Vengeance of the Force

Chapter One: Birthing Pains

It struggled to escape its cocoon. The rock that held the great beast for millennia was finally starting to give way. Slowly it began to worm free, allowing for greater movement and even more crumbling. Finally a clawed hand burst through and encountered…

Twilight? The rest of the beast broke free, allowing two massive yellow eyes to see something for the first time in untold centuries. It expected sunlight-or at the very least night. What it got was a maze of buildings, one built on top of another. Some almost reached up to its shoulders. Airspeeders of every imaginable design whizzed by; several crashing into leathery gray skin. The monster barely noticed as tiny explosions illuminated his form. Several airspeeders approached it, lights flashing and blasters firing. The beast’s amber eyes narrowed in amusement. They meant to harm him? It simply walked forward and batted two massive forearms about, sending several airspeeders plummeting to the infrastructure below.

Far in the distance stood a gleaming pyramid, rising above the other buildings. The monster waded forward; plowing buildings over that had stood for over twenty-five millennia. The target was clear. Destroy the pyramid!

*****

*Thump*

Leia pulled the covers around her tightly, mumbling to herself. “Go away, Dad. It’s too early for school.”

*Thump*

Leia Organa-Solo shot out of bed as her entire room shook. Next to her lay her husband; Han Solo, also violently woken up by the tremors. He rolled out of bed and landed on the floor, instantly awake. The former smuggler scrambled to the window. “What the hell is going on?” He stumbled to the window, looked out and stumbled back to bed, mumbling. “I’m dreaming. I’m dreaming.” Leia looked at her husband of 19 years. It took an awful lot to spook him, almost as much as to spook her. With trepidation she approached the balcony. She stepped into the open air-and promptly stepped back into her room, not believing her eyes.

A charcoal-colored reptile towered above the cityscape, slowly wading through the infrastructure. Clouds of dust continually bellowed from beneath it, while airspeeders buzzed around it. Leia grabbed her comlink. “Get me Admiral Ackbar, now!” She glanced back at the creature, while Han pulled on a shirt. “Sweetheart, I don’t think we should be around when that…whatever it is gets here!” Leia looked over at her husband. “Huh? You think it’s headed this way?” He pointed outside. “Yes, I do!”

The comlink chirped. “President Organa-Solo? This is Admiral Ackbar in Tactical Command. We’ve plotted the creature’s path, and it’s headed for the Imperial palace. I don’t-“ The rest of the transmission was cut off by a tremendous explosion. Plaster fell from the ceiling as the room violently shook. Both Han and Leia fell over due to the force. Han looked at his wife, disbelief and shock coloring his face. “What the hell was that?” An aide rushed over to him and helped him to his feet. “Sir, we need you two to get to Tactical Command.” Han nodded. “Sure thing, kid. You coming, sweetheart?” He looked over at his wife, who was staring out the window. “This is only the beginning.”

Chapter Two: Wasted Lands

The planet Duro was an environmental hellhole. Twenty thousand years of unchecked industrialism had reduced the once green orb to a brown sludge heap. Rivers didn’t flow; they oozed. Radiation in some areas could disintegrate even the densest metals, and the smell could kill-literally.

Near the equator lay a canyon, the Valley of Royal Monuments. There stood crumbling statues, protected from one of the rivers of sludge by a mighty dam. Two researchers were on the river’s shore, taking toxicity readings. The senior researcher, a Duros by the name of Het Spaw, shook his head as he plunged a sensor pole into the almost solid flow. “I ashamed to call myself a Duros. We claim stewardship over the galaxy, but can’t even clean up our own planet.” He blinked away tears from his deep red eyes as his partner, a human from Corellia, shrugged. “Hey. You can’t be blamed for something that started who knows how long ago.” He pointed to two large protrusions nestled in the middle of a patch of goo. “Don’t those methane bubbles usually pop before now?”

Het looked over, shame forgotten for a moment. “You’re right. I wonder if they’ll explode?” After a few seconds a slit formed down the middle of each protrusion. They slowly opened, revealing two large, sinister eyes. The Corellian gasped and dropped his recorder into the river. “Ahh! What in the nine Corellian Hells is that?” The sludge pile that the eyes were attached to rose out of the river, revealing a brown abomination. The creature’s ‘flesh’ flowed among its frame, never leaving the main body, but also never staying in one place. The bulbous head looked around, finally looking straight up. The tall body flattened out into a disk-shaped form, allowing it to hover. It shot up out of the atmosphere, leaving behind two confused and scared researchers.

High above in orbit was six space stations, where the majority of the population lived. They resembled huge silver tops with innumerable ships buzzing about. As the creature approached, several ships broke off from their flight paths and fled. The creature’s eyes began glowing red, building in intensity until a crimson energy beam shot out. The beam sliced right through the durasteel hull, breaching the fuel pods near the bottom. Internal explosions ripped the station in half, sending one part out into deep space, and the other to crash into the planet below.

As the abomination approached the next station, the administrators onboard quickly raised shields and powered up defensive turbolasers. Thin red beams lanced out and impacted the flying sludge pile, but the turbolasers were scattered by the minerals trapped in the creature’s body and did no damage. It shot out crimson beams again, wearing down the shields until minute holes appeared. A hole opened up near the front, and twin streams of acid shot out. Wherever it struck, holes opened up in the hull. Hundreds of humanoids were sucked out into deep space as their blood boiled and lungs exploded. As the hull melted, the space station’s structure weakened until it finally collapsed, shedding the outer hull like a carapace.

By now the other four space stations had used their maneuvering thrusters to escape Duro’s gravity well. Emergency hyperdrives, long dormant, surged to life as the stations escaped. The creature, however, paid them no mind. It’s thoughts turned to a planet some distance away. Slowly it left the gravity well and entered hyperspace, eager for the chaos that lay ahead.

*****

In the Outer Rim, planets came cheap. The Thul family owned Mechis III. It was a dead world before the purchase, with no animals or plants there, making it perfect for a droid manufacturing plant. Eventually the entire planet was covered in assembly lines and testing areas. Only one human lived there, Tyko Thul. Although being the only organic being there meant he had complete autonomy, it also left huge areas of the planet unsupervised.

In one area, construction of a robot was taking place, a robot larger than anything ever built on Mechis III. A silver torso was being bolted onto massive, reptilian legs. Arms were loaded with an almost infinite amount of concussion missiles as they were simultaneously bolted onto the torso. Laser cannons were installed behind innumerable hatches as a silvery reptilian head was lowered into place. Golden photoreceptors glowed as the metallic war machine came online. It stepped forward, smashing girders and stepping on the very machines that spawned it. The head swiveled up, and rocket boosters on the back flared to life, sending the machine skyward and into space.

Once in space it raised it’s arms and extended the fingers to full length. Concussion missiles fired off, streaking toward the planet and impacting. Buildings were leveled, and fuel tanks ignited in balls of flame. Through it all, Tyko Thul stood at the window outside his office, watching. He ran his hair through graying hair and turned to his desk. He quickly turned on the comm and contacted Coruscant. He had to let them know what was coming-and that that…thing wasn’t an authorized construction.

Chapter Three: Discoveries

The beast continued its march toward the Imperial Palace; the only thing slowing it down the sheer mass of buildings it had to wade through. Leia, president of the New Republic and arguably the most powerful being in known space, was helpless as a prehistoric monster rampaged through downtown Coruscant. An aide walked up to her, nervous and dreading to have to deliver the news. “Ma’am? Orbital Control reports that two unidentified creatures are descending. E.T.A. is five minutes.” Leia nodded. “Thank you.” She turned to her Han, tears threatening to burst. She buried her head in his shoulder, who could only hold her close.

A Mon Calamari walked up to Leia. It was Ackbar, head of the military. “Madame President, you and Han should evacuate while we still have time.” Leia shook her head. “No. I’m not abandoning Coruscant or the people still here.” Han looked down at her. “Sweetheart, I love you, but I gotta agree with Ackbar. Planetary turbolasers aren’t even slowing those things down.” Leia shook her head. “Something will happen. I feel it.” Just then another aide walked up to Leia. ‘Ma’am? Master Luke Skywalker has just contacted us.” Leia blinked in surprise. “Put him on, now!”

The central holo-projector, previously showing an image of the three rampaging monsters, shifted to an image of a middle-aged man with short blond hair. Incalculable power was hidden behind ice-blue eyes. He was Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master and Leia’s twin sister. “Leia, Han, I’m feeling a tremor in the Force, a powerful tremor. What’s going on?” Leia quickly recounted the events of the past twelve hours, adding. “Those three things will destroy the Palace in six hours. That’ll destroy the main generators and blanket the planet in lethal radiation. They must be stopped.” Han, standing just behind Leia, spoke up. “Do you have any ideas?”

Halfway across the galaxy, Luke sighed. “I’m afraid I do.” He stepped back from the holoprojector and let a silver-haired, elfin woman named Tionne step forward. She was carrying an ancient book, and when she spoke, it sounded like she was singing the words. “Madame President? I was going through ancient Jedi lore when I stumbled upon this. It’s from an Ithorian Jedi two thousand years ago, and speaks of a terrible battle ‘at the heart of the galaxy’. It mentions three monsters; Avatars of the Dark Side named Godzilla, Mechagodzilla and Hedorah.” Tionne quickly read off descriptions of each, which perfectly matched the leviathans marching toward the Palace. She continued. “It goes on to say. ‘Only the Beasts of light may defeat them. Find them on Ithor, Tattooine and the Roche Asteroid Belt.” She closed the book, waiting for an answer.

Leia nodded her thanks. “All right. Luke, I leave it to you. We’ll try to hold them off as long as possible. May the Force be with you.” With that the screen went blank, leaving Luke to find these ‘Beasts of light’.

*****

Ten minutes later Luke, Tionne and four other Jedi were assembled in front of the Great Temple. The first team consisted of Jaina Solo, daughter of Leia and Han. She had an uncanny rapport with mechanical things, and could relate with the inhabitants of the Roche Asteroid Belt, insectoids known as the Verpine. Her partner was Master Kyp Durron, one of Luke’s first students and one of the best pilots in the galaxy. He would have to be in order to navigate the Belt.

The second team consisted of Tionne and her husband, Kam Solusar. They were headed to Ithor. Both ran the Jedi Academy in Luke’s absence. In contrast to his wife’s delicate frame and features, Kam was powerfully built, with an internal fire of thermonuclear heat.

The final team was Luke and a younger student named Tahiri Veila. Both lived on Tattooine for most of their lives; Tahiri herself had been raised by the Tusken Raiders, one of the two native species on Tattooine. She was a slight girl with a mop of blond hair and bare feet. Luke looked over the teams. “You’ve all been briefed on the situation. Fortunately so have the governments of the planets we’re going to. Tahiri and I will be going to see the tribe she belonged to. The description of one of the Beasts resembles that of an ancient Tusken God.” He looked over each Jedi. “It is imperative you succeed in this. The fate of billions of sentients, and ultimately the New Republic, depends on success.” He paused for a moment to let the weight of his words sink in, then added. “The Force will be with you, always.”

Ten minutes later three vehicles lifted off the surface of Yavin IV. Luke and Tahiri took a special X-wing fighter designed for two people. Normally the passenger would be cramped, but Tahiri, being only thirteen, actually had some semblance of elbowroom. The second ship was a B-wing fighter, also modified to carry a passenger. In flight the ship resembled a flying cross, with the cockpit at the apex. Kyp flew the slow fighter to its limits. Finally, Tionne and Kam left in the Lore Seeker, Tionne’s personal ship. It looked like a sailing vessel with its solar sails and wide brown hull. Each ship angled off from the planet in a different direction, shooting off into hyperspace once far enough away.

Chapter Four: Beasts of Light

An hour later, a lone X-wing appeared above Tattooine, the ‘armpit’ of the galaxy. Both Luke and Tahiri grew up there; Luke under his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, and Tahiri under Sliven, head of a tribe of Tusken Raiders. She reached out through the Force, searching for his familiar presence. She pointed to an area near the Juntland Wastes. “Sliven and the tribe are there, Master Skywalker.” Luke nodded and sent his X-wing into the atmosphere. The blackness of space shifted to purple and then blue as the fighter approached the most desolate area of one of the most desolate planets in the known galaxy.

The X-wing landed, kicking up a small dust cloud. When it cleared, Luke wasn’t surprised to find a dozen Tusken warriors standing about, gaffi sticks raised high and bellows of challenge issued. He unsealed the cockpit and leapt down, followed by Tahiri. She looked around until she spotted the largest warrior with the most ornate stick. She walked without fear up to him and began speaking the Tusken language, a series of growls and grunts. The warrior, Sliven, cocked his head to the side and responded.

What do you seek, Tahiri?

We wish to know of Ghidorah, king of the Tuskens and father of our race.

No one in living memory has awakened him, small one. Why do you wish to now?

A prophecy must be fulfilled, or else a world dies.

Very well. Go to the center of the Juntland Wastes and invoke the prayer. He will come.

Tahiri bowed and turned from the Tusken who had raised her as if she was his own. She looked up at Luke. “We need to go to the-“ Her sentence was finished by the Jedi Master. “-Juntland Wastes.” He smiled at her shocked look. “I did grow up here, after all.” He lifted her up into the cockpit, then climbed up himself.

*****

Luke looked around the desert. A hot wind blew, seemingly from Hell itself. He was watching Tahiri speak an ancient prayer, a calling to King Ghidorah, God of the Tusken Raiders. After ten minutes she stopped, looking down at the shifting sands. Suddenly her head shot up, and she began backing up as the ground trembled. The sand parted, revealing an awesome chasm. Sand billowed about, blotting out the twin suns and casting the land into shadow. Tahiri looked up-and locked gazes with three pairs of eyes. Her mind immediately went blank as a golden dragon emerged from the gaping pit. It glittered in the noon sun, it’s three serpentine necks thrashed about, snapping at the air.

Tahiri continued to back up until she ran into Luke. She snapped back into coherence, letting out a shrill scream. “AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” Luke put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and broadcast soothing thoughts into her mind. Almost immediately all three heads snapped down and focused on the Jedi Master. You know the ways of the Force? Luke blinked in surprise as he realized something very important; Ghidorah was sentient! He stared up into the dragon’s eyes and opened himself up to the Force. Yes. I beseech you, oh mighty Ghidorah. The Avatars of the Dark Side have awakened. The Beasts of Light are our only hope. Will you help us? The three heads turned to each other as if in conference. Finally the middle head looked down and bent forward, coming within a meter of Luke and Tahiri. Luke was the picture of stoicism; Tahiri was about to hyperventilate. We were created to battle the Avatars. Why would you doubt our courage now? Ghidorah’s three heads gazed skywards as huge wings unfurled from its back. They began flapping, propelling the beast upwards. Eventually it left the atmosphere, relying on the Force to guide it in place of wing power. Luke and Tahiri felt, rather than saw, Ghidorah enter hyperspace and speed off towards Coruscant. Both Jedi sent their thanks and well wishes to the dragon, for if it failed, Coruscant was doomed.

*****

A lone B-wing rocketed through a jumbled maze of rock and debris. At the controls was Jedi Master Kyp Durron, Jedi Ace. Behind him, scrunched up into a ball, sat Jaina Solo. She tried to reach behind her and scratch her back, but it was in vain. She blew a strand of hair out of her face in frustration and sighed. “Are we there yet?” Kyp glanced back at her. “Five minutes, and I’m not your father so stop asking me that.”

Jaina grumbled. When they entered the system, they had contacted the Verpine Administration through a translator droid. When they mentioned Megalon, a series of chatters and clicks came over the comm. It directed them to the very heart of the asteroid belt. Ahead loomed an asteroid unlike either Jaina nor Kyp had ever seen. It was a perfect sphere, obsidian colored and perfectly smooth. Kyp stared at it for a full minute before Jaina poked him. “Master Durron, shouldn’t you begin transmitting?” That brought him out his reverie. He opened up the comm and began speaking. “This is a call for action. We need you, Megalon. Thine ancient enemies have returned. You are needed.” He waited, while Jaina craned her neck in order to see around his head. What she saw astounded her. The sphere had begun to split along a vertical seam, allowing a…creature to emerge from it, a creature unlike Jaina had ever seen. It was humanoid, with two arms and legs, but it had an insectoid head, with multi-faceted eyes and a silvery multi-pronged horn sticking out in between. Scales covered the torso, but the most bizarre feature was its hands-they weren’t hands, rather the arms ended in a drill.

Megalon regarded the B-wing with an almost curious gaze. Kyp and Jaina immediately felt a probing from Megalon, as the beast looked the comparatively tiny fighter over. Huge wings unfurled from its back as it moved closer. Finally a voice sounded inside both Jedi’s minds. The Avatars have awakened? Bah! They have obviously forgotten the last lesson. We will have to teach them ‘manners’. With that Megalon’s wings began beating, propelling it forward in direct violation of all the laws of physics. Kyp sat there speechless, until he received a shove from Jaina. “Kyp! Turn this crate around and set course for Coruscant.” The younger Jedi sat back in her seat, waiting for the awe-struck Jedi Master to recover. Finally he shook his head and nodded. “Yeah. What am I waiting for?”

The B-wing shot out of the Roche Asteroid Belt at full speed. Kyp reached out with the Force and sent Luke a message. Master? Megalon’s coming, and he seems anxious for a fight. I hope Tionne knew what she was doing.

*****

Tionne grunted as she trudged up the steep hill. Just ahead of her was her husband, Kam. When they arrived at Ithor they had to dock at an orbiting space station. The Ithorian’s reverence for their home planet forced them to live offplanet, so they could tend to the mother jungle without harming it. When Tionne had mentioned Mothra, however, the Ithorians immediately sent them down to an isolated valley on the planet.

For the past hour the two had trudged through thick jungle, sweating profusely in their robes. Kam pushed aside a branch and turned to his wife. “Are you sure about this? This ‘Mothra’ doesn’t sound too impressive, and those Avatars are pretty nasty.” Tionne sighed as the two exited the path. “I’m not sure myself, dear. All we can do is trust the Force to guide us.” She looked around as they entered a large clearing. She looked up toward the horizon and spotted the Beast of light resting on top of a sheer cliff face. It was…immense, a moth the size of a star cruiser. It had blue, multi-faceted eyes and feathery antennae. Kam looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun. He let out a slow whistle. “That is some beast.”

Mothra looked down at the pair. Why are you here? Both Tionne and Kam started at the telepathic communication. Tionne stepped forward and brushed a sweat-covered strand of hair out of her eyes. She looked up at Mothra and opened herself to the Force. Mothra, the Avatars of the Dark Side have awakened. We beseech thee for assistance. The enormous moth’s wings fluttered, almost as if it was sighing. So, it begins again. Very well, young one. I shall travel to Coruscant. The never-ending war starts anew. Mothra’s wings began beating, sending out howling winds that threatened to fling Kam and Tionne into orbit. After hovering for a minute, the Beast of Light ascended out of the atmosphere. It headed away from the planet on the power of the Force, and entered hyperspace soon after.

Tionne put her arm around Kam as Mothra left. “All we have to do now is trust the Force.” She said. Kam looked down at his wife. “We should also trust that we haven’t unleashed Armageddon upon the galaxy.

Chapter Five: Darkness, then Dawn

The Avatars of the Dark Side continued their march toward the Imperial Palace. Hedorah, a living sludge pile, oozed from place to place, melting the ferrocrete buildings with its very touch. Godzilla shambled on. The prehistoric lizard larger than most starships occasionally stopped, opened its mouth and shot out a bluish beam of nuclear energy. Mechagodzilla’s fingertips continually blazed as concussion missiles were fired, leveling huge swaths of land. Death tolls were already in the low millions.

Through it all stood Leia and Han, one stoic and one angry. Both were still in the Imperial Palace as the Avatars approached. Leia refused to leave, and Han refused to leave his wife’s side. There was five minutes until the Palace was destroyed and lethal radiation blanketed Coruscant. Han held his Leia close as they approached. “Madame President, maybe you’d better bug out before you get stepped on.” Leia looked up at her husband. “Sorry, Han, but I can’t. The President must go down with her country.” Han leaned in to kiss his wife, to spend his final moments with the person who meant the most to him, when an aide rushed up to them, shouting. “Madame President! There are three more large creatures heading our way. ETA is at one minute.”

Han groaned as the aide spoke. He walked up to the rookie and, through clenched teeth, snarled. “Thank you very much.” Leia couldn’t help but giggle as the aide wilted under Han’s intense glare. She looked at the tactical display in the center of the room. Three large shapes were descending rapidly, each one unlike anything she had ever seen.

Outside, Mechagodzilla was the first to notice the new arrivals. It looked skywards, golden eyes searching. Finally he pointed straight ahead and let out a synthesized roar. Godzilla and Hedorah looked up-just in time to see King Ghidorah, three-headed God of the Tusken Raiders, descend directly in front of the Palace. To their left, Megalon dropped out of the sky and landed with a teeth-rattling thud. Its drill hands were whirring in anticipation of action. And finally, Mothra swooped in, stopping just before running into the Avatars.

Godzilla snarled, and began projecting thoughts through the Force. You again? I can’t believe it! Don’t interfere, Ghidorah. Puny mortals, not the Old Ones, awakened you. Mothra interrupted him. Does it matter? We are here. We will fight. Do you doubt the inevitability of it all? Godzilla swiveled to face Mothra, brow ridge arched in surprise. Its spinal scales began glowing as power was shunted to the mouth. In seconds Godzilla’s mouth opened, letting loose a stream of energy capable of shattering molecular bonds on impact.

Mothra was not floating idly by. Scales, each the size of an airspeeder, were being shed from the huge wings. When Godzilla’s ‘death breath’ hit the area where the scales floated, it was refracted into thousands of smaller beams. They eventually were reflected back upon Godzilla, striking him, sending up a shower of sparks, but most importantly it sent Godzilla reeling. A great cheer went up in the Palace when it fell. The Avatars weren’t invincible.

Megalon rushed Mechagodzilla, knocking into the machine and sending both tumbling. Mechagodzilla ended up on top. It shoved a hand directly into Megalon’s face and began firing concussion missiles directly into the Beast’s face. Megalon screeched in agony as its mandibles were blown off its face. The Avatar roared in delight-until Megalon shoved a whirring drill hand through its shoulder joint, almost severing the arm.

Hedorah and Ghidorah, meanwhile, were locked in stalemate. Hedorah’s acid spray couldn’t reach Ghidorah while it was hovering. Ghidorah’s gravity beams, one each fired from a head, couldn’t penetrate the acid mist. Ghidorah pumped its wings for all it had, while Hedorah surrounded itself with a mist that was the universal solvent.

Godzilla, meanwhile, had gotten back on its feet and was searching for Mothra. What the Avatar failed to realize was the Beast was right behind him, swooping in for a ram. Godzilla turned around-just in time to get hit by Mothra going mach seven. Godzilla was knocked back to the ground. The Avatar of the Dark Side roared in pain as greenish blood spurted from a large gash on its forehead. Mothra began hovering over the fallen lizard, shedding scales from its wing and covering the fallen lizard.

Meanwhile, Mechagodzilla and Megalon had separated. The huge mechanical lizard was firing round after round of concussion missile at Megalon from its good arm, while twin lasers shot from its eye sockets. Megalon had its drill hands held up in a classic guard position, protecting the vital areas while tremendous power was being sent into Megalon’s horn. Finally Mechagodzilla’s fingertips stopped blazing, and loud clicks could be heard as its magazine finally emptied. Mechagodzilla looked down at its left arm, confusion and fear playing over the robotic face. Megalon took the one chance it had, bringing down the drill hands and letting loose a lightning-like energy beam from the horn. Mechagodzilla’s head was promptly blown off, sailing away and landing ten kilometers away in a crater. Internal explosions rendered the most sophisticated machine in galactic history a large pile of twisted durasteel.

Finally, Hedorah’s own mist began to affect it. The Avatar cried out in pain as the acid dissolved its own flesh. The mineral content in Hedorah’s body protected him, but only for a time. The flesh began to slough off, melting into a large steaming pile of chemicals. Ghidorah landed, three heads sniffing at the pile of melted flesh.

Godzilla couldn’t move. It was trapped, again as the scales hardened into a cocoon. Godzilla’s movements, frantic at first, began to slow down as the once colorful scales dissolved into a grayish goop. The mass hardened, trapping Godzilla. A kilometer away, Leia, Han and several military officers stood in the balcony adjacent to Leia’s room. She looked over the carnage; a swath of cityscape ten kilometers wide and a hundred kilometers long was leveled down to the bedrock, exposing areas of the planet to sunlight for the first time in 25,000 years. Leia looked over the carnage and sighed. “It’s over.”

*****

Luke and Tahiri watched as King Ghidorah descended back into the pit from which he came. All around them, Tusken Raiders knelt, prostrate in front of their living god. Tahiri turned her head and looked up at Luke. “Master Skywalker, what does this mean? Are the Avatars dead? What happens now? Is the Dark Side returning?” Luke smiled at the young padawan and pointed up. “I believe that will answer your questions.”

Tahiri looked up-and was face to face with Ghidorah’s middle head, again. The Avatars can never truly die, young one. They are not only avatars of the Dark side, but are the Dark Side. To kill them would unravel the fabric of reality itself. Tahiri blinked twice as she processed the information. She reached out to Ghidorah through the Force. Does that mean you’ll fight again? I don’t want that! Ghidorah’s middle head cocked to one side and an expression approaching sympathy played over the dragon’s face. It is the way of the galaxy. All will die. All will be reborn. Would you hold onto the past and deny the future? Tahiri shook her head, blond curls shaking about. Ghidorah drew itself to full height and descended into the pit.

When the golden dragon had fully submerged itself in the pit, the sand flowed back into place to cover it. After a minute neither Tahiri nor Luke could distinguish the spot form any other patch of sand on the planet. Luke put his hand on Tahiri’s shoulder and directed her to his X-wing several meters away. All around them, Tusken Raiders were dispersing-except one. This one was walking toward the two Jedi. It was Sliven, the Tusken Chieftain who had raised Tahiri since birth. This time, however, he spoke Basic instead of his guttural tongue. “You raised Ghidorah from the Juntland Wastes. No Tusken has done that in living memory. I am proud of you.” Tahiri nodded. “Thank you, Father.” She looked the warrior over. “It was good to see you again. Goodbye, Father, and may the Force be with you.” She hesitated, then turned from the person who raised her and walked back to Luke and the X-wing. He helped her into the passenger seat and leapt into the cockpit. He sealed the hatch, went through pre-flight checks and started the four engines.

Four minutes later the snubnose fighter was exiting Tattooine’s atmosphere and entering hyperspace. It was another ten minutes before Tahiri found the courage to speak. “Master Skywalker, can I ask you a question?” Before Luke could speak she continued. “Do you think that the Avatars will be back?” Luke looked back at the young trainee. “My former teacher Yoda once said. ‘Always in motion is the future.’ I don’t doubt that Godzilla, Mechagodzilla and Hedorah will return in one form or another. I also don’t doubt that King Ghidorah, Megalon and Mothra will stop them. The Force strives for balance, Tahiri. Never doubt that.” Tahiri nodded. “Yes, Master.” She still couldn’t shake the visions that were assaulting her. Buildings toppled, crushing the people within. Starships exploded and through it all, hovering in the background, was a golden eye, reptilian in shape and surrounded by grayish scales. And all around her, a roar echoed, sounding from the depths of Hell itself.

The End

All Star Wars characters and related items are the property of Lucasfilm. All Godzilla Kaiju are the property of Toho Films. I make no claim of ownership.