The Jedi From Earth: A Star Wars Story #Wattys2023

Strange Things

March 24,2016
In this dream Shawn kept seeing the trooper getting his leg blown off, the kid being flogged and the bloodied lacerations, the dead cadet and the whole time whichever way he looked it followed him. He fell to his knees holding his head in his hands "make it stop!" He yelled and it did, "oh that was quite a sight" Malgus said but that only seemed to make Shawn angry and his eyes darted around. "Oh such a change" Malgus remarked, "why do you keep haunting me!" Shawn screamed. "I killed an ancestor of yours in the Jedi Temple, the look of shock on his face as I gutted him was most satisfying," Malgus said in a tone suggesting a hint of sadism. "I must say when you opened the holocron I almost recognized his presence" Malgus continued and the images continued flashing more quickly to the point that it hurt

Yavin 4,

Rebel forces began moving to the planet after it was deemed safe, now they had a permanent base and hoped to keep it for the time being. "Chancellor we've cleared the planet there's no sign of the Empire here at all" General Rieekan reported, "good I want us to be sure this system is cleared of any Imperial forces" Mon Mothma replied in her calm tone. "Senator Organa I've heard your daughter gave a thought changing speech to the Senate" Mon Mothma said to Bail Organa, Organa smiled "I'm proud of her she'll be remembered as a courageous young woman" he said.

Toronto,
Shawn was at home writing a short paper when there was a knock at the door. He set his pencil down and went downstairs, there were several familiar presences he felt and opened the door. Mara immediately hugged Shawn and he hugged her back, "hey guys come in" Shawn said and felt the anxious feeling go away, "that was a pain trying to find you" Maarek said "well last time I drove you here" Shawn replied. "Oh hi everyone" Shawn's mom said walking in with a smile "hi ms Mendes" Mara said "this is my best friend Lumiya" introducing her "Oh hello" Lumiya said shaking Shawn's moms hand, "nice to meet you" Lumiya said with a friendly smile, They hung out that day talking about whatnot

Washington, D.C.
"Madam President according to intelligence reports the Canadians little skirmish might've tipped off the Empire to the attack" the Secretary Of Defense Hudson said. "Make sure it's kept secret Riosovsky gave me his word and the Moscow Pact has already withdrawn a majority of their forces" Johnson replied, "are you sure that? What if we catch another Russian spy trying to cross the border" Hudson replied "detain them and hold them for a time, now excuse me" Johnson said in a calm yet strong tone before picking the phone up clicking the button for a secure line to Ottawa, "yes?" Prime Minister Thomason answered "hello mr Thomason this President Johnson" she responded, "what can I do for you ms Johnson?" Thomason asked.

"I have some concerns regarding Operation Impetus" Johnson said nearly hushed, "What if it?" Thomason asked "we need you to hold your fire for the time being if that is manageable", "of course ma'am, while we are on the subject I'm requesting the United States assist us liberating Toronto" Thomason asked, " how many troops you think Canada will require?" Johnson asked getting a pen and paper ready. "No more than ten thousand troops and around a hundred more aircraft, fighter jets, helicopters so forth" Thomason explained, the US had over a million troops stationed back home with an additional twenty thousand being withdrawn from Europe so the could provide some assistance. "We are able to spare some of our troops" Johnson said "thank you Madam President" Thomason responded,

That night Shawn was outside looking up at the stars with Mara, "it's so weird looking at the galaxy from here everything looks..far" she said. "How far are we from Coruscant?" Shawn asked "about eighty thousand light years" Mara replied, "but it's nice here away from the noise on the capital and whatnot" she continued. "But the Empire is here though" Shawn said "what about it?" Mara inquired "it's not as quiet now there's troopers everywhere" he responded but cautiously, "well then let's go outside the city isn't there some pretty forests in the province?" Mara asked. "Uh yeah there are" Shawn replied, "let's go to one tomorrow it'd be neat" Mara said, Shawn smiled but looked back at the sky as the star destroyer Subjugator crossed overhead blocking their view "darn it" Mara said. "Here's let go back inside" Shawn said standing up as she did the same before heading back in,

Everyone ended up watching The Conjuring, Mara clutched Shawn's arm tightly as did Roganda with Jallar and Lumiya with Maarek "oh my god oh my god" Mara whispered as the girl opened the wardrobe before the demon roared pouncing, the girls practically screamed "this is so scary" Roganda said peeking from her hands "it's entertainingly scary" Maarek said. "How're you not scared?" Lumiya asked "it's an acquired skill" he replied with a smirk, Shawn thought he'd have red marks on his arm she was holding his arm so tightly. He had seen the movie a couple of times but it still creeped him out, when it ended he asked "so what'd you guys think?" Smiling as he spoke  "it was uh very creepy" Jallar said and everyone laughed.

Unknown Ice Planet,
Maul approached a small alter with Snoke "the Force can be dealt in many mystical aspects Lord Maul, this is one of them" Snoke said slowly circling the alter "what is this art master?" Maul asked, "I learnt it from a man named Plagueis many years ago, it is an art that summons a creature from the depths of Chaos" Snoke said extending his hand at the alter swirling at around and began muttering something in Balc and the alter glowed a dim red color before black smoke spiked out of a crack on the top. There was a bloodcurdling screech before a humanoid shape spilled out over the top onto the ground, it had the features of a Deveronian but it's eyes glowed red. "Behold a smoke demon, it will act as a psychological weapon for Sidious's child assassins" Snoke said, Maul looked at the creature carefully before it lunged at him. He held it back with the Force, "how can we be sure it will not go rouge and be captured" Maul asked "this targets only specifics" Snoke said before it dissipated.

April 5th, 2016,Algonquin park, north of Toronto,

"Wow it's pretty here" Lumiya said as everyone was getting out of the car. Shawn thought the same and it was an early spring so there were still patches of snow scattered about, but he was also glad to finally be away from the Empire with them poking their noses in his life and everyone else's now. Shawn also noticed how the Empire was far more brutal on Earth than on any other Imperial world, the reason was Palpatine knew if people had their freedom suddenly ripped from them they'd fight to have it back and that required ruthlessness, Mara held his hand as they strolled down one of the trails. "So peaceful here too" Mara said, Shawn replied "it is" but the forest reminded him of the one in California when the Inquisitors.. "You're looking a little tired you been sleeping ok?" Mara asked with concern,

"Yeah I have" Shawn said although didn't make a good enough effort to lie, "you're lying and not doing a good job at it" Mara said, Shawn sighed " alright you got me no I haven't, everytime I try to there's always some bad dream that wakes me up" he admitted. "What kind of dreams? I learnt some stuff about that from a fortune teller woman from Jedha" Mara said, "just stuff from the past or this place I see with ice and carvings in the wall" Shawn explained "does this place look familiar to you?" Mara asked. "It's somewhere covered in ice" he said, "on Earth?" Mara asked again "I think so". "Are you gonna read my mind instead" Shawn asked "I wish I could but can't ask Maarek or Jal" Mara said rubbing his hand and he winced as she touched his broken knuckle.

She pulled his hand up "geez' you get in a fight" then looked at his cheek, "Shawn you have a bruise on your face who'd you fight?" Mara demanded. Obviously saying he punched a stormtrooper would get him reported in some way "some guy jumped me I clocked him in the jaw and he hit me in the face" Shawn replied making sure he sounded very truthful. "Ok uh did your mom or dad notice?" Mara asked "no they'd lose their minds" Shawn said before noticing a faint shadowy figure moving in the distance, it moved swiftly as of gliding almost before stopping. It looked right at him and Shawn froze, I see you, a voice in his head said. "Shawn? Shawn!" Mara said, " What is it? I feel your fear" she said. "Nothing" he replied and they headed onward,

Toronto,
Adelhard waited as the shuttle landed, Tarkin exited with two stormtroopers "welcome Governor Tarkin" Adelhard said, "I'm hardly honored Moff Adelhard I've been troubled of rumors on this little backwater world" Tarkin said apathetically. "If you're referring to the terrorists Agent Kallus has begun counter actions against them" Adelhard said, "is that so Agent Kallus?" Tarkin asked turning to face him "I've exhausted every resource these terrorists are like the ones on Lothal they blend in with the civilian populace" Kallus replied. "Hmph" Tarkin grunted "not to worry I will deal with them myself in the meantime Moff Adelhard a word" Tarkin said before they walked back inside.