(Sorry this took so long, but its hear now, i hopeu likes it. :D)
Space...
Jake had always had questions about it, as everyone in the galaxy did, from the basic ones children asked to their pets or stuffed animals, to the complex calculations those with the highest IQs ask as they scribble notes while confined to their labs...
But even so..
he had always respected it...
so peacful...and quiet....
Like a void that you could stare at for days, just basking in your own presence, free from worry....
However that was not..the feeling now...
"JAKE!!"
"JAKE!!"
The boy snapped out from his trance as he watched another piece of a V-Wing flew by the glass cockpit of Adas ship, its scorched remains barreling into the nearby Tatooines gravity. Organic vessels sped by as their gooey surfaces cut through the airless void, followed by hoards of fully colored V-wings, their green turbo lasers flying about wildly.
Adas ship trembled as stray bolt hit their shields, she spun the starship to dodge the following barrage. She didnt get the chance to fire back, as the V-Wing was torn out of the sky by turbo lasers so sparatic you couldnt tell where they came from. Jakes eyes nervously scanned outside the cockpit, watching as ships of both sides fell, their systems succumbing to the fire that gnawed at their hulls, but his eyes landed on the bridge command center of the Imperial Venator... He knew who was up there, Gideon...great.
Ada yanked the controls right. A chunk of debris spiraled past the viewport nearly chipping the hull. Her cannons roared, shredding a V-wing squadron in a hail of flak. A massive Mustafarian cruiser lumbered past, its cannons hammering the Imperial Venator. The Empire fired back, metal groaning under the assault. Then, without warning, the bug ship accelerated to maximum speed slamming straight into the Imperial hangar. seconds later, it exploded.
Just as the Mustfarian commander planned....
Ada and Jake shared a wide eyed expressions as the boy flinched, the explosion engulfed their view, Ada watched as several other ships of both sides spun out of control due to the shockwave, Adas ship rumbled with the force as Jake nearly toppled from his seat as Ada sat steadfast in her pilot seat. In the back, Rusty's panicked screeches gnawed at Teeshes ear as he worked with Jake blowtorch to close an open circuit, the B1 was in the gunner position up above he had used prior, but was firing randomly at anything remotely colored grey. Tac was the first to make his way to the cockpit, briefly observing the chaos return as the suicide bug ships smoke cleared away.
Starfighter whizzed by the smoke, the battling raging on as if the suicidal ship had no effect.
"Sir, we have taken minimal damage, I suggest we find a way to board the enemy vessel and alert the Mustafarian leader" Tacs mouth light flowed as he spoke, Ada and the boy both turning with nod as a spiraling Bug starfighter spun out of control nearly crashing into them, the ship moving to the right as the ship fell towards tatooine in a blaze of fire.
"Way ahead of you" Ada heaved she accelerator forwards as the ship barreled into the hangar bay of the imperial Venator decorated with fire. It's landing gear barely had time to extend as it creaked with sparks against the metal floor. One look outside and Jake was starting to regret ever getting out of bed, the wreck burned with a blue fire as TK troopers, or at the least the ones not burning alive, ran about trying to put out the fire, but not before getting speared and attacked by ravenous bugs. Their strange landing craft settled as large hulking beetle like creatures stormed out with Mustafarian crawling on each, TK blaster fire did nothing to prevent their death moments later as their skeletons collapsed under the chitin clad feet of the insects, a bloody puddle all that remained as tattered flesh stuck to the insects feet as they scuttled along.
"That is….disgusting" Ada spoke aloud as she watched the bugs commence their invasion.
"Well at least it works" Jake shrugged, grabbing his pistol and hopping off the pilot seats. Quickly Ada turned and grabbed her weapons, following as Tac with his slugthrower already sling over his shoulder walked behind them.
"Took long enough kid" Teesh scoffed as he opened the door, raising his blue trandoshan rifle as his yellow tainted leather jacket shifted with every step down the stairs. Ada gave Jake a gente pay on the shoulder, which seemed to stun the bit for a moment before she hopped down with her jetpack, before being followed by Tac.
Jake was about to step but heard a noise, turning to see Rusty wobbling down the ladder.
"Cmon Rusty we've gotta go!" Jake urged the droid on, the boy's faint smile quickly covered by his helmet, Bucket's head still standing on display atop it.
"Roger Roger sir!! Uuhhh I-I'm going!" Rusty squeaky voice filled with panic as he lightly jogged his way to the stairs, nearly falling off in his attempt to defend them as Jake only shook his head before joining the group.
They walked cautiously as they were quickly joined by a few stray bugs, most clicking to the enslaved in their native tongue as their hands gripped makeshift spears, and long lanky blasters. Looking behind him, Jake saw into space, thankfully the blue barrier wasn't fully destroyed when the suicide ship crashed into the hanger, so they could breath, didn't stop the boy from watching as ships fell from the airless battlefield down to the sand planet. The massive ship which Jake could only assume the lead bug was in under heavy fire from a small Imperial cruiser, said Cruiser immediately being swarmed by fighters, they sped through the space and targeted its cannons, before they themselves began to take losses as V-wings rerouted to stop them. It was something Jake had never witnessed before, each side going back and forth counter each move with strategy that Jake found impossible to understand in the split seconds that it happened.
But he pulled his mind away, he mentally wished the Mustafarians out their best of luck, and followed Teesh and the others into the first entrance they could find, leading them into the typical stale hallways of the empire.
Now to find the brig….
————-
Clank was the first to stand as the ring of blaster fire echoed into the ship from outside, the B2 scanned the area trying to find any meaning to it, but couldn't. A group of TKs tan by in formations as another echoed slam shook the entire vessel. Scuthe got up after this, barely keeping his footing as he watched Mis-step fall over onto his side and wriggle around, Racket pinning itself into the floor with its three legs.
Clank heaved up the gonk droid with his hulking form, patting the droid before turning to the red barrier.
"For once I believe we agree" Scythe spat out, taking a step next to Clank.
"Little tinny"
Scythe paused, staring at the large droid "what is that?"
"Little tinny, my nickname for you" Clank said with as much of a humorous tone a B2 could muster, finding the sentance to be the pinnincal of jokes.
"That child has rubbed off on you" Scuthe said looking away, his voice growing rougher.
Ignoring the commandos comment, Clank changed subject. "We must leave now"
Racket took small steps forwards, staring at the two.
"Idea formula-" Scyhte was cut off by the shimmer of the red lazer wall phasing away, Gideon and two Death troopers standing there, ignoring the distant alarm and the rocking of the ship.
Scythes motors whirred as the Command lunged forwards, only to be electrecuted and fall forwards, Mis-Step let out a semi Threatening Gonk and took a single step ebfore being fired and falling over, Racket only had time to watch Clank try and reel a punch back, the B2 being shocked and falling to his knees, before the Droidekkas systems shared the fate of the others.
Gideon stared happily at the smoking droids..
"Youll make good bait" He whsipered, walking away as the Death troopers stepped forwards, their voices crackling to one another, reaching to grab the deactivevated relics.
————
The still hallway was interupted as a pair of TKs hustled by, running towards the hanger. As they disapeared around the corner, a yell echoed out as one TK was sent flying back, flying by the intersection and smashing into the wall unconsious. Two blaster shots fired, moments later Jake, followed by Teesh, Rusty, Ada, Tac, and the Mustafarian Commander along side his squadron, ran by.
Another TK rounded the bend, blaster raised. He hesitated at the sheer number of intruders, just long enough for Jake to backhand him mid-run. Stunned, the trooper reeled backward, only for Rusty to slam into him, sending him to the ground. Ada finished it with a quick stun blast. The halls normal silence was broken by Jakes ragged breath, every step trying to eat away at his stamina, not that it mattered, he had to get Clank back.
"Sir, scans suggest that the prison area is this way" tac spoke aloud, the large group turning as Tac stood by a split in the hallway they had ran by.
"By scans you mean the glowing sign?" Rusty asked, with a small point, earning a snicker from Teesh.
"Correct" Tac responded, if the droid didnt get the joke or didnt care was unknown.
Jake rushed past the squabbling group, quickly followed by Ada, who was then followed by everyone else. Jakes mind was...was....he didnt know, he was saving Clank, that alone brought more dopamine to his system than any sand apple ever could, but something just felt wrong...
the grey halls gnawed at his mind, the distant explosions rang throughout his form as every step he took his knees wobbled. Ada, being right behind him, noticed, her gaze carefully leaving the sights of her drawn pistols and locking onto the back of Jakes helmet. The stale lights glowed off her visor as she grabbed the boys shoulder, yanking him backwards. Jake stumbled as he turned to face her, his helmet staring into hers. The droids and Teesh stopped their running as the turned to check what was wrong, the Mustafarians not having such patience, ran ahead without them, shreiking and thrilling as the skittered and climbed about the hallway.
Jake's breath quickened the longer she held him still. He shoved her hand away and turned to sprint. Ada grabbed his other shoulder, her helmet mimicking the glare she wore beneath it.
"Jake.....talk" Her words were stern, but soft enough for the boy to shakily sigh, he looked at her for a moment as she felt his shoulder relax for the first time in days.
"I-.....im...scared" Jakes mind was numb, he normally didnt like to show emotions, unless he couldnt physically hold them back. And yet. Here he was with Ada, in the middle of a fight, admitting that he was terrified. He had always been terrified, of all of it. the TKs helmets haunted his memories as the screeches of R4 only seemed to get louder the more he tried to think of something else, Buckets yelps as the droid was beaten senseless by a Death Trooper, their pale black helmets hovering over the teenagers mind like a haunted umbrella.
Ada looked at him, glancing to Teesh, who wore a worried look, and sighed. She motioned for the other to go on, Teesh was hesistanmt at first, taking a step before looking back, Jake not returning the glance as he stared into the floor, his helmet not budging. The trandoshan sighed with a hiss, and started to run, tac was quick to follow, leaving Rusty for a few more moments, staring at Jake, before he too turned and ran after Teesh.
Jakes breathing came in sharp, uneven gasps. The air felt too thin, and his fingers twitched against the handle of his pistol. He couldn't let himself break, not here...
Ada waited a moment, seeming to contemplate something to herself, not like Jake could tell, before wrapping her arms around him. He froze, not just physically, but mentally. His mind was in overdrive, thinking of every possible bad outcome, every death every injury every blaster shot, and yet.
Silence.....
He didnt know what power mandolorians had, or what power Ada had, but he didnt care. His weak arms cautiously put themselves around her back aswell. Jake had to use every ounce of willpower to not burst into tears.
Not right now.
Ada sighed as she stepped back, Jakes arms lifelessly falling to his sides. She looked up at him, and realed back her arm, the motionless boy looked in confusion for a moment before stumbling back. She had slapped him.
"Hey?! wha- What the fuck was that for?!" Jake said with half accusatory tone, his seriousness breaking into a chuckle.
"Theirs the dumbass i know you are, plenty of time to be sad after we save the droids" Ada spoke calmly as she started up a jog in the direction the others had ran. Jake stared at her for a moment, a hidden smile grew on his face as he pulled out his dusty blue pisolt. Jake exhaled sharply, shaking off the sting of Ada's slap. His fingers flexed around his pistol, the weight grounding him. This time, the anger didn't cloud his thoughts. It sharpened them. He was going to get Clank back no matter what.
He could feel the heat in his veins as he squeezed the pistol in his grip. It was the same feeling he had felt nearly two weeks ago, when he had beaten that green Clone senseless, the same feeling when he last lost it.
But this time... he felt more focused.... He shook his hea,d and ran after Ada.
Teesh and the others werent to far ahead as Jake reached, Teesh giving a toothy grin as he glanced between him and Ada, who was looking around a corner. Jake walked past the lizard, waving his hand.
No more distractions.
Despite the boys harsher demenour, Rusty mimicked the action at Tac, who just stared back at the B1.
Ada called the group over as the turned the corner, the empty cells streched the entire hallways, but the sight already made Jakes stomahc drop, none of the doors had their red buzzing doors closed. Meaning no one was here.
"Wait? arent friends supposed to be here?" Rusty asked in confsuion, holding his blaster as the B1 peaked inside an empty cells, a bit of dust kicking up from another distant boom.
Jake looked back at Teesh, whos eyes radiated geniune concern for what seemed like the very first time to the boy. Ada glanced at Jake, seeing how he stared ahead at the empty hallway, she quickly elbowed Tac, and thankfully the dense program understood what she meant.
"Sir, scans show no other prisoners. Gideon has more than liekly kept them in the bridge, the most exposed location possible, with no backup. it is a trap" Tac explained in his typical stale voice, but patted Jakes shoulder, at least trying to express some comfort.
Jake sighed, he was more relieved than anything, at least they were still alive...hopefully. "Alright, then thats were we are going"
"you know its a trap, right kid?" Teesh said as he looked down at him, only for Rusty to respond.
"Well, Tac once told me that it isnt a trap if we know its coming" Tac looked over at this, and the droids posture immediately straightned, feeling a sense of pride.
Teesh shrugged as Jake and the other rushed ahead, quickly navigating a path to the bridge.
----------
Clank fell to his knees as he bent his whole body to face up at Gideon, Mistep lay on his side walking in place as Scythe lay ragdolled on the floor. The B2 checked his surroundings, seeing the small hoard of TKs working midnlessly at panals as the space battle raged on outside the clear glass.
A Mustafarians fighter whizzed by the bridge followed by three V-wings, the imperials green bolts tore up the flesh like hull of the bug ship as it plumeteed into Tatooines atmoshepre, int he distance an Imperial supprot shiped groaned as its armor was torn apart by rugged missles blasts, its engines failing as it began to fall, succumbing to the planets orbit. V-Wings tried taking off from its hanger , some being taken out by falling debris as their wings collasped and they spiraled out of control. Purple beams crashed into Gideons ship, the source being pummeled with green laser fire, as hoard of fighters swarmed throughtout the entire area. Clanks programmign couldnt handle the amount info, the fighting was so fierce, that there was more fire than stars.
Gideon was quick to snap the droid out of it, kicking the B2s chest, making him fall over. Clank wouldve loved to crush the insufferable organics face in, but knew any violent action would activate the restraining bolt.
"Pathetic...your by far the strongest droid that brat owns, and yet you can barely stand for yourself" Gideon scolds, as if talking to a student, all the while wearing a grin.
Clank ignores his statement, as he watches Scythe slowly rise, staring at the floor for a moment, before getting onto his knees. Gideon only watched with a harsh expression.
"Your friends are on the way...it inspires me to see such effort, such courage!" Gideon exclaims, his grin reamerging for a moment before his face turned stale again, like flipping a coin. "And yet its all for nothing" Gideon squatted down on one knee and grabbed the under side of Scythes faceplate.
"I will gut you" Scythe spat out, stating it as if it were a fact.
"Im sure you will..." Gideon scoffed, walking away as two Death Troopers took his place. Gideon walked towards the large glass, staring into the flame filled space.
"All cannons fire at their main cruiser on my command!" Gideon raised his hands up, the surronding troopers not bothering to respond as they typed away, the ships cannons creaked as the ones that werent flaming husks aimed at the Mustafarian vessel. The bugs within scramed around shrieking in a panic.
"Ready....aim Fi-" Gideon nearly fell to the floor as the heavy dursteel doors to the bridge were blown apart, followed by a swarm of insects. The Mustfarians rushed into the bridge, their spears imapling the nearest TKs and Clones as the Imperials that used to be operating panals turnd and began to fire. Bugs fell to the ground smoking, as more foot soliders rushed through the smoke of the explosion, heavy steps followed as the much larger Mustafarian leader emerged from the smoke. two TKs ran forwards firing blaster bolts at him, the bolts bouncing off his armor as he grabbed one with his hand and tossed the TK aside, imapling the other with his spear, lifting it up and throughing the body at a nearby Clone. Gideon watched with a hint of amusment as the bug let out a cold shrill, the still living bug footsoilders calling out aswell.
Despite the Mustafraisn confidence, the footsoidlers were quickly dealth with as the Imperials gained there footing. Clank, Racket and Scythe only watched helplessly as they could not intervene untill someone removed their restraining bolts. As if their thoughts had been heard, the Lead bug reached to help them, only for his hand to be shot twice, the insect shrieking in pain.
Gideon stood with his blaster drawn, taking slow steps forwards as he fired into the bug. The Mustfarian held his arms up as the bolts slammed into him, he swatted at Gideon as the Imp approched, but Gideon ducked beneath the attack, pummeling to more blaster bolts into his side. The bug shrieked out again, raging aloud as he began to throw reckless punches, each manuvered expertly by Gideons steady motions, eventually Gideon spun out of the way of another attempted punch, aiming his pistol at the bugs head.
The Mustfarian leader paused. "man-Scu!-"
BANG BANG BANG..
The bugs spear rattled to the floor, as did the rest of his body as smoke emerged freely from the three new holes in his head. a Putired green liquid bubbled out as the insects arms and legs twicthed, Gideon stepped on the dead bugs body, grinning to himself.
No more distractions....no more backup...all he had to do was wait for him...
-----------------
Jake sprinted down the hall, skidding around the corner—then froze. The hangar doors were shattered. The Mustafarians?! Of course! They must've gotten here first. But hope shattered with the sight before him. His eyes locked onto the still body of their leader.Rusty let out a small 'uh oh'—but not for the dead bug. No…
Teesh, Tac, Ada, Jake, Rusty...each of their eyes scanned the scene in there own way, spotting Gideon still standing over the corpse of the insect, Clank, Scythe amd Mistep laid out on the floor behind him, both of them slowly turning to look at Jake and the group, Mistep still helplessly flailing its legs as it lay sideways,
Jakes fist curled into a ball at the sight...
"Such determination these pests" Gideon spoke stepping off the lead bugs body. "I can clearly see you share these traits, but it didnt save them.. and it wont save you"