A Living Nightmare
Chapter 10: Shatterpoint
“It is such a quiet thing, to fall. But far more terrible is to admit it.”
Location: Nar Shadda Low Orbit
Intoxicating. Rapturous. I felt alive, like I had been sleeping for so long and only just awakened with renewed vigor. That is what it meant to be engulfed in the Dark Side. Cruelty and malice were foreign to my mind. Precision and speed were my goals, efficiency my path forwards. And these stupid ‘stormies’ stood in my path. The facility had one hundred of them for security, and I estimated about twenty five had been slain by the combination of myself, Kota and his shock troopers. The hangar was filled with their broken corpses and that of the captain. During our entrance and landing into the hangar, one of the men had managed to slice into the station's communication array to locally block their comms. The facility's droids were hard at work trying to undo it, giving us roughly ten minutes to break their lines, with minimal casualties and take control of the station before reinforcements arrived.
‘Yeah, easier said than done.’ I thought, deflecting a barrage of blaster bolts firing from not only the brave stormtroopers, but defensive automatic turrets that were installed into the walls and ceilings of the station. After knocking a blaster bolt into the chest of one of the troopers, sending him reeling back in a crumpled heap of plastic encased flesh, I jumped back into cover with the rest of the Kota’s Kutters. The hallways were hexagonal in shape, with portions that jutted out at corners and crossroads. We had sealed the door behind us, with our only option being the fortified hallway to our right.
I looked to the rest of them, sensing their excitement through the Force, tinged with a sliver of fear—a quiet tension that pulsed beneath their readiness. Kota’s men were different from the thugs I loitered around with. The whole operation for the Kutters was likely bigger than we had discovered. I shut down my borrowed lightsaber and turned my senses to Kota, gently stepping into the boundaries of his own Force attuned senses. I let him know my displeasure.
“If I had my rotary saber, this would be a cakewalk,” I muttered, glancing sidelong at Kota.
He slipped a grumpy humph, crossing his arms. “If you knew how to wield a lightsaber, it would be easy.”
“So why aren’t you helping?” I snapped back, irritation flashing through me. “You don’t have time to sit around!”
Kota raised an eyebrow, studying me with a mixture of amusement and scrutiny. “I…To see if my fears were misplaced,” he said thoughtfully, slowly, his gaze steady. “And they are.” He punctuated his words by jabbing a finger into my chest, firm but almost reassuring.
Turning to the others, he raised his voice with authority. “Men, Han and I will push forward. Keep to cover and take out those turrets first!”
The troops responded with wordless nods and murmured, "Yes, General," tensing up and preparing to rush forward with the two of us leading the charge.
I felt a fierce surge of energy as Kota reached for his lightsaber and bolted around the corner to confront the entrenched turrets and armored troopers. I ignited my own blue blade, positioning myself to shore up the defense on the left flank. More troopers poured in from behind, using us as a steadfast shield while they bolstered our line. Their concentrated fire quickly turned the closest turrets into smoking, twisted barrels of slag, filling the corridor with the acrid scent of scorched metal.
The hallway reverberated with the sounds of blaster fire and the hum of lightsabers. Kota moved like a force of nature, every motion swift and deliberate, each slash of his saber cutting through enemy ranks with an elegance that was unexpected. I stayed close, deflecting bolts aimed at us, my blue blade a blur as I redirected the shots toward the advancing stormtroopers. He was right in a way, the rotary saber made it all too easy. A crutch.
We were making headway. The stormtroopers were struggling to hold their ground, their formations collapsing under our relentless advance. The glossy obsidian walls mirrored the chaos—a dance of light and shadow, punctuated by explosions and the flash of energy. Behind us, the Kutters shock troopers moved with precision, taking cover and targeting the remaining automated turrets until they, too, fell silent.
“Push forward!” Kota’s voice cut through the noise, his command resonating with authority. The troopers surged again, flanking us as we pressed toward the next corridor. I felt a tightening of anticipation, the dark energy of the conflict twisting around us, amplifying the tension. I gritted my teeth, channeling the aggression burning within me—every ounce of irritation, every ounce of focus—into a damn that would break soon enough. I wanted Kota to know better than to underestimate me.
Suddenly, blaster fire intensified from the next turn, a series of red bolts streaking toward us in rapid succession. I stepped forward, raising my lightsaber in a high guard, drawing on the Force to enhance my awareness. The bolts flew at us, but I deflected them one by one, angling each shot back toward its source. Minimal movement, quick retaliation was the goal.
Kota glanced over at me, a small smirk playing at the edge of his lips. “Not bad, Han. Maybe I should just let you take the lead.”
I shot him a glare, using my irritation as fuel, feeling the Dark Side simmer beneath the surface. “Just keep moving, old man,” I muttered, slashing through the last remaining trooper blocking our path.
Kota laughed, an almost joyful sound amidst the carnage. “How much time left Plazzo?”
I looked at the slicer, sensed his mind as he shifted his attention from his blaster and to the chrono on his wrist. “Eight minutes.” I said for him, earning a confused pulse of emotions from the rebel fighter.
Eight minutes to take the command center and secure the station. It wasn’t enough time, but it would have to be. I felt that pressure bearing down on me, like a weight that threatened to crush my focus. I couldn’t afford to let up, not even for a second.
As we rounded another corner, a squad of stormtroopers stood in our path, their blasters raised. They fired, red bolts streaking through the dark corridor. I stepped forward, letting the aggression fuel me, my blue lightsaber a blur as I deflected the shots. One bolt ricocheted back, striking a trooper in the chest, sending him sprawling backward in a heap. Kota rushed past me, his own lightsaber cutting through the air with practiced precision, slicing through armor and flesh as if it were paper. I had to deflect the shots as accurately as possible, not wanting to play pinball with Kota in the line of fire.
The stormtroopers began to falter, their formation breaking apart as they struggled against our relentless advance. I could feel their fear, a palpable wave that rippled through the Force, and I seized on it, letting it bolster my own power. I lunged forward, my lightsaber flashing as I severed a trooper’s arm, his scream echoing through the corridor. He fell to his knees, clutching the stump where his arm had been, and I lazily removed his head with a casual flick of the wrist. I didn’t have time to play around. I wanted to see this through, I wanted to see just what I could do. I sensed another trooper's fear right around the corner, the last of his squad. He should have ran further up the corridor, where I sensed more of the Imperials.
“The blast door ahead is shut. General. Give me a moment to get it open.”, Plazzo spoke up, feeding me information and giving me an idea.
I wrapped the Dark side around the last remaining stormtrooper's armor and pulled, earning a scream as he was now five feet away, suspended in the air. He now had several scavenged blasters trained on him, and I could sense the intent to train the barrels on me as well.
“P-please!”, he started, and I just rolled my eyes. I pulled him closer, the lightsaber still ignited. “Plazzo, how long will it take?”
“Uh, one minute or so.” he responded, warily removing an access panel on one of the walls.
Hands were cleaved through, and I reached out with the Force, focusing intently on the echoes of the battle. One trooper had wished to use the grenade all of them were equipped with, but never got the chance when a stray bolt domed him right in the head. That desperation linked me to that same Baradium core thermal detonator. All of them to be precise, tuning my senses to detect the unique signature of the Baradium in a few moments.
All around us, a handful of thermal detonators now floated freely and I smiled. I activated them, and the hapless, hopeless stormtrooper once again tried to beg for his life. He had two seconds of that remaining life wasted, as he was hurled across the corridor with several of his dead squadmates' grenades against the blast door.
The sound of the explosion was deafening, metal groaning and creaking and alarms began to blare louder. Confusion was rippling alongside the soundwaves of the energy's impact, several enemy troopers were dead from the shrapnel.
Kota didn’t say a word as he reignited his saber and charged ahead, but I could sense his disapproval, a flicker of unease at my ruthlessness. It only served to irritate me further, to push me deeper into the aggression that fueled my every intent. It was a necessity. I also understood why none of his troopers had grenades on hand.
Another group of stormtroopers rushed in to fortify the breach, their blasters firing in a desperate attempt to hold us back. The Kutters pushed past me with the General as I extended my hand, reaching out with the Force, and I felt their minds—panicked, disoriented, desperate. I focused on one of them near the back of the impromptu cover they hid behind. I was pushing into his thoughts, twisting his fear into something darker.
“Your allies are traitors. Kill them.” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the chaos.
The trooper hesitated for a moment, his blaster trembling in his hands. Then, as if in a trance, he turned, firing on the troopers beside him. They shouted in confusion, their armor sparking as the bolts struck, and I felt a dark satisfaction as they fell, one by one. The trooper who had fired the shots stood there, his blaster still smoking, his breathing ragged. I could feel his horror, his disbelief at what he had done.
“Now end your own suffering,” I commanded, my voice cold and unwavering.
Without a word, the trooper raised his blaster to his own head and pulled the trigger. The sound of the shot echoed through the corridor, and he crumpled to the ground, lifeless. I felt a surge of power, a dark thrill that coursed through me, and I couldn’t help but relish it. This was what it meant to wield the Dark Side—to have absolute control, to bend others to your will.
Kota moved ahead, his lightsaber cutting through the remaining troopers, his focus unwavering. I could sense his determination, his drive to complete the mission, but there was something else there too—a wariness, a concern that lingered at the edge of his thoughts. A lingering, sliver of a doubt. I wanted him to be afraid.
“Keep moving!” Kota shouted, his voice cutting through my lingering thoughts. “We’re running out of time!”
I nodded, pushing forward to join them further down another twisting corridor, my lightsaber slicing through another trooper who dared to stand in our way. The corridor ahead opened up into a larger chamber, the entrance to the command center. I somewhat sense the fortified doors at the far end, and the number of swirling energies from traffic droids and the few security guards within the command center. I knew that was our target. But between us and those doors stood a full platoon of stormtroopers, their blasters trained on us, ready to make their last stand.
Kota didn’t hesitate. He raised his hand, and a powerful wave of Force energy erupted from him, slamming into the front line of troopers, sending them crashing into the walls. I followed his lead, jumping overhead and over the turret placements, my swing a blur of blue light as I cut through the enemy stationed at one of the E-Webbs. The troopers fired, but their shots were wild, panicked, and I deflected them with ease, each movement fueled by the aggression that burned within me.
The shock troopers moved in behind us, their blasters firing in controlled bursts, taking down the remaining turrets that lined the walls. The air was thick with the smell of ozone and burnt metal, the sounds of battle echoing off the obsidian walls. We were close now—so close to our goal—but the clock was ticking, and I could feel the pressure mounting with every passing second.
Kota gestured toward the command center doors. “Han, get those doors open! We’ll cover you!”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I nodded, moving toward the control panel beside the doors. I could feel the droids working to break through our technician’s block, their electronic presence a constant pressure at the edge of my senses. We didn’t have much time. I reached out with the Force, feeling the mechanisms within the door, the complex web of circuits and locks that held it shut. With a deep breath, I focused, pulling on the Dark Side, letting it guide me as I manipulated the controls.
Behind me, Kota and the shock troopers held the line, their blasters and his lightsaber cutting down any stormtrooper who dared to approach from the other sides of the facility. I could hear the shouts of the enemy, the cries of pain as they fell, but I shut it all out, focusing only on the task at hand. The Dark Side flowed through me, a cold, relentless power that pushed me to move faster, to be more precise.
The door controls sparked, and I felt the lock give way. The heavy doors began to slide open, revealing the command center beyond. It was a large room, filled with consoles and screens, the walls lined with windows that looked out into the vastness of space. I could see the technicians inside, their faces pale as they realized what was happening.
“Go!” Kota shouted, and I moved, charging into the command center, my lightsaber ready. The technicians scattered, some trying to flee, others attempting to reach for blasters that were mounted on the walls. I didn’t give them the chance. I moved through the room like a storm, my blade cutting through consoles and personnel alike, leaving nothing but destruction in my wake.
Kota followed, his own lightsaber cutting down those who tried to resist. The shock troopers moved in behind us, securing the room, taking control of the consoles that were still operational. I could feel the power of the command center, the control it offered, and I knew that we had succeeded. The station was now theirs.
I heard the sound of a lightsaber disengaging, and a feeling of relief washed over the surviving crew.
“Well done, men, and with time to spare,” Kota said, his voice filled with a rare note of approval. I could imagine his smile in my mind, changing his harsh features to something soft, grandfatherly almost.
I deactivated my lightsaber, the blue blade retracting with a sharp hiss, and turned to face him. He was already looking at me, his echoing Force signature unreadable. The heat of battle and divided focus made him easier to read earlier, but now he was that same stalwart wall of confidence and ego.
“Like I said on the ride here, boy.” he began, “you have a choice.”
“You gave me the illusion of choice, and you are doing it again, Jedi.” I spat out, igniting my saber. “I won’t let you take this station completely.”
Confidently, or stupidly, Kota continued, hands behind his back as several of his men aimed their rifles at me. “Falon Grey. My Padawan, that was the lightsaber he held before he was murdered by one of your kind. I hoped it would serve another Jedi, if you would return to our ways.”
“Return?” I laughed. “I’ve been an Inquisitor ever since…well, it doesn’t matter.” I shrugged, my position unwavering. “I doubt I could ever be a Jedi after all of this.” I wanted to keep him talking, stalling. There was something out there, I could feel it on the edge. Something familiar.
"General, we have incoming bombers on the scopes!" one of the troopers called out. Sister, I thought with surprise and a tinge of fear. They had found the target in time and now planned to destroy it entirely.
"Dank farrik," Kota muttered under his breath. "Those shields better be up right now, and Plazzo, how are we looking?"
"Fulcrum’s codes worked, General." A flicker of fear pulsed from Kota as he looked at me. That was something I was not supposed to be privy to. I knew too much; I was antagonistic. The ball was now in my court.
"So, we have a name now. Fulcrum," I smiled, shutting my saber off. "You aren’t working alone like 7th thought." I had a suspicion he would be working with Bail Organa like in the Legends timeline, but to be working directly with Ahsoka—that piqued my interest.
The blasters were still aimed, and the bombers continued their trajectory towards the facility. Kota’s hand was tentatively on the hilt of his saber, ready for conflict.
"Plazzo, patch me into those bombers. Override TRZP-117496," I called out, raising my hands above my head.
"Sir?" Plazzo called out for permission.
"Do it," Kota barked, his grip now firm on the leather wrap of his lightsaber.
"Patching you through."
"This is Imperial Officer TK-1138, authorization code 56P0045. Stand down, I repeat, stand down. The situation is under control. And tell the 7th Sister hi for me," I said evenly, making sure my voice could be heard.
"Roger that, sir, returning to base," came the crackle of the TIE pilot's muffled helmet voice over the intercom.
"Now, we can continue this without the looming threat of a bombing run on our heads, as fun as that would be," I said, lowering my hands, trying to play it cool. I was going to pay dearly for that, but it would be worth it in the long run.
Kota nodded, and turned to the troopers, ordering them around. His senses were tuned to me at all times, even as he discussed the plan with his men and Plazzo. As he talked, I focused inwards, peaking at the dark side energy roiling inside, ready to burst at any moment. It was a miracle General Kota didn’t sense it yet, the fuel of the battle made me wish to tap into that powerful reserve many a time to wipe his men out. But I was patient, playing my games and his to wait for the right moment. A bombing strike would have helped, using the impact of the blasts and stumbling foot soldiers to my advantage.
Sadly, I’m just stubborn and like doing things the hard way. My senses lifted into the waking worlds as Plazzo finished up his tasks.
“Grav drives off, safeties unlocked, and…” my stomach drifted up into my throat. Now, it was time.
“You’re dead.”, I interrupted, igniting my saber and letting the Dark Side envelop me again. I let it escape, thrusting my hands out in both directions.
A dark burst of energy snaked out from all directions, shattering glass, sending troopers flying, bones breaking, necks snapping. A display of furious power, even Kota was sent flying back, cushioning his impact with a split second cushion of a Force Barrier.
Force Repulse was devastating in close quarters like the command center we occupied. That was attached to a low orbit traffic control facility. Which happened to be plummeting to Nar Shadda below. I had to do this quickly, and get to the hangar in time.
“I’m going to kill you Kota. Do please make it as fun as I remember.” I requested, igniting the lightsaber that belonged to his Padawan. Force Barriers, lightsaber throws, and telekinetic balls of slag. Heating glass as an environmental hazard. It wouldn’t be the same like in the old games, I just hope I had the skills to actually kill the old man.
Kota’s face was set with grim determination as he moved toward me, his steps cautious but unwavering. Around us, the command center was a ruin of shattered glass and fallen troopers, smoke curling from broken consoles and sparking droids strewn across the floor. His saber burned bright green, a sharp contrast against the chaotic flickering lights. My grip tightened on my own hilt, savoring the thrum of energy coursing through it.
“Is this your plan?” he taunted, circling. “I expected better.” My smirk held no humor. “Those were the exact words the Grand Inquisitor said to Grey before he was executed.”
With a shout, Kota surged forward, and our blades collided in a blaze of light. I let the dark side fill me, pouring my aggression into each block and parry, each strike intended to wear him down. He was relentless, a blur of green light as he forced me back step by step, his strikes filled with the weight of his conviction. But I matched him, deflecting his blows, twisting around him with calculated steps.
We broke apart for a brief moment, each gauging the other. Without hesitation, I reached out with the Force, lifting the limp form of a fallen droid and hurtling it toward him. Kota reacted instantly, slicing it in half midair, sending sparks and broken metal raining down around us. I used the distraction to dart in, bringing my saber up in a powerful arc aimed at his blind side.
But he was fast, too fast, his saber meeting mine in a searing clash that filled the air with sparks. Our blades locked, crackling with fierce energy, our faces inches apart. I pushed against him, feeding my strength with raw emotion, feeling the strain in his grip as he struggled to hold his ground.
“Getting old and slow now, General?” I sneered, digging in, watching his face contort with the effort.
His answer was a sudden push that threw me back. I staggered, barely managing to deflect his next strike as he followed up, his saber a whirlwind of green light. I sidestepped and seized another broken droid with the Force, swinging it into his path. Kota snarled, batting it aside, but I lifted another and another, creating a barrage of droid fragments that hammered down on him from all sides.
I could see the strain in his stance, his movements slowing as he fought off each piece of debris. He knew this game, knew I was testing his endurance, and he was determined not to show weakness. But the opening I needed was there. I lunged forward, breaking through his defenses in a quick, fluid motion, our blades locking again.
This time, I didn’t relent. I bore down with everything I had, pouring my strength into the saber lock, bringing us closer. I tilted my saber slightly, letting the edge of my blade inch toward his face. His resistance faltered just enough. The brilliant blue light of my saber flared against his eyes, the heat searing his face as I pressed forward.
Kota cried out, wrenching himself back, one hand clutching his face. Blood trickled from the edge of his brow where my blade had burned him. He stumbled, half-blind, his stance faltering.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?” I mocked, circling him now, watching him struggle to orient himself, his senses scrambling to make up for his lost vision. I lifted a broken console with the Force and launched it at him. He managed to dodge, but his movements were slower, unsteady.
“Falon would be ashamed to see his saber wielded by someone like you,” Kota spat, still clutching at his injured face.
“Then let it witness your end,” I retorted, using his momentary pause to pull a massive chunk of debris from the ceiling and hurl it toward him. Kota weakly raised his saber, slicing through it, but the impact staggered him, forcing him to one knee.
I extended my hand, letting dark energy coil through my fingers. His hand moved to his throat as I tightened my grip through the Force, lifting him slowly off his feet. He clawed at his neck, his saber slipping from his hand as his face contorted in pain.
“You should live,” I whispered, savoring the sight of him struggling, helpless. “But I don’t care.”
With one final twist of my wrist, I tightened my hold, and his body went limp, crumpling to the floor in silence. I stood over him, victorious, savoring the satisfaction as the sounds of the plummeting station filled the command center.
Sister, come get me. I thought, reaching my senses to the planet below, linking together with her thoughts as she had been attempting to find me this whole time. Her senses were strained, pushing out this far but I was…touched that she tried.
Find a comm.
I blinked. Then grimaced, feeling the heat start to grow. Fucking bitch. Scooping up the lightsaber from the cooling corpse of the fallen Jedi, I made my way to one of the few working comm stations. I used the Force, coupling it with my Force Sight to activate a comm channel, and use a voice command to help me navigate. In a few moments, 7th Sister’s voice came from the other side.
“Fourteen, do you read me? Are you there?”
I let out a cough, breathing in some of the smoke was getting to me. “I read you loud and clear, what do you need? Mission Accomplished, Jedi eliminated. Get me the kriff outta here.”
Agent Farrkus’ voice filtered through the dodgy audio from the device. “Well done and congratulations, however, the station is still falling.”
I groaned in frustration and slammed my fist on the console. “No fucking shit Farrkus, why don’t you slice into the place and send it back up?!”
“Calm down brother.” admonished 7th Sister, “We need access from your side. Codes can be given and you just need to input them. However, there is another solution…”
“What’s that?” I ask, my voice getting hoarse with the inhalation of electrical smoke.
“You can direct it to Zalrio Plaza. This would let the Empire use this attack as an excuse for a heavier presnece on Nar Shadda! Think of what we could do with-”
“Are you crazy?” I cut in. I was numb, cold. That was the stupidest thing I had heard today. There was no way the Empire, whose facility was attacked, and used as a weapon, would be able to negotiate with the Hutts to push and put more of their people onto this moon.
“Then you can die up there brother.” stated the tech savvy Mirilian.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Sister, I’ve done worse.”
I let out a sigh, “Now, the codes.”
At least I wasn’t bombing a planet, I thought to myself, hearing the ISB Agent rattle off the access codes I needed.