Chapter 1: Search for the Lost

"Hey, wake up!" A voice said from point-blank range. Dizzy as all could be, a clone trooper awakened from cryo-stasis. Another person entered where the clone trooper and another person were at. It was a female - six feet tall, slim, and an antennae coming out of her head.

"Well, look who decided to finally wake up from stasis! Last time I asked you your name, it didn't go so well, remember? So I'll ask you again, what's your name?" the woman said. Even though the clone trooper did not want to answer, he expressed so much pain and dizziness that he just forced himself to verbally comply.

"Ponds, commander of Lightning Squadron and under the duty of Jedi General Mace Windu," the clone trooper replied in agony.

"When you're finally going to get up, I have something to show you," the female implied, chuckling. Ponds just stared her down as if he was a cat, stalking its prey. The female took notice of that. It was also ever so clear to Commander Ponds that the two other people there were bounty hunters. Then, he started to remember. Flashbacks raced through Ponds' system as if it were trying to reach a destined goal. He remembered everything that had happened... Aurra Sing and Boba Fett capturing him. When Aurra and the other person named Coach left the cargo haul, Ponds did not hesitate to make contact with the Republic, but little did he know that there was no more Republic.

He reported in with his CT number, which was broadcast to an old Republic weapons station where Princess Leia tried to respond, but it came in as embedded. They all tried to figure out who had that CT number. Commander Stone's ears' attention span caught the letters and numbers of CT-411. He darted to the communications console where everyone was at. "That's Ponds' number. But, that doesn't make any sense. He's dead," Stone informed.

"Oh no. Maybe he's a zombie!" Patrick Rahr stated, loudly. He hid underneath a desk. Captain Crane's eye twitched.

"Can we track the coordinates?" Stone asked.

"Already did!" Leia exclaimed. Stone shared something with Ponds, even though they were not aware of it - they shared the same trait of not hesitating to do the most necessary thing in times and situations like this. Stone, Rahr, and Crane all went in a shuttle craft and blasted off to the designated coordinates. When they got there, they witnessed something utmost unexpected - a corpse. Stone's mouth opened wide in shock.

"Bring him in!" Stone commanded. Crane put on a rebreather that was full of oxygen to retrieve the body that looked similar to Ponds. Stone's shocking state quickly traveled afar while he noticed that Ponds' dead body was in actuality a dummy of him. Rahr laughed, but Crane and Stone kept quiet. They reported back to base and returned.

Aboard Slave I, Ponds attempted to make contact with anyone who was on the frequency, but interference was all the feedback he got. A sliding door opened and Ponds took notice of this. "Oh Ponds! Where are you, my-soon-to-be slave?" Aurra called. There was a pause. "I know you tried to make contact with the Rebellion. I have a little surprise for you!" Right then, Coach sneaked up on Ponds and snatched an explosive collar to Ponds' neck. Much to Ponds' surprise, he physically reacted, throwing Coach to the floor filled with stolen crates. Aurra instantly got in front of Ponds with a remote controlled detonator in her hand. Ponds could tell that Aurra was having the time of her life with that smirk on her face, making Ponds wanting to strangle every ounce of her skinny body... and Aurra could sense that.