Author's Note: Dearest readers, we've done it! As of this week, "The Frozen Force" is officially one year old! I am so happy to have come this far alongside you all. Thank you so much for your kindness and support on this ongoing adventure. This month has seen a record-breaking 400+ new readers and gotten the story up to over 12,000 views. None of this is possible without amazing readers like you! As always, it is my honor to entertain you and give you a story to look forward to each week. Here's to all of the epic adventures I have planned and I hope you enjoy the show!
~ Michael
GOLDENHEART STORIES PRESENTS
A MICHAEL J. PINEDA PRODUCTION
THE FROZEN FORCE 1st ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Chapter: 52 (The Flying 54th Part - I)
"Envy's venom only poisons the envious."
A galaxy at war! Across the stars, Republic forces engage the Separatists on unforgiving battlefronts. Amidst the ceaseless fighting, spies from both factions gather intelligence. According to Republic reconnaissance, a Separatist attack on a neutral planet is imminent in the Outer Rim. As the Grand Army of the Republic prepares to counter this threat, Padawan Anna Dellian struggles to cope with her failure...
"I trusted you!" Jee's words were like venom in Anna's mind, poisoning and occupying her thoughts. She sat alone in the temple's Halls of Healing, hugging herself and feeling anything but secure. She kept replaying the situation at the prison over and over again. The spiteful, hate-filled look Jee had in her eyes was unforgettable. Despite the medbay's frigid temperatures, Anna's nerves had her sweating profusely. Her breathes shortened and she repeatedly relived her failure. She reimagined the clones throwing Jee on the ground and physically shuddered at the thought. She wished anyone was there to comfort her when she needed it most. A sudden ringing from her holocom reminded her that she preferred almost anyone. Anna rolled her eyes and exhaustedly reached for the device. She plucked it from her utility belt and examined the caller's ID.
(DELLIAN, ELSA)
"What a surprise," Anna muttered to herself. She glared at the holocom and irksomely waited for it to stop ringing.
(EIGHT MISSED CALLS)
Anna huffed at the displayed amount of calls. Whether Elsa had tried her best or not, failure was still failure to the youngest Dellian. And that failure had cost her Jee's liberation and possible friendship. The thoughts of Anna's losses only angered her further. Seeking to vent while she sat in the waiting room, Anna tried calling Hans. She inputed his holonumber and patiently waited for a response. Her tired eyes stared into the spiraling, holographic loading symbol on her device. "Come on," Anna mumbled. "Pick up. Where are you?" Hans remained unresponsive, leaving Anna with more questions left unanswered. She wondered if he was occupied or if he was ignoring her just as she was avoiding Elsa. Anna was snapped free of her worries when the holocom rang again. "Hans," she rejoiced and prepared to answer the call.
(DELLIAN, ELSA)
Anna groaned frustratedly and snapped her holocom back against her belt. The doors across from her suddenly opened and a stout, LEP servant droid waddled into the room. The 'rabbit droid' approached her and asked for verification. "Padawan Anna Dellian?" it inquired and she nodded. "Master Mattias will see you now."
"Finally some good news," Anna sighed. She followed the droid down a series of corridors until they reached Mattias' room. She found comfort in her master's soft smile as he turned to face her.
"Padawan," he greeted. His smile faded as he observed her demeanor. "You're not looking well."
"I've seen better days," Anna admitted.
"Well you don't have to worry about me," Mattias assured. "The surgery was a complete success. For what it's worth, I already feel far more flexible with this quadanium cybernetic."
"I'm happy to hear it," Anna said and Mattias tried to read her mind.
"Anna," he worried. "What happened? Is this about-" His facial expression was enough for Anna to understand his inference. Doing so made her think of Jee all over again and she hung her head in shame.
"I failed, master." Anna said. "The pardon wasn't possible and I couldn't get her out."
Mattias frowned as Anna sat at his bedside. "I'm sorry, apprentice," he whispered.
"Don't be," Anna replied. "It's my fault for promising her something like it was guaranteed in the first place. I just really thought I could help her, but I couldn't get anything right in the end."
Mattias pondered for a moment before answering. "Look at it this way, Padawan," he began. "Yes, you may have failed...but what can you do about that failure now?" Anna raised a skeptical brow as he continued. "All of the odds are stacked against us sometimes. And while we might lose, that doesn't mean we can't learn something from our defeats."
Anna scoffed. "But Jee-"
"I'm not talking about Jee right now," Mattias intoned. "I'm talking about you and the factors that you can change. So think for a moment and tell me what you've learned from this situation."
Anna huffed and forced herself to re-experience the stress. She mostly focused on Fox abusing Jee and Elsa's perceived incompetence before answering. "I learned that the only person you can rely on is yourself," Anna confessed. "And that everyone else just gets in the way."
"That's a lot of pressure to put on your shoulders," Mattias considered.
"I'm strong enough to carry it," Anna asserted. "I never should've trusted anyone to help me. I could've gotten Jee out of jail myself."
"Legally?" Mattias asked softly.
"Yes," Anna scoffed and tried to manage her tone.
"And how would you have managed that?" Mattias inquired.
Anna's brows furrowed and her gaze wandered across the room. "I- I don't know," she argued. "I would've found a way. Somewhere...somehow. After everything I've gone through, slip-ups like that shouldn't happen."
"Says who?" Mattias responded. "I've experienced far more than you have and I still make plenty of mistakes. You lost, Anna. You don't have to like it, but you do have to accept it. Because it certainly won't be the last time things go astray."
"I don't know what's going to become of Jee," Anna admitted. "Or Hans for that matter. He won't answer any of my calls and-"
"Hans isn't your responsibility," Mattias said. "You are powerful, my apprentice. But do not mistake your newfound strength for a reason to carry everyone else's problems."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Anna grumbled. "I feel lost."
Mattias sat up and inched himself closer to her. "I think that the easiest way to find yourself again is to do so through an act of service."
"You mean like the one I messed up on?" Anna remarked and Mattias sighed.
"You are still too focused on your errors. You aren't perfect, Anna. Remember that your true strength resides in your imperfection." Anna thought back to her epiphany in Ilum's crystal caves and nodded in agreement.
The LEP droid poked its teeny head in through the doorway. "Master Mattias," it computed. "You have visitors."
"Right on time," Mattias said. "Send'em in!"
Anna raised a suspicious brow and leaned towards her master. "Wait," she queried. "Who else did you send for?"
Mattias smirked at her. "Before I went into surgery, I expressed my own interest in taking my cybernetic for an active field test."
The doors opened and a pair of feathered figures had Anna's eyes widening. A short and elderly Avinarian waddled in and boldly hooted to announce his presence. "Master Mattias!" he proclaimed and ruffled his silvery feathers. "How are you, my good man?"
"Master Chuza," Mattias chuckled. "I feel like a million credits."
While the masters caught up with each other, Anna remained focused on Chuza's apprentice. She hadn't really seen Gav Riden since the horrid attack on Scarif. They hadn't checked in on each other and seeing him again left things even more tense. Gav's black-speckled, pale feathers twitched when he glanced at Anna. Seeking to break the ice, Anna tried speaking to him. "Hey Gav," she uttered. "Uhm...Long time no see."
"Yep," the Avinarian murmured with barely any eye contact.
Anna huffed and tried to combat the heaviness around her. "So...how have you been?" she asked.
"Fan-tastic," he answered swiftly. "Training every day from sunrise to sunset. I'm passing my trials and on the road to becoming a Jedi Knight. I'll be the greatest this Order has ever seen."
His overly-intense tone threw Anna off and she tried addressing it comically. "Okay, Gav," she jested and Gav scoffed at her. "What?"
Gav leaned against the wall and preened his feathers. "It just figures you'd be making me out to be a joke," he hissed. "Especially after that cheap shot you gave me back in the Corellian Cup."
Anna's welcoming demeanor crumbled and she knitted her brows. "I beat you fair and square," she countered.
"Sure you did," Gav snarked and rolled his eyes. "Whatever. It doesn't matter anyway because I'm still ahead of you. My master and I have our own clone unit. We've already engaged Separatist forces on the frontlines."
"I've worked with clones too," Anna mumbled. "You're not that special."
Her final remark was more of a slip, mostly spurred by her already irked mood. Regardless, the last thing Anna needed was to be heckled by the likes of Gav. His black-taloned feet scraped across the medbay floor as he stomped up to her. "And you are?" Gav growled.
Anna and Gav stared each other down until Chuza's boasting caught their attention. "The 54th Attack Battalion!" the elder screeched. "Or as you might have heard of them: The Flying 54th. Mattias, I'm telling you...our boys are the fiercest, most daring clones that the Grand Army of the Republic has ever seen. Captain Talon's tenacity rivals that of Old Republic trooper, Jace Malcom!"
"These clones of yours sound very impressive," Mattias said. "You must be very proud."
"Indubitably so," Chuza assured.
"My Padawan and I would be honored to join you for a mission," Mattias proposed.
"Wait, what?" Gav and Anna blurted in unison. They gave each other the stink-eye as their masters continued their conversation.
"I should've known there was something you'd want," Chuza muttered. "It's never just a chat with you, is it?"
Mattias laughed at Chuza's remark. "I'm itching to get out of this bed, Chuza," he said. "I'm ready to break boundaries! Plus, Anna could use some fresh air off Coruscant."
That'd be great, Anna thought. If this feathery ball of angst wasn't coming along too!
"Plus-" Mattias added. "I'd have quite the treat for you if we were to embark on a joint operation." Chuza pivoted his head with intrigue as Mattias continued. "Oh that's right," Mattias smirked. "You didn't hear. My team and I uncovered an ancient ship during our venture to Ilum." Chuza's beak grinded with anticipation and Mattias paused to build tension. "An Old... Republic...Hammerhead-class cruiser."
"Lies!" Chuza sputtered.
"Truth!" Mattias snapped with equal ferocity. "And not just any cruiser. Admiral Carth Onasi's." It looked as thought Chuza's brain was imploding as Mattias fed off of his reaction. "We flew it and everything."
"By the Force," Chuza uttered. "That's impossible."
"Is it?" Mattias teased. "I suppose you'll never know unless we-"
"Work together," Chuza concluded. "Yes yes, of course! Goodness gracious, Mattias. You know how to pull this old bird's wings. Where is this historic, legendary vessel?"
"Kamino," Mattias answered. "Along with my squad of clones."
"Does the Hammerhead have an admiral?" Chuza asked and the room went silent. "I support riding in this relic and having you tag along, but you must also abide by my rules. I do things by the book, Master Mattias. Official joint military operations must have trained leaders in command of battle cruisers. That's how they did it in the Old Republic and that's how it should be."
"Master," Anna inquired. "I'm all for getting away from things and seeing our clones again, but where are we going to find an admiral?"
Mattias plopped against his pillow and drifted into his own thoughts. A gentle, yet eager smile found its way across his lips as he slid out of bed. "I know just the person," he said.
Master Mattias' bold steps echoed through the halls of the Republic Naval Academy. Anna and the other Jedi trailed behind, observing the spritely spring in his step. The sight brought a smile to Anna's face as she considered his improved cybernetic. One of the academy's instructors guided Mattias to the library and pointed towards a studious cadet. "Wait here," the master told his companions.
Anna huffed, realizing she'd be forced to endure more awkward idleness alongside Gav. While Master Chuza marveled over the busts of ancient admirals, Anna tried to keep to herself. She groaned when her holocom started irksomely ringing. Its chimes brayed across the hall as Anna glanced at the ID. Upon seeing Elsa's name, she crossed her arms and leaned against the nearby wall.
Irritated by the incessant ringing, Gav finally spoke up. "Are you...gonna answer that?" he griped.
Anna didn't even humor him with a glance. "Nope," she asserted.
Gav's feathers ruffled in frustration. "Great," he mumbled as the device kept ringing.
Mattias entered the library and slowly approached the studying cadet. He cleared his throat in an effort to garner the young man's attention. Mattias couldn't help but chuckle as the cadet's eyes remained practically glued to his holobook.
The Zygerrian cadet next to him gasped when she realized who was present. Cadet Amelia Tomz slowly set her datapad and writing stylus down. Her emerald eyes widened and she tapped on her friend's shoulder. "Um...Shang?" she whispered. "You're going to want to put that book down." Her pleasant tone dropped when he didn't immediately do so. "Now."
Flustered, Shang obliged and slowly turned to her. "What could be so important that-" He followed Amelia's gaze to Mattias and nearly fell out of his seat. "Master Jedi!" he yelped and rushed to salute him. "I...it..." Shang composed himself and grew stern-faced. "I have no excuse."
"At ease, cadet." Mattias replied. "There's no need for apologies. I wish to speak with you privately." Mattias peered up at a quiet balcony and beckoned Shang to follow him. While the two went off, Cadet Jay Norrington returned with several holobooks.
"Hey Amelia," Norrington greeted. "Where's Shang?" Amelia discreetly pointed up as Shang departed with Mattias.
"Your instructors tell me that you're acing your classes," Mattias mentioned.
"I do what I can," Shang replied. "I'll be graduating soon and wish to do so with the highest honors."
"Your ambition serves you well," Mattias lauded. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," Shang assured and Mattias raised a brow. Despite the cadet's words, the master could sense his festering grief. "Really I am. With all due respect, you don't have to check up on me. I'm working to 'become my own legend' just as you said to. I'm studying now so I can find chances to prove myself in the future."
Mattias paused for a moment and leaned in. "What if one of those chances found you?" he asked.
"I don't follow," Shang admitted.
"Cadet Shang," Mattias began. "Your father's legacy will carry on into everything you do next. It is because of your ambitious and determined spirit that I want to offer you a special opportunity." Shang's eyes lit up with curiosity as Mattias continued. "I'm about to embark on a joint operation, but need an admiral at the helm of my cruiser."
"I'm only a cadet," Shang insisted.
"But what if this was your trial?" Mattias asked. "A means to truly test your mettle. Before I searched for an official admiral, I wanted to extend this opportunity to you because you deserve it. You'd be given protection by the Jedi Order and your instructors have granted us permission if you accept." Shang appeared overwhelmed by the proposition. He couldn't believe it was even happening and rubbed his eyes in astonishment. "You wanted a chance to prove yourself," Mattias said. "Here it is."
Shang shut his eyes to weigh his options. As he drifted deep into his thoughts, the most prominent image was that of his father. Seeking to make the late Jata Shang proud, he opened his eyes and extended a hand to Mattias. "I'll do it, Master Jedi," he said. "I have extensive knowledge on Venator-class Star Destroyers and look forward to commanding one for this mission." Mattias' wobbly grin had Shang tilting his head. "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing," Mattias answered. "It's just that...you won't be commanding a Venator."
Cadet Shang hadn't been aboard a Star Destroyer since his earliest days at the academy. Ever since that tour, any training for his inevitable day of commanding one had been virtual. When they weren't in classrooms, prospective admirals would spend hours in virtual reality simulators, directing AI from an artificial command bridge. Shang was as observant as cadets came and silently scanned his surroundings. He noted every discrepancy the real Venator had from its VR counterpart. As he stood towards the back of the bridge, he observed the destroyer's true leader. Admiral Rodin was a bold and broad-shouldered individual. His neatly-trimmed hair was kept as orderly as the rest of his vessel. Freckles lined his dark cheeks as his stern eyes scoured the laboring officers. Shang admired Rodin's prowess and would've kept observing had a certain squabble not distracted him. He looked over at Anna and Gav. The two had been going at each other since they'd left Coruscant and their masters could only do so much. Shang struggled to understand their problems as every passive-aggressive jeer left them huffing. Their arrival to Kamino couldn't come soon enough.
The weather was partly cloudy in Tipoca City as their Venator docked in a hangar. While Gav yearned to keep prodding at Anna, he found it alarming when she rushed ahead of everyone. She hurried to disembark first and found a trio of newly-minted ARF troopers waiting for her. Although Anna wasn't the most Force sensitive, she was overjoyed to know which clones were under those unique helmets. She admired the fiery red accents on their armor until one trooper spoke up. "So without using any fancy Jedi tricks," he jeered. "Which brother am I?"
Anna snickered and exaggerated a thoughtful hum. "Let me guess...Speedy."
"What gave it away?" he laughed.
"Oh I don't know," Anna quipped. "MAYBE THE CYBERNETIC LEGS!"
"Little sister!" Sergeant Blazer rejoiced and immediately pulled her into a headlock. He playfully noogied her until she elbowed him in the chest.
"We've missed you, Anna." Lieutenant Sparx confessed.
"I've missed you boys, too." Anna answered. "But look at you all! ARF troopers...so fancy."
Gav grimaced at the sight of Anna mingling so closely with her troopers. His heart sank when a set of footsteps caught his attention. All heads turned across the hangar as a pair of dark green, plastoid boots stomped in. A short, versatile kama of the same color remained tightly clipped against the wearer's belt. Ferocious green stripes lined this clone's arms and helmet, making him look like some predatory nexu. A pair of twin DC-17 blaster pistols swayed from his holsters.
The striped clone's intimidating presence brought a smile to Master Chuza's beak. "My friends," the Avinarian elder began. "It is my honor to present Captain Talon of the Flying 54th Attack Battalion."
The captain's expressionless helmet turned towards Blazer, Speedy, and Sparx. His voice was grizzly yet breathy when he spoke. "So these are the ARF'stagging along with us?" He looked to Chuza and muttered, "Can they keep up?"
"Of course we can keep up!" Blazer blurted. "We've already seen combat, captain."
"How many engagements have you been in, sergeant?" Talon asked coldly.
"Five, sir."
"Twenty-one," Talon asserted. "And I've lost plenty of brave men each time. So I wanna make sure you know what you're getting yourselves into."
Noticing how angry Blazer was getting, Sparx chose to speak for him. "With all due respect, Captain Talon...we were on Felucia. We understand the loss you speak of."
Talon sighed. "Can you use a JT-12?" Anna's clones' ensuing silence had Talon shaking his head. "Well you'd better be fast learners. They don't call us the Flying 54th for nothing."
Anna waited until the captain turned and then leaned over to Blazer. "What's a JT-12?" she asked. Blazer discreetly pointed at the bulky, armored jetpack on Talon's back.
"Oh," Anna uttered, realizing she'd never flown with one either. "Well how hard could it be?"
Gav laughed at her comment and stepped away. "Never too late to back out, Dellian," he snarked.
"I really hate that bird," Anna growled and clenched her fists.
"Want me to punch him?" Blazer offered.
"He's just trying to get under your skin," Sparx lectured.
"Probably jealous of you," Speedy added.
Anna watched Gav depart and thought of her own traumas. "It's possible," she answered. "But maybe...he's just hurting."
"So is that a yes to me punching him?" Blazer inquired. "I'm just checking because you didn't say no." Anna playfully nudged the sergeant before they regrouped with Shang and Mattias.
"How are you feeling about jetpacks, master?" Anna asked.
"Although the concept seems intimidating-" Mattias confessed. "-this new cybernetic makes me feel rather...invincible. This mission will be a learning experience for all of us." He gestured to Shang, who remained silently observant. "That boy's as mysterious as the dark side of a moon."
"What's on your mind, cadet?" Anna asked to break the tension. "I promise we don't bite."
Shang was initially hesitant to speak with the Padawan. He tried comparing their ranks in his mind and found it fascinating how different lifestyles determined their position in the war. He was twenty-three and deduced that Anna was still a teenager. Yet while he and countless others were studying to join the military, the Jedi were sending people younger than him to fight. When he noticed how long he'd been delving into his own thoughts, he decided to answer the youngest Dellian's comments.
"I'm just curious about this Old Republic ship I'll be commanding," Shang said. "Where is it?"
"Oh you'll know when it's nearby," Mattias jested. "You'll hear Master Chuza lose his mind." In that instant, the old Avinarian unleashed an ear-splitting screech.
"Like that!" Anna joked.
The group rushed over to see the new and fully-reconstructed Hammerhead cruiser. Chuza dropped to his knees like an apostle at a sacred sight. "Y-...you really did it," he chirped. "You maniacs!" he squawked hysterically. "By the will of the righteous Force and masters of old, you've graced us all with this treasure from our golden age!" Chuza embraced Master Shaak Ti like a giddy child as tears of joy fled his eyes. "May our ancestors smile down upon you from beyond the Cosmic Force! Oh happy, happy day!"
Ti humored the elder with a faint grin and patted his feathery head. "I'm...glad you like it," she said.
"Like it? I love it!" Chuza waddled up to the Hammerhead and admired it at point blank range. "The finest in Rendili craftsmanship. Dual turbolasers...a tractor beam...it's all here!" Gav cringed as his master began to literally kiss the ship's hull.
Anna concealed a snicker while watching Gav's embarrassment. Those white feathers of his are turning red, she joked to herself. "Master Ti," Mattias marveled. "You've really outdone yourself. The ship looks like it was just manufactured."
"In some ways it was," the Togruta replied. "Now it can aid the Republic just as it did thousands of years ago." Ti gestured to a crew of fresh-faced, clone officers. "These men will serve you well."
"Thank you," Mattias said and prepared to instruct Shang.
"I admire what you're doing for that boy," Ti added. "Just as I appreciate what you've done for your apprentice and the clones beside her."
Mattias simpered. "Yes well...I just want them to reach their full potential."
"As all great masters do," Ti said. "You're able to inspire those around you, Mattias. Perhaps you will look into further mentoring once Anna is knighted."
"Oh I don't know," Mattias laughed nervously. "I might want to take a break from Padawans after that handful." He jokingly gestured to Anna while Shaak Ti placed a hand on his shoulder.
"There are many ways to teach, Mattias," she said. "They don't all have to involve a Padawan."
Shang examined the Hammerhead's structure and asked, "So does the ship have a name?"
"Not yet," Blazer said. "But seeing as it's ours, we should be the ones to title it. How about the Deathchaser?"
"The Deathchasers in a Deathchaser?" Sparx muttered. "I think we can do better than that, Sarge."
"What if we name it the Legacy?" Anna proposed. "A combination of its old and newly forged histories."
The clones nodded amongst each other while Shang shrugged. "Not bad," the cadet said. "I like it."
While the group set foot aboard the Legacy, they heard the monstrous stomps of the Flying 54th. Captain Talon led his stalwart, robust troopers into their corresponding Venator. The green-armored mass would have any B1 battled droid quaking with fear. While some clones had Aurebesh expressions sprayed on their jetpacks, others etched tally marks to keep track of their confirmed kills.
"They don't look so tough," Blazer grumbled.
"The clones or the jetpacks?" Speedy quipped before boarding.
Re-entering the cruiser was like a refurbished blast from the past. Weeks of training on Ilum returned to Anna and the clones as they observed the newly built corridors. The sight was a true reminder that their valiant efforts had defied the impossible. "Home sweet home," Blazer remarked.
The clone officers shuffled to their stations while others looked to Shang on the command bridge. The cadet observed each intricate terminal with inquisitive eyes and swiped through his options. Shaak Ti's crew had refitted the Hammerhead with modern Republic equipment and updated its databanks with current happenings. As Shang ran his fingers across the primary dashboard, he took a moment to observe those around him. From the Jedi to the clones, Admiral Yularen's words still remained true.
"Preserve life where you can, for you are meant to lead. Your Republic needs you alive and no amount of fame nor infamy is worth anything else. You should only be a hero to your crew and most of all, to yourself."
Keeping the lives of his crew in mind, Shang straightened his posture and dared to speak. "Activate the engines and prepare for takeoff," he declared. "Keep us alongside that Venator and await further orders."
"Right away, sir!" an officer hollered before he and the other clones got to work.
"Damn," Anna admitted to the Deathchasers. "Hard to believe that Shang there is a cadet. He sounds like a pro." Anna reclined from her seat and propped her feet up.
"Padawan Dellian," Shang scolded. "Would you be so kind as to remove your feet from that dashboard?"
All eyes turned to Anna as she chuckled nervously. "Oh it's okay," she assured. "The boys and I used to relax here when we-"
"That was when you found this ship," Shang intoned. "This is now a Republic warship and I will not tolerate such disrespectful behavior."
"Right," Anna relented and lowered her feet from the dashboard.
"Like you said," Mattias teased. "He sounds like a pro." Anna stuck her tongue out at him until a sudden chime sounded. She dreaded the idea of it being her holocom and sighed in relief when it wasn't.
"Incoming transmission, sir!" an officer proclaimed.
"Put it through," Shang ordered.
A teal-hued hologram projected into the center of the bridge. Captain Talon and a second rocket trooper materialized before standing at attention. "Failure is not an option with this joint operation," Talon asserted.
"What's our destination?" Shang asked.
"Bespin," Talon answered and a massive planet flickered into view. "It's a gas giant in the Anoat Sector of the Outer Rim. As a major source of tibanna gas, the planet is home to multiple refineries. Intelligence reports that the Separatists are launching an all out assault on Skyway Station, a mining facility amidst the clouds. If the clankers get their hands on the tibanna reserves there, I don't want to think about all the weapons and ships they'd power up."
"So what are we waiting for?" Gav cawed. "Let's back up those miners!"
"Easier said than done," Talon murmured. "I'm going to turn things over to Lieutenant Boomer."
The second trooper stepped forward and said, "While Skway's been informed of the incoming threat, we can expect heavy opposition. We'll be dropping in alongside other nearby destroyers to intercept the clankers before they can even breach the atmosphere. With the fleets occupied, our infantry units will advance to Skyway Station and reinforce the tibanna reserves. Time is of the essence, so let's make the jump to lightspeed and move it out."
The transmission ended and Shang turned to his officers. "You heard the captain," he said. "Engage the hyperdrive and set coordinates for Bespin. Make the jump on my command." Shang waited for the Legacy to glide in just the right direction alongside the Venator. "Launch," he ordered and the Hammerhead lurched backward. The ship's hyperdrive whirred and engines roared while the stars stretched across their viewport. With a thunderous bang, the Legacy and its accompanying Star Destroyer warped into the void of hyperspace.
As they rocketed away, Anna noticed Gav shuddering from the noise. The young Avinarian's eyes twitched and he averted his gaze from the viewport. When he caught Anna staring, he hurriedly stormed off down one of the corridors. Determined to get away from the sound, he slipped into the crew quarters and threw himself against one of the beds. Any attempt to disappear into his own thoughts was thwarted when Anna emerged in the doorway. "What do you want?" he groaned.
"Are you okay?" Anna asked. "And don't give me that 'I'm fine' banthacrap." Gav scoffed and rolled away from her in his bed. "This isn't about the Corellian Cup, is it?"
Gav's furrowed brows softened, yet he continued to scowl in her presence. "What would you know?" he whispered sharply.
"More than most," Anna insisted. "More than either of our masters at least. They didn't go through what we went through, Gav. I know it haunts you because it haunts all of us. Tori and I are just now starting to move on but-"
"Maybe I've moved on too," Gav asserted. He flipped over, sat upright, and angrily flapped his wings towards her. "Unlike you, I didn't sit around crying over myself after Scarif. I joined the war and I've been fighting ever since."
"And that's great for you, Gav." Anna complimented. "But it doesn't make what happened hurt any less. We can try all we want to lose ourselves in the service of others, but the effects of what happened still remain. A Jedi Healer told me about triggers. They-"
"I know what triggers are," Gav scolded. "I'm not stupid. Every time I go into hyperspace, there's a split second where I feel like I'm back on the Ethereal...just waiting to crash on that awful beach. And that just leads into-" Gav shut his eyes and painfully relived Ventress' attack. "Do you still hear her laugh?" He looked to Anna with sorrow and agony in his eyes.
"Yes," Anna admitted.
"She just cut us down," Gav recalled. "There's times where I think Master Chuza's the most annoying Jedi in the galaxy. Hell, I really wish he'd get off my back most of the time. But when Ventress was slaughtering our friends on that beach, laughing while she did it..." Gav shook his head in disbelief. "I just wanted my master. I just wanted him to come save me because I wasn't strong enough. I was-" Gav swallowed hard and bit back the rest of his statement.
"Scared?" Anna concluded for him. "We all were whether we admitted to it or not."
"We shouldn't be," Gav retorted and anxiously grinded his beak. "That Sith witch shouldn't have that kind of power over us."
"I understand more than you know," Anna reiterated. "We get through this by continuing to live. Ventress wants to break Jedi. Why else would she carry out such a terrible attack against students? But you have to give yourself more credit, Gav. You don't have to be perfect. Your true strength resides in your imperfection."
"Spare me the lecture," the Avinarian groused. "You might have the others fooled, but I know you still think you're better than us."
Anna leered at him and inquired, "There's no way I can convince you of otherwise, is there?" Gav's silence had her stressfully biting her lip. "I'll tell you what," Anna suggested. "You think I'm lecturing you, so why don't you lecture me?" Her proposition got the Avianrian's attention as Anna scrambled to grab a jetpack. "You can teach me how to use this before we get to Bespin."
"And give you something else to boast about?" he cawed. "Pass."
"Come on, Gav." Anna insisted. "I'm really trying to work with you here. We're about to go against real enemies and don't have time for this right now. Can't we just be friends?"
"No," Gav asserted. "We can't because you haven't changed."
"What do you want from me?" Anna asked exasperatedly.
"Admit that you aren't the most powerful Padawan in the Jedi Temple." Gav rose from the bed and stood over Anna. "I want to hear you say it."
"Oh come on," Anna began with a jittery smile. "That's just crazy. I-"
"Then tell me that you don't think you're the best and I'll stop acting like you need to be beaten." Anna struggled to find the right answer as she battled her own ego within. Impatient and frustrated with her silence, the Avinarian glowered. "That's what I thought," he said and trudged out of the room.
"Gav, wait." Anna called.
"You're pathetic," Gav spat from down the corridor.
His words left Anna's face flushed with red. Her nostrils flared as every past failure clustered within her mind. Each error swirled under the seething, torturous word of "PATHETIC." Enraged, Anna grabbed a pillow from the nearest bed and flung it across the room. As if the universe wanted to further torment her, Anna's holocom started ringing for Elsa's umpteenth call. With wild eyes and gritted teeth, Anna dropped to her knees and answered the call.
"What?" Anna snapped from the moment Elsa's face projected into view. "What could you possibly want that you feel the need to call me dozens and dozens of times?"
Taken aback by her sister's state of being, Elsa grew increasingly concerned. "Anna, are you alright?"
"What do you think?" Anna growled. "Don't even bother asking what's wrong, cause I'll tell ya...Everything!"
Elsa hung her head and spoke somberly through the projection. "Anna, I've been trying to reach you because I need you to know how very sorry I am."
"Oh you're sorry?" Anna interrupted. "Well that magically fixes everything. Thanks, sis!"
"I know that's not true," Elsa said. "And I want to do whatever I can to help you."
"You want to really help me? I've got an easy answer for you." Anna pursed her lips and leaned into the device. "Go away, Elsa!" she yelled.
Elsa gasped at her words and tone, but tried to see past it. "Okay," she softly responded. "Bye." Elsa ended her transmission and left Anna to slam the holocom down. She banged her head against a wall, stared up at the ceiling, and let the tears escape her eyes. Fury clashed with exhaustion as Anna's body went limp amidst her anguish. She slouched back and disappeared into the darkness of her mind.
Several rumbles echoed throughout the recesses of Anna's thoughts. Each sound caused her to further stir until she finally awakened with a gasp. The crew quarters trembled around her and Anna nearly toppled over. Her groggy eyes fluttered open and hurriedly wiped the drool from her lips. "Wha-...what the?" she muttered.
"Anna!" she hardly heard her master shout. "Anna!" Mattias slid into the room and peered over with wild eyes. "There you are!"
"What's going on?" Anna mumbled.
"We've just come out of hyperspace," Mattias explained. "On your feet, Padawan. The attack's begun!"
"Huh?" was all Anna could utter before a sudden strike rocked the vessel's foundation.
Mattias handed Anna her the nearby jetpack and beckoned her forward. "We're about to engage the enemy fleet," he said. "Come on!"
Anna struggled to fasten her jetpack and stumbled after Mattias. They returned to the command bridge and observed the colossal gas giant of Bespin. The fiery, orange orb took up most of the Legacy's viewport while lasers zipped across it. Separatist dreadnoughts had already intercepted the nearby Star Destroyers and were attempting to breach their blockade. "Prime the turbolasers," Shang ordered. "Concentrate all fire on the enemy spires!"
A squadron of vulture droids fired lasers at the Legacy's bridge. While the cruiser shook from the impact, those aboard remained unharmed. "Shields are holding, sir," an officer reported.
"Wedge us between the Venators," Shang decreed. "We must hold the line."
Damn, Anna thought. That guy really is a natural.
"Sir!" another officer warned and Shang's head snapped over. "We've got landing craft just below us. They're headed straight for the surface!"
Shang's eyes darted between the ship readouts and the dreadnoughts in front of them. "It's a distraction," he realized. "Break off the attack and get us down to Bespin. Someone patch me through to Talon." An officer efficiently transmitted a holomessage over to the nearby Venator. Talon's helmeted visage appeared and he saluted Shang. "Captain, scanners are showing multiple droid transports making their way to Skyway Station. We need to shut them down."
"My gunships are enroute," Talon said. "See you planetside, General Chuza."
"Jedi reinforcements are on the way!" Chuza hooted and eagerly flapped his wings at Shang. "What are you waiting for, boy? Take us down!"
Shang ignored the impatient Avinarian and continued his methodical descent. "Prepare for aerial assault," he said as the Legacy entered Bespin's atmosphere. The Hammerhead's bridge gave it the appearance of a metallic shark, brandishing its dorsal fin in a sea of clouds. The ship approached its prey from below while Talon's gunships swept in from above.
"What's our plan of attack?" Mattias asked.
"The 54th will drop in and we'll be backing them up," Chuza said. "I hope you're ready to put that cybernetic to the test."
Talon's gunships swarmed over the first transport. Their hatches opened and the valiant captain was the first to leap out. "Light 'em up, boys!" he roared as the entire battalion poured out. Like a swarm of lethal insects, the clones jetpacked out and descended upon the transport. They split into coordinated groups, dropping detonators and blasting away at turbines. It was only a matter of time before hatches started opening and B1 battle droids emerged. They magnetized their feet to the ship to prevent themselves from falling off. This wouldn't save them from the storm of blue lasers unleashed by incoming clones. Sporting his twin pistols, Talon flew across the transport and decimated droids.
"We can't let them have all the fun!" Blazer yelled eagerly. "Open the hatch!"
The Legacy soared alongside the damaged transport and dropped its ventral hatch. The sounds of laserfire filled the cloudy skies as those aboard watched the battle. Red and blue lasers darted across the transport as clones and droids alike were sent plummeting. "Now or never then," Chuza said. "May the Force be with us!" he squawked and leapt out of the ship. Saving on jetpack fuel, he spread his wings and glided towards the transport. Once he was close enough, Chuza dropped into a roll and ignited his green lightsaber.
Mattias secured his jetpack and dashed ahead. "Come on, Anna!" he called.
"Master, wait!" Anna blurted, but Mattias had already jumped. She hurriedly turned to the Deathchasers and tried to stop them before jumping. "Brothers! How do y-"
"Let's get some!" Blazer roared, tapped on his vambrace, and charged in the heat of the moment. He, Sparx and Speedy sprung from the hatch as Anna tried to reach them. While they too were beginners, they still had a better grasp over jetpacking then Anna did.
"Kriffing hell!" Anna cursed from the hatch's edge. "They must've practiced while I was asleep." She watched everyone else hover around and battle across the transport. Her heart raced as the winds blasted against her face and she remained skittish about jumping.
"What's the matter, Anna?" Gav snarked from behind her. "Having second thoughts?" The Avinarian strutted by her side and secured his own jetpack. "It's okay if you want to sit this one out. After all, I told our masters you were struggling."
"You what?" Anna uttered.
"They asked about you during the hyperspace jump. I told them I tried to teach you jetpacking. But you were just too stubborn to learn."
"You son of a-"
Gav relished in Anna's scowl and saluted her. "Hope you enjoy the view from up here, Dellian," he heckled. "I'll put on a good show for you." He cackled to himself and leapt towards the transport. Gav's laugh was short-lived when he suddenly felt a peculiar mass collide against him. "What the?" His eyes widened as a pair of arms wrapped around his waist.
"You won't get rid of me that easily!" Anna grunted while he flailed through the air.
"Have you lost your mind?" Gav screeched and tried to shake her off. His jetpack sputtered and they spiraled over the raging battle.
"You brought this on yourself!" Anna retorted. "Now land!"
"Get off!" Gav cawed. With a furious spin, he flung Anna off of his back and away from the transport. All anger had left him from the moment he landed safely. "Anna!" he yelped and watched her plummet through the clouds. I-...I didn't think she'd actually jump, he grieved. I just wanted to sabotage her. I didn't think she'd...she'd- Gav buried his face in his wings. "No!" he squawked out loud and thought of the others who'd fallen. Images of Surk, Nelani, Velti, and Dokin all haunted him from within. A fifth face found its way into Gav's troubled mind. Anna's grim expression plagued him as he nearly dropped to his knees.
"Padawan!" Chuza called to him. "Look out!" Gav snapped out of his episode and activated his green lightsaber. He spun and engaged incoming battle droids while Chuza dashed over. "Glad you could join us," the master griped. "Where's Padawan Dellian?" he asked and Gav became sick to his stomach.
Anna wasn't sure how long she'd been falling for. There was no telling if Bespin even had a solid surface to it as she descended at daunting speeds. Her arms and legs flailed as she used the Force in her panic. Random bursts of energy separated clouds but did little to improve her situation. Focus, Anna, she told herself. The jetpack. You can figure this out! She recalled how Blazer had activated something on his vambrace and tried to mimic his gesture. She steadied her arm and glared at an assortment of unknown buttons. One of these has got to work, she thought and started pressing them at random. She gasped when one of her actions caused her jetpack to beep. Please don't explode. She pressed another and it sent her jetpack rocketing leftward. Regardless of what direction she launched, Anna couldn't get her jetpack to stabilize. "Come on!" she grunted. "Where. Is. Kriffing. Hover?"
Anna backflipped while freefalling and tried the furthest button. Her body jerked forward and started to come to a gradual halt. Anna shut her eyes to brace herself, but opened them to find herself hovering. "Haha!" she cheered. "Anna - 1! Jetpack - 0! Now what?" Anna looked towards the clouds above and tried motioning herself in that direction. "Okay, that's not how that works." She tried hitting another button, which briefly disabled the hovering feature until she switched it back. "Nope! Not that one." Anna scoffed. "Whoever designed this was undoubtedly on deathsticks." The next switch Anna tried left her jetpack in a hovering mode, but shifted directions with her corresponding body motions. A daring smirk found its way across her lips as she looked to the clouds above. "Oh now it's on," she declared and flew towards the sounds of battle.
Droid limbs clattered across the transport while their legs remained magnetized. Blazer took aim at a B1, but it was quickly blasted to pieces from overhead. Flustered, Blazer aimed elsewhere and found other potential targets. Before he could open fire, Captain Talon flew by and hastily obliterated them. "Seriously?" the sergeant snapped.
Talon didn't even bother responding and continued to decimate droids. While Sparx and Speedy formed up on Blazer, the Jedi covered their flank. A flurry of green lightsabers flashed as Mattias and Chuza kept up a solid defense. While they batted away incoming lasers, Gav remained in a stupefied state. His heart sank when Mattias asked, "Has anyone seen Anna?"
Whatever morals Gav still grasped pried at him from within. He tried to speak up but only choked on the words. "I-...I-"
Mattias found a pause in the laserfire and glanced at the young Avinarian. His brows furrowed as he sensed Gav's anxiety. "Padawan Riden," Mattias inquired and his tone deepened. "What happened?"
A painful lump formed in Gav's throat as he struggled to answer. When he finally opened his beak, a wild scream reverberated from the skies. Everyone looked up to see a bright green lightsaber slicing through the clouds. With a valiant lunge, Anna Dellian soared into battle and drove her blade into a droid. Gav felt like he could finally breathe while the rest of the Jedi carried on normally. He stared at the redhead in sheer disbelief as she thrashed around and still managed to use her jetpack.
Anna barely stuck her landing and rolled next to Mattias. "Sorry I'm late," she sighed while glaring at Gav. "Just had to figure this jetpack out. What'd I miss?"
As soon as Anna asked that question, several detonations ignited across the transport. Monstrous tufts of black smoke billowed out as the engines caught fire. "This transport's done for," Talon said. "On to the next one!" Without a second thought, Talon propelled himself off of the doomed craft and rocketed towards the next one.
"Abandon ship!" Chuza ordered as the battalion took off. The Deathchasers, Mattias, and Anna were quick to accompany him. Gav was about to launch when a nearby turbine combusted and sent him tumbling. "Padawan!" Chuza squawked from midair.
Gav rolled alongside flaming heaps of debris. His talons scraped against the scorched hull as he fought to regain his footing. Just when he did so, a dislodged panel tilted towards him. He braced for an inevitable collision, but a foreign force impeded it. Gav opened his eyes to see Anna skidding beside him. With her flexed arms raised, she kept the dented panel at bay. "Go!" she growled through gritted teeth. Seizing the opportunity, Gav slipped out and rocketed to safety.
Blazer, Sparx, and Speedy then jetpacked over to hold the panel from above. "You're clear, kid!" Blazer hollered. Anna flew out and joined the others just as the transport exploded in midair. She glided alongside a shaken Gav and they landed on the next transport.
"You alright?" she asked him.
"Fine," Gav murmured. "Anna...about before I-"
"Just leave it," she sternly asserted and flourished her lightsaber. "We've got droids inbound!"
"Right," Gav relented.
Blazer blasted a B1's head off and cheered for himself. Any hope of getting a second kill was ruined when Talon swept in. The jetpacking captain was an armored angel of death. His striped plastoid was a blur as he rained blue plasma on his enemies. He was a deadly, aerial acrobat who was able to perfectly manipulate his jetpack for precise maneuvers. "Boomer!" Talon beckoned.
His lieutenant hovered over and readied his rifle. "Yes sir?"
"I think these clankers could use a remodeling on their bridge." Talon's words were enough for Boomer to get the hint and they flew off together.
Several battle droids were computing away from the transport's command bridge. One of them glimpsed a clone in its photoreceptors and had to do a double take. By then it was too late and Boomer had thrown an impact grenade at the viewport. True to its name, the explosive blasted the glass to pieces and allowed Talon to breach the interior. The droids didn't even have a chance to flee before they were riddled with steaming lasers. Talon spun around and used his jetpack to stay airborne while firing both pistols. Once the bridge was clear, he and Boomer tossed several thermal detonators and escaped into the clouds.
Anna watched Talon massacre droids while the ravaged transport descended. "He's so kriffing awesome," she said.
"I guess," Blazer mumbled. "But I'm awesome too." He leaned closer when Anna didn't answer. "Right?" he worried.
Anna smirked at him. "Sarge, you're the freaking best." She punched his arm and left him grinning under his helmet.
Everyone's comlinks chimed as Shang called in. "Bad news, teams. The third transport has reached Skyway Station. I have a visual on droid forces marching in now."
"Damn it," Mattias cursed as their destroyed transport fell from the sky. "We weren't fast enough."
"The miners won't last long without Republic aid," Chuza said. "Captain Talon, take the 54th and defend that station at all costs!" He sounded out of breath and leaned against an equally tired Mattias.
"Are you two alright?" Anna asked.
"Great!" Mattias panted. "Just...just-"
"Old?" Sparx suggested and Speedy quickly shoved him.
"Welp, someone had to say it." Anna chuckled. "Shang," she called in. "Come pick up these senior citizens. Gav and I can take point on this one."
"Be careful, Anna." Mattias warned as he and Chuza made for the ship. The Legacy glided alongside them and opened its ventral hatch. As Mattias boarded, he came to an earnest realization. He could have the best cybernetic in the world and it still wouldn't help if he wasn't in shape. Age was catching up with Mattias and he had to come to terms with it.
"We'll see you at the station, general." Talon said. "Everyone else...on me!" Anna, Gav, and the Deathchasers jetpacked among thousands of rocket troopers. The captain glanced over at Anna and noticed her exhilarated grin. "First real battle, Jedi?" he asked.
"Uhuh," Anna barely replied. She remained awestruck at the armored soldiers flying around her. She took in every sound from rushing winds to the roar of their jetpacks.
"Welcome to the war," Talon said. As they flew through the nearest cloud, Anna glimpsed a battle like no other. A hovering station was under siege as droid forces poured into it. Their red lasers swayed across multiple platforms while miners desperately fought to survive. "This is it, 54th." Talon called in. "Everyone down there is counting on us. Remember what we're fighting for and give it everything you've got! I'm going to dive the transport and engage the main forces. Gav, take your Jedi friend, Lieutenant Boomer, and those ARFs to secure the tibanna refinery. Ready?"
Gav and Anna sparked up their sabers and flourished them in midair. "Ready," they surprisingly said in unison.
"54th!" Talon rallied. "DIVE!" The captain closed his arms and darted towards the facility like a human missile. His fellow clones followed suit and descended in a daunting wedge formation. "Engage all hostiles!" he ordered once they were in range. "Weapons free!" Their jetpacks powered up simultaneously and thundered amidst the clouds. True to the captain's command, the clones of the 54th swarmed the landing pads and engaged any droid they saw fit.
While multiple shootouts erupted, Boomer located the refinery on his visor's scanner. "The rest of you-" the lieutenant said. "On me!" Anna, Gav, and the Deatchasers followed Boomer over the battle. While Anna's clones shot what droids they could, she and Gav took a couple of swipes with their lightsabers. "In here," Boomer ordered and led the team into a dark corridor. The outer battles became distant echoes as they delved deeper into the station. Boomer was the first to land and raised a fist to halt the group. "We've got bodies over here," he said. Several dead miners lay strewn across a grated floor.
"Who shot these folks?" Blazer queried until a daunting series of gyrations echoed throughout the darkness. "I know that sound," he whispered. "I hate that sound."
"Commando droids," Sparx realized and raised his rifle. The group peered down the hall as several of the elite machines leapt into view.
"Blast'em!" Speedy shouted. The clones opened fire while Anna and Gav deflected enemy shots. While the first wave of commandos went down, others leapt to the rafters and tried to ambush from above. "Oh no you don't!" Speedy growled. He jetpacked towards a commando droid and used the propulsion to his advantage. As his foe descended, it was met with a cybernetic kick to the face. The droid's thin head crunched as Speedy returned to ground level.
"Nice one, brother!" Blazer lauded. "We can hold off these clankers. Get to the refinery!"
"Blazer?" Anna fretted.
"The Deathchasers got this, sister!" Blazer assured. "Go!"
Boomer led the way as Anna reluctantly left her clones behind. "Not much farther now," he said while Gav and Anna gave chase. "The refinery should be-" Boomer slid to a halt and found more dead miners in the tibanna refinery. Colossal gas tankers hissed and fizzed around the gruesome scene. "Be on guard," the lieutenant warned. "There may be more commando droids here."
"Okay, Boomer." Gav affirmed.
"Something's not right," Anna considered. "If the goal is seizing the tibanna, why kill the miners and leave without taking it?"
"Perhaps it's some sort of diversion," Gav proposed and immediately groaned. "But that doesn't make any sense."
"Unless," Anna figured. "Whoever is after the tibanna is still here." Anna knelt down to examine one of the dead miners. The scraggly Rodian's lifeless eyes reminded her of Jee and she winced at the sight. She was about to stand up when something peculiar caught her eye. "Hold on," she whispered and squinted for a closer look.
"What is it?" Gav asked.
"This miner's wounds," Anna remarked while hovering a hand over the Rodian. "They're still warm. And they aren't blaster holes either." Her eyes widened at the sight of long, cauterized gashes. "They're-"
A sudden chill gripped Anna and Gav. The dreadful coldness of the Dark Side sent shivers down their spines and they turned towards Boomer. Like a set of glowing scissors, two scarlet lightsabers emerged from the darkness and slid across his neck. "No!" Gav screeched as the clone's head rolled off of his shoulders. While Gav remained grief-stricken, Anna focused on the slender shadow wielding the blades. The killer's insidious cackle had both Padawans frozen in shock. Every moment of suppressed trauma was unearthed as the Sith acolyte emerged from the shadows.
"Well well," Asajj Ventress hissed and a grin formed on her dark lips. "Now isn't this a familiar sight?"
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment of "The Frozen Force!" and Part:1 of the Anniversary Special! Thank you for your support and for helping this story grow for an entire year! I'll see you next week for the continuation of this epic adventure.
Personal goal: We've hit 89 reviews! Thank you to everyone who has commented on this story. I appreciate your words and it's always nice to hear from you. Let's see if we can hit 100 reviews by the end of Season 2!
Long Live Imagination and May the Force Be with You,
~ Michael