WAR RAGES ACROSS THE GALAXY, JEDI MASTER ANAKIN SKYWALKER AND AHSOKA TANO RUSH TO AID JEDI GENERAL PONG KRELL AND HIS APPRENTICE WHO HAVE BEEN BESIEGING A SEPARATIST STRONGHOLD WITH NO SUCCESS.
The open circle fleet was engaged in a brutal battle between Venator Class and Mulificient class frigates, they were blockading a small planet with the brown ground and white clouds were pressing their advantages against one another with red and blue cannon fire flying back and forth. Ahsoka and Anakin were in their Jedi Star Fighters flying faster than the droid fighters with clones behind them.
"Ahsoka stay close." Anakin ordered his padawan who circled around to get on his tail "Right behind you Skyguy."
Suddenly the middle Separatist frigate exploded from the Republic ships destroying its life support system, "General, you have your window." Admiral Yuralen said aboard the Resolute heading straight for the other two ships. The Resolutes hanger opened up allowing two dozen Republic Gunships to fly out and cut a path toward the planet below.
"Ahsoka, let's get down their General Krell needs our help." Anakin said as Ahsoka's face lit up "Yes sir, Master."
The gunships were full of clone soldiers in phase one armor, aboard the lead gunship was Arc trooper in blue stripped armor "Alright men, we got heavy skirmishes around the main base, the forward camp is guarded by General Krell and his men have been dug in for the past three months, we're going to reinforce him and smash those tenies to pieces." Captain Rex said to his men who all cheered and slapped the back of each other armor as they got battle ready.
The gunships and Jedi starfighters broke through the clouds toward the main battlefield, that was littered with Republic and Separatist forces, Heavy flak cannons started to shoot down the gunships before they took evasive action and started to make their way to the main Republic base.
General Pong Krell, a Besalisk male with brown robes and armor on each of his four forearms, two double-bladed lightsabers were at his side watching the clone troopers battle against the droid army that was in front of a massive fortress of dark iron. It was riddled with mines around the base. He looked up to see the reinforcements heading his way and barely even made note of it, "Alright Ahsoka, you ready."
"Born ready Master." Ahsoka said as the young torgurtan girl and her master leaped out of their fighters with their Astro droids flying away as Rex and the 501st got out of their gunships to reinforce the clones on the ground. Anakin and she ignited their lightsabers without a second thought when they hit the ground and headed straight for the droids front lines. Atop the battlements of the iron fortress a Separatist Commander a green-skinned alien humanoid with purple slits eyes wearing a bright red commanders uniform and cape.
"Huh, looks like they needed more Jedi after all, commander call down some cannon fire." the Separatist General commanded "Roger, Roger." the droid next to him said as the droid cannons in the back of the camp started to raise their barrels and open fire. Anakin and Ahsoka heard the eruption of artillery and looked up to see the shells heading their way, the droid army also started to pull back "Incoming, fall back, fall back!" Anakin yelled to all the forces of the Republic who started to fall back.
The ground exploded in a hail of separatist artillery fire clearing the battlefield as Anakin and Ahsoka took cover behind a downed republic walker. The cannon fire lasted for over twelve minutes till all Republic and Droid forces were off the field and back to their respective camps.
"No wonder General Krell was having such trouble with this base." Ahsoka said looking to her master for guidance "You can say that again, come on we best go see the good General and see if he has a plan." Anakin said heading back to the Republic base.
As the two Jedi and their clones walked into the base, General Krell was standing in the forward camps command center, around holotable looking t the footage of the battle that had just ended. "Master Krell good to see you."
"General, Skywalker, I would like to be addressed as such in a time of war." Pong said turning around all four arms behind his back "... of course General, I often enjoy the title myself." Anakin said confidently as Pong looked to see his padawan who smiled before she blushed seeing she hadn't presented herself formally she gave a slight bow "Ma- I mean General Krell is an honor."
"The honor is mine Commander Tano, you and your Generals exploits have reached my ear and I must say I would expect nothing less from Skywalkers pupil." Ahsoka looked up at Anakin who gave her a wink of approval "What's the situation General?" Anakin asked walking up to the command table.
"As you saw out there, this Separatist Generals fortress has been giving us some trouble, defensible on all sides, with heavy anti-aircraft cannons at the center that already gave you some trouble." Pong said to Anakin who looked at Rex "What do you think Captain?"
"Hard to say, General we-" "You expect a clone to know strategy Skywalker, you disappoint me our only hope of penetrating that fortress is by widdling down its defenses." Pong said stomping his fist on the table as a clone with dust covered armor entered the tent "General Krell sir, Commander Rock has returned from his scouting mission."
The besalisk Jedi general turned around his face bright red "What!?" he snapped "I told that useless boy not to return unless he had anything useful." Krell said his sudden outburst getting the attention of Anakin and Ahsoka who followed him out of the tent and into the camp, they walked to the rear of the camp where a small squad of clones was returning to the base. Anakin and Ahsoka spotted the only nonclone among them, a young boy about Ahsoka's age with fiery red hair that fell down his head in thick locks, and padawan braid, he was wearing a green Jedi tunic with the sleeves rolled up past his elbow, a dark brown belt that had a lightsaber at his side.
He was assisting a wounded clone trooper back into the camp before a medic arrived to take him "Boy!"
The boy practically jumped out of his own skin when he turned around to see his Master approaching him "General, sir, we were ambushed on our mission." he reported standing to attention.
"And you cut tail and run, like a coward I assume?" Pong asked all four arms crossed "No, yes sir, we're outnumbered, sir."
"Bah, if not for the reinforcements General Skywalker and his padawan had brought then maybe you would have seen the opportunity to advance." General Krell said as he spat at the ground "Forgive me, General, I wanted to make sure the men got back here safe." the padawan said as Pong laughed "Ha, you think this war will be won unless your willing to give as much blood as the clones, pathetic."
Anakin and Ahsoka noticed the harness in Pong's voice as he spoke to his padawan, Anakin stepped forward "I was unaware you had taken an apprentice General?" Anakin asked him.
Pong scoffed at the word "Apprentice, more like an annoyance, he was forced on me by Master Yoda but unlike your padawan, he's proven to be more of a hindrance than an asset." Pong said back to Anakin "Padawan greet Master Skywalker." he snapped at the boy.
"Yes sir, Padawan Commander Leo Rock at your service General." the boy named Leo said standing at attention then bowing "Well met Padawan Rock this is my padawan, Ahsoka Tano."
Ahsoka raised her hand and gave a casual wave "Hey."
Leo was a bit taken at how casual she was "... hey." he whispered back.
"Boy, assist Commander Tano in distributing the rations and supplies to the camp, even that should be a simple enough task for you, and Padawan Tano try using small words." Krell growled at Leo before turning away back to the command tent, Ahsoka looked at Anakin again who gave her a look for her to obey.
"This way." Leo said walking to the gunships carrying supplies at the other end of the camp, Anakin followed Krell back to the tent waiting till both youths were out of earshot "A bit, harsh General?" he asked.
"Harsh hmm, we're at war Skywalker, I must be hard on him if he hopes to survive and improve," Krell said, "Still you could ease up on the boy."
Krell walked back into the command tent "Thank you for your advice Skywalker, but I will trust you to leave the training of my apprentice to me and the training of yours to you, agreed?" Krell asked as he looked at the holographic base "Agreed." Anakin said.
Back with Ahsoka and Leo, the two of them started to unload the crates "Doesn't this seem a bit degrading?" Ahsoka asked Leo who was silent as the two of them set the box down "Hello, anyone there?" Ahsoka asked.
"Huh, oh no we have our orders," Leo said very quickly as he lowered the crate down on top of another one "Orders huh feels more like a chore right?" she asked jokingly.
He didn't seem amused "Uh so, interesting lightsaber you got there." she said pointing to it. It had a very basic design made of metal with a fiber weave around the belt and slightly curved pommel "Not really, but it gets the job done." he said handing it to her, she took it and activated it and nearly gasped when she saw the color of the lightsaber wasn't blue, green or even purple but pure white "A white lightsaber, I haven't ever seen one of these?" she said.
"Neither did the Masters when they saw it, I think the crystal I chose was relatively young, that's why it didn't go green or blue." he said before she turned it off and handed it back to him "Care for a match." she asked taking out her own lightsaber.
"I'd rather not." Leo said putting taking the lightsaber back as she smirked at him before she turned on her lightsaber, "Chicken?" she asked.
Leo only starred at her "Guess so." he said as he went back to work, she frowned at his refusal to be goaded by her "Yeesh who put stick up your but." she asked as he grabbed another crate and she grabbed it to "No one, it's just when I fight, I fight to win." he said as they unloaded another crate.
"What afraid to lose to a girl?" She asked him, Leo froze as she gave him a nasty glare "What does that have to do with anything?"
The torgurtan girl was confused at his answer "Huh, don't boys hate being thoughtless then girls?" she asked.
He gave her another weird look "I… don't think so, what does you being a girl have to do with anything?"
"Uh nothing I guess, then chicken?" she asked him Leo rolled his eyes as he reached for his lightsaber "Fine, but I warned you Stripes." he said poking fun at her lekku and the markings on her face "Whatever you say, Rusty."
The two of them drew their lightsabers and took stances, Ahsoka with shien and Leo with vaapad, the sudden duel started to get the attention of the clones from both the 501st and Leos troopers who started to look at one another "Oh this is going to be good." one trooper said as they locked blades then broke off the attack "She's got not chance against him, you know what they call him right." She tried to drop down and sweep out his legs but he jumped over attacking her flank. Ahsoka flipped up with one hand glancing her lightsaber off it making hte 501st cheer for her as she did. When they both landed on their feet, Leo came at her hacking away left and right, from top to bottom. Ahsoka was on the defense now as she backed up before they locked blades.
"Whoa take it easy." Ahsoka said as Leo's green eyes were glaring at her from behind his lightsaber "You said you wanted to fight."
Ahsoka smirked as she parried his blade and scooped up a handful of dirt "Then let's fight dirty." she said blinding him and then kicking him in the gut. Leo looked up and smiled before he charged her again this time he slid down attacking her feet, naturally she jumped to avoid it but when she did he grabbed onto her ankle so she hit the dirt hard. He got up and pointed his lightsaber at her neck "I win."
Ahsoka glared at him before she let go of her lightsaber "Really?" she asked before she delivered a kick right to his crotch making all the clones go "Ooooooohhh." before Ahsoka got up and tackled Leo to the ground and fists began to fly.
Back in the command tent Anakin and Pong were looking over the battlements "An all-out assault has proven ineffective, we should try and orbital bombardment." Anakin suggested, "I already tried General Skywalker, the base is equipped with an advanced shield generator for that."
Anakin looked around the base before he notices a drain on the far left side of the base "What's that?"
"A sewer grate, for waste and disposal." Pong said, "Too small for us or any of our men to fit through."
"For us and our men, but not two people we know." Anakin said smiling up at Krell who finally saw what he was getting up "Ingenious Skywalker, and one wonders why you haven't been made a full master yet." Pong said as he looked over at a clone, "Clone go get the boy and Skywalker's apprentice." Krell ordered Rex who took the term clone to some offense "Yes General." but obeyed none the less before they heard a loud crash.
"Uh Generals?" Rex asked, making both Masters look out the tent to see Ahsoka and Leo brawling in the middle of the camp throwing punches, at one another as they rolled across the dirt.
Anakin slapped his forehead seeing Ahsoka in such a state as Krell began to fume before the two of them walked out of the tent and at the same time shouted "PADAWAN!"
Leo and Ahsoka froze still locked in combat, they were tangled up in one another with Leo in a headlock by Ahsoka as he was trying to bite her leg and Ahsoka ready for a punch "Uh Master this isn't…" she punched Leo in the face one more time "What it looks like."
The two of them let go before standing at attention "You stupid boy!" Krell barked at Leo "You are an embarrassment to the Jedi for behaving in such a way."
"Please, General it was my fault I goaded Leo into the fight." Ahsoka said trying to take responsibility, something both Anakin and Leo noticed "I don't blame you for the duel Padawan Tano, it's clear that my apprentice needs furhter discipline." Krell said before he smacked the back of his leathery hand across Leo's face making the boy stagger but he showed no pain. He looked back at Krell with his eyes full of anger but he kept his mouth shut tight. Krell noticed the glare when he saw that both padawans were covered head to toe in the dirt almost blending in with the ground "But despite the boy's insolence, your appearance, it would seem favorable to your mission."
"Mission sir?" Leo asked.
Krell looked back at Anakin who was stunned at the use of violence against Krell's padawan "The two of you will sneak into the base via an unguarded backdoor on the left side of the fortresss, we'll have to planet charges at the bases fuel reserve it should cause a chain reaction wiping the base off the map." a clone trooper with the charges approached General Krell who took them "Here Padawan Tano, I trust you with command of this mission and make sure this whelp slow you down." Krell growled at Leo who avoided his master's gaze.
Ahsoka took the charges and felt the shame Leo was propelling off himself as she put the charges backpack on his shoulders "Yes General, is there anything else."
"Yes Ahsoka there is, General Krell and I will draw the enemy attention out of the stronghold, with anyluck that should give you plenty of time to get in and out, watch for the signal from Rex and then get to work." Anakin said as he looked at Rex who gave her a wink "Give'm hell kids."
Both Leo and Ahsoka nodded at him before walking off to do their master's bidding, "I must apologize again for my apprentice Skywalker, the boy's insolence knows no limit." Krell said turning around to Anakin "With respect General, he is just a boy."
"But he is also a Jedi, there is no room for such emotion in times of war, I thought a Jedi of your stature would understand that," Krell said openly "I leave the command of the battlefield to you, I'll coordinate our forces here."
Anakin was surprised at the orders "Your not coming?"
"I am a better tactician then warrior Skywalker, but afterward if you wish to test me then by all means," he said, glaring with Anakin obviously aware of how he disapproved of Krells methods "Be wary Skywalker, I trust your padawan is more then capable of accomplishing this mission alone given my padawans reputation."
Anakin said nothing "Reputation, General?"
"Huh, I'm surprised word hasn't reached you of the Separatists nickname for him."
Later, Ahsoka and Leo had made there way out of the camp into a rocky gorge around the droid fortress, "I'm sorry I got you in trouble with your Master." Ahsoka said as she followed Leo through the canyon.
"Don't be, it was my mistake." Leo said as they came to narrow corridor "You fight well you know, for a human." she said as Leo gave her to look over his shoulder "Whatever you say torgurtan." he said a long silence filled the air.
"So how long have you been with Master Krell?" Ahsoka asked following him into a more open hall of the gorge "A few cycles now, we've been here for months without any success."
"Really, this backdoor seems so obvious to exploit." Ahsoka said as they came to the edge of the gorge "Well it's not a backdoor, as it is… a sewage drain." Leo said as they saw the left side of the base was unguarded as a small port was emptying out waste and sewage into a steady stream of filth. Ahsoka plugged her nose in disgust "Oh disgusting… Skyguy I swear I'll get you back for this." she grumbled.
Taking her hand away from her nose she set the charges down "Alright now all we do is wait for the signal."
She sat down on a nearby rock as Leo got down on his knees and closed his eyes "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Meditating, getting ready," he said as he took a deep breath, the time began to pass slowly as the sun started to set to dusk.
"Uh…" Ahsoka said as she picked up a few pebbles and started to fling them at Leo, he turned his head at her but she hid the rocks behind her back "What?"
He took a deep breath and tried to resume his meditation before she tossed the pebbles at him again "Would you cut it out?"
"What I'm not doing anything." she said standing up, Leo smirked as he flicked his finger knocking Ahsoka off her feet and on her butt "Ow." Ahsoka hissed at him as he snickered.
Suddenly a flare went up from the Republic side of the battlefield and the sounds of the battle began "That's the signal lets go." Leo said getting up.
The two padawans ran out of the gorge seeing the battle in the distance as Anakin was leading the charge with Rex behind him out of the base poured the battle droids taking up their positions behind fortifications and trenches. "Stop." Leo said putting his arm across Ahsoka to stop her "What, what is it?" she asked.
"Mines." he said noticing some of the dirt was uneven in a few spots.
"Ideas?" she asked him "Follow my lead," Leo said as he jumped ahead of her on a piece of ground that hadn't been turned over, he strated to hop from spot to spot without a mine before he reached the sewage grate.
Ahsoka gave him a thumbs up before she followed his exact motions to arrive at the grate "Good call back there." she said "Thanks." Leo replied before he took out his lightsaber to cut a hole in the sewage grate letting out more sewage "Ugh, the things we do for the Republic." Ahsoka said. Leo suddenly snickered before stifling a small laugh "Hey what do you know, you can smile and laugh, and here I thought you were one of those by the books padawns." Ahsoka said as they climbed in.
"I try to be," Leo said as she followed him.
The sewage crate was cramp and narrow, their knees and hands sloshing through the grime and other waste practically choking them from the smell "Ugh… cough, I swear we should ask for a medal for this." Ahsoka said.
"Your welcome to after we finish the mission." Leo said as they were coming up on a vent above them "Here we go." he said as he looked out of it to see no droid around him.
"All clear." Leo said crawling out, with Ahsoka following, they were outside a large building inside the fortress with the words ammunition on the wall "Hmmm a charge here would do some damage." Ahsoka said as she reached into her pack "Or five." she said handing them to Leo "I'll set these ones, think you can handle the fuel depot?" he asked.
Ahsoka scoffed at him "Piece of cake."
Leo dipped inside the ammo house as Ahsoka ran around the corner to six large fuel reserves and started to plant the charges, she flung them to each key point letting the magnetic cups sink onto them before she froze "Uh oh." she said sensing danger in the force when out of nowhere a hundred battle droid ran out from behind cover and surrounded her. She drew her lightsaber and froze as they were only ten feet away from her "HAHAHAHHA, this has to be a joke."
Ahsoka looked up to see the Separatist General walking through his droid army smugly smirking at her "The jedi sent a youngling, a freaking youngling to destroy my base." he cackled through fanged teeth.
"That's jedi to you." She hissed as the General was frozen for a half second before laughing again "Oh this is rich, rich, I can't wait to tell Lok Durd about this he'll have a riot." he said as Ahsoka noticed Leo had climbed to the top of the ammunition house the moon shining behind him giving him a ghostly visage.
"Alright Jedi, how many more Jedi children did they send, a hundred, a thousand?" he asked smugly as Ahsoka smiled back "Just one."
Leo jumped off the roof of the storage room and ignited his lightsaber "Ahsoka down!" He yelled before he smashed himself into the ground with his fist sending a force repulse around the two of them sending the droids and general back ten feet, "Set the charges to leave the droids to me!" Leo yelled jumping into battle. He started to hack and slice the droids away moving swift and precise as he cut down one set od roids with his lightsaber hand and blasted the others with the force. "But I-" Ahsoka was about to join him when she saw Leo use the force to rip a droids screws out man it clatters to the ground "Never mind."
Ahsoka started to plant the charges before the Separatist General came to see the battle droid being turned to scrap "What…" he gasped seeing Leo fly through the battlefield, "No, it can't be…" the General whispered as Leo sliced a super battle droid down the middle and kicked another one away as Ahsoka set the last charges "That hari, that lightsaber it can't be- not him." Leo jumped up again and used a force repulse "GRAAAAA!" to shatter the remaining battle droids "Not the Berserker!"
Leo landed panting hard in front of the Separatist General holding his lightsaber to the man's scaley neck "I'll take that as your surrender."
"No, never." The general said hitting his comms on his wrist "All Battle droids get here now!" he ordered before Leo used the force to rip the comms off the general's arm and crush them before using the force to tie up the Separatist General in his own cape.
"We need o move fast," Ahsoka said hearing the clanking metal boots of droids heading their way.
Leo looked back at her as he picked up the general, even if he was young and shorter then Ahsoka he appeared to be surprisingly strong "I'm open to suggestions stripes!"
"Uh…." Ahsoka looked around at the base vehicles seeing two droid speeder bikes, a tank and then a vulture droid on standby.
"Tank or vulture droid?" Ahsoka asked "What?"
"Tank-or-Vulture?" she asked him.
Outside the base, the Republic was gaining the advantage "We've got them on the run General." Rex said before Anakin started to signal the padawans "Ahsoka are you out of the base."
"Working on it Master," Ahsoka said as Leo and she pulled the Separatist General into the tank "You sure this will work?" Leo asked Ahsoka as the General who was gagged under his own cloak kept screaming "I think so- maybe." Ahsoka said as she sealed the tank.
"Maybe, MAYBE!" Leo screamed at her "Hey I make up as I go along."Ahsoka said as Leo went white as his lightsaber "We're all going to die."
"Not yet we're not," Ahsoka said as she hit the detonator for the charges.
KA-BOOOOOOOOOOM
The fuel reserves and ammo shack went up in flames along with the rest of the base sending out all the ammo across the sky in a bright and colorful explosion taking all the droids and their weapons with them. The clones all let out hardy cheers and cries of victory before Anakin stopped and smiled "Ahsoka great work… Ahsoka?" Anakin asked.
"Come in Ahsoka?" Anakin asked starting to get worried looking at his comms, before Rex noticed something flying out of the base "General?" Rex asked.
"Ahsoka come in, come in." Anakin said again "General!" Rex said again this time with more importance in his voice "What is it, Rex?" Anakin snapped as Rex pointed up to the sky to see a separatist tank flying down toward them "TAAAAANK!"
Anakin looked back at him in shock "RUN!"
The tank crashed down into the spot where Anakin and Rex were standing after they ran away before getting crushed kicking up a cloud of dust and rocks before it all settled. The clones and Jedi both coughed and wiped the air around their faces clear to see the door of the tank starting to open. All the clones raised their blasters before they saw Ahsoka poke her head out her orange and white face starting to turn green "Mission…. Ugh.. accomplished." Ahsoka said holding down barf as she pulled herself out, the Separatist General being kicked out behind Leo with a green stain all over the separatist Generals scarlet fatigues and Leo wiping his mouth "Please…. Never again."
Anakin sighed in relief as the clones cheered for the Jedi and for their victory as Anakin walked up to Ahsoka "Good work snips, I'm proud." Leo noticed this and looked up to see Krell who turned around leaving Leo alone.
"You did great to Leo." Anakin said putting his hand on his shoulder before they started to walk back to the camp, Rex and another clone secured the Separatist general "Peww I new the Separatists stink but this is ridiculous."
After they returned to the base, Leo poured a buck of hot water over him washing over the sewage stains away from his garments and body before someone tossed a bucket of water on him. He looked behind himself to see Ahsoka holding an empty bucket "We worked well together Rusty." Ahsoka said.
Leo picked up another bucket and smiled "You two, stripes." He said before he threw a bucket at her which she took with pride letting it clean off the stink "Oh stars that feels great." She said as she scrubbed some stains off her arms as they got clean.
"So much for the glorious life of Jedi?" Ahsoka asked Leo who smirked, "We won didn't we." he asked her.
Nodding she set the bucket down "True, hey can I ask you something?" Ahsoka asked him "Sure." Leo asked.
"What's the deal with the name Berserker?" she asked, Leo shrugged "Not sure, I take out droids then one day one of them screamed 'It's the Berserker' maybe the droids use it to designate me, or maybe they're trying to insult me."
"Why, I'd love it if they'd call me something like that like, the Torgurtan Terror." She said trying to come up with a name, she struck pose arms up and flexed before Leo laughed at her "What?"
"No, it's heheh.. .its great.' he laughed as in the distance Anakin and Pong watched them "It seems we won the day." Pong said turning around as Republic Cruisers started to fly down to the planet to pick up the jedi.
"In no small part thanks to our Padawans." Anakin said as Pong stopped "I know you think me hard on him, but I have foreseen a great destiny for Leo Rock one that he must be ready for if he is to fulfill." Pong said sullenly "I understand the need to be strict, but perhaps you could give the boy to me, let me examine how much he's progressed and what he could improve on?"
Krell thought it over for a few moments before turning to Anakin "Very well, I will let the Council know of our descision, it may be unorthodox but I see no reason why they would refuse with how much Kenobi is by your side, who knows he may even make a decent jedi." Krell said as Anakin stopped letting him walk off.
The chosen one started to head down to where Ahsoka and Leo were throwing buckets of water at one another before they saw him approach, Leo dropped his bucket and stood at attention "General Skywalk-" Ahsoka doused him with another bucket and laughed "Hey Master I… i couldn't help myself." she snickered as Anakin gave the two a soft smile "So where are we off to next?"
Leo's face fell when he heard her say that "Not sure yet, but the three of us better get going." Anakin said "Three of us?" Ahsoka asked.
"Master Krell has put Leo under my command." Anakin said as a gunship landed behind Anakin with Captain Rex getting on it "Ready to go Leo?"
Leo looked at the gunship then at Ahsoka and Anakins smiling faces "All my life."