TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: None of the principle characters and situations belongs to me.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 11
Meanwhile…
Ranma was escorted to an undisclosed room within the old complex on Geonosis.
"Wait here," says the bounty hunter Jango Fett, as he let's go of the Jedi padawan.
Ranma turns towards Jango.
"You're enjoying this, aren't ya?" Ranma says with a smirk.
"No, it's all business with ME," Jango says.
Ranma squints his eyes, as he stared at Jango's helmeted head.
"Just because I can't see your face, that doesn't mean I can't tell what expression you have on your face."
"Humph, guilty as charged," Jango says, as he shifted his footing slightly. "Did you use a Jedi mind trick or something?"
"No. Simply put, I'd be laughing, too, if I were in your place."
"Huh, good point," Jango says, as he begins to leave the room. He then turns his attention back towards the Jedi padawan.
"You know, you sound like a bloke that I could easily have a drink with."
"Yeah, well, that may not happen."
"Pity," Jango says, as he leaves the room.
SHOOP!
Ranma sighs, as he clacked his wrist-binds together.
CLATTER!
"Man, what have we gotten ourselves into?" Ranma says to himself, as he rubbed his wrists. Popping and locking was a tool for a typical escape artist, a skill he picked up over the years…
"Yes, what HAVE you gotten yourself into?" says a familiar voice from the shadows.
Ranma perked up.
"Count, please, no games," Ranma says.
Count Dooku, leader of the Separatists, emerges from the shadows.
"Very well," says the former Jedi, as the older man steps forth. "You do not seem to be like Kenobi."
"That's because I've never been a 'company man'," Ranma says, as he folds his arms. "And you know that, otherwise, you wouldn't have brought me here."
"Perceptive. Fair enough, but first…"
SNAP! Hzzzzzzz…
Ranma raises an eyebrow, as Count Dooku produces his red-colored lightsaber.
"Am I supposed to be impressed?" Ranma asked.
"Let's just say that this is a part of your interview…for enlistment."
With that, Dooku moves to slice Ranma's head off-
CHOOM! Hzzzzz-
BLAM!
Dooku raises an eyebrow, as he realized that Ranma had created a sword made from yellow light…that was not a lightsaber.
"So, it's TRUE," Dooku says. "You created are the master who hides behind the visage of a padawan."
Ranma looks at Dooku, and then at his red-colored lightsaber.
"And you are the Sith that is the cause of this mess," Ranma says.
"Hahahaha!" Dooku laughed, as he backs off. "Close…but not quite."
"Oh?"
"Oh, there IS a Sith Lord that is the cause of all this, but I am merely copying his methods to save the Republic."
"Fight fire with fire?"
"Yes, to use such crude terminology."
"So, out of curiosity, who is this person?"
Hzzzz-SNAP!
Dooku puts away his weapon.
"I will tell you, if you…become my apprentice."
"ME?"
"Yes, young master. You don't belong to the Jedi, with their tired rhetoric. I can FEEL your desire for freedom and liberty, something that my old associates do not understand, or are willing to."
"What if I simply remove your head from your body?" Ranma says, as he points his glowing blade. "I can stop this Separatist movement of yours with one fell stroke."
"Please," Dooku says, as he opened his arms slight wide. "Would you risk losing a possible asset, or slay an unarmed old man?"
Ranma squints his eyes.
"I can teach you much more about the ways of the Force than you can possibly realize."
"In exchange for what?"
"There will be a time when you will have to choose," Dooku says. "Right now, you do not see the need to do so. But when the time is right, you WILL join me…count on it."
And with that, Dooku fades back into the shadows…
SWOOP!
'What a weirdo,' Ranma says, as he douses his psi-sword. 'To think I would betray anyone…'
Unknown to Ranma, the stage has been set for a key change in the lore of the Sith. In the old days, the Sith's "Rule of Two" was used to keep ambitious Sith Lords from warring with each other. However, the present Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, has decreed that the strangers within the Jedi Order—Ranma and company—will prove to be a hindrance to his "master plan". Therefore, it might be best to change the Rule of Two…to the Rule of THREE…
"You will stay here while I deal with your friends," Dooku says, as he spoke from the shadows.
"'Friends'?"
"Oh, yes. It appears that your friends have arrived to rescue you…"
Above ground, the Naboo cruiser touches down within an exhaust port, thereby hiding their presence from above.
"Ami, are you SURE this is the best spot to enter this place?" Usagi asked, as Tho-Ohki hops on his owner's head.
"It's the least fortified," Kasumi says, as she and her companions prepare to leave the ship. "And that means we have to go through the factory area."
"You scared, or something?" Anakin says jokingly.
"No, but I want US to get in and get out before anyone knows, especially Master Windu."
"Master Windu is NOT a bad man, Usagi," Ami says, as she taps into her Mercury Computer. She was trying to hack into the nearest mainframe in order to circumvent the security system…
"No, just a mean one."
"Actually, Usagi has the right idea," Kasumi says.
"She does?" Ami and Anakin replied likewise.
"Yes. As I said before we landed, I want to avoid a war if possible."
"Huh," Anakin says.
"Nyah!" Usagi replied, while sticking out her tongue. "Padme agrees with me, so THERE."
Kasumi shakes her head with a sigh.
As soon as the four walk outside, they walk along a gangplank towards a secured hatch. Kasumi turns towards Ami.
"Ami?" Kasumi asked.
"Just a moment," Ami replied, as she successfully hacks into the main system of the factory complex…
SHOOP!
The hatch opens up.
"There," Ami says, as she puts away her computer while activating her "Mercury HUD Unit" (which looks like a pair of clear goggles) that links to the Mercury Computer's wireless network. "All the security screens have been rerouted, and I know where Ranma and Master Kenobi could be held prisoner.
"Good," Anakin says. "I rather avoid fighting droids."
"Ami, lead the way," Usagi says.
"Okay," Ami replied, as she scans the area…
"This way," Ami says, as she turns left at a T-junction. And then-
"Hsssss!" Tho-Ohki says, as he hissed.
Usagi look up.
"What's wrong little guy?" Usagi asked.
Anakin looks down the corridor. There was something odd about it…
"Ami, is THIS the best way forward?" Kasumi asked.
"It is," Ami says. "This is a direct route to the others."
Anakin turns toward the girls.
"We could take our chances," Anakin says. "Either way, the decision is yours, Padme."
Kasumi thinks for a moment…
"Padme?" Usagi says.
"We resume our course."
"Right," Anakin says, as he turns and heads down the corridor. His senses, though, rang of danger…
As the four walk down the corridor, Usagi looks around.
"Wait, I don't know about you, but I swear that I saw something moved."
"You're just being paranoid," Anakin says.
"No, but I bet you're feeling it too."
"Ami, is there something odd about this corridor?" Kasumi says.
"Let me see," Ami says, as she taps the frame of her goggles. She runs a spectrum analysis program…
"Oh, dear," Ami says, as she slowly turns towards her companions.
"What is it?" Usagi asked.
"You saw that the walls were moving, right?"
"Yes…"
"That's because there are dozens of insectoids on the walls."
"What?" Anakin says, just as the wall falls apart, revealing a security force that was native to Geonosis.
"Ani-!" Kasumi says with alarm before-
SNAP! Hzzzzz…
Anakin, Usagi and Ami held their lightsabers in hand, all of which were activated.
"Ami, protect the Senator," Anakin says, as he began swinging.
"Krrrreeee-!" says one insectoid before-
SLICE!
Usagi looks up.
"Tho-Ohki, sit on Ami's head," Usagi says.
"Meeew?" Tho-Ohki replied.
"I can protect myself, old friend. Now, please go?"
"Mew!" Tho-Ohki says, as he hops off Usagi's head.
Usagi turns towards Ami.
"Ami-"
"I heard," replied Ami, as Tho-Ohki hops on Ami's head. She then turns towards Kasumi.
"Padme-?"
"Yes, we proceed," says Kasumi, as she takes one last look at her friends. She then begins to run down the corridor, with Ami around to fend off more insectoids. They both stop at a junction door. Quickly, Ami activates the opening of the lock.
CLUNK!
As the heavy door begins to open, the girls sees that the ramp that connect that corridor, which ran across an assembly line, to the second section of the factory was being drawn.
"Oh, my," Kasumi says.
"Padme," Ami says, as she held Kasumi's waist. "Hang on!"
With a single leap, Ami leaps 9 meters in a standing leap.
THOOP!
Ami and Kasumi duck immediately, as the door to the second hatch slams shut.
THOOM!
Kasumi turns towards Ami.
"Ami, thought we were cleared?" Kasumi asked.
"I didn't know that there were species that could remain undetected, even from a Force user," Ami says. "And because of that, all my preparations were for naught."
"Mew," Tho-Ohki says sadly.
"Maybe not," Kasumi says. "While these…people focus on Ani and Usagi, we can find the others."
"Right," Ami says, as she taps into her goggles. "You're right. Forces are converging this way."
"Can you find an opening?"
"Working on it…yes, I have one. Follow me."
And with that, Ami and Kasumi, with Tho-Ohki in tow, run off to find their other friends.
Meanwhile…
"KRREEEE-!"
Slice!
"There's too many, Ani," Usagi says, as she used her lightsaber to block, parry or counter the attacks on her person.
"We just need to buy the others some time-" Anakin says, just as a squad of insectoids arrive…with energy weapons.
BLOOSH!
Bubbles made from energy are blasted forth, causing a disruption of the surrounding air.
"Yikes!" Usagi says, as she ducks.
THAK!
She looks back to see a nice sized hole on the far wall.
"I got a bad feeling about this…"
Tbc.