From: "Ryan Spickard" Newsgroups: alt.startrek.vs.starwars Subject: [FANFIC] Et in Arcadia Ego Date: Tue, 27 April 2004 03:52:06 -0600 Prelude: The Empire Will Rise Again... Defeat. He didn't like that word. Never did. Defeat. He let it sink in. The Empire had fallen. All he felt was...emptiness...numb...dead inside. He failed in his task of protecting the life of his Emperor. Then he failed in saving The Empire from its collapse. Beaten by some pathetic terrorist cowards. No one had beaten him since...since he was a child, too weak to fight back against those that attacked him for being different. Now he felt something. Anger. Yes, he remembers now, rage, burning like hellfire, hidden, buried deep within. He hears it whispering to him. The anger gave him power, made him strong, stronger than anyone else. He hears it louder now and he opens his eyes. They are coming... * * * * "Get ready," whispered Sergeant Kinlor as the group of New Republic Security Force agents sat poised outside the door of their target's apartment. They had been tracking the target for nearly a year and they finally had him cornered. "He won't get away from us this time," Kinlor thought to himself. "The gas we pumped in through the rooms air system should have taken effect by now," muttered one of Kinlor's men as he waited nervously. Kinlor gave him a quick nod and hoped he was right. When the team's slicer finished with the door's lock system, the point man raised his anti-blaster riot shield and the following agents formed up. The door opened with a soft *whooosh* and they tossed half a dozen stun grenades of various types into the gas filled room. They ducked back out and waited until the grenades detonated before charging in, ready to stun-blast anything that moved. The point man saw a dark blur and then felt an impact on his shield before being rocketed backwards into his teammates and finally the hallway wall. Kinlor was knocked backwards and hit the floor hard. He got up onto one knee and instinctively raised his carbine, but all he could see is red. Confused, he quickly pulled off his environmental mask and sensor goggles, his efforts rewarded with the soothing, bright light of the hallway meeting his eyes and the remnants of the gas stinging his airways. He glanced around as he quickly started to wipe the blood from his mask and felt an odd tingle in his gut and head. Blood, everywhere, covering the floor and the wall opposite the door they were entering. When he removed enough of the blood, he put the mask back on and took in several deep breathes. Two of his teammates got to their feet slowly, looking like they were in shock, their weapons dangling in their hands. All the other agents looked dead, but Kinlor couldn't be sure as some of the bodies were incomplete, and loose body parts were lying scatted throughout. The wall opposite the door was cracked and cratered, jutting out from it was the anti-blaster shield, along with what was left of its carrier. "Damn...," was all he could manage to say. "What the hell was that?!" Yelled one of the remaining agents. "Get a grip!" Came the response from Kinlor. Seeing some movement, Kinlor started blasting the inside of the room. He didn't stop until he had emptied his carbine's clip. The other two agents moved up and opened fire as Kinlor backed out to reload. Kinlor suddenly felt the wall he was leaning against explode outward as he was flung across the hallway. One of the other agents turned and saw a dark shape emerging from the hole in the wall as the hallway lights started to short out. Letting out an angry scream, he took aim with his blaster carbine, but before he could pull the trigger he saw the dark blur surge forward. The other remaining agent heard a wet popping sound and felt his teammates insides splatter against him. Looking up, he saw a blood soaked hand reach out and grab his face, then felt a jerk as his face and front part of his head was ripped off. As blood sprayed and gurgled out of what remained of his head, the agent slumped to the ground. Kinlor was up on his knees again, having recovered from the impact in just enough time to see the fates of the other two agents. His arms were both broken badly and would not move enough to do any good, but he still tried to reach his sidearm and level it at the dark figure he could only barley see in the now briefly flickering lights of the hallway. He tasted something in his mouth that wasn't blood, and watched as the dark figure slowly walked up to him, grab him by the neck, and lift him up off the ground. The dark figure smiled widely and stared into Kinlor's eyes as he slowly squeezed the life out of him, savoring the fear of his victim. As Kinlor felt himself slip away, he thought one last time of his wife and three children, and then thought no more. The dark figure finished crushing the neck of his victim, and then dropped the lifeless body to the floor. He began to walk away, feeling the power surge through his body and spirit, and knew purpose again. "The Empire will rise again, and the very universe will tremble at its feet..." Chapter One: Somewhere not exactly anywhere, exactly 100 years later... What appeared to be a man wearing a dark gray suit and dark sunglasses walked into what appeared to be a waiting room. He noticed the words "Please keep clear of entrance" written on the floor in that shade of yellow used for warnings of that kind. Of course it wasn't really written there, it was more of a projection into his thoughts. Whoever looked at the non-existent writing would understand it, no matter what form of communication they use. But that is all unimportant for the most part. "Can't you read? Move your sorry ass pal!" came a gruff voice from across the room. The man looked up as he stepped forward and replied with "Bite me!" Sitting behind a black desk was what appeared to be a bright green, fluffy toy bug of some sort, which looked to be no more than a foot and a half in height. It was smoking a cigar, and doing its best to scowl at the man. "I might!" the bug retorted. The man just rolled his eyes as he continued forward, looking around a bit at the decor of the waiting room. It was a medium sized room, not too big, not too small, sparsely furnished, simple black and chrome chairs and small tables with assorted periodicals spread neatly on them. Some tall floor lamps giving off a cool and slightly bluish light against the white walls and dark gray carpeting. For a moment he realized the carpeting was the same exact shade as his suit. The man stopped at the desk and scowled back down at the little green bug, and for a few moments they just sat silently, shooting daggers at each other. Finally the bug exhaled a plume of cigar smoke into the man's face and asked "Ya gonna tell me what da hell ya want or are you just gonna stand there looking stupid while I try and guess?" "I'm here to see Mr. Spickard," the man said with a good deal of annoyance evident in his voice. "Fine, and you are?" the bug asked. "I'm Mr. Kynes, I'm with the Darkside Department of Collections." The bug took a slow drag from the cigar, then rolled it slightly in between his thumb and fingers as he admired it. "Do ya have an appointment?" the bug asked, obviously relishing tormenting Mr. Kynes. "Oh piss off!" Mr. Kynes spat in disgust. "I'll take dat as a `no' then," the squat bug replied. Just then another man came into the room. He was dressed in flowing white robes, sandals, and carried a black attaché case. The man stepped forward promptly and with a serene smile on his face, at least it was serene for a moment or two, then it twisted up in obvious displeasure. "What is that awful smell?" the robed man asked. As he looked around the room he answered his own question. "Oh, its you Kynes," he said. Mr. Kynes turned around slowly, looking even more annoyed than before. "I should have recognized that smell by now, brimstone and burning flesh," the robed man muttered to himself as he walked forward, smiling at Mr. Kynes. "So good to see you again," he said towards Mr. Kynes. "Eat my shit Boyd!" was the only response. The bug looked up and said "Ah, Mr. Boyd, yer a few minutes early for yer appointment, go ahead and have a seat. I'll let da boss know yer here." "What about me?" Mr. Kynes asked angrily. "What about ya?" the bug said as it pressed several buttons on the intercom unit sitting on the desk. "Hey boss, Mr. Boyd from da Lightside Division of Special Operations is here to see you." the bug spoke into the intercom. Mr. Kynes placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward, growling and looking generally unpleasant. "Oh, and some jerk who says he's from da Darkside Department of Collections, a Mr. Whines, wants to see ya too," the bug finished and took another large drag on its cigar and leaned back in his chair. "That's Kynes you little green pest, Mr. Kynes!" The bug just rolled his eyes. Mr. Kynes pointed angrily at the bug and was just opening his mouth to speak when a voice came over the intercom. "Okay, send `em in. I have a feeling their here for the same reason," the voice said. "Go on in," the bug said and nodded toward the door that lead to the private office. Mr. Kynes gave the bug one last glare as he lowered his arms and straightened his jacket, then opened the door and walked through. Mr. Boyd gave the bug a smile and a `thank you' as he passed into the office. The little bug took another drag off its cigar, reached under the desk and brought up a flask of whiskey. It took several large gulps before placing it back under the desk. With a sigh, the bug picked up an issue of `Big'uns' that it had been reading before the other two showed up, and leaned back in its chair again. Chapter Two "Hi guys, how's life.err.death.or whatever.been treating you?" Spickard asked politely as the pair stepped into the small office. "Fine," stated Boyd, while Kynes just glared some more. "Lets just get to the point, hatfuckers!" Kynes spat out. "Okay, okay, okay, don't blow a gasket!" replied Spickard as the leaned back in his chair and propped his bare feet on the black wood desk. "So, both of you want me to hunt someone down for you, right? Someone generally nasty and thoroughly unpleasant, hmmm? Someone whose name starts with a.ummmm."P", right?" "Yes, Palpatine," stated Boyd with a grim look on his face. Spickard let out an impressed little whistle and his eyes widened a bit. "Yeah, that's the one; and stay out of my mind you little long haired hippie!" was Kynes reply. "I wasn't in your mind, Kynes. I wouldn't want to be in your mind-you're too serious, I don't want to be bummed out!" Spickard said with a slight smile. "Anyways, THE Palpatine? The one who's been on the run from the afterlife for the past, oh, 120 years?" The other two nodded in response. "Sweet Cthulhu! I'm going to get my ass kicked! I don't know if I should be scared or turned on!" Spickard said as he sat up. "You know I charge extra for either?" "Uhhhhh." Boyd managed. Kynes shook his head in contempt. "You must accept this mission, the fate of The Force depends on it!" pleaded Boyd. "The Dark Side is running rampant, and as Kynes will attest, even the Dark Side strives for balance." Boyd gestured to Kynes. "Its true. We on the Dark Side are concerned with the situation. If Palpatine is not brought back under our control, he will threaten to destroy us all." Kynes stated coolly. "So it's true he's gone rogue? Wow, that sucks big time." responded Spickard. Do you have any information on his whereabouts? " "Unfortunately we do not have much, but what we have is here in my briefcase," Boyd placed his case on the desk. "We are offering to pay twice your going rate." "As are we. Combined, that amount should be sufficient to persuade you, I think." Kynes added. "I can see both sides are serious about this," replied Spickard. "You have yourselves a deal." As all three parties exited the office, Spickard said his goodbyes and received a 'good luck' from Kynes, and a 'may The Force be with you' from Boyd. After the pair of Force Agents blinked out of the room's egress, Spickard turned to the bug, which was still reading his porn magazine. "Wow, this mission is going to be painful," Spickard said to his secretary bug and pulled out a Cannabis Deus joint, lighting it up. "So you're going after Palpatine?" Asked the bug. "Yep! Stop eavesdropping dude." Spickard took a big toke, and passed it to the bug.