Chapter One
Hello! Welcome to my first Star Wars story! I'm going preface this by saying I'm not an expert on the Star Wars lore. All my knowledge comes from the movie and shows, so if I get anything wrong, I would love to hear your constructive criticism! Thanks and enjoy the story! Also, as a quick warning the first few chapters I have planned are a bit dark.
Being thrown out of her bunk by a rather large explosion was not how Nessa expected to start her day.
The young padawan and her master were practically drug out of the latest Jedi temple ruins in the Outer Rim due to an emergency summons from the Council, much to her master's irritation.
Apparently, a Jedi master and his padawan, as well as a Senator from Naboo had gotten themselves in trouble on a nearby planet called Geonosis and all available Jedi were called upon to assist in the rescue. At least, that's what Nessa understood to be the gist of the message, though it was rather difficult to focus during her master's colorful summary of the situation.
Another shudder rippled through their small vessel, bringing Nessa's mind back to the present.
The padawan jumped to her feet with as much grace as one can during a bombardment and clipped her saber to her belt.
Nessa immediately made her way to the cockpit where she knew she would find her master.
The doors hissed open and the young padawan found her master exactly where she suspected he would be. The tall Togrutian man was scowling at the flashing instruments as his hands danced over the dash.
Nessa plopped into the co-pilot's seat and began to work with only a quiet greeting of, "Master."
Master Tozam Saassam glanced at his pupil as she took her seat and nodded in acknowledgement to her greeting.
"Good morning, Nessa. Sleep well?"
Nessa snorted in amusement at such a casual greeting from her master as she managed to get the weapons system back online.
"Very well, though I wasn't expecting the floor to greet my face this morning, Master."
The Jedi master carefully schooled his expression to hide his own amusement as he attempted to maneuver the old vessel to avoid another barrage of laser fire.
"Ah, yes. We appear to have made some new friends a few moments ago."
"Any idea who they are?"
Her question was met with an irritated grunt as her master jerked the ship to the left to avoid oncoming fire.
"Believe it or not they didn't introduce themselves before trying to blast us to bits, Nessa."
Nessa's retort died in her throat when the ship gave an ominous shudder before the systems locked up and the ship came to a sudden halt.
Master Tozam's fist slammed onto the dash as he cursed in various languages, most of which escaped Nessa's understanding.
"Master? What happened?"
The Torgruta male took a deep breath as he carefully attempted to gather his fear and anger and expelled them into the force with a sigh, "It's a kriffing tractor beam, kid, and we are definitely in some deep poodoo. I was able to send a distress call to Master Windu, but now we have to keep ourselves alive long enough for them to get here."
Master Tozam stood quickly and dragged his padawan to her feet, "Come on. We have to prepare for our guests."
Nessa stumbled after her master as he led her deeper into the ship. As she unclipped her saber from her belt she couldn't help but feel uncertain, even afraid. Though she received saber training as an initiate and her master trained with her daily in the art of the lightsaber, she had never once raised her saber with the intent to cause harm to another being. While some Jedi are often sent on peacekeeping missions that ensured they keep a wariness of other beings, she and her master often found themselves far from civilization and deep in long forgotten ruins where the only danger they faced were ancient traps and crumbling walls.
Sensing his young padawan's hesitation, Tozam reached out and gently tugged on her padawan braid to bring her back to the present, "Don't worry, Nessa, just remember your training and trust in the Force. I will be right beside you."
Nessa closed her eyes and let out a shaky sigh before turning to her master and gave him a nod to acknowledge his words, "Of course, master. Forgive me."
The padawan scowled when her master suddenly ruffled her hair with an amused chuckle, "There's nothing to forgive, kid."
Nessa huffed as she used her free hand to smooth down her hair, using the motions to hide her smile at her master's words. Her smile disappeared as suddenly as it appeared as the ship shuddered to a halt.
Her master ignited his saber and slid into a ready stance as the airlock began to open with a hiss, with Nessa scrambling to mimic his stance. He ignored the fact that she held out her saber hilt, nearly forgetting to ignite her blade, choosing instead to focus on the doors to reveal the…droids?
Master Tozam quickly shook off his surprise as he moved to deflect the first of the blaster bolts aimed at him and his Padawan.
Nessa followed her master as he leapt at the droids who now flooded into their ship, dodging the bolts as she carved into their ranks. She allowed the years of training to control her movements as she moved fluidly from one droid to the next. The Padawan fell into a comfortable rhythm as she and her master gracefully whirled around each other, catching and deflecting blaster bolts from hitting the other.
Suddenly the Force seemed to scream of danger, causing Nessa to stumble from the force of it, but before she could figure out what the Force was trying to warn her about Tozam gasped in pain behind her.
"Master!"
Nessa turned and threw out her hands, forcing the droids back far enough for the apprentice to destroy the door's control panel, buying them some time and giving Nessa a chance to examine her master where he fell. Her stomach dropped as her examination revealed multiple blaster burns.
The padawan fumbled for a small pouch on her belt that contained emergency supplies when her master's hand rested heavily over hers, halting her search.
"We need to get to an escape pod, kid. That door won't hold for long."
"But, Master, won't they just pick up our pod once we jettison?"
Tozam gave her a smile that always promised trouble, "Don't worry, Nessa, I've got a plan."
Nessa sighed and helped her master to his feet, "I have a bad feeling about this, Master."
She ignored the Torgutan's chuckle as she draped his arm over her shoulder and began to lead the way to the escape pod. Nessa tapped on the panel outside the pod to open the door to the pod, "So, what's the plan, Master?"
"I'm sorry, Nessa."
Nessa frowned in confusion at his sudden apology, "Sorry? Master, wha-"
Before she could ask her master what he meant, she was forced into the pod and the door slammed shut behind her.
Nessa's head swam as she picked herself up, her head had hit the floor before she could brace herself. She winced as she was thrown back down as the pod ejected from the ship. The apprentice scrambled to her feet and looked out the window in horror as the two vessels grew distant. She nearly jumped out of her skin when her commlink beeped, and she pressed the button, allowing her master's form to take shape in the familiar blue outline.
"Kid, can you hear me? I'm afraid you were correct about our attackers collecting the pod, though I believe I have a plan. Their ship is still docked to ours, and I plan to activate the self-destruct sequence, destroying our ship as well as theirs. I'm sorry, Nessa. I want you to know that I am proud to be your master."
Nessa choked out a broken sob as the transmission cut off, leaving her master's pained smile burned into her memory. She shook herself and ran towards the console, resolved to turn the pod around to go back for her master, but, before she could get to the controls, the pod shuddered violently nearly knocking her off her feet. Nessa turned to the window, desperately hoping to see the vessels where she last saw them.
All that she saw were scattered debris where there were once two ships.
"MASTER!"
A/N: Whoo! We're starting this story with a bang! Sorry, too soon? Anyways, thanks for reading! I want to say that I was inspired to create Tozam Saassam after playing Jedi: Fallen Order. In the past Tozam and Eno Cordoza worked together to uncover Jedi ruins until Eno began to focus solely on the Zeffo. Also, I'm currently running on tea and spite just so I can get this chapter out, so I will end it here! I hope to put up another chapter next week, see you then!