"-and that Nick... was the Mission to Kalee. What should have been a simple blue milk run. Saw my master and me on the losing side of a bloody civil war. Turned it around for the reformists, and brought the planet into the Republic." Judy finished, exhausted from recounting the adventure that saw her becoming a full Jedi Knight.
Nick's jaw was hanging by a thread. "Okay... did you really have to share what-"
"Everything that happened was important, even the stuff that I was uncomfortable talking about," Judy said. "Hey, you were the one who asked me."
"And I'm sorry I kept badgering you about it," Nick said apologetically. "Just... remind me to never ask you about any Jedi adventures from before we met from now on okay?"
"Yeah, let's look for something on TV," Judy said, she turned on the TV.
"-returning to our top story." Said Peter Moosbridge, one of the newscasters of ZNN. "A massive break-out has occurred at the Tartarus Maximum Security Prison. Details at this time are sketchy. But what has been shared is that three rams were broken out. Woolter White, Doug Ramses, and Jesse Pinkman. Associates of former acting President of Mammalia, Dawn Bellweather. Who created the Night Howler Crisis for their own ends."
"Okay... that's more than a little horrifying," Nick said.
"While the rest of the prisoners have been contained. The Night Howler Three have escaped off-planet on a starship." Fabienne Growley said.
Judy squinted her eyes as the news showed the ship in question. "That's a Shadow Collective ship."
"You sure Carrots?" Nick asked.
"I recognize the symbol... that can only mean one thing," Judy said ominously.
"Really? Because the only thing I can think of is that the Shadow Collective is going to try to move in on Mammalia." Nick said.
Judy groaned. "Nick... need I remind you that Dawn was broken out of the Galaxies most secure prison? A prison that was designed specifically to keep Jedi from escaping? Is any of this ringing any bells for you?"
XXXX
Eventually, the Shadow Collective ship arrived at an abandoned space station. It landed inside of the station, and out of it, the three rams that were broken out of the ZMSP were thrown out. "Hey! What's the big idea?" Doug Ramses said as he and his compatriots stood up.
"Yeah... where do you get off not even talking to us after breaking us out?" Jesse said.
"We don't even know who you people are," Woolter added.
Then the pilot exited the ship. "It's nothing personal... I only wished to not play my hoof too soon."
A robe and voice-changing mask concealed the pilot's identity. "And why would you even bother breaking us out of THE most secure prison on Mammalia and take us out here?" Woolter demanded.
"Well... to put it simply Woolter White." The pilot then removed her hood and her mask, revealing that she was indeed Dawn Bellweather. "I need your help with something."
All three of the rams were surprised to see her. "Dawn?!" They all exclaimed.
"It's good to see you all again..." She said as she ignited her lightsaber, its blade now a baleful red.
The three rams looked surprised. "I see, you broke us out so you could kill us personally-" Woolter was cut off as he started choking.
"No little lamb... you are all far more useful to the Lords of the Sith." Said Dawn's Sith Master, Nemeroth. "That is unless my apprentice has overstated your abilities."
"I haven't, and for crying out loud. STOP STRANGLING HIM! He's no good to us dead." Dawn said in irritation with her master.
"As you wish," Nemorth said he dropped Woolter. "I will be forthright with you gentlemen. The Shadow Collective is looking to expand our business to Mammalia. My new apprentice knows this planet better than any in our organization could."
"To what? Conquer the planet?" Doug asked.
"No... that would draw too much attention from the Republic," Nemeroth said.
"Yeah, see the Shadow Collective's deal is that we keep things on the DL. We work through intermediaries... and that's where you boys come in." Dawn said. "See, with the Republic busy with the war against the Hutts, and Mammalia still reeling from the Night Howler Crisis in one way or another. Mammalia is ripe for corruption... and for my revenge."
"Pace yourself, Dawn, we have not even established a presence." Nemeroth then approached the ram criminals. "Now... enough of the theatrics. Let us speak of business and of acquiring fortunes."
XXXX
"-so in short, you think the Shadow Collective is going to try to expand to Mammalia?" Headmaster Cruz'siki said.
"Yes, and the only reason I can think of that they'd even bother with this world. Is that Dawn has a hand in the breakout from Tartarus." Judy said.
"And I think we'd all be better off if that didn't happen," Nick said. "That insane ewe caused enough hurt BEFORE she became some kind of Sith Lord."
"Yeah, that's not really how that works," Judy interjected. "Dawn was broken out of the Citadel less than a year ago, so she wouldn't have become an 'official' Sith Lord by now. I do agree that if she's planning anything, it can't be good."
XXXX
"So... in a nutshell. You want this stuff to be turned into a designer drug?" Jesse said as he and the others stood before large crates filled with Spice.
"That is literally what she just said, word for word." Woolter admonished as Dawn groaned in frustration. "But I must admit... I've always wanted to work with Spice. Is this glitterstim?"
"Yes, fresh from the spice mines of Kessel. As well as ryll, from Ryloth." Nemeroth said.
"This stuff can't be cheap to get," Doug noted.
"True. But with the SC's connection we've knocked the price down to 'free or we cut you to pieces'." Dawn said with a gleeful smile. "So you're going to stay here, turn these into a new designer drug that we can sell on Mammalia. And assuming it works without drawing attention to us, it'll be ready for the rest of the galaxy."
"You will remain on this station to work. When you are ready for testing. You will contact us through a courier network asking for... test subjects. When we receive this request, you shall get test subjects for your drugs. Lord Maul is expecting much from you... do not fail. Or the price will be swift, and deadly." Nemeroth said.
"Yeah, you'll be killed if that wasn't clear." Dawn clarified. "Harsh I know, but in this business, we can't really afford to leave loose ends dangling. So... just keep us in the loop about what you're doing here, and try not to screw up."
"With all due respect Dawn, the only reason that Jedi even knew to look for us was that that weasel-" Woolter then found Dawn's blade at his throat.
"Who said I blamed you for what happened? Just do what we've asked of you to the best of your ability. Now if you'll excuse us, we need to return to Had Abbadon." Dawn said as she deactivated her lightsaber. "We're needed for something... important there. That's where the droids come in, they'll provide security and keep you relatively safe, and restore the station to proper working order." Dawn said.
"Very well," Woolter said as the two dark-side users left the lab. "Now... let's see what we can do with the hand we're dealt."
XXXX
Within the Jedi Council chambers on the Triumphant Phoenix. The Council was meeting. "So more trouble from Mammalia... as if the war were not enough." Aayla Secura said.
"I couldn't agree more," Judy said over the holographic projection. "I don't know for certain if it's Dawn in the ship. Or if she's involved in the breakout... but the Shadow Collective must have a reason for breaking out three rams, all co-conspirators with Dawn."
"A fair point Knight Hopps." Master Plo Koon said. "As it stands, the Order is in the midst of a major operation behind Hutt lines."
"What kind of operation?" Nick asked.
"The kind that I for one don't feel safe talking about even over a secure Jedi signal." Anakin Skywalker said. "All I can really say is that the Triumphant Phoenix is in Hutt space."
"I propose that we send a covert Jedi team to Mammalia. Eight Knights, four Masters." Obi-Wan Kenobi said. "At least that way we'll be able to provide additional security for Chancellor Amidala's visit to-"
"Whoa, hold up there." Nick interrupted. "The Chancellor is coming to Mammalia?"
Grand Master Namma Chikkac chided Obi-Wan. "Whoa! I agree he shouldn't have just said that out loud. But there's no need for that kind of language!" Grand Master X2 said.
"You might as well know... the Chancellor is going to Mammalia. Complete with a detachment of RAMs for protection. She'll be there for some kind of meeting with Mammalia's new President, Edward Swift-Hoof." Grand Master Rahm Kota said.
"And you don't feel like that shouldn't be said while you're in hostile territory?" Nick asked.
"It's fairly common knowledge. Both her visit and the fact that she's virtually invincible to assassins." Anakin pointed out. "I swear if I had a credit for every time someone was hired to kill her specifically, or she was drawn into a situation where she was kidnapped or otherwise... well I'd have no idea what to do with all of that money."
"I'd disagree, but that precedent has been persistent since the Battle of Naboo." Grand Master Shaak Ti said.
XXXX
Several days later, a Jedi shuttle arrived at Zootopia Space Port. "I just hope that they didn't send 'you-know-who' here," Judy said nervously.
"You have a Jedi named Voldemort?" Nick asked.
"You know exactly who I mean!" Judy said tensely. Nick recoiled in surprise. "I'm sorry for letting my feelings get the better of me... but if Galen Marek is on that ship. I will scream."
"Your sure your not just overreacting Carrots?" Nick asked.
"No... if anything I'm underreacting." Judy said. "I haven't been kidding in the least when I've been telling you that where Galen Marek goes, destruction follows in his wake. I mean he just does not care about how he uses his powers or how it reflects on the Order."
"Uh, Judy?" Nick said as four Jedi exited the shuttle. One that he recognized as Galen Marek from pictures that Judy showed him.
"Sweat Ashla and Frith, he just goes from one mission to the next. Not caring if he destroyed an entire city, or a starship, or an entire STAR SYSTEM?!" Judy ranted. "Granted the star system thing only happened once but still, how do you destroy an entire star system by accident?!"
"Judy," Nick said as Galen Marek stood behind the rabbit Jedi.
"Seriously, one of these days that loose cannon is going to get himself into so much trouble that even Anakin, his Master, and with all of the influence he has, or his skill, couldn't get him out of." Judy ranted.
"Ahem," Galen said, clearing his throat.
"Galen I'll be with you in a moment!" Judy said, "I swear the only reason that half-wit hasn't been thrown into the Citadel is out of fear of him destroying the entire planet by accident-"
"I think we get your point, Judy." A familiar voice said.
"Master Tano?!" Judy said in surprise. "You're going to be leading this contingent of the team?"
"That I am," Ahsoka said. "As for why Galen came along... suffice it to say that Anakin shares your frustrations with his destructive tendencies."
"I didn't even want to destroy that star... stupid accident that could have happened to anyone," Galen muttered to himself.
"Anyway, we'll be stopping by the Academy. Speaking of which, where's your Padawan Judy?" Ahsoka said.
"He needed to return to his family to help them with some... some sort of construction project, the way he explained it was weird," Judy said.
"Must be nice," Galen said rolling his eyes. "Having people who actually want you around."
"Galen, calm yourself," Ahsoka said. "We must be going, may the Force be with you."
"And also with you," Judy said as Ahsoka's party walked off. "Galen Marek on the one paw, and RAMs coming to Mammalia on the other. If we're lucky, they might ONLY destroy Zootopia if things go south."
"Okay, I'm pretty sure that massive property damage wouldn't be the first thing to happen," Nick said, frustrated with the frequent claims that things would go horribly wrong.
"I'm not saying it would be the first thing to happen. I'm saying that if things start going downhill. They'll overreact, and THAT'S when things'll get crazy." Judy said. "What we need to do is try to keep a step ahead of this affair, if and when things go off the rails. We need to provide damage control."
"Okay, I'm still willing to give you the benefit of the doubt about Galen... but are the RAMs that destructive?" Nick asked.
"They are, I saw what they could do during the Raid of Relicus Prime. The Republic Armored Marines did more damage to the factory than the pirates that were trying to raid it. The only reason the planet is still inhabited is that the planet was insured." Judy explained.
"Insured?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, there's an insurance company that provides financial aid to planets that have suffered from accidental damage from Republic forces," Judy said.
Nick was flabbergasted. "Why do those guys even exist?"
"They're pretty much replacement Jedi for the Republic after the Skywalker Reformations were passed. Got giant suits of power armor and high-caliber ballistic weaponry, even specified vehicles and ships." Judy explained. "With any luck, the Chancellor is going to bring Emerald Company. They're not as trigger happy as the rest of RAMs at least, and their Commander actually tries to keep them on some kind of leash."
"Should we tell Bogo about this?" Nick asked.
XXXX
"Yes, I am aware of the destructive reputation of Jedi Padawan Galen Marek and the Republic Armored Marines," Bogo said with resignation. "Not only was I made aware of the Chancellors visit, and her retinue. But I've done my reading on some of your fellow Jedi... including some of your adventures." He said to Judy over the phone.
"Just keep the ZPD on high alert. Remember, the entire point the Order sent a team was to protect against Shadow Collective incursions." Judy said.
"Right... now I'm going to hang up and eat my weight in aspirin. This has been an especially rough week for me." Bogo said.