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THE CHOSEN ONES

Steam hissed from the opening gaps in the deep sleep units. Eventually, they opened all of the way, allowing Culexus Narayan and Drekken to sit up and remember where they were.

"Ohhhhhhh, shit." Said Drekken, collapsing back into his unit. Narayan started to rub his eyes as Culexus swung himself out of his unit and tried to stand up, his legs gave way underneath him as he buckled to the deck, screaming.

"Computer?" said Narayan.

"I AM OPERATIONAL NARAYAN. WE HAVE LANDED. UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST CONTACT WITH THE ARMED FLEET BEFORE LANDING. THEY ARE NOW ON A RANDOM HOSPITABLE PLANET IN THIS SECTOR OF SPACE."

"So we are alone, it would seem." Drekken said aloud the thoughts of all the crew. "There is little we can do now except go outside and see what 'hospitable' planet we are currently on."

"Yes, let us go. But first, take a weapon, hospitable this planet may be, but it may also be hostile." said Culexus.

So, stopping off at cargo bay 2, picking up a blaster each, they made their way to the exit of the ship, the ramp that would lower to the floor and touch the earth of their new home. They stood on the ramp in anticipation.

"Lower it computer." said Drekken. The ramp began to lower, a bit jerkily at first, but as it went don they all covered their eyes as blinding sunlight shone on their faces. As they became acustomed to the light they looked around them. A paradise of a world surrounded them. A marvellous ocean was what they had landed on the shore of, and to the other side was a fabulous mountain with a vast forest at it's feet.

"Two suns...." whispered Narayan. "This place is amazing. We sure got the pick of the bunch eh?" He smiled. Drekken went to answer, but a voice cut in first.

"Yes, it is impressive when you first see it. I should imagine that's why the prophets chose it." All three of the sons whirled around and primed their blasters to fire on the strage old man who had perched himself on a large rock, waves smashing against it, and raising into the sky dramatically.

"Ok, im not a questions man." said Culexus. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

The old man laughed. "Indeed my boy, you are not a man atall! But in answer to your Question, I am Sindair, Jedi of the light. Last of my kind upon this planet. The force is strong here."

"The force!?" exclaimed Narayan. "You have claim to be able to use the power of our forefathers!? How dare you sir!" With that, he let loose a volley of blaster fire at the old man, who with a surprising turn of speed, drew a long energy weapon from his belt and smiled as he deflected all of Narayans three shots with it, them landing at Narayans feet instead, making him dance. After watching the laser blasts hitting the floor, they all looked up, the man had gone.

"Up here boys!" His voice called. "Co-ee!" Then the sound of laughter. The boys looked up, Sindair was sitting, legs crossed, on the roof of their ship. Chuckling to himself. "Can I come down without being shot at? It is most annoying."

"Er, yes by all means." said Narayan, he had the feeling even if he did shoot again, not a lot would've happened apart from more dancing for him.

"How on Dominius did you do that?" Asked Culexus, a look of wonder in his eyes. The old man grinned and looked up at the three boys.

"Indeed, I can no longer do half the things I could." He frowned suddenly. "And now you are here at last, my time is short. We must make haste my young boys."

"Yes, you said something like that before, what do you mean 'now that we are here?'"asked Drekken. "There's no way you could have predicted our course. We didn't even know it ourselves!" The others nodded.

The old man looked down at his feet. Indeed, I have not the power to make such insights... Others, before me did however,and have seen your arrival millenia ago." The three stood still, waiting for more information.

"Many, many years ago, there was a prospering civilisation here. A peace loving folk, with great wealth and prosperity. Some amoungst them were known as 'Jedi' and wielded the force. For age upon age the people prospered, across many worlds, this one being the central. I am all that remains of that people."

"But what happened to them all!?" asked Narayan. "What of this vast race, who were so prosperous?"

"It was the power of the force that destroyed us in the end." He looked up at the stares of disbelief in the threes faces. "Yes, the prophets said your ancestors too, would have wielded the force. Now they are forgotten also?"

"They are gone, but they gave up the force... For they said it would come to a disasterous end. They let the power go." replied Culexus.

"It was a wise move." said Sindair. "For after using the force for many years, our society produced a boy. An evil child, he twisted the force into his own dark and deformed purposes. He was called Hadrias, for he was blind from birth and used the force to see. His name meant, 'He who sees deeper.' in our ancient tounge. He grew up and was allowed into the council, for he was powerful, and could make the most evil of schemes seem fair to untrained eyes."

"He sounds as if he had a terrible dark side of the force." said Drekken.

"Even now, your ancient knowledge awakens, for you have chosen exactly the right words to name this thing, for the dark side of the force it is, and it is deadly. Hadrias wielded it, but none knew until it was too late. He revealed his dark designs only when he was in a position none of the council could oppose him. Killing any who stood in his way, we named him anew Jerec; 'The poison of the soul.'"

"What happened then?" asked Culexus.

"He took over the governership of most of the planets we inhabited. Forming himself a vast Empire-"

"Empire?!" They all shouted. "You speak of the great evil which has made us leave our homeland! Surely it cannot be that the same evil has destroyed both our worlds?" Culexus asked, astonished.

"Now it is clear to me," Sindair said. "This Empire spans far greater a space than we, or perhaps even it, knows. There are many dark Jedi now, for the evil of Jerec spread far before he was destroyed."

"Who destroyed him?" asked Culexus. "Was he a Jedi of the light?"

"Indeed, you have guessed correctly. Kyle Katarn was his name, but sadly he is also now lost to us. I, am all that remain, as far as I can tell. I have been left the task of staying here until the fabled ones arrive, then I must guide them along the path of the light, or the dark Jedi would take them and devour them, it is said."

"It would seem we have been anticipated..." said Culexus. "Could we see these propecies? Where do you and they abide on this planet?"

"I abide in the ruins of the greatest city on this world. For it was smashed in the war of the force. But more details later, let us go."

The man leapt away at a surprising turn of speed for his age. The three found themselves walking briskly attempting to keep up, trying to digest all that they had learned.

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