TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, and the other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 18
The so-called "Clone Wars" rage on. Cloned Troops, led by their Jedi commanders, as directed by the Galactic Republic, fought the Separatist Droid Army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Unfortunately, like any war, there were casualties…
BOOM!
Jedi Padawan Ranma Saotome looks up after he and his men had taken cover from the suppression fire of the Separatist, even as he had to deal with the pouring rain.
"Man, I hate this place," Ranma said, as he gets up. "I hate the mud, too."
Ranma turns towards his partners Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his student, Jedi Padawan Usagi Tsukino took cover.
"Then let us hope that we are successful then," Kenobi said, as he used his electronic binoculars. "We have to make sure that this supply line is shut for good."
"Yeah, until the Trade Federation decides to return."
"Ranma, please," Usagi said, as she stretched her limbs. "We all know that you still are sore for being 'schooled' by Count Dooku in the last skirmish."
"He CHEATED, that's what."
"Be as it may, that experience should teach you the meaning of patience-"
BLIP-BLIP! BLIP-BLIP! BLIP-BLIP-!
Kenobi brings up his holographic palm dial, and activates the system.
SKRRRIIISH!
"Master Koon?" Kenobi asked with concern.
"My apprentice and I are pinned by droids, in the receiving area," said an alien (tanned skin, big ears that were shaped like a ram's horn), who needed a breathing mask to function outside his home planet or personal environmental space at the Jedi Temple. "We need assistance-"
BLAM-Squawk!
"Master Koon!" Kenobi yelled, as the signal went dead. He then turns towards his fellow Jedi.
"We move," Kenobi said. He then turns towards his assigned Clone Troop commander, Commander Cody.
"Cody, it's important that you and your men provide a distraction, while the rest of us take point."
"Understood, sir," Cody said while he signals his men. "Men, we move out!"
"Hoo-rah!" said the other cloned troops, as they raised their fists in the air.
"Okay, you two, we're going in," Kenobi said, as he leaps off the cliff and into the mist below.
Usagi looks up to see the fortress of the Confederacy. They would have to cross over a valley filled with combat droids in order to make it across.
"Ranma, I got a bad feeling about this," Usagi said.
"You and me, both," Ranma replied, as he and Usagi leaped over the cliff and straight down…
Hzzzzz-slice!
Ranma slices the last head of the opposition, as Usagi begins to hack into the access port. In theory, she and her companions should be able to bypass the usual security screens, especially since Cody and his men were going to distract the bulk of the combat droid. The original plan was to provide cover for a back door assault, led by Jedi Master Plo Koon and his Padawan. In fact, this mission was his padawan's first, and she only participated due to the intensity of the skirmishes of late. Kenobi chose a pincer maneuver, allowing Cody to take on the right flank of the droid forces, while Kenobi, Ranma and Usagi took the droid forces left flank, which was lighter. Of course, Ranma loved the action, regardless of the number of foes he could defeat…
"Usagi, how goes it?" Kenobi asked.
CLICK!
CHUNK!
ZZZZZUUUUUUMMMMMMM…
A massive door opens up before Kenobi and his companions.
"Easy money," Usagi said, as she puts away her comp-tech gear.
"Usagi, just for the record, I do not endorse your skills as a 'hacker'."
"Master, I'm a 'cracker', not a 'hacker'," Usagi replied. "I simply crack code, not crack code to steal data."
"Duly noted."
"We don't have much time before reinforcements come across our position," Ranma said.
"Then let us not delay the inevitable," Kenobi said, as he looks down the long utility hall. "Let's go…"
However, as soon as the three enter the utility hallway, the utility door shuts behind them with a thunderous roar.
THOOM!
This was followed by moving laser beams that cross the trio's path. Furthermore, the beams were not moving in a uniform manner…
"Um, I don't think this light show is harmless, huh?" Ranma said with a smirk.
"It appears that we have an obstacle," Kenobi said. "No matter."
And, with that, Kenobi began running down the utility hallway. Using the Force, the Jedi Master leaped and slides his way down the end of the hallway.
"Coming?" Ranma said, as he began to dodge, slide and leap his way down the hallway.
"Hey, wait up!" Usagi said, as she followed her friend, although her movements to avoid the lasers were not exactly glamorous.
"Yikes-!"
Eventually, after tracking Master Poon's last known position, they came upon the injured Jedi Master, and his apprentice…
"Back off!" said the girl, as she wielded her green lightsaber. She was a Togruta, like Ranma's girlfriend Shaak Ti. And, like all Togruta, the girl had long, white tentacles (with thin blue, vertical stripes) for hair.
"Easy, girl," said Master Poon, as he held his wounds while motioning the girl to calm down. "They are friends."
"Phf," the girl scoffed, as she lowered her green lightsaber. "Then THEY should let SOMEONE know that they are coming."
"And give up the element of surprise?" Ranma asked. "Please. YOU could have been the enemy."
"ME? A young padawan such as myself? DO I even LOOK like a threat to you?"
"Who are you anyway?" Usagi asked.
"I am 'Ahsoka Tano', and soon I'll be the best Jedi ever!"
"Great, another Anakin," Ranma said with a smirk.
"Oh, Ranma, behave," Usagi chided gently. "Obviously, she's scared."
"I'm not scared!" Ahsoka said. "Just before you three got here, I was fighting off heavy droids!"
"You don't look like you can fight off a wampa!"
"Why, you-!"
"Regardless, we still have to shut down this supply depot," Kenobi said, as he turns towards Usagi. "I want you to make sure that Ashoka and Master Koon gets out of here unharmed."
"But I-" Ashoka said, as she began to protest.
"No, my padawan," Koon said. "There will be other fights for the Republic."
"Okay, Master," Ahsoka replied. "If you insist…"
"I do," Koon said, as Usagi helps the Jedi Master up to his feet. "Now, don't tarry."
'Yes, Master…"
"In the mean time, let's finish this job," Kenobi said, as he looks at Ranma.
"I'm right behind you," Ranma replied.
"Good luck, Ranma," Usagi said.
"I'd wish the other guys the luck," Ranma said with a cocky smile.
And with that, Kenobi and Ranma run down the next section of the complex…
"Who's that guy, anyway?" Ahsoka said, as she helped Usagi carry her master.
"That's Ranma Saotome," Usagi said. "He's Master Yoda's padawan."
"Really?" Ahsoka said. "Master Yoda rarely teaches anyone…"
Pause.
"So he MUST be good or something."
"HE likes to think so, that's for sure…"
Soon, Kenobi and Ranma confront the representatives of the Trade Federation…and their droids. Unfortunately, a cargo ship manages to slip away.
"What's on that ship?" Kenobi demanded, as the ship began to get out of reach.
"There are enough ammunition to destroy a planet, of course!" said chief representative. "But it's too late, Jedi!"
"Not if I can help it," Ranma said, as he cupped his hands.
"What are you doing?" Kenobi asked frantically.
"The Moka Takabisha Technique," Ranma said, as the energy in his aura build up into a ball of light.
"But the cargo-?"
"I'm just going to disable one of the engine ports," Ranma said. "MOKA TAKABISHA!"
The ball leapt from his hands, and sailed straight to its target.
BLAM!
Sure enough, the ship began a crashed descent…
"See?" Ranma said with a smile. "All is well, and this battle is about to won in a victory."
"I hope you are right, my friend," Kenobi said. "I hope you're right…"
Meanwhile…
"We're almost in the clear," Usagi said, as she, Ahsoka and Master Po Koon made it to the clearing line.
However, Ahsoka picked up a weird noise…
"If we are, what's that?" Ahsoka said, as a cargo ship was about to crash on top of them.
"Run," Koon said. "Forget about me. I'm just slowing you down."
"We can't leave you, Master!" Ahsoka said.
Usagi thought long and hard…
"Stand right there," Usagi said, as she used her Bene Gesserit ability to increase her strength levels…
"Ulp?" Ahsoka said, as she and her Jedi Master was suddenly lifted into the air.
"What are you-?" Koon began to say.
"Sorry for this," Usagi said, as she twirled around, before tossing the two Jedi away.
FLING!
She then used the Force to push the two even further…
WOOSH!
Satisfied, Usagi turns to look at the crashing vehicle.
"Well, I guess you're going home alone, Ranma-?" Usagi said, before-
BOOOM!
Days later, back at the Jedi Temple…
"Not your fault, it was, my padawan," Yoda said, as Ranma looked at the dedication ceremony, done in Usagi's honor. They could see that Ahsoka was speaking in front of the assembled Jedi…
"I should have made sure Usagi and the others were free and clear," Ranma said. "And now…she is DEAD because of me!"
"Maybe…not," said a female voice from behind.
Yoda turns to see Master Mace Windu and his padawan Ami Mizuno.
"Ami?"
"Ranma, you know that I'm from the future, and that it was Usagi who sent me here to make sure that you and she make it through this experience," Ami said.
"So…she might be alive?" Ranma asked.
"It's possible. If she is…dead, then she would not be around to send me back to this place."
"Oh, I see…"
Yoda turns towards Master Windu.
"Confirmed, has this?" Yoda asked of Windu.
"I spoke with those who have mastered to art of prescience," Windu said. "And I have the final report on the site of the crashed supply shop."
"And…?"
"There is no trace of a body, and the seers believe that Padawan Tsukino will return…"
"I sense a hesitance in you, old friend," Yoda said.
"There was a dark cloud in the visions concerning her return," Windu said grimly.
"No matter," Ranma said, as he turns towards the heavens. "Usagi is out there somewhere, and I WILL find her…"
Meanwhile…
"This is a fortunate occasion, Lord Tyrannus," said a holographic representation of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious. "It is not every day that we have a new acolyte."
"Indeed, my master," said Count Dooku, who was secretly the Sith known as "Darth Tyrannus. "It is lucky for us, that the crash impact threw her body into a nearby ravine…"
Dooku touches the class that was the medical container, which contained the unconscious form of Usagi Tsukino.
"Make sure that she has been sufficiently trained in the ways of the Sith before we make our next move," Darth Sidious said. "I have…special plans for Anakin Skywalker, and Ranma Saotome. He and his ilk should not have interfered in my plans!"
"As you wish, my Master," Dooku said. "As you wish…"
Tbc.
Next Time: Ranma versus Dark Usagi! See you then…