Darkness

Darkness. Everywhere, there was no light. His mind swirled in a haze. He felt nauseous and strange as if floating weightless.  He tried to open his eyes again but they were simply too heavy.  Where was he?  What was wrong with his body?  He tried to move but the haze overcame him and an irresistible urge to sleep. No, he couldn't fall asleep! He had to wake ...  the darkness won.

He was awakening again. How long had he slept? He tried to break through the fog of his mind but the haze was too much. Wait! He remembered ... the sandstorm ... the Sarlacc! His men! They had fallen into the trap of the massive beast. There was more, something else. His body jolted as pain shot through him and the darkness returned.

He stirred.  Awake again.  What was wrong with him?  Where was ... his memories shot through his mind like a lance!  The firefight in the wreck! He had led his men, pushing into the hallway. He winced in pain as the memories came back.  Pushing into the hallway he'd used the bodies of the two mercenaries as shields, absorbing the hail of bolts as he tossed the lifeless bodies into 3 more mercenaries to the left of the doorway a good 6 meters.  Leaping he covered the distance with ease and tore into the first man with his claws, shredding him in an instant.  The other two were just recovering from the body slam as he buried his claws into the 2nd man's neck. That's when it had happened.

Pain shot through his mind, excruciating pain!  He could see himself in the hallway, his claws dripping red, as the body of the 2nd man went limp and fell to the floor. Something was wrong though, he wasn't moving he was just standing there. He could smell smoke from blaster bolts impacting flesh ... could smell the burned flesh. He looked down and saw 2 smoking holes in his armor.  His eyes narrowed as he snarled and looked up at the 3rd mercenary, who had fully recovered and was holding a freshly fired blaster rifle, pointed at him. The man fired again! And everything went black.

He was back again! How long had he been out? Mustering his strength he began opening his eyes, finally! He was submerged in a fluid-filled tank, a rejuvenation tank. Focusing his eyes he strained to see through the fluid. He could make out the shapes of bodies, some moving, and some standing. He closed his eyes several times each time to open them and trying to focus, trying to see clearly. His vision began to clear and the shapes took form. Toby, Rosh, Shane! As his eyes met each of theirs he watched as they all three lifted their heads and let out roars he could feel and hear even from inside the tank.