Season 2
Episode 1 – Triangles
Victory at Thule! Despite the Sith's efforts, the terrifying Dark Reaper has been destroyed for good! While the Jedi and the Republic work to permanently dispose of the terrible weapon, the Jedi who survived the battle return to Ossus to recuperate, among them, Jedi Knights Kento Marek and Jaina Solo! Meanwhile, dark forces are at work, conspiring against the Republic!
Somewhere in the Galaxy…
A Sith Cruiser sat alone on the edge of Sith Territory. The Cruiser resembled the old Carrack Cruisers of the Empire but lacked a significant amount of armaments and was instead equipped with a large amount of communications equipment. In a private room aboard the cruiser was Darth Fenrir, sitting atop a small pedestal, meditating quietly. His meditation was disturbed by a beeping from a nearby console. He quietly pressed a button on the console, looking forward as a hologram of a seated figure in a black cloak appeared before him.
"I detest being disturbed at this hour. What do you want?" the figure asked impatiently.
"My mission is going smoothly. Soon we will have what we've been looking for." Fenrir said but the figure gave a sniff of derision.
"I trust you didn't contact me just to tell me a bit of trivia. What is the other reason you called?" the figure asked as Fenrir smiled slightly.
"As a matter of fact, I have obtained some important information that might help you. Information that is vital to our plans." Fenrir said, pressing a few buttons on the console and transmitting some form of information to the figure. The figure took a moment to read the information before replying.
"Interesting…It seems my faith in you wasn't so misplaced after all, Fenrir. Contact me again if you find any more useful data." The figure said before disappearing, leaving a dark smile on Fenrir's face.
"Proud to be of service, as always." He replied before rising to his feet.
Meanwhile on Ossus…
The Mynock, along with several starfighters piloted by members of the Jedi Order, began touching down at Ossus, landing at the Jedi Temple. No sooner had the boarding ramp to the Mynock lowered than Kento, Ailyn, and R4 disembarked.
"We're only going to be here a couple of days at the most. I don't plan to stay any longer than I have to." Kento said as Ailyn shrugged.
"Scruff, do what you need to. I'm in a good mood. I can wait." Ailyn replied.
"Credits went through did they?" Kento asked as Ailyn smirked.
"Like I said, I'm in a good mood." She replied as Kento chuckled, walking ahead of the Mandalorian Bounty Hunter who held back for a moment before turning and heading back towards the Mynock while Kento and R4 headed for the hangars. As they arrived, they could hear some of the older Jedi and Temple Guards bursting out in an off key rendition of Yub Nub, celebrating the victory at Thule. Singing Yub Nub had become a tradition for whenever the Republic pulled off a successful Starkiller Operation and had been a tradition since Endor. For the younger crowd it was a good way to tell who had and had not served in the Rebellion. Even Able was joining in, the old clone raising a toast with his canteen full of water. Kento was smiling in amusement as he watched, laughing slightly. Jaina was amongst the ones not singing as she climbed down from her X-Wing, heading towards where Kento was watching. R4 was meeting up with R2-D2 and R4-K5 as their respective Masters arrived, Luke joining the revelers while Anakin silently walked past.
"Not joining in oh 'son of Starkiller?'" Jaina asked with a grin as she passed Kento.
"Nah. I suck at Ewokese. Shyriiwook, droidspeak, and Huttese, I can handle without a translator. Ewok, I'd have better luck getting Master Skywalker to wear a dress." Kento said as Jaina laughed.
"I think you'd fit right in anyway. I don't think even 3PO or Anakin's assassin droid could pick out a discernable language in all that." Jaina said as Kento gave a smile and nod of agreement.
"Very true." Kento said before feeling a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his mother, Juno Eclipse, standing behind him.
"Another successful Starkiller Op?" she asked with a coy smile.
"How'd you guess?" Kento asked as Juno smiled, putting her hands behind her back.
"That was your first Op. wasn't it?" Juno asked as Kento gave a nod.
"Don't put it in the scrapbook, okay mom?" Kento asked.
"I promise. By the way, you're needed on Coruscant. Orders come straight from the Chancellor herself. Asked for you by name." Juno said, Kento looking at Jaina who shrugged, clueless as to what her mother wanted.
"Any details?" Kento asked but Juno shook her head.
"Sorry." She replied.
"Sounds serious. Jaina, maybe you better come with me. Less likely to kill me in front of her daughter. Game?" he asked as Jaina shrugged.
"Game." She replied.
"Grand. We'll take the Mynock. Hey R4!" Kento called, earning the attention of both R4-M9 and R4-K5, both of whom were working on repairing a Starspeeder.
"Uh, my R4." Kento added, motioning for the droid to follow. M9 whistled a cheery response and began following after them leaving the cranky R4-K5 to work on the Starspeeder.
Later…
The Mynock dropped out of hyperspace over Coruscant, headed for the capital planet.
"I really don't think my mother's going to kill your for anything. Maybe she wants to give you a medal or something." Jaina suggested from the pilot's seat, earning a skeptical look from Kento as he sat in the copilot's seat.
"Right. What was I thinking?" Jaina asked herself.
"I'm already on the Chancellor's Poodoo list after that 'incident' on Hypori." Kento said, causing Jaina to furrow her brow, mouthing 'Hypori' to herself.
"Hypori? What happened on Hypori?" she asked finally.
"Two years ago. You know the undercover slave bust? She…might've found out that…I kept looking at you too frequently in that metal bikini." Kento said, hesitantly. Jaina's eyes darting back and forth before looking at him in alarm.
"How in Dagobah did she know about that?!" she asked.
"Oh I don't know. How about a certain little astromech that shall remain a Skywalker/Solo family heirloom?" Kento asked as Jaina sunk down in her seat in annoyance.
"Remind me to dismantle R2's locomotors when we get back to Ossus." Jaina mumbled.
"Noted." Kento replied before hearing strange sound behind them. It sounded like a groan of confusion. It was also a very groggy Ailyn Vel. Kento and Jaina both turned to see Ailyn standing behind them, disheveled hair, half-dressed in civilian gear and half-dressed in her armor.
"What is-…is that Coruscant?" Ailyn asked, groggily.
"Yeah. I told you we were taking off." Kento said but Ailyn looked confused.
"Did you?" she asked.
"Well you were asleep." Kento replied.
"And I think your exact response was that he go do something physically impossible with himself." Jaina said with coy smirk.
"How would you know? She said it in Mandalorian." Kento argued as Ailyn rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. I'm going back to my bunk. Wake me if you need me." Ailyn said as she started to leave the cockpit.
"You might get to see Kento get murdered by my mother." Jaina said.
"Like I said. I'll get dressed." Ailyn replied, earning a roll of the eyes from Kento.
"Your salary's been slashed!" Kento yelled after her only for Ailyn to yell back…
"Get spaced!"
…
A few minutes later, Kento, Jaina, and Ailyn (in civilian gear without her blaster) walked through the doors into the Chancellor's Office where Leia, C-3PO, Leia's aid Aleera, and a Kaminoan woman sat waiting.
"General Kento Marek reporting, Chancellor." Kento greeted, giving Leia a bow. Leia had risen to her feet to greet the young General.
"Kento. Jaina what are you doing here? I sent for Kento." Leia said, looking to her daughter.
"I volunteered to come with him." She replied.
"It doesn't matter. Kento this is Taun We, here on behalf of the Kaminoan government and one of the leading experts on cloning technology in the galaxy." Leia introduced, the Kaminoan woman giving a polite nod to Kento, regarding him with the typical Kaminoan stoic silence. Ailyn however was giving her a curious look as she lingered near the back of the room.
"Ma'am." Kento greeted, a nod of his own, Leia sitting back down in her seat.
"We have been discussing a solution to the ongoing difficulty of identifying the Sith's cloned infiltrators amongst the Republic's ranks. X2 and Prime Minister Yorn were able to develop a prototype clone detector but it is far from perfect." Taun We explained.
"Okay, but what am I here for?" Kento asked.
"We're getting to that. By their own admission and after decades of proving it, the Kaminoans are the best cloners in the galaxy but being able to distinguish a clone from the original without a sample of the original's blood is a task that is beyond their field of specialty." Leia explained.
"The difficulty lies on a genetic level. We simply are not suited to this task on our own. We have requested the assistance of the Republic to help us find a scientist who specializes in genetic research and could help us in perfecting the clone detector." Taun We added.
"We recruited the best geneticist in the Republic, Dr. Jerine Roa. I'm sure you're familiar with her, Kento." Leia said as Kento blinked in surprise.
"Jerine? She's the galaxy's leading geneticist?" Kento asked while Jaina furrowed her brow.
"You know her?" Jaina asked.
"Very well, actually. I've known her most of my life. Even longer than I've known you." Kento said to Jaina who arched a curious eyebrow.
"Really." She said simply.
"Dr. Roa has made a few requests of the Republic in regards to the conditions of her assistance with developing the clone detector. One of which was that she wanted you, specifically, to be her bodyguard throughout the process. Given the urgency of the project, I don't need to tell you how important this is to the Republic." Leia said as Kento shook his head.
"No, you don't Chancellor. Force, I haven't seen Jerine in almost five years. Where is she exactly?" Kento asked.
"For security purposes, Dr. Roa is stationed aboard the Yularen, an old Tector-Class Star Destroyer that acts as a mobile research facility although official records list it as being a patrol ship so as to downplay its importance. That is where you will be going." Leia said as Taun We rose to her feet.
"I will be accompanying you as well. I will be providing what knowledge I have on cloning in an effort to assist with the development of the clone detector." Taun We added.
"We'll be honored to bring you along, provided you don't mind riding in a stock freighter." Kento said, Taun We giving a courteous nod.
"The Yularen and its escorts have been ordered to hold position near the Corbantis System to await your arrival." Leia said as Kento bowed.
"I will protect the good doctor with my life." Kento said as Leia gave a nod.
"I'm sure you will. May the Force be with you." Leia said as Kento, Jaina, Ailyn, and Taun We turned to leave.
Later in the Corbantis System…
The Mynock dropped out of hyperspace, headed directly towards the Yularen and its escorts. The old Star Destroyer's escorts consisted of a Nebulon B-Frigate, two Dreadnaughts modified for carrier roles, and three corvettes.
"What I want to know is how come you never mentioned this woman to me before." Jaina said as Kento shrugged innocently.
"I thought I had. I've known her since I was a kid before beginning my Jedi Training. She was always fascinated when I could make things float with the Force. I remember she had this obnoxious old C1 astromech. C1-4PR or Clapper we called her. Damn thing kept zapping me with her charge arm but always on a low charge." Kento grumbled.
"C1 droids always had faulty logic circuits and a tendency to develop cantankerous attitudes as a result despite their loyalty. But I'm not talking about droids, I'm talking about this Roa woman." Jaina said as they continued their approach to the Yularen.
"Not really much to talk about. Last time I saw her was five years ago on Hanoon. She and her mentor, a Doctor Boil, were studying the remains of an ancient and extinct creature the miners had found there studying it on a genetic level when there was a violent miner's strike. The miners tried to take them hostage but Master Skywalker and I helped keep them out of their hands." Kento explained as they approached a docking bay built into the portside of the Star Destroyer, one of the few bays available on the Destroyer as the Tector class had no dedicated ventral hangar bays like the mainstream destroyers did and these two bays had been retrofitted into the vessel. Jaina was getting slightly annoyed. Kento was visibly excited to see this woman and Jaina was feeling pangs of jealousy.
"I bet that was difficult, escorting some old woman around." Jaina said as they touched down in the hangar.
"Old? Well she's five years older than me but I wouldn't call her old." Kento replied as he got up from his seat, exiting the cockpit as Jaina powered down the ship, shaking her head with a slight scowl.
"She's twenty five. Great." She mumbled under her breath, heading for the cockpit doors and meeting up with Ailyn, Kento, Taun We, and R4 at the boarding ramp as it lowered. As they disembarked, they were greeted by a stern looking human man in a Republic Officer's uniform. He begrudgingly saluted as they disembarked.
"Welcome aboard the Yularen. I'm Captain Gault, I'm in charge of the Yularen and its escorts." He said, clearly not thrilled to have two Jedi Generals onboard.
"I am Jedi Knight, Kento Marek and this is Jedi Knight, Jaina Solo. And this is my advisor Ailyn Vel. Miss Taun We I believe you were expecting." Kento greeted, taking note of the Captain's attitude.
"We were. Sir I would like to go on record and lodge a formal complaint. Your presence is unnecessary. We have the best security in the Republic. We have no need for you Jedi and your hokey religions." The Captain said as Kento arched a curious eyebrow, very unimpressed.
"We are here on the orders of the Supreme Chancellor and at the request of Doctor Roa, whose research is of the utmost priority to the Republic. And need I remind you, Captain, that as Jedi Knights, the Republic Military grants us the provisional rank of General. And don't think I won't think twice about using it, Captain." Kento said, pointing at the Captain in a threatening manner. Gault wasn't the slightest bit intimidated though.
"I don't respond lightly to threats, General, especially not from a child whose daddy happens to be the highest ranked officer in the military." Gault replied as Kento crossed his arms over his chest.
"Is that so? Well perhaps you would respond better to someone else. General Skywalker perhaps? My old Master can be quite…persuasive when he needs to be." Kento said as Jaina rolled her eyes.
"We're not dragging him into this. Come on, leave the petty officer to his petty arrogance." Jaina said, dragging Kento towards the doors where Ailyn and R4 were waiting, Ailyn snickering slightly.
"Having trouble in the respect department, Scruff?" Ailyn asked.
"I'm beginning to see why my Master used the Force to choke the insubordinate officers during his Imperial days." Kento mumbled as they headed down the halls. Taun We was already ahead of them, being escorted by a pair of guards.
"Look, there's bound to be people who think we don't deserve our positions and people who equally enough hate Jedi. We have to learn to deal with them." Jaina said as Kento scowled.
"Yeah but there's a line between dislike and open disdain. Besides we outrank him. He should at least show us the proper respect." Kento said as Jaina nodded.
"Face it, Kento, there's no winning him over." Jaina said as they entered a part of the ship that differed entirely from the typical grey décor of the old Imperial ships. This part had pristine white walls, plenty of lighting, personnel moving about in lab coats, security guards wearing uniforms that resembled Imperial Officer Uniforms only a lighter shade of gray and with red stripes indicating their rank on the sleeves near the right biceps. It was the research center of the Yularen. One of the guards approached Kento and the group.
"General Marek. Welcome. Dr. Roa has been expecting you. This way please." The guard said, motioning for them to follow. The guard led them through to a lab where Taun We and her guards were waiting, speaking with a young blond haired woman in a lab coat. The woman noticed Kento and grinned in delight.
"Kento!" the woman greeted with a High Coruscanti accent, hurrying towards Kento who grinned when seeing her.
"Jerine! Force it's been a long time. You look marvelous." Kento said as he and the woman embraced, Jaina watching from the sidelines with an unimpressed look on her face, a look that Ailyn noticed and smirked.
"Oh this should be good." She mumbled to herself.
"You're quite handsome yourself, Kento. Even more handsome than when I last saw you during that whole fracas on Hanoon." Jerine replied to Kento. Jerine was a couple inches shorter than him, her long blond hair kept in a ponytail. Beneath her white lab coat she wore a black uniform top and trousers with black dress shoes although her figure indicated an active lifestyle. She also wore a belt full of various pieces of equipment but she also carried a blaster pistol in a holster on her right thigh.
"Well hopefully things won't be as eventful this time. I understand you asked me to be your bodyguard for the duration of the project." Kento said as Jerine gave a nod while slightly rolling her eyes.
"Yes and, no disrespect, but it wasn't my idea to have a bodyguard. It was actually your father's decision that I have a bodyguard. Wasn't exactly in a position to defy him now was I? I at least was able to make the case that I have my choice of bodyguards and so here you are." she asked as Kento shrugged slightly.
"Well in this case, I'm on his side. This is an important project and we need it ASAP." Kento replied.
"No argument there. Oh I'm sorry, you aren't alone. Did you bring support?" Jerine asked, noticing Jaina, Ailyn, and R4. Jaina immediately stepped forward.
"Jaina Solo. I'm a friend of Kento's. I agreed to assist for the time being." Jaina said, shaking Jerine's hand. Jerine winced slightly.
"Mmm. Impressive grip. Although I can assume it comes in handy in using a lightsaber." Jerine replied, motioning to Jaina's lightsaber.
"Oh you noticed that?" Jaina replied with a forced smile, patting her lightsaber as it remained clip to her belt. Kento was looking at her with confusion as to her behavior while Ailyn snickered to herself, leaning down to R4's level.
"Tell me you're recording this." She mumbled to the astromech. R4 beeped his response but as usual, Ailyn didn't understand him.
"Never mind." She mumbled, standing back up.
"Oh, lest I forget, this is Ailyn Vel, my advisor, and R4-M9. Ailyn's one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy and if anyone can keep you safe, it's her. And if you need an astromech for the duration of the project, R4's your droid." Kento said as Vel gave a nod. Jerine gave a polite curtsey in response.
"Pleasure, although, no disrespect intended, but I already have an astro-droid of my own. You remember Clapper don't you?" Jerine asked as Kento's eye twitched slightly.
"Cla-Clapper?" he asked before hearing the higher pitched "wubbing" of a C1 Astromech with feminine programming approaching. Sure enough the door to the lab opened, revealing a short C1 Astromech with dark cyan dome and white body. The C1 was in good condition for an older model astromech.
"C1-4PR, you remember Kento, right?" Jerine asked as the droid looked at Kento for a moment then at Jerine and "wubbed" something to her.
"Yes-yes Clap, I'm coming." Jerine said as the droid looked at Kento and briefly opened a panel to reveal a shock arm before turning and rolling back into the lab. Kento's eye was twitching at the sight of the droid.
"Well, back to work. Care to see the lab? It's not much to look at from an average person's point of view but it's quite useful regardless." Jerine replied as Kento shrugged.
"I am your bodyguard." Kento replied as they stepped into the lab. The lab contained a large table in the center with plenty of illumination. Cabinets, containers, and assorted pieces of lab equipment sat against the walls. Clapper was rolling over to plug into a droid interface.
"Miss Taun We, do you think this will be sufficient? I mean I am not picky in regards to lab setups. I just want to make sure you're comfortable." Jerine said to the elder Kaminoan who nodded.
"It will suffice. My part is limited as it is." Taun We replied as Kento looked the lab over.
"Certainly isn't like that prefab shelter we had to deal with on Hanoon." Kento commented, eyeing Clapper suspiciously, giving the C1 droid a wide berth, Clapper watching his every move.
"Oh those bunks were terrible." Jerine grumbled in agreement.
"Especially when we had to double up." Kento added, earning a glare from Jaina and from Jerine.
"I didn't hear any complaining." Jerine replied as she set a piece of equipment onto the table. Jaina's scowl was growing more intense. Ailyn however was smirking devilishly.
"Didn't hear anything then, but afterwards, ugh. Master Skywalker's cybernetics needed a complete recalibration, and guess who had to help. I can tell you it wasn't a medical droid." Kento grumbled as he stepped around past Jerine, inspecting the room as per his duties.
"Well that's enough chit-chat. Let's get to work. We have the prototype detector here and a few samples from some willing donors. Kento I think you have protecting to do or something?" Jerine said as Kento turned towards Ailyn.
"Vel, I think that's where we come in. Talk to the chief of security for this section, have him give you a run through of the security for the research labs. Find anything that can use improving, let me know and I'll deal with any necessary red tape." Kento instructed as Ailyn gave a shrug.
"Got nothing better to do. By the way, I am getting paid extra for this right?" Ailyn asked as Kento gave a nod.
"I'll see to it." Kento replied, Ailyn giving a slight salute and stepping out into the hall, Taun We watching curiously as she left.
…
Ailyn was walking through the unrestricted part of the ship, walking onto the bridge where Captain Gault was stood at a holotable, his permanent scowl clear across his face.
"I presume the Jedi sent you to spy on me?" Gault asked but Vel shook her head.
"Nope. Had to get away from him for a while. He was starting to get on my nerves." She replied, earning a curious look from Gault.
"Typical. He probably acts like a spoiled brat, doesn't he?" he asked as Ailyn rolled her eyes, shrugging as she stepped towards him.
"You don't know the half of it. He pays well at least which is probably the only reason I stick around. You know how it is, right?" She said, slapping him on the shoulder as Gault arched a curious eyebrow.
"Probably not as good as some people though." He muttered as he left the bridge, Ailyn watched him depart with a curious expression before smirking quietly to herself. Gault proceeded to head to his quarters where he locked himself inside. He quietly sat down in his bunk before reaching under the mattress and pulled out a small holotransmitter. He activated it which showed a hologram of an armored figure.
"Ah, Captain Gault. Have you reconsidered our offer?" the figure asked.
"I have. I'll make the preparations immediately." Gault replied.
"Excellent. My employers will be pleased to hear it. We'll be in touch soon." The figure said before the hologram disappeared.
A couple of hours later…
Kento, Jaina, Taun We, and Jerine were seated in around a dining table, eating their dinner as R4 and Clapper served them.
"So you've been hearing me prattle on endlessly about gene sequences and the like for the past few hours. I'd like to hear what you've been doing lately, Kento. Get to Corulag often?" Jerine asked as Kento forced a smile.
"Not if I can help it." He mumbled.
"Oh right, I forget you have issues with my father." Jerine said.
"Damn straight I do! He hates me!" Kento replied.
"He doesn't hate you. He hates your father." Jerine argued.
"And me by proxy." Kento mumbled.
"Would it have anything to do with Hanoon?" Jaina asked, keeping her eyes straight forward, taking a sip from her mug.
"Hanoon? What does Hanoon have to do with anything?" Kento asked, confused before suddenly getting zapped by Clapper from behind. He proceeded to whirl around, glaring at the astromech who chortled away, earning a growl from Kento.
"I may have to hurt that girl." Kento mumbled as he sat back down.
"If I may, Master Jedi, and I do not mean to be discourteous of your companion, but you mentioned her name was Ailyn Vel?" Taun We asked.
"Yes, why?" Kento asked back.
"Would you happen to know the name of her father?" Taun We asked as Kento arched a curious eyebrow.
"Boba Fe-…ah I see where this is going. Her father's Boba Fett, one of Kamino's 'products' from years ago." Kento said as the old Kaminoan gave a warm smile.
"Boba. It's been a long time since I've seen him. Ailyn is his daughter?" Taun We asked as Kento gave a nod.
"Yes and a damn good bounty hunter too. Runs in her family I guess." Kento said as Jaina finally chimed in.
"Yeah and piece of advice, don't mention her father around her. They don't exactly get along. Some, personal squabbles and a few nearly-lethal misunderstandings." Jaina said as Taun We gave an understanding nod.
"I understand. I will show restraint." She said.
"So Jerine, any plans for once you and the good cloner here finish the clone detector?" Kento asked as Jerine gave a nod.
"As a matter of fact, I'm interested in expanding my research into a rarely explored field: Jedi." Jerine said, Kento and Jaina both nearly choking on mouthfuls of water…only in Kento's case, it was because Clapper had zapped him again. Kento quickly turned to R4.
"Can't you keep her under control?!" he asked the R4 unit in a terse whisper. R4 beeped a clueless response.
"You want to study the genes of Jedi?" Jaina asked as Jerine gave a nod in response.
"Oh yes. I've gotten the opportunity to study a wide variety of genetic linages from monarchs, military leaders…imagine the possibilities lying in the genes of some of the Galaxy's most respected members of the Jedi Order." Jerine postulated.
"We can't speak for the Order. You'll have to address them directly. Grand Master Skywalker has veto power on things like that." Kento replied.
"True but it won't hurt to make the suggest-!" Jerine said before they were suddenly jostled violently as the ship shook beneath them.
"What the-?!" Jaina asked as the ship's alarms started sounding. The ship's comms suddenly came on.
"Alert! All hands to combat stations! Repeat! All hands to combat stations! This is not a drill! Repeat! This is not a drill!" one of the bridge officers reported, the Jedi, droids, and scientists quickly moving for the door. Outside, the Yularen and its fleet were under attack by at least three cruisers, all three cruisers bearing pirate insignias. There were pirate fighters everywhere, Republic X-Wings, Y-Wings, and A-Wings scrambling to intercept the ships. Back inside the Yularen, the six had made their way back to the lab, Jerine quickly packing up her research and the prototype clone detector, placing them in a repulsorlift cargo container towed behind Clapper. Kento was trying to raise Ailyn on the comms.
"Ailyn do you read me?! Ailyn! Come in!" Kento said into the comlink but didn't get any response.
"What's happening?" Jaina asked.
"I can't raise Ailyn on the comms." Kento said as Captain Gault entered the lab.
"What's the situation, Captain?" Kento asked as Gault took a moment to catch his breath.
"We're under attack! Pirates by the looks of it! They've pierced our defenses and boarding craft are on their way!" Gault said as Kento glanced at Jerine.
"They must've been hired to kill Jerine and steal her research! Jaina, take R4 and get out there! We'll need your fighting experience for an escort! Jerine, Taun We, you better come with me!" Kento said, Jaina and R4 both turning and running out as Gault nodded.
"I'll accompany you." Gault said, pulling a blaster from his belt holster.
"I'm not entirely defenseless." Jerine quipped as she pulled her own blaster from her belt.
"Let's move!" Kento ordered, his lightsaber in hand. They took off down the halls, headed towards the doors leading out of the science labs but as they approached, they saw the blast doors seal shut in front of them.
"What the-?! We're trapped!" Jerine yelped, Clapper wubbing and motioning to Kento in annoyance with one of the retractable arms on her head.
"Oh shut it you little garbage masher! How is this my fault?!" Kento argued with the droid.
"There's another way to the hangars! This way!" Gault said, motioning for them to follow. Galen, Jerine, Taun We, and Clapper all raced after him as he led them out into the main corridors, armed crewmen running past and the sound of blaster fire echoing through the corridors.
"Looks like they've already boarded the ship!" Jerine commented, Kento activating his lightsaber.
"They won't get past me. I'll protect you Jerine, just like at Hanoon." Kento said as Jerine looked appreciative.
"Thank you but we're not out of here yet!" Jerine said.
"I can only hope young General Solo made it to the hangar." Taun We said as they headed down the corridors towards the hangar. At the same time, Jaina and R4 arrived in the hangar but Jaina slid to a halt in alarm as she saw the state of the hangar. Every transport and fighter in the hangar had been destroyed, the bodies of both Pirates and ship security lay scattered around but there was one thing that stood out. There was something missing completely.
"R4, this is the right hangar, right?" she asked, R4 beeping affirmatively.
"That's what I was afraid of!" she said as she raised her comlink.
"Kento, we've got a problem!" she said. Running through the halls towards the hangar, Kento quickly answered his comlink.
"What now?!" he asked.
"The Mynock is gone!" Jaina exclaimed, everyone sliding to a halt.
"Say what?!" Kento asked in disbelief.
"R4 says we're in the right hangar but the Mynock is gone! It's disappeared!" Jaina exclaimed as Kento groaned.
"The pirates may have stolen it." Gault suggested, Kento taking a moment to think.
"Any other ships in the hangar?!" Kento asked.
"None flyable! Pirates really did a number on it!" Jaina replied as Kento groaned.
"Alright, look, head for the bridge! Keep it secured! We'll find another way out!" Kento ordered.
"Already on my way there, Solo out!" Jaina replied. Kento pocketed the comlink as Gault turned to Jerine.
"Dr. Roa, there are the escape pods." Gault said as Jerine grimaced nervously, Kento shaking his head.
"In this chaos?! We'd likely get blasted out of the air or captured by the pirates!" Kento said as Gault turned towards him with an annoyed look on his face.
"There's no other way!" Gault argued as Kento sighed heavily.
"Alright, we'll make for the escape pods!" Kento said, Gault nodding and taking point, the five quickly making their way through the corridors. As they approached one corridor, they saw a squad of pirates round the corner, sliding to a halt. Kento quickly activated his lightsaber and started deflecting blaster fire back at them.
"Run! I'll hold them off!" Kento ordered.
"He's right, Doctor! Let's move!" Gault ordered, grabbing Jerine by the wrist and leading her down another corridor. Kento was successfully blocking the pirates blaster bolts, deflecting the bolts back at the pirates, killing them with their own weapons until only one remained, looking at his fallen comrades with a look of fear. He was about to run when he was suddenly lifted into the air by the throat via a Force Choke and pulled in close to Kento, landing on the ground as air filled his lungs. Kento then grabbed him and threw him up against the wall, his lightsaber to his throat.
"Alright, talk! What are you after?!" Kento asked as the pirate, a Weequay, started sweating fearfully.
"We're here for some woman, a human doctor!" the pirate replied in his native tongue.
"Why?! What do you know?!" Kento interrogated.
"I don't know why! Honest! I just know we got hired to capture her! Someone else wants her alive for something!" the pirate replied as Kento scowled at him, sensing truth in his words.
"Alright, get out of here. Tell your friends to forget it." Kento said as he dropped the Weequay, the pirate turning and running as fast as he could away from Kento.
…
On the bridge, Jaina and R4 entered the bridge to find the bridge in general disarray, the crew struggling to operate some of the bridge controls.
"What's going on?!" Jaina asked.
"We've been locked out of some of the controls! We have control of weapons, shields, engines, life support, and external communications but internal comms and sensors along with forcefield and blast door controls have been locked down!" one of the bridge officers reported.
"R4, you still have that slicer suite?" Jaina asked as R4 beeped a cheery confirmation, rolling forward to one of the consoles and plugging in. He then beeped something in alarm, swiveling his head towards Jaina.
"Whose codes was it?" Jaina asked, disturbed by what the droid had just said.
"General, I don't speak droid, what did it say?" the officer asked, Jaina turning towards the officer.
"He said the Captain's codes were used to lock the systems down." She said as she took one look at a hologram of the space around the Yularen, taking note of a pirate vessel lingering beneath the ship, right in line where the escape pods were. She quickly turned and headed for the turbolifts, her lightsaber in hand. She quickly raised her comlink, the Jedi Comlinks being capable of operating independently of other comms systems.
"Kento it's Jaina! Do you copy?!" Jaina said into the comlink.
"I read you! I got separated from Jerine but I've almost caught up! Gault's with her right now so she should be fine!" Kento replied.
"No she's not!" Jaina argued. Down on the lower decks, near the escape pods, Kento was running through the corridors, comlink in one hand, lightsaber in another.
"What do you mean?!" He asked.
"R4 just had to slice into the bridge controls to unlock them! The bridge crew were locked out! The Captain had locked them out with his access codes and it looks like there's a ship waiting to grab their escape pod!" Jaina explained as Kento snarled.
"Thanks for the tip!" Kento replied.
"Go save your girlfriend, Kento! I'll be there as soon as I can!" Jaina said as Kento picked up speed.
"Right, Marek ou-…wait, girlfriend?!" he asked, confused for a moment but quickly ignored it for the time being, rounding a corner where he saw Gault with Jerine, Taun We, and Clapper approaching an escape pod hatch.
"GAULT! Kento yelled, charging towards them. They all turned towards Kento just as a forcefield went up between them, Kento and Clapper being trapped on one side of the field while Jerine, Gault, and Taun We were on the other. Jerine suddenly felt her blaster being wrenched from her hand from behind. They turned and saw Gault holding them at blaster point, holstering Jerine's blaster in his belt.
"Gault you sleemo! I knew you were trouble!" Kento spat as Gault grabbed Jerine, keeping his blaster trained on her.
"This isn't what it looks like, Marek." Gault said as Kento glared at him.
"Oh yeah, then tell me why you're doing this?! How long have you been a Sith toady?!" Kento asked as Gault glared angrily at him.
"I'm not a Sith! I would sooner die than sell the Republic out to the Sith!" Gault argued.
"Then what the hell is this?!" Kento asked.
"Kento!" Jerine called, clearly afraid.
"I can't tell you, Marek! There are lives at stake here!" Gault said as he opened the escape pod door, throwing Jerine in, drawing her blaster and keeping her trapped inside the two-person pod while he kept his blaster trained on Taun We, the Kaminoan remaining a safe distance away.
"There are more lives at stake if Jerine's research isn't finished! You want the Sith to win this war?!" Kento asked.
"No! I want the Sith to burn for what they've done to the Republic! But this…this is different Marek! I wish I could say more but time is of the essence!" Gault said. Suddenly the forcefield flickered and died, Clapper making a cheerful wubbing sound as she sat plugged into a maintenance console. Gault quickly ducked inside the pod just as Kento charged towards him but the pod doors slammed shut in his face, the sound of the pod ejecting heard seconds later.
"NO!" Kento yelled, pounding on the bulkhead just as Jaina ran up from the opposite end of the hall.
"Where's Jerine?!" Jaina asked as she arrived.
"The Captain escaped with her in an escape pod." Taun We said as Jaina grimaced, Kento with his fist pressed against the door in defeat.
…
In the escape pod, Jerine sat scowling at Gault who kept his blaster trained on her with one hand while rubbing his forehead in frustration.
"If you were in my position, you'd do the exact same thing, Doctor." Gault said.
"Enlighten me, Captain, but what position are you in exactly?" Jerine asked, venom clear in her voice. Before Gault could reply, the pod suddenly shook as if something had latched onto it.
"Those pirates work fast." Gault said as they both looked to the airlock doors just in time for them to open, revealing an armored individual but clearly not the one Gault was expecting.
"YOU?!" he asked.
"Gar serim." The figure replied before blasting him with a stunner. Jerine blinked in surprise as the figure removed its helmet, revealing a certain raven haired Bounty Hunter.
"Doc, you might want to get out of there." Ailyn said as she grabbed the unconscious Captain, dragging him onto the Mynock as Jerine climbed out of the pod mere seconds before the door to the airlock slammed shut behind them.
...
Back on the Yularen, Kento, Jaina, Taun We, and Clapper ran onto the bridge. The Pirate forces were being decimated, the Republic forces having recovered from the surprise attack and had completely turned the tables on the pirates, destroying two cruisers and causing the third to turn and start fleeing the battle.
"The Pirates are in full retreat!" one of the bridge officers reported.
"I'll bet they are! They've got what they came for! Damn that Gault!" Kento said with a grimace.
"I wouldn't be too quick to say that, Scruff." Ailyn's voice said via the comlinks.
"Ailyn?!" Kento asked, raising his comlink.
"Sorry for ducking out on you but I've got a present for ya. A certain blonde doctor wants to say hello." Ailyn said.
"Kento! I'm here!" Jerine's voice said.
"Jerine?! Are you alright?!" Kento asked.
"I'm fine! Your friend Ailyn saved my life!" Jerine said as Kento and Jaina both looked at each other in confusion before one of the bridge officers saw something on the tactical displays.
"Sir, your ship just appeared on sensors!" the officer reported.
"The Mynock!" Jaina exclaimed.
"Ailyn did you steal my ship?!" Kento asked into the comlink.
"Borrowed would be the correct term. We're on our way back and we have another little surprise for you. We've got the chakaar Captain with us. He's a bit unconscious at the moment but he's still breathing." Ailyn replied.
"Well I'll say this, Vel. You're so getting a bonus for this." Kento said with a sigh of relief.
"Much appreciated, Scruff." Ailyn replied.
…
Down in the hangar bay, Kento, Jaina, R4, Clapper, Taun We, and several Republic troops arrived just as the boarding ramp to the Mynock lowered, Ailyn disembarking while towing Gault behind her. Gault was bound by the wrists in front, Ailyn pulling him along via a long length of cable, Jerine following along with a blaster trained on him. The troops immediately surrounded Gault, taking him aside as Ailyn smirked towards Kento and the others.
"Okay Vel, spill. How'd you know Gault was a traitor?" Kento asked as Ailyn's smirk grew tighter. She quietly reached over towards Gault and plucked a small device from his shoulder, handing it to Kento.
"It's a spy probe. Sticky little buggers. They record audio and double as tracking devices. Very expensive but well worth the price. I overheard the Chakaar talking to someone via hologram and then heard him making the arrangements that would enable him to escape via escape pod. I simply sat and waited in the Mynock for the attack to start. Then I took off and cloaked the ship under the destroyer, waiting for an escape pod with my probe's tracking signal to launch. Then it was simple as intercepting the pod and transferring the two aboard." Ailyn reported with a coy smirk.
"Yeah but you had to have an inkling that he was dirty. What was the tip off?" Jaina asked as Ailyn shrugged.
"Ah now that was just a gut feeling. Wasn't 100 percent positive until I baited him. I dropped him a line about not getting paid much and how annoying you were to see what his reaction was and his reaction was all I needed to know he was up to something." Ailyn explained as Jerine gave an impressed nod.
"Well I for one am impressed." She complimented as Kento sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"And I'm left eating womp rat." He mumbled.
"Oh don't feel that way. You can't win them all the time." Jerine said as Kento shrugged.
"Thanks." He replied.
"Yeah so why don't you two kiss and make up already." Jaina commented, her arms crossed over her chest, earning confused looks from the two.
"Kiss and make up? Why on Corulag would we do that?" Jerine asked.
"Yeah, Jaina you've been acting really strange lately. What's with you? If I didn't know any better I'd say you were jeal-…oh wait, is that it?!" Kento asked as realization dawned on him, a grin starting to spread across his face as he burst out laughing. Jaina was looking at him with a confused look as Kento turned towards Jerine.
"Hey! Hey Jerine, get this! Jaina thinks we're a couple!" Kento said as Jerine gave Jaina an amused look.
"A couple? Well that is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. I mean I have heard of 'kissing cousins' before but I would never consider exploring such an avenue!" Jerine laughed, Kento snickering to himself as Jaina's eyes bulged.
"W-W-W-Wait! Cousins?! You two are-?! KENTO!" Jaina groaned as Kento raised his hands defensively.
"I believe I know what's going on here. It's my last name isn't it? My father is Baron Tamrien Eclipse, the older brother to Kento's mother. My parents divorced four years after I was born and my mother took me with her. When she remarried, I took my stepfather's name, Roa." Jerine explained as Jaina glared at Kento.
"And you strung me along on this little joke, didn't you?" she asked but Kento was still on the defensive.
"No! Force as my witness, I'd thought I told you about her years ag-…oh, no wait, that was Jacen I told." Kento grimaced as he realized his blunder. Ailyn however was snickering to herself.
"Vel did you know about her?!" Jaina asked as Vel snorted.
"Are you serious? I did a full background check on all of you di'kuts months ago! Everything from credit checks, criminal records, even lists of known relatives! Of course I knew!" Ailyn replied.
"And you just let her keep getting angrier and angrier, didn't you?" Kento asked as Ailyn shrugged with a guilty expression.
"It's fun watching you squirm a little, Marek." Ailyn said, Kento, Jaina, and Jerine all shaking their heads at her. Ailyn was suddenly zapped by Clapper's shock arm, earning a snarl from the Mandalorian.
"Get back here you little rust bucket!" Ailyn yelled, giving chase to the droid as she wubbed away, passing the entrance as one of the bridge officers came running in.
"General Marek!" he called, waving a datapad.
"What is it, Lieutenant?" Kento asked.
"An unidentified vessel dropped out of hyperspace and jettisoned an escape pod before jumping back to lightspeed! We've sent salvage teams to recover it!" the officer reported as Kento nodded approvingly.
"Any signs of explosives?" Kento asked but the officer shook his head.
"No sir." He replied.
"Wonder what's in it." Jaina pondered.
"I think I might." They heard Gault say softly. They turned towards Gault and saw that his head was hung in a saddened posture, almost grieving.
"What is it?" Jaina asked a small salvage tug flew into the hangar bay, the pod clutched in its graspers. The tug touched down, the pod being held upright as salvage crews quickly moved to open the pod doors, when they did they took one look inside and backed away in disgust.
"Augh, E chu ta! General, you may want to see this!" one of the crewmen yelled. Kento, Jaina, Jerine, the droids, and Ailyn stepped over and when they looked inside the pod, they saw what had disgusted the crew. Inside were two headless human corpses, both holding their respective severed heads, one was a woman and the other was a young boy, both with looks of horror on their faces. Jerine immediately turned with a hand clapped over her mouth, holding back the urge to vomit as best she could. Kento and Jaina were both disturbed by the scene while Ailyn merely grimaced.
"What is this? Why would the pirates leave this behind?" Jaina asked as Kento looked towards Gault.
"Bring him here!" Kento yelled, the guards bringing Gault towards the pod. The minute he saw the bodies, he collapsed to his knees with a loud wail, breaking down into tears. It almost instantly clicked for the others.
"I think I see why he said what he did in the escape pod tunnels. You weren't a spy at all, you were being blackmailed!" Kento said as Gault sobbed.
"I got a message a few hours before you arrived, a message with my wife and son, tied up and in the pirates' hands, threatening to kill them if I didn't do what they said! They said failure would mean their deaths!" Gault sobbed, Kento, Jaina, Ailyn, and Jerine looking at each other in horrid realization.
"And they failed…and they were murdered." Jaina said, Gault continuing to sob before them.
A few hours later on Ossus…
The Mynock touched down at the Jedi Temple, Galen and Juno both waiting at the platform as the passengers disembarked, Jerine amongst them with Clapper and R4 both towing cargo sleds full of containers, the containers carrying Jerine's research equipment inside. Jerine smiled as she saw Juno.
"Aunt Juno!" she greeted as the two hurried into an embrace.
"Welcome to Ossus, Jeri. We've got a private research facility all set up for you near the medical wards. It should be enough for you to complete your research." Juno said as Galen nodded.
"We've taken precautions so that if the Sith attack, even the slightest distress beacon will signal a nearby fleet to jump to the defense." Galen added as Jerine let out a relieved sigh.
"I appreciate the new work place, Uncle. I should probably get straight to work but my conditions still stand. Kento is to remain my bodyguard." Jerine said as Galen looked at Kento who gave an acknowledging nod.
"No objections here." He replied.
"Good. Jaina, show Dr. Roa and Taun We to the lab, take the droids with you and help them set up. Ferroda Grey is there waiting for you. She's volunteered to assist in the research if needed. I'd like to have a word with Kento and Ailyn for a moment." Galen said as Jerine gave a pleased nod.
"Right away, sir. Hope you drop by, Aunt Juno. We've got a lot of catching up to do." Jerine said as she, Jaina, Juno, and the droids headed off into the temple, Galen approaching his son and Ailyn.
"I got the message about the murder of Captain Gault's family. You're right, there is something fishy about this." Galen said as Kento crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yeah. Pirates are usually after valuable parts or equipment or whatever treasures a ship may hold. They were only after Jerine and the fact that they abducted Captain Gault's family as leverage implies that they knew Jerine was onboard. My question is, how?" Kento asked.
"They could've been tracking her for some time, or there was a spy on board the Yularen. Either way, they probably wanted to destroy her research." Galen said but Kento shook his head.
"Clapper was towing all of Jerine's research in a container behind her and Gault just grabbed Jerine. If he wanted to destroy the research, then he'd have done so. He was there when we were loading up everything so he knew about it." Kento said as Galen put his hand to his chin in thought.
"Which means they just wanted Jerine. We already had people lined up to pick up where she left off if necessary as long as we had her existing research, so why just grab her when all it would've done is slowed us down by a few days?" Galen asked.
"Perhaps she was of value to whoever hired them. Scruff did say that the pirate he interrogated claimed that they'd been hired by someone to conduct the raid." Ailyn said as Kento nodded. Galen looked contemplative.
"The Dark Side surrounds this whole incident, but it's different somehow. Not like the usual presence the Dark Side has when it's the Sith involved." Galen pondered.
"Pity I can't look into it. Jerine still wants me as her bodyguard." Kento said as Galen nodded, patting him on the shoulder.
"I know but I was thinking that this mission is more along the lines of a Bounty Hunter's work." Galen said, turning towards Ailyn who arched a curious eyebrow.
"Suddenly I'm hearing the sound of credits being transferred into my accounts." She said with a slight smirk.
"My instincts tell me that there's more to this incident than what we Jedi can see with the Force. There are some tasks that Jedi are ill suited for. We could use your help, Ailyn. You will, of course, be compensated accordingly." Galen said as Ailyn smiled.
"I'll need a few things. Help unloading my things from the Mynock, and transport to Mandalore. I know a few people who might like to make some extra credits." Ailyn said as Galen gave a nod.
"Whatever you need, the Republic will provide you with." Galen said as Ailyn smiled, extending a hand.
"You have a deal, Marek. Haat, Ijaa, Haa'it." She said as they shook hands.
Meanwhile in an unknown location…
The captain of the pirate fleet, a one eyed Devaronian man, was dragged into a darkened room, a beam of light shining down from overhead near the center of the room, a pair of armed guards in heavy red armor carrying him in from under the arms. The Captain was suddenly thrown into the middle of the light, the Captain pushing himself up onto his knees, looking up at a shadowy figure with fear.
"When I pay for something, I expect to get my money's worth, Captain Feldon." The figure said with a man's voice.
"P-P-Please your eminence! There were Jedi involved and their fleet was too strong for us! They had more firepower than we first thought!" Feldon pleaded.
"I am not interested in excuses, Captain. I'm interested in results. Now because of your failure, Dr. Roa is beyond my grasp. The Jedi have her in their custody and even I know not to try and attack the Jedi so soon after they've lost their home. More importantly their new home is unknown to us. Finding them will be exceedingly difficult so we shall have to wait for Dr. Roa to reappear, and time is something that I simply do not have…so I shall be forced to take yours." The man in the shadows explained before he snapped his fingers. Feldon suddenly heard a feral growling sound from nearby. He turned in time to see a hungry beast pounce at him from the shadows, tearing him apart as the shadowy figure sighed in annoyance.
"Inform our contact in the Sith Empire of the late Captain Felder's failure. Tell him we need an alternate solution." The man said simply as a hologram of Dr. Roa activated from a holoprojector in his hand.
"One way or another, I always get what I want." The figure said, deactivating the hologram.
End Episode 1
Please R&R…
Who is this mysterious person? Why do they want Jerine? Are they in league with the Sith? Find out in the episodes to come.
I'm also resetting the episode count with this episode. When referring to an episode of the previous season, I'll refer to it as Season 1 Episode ? and an episode from this season as Season 2 Episode ? and so on and so forth. This episode is also meant to act as a sort of "season premiere movie." Sort of like what Clone Wars did with the first episodes and what Rebels did with the episodes "Spark of Rebellion" and "Siege of Lothal" premiering the season premiere episode some time before the season truly begins.