Lost and Found... but Still Lost

I thought matters would improve if we were able to find our missing comrades. But it turns out there are things far worse than not knowing where someone is.

Namely, knowing exactly where that person's body is, but not having the slightest clue where their mind is, if it's even still in existence.

Despite being quite worried for those that went missing, life had to go on. Work, the farm, Half-Price Chocolate Day celebration, watching a movie with Darth for Valentine's, a trip to Provo to pick up the latest additions to the Starflight clan (two puppies, almost too cute to be legal, who will have their pics posted on the blog as soon as they're downloaded)...

Then this evening, after a hectic day at work, I came home to discover chaos descended while I was gone.

Vader met me at the door and escorted me to the barn, which used to be used just for storage but has now been refurbished to serve as a medical center and control room. I expected to maybe see a few wounded soldiers from a skirmish... but not what lay before me here.

"You found them!" I exclaimed, recognizing Maul on one of the berths.

Vader nodded. "We found them," he replied soberly. "Or at least... we found their bodies."

"What do you mean?"

"They were found lying unconscious in the field two days ago," he told me, sweeping an arm to indicate everyone in the medical center. "All efforts to awaken them have failed. They are alive, but we have yet to determine whether they are undamaged by whatever they suffered."

Heart in my throat, I walk between the beds, gazing upon the victims. Trisha kneels beside Maul's bed, holding his hand and weeping. Luke keeps solemn watch over his students' prone forms, and Yoda keeps vigil beside Qui-Gon. A dozen dragonriders lie comatose, each with the senseless hulk of a dragon beside his or her bed. Delta watches Crookwing for any sign of life, and Strong Bad sits beside The Cheat and tries not to look concerned but fails miserably. Starscream and Rampage lie motionless near the back -- I'm sure Vader has already contacted Prime about them. There are others, but none I recognize right away...

"What happened?"

"We're still not certain," Vader replies. "Professor McGonagall stopped by with Madame Pomfrey yesterday, and they are fairly certain it was not a dementor attack. We still suspect Voldemort's hand in this, however."

I turn and lean against his chest, just wanting this to be over. No more war, no more Voldemort, no more innocents being hurt on the whims of sadistic madmen...

"They will be all right," Vader vows, embracing me. "I sense it. They will awaken."

"Yes, but what shape'll they be in?" I ask. "Are they brainwashed? Or damaged somehow? Will they recognize us and see us as allies still?"

He doesn't have an answer for that.

Voldemort, wherever you are, I just have one thing to tell you -- back off. Stop hurting innocent people just because you can. It's not a mark of courage to torment those less powerful than yourself -- it's a mark of cowardice. Do you not have the courage to face the Resistance leaders face to face, but must bolster your ego by preying on their supporters?

I may be a Muggle, Lord Voldemort, but I'm not afraid of you. And as much as I'd like the war to be over now, I'm prepared to keep fighting it if it means ridding the galaxy of you and your allies.

Missing Persons

NOTE REGARDING CONTEST: Prizes have been decided for the contest winners. The writers of the top three stories will receive handmade statues similar to the ones I made for Fandemonium last year. The winners can choose the creature/person depicted and color (if applicable), and it will be shipped to them free of charge.

In other news...

We've returned to the house. Whoever destroyed the Phoenix never returned, and there have been no further attacks, so we're trying to restore some normalcy to our lives. (BTW, thanks, Zacharias, for letting us stay aboard Atlantis for a few days. It was a beautiful place.)

Ever get the feeling that you're sitting on a time bomb and have no idea when it'll go off, only that it will be soon? That's how I feel. And recent events aren't helping matters.

To put it bluntly, Jango finally returned from his Murtagh hunt (grumbling the whole way, I'm sure -- apparently, She-Nexu, he's upset that he didn't get to claim Za'roc as a trophy). Unfortunately, Qui-gon has yet to return. Vader senses that he's still alive, and Eragon has been able to scry him a few times, but other than that we have no idea where he is or what he's up to.

That in itself wouldn't be extraordinarily frightening -- Qui-gon's infamous for having a renegade spirit and is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. What worries me is that his is only the first in a spate of disappearances.

A few days after Qui-gon turned up missing, Luke commed to inform us that several of his students, including Admiral Thrawn's son and the Tusken twins, have gone missing. Again, though the Force-users among us can sense them, there's no trace of them otherwise. And a few days after THAT, a messenger arrived from Pern with the grave news that an entire wing of dragons and their riders vanished during a flight drill. Then just yesterday, the Homestar Runner crew called from the neighbor's house -- Strong Bad couldn't find his sidekick, The Cheat.

Today on my break, the final blow came.

I retreated to the back room for lunch to see the reference clerk, Shirley*, sitting at the table with Trisha, doing her best to comfort her. With a horrible sick feeling in my gut, I realized what must have happened.

"Maul's missing?"

Trisha nodded, wiping her streaming eyes. "He went... went with Crookwing to... investigate some weird activity in town..."

I sit down heavily. "Maul AND Crook are gone?"

She nods. "They just... vanished off the radar. They're alive... we know that... but..."

I go over and embrace Trisha. Poor girl. It's a wonder she's not hysterical or something. If it were Vader missing like this, I know I wouldn't be in this decent of shape...

Vader enters at that moment, looking more solemn than I'd seen him in a long time. I look up at him and sigh.

"What are we going to do now?" I ask.

"The only thing we can do," Vader replies. "We are sending out search parties and telling our forces everywhere to be on full alert. I am certain Voldemort is behind these disappearances, though the Force knows what his purpose is for abducting these people."

May the Force watch over Qui-gon, Valdin, Star-Chaser, Dragon-Horn, Maul, Crookwing, the missing dragonriders, and even The Cheat. I pray they are safe and will remain so until we can find and rescue them.

Everyone keep on guard. We don't know who Voldemort's targeting next. If you need any help securing your property and/or troops, let us know. We're always happy to help.

Second Annual Starflight Short Story Contest

I know this may seem an inappropriate time to hold a contest, what with gearing up for another war and all, but I figure we could all use the break. Since last year's contest seemed to be a success, let's try this again, but with a different sort of story challenge.

This year, to commemorate the release of both the fifth Harry Potter movie and the last Harry Potter book, the object of the contest is to write a short story detailing what happens when a character of your choice receives the following letter:

Dear [insert name here]

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

The only limitation (besides keeping the story rating at PG-13 or lower) is that the character receiving the letter CANNOT be an already established Harry Potter character. It can be an original character, a character from another fandom entirely... heck, it can even be yourself. Just no characters from the books or films. Use your imagination.

Judges consist of myself and any of the live-ins that are available at the time. Entries will be judged on creativity and the ability to catch and hold the reader's attention. Mechanical errors won't count against you, but please proofread and spellcheck before sending.

And please, no multiple entries. Bounty hunters are standing by...

Prizes will be announced in a later e-mail.

Entries can be sent to my e-mail. The deadline for entries is April 30, 2007.

Have fun and good luck!