[Open to multiple] The Force is a Powerful Ally. And a Terrible Foe: Gavin Thayne Arrives

[last_of_shadows]

He felt the Doomgiver die. He felt the sudden sundering of the connection to his fellow Shadowtroopers that had become a lifeline to him. The Jedi were closing - the raining swamps of Yavin had become a killing ground. Why couldn't he feel their hate? He had been trained, trained for years, to hate them - hate the rebels. But in the moment he, felt the Jedi fighting them, bringing down his fellows all around him.

Lightsaber-resistant armour or not, it didn't stop their blades forever. There where weaknesses, and they found them. They did it without hate, without rage. But with a terrible determination - and pity. It was more terrifying to him than anything he had ever experienced.

He fell back, clutching at his head, as if his fingers could reach through the cortosis helmet and stop what he was feeling. He reeled, rebounding off a pillar and falling to his knees, scrambling away. He held to his red lightsaber like grim death, utterly unsure what to do. Part of him, dimly, realized just how damaged his mind had become. But had no idea what to do.

The Jedi had reminded him of a past. Before the Force had been infused into him, before the Empire. When he had just walked under a warm sun and felt nothing but peace, and a yearning for adventure, to do greater things. Half his life warred with the other half, and he had no idea what would win.

In that moment, he hoped a Jedi's saber would find him soon. And end the confusion.

But instead there was...something. And then he realized he had awoken.

He sat up, suddenly, breathing heavily. This isn't Yavin. He could feel it, with the Force. It felt...wrong. He couldn't explain how. And he was in a park. A strange, alien world, that much was clear.

With a groan, he rolled onto his side, and then pushed himself to his knees. He checked, briefly, to ensure his Artusian crystal was still mounted into his chestplate. Much as he hated it, he needed the Force now. And he had no idea, none at all, what would happen if he lost it.

He searched for a comlink, the need to understand temporarily quieting the raging maelstrom in his mind. He needed the others. He needed someone.

Because in this strange land, he had no idea whatsoever what he was going to do. Was he SW-493? Or Gavin Thayne? Time would tell.

Comments

[fucking_ebay]

Peter doesn't really want to be out today -- or if he is going to go out, he doesn't want to be out busking yet again. The longer he keeps at this, the more repetitive his shows get. His regular show has gone stale, but it's still bringing in a bit of pocket money simply because he still gets tourists who haven't seen it before. That's more true now that it's getting warmer, but more and more he just doesn't have the inclination to go out and do it. Two days before allowance, though, means he's just about run out his budget yet again.

After one show, Peter's starting to ask himself just how much he needs money for the next day and a half. There's enough food at his place he can scrape by, certainly enough liquor, and he can always mooch dinner off Lucy if he wants something that didn't come out of a can. Disinclined to start gathering another crowd just yet, he decides to go on a bit of a stroll around the park and look for something more fun to do with himself. Absorbed in his own thoughts, he nearly walks right by the man in black armor without seeing him. Just as he's walking past where the man is kneeling on the grass, though, Peter startles and turns to look...then picks up the pace to hurry on away without stopping.

[last_of_shadows]

Instinct took over, then.

"Halt, citizen!" he called, pushing up to one knee, then the other, and slowly standing. "Halt in the name of the Empire!"

He straightened up, pointing.

"I have questions for you."

It was the way of the stormtroopers - and, in this situation, the shadowtroopers - interrogate the nearest person, and always speak with authority.

[fucking_ebay]

NOPE. Peter's dealt with more than his fair share of rift crazies (and regular crazies), thank you very much. He turns to look again -- it's very clear he's perfectly aware the man is talking to him -- then breaks into a run.

[last_of_shadows]

Well. That generally said some things about what side of the line he was likely on, if he was in the right universe.

"Not so fast!"

And he gathered the Force to him like a blanket, literally leaping after him in a powerful bound. It took more effort than it had before, but it did work. Black-armoured boots thudded into the ground, and he drew his lightsaber.

"I'll ask one more time, scum. Halt!"

[fucking_ebay]

"Oh, fu--" Peter doesn't so much halt as he trips while looking back over his shoulder again at that thudding sound and seeing that the fucker is practically flying after him with what has to be a weapon drawn. He goes down hard, but before Gavin can catch up, Peter draws his own energies to him and teleports away in a flash of fire and smoke.

Unfortunately, he's not thinking clearly enough to choose a destination before he goes. That he can do pretty easily when he's got his wits about him, but now is not one of those times. He reappears under a park bench nearby with a repeat of the fiery flash.

[last_of_shadows]

"What the -"

Well that was original - and he had no idea what to make out of it. Under standard Imperial doctrine, you went with 'threat' at that point. With a snap-hiss, the lightsaber ignited, and he settled into a ready stance, advancing quickly, swinging the saber at the bench.

"Death to rebels!"

[fucking_ebay]

"Shit!" Peter shrieks in terror and rolls out from under the bench on the other side, teleporting again and going about a foot to the side as he scrambles to his feet and bolts. He knows he needs to calm down and concentrate on where he wants to go, but that's a lot easier said than done. "Fuck! Fuck, fuck, shit!"

[last_of_shadows]

This is...highly atypical Rebel behaviour. They usually at least took potshots. That and he'd never heard of them ever, ever teleporting before.

"What in the stars..."

Part of him said to observe this. Part of him said to try and separate his head from his neck before he got the great idea to teleport his fist through Gavin's chest or something.

And there was a moment of...hesitation.

[fucking_ebay]

Unfortunately for Gavin, Peter's not about to give him a chance to puzzle it out. 'Death to rebels' is pretty straightforward, after all. Peter doesn't look back or stop running, but tries to ignore the pounding in his ears and envision where he wants to go. His flat, he decides shortsightedly, not really thinking about just how far that is right now. This time when he tries, he does it right and gathers the energy before leaping -- and just like that, he's gone without a trace. Fortunately for Peter, he doesn't reappear anywhere near Gavin. Unfortunately for Peter, he'll have to make another jump or two after he lands in a public restroom at a nearby Subway.

[last_of_shadows]

And for a moment, he just looked around.

"Spast!" he swore, quietly.

What in all that was unholy had that been?

He turned away, slowly, not even vaguely sensing the being's presence. Another time, then, he'd unwrap that mystery.

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce takes frequent walks in the park, often collecting data and occasionally running small experiments. He still hopes to find a way to control the rift. He is becoming used to seeing odd things in Central Park, but perhaps not quite so strange as a man in armor. Sighing, Bruce approaches carefully, his need to be cautious losing out to his need to help.

"Um, hi. Are you all right?"

[last_of_shadows]

A stormtrooper never shows pain, the old lesson came unbidden. He jerked upright, pointing a warning finger at the interloper.

"Do not concern yourself citizen. You will identify immediately. Name, planet of origin, name of current planet."

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce sighs, holding his hands out from his sides.

"Whoa, take it easy. My name is Dr. Bruce Banner. I'm from Earth, which is also where you are, right now."

[last_of_shadows]

"Earth..."

He'd never heard of it. Then again, in a galaxy so unimaginably big, that was no surprise.

"How far from the Yavin system are we?"

Then the latter thought stole over him. The one he had to be aware of here.

"Is this Imperial space?"

[beastisbeauty]

"Uh, no, you're not. I...have no idea where the Yavin system is, sorry. This city is called New York. What's your name?"

[last_of_shadows]

New York? What sort of dull name for a city was that?

"Never you mind that, citizen, you just direct me to the nearest starpo-"

It was then that the headache hit, and he staggered back. A massive, throbbing ache. Adrenaline wearing off, and suddenly he remembered everything. He could feel the loss again, and it hurt. He fell back against a tree with a groan.

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce instinctive surges forward, reaching out to help the other man.

"Sir? What's wrong?" he asks. "I'm a doctor. I might be able to help you."

[last_of_shadows]

He reached out a hand to shove him back, angrily, the dark side flowing into him again as he felt. Shame at his panic, fear at the unknown - they easily became anger.

"Stand back!" he called, pulling his lightsaber from his belt. Hopefully this fool would at least know what one of those were.

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce falls back from the shove, wincing a bit, as he hears the Hulk growling in the back of his mind. He puts his hands up, hoping seeing them will calm the man down.

"Hey, take it easy! I was only trying to help," Bruce tries to soothe. "There's no need for any violence. Please. You don't want to make me angry. Let's just talk for a minute okay? I think I can explain what has happened to you."