Bab 1: a Spec in the Sand
h e y o
I would like to say first off thanks for clicking on this story, but also to give it some time. lemme explain, the first few chapters of this story were made years ago on another platform, and i only came back to it recently to continue forwards, meaning that even with the edits and refurbishes I've made to the first few chapters they may still seem objectively bad by some, but i promise you it gets better, and that i edit them when i can to fix any errors. also any and all criticism is welcome, Thanks for choosing Rise of the Rust, and Enjoy!!!
:)
-------------------------------
Jake stepped out into the open sand, his small shack barely visible behind him. It was a humble home constructed from mud and scrap metal, with a cluster of random items he deemed structurally sound enough to build with. At sixteen, he had never thought much about aesthetics, it was merely a home. His ragged shirt and equally tattered pants clung to him, both dirtied with red sand.
Jake had been scavenging ever since he could remember, combing the barren landscape of Geonosis for scraps of metal and other remnants of the Galactic War. With his trusty astromech companion, R4, he would haul the valuable finds back to town and sell them for credits. His skin, despite the relentless sun, was pale and his frame was skinny, despite that, years of labor had obviously strengthened his muscles. His brown eyes shined against the harsh light, and his dark hair, often filled with sand, had developed a red tint over time.
R4 sat nearby, its three eyes scanning blinking curiously as it surveyed their surroundings. The droid's once-bright grey and red shell was now faded and chipped, a victim of countless sandstorms. Despite its wear, R4 remained a steadfast companion, the only one Jake truly trusted.
Living on Geonosis had never been Jake's choice, just a consequence of unluckyness. He couldn't recall his parents or how he came to be on this harsh planet, and R4's memory banks had suffered damage from the droid's own clumsiness. So it was just the two of them, residing on the outskirts of a town nestled within a canyon of towering red rocks, surrounded by various species—mostly Humans, Trandoshans, and the enigmatic Geonosians, who had shaped the town since its creation.
The Geonosians had participated in the Galactic War, a conflict that had left deep scars on their planet. Now, they remained hidden, just trying to survive as a species after the Separatist defeat. Jake's scavenging earned him a decent sum of credits, yet his popularity in town was questionable. He was the only scrapper daring enough, or stupid enough, to venture into the remains of the Battle of Geonosis—one of the war's first major conflicts. He often returned with valuable items from fallen Clones and Droids, but the townspeople disapproved of his reckless pursuits of what they called "Separatist relics." Not that Jake cared much; he was never one for socializing, despite his upbeat attitude.
The Galactic Empire, as they called themselves, sought to impose order across the galaxy. Jake's frame shivered at the memories of Imperial TK-Troopers and Clones mercilessly quelling riots on the towns Holonet, their blasters cutting down anyone who dared resist. The thought of them colonizing Geonosis sent chills down his spine. He wasn't the fighting type, while he would defend R4 with everything he had, he also knew he'd be shitting himself in the process.
His feelings toward the Empire were complicated. He despised them, yes, but his encounters with Imperials had been few and far between. Clones, on the other hand, were a different story. They had attacked the Geonosians, the very beings that provided him shelter, on numerous occasions, and their attempts to seize his scrap in the name of the "Republic" only deepened his resentment. The tales from the Geonosians had cemented a common hatred for Clones in the town, and Jake was among the most vocal in his disdain. He didnt view them as inferior beings, even if they were apparently bred in a lab, according to stories anyway. Probably due to this hat, Jake felt bad for the Droids, seeing their bodies riddling nearly everystep he took when out scrapping—despite never having seen one in action.
As he snapped out of his trance, Jake stretched and let out a yawn. "Ready for another scrap run, R4? We need some credits for da food and the usual crap," he said, patting the droid's metallic head.
"Beereee boo BOOEEooo," R4 beeped happily, its enthusiasm infectious.
Jake chuckled, "Yes, yes, buddy, I know how much you like scrapping." He quickly packed his bag, a makeshift backpack crafted from the Signal booster of a B1-Series Battle Droid, and revved up his speeder bike. R4 rolled over to get on, but without arms, it lost its balance and landed optic-first in the sand, sending a small gust swirling around. Jake chuckled lightly before hopping off to help the droid up.
Speeding away, Jake expertly navigated the rocky terrain, the thrill of the ride making him forget the stark realities of his life. He could see the large droid transport in the distance, and within moments they arrived. He hopped off his speeder, detaching R4, who plopped down with a soft thud.
As they entered the battlefield, Jake was met with the same haunting sight: thousands of fallen soldiers scattered across the ground. Droids lay curled in grotesque positions, scorched by LAAT laser fire, while Clone troopers, riddled with holes, painted a grim picture of war's brutality. The acrid smell of burnt metal and decay filled the air, and for a moment, Jake felt a shiver of horror wash over him. He was used to collecting scrap quickly, and leaving before being able to question morals, but standing still in this desolation brought a sense of dread.
His foot struck something hard—a B2 Super Battle Droid, a heavy combat droid that had met its end in this chaotic scene. Its lower half was missing, and its head, usually tucked away, lay a few meters away, battered and broken.
Jake scowled in disgust. "Jeez, don't they check those Clones for anger problems?" he muttered.
"Bree boo booop," R4 replied, its tone almost teasing.
"True, war is pretty shitty, but this B2 didn't cause it. Poor guy was just following orders from some evil bastard." He felt a pang of sympathy for the fallen droid, and R4 beeped in agreement, despite the irony of the statement.
The duo spent hours picking through the remnants of battle. They ripped apart small parts of tanks, dismantled droids, and scavenged valuable components. Despite his distaste for the Clones, Jake couldn't ignore the allure of valuable parts.
Taking a break, Jake sat atop the hull of an AT-TE, the wind tousling his hair as he gazed at the hauntingly beautiful landscape. The sun cast a golden hue across the scene, a contrast to the horrors surrounding him. The mountains and canyons loomed in the distance, as per usual.
"Life was different during the Clone Wars," he mused aloud, R4 beeping in curosity. "I don't know much about it, just what I've seen on the village holonet. But I can't help but think things would've been better if the CIS had won. To bad i aint no politician" He sighed, shoving away those out of place thoughts, and hopped back up.
With his bag now filled with valuable scraps, he rose and began the long walk back to the speeder, R4 rolling beside him. For now the path ahead was certain, and Jake was determined to keep it that way, too bad the galaxy had other ideas.
----------------
HELLO, so allow me to explain. i never had a plan on what this story would be, and only got one around chapter 5 or 6, plus, these first few chapters were made by a much younger me, so they aren't the best. i've planned on going back and rewriting the,, such as this Chapter which i rewrote, but i've been so focused on finishing the newest chapter, along with my vacation that i've just been pushing it aside. so just bare with me here, and just hold out till the chapters get good. I will rewrite them. I promise you that. however please actually do read the quote on quote "shitty" chapters, because they are very important plot wise.
if you decide to stay then THANK YOU SO MUCH, and happyy reaadinggg!!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone