Threads of Destiny
Chapter 53: Bound for Rescue
Piracy in deep space!
Infamous outlaw Hondo Ohnaka attacks a Jedi transport carrying seven younglings who just received their lightsaber crystals.
So rare are these crystals that Hondo knows he can sell them on the black market for a small fortune.
In a desperate attempt to save the younglings, Ahsoka Tano and Nadia Aomori were captured by Hondo and his pirate horde.
Now, with a damaged ship, the younglings are stranded and alone.
After some effort, the younglings on board the drifting Jedi cruiser manage to establish communication with the next available Republic fleet.
"This is the Crucible calling the Republic fleet."Katooni said. "Come in please, we need help."
Then a response came.
"This is General Kenobi."Obi-Wan replied. "We have your transmission."
"The General Kenobi?"Petro asked in surprise.
"Nadia's master."Sors remarked.
Gungi growled in reply.
The seven younglings stood in front as a hologram of Obi-Wan appeared.
"The pirate Hondo has attacked and severely damaged our ship and taken our chaperones, Ahsoka Tano and Nadia Aomori."Katooni explained.
"I'm dispatching Commander Cody to bring you back."Obi-Wan stated. "We shall deal with Hondo on Florrum."
"Will Ahsoka and Nadia be all right?"Sors asked worriedly.
"Hondo would be even more of a fool than I think he is to hurt them."Obi-Wan replied. "Once we've picked you up we'll focus on rescuing Ahsoka and Nadia."
"But we could help Ahsoka and Nadia a lot sooner than you can."Petro suggested.
"You've shown great bravery, but these pirates-"Obi-Wan started.
"It was us who managed to drive them from the ship."Petro commented.
"You will not jeopardize your safety trying to her heroes, understood?"Obi-Wan questioned.
"Yes, Master."Petro said sadly.
Then the hologram went off.
With additional time on their hands, the younglings finish the assembly of their lightsabers aboard the Crucible.
Petro went off his seat and activated his lightsaber.
"Heh, what do you think?"He asked.
"I think you've finished your lightsaber."Katooni remarked. "Doesn't mean you know how to use it."
"Well, if you hurry up with yours, maybe we could find out."Petro admitted.
Gungi and Byph then activated their lightsabers showing green and blue blades.
Katooni tried to activate her own lightsaber, but it didn't work.
"I'll finish mine when I'm ready."She stated.
"Seeing as how our rescue party has forgotten us, you'll have plenty of time."Petro commented as he sat down on his seat.
"They probably just got delayed."Sors suggested holding his lightsaber.
"Delayed?"Petro asked raising an eyebrow. "Ahsoka and Nadia need our help, and we're sitting around like children."
"We are children."Katooni reminded with a frown.
"I vote we mount a rescue mission."Petro commented as he went off his seat.
Gungi growled and lifted his paw up.
"Gungi is with me."Petro said and looked at Byph. "Byph?"
Byph responded in agreement.
"I'm totally in."Sors answered with a confident smile.
"That's four votes for and-"Petro started.
"One against."Katooni said in defeat.
Then Zatt and Ganodi came into the room.
"Perfect timing."Petro remarked.
"There's a problem with the ship."Ganodi admitted.
"What kind of problem?"Katooni asked.
"Breaking away from the pirate ship ruptured the entire filtering system."Zatt explained.
"What does that mean?"Petro asked.
"It means she's venting coolant and if we don't land soon, the engines will explode."Zatt replied. "We'll have to land and let the system reset."
This caused the other younglings to get nervous.
"Then it's settled."Petro commented. "If we stay out here we'll die, we go to Florrum, let the engines cool before we rescue Ahsoka and Nadia."
The six younglings looked at each other.
"A rescue mission?"Ganodi asked.
In Florrum...
Ahsoka and Nadia were held as prisoners with their hands cuffed while the pirates were getting drunk with their drinks.
"It would be wise if you would let us go."Ahsoka stated.
"No, it would be unprofitable if I would let you both go and why would I do something as shortsighted as that?"Hondo questioned.
"If you don't let us go, you will wish you had been born a protocol droid."Nadia threatened coldly.
"Sometimes I do anyway."Hondo said as he stood up. "But you two are really in no position to make threats, young ladies."
Ahsoka and Nadia glared at him with deadly looks.
"You both look stressed, are you both thirsty? Drink, perhaps?"Hondo questioned holding a cup out to them before taking it away. "Sorry, but I do not like to share."
This caused the other pirates to laugh before continue drinking.
In Space...
The Crucible arrived in front of Florrum.
"Florrum."Sors said quietly.
"Guess we're in the right place."Katooni suggested.
The Crucible headed to the planet's atmosphere and landed on the ground.
"Artoo, finish reassembling Master Huyang, will you?"Zatt asked. "I hate to see him like this."
Artoo beeped in response.
"Ganodi, you stay with the ship."Petro ordered.
"And who put you in charge?"Ganodi questioned.
"We're going to need to make a quick escape and you're the only one that had flight simulator training at the temple."Petro stated.
"Oh, seeing as you put it like that."Ganodi said with a smile.
Outside...
The Crucible's ramp opened and the six younglings stepped out.
"I don't see anything."Katooni commented holding her binoculars. "There's no one."
"Are we sure we even landed near their base?"Sors asked.
"Well, we couldn't land too close, could we?"Petro suggested.
"My scanner's indicating a strong power source."Zatt stated looking at his scanner. "Uh, that way, it must be their base."
"You have no idea how we're going to get inside and find Ahsoka and Nadia, do you?"Katooni questioned.
"I'm working on it."Petro answered.
Byph then spoke and pointed at the direction.
"Byph is right."Petro stated. "We better get moving, we'll figure out a strategy on the way."
Katooni rolled her eyes before following her companions.
In Florrum...
"You know the Republic won't pay a random for us and the Separatists can't be trusted."Ahsoka reminded.
"They'll betray you and kill the three of us."Nadia added.
"Yes, I know this, my dears."Hondo stated while holding a sword. "The Separatists are no friends of mine, don't ask me why, but Dooku holds such a grudge against me since our little "I held him hostage" affair, pah! The truth is, I have my sights set on more nefarious criminals than I, a businessman who will pay handsomely for Jedi, two female Jedi at that."
"You don't scare us, Hondo."Ahsoka admitted.
This caused the pirates to laugh at the two girls.
"Oh, by the way."Hondo said with an evil smirk. "The don't care if you two are dead or alive, I mean, I prefer alive, less messy, but I find my moods so changeable these days."
In the Florrum Wastelands...
Byph spoke up when he spotted a ship through his binocular.
"A ship?"Petro asked as the binocular was handed to him. "What kind?"
He then looked at what the ship said.
"The side of the ship says, Preigo's Traveling World of Wonder."Petro admitted. "They're a traveling carnival act."
The six younglings then stopped in front of the ship causing it to stop.
"Sir, we to understand you are on your way to the pirate stronghold?"Petro asked.
"Yes, what's it to you?"Preigo questioned. "Who are you? How did you get out here?"
"Sir, our ship crashed and we've been stranded, but our misfortune is to your benefit."Petro explained.
"Oh, really?"Preigo asked. "And, uh, how is that, my curious friend?"
"We are acrobats!"Petro admitted. "Entertainers, we would love to join your act and travel with you to your next destination."
The six younglings did a few acrobat skills.
"Really? All of you wish to join my act, huh?"Preigo asked. "Right, you would like to come with us when we go to entertain Hondo and his pirate horde?"
"Very much so, yes."Katooni answered.
"We are quite talented."Sors added.
"Oh, no, no, no, I'm sorry."Preigo said. "The pirates are an unforgiving audience. I couldn't possibly-"
The six younglings then did an amazing act making the Dug get impressed.
"Oh, my, my, artists, true artists!"Preigo remarked and looked at Petro. "Young man, how many of these tricks can you do?"
"How many do you want?"Petro asked.
"Oh, ho, ho, welcome to the show!"Preigo admitted.
The six younglings smiled and headed inside his ship.
Later that Night...
Preigo's Traveling World of Wonder arrived outside Hondo's base.
"Preigo."Hondo said with a smile.
The six younglings wore their acrobat costumes and masks to cover their eyes.
"You'd better know what you're doing, because I don't see Ahsoka and Nadia."Katooni stated.
"I just hope they're okay."Sors said worriedly.
"Patience."Petro reminded.
"I, Preigo, your humble servant, have searched far and wide, oh, illustrious plunderer of the universe, and found you a most special entertainment."Preigo announced.
Hondo laughed. "Good, I would hate to be forced to cut off their heads like I did you last act, you remember those guys."
Byph shook in fear while hiding his face with the flowers he was holding.
"You are a brave man to come before me again."Hondo remarked.
Petro spotted lightsabers dangling on the Pirate's belt.
"Look, he has Ahsoka and Nadia's lightsabers."He stated.
"Me and Sors will get them."Katooni answered.
"Where is my Jedi?"Hondo asked clapping his hands.
The pirates then showed Ahsoka and Nadia on the floor with their hands chained.
"I would hate for them to miss the show which I'm hoping will be better than last time."Hondo commented.
Then a droid next to him beeped.
"Excellent."Hondo said. "Let the show begin!"
"Ah, yes, of course."Preigo stated and spoke on the big speaker. "May I present the, uh, Animal Instincts."
The six younglings stepped out of the ship and posed causing the jedi girls to immediately recognize them.
"Oh, no."Ahsoka said nervously.
"No way."Nadia whispered in shock.
"I love a kiddie act."Hondo laughed while holding a cup.
The six kids began their circus act making the pirates clap.
Then Gungi offered his hand to Hondo.
"What is this business?"Hondo asked.
"I believe he wants you to, uh, be a part of the next stunt."Preigo admitted.
"Oh, does he now?"Hondo asked.
Two twi'leks up to him.
"Come with us."One of them said.
"Which one of you said that?"Hondo asked. "I may not be as young as I once was, but I'm older!"
The twi'leks brought him next to the six younglings.
"Stand right here."the Second Twi'lek instructed.
"Who wants to see Hondo's moves?"Hondo laughed. "Talk to me, hey!"
Katooni secretly took Ahsoka's lightsabers off his belt while Sors took Nadia's.
The spotlight then focused on Byph, who was at the top of the stage as the drum played.
Katooni and Sors quietly went to Ahsoka and Nadia.
"You guys shouldn't be here."Ahsoka stated.
"Don't worry."Sors assured. "We have a plan...I think."
Byph jumps down the wagon sending Hondo up in the sky.
"I'm flying!"Hondo said and fell in a bunch of crates.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, not again."Preigo said nervously.
The pirates rushed to Hondo while Katooni and Sors freed the two padawans with their lightsabers.
The four then rushed to the others.
"Well, that was a good act."Hondo said as two of his pirates helped him up.
One of the pirates notice Ahsoka, Nadia and the younglings escaping.
"It's those bleeding Jedi kids!"He stated.
"What? The children are Jedi?"Hondo asked and fell down.
The Pirates began to fire at the jedi, but they quickly activated their lightsabers to deflect their attacks.
Then Preigo and his gang flew off in their ship.
"Quick, get to that speeder!"Nadia stated.
The two girls and the six padawans headed to the speeder.
"Get us out of here!"Ahsoka ordered.
Gungi started the big speeder and they took off.
Afterwards...
The Jedi made their way back to the Crucible under the dark sky of the waste land.
"How do you guys feel?"Katooni asked as she handed water to the two older girls.
"Better now."Ahsoka replied. "We could pretend to be angry, but you were all very brave, thank you."
"We disobeyed orders."Sors admitted sadly removing his mask.
"Well, what we have learned from our masters that sometimes doing the right thing means bending the rules."Nadia stated kindly.
"Ganodi, come in please."Petro said in his comlink. "Get the ship ready, we need to take off."
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review what you think so far:)
