One year after the Arena's liberation, Sprocket's vision for a new battleground had become a reality. He designed an arena inspired by Glee Anselm, incorporating elements from both Kamino and Mon Cala. The aquatic landscape would draw in Hunters from across the galaxy and he was sure they'd be eager to test their skills in the unique underwater environment.
Aran Tal stood at the edge of the pool. "Water? Pft, I'm not afraid to show the galaxy that I can be the best swimmer!" he boasted, before launching himself into the pool. He surfaced, grinning widely. "See?" he declared, puffing out his chest with pride.
Nearby, Skora guided her kids into the water, teaching them how to swim with Sprocket's help. Sentinel watched from a distance, maintaining his usual stoicism. "I'm an exceptional swimmer too," he claimed, though no one had ever seen him step foot in the water.
Grozz stood by the pool's edge somewhat hesitantly. He glanced nervously at the water, as if pondering whether or not he should step in. He mumbled something and Zaina gave him a nudge, offering a smile of encouragement. With a reluctant grunt, Grozz dipped a foot in, and soon enough, he was paddling through the water with ease.
Rieve leaned against a wall, her arms crossed as she observed everyone. "Next time, I'll be ready," she muttered, her voice sounding agitated. "My outfit's not suited for this... and my lightsaber doesn't work underwater, anyway."
Sprocket, seeking a moment of peace, found a quiet corner of the pool and slipped into the cool water with J-3DI hovering nearby. It had been ages since he left his home planet, and now, surrounded by this artificial ocean, he allowed himself a moment of solace.
A Mon Calamari family approached, catching his eye. They stood on the pool's edge, hesitating before stepping forward. Sprocket looked at them, his eyes rounding with curiosity.
"Our son just signed up for the next season of Hunters!" the Mon Calamari mother beamed.
Sprocket grinned, pushing himself out of the water to stand. "That's awesome! I'm sure he'll do great!" he said in excitement.
The son nodded shyly, but it was his younger sister who caught Sprocket's attention. She waved eagerly and then walked over, handing him a small present and a letter. Sprocket blinked in surprise—it was Luri, his childhood friend. He hadn't seen her in a number of years.
He opened the letter and began to read it. By the time he finished reading, his cheeks had warmed with a blush. Luri winked at him playfully, and Sprocket looked down, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
As he sat, lost in thought, daydreaming about the past, he felt a familiar presence. When he turned, there they were—his parents. But as his eyes adjusted, he realized it wasn't really them. He had only imagined them. Forget them, Sprocket, he told himself.
He turned to see that it was really Dizzy standing behind him, with J-3DI beside him, both of them staring at him with pride. Skora seemed to be saying something funny, which made them all laugh out loud. Sprocket smiled and headed over to join them, ridding his mind of his parents as he did so.
You don't need them. You have all you need right here, Sprocket thought as he looked back at his friends, realizing that he now felt closer to them than ever. They were more than just his teammates now, they truly were his new family.
That night, Sprocket returned to his apartment. He climbed into his custom-made water tube and opened Luri's gift. Inside was a fuzzy, glowing-pink sea sponge, reminiscent of one he might've had on Mon Cala. He smiled, rubbing it against his face as he felt the soft, familiar texture of it.
As he leaned back into the warm water, he placed a group photo next to his tub. It was a picture of him and his Hunter friends, a reminder of how far he'd come—and a reminder of his new life. For the first time in a long time, Sprocket felt truly happy.
He gazed at the ceiling, letting out a content sigh. He finally belonged somewhere—and he couldn't be happier. He was surrounded by his new family, and he knew that at this very moment, nothing else mattered. For once in his life, he was sure that everything was going to be alright.
Finally feeling at peace in the warm water, Sprocket closed his eyes and smiled, knowing that the future ahead of him was undoubtedly going to be bright.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Author Note: Prologue, J-3DI's Origin and Reborn chapter written by AzureMenace. Epilogue written by Rex. Thank you Rex and AzureMenace for all your hardwork and helping me create a great fanfic.
