Nightmare

From TFC Galactopedia

This is a short story set between Episode I and Episode II. It's probably not for people with overly vivid imaginations combined with highly sensitive stomachs.

The corridors of the USS FELIX had been plunged into total darkness when everything in engineering had died. The back-up power had all been diverted to the ship’s most vital systems, but the distant wail of the red-alarm sirens from the undamaged sections filled her ears.

She could hear every scream, feel every pain. She was in the officers’ quarters; her senses were flooded with the coppery scent of blood and the acrid tang of smoke from whatever was burning on the lower decks. She had gotten out of her own quarters safely enough thanks to her saber, but she couldn’t free everyone who was trapped.

The twins clung to her legs, making it almost impossible to move. They were both sobbing, echoing their mother’s cries. She couldn’t get to her; there was fire between her and Lizzy. The counselor was slowly suffocating to death under the debris and the smoke that blanketed their quarters.

Everything around her was full of fear. The Dark Side was strong here, growing stronger. She could feel her father’s pain on the bridge; she couldn’t find Zannah’s presence. Maybe she was already dead, like Deputy Sheridan. She had found his body out in the hallway.

Perdia was shaking as she scooped the twins into her arms and made her way through the crowds toward the escape pods. She knew they had to escape, if they could. If they couldn’t…she knew her duty. She would not let the twins fall to the Dark Lord who had ordered the attack. She would not let them become Sith, not even if it meant death at the hands of the sister they had loved for their short lives.

Her eyes burned. She thought it was the smoke, but maybe it was tears. Maybe they were hers; maybe they were someone else’s. Everything was pain and fear and darkness as they all fought their way to the escape pods, crowding onto the shuttles.

She ended up on Lanna’s. Steve Raymond was there, too. They were both her friends, or had been. Lanna’s right side was badly burned, her face nearly unrecognizable. Steve shouted over the din about healing her, but it was all Perdia could do but shake her head. “He’s coming…”

The escape pod ejected into the stars, clouded as they were by the smoke and atmosphere the FELIX was venting. Looking out on the ship, none of them had any doubts as to whether or not it would survive. They had seen too many like that, knew what was next.

The tractor beam from the Imperial ship locked onto them then, despite Lt. Raymond’s best efforts at the controls. They were being taken aboard.

Perdi looked to the twins, to her brother and sister. Marc and Lizzy would die on the ship, and Zannah already had. They were the last family she had left. She took a deep breath and lit her saber, lifting the blade to the height of their small necks. “It’ll all be over soon. Close your eyes…”

Perdia? You’re fifteen minutes late for training.

The teenager sat up with a start. She felt like her chest was being crushed; her cheeks were wet with tears. There was no smoke, no sirens, no lights. It was just a morning like any other.

I—I’m sorry, Zannah. I overslept. I’ll be there soon.

She looked to the window. No Imperial fleet hung there; there were only stars.

It had just been a dream...