The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire/Part 4

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
Chapters 1–3 | Chapters 4–6 | Chapters 7–9

## Chapter Ten

*Astrovious falls from the landing platform as the first transport shuttles reach it, hurtling towards the ocean below. He grabs onto a support beam, slips a bit, uses the Force to ensure his grip, and jumps from beam to beam until he’s under the transports. He ignites his lightsaber and cuts a hole through the platform and the floor of one of the shuttles, and jumps up behind the stormtroopers inside. He stabs and cuts the stormtroopers from behind. By the time they realize what’s going on, there are only three left, and they are swiftly dazed and force pushed away.*

*Torra continues shooting transports, avoiding the one he just saw Astrovious in. Astrovious makes sure to kill the shuttle pilots, and then exits to see Torra dealing with the other transports. A squad of clone troopers arrives to assist Torra, and Astrovious starts running back to the* Streller*.*

TORRA: Oh, hey clones? *(continues shooting)* Man, Aroa would be good help here!

*Back at the ship, Tracinya, who has been listening to power metal and upvoting the group's HoloNet posts, is oblivious to the battle raging outside.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Yeah, but we’ve got it under control, until more arrive...

FROSTWALKER: *(running up to Astrovious from the* Streller's *landing platform)* THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD GO!

ASTROVIOUS: Who are you?! *(points his blaster, now in pistol configuration, at the newcomer)*

*Torra screams a confused 'ahhh' as he continues shooting whatever the heck he sees in the sky.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Fej! Calm down, the transports are dealt with, don’t shoot the clones!

TORRA: *(over comms)* -I don't think I did... What are you guys doing now? Where the kriff are you?

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* I’m currently behind you, headed to the Streller, found someone pointing a gun at me.

FROSTWALKER: *(points twin WESTAR-35s back)* The name is Jonathax Frostwalker. My friends call me either Frosty or Jonax. Who in Chaos are you?

TORRA: *(over comms)* Okay, sounds normal enough right about now. I'm heading back, I'll get it ready to fly!

ASTROVIOUS: Now, I’m Astrovious, just call me Astro, you must be the merc the Kaminoan was talking about.

FROSTWALKER: I am. What of it?

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* I’m headed to the gunner position, in case they attempt to shoot us down!

FROSTWALKER: Wait! What should I do?!

ASTROVIOUS: You just come with, you could be useful.

FROSTWALKER: Alright Captain.

ASTROVIOUS: I’m not captain, that’s Grid, I’d assume you already met him. *(enters the* Streller *and readies the main cannons)* Cannons are manned Fej, it should be ready to fly!

TORRA: *(entering the ship)* Stay away from my eggs! That's what you should do! And what the kriff is that snarling sound coming from your neck?!

FROSTWALKER: *(as his cybernetic eye flashes red)* Nevermind about that.

TORRA: Where's Grid?!

FROSTWALKER: I met Grid.

ASTROVIOUS: Grid's in here, he’s got it ready, but he was hit, you’ll need to fly us out!

TORRA: Oi dewaiyeh... Let's try this flying thing.

FROSTWALKER: You got it. *(goes to the cockpit)* HANG ON!

ASTROVIOUS: Would you rather me fly?!

TORRA: *(follows Frostwalker to the cockpit and starts up the Streller, which begins to hover above the landing platform)* They sleeping through all this?

FROSTWALKER: *(already in the pilot's seat)* JUST SHUT UP AND LET ME FLY THE KARKING SHIP!

ASTROVIOUS: *(entering the cockpit)* You aren’t flying new guy!

*Gridlock, now awake, runs into the cockpit and throws Frostwalker out of his seat.*

GRIDLOCK: NO ONE FLIES MY SHIP!

FROSTWALKER: Do not touch me. *(his right eye flashes red again)*

*While Gridlock and Frostwalker argue, Torra grabs the controls to keep them from crashing. He barely knows how to turn, and the Streller spins half-out of control.*

TORRA: Ey, ey, EYYYY! ...You wanna fly this, Grid?

GRIDLOCK: Ok.

TORRA: Switchy switchify...

*Gridlock sits in the pilot's chair, while Fej switches to the co-pilot seat. The flying becomes good again. Astrovious begins blasting transports and fighters with the main cannons.*

ASTROVIOUS: Get us outta here!

GRIDLOCK: How is Aroa'yr sleeping through this?

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, I’m about to be overwhelmed if their attention is turned to us, we gotta go!

TORRA: Oof, we need the stabilizers! *(turns them on)*

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah! There we go! *(blasts more ships, misses here and there, but mainly hits)*

GRIDLOCK: Punch it Fej!

TORRA: I can't just 'punch it!' We need to set the Nav!

ASTROVIOUS: Uhh, there’s too many coming up on our rear! I can’t take them all! Unless... *(taps into the Force, makes one swift motion, and shoots down all the fighters in seconds)*

GRIDLOCK: Just put in some random coordinates. How about Tatooine?

ASTROVIOUS: Any planet works!

FROSTWALKER: Yes!

ASTROVIOUS: *(wondering at his own power)* Well, that happened. *(to the pilots)* Set the kriffin nav!

*Torra types in absolutely random numbers, and pulls the switch. The* Streller *jumps to Hyperspace right as a torpedo is fired at them, one second away from exploding.*

## Chapter Eleven

*Seeing that the* Streller *has made the jump to hyperspace, Astrovious slides down from the gunner's position. He heads to his room, and changes out of armor into comfortable clothes. The rest of the group follows suit and meets him in the living area.*

FROSTWALKER: Hyperspace...

GRIDLOCK: Safe at last!

*Torra passes out from exhaustion on the holochess table.*

ASTROVIOUS: Ah, now, who are you new guy?

FROSTWALKER: The name's Jonathax Frostwalker. My friends call me Jonax.

GRIDLOCK: Can I call you Frosty?

ASTROVIOUS: Ah, well, I’m Astro, there's Fej, and Grid, our other member slept through all that.

FROSTWALKER: Fine.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head)* What about me?

FROSTWALKER: *(under his breath, barely audible)* In time...

GRADLOCK: I think I will check our random coordinates.

FROSTWALKER: Well it’s good to meet y’all.

ASTROVIOUS: I’m our former Jedi, Grid is our pilot, Fej our researcher/copilot, Aroa'yr is our warrior with her face-eater.

GRIDLOCK: *(calling back from the cockpit)* I am more than just a pilot!

TORRA: *(waking up)* Hi.

FROSTWALKER: *(to Astrovious)* Face-eater?

ASTROVIOUS: *(calling to Gridlock)* Yes, Grid, I know, you’re also now our captain, that’s just the basics, like I’m more than just a former Jedi. *(to Frostwalker)* Yes, long story.

GRIDLOCK: *(entering the room)* I am also the kid of the crew. I am 14. Anyway, looks like we are headed to Tatooine.

FROSTWALKER: Tatooine? Good. Means more credits for “us”.

TORRA: *(to Frostwalker)* You may have not seen much of me, and no. I do not have a facial disorder. I am a Kel Dor. I have rules. Don't touch my stuff, don't touch my guns, don't touch my EGGS, and do NOT leave the refresher open!

ASTROVIOUS: Well Jonax, we should have two more cabins empty, one is by mine, the other is the co co captain cabin, you haven’t earned that yet, so go make yourself at home.

FROSTWALKER: Thank you for your hospitality. *(goes to check out his room)*

GRIDLOCK: I think I'll fix myself an omelet.

ASTROVIOUS: *(calling after Frostwalker)* And another rule for me, stay out of my room! I’ve got one object none of you have earned the right to see, yet.

GRIDLOCK: About my omelet: What flavors do you recommend, Fej?

TORRA: Not my eggs, I hope!

ASTROVIOUS: Hey Grid, you feel like cooking me something too, that’d be nice! Remember what happened last time I tried to cook? *(mimes an explosion)*

GRIDLOCK: Oh, the Omelet thing was to tick off Fej. However, I know a killer recipe for Ronto Wraps!

ASTROVIOUS: Food is food, as long as I’m not in the kitchen! Just call me when they’re done! *(exits the room)*

GRIDLOCK: *(to Torra)* What should I cook?

TORRA: Anything, as long as it's not my eggs.

*Gridlock gets to work in the kitchen. Astrovious heads into his room, cleans his blaster again, and looks at the object hidden from the crew in remorse. Meanwhile, Frostwalker looks around Cabin A.*

FROSTWALKER: \*Sigh\* Well looks like we are free, old friend.

RAVAGER: But for how long. Remember what happened to the Night Sentinels.

FROSTWALKER: Right. We will trust them... for now.

GRIDLOCK: *(over ship comms)* Ok, meal is ready! We have Ronto Wraps, some Blue Milk, Spicy Mando Stew, and some Chadian dressing as a condiment.

FROSTWALKER: *(walks into kitchen)* Good, I’m starving.

ASTROVIOUS: *(returns from his room, looking perfectly normal)* That looks good, better taste good!

TORRA: I'm not hungry.

GRIDLOCK: I've been wondering Fej, how do you eat?

TORRA: I eat with my mouth.

ASTROVIOUS: Suit yourself Fej. *(unholsters the gun from his chest, sets it next to his plate, sits down and starts eating)*

GRIDLOCK: I recommend the Wraps!

FROSTWALKER: *(smiling)* Mmmm. This is pretty good.

GRIDLOCK: You should probably dip the wraps into the Stew. It's good.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head)* Can I try some?

FROSTWALKER: *(aloud)* In a moment.

ASTROVIOUS: *(starts with wraps, moves to soup, then drinks milk)* Good as normal Grid!

GRIDLOCK: Fej, you need the mask. How do you breathe oxygen when you eat?

TORRA: Of course I need the mask. If I'm in a hurry I just hook it straight up to my bloodstream. *(pulls up an armor flap and shows a gaping scar with a tube)* If I want to enjoy my food, I go to my cabin and release Dorin gas, which also comes from my backpack. I have to seal up my cabin, though, so none gets out.

*While the others are talking about Kel Dor biology, Ravager sneaks a bite of Frostwalker's Ronto Wrap. Astrovious notices something “sneaking” food from Frostwalker, and makes a mental note.*

FROSTWALKER: Huh. Never seen a Kel Dor as a Mandalorian.

GRIDLOCK: Don't be speciesist.

TORRA: Oh yeah? Well you've seen it now.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, Fej is just as much one of us as the rest of us!

FROSTWALKER: Hey hey, I’m not being specieist.

GRIDLOCK: Good.

ASTROVIOUS: Well, where do you come from Jonax? We need to know you to trust you.

GRIDLOCK: Yeah FROSTY who are you really?

TORRA: Hmm?

FROSTWALKER: I was born from Mandalore. I ran away from home at 15, joined up with a pirate gang called the Night Sentinels. It didn’t end well. I went on my own. That’s my life in a nutshell.

GRIDLOCK: Oof, Frosty.

TORRA: Hey, Astro! A fellow actual Mandalorian!

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Frostwalker)* Well, since you don’t know mine, I was born Mandalorian, taken by the Jedi, abandoned as a padawan, hid on Korriban, trained by a Sith for about 10 years, joined these guys, that’s about it.

GRIDLOCK: I don't know where I was born.

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Torra)* Well Fej, I wouldn’t call myself an actual Mandalorian, sure I was born there, but I was raised a Jedi, then a Sith, I’ve just found a middle ground between them all.

FROSTWALKER: Hmmm... interesting. What’s your Clan and House, Astro. Mine is Clan Frostwalker, House Vizsla.

GRIDLOCK: Me and Fej are Clan Strell, House Strell.

ASTROVIOUS: I wouldn’t know, I don’t know anything from my life on Mandalore, now I’m just me, part Mandalorian, part Jedi, part Sith.

*The four Mandalorians continue to chat and enjoy their meal, celebrating their successful escape and crippling of the Imperial forces on Kamino.*

ASTROVIOUS: But how is Aroa'yr still sleeping through this?

## Chapter Twelve

GRIDLOCK: Did you guys like my meal?

FROSTWALKER: I did.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, it wasn’t bad, needed a bit more of a kick though.

GRIDLOCK: THAT'S WHY THE CHADIAN DRESSING WAS ON THE TABLE

FROSTWALKER: So... what’s next on the agenda? I don’t know about y’all but I feel pretty refreshed after that meal.

TORRA: May I suggest not going to these new 'Empire' controlled planets?

FROSTWALKER: I agree. It’s a bad idea for all of us.

ASTROVIOUS: Well, Tatooine is a wasteland, why would they waste their time there?

FROSTWALKER: *(as his cybernetic right eye starts flickering)* KRIFF!

ASTROVIOUS: Something wrong new guy?

FROSTWALKER: Yeah. My eye is just bothering me. Sometimes this thing just acts up for no reason. Maybe the power cell needs to be replaced.

GRIDLOCK: *(looks up from a datapad which he has been using to ping Tracinya)* I heard Aroa'yr is in self isolation.

ASTROVIOUS: Ah, what’d she catch?

GRIDLOCK: Blackwing or Blue Shadow Virus.

ASTROVIOUS: Ah, sounds pretty bad... and my cabin is right next to hers...

GRIDLOCK: I'm joking, guys. She has the common cold.

TORRA: Hope she doesn't infect my eggs. By the way, I'm taking over the machine room. Nice, roomy space for my stuff. Plus, the sounds of the engine remind me of my childhood on Dorin. The wind across the grains. Ah, nostalgia.

ASTROVIOUS: Ah, well, then we’ve got two extra rooms then, in case we pick up any other passengers on the way. *(eyes Jonax)*

FROSTWALKER: *(half-blind at this point due to his power cell running out of power)* Anyone got a spare power cell I can use?

ASTROVIOUS: Not one you can use, lightsaber needs it.

FROSTWALKER: Anyone else?

TORRA: All my power cells are in use. We have the labs, the incubators, the lamp, the mmshshmm... *(mumbles off counting his fingers)*

ASTROVIOUS: Well, since you aren’t one of us yet, you’ll have to earn that power cell.

GRIDLOCK: Yeah, you gotta prove you are a Son. But technically, Fej is is the eldest adopted son of Whit-Ke Strell, so he leads the trials.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, how should we test him Fej, my trials were easy for me, let’s make it a little challenging.

FROSTWALKER: *sigh* Can we at least land on Tatooine and go get any supplies we need?

GRIDLOCK: We are in Hyperspace. We will come out tomorrow morning.

ASTROVIOUS: Of course, and we can hold the trials there, can’t we?

FROSTWALKER: *(voice dripping with sarcasm)* Oh sure, let the half blind man try to fight.

TORRA: If he can stand us for a while, and prove through the code, he's a son.

GRIDLOCK: Oh, it's not JUST fighting.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head)* Remember to keep an eye on your temper.

FROSTWALKER: *(aloud)* Very funny.

TORRA: What was that? You calling our trials funny?

FROSTWALKER: No no. It’s something else. Some—Nevermind. I’ll take the trials.

GRIDLOCK: However, me and Fej sort of cheated the system, being the actual sons of Whit-Ke Strell.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, if it was just fighting, we’d put you against me or Aroa’yr, and you wouldn’t stand a chance.

GRIDLOCK: Or me.

TORRA: Hmm... *(brushes his mask, where his chin would be)*

ASTROVIOUS: Sorry grid, you know me and Aroa’yr are the best fighters we got, nothing against you of course.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head)* We could take them all on if you’ll let me.

FROSTWALKER: No. Let me take care of the trials.

GRIDLOCK: I'm the best at dogfighting.

ASTROVIOUS: That’s true, we couldn’t ask for a better pilot.

TORRA: I'm the best at.. egg.

ASTROVIOUS: As long as it’s not me in the pilot seat we’re good though.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head, sounding disdainful)* We could take them all on at once.

FROSTWALKER: I told you I WILL take care about it. You mind your own business.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head)* Fine.

ASTROVIOUS: What was that new guy?

OCTOLOGY: Who the kriff are you talking to?

GRIDLOCK: Was that a threat Frosty?

FROSTWALKER: No. No threat. It's... nothing. My thoughts are elsewhere.

ASTROVIOUS: Well get your head in the game, you don’t want to die in the trials like the last guy...

FROSTWALKER: What happened to him. We—er *ahem* I am curious.

TORRA: Great, our new recruit is deranged.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head)* That’s what he thinks.

FROSTWALKER: I’m not deranged nor am I schizophrenic.

GRIDLOCK: Well, you aren't doing much to plead that case.

TORRA: That's what they all say.

FROSTWALKER: So... when do I attempt the trials and Astro, what happened with the last guy?

ASTROVIOUS: Well, I don’t remember the last guy's name, but he wasn’t prepared, he died in the beginning, tragic really.

FROSTWALKER: Ah.

GRIDLOCK: Wasn't his name, like Kirk or something dumb like that?

TORRA: *(to Frostwalker)* Let's see what we can do on the ship. *(gets up out of his seat, and heads to his room)*

FROSTWALKER: What kind of trials are there?

ASTROVIOUS: They’re different for everyone, mine was centered around me surviving without my force training. Fej will think something up for you.

FROSTWALKER: Alright.

RAVAGER: *(in Frostwalker's head)* Well, this should be fun.

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
Chapters 1–3 | Chapters 4–6 | Chapters 7–9