Star Wars: The Rise of the Exiled

Chapter 1

"This is Master Obi Wan Kenobi. I regret to report that both our Jedi Order and the Republic, have fallen, with a dark shadow of the Empire rising to take their place. This message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Jedi. Trust in The Force. Do not return to the Temple…that time has passed. And our future is uncertain. We will each be challenged. Our trust. Our faith. Our friendships. But we must persevere. And in time, a new hope will emerge. May the Force be with you, always."

The voice of Master Kenobi rang in my ear. Even out here, on the outer rim, we knew of Master Kenobi and his service to the Republic, but never would I have believed that something like this could happen. How could the order fall?

My Master could not believe it either. He had his gripes with the order; that much was sure but never would he have wanted the order to be taken apart, destroyed by this new Regime. My master never truly attained his rank of Master... he never got into the reason for his departure from the Jedi Order, but he always told me that all that mattered was to trust in the force. The force will always guide us, protect us, and we must keep our faith.

Master Gi-wan Tui had been my mentor for ten years. He crashed on my planet of Nal Hutta after leaving the order and getting shot down by spice traders in orbit. He managed to survive the crash, although he sustained heavy scarring on his left arm. He salvaged what he could from the wreck of his starfighter, and after building himself a basic hut outside of any prying eyes, he settled himself to living like a hermit. He focused himself solely on the force, which he meditated on daily. He told me that the dark side of the force was strong on this planet, so it was easy to stay hidden.

It was during one of the sessions that he was able to feel another force-sensitive individual on this planet. He knew what this planet did, the trade they were involved in, and the Hutts that oversaw it. He needed to find this person. What he didn't know was who he was going to find. He didn't realize at the time that it was a baby, not much older than three, who was being sold to the highest bidder by a woman who had lost all her money at the hands of the Hutts.

She was a spice trader named She'la, who had been profitable enough to be hired on by Nemo the Hutt. She apparently lost her whole shipment en route to Nar Shadaa and ended up owing the whole shipment to Nemo. Her only option was to sell herself into slavery to make up for her debt. Being beautiful and human (a hot commodity on Nal Hutta), Nemo agreed, and she became a dancer in service of Nemo. However, the conditions were not great, she was raped by a bounty hunter passing through, and a child was born... me. My mother kept me hidden for three years, managing to feed me enough to keep me alive. What she didn't understand was this aggression in me, which stems from the fact that I was half Zabrak. She never saw her assailant, so she didn't know what kind of baby she was going to have. She got sick, considering she was not eating enough to keep herself healthy since all her food went to me. She could not keep up with me, growing and pushing the limits of my containment. Her cell was no larger than a bathroom, with a bed along the wall for her to sleep. She dug a hole underneath her bed to conceal me.

If I had understood what pushing the limits meant, maybe I wouldn't have, but I couldn't be pent up in that cell a second longer. I managed to sneak out and made it as far as the throne room when I was discovered. My mother went to my side and tried to protect me.

Nemo was not pleased. He had his guards pull my mother from me and shoot her immediately. He almost had me killed as well, except, at the last second, he stayed his hand, noticing my skull horns.

"Doe child sa do zabrak! This bastard son may be worth some moulee-rah on doe market. Haba enough tah wamma che his bitches debt. Take him neechu. (The child is a Zabrak! This bastard son may be worth some money on the market. Maybe enough to pay for his bitches debt. Take him away.)"

To think what would have happened if I had not been seen by my master, what fate would have had for me if I had been sold into slavery...

Master followed the force to the market, where he spotted me, the toddler amongst adults and teens, men and women, all barely conscious. My master could sense the force in me, the potential I had. He had to save my life, the force led him to me.

The Twilek slave trader started bidding on the other slaves. The bids were running high, and my master had a feeling trying to buy a Dathomirian male toddler was gonna be impossible. So, when it came to the bidding for me, my master... tipped the scales a bit. He jumped up on the stage and bid against my life. The crowd laughed.

"Qa chir kor value jehsa nur life, outsider?! (What is the value of your life, outsider?!)" the slaver demanded, half laughing.

My master ignited his lightsaber, erupting with a loud crack and glowing gold.

"Jedi?!" the slaver exclaimed.

The crowd started to disperse, some drawing weapons.

"Now there's no need for all the hysterics," Master said, "I am no Jedi. I conquered a Jedi, taking his lightsaber as a trophy! And to claim this child's life, I am willing to put my skills to the test! Give me your toughest challenge! If I win, I take the boy and leave. If I lose, you can have the boy and the lightsaber. I will surely perish in the fight if I lose, I'm sure, so it's a win-win"

The slaver contemplated and exclaimed, "Donc eti chir li ultuka ael kor ch'sei nu seek for kor life jehsa thiku slave? then donc shall eti kii! (So it is a fight to the death you seek?! Then so shall it be!"

The crowds moved in droves to the arena in the center of town. It was common for gladiator fights to occur but less likely that any challenger ever made it out. Big money was staked against the challenger, so if the challenger won, they could literally ask for anything, and it would be granted, for big money would be lost, and Nemo would owe the challenger.

However, if the challenger loses, then Nemo wins triple the bet, meaning lots of credits, lots of debts to be paid, and lots of free servitude. A prize like that is too much to pass up, so when a challenge happens, it is always honored, despite the very unlikely loss. In Nemo's eyes, it's a win-win.

Despite my young age, I knew of the danger that this newcomer had imposed on himself. I also knew that there was no way my life, my freedom, was worth his death. However, I knew I wasn't in any position to oppose it, he had already called for it.

My Master entered the massive coliseum, a large round structure with towers of stands and seats stretching up into the sky. Nemo sat in a booth, protected by an ion forcefield, just close enough to see all the gory details. He was surrounded by his most trusted advisors, bodyguards, and anyone he saw fit to surround himself with. He did not own any droids, from what my mother knew, for he didn't trust them. He knew they could be reprogrammed. Outside of his cruelty, he was also paranoid.

My master entered the arena, escorted by a few armed Gamorreans, who retreated quickly once he was in the arena. The crowd was eagerly watching the Jedi slayer with bated breath, excited to see the carnage. His lightsaber was taken away from him and replaced with a sword and shield. Nemo felt it would be giving him an unfair advantage, although, in Nemo's world, no one had an advantage; you are always meant to lose.

On the opposite side, the door opened, and a massive Rancor, 20 ft high, a face that terrified and excited the crowd, with hands and claws as long as my master, marched toward its prey. My mother told me that no one ever survived, the rancor always ate the opposition, but it was still a spectacle to behold.

My master stood, unafraid of the monster that stood before him. He stood, transfixed, upon the beast. Almost as if it was trying to enter its mind... But how could that be possible?

Then, almost like the fire of a plasma cannon, the challenger burst forward, dodging and weaving out of the way of the giant clawed hands and gnarled feet of the beast. What is he planning?

It was then that I noticed that he was making very quick cuts about the feet of the beast, striking its heel and tendons to cause the beast to roar, squeal and shriek in agony and rage. The beast finally managed to backhand the challenger, who recoiled, rolled backward, and was back on his feet, wiping the little bit of blood that trickled down his face. He burst forward again and continued his strategy until the beast fell forward, swiping and striking anything within distance, shrieking in pain. My master leaped onto the back of the rancor and plunged the sword deep into its head. Lightning flashed across the stadium as the rancor's bones showed through the beast, lighting up its body like it was made of flesh and light alone. My master leaped off the burning corpse of the rancor, smoldering behind him like the embers of a bonfire that had been extinguished. The crowd, who had been jeering and screaming in delight, fell silent. This was unheard of, not a single challenger had ever bested the Rancor.

Nemo's voice boomed out, "Choy? Have u done tah myo rancor? Choy? Are u? Begone tuta myo site um take doe bastard gee u! (What have you done to my Rancor? What are you? Begone from my site, and take the bastard with you!)"

My master left the arena with the crowd still just as silent, not daring to speak lest they incur the wraith of the Jedi slayer. He grabbed his lightsaber from the guards, who let him pass. Dripping in blood and sweat, he took my hand and led me out of the arena, not even glancing back at the stunned and terrified spectators and guards.

After we had ventured outside of the town, toward my Master's shack, I finally decided to speak up.

"Mr. Jedi Slayer, why did you want me? Why did you risk your life for me?"

He stopped, looked down at me with kindness and confusion, and responded, "Who said I risked my life? It seems to me they underestimated me. Lesson one, little one. Never be intimidated by the size. Nothing is too big or small that can't be moved if you are strong in the force."

"The fo-ice? What is the fo-ice?" I replied, lisping a bit.

"The Force, little one. Also, my name is Gi-wan Tui. But you can call me Gi, for now. The Force moves through me as it does through you and all living creatures. The Force led me to you, guided me to you to save you from the wraith of the Hutts and all those who wished to do you harm. You don't know it yet, but I know that you will be a great warrior of the force. I have had visions of your future, and with guidance and training, you will do great things for the galaxy. What is your name, small one?"

"I never had a name, Gi... my mom kept me hidden, so I didn't need one. I was a child or little one..." I replied, dejected and sad, weeping silently, as I was trained to do.

"Well, that won't do!" Gi replied, hoisting me onto his shoulders and continuing to walk toward my new home. "This is a good teaching lesson. Close your eyes, child, empty your mind, listen only for the sound of the wind, the crunching of the ground beneath us. Then reach out farther, listen for your breathing, the beating of your heart, the very essence of your spirit. Reach deep down, and you will find the force within. The force will tell you what you shall be called"

I didn't understand a single thing he said...

However, he did just fry rancor to save my life; I should try to obey. So, I closed my eyes.

WHHHOOOOOSSSSSHHHH

CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH

I heard everything he wanted me to. I slowed my breathing down. The sounds died away.

BUMP, BUMP, BUMP

WOOO, FOOO, WOOO, FOOO

I could hear my heart, my lungs. And then a tiny voice, barely audible above the other sounds. I slowed my breathing even further, and the voice spoke louder.

"Welcome Home, little one. You will no longer be shrouded in obscurity, your name shall be known across the galaxy. You shall be known as..."

"Starkiller Dasbin," I said out loud, opening my eyes, and the rush of nature and the wild came into view once more.

"I believe you. The force spoke to you for the first time, and I am overjoyed how easily it came to you! The force truly is strong with you. Starkiller Dasbin you said? From now on, that will be your name. I shall call you Das for simplicity. I am your surrogate father, but I will also push you to be the best warrior of the force."