Republic Refit and Resupply Station
"You want us to make a delivery of supplies to resistance group?" Double D asked after hearing what they had to do now.
"It is quite simple, and you only need to do it in order for the group to hold on. Besides you already got the best ship for the job and the right crew." Anakin said pointing to the Gozanti who where clones were loading the crates.
"Curse our recent luck." Murmured Double D.
"And just for a minute this wouldn't now involve some life threatening stuff isn't it?" Eddy asked.
"There isn't unless you intend to provoke trouble there. Like the fiasco with the station." Obi-Wan said.
"At least we made you day easier then." Eddy said not wanting to admit that what they did was crazy since they had 2 ships now.
"Sure fair point, anyways if you succeed with this supply run it will buy all of us time and also finish preparations for the invasion." Anakin said.
"Yeah when do you intend to invade?"
"That can't be told now, security reason."
"Military secret so in case of capture, no one be able to tell the enemy." Eddy commented.
"Perfect deduction." Anakin said.
"Too-too." Ed made pulling a bunch of crates to the Gozanti's ramp.
"Look more crates stuffed with stuff." Ed said while the droids lifted it up.
"ED!" Double D and Eddy shouted for their friends antics.
"Rex, find someone to watch over them." Anakin said despite knowing they could do their job it was better to have backup.
"On it." The clone responded before the ramp opened for the droid to report.
"Sirs I have to tell you that we are too full, it might be difficult to go around right now."
"Doesn't matter as long as we finish this task soon." Eddy called.
"Wait a moment." Rex came with another clone in full white armor with a small blaster. "Cooper over here will watch to make sure things are done and to make sure you don't get in a mess."
"Military operation with military supervisor, what happened to our carefree-life?" Eddy commented.
"Alright, are all the supplies in?" Obi Wan asked a clone.
"Yes sir, but they also took some extras that been the reason why the Gozanti might be harder to go on the halls." Said an engineer clone.
"What is important is only for them to get there and out quickly." Obi-Wan said as the Eds and the clone Cooper were entering the Gozanti, once inside they really had difficulty going around the ship since the crates were also filling the hall and they had to crawl on them to get to the bridge where nearly all the crew was nearly packed in, 3 or 4 at least were in a separated room.
"Oh boy I believe we really took a bit too much." Double D said managing to get there.
"You can say that again!" Cooper commented trying to get inside through the door. "Yet you weren't supposed to take more then was assign to you."
"Sorry about that sir, but Ed was curious, you can't blame him." Double D said while the clone turned to the stronger one who seemed to have found a crate with rations and was eating one.
"Yum."
"Alright now can we please start already?" Eddy said sitting on the chair wanting to go finish this mission too.
"Starting right now." Said a droid pilot starting the engines and were immediately out of the hangar of the station and back into the vacuum of space before plugging coordinates and were immediately away in hyperspace. Double D also took a seat on a separated chair before looking at the clone.
"You know sir, you can get your helmet off no one is an enemy here."
"You wouldn't have much to look anyways boys." Cooper said although he wasn't keen to take it off because of the droids around.
"Maybe it's not quite comfortable to wear it especially when we have to say that this isn't a ship belonging to any military now that it once was."
"It is either that or we order you to do it." Eddy added.
"Eddy!"
"Ugh fine." Cooper said getting it off to reveal his face to be of any Jango Fett clone that had his hair cut in a military style.
"I believe it is quite odd for a clone to be in a ship that was now requested for smuggling operations and isn't considered anymore part of a military." Double D said.
"It is even more so the idea of kids managing to take over 2 ships from the seps with the battle droids."
"It was more something we didn't think through actually, especially with how we could use it."
"Well I presume it is better for you to use since you try to stay away from all this conflict."
"We aren't actually keen on joining any side of the war." Eddy commented.
"Still I must ask, what planet, are we supposed to deliver those supplies?" Double D asked.
"The planet is called Ryloth, the home of the Twi'leks."
"Ah, sir we kind of have a problem with this, the planet is under CIS control and is under blockade I register 4 Munificent and a Luckarhulk ship." Reported the commander.
"Trouble for Ed." Ed said.
"Not if we use the codes. But we should be cautious, since we could get into trouble if they rebels see the insignia of the CIS." The commander said.
"Indeed, I wonder why you haven't changed it?" Cooper asked.
"We barely got the two and also we didn't have that much paint for both."
"Not to mention that how could one hide those 2 one can't do it in the backyard of your house." Eddy said.
"Well in order to keep and maintain those you will surely need a base of operations. Not to mention that if either the seps find it you got bigger chances for you to not get shot while with the Republic it could be very likely, since only generals Galia, Skywalker and Obi-Wan know about you, not others." Cooper said.
"Do you know other Jedi that aren't quite great commanders who surely would not be tolerant with us having those ships?" Double D asked.
"Can't help you with this boys, I barely came under General Skywalker a month ago. Aside from him and the other 2 I mentioned, I can't recall others. Better try to keep a low profile for as much as you can." He said.
"We will remember that."
"We are coming out of hyperspace." Called a pilot droid and out from the void came the planet Ryloth with its blockade but it only had 2 Munificent and 1 Luckerhulk.
"Hey didn't you said there were more?" Eddy asked.
"According to data the others were sent to another battle 2 days ago, there will get reinforcements again however." Reported the droid before the clone though for a moment.
"When will that happen?"
"Tomorrow they will have the same number again, according to official data that is. The one commanding this fleet isn't giving many details."
"Good to know that." He said before Double D wanted to ask.
"Why do you-"
"Gozanti ship please identify?" Called from Luckerhulk.
"This is transport 3-2-7 requesting entering the surface, we are carrying supplies." Said the OOM commander.
"Please give clearance codes." Requested the droid and the commander send the clearance codes.
"Very well you are clear for entering."
"Phew that at least we are clear." Eddy commented.
"That is barely a warm up if the rebels see us we wouldn't be this lucky." The commander droid reported.
"Don't think so, I will go out first and then you follow, if they see me first and not the droids, they wouldn't shoot." Cooper said adjusting his helmet on his head.
"By the way soldier when the invasion is supposed to happen to liberate the planet."
"You really want to know?"
"Don't worry we wouldn't say anything." Eddy said with a sly smile trying to persuade the clone.
"I shouldn't do that but if you want to know I will tell you only once on the ground." Cooper said taking up his gun to be at the ready.
"Oh-oh soldier, look." Ed said showing him what appeared to be a large white cloth with the republic insignia on it. "You like it?"
"It just came at the right moment big guy." He said in appreciation while the ship was venting atmosphere, the landscape was on entering wasn't filled with green forests or pastures or rather anything else; everything is dry and rocky with big mesas and dry valley with few plants.
"Boy this place seems very dry." Eddy commented.
"Don't be so sure, this is only specific for this region, not too far from here there is a small town near a large body of water."
"Not too large I guess from what I saw it seemed the planet is 25 to 30% water and rest is mostly dry." Double D consulting the information from the pad.
"You didn't saw many planets I believe."
"We barely started actually, never moved out from our system up until now." Eddy commented.
"Luck for adventure, and new places to see." Ed said.
"Anyways order your droids to land somewhere inconspicuous." Cooper said before Double D looked around to see where they could land.
"There, land the ship near that mesa." Double D said.
"Roger-Roger." The pilot said and they moved the ship towards it landing silently on the ground. "We are clear sir."
"Lower the ramp, I shall go first. And boys have that drawing with the crest near, we might need it." Cooper said crawling on the crates on the corridor followed by the Eds, once on the ramp they started to lower it down with some of the crates.
"Well another place to visit." Double D said before feeling the heat of the sun. "Urgh, the sun is very powerful here."
"Not too used with the sun?" Cooper asked.
"I actually have a sensitive skin, and powerful sunrays aren't very good actually. Not to mention that I had a bad experience once when I had a skin burn."
"Better stay in the shade then. And you 2 try to place the insignia on the ship so it will be visible." Cooper said to Ed and Eddy who immediately went to do so.
"And watch for dust storms captain Eddward, they are quite frequent in some places on this world, this place been one of them. And watch out for deadly predators. " Called one of the droids from the ship however the last part did caught much greater attention from the others.
"What deadly predators?" Eddy asked helping Ed place the drawn republic symbol over the one of the CIS.
"Large carnivorous creatures that could lurk in these parts that been the reason why the Twi'leks make their housing in caves and mountains."
"Let me guess, do they live in this mesa?"
"Not in this mesa, the settlement is much further ahead." Cooper said before feeling a small pebble on his armor, meaning one thing, getting his helmet off he started to look around. "But I can tell you that they are near."
"How near could they be?" Eddy asked after finishing placing the insignia on their ship before hearing something from the distance.
"That near." Said another droid from the ship.
"Stay inside and don't come out until we see it is safe." Ordered Double D before seeing humanoid like people colored in different pigmentations on the back of some creatures while other came out from behind the rocks, the distinct features was their 2 lekus that was instead of hair. The females were indeed beautiful and slender and the men were strong, however the thing that was problematic was that all of them were armed with a varied array.
"Oh dear this could not be good." Double D said nervous alongside the others.
"You just stay silent; whatever you do don't make trouble." Cooper said.
"Who say we will do anything." Eddy commented.
"Say the ones who hijacked a war frigate."
"That doesn't count." Eddy said before a blue Twi'lek came before Cooper on its creature.
"I see the Republic had managed to get the supplies that are needed at last." He said.
"We couldn't let an important ally behind." Cooper said before the Twi'lek male noticed the barely covered CIS insignia.
"And how come that a clone trooper came in that ship?" He asked before noticing Double D and the other 2 from behind the crates.
"You don't need to worry the ship is not separatist anymore. And those 3 kids had the means to transport the supplies." He said puzzling the Twi'lek male.
"Where did you kids came from?" He asked.
"It's a long story sir." Double D said.
"Cutting it short, they stole this ship and reprogrammed the droids before starting to make some explorations around." Explained Cooper although the Twi'lek was a bit suspicious.
"It's true sir the CIS came to our system and 3 droids came out and overheard them talking about landing and we decided to stop them but in order to do that we had to put lure them in a trap, reprogram them and then hijack their ship." Double D came trying to be as innocent as possible and by all accounts the leader could tell that he was telling the truth, since he doesn't seem to make anything up.
"So you are some who got a nose for trouble." He said with a small smile placing his pistol in his holster. "It is amazing that you managed to pull out a stunt like this."
"We are kind of experts in this." Eddy called with pride about this.
"And also they were few and very easy to fool, one by one." Double D said a bit nervous.
"Something worthy of appreciation, welcome to Ryloth boys."
"Unload the other crates boys." Eddy called in and the droids started to get the other crates out alongside Ed who helped them while the Twi'leks took them, it was however a bit off the quantity, it wasn't only republic weapons, rations and medicine but also CIS and with one that had rocket launchers and one with mines.
"How much stuff have you boys taken aside from what was intended?" Cooper asked.
"We didn't noticed what Ed was taking in. It was no wonder the ship was so cramped on the corridors that we didn't had place to move." Double D said.
"It is amazing we managed to get to fly in the first place." Eddy commented.
"We had to struggle a lot captain Eddy, especially with the quantity of equipment that was inside." Said a droid with chest painted like his shirt while some of the Twi'leks started to giggle.
"You 3 are really some trouble makers aren't you?" Asked a female yellow Twi'lek fighter.
"It is more a situation we couldn't quite escape from in this case. Please excuse our friend he is curious in his own manner" Double D said.
"And a grabber I believe, in any case what you brought will help a lot in our struggle, at least to cause some troubles to the droid garrison of the local occupied town."
"At least we try to help in all the ways we can." Double D said.
"Not like we had a choice in this case, especially when we try to be inconspicuous." Eddy commented.
"What were you 3 doing before all this?" Asked the blue male Twi'lek.
"Natural enthusiasts, they collect plants and pictures with landscapes and animals." Cooper said.
"Wouldn't try animals here aside from the Blurrgs whom we ride."
"Ohh I believe they really are some powerful creatures." Double D said touching one.
"Roaaar" The creature made not linking it.
"Wow!" Double D jumped on his back.
"You have to be careful, if they don't know you they could very defensive." Explained a pink male Twi'lek helpin him up.
"How come that you manage to use them?"
"They might be short tempered, but they are strong and fast than machines, especially your droids."
"We don't want to try to prove it wrong." Said one of the B1 droids.
"At least we know that we must not provoke them." Eddy said leaning on the mesa before noticing that Ed was missing.
"Hey where is Ed?" Eddy asked while he, Double D and the others were looking around for him.
"Hope he didn't went somewhere to cause trouble." Cooper said.
"Nu don't need ael hiko, ish{{noun}} went luhak way. Ish chir watching leha town."
"Translation?" Eddy asked.
"He is up ahead right there." Said a droid pointing to the boy looking in the distance.
"Let's go and see what he does." Eddy said while he Double D and 3 droids went to him.
"Ed! What are you doing?" Eddy asked.
"Like the view." He said in his goofy manner and his friends really can't deny the view, it really was a beautiful sight it also added the town surrounded by a wall on the coast overlooking the sea.
"Beautiful isn't it, one of the most breathtaking places on Ryloth." Said the female Twi'lek.
"It really is breath taking." Eddy said.
"As beautiful as it is, it is living through rough times like all of Ryloth." Said the blue male Twi'lek.
"How bad could it be?" Eddy asked.
"Not a sight for sorry eyes." Said one green male Twi'lek of the resistance fighters, taking a look through the binoculars before giving them to him, looking through them he could notice something that by all he could only declare as disturbing. The locals were bullied around by battle droids and it seems that they were coordinated by one big red droid with a square head who seemed more keen on looking through a consol in the central of the square and giving orders to others, and for Eddy it seemed to bring only some bad memories, memories buried inside his mind, memories that only made his hands sweat and nearly tremble as he was watching.
"Can you tell me what model is that droid commanding the garrison?" Eddy asked a b1 battle droid giving him the binoculars.
"It's a T-series strategic analysis and tactical droid sir. Not quite the best of bosses, always wanting to command everyone around."
"By that he means he controls all the clankers in that settlement. However they are susceptible to surprise tactics, which they don't anticipate."
"Also very abusive if you tell me." Said another droid.
"Really wonder if one of your droids was present when all this started." Asked the leader with resentment.
"Felucia counts?" Asked a b1 painted green like Ed.
"Saleucami?" Said another one painted like Double D's shirt.
"Geonosis?" One painted like Eddy.
"Space skirmish near Dolla system?" Another one painted like Double D.
"I barely came out from production line." Another painted like Eddy on the chest.
"All of you are in luck here." Said the female Twi'lek.
"Hey we need our crew to get back home." Eddy said in a way knowing what they might want to do while still watching.
"No one said we wanted something with them."
"It doesn't mean you didn't though, they couldn't have done anything if they had to fight here for the wrong side. Especially if they were just programmed to do it, no use in getting your anger on the ones who didn't do anything." Double D said.
"In a war one doesn't care about these aspects boys." Said Cooper.
"Anyways we really wished to have done something more to help you in this sir." Double D said.
"Ed sad."
"You did what was required the most, by bringing those supplies you gave the people hope, and please call me Gobi." The blue one said with a smile.
"Alright Gobi." Double D said while getting on his feet before a droid coloured in red orange like Double D came to them.
"All the supplies had been unloaded sir."
"Perfect, another job well done." Double D said.
"We aren't done yet Double D." Eddy declared before the smarter Ed and goofier one turned to their friend and saw in him something they never saw before, a face of sternness and seriousness uncharacteristic of him.
"Eddy seems weird now Double D." Ed said confused.
"You!" Eddy turned to a droid colored like Double D. "Do we have an empty crate?"
"Affirmative Captain Eddy."
"Bring it over." He ordered and he alongside others complied.
"Aah, Eddy are you alright?" Double D asked confused before 2 droids came with one opening the crate.
"Here it is sir."
"You will go with it there, say that it is part of a transport that was shot down by rebels and get to the main square and then in a warehouse. Understood" Eddy explained.
"Roger-Roger."
"You 4 will do it." Eddy ordered and they took up the crate up.
"Ah Eddy are we….." Ed started before Eddy grabbed him and Double D.
"Let's go full speed." Eddy ordered and at full speed climbed down to the road towards the town leaving the clone, Twi'lek and remaining 2 droids confused.
"Do you got an idea of what they are going to do?" Gobi asked the clone.
"I was here only to ensure the transport gets here, don't know what they are doing." Cooper said turning to the 2 battle droids.
"Do you know what they want to do?"
"Not yet, no."
The road before the gate to the town
"Eddy what do you intend to do?" Double D asked confused.
"We will get inside that town, lure the tactical droid and get his droids to stand down." Eddy said shocking the smarter Ed.
"What?! Eddy that means getting involved in it and it is risky."
"Trouble, bad, big, pain." Ed said fearful before Eddy placed them on the ground.
"Get over yourselves together, what is happening there is by all attends wrong and besides who wants to be occupied and be bullied by an occupying force. Besides it is not just because we need something, it is because we got here and we could do more than just be spectators." Eddy said to them in a stern and demanding voice amazing his 2 friends, they never saw him so determined about something.
"We did this before when we took the ships, back then it was easy I know, but we know also that robots are controlled by that tactical droid, we take control of it we can order that garrison everything, especially that you Double D will use your tablet to take control and reprogram him. This isn't about what we want; we always were the outcasts back in the cul-de-sac. So this time on this new world let's show others that we aren't how we are labeled." Eddy said.
"YEAAAAHH!" Ed called supportively before turning to Double D.
"Well let's hope the plan will work." He said still amazed by this turn in their friend, before all 3 went inside the crate that was carried by droid through an anti gravity device.
"Try to get us in, and then get us in the warehouse. If they ask something say that you are from a patrol and you found this crate that needs to be sent to the warehouse." Eddy said ordered the droids.
"Roger-Roger." They said in unison as they closed the lid of the crate before lifting it up and walk towards the entrance where the guard droids on the wall noticed them.
"Halt what are you doing outside?" Asked a droid from the wall.
"We are from a patrol we just came back." Reported one who was carrying the crate.
"What is with the crate you are carrying?"
"One of our transports was destroyed by rebels, this crate however survived and we retrieved it, we have orders to get it inside." He said and the droids from the wall looked at one another.
"Very well, you may come in." Said the droid opening the gate for them to enter inside and started marching in towards the main square, once they were out of sight they knock on the lid.
"We are in sirs." Said the leading one before the Eds slightly opened it.
"Perfect, get us to the warehouse now and try to remain inconspicuous."
"Ok." They said as they were moving forwards, as they were moving even the droids could notice the injustice their own brethren were doing on the populace on the order of the tactical droid, they had never been under the command of a tactical droid but they could very much declare that it was a sight they didn't wanted to be part off and deep inside were glad for their new captains that they gave them a new and better purpose. Reaching the main square they had noticed the tactical droid on a ramp near others who were checking his surroundings, by all he looked very confident that nothing could happen to him while the native Twi'leks were in constant fear for what he and the droids could do to them. Ignoring the situation for the moment the 4 reprogrammed battle droids moved inside the warehouse. In the meantime the Twi'lek fighters and Cooper were watching what they were doing.
"What in the name of all stars in the Republic are they doing?" Asked the clone.
"Ooh, I think I remember they are using the booby crate scam in which they hide inside and we try to get them in to the command center. It really worked when they did it the first time." Remembered OM-1.
"When did they use this stunt before?" Gobi asked.
"When they took over the frigate we had been station on when we reached their home system."
"They hijacked a frigate?" Asked the female Twi'lek stunned by what she heard.
"They did, I was the one who helped them in, after they droidnaped me and reprogrammed me to no more serve the CIS. What we came with is only a side ship."
"How many times did they use this method?" Cooper asked.
"This is the second time they went to the center; at the station it was only to plant an explosive in the corridor to cause a distraction and to cripple it. It didn't work the way it was planned."
"Wonder if they will get out from there alive in this case, just because it worked with you it doesn't mean it will work again." Said the female Twi'lek, although her thoughts were also of appreciation, despite thinking this plan was crazy.
In the warehouse
"We arrived captains." Reported the lead droid of the group after entering in the structure, the whole room was mostly a cramped with all the space used for different war materials not to mention there was a corner meant for loot. The 3 boys went out from the crate as silently as possible.
"Alright we are here." Double D said stretching himself.
"Urgh this will be the last time we use this method." Eddy commented doing the same before all the 3 went to take a peak outside and from what it seems the tactical droid was for the moment only sitting there overseeing everything.
"Alright we need to lure him in and then try to reprogram him so he would be on our side." Double D said.
"I know- I know. I will distract their attention for reinforcements to come." Ed said in his goofy manner.
"Don't do anything Ed, we aren't supposed to be captured." Double D said but Ed then took a container with fuel.
"Captain Ed! That is fuel, it is highly explosive!" Said a droid painted green like Ed's shirt but to no avail he threw the container out into a group of droids near a tank.
"FIREWORKS!" Ed called tracking the attention of the droids of that group.
"Hey, what is-"
BOOM
A great explosion came obliterating the droids and the tank which tracked the attention of the droid commander.
"What has happened?" He asked while the remaining droids in the square were rushing to the zone to extinguish the blaze followed by the commander droid who wanted to assess the damage.
"Didn't passed a minute and they destroyed something." Cooper commented.
"Sir." Came a green Twi'lek male to Gobi. "General Syndulla is coming."
"I will try to explain to him what happened." He said before turning to the droids in the group.
"You better get back to the ship, although you are no more on the side of those we fight against it doesn't mean misunderstandings could not happen."
"Roger-Roger." Said one as they started to run back to their ship just in time when an orange Twi'lek and the leader of the rebels Cham Syndulla arrived accompanied by others.
"What happened, what was that explosion in the town?"
"Let's just say that we got an unlikely alley at this moment, who probably had given itself up." Gobi said confusing the general.
Back in the square
"Try to extinguish the fire quickly and assess the damage. I don't know what happened by I will find out." The commander droid ordered while in the meantime Eddy and Double D inside the warehouse were getting nervous.
"Ed you maniac you didn't had to do that." Eddy said dragging Ed by his shirt to scold him.
"Wait, captain the commander droid is close to us, we could try to lure him here now." Said the droids painted like Double D on the chest before he took a peak to see him very near and Eddy came out with a new plan.
"You 2." Eddy called 2 droids one painted yellow and other painted orange.
"Go and lure him, Double D prepare the tablet." Eddy said as all went back to positions.
"This does not compute, no rebels were detected here in this area." The commander said as 2 droids came in.
"Sir! There is something there you better see it." Said one of them painted orange on the chest.
"Show me immediately." He ordered as he pulled out his blaster to follow them inside the warehouse, once the door opened he started to look around for what could have been.
"I do not detect any anomaly what could be-" He started before something jumped on him.
"Prepare to meet your maker." It was Ed who was struggling to put him to the ground followed by the droids who managed to trip him to the ground as Double D came in to connect it's head to his tablet.
"No, this cannot compute, something is wrong." He started in surprise seeing the 3 boys, not managing to find an explanation to it.
"You don't need to worry sir, once we are finished you will feel differently." Double D said managing to shut him down and quickly trying to put new commands in his head before turning to the other droid.
"DS-324 you go outside, try to stall the other droids from entering here." Double D ordered a droid painted yellow on his chest like Eddy's shirt.
"Roger-Roger." He said saluting him and going outside.
"You know this is really something I can hardly believe now." Cham said after hearing Gobi's and Cooper's story.
"You can believe the part however where they had to use a separatist ship with droids in order to get the supplies." Cooper said.
"On that I can since I can see them right there." He said pointing the Gozanti and 3 painted droids that were near it "But 3 boys who decided to go there to wreck some havoc on the invaders, who would do that?" Cham said.
"One can't deny that something is happening there." Said one light blue male Twi'lek rebel in Rylothian while watching in the distance through the binoculars watching as the droids inside were confused as to what is happening, many of them even leaving the walls.
"Cham" He called giving him the binoculars.
"Hmm, whoever made that havoc gave us an opening." He commented mounting his Blurrg "Let's try to see if we can get in." He said as he and the others followed including Cooper who mounted a blurrgg rode by the female Twi'lek rebel.
The Double D tried his best to finish the process or reprogramming the tactical droid, despite working recently with the droids, the tactical droid's programming was even more advance then the others and it was taking a bit longer to delete and transmit it's new directives. However they were now running out of time since the other droids both B1 and super battle droids looking for their commanding tactical droid and some seem to now move towards the warehouse. While that was happening the Twi'leks were watching in confusion at what was happening around.
"Double D please hurry up." Eddy said.
"I believe I am almost there." He said placing several new commands, just when 3 droids from the garrison came in to ask.
"Where is the commander, we can't find him anywhere."
"I believe he went that way." Said the droid pointing in the other direction and they went in the other direction before another one came this time an OOM commander.
"Isn't the commander in there?" He said.
"I don't think so, I just came here." Said the droid nervously hoping it fooled him.
"Weren't there 2 droids that told him to go in there?" He asked with suspicion.
"He probably left sir." He ordered.
"I want to see it."
"I don't think it is a good idea." He said trying to not let him in.
"Double D." Eddy said.
"Almost." The smarted Ed said nearly finished.
"Please make way." He ordered.
"Ughh I don't think I can do it sir, I have to defend it." He said.
"I outrank you, make way right now or I will put you on report." He threatened.
"Sir I don't think is-" He tried but the droid pushed him aside.
"Done!" Double D called right before the door opened and the OOM commander saw them.
"What the-?" He started.
"What is happening?" Asked the tactical droid confused.
"Deactivate battle droids, all battle droids from the garrison must stand down and be deactivated."
"Hold, right there you intruders." He said pointing the blaster at them.
"Affirmative." The tactical droid said and a signal was sent to all the droids and in mere seconds every single droid was lowering their antennas, and were starting to deactivate themselves in their packed position including the OOM commander droid at the door, packing himself right at the doorstep.
"Phew that was now a close call." Double D said.
"We at least did it sir, but we better check the information on the console." Said the droid.
"Get there right now." Double D said while the droid saluted and went to the designated location before Eddy turned to another giving him a piece of cloth.
"You go the wall and wave this one to know that they can enter. Go at full speed." Eddy said giving him the piece of cloth before saluting and started to run back towards the wall.
"The rest of us with me we have to liberate the captives." Double D ordered taking the key and went to the captives.
"What should I do?" Ed asked.
"You are with me lumpy." Eddy said as they went to the ramp where their droid was to the amazement of the locals at what was happening right then Double D and his droids came, at first they were startled by the droids he had with him.
"Don't worry, I hope you understand me. We and the droids that we got and are still active are on your side we want to help you." Double D started calming the Twi'leks letting them proceed with getting their handcuffs off.
"Situation?" Eddy called the droid.
"Everything seems fine sir all CIS droids in the garrison are deactivated." Reported a droid.
"We won guys, we won." Ed shouted happily before a message came in.
"Huh." The droid looked to see what it was.
"Uh-oh, we got a problem."
"Don't tell me the message didn't reach all of them." Eddy asked.
"It is not sir, the garrison is deactivated but there is still a squad of 15 droids still active coming this way. This squad was brought here as part of an inspection unit from the capital."
"Oh dear." Double D said.
"Trouble, bad, big. Not in happy place guys." Ed started to panic while Double D took his communicator.
"Unit, are you at the wall?" Double D asked hoping for a response.
"Affirmative sir I manage to climb into one of the towers to wave at them to come in."
"Listen we got a squad of 15 still activated droids, tell them to hurry." Double D started.
"Roger-Roger."
"Hope they will reach us in time." Said one of the droids helping Double D.
Back at the wall the droid managed to climb in to the main tower and let the ramp go down before it started to wave the cloth, just when the rebels reached the wall. Luckily for him Gobi and Cooper saw him first before one tried to shoot it.
"It's one of their droids; it seems it wants to signal us."
"You can enter, the coast is clear. But watch out there is still a rogue squad of 15 droids still active." He called.
"It seems we got some targets to take down." The yellow female said preparing her blaster while the fighters hurried the pace while entering inside and by all accounts all the CIS droids were really in the deactivated mode and had no resistance.
"It seems that those boys might be crazy but they really made a good job." Cham commented while moving forward.
"What went through my head?" Eddy asked himself as if everything he did wasn't his idea. He never expected to ever decide something like this, heck he never decided something like this before, everything seemed to have came out of a stroke of madness or possession by something. He was this deep in thought that he didn't realised what was happening around him.
"They are near." Called 324 running towards them.
"Try to get to hiding right now." Double D called to the Twi'leks who understood immediately while the squad came into sight to witness what was happening.
"What is going on here?" Asked the leading droid noticing the deactivated battle droids as well as the ones destroyed near the tank and noticed the Twi'leks taking cover and the active droids who were directing them to safety, the thing that struck them the most was the boys that were in plain sight.
"Hey! What are you doing here? You there arrest them." Called the droid to the ones near them, only for them to draw their weapons out, but it wasn't directed at the Eds, but at the squad.
"Not going to happen you bullies." Said one of the droids painted on the chest like Eddy's shirt.
"What? What are you doing arrest those intruders." Called the leading droid of the squad.
"They are not intruders." Said a second one.
"Wait maybe we can try to be civilized here, it is a miss understanding."
"Sir I believe that they are traitors." Said one of the droids in the squad before pointing to the boys "And they are saboteurs."
"We are not enemies we want to be friends." Ed called.
"You are under arrest. Prepare to be-" He was cut short by a blaster bolt to the head.
"We have been outflanked." Called another one from the group only to find out that the Twi'lek rebels had came here alongside with Cooper and to be much worst for them the Twi'lek civilians took up the arms of the deactivated droids and started to fire at the squad hitting them one by one and this time even the droids belonging to the Eds joined in the frame.
"We are outflanked; we are falling one by one, yeaah…" One battle droid before falling down.
"Those were the last of them sir, we made it." Called a droid to the Eds.
"Hooray we made it." Ed called only in the next moment the Twi'leks came to take the Eds and even their droids up in the air to cheer them to the surprise of the boys, never were they cheered like this. Just in that moment Cooper, Gobi and Cham came in.
"Never though I will see something like this." Cham commented with a warm smile remarking both the boys and their droids.
"With those kinds of stunts they would really make some reputation." Cooper said with a genuine smile for them just then the people went to cheer Cham and the rebels next. The general however decided to go towards the boys and Double D immediately knew that he must be someone important.
"When I heard that 3 boys who had stolen a ship from the CIS I never expected that you 3 will be the ones to do it especially that you started to cause havoc afterwards.
"Ahh it was only a proposal started by our friend, we were only expected to deliver supplies and nothing more." Double D started turning to Eddy who by now seemed to only have his mind absent from everything which puzzled the smarter one not noticing the Twi'lek placing his hand on his shoulder.
"And you did something more than that, crazy I have to call it especially that I am also a father and wouldn't want my children to do stunts like those. Even with that in those times I believe one could really get unlikely allies. And to tell you the truth I really am grateful for what you did."
"Oh thank you sir, ahh…."
"Cham Syndulla." He said shocking the boy.
"Oh my I should have been more presentable for an occasion like this."
"In situations like those pleasantries are not that important." He said with a warm smile ignoring getting him even more nervous while Eddy was only looking around still not believing that what happened was their doing. For the first time in their lives a scam or stunt didn't had and wasn't made to annoy others, on the contrary it placed smiles on the people around. The experience was on one dangerous and life threatening, but what he was experiencing was on one side very pleasant but also nerve racking and very much off from what he was used to, for a long time from the experience with his brother. The last thought made him came back to reality pinching himself to see if everything was a dream, it wasn't.
"Captain Eddy." A droid called it was the one they sent to give the signal to the rebels to enter. "Are you alright?"
"Yes…I am fine." He said to him.
"Why don't you enjoy the celebrations, we won."
"Not quite in the mood." Eddy said with a dry voice thinking that he needs to be alone to ponder "Call the ship to land near the town, we will leave soon, and tell Double D to reprogram a droid to maintain the all clear signal here, while also taking the tactical droid and the commander droid for the crew."
"Ahhh, roger-roger?" He said confused not knowing what was happening but still complying with the order.
It took an hour till the jubilation had subsided for a bit, during which time the Gozanti was brought near the city and some new volunteers joined Cham's resistance group and also the droids reported that the all clear signal was still active and that there wouldn't be any more patrols or droid reinforcements coming around. During which time Double D manage to get more information about the Twi'leks and about Ryloth and also the rebels also gave him 2 plan samples for his collection which he took while Eddy managed to take some pictures of the landscape the city and people hidden staying a bit more before retreating himself to a more secluded place.
"Well Eds the only thing I have to say is that you really did something." Copper(with his helmet off) commented to Double D.
"It was for a good cause despite been hazardous."
"Hazardous as it was you did something crazy but really impressive however I believe that after something like this you really will need to lay low for a while."
"This will surely happen." Double D said before remembering something "By the way, when will the invasion be anyways to liberate this world?"
"Well, theoretically it will be in 3 days, which of course will depend on how things will turn out to be, since the blockade has to first be broken before bringing the land forces in."
"So it will take some time."
"Indeed, but at least it will be easier for both us and the Twi'leks after this. Anyways I think I will return to the ship. When do you want to leave?"
"I think very soon from what I heard Eddy is already there, he behaved really strangely during all this operation and afterwards, yet he came up with the idea."
"Surely there is something in his mind, you will figure it out." Cooper said placing his helmet back on his head while Double D remained there in deep thought about everything that happened in the last 2 days, not noticing the blue Twi'lek Gobi coming to him.
"Hey Double D isn't it?" He asked.
"Yes that's me."
"Why are you in such deep thought? What bothers you?" He asked leaning on the wall.
"Well how should I put this, it's this new experience that we got. We barely started go around the galaxy in a space ship, we never actually left out home system up until now we instead were always confined in our small neighborhood. And to be more specific me Eddy and Ed were more the outcasts of the neighborhood, we usually tried to pull pranks and scams on the other kids so we can get some coin to buy our favorite confectionaries. But most of times we tried it usually didn't ended well and angered the other kids. However this new experience that we got is like a hit from a giant war hammer where for the first time we were respected and congratulated by others. First the battle droids we reprogrammed, and then your people, all this appreciation we never received before. And I really don't know what to say about this." Double D explained.
"This is now something that probably all the children your age would do, and I mean the pranks and scams not capturing droids. However who is the brains behind all those scams you are talking about?"
"Eddy is usually the one, he would brag about that they should do scams regarding different things to get money like creating stuff others to use and to sell to them or to entertain them and so on. He also said that his bigger brother was a master at those things, he said that he was the coolest kid in the cul-de-sac also did it. Even with that Eddy always seemed to care little for other things other than scams despite the fact that some were crazy and are actually wrong that could result in hurting others. And despite scams backfiring he still tells us to keep doing it despite my opposition and always bragging that it the idea will work so he could associate the credit. But even with that he still cares about us and we always try to support one another. The strangest thing that happened today however is that he never attempted to even take credit for what we did today for this town and for your people despite the idea been, it was for the first time he didn't do it and also was for the first time that he wanted to do something very selfless despite the danger." Double D explained while the Twi'lek thought about all he said.
"You know sometimes a person could be how it is because of something in the past that happened to him." Gobi said tracking double D attention. "First of all you said it yourself despite this attitude that he almost didn't took any credit and didn't brag about what he did to liberate this town. I have heard once that people could be this way in order to mask something, a tragedy. And also just because you are labeled in a way doesn't meant it is so. For example my people are labeled as docile and kind which for some, see it as weakness, thinking we are good to exploit us for profit. But it doesn't mean we can't fight back."
"I noticed, the people of this town had taken up arms to put down the remaining droids that were still active along with you. You showed bravery and even lethality." Double D said with a bit of uneasiness. "Sorry I am not used to this kind of violence."
"He-he I can see it. But this is not what I wanted to tell, what I wanted to tell is next, just because you had been badly labeled it doesn't meant it is this way. You can do more than how you are described and what you did today is one example, what you did is only break the habit. As for your friend, like I said he might say good things about his bigger brother. But it doesn't meant he wasn't without flaws, every single person has a flaw. And I don't want to cause a conflict, but if he took some examples from his brother who also did pranks and scams that ended up angering others it means that he was not a good example to take, and also could have done something that could very well affected your friend in a way that is negative, not positive."
"You really think so?"
"Indeed I saw quite some things in my life, and to tell you the truth I also saw examples that shouldn't be taken after. Especially by younger siblings who could have been too young to understand the actions at the time."
"I wonder why he might keep it secret?"
"Things could only be discovered in time, it might be too hard for one to tell. But they will at the right time." Gobi explained making Double D to ponder.
"Indeed, thank you for the advice sir."
"No problem." He said readying himself to join the others.
"By the way I heard the Republic will eventually arrive to aid in the liberation I believe those are also good news." Double D said to him tracking the Twi'leks attention.
"That might be for some but it is only a minority now." Gobi said.
"How come?"
"You see many of us who take an interest in the politics of our world aren't quite trusting in outsiders, I am not telling about people like you or your friends I know there are some who have good intentions. But for a long time Ryloth had been target for many only to exploit us or the resources because we don't have all the techniques required for it and had exploited us, that is the reason why some of us don't have quite a trust in outsiders. Also Coruscant didn't actually sent much aid in the past as for the CIS coming here with an army isn't a way to win us over especially when they are interested in the resources like spike or raw materials for ships. With such hindsight one could also see the Republic as potentially replacing a military occupation with another." Gobi explained making Double D sad that something like this could happen to them.
"I really apologies for this."
"I know that, you and your friends are good kids and just because you are labeled badly back home it doesn't has to be so." Gobi said placing his hand on his shoulder before an idea came to Double D's mind, he had learned at history about the different resistance groups back on Earth during World War 2 mostly through his own reading and documentaries some of the most resilient been the Armia Krakovia in Poland and France.
"You know maybe we have to leave but I believe I can give you some ideas."
"About what?"
"Well I once heard of a resistance group who was very well organized, it was in essence a state created underground the official state."
"Really how so?"
"After their land was invaded by an aggressive force who wanted to subjugate them they organized in an underground state. Where they inside their homes, safe houses or conspiracy houses, building catacombs and even, urgh 'sewers' they organized secret clandestine presses where they published pamphlets and papers to distribute to the populace alongside a school system where the teachers were gathering the students in secret or on a secret place where they were told about the history of their people with, books always kept hidden or smuggled. And the fighters kept their weapons always hidden, either in the attics or the cellars or a secret place in the house behind a hole inside a wall behind a painting or a curtain or a hole in the ground, in the floor kept hidden under a rug furniture and so on so they could use it later. They weren't allowed of course to keep them due to consequences but they always kept them hidden no matter what, they never reported that they had weapons or if they had they never told the occupiers what kind of weapon they had they only give them only one but kept the other. And they also used both smuggled as well as captured material from the invaders, in this case the droids and the equipment they brought if hidden could very well be used at a later date." Double D explained and Gobi listened to everything to the most minor detail.
"Indeed I can only call it ingenious, this information will really help in the future. Thanks for everything." Gobi said.
"With pleasure sir."
"By the way I believe you should really go soon since I believe that you probably didn't told your parents or others what you got or where you are." Gobi said starteling Double D.
"H-how do you…"
"Not only could a resistance group keep secrets, also with 2 warships with droids in them you 3 probably didn't wanted this information to be known to others aside you 3 in order to keep them. So in order to keep the secret, you better get back home soon after you take your other more playful friend." Gobi said smiling to him and to their goofier friend who played with the younger Twi'leks watched by their parents.
"We will right thank you again Gobi." Double D said rushing to take Ed after they bid farewell from the locals they went to their ship now parked outside the walls of the city where Eddy and their droids were waiting.
"Boy took you guys long enough." Eddy said his demeanor seemed to have returned to normal.
"We had so much fun, Ed really liked here." Ed said.
"Fun indeed after everything that happened, let's go and report back to the Republic so they would know that mission was accomplished." Eddy said boarding the platform followed by the droids and then others following.
"Wait!" Called a female voice stopping them in their tracks, it was the yellow female that was colored like a lemon whom they met after they landed.
"Before you leave, please take this." She said giving to Double D 3 objects, each had 3 circles made from wood from a local tree colored like their cloths, attached by a powerful string which seemed to also be flanked by 2 leku shape jewels which seemed to be made from metal.
"Thank you but what is it?"
"It is a local made token of friendship called the friendship string. Specific for this region given in appreciation to true friends who helped each circle on the string represents one of you. It represents both the friendship you 3 have as well as the one you have here for what you did." She explained.
"Wow, thank you we really appreciate it." Double D said smiling.
"It is me who had to thank you for what you 3 did for my clan, you 3 shall be remembered here I bid you good luck and safe travel." She said to them before leaving for the others.
"Wait, we didn't get your name." Double D called.
"It's Alema, it means protection." She called back before going back in behind the wall.
"OK let's go now." Eddy said while the ramp went upwards inside the ship. Some time later the ship started up and went towards the sky and out from Ryloth's atmosphere this time avoiding the blockade before going to lightspeed. In the command bridge now with the ship been cleared from all the crates they were able to move around without much troubles and could stretch themselves at last.
"You know after something like this, you boys would surely want to stay home for a while after such adventure after you get paid." Cooper with his helmet off said.
"For a time we really want to lay as low as possible soldier." Eddy said wanting to end everything now.
"The only thing I can tell you is only to bid you good luck on that." The clone said before Double D decided to ask him something.
"By the way Cooper if I may ask what are other compliments that a republic ship must have since it is manned by an organic crew and not by droids like we are for our ships."
"Well I don't know much about separatist ships but I doubt that yours got a medical droid isn't it?" Cooper asked before Double D turned to the droids who only shook their heads to indicate negative.
"Not really, it is mostly for a droid crew meaning repair and maintenance droids alongside RG. Well since we barely got the frigate and this one we didn't manage to get all the compliments for it."
"Well I believe you should get at least one medical droid and some medical supplies if you intend to keep both of them, also have you name your ships yet?"
"With what happened in those 2 days since we got the 2 ships we didn't got the time to think about those aspects."
"You surely will have to without a doubt. Since even we know the ships we are in by name and not by number."
"Coming out of hyperspace." Called the pilot droid before exiting to see the resupply station ahead and Cooper sent the clearance codes.
"Here so we wouldn't be shot down."
"By the way I need to ask I believe it was off for you to fight alongside droids in this assignment isn't." Eddy said with a sly smile.
"If you want to know can't let myself get use to it, since I will have to fight them again very soon." Cooper said placing his helmet back on his head "And sympathy for the enemy isn't something I am allowed to have in my career in the future, the shorter the time it was the better."
At the Station
"You 3 did a really good job, those supplies will help them hold on till we manage to finish preparations." Obi-Wan said presenting them another box with credits.
"It was more something we couldn't actually get away from, if you want to know." Eddy commented while Double D gave him a stern look to behave although he couldn't deny it was true.
"You don't need worry now, since you 3 will surely need to lay low for a time. Especially after the stunt I heard you 3 had done for a local town." Obi Wan remarked after hearing Cooper's accounts as to what the boys did while giving the payment to Double D this time it was 4000 credits.
"Well we couldn't say it wasn't with pleasure." Eddy commented smirking about this at least they got paid for this trouble.
"And we couldn't stay behind and do nothing I believe it was an irony that this time battle droids helped pro-republic forces." Double D said.
"It was indeed." Obi-Wan said before Double D remembered what Cooper had said.
"Ahh, excuse me sir, but maybe this time part of the payment could be in medical droid and some medical supplies. Which I believe will deduct part of the credits." Double D said.
"Oh yeah separatist ship with their droid crews don't have medical droids. You can take one from the station and a crate of supplies that you need."
"Perfect." Double D said opening the box to give back 1000 credits.
"You don't need to give the credits back."
"It's payment for the supplies and the droid. We know how to take care of everything." Double D explained.
"All right, if you insist." Obi-Wan said before a clone ensign came with a crate and a medical droid who walked near it.
"Those are the medical supplies boys, and the droid." He said.
"Ed, get it up." Eddy ordered and Ed took it up.
"Okey-dokey, alley-oop." Ed took up the crate up followed by the droid.
"Oh my maker." The droid said placing it on the crate as Ed took everything inside the Gozanti and impressing the clone ensign.
"aah, how did he?"
"Our friend is quite strong for his size." Eddy said with a smile.
"Heh, can't deny it. Well we bid you all well boys." Said the ensign before leaving them.
"If you kids want to know something is that people could say that fortune really favored you 3 in those recent days, despite things going a bit too much." Obi-Wan commented.
"Well it's not like this was the first time we tried our luck but didn't had much fortune. Those 2 days were more special." Double D said.
"Special or not, one can't deny that you and your friends really did some crazy stuff despite not knowing what consequences could be." Obi-Wan said looking at the more intelligent Ed.
"Besides who until now ever heard of 3 boys to take over a whole war frigate with the droids and a Gozanit to use them for good and a different purpose. You really make something that is without a doubt something to be congratulated." Obi-Wan said.
"Oh thank you sir we really thank you." Double D said before going back to his friends on the platform before it was lifted up to get inside the ship. The 3 then went to the bridge with the medical droid.
"Where to sirs?" Asked the commander.
"Back to the frigate and then home." Eddy said as the droids started the engines to get in the air and out of the hangar while Obi-Wan watched.
"May the Force be with you Eds." He said while the ship was flying away and entered hyperspace.
"We will arrive back at the frigate in 10 minutes sir." Said the droid before Double D closed the medical droid and started to work on reprogramming him to not give their location and to not find their home world.
The Munifficent Frigate in the Hoth system
"Well by all accounts even this adventure was really impressive." Double D said on the bridge of the frigate.
"Yeah but after this I we really have to lay low for a time." Eddy said sitting in the command chair drinking some soda. "For now let's only get home I really am tired."
"Right away sir." The commander said.
"And also I believe we have to find suitable names for our 2 ships." Double D said.
"We will figure something out by all accounts we kind of made a fortune out of those favours with the Republic until now." Eddy said before thinking for a bit.
"Wait a moment Fortune Favours, this shall be the name of our frigate. It seems complete and fulfilling." Eddy said.
"And it also fits captain. The munificent was a ship meant for commerce and treasure transportation before been retrofitted as a war ship." Said the now reprogrammed T-series tactical droid who also had part of his memory whipped in order for him to build a new personality.
"So it is settled this one shall be called fortune favours." Eddy declared.
"Fortune Favours, Fortune Favours." Ed repeated in excitement.
"Wonder only how should we name the Gozanti?" Eddy said as they exited hyperspace back to the Sol system.
"We shall figure out tomorrow." Double D said after watching at the clock that he installed on the ship, seeing that it was 5:45 in the afternoon. Meaning they had been away for some time.
"And boy we had been away for quite some time." Double D exclaimed. "We shall think tomorrow on how to christen our side ship in a secluded place of course."
"And see what this galaxy could give us since we have it at our middle finger." Eddy said getting up from the chair.
Author's note: This is the seventh chapter of this story, hope it was to your liking. More shall come in time. Please leave comments, reviews and constructive criticism, it really is helpful to know your opinions to see how I can make it better.