Will she still be there?
Will she be OK?
After the threats from the so called Arla, all she could think of was getting to Moon and hold her in her arms. At the same time, Okha’s mind was trying to assimilate everything she had just experienced. Arla, the unknown Mandalorian-clad female, knew what she was looking for. She was ready to attack and take what she needed by force. Somehow, she also knew where to find it, and that they would be there.
To add fuel to the fire, she identified herself as sharing that name: Arla. A name she had never heard before.
The worst part, she knew of Moon. Where she was, and her potential.
How is this possible?
How did this come to be?
Okha repeatedly asked herself as she scanned the room to count ten attackers surrounding her. As each of them readied a weapon, the so-called Arla calmly walked towards the Lab’s door with the portable droid in hand. That droid was containing all the data Dudeel had mustered from the facility’s mainframe. Every plan, every location, every test and whereabouts regarding the ultra-classified female clone army. As the attackers closed in, Okha found her helmet under a desk. It would be impossible for her to run to it in time before the nearest attacker would intercept.
Accepting death again as a possible outcome, Okha closed her eyes and tried to reach out to Moon. She felt nothing.
Suddenly, a panel on the side of the room blew open.
BOOOM!!
Emmaneld bursted out firing blasters at every possible attacker.
Reluctantly, the one now known as Arla, turned to spectate. She did not even flinch. Any stray hit on the female Mandalorian armor bounced right off.
Emmaneld could only manage to take down three of the attackers before the others got in close range. He quickly holstered the blaster and grabbed one of the melee weapons that were dropped and ignited the energy blades.
Okha had made the best of the opportunity, as she ran and grabbed her helmet. Getting home was everything to her. Nothing else mattered. Everyone else was just in the way. The data might have been important, but was not a priority to her. Okha ran towards the lab door only to find three attackers gang up. Each had melee weapons with energy blades. Okha drew her Westar-34 pistols, but one of the attackers quickly disarmed her by sweeping his blade right through them. Okha gasped as her heart sank. Not because her weapons were neutralized, but because of their significance. The pistols were entrusted to her by an old mentor. Someone who saw in her more than she ever did. In that instant, Okha experienced a flashback into that moment they were first given to her.
Boba.
Boba, you would be so disappointed in me.
She thought to herself as her eyes filled with tears.
Without any delay, Okha returned her focus to the matter at hand. She let go of what remained of the pistols and ignited her miniature flame projector. The closest attacker was engulfed in flames. Yelling and screaming, the attacker found himself at the other end of Emmaneld’s weapon. The others surrounding Okha took various steps back. This was her chance, and she knew it. The opening was almost large enough to get to the door. However, the remaining two attackers did not want to back out from the fight.
Emmaneld chimed in, “I got this, just go. I’ll hitch a ride with Dudeel.”
Okha did not like backing out of a fight, but did not hesitate in this case as she ran toward the door. A quick look around the corridor, and Okha noticed that Arla was nowhere to be seen. Although she was disappointed, the urgency to get home took over as Okha ran through the corridors straight to the landing pad where she left her ship, the Raven.
Home. I need to get home!
Suddenly, around the corner, two of those unusually large super battle droids came into view. With no time to spare, Okha ignited her rocket pack and took to flight. The two droids armed their blasters, and began to fire. She sped right through them.
Okha arrived at the landing platform, and bolted to her cloaked ship. The only visible part was the cargo ramp. However, the falling rain drops gave away most of the ship’s silhouette.
“Wait, where is Dudeel’s ship? “ Okha wondered to herself. They shared the landing pad, but it was nowhere to be seen. Looking around for a moment, she then decided not to waste time and continue to the Raven’s cockpit.
As she ran through the cargo hold area, she could hear her imprisoned Duro prisoner, Eeloh Ssaah in a taunting tone, “so, how did you like your little visit to Kamino?” His snickering face could almost be seen through the narrow slot on the cargo area door. He continued in a taunting fashion, “not quite what you were expecting, huh?” Okha tried to ignore him. However, what he had just said could not be ignored.
Wait… does he know?
What if he managed to relay information to those attackers?
In any case, she knew she would have to deal with him swiftly. And, it would have to wait. The urgency of getting home to Moon was all that mattered.
Running into the cockpit, she got all her systems up and running as fast as she could. Just as she began to take off, the Raven received a heavy laser blast that shook the entire ship.
BOOOOOM!!!
“WHAT?!?”
An unmarked vessel, circling around began unleashing weapons fire onto the Raven.
“NO!!!” Okha yelled.
“I don’t have time for this!!”
Okha knew she didn’t have anyone to man her turrets. Her only chance was to continue the lift off procedures and make the jump to hyperspace.
BOOOM!!!
As Okha reeled back from the impact, “I’ll just have to ram you!” as she set for a collision course with the unmarked vessel.
Suddenly, another ship emerged and began to draw its fire.
“Is… Is that…?”
“Dudeel!” Okha screamed in happiness, and paused.
“Dudeel?”, Confused, Okha realized their tiny know-it-all was not much for arming his ship. Nor getting into high-speed maneuvers. However, she’s glad he was proving her wrong.
Over the comms channel, Dudeel’s broken-up voice could be heard, “Go!! Get out of here! I’m waiting for Emmaneld…” Again, Okha seemed confused. Dudeel was not the one to care for anyone. Dudeel’s voice continued, “... he’s got my coveted high-powered blaster from Terrilia.”
Okha shook her head and broke a smile, “Thank you! Thank you, Dudeel!”
“NOW, GO!!!”
Okha proceeded to do something she never did as a bounty hunter: she punched in the coordinates straight to her home on Takodana. There was no time for the random jump sequence. Nor was she sure the ship would survive all this punishment. Once completed, she ignited the hyperdrive, “Let’s go Raven!!”
The hyperdrive engine rev’d.
Sputtered, then whined.
Nothing.
Looking through the flashing dashboard, Okha quickly realized the intercooler was not doing its job. Bypassing it would mean overheating the hyperdrive and probably losing the ship. Perhaps it would arrive. Perhaps it would not.
She quickly tore open a panel, switched the bypass as a few more hits from the unmarked vessel found their way onto the Raven’s hull.
More red lights and alarms began blaring through the vessel.
Suddenly, smoke and fire could be seen on the exterior.
“DAMN YOU FORCE!!” Okha slammed her fists onto the dashboard.
“If there ever was a time to be with me… BE WITH ME NOW!!!”
She knew the ship had sustained a large amount of damage. She knew her options were limited. Her faith in the force was laughable. However, after what she had experienced earlier today, she was ready to believe.
Dudeel’s voice came through once again, “What are you waiting for?!?!?”
“Force… if you are real… be with me now - or NEVER Bother me again!”
Dudeel’s voice came through the comms yet again, “Okhaaa….?!”
She turned off the comms. Reached for the hyperdrive, “Moon, I am coming home!”
The engine wailed and the entire ship shook like never before. Okha closed her eyes, as her thoughts dwelled on Moon and how much she needed to see her, one last time.
The unmarked vessel outmaneuvered Dudeel’s ship and had a clean shot at the sputtering Raven. In an instant, two large homing missiles were released. Dudeel’s eyes widened, “Okha!!! Get Out of There!!!” Just as the missiles were about to contact the hull, the Raven bolted out of sight.
Okha slowly opened her eyes to realize they had entered hyperspace and were inroute.
The ship continued to shake and sputter. She manually silenced the alarms that continued to blare. Although she could not see the ship’s exterior, she was certain parts of the hull were coming loose.
Perhaps this was a good opportunity to visit her Duro prisoner, Eeloh Ssaah.
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