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Chapter 6: The Droid Factory
The sleek and elegant ship of Count Dooku soared through the vastness of space, heading towards a remote and barren planet. Inside the cockpit, three figures were seated, each with their own thoughts and feelings.
Dooku was sitting in the co-pilot seat, his eyes closed and his hands folded in his lap. He was meditating, trying to sense the disturbances in the force that had been troubling him lately. He felt a dark and sinister presence looming over the galaxy.
Ethan was sitting in the back seat, his arms crossed and his face sulking. He was annoyed that Dooku had not let him drive the ship, even though he had asked him several times. He thought it was unfair that Dooku always treated him like a child, even though he had proven himself to be a capable and powerful force user.
He muttered under his breath, "It's not my fault that I stink at driving. I never learned how to drive on Earth. How was I supposed to know that the controls were so different here?"
Aria was sitting in the pilot seat, her hands on the steering wheel and her eyes on the navigation screen. She was focused on her task, but she also felt a pang of sympathy for Ethan. She knew how much he wanted to impress Dooku and how much he hated being scolded by him. She turned her head slightly and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Ethan. You don't need to drive. I'll be your driver anytime you want," she said in a soft and sweet voice.
Ethan felt his cheeks heat up at Aria's words. He appreciated her kindness, but he also felt embarrassed by her affection. He liked Aria as a friend and a comrade, but he was not sure if he liked her as something more. He quickly changed the topic and asked Dooku about their destination.
"Master, where are we going exactly?" he asked in a curious tone.
Dooku opened his eyes and looked at Ethan with a stern expression. "We are going to Geonosis, my young apprentice. A planet where the Separatists have a secret droid factory. You said you had a plan to recruit some droids for our cause. I want to hear it," he said in a commanding tone.
Ethan gulped and remained silent. He did have a plan, but he was not sure if Dooku would approve of it. He had been inspired by some of his favorite movies and games from Earth, where hackers could control machines with their skills and devices. He would use the force to hack into the droid network and override their programming, making them loyal to him instead of the separatists. But he had never tried it yet so it would be risky.
He wondered how he could explain his plan to Dooku without sounding crazy or foolish. He hoped that Dooku would trust him and let him try it out. He also hoped that his plan would work and that they would be able to gain some allies for their fight against Sidious and the Jedi.
He took a deep breath and began to speak.
Ethan finished explaining his plan to Dooku, hoping that he would understand and approve of it. He looked at Dooku with an eager and hopeful expression, waiting for his response.
Dooku stared at Ethan with a mixture of disbelief and incredulity. He could not believe what he had just heard. His Padawan wanted to use a device that could hack into the Android network and make them loyal to him. He had never heard of such a thing before. He wondered if Ethan was a madman, an idiot, or both.
He was tempted to dismiss his plan as foolish and impractical, but he decided to give it a chance. He had seen Ethan's potential and power, and he had also seen his creativity and resourcefulness. He knew that Ethan had a knack for finding unconventional solutions to difficult problems. He also knew that they needed allies and resources for their cause, and that the droids could provide them with both.
He sighed and nodded his head slightly. "Very well, Ethan. I will trust you and your plan. But you must be careful and discreet. The Separatists are not fools. They will notice if their droids start acting strangely or disappear. And they will not hesitate to retaliate," he said in a warning tone.
Ethan smiled and bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you, Master. I appreciate your trust and guidance. I will not let you down," he said in a grateful tone.
Aria listened to their conversation with a skeptical and worried expression. She did not understand Ethan's plan very well, but she did not like the sound of it. She thought it was too risky and complicated and that it could backfire on them. She voiced her concerns to Ethan, hoping that he would reconsider.
"Ethan, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, hacking into the droid network? How do you know it will work? How do you know the droids will obey you? How do you know the Separatists won't find out?" She asked in a concerned tone.
Ethan turned to Aria and gave her a reassuring smile. He took her hand and squeezed it gently. "Aria, I know this sounds crazy, but trust me, it will work. I've done my research and testing, and I'm confident that my device can do what I say it can do. And don't worry about the separatists. They won't find out until it's too late," he said in a confident tone.
Aria looked into his eyes and saw the determination and conviction in them. She felt a surge of admiration and affection for him. She trusted him more than anyone else in the galaxy, and she was willing to follow him wherever he went. She nodded her head slightly and smiled back at him. "Okay, Ethan. I trust you. I'll follow your plan," she said in a supportive tone.
Ethan thanked her for her trust and loyalty and then looked out of the window. He saw that they were approaching their destination, the planet Geonosis.
He felt a thrill of excitement as he recognized the planet from one of his favorite movies, Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones. He remembered how this planet was the site of the first battle of the Clone Wars, where the Jedi fought against the Separatist army of droids.
He saw the planet's surface, which was covered with rocky spires, canyons, and deserts. He saw the sun shining brightly in the sky, casting harsh shadows on the land. He saw the massive structures that dotted the landscape, some of them resembling hives or nests, others resembling factories or fortresses.
He felt a surge of curiosity and wonder as he imagined what secrets and mysteries this planet held. He wondered what kind of creatures lived here, what kind of culture they had, and what kind of technology they used. He wondered if he would encounter any familiar faces or events from the movie, or if he would discover something new and unexpected.
He also felt a surge of nervousness and anticipation as he thought about his plan to recruit some droids for their cause. He wondered if he would succeed or fail, if he would encounter any resistance or danger, and if he would make any friends or enemies along the way.
He hoped that everything would go smoothly and according to plan. He hoped that he would be able to prove himself to Dooku, Aria, and himself.
He hoped that he would be able to make a difference in this galaxy.
Aria announced that they had arrived at their destination and quickly landed their ship in a secluded spot near one of the droid factories.
Dooku and Aria put on black hooded cloaks to conceal their identities and weapons, while Ethan hid his face with a white long-coat hoodie. They left their ship quietly and headed towards the factory, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention or trouble.
Ethan, Dooku, and Aria made their way into the crowd of aliens and droids that filled the streets of Geonosis. They tried to blend in and act casual, but they also kept an eye on their surroundings and their destination.
They saw the droid factory looming in the distance, a massive and imposing structure that emitted smoke and noise. They saw the entrance to the factory, which was guarded by several battle droids and security cameras. They knew they had to find a way to get inside without being detected or stopped.
Ethan whispered to Dooku, "Master, do you know any shortcut to the factory? Any secret passage or back door?"
Dooku nodded slightly. "I do, but it will not be easy. The factory is well protected and fortified. The only way to get in is through the main entrance, which is heavily guarded." He pointed to the entrance with his finger.
Ethan cursed under his breath, "Damn it. That's not good. How are we supposed to get past those droids without alerting anyone?"
Aria looked around, trying to find any alternative or opportunity. She saw nothing but crowds of people and droids, buildings and vehicles, dust, and heat. She felt frustrated and anxious. She said to Ethan, "Maybe we can wait for a distraction or a commotion. Maybe someone or something will cause a scene or a fight, and we can use that as a cover."
Ethan shook his head. "That's too risky and unreliable. We can't afford to waste time or depend on chance. We need to find our own way in."
He scanned the area, looking for any hole or opening that they could use. He saw nothing but walls and fences, gates and doors, locks, and codes. He felt hopeless and desperate.
He was about to give up when he spotted something that caught his eye. He saw a small hole in the wall near the entrance, a hole that looked like it had been made by a blast or a crash. He saw that the hole was big enough for them to crawl through and that it led to a dark and narrow tunnel that seemed to go inside the factory.
He felt a surge of excitement and relief. He had found their way in.
He said to Dooku and Aria, "Guys, I found it. I found our shortcut. Look over there." He pointed to the hole with his finger.
Dooku and Aria followed his gaze and saw the hole. They felt surprised and curious.
Dooku said, "Interesting. How did that hole get there? And where does it lead?"
Ethan shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe someone or something made it by accident or on purpose. Maybe it leads to the droid network or somewhere else. But it doesn't matter. It's our best chance to get in."
Aria nodded. "You're right. It's better than nothing. Let's go then."
Ethan smiled and said, "Okay, then. Follow me."
He led them towards the hole, hoping that no one would notice them or stop them.
They were lucky. They reached the hole just in time as a group of battle droids passed by them, patrolling the area. They quickly crawled into the hole, one by one, and entered the tunnel.
They were inside the factory.
In a dark and secluded chamber, a figure was furiously typing on his keyboard, surrounded by multiple monitors that displayed various data and images. The figure was a male, wearing a black suit and a mask that covered his face, except for his eyes. On his chest, there was a logo that consisted of a single digit: 1.
He was so focused on his task that he did not notice the sound of footsteps behind him. He did not notice the presence of another figure in the chamber, until he heard a voice.
A voice that was seductive and playful, but also cold and dangerous.
"Hello, First. What are you doing?"
He turned around and saw her. She was a female, wearing a red dress and a mask that covered her face, except for her lips. On her chest, there was a logo that consisted of another digit: 2.
She was the second, the second-in-command of the organization, and the first's partner and rival. She was loyal to him, but also ambitious and cunning.
She smiled at him with a wicked grin and walked towards him with a graceful stride.
He frowned at her and said in an annoyed tone, "Second. What are you doing here? I told you not to disturb me."
She shrugged and said in a casual tone, "I was bored. And curious. I wanted to see what you were up to. And how you were progressing with your plans regarding the Key."
She reached him and leaned over his shoulder, looking at his monitors with interest.
He moved away from her and said in an irritated tone, "You know my plans. I'm going to find the Key and use him for our cause. And you know my progress. I'm almost there."
She nodded and said in an admiring tone, "Yes, yes. I know your plans. You're doing very well, First. You're very smart and diligent. And very obsessed."
He glared at her and said in an angry tone, "I'm not obsessed. I'm passionate. There's a difference."
She giggled and said in a teasing tone, "Oh, really? Is that what you call it? Passion? Well then, you're very passionate about the Key."
She moved closer to him and whispered in his ear, "Tell me, First. What do you want to do with the Key once you have him? "
He pushed her away from him and said in a cold tone, "That's none of your business, Second. You don't need to know that. You just need to follow my orders and do your job."
She pouted and said in a disappointed tone, "Oh come on, First. Don't be so secretive and stingy. Share with me your thoughts and feelings about the Key. After all, we're partners. We're supposed to trust each other."
He sighed and stared at her with a cold look.
He did not trust her.
He did not trust anyone.
Especially not when it came to the Key.
He said in a stern tone, "Enough of this nonsense, Second. We have work to do."
