I stood by Master Windu and Skywalker as the young cadets walked in clearly amazed by the scene, I couldn't help but stifle my laughter as I saw Anakin stand a bit straighter. "Generals, new orders from General Kenobi await you in the war room, immediately,"
Anakin seemed to deflate "Another time then,"
As soon as we walked away I couldn't help but laugh "You seem more disappointed than our cadets,"
"It's our job to instruct and inspire,"
"You just wanted to show off," I smirked as I knew Master Windu was on the same side as me towards the argument. "Padawan Cyneus why don't you go watch the cadets,"
I looked up at him "Sir?"
"It's alright, I'm sure there will be plenty of meetings later on,"
I kept a straight face and nodded as I walked off, but I couldn't help the smile as I walked into the gunnery "Hey R2," he chirped in reply as I stood by the wall and watched one of the troopers shoot at the flying targets outside.
"Looks easy, doesn't it? Well, looks can be deceiving. There's nothing more dangerous in all of space than a moving target,"
"What do you use for targets, sir?"
"Malfunctioning droids," beside me R2-D2 chirped and beeped that I laughed.
"Don't worry R2 you're too good of droid for them to use,"
"Now, this is my ship and my rules. I do not allow tourists on board, only soldiers. Now, time for target practice." He pointed to a young cadet "You there," the cadet looked frightened "Take the gun," The cadet sat in the chair but missed a large majority of the targets "Not even close. Next,"
"But I only..."
"Oh, no, you're done. You only get one chance. I promise you the Separatists don't give more. Next," The next cadet was close "A near miss is still a miss, kid."
"The sergeant's right. Training is no match for experience, and it's the one thing none of you have," A Trooper told the cadets
The Sergeant was looking at one of the cadets and I immediately did a second glance... it couldn't be. "I know that look." He nodded towards the cadet I was looking at and the cadet took a seat, each target was demolished and I knew, I was right. The Sergeant nodded "I see why they call you lucky, well, let's see how you are when seppies come at you in a tri-attack formation," even then Lucky hit all the targets.
The other cadets began to cheer for him "Alright, alright. Cut the chatter, men. We're due in observation deck 13. Fall out,"
The Sergeant stood next to me "Now, that's a cadet to watch,"
"Yes sir," I replied "but not for the reasons you think," I nodded to him "If you excuse me I have to return to the Generals,"
"Understood,"
***
I ran into Lucky again as I walked with Master Windu "Eyes on where you're headed, cadet,"
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir," Lucky looked up at me and I saw his eyes glance over at me, I tried to make it hard that I didn't see. I walked next to Master Windu as we reached his quarters.
"Something on your mind Padawan?"
"No, sir. Just been awhile since I've been out of the temple," I explained
"Space can do that to you,"
A trooper approached us "Sirs, General Skywalker requests your presence on the bridge,"
"We'll be there shortly,"
"The general requests your presence immediately, sir,"
Master Windu looked down at me "No rest for the weary." He handed his papers to the trooper "Put these inside my quarters, would you?"
"Yes, sir,"
I felt a disturbance as the door opened "Trooper!" I screamed as an explosion rang out.
"Are you alright?" Master Windu asked. I only nodded as I tried to get the ringing out of my ears "Trooper!"
"Master Windu he's dead," I informed him.
***
"You're lucky to be alive." Master Skywalker told us as he came into the room "And our trooper?"
"Dead," Master Windu informed
"This was no accident,"
"Agreed,"
"Admiral, has the navigation been damaged?"
"Hobbled, not destroyed. Systems are repairable. I've ordered shutdown of all engines until we're fully operational. We'll hold orbit over vanqor," The Admiral explained
"Any sign of attack ships?"
"None. But we'll keep scanning. Until we get navigation back, the endurance is a fat and easy target. I won't have it," I knew who the attacker was and snuck out so I could find him, knowing him he would head to the next thing possible in order to finish the job... the reactor.
***
I walked into the reactor as he shot Ct-1477, he was about to shoot the reactor when I stepped out "Hello Boba," he turned and pointed the weapon at me "You wouldn't hurt me would you," He walked towards, the weapon still raised at me. I was about to reach for my lightsaber when I felt his lips on mine. I couldn't help myself as I wrapped my arms around his neck, my hands going through his hair.
Once up for breath, he spoke "I've missed you so much Sky,"
"I've missed you too. But Bane...he..."
"I know...I wanted so much to take you away but..."
"Shh. It's over now, I'm out, I'm free,"
"Free... you're a Jedi. The same kind of person that killed my father,"
"Boba. You know me..." he walked off "Boba, there are escape pods. We can escape together, live on our own,"
"You'd leave your life at the Jedi temple to run away with me?"
"I love you Boba," I told him "All you have to do is forget this revenge spree,"
"I can't," he fired but thanks to my training I was able to dodge it and got out of there. Once out of the reactor I saw the chaos that was forming.
"Boba what have you done," I ran for Master Windu, he had the right to know. "Master Windu,"
"Padawan Cyneus. I want you to be with the cadets on the escape pods,"
"But Master..."
"That's an order padawan," I sighed and ran off again. "Sir, Master Windu recommended I go with the cadets to ensure their safety,"
"Understood. Very well pick a pod," I looked around and finally saw Boba.
"You're not getting rid of me that easy," I told him.
"I was hoping not to," Boba smirked
"Whoa cool we get to ride with a Jedi," A cadet claimed
"Set rendezvous coordinates with the other pods at a safe distance from the cruiser. See you at rendezvous mark six." A trooper said
With such a small space I couldn't stop Boba as he caused the pod to malfunction. "We missed the rendezvous!"
"I can't stop it!"
"We're lost,"
"What happened?" I glared over at Boba as he looked normal "Do we still have control?"
I looked over the controls "Navigation's shot. Looks like our pod was damaged in the escape,"
"Can we steer?"
I shook my head "No,"
"How about fuel?"
"No feed. We're dead weight,"
"So w-what do we do?"
I looked at the cadets and remembered what Master Skywalker said, even if he was only wanting to show off "We do our jobs, and not freak out," the cadets all nodded. I looked over at Boba as I heard a familiar engine.
"What was that?"
"I don't know,"
"Rescue ship?"
"It's too early,"
"What, then?"
The airlock hissed open "Well, what do we have here?" I glared over at Boba as I heard the familiar voice "You boys look lost. Congratulations, Boba. Job well done,"
I guarded the cadets from her as Aurra came into view, but one escaped me "His name's not Boba. He's Lucky,"
"Lucky?" Aurra laughed "That's a good one,"
"You're with her?"
"I wasn't expecting you to bring friends along,"
"I couldn't help it, Aurra. What are you gonna do with them?" Boba asked
"What do you think?"
"Let them go?"
Aurra and I both scoffed "They're living witnesses, honey,"
"That was never part of the plan! I just wanted to kill the Jedi that murdered my father,"
"Well, that will have to wait." Aurra leaned towards his face and I couldn't help but feel protective towards him as well "Grow up. You'll get your revenge in time. Now, get on board. We have to get out of here. Or you can go with your friends who I'm going to jettison into the unknown. That would be poetic,"
Boba looked over at me
"I'm staying with the cadets," I told him. Boba took out a gun and pointed it at me "You wouldn't shoot me,"
"No, but I will shoot one of them. Now get on the ship," Boba said I looked over at the cadets and back at cadet. I walked inside the ship and Boba walked behind me, ensuring I wouldn't escape. I turned my head as the escape pod was jettisoned off.
"You crazy..." I was about to hit him but he pinned my arm against the wall and began to kiss me. I used the force to push him off. "The Jedi will come looking for me," I told him
"Problem solved, use you as bait to get Boba's revenge and give her back to Bane," Aurra noted
"No!" But it wasn't me that shouted it was Boba. "She stays with me,"