Flint and Barney
From the Apocrypha of Voren Na'al
The Empire had already taken so much from the oppressed peoples of the galaxy- their dreams, their lives, their freedom- that it was foolish to believe that everything would change after the Battle of Endor. No sooner had the second Death Star faded to ashes than the real struggle began. Whether out of desperation or out of spite, the advisors and military commanders of the splintering Empire began carrying out unspeakable atrocities against worlds formerly in their grasp. Naldar was one such world.
When Alliance High Command decided to send a relief effort to Naldar, a move that strained already depleted resources of ships, supplies and personnel, I immediately volunteered. After all, one cannot expect the burden to fall upon the shoulders of venerated heroes and elder statesbeings. The mission was aided by two individuals who had recently been to Naldar. One was a lowly soldier, a quiet, unassuming man about my age. His name was Barney.
The other individual was a man as different from him as night from day: tall, lanky, light-skinned, with deeply haunted eyes. This man traveled under armed guard. I wondered about him as we dug out survivors from the ruins of the capital, set up emergency shelters and worked to get public utilities operational. When I asked the sergeant of the guard about the prisoner, I was told he was "the monster responsible for this carnage." The prisoner glanced in my direction at that point, and the look on his face seemed one of penultimate shame.
I made inquiries among the crew of the relief transport, and hit pay dirt when I interviewed Barney at the Alliance outpost on Kulthis.
Na'al: That guy they had under guard... you know him?
Barney: [pauses] I think I do. I thought I did. His name is Flint. We grew up together on Belderone.
N: Were you there during the assault?
B: Yeah. Everything gone, just like that. We were separated, and I never saw him again, until we went to Naldar. We used to work in the factories.
N: For the Empire?
B: [nodding] Yeah, though we didn't know what we were working on until the assault. War machines... walkers. I'd never seen anything like them in my life.
N: Once is enough; I can tell you that from experience.
B: Uh-huh. Well, I was hurt during the fighting. Eventually I was found, patched up and went along with Commander Skywalker.
N: Was Flint hurt, too?
B: [long pause] I don't think so. Not physically, anyway. His mother- she ran a tavern in our village- she was killed in the attack. She was all the family he had left. He probably thought I was gone, too.
N: Any ideas about what happened to him after that?
B: Before I left Belderone, I'd overheard some people saying that the Imperials' leader had taken Flint in. It was Vader.
N: [whistles]
B: I think Flint wanted some opportunity to gain and wield power. Being recruited by the Empire was the perfect opportunity. Being recruited by Vader gave him a chance to become something else entirely.
N: Which was...?
B: When Flint and I were growing up, we wanted to be Jedi Knights. In fact, Flint's father was supposed to be a Knight, but he disappeared when Flint was very young. [pauses] Maybe that was Flint's motivation, to make the memory of his father mean something more substantial, and that's why he went with Vader. That, and the fact that Commander Skywalker wouldn't take him on as an apprentice. Luke had his reasons, but that just made Flint angry.
Same thing with the heir of Naldar. I was there when the pilot of a damaged ship came to Endor and started making all kinds of demands. Luke agreed to help, but wouldn't take on a Jedi apprentice.
N: This was Princess Vila?
B: We didn't know it at first. She claimed to be Prince Denin, her twin brother. Funny, she didn't look much like a girl. Anyway, General Solo led the recon mission to Naldar, since the top brass voted against sending a large assault force. We were shot down, and it was while we searched the capital for spare circuits that we learned the truth about her. And about Flint.
N: So Skywalker blamed himself for Flint turning out the way he did?
B: That was my impression. There was information about the Imperial force that had occupied and assaulted the capital of Naldar. Flint was commanding them, calling himself "Lord Flint". He even wore an old armored battle suit and helmet.
N: Emulating his mentor?
B: I guess so. It's not as if he needed it to survive. But Luke asked me to go on the mission, maybe thinking I could help where Flint was concerned.
N: It seems to have worked...
B: But so many more people died...Princess Vila took a shot meant for Flint, after he surrendered himself to the Alliance. Commander Skywalker was injured by another sniper, after he and Flint fought to a standstill. I was able to intervene, but as to whether or not I really got through to him...I don't know. Things can never be the same between us anymore. I love him like a brother, but...it's going to take time. A very long time, I fear.
• Flint
Type: Young Dark Jedi
Height: 1.8 meters
Species: Belderonian
Sex: Male
| DEX 3D+1 | PER 2D |
|---|---|
| Blaster 5D | Command 6D |
| Brawling Parry 4D+1 | Search 4D |
| Dodge 5D+1 | |
| Lightsaber 6D+1 | |
| Melee Combat 5D+1 | |
| Melee Parry 5D+1 | |
| KNO 2D+1 | STR 3D+1 |
| Bureaucracy 4D+1 | Brawling 5D |
| Intimidation 5D+1 | Stamina 4D+1 |
| Streetwise 3D+1 | |
| Survival 4D+1 | |
| Tactics 5D | |
| Survival 4D | |
| MEC 3D | TEC 3D |
| Repulsorlift Operation 5D | Armor Repair 4D |
| Demolition 4D | |
| Repulsorlift Repair 4D | |
| Walker Repair 4D |
Special Abilities:
Force Skills: Control 4D, Sense 3D, Alter 5D
Force Powers: Absorb/Dissipate Energy, Control Pain, Remain Conscious, Magnify Senses, Life Sense, Telekinesis, Injure Kill, Lightsaber Combat, Telekinetic Kill.
This character is Force Sensitive.
Force Points: 2
Dark Side Points: 3
Move: 10
Equipment: Ceremonial Armor (+2D physical, +1D energy, No Dexterity penalties), Lightsaber (5D), Wrist Computer.
Description: Flint is a rugged and handsome young man. After his training by Darth Vader he donned a suit of ceremonial armor.
A Quote: "I'm going to become someone who matters... and then I'll show them all!"
• Barney
Type: Young Jedi
Height: 1.8 meters
Species: Belderonian
Sex: Male
| DEX 3D | PER 4D |
|---|---|
| Blaster 5D | Bargain 5D |
| Brawling Parry 4D | Persuasion 5D |
| Dodge 5D | Search 5D |
| Melee Combat 4D+2 | Sneak 5D |
| Melee Parry 4D | |
| KNO 2D | STR 3D |
| Cultures 3D | Brawling 5D |
| Streetwise 4D | Climbing/Jumping 4D |
| Survival 4D | |
| Willpower 4D | |
| MEC 2D | TEC 3D |
| Repulsorlift Operation 3D+2 | Computer Prog/Repair 4D |
| Starfigher Piloting 4D | First Aid 4D |
| Starship Gunnery 3D | Repulsorlift Repair 4D |
| Space Transports Repair 5D | |
| Starfigher Repair 4D | |
| Walker Repair 4D |
Special Abilities:
Force Skills: Control 2D
This character is Force Sensitive.
Force Points: 2
Move: 10
Equipment: Blaster Pistol (4D). Comlink.
Description: Barney is serious young man, haunted by the loss of friends and family.
A Quote: "It's what we've dreamed of all our lives, especially since the Empire got here... to help somehow... to be the ones who make a difference in what happens."
Flint and Barney were created by Jo Duffy and Klaus Janson.