A longer chapter, but I think it flows.
Oh and if you say it's rushed I'll have PROXY and HK-47 after you.
Chapter 14:
Homecoming
"What is he looking for?" Juno asked for perhaps the hundredth time.
In most cases, General Kota would merely ignore her or simply dismiss the subject with a shrug. "He'll know when he sees it," he replied vaguely.
"You really are borderline useless aren't you?" Juno shot, abandoning her slicing job to stare at the Jedi.
Kota only "stared" at her intently and cocked his head to the side before a smirk plastered itself across his face. "I was brought here on the decision of your charge," he replied, the alcohol from days ago still lingering on his breath. "I'm leading you here so that we may more easily earn the trust of my Senate contact."
"Fine," Juno muttered, turning back to her task, with PROXY still diligently trying to access the Imperial communications network. As she tapped furiously on the keyboard, the pilot could occasionally hear snatches of various swear words thrown in her direction.
"Kota," came the voice of Starkiller over the comlink.
"What is it boy?" he asked, still filling the term with disdain.
"I…I think I found something," the apprentice responded hesitantly.
"Oh?" the old Master queried.
"Looks like it's just an old hut. But it feels so…it feels…familiar," Starkiller replied obviously searching for the right word. "There is something…dark and sad about this place."
Kota leaned worriedly over the console; his knuckles were pure white from gripping the edge. "Turn away," he said adamantly. "Get on with your mission, there are some things you aren't ready to face."
Juno glanced sideways at the General. Did he not say that his connection to the Force was cut? How could he even guess at what was inside the hut? Perhaps he was basing his reactions upon Starkiller's obvious nervousness. Still, the way the older man reacted was highly suspicious. Juno did not like it. Not one bit. But the circumstances dictated that she hold her tongue.
"What's inside?" Starkiller asked, cutting into her thoughts.
"How should I know?" he asked, reverting back o his agitated tone of voice. "My link to the Force has been cut. But if you go inside, you'll face whatever it is you felt alone."
Silence once again filled the cockpit, occasionally PROXY's whirring or the tapping of keys interrupted the atmosphere. Nobody spoke. Gone was the usual banter between Starkiller and Juno with PROXY interjecting here or there. But now it was different. If Kota even remotely suspected any of their past lives, everything they had accomplished so far would be undone. But what exactly had they accomplished so far? Recovering a Jedi who preferred alcohol to everything else? They had so much to do! Juno sighed and chalked it up to yet another reason to be on guard around the General.
The pilot glanced at Starkiller's tracker. It had not moved since he made contact regarding the hut. All attempts at hailing him on the comlink were in vain as it was off. The silence was painful. At least when he brooded aboard the Rogue Shadow, which was often, she could attempt to talk to him. And although he would resist the constant prodding, eventually some facts would slip out and Juno could piece the parts together. But this was torture. It was even worse than being aboard the Empirical. Aboard the now destroyed vessel, she had accepted Starkiller's death and held no hope for any sort of future. Here, in orbit above Kashyyyk, where hope was quite possibly within reach, the pilot felt a twisted feeling in her gut. It was as if everything would soon be pulled out beneath her and revealed to be some cruel joke.
The communications system clicked once. It was barely perceptible, but it was there. Slowly but surely, Starkiller's tracker began moving. "Juno to Starkiller," she called, wondering hen she started using her first name to make contact. "Are you alright? I-we lost contact with you for a moment…" she trailed off, failing to keep the concern from her voice.
There was a very heavy sigh. "I'm…I'm fine Juno. I just got a little bit turned around I suppose."
"Then allow me to point you in the right direction," she said before switching to her business tone. "There is a major Imperial facility right in front of you. Kota won't say a word, but I'm sure that whatever it is you're looking for is bound to be inside."
"Thanks Juno."
Thanks? What was this new enigma about their relationship? Was it mutual respect for working together recently? But this was more than respect; it was much deeper than that. There was something in his eyes when he rescued her from the Empirical. Gone was the disdain that was there when they first met. In its place aboard the melting destroyer was certainly not disdain. Maybe it was the trick of the rapidly approaching star, or she was hoping something was there. Hope! It was hope!
Here, Juno was stuck with another conundrum. Hope for what exactly? Hope with her? And what was she hoping for with him? What in the hell was going on? Frustrated with the whole ordeal, she redoubled her efforts against the evils of the Imperial security system. PROXY's tapping stopped first. "Captain, I believe I have located the source of the Imperial transmissions in this system."
"Off-world or on the surface?" she queried.
"If this is correct, then it should be within sight of my master now," the droid said almost excitedly before pressing the appropriate button to reach the young warrior below. "Master, there's a communications tower nearby," he explained. "Destroy it, and you will cut off Imperial transmissions in this system."
"I'm on it."
There was mock applause as Juno finished off her own slice. "You make quite the team," Kota drawled. "Are you sure you even need me?"
PROXY just cocked is head before resting it in his hand in a disturbingly human fashion. "It was you that led us here," Juno replied. "I believe you would not let me hear the end of this before. I'm not the one who wanted you to come along. You're only here because Starkiller feels he could use your assistance. We'll handle the missions, you just sit there, get sober, and figure out our next move."
The General's mouth opened and closed soundlessly a few times before snapping shut. Wearing a satisfied smirk, Juno turned back to her recently completed slice. Filtering through the many security camera feeds and pulling up the schematics, Juno attempted to put a fix on Starkiller's location. "I'm in," Juno said over the comlink as she located the warrior by the entrance to the main facility.
"Master," PROXY said. "Imperial records indicate that you are approaching the personal quarters of Captain Ozzik Sturn. Disciplinary reports show that he was re-assigned to Kashyyyk due to his…er…extracurricular activities."
Starkiller only grunted in response.
"How do you have access to those files?" Kota asked.
Juno froze. How stupid could this prototype droid be? He just possibly gave away everything! "It as all right here," PROXY said matter-of-factly, indicating his console. "It seems the Captain was proud of his actions."
"Typical," snorted Kota.
The pilot had to restrain from letting out a sigh of relief. The crisis was averted for now, but how long would the charade last?
"Barbarian," said Starkiller's voice.
Captain Eclipse curiously searched for the apprentice's location and found him standing in front of a cylindrical cage housing a Wookie surrounded by the heads of several various wildlife creatures. "He hunts and mounts animals like a shrine."
"I'm letting this Wookie out of here," he stated before simply slicing through the bars. His task finished and the Wookie off and running Starkiller refocused on his mission. "Where to next?"
"There's a room to your right, but there's no security feed. It could be a trap," she voiced.
Starkiller chuckled. "When has that stopped us before?" he asked as he walked into the room.
There were several moments of silence, in which Juno took the time to erase Starkiller's presence from the video feeds. "Juno, I found what we're looking for."
"Excellent. I can be at drop off point Zeta-"
"Yeah about that," he interrupted. "I sort of…agreed to disable the skyhook before we leave."
Juno sighed. Hell of a time to start acting like a Jedi. "I don't suppose that I could talk you out of this?"
"Probably not."
Well that's just great. "Right, well…I'll see what I can do from here," she acquiesced, turning to her scanners. "I'm picking up Imperial sniper chatter in the nests above you." The comlink clicked once in recognition.
Occasionally, the cries of pain from various stormtroopers could be heard over the intercepted transmission. Other times, reports of escaping Wookies would match up with Starkiller's tracking signal. Gods he was working fast. Like a man possessed by the Force itself, his red dot streaked through the schematics like a bloody spear. Woe to any that stood in his way. And finally, it stopped, right in front of the skyhook.
"Wow… that's very…large," Starkiller said. "Hate to admit it Juno, but I think I'll need a little help."
PROXY had already scanned the design schematics of the massive skyhook, and was well prepared to field the man's question. "Master, if you can disrupt that tractor beam, the shockwave might be enough to destroy the skyhook. I recommend starting with the traction hooks. I should warn you," the droid paused. "It will be…violent."
"Try not to get too excited PROXY," Starkiller replied with a chuckle. "See you soon."
The comlink faded once more and Juno began reentering the atmosphere of Kashyyyk. It was hard to believe that long ago the towering wroshyr trees covered just about every inch of land from coast to coast. Now it was a smoking ruin. The layers and elevations were still present, but what was once the fearsome Shadowlands was merely the lowest landing zone. A very loud explosion shattered her thoughts, but when she looked out the viewport the skyhook was still very much intact. As the Rogue Shadow continued it's slow and stealthy approach, many more explosions coursed throughout the ship. "I can't imagine what will happen when the skyhook falls!" Juno shouted over the ruckus to PROXY. For his part, the droid sat in rapt attention in anticipation of the rapidly approaching destruction.
The noise that followed was absolutely unimaginable. The pilot feared that the wall of sound and the resulting shockwaves would grind her bones into dust. Even from their current distance of 400 meters, the Rogue Shadow shook. Debris rained down on anything and everything. The base of the skyhook ripped itself free of the planet and sent the entire structure recoiling like a whip. The station exploded shortly thereafter, burning the image into the pilot's retina.
When they finally met up with Starkiller, Wookies were either rejoicing or disappearing into what little forest remained. "Come on," Juno said. "I don't think the Empire will appreciate your homecoming fireworks."
Reader Respond Time Yay!
Seth: thanks for all of your encouragement. you are probably my most loyal reader.
Jen: another faithful. I don't apologize for getting you addicted to this. And good luck with your story. Thanks for your glorious idea!
Lord Europe: wished you'd review more as it seems we are often thinking of very similar ways to have Juno think things over.
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To everyone else: i hope you are enjoying this as much as i am writing it. It truly is a pleasure.