THIRD PERSON POV
"Reeksa root, huh?" Fern fidgeted with Tech's datapad after claiming it during one of the rare occasions he set it down. She decided to analyze further research on the resource she, the intellectual clone, and Echo were to collect on Iego. "Looks like it has medicinal purposes. Whoever the client is must want it for lighter motives, which is humanitarian on our parts."
"I agree." the cyborg clone nodded, who was seated in the co-pilot's spot. "I'm hoping low security actually means deserted. Not sure I can handle another scrimmage with the Empire for awhile."
"I know." Fern sighed. "If Cid is telling the truth, then these two jobs will pay enough for all of us to finally relax. I'm positive we all need to."
"We're exiting hyperspace now." Tech announced, pulling back the lever. The Marauder lightly jerked forward as it emerged and the three clones was greeted by a massive cluster of shattered ships. "Careful, Tech." Fern warned as the intellectual clone maneuvered through the floating wreckage towards the planet's atmosphere. Her brows furrowed with uneasiness as her widened eyes scanned their surroundings out the viewport. "W-what happened here? A battle?"
"According to Iego's database, it seemed sometime during the war, the Separatists had built a laser security system into one of Iego's moons that was triggered if any ship attempted to leave the planet." Tech calculated. "The locals were not aware of what the Separatists had implanted and called the force 'Drol'. It would be much later after the Separatists leave when Generals Kenobi and Skywalker would destroy the laser system and free Iego of its lethal trap."
"General Kenobi, huh?" Fern murmured, briefly averting her gaze from the viewport as the ship continued to glide through the ship graveyard.
They managed to land the Marauder with ease at a dockyard. The clones assigned to the Iego mission disembarked one by one with their necessary supplies. Fern was the last one in line, and Hunter gently grasped her arm before she stepped off. "We'll contact you as soon as we can, letting you know we're on our way. Stay out of trouble?"
"No promises." Fern smirked, but her cheeks flared up, and when Hunter took notice, she hurried off before he could question her. Setting the odd interaction aside, the sergeant gave a salute to Tech and Echo and headed back to pilot the ship. The female clone and her partners watched the Marauder disappear into the atmosphere, then turn to one another. "Alright, time to find some roots." Fern said with a clap of her hands.
"Yeah, but where do we begin?" Echo looked around him. "This place doesn't exactly overflow with greenery." He was right. Iego was desolate, humid, and sweltering hot, with the primary terrain consisting of barren canyons and deserts. The port itself was stationed on the edge of a deep chasm. Where on this planet could they possible find a plant root?
"When in doubt, ask the locals." she suggested, shouldering her pack. They walked towards town and noticed a few patrol troopers performing everyday security checks. The clones kept there heads low and walked with the crowd, so to not draw attention to them. Fern was decent in her bodysuit and tunic, but it was a little difficult for Tech while he wore his normal gear, his helmet tucked under his arm. Echo blended in with his droid disguise.
"Where exactly are we heading to?" Tech questioned, following Fern's lead.
"Civilian 101, if you want information from locals," she pointed. "you go where the locals gather. The parlor."
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FERN'S POV
Upon entering the merry facility, that was when we attracted eyes. Tech and Echo froze in awkwardness, but I was used to this sort of atmosphere and attention. I held out my hand to the side to silently reassure them and signal to stay calm. "Act natural." I whispered.
We strolled down the center to the young humanoid bartender behind the back counter, who shot us a side-eye while he rubbed a cloth in and out a glass. "How can I help you?" His voice was chip, and he greeted us with a cheeked grin.
"We're looking for some Reeksa root." I said, returning the gesture. "Do you know where we can find some?"
"Here." He waved his hand to the left, and then to the right. "There." The rag whipped around in the air. "Everywhere."
"Really?" I raised a brow. The young man winked at me. I leaned against the counter, glancing to my comrades before gazing up at him with interest. "So, where do we start?"
"Follow the canyon edge. Once you reach the peak, there's a path of vines that'll lead you down to the floor. But watch out for the flying xandu. Nasty creatures that are very territorial. Oh, and, when harvesting the root, mind the vines, the carnivorous plants don't like it when you touch them."
"Thanks for the advice, Mister..." My mouth straightened in a line.
"The name's Jaybo." The young man tipped an imaginary hat. "And you are?"
"Fern," I nodded. "And this is Tech and Echo."
"Nice disguise, droid." Jaybo scoffed.
"Uh..." Echo flinched.
"Relax, man, I get it." he laughed, placing aside the clean glass. "I've handled numerous models of droids in my life, so I'm familiar. The average folk won't tell the difference, though."
"Thanks, again, for your help, Jaybo."
"Anytime."
We clones exited the parlor and headed in the direction our friendly bartender instructed. Walking along the canyon ridge, the sun began to set parallel of us. Echo had shed his helmet and tucked it under his arm. Tech was tapping away on his datapad, shoulders hunched forward. Very few words were spoken among us...
Well, this is not awkward... I hung my head a little, watching Echo's feet in front of me. It shouldn't be. You've been with the boys long enough now that you can strike up a casual conversation at anytime. Right? Remember, you still want to talk about Hunter...
"There, I see it. That must be the peak." The cyborg clone pointed ahead. I spotted it, too: a sharp end off the ledge about two hundred yards away.
"Huh," My lips dipped, then looked around me, inquiring, "Have you boys noticed how smooth this job has gone so far? I wish every job was like this."
"You said it." Echo agreed, and then paused. "So, how many missions did you complete on your own during the war?"
"Over three hundred." I sighed in remembrance. "Three hundred and fifty-eight, to be exact."
The ARC trooper whistled. "That...is impressive."
"Remarkably so, indeed." Tech chimed in from behind me, taking a break from, well, whatever he was doing. "We had not come close to accomplishing that many before the war ended. How did you manage to complete so many? Partaking in over 350 missions during the entire Clone War, that is quite a feat."
"Oh, I only named the number of how many I completed." I clarified. Echo and Tech were speechless -- in fact, the latter dropped his datapad at his side and eyed me with awe. I couldn't blame them. I know I overworked myself during the war. Genuinely, I did it on purpose. It was difficult returning to Kamino after a mission, so once one was over, I immediately accepted another, and another, and so on.
Crack...
Through all the reminiscing, I hardly noticed the sheet-like, rocky ground shift underneath my feet. A crackling sound echoed to our right throughout the chasm.
"Do you hear that?" I asked warily. My eyes fell over to the cyborg clone, who continued to walk a little ahead of me, and gasped as the terrain crinkled with every step he took. "Echo, look out!" I propelled myself forward and shoved him away. Upon taking that final step, the surface shattered under me, and I tumbled into a shadowy abyss.
"FERN!!!" Echo screamed helplessly. "TECH!!!" I tried to call out to him, but the air seemed to suck itself from my lungs.
The instant I began my calamitous descent, something latched itself onto my left forearm. Although I could no longer identify my surroundings, I recognized it was Tech's hand. We dropped for the longest two seconds of my life, and, unexpectedly, my skin was pelted with water droplets. Another second passed, and we abruptly skidded across a gradual slope that transformed into water slide tunnel. In the dangerous situation, this was the best case scenario at the bottom of a chasm. The pitch-black water tunnel carried us at almost a 45-degree angle, zipping and cutting sharp corners. It took all my strength to remain upright while my body crashed against the slick walls and Tech's armor. Water splashed into my mouth, nose, and eyes, causing me to gag and cough profusely.
Abruptly, what felt like being catapulted out of a cannon, we were launched out of the tunnel and sent hurdling in the air. Upon descension, Tech lost his grip on me. In my blind vision, I couldn't tell me where he landed. SPLASH! My injured shoulder smacked into the underground lake below like concrete. I screamed under the surface, viscerally clutching it in a fetal position. The pain flared instantaneously throughout my body. The water was funneling into my nose and mouth. I breathed in too much.
Suddenly, I was caught under the arms, but I blacked out before emerging above the water's surface...