Revan Returns (Ch 10) (Patreon)

We all (except for the gungan) start the journey back to the Ebon Hawk. As we walk, Qui Gon seems to be disturbed by something. Wonder what it could be?

On a completely unrelated note, the dark side seems slightly more prevalent on the planet than it was yesterday. Of course that could be for any number of reasons.

Maybe someone murdered someone for the first time. Maybe someone blew up a city. Heck, a Krayt Dragon could have been born!

Since the reason could be basically anything, there's really no reason to concern myself with it. If I tried to investigate every shift in the flow of the Force, I would never leave the city.

Just after we leave the city, a huge explosion goes off somewhere in it. Qui Gon, Padme, and the Skywalkers jump, but my team just keeps on walking. We don't even look back at it. We're used to random explosions at this point.

Qui Gon looks between us and the explosion several times before he says something.

"Shouldn't we investigate that? What if people need help?"

I don't stop walking. "If you want to check it out, feel free. But what could you do if you did go? Any damage done has already happened. By the time you get there, the fire will have burnt itself out already. And even if you know how to heal, the injured will be taken care of by the time you get there. One way or the other." A dark look passes over his face as I list the reasons we shouldn't turn back. It relaxes though, with my last sentence. "Besides, my crew is probably still in town. They'll check it out if they haven't left yet."

If they aren't the ones who caused it in the first place. I once again worry about what the volatile group might have gotten up to since yesterday. They did contact me, but all Canderous said was that they found something 'interesting'.

Coming from him, it could mean anything from an unusual weapon, or an opportunity for a big fight.

I can only hope that they won't do anything to get bounties placed on us.

After I tell them that I have companions still in town, they pick up the pace again. Soon enough, we reach the ship, though before he enters, Qui Gon pauses at the ramp and looks around. When I ask him if something's wrong, he simply shakes his head.

Inside, Padme and the Skywalkers are looking around in interest. "I haven't seen a ship quite like this before." Padme says as she peers at the speeder in the garage.

I can't help but chuckle. "Yeah, it's an...old design. Used to be a smuggler vessel before I got her." I get a distant look in my eyes as I recall the situation.

Malak was bombing the planet. Canderous, Bastilla, and I were rushing through Davik's base to steal his ship before he caught on. Unfortunately he and Calo Nord met us at the ship. We killed Davik, and some scaffolding fell on Nord before he could blow everyone up, himself included.

Of course, somehow he survived that, got rescued by Malak, and then sent after us on Tatooine where we finally killed him after getting the fragment of the star map on the planet. I wonder if it's still there?

As I'm lost in thought T3 comes up to me, bumping my leg to get my attention.

"Dee-dee-deeet?" He questions.

"Yep, got it right here." I hand over the hyperdrive to him. "Go ahead and work your magic, buddy."

"Bwoo-deeet!"

I chuckle at his gung-ho response and turn to the guests, who are giving me strange looks. "What? Never seen someone talk to a droid before?"

Padme speaks for the group. "No, it's just that I was unaware that astromech droids are capable of installing engines on ships."

I can't help but snort at her response. "I don't think most can, but T3 is a clever little guy, he always comes up with new ways to surprise me. Honestly, he's the reason we rarely have to get the ship repaired. Somehow he managed to boost our frankly ridiculously powerful shields even further. There is the occasional graze on the hull when the shields don't come up in time, but for the most part nothing gets past it."

She fakes an impressed look while obviously having no idea just how powerful the shields are. Oh well, not my problem. I guide them to the main hold where I have them sit.

"So, tell me about why you need the hyperdrive."

Padme begins her tale. A tale of how her pacifistic planet was unjustly invaded by the Trade Federation under the guise of a 'trade blockade'. About how the queen was rescued by two Jedi. About how they left her people behind to appeal to the Senate for aid. And finally about how their hyperdrive was damaged, forcing them to land on Tatooine in the hopes of finding a replacement.

I nod as she wraps it up, certain things clicking into place. She finishes with a plea. "Please, I'm not asking for you to give up the hyperdrive, but at least grant my queen and I passage to Coruscant upon your ship for our mission. I am certain that she will grant you just payment for the service." Mission refrains from saying anything this time, obviously touched by her story.

Carth, who'd been listening from the hallway to the cockpit, steps forward, surprising the girl with his presence. "Don't worry, we'll help you-"

"But not in the way that you think." I interrupt before Carth can continue what I like to call his 'soldier spiel'. It's essentially whenever he starts talking about how great the Republic is, and how it's the greatest thing in the galaxy since Twi'leks were discovered.

Padme gets a confused look on her face. "What do you mean by that? How else could you help other than getting the queen to make her case to the Senate?"

Zalbaar interrupts this time, causing the two of them to jump at the realization that a giant hairy beast is right behind them.

"Rawr, raaawr, grrrr?"

I chuckle, both at his words, and at our guests' reactions. "Don't worry, he's a big softie. And yes Zalbaar, we are going to do the same thing as last time. Afterall, this isn't the first time we've helped royalty, and I doubt it will be the last."

Padme looks back and forth between us, caught between shock at the fact I can understand the Wookie, and irritation at not knowing what we're talking about.

"What do you mean? What do you intend to do?"

I can't help the smirk that grows on my face as I give a bow to the suddenly shocked girl. "Well, we're planning on heading to Naboo to help your people overthrow the shackles of the Trade Federation themselves, Your Majesty."