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Running the Gauntlet	By : Hopebringer Category: Star Wars (All) > General Views: 2210 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars and don't get money for this.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
Time Period: from 9 months before the battle of Yavin 4 up to the battle of Yavin 4.
Synopsis: A group of Tellurians is pulled up from their home planet by an unknown phenomenon. Now they have to survive and adapt to being in the Empire whether they like it or not. Emperor Palpatine, Mara Jade, and a few others have cameo parts. Darth Vader has a more obvious appearance rate.
Disclaimer: George Lucas has the copyrights to Vader, the stormtroopers, and the usual suspects. The other Star Wars authors have Hetheir, and the other suspects. I in no way or fashion own or possess even the slightest hint of rights nor ownership of the Star Wars universe- extended or otherwise nor do I receive any financial compensation for the time involved at all. I get squat in the money or profit department. I may wish that I have gained the right to write for it officially, but alas, I did not. So, as it stands- this is a work of fiction based off of it. The characters introduced thus in do have years of exploration and much patience of many of my friends, associates, loved ones, and myself... At least the ones not known previously in any of the novels, comic books, short stories, movies, television shows, or video games from the setting.
Genre: Action/Adventure is the obvious classification for this. Epic/Romance is the not so obvious one due to the more modern take on the Romance genre. The older definition and use of the genre meant a narration of the extraordinary exploits of heroes, often in exotic or mysterious settings as well as stories of mysterious adventures, not necessarily of heroes.
Dedication: This rewrite is dedicated to a group of friends who was there in its beginnings and there as I keep working on this labour of love, obsessive fandom, and trust.
Author Notes and Review Replies: http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/21148-gem-games-arc-author-notes-and-review-responses/

Running the Gauntlet

Part I: Arrival
I don't recall much of what happened more than a few minutes ago. I had been out hiking with my cousin and her ex-squeeze on a somewhat nice autumn afternoon when a blaze of light hit us and everything went blank. Crazy as this may sound, the trees and trail just vanished as it felt like I was being torn apart into tiny pieces. It seemed to stretch for an eternity 'til the light slowly faded away and reality kicked in. I know I was temporarily blinded for a bit afterwards and could only blink until my vision was restored. Although when that occurred, I wasn't so sure I wanted it too. I was surrounded by shifting rows of white armor that looked sort of humanoid, but not by much. I could feel myself starting to want to hyperventilate until I heard a cough from behind me. Startled, I twirled a bit off-balancedly to see both Courtney (my cousin) and Mitchel (her ex and our mutual friend) standing haphazardly behind me looking around as much as I had been. It was too quiet in this place, far too quiet and colorless almost. The metallic walls were a bland color of steel as even the air smelled almost recycled. It was similar to being in a hospital hall.
It would just be my luck that when our captors, locators, oh whatever they are… Finally, finally, spoke, I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying. So of course, I couldn't answer whatever they were asking us anymore than Mitchel or Courtney could. There are far more pleasant ways to spend an eternity I think, even for them, but still it seemed that long. Even if they were frustrated, I really don't know why they had to start shouting at us. Apparently there was a completely different set of manners in this sterile hell hole we had found, a very annoying set. Wasn't it enough I had to put up with Mitchel and Courtney arguing all afternoon over some retarded simple little thing, now I had to put up with these things yelling too! I don't think so you jackasses!
"I don't know what you are saying. NO COMPREHENDE!" Alright, so yelling back was a long shot even at best. I never claimed to be completely rational here… After all, I am only fifteen and just in my ninth level of school still. Logic, control, being level headed, and keeping cool were something that you got later in life- before you became ancient at thirty. I didn't know all that many languages, so I probably should have stopped at that instead of trying to recycle what few I knew in a poorly thought out idea of a shouting match. I'm sure this probably would have continued if Courtney hadn't grabbed a hold of me and covered my mouth with her hand to muffle my complaints. Like I said, I never claimed to be rational here- that's her job. Although common sense should have told me to shut up when you have guns- at least I think they're guns- pointed at you.
Time had lost all sense of proportion in this place. I couldn't tell you how long it took for a tall, heavily armoured man in black to appear with a smaller almost ordinary looking man in a gray uniform of some sort. Man, oh man, was I glad to see some one who looked like another human being at least. The uniform was hideous, but aren't all uniforms, and the black armour did look vaguely humanoid. I'm really just assuming it's a guy from how the detailing on the armour is. I would seriously hate to be a girl wearing that get up. The almost rasping sound of breathing through some sort of breathing apparatus is quite audible as well. I may be wrong in even assuming that the person wearing that armour is human-ish. What if he/she/it can't even breathe in whatever atmospheric mix that this sterile hell has. Obviously it has some sort of oxygen and nitrogen mix since Mitchel, Courtney and I aren't suffering from asphyxiation or anything like that yet. Still that guy has this really ominous presence about him. Even the lights are seeming to dim to almost nothingness around him. Maybe it's just his height blocking the lighting fixtures… Wherever those are here.
"Greetings ladies, …and gentle. My …um..associates were wondering what your names are." The uniformed man spoke Inglish in an almost lilting accent. Maybe we're not that far from home if a guy speaks our native tongue with an Irisce accent. At least I'm guessing that is what it is. It's a bit thick and sounds like it. If I could only feel relieved about this situation now, this guy should put me at ease but I have this really bad feeling about it. Maybe it's woman's intuition, I mean I am a teenager at least, but there's just something off about him… Either way, he makes me feel really uneasy. Perhaps upon reflection, I shouldn't ruminate so much when common sense doesn't call for it. Then again… Maybe I need to pick up this common sense I keep reminding myself of while I'm at it. Not that this will matter since apparently I'm the only one here who is getting a bad vibe off of our one obvious human dude. I could be imagining it then, right?
"Ah. I see, we couldn't tell them since we had no idea what they were saying... So I do apologize for my sister's rudeness. She's a bit impulsive. I'm Courtney D'upre and this is Mitchel Keats. My younger sister here is Diamond…"
"Berchange. We're half-sisters." Maybe I should just be grateful that Court-house decided not to argue my choice of hastily picked last names and explanations. Why did she have to use that nickname! I hate being called Diamond! They're cold, colorless, sharp gems that have almost no life! Okay, so they are valuable…. But that doesn't mean that I like them. I hate that nickname!
Well, whatever the giant-sized black suit of humanoid armour just said makes no fucking sense to me but they came out in this deep gravelly voice, kinda like death warmed over. I seriously hope that's a guy. I could feel the hairs standing up at a perfect ninety degree angle on my body as well as Courtney and Mitchel. It was almost like we all became statues for a bit. It felt like forever until I started to shiver as I unfroze. Yeah, I think I liked the armour better when it didn't talk.
"Lord Vader wishes for you to accompany us to a more …hospitable area." Hey! Our human guy does his job! At least I'm guessing he's supposed to be a translator, although that doesn't mean I like him all that much. Just who the hell is Lord Vader and who is piping in the horrible music? All the notes are disharmonious and there are several different songs clashing at once. My head hurts... Where did I put my pain killers? Why do Courtney and Mitchel look fine? Why is there a gigantic black suit of very scary armour that is called a lord? Are we in a feudal society or something? Hopefully not a dictatorship... or something along those lines. Why is that the ancient old fart that can speak our language smirking at me. I mean he's over thirty-looking, shouldn't he be in a nursing home somewhere? It's official, I don't like him at all. So much for my peaceful afternoon hike. So does this count as a kidnapping or missing persons case? I hate my luck... I really do. Who did I piss off today up there?
"Well, come along you three, we don't have all day." Does the translator-person guy have to seem so smug. What are we, on a schedule or something? No one told me about any damn schedule! Who gives a fuck about your fucking schedule! Why am I following these ass hats again? Oh yeah, that might have to do with the penis-helmeted white trooper people/robots following us with pointed gun thingamajigs. Yeah, that may be why. Well, Mitchel and Courtney are too, so I guess it's no big deal yet. Still, I hate this place. I hate how it smells, I hate how smug the one guy who speaks our language is, I hate everything about here. I want to go home and chocolate! Do they have chocolate here, any at all? I could use some right now... What is this ass hats name anyway? I mean we gave our names, kinda... So why don't we have our human-old fart's name? Is it some kinda top secret I have to kill you shit? Oh jeez, what if it is. Nah! That shit only happens in spy shows. Of all the times for your imagination to run away with you... I don't think this is a good one for it for some odd reason.
Once we finally reach our destination, the door slides open with a hiss and slides shut behind us with the same sound. The walls almost seem to be closing in now, the room we're lead to seems to be almost too small for the number of beings in it. Could this be the onset of an otherwise spontaneous bout of claustrophobia? I hope not. At least the white-robot-things are standing outside for now. There is only a small table standing against the middle of the wall opposite us with a few scattered small chairs sit around it. Several flat devices or panels are laying on it as well. They don't look at all familiar to me, maybe if I could get a better look at them, but I have never ever seen anything like this before. I really don't know what to say at this moment- However Mitchel does for once. "What are those and where are we?" He sounds skeptical about something, who knows with him. I'm skeptical of this whole place… How is this more hospitable than where we were? This place is tiny enough to induce claustrophobia in a perfectly normal person! Of all the times to wish to be normal...
"This room is a basic training center. My associates feel that it is necessary for you to learn to speak and understand the common tongue- Basic." Our human fossil speaks, and still no name. This is getting frustrating. Do I have to resort to calling him a fossil, old fart, senile, or a dinosaur when I want to speak to him? Although… Those do sound like good names to do so. It would make me feel a lot better really. But… Does this guy ever seem anything but smug and an asshole… I really don't like him.
"Great. Wonderful. So do you have a name or do we call you fossil?" Yep, I have had enough of all of this. Something about this whole place is wrong, I want to go home, and I want my chocolate. I want to know where I am, why is this place so weird, and how do we get back. Most of all, I want to know who is giving me such a bad feeling other than the armoured Lord Vader- I'm trying to ignore his presence here altogether or I'm going to have a heart attack from fear.
"Merolin, my dear, Merolin. So why don't you all have a seat while we discuss your new circumstances." Holy shit we got a name and I guessed the right accent, go me! Go me! Er... Wait a minute now, why does he still look so calm, smug as hell, and unfazed. This is not fair! Why do I have to be the only one freaking out right now? Not even Courtney or Mitchel look too worried about things. Does no one else feel the wrongness going on here... Is it just me... Am I finally cracking and going crazy? I don't want to be crazy and claustrophobic... I want to go home and eat my weight in chocolate right this second.
"I do believe I should start of by welcoming you three to the Galactic Empire. You were brought here through a slight scientific miscalculation, as were the rest of those like us. As a whole we are called Tellurians in this place. It will be in your best interests to adapt to this place since this will be your home for the rest of your lives." I could smell the slime oozing off of him as he said this with a smile, as sincere as a crocodile's tears. Rest of our lives? No! No, no, and a profoundly emphasized- for good measure- no! I refuse to accept this bullshit! I refuse it is real! This is a bad dream right? I fell off something and hit my head didn't I? Now I'm having this nightmare... Okay, I'm going to pinch myself hard and wake myself up right now. No more of this bull! I'm outta here!
The sting on my arm hurts quite a bit for what it is... Maybe using my barely existent nails for this was not such a good idea since I ended up yelping when I drew blood. Now, everyone is looking at me funny... Well, I don't know if the guy in the armour is or not; but I'm willing to bet he is behind that mask. Also, whomever composed and performed the music that seems to be coming in from all angles needs to be fired and sot repeatedly. How does anyone manage to be able to think a complete thought around here, never mind getting anything done?
Then the walking black lord said something in that indecipherable tongue. The sound of his voice still caused the hairs to stand up on their ends all along my back, neck, and arms. If I had hair on my legs still- as opposed to it having been removed- I'm sure it would be standing up as well. Still, this little factor still does not help me understand what the suit of armour said at all, although Merolin seems to know it all too well. For once, his calm and smug look seems to drop for a moment with a look that is more contemptuous if not, well, there's something behind his eyes... Anger. There's a lot of anger and resentment for a moment. I don't know what was said, but go armoured dude go! It's about time something got someone other than me for once! Er... I just wish I knew what the old fossil said back. The tone was almost unemotional, but still... Also, would someone turn off the God-damned music system! I can't think with it, especially if it gets louder!
"It seems Lord Vader will finish the explanations personally, young ones. I hope you will make this easier on yourselves by being cooperative with him. He is not as patient nor understanding as I am." The smugness was back for a moment, but only towards us. At least he is gone for now, but... Um... How in Hell are we supposed to understand what the armoured guy says? Will someone please explain this to me. Now would be a good time... Any time now.
"So how are supposed to know what he is..." And the human-translator-smug asshole leaves us with the hissing of the door sliding open and shut. Just as I had started to ask the most obvious question I could." saying. Okay, that was a lot of help... Jackass." Yeppers, being walked out on when asking a question is not something I enjoy. I swear I'm going to hit that asshole with something the next I see him. There has to be something not bolted down that is throw-able.
"M... Diamond, I don't think this is the time for being hysterical. That goes for you too Courtney. We don't really know much about where we are or about who we're with. Stop being gingers for a moment." Mitchel has gone to his I'm in control so you two calm down tone. First off, Courtney seems just fine; unlike me who is starting to go crazy here. Second off, who the fuck gave you the authority to tell me what to do?
"There are ways to do so without his presence being further required. Now then, Mitchel, you are in charge of these two." Okay, my headache is much worse now. Although, at least we understood what came out from the guy in armor now. This doesn't make me feel any better though... Also, who the hell put Mitchel in charge of anything other than a band? Don't Courtney and I get a say in this matter! Why isn't Mitchel denying that last part? WHY? Today officially sucks ass.
"I see. Sit. We have a great deal to discuss about your impending future. " Okay, who does this suit of walking armour think he is... Oh yeah, he's some kinda Lord isn't he? Alright, maybe the bossy attitude makes sense there but still. What is it with people bossing me around today? That and horrible taste in background music. I hope not all of it sounds that way, I really do. Still, for some odd reason I still find myself sitting down quickly when that mask seems to look directly at me. Jeez, I left my dad back home ya know. Why am I starting to expect this to be a horrible practical joke with my dad going to show up any minute now. That has to be it! This is a prank, a horrible joke carried out way too... "You three will be judged by the Emperor himself as to where you will go and what will be done with you. It will be in your best interests to not fight him on that matter. Whatever you were before this no longer matters, you would be best advised to forget about anything of that nature. As of this moment, you are property of the Emperor and the Empire. As such, he can and will do with you as he pleases. You will keep this in mind at all times."
Interrupting jerk...Whoa. Hang on a minute there. Judged by some ass I don't even know? Property? What the bloody hell is going on in this shit hole? Don't we get a say on where we go and what happens to us? Do we look like dolls or pieces of land or something? Last I checked I was a human being in her mostly right mind. I can make my own decisions thank you verra damn much! Forget being cautious, calm, and not pissing people off! "Just a minute there. Judged? Don't we get a say in what happens to us." My feet had found their way back underneath me as I heard my mouth open before the filter could kick in. "What kind of..." I felt pressure around my neck as the armored lord extended his arm and clenched his fist. Then, my body felt like it was being pushed back into the chair without its permission. My legs felt like they were going to break from the pressure. I had to sit back down. I had no choice... What just happened?
"You no longer have a say in what will happen. You do have anger in you, all of you. Good. That will come to serve you well. But you do not have control of it nor the ability to surrender to it yet, that will change depending on the Emperor's good will. Remain seated." The armored being looked us all over, almost appraisingly, for a moment. He had never moved to sit nor past raising his arm as is lowered, when his hand had unclenched it felt as if my lungs had been deprived of oxygen for way too long and couldn't get enough of it. The crushing pressure around throat faded and it was all I could do not to hyperventilate. "Now then. Let us start. You will face the Emperor in three standard weeks and five days."
My heart dropped as the monotone voice announced that. I didn't know where we were and we only had three weeks to plan an escape. This wasn't gonna be easy... But I couldn't just give up and let this just happen. I can't accept this! I can't! I'm a human being... Not someone's plaything to toss about as they wish!
"Regardless of what you think of yourselves, you are no more than servants to the Emperor from now on. He is not as forgiving as I am of such outbursts, nor as understanding of anything else. He is your master now. Resistance will be futile against him or his decisions. That is your destinies now."
I might just be crazy, but I think Vader's tone changed a little towards the end there. Could that mean… Well, it did sound a bit softer towards the end almost like... I could almost swear it sounds like he pities us or something. Still there has to be a way out of this. There has to be... Please God, help us... Help me.
Three Standard Weeks Later…
"You have now gotten the basics of Basic and quite a few other languages as well, my little jewel. They may decide to make you a translator after all, young Diamond. I do hope so, you will receive a kinder master if you do. I don't think you would survive the Emperor, not with how you act." The voice coming from the older man was calm and gentle, sort of like an old grandfather with his wayward grandchild. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if that was how Aurelius saw everyone younger than himself around here... I mean, he is old enough to be one really. There is gray in his dark hair and his eyes have wrinkles around the edges. The years have started to dull the life glowing behind his hazel irises, it hasn't diminished it yet. The years have been rough on him, judging from the weathered look of his skin but he hides a heart of gold underneath that leathery hide. Although, the smile he gives on occasion doesn't do much to help him disguise it at all. He's even more lost that I am, in time and place... Or is it the other way around. He's given up the fight however, you can tell that in how slumped over his posture is at times; the posture of a defeated man. I've gotten to know more about him in these past few weeks. He's convinced I will make a good translator, to the point he's been trying harder with me more so than Courtney or Mitchel. I don't know why he's been so adamant on getting me to be excepted as a potential translator at all really. Okay, that's something of a lie there... He believes it would grant me an easier existence and a kinder handler in his eyes. It's still a death waiting to happen to me. I don't understand why he can't see that I can't just take this whole mess lying down and give up everything- my freedom, what little self respect I have, and everything I've ever believed in- without a fight.
"Aurelius, you don't need to worry so much about me, I'll be fine. I promise. Besides, you are giving my mother a run for her money in being over-protective. I'll find a way out of this mess yet. Maybe I'll find one for all of us, ya know." I smiled up at him, he still has a few inches on my poor lower side of average height. Still, it didn't do a damn thing to make him look anything but worried. I'm sure others would think he felt nothing at all from how his face was, Aurelius could be quite stoic when he wanted to be, but I could see it just above the dimming life in his expression. I wish I could just make him give one genuinely happy, carefree smile without that dimming glow. That it would be at full intensity and full of life and laughter for one moment. I bet he would look a lot younger if he did smile like that, instead of looking haggardly near the grave.
"I hate to crush your dreams my little jewel, but your time is running out quickly. I don't even think your God can help you now. My gods couldn't."
I never really know why he calls me that, his little jewel I mean. I just don't get it. He sounds sincere, painfully sincere when he tells me he doesn't want to crush something about me. His voice gets that much quieter and he always reaches over to grip my shoulder in a rather paternal or grandfatherly fashion at the same time. Still he is the most comforting to be around. The music isn't as jarring around him as some of the others. Although, I'm still not sure why no one else hears it but me... Argh! Getting backtracked again... Aurelius. He makes so little sense to me when he says this. God helps those whom help themselves, or so my mother's favorite saying goes. Right? "I know I don't have much longer, just five more days. This whole situation completely and utterly sucks. I don't think I can just calmly accept the fact that something is going to be controlling me. I just can't. I would rather die, Aurelius, than live like that."
"I know my little jewel. I know. Your eyes give you away. You may appear to be docile by keeping them down cast, but your spirit is blazing its defiance in them. You will probably fool most of the others here, but you can not fool the Emperor or Vader into thinking that you are broken, defeated, or subdued. It is unfortunate that you can not fully hide it from them. Only a fool would think that someone who runs around in those secret tunnels you found in the palace, yes I do know you do that little jewel, would be docile and tamed. It is impossible for you to make many moves without anyone knowing here, especially those assigned to…"
"That's it! Aurelius, you're a genius!" I didn't mean to cut him off that rudely really, it was just that well... It was an eureka moment really. I ended up throwing my arms around the old solider with a giggle of delight for a moment. The tunnels, that's it. They obviously led to parts of this place that had been abandoned for years. There had to be something in them that could help us! I had five days to find it, but I could do it!
"What? I'm a genius... Oh-no, you are not thinking about…" He did sound even more concerned than before. I didn't know it was possible until now.
"About what, teacher?" I gave him my biggest, most innocent looking smile I could muster. I might have hit upon the idea that could at least lead me to something that would save us all, even that ass-holey smug old fossil. After all, no one deserves this not even him.
"Running away. They would only find you, and you would be... I don't want that to happen to you, you are… You are… You are too young to be dead yet, at least wait a few years for you to gain a bit more skill in concealing your movements." As always- people seem to misinterpret my ingenious plans. Aurelius does mean well, he does, and I know he knows more about this galaxy than I could ever hope to, but I wish he would understand what I am trying to do without jumping to the worst possible conclusion for once. I know there's no place I could run to and hide now no matter how much I wish it were otherwise. None at all.
"AURELIUS! Don't worry, I'm not going to run. I mean where the hell could I even try to run to? Everywhere else is so far away and I wouldn't even know how to get there. I promise, I'm not going to run.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this, little jewel."
I wish the life would not give up in his eyes... Will that be me if I fail?
So 3 hours, 5 days later.
Okay, I turn left here, then right, over that way, and that means I'm about at a fork. These tunnels aren't so confusing once you get the hang of them, I think. Hmmm. I wonder though, why don't the natives here use them more often. You would think they would know about them. There the fork is! Okay, if I go left here, then I go back to the main hall, but if I go right, I go to…I go to…hmmm…I don't know. Ouch! These tunnels are so confined you can't even shrug your shoulders. That hurt really hurt when I slammed my shoulder into the side wall. Maybe that's why these things are abandoned largely. Okay, no more sidetracking. Stay focused girlfriend. So let's go right. I wonder, where does this door lead to though, only one way to find out, so here we go…
"Whoa, sorry sir I didn't mean to…bump…into…you…" Okay, yeah. Not a living person. Talk about a realistic statue however. It appears I've wondered into a wax museum room or something. Make that a "statue" room of some sort, a metallic-plastic "statue" room. Well, whatever they are made of, it sure isn't wax. Wait a sec, most of these things look like they've been mutilated in some form or another. This one has its eyes gouged out, while that one's arm is cut off. Hmm. The edge looks really smooth, almost like it was melted off or seared off. There's two more statues in that corner over there. They look like they're in good shape, too. I'd better check them out. Okay, one of these babies looks like a girl ...Er…a woman, a teenager ? She also looks like she had dyed black-haired with blonde roots; her eyes also really do look like a light blue, very bright light blue. She must have been pretty cocky to boot as well. Well, who ever this was modeled after was any way. Hey! Is that a book down there by her left foot? What's it doing there? This floor is really not too comfy. Ouch, oh my poor knee. Alright, upsy dais…
"OW!"
I really should learn not to rise up so fast, ooh, my poor aching head. What is that metal thingie on her left foot, now that I think of it. Oh well, here we go again. Hmm. It appears to be a plaque of some sorts, a name plaque. Time to translate basic, okay it says, N. Allura McVerin- pilot. Well… I guess that explains the attitude, so who's next to her. Okay, this one is a guy, also blonde hair, blue eyes, and enough attitude to give her a run for her money. Hmm. His says, Anakin Skywalker-general, I wonder if they knew each other…Why does his name seem familiar, like I've ran across somewhere recently? I feel as if it is important and I should know what it means, but I can't remember it. Argh, this is just so frustrating, I could just scream. Well, I nearly forgot about the book. So what is its name anyway. It says... Jeez, this book is dusty as hell. When was the last time someone dusted back here I wonder. Ah, dammit. The words of the title are smudged beyond recognition. It looks like a journal or diary to me. I wonder if anything in it would help explain anything about this place. So what do you have hidden in you oh wondrously old normal looking journal? I hope I can read you...
2 hours later
"…then in order to save the fight for another day, you can save part of your personality and knowledge in a 'mental room'. However, you will have to sacrifice part of yourself to do this. Poor Ulic, if he only knew…"
I keep turning the pages even though I'm just barely able to read this diary. Maybe if I could understand more of it I would know whom was Ulic? The pages have a musty smell and feel rather fragile to the touch. It makes one wonder... Well Allicia, when are you from anyway…UH-OH! I have all of thirty minutes before they start to search for me. That wouldn't be good for me at all at this rate. I'd better, excuse the pun, book it. Although thanks, whomever you were Allicia, you may have helped me after all. You'll have to get over the giddy giggling. Although, I wish I knew what was up with the statues in this place. They still don't make any sense to me. Where they of real people or where they... Whoops! Almost left without the journal. I probably had better keep this with me and hide it somehow. Surely there's a place they wouldn't search around here... Right?
45 minutes later
Okay, left here and... Well, I'm lost. Dammit, I'm really, really dead now. Of all the times to not have a sense of direction. The only thing I could do was rub the bridge of my nose while I leaned against the wall on the right side of me. It was still a tight fit but I could only yelp when the wall started to give way under my weight. Causing my usual graceful or should I have said my usual lacking in the grace department self to fall flat on her side and ass with a solid thunk against the floor. The pain was sharp enough to radiate for a moment as tears started to well up. I'm going to die a bruised lump, that absolutely sucks.
"There you are Diamond, we had just started to look for you. You known you are slated to go before the Emperor soon." I look up to see a group of the stormtroopers around me. Surprisingly enough, I had managed to get to know some of them pretty well. They aren't so bad once you get to know them I guess... Although some are still asses, others are cool. Just like with everyone I assume. At least this group is one I had managed to get to know... Just how long ago had they started... I swallowed hard before speaking as I stood up gingerly. I still have to wonder how people manage to stand speaking this Basic shit all the time. It's really hard for me to translate on the fly ya know..."I know, Lieutenant, I know. I was just… Well..."
"Wandering around and got lost. You shouldn't be in this part of the palace you know. You, escort Ms. Berchange back to the Tellurian quarters." I closed my eyes when he cut me off quickly. I am so... "We started looking for you before it got too late. I wouldn't worry about it past that. We will see you after it is done."
I could only give them a small smile for the last part, apparently they had gotten to know me too well. I guess Aurelius was right when he said it was impossible to move around in this place and not have someone know where you were. It took everything I had to keep from sighing. Not to be a defeatist now, but I don't know if I found anything that could help Courtney, Mitchel, or myself just now... This might have been. No! I won't think like this... You never know until you try!
Two Hours Later
I do not know what the big hurry was to get here earlier, we just ended up waiting almost nearly two whole hours before we were brought to see the most wrinkly old man I have ever seen in my life. I also, have never felt colder in my life as well. The hooded robe all but hid everything other than his eyes, chin, and nose yet those were enough to give him the impression of a venomous snake about to strike at its unsuspecting prey. My headache feels like it is becoming a migraine almost, with the pressure coiling around my skull and trying to rip it wide open. It's all I can do to stand right now, I can't even look around to see what is happening. It's like this for many agonizing hours... It might have been moments, but it felt like eternities really. The first thing I could register other than the sound of Courtney's and Mitchel's panicked breathing as well as the even respirations from Lord Vader getting further away was the sounds of footsteps walking a bit away. Slips of a conversation came towards us, although it took another eternity feeling moment to identify the voices as Vader's and the Snake's.
"Very well, these Tellurians shall be left in your care Lord Vader. But, be wary of that girl. There is something strange about her. Something …unusual …"
"Strange, my master?"
"Yes, keep a close eye on her. I cannot..."
The quiet claimed their voices as they had walked away a good bit. I don't know who the Snake was referring to, maybe I should warn Courtney. I don't want her to get hurt... I really don't. I closed my eyes tightly when I heard footsteps coming back. I would rather be anywhere but here right now, the music is absolutely horrifying even compared to itself. The notes couldn't be even more jarring than before or louder. It completely caused me to miss the footsteps re-approaching us and the next words out of the Snake's mouth caused me to jump nearly to the ceiling of this library sized room.
"You Tellurians are now under Lord Vader's control, now leave. I do not wish to see your faces for some time." The condescension in his voice was palpable even over the God-awful music. As if we were lesser life-forms underneath his foot- like a trio of ants. At that moment I knew that I would have rather been killed that stuck underneath the Snake, the so-called Emperor. I would have cut my own tongue out before calling him master. As it was, I would rather bite my own tongue to death than call anyone that, but especially that Snake. I will die before I ever call him anything of such power. My relief grew as we left that room, the only time I have been grateful to hear the click of the door closing behind me. Although my trepidation grew afterwards as Vader started to explain what was going to happen to us.
"You three will be put under a strong hypnotic control, like the other channels I 'supervise.' However, Hetheir will make sure that you will stay out of trouble, channels, as well as my other students. They will be seeing to your continual training." His voice was the same near monotone as usual, only it had an almost clipped sound underneath it. Like what he was saying was distasteful to him, or he found us distasteful. I'm not exactly sure which it was. Although, why are we being put under a 'strong hypnotic control' and what the fuck does he mean by channels?
Why did it get so cold all of a sudden? Courtney and Mitchel don't seem to be cold at all. Then why am I shivering? Why do I feel so light-headed all of a sudden? This is not good.
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Running the Gauntlet