The newly released Journey To Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - Allegiance comic series is detailing the the events of the Resistance and First Order, helping to close the gap between The Last Jedi and the upcoming Rise of Skywalker film. In the process, the series reveals an epic fight in which Rey is forced to take on a warrior from the Clone Wars era.
In Star Wars Allegiance #3, Resistance heroes Rey, Rose Tico, and General Leia Organa continue their attempts to convince the Mon Cala people to join their cause, as they once did during the first Star Wars Rebellion. So far, Leia's attempts to negotiate a new alliance with the Mon Calamari and Quarren people haven't been going well. As in 'fight for your life' unwell.
Not only are the king's advisers bearing old grudges from the days of Imperial oppression, but they stage a brawl against Rey and Rose in order to get them arrested. In order to escape jail time and hopefully earn the Mon Calamari's respect, Rey agrees to a trial by combat against Leia's wishes... before learning she'll be fighting a Clone Wars veteran.
The combatant is "Arkay-Nine, will be fighting as my champion... A rebuilt relic from the Battle of Mon Cala all those years ago, a reminder of when our people were dragged into a different war." The Separatist Aqua Droids will be familiar to both comic readers and viewers of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, regularly deployed during their invasion of Mon Cala decades ago. Highly effective in the water and, as Rey learns in this issue, on land.
With her lightsaber still in need of repair, Rey uses a vibro-axe to take on the hulking RK-9 in a large arena. She gets a few good strikes in, but the droid soon gets the upper hand. Rey is a strong and capable fighter, but she's also very headstrong and stubborn (what got her into this fight into the first place). RK-9 then starts malfunctioning, firing into the watching crowd. With Rey's focus taken away, trying to save the viewers-turned-victims, RK-9 knocks her to the ground to prepare for the end.
However, just as the fearsome Aqua Droid is about to deliver the final killing blow, it's taken out with a shot to the head from behind. Rey turns to see Rose, holding a smoking rifle. Rose apologizes, since she has broken the rules of engagement, meaning the negotiations have failed and the heroes are forced to leave.
It's satisfying to see a level of connectivity, however small, between the the Star Wars prequels and The Last Jedi. Mon Cala is the perfect backdrop to feature this connectivity as well, having large roles across every era, from the days of the Republic all the way to the present Resistance. Here's hoping the final Skywalker chapter of the Star Wars saga will strengthen the connection (safely for spectators, of course).
Journey To Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - Allegiance #3 is available now from your local comic book shop.