Their Last Moments

By Ruby-Flame Jedi Queen

Rating: PG

Slaves trembled in their simple dwellings as a dark shadow passed over them..  Mothers cradled crying babes, and they pulled their wide-eyed children close to them.  Fearful eyes snuck glances from windows, and the whole village seemed to suck in air and hold that breath.

 Suddenly, the hot dry air seemed to give way to an icy breeze, and one little toddler whispered, "He's comin."  Children who had never felt cold before on the desert planet of Tatooine looked into their parents' eyes for comfort--but there was none to be found.  Everyone, young or old, was transformed into prey by the pure emotion that plagued them all--- fear.

 The air was completely still as people's ears strained to hear any trace of sound.  The silence was thick, thick enough to slice with a knife, and it lasted.  The apprehension grew.  Every once in a while a sole whimper would be heard, but it would sharply be shushed as families continued to listen.

 Then, just when the people would have gone stark mad with the wait, footsteps were heard.  But these were no comfort in themselves; they were only the reassurance of an inevitable fate.  Many a tear trickled down a solemn face, but it was always, always in silence.  The footsteps neared.

 Some inquisitive squinting through the windows showed the shadow of a dark cloaked man approaching complex of homes.  Youngsters shrank back at the power that emanated from the distant figure.  The name needed not be spoken, but ran like a surging cry through everyone's minds, Darth Vader.

 The figure approached and everyone watched and waited.  Waited for their death sentence.  But instead of ordering his trail of stormtroopers on towards the village, the figure sent them back with of a wave of his hand.  A few that were baffled by the order dared to stand around and questioned it, but they were quickly silenced.  Parents placed their hands over children's eyes. 

 They warily observed the movements of the shadow, wondering what it had in mind.  Little did they know that it had a very vivid memory tearing at the back of it's mind...

 *"Will I ever see you again?..."

 "What does your heart tell you?"

 "I don't know.  Yes.  I guess."

 "Then it will happen, Ani."

 The figure suddenly turned around and called back the stormtroopers.  It clenched its fists in rage and pointed towards the village.  The villagers failed to hear the last command of the cloaked figure; they failed to realize their doom.

"Kill them.  Kill them all."