Forces of Infinity

The race to Jabba’s Palace was filled with both reunions and confrontations. Natasha Romanov would officially reunite with the Avengers. She would meet both my father and his apprentice. But it would also be the first time that an Avenger would face a Sith Lord.

-An excerpt from The Fight for Justice, by Luke Skywalker

Ahsoka looked down at the Huttlette with a relieved smile. “The medicine, it’s working! His fever broke. I think he’s gonna live to stink another day.”

“That’s good,” Sam said. Then he handed Anakin a tool.

“Keeping him alive wasn’t as easy as you’d hoped, was it?” Anakin asked as he repaired the controls.

“Master, if you have taught me one thing, it’s that nothing is easy when you are around.” Sam snorted while Anakin resumed working. “You think Rex, Cap and Master Obi Wan made it out okay?”

“If I know my old master, he has things well in hand.”

“And Cap’s not easy to take down,” Sam added on.

“Now help us with this. I want the primary systems fully repaired by the time we reach Tatooine.”

Ahsoka handed him another tool. “You grew up on Tatooine, right? So for you this trip is like going home.”

Anakin suddenly stopped. “Yeah. Home.”

Ahsoka didn’t seem to notice this.

But Sam did.

“Ahsoka, can you go to the cargo hold and see how the engines are doing?” the aviator asked.

“Sure.”

Then she got up and left the room. 

“Can we talk?” Sam asked the Jedi

Anakin sat down. “What’s going on?”

“That’s what I wanna know. You froze for a second there. You did the same thing when I made a mom joke on Christophsis.” Anakin looked away. “You know, before I was an Avenger, I led Veterans Anonymous groups. So if you ever wanna talk about it, just let me know. Okay?”

Anakin didn’t say anything. He just nodded his head and went back to fixing the controls.

______________________________________________________________________________

Natasha stood on the ridge near Jabba’s Palace and listened through the bugs she planted.

“The Republic had too many Clone troopers and Avengers, my lord. By the time we were able to find Jabba’s son, Skywalker had already…killed him.”

Bullshit, the Avenger thought.

She heard Jabba scream in outrage.

“Most unfortunate. This is a very unexpected turn of events. I take it you at least defeated them?”

“No, Master. The Jedi and Avengers escaped and are heading to Tatooine.”

“I’m sure you did the best you could. We will discuss your failure later.”

“Yes, my master.”

Jabba spoke in Huttese.

“Glorious Jabba demands to know why they would dare come to Tatooine,” the droid translated.

“To kill you, Jabba. The Jedi plot is quite clear now. They only promised your son to win your trust. Now Skywalker and the Avengers are coming here to finish their true mission. To wipe out the entire Hutt Clan, and gain vengeance for your slave trade.”

“Jedi sleemo!”

“If it pleases you, mighty Jabba, this time I will deal with Skywalker personally.”

I have to find them before he does.

She looked up to the sky and saw a small light appear. The Avenger pulled out a pair of binoculars and saw that it was in fact a ship that had just come out of Hyperspace. A few fighters jumped out as well and started attacking it. Her eyes followed the ship as it crashed into the desert.

That’s definitely them.

Natasha climbed down the ridge, got on her speeder, and zoomed off in that direction.

______________________________________________________________________________

Anakin,Ahsoka, R2 and Sam walked, or rolled in the droid’s case, across the Dune Sea. Little Rotta was in a backpack that Skywalker wore.

The twin suns were beginning to set.

The group came across a massive skeleton.

“What the hell kind of animal is that?! the Falcon asked.

“It’s a Krayt Dragon,” the Padawan answered. “I learned about them in the Temple. They’re very dangerous. Some even live in abandoned Sarlacc pits.”

“Now, hold on!” Anakin cut in. “I spent the first half of my life on this dust ball. And I know for a fact there’s no such thing as an abandoned Sarlacc pit.”

“There is when you eat the Sarlacc.”

Skywalker was silent.

Ahsoka glanced at the shadows of the massive bones. “Master Yoda has a saying. ‘Old sins cast long shadows.’ Do you know what he means by that?”

“He means your past can ruin your future if you allow it. But you forget it was Master Skywalker who said to both of you, ‘I don’t want to talk about my past.’”

Ahsoka looked down. “Okay, fine. There is so much more we can talk about out here. Like the sand.”

The Avenger snorted.

“The desert is merciless.” Anakin looked down and said in a quieter voice, “It takes everything from you.”

“That’s a happy thought,” the Togruta said sarcastically. “It won’t take us, Master. Right, Artooie? Right, Sam?”

“Yeah.” But Sam’s was frowning, and his eyes were on Anakin.

Who did he lose?

Something flashed on his goggles, and he turned to see a fast moving object heading their way.

“Something’s coming!”

Ahsoka and Anakin whipped out their lightsabers.

Sam zoomed in with his goggles and paused.

“Wait…” His eyes widened and his face morphed into a grin. “Son of a bitch!”

A cloaked woman on a speeder stopped right in front of them. She climbed off and removed her hood, showing a very familiar face.

“Take a photo. It’ll last longer.”

“Nat!” The Falcon rushed over to the Black Widow and they held each other in a tight embrace. “When Rhodey said you were here…This is great!”

“You’re telling me. I’ve been stuck on this dump since we got separated.” She looked behind him to see the pair of Jedi. “Mind introducing me to your friends?”

Sam turned to his companions. “Guys, this is Natasha Romanov. The Black Widow.”

“I’m Anakin Skywalker. This is my Padawan, Ahsoka Tano.”

“Hi,” the Togruta waved.

Romanov looked her up and down before releasing a sigh. “Please tell me she’s doing this voluntarily?”

“Huh?”

“She is,” Sam answered.

“That makes it a little better.”

“Master, what are they talking about?”

“I think your age.”

Ahsoka pouted.

“The droid’s R2. And this here is Rotta,” Skywalker continued.

Nat smiled. “Hey, there little guy. Haven’t seen ya in a while.”

“You know him?” Sam questioned.

“I had to work for Jabba when I first got here. I met Rotta a few times.”

“You did? Then that should make it easier when we get to his Palace,” Ahsoka stated.

Romanov shook her head. “Actually, no. I’ve been on his hit list since I leaked those slave files on the Holonet.”

“The group’s eyes widened.

“That was you?!” Anakin and Ahsoka exclaimed.

“Guilty as charged,” the Black Widow smirked.

Sam shook his head. “I really should have seen that coming.”

“Steve is officially no longer my favorite,” Skywalker said.

The respect he now had for this woman…words could not describe it.

The smiles on the Jedi’s faces fell when something happened.

They felt cold.

And it was supposed to still be hot right now.

“We’re not alone,” Ahsoka realized.

“I sense it too,” Anakin’s eyes were narrowed. “It’s the Dark Side of the Force.”

Rita whimpered and buried himself in the backpack.

“That’s also why I’m here,” Natasha said with complete seriousness. “Dooku is here, and he’s coming for you.”

“He’s coming for the Hutt. Time to split up,” Skywalker announced.

“We’ll face him together, Master!”

Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder. “Not this time, Snips. I have a far more important mission for you.”

“More important than keeping you alive?”

“Ahsoka, I need you to trust me on this one.”

The fear didn’t leave her eyes.

“Don’t worry. I’ll have his back,” Sam stated.

“And I’ll have yours,” Romanov promised.

______________________________________________________________________________

Coruscant

An IG droid threw Padme into the cell. Things had not gone well for the Senator. She’d come to Ziro hoping to prove Anakin’s innocence, only to learn that the Hutt himself was working with Dooku. They caught her watching them interact and was now being held hostage.

In retrospect, she really should not have come alone.

The droid threw her blaster and communicator on a nearby table.

The communicator started beeping.

“What’s that?” one droid asked. It walked to the comm.

That’s it! Padme realized.

“Don’t touch that! Whatever you do, keep away from it.”

She ran to the bars of her cell.

Just a little bit closer.

“Please, I beg you! Don’t turn that on.”

Turn it on.

“Could be dangerous,” the droid said. “I better check it out.”

The droid turned it on and the hologram of C3PO.

“At last, you answered! Oh, I’ve been so worried. And Mr. Maximoff has been…Wait! Who are you? You’re not Mistress Padme!”

“3PO, get help! I’m being held by Ziro the Hutt!”

The IG droid marched towards the comm.

“You’re in trouble! I knew it! Wait, wait!”

The droid smashed the device, ending the transmission. Then it walked towards the Senator.

“Take her to Lord Ziro to-”

But before the droid could finish, it and all the others were smashed to bits by a familiar bluish silver blur.

The blur stopped moving and revealed itself to be Quicksilver.

“Pietro! Your timing couldn’t be better.”

“Well, I am the fastest man alive.” The Avenger pressed a button and her cell door opened. Padme grabbed her blaster and put it in her holster. “So, looks like you owe me twice now.”

Amidala whirled on her friend. “Excuse me?”

“You know. First I saved your life on Ilum. And now I’m saving your life here. Seems to me like you owe me twice.”

She rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to say that Ilum doesn’t count? I had that situation under control.”

Maximoff shrugged. “We’ll never really know.” His expression then became more serious. “What’s going on here?”

“Ziro is working with Dooku to get the Hutts to join the Separatists. They kidnapped his son and framed us for it. They have Anakin and Sam walking into a trap. We need to show Jabba the truth before it’s too late.”

The speedster nodded. “Alright. So we take out the droids, arrest Ziro, get him to confess to Jabba, and save our friends. Shouldn’t take more than five minutes. 3PO called the Coruscant Guard, so they should be here soon. I’ll take care of the droids in the meantime.”

He then walked up right behind her, and grabbed the back of her head and back.

“Wait, what are you doing?”

“This is so you don’t get whiplash.”

“What?”

“Whip-lash,” he stressed. “I’ll move in three, two, one…”

Everything moved so fast for Padme. One moment she was standing in Ziro’s prison. The next, she was in front of the Hutt himself.

“What?!” the Hutt exclaimed.

Pietro let go of Padme and got in a running stance, while she pulled out her blaster and aimed it at Ziro.

“Surrender, Ziro! You’re outmatched.”

The Hutt laughed. “Kill them,” he ordered with a small wave of his hand.

Pietro sped around the room and stopped at the exact same spot he stood in before.

A beat passed before the droids collapsed into bits.

To top it all off, a squad of Clone ran into the room and trained their blasters on the Hutt.

Ziro gulped as he took in the situation.

3PO rushed over to the Senator. “Mistress Padme, are you all right? Was I too late?”

“3PO, your timing was perfect.”

“Oh, thank the Maker! I’m so relieved.”

“Should we arrest the Hutt, Senator?” The Commander asked.

“I had no choice,” the crime boss lied. “Dooku said he’d killme if I didn’t help him kidnap Jabba’s son. You have to believe me! I love that Huttlete.”

“Oh, I believe you.” Her sarcasm was clear as day.

______________________________________________________________________________

Anakin walked through the Dune Sea. The only light now was from the moons and stars.

Count Dooku sped towards him on a speeder and stopped a few feet away. He climbed off and narrowed his eyes.

Anakin activated his lightsaber.

“Surrender the Huttlete or die, Skywalker.”

The Count fired a blast of Force lightning at the Jedi.

But Anakin had learned from Geonosis, and blocked the attack with his blade.

Dooku ceased the lightning and pulled out his own saber. He raised it up and charged at the Knight.

Red met blue as the Jedi and Sith traded blows. They continued to swing at each other until their blades clashed in a deadlock.

“Your training has come a long way, boy.”

Anakin pushed hard and forced Dooku back. He swung at him but the Count blocked his strikes.

Suddenly the Sith Lord felt a pain in his side and skidded across the sand.

He looked up to see the Falcon land beside Skywalker.

Dooku wasn’t out of the fight yet. He stood up and raised his lightsaber.

“Ah. Now I remember. This was your home planet, wasn’t it?” Anakin clenched his fists. “I sense your strong feelings. Feelings of pain, loss.”

Sam glanced at the Jedi.

Anakin used the Force to blow large amounts of sand towards the Count. Sam pulled out his blasters and fired at him.

Dooku spun his saber in his hand like a helicopter blade, blocking the attacks. He then released a massive Force push, sending the sand back at them in a stronger blast.

Sam flew out of the way, but Anakin was sent flying. His lightsaber was knocked out of his hand and was caught by the Avenger.

Holding a blaster in one hand and the blue blade in the other, the Falcon faced the Sith.

“You are brave, Avenger. But I can sense your fear. You’ve never faced anyone like me before, have you?”

“Yeah, well, there’s a first time for everything.”

Sam flew in the air and shot at him from above.

Dooku blocked the blasts and responded with lightning.

The Avenger blocked with the lightsaber and swooped down at him.

The Count managed to prevent the strike from hitting him, but the force of the attack sent the old man rolling down the dune.

He rose up again and narrowed his eyes at Sam. “I underestimated you, Falcon. A mistake I will not make twice.”

Sam scoffed. “Man, you just love to hear yourself talk.”

The Falcon flew at Dooku to deliver another strike.

The Count saw that Skywalker was now getting up, so he grabbed him with the Force and threw him at the Avenger.

Sam hastily deactivated the lightsaber. He didn’t kill Anakin, but the two crashed into each other and tumbled on the sand.

Seizing the opportunity, Dooku swung his blade and cut through the Jedi’s backpack.

“You failed. I have just killed Jabba’s son.”

“Two things,” Sam groaned out. “One, we don’t need you to narrate. Two, you're wrong.”

Anakin threw the backpack at the Sith’s feet. It opened up to reveal nothing but rocks.

Dooku frowned.

“The Huttlete is with my Padawan. Safely at Jabba’s Palace.”

The Count then smirked. “I expected such treachery from a Jedi. I assure you my web is strong enough to catch your insignificant little Padawan.”

“She’s more skillful than you think,” Anakin stated.

“Besides,” Sam began. “Who said she was alone?”

The Sith’s eyes narrowed. “You deceive yourselves!”

He charged at him with his red blade swinging across.

Sam gave Anakin back his lightsaber before taking to the skies.

The Jedi and Sith swung and blocked each other’s strikes.

Anakin Force pushed Dooku back.

The Count was about to retaliate when the Falcon flew down and kicked him in the head.

He skidded across the sand and clutched his head. He looked up to see a stun round flying towards his face.

______________________________________________________________________________

Ahsoka, Nat and R2 rode on their speeder and arrived at the gates of Jabba’s Palace. The Huttlete was tied to the Padawan’s back.

“Thanks for the lift,” Ahsoka said.

“No problem, kid. Just be sure to-”

Suddenly, four MagnaGuards rose from the ground.

Rotta shrieked in terror.

Ahsoka pulled out her lightsaber while Natasha readied her pistol.

“Get the Huttlete outa here!”

“I’m not leaving you alone!”

“I’ll be fine, just go!”

Ahsoka hesitated, but she did as told and ran down the hill.

R2 charged at one of the droids and tried to shock it.

The MagnaGuard blocked the attempt with its staff and smacked the astromech away.

Another droid swung at Natasha. She sidestepped the attack and shot the droid in the face and chest three times.

It collapsed to the ground and dropped its staff.

The Black Widow picked it up and used it to block the other droids’ attacks.

There was one to her front and one to her back.

I’ve faced worse odds.

Suddenly, Ahsoka dropped down from above and sliced one droid in half vertically.

The Avenger swung her staff at the remaining opponent’s legs. It fell to the ground and she stabbed it through the head.

The droid was still functional, and swung its staff around erratically.

R2 rolled over to it and shocked the droid to deactivate it.

Nat gave the Padawan a stern look. “I thought I told you to leave.”

“You did. But I knew you needed my help, so I decided to trust my instincts.”

The Black Widow stared at her. Then a small smile crawled on her face. “I have to admit, you did good back there.”

“Thanks! You’re pretty cool too.”

The two heard the sound of jet engines and looked to see Sam land before them with Anakin in one arm, and an unconscious Dooku in the other.

Ahsoka’s jaw dropped. “You caught Dooku?!”

Anakin grinned. “We did.”

“That means we could end the War!”

Sam turned to Anakin. “That is the last time I am carrying either of you. You owe me for this.”

“Really? Cause you’re the one who insisted that your wings were faster than Dooku’s speeder,” Anakin smirked.

Before the Falcon could refute, the gates of Jabba’s Palace opened and out walked the translator droid with several guards. They all pointed their blasters at the group.

“We’re here to see Jabba,” Skywalker announced.

“Hand in your weapons and follow me. Oh, and Ms. Romanov must come as well.”

Natasha sighed. There really was no avoiding it.

“I’ll stay out here and watch Grandpa,” Sam thumbed at the old man.

The others gave the guards their weapons and went inside. They walked through the Palace, down the stairs and arrived before the Hutt.

“Mighty Jabba,” Anakin began. “We return to you your son, as promised.”

Ahsoka raised the smiling baby up to the crime boss.

“Rotta?” Jabba gasped.

The Hutt spoke in Huttese and embraced his son. The child cooed happily.

Jabba turned to the Jedi and Avenger with a fierce gaze. He barked something out in his native tongue.

“You are to be executed immediately,” the droid translated.

“What?!” the Jedi shouted.

Natasha just sighed.

“Does this always happen to you?!” the Padawan asked her master.

“Everywhere I go.”

Rotta whined in his father’s arms.

The Hutt slammed his fist on a button next to him and opened a trap door…

…that Ahsoka stood on.

The Black Widow lunged at the Padawan and pushed her out of the way, but fell through herself.

“Natasha!” the Jedi exclaimed.

The Avenger landed in a massive chamber below.

Shit!

Jabba’s throne moved forward to a viewing spot on the floor.

The Jedi Force pulled their lightsabers to them.

“Let her go now!” Skywalker threatened.

“No!” Natasha shouted. “We need that treaty! I’ll handle this!” She then looked to the Hutt. “Jabba, how about a bet? If I can beat your pet, then all of your charges against me for stealing your files will be dropped. And you’ll listen to what the Republic has to say.”

The Hutt laughed and spoke to his droid.

“The mighty Jabba accepts your terms.”

A large door rose up and out walked a massive, roaring, and hungry rancor.

The Master and Apprentice’s eyes widened in horror.

Jabba’s guests cheered.

Gotta let it grab me. It’s the only way to get close enough.

The beast grabbed hold of the redhead and brought her up to its mouth.

Jabba laughed.

The Black Widow raised her wrist and fired an electric blast from her widow’s bite.

The rancor howled in pain and dropped her. She rose up and ran to the beast’s den.

The behemoth followed her in.

Natasha saw the control panel on the other side and got an idea.

She picked up a rock and got ready to throw it.

Come on, just a little bit closer.”

The rancor stepped closer and now stood right underneath the door.

So long, sucker.

Romanov hurled the rock at the control panel. The giant door fell on the beast, stabbing it, and killed it then and there.

Jabba and his guests fell silent.

Anakin and Ahsoka sighed in relief.

“I win, Jabba!”

The Hutt shouted in outrage.

A device to his left started flashing and took his attention.

“Your Uncle Ziro is contacting us.”

The droid answered the transmission, and to everyone’s surprise, a hologram of not Ziro but Senator Amidala appeared.

“Greetings, honorable Jabba. I am Senator Amidala of the Galactic Congress. I have discovered a plot against you by one of your own. Your uncle will admit that he conspired with Count to Dooku to kidnap your son and frame the Jedi for the crime.”

The hologram of a very terrified Ziro appeared. Jabba furiously shouted in Huttese and his uncle tried and failed to lie.

The hologram disappeared and Padme returned.

“Ziro will be dealt with by the Hutt family most severely,” the droid translated.

“Perhaps now you will allow the Republic to use your trade routes, free your slaves, and hostilities can come to an end.”

Jabba chuckled and his droid translated, “Jabba agrees. A treaty is in order.”

You will not regret this, Jabba.”

“The clone armies may move through Jabba’s territories.”

“Senator, you have my undying gratitude,” Anakin said to his secret wife.

“No, Master Skywalker, it is I, and the Republic, who owe you thanks.”

The two shared a smile as the transmission ended.

“Jabba would be most appreciative if you bring Dooku to justice for his crimes against the Hutts.”

“We already have, Jabba. One of the Avengers currently holds him prisoner.”

______________________________________________________________________________

One Hour Later

Natasha hugged both Rhodey and Steve.

“You have no idea how good it is to see you,” Steve said

“Likewise.” She then let them both go. “So, we’re fighting in a war now.”

Her friends sighed.

“We are,” War Machine answered. “But we’re doing it on our terms.”

“That’s good to know. Any luck on finding the others? Or at least a way back home?”

Steve shook his head.

She sighed. “One step at a time?”

“One step at a time.”

Elsewhere, Sam and Anakin gazed at the moons across the sky.

“On our planet we only have one.”

“Huh. Sounds weird.”

“For you.”

The two friends stood there in comfortable silence.

Anakin then sighed and looked at Sam.

“Something on your mind, Anakin?”

“Yeah…that offer you made earlier, about listening if I need someone to talk to…it’ll stay between us, right?”

The Avenger nodded. “I won’t tell anyone what you say here.”

Skywalker took a deep breath. “When I lived on this rock…I was a slave.”

Sam’s eyes widened.

“Then Obi Wan’s master, Qui Gon Jinn found me. He realized I had the Force and got me freed and out of here. But he couldn’t get my mother.”

Sam frowned.

“I had dreams that she was in danger and came back here right before the War started. My dreams were right…”

Anakin clenched his fist.

Oh, Sam realized.

“She had been taken by the Sand People. I tried to save her, but…I was too late. Then I killed them all.”

The Falcon was silent.

Then he placed his hand on the Jedi’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault that she died. You need to understand that.”

Anakin said nothing.

“It’s good that you told me. It’s not healthy to keep these feelings bottled up inside.”

“That's why I told you. You and your team don’t follow the same code my other friends do. You’re allowed to feel emotion. There’s really no one else I could tell.”

Sam frowned. “That code sucks.”

Anakin chuckled. “You have no idea.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Later On Coruscant

Palpatine and his guards walked down the hall of the GAR’s prison. They stopped at the cell holding his secret apprentice and entered it.

The Chancellor gestured for his guards to leave and they stepped out.

The secret Dark Lord of the Sith looked to Count Dooku. “Darth Tyranus.”

He bowed his head in shame. “It is unfortunate, Master. The Jedi armies will now have their supply routes to the Outer Rim. And I am now their prisoner. Our fight has become far more difficult.”

“Allow the Jedi and Avengers their small victory, my friend. For the engines of this war turn in our favor. And I will help you to escape your imprisonment.”

Vol. 1, the introduction of this story is officially over. Now we can get into Vol 2, and adapt Season 1 of Clone Wars.

So here is a trailer for it, cause why not?

Listen to The Asteroid Field from The Empire Strikes Back soundtrack.

The endless black of Space. Then we look down to see a planet with a metal ring around it.

“As we all know, the War has only escalated in recent months,” we hear Palpatine say.

Thousands of droids crawl across a massive structure and weld more and more parts to it.

“Given the most recent loss of life brought on by the Separatist traitors, it is my opinion that the future of not only the War, but the Republic itself, lies within the Kuat Shipyards.”

Pan out to reveal that the structure is an Imperial class Star Destroyer.

There are many more under construction.

Pietro runs across the snow. A woman in red watches from a perch high above.

“Rush not into fights. Long is the War. Only by surviving it, do we prevail.”

A cloaked Natasha stood before a group of battle droids on a swampy world.

Steve fights Grievous. The cyborg swings his lightsabers while the Captain blocks and punches him with his shield.

A gunship on Coruscant starts to crash as it is covered in lightning.

Iron Man and Captain Marvel fly around several helicopters, firing at them.

Hondo Onaca stares at a group of misfits in front of him.

“What do you call yourselves, my friends?”

“We’re the Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Star Lord fires his blasters at Dooku, the Count blocking each attempt.

Several mercenaries are thrown around like rag dolls by unseen adversaries.

Quicksilver and two clones walk through an abandoned village.

An alien mad scientist laughs maniacally as he looks at a vial with a blue gas.

Yoda runs through a group of droids, cutting them to pieces. Steve has his back and hurls his shield at their enemies.

Ahsoka and War Machine lead their squadrons to battle against countless Vulture droids.

The Winter Soldier brutally punches Crossbones and strangles him.

Darkness.

“No strings on me.”

Forces of Infinity Vol. 2