Photo Novel Empire

It's been six months since the outbreak of the dead, and yet even still, the mystery behind the happenings of the feeding corpses has been left unsolved.

As for the Mirilian pilot, Nava was ignorant but careless for the reasons behind the creation of the Screechers. All she wanted was for her and her new friend, Denny Gol to get off this cursed planet. But for now, she had to settle for moving place to place for security.

And Nava's standards of security had been met after she scanned the devastated trade center for any Screechers and found none.

"We'll camp here for the night. I saw a hangar behind the facility, perhaps we can find a space shuttle."

"With all do respect, my commanding officer," Wak intrigued. "I've found no form of space-ready technology with my astro-scanners."

"And my senses for other life forms are...foggy." Denny sighed.

"Did somebody say "fog machine?" a Vulptereen trader advertised. the Xexto beside him arced his long white neck,

"Or perhaps you were in need of a Tech-VII scanner Plus 6.0?"

"Umm," Nava jumped. Her surprise at seeing two survivors had given her most of the shock, but also the strange offers they gave to serve as a welcome was also...different.

"We need a space shuttle." Nava finished, "Do you know where we can find one?"

"Oh, space shuttles," the Vulptereen chuckled, "we're out of those. We haven't seen those things since the outbreak!"

"Forgive us if we startled you," the Xexto apologized, "my name is T'xt, my trade partner's name is Bar. We have almost everything you need here...with a price of course..."

"...But lucky for you, today all our items are 50% off!"

"Not only that," Bar added, "But we have items of all sentient nationalities!"

"Is there anything you see that you like?" T'xt interrogated.

"Do you have light sabers?" Denny asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes,

"Never did, never will, especially here on Bondo III. it's against the law to hold a light saber and not be of the Republic in this sector of the galaxy." Bar replied grimly.

"And I'd suggest you forget the thought of light sabers and Jedi if I were you. Before the outbreak took out communications, I heard the Jedi were destroyed. You're all that's left, kid." T'xt broke to the child.

"What...how?!" Wak cried,

"Apparently the Jedi attempted to take over the Republic. They're criminals, and you are working with one of them, young Mirilian. You better watch yourself, that little baby of yours might one day pull the trigger and drop you!"

"Excuse me!" Nava growled,

"That baby would never harm anyone unless his life depended on it. I know because I've been with him for over three months. If you ever speak of him again, I will shoot both of you!"

"Violence is not necessary madam, let's make a deal."

"Before things become hasty," Wak interrupted, "Would u happen to have a auto-tuneup machine? If so may I use it?"

"Why yes. There is no charge." Bar replied.

"Now before you start moving your mouth," Nava snapped, "tell me what kind of deal your talking about? All we want is to stay here for the night."

"Everything comes with a price, young Mirilian." T'xt smiled,

"So here's my offer: You may stay here, at the cost of you, buying/ trading three of the items in the room."

"We prefer trade, because money has no value anymore on this planet." Bar corrected.

"Precisely, Bar. So what'll it be? Hold on! I know just the thing!""

"It looks great on you! I'll give you the hat for the blaster, and you can stay the night here."

"That's a terrible offer! You're wanting my ticket to living for the cost of sleeping under a roof?!" Nava's face began glowing yellow, "This is survival! You might as well be hospitable and be kind enough to let people come in and live with you!"

"You can stay, young maiden." Bar gave in.

"Ugh, we have food and blankets in the room down the hall on the right. Help yourself to everything, I guess."

"Thank you, Bar."

"But give me the hat!" T'xt snapped, "You can't have everything!"

Suddenly an explosion shook the building!

"That sounded like it came from where Wak went!" Nava gasped,

"It did," Denny finished, "I felt Wak's presence leave."

"What have I done!" Bar cried, "I forgot completely! I made the auto-tuneup into an explosive if any Screechers invaded!"

"Didn't you put the machine beside the facility wall?" T'xt asked frantically as fear began to make his body shake violently.

"You stupid son of a Bantha!" Nava cursed, "You've just threatened the safety of everyone here!"

"You two are worth nothing! We will die here because of you two! "

"Put the gun down!" The Vulptereen whimpered as he brandished his blaster,

"No, Bar, you yield, and you do everything we say!" Denny added.

Suddenly Screechers stumbled into the building. One after the other, the small group began to turn into a horde.

The little sentient reacted with his blaster and began cutting down Screechers as they came.

"So much blood!" Bar gasped, "I-I don't know if I can do this!"

"Bar...Bar!" T'xt screamed, "Help me!!"

"Shut up!"

CRUNCH!

"I sense more coming..." Denny growled as he shot down another Screecher.

"They keep coming!"

In a matter of seconds, Bar is overwhelmed and torn into bloody shreds.

"SCREEEEEEEEECH!!"

"Hold your position, Denny, we can survive this!" Nava encouraged,

"Limited choices," Denny realized. The numbers increased by the second.

"Just keep shooting."

"Okay, I will!" Denny obeyed as he continued to fire his blaster.

Blaster fire rang, Screechers crumbled to the ground, blood spilled.

Triggers were pulled, a fire was ignited, and bodies fell.

Bodies fell, pools of blood flooded, chances of survival increased.

"We can make it!" Denny exclaimed.

"We can survive it! We can survive all of it!"

"Don't get cocky!" Nava bellowed in return as she sent a barrage of blaster fire into her foes.

At last, the final body fell. The two friends were safe for now. But even in their victory there was loss. They were stuck on Bondo III, and Denny was possibly the only Jedi survivor in the galaxy.

As the stench of the death overwhelmed the walls of the building, the two stood in their spots ignoring everything. Depression dubbed both emotionless.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Denny grumbled.

"We live. We fight. We die. Not very different from life is it?" Nava replied.

"No. I guess it isn't. The Force will guide us. It'll tell me where to go."

"That's the spirit."

NAVA AND DENNY WILL RETURN!

It has been three weeks since Chaz Artpo, Easy, and Sel Rach have been trapped on the roof top of the tower. To the clan's misfortune, they ran themselves clean of their food and other supplies with nothing but a few rounds of blaster fire.

No longer sure of what he should do and how he should lead his team, Chaz often looked to meditation to seek out guidance in order for his friends to live.

But just like all the other times Chaz tried meditating, he would find no reply from the Force. He would be in a bad mood every time afterward. Easy wished she could do something to make him feel better but...what use was it? Nothing could be better out here.

Former mercenary, Sel Rach found peace in staring at the sky. The thunder rolling overhead, and the dark clouds blanketing the sun.

Suddenly, Chaz felt a tremor in the Force,

"Friends, they're coming!"

"NNNRRRRAAARRRRRGGGG!"

"SSSSSCCCCCCRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCHHHHHH!!!!!"

"As if nothing could become worse!" Sel gasped as he drew his blaster.

"An episode of pain is worth a moment of peace. We will suffice!" Chaz encouraged,

Inspired by his clan leader's words, Sel defended his section of the building with his life as the dead swarmed into the elevator-shaft opening.

"Limited choices!" Easy growled as she picked off one Screecher after another.

"Just stay alive!" the Nautolan Jedi Knight persevered as he dismembered a hungry Screecher.

As fast as light he spun in a blur of motion as he guided his cerulean blade in a fan of controlled fury taking down one Screecher after another.

"There's so many!" Easy traumatized,

"I'm running low on ammo!" Easy gasped as she protected her post with her life.

"Is there an end to this dark abyss?" Easy grumbled.

"If there is, we won't live long enough to see the end of it." Sel answered negatively,

"Force," the Nikto cried out, "I come to unite with thee!"

"May I honor my fallen brothers with my action."

"Sel, no!!" Easy cried out, but it was too late.

The dozens of Screechers including Sel had been vaporized, clearing most of the dead...

But the Jedi was still yet in a deep struggle for life,

"Don't give up, Chaz! I'll take out as much as I can!" Easy supported as she fired her last two shots into the horde of the dead.

"Chaz, I'm out!"

"No one is ever out..."

"...Until the exit is given to them!"

Musing over the smothering heaps of boiled blood and gore, Chaz walked over to the ledge to check for more of the dead, but unknown to him, one of the dead corpses survived Chaz's blade lying in the heap of the dead.