Darth Barad-Dur
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Rise to Imperial Glory"Come on Zahrin!" Shadow shouted, standing impatiently infront of the oak door. Today was Sahdow's birthday, and he wanted Zahrin to hurry, so they could go to Shadow's house to have cake. Besides, that, Mommy had insisted that Zahrin come over to have some.
"I am coming," Zahrin told him, trying to pull on his little boots. Buit, it was hard work. Daddy didn't get him comfortable boots, these were a tad bit tight, but he was trying his hardest to pull them on.
He used his little fists to punch the boots on the rest of the way, then he stumbled to the door and opened it. There he saw little Shadow, fists on his hips and tapping his foot.
"You're late," Shadow said, pointing a small stubby finger at him, "Mommy won't like that."
"You're mommy don't like nuthing," Zahrin said.
Shadow stuck his tounge out at him and they began to walk towards the door. They reached the door and Zahrin's mommy called out to them, "Make sure you stay on the path!"
"Yes mommy," Zahrin said, not listening to her. What did mommy know? Heck, Zahrin was seven years old! He wasn't a baby. He could take care of himself.
They opened the door and ran outside, not even thinking to close it. Shadow laughed as they ran down the hill, and he tried to do a jedi jump. He was to small to do it though, and he started to tumble down the hill. Zahrin chased after him, laughing at the silly sight.
Shadow rolled into the forest, and he soon dissapeared from sight. Zahrin ran after him, trying his hardest to keep up and running as fast as his little legs could go. There was prickly bushs down there, and Shadow might get hurt.
he entered the woods, and he could hear Shadow laugh. But, he couldn'tsee him anywhere. He looked all around him, but couldn't see him. It was getting kind of scary.
"Shadow!" he called out, looking through the trees and walking fast, "Where are you?"
There was no reply.
A few hours later, Zahrin's mother walked into the forest, calling for her son. He had been gone too long. This wasn't like him. He was always on time.
Then, she saw Zahrin, sitting on a rock. She hurried to him.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, "It is an hour after dark."
Then, for the first time, she could see that Zahrin had his face in his hands, crying uncontrollably.
""What the matter?" she asked, kneeling by him.
"Shadow," he sobbed, "He's gone, and I can't find him!"
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Darth Barad-Dur
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Chapter 1: The Imperial Academy
Zahrin woke up with a start to the beeping at the head of his bunk. It took him a second to get his bearings. Of course. That had been just a dream. A dream of the worst day of his life.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and got dressed, and he looked up to see if Cadet Harker was still asleep. No, suprisingly. He must have gone into the little bathroom thier quarters had. It was only as he placed the cadet cap onto his head that he was sweating.
He took the time to wipe his forehead and wondered once again what had happened to Shadow, and even if he was still alive. He very highly doubted it, but, who knew.
The door to the bathroom opened and out stepped, Firmus Piette. What was he doing in here? Where was Harker?
"Piette!" he exclaimed, turning to him, "What are you doing here? Where is Harker?"
"Oh," Piette said, kind of confused, "I guess you didn't hear. Harker was exported."
Zahrin went pale. "Exported?"
"Yeah, something about him stealing."
Zahrin snorted. "As if."
Piette threw his hands up. "I know. But the Commandent had him sent to...Hoth."
Zahrin shivered. To be exported was next to a death order. To be sent to Hoth was death. No one ever survived there.
"Oh well," Zahrin sighed, "No time to ponder on it. We can't wait to get to class."
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"The best way to stop a traitor onboard your ship is to do a background check on everyone on your ship and check on all your doings," the officer said, watching the cadets who watched him anxiously.
He smiled. He had them under his spell of teaching. No one ever went through his class without listening intently.
"And that is why you must be prepared for the unexpected," he told them, deadly serious.
A hand went up, and he leveled his eyes on him. Zahrin Harmon, he never asked anything. This was a new experaince.
"Yes, Harmon?" he asked.
"Is that why the Emperor is coming?" he asked, "Because it's suppose to be unexpected."
All the cadets suddenly turned to him, thier jaws dropped. The officer just looked at him. The cadets weren't suppose to know that. How did he know?
"And may I ask how you know that?" he asked, silently.
Harmon hesitated, like he wasn't sure how to tell. "I felt that he's coming."
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"You aren't serious," Commandent Floral said, his eyebrows furrowing.
"I'm serious," the man infront of him said, "He said he felt it, and I knew you would want to hear about it."
Floral placed his fingers on his chin thoughtfully. This was indeed something he wanted to hear. This was too strange to be ignored. What else, this was something that there could only be one possible sulotion.
"I think the Emperor should hear about this," he said, looking at the officer, "Yes, he will find this very intresting."
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Darth Barad-Dur
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Chapter 2: The Emperor's Pride
The lambaad shuttle descended gracefully toward the academy. The pilots looked down on the asteroid based academy, and they waited until they were in hailing range. Soon, very soon, they should be.
Palpatine looked down upon the planet, and felt disgusted. Out of all the Empire's Military Academies, he hated this one. No, loathed it. This academy was for famalies that couldn't afford the major academies, which meant that these were no more then back water scum. Fringe freaks, most likely.
The shuttle finally entered hailing range, and the crisp voice of an older man came onto thier comm. "Unidentified Transport, this is Commdaner Jak. State your name and intentions, or you will be blown out of the air."
"I am Captain Segan of The Emperor's Pride. The Emperor Palpatine has come to inspect your cadets," the young officer at the pilot's seat replied.
There was a half-second hesitation before the Commander replied again. But, it was just long enough to reveal everything to Palpatine. For all his bluster, Commander Jax was a downright coward. That was another reason why he hated this academy. More then half of the officers were cowards that didn't deserve to be Imperial officers.
"Do not veer off your present course," the man said, and Palpatine had to chuckle. Like he could do anything about it.
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The hum of chatter couldn't penetrate the thick fog in Zahrin's brain. Zahrin pocked his fork into his food, but didn't take notice of what he was doing. Piette noticed it and elbowed him in the side.
"Hey, you awake?" he asked.
Zahrin broke from his stupor and looked at him. He shrugged.
"You ever get a feeling that a storm is coming or something?" he asked, looking at Piette.
His comrade shrugged. "Only when I've done something wrong," he replied.
"Hm," Zahrin replied, then took the biteful of food and began to bring it to his mouth.
With a boom, the intercom came on. "ALL CADETS. REPORT IMMEDIATLY TO THE AUDIENCE CHAMBER. REPEAT, ALL CADETS, REPORT IMMEDIATLY TO THE AUDIENCE CHAMBER."
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The shuttle landed gracefully into the hanger and the ships landing gear gripped hard onto the floor. Palpatine smirked, this was indeed the worst place in the entire empire. He didn't even have to get out yet to know.
The landing ramp dropped slowly down to the ground, and Palpatine arose. Well, time to impress the natives. He walked to the ramp, and slowly descended toward the floor of the hanger.
He touched ground, and was meet by Commandent Floral, who was bowed at his feet. The pitless spawn, how Palpatine despised him.
"Arise, my servant," he said, holding back the insult he wanted to throw at him.
Floral stood up, and his back was like a spring board, snapping back. He was doing his best to hid his fear, and he was actually doing well. Well enough for someone else. But, Palpatine could smell the fear like a rank rag.
"My Lord," Floral said, his voice not masking his fear as much as he hoped, "I am pleased you have honored us with your presense."
"Despense with the plesentaries Commandent," he coldly said.
"Wh-what?" Floral asked.
"Do not presume that you are one of the best Academys'," Palpatine explained, "As a matter of fact, you are not. Your officers are weaklings and cowards. Today will see if you have a good reason to stay around."
"I assure you," Floral smiled, "We have some very good cadets."
"We shall see," Palpatine replied, "we shall see."
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Zahrin saw Palpatine enter the room, and despite all the fear going around him, he was oddly comforted. Like, there was an auror of someone that he remembered. Almost like a son when he meets his father after a long departure.
Palpatine sent his eyes sweeping over the ranks of cadets that were at attention. And Zahrin felt Palpatines' eyes stop when they reached him.
For a minute those yellowed eyes staed at him, but Zahrin did not flench. He felt everyone around him fidget, but, Zahrin felt as if this was no more then a friendly look. Which was odd.
Palpatine finally looked away, in order to begin a speech which seemed to have been prepared along the way.
"Cadets, you are the elite. There are few that ever pass through an Academy of the Empire, and even fewer graduate to become officers. But, we will need every officer in the coming days.'
'The Empire is threatened by a new group of sepretists which calls themselves the Alliance to Restore the Republic. They are riff-raff. They come from every walks of life. But, I have heard the most disturbing things. Some, of our own officers have joined thier ranks."
The last line had the desired effect, as there were looks of suprise on a few cadets. Palpatine smiled. Good. They understood the treason in this.
"I am afraid that some of you will join them. But, only the weak and those not loyal. Do not be weak. We will need the best in these times.'
'But, that also brings me to the next order of business. One of you will soon be leaving. Where, I have not decided yet. But, one of you will leave."
His eyes lingered once again on Zahrin, and he knew in his heart that he was done for.
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