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Clone Lieutenant Syxx rotated the gun of the modified Y-Wing and fired at the vulture droids tailing them.
Tholothian Jedi General Fol Ralmi called back, “Syxx! They’re still on us!”
“Yes General!” he replied, “Respectfully, it’s difficult to shoot when you keep rolling the fighter!”
“I’m trying to not get us shot!”
They were in the middle of space combat with the Separatists above Felucia, and were in the hot zone between the two cruisers trying to shake some fighters. They had completed a bombing run, and were trying to get back to the ship to reload.
Syxx focused on one fighter and blasted it. Its wing exploded and it spun off into one of its buddies.
“Nice shot Syxx! I got the last one.”
Ralmi cut the engines and let the fighter get ahead of her, then blasted it with the forward cannons.
“That’s the way!” Syxx exclaimed.
Ralmi laughed, “Now let’s get back to the cruiser!”
She guided the Y-Wing towards the cruiser, and Syxx swept the area. All clear. He and General Ralmi worked pretty well together. It was pretty unusual for a Jedi to pilot a bomber, but not unheard of. She liked to get her hands dirty. Syxx admired that.
Syxx then noticed one of the Separatist heavy cannons firing at them.
“General! LOOK OUT!”
The bolt hit the fighter, sending it spinning.
“KRIFF!”
“Report!”
“Heavy blaster fire to our engines!”
“I’ve lost control Syxx!”
Syxx could barely think from the spinning of the craft.
“This is General Ralmi and Yellow Leader to cruiser! We’re hit! We’re going down!”
There was a garbled response as the fighter spun towards the surface.
“General, it’s been an honor serving with you,” Syxx said.
“We’re not done yet Syxx! I’m going to try and guide the fighter with the force.”
“The whole fighter?! There’s no way you can…!”
Before Syxx could finish however, the craft had slowed to stop spinning, and was descending in less of an incline.
“I can’t slow it down, but at least this will give us a chance!”
“Ma’am?!”
“BRACE FOR IMPACT!”
Moments later, the fighter hit the ground, and Syxx’s world went dark.
Syxx groaned and shook his head. Then he panicked and braced himself against the control panel.
No crash came.
‘We’ve already crashed?’
He looked up and saw the bright Felucia sky above.
“General? You alright?”
No response.
“General?”
Syxx pushed on the canopy to avail.
“General?!”
He looked down at his blaster. He pulled it out and aimed it at the locking mechanism. Syxx closed his eyes and fired.
The latch exploded and the canopy lifted enough for him to pry it open.
He ripped off his helmet and clambered out.
Syxx yelped as he almost fell off the edge. Half of the fighter was overhanging a large gorge. Large enough that a fall would be fatal.
“General!” he called out again.
Syxx looked at the forward canopy. It was still closed.
“Kriff…”
He gazed over the edge one more time and sighed.
He crawled cautiously to the forward canopy, wincing at every creak and groan of the fighter shifting weight.
Syxx arrived at the forward, canopy, and peered inside. General Ralmi was still inside, and seemed to be unconscious.
Syxx knocked on the door to no avail. He tried knocking louder. Nothing.
He pounded on the canopy, and the fighter rocked forward some.
Syxx froze, and leaned forward to try and offset the balance.
He heard a knock.
Syxx looked down to see General Ralmi, eyes open, pushing on the button to leave.
“It’s no use! They’re fused shut!”
She gave a thumbs up and pulled out her lightsaber.
“Woah, wait General! Don’t…!”
Before he finished, she cut through the canopy and used the force to push it open.
The craft rocked heavily at this sudden commotion.
“Syxx…?!”
“We’re over a canyon ma’am, we need to move quickly, and carefully, before…”
The craft started sliding towards the gorge.
Syxx held onto the cockpit opening and waited for the fall, but was suddenly ripped up into the air.
He looked down and saw Ralmi jumping from the craft and lifting him with her. The starfighter then began to slip fully into the gorge.
Ralmi seemed to glide over to the ridge, but when she landed, she cried out in pain, losing concentration. Syxx now found himself falling to the edge of the cliff.
“No no no no no no!”
He grabbed the edge and began losing his grip, grappling to stay on the edge.
Syxx almost fell, but felt an invisible force grab him and lift him to safety.
A crash was heard from below.
As he was set down, Ralmi asked, “Are you okay?”
Syxx sighed, “Yeah… fine now. Thanks. You?”
Ralmi replied, “Just fine,” but as she attempted to stand, she collapsed again. She groaned and clutched her leg.
Syxx moved towards her and inspected it.
He was no medic, but he was pretty sure he knew what was wrong.
“I think it’s broken,” he said.
Ralmi scoffed, “No… it’s fine, just need to walk it…” she attempted to stand again and cried out before collapsing again.
“Okay maybe it is broken.”
Syxx scratched his head, “Alright then. I’ll find something to use as a splint. But what are we doing to get back to the Republic? What are your orders General?”
Ralmi looked up at the cruisers near the atmosphere. They were plainly visible from the ground, still in combat.
“We should get into the gorge and set up a distress beacon. Then the cruiser will know where to send a rescue team, and…”
But before she finished her sentence, the Republic cruiser turned slightly and went into hyperspace.
“Kriff…” Syxx said.
Ralmi groaned, “It’s… fine. It’s fine. Now we just need to boost the signal to reach past the system. Shouldn’t be too hard…”
Syxx walked away to find some flora stiff enough for splints. His head was pounding still from the shock of the crash, and now was swimming with thoughts.
‘What if we never get off this rock?’
‘How will we live?’
‘What will we do?’
‘I’m not built for anything beyond combat.’
‘Stop. Just trust the General.’
He struggled to find something that could fit her leg. Every plant was the size of a gunship here. He found the smallest pieces he could find and walked back with them.
“This is the best I could…”
Syxx stopped as he saw the General hobbling on one knee and holding vines.
“Syxx, I think I found a way to…” she stepped forward again and groaned, falling forward. Syxx dropped the plants and caught her, lifting her off the ground ever so slightly.
“Ow… thanks.”
“Of course, General, now stop standing on your leg.”
Ralmi scoffed, “And what? Crawl around everywhere?”
Syxx made a quick judgement and picked her up.
“Woah! Hey there trooper!”
“Now you’re off the leg.”
Ralmi looked embarrassed as he took her to some shade. Syxx put her down gently and retrieved the plant pieces.
“They’re too big,” he said, “It’s the best I could find.”
“No worries,” Ralmi replied. She ignited her lightsaber and cut the pieces down to size. The emerald blade retracted, and she gestured to the now properly sized flora, “Splint away Syxx.”
Syxx got to work, and Ralmi leaned back a little bit.
“Ow…”
“Sorry. I won’t be able to do anything about the pain.”
“I know… I’ll just think of something to take my mind off of it.”
She looked over his face, and he said, “It’s nothing interesting to look at ma’am. Same as the rest of the clones.”
“That’s not true. All of you make yourselves unique. Like that tattoo,” she pointed at his large face tattoo.
It was the galactic numerical for the number six.
“Both my names. Syxx, and 6066.”
“I get it. That’s actually clever!” Ralmi rubbed some dirt off of his face while looking at it.
Syxx stiffened slightly, and she said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to… That was weird of me.”
“No, it’s fine, I just… I’m not used to being around the Jedi generals. They don’t usually go hands on with the pilots.”
“I like to be on the frontlines, not that I did much good this time.”
“We had a successful run! What are you talking about?”
It was at this point the General finally let her frustrations out.
“I wrecked the freaking fighter Syxx! Now we’re stuck on Felucia with no way to leave, force knows when the Republic will be back, and my stupid leg is broken!”
She kicked with it and cried out.
“Hey! Stop! You’re going to make it worse. You don’t want to be more hurt, do you?”
Ralmi sighed, “No. I’m sorry Syxx.”
“I understand General. We’ll get out of this. Somehow.”
He finished with the splint and said, “Alright. Did you have a plan for getting down there?”
“We have to use those vines to climb down to the fighter, and see if we can salvage the distress beacon,” Ralmi answered.
Syxx said, “We? You can’t climb. You’ll have to stay here.”
“And let you go by yourself? No chance.”
She stood and remained for a second before falling back into Syxx’s arms again.
Ralmi fumed and looked up at Syxx, “I’m going with you.”
Syxx looked her over and then said, “Alright.”
Ralmi’s eyebrow cocked, “Alright? Just like that?”
“Yep.”
He walked over to some vines and tied them together, all the while Ralmi asking him what his plan was.
Finally, when he finished, he tied them around his waist and checked to make sure they were secure.
“C’mon Syxx! What’re you doing?”
“We’re going into the gorge.”
Syxx then picked up the General and put her on his back.
“Woah woah woah… I hope we’re not doing what I think we are.”
Syxx walked towards the edge, breathed heavily, and began to rappel down using the vines.
“WOAH!!”
Ralmi clutched his chest tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.
Syxx slowed his pace a bit, and said, “I won’t drop you.”
“Shut up Lieutenant,” she said in a muffled voice.
He continued down the slope and felt her face lift.
“Oh wow…” Ralmi breathed, “Despite everything, this view is actually beautiful. Have you looked?”
Syxx looked at the horizon. The sun was setting and making the sky an interesting tan hue. Local fauna soared through the air, almost dancing through the gorge.
“Yeah, I guess it does look nice.”
“You don’t look at nature a lot, do you?”
Syxx tilted his head nonchalantly, “I’m usually in space. Most nature I’ve seen up close is a few of the parks on Coruscant.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Yeah well, I guess I’ll be getting my fill for the time being, eh?”
Eventually they arrived at the bottom. Ralmi said, “Okay, put me down.”
“So, you can do what? Sit?”
Ralmi was quiet for a second, then said, “This is just embarrassing.”
Syxx chuckled and continued carrying her to the crash site.
The fighter was fairly slagged. Not much left of it other than parts. Syxx set Ralmi down and set off to look for the transponder.
“Do you know what you’re looking for?” Ralmi asked.
“I fly these for a living General. Of course I do.”
Syxx rummaged through the wreckage until he heard found where the transponder should be.
It was gone.
He looked around, and a few yards away the transponder was lying in the mud. He picked it up and looked it over. It was damaged. He pressed the activation switch.
Nothing happened.
“Kriff.”
Syxx walked the transponder back over to Ralmi, “I found it General, but it’s fried. I may know what it looks like, but I don’t know if I could fix it.”
Ralmi looked it over, then moved herself gingerly to where it sat.
“I think I can…” she muttered, “Just give me a bit.”
“I’ll secure the area,” Syxx said.
He stood and began to walk away, and Ralmi called after him, “Syxx!”
“Yes General?”
“My name is Fol Ralmi. If we’re going to be stuck together for a while, we can drop the titles.”
Syxx nodded, “Understood, Ralmi.”
She smiled and went back to her tinkering.
Syxx’s eyes lingered on her for a second longer.
‘Maybe this isn’t so bad after all…’