> 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.
>
>
----------------------------------------
Jake's P.O.V. :
The hum of the Stellar Envoy's engines was steady, blending with the sound of my breath as I adjusted the straps on the armor I’d first worn back on Tatooine. It wasn’t much to look at—cobbled together and mismatched—but it had served us well enough to keep a low profile before. Now, as I tightened a glove and glanced at the others doing the same, I couldn’t help but think about how I could improve it.
"Next project for sure," I muttered under my breath, picturing a sleeker, more unified design. Something practical but intimidating. Built-in personal shields, wrist-mounted blasters, emergency supplies in the utility belt... maybe even rebreathers and comms integrated into the helmets. The works.
"You say something, Jake?" Davik asked, giving his shoulder plate a final pat to ensure it was secure.
I grinned, shaking my head. "Just thinking out loud. These suits are overdue for an upgrade. They deserve a glow-up."
Rina smirked, adjusting a piece of gear on her chest plate. "If you're volunteering to make me something stylish and functional, I won't argue."
Kado chimed in, his tone dry. "As long as it doesn’t get us spotted by every scanner within five klicks, Jake. Function first, style second."
"Trust me," I said, fastening my helmet’s strap. "When I’m done, these will be the envy of every merc and bounty hunter in the Outer Rim."
Mira snorted, hefting a pack of supplies onto her back. "Let’s survive this first, yeah? Then we can worry about your fashion projects."
The comm crackled, Tarek’s voice cutting in with his wannabe calm professionalism. "We’re approaching the coordinates. Going in low, as instructed. Nick-03’s assisting with the descent. Captain out."
"Did he just call himself captain again?" Davik asked, shaking his head.
"Let him have his moment," I said with a chuckle.
As the ship started its descent, the vibrations underfoot increased slightly, a reminder of how rough this planet's terrain could be. The ash clouds thickened on the external monitors, and visibility became limited.
Shmi and Anakin joined us in the cargo bay, their expressions a mix of worry and resolve. Shmi held Anakin’s hand firmly, but he looked more curious than frightened.
Kado stepped forward, his armor making a faint clink as he moved. "Alright, listen up. We’ve got one shot to do this right. Stick together unless separation’s unavoidable. Monitor comms at all times, and remember—we’re not just here for the vault. Watch for traps, rivals, or any other surprises. This planet has been a graveyard long before today, so let’s not add our names to the list."
He turned to Shmi. "You’re our eyes and ears while we’re out there. Anything seems off, you let Tarek know immediately. Keep an eye on the scanners and feed us updates if something new pops up."
Shmi gave a firm nod. "Understood. Stay safe out there."
Anakin, for his part, looked up at me. "Are you going to find treasure?"
"Something like that," I said, ruffling his hair lightly before securing my helmet. "We’ll bring back a good story for you, okay?"
The ramp began to lower, a gust of cold, ash-laden air rushing in as the outside world came into view. The valley below was barren and quiet, scattered with jagged rocks and the remains of ancient wrecks—reminders of the violence that had long scarred this planet.
I took a deep breath, the filter in my helmet kicking in as I exhaled. "Alright, folks. Let’s see what the wastes have in store for us."
We disembarked, our boots crunching against the ashen ground. The droids followed closely, their weapons and equipment gleaming faintly under the muted light. Behind us, the ramp began to close, the Stellar Envoy blending into the surroundings as Tarek worked on camouflaging it.
Ahead, partially obscured by the haze, was what we suspected to be the entrance to the vault—a structure jutting out from the ground, jagged and foreboding.
"Let’s move," Kado said, his voice steady.
With every step, the weight of the unknown pressed down on us. Whatever lay ahead, it was bound to change our lives—one way or another.
----------------------------------------
Mira's P.O.V. :
The ashen wastes stretched out before us, bleak and unwelcoming. The air was heavy with particles of dust and ash, even with the filters in our helmets working overtime. The towering wreckage of Mandalorian and Republic warships created a jagged, oppressive skyline, as if the very land wanted to remind us of the violence that had taken place here.
Jake had handed me command of the scout droids for this run, a decision that surprised no one. My time as a salvage scout on Tatooine had left me well-versed in navigating hostile environments, spotting hidden dangers, and keeping a group moving even when every instinct screamed to turn back.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
The three scout droids hovered ahead in a loose formation, their upgraded systems scanning the terrain for threats and mapping a viable path. The faint hum of their repulsorlifts was oddly comforting—a reminder that we weren’t relying on instinct alone out here.
“Stay sharp,” I said, my voice carrying over the group comms. “This terrain’s going to fight us every step of the way.”
The team murmured their acknowledgments, their focus as sharp as I’d hoped.
The first challenge came quickly: a maze of debris fields littered with jagged remains of warships. Rusted durasteel and shattered transparisteel jutted out at dangerous angles, some pieces suspended precariously as if waiting for the slightest vibration to come crashing down.
"Watch your step," I called, waving the group forward. "This isn’t just scrap—some of it might still be live."
“Live?” Jake asked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and caution.
“Unexploded ordnance,” I replied. “Mines, charges, or anything that didn’t get a chance to do its job. Look for unusual shapes, markings, or things that just feel wrong.”
“Got it,” he said, his tone a little more serious now.
Rina, walking beside me, kept her hand on her satchel, as if the key might jump out and escape. “You’ve done this kind of thing before?”
“Not exactly,” I said, stepping over a broken bulkhead. “But when you’ve spent enough time picking through the skeletons of starships, you learn what to avoid.”
Ahead, one of the scout droids let out a series of beeps, drawing my attention. It hovered near a cluster of debris that was shifting ever so slightly, the unstable ground beneath it threatening to collapse.
“We’ll detour left,” I said, marking the path on our shared display. “That whole section looks ready to cave in.”
Kado grunted in acknowledgment. “Good catch.”
As we moved, the air grew colder, the ground beneath our boots becoming more treacherous. Every so often, a distant screech or growl echoed through the wastes, a reminder that we weren’t alone.
“Wildlife’s active,” Davik said, his blaster held at the ready. “Any idea what’s out here?”
“Nothing friendly,” I said flatly.
Jake chimed in with a half-joking tone. “You think the scout droids are up for spotting anything with too many teeth?”
“They’ll do their job,” I said, though I wasn’t as confident as I sounded.
The next obstacle came in the form of an environmental hazard: a sudden shift in the wind stirred up a storm of ash, reducing visibility to near zero.
“Everyone, masks tight and filters on full,” I instructed. “We’ll wait for it to pass before moving again.”
As we hunkered down, I could feel the weight of the place pressing on us. The silence between gusts of wind felt unnatural, almost malevolent. I caught myself glancing over my shoulder more than once, as if something unseen was watching us.
“Feel that?” Rina asked quietly, her voice barely audible over the storm.
“Yeah,” I admitted, my hand instinctively tightening on my blaster. “This place isn’t just dangerous—it’s wrong.”
Kado’s voice cut in, steady but low. “Rumors about Malachor’s dark side influence weren’t just stories, then.”
I didn’t respond. The droids chirped again, signaling a clearing ahead, and I seized the moment to push the group forward.
When we finally emerged from the storm, the terrain had shifted again. Ahead, the suspected entrance to the vault loomed, partially buried in ash and debris. Its jagged, unnatural architecture stood out against the wreckage around it, and even from this distance, it radiated a sense of foreboding.
“Eyes up,” I said, signaling the group to spread out slightly. “We’re here, but this is where things get tricky.”
The droids scouted ahead, their lights casting eerie shadows on the vault’s exterior. Whatever lay inside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’d just stepped into something far bigger—and far darker—than we’d prepared for.
----------------------------------------
Davik's P.O.V. :
The air in the wastes was heavy, thick with a stillness that gnawed at the edges of my nerves. my blaster rested against my forearm, ready to snap up at the first sign of trouble. The crew had gathered near the vault entrance, a strange, dark structure carved from what looked like ancient stone fused with metal. Its design was as alien as it was unnerving.
Rina pulled the vault key from her satchel, her movements deliberate and cautious. The key, a piece of craftsmanship from an age long past, glinted faintly under the muted light filtering through the ash-filled sky.
Jake’s voice broke the silence, calm but firm. “Let Skew-01 handle it. It’s the most armored and shielded. No sense taking unnecessary risks.”
Rina hesitated only for a moment before nodding, carefully handing the key to Skew-01’s manipulators. The custom-built droid, its frame repaired and upgraded to be as durable as anything they had, accepted the key with a mechanical grip. Its servos whirred softly as it moved toward the vault’s keyhole.
I didn’t waste any time. “Alright, everyone,” I said, my tone firm and commanding, “combat-ready positions. Find cover, watch each other’s backs. No telling what might happen when that door opens.”
The crew scattered, taking up positions behind chunks of debris and natural formations near the entrance. Jake crouched behind a jagged metal plate, tweaking the settings on his gauntlet. Mira ducked low behind a shattered bulkhead, her datapad out, ready to monitor the scout droid’s feed. Rina, for her part, stayed close to cover, her blaster in hand but her eyes fixed on Skew-01.
Some might’ve called it overkill, but I knew better. “Cautious is how we stay alive,” I muttered to myself, scanning the area for potential ambush points.
Skew-01 reached the keyhole and inserted the vault key with a precise motion. For a moment, nothing happened, and then a low rumble vibrated through the ground. The massive “door” began to shift, sliding open with a deep, resonant groan that echoed into the wasteland.
I tensed, my grip tightening on my blaster. My eyes darted around the perimeter, searching for any sign of automated defenses, traps, or worse. But nothing came.
“Looks clear,” Jake said cautiously, though he didn’t lower his guard.
I wasn’t convinced. “Mira, send in the scout droids. Let’s not take chances.”
Mira nodded, her fingers flying across her datapad. The scout droids moved forward, their sensors scanning the darkened interior of the vault. They reported back quickly, their readings showing no immediate threats in the entryway.
“Nick droids next,” I ordered, glancing at Jake. “Then the Skew units. We’ll move in after the area’s been swept.”
Jake gave a quick nod, issuing commands to the droids. The Nick units advanced in a tight formation, their weapons active and ready. Skew-02 and Skew-01 followed, their heavier frames and upgraded armaments a reassuring presence as they scanned the newly revealed space.
Mira’s datapad pinged softly as the droids’ reports came in. She looked up, meeting Davik’s gaze. “Entrance is clear,” she said, her tone even but cautious. “No hostiles, no active defenses—so far.”
I allowed myself a slight exhale of relief. “Alright,” he said, addressing the rest of the crew. “Let’s move in, but keep your guard up. Anything could change once we’re inside.”
The crew regrouped, falling into a loose but organized formation. As they crossed the threshold of the vault, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were stepping into a trap. My instincts, honed from years of surviving the worst the galaxy had to offer, screamed at me to stay sharp.
Still, as the darkness of the vault closed in around them, there was no turning back. Whatever lay within these ancient halls was their next challenge—and I was determined to ensure they’d come out of it alive.
----------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
69 Chapters are available on my patreon
you can support me and become a patron
P A T R E O N . C O M / TofferPlays
(but only if you want to, okay?)
This fanfic is also on:
SpaceBattles
SufficientVelocity
RoyalRoad
ArchiveOfOurOwn