H E L L O
author moment here
. . .
yeah i got nothin, hope yall are likin the b o o o o o k, cause i like writing it, even if my chapters are like two weeks apart.
anways, enjoy, and feel free to leave criticism in da comments, ill gladly take help to write better.
sorry this took forever, i graduated from highschool so its been events and family all over the place.
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"RREEEEAAAKKCCHHH-KE--KE- UUAauaUUUUU!!"
Step. Step. STEP. STEp. STEP. STEPSTEPSTEPSTEP!!!
"NIAAAAHHHHAAHH!!"
Rusty's footsteps slammed rapidly into the rocky surface as the B1 unit ran with one arm flailing wildly in the air—typical B1 fashion. Utapau's hot air blew across Ada's, Teesh's, and Jake's faces as they stood just outside the Wireweaver, all turning toward the shrieking call that echoed from one of the many deep holes the planet's residents once lived in.
Jake ran out ahead before the others could decide what to do, Clank's heavy footsteps quickly following behind him as the droid emerged from the ship. Tac walked out a few moments later, holding his datapad.
"Analysis of the call suggests it comes from a Veractyl," the droid said to Ada and Teesh.
"Well, thatssss great. Sssshould've sssaid that to him before he ran off," Teesh snorted. Ada turned her head up to look at him.
"Oh, bugger off, would ya? He's trying to save Rusty. Now let's go, you pile o' scales." Ada's words weren't met with a response as she blasted into the air with her jetpack. Teesh just calmly stared at her flying after Jake and Clank.
"Mandalorians have always had a reputation for being harsh," Tac said to Teesh, clutching his datapad as a gust of dust blew around the droid's feet.
"Nah, ssshe don't mean it."
This left Tac standing there, confused.
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"RUSTY, WHAT DID I TELL YOU!!?!" Jake's voice was harsher than a typical scolding—probably because he, Clank, and Ada were now trying to calm a clearly pissed-off Veractyl. The giant reptile flared its feathery neck, standing on its hind legs and shrieking into the air with such force that Jake and Ada flinched at the noise.
"I-IM SORRY! I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE!!" the B1 yelped, frame trembling.
Rusty and Clank stood side by side, Clank in front of the cowering B1, as Ada and Jake reached out and spoke soothingly to the beast. This Veractyl was clearly not the same one from before; instead of a green feather coat, it was red and orange, and it didn't have a saddle, which meant it was wild. Well, that explains why it's so damn mad, Jake deadpanned mentally.
"What do we do?!" Ada said with a tinge of concern as the Veractyl, although no longer screeching, still stood on its hind legs, staring at the duo. Jake pondered for a moment.
"Uh… hell if I know! You have any food on you?"
"No, I don—"
"SSCREECUUUAA—UAAWW—"
Jake stepped back, slamming his hands to his ears. Ada's helmet protected her enough that she didn't need to do the same. The Veractyl's eyes tightened at the boy's sudden movements as it called out again, then threw itself onto all fours and clawed toward Jake.
The boy looked up just in time to see the mini cloud of dust formed by the angry reptile's footsteps. His eyes widened as he reached for his blaster, but—
PEW PEW...
The Veractyl nearly tripped over itself as burn marks lined its back thigh, the cause being the overly thin droid grasping its E-5 in a panic. Clank wasn't far behind, both droids seeing the creature as a threat to their owner and opening fire.
Ada flinched as a hail of blaster bolts slammed into the large animal. Part of her felt bad, but to be fair—it was going to kill Jake. The boy, on the other hand, didn't care; he quickly whipped out his own pistol and fired at the creature. It shrieked and hollered as it thrashed about, kicking up rocks and dust before crawling back down into the wide circular caasm nearby.
Silence.
Jake sighed and plopped down on the ground. Ada and the two droids quickly moved to his side.
"Well... that was shit," Jake admitted, looking at the two droids before turning to Ada.
"To be fair, this wasn't planned. I'm sure there's some way to get that thing to like us," Ada shrugged, plopping down next to Jake, earning a faint smile from him as he gave her a side-eyed glance—one he didn't know she noticed.
"Agreed. However, it's unlikely that creature will be friendly to us after we shot it," Clank rumbled in his deep tone. He was right—opening fire on the thing you want to befriend is... not how that works.
"Maybe we can find another. This planet's pretty big," Rusty suggested, tapping his hands together and looking around, clearly still semi-paranoid.
"Fair point. C'mon, let's just regroup at the Wireweaver and actually make a plan—rather than just walking up to it and yelling to wake it up." Jake's glare at the B1 was enough to make Rusty let out a nervously high-pitched chuckle, earning a low groan of annoyance from Clank and a snort of laughter from Ada.
The four returned to find Teesh patiently waiting for them, sitting on a rock, with Tac standing right beside him. The sun barely broke through the dusty atmosphere, and the towering rock spires reminded Jake of Geonosis and its tall red pillars. When he was little, those pillars made him think that if he climbed one, he'd touch the sky. It was a dumb idea, but he remembered being... five? Six? So it was understandable. Now at seventeen, he obviously knew you can't touch the sky—unless being in space counts, but that kills you, so... not gonna be trying that.
Jake shook off the thought as they approached their vessel. Teesh wore his ever-annoying toothy grin, giving them a single wave.
"Ssssssup."
"Don't sup me, Teesh," Jake said without malice, playfully shoving the Trandoshan's shoulder as he walked past and into the ship.
"You're dumbass sat here while we were gett—"
"Up up up... ssshussshhh," Teesh interrupted, barely moving as he raised a single claw into the sky. Jake and Ada exchanged a look before just heading inside. Tac followed them, then the other droids, along with the constant gusts of dust, before the door shut, leaving the reptile basking in both the sun and the silence, his smile fading slightly.
Inside the ship, Ada and Jake sat on the floor, both staring blankly forward.
"Tac, you got any ideas on how to tame one of those things?"
"Negative, sir," the droid replied.
"Great," Ada sighed. "I mean... we could always try food, right? Or maybe take an egg?"
"Don't even bring up an egg," Rusty said with a mechanical shiver, the mudhorn's shrieks echoing in his programming.
Ada and Jake nodded lightly. "Fair point," they agreed.
"Food seems like the best option, but where are we gonna get enough to befriend what's basically a bigger, meaner Teesh?" Jake said, throwing his hands up.
"H E Y!" came Teesh's muffled voice from across the door, causing Ada and Jake to snicker.
Clank grumbled a short laugh. "Their assessment is not wrong, reptile."
"Damn, you got even the droids doing thissss?! Oh c'mon!?" Teesh's tone remained playful—not that it mattered, since Jake and Ada just kept giggling. After a moment, Jake sighed, looking at Ada as she calmed down. A turn of her helmet showed she was looking back, causing him to turn away and clear his throat.
"Anyways, we need a plan to get food," Jake said matter-of-factly. Ada mentally noted the behavior with a grin.
"Seeing as Veractyls are omnivores, collecting plant matter would work," Tac said in his typically dry, scratchy tone, looking up from his datapad.
"Sounds like it could work," Clank agreed.
"Agreed. Grabbing some plants sounds better than trying to pet that thing again," Rusty replied, nodding rapidly. His neck joint made a slight creak.
Jake nodded as all the droids agreed but quickly looked to Ada, his gaze seeking approval. Ada stared back before nodding.
"Alright. Tac, gather what we'll need. Rusty, help Tac out. Clank, guard outside in case anything happens." Jake's orders were met with three sets of "Roger, roger."
Ada found herself staring at Jake from behind the comfort of her helmet more often than usual lately. Something about him seeking her approval made her… well, she didn't know. The pressure was foreign, so she ignored it for now. They had a lizard to befriend. Those thoughts could wait.
While Ada pondered, Tac organized the few things they needed—a small basket still covered in Mustafarian goop and some knives. Rusty helped gather them as Jake opened the ship door. Everyone shuffled outside, where Clank stood next to Teesh, who surprisingly wasn't asleep.
"Whatssss on your mind, droid?" Teesh asked without glancing at the B2.
"Wires, copper, my motherboard, and—"
Teesh cut him off. "Not like that, what ya thinkin'?"
"Ah... that makes more sense. I was under the assumption you would be smart enough to know what droids are made of." Clank's words made Teesh roll his eyes.
"However, I am currently assessing our plan. Jake wishes to befriend one of these reptiles simply because, in his statement, it would be... cooler than a speeder." Clank's voice was bland but carried confusion that seeped through his deep tone.
"Thatssss the kid for ya. I ain't ssssuprisssed." Teesh looked over at Jake, who was helping Tac manage what was left that they needed. Considering Ada and Rusty were just standing there waiting, they were about to leave. With that, Teesh sat up and tapped the large grey droid's shoulder with a single claw.
"Don't overthink it. If anything, Jake wants to do thissss becaussse it takes longer, givesss ussss ssssomething to do."
Clank stood in thought for a moment, connecting the small amount of dots he had understood over his time active around the boy. He couldn't draw any conclusions with 100% evidence, but many theories had formed. The droid heaved himself toward the group as Ada and Rusty waved him over—and if those theories were correct, it frightened Clank.
.
The group set out with the sun still perched firmly in the sky. They arrived at Tac's predetermined destination quickly — a massive hole in the ground. It wasn't the same one Jake remembered from their last visit, but it was obviously built by the same people, whoever they were. Rusty was the first to approach the hole, his metal face staring down the drop before he backed away quickly.
"I don't see a way down from here, sir. Please don't tell me we have to climb." Rusty's panic wasn't hidden as his voice cracked.
"Nah, they have a conveniently placed elevator right over there." The entire group followed Jake's point as a dusty elevator stood before them — a small platform with some railings and a large button to activate it. Ada had a little too much fun pushing the button fifty times, much to Jake's amusement.
Reaching the first layer, they all stepped out as their boots and metal feet echoed in the desolate city. There were no homes or buildings as Jake scanned the area, but this was very clearly a launch bay — with containers labeled as fuel, countless landing platforms placed on extended bridges out in the open. Jake wouldn't have minded living here if the Empire weren't chasing them.
Gideon was dead, but if he had learned anything, it was that the Empire never forgets.
"Sir, I have located a console. I will attempt to find the agriculture district, as it will be easier than searching for native flora." Jake simply nodded in response.
"Flo what?" Rusty questioned, as Clank just patted the B1's shoulder and shook his body in a no-like motion, obviously unable to shake his head.
Ada peered at Jake, who stood staring out into the massive pit. "So... why not buy a speeder?"
Jake flinched at her question, turning his head to see her walk up next to him. "I've ridden a speeder for years. If I'm going to be going around the galaxy, I'd rather have something cooler to ride. Plus, it can fit everyone on it — not just one or two of us."
"I mean, fair," Ada agreed, tilting her head. "But still, it'll be much harder to maintain."
"We've dealt with worse." Jake shrugged with a large grin.
Ada paused for a moment; the statement bounced around her head, causing a small smile.
"True."
"Sir!" Tac called. Everyone quickly gathered around. "I have located the sector. Follow me for the most efficient route." Tac's steps didn't wait for anyone else as the Tactical Droid marched onward. Clank and Teesh were quick to follow, only Rusty turning to Jake and waiting for the boy's nod before following. Ada and Jake walked behind the group.
Teesh yawned, baring his teeth. Clank turned his upper body slightly. "What do you think happened to the Jawas?" The question made Teesh pause.
"Beats me. Why do you care? Thought droids hated 'em." Teesh spoke without looking at Clank, picking his teeth as his ragged jacket blew around in a gust of wind that showered the group.
"They gifted me this arm." Clank raised the B2-HA cannon, seemingly admiring it before lowering it again. "And Jake trusts them. If my commander trusts them, so shall I. It is what friends do."
Teesh eyed the droid before smirking. "Friends, huh? Thought that wasn't logical."
"I will ignore your comment in the hopes you spit out something less... irritating next time." Clank grumbled.
"Fine, fine, whatever you say."
Rusty's steps lightly tapped on the metal platform they marched on. The droid looked around, as if searching for something wrong — like it was supposed to be there. But nothing ever showed up, just the ruins of unused fuel stations and dismantled starfighters placed neatly amid droid bodies and now-empty clone armor. Even Rusty knew there wasn't nearly enough of either; he had to assume most of the armor and droids were taken to be smelted by other groups.
Rusty shook his head — the thought of a bunch of his brothers getting burnt to slag wasn't something he wanted to process. The B1 looked back as his head turned on its joint, staring at Jake and Ada, who seemed to be commenting on the same bodies, suggested by her points. Jake spotted the B1 and gave Rusty a small wave, which Rusty returned. The droid looked forward, Tac in his vision, their exchange back on Geonosis easily pulled out of its file and replayed in the B1's mind.
A few jogging steps later, Rusty spoke. "Greetings, friend Tac."
Tac turned from staring down at his datapad. "...Greetings. What is it you require?"
Rusty fidgeted with his thin fingers. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering why we're going to Agro—uh... Agrees—no... uh..."
"Agriculture District," Tac corrected. Rusty just nodded. "Do you not know the mission?"
"I do. To get food for this biiiiiggg lizard thing and ride it around."
"Then why do you ask such obvious questions?" Tac's words, for once, were less of an insult and more a confused and genuinely curious inquiry.
"Well, none of us are farmers, and while I know that usually where there's a farm, there's a farmer, what's supposed to grow without the sun? Even my logic centers know the green stuff needs sunlight to grow," Rusty spat, hands moving about with his words, making Tac note that if the B1 unit couldn't move its hands, it would hopefully not yap as much.
"Irrelevant. There are several species of flora that can survive in the dark, and while abandoned, the ration supply may still be full." Tac explained calmly despite his thought of shutting the B1 up.
"Ahhhhh... see, that makes more sense than what I was thinking." Rusty nodded his flat head.
"And what would that be?" Tac inquired.
"We'd give the lizard a really big shovel and tell it to farm some food!" Rusty exclaimed.
"..."
"Don't judge me!" Rusty said, crossing his arms. "I tried for two minutes to come up with that idea."
Tac looked away and back to his datapad. "Two minutes wasted."
"Fair enough..." Rusty sighed.
The remaining journey was filled with small talk as gusts of wind blew Jake's reddish-brown hair about. He found it weird how it had stayed red even when away from Geonosis for so long — guess his hair was just naturally the reddest, and not covered in sand. The surroundings grew stale as it seemed to be the same thing forever, but eventually, Tac took a sudden left turn. The group followed suit, entering the darker tunnels dug out within the rock. Blue plants glowed with dim light as Jake's eyes scanned the bridges and metal huts covering the entire tunnel, perched on rocks and connected by pathways, all leading to the main wide path they walked on.
Jake looked over at Ada, who looked around. He could only guess her expression beneath the helmet. Ada turned to stare back at him. Jake flinched and chuckled lightly. Ada moved her head and rolled her eyes, playfully punching his shoulder. Jake let out a pained exhale as he held his injured arm. Ada smacked her helmet and gently patted his arm, then shrugged at his stare that clearly said, "Why?"
Jake sighed and stood upright again, not able to see how Ada's eyes stayed glued to him. As she looked forward, she saw Clank had stopped walking and stood staring at her a few meters away. The B2 seemed to glance between the two before giving her one final stare and turning around. Such forwardness made her panic internally for a moment.
"Clank must be nervous, making sure we are safe," Jake explained mostly to himself as he witnessed the same thing she did.
Ada just nodded, and as stupid as it was, she had to wonder:
Did Clank know?
Clank's systems whirred as he turned around.
Calculating/....
Ada reliance levels... increasing.
Jake cognitive function... decreases when around target.
Reasoning... unknown.
Reduced function may cause harm to commander.
Separatist command sequence engaged — must defend.
If target suspects investigation, commence radio code 900.
If required, perform code 10-15X.
Do not hesitate to cause target Mandalorian to become code 11-44.
New assignment — discover reasoning for reduced combat reliance of commander when around the Mandalorian.
Means of completion — Separatist protocols disabled due to low activity; assumption — by any means needed.
CONFLICT , Must 10-22 assignment if actions cuase harm to friendlies, CONFLICT With Code Command Sequence..
Attempting Run command —
"Roger, roger." Clank's voice grumbled out, only earning a confused look from Teesh as the reptile walked with the droid.
"What was that?" Teesh questioned.
"Irrelevant."
Teesh just shrugged.