Introduction
Disclaimer: I didn't create this Galaxy, George Lucas did, I thank him for that and for the Star Wars films, though not so much the prequeals and the endless Clone Wars cartoons!
AU. This is my re-write of the first two of the Prequeals. This is an almost total re-write so foget anything you knew about the first two films. Although some of the characters have the same characteristics, I have put them in a totally different situation and the Galactic situation is different. Rather than having an all-powerful Republic, it's powers are very limited in the Wild Western Rim of the Galaxy were due to War and misguided policies it is wild and chaotic. And as I say, no Gungans! And I don't think Threepio does much, though R2 is in it! Please read and review, thanks Ham
This is something which I belive fanfiction was invented for. I liked the original Star Wars series but like many was disappointed with the prequeals or at least with the first two. So this is my attempt to rewrite them and to perhaps make them a bit more like the original trilogy. I would be particularly interested in the opinions of those that are of the same mind about Star Wars in comparing this tale with the prequeals, would think.
Some more information as I have been told this is a little confusing. Jack Sandcleaver lives on Tatooine. He is a decent enough chap, a skilled Farmer's son and good with computers and programing. Only thing is he like most on Tatooine is a little cut of from the rest of the galaxy. So he really knows very little about the rest of the Galaxy and doesn't think it will ever bother him, despite his mother occasionally telling him that he should journey, he will find the Galaxy good for him.
All right, Jack probably should know more, but he doesn't. Neither does he really think the Galaxy will call him at all. Until one day...
Journey through the Stars
The planet was a desert world consisting totally all right maybe mostly of sand. And was famed for it! It was called Tatooine. Within this planet there was a town. A village. In this village there also was a little market. The village was called Aldenham. In this market, a young dark-haired man dropped down from the sky on a flying chopper.
The chopper was a tripod-bike, very big, indeed the young man was smaller than its three plastic covered wheels. The man was wearing light green leather that fitted him well. The man parked his chopper-bike that he was very proud of climbed of and went of to do a boring but necessary task.
The man was called Jack, Jack Sandcleaver. With a smile he negotiated the sliding doors that opened with an electronic sizz and Jack proceeded inside the large, plastic, airy building and bought his weekly shopping. But shopping can be tiring work and a nice little cafe was open next to the market. 'So, how about a nice coffee to refresh myself!' Jack thought and sat down into a nice comfortable seat. The cafe was small next to the small market and Jack thirstily supped upon the drink. Oddly enough, the only ingredient that was missing was water itself. Tatooine been a desert world was very short on water in fact it was one of the rarest substances on the planet and therefore expensive due to that fact. The drink had a water substitute a liquid from a common desert herb in fact. This didn't distract from the enjoyment of the drink.
Jack was thinking things nice and relaxing when he saw an exciting sight. The Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn had entered the cafe. When he was younger Qui-Gon Jinn had been a friend of his mothers she had introduced him to the Jedi and he'd regularly been to exotic parties where Qui-Gon had put on some spectacular shows to entertain the guests. 'Qui-Gon!' Well, this is a pleasant surprise. You're a man I haven't seen for quite some time. Always a tale to tell you have of places far away and sometimes long ago.' Jedis could be like that. Good people with almost magic like powers from the capital of the Republic on Coruscant.
Qui-Gon replied by giving Jack a long, slow and thoughtful look. Qui-Gon was wearing a comfortable of unstylish brown trousers and tonic and large, black stirrup-like not that they were as clumsy as stirrups, boots. He had long, grey brown hair, brown eyes and a small, grey beard. After a little while he replied. 'Jack isn't it? yes, I remember you. An inquisitive young lad I always thought. With a bright smile. I won't mention those glasses! Well, I was just passing this planet with my apprentice and I thought I'd pop by here to get a take-out. I was in a hurry but as you are there... I could join you for a Coffee. You might just hear something to your advantage.'
Jack and Qui-Gon looked at each other. This was quite a significant moment. Later on, Jack often wished he replied, 'Sorry Qui-Gon, I'm a bit busy at the moment, I'll see you later, was there anything else?' But in fact Jack said, 'Fine, take a seat, nice to chat to you again!' and with a smile easily moved the chair which he sat upon opposite Jack.
'Another dull day again, then Jack?' Before he had a chance to think, 'Why does Qui-Gon think I have had a dull day?' Jack answered, 'You're telling me! But farmwork is like that. Planting, prunning, scraping, wiping, dusting! Mind, re-figureating the computer system was of moderate interest. Not that I haven't done that before. Why don't you come over and see?'
'Now that's a good idea are you free Tuesday?' Jack gave a curt nod. But, curious as it was, come that Tuesday, Jack had clean forgotten about it. He had spend the entire morning dusting his herbs and had sat down in his homestead for a quick lunch and wondering if he should have a glass of beer to go with his lunch as both his parents were away it might be a good time. Though the weather was it's usual dry and hot and there wasn't a great deal to see from his windows. But the farm which he worked was large, many miles in size, actually!
Just then there was a buzz from his door buzzer and he remembered about Qui-Gon. But as it happened it wasn't he. It was a young man, not much older than Jack himself but similar to Qui-Gon in terms of dress and pose .He folded is arms and bowed to Jack. 'Kenobi. Obi-wan Kenobi at your service.' The man introduced himself as.
'Oh, can I help?' Jack replied ringing his hands.
'Yes, I do believe that Qui-Gon is due to be arriving here. He told me to meet him here, Jack isn't it?' Obi-wan explained. 'Oh, coffee would be nice, ah decaffeinated, nothing but the best here!' Obi-Wan smiled with only a hint of sarcasm. Jack had just sat down again when the buzzer went of again. To Jack's relief this was Qui-Gon. But Qui-Gon was accompanied by two odd looking creatures. Small, bearded one old and one younger with blackskin. Dwarves!
From a rocky planet whose name escaped Jack for the moment. 'Greetings!' said Qui-Gon. 'Meet a couple of friends of mine, Dwalin and Fili!' said he introducing his companions. The two Dwarves bowed to Jack. Dwarves could be tricky creatures sometimes, but these two seemed friendly and bowed lowely very politely to Jack so Jack was pleased by their politeness.
'Obviously a party rather than just one!' Jack commented but Qui-Gon laughed. As all were sitting down enjoying refreshments at Jack's table Jack asked, 'So are you all on this planet long? There is lots to see here,' he said to some rather disbelieving and sceptical faces. 'What does this planet have to offer?' Jack thought to himself, 'Well, sand, more sand and er... sand!' he finished rather lamely.
'Sadly, we are not on this charming world for long. We will be shortly of an a very dangerous journey on the far western rim of the Galaxy!' Obi-Wan replied.
'Now that is dangerous. What in all of the Stars of the Galaxy are you doing there?' Jack, had heard of life in the more remote western areas of the Galaxy. Jack had heard of exploding stars, armies of emotionless killer clones, ships of pirates, terrifying monsters that prayed on innocent travellers. Most nonsense of course and nothing that he ever thought would trouble his comfortable life on Tatooine.
'Jack, we desire to restore the old Planet of the Dwarves to them. A quite tricky and very dangerous task. Years ago, the powerful planet of the Dwarves was attacked by something. No-one knows what. A large space ship that struck suddenly and filled the surface with fire. The Dwarves that survived were forced to flee, leaving great Treasure behind. Gold and silver that could be used,' Explained Qui-Gon.
Jack was then astonished to hear yet another buzz on his doorbell. This time the strangest sight appeared. A creature smaller than a man but stocky with Grey, bald skin, scales on the back, strong sharp pointy teeth with a fat tongue and large snout. He, it was a he, was wearing black leathers.
Now, some at this sight might well have said, 'Why is a small Dragon standing at my doorstep?' but of course Jack was far too well-mannered and seasoned for this. Strange looking creatures often appeared on Tatooine and it was none the worse for it. So Jack simply nodded at the creature. Knowing what type it was, he asked, What does a Ruoqick want here!'
'The names Sanoqzikmo-ra,' said the Ruoqick. 'But you can call me Sam, most do!' he smiled much to Jack's relief who was wondering how to pronounce the name with a human tongue! 'All here, excellent,' said he and proved himself adapt at drinking Jack's coffee and making a bit of a mess with it over his tongue and his lips as some hot liquid dropped down and he licked it up. Although Jack had to admit that the Ruoqick was an odd creature and some messy liquid did occasionally drop from his teeth which he licked up.
'Now, then, the first stop will be Dantooine!' said Qui-Gon.
'Ah, yes, your journey,' said Jack after the interruption. 'So, how do so few of you intend to perform such a task, and why hasn't anyone else done it?'
'Good question!' said Qui-Gon, 'And we are a little vague on the details. We don't know for sure if a threat is there. We will have plenty of time to figure this out on our way. It is many light-years to this planet after all, and it will take several weeks to get there as we will have to be careful on the journey. We don't really know what we'll find on the Dwarves planet, but we do know that few others have been able to enter it and escape with their lives intact, never mind much else.'
Jack was thinking that Qui-Gon was been deliberately vague with him. Perhaps Qui-Gon didn't trust him? Fili continued, 'But we do believe that some treasure is still there. And it is about time our people found vengeance. Qui-Gon says that he has something that could help us!'
'Yes, a key,' Qui-Gon declared pulling out a rather small, metallic, key from about his person. When everyone looked at him a little skeptically, he explained, 'A key to Erebor. To one of the mountain-sides in fact were some of your treasure is rumoured to dwell. Not easy to get I can assure you. But it might help us look around a bit once we get there.'
'How did you get hold of that?' asked Fili in surprise.
'From Bushey as it happens. A major world near to Erebor as you know. I was given directions personally by it's Governor, Palpatine!'
'Who?' asked Jack a little confused.
'Ah, that's Governor Palpatine of Bushey. One of the few civilized world in the West. A powerful Governor, but he does have his odd moments.' Sam sniffed in explanation. Well, Palpatine could be a little emotional at times and some thought he didn't always think matters through. Such as his expulsion of a few Dwarves on his world and forcing them back to the inner rim. A bit unforgiving of him and made the West a bit wilder by result. Plus there was that expenses scandal. But one supposes that was an internal affair and soon forgotten,'
'He's not popular at the moment is he?' asked Fili.
'Maybe he isn't. But then I wonder know in such detail, I don't really do politics!' sighed Sam.
'Dantooine!,' interrupted Jack. Ain't never been there, the people, the skyscrapers, the roads the spaceport, the bars, and the clubs. Jack put on a hopeful look.
'And you're not likely to go there with us!' Obi-Wan snapped a little harshly. 'I don't think we will be doing much clubbing either. Sorry, ' he continued as Jack looked disappointed, 'But we don't need passengers or farmboys,' Jack wasn't happy at this description of him and glared at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan was only too happy to sneer a little at him and glare back.
Qui-Gon however held up his hand. 'Whilst it is true we don't need passengers, we certainly could do with some help on board. Yes, we could. Now, you said you were re-re figuring your computer systems. I've had a look at yours and I must admit you have some advanced stuff. Better than we have even.' He looked at his young apprentice Obi-Wan, 'I take it you haven't updated ours yet, have you?'
'I'd love to, I just can't get around to it!' muttered Obi-Wan.
'Well, there's a job for Jack. Do you think you are up to it?'
Jack answered, 'Yes,' enthusiastically and was welcomed aboard.
Although Obi-Wan did mutter a little too loudly, 'Just what we need a computer nerd!' with, after leaving a note to his employers that he would be away, or he could always get another job if he had to, Jack boarded the ship, called The Adventurer. It blasted off into space as Jack looked out of a little cabin at the stars in the Galaxy. As always Jack was impressed by the sight of the Stars. Thousands of little white dots shinning in their brilliance against the blackness of space. The adventurer moved along this it's powerful turbines at the back beaming brightly in the night.
But after settling in for a few hours, Jack decided to get to work on the computer. He quite enjoyed this type of thing really. So he smiled as he explored the programs sub systems. Quorm saw him and gave Jack an encouraging slap on the back. Dwalin, one of the Dwarves gave him some assistance, Dwarves having a talent for technical matters.
Obi-Wan took a look at the result and had to confess to been impressed. 'All right, so you've earned you're passage with us. I always was a little annoyed at the way in which this system died every now and again. Still, we must be a bit careful we are now leaving the Tantooine Solar System. We have heard that some Pirates operate in this area of space. Unless we're sure, jumping into lightspeed is a tricky enough operation as it is but we know that there are some pirates about. That is why we are taking a little time. Qui-Gon had to secure the are to make sure that some pirate doesn't take a potshot at us as we leave!'
Well, Pirates could be a danger as the Dwarves knew. Indeed there was even a recent attack upon Tatooinne, although it was thousands of miles away from Jack and he knew little of it. Then an alarm sounded.
The Ships panels turned red. 'ALERT, ALERT, ALERT, UNDER ATTACK!' It called.
'Pirates!' man the defences!' Obi-Wan snapped. Out of an asteroid, large, unmarked, black ships appeared. One blocked the Adventures path while 2 sped behind and fired at the craft, which rocked under the missile. Jack looked out in fear at his first taste of action in space. Obi-Wan issued a sharp command to him and Sam sat on the pilot's seat.
'Calodian Pirates. Very dangerous. We need to flee or fight!'
Then a voice appeared over the tannoy and someone appeared over the adventurers viewcom. A burly man dressed in flamboyant leathers and an eye patch commanded, 'Captain of this ship!' surrender your vessel to us or prepare to fired upon!' The Pirates ship appeared very messy to Jack, unlike the quiet order of the interior of the adventurer.
Then we'll kill all of you anyway! a thinner pirate interrupted his skipper.
The Pirate Captain lost his temper. 'What? What did you have to go and tell them for you idiot they are supposed to have some kind of incentive to surrender!' and he hit the thinner pirate sending him flying across the Pirate's ship. Then the captain tried to find the controls to switch of the connection. Failing to do so he pulled out a blaster crying, 'Up yours!' and fired at the screen which went dead