Here is my ongoing attempt to find legal, free ways to do things. Check back for updates.

http://www.opensourcewindows.org/

The search continues with http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/s5/
It’s a PowerPoint-ish program.

As told by Flannigan -

So the party has set off into the Forest with Lowfryyka driving the AR-ST with most of the party on board. A few remaining clone troopers (the 2 special guys) take a few parting shots. The witnesses who will report us to the authorities, err, the Emperor.

The Cerean follows closely in the AT-ST.

The problem is that the Speeder gives chase harassing the party with fly-by attacks. Slowly whittling us down while remaining behind the safety of extreme distance.

And just when we feel we have escaped the situation, this strange dark armored possible sith figure, charges the party in a blur; placing himself directly in our path. And we realize we cannot out run his Bursts of Speed.

There is another silent black blur, Mashi! It is like some old strange holovid as a oddly silent moment passes, after the raging explosions of a few seconds ago are forgotten. Vader seems almost unaware, or maybe unconcerned of the feral creature. And it was an error of sorts, not his first or last of the day. Mashi charges to Vader’s left with preternatural agility and speed, then twists right at the last second and his claws lash out. Striking deep into Vaders armor. Vader does not flinch, except that we sense a building darkness within him. As if he himself is calling a dark rage, a hideous power of hatred with which to lash out at all these foolish beings who dare challenge one of, no, not one of but THE supreme warrior in the galaxy. With a flick of his lightsaber Mashi’s chest is cut wide open and he crumples at the Dark Lord’s feet. Fare the well noble creature.

Don considers jumping off the craft to delay this fierce some dark horror, but hopes that the party will find a way to still escape. It is a moment that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Hindsight will teach him that the shadow of the dark side had caused him to react under fear. Leading to the death of 2 dear friends and a permanent scar to carry until his end-of-days.

Calling on the Force Don moves both vehicles away from Vader giving us distance so we are not quickly slashed to pieces. The party continues to take attacks but struggles to even hit this Sith Lord.

Then the party finds themselves once again under the blade of Vader and his myriad force powers. Not to mention the speeder continues to harass; our strength dwindles with single shots that never seem to miss.

Don, exhausted of vitality, calls upon the force by sacrificing his physical health (burns wound points) to activate Improved Force Mind. Lowfryyka, Hoodan and Eli all are pushed back into the realm of consciousness and act quickly.

Low pulls out his back pack and activates ALL his explosives for 12 seconds and jumps on Vader in a wookie rage, summoning all his primal strength while calling upon the Force to aid him in his last seconds of life in this world. The power of his wookie rage is enough to even stun Vader.

Hoodan, still succumbing to the sadness of his clan’s slaughter, and haunted by the partial guilt he shared in the events leading to their deaths, sees one of the most dear people to him (still alive) willingly sacrificing his life for his and other’s welfare. This moves him to act without thinking, but through feeling. He jumps into the fray trying to lend to the pinning of Vader to the ground. We will never know whether it was the nightmare guilt of another close friend dying before his eyes that caused him to act so rashly. Was it that he refused to live with any more personal death? Was it the fear of such a weight??? Or maybe he was inspired by his friend to live one last glorious moment of excellence. To spit in death’s very face and laugh at perdition’s flames as they closed in upon him. And truly, do his motives matter? The actions of a man in such moments of crisis define him. Not the fleeting thoughts which exist in the shadow of such actions.

11 seconds…

A blur and flash of light and the speeder has struck again! The party sees Don blasted clear off the walker, landing several yards away. Apparently lifless.

10 seconds…

The situation has grown worse as almost the entire party stands next to a spot in space and time which is moments away from resembling a super nova.

Eli moves quickly taking the controls and backing the party away from the explosives. And he vows that the clone speeder has made his last pass, at any cost.

But Lance acts first. Taking careful aim with the AT-ST he opens fire on the vehicle at great range. And the Force is strong with him. The clone speeder explodes and there is little evidence the threat ever really existed, except for a fallen comrade.

8 seconds…

Vader summons a great dark force seeking to toss this foolish wookie away. But no, how can this be, even with the Dark Side surging through his entire being the creature holds. With a growl that boarders between hope and death Low defies the Dark Lord’s strength. Vader lashes out with a variety of dark powers at his two grapplers and finds that he cannot escape their desperate hold.

5 seconds…

The remainder of the party backs up in stunned anticipation. Wondering what could they do?

4 seconds…

The wookies arms crush like a vice, the explosives securely on his back. Is that a smile or a snarl?

3 seconds…

It is as if the entire weight of history is pushing down on this very moment.

2 seconds…

Vader lays down at the last moment. As if surrendering to something? Reaching out to something? What are the last thoughts of this dark figure?

1 second…

Lowfryyka looks into the eyes of his prey, his victim, knowing that though his people have suffered, and he may have fallen from grace with them. At this moment he speaks for them against the very darkness which seems to be crossing the galaxy. He wispers something in wookie?

Was he speaking to Vader?

Was it to himself?

To the friend at his side?

What words passed between this noble warrior and this legendary anti-hero?

Only Hoodan, Vader and Low would know…

0.

A flash of light expands out in a tight ball 4 meters wide. Then a wave of heat pours over the party. A blast of force knocking the air from their chests. At least those still breathing.

Their eyes clear.

There is nothing but a smoldering crater where death warred with life.

And in a moment, the strength of adrenaline and crisis depart those left alive. And a certain weakness begins to wash over them. A weariness which seems to come from a lifetime of loss.

Eli checks the crater to be sure. There is nothing left put a few pieces of machine. Are those droid parts? He is not sure.

Lance rushes to his Jedi friend. Hoping that he is not the last of his kind. Not knowing if any other Jedi draw breath. Don lives, but barely. Lance summons the force and bends life to his will. Driving living energy into the being who is fading right before him. And with a gasp Don’s eyes flash open.

Lance smiles briefly and turns to others giving them precious life energy through the Force to return to the state of action.

The party examines their situation of loss. And wonders, will we ever escape this dreaded planet? Or will it continue to consume us a few at a time?

And then, as if the planet itself still hungered for more death, they hear the sound. The sound of approaching engines.

A sick feeling fills our gut. How can this happen? Will not destiny honor Low and Qou’s sacrifice? If not for a few moments at least! No. It launches another wave of pain and suffering at the party, mocking their moment of hope.

We exchange glances knowing that we lack the strength to fight even a small force at this point. Let alone another airborne unit.

Nor can these vehicles out pace the aircraft.

So we set our eyes and turn to face this new moment.

And then, a beat up air freighter comes into sight??? In the cockpit sit Xeno and our other Jedi friend.

The party boards without pause knowing that other craft may soon follow. The two Jedi explain that they were having trouble getting into the city when all the troops took off in one direction because of some battle. While the battle raged they stealthed into the city. “Acquired” a “currently unoccupied” vehicle. And used See Force to find us.

Eli mumbles, “Well I’m glad our blood made it easier for you.” {with a hint of sarcasm}

Magnus curtly says, “Let us depart before our waiting around and talking about what to do gets us attacked by another massive military force.” {an edge of annoyance in his voice}

“Wait,” says Don. “We must check on Mashi. He may live.”

Eli considers making some joke about dragging along another fur-ball after we just finally got rid of the last one but decides it might be even a little too inappropriate for even him at this moment.

The ship shuttles over to Mashi’s body. Levitated up by the force he still lives when Lance heals his body.

Mashi awakens the next day far from his planet in something called hyper-space?

END ADVENTURE

Here’s where I put cool stuff.

Like that dancing guy…