//------------------------------// // Stuck // Story: Rainbow Dash's First Trial: Clone Wars Year 1 // by Hikarikurai24587 //------------------------------// Chapter Fifteen: Stuck     Kimble was on the bridge directing the other recruits when the consoles were locked out from their control.     “What’s going on?” he asked and Kory looked at him with fear as she replied. “Something just locked us out of the system! The hyperdrive is activating!”     “What is Zenith doing?” Kimble growled before looking around. “Verga, Jorgan, Xestu, you’re coming with me!”     “I should too.” volunteered Kory looking at him. “I know basic medical aid.”     “Come on then. We just have to stop by the armory, the rest of you find Colonel Pir.” Kimble ordered as they began their journey.     Zenith let out a groan as she opened her eyes seeing the closed door to Engineering. She climbed to her feet holding onto her arm saying. “That should have worked. Let’s check it out.”     She pressed a button on the console allowing the door to open a little smoke pouring out. She coughed her eyes widening seeing flames beyond it. Locks of rainbow hair were seen from the crack. Zenith’s eyes widened as she tried to force the door to open to no avail.     “Zenith, are you there?!” Kimble’s voice called out and Zenith turned on her communicator replying. “I’m here! We’ve got a bit of trouble!”     “Don’t tell me, you disobeyed my order!” Kimble’s voice had a bit of annoyance as Zenith rolled her eyes saying. “Not exactly. Something happened to the console and I was shocked pretty badly. I think Rainbow Dash pulled me out of there. I don’t know what happened next, but it looks like she disobeyed them. She’s trapped! There is a fire in engineering and it looks like the hyperdrive activated.”     “It did! We don’t have any clue where we are going. Can you get Rainbow Dash out of there?” Kory's voice came through the communicator. Zenith smacked the panel only for nothing to happen. She pulled it off saying. “I can’t get the door open by myself. I’m going to need Verga’s and Xestu’s help!”     “We’re on our way.” Kimble assured her, Zenith nodded her head before grabbing onto the edges of the door trying to push both sides away from each other. She managed to get her shoulder through reaching for Rainbow Dash. Her eyes began to water as the smoke got to her causing her to pull back. She coughed the smoke beginning to fill the hallway. She typed away at the panel trying to activate the fire suppression system. Her vision began to blur before she collapsed to the ground trying to breathe.     “Zenith!” Kimble’s voice called out just as a hand touched her shoulder and an oxygen mask was placed over her nose and mouth. “Kory get ready. Verga, Xestu get that door open!”     The two aliens nodded their heads, hands clasped around the edges as Zenith cleared her mind trying to get the suppression systems going. The door slid open and Kimble rushed in grabbing Rainbow Dash under the arms and began to pull her out. Once he got her away from the bay did Xestu and Verga let the door slide shut. Kory ran over checking her over.     “We have to get her to the medical bay, now.” Kory said looking at Kimble who looked back towards engineering. Zenith grabbed his shoulder saying. “Now Kimble! There isn’t anything we can do except survive wherever we end up. What happened has happened. I’ll see what I can do with repairs.”     Kimble growled under his breath as Lexxi picked Rainbow Dash up. They walked away from engineering as Zenith turned around mumbling. “This wasn’t part of the plan! Dumb ship, the hyperdrive was supposed shut down! Not take us to wherever we are now!”     Silence was her only response.     Rainbow Dash stirred as her eyes began to open. She recognized the sight of the medical bay, a common occurrence she felt like. She glanced over seeing Kory standing there looking at a pad. Blinking Rainbow sat up grabbing onto her head.     “Easy there.” Kory said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You hit your head.”     “Is everyone alright?” asked Rainbow looking around seeing a few people in there.     “A few bumps and bruises when we came out of hyperdrive too quickly. Nothing we can’t handle.” Kory explained looking around. “Did you really disobey Kimble’s orders?”     “I didn’t have much of a choice. I don’t know much about engines and Zenith’s plan was the only thing I knew that could work.” Rainbow sighed, shaking her head before holding up her hand. “I don’t know too much about my powers and everything happened so fast. I just wanted to protect you guys.”     “Thank you.” Rainbow looked at Kory as she turned her head, Kimble was walking towards them. “Kimble, not now.”     “She put us all in danger.” Kimble said loudly and Kory refused to move. “She shouldn’t even be here!”     “If it wasn’t for her Zenith would have died and we would have been in a lot more trouble!” Kory replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. “With this we have a chance to fix the ship and get back to Coruscant. Any luck in finding Colonel Pir?”     “No, but some of the decks are sealed. Something doesn't feel right.” Kimble said as Verga spoke up from behind him. “Not to mention we don’t even know where we are.”     “Thank you, we’ve noticed the Verga.” Kimble shot a glare behind him but Verga just shrugged his shoulders. “I think we should continue with the search of Colonel Pir. He knows this ship the best and the sooner we get it fixed the sooner we can get back to Coruscant and continue with training.”     He glared at Rainbow Dash as if wanting to say more but a look from Kory kept him quiet. He turned around and walked off.     “Does he think I don’t belong here?” Rainbow asked and Kory paused looking at Verga before turning around to look at her. “Verga asked if I had bribed my way in here.”     “A lot of us think that it is strange on how quickly you were allowed into the Republic Navy. You were last minute and it seemed like it was only because of connections.” Kory explained sitting down on the bed. “A lot about you isn’t even in the system and everyone has their own opinion on you. I did notice how angry you were when Xestu made the comment about the Clones doing everything. So I thought they had helped you out of a situation.”     “They did and I want to do something to help them too.” Rainbow looked at her hands. “I want to be able to fight alongside them. To show them that someone cares about them. That they aren’t just mindless drones that no one would bat an eye at if they died.”     A look of guilt grew on the faces of the recruits in the medical bay as they all looked at the ground.     “I was at Christophsis to find an artifact of my people and the Clone unit I was with went by their tags. They didn’t have names because they thought that no one would miss them when they died. I couldn’t let that pass, I want to meet all the Clones.” Rainbow told them as she sat up once again. “I want to show them that they don’t have to fight this war alone. That there aren’t cowards out there, that there are people who are willing to fight. Not just the Jedi or people like Admiral Yularen, but people like us. I know that some of you joined for the glory, to get your name out there. That should never be the reason to join, the reason should be to protect, to stand strong. Colonel Pir says that only a few of us are going to remain after his tests. Let’s prove him wrong! Let’s change our mindset and focus on helping the Republic!”     The recruits began to nod their head as Rainbow Dash climbed to her feet.     “What should we do?” a recruit asked, he was a wiry human with a mess of brown hair. “We’re still stuck out here.”     “First we should talk with Kimble, he seems to know how to organize everything.” Kory said, Rainbow nodding her head in agreement. “We need to keep an eye out for the person who caused all of this. Kimble, we’re meeting on the bridge.”     “Understood.” Kimble’s voice came through the communicator.     “I’ve got to get one of those.” Rainbow commented offhandedly causing Kory to look at her in confusion. “Last minute arrival remember? I’m still settling in.”     “I’m sure Zenith has an extra one on her.” Verga said as they began to head to the bridge with the others. That was right when the lights went out, doors slammed shut trapping them in the hallway.     “I don’t think the person who caused this is a glory hound.” Kory said looking around before getting on her communicator. “Kimble, I think that this person is a saboteur. We’re trapped by blast doors close to the medbay.” “We’re experiencing issues as well, hold on we’ll get to you.” Kimble assured them, his voice beginning to crackle. Rainbow sighed before sitting down closing her eyes. “We should be finding a way out.” a recruit whispered looking around. “The panel is on the other side of that door.” another said as they looked around as Rainbow Dash began to focus. She needed to keep the recruits safe, that was when she saw Verga move past them to the door. “Donnel, you and I are going to get this door to open. Rainbow you can help with that neat ability of yours.” he said looking around and Rainbow nodded her head. “How? Those are blast doors.” Rainbow assumed that it was Donnel who had asked the question. “Oh I’m not going to have her get the door, Rainbow the wall. The panel is going to be in this spot, I need to be able to get a large enough bolt until we see the wires.” Verga told her pointing to an area. “Just be careful, you short circuit them and we’re stuck.” “Easier said than done.” Rainbow moved over to the wall, she looked at her hand seeing the red lightning crackling around it. Instead of focusing on it she placed her fingers against the wall and began to twist her wrist slowly. Her magenta eyes narrowed as they turned red watching as the lightning stabilized carving a hole. Pulling her hand away, Rainbow blinked, shaking her head seeing a part of the metal get pulled away as well. “Yes!” Verga cheered as Donnel, the brown haired human from before, moved away and started messing with the wires. The door let out a hiss opening a hole large enough to squeeze through. Verga pulled it open a little wider for Rainbow’s wings. “Okay, let’s go.” Rainbow said as the group began to squeeze through. “Interesting.” red tinted lenses looked at a computer screen. “Let’s see how you enjoy the lack of gravity.”     A button was pressed and the sound of something shutting down was heard throughout the entire section.     “What is that?” asked Rainbow, looking around in confusion, that was before her feet left the ground. “What’s going on?”     “Someone turned off the gravity in this section!” Donnel exclaimed as they had to pull themselves through the hole. Rainbow’s wings twitched as she folded them, the hole was a tight fit with them. Once she was through, she did her best to settle down next to Kory.     “We need to find a way to stick together.” Kory said looking around. “Donnel, you and Kord Ferrila stick to the middle in case there is a door that needs to be opened. Rainbow, you and Verga take point. The rest of us will follow and keep an eye on your flank.”     Rainbow flapped her wings feeling herself move forward slightly and glanced at Verga. “Grab onto my arm. Without gravity I should be able to get us going a little easier.”     “Should I be careful of your wings?” Verga asked, feeling a hand attach to his ankle.     “You’re going to be in my way no matter what. Either way, it’s not going to matter.” Rainbow pointed out and Verga nodded his agreement. Rainbow Dash felt his hand clamp onto her shoulder and another on her ankle as well. She flapped her wings slightly just giving her enough of a push to grab the corner of the wall. As they moved through the hallways Rainbow Dash heard a hushed voice speaking from a room nearby. Moving up close to the door she peered into the room seeing Colonel Pir standing at a desk. “...I repeat we are stranded. Something went wrong and the hyperdrive activated. This has never happened before. Please send help.” “Colonel?” Verga called out and Pir turned around seeing the recruits and sighed. “I’m sorry everyone, I truly thought that the hyperdrive would never work again. Many people have tried to repair it to no avail. Zenith has reported that both it and the engines are down. Now we are stuck out here at the mercy of pirates and whatever else is out here until someone receives the distress call.” “Sir, I believe that the person behind this has control of the ship.” Kory spoke frankly and Rainbow Dash decided to ask. “Have you been in contact with the bridge crew?” “No, I have been keeping an eye on the situation and analyzing your skill sets.” The Colonel replied, Rainbow Dash nodding her head in response getting a good read off of him. There wasn’t any loyalty bumps to suggest he was the traitor. “I’m sorry Cym.” the red tinted goggles glancing at an approaching ship. “It’s just business.”     “Be on your guard, we don’t know what’s out there.” Kimble ordered looking around the lights on the bridge flickered before shutting down. “Jorgan, what was that?”     “That was all controls being transferred somewhere, I can’t access anything.” Lexxi replied, getting to her feet. “I’m getting really tired of this.”     “Kimble, there is a traitor on board.” Kory’s voice called from the communicator. “We believe that this person is trying to take control or sabotage this ship. We’ve found Colonel Pir, he has sent out… distress… help….”     The communicator went dead and Kimble’s eyes widened. “Kory! Kory! Something is jamming us. We have to search and regain control of this ship. Koj, I need you and Nardala to go to the medbay, even if they aren’t there you should find Kory along the way.”     “Understood.” a young human woman with brown hair up in braids replied before waving over another female. A Togruta with green skin and brown markings on her montrals and headtails. Kimble watched them run out before looking out the window, his hands behind his back as a ship approached.      “Everyone, we’re going to have to fight. Get to the armories and guard those airlocks!” Kimble ordered before leaving the bridge with the rest of the recruits.     “I hear Kimble is doing a good job stepping up and taking charge.” Pir commented as they scouted through the halls. Kory nodded her head saying. “He’s a born leader it seems.”     “He won’t be able to make it far if he doubts the abilities and strengths of even one member of his team.” Donnell spoke up causing Pir to look at him. “He’s been having issues with Rainbow Dash sir.”     Pir sighed before turning to look at them. “I want you all to understand something, even I have my doubts. It’s why my tests exists, but it isn’t your job to judge another teammate unless they aren’t pulling their weight. Your job is to ensure that the ship you serve and its crew makes it to the next day. You will be tested in the field and you will see things you wish you didn’t. It’s how you deal with it, how you ensure that there are even less deaths next time. I get the feeling that most of you see the clones as expendable, just remember this. They are there to ensure that you aren’t the one getting shot at. You just have to be sure that the clones survive.”     Rainbow Dash smiled a bit, that was when she was knocked off balance floating in the air a bit.     “What was that?” breathed Ferrila, Rainbow was unsure of his species but he was covered in brown fur that seemed to move. Pir was about to move when the gravity came back on sending them to the floor. While they were climbing to their feet Rainbow Dash wrapped her wings around her shoulders.     “Pir to bridge, Kimble what’s going on?” Pir called through his communicator only to get static. “Someone is blocking the signal.”     “We think… that there’s a traitor.” Kory spoke up, her voice trembling. “They’ve been hindering our progress.”     Pir shifted as he looked at the small group, studying them for a moment. His eyes widened as he pressed another button. “Zenith!”     More static, a growl erupted from Pir’s throat before he looked at them saying. “I’ve got a feeling we’ve been betrayed in more than one way.” “So wait, you had a traitor for the test but they actually turned against us?” Rainbow asked and Pir nodded his head as he began to lead them to the airlock. “Sir!” A young human female with brown hair ran up. Rainbow took notice of another female that was of the same species as Ahsoka. “We found you, Kimble sent us to find you, Kory. Has anyone heard from Zenith?” “Koj, do you know who was with her?” Pir asked, causing her to look off to the side thinking.  “We sent Yim Drela, Paz Vik, and Thea Jcirre.” “Good, get to Engineering and check on them. I’ll take this group and head to the airlock.” Pir ordered and Koj nodded her head before moving away. The group continued on, moving quickly through the halls. As they rounded the corner they saw Kimble with a group of recruits with weapons at the ready. Pir moved up next to Kimble who gave him a sideways glance. The door hissed as it opened and a figure walked through. “Ah, now this is a welcome!”