Chapter 3
A/N: Sorry for the long delay and absence. The holidays were very busy and an unwelcome bout of the flu had taken up my families time. I will be posting a new chapter weekly henceforth Tuesday nights. This week will feature two new chapters over the next couple days since it has been overdue. Thank-you for the faves, follows, and reviews!
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy!
I.
Beta strode down the dim halls of the subterranean Confederate base. OM-1 flanked him to his right, carrying its battle rifle. The base was still; it was now night on the surface. The majority of the patrols were switching shifts for recharge. They stopped at a small, hidden entrance that was shrouded in the darkness between the lights.
Beta waved his hands and the door slid open. He looked to OM-1, "I don't want any interruptions. No one comes in. Scramble and encrypt the transmission. Let me know if we're being watched." OM-1 nodded. The door slid shut as he descended a spiral set of stairs into a large dark room. He moved to the center where an idle console tower stood alone. He tapped on the dim screen bringing life to the room. Three figures flickered on before him.
"My comrades," Beta raised his right hand. "As you know we have less than twelve weeks until Supreme Commander Grievous launches Operation Durge's Lance. As you know we have a paramount position as we will be conducting the first incursions, drawing the bulk of the Republic Army onto us. Admiral Norith… Is our ship production on schedule?"
"The shipyards above Wistril have been fully restored. Along with Ord Canfre's two moons, our ship production has resumed at full capacity."
"I also see that your modifications to the Lucid Voice are nearly complete. Will this be the new standard?" Beta asked.
"If that is what you wish my Lord."
"See to it, Admiral. We need to bolster our fleet's capabilities before Grievous' main offensive begins."
The silver-haired admiral raised her right fist to her chest. "It will be done, my Lord." With that, her transmission cut out flickering away.
"Aella… Svana… The prophecy that I declared void… I believe I may have been gravely mistaken. Hours ago, a boy and a deranged man appeared mysteriously on the plains. OM-1 and his team apprehended them and brought them to me."
"Hmm. So you believe the boy to be relevant?" Svana, a fair blonde spoke on the subject first.
"I do. I can feel great power dwelling within him… greater, even, than mine. Yet for some reason, he has undergone very little training which is absurd. It seems he also neglects his true potential on a personal level."
"Traits and issues that you well know can lead down a dangerous path. If the boy is to be trained, then I advise we take on this task with caution regardless of the prophecy. After all the prophecy is not finite to one person," Svana replied.
"If we do not want to endanger the boy. I propose moving fast to train him. Immediately would be best." Aella, a jet-blue-haired, fair young woman spoke.
"Training him too fast could be catastrophic. If he succumbs to the Dark side of the Force, that would put us in a more perilous situation than we are already in!" Svana voiced her protest.
"Yes, but our order of balance is small. It would benefit us greatly to add to our ranks. You have taken on an apprentice of similar age. Last I checked her past was riddled with conflict so severe that our Master forbade you from teaching her any skills other than that of a saber. Now a year in she would seem to have stabilized," Aella countered.
Beta thought hard. He hadn't expected this day to come so soon, if at all. He had all but given up years ago on the project and prophecy. Ron was young, naive and he could sense the distraught, emotional turmoil churning inside the boy. He knew all too well the consequences of pushing him too hard.
"I propose that we immediately put the boy through a rigorous test that will let us gauge how he will react to certain conditions and ascertain what regimen we should put him through," Aella concluded to both Svana and Beta.
"Both of you make valid arguments. We must tread his path carefully. Progressing slowly will stunt his growth. He's already so old and it will be hard to train him. Move too fast and we will break him possibly from beyond saving. I will put him through a test I have devised. We'll be on our way to Mandalore. Aella?"
"Yes?" the long, blue-haired warrior answered.
"I'm assigning you to be the boy's primary Master," Beta instructed.
"As you wish, my Lord."
II.
Ron squinted, a brisk wind blew in from the south. No longer in the base's warm depths, he stepped out of the structure's shadow into the rising star's warm rays. Rubbing his eyes, he adjusted to the intense blue light.
The boy jerked to a cold metal hand grasping his shoulder. Turning, he found OM-1 staring down at him. The commando droid said nothing and motioned Ron to follow it.
"You know, you don't have to be so sneaky," Ron grumbled, bumbling after Beta's commando droid toward a troop carrier.
Ron sat down across from Dementor who had been picked up earlier. The carrier thumped into gear driving away from the underground entrance. The fields surrounding the bunkers were void of any trace of the droids massive fleet.
He watched the large moon sink below the white-capped mountains on the horizon. The combined light from the moons and star cast a beautiful indigo aura over the clouds. They entered a heavily wooded area to the opposite side of the base where they had passed by the town.
The vehicle came to a halt paralleling a metal platform sporting a sleek looking shuttle. It looked similar to a Global Justice hovercraft, just larger and minus the built-in rotor-blades. It was armed with three turrets. One at the rear near what Ron could make as the afterburners and two on top in the middle. It also sported two front cannons under the shaded cockpit.
"Good Morning Ron... Professor Dementor," Beta rounded the ship's thrusters pocketing some small devices into his belt pouches.
"Aw! Vell if it isn't ze General himself," Dementor mused sarcastically.
"OM-1, escort them aboard," Beta ordered. "I'll explain everything to you two in a moment. We're in a hurry," he explained to Ron and Dementor.
"Yes sir," OM-1 complied escorting them up the ramp. The other commando droids gathered around Beta when he returned.
"OM-1, stay with Three and Five and help Colonel Coryn with observation and security on the planet. Contact me if an emergency arises," Beta ordered.
"And what of the PDVI?" OM-1 asked.
"In the forests near the Usurri Mountains is a hidden bunker. Find it and store it there," he instructed.
"Roger roger," OM-1 replied.
"Two and Four will join me on this expedition. Your objective is to protect our passengers at all costs. Is that understood," Beta asked. The two commando droids nodded and marched into the ship. OM-1 saluted and left the landing pad with the others. Beta turned and followed his chosen escorts onboard the shuttle.
"Hey! I called shotgun. Ow!" Ron shouted as he and Dementor struggled for the co-pilot seat.
"I vas here FIRST!" Dementor growled back as they continued to fight. Beta watched, amused while they struggled.
He turned to the droids behind him as the ramp hissed shut. "Actually, OM-2 will be my co-pilot and Four will man the rear turret," he ordered. He turned to Ron and Dementor who had stopped their bickering and began their way to the rear of the cockpit.
Beta sat down taking the controls of the craft and flipping switches. "Main power on. Thrusters and anti-gravity power at fifty percent. Shields online?"
"Roger roger," OM-2 nodded. Beta flipped the switch to ignite the shuttle's engines and repulsors. The ship lifted off slowly before darting into the sky and soaring through Ord Canfre's clouds.
"Vowww!" Dementor gasped. It was very rare that he was ever amazed. Ron looked too and was just as astounded as Dementor. As the craft transcended the planet's troposphere and into space. He could see Ord Canfre's three moons that orbited closer than Earths own moon. The system's blue star burned brightly, more blinding than even the Sun.
More astonishing were the hundreds of spaceships in orbit around the planet. The large crafts he and Dementor had seen late the previous night were slowly gliding through the vastness of space. Ron pressed his hands and face against the window as the shuttle slowly passed by a massive, cylindrical-like battleship. A tall spire with a darkened bridge towered above the stern. Three massive, twin barreled turrets lined up in its shadow toward the bow. An active command bridge jutted over the tapered nose of the ship.
Beta noticed both Ron and Dementor's dumbfounded stares. "It's a Providence Dreadnought. Impressive isn't it?" Beta asked them. They both nodded.
"So what are we doing up in space? Isn't the city OM-1 mentioned back on the planet?" Ron asked.
Dementor smacked his face, "It iz unbelievable how you cannot COMPREHEND!"
A sly smile spread across Beta's face, "Oh, you'll see in just a few seconds. OM-2, activate the hyperdrive."
"Yes, sir!" OM-2 pulled down a lever and flipped two green switches above him.
Beta leaned forward and reached out with his right hand for a large handle, "Coordinates locked," Beta spoke to himself. "Prepare to make the jump into hyperspace."
"What's hyperspace?" Ron asked.
Beta's let out a chortle pulling down the handle. Ron was bewildered as a bright blue tube appeared from the veil of space. The massive Dreadnought beside them spaghettified with the rest of the system disappearing behind them. It was an endless bluish-white glow that illuminated his face.
After some time of silence, it finally hit him. He wasn't at nor anywhere near home anymore. He was a galaxy… a universe away. He had planned to force Dementor to take them back to Earth. But with General Beta and his army in possession of the PDVI, it was hopeless. Now he was in tow with a faction's military leader he knew nothing about other than he was from Earth. He had really had underestimated his actions by going after Dementor.
Ron's eyes began to shut as his mind drifted. He thought of a home that didn't exist in this galaxy. One that he probably wouldn't see for months, perhaps years if ever again. He slumped his shoulders leaning back in his seat. He smiled, re-living his memories with a red-haired girl, slumbering away.
III.
Kim stepped down from the hovercraft. Wade; in the flesh, was talking to Dr. Director at the entrance of Yamanuchi. The school was active with scientists, soldiers of unknown origin and ninjas running about. Something was off… she would just have to trust Wade.
"Hey, Kim!" Wade waved as she neared them.
"Hey, Wade. So what's the sitch?" Kim asked. Although she was happy to see him, there was no time to waste on pleasantries. She wanted to know the plan. She wanted to know the plan to get Ron back.
In his shadow followed the Director. "Kim Possible..." The Director extended her hand to greet Kim.
"Director… I can't figure out if I'm surprised or not at seeing you here," Kim wasn't amused at the amount of firepower brought in. To her left up against the hill, the barrel of a massive tank cannon stuck out of the mountains brush. To the right on the top of a taller mountain, she made out a SAM site. "I didn't know you needed all this firepower to find Ron. After you found the Ron Project a bust, I didn't think you gave one iota about him."
Dr. Director glanced around and caught Kim's drift. "Oh..? You mean all the muscle. None of its mine. As a matter of fact, I'm the only one from G.J. that's here."
Wade decided to break the tension between the two. "Kim, did you know that Dementor doesn't have the only Pan-dimensional Vortex Inducer?"
"Really?" Kim crossed her arms. "Then if G.J. weren't the ones who brought it… Who did?"
Wade was ready to explain but the Director stopped him. "Judging by Kim's glare she wants to know the truth… from me would be best."
"Go on..." Kim grumbled.
The Director crossed her arms. "These men aren't mine. They're all Russian Soldiers. In fact if anything, all their guns and Yamanuchi's men have their sights trained on me. You see I don't know all the classified parts, but the PDVI is… was never stolen by Professor Dementor. At least not at first… and not from us."
"What do you mean?" Kim's muscle's tensed.
"You were asked to retrieve the PDVI over a year ago from Professor Dementor… You and your computer genius weren't told the whole truth. Professor Dementor did steal the PDVI, but he didn't steal it from an American Laboratory..."
"You mean to tell me that that mission was a lie from the start!?"
"Professor Dementor never stole the PDVI from America because its origin is the former Soviet Union. You see, Dementor was the lead in a group of Soviet and other communist bloc scientists. For some reason or another in 1988 the Soviets surprisingly reached out to America about the project they had so painstakingly guarded."
Kim could see doubt in the Directors eyes. "I don't know what happened after that. Both the CIA and FSB, even though required to release documents to GJ, redacted almost everything save for a few names, one of those being Professor Dementor, and that was his given alias. Anyways, the Soviet Union fell three years later with Russia inheriting all the projects including the PDVI."
"With the collapse, cooperation seemed to explode except with a few key areas, one of those being the PDVI where all cooperation ceased. No one knows how many PDVI's Russia built. They have the schematics to them. But in all the chaos of the Soviets collapse, Dementor managed to sneak one of the PDVI's out of the Union and keep a low profile about it."
Kim crossed her arms. "Let me guess? That was until Dementor and I started to cross paths."
"When the Russians discovered their missing inventory of a PDVI, they sent their agents into Europe and America to look for the Professor. The CIA and FBI knew the Russians would do anything to get it back. Even a bloodbath in America was acceptable to them."
"So the CIA 'Asked' for a favor by getting a certain teen duo take back the 'Stolen' property. The Russians wouldn't dare intervene or involve foul play with you and Ron in the picture. As to why the CIA insisted this fact I don't know. But for whatever reason they were right and the Russians backed off."
"But Russia has more than one. And now all of the sudden they're willing to let you use it… for the sake of finding Ron? I find that hard to believe." Kim didn't care what the Director knew about the PDVI or Professor Dementor. She just wanted a way to get Ron back. She didn't know why that was so hard for them to comprehend.
"Don't be so naive Kim. If you think the Russians are doing this favor you or me..? You got it all wrong. I don't understand it myself, but for some reason, they did it at the request of the Yamanuchi School." The Director thumbed back at the school behind.
This fact did intrigue Kim. She had only dealt with the Yamanuchi School on one occasion and that was to help Ron and his friend; Yori, to find the School's master and save him from DNAmy.
"Now that's the first curve-ball you've thrown at me this whole sitch." Kim furrowed her brow. She understood why Yamanuchi School might want to help find Ron. They believed he was a great warrior and the keeper of the Lotus Blade. But the Russians helping them at their request. To help find Ron of all things. It didn't add up in Kim's mind.
"However they are only lending it to us. We don't get to touch it. Their scientists will be doing all the work and insisted Sensei be in charge," Dr. Director added.
"Sensei is in charge?" Kim asked surprised.
"The Russian ambassador to Yamanuchi insisted," Dr. Director replied.
"Russia has an ambassador to Yamanuchi School?" Kim asked. "That's a little unbelievable seeing how secret the school is."
"Mysteriously enough, Russia is the only country with an ambassador to Yamanuchi aside from its home nation, Japan," Kim noticed the Director's frustration with her own statement. The mystery between Yamanuchi and America's former Cold War foe deepened. "In fact, the only reason I'm involved was to help insist Japan let the Russians fly their military in."
"Right… well, the scientists have finished setting up the device and are ready to open a portal," Wade informed. "We should go meet with Sensei and Yori."
"Yori?" Kim mused remembering Ron's female companion from the secret Ninja school. She still didn't fully understand the depth of the relationship between Ron and the Japanese heroine.
Kim saw the scientists had set up at the foot of the main building. A similar, yet more refined ray gun was set up aimed at a large, hollowed metal ring. Sensei and Yori waited at the top of the steps of the main hall near the scientists. Kim bowed respectfully as Sensei and Yori turned to see her. Rufus popped out of Kim's cargo pocket and onto her shoulder bowing too.
"Ah! Kim Possible. It is good to see you," Sensei greeted her bowing back.
"Good to see you too Master Sensei. Wade tells me you know how to find Ron?" Kim was wary of the Russians watching her. Any one of them could be a spy.
"Ahhh, young Stoppable-san. I felt his presence disappear in this world and therefore asked for a favor. I sense… I sense you feel lost without your companion?" Sensei stood in his usual manner, arms locked in the opposite sides cuffs.
"I would have to say at the moment I'm feeling a lot more than lost!" Kim shook her head in frustration. "Listen Sensei… I really don't want to seem aggravated. But do you know where Ron is? I'm more than just worried at this point. It's becoming a crisis!"
"Do not fear Possible-san, I believe that you will find Ron in time," Sensei tried reassuring her doubts.
"And how do you know that? You didn't jump in a portal and go looking did you?" Kim shot back tensed over the stress of the situation.
"Possible-san..." Sensei reached his hand out to Kim's slumping shoulders. "Believe me when I say I know what it is like to lose someone who means so much. Stoppable-san is an important part of our lives as he is yours."
Kim grabbed her arm, her fingers squeezing into the skin. "It's not that I don't believe you Sensei. I'm sure what your saying is true. But I'm not sorry for saying that I'm pretty sure now Ron means more to me than he ever did to you and this school."
Sensei's expression never wavered. He didn't seem upset by her statement at all and sympathized completely. But a much younger Yori didn't emphasize. "If you are only sure about this feeling you have. Then maybe you should-"
"Student! You will keep your thoughts to yourself!" Sensei looked sternly at one of his best apprentices.
Yori glared at Kim from over her shoulder turning away at her Master's insistence. "Yes, Sensei. My most sincere apologies."
Kim was shocked at the least. She had never seen this side of Yori. Then again it was her first time formally meeting the young warrior. It served her suspicions that Ron and Yori shared a deeper connection than Kim was comfortable with.
"It's alright Sensei. I was out of line. I should be thanking you for contacting the Russian Government and getting them to help. I really should be more grateful," Kim smiled nervously.
"Do not worry Possible-san. If it is to help Stoppable-san, then Yamanuchi will use all of its resources to help find and rescue him."
"The Russian scientists were able to trace the exact coordinates and equations that Dementor used," Wade interjected. "So, in theory, we should end up relatively near to where Ron and Dementor ended up."
The ray gun hummed as it churned on and fired a bright blue beam into the ring opening a portal. "Although Global Justice would like to guarantee your safety… we… I cannot. I just don't know what will happen once you go through," Dr. Director regrettably informed Kim.
"Wade?" Kim crossed her arms. Dr. Director's statement didn't sit well with her.
"It is possible but highly unlikely. Besides, I've already downloaded the algorithms for returning. There is just one catch…" Wade chuckled nervously.
"The Russian Ambassador will not let you take their Vortex Inducer for security purposes," Dr. Director continued.
"You will have to regain the one Dementor took," Sensei added. "Where Dementor is, you will find Ron. I am sending Yori with you to help."
"That would be great," she thanked him sarcastically. She wasn't excited at all, but Sensei had gone through all the trouble to help them. Rufus seemed excited about it though as he crawled up on Kim's shoulder squeaking and nodding.
"The Scientists say we don't have much time. With the current power supply, they can't sustain the portal for more than ten minutes," Dr. Director informed them all.
"No time for goodbyes then?" Kim asked.
"I'm afraid not," Dr. Director replied. A pair of Russian soldiers ran up behind Dr. Director with rucksacks strung over their shoulders. They dropped them on the ground in front of Kim and the others. They conversed in Russian to the Director and then ran back to their original post. "The Russian Military has supplied you with equipment for the journey. They won't specify the equipment inside but ask you to not look until your through the portal."
Kim picked up her bag and noticed immediately that it had to have weighed at least eighty pounds. "Heavy much?" she sighed. "I'm glad I had your pilot stop at my place before here," Kim mentioned walking to the portal. "I just hope it doesn't take too long." Kim looked at Rufus who was still perched on her shoulder. "You ready to go find Ron?"
Rufus nodded fervently. Yori and Wade stepped up beside Kim in front of the portal. They all hoped to find Ron. They stepped through the portal together disappearing just as it closed.
Dr. Director crossed her arms. "I don't like you keeping me in the dark," Dr. Director glared at Sensei. "Can you at least tell me why with the Russians of all people?"
Sensei sighed. "It had to be done. You will see. Sooner than you think," Sensei replied walking away to talk with the Russian Ambassador.
IV.
Kim sat up taking in the new surroundings. She had landed in a small clearing surrounded by pine-like trees. The grass was soft and the air warm. Behind her, she found a small pond in the middle of the clearing.
"You okay Kim?" she turned finding Wade brushing himself off.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you, Rufus?" she asked the naked mole rat who was rubbing his head.
"Okay," Rufus gave her a thumbs up falling back to the ground exhausted.
"That sure was one heck of a ride," Kim stood up brushing herself off.
"Wow! We sure aren't on Earth anymore," Wade pointed up at the sky.
Kim followed his gesture gasping at the sight. It was beyond her where they were, she couldn't recognize a single star, constellation, or anything else. "Wow, talk about alien," Kim replied, her eyes fixated on the three moons in the sky.
Wade had stopped staring, taking out a laptop from his pack along with another instrument. "What are you doing?" Kim asked.
Wade looked up briefly and then resumed what he was doing, "I'm just getting some readings on the planet's magnetic field."
Kim placed her hands on her on her hips, "Why?"
Wade smiled as he continued to fiddle with his gadgets, "Just to be safe as always." Wade looked up and took in his surroundings again and sighed.
"What is it?" Kim rolled out a mat from atop the Russian knapsack they had given her.
Wade looked into the strange, dark woods. "Nothing, it's just that when I walked through that portal, I… I expected something different."
Kim cocked an eyebrow, "This place has three moons instead of one. How much different did you want?" she set the knapsack itself at the end of the mat for a pillow.
He looked back at her, "It's nothing bad, I just didn't expect a place so different to be so much like our own," he answered listening to the creatures of the alien night. It sounded eerily similar.
Now Kim understood what he meant. Though the sky was alien, everything else was almost completely like earth. But it was still night and they had yet to see what it was like during the day.
The smell of smoke sifted through the air. Both turned around to see Yori and Rufus had lit a fire. "If we are to find Stoppable-san, we should get some rest. It would not be wise to travel at night in a land we aren't familiar with." Kim and Wade couldn't argue her point.
Yori had set down her own mat to sleep bringing her own gear from Yamanuchi. Kim suspected she had been prepared long in advance. Kim surmised the only real reason the Russians supplied them with gear and food was that they knew it wasn't going to be a quick or easy mission. They knew something and Kim didn't like it.
"Goodnight Possible-san."
She lay on her back gazing up at the foreign sky. Yori hadn't talked much since they had met up at Yamanuchi. She had changed, no longer the optimistic person she had met. She seemed more pessimistic and less joyous. She was obviously focused on rescuing Ron, but Kim suspected her own hidden agenda.
Kim looked down to see Rufus and his sad eyes. She turned onto her side, resting her head on her arm. Rufus crawled up to her and nestled himself against her, finding warmth. "Don't worry Rufus, we'll find him," she reassured, even though her own doubts still lingered. Her eyes began to close, unaware of watchful eyes in the forest.
V.
General Beta's underground base was the headquarters for the Confederate Second Fleet and the droid army based there. Battle droids watched monitors in a dark room constantly receiving feedback from recon units.
One of the monitors began to flash and droids began sifting through the data to locate where the alert was originating from. A video from a scout near the Usurri Mountains appeared. An OOM officer stood up walking to the back of the room. He stopped in front of a tall man with an eye-patch over his right eye. "Colonel, we have intruders in sector 425."
"Are you sure they're not just some teens from the small town in the valley below. We've had these things happen before, it's not a big deal."
"No, sir. Before the subjects were observed, an anomaly energy signature was detected in the same region."
"Has anyone passed through our blockade?" A Neimoidian stepped by the Colonel's side.
"No sir, there are no logs of any stray ships passing through our defenses."
The Neimoidian turned to the Colonel. "You don't think Jedi could have slipped onto the planet to start a coup?"
"I think we're over-thinking this. With how well the General has treated the populace here, I doubt even the council could woo a coup." The Neimoidian looked nervous, his slimy skin shimmering more than usual. "If you feel that strongly about the situation, send out a troop of battle droids to scope out the area and see if they can find the 'Intruders.' The General did leave three of his crack guards. I believe OM-1 and his team were sent to the Usurri Mountains already. Inform them to investigate."
The Neimoidian, Kushro turned to the OOM droid. "Send out the orders immediately. I for one would not be surprised if the Jedi are keen to our operations here."
The Colonel turned his attention back to the monitors. "You really think the Jedi would be that knowledgeable about what this planet is churning out, Kushro?"
"How can you be so ignorant of the Jedi's abilities!? With the General gone, it wouldn't take long for them to-"
"It would take half the Republic Navy and at least a hundred Jedi to take this planet! I think General Beta has done everything in his power to ensure that. I dare say that this planet is more heavily fortified than even Raxus Prime or Serrano. The Count should wish this was the capital," the Colonel boldly claimed.
"Your arrogance knows no bounds!" Kushro turned away.
"You've seen the General fight… Right?" Kushro glanced back at Coryn. "Because if you have, you know that no amount of Jedi could take this system. Your lack of faith in the General is… disturbing."
"Say whatever you must Colonel. But I've seen how the Jedi operate. They will show up when you least expect it. And when they do, they will not show mercy."
VI.
Ron wiped the sweat from his brow. Mandalore was a hot, humid planet, unlike the cool temperate climate of Ord Canfre. They had come to a small village surrounded by a forest of what Beta called 'Veshok' trees. The trees were so tall that their canopy blocked out the sky. That didn't stop the heat from reaching the shaded surface.
They stopped in front of a wooden shack nestled between the trunks of two Veshok trees. "Keep an eye on them," Beta ordered the commandos. He walked into the shack leaving Ron and Dementor with the commandos. Ron sat down on the shack's patio to rest his weary legs. It had been a long walk from their landing site.
"Vhy are you sitting down?" Dementor asked Ron.
"Because it's comfortable. Don't your legs hurt from that walk?" Ron tried to soothe his sore thighs.
"Now zhat you mention it, yes. I muzt have been too interested in ze alien forests," Dementor mused looking up through the Veshok.
"Eh, all I could think about was when we would stop walking," Ron replied.
"You should be more like Professor Dementor," OM-2 instructed. "Observing and analyzing your surrounding is crucial in combat situations."
"Huh?" OM-2's voice took Ron by surprise. Other than OM-1, Beta's other commando didn't really talk much.
"I said that observing your surroundings is crucial for combat," OM-2 repeated.
"But we're not in a 'combat' situation," Ron used air quotations.
"No. But that doesn't matter. OM-2 had good advice and you blew it off," Ron swiveled to find Beta standing in the doorway. "OM-2 is an expert sniper and knows what it means to know your surroundings."
"But…"
"You aren't on Earth anymore Ron. You're in a different galaxy that is rife with suffering and in the middle of the biggest war in three millennia. Anywhere at any time can be a battle waiting. In the future, I highly recommend you take in any advice from us and hold it dear."
"Yes sir..." Ron looked down at the ground dejected.
"Ease your mind. You have a more important event you have to prepare for. I hope that you will be more observant there," Beta instructed.
"What event?" Ron asked.
"A fight."
"Fight...?" Ron gulped.
