TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 3
"…As you can see, I am very concerned about what has taken place in recent weeks," Jedi Master Mace Windu (bald, "Black" male) says, as the last "time index" of the holographic recordings completed its run.
CHIRP!
"I will not overlook the fact that Jedi Padawan Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino have helped the Jedi Order to expand its knowledge of the Force," Windu says, as he addresses the Jedi Council. All the most senior and celebrated members of the Jedi Order have a spot on the council.
"However, in light of the fact that one of our own most celebrated Jedi Masters is behind the Separatist movement, I do know want a repeat of this tragedy."
"With all due respect, Master Windu, this has very little to do a potential threat…and more to do with the lethargy of the Order itself," Master Qui-Gon Jinn says.
"Really?" Windu replied. "Already, Padawan Saotome has mastered all eight Jedi forms…including 'Vaapad'. Surely the Sith knows this."
Jedi Form 'Vaapad' was an intense style that uses emotions to increase ones speed, strength and tactical skills to near-superhuman levels.
"So has your student, Master Windu," Jinn countered.
"The difference between Padawan Mizuno and Padawan Saotome is that Padawan Mizuno has no ego. That is why Vaapad is a dangerous Jedi form, and why most practitioners of Vaapad fall easily to the Dark Side."
"You assume much, Master Windu," Jedi Master Yoda says. "Great, though his power, selfish, he is NOT. Selfishness for power leads to the Dark Side."
"I think you should take a more objective view of the situation, Master Yoda. And that brings me to the other problem."
"If you are referring to Padawan Usagi Tsukino, she is hardly a threat to the Order," says Jinn. "My former student, Master Kenobi, has a very…unique student-teacher relationship with his student."
"'Unique' is an understatement," Windu says. "For the past ten cycles, Padawan Tsukino has developed the reputation of causing mishap. In fact, she has earned the nick-name…'The Onitoyota'."
"Ah, yes," Jinn says with a slight smile. "Why anyone would be named after cute animal that devours is beyond reason…"
"Her most recent crime was allowing the bounty hunter Jango Fett escape. THAT should not be dismissed."
"Padawan Tsukino did say that she felt…the need to save the bounty hunter's life," Jinn said.
"And how many lives did the bounty hunter end before she intervened? Some of Fett's victims were Jedi."
"What do you propose?"
"There should be a hearing at least to determine whether or not there has been a crimes committed."
"Dangerous, this path is," Yoda says. "Many lives of Jedi…have been lost."
"Which is why we need to have this hearing," Windu says. "If the Jedi Order is to go to war, we will need to establish a united front…and an example needs to be made."
"If the Jedi Council allows this action to take place, then he will need an advocate."
"Of course."
Jinn turn his attention towards the great doors that leads into the council chambers. Using his mind, Jinn calls upon his former student to enter.
CHUNK!
Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi enters the council chambers.
"Are you ready to receive me, over the matter of my student?" Kenobi asked.
"That we are, Master Kenobi," Jinn replied.
"Decide the fate of your padawan, we must," Yoda says ominously.
Meanwhile, while taking a nap, Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo dreams of the past…
"I take it that you have negotiated a settlement with the representatives of the Galactic Republic?" Kasumi asked, as she spoke to the field leader of the nefarious Trade Federation.
"Representatives?" Viceroy Nute Gunnray asked, trying to feign ignorance. "They never arrived."
"Then, until they do, you are not welcome here," Kasumi says, as she signals that the communications link-up to be terminated.
CHIRP!
"Your highness," says Captain Panaka ("Black" male), the Captain of the Royal Guard of Theed, Naboo. "You must tread carefully. Engaging in a battle with the Trade Federation may start a war we cannot win."
Kasumi turns her head to face her Captain.
"I will not allow my people to be subjugated by outsiders. We must rely upon the good will of the Galactic Republic to remedy this situation."
"Then what shall we do, Your Highness?"
"We wait…but prepare for the WORST."
…
"Sign the treaty, or suffer along with your people, Your Highness," Gunray says as Kasumi and her entourage were being escorted down the stairs of a great palace.
Kasumi glances over to her chief advisor, Governor Sio Bibble. He strokes his beard in contemplation, unsure what he should do…
"My Queen?" the Viceroy says, as he pressed for an answer.
"I shall not cooperate," Kasumi says defiantly.
"Then you will need to loosen your disposition. Troopers! Take them to 'Prison Camp 4'!"
As the Royal Court begins their long trek to "Prison Camp 4", the Trade Federation is ambushed by-
"Jedi!" Panaka yells.
Kasumi was amazed at how fluid the movements the Jedi were, as they sliced into the robotic army.
Hzzzz! HZZZZ-!
SLICE!
When all the battledroids were destroyed, one of the Jedi turns to the Royal Party.
"Are you well, Your Highness?" asked Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, as he deactivated his weapon.
"HELP!" says a gungon, as he fell unto the ground.
CLUMP!
"Jar-Jar, behave yourself," says Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, as he brushed aside his padawan braid.
"Oopsie…" Jar-Jar says. "Me-sa sorry, Obi-Wan!"
"I take it that the negations have failed?" Sio Bibble says tersely.
"The negations never took place," said Jinn. "I recommend that Her Highness evacuate the planet."
Kasumi thinks for a moment.
"Very well; we can make our case on Coruscant," Kasumi says, as she and her party trot to the main hanger, where the Royal Ship was stowed.
"Wait for meeee!" Jar-Jar yells, as he trots behind his new friends.
…
"Are we going to find our engine part here?" asked a disguised Kasumi. She was glad to not wear those heavier clothes in this dry environment.
"Perhaps, perhaps not, but we should certainly TRY," Jinn says with a gentle smile, as if he is recalling an old joke. "Come…"
Jinn, Kasumi and Jar-Jar enter the shop. Like most garages and shops, there were parts scattered all over the place. At a counter, the trio sees a little boy tinkering with a computer module with an older blue-haired girl.
"Excuse me," said Jinn, as he stops in front of the counter.
The boy and the older girl look up. Both were native clothing of Tattooine, which consists mostly of tans and khaki desert gear.
"May I help you?" the girl asked.
"We are looking for the proprietor of the place, so we might purchase an engine part," Jinn replied.
"Oh, I see."
"I think Mister Watto is in the back," the boy says, as he hops off the counter. "I'll be right back…"
"What seems to be the problem?" the girl asked.
"Our…ship was damaged during transport," Jinn replied. Technically, it was the truth.
"I am sorry to hear about that."
"So you can help us, right?" Kasumi asked.
"Well, we're in the middle of a major overhaul of the shop," the girl says. "Recently, it came under…well, new management-"
"Hey, ya'all," Usagi says, as she carried some boxes into the shop, not really seeing Jar-Jar was hunched over…as he examines a collapsible, mini-droid.
"What's been going on-?"
CRASH!
"Ooopsie!" Jar-Jar says with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, the boy runs into the garage area, where there was a heated argument.
"…I'm telling you, Ranma, this is a GOOD deal," says a flying, bluish creature, as he fluttered about the garage.
The boy sees that the person whom the creature was speaking to was doing some welding.
"Watto…no," the young man says, as he continues his work. "I heard by reputation that the dealer is a liar and a cheat."
"But the rewards are going to make us rich!"
Ranma sighs, as he cuts off his blowtorch. He then removes his goggles.
"Honest business practices makes you rich…and legal. And my friends and I wouldn't have run off the Jabba's racketeering racket if we didn't believe in THAT philosophy-"
"Hey, Ranma…Mister Watto!" the boy yells.
Watto and Ranma both look up to see the boy.
"What is it, Ani?" Watto asked.
…
"You CAN'T be serious," Kasumi says.
"Sure, why not," Ranma says, as he tunes up Anakin's "pod racer". Everyone from Watto's shop was doing a few last minute tune-ups to Anakin's craft.
"How do you think Watto ended up losing half his business?"
Kasumi sighs, as she looks up at the boy named Anakin. He had a big heart, but can he win the race-?
CRASH!
"Oopsie!"
"Get off of me, Jar-Jar!" Usagi yelled. "And I thought I was the clumsy one…"
Jinn and T'Pol walk to the racer.
"We just submitted the entrance fee," said Jinn to everyone in the pit.
"And because of Anakin's performance last time, he is the odds favorite," T'Pol says.
"Which means Sebulba and his 'crew' will be cheating…A LOT," Ranma smirked.
"How bad will it be?" Kasumi asked.
"Let's just say," Hoshi says, as she seals control panel compartment. "Only two people survived the last time there was a pod race: Anakin and Sebulba…out of ten contestants."
"Oh, my."
…
With Anakin's victory won, accounts were settled.
In lieu of losing his business entirely, for betting against Anakin—again—Watto made Anakin's mother "Shmi" full business partner. A third of the profits, however, will go to a special account on Correlia, where the Banking Guild has a branch. Unfortunately, this little fact would cause certain people trouble later on, when the Guild officially signs on to the Separatists' agenda. In the mean time, with Shmi around, Watto's avarice nature would soundly be kept in check…or else.
Now that the business was taking care of, it was time to go.
"Anakin, we have to hurry," yelled Jinn, as he, Anakin and Ranma ran to the newly repaired Naboo Royal Cruiser. They had just learned that some nefarious character was looking for Queen Amidala of Naboo, who was presently on the Naboo ship.
"Aw, come on, Mister Jinn," Ranma scoffed. "How tough can this jerk be-?"
WOOSH
"Get down, Anakin!" Jinn yell, as a man dressed in black robes almost runs over the boy.
At the last minute, Ranma grabs Anakin, and leaps out of the way.
The man in black leaps off his motor scooter, and activates some sort of "laser sword", as did Jinn.
SNAP-SNAP! Hzzzzz…
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-!
"Hey, Ranma, Mister Jinn has an energy sword just like YOU!" Anakin says. "You should help."
Ranma nods his head. Ever since he and his companions arrived in this galaxy, laying low was the option of choice. But now…
"Head for the ship," Ranma says, as he gets out his Juraian sword from pocket space. "I'll help Mister Jinn…"
Meanwhile, Jinn and the black clad stranger traded blows, until-
SNAP! Hzzzz-
FWAK!
"Huh?" the black clad stranger says, as he realized that his attack…was blocked by yet another energy-based weapon.
"Surprise," Ranma says, as he carefully rams his head into the stranger's nose.
POW!
Knocked down, Jinn see his chance to run for the ship, just as it begins to take off.
"Ranma! Come!"
With that, Jinn leaped unto the exposed gangplank. In amazement, so did Ranma.
"You, my friend, have much to explain."
"Likewise," Ranma replied.
As the Naboo vessel leaves Tattooine, the dark clad figures wonders how this new development will affect the Master's plans…
…
Kasumi sighs, as she disembarks her vessel in full regalia. Waiting for her and her party at the space platform on the bustling city-planet of Coruscant were Supreme Chancellor Vollorium and the representative of Naboo Senator Palpatine.
"Welcome, Your Highness," Palpatine says, as he nods his head. "I am TRULY glad that you were able to escape from that dreadful situation back on Naboo.
Kasumi looks at the senator. For some reason, she felt something off about him…
"You remember Supreme Chancellor Vollorium."
"It is an honored to see you again, Queen of Naboo," the chancellor says. "We will do all we can to see Naboo through this crisis."
"Your support will great aid my people, Chancellor Vollorium," Kasumi says.
At the same time…
"Wait, you want US to see this…Jedi Council?" Ranma says, as he folds his arms.
"The fact that you and Usagi are both familiar with the lightblade indicates a great potential," Jinn replied. "While I take Young Anakin to see the council, you can introduce yourselves to council."
"But Master Jinn," Kenobi begins. "It's one to get the boy acceptance into the Jedi; it's another to allow nearly grown adults admittance."
"That will be determined later. What is your answer?"
"Um let me confer with my friends," Ranma says. He then turns to huddle with the others.
"What do you guys think?"
"To be a Jedi…I don't know, Ranma," Hoshi says. "Personally, I rather just find some other means to figure out a way back to our side of the Universe."
"I think it would be neat," Usagi says. "Plus, I can continue to practice my sword work."
"I don't think we should accept the offer," T'Pol says. "The Queen of Naboo has invited us to her home planet, if and when the crisis is over. We can go on from there to look for more clues."
"Ami?" Ranma asked.
Ami thought for a moment. The next words that come out of her mouth will set the tone for years to come…at least according to Sailor Pluto…
"Each of us can decide for ourselves where our best talents should go. Living on Tattooine has allowed us to learn about the underbelly of the Lucas Galaxy. Working with both the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic will offer a fresh perspective. And the more information we have about this galaxy, the better chance we have in finding a way back to our home galaxy."
Ami then looks at Ranma.
"And I'm sure that you'd appreciate more training, Ranma."
"Fine. Tho-Ohki, what do you think?"
"Tho-ow!" the cabbit yowled.
"I agree. So, who wants to do what?"
"We ALL know what you want to do, Ranma," T'Pol says dryly.
"And you know me VERY well."
Once the huddle was broken, Ranma, Usagi and Ami steps forth, while Hoshi and T'Pol catches up with the Queen of Naboo's entourage.
"We accept your offer," Ranma says. "Although both T'Pol and Hoshi know how to use the lightblade, they have other interests."
"And Miss Mizuno?"
"I don't know anything about the lightblade, but I want to visit the Jedi Council."
"That could be problematic, Master Jinn," Obi-Wan says.
"Usagi and I will go with you, if Ami can," Ranma says.
"Mister Watto's influence is great, Mister Saotome."
"Eh, what-cha gonna do, eh?" Ranma says, as he attempts to emulate a fake accent.
"THAT was terrible," Usagi says.
"Then, it is settled. You three and Anakin: come with us."
"Yippie!" Anakin yells in delight.
"Yippie is RIGHT," Usagi says.
Tbc.