Lead the Way: A Star Wars/She-Ra Story

Chapter 24: Complicated

"Little sister…." Sigma said.

Catra gasps awake, panting, she groans and puts her hands to her head, the door hisses open and she screams in fear.

"Hey! Hey, it's just me", Adora said as she walked into the room.

Adora walks over and half-sits on the side of the bed as Catra gulps in some air and then groans, rolling over to face away from Adora, Adora reaches out to put a hand on Catra's shoulder, but retracts it and it pats on Adora's leg.

Adora asked worriedly, "are you…. Still getting the flashes?"

"Yes, I keep having this horrible vision of a blonde girl who thinks she's better than everyone….", Catra said as she half sits up to look at Adora, "barging into my room all day…. Oh, wait", Catra said as she thumps herself back down on the bed.

"We'll find a way to get the chip off. If you'd just…. Let Entrapta…." Adora said, then Catra quickly put a pillow over her face.

"And Horde Prime take a look at it, I bet they could..." Adora said before Catra cut her off.

Catra said, "I am NOT letting anyone touch me! Not after having that psychotic voice ringing in my head, forcing me to hurt people I…."

Catra thumped back down on her bed.

Catra grumbled, "you don't know what it's like. Having all of your free will taken like candy from a baby. It's…. It's the most terrifying thing I've ever seen. And I once saw Shadow Weaver in the shower by accident…."

Adora kept herself from laughing at that as she looked away for a moment, and deciding to be bold, slowly pulled Catra's head into her lap.

Catra asked, "what are you doing?"

Adora said, "I'm comforting you. That's what friends do."

Adora started petting her head, and Catra let out an involuntary purr.

Catra's cheeks went red then she pushed Adora's hand off.

"So, you're just gonna hide in here forever? You'll have to face them sometime….", Adora said with an annoyed tone.

"No, I don't. Just…. Drop me off on the closest planet, I'll make my own way", Catra said miserably, but firmly.

Adora said, slightly upset disbelief as she stood up, "what, so Horde Sigma can capture you again?"

Adora exhales frustratedly, she pauses, then grunts as she flips the mattress and Catra out of the bed, making Catra yelp.

"I promised I'd take you home, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do", Adora said angrily as Catra glared at her, "why are you acting like this?! We saved your life!"

Catra sneered as she stood to get in Adora's face, "I told you not to come back! But you just love feeling like a hero, don't you?"

Adora shouted in an angrily, incredulously tone, "you'd rather I left you there to die?!"

"WHAT DO YOU CARE?! I know you all hate me", Catra shouted angrily.

"I never hated you", Adora shouted, feeling anguished.

Catra exhales slightly, stunned, then walks back over to the mattress on the floor, sitting.

"Then you're even dumber than I thought. Just…. Leave me alone", Catra said quietly.

"... I'm such an idiot. I thought things would be different this time, but clearly, nothing has changed", Adora said as she then walked out of the room.

Tears began flowing down Catra's face as she grabbed a pillow and groaned into it.

When she set the pillow down, she asked herself, "why can't I just tell her!? Why do I keep pushing people away?! Why do I keep making mistakes?!"

Catra flopped onto her bed and clutched the pillow to her chest, crying as she simply muttered, "Adora…. I…. I…. I need you…."

….

Back on Etheria

Rex asked as they were at the camp, "still no word from the others?"

"No", Shaak Ti said as she shook her head.

Luminara asked, "how long is it going to take for Twilight to finish fixing the Jedi Temple?"

Tech said, "it could take almost any amount of time, given the extent of repairs needed, pur current number of supplies and people, the weather, enemy soldiers, and more…."

"He means it's going to take a while longer", Crosshair said.

"We need to stay here until the others are back", Hunter said.

"We should go check Elberon, we have lost contact with them 2 days ago", Micah said.

Shaak Ti said, "I recommend we send a small team to check. And we need to be extra careful, who knows what threats we may face."

Luminara replied, "Master Ti is right. We're at a big disadvantage without Sam and the others."

Micah said, "I'll lead a team. Who's coming with me?"

Omega raised her hand, and then Frosta followed. Swift Wind nodded as Spinerrella raised her and Netossa's hands. Rex and Hunter both nodded at the king to signify that they were coming.

"Alrighty then, let's go", Micah said.

As the team raced off, Scorpia and the others who were staying behind kept getting a sinking feeling. Like something bad was to happen as soon as any of them left their guards down….

….

Back with the group in space.

Sam asked, as he was in the kitchen with Ashla, "you're teaching him how to cook?"

Ashla was teaching Hordak Jr how to cook.

"Yeah, he is helping me make dinner for everyone", Ashla said with a smile.

"True nourishment comes from the favor of Horde Sigma", Hordak Jr pulls out a vial, "some nutrient-rich amniotic fluid."

Sam pushes the vial away.

"Yeeeaaaah, well, we're not eating that", Sam said with a soft tone.

Hordak added, "something tells me the food's gonna start moving on its own if he makes the entire meal…."

Ashla said, "oh, relax. I'm making sure he does everything right."

Then, suddenly, an alarm shook the ship.

Hordak Jr shouted, "what's happening!?"

"Let's go see what it is", Sam shouted, he and Hordak ran out of the kitchen and they made it to the main room.

Adora asked, "what's going on?"

"Sensors picked up Horde ships on our tail. They're coming straight for us", Bow said.

"That's not possible, Sigma can't track the ship", Obi Wan said.

Adora said, "wait…. What if it's not the ship he's tracking!"

Bow asked, "Adora, what're you saying?!"

Sam asked, "what could he be tracking!?"

….

Back on Etheria

The group made it to Elberon and the people were having a party, but they were acting strange.

"I say we go back to the camp, this is creeping me out", Omega said.

"I don't know what happened to these guys. Their last party was great. It's like they've been replaced with totally different people", Swift Wind said.

The door then slams shut.

"It's getting dark outside... You don't want to be out in the dark", Elberon's mayor said darkly.

"We really should get back to camp", Micah said nervously.

"But our guest of honor hasn't arrived. Stay….", the Elberon Mayor lowers her head and lifts it up revealing glowing green eyes, "and join us in the light of Horde Sigma."

All the Elberon people have glowing green eyes!

Rex muttered, "oh ferrick…."

….

Back in Catra's room on Darla, Catra grunts and pants, gripping her head, she whines as she claws slightly at the chip on her neck, making a clicking noise, she gasps slightly as the door hisses open to reveal Adora, and Catra continues to hyperventilate, Adora drags Entrapta and Horde Prime into the room.

"What are they doing here?! I told you, I want to be alone", Catra said almost fearfully

Adora said, "Sigma's tracking the chip in your head. I know you're scared, but we need to get that chip out as soon as we can!"

Catra looked terrified as Prime and Entrapta brought in some tools.

Adora cupped her face and said as gently as she could, "I'll be here the whole time. I'm not leaving you to deal with this alone. Never again."

"You're going to let them operate on me? They'll kill me", Catra said, afraid.

Entrapta and Prime both asked, "why would I wanna hurt you?"

"Oooh, you mean because you sent me to Beast Island, stole my work, and used it to rip a hole in the fabric of space and time? I get it", Entrapta said.

"Maybe because you insulted my wife a few times", Prime said.

"HOLD STILL", Entrapta and Prime said as they brought out their tools.

"Stay away from me", Catra shouted.

Adora turned Catra's gaze to her and said, "if they were gonna hurt you, I wouldn't let them anywhere near you. Just look at me the whole time. Focus on me."

Catra asked, "and why you?"

Adora replied, "because I would never hurt you if I didn't have a choice, Catra. Please. You have to let them remove the chip. For me, please?"

"Alright", Catra said with a sigh.

….

Etheria

"Come to Lord Prime's light, and you will find peace", Elberon Mayor said.

Rex shouted, "what's happening to them!?"

Omega shouted, "it's like some kind of mind control! Almost like…."

Rex finished her thought with, "like the inhibitor chips!"

Frosta yelled, "we gotta get outta here before WE get chipped or whatever!"

Netossa and Spinnerella use their magic to push away villagers as Netossa grunts.

Hunter and Rex use their blasters to stun the villagers.

Omega is then elbowed by a villager.

"Omega", Hunter shouted as he ran over to her, then stun blasts a few of the villagers.

Frosta grunts as she headbutts a villager holding her, yelling in preparation to hit them with an icy fist.

"Wait", Micah shouts as he runs up to her.

"Stop treating me like a little kid! You don't need to protect me", Frosta shouted as she was frustrated.

"I'm not protecting you, I'm protecting them", Micah said as he glanced at the villagers, "Horde Sigma's done something to them…. But they're innocent Etherians. We can't hurt them. You're the strongest one here. Use your power to defend the team."

Frosta looked thoughtful for a moment before she began to form a dome of ice and yelled, "everyone to me!"

The others all yelled to Frosta, with Rex and Spinerrella throwing villagers off of themselves!

The group ran towards Frosta and they were able to make it inside the dome.

"You're going to be okay, Omega", Hunter said.

It is silent for a moment, until hands pound on the wall, the villagers grasping at the ice to break it apart from the outside, groaning.

Rex said, "we sure could use a Jedi about now!"

Micah said, "we need to get out of here, and quick!"

Frosta yelled, "quick would be good! I'm not sure how much longer this dome will hold them back! And I don't fancy becoming a puppet for the Horde!"

….

On Mara's ship

Horde Prime was using tools to remove the chip from Catra, Entrapta used her hair to hold Catra in place.

Just as Prime touched a wire, the ship shook as he cut the wire by accident.

"OWWWWW", Catra shouted.

Prime started saying, "sorry sorry sorry!"

Catra yelled, "just get this damned chip outta my head!"

Adora took Catra's cheeks in her hands again and said, "calm down. Just calm down, it'll be over soon."

The ship once again shook.

"That's it", Adora said as she stood up.

Catra asked, "where are you going?"

"To send Horde Sigma a message", Adora said as she stopped and concentrated, yelling, "for the honor…. Of the Jedi Order", with her hand out, making a magical force chime and shine, forming her sword.

Before she left, Catra exclaimed, "Adora!"

She-Ra turned to Catra, and she said, "be safe…."

She-Ra nodded as she ran out of the room.

Catra held a concerned look as Prime and Entrapta continued to remove her chip.

"Ow, why does it hurt so much", Catra cried out in pain.

"The Chip appears to be fused with your nervous system", Entrapta said.

Prime added, "the longer a chip is in someone, the more it becomes connected to them. So we need to remove the chip from every single nerve in order to completely remove it."

….

Etheria

The Elberon Mayor walks into the ice dome, Sigma's voice is combined with hers.

"My children, why do you struggle? I wish to bring peace to your planet, yet…. You reject it", Sigma said through the mayor with a frown.

Swift Wind shouted, "uh, She-Ra! If you really are out there, are you getting this?!"

Rex and Hunter pointed their blasters at the mayor, preparing to stun them.

Micah said, "does anyone have a plan of escape? Because I'm all ears!"

The mayor backs away as villagers burst through the shattered entrance.

"Your She-Ra will not come to save you now", Sigma said.

One of the villagers grabs Frosta, and Omega, Spinnerella and Micah struggle to free her.

….

On Mara's ship

Catra asked, "is it off yet?".

"Almost...", Prime said as he pulls the chip off Catra and the wires disconnect as a whirring, powering down noise is heard.

Entrapta said, "we did it! The chip has been disconnected!

Catra let out a huge sigh of relief as Entrapta and Prime gazed upon the deactivated chip.

Entrapta said, "such a little thing caused so much trouble."

Prime said, "I only fear that my brother has made more of them. And that they could be used on your friends and family on Etheria, if he were to send the chips there."

"We must tell the others", Entrapta said.

"Prime…. Entrapta…. Wait", Catra said.

The two turned to stare at Catra.

"Thank you…. And…. I'm sorry…." Catra said with tears in her eyes.

Entrapta merely smiled and said, "no apology necessary. We know how hard everything has been for you. But there is someone who may wanna hear an apology…."

Prime smiled as well as he pats Catra on the head.

Catra gives a pout as the two leave, and she soon directs her gaze towards a nearby picture.

It has been set up by Adora. And it was of her and Catra. Catra was snuggled up next to her like her namesake, and Adora had the biggest of grins as she took the picture.

….

Etheria

The Villagers manage to grab the Rebels, and the Mayor starts approaching Frosta.

"Welcome, children. You will be reborn in Sigma's image", The Mayor said as she was about to cup Frosta's face.

A light suddenly erupts behind Frosta and the Mayor shouts in pain, shielding her eyes, villagers shield themselves and cower when Swift Wind is encompassed in light and cheers.

They yell, "come on! We gotta get outta here!"

Hunter quickly tossed Omega and Frosta onto Swift Wind's back as the villagers tried to get their bearings.

The group quickly made it out.

….

In the galaxy

Adora had managed to destroy the ships that were following them.

The group were now in the main room.

"She-Ra's back for good", Adora said with a smile.

"That's good news", Bow said with a smile.

"Hey everyone", Ashla said as she and Hordak Jr walked inside with trays that had steamed buns.

Ashla said, "who wants dinner?"

Entrapta looked very eager to try the food, while Hordak held a frightful look.

Adora looked to the one empty seat and said, "I'm, uh, gonna bring Catra her food, alright?"

As soon as Adora finished, Catra walked into the room.

"Hi", Catra said, a bit shy.

Sam, Luke and Leia tried the food.

"It's really good!" Luke said as he grabbed another.

Leia was munching and nodding.

Sam looked to Hordak and said, "honey, please try the food. It's actually pretty good."

Hordak grabbed one of the buns and he took a bite.

Sam asked, as he took a bite of another bun, "well how is it?"

Hordak gulped down the bun and said, "perhaps I misjudged his cooking skills…."

Hordak Jr had a few tears of joy in his eyes after he heard that.

"Aww, don't cry", Entrapta said as she hugged him and Sam hugged Hordak Jr too.

Hordak rolled his eyes as Prime chuckled, and the others all dug in, with Catra slowly eating her food.

….

On Etheria

"We gotta go back for them and help them", Spinnerella said, a bit nervous.

"We will. But first we need to figure out what that was. And how to stop it", Micah said as he led the group.

"For now we need to stick together", Hunter said.

As the group walked back towards the camp…. Spinnerella and Omega's hair swishes aside to reveal chips on their necks!

….

Reviews:

SuperSentai199: me too.

Squidward: GASP! SPONGEBOB AND FRIEND; FRONT AND CENTER! There, happy now?

….

FYI: Today is my birthday! 21 years old. Time sure seems to fly by, doesn't it?

To celebrate, I'm releasing two new chapters today, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!

So expect another chapter later today at around 4. The same goes for the days I listed!

I tell ya, it wasn't easy writing the parts where we see these characters I love so much being chipped. I'm shaking every single time I have to write the parts where the characters are brainwashed!