Kronan: Chapter 1

 Kronan lay on his back underneath a modified 74-Z speeder bike. It was old, but a classic. He was the garage where he typically worked on level 3142 of Coruscant. However, he wasn't working today. Or at least, he wasn't getting paid. Even in his free time Kronan was one of three places: his tiny but comfy single apartment a few hundred levels down, the open areas near the spires a few hundred levels up, or right where he was now working on his own projects. The 74-Z was the most recent addition to his collection. The rest of it was a small fleet consisting of speeders to fighters to a variety of rare and eccentric vehicles -- all restored and modified of course. He either worked on them, tested them up on the higher levels, or expanded his knowledge by reading and tinkering in his room.

"You just about finished?" A gruff voice came from the doorway. Kronan rolled out from underneath the speeder to see his employer. His boss, Valintine was his name, was a bigger guy with dark gray hair and a slightly grayer mustache. Despite his well built and intimidating appearance, everyone who knew him wasn't fooled. A near master mechanic, he owned this garage and let Kronan and a few other street urchins work here, and paid them as best he could. He was a kind soul.

"Just about. Another hour or so calibrating the new afterburners, and I think I'm going to take you up on that paint job. Then she'll be good to go."

Valintine looked at the young man in surprise. "You've only just got that thing yesterday afternoon! Didn't you sleep at all?"

"Of course I slept."

"Where?"

Kronan's expression became guilty. He ran his cleaner right hand through his ebony hair. "At home."

"For how long?"

If possible, his expression turned guiltier. "A few hours...."

The older man looked at him suspiciously. "Really? That's weird, because I thought I remembered unlocking the door this morning."

Kronan realized his meaning. He had forgotten to unlock the door this morning, making it seem as though he had arrived early, to complete the rouse.

In the middle of mentally scolding himself, a deep chuckle came from the bigger man. "Go home and get some sleep alright? I'll expect you tomorrow at noon, no earlier." He said still grinning. He went to his office door and said, "No later either." He chuckled again and shut the door behind him.

The young man smiled. He knew there was no point in arguing. He packed his things back in his toolbox and headed home.

His first footstep outside the garage was met with a light splash. Down here, pressurized water pipes would occasionally burst at intersections, creating a very fine spray similar to rain or mist. Not that he minded. Back before Valintine found him, he actually used to hang around The Works. Usually fighting small crime vigilante-style and living off of the small fraction of credits he looted from his busts. He had gotten quite good at it, until his hideout had been discovered and him forced to flee. But there, pipes burst all the time. There would even be real rain sometimes, if someone running the satellites got lazy.

He reached the elevator and pushed the button. It was a pretty well-used elevator, but it still took a solid minute to make its way down to him. Once it did, he rode it down alone to level 2553. It was far from the lowest floor, but few people ventured down here anymore. The framework was stable, but dirty and rusty from decades of disrepair. After walking only a half-mile, he arrived at his humble abode. To his surprise, thousands if not millions of people still inhabited these levels, including the pale Duro who ran the apartment system he lived in.

Since comfort was of little consequence, he had rented the smallest room the Duro had. His understanding was that it was never even intended for human inhabitants. Probably Ugnaughts or something. Nonetheless, he lived here. Just a bed, pantry for food, little kitchen area, and a lockbox for anything he was too lazy to find a place for. A few art pieces hung from the walls. Collected from trades he made with people instead of them paying for his services. He loved art, so he always took the first opportunity with it. 

He set down his toolbox by the door. "I'm home." He said to the room. As always, no answer. He went directly to the bed without getting food or changing clothes. "I'll eat later." He thought. He lay down on the small and instantly fell asleep.

___________________________________

Snow opened her eyes. She was laying on her back, looking up at the ceiling. Where was she?  Then it all came back. Her master telling her about the traditional trip to Korriban, mandatory for all acolytes. How there was an artifact, said to hold immeasurable power for the one who could figure out how to unlock it. Students and scholars alike had all tried and failed to do so. Even the emperor himself had visited the temple. Though no one was alive now to recount the events that had taken place inside. She remembered her excitement at the news of the artifact. All that power, just waiting to be used against the inferiors who dared think they have a right. She wanted it desperately. Craved it above all else. Its mere lure was enough to work its way into her dreams. Snow remembered then exactly where she was.

She sat up and noticed three things: a glowing red pyramid in the center of the room, her master Erra standing a few feet away, and the sense that her blood could melt straight to a planet's core.

"Apprentice, are you alright? Can you stand?" Erra asked. Snow looked back at her, and stood up slowly. "What happened to you?" The older woman continued.

"I feel..." Snow began. She drew a shaky breath. She wasn't sure how she felt. It was like...it was like...

"I feel like a god." She spoke softly.

Erra studied her. "What are you talking about? All you did was walk as slow as you possibly could down the hall, then pass out."

Snow looked at the pyramid, no longer glowing. "I...I think...it worked." She felt a surge of excitement and energy at the realization.

Erra seemed to do the same. Her eyes widened and she stood in shock for a few moments. "Apprentice, do you realize what this means? We could become powerful. We could become rulers. We could control the entire galaxy. We could--"

"We?" Snow interrupted her.

Erra took a step back, as though it were a physical blow. Snow, very softly, began to laugh. It was just a breath at first, but rose in intensity. Her master stood and stared in horror and fear. Snow just continued laughing.  After another moment, she stopped and confronted her instructor. "I think" She said thoughtfully while tapping her finger to her chin, "that I have all I need."

Snow then pointed her finger lazily at Erra and a single strand of lightning arced from it and into the older Sith. She was lifted up into the air, hanging suspended in front of Snow, who watched the older woman struggle and writhe against the power invading her body. The younger woman then flicked her finger at the wall and Erra went flying into it. Her body fell to the floor, but her spirit had already left.