TTO Episode 10.2

10.2       

I jumped on the missile launcher rear when it went past me. I ignored the call from Grecio and Daniel was seen chasing the vehicle I was on. The vehicle exit onto the surface and I have my first view of the devastated slopes. It was burning in some places but the rest was all burnt out woods with the trampling Federation army of vehicles and troopers. Overheads were the Stingers. I counted about twenty of them picking the targets unmarked by the earlier bombings. The missile launcher stopped then and the countdown began. The launcher rack moved into position aimed at the sky. I jumped down to move far. The first array of two missiles went up into the sky. They went up and then it was on the tail of two Stingers. Those launchers may be ancient but the missiles were not. The missiles sped towards the Stinger in split second and then exploded. I wanted to yell victory with them but the troopers were onto me then. I still have my rifle and fired at them. The second array of missiles went up before the trooper shoulder fired missile took the armoured vehicle apart. I was tossed by the explosion and landed on my face.

“I will surrender while I have the will to do so.” I looked up and saw Darth Rain. I have seen her profile in the Enforcer’s files. There she was with her hands holding the ‘sai’. I lashed out with the right leg towards her legs but she stepped back. She went into a crouch with the right leg bended and the left leg shifted back. I had regained my balance and stood up.

“Darth Rain, I am unarmed.” I showed my hands after dropping the rifle. The troopers have formed ring around us and any attempt on the rifle will be fatal. “Would you me the honour of fighting me without the weapons?”

Darth Rain hesitated and then holstered the ‘sai’. She stood up straight up and then moved her right leg back with a slight bent to the back while her left arm was up to cover the chest. Her right arm had then moved to the back. It was a change in the style of the Mistral Movement Style. I had used it to fight with Darth Natria when I wield the dagger.

“That’s the Mistral Movement….” My words were cut off by the sudden kick that came from Darth Rain’s right leg. I blocked that with the left arm while retreating. She followed on with a left hand jab at my chest which I deflected with the inner block. My instinct told me to fight back and I did. I moved my body with the right leg at her left knee. She retreated before my leg contacted her knee. I stood there and stared at her.

“You will face me.” I turned to face the other. It was Darth Asoka. He stood there with his three feet long red fusion energy staff appeared in the right hand. “However, I will not battle you without a weapon.”

Darth Asoka looked at Darth Rain.

“Pass her your weapons. You are not worthy it.” Darth Rain took the ‘sai’ out of her holsters and tossed it over.

“Pick it up, Edo Harashi.” Darth Asoka hit the nerve there when he addressed me in name. “It’s Renair’ choice and may suit you.”

I stooped down to pick it up. The weapon weighed fine in my hands. I looked at the handle on my right hand and noticed it was bounded with the thin strips of the Thesian Tuger skin. It lent grip on the handle. Suddenly I felt the energy vibes onto me and retreated. Darth Asoka had struck without warning with his energy blade. It was not one but two edged on the two feet length hilt. He swung it like in full circle with his hands towards me. I backed up further and then took on the fighting stance of the Mistral Movement once again. The energy blade came at me and it was deflected by the ‘sai’ on my right hand while my left handed ‘sai’ shot out to lock onto the handle. The side blade of the ‘sai’ locked the handle at its edge and I twisted my left hand to pry it off the other. He saw the move and rolled the handle in his hands to dislodge my lock. I twisted my wrist and used the thumb on the handle to push the ‘sai’ downwards. The force of my thumb was strengthened by the wrist made the move but he had pulled the blade back. I had to withdraw my ‘sai’ for fear of getting it caught in the energy blade.

Darth Asoka counterattack with the sideward swing of the energy double blade at me which I blocked with the right handed ‘sai’ and I countered with the twist of my body to deliver the left leg from the rear at the other’s left shin. I kicked him hard and he lost his balance. I followed through with full body turned and delivered the downwards round right leg kick into his back. He fell forward but rolled to a distance and avoided my thrust of the ‘sai’ I rushed forth on the unbalanced foe but he was assisted by his apprentice.

“Hai!”Darth Rain jump kicked at me from the right side. I had to block her kick with my right forearm and was pushed back by the force of the kick. She landed near me and chopped down with the right arm. I blocked her chop with the left elbow and then swung the roundhouse kick at her. She stooped forward and I missed her.  She did a double jab with both hands on my exposed right ribs. I fell backward with the pain on the ribs.

“Waki ni ido..” Darth Asoka commanded his apprentice. “Anata wa rippana monode wanaidesu”.

I saw Darth Rain clenched her fists in shame when she was asked to withdraw. Her master had said she was unworthy. That was a personal insult when spoke in public. I stood upright and drew in deep breaths to counter the pain on my ribs. I then took on the advance Mistral Movement stance with both arms bent at the elbow covering the chest. The ‘sai’ was gripped in the ice pick style with the blades facing to the sides.

Darth Asoka came at me with the energy blade and at the last moment, he dislodged the lock on it. The two feet length handle split in the middle to be a twin set of blades. He swung the blade with both his hands at me. I was unprepared for that and backed off. He came at me hard with ferocity in the approach. I deflected but it was not enough. The right blade cut my left forearm. I staggered backwards and then took on my fighting stance once more. The forearm ached but I must fight on. I did not see that coming but the blow was hard to knock me off my feet. I looked up to see the other Darth holding the sickle at my throat.

It was Darth Natria.

“You are to surrender now.” Darth Natria stepped over me.

“Darth Natria, she is mine.” Darth Asoka approached us. “I will not have you take her from me when it’s myself who had her defeated.” 

TTO Episode 10.1

Episode 10

The Book of Edo

10.1       

Micahly and Tonta Bruin was exemplary guides when we entered once again the tunnels. It seems the Grecian have an affinity for the subterranean. The journey took not long before we reached another huge cavern. Before then, I had detested the tunnels. On Mistral, the place was all wide green stretches with the rolling hills and the streams of water. That was outside the cities which were all encompassed of tall blocks of structures and the intricate multi levels of roads that wound around the structures. It was the balance in the world at Mistral.

The natural and constructed.

The order and the chaos.

There in Grecia IV it was the same. The Federation ruled the surface and the Resistance below it.

“Welcome to Fortress of Resistance. I am Greio, the nine hundred and sixtieth scholar of the Temple.” The speaker was different from the earlier one named Greco. Greio was a short statute person with protruding ears and wrinkled facial muscles in the green gown. He had no hairs on his head unlike Greco. We were standing in the side of the cavern around a makeshift table that could seat twelve. Instead of the layout of goods, the table was inlaid with the map of the village and projected into a two dimensional hologram. It sunk into the table at a depth of two feet and above it there were six screens that showed the scenes on the surface.

“I am unlike the others for I am from a small community of the Grecian. We were …. have smaller frames but we made up for the mind. We are the intellectual ones. Incidentally Grand Master Seldon is one like us.”

I smiled. It was assumed that the Grecian were all alike and Grand Master Seldon was always portrayed as a tall figure in the three layers of gown.

“Greco was my friend before he believed in the Federation of Planets. He believed in the Hundred Years and its power. He had wanted the Hundred Years to go on like the Thousand Years but there was not the in the revelation. Greco did not understand the words of the Grand Master. When he betrayed us, I lost a friend.”  Greio then smiled. “Sad loss to him for he was not see this.”

I saw then the cavern was filled with the armoured vehicles of assorted designs. There was the six wheeler armoured transporter with the twin sets of double mini cannons on the top. There were also the heavy armoured with the long barrelled cannon tank. The armoured vehicles were all gunning their engines and then lined up to move out into a tunnel.

“The armoured section will buy us time while we evacuate.” Greio then move us to the next cavern. It was larger and the first thing I saw was the HP-109.

The Hawken Predator was a bird of prey with the sloping forward double wings and the cockpit which sat on the extended hull from the main unit at the rear. The craft held the three barrel rotary cannons on the tip of the wings and below the cockpit at the extended sloping hull. There was another turret above on the main unit which housed the revolving three barrel rotary cannons. Below the main unit was an array of six missiles launcher that was also on the swivel stand. The cockpit could sit three persons with one as the pilot while the main unit holds enough space for six persons with ample rooms for storage of weapons. The craft was powered by the double engine at the rear. It holds also the jump-light drive which shortened the distance of travel between the galaxies.

“The Xeon IV had been modified with a more updated reading on its sensors. Her designation is now the Sweeping Eagle as requested by Kuzuka.” Grecio commented on the craft. He was then interrupted by the technician that came with an update.

“The hideouts are exposed.” Grecio took the report and read it. The Stingers have done their worst, and added with the reinforcement from the frigate, the slopes were all cleared of vegetation if not they are not covered in soot or flames. The troopers called in the frigate to lent firepower on the surface. The frigate cannons hit the uncovered entrance to the tunnels. Those tunnels were cleared out of the fighters on his instructions. He needed to lead the troopers into the tunnels there for the traps to be sprung. The traps failed when the frigate cannons detonated the mines. Nevertheless, the troopers rushed in but all they will discover were rubbles. He had wanted to send in the fighters but he waited it out.

“Harmost  Grecio, we have the armoured ready to move out.” The Technician reported in. “They are bringing in the Trekkers.”

“Rush up the crafts. I want a full evacuation on the others.” Grecio gave his command to the Technician. He then looked at the screen above him. He swiped with his right hand and the scene changed to the planet orbit.

“We may need to rush that evacuation order. The frigate is not alone.” Grecio motioned to the screens. All the six screens displayed the two cruisers. As in its namesake, the cruisers were named the Scimitars. Each Scimitar cruiser held a crew of five thousand with a complement of eight thousand troopers and two hundred Stringers in its ten hangers. The cruiser deadly weapon was its double phaser cannons which could pierce a planet from its surface to the core with its energy blasts. It also housed over two hundred double cannon turrets on the sides of the ship which protect it from enemy fighters.

“I want the salvaged Stingers to join in the incoming squadron.” I saw on the screen the two squadrons of Stingers that was enforcing the other Stingers on the surface. Grecio have given the new order. He then swiped the screen to five other locations.

“Sound the departure there too.” Grecio told the other technicians to sound the evacuation. The technicians rushed off to sound the order. It was then I looked at the flying crafts there. There was our Sweeping Eagle, the six Stingers that was pulled to the runway. Two of the Stingers looked sad with the improvised engine replaced there. It won’t hit the speed of the normal Stingers but it will pull through. The markings were from different squadrons. There were three transporters; the commercial models which could not carry the load of minerals cargo but it will house the mining equipment. They measured about three hundred feet each but these were modified with the cannons on its hull. The technicians were loading the essential equipment in one of the transporters while the second one was with the non-fighters including the technicians’ dependents. It was the last transporter that screamed out loud in my mind.

“The bombs are loaded on the last craft. We got the volunteers to man it.” 

TTO Episode 9.4

9.4

“Hee haw!” Trooper leader  Januck pulled the steering handle on his cannon carrier on the double track. “Did you see the tank blow up?”

The trooper leader was in a jubilant mode after the troopers reinforced from the frigate took the fight to the Resistance fighters. The additional troopers were given additional weapons including the small cannon mounted on the double tracks. It was manned by four troopers with the automated energy bolts loader. He was the leader of the cannon troopers with a complement of five cannons. They have sighted the Resistance fighters which had retreated there into the left slope. The cannons responded on the press of trigger.

The cannon on the left but in the hands of the experienced commander, he adjusted for the pull. It was then the crews got shot. The Resistance fighters have regrouped and making a last ditch there to escape. They crawled out of the hole in the ground.

“Defend yourself.” Trooper leader Januck called the warning. Another dive crews went down before his men drew their rifles. He looked around for the support squad of twenty troopers but they must have rushed ahead for the fight. He looked to his own men which had sought cover behind the cannon carriers. He raised his rifle to fire back but there was too many of them but relief was on the way. I saw the Darth leading the troopers. There were more than many to assist my small numbers.

Many is only numbers in the count but on that day, we have seen many numbers changed. I rushed at the fighters ahead of the troopers. I deflected the shots with my sickles. There were five fighters.

I reached the first and my right sickle removed the head. I tossed my second sickle out in an arc and dropped two more fighters. I was then among the last two fighters and lashed out with my left kick to deflect the rifle barrel aimed at me. I twisted my body to lash with the right arm. I jabbed the fighter there with the extended fingers into the face and then grabbed it to use as leverage to swing my body and hit the last fighter. The fighter went down and the troopers have moved in to control the area.

“Trooper leader Januck, Fifth Squad.” The tall square shoulder figure in the yellow flight suit saluted before me. I could read his facial expression for he had remove his flight helmet. I gave him the once over from his clean shaven top to the flight boots. I saw his side arm in the holster in front of his groin for the cross draw favoured by some although it was unauthorised. They claimed that with the sidearm in front, it was easier to draw.

“You will follow me, Commander.” I gave the order, and then marched on with the ten troopers’ squad. We were headed for the top side of the slope where the troopers have discovered an entry point inside. The ramp at the entry point was damaged and it dim lighted inside. I halted there while the other troopers there regrouped with mine.

“We saw them go in.” The trooper leader there briefed me. “The lady was with them.”

I was to move when I heard the fighting on the slope nearby. 

TTO Episode 9.3

9.3

I fell but landed on my feet with my arms spread out. The shot had hit my chest but the armour I wore beneath the gown stopped the energy blast. I saw more troopers went down from the shots that came from above the tree trunks. The Resistance fighters were in the trees. The troopers recovered from the initial shots and started fighting back. They took cover and shot at the fighters on the trees. I saw two Resistance fighters fell after being shot. There was too many of them. I spread out my arms and then swung to toss the sickles. The pair of sickles shot out like energy projectiles into the canopies of leaves. The sickle removed the leaves and branches in its path before it get embedded into the fighter there. The sickle does not wound but it will kill with the dark energy that will spread into the body. The dead fighter will fall off the tree to the ground or left hanging there with the cables.

The other Resistance fighters were all among us at the ground soon after. They had descended to carry the fight to the troopers. I rushed forward to recover my sickles and it was then I saw Renair had joined in the fray. She have used her ‘sai’ like a dagger and was leaping from fighters to fighters. I had recovered the sickle from the fallen body and then tossed the sickle once more from the left hand at the fighter hiding behind the bush. He went down with the sickle in the back. Darth Asoka had leaped into action with his shield up to block the shots.

“Withdraw!” Darth Asoka called out and we all ran for the bikes. I picked up the sickle in the fighter’s back and climbed on the bike. I looked for Renair but she had ridden off without assisting her master. The later was still bravely fighting off the fighters while the troopers withdrew. The metal arm with the double blade was slashing at a fighter who was in the path. I gunned up the bike and soared it up to the hanging body to recover my second sickle. I then sped towards Darth Asoka.

“Get on.” I called to him. He did for the Resistance fighters had grown in numbers. The reinforcement had emerged from the ground like the ground burrowing inhabitants. It seems our intelligence was in error. With the reinforcement, the five Trekkers at the flank were under attack.

It was all in the open tracks of communications from the Trekker Commander Kilstrom and the other Trekker’s crew.

“Trek Two, I want you to be my left flanker. Trek Four to hold the right flank.” Commander KIlstrom snapped out the orders. “Trekker Three, I am at your flank. Fire at will on the treelines.”

“Affirmative, Trek One.” The mini cannons on the Trek Three opened fire at the treelines.

“Trek Five, I need your status.” Trekker Five had strayed back due to a faulty gear set on the left extended joint. The crew was re-calibrating the system there. The Trekker was at a standstill then

“Trek One, we have fighters on our right.” Trek Five gave the update. “Troopers engaged.”

“Trek One, we have to assist.” Trek Five crews had then open the rear hatch to rappel down. “We are under attack.”

“Trek Five, rescind the assistance. Stay in your position.” Trek One called out but the crew of Trek Five was not responding. Then the late reply was heard.

“Trek One, we are in need of….” The signal went dead. It was soon followed by the exploding Trekker codenamed Trek Five.

“Trek Three, watch your right…” The warning came too late for Trek Three when the missile hit the right joint. The armoured vehicle with the damaged right joint stopped there. The crews in Trek Three continued on the firing but it was soon ever for them when the second missile hit it on the front.

“Trek Two, formed up and find the missile launchers.” Trek One called out before it was hit by another missile on its main frame. The Trekker split open and then exploded.

“Trek Two, Trek One is down.” Trek Four voiced out the desperate call. “We are being …”

Trek Four which was near to the trees then had its vehicle hijacked. The Resistance fighters have rappelled to the armoured vehicle and boarded it via the rear hatch.

“Trek…” The crews of Trek Four died in the shootout. Trek Two saw the boarding and trained it cannons on the other. It blasted the left joint of Trek Four to cripple it.

“Trek Two withdrawing.” Trek Two then reversed back to leave the valley.

Overhead the surviving Stingers were reinforced with another six Stingers from the frigate. The eight re-assembled Stingers went into action in two formations on the slopes. The cannons ripped into the treelines and then veered off for the second squadron of four Stingers from the frigate. Those were the upgraded model with the cluster bombs on its wing. The cluster bombs were mini bombs that will embed into the ground before it exploded.

“Cluster deployed.” The Stingers Bombers confirmed the drop. The slopes went up in flames when the bombs exploded. It looked like a moving wave of flames with the bombs triggered in sequence. The fire spread to the tree tops and the bushes. It then revealed to me the hidden threat of the Grecian.

Sections of the ground opened up and the armoured vehicles appeared. They were of the odd designs salvaged or modified from the Federation of Planets units. There was the six wheeler armoured transporter but it have a twin sets of double mini cannons on the top. I counted four of those and there was one modified with the missile launcher. The biggest shock was the heavy armoured with the long barrelled cannon tank. It was double the dimension of the six-wheeler and it moved on the band of metal tracks. I counted three of the tanks emerging and then fired the cannons. They were aiming for the hover bikes. I counted three more tanks and more than a dozen armoured vehicles.

We were outnumbered and outgunned. 

TTO Episode 9.2

9.2

I stood there watching the troopers deployed into the valley. They have got intelligence that the Resistance held a base there and had the escapees there. I looked at the terrain before me. It looked like a spot for any ambush if you are setting it and having corralled them there. That day, we were ones doing the corralling then.

I saw the twenty hover bikers scouting the two hills with the six Stingers; the Captain of the frigate had offered the additional crafts. There were also the additional one hundred troopers armed with the rifles and some had the heavier shoulder fired missile launchers. That made us about nearly three hundred strong. There were also the five Trekkers there. Darth Asoka had the command of the battle then.

“I want us to move in from here.” Darth Asoka had pointed to the entry point at the valley. “We will check every tree and hole to ferret them out to here.”

The other point was the other end of the valley. The slopes on both sides were the tall trees and the shrubs. The trees were spaced out and in some areas there were rocks. The trees have those high branches with the wide canopies of leaves. The ground was soft and hard at some places where the stones were seen. There were some thickets of bushes and the trees spaced out. With the canopy of leaves, the ground level was cool and there was some breeze then. I detected no forest dwellers which was odd then.

“There the hover bikers will take down the ones trying to escape.”

It looked like a good plan when the scouts told us there were like fifty Resistance fighters there and with the additional five escapees, it was a small number. I leaned back on my stand and thought out the fighters. It then crossed my mind that the Grecian may had been pacifists for many generations but they were once formidable fighters. Their declaration for neutrality have stopped them in the wars but their occupiers have learned that the Grecian were not that easily subdued. There were unconfirmed reports that the occupiers have to leave the Grecians for they were unable to be controlled. I recalled in one of the entries, the Monscrat Lord that was stationed there have reported that the Grecian were hampering their works there in a stealth manner. The Monscrat have lost many of their men and equipment and till then never seen again.

“They are a thieving nation.”

I then had a second thought on the ambush. I checked the intelligence updates once more. I then called the trooper leaders. They gave me vague reports on the Resistance fighters.

“The scouts reported in but we did not meet them since. All communications have not been replied.”

I called the Stingers to do a scan on the area.

“Confirmed ten hostiles on the run.” The Stinger confirmed back. “We are reading interferences in the area. Looks like some jammers. Or it could be minerals there. It may distort the sensors.”

I checked the reports. Earlier reports called in on twenty hostiles. I was wondering what happened to those ten in the numbers. I got my answer soon.

“We will do a lower recon on the slope.” The Stinger pilots called in. Two of the six crafts swooped down to above the treelines. The leading Stinger went down in flames. One moment it was flying above the treelines and then it was engulfed in flames.

It happened so fast. I was to call for the other to retreat when it Stinger was hit. It was pushing up for the skies when the missiles hit it. Both the Stingers were hit on the right slope.

“Recalled the force.” I called out but Darth Asoka countered my call. He wants them to move in on the fight.

“Strafe the area.” Darth Asoka gave the new order. The other four Stingers went into V formation with the cannons armed.. The crafts came in low with the cannons firing at the right slope. They did their run and then they were out of the valley. I saw the canopies were in flames from the strafing and the Stingers had taken a wide turn heading for the left slope. During the turn, I saw the streaks of two missiles from the right slopes and hit the Stingers before I could called out the warning.

“Break!” The Stinger pilots called out. Two crafts went down before the last two retreated higher.

“Secure the slope on the right.” Darth Asoka gave his new order. He the hopped on the parked hover bike there and rode for the right slope. Renair followed suit in the other bike. There was one more bike left which the trooper was about to start on. I took over and caught up with them.

“Renair, can you hear me.” I called on the communicator to the one who was my sister. There was no reply after several tries. I then sped up to Renair and tried to keep up. When I was next to her, I looked over but she ignored me. She was focus on the Master in front. I had to swerve off several times to avoid the trees and then we chanced on the advancing troopers. Darth Asoka stopped there and got off the bike. The troopers were all holding their position there and awaiting the Stingers to clear the slope.

“Get the troopers moving.” Darth Asoka was upset. “I want the escapees as prisoners.”

Darth Asoka then reached out with his right hand. His was not of organic but it was a metal construct there from the elbows down.  It had a bracelet design on the wrist and from there the energy dual blade appeared.  The blades were on both sides of the hand; one at the top and the other below the wrists. The blade reached for over two feet.

“Follow me.” I saw from the Darth’s left arm, the same metal construct. Instead of a dual blade, the force field appeared in the form of a round shield. Renair behind him had her ‘sai’ drawn out.

It happened so fast.

The Resistance have laid mines on the slope. The trooper stepped on the one near us and then it exploded. It did not just exploded there but it triggered a series of five explosions around the area. I ducked to avoid the falling branches. I heard the troopers screamed on the wounds inflicted by the explosions.

“Chain mines!” The warning went out. That type of mines was phased out some years ago but it seems the friendly Grecian have their own stockpile. The Grecians were more than what they said.

“Withdraw!” The trooper leader called out to the others but Darth Asoka shut him off. He wanted the troopers to move on. We have lost like ten or more troopers then and Darth Asoka called in more troopers.

“More squads will assist us.” The Darth was ever convincing and took the approach forward. I saw Renair pulled out the piece of wood from her left forearm. She did not cry out nor called for attention. Such was the training of the Dark Order.

It was then the shooting came in.

“Shooters!” The trooper leader called out to the others when three more troopers went down. “Return fire.”

The troopers return fire but they were firing blind. No trooper saw the Resistance shooters. They were hidden and took down some more troopers. They were seen among the trees but when searched, the troopers found no trace of them.

Renair stepped towards the tree and looked up. Her instinct told her no living person could disappear. She looked from the roots and then up the trunk. She saw the barrel of the rifle aimed at her at the height of thirty five trees. The shooter was hanging there upside down. The man was held up by cables. I did not hesitate then.

I turned to retreat for a distance and then turned back. That time I took quicker strides before leaping up with my right leg on the tree trunk and then I was on the second stride. I then jumped forward with the sickle tossed from my left hand at the hanging man. The weapon main shaft stabbed onto the man’s face. He screamed out but by then my hands had held hard on the tree trunk. I used the sickle on my right hand as a climbing stake. My climb was fast and furious. I grabbed the sickle from the wounded man. It was then I saw the others.

“We are spotted.” 

TTO Episode 9.1

Episode 9

The Book of Natria

9.1         

I picked myself up from the debris that was from the wall collapse. I was lucky to have two troopers shield me from the main explosion. I looked at the others and saw my acquisition have escaped. I called on the troopers to search the tunnels while the others in the other caverns to converged there. I can’t have another failure in my hand. It will be seen as a sign of weakness by the Grand Order. I then took pace to the exit and soon emerged to outside of the temple. I looked at the surrounding forested hills. There were no reports of the escapees.

“Darth Natria, the five masters are here.” The trooper addressed me on the arrival of the masters. I looked towards the five figures standing there. I singled out the one who was named as the spokesman.

“You spoke to the one named Edo.” I glared at the old man.

“I did and told her the message you asked me to say.” I had communicated with the masters that if they were to meet Edo they were to speak of her destiny. I wanted her to feel the pressure of being the one. “It was brief for she collapsed in silence then.”

I was taken aback by that. I had expected Edo to query the older men but her sudden silence was of concern to me.

“Did you do anything to her?” I queried the old men. They shook their head.

“Maybe there was something that we do not know or controlled made her fall.” The old man replied. “The words of the Grand Master were never all revealing until its past.”

I knew of the words of the Grand Master Seldon. I will be a fool not to know of it being the second most powerful one in the galaxies. We all knew that the Grand Master had written down his notes into three volumes; the thousand years, the hundred years and the last ten years. It was also named the Foundation of the New Order.

Grand Order Illium had the notes searched in the last hundred years but the Grecian masters were not revealing its location. Instead they have spoken of it in parables despite the torture and pain they undergone. Soon after then, they were replaced with the other five masters who were more willing to speak. The new masters spoke of the words, and the last of the ten years was never told.

“We do not know.” The new masters have replied when we were nearing the next ten years of the notes. “All we knew that it was the last notes of Grand Master Seldon. There were rumours that only the last one will know of its contents.”

The rumours of the last One soon concerned the Grand Order. He began his search and soon sought the last one. My master, the Grand Order thinks the last one may be Edo Harashi being the last of the Harashi and the surviving member of the House that served the Order of Balance. Maybe she is the one, or was the last one not her but one other. The Grand Order had been known to be wrong.

In the last hundred years Grand Order Illium had foretold that the Dark Order will rule the galaxies. That was true that we were the masters of the galaxies in the last hundred years but among us as the masters, many of us died defending it from the rebellions and then those who resisted us formed the Resistance. If we are truly the masters, then we need not defend our rights for all should be our obligated to us. The Grand Order had explained then to me.

“The words of the Grand Master Seldon rang true that we will be masters but he had flaws in his vision. Just as he had flawed there, his words of the hundred years was also not all true. We only ruled for three quarters of the hundred years with the wars on the first quarter on those who did not agreed to our ruling. We defeated them in their numbers but not in their spirit. They have retreated and tended to their revival for the last three quarters of the hundred years.” Grand Master Illium had commented. “In the next ten years that was the final chapters of the Grand Master Seldon words, perhaps it will be the period for us to annihilate all that was of the Resistance and make us all the true masters of the galaxies. Hold that thought, my apprentice for the galaxies may be yours then.”

I held those words close to me until the Grand Order told me of the One once more.

“Darth Natria, I sensed the emergence of another who may be the One. You are my appointed apprentice to seek her.” The Grand Order had told me and sent me on the tasks that to find Edo Harashi. I had queried back.

“How there be One when I was told that I am the one in the galaxies?”

“Apprentice, I never said you were the One. I only said the galaxies may be yours. The new revelation only came to me recently. I may be wrong once more but I will not let it slip by me. I want Edo Harashi here as my final apprentice. I will have her trained in the Dark Order and then you will decide with her on being the last One in the Order. The defeated ones will remain as the apprentice like Zita Corleone and Anatoly Petrich.”

I did not queried then of Renair for I was not aware of her existence then. I knew then there will not be anyone levelled with me to be the One.

“Darth Natria, we have reports on the sighting of the others.” The trooper reported back. “They are in pursuit on the hill to our left.”

I looked to the hill and saw the Stinger there in flight. There may be a chance that I will continue our fight again. I turned to move to the transporter of my own when I saw them.

Darth Asoka and his apprentice. Both of them wore the same gown design.

“You have failed once more, Darth Natria. Those are the words of the Grand Order and our master.” Darth Asoka said. “I have brought reinforcements to the hunt.”

From the skies, five trooper transporters were descending. Once the transporters landed, the rear ramp was lowered and the troopers descended. The troopers were accompanied with the rollout of the rectangle shaped vehicle on four wheels. Those vehicles were named as the Trekkers. The Trekker was a three seat armoured vehicle measuring ten feet in width and fifteen in length with a set of double mini cannons mounted on the front. It resembled a box like shape but once the vehicle was activate for operation, the side of the Trekker will opened out to reveal a set of four mechanical limbs. The limbs will extend out to form a twenty feet high and then the wheels will retract to show the two toed bottom tracks. At the bottom of the box like hull, a swivel turret with the double mini cannons could be seen.

There were five Trekkers then and they moved into the hills joined by twenty hover bikers.

“You may remain with us to observe our hunt for the one named Edo Harashi.” Darth Asoka then looked at the five old men. “For the five of you, I have assigned you a premature demise.”

Without a word, Darth Rain rushed forth with the drawn ‘sai’ in her hands. The ‘sai’ resembled a trident but it’s a smaller model. The middle or main shaft is about a foot in length and round in design while the two side shafts are only a sixth in length compared to the main shaft. The handle of the ‘sai’ is behind the three pronged shafts and measured about half a foot in length. The ‘sai’ is normally gripped with the index finger pressed against the handle with the thumb hooked around the end of the shafts and the handle. The other three fingers on the hand are wrapped around the bottom side shaft near the handle.

Darth Rain thrust the handle of the right handed ‘sai’ at the nearest old man in the forehead. The force of her thrust was assisted by the momentum of her rush and it posed a deadly force on the unprotected old man. He fell back with his brain ruptured inside the head from the blunt weapon attack. Darth Rain had followed up with a swing on both her hands she had gripped the ‘sai’ for the elbow thrust. Both elbow shot out and then her lower arms swung out wide.  The centre shaft of the ‘sai’ thrust out like an arrow into two of the old men in the chest. She did not stop there when she changed her grip to that of the hammer grip and then thrust forth the weapons in both hands into the chest of the last masters.

The five masters collapsed before she walked away.

TTO Episode 8.4

8.4

We survived.

Tonta had pulled the lever that activated the inflatables below the transporter hull. We hit the surging river and soon got caught up in the currents. The vehicle was tossed by the currents as it sailed on the river. The river was wide but since we were still in a cavern; a rather long one the place was all dark except for the lights on the transporter. With the transporter bobbing on the river currents, we found difficulty moving but Michaly then got off the driving seat and rushed to the rear. He either had practice or was naturally good. He reached for the lever to lower the ramp on the rear and then reached for the rolls of cables there. The cables were thick ones and looked heavy for the shorter man.

“You need help?” I asked and knew what was to be done. I had done some works on the pulley and pulling before. Those cables were the same. I climbed down from the turret and grabbed the large trident hook on the cable. I looked out of the open rear ramp.

“The open space on the river banks will suffice.” Michaly had then tossed the hook out. It was a weak throw or the thrower was weak. It did not reach the river banks but my throw was more firm. It landed on the river bank and took hold when the trident snapped out wide to form a grip there. The trident was the same type used by mountaineers to secure camp base on steep slopes or in the strong winds. The cables unrolled out and soon it held taut with the other end of the cable held hard on the inner side of the transporter. Everyone was thrown off their feet but I grabbed the other hook back from the river. I tossed it over to get another grip on the river banks. With both hooks in grip, the transporter stopped moving.

“Tonta, did you get the pulley to pull the cable?” Michaly looked to the other. The expression on Tonta told us he did not prepare anything. I then took command and told everyone to pull at the cables. We pulled and heaved until the transporter had hit the river banks. I jumped off to secure it more firmly and then the others followed suit. Edo then confronted the two Grecians.

“I am Michaly Bruin and he is my kin. We are from the Resistance.” Michaly smiled. “We were told to expect your arrival for some time. We have planned the escape routes. Kuzuka met us and told us of your arrival. It took me some time to arrange the extra help.”

“Besides Tonta and myself, the others were mostly fighters. You know those who carry the rifles and shoot. Unlike us, we are the planners. We are skilled in the tasks of physical machinations. The armoured transporter and the tunnels was part of our planning. We also had you followed and with our training, I guess we done a rather good task.” Michaly continued on. He then looked at his other kin and they laughed.

“Now we will take you to meet the Resistance leader in Grecia IV.” Michaly smiled. “Dinna worry, we are ready for them there. It will be a blast.”

TTO Episode 8.3

8.3

Michaly Bruin was the Grecian who drove us while another named Tonta was the turret operator. The two were mightly short for Grecian but they were armed with ideas that sometimes may not work at all. In the short time I knew them they have shown me their outlook of events was based in humour and luck. Michaly was always the leading character while Tonta was the follower. However the transporter was not your state of the art stuff nor in best condition. It was an old vehicle from some discarded invasion army. I reckoned the transporter was over a hundred years but it was maintained. Well for one the engine coughed into life when the ignition was pressed although the noise sounded hoarse.

“This ain’t much to look at.” Michaly hit the side of the vehicle where the half the console switches looked dead. He fingers hovered over some switches which would not activate. “It’s was kept by our forefathers in the hills. We are the Grecian that never stood down to the invaders.”

I have data on the small numbers of Grecians who never believed in the tolerable conditions of the majority. They do not resist in open fight but create chaos by sabotage or at times, the rare killing. The last hundred years had shown greater number of these Grecians who had joined the new approach but they had remained low in numbers.

“However we are good at the cables. We have regular practice.” Michaly laughed out in a loud tone when his ministration of the fingers failed, he had resorted to the simple bang on the surface and the whole console lighted up.  “It was better than shooting at the stuffed figures.”

“Yes, I am good at it. My average is three out of five targets.” Tonta gave us his scores on the range. “It would help if they made it bigger.”

Both the Grecian laughed but we were on the run by then while Kuzuka was still trying to check on Edo but the later was adamant on being on her own. She approached the Grecian in the turret.

“You there? Ton…” Edo shouted above the noisy din of the vehicle engines. “Are you seeing anyone following us?”

“It’s Tonta Bruin and no, I don’t think we are followed.” The turret operator replied while he pedalled the turret in different directions. I was not sure he was doing it to check for troopers or he was unsure of the controls. He ducked down later and asked Michaly.

“I think we are tracked.” Tonta called out. “I saw those troopers on the hover bikes.”

I was rushed to the side opening and looked at the new threat. There were three troopers on the hover bike; a modified single seat vehicle that was powered on the anti-gravity circular pods instead of wheels. The bike but was not fixed with any weapon but the riders were armed with rifles. The bike was highly manoeuvrable in tight conditions and could soar up to fifty feet above the ground. The design was named Su-bike for the speed and its ability to do sharp turns.

The trooper bikers seen us then and they were approaching in a collision path.

“Micahly, we got three on our portside.” I heard Tonta and looked out. They saw us and were riding parallel to the vehicle. I still have my rifle but with the trees obstructing then in the forest, I was not able to aim at the troopers.

“Oh, Michaly, we have more. Stinger on our roof.” My circuitry was thrown into full surges of data when I heard there was a Stinger was onto us. I approached the turret and told Tonta to step down.

“My average is five out of five.” I told the other. Without hesitation, Tonta stepped off. I took his place then. The turret shell was a simple seat with the double mini cannons and directional pedals. The cannons were fed by the belt of energy bolts. I held the handle of the mini cannons in my hands. The trigger was secured and so was the twin mini cannons barrels. I pedalled the steps to move the turret.

“If you are happy with it can you look for the Stinger?” Edo was getting impatient. I nodded and then looked above me. I saw the Stinger was on the flank and was tailing us. I then looked at the three hover bikes on the portside. They had drawn closer at two hundred feet and keeping pace with us. I pressed the pedal to level the mini cannons and fired at the bikers. The energy bolts shaved through the trees or its branches before it hit the last rider in the leg. The biker was thrown back against the tree trunks and soon landed at the foot of the trunk. That shot made the two riders to split up with one going for our flank. They drew their rifles to fire on the transporter. I ducked below the turret cover when the shots came in. By then Michaly have driven us into the cover of the bigger trees but the later was too sparse to offer much cover. It was the nearby rim of forests that surrounded the temple and we were on the unmarked trail.

Suddenly Michaly cut to portside and we were on the collision course with the biker there. He came close to the biker and it was my opportunity to fire the next round from mini cannons. I hit the second biker on the circular pad and caused the rider to crash into the next tree trunk.

Two down and one more to go but the last rider had retreated. There was only the Stinger. I calculated that the transporter speed was at about half that of the approaching Stinger which was flying at the lower speed. Our driver was improving given the number of side swipes on the tree trunks have diminished and we were still intact. I searched for the Stinger and worked out the distance between us was about a mile and closing.

“Edo, can you ask the driver where are we headed and how far?” I shouted below. The reply was more depressing.

“I am going uphill and then we shall reach safety.” Michaly replied. “It’s not far.”

I could haveestablished then my sensors had picked up the noise of wrenching gears on the transporter when we climbed the slopes then. I looked then at the mini cannons.

Model Brent 240 of the Monscrats Army with the twin forty inches length barrels and fed by the belt fed five hundred rounds energy bolts per load. I kicked at the load in the housing below. I estimated we were down to less than fifty bolts there. Probably target practice or that was the balance. The bolts could reach a maximum distance of five miles but those were serviced parts then. I doubt the mini cannons I have then would reached a mile.

That was all I needed to know.

I pressed the trigger and saw the barrels spurted off three rounds of the bolts into the sky. I missed the Stinger by half a mile.

“Kick the main block. It will improve the direction.” I heard Tonta and did what he told me. I fired the second burst and almost hit the Stinger which was a quarter mile away. I would have replied a compliment but the Stinger had returned fire.

“Incoming!” I shouted but the Stinger shots tore into the right side of the transporter. I felt the vehicle swerved but we had to shave the tree trunk then of some low branches.

“Keep on driving.” I heard Edo shouted out. She poked her head near the turret opening. “And you keep on firing.”

I pressed the trigger for longer bursts of the energy bolts but it was not my aiming. It was the mini cannons; they have a mind of their own. Bloody Monscrat design. Just then when I thought I had the feel on the mini cannons, Michaly had driven us into a cave.

“Another cavern?” Edo was heard exclaiming in exasperation.

“Yes, on Grecia IV we have numerous caves and our tunnels system…” I believed Edo had then shut Tonta off. It was a large cave entrance but the cavern was smaller inside. Somehow Michaly managed to drive the transporter into the narrower tunnel and then by our surprise, he had the lights on the transporter front lighted up. It lit up the tunnel ahead and then I heard the Stinger was at our flank firing its cannons. The walls on the tunnel we were in were collapsing but Michaly was still driving on. The collapsing walls was piling the tunnel with debris but the eight wheels transporter surged on with the bumps.

“We did not foresee that but the end will be near soon.” Michaly called. “You might want to hold onto something.”

The end came soon and it was a long drop into the surging river below in a large cavern.

TTO Episode 8.2

8.2         

I took the old man by his hand but he refused to leave. I looked at him and his expression told me his reply. I step back into the hole I created and then heard the shouts.

“The old men are escaping.” The voice of the trooper called out and it was followed by the sound of energy blasts. I did not look back but took my steps to find Edo. She needed me. I came running round the tunnel and bumped into the trooper there. He was alarmed to see me but my programming. I did the open palm punch on the jaw of the trooper before grabbing the rifle.

“TD23452!” The trooper was not alone. There was another a distance away and saw me take the trooper down. “TD23452 is down. Assistance required.”

The other trooper had called for backup but the call was too late. I shot the second trooper in the chest before grabbing some energy packs and the pack of explosives. I made my run back in my direction. It will lead me back to the Main Hall where we met Greco. I made it along the tunnels with my senses on the lookout for troopers. I had no vision between the walls but I had a sense for sound. I heard them clamouring in the tunnels. I stopped after a few turns, and listen hard. I do not want to be bumping into any troopers.

I was mistaken.

The shot missed me when I moved to the next tunnel entrance. It was the trooper who did not want the unknown bump and replaced it with the shot. By the reflex in my programming, I return fire and then ducked back into the previous tunnel. I could run but it was needed for me to fight back.

For Edo.

I waited there with the rifle aimed. I saw the shadows and then the trooper. I fired at the first trooper. I got two of them before the others held back. They fired at me but they were not aiming at all. I went down on one knee and took aim. I did not have to wait long when the next trooper appeared. I took down two more and then tossed the explosive at them. Without waiting, I ran on into the tunnel. I felt the explosion at where I was. I bought time and needed to check on my progress.

I was back at the juncture which one side will take me back to the inner cavern while the other will lead me to the Main Hall. I was undecided but the decision was soon deferred. I raised the rifle and fired at the approaching troopers. I missed but they re-learned their strategy. I saw the explosive was tossed at my direction. I turned to hide at one of the turnings. I barely made it out with my frame intact when the explosive went off.

Among the dusts and the darkness, once again I stood still. The one I selected was back to the inner cavern. I was also past running. I have to fight and find Edo.

I reached for the new energy pack and replaced it. The trooper that came there was shot in the head. I steadied myself and hit the next. I ran forward to them with the rifle firing. I hit the area where the trooper fell, and looked at the tunnel. The other troopers were in retreat. I did not chase then but retraced my steps to find Edo. I ran along it and then found myself in the cavern where we met the Resistance.

They were there held by the troopers. I saw then Edo and the Darth lady.  There were about fifty troopers there with the weapons raised. I was to rush out when the shooting began. The troopers were shot at by someone from the top of the cavern. I looked up and saw a group there rappelling down on the cables were shooting at the troopers. I counted twenty of them and they were also taking casualties. I recognized them as Grecians and others. Darth Natria had retreated for cover with the troopers when the rappelling group reached the flooring. Kuzuka grabbed Edo before lunging for cover. Henna was too late and got shot in the back. The newly group was then reduced to twelve but they had found cover. They were not good at shooting but their erratic shooting was deadly. Seven troopers were dead during the initial battle.

I saw my opportunity then for the troopers’ position was near to me. They have their backs to me. I took out the remaining explosives and tossed it over. I ducked back when the explosives went off. There was a large amount in the pack and took down half the troopers. The others were wounded or stunned by the explosion.

“Over here!” I called out to Kuzuka. He saw me and then assisted Edo to the tunnel entrance. The other twelve allies also rushed over and soon we were on the way out. One of the Grecians took the lead and soon guided us out of the tunnels. We exited at clearing and then led to a large eight seats transporter with a turret that held a set of double mini cannons. The transporter was a Model Lion V and was hidden under camouflage.

“I will drive you to safety.” The Grecian climbed into the driving seat. “The others will hold the position to buy us time.” 

TTO Episode 8.1

Episode 8

The Book of Daniel

8.1         

I saw Kuzuka and the other lowered their rifles. They lined up after the troopers to leave. I wanted to fight on but the look on Edo told me to follow. I did and rushed to meet Kuzuka.

“Kuzuka-san, why are we leaving?” I asked the other but he did not reply. The troopers filed into the tunnel opposite of the cavern while we took another tunnel. We did not actually step in but stood at the entrance. The troopers have filed inside for their numbers were more. I asked Kuzuka once more but he ignored me. The darned bastard was looking at Edo in the centre of the cavern.

I turned towards the interior of the tunnel. It was not the same one I took with Greco. The place was dark with the torches a distance apart. That was the time I examined the tunnel on its wall and flooring. The wall was carved out of the stone there in an uneven surface, while the flooring was the same. It was uneven on the steps and without the lighting many would had stumbled in their walks. I could sense the air in there; it was dry but cold. There were nothing on the surfaces and that made me think.

Then I felt the vibrations. It was on the top side of the wall. I placed my hands towards it but could not reach the height. I trailed it into the tunnel and then it stopped. The vibrations have faded there. I felt the wall and it was like the one which I punched in. I moved my hand over the surface looking for any levers or switches. There was none. I then do what I preferred in my own way. I punched the wall with my fists and created a crack. Three more had punches and I was through. I felt the environment there was different. There were the vibrations and then the warm environment. I made a gap enough for me to crawl through.

It was another tunnel; a narrowed one.

I made my way into the second tunnel. The walk was short and then I came into a small cavern which was dimly lighted. In that cavern was a statue before a steel bar holding cubicle. In the cubicle was five old men seated on the flooring. One of the old men called out.

“Who’s there?” I moved towards the steel bars. The old men were all dressed in tatters of their gowns and looked underfed. I did a scan with my sensors on them and noticed one other deformity on them.

“We are sightless but our senses reveal your presence. You are not organic and a construct.” The one who spoke continued on. “Assist us, construct. We are imprisoned here by the Dark Orders. We are the Council of the Master here in the Grecian System.”

I gripped the steel bars and bend them to create an opening. I soon led the five old men out. They stood there in their weakened state. The one who spoke then spoke.

“We are in the Inner Chamber of Aetres. Before us should be the figure that was made in his image.” The old man spoke out. “You are a construct and yet I sensed you are more than the others. Speak your creator, construct.”

“Doctor Shiong. Doctor Narnian Shiong….” I found myself uttering Father’s name.

“You were created in the image of his beloved son who died at a younger age.” The old man lowered his head. “Doctor Shiong….your father was our friend once before. He discussed with us on the Grand Master Seldon’ works. He was an intelligent man.”

I did not recall anything in my memory of a lost son that was Father’s. I only knew that I had attended to both Father and Mother since I was activated.

“Father hid that information from you. He told us that the loss of their child was not well received by her and hence he made you their’ but without the sad knowledge inside you.” The old man then sighed. “It’s dad that he is dead while we were withdrawn to this imprisonment.”

“Who imprisoned you?”

“The Grand Order Illium had us removed and replaced with the others. He thinks that he could stop the works of the Grand Master Seldon but he was wrong there. The machination of the works cannot be reversed once it’s put into motion. The thousand years of peace was followed by the hundred years of control, will soon be replaced by the last ten years of change.”

“The last ten years are upon us now. What will be the change have yet to be determined?” The old man relate on. “Would the balance prevail in all fairness or is the balance must be biased towards one to balance the other side? We who are sightless cannot be the judge to it.”

I looked to the five old men. They looked like Grecian but their tale was confusing to me.

“The five of us thank you, construct for saving us. We are now freed of imprisonment and will seek to reclaim our positions among the people.” The old man spoke on. He then stepped forth for the others to line up behind him. He held out his hands to me. I took hold of the hands and then the old man spoke again.

“You have seen the notes left by Grand Master Seldon. You have not opened the last notes on the next ten years. It was your decision and that is an accomplishment for a construct. It would be a logical path for you to continue on when you had seen the previous but you are not of any construct. You are Doctor Shiong creation of his mind, and his mind rules in your system. I have spoken one too many and will leave it to you to discover more.” The old man told me. “Beware constructs, the last few passages of Grand Master Seldon’ notes may not be of use to you if it was not meant for you. The last one may be you or any other who may be the last one.”

Immediately, the name of Edo Harashi appeared before me in my mind.

“No one is assured of it unless they are the one.” I heard the old man and then asked him on how I was to find out.

“The mind of Doctor Shiong will guide you.” The old man replied. “And you to understand. Now we must leave. The troopers are here.”