Anakin Skywalker And The I-Became-A-Jedi

Arena Trolls

Yep, there's Obi-Wan, ahead of us.

The Geonosians dragged us out of the cart, handcuffed us, and chained us next to my Master. From the corner of my eye I saw Padme slip something small into her mouth behind the guard's back just before they chained her to the post next to me.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd gotten my message," Obi-Wan said to me after the guards started to file out.

"I retransmitted it just as you requested, Master," I replied. "Then we decided to come and rescue you."

"This...is a rescue?" Obi-Wan replied.

Up in the stands, Nute Gunray, Count Dooku, Jango Fett, Poggle the Lesser, and some random kid--presumably Jango's son--were crowded in a luxurious balcony. As soon as the cart left the arena, Poggle made a formal announcement that we would be killed. As if we didn't already know that! "Let the executions begin!" he concluded loudly.

Three large gates opened on the far side of the arena. Let's see if I can identify these trolls:

1. A reek. These powerful--yet stupid--creatures looked like red triceratops.

2. A nexu. A giant, leaping catlike creature with fangs and claws.

3. An acklay. A 10-foot lizard with pincers.

Geonosian picadors used spears to prod the trolls toward us.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," I said.

Obi-Wan told me to take the reek, and he would take the acklay. Apparently Padme's got the nexu.

Wait, the nexu? "What about Padme?"

"She seems to be on top of things," he replied.

Startled, I glanced toward Padme. She had picked the lock on one of her handcuffs and used the chain as a rope to climb to the top, where hopefully the nexu can't reach. So that's what she was hiding from them! A lock pick! Now she's fiddling around, trying to get free. Finally, I grinned.

The trolls charged.

The acklay headed straight for Obi-Wan. The reek charged at me, and with a graceful Force jump I evaded the charge and jumped onto the reek's back. Then I pulled the chain off.

So spectacular. If only Padme could see me now!

I very TCOishly used the Force to subdue the reek. Now you are mine for the taking!

Then I looped the broken chain around one of the reek's horns. The reek shook and strained against the chain. Great! Getting free of those cuffs won't take long.

Meanwhile, the nexu started climbing after Padme. This must have been the second time it did it, because it had clawed her already, knocking off a large strip of her clothing. She swung on the chain, did a 360, and kicked the nexu off the pole and onto the sand.

Above her, Nute Gunray was griping over Padme's kick. You go, girl.

Allow me, nexu, to finish you off! I prodded the reek toward the troll. It was about to climb up again when the reek collided with it, trampeling the beast. It paid for messin' with Texas!

Then I hollered to Padme, telling her to jump. She did. Moments later, Obi-Wan rushed over and boarded the reek.

That's two trolls down, one troll up.

Suddenly, shieldless droidekas started rolling out. We're dead.

OK, why haven't they started firing? Not like we're in any big hurry...