A/N: Well time for the last chapter to be uploaded in 2016! To Escape Naboo!
Chapter 30: To Escape Naboo!
On Tython, Artorika waited for news of Jaune, but all her contacts could tell her was, 'No reports of the Pride of Alderaan, Master Artorika, she was last seen in the Naboo system,' The Pride of Alderaan was supposed to have arrived on Tython a week ago, This concerned Master Artorika greatly as Jaune was missing with the ship as well. No sign of him or the ship. She had been recalled by the council, so her hands were tied she need to hope her friend could survive on his own.
Jaune awoke on Naboo in a daze and an escape pod, his head felt like he just took a hit from Nora's hammer. Over the next few hours of him laying there in pain with his head throbbing, he recalled all that happened on the ship. He was disgusted but not angry, he wasn't going to let his emotions get the better of him. Those people who claim to be my friends have died, they have been replaced by dark side incarnations of them. Ruby is dead, Weiss is dead, Pyrrha is dead, and Nora is dead, they died that day when we left and these monsters replaced them.Jaune though as he saw a note written in Latin characters like those on Remnant, though the penmanship was quite horrible, and it read,
Jaune, I am sorry that we had to strand you like this but you left us no other option, I hope you can make it back to Tython safely.
Ruby
P.S. Tell my mother, I won't join her, or you in the Jedi
Jaune was shocked she even cared enough to leave a message. He had little time to ponder the note as he had to make sure he could be rescued if he could not be able to survive without his lightsaber. Looking around the escape pod, he checked the interior of the pod as he realized he smelled of urine. He Shrugged as there was nothing he could do at the moment, he needed to take stock of his supplies. He had a medkit complete with advanced treatment options, for more threatening injuries. A survival kit complete with a light blaster rifle and various other implements for survival. The blaster was a lightened skeletonized take-down commercial blaster rifle, which despite its looks was quite a rugged weapon. Figuring he needed a way to defend himself he rigged some string around it to form a makeshift sling.
He also found a stock of clothing meant for survival on various harsher climate worlds. He took the stock of lighter clothes for a tropical world with him. With his gear taken stock, he looked for a distress beacon, something he found, but it was damaged in the crash. Cursing under his breath, he tried fiddling with the device but he could do nothing with it, it was dead.
After about an hour of rummaging through the pod, he had all the supplies he could carry with him. His first objective, find water and fast. If it was a large enough source he could bathe and get changed.
Peering out of the pod, he saw rolling plains of grass, in all directions but one. Facing east he saw a forest or what looked like a forest. Figuring that would be his best bet, he set out. With the gear on his back, he trudged through the thick grass without an inclination of where he was going or how he was going to get home to Tython, right now he had to worry about Water, Food, Warmth, and Shelter. As he trudged through fields, he contemplated what had occurred on the Pride of Alderaan.
There was a part of him that wanted to be mad at the four girls, knowing what happened to Yang, he couldn't get angry with them. "What have they become?"Jaune asked himself as he walked, he didn't even care that he was talking to himself at this point he was concerned as to how far their immersion went, and how connected they were to Viridian Malserik.
Weiss had admitted that she was trained by him, and according to what Artorika told him about the rogue Jedi, he was proficient in form two, something Weiss seemed to be a master of. The thing that continued to bug Jaune was the way she used a blue blade, true some Sith opted not to use the red blade, but blue wasn't a color most Sith used. Then came Ruby's lightsaber, he was shocked to see the red crossguard saber, he had heard mention from Yang about a Sith with a saber like that with golden eyes. Stopping his trek for a moment, his brain connected the dots, Ruby's eyes they were gold, and her saber, oh no, Yang, Jaune thought as he realized Yang had seen Ruby all along. Then came that ability she used on him, the pain, the agony it caused him. He felt like his skull was going to explode as Ruby tore through his mind, though she only looked at the most recent information, almost like she respected his life on Remnant, either that or she didn't want to overload herself, either way, Jaune couldn't decipher it. Then there was Pyrrha, a friend and someone he respected greatly. Seeing her in that state, as Sith, made him wonder, What happened on Remnant, what made them like this, How could Ruby be brutal? How could Weiss be lethal? How could Pyrrha be evil? And how can Nora be brutal? Jaune asked wondering what happened to them to make them like this, it was at this point he remembered a conversation he had with Yang back when they were padawan's shortly before they got knighted.
He remembered her saying something about how Ruby and the rest of the ones left on Remnant thought they were dead, supposedly killed by the White Fang. He paid it no mind at first but seeing what he saw, some of the dots connected, as he muttered,
"Vengeance," A thought that was almost forbidden to Jedi, thinking of their perspective. "They must have been corrupted by vengeance," Jaune spoke speculating at the damage done to them by the events that took place on Remnant. As he continued walking, he regretted the things he said upon the pride of Alderaan, though he couldn't turn away from the Jedi, though it did make him think, is there such a thing as a lightside aligned Sith?
By this point the young knight had reached the forest he saw in the distance from the pod, though as he entered he hear rustling in the foliage behind him, Glancing back he saw nothing. Though he felt like he was being watched, and with that in mind he readied the blaster rifle that was slung on his shoulder. Jaune was not one for ranged weaponry, bur he knew how to use a gun or a blaster. With a weapon at the ready, he prepared for combat as he marched along in the forest.
Eventually, he found his way to what seemed like a giant lake, that was at the end of the treeline. The sight of Water made the young knight happy, though he had to see if the water was salty and clean before he could consume it. Setting his gear down, he smiled as he got out the water purification kit he brought with him from the pod. Though as he did that a voice from behind him caught him off guard, as he had set his blaster on the ground out of reach.
"Yousa notta gonna move, you do, youa gonna die." The voice said as Jaune felt the cold point of a spear on the back of his neck. The pressure of the point rested on his spine. as it was released from his neck, the voice said "Nowsa you turn around,"
Jaune followed his instruction's to the letter, turning around to face an odd looking alien. He had heard of the natives of Naboo, but he had never seen a Gungan before. Though as he turned, five more Gungans emerged from behind the trees, "Sorry if I am disturbing you, I recently crashed down in a pod back there," Jaune admitted hoping that the truth would aid him in this situation.
"Yes, wesa saw that, not the first time a human find us, and wesa have order's to kill your kind," The Gungan captain said with a grin that looked odd on his snouted face.
"Whoa, whoa, can't we just talk about this?" Jaune asked as the Gungan answered with a quick thrust of his spear. Something Jaune countered with a quick snap of a force push that sent the leader into a large tree, though the push was a bit more powerful than intended, as it cracked the tree folding onto the Gungan, killing him. Stunned by the outcome, Jaune hesitated, though the five other Gungan's did not. Having to react quickly, he used the force to pull the blaster rifle to his hands as the gungan's attacked with makeshift weapons like machetes and spears.
He couldn't shoulder the rifle in time to counter the first aggressor, so he countered his attack with a force push, sending them flying back into a large stone. This action brought him the valuable milliseconds he needed to shoulder the rifle and fire at one of the angry Gungans. He nailed the first shot, using the force to accelerate his movement's he nailed the remaining two in quick succession. Looking around he surveyed for any more threats that were immediate, just as he thought the coast was clear he heard the rapid patter of large creatures running forth. Within seconds, he was surrounded by Gungans mounted on the back of Kaadu. They paid Jaune no mind at first as they dismounted the back of their bipedal mounts. Instead, they inspected the corpses of the six Gungans that Jaune had just killed. After a few minutes, the leader dressed in fine regalia, looked over to the young knight and asked in proper basic, "Did you do this?" he inquired as he gestured to the leader of the attacking group that was crushed beneath a tree.
"Yes, though they attacked first," Jaune admitted feeling guilty that their death was the only option he had.
"No need for you to be afraid, you did our people a great service, by eliminating Binks and his band of bandits," The officer admitted, as he walked up to Jaune, "I take it by your looks and smell, you came down in that pod back there?" The Gungan inquired gesturing the way Jaune had come from.
"Yeah, that was me," he replied nervously, as the Gungan laughed. His colleges looked relieved, lowering their weapons.
"Alright, I am going to take him back to camp and get him going to theed." The Gungan explained to his men as he told one of his men to stay behind and make sure none of Bink's group was alive, then he had another soldier secure Jaune's gear to a Kaadu while Jaune slung his survival rifle across his back. As he mounted the back of the weird looking creature.
Jaune was curious of what these Gungan's wanted with him, they seemed friendly, though. That's when he saw where they were leading him a small bubble like farm building with a paddock of Kaadu attached on the shore of the lake. The officer had his entire group dismount then told his soldiers to go back and retrieve their comrade, as he was going to take Jaune to see the 'Bosses.'
"So where are the bosses?" Jaune inquired as he dismounted and retrieved his gear from the Kaadu's back. The Captain laughed and replied with,
"You don't know much about out culture, do you?" The captain asked "Also I am Captain, Kraup Tru," He said extending his hand.
"Jaune Arc, Jedi Knight," Jaune smiled shaking the Gungan's hand.
"You're a Jedi, that explains how you cleaned up Bink's gang." The captain replied as he walked towards the shore, and it was at that point Jaune noticed the submarine that was resting there anchored in the reeds of the lake. "Alright Jedi, get in,you're gonna meet the bosses."
Tossing his stuff inside the cockpit of the submarine, Jaune got comfortable in the seat as Kraup engaged the submarine in reverse and retracted the anchor and activated the bubble-like membrane around the cockpit. It didn't take long for Jaune to see where they were going. Looking out towards the bottom of the lake he saw a city of glowing bubbles. The glowing yellow bubbles where accented with brilliant organic architecture that fit the aquatic nature of the city. After a few minutes of further travel, the submarine docked and the two disembarked. Jaune was told to leave his things as the captain said, they would be coming back.
Following the captain through the city, one of the guards stopped him, inquiring about why a human had come back with him. Tru replied with,
"This Human killed Binks and his gang of raiders, he is deserving of the Boss's attention," this got the guards attention and they were given a wide berth by the civilians who heard the announcement. At this point, Jaune realized he must have done something of high merit or absolute horror. He figured it was most likely the former, but he did have doubt instilled, though it could be just a hint of xenophobia on the behalf of the Gungan people. After walking for a few minutes, Tru had him at the entrance to the chamber of the bosses. Upon his entrance, Tru smiled and presented the young knight to the council. Consisting of many hooded Gungans and one larger violet skinned one in the center.
"Ah, Welcome to Otoh Gunga," The larger boss smiled at the newcomer, "Word through the kelp vine is you killed the terrorist and bandit Ieff Binks," The boss clapped as he walked up to the young knight.
"Yes sir," Jaune replied nervously as Captain Tru, confirmed it.
"Well then, yousa must be rewarded for your service to our people," the boss smiled at Jaune, with a snap of his finger's a Gungan with an old looking wood box walked forward, taking a knee before Jaune and opened the box, inside was a crystal, a lightsaber crystal, deep blue in color mounted in a necklace. Not wanting to offend the Gungan's by refusing this gift, he took the necklace and put it around his neck.
"Thank your for this gift, Boss," Jaune smiled, he really didn't need the crystal, but he was thankful for the generosity.
"It is nothing, yousa helped us greatly," the boss smile, continuing with, "is there anything, else you want?"
"Well if I could get a shower, and transportation to a spaceport that is all I require," Jaune smiled, as the boss smiled and gave his answer,
"A shower is easy, the only spaceport that I know of is in theed and the only way to reach theed quickly is by," The boss stopped for a second, wanting to toy with the young knight, "going through the planet, it will be done, Captain Tru will take care of it, though feel free to take your time, you are welcome to stay as long as you need." The boss smiled, by the way, these Gungan's were treating him, he thought by killing this Bink's character he prevented the Republic from being handed to a megalomaniac, or at the very least that's how the Gungans were acting.
Within an hour Jaune had taken his 'shower,' or more appropriately swim, then he was dressed in a set of Gungan clothing, a sleeveless tunic, and set of pants that were wide around the leg, he took his Jedi boots and slid them back on, they were like jackboots as at times, he did have trouble lacing and tying the laces on his boots. The tunic was comfortable and it left his muscular arms expose, though, over it, he wore his saber belt and that necklace. He looked more like a Smuggler than a Jedi right now, and that was further solidified by the blaster he had on his back. His freshly washed robes were stowed with the rest of his survival supplies.
He was treated to a decadent meal after his shower, he wasn't much for seafood, but he wasn't going to offend those who were so gracious to prepare such a meal. After eating he told Captain Tru it was time to depart. He wanted to get to that spaceport as soon as possible. He had to get back to the Jedi, he had to let everyone know Ruby and them were all alive, though they weren't on their side.
Getting back into the Bongo Submarine with Tru at the helm they departed, the ride wasn't much none of the dangerous creatures that Jaune was told about reared their heads. This gave Jaune time to meditate on the events of the past day, he felt horrible about the way he treated Ruby and them, he shouldn't have been so harsh. What he thought he should have done instead was console them, try to let them see some good in him, and let his light shine on their cold hearts.
Before he knew it he and Captain Tru had surfaced in the dimly lit bay of theed. The night sky masking their approach to the docks allowing Jaune to hop out and thank the captain with, "Thank you, for the ride, captain I wish you safe travels back to Gunga."
"Thank you too, Jedi, what is the phrase, ah, May the force be with you," the captain smiled as he reversed the submarine and dove under the surface. Once he was in the city of theed there he went in search of a ship or spaceport, and he needed to get back to Tython as soon as possible. Running through the dark streets like a beowolf with a blade in his back, a concerned citizen pointed him in the direction of the local spaceport Cantina. Deciding that would be the best place to hire a ship, he went to the cantina. Once inside, he heard familiar voices, looking around he saw a crew of four people sitting around a table and he also saw they had familiar faces, and the one girl's rabbit ears were a dead giveaway.
"Velvet!" Jaune yelled happy to see someone familiar. Velvet turned to look at the young Jedi with a distinct scar on his face, as he drew closer, he noted how deep the booth was as it seated twelve people, some of gargantuan proportions. Inside the booth, he saw Team CFVY, SSSN, and CRDL all members present and all eyes on him, most of them didn't recognize him, minus Velvet and Cardin, who saw past the scar on his face. Velvet was the first to greet him with "Jaune!" she yelled in disbelief as she thought he was dead, but somehow he wasn't. After this recognition, Jaune grabbed a seat and explained his situation to them, as they explained theirs, as they were smugglers with their ship, Rusty Rabbit.
A/N: a few things I want to mention with this Chapter. Firstly Jar Jar was retconned out of existence in this universe, not that it hasn't been changed enough already, I just wanted to do that. Also I wrote most of this Chapter on 12/31/16 for a New years release! And lastly I didn't want this chapter to be super long so I left it were I did.
Once again everyone thanks for the feed back!
Now with that out of the way feel free to ask any questions if you have them, or give suggestions or corrections once again if you have any please give them or leave a review. Alright, everyone, be safe, have fun, and Happy New Year and may the force be with you!
Blitzing Raptor
