It was almost midnight when the droids returned to the Oasis. Despite the purification of the planet, decontamination protocols were still followed at the entrance. Just for safety, because they didn't want to take any risks until the pollution was completely eradicated. Going through the doors, they saw the droid Doom on one side, waiting patiently next to Tova, who had fallen asleep after the long wait at that time of night.

Doom: - Commander. -

Icarus: - Doom unit. What happened? -

Doom: - Commander Tova commented that she had an important message to give him. But it seems that she fell asleep. - The comment was funny, since the little girl's snoring was clearly audible. -

Icarus: - It seems that we will have to wait. Alpha unit. Help the Doom unit and take it to its room. -

Alfa y Doom: - Roger. Roger. -

Then, Icarus was left completely alone in the long tunnels that led into the Oasis. The long nights were quiet enough in the shelter, and the droid was used to such deathly silence by now. I used to use all that time to strategize and compute action plans or battle strategies, but not tonight. That night he had something spinning in his circuits.

As I walked through the dark corridors, lit only by small LED lights every certain distance, I tried to process everything that had happened there in the little forest. Unable to believe in gods, magic, mystical powers, witchcraft, or the Force itself, the droid tried with all his might to try to understand what had happened. Simply hearing...rather..."feeling" a voice inside her made no sense at all, and while she knew about the Jedi and their abilities to manipulate what they called the "Force," in all the records mentioned that the Jedi had to be present to perform such feats. But in that little corner of the forest there was no one, and he could be sure of that.

Without realizing it, he found himself in the streets of the Oasis, wandering like a wandering soul in the sepulchral silence of the night. Most of the organics were asleep, and only the droids were kept up and running, carrying out their routine tasks.

The start-up of the two droid factories allowed him to start with minimal production of battle droids. Although somewhat mediocre compared to the impressive factories of Geonosis or Mygeeto. But at least they could have a decent complement of B1 and B2 battle droids. Some commando units and a couple of tactical droids. They weren't much, but they could easily form a functional army including a special operations unit.

But it was not enough. If they were to have even the slightest chance of defeating the Empire, they had to expand their network of factories and try to recapture the outer rim planets where Imperial hegemony was not as strong. In addition, they needed to find collaborators and others willing to join their cause.

After a few minutes of reflection, he found himself at the control booth doors for all of Gweri's droids. A modest underground facility from which an antenna rose to the surface. A modest facility, but fully functional and prepared to fulfill its task as it should. He approached and the door opened automatically, revealing inside a modest control booth with dozens of screens from different parts of the Oasis and facilities on the planet. And there were only two individuals, even though there were a total of eight empty seats.

????: - Co... Commander Icarus. - Said a voice completely surprised upon noticing his presence.

He was a thin man, but with a great bearing. About forty years old, but very well preserved in appearance. Well-defined facial features stood out on his person, perfectly matched with his blue military uniform. He liked to display his golden emblem embroidered on his chest, a merit he had earned when he was captain of the great Separatist army.

Icarus: - Lieutenant Helgait. Shouldn't I be resting like the rest? -

Helgait: - Don't worry, Commander. I can stay awake for a while. -

????: - I'm afraid Lieutenant Helgait doesn't understand the importance of adequate rest for organics. - Said the second robotic voice.

Icarus: - Unit TR-1. I thought it was his job to cover the night shift. -

TR-1: - Affirmative. But Lieutenant Helgait doesn't seem to be following protocol. -

Helgait: - I was completing the records for this fortnight. I wanted to finish them all before ending my shift. -

Icarus: - Very good. Can you give me a preview? -

Helgait: - Right away, Commander. - The man began to review the files on a datapad. - Starting with the highest priority, the repair of the Bountiful is 87% complete. The droid factories remain stable, it is expected that by the end of the month we will have more than 50,000 B1 units and 1,000 B2 units available. The mines are stable, durasteel production is sufficient to meet demand. -

Icarus: - Excellent. And what about the state of the atmosphere? -

Helgait: - Wait a minute. - Checked on the datapad. - Ready. The state of the atmosphere is stable. Air pollution remains below 10% and they continue to be processed. It is expected that in a few months there will be no toxic residues. -

Icarus: - Very good. I retire then. Get on with your work. -

Helgait: - Yes sir. -

TR-1: - Roger. Roger. -

Icarus was about to leave the small control room, but when the doors opened automatically, the droid remained motionless, with his hands behind his back, as if he were computing something. The man and the droid behind him looked at each other, trying to understand what was wrong with him, but before he could ask, Icarus turned around and addressed Helgait.

Icarus: - Tell me, lieutenant. Do you believe in the Force? - A question that left the man very surprised.

Helgait: - I don't know, Commander. - He said after thinking about it for a few seconds. - I've heard the stories about the Jedi. But I refuse to believe about your "magic Turks" that are so often mentioned. -

Icarus: - "Magic tricks." - He laughed for a second. - Interesting way of saying it. - Then he left the place.

Helgait: - Do you think I gave him a good answer? - He asked the tactical droid when they were left alone in the place.

TR-1: - Unfortunately. I don't have the answer to that question. -

After leaving the place. Icarus decided not to dwell on the matter. After all, no matter how much you tried to compute about it, the simple concept of Force is not something your logic could dismember for your better understanding. He could simply accept its existence without questioning its origin or its foundations.

That night. The droid spent the whole time sitting on his "throne," trying to come up with more battle plans and strategies to follow, but something wouldn't let him. In spite of everything, everything that happened was still spinning on the circuits. He took the lightsaber in hand, but he didn't feel that tingling sensation like in the forest. In his hands, it was nothing more than a simple object.

So he couldn't take it anymore. He got up from his seat in a hurry and prepared to go to one particular side.

-----------------------------------------------------0--------------------------------------------------------

The sun was peeking over the horizon, and the glass dome that was installed on the roof of the Oasis was beginning to receive that pleasant morning light, when metallic knocks woke Boil. The clone stood up with difficulty, rubbed his eyes to clear his mind a bit, and set out to find out who disturbed his sleep.

Boil: - Commander? - He asked confused, opening the door of his room and seeing the droid waiting patiently.

Icarus: - Boil. I need your help. -

Boil: - Yes... Right away... sir. - He said as he turned around and put on the armor with difficulty while avoiding falling to the ground since he had just woken up. - What happen? Another leak in the boilers? A pirate attack? Did we receive a signal from an Imperial ship? - He asked something upset.

Icarus: - Negative. I need you to go to the training room when you're ready. -

Like a bucket of cold water, the droid's words fell on the clone, sinking all his concern and enthusiasm.

Boil: - Sir. It's barely... - He said as he looked with effort at the clock in his room. - 6 o'clock. - He said something annoying.

Icarus: - It's the perfect time. I wait for you in the room. - He said as he turned and walked away, leaving the clone somewhat stunned and grumbling.

But despite his bad mood and his desire to separate the droids into pieces, Boil showed up punctually to the training room, where Icarus waited patiently with his arms folded behind his back.

Icarus: - Just in time, soldier. -

Bill: - Yes. - Yawn. - Mister. Tell me. What do you have in mind? -

Without giving him an answer, the droid displayed two one-handed electrostaffs behind him and threw one at Boil. The clone had to react quickly despite his laziness, as the metal rod would have hit him in the face.

Boil: - What is this? - He said confused.

Ícaro: - Son electrorods. -

Bill: - Yes. Yeah. I know that. But what do you plan to do with... -

Boil was barely able to finish the question when the droid charged at him head-on. Icarus raised the blunt weapon above his head, bringing it down with near-death speed. If it weren't for the reflexes that Boil had developed on the battlefield, he would surely have taken a serious hit by not being able to block the droid's attack.

Boil: - Sir.. What are you doing? - He said barely with the strength he had left.

Icarus: - We are training. -

Boil: - Training? - He said as he raised the electrowand with all his might, making the droid move back. - For a moment I thought he wanted to detach my head from my neck. -

Icarus: - Don't be ridiculous. If I had wanted such a thing, I would have done it long ago. - He said as he attacked again, this time with an attack from the side that the clone was able to stop.

Boil: - How kind of you. - He said jokingly while repelling another of the attacks. - And that's why you woke me up so early? Wasn't it better to face the commando droids? They have better hand-to-hand combat skills than me. -

Icarus: - Don't be ridiculous. I programmed those droids. I know each of his movements. There is no point in training against them. -

The words concluded in the training room and a brutal match broke out. Icarus used all his mechanical strength to lash out at Boil, who knew he couldn't stop the attacks, but he was faster, and could barely evade them. The shock of the electrovaras produced small discharges of electricity, as well as a characteristic crackling sound.

https://youtu.be/m1Af4YCKhNc

The clone was trying to hit him with a couple of thrusts, but the droid could anticipate them and move accordingly. While he couldn't keep up with the clone's speed, he could make up for it with brute force and power attacks, causing Boil to rethink twice where to attack and when to back off. But after several thrusts both reached a standstill and decided to take a short break.

Icarus: - You don't fight badly. -

Boil: - All clones receive combat training with electrostaff, although we don't usually use it in battle. - He said panting occasionally. - And tell me. Why the sudden interest? - He said while pointing to the electrovaras.

Icarus: - Can you keep a secret? -

The clone hesitated for a moment, but after a few seconds it nodded, curious about the droid's sudden mystery. But before he could get any kind of wild idea, Icarus reached into his forearm compartment and pulled out his lightsaber, leaving the clone completely stunned to see the weapon for the first time.