Novels2Search
Assassins of Tomorrow
Chapter 1 - The Imperials Attack: The Jedi's Last Hope.

Chapter 1 - The Imperials Attack: The Jedi's Last Hope.

Star Wars

EPISODE I: ASSASSINS OF TOMORROW.

In the shadow of the GALACTIC EMPIRE, a new alliance stirs. SKYNET, a powerful artificial intelligence, has emerged, guided by a wise JEDI MASTER MACE WINDU, dedicated to protecting the galaxy from tyranny.

On the war-torn planet of MECHARA, Skynet's advanced machines clash with the Empire in a desperate bid to liberate the galaxy from oppression. Yet, lurking in the shadows is EMPEROR PALPATINE, and his newly constructed Death Star, a harbinger of doom.

As defeat looms, the Jedi leader devises a daring plan. He dispatches two advanced TERMINATORS back through time— to eliminate ANAKIN SKYWALKER and SHEEV PALPATINE, the greatest threats to peace and the Jedi.

This bold gambit will determine the fate of the galaxy...

The vast expanse of space. Trillions of stars stretch across the darkness. Suddenly, the silence is broken by a TIE Fighter spiralling out of control, consumed in flames as it descends toward Mechara, a planet engulfed in battle, where a chaotic clash rages between the Empire and Skynet's forces.

One of Skynet's massive warships fills the sky as five TIE Fighters retaliate, their green lasers ripping through the warship's hull and reducing it to a fireball in space. The TIE Fighters swarm the Terminator ships, filling the sky with streaks of energy blasts and explosions.

On the surface, the conflict rages. A Terminator strides across the war-torn landscape, its crimson eyes glowing as it fires its blaster. Purple bolts of energy erupt across the battlefield, swiftly countered by a squad of advancing Scout Walkers, their cannons obliterating entire groups of Skynet's machines. The Empire's forces, vastly outnumbering the Terminators, press forward relentlessly. Stormtroopers move in, their blaster rifles cutting through the metallic hordes.

A massive Sentinel-class shuttle descends, its imposing wings folding as it lands. As the ramp lowers, a large platoon of Stormtroopers charges out, bolstering the imperial attack. Debris rains down as explosions tear apart the remnants of the Terminators.

Amidst the smouldering wreckage, a new ship lands. The black figure of Darth Vader emerges from the ramp, his dark cloak billowing behind him. Vader steps on a fallen Terminator skull, crushing it underfoot; the red eye flickers briefly before fading, signalling the machine's demise.

Vader observes a fortified metal building, partially obscured by dense vegetation. Four Stormtroopers hoist a heavy laser cannon and position it in front of the sealed entrance. With a nod from the dark lord of the Sith, the cannon fires a searing bolt of energy, shattering the door into molten shards.

Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers advance. As they near the opening, laser fire erupts from within. One Stormtrooper falls, but the others quickly return fire. After a few tense moments, the blaster fire ceases, and the danger inside is neutralised.

Vader leads his troops into the building. Inside, darkness, save for the faint light streaming in from the shattered doorway, and an unnerving silence fills the air. Suddenly, a sound breaks the stillness—Schvrmmm! A lightsaber ignites, casting a cold blue light over the grim, metallic face of a Terminator.

The machine, wielding a lightsaber, lunges forward with inhuman speed, striking down a Stormtrooper in a single, clean motion. Its lightsaber slices through armour effortlessly. The Terminator moves fluidly, eliminating another, and another. The air fills with the hum of its lightsaber.

Darth Vader, lurking in the shadows, stepped forward as his lightsaber activated with a menacing hum, its crimson blade illuminating the darkness. The weapon glowed fiercely, casting an ominous red light around him. Suddenly, the Terminator turned, its scarlet eyes gleaming with menace, and charged at Vader with relentless determination.

The two clash in a brief, but brutal duel, lightsabers crackling and sparking with each strike. With a powerful spin, Vader decapitates the Terminator, sending its head rolling, and clattering to the floor as its lifeless body slumps down with a heavy thud.

In the darkness, three more blue lightsabers hum into life, their glow reflecting off six piercing red eyes. The Terminators advance towards Vader. Reacting instantly, Vader clenches his fist, hurling two of the machines aside with the Force. He leaps toward the remaining one, driving his lightsaber through its skull.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Behind him, the last two Stormtroopers fire at the fallen Terminators. The trio advances through the pitch-black corridor, the only light coming from Vader's chest control panel. The only sound is his mechanical breathing. As they move deeper into the darkness, Vader senses something—a presence he hasn't felt in years.

Suddenly, a purple lightsaber ignites, casting a soft glow on an older, battle-scarred Mace Windu. His lined face bears the marks of age, burns, and scars, mostly obscured by a thick grey beard, but his eyes remain sharp and resolute.

"Mace Windu," Vader's voice rumbles, echoing in the narrow hall. "I did not expect to see you."

Mace says nothing, his eyes narrowing as he grips his lightsaber in a firm two-handed stance.

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" Vader mocks.

Mace steps forward. "Anakin Skywalker. You have fallen."

The mention of his old name enrages Vader. "Anakin is dead. He was weak—like you, and like the Jedi."

"I don't think so, young Skywalker," Mace growls, surging forward. He closes the gap with incredible speed, raising his lightsaber for a powerful strike. Vader blocks, but stumbles back from the sheer force of the blow. This will be a real fight—one he hasn't experienced in years.

Before he can recover, Mace presses the attack, his movements lightning-fast. Vader struggles to parry the flurry of strikes. Vader senses anger in Mace and something darker. Mace Windu has tapped into the Dark Side.

Vader takes another step back, trying to regain his composure. The Stormtroopers raise their blaster rifles to help, but Vader commands them to lower their weapons. "I will deal with him alone."

Vader counters with a sweeping strike, but Mace twirls away, forcing Vader off balance. Mace nearly lands a lethal blow, but Vader narrowly deflects the strike. He had forgotten just how skilled Mace Windu was in lightsaber combat—a Jedi Master now seemingly empowered by the Dark Side.

"You've been corrupted by the Dark Side," Mace responds coldly. "I will restore balance to the Force by ending your tyranny."

Vader's mechanical breath echoed in the tense silence. His voice took on a mocking tone as he said, 'So, you've joined the Dark Side.'"

Mace's eyes flashed with irritation as he began to question whether he had indeed joined the dark side. The dark side had a way of clouding one's judgement. Shaking off the thought, he focused on the present moment.

"The only one corrupted by the Dark Side is you. You were never trustworthy—arrogant, always defiant."

Vader laughs, the sound echoing through the confined space.

"I sense fear in you," Vader hissed, his voice filled with menace.

The two clashed once more, their lightsabers colliding in a burst of sparks. After a flurry of activity, the fight momentarily paused, and both combatants stood in a tense stand-off, their blades humming ominously in the charged air.

Each heavy breath echoed, both searching for any hint of weakness in the other's defences. They circled one another like predators.

"After your betrayal, Anakin, and the slaughter of the Jedi, I sought refuge on this desolate planet, barely clinging to life," Mace reveals, his eyes clouded with memory. "It was here that I discovered Skynet, an artificial intelligence capable of transporting forces across galaxies, far, far away."

Mace's cybernetic hand clenches, servos whirring softly. "I used my Jedi abilities to corrupt Skynet's core, bending the machines to my will. They crafted this arm for me, terraformed the planet into a mechanical fortress."

He pauses, gazing at his metallic limb. "Now, with an army of Terminators at my command, I'll end the Empire and restore balance to the Force."

Darth Vader's voice cut through the air, cold and unwavering. "You were a traitor to the Galactic Republic, which led to the demise of the Jedi."

Fuelled by rage, Mace raised his lightsaber from a defensive position, ready to strike.

Vader's voice resonates, "I sense great anger in you." He extends an offer, "Join me, and together we'll rule the galaxy."

"I'll never join you, Skywalker!" Windu shouted defiantly. Their lightsabers collided, and the duel intensified as Mace pressed on with fierce determination. Suddenly, Mace faltered—Vader slammed him backward with the Force, sending his lightsaber flying from his hand. In that moment of distraction, Vader seized the opportunity. With a swift lunge, he drove his red glowing blade into Mace's chest.

The lightsaber hissed as it pierced through Mace's body. His eyes widened in shock and pain as he fell to the floor, defeated and vulnerable beneath the looming figure of the Dark Lord.

"You will not survive this time." Vader declares coldly.

Just as Vader prepared to deliver the killing blow to Mace, an urgent message reaches him—he must leave immediately. The Death Star is about to fire its superlaser. Vader decides to leave Mace to die with his machines; it would be a fitting end. He powered down his lightsaber with a soft, fading hummm.

"Farewell, Mace Windu. We shall not meet again"

As Vader departs, Mace struggles to stand, using every ounce of the Force to cling to life. He has one final task—a way to change the time line, to stop the Empire before it begins. Limping through the darkness, Mace opens a pair of massive vault doors, entering a time displacement chamber. In the centre of the room, a circular platform with three rotating rings hums with energy. Two human-like Terminators kneel in the centre. With great effort, Mace pulls a lever, and the rings begin to spin, accelerating with a low hum.

Above, the Death Star moves into position, orbiting the planet ominously. Moff Tarkin, hands clasped behind his back, observes with icy satisfaction. "You may fire when ready," he commands. A low hum builds as the super-laser charges, and moments later, a colossal green beam erupts from the Death Star, destroying the planet below.

In the displacement chamber, the spinning rings slow to a stop as the room shakes violently. The ceiling begins to collapse, debris raining down. Mace closes his eyes, feeling at peace with the Force for the first time in years. This last strike will bring balance to the force. Suddenly, the planet is consumed in an explosive supernova, while Moff Tarkin and Vader watch the destruction from above—a victory for the Empire, Skynet, and the last of the Jedi destroyed. 

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter