(We reach the crash site inside the jungle within a few hours. In the crater, we see an unconscious muscular man with black dreads and tattoos covering his upper body clutching an oversized hook in one hand and a blue stone in the other.)
Sofia: I bet this guy must be that demigod Maui.
Vanellope: He looks unconscious. Sofia, think you can use your Dream Rod to heal him?
Sofia: Not a problem. Heal!
(She casts a Curaga spell to heal Maui. He begins to wake up just as Moana catches up with us)
Moana: Maui!
Maui: Moana…?
Moana: Maui, what happened?
Maui: I… I was ambushed. I didn't see what they look like, but whoever they were must be after this.
(Maui shows us the blue stone)
Moana: That's a pretty odd stone. Do you know anything about this?
Me: (Sighs) I think it'll be best if we explain this back at the village.
Moana: You're right. Let's go.
(We make our way back to the village)
The Jedi of Sugar Rush
Chapter 6: Racers Join the Republic
After a hyperspace flight to the Republic Capital Planet of Coruscant, Jedi Master Yoda takes a gunship and accompanies Vanellope and her friends to the Jedi Temple. The young racers couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the city they were flying over. They were even more amazed when they saw the Temple in full view.
"You kids enjoying the view down there?" A Clone Trooper asked.
"It's beautiful!" Crumbelina commented with awe. Yoda smiles hearing the comment.
Inside, Yoda leads the racers through the deep halls of the Temple. "So… Master Yoda, is this where we will train to become Jedi?" Vanellope asked.
"Yes, but before your training begins, meet the Jedi Council, you should." Yoda said.
"I don't get it." Taffyta said feeling confused.
"What he means is we need to get to know our teachers first." Gloyd said.
"Correct, your friend is." Yoda said. "To wield a lightsaber, know those who master it, one must."
Meanwhile, on the bone-dry dunes of Tatooine, on a tall scalable mountain stood a palace fit for Crime Lord Jabba the Hutt. He is currently being entertained in his throne room with rhythmic music playing. A scout comes in and whispers something to Jabba's protocol droid.
"Jabba, the bounty hunters you sent out to find your son have returned." Jabba's protocol droid reported.
Jabba spoke in his native tongue wanting to know if their search for his son was successful. His answer came when their severed heads were carried in on a stretcher. Gasps of shock filled the room as he shouts and demands to speak with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.
"Contact the Supreme Chancellor immediately." The droid commanded.
In the Senate Building, the Supreme Chancellor is speaking with Jabba via hologram. "The all-powerful Jabba demands to know why the Jedi are not looking for his son." Jabba's droid spoke.
"Ah, mighty Jabba, rest assured the Jedi are on their way." Palpatine assured him.
Jabba spoke to Palpatine in his native tongue that if they want the Republic to pass through his territory safely, they have to be sure they are.
"They better be, if you want the Republic to have safe passage through Jabba's territory." The droid translated Jabba's speech.
A Starship arrives outside the planet of Teth. A gunship touches down in the hangar and two camouflage Clones exit the ship. Anakin meets with them. "Lieutenant, did the kidnappers see you?"
"No sir. We're the best scouts in the regiment." The Clone Lieutenant reported.
"What about the bounty hunters? Are they still down there?" Anakin asked.
"I don't think so. We haven't seen them in a while." The Clone told him.
"Well, what are we up against?" Anakin asked.
The Clone shows a hologram of the building. "Looks like there are two droid battalions protecting a monastery. It's heavily fortified, so you won't be able to land there."
"Good work. Get some rest." Anakin commands as he goes over to some of the clones, Captain Rex and Commander Cody included, who are gathered around Ahsoka. She appears to be telling them about their mission to disable the shield back on Christophsis.
"That sounds like a lot, even for a Jedi." One Clone commented.
"I heard you were surrounded by droids. How did you ever get the shield down?" Another Clone asked.
"Okay, so there's a wall behind him with a hole in the middle. So I pull the wall down on top of the droids, destroying them and saving the General." Ahsoka told her tale. The Clones share a laugh.
"Is that true, sir?" Captain Rex asked Skywalker.
"Well, most of it." Anakin said, followed by beeps from Artoo and a pink R2-Unit. "Alright, men, we've still got a job to do."
"Yes sir. You heard the General. Move it!" Rex dismissed the gathering as Skywalker approached his Padawan.
"Would this be a good time to teach you that a Jedi is humble, my young Padawan?" Anakin asked.
"Sorry. Just trying to keep the boys inspired, is all." Ahsoka tells him. "That reminds me, how do you think the Council will feel about meeting those kids Master Kenobi saved?"
"Hey, I'm sure Vanellope has her reasons for being here." Anakin grinned.
A ship piloted by Obi-Wan comes out of hyperspace just outside Tatooine's orbit. Kenobi's Navigation Droid chitters.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Jabba's in a good mood." Obi-Wan said as the hyperspace ring detached from his ship and he flew into orbit towards Jabba's Palace. Jabba's Interpreter Droid greets him with three guards just as the Jedi puts on a dark brown cloak.
"We should not keep the wise and powerful Jabba waiting." The droid spoke.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Kenobi replied as he's escorted inside the palace. While left alone with the ship, the droid is approached by a gathering of Jawas. The droid shocks one of them, scaring the rest away.
Inside, Kenobi meets the Tatooine crime lord. "Mighty Jabba, one of our most powerful Jedi is on his way to rescue your son. We will not let you down."
Jabba growls lowly with concern as he requests something in his native tongue. "The most gracious Jabba has one more small condition: he demands you bring back the slime who kidnapped his little… punky muffin." His droid translated.
"Punky?" Obi-Wan asked holding back a chuckle.
Jabba spoke once more, translated by his droid. "Dead or alive."
Jabba tells Kenobi in his language one more thing: should he and the Jedi fail, the Separatists will find his son instead. "If you do not succeed, Count Dooku and his droid army will."
Back at the Jedi Temple, Yoda leads Vanellope and her friends to the Jedi Council Chamber, where they meet several different Jedi Masters. One such Jedi Master, Mace Windu, stood up from his seat.
"Master Yoda, what is the meaning of this? Who are these children?" Mace Windu asked.
"Calm yourself, Master Windu. These children, rescued they were, after their vessel crashed on Christophsis. Seeking shelter, they are and requesting to master a lightsaber." Master Yoda informed them.
"Them? Those children aren't even from this galaxy and they wish to wield a lightsaber?" Jedi Master Aayla Secura asked.
"True, native to this galaxy, they are not, but great potential in them, there is." Yoda said before eyeing Vanellope. "Especially you."
"Me?" Vanellope asked.
"Yes. A power within you, I sense, unlike any I have seen before." Yoda spoke.
"Are you saying this particular girl has a special power we Jedi do not know of?" Plo Koon asked.
"Correct, you are, Master Plo. So, prepared to train these children, are you?" Yoda asked. The Jedi Masters glance at one another in contemplation.
"We normally leave the training of these kids to Kenobi and Skywalker, but with Kenobi on Tatooine negotiating with Jabba and Skywalker approaching Teth with his Padawan, I guess we have no other option then." Mace Windu said in agreement. Vanellope smiles when she hears that they will be taught how to wield a lightsaber.
Meanwhile, in the skies of Teth, six Republic transport ships fly toward the monastery where Jabba's son is held captive. Two of the ships are carrying assault walkers. Inside one of the infantry ships, Anakin is contacted by Obi-Wan Kenobi, the former wearing a cloak.
"Alright, Anakin, here's the story. Jabba has given us only one planetary rotation to get his son back home to Tatooine safe and sound." Obi-Wan reported.
"Won't take us that long, Master." Anakin said.
"Well, take extreme care." Kenobi warned. "We have no idea who's holding Jabba's son. When I finish negotiations with him, I will join you."
"Speaking of joining, how are Vanellope and the others?" Anakin asked.
"I was recently informed that Master Yoda already brought them to Coruscant for safekeeping. I'll wager the other Jedi Masters are beginning to train them as we speak." Kenobi deduced.
The gunships fly closer the monastery, where some battle droids are on the lookout for anything that may come their way. A Droid Sergeant spots something with its binoculars.
"There's something coming. I can't make out what it is." The Droid Sergeant reported.
"I don't like it. Prepare to attack." The Droid Commander ordered.
"Uh, what if it's one of ours?" The Droid Sergeant asked.
"Shut up, Sergeant! I'm in command here!" The Droid Commander retorted.
"Roger-Roger."
The ships fly closer to the monastery, just above the trees. Ahsoka glances to her Jedi Master. "Stay close to me, if you can."
"It won't be a problem, Master." Ahsoka spoke.
"This isn't practice, Ahsoka." Anakin replied.
"I know. And I'll try not to get you killed." Ahsoka said. An explosion then rocked the ship they're in. They're being shot at by the droids.
"Good shot, boy." One Droid complimented a spider droid.
"Sir, we're taking heavy fire!" The Clone Lieutenant reported.
"Close the blast shields, Lieutenant! Get us under those guns!" Anakin commanded.
"Yes sir!" The Clone Lieutenant replies as the ship's blast shields close.
"Here we go." Ahsoka said as a red light turned on.
"Ridge, your com's got static." A Clone told him.
"Got it." Ridge spoke.
"Red light. Stand by." Captain Rex commands. Ahsoka looks worried. She looks towards Anakin. The Gunships descend into the trees.
"Welcome to paradise, rock jumpers." The Clone Lieutenant speaks up as the ship lands. The red light inside the carrier turns green.
"Green light! Go! Go! Go!" The doors open as The Jedi and Clones exit the ship and make their way towards the abandoned monastery. The droids spot Ahsoka through the trees.
"Concentrate fire on Sector 11374265!" The Droid Commander orders.
"1137… What was that again?" The droid Sergeant asked clueless.
"Just fire right there!" The Commander Droid barked. The Republic army continues the fight.
"Follow me!" Anakin commands as the army takes cover under the rock mountain base.
"I can't see them." The Droid Sergeant reported.
"Where'd they go?" The Droid Commander asked. The Sergeant tries to look closer, but he loses his footing and falls down and crashes at the base of the mountain. "Oh, my…" He groans when his binoculars hit him in the head.
"Get back here, Sergeant!" The Droid commander barked.
"So, this is where the fun begins." Ahsoka said.
"Race you to the top." Anakin challenged.
"I'll give you a head start." Ahsoka said.
"Your mistake." Anakin smirked as he started climbing a vine while the Clones climb with ascension cables.
"I'm right behind you, Master!" Ahsoka said as she climbs an adjacent vine as the firefight continues.
(We enter Chief Moana's hut and we take a seat)
Me: Okay, we'll make this brief. That blue stone your demigod friend found, it's an Infinity Stone, one of six cosmic stones full of untold power.
Maui: This thing's an Infinity Stone?
Sofia: Yes. As Mr. Archer mentioned, there are six stones, each one granting whoever holds them control over an aspect of life. We were able to retrieve two: Power and Time.
Vanellope: Of course, someone else is after them. We already lost the Reality Stone to a bounty hunter named Cad Bane.
Me: And Maui here unknowingly found the Space Stone, which only leaves the Mind and Soul Stones to be found.
Maui: Well, if you want the Stone, then go ahead and take it.
(Maui reluctantly gives us the Space Stone)
Me: Thank you, Maui.
Vanellope: Now we have three Infinity Stones!
Sofia: Make that four. Twilight contacted me earlier and told me Kyle and his friends found the Mind Stone among some treasure in Captain Gunn's Tomb.
Me: Kyle? As in Kyle Parker? I haven't heard from him in a couple of years. Never mind that. That's awesome! That only leaves the Soul Stone in Pacopolis!
Vanellope: Well, what are we standing here for? Let's head there and grab it!
Me: Moana, Maui, if there's any more problems here on Motunui, just give me a call.
Moana: Will do.
Me: Next stop: Pacopolis! You readers may leave a review. Archer out!
