Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 3 – Nexus Under Fire

Keely saw Thyme reach to grab Raavik’s cloak, but there was little that she could have done before the accident took place. His cloak was more than that of a simple covering, it was like a lid on a jar. Raavik had become the focal point of the Force that the Nexus produced. Taking that, the full power of the Nexus was revealed, and feared.

The Force Wave never relented. The only one that was completely unaffected by the wave was Raavik himself. He looked around for a moment, found his cloak, causally picked it up and placed it back on his shoulders. 

All of the affected shuddered in anticipation of the power that could come back. 

“What the heck was that?” Thyme asked as he recovered his bearings. “I would swear that you were a Jedi, if not for the look of your library.”

“What do you mean?” Keely asked, coming up beside Raavik. He gave her a sideways glance as she did.

Thyme took a step back and really observed the towering structure set above the docks. The twin set of rings that encircled the superstructure gave the place an eerie feel. It seemed to him that a red tinge was emanating from on top of the tall spire.

“This whole place seems wrong.” Thyme said as he took a few more steps back toward his ship. “You know what, you can keep the crates. We need to leave. Men get back to the ship. I’ll pay our employer for the loss, nothing good can come from this place.” 

Thyme and his men boarded their ship, and Jackson met him at the door. 

“Sir, where are you going? Did you retrieve the crates?”

“No, we’re leaving. There is something terribly wrong about this place. I have never felt so scared in my life as now.”

“I need to stay, captain, I think that my father is here.”

“I can’t stop you from staying, but I feel that you need to be warned there is evil in this place.”

“That may be, sir, but I need to find my father.” Jackson disembarked and waved farewell. Though he did not know it that was the last time he saw Captain Thyme.

Thyme pulled the corvette away from the Nexus. He pulled out a ways before his communications officer spoke up. 

“Are we really leaving, sir?”

“No son, we are not. Take us out to maximum distance then we will open fire on that place.”

Jackson watched the Crimson Brigade leave and then turned and approached Raavik Yaan’s small group.

“I am here searching for my father.” He said to Keely, who had taken a defensive position in front of Raavik. 

“And who is your father?” Raavik asked as he placed his hand on Keely’s shoulder to get her to calm down.

“My name is Jackson Rango. My father was taken from Tatoonie a few days ago while I was in the Dune Sea. I have come to take him back.”

Raavik just kind of stared at him for a while, and finally smirked. “The Nexus attracts all kinds, sometimes they don’t even realize it.” He said under his smile. “Keely, welcome our new guest.”

The small group lined up behind Raavik and headed back into the Nexus. The Nexus, itself, had begun to accumulate a sort of darkness all round itself, as an ancient evil began to truly awaken.