Author's notes: For those of you that have played Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, the RC-AD mentioned here is that conical, floating security droid you face in the Oovo IV levels with the big Republic roundel on its center and that takes forever to kill (as you might remember, it can take multiple missile hits and soaks up blaster fire like a sponge.) All information on the RC-AD (including its name) is courtesy of Wookieepedia, but the IFF system mentioned here and its mechanism of operation is entirely my invention. For those that haven't played Bounty Hunter, enjoy the story, and then go look up "RC-AD" on Wookieepedia once you're done reading.
Chapter 14
Fish in a Barrel
Sergeant Barabbas led Qui-Gon and Adi along the surface of the asteroid, all three searching for danger. Upon arriving back at the security tower, Barabbas had rallied as many guards as he could, roughly two dozen in all. He had then met with the Jedi Masters, and with them and the guards in tow he had left the tower onto the asteroid's surface, heading for a cargo supply port that would take the Jedi and the guards into the upper levels of the prison. Now, while the main force lay in wait, Barabbas and the Jedi scouted ahead for any inmates that might have reached the surface. The three had walked onto a ledge at the edge of a clearing, a small layer of rock standing between the three and a short drop leading into the clearing. A guard post was dug into the rock. The post resembled a large bunker, and was painted in the green of the Correctional Authority. A large ramp led to a set of blast doors leading into the post's interior, while an upper deck, apparently deserted, held two heavy blaster turrets and security doors leading into the upper interior of the structure. A large clearing dotted with rocks stretched out in front of the post. "Looks deserted, Jedi. This post is our ticket in." "How so?"
"Inside, we have elevators that go straight down to the prison. From there, we can work our way into the labor mines, and meet up with your Padawans once they've rerouted power to the security systems."
Out of nowhere, Qui-Gon sensed something. "Adi…"
"I sense it too…"
"GET DOWN!"
Adi and Barabbas dove under the small rock lip at the edge of the ledge, lying flat on the asteroid's cold surface. As Qui-Gon did the same, he heard a blaster bolt punch into the rock behind the three. "Snipers!" "Damn," shouted Barabbas. A voice came across from the guard post. "Eat plasma, coppers!" Another shot zipped overhead, this one inches from the Jedi and Barabbas.
We're all flat on our bellies, and even that is too close. That tiny sliver of rock is all that's standing between the Cosmic Force and us.
Barabbas turned to the Jedi.
"Well, we're not going that way. We'll have to find another post. The nearest one is about five minutes walk from…" Barabbas' commlink crackled to life before he could finish.
"Yes…You're what, sir…No, but the Jedi…they're not equipped…I understand, sir. This riot needs to be dealt with, but…I understand, sir. I'll let the Jedi know." Barabbas turned to the Masters, a grave expression on his face. "Well, the poodoo just hit the fan."
"What happened, Sergeant?"
"This riot is out of control enough that the Warden is calling out the RC-ADs."
"The what?"
"Riot Control/Assault Droids. They're special security droids we keep on hand for emergencies. Normally, they're kept deactivated in storage. If we have a serious riot, they get sent out."
"You seem worried for us, Sergeant. What aren't you telling us?"
"The droids, Master Gallia…they use an IFF reader to determine who is a threat and who isn't. All corrections officers have IFF transmitters sewn into their uniforms, including myself. Don't ask me where: for security reasons, they don't tell us. We don't want inmates being able to steal uniforms or cut out the transmitters to fool the droids. We're not even allowed to mention the transmitters in front of an inmate. The droids are programmed to scan any sentient lifeforms they see for the signal these transmitters give. They automatically fire on any sentient being that isn't squawking this signal."
Adi's heart sank as she realized what this meant. "But, the Padawans, they're not wearing…"
"Exactly, Master Gallia. If these droids see your Padawans, they'll attack."
"Hold on, hold on. What are the capabilities of these droids?"
"Nothing that bodes well for the Padawans, Master Jinn. Their armor is rated for starship hulls, and can withstand everything from blaster pistol fire to anti-tank missiles. They are armed with two extremely powerful rapid-fire blaster cannons. Their fire can rip an unarmored being apart in seconds. If the Padawans are caught at close range with no cover by an RC-AD, they'll both be dead before they know what hit them."
Qui-Gon felt a surge of dread as Barabbas finished his sentence, and he could see Adi was barely managing to hold back tears.
I shouldn't have asked that question.
"Your Padawans seem solid, but I won't sugarcoat this for you. They've got everything on this rock up against them. For what it's worth, I hope they can hold."
Qui-Gon reached out through his Force bond with Obi-Wan, only able to choke out a few words.
May the Force protect you, my Padawan.
"Obie? Are you okay?"
"Oh, yes. I'm…I'm fine."
What is Master Qui-Gon trying to tell me? That came out of nowhere.
Obi-Wan turned to Siri, and saw her suddenly deep in thought, her eyes closed. What's she thinking about? Is Master Gallia trying to contact her as well?
Siri opened her eyes, a bewildered expression on her face.
"Siri? What was that?"
"Master Adi, through our Force bond. She bade the Force protect me, said something about great danger ahead."
"Well, stay focused, then. I can sense something too, and it isn't good."
The Padawans were standing in a large, open room that looked like a transfer loop of some sort. From what they had been able to figure out, the route to the mines was right through the solitary confinement block, and this transfer loop led to solitary confinement. A series of walkways, some under covered awnings, crisscrossed the center of the room, and blast doors on the ground level led into various other cellblocks, including solitary confinement. The Padawans descended the stairs onto the lower level, the dim lights casting shadows and giving the area the feeling of a dark alleyway. Then, the opening of blast doors broke the silence. The Padawans raised their riot batons, ready for another fight. However, they heard no footsteps coming from the direction of the door. Both tensed, wondering what kind of threatening entity could be so silent.
I hope this place isn't haunted.
Several seconds later, the Padawans saw the source of their tension. Rather than malevolent spirits or vicious inmates, their visitors were two large droids, moving around on what looked like repulsorlifts. The droids were conically shaped, with large blaster cannons protruding out of swiveling mounts on either side. They were roughly 1.5 meters in height, and painted dark green, with a large red stripe in their center and a "head" of photoreceptors and exposed circuitry. In the center of the red stripe was the distinctive eight-pointed Republic crest. Security droids.
"Huh. Looks like Sergeant Crabby sent us some reinforcements."
Obi-Wan laughed and breathed a sigh of relief.
"See? He's not as crabby as he looks."
Suddenly, a feeling of danger hit Obi-Wan. Something's not right here…
He turned to Siri, and her facial expression told him she had felt it too. The Padawans Force jumped onto the walkway as rapid bursts of blaster fire tore through the air where they once stood. Obi-Wan turned to Siri, seeing an incredulous expression on her face. "What…they're on our side! Don't they know that, Siri?"
"I always thought he was crabby, but I didn't think he was THIS…"
Right on cue, Sergeant Barabbas' panicked voice crackled over Obi-Wan's commlink. "Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan! Come in, over!"
"Sergeant, this is Obi-Wan. Siri and I just ran into two of your droids, and they attacked us! What the hell is…"
"That's why I called you, Obi-Wan. The droids' IFF systems won't recognize the two of you!"
"WHAT?"
"They don't know you're on their side. If they see you, they'll attack!"
"Is there any way to defeat them? I don't think they're lightsaber-proof…"
"No. Out of the question. You don't want to know how much just one of those droids costs the Republic taxpayer. You put one kriffin' scratch on ANY of them, I'll kill you myself. Understand?"
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Just…just find a way around them. Find a way around them, and get to the maintenance level."
Obi-Wan could only sit in silence, wondering in vain how he and Siri could escape these droids and make it to solitary confinement without getting blasted into a million pieces. Barabbas then came back on, his voice having gone from frustrated to reassuring.
"I know you two can do it. May the Force be with you."
Qui-Gon's voice echoed in Obi-Wan's head through their Force bond.
He has a point. You can't win, Obi-Wan. But there are alternatives to fighting.
"Obie! They're flanking us! They're coming up the stairs!"
Siri's voice snapped Obi-Wan back to the moment. He turned to look behind them, at the doorway the two Padawans had entered from. Sure enough, the droids were hovering up the stairs. In a matter of seconds they would turn around and tear apart the Padawans in a hail of blaster fire.
"Alternatives."
"Obie! What are you babbling about? They're coming!"
"Alternatives…"
Despite the chaos around him, Obi-Wan felt an inexplicable calm overcome him, and his mind focus as it never had before.
Alternatives…alternatives to fighting. Alternatives…wait, these walkways. The doors on either end of this room; the walkways meet at them, even though the walkways are on opposite sides of the room the rest of the way. Alternative pathways to the same destination.
"Obie! Obi-Wan Kenobi! Wake up!"
Alternatives…alternative pathways…alternatives to fighting…The Force is telling me something here…but what is it?
"OBI-WAN!"
Somehow, Siri's desperate screams made Obi-Wan focus even more intensely.
Alternative pathways…alternatives to fighting…alternatives to fight. Alternatives to fight? What does that mean?
"KENOBI!"
Alternatives to fight…fight…shoot. Alternatives to shoot. Alternative pathways. If we give them alternatives, they must choose. Which means…
"WAKE UP, KENOBI! WAKE UP!"
Give them alternatives…give them alternatives…split up! Split up on different walkways, and then come back at our shared destination! Give them alternatives, so they must choose!
"DAMN IT KENOBI, WE'RE GONNA DIE! DO SOMETHING!"
"Siri! Run along the right side walkway! I'll take the left! We'll split their fire!"
Siri nodded, a smile of realization coming across her face. Obi-Wan could feel her releasing her panic into the Force, even as both of them saw the droids begin to swing around towards them. Obi-Wan began sprinting down the walkway, a blaster bolt hitting the wall behind him.
Wait…where am I running? I don't even know where the door to solitary confinement is!
The droids continued to fire at the Padawans as they sprinted towards the walkway junction. As he reached the junction, Obi-Wan quickly called out to Siri, who to his relief had also made it through the rain of blaster fire unscathed. "Siri!" "What?"
"Where's the solitary confinement entry?"
"I don't know…oh no…"
Until we find the door we need, we're trapped in here with these droids.
"Siri. Listen to me. We need to find that door."
"How?"
"We'll have to check the ground floor for signs. There has to be some sort of way to locate the route to solitary confinement."
"Tell that to the droids! They'll shoot us on sight! How are we supposed to find those signs?"
"We split up, like we just did. One searches on ground level, the other stays on the walkways and draws their fire. That way, even if they split up to go after us, each individual droid can only fight one of us. We alternate until one of us finds the right door. Once that happens, we'll jump back onto the walkways and make a sprint for the door together. Okay?"
"I really hope you can't think of any better ideas, Obi-Wan."
"I'll take that as a yes. You start off searching; I'll draw their fire. I'll give you a shout when we switch. You ready?"
"More or less!"
Siri jumped off the platform onto the ground, looking around for signs or markers on the walls. Obi-Wan looked up at the droids approaching him, the black muzzles of their blasters gazing straight through him. They don't even know what they're doing. They don't know I'm a Jedi, a servant of the Republic and its justice as they are. In a second, they could end my life and hover away like nothing ever happened. As far as they knew in that case, I was just another murderer or rapist broken from his cell and determined to menace the citizens of the Republic. One that was no longer alive to do so. They would do the same to Siri. The thought of the merciless machines gunning down Siri steeled Obi-Wan's determination, and filled him with a fury he struggled to release into the Force.
I won't let anything happen to her here. BOTH of us will make it out of this man-made Hell alive. We won't die on this rock.
Obi-Wan rolled to the left as the droids let loose another volley in his direction. He Force jumped onto a walkway behind the droids, hoping to confuse them. Just stay on the walkways. Even if they go after Siri, one will stay with you, and neither you nor Siri will have to face both at the same time. The droids turned around to target Obi-Wan, even as Obi-Wan could see Siri searching the walls for signs. Good. All their attention is on me. The droids fired again as Obi-Wan evaded. He ducked behind one of the awnings on the walkways, blaster fire slamming into the wall he rested against. He peered out to see the droids splitting up, trying to flank his position. The droid nearest him fired another burst, and Obi-Wan quickly ducked back behind the awning as a stream of bolts that would have taken his head off his shoulders missed by centimeters. Sliding to the other side, he saw the other droid approaching, and he rushed back behind the awning as yet another burst narrowly missed him. Siri's voice came through their Force bond. Obi-Wan. It's my turn. I'll distract them. Get out of that hole you're in and get down to the floor.
Siri, I can keep them distracted, it's…
It's too dangerous? Those droids are on both sides of you, Kenobi! Just a few more seconds and they'll come up on either side of you and turn that awning into your coffin!
Siri…
Don't argue with me, Obi-Wan. You put your life on the line for me in here. Let me do the same for you.
Why?
Because I…I care about you, Obi-Wan. Now, go!
All right…how far did you get down there?
Halfway through the room. That's perfect; you can do the other half! Now hurry! Those droids will be on top of you any second!
Obi-Wan threw his shields up as he prepared to leave his position.
She still loves me, doesn't she? Well, I…no. I can't think about that. She's a friend, and nothing more…no, that's just a lie.
A voice in the back of his head suddenly commanded him to run, and Obi-Wan ran out to his left. The droid there was within a second of catching him in enfilade if he had stayed under the awning, and he threw a Force push at it before it could shoot him: at this range and angle, it couldn't miss otherwise. The droid spun as it fired, discharging an errant burst into the walls of the transfer loop. Still, the first bolt was close enough that Obi-Wan felt its heat on his shoulder as he jumped off the walkway. He turned to the other side of the room to see Siri standing on the walkway.
Good. Now to get this done, fast. Before the droids get to her.
As if on command, the droids turned to face Siri, and split into another pincer attack on the walkways. Obi-Wan quickly scanned the walls, looking for signs. Okay, Solitary Confinement. Where is it? He checked the nearest signs, but none of them showed the way to solitary. He looked up to see Siri running from awning to awning, leading the droids on a merry chase as they fired at her. She took cover in another awning as the droids tried to flank her.
Come on, Obi-Wan. Her life depends on you right now! Find that sign, damn it!
One of the droids, rather than attempt a pincer move, held its place and began firing at Siri. She ducked behind the awning, bolts tearing into the wall. The other droid kept moving, attempting to flank Siri while she hid behind the awning. Obi-Wan continued to search frantically for the sign, seeing the flanking droid creeping closer and closer to Siri's hiding spot. He glanced over another useless sign, his heart racing.
You'll both survive. You have to. Hurry!
Obi-Wan then saw the stationary droid moving to the side, coming in for another pincer move. Only this time, its approach is delayed. Siri has nowhere to run. If she does run, she'll run right into one of the droids, and then…no. That's too horrible to contemplate. Find that door!
Obi-Wan ran his eyes over another plaque on the wall; certain it would be more empty words. Any second now, the droids would reach Siri, and down on the ground floor he would hear a volley of blaster fire, a grim peal to mark her death. No…Siri…no…
Obi-Wan's mind barely registered the words on the plaque, but they soon took meaning in his mind.
D…Block. Sol-I-Tary Conf-ine-ment…that's it! That's the way out!
Obi-Wan followed the sign to its corresponding blast door, and sure enough it bore, in stark red letters, "D BLOCK: SOLITARY CONFINEMENT." He turned to the walkway. "Siri!" "Yes?"
"I found it! Hang on, I'm coming up!"
"Make it quick, Kenobi, these droids are getting a little too close!" She hadn't even finished the sentence by the time Obi-Wan was on the walkways. The formerly stationary droid noticed his arrival, and stopped its advance towards Siri's position. It turned towards Obi-Wan, who rolled out of the way as a burst of blaster fire tore by him. Siri was already running to him, the droid flanking her on the other side firing errant bursts all the way. "Door's over there! Come on!" She rushed to his side, and the two Padawans sprinted for the door as the droids hovered along the walkways, firing at them in a desperate frenzy. Finally, they were right above it. By now, the droids had taken up positions on either side of the Padawans, catching them in enfilade. Siri turned to Obi-Wan. "It's now or never, Kenobi. Jump!" The Padawans jumped off the walkway as bursts of blaster fire cut through the air where they had just stood. They ran for the blast door, and it opened before them. "Go, Siri! GO! I'll be right behind you!" She rushed through the opening, and Obi-Wan sprinted in behind her as the blast doors began to close. The Padawans sprinted about a dozen or so meters more before they collapsed onto the floor, shaking and breathing heavily. The Padawans then looked at each other, speaking through ragged breaths. "Obi-Wan?" "Yes?"
"Promise me we'll NEVER do something like that again."
"You know I can't promise that, Siri. In fact, I think we'll do plenty more things like that long before we reach Knighthood."
"Let's see: power outages, wall turrets, escaped convicts, killer droids…what'll be next? Meteor showers? Rabid rancors? Sith ghosts? Maybe for our final act, we'll have…"
"Don't jinx us, Siri…"
"Sergeant Crabby in a showgirl costume?"
"I…don't even want to think about that."
Obi-Wan found himself unable to resist laughing at the thought, and soon the two Padawans were laughing together, seemingly unaware of the ordeal they had just survived. Finally, Obi-Wan broke the mirth. "Come on. Let's get out of here before more of them arrive." He helped Siri to her feet, and the two continued on down the corridor they had fled into.