Chapter 2: To Tatooine and Teth
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars Adventures OST Carlac 0:00 - 0:33]
Inside the Venator class Republic cruiser that had landed on Christophsis, Orion was inside the hangar bay, looking for what was supposed to be his personal Jedi Starfighter, as he heard his master say "Orion, I'll be in orbit. Don't keep me waiting too long."
"Yes, master." Dusk replied on his comlink, before he continued his search for the spacecraft. Once he passed the section where the V-19 Torrent starfighters were stored, he saw a single Delta-7B Jedi Starfighter. "There you are." he said as he approached it. He looked at the vehicle in front of him and noticed that something was missing. "Oh...I don't have an astromech. I might need one of those." He got on his comlink to contact the one in command of this cruizer. "Admiral Yullaren, come in."
"This is Admiral Yullaren." He responded over the comlink. "Who am I speaking to?"
"This is Commander Orion Dusk of the 212th Battalion, sir." The Padawan answered. "I've called to make a request to have one of the astromechs stationed on this cruizer for my starfighter, sir."
"We can spare you an astromech droid, Commander Dusk." Wullf replied. "I'll have it sent to you now. Wait at your starfighter and it will meet with you shortly."
"Understood, Admiral. Thank you." Orion said before he ended that transmission and contacted his master. "Master, I'm at my starfighter, but I'm waiting on an astromech for it."
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars Lightsaber Duels OST Menu 0:00 - 0:09]
"How long do you think that'll take?" Obi-Wan asked through his starfighter's communications hub.
"No less than a few minutes, Master." Dusk answered.
"Understood. I'll be up here while you get your astromech." Kenobi stated.
"Yes, master." The Padawan responded before he ended the transmission.
[Play Star Wars The Phantom Menace OST Anakin's Home and the Introduction to 3PO 0:59 - 1:31]
As Orion waited outside his starfighter, he faintly heard a series of beeps that soon got louder and louder until he turned to see an astromech that was approaching him. It had orange and grey color plating for its cylindrical body while it's side and center treads are orange with some grey on them. It's dome was grey in color while orange plates highlighted the attachment sections of the dome of the droid, which looked like an R2 unit's.
"I'm guessing you're the astromech assigned to me?" Dusk asked the droid, who beeped a few times to confirm that. "Alright. What's your designation, little guy?" The droid then displayed it's number and manufacturing date. "Huh...R9-D4. You're an R9 unit? Your dome makes you look like an R2 unit." The droid did not appreciate the comment and rolled one of it's treads over his foot. "Ow! Okay, you don't like being compared to other models, got it." He then climbed into his starfighter. "Alright then, Arnine. Are you ready to fly with a Jedi?"
Arnine used it's boosters to fly up to the droid slot on the ship and insert itself into it. It then linked up with the fighter and beeped a few more times, this time Orion could understand what his companion was saying, thanks to Binary being translated on his control pad.
"Femanine droid personality huh? Understood ma'am. Anything else I should know before we depart?" Orion asked.
The droid beeped and 'no' appeared on the screen in aurebesh.
[Play Star Wars Attack of The Clones OST Approaching Naboo Palace 2:08 - 2:20]
"Then let's go, Arnine" Dusk said as his starfighter powered up and the two of them took flight. "Master, I'm approaching your location now. Priming up our Hyperdrive Docking Ring now."
"You know where we're going, correct?" Obi-Wan, reviewed.
"To Jabba's palace on Tatooine." Orion answered. "Right?"
"That is correct. I just wanted to make sure that you knew." Kenobi said.
"Yes, master." The Padawan replied before both Jedi attached themselves to their hyperdrive docking rings and made the jump to lightspeed.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Jabba's Chamber Dance 0:00 - 0:42]
Meanwhile, on Tatooine, Jabba was distracting himself with a Twi'lek dancer in front of him, until one of his men spoke to his translator droid who then spoke to her master. "Jabba, the bounty hunters you sent out to find your son have...returned."
"Chasta do menko la ba do." The Hutt replied to his translator, in the native language of his species. Two more of Jabba's men came in, with a stretcher that had the decapitated heads of his bounty hunters, which shocked the other people in the room and caused Jabba great frustration. "Whaaaaaaaaaaaah!? Chuba ita cachu! Wanta Jedi no beeska me bookie!?"
"Contact the Supreme Chancellor immediately." The droid ordered.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST The Jedi Council 0:00 - 0:16]
At the senate building, Sheev Palpatine had received a message and Jabba, as well as his translator droid came into view. "The all-powerful Jabba demands to know why the Jedi are not looking for his son."
"Mighty Jabba," Sheev spoke up. "Jest assured, the Jedi are on their way."
"Yo naga bobo ketoki wa bargain." Jabba said. "No bata bargain, no bata free passo."
"They better be, if you want the Republic to have safe passage through Jabba's territory."
[Play KOTOR OST Tatooine 0:00 - 0:50]
Whilst traveling through hyperspace, Arnine was chatting with her new companion using the ship's control pad. She seemed to have a natural curiosity for the young Jedi, which was understandable, as she is now essentially just a part of the ride that is this adventure. The control pad showed in aurebesh 'How do you think this trip to the Hutt clan will go.'
"Your guess is as good as mine." Orion replied to her.
"Padawan." Obi-Wan spoke to his new pupil through his ship's communication system. "Are you talking to your droid?"
"Is that weird?" Dusk meekly asked.
"When it's on open comms it is." Kenobi pointed out. "You might want to turn your comm system off when you decide to talk to your droid."
"Oh...right. Sorry, Master." Orion understood.
"However, I can agree that anything could happen when we land on Tatooine, so I suggest you stay close and let me do the talking." Obi-Wan instructed.
"Yes, Master." The Padawan responded. "Hopefully this doesn't turn into a repeat of what happened with the Black Heth."
"The Black Heth?" Kenobi repeated. "I don't believe I'm familiar with that crime organization."
"They were a small group of gangs that banded together on Coruscant and controlled a few neighborhoods on level 1588, and a construction center that was topside." Dusk explained. "They aren't really known, and they should stay that way now."
"How did you come to know them, I wonder." Obi-Wan wondered.
"It's a long story, Master." Orion said. "Maybe it would be best to save that story for when we have a lot of free time."
"I suppose so." The Jedi Master understood. The two then saw that they were nearing their destination.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Landing on Teth 0:00 - 1:43]
Just outside of the planet Teth's atmosphere, came another Nu-Class Attack Shuttle, as it was leaving the system to rendezvous with an Acclamator that had just come out of hyperspace in the planet's orbit. Once the scuttle entered the assault ship it landed in the hangar and out of the front hatch, came two clone troopers that were wearing jungle camouflage arf trooper armor.
The two troopers met up with Anakin Skywalker, who asked them. "Lieutenant, did the kidnappers see you?"
"No, sir." The lieutenant replied. "We're the best scouts in the regiment."
"What about the bounty hunters? Are they still down there?" Anakin questioned.
"I don't think so." The lieutenant answered. "We haven't seen them in a while."
"Well, what are we up against?" Skywalker asked.
The lieutenant pulled out a halo device and showed their findings. "Looks like at least two droid battalions protecting a monastery. It's heavily fortified, so you won't be able to land there."
"Good work. Get some rest." The Jedi Knight ordered before he left the area with Artoo to see a group of clones and an astromech around someone who seemed to be telling them a war story. As Anakin and Artoo approached the group, the Jedi Knight could see that it was Ahsoka who was telling this story.
"That sounds like a lot, even for a Jedi." one trooper commented.
"I heard you were surrounded by droids." Another one spoke up. "How did you ever get the shield down?"
"Okay, so there was this wall behind him, with a hole in the middle." Tano explained. "So I pull the wall down, on top of the droids, destroying them, and saving the General."
The clones listening to this story let out amused chuckles while Rex asked Skywalker "Is that true, sir?"
"Well, most of it." The Jedi Knight confirmed, while Artoo and the other astromech (R2-KT) beeped in amusement. "All right, men, we've still got a job to do."
"Yes sir." Rex replied before he addressed his brothers. "You heard the General, move it!"
As the clones left to do their duties, Anakin went up to Ahsoka and said "Would this be a good time to teach you that a Jedi is humble, my young Padawan?"
"Sorry. Just trying to keep the boys inspired, is all." Tano replied.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Dunes of Tatooine 0:43 - 1:57]
Over in the Outer Rim, Two Jedi Starfighters emerged from hyperspace and entered the orbit of Tatooine, the desert planet in the Outer Rim. On the surface, this world seemed like it was just a regular old poor planet, but once you've learned about what's on said planet, you realize it's much more than that.
Arfour as well as Arnine both whistled their discomfort and uneasiness towards their respective companions, while Orion himself was also unsure about being here. "I'm with the droids on this one, master. Are you sure this will go smoothly?"
"Don't worry." Obi-Wan replied. "I'm sure Jabba's in a good mood. Just remember, stay close, and let me do the talking."
"Yes, Master." The Padawan said as the two Jedi Starfighters unlinked with their hyperdrive docking rings and flew into the planet's atmosphere.
Once the pair of Jedi in their spacecrafts could see the surface from their cockpits, they navigated their way towards a large metal building with a few metal towers around it. This place was not too far from the sand made cities. It was none other than the palace of Jabba The Hutt, the unofficial ruler of this planet and its neighboring systems. The two starfighters landed near the main entrance and the two Jedi exited their starfighters, with brown cloaks over their bodies, while their astromechs chose to stay in their slots.
The door to the palace opened and out came a protocol droid, as well as a weequay and two nikoto species. The four approached the pair of Jedi and the protocol droid spoke up. "We should not keep the wise and powerful Jabba waiting."
"We wouldn't dream of it." Kenobi said while Dusk stayed silent and by his master's side as the two were escorted inside. The weequay let out a small growl to sound intimidating, but neither Jedi showed a reaction to it. From the windows of the palace, the residents of the palace watched as the two Jedi entered their home.
From the view of the Jedi Starfighters, both astromechs worriedly beeped as they detected multiple small lifeforms approaching the ships the moment the palace doors had shut behind the Jedi. Those small creatures were the rat faced Jawas that hid those faces under brown cloaks. A Jawa climbed up onto each starfighter and got uncomfortably close to each astromech, but while Arfour responded with a shock from her electric prod, Arnine responded with a clasper arm from her dome poking the eyes of the Jawa that approached her. All the Jawas then panicked and ran away, realizing that it was a mistake to provoke these droids.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Jabba's Palace 0:00 - 0:45]
When the pair reached the throne room, The padawan did as instructed and let his master do all the talking. "Mighty Jabba." Obi Wan spoke up. "One of our most powerful Jedi is on his way to rescue your son. We will not let you down."
"Aaaah. Oowaga sleemo maka bedookie mafkin." Jabba replied.
"The most gratuitous Jabba has one more small condition." The protocol droid translates the Huttese. "He demands you bring back the slime who kidnapped his little...punky muffin."
"Punky?" Both Jedi repeated.
"Meechootoo tankee sabeeska!" Jabba emphasized.
"Dead or alive." The Padawan translated, slightly surprising the Jedi Master.
"You know huttese?" Kenobi asked.
"I-I studied it back at the temple." Dusk answered.
Before that could be addressed, Jabba went back to the previous subject. "Ho. Wa toki ka Rotta, Dooku join Separatiwan."
The droid then translated again. "If you do not succeed, count Dooku and his droid armies will."
Kenobi then pulled out a holo device and turned it on.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Battle of Teth 0:00 - 2:06]
Over at the Teth System, multiple gunships loaded with troops were making their way down to the ground below the monastery guarded by the Separatist droids. Anakin and Ashoka were in one of those ships and they were looking at a holo device that showed Obi-Wan's image. "Alright Anakin, here's the story. Jabba has given us only one planetary rotation to get his son back home to Tatooine safe and sound."
"Won't take us that long master." Skywalker assured him.
"Well, take extreme care. We have no idea who's holding Jabba's son." Kenobi instructed. "When we finish negotiations with him, Orion and I will join you." The transmission ended there.
Over at the monastery, a battle droid commander was standing next to a B1 with macrobinoculars. They noticed something in the distance approaching their location, and attempted to identify what was approaching them. "There's something coming. I can't make out what it is." The B1 stated.
"I don't like it. Prepare to attack." The commander ordered.
"Uh. What if it's one of ours?" The B1 questioned.
"Shut up sergeant. I'm in command here." The commander told him.
"Roger Roger." The droid sergeant complied.
Inside one of the gunships, Anakin spoke to Ahsoka. "Stay close to me, if you can."
"It won't be a problem, Master." Tano confidently replied.
"This isn't practice, Ahsoka." Skywalker reminded her.
"I know. And I'll try not to get you killed." Tano told him before they both smirked at each other, then they felt a rumble as the gunship was no longer flying smoothly.
Over at the monastery multiple dwarf spider droids were at the edge of the landing platform, opening fire on the approaching transports. "Sood shot, boy." The B1 sergeant commented to one of them.
The gunships stayed the course, but one of the pilots on Anakin's gunship spoke up. "Sir! we're taking heavy fire!"
"Close the bask shields, Lieutenant!" Skywalker ordered. "Get us under those guns!"
"Yes sir." The pilot followed his orders.
As the blast shields closed, Ahsoka mentally prepared herself for combat. "Here we go."
The gunship lights flickered red as some static came on the com channel. "Ridge, you're comm's got static."
One of the clones, now known as Ridge, tapped his helmet a few times. "Got it."
"Red light, Stand by." Rex told his men as they readied their weapons and prepared for a firefight the moment those doors opened up. Anakin saw his padawan get ready as well and he nodded to her.
The gunships began their descent to the ground, finding a few openings in the treelines close to the bottom of the cliffside. "Welcome to paradise, rock jumpers." A clone pilot said as he prepared to open the doors.
The gunships landed on the ground and inside, the light shifted from red to green. "Green light!" Rex spoke up as the gunship doors opened up and the clones and Skywalker immediately got out of the gunship. "Go go go!" The clone captain ordered his men while Tano followed the other's actions and quickly got out of the gunship. The first skirmish on Teth had begun.
[Silence]
Ahsoka ran alongside the clones towards the base of the cliffside. The padawan briefly looked towards the monastery before flinching from an explosive bolt striking one of the treetops. Seeing that the droids were shooting at their position, she ignited her blade and defended herself from another blaster bolt that was coming towards her.
On the monastery platform the B1 commander gave out orders. "Concentrate fire on sector 11374265!"
"1137...what was that again?" The B1 sergeant asked.
The commander grabbed the sergeant's head and pointed towards the approaching clones. "Just fire right there!"
Two ATTE walkers that were dropped by the gunships were nearing the base of the cliff, unaffected by the heavy fire of the droids thanks to it's tough armor. The main gunners on those walkers took aim and fired their cannons towards the edge of the platform to reduce the amount of blasterfire that the droids were sending towards the clones.
"Follow me!" Anakin ordered his men as he made his way to the base of the cliff with his padawan, his clone captain, and many of his forces quickly reaching the base as well. The blasterfire couldn't reach them now, so they had a moment to breathe and prepare their next move.
Back on top of the cliff, the B1 sergeant tried to locate the clone forces with his macrobinoculars. "I...can't see them."
"Where'd they go?" The B1 commander questioned. Before he could get an answer, the B1 sergeant leaned too far forward and lost his balance before falling off the platform with the macrobinoculars and hitting the ground at the base of the mountain. "Get back here, sergeant!"
Back at the base of the cliff, Ahsoka spoke up. "So, this is where the fun begins."
"Race you to the top." Skywalker suggested.
"I'll give you a head start." Tano offered.
"Your mistake!" Anakin said before leaping up and grabbing a vine to hold onto.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Scaling the Cliff 0:00 - 0:45]
"Ascension cables!" Rex told his men as he and the clones followed their Jedi General up the cliffside, while the ATTE walkers climbed up the cliffside with their legs.
"I'm right behind you, Master!" Tano said before leaping up and grabbing onto a vine as well. She then noticed how quickly the ATTEs were scaling the cliffside and decided to hitch a ride on one of those, swinging herself over to one and holding on.
The walkers provided heavy fire from both the gunners and the front blasters, which was seriously hindering the droid's performance. "Target those walkers!" The B1 commander ordered.
Dwarf spider droids that were planted on the cliffside shifted their focus to the walkers and took out one of them almost immediately with a few well placed shots to the legs and front canopy, toppling the walker and killing all the crew inside it, as well as any unlucky clone that was behind it.
As there was one walker left, the droinds began to focus fire on that walker, but the tank gunner fired back with his cannon and knocked a few droids off the edge, one of which almost fell on Skywalker, who just cut the B2 in half.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Scaling the Cliff cue 2 0:00 - 0:45]
Ashoka saw the increased rate of fire coming her way and climbed up the back of the walker to make her way to the canopy. During that climb, the gunner of the ATTE was hit and his body was blasted off the gunner seat. With the cannon gone, she was the walker's only chance of making the climb. The padawan ignited her blade and leapt up the canopy, standing on the front glass.
The droids concentrated their fire on the remaining tank, but thanks to Tano's Jedi reflexes, she was able to deflect the oncoming blaster fire that was coming towards the canopy she was standing on. The clone inside the canopy provided support for the Jedi protecting him with the frontal cannons, repeatedly firing a barrage of blaster bolts while the tank pressed on as it followed Anakin up the mountain.
Suddenly a squad of droids mounted on STAP speeders was approaching from the mountainside and began to shoot at the clone troopers as they made their way to the ATTE. Ashoka saw them coming and defended herself from the blaster fire, but part of the mountain side that the walker was clung onto was shot and it caused the ATTE to lose its grip and its front half leaned back.
Anakin heard the walker behind him and looked back to see it tethering while Ahsoka had lost balance and was struggling to get back on the canopy, as she dropped her lightsaber on it when she lost her balance.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Train 1 0:00 1:06]
The Jedi General sprung into action and slid down to the walker. As the STAPS looped around to finish the job, Skywalker landed on the canopy and then leapt towards the squad, landing on the first STAP and cutting the pilot droid's head off. He then leapt to the next STAP and did the same thing, then he did it again to the third. He then leapt onto the fourth STAP and cut off the droid's head, before kicking the body off and taking the speeder for himself, speeding past his padawan. "Gotta keep up!"
"HEY! NO FAIR!" Tano yelled out.
Anakin took advantage of his aerial mobility and firepower, using the STAP to the best of its abilities as he shot out the dwarf spider droids mounted on the cliffside and speedily made his way towards the top of the mountainside. "Rex, follow me!" he said on his comlink.
"Yes sir!" Rex replied on the comlink before he muttered to himself. "Working on it."
The ATTE managed to get it's front legs back on the mountainside and the operator prepared to continue up the cliff, which was encouraged by his Jedi commander's words. "Get this thing moving!" She ordered.
Skywalker kept moving up as the droids shifted their focus from the walker to the hijacked STAP. When he was close enough to the platform he jumped off the speeder as it was shot down and he landed right in the middle of the remaining droids who surrounded him and aimed their weapons at him. "Surrender, Jedi." the B1 commander said. He responded to that by igniting his lightsaber.
The rest of the republic forces were almost at the top when they noticed that there was no more blaster fire coming their way. They then saw battle droid parts and a few B1s screaming as they plummeted down the cliff, signalling to them that their general was handling business up there.
Anakin made extremely quick work of the droid forces there, cutting down all the B1 B2 and dwarf spider droids that were on the platform. As he finished off the last of them, three droidekas rolled over to his position and brought their shields up, aiming their blasters at the Jedi. "Blast it Ahsoka. I told you to stay close to me."
The sound of an ATTE's cannon slightly surprised the Jedi general as an explosive blaster bolt whizzed past him and blew the three droideka's to bits.
[Silence]
Tano stood next to the cannon of the ATTE walker as she responded "I can't get much closer, Sky Guy."
"I knew you'd get here, Snips...eventually." Skywalker commented.
"Always in time to save your life." The padawan replied.
"All clear, General." Captain Rex reported to the Jedi.
"Nice work, Rex." Anakin said. "Have some men look after the wounded."
"Roger that, sir. Gunships are holding at a safe distance." Rex stated.
Inside the monastery, on a balcony on one of the upper floors, a protocol droid and a hooded female looked at the concluded battle. "The droids have done their part. Now it's your turn." The female told the droid before she went back inside.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST B'omarr Monastery 0:00 - 0:30]
"Too many droids here for them to be renegades." Anakin noted. "I sense Count Dooku's hand in this. Let's find Jabba's son and get out of here."
"No problem. The hard part's over." Ashoka said.
"I wish you wouldn't say that." Skywalker replied as he knew better than to think that the rest of this mission would be easy.
The Jedi general took point and Tano followed her master, while Rex and a squadron of clones accompanied the Jedi as they made their way to the entrance of the Monastery. The group walked over towards the entrance and soon unlocked it, the door opened up and the group went inside.
[Play Star Wars Attack Of The Clones OST The Arrival at Tatooine 1:16 - 2:33]
Back on Tatooine, a Solar Sailor entered the atmosphere and landed a fair distance away from Jabba's palace. Soon, a man with a cloak similar to a Jedi's came out of the ship and looked towards the hutt palace, seeing the two Jedi Starfighters near the entrance. He then began to walk towards the location, leaving his ship where it was.
Inside Jabba's palace, Obi-Wan went over what was agreed upon in these negotiations. "Just to review, when we deliver your son safely back here, you and the rest of the Hutt clans will open up your routes to the Republic and allow us free passage, so long as we don't set up any military operations or occupations on the systems in Hutt Space."
"Tagwa." Jabba replied.
"Yes." His droid translated.
"And should we deliver whoever kidnapped your son to you, you would be willing to open up trade routes with the Republic through Hutt Space as well, but only if we deliver your kidnapper, along with your son?" Kenobi said.
"Tagwa." Jabba repeated.
"Yes." His droid also repeated.
"Are there any other things that you would be willing to offer in exchange for another task on top of these?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"Nobata. Ateema bolla koose bata mi bedoonkie mankin." Jabba stated.
"There is not. The mighty Jabba now demands that you go and bring back his son." The droid translated.
"Then I suppose our negotiations are finished." Kenobi concluded as both he and Orion respectfully bowed to Jabba. "We will be leaving to help retrieve your son now. Farewell."
As the two Jedi left Jabba's room, a group of hutt mercenaries accompanied them as they were escorted out of the palace. "That went rather well." Dusk commented.
"Indeed. Now all we have to do is help Anakin with the retrieval and delivery of Jabba's son." Obi-Wan concluded.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST B'omarr Monastery 1:46 - 3:10]
Outside of the perimeter of Jabba's palace, the cloaked man heard his holo device sound off. He placed it on the ground and a cloaked female spoke to him. "They have taken the monastery, Master. Skywalker is here. He's on his way to rescue the hutt."
"Well done, Ventress." He spoke to her. "All is going according to plan."
"I could easily take them now." Ventress told her master.
"Patience." He instructed. "Collect the data I need. You will get your chance at revenge soon enough."
The transmission ended there and the cloaked master picked up the Holo device before continuing his walk to Jabba's palace.
Back on Teth, Ahsoka and Anakin were in the dungeons of the monastery. Skywalker had his clone unit guard the entrance while he and Tano went down to the detention level to look for Jabba's son, as a supposed servant droid here said that he would likely be there.
As the pair walked through the halls, Ashoka spoke up. "Master. You know you're walking us into a trap?" She said as they walked past a few B1 battle droids that were hiding.
"I know." Anakin calmly replied as he kept walking past more of them.
"We just passed two more droids." Tano pointed out.
"I know." Skywalker repeated as he kept walking.
"Well I don't like this." The Padawan said. "Can't I just take care of them?"
"Oh, well, if you feel so strongly about it, go ahead." The Jedi knight allowed it.
Three B1 battle droids trailed closely behind the pair of Jedi with their weapons trained on them. As soon as Ahsoka ignited her blade, one opened fire. The togruta easily deflected the blaster fire and disarmed one of the B1s before cutting it in half. Another shot at her but got its shot deflected back, disabling it. The third tried to shoot but got it's weapon slashed before getting sliced by the young Jedi. Anakin watched this happen with a smirk.
"Not bad." Skywalker commented. "You remembered to destroy their weapons first."
"I'm improving your technique." Tano cheekily stated.
The Jedi Knight then ignited his blade and stabbed the last droid that she didn't see in the room. "Of course, you did miss one."
"I...did that on purpose." The Padawan tried to play that off as intentional.
The two approached a closed door and Anakin spoke up. "I sense our kidnapped hutt is in here."
"Ugh..." Ahsoka gagged when she breathed in the air through her nose. "I smell him too."
Skywalker used the force to open up the door and the pair walked in the cell. What they saw surprised them. There was indeed a young hutt in here, but it was an infant huttlet, who whimpered at the sight of them. "He's a lot younger than I thought he'd be."
"Oh, he's just a baby." Tano cooed. "This will make our job a lot easier. Oh, he's so cute."
"Just wait until you see what he'll grow into." The Jedi knight. Commented.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST B'omarr Monastery 1:10 - 1:30]
Back on Tatooine, just outside of Jabba's palace, Orion and Obi-Wan came out of the entrance of the palace and each entered their starfighters. Arfour and Arnine both beeped the same thing in binary. Kenobi replied to both astromechs. "I know. We want to get out of here too."
"Agreed." Dusk said as the pair closed the cockpits to their starfighters and took off, preparing to go assist Anakin and Ahsoka with the retrieval. However they failed to notice a cloaked man watching their departure before entering the palace himself.
[Silence]
The pair left the atmosphere of the desert planet and The Jedi Master gave his instructions. "Set your course for the Baxel Sector. We'll link up with Admiral Yularen and the 212th before we rendezvous with General Skywalker."
"Yes, master." The Padawan complied as he primed his ring and set the coordinates. Arnine beeped something in binary but he didn't respond to that until after he cut his comms with Obi-Wan. Orion then replied to his droid. "I doubt we'll run into any Jawa's on Teth, Arnine." He latched his starfighter onto his designated ring while his master did the same, and the two starfighters jumped to lightspeed.
Back on Teth, the clones had fully secured the monastery and Rex reported it to his Jedi General. "General Skywalker the castle is secure, and it's nearly midday."
"Thanks Rex." Anakin replied on his comlink. "We've got Jabba's son. Any sign of General Kenobi yet?"
"No sir." The clone captain responded.
Ahsoka then got her master's attention. "Master, my Jedi training didn't prepare me for...this." She gestured to the huttlet, who was babbling like a baby would. "What are we gonna do?"
"Well, since you think that smelly larva is cute, you're gonna carry it." The Jedi Knight told his Padawan, before walking back the way they came from. Tano looked back at the huttlet who now began to whine, which just made this mission rise in it's annoyance factor.
Elsewhere in the Baxel Sector, Obi-Wan and Orion had rendezvoused with the 212th on Admiral Yularen's Venator Class Jedi Cruiser. The two Jedi Starfighters detached from their rings and landed their fighters in the main hangar. Commander Cody was there and waited for orders, which Kenobi gave. "Commander. Tell Admiral Yularen to get underway. We need to reinforce Anakin."
"Right away sir." Cody replied before he got on the comlink to speak with the Admiral.
[Play Star Wars The Phantom Menace OST I'm A Pilot You Know 0:00 - 0:55]
Dusk got himself out of his Starfighter and Arnine ejected from the droid compartment, before beeping a few times and strolling over next to the Padawan. "Though I don't understand what you're saying anymore, I can guess by your actions that you somewhat liked the trip."
Obi-Wan got out of his starfighter and approached his Padawan, while Arfour ejected from her compartment and started conversing with Arnine, while the two Jedi talked with each other. "Now that we've finished up with the negotiations, all that is left is ensuring that we hold up our end of the bargain."
"Yes, master." Orion replied. "I'll do my best to help out wherever I can."
Kenobi nodded and smirked, appreciating that his new apprentice was actually more willing to listen and learn, unlike Anakin. "It's good to see you're so eager, but before we rush you off into battle again, I'd like to actually see what you can do."
"Hmm? Oh." Dusk realized that he hadn't really shown any of his Jedi training to his master, only showing it to the clones back on Christophsis, when he was ordered to defend the Heavy Cannons from the droid army. "I guess that would be appropriate. What do you have in mind?"
Obi-Wan looked around for a second before thinking of something. "How about a training duel over there?" He pointed at a spot in the hanger bay that had no ships occupying the area.
"A duel?" Orion repeated. "Uh...against you?"
"What better way to show me your skills with a lightsaber, than to use those skills on me?" Kenobi pointed out.
"I...guess that would be true." Dusk understood that logic, but he was still nervous, considering that his master was well known for being one of the best duelists in the Jedi order.
"Good. Lower the power on your saber and meet me there." The Jedi Master instructed as he walked over to the empty section of the hanger.
"Yes, master." The Padawan did as his master instructed and he tampered with the settings on his saber hilt, lowering the power so that if he did somehow lasd a strike, it would only sting and not actually cut through. He then headed over to his master.
[Play Star Wars The Phantom Menace OST Watto's Deal 0:45 - 1:28]
The pair of Jedi noticed their droids follow them, and they also saw a few clones who were on their breaks look at them. The pair didn't pay much attention to the small audience and they stood a few feet away from one another in the center of the square section. Obi-Wan then explained the rules for this duel. "Our duel will be limited to inside this square. If one of us gets pushed out, then it counts as a defeat. If one of us gets at least three strikes on our opponent, or disarms the opponent, that will count as a victory."
"So, my goal is to either strike your body three times, disarm you, or force you out of bounds?" Orion simplified what his master said.
"Indeed." Kenobi confirmed as he ignited his blade, though it's power was also dialed down for this training duel, and he assumed a Form 1 stance. "Whenever you're ready."
Dusk was of course unsure of himself, considering who he was up against, but he took a deep breath and calmed himself down, before igniting his blade and also assuming a Form 1 stance. He looked directly at his opponent and the two kept their guards up.
The clones nearby and the astromechs present, including Arfour and Arnine had their attention on the pair of Jedi that were about to clash blades, curious to see how long the kid would last against the General. They knew he wasn't gonna win, but that didn't stop them from watching this training session happen.
[Play Star Wars The Phantom Menace OST Moving Forward 0:00 - 1:18]
After a few seconds of no movement, Orion made the first attack, stepping forward and swinging his blade towards his master, however Obi-Wan blocked the attack with ease and watched his new Padawan pull back to a defensive posture again. Kenobi didn't make any attempt to attack and analyzed Dusk's posture and face, seeing that the boy was testing his mettle.
Orion went for two quick cuts, but both were blocked by Obi-Wan, who saw an opening and thrusted his blade forward, striking Dusk's left shoulder. As the boy flinched from the sting, he was almost struck again by a followup attack from his master, but he managed to step back and barely get out of range of the attack. He then defended himself from another strike from Kenobi, before the Jedi Master broke off and went back into a defensive stance.
Orion regained his composure and got back into a defensive stance before moving back into his master's range. The boy then swung towards Obi-Wan's legs, but the attack was paired, leaving him open to another attack. Before Kenobi could hit him, Dusk jumped back to get some distance, but his master pursued him and went on the offensive.
Obi-Wan slashed at his new Padawan multiple times, and watched how Orion defended himself accordingly. He could see that this boy was more prominent in defensive techniques. That said, it wasn't perfect. He created an opening and landed a second slash on Dusk's left leg.
Kenobi then went for another followup attack, but was surprised to see the Padawan block the attack and push him back. Orion tried to press his attack, but Obi-Wan quickly regained his footing and defended himself from his Padawan's advance. While the boy could defend himself quite well, his offensive technique was only average. The Jedi Master soon created an opening and struck Dusk in the right ankle.
The Padawan dropped to his knee and groaned from that last attack. He lost the duel, and even though he knew he had no chance, he still felt displeased with how he performed. That is until Kenobi spoke up. "Not bad. Your defensive skills are good."
Orion groaned before replying. "It was nothing compared to yours, master."
"Don't sell yourself short." Obi-Wan told him. "You're still learning, and now that you're learning under me, there's no doubt that you'll get better in that category."
"Thank you, master." The young Jedi humbly accepted the praise from his master.
Kenobi deactivated his saber and began walking back towards his starfighter with Arfour. "I'm going to contact Anakin and check on his progress. Go get some rest."
"Yes, master." Dusk did as he was instructed, leaving the hanger to go rest in a quarters temporarily given to him.
[Silence]
Back on Teth, Anakin and Ahsoka got outside of the monastery. "How do you like your little buddy now?" Skywalker asked. "Still cute?"
"You know. He's reminding me of you more and more." Tano replied as she held the huttlet up to show that they were making the same face. "See? You're two of a kind."
"Maybe you should carry both of us then." The Jedi Knight quipped before walking off.
Ahsoka then heard the huttlet whine again before she then heard a cough come from the baby. She could also feel its body temperature was higher than it should be. "Master, I think this little guy is sick. He's burning up with a fever."
Anakin turned around and when his Padawan approached him, he felt the huttlet's head, also noticing the rise in its temperature. "You're right. We've got to get him back to the ship immediately." He then turned to a clone. "Trooper! Get me a backpack!"
The clone did as he was ordered and handed an empty backpack over to the pair of Jedi, who then tried to put the huttlet inside of it. The baby did not want to be in the backpack and struggled to get out, screaming while it did so. "Will you just let me do it?" Tano suggested.
"I hate hutts." Skywalker said out loud as the pair continued to put the baby in the backpack.
On one of the upper levels, the droid that claimed to be a servant here had recorded that moment and saved it onto its memory. Ventress was with the droid and after it recorded that she contacted her master. "My lord, I have the recording you requested."
"Transmit it at once." He ordered. "Your new objective is to recover the hutt."
"And deliver him to Jabba unharmed?" Ventress replied.
"Precisely." Her master confirmed. "Do not fail me."
Back on the Venator that Obi-Wan was on, he contacted his former apprentice through his starfighter. "Anakin. Did you locate Jabba's son?"
"We have him, but it looks like the Separatists are behind his abduction." Skywalker stated. "This smells like Count Dooku to me."
"I think it's little Stinky you smell." Ahsoka's voice was heard.
"I'll bet Dooku is using us to get Jabba to join the Separatists." The Jedi Master guessed.
"Master Kenobi." Ahsoka came into view with the huttlet on his hologram. "We have another problem. This huttlet is very sick."
"I'm not sure we can get him back to Tatooine alive, master." The Jedi Knight said. "This whole rescue may backfire on us. I still don't think dealing with the Hutts is a good idea."
"Anakin, you know they control shipping routes in the Outer Rim." Obi-Wan reminded him. "Jabba's cooperation is crucial to the war effort. If you let anything happen to his son, our chances of a treaty with him will disappear."
The sound of a ship was heard on Anakin's end of the hologram. "Master? We've got trouble!"
"Defensive positions!" Rex's voice was heard as well before the sounds of blaster fire began to echo throughout Skywalker's end of the transmission. "Anakin?"
"I'll have to call you back, Master. We're under attack." Skywalker stated. "We could use a little help here if you have the time."
"I'll get there as soon as I can. Protect the hutt, Anakin." Kenobi instructed him. The transmission cut off and he got on the commlink. "Make the jump to Teth as soon as you can Admiral! General Skywalker needs our help!"
"Understood, General." Yularen replied over the commlink before making the jump to hyperspace.
The men of the 212th began to arm themselves and were preparing for their redeployment to Teth. Once they exit hyperspace, they want to be ready to deploy immediately.
And here is Chapter two of the Star Wars Fic. We're still going through the Clone Wars Movie, but with a little more of Obi-Wan's side of things, because Orion is with him, and not Anakin. Though Anakin is where all the current action is, so I kind of need to cut away to him to show what is happening on that end. Aside from that, you now have a small grasp of Orion's fighting style. He's more proficient with defense, than he is with offense, though he's not perfect. Not only that, but he is also much more obedient and quiet than Anakin ever was. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and until I decide to upload again. ;)