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Post #567549

Author
McFlabbergasty
Parent topic
In the Age of the Jedi
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/567549/action/topic#567549
Date created
1-Mar-2012, 5:03 PM

Now back to Episode I:

 

The Belisarion lands outside the ruins of the Royal Palace just when the sun is beginning to lay on the horizon. Zero is left on the ship while Ben and Jeni cautiously proceed, blasters at the ready.

The two make their way past ruined statues, dance halls blackened and shattered by turbolaser impacts, and large gaps in the structure allowing cold breezes to run through carrying the smell of the Belisarion's engine exhaust. There are also the remains of the recon droid sent by Cev'ko strewn across the floor. The machine looks like it was torn apart rather than targeted by blaster fire as Jeni expected.

Eventually Ben and Jeni happen upon a passage leading to a subterranean saferoom. Ben unwittingly tunes his Force senses to the other side and feels life forms there. Life forms with voices crying out. These must be the survivors. If Breha is still alive, she must be here.

The way is blocked by fallen rocks and the remnants of League armored personnel carrier. Ben and Jeni deploy the demo charges, but there is little effect on the barrier. The two try this several times over before realizing that they are almost out of charges and the barrier has hardly been affected.

But just as the two start on the way back to their ship, they are attacked by a hornagaunt, a large flying wolf-like creature conditioned to serve as a living weapon for the League. Being a creature of the shadows, Ben and Jeni are constantly on edge and the creature itself stays hidden, attacking only where his prey might least expect it.

Ben throws his remaining demo charge towards where he thinks the hornagaunt is and shoots the charge in mid-air. For a fraction of a second, the bright blast illuminates the ghastly creature. It is injured by the explosion and must resort to crawling on the ground instead of flying.

Ben and Jeni try to flee to a more well-lit area. The monster is closer behind them than they realize. Just before entering the light, it seems the hornagaunt is about to claim them both...but then a streak of blue light appears in the darkness. The energy blade swiftly takes off one of monster's arms, followed by a plunge into the beast's heart.

Walking back into the light, Ben and Jeni are greeted by Anakin Skywalker.