Chapter 1: Rebar (The Tale of TK-317 aka “Crash”)
Writer / Co-Creator: Elly Hazel
Art/Co-Creator: Marietta Ivanova
The story of Crash is part of the stormtrooper stories "The Shadow that hides us from Death" and a prequel to the illustrated story "Bishop’s Hand".
“You alright?” TK-317 wheezed.
“Are we alright? You’re the one with half the Rebel base on your chest! Why’d you go and do that, rookie?”
TK-317 couldn’t respond. He could barely breathe. And anyway what sort of question was that? Of course he was going to shove his comrades out of the way. Of course he would prefer to be beneath a nerf-size pile of debris instead. The alternative was letting his fellow troopers die beneath the collapsed roof and that simply wasn’t an option.
No...it was better he was here.
Through the dusty film of his visor, TK-317 could see death above him: Large chunks of concrete were precariously held at bay by bent and warped rebar poles. One long piece of metal was twisted into a pretzel-shape, the upside-down V pinning his neck to the ground. As the debris shifted and moved, so the metal began to press on his throat.
It wasn’t going to be long. He was going to die here.
“Hey guys?” TK-317 whispered.
They didn’t answer. The troopers had left him. He was going to die here alone.
He wasn’t ready...not yet...not here...
He tried to draw in a steadying breath, slow and shallow. Dust found its way through the small cracks in his helmet and his lungs burned. A single cough escaped him. The debris shifted.
TK-317 kept his eyes open as he waited for death.
“I’m here, buddy,” TK-441 said.
TK-317 couldn’t speak, but he focused on that voice.
He reminded himself that TK-441 was safe. TK-454, too. That was all that mattered.
The rebar was pressing harder against his throat now. It creaked and groaned. He opened his mouth. No final words came.
Stay safe, my brothers...TK-317 thought, and closed his eyes.
Time froze. A heaviness came over TK-317’s body, but it was not the weight of debris slowly crushing him. It felt like..a heavy blanket. Cold and sturdy. It chilled his bones, but kept him alive. When TK-317 opened his eyes again, the debris was being lifting above him, falling upwards by some unseen force.
The twisted rebar that had pressed against his throat was now floating away. His eyes followed the hellish metal rod as it drifted through the air, gently landing on the ground beside him.
TK-317 turned his head slowly. His wheezing was drowned out by the haunting rhythmic breaths of a dark lord standing over him, gloved hand extended, moving the last of the debris away.
For a moment, the trooper and the Sith Lord looked at each other in quiet contemplation.
Then, Darth Vader turned and walked down the corridor.
TK-317 was dimly aware of his comrades gathering him up, berating him on his bravery, but his mind was focused on the shadow of Vader fading in the distance.
Darth Vader had saved him.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Dunno!” said TK-454. “We arrived at the rendezvous and he noticed we were short a trooper. He didn’t say anything, just marched down and saved you!”
TK-317 looked down at the twisted metal rebar that had almost ended his life mere moments ago. He picked it up. He watched the shadow of Vader disappear in the distance.
He didn’t know what any of this meant. He didn’t know if this was a sign for greater things, or a random kindness from Vader. But this was important...somehow…
He would keep the rebar with him as a reminder...just in case...
