Malignant Metamorphosis
By
Forcechild
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY:
Malignant Metamorphosis
Copyright 2013 by Forcechild
*****
*****
First and foremost I would like to dedicate this novel, as well as express my sincere gratitude, to Mr. George Lucas for his vision. Star Wars opened the door to a completely new universe for me, as well as billions of others. Mr. Lucas, you have my deepest respect and admiration. Thank you for taking me on that incredible journey to that galaxy far, far away.
I would also like to dedicate this novel, as well as express my deepest appreciation, to Mr. Hayden Christensen. His brilliant performances in both “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” is what inspired this story. He projected an exceptional depth of understanding of the emotional pain that Anakin Skywalker suffered during his transformation into Darth Vader. It made me empathize with the character. Without Hayden’s incredible portrayal I would’ve never put pen to paper. He made me aware of a hidden talent I never knew existed. I’ll always be grateful to him and will remain a devoted fan.
I’d like to thank all the other actors who performed exceptionally in the film, especially Ewan McGregor who portrayed Sir Alec Guinness’ role to perfection. In my opinion no one else could have honored him more.
I’d also like to thank everyone else who encouraged me and had faith in me, especially my family, Judi and Leslie. (NMRK) Your love and friendship will always be appreciated.
Forcechild
Author’s Note
There is no way I can possibly achieve the brilliance of George Lucas, but I’ve tried to stay as close to his ideals in my attempt to continue his extraordinary epic. I’ve included original content from the movies, especially in the first few chapters. It is essential to introduce Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader to those who aren’t familiar with Star Wars by explaining who Anakin was and why he turned to the Dark Side of the Force. It is extremely important that readers understand Darth Vader’s significance to the saga.
I was told that I caused some confusion when I skipped back and forth in time, especially in the beginning of my story. For that reason, I’ve extended the accepted lore and created a time line to follow. I hope it doesn’t add to the confusion, but is instead helpful in following the tale. I’ve included a reference guide for new readers to Star Wars as an aid, which will enable them to understand the language of the saga. For those of you who are loyal fans, it will refresh your memory as to the main characters, as well as introduce you to new characters I’ve created.
I consider my novel to be more an alternate universe, not an addition to the extended universe already published. I hope all who read “Malignant Metamorphosis” will enjoy it. May the Force be with you all.
Forcechild
For information on this novel Contact
Phil Lee at International Talent Management
[email protected] Off 602-861-0001
ITM represents Writer Forcechild
- Sources -
The Movies:
Episode I - “The Phantom Menace” / Lucasfilm Ltd.
Episode II - “Attack of the Clones” / Lucasfilms Ltd.
Episode III - “Revenge of the Sith” / Lucasfilms. Ltd.
Episode IV - “A New Hope” / Lucasfilms Ltd.
Episode V - “The Empire Strikes Back” / Lucasfilms Ltd.
Episode VI - “Return of the Jedi” / Lucasfilm Ltd.
The Star Wars Trilogy:
“A New Hope” by George Lucas
Copyright 1976, 1995 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
A Del Rey Book
Originally published by Ballantine Books in 1976
“The Empire Strikes Back” by Donald F. Glut
Copyright 1980, 1995 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
A Del-Rey Book
Originally Published by Ballantine Books in 1980
“The Return of the Jedi” by James Kahn
Copyright 1983, 1995 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Originally Published by Ballantine Books in 1983
Star Wars - “The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels”
Copyright 2003 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Text by W. Haden Blackman
Illustrations by Ian Fullwood
A Del Rey Book
Star Wars - “The New Essential Chronology”
Copyright 2005 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Text by Daniel Wallace (with Kevin J. Anderson) Illustrations by Mark Chiarello, Tommy Lee Edwards, John Van Fleet
A Dell Rey Book
Star Wars - “The Complete Visual Dictionary”
Copyright 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Text by David West Reynolds, James Luceno, updates by Ryder Windham
Published by DK Books
-i-
Time Line and Reference Guide
ABE: After the battle of Endor.
BBE: Before the battle of Endor.
Example: 01/02/03-ABE (1 year, 2 months, 3 days)
Since Coruscant is located at the core of the galaxy, it’s used as a standard measure of time. This is an established fact of the lore.
I created the following time line:
Coruscant’s orbit around their sun equals 600 days/year, 10 months/year, 60 days/month, 4 weeks/month, 15 days/week. It takes approximately 14 hours for the planet to complete a full rotation. This equals a little more than twenty four hours earth time.
Terms of the saga:
Chosen One: Anakin Skywalker. He was a very powerful being created by the midi-chlorians. (microscopic organisms that live within all life and give the Jedi the ability to use the Force) The Chosen One was prophesied in Jedi legend to destroy the Sith and restore balance to the Force.
Clones/Clone Wars: Millions of cloned soldiers created by the “Kaminoans.” (a race that supplied clones for payment) They were supposedly ordered by the Jedi for the purpose of fighting the enemies of the Republic. Yoda brought these cloned soldiers to Geonosis to fight the Droid Army when Obi-Wan Kenobi was captured. Their continuing battle was later termed the Clone Wars. Having these clones created was a part of the Emperor’s devious plot to later kill all the Jedi and overthrow the galaxy. These cloned soldiers were later called Stormtroopers.
Dark Side: The evil side of the Force.
Death Star: An enormous battlestation the size of a standard moon. Conceived by Grand Moff Tarkin, the Death Star was ordered constructed by Palpatine. The battlestation is powerful enough to destroy an entire planet.
Droid Army: Army of robots secretly constructed by the insectoid foundry on Geonosis. The robotic army was used by Palpatine in his quest to rule the galaxy.
Empire: An evil dictatorship controlled by Emperor Palpatine/aka Darth Sidious. Palpatine is the sadistic Sith Lord who ruled the galaxy by using the power of the Dark Side of the Force.
-ii-
(the) Force: The universal power that is used by both the Jedi and the Sith. They use the Force in order to combat foes and gain insight. Powers used through the Force include ESP, telepathy, telekinesis, etc. - anything
to do with extra ordinary powers.
Force Lightning: The electrical energy that issues from the hands of the Sith that can cause death. Only those who turn to the Dark Side of the Force (the Sith) have this ability.
Jedi Order/Council: A group of warriors who use the Force in order to combat evil.
Lightsaber: A lighted sword. It’s empowered by jewels imbedded in a circular disk in the handle. The Jedi built their own weapons as a part of the “Trials.” (advancement in the Jedi Order) I took the liberty of describing the purpose of the Jedi’s use of the lightsaber. I stated that the more honorable the purpose, the brighter a lightsaber glows, enabling the weapon to exert more power.
Master: A teacher. There were tests a student had to pass in order to achieve this status. First you served as a “padawan learner.” After years of training and testing, padawans achieved the status of Knight. If you passed all the “Trials” and matured enough to use the Force wisely, you were then granted the title of Master.
Netherworld: Where all good souls go after death. (heaven)
New Republic: The government who took over after the Empire fell.
Outer Rim: The furthermost planets from the center of the galaxy.
Padawan: A student or apprentice.
Rebel Alliance: (the Resistance) Those who banded together and fought the Empire in order to gain independence.
Republic: (or Old Republic) The democratic government that ruled before Palpatine took control of the galaxy.
Separatists: Those who withdrew from and organized against the Republic.
Sith: The complete opposite of the Jedi who use the Dark Side of the Force.
Trade Federation: Led by Viceroy Nute Gunray it was comprised of industrialists, etc. within the galaxy who joined the Separatists.
(the) Trials: Tests the Jedi had to go through to advance in rank.
Youngling: A child, or teen.
-iii-
Established characters of the lore:
Padme Amidala: Anakin Skywalker’s wife. She served two terms as Queen of Naboo when she was fourteen years old. She met Anakin on Tatooine when her ship was forced to land there after being damaged while escaping the Separatists’ blockade of Naboo. After serving as queen, Padme became a senator representing her home planet. (Naboo)
(the) Antilles: (Raymus and Wedge) Raymus was the Captain on Bail Organa’s starship, the Tantive IV. Wedge (Raymus’ son) fought in the Rebellion against the Empire along with Luke, Han, and Leia.
Artoo Detoo: An astro-droid or astromech. They were robots who co-piloted X-Wings and other small crafts. They had numerous tasks such as piloting, plotting courses, repairing damage, etc.
Lando Calrissian: Smuggler, gambler and scoundrel. Han Solo’s friend. Administrator from Cloud City. Han won the Millennium Falcon (Han’s starship) from Calrissian in a game of chance. Lando later joined the Resistance and fought against the Empire. (Has rank of Admiral in my story.)
Chewbacca: A wookiee from Kashyyyk. (pronounced Ka-sheek) A ferocious looking creature covered entirely in fur. wookiees had violent tempers, but were extremely loyal to their friends. “Chewie” was Han’s co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon.
Count Dooku: (aka: Lord Tyranus) Darth Sidious’ apprentice who first appeared in “Attack of the Clones.” Dooku was Sith Lord who was once a Jedi Knight trained by Yoda. He was Qui-Gon’s Master before being turned to the Dark Side by Darth Sidious.
Emperor: (aka: Palpatine, The Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious) One of the main characters in “Star Wars.” He went under the guise of different identities. Darth Sidious was the evil influence behind everything that transpired in the saga. He was extremely cunning and powerful.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: (aka: Ben Kenobi) Jedi Knight. Anakin’s Master, later becoming Darth Vader’s enemy after Palpatine turned Anakin to the Dark Side. He watched over Luke while he was growing up on Tatooine and was responsible for Luke’s emergence into the Force.
Bail Organa: A senator from Alderaan. He was present at Luke and Leia’s birth. Adopted Leia and hid her from Emperor Palpatine, as well as Darth Vader. (Luke was taken to Tatooine to be raised by his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.) Bail organized the resistance without Palpatine’s knowledge. He was killed on Alderaan when the Death Star destroyed the planet.
-iv-
Leia Organa: Princess of Alderaan. She served as an ambassador, but was secretly a member of the resistance. Anakin/Vader’s daughter. Luke’s twin sister.
Owen and Beru Lars: Luke’s aunt and uncle. They lived on Tatooine and raised Luke there.
Poggle the Lesser: Insectoid leader of Geonosis where the Clone War started. He manufactured the Droid Army for Darth Sidious.
Qui-Gon Jinn: A Jedi Knight. He was Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Master. (teacher) He found Anakin on Tatooine and sensed that the boy was the Chosen One. He took Anakin to Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi.
Han Solo: A smuggler hired by Obi-Wan to take him to Alderaan after Leia sent Artoo Detoo to Tatooine. Fought by Luke’s side during the Rebellion. He became a hero of the saga.
Anakin Skywalker: (aka: The Chosen One/Darth Vader) A Jedi Knight who was turned to the Dark Side by Palpatine.
Luke Skywalker: Anakin/Vader and Padme Amidala’s son. (He was introduced in the original movie.)
See Threepio: Protocol droid built by Anakin for his mother when he was a child. He was Artoo’s companion throughout the saga.
Darth Vader: (aka: Anakin Skywalker) Luke Skywalker’s father. Villain of the saga. Darth Vader became one of the most popular characters of the Star Wars saga.
Mace Windu: One of the senior members on the Jedi Council.
Yoda: A central character of Star Wars. A Master Jedi Knight. He was a senior member of the Jedi Council. This small, green creature was known to be one of the wisest of all the Jedi. He trained Luke in the Jedi Arts after Obi-Wan Kenobi died.
-v-
New characters I’ve created:
Steffen Antilles: Wedge Antilles son. He is Ben Solo’s classmate at the “Galactic Space Academy.” They become very close friends.
Alec Brant: Ben’s captain on the “Solaris,” the Rebel Star cruiser Ben is assigned to after he graduates from flight school.
Ceris: Poggle the Lesser’s son. Palpatine appoints him the new ruler of Geonosis after the death of his father Poggle.
Lucian Gris: Second Lieutenant on an Imperial Star Destroyer. His appearance is important to the story and is presented during different time lines.
* Benjamin Bail Solo: One of the major characters in my story. Son of Han and Leia. Luke Skywalker’s nephew. Named after Ben Kenobi (Obi-Wan) and Bail Organa.
* Padmay Hanna Solo: Another major character in my story. Daughter of Han and Leia. Luke Skywalker’s niece. Named after her grandmother Padme and Han Solo. (I changed the spelling so this character wouldn’t be confused with Padme Amidala.)
** Though the lore already has children born to Han and Leia in other books I took the liberty of creating “different” offspring which makes my novel more an altered universe, not an extended one. I did this because I feel Leia would name her children after those who were very important and meant a great deal to her. Thus, I gave them the names of Ben and Padmay.
** There is another major character that I can’t reveal at this time. He’s the villain of my story, and his “creation” is essential to my tale.
*
Copyright Disclaimer
Everything “Star Wars” and the known characters within belong solely to George Lucas with the exception of my new characters and plot.
Malignant Metamorphosis
Part One
Prologue
- Endor -
~ 00/00/00+10 ABE: Ten minutes after the battle over Endor when Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader died on board the Death Star. ~
The massive explosion lit up the heavens over Endor as the Emperor’s second Death Star detonated into a million fragments of molten metal before vaporizing into space. What s
tarted out as an ambush by the Imperial Fleet ended up being an all-out assault by the Rebel Alliance once the Death Star was destroyed. Hundreds of assorted ships banded together targeting their weaponry on the Empire’s Great Armada. Chaos erupted at the death of their monarch causing his mighty fleet to retreat.
Second Lieutenant Lucian Gris remained at his post as his Imperial Star Destroyer came under attack. This being the first major battle he’d taken part in, terror was churning up his innards like sulfuric acid, but Gris dared not show this weakness to his superiors as he carried out his orders.
The ship’s deflector shields were down, enabling the craft to initiate the new cloaking system that was installed some months back. Gris’ captain had just given the order to start the procedure. In the hurried process to activate the device, a Rebel Star cruiser went unnoticed as the vessel’s sensors detected its swift approach. The small cruiser fired on the huge battleship without cessation. They saturated the destroyer’s unprotected bridge with an unrelenting barrage from their turbolaser batteries. Their accurate blasts finally penetrated the vessel’s armor-plated hull hitting command central. The violent explosion propelled the burning bodies of his superiors soaring in all directions. Bloodied body parts splattered Gris in his face. The man shrieked in uncontrolled fear and joined other crewmen in a frenzied flight from the control room.
Gris narrowly escaped the fireball that enveloped the bridge as he fled in terror to the main turbolifts. The inexperienced officer let panic control him as he tried in vain to open the jarred doors, but they were thrown out of line by the continuous explosions that rocked the ship. The inferno was abruptly extinguished as the vacuum created by the shattering of the viewport sucked both atmosphere and crewmen out of the breached gap. The blast doors automatically slammed shut, and life support was instantly reestablished. Gris greedily sucked the sustenance into his deprived lungs as it flooded back onto the bridge.
Confusion intensified as the rebels continued to attack the armada relentlessly. Though outnumbered, the resistance fighters decimated the Imperial Fleet through the sheer fierceness of their defiant assault. As the battle raged on, the Star Destroyers scattered in every direction.