After their patrol missions to the Arkalia system and the Gandrel system, Rogue Squadron returns to the rebel base on Valdar IV, now with an additional passenger, HK-47, Jyn's ancient assassin droid, who is currently deactivated.
The pilots of Rogue Squadron leave their x-wings, and are greeted by Hera, Princess Leia, and General Dodonna. Luke and Jyn approach Dodonna, and Luke hands him a datapad. The general reads the datapad for a moment.
"So, Commander Skywalker, your mission seems to have been uneventful. Other than this...Separatist droid you encountered at Gandrel Station. According to your log, the droid was once in the service of Captain Erso, and requested to join the rebellion. Is this true?" Dodonna asks.
"Yes, sir, it is. We deactivated the droid, and brought him back to base." Luke answers.
"I see. Captain Erso, is this your droid?" Dodonna asks.
"Yes. I found him in a junkyard, and repaired him. He's a Separatist commando droid, who I modified to include limited protocol and tactical functions." Jyn answers.
"I know Separatist droids well. I fought in the Clone Wars. I never saw any droid of that design." Dodonna says.
"HK-47 says he was a prototype, intended to replace the super battle droid. Count Dooku wasn't pleased with HK's design, and ordered him scrapped. His various parts ended up in a junkyard, and he was pretty much forgotten about until I went to that junkyard, looking for a cheap droid." Jyn says.
"Lie." Ezra Bridger's disembodied voice says, only heard by Hera.
Ezra? Is this droid really hers? Hera thinks.
"I'm afraid so. It's a four thousand year old assassin droid, built by a long dead Sith Lord named Revan. I encountered him when I fought Thana. He was at her side, killing everything in his path." Ezra says.
A Sith assassin droid? That can't be good. Hera thinks.
"No, it's not. She manipulated Skywalker into bringing the droid here. I don't know why. Not yet anyway. Be careful. Avoid it if you can." Ezra says.
Okay. I guess Ahsoka can take care of him when she gets here. Hera thinks.
"Interesting. You...rebuilt that droid, and altered its programming?" Leia asks.
"Yes I did. I had some help with the programming, but it was me doing most of the work. HK is programmed to serve me, in whatever capacity I need him to. He's a fighter, a sniper, a translator, and a pilot. I think he would be very useful to the alliance." Jyn answers.
"How did you happen to encounter this droid during a patrol mission?" Hera asks.
"We intercepted a Separatist signal, and I had R2 track it to its source." Luke answers.
"Which just happened to be Captain Erso's droid." Dodonna says.
"Yes. It seems he's been looking for me ever since the Empire captured me the first time around. He's been going to places that I used to frequent during my...outlaw days." Jyn says.
"Lie." Ezra says.
Damn Sith lies a lot, doesn't she? Hera thinks.
"Pretty much." Ezra says.
"So, this droid is currently deactivated?" Dodonna asks.
"Yes, general. He'll remain that way until you allow me to turn him back on. I deactivated him, because I didn't want him to know where our base is until you decide to trust him." Jyn answers.
"Lie. She'll probably turn him back on when no one's looking." Ezra says.
Great. What can I do? Hera thinks.
"Nothing. Let things happen as the force wills it." Ezra says.
"Of course, you acted properly, captain. I see no reason why your droid can't be reactivated now. However, he won't be cleared to know any sensitive information until he earns our trust. I'll talk to Mon Mothma about finding a post for him." Leia says.
"Are you certain of this, your highness? We don't know where this droid has been. Even Captain Erso hasn't seen it in almost two years! For all we know, it's been reprogrammed by the Empire to kill us on sight!" Dodonna says.
"Good point, general. Can we really take the risk?" Hera asks.
"I know HK's command protocols. There's a reset command that will erase any altered programming. I already used it on Gandrel Station. He told me that some pirates tried to tamper with his programming." Jyn says, hiding her hand behind her back as she waves it.
"Lie." Ezra says.
"Yeah. He said some pirates tried to reprogram him to be a bounty hunter. Jyn fixed him, so he should be okay now." Luke says.
"Not good. Luke's lying for her. I think she's mind tricking him." Ezra says.
Dammit! I need to put a stop to this! Hera thinks.
"No! Do nothing! She'll kill you if you try anything! Wait for Ahsoka!" Ezra says.
You're right, Ezra. I don't like it, but I'll wait. Hera thinks.
"Thanks, Hera. Talk to you later." Ezra says.
"That's good to hear, captain. You have my permission to reactivate your droid." Leia says.
"Thank you, princess." Jyn says.
Jyn approaches HK-47, who is lying motionless on the ground next to Jyn's x-wing. Jyn kneels next to the droid, and opens an access panel on his torso. She presses a switch, and closes the panel. She then stands up, and steps back a few feet. The ancient rust colored droid comes to life, and slowly stands up.
"Statement. HK-47 is now fully operational. Query. Have we reached our destination, master?" HK-47 asks.
"Yes, HK. This is the rebel base. These are some of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance. You are to follow their orders as you would follow mine." Jyn says.
"Acknowledgement. Understood, master." HK-47 says.
"Very unusual way of speaking." Dodonna says.
"A byproduct of his reconstruction, I'm afraid. He has the programming of multiple types of droids, and he has developed some unique personality quirks." Jyn says.
"Isn't that...unsafe, mixing different types of programming?" Leia asks.
"Yes, there are risks. HK is prone to occasional memory failures. However, he has a secondary memory core, and I backup his data on a regular basis. So, in the event of a memory loss, I can simply activate his secondary memory core, or upload the backup. I've done it a few times before." Jyn answers.
"What happens if his memory fails, and you aren't around to restore it?" Dodonna asks.
"Worst case scenario, he'll revert to his original programming, and believe that he is a Separatist commando droid in the Clone Wars. He will essentially be out of control until I give an emergency shutdown command, which I know by the way. I learned all of his command protocols, which I'll share with you." Jyn says.
"I think that the less people that know how to control this droid, the better. Essential personnel only." Dodonna says, looking at Leia.
"Agreed. I'll discuss it with Mon Mothma when she returns." Leia says.
"In the meantime, we should find him something to do." Hera says.
"Agreed. HK...47 isn't it?" Leia asks, as she approaches HK-47.
"Answer. Yes, that is my designation." HK-47 answers.
"How would you feel about serving as part of base security? We could always use another guard." Leia says.
"Statement. That would be an acceptable assignment. I am perfectly capable of defending this facility from attack by hostile meatbags." HK-47 says.
"Meatbags?" Leia asks.
"A droid term for organics. I've heard it before." Hera answers.
"Interesting." Leia says.
"Commander, Rogue Squadron performed admirably on its first mission. You and all of your pilots have earned a day off." Dodonna says.
"Thank you, general." Luke says.
"Captain Erso, why don't you escort HK-47 to the security office, and introduce him to our chief of security?" Leia asks.
"Of course." Jyn says.
"After that, consider yourself off duty. You've earned a break." Leia says.
"Thank you, princess. HK, come with me." Jyn says. She walks away, followed by HK-47.
Jyn and HK-47 leave the hangar, and enter a small storage room, where they can converse with no one else around. Jyn uses the force to lock the door.
"Observation. These rebels are rather gullible meatbags, master. Query. Shall I kill some of them for you?" HK-47 asks.
"No. You will kill no one unless I order it." Jyn says.
"Observation. You certainly know how to ruin my day." HK-47 says. Jyn laughs.
"There will be an opportunity for you to indulge yourself, but it will not come until I have turned Skywalker. Until then, I will maintain my cover, and so will you. Now, do you still have that...item I gave you?" Jyn asks.
"Answer. Of course I do, master." HK-47 says. The droid opens a panel on his lower torso, and takes out a silver and black cylinder. He hands the object to Jyn.
"Good. I've felt...incomplete without my saber. Blasters are so...imprecise. That is, unless you are using them. I myself prefer the artistry of the blade. Unfortunately for now, I must conceal it. I'll only use it when I'm training Skywalker off base when no one's around." Jyn says.
"Query. Will Skywalker not be suspicious of the fact that your lightsaber has red blades?" HK-47 asks.
"Luke Skywalker knows almost nothing of the Jedi ways. He doesn't know what a red blade means. I'll tell him that red blades are common among Jedi. He's quite naive. He'll believe anything I tell him." Jyn says.
"Observation. The meatbags of this era are certainly a foolish breed. Revan would be disgusted by their general incompetence, and lack of education." HK-47 says.
"Yes, he certainly would. These...so called rebel leaders lack any sort of imagination whatsoever, and seek to simply restore things to the old status quo. So, this galaxy would once again be cursed by a corrupt and decaying Republic. That is something that I cannot allow." Jyn says.
"Observation. The Empire in its current state is not exactly ideal either." HK-47 says.
"No, it is not. Corruption is rampant, especially among the higher ranks. The Emperor cares so little for those he rules over, that he ignores the indiscretions of the moffs and admirals. Some semblance of order is maintained thanks to Vader, but this system is not sustainable. If changes are not made, the Empire will eventually die. As long as I live, I will not allow that to happen. One day, I will sit in the galactic throne, and I will reshape the Empire according to my will." Jyn says.
"Observation. I have noticed that you seem to be acting with greater wisdom and patience. In my experience, these are essential qualities for a strong leader." HK-47 says.
"Yes, HK. You are correct. I've...changed since our last encounter. I found an ancient artifact that has strengthened my connection to the force. It has also granted me greater wisdom and intelligence. I now realize that I have acted rashly in the past. I took unnecessary risks, and ignored your advice when I should have listened. After all, you have four thousand years of experience. Anyone who ignores that would be a fool." Jyn says.
"Query. What sort of artifact has granted you these abilities?" HK-47 asks.
"An ancient kyber crystal that I found on this planet. I was guided to it by Abeloth." Jyn answers.
"Observation. Oh, right. The voice in your head, that claims to be an ancient force user trapped in a distant part of the galaxy." HK-47 says.
"I understand your skepticism, HK. You are a droid, and thus not sensitive to the ways of the force. You only believe what you see and hear for yourself. That being said, I ask you to trust what I say as the truth." Jyn says.
"Statement. I trust you completely, master. If you say that you are hearing the voice of another being, then I will accept your word as the truth." HK-47 says.
"Good. Now, in the presence of any rebels, you are to address me as Captain Erso, Jyn, or master. Nothing else. Is that understood?" Jyn asks.
"Answer. Yes, master. I understand." HK-47 says.
"Good. Now, let's go. I don't want us to be here when someone else shows up, and possibly overhears us." Jyn says.
Jyn leaves the storage room, with HK-47 following close behind.
This will be the final update to this story until January. During the month of December, my only updates will be chapters for Revelations. I have too many things going on right now, and unfortunately, that means I need to spend less time writing fanfiction. To those of you who have read this story, thank you for taking the time to do so.