Old Friends Homecoming

Chapter 16 - Golden Glass and Steel

Once inside, Emi rubbed the water out of her eyes, pulled out the rebreather and slipped it into a safe place. She looked around cautiously and saw a single bongo submarine was stationed inside the bubble hangar but she saw no signs of droids. She had to make her way to the center of the city to shut down the beam before it did more than just create a free airshow. As true to Kit's prediction there were no droids inside just yet. But due to the transparent walls of the dome, anyone from inside another one above would detect her immediately. Do what you always do, Kit had said, Emi smiled knowing being stealthy wasn't mandatory.

Even if she was trying to improve her ways as a Jedi, this situation felt too personal for her walk on eggshells. Approaching the door she saw a tube leading towards one of the spherical structures above that was larger with more lights, from there she could see it, a couple of battle droids patrolling a catwalk. Swearing under her breath now she knew for sure she was right, but who was in charge of this takeover? If her senses picked them up, then she didn't have to guess.

Pressing the golden button on the elevator, she waited while clutching her lightsaber tight, it was time to make some noise and she smiled thinking about this, no need to worry about saving hostages, just guns blazing as she heard the clones call it. From the higher structure, a little flat round platform was descending to her, two super battle droids occupied it. Showtime! Not even bothering to hide, she simply waited for her first foes to arrive.

The doors opened and the two droids walked out in the middle of banter, "So how many more troops do you think the General can bring down before the Republic starts to notice?"

"This wretched planet has no blockades since our last invasion, he w-... it's a Jedi!"

Emi grinned, igniting her lightsaber and the emerald blade engulfed the room, she sprung forward and decapitated them before they could react. Kicking their bodies aside, she stepped onto the elevator and pressed another button. The doors closed and she was ascending. They knew she was here now and if there were more troops than she thought, then perhaps she would find out the hard way if her own invasion to kick them out of this turf was going to work.

***

Meanwhile, Kit dashed through the water like a bullet, his legs kicking and his tentacles streaming behind him as he swam under the city. All of the domes floated in stationary positions above the seafloor giving him an easy spot to break line of sight if necessary. It was good to be back on his turf where he excelled in combat. The scouts he saw earlier had passed him and returned to circling around the city to watch for intruders. But as soon as they spotted him, there was no doubt those within the domes would send more after him. A diversion job was an easy one.

Kit swam quickly stopped under one of the larger outer domes and watched as the two scouts completed another circuit, wherever Emi was now, she was likely headed for the first large dome. This was going to be a difficult fight to execute without drawing more attention. Several droids were patrolling in the dome above him, all armed like an entire army had been established in the empty Gungan city in less than a week. Transparent walls in the domes, eyes and ears everywhere, Kit concluded it would be impossible for them to sneak in this regard. Underneath here was only a place to plan his next move, he darted out from underneath the city as soon as he saw the same patrol again, he ignited his lightsaber, the blade was also green and swam towards them, the duo alert to his presence immediately.

"Jedi! Open fire!" one of them commanded in a monotonous voice, Kit snickered, the laser rounds dashing towards him like red bullets. He spun around dodging and deflecting as if he was doing a pirouette underwater. Then they began to chase after him as he darted upward and over the city, they'll never catch me, he thought. From within the domes, as he sped over them, it was evident the internal forces were becoming distracted as he swam and then soon he saw it, from below, more droids designed for underwater combat were coming through the bubble force fields. Good, this is going to be fun, he thought, smiling.