-A Padawan's Journey-

Old Friends

Jedi Master Drake Amon stared at the dead clone. His helmet had been previously taken off and carefully set aside in the sand next to him. He had taken a small group of clone troopers from the Aurelia with him and they were inspecting the damaged starfighter and debris that had scattered around the area. He crouched down and looked at the clone closer.

"Rest easy, Jet." Drake sighed. "Your mission is over. You fought good. I will rescue Valerie and bring her home so worry not." He carefully brought his hand to his face and closed his eyes.

"She's not here." Another clone walked up to him. "Scout is still checking out the immediate area though just in case, but I'm guessing the pirates came and took her." Drake turned his head and saw Moose standing next to him. "We don't know where they've taken her or why they even took her."

"She's a Jedi." Drake looked back at Jet. "They're gonna use her to try and gain some credits. I can only hope they don't reach out to the Separatist."

"They wouldn't dare, would they?" Moose questioned.

"Oh Hondo would." Drake stated. "Whoever would provide the most credits is who he would give her too." He tilted his head. Something had caught his eye under the dead clone. He carefully pulled out the object from underneath him.

"What is it?" Moose said, crouching down next to the Jedi.

"Valerie's lightsaber." Drake held it out to show the clone. Moose grabbed it, holding it carefully in his hands.

"Hondo and his gang of pirates are going to regret messing with us." Moose declared.

Drake stood up and brushed the dust off himself. "Have Scout take Jet's body back to the Aurelia and wait for further instruction and hold onto Valerie's lightsaber."

"Right away sir." Moose said and walked away from him. Drake pulled out his comm-link next.

"Rickshaw." Drake said into it.

"Awaiting orders." Rickshaw was quick to respond.

"I need you and Admiral Foxtrot to start looking into various hideouts that Hondo may have taken Valerie too." Drake ordered.

"Yes sir." Rickshaw said.

"And once you find that out, meet me on Florrum's surface." Drake added.

"Of course." Rickshaw said. "I will see you on Florrum's surface soon."

"Thank you, Rickshaw." Drake said and put his comm away, before turning to the clones in his company. "Alright men, listen up." He ordered and all the clones turned to him. "Scout is going to take Jet back to the Aurelia and I want two others to accompany him. The rest are with me and we fan out to try and find Valerie. Once Rickshaw can pinpoint her location he will be joining us. Any questions?"

No one said anything or moved. Moose cleared his throat before speaking. "You heard the general, let's pack up and move out."

A choir of 'yes sir's' echoed throughout the immediate area and everyone sprung into action getting things packed and ready. Drake walked to the edge of the crash site and looked out at Florrum. He took a deep breath. "Where are you, Valerie?" He whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valerie groaned. She was lying face down when she realized that she was in pain. Valerie forced herself into a kneeling position and held her head. She realized she must've been more hurt than she previously thought once the adrenaline wore off.

She pulled her hand away and saw old blood on her fingertips. Her hands were bound together with a pair of binders. Looking around the room, she didn't recognize where she was but realized quickly that she was in a prison cell.