"Lookit! There's something moving on the scanner up ahead. That might be our little Tim2. Hit the accelerator!" Chris shouted to A-10 in the sea next to him. The two were piloting an open-air piccolo case over the desert. Little did they suspect, they were being watched.
Two figures clad in dirty brown robes were perched on a cliff that overlooked the flatlands. These were Drummers. The most feared bandits in the Littleton System.
One of them leapt up from his cover, prepared to chuck a drumstick at the speeder case. But the other one quickly jumped up to restrain his companion. It wouldn't do for their prey to see them too soon. They had to get reinforcements.
The two quickly ran back to their tribal equipment trailer for their snares. One farm boy and a student wouldn't be too tough to take down.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of their peril, A-10 and Chris had caught up with Tim2.
"Woah! Just where do you think you're going?" Chris asked Tim2 as A-10 brought the case to a halt and the two jumped out.
"Master Chris is your rightful owner now! We'll have no more of this Jason Kenobi jibberish!" A-10 said angrily.
Tim2 tried to explain but was cut off by A-10.
"And don't talk to me of your mission either. You're fortunate he doesn't blast you into a million pieces right here!"
"No, it's all right. But I think we'd better go." Chris said.
But when he turned to get back in the speeder Tim2 let out several frantic whistles.
"What's wrong with him now?"
"There are several creatures approaching from the southeast." A-10 reported nervously, knowing full-well that Tim2's sax was sensitive to the presence of other life forms.
"Drum Line! Or worse." Chris said as he made his way to a trail that led to the top of the canyon that they were hidden in. "Come on, lets go have a look."
A-10 followed him but Tim2 didn't. He hid himself in a small crevice in the canyon wall.
When Chris and A-10 reached the top of the cliff they both ducked for cover. Chris peaked back into the canyon below for any sign of danger.
"Well, there is an equipment trailer down there, but I don't see any- wait a minute. They're Drummers all right. I can see one of them now." Chris said, not paying any attention to what was behind him.
Chris suddenly heard the crash of drums and he was yanked from his hiding place. Chris rolled onto his back only to find himself staring into the terrifying face of a female Drummer. Her short blonde hair fell into her wild eyes as she jabbed her drumsticks at him. She let out a kind of war whoop and the two male Drummers who backed her up started to play a furious cadence.
A-10 gave a terrified shriek and fell to the ground in a dead faint.
Chris was overwhelmed by the clashing of the snares. The girl Drummer finally landed a blow to his head and knocked him unconscious.
The war whoops and the clash of the cadence echoed off of the canyon walls.
Tim2 cowered in his crevice when he saw the Drummers drag the unconscious Chris back to the speeder. He didn't know what had happened to A-10, but right now his concern was only for Chris.
The Drummers dropped Chris unceremoniously by the speeder and proceeded to go through its contents, thinking to make off with any valuables.
But just then a great howl came from the entrance to the canyon. The Drummers looked up and saw a dark, hooded figure approaching them, waving its arms madly.
The Drummers retreated in fright, leaving behind their finds. Chris still lay motionless in the sand.
As the figure approached the fallen boy, Tim2 beeped in fear. What was this creature?
Whatever it was, was bending over to check Chris' pulse. But then it seemed to sense another presence. The figure lifted its head and removed its hood, revealing a rather squarish face, dazzling sky-blue eyes, and short blonde hair. The man searched the canyon wall until he picked out Tim2.
"Hello there." he said.
Tim2 beeped a note of surprise. How had the man seen him?
"Come here, my little friend." he beckoned to Tim2. "Don't be afraid."
Tim2 took a step forward, beeping and nodding anxiously at Chris.
"Oh, don't worry. He'll be all right."
Just then Chris began to stir. When he finally opened his eyes the man smiled warmly down at him.
"Rest easy, son. You've had a busy day. You're fortunate to be all in one piece."
"Ben? Ben Kenobi? Boy, am I glad to see you." Chris said as he sat up.
"The Stadium Wastes are not to be traveled lightly. Tell me young Chris, what brings you out this far?"
"This little student." Chris said, indicating Tim2. "I think he's searching for his former master, but I've never seen such devotion in a student before. He claims to be the property of a Jason Kenobi. If he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking about?"
"Jason Kenobi." Ben said. As he repeated the name to himself a shadow drifted across his face. "Jason. Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time."
"I think my uncle knows him. He said he was dead."
"Oh, he's not dead. Well…not yet." Ben said with a bit of a chuckle.
"You know him?" Chris asked.
"Well of course I know him. He's me."
Tim2 beeped in surprise.
"I haven't gone by the name of Jason since, oh, before you were born."
"Well then, the student does belong to you."
"I don't seem to remember ever owning a student. Very interesting."
Chris was about to ask something else when he was interrupted by a bout of snares.
"I think we'd better get indoors." Ben said, helping Chris to his feet. "The Drum Line is easily startled but they'll soon be back. And in greater numbers."
But when the two reached the speeder Tim2 started playing frantically. That was when Chris remembered.
"A-10."
Chris rushed back up the trail, finding A-10 about halfway up. He was just coming to and he had a pretty nasty cut on his left leg.
"Where am I?" A-10 asked as Chris knelt beside him. "I must have taken a bad step."
"Can you stand? We've gotta get out of here before the Drum Line returns." Chris said worriedly.
"I don't think I can make it. You go on, master Chris. There's no sense in you risking yourself on my account. I'm done for ."
"No, you're not. What kind of talk is that?" Chris said while pulling A-10 up from the ground.
"Quickly. We'd better get on the move." Ben said from behind them.
The two helped A-10 walk to the speeder.
Later that day, the four had reached Ben's hovel, deep in the desert. As Chris bandaged A-10's leg he listened to Ben's stories of the old days.
"My father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on an oil case." Chris contradicted Ben.
"that's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved."
"You fought in the alto sax wars?" Chris asked, surprised.
"Yes. I was once a Trombone Knight, the same as your father."
"I wish I'd known him." Chris said solemnly.
"He was the best cloud pilot in the world…and a cunning warrior. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. "
Chris only chuckled at this, not wanting to aknowledge the praise further.
"And he was a good friend. Which reminds me, I have something here for you." Ben said, rising from his seat. He went to the back of the room and opened a small storage bin. From it, he withdrew a small instrument. "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Jason on some damn, fool idealistic crusade like your father did."
"What is it?" Chris asked as he took the instrument from Ben. It looked like a piccolo, only instead of a regular piccolo head piece, the hybrid instrument had a trombone mouthpiece.
"Your father's band saber. This is the weapon of a Trombone knight. They understood that true power can only come through the union of brass and woodwind." Ben explained as Chris attempted to activate the saber. When he finally hit the right key a beam of icy blue light shot out of the end of it.
"Not as clumsy or random as a trumpet. An elegant weapon for the more civilized age."
Chris started to swing the blade around, entranced by it.
"For over a thousand generations the Trombone knights were the guardians of peace and justice of the old band. Before the dark times…before the Empire." Ben said quietly.
All of a sudden, Chris deactivated the band saber. He'd just thought of something.
"How did my father die?"
Ben hesitated a moment before answering.
"A young Trombone named Darth Fred, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Trombone knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Trombone are all but extinct. Fred was seduced by the dark side of the Drill."
"The Drill?" Chris asked, slightly confused.
"The Drill is what gives the band its power. It's an energy pattern created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us and binds the world together." Ben explained.
Not wanting to discuss the subject further, Ben turned away from Chris and went to examine Tim2.
"Now lets see if we can't figure out what you are, my little friend. And where you come from." Ben said as he reached into the bell of the sax.
"I saw part of the message. He-" Chris started to say.
"I seem to have found it." Ben interrupted as the image of the young woman appeared yet again.
"Section Leader Kenobi," the hologram began. "Years ago you served my father in the Alto Sax Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person. But my case has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to California has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the tenor sax of this mechanic student. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this student safely delivered to him in California. This is our most desperate hour. Help me Jason Kenobi. You're my only hope."
Having finished, the image vanished. There was a long silence before anyone spoke again. But Ben finally turned to Chris.
"You must learn the ways of the Drill…if you're to come with me to California High."
"California? I'm not going to California. I've gotta get home. It's late. I'm in for it as it is." Chris said, on the edge of panic now.
"I need your help, Chris. She needs your help. I'm getting to old for this sort of thing."
"Look, I can't get involved. I've got work to do. It's not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But- there's nothing I can do about it right now." Chris said, floundering for an excuse. "It's such a long way from here."
"That's your uncle talking."
"Yeah, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?"
"Learn about the Drill, Chris." Ben said firmly.
"I can take you as far as Bell Station." Chris said after a despairing pause. "You can get a transport there to Littleton High or wherever you're going."
"You must do what you feel is right, of course."
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the fate of the world was being decided. Miles above the Earth's surface hovered the weapon that had the Brass Alliance in a frenzy. A giant flute station. It was he largest battle case ever built. At first glance one might have thought that it was a brass case. But it was nothing of the sort. This was the most powerful Woodwind case ever. And at its heart rested the Death Flute. When the giant flute was played it would have the power to destroy a high school.
At the moment, a meeting was being held in one of the forward practice rooms by the section leaders of the station. An argument was going on between two of them. Section Leaders Jillian and Shannon.
"Until this flute station is fully operational we are vulnerable. The Brass Alliance is too well equipped. They're much more dangerous than you realize." Jillian protested.
"Dangerous to your sax fleet, Section Leader. Not to this flute station." Shannon said firmly.
"The rebellion will continue to gain support in the Woodwind Senate and-" Jillian started to say.
"The Woodwind Senate will no longer be of any concern to us." Came a new voice from the doorway. This was Grand Section Leader Kate. She wore a drab green marching uniform and her black hair was swept up into a loose bun. She was accompanied by Darth Fred.
"I've just received word that the Empress has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Band have been swept away." she finished.
"That's impossible!" Jillian said, shocked. "How will the Empress maintain control without the sectionals?"
"The regional Section Leaders now have direct control over their territories." Kate explained. "Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this flute station."
"And what of the rebellion? If the Brass have obtained a complete technical copy of the Minimally Speaking Show it is possible, however unlikely, they might find a weakness and exploit it." Jillian said.
"The show you refer to will soon be back in our hands." Darth Fred said.
"Any attack made by the Brass against this station would be a useless gesture. No matter how hard a show they've obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the world! I suggest we use it." Shannon exclaimed fiercely, slamming her fist down on the table they were seated at.
"Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a high school is insignificant next to the power of the Drill." Fred countered.
"Don't try to frighten us with your trombonist ways, Lord Fred." Shannon said mockingly. 'Your sad devotion to that ancient section has not helped you conjure up the stolen show files. Or given you clairvoyance enough to fin the Brass' hidden sto-" Shannon suddenly began to choke.
Fred had one of his hands up in the air as if he were manipulating some invisible force. He was slowly, methodically marking time with his feet. He allowed the rhythm to beat in his very blood. He summoned the energy of the Drill to focus on Shannon's throat.
"I find your lack of faith disturbing." Fred said as he tightened his grip.
Shannon was now clutching her throat, clawing at her collar in a desperate struggle to draw breath. Darth Fred just smirked coldly. The other section leaders looked on in shock as Shannon fought for air.
"Enough of this! Fred, release her!" Kate commanded.
"As you wish." Fred said as he backed away from Shannon.
She immediately collapsed on the table, gasping for breath.
"This bickering is pointless." Kate said sternly. "Now, Lord Fred will provide us with the location of the Brass storage room by the time this station is operational. We will then crush the Brass with one swift stroke!"