Week 10 - Storytelling

The two great armies had finally approached each other. This star system hadn't seen this much traffic in hundreds of years. Ship after ship landed on the planet in order to drop off its load of soldiers and battle-droids. Some fighting between ships occurred in space but the numerous attack wings kept each other at bay in order for the troop transports to land without trouble. This planet was central to the system as it was a crucial re-fueling point in the sector and most traffic had to funnel through regardless, in order to bypass the numerous black holes.

Krishna had provided guidance and war-plan preparation leading up to this meeting. He knew that the Republic and the banking clans would come to war. It had been a matter of time. No amount of diplomacy, even with the Jedi council involved, could keep the banking clans from turning away from the potential profits that holding this system would bring. The Republic couldn't let this happen though. It would choke the system and some planets would suffer. Millions of lives could be affected.

Commander Yudhishthira of the Grand Republic Army walked out between the two great armies and crosses no-mans-land in order to parlay with the banking clan generals. He knew many of them and had fought alongside them in the past. He had even thought of some of them as brothers.

“What has been set into motion can  no longer be stopped. It is a shame that it has come to this but too many lives are in the balance.” Yudhishthira paused for a moment, looking around.

“I know you’re bound by eternal oath to your positions so I do not wish any ill upon you all. May you all fight and die well!”

Bhishma stood from his battle-speeder and spoke aloud for all to hear. “Yudi, I have known you for a long time. We’ve fought together more than enough for this lifetime. I wish you the best! Be strong!”

Krishna looked on at the blessings that Yudhishthira had been given before battle. He knew this would prove to be a boon for this oncoming battle. Many lives would change and end here. It was time to begin, however. Krishna drew his lightsaber and the shooting began.

The battleground was lit up by blasters and bombs for days. Soldiers from many different worlds and droids from many different manufacturers littered the battlefield. Great warriors fought with fierce dedication. Jedi and Sith met in lightsaber combat. Mandalorians were even spotted on the battlefield. Bhishma had been seen in battle numerous times, wielding his ancient vibro-staff with deadly ferocity. He was seemingly invincible. Yudhishthira knew he had to be stopped.

Bhishma's Vibro-staff
source

He decided to consult with Krishna in the hopes of gaining some knowledge that would give him an edge against Bhisma. Krishna was not unaware of Bhishma’s used of the vibro-staff. It was a weapon as old as the lightsaber, designed in a more civilized time. Bhishma had to be attacked while he didn’t have his weapon for it was what gave him is incredible ability to survive.

The next day, when battle commenced, Yudhishthira set out with intentions to find Bhishma and kill him. It did not take long. Bhishma was fighting with great skill and was defeating many Republic troopers. Krishna felt that this was about to change. Yudhishthira fired his heavy blaster many times in the direction of Bhishma. He either dodged the shots or deflected them with his vibro-staff. Krishna could sense the tension in Yudhishthira’s mind. He was feeling out in the force for a weakness but his senses immediately changed.

A Republic shock-trooper had fired his kinetic rifle at Bhishma and destroyed his vibro-staff. Krishna knew that the time was now.

“Attack now, Yudi!” Krishna shouted. “His defense is down!”

Yudhishthira hesitated. “I can’t, I just can’t.”

He couldn’t bring himself to actually kill his old friend. Krishna could sense his hesitation before it even happened and decided to make a move. He drew his lightsaber and struck down Bhishma with a single heavy blow. Yudhishthira was torn. He knew that Bhishma had to be defeated but couldn’t bring himself to see his old friend struck down. It was necessary however, and Yudhishthira continued to fight with a heavy heart.

Author's Note
I decided to revisit the realm of Star Wars again with this weeks storytelling. This is a retelling of the story of Bhishma's fall from the Krishna, Defender of Dharma graphic novel that I have chosen to read for the last two weeks. I had to make a couple plot changes for the sake of brevity. The primary change is that I have Krishna killing Bhishma instead of Arjuna. This was fun to write and again came to me easily.

Author: Shweta Tanjea
Artist: Rajesh Nagulakonda

Title: Krishna: Defender of Dharma
Year: 2013