Reminiscence of Burnt Ashes
Posts: 43
  • Posted On: Apr 22 2014 8:52pm
Bonadan…
 
Ember guided her yellow Eta-2 interceptor into orbit after disengaging her hyperspace ring and began her descent to the planet below. After completing her restoration on the small craft, it was operating flawlessly which was as much of a relief to Ember as it was for R2 riding along with her. It had been a very long time since it had taken a long journey like this so the trip to Bonadan was a great way to see how it would hold up.
 
Having friends in high places was something Ember rarely cared about but this visit was one where one of her was about to pay off. After being taken as a pupil by Master Amalia, Ember had befriended Natalya Vinda who was a fellow Jedi in training. The two started off on the wrong foot but the two formed a lasting friendship in the end. Now, upon Natalya’s urging, Ember was visiting Bonadan to see a rare piece of equipment offer her a unique training experience.
 
“Identify yourself,” a firm voice asked over the speakers. “Ember Skywalker by invitation of Natalya Vinda.” R2 beeped a few times as Ember waited for a response. “Permission granted to land on platform 3.” Ember glanced at R2 and winked. “Thank you,” she said with a smile. “I told you Nat would come through for us, R2.” R2 beeped several more times until Ember chuckled. “Fine, R2, you can take the controls for the landing.” If an Astromech droid could smile, R2 truly was now since he always seemed eager to be the pilot.
 
R2 gently landed the interceptor onto the platform where Ember climbed out of the cockpit while R2 popped out of his docking station and began rolling next to Ember who was greeted by a young woman. “Welcome to Bonadan, Ms. Skywalker. My name is Lacey Cayton. I must apologize as my uncle is very busy and could not be here to meet you personally.” Lacey was referencing Seth, Natalya’s father, whom she had always referred to as her uncle. The two families had been close and he was kind enough to look after her when her parents were killed several years ago.
 
Lacey escorted Ember and R2 into the main building and into a lift that took them several levels below ground. Once they stepped back out, Ember and R2 continued to follow Lacey past several large rooms where various people were conducting experiments. It was clear they were in some sort of research facility testing new technologies and enhancing old ones.
 
After rounding several turns, Lacey stopped by a large door that slid open and the group stepped inside. “This is an enhanced Hard Light Emitter system. It projects holographic images that you can physically interact with when it is set to the atypical mode. If, for example, you encounter another being, it can touch you and you it like anything else.” Lacey activated a test program where a silver protocol droid appeared. “It is just as real as the true droid it was modeled from,” she said as she pulled a small data pad from her pocket and held it out. She then dropped the object into the hand of the droid who caught it in its hand. “Like I said, just as real as the true droid.”
 
Ember stepped forward and poked her finger on the droid’s chest. “Amazing,” she said softly while she examined the holographic droid. “This technology has several uses, but Natalya mentioned you might be interested in testing out something new for us,” Lacey said as she began entering program parameters. “A few programs we made expressly for you only I want to start out with something more basic,” she added before activating the program.
 
Ember had her arms crossed as she patiently waited until she heard deep respirator breathing behind her. R2 began to beep and chirp frantically as Ember slowly looked over her shoulder to see Darth Vader standing directly behind her. Ember’s eyes grew wide and she quickly spun around and grabbed her light saber. “Wait! Wait!” Lacey was smiling as she stood between Ember and Vader. “It’s not the real Darth Vader. This is a holographic copy which is why you cannot sense him actually standing there. Now,” she said as she picked up a special hilt and handed it to Ember. “The system can accurately mimic light saber combat however if you get too close to the outer walls, you can inflict real damage to the system which is why we developed these special hilts.”
 
Ember’s eyes were fixed upon Vader while Lacey placed the hilt in her hand and she was almost totally oblivious to her explanation. Darth Vader was truly intimidating both in life and now in death and Ember was feeling the anxiety of the moment. His projection was so real and his echoed breathing was very ominous. It made her realize just how hard it was for her father to confront him.
 
“Go ahead, activate it,” Lacey said as she stood back. Ember finally looked down and activated the hilt. A blue blade ignited similarly to how a real light saber would and hummed just as loudly. When she did, the projection of Vader activated his own red blade. Lacey held out her hand in front of Ember to get her attention back before she lowered it and passed it harmlessly through the blue blade. “The blade will not cause real damage to you or any real objects in this room but…” Lacey motioned for Ember to make a strike towards Vader who lifted his weapon to block it. The two holographic blades crashed together for a moment before Ember lowered her guard causing Vader to do the same. “Well, what do you think?”
 
Ember was glaring at Vader until she stepped back and deactivated her blade. “I’m speechless,” she said in a serious tone. Lacey let out a pleased chuckle and then began smiling. “Natalya said you were always curious how you would fair against Darth Vader. Now is your chance to see. We have several scenarios programmed in just for you that you can try at your leisure. Take this data pad and have a look at the menu.” Lacey deactivated the system before handing over the data pad to Ember. She then escorted Ember and R2 to their guest quarters after a brief meal.
 
Later…
 
After Ember was assigned a room to stay in, she found herself laying in complete silence upon the bed where she stared up at the ceiling. It was unusual for her to be so quiet but there she was lost in thought until R2 bumped against the bed beeping at her. “I’m fine, R2… it’s just,” Ember began saying as she tried to find the right words to explain what she was feeling. “I always said I wished I could take on Darth Vader. I even said I could beat him if I put my mind to it. There, standing right in front of him, was a complete surprise. I felt… scared, R2, and I’m not scared of anything. I have no idea how my father ever faced him.”
 
Ember picked up the data pad that accessed the HLE system. She accessed some of the menus until she saw a small list that had been prepared for her. Ember scanned down the list and stopped on one that caught her eye. “Cloud City, Carbon Freezing Chamber,” she said to herself before she set the pad back down next to her. She offered R2 a quick pat on his dome before she rested her head back down upon her pillow to try and get some sleep before she would give this HLE system a try the next morning.
 
The next morning…
 
Ember was standing alone in the HLE chamber after she activated the system and accessed one of the basic sparring programs. Life-sized holographic displays of possible opponents flashed in front of her until one caught her eye. “Load General Grievous,” Ember said loudly as she readied herself. The entire room flashed as structures began to become clear and soon she was standing on the tenth level of the Utapau Control Center. General Grivous then materialized in front of her with his back turned towards her.
 
Grievous slowly glanced over his shoulder at Ember. “Hello, there,” she said casually with a sarcastic smirk upon her face. “Your move,” she added just as Kenobi once did so long ago. “You fool. I been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku,” Grievous replied as his arms separated and he ignited four light sabers from his cloak. His four arms then took an attack stance with the tips aimed at Ember who jumped back into her own stance. “Attack, Skywalker,” Grievous said as his front two wrists began to spin as the blades of his sabers began to slice into the deck below him.
 
Ember lunged forward catching the two front blades which crashed to a dead stop as they struck her saber. Jumping back, Ember deflected two strikes before two more suddenly came her way. She managed to make once advance of her own until it became a show of defense on her part. Ember stopped one green blade and slid her weapon down to slice of one of Grievous’ hands off as Kenobi did. Grievous glared at his severed limb only to make a more aggressive attack at Ember who was being pushed back more and more.
 
Ember readied to make an aggressive attack of her own when the program came to a sudden halt. “What?” Ember remained still and could only hear a small alarm sounding. She glanced down and noticed one of Grivous’ blades was in her left leg where, had it been real, would have sliced the limb completely off rendering her defenseless against such an opponent. “Damn it,” she said as she deactivated her weapon and anxiously scratched the back of her head.
 
Ember paced back and forth taking occasional glances at Grievous who was frozen still. She then ruffled her hair and stood in front of him with her eyes glaring up into his. “Reset program…”
 
Posts: 218
  • Posted On: Jul 20 2015 10:23pm
Bonadan.

Bonadan South East Two Downport...


Natalya's foot steps reverberated around the hangar as she stepped down the landing gantry. It actually felt good to be back on Bonadan, Nat probably would not go as far as to say it felt like home, but it certainly felt a place she had become comfortable with. It had been a long journey back from Capricia.

A sanctuary of sorts.

All at once the familiar scents and sounds of Bonadan's biggest space-port enveloped her, and the young Jedi was glad for it.
With a final , brief look around the shuttle to check all was as it should be, Nat began to make her way out of the hangar, and onto the streets.

It was early evening now, and Bonadan's capitol district was buzzing with it's inhabitants all eager to be part of it's stirring nightlife, and Natalya picked her way carefully through the throng of people of all creeds and kind that streamed past her. Food stalls, night-clubs, casinos , restaurants, bars, tap-cafes all packed, all vibrant with life.

The young woman turned the collar of her jacket up to keep the chill of the night's air from the back of her neck. Tonight she wore her hair up, twisted and held into a kind of rough bun with a pair of random chopsticks she had found onboard the shuttle.

It was only a short walk across the plaza to VC-HQ, and entirely unnecessary, as Natalya could have just landed on her private pad at VC-HQ itself, but the truth was, she enjoyed the walk, the sights and the sounds, the buzz of the city and it's people.

The Jedi stretched out with the Force, sensing all around her, and smiled, it felt good to get lost a little in the crowd. Even if the odd person recognised her now and then, a surprised look here and there, perhaps unexpected to see the daughter of Vinda simply walking about, the same as everyone else.

As Natalya approached the looming structure of VC-HQ, she looked up and took in the sight for a moment, before entering the building. 

"Welcome back Miss Vinda, will you be staying with us for long?"

Nat turned to face the security officer gesturing for her to pass through the security cordon set up for all visitors, and smiled in return… 

"Oh, for a few days, thanks"



                                                                                           *  *  *





Private quarters - (VC-HQ)



"You know, you could just use the private , and secure, landing bay we have reserved for you, at your father's request"

Natalya rolled her eyes a little and listened to Zara speak over the comm-system while attempting to towel-dry her hair. She had only just stepped out of the refresher and the comms had rung "I know, I know Zara, but I just felt like doing something different today" The Jedi replied, trying not to sound ungracious. 

Zara, Vinda's personal assistant meant well, but had a tendency to fuss over things, but then (Nat supposed) that was probably part of the reason why he had hired the woman to begin with.

"I see well, I know he will be pleased to see you" Zara replied quickly, and although Nat couldn't see what the assistant was doing, she could tell the woman was multi-tasking...

"is he busy?" Nat asked, wondering whether to stop by or not…

"I'm afraid he's in a special session at the moment, all ISC members have been convened, fair warning he will most likely be very busy over these next few days but, I know he'll want to see you, I'll give you a buzz when they next get a break"

Nat nodded in reaction and smiled as she spoke "Thanks Zara, I'd like that" A sudden thought hit her, and she found herself intensely curious "Special session? is this about the Cree'Ar?" The young Jedi enquired…

"Ah unfortunately I'm not allowed to comment on ISC matters, as you know , but I am sure your father will fill you in when he see's you next"

Nat smiled wryly at Zara's cagey reply, and was about to sign off when Zara added "Oh, before I forget, your friend Ember is here also, making use of our HL facilities, she's been putting them through their paces, or so Lacey has told me"

Nat paused at this, and then smiled to herself, she knew Ember would not be able to resist the urge to test them out, in fact she had been looking forward to doing the same. Nat already knew Ember was on-world of course, and was looking forward to catching up with her fellow 'apprentice in crime'...

Tying her hair back up, Natalya suddenly realised she hadn't eaten for a while, and made a mental note to take a small detour at the company canteen on the way down to the suites.

Maybe it was the chopsticks, but Nat had a real sudden urge for noodles.




                                                                                           *  *  *



HL Chamber


Natalya sauntered into the HL chamber, with a mouthful of noodles, holding a bowl full of Ramen, and leaned unnoticed against the wall of the Utapau Control centre, both watching and eating with interest.

The program Ember had activated had already been running before Nat had arrived, and both Ember and a very realistic looking General Grievous were hard at it. Before Nat had entered the HL-suite she had tweaked the program (and by extension it's generated holograms) to remain oblivious to her presence within the chamber.

The young woman observed the display with bemusement. It felt a little odd standing there in the midst of it all, but munched on regardless. Until Ember ended things abruptly, or should it be said the General did.

"Damn it… Reset program" Ember ordered, clearly annoyed...

"Gotcha!" Nat said pointedly between mouthfuls of noodle, with a wry expression on her face, and as a rather frustrated looking Ember turned to face her, Nat waved slightly with her free hand (with chopsticks still attached to her fingers) in greeting. Before adding "How long have you been at this?"