{Greetings from beyond the screen my fellow readers and writers, Slifer Draconus Rapturous here with a new chapter with a few things:
1st; This is the final revised chapter of this fanfiction, stay toned for further updates.
Now onto the chapter.}
Chapter 6: MIA
Trust in your friends, and they'll have reason to trust in you.
After suffering a series of disastrous defeats at the hands of General Grievous, the Republic's foothold in the Outer Rim is in jeopardy. Commissioned to protect the strategic world of Bothawui, Anakin Skywalker and his weary battlegroup are all that sounds between the system and domination by the droid army.
Shan(POV)
Location: Bothawui
Master Kenobi and I are in a hologram in front of Master Skywalker, Ahsoka and Captain Rex.
Master Kenobi speaks, "Among our most recent losses was the battleground at Falleen. The separatist fleet commanded by General Grievous is headed your way."
"Seems like that coward always knows where and when to attack us," Master Skywalker took over in speaking.
Master Kenobi decides to remain his former Padawan, "You're heavily outnumbered, Anakin. I advise retreat."
"If we run, the Separatists will take control of this sector. I can't let them do that," Master Skywalker replies.
Master Kenobi again decides to remain his former Padawan, "And that is your problem."
Ahsoka finally speaks up, "Master Kenobi is right. We should regroup. We don't stand a chance against--"
"-Ahsoka." Master Skywalker interrupts.
"Suicide is not the Jedi way, Master," Ahsoka remains her master.
Master Kenobi interrupts them, "You should listen to your Padawan."
"As you listened to yours, my old Master?" Master Skywalker quipps before saying, "No, we are going to stay and fight. And I think I know how to beat Grievous at his own game."
Master Kenobi sighs before trying to talk some sense into Anakin, "Anakin please I must insti--"
"-Hold on Master." I interrupted my master, "His an orthodox thinking might actually pull a win this time."
"Hmm…" My Master hums in thought before saying, "Continue."
Master Skywalker went on to explain his plan; he would position the AT-TE Walkers within the asteroid belt and when the Separatists get into the position the walkers will unleash hell.
After the Battle of Bothawui, Captain Rex found Anakin unconscious in his Delta-7 but no R2-D2.
After recovering, Master Skywalker seems to be distraught with the disappearance of his R2 unit.
"Congratulations, Anakin. Your resourcefulness always amazes me." Master Kenobi praises.
"Thank you, master," Master Skywalker replies sadly.
"You look troubled," Master Kenobi states the obvious.
Anakin looks up sadly, "I lost R2 in the field."
"Well, R2 units are a dime a dozen." Master Kenobi says nonchalantly. "I'm sure you'll find a suitable replacement."
Master Skywalker steps forward and says, "I could take a squad out there, track down."
Master Kenobi reminds him, "Anakin, he is only a droid. You know attachment is not acceptable for a Jedi."
Anakin Skywalker looks away, "It's not just that, Master." He looks down and says to himself, "Um, how do I put this?" He turns to Master Kenobi and I, "I didn't wipe R2's memory."
Master Kenobi steps back in surprise, "What? He's still programmed with our tactics and base locations?" He looks down and says to himself, "If the Separatists get a hold of him..." He then turns to yell at Anakin, "What possessed you not to erase that droid's memory?!"
"Master Obi-Wan, sometimes, R2 having that extra information has come in handy," Ahsoka speaks up in defense of her master.
I scoff, cross my arms and say, "A classic HK Effect; the combination of a droid's memory and their personality results in them becoming very useful in the field."
Master Kenobi sighs and says, "Well then, find that droid Anakin. Our necks may very well depend on it."
Master Skywalker smiles happily and says, "Right away, Master."
(Time Skip)
Master Kenobi decided to send Anakin a replacement unit, R3-S7, a gold and black astromech. Unfortunately because it was a rush order I couldn't install any of the usual programming.
This might have been a problem because Anakin and his new droid seem to be locking horns a lot.
And after failing to locate R2 in a scrapper ship. We are in another meeting with Ahsoka and Master Skywalker.
"We have to assume that R2 was destroyed in the explosion that claimed your ship," Master Kenobi says, a little disappointed.
Master Skywalker sadly says, "Yes, master."
"Our intelligence has confirmed that Grievous' spies have been intercepting our transmissions," Master Kenobi informs.
Ahsoka then speaks up with, "He must have some sort of secret listening post out there somewhere."
"That would explain how he's been able to ambush our fleets," Master Skywalker concluded
Master Kenobi orders, "Split up your squadrons, Anakin. Find that base and destroy it."
"It's as good as done, Master Kenobi," Ahsoka says confidently.
I then interject with, "Master, is it possible that I could accompany Master Skywalker?"
My master looks down at me and asks, "Are you sure it's necessary?"
I nod, "Yes master, clearly something is wrong with R3, Master Skywalker and I can splice into him and see what exactly is going under its dome."
Instead of answering me my Master turns to Master Skywalker, "What do you think Anakin?"
Anakin thinks for a moment before answering, "Another perspective would be useful."
"Alright then, may the Force be with you both," Master Kenobi says before the transmission cuts off.
I enter my own Delta-7, like Master Kenobi's mine is also red however unlike my master's mine has black as its secondary color. In the R2 slot was a custom unit, designed to house BD-47 inside the dome. When the little droid begins to pilot the astromech BD has access to all the little tools and gadgets a normal astromech has. But BD can also calculate hyperspace routes. BD refers to it as his R2 Mech.
We soon after I entered hyperspace and met up with Master Skywalker.
"Good to see you two again," he says through the communications.
"Shan jumps back to the Resolute," Master Skywalker orders before his hyperspace ring is destroyed.
As I dock with the hyperspace ring Master Skywalker turns around to the Separatist capital ship. On my sensor I see Master Skywalker's ship go dark as the Twilight enters the system just as I enter hyperspace. However as the stars begin to elongate I feel the ship jerk to the side.
BD beeps in worry as the ship's display translates, "Boss, our hyperspace ring has been hit."
I sigh in reservation, "That means we've been knocked off course, do you have any idea of our current destination?"
BD is silent for a moment before beeping in response, "All I can tell is that it's an old route into the Unknown Region."
I narrow my eyes in suspicion, "How old?"
BD beeps in his own version of a sigh, "Old Republic old."
"Seriously," I say in shock as another series of beeps comes through.
"Incoming transmission," BD beeps in surprise.
"Pull it up," I say with confirmation.
A hologram of Master Skywalker appears, "Padawan Shan are you alright?"
"Me, I'm physically fine," I say in response. "My ship's hyperspace ring on the other hand got damaged and sent us into a hyperspace route from the old Republic."
"From the Old Republic," Ashoka's voice comes in through the hologram. "Shan, why don't you just deactivate your hyperdrive?"
Anakin shakes his head, "Ahsoka remember we were in the Ruusan System, if he falls out of hyperspace now he may end up in Separatist space."
I get their attention with, "Look it's inevitable that my Delta-7 is going to get even more damaged than it already is, so I'm going to need a few weeks to repair it with or without the proper equipment."
"A few weeks," Ashoka shouted in shock. "Shan, do you realize how mad Emira is going to be?"
I nod, "Emira will eventually calm down but tell Master Kenobi that if and when I return I'll try to make my way to Brighthome."
Anakin nods at that, "Alright then Shan I'll trust you on this one but I would like you to tell the council that you followed my instructions."
At that I nodded, "On that I can guarantee." The hologram image begins to cut out, "It looks like my ship is exiting transmission range. Tell the council that I don't blame you Master."
The transmission cuts out and we're left there in silence. That is until a strike of yellow passes overhead.
"Contact," BD beeps in alarm.
"Identification," I ask as a starship enters hyperspace right behind me.
BD whistles, "Mandalorian Lancer Pursuit Craft, I'm also detecting a tracker near the thruster of the ship."
I scoff at that, "So a possible bounty hunter on our tail and in Mando fear no less."
"It seems that way," BD beeps sadly.
3rd(POV)
Region: Unknown Region/ Planet: Debiruzurando
A young man walked down a snow covered mountain on route to sell charcoal to the residents of the village at the base of the mountain. Ever since his father died he proudly took up the role. Now he was over three quarters of the way down the mountain when he felt something.
It was something on the corner of his mind and felt like it was a left passing in his vision or a brief smell in the breeze.
However, just like either of them, the feeling was gone just as quickly.
He knew within that moment, as he looked up at the moon, whatever this was, it was going to return and was going to involve himself.
Little did he know.
Region: Unknown Region/ Planet: Dìqiú
In the north west region of a war torn world a group of two say silently at a fire. Not talking to each other but cooking their individual dinners.
The first of them was a man around the age of fifteen, he clothes conceited of a red vest with a black breathable fabric underneath but his most notable feature was the pale blue scar on the right side of his face that looked like lightning.
The second was a young woman in monk clothes and a shaved head. The most notable thing about her was the arrow tattoos on her hands, feet and forehead.
Alongside the both of them are their own animal companions; for the man a small red reptile is curled up on his lap and for the woman a large six limbed mammal slept soundly a few feet away from him.
Suddenly the four of them looked up at the night sky. A feeling entered their minds, it was like a fly in their visions or the shock of a cold breeze on his face.
"You felt that too right," the older boy asked while narrowing his.
"Yeah I did," the young monk said before going back and stoking the fire.
"What do you think it was," he asked before petting the red reptile in his lap.
"It could have been any number of things," the young woman said before offering a suggestion. "The spirits work in mysterious ways."
He spoke up again, "Yeah they do."
The two creatures roar in agreement before they pull whatever dinner they were cooking from the fire.
Region: Unknown Region/ Planet: Draconium
A young boy pulled back on the string of his bow, he aimed for a wolf that had been scaring off the prey animals in his territory. The wolf moved along a trail when it suddenly stopped and looked up.
That was an odd behavior, the young boy loosened his draw and looked up when he felt something on the edge of his mind, it just so happened to be the same direction that the wolf looked in.
His eyes narrowed at some type of fuzz in the distance, he pulled out his spyglass, he peered through and widened his eyes at what he saw. Two metal dragons were interlocked in combat and one of them was clearly lossing.
They both seemed to have the same wingspan but the smaller of the two was smoking like a Monstrous Nightmare but at a small explosion the left wing came and caused the smaller of the two to turn the right. It was then Hiccup Haddock realized they weren't dragons but metal flying crafts.
The larger of the two continues on its path before turning to its left while the other continues to turn until it's on its original path. The two crafts rush each other and fire a shot of small fire at each other. The larger craft's aim turns out to be true for it causes an explosion and blows off the other wing. The smaller craft pulls up as it hits the trees.
However what catches Hiccup's attention is when the larger craft passes over the crashing smaller one. The smaller craft angels itself up before a section near the middle some type of hatch falls off and a person in a chair erupts out, just before it hits the trees some type of liquid wraps the person and chair. Then to add to the craziness a round part of the craft flies over once again some type of metal bucket launches out and somehow manages to slow itself down before entering the forest.
The larger craft begins to land at the Unclimbable Wall.
Shan(POV)
For the last few hours we traveled through hyperspace. During those few hours I tried to get some sleep but unfortunately whoever was inside the Mando ship kept taking pot shots at me every five minutes or so.
As we exitted hyperspace BD beeped in warning, "Right wing destroyed."
"Yeah I noticed thanks BD," I say as my ship veers off to the left while the Mando ship continues on its path.
I began to angle the ship upward in an attempt to land it in the trees, however the Mando ship turned back around and I could sense that the pilot was going to fire at me. So I also fire at them, the lazers past each other, mine dissipates on his shields but theirs completely destroys my left wing. I could feel us getting closer to the forest canopy.
"Listen BD I'll eject out and after it passes over eject yourself out and come looking for me," I say as I struggle against the wind resistance.
"Confirmed," BD responds as the Mando ship passes overhead.
The moment I feel the ship miss a tree I eject out. The hatch opens and my seat is launched out into the sky. Right at the apex of my fall the impact bubble inflates and wraps around me. Even as I fell I could hear the branches and twigs break before I even hit the planet itself. Even though the rubber I could hear the Mando's starship fly off overhead which means BD ejected out as well.
After I stopped bouncing I rolled into a tree, it was then that the bubbles deflated and released me. I'm not surprised when the first thing I see is a thick forest, however the second thing I noticed is the cool air and the smell of salt in the air.
I then noticed that the Force was strong on this planet. However it also feels different in some way, how I just couldn't explain yet and it was the sound of a ship landing that pulled me out of my thoughts. It also allowed me to notice BD.
"Hey BD how do you like the territorian," I ask as BD rolls up despite his wheels.
BD beeps disgruntledly, "I'd be happy if I didn't have to pilot this astro-can." There's a silence between us before BD whistles a question, "Any suggestion?"
"I got one," I say before turning away from BD. "Triangulate where the bounty hunter's ship is and if I die leave him on the planet and contact the Jedi Order."
"You got it boss," BD responded before turning his dome to me. "Would you like your mask?"
After considering it for a moment I answer, "Yeah sure, I would like my mask."
My mask was a simple visor on top of the bottom of a medical respirator. However, with a few modifications; the respirator can extract oxygen from the air and water around me, it can also filter carbon out and it can even cradle my voice in three different ways. However the visor can reduce glare from bright lights such as flashbangs, it can also show flows of electricity through both walls and in droids it also maps and records wherever I see or been.
Overall rather simple for what a Jedi could do but I figured I could cement my unique genius in history.
A slot opened up on BD's astro-can to relieve my mask. I placed it on before going to where the force called to me.
I walk out into a clearing to see a bounty hunter in Mandalorian armor; he stands on top of a cliff.
"So we're the one who tracked me here," I say before the figure walks off the cliff and his jetpack ignites to safely deposit him on the ground.
I watch as he says nothing and aims his blaster at me, I ignite my lightsaber and go into a form 3 opening stance. I could already tell that this was going to be a tough battle.
{And that's the chapter let me know what you think and remember to Like, Follow and Favorite.}