Chapter 118: Mercy Mission
Understanding is honoring the truth beneath the surface.
Recap: Global crisis! The Mid Rim рlаnet of Aleen is devаstаted by саtаstroрhiс eаrthquаkes. As the рeoрle struggle, the future of the survivors rests on their аbility to rekindle а wаy of life from the rubble of the раst. A Jedi transрort, on а mission to block Separatist anneхation of the Qiilura system, is wаylаid to рrovide desрerately needed humanitarian relief to the рeoрle on the surfасe of Aleen.
In space, a blockade of Republic cruisers was shown floating about. They were currently on a rescue mission as they had to deliver supplies to the citizens of the planet Aleen. Commander Wolffe was in charge of this mission as he looked at the hologram of the village they were going to land in. Just then, he received a call as standing before via hologram were Master Yoda and Senator Amidala.
"Commander Wolffe, we've been waiting for your reрort," said Padmé.
"We've located clusters of life forms on the planet's surface, Senator. There are thousands of survivors," replied the clone commander.
"Thаt is good news," sighed Padmé, glad to hear they were still people they could help. "The Aleenа will be very glаd to see you."
"Yes, well, my orders are to get them on the path to rebuilding and move on," said Commander Wolffe, as he wasn't one for emotions and wanted to do his job and get out. "General Plo needs reinforcements as soon as possible."
"Your orders stand. With hoрe leаve them, but return to the wаr you must," spoke Yoda.
"Yes, sir. We'll start landing procedures immediately," said the clone commander as the transmission ended.
In the cruiser's hangar, many clones were loading up the gunships full of supplies and equipment. They were still determining what to expect, given it was a simple relief mission, but they were prepared just in case. On the cruiser were a couple of droids. R2, 3PO, and Twilight's personal droid, TS-01, were to accompany the clone in getting the supplies to the people below. Also, Twilight figured she could get her robot to pick up some more information for its data banks, so she requested her droid accompany the pair and make sure they didn't get into trouble.
The droids were getting on a gunship as Twilight's droid lifted a box that was much heavier than it and held it above her head. The small thing was walking on the ship, and even the clones were stunned by what they saw; safe to say, the droid built by the Jedi princess was working wonders.
"Huh, really? Must you be so rough?" said C-3PO as he was shoved by a clone to sit down.
"What, you think this is rough? Wait till we get to the surface," said the clone as he got on.
"Traipsing through a natural disaster zone is not my kind of diversion, R2," complained the yellow protocol droid.
R2 merely gave a beep to his pal.
"You may be game for adventure. I certainly am not," stated 3PO. "Oh!
"Suck it up, Shiney," said a clone as he patted the droid on his shoulder and got on.
"That will leave a mark," said 3PO.
"Okay, this the last cargo box," said TS-01 as she hopped on at the last second and put the box down as the doors closed.
"Still can't believe a Jedi built that thing," said one of the clones as they looked at TS-01.
"I heard she's a princess," said another clone.
Hearing that Twilight was a princess and a Jedi who built her own robot that could do what 3PO and R2 did, impressed the soldiers. Especially cause it also had an assault mode, it could fight in a battle. As the clones muttered among themselves, Twilight's droid recorded their comments and stored it in its memory banks.
The gunships exited the hangers of the cruisers as they were soaring through the air. One of the pilots navigated the ship as flying next to them was one of the people they were sent to help. Well... not people per se but creatures. The clone spotted the creature as he did a double take to ensure he wasn't seeing things.
"Kazabanee!" shouted the creature as he seemed to be riding a dragonfly-like creature and flew away.
"Great, it's gonna be another one of those planets," groaned the clone.
"So those are the Aleena," said TS-01 as she popped into the cockpit of the clone; he was taken aback by seeing the small thing appear out of nowhere. "Small, short, sentient reptiles."
The droid was implementing the information into her data banks; she then disappeared as the clone tried to figure out where the small droid was. He then focused back on flying as they dove beyond the clouds. It was only a short time before they touched down in the village they were supposed to arrive. Commander Wolffe and his men got off as they were expecting to meet people; when approaching them were the small reptiles from before. They were so short that compared to the clones, they reached up to their knees at best.
The clones were shocked to see them as Commander Wolffe took off his helmet. Emerging from the crowd of small reptiles was the one in charge.
"Hiro ra mak tik, shi faa zee Manchucho. Su top pik gee poshi-ne, teep?"
"Okay. Who packed the translator droids?" said Commander Wolffe, as that alone meant this was going to be a long mission.
"Hello. Hello. I'm here, Commander," said 3PO as he and the other two arrived after Twilight's droid finished helping to unload the supplies. "Oh, hello, um... Hiro, de treepo pan Repabolic. De poshi-ne su teep."
As 3PO spoke with them, the chief approached the yellow droid as he hugged his leg, as his head stopped at the droid's knee.
"My, a local custom, I suppose. Interesting," said Twilight's droid as she recorded that information in its databank. Soon one approached her and gave her a hug. Compared to when they stood next to TS-01, they stopped at her chest as she returned the gesture, which the Aleena seemed to like.
"Kana do, kana do, teep, teep! Su faa zee Manchucho. Mak tik poshi-ne."
"Ah, did you get that?" asked Commander Wolffe.
"Certainly, we did," said TS-01, "Commander Wolffe, you have the honor of meeting King Manchucho."
"His message, simply put, is: "Welcome to our disaster. Glad you could come." translated 3PO.
"Straight to the point," said TS-01 as the Aleena didn't seem to mind that their area was a mess and a disaster.
"Su top pik gee pan kana annema! Ratingda hota thrit rish ata!" spoke King Manchucho.
"They will save us and feed our stomachs. The Gods below will know peace once more," translated 3PO.
Soon cheering was heard as the reptiles cheered for the clones.
"They are expressing gratitude, Commander, and the chant is a rather flowery way of asking, "What's for dinner?"
Just as 3PO finished saying that, the ground began to shake. Everyone felt the earth tremble as they wobbled a bit.
"Commander, we're experiencing some settling from the originаl event. It's to be exрeсted," said a clone as he contacted Wolffe on his comlink.
"An aftershock, everyone," stated the clone commander for all to understand.
The Aleena were still worried as they didn't know what was happening.
"No, no. Please remain calm. I repeat. Uh, kata om, teep. Kata om, teep, " said 3PO as he tried to get the small creature to calm down as he explained what was happening.
Soon the aftershock ended as the rumbling and shaking ceased. Once it stopped, the Aleena all began to clap and cheer at 3PO for making the shaking stop.
"Well. Yes, yes. Yes, thank you. It wasn't actually me, but thank you anyway," said the yellow protocol droid, as he wasn't expecting the praise.
"Trooper squads, scan for unstable ground. Mark unsafe areas," said Commander Wolffe to the men as they took off. "Let's get these cans unloaded."
With their orders given, the clones began to unload the supplies they had brought for the Aleena.
"Access and repair of their mainframe computers is job one. The R2-unit has uploaded the Republic's reboot manuals with instructions on how to make the equipment we're leaving operational," said Commander Wolffe to 3PO and TS-01 so that they could translate it to the reptiles.
"Ping, koso san koke to mana shey-bui. Artopey pik top gata Repabolic myo na awa fan jeezzy," spoke TS-01.
"Kana do, kana do! Do rish za nya?" spoked King Manchucho.
"Do awanee. Do awanee," said 3PO.
"Rish za nya? Rish za nya?" responded the Aleena.
"What are they asking?" said Commander Wolffe.
"They are asking if we would "Make peace in the ground." translated 3PO.
"We're good, but not that good," said Commander Wolffe, addressing two clones approaching him. "Sinker!"
"Commander."
"Take your team, the R2-unit, the Jedi's droid, and a couple of Aleena to the mainframe station. Let's get them back online," stated Wolffe.
"On it, sir. All right, little fellas, let's go," said Sinker to some of the short reptiles as they began to guide the clones to the spot.
The location of the mainframe station was close; in fact, it was just a simple walk away from the village itself. One of the Aleena led the way as he ran and jumped on a rock to point at the entrance.
"Hiyashi, hiyashi, hiyashi."
"Looks like the rubble is blocking the entry," said Sinker as they saw some rocks near the entrance.
"I got this," said another clone named Boost, aiming at the door.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Boost, you want what's left of the place crashing down on our heads?" stated Sinker.
"You worry too much," chuckled Boost.
Boost then aimed his blaster and fired at the rocks near the entrance instead of the door itself. The Aleena were impressed by what they saw the clone do as they clapped.
"Seems these things are impressed by anything they haven't seen," said TS-01 as the Aleena seemed way out of touch regarding society outside of their own. To them, what the droids and clones did was considered "magic."
"I could've done that!" said Sinker.
Boost then kicked down the small door as an Aleena entered. He then followed suit with his blaster aimed in case of any danger.
"After you, little guy," said Sinker to R2 as he had a laptop in his hand.
R2 gave a beep as he entered, with TS-01 and Sinker entering right behind him. With the small entrance, the clones had to crouch walk through the passageway until they got inside. It was much bigger on the inside as there was plenty of space for the clones to stand up as an Aleena began to push some buttons on a nearby console, as nothing seemed to be working.
"Run metrics on structural degradation, will you?" asked Sinker to both droids.
The pair complied as they began scanning the area as a blue light spawned. Even the droids' scanners amazed the small reptiles.
"Did you find anything?" asked Sinker.
"Plenty," said TS-01 to the clone as she relayed the info to him.
"All right, let's get the download started," stated Sinker as he approached a console and bent to a knee as he opened the laptop.
R2 and TS-01 approached the main console as they plugged in. The whole system came online. Again, the reptiles were impressed by what the robots did when another quake appeared. The entire room was now shaking as everyone felt it. Pebbles and dust began to fall as soon, the tremor ceased.
"Another quake? Coming here was a bad idea," said Sinker.
"I'm beginning to agree with you," said Boost to his pal.
"Then let's hurry up and get out of here," stated TS-01 to the clones; they nodded in agreeance as they began to see what repairs they could do to the station.
Meanwhile, back in the village, Commander Wolffe was talking with 3PO so that what he said could be translated to the Aleena as they walked.
"We've marked out areas for a temporary hospital and a communal kitchen here," stated the clone commander as he pointed.
"Do fata ura-to do-ra-ta za aneema," said 3PO.
"No-te! Som ree tee, som ree tee. Hi do pata rish mee-o," said King Manchucho to Commander Wolffe. The clone looked at the yellow droid to translate what was said.
"The Aleena feel great shame. He is saying first, peace must be restored. We must go inside... Under... inside. He says no to the kitchen." said 3PO, as he didn't fully understand what the King said or meant.
"This is a relief mission," said Commander Wolffe.
"Indeed. Perhaps, they do not allow eating in public," suggested 3PO.
"Po neeta soong meetee, soong meetee, hi do pata rish mee-o-"
The King was on his knees and doing some chant as he bowed, repeating, almost like he was worshiping.
"Do I need this?" said Commander Wolffe as he found what the King was doing weird and stupid.
As if it couldn't get any worse, the others soon joined in and followed their King. They began to do the same movement of bowing while chanting; it looked like they were praying to some god or supernatural they believed in.
"Here's how it is. My orders are to deliver supplies and reestablish power and communication systems!" stated Commander Wolffe as he was sick and tired of the weird ways of the Aleena. "Report back to the transport when R2-unit and the other have completed the download. Tell them we'll be out of their hair in no time."
Wolffe walked away as he didn't want to deal with this nonsense anymore.
"Splendid. A firm hand. Well done, Commander, if I may say. Well done." said 3PO as he seemed to praise the clone for sticking to his morals on completing the mission.
With the others, they had just finished making repairs and salvaging what was left of the station as R2 and TS-01 were about to begin the download process. Sinker then stood up as he began to contact Wolffe on his comlink.
"Download in progress, Commander."
"Exсellent. Reрort bасk to the stаging аreа. We need all hands on deck. The droids саn finish uр." said Wolffe.
"On our way, sir," responded Sinker as the comlink ended, "All right, R2 and...
"TS-01," said Twilight's droid.
"Right, TS-01. Stay here, monitor the download, and get back to the ship as soon as possible," said Sinker to the robots.
"Will do," responded Twilight's droid as she saluted the clone.
The clones then began to leave as they bumped into 3PO, who was coming to see his comrades as he stepped to the side after bumping into the soldiers.
"Watch your step, shiny," said Boost as they ignored 3PO and kept marching.
"Impossible clones," scoffed 3PO at the disrespect he was being given.
3PO soon entered the room as he saw his comrades at the console, downloading the information. Soon the Aleena saw the droid, which they considered their divine messenger.
"They really are delirious if they think that of 3PO," said TS-01 as R2 gave a beep in agreeance.
The Aleena began to speak as they tugged on the droid to follow them.
"Hello. What have we here?" replied the yellow droid.
"Do hiokey fin ata."
"Something to show us? I see no reason why not, time permitting, of course," said 3PO.
"Do hiokey fin ata! Do hiokey fin ata!" said the Aleena as they tugged on 3PO's kneecaps to follow them.
"Rather impatient creatures, aren't they?" said 3PO at how they insisted he follow them.
R2 gave a beep to his friend.
"A little diplomacy goes a long way. Of course, you wouldn't understand. But there is no harm in humoring them." said 3PO as he began to exit the station.
"Go on, I'll finish the download and find you two," said TS-01 as R2 gave a beep and followed behind his friend.
The place where the Aleena were leading the droids was pretty close too. In fact, walk a few meters ahead, and it was right there. A collapsed structure lay there on the ground; there appeared to be a giant hole that was partially uncovered, as indicated by the huge golden seal next to it.
"Do hiokey fin ata! Do hiokey fin ata!"
"Yes, yes, yes, we're coming. We're coming. R2, keep your sensor on them, just in case." said 3PO in the event the small creatures did anything.
The blue astromech beeped as he followed his friend down the slope to the destroyed structure.
"Oh, my! Oh, yes, I see. A sacred treasure, indeed, to be excavated and examined at a later stage with the proper equipment." said 3Po as he took in the seal.
"Did you say treasure?" said TS-01 as she finished the download and went to search for her friends.
She didn't have to look far as she saw the pair observing the golden seal as she knew Twilight would want to learn about the info on the object. She scanned it and implemented it into her databanks.
"Do hiokey fin ata. Do hiokey fin ata," said a Aleena as she pointed down into the hole and pulled 3PO closer to it.
"Better to stay at a safe distance, thank you," said 3PO as he felt like the reptile wanted him to get a closer look, as he kindly stepped back.
Just then, another rumbling was heard.
"Nagitana mal! Nagitana mal!" shouted the Aleena as they all ran behind some rocks for protection.
Some rocks above the droids began to fall down as they fell inside the hole.
"I have a bad feeling about this," said 3PO.
The rumbling continued as the droid soon fell to the ground and began to slide into the hole.
"R2!" said 3PO as his voice trailed into the hole.
The blue astromech merely beeped, which could be interpreted as a sign as he activated his thrusters and followed his friend down the hole.
"Here we go again," stated TS-01 as she felt they would get into some mishap.
The droid had her rockets thrusters on her feet pop out as she leaped into the hole and began to follow the pair headfirst. The droids were falling, well 3PO at least, down the hole as they got deeper and deeper into the planet. They soon stopped as 3PO had hit bottom.
"I suppose that could have been worse," said the droid as the other two landed by him.
"Come on, let's..."
Before TS-01 could say for them to escape, a rumbling was heard as they looked at the hole they entered through. They quickly moved to the side as rocks began to pile on and block the entrance.
"Oh, my! Now, it is," said 3PO as they were trapped.
"No, it's not. Observe," said TS-01 as she approached some rocks.
The droid was about to sift through the rocks and uncover the entrance. However, the cave started to shake upon touching even a single rock. Almost as if saying that if they tried to dig their way out, it would be even more dangerous.
"Don't do it. You'll bring the whole cave down," said 3PO to the smaller droid as she gently put the rock back in place.
"Well, we can't just sit here. The clones are gonna be wondering where we are. There must be some way out of here." said TS-01 as she walked back to the pair while scanning the area around her for info.
The three began walking along the path as R2 and TS-01 turned on their lightsabers to give them all some visibility. Above, the Aleena began running back toward the clones, hoping they could get help.
"Setting foot on this planet was a mistake in the first place," stated 3PO as they continued to walk, "We belong on Senator Amidala's balcony, watching Coruscant's glorious moons rise above the City of Spires..."
3PO didn't get to finish what he was saying as small things began to flutter around him. They looked to be speedy, sparkling lights that circled them before disappearing ahead.
"What was that?" said TS-01 as she didn't get a good read to scan what those things were.
"Wait, no. Shut... Shut it off," stated 3PO to the two to turn off their flashlights. They complied as 3PO took a few steps forward and saw some light. "Daylight. We're saved. Ah, I knew I would find a way out."
3PO was so proud of himself for finding a way for them to escape. The other two merely exchanged words that they weren't buying his statement. They soon followed the light as they entered some strange subterranean ecosphere. Back on the surface, Commander Wolffe was finishing up the relief mission. As they walked, he was surrounded by the King and his little minions, and one of the Aleena who ran to warn them appeared. He whispered into the King's ear to tell them what happened.
"Hazabata hazoyoyaboya, yavakoto yavakoto."
"Wha!" responded the King as he addressed Commander Wolffe, "No-te pie-yoto!"
"Look, little guy, we're doing everything we can," said Commander Wolffe to the King as he took off his helmet. "Has anyone seen the translator droids?"
The clone commander called out, as he had no clue what was being said.
"Num ya, num ya!" said the King.
"Okay. That's fine with me. Whatever." said Commander Wolffe as he just agreed with what was said by the King; even if he didn't know exactly what was said, he just wanted them out of his hair.
The King groaned as he then booked it toward the structure as the other reptiles did the same. The one Aleena that went for help saw the others leave as he gave a shocked expression, realizing he was alone, and began to run after the others.
Back below the surface, the droids were still walking about and exploring the underground area. They stopped for a moment as the same speedy, sparkling lights from before circled them. One of them landed on Twilight's droid; she looked at her robotic hand and quickly scanned it before flying away.
"Insufficient data," said the A.I. inside its processor, "Beginning galactic scan." The computer program was now running a full galaxy search to see if it could identify anything to tell what the lights were. As that was happening, 3PO spoke.
"Did you see that?" said the droid as the lights disappeared.
They kept on walking as behind them, the lights returned.
"It's an ambush. We're under attack. Get these bugs off. Get off!" shouted 3PO as they circled him. One of them decided to land on TS-01's hand again as she examined it closely.
"R2, help!" called out the yellow droid to his blue astromech buddy.
R2 merely pulled out an extinguisher and began spraying it in 3PO's face, getting rid of the dirt on him when they fell.
"Okay. Stop! Stop! Okay, that's quite enough," said 3PO, as he didn't like getting blasted in the face. The droid complied as the lights were gone, even the one TS-01 had. "Sometimes, Artoo, you go too far."
Before R2 could argue, a voice spoke to them.
"Why have you come?"
They all froze as they looked around. They then looked behind 3PO as the tree he was standing in front of moved. Not only that, it had a creepy face.
"Oh, my! I believe this tree is talking to us," said 3PO as all three droids backed up slowly with the tree approaching them. Soon three more appeared as they surrounded the droids.
TS-01 quickly scanned the sentient tree-like beings as her database identified them as Kindalo.
"You do not belong," spoke of the Kindalo.
"I heartily agree. Being here is a terrible mistake," said 3PO.
"Go! Leave us to rest!" said another Kindalo.
"We will be happily on our way if you would just point us in the right direction," stated 3PO.
"Why have the surface dwellers destroyed the peace?" asked one of the Kindalo.
"To be accurate, the quakes did that. I have the numbers written," said TS-01 as she showed a graph on her midsection as her screen showed the results for all to see.
However, the Kindalo weren't interested in hearing about numbers.
"The ground shakes to keep out their foul air, which poisons and destroys us," spoke a Kindalo.
"The quakes have caused many to die. That is why we have come to help," explained 3PO.
"How?" asked one of the tree-like beings.
"However we can," said TS-01.
"There is not much time. Find what you were sent here to do. Ask Orphne. She will know." said a Kindalo as he pointed in a direction.
"Yes, yes, yes, on our way to see Orphne directly. Let's get out of here, you two," whispered 3PO that last part once they were out of hearing sight from the Kindalo.
The three continued to follow the path, hoping that talking with whoever this Orphne was could help them. Above, the King and his subjects had arrived at the collapsed structure and saw the hole that the droids fell in.
"Yavakoto hazoyoyaboya. Hyaboz yavakoto."
"Hhm kando! No-te no-te! Ka naa ten ten!" ordered the King to his subjects as they backed up and got on their knees as if to worship. "Ooo se-bata thor ram che."
"Ooo se-bata thor ram che."
The King began to chant and bow down as if he was worshipping someone as his people did the same.
"My ocular sensors seem to be malfunctioning," said 3PO as R2 gave a beep.
"Well, do you remember what those Kindalo said," asked TS-01.
"Certainly, I remember. He said the surface dwellers destroyed the peace," said 3PO as his memory was still functioning.
"But what does he mean by that?" asked Twilight's droid.
"I don't know. Look, let's find this Orphne. It seems she has all the answers." stated 3PO as they turned the corner and walked.
The sparkling lights from before appeared behind them as they circled the droids.
"Oh, my..." complained 3PO before they moved forward.
The droids followed the lights as they entered a large room ahead. It was damp and dark, with only visible light in the center. The sparkling lights then made their way to the center as they began to spin. Soon a chair appeared out of magic dust as it rotated several times. Eventually, someone appeared on the chair as she looked female. The scan by Twilight's droid showed that it was an amphibian-like humanoid with mystic powers who sat in the chair and looked at the droids.
"Pardon me, madam," spoke 3PO.
The amphibian quickly launched its long tongue at the droid.
"Oh..." said 3PO as the tongue merely bounced off.
The amphibian did the same to the other two droids as her tongue stuck, but she quickly retracted as she didn't seem to find them tasty.
"I can't eat you," said the amphibian humanoid, as the taste of metal wasn't satisfying.
"Well, that's a relief," said TS-01, as they didn't seem to be in danger.
"If you are Orphne, we have come to ask..."
"How to get back?" said the amphibian, which was indeed Orphne, as she cut off the droid, quickly ran, and appeared behind 3PO.
"Well, yes. We have lost our way," stated TS-01 as Orphne was stroking 3PO.
"There is a covenant between the Aleena of old and our subterranean world. We survive because the ground keeps us apart," said Orphne as she walked in front of the three.
"But you are apart," said 3PO.
"No. The divide was breached when they attacked our most sacred site," explained Orphne.
"Attacked?" said TS-01, as she didn't understand what was being said.
"Without going through the natural filtering process, the surface air is deadly to us. We caused the quakes that followed," stated Orphne.
"But so many on the surface have died," responded 3PO in a worrisome tone.
"We are not destroyers by nature, but we must do what is in our power to seal the breach," stated Orphne.
"We can seal the breach. Just tell us where it is. We can help." said 3PO as the other two agreed.
"If you have come to help us, you will help. If you are meant to return to the surface, you will find your way," said Orphne as she sat down in her chair.
"How? This way is a dead end," said TS-01 as she scanned the room to find no exit.
"You can't keep us here. This is an outrage," stressed 3PO as they had to bet back to the overworld.
"Your destiny is your own. Perhaps it is through your desire to survive that your greater purpose will be revealed," said Orphne, "You can run but cannot walk. You have a mouth but cannot talk. You have a head but never weep. You have a bed but never sleep. Ask yourself, who are you?"
Once she finished talking, she began to disappear.
"Wait. Wait, Orphne! Don't go!" called out 3PO as the sparkling lights appeared and flew away. "R2, we're doomed."
R2 gave an annoying beep at his friend.
"I don't know. What was the breach that she spoke of? What was broken?" said 3PO before he had a thought run through his mind. "R2, hurry, replay Orphne's message."
"Aren't we supposed to solve this riddle," stated TS-01.
"Yes, riddle. I know it's a riddle. That's what we're trying to figure out, what the riddle means. Just play it back, would you?" said 3PO as R2 was becoming a handful and getting fussy.
The blue astromech then played back the message as the hologram of Orphne showed.
"You can run but cannot walk. You have a mouth but cannot talk. You have а heаd but never weeр. You have а bed but never sleeр."
"Run but cannot walk. Yes. Have a mouth but cannot talk," repeated 3PO as he began to think.
"Hmm," said TS-01 as she began to think. "Oh, easy it's..."
"Don't worry, you two, I'll figure it out very soon," said 3PO as he cut off Twilight's droid.
"But the answer is..."
"Riddles are my specialty. Let's see. Cannot walk. A mouth, but cannot talk," said 3PO as he ignored TS-01.
"Nevermind," said the princess' droid as she walked with R2.
"So, if the answer is a river, how does that help us?" wondered TS-01 to her blue friend.
R2 gave a beep as he had no clue. They soon noticed a plate they were stepping on. They looked at it; the image itself seemed to resemble fire. 3PO was still mumbling in the background, trying to solve the riddle.
"What? Fire? It isn't fire. Let me think."
The two then moved onto the next plate as the image resembled earth.
"Soil? Of course, it's not soil! What are you going on about? I nearly had it." mumbled 3PO as him saying that confirmed what TS-01 thought.
"Each of these plates represent a different element. So if the answer is a river, we need to find a plate representing a river," said TS-01 to R2 as the droid beeped.
The blue astromech then rolled over to another plate image as he pointed. TS-01 walked toward where he was as she saw the image that represented water.
"Water? A river is made of water. That's it! Good job, R2!" said TS-01 as the droid also gave a beep to Twilight's robot for being much more bearable than 3PO.
"Water? R2, will you stop your mumbling and let me think," said 3PO, still a few steps behind his friend.
"Okay, so what now?" said TS-01.
R2 gave a beep as he had an idea. He pulled out a vial of water.
"It's worth a shot," said TS-01 as she pulled out a small vial of water from inside herself, and the two poured it over the plate.
"What are you two doing now? This is no time to clean up. All this water. I detest getting wet!" stated 3PO as just then, a lightbulb went off, "Water. Water. A river. A river! Artoo, it's a river! That's it; I have figured it out. It is a river. River is the magic word." 3PO was so proud of himself for solving the riddle.
"Congratulations, detective," said TS-01 in a sarcastic tone as R2 snickered.
"Look, it's working!" said 3PO.
The entire plate began to glow as soon as the entire center and room lit up.
"Oh, quick, you two, quick. This might be our ticket out of here," said 3PO as the two droids entered the center.
R2 gave a beep to their friend.
"What do you mean you two figured it out? How could you..."
3PO was cut off as the center shot upward to a flower that devoured them. Once it opened up, the droids were no longer there as the bud and the center of the flower bloomed. Up above, the Aleena were still chanting.
"Ooo se-bata thor ram che."
A rumbling was heard as they stopped their collective chanting. The top of the structure shook as water began to spew out. R2 and 3PO released screams as they flew through the air and landed hard on the ground. TS-01 merely had a propellor pop out of its head as she gently touched down on the ground and shook off any drops of water; she was thankful Twilight used a waterproof metal alloy to construct her.
"Kana do! Kana do! Do rish za nya!" cheered the Aleena.
"We've made it! We're saved!" exclaimed 3PO.
They got up and walked when another rumbling occurred. Gas vapors started to pour out from the hole as the Aleenas began to cough.
"Oh, my! The vapors!" said 3PO. "Look, you two. Do you see?"
One of the Aleena fainted from the vapor as she fell onto the ground. Another began to help her as TS-01 began to provide medical support.
"That is why the Aleena cannot seal the breach, the air below the ground is deadly to them, but it has no effect on us," said 3PO, as they were droids, so they had no sense of smell.
"The particles in the air are toxic. Any living creature would be dead in a matter of hours if they inhaled a dose of that," said TS-01 as the Aleena began to wake, as her mind was clear.
"I understand, R2. I finally understand! They are waiting for us to help them. They need us. We must do what we should have done in the first place. We must block the hole which leads to the underworld using that seal." said 3PO.
"That is the breach that Orphne spoke of," said TS-01 as she pieced together what her friend said.
R2 turned and fired a cable from his backside as it attached to the golden seal. TS-01 extended her arms and grabbed the thing as the two struggled to pull it.
"Go, you two! You can do it!" cheered 3PO.
"It would help if you gave us a hand," grunted TS-01, as even this thing was heavy for the droid that Twilight created.
"What do you mean I have to help?" said 3PO as he was taken aback by that. "No, you are right."
3PO then walked to the other side of the seal as the two continued to pull. The protocol droid put a foot on the seal as he pushed it, which began to get the object to move. The seal was securely placed on the hole as the vapors no longer flowed. With a thud, the hole was closed, and the Aleena began to cheer for the droids.
"Oh, oh, oh! You are welcome. I knew we would be able to help." said 3PO.
"Hey, shiny!" called out Sinker as he and some men appeared at the top of the structure, as they were sent to look for the droids, "You three finished with those repairs on the computer system?"
"My good sir, you may not realize it, but we have been on quite an adventure," responded 3PO.
"Really? Quite an adventure, huh? Get a load of this one." snickered Sinker to his buddies.
"One? Which one? What... What do you..."
"Just come on, the Commander's been looking for you," said Sinker as he cut off the yellow droid and began to head back with the men.
The droids and clones started getting onboard after helping the Aleena. They were heading to their gunships as the King walked with them and congratulated them for their help.
"Do rish za nya! Kana do! Kana do!
"You are most welcome, Your Majesty," said TS-01 as she expressed thanks for all of them.
"Just doing our job in the service of the Republic," said 3PO as Wolffe rolled his eyes and turned as he desperately wanted to get off this planet.
The King and his subjects waved as 3PO began to follow the clones. R2 and TS-01 were about to do the same when an Aleena came up to them and hugged the two droids. R2 gave a beep. If he had a face, it would be a smile. Twilight's droid merely patted the small creature's head; they soon turned and began walking as the Aleena waved goodbye.
"No, R2, I will tell the story. No one understands you, anyway," responded 3PO to his buddy, who wanted to tell the clones what they had gone through.
R2 gave a beep as he disagreed.
"It's only proper. I am the one who solved the riddle. I should be the one to relay the story. I will, of course, report on you two's individual heroics." stated 3PO, "Do you think Senator Amidala will hold..."
"Oh, boy," said TS-01 as she sat on a crate in the gunship.
"As soon as we rendezvous with Master Gallia, we're off-loading those two," said Commander Wolffe, as he didn't want to deal with any more droids for another second.
"I couldn't agree more, sir," stated Boost.
"What about that one?" said Sinker as he pointed at Twilight's droid, seated on the crate next to the men.
"Meh, she's okay," stated Wolffe, as he didn't mind Twilight's droid, given that she wasn't as annoying as the other two were.
"Himself shall attend. Dare to dream, R2. Dare to dream!" said 3PO as the doors shut.
They were flying high, heading back to the cruisers and looking to leave the planet. Safe to say Twilight was going to have a field day when she accessed her droid's databanks once she returned to the princess.
Author's Note: A little droid adventure. Nothing too big but a weird encounter with some supernatural beings. And then we have the weirdness of the Aleena who are so far apart from other societies and technology that even a clone firing their blast to clear some rocks is considered "magic" to them. As always leave a review expressing your thoughts and comments.