"What was that?"
That was the question shared between the force-sensitive Jedi. Their Clone Commanders, Captains, and other nearby troopers from all of their individual ships were all by their side. The Clone Troopers stared at their Jedi Generals in confusion. As none of them seen them react in such a way before. Now the two Jedi were looking into space.
"General, are you alright?" Admiral Wulff Yularen asked.
"What was that?" A clone trooper inquired somewhat panicked, standing closer to Kenobi as he seemed as though he were about to pass out.
Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight of the Ancient Order, stood upon the bridge of his personal ship the Resolute. Was having trouble forming an answer. His old master and friend, Obi-wan Kenobi, was in a similar situation.
"I'm not sure," Anakin replied in disbelief. "Obi-wan, did you feel that?"
Obi-wan rubbed his eyes. "It was hard not too, and it was...very interesting."
Interesting would put it mildly. It was as if the force itself got boosted up with light. For the longest time, the Jedi felt the Dark side cloud all around them. But it was like someone flashed a massive light in a night sky. Neither Jedi had ever felt like that before.
They had stopped at this system to establish any possible Republic outposts. Having found one planet in the solar system that was deemed suitable to support it. They're fleet had been in the planets orbit for nearly three days protecting its initial construction. They were also on the lookout for Grievous, as he's been missing from the action of recent battles. Thus another reason for setting up all these bases.
"That's one way of saying it. But did you get a feel of what it was it was?" Anakin said over to Obi-wan.
The Jedi Master nodded gravely. "Yes, for something so focused in the light, it carried with a sadness like I couldn't believe."
"That power to," Anakin cut in, "with how strongly it seemed to push the force? I wouldn't be surprised if the council members on Coruscant could feel it."
Obi-wan nodded in agreement before turning to the communications officer. "Get me in contact with the Jedi Temple."
Another Clone came in. "Excuse me, General. Incoming transmission from Commander Cody."
The Jedi Master sighed before answering. "Bring him up, after which get me contact with the Temple."
To say Ruby Rose was confused as to where she was, would be a bit of an understatement.
Everywhere Ruby turned her head was totally barren, no life for as far as the eye could see. But that wasn't the worst of it.
Ruby didn't believe she was on Remnant anymore. At first, she thought she was the content of Sanus, possibly near Vacuo. But that thought went out the window real quick. Mainly due to the planet floating in the sky above that wasn't shattered in a billion space rooks. Plus, it looked kinda like her world. Only she couldn't recognize any of the contents she remembers from looking at maps.
The thought of being on another world sent her into a panic of questions. Questions of home, of her family, her team, of Beacon. When her mind went to school, she remembered what happened.
An arrow sticking out of Phyrra's chest.
Ruby had busted down crying of the loss of her friend. Ruby wasn't as close to her like she was with her team. But she still considers her a good friend. How Cinder killed her and made her body disappear.
A fury of determination surfaced from that. Cinder. Ruby was now convinced that she was responsible for all that's been happening in Vale. Torchwicks Dust store robberies, the White Fangs militarization, the attack at Beacon, and unleashing that big Grimm. If there was one thing that needed to happen next, it was to stop Cinder from doing any more harm to the world.
With her end goal in mind, she first needed to figure out the first step.
"Figure out where am I?"
Ruby hiked up a nearby cliff for a better vantage point to studied her surroundings. When she reached the top, she started to feel tired and thirsty. Ruby realized her predicament that she didn't have any food or water with her and needed to solve this situation now.
Looking around, she saw lights in the distance. Pulling out her Crescent Rose in her rifle function, she looked down her scope and saw a structure that had power emanating from it. The Huntress in training nearly leapt for joy. Judging how far it was, she guessed it would take her a few minutes if she used her semblance.
With a destination in mind, she made her way down the slope and took off in a storm of petals.
Meanwhile, at said structure…
It was built into a large canyon with a single landing platform where one lone figure in white armor stood.
A Clone Trooper.
Said Trooper had a set of scopes attached to his helmet, allowing for a wider and longer field of view from his position.
"This is the deck officer checking in." The Trooper said to the rest of his comrades within the base. "Nothing going on. As usual."
Inside the base were a group of clones all at several stations monitoring for any signs for unusual activity. More specifically, droid activity.
Save for the two in the center, arm wrestling with a holo-radio broadcast playing all the while.
"You're listening to the Grand Army of the Republic broadcast. The voice of the Outer Rim. This next one goes out to the Mud-jumpers of the 224th, slugging it out on Mimban. Keep your head down and your seals tight, boys."
Another clone holding a datapad entered the control room just as one of the clones slammed his fellow troopers' arm down.
"HA HA YES." The Clone shot up in victory while the loser massaged his wrist. "Who's next? Fives?"
"Uh, Shouldn't you be watching your scopes, Hevy?" The Clone who had just walked in asked with his datapad still in hand.
"Yeah? Let's take a look." Hevy responded condescendingly while pulling up a visual of the Rishi Moon's atmosphere. "Hmm, what'd ya know? All...clear?"
The uncertain tone drew the rest of the Clones, "What is it, Hevy?" Cutup said, shutting off the radio.
Hevy fiddled with controls to get a better picture on his scanning station whiles his brothers gathered around. As the picture cleared up, what showed stunned the clones as it was one of the last things they expected on this moon.
"Is that a child?" Cutup said.
"Alert the Sargent!" Droidbait said.
"I'm already here."
They turn to see another clone had entered the control room, this one distinguished with his grey brows. All clones snapped up, standing straight in posture.
"Attention, Sergeant on deck!" Echo shouted out.
"At Ease." The Clone Sergeant said, eyeing the assembled Clones. "What happening?"
"Sergeant, it's best to see for your self to believe," Hevy said while stepping to the side. The Sergeant walked over and looked through the bases scopes. His face became impassible as he saw a child waddling towards their outpost on shaky knees before falling to the ground right there.
"Hevy, stay on your scops. Droidbait, grab the medkit. Five's, prep three speeders. Cutup, Echo prep your gear, we're going out. The rest of you to your posts!"
Sir, yes, sir!" The troopers responded before leaping into action.
With practice precision of constant drills and exercises, it didn't take long for three speeders to rush out the outpost's garage.
"Cutup stay close to me and ready your med kit, Echo hang back and cover us as we get in close!" The Sergeant ordered.
"Yes, Sir!" The three speeders neared the child's position and soon got a better look at who they were dealing with.
Getting a visual on their target, it really is a child. She looked human, having pale skin and dark hair. She wore a black skirt of all things and a big red hooded cape. The kid was down on her knees with her head bowed forward.
Reaching the kid, Cutup pulled out his medkit while the Sargent carefully approached the child. The two could see rips and burns on the child's clothing. Cutup put a hand on the kids should, gaining a slight reaction.
The child's head lifted up, revealing to the Clones to be a young human girl with unusual silver eyes. "Hi...there." The kid said weakly before going into a coughing fit.
The Sergeant stepped in there. "Hold on, Miss, you look like you went through the wringer. Let us help." The child nodded. The Sargent put an arm under her arm with Cutup on the other. He also took note of some metal box contraption hooked to a belt on her lower back. A backpack maybe? The clone thought. She had an assortment of pouches on her belt as well. Together they carefully led her over to Cutup's speeder bike. The Clone Trooper fished out a canteen and handed it to the child.
"Here, take small sips." The Clone instructed.
She did so. After a few moments of doing this, she handed the water container back. "Thank you," she said politely.
"No problem little lady, now what's your name?"
"My name is Ruby, Ruby Rose. I'm a student at Beacon Academy." The appropriately named girl said.
The two troopers looked at each other. "Umm, sir, did I miss something in the briefing on this planet because I'm pretty sure there wasn't a note of any schools mentioned here."
"If there were, then I wasn't made aware of this either." The Sergeant replied. He then looked back at the girl. "Excuse me, do you know where you're at?"
Ruby shook her head. "I thought I might be in Vacuo at first, but I don't think I am on Remnant anymore."
The Sergeant did not like this. "No, I've never heard of that planet. You're currently standing on the deserted moon of Rishi, located in the outer rim."
Ruby looked on in shock at the two soldiers. "I really am on a different planet!" she said fearfully. "I'm not on Remnant anymore..."
Cutup looked at the kid with pity before turning to the Sergeant. "Sir, I think we should take her back with us and report this in."
"I agree. There are some officers on the way to inspect the outpost. Will report directly to them when they arrive." The Sergeant agreed. "Echo, return to base, we're done here, over."
"Copy that, returning to base."
"Get her back to base safely understood, Trooper?" The Sergeant ordered.
"Yes, Sergeant," he replied before turning back to the teen and patted the seat on his speeder. "Come on, Ruby, I'll take you back to base, and you can tell us how you got on this forsaken rock."
Ruby looked at the strange hovering vehicle before figuring out it was like her sister's bike. Just more high-tech and looking like it ran off of gravity Dust. Throwing her leg over behind the soldier, she raped her arms around the soldiers plated armor. A moment later, they were racing towards the base at a speed that would make her sister smile. They soon met up with Echo along the way, and the three troopers were back with their new charge.
Ruby looked around the base in slight wonder. The tech in this place was so different than what she's seen. It reminded her of Atlas with the way everything looked neat and clean. The half a dozen people that were clearly soldiers due to the near-pristine white armor they wore that covered them from head to toe. Their helmets covering their faces with a t-shaped black visor. They also reminded her of Atlas soldiers but their armor was completely different.
"Ok, Ruby Rose. Let's get started. I'm Sergeant O'niner of the Grand Army of the Republic." He introduced himself. "Start at the beginning. Where are you from? What planet?" The Sergeant Beck began.
"Well...Like I said, I am Ruby Rose, and I'm from Remnant."
"Remnant, hah? Never heard that planet before," one of the soldiers said.
"The way it's named by the local doesn't sound like a nice place to be," another one commented.
"Why do all of you sound the same." Ruby noted, "Are you all related, and what's this Republic?"
"Huh?" One of them spoke up. "You don't know about us?"
"I think it's easy to assume she doesn't know anything about us," Sergeant O'niner said.
Another asked with the same voice again. "At all? The war with the separatists? The Droid army? The Republic? Anything?"
Ruby shook her head no as her eye doted back and forth between the soldiers. "I've never heard of a war going on, and I've definitely never been on another planet or known if there was a war going on. I just woke up tired not too far from here and saw the lights and took a chance."
"Just so we're clear, you have no idea as to the war or anything like that?"
"No," Ruby said firmly. "I don't know anything that's going on."
"Well, you just lucked out with us." The soldier over by one of the terminals said. "Rishi is a barren moon, and we're the only intelligent inhabitance on this rock. If you were a little farther away, you probably wouldn't have seen us and died alone on this rock."
"Don't mind him." Another soldier said in amusement. "Hevy fell in love with this planet the first time he laid eyes on it. Want's to spend the rest of his life here because it's so peaceful." He teased.
"Ah shut up, Droidbait," the soldier now identified as Hevy said to the one weirdly named Droidbait.
The little banter between the soldiers brought a smile on the young rose's face. It reminded her of the fun times she had with team RWBY. But with all of them having the same voice, she just needed to say it." So are you guys all brothers? Cause you guys sound Way to alike."
"That's the thing girl," Hevy said, moving to remove his helmet. "We are all brothers in a manner of speaking."
Ruby's eyes widened at the sight of six helmets being removed to reveal six exact faces staring right back at them with maybe one or two distinguishing features on each of their faces.
"Clones?!" Ruby said in surprise.
"That's correct," Sergeant Beck said with a small grin. "And we're all members of the Clone Army of the Republic."
"Clone Army?" Ruby said in bewilderment. "I may need to take a seat for a sec."
"Take your time. The inspection team will be here soon. In the meantime, Domino squad!" The Sergeant address the group. "You're responsible for Ruby's safety while she's here, understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the five-man team replied.
The Sargent then walked off, leaving the five clones and one teen by themselves. "Well, we might as well introduce ourselves. I'm Echo. These are my brothers' Cutup, Droidbait, Hevy, and Fives."
"This is a little confusing?" Ruby admitted as she looked at the five identical men.
"It can be at times, but we're used to it," Cutup replied.
Ruby's stomach made itself known to all as it let out a rather loud growl. Ruby's face became her namesake as she smiled sheepishly. The clones all looked at the young Huntress with amused smiles. The one called Droidbait came to her rescue.
"How about something to eat? The rations here aren't grand, but its better than starving."
"That be nice," Ruby responded and was led out the control center by Droidbait. The rest of the clones stood by and watched.
"Whelp, that will be one of the highlights of my time at this outpost," Hevy comment.
"Babysitting a kid, on Rishi of all worlds? This is something I don't think anyone on Kamino is going to believe," Cutup said. The other three clones nodding in agreement before going to their stations.
Droidbait and Ruby were in the Barracks having some Republic rations. The Clone Trooper was watching in amusement of the teen trying out said rations.
"This stuff pretty bland," Ruby said as she took another hesitant bite out it.
"It's not the greatest, but it supplies you with the necessary amount of nutrition a person needs."
Ruby understood what he meant. Her partner Weiss told her about some things about Atlas and their military. More focused on function and purpose rather than personal confront.
"If you don't mind me asking, what's that you got there on your back?" Droidbait pointed at the red metal box on her back.
The red-head knew he was talking about her sweetheart. She loved talking about weapons in general. But before Ruby could happily answer his question, an alarm suddenly went off, prompting the two out of their seats.
"What's that? Are we being attacked?" Ruby said, her body ready to bolt at a moment's notice.
"That's the incoming alarm!" Droidbait responded. 'Let's head back to the command center." The two made their way out of Barracks and down the hall.
The clones themselves within the base were well aware of the situation.
"Sir, incoming meteor shower." Echo notified the Sergeant.
"Raise the shield," Sergeant instructed with Echo doing just that.
"You wanted excitement," Echo commented to Hevy.
"Right. Oh ~ Meteor Shower." Hevy said in sarcastic fear.
The meteors impacted the ray shield of the base.
Outside the base. The deck watch scanned the area for any signs of damage to the outpost. Looking over the eastern part of the Outpost, the lookout spotted something along the ridge. Using his optics in his helmet to zoom in. It was some kind of dome-like contraption with three metal appendages embedded into the ground.
"What the-" his voice cut off before something blocked his vision before he knew it his whole body became a conduit of pain and darkness took over.
"CT-327 come in, sentry do you copy?" Sergeant O'niner said over his Commlink.
"Interference from the meteors?" Cutup suggested.
"I don't see him down there, Serge," Fives reported.
"You two, go find him," the Sergeant ordered the two clones at the doors. The two moved without a word as the donned their helmets and descended the stairs. Inside, the Sergeant felt like something was wrong.
"Droids!"
The shout one trooper said before the roar of blaster fire.
Rushing on instinct, he grabbed his helmet and blaster rifle. Descending the stairway, instantly spotted the two clones he sent getting killed by black-coated droids. The droids spotted him and fired as he went into cover and returned fire.
"Sound the alarm!" He gave the order as he continued firing.
Echo was nearest the alarm switch and pressed it. "They disabled the Beacon!"
More droids were appearing out of the hallway. "Get a message to the fleet! We have to warn AGHH!" The Sergeants' words were cut off as his leg was exposed and shot, making him fall to the ground. He turned around to aim his blaster at his attackers only for it to get batted to the side. Beck could do nothing as the three commando droids standing above him repeatedly shoot him.
The rest of Domino could only watch in horror as their Commander gets gunned down. They fell back to the command center just as the droids took notice of them and sent blaster bolts their way.
Hevy went to the door controls and shut the blast doors, then tore out its circuits. "That should slow them down."
It was then, Droidbait and Ruby appeared. "What's happening?" He said.
"The Separatists are attacking and the Sergeant dead." Cutup responded.
Fives went to a ventilation shaft and pulled off the covering. "This way, hurry!" He motioned his hand over.
"No, we can-" The blast door holding the Droids back began to spark as they cut themselves through.
"It's too late!" Fives said as Echo and Cutup went into the vent.
While this went on, Ruby looked around in dread and a bit of annoyance. She had just got out of a fight for her life, and now she was in another one. People were dying around her before she could act. Her thoughts were halted when a hand grabbed her shoulder forcefully, looking over she saw Droidbait.
"Kid, let's move," said the Clone Trooper.
Ruby didn't like running from a fight but followed the clones nonetheless thought the vent. She couldn't protect the ones that have already died. But she will do her best to save those who are left.
It wasn't long before they reached the end of the ventilation shaft, and one by one, the five clones and one Huntress jumped out. They then started conversing on what to do next.
"So, what do we do without the Sarge?" Cutup asked his squad.
Echo, of course, recited regulations. "Well, the Reg Manuals say that the next-"
"Hold on." Hevy cut Echo off. "Do you guys hear something?"
It was a mixture of a moaning hiss coupled with something scraping against rock. Then came a more metallic and artificial sound.
"Yeah, actually," Fives spoke up. "What is all that noise? That doesn't sound like droids."
Ruby's mind began to race at what it could be as her hand drifted towards her weapon. The thought it could be a Grimm was an idea or maybe some other kind of monster. Whatever it is, it did not sound friendly at all.
"Don't forget about those giant eels," Hevy said when it was Echo who interrupted him.
Cutup then cried out in terror and plea as the clones were snuck upon by a giant eel with their brother in its mouth.
"CUTUP." Echo shouted out to his brother when suddenly, a blur of red flew up to the beast. Then Ruby appeared on the mouth of that the ell with Crescent Rose out in sniper form. She then fired off a round right into the roof of its mouth, making it drop Cutup.
Ruby didn't stop there. After it released the Clone, she used her semblance to force herself up into the air and fully releasing her Crescent Rose into its scythe configuration. In the world of her semblance, things slowed down a bit, not to a crawl per se but more to the point where Ruby can think and react faster of what needs to be done. She tightened her hands and shifted her blade point to where it would go between the eels plates.
Crescent Rose sank right through the eel's hide and slicing through to the other side. Making it a clean-cut right behind where the eye is. It shrieked once before falling down and rolling off the cliff.
Seeing her action done, she turned back to the clones. "Are you guys alright?" She asked.
The fives clones eyes widened with maybe one or two jaws dropping beneath their helmets while they glanced at one another. All wondering what the hell just happened?
"Uh, yeah." Echo said slowly. "We're alright."
"Thanks for the save." Cutup said, panting a bit frantically while also patting himself on the chest upon realizing he narrowly escaped death.
"Are you a Jedi?" Fives asked.
Ruby tilted her head in confusion. "Um, I don't know what that is, but I am a Huntress." One that was still in training. She said that the last bit to herself. She then closes Crescent Rose back up in storage mode.
"Guess that answers my question earlier about the box," said Droidbit.
"Boys look!" Hevy said, pointing above them. A ship with red markings comming down above them and landed on the outpost's platform.
"It's Commander Cody!" Echo said upon realization of the craft. "The inspection team."
"We've got to warn them." Cutup said hurriedly.
"Get on the Commlink." Hevy instructed Echo.
The Clone tried in several failing attempts. "It's no use, their comms frequencies are on a different scramble set."
"They're walking right into a trap," Hevy said grimly.
"Can we send some kind of signal?" Ruby asked them.
"We can, I'll signal them with this flare," Fives said, holding up the flare to them.
"Do it before it's too late!" Ruby said to the Trooper.
Meanwhile, on the platform. Upon the landing, two clone officers exited the shuttle. One sported orange assets with aa visor brim on his helmet while the other head blue paint decals on his white armor and a shoulder plate on his right side. Commander Cody and Captain Rex were conversing with a very unusual Clone Trooper. He had been very adamant in keeping both superior officers from entering the base. In the end, Rex had enough of this and got right in the Trooper's face.
"Take us to the Sergeant in command," Rex ordered.
"Roger, roger." The Clone replied, making Rex and Cody share a look when a red light shot out from beneath the platform and high up into the air.
"A droid attack flare?" Cody said in befuddlement.
Without wasting a movement, Rex held up his rifle and promptly shot the unusual Trooper in the head.
"Whoa! Rex! What the hell are you doing?" Cody said, freaked out at the action.
"Relax," Rex said confidently, going over to the downed body and removed its helmet. "Just as I thought. Looks like one of those new Commando droids."
"That flare must've come from the survivors." Cody surmised.
Blaster fire then filled the area.
"Ambush!" Rex yelled out with both he and Cody now being surrounded by other Commando Droids firing at them. Both moved back towards the crates for cover, shooting back all the while. Cody landed a few shots upon one of the droids only for it to straighten back up and resume fire.
"Argh, Those Clankers have got some tough armor," Cody said in annoyance.
More Commando Droids popped up from behind and cut their access from the shuttle. They quickly took cover behind a set of nearby crates and fought back from their improvised protection.
"We're cut off!" Rex said frustrated. He shifted his aim at a new set of Commando Droids coming out of the outpost and tossing a bunch of thermal detonators. "Off the platform!" He yelled.
The detonators went off, destroying Cody and Rex's ship.
The clone squad and Huntress down below saw this. Then they spotted two figures descending on down from the platform via cables.
"They made it!" Ruby said happily, which reassured the clones knowing they are alright.
"Come on." Cutup said, and they ran forward.
Rex and Cody, in the meantime, touched down upon the ground.
"Well, this sure complicates things, Commander." Rex wryly said, observing the wreckage of their ship. "No worse than that time we had on Tibrin."
"We had Jedi with us on Tibrin." Cody reminded. "They helped."
Both Rex and Cody then gave pause to five figures walking around the fire and towards them.
"Hands above your head. Take your sun bonnets off." Rex commanded, leveling his rifle at them with Cody in tow.
"Uh, Sir?" The one with a binocular attachment said in confusion.
"Now!" Rex barked out, and the five troopers obliged, revealing familiar faces.
Rex and Cody relaxed only to snap up their weapons again at the sight of a sixth person hiding behind one of the clones. Then became confused at the sight of a short human girl.
"What?" Rex said as he couldn't help but blink owlishly at the random encounter.
From behind the officers came yet another one of those giant eels only this time, Captain Rex was quick on the draw and shot it in the eye for an instant kill. Letting out a mournful moan, the predator fell down and did not move.
"Nice shot." Echo murmured the rest of Domino nodding in agreement.
The Clone Captain kneeled down to inspect his kill, taking his helmet off in the process. "The name's Rex, but you will call me Captain or Sir."
"Sir, yes, Sir!" The Clone Troopers snapped to attention in response.
"I'm Commander Cody." Said the orange-tinted Trooper, his helmet also removed. "Your new boss."
"My designation is Trooper 27-5555, sir."
"We Call him Fives," Hevy said. "I'm Hevy. This is Echo, Droidbait, and that's Cutup. We make up Domino squad." he nodded to each of his squad mates.
"And who's this?" Rex asked as he looked at the girl that didn't look no older the Asoka. "I wasn't aware the outpost was chaperoning kids."
Ruby narrowed her eyes at the Captain. "My name is Ruby Rose, and I'm a Huntress." She stated firmly as she unleashed Crescent Rose to its full scythe configuration and planted it in the ground next to her.
Rex and Cody took a step back in surprise at the sudden appearance of the big weapon.
"Don't be fooled, sir. She has the reflexes of a Jedi," Droidbait commented.
"Yeah, Ruby, here saved my hide earlier from becoming eel food." Cutup pointed at the big eel that the captain just shot.
Rex looked between the troopers as they sided with the girl. She must have made quite an impression on the clone squad. Plus, with a weapon like that, then she must be worth something in a fight.
"Where's your Sergeant?" Cody asked the men.
"Dead, Sir. We're all that's left," Echo answered.
"Looks like we have a batch of Shinnies, Commander," Rex stated.
"Shinnies?" Hevy said in slight confusion. "What's that?"
"Your armor," Rex said, walking up to Echo and placing his blood-stained blue hand upon Echo's chest and leaving a handprint. "It's shiny and new. Like you."
"Sir," Hevy spoke up, addressing Rex directly. "Me and my Batchers are trained and ready. We'll take back the base, Shiny or not."
"There may be hope for you yet, rookie," Rex said approvingly.
"Uh, sirs, not to hold us back or anything, but what about Ruby here?" Fives inquired.
"After she saved my life, I'm not going to leave her here," Cutup said as he stood by the kids' side. The rest of Domino doing the same. Ruby felt touched by the Clone's support. They've gone through a bunch in a short time and didn't want to abend her.
"I want to help," she said. Gaining all the Clones' attention. "The Clones here helped me when I needed it. I want to repay that in return not because I can but because its the right thing to do."
The Clones couldn't help but balk at the declaration in slight awe and admiration.
Rex cracked a smile at the kid. "If there were more people like you in the galaxy, I think this war we're in wouldn't have started in the first place."
"Are you sure about this, kid?" Cody asked respectfully. "You are about to involve yourself in a war."
"Its what I would have done in the first place even if you haven't asked," Ruby replied. "Besides. I was told this was a lifeless rock, and I ended up here by accident. Helping you guys take this base back could help me get home."
"Much appreciated then," Rex said with a grateful nod.
"Let's move boys," Cody said to the other clones, all donning their helmets.
The eight of them moved up the slope with caution as they tried to avoid the Droid's attention. As they got closer, Rex hands off his blaster to Fives.
"Look, sharp rookies." Rex instructed, "As long as those tweezers occupy this base, our homeworld of Kamino is at risk."
"But there's so many of them." Echo pointed out.
"Doesn't matter, kid." Rex waved off, "We have to take back this base, so we will take back this base."
"Kamino is your home?" Ruby asked the clones.
"That's right. It's the closest thing to a home for us clones," Cody responded.
"Then there shouldn't be a question on what to do," Ruby said firmly. "Your home is at risk, and the lives of many people are on the line. We have to do this."
The clones could not help but just be surprised at the simple logic this kid was giving them. Even the two vets shared a look. Cody decided to move things along.
"So, how do you propose we get through those blast doors, Rex old boy?" Cody asked with anticipation and snapping the rest of the Troopers out of their stupor.
"I have a few ideas," Rex said, looking to the doors.
"What's the plan?" Ruby said enthusiastically.
"We give them a taste of their own medicine," Rex stated.
The taste of their own medicine, apparently, was Rex pretending to approach the blast doors in a similar fashion to the way the Commando droids had when they first met the two clone officers.
The rest of the squad was lined up on both ends of the blast doors. Just out of sight from the camera that popped out to get a closer look at Rex.
"Unit 2-6? Is that you?" Asked the Commando Droid on the opposite of the door.
"Roger, Roger," Rex responded as blandly and robotically as possible.
"You sound strange." The Droid stated. "Is something wrong with your vocabulator?"
Rex reached up to his throat in a further effort to add to the act. "Roger, Roger."
"Take off your helmet, let me see your faceplate." The Droid ordered.
"Roger, Roger." Rex complied with a hint of amusement.
Rex ducked beneath the camera and held up a severed droid head.
Cody shakes his head and palms his helmet. "This is never gonna work." He murmured, slightly irked at the plan.
"Shush!" Ruby said silently to the Clone officer as she fought hard to keeper herself from chuckling at this.
Then the blast doors open. That's when the Droids realized it was a trick when Rex pulled the trigger.
"Roger, Roger," Rex said condescendingly, shooting down the middle Droid while the others took out the other two.
"Right," Rex said approvingly. "Let's move."
They moved through the base, checking corners as they go. Ruby had her sweetheart in its sniper mode ready to assist. They soon reached the stairway up to the command center.
"Permission to take point, sir?" Hevy asked Rex.
"I'm always first kid," Rex stated before the Clone and Huntress marched up the steps.
Ruby decided to take a chance and used her speed to get in front of the troopers. Upon seeing the Commando Droids, Ruby performed an Aura enhanced jump over a few and sliced one when Ruby got close. The Clones rushed in and quickly scrapping the Droids as they were distracted by the abrupt arrival of the Huntress.
One droid drew a blade on Ruby and attempted to slice her with it. But it was to slow as Ruby spun around the clanker in a fluid motion returning the gesture with her own swing with Crescent Rose. Decapitating the droid in the end.
The last Commando Droid went down in a hail of blaster fire.
Cody walked over to the station sensors and turned them on. "Get to the windows. It looks like we got more visitors."
Everyone ran up the stair to the window overlooking the base. Echo pulled his scope attachment down and looked up to see a large cluster of ships.
"Looks like a Separatist fleet." Echo stated.
"That's why they commandeered the outpost. There mounting a full-scale invasion." Cody said in realization.
"And without this outpost warning them, then your home would suddenly be undersigned in a massive surprise attack!" Ruby said, getting the point across.
"We need to warn command now," Rex stated.
"The Clankers cut off our transmitters and Hard-wired the all-clear signal." Echo said, "it will take time to repair."
"We don't have time," Rex said firmly.
"Look!" Cody pointed out.
"A Separatists Droid dropship?" Droidbait said in bewilderment.
"Well, Hevy, you always did want to fight on the front lines," Fives said, giving his brother a pointed look.
Ruby eyed the ship as it soon landed on one of the clear landing pads. It's doors opened to reveal a bunch of robots marching in unison. Ruby went into team leader mode as she analyzed her opponents. They were all armed with small boxy rifles and really didn't look all that strong to her. Maybe they would be decent against the Knight-160's from home, but the Atlas Knight-200 could easily take care of them. Any student team of the four huntsman academies could take these guys on. But she also could see the threat in them, individually their weak, so they make up for with numbers.
"We can't protect the outpost for long against an army of clankers," Cody admitted.
"Then we'll destroy the outpost instead," Rex said, surprising the clones of Domino squad.
"But, sir." Echo argued. "Our orders were to defend this facility, at any and all costs."
"We have to warn the Republic about the invasion," Rex replied. "They'll take notice once the all-clear signal stops."
"That's right," Fives said in realization. "As soon as the Beacon is gone, the Republic will know that something's wrong."
"We'll need every Thermal Detonator in the base," Rex said.
"You'll need more than a few Detonators to blow this outpost," Hevy said to the officer.
"We can use the LT?" All eyes went to Echo for an explanation. "This moon freezes for half the year, we use liquid tabana to heat the base."
"Liquid tabana, highly explosive," Cody said in recognition. "That will do it."
"Good, bring the tanks, and prime the detonators," Rex ordered.
All the Clones gathered down and grabbed their helmets. Ruby didn't have one, so she just waited for them to prep. She followed Fives, Hevy, Droidbait, and Commander Cody to the armory.
"I think we can even the odds a bit, Commander," Hevy said as he picks up a Z-6 rotary cannon. "This one here is mine."
"A big gun doesn't make a big man," the Commander replied just as he picked up a DC-15 long-rifle. Droidbait doing the same while Five's is handed a DC-15S Blaster Carbine.
Upon entering, Ruby let her inner gun nut out and examined at all the neat weapons. There was a row of guns lined the wall with clone trooper helmets. She took one off the racks and decided to try it on. It fitted over her head, and the visor seamed to not diminish her sight all that much. It wasn't that bad really, kinda loose and held room for her hair. She shook her head and found the helmet staying firm to her head.
"Having fun, kid?"
Ruby turned and saw the Clones looking at her. She could feel the amusement under there helmets.
Hevy laughed and patter the helmet on her on the head. "He he. Time to go, little sister," he said before walking by. The Clones from Domino joked as they grabbed their gear before rushing out, leaving just the Commander with her.
Ruby watched as Cody just stood and stared at her till the others were out of hearing range. Then he spoke, "I don't know why your here, Ruby. But from the looks those Shinnies give you is anything they trust you. Don't discourage the effect that can have on them." He then hands over pistol and holster to Ruby and looks at the DC-17 blaster pistol before walking away.
The Huntress didn't need to think about what to do next. She strapped it down on her left side and followed after the soldiers.
She soon past Echo, Droidbait, and Rex in the command center and descended down the stairs. There she saw Hevy, Fives, Cutup, and Commander Cody fighting against a growing number of B1 Battle Droids and were slowly getting pushed back.
"Could use a Jedi right about now," Cody commented as he fried at the hoard of Battle Droids.
The Clones then paused in firing when a red cloud of flower petals flew past them and towards the enemy line. The Battle Droids did the same as they were unsure of what to make of this situation. Ruby suddenly materialized out of said red petals. The next thing anyone knew was happening, the little girl unleashed her weapon and began demolishing the Battle Droids with swings from her giant scythe.
Her first swing took three in one swipe, followed by sidestepping another while taking out another with an overhead slice, then decapitating the next two.
The displayed continued like this for a few more seconds before the Droids started fighting back when then they saw the Clone helmet. The Clone Commander was the first to snap out of the stupor and began firing again.
"They're stalled. Push forward and flank them!" Cody ordered.
The clones had moved out further onto the platform in backing up the Huntress. Who swung, moved, and cut her way the enemy ranks.
"Holy Kriff, she really is like a Jedi!" Hevy said with excitement as he shot a stream of blue lasers at the second line of B2 Super Battle Droids.
Most of the Separatists fired and tried to hit Ruby, their programming marked her as a Jedi due to how she moved around so much. While the small Huntress continued to weave around or block the blaster bolts the same as if she blocked Dust rounds. Her semblance helping her with perceiving the incoming attacks and react accordingly.
But it still wasn't enough as more kept coming as one clipped her shoulder, her Aura taking the hit for her but still hurt.
"Men back to the Outpost!" Cody orders everyone. He then turned to the little girl that looks like she soloing an army. "Ruby! come on!"
Ruby heard the order and fell back under the cover fire of the Clones. They shut the blast doors right behind her upon reaching the base. The Clone quickly took up defensive positions by the door.
"Hey everyone, the LT's are ready to go!" Droidbait called out from above the stairway.
Right then, the blast doors blew, and the army of Droids came marching in, blasting at everything they see. The Clones and Ruby fired ally they could at the approaching enemy.
Ruby hung back and utilize her sniper skills and went for headshots on the Droids. Taking them down one after the other. After firing twelve continuous shots, she switched for the blaster pistol to conserve ammo for Crescent Rose.
"Fall back to the ops center!" Cody said to everyone.
Ruby and Fives covered Commander Cody and Hevy as they fell back up the stairs. When they did, the four of them went up with Cutup and Droidbait covering them.
"Rex, times wasting!" Cody said over his Commlink.
"Almost ready!" The Captain responded.
"Come on, you blasted thing. Droidbait, this detonator isn't working," he said to the clone nearest to him. The Clone took it and examined it.
"I'll take care of this. You guys get out of here."
Hevy pulled the covering for the ventilation shaft exit they used last time. Rex was right by Ruby's side. "Go on, Ruby, Civilians first," Rex said to the Huntress. She nodded and went in, followed by Rex and Cody. It wasn't long before she and the clone were out on the same cliff they were before.
"Ok, Droidbait hit the - where's Droidbait?" Rex said as he and the rest of the clones and Ruby realized they were one clone short.
"I'm working on it, sir," Rex's Commlink went off.
"Droidbait?! Get out of there!" Rex ordered.
"The detonators not syncing with the remote. I'll have to fire it manually."
"We can't leave him in there. He'll be killed," Ruby stated in a panicked voice.
"Quickly back to the ventilation shaft!" Cody ordered before the Commlink went off again.
"Forget it! I know what needs to get done." The Commlink cut itself off.
"I don't like your tone, Rookie!" Rex stated as they rushed back to the shaft.
As soon as they were about to enter the vent, the whole cliff goes up into flames.
Echo looked up into the sky and watched with his scoped attachment witnessed the whole separatist fleet fleeing the sector.
"We've got the tinnies on the run." Echo said with elation at the victory.
"Thanks to Droidbait," Hevy said with a hint of sadness. "The man lived up to his name and took a bunch with him."
"Look." Cutup pointed up. "Friendlies."
"Gunships!" Rex said in relief.
The ragtag group stepped down from the shadows, all waving their arms and guns in the air, getting the large ships to touchdown before them and open the doors for them.
"Come on, boys and Miss." Rex gestured for them to get on. "Let's get our ass's off this rock."
Ruby took a final look at the remains of the Outpost one last time before stepping onboard the Republic Gunship. Not knowing what adventure awaits her up ahead.
AN:
A story idea I had the other day that I wanted to get down on paper before it leaves my mind. I wanted to put forth my idea of a Star Wars Ruby crossover as many seemed to not get that may attention to them. Either due to lack of interest, the choice to use the old Cannon or Disney Cannon or it's the quality of trying to incorporate the two.
Spent the whole day writing this just to get it out. Some are also wondering why I posted such a small chapter for a Prologue? Really, I just wanted to see what was the response and reviews I could get after one day. So here you go all those who did. I hope you at the very least enjoyed it to the point you finished this chapter.
Don't expect regular updates from this story. This was mostly an idea but I'll work on it from time to time.
Send a review after reading this. I'd like some feed back on what you all think about all this.
