Mace and Ahsoka took off into the daytime sky. They didn't talk, just thinking their own thoughts, not yet able to come to terms with their inevitable cooperation. Of course, over the years, their relationship had changed somewhat, losing its initial hostile animosity, but it hadn't become any warmer either. Windu, as before, considered Ahsoka too emotional and assertive for a Jedi, while she, in turn, never tired of telling herself that she would rather become a Sith than ever become as boring as Mace. Perhaps they were both right in their own way, but that did not negate the fact that each of them had made considerable contributions to the Order, nor did they forget that a Jedi must be able to work in a team. With this in mind, Vindu was the first to break the awkward silence:
"What do you think, Tano, is Vancor clear now?
"Well, if you don't count the fact that it's full of Gandarks," replied Asoka, reluctantly turning to the man, her eyes habitually falling on his round face with its perpetually dissatisfied black eyes.
"I mean, are there any criminals there?" Mace asked again, a little irritated, looking ahead.
"Considering that they're hunting you, not me, my answer is no," replied the Togruta, not at all embarrassed. She understood Bob and Mace in her own way, but she was in no hurry to take anyone's side; it was dangerous for her nerves. Windu said nothing to the girl, clearly understanding that she would not sympathise with him anyway, and the rest of the journey passed in silence. The flight wasn't very long, to the planet Vankor, where the exploded ship had crashed and from where the survivors had sent a distress signal. This planet was considered wild and inhabited only by animals, predatory and ill-mannered, which became clear as soon as the two Jedi stepped off the ship onto the grass-covered surface. Following them down the gangway with a loud, discontented squeak was R2, taken along in case of unforeseen circumstances. And for some, it seemed that those circumstances had already arrived.
"Beep," the robot cried out again, firing a burst of electricity at an annoying insect that had landed on its body.
"R2, stay here," Asoka ordered him sternly, and he stopped abruptly and, squeaking in a different tone, crawled back to the ship.
"He obeys you as if he really understands," Windu grunted incredulously as they approached the ruins.
"He clearly has personality, I've noticed that for a long time," Asoka replied, a little offended on behalf of her mechanical friend.
Meanwhile, they found themselves next to the blown-up ship, which was impossible to look at without shuddering. Twisted metal was mixed with melted plastic, and the emblem of the Republic was visible on one of the sides. There was no smoke, and no rescue pods were visible. They had to call the droid again:
"R2, scan the area for life forms!" Asoka ordered, receiving a cheerful beep in response.
"He really listens. I wish my Padawans were like that," the Master had to agree, but he had no intention of giving up his position as leader and, pushing Asoka aside slightly, entered the wreckage first. Inside, it was not much better than outside. The remains of the ship's interior were scattered throughout the cabin, chairs and door fragments blocked the passageways, and there were no survivors in sight, nor any signs of the killers. They had acted cautiously and left no traces. The Jedi decided to split up, heading for different compartments and clearing the way with their lightsabers. Suddenly, Asoka stumbled upon something large that felt unlike a piece of debris. And the feeling in the Force was strangely familiar, as if... The girl bent down and saw what she feared — a dead body in Commando clone armour. She turned it over and noticed a burnt hole in the chest, clearly not caused by an explosion. Another dead fighter was found nearby, this time with a punctured head, and a third was found slightly to the left, with a gaping hole in his back:
"Mace, over here!" Tano shouted, in complete shock, not even noticing that she had addressed the Magister. He, however, was not accustomed to noticing small details and always knew how to pick out the most important things from what was happening. Now, instead of being offended by the familiar tone of the Togrut, he instantly caught the fear in her voice and her obvious confusion, which meant that help was needed. The Magister immediately rushed to the call and soon bent over the dead fighters:
"Clone cadets," he said thoughtfully. "They clearly didn't die from the explosion.
"Oh! What's that over there?" Asoka suddenly perked up, noticing something glinting in the corner. "A Mandalorian helmet!"
Following this cry, Tano jumped up and, before Windu could stop her, reached for the discovery. Only when there was less than a centimetre between her fingers and the helmet did Mace seem to wake up:
"Mandalorian helmet. Death of a mercenary. Jango Fett. Assassination. Son," flashed through his mind in a split second, and in the next, the Master was already lunging at Ahsoka:
"Don't touch it! Get your hands off it! Back off!" he managed to shout, but it was too late. Thin, caramel-coloured hands in leather gloves had already touched the metal surface of the helmet and lifted it into the air.
"Bang!!!!" — thundered under the arches of the ship's hull, causing the floor and ceiling to shift several times and fall from the height of their own ambitions, raising a curtain of smoke and dust around them, which slowly settled down, parallel to the subsiding rumble. Heavy debris, meeting in the air and colliding there, also returned with the grace of meteorites, forming a large mountain between them, crushing the two Jedi sent to investigate.
***
"Everything has calmed down, we can go and check," said Boba Fett, seeing the scene of the explosion from the mercenaries' ship.
"I don't think there's any need," replied Bossk. "No one could have survived that mess.
"The Jedi will survive," Orra objected. "The boy is right, we need solid evidence, otherwise we won't see any money.
"Seriously? I'm not going in there," Castas protested. "It's obvious to me.
"I'll go and take a look anyway," insisted Sing. "Anything could happen. Bob, stay with Castas."
He obeyed and followed the Clatuin into the compartment where the three clone hostages were being held. This conversation took place as the ruins slowly shook and began to crumble, as those beneath them regained consciousness and desperately tried to escape. But they managed to free themselves only halfway with great difficulty. Asoka tried to use the Force to push the debris away, but it only lifted slightly and fell back down, only in a different order.
"It's useless, Ahsoka, I already tried," said Windu, clearing his throat.
"I wonder what that was," Asoka said, pulling the remains of the helmet toward her with the Force and trying to examine it.
"Give it to me," said Mace, taking the piece of metal from the Togrutar. "Jango Fett," he read with difficulty, deciphering the letters. "It's his helmet."
"But he's dead," Asoka said in confusion, making another attempt to free herself.
"True, but there's still his son, or rather, the clone he considered his son," explained Mace, realising what was going on. "And he's obviously out to get me for killing his dad.
"And it looks like he's succeeded," said Asoka, tired of climbing. "We can't hold out for that long."
Then there was a familiar beep, and everyone saw R2. How timely he was to report that he had found no survivors.
"R2," Asoka shouted hoarsely, "Contact the Jedi Temple, send a message to the Council and ask them to send help.
He easily understood everything that was said and blinked intently, recording Tano's voice and forming a message, then headed for the ship to fly to the temple and return with help.
"Are you sure he can do it?" Windu again doubted the droid's abilities.
"Trust is the key to success," replied Tano, watching the droid with her eyes. She couldn't see it take off, but she could hear the sound of the engine starting.
Meanwhile, ruthless mercenaries were approaching the ship, only to be met by mountains of metal and smoke screens released by R2 to conceal himself.
"I'm not going any further, and I think it's clear that he didn't survive, that's a fact," said Orra, wiping the dust from her eyes with her hand.
"No, let's keep going, Windu is tough, Bob was right," Bossk objected, throwing debris far away from himself and raising more dust.
"We'd better get out and shoot from the air to be sure," Orra said firmly and turned back decisively. R2, with a sense of duty fulfilled, headed for the ship and, reaching the Temple, rushed to Anakin and Master Kenobi standing on the launch pad.
"Whose droid is that?" said the Master in bewilderment.
"Ah, no!" Enakineer cried out in alarm, rushing towards him, seeing that R2 was trying to communicate something. "Quiet, my friend, show me what you have."
The droid stopped and, flashing its red light, began a video transmission. Kenobi stood nearby and understood everything at once.
"Let's get out of here!" he shouted to Anakin, and led by the droid, they both headed for the ship, praying to the Force to get them there in time. On the way, they grabbed a few clones to help clear the debris. In fact, there was little time left, but a dispute among the mercenaries about the best way to shoot helped them gain some time. The clones got inside the debris and, carefully digging out the wreckage, carried both Jedi out on their backs. They were immediately placed on stretchers and taken to the gangway.
"You have some serious burns, but I think a night in a healing trance will get you back into fighting shape," Anakin smiled encouragingly, standing next to the stretcher where Ahsoka lay, and even patted his mentor on the shoulder.
"Ouch!" she cried out in surprise.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot," Anakin said guiltily, not showing his true excitement.
"R2, come here," Windu said to the droid, and when it approached, he surprised everyone. "Thank you, little one. If it weren't for you, I would already be in the world of the Force."
"Yeah, but I don't get any praise from you," Asoka grumbled, turning away from them. "I'm going to throw up from all the sentimentality."
But then they began to be taken to the medical bay, and both had to fall silent, sinking back onto their pillows. Soon the ship took off, and the mercenaries remained, gritting their teeth and thinking about how they could get Mace back. Maybe this time they would be lucky. Maybe...
***
Advanced chapters:
patreon.com/posts/star-wars-chosen-144531440