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The Quiet City 1999 short story by
Jonathan Hicks Three years after Episode IV -
A New Hope Arach slowed his speeder down to a crawl and
looked at the city in confusion. Wennicas was an industrial planet nestled
comfortably on a trade route through the Setnin Sector. Covered in low hills
and sparse grasslands, the atmosphere, though almost always daylight from the
planet’s axial tilt was always breezy with small showers every few days. This
strange meteorological quirk kept the air smelling fresh and damp. The city of Haipspa on the Great Haipspa Canyon
was a collection of tall buildings design to taper at the top, with slots cut
into their sides for transports and airspeeders. The city had been built on
both sides of the canyon and as a result huge bridges had been constructed to
connect the two halves. Besides this, the city had also spilled down into the
canyon, with ridges constructed within the rock down to the bottom of the
chasm which had been converted into a main thoroughfare connecting this city with
the smelting facilities a hundred kilometres to the north. The huge towers
rose from the gash in the planet like clawing vines stretching for the sun. As ugly as the buildings were, Arach loved the
city. He had lived on Wennicas for most of his life, combining his love for
all things mechanical with his full-time occupation; he salvaged and dealt
with spares for starships and speeders, modifications were an option and it
was rumoured that if you needed it, Arach would get it. A rumour which Arach started himself. The bustle of the city was what had always
attracted Arach. His salvage yard was a few kilometres out of Haipspa but he
made sure he made the trip at least twice a turn. Supplies, business and
entertainment. Haipspa had it all for Arach. But at the moment all he could do was stare at the
city in confusion. When Arach crested the hill from his junkyard, he
suddenly noticed something was absent, and as he approached the city he knew
what it was; there was no sound. Small flying reptiles still cried out, the
mammals in the bushes snorted and snuffled, the steam geysers to the south
roared their fury. But that was it. There were no sounds of any starships passing
overhead, any work sirens blaring, the sounds of the great processor and
generator pressure valves venting excess gases. No speeders passing, no
Skyhopper's buzzing overhead. Just silence. Arach slid his hand over his newly baldhead. He
had become bored with his long thick hair, shaved it, and then immediately
regretted it. Small hairs were already sprouting and it felt strange to the
touch. He wiped his hand down his face to the small trimmed beard, which
encircled his mouth, and he pursed his lips. Weird. Slowly he pressed the accelerator with his thumb
and leaned forward in his seat. At a low speed he entered the outskirts of
the city and scanned the low-lying residential buildings with his naked eyes. All the doors and windows were closed. Storm
shutters were sealed, blast doors to speeder pens were shut. No gas or steam
drifted from ventilation ducts. No sound. No movement. As Arach turned his head back to watch the road he
saw something move, fast, across his path. In panic he slammed his feet down
on the brake panel and stretched his arms against the steering wheel. With
heart pounding and teeth gritted, he turned and came to a stop. A two-legged baby Mnu-Mnu scurried over the road
and into a small depression, where it snuffled, screeched and then ran off
into the wilderness. Arach noticed it had a muzzle and lead, which flapped in
the air behind it, as it fled. On it’s rump was its owner's stampmark. His confusion soared to new heights as he watched
the rapidly receding dust cloud. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, he
turned the vehicle towards Haipspa. Now he scanned the buildings and the road
ahead. The streets were clean, with the odd small dust
cloud whipped up by the breezes being channelled down the main entrance road.
Houses and apartment buildings stood quiet, all windows and doors sealed or
simply locked down. Some of the more extravagant security measures,
consisting of shielding over every portal the building possessed, were
activated and in place. Road holograms still blazed, directing busy
traffic that didn’t exist and informing the unknowledgable, in several
different languages, where certain routes lead. This told Arach that the city still had some form
of power. He piloted the speeder at a liberal speed to reach the city centre
where the huge trading malls had been built on the bridges stretching over
the canyon. Those places were where the main hangars and communal complexes
were located. Surely, he reasoned, if there was any sign of life it was going
to be there. As he passed the first few landing bays on the
edge of the canyon, with the towering buildings rising above him, he noticed
that the security doors were open showing the hangars empty. He frowned. Even
the business hangars were empty, where traders were continually landing and
taking off. These hangars were in use the whole time, they were busy even
when trade was slow. Again the streets were devoid of movement or any
signs of life. Retail rooms were sealed and offices were locked up. The trade halls and communal centres were as
deserted as the rest of the city. Arach’s mind whirled with the possibilities
as he clambered out of the speeder and entered one of the huge market domes,
built near the very centre of the largest bridge. The area where Cart’s stand
used to be was totally empty. Ju’rut’s stand area was oil-stained, as always,
but empty. His friends had left, too. Where was everyone? The whole city,
thousands of beings, just gone? No one here.
What happened? Evacuation? A fight? No signs of fighting. Some kind of
emergency, a natural disaster? No, there would be people still here, warning
the outskirts people, like me, of the danger. No warning signs, no calls. “Hello?”
He called, his voice echoing around the hall with a strange deep resonance.
He tried the call only once; as he heard his own voice reflected back at him
he realised that if there was a danger, he didn’t want to attract it. He walked from the hall and back out into the
sunlight. Light drizzle began, and he let the refreshing moisture cover his
face. He walked to the railing of the bridge and looked over, down into the
chasm below and the rest of the city. He scanned the streets below but saw
more of the same. Sealed doors shuttered windows. Lifeless.
“Nobody’s home.” He said to
himself. The sound of ringing metal on metal made him spin,
staring down the roadway to the next trading hall. The sound echoed in the
hall as his voice had, and the sound took on the effect of something scraping
across the ground. Then silence, except for the fading resonance of the
sound. Arach quick-stepped to his speeder, pulling loose
a rifle secured behind the driver’s seat. He checked the charge, set it to
stun and slowly approached the hangar. He felt his pulse quicken, sweat form droplets
that overpowered the moisture on his face. He admitted to himself, he was
scared. The city had never seemed so... alien
to him. He peeked around the door of the hall rifle first,
and saw a metal container lying on the floor, lid off, contents spilled over
the ground. A form, humanoid, was cowered over the contents and was hastily
stuffing large pockets with what appeared to be out-of-date foodpacks. As he
stepped into the light coming through the door his shadow fell on the figure
and it stood and spun quickly. A Devaronian, his sharp-toothed mouth curled into
a snarl, his coiling horns from his head protruding at different angles, his
red face pockmarked and grazed. Clothes ragged and torn, several ripped
garments hanging over withered bones. Arach recognised him for a dirter
straight away, not from his appearance but his smell. Dirters were the beings
who had come to Haipspa seeking work but found only poverty in the darker
reaches of the lower chasm. The Devaronian glared at Arach, clutching
foodpacks to his chest protectively, but when he saw the rifle in his hands
he panicked even though the weapon wasn’t pointed in his direction. One hand came up placatingly, stretched out to
Arach palm out, foodpacks dropping to the floor.
“No.” He growled, his voice
gravely and wavering. Arach realised how threatening he must appear, and
lowered the weapon so that it was behind him. “No,
wait don’t worry, wait...” The Devaronian, however, was backing off. “Hungry,
just hungry. No-one wants this, I’m not a thief, please...” “I’m not
going to hurt you, just tell me, what... where is everyone, what’s...?” “Get
out.” The Devaronian stammered. “They’re coming, coming. Run. Get out!” The
alien was almost hysterical now, dropping the packs as he started to back
away. “Who?
Who is coming?” With a whimper and a sudden spin, the Devaronian
turned and ran off for the far exit. "They’re coming!” He screamed, his
voice starting more echoes that Arach winced at. He watched helplessly as the
alien bolted for the door, passed through and vanished. All he could hear
then were his footsteps receding into the distance. Although the alien had been none too helpful and
his information cryptic, his panic had been all too informative. Someone was
coming, someone who had terrified the citizens and cleaned out an entire
city. Arach started contemplating what the threat may be
when he noticed a low reverberating under his feet. The resonance was
sequential, the tremors sudden and evenly spaced. He looked about in
confusion, and then headed outside. A quake? Maybe the citizens had evacuated
because of a tectonic warning? He headed back to the speeder, making up his
mind to get out of the city and try and contact one of the other settlements
for information. A glint of sunlight reflecting off a bright
surface caught his eye, down in the chasm, far up the canyon. He squinted at
the light as it flickered and he slowly approached the railing. Unclipping a small macroscope from his belt he
held it up to his eye and zoomed the visual receptor to where the light was
coming from. The enhanced image clarified as the light dimmed and he zeroed
in on the object the light was bouncing off. A huge object, a quadruped, its head waving from
side to side as it lumbered along. Huge. As Arach looked at it the picture
cleared and he swallowed hard. An Imperial AT-AT, the huge lumbering four-legged
war machine of the Galactic Empire, was slowly walking up the canyon. Heavy
assault cannons bristled from its head, and as it came fully into sight he
saw another one coming up behind it. At their feet were smaller objects;
AT-ST's, the smaller two legged versions of the huge battle engines,
quick-stepped along with speeder bikers flanking them. For some reason, Arach couldn’t take his eyes off
the approaching Imperials. So large. So powerful. With every step the ground
under his feet shook. He turned from the railing and walked quickly back
to his speeder. His hands were tingling and his teeth were grinding. His mind
worked furiously. Suddenly, he had been seized with the need to leave the
city. Like everyone else. Over the far railing of the huge bridge he could
make out more shapes coming down from the opposite side of the city. More
AT-AT’s and their support. The rumbling under his feet had become almost
constant. And then the sounds from the sky began. His head snapped up. Landing ships were coming
down in the hangars, huge troop transports and small three-winged shuttles.
As they began their descent, TIE fighters screamed overhead, some passing
below under the bridge. Smaller combat vessels dropped down into the streets,
mainly outside the councillor's offices and the policing department. As soon
as landing gear touched plastcrete, pressure doors unsealed and boarding
ramps dropped. Arach watched, rooted to the spot, stupefied even, as white
armoured Stormtroopers emerged, spreading out, covering every part of the areas
they landed on. The first few just stood around the ships, the next few
moving out to cover key points in the streets, and then yet more marching
down the ramps in order. Grey uniformed officers followed them down and
looked around the area casually. They pointed in certain directions and the
Stormtroopers responded immediately to their instructions. Scouts on speeder bikes flew past, shocking Arach
out of his amazement. They spared him casual glances as they headed out into
the city. A tall AT-ST began walking down the ramp of one of the larger
transports and started walking down the street towards him, Stormtroopers
running behind it. Arach suddenly realised he still had his rifle in his hand
and quickly threw it into his speeder. He walked around and pressed himself
up against the vehicle as the AT-ST walked past. The following Stormtroopers
passed also, the odd one looking at him but then turning their attention
somewhere else. They walked so close to him he could have stuck his foot out
and tripped one. The thought actually came to mind and he grinned to himself,
trying to suppress his shock. An officer began to walk across the street,
looking intently at a datapad. As he stood back to allow an armoured
personnel carrier to pass he looked over at Arach. Arach looked away, trying
to ignore his gaze, but the officer lowered his pad and started to walk over. “I
thought this city was going to be deserted.” The officer said, one hand
dropping to his gunbelt where he hooked his thumb. “What are you doing here?” Arach stammered. He couldn’t think of anything to
say and he blurted out. “I... I
came in to buy a new plasma welder.” The officer smiled his perfect teeth white against
his tanned skin. He pointed over at a deserted hardware shop on the other
side of the street. “Help
yourself.” He said, laughed at his
own joke, and then crossed over the street. Arach slowly climbed into his speeder, started it
up and slowly turned it down the road. A Blaster shot made him snap his head around, and
as he passed an alley opening he saw the Devaronian lying face down in his
pile of foodpacks, his back smouldering. He had a long metal pipe held
tightly in his hand, and as the scene went out of view Arach saw two
Stormtroopers materialising out of the darkness with weapons ready. Several
other troopers ran to the scene to investigate. Arach forced his gaze back to
the road and did his best to ignore the body. At a sedate pace he drifted back the way he had
come, slowing at intervals to allow squads of Stormtroopers to pass or heavy
armament to pull out of hangar bays. As he headed back into the residential
district he saw Stormtroopers doing house-to-house searches, Imperial
technicians deactivating security locks and the troopers entering the
buildings and searching. Every building was under scrutiny, even their
adjoining garages and smaller constructs. The Stormtroopers methodically went
through every centimetre of the street. But they ignored him. Every now and then he would
have to slow as more troopers and vehicles choked the road, but then a
Stormtrooper would wave him on. He finally reached the outer buildings and
then accelerated into the wilderness of Wennicas. The Empire!
Here! He
knew that the government of Wennicas were in talks with the Empire to supply
industrial goods, but from what he had heard recently the talks had broken
down after uncompromising demands from the Imperial war machine. Had the
talks failed so badly that it had caused military action? He couldn’t believe
it. Why? If the Empire took control of Wennicas it was obvious what would
happen. Taxes, oppression, virtual slave labour for the poor souls in the
workstations. He shook his head in sadness. Maybe it was time to load his
business on his ship and get off this planet. The last hill loomed above him, on the other side
was his junkyard, his livelihood for these past few years. He sighed as he
approached. Just before the crest he saw another speeder, one
he recognised. Huge modified thruster engines and garish paintwork, pennants
fluttering from numerous communication antennae. It was Cart’s speeder. His Rodian friend stood out in the road, waving
his arms frantically. Arach slammed his brakes on and stood in the cockpit.
“Cart!” He shouted. “What the
hell is going on?” The
Rodians voice, hoarse and whispery, came out in a rush. His language was one
that Arach understood. “I’ve
been waiting for you. Talks broke down between the guild and the Empire,”
Cart explained. “Any excuse. Any excuse for the Empire to take over. The
guild told the populace and they got out of there, fast. Wouldn’t you?” Arach nodded. “I don’t
believe it. I just... where is everyone?”
“Well...” “No
time, anyway. I’ve got to get my ship packed up and out of here before the
troops start scouring the area. Do you now how much of my merchandise is
illegal?” Cast appeared worried. “There
might be a problem there, Arach.” “What do
you mean?” Arach suddenly felt very nervous. “Well,
you know you’re junkyard is built over the area’s only fresh water outlet?” Arach slammed his rear end back down into the
pilot’s seat and hit the accelerator. The Rodian called after him but he
ignored the shouts for him to wait. “No, no,
no.” He mumbled, and crested the hill. There was his junkyard. And all around were makeshift tents, collapsible
shelters, energy fields protecting the refugees of the city from the
elements. Thousands upon thousands of refugees, hundreds of species, camped
around the outer walls and the inner yard, around the base of his ship and
virtually filling the plain his junkyard was situated on. Hundreds of beings,
milling, swarming. He heard shouts of friends, the laughter of children,
calls from official looking people trying to maintain order in the chaos. Arach slowly stood and looked at the masses. “Oh
dear" He said. The Quiet City 1999 short story by
Jonathan Hicks Three years after Episode IV -
A New Hope Histories - Set in and
around the Empire's invasion of the planet Wennicas, this short story by Jonathan
Hicks tells of some of the trials and tribulations that befall the junker
and all round good guy Arach Raynor. Set not long after the
events of Episode V - The Empire
Strikes Back, this story shows the beginnings of the massive Imperial
push into the Setnin Sector - and their intent on gaining revenge for their huge losses at the Battle of Mantin. Cast of Characters Arach Raynor Cast Ju'rut |