Hunter stared at the symbol. It was menacing to him. Many of the clones felt the need to emulate the culture they were cloned from. Not him. He had heard the history of the Mandalorians. Killers, mercenaries, and conquerors. This did not hearken to him. He preferred as they were now. They were quiet, and did not stir up any trouble.

“What are Mandalorians?” Ditsy asked.

“A complete nightmare.” Hunter replied. “They’re not to be taken lightly.” Hunter looked at the door of the base. He walked towards it and felt around the edges.

“What are you doing? Dinky asked.

“Doors like these usually need power to get it open. But in case of emergencies, we have something called a, ‘manual override.’” Hunter kept feeling around until he found a panel. “Aha.” Hunter removed the panel and found a lever. He pulled it, creating a large sound that rang through the walls of the base, scaring the three standing outside. Finally, the door opened the tiniest bit, breathing out old air. Looks like it has been sealed for quite a while. Hunter grabbed the door and pulled it open. It required a great amount of strength on his part.

Inside, Hunter found complete darkness. Dinky poked at his legs.

“Can you see in there?” Dinky asked. Hunter shook his head and reached to his belt.

“A little light can help us here.” Hunter attached the light to his helmet and lit it up. The first part of the base held a security console and three doors. The first room was in the shape of a hexagon. Hunter stepped into the base, minding his step. His helmet scanned around for anything resembling a trap. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any. He turned back towards the two ponies outside.

“You two, stay outside until I secure the main room. Then we’ll go in.”

“We’re going inside?” Ditsy asked.

“I’d rather have you in here where I can keep tabs on you two. I’ll make sure you two are safe. I promise.” Ditsy nodded. Hunter turned back towards the base and readied his rifle. One had to be prepared. Especially when it came to Mandalorians.

The base appeared to be relatively intact. No signs of a fight, or at least a bloody fight. But with the fact that no traps were about confused Hunter.

I thought Mandalorians were either supposed to destroy their base when they left or made it impossible for an explorer to live. So what’s going on? Hunter then found a small terminal that appeared to be still working. The characters on the screen were Mando’a, but he understood. Linguistics class helps once again. He tapped a few characters which seemed to turn the lights in the base.

“Now that’s odd.” Hunter said. “How does this base still have power?” He punched a few more characters to confirm that he was the only one alive in the base. Good. Looks like its safe. Though there is some kind of electric activity lower in the base. Probably the generator powering the place. He turned towards the door. “Hey you two!” Hunter shouted. “It’s okay to come in now.” The two slowly made their way inside. He could tell that the way he had spoken of this place had spooked them.

Suddenly, there was a loud, grinding noise, making the ponies and Hunter jump. He pointed his blaster towards the ceiling. A continuous flow of air came from the ceiling. He lowered his weapon. “Don’t worry,” Hunter said as he patted both Ditsy and Dinky on the head. “It’s just the ventilation system.” Hunter holstered his rifle and went back to the terminal.

“How long has this place been here for?” Ditsy asked. Hunter punched in a few characters.

“Over 2,000 years.” Hunter replied. “They set it up to hunt down someone that came here.” He looked around the base. “Looks like they stayed for the long haul.” Ditsy hugged Dinky who was beaming at the excitement of all this.

“Who were they hunting?” Dinky asked.

“Looks like a force user.” Hunter continued typing. “A dark force user.”

“A dark force user?” Dinky asked with a hint of worry in her voice. Hunter nodded.

“Yeah. I think they’re called the Sith.” Hunter stopped typing and looked around the base. “They’re basically the opposite of the Jedi. They don’t believe in being at peace, they let passion control them and give them strength and power.”

“Sounds like they like to indulge a bit.” Ditsy said. Dinky nodded. Hunter continued.

“They’re basically the inverse of the Jedi. They’ve been enemies for a VERY long time.”

“How long?” Ditsy asked.

“Over 10,000 years.” Hunter said flatly.

“10,000 years?!” Dinky and Ditsy yelled in unison. Hunter shushed them and looked around the base.

“And they haven’t made up yet?” Ditsy asked.

“It wasn’t just one event that made them enemies. From what I understand, it’s a battle between light and darkness.” Hunter took out his blaster and looked down one of the hallways. “In any case, one of the Sith came here. And this base was made before you ponies even realized it.” He looked back at Ditsy. “What came before the princesses?” Hunter asked.

“Discord. He ruled the land. Back then, he was a real menace. Although I hear he’s pretty nice now.” Hunter stared blankly at Ditsy.

“Now?”

“Yeah. The princesses encased him in stone and then he came back a thousand years later.” Ditsy said.

“Sounds crazy. But then again, all evidence to the contrary recently.” Hunter walked over the to the terminal and scanned it with his communicator. “It’s old, but it looks like I can get the map of the place.” Hunter looked at his wrist and walked down the hall. “Stay behind me, and try not to make too much noise.”

“Why?” Dinky asked. “There’s no one here.”

“No one alive maybe.” Hunter said solemnly. “It’s the ones that can’t be picked up on sensors that cause trouble.” Hunter held his blaster up and walked down the hall slowly. Dinky gulped, but she was reassured by her mother.

“Don’t worry, muffin. Everything is going to be fine.” Ditsy looked over at Hunter. Though she couldn’t see his face, she knew that he had the best of intentions for everyone he met. He was, afterall, at the service of Equestria. But besides being held by duty and honor to protect them, she thought that Hunter liked them a bit.

The base was made out of cold steel. It looked the same as the day it was established. They passed a door however that was decorated with the Mandalorian sigil. Hunter looked at the door and let out a hum. He looked down at the map and found that it led to the elevator where the generator was placed. The generator was housed in a giant room of sorts from what he could tell. For what the room was for, he could not tell.

“Is this the way?” Dinky asked.

“From what I can tell it is.” Hunter said. He looked at the side and tapped the control panel. With a hiss it opened. The contents of the room made everyone gasp.

“By Celestia!” Ditsy exclaimed.

The room was filled with skeletons of all manner of creatures. Some large, some small, with different weapons on the wall. The three entered, looking at the skeletons. Dinky gasped. There was a section with pony skeletons.

“What is this place?!” Ditsy asked.

“Trophy room.” Hunter said. “A damn trophy room.”

“Why would anyone hunt ponies?” Dinky asked. “We don’t hurt anyone.” Hunter looked around the room until he saw a sword sitting on a podium.

“Mandalorians hunt everyone and everything that’s a challenge to them. The ponies must have presented them a fight.” He read the inscription near the podium. “Slayer of Darth Chaon.” Hunter lifted the sword and pulled it out of its sheath. It was no ordinary sword, it was a vibroblade with a cortosis weave. Theoretically, it could block lightsaber attacks and cut through almost anything.

Hunter turned around and saw Dinky starting to tear up. Ditsy fluttered up and cuddled her.

“Don’t worry, Dinky.” Ditsy said. “There aren’t any Mandalorians here.” Dinky shook her head.

“I’m not afraid.” She said while choking on her tears. “I feel the pain of the ponies that died. They were hurting so bad.” Dinky thought she felt emptiness before she entered the base. A sense of absence, but it turned out to be grief. Terrible grief. Hunter walked over to her and kneeled down, placing a hand on her back.

“It was a long time ago, kid.” Hunter said. “Those Mandalorians hurt everyone. Purposely and inadvertently.”

“Why do they want to do that and cause suffering?” Dinky asked.

“Mandalorians seek a great challenge in everything they do.” Hunter stood up and looked at the skeletons. “Everything they do is for sport or glory. They’re rather simplistic if you ask me.” He looked down at Ditsy. “But that’s why people like me exist. We protect those around us. It’s my job to protect you.” Dinky smiled through the tears. Ditsy smiled as well and hugged Dinky.

Suddenly a sound cracked at the other end of the room. Hunter aimed his rifle there, standing between the sound and the ponies. He glared at where the sound came from. From the darkness, a door opened up. The elevator. Hunter thought. From the elevator, something appeared, rolling out there. Hunter lowered his rifle. Ditsy and Dinky looked at the object.

“What is it?” Ditsy asked.

“It’s an astromech droid.” Hunter leaned forward, looking at the droid. “A really OLD astromech droid.” The droid rolled over to Hunter, who had raised his gun again. He kept it trained on the droid. The droid rolling on two legs and a big wheel in the back. It had a blue chassis with purple outline. The droid stopped short and gave Hunter a few whistles.

“What did you say?” Hunter asked.

“You can understand what it’s saying?” Dinky asked.

“Clones are trained to listen to astromech droids. You can pick up on the more simplistic parts of the speech.” Hunter kneeled down. “What’s your name?”

“Beep boop weeee do.” The droid said.

“Your name is…” Hunter thought back to his linguistic training. “T9-C2?”

“Beep!” The droid said excitedly. It did a complete circle around the three and continued to speak randomly.

“Okay, okay!” Hunter said holding his hands up. “We get it. You’re T9-C2.” T9 wheeled over to Dinky and Ditsy, who both gasped and stepped back. T9 gave a disappointing sound. Hunter could see the disappointment radiating from the machine. It must have been down here a long time. He stepped forward and patted the droid on the head. T9 gave a happy hum. He turned to the two ponies.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think he was designed for combat. Droids like these are made for maintenance.” Hunter felt T9 werve it’s head around in his palm. Dinky stepped forward and touched T9. The droid bounced around excitedly. Dinky smiled and hugged him. Ditsy was a bit more wary.

“Are you sure this thing is safe?” Ditsy asked. Hunter looked down at the droid. No weapons from what I can tell. I wonder why it’s so… excited. Hunter kneeled down next to the droid and tapped it.

“Who’s your master, T9?” T9’s head turned to Hunter. It bounced around and beeped.

“Bweeeo do be do.” Hunter frowned.

“Apparently the Republic. What are you doing in a Mandalorian base?”

“De Do Bwe Boop.” Hunter nodded.

“The ship T9 was on was raided and was forced into labor. Why didn’t they do a memory wipe?”

“Twee Do Ba Wee.” Hunter was glad Dinky and Ditsy couldn’t understand what T9 said. It was an old, but very bad cuss word.

“Incompetent engineer.” Hunter said as he stood up. “Why didn’t you leave the base before?”

“Bwooooo weep dooooo.” T9 looked away as he beeped.

“No way to sustain yourself?” Hunter asked. “I would have thought the base lost its power a while ago. How is it still going?” T9 hummed and activated a hologram. It showed the entirety of the base along with an image of a large wavy line underneath the base.

“Oh!” Ditsy exclaimed. “Is that a river?”

“Bwee doo!” The droid answered affirmatively.

“Hydroelectricity.” Hunter stated.

“This place runs on water?” Dinky asked.

“In a sense.” Hunter said. He pointed to the image. “The Mandalorians harnessed rushing water to get this base powered.”

“Like that dam we visited last month.” Ditsy said. She turned to Dinky. “Remember?” Dinky nodded. Hunter looked back at T9.

“Is that where you just came from?” Hunter asked. T9 moved his head from left to right and highlighted an image of a large room on the map.

“Beedo. Bweep.”

“A hangar?” Hunter asked. Ditsy poked at Hunter.

“What’s a hangar?” Ditsy asked.

“It’s where ships are parked. Kind of like a dock for boats.” Hunter looked at the elevator. “I’ll have to check it out.” He turned back to T9. “Are you the only droid active?”

“Bwooooo…” T9 said sadly. Hunter nodded.

“You’re the only one still functioning.” Dinky and Ditsy looked at the sad droid.

“You mean, you’re all alone?” Dink asked. The droid hummed.

“He’s the last of the droids here.”

“It’s okay.” Ditsy said. “You don’t have to be alone anymore.” She looked at him with a teary smile. The droid’s head spun around with a hint of happiness. Hunter looked in appreciation of the ponies. They’re nice to everyone. Provided they aren’t afraid that is. Hunter looked down at the blade he found. It was forged for war and earned its name for slaying someone. I should just put it back. But it could be helpful. Hunter tied the blade around his belt and looked down at T9.

“T9. I’m a soldier for the Republic. I need your help. Could you show me the hangar?” The droid wobbled excitedly and raced over to the elevator. “Great.” He looked back at the ponies. “Come with me.” The ponies nodded and walked towards the elevator. Hunter noticed something about Dinky. She was shivering. “Are you okay, kid?” Dinky looked up and smiled.

“Yeah,” she replied. “I just still feel them. You know?” Hunter didn’t really understand it, but somehow Dinky could feel the people the Mandalorians hunted down. It’s not logical, but lately, reality seemed to be taking a break for a while for him. He looked around the room at all the different trophies. A Rancor skull, Wampa skeletons, Krayt Dragon skull, a wall of Jedi items, a- Wait. Jedi wall? Hunter inspected the wall of all the Jedi items there. It ranged from trinkets to lightsabers. One thing did catch his eye however. A small Jedi robe.

It was brown, like most Jedi cloaks were. It didn’t look dirty or damaged, it was a small cloak for young Jedi. Those damn Mandalorians. Killing children… Hunter looked back at Dinky and nodded. He walked over to the wall and grabbed the cloak. He kneeled down next to Dinky and put her front hooves through the sleeves of the robe.

“There you go, kid.” Hunter said standing up. “You look like a Jedi now.” Dinky looked at the robe and smiled. She felt the previous owner’s happiness. There wasn’t an ounce of grief on it. Simply, it was taken from the young Jedi. The scent of death was not active. She spun around looking at it.

“Look, mom!” Dinky said, bouncing around. “I’m like a Jedi now!” T9 joined in with some excited beeping. Ditsy laughed and hugged Dinky.

“Of course you are, my little muffin.” Ditsy looked up at Hunter and mouthed a “thank you.” Hunter nodded and looked at T9.

“Lead the way.” T9 answered in the affirmative and led the three to the elevator. Once inside, a servo appeared from T9’s body and plugged itself into a mechanical slot in the elevator. The doors closed, and the elevator went down. The elevator itself was bare, save for a window, looking out towards a black wall. Dinky and Ditsy looked around the elevator as it descended.

“This feels weird.” Ditsy said.

“First time in an elevator?” Hunter asked.

“First time I’ve been in one so fast. I remember being in Manehatten for a delivery and using an elevator. But that went so slowly.” Just as she finished, a view appeared in the window. The view of a hangar bay. Dinky and Ditsy looked out in astonishment. Hunter looked around the hangar for anything of particular interest.

There were no ships, indicating that they had left in a hurry. And there were random droids laying on the hangar floor. They must have ran out of power. But how did T9 stay functional? The elevator finally stopped, allowing the four to exit.

“Wow.” Dinky said, her voice echoing throughout the hangar. Hunter looked up towards the ceiling and saw doors leading out.

“That must be how they got out.” Hunter said. “I’m amazed they put this much work into a base like this.”

“Why so?” Ditsy asked.

“I thought this was a small outpost at first. But these Mandalorians looked like they were ready to be here for a long time.” Hunter looked towards the back out the hangar and saw a door. T9 buzzed in front of him and led him to the door. The droid buzzed and got the door open.

The door led to a cave with a rushing river. Along the river line, were generators that gave power to the base. They certainly can be ingenious when they want to be. Hunter turned to T9. “Is this how you were able to power yourself?”

“Beedoo.” The droid answered. Hunter nodded and went back inside the hangar.

“Why didn’t the other droids also grab power?” Hunter asked.

“Beeboodoobwee.”

“They gave up?” Hunter looked at all the droids. They had given up on functioning when the Mandalorians didn’t return. “But you didn’t? Why?”

“Boobwee do bwee.”

“You didn’t want to. You wanted to live.” Hunter said. The droid gave a little nod, as much as it could, and circled around Hunter. Hunter followed the droid to a part of the hangar that had a bunch of cargo containers. Hunter opened them. “Parts.” He said with a smile. He turned back to T9. “Thanks. We needed these.” T9 gave a happy sounding whee and sped away. Ditsy and Dinky walked over to him.

“You should tell the princess about this. She’ll want to know.” Ditsy said, looking around the hangar.

“You should also tell the Jedi.” Dinky said.

“I’ll be telling the princess, the Jedi, and my superiors about this. It’s very odd.” Hunter said. T9 came back, pulling a hover wagon. Hunter nodded. “Good thinking, T9. We’ll need that to carry the parts back.” The droid circled Hunter once again, giving out happy sounds. He looked at the different parts and fitted on as much as he could.

As the wagon filled up, the less T9 made sounds. Soon, the wagon was filled to capacity.

“Alright. Let’s get to Canterlot.” Hunter said, grabbing a handle on the wagon. He looked down at Ditsy. She sat on her haunches, with crossed arms. “Something wrong?” He asked.

“Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Ditsy asked. She pointed to T9. Not another droid. Ditsy glared at Hunter. Hunter shook his head and looked at T9. On T9’s body, was the symbol of the Republic. We’re on the same side. I can’t abandon an ally. Hunter sighed and pushed a bunch of parts off the wagon.

“Coming?” He asked. The droid sped around and used it roller legs to climb onto the wagon. “At least wait until we’re outside.” He looked down at Ditsy who was giving him a warm smile. She flew up and patted Hunter on the back. Dinky got onto the wagon next to T9.

“Yay!” She said. “A new friend!” Dinky hugged T9, who sounded happy as well. Hunter shook his head and walked over to the elevator.

“Let’s get to the capital.”

Author's Note

Wowzers that was a long one. Going to be busy for the next few weeks so we're going a little slowly here. In any case, we have some mythos now!