I hung my head.

[Draken Chakara]

I hung my head.

The guard had to tell me that I was free to go at least three times. I just... couldn't seem to make myself care. I raise my head, finally, to let him know I heard him, nodding slightly. I stand on leaden feet and shuffle my way out of the holding cell. They hand me back my warhammer, saying something about being more careful in the future, not to be so reckless... it's all just a muted buzzing in my ears. All I can do is stare at the hammer in my hands. It's funny... I've always been so strong. The hammer usually feels almost weightless when I swing it. Now, it's so heavy. So very heavy.

The images come flashing back... the girl, the man, the closed door. In all honesty, I can't decide what I feel. The girl is safe. Would I do it again? Likely so. But I'll carry this burden. As I leave the station, the thoughts play back in my head...

[Alexander Bane]

A scream echoed through the night, followed by many more. The sound of a blaster going off could be heard, shortly followed by the sound of breaking glass and the tinkle it made when it struck the ground. A house's lights came on just as a dark haired man jumped out of the broken bedroom window and down on to the street, with a squirming bundle under one arm and a smoking blaster in the other.

[Draken Chakara]

A few days earlier...

I'm on my way home from work once again. The work is hard, but at least it's only physical. Physical tired... that I can handle. When my mind gets tired, I can't get away from it. It just wears me down.

Actually, tonight wasn't so bad. One shipment of raw materials didn't arrive, so we all got an extra-long break for the last couple of hours of work. And, since it wasn't our fault, we still get paid. All in all, a good night.

I perk up as I hear a scream, swinging the massive impact hammer from my shoulder. I thumb the mag generator, and the tool comes to life with a hum. It was not designed to be a weapon, but I've been able to put it to good use over the last few weeks. I summon up my armor, coating my body in a metallic sheen as I start to trot toward the sound. It's indistinct, so I'm having to guess as to its exact location.

I hear a blaster and breaking glass a few meters ahead. I pick up the speed, only to see a man carrying a blaster and a sack race away into the night.

"Stop!"

I can't think what else to say. I know the man isn't going to listen to me, turn around and say, "Gee, I'm sorry... don't know what I was thinking," but I have to say something. Just seems right.

The man obviously heard me, though, as he picks up speed and starts darting around corners. I chase, but the man is obviously faster. All I can do is push on with everything I've got and try to follow the sound of footsteps. Whatever he was carrying looked alive, and human. I can't let him get away.

[Alexander Bane]

Alexander heard a voice behind him and sprinted off in the opposite direction. He looked over his shoulder and saw a guy coated in some shiny material running after him. "Bugger off," Alex shouted and flashed the man the birdie and then turned a corner and ran down an alley. From there he weaved up and down streets, through alley and side streets. At one point Alex had taken a few shots at the man and then ran again.

Alex turned a corner and found himself in a dead end alley. "Sharn" He cursed before spotting a fire escape ladder and pulling himself up on it with his one free hand.

[Draken Chakara]

The man is fast... I have to give him that. And the fact that he is climbing a ladder with one hand is even more impressive.

The thought crosses my mind of simply hitting him with a Force Blast or two and disloging him from his shakey perch. I should be able to catch the package before it hits the ground. It's the "should" that disabuses me of that notion. I pause for a moment to sling my hammer back onto my shoulder and gather my strength, and leap onto the ladder, aided by the Force. That does allow me to get a bit closer to him, and the fact that I get to use both hands lets me gain on him. I can't do anything until he reaches a flat surface, though. Too much jostling, and he might drop what he's carrying. I continue to gain on him as the end of the ladder approaches.

[Alexander Bane]

Alex reached the end of the ladder and pulled himself up onto the rooftop. Without looking back he ran for the other side, leaping off it and onto the building that was butted right up against it. He landed hard, losing his balance and tumbling to the ground. He jumped back onto his feet and ran forward again, the bundle still clutched under his arm like a sack of potatoes. He reached the end of the roof and ran down the building fire escape. He located a window and blew it open with his blaster pistol. He moved through the broken glass and slipped into the apartment room, much to the surprise to the couple who where lying in bed enjoying each others' company. Alex ran out of the bedroom, down a flight of stairs, through the front door, and back out into the street.

He paused to catch his breath; bending over and holding himself up on the pedestal of a statue of some forgotten person. His eyes watched the door he had just ran through. He wondered if he had lost his pursuer.

[Draken Chakara]

The small gains I had made from the ladder are quickly lost as soon as my quarry reaches the top. He flies from the roof to the neighboring one, never losing hold of the bundle beneath his arm. I had gotten close enough on the ladder to hear a few cries and whimpers, and the small feet sticking from the bottom of the sack confirms it for me. He has a child... a girl, from the sounds of it. Frankly, I'm beginning to lose patience, and the fact that this... this scumbag has abducted a child...

I've had little in the way of formal Force training thus far. I know a couple of the basics. Of course, I've heard the familiar strains of "Beware anger, for it leads to the Dark Side." Surely, though, in this case SOME anger is warranted. He has abducted a child!

I have little time to ponder the intricacies of Light and Dark as the man and his package are quickly slipping away. I see him hit the roof and follow, but as soon as I land, I've lost him. The sound of blaster fire has me rushing to the fire escape. I see an opened window, and know that he's entered the building I'm on. I scan the sides of the building, and note that there are only a couple of exits, both on the same side of the building. Obviously, he has to come out one of those. Not to mention, if I go rushing into this building, I could easily lose him.

My patience pays off. Less than a minute later, I see the man come rushing out the front door, then pausing to catch his breath. I smile grimly, knowing that I have him now. I take a deep breath and launch myself over the edge of the building. It's several stories up, I know, but my armor will protect me. It won't be pleasant, but at this point, I'm ready to do anything to stop this guy.

I land behind the man with a giant "THOOM!" I've made a bit of a crater, and I'm shaken a bit from the fall, but all in all, I've made it in one piece. My patience, however, is all but exhausted.

"When I say stop, I mean stop. Drop. The. Child."

[Alexander Bane]

Alexander screamed and spun around. There before him stood the man he had tried so hard to avoid.

"Drop the Child." The metal man commanded.

"Child?" Alexander said, fake innocence playing across his face, "Nay. Not a child. Tis a sack of potatoes, thats all, Gov'na." He prodded the lumpy bundle, which moaned. "Er..." Alex stammered and then suddenly raised his hand and pointed behind Draken, "Look, look. Its Darth Vader!" And he didn't even look to see if the man had been fooled by his lie, he just turned heel and ran down the street for all he was worth. His long skinny legs pumped up and down; propelling him down the street as fast as they could. "Yar mother was a tin can!" He shouted and then turned down an alley.

[Draken Chakara]

The man's attempt to throw me off course only angers me further. He is running away with a child! I raise my left hand in a fist, concentrating in the Force. I unleash a Force Blast toward the wall as the man rushes into the alley. It breaks off a few chunks of loose duracrete as he slips by. Hopefully, he'll at least be thrown off a bit. I rush after him quickly, catching a glimpse of him as he turns a corner.

[Alexander Bane]

A slab of Durocrete shot out and struck Alex on the forehead, causing him to stumble and fall, but was back on his feet in a second, his free hand holding his forehead and the lump that was forming under it. His vision was all fuzzy and it was impossible for Alex to make heads or tails out of the street on the other end of the alley. So instead of daring the unknown, he turned and pushed through a door that, by the noise and small, was a bar, and a dark one at that. He quickly pushed his way through the crowds and took position hiding behind, what looked like, a bald man, who hadn't noticed him there.

[Draken Chakara]

I'm close this time... I can feel it. He's not getting away from me.

I see the door to the seedy bar swing shut and catch a glimpse of his foot slipping inside. I reach the door and shoulder into it with all my Force-enhanced might. The door explodes inwards, showering the nearby patrons with slivers of wood. I scan the room, searching for the kidnapper. Though I don't see him, I do note that there is only one other exit besides the one I'm standing in front of. The bar has been virtually silent since I arrived. Small surprise, seeing as a 6' 6" metal man just blew the door off its hinges. I ask loudly, "Has anyone seen a young man come in here carrying a bundle?"

Most haven't seen anything, or are simply too stunned to speak. A balding man perks up after a few moments and says, "Hey! There's a guy like that over here!" I see the young man get up and start darting to the other exit. I yell for everyone to get out of the bar, and most oblige me willingly. I see a flash of light as the other door opens. Apparently, the door leads outside.

[Alexander Bane]

Alex let our a small cry when the door exploded inwards, but stifled it by slapping his free hand over his mouth. The tin can man was back, and this time he looked angry.

"Hey! There's a guy like that over here!"

"Schutta!" Alex cursed, jumping to his feet and running towards a door he hadn't seen when he first came in. He pushed it open, his face alight with the thrill of the chance and the prospect of getting away again. But his face fell when he realized that this door only opened up onto a balcony that overlooked a street far below. The bar had been built on a raised ledge and the only escape was a twenty, or so, foot drop over the railing, "Oh, no, no, no, no...NO!" Alexander screamed. A noise caused him to spin around, blaster drawn. There on the other side of the small balcony stood a middle-aged man with stim in one hand and a lighter in the other, "Screwed," Alex said, "We're SCREWED!"

He turned away from the man and aimed his blaster at the door, waiting for tin can man to pop out.

[Draken Chakara]

The crowd streams past me as I rush toward the door. I raise my hammer and swing at the door with all my might. I know it's unnecessary. I know I'm losing my temper. At the moment, I don't care.

The door shatters, leaving nothing behind but splinters. I, however, don't hear that. I hear a man screaming. A blood-curdling, life-ending scream. I rush through the door in horror to see a man falling to his death over the edge of the small balcony. At first, I fear I have killed the kidnapper and the child. My tunnel vision clears, though, and I see them standing to the side, he with a blaster in his hand.

I open my mouth to tell him to stop, to make him give up, something. My mouth opens and closes ineffectually for some time. I've killed an innocent. It was an accident, yes, but it was my fault. I was angry. I was to blame.

I finally realize that I still have a job to do. The child still must be saved. I block the door with my bulk and stare down the criminal. With great effort, I finally choke out a few words.

"You... put her down... now..."

There's no fire in my voice now. Just weariness. I can hear the sirens as security arrives. I'm almost in a dream state now. I just hope the child is ok.

[Alexander Bane]

Alexander yelped as the door exploded, but his look of terror became one of psycotic pleasure as he watched the man next to him scream, back up, and tumbled over the railing. Alexander laughed as he watched the man fall and splatter on the ground below.

"You... put her down... now..."

Alex slowly turned around to find the tin man standing there. Alex raised the blaster and aimed at Draken's head, "No, you di..." There was a click and a blaster bolt shot from behind Draken and hit Alex's hand.

Alex screamed, his blaster falling to the ground as he regarded the space on his arm were his hand had been before, but wasn't anymore. His entire right hand was gone and only a burning stump was left. He dropped to the ground, letting loose of the bundle on the way down. The bundle hit the ground and opened up to reveal a unconscious child. "Move in!" came a commanding voice from behind Draken and a dozen city watch officers moved onto the balcony, grabbing the child and tying Alexander up the best they could while the man thrashed and screamed on the ground. One of the men moved over to Draken, "Corporal Phenn, Coruscant watch," He said, holding out his badge just for the heck of it, "Are you injured or hurt, son?"

[Draken Chakara]

I see the blaster in the man's hand, but can't seem to force myself to care. The reality won't sink in. I know I've killed a man. I know it full well. I let my armor drop. At this point, I don't really care if I die.

I let my shoulders slump, hammer dangling from my hands. I close my eyes and wait for the blast. I hear his words, but suddenly, they're cut short by another scream. I open my eyes, mouth wide with surprise, to see the criminals hand gone and a blackened stump remaining. The child, it appears, is safe. It's all I can do to keep from crying.

The officer asks if I'm hurt. I don't think I even hear him the first time. I finally am able to shake my head no. I try to explain what happened. I point at the body, stammer something about being in a hurry, trying to save the girl, angry... none of it comes out right.

The officer takes pity on me, in some ways. He takes my hammer from me almost gently. They put binders on my wrists, but they're not rough with me. No one yells, no one shoves me into the speeder. Maybe they can tell that it was an accident. I honestly don't know. In some ways, I almost wish they would attack, beat me up, yell at me for what I did. I feel like I deserve it. Instead, they almost give me... pity.

When I arrive at the station, they lead me into a cell and start saying something about investigating the scene and getting to the bottom of things. I nod mutely, lost in my grief. They give me some food, but I can't bring myself to eat. I can barely stir from my cot. I just... sit there, all night. The sound of the man's screams, the falling body... all night, they echo in my head. Sleep is the last thing on my mind.

The next day, the come to my cell to free me. I asked for the man's name and address. A Mr. Jerr Omarra, located in a large apartment block a few miles away. I head off to find his family. After an hour of walking, I arrive at the small apartment. I knock at the door, the sound matching the hammering of my heart. A middle-aged woman answers the door carrying a small boy, both of them red-eyed from crying. A slightly older girl clings to her leg.

She seems to know already what has happened. An officer must have called her last night. I beg her forgiveness. I tell her how I was only trying to save a little girl. Through tears, I explain what happened, and offer to do anything I can to help her out. She takes some solace in the fact that the child was saved, but it is poor comfort. I offer all the money I have saved to help them. I know it won't pay for the loss of her husband, but I have to help. She accepts. I think she knows I'm sorry. It should make me feel better. It doesn't.

I wipe my tears, bid the woman farewell, and head back to the surface. I find a small outdoor bistro, take a seat, and order a caf. I hold the cup, planning on drinking, but I never take a sip. The cup goes cold in my hands as I realize what I've done. I'll never forget the man's name, and what my actions caused. I'd orphaned his children. I'd widowed his wife. And all for no reason... just one moment of anger. I hung my head.

I hung my head.