A/N: Leave a review, and get a free cookie! (It's better than joining the Dark Side)
Also this is a shortshortshortie, buuuuttttt that's because I decided the last sentence would sound kind of weird in the middle of a chapter. So this one'll be continued into another chapter (obviously).
Chapter Eight
THREE YEARS LATER
"Jedi Stark and Masseus, we are approaching Antar 4."
I turned from where I was sitting in the copilot seat to face the Antarian Ranger that was addressing me and Grim. Her navy-colored cap was pulled far over her head in an attempt to conceal her face from view—but I could still see her azure eyes shining with curiosity.
"Thank you Echo." I nodded my gratitude, and her cheeks darkened considerably. I thought about how strange it must've been for her, to come into contact with another girl her age and not be able to form any sort of friendship. Fortunately, using her first name tended to ease the awkwardness a bit.
"I'll com Master Tiin," Grim said, turning to face me.
I bobbed my head up and down once more, ignoring the strands of hair that fell in my eyes. "Right." I turned my gaze to the window in front of us and stared at a light green planet as it came into view.
It was our first mission off-Coruscant without Masters Koon and Ti, and my nerves were going awry. Shaak had told me that she was confident I would be fine, but I couldn't seem to keep my anxiety under control. It didn't help that Echo, Grim, and I were in a fighter by ourselves—save for the small astromech droid Q7.
Probably sensing my unease, Grim reached over and laid his hand on my arm, sending soothing Force pulses throughout my body.
I smiled. "Thanks."
"You don't have to worry," he told me. "We—"
"Masseus," a voice came in through the loudspeakers in the main cabin.
Grim quickly grabbed his comlink. "Master Tiin, I was just about to com you." He swiveled his chair around to face the black sky out the opposite window. "We should be arriving on Antar 4 within the next few minutes."
"Excellent. The squadron is meeting in a large trench just south of Baal Commune."
Grim turned to exchange a look with Echo, which confirmed that she knew where to land. Then he went back to his com. "We'll be there."
I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, calling on the Force to relieve my nausea. Soon I was filled with its peaceful and calming energy, and as we broke through the planet's atmosphere I found I wasn't worried at all.
In about three minutes' time, Echo had piloted the ship onto the planet and into a levee near a bustling city, which I assumed could be none other than Baal Commune.
"One of you must stay here with the ship," she told us. "I'll guide the other to your squadron."
Grim's green eyes locked onto my golden ones, and we both knew what the other was thinking.
"Sorry Echo," I said, standing up, "but Grim and I are a team. We're either going in there together or not going at all."
"Q7 can stay with the ship," Grim added, rising from his chair as well. The astro droid behind us made a few confused beeping noises, but a swift kick from my boot caused it to happily comply.
The Antarian Ranger shrugged. "All right."
The door adjacent to the three of us opened and she led us out of it. Soon we were enclosed in grasslands as we exited the ship and made our way further down the trench.
Echo pulled her tan coat around her figure, protecting herself from the strong winds that immediately greeted us. I watched as her light blond hair whipped backward in the breeze. Her home planet was beautiful, but chilly.
"Do you see the Jedi anywhere?" Grim asked me. We turned in a full circle, surveying the nearby fields for any sign of Master Tiin or Trebor, but were only greeted with an endless array of meadow grass.
I spotted a small object in the distance, and raised my arm to point. "Hey, is that—"
Echo hastily shoved me and Grim aside and barely had time to yell, "GET DOWN!" before we were thrown off our feet by a nearby explosion. The jolt sent us barreling downhill into a mud bank and complementary stream.
We laid there for awhile, and listed to another bomb as it was dropped somewhere close by. After I had spent a few moments recovering from the shock and my breathing had returned to normal, I raised my head to gaze at Grim and Echo.
"Roshu Sune," I heard the latter mutter in distaste.
The three of us stood up and proceeded to examine ourselves. Finding that our robes were lined with filth and grass stains, Grim and I quickly shed them. Echo did the same with her jacket and reached up to secure her hat, only to find that it had been lost in the tumble.
She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts—or form a plan. "We have to get out of here, and fast. Any idea where your Jedi are located?"
"They were supposed to be here," I said dumbly.
"Maybe your Rangers took them someplace else," Grim suggested.
Echo frowned. "No; my people would never lead yours astray."
Then, the realization hit us. Saesee Tiin and Coleman Trebor were gone—dead—along with the other Antarian Rangers.
We were stranded.
