Revan Returns (Ch 24) (Patreon)

A cathar, a wookiee, and an old man walk into a bar…

There they make their way to a backroom filled with barrels of a variety of alcohol. Jolee takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “No matter the decade, you can alway count on alcohol being around. Why, I once knew…” The other two ignore his ramblings about his alcoholic friend, instead moving aside one of the barrels.

Juhani runs her hand across the floorboards, looking for something. Feeling a hitch, she grins before firmly grabbing the disguised handle. With a light tug and liberal use of the Force, she easily opens the heavy trapdoor. Inside is a ladder leading down into a tunnel.

Dropping down, the three make their way through the secret passageway, easily navigating the lightless environment with Juhani leading the front. After a time they see a light at the end of the tunnel, as well as hearing the low murmuring of whispered conversations.

Entering the light, the three take in the large cave filled with Nabooians looking at them in shocked silence. A middle aged man holding a blaster rifle steps forward, eyeing them warily. “Who might the three of you be? I may not be the most well-traveled man, but I’m fairly certain we don’t have any of whatever you two are on the planet.” He gestures towards Juhani and Zaalbar with the barrel of his gun, careful not to actually point it at them.

Juhani snorts. “We are travelers, here to help the Queen in the liberation of her planet.”

The man perks up at that. “Queen Amidala is safe? She’s returned with the Republic!?” At his excited shout, a furor of muttering breaks out among everyone assembled. Only die out just as quickly at Juhani’s next words.

“We are not with the Republic. Think of us as…an independent company. One the galaxy will be talking about by the end of the day.”

Looking uncertain now, he looks over the three of them more closely. He doesn’t get far though as he notices the lightsabers on Juhani and Jolee’s waists.

His expression brightens. “Oh, you’re Jedi!” He turns and addresses the room. “Everyone! The Jedi are here to save us!” There’s a moment of silence before everyone suddenly starts cheering.

Feeling her ear twitch in irritation, she glares at Jolee when he puts a hand on her shoulder.

“Let them believe what they like. What’s important right now is getting these people to safety.”

Zaalbar sends him a confused look, growling out a question. “Rawr? Grr, rawr.”

“What do you mean we aren’t getting them out of here? What else do you expect us to do with them?” Now all three of them are exchanging confused looks with each other as the refugees slowly realize that something’s not right.

“Ok,” Jolee starts, “on the count of three, we all say what we think the plan is.”

“1.”

“2.”

“3.”

“Get them to safety.” “Help them retake the city.” “Rawr.”

“...”

The crowd watches on, shocked at the wildly different plans, as well as feeling confused about what the hairy person said.

“How do you expect us to help them take the city back!? These people aren’t an army!”

“You know how easily the droids are destroyed! Give each of them a blaster and have them ambush the patrols!”

“Rawr!”

Jolee sighs. “Well, looks like I’m outnumbered.” He looks at the crowd of civilians, their eyes widening as they realize what the team is asking them to do.

The spokesperson fulfills his role. “I don’t know what you mean by that, nobody here knows how to use a gun!” Feeling three gazes directed at the rifle he’s holding, he shakes his head. “This thing is an antique from my great grandad when he worked security for some freighter. I grabbed it off the fireplace mantle when I heard the shooting, but I haven’t even fired it!

“Rawr!”

“And just to be clear, I don’t think anyone here knows what you’re trying to say.” He wags his finger at Zaalbar, who pouts. Juhani translates for him.

“He said that it is simple, just aim the gun and pull the trigger. I am unsure if your gun is different from ours, so you can use what we brought.”

He looks at the three people who are carrying only their clothes and their weapons. “I don’t see any weapons we can-” He cuts himself off as he sees Jolee start pulling pistols from his robes, as well as a pair of blaster rifles. All basic stuff that you could find anywhere back in their time.

But for the locals who’ve only seen dusty old antiques, the practically shining gray guns look extremely advanced. A few people step forward and take them reverently, mostly teenagers. The type who have been wanting to experience life in the wider galaxy. Though one hunched over old lady snatches up one of the blaster rifles and uses her handbag to swat one of the kid’s hands away from it.

Chuckling at her antics, Jolee addresses the room. “Now, for those who want to fight, we welcome the help. For everyone else, I can only implore you to help anyone else who isn’t here while we deal with the droids.”

The spokesperson swallows, watching as a mother begs her daughter to put down the gun, but is pushed off. “I know a few people who’d appreciate getting out of here. But the patrols are thick, and if they see anyone on the streets they’ll shoot. Can you draw them off somewhere?”

Jolee thinks for a minute. Then Juhani asks a question. “Are there any places nearby where the droids would gather?”

He nods. “They have a charging port set up not far from here, including a pair for tanks. Up at one of the communication towers.”

Jolee nods. “That will work. Anyone remember to bring some grenades?”

“Rawr.” Zaalbar pulls out a variety of grenades from his harness, showing his preparedness. Seeing them, Jolee whistles.

“Frag, ion, plasma, and even thermal detonators? If we weren’t going up against an army, I’d say you went overboard! I don’t suppose you packed away any mines as well?” Jolee asks jokingly. But at Zaalbar’s self assured nod he’s rendered speechless.

“Just how many explosives have you packed away for this trip?”

“Rawr.”

While his jaw drops, Juhani chuckles. “This is going to be fun~.”

Twenty minutes later the three of them and their recruited militia look over the communication tower, as well as the charging ports filled with droids. On the other side of the tower they can see the chassis of a tank just around the corner.

Deactivating her stealth generator, Juhani appears next to a girl, making her jump. Chuckling, she gives Jolee a thumbs up.

Nodding, he turns to the militia. “Ok, now once we blow the tower, droids will be swarming this area like a gizka in heat.”

Juhani and Zaalbar shudder at his comparison, while the militia just look confused.

“Well, let's get this party started.” He pushes a remote detonator and the planted grenades explode, causing the base of the tower to be engulfed in a fiery explosion. Before the fire can even dissipate, the tower collapses, burying anything that survived under its rubble.

“Remember, we just need to hold out until the boss manages to get a hold of the enemy leader, or for our other allies to hack into their network. Don’t die.”