Camp Equipment Trailer Check-Out Form: Fill & Download for Free

Warning: The following is a very lengthy bit of background on me in regards to what my advice is and why. Skip to the last paragraph, starting with “I can't tell you” if reading an oversharing of information isn't your thing.Some have written eloquent messages indicating how badly they were treated and yet still took care of their parents. Others wrote messages that are more in tune with the concept of karma in mind. I'd like to think of myself more as an agent OF karma, rather than waiting for it to manifest itself. With karma as a theme of this Quora question, the answer should just write itself.I grew up with an abusive, drunken stepfather named Frank who literally had me terrified every time he pulled up outside our house in his blue suburban Chevy. I mean I was frightened to the point my knees were shaking, I'd get full of nervous energy, scamper between my room and looking out the front window to check his progress towards coming inside, and fearing what kind of mood was he in THAT day? I'd later develop emotional issues as a result of this wonderfully gentle upbringing. For example, (as an adult) there were times I’d cut myself just to feel something or I’d explode and destroy something if I felt helpless about a situation, even if it was something as stupid as losing in a video game repeatedly. If I wasn't so afraid of death, I'd probably have killed myself decades ago. The child version of me, meanwhile, would simply begin to develop what would later be labeled as PTSD, antisocial behavioral tendencies, and the desire for isolation. This, in turn, led to bullying at schools, being harassed and turning all my rage, fear, and frustration into those destructive behaviors I mentioned earlier.When I was 12, Frank left her after she found out he was cheating on her, or she left him for some other reason, but the experiences I endured that would shape my future psychological wellbeing did NOT end there. Throughout the next few years, she introduced multiple men into my life who seemed to feel an irresistible need to either hit me or act psychotic. It's like she knew, in her subconscious, what I was missing from my childhood and wanted to keep things in a constant state of misery for me.So here's the background: my mother is now on her 9th husband (and if you think that's the ONLY amount of men she’s had in her life, then you would be sadly mistaken, Buttercup). I got years of abuse from both the men and from the various groups of children I'd have the misfortune to meet as we moved around from one middle-of-nowhere town to another. The kids always knew just how to make me want to avoid everyone like the plague and gave me the incentive I needed to find somewhere I could be alone so I could have my emotional breakdowns in peace and quiet, as sobbing does attract unwanted attention when it's too loud. Did you know that the easiest way to build another child’s self-esteem up is to tell them to go back where they came from since, obviously, they’re the one in control of where they live and where they go to school? I got that sage advice more than a few times. Made me feel all warm, fuzzy, and welcome in such places. Also, another fun fact to throw in: living in trailers with no running water was also a treat that I absolutely recommend to snobs who take what they have for granted…And the reason we moved around so much? My mother did absolutely EVERYTHING she possibly could, even to this day, to keep her kennel of dogs with her wherever we went. For some reason, she could never just stop the dog breeding business or to try to build a stable home for us. She dragged me around all these places, shacking up with anyone she could sucker in as either a business partner (non-sexual) or with any guy who would take ALL of us just so she could continue this canine obsession of hers. To this day the amount of loathing and resentment I have for her is, literally, insurmountable.Now, up to this point I've been blunt about my animosity, in phone conversations with my mother, regarding most of the things that have happened to me over the years and, also up to this point, my mother has expressed nothing but ignorance regarding any of it. Over the years I got a lot of, “I didn't know.”, “I tried my best", and, “I'm sorry you feel that way.” but I never got the one thing I wanted from her: ownership of her mistakes. The only thing I ever wanted was for her to sincerely take responsibility.She didn't know, she said, despite some of it happening in front of her, hearing about my disciplinary issues (kids loved to pick on the skinny nerd) from the various schools I went to, or the sheer amount of times I'd just ditch school just avoid the kids. Her “trying her best” and yet failing so completely makes one question the level of “effort”. Finally, she implied that the problem was on MY end by saying she’s sorry that “I” felt that way. That's a cowardly way of saying, “Sounds like a whole lot of ‘not my problem and sucks to be you’”.This relationship, communication, or whatever you want to call it culminated in a phone conversation I had with her only a week before the time I wrote all of this. My mother, as previously mentioned, still has her kennel of dogs and occasionally delivers puppies to neighboring states. As I'm in such a location she called me, which always irritates me, and asked if I wanted to meet due to this being the last delivery she would ever make in my area of the country (like I've never heard THAT one before…). I declined the invitation, as my being in the same room or vicinity as her is not a good idea and I told her, quite simply, “No”.When she asked why, and I told how I felt, she proceeded to tell me to get over it and hung up on me. I then discovered she doesn't like to have anything thrown back in her face after she starts it. When I called her back to tear into her for her behavior, she threatened to block me, when really I’m the one who never calls her. In theory, we've both mutually blocked each other's phone numbers now, but I haven't tested that theory out.I want to convey how my understanding of this situation seems to go, so let me present my perspective to see if I got this correctly: I should get over Frank throwing me down a hallway so I could land on tile flooring headfirst as a 9-year-old, I should get over the time she told a male friend I hit her (he decided to assault/discipline me while she was not home with me, and 15-year-old me did not touch her), or one of her men hitting me while she watched because I snorted too much by making that “hmph" sound people make? The female friend of hers I lived with for a while who had a psychotic son who loved to use psychology to scare the shit out of me, the “boyfriend-of-the-week” in Oregon who'd get in my face and behave like a mentally unbalanced 10-year-old, the finding the polaroid showing her giving Frank a blowjob or the time I was at one end of a trailer while she was at the other end having sex with yet another BOTW…and I got to see and hear it because it was an open hallway.That last part made for a VERY awkward, stomach-churning bedtime and sleep was difficult that night, mostly due to her moaning. Bonus: that same BOTW was also another one who hit me.So I should get over all that, and more, while she can't own up to ANYTHING? No, I don't think so. That's not how this arrangement works. That clever little bumper sticker that says, “Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home”, is how it works. Any chance of getting any support from me, in any shape or form, has long since been pissed away by this woman who claims to be a mother.I grew up with some major gaps in my knowledge that many others find extremely strange:Learned about sex at the age of 6 from the Playboys and Hustlers that Frank put in the common bathroom, for whatever reason, rather than the one connected to the master bedroom. After that, sex ed in high school was a formality (and far less interesting, truth be told).Learned how to shave from a drill instructor in the Marines boot camp at 18/19. Even then I found out, years later, that's not the right way. Took a long time before I figured it out on my own. Apparently, you AREN'T supposed to shave against the direction of hair growth!Learned how to drive from my sister-in-law at 22.Was never walked through getting a state ID, how to get a driver's license, pay taxes, given any parental guidance, supervision, or life skills in general. All things considered, I should have been doing drugs, getting an STD or two (collect them all!), or fell into some sort of life of crime.According to my wife, I've never learned how to do laundry properly, can't cook anything beyond beef stew with any degree of talent, and don't seem to have good social graces (shocker) because I can see through the bullshit of others or I ask people questions some would find strange due to my ignorance. I once stopped a random older woman in a Walmart and asked her how to cook something. That’s the kind of person I am and I know that most people just don't do that sort of thing. I have no reservations about talking to random people about random things while most of us seem pre-conditioned to live in our own little bubbles of existence.I was/am more helpless than millennials in some ways, I'm sure.Due to everything (and more) I've described, I should NEVER have gone into the Marine Corps. A couple of years into it, someone tried to get me drunk and rape me while I was attempting to visit a girl in San Diego. Within a few months, I found myself kicked out after I told my superiors. Their method of trying to “help" me was to send me to a middle-aged counselor who spent most of her time telling me I was attractive, then a psychologist who only told me one useful tidbit and recommended a BOOK, and then a psychiatrist who listened to my childhood story before he recommended I be separated from service.There were two motivators in getting out of the Marines early. The first happened right after meeting with the area commanding officer, a colonel. After the meeting, I sat outside the building and stared off at the nearby hills while contemplating my future. A voice behind me suddenly asked if I was waiting for the bus. Without turning around I just shook my head and the voice then demanded I turn around and recognize who I was talking to. It was another officer, a captain, who turned my lack of turning around immediately to salute into me somehow “taking out my bad day on him”, and without me even talking. The other was another captain I had to work under while in the slow process of separation. This man, who was in the process of retiring from the Marines, gave me a version of those comforting words I've mentioned before, “If you're going to stay in [the Marine Corps], go back where you came from.” Thus, I soon found myself dedicated to the idea of getting out. That “Band of Brothers” had more than enough shown me how they take care of their own.I did learn how to quickly pack up my stuff for yet another move, how to wall myself off from other people who'd only be nice when/if they wanted something, learned not to make friends as a kid since I'd just end up moving soon anyway, and learned how to analyze people to assess their motivations and behaviors. As a teenager, I also learned how to fold clothes properly from a Hispanic family that was having a yard sale.At some point, my nose was also broken. Whether it was Frank, the car that hit the side of my face when I was a kid or something else I’m not sure. but I still have breathing problems 30 years later.As of this posting I’ve been unemployed for months. I seem to have difficulty holding a job and I’ve been through a multitude of interviews only to find out each time someone else was picked. So the point is, there has to be something about me that doesn’t do me any favors or I’m not good enough or something. Also living in far east Phoenix, large distances away from most positions that suit my tech support desk experience and I’ve got a car that makes me wonder when it’ll die. Some days this sinks me into a depression, and some days I just get so frustrated and angry I have a mini-meltdown. Fun times.Some people can look within themselves and find the will to love and forget. Not me. The closest I can come to loving and forgiving her is by never doing something that would get me on the 5 o'clock news. The fact she gave birth to me does NOT entitle her to a blank check for all of her screw-ups. That might be the case for others, but too much has happened for me. I do not blame her for every single bad thing that has happened in my life. That’s unrealistic. She has no more power to control the world than I do. However, she sure as hell “did her best” to set me up for failure.Do you think all that’s bad? That it’s horrible? That this shouldn’t happen to anyone? I agree and yet I’m still leaving out a lot of other things that happened. Things you don’t want to know about. Hell, for all I know you didn’t want to know about ANY OF THIS. That’s Quora for you! :-)I can't tell you, the person who posted this question, what you should do about your particular situation, but I think you can imagine my answer: if people are only nice when they want something, cut them out of your lives. None of us know why you were kicked out at 16, but I'm sure most of us are assuming it was because your mother was a bitch to you in some fashion. If that's the case, let her reap the whirlwind. She should have thought of this a LOOOOOOONG time ago, and now that her later years are here she’s trying to cash in the goodwill she never stocked up on? If, however, you NEEDED to be kicked out because of something on your end, then only you can make this decision.I also want to be absolutely clear to anyone who feels this is a crybaby story: “I’m sorry you feel that way.”Don’t like being told that, do you?Update: 12/20/20. I've had a lot of well-wishets say nice things and I appreciate the support. Currently, I have kept myself away from the technical support area and have tried to venture into the realm of voice acting to no avail. I got a sound booth and equipment set up, but the voice coach I found abandoned me and I am finding it difficult to find one who will work with me during these times of financial difficulty.

Six years ago my parents and another couple, who are their neighbors and best friends, decided they wanted to travel around North America after they retired. They began looking at different campers and motorhomes, but didn’t find any that suited their needs. So working together they drew some floor plans for a 40 foot trailer they all liked. About six months before they all had retired, they hired a lawyer and formed a LLC and opened a company checking account by depositing $40,000 each for their 25% ownership. They then had a RV dealer order a custom built fifth wheel trailer with three slide outs. The center section is the common area with a large café booth in the middle slide. On the wall above the table is a large window that also serves as an emergency exit. Along the opposite wall is the kitchen with the outside door next to the sink. There are two bathrooms, one located on each side of the kitchen, so each couple has their own separate facility. Then the slides on each end of the trailer open into two bedrooms. My parents prefer to sleep together, so they had a queen size bed installed in their bedroom. Their friends prefer to sleep in separate beds, so they had extra-long twin beds installed in their bedroom. However, to keep everything fair, the private areas (bedrooms, closets, and bathrooms) have the exact same square footage, and they each have a ceiling air conditioner with individual thermostats. Wall fans circulate air into the kitchen area.Their company then custom ordered a new fully equipped extended cab one ton dually pickup truck with four captain chairs, each having full electric controls and heated seats, and Wi-Fi service. Since backseat passengers had a little less leg room, and the husbands are both taller than the wives, they decided the men would ride in front and the women would ride in back. After the trailer arrived, both men spent several days practicing pulling and backing up the trailer, setting it up, then they all took a three day shakedown camping trip. The only thing they didn’t like was they could feel all of the movement on both ends of the trailer. So, after returning home, they bought four heavy duty hand-crank trailer jacks and welded them to hitch size tubing. They then welded receiver size tubing under the trailer frame near each corner. This allowed them to park the trailer, pin the jacks in place at each corner, jack up each corner enough to get some of the weight off the axels, and then level it. They later claimed that doing this solved that problem.The reason they formed a company to own the truck and camper was mainly to limit their liability in case of an accident, but it also provided some significant tax advantages for both couples. The company had to make a profit or the IRS would treat it as a hobby. So each of them paid rent to the company for their use of the truck and camper. This allowed their company to make a profit, which legally allowed them to share a nice business depreciation allowance. They enjoyed using that truck and trailer for five years. They went on many trips, and even took the Alaskan Highway to Alaska and traveled around that state one summer then took a ferry back through the Inside Passage.Unfortunately, one of them died after suffering a heart attack last year, so the other three decided to sell the truck and camper and then dissolve the company. But they ended up selling the LLC with its assets (the truck and camper) to a couple in their mid-30s, who were very excited to get them. They were selling their home and planned to travel full time and home school their two teenage children. But I’m not sure how well that will work out because they have one son and one daughter who are sharing the bedroom with twin beds..

Alright folks, I’ve been itching to write about this for a while now, and I’ve finally gotten around to it. Before I start, however, I’d like to do a few things:This answer is gonna be long. Seriously. I’ll be covering a lot of ground here, and I’ll likely write it in stages, which means you may not see the full version on your first go-around. I promise it’ll be finished, I just don’t have tons of time to devote to it until school’s out for the summer. All that to say, hold on to your horses, and come back for another look if I haven’t finished when you first read.I want to give a huge shoutout to Alex Jackson for writing the definitive Best Answer to this question. Seriously, the dedication put into his answer is staggering, and it gave me the push to actually start writing this one. Go check his answer out.I won’t be including Legends in this, as usual, which means no Vong invasion or anything like that to prepare for.Finally, I will be including a lot of known and loved characters in this, and though I’ll do my best to keep their actions and dialogue as natural as possible, it can be very difficult to write for a character someone else developed unless you’ve done it a lot. I haven’t, so we’ll see where this goes. Just use the voice of the character while you’re reading, it’ll be better - I’m writing so it at least sounds like it could work.Also, if you don’t like the canon being messed with as far as the fates of characters and such, get ready to be disappointed. The basic information will start as canon, but it’ll then be slapped in the face, thrown out the second-story window, kicked around on the sidewalk, and then hit by a bus for good measure.Specifically this bus. Oof.Okay, with all that out of the way, we can lay down a few ground rules that will apply to the actual story. Trust me, these might be boring at first, but you’ll appreciate their existence later.My character is Force-sensitive. Deal with it. He won’t be OP, and he’s gonna work for it, but he is. No Star Wars fantasy is complete without it; let’s be honest.I’ll be writing in the third person. The character will still be me doing what I would do, but I prefer this style of writing and to me it reads better anyways.My character will retain his current memories and knowledge of Star Wars when he is transported there, as well as anything he is carrying.Some scenes and mission will be given lots of detail; others will be glossed over or skipped entirely. I just don’t have time to cover everything. Specifically, I’ll be covering my first few missions to establish some chemistry, then picking only a couple others in the middle to show a bit of growth. The missions at the end are obviously the most important, so they’ll receive a significant amount of attention.My character will have 24 hours to prepare. He isn’t getting thrown in randomly, it’s like those wizard questions I see all the time - he’ll have some warning and time to get stuff in order.My character will also get to choose what time and place he is sent. More on that later.Again, read things with the voices of the characters whenever known characters speak. Seriously, it’ll be more believable. My pet peeve is people writing characters…out of character.Comment if there are any issues with statistics or canon (at least, the parts that stay canon). I really want to make this accurate.That’s it! Get a snack and a drink (you’re gonna be here for a while), find a comfortable chair, and sit back. I hope you enjoy Anomaly: A Star Wars Story. (Yes, I named it. What can I say?)PrologueAndrew leaned back in his chair, popping another blueberry into his mouth as he looked outside. The dogs were wrestling again. Hopefully they wouldn’t tear anything up. He reached for his milk.“If you leave them alone, that sapling won’t be standing much longer.”Andrew knocked the cup over in surprise. He whipped around, ignoring the milk spilling across the table and dripping onto the floor in favor of figuring out who was behind him.Standing there in all his ethereal glory was the ghost of Qui-Gon Jinn in full Jedi attire, hands clasped behind his back. He was smiling.Andrew nearly fell out of his chair. He stumbled out of it, backing a few feet away. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow.“You know very well who I am, young one. My name is Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master.”Andrew looked around wildly. “Mom? Dad? Guys?” He was near panic.Qui-Got raised a hand, speaking more softly. “Peace. They will not come, for their own good. You must calm yourself now, and listen to me. What I am about to tell you could change the fate of the galaxy.”Andrew shook his head violently, backing further away across the kitchen. “No, no. This can’t be real. Where are my parents? Where are my siblings? MOM?”Qui-Gon sighed. “Be at peace.”He extended the raised hand, palm out. There was a sound like rushing wind, and then Andrew fell to the ground.Part One: The CallAndrew woke up with a start. He sat up quickly, head on a swivel. He was in the living room - on the couch, to be specific. The room was empty. Andrew took a deep breath and swung his legs over the side of the couch. As he started to stand, the voice returned.“You might want to stay there for the moment.”Andrew flinched reflexively and fell back into a seated position, hands raised as though to ward off a blow. He lowered them slowly, breathing hard and seeing Qui-Gon standing in front of him once more.“Who are you? For real this time. Where’s my family?”Qui-Gon crossed his arms. “I told you, they will not come. The Force is strong on this planet, and I have put them to sleep for their safety. Now you must listen to me, for time is short. Already we have wasted precious minutes with questions.”Andrew tried to rectify this information with everything he knew to be true. His mind was awash in confusion, his head spinning like a carousel gone haywire.“So… So you’re saying that Star Wars is real? The galaxy far far away? With the Skywalkers and the clone troopers and the space battles?”Qui-Gon smiled again. “Yes.”Andrew took another moment to think, alternating from deliriously ecstatic that his favorite fiction was no longer fantasy to absolutely terrified at the same thought.“Okay… okay. So what does this mean for Earth? Why haven’t we been found by the Empire yet? Are we actually in a different galaxy, and in a different time period than in the movies? Are they really how it happened?”Qui-Gon raised his hands again in a pacifying gesture.“Yes and no. Calm your mind, and I will explain.”Andrew settled back into the couch.“The universe you call Star Wars is very much a real place, as real as the room we stand in now. You are in the same galaxy - from a certain point of view. Much like Mortis, this planet is a conduit through which the Force flows, Living and Cosmic in balance. Were it to be manifested in my galaxy, it would be somewhere in the Unknown Regions. As for your movies, they show quite well the story of my galaxy. Its events play out the same way as you have seen in the stories from this world, but that is going to change soon.”Andrew felt like he had been hit by a truck loaded with bricks. He blinked, shook his head, and blinked again. He opened his mouth to launch another barrage of questions, but stopped at a look from his translucent guest.“You have many questions, but I cannot answer them all right now. We will have more time for discussion later. For now, I must deliver my message.”Qui-Gon cleared his throat and continued.“As you know, my galaxy is plagued by war. The Light and the Dark struggle to maintain a fragile balance, one that only the Chosen One can truly bring. But the Force has deemed it necessary to bring in a being such as yourself - one with knowledge of what has been and what is to come. This is why I am here. You have the next 24 hours to prepare yourself to enter my galaxy. I shall transport you to another plane of reality, one I once called home. There, you shall do as you will. The Force trusts you to bring balance, regardless of what path you take. I must leave you now, so prepare well, and we shall meet again shortly.”And with that, Qui-Gon Jinn vanished.Part Two: The ReadyingAndrew was confused. More than that, he was shocked, terrified, exuberant, befuddled, and optimistic all at the same time. His mind felt like it was being stretched, pulled to the limits of comprehension. This wasn’t real - it couldn’t be. This was the kind of thing that happened in movies. And yet…As he traveled in mental circles, brain roaring out of control, a clear thought emerged from the torrent of noise.“See if it’s true.”Andrew seized upon this grain of lucidity, this diamond of rational thought in the rough and untamed wreckage of his sanity. He jumped off the couch and made his way to his parents’ bedroom. They weren’t there. He ran down the hall and looked for his sisters. Gone. His brother? Nowhere to be found. Andrew dashed outside, staggering like a blind man gone mad.“MOOOOOM! DAAAAD!”He sprinted to the barn, searching the loft before tearing back down to the house to check the other rooms. He went outside again, realizing for the first time that even the dogs were gone. Andrew called their names and made a full sweep of the property, but to no avail. He was well and truly alone.Andrew sank to the ground, mind devolving once again into chaos. He lay there on the driveway, time seeming to play tricks on him as he slipped into madness and back into the real world. Finally, he came to rest on another thought.“It’s true, so get ready. He’ll be back when the time comes.”Andrew sat up. This was something he could act upon. A facet of this new reality he could change. He stood and walked back to the house. He had to get ready for this adventure.Andrew found a notebook and pencil, marking down the time as he planted himself at the kitchen table. It was 9:30. It had been somewhere around 7:45 when Qui-Gon appeared - at least, he thought. If the ghost was right, Andrew had already wasted hours of time he could have spent preparing. But now, there was nothing to be done except use what time remained.Andrew set about making a list of everything he would need to bring with him into this new life, and finished it off with a timetable organizing how he was to get it. This way, he would be able to maximize his efficiency.A few of the items on his list were:A few changes of clothes, for multiple weather environments.Clothes specific to extreme environments (a winter coat, ski pants, gloves, a wetsuit, etc.).Other useful clothing-type articles (sunglasses, hats, etc.).Camping and backpacking equipment, including a tent, portable stove, food, sleeping bag, bug repellant, and so on.As many knives as he could find.Survival gear, such as fire starters, signal mirrors, first aid supplies, and a few of the old Army field manuals in the barn.His phone, laptop, iPad, speakers, and any other electronic devices that could be of any use whatsoever.Chargers, both solar and wall-plug, for those devices.Every scrap of Star Wars he could find, either downloaded onto a device or put in a special case.A few backpacks, duffel bags, and other carrying devices.A wagon to drag his stuff in.Any useful information he could find on tactics, strategies, swordplay, or anything that could be of use, seeing as Star Wars lacked most of those things.Lots of music and movies, to be downloaded or put in a case for the inevitable hours of boredom in between gut-wrenching missions.Any medicine he could find.And many, many other things.He spent hours collecting his supplies, finding just the right configurations to fit it all into bags, and driving to REI to stock up on dehydrated meals. It seemed he was the only one left on Earth - the streets were deserted, and the store empty. It was unlocked, however, and Andrew decided that it was in the best interests of all that he take whatever he needed. A water purifier found its way into his stash, as did an extra mummy bag and a pair of new boots. A kayak even ended up strapped to the roof of the truck, because why not? Besides, his wagon obviously wasn’t going to cut it, so he might as well take a real vehicle, which meant he could fill that up too.Andrew then decided to make a detour to a number of other outdoor supply stores, securing fishing equipment, a ghillie suit, a few new knives, and enough guns and ammunition to supply a police station. He retrieved lanterns and flashlights, handy tools and guides on how to use them. There was a quick stop at a bank, where he waltzed into the vault and left with as much cash as he could carry. He added coins to this once he got back to the house, hoping to be able to pass it off as the currency of some backwater system once he got to his new home.Andrew set about dividing his gear, loading it into clearly labeled bags and distributing it as evenly as he could so most bags had some of everything. There were specialized cases, of course - the duffel bag of Star Wars material was his most prized possession. A backpack of essentials would come with him no matter what, along with his electronics and the means to charge them.He piled his haul into the truck, attaching the flatbed trailer and strapping both a Can-Am Renegade quad and a Polaris Razor on as extra transportation, should he need them. Fuel came along as well, and by the end, Andrew was fairly certain he had crammed everything possible into the vehicle.It was getting late, so Andrew retrieved his computer and switched his download priorities. Up until now, he had set every Star Wars movie and TV show to download, along with the on-screen comic readthroughs and a selection of his favorite music. Now, he set up a long list of other movies, songs, and shows to download, and he attempted to watch every clip he could find involving Star Wars information he hadn’t yet explored. But the day had taken a toll on him, and at around three in the morning, Andrew fell asleep.Part 3: Goodbye, EarthAndrew woke up to the incessant beeping of his alarm. He groggily opened his eyes and checked his computer. It was 7:30. He slapped himself awake and stumbled to the bathroom, where he showered, brushed his teeth, and shaved before throwing his toiletry bag into his backpack. By 7:40, he was back in the kitchen, eating breakfast with Star Wars videos rolling.“You have done well, young one. Your preparations will do nicely.”Andrew looked up in only minor surprise. Qui-Gon was standing at the other end of the table.Andrew checked his clock, seeing that it was 7:49. He had been pretty close.Andrew swallowed another bite of toast before speaking. “So this is really happening? I’m going to Star Wars?”When Qui-Gon nodded, Andrew continued his questions. “Where? And when? Am I supposed to interact with people, or do I have to stay out of the way? Will I get to use the Force? Will I be a Jedi?”Qui-Gon smiled and motioned for Andrew to keep eating. “You’ll need your strength. Now, to answer these questions. You will be able to interact with whoever you wish. There are no restrictions on what you do. The where and when will be up to you - I will show you in a moment. As I said earlier, the Force is strong with this planet. You are strong with it as well. Whether you become a Jedi or not is your choice, as is nearly everything. Now come, you must begin your journey.”Andrew crammed the rest of the toast into his mouth, put his computer, phone, and chargers into his electronics bag, and shouldered his backpack. He tipped back his cup and drained the remainder of orange juice before wiping his mouth and nodding to Qui-Gon. “One more question: will I be able to take my truck and stuff?”“Yes. Your preparations will not go to waste.”Qui-Gon raised his hands in front of his chest, then opened them out to the sides as though he were parting a curtain. A rift seemed to be torn into the air itself, and a hole of flickering purple and black fire gaped at them like a hungry leech.Qui-Gon stepped aside, motioning for Andrew to continue through. Andrew hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and stepped though the door.Part Four: ChoicesAndrew straightened up, having reflexively ducked as he had gone through the strange doorway. He looked around.This new dimension was dark, with pure blackness extending in every direction. This darkness was studded with pinpoints of light like stars and strange patterns of white lines crisscrossing through space like drooping spiderwebs. Andrew turned back towards the door he had entered.The door was still open, a window into his old world. It was strange, seeing it from this view. It was his kitchen, same as always, but something seemed off. Distant. Abandoned. A thought passed through Andrew’s mind, telling him that not only was he seeing a window into an old world, but into an old life. For his life now would never - could never - be the same.Qui-Gon’s voice jarred him from his reverie. “There is now a choice for you to make, and I’m afraid it may be a difficult one.”Andrew faced the ghost, who had moved ahead of him into the eerie darkness. Qui-Gon continued.“There are many doorways in this place. They can take you to a thousand destinations, but only one is right. This is to be your first lesson: trust your feelings. For in your feelings the Force flows through you. Now come. You may ask me your questions as we walk.”Andrew followed as the Jedi led down a narrow path, flanked by two of the thick, glowing spiderwebs. He calmed his mind once more and selected a few of his most pressing queries.“So where and when will I go?”“That is up to you, and it is what you are choosing right now. The Force will guide you in this decision, as it is one that will bring the galaxy into balance.”Andrew nodded, confused as to what that actually meant but accepting it out of necessity. “Is this the World Between Worlds?”Qui-Gon arched his brow. “That is one name for it, yes. But it has been called many things since its discovery, and it shall be called more still.”Andrew took that as a yes. His next question, despite his circumstances, seemed a bit silly.“If Star Wars is real… Are other fake things real too? Like Marvel? The Avengers? Or what about Lord of the Rings? Or Narnia? Are they real?”Qui-Gon’s rich voice boomed with laughter before settling back into his more reserved and signature tone. “An excellent question, young one. But I do not have all the answers. All I can tell you is that what you call Star Wars is most certainly a reality, and it is one into which you are about to enter.”They were approaching the first doorway along their route. It was triangular, with a double-bordered circle inside, all made from the glowing webs.Qui-Gon motioned to the door. “Reach out with your feelings. Let the Force guide you. Is this where you are supposed to be?”Andrew closed his eyes and sat in silence, attempting to figure out what exactly reaching out with his feelings meant. He listened first, picking up a swirl of faint voices emanating from the door.“I love you.”“I know.”The voices were drowned out by a hissing and chuffing, with Andrew realizing that this truly was the World Between Worlds, and it functioned pretty close to how he had seen in Star Wars: Rebels.On one hand, this was comforting, as he knew a bit more what to expect. On another, it meant he would have only very specific moments in time to choose from, which could very well prove to be a problem.He turned to Qui-Gon, the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind.“I think I know when I need to go. I need to be sent to a few months before Ahsoka Tano is assigned as Anakin’s padawan. And I need to go to Coruscant, specifically the Jedi Temple. Can we do that?”Qui-Gon smiled. “We can do many things through the power of the Force. That is certainly one of them. The Force is already moving in you strongly. Trust it, and it will guide you as it has now - for your revelation is what the Force desired all along. Come, I shall take you to the door.”They made their way down the path, walking for what felt like hours. They talked for much of it, Andrew asking question after question about his mission, about the realities of Star Wars versus his own, and about Qui-Gon’s personal adventures. Qui-Gon, ever the patient master, obliged most of them, and simply deflected those he could not answer.Then he stopped.“We have arrived.”Before them stood another door, circular in shape. Elaborate swirls and dips emanated from its ring, as though carved by a master carpenter.Qui-Gon motioned to the door. “Reach out with your feelings. Let the Force guide your path.”Andrew closed his eyes again and listened. He heard muffled grunting and the sounds of a struggle. The unmistakable hum of lightsabers reached his ears, as did cheering as though from a crowd at a festival.Andrew probed deeper, trying to tap in to his feelings - whatever that meant. He tried using his sense of smell, wrinkling his nose as the scent of sweat came through.He opened his eyes, peering through the doorway, which was now flickering like an old television. The image stabilized, giving Andrew a bird’s-eye view of a lightsaber battle in progress.And it was truly a battle. Far from a mere duel, there were at least twenty combatants, all bearing blades of blue or green. Flashing beams of light met with the telltale sound only a lightsaber could make, and the Force-augmented acrobatics of each fighter made the scene a sight to behold.Andrew took step back. “What is this? This many Jedi shouldn’t be together all at once, much less fighting each other. Is this the Old Republic?”Qui-Gon shook his head. “This is the Jedi Trials, a time where younglings are tested. The best will go on to become padawans. It is at this time that Ahsoka shall be chosen by Master Yoda himself.”Andrew nodded, comprehension dawning in his mind. “So I just step in there? Into the middle of the training? Won’t that freak everyone out? And what about my truck?”“You will submit to the will of the Force. When you step through that door, the Force will take control of your destiny in that moment. When it releases you, you may do as you think is right.”Qui-Gon knelt, smiling. “Though your questions have been many, I will miss you, young one. You will do great things. Remember: trust your feelings. Trust the Force.”Andrew nodded again as Qui-Gon stood. He moved towards the door. He hesitated. Andrew looked back, seeing Qui-Gon’s smiling face, full of encouragement.“Farewell.”Andrew gave a hint of a smile, steeled himself, and leapt through the door.Part Five: ArrivalAndrew opened his eyes, feeling lightheaded after his second time - or was it the third - passing out in just two days. There were two shapes above him, white and red shapes that stood out against the dark grey background. Voices were coming to him, male voices. They sounded concerned.“Hey kid, you alright?”Andrew blinked a few times to clear his head and sat up, taking in his surroundings. There were two clone troopers of the 65th in their trademark red and white armor kneeling over him. They were the ones who had been calling. Another one was standing a few feet away, talking on his wrist comm. A fourth was walking back and forth, apparently talking to passerby.There were massive skyscrapers all around them, with dazzlingly bright lights and signs in neon advertising their wares and services.Speeders zipped by in the street or overhead in the many traffic lanes bustling with life. Pedestrians of every description bumped into each other or haggled over prices or shuffled along past, giving little thought to the monument across the way - the Jedi Temple. Rising high in all its glory, the Temple was only an afterthought to these thousands who milled about, oblivious to the many important decisions and moments that occurred in its sacred halls.Andrew had made it to Coruscant.He had another moment of turmoil as his mind fully came to grips with the circumstances. But it passed, and he finally looked at the trooper on his right who was shaking his shoulder.“Hey kid, can you even hear me?”Andrew cleared his throat and nodded before speaking. “Yeah, sorry. I think I just fell or something. My head hurts. What happened?”The trooper glanced at his companion, then back at Andrew. “You got shot up outta that air vent over there. What in the world were you doing?”Andrew looked to where the trooper’s outstretched finger indicated. Sure enough, a cover had been torn from a duct in the ground, only a few feet from where he now sat. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something familiar. He twisted around further to get a good look.He was rewarded with the sight of his truck and trailer, parked neatly behind him with all gear intact and strapped down. Andrew smiled.“Okay, I need you guys to help me. I have some very important information that the Jedi need to hear.”The trooper with the shield and baton laughed. “You have information for the Jedi? Sorry kid, but that’s not gonna fly. Now get out of here and go find your friends - we’ll let you off easy this time.”Andrew shook his head. “No, you don’t understand. This is information that could change the war. It’s vital that I speak to the Jedi right away. I need two of you to protect this vehicle while I give them my report. Don’t let anyone touch it.”The clone who had been on the radio walked over. “Look, we can’t just let people into the Temple. That’s against protocol. Now, you’ll either have to provide some proof or -”Andrew cut him off. “This information could save the reputation of Commander Fox and your whole unit. Thire, Thorn, Hound, all those guys too. The intel I have will let us access new hyperspace routes and steal plans for new terror weapons the Separatists are currently developing. I have the locations of several Separatist targets that need to be hit in the near future, and I’ve brought strategies that could let us take down Grievous himself. Now take me to the Temple, and watch my stuff.”The clones looked at each other. The one who had first woken Andrew spoke hesitantly. “Well, it can’t hurt just to let him talk to the Temple Guards. They’re Jedi. Maybe they can figure out if he’s telling the truth.”The others hesitantly agreed. They searched Andrew, taking his backpack and weapons and placing them in the truck. The trooper with the shield guarded the truck, while the radioman went to direct maintenance droids that had just arrived to repair the grate and another scanned Andrew’s vehicle with a handheld device. The final clone motioned for Andrew to follow him.As they walked towards the Temple, Andrew took the opportunity to ask the clone escorting him a few questions, starting with his name.“Taze. I use a lot of stun bolts. Zap ’em first, ask questions later. That’s my motto.”Andrew laughed and said he thought that was a fair policy, all things Star Wars considered. He asked Taze a few more questions about life in the GAR and being a clone, but all too soon they had arrived.Andrew ascended the steps in awe, Taze leading the way. It was evidently evening, as the final rays of the sun cast beautiful shadows and danced over the great statues of Jedi Knights. They came to a halt in front of a pair of Temple Guards standing watch at the main door.As Taze began to explain the situation, one of the guards wordlessly motioned for him to stop. Then he held out a hand to Andrew, beckoning him to take it. Andrew looked at Taze and nodded his thanks. Then he took the Guard’s hand and followed him into the Jedi Temple.Part Six: The TempleThe Temple Guard led Andrew down the halls and through the many twists and turns of the Temple, silent behind his imposing mask. Andrew walked behind him in awe, the scenery around him competing for his attention. It was surreal, this - being in the very Jedi Temple, walking halls he had once seen on a screen. The Temple seemed almost deserted, with only a handful of other Jedi passing them. It had the air of some grand cathedral-turned-library, such was the overwhelming effect of the silence.But as Andrew kept moving, the silence became disturbed. Sounds of exertion, of cheering, of combat. The Temple Guard approached a pair of great doors, flanked by two more Guards. They nodded to the first, then swung the doors open on what Andrew immediately determined to be the coolest thing he had ever seen.Jedi learners, dozens of them, all fighting in a grand tournament to prove their worthiness as padawans. The fighting was fierce, with skill against strength, finesse against power. Lightsabers hummed and clashed, sparks flew, and robes fluttered as the enhanced agility of the combatants sent them flying across the room. Some padawans even used their telekinesis to hurl their opponents away before engaging anew, or staggering them to gain time.In a word, it was awesome.Andrew had little time to look, however, for the Temple Guard had paused only to scan the crowd around the contestants. He led Andrew through the crush of Jedi watching the proceedings, eventually making his way to a raised dais on which the High Council sat. The Guard motioned for Andrew to stay where he was before approaching the Council.Andrew couldn’t tell what was being said, but in only a few seconds, the Guard motioned him over. Andrew complied nervously, another wave of shock and confusion washing over him at the absolute absurdity of his situation.But he was indeed here, and the reality of it came roaring back when he realized the eyes of the entire Council were on him. He looked down sheepishly, then sent his eyes bouncing from person to person to wall and back. His palms were sweaty, and he wasn’t sure how to stand or what to do with his hands.Master Windu spoke from Andrew’s right, an eyebrow raised. “And who are you?”Andrew had to take a few deep breaths, cough twice, and go through three false starts before he could manage a cohesive reply. “My name is Andrew Young. I have news that could change the war.”Several members of the Council leaned in at this, and Windu steepled his hands under his chin.Andrew cleared his throat yet again before he continued. “I don’t want to interrupt the Trials, or whatever tournament this is, but after it’s over I need to speak to you all privately.”Windu looked at Grand Master Yoda, who sat directly in front of Andrew. Yoda wrinkled his brow and lowered his head to rest on his staff, deep in thought. Andrew waited a moment before speaking again.“Look, masters, I promise it’ll be well worth your time. The information I possess is game-changing, and not only in a temporary manner. You all need to hear this. And seriously, it’s just talking. It’s not too much on your end. Just let me say my part, and have someone move my truck to somewhere actually safe.”Plo Koon, further down the row to Andrew’s right, leaned back in his chair. His deep voice came through his mask with a sort of electrified buzz. “I believe we should let the boy say his piece. It could prove useful.”Yoda nodded once. “I agree.”Windu straightened up and motioned to the Temple Guard standing next to Andrew. “It’s settled then. You have access to whatever you need until the ending of the Trials, and this Guard will accompany you throughout that time. May the Force be With You.”Andrew nodded and began to follow the Guard. At the last second, he stopped and turned, having finally remembered his reason for choosing this time and place. “One last thing - make sure none of the Jedi here claim Ahsoka Tano as their padawan. She’s going to be instrumental to the war, and she needs to be saved for a very special purpose. Tell her she passed, but let her know that she won’t be going straight to the field and has some specialized training to complete. Don’t include her in our meeting, not until we’ve figured out some things.”Master Plo spoke up for a final time. “I will tell her.”Andrew nodded and followed the Temple Guard down the steps and through the crowd of Jedi, back into the halls of the Temple.Part Seven: PuppetryAndrew watched with arms crossed as the clones finished offloading his truck and trailer from the transport shuttle into the large hangar of the Jedi Temple. It was a strange picture, to be sure - a deep blue Dodge and flatbed trailer parked amongst a host of sleek Delta-7 Aethersprite Interceptors.It was the good sort of strange image, Andrew decided - quite possibly the best ever. He turned as the Temple Guard tapped his shoulder and motioned for Andrew to follow. Once again, Andrew was led through winding halls and long passages before finally stepping into a very familiar room - the Jedi High Council.Immediately he felt the eyes of the room upon him. Andrew stopped to survey those gathered - the room seemed more crowded than in the movies. He soon realized that the room was, in fact, possessing a few more bodies than usual.Against one wall were the four troopers he had met earlier, including Taze. Off on another side were a few other Jedi, such as librarian Jocasta Nu and Master Tera Sinube.The only member of the Council absent was Obi-Wan Kenobi, which Andrew was grateful for in a way. He wasn’t even on the hologram, so Andrew assumed he and Anakin were likely on some dangerous mission once again.But his observations were taking too long for the Council’s liking. Mace cleared his throat, and a few Jedi shifted in their seats as Andrew brought his focus back to the message at hand. Master Windu spoke first.“This meeting of the Council has been summoned to review the information you claim to bring, as well as to determine its validity and decide upon any courses of action required. Introduce yourself, and tell us what’s going on.”Andrew nodded and began.“My name is Andrew Young. I’m from a planet known as Terra III in the Unknown Regions.”There were some looks of surprise at this. Andrew himself was confused - that’s not what he had planned to say. Why had he said that? Was this the Force guiding him?“Although I am untrained in the ways of the Force, I’ve been granted visions of a sort. If you heed them and take action, great tragedy will be stopped and true disaster averted.”As the Council members took in this information, Andrew paused once more in befuddlement. Again, that wasn’t even close to what he had wanted to say. He concluded that the Force was indeed speaking through him, and that he would just talk and accept whatever he happened to say.The doors opened to admit a few more Jedi, including Temple Guards, as he continued. Andrew related the story of how he had been contacted by Qui-Gon, and how he had been transported through the World Between Worlds across time and space. His story seemed only slightly edited - it was all technically true, but worded in such a way as to make it seem as though he had come from within the Star Wars universe.Obviously, the Force was speaking through him. Several times, Andrew tried to break away from his story and alert them to Palpatine’s plots, to tell them that there were traitors within these very walls, to cry out that Order 66 would doom them all and that the clones needed their inhibitor chips removed.But the Force kept him silent.Andrew mentally shrugged at this and carried on, unravelling his tale all the way up to the very room he stood in before them. He finished and lapsed into silence, hands folded in front of him as he awaited the verdict of the Council.There was a moment of silence before Yoda spoke in his classic croaking voice.“Much to learn about the Force, we still have. Yes, much to learn. A light in you, there is. Sense it I do, mmm. Time it is for your message to be revealed.”Andrew shuffled his feet a bit and coughed twice, but he managed to get out a few words. After that, it seemed to flow from him like a waterfall he couldn’t stop - not a rushing one, but a steady stream nonetheless.“The Clone Wars are about to get kicked up a few notches. The Separatists are developing a new super-dreadnought called the Malevolence that will be able to wipe out entire Republic fleets in one engagement. I can get us access to its location and blueprints, as well as give you tactical advice on how to defeat it.“But that’s just one specific thing. I also have knowledge of the grand, overarching course of the rest of the war. I can offer strategic input and give counsel as to the broad strokes that will come against you, and I have intimate knowledge of some unique missions that will take place over the next several years. Should you choose to listen to me, I can promise that fewer lives will be lost and that the Republic will survive this war. The loose ends can be tied up, and some of the biggest weaknesses in the Republic can be patched while we deal with external threats and crack down on pirates and cartels as well.“Trust me, if the war goes on without my help, it won’t end well. Almost everyone in this room will die, and the ashes of freedom will drift away like smoke in the wind. Please, masters. You must heed my words. Only then can the Republic and the Jedi Order live to fight on.”The room was silent.Jedi Masters around the room all betrayed some surprise, even if only in a slight change of demeanor. Some moved in their seats, others raised their eyebrows, and still others simply seemed to emanate a darker presence around them. These were strange times indeed.Andrew stood there, shifting his weight from one foot to the other and fidgeting with his own hands, clasping and unclasping them rapidly a few times as he tried to process his own words. He was starting to be glad that the Force was doing the talking - it helped quite a bit.Master Windu motioned for Andrew to exit the chamber, and he was escorted out by the Temple Guard who had so faithfully led him through the labyrinth previously. As they left, Andrew saw the clones preparing to give a report, and he fervently hoped that his message - well, not properly his, but the one he had given - would be well received and taken into consideration.It was at least an hour before Andrew was called back into the chamber. The clones had been debriefed, as had been the Temple Guards who were on duty and the maintenance personnel who handled his truck. The Council seemed weary, but still very alert and intrigued.“Tell us, what are your plans to help us win the war?”Andrew nodded towards Saesee Tiin, who had posed the question.“With the knowledge the Force has given me, I can give our highest-level commanders the idea of the war’s general trends, and I will be able to provide insight on new Separatist technologies and how to combat them. As I mentioned before, I also have a very specific and well-defined knowledge of certain key missions that will allow me to provide invaluable advice to keep our troops safe and focused on accomplishing their objectives.”Master Adi Gallia spoke up from Andrew’s left. “And how did the Force give you this knowledge? How did it come to you?”Andrew was very glad once again that the Force was speaking through him.“I was given this information in the form of visions and dreams, both in moments of sleep and wakefulness. In some instances they were very specific, but in others, they were hazy and vague.”The questions continued in similar fashion for at least an hour. In that time, Andrew divulged some of the grand themes of the war, and revealed that the Jedi Order would experience great betrayals if his advice was not heeded. Still, the Force allowed him to only use shadowy, uncertain phrasing and few definitive statements, preventing him from screaming “Palpatine is a Sith!” and other such radical changes to history.At last, the final question came. It was from Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.“What would be your first steps as an advisor to the Council? What would you do in the next days, weeks, and months to come?”Andrew hoped that the Force would let him handle this one. Thankfully, it did.“Well, my first course of action will be to gather the top commanders of the GAR and present my information to them and the Council. I will also recommend what I think are the best ways to deal with the threats we will face. This would take place over the next several days.“After this, I will begin to train as a field operative. My specific knowledge of certain missions will be much more useful tactically than from a command post in many cases. I will need a suit of armor similar to what the Clone Commandos wear, and I will need a clone trooper assigned to me as a personal trainer and assistant. He’ll help me as I learn the skills I will need in the field - piloting, driving, shooting, and so on.“I will also train with Padawan Ahsoka Tano. She has a very crucial role to play in all this, so while I learn tactical skills, I will also train in the basics of meditation and lightsaber combat. When the Battle of Christophsis begins - yes, that’s going to happen - the two of us will be put on standby and then sent in with a platoon of clones as reinforcements. Ahsoka will be assigned as Anakin Skywalker’s padawan, and I’ll be the padawan of Master Kenobi.“From here, I can have the greatest impact on the war. The vast majority of my visions relate to the missions of these three, so I’ll be able to offer them the most help. I’ll still give updates on grand themes when necessary, but my primary occupation will be with them.“So there you have it. I leave it to you, Masters, to decide my fate.”Andrew was summoned to the Council chambers for the final time several hours later. The Jedi had sent him out as they meditated on his words, and attempted to commune with the Force. Andrew’s hopes were high, but he was uncertain as to the final outcome. Hadn’t Qui-Gon said that the Force would let him choose his own course? Why had the Force stopped him from warning them about Palpatine? About the Sith? About Order 66? Andrew had many questions, and few answers.As the doors closed behind him, Andrew took a deep breath and steeled himself. Master Windu cleared his throat, and Andrew tensed.“The Council has decided that your requests shall be granted. You will be shown to your room, and tomorrow we shall start your debriefing. May the Force be with you.”Andrew suppressed his urge to celebrate, bowing calmly in deference. “Thank you, Masters. I promise you will not be disappointed.”Andrew then turned and followed the Temple Guard through the soaring architecture of the Jedi Temple one last time.Part 8: Day 1The next morning, Andrew woke up to a metallic tapping on the door of his chambers. He sat up groggily.“Come in.”The door opened, and a small LEP servant droid entered, carrying a plate of steaming hot food. The delicious scent of roasted meat brought Andrew fully awake, and he thanked the droid as it deposited the tray on the bedside table. The droid replied politely in the nasal, singsong voice customary to its model and withdrew, leaving Andrew alone once more.He took a moment to survey the room, as he hadn’t truly inspected it the night before. A strange exhaustion had passed over him, and he had fallen asleep almost right away. He felt refreshed now, though, and ready to take on the day.The room was spartan, but still comfortable. Its simplicity allowed it to feel larger than it was, with lots of light streaming in from the massive floor-to-ceiling window that made up the wall to his left. Aside from the bed and its flanking side tables, the only furniture in the room was a pair of low, padded stools the far left corner (from Andrew’s perspective) and a chest standing in front of the window. The door into the hall was in the far right corner (again from Andrew’s perspective), with a second door to the left of the bed.It was this second door that Andrew headed for now, playing a hunch that this was, in fact - aha! A bathroom. Andrew congratulated himself on this discovery, before promptly realizing he hadn’t the first clue when it came to actually utilizing said facilities.Thankfully, the operating process proved intuitive, and Andrew was saved the embarrassment of requesting a droid’s aid. The shower turned out to be similarly agreeable to a novice user. Within twenty minutes, Andrew had showered and changed into a set of MARPAT camouflage fatigues that he normally wore for airsoft, complemented with combat boots. He unloaded his personal backpack, setting up solar chargers for his devices and placing his clothes neatly into the chest before downing the breakfast and taking inventory of the equipment he had with him.As he brushed his teeth, he surveyed his emergency backpack’s haul: a few knives, neatly laid out on the side table. A revolver, chambered in .38 special, next to the knives. A second handgun - a 9mm Sig - on the bed. A compact AR-15 with a folding stock and shortened barrel that he had barely managed to cram into the bag.Aside from weapons, Andrew had a few changes of clothes in the chest and extra pairs of shoes set next to it. The Multicam bump helmet he used for airsoft was sitting on his pillow, but he figured it wasn’t necessary for a briefing.Speaking of the briefing, when was that happening? Shouldn’t someone have gotten him to head out by now?As if on cue, three sharp raps sounded from the door. At Andrew’s call to enter, a silver protocol droid stepped in and announced that Andrew would be departing for the briefing in ten minutes exactly.Andrew thanked the droid, who stepped outside to wait for his young charge as Andrew mentally ran through a checklist of what he might need and psyched himself up for this encounter. He decided an overabundance of weapons was unnecessary, choosing only to strap a DAX Industries fixed-blade knife and the revolver to his belt, with a small Gerber pocketknife and some extra bullets rounding out his tiny arsenal.Into his smaller day pack went his laptop, along with a binder of notes he had made on general themes of the Clone Wars while waiting for the Council to deliberate the day before. A sweater, a toiletry bag, and a few odds and ends were also added, with a solar charger and various charging cables finishing off his equipment.After filling up another water bottle and firmly seating a classic Marine Corps eight-point cover (a result of him raiding the local airsoft store) to his brow, Andrew stepped out of the room. The droid, evidently a beneficiary of good-natured programming, jovially informed him that he was to be his personal assistant whenever he was at the Temple, especially regarding any domestic tasks. S-1LV, or “Silv,” as Andrew quickly called him, answered dozens of questions regarding the layout of the Temple and its many facilities as they made their way to the hangar.Nearly the entire High Council awaited them, along with a detachment of clones from the 65th Coruscant Guard and a few other Jedi and various droids. The large group embarked onto several space-capable LAAT gunships, and then they were off - towards the next step in Andrew’s journey, and a vastly different Star Wars universe than the one we now know.Part 9: The BriefingAndrew stepped out of the gunship and into the massive Republic hangar, awed by its size. The base they had flown to was a space station orbiting Coruscant, and it was by no means small. Andrew was awed by the scale of the structure - the hangar alone was larger than his ten-acre property back home. He was shaken from his momentary reverie by Silv, who gently ushered Andrew to the large group of Jedi, clones, and droids that was collecting in an open space to his right.Andrew assumed a position around the rear of the line that soon stretched as the personnel assembled made their way across the hangar towards a large blast door set into the wall opposite the hangar entrance. After a few minutes of following the procession through myriad austere halls that all looked the same, Andrew finally crossed the threshold into his destination - the war room.The room was packed with bodies, as intelligence officers rubbed shoulders with Jedi Masters and commanders who were, judging by their uniforms heavy with medals, of supreme importance bellowing at one another from across the room. But the space became quiet as Master Windu stepped to a large, central holotable. He called for silence, then instructed everyone to take their seats.In a few moments, the room had ceased its shuffling, and the vast auditorium was quiet as Master Yoda joined his companion on center stage.“A guest we have today, yes? Mmm. Yes. A guest we have. With news that could change the war.”Windu motioned for Andrew to move to the center. Andrew could feel the eyes of dozens upon dozens of people on him. His palms were sweating by the time he made it to the pair of Jedi. He returned the nods given him by his hosts as they took their seats, and Andrew began his tale.It was the same story he had told the Jedi, and he explained it succinctly and without any hesitation or jitters - he thanked the Force for literally speaking for him. But then he came once again to the part where he was questioned, and it seemed that today’s queries would be stiffer than before.It was hours before they took a break. Andrew felt as though his mind had been turned inside out and flipped around and spun a few times for good measure before being sloppily stuffed back into his skull. He followed Silv to the chow hall, where he ate in the officer’s mess and tried to quiet the pounding in his head while the Jedi and Republic military men debated and discussed the events surrounding him. When lunch ended, the process began again. This would continue for another two days, with Andrew finding little time to sleep or rest between briefings.Once his origins and plans regarding how he would be deployed in the war had been explained to death, he had elaborated on several of the developments that he knew to be arising within the coming months. Among these were the construction of the Malevolence, the Battle of Christophsis, and the existence and effectiveness of Asajj Ventress, to name a few. Andrew recognized a few of the officers he was briefing, including Colonel Meebur Gascon.The clone troopers who Andrew had originally spoken to were once again questioned, as were the Temple Guards. Even the members of the High Council testified, giving credence to the seriousness of the occasion if nothing else.There was a wide variety of personnel involved - from clone officers to regular humans to medical corps workers, and aliens of every sort filled the room. Figures that Andrew assumed were in the Intelligence field hung to the sides and back, and asked some very targeted questions that left little doubt as to their occupation. There were a few politicians scattered throughout the room as well - though Andrew didn’t recognize any of them, he was able to assume their positions based on their gaudy robes and elegant bearings.Andrew’s briefings grew more and more detailed and specific, but something held him back from fully revealing all his cards - he never spoke of anything beyond the first few episodes of The Clone Wars, which he continued to watch and reference each night. He read and reread the books that had to do with the time period, as well as reviewing any extra materials he had on the era - such as the notes he had taken while blearily stumbling through YouTube videos the night before his arrival.While this all gave Andrew a fair picture of the present galactic situation, it did not always prepare him for the brutally straightforward questions of the military leaders. It was eventually concluded that while Andrew certainly had potentially useful knowledge for the overarching war, his area of greatest Force-granted visions was undoubtedly specific to a few Jedi and clone troopers. By the end of a third day of briefings, Andrew’s requests for armor, combat training, and assignment type had all been approved, with the condition that he report to this group of personnel should his visions concern any larger operations.Andrew nodded, barely suppressing a huge grin as he snapped a salute.“Understood.”The general Andrew was addressing gave a small smile and crisp nod before glancing around the auditorium.“This conference is officially adjourned. Thank you all for your participation.”The room began to come alive with movement as all those seated in the great circular amphitheater stirred and roused themselves to go back to their various jobs. Andrew began moving towards Silv, who had been his constant companion and guide the past few days. Andrew was growing to like the protocol droid - he was polite but not insufferably so, and always cheerful.Which is why Andrew would be very sad after what happened next.There was a sudden crashing sound from one of the small side doors, and two blaster shots rang out. The room flew into panic, with security personnel and military officers drawing their sidearms and scrambling for cover as clone troopers rushed to the sounds of shooting. Jedi ignited their lightsabers with their characteristic thrum, and shouting intensified as everyone attempted to establish clarity and control. Politicians and dignitaries dove to the floor, covering their heads as their bodyguards fell on top of them, creating human shields.Silv was the first casualty in this mess. Andrew turned to see what the first crash was, then collapsed to the ground as a pair of crimson blaster bolts roared past his head with an intense crackling sound. Silv, who was behind Andrew, took both shots to the chest, tipping backwards with holes smoking in his now-blackened chrome plating.Andrew’s hat had shifted to cover his eyes, and he crawled blindly for a moment, feeling his way to the base of the holotable. He curled up against it, adjusting his hat with trembling hands as adrenaline raced through his veins. All his senses seemed to be running overtime, and Andrew was beginning to be overwhelmed by the barrage of information. Sounds of shouting and of shooting. Cries of pain and orders screamed at maximum volume. The bright flashes of lasers and lightsabers, and the rapid movements of dozens of bodies scrambling about in confusion and chaos.Then a hand seized Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew whipped around, batting the hand away and fumbling for his gun. The clone trooper in front of him grabbed Andrew’s searching hand, shouting for him to remain calm, that he was going to get Andrew out, that Andrew needed to follow him. It took a moment for Andrew’s panicked mind to comprehend this, but then he nodded. The trooper took Andrew’s left arm in a firm grip and crouched low, pulling his charge towards an exit being used by other fleeing personnel.A few blaster shots skipped across the floor near them, or impacted on the chairs and benches they passed as they ascended the amphitheater steps to the exit. Another clone joined them, backing up the steps behind them and laying down covering fire. They passed other personnel kneeling behind benches, blasting away at something Andrew could not see. A third clone left one such static position to lead their small group up the last few steps and out of the room.As they passed through the door, the clone guarding their rear took a blaster shot to the thigh. He dropped with a shout, clutching at his leg. Andrew tried to turn and help, but his bodyguard continued dragging him down the hall and out of the line of fire. Another clone, who was in a security position watching the other end of the hall, pulled their valiant defender to cover.The two troopers with Andrew were members of the 65th Coruscant Guard, as indicated by their red and white armor. Their urban and close-quarter battle (CQB) training was put to use in the cramped hallways and tight passages of this area of the space station as they quickly and proficiently ascertained that each room and hallway was clear before moving in, weapons always at the ready. The clone holding Andrew’s arm relinquished his grip after instructing Andrew to remain behind the point man at all times while he himself took up a rearguard position. Andrew drew his revolver and nodded, eyes wide and breaths coming fast and shallow.He clenched the silver-barreled weapon tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure and contrasting sharply with the black rubber grip of the gun. The tiny team moved cautiously, the sounds of blasterfire and calling soldiers periodically echoing down the hallways to them. There were other groups like theirs, small fire teams of troopers or individual security personnel escorting various politicians or VIPs out of the combat zone. They all had one destination: the hangar. There they could consolidate with their troops, regroup, and wait for the all clear - or evacuate, should the situation become dire.As Andrew’s team rounded one corner, blasterfire erupted from in front of them as a pair of security troopers guarding a senator were cut down by a burst of crimson plasma vapors. The lead clone grabbed the senator and yanked him back, yelling for him to head to the back of the column. By this point, their team had linked up with at least three others. This senator and a pair of elderly military officers made up the personnel of importance, along with Andrew. Guarding them were a total of five 65th Coruscant Guard clones, three Senate Commandos, and the pair of Felucian security troopers who had just been killed.While the Senate Commandos pulled security and began to retreat down the hall they had just emerged from, two of the 65th troopers poked around the corner and put out a few shots of blue ion lasers. They both flinched back into cover as a barrage of at least twenty red Separatist lasers screamed past and peppered the opposite wall in response. One of the troopers tapped a button on his helmet as he spoke into his comlink. His voice was calm, professional. He was a true soldier, calm even under crushing pressure.“North passage is blocked. All dignitary evacuation teams, head for the east exits. Requesting sealing of blast doors.”He turned and fired a few more shots before backtracking at a sprint to the rest of the team. They left the main hallway, heading for the east exit. As they passed through a supply room full of crates and boxes, another few blaster shots rang out in front of them. Andrew dove to the ground as a squad of Separatist battle droids marched into the room, E-5s sending bolts of red plasma ripping through the space above his head. The Senate Commandos were the first to return fire, but they were simply outgunned and in a poor position. All three were sprawled on the floor in seconds, their armor singed and broken. No plastoid composite less than that of the Clone Commandos could take blaster shots at this range.Andrew and the rest of the group scrambled to cover as their valiant comrades fell, with one of the older officers collapsing in a heap as his aging body was hit by a searing bolt of plasma. Another clone stopped for a moment as the officer dropped and got a blaster shot to the calf for his trouble. His companion dragged him to cover as more red lasers skipped off of the floor around them. More droids had arrived, and from the sound of it, a few had trickled in from behind them. Three of the clones had repositioned to fight them off, leaving two clones (one of whom was wounded), the remaining officer, and Andrew to fight off the initial foes.Andrew cowered behind a large crate, sweat loosening his grip on his revolver as his undershirt soaked through. He wished he had brought a helmet - or any body armor at all, for that matter. Fatigues didn’t do any good as far as protection from laserfire. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. Though his revolver was double-action and would fire without first being cocked, Andrew pulled back the hammer regardless in preparation to make his attack. He knew from experience that the heavy trigger pull of this particular gun would throw off his aim and make his shots completely ineffective.He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, focusing only on controlling his body’s every muscle. Though his heart raced and he could hear the screaming of the wounded trooper and the blasterfire of both his companions and his enemies, he was determined to calm his mind and make himself useful. In one fluid motion, he stood, turned, brought the iron sights to the nearest droid, and fired.The bang of the firearm was by far louder than the blasters in play, which attracted the attention of the droids. The one Andrew had fired at was indeed hit, but the tough durasteel held and the droid picked itself up from the ground as its allies peppered Andrew’s position with lasers.Andrew peeked around the side of the box, taking another shot. It went wide and hit the wall harmlessly. The clones were steadily whittling away the enemy force, and the aged military officer still alive was doing his part and then some with his sidearm. The politician was still around somewhere, hiding behind some boxes to Andrew’s rear. He took another shot, but didn’t see where it went.Three more bullets spat forth from Andrew’s gun in the next few seconds, and a droid actually went down. Andrew figured he had hit some sort of sensitive component, but his theories were overshadowed by the need to reload. His trembling, sweaty, adrenaline-infused hands complicated the process, and he had only just finished when he heard it - a lightsaber.The purple blade signature to Mace Windu illuminated the darkened room with an eerie glow that cast bending shadows as he flashed from the door to the droids. His movements were too fast for Andrew to see, much less comprehend.Andrew rose from his crouch and watched in awe as the Jedi Master cleared the remaining droids in a matter of seconds. He only just remembered that he still could help, and he and one of the clones opened fire once more, Andrew taking down a second and then a third droid. This final one was merely damaged, but the clone finished it off. When they looked back up, the fight was over.Master Windu stood amongst a pile of at least thirty droids, breathing heavily as he scanned the room for any final enemies. Seeing none, he switched off his lightsaber. He turned to Andrew.“Some very powerful Separatists appear to have it in for you. I’m glad you’re alright.” He watched silently for a moment as the clones performed a quick security check of both halls and gathered their wounded.“The decision of the joint council stands. You will be trained as both a soldier and a Jedi, and will make your deployment at the time of the Force’s guidance. Now let’s get to the ships - there’s still more cleanup to be done here, and we cannot risk losing you.”I hope you guys enjoy what I have so far! Check back soon - I’ll be trying to post the next segment every few days.So until the next chapter,May the Force be With You.