*Stars shinin' bright above you*
*Night breezes seem to whisper, I love you*
*Birds singin' in the sycamore tree*
*Dream a little dream of me*
"Do you have any sevens?" Scout asked, her eyes scanning her cards with a mischievous glint.
"Go Fish," Aubrie replied with a smirk.
"Damn," Scout muttered, fishing a card.
"Got any threes?" Vaylin chimed in, leaning forward.
"Go fish," Jaden said casually.
"Sevens," Zule declared, eyeing the group.
"Go fish," Fay responded softly.
"This game is stupid," Zule grumbled, tossing her cards down in frustration.
"Just because you're losing," Scout teased, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Why are we even playing such a game?" Zule asked, crossing her arms.
Jaden shrugged. "Aubrie found it on the database of that satellite we scavenged."
"Did she also find this marvelous contraption there?" Fay asked, gesturing toward the odd device with its flaring horn and rotating platter.
Aubrie nodded. "I believe it is called a phonograph. They had the specifications in their database, as well as a number of so-called records. I was able to replicate them using the ship's fabricator before we were attacked. They work through various gears and require no power at all."
"Wow, that's quite amazing," Vaylin said, her voice laced with genuine wonder.
"I do admit I am quite partial to the music," Fay added with a serene smile.
"This game is still stupid," Zule commented dryly.
"Well, what else should we do?" Scout said, gesturing around the darkened interior of their vessel—the once-active systems now silent, the ship floating adrift through the unknown regions, its power core offline.
"Play Sabbacc?" she suggested with a grin.
"No."
"No."
"No."
"No."
"No."
All five of them chorused in unison.
"You're way too competitive," Jaden said, chuckling.
Zule crossed her arms tighter and leaned back against the bulkhead, her expression sour.
"We shouldn't have to wait too much longer," Jaden commented. "SD8 is working on backup power, so we should be able to tell where we are soon."
"Ugh, I can't believe this happened to us," Scout pouted, slumping in her seat.
"Who was to know that Space Grazers were still here?" Vaylin remarked. "They're supposed to be extinct."
"The galaxy truly is amazing," Fay said with a gentle smile.
"They still shouldn't have been able to knock us out of warp like that," Jaden said, a hint of annoyance creeping into his tone.
"At least the ship didn't break apart," Aubrie said enthusiastically, trying to lighten the mood.
"Woo," Zule drawled unenthusiastically.
"How long is life support going to last?" Scout asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Jaden shrugged. "Probably a few days longer."
"If I'm going to die, I do not wish to play this asinine game any longer," Zule declared, throwing her cards down in a scatter.
"Buzzkill," Scout said, flicking a card at her that bounced off Zule's forehead.
Zule's eyes narrowed into a fierce glare, her brows furrowing like storm clouds, lips pressing into a thin line as she fixed Scout with a stare that could melt durasteel, promising retribution.
"Well, if it's between this and hearing Aubrie and Zule's activities with Jaden, I say we play," Scout quipped, making both women flush a deep crimson while Jaden let out a low chuckle.
"I, for one, do not mind," Fay said innocently, her eyes twinkling.
However, before anyone could comment further, red emergency lights flickered to life overhead, bathing the room in a red light, accompanied by the low hum of the backup generators kicking in. Jaden smiled. "SD8 got emergency power on. I guess we aren't dying yet." He rose to his feet.
"Scout, head to engineering, start working on engines. Give me thrusters, anything."
"Aye aye," Scout said, saluting mockingly before darting off.
"Aubrie, Zule, start working on deflectors."
"Fay, you're with me. We need to get the sensors working."
"Vaylin, you're on snack duty."
Vaylin huffed. "I hate snack duty." But she got up nonetheless, heading toward the galley.
Jaden strode down the narrow corridor toward the cockpit, the red lights casting long shadows on the walls. As he entered, SD8 stood there rigidly, its towering frame silhouetted against the starfield visible through the viewport. "Good job on fixing the power, buddy," Jaden said, clapping a hand on the droid's metallic shoulder.
"Thank you, Master. I hope you enjoyed your game while I did all the work," SD8 replied in a flat voice.
"Next time, you can play," Jaden said, tapping SD8 again.
SD8 looked quite different than he had previously—no longer the compact droid that would cling to Jaden's back. Now, he was a towering humanoid, standing nearly 6.5 feet in height, rebuilt with various scavenged technology from the unknown regions. And needless to say, Jaden wouldn't doubt he was the most advanced droid in the known galaxy. "Alright, SD, why don't you head down and give Scout a hand with the engines."
"Affirmative, Master..." Jaden didn't know why, but despite the robotic monotone voice, SD8 still somehow managed to sound sarcastic as he lumbered out.
Jaden settled into the pilot's chair, Fay sliding into the co-pilot's seat beside him. Together, they pried open access panels, rerouting flickering power lines and calibrating fried circuits. In short order, the sensor array hummed back to life, screens flickering with incoming data. Jaden smiled. "Alright, let's see where we are."
The scans showed they were in an uncharted planetary system, orbiting a bright G-type star with five worlds in tow—rocky, barren orbs of gas and ice, none showing signs of atmosphere or life that could sustain them. No habitable planets in sight.
"Unfortunate," Fay commented softly, her brow creasing.
Then the sensors beeped insistently. "Wait a minute," Jaden said, leaning forward. "I'm detecting a large vessel close to one of the planets, minimal power signatures, life support barely online. It seems to be adrift, just like us."
"Life signs?" Fay asked, her voice hopeful.
"Inconclusive," Jaden replied, frowning at the readings.
"Perhaps we can help each other," Fay suggested.
Jaden nodded. "The security systems seem to be down, so we can remotely open the hangar."
He keyed the comms. "Scout, how's it looking down there?"
"Engines aren't looking so good," she replied, her voice crackling with static. "I can give you thrusters, though."
"Good enough," Jaden said, gripping the controls. He fired the thrusters in short bursts, nudging their ship toward the distant vessel. As they closed in, the sight left them awed. As they closed in, the vessel came into full view—a capital ship over two kilometers long. Its frame was linear and rigid, with a tapered bow and a wide, flat stern. The main hull extended in a wedge-like shape, with multiple levels of armor plating layered over structural struts. Along the dorsal spine ran a segmented command superstructure with recessed viewports and arrayed sensor fins. The surface was marked by evenly spaced weapon batteries, including turbolaser mounts and point-defense cannons, all housed in rotating fixtures embedded into the hull. Long lateral ridges extended outward near the midsection, each one containing docking clamps and airlock systems.
The ventral side housed a main hangar bay with retractable blast doors, supported by secondary bays spaced evenly along the underside. Engine nacelles—six in total—were fixed at the stern in two rows, with heat dispersal fins and thrust vectoring ports lining their casings.
"Do you recognize the model?" Jaden asked Fay.
Fay nodded slowly, her eyes widening. "I believe it is a Chiss Ascendancy ship."
Jaden raised a brow. "Chiss Ascendancy..." He had one of their ships in his hangar. But that was just a small scout ship, barely bigger than a speeder, this ship was bigger than a Venator.
With a few commands, Jaden transmitted the override signal, watching as the massive hangar doors on the Chiss vessel groaned open in the vacuum, revealing a large bay dimly lit by failing emergency strobes. He guided their ship inside with a few thruster adjustments, the landing struts touching down with a soft thud that echoed through the empty space. The hangar sealed behind them, and a faint hiss suggested atmosphere was cycling in.
Jaden powered down the controls, exchanging a glance with Fay. "Let's see what we've got here."
(AN: So here we are in the New Arc, going into the clone wars movie and tv era. Gonna be fun. Anyway hope you enjoyed.)
Support for more.
Patreon.com/captainalfie78works