> Disclaimer: Star Wars and all of it's Intellectual Properties is owned by George Lucas and Walt Disney, This fictional work and all of it's original characters are however mine.
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The morning was tense as the crew finalized preparations for departure. The Stellar Envoy’s systems hummed with readiness, and everyone moved with purpose, double-checking supplies, calibrating systems, and securing loose equipment. Arlos and Shmi, fresh from their training, stood by awkwardly but eager to assist. Anakin sat nearby, distracted by Jake’s companion droid, who beeped encouragement every time the boy asked a question.
Tarek sat in the pilot’s chair, his hands gripping the controls tightly as the engines roared to life. Nick-03 sat in the co-pilot’s seat, running diagnostics and feeding navigation data to Tarek’s display. Behind them, Jake and Kado stood silently, both trying to appear calm for Tarek’s sake.
"All systems are green," Nick-03 reported. "The ship is ready for departure."
Tarek gave a shaky exhale, his eyes fixed on the hangar doors slowly opening to the dusty skies of Tatooine. He guided the Stellar Envoy forward, the ship lifting smoothly off the ground. "No turning back now," he muttered to himself.
The launch went off without a hitch, but the nerves in the cockpit didn’t settle. As the ship climbed into the atmosphere, the comm system crackled with transmissions. Tarek glanced at the display, noting several ships stationed near the orbital exit.
“Gardulla’s men,” Kado observed grimly.
Through the cockpit viewport, they saw a group of ships hovering near the planet's edge, stopping outbound vessels. The slaver ships were distinct, bristling with weapons and looking intimidating.
“They’re boarding anyone trying to leave,” Rina said, peering over Jake’s shoulder. “Looking for anyone or anything connected to the relic. Or maybe just flexing their power.”
The comm crackled again as the Stellar Envoy was hailed. Tarek instinctively turned to look at Jake, who gave a sharp shake of his head.
“Ignore it,” Jake ordered.
The hail repeated, more insistent this time. Tarek’s hands tightened on the controls as he resisted the urge to answer. “They’re going to notice we’re ignoring them,” he said, his voice tight.
“They’ve probably already noticed,” Mira said, stepping into the cockpit. “But we can’t stop now. Focus on getting to the hyperspace lane.”
Tarek nodded, guiding the ship toward the indicated coordinates. The short distance to the hyperspace lane felt endless, the weight of their pursuers pressing against the ship.
“Davik, Mira,” Jake called through the comm, “get to the turrets. Just in case.”
“Already there,” Davik responded. Mira chimed in a moment later with an affirmative.
Alarms blared as targeting alerts flooded the console. "We’re being locked on,” Nick-03 announced.
“Gardulla’s men,” Kado growled.
The first salvo came from the nearest slaver ship, energy bolts slicing through the void. Tarek’s instincts kicked in, and he threw the Stellar Envoy into evasive maneuvers. The ship pitched and rolled, narrowly avoiding the opening shots.
“It’s like the simulation!” Tarek shouted, a mix of fear and exhilaration in his voice. “Exactly like the first one!”
“Then you know how it ends,” Kado said, gripping a support bar tightly.
Energy bolts streaked past the ship, some uncomfortably close. Mira and Davik returned fire, targeting the pursuing ships to buy time. The ship rocked with every maneuver, the crew holding on as Tarek worked the controls with growing confidence.
“Almost there!” Nick-03 called, calculating the final approach to the hyperspace lane.
Tarek clenched his jaw, executing one last barrel roll to dodge a volley of shots before leveling out. He reached for the hyperspace controls, his fingers moving faster than his thoughts.
“Coordinates locked,” Nick-03 confirmed.
“Punch it!” Jake yelled.
The stars stretched into brilliant streaks of light as the Stellar Envoy leapt into hyperspace, leaving the chaos of Gardulla’s forces behind. The crew erupted into cheers and applause, shaking off the tension of the escape.
“Nice flying!” Mira called from her turret, her voice crackling through the comm.
“Tarek,” Jake said, clapping the pilot on the shoulder, “that was incredible.”
Tarek let out a breathless laugh, slumping back in his seat. “I can’t believe we didn’t get hit. That... that was terrifying.”
“And you nailed it,” Kado added. “You’re a natural.”
Tarek smiled, his nerves slowly settling. For the first time since joining the crew, he felt like he truly belonged.
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As the stars outside the cockpit viewport streaked into their mesmerizing lines, signaling their plunge into hyperspace, Jake left the cockpit, patting Tarek on the shoulder as he passed. Kado remained seated in the support chair, quietly monitoring the readouts alongside Nick-03. Despite their escape, the tension hadn’t fully dissipated, but the crew’s trust in their young pilot’s growing skill was clear.
Jake entered the common area, finding Rina seated at the corner table, her attention buried in a datapad. Her expression shifted between curiosity and concentration as she scrolled through the files.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Anything good?” Jake asked, grabbing a seat nearby.
“Depends on what you mean by ‘good,’” Rina replied without looking up. “A mix of facts, rumors, and just outright tall tales about Malachor V. Seems like it’s still living up to its cursed reputation.”
Davik and Mira entered moments later, their energy lively after dismounting the turrets. Davik slumped into a chair while Mira leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
“That was a close one,” Davik said, shaking his head. “Any closer and Tarek would’ve had to scrape us off the hull.”
“Close, but no hits,” Mira countered with a grin. “He’s got the makings of a damn fine pilot.”
Davik nodded, conceding the point. “Still, we’ll need all hands ready if Gardulla’s people try to hit us again. Speaking of which... what’s the droid situation, Jake? We’ll need them sharp if we hit trouble.”
Jake stretched, looking relaxed despite the hours-long tension from their escape. “Nick models are solid. I’ve upgraded their targeting systems and sensor modules, so they’ll be able to handle multiple targets at once without the lag we saw last time. Skew-02’s all patched up, too, with added boosters and power packs to keep it running in tougher situations.”
“Skew-01?” Mira asked.
Jake winced slightly. “Still needs some components. I’m also thinking of adding a physical shield this time.”
Both Davik and Mira raised their eyebrows, exchanging a skeptical glance.
“A shield?” Davik asked. “For a droid?”
“Yeah, a physical one,” Jake clarified. “Something solid to block damage when it needs to hold the line. Just a theory right now, but...”
From the far side of the room, Shmi and Arlos exchanged uncertain looks. Anakin, sitting near his mother, tilted his head in curiosity, his young mind trying to parse what sounded like a conversation in another language.
“Wait,” Arlos finally said, “are those... names?”
Jake noticed their confusion and chuckled. “Yeah. They’re droids, but they’ve got personalities. I name them. Skew-02 and Skew-01 are in the medbay right now. That’s where we patch them up when they’re banged up.”
“Medbay? For droids?” Anakin blurted out, his wide-eyed curiosity drawing chuckles from the others.
Jake nodded. “I modified our med droid to handle basic droid repairs. Kind of a dual-purpose assistant. Oh, and Shmi,” he added, turning to her, “you’re technically going to be working out of the medbay, too. It’ll double as your electronics station.”
Shmi straightened at the mention of her role, nodding with a serious expression. Anakin, seeing his mother’s resolute nod, mimicked her motion, his face equally serious despite having no idea what he was agreeing to.
The room erupted into laughter, the crew’s collective mood lightening as the tension finally began to ease. Jake grinned, ruffling Anakin’s hair as the boy looked around, confused but pleased to have made everyone laugh.
Before the moment could settle too much, Nick-03’s voice came over the intercom. “Update: we are approaching our first pit stop. Arrival imminent in ten minutes.”
Jake glanced at his wrist chrono, surprised at how quickly the hours had passed. “Looks like it’s go time,” he said, rising from his seat. “Everyone, get to your stations and be ready. Let’s keep this smooth.”
The crew dispersed, each heading to their assigned roles, but the atmosphere was markedly different. For all the stress and uncertainty, they carried a shared sense of camaraderie.
As Jake headed toward the cockpit, he thought about how far they’d come—and how far they still had to go. Despite their humble origins as salvagers, this group was shaping into something extraordinary. Whatever lay ahead, they’d face it together.
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The Stellar Envoy emerged from hyperspace, its sleek frame gliding into the void as the chaotic sprawl of Vannis Delta Space Station came into view. The station, a labyrinthine structure of mismatched modules, blinking lights, and faintly glowing force fields, was a hub for those who thrived in the underworld of salvaging and artifact trading. It spun slowly in space, its hull scarred with the remnants of countless skirmishes and accidents—a fitting testament to its dubious reputation.
“Vannis Delta Space Station,” Tarek muttered from the cockpit, his tone a mix of awe and unease. “Looks like it’s barely holding itself together.”
Jake, standing behind Tarek’s chair, crossed his arms. “It’s perfect. We’ll probably find all sorts of dirt on Malachor V here. Places like this thrive on secrets.”
Kado leaned over the console, glancing at the incoming comms. “Hailing the station now. Let’s see if they’re friendly enough to let us dock.”
Moments later, the comms crackled to life. A dispassionate voice responded, granting landing clearance and directing the ship toward a bay deep within the station’s underbelly.
With practiced ease, Tarek guided the Stellar Envoy into the designated hangar bay. The station’s force field shimmered briefly as they passed through, revealing a dimly lit interior. Machinery hummed and clanked around them, while various ships—ranging from sleek, modified freighters to hulking derelicts—were docked nearby, their crews bustling about or loitering ominously.
The crew gathered in the common area to finalize their plan. Jake stood at the center, addressing everyone.
“Alright, we’re dividing into two teams,” Jake said. “Tarek, you stay here and keep the ship ready. Kado, you’re handling logistics with Arlos and Shmi. Make sure we’re stocked up for a long haul. I don’t want to hear about running low on anything halfway to Malachor V.”
“Got it,” Kado replied, already running calculations in his head.
Jake continued, “Rina, Davik, Mira, and I are heading out for information gathering. Rina and I will be one team, supported by Nick-01 and Nick-02.”
At this, Mira smirked. “You’re taking both Nick droids? You’re that bad at sensing danger?”
“I’m cautious,” Jake grumbled, though his sheepish tone undermined his words.
“Sure, let’s call it caution,” Davik teased. “Just don’t forget to let us know if you trip over your own boots.”
“I swear,” Jake muttered, “one of these days, I’m building a wearable droid just to shut you all up.”
This earned a chorus of laughter.
“Anyway,” Jake pressed on, rolling his eyes, “Davik and Mira will form the second team with Skew-02 for support. Four hours is our time limit. Get what you can, but don’t push your luck. Agreed?”
Everyone nodded. Decisions were made through mutual suggestions and volunteering, but Jake’s ability to synthesize the input and assign tasks was beginning to show signs of natural leadership.
The teams suited up quickly. Jake donned his bounty hunter disguise—weathered armor and a cloak that gave him a dangerous, unapproachable air. Rina adjusted her gear, blending her sleek scouting attire with a utility belt laden with slicing tools and other gadgets. Davik and Mira wore nondescript outfits typical of underworld operators, with Davik tucking a blaster at his side and Mira slinging a rifle across her back.
With a final round of checks, the away teams stepped off the ship. Jake glanced back at the remaining crew.
“Tarek, Kado, keep the comms open. If anything looks off, don’t hesitate to call.”
“We’ll be fine,” Kado replied, though his tone carried the same nervous edge that everyone felt in a place like this.
“Good luck,” Shmi added quietly, her gaze lingering on Jake. Anakin peeked around her, watching the departing group with wide eyes.
The two away teams exited the hangar bay and stepped into the chaos of Vannis Delta Space Station. The air was heavy with the smell of burning fuel, and the constant background noise of shouting, machinery, and low thuds created an overwhelming atmosphere.
Jake’s team headed toward a sector reputed to house information brokers, with Rina already scanning the datapad for potential contacts. Davik and Mira moved in the opposite direction, searching for traders or smugglers who might know something about Malachor V.
Back on the ship, Kado coordinated the resupply while Tarek monitored station traffic, noting the frequent disputes and hasty departures of various vessels. Arlos and Shmi assisted wherever needed, slowly acclimating to their new roles. Anakin, meanwhile, followed Nick-03 around with unrelenting curiosity, occasionally touching the droid’s panels to see what they did.
As the away teams disappeared into the bustling corridors of the station, a subtle tension hung in the air. The crew was beginning to find its rhythm, but in a place as unpredictable as Vannis Delta, every step was a gamble.
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