My chains

I can’t believe it. Whether fate or luck or nothing, there he stands in front of me.
 
I had memorized the angles and planes of his face. Watched countless holograms of him. Found and read his entire career history before his disappearance. The moment I knew he was the Commanding Officer of the bombardment of Tages I was obsessed. And not in a good way.
 
He begins to drone on and on, and for a moment I am forced to listen. Listen to him talk about destroying yet another world. He speaks with such fervor, with such a savior complex. I can feel the air turn to ozone around me. With a cautious glance I check to see if anyone has noticed. They remain oblivious. I force the feeling down. Deep inside where the eternal hatred of Hugo Tannis dwelled.
 
I can’t listen anymore; can’t follow any conversation
 
There were only the sounds of Storm Troopers running through the tunnels, yelling about an incoming bombardment.
 
Only the sounds of my mother and father finding me, shouting for my brother. Where was he? We were just watching the Dejarik games...
 
Only our cries as the smooth rock ceilings started to crack, dust coating everyone who was running. The coughing as it filled our lungs.
 
The rumbling and falling of tons of rock, screams, then silence.
 
Silence until an Imperial Naval officer found me.
 
Somewhere else, I could hear my group mates speak. The imperial scientists plead their cases about saving Felucia. But, the native Felucians are in pain. I can feel it. I can feel the people dying in the tunnels. But, the Imperials saved me. It was the Republic who destroyed Tages. Hugo is wearing an Imperial uniform. I can’t think clearly. Why could I only save myself? Why couldn’t I be stronger? My mothers hand still clutches my arm- where is my father under these rocks? Where is he?
 
“Hugo Tannis.” I say, loud and clear. The rage of a thousand unanswered questions fills me as I ask “Do you remember me?”