Author's note:
I would highly advise reading the Star Wars Republic Commando books and watching the Clone Wars movie that began the series. Having seen the series would be helpful, but as long as you know the very basic characters, you should be okay. This story is a parody and I'm jumping right in...Prior knowledge is probably required for context, but not necessary for enjoyment. Also, this story takes place at the end of the Clone Wars, as Order 66 is issued later in the plot. Ahsoka would have been nearing the end of her training by then, so it was assumed that she was more powerful than in the series. I know some of my character's powers resemble Galen Marek's, but honestly, without thinking of him at all, I imagined powers and even meditation being similar. Also thanks to Alice Foxworth for being the first to read this. All of the characters in the stories are not mine; only Tokrin came from my head. I do not own the rights to any of the others!
-Thank you.
Without further ado, the story!
-An Introduction, Of Sorts-
"Ah great," I said.
We were surrounded for the second time that day.
"Sir, do you get into tight spots like this all the time?" asked CC-4397, nicknamed "Gett." He was in command of the unit of clones under me and my Master.
I was recently assigned to the 25th Sky Corp with my teacher, newly appointed Master Yemgen Otarri. We were tasked with destroying a comms relay on the planet Ord Mantell. A Padawan nearing my Trials to become a Jedi Knight, I was training to be highly specialized in combat, unique weapons, and a powerful control of the Force. I was being trained under some of the most well-known Jedi Masters in the Galaxy like Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Mace Windu. They all taught me well and I learned quickly.
I smiled at him, "Gett, what fun would this war be if I didn't get us into tight spots?"
He shook his head, "I don't see how this is much fun."
"Tell the men to form an arc with the larties and AT-TEs and to prepare to leave."
"Yes, sir," He said, walking off to give out the orders.
Master Otarri and I had split up our forces to flank the Separatists. It failed miserably. I watched my unit go about its various tasks. Usually the Sky Corps didn't get into "tight spots." They were a blast in blast out sort of unit that was used for rapid entry and even faster exit. However, on this mission, intel was particularly incorrect and was not able to accurately inform us of the droid numbers, which in this case were in the thousands. Our troops got ambushed following their landing after a high altitude drop. Currently we were trapped in a dead ended valley with no way out. Of course, since the troopers all had jetpacks we could've just escaped by going up on top of the sheer valley walls. But scouts reported that the droids were already moving in to surround us both above and below. We were trapped in a horseshoe-like alcove, so forming an arc shaped barricade would "complete the circle" giving us legitimate cover. As the last AT-TE was put into place, the droids were easily visible only a few hundred yards away. My Master was likewise stuck in another alcove and communications were spotty between each other.
I activated my comlink, "General Tur-Mukan, we need your assistance. My men and I are trapped and have suffered many casualties. Our assault ship has come under Separatist attack and our gunships can't get through. Master Otarri is also surrounded in an alcove not far from me to the East. We need another Battle of Dinlo."
"Padawan Helturus. We will be there soon. ETA 10 minutes. Let's hope it will be as successful as Dinlo. May the Force be with you."
"And you," I said closing the channel. "Gett! I'll go up and clear out an area for you to retreat," I shouted to him.
"Ok sir. Watch yourself up there!"
"I won't be a moment."
I opened my comlink for a second time. "Master, are you there?"
"Y-s Tokrin, I- here," I could hear blaster fire and the sound of bolts ricocheting off of his lightsaber. "Spea- quickly; t-s connection -ll soon be lost!"
"I just contacted General Tur-Mukan. She will arrive in 10 minutes. Be ready to evacuate. I am already preparing my men for departure."
"Good job my young appren-. - tried contacting her and could not. I will see - aboard the Amphion."
With that I ran to the nearest wall and used the Force to jump to a ledge halfway up the face. Not wanting to break momentum; I sprung from that ledge all the way up to the top of the cliff. I poked my head up over the lip of the ledge to observe my surroundings. I was greeted by a droid's blaster.
I smiled and sent it flying into another tinnie with the Force, decommissioning them both. I pushed at the ground with my fingertips, sending myself flying overhead. I twisted in the air and did a front-flip. My blue beamed, double-bladed lightsaber was out in midair and activated to deflect any incoming fire as I landed on my feet. I returned several bolts to their rightful owners and prepared to attack as the first shells from the clones' AT-TEs hit their marks down below. In front of me was a squad of super battle droids and two squads of regular tinnies.
I ran to the super battle droids first and began to hack and slice and deflect blaster bolts. I twirled and spun and leaped finally facing the other droids after coming to a halt. The last few supers fell to the ground in a heap. I decided to hit the button on the middle of my lightsaber. I twisted the hilt in opposite directions and had a lightsaber in each hand. I rotated them using my wrist and spun around flipping the lightsabers and coming in contact with the first several droids. The shrapnel flew as I cut heads and arms off of each droid. The burning pieces singed my robes. To buy myself some time, I faced one whole squad of droids and pushed hard with the Force. The tinnies flew back and landed on top of each other in a twisted, tangled heap of metal. I continued to fight for a long while until I heard a cry from Gett over my comlink.
"Commander, come quickly! The droids are breaking through our barricade! Medic! Get him out of the line of fire!"
"I've cleared a path; coming back."
I sprinted to the edge of the cliff and threw myself off of it. The ground rushed towards me, but before I hit it I pushed with the Force and slowed my fall to land on my feet. Gett was behind a crate, returning fire when he could. There were only a few clones left, their dead brothers scattered across the battlefield.
How could this happen? How could the intel have been that bad? I thought to myself.
Gett saw me and motioned me over. I ran to him, activating my two lightsabers. I stopped next to his crate and deflected all incoming fire from him and another few clones.
"Sir we can't hold out any longer!"
"We have no choice Commander! We must wait for General Tur-Mukan and her reinforcements."
As if on cue, a larty flew overhead and fired several rockets into the thick droid ranks sending shrapnel and metal chunks everywhere.
"Here is our window gentlemen; let's go!" I shouted to the men. They responded by firing their jetpacks and launching up to the area that I had cleared. I left after the last clone was up over the ridge and firing back down towards the droids, providing me the opportunity to make my own escape. I ran to the wall and jumped three times on different points on the wall's face landing behind my men. A larty was just setting down and General Etain Tur-Mukan, my closest friend, got off, concussion rifle in hand. I noticed something else with her in the Force-someone else. I couldn't place what I was sensing, but I figured it could wait until later.
"Didn't take you for the heavy weapons type!" I shouted over the noise.
She just chuckled and fired a shot into a cluster of droids down below. They all exploded, scattering millions of tiny pieces and parts all over the ground.
Along with Etain came a squad of clones. Some of my men climbed aboard with wounded and the larty took off. One by one the larties came and went until it was just me, Etain, and half of her squad waiting for the last transport.
One of the clones walked up to me as I deflected another bolt. The helmet he wore had a custom paint job that made it look like a bomb had gone off in his face. Black "scorch marks" framed the Mandalorian T-shaped visor on his helmet. "Sir, let's leave them with a parting gift," He said, holding up a rocket launcher.
"Good idea. Aim for the middle larty's fuel cells."
"With pleasure sir!" He crouched and fired, sending a rocket straight into the larty. It exploded and caused a chain reaction along our barricade. The entire alcove lit up with a massive ball of flame as I patted his back.
"Well done trooper. Now, let's get off this rock."
The last larty landed and we boarded it with haste, Etain and I still deflecting bolts until the doors closed. The glow of our lightsabers cast a light blue hue on the clones' armor.
We deactivated our elegant weapons and I reattached my hilts to form the long double-bladed saber. I proceeded to place it horizontally in its magnetic holder on the backside of my belt.
Etain smiled at me, grabbed my forearm with one hand and my shoulder with the other, and brought me in for a hug. I did the same and we each held the other at arm's length, looking each other over.
"You look like the backside of a bantha!" Etain laughed. I had mud all over my face and all through my hair, which was shooting off in every direction, and my armor and robes were burned and scorched from hot pieces of droid.
"You don't look much better!" I replied chuckling, motioning to her singed hair and dust covered robes. A twig had somehow managed to wedge itself deep in her reddish brown hair. "Hold still," I told her, motioning for her to come closer. My hand grabbed the twig and carefully pulled.
"Ow! Wait let me get it!" She pushed me away and fidgeted with the twig and managed to get it out. Etain tossed it away and glared at me with a smile on her face.
"Hey, I'm just trying to help," I said holding up my arms defensively.
For the rest of the trip to the Amphion everyone kept silent, mostly because Etain was embarrassed to show such a relaxed side of herself to her men. Once we landed in the hanger Etain and I were greeted by the strong smell of sweat, burnt armor, and burnt flesh. My troopers were badly beaten and scarred from the battle below. Etain and I walked among them, trying our best to comfort some of them who lost brothers or were injured, and trying to distract those who were in critical condition. The saddest part was that the clones didn't show their obvious pain and sadness. They all knew the stakes and knew what was required of them. Losing brothers hurt, but they couldn't let it affect their performance in battle. Etain gave me a knowing glance; she knew what I was feeling. She had often shared with me her feelings towards her clones and how she regarded them as individuals. I felt the same way towards mine.
However, she had the tendency to become a bit too attached. In the case of Darman, a Republic Commando in Omega Squad, like something else completely. She asked me what I thought about her feelings for Darman several months before and I told her that she only had one life, and to use her time however she deemed fit. I hadn't spoken to her since and longed to ask her about what transpired between them.
"Tokrin!"
I turned to see Master Otarri walking towards me. I left Etain to comfort a bleeding trooper. By now, only a few of the Relentless' larties were left in the hanger. Most were returning to the Relentless. Their sortie was to drop the wounded troopers of the 25th Sky Corps on the Amphion and then return to the Relentless. The military was all about getting a lot done in as few actions as possible. One gunship remained for Etain and her clone commander.
"Master, you're okay! I didn't see you when we came in." Somehow my master still looked like a dignified man even though he was covered in scum and muck. Burned blaster marks pitted his chest plates and scorch marks marked the flowing brown cape behind him. Dirt and dried blood appeared on various parts of his body. His stride did not convey that he had any injuries. It is never a warm feeling to be covered in someone else's blood.
"We just landed. Fine job by the way. You held the command of our troops even though we failed," he looked past me to Etain called out. "General Tur-Mukan, it's good to see you again."
"And you as well," She called back, looking over her shoulder. She stood and parted with the trooper she was tending to with a gentle pat on his pauldron. She watched him be safely moved to the lift to be sent to the medical bay, while walking over to Otarri. Etain's level of care for the clones seemed to be unparalleled; to her, nothing came before their well being. "It has been too long."
"It has. I'm glad that you were able to take time out of your mission on Qiilura to come to our aid. Our ship has taken some damage, but when you arrived they began to retreat."
"Of course. I got my gear ready and boarded the next gunship to my ship the moment I received word that the 25th Sky Corps was in danger." I noticed how she dropped the army slang around another Jedi - I didn't count.
"Master, I'd like to speak to General Tur-Mukan privately if that's alright."
"Actually, Tokrin, we are needed on Coruscant immediately. We must depart for the Amphion now if we are to report to the Council before our next mission. Also, you will be writing the report for the Council." He looked for Gett and beckoned him over. "I need to speak with Commander Gett."
I was definitely disappointed, as I was hoping for some time alone with Etain, but I responded with a typical apprentice, "Yes, Master."
Otarri allowed me a minute with Etain alone before she left.
"It's okay Tokrin, I wished we had more time too. We will before long. I can sense it. It'll take your crew a bit to get set for lightspeed anyway, so I'll call you as soon as I return to my ship."
"Alright." It was a melancholy goodbye. Somehow through the Force, I knew that whenever we were together again, everything would be different. "I'll talk to you then."
Otarri's back was turned and Etain quickly gave me a tight hug. I was caught by surprise and reciprocated the hug. Before I knew it she had let go and was walking towards her larty. I smiled and muttered, "See you soon, Etain."
I didn't care what the Jedi Council said. Some attachments were not a bad thing. Etain would never not be family. Perhaps that made me reckless, but times had changed. Jedi were no longer the so-called peacekeepers that Master Windu claimed we were before. War changed everything and everyone when it came. Whatever guilt and confliction I had felt about caring for the men under my command and my peers was gone.
"Start the engines Gett!" I heard her call to her clone officer. I noticed that my own Commander Gett flinched for a moment and looked towards the larty. They may be clones, but there are only so many names for them to choose. I quickly stifled whatever comedy I found in the moment.
"Yes, Master."
Etain and I left, but as Gett was being called over we passed him and noticed that he was holding his arm.
"Gett, get that arm looked at after you speak with Master Otarri; that's an order," I told him before he could protest.
Etain followed me to the elevator, which lifted us both out of the hanger and to the crew's quarters. I walked to my room in silence. Once the door closed I let out a pent up sigh and headed to the freshers to shower. I wanted to be quick so that I didn't miss Etain's call. I sat at the small desk in the corner of my room and began the report while I await the call. After about five minutes my comlink beeped indicating a call waiting. I tapped the accept button and watched a small blue hologram spring to life. Etain was sitting on her bed, just in frame, with the comlink on her desk.
"Tired?" I asked.
"You have no idea," She said rubbing her forehead with her hand.
"I don't know, I've been kept pretty busy since we shipped out." I decided to address the bantha in the room, so to speak. "So, tell me about you and Darman."
She dropped her hand and leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees and her head on her entwined fingers.