Ask Dantooine A Return to Order

[Jonas Syl]

Dantooine​

The Famers that occupied the land around the old Jedi Temple complex had not had an easy time of it the last few years. The battle that resulted in the Jedi being pushed off the planet had been a hard thing to recover from. Things had only been made more difficult under the Sith Empire's rule. Today they had a chance to make their lives a little easier. The Jedi had begun returning to the world now that they were independent.

Dantooine's fledging government was struggling to keep order in its more remote territories. Pirates had moved in, hoping to capitalize on the lack of authority in the area to make a few quick credits. Such a group had been plaguing the nearby farmers, levying an increasingly heavy "tax" on them. Some had refused and had their fields burned and their livestock killed.

The Order had dispatched one Jedi Knight and a droid to the area to bring order back to the area.

Jonas Syl peeked out the window of the house he had been occupying the last several days. His partner had just joined him. He had been told the pirates would be returning today to collect their tax though he had not seen anyone approach yet.

"Hello, friend," he spoke to the droid. It was unusual to have been assigned a robot partner, Jonas was not used to working with someone he couldn't sense in the Force, but he had no qualms about machines. "I'm Jonas. Is there something I can call you?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Knight-Bot]

"IDENTIFICATION: I am called Knight-Bot. I believe the moniker began as a joke but quickly became my usual designation." the Jedi Droid explained to Jonas, after surveying the farmhouse they were staying in. The Nikto children that lived here on the homestead seemed to find the tall robot with the lightsaber, half-finished paintjob, and stilted manner of speaking very amusing but, for the life of him, Knight-Bot couldn't see the reason why. After all, he was a most serious droid in service to the greatest of all organizations, the Jedi Order. One would think he would command the same level of respect as a Jedi Master or, at the very least, a Knight.

Their parents, the farmers, seemed to be appreciative for the Jedi assistance at any rate. They had been explaining to Knight-Bot that their family had settled here generations ago, after escaping Hutt slavery. Knight-Bot found their description of their ancestor's enslaved status to be very interesting, considering it sounded an awful lot like the arrangement he had with the Jedi Order in that he wasn't paid and obeyed their commands. He filed that thought away for future reference. Perhaps a day rate could be arranged for one so significant as he, droid or not. In the meantime, there were introductions to be made and tactics to plan.

"I recognize your name from the records at the Jedi Order, IDENTIFICATION: Jonas Syl. Your sessions in the Jedi training room seem most impressive. If you are looking for more of a challenge, I am happy to arrange a duel between us. I have been modified by Jedi Master, Drow Venn and the Temple engineers to be the most capable lightsaber training droid the Order has to offer." Knight-Bot explained, a not of pride affecting his tone as he related his impressive nature to Jonas.

"OPINION: I am delighted to be on this mission with you. The Temple engineers feel as though it will be most beneficial for me to experience more real world combat, to better perfect my combat programming." the robot said. The last of his sentence was cut off somewhat by the sounds of an engine roaring overhead. Evidently, the pirates had returned to collect their tithings. A space yacht flanked by three old Imperial TIE fighters with skull patterning painted on their wings flew by before landing in a nearby field. The farmers of the community saw them and began fleeing, finishing up their chores, and heading indoors. A couple of old-timers kept their eye on the house that the Jedi were staying at, eager to see what was about to happen.

"IDENTFICATION: The ship that just flew by is a Stinger class XL yacht has just landed. How do you want to proceed, sir?"

@Raydo

 

[Jonas Syl]

He tucked his arms in his sleeves as the droid introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, Knight Bot. Fascinating, indeed," he spoke, looking the droid up and down. "Perhaps I will take you up on your offer of training when we get the temple re-established," he said with a nod.

"Hopefully, we will not see combat today. A Jedi, droid or otherwise, should always seek peaceful resolutions when possible," he said, not able to resist the time-old tradition of Jedi's lecturing those around them. "But if it comes down to violence, I would gladly fight by your side," he said, reaching out and placing a hand on the droid's outer metallic arm and smiling.

"Say what you want about these pirates, but they are punctual," he said. They had arrived right when the villagers had said they would.

"Let's go out and meets these so-called pirates," he said, moving to the door. He wanted this to happen outside the village where there was less chance for collateral damage, even if it meant putting the two of them in a bit more danger. They would be exposed, but they were not defenseless in the slightest.

Knight-Bot was intimidating looking; he hoped it would serve them and not make negotiations more difficult. They stepped out as the group of thugs approached the town on speeder bikes.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Knight-Bot]

Knight-Bot walked in step with Jonas as they approached the yacht. The pirates, evidently, had been doing quite well for themselves as they were all decked out in the gaudiest of Lashaa silks, windcrystal bling, and Cerean headwraps. Either that or they were desperately trying to project the fact that.

Their captain was, surprisingly, the smallest among them. A Drabatan female with a cybernetic eye, she nonetheless struck a commanding presence in the meadow as she disembarked from the yacht with her crew. Gammorreans, Corellians, Whiphids, Rodians, they all towered over her and yet, seemed to look at her for guidance when the two strange figures; a robed man and an old Imperial war droid came marching their way.

"What's all this then? This village too scared to hand over my tax in person? They have to send a third party to do it?" the Drabatan captain demanded, putting her hand on the hilt of her vibrocutlass.

@Raydo

 

[Jonas Syl]

Jonas walked quietly out to meet the pirates, his hood up for the moment. "A little rich for pirates, huh?" he commented to Knight-Bot. They must have been using the food shortages to maximize their profits and likely plaguing farms all over the region.

"Hello, Friends." He said, lowing his hood and smiling. "I am Jedi Knight Jonas Syl, and this," he said, gesturing to the droid. "Is Knight-Bot," he said in greeting.

"Sadly, these villagers and the rest of the farmers are done paying your tax. We have no wish for violence, but the Jedi Order once again protects these people," he said.

The pirate captain laughed, tilting her head back and spitting into the air as she cackled. "You ever seen a Jedi robot before? This guy is hilarious! It almost makes me not want to kill him...almost." she said, leveling predatory eyes on Jonas. "I don't even think this guy is a Jedi; probably some farmer who found a battle droid and an oversized cloak. Run home, guy; you pay your share, and we won't have problems." she finished.

"I assure you, we are both quite ready to defend ourselves and this village if need be," Jonas said, reaching in his cloak and placing a hand on his lightsaber.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Knight-Bot]

Jonas made a measured and rational appeal for peace. Unfortunately, many of these pirates had grown used to not listening to people they considered beneath them. As soon as Jonas began speaking, some of the pirates begun to laugh or zone off. One particularly lanky pirate was distracted by Knight-Bot and the lightsaber attached to him.

"Hey, Captain, check it out! This robot really does have a laser sword. Let me see if this thing still works" the lanky pirate cackled as he confidently walked towards Knight-Bot, reaching his hand to try and remove the lightsaber. Unfortunately for him, Drow had programmed a few Gammorrean wrestling moves into Knight-Bot. Evidently, the old Jedi Master had a sense of humor.

In one fluid motion, Knight-Bot broke the lanky pirate's arm and set him on the ground. The screaming jolted the corsairs into action, as they readied their blasters and vibroblades. After neutralizing the pirate, Knight-Bot drew his lightsaber and activated it. Though he stood his ground, he also calculated the trajectory of the closest building to them, an old barn. The Jedi were outnumbered and while Knight-Bot had the ability to block a few blaster bolts coming his way, he was aware that he would probably need to run to cover to survive a full onslaught. That, or Jonas would have to do something rather clever.

"WARNING: You were politely given a chance to leave. Consider this man's broken limb your second warning." Knight-Bot told the pirate crew assembled before them. The pirates were looking back and forth at the Jedi and at their captain. They outnumbered them 15-1 and yet, there was the shadow of fear in their eyes...

@Raydo

 

[Jonas Syl]

Jonas could sense the tension growing; the pirates clearly not taking the Jedi Knight seriously. One approached Knight Bot, and before Jonas could react, Knight Bot had broken the pirate's arm. Jonas, not used to working with droids, struggled with not being able to read his partner through the Force.

This got everyone's attention; blasters were drawn and pointed at both Jedi. Jonas' lightsaber was in his hand in an instant, the blue blade lighting up his face as he stared down the group.

"This doesn't have to escalate further," he said, reaching out to the Force, trying to calm the emotions of the pirates. For the moment, it seemed to work. The pirates froze, unsure how to proceed as they settled into a standoff.

The Pirate Captain finally broke the silence, "This village now owes us double! If we aren't paid, farms will burn, not just these farms." she said coldly. Jonas sensed the truth in her words; this was a woman who would have no issue following through on her promise.

As Jonas was about to reply, a farmer ran out with a long blaster rifle. "You aren't going to take anything else from us!" the man shouted. The pirate captain growled and raised a blaster toward the farmer. Jonas reacted quickly, using the Force to push the captain backward. Chaos erupted as Jonas jumped backward to defend the pair. "Get the farmer to safety!" he said to Knight Bot as he deflected a shot into the ground.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Knight-Bot]

"Affirmative." Knight-Bot replied calmly, despite the situation. Steadying himself, he braced his left arm with his right and fired his wrist mounted repulsor cannon at the crowd of pirates. Bunching up together may make you look more intimidating but it also leaves you vulnerable to crowd-dispersing weapons.

The repulsor blast hit the pirates, knocking some down and making others stumble. It provided a brief lull enough for Knight-Bot to grab the farmer's hand and pull him to safety. Incredibly, the farmer actually managed to put one of the pirates down with a shot from his rifle before he was yanked by the Jedi Droid. Knight-Bot headed towards the barn, trusting Jonas to be able to keep laser blasts and pirates off their back.

"DECLARATION: Your courage is to be admired. But I'd recommend taking cover until this combat is over." Knight-Bot advised the farmer.

@Raydo

 

[Jonas Syl]

The blast from the droid's weapon scattered the group slightly and bought them a few precious seconds. He positioned himself to cover the droid and the farmer.

Blaster fire erupted as the group recovered. Jonas' blade hummed as it spun in the air. Most of the shots were deflected off to the side or into the ground, but he angled several back toward the group of pirates.

Several of them fell as their fire was deflected back at them. They needed to press their attack. At range, they were at a disadvantage. Eventually, a shot would make it through Jonas' defense.

Hopefully buying Knight-Bot enough time to get the farmer back, he sprinted at the group. Dodging past blaster bolts when he could and deflecting the ones he couldn't.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Knight-Bot]

A few pirates peeled off from the main group and followed Knight Bot and the farmer into the barn. Unfortunately for them, a quick blast from Knight-Bot's shock arm and a few other blasts from the farmer's rifle quickly put them down for the count.

Knight-Bot advised the farmer to hide and, barring that, to at least take cover in the barn's elevated position if he really wanted to help out before heading back outside to help Jonas.

At this point, the pirates were quickly beginning to buckle, now being attacked by skilled lightsaber wielders from two different sides and having to deal with the farmers potshots from the barn. It seemed clear to Knight-Bot that the pirates were far more used to intimidating those who couldn't fight back versus actual opponents. And yet they didn't retreat, despite their resolve wavering. It seemed they feared their captain more than the Jedi.

Speaking of which, the captain, with a ferocious war cry launched her small frame at Jonas, swinging her vibrocutlass with surprising strength and clear skill.

@Raydo

 

[Jonas Syl]

Jonas continued defending the retreating farmer, occasionally able to deflect shots back into his attackers. With each second, the fight turned more and more in favor of the Jedi.

The Captain charged Jonas, swinging her swords. He jumped back from the first blow, but she kept pressing her attack. Jonas had to block with his blade in the next attack, sending sparks flying. Jonas pushed the attack into the ground and started his own series of attacks. The captain, to her credit, parried each attack.

Several of the pirates lined up shots at Jonas' back. It would be hard for him to defend against the ranged blasters of the pirates and keep the captain at bay even as she started another flurry of strikes.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Knight-Bot]

With potshots from the farmer, repulsorblasts and saber swings from Knight-Bot, and Jonas taking on the pirate captain, the battle did indeed look like it was going the way of the Jedi. This was even further exacerbated by some more farmers, wielding antique rifles and agricultural equipment getting inspired by the Jedi's defense and attacking the pirates themselves.

That being said, the battle wasn't over just yet. One of the pirates cut his losses, hopped into his starfighter and actually took off. Two others managed to stand on a few stacked up cargo crates and put up a steady barrage of blasterfire towards Jonas from the high ground. Of course, this was before Knight-Bot burst through the crate pile, sending them toppling. They scrambled to get up but Knight-Bot mechanically decapitated them both with one calculated saber move.

"I surrender." the Drabatan captain grimaced at Jonas, as one final swing from his lightsaber smoothly disarmed her. It was up to the Jedi what to do with her; Knight-Bot stood over the bodies of the pirates he'd just slain while the farmers held the few surviving pirates up at blasterpoint.

@Raydo

 

[Jonas Syl]

As Knight-Bot neutralized the other pirates, Jonas was free to push his attack. He blocked one blow from the Captain and wrenched the weapon free from her hand with the Force.

She looked around, her force either gone or dead, before growling in frustration. He paused for a moment before moving forward to apprehend her. She was in no further danger if she didn't pose any more danger from the two Jedi.

"Radio the governor." he told Knight-Bot. "Inform them we have the individuals they have been searching for" he said. Once they were in the authority's hands, Jonas would retreat to the town, checking on the townspeople.

Their mission was a success, the pirates had been dealt with, and the area was a little safer for the people of Dantooine.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Knight-Bot]

"Affirmative." Knight-Bot told Jonas, recording the Jedi Knight's impressive disarming of the Drabatan captain into his databanks. He'd have to try that particular maneuver during his next training session with a Jedi. He did as Jonas insisted and radioed the governor, their mission now completed.

Pleased that he could be of use to the Order, Knight-Bot accompanied Jonas back to the celebrating village. The villagers insisted on toasting Knight-Bot as one of their heroes, along with Jonas, even though the lightsaber training droid insisted that he had only done as programmed. That being said, he allowed the children of the village to paint his shoulder pauldron with the two stripes that made up the flag of Dantooine and found something resembling pride running through his circuit.

They had done good today.

@Raydo