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Star WarsMy Last DreamBy Sean SmithLaree Captison lay silently in her bed. Her thoughts rolled peacefully through her mind as she slept.Quietly at first, the alarm buzzed, beckoning her from her sleep. She moaned softly, splaying out her arm and swatting at the alarm. As she feared, she had waited too long. The lights all shot on, throwing out their blinding light."NO!" she whispered. "Lights off!" They all shut down. She'd forgotten the back up, of course, for days like this. The window switched to transparent mode, letting in a stream of bright sunlight. She sat up irritably and glanced at the doorway.Her mother Kistra stood there with her arms crossed. She wore her usual purple and green jumpsuit with a yellow collar. "Now, young lady. It's time for you to get up," she said.Laree sighed. "Yes, mother." She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and waited for her mother to leave and the door to shut. Once they had, she got up and changed into a green dress. She stood before the mirror, tying her long brown hair back. She hated wearing her hair that way, but that's how mother wanted it. Didn't leave her much choice.After a bite to eat, Laree was finally set free. She hurried down the large Kabalian roadside toward her best friend Brici's house. Se lived in a much larger house, a much more common size than Laree's, since her mother believed in an old religion which wouldn't allow her much more. She always said she already pushed it, but thought it evened out in the Balance since she had a daughter.Laree walked up to the huge brown house. Two wings came out from the main body with a fantastic effect. She walked up to the door. It shot open, as she was expected. She stepped inside.Inside was a strange quiet. "Brici?" Laree called out. "Brici?"Suddenly the walls on both sides seemed to explode in at her. Smoke rose all around as Laree screamed and ducked her head. Out of the smoke, flames, and debri rose a man. "Laree," he said in a low but quiet voice. She scuttled away from him.He raised a hand, and suddenly Laree couldn't move. He gestured coldly, and Laree found herself turning around. His hand drew nearer him, hauling Laree along as if by rope. She found herself unable to turn away, could not even think straight. She just looked up at him in fear.When she was close enough, he laid his hand on her head. He stroked her hair gently, pulling her hair loose. He lay his palm on her forehead, and lights went out for Laree.She awoke sometime later. She moaned as her stiff joints struggled to move again. Her eyes opened last, after she'd felt her way around realizing she was on a tough, temporary bed, most likely aboard a ship.As she began to look up, the strange man looked down at her coldly a moment, then suddenly began looking gentle again and smiled. He reached out and brushed her hair out of her eyes, and began stroking the beautiful hair as if she were some sort of cat. "Ah, yes, you certainly are a strong one. Not many can wake from my sleep trance. No one your age, at least. You have a fantastic future before you," he said."What?" she asked quietly, fearfully. "Who are you?"He looked at the girl with deep, sad eyes. "I am your father," he said."My...father? But he...you..." she started. She could not complete the statement. She was confused and unable to concentrate on where she was. Besides that she'd never known her father. She'd been told he'd gone away when she was very young for some reason or another.So for all she knew this man could be her father. She looked at him closely a moment. She didn't see any kind of resemblance. "Are you really...?" she asked quietly.He nodded slowly. "But you must call me Lord Hethrir where we are going. No, don't ask any questions. I am taking you to a place where you can learn to use your special talent with other children your age," he said."Like school?"Hethrir laughed and ran his hand through her hair. "Yes, just a bit. Do you like school?" he asked.Laree shrugged. "It's ok."He smiled. "Good, good. Now get back to sleep, my child, we still have some ways to go.She sighed. "Ok," she said and lay back down on the hard bed. Hethrir just stroked her hair gently and stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought. He could indeed sense something great in the girl's future.When she woke again, Laree was in a dark room. She felt sore, just like before, having been out for a number of days more. Over her stood a figure in strange robes, unlike anything she'd ever seen on Kabal. She cowered back in fear at the strange looking thing."Get up," the figure ordered. "Now." Laree jumped to her feet. "With all the others!" She looked up at him, confused. He sighed angrily, pointing violently through a door."Where's...my father?" Laree asked hesitantly.The boy looked puzzled a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Oh, he'll be around soon enough."She thought the reply strange, but decided to get out of the strange boy's company. She hurried through the indicated doorway.On the other side was a long line of other young beings of all sorts of species. She found another human girl around her age. "What's going on?" she whispered.The girl turned around, green hair turning with her. "I don't know exactly," she said in heavy-accented basic. "But it's scary, I hear."=NARRATIVE=And that it was. That day they were given their quarters, in a deep level of wherever they were. The quarters was hardly that, just dark rooms behind dark doors to dark halls.Living there was hell. The children were given little food, forced to study up on propaganda. They all became part of the "Empire Reborn". The more she was put through, the more Laree was convinced Hethrir was lying. She knew for sure he could not be her father after some of the stories she'd heard from other kids.Besides all this, Laree excelled in her studies. In merely a year she'd passed to the level of helper. The next level was a huge jump, but she earned it four years later. At that time she had to take the final test.=END NARRATIVE=She'd heard stories about the Proctorial Ceremony. When she was younger, the other kids had told terrible stories they'd heard from their friends. They said the Proctor-to-be was eaten by a huge gold monster. The Proctor's who had passed the test, along with the helper's who wished to obtain it, glorified it as the final test between childhood and manhood--they all remarked on the fact no female had ever passed it.Laree didn't look forward to the day. She was brought aboard Hethrir's ship and they set out for the place only known as "The Asylum" to those in the Empire Reborn.The gold-plated ship landed on the station. A quartet of Proctor's went down the ramp first, followed by Hethrir and Laree by his side. They marched down a prearranged path toward the creature known as Waru's shrine.As they neared it, many civilians joined in the march, as it was a ritual that happened often. It was supposed to be an amazing ceremony to those who watched.They entered the long hall into the main room. Soon, they came up to Waru himself. "Hethrir, my friend," the golden creature called. "You have brought me another subject?"Hethrir moved forward, towing Laree with him and leaving the Proctors behind. "Yes, Waru. This girl here," he said. "She has reached the time of her Initiation.""Girl? Heh," the creature snorted. "No matter. Bring her forward." Hethrir did so.Laree quaked in fear as she was left alone on the altar. A number of spectators watched. Waru began to spread, his golden body coming nearer to her. In moments the liquidy gold was over her, flowing over her body. She attempted to get away, but was stuck like glue. Strange sensations began running through her mind as she felt the alien use it's powers on her. Not quite like the Force she was learning about, but something like it.As the strange fluid cleansed her, she also felt strengthened. Seemingly moments after it had begun, she was thrown out of the golden light. She looked up blinkingly, up into the face of Hethrir. "It was successful," he said emotionlessly."I am glad I was able to strengthen this young girl. One day, perhaps, our deal shall be completed," Waru spoke loudly."And let us hope it is soon," Hethrir said, retrieving Laree and the rest of his party."Of course, Friend Hethrir. Let it be soon."Upon returning, Laree found her new quarters. It was a much lighter room, and much higher up in the world-craft. She went quickly to the midday meal, which had just been called. It was a Proctor and helper only event, the children ate only twice a day.The crowd of Proctors and helpers was incredibly loud. Laree pulled up a seat and sat down at the proctor's table, between two boys a few years older than herself. As she sat down, conversations at the table stopped. Every face turned toward her. Did I do something wrong? she wondered.The boy on her left glanced at her a moment, then turned back to the rest of the silent group. He slammed his fist into the table, drawing attention. "C'mon, guys, just be easy on the new kid," he said. The others looked at him doubtfully, but began chuckling. Conversations started up again, and the food was devoured.Laree turned to the boy next to her. "Thank you," she whispered.He smiled. "No problem. My name is Krejt, and..." he stopped, about to introduce his friend on her other side. Instead he gazed closer. "You have amazing eyes."Laree blushed. "Thank you," she said even quieter this time. She ate and talked quietly with Krejt.Suddenly Mikla, the Head Proctor, a male of merely sixteen, stood from the head of the table. "It is time to return to our studies, my friends," he said in a ... [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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