***
Face nodded to Sharr. "Ready, Psycho?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, Poster Boy." Sharr answered, brushing dust from his knees as he rose.
"Piggy?" Face whispered. The Gamorrean nodded, scrambling away from the ledge, reattaching his macrobinoculars to their spot on his pack. "They are almost in position." He whispered, the mechanical voice barely audible.
"Master in place." Kyp called into his comlink. A dry breeze from the plain tousled his hair as he peered down the mountainside. "And the group's almost in place, as well. Are you sure this is going to work, Poster Boy?"
Face shot him an amused glance. "Am I ever sure anything will work? No. What I am wondering is if you'll be able to get our people away in time."
"You worry about the rockslide, I'll worry about our people." Kyp replied. "Set charges for 30 seconds."
Face nodded. "Consider it done."
Kyp cocked his head to one side, listening. "Do I hear singing, or is it just me?"
Face paused, listening, before breaking into a grin. "It's Ewok Man."
Kyp grimaced. "Remind me to advise him to stick to a career in military, not singing."
***
"You know what, Ewok Man?" Jaina asked.
"One sec-1,097 bottles of lomin ale on the wall!-What is it Goddess?" Janson asked.
"This is an order. Shut. Up."
Janson's face fell. "Yub, yub, Commander." He mumbled, bowing his head and scuffling along in the dirt.
Jaina burst into laughter, but stifled it at a glare from Evil Beady Eyes. "Janson," she whispered, "You are so pathetic!"
He brightened, straightening up. "Thank you Goddess! I try my hardest!" He winked at her.
Jaina just smiled back at him, dropping back to walk beside Jag. Their arms brushed, prompting a smile. She glanced up into his pale green eyes. "They're going awfully easy on us. Hard to believe they're actually Peace Brigade."
He nodded. "It is weird. Then again, who was expecting a Peace Brigade base out in the middle of nowhere?"
"Obviously not Shawnkyr."
Jag dropped his gaze, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You have a point there."
Jaina, sensing she hit a nerve, she tried to slip a hand into one of his. "We're going to get her, and then, we'll get away. Just like always, we get away."
Jag shook his head. "You're starting to sound like an X-wing jockey with an attitude."
"But, you love it."
"Right I do."
Jag suddenly jerked his head around. "Did you hear that? Sounded like thunder, almost."
Jaina followed his gaze, a frown on her face. "I didn't hear anything-wait. Wait, wait, wait."
Corran frowned as well. "Guys, that was no thunder."
Kell stuck his head in the group. "No, that was Ewok Man's stomach. He didn't have breakfast."
Corran shot him a look. "Quiet, you. As I was saying, that sounded awfully close to a-"
"Rockslide!" shouted one of the Peace Brigaders.
"I was just about to say that." Corran muttered.
"That had better be our team, or else we're in deep Hutt drool." Jaina said as she watched the dozen or so Peace Brigaders run away at high speed. She raised her voice to shouting to be heard above the increasing roar. "I said, that had better be our team, or else we're in deep Hutt drool! That's your cue, Poster Boy!"
"Give up on it." Kell said as pebbles started to rain down.
"Right." Corran agreed, nodding as the pebbles increased in size, still raining down.
"Run." Jag said.
Four took off, leaving Jaina staring up at tumbling mass of rocks in wonderment.
Jag turned, still running. "Goddess!" he called. "Goddess, RUN!"
Jaina turned slightly, still keeping her eyes fixed on the rolling rocks. She pointed somewhere, hand outstretched and her brandy eyes narrowed in concentration.
Jag stared at her in horror. *What in all the cursed galaxy is she doing!?*he thought, starting to race back towards her as the rocks seemed to grow in size; now, orange sized stones were raining down from above.
"Imperial Boy, don't worry about her! Get clear!" called Corran.
"Negative, CorSec! She's going to get herself killed!" cried Jag.
"Don't make me pull rank on you, Imperial Boy!" Corran shouted.
Jag turned back, reluctantly. Anguish filled his pale green eyes as now grapefruit sized stones crashed down.
"Come on, Imperial Boy!" yelled Kell.
Suddenly, Jaina let out a whoop of joy as a small silver cylinder raced towards her outstretched hand. It smacked into her open palm, and she ignited the violet blade, flipping into the air over the swirl of rocks.
Corran grinned as well, his hand outstretched, silently calling his lightsaber back. "We're out of the area of influence from the ysalamiri!" Corran shouted, struggling to make himself heard over the roar of falling rock. "Non-Jedi, get clear!"
"Yub, yub, CorSec!" hollered Wes, leaping over rocks and brush.
Jag, finally pleased to see Jaina moving, took off running.
Jaina used the Force to leap high over boulders and somersault in the air, allowing shouts of exhilartion.* I never realized just how much I rely on the Force until it was gone… *she thought. *Gotta hate those blasted ysalamiri! *
Huge boulders were now crashing down around the area, rumbling and rolling around. Jaina had already used the Force to wrench off her stuncuffs, and Corran had removed his and Wes's already. She narrowed her eyes, still running, and focused the Force enough to break apart Jag's cuffs, allowing him to move his arms freely. With another thought, and a bit more concentration, Kell was also liberated of his restraints.
She ran, exhilarated, along the rocks, nimbly leaping over them and she quickly caught up to Corran and Wes, who had stopped behind a huge outcropping of rocks, and now rested, trying to calm racing pulses and heavy breathing.
Jaina allowed an indulgent grin. "You guys really are getting old, aren't you?"
Corran glared at her, unable to speak, and Wes rolled his eyes. "I…never…get…old…Goddess…I'm just …plagued by… a debilitating disease… that prevents me from… retaining my natural, eternally youthful state."
Kell snorted. "Debilitating diesease? Natural, eternity youthful state? Please, Ewok Man, you're just as old as the rest of us. And aging is a natural thing."
Wes looked stricken. "Not for me!" he huffed, crossing his arms across his chest.
Jaina exchanged glances with Jag. "Children
these days."
He nodded, face expressionless except for his laughing green eyes, "I know. They just get worse."
"It's quite the shame, isn't it, Imperial Boy?" asked a new voice from behind. The five spun, surprised.
Jag nodded again, completely calm. "You bet it is, Poster Boy."
Jaina grinned, rushing forward to embrace Face. "Nice rockslide. I'll put in a commendation for initiative."
Face pulled out of the hug, surprised. "Rockslide? We didn't start a rockslide, Goddess. It was Ewok Boy's singing that caused that!"
"Ewok Man, thank you very much." Wes corrected.
Face rolled his eyes.
"Where's everyone else, Poster Boy?" Jaina inquired.
"Surprised you didn't notice me yet, Goddess," someone said from a shadow, smirking as he stepped forward.
"Master, good to see you in one piece." Jaina commented. "And you as well, Piggy." She said, noticing the porcine Gamorrean approaching.
She could see Piggy nod. "We were afraid you guys weren't going to clear the rocks."
"Speak for yourself, Piggy. I was confident in my abilities." Kyp said.
"Cocky Jedi, aren't you?" Sharr commented, leaping over a rock.
Kyp graced him with a cold smile.
"Yeah, yeah. Enough with meeting." Janson said, leaping to his feet.
"He's right. We got a pilot to save." Jaina said.
Janson shook his head. "Save pilot later. Feed Ewok Man now."
"X-wing jockeys. Do all you guys ever think about is food?" sighed Jaina.
Wes considered. "No. We also think about-"
Jaina held up a hand to forestall any comments. "No. That's ok. I don't want to know."
***
After they'd all eaten, much to Janson's joy, the group headed out again. Jaina and Corran had managed to some how find their missing demolitions, comm and med packs and they were hiking through the rough, rocky terrain, when Janson took a deep breath. "Ohhhh an Ithorian went yodeling on a mountain so high! Hi! Whennn aaaa long came a cuckoo-bird interrupting his cry! Ohhh-"
"Spare us the misery, please." Face said.
Jaina smacked a hand to her forehead. "Ewok Man, I was under the impression you were singing to irritate the enemy and out of protest for lack of food. Why are you doing this?!"
Wes grinned. "Because it's such a bee-oo-tiful day!"
Jag drew his charrik and took careful aim. "Permission to put him out of his misery, Goddess?"
Jaina laughed, slapping his arm playfully. "Put the charrik away, Imperial Boy. I can do better."
With a grin, she half closed her eyes.
Corran's green eyes widened as he realized what she intended to do. "Ooh, ooh! I can help!"
In a matter of seconds, the Jedi had successfully built a Force-soundscreen around the group; Janson's voice was muted, as if someone had taken a remote and turned the volume way down. The group laughed; it was comical watching Janson's lips move, but hearing no sounds.
"Anyway, how long till we get to their base, Poster Boy?" Jaina asked, turning as they climbed another ridge.
Face allowed a humorless smile, and pointed behind her.
She spun to see the perimeter of the base. A feral grin crept along her face. "Ok everyone. Split back up into teams, but this time, it's gonna be different. I want Poster Boy, Ewok man, Explosion Boy, Imperial Boy, Master and CorSec with me. We're getting Shawnkyr. Psycho, you and Piggy are getting us an escape shuttle. Makes sure it has weaponry and a capable hyperdrive."
Sharr and Piggy nodded, immediately taking off towards the landing grid, on the north side of the base.
Jaina watched them for a moment, before turning back to her group. "We split up again, Face, you've got Team One, and I've got Team Two. Ewok Man, go with Master and Poster Boy; Imperial Boy, Explosion Boy and CorSec with me. This is how it goes, people. I want Team One to set up a diversion on the south east side, away from the landing pad and away from the main building. Team Two and I will be entering into the main part of the base, looking for the detention area, or wherever they keep their captives. We get Shawnkyr, you guy get us out, and Piggy and Psycho pick us all up, and we're home in time for happy hour."
Face nodded. "Sounds good. Let's go people!"
He directed his group down the hillside, blending in with the natural vegetation.
Jaina turned to her three. "Let's go, boys."
"You lead, Goddess." Corran waved her forward. "I'll take the rear guard."
***
thanks again for all the reviews! More soon, pending reviews! :D
Face nodded to Sharr. "Ready, Psycho?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, Poster Boy." Sharr answered, brushing dust from his knees as he rose.
"Piggy?" Face whispered. The Gamorrean nodded, scrambling away from the ledge, reattaching his macrobinoculars to their spot on his pack. "They are almost in position." He whispered, the mechanical voice barely audible.
"Master in place." Kyp called into his comlink. A dry breeze from the plain tousled his hair as he peered down the mountainside. "And the group's almost in place, as well. Are you sure this is going to work, Poster Boy?"
Face shot him an amused glance. "Am I ever sure anything will work? No. What I am wondering is if you'll be able to get our people away in time."
"You worry about the rockslide, I'll worry about our people." Kyp replied. "Set charges for 30 seconds."
Face nodded. "Consider it done."
Kyp cocked his head to one side, listening. "Do I hear singing, or is it just me?"
Face paused, listening, before breaking into a grin. "It's Ewok Man."
Kyp grimaced. "Remind me to advise him to stick to a career in military, not singing."
***
"You know what, Ewok Man?" Jaina asked.
"One sec-1,097 bottles of lomin ale on the wall!-What is it Goddess?" Janson asked.
"This is an order. Shut. Up."
Janson's face fell. "Yub, yub, Commander." He mumbled, bowing his head and scuffling along in the dirt.
Jaina burst into laughter, but stifled it at a glare from Evil Beady Eyes. "Janson," she whispered, "You are so pathetic!"
He brightened, straightening up. "Thank you Goddess! I try my hardest!" He winked at her.
Jaina just smiled back at him, dropping back to walk beside Jag. Their arms brushed, prompting a smile. She glanced up into his pale green eyes. "They're going awfully easy on us. Hard to believe they're actually Peace Brigade."
He nodded. "It is weird. Then again, who was expecting a Peace Brigade base out in the middle of nowhere?"
"Obviously not Shawnkyr."
Jag dropped his gaze, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You have a point there."
Jaina, sensing she hit a nerve, she tried to slip a hand into one of his. "We're going to get her, and then, we'll get away. Just like always, we get away."
Jag shook his head. "You're starting to sound like an X-wing jockey with an attitude."
"But, you love it."
"Right I do."
Jag suddenly jerked his head around. "Did you hear that? Sounded like thunder, almost."
Jaina followed his gaze, a frown on her face. "I didn't hear anything-wait. Wait, wait, wait."
Corran frowned as well. "Guys, that was no thunder."
Kell stuck his head in the group. "No, that was Ewok Man's stomach. He didn't have breakfast."
Corran shot him a look. "Quiet, you. As I was saying, that sounded awfully close to a-"
"Rockslide!" shouted one of the Peace Brigaders.
"I was just about to say that." Corran muttered.
"That had better be our team, or else we're in deep Hutt drool." Jaina said as she watched the dozen or so Peace Brigaders run away at high speed. She raised her voice to shouting to be heard above the increasing roar. "I said, that had better be our team, or else we're in deep Hutt drool! That's your cue, Poster Boy!"
"Give up on it." Kell said as pebbles started to rain down.
"Right." Corran agreed, nodding as the pebbles increased in size, still raining down.
"Run." Jag said.
Four took off, leaving Jaina staring up at tumbling mass of rocks in wonderment.
Jag turned, still running. "Goddess!" he called. "Goddess, RUN!"
Jaina turned slightly, still keeping her eyes fixed on the rolling rocks. She pointed somewhere, hand outstretched and her brandy eyes narrowed in concentration.
Jag stared at her in horror. *What in all the cursed galaxy is she doing!?*he thought, starting to race back towards her as the rocks seemed to grow in size; now, orange sized stones were raining down from above.
"Imperial Boy, don't worry about her! Get clear!" called Corran.
"Negative, CorSec! She's going to get herself killed!" cried Jag.
"Don't make me pull rank on you, Imperial Boy!" Corran shouted.
Jag turned back, reluctantly. Anguish filled his pale green eyes as now grapefruit sized stones crashed down.
"Come on, Imperial Boy!" yelled Kell.
Suddenly, Jaina let out a whoop of joy as a small silver cylinder raced towards her outstretched hand. It smacked into her open palm, and she ignited the violet blade, flipping into the air over the swirl of rocks.
Corran grinned as well, his hand outstretched, silently calling his lightsaber back. "We're out of the area of influence from the ysalamiri!" Corran shouted, struggling to make himself heard over the roar of falling rock. "Non-Jedi, get clear!"
"Yub, yub, CorSec!" hollered Wes, leaping over rocks and brush.
Jag, finally pleased to see Jaina moving, took off running.
Jaina used the Force to leap high over boulders and somersault in the air, allowing shouts of exhilartion.* I never realized just how much I rely on the Force until it was gone… *she thought. *Gotta hate those blasted ysalamiri! *
Huge boulders were now crashing down around the area, rumbling and rolling around. Jaina had already used the Force to wrench off her stuncuffs, and Corran had removed his and Wes's already. She narrowed her eyes, still running, and focused the Force enough to break apart Jag's cuffs, allowing him to move his arms freely. With another thought, and a bit more concentration, Kell was also liberated of his restraints.
She ran, exhilarated, along the rocks, nimbly leaping over them and she quickly caught up to Corran and Wes, who had stopped behind a huge outcropping of rocks, and now rested, trying to calm racing pulses and heavy breathing.
Jaina allowed an indulgent grin. "You guys really are getting old, aren't you?"
Corran glared at her, unable to speak, and Wes rolled his eyes. "I…never…get…old…Goddess…I'm just …plagued by… a debilitating disease… that prevents me from… retaining my natural, eternally youthful state."
Kell snorted. "Debilitating diesease? Natural, eternity youthful state? Please, Ewok Man, you're just as old as the rest of us. And aging is a natural thing."
Wes looked stricken. "Not for me!" he huffed, crossing his arms across his chest.
Jaina exchanged glances with Jag. "Children
these days."
He nodded, face expressionless except for his laughing green eyes, "I know. They just get worse."
"It's quite the shame, isn't it, Imperial Boy?" asked a new voice from behind. The five spun, surprised.
Jag nodded again, completely calm. "You bet it is, Poster Boy."
Jaina grinned, rushing forward to embrace Face. "Nice rockslide. I'll put in a commendation for initiative."
Face pulled out of the hug, surprised. "Rockslide? We didn't start a rockslide, Goddess. It was Ewok Boy's singing that caused that!"
"Ewok Man, thank you very much." Wes corrected.
Face rolled his eyes.
"Where's everyone else, Poster Boy?" Jaina inquired.
"Surprised you didn't notice me yet, Goddess," someone said from a shadow, smirking as he stepped forward.
"Master, good to see you in one piece." Jaina commented. "And you as well, Piggy." She said, noticing the porcine Gamorrean approaching.
She could see Piggy nod. "We were afraid you guys weren't going to clear the rocks."
"Speak for yourself, Piggy. I was confident in my abilities." Kyp said.
"Cocky Jedi, aren't you?" Sharr commented, leaping over a rock.
Kyp graced him with a cold smile.
"Yeah, yeah. Enough with meeting." Janson said, leaping to his feet.
"He's right. We got a pilot to save." Jaina said.
Janson shook his head. "Save pilot later. Feed Ewok Man now."
"X-wing jockeys. Do all you guys ever think about is food?" sighed Jaina.
Wes considered. "No. We also think about-"
Jaina held up a hand to forestall any comments. "No. That's ok. I don't want to know."
***
After they'd all eaten, much to Janson's joy, the group headed out again. Jaina and Corran had managed to some how find their missing demolitions, comm and med packs and they were hiking through the rough, rocky terrain, when Janson took a deep breath. "Ohhhh an Ithorian went yodeling on a mountain so high! Hi! Whennn aaaa long came a cuckoo-bird interrupting his cry! Ohhh-"
"Spare us the misery, please." Face said.
Jaina smacked a hand to her forehead. "Ewok Man, I was under the impression you were singing to irritate the enemy and out of protest for lack of food. Why are you doing this?!"
Wes grinned. "Because it's such a bee-oo-tiful day!"
Jag drew his charrik and took careful aim. "Permission to put him out of his misery, Goddess?"
Jaina laughed, slapping his arm playfully. "Put the charrik away, Imperial Boy. I can do better."
With a grin, she half closed her eyes.
Corran's green eyes widened as he realized what she intended to do. "Ooh, ooh! I can help!"
In a matter of seconds, the Jedi had successfully built a Force-soundscreen around the group; Janson's voice was muted, as if someone had taken a remote and turned the volume way down. The group laughed; it was comical watching Janson's lips move, but hearing no sounds.
"Anyway, how long till we get to their base, Poster Boy?" Jaina asked, turning as they climbed another ridge.
Face allowed a humorless smile, and pointed behind her.
She spun to see the perimeter of the base. A feral grin crept along her face. "Ok everyone. Split back up into teams, but this time, it's gonna be different. I want Poster Boy, Ewok man, Explosion Boy, Imperial Boy, Master and CorSec with me. We're getting Shawnkyr. Psycho, you and Piggy are getting us an escape shuttle. Makes sure it has weaponry and a capable hyperdrive."
Sharr and Piggy nodded, immediately taking off towards the landing grid, on the north side of the base.
Jaina watched them for a moment, before turning back to her group. "We split up again, Face, you've got Team One, and I've got Team Two. Ewok Man, go with Master and Poster Boy; Imperial Boy, Explosion Boy and CorSec with me. This is how it goes, people. I want Team One to set up a diversion on the south east side, away from the landing pad and away from the main building. Team Two and I will be entering into the main part of the base, looking for the detention area, or wherever they keep their captives. We get Shawnkyr, you guy get us out, and Piggy and Psycho pick us all up, and we're home in time for happy hour."
Face nodded. "Sounds good. Let's go people!"
He directed his group down the hillside, blending in with the natural vegetation.
Jaina turned to her three. "Let's go, boys."
"You lead, Goddess." Corran waved her forward. "I'll take the rear guard."
***
thanks again for all the reviews! More soon, pending reviews! :D