23 Unexpected fortunes.

"Who are you? And what business do you have here?" Plo Koon asked, shaking his lightsaber before him.

"Relax. If I wanted to kill you, I'd have blown your pod out from a mile away.

I am Walker, Jay Walker, researcher, scientist, inventor, and for you, a philanthropist. I got a distress signal from a pod some ways out there and came to check. See if I could help."

"Or this could be a trap!" Plo replied.

"Well, if you don't want to be rescued.... " I said, turning around and leaning one foot off the ledge.

"NO! WAIT!" A clone trooper cried in desperation.

I turned around, raising an eyebrow.

"What I mean is..... " The trooper, hesitated, turning to Plo Koon, "General, please reconsider. We can't just wait here. I know for a fact no one is going to come and rescue us. We're just clones. We don't matter to the republic. This might be our only chance out of here."

"Besides, sir, we need to get information about this new weapon to the republic forces. We can't die here! " Another trooper begged.

Finally, Plo Koon relented, giving me a side eye, and shut his lightsaber off.

Bowing deep, he requested.

"Please help us, Scientist Walker."

"See, wasn't so hard to ask for help politely, was it now?" I said, when suddenly, the transmitter in the pod began to buzz.

Looks like Skywalker is already here.

Too bad I got to them first, and no way in hell am I letting my cash cow walk off that easy.

I tapped on the pod, shutting off their transmission system in the pod with my technokinesis.

Now no one will find them except me.

But just in case, I traced back the signal to Skywalker's ship, and sent their location to the Malevolence, in secret, before disbling all functions on the pod, hiding us.

In the distance, the Malevolence turned facing Skywalker's ship, and prepared their guns to fire.

Seeing this, Skywalker would no doubt turn his ship around and return, especially since in the brief contact I had with their comms, I detected a transmission from Obi Wan Kenobi in the call logs, probably ordering him to retreat.

That should buy me a couple more minutes.

Immediately I called my van over, while they got ready to drag their conrades put from the pod.

My van arrived beside the pod, and I entered from the front and activated the permeable forcefield on the back, before opening the door for them.

"It's a bit cramped." One trooper complained, as they stuffed themselves in.

"It is my personal research vessel. It's meant to carry small samples and my bare bones lab in it." I excused, "It's not regularly put up on rescue duty."

"Where are you from? Where is this ship from? I have never seen this model or make. Even the armor you wear...." Plo Koon inquired.

"I'm from an outer rim colony. You wouldn't even know the name. It was that small. That's why I wanted to get out of there. Learn how the world works. See the stars up close. And so....came the ship and armor." I explained, spinning up a tale for my new backstory, "I made them myself, from the trash I could salvage on my planet."

"That is admirable. What do you study?" Plo asked.

"Right now, I'm studying the regenerative capabilities of this one species I found on a hidden world.

You see that brain in a jar behind you?

That's one of theirs. Attacked me while I was surveying their planet."

Plo Koon turned around, and saw Claire's brain tucked away below the seat, behind him.

"And now," I continued, making small talk, as I escaped the vicinity of the Abregado system, "I was heading for a nebula close by. I heard it was a nesting spot for neebray mantas."

"The Balmorra Run? That is a dangerous region. I'd advise against it!" Plo Koon warned.

"Don't worry. I'm not taking you guys along. I'll drop you off at a republic base before returning.' I assured.

"No no. You misunderstand. You shouldn't go there either, even more so alone." He insisted.

"Well, it's not your life to live is it? If I die, I die!" I smiled, and before he could argue, I continued, "Say, where should I drop you guys off to? Do you have an address? Coordinates? Anything?"

Plo Koon sighed, and shook his head, while a trooper gave me a set of coordinates.

Putting them into the newly reclaimed navigation system, I activated my FTL drive, and jumped through space.

Seconds later, we appeared out of warp, and arrived before a large host of Republic warships, passing over us like new gods.

I looked up at them in awe, as a greedy voice cried within me.

Take them. Take them all.

I shook my head.

No. Not yet. I had to play this right. Make connections first. Then infiltrate. And finally, take over the galaxy!

While I was lost in admiration, a hail came for us, rousing me from my daydreams.

Patching it through, a man in a uniform appeared on the holo screen.

"This is Republican Admiral Wullf Yularen. Unknown vessel, identify yourself." He announced.

"This is the Virdarshini, under Jay Walker. I'm here with rescued republic soldiers and a jedi master, Plo Koon. Requesting permission to board." I replied.

Plo Koon came forward, showing his face supporting my argument.

"Understood. You're cleared to land in bay 12."

I guided the ship down the landing tracks, settling it in the alotted space, as the troppers in the bay surrounded us, guns akimbo, ready to shoot.

I looked at Plo Koon and pointed at the soldiers.

"What are we going to do about that?" I asked.

"Nothing. They're just being cautious. I'll deal with them. Open the door." He ordered.

"Sure. Just make sure I don't get turned into braised human." I joked, opening the doors, and undoing the forcefield.

Plo Koon jumped out of the van, followed by the other troopers and raised a hand at the soldiers.

"Everyone. Stand down." He announced, causing the troops to lower their guns, "And call medics. We have injured troops. And get our guest a room. He saved our lives at the risk of his own. He's a hero. Treat him as such."

Now to play my cards right. I am still on a time crunch. I have to get back to the Malevolence before they pack up shop and leave, denying me my real rewards.

"No need." I replied, acting genial, "Didn't do it for a reward. I have places to be. So if you could get me cleared for take off, I'll leave already."

"Nonsense." A voice came from above, as admiral Yularen descended the elevator, "You've saved one of our generals. We can't let you go off without a reward."

Now this is getting excessive!

I was planning on using this favor to negotiate a king's ransom later on, but if I take a reward, I'll even lose that opportunity.

And that would truly be a loss.

"Fine then. I'll take some rations. I was running low anyways. That should be enough right?" I replied.

"Is that all? Don't you want something more?" Yularen asked, intrigued and naturally, suspicious.

I wouldn't blame him.

If someone saved a general and didn't ask for a reward, I'd have them tortured as a spy, first thing.

"Is it so odd that I want to mind my own business and not get involved in your civil war? I'm a researcher, not a fighter. I like to keep my distance from wars and politics."

"You fight pretty well for a researcher." Plo Koon said, rousing Yularen's curiousity even more.

This is bad.

"In the outer rims, you learn to fight, whether you want to or not. It's a law of life out there." I said, handwaving his suspicions away.

"You're from the outer rim? And you don't want a reward, just rations?" Yularen asked, taking a step closer, inspecting me with even greater suspicion.

"Not everyone from the outer rim is a money grubbing criminal, y'know?" I said, acting offended, "Besides, shouldn't you be happy I'm not asking for much? Consevring resources is important in wars, isn't it? Or would you rather I ask for an arm and a leg?"

"Honestly? That would be much more reassuring." Yularen replied with a playful smile.

"Fine. I'll ask for something big.....um..." I acted like I was thinking hard, tapping my fingers on the door.

In truth, I had already planned to do this, just not right now.

"Um...you aren't going to haul those destroyed ships in Abregado for repairs are you?" I asked.

"Not completely. We'll hand out government contracts for salvage to private contractors. Why?"

"hmm...how about getting me one of those? Let me keep a ship's worth of salvage and consider us even, how about that?" I proposed.

"That....sounds fine. Alright. I'll have a contract drafted. For the time being then-" Yularen said when an officer came rushing out into the hangar.

"Admiral! We have just recieved a distress signal from general Skywalker. He has been trapped in the Abregado system and is requesting rescue!"

Ohohoho! I delighted hearing that.

Just as planned! No, even better than I had planned.

Now, I get to make a journey back to the Malevolence faster and I get to ask for another reward. Not to mention Skywalker owing me a debt of gratitude for saving his life. This is perfect!

"What was he doing in the Abregado system?" Yularen asked, before clicking his tongue.

"Of course."

Plo Koon taking the hint just sighed again.

The two of them turned to me, both almost in sync and asked.

"Would you be up for another rescue mission?"

This time it was my turn to sigh, in defeat.

I acted annoyed, as I look them in the eyes.

"Really?"

"Please. We are under mobilization orders. None of us can move. You are our only hope, captain Walker." Yularen pleaded.

I acted conflicted for a moment, before relenting with great flourish.

"Alright. I'll try. But I can't promise anything. So don't blame me of I fail."

Yularen looked at me with all knowing smile, like a mother looking at her child's obvious lie.

Just the impression I wanted to make.

"Of course. I wouldn't ask anything more of you." Yularen replied.

"I'll go with you." Plo suggested, only to be shot down immediately, by me.

"No. I just saved your life. Don't make me do it twice!" I said, shutting the doors to the van, turning it around.

"And admiral," I warned, putting on my best tsundere face, "Don't think this puts me on your side in the war. I intend to remain completely nuetral and out of battle."

Only a b-baka at the end of that line would have made it more convincing.

Though, as much as I was laughing at the situation inwardly, it was something so cringe, I would never do it, even at threat of death!

"Of course." Yularen repeated, with his signature smile, while I flew away.