(A/N) Alright, so there's no confusion, Every one of these Avengers has been here since the beginning of the Clone Wars. And I decided to extend the Clone Wars themselves to 5 years rather than 3. (They only lasted 3 years?! Really?) This means Peter, Kate, and the rest of the Avengers are 5 years older. Making Peter 21 rather than 16 (that's how old he was when Thanos snapped) and Kate about 25.
As the Stellar Sentinel emerged from Hyperspace, it found itself hovering right outside of Mandalore, a planet known for its diverse population of bounty hunters and smugglers. Rex, the captain of the ship, was hard at work, trying to secure clearance for landing, while Peter, his companion, was fast asleep in his seat. However, Peter's peaceful slumber was disturbed by the painful memories of everything they had gone through since the end of the Clone Wars.
Despite their best efforts, Maul had managed to escape, and they were left to find ways to survive in this new Empire that treated them as enemies. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Rex and Peter who had risked their lives countless times to protect the galaxy from various threats. Now, they were being branded and treated as the very threats that they had fought against, which felt unfair and unjust.
As Peter sat there, wallowing in his thoughts, he couldn't help but wonder what their fate would be in this new galaxy. They thought that they were alone in this fight, but now that they know Kate survived, and a Padawan to get along with it, meaning that they can at least see that there must be other Jedi out there that survived. But they couldn't focus on that since they were about to come in for a landing on Mandalore. The planet was teeming with activity, and they needed to be careful not to draw any unwanted attention.
As they descended towards the planet, Rex kept a close eye on the scanners, looking for any signs of trouble. The atmosphere was thick and humid, and the city dome below was bustling with activity. Mandalore was one of the most important planets in the galaxy, and the presence of bounty hunters and smugglers made it a dangerous place to be for anyone who was trying to avoid attention.
Taking the Stellar Sentinel in for a landing, they were immediately greeted by Bo-Katan, a Mandalorian warrior who had fought alongside them during the Clone Wars. Her presence was a welcome relief, and they knew that they were in good hands. They needed time just to hide out and lay low so that the Empire could start tiring themselves out and allow them time to heal and mourn their losses. The fate of the galaxy hung in the balance, and they needed to be ready for whatever lay ahead.
When the ship's doorway opened, it began to open the side stairway that would lead them outside, where Bo waited for them. When Peter, Cheep, and Rex exited the Stellar Sentinel, Bo watched as Kate and Amber exited the ship and she saw that nobody else was exiting. This wasn't what they were hoping for, but she guessed that it was more than nothing.
"This all that came?" Bo-Katan asks Peter.
Peter sighed as he watched Kate and Amber walk down the stairway. "The only ones to show up after two cycles."
"I'm sorry." Bo-Katan was sympathetic to Peter about losing people. "What are you going to do now?"
"We're hoping to just stick around here for a bit," Peter told her the plan. "We just need time to wait for the Empire to stop searching for us."
Bo Katan seemed to be a little concerned about that idea. "Well, you might have a but a problem with that idea."
Bo Katan then looked upward when Peter did the exact same. Just at that moment, a TIE Fighter went flying overhead and was met with a small squad of fighters making their way off into the distance.
"The Empire?" Rex was shocked to see them so soon. "Here?"
"Showed up a while after you left," Bo-Katan explained with worry. "They've been trying to get Mandalore to join in their allegiance."
"I thought Mandalore was a mutual system," Peter recalled from the Clone Wars.
"It is," Bo-Katan said, in sorrow. "But they don't see it that way. They want us to be in their Empire and they want to use Mandalore as some sort of base. Some of the Clans already agreed to pledge to the Empire and have been training them or recruiting Mandalorians for their cause."
"Who hasn't been contacted yet?" Peter asks.
As they made their way through the landing, Bo-Katan led Kate, Amber, and Cheep through the bustling streets of Mandalore. The city was alive with chatter and the clanging of metals, but Bo-Katan seemed focused and determined. The group finally arrived at a room where Bo-Katan activated a hologram that displayed all of the Clans' known whereabouts on Mandalore. The hologram was comprehensive, showing the exact locations and movements of each Clan. However, to their dismay, they noticed that a few of the Clans had the Imperial flag symbol among them. This was a cause for concern, and they knew that they had to act fast to prevent the Clans from falling into the hands of the Empire.
"Most of them have already been offered. Some of them have even become divided because of it, mostly a new one called Clan Saxon and they are the only ones to officially join the Empire so far. From my resources, the Rook Clan officially denied the invitation to stand with Mandalore after the war. Others are already being threatened to join or risk war or arrest." Bo-Katan tells them.
"And we all know Mandalorians don't go down quietly or without a fight," Rex commented, sounding like a part compliment and part sarcasm.
Peter then came to a question. "What about House Vilzla?"
"House Visla?" Bo-Katan asks, wondering why he's asking. She then started to use her map to zoom in on their territory. "They seemed to be the last that the Empire is visiting."
"You know someone there?" Kate asks Peter.
Peter chuckled as he recalled someone he met. "Yeah, I made a friend in the Clan. He was about my age when we first met. Wouldn't have survived those cold nights if it weren't for him."
"Who is it?" Bo-Katan asks.
"His name was Alrich Baiq." Peter remembered his friend's name.
Bo-Katan searched for him but turned up empty. "Can't seem to..." then she realized what's wrong. "Wait, here's something. Oh, here's the problem. He changed his name. He goes under Alrich..." she groaned when she read the rest. "Wren."
"Oh, great." Peter groaned.
"Why doesn't it sound like you guys get along?" Kate asks.
"Ursa Sren." Bo-Katan sighed as she showed the image of the woman Alrich married. "Leader of the House Visla, and let's say they've all split off from the other Clans a while back." She said with disgust in her voice. "The House Visla clan would easily join the Empire."
"Maybe a friendly face can change that." Peter offered a solution. "I can talk to him. It might even be nice to see him again."
"What good would that do?" Amber asks.
"You might not know this, Amber. But one person has the power to change the tide of any situation." Peter told the young Padawan.
"I'll get you a transport." Bo-Katan offered.
"I'll go on my own," Peter said as he looked at his friends. "They could use a break from all of this, and I can easily go on my own."
Cheep seemed offended by that as he rolled over and smacked Peter on the leg.
"Ow! Okay!" Peter cried in pain. "Alright, I'll take you with me."
Cheep finally stopped and let out a whoop of victory and rolled out of the room.
Peter groaned in annoyance as he rubbed his face. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I miss the Clone Wars."
"You're not alone in that one." Rex sighed.
As Peter embarked on his journey to the site where House Visla had established their residence, he made sure to navigate carefully. He was moving stealthily, sticking to the side of a massive rock formation, making use of his powers to avoid detection. The journey was treacherous, but Peter was determined to reach his destination.
After a while, he arrived at the site and saw that Ursa and Alrich, the members of House Visla, were already engaged in a heated confrontation with the Empire's forces. It was an intense battle, with blaster bolts flying everywhere and the sound of explosions echoing through the air.
Cheep was perched on a small tip of the rock formation next to him, using his advanced scanners to zoom in and get a better view of the situation. Despite the danger, Peter knew he had to act fast to help his friends.
"Well, we might be too late." Peter sighed when he saw his old friend talking to the Empire. "Wait a minute." He then zoomed in on the Empire official who was talking to Alrich and Ursa. "Is that...?"
Cheep grunted to Peter, asking if he knew that official.
"Yeah, I do," Peter confirmed when he recognized his face. "That's Tarkin. I helped Anakin and Ahsoka rescue him from the Citadel. That's how my pal Echo became half-machine. He blew up there... Echo that is, not Tarkin. Seems he survived the Wars. And now he is a lackey for the Empire now. Can't say I'm surprised. And now he's here on Mandalore."
Cheep grunted, asking Peter to try and see if they could talk to him.
"Are you crazy?" Peter asked Cheep. "The Empire has orders to kill us. Tarkin isn't the kind of guy who goes back on an order. Anakin questioned his orders, and you'd be lucky if he obeyed them. Tarkin doesn't question his orders; he complies with them. He hated the Jedi, hated the Avengers, and above all that, he hated the Clones. And guess what everyone we have brought in consists of."
Cheep started to get what he was saying and grunted to confirm he understood.
"Yeah, great," Peter said as he looked back through his binoculars and watched Tarkin approach his shuttle. "Looks like he's leaving. And from the looks of things, he's not happy, which means that Alrich didn't comply. Or they gave them time to think."
Cheep grunted, asking what the plan was.
"I'm so glad you asked, Cheep," Peter said as he lowered the binoculars. "Because I need you to do what you do best." He then gave he gave the small droid a grin. "Cause some havoc."
As Cheep rolled out from behind a rock, he spotted a group of Mandalorian warriors patrolling the entrance path of their Clan. In a swift move, the droid used a small taser he had attached to shoot one of the Mandalorians, causing him to spritz for a good second. The other Mandalorian quickly went after Cheep as he laughed and started to scurry away. The chase was on, giving Peter the perfect opportunity to sneak in on his own.
Peter had to be extra cautious as he moved around, for he wasn't wearing his usual skintight nano-tech indulged suit. He had to give it away to ensure that the Empire had no means of tracking them, leaving him with nothing but the clothes he had on when he left Mandalore with Maul to take him to Coruscant. Despite the added difficulty, Peter managed to sneak around undetected, taking in his surroundings and planning his next move carefully.
Alrich, a prominent member of the Clan, sat alone in a tent of his own with a drink in his hand. His face bore a look of worry and sorrow, as he pondered over the recent events that had taken place. He had just received an offer from the Empire, promising to help his Clan survive if they swore loyalty to the Empire. Alrich was intrigued by the offer, as he did not want to be caught in the middle of another war against someone else.
As he sat there lost in thought, his Clone Wars ally and friend, Peter, strolled into the tent. "I said I wanted to be left alone," Alrich tells whoever it was in the doorway.
"That's how you talk to an old friend?" Peter asks sarcastically, causing Alrich to turn and realize his friend is there. "Miss me?"
"Peter?" Alrich stood and approached his friend in shock. "But... I was told you died."
"Now when have you ever known me to be that easy to kill?" Peter asks with a smile, hugging his friend. "Oh, it has been too long."
"It is good to see that you've survived the Clone Wars," Alrich said with a smile and broke the hug. "Last I heard, the Avengers were ordered to annihilate the Avengers and Jedi for treason against the Republic."
"And that same Republic that turned into the Empire." Peter reminded him. He then sighed as they approached the bar and sat aside one another. "The Clones turned against us. Something about a control chip in their heads. Forced them to do things against their will."
"Oh, my god," Alrich said in shock. Then he looked out to the doorway. "Wait, how did you get in here with my men out there?"
"I picked up an annoying droid in the process of getting here," Peter tells Alrich with a sigh. "Look, I came here because Bo-Katan warned me the Empire is trying to recruit Mandalorians to their cause."
Alrich eyed Peter and felt he knew where this was going. "Peter, I just finished up winning one war, I don't want to start picking one against the Empire."
"You finished a battle," Peter told his long friend. "The war just changed names."
"And you think I should not side with this Empire?" Alrich asks him.
Peter sighed and knew this wouldn't be easy. "The Empire is the Republic, and the Republic has turned its back on the Jedi and the Avengers. They don't take sides, and it seems they're not willing to share their power."
Alrich nodded as he followed what his friend was saying. "I understand your concern, my friend. But I have other things to consider now."
"Like what?" Peter asks.
As Peter and Alrich were chatting in the room, they suddenly heard the faint sound of someone fussing. The noise made them both turn their heads toward a corner of the room where Peter noticed a wooden crib. Alrich stood up and walked towards the crib, his eyes fixed on the bundle lying inside it.
As he picked up the small bundle, Peter couldn't help but feel a sense of shock and surprise. He realized that his friend was holding a baby girl, which he had no idea about until now. Despite not knowing the circumstances that led to the baby's arrival, Peter couldn't help but feel curious and amazed by the sudden turn of events.
"You have a kid?" Peter was shocked to see.
"Peter Parker...meet Sabine Wren." Alrich introduced Peter to his daughter.
Peter approached the two of them saw the young baby and chuckled. "Guessing she's got her mother's looks."
Alrich scoffed at Peter's attempt at humor. "You see now, why I can't choose to pick a fight against the Empire?"
"So, you're okay with the Imperial flag waving over the flag of Mandalore?" Peter asked him. "For your daughter to one day be forced to join the Empire?"
Alrich looked down at his baby girl and sighed. Peter saw he got his friend considering what he was saying, but also knew that he couldn't understand what it is like to be a parent.
"Just think of what I said," Peter said as he walked to the exit. "I hope we can keep this talk to ourselves and the Empire doesn't hear about this talk."
"Sir, we have an intruder." A Mandalorian said as he entered the hut with Cheep being kicked inside.
Cheep grunted and whistled in anger when he was kicked and prepared to fight back.
"It's alright," Alrich promised them. "They were just leaving. And the Empire won't know about our talk."
Peter nodded and smiled, happy to see Alrich had his back still. "Thanks." He then looked down at the waking baby. "See ya around, Sabine."
Sabine cooed a little at seeing the man as he walked off with Cheep. Cheep grunted and even smacked Peter's leg in anger.
"Ow! Hey, I didn't ask you to come along!" Peter reminded the droid.
As Peter and the droid departed, Alrich couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of their argument. "Some things never change."
However, the weight of Peter's words quickly began to dawn upon him. The thought of what the Empire might do to Sabine if he sided with them was a chilling prospect. Alrich was now faced with a difficult decision about which path to choose. It was a moment of deep contemplation and uncertainty.
Alrich and Ursa stood on the outside of their home, watching as the Imperial shuttle descended for a landing on the barren planet's surface. Their eyes widened in surprise as they noticed the Rook Clan's ships, painted in their signature green color, flying in and landing beside the Empire's vessel.
The Mandalorian duo had not anticipated meeting their own kind here, especially not alongside the dreaded Imperial forces. This unexpected turn of events left them uneasy, as they knew it could lead to something far worse than they had initially imagined.
"I hope you know what you are doing," Ursa told her husband.
"So do I." Alrich took what his friend said to heart.
The Imperial Officer approached Alrich and stood with a squad of Death Troopers at his command. "So, have you come to the conclusion of joining the Empire?"
Alrich nodded as he and his wife shared a glance. "Yes, we have. We will not be joining your Imperial Army."
Tarkin didn't seem to have seen that coming considering the look of shock on his face. "Oh, how disappointing."
Peter rushed back to the site where he had left his friends earlier, hoping to find out what had happened to them. The scene that greeted him was one of utter horror and shock. The entire area looked like it had been ravaged by a huge inferno, leaving behind nothing but ash and debris.
As he made his way down the hill, he saw the lifeless bodies of Mandalorians strewn about everywhere. Their armor was charred and their weapons were melted, indicating that they had been caught in a fierce battle. Peter searched the area frantically, hoping to find some signs of life, but to no avail. It seemed as though none of his friends had survived the brutal attack.
"Oh, god," Peter said in shock, wondering if he had gotten his friend killed. "No..."
Peter felt a wave of intense regret wash over him as he dropped to his knees, his mind racing with the events that had led him to this point. He had always known that going against the Empire would be dangerous, but he never could have predicted the tragic outcome that had just occurred. As he considered his actions, he couldn't help but feel responsible for the deaths of his closest friends. He had convinced them to join him in his rebellion, convinced that they could make a difference and bring about change. However, he had been wrong, and now he was left to contemplate the consequences of his choices. He knew he had expected some kind of retaliation from the Empire, but he never could have imagined that it would come so soon, or that it would be so devastating. Peter was left with a deep sense of sorrow and remorse, questioning whether his actions had been worth the cost.
"Help..." A sign of life?
Peter looked around the area to try and find where it came from. "Hello?"
"Over here...help..."
Peter ran over to where the voice was coming from and found a hand trying to get out of the wreckage. He helped yank whoever it was out and he was shocked at what he saw. He was apparently a member of the Rook Clan of Mandalorians since he had blue armor on, which is mostly what they are symbolized with. What bothered him most was the fact that he was much younger than most Mandalorians he had met during the war. This one seemed to be about the same age as Amber, maybe a little bit older.
"Hey, you okay?" Peter asks him.
"Agh." he groaned as Peter removed the boy's helmet, revealing the person to be a young boy, about Amber's age, with scruffy red hair. "Thank you."
"What's your name?" Peter asks the boy.
"Kyle. Kyle Rook." The Mandalorian introduced himself.
"Hey, Kyle. My name's Peter. Do you know if there were any other survivors?" Peter asked Kyle. Kyle groaned as Peter picked him up to take him to a hospital.
"The Empire. They wanted Clan Rook to kill Clan Wren. When we refused...they turned on us." Kyle explained what happened. "It was a slaughter. Then their Cruiser shot down on us."
Peter contacted the others for support to try and get some help out. "Rex, get the Sentinel out here and prepare the medical bay."
"They took the leaders," Kyle explained to Peter. "Alrich and Ursa Wren, along with their daughter."
Peter's anger boiled inside him as the situation became personal. He gazed up at the sky and saw the Imperial Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser hovering arrogantly just out of orbit, as if it owned the planet. It was a clear display of the Empire's ruthless power and disregard for the lives of innocent people.
Determined to make the Empire pay for their heinous actions, Peter made a vow to himself to rescue his friend, his friend's wife, and their daughter. He knew he had to act fast and skillfully to outmaneuver the Empire's forces. The Stellar Sentinel, his trusted starship, suddenly appeared in his line of sight, and he felt a surge of hope. He knew he could rely on his ship's speed and maneuverability to outsmart the Empire.
With his jaw clenched and his eyes locked on the Imperial Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser, Peter was more determined than ever to bring down the Empire's reign of terror. He refused to let them believe they were invincible and unchallenged. He may have lost the Clone Wars, but this time, he was determined to emerge victorious. The fate of his friend and his loved ones and the future of the planet depended on him.
Kyle was currently lying on the medical bed in the ship's medical bay and getting his injuries looked over. Luckily he wasn't injured too badly, it was more just he was crushed underneath the rubble and needed time to rest. Meanwhile, Peter, the captain of the ship, was briefing everyone on board about the recent incident that had taken place. The entire crew, including Bo-Katan, had gathered to hear what had happened and what Peter had planned to do next.
Bo-Katan pulled up a hologram to show them all the Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser that was currently lurking above them in the vast expanse of space. The hologram displayed the massive size of the Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser, and the crew members couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and fear creeping up within them.
"This Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser is likely where they are being held," Bo-Katan tells them. "The detention cell is on level 18."
"Pete, you are not considering doing what I think you plan on doing, right?" Kate asks in fear. Peter didn't even respond as he eyed Kate and walked off. Kate was quick to chase after him as he roamed the Stellar Sentinel and found his way to the armory. "We just escaped the Clones, now you wanna pick a fight with the Empire?"
Peter picked up some wearable gloves that contained bio-electricity. Something that he created during the Clone Wars to give him an edge in a fight against the Battle Droids with his powers. "That's exactly what I am gonna do."
"Pete, you can't take on the Empire single-handed." Kate reminded him.
"She's right." Rex agreed with Kate. "We barely escaped last time with Commander Tano's help."
"I am not leaving my friend!" Peter proclaimed in anger, checking to see if the gloves worked. "The Empire already took too much from me. I am not letting them take him. You can come or stay, I'm gonna take one of the ships, and sneak my way up there."
"Not without me," Kyle stated as he stumbled into the room with his helmet in his arms. "Those bastards kill my people's entire clan. Now I am gonna take them out."
"See? I even have a Mandalorian on my side." Peter said with a smile.
"He's barely standing," Kate replied.
Kyle pulled out his blaster and aimed it upward. "I'm strong enough to hold a blaster, I am strong enough to fight."
Kate sighed at that. "Mandalorian stubbornness."
"I am coming too," Amber stated.
"Amber, no." Kate denied that one.
"I am a Jedi." Amber reminded her.
"You mean a Jedi in training," Bo-Katan muttered.
"And we help people from oppressors like this." Amber ignored that comment and looked to Peter. "If you are going to help, then I am going to stand with you."
"Guys there is no way you are getting up there..." Kate sighed and knew that he wasn't going to stop. "...Without me."
"What?" Rex asks in shock.
"They aren't going to stop, and I am not letting him go up alone." Kate decided to help them. "What do you say, soldier?"
Rex saw that everyone was going through with it, and there was no way he would talk them out of it. But he was a soldier, and he wasn't going to let his squad go into battle without him. "Alright then, commander," Rex said as he eyed Peter. "What's the plan?"
Peter smiled as he was happy that Rex was on board with it. "Let's go kick some ass."
Flying under the cover of night, they left the Stellar Sentinel on the ground. Instead, they used smaller ships that attached to the Sentinel as if they were escape pods. These ships were designed to be quicker and easier to maneuver, but not built to live in like the Stellar. There was enough room to fit eight passengers and a small cargo bay, but not much else.
These ships also had radar scramblers, which kept ships like the Cruisers from locating them. It didn't exactly work forever; it was something that had to be done quickly, and they needed to be close enough that their jammers would work. Otherwise, they'd be blown out of the sky instantly.
Bo-Katan didn't want to risk the Empire seeing this as an attack from Mandalore itself so they were on their own.
Landing on the underside of the Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser, Amber used her lightsaber to cut through the Cruiser. She then stepped aside to allow Peter to lift the scorched metal as he made sure that the coast was clear for them to enter. Seems they ended up in a closeted area, considering there was trooper armor surrounding them and blasters hanging up.
"Well, gotta say, that's one of our more smoother infiltrations," Peter commented as he looked around. "Usually, we're dealing with battle droids or a surprise-"
Peter's senses went off just when a clone trooper came around the shelves. "Hey!" He cried, raising his blaster. "Hands up!"
Kate was already at work, drawing an arrow, which she then shot the trooper down through his armor. "And you jinxed us."
"My bad," Peter confessed.
"How many people do you think know we're here?" Amber asks.
A siren came off the Cruiser, followed by a red flashing light. "I think everyone knows we're here," Kyle commented.
"Well, then I guess there's no need in stealth." Amber shrugged as she pulled out her saber. "Let's go."
In the hallway, a couple of clone troopers were running down the halls to try and locate where the intruders were hiding. "Check the exterior doors!"
As Amber found herself cornered by a group of troopers, she knew she had to act quickly. With a swift movement, she used the force to dislodge the door from its hinges and sent it flying at one of the troopers. The door slammed shut with great force, crushing the trooper against the wall. Amber was surprised at how easily she had accomplished this feat, but she didn't have time to dwell on it.
She burst out of the closet, her lightsaber ignited and skidded on her knees towards the troopers. In one swift motion, she used her saber to cut off one of their legs before standing up and stood up quickly before swinging it again to take off the trooper's head. The others were taken aback and quickly aimed at her.
At that moment, Rex knew what he had to do but wished it didn't come to this. He shot at his fellow clones with great regret, knowing that it was necessary to save Amber. Kyle, on the other hand, had no qualms about gunning them down with his blaster. After all, these were the same troops who had slaughtered his Clan. It was a difficult and painful moment for both Rex and Kyle, but they knew it was for the greater good.
"Okay, if they didn't know we were on board, they definitely know now," Peter stated as he walked out of the closet, stepping over the dead clones. "We gotta split up. You guys go and take the bridge, I'll rescue the Wrens."
"Wait, is he the leader?" Kyle asked the group.
Amber shrugged, eyeing everyone else. "Is he?"
"Hey, I'm a soldier. I follow my commander." Rex shrugged.
"I am a better fighter than a leader," Kate commented.
Cheep grunted.
"You would not make a better leader," Peter replied as he was close to kicking the droid.
"Looks like he is the leader," Amber commented. "So, let's go take the bridge."
In the detention facility, Alrich and Ursa sat close together with their daughter on their laps. They knew something like this was a possibility, but they didn't expect things to escalate so quickly. They started to hear thudding and blaster fire in the hallway and walked up to the ray shield to see if they could get a better look at what was happening.
"Hey, stop right there!" The trooper demanded.
But the next thing they knew, the trooper came flying down the hallway, his entire armor electrified. Then they watched as a blast of electricity flew through the hall and zapped another trooper before he could even aim. Peter came marching down the hall and found his friend in the cell, leaning against the doorway.
"Yeah, you know, in the context of the situation, I should have stayed to see what was coming," Peter admitted.
Alrich eyed Peter with a raised brow. "Are you going to get us out of here, or what?"
Peter nodded and poked a finger into the control of the cell and fried them. "Now, who wants to get the hell out of here?"
Kate, Rex, Amber, and Cheep were trapped in a narrow corridor that intersected with several other hallways. The only way out was through a bridge heavily guarded by a large battalion of enemy troops. The group was caught in a crossroads with no escape routes in sight. The enemy troops had them completely outnumbered, and they were armed with high-powered blasters.
Kate tried to shoot an arrow, but couldn't find a safe opening. She knew that if she tried to shoot, she would be shot in return. Losing another arm wasn't on her to-do list. Rex did his best to retaliate by using any openings he could find to shoot back, but the troops were well-trained and kept dodging his shots. Amber tried to deflect the blaster fire, but she was still in the early stages of her training. She could easily deflect one or two shots, but not an entire battalion's worth of blaster fire.
Cheep wasn't much help either. His tasers were too weak to take down any of the enemy troops, and he was likely to be shot and destroyed before he could even get close enough to strike. All of them knew that their situation was dire, and they had to come up with a plan quickly if they wanted to make it out alive.
"We need to get an opening if we're going to get through," Rex tells them.
"Oh, really, I didn't notice, Rex!" Kate cried sarcastically as she tried to find an opening.
Kyle then came up with an idea when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small detonator. "I may have an idea. I just need you guys to cover me."
"We've got your back!" Kate promised.
Kyle took a bold move and activated all the detonators he had on his person. Without hesitation, he ran straight into the middle of the hall, determined to take down the enemy troops. Despite being under heavy fire, Kyle's Mandalorian Beskar Armor shielded him from the shots, allowing him to move forward with ease.
As he got closer to the enemy, Kyle pulled out the detonators and threw them towards the ground where the enemy was standing. In a quick motion, he dropped to the ground and covered every break in his armor, preparing for the explosion. The detonators went off, causing a massive explosion that sent smoke and debris everywhere.
The team was hiding behind the railings, waiting for the smoke to clear. Kate was the first to peek her head out and saw that there was no sign of any surviving troopers. Amber walked out, activating her saber to use it as a light, and carefully scanned the area. Cheep rolled out and grunted as he saw the mess everywhere. Rex removed his helmet and saw the mess.
Kyle got up and groaned as he wiped the dust and smoke off of himself. "That happened."
"Trooper, report!" Tarkin demanded, realizing that not a single one of his men was reporting in. "Report!"
Then blaster fire came in and killed all the other Imperials, followed by an arrow that electrified the controls, spooking Tarkin as he turned to see Rex with his blaster ready to fire, Kate with an arrow drawn and ready to fire, Amber with her saber at the ready to strike as she stood in a Form III, Kyle had his blaster ready to fire as well. All of them trained their weapons on Trarkin.
That was when Cheep just strolled on past as he made his way over to the controls and started to deactivate the systems. Then the other doorway opened as Peter, Alrich, and Ursa entered the room with baby Sabine. They all eyed Tarkin in anger.
"This is a surprise," Tarkin said as he recognized a few faces. "Surviving Avengers, and from the looks of things, a surviving Jedi."
"We're going to let you live, Tarkin," Peter said, looking at Cheep. "Cheep, get this ship on a hyperspace jump to Coruscant."
"What?" asked Kate. "Are we seriously letting him live?"
"I want someone around to tell the Empire that not everyone has bowed down to this organization," Peter stated as he approached Tarkin. "When you get there, tell them that Mandalore is under our protection."
"Going from Avengers to Protectors now, isn't it?" Tarkin asks them. "It seems like a downgrade."
Peter considered that and he actually thought it sounded like a good idea. "Well, we are done being Avengers. Now we are going to help protect more than just Mandalore from the Empire. We're going to become the new Protectors of..." He then turned to everyone else. "What do you guys think? Galaxy?"
"It's been done," Kate replied.
"Cosmos?" Peter asks.
"Too generic," said Amber.
"How about Nebula?" Kyle offered.
Peter considered other alternatives, but he thought that one sounded best. "Yeah, I like it." Then he turned to Tarkin, and anger returned to his voice. "We're going to become the Protectors of the Nebula. And we won't stop until the Empire is ash and flame."
Then the team turned to walk away as Cheep finished his work and rolled out with his team. "You know we will hunt you down," Tarkin warned them.
"Oh, right, thanks for the reminder." Peter then turned around and used his gloves to zap Tarkin, making him fall over. "I've been wanting to do that since the moment I met you."
As they made their descent towards the surface of Mandalore, the group of newly named Protectors of the Nebula watched in awe as the Cruizer they had just vanquished took off and disappeared into the vastness of hyperspace, heading back to Coruscant. Bo-Katan turned towards the group and couldn't help but feel impressed with their performance.
Despite the odds stacked against them, they had managed to take down the ship and emerge victorious, with only a few minor injuries and scratches to show for it. As they prepared to make their way toward their next destination, Bo-Katan couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her Protector's abilities and their unwavering commitment to the cause.
"Protectors of the Nebula." Bo-Katan tried out the name for herself. "I gotta say, it sounds like the perfect name for your band of people."
"Thanks, I guess?" Peter wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not.
"So, is this going to be a regular thing with us?" Kate wondered. "Fighting the Empire wherever we can?"
"I mean, I have an open schedule." Peter shrugged.
"Seems like the only thing we can do at the moment." Rex agreed. "We need to be running anyway if the Empire comes after us anyway."
"Then you'd better get going," Alrich said as he approached and gave his friend a Mandalorian salute.
Peter was deep in thought, reminiscing about a conversation he had with Quill many years ago during the Clone Wars. He vividly recalled how the Ravagers would pay their respects to their fallen comrades after the devastating bombing of the Jedi Temple. The memory struck a chord with him, and he felt compelled to honor his fallen friends in a similar way.
After much contemplation, Peter decided to adopt the Ravagers' salute for the Protectors as a way to pay his respects to his fallen allies. He knew that this gesture would be more than just a way to honor the lost Avengers. It would also serve as a reminder of the mission they had fought for and the sacrifices they had made.
Despite the fact that they had fallen, Peter knew that their mission would continue, and their legacy would live on. The new salute would be a symbol of their unwavering dedication and commitment to the cause, a testament to the great bravery and selflessness they had all displayed in the face of great adversity.
"Don't be a stranger," Peter told his friend.
"And be sure to visit whenever you can," Alrich said as he looked at his daughter. "Sabine might want to see her godfather every once in a while."
Peter was shocked when he heard the statement, "Godfather?"
"After what you have done for us today, you deserve the title," Ursa tells him. "Even if I don't understand it completely."
"I'll try to explain it later," Alrich promised.
Peter nodded as the group made their way for the Stellar when Bo-Katan grabbed something from her pouch. "Hey, kid!" She then tossed Amber a cube she instantly recognized as a Holocron. "Found that in the old archives of Mandalore. Back when our kind were at war with one another."
Amber smiled and knew she could get some descent training out of this small Holocron. "Thanks." Then a thought came to mind. "Hey, can we make a quick stop?"
Kyle was currently sitting at the graveyard that he had finished setting up for his fallen Clan. He was now a Mandalorian who was all alone in the galaxy. Amber watched him in sorrow and knew how it felt to lose everything in an instant, especially to the Empire and the clones. Since they were who killed all of the Jedi and her friends as well as her Master. The Stellar was sitting in the middle of the clearing as Amber asked to approach him alone.
"Sorry about your Clan," Amber said as she approached Kyle.
Kyle removed his helmet and sighed. "I avenged them. Made the Empire suffer for what they have done to my fellow Mandalorians."
Amber nodded as she wondered what his plan was. "So, what are you going to do now?"
"Not entirely sure," Kyle replied.
Amber saw that maybe she could maybe get him to join them. "You know, we could use a guy like you," She then eyed the Stellar. "And there is plenty of room on the ship."
Kyle looked at her and then over to the ship and Amber. "Really? You would have me?"
"It was more my idea, but they agree you not only helped us but could use our help," Amber said as she reached her hand out. "What do you say?"
"A Mandalorian and a Jedi?" Kyle asks with some concern. "Our people aren't exactly known to get along."
"Then how about we change that?" Amber asks with a grin.
Kyle considered it and decided he did enjoy fighting the Empire. And if they were going to threaten more of the galaxy, then he was surely going to be there to help protect it from them. Taking Amber's hand, he stood up and the two of them made their way for the Stellar Sentinel.
As the Stellar left the atmosphere of Mandalore, Peter was clearing up space that the Guardians used as the storage room, which they were now turning into Kyle's room. As Peter was looking, he came across Quill's music collection and approached the player he had embedded into the ship. Playing the music through the speakers, he thought that it would lift everyone's spirits.
"Listen baby, ain't no mountain high, Ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough, baby. If you need me call me, no matter where you are. No matter how far, don't worry, baby."
Kate smiled as she bobbed her head to the music.
"Just call my name, I'll be there in a hurry. You don't have to worry. 'Cause, baby, there ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough. To keep me from getting to you, babe."
Rex was also beginning to get into the beat as he cleaned his blaster.
"Remember the day I set you free. I told you you could always count on me, darling."
Amber was meditating in her bedroom when she heard the music; she slightly smiled.
"From that day on, I made a vow. I'll be there when you want me. Some way, somehow."
Cheep was starting to go 'round the ship while skidding and dancing.
"'Cause, baby, there ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough.
Peter then made his way to the pilot's chair and started charting their course. They weren't done messing with the Empire. They were only just beginning. They were going to sabotage the Empire whenever possible, protecting people from its terror.
"Ain't no river wide enough. To keep me from getting to you, babe."
Then Peter jumped into hyperspace and knew that nothing would be the same from then on. The Protectors of the Nebula have been born.
Kate Bishop, Hawkeye.
Peter Parker, Spider-Man.
Ex-Captain Rex.
CH-33P, Cheep.
Amber Morgan, Padawan Survivor.
Kyle Rook, Mandalorian.
Jeni Ross as Amber Morgan
Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop
Temuera Morrison as Captain Rex
Tom Holland as Peter Parker
Tanner Buchanan as Kyle Rook
