At the foot of the sanctuary stood a stumpy hill, it's zenith was covered in colorful flowers and a plethora of bushes filled with berries. Ron stood at the foot of colorful hill, taking in the sight of the sanctuary. There was more activity all around their base, and not a single Confederate flag was in sight.
"It's almost like the base back on Felucia," Ron said to Rev who stood beside him.
"Almost," Rev replied.
"Yes...there's not as many droids," Ron looked over to C-37 who was walking from the headquarters to the barracks.
"We could change that," Rev watched R-7B and R-23E dueling each other for what must've been the hundredth time. Dornan observed the fight from the foot of a tree nearby. Both R-7B and R-23E were striking and slashing each other with such speed that they nearly appeared as blurry images on his photo-receptors. Their strikes were ferocious but controlled. Sparks would fly every now and again. Dornan would step a little closer each time.
"We will change that," Ron turned his attention to Silver's crew. They were situated near the research center. Ron had recently acquired a set of computers for their use. Silver was the first to volunteer in setting them up. He'd immediately hooked up to them using the same port he'd made on the back of his head for his previous set of computers. His squad-mates gathered around him in a circle, keeping a close watch on the perimeter of the base. Deadeye waved at Rev. He returned the gesture.
"We're about the size of a platoon now. Did you know that? Thirty one of us in total," Rev watched the four droids they'd recovered along with R-4V. They were situated around the workshop, helping carry large crates around.
"So we've accomplished our first goal. We'll grow to the size of a company next," Ron's photo-receptors eventually landed back on Rev.
"Our credits are starting to run a little thin again. Let's focus on our titanium for a little while," Rev said, his focus returned to Ron.
"Agreed"
They stayed at the foot of the hill for another while. Ron gazed up at the makeshift watchtower OOM had created using the trunk of one of the taller trees in the tree line that encircled the sanctuary.
OOM himself stood on the perch at the top of the tower, "I appreciate you two helping me keep watch for once," He said over their comms-line.
"We're not exactly-" Rev began.
"Why don't you two patrol the outskirts with B-35? At the very least do one pass around the sanctuary," OOM said, interrupting him.
"Why not," Ron said, pulling Rev along with him, "It would help in the planning of our defenses"
"Sure, looking at a two dimensional map of the base does get tiring," Rev said.
"We've already talked about this before, you can't get tired, we're droids," Ron replied.
"Boring, I meant boring. I've been reading too many books written by organics," Rev said.
OOM cut the line, 'They're still idiots but at least they're tolerable idiots,' he thought.
C-37 entered the barracks, marching directly towards the table at the far end of the room. All around them were various charging pods, powered by a large solar panel set up on the tips of the trees overhead.
C-05 and R-56V were seated facing R-G2 and C-8H. R-6Y and C-J2 were close behind them. Meanwhile on the other side, C-5B and C-6C had just started charging.
"What do you guys think?" C-37 said, displaying a long metal cylinder with grooves and pits etched into it. At the very top was a long wire with a pin on the side.
"Where did you find the materials to make a bomb?" C-05 replied.
"Don't worry about that. I filled it with sharp rocks I found in the mine," C-37 said.
R-G2's photo-receptors focused on the explosive, "Is that really a detonator?"
"Yeah," C-37 held it out for R-G2 to examine, "I can't thank you enough for letting me keep that thermal detonator back then"
R-G2 shifted in his seat, "You became an expert in explosives all because of a thermal detonator I let you keep back on Geonosis?"
"Not exactly. I gained an interest in explosives on my own while serving under you"
"Interesting," R-G2 said, checking his power levels.
"I don't remember having you in our squad," C-8H said.
"Most of your memories from Geonosis were unrecoverable," R-6Y said from behind him.
"Do you remember him?" C-8H asked, turning to R-6Y.
"I wasn't in R-G2's squad on Geonosis. I was a turret gunner," R-6Y replied.
"Oh, right," C-8H inspected C-37's makeshift detonator closer.
"What happened to you after Geonosis?" R-G2 asked. Although most of his memories were still intact, some events directly after Geonosis brought up several errors in his system's console.
"I served in the Navy for the majority of the war. I manned the flak guns and turbolaser cannons for the most part," C-37 holstered his makeshift bomb back onto his waistband.
"I can't recall when you were shifted out of my squad...it sounds like you were better off in the navy," R-G2 replied.
"How did you end up on Felucia?" C-05 said to C-37
"The dreadnought that I had been serving on was destroyed. I landed on Felucia on an escape pod. The tactical droid in the area brought me to his base with a new squad right after that," C-37 said. He could recall every detail from that day. His database had flagged it as an important event.
"You were put into my squad," C-05 recalled.
"That's right. And how did you make onto Felucia?"
"I can't remember exactly. R-U5 said some of my memories from my most recent death were irrecoverable. I think I was on some ocean planet. There was a lot of rain. That's all I remember before then. After I was rebuilt I was shifted around several bases away from the frontline before I was sent to Felucia and I was stuck there fighting on the ground for a few months before Ron approached me"
"How about you R-56V?" C-37 asked, taking a seat beside him after plugging himself into a charging pod.
"I was stationed in the control bridge of a dreadnought for most of the war. They sent me to Felucia after one of the tactical droids requested for more units in his region," R-56V said plainly. His visor's vocalizer smoothed out his monotone voice.
"I wonder if there's any tactical droids still out there," C-J2 said from behind C-8H.
"If there are, they're most likely in those Separatist holdouts OOM was telling me about," R-G2 said.
"You got to fly that fighter didn't you? How was it?" C-05 said to R-56V.
"It was very taxing on my CPU, but it was nice. It's satisfying to move so quick," R-56V replied.
"You made it look easy considering none of us have a protocol for piloting a fighter," C-5B said from behind C-05.
"I think everyone here could learn to pilot one. Being a good pilot on the other hand, that will take time," R-56V scooted closer to the table, his metal knees banging against the edges, "I failed a lot of missions on my first couple of flights. The tactical droid overseeing me said he would have my memory wiped if I failed again so I spent time while recharging simulating test flights"
"I would've done the same," R-G2 said.
"You would?" C-8H replied.
"I did something similar when I first lost you. I had to speak with our commander to keep you in my squad. I told him you were a unit that would eliminate more hostiles than the usual B1 and so he put us on the more difficult missions. I spent every recharging period after that simulating every possible combat scenario I could think of. It kept us alive more than a few times"
"Why didn't you ever tell me? I would've at least tried to increase my combat efficiency"
"I couldn't tell you. We were always being supervised by that tactical droid. V-8, that was his name. I wish I could've killed him instead of those clone commandos"
C-8H fidgeted with the cable connected to his abdomen, "You did all that to keep me alive?"
R-G2 turned to him, "Yes"
C-8H's CPU fluctuated in power, he scoured his database for the proper response, "...Thanks"
"And what about me?" C-J2 asked, leaning forward to be between R-G2 and C-8H.
"You were always rushing ahead of me getting yourself killed. I pulled you back once and you almost got me killed. I stopped trying to save you after that," R-G2 said.
"Oh…," C-J2 leaned back into his seat, "sorry"
"Your sacrifice saved me a few times. I should thank you for that," R-G2 said.
"We keep each other alive, that was our agreement don't you remember?" C-J2 replied.
R-G2 looked back at him, "You remember that?"
"Only after Rags recovered my memory," C-J2 said.
Their comms-devices suddenly beeped online, "We will be heading off to the market soon. Silver, your squadron will stay here with R-4Vs team. The rest of you report to the freighter," Ron said.
"Back to the front-lines," C-05 said disconnecting from the charging pod.
"There are no front-lines anymore," R-56V replied.
"I meant it as a figure of speech, the organics like to play with words a lot," C-05 said leading the group outside.
Outside of the research center, Ron handed off a blaster to R-4V, "Open a line to me if there is any trouble"
"Will do," R-4V replied plainly. His CPU was still focused on how he would be upgrading their armor.
Aboard the ship, the crew had put together the last of the titanium ore into the wheeled-crates from the mine. They silently formed into their own squads around each container. Ron walked aboard, his CPU thrumming in satisfaction in seeing the crew already prepared to leave. Rev was close behind him, feeling the satisfying signals emanating from Ron.
They walked in and took a seat in the cockpit as they usually did. Ron strapped himself in, flipped a few switches, and watched the gauges before him. Rev waited for Ron's silent signal to power on their shields, sending his own response back once he did so.
"I'm reluctant to leave the sanctuary in their hands," Ron said looking through the cockpit window at Silver and R-4V's squad.
"They'll be fine," Rev reassured him, "Dornan's staying with them. If anything, he'll hold the line"
"Their combat efficiency does not worry me. It's their allegiance. I don't know if they fully support us"
"If they didn't support you, they would've asked to leave by now"
"I suppose you're right," Ron shut the bay doors, "Let's get this done quick"
Nakssa struggled to keep his eyes open. The cool breeze of an air conditioner blew onto his back, bringing memories of frosty nights during late night hunts on Trandosha when he was a young boy. He brought the binoculars up to his eyes, using the eye-holes to keep himself awake. The cold touch of the metal on his forehead didn't help, and soon enough he'd begun to fall asleep with his eyes open.
Thwack!
"Nakssa, you haven't moved the binoculars in five minutes. You were sleeping weren't you?" Krunnoh said.
They were atop the roof of one of the smaller facilities on Daphermil, in the city of Ghorma.
Krunnoh was crouched beside Nakssa lying prone near the edge of the roof.
"I was not," Nakssa said, rubbing the top of his head, "I'll throw you off this roof if you smack my head one more time"
"Stay focused grandpa, your shift's almost up," Krunnoh said before walking back to their makeshift base of operations at the back of the roof. It was a hastily crafted metal shack, shielding them from the cameras of the business operating directly below them.
'Grandpa? I would've used him as bait for a rancor if he were one of my own,' Nakssa thought.
His boredom only worsened after Krunnoh's interruption. His eyes wandered from side to side, sweeping the area using his binoculars. He turned back to the left towards the hangar and jolted awake upon seeing the familiar black and gray outfits Krunnoh had shown him from before.
"Krunnoh, they're here," Nakssa said, looking back at him.
"Finally, I was starting to think Skisi sold us faulty information," Krunnoh gathered his blaster and equipment, "I'll meet you at the hangar, stay on them"
Nakssa stood as fast as his aching body allowed him, groaning all the way up, "The market right?"
"Yeah!" Krunnoh called back as he descended the stairs.
The trandoshans made their way out into the streets, splitting up and walking in opposite directions.
Nakssa stretched his legs on his way to the market, grumbling something about an old injury the entire time.
He walked through the bustling streets and alleyways of the busy and congested city. Even after the Confederacy had fallen, business had continued as usual. In fact, it had boomed thanks to old trade routes being reopened for public use. Many trandoshans lined the streets. Some were business owners themselves.
"Disgusting pacifists," Nakssa muttered, seeing a trandoshan eyeing him from within one of the skyscrapers on the ground floor.
The alley opened up to the city's main business center. His eyes studied his surroundings, everything was suddenly much brighter and clearer. He felt as if his feet and arms had ceased to fight against gravity. In the distance, he spotted the same black and gray outfits from before. His talons tapped against the cement with a speedy rhythm.
The crowd flowed around him, the colors and smells of the many aliens bristled his sensitive snout. In a few minutes, he was already close behind the dense group of disguised merchants.
"Can you hear me?" Krunnoh said through Nakssa's comm-device.
"Yeah, what do you want? I'm closing in on them now," Nakssa replied, bringing the comm-device up to his mouth.
"Don't lose them, it's been a year since we last saw them. If we lose them again who knows how much longer we'll have to wait"
Nakssa hung up the call, already irritated hearing his voice.
He quickened his pace and walked alongside the group of disguised merchants. He glanced at the contents of their crates. One of the merchants eyed him closely. The crowd swelled up around him, and soon enough he'd disappeared back into the busy city.
"They're selling titanium," Nakssa said with a hiss.
"Oh?" Krunnoh said, his voice brimming with intrigue and excitement, "This will be a good hunt"
Ron and Rev gathered the dozens of pouches full of credits into a bag they carried close to their metal stomachs.
A short rodian watched them count their earnings, "Just to let you two know, the Empire has been wanting to inspect our merchandise recently. Might want to stay away for another while"
"Thanks for the warning," Rev said. He slipped a bag of spice to the rodian, "Take it for yourself"
"Thank you, thank you," the rodian shook Rev's hand fervently.
He pulled back from the small man and returned with Ron to the outside of the warehouse.
Ron's head wavered, tilting from side to side, "Do you feel that?"
"No, what is it?" Rev said.
"R-7B said he'd felt another signal again for a brief moment. I can feel it too, but it's faint," Ron tilted his head further in one direction, feeling the strength of the signal growing.
"Signal?"
"Yes, it could be another battle droid like before. They're using the old confidential frequency," Ron walked towards the eastern edge of the warehouse, where he'd felt the strength of the signal grow.
"The one squad leaders would use?"
"Yes, come with me," He switched from their private line to the open channel with the rest of the droids, "Everyone stay put, we will be back in just a moment"
Ron stuck to the side of the warehouse, surveying the crowd of organics walking up and down the open streets. The crowds grew thinner the further he pressed on and the echo of the distant merchants shouting at potential customers dampened with each step he took. The nearby sun had begun to set, illuminating most of the city in rays of gold. The street lights hadn't turned on just yet. They came upon the rear of the warehouse. A small shack was set up away from the rest of the merchants. It was less rundown than the rest of the nearby facilities. A short line extended from the shack to the back of a housing complex. The area was dull and featured less decoration and colorful paint than the marketplace. The walls of many of the buildings were beginning to crumble and the paint on them had begun to chip off in large pieces.
Ron could almost feel the antenna on his shoulder begin to gravitate towards a pair of robed individuals at the back of the line leading to the shack. One was much taller than the other but both were giants in comparison to the organics around them.
"I'm going to try to set up a line with them to see if they're droids or organics," Ron said, fiddling with the blaster pistol on his hip. He reminded himself to buy the extra parts needed to turn it into a portable rifle, "Keep watch while I do so"
"I got you covered," Rev said, his photo-receptors sharpened and brightened to accommodate for the lack of proper lighting.
Ron heard a crackle, "Hello, can you hear me?"
The shorter of the two robed figures swiveled their head around in an attempt to find who was speaking, "Yes, I can hear you. Who is this? How do you know this frequency?"
"I was a squad commander myself. I assume you were one too if you are using this frequency," Ron replied.
"I wasn't. Just happened to find out about it through messing with my internals. I never thought I'd be talking to another droid again. Well, other than Thomas," The droid said.
Ron noted a strange accent in the droid, one he'd never heard in any B1 model, "So you are a battle droid. My name is Ron, I am building a sanctuary for battle droids like yourself. Come to hangar A-5V if you are interested in joining us"
"We'll be there"
Ron cut the line, "Come on," He pulled on Rev's arm, "Let's get back to the hangar"
"So was it another droid?"
"It was, we'll wait for him at the hangar"
In the shadows of the many hangar-areas, Nakssa and Krunnoh lounged by their ships. Sticking to the shadows cast by their hulls. Nakssa watched the timer he'd set on his comm-device.
Krunnoh leaned up against the side of his old fighter. It was bruised up and beaten but it still packed a good punch and could outrun most Republic and even Imperial fighters no problem, "Reminds me of you, old man," He'd said to Nakssa the day he bought it.
It was the only compliment he'd ever received from another trandoshan.
He eyed the shadows of the hangar, wary of any potential enemies.
Krunnoh snapped his talons, catching Nakssa's attention, "Nobody's here. You think I'm going to betray you?"
"No, just keeping a lookout. This all feels too good to be true," Nakssa said.
"It's real. The Scorekeeper is watching," Krunnoh kicked off the landing wheels of his fighter, "You did good in tracking them, grandpa. Was starting to think your age was finally getting to you"
"Not yet, I can still see clearly, and there's no sign of it worsening. Every trandoshan knows once your eyes go, your death comes a day later," He relaxed the grip he'd had on waistband.
"Right. Did you see what hangar they're using?"
"A-5V, there was a lot of them. You sure they won't see us?"
Krunnoh sauntered past him, looking directly into his yellow eyes, "If you don't trip again, yes"
"It was only one time," Nakssa hissed.
"I know, but you and I both know it only takes one mistake to get us both killed. Can't have you around me if that's how you hunt nowadays"
Nakssa grabbed a bag from his own fighter, it's hull visibly cleaner than Krunnoh's, and strapped it on his back, "I know. I'm not used to being old yet. An old scar on my foot keeps opening up, that's all. I'll keep an eye on it this time around," He picked up the pace to beside Krunnoh, "Besides, I'm a better shot than you"
"Do you really want to have this conversation again?"
"There is no conversation, only the truth"
"We'll see about that"
The front door of the hangar silently slipped open and close. The both of them made their way to hangar A-5V.
"All crew-members are accounted for," Rev reported.
"Now we wait," Ron replied. They were posted at the top of the cargo bay doors. The rest of the droids had already gone back inside after rolling the crates back on-board.
'I wonder why his voice was so different,' Ron thought to himself. There were few droids that he could remember having such unique voices. Most of them had been OOM droids. Notably, one of his former commanders on Naboo.
"They're coming," Rev said, detecting a pair of signals heading their way.
"It could be a trap. I've heard the Empire's starting to dig their hands into this planet. Do you remember the layout of the hangar?" Johnny said.
"Yes, there is little to no cover. I would only be a liability," Thomas replied, attempting and mostly failing to lower the volume of his deep voice.
Johnny put a hand up and stopped just before the entrance to the hangar, "When we enter, stay by the door. I'll check out the area before we go in"
"I will watch the rear," Thomas said.
Johnny carefully slid the door open. He scanned the entrance before even stepping in, his hand gliding just over his blaster. The sunlight from outside was their only source of light into the corridor. Johnny stopped abruptly. Something was off. His scan of the room detected two large obstructions near the opposite doorway. He turned on his night-vision, almost forgetting about his old combat hardware, and spotted two trandoshans crouched by the next sliding door. They were facing away from them and somehow hadn't heard or seen them.
Johnny pulled his blaster, readying his combat protocols for the second time in years, "Excuse me, are you two fellows looking for somebody?"
Both of the trandoshans jumped in fright. The scrawnier of the two pulled his blaster but Johnny was quick to retaliate, landing a hit on his arm. The taller trandoshan fired back, shooting Johnny's blaster out of his hands while pulling his partner through an air-duct tucked in the corner of the room. Thomas was in front of Johnny before his blaster had even fallen to the ground.
"Hostiles are escaping. Should we pursue?" Thomas said.
"No," Johnny picked up his blaster and kept it out to his side, "I don't think they were after us. Seems more like they were after those droids"
"We should leave. We will attract the Empire's attention"
"We don't know who those people were. Let's hear those droids out at least. You saw how those merchants looked at us. They're not friendly at all, not like..." He side-stepped Thomas before dragging him into the darkness of the hangar entrance, "Not like the farmers...I already miss them. It's best we go with our own kind, even if it means taking on more trouble"
"I understand little about this galaxy. Those organics taught you more about this place than me. I trust you know what you're doing"
"I'm trying my best," He slid the door open and carefully walked through. His photo-receptors landed on Ron and Rev in the distance.
During the war, he'd never looked at the other battle droids as much of anything other than a fellow soldier to rely on. Now, it felt as if he were looking at old friends.
"I think we're in the clear, come on," Johnny said.
They came within a dozen meters of the ship before Johnny's CPU temperatures lowered. He'd returned to his old combat habits without even noticing. Swiveling his head from side to side, keeping his arms close to his blaster pistol and nearly reaching for the non-existent E-5 on his back.
"Hello, I am pleased to see you have decided to meet with us," Ron said.
"I haven't see another B1 in a long, long time," Johnny's photo-receptors studied Ron and Rev intensely as if he would find some scar or burn mark on their bodies to reveal if he'd fought with them in the past.
"My name is Ron and this is Rev. We are the commanders of a sanctuary built for battle droids to live in, free from organics and their governments," Ron extended a hand.
Johnny took it, "My name's Johnny, and this here's Thomas," He gestured over to the towering B2.
Ron went to greet him but took notice of the blades on his hands, "You both are welcome to join us. We have another B2 on-board as well, although he is not here at the moment. He does not like to interact with organics"
"I don't blame him. These people are the rudest fellows I've ever come across. You and uh, Rev seem much more hospitable. We'll join you," Johnny said, not noticing Thomas staring at him.
"Come aboard, we can show you around our base," Ron said gesturing for them to follow.
"Oh that's very kind of you, but we have our own ship. We could follow you to your base, just send me the coordinates when we make the jump"
"You have your own ship?" Ron asked.
"They were at the refueling station," Rev reminded Ron.
"Yes, that we were. It's an old light freighter, it just about works. This one looks much better," Johnny glossed over the shiny exterior of Ron's ship, "We should be able to keep up"
"I will establish a communications line with you. Tell me when you're prepared to liftoff and we'll go from there," Ron replied, taking a step back further into the ship.
"Will do," Johnny turned to leave, his foot skidded to a halt, "Oh, and before I forget. There were two trandoshans outside this hangar. Seems like they were looking to attack you"
"Interesting," Ron froze for a moment, he looked at Rev before waving it off, "Be careful returning to your ship"
"Of course"
"Nice job," Nakssa sneered, "I guess we're taking turns screwing up now"
"Shut up!" Krunnoh grabbed at his arm, picking at the pieces of his burnt scales. He groaned in frustration, his claws nearly tearing into his injury.
"Don't worry," Nakssa pulled the backpack from his shoulder, "I put a tracker on them. I just managed to throw it on before those two spotted us"
Krunnoh turned suddenly, "You're not lying right, right?"
"Not lying at all kiddo"
Krunnoh ignored the nickname for the time being and let out a small chuckle. He slapped Nakssa on the back, "You know...you were right about those mercs back on Zygorath. They were holding us back. This partnership we have, this is where the real money is"
"I thought that was obvious already," Nakssa said with a smirk.
Krunnoh leaned up against the side of his fighter, "Wasn't obvious at first. Let's lay low for a while, follow the tracker tomorrow, yeah?"
"Sure thing," Nakssa threw his backpack into the cockpit seat of his fighter, "You know we'll need more than just us two to take over their titanium rig, right?"
"They took down the cartel, of course we'll need more guys. I know who to call. Our old crew," Krunnoh hastily dug his comm-device from his back pocket. He went to input a number but hesitated, "But...you know they'll all want to keep the money for themselves. Just like last time"
Nakssa nodded, getting in between the both of their fighters, "Yeah I've got an idea on how to get rid of them once we secure the titanium, but most likely they'll try the same thing on us"
"They have Crultekss on their side. The rest of them we can deal with, but him, it'll take a lot to kill him"
"I'll find a way to get him on his own. He won't do well against us both," Nakssa took in a big gulp of air, "Which means I'll have to start training again. Hopefully this will be the last time"
"Why the last time? You said you weren't old," Krunnoh climbed onto the side of his fighter, sitting on the very edge of the cockpit.
"I like to think I'm not, but every trandoshan has to face reality one day"
Krunnoh fiddled with his blaster, "If you do a good job on this operation, I'll stay with you until you die. I'll bury you, if that's what you want"
"Sure, why not. You can have all my things in return," Nakssa said with a sigh.
"Even that blade?" Krunnoh pointed to the long dagger in Nakssa's holster.
Nakssa hesitated for a moment, "Yes, even my blade. It is a hand-me down"
Krunnoh checked the time on his comm-device, "I think we should get moving," he said, swinging his legs into his cockpit.
"Right," Nakssa trudging along over to the cockpit of his own fighter.
"Don't die on me until we get this done, alright?"
"Why? So you can get all the money yourself?"
"No, so I can kill that bastard Crultekss"
Ron hovered over their home planet. He checked the radar, ensuring Johnny had made the jump to the right coordinates. A small blip on the screen confirmed his presence.
"Keep close to me," Ron said.
"I'm right behind you," Johnny said.
Their ships hovered down into the atmosphere. It wasn't long until the sanctuary came into view. Ron slowed down, mindful of Johnny's close proximity. The tallest of the trees scraped against the underbelly of their freighters as they came to land in a clearing south of the base.
Ron and the rest of the crew poured out of the cargo bay. The large wheeled-crates caused a racket.
Johnny and Thomas came down from their own cargo bay and stood just at the foot of the landing pad.
"They weren't lying," Johnny said.
Thomas watched Silver's squad wave to C-37 as he helped take one of the crates back to the mine, "Friendly units"
"There's so many. I think we'll fit right in"
Ron came up to Johnny, "So, will you be joining us?"
"Of course, we have nowhere else to go. We were on the run from the Empire," Johnny looked up to the sky, "They burned down our farm. The only weapons we had were a blaster pistol and Thomas' blades"
"You will not need to worry about an attack here. Our defenses are not set up yet but they will be soon. All of us have combat experience, any attackers will have a difficult time dealing with us"
"That's reassuring and all but the Empire has many weapons and units at their disposal. None of us would stand much of a chance against their larger warships"
Ron went silent, calculating something in his head, "That is an understandable worry. I will speak with my co-commanders and create a solution for this issue. Let us show you around"
Ron and Rev led them towards their headquarters first. Silver waved to them before returning to work outside their research center. Johnny waved back while Thomas kept his hands down, mindful of the blades on his wrists. They marched into the headquarters. Thomas lingered behind upon seeing B-35 beside the doorway.
B-35 took notice of him, "Another B2?"
"I am a B2 grappler droid, yes. You are a standard B2 model"
"Affirmative. I have never seen a model of your type...welcome"
"Thomas," Johnny said, waving him over.
"I will return," Thomas said before stomping over to the middle of the room.
"Before we continue, we have a device that can restore memories from your previous deaths. Would you like to use it?" Rev said.
"No thanks, I doubt I have anything worth remembering from before my last operation," Johnny said. He discarded the robe covering his body and slung it over his back. A long scar ran diagonally across his face, revealing the silver metal underneath his finish. He wore no camo unlike most of the other droids. Thomas discarded his own robe following Johnny. His sharpened blades tore into the cloth by accident even as he tried his best not to damage the robe. His gray and blue metal finish was visibly worn down, with hundreds of tiny scratches dotting his entire body.
"I have no interest in my previous lives," Thomas said.
"You and B-35 are very alike," Ron commented, "I saw that you met. I hope you are capable of bringing him out of his shell. I have had little success"
"Alright, let's start with the tour..." Rev continued.
"There it is," Nakssa said.
Their fighters hovered directly above the droid's base. It was clearly visible given the dark gray color of the durasteel they had used.
"I'll call them up," Krunnoh said.
Their fighters sped off back into the void space, leaving no trace behind.
A/N: Johnny is the first character I started writing after the main group. He's a droid from one of the 2003 clone wars comics. There's a few comics about B1s in that series, I recommend checking them out. A lot you can find on youtube or on the internet archive where you can borrow some of the comic volumes where those stories appear. The comic volume where Johnny (I named him that, he's just a nameless B1 in the comic) appears is: Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures Volume 8. Since I am using Legends comics, I've decided to put this story in the Legends/EU of Star Wars instead of the canon version. It just makes more sense considering I use old concepts like the assassin B1. I've always preferred the 2003 version of the B1s voices too (and also the Phantom Menace version of their voices). Thank you all for reading, I can't see how many people are reading this anymore because this site is still broken but I appreciate those who have stayed with the story since the beginning. We're getting close to the end.