TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, SW and the other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 19
The weeks and months go by, and there was still no sign of the Jedi Padawan Usagi Tsukino, the apprentice (or "padawan learner") of the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. In spite of his normally stoic manner, Kenobi did take the time to search for his missing apprentice, usually with Jedi Padawans Ranma Saotome and Ami Mizuno. Unfortunately, as the war wore on, it became increasingly difficult to continue with their search. Increasingly, it has become apparent that the Confederacy of Independent Systems (i.e. "The Separatists"), led by Count Dooku and his allies, were stepping up their military campaign against the Galactic Republic, forcing the Jedi Order to limit the number of searches of the missing Usagi. Still, Kenobi, Ranma, Anakin and those who were close to Usagi never gave up on her, especially since Master Yoda's premonitions about her return was getting stronger with each passing day…
Meanwhile, Senator Padme Amidala, the previous incarnation of the homemaker Kasumi Tendo of Earth, continued to work at establishing a diplomatic solution that could end these…"Clone Wars".
"Senator!" said Representative Jar-Jar Binks, as he hurries into the office of the senator of the planet Naboo. The typical arrangement of the Galactic Senate was that the senior member was dubbed "senator", while the junior member was dubbed "Representative".
"Senator-!"
TRIP!
"WHOOPS!" Binks said, as he tripped over the coffee table.
KRISSH!
"Oopsie!"
"Oh, my," Kasumi said, as she rushes over to her long time friend to help him up. "Jar-Jar, are you okay?"
"I am, Padme!" Binks replied. "Me so very excited about good news!"
"Oh?"
"Yes, Padme," Binks said, as he gave Kasumi an encrypted personal access data device (PADD). "This came to me by special courier!"
Kasumi nods her head, and accepts the PADD. She then presses it, since the PADD could only be activated by DNA recognition, which could be utilized with tactile sensation. In other words, a simple touch on the smooth surface of the PADD will do.
So, Kasumi touched the device.
BLIP!
"Oh, dear," Kasumi said, as the image was that of the bounty hunter Jango Fett (in armor).
"What does it say, Padme?" Binks said out of curiosity.
"Well, we shall see, will we not?" Kasumi smiled softly, as she played the recording.
BLIP!
"If you are seeing this recording, then that idiot Gungan had successfully delivered this," Fett said. "For the record, I'm doing this because I owe a 'blood oath' to the funny-haired girl who saved my life, and I want her to be in the position for me to repay her in full. I can't do that if she is going to be a mind-controlled 'pet' of Count Dooku…"
Pause.
"Anyway, I don't know where your Jedi is presently located. However, at the very least, I am delivering files on her condition. DON'T MAKE ME THINK I WASTED MY TIME IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION TO YOU."
BLIP!
Kasumi mulls over what she had heard…
"What are we going to do, Padme?" Binks wondered. "Usagi is our friend!"
"We are, Jar-Jar," Kasumi said assuredly. "That is why we must give this to Master Kenobi…"
An hour later, in the Jedi Council, an important meeting was taking place…
"It is unbelievable that one of our own would DO this!" said Master Ki-Adi Mundi (bearded man, elongated head. "I cannot comprehend the idea that Count Dooku would create a 'living weapon' using one of our own."
"The Dark Side, Dooku has become," Master Yoda said. "And now, so has Kenobi's padawan."
"With all due respect, Master Yoda, I cannot believe that Usagi is lost to the Dark Side," Kenobi replied. "In spite of her recklessness, the core of what she is…is strong."
"I concur," said Master Qui-Gon Jinn. "Although the holo-vid has shown us the state of Padawan Tsukino's disposition, we might be able to break that."
"How do you propose to do that?" asked Master Mace Windu. "Our resources are already stretched."
"Does this mean that I will not be able to renew my search for my padawan?" Kenobi said.
"Unfortunately, a crisis on Muunilist will force us to table this matter."
"I see. Padawans Saotome and Mizuno will not like this decision of the council."
"Trust my padawan to do the right thing, I do," Yoda said.
"And my padawan will understand this situation," Windu replied. "Besides, I do not think that the Supreme Chancellor will accept a delay in the military operation, especially since he is so adamant about putting young Skywalker in charge of a key component of the assignment."
"Still, I have trained him to take on the responsibility, even though I feel that he needs to continue to learn patience," Jinn replied.
"Perhaps you should take on this assignment, Master Jinn?" Kenobi said.
"No, it is time for Anakin to take up new responsibilities, considering the state of this war," Jinn said. "And to do that, I have to…let him go."
"Like any good parent?" Kenobi said with a smile.
"Come now, old friend," Jinn said, as he smiled back. "Emotional attachment is a flaw in the character of a Jedi Knight."
"Ah."
"Table this matter, we will," Yoda replied. "But soon, continue to search for Padawan Tsukino, we will…"
Meanwhile, Jedi Padawans Ranma Saotome and Ami Mizuno were standing outside of the Jedi High Council's meeting chamber, with Ranma pacing back and forth.
"Come on," Ranma said, as he grits his teeth while he paced back and forth. "Come ON…"
"Doing that will neither make the council's meeting will neither conclude sooner, nor make their final decision go our way," Ami said.
"Well…I can try, can't I?" Ranma said, as he stopped to face his long time friend. "We HAVE to do something, you know. You saw the same vid as I did, right?"
"I did," Ami said with a sad sigh. "And I wished that the inevitable will not take place."
"What do you mean by THAT, Ami?" Ranma asked with a concerned look.
"I-"
SHOOMP!
Kenobi exits the council chambers with a concerned look.
"Master Kenobi?" Ranma asked anxiously. "Did we get permission to-?"
"I'm afraid anything concerning my padawan has been tabled for now, in lieu of the crisis on Muunilist," Kenobi said.
"What was the reasoning for the decision, master?" Ami asked.
"The supreme chancellor is, as Ranma would put it: pulling rank on this situation, and feels that the well-being of one missing Jedi should not supersede the importance of the mission."
"That is bull crap!" Ranma said. "We need every Jedi in this fight against the Separatists, you know!"
"Ranma, are you being overly emotional about this?" Kenobi asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Of course I am! It was MY fault that she's ended up in this state, you know!"
"Ranma, no one's blaming you for what happened to her, Ranma," Ami said.
"But the fact is that I was too careless in trying to put down that supply ship."
"The fact of the matter is that we prevented more terrible weapons to be used by Count Dooku, Ranma," Kenobi said. "And know this: since we know that Usagi is alive, if not well, we can bring her back into the fold. Just be patient for a little while longer."
Ranma closes his eyes and purses his lips…
"Fine," Ranma said, as he opens his again while steeling his resolve. "But I implore you that we should continue our search as SOON as this next engagement is over."
"You have my promise," Kenobi said. "I am responsible for her, and I intend to continue to do so."
"Well, look on the bright side," Ami said with a half-smile. "At least Usagi has continued to train in the Force arts."
"Oh, yeah," Ranma said sarcastically. "Being trained by a Sith Lord is MUCH better than being trained by a Jedi Master."
"Uh-hum," Kenobi said with a fake cough.
"Present company excluded, of course," Ranma said, as he straighten his ox-blood red robes. "Of course," Kenobi said. "Now, let's get Anakin and assemble our troops. I want us to be ready to ship out in two hours."
"Yes, Master Kenobi," Ranma said, as he and Ami bowed, with Kenobi returning the favor (so to speak).
Meanwhile, on the secluded planet of Rattatak, an event was about to play itself out…
Count Dooku, leader of the Separatists, looked at the gladiators, who were fighting in an arena deep underground. Each fighter was being evaluated as a possible candidate for his growing army of Sith Acolytes, beings who would be Dooku's commanders of the Separatists' droid army. With him sat a robed figure on one side, while another figure stood on Dooku's other side.
"I must say that the training that both of you have undergone has went well…thus far," Dooku said in a stoic manner. "Each of you received the foundation in the Force arts, before you left the Jedi…some more willing than others. You have done well to exhibit power of the Mind, which would make you two excellent spies and illusionists…"
Pause.
"But I need to evaluate you physical prowess."
The two robed figures both turn to look at Count Dooku.
"As you wish," one robed figure said.
"My master," finished the other robed figure.
With that, the two robed figures leaped from the viewing stand, and into the center of the arena, allowing their respective robes to fall by the way side.
FWOOMP!
One robed figure appeared to be a bald woman that carried a facial scowl with a badge of honor. She wore a pair of black hakama pants, waist band, wrapped bandages around her body, a vest and arm bracers. Her name was "Asajj Ventress", and she appeared to have murderous intent.
The other woman was Usagi. She was wore a mini-skirt, ankle length stiletto boots, a halter top and arm bracer and a belt with buckle. She was also grinning like a loon.
"Who wants to kiss our collective butts?" Usagi said, as she turns around, and smacks her rear towards her opponent.
WHAP-WHAP!
This got the attention of the mercenaries, as two of the mercenaries began to charge on their positions.
"Get them!" said one of the mercenaries.
"No," Asajj said, as she flicks ones of the mercenaries as if she was flicking off grime from her nose.
FWOOSH!
"Hey-!"
Meanwhile, Usagi ducks the first swing.
WOOSH!
"Ooh!" Usagi said mockingly. "Nice swing, but mine is better!"
Before her attacker could respond, Usagi used multiple hits in mere moments, cracking his armor with ease.
CRACK!
When the flesh was exposed, Usagi drove her fist into her opponent's chest, pulping his heart in the process, but without breaking the skin.
PLOOMP!
"Oopsie!"
"Disgusting, but effective as an intimidating attack," Dooku said, as he continued to evaluate his project…
A droid turns to see the actions of these new combatants, and began to discharge its arm cannons, first by using a powerful flame thrower effect, before lopping off plasma torpedoes.
FWOOSH!
"Exit, stage left!" Usagi said, as she ran in one direction, while Asajj ran in the opposite. Both were using superspeed.
BOOMF! BOOMF! BOOMF-!
The droid was forced to spread its arms wide apart in order to "hit" its intended targets. However, Usagi pops up behind the droid.
POP!
"Let me help you with that," Usagi said, as she, with the help of the Force, pushed its arms together towards the back. This had the effect of popping its mechanical joints, so that it could not move them (i.e. the equivalent of a rotator cuff injury).
SNAP!
"Arrgh!" the droid said, as he tried to move his arms.
"Heads up!" Usagi said, as Asajj performs a flying kick that knock the droid's head off.
BLAM!
CLUNK!
"You talk too much," Asajj said to her partner. She hates the fact that she had to work with this person…
"And you are bald, but you don't see me complain-"
"RWORL!" said a monster, as it was about to club Usagi.
Almost instantly, Usagi points up at some loose stalactites that were hanging from the ceiling, and brought them down using the Force.
CRUMBLE!
BLAM!
"-About it," Usagi finished.
"You know, I ought to-" Asajj said, as the remaining mercenaries began to converge on their position.
"We should finish this later," Usagi replied.
"We will," Asajj said, as she and her partner reached by their respective backs, and-
TING!
SNAP! Hzzzzz…
"Now, the fun begins," Asajj said.
"And HOW," Usagi replied.
Tbc.