything I would need to get by with, and earn a living, supporting the economy, and serving the Empire if I so choose.

The ride down to the planet in the shuttle was a bit bumpy, but not all that uncomfortable I checked what I had on me in preparations for landing in Mos Eisly, and discovered I really didn’t have all that much. I had a pistol (given to me by the scared imperial), 1 melon, 2 sets of traps that I made, 1 small camp, 250 credits (given to me to start my new life with) and the clothes on my back. That was it, not much, but I knew I could live off the land of this new place once I got there. The shuttled landed with a small bounce and the door immediately opened. A crewmember started barking orders to everyone, to get out now, they did not have time to baby sit a bunch of refugees when they had a war to fight. As I exited the shuttle, the first thing to hit me was how hot it was here. This was nothing like the lush mountainous cool Aleen I had grown up on, this place was unbelievably dry, and dusty.

I made my way into and out of the star port. I saw a wide variety of different sentient beings going about their business. Once outside, in the actual city people of all species hawking wares and goods of all makes and functions bombarded me. I gathered myself together and took one more look at what I owned and headed off towards the outskirts of town. I looked up to the sky and saw twin suns slowly heading towards the horizon. I thought of my mom, dad, brothers and of all the wonderful delightful experiences, they gave me. I said a silent prayer for them, and for me, cinched up my pack, and headed towards the same horizon as the suns were aiming for.

(Dear reader, at this point I will be writing more on Ebe’s Present. I will still write about her past, but it will come when I have the time to write about it. I hope you have enjoyed Ebe’s story so farJ.)