Survival: A Star Wars The Clone Wars Story

Chapter 1

'How would they escape this time?' thought Jedi Master Luminara Unduli to herself.

While making a supply run to an outpost in the outer rim, Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee had unfortunately come across a patrol of Vulture droids that had literally torn the ship in half. Now, they were destined to crash-land on the nearest world.

"Master, we are coming down to fast! Those vulture droids did some serious damage to the main systems. Even if we survive this crash the ship will be beyond repair! We will have no way of communicating to anyone. No longer do we have: our entire crew, most of the supply containers, and the other half of the ship!" said Barriss as she desperately flicked levers and stabbed buttons, in the hope they might do something that could increase their chance of surviving the crash. Warning lights radiated on every panel and sirens blared from all directions. They had to yell to hear each other.

"Clear your head padawan, think more positively. Without a clear mind you cannot focus, and focus will increase your chance of survival." Luminara shouted back. She was now working on trying to open what was left of the wing flaps and anything else that could possibly decrease their speed. "For example, we'll still be able to use whatever supplies are left and we might be able to make a transmitter of some kind."

"It's a little difficult to clear my mind right now, with all the warning sirens, oh, and the fact we are currently on a direct course to crash-land on Lola Sayu, where the Citadel Prison is located, which is specifically designed for holding Jedi! How are we going to stay out of their reach until someone rescues us, if someone does come looking for us. As for a transmitter, this is Separatist occupied space! They monitor everything that happens in this sector, all it will do is draw attention to us. Although it probably won't make a difference, they are bound notice a blazing ship crash-land in their territory."

"Well, let's just hope they think it's a meteor, those battle droids aren't exactly very intelligent, just focus on the ship," replied Luminara.

The ball of inferno, barely recognizable as a ship, was now hurtling towards the barren, dusty, volcanic world of Lola Sayu at an incredible speed. The ship screeched as pieces of the hull and wings were torn off it and thrown away in all directions, to add to that, there was a large crack forming in the main view port where it had been hit by one. Inside the ship the heat from the burning ship was becoming intense and their long, Mirialan robes really weren't helping the situation. The shadowy, purple landscape growing larger with every second. Every detail in the rocks, every bend in the rivers of bright, golden lava increasing in size.

"Right, of course, the crash-landing, how could I have forgotten."

Luminara ignored her padawans sarcastic remark. She was too busy thinking about a way they could survive the crash. If they stayed on the ship they would be killed in the impact. The ship was coming down much too fast. They could make it if they jumped off before it hit the ground. Any supplies that survived the crash they would have to use. Then there were the wild Anoobas that they would have to worry about, the viscous, blood-hungry animals that had caused the death of Jedi Master Even Piell. They would have to jump; it was the only way to make it off the flaming carcass of the ship alive.

"When we get close enough we will jump off the ship, as far away as possible. That's our only way of survival."

"Got it." said Barriss, like jumping off burning ships was something she did every day. Because they were Jedi, they could use the force to enhance their abilities. They could jump great distances without using much energy.

There was nothing more they could do with the ship. Luminara dashed out of the cockpit through the corridors to the nearest exit, Barriss following closely behind her. Sparks were flying like tiny glowworms all around their heads and beads of sweat were glistening on their faces. Reaching the way out, Luminara whipped out her lightsaber and ignited the emerald blade, all in the blink of an eye. She then thrust it into the airlock door and cut a large oval and used the force to push it out of the way, sending it tumbling down to the ground below, which was now less than 500 metres below them. Carefully, they climbed out of the hole and frantically clutched the side of the ship as it plummeted to the surface, waiting for the right moment to leap off it.

Now outside the ship, Barriss could see the surroundings properly. The planet was like a purple version of Hell, the dark clouds let barely any light through so the planet's surface was a sea of shadows. On the horizon a mountain range was visible. Each mountain was like a tall, sharp spike and there was a river of lava in front of it, which carried on to the west. Below them was another river that zig-zagged through the purple, dusty landscape like a toddler cutting through paper. The golden lava thrashed ferociously against the sides of the ravine, spitting fire in its wake. Following the river with her eyes she saw at the end of it, a dam. The Citadel.

The ground was less than 200 metres below them now, and closing fast. The ship was going to crash into a mountain and they were going to have to land at the foot of the mountain, next to the zig-zagging river. The moment was drawing closer, the moment when they would have to leap off the dying space-craft.

"Are you ready?" Yelled Luminara, her voice fighting a losing battle against the wind gushing past them.

Barriss nodded in reply. 'Any second now...' she thought to herself.

3...

2...

1...

"JUMP!"