Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them.
"aaaa"-talking out loud."aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com. 'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. aaaaa-talking through a Bond. "aaaa" (bold)-another language.
AN: Thank you to the guest who reviewed the last chapter of First Fight:)
Also...OMGosh! Visions and Voices had me freaking out Saturday night!
Sorry short chapter today, but I did (finally) finish outlining the rest of First Fight and it looks like it will end up thirty-nine chapters plus prologue and epilogue. Wow...At least it's not as long as Edge of War.
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Chapter Twenty-Seven
"Now let's get Stinky out of here!" There was nothing sitting behind the controls of a ship. Even if that ship was a rusty grease-bucket only a parsec or two from falling apart at the seams.
But he was Anakin Skywalker and he could fly anything. Full of confidence he reached out to push the start button...
Nothing. Not a roar or a purr or even a sputtering as engines fought to turn over. Not just a half-hearted whine that faded rather quickly into silence. "Ummmm...If we can get the engines started that is." He sneaked a look at Ahsoka and Rotta from the corner of his eye. The Huttlet was waving his chubby little arms while Ahsoka watched him with a look that she could have only picked up from Analise. It was the same look his twin wore when Anakin had, once again let confidence puff him up and attempted to do something without fully thinking it trough. It was look that was half-amused and half-exasperated.
No one ever said that being a big brother was going to be easy.
Besides they were in a hurry so he couldn't give the ship the very detailed look-over that he would have otherwise so that he could start the planning of every single modification that he would make to it. Oh Anakin had plans for this G9 rugged freighter...If he could get it to start.
He pushed the button again. A longer whine this time mixed with a weak sputter. "Hey that's improvement" He attempted to convince Ahsoka who only rolled her eyes. Anakin continue to push the button. Each time there was only a whine and sputtering before they died away. After three or four tries, Ahsoka couldn't take it anymore and she let her displeasure be known by letting go of a loud, long groan. "Come on Snips, I'll get it. Artoo see if you can spark the ignition couplers."
Artoo's beep was cheerful and positive. Mistress Ahsoka might doubt Master Anakin's skill with ships, even ships he had never flown before; but Artoo never would. After all he had been with Master Anakin when he had hopped into a Naboo fighter and flew it to victory, taking out the droid control ship over the planet of Naboo. On accident maybe, but it was still amazing considering how young Master Anakin had been and the fact that the only thing he had flown at the time was a rickety podracer.
The loyal astromech quickly plugged into the data-port and after a swift exchange with the computer, Artoo was able to find the ignition couplers. He applied a bit of pressure, some fine tuning...
Nothing...Just more half-hearted whining and sputtering. Artoo spun his domed head around back to Anakin. This times his beeping and whistling was sad. Upset that he had not been able to succeed in helping Master Anakin.
"That's not it then..."Anakin frowned and looked over the cockpit of the ship, thinking. He tried to remember everything he could about G9s that he had come across in his studies. "Try opening the fuel lifters all the way." With another beep, more positive this time around Artoo focused back on the ship, his arm turning as he made the connection...
The lights in the cockpit blazed to light and at long last the engines fired up. They might not be purring, but in that moment Anakin didn't care. The ship was online. "Good job Artoo. Now let's get going!" He pushed the button, a trumphent smile on his face as the engines roared loud and the ship lifted off from the ground.
Ahsoka fastened her eyes on the scene outside the windows. She smiled as they moved closer to the monastery and she made out some familiar ships darting around, taking aim at the droids. One in particular caught her eye and her smile grew. "Obi-Wan's here! Now I can finally see some real action."
"Hey! Just what have I been doing all day then?"
"Ummm...Well reckless comes to mind." She smirked at her big brother who pretended to glare at her before sighing and shaking his head.
"Hang on...I'm going to have Artoo power up the main guns so we can join in and help Rex."
"How?" Ahsoka demanded. "We don't even know if the guns will come online when we fire them and look at Stinky!" She gently rubbed the top of Rotta's head as the Huttlet had started to cry. "He's getting sicker and sicker Anakin."
"I know Soka...But we promised Rex..."
"I know we promised Rex and I want to help him too Anakin...But we need to Stinky back to the cruiser. The medics will be able to help him and they are the only chance we have of making sure he gets back to his father alive!"
He probably shouldn't have looked, but he could hear and sense Ahsoka's plea. 'She has Analise's heart.' For all that Ahsoka's reckless nature and wild attitude came from him, her caring nature was all Analise. He could sense along their Bond how torn she was. Anakin knew she wanted to help Rex, to fight once more alongside the Captian who had welcomed her; but she also wanted to get Rotta help and return him to Jabba.
Torn to pieces, but the Jedi in her was winning out. The mission must always come first. You're right baby sister He tugged affectionately at their Bond as he poured the pride he was feeling into it. I will let Rex know.
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Droids just didn't know when to give up.
Rex's blasters never seemed to stop firing, taking down droid after droid. Overhead fighters dove down low to take out their share of the clankers on the ground before jerking themselves up to end the droid fighters that were chasing their fellow fighters.
His com began to beep. Rex looked around, his eyes searching for a spot where he could hide himself away from the battle so he could answer it without worrying that a bolt might hit him.
A stack of rubble would do and Rex ducked behind it. He pressed the button and felt relife flow through him at the sound of his General's voice coming through.
"Captain Rex?"
"Rex here General. How is it going?"
"We found a ship and are heading to the cruiser...I'm sorry Rex, but we aren't going to make it back to help you. Rotta's just too sick for us to risk it."
"Go sir. The mission always comes first. The men and I will be fine. General Kenobi is here now and we have Commander Analise."
"I promise we'll be back as soon as we can. Just take care of Obi-Wan and Analise for me?"
"Of course Anakin. Take care of yourself and the kid...May the Force be with you."
"And also with you Rex."
