USH'S STAR WARS GAME- CAMPAIGN II EPISODE II (DARK SIDE)- In the Coils of the Serpent

"Did you ever see something great turn to sludge? I mean, really great. Something that meant something, and was now... worthless? It burns, it really does. Something has to be done to set things straight again. It's the creed we live by.

"Get up, Rand," says Doon. "You don't die here. The Force has seen otherwise.

"But soon, Rand. Very soon."

A iron vice-like grip suddenly graps the sabre, Galder. You have no idea how Rand is moving... he feels like a corpse.

Galder's brows furrow in curiosity, as he tries to pry the lightsaber free from Rand's grip.

You would probably win a tug of war. But Rand uses the force to call it into his hand, which kinda outclasses you, Galder.

******* hell, he's alive.

"No!" Galder shouts. "You are dead! I watched you die, Rand..."

"Your sympathy brings great warmth to my heart..."

It is very dark, Rand, very dark indeed. You can't see, which is not surprising- the nerve damage has severed the information from your eyes to your brain. But you can sense Galder, and your sabre.

But... you CAN see something. A hazy image, floating in front of you... moving towards you.

I am watching you, Nume Rand, comes a female voice.

I see a man with a cold heart... and a Destiny

She reaches down into your chest, and a great coldness floods through you, a cold you always knew you would feel. And just for a moment, you see hanging from her head a trail of white hair...

... and then you are back in the Hall, and that numbnuts Galder hasn't sensed the thrirty or so more enforcers coming from up top. Jena's guard!

Galder stares in curious wonder of Rand, dazed for a moment.

"What the hell?!" Galder shouts, turning to the guard of thirty and igniting his lightsaber immediately. "Why does this world mess with me?!"

Ummm....that's bad......

Galder, it's getting out of here time!

Oh, damn, looks like Rianna forgot to pick up the tablet when she left the vault!

(joke)

......that would NOT even be CLOSE to funny......

No, trust me, it was hysterical!

Maybe to you........

(evil)

You guys sure as hell aren't owed any favours by me!!!

Rand remains immobile for a moment as his sight returns, shuddering as the coldness fills him.

Who are you? Rand asks, but does not expect an answer.

He grips his lightsaber firmly...but then places it at his belt.

"No, Galder," Rand says, placing a hand on Galder's shoulder. "We do not stay to fight..."

As the first shots are fired by the guard, Rand moves to pick up Rianna, if possible...

...since I am very damned confused right now...

...then carries her away, moving to the hangar with all due speed.

Then to the ship, the ship...

Tanic! Very crippled partly coming your way... Galder the only person moving in any normal sense... Rand looks like someone broke his chest open... what is even more surprisingf is that that is true.

Oh, and the hangar doors are closing.

Galder merely gives Rand a look of, "What the hell are you still doing alive?" and grabs Gallador's battered form, keeping his red lightsaber lit in order to defend himself should the guard come close.

"Tanic, get us out of here!" he shouts as he enters the ship.

Well, we can have a nicely dramatic accelerating-away scene here as Tanic powers you gfuys out of the hangar just as the doors are closing...

... and then your ship zooms up away into the atmosphere! The sensor problem was overcome when a tripped-out Rianna sabred out the entire control bank for it, which is why she started one sequence three frames late.

Galder, navigating, you are setting course for the planet Kuoni. It is a several day journey... you just hope you make it in time.

Rand collapses onto a sofa in the back. He's not good for much.

"Setting course for Kuoni," Galder says, setting up the coordinates at a leisurely pace, half-expecting Serpent fighters to be in pursuit. He slouches in the chair, overcome with fatigue.

"Rand..." he says. "What...what happened? Back there?"

Rand remains absolutely still on the sofa.

"I...I don't know, Galder..." Rand says, closing his eyes, desiring nothing more than sleep...

...except...

"Rianna...the tablet, if you will." Rand gathers the tablet up, forcing himself to remain awake enough to begin reading it.

Galder watches Rand cautiously and curiously.

"You were dead, Rand," Galder says, his brow furrowed. "I watched you die. And yet, here you are."