Leo sat in his private quarters on a bed, aboard the giant warship, they were traveling through hyperspace at the time when he heard a knock, "Come in." Leo said before the door opened and Anakin walked in hands behind his back, Leo shot up and stood at attention "General, Sir." Anakin smirked at the respect "At ease Commander." he said walking and looking at the bunk room seeing it was rather plain the bed was made neat, Leo's lightsaber was held promptly on a stand next to a datapad.
"How are you settling in, good I hope?" he asked taking a seat at the corner desk "Yes General, no problems."
Anakin noticed he was very tense even when standing at ease, "You can sit down Leo." Anakin said gesturing to the bed, Leo did so rather slowly but still sat upright "Thank you, sir."
"I must say, it is rather nice to have someone so respectful unlike Ahsoka, but don't tell her I said that." Anakin begged, "Yes sir, of course, sir."
"Please don't call me sir, it makes me feel old." Anakin chuckled "Yes... master." Anakin heard Leo say making the Jedi Knights ego swoon before he could ask anything else Anakin commlink started to beep "Master, we're about to exit hyperspace." Ahsoka said from the other end "Understood Ahsoka."
"Is Leo there?" she asked, Anakin looked up at Leo who was confused why she'd be asking for him "Yes, why?"
"Just checking, hey Rusty." Ahsoka said before she cut the link making Leo grit is teeth "Rusty huh, not as bad as Skyguy." Anakin scoffed as he got up "You to sir?" Leo asked, "I mean master." Anakin nodded "Don't worry, she doesn't mean anything by it, if anything I think she likes you." Anakin said walking out with Leo following him his cheeks flushing redder than his hair.
led himself to the bridge. Where he could see the ship sailing through hyperspace, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker was standing, with him was Admiral Yuralen, and Ahsoka Tano.
"How long till, we exit hyperspace," Anakin asked the Admiral, "Not long General, but I hope we aren't too late General Secures the last transmission seemed grim," the mustached admiral said. Leo walked up behind Anakin on the opposite side of Ahsoka. "Leo, glad to have you back" Leo nodded at him "Yes General".
Just as Leo spoke a clone popped his head up "Sir were coming out of hyperspace". The Republic warship exploded out of hyperspace into a giant battle over a large planetoid. There were many separatist frigates laying waste to three republic war crushers one was going down already and the second from the middle just exploded. Anakin turned around and said, "Prepare the gunships". Anakins ship burst out of the
GENERAL SECURA'S SHIP
"General" a clone shouted from his post, the blue-skinned Twi'Leik Jedi turned to the clone "General Skywalkers ship has just come out of hyperspace "And none too soon, we're entering the atmosphere," she said. Outside it proved it her entire lower hull was on fire from the atmosphere.
When the Resolute finally entered the battle, in a matter of seconds three gunships, flew out of the hanger of there ship. Aboard them were clones and Jedi, yet all the Jedi were aboard only one of them. Anakin, Ahsoka, and Leo rode the gunship into the thick of the battle. While blaster fire and falling droids surrounded them "General, rocket droids are boarding General Secura's ship" Leo shouted, "I see them" Anakin called back over the wind.
Wreckage and blasts fire were flying all around them, one piece of wreckage actually cracked the gunship pilots window.
As soon as he spoke the gunship felt a hard and loud thud hit the top of their ship. A rocket droid had landed on top of the ship and was heading straight for the pilot's cockpit. "Leo, take care of that droid" the boy nodded unclipping his saber from his hilt and unsheathing the white blade "Yes General", Leo jumped from the interior of the ship on to the wing and swung around on to the top to face the droid.
"Ahsoka I'll be on Aaylas cruiser," Anakin said looking down below at the burning vessel "Master are you sure that's the wisest idea," Ahsoka asked but it was too late, Anakin had jumped from the ship and landed on the back of a rocket droid. One he presumed to aim right at the giant hole in the cruisers haul that the rocket battle droids were using to enter and board the ship. Back up top Leo blocked three of the droids blaster fire and sliced the rocket droid in half right down the middle. He ran to the controls trying to see if he could regain control of the ship. He held up his hand the moment a spark ignited an explosion in the cockpit. Leo swung back down into the gunship "Controls are fried, ha-" "We know, we know, hang on" Ahsoka said grabbing to the side of the ship. Leo grabbed onto one of the hoops on the ceiling that many of the clones were holding on.
Down below Anakin had landed inside Aaylas ship, and was already chopping of the droids like they were nothing. Moments later Leo, Ahsoka, Captain Rex and their clones crashed into the giant hole sealing it and joining in the battle.
Back outside the ship high above them, the separatist armada was only firing a minimum barrage of cannon fire at the warship. Inside the command ship the droid general walked up to one of the droids "This is taking to long, destroy that cruiser" it ordered the battle droids "But sir, there are still hundreds of droids o that this" the droid computed to it's superior "I don't care" the command droid replied without emotion.
"Roger Roger" the droid replied, and fury of cannon blasts began to tear the cruiser apart. Elsewhere as in, inside Aayla's ship Leo and Ahsoka were leading the clones against the battle droids, Ahsoka leaped over a super battle droid while Leo sliced out its legs, she bounced off the floor again taking out another. While Leo stabbed on in the back as he jumped over it and cut another's arm off before it could open fire. Captain Rex was bringing up the flank the clone troopers firing of any shot they could get. While Anakin who was far ahead was leaving a trail of searing metal in his wake, currently he blasted a battle droid out of his path than raised one of the floors with the force and brought it right into his lightsaber before sending it back into a crowd of droids destroying them with their own weapons.
As he did, the others caught up with him, and just in time as they regrouped down the hall, Aayal Secura and her remaining troops including a yellow and white armored ARC trooper were fighting of more droids by holding their position. Master Secura turned to see her reinforcements and without hesitation she and the other Jedi pushed forward "My thanks Skywalker" Aayal said as Anakin and her took the lead "How do you plan to get us out of this-" Aayla sliced a battle droids blaster fire away "mess?" she asked him as Anakin deflected more enemy fire.
"Well? I have a ship docking-" he blocked another one "In the lower hanger as we speak" he said blocking more fire in a flurry of lightsaber skill. As Anakin said a ship was beginning to dock underneath the ship and was already beginning to sync with the ships lower hanger. Back aboard the cruiser Anakin lead the group around a corner where they saw a lone battle droid. The droid looked at them and beeped "Uh-oh" Anakin smiled seeing it was all alone he took out his lightsaber but as he did the blast doors behind the droid opened to reveal an entire battalion of droids, wiping of Anakin's smile "Ah-ha!" the droid cheered as they opened fire. The party turned around and ran back the way they came, down to the docking port in the lower hanger. "We made it" Ahsoka said smiling "And none to soon" Leo added as Ahsoka opened the door. Without warning the entire cruiser shook more violently than before, a loud rumbling started to grow around them as the docking doors opened. Anakin turned around to look down the hall, a roaring inferno was heading straight for them, no doubt caused by the droids finally crippling the ship "Too late" he yelled Anakin raised his hand and used the force to push the company through the door. "Master!" Ahsoka shouted as she saw him use the force to seal the door shut. Leo got up and looked at the door then back at Ahsoka.
Outside the door Anakin shut another blast door to contain the fire, he closed his eyes and focused on the doors creating a barrier with the force. For about three seconds the door was holding, only three seconds before it burst open sending Anakin flying back into the other door with a loud explosion. "Don't move the ship" Ahsoka ordered into her comm link to the ship they were about to board.
"Are you guys alright up there?" the clones asked from her comm link. Ahsoka had cut a hole in the blast door where she dashed through to see Anakin's body sprawled out before them covered in burns and bruises. While Leo ran down the inside of the ship to the guns. He opened the door to the lower gun and slid down a ladder into the capsule. Jumping into the gunner's chair he proceeded to activate the firing mechanics. As the guns started to warm up, Leo didn't waste a second before opening fire on the droids bellow while the ship detached from the destroyed cruiser.
Back inside the docking tube Ahsoka was dragging Anakins seemingly lifeless body onto the ship "Ahsoka we have to go now" Aayla ordered as she helped drag Anakin back into the ship "I'll activate the deflector shields" Commander Bly said running to the bridge.
Down bellow, in the gunner's chair, Leo was shooting vulture droids out of the sky, while they gave chase. On the bridge, Aayla, Commander Bly, and the two other clones who were piloting the ship were flying back to the Resolute. The Jedi master who wasn't passed out in the med bay was speaking with Admiral Yuralen "Are you insane, you can't possibly board in the middle of this battle" he snapped at the Jedi "I'm sorry, but General Skywalkers condition is critical" she said back to him, the admiral sighed "Are all Jedi so reckless" he asked her, as she smiled "No just the good ones". Down in the med bay, Ahsoka was tending to Anakin as the medical droid strapped a breather over his face, Ahsoka looked at her master then turned away "…Leo you there" she asked speaking into her commlink, the sounds of cannon fire were heard from the other end of the communication, "A little busy Ahsoka" Leo said from the other end, he had just downed another vulture droid, only a hundred more to go. "It's about Anakin, he's in critical condition-" "I'm sorry Ahsoka, but I have my hands full," he said back to her as the ship was about to dock with the remaining republic Cruiser who was locked in combat with the Separatist fleet.
Ahsoka turned off the comm link and walked back over to Anakin listening to his breathing. The only thing she could hear was the rise and fall of the breathalyzer and the life supports exhaust and intake. Back on the bridge of the Resolute Admiral Yuralen was started to notice that the Jedis ship was starting to malfunction "What's going on?" he asked Aayla "We're going into hyperspace, DETACH, DETACH" she yelled at him. "Evasive maneuvers" the admiral ordered the clones as the warship detached from the frigate. Leo was still firing down below deck at the vulture droids sweeping beneath them like scavengers waiting to take their prey. In a matter of seconds, the ship blasted forward into hyperspace "What?" Leo gasped. Back on the Resolute Admiral Yuralen watched as their Jedi vanished into space "Plot ever course on their last known trajectory, we need to finish this battle and find them" he said as the ship shook hard again from cannon fire.
HYPERSPACE
Back in the med bay of the republic frigate, Ahsoka was looking over her master, looking down on him, with worry. A few seconds later the door opened up and Aayal walked in "I need you on the bridge with Commander Bly, right now" she ordered the youngling "I should stay, commander Bly doesn't need my help" Ahsoka said back to Master Secura almost rather harshly "Anakin does" she added. Aayla looked at the Jedi Padawan with her soft hazel eyes "You can help Anakin by getting this ship to safety" she said to Ahsoka who was still looking over her wounded master. The door opened and then Commander Bly walked in, without his helmet. Unlike Rex, he had some hair on his head, and a few yellow tattoos on his face to add to who he was.
"General Secura, we have a problem," he said without hesitation "What is it, commander?" Aayal asked him.
Bly sighed as he walked toward the med bays monitor on the wall "In our haste to escape the hyperspace coordinates were entered in incorrectly" he said turning on the monitor showing their ship heading straight for a large mass, "Well… were heading right for a star".
The two Jedi and clone didn't waste time heading out of the medical room to the bridge, Ahsoka, however, stopped in the doorway with one foot out the door she looked back at Anakin still unconscious and now alone. In another part of the ship, Leo was getting out of the gunner's chair and climbing back into the hallway. He ran down the hall to the bridge he walked straight into the bridge. When he walked in Ahsoka was at the controls with Commander Bly, both Rex, and Aayla behind them. "What happened, why are we in hyperspace," he asked aloud "Hyperdrive was hit and activated." Rex said "We had to detach from the cruiser so not to be killed" Aayla added "But the coordinates were entered in incorrectly," Bly said trying to figure out the controls
"And now we're heading right for a star!" Ahsoka shouted leaving Leo silent with all four of their explanations turned into one. "It's no use.. the controls are fired," Commander Bly said slamming his fist down on the controls in defeat. "If we shut down all the power to the ship then maybe we can drop out of hyperspace fast enough to change course," Leo said all eyes turned to Leo.
"But that'll cut off Anakin's life support" Ahsoka pointed out, Leo looked at her than to Aayla "General?" he asked.
Ahsoka looked at the Jedi master until she said: "I'm sorry Ahsoka but he's right, prepare to drop out shut off all power" she ordered Commander Bly and a reluctant Ahsoka. Leo ran over to the switch that would turn it all off.
Aayla looked at the promotor waiting for the right moment "3…2…1!" she yelled, Leo shut off the switch and the entire ship went dead. They fell right out of hyperspace face to face with a giant star. Aayal and Rex fell back into the wall of the bridge as Ahsoka and Bly were slammed against the seats of their chairs. Leo barely held onto the waiting for his next order.
"Leo, now" he heard General Secura order, with great effort as the sheer force of coming out of hyperspace, made his entire body three times as heavy he swung the lever up turning everything back on. Leo, Aayal, and Rex fell to the ground while Ahsoka and Commander Bly nearly fell out of their seats. Ahsoka went right to the controls flying them out of the direction of the sun, to safety. Or so they thought "Well we're not going to crash into that star," she said As Leo stood up to look out the bridge window to see a brown colored planet, and they were heading straight for it "But we are going to hit that planet" Ahsoka stated sarcastically. The frigate flew right toward the planet with increasing speed, engines ablaze.
Leo held on tight but his eyes kept drifting over to Aayla and her own features bouncing along with the shaking of the ship, and it wasn't her lekku.
When the ship broke through the atmosphere the last engine blew "Brace for impact" General Secura ordered as they all could see the ground of the planet rushing toward them at increasing speed. The frigate was loosening parts of the ship left and right as they were heading straight for a crash landing in seconds. When they crashed into the ground it fell like a thunderbolt was ripping up the ship ripping chunks of it to go flying off as it carved up the ground. Inside the ship, Anakin was being held down by the droid preventing him from getting harmed even more then he was already. Inside the cockpit, Ahsoka and Bly held onto their seats as tight as possible, Rex, General Secura, Leo, and the other clones were sent flying back into the cockpit. Leo collided with Aayla slamming right into her chest knocking them both down.
When the entire ship came to a halt everyone was groaning and moaning in pain. Everyone started to recover when Leo came to first see the awkward position he was in immediately stood up face bright red, quickly running to the emergency exit Commander Bly busted down the door "Quick everyone out of the ship" the clones and Leo emptied from the ship as Aayla and Ahsoka ran back into the ship to get Anakin. Outside Leo and the clones were looking at the burning ship "Where are they" Leo asked looking at the clones, he was "Ahsoka, go tend to your Master" Aayla ordered "Leo, salvage what you can from the ship, Commander Bly, Captain Rex you and the others scout our perimeter" all of them nodded at her ready to go.
Later, Ahsoka and Rex put Anakin into the makeshift shelter, some of the clones were making sure the area was safe, and a fire was going. It was two pieces of the haul leaned up against one another. "Perimeter secure, General" one of the clones said to Aayal who nodded, "Leo what do we have to work with" Leo set the four survival packs down at their feet "Four packs, we have medical gear but most of the ships medical tools were destroyed, including the droid" Ahsoka looked at Leo who glanced up at her, a glance Aayal noticed "What of the supplies we have now" she asked.
"Provisions include, medical bacta for cuts and bruises, food, and a few flares" he explained kneeling over them. Aayla picked up two of the packs and handed one to Bly that he took "How long will that last us" Bly asked looking inside his pack "This was meant to supply four, we have more than four, we can't survive on this…. Two weeks at most" Leo added finally giving him the answer he wanted. Bly looked at Aayla wondering what she was thinking their next move should be. She walked over to Anakin inside the shelter and knelt down, Leo followed and was soon joined by Ahsoka as the master examined Skywalker. "Anakin doesn't have much time, we have to find help tonight" she declared standing up everyone looking at her.
Ahsoka then said "Okay, you and Bly go south, Rex, Leo and I will stay with Anakin" she ordered, Leo stepped forward.
"That's up to General Secura Ahsoka" Leo commented earning him a scowl. "No Ahsoka, in order for this to work quickly we need to work together," Aayla said to the young Padawan "I can't leave him, Master I know if I was hurt he wouldn't leave me behind" she nearly shouted at Aayla at leaving her master. "I know this is hard Ahsoka, but Anakin has to stay behind and we have to go now," General Secura said with an extra force in her voice. Aayla leaned in and put both hands on Ahsoka's shoulders "I know this is hard" she said removing her hands she then added, "But as a Jedi, it is your duty to do what is best for the group, Leo will stay here while you assist me." Ahsoka looked away from her and took a few steps away not saying anything. A few seconds later, Aayla was approached by Commander Bly "General Secura look" she handed her a piece of bark that looked like it had been carved on the wood "We're not the only ones on this planet, there has to be something intelligent here" Bly said the carving was of a giant tree and underneath it were to creatures one was a giant four-legged animal something else was in front of it standing on two legs with a tail.
Suddenly there was a loud scream of an animal was heard off in the distance with the sun setting. Rex turned on his helmets lights "If you don't mind me asking General Secura, where exactly are we going?" Commander Bly said.
"To find the people who live on this planet" she replied to her second in command, "How are we going to do that, we don't know exactly where they are" Bly asked her, Ahsoka looked at the carving and put a finger to her lip "Hmmm, it appears the people who live on this planet live near giant big trees" she said, Leo glanced at it too "And there appear to be two" he said looking at the larger one on the carving with for legs. He slipped the tablet into his pack that he was holding in his hand.
Aayla said nothing, but Ahsoka turned around to look at the nearly dead body of Anakin "Be strong master, Rex will take care of you" she said looking back at the others "As will Leo" "What" Ahsoka asked, while Leo was silent about someone bringing up his name "We have an unusual amount of Jedi here Ahsoka, Leo will stay and watch over Anakin while you come with us" she stated to them. "But General if I may ask," Leo said stepping forward "Ahsoka should stay here with here with General Skywalker, allow me to accompany you General Krell has sent me on numerous long-range scouting missions," he asked her. She shook her head "I'm afraid not Padawan Rock, my decision is final, both of you, keep your locators on, we're off to find who or what lives on this planet". General Secura turned to walk toward the tall grasses, with the clones behind her, Ahsoka sneered at Leo who gapped at her wondering what he had done wrong, "Come on guys, let's move out" Aayla ordered the clones and Ahsoka, but she too soon followed not letting him ask her.
Leo watched the party run off into the grass, to look for any help. Leo looked back down at Anakin who was still wounded and helpless, "What now kid" Rex asked Leo watched the sun starting to set as he sighed "We wait". He sat down legs crossed as if to meditate but all he could do was watching the others go off into the wild in search of help. "Something up kid?" Rex asked him sitting down next to him Leo looked at the clone captain for a moment "It's nothing" Rex raised his brow underneath the visor of his helmet before he asked "You sure, you look like something's bothering you" the clone asked. "I'm fine," Leo said again this time with a little more force in his words, Leo stood up as Rex kept put "Alright if you say so".
Elsewhere, later in time, the search party had slowed there pace to a steady walk as the sun continued to set in the distance. Everyone was silent for the most part till Aayla said to Ahsoka "I can still sense your worry for Anakin, and you're displeased with Leo" she said to the young torgrutan "Your attachment to them" she pointed out.
Ahsoka looked up at her as they walked "It's just, I get so confused sometimes" Ahsoka sighed looking at the dirt as she walked in front with Aayla, the four clones behind them.
"It's forbidden for Jedi to form attachments, yet we're supposed to form attachments" Ahsoka said embarrassed about her confusion "It's nothing to be embarrassed about Ahsoka" Aayla said smiling as she looked off into the distance "I went through the same thing when I was your age" she said to the younger girl.
"Really you?" Ahsoka asked her slightly surprised by the Jedi master.
Aayla nodded as she said "He was like a father to me, I realized for the greater good I had to let him go, don't lose a thousand lives just to save one" she said finally to Ahsoka hoping to give her some extra wisdom "Maybe, but that doesn't mean I can't try to save his life… unlike Leo" she grumbled the last part of her words.
Aayla glanced at her "I sensed your frustration with Leo, why" she asked him. "Leo is supposed to be a Jedi like us, but he can be so serious it's almost like talking to a droid."
"I know, but he just doesn't make any sense sometimes," Ahsoka said to her about the red-headed Jedi. "I have seen padawans like Leo before, well somewhat like him," Aayla said adding a little bit to the end of it.
The young Jedi looked at the older Jedi Master "Many Jedi are being tested in this war Ahsoka, Leo is no exception" Ahsoka heard Aayla explain.
"What do you mean", Ahsoka asked her.
"Some Jedi believe, that we kneed to adopt a different perspective, one that demands we see things… differently" Ayala said to her, as the sun set on them, "Leo is one of them".
Back at the crash site, night had also descended onto Rex, Leo and the passed out Anakin. Rex was still sitting on the ground, Leo was walking back and forth, pacing holding his lightsaber in his hand. Suddenly he stopped "What?" Rex asked as Leo looked into the tall grasses "We're being watched" Leo turned on his lightsaber the white beam of energy lighting up the area around him brightly. Rex stood up turning on his helmets lights looking at the tall grass, "What now?" Leo heard Rex say to him "We go take a look".
Back with the search party, they had finally found a pair of giant trees, with pods as big as speeders scattered around them. The walked toward the tree, seeing the roots stuck out of the ground with a hollow underneath "I don't see any signs of life" Bly stated to everyone. Aaylas Jedi sense suddenly lit up as she looked up to see one of the giant pods falling down up above. "Look out!" Aayla said tackling Bly out of the way, more pods began to fall land everyone ran underneath the base of the tree so as not to be crushed.
"No wonder it's deserted, it's a death trap" Ahsoka gasped looking at the fallen pods, she and Aayla looked up above at the trees wondering if any more pods would fall.
Aayla looked behind to see a long trail, about the size of the pods being dragged against the ground "It seems like something or someone intelligent enough figure out a use for the pods dragged them away" she said pointing to the trail. Bly turned on his hud lights to light up their path in the darkness. "All we have to do is follow the trail," Aayla said to everyone "Let's go" she ordered them the whole party taking off into a sprint.
Back at the camp, a large creature was looking at Anakin helplessly in the makeshift shelter, while Rex was returning to the camp. Anakin's eyes opened sensing something was near; he looked up to see a large creature peering at him in the tall grasses. The Jedi tried to walk out of the tent but fell to the ground unable to stand "Genera… are you alright?" Rex asked seeing him collapse. "Be… behind you" Anakin gasped Rex turned around to see a giant avian-like carnivorous bird, though flightless, it had a broad, flat head with a sharp beak and a mane of large brown feathers. It had a muscular build with sharp talons large enough to wrap around a man's waist.
The predator let out a giant scream, as it grabbed Rex it tossed him away from Anakin and Rex screamed. Anakin watched helplessly as the bird attacked Rex, the clone tried to take out his blaster but the bird pinned him. Suddenly the bird heard a loud scream from behind. It turned its head around to see Leo raining down on him white lightsaber drawn in both hands aiming straight for the bird. Leo yelled at his landed right on the carnivore driving the white saber directly into it's back and through its chest. The bird collapsed dead right on top of Rex.
Anakin saw Leo slew the giant beast, he collapsed as Rex crawled out from under the beast "Thanks kid" Leo looked up at him "Don't mention it, Captain." he said to Rex turning of his lightsaber, they looked back at Anakin, both Rex and Leo started to lay the Jedi down back into the shelter. Another scream was heard, the same one as the giant bird creature. Rex and Leo looked at one another, "We're in for one wild night" Leo said to Rex who nodded at him.
Far away, the company was still searching for the people who lived on the planet, but the two were being watched by the same creature that attacked the camp. But for them it was more than just one, Aayla and Ahsoka stopped right in front of them, both of them unclipped there lightsabers before two of the same giant creatures jumped out of the long grass tackling Ahsoka and Aayla out of the way knocking their lightsabers from there hands. The two creatures attacked the clones who started firing.
One swiped at one of the clones with his claws, then both of the monsters preceded to tear at the other two while Bly rolled out of the way aimed and fired right into one of the creature's eyes. The second one let out a scream before dashing away in full retreat. Aayla and Ahsoka were about to give chase but saw the creature was long gone. They turned around to see three of the four clones sprawled out on the ground not moving. Bly checked one of the clones and shook his head, "Camerons dead" he sighed standing up "So are Lucky, and Flesh" Aalya and Ahsoka looked at the dead soldiers, Aayla shook her head, and said "We have to keep moving", and so the did into a long night, back at the crash site, the night was just beginning.
Leo and Rex were guarding Anakin, with Rex sitting down, and Leo leaning up against the shelter arms crossed slightly. Rex was checking his blaster rifle making sure it would work. Leo looked into the bushes quickly as a loud rustling was hear, both Leo and Rex exchanged looks. Leo uncrossed his arms and took out his lightsaber but not turning it on, heading toward the green grass "Kid, what are you doing" Rex asked him, Leo glanced back at him "I'm not going to sit here and wait for those things to come to us" Leo said back to him.
"But where are you going?" Rex asked him again, Leo looked back into the grass, sensing what was out there "Hunting."
The boy moved into the long grass brushing it apart with every step, his ears were picking up every sound they could, bugs, birds, cracking twigs. He stopped when he heard a loud crack, he turned on his lightsaber and held it with both hands up close to his face. He started to breathe out heavily through both nostrils. His lightsaber was lighting up the grass and area around him he looked toward his left to see one of the predators, it growled at him inching ever closer with its giant paws one after the other, only fifteen feet away.
Leo turned to face it and held out his lightsaber "Come and get your feathers plucked you overgrown chicken" he growled it let out a giant squawk and rushed him. Leo let out a fierce roar and ran at the bird, it lunged at him leaping forward Leo sidestepped to right swing his blade up slicing the birds front right leg right off with a clean burn scar. The animal shrieked in agony at the loss of its a limb, it landed onto the ground with a loud thud squawking and moaning in agony. Leo turned around before it could recover he drove his lightsaber down into it. Another loud screech echoed from the crash site, Leo ran back toward the crash sight tearing through the long grass, he finally reached the campsite to see Three of the same bird wolves surrounding Rex who had his blaster aimed right. Leo turned his lightsaber back on and ran into the clearing, all the birds looked at Leo and Rex took his shot at one of the birds hitting it right in the head killing one of the three.
Leo tried to jump over the one closest to him, he spun around and brought his lightsaber down right on the creatures head chopping off its head. "KID LOOK OUT" Leo heard Rex said, the last bird was heading straight for Leo, who tried to turn around as fast as possible, not fast enough the bird lunged at him swiping its giant talons "AAAAAGH" the birds talons slash across his back ripping apart the back his robes, and his flesh. Leos saber had been knocked from his hands and the bird circled around Leo and screeched running at him. Leo looked up despite the pain in his back, he ground his teeth seeing the bird running at him. "Kid!" he Rex yelled Leos pain turned to anger, and anger to hate, he raised right arm toward the bird a wave of the force exploded out of his hand like a cannonball. At the charging bird, it smashed into the bird with a loud
CRACK
The bird was thrown back ten feet landing on its side, the animals bald bird-like head was on backward, the neck had been twisted all the way around from the sheer thrust of Leos force push, had killed it before the bird hit the ground. Leo dropped his hand looking at the dead body of the bird. He tried to stand up but nearly fell. The bird's talons had torn deeply into his back and up his right shoulder. Rex ran to helped Leo to his feet, "Are you al-" "I'm fine" Leo said, as Rex helped Leo back to the fire, another screech.
"Oh no" Rex said, Leo shut his mouth and started to breath through his robe, Leo summoned his lightsaber to his hand through the force he looked up around the grace, "Looks like you were right kid' Leo stood on his own two feet and turned on his lightsaber "About what" "It's going to be a very long night".
THE NEXT DAY
Ahsoka, Rex, and Aayla had been moving following the path all night until the finally stood over a large hill looking down into a large plain. Only about a hundred yards from them were pods, maybe thirty of them all gathered around with some kind of lifeforms walking around the pods. "Pod central, we made it" Ahsoka said smiling at the other two, all three of them slid down the hills path and toward the village.
They had slowed there pace to a walk as they headed toward the village "Do you think those creatures attacked the others last night" Bly asked Aayla "I certainly hope not" she said back to the clones "Once we get help from this village we'll be able to get Anakin help" Ahsoka said before the entered into the village "Mygeetans" Bly said seeing the village people, they were a lemuroid mammalian species, far smaller than a Human. Their bodies were covered entirely in fur, which ranged in color from a dark brown to a white-gray, though they did wear garments. The villagers had heads protruding perpendicular from their chest, with two large golden orange eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Each had a tail, and they communicated through speech and were able to speak Basic They stood on two legs and had two arms, with five digits on each hand and foot. They could walk either upright on their two legs, and could also use their arms and legs for faster movement. "Mygeetans?" Ahsoka asked "Also called Lurmen," Aayla said as the Lurmen villagers saw them coming.
When they drew nearer to the villagers they started to back away "Hello" Ahsoka asked holding up her hand and smiling?
Amongst the villagers, an older looking lumen approached the trio, he had one arm behind his back, and walked with a limp, he wore a short-sleeved yellow coat, with a yellow robe underneath and many necklaces.
"We are peacekeepers, we are Jedi from the Republic, our ship crashed a few miles away and one of us is very badly injured…. We need your help." Aayla said looking at the lurmens for help, before the Elder said "Violence breeds violence, Jedi are no peacekeepers" Jedi motioning to her lightsaber, Ahsoka stepped forward and held up her first "We're fighting for freedom" he claimed boldly to him. To which the elder replied, "And freedom and peace, require fear and death".
Aayla and Ahsoka looked at one another, unsure of what to say next "We colonized this world to seek refuge from your wretched war" the elder stated to them, the Jedi and clone standing in silence.
"We came here to find peace" he said walking to the left a few steps "You must leave, you will destroy what little peace is left in the Galaxy, you will only bring the destruction of us" the elder declared to the Jedi, Aayla stepped forward and spoke "Regardless of the clone wars and our part in them, we till need your help".
The village elder pressed his hand to his chest "I must do what is best for my people" he started to turn around "We cannot help you" as the elder turned around the villagers started to murmur amongst themselves.
Stepping forward Ahsoka started to say "Please, can you give us some medical supplies, my friend is dying" she begged to the elder who stopped. He looked towards his people who all looked at him, he waved his hand over at one of the younger taller Lurmen, he had grey fur like the rest of them but wore a grey tunic and had a brownish cap. The elder turned around and spoke to Ahsoka "I cannot ignore a plea for help" the younger lurmen walked up behind his elder "I will send my son, Wag Too, he is a healer" the elder said motioning to the young lurmen.
"But only one Jedi may go with him, we wouldn't want a surprise attack on our village, or the kidnapping of our only healer," the elder said untrustingly to them. When he di Bly started to step forward with his blaster in hand until Aayla held up her hand stopping him "Bly and I will stay, Padawan go help your master" Aayla said to Ahsoka who nodded at the plan, the Elder, however, didn't he pointed at Bly "No, the clone and his blaster cannot stay, he will go with the youngling" he said rather harshly pointing at Ahsoka. "I can handle it, I don't need help," Ahsoka said looking up at Aayla "Ahsoka-" "Don't worry," Ahsoka said reassuring the Jedi general. "Be mindful of your surroundings Ahsoka, those creatures are still out there".
Ahsoka nodded at her and said "Got it" she took off back in the direction they had just come from saying "We won't be long" Bly and the Lurmen Wag Too started to follow her. But the lurmen rolled up into a ball and started to tumble at the same speed Ahsoka was running.
The Jedi general looked back at the Lurmen who waved at her "Come with me, please" he asked her she followed the village elder to a large pod, were the Lurmen entered into it through a small doorway. Too small for a humanoid, Aayla had to bend down to get inside. A fire was sitting in the middle of the pod, and the rest of it had been hallowed out with only a few, pieces of furniture inside like a mat and some pots "Sit" the elder said to Aayla, she did as he took a pot off the ground and started to cook some water over the fire "How many others are there of you" the Elder asked as Aayla while he reached into his coat and sprinkled some herbs into the pot "Only two, including our injured companion two of them, are Jedi the one hurt, and another Padawan" Aayla answered sitting with her legs crossed.
"And the third?" he asked as he stirred the pot over the fire, "A clone, there were originally seven of us but three of our company were killed by wild beasts".
The elder kept stirring the pot "Mastiff phalones, they are fierce creatures easily frightened if knocked off their feet".
The elder took a cup in his hand and dipped it into the water "Here, it will restore your energy" he said taking the cup to Aayla and handing it to her. She took it "Thank you" the elder turned around to leave the pod hut. "I'm sure you know, the Jedi were not the ones who initiated the clone wars, our only intention is to end it and restore peace to our galaxy" the Elder turned back around to look at her and said "What does it matter, who started the war and who wants to end it".
The elder shook his head "No side, is free of fault" he held up two of his fingers and said, "It takes two to fight".
"Isn't liberty worth fighting for?" Aayla asked him.
"But is it worth killing for" the elder asked back, holding up his hands "Fighting for freedom, doesn't mean you have to kill everything in your path" he said walking around the fire back to Aayla who took a sip of her drink "Only when you lay down your weapons, and pursue a course of non violence, can you proclaim to me that Jedi are peacekeepers" he declared right in front of her. Aayla was at a loss for words "We had hoped this war could have been averted" Aayla said looking at the huts dirt floor "Many Jedi, clones and people have lost there lives in this war" Aayla said saddened just thinking about it "You said what did it matter who wanted to end it, to us it does" she said to him "For whoever wins this war, will decide the fate of the galaxy" she said before the Elder left the tent leaving the conversation.
Elsewhere sweat was dropping down Leos' forehead, the crash site was now littered with the dead bodies of the mastiff phalones had grown from three to at least seven. Leo was looking at the long grass his eyes were heavy from his sleepless night, and his body exhausted from the animal's attacks. "Kid" Rex asked him, walking up behind from Anakins shelter "Get some sleep" Rex suggested, Leo shook his head "No… can you see it" he said pointing to the grass, Rex looked out at the grass "I can't see anything" Leo took in a deep breath "There are still more of them" both of them turned around when they heard grunting coming from Anakin. They saw the Jedi knight trying to get to his feet. Rex rushed back to the shelter and stopped him "General, you need to rest yourself" Rex said to him, Anakin pushed him off "I… can't, Rex I can hear them" he said getting to his feet fighting off the pain "I sensed it too" Leo said, Rex helped Anakin by letting the Jedi lean on him "We must fight" Anakin said reaching for his saber. They turned there heads to the sound of loud thundering footsteps as two mastiff phalones emerged from the tall grass into the clearing. They both roared at the three of them, there bird-like beak jaws lined with teeth. Anakin and Leo turned on their lightsabers, while Rex held up his blaster.
Both animals howled at the three of them and charged them Rex was able to shoot the second bird, but the first one was able to run into them, knocking Rex and Anakin apart but tackling Leo through the makeshift structure that crumbled like cardboard to the animal.
It pinned Leo to the ground knocking his lightsaber away from him. The mastiff roared at Leo red to drive its teeth into his neck reached up and grabbed the animal by the neck stopping from taking a bite out of him. While the animal tried to devour Leo, Ahsoka, Bly, and the lurmen healer Wag Too ran out of the long grass. The three of them looked to see Rex and Anakin on the ground, with Leo pinned trying to hold back the mastiff but he looked like he couldn't for much longer. It was the lurmen Wag Too who leaped into action first taking out a vine-like lasso from his tunic he started to rope it around the beasts legs. Ahsoka took out her lightsaber and clicked it on running in to help the animal saw Ahsoka coming and squeaked at her as she was about to attack it "No-" Wag Too started to say, but Leo seeing the animal distracted raised his hand to resummons his lightsaber to his hands "-don't!" Leo aimed the blade emitter at the animals head just as it turned around jaws wide open ready for the kill.
Leo turned the lightsaber on immediately the white blade of energy pierced right through the animal's jaw, and outside the back of its head. "No" the lurmen nearly shouted running up to the creature, as Leo let out a sigh of relief. Ahsoka helped him out from underneath "What took you guys so long" Leo asked looking up at her, "Trying to find this little guy" Ahsoka said motioning to Wag Too who walked up to the two Jedi younglings "You… you killed it" Wag Too said looking at the dead predator, that was when Wag Too noticed all the other dead bird-like wolves bodies lying sprawled around the crash site.
"Sorry, but if you haven't noticed they've been trying to kill us for a while now," Leo said back to the lurmen, Ahsoka looked over at Anakin and saw him on the ground "Master?" she shouted running to him, the others followed suit. Ahsoka knelt down to her master on his right side, as Leo knelt on the left "Good… cough… to see you snips" Anakin said smiling up at her, Ahsoka smiled back seeing her master still alive "This is Wag Too, he can make you well again," Ahsoka said introducing Wag Too to Anakin. The lurmen approached the Jedi and said "Don't you worry, I can fix you right up" he said walking up to Anakin who nodded at the healer.
Bly who was standing next to Rex looked at all the dead mastiff phalones, "I see you three have been busy" Bly said to Rex who shook his head at the clone "Not us, him" Rex said holding his left arm that had been injured by the mastiffs "Birds never knew what they were up against" Bly and Ahsoka looked at Leo "What, amazing" Bly said to him. Leo let out a breath of air finally sensing things would be alright he nodded at the clone captain pressing his hand against the right shoulder, Anakin turned to Leo and said weakly "Good work Rusty" Anakin said to him "Thank you, General".
That's when Leo noticed something missing, four somethings "Where is everyone" he asked Ahsoka who answered, "Master Secura is back at Wag Toos village, the others…" Ahsoka's voice dropped looking at the birds "They didn't make it" Leo didn't need to know more to know what had happened, he looked down at Anakin "I hope it was worth it." he said as he walked away.
"Leo, where are you going?" Ahsoka asked as he walked over to the ship and started to pick up pieces of debris "We need to make a stretcher for the General." Leo said as he picked up a piece of metal and a pipe "Oh okay, well let us do that you take a break." She said, "I'm fine." Leo said as he picked up another chunk of metal "Leo-" she said reaching for him.
"I said I'm fine Ahsoka!" Leo snapped at her as he swatted her hand away.
VILLAGE
Later, all of them had returned to the pod village of the colonists, Aayla and the Village elder Tee Wat Kaa were waiting to them. When the six of them entered the village, Leo and Rex were bringing up the rear, Ahsoka and Bly were carrying Anakin in on a stretcher made from the destroyed shelter. When they set Anakin down, he awoke to find himself surrounded by the lurmen "Uh… Snips?" he asked seeing all the yellow eyes peering over him. Tee Wat Kaa looked at the Jedi bringing in there wounded, Aayla, however, smiled walking up to Ahsoka and the others "Good work Ahsoka, and to you as well Leo" She said to both Padawans, Leo still had his left hand over his shoulder. Leo looked past the Jedi general to see Wag Too walking up to the village elder, he looked at Leo before whispering something into his father's ear, Tee Wat Kaa appeared to listen intently "I see… thank you".
The lurmen lifted Anakins stretcher and took it toward one of the largest pods in the village, it looked like it was about to actually sprout. Leo turned around to see them doing it "Excuse me General Secura" when he turned his back to them both Ahsoka and Aayla saw the large scar a mastiff's talons had left, they were three scars running up his back shoulder, Ahsoka gapped at the sight of it. "Ahsoka come," Aayla said to her, Ahsoka started to follow but looked back at Leo and his blood dried wound.
Leo followed the Lurmen into the large pod, were they had laid Anakin at Wag Toos feet, Leo walked around to the other side of Anakin and sat down, watching Wag Too "The nectar from the pods will aid in the healing process" Wag too said reaching up into a hanging pot filled with green liquid he dipped some pieces of cloth into the green goo and laid them over Anakin's wounds.
"How long will the healing process take" Leo asked, Wag Too looked up at him a bit worried "He'll be right as rain by tomorrow, would you like me to take a look at that wound on your back" Wag Too offered, Leo shook his head "It's nothing" Leo looked up past Wag Too to see the healers father look into the doorway, Tee Wat Kaa was looking at Anakin, a confused look in his eye before he spotted Leo and his eyes hardened.
He entered into the pod, not taking his eyes off Leo "My son tells me, that you slew a creature, many creatures in fact" he said walking up behind his son "In defense of my comrades" Leo said back.
"Those creatures were once living beings, my son also told me you killed one and showed no remorse for it" Leo looked at Wag Too who turned away from the boys gaze Leo looked back at the Elder "I was following orders," Leo said still sitting in front of Anakin. "And were your orders to kill," Tee Watt asked him hardening his eyes at Leo who glared at the elder. Leo curled both his hands into fists "To protect my General" he growled trying to remain calm.
The village elder continued "Now, others are dead so that one could live" Leo tightened his fists enough for his knuckles to turn white, the ground his at the Lurmen "We too lost three of our own to those animals so that he could live" Leo said to lurmen "On what grounds can you justify such violence?" Leo heard the Lurmen said sternly Leos' fists were no trembling at the old lurmens words, Leos' nostrils were flaring at the elder's disrespect "How dare you..." Leo said standing up and looking down at Kaa as Aayla entered "Padawan, go outside." she said before Leo said something he would regret
The Lurmen elder looked at Leo before shaking his head in disappointment, "To the young, war is but a game" he said to Aayla "Forgive him, he told you of the men we lost?"
"He did indeed, but is the price worth it?" he asked Aayla, "Let us hope so," She said as Leo walked out and around the pod before he stopped. He smashed his fist into the pod wall cutting his knuckles and making his other fist tremble at how angry he was. Leo looked down at his hands still trembling with anger from Tee Watts words he held his hands together trying to calm his anger.
Later, overlooking the village on a hill, Ahsoka and Aayla were watching the sunset on the very long day they had just had. "You were right all along Master Secura" Ahsoka said hands on her knees as she sat on ground next to Aayla who leaned back on her hands in the dirt, also sitting "About what?" she asked the young girl "If I had stayed with Anakin" Ahsoka said picking up a rock off the ground "We probably wouldn't have found this village in time to save him" she said looking at the village, she stood up dropping the rock, she crossed her arms "and if Leo had come instead of me, those animals would have killed Anakin" she said taking several steps out in front of her uncrossing her arms.
"At least this whole ordeal is over with now," she said relaxing some, Aayla walked up next to her after getting up "We still have to find a way off this planet"
Ahsoka who was listening to Aayla, turned toward the sun "Well, I'm sure Admiral Yuralen and the Republic fleet are looking for us, it shouldn't take them long to get here" she said looking off into the distance, ready for tomorrow. Both Aayla and Ahsoka stood there in silence for a long time before Aayla said: "Come let us return".
Both Jedi re-entered the village within a few minutes Rex and Bly were both examining their weapons and their supplies. They both had their helmets off and were sitting on some crates when they saw the Jedi approaching they stood up and walked out to meet them. "Where's Leo" Ahsoka asked, Rex motioned over to the largest pod that Anakin was in "Haven't seen him" Rex said lowering his arm, "Ahsoka, go tend to your Master" Ahsoka did so walking over to the giant pod, she passed Tee Watt Kaa pass her, she turned around quickly "I know your upset about us being here, but we can't thank you enough for helping us" she said to him.
The old lurmen didn't even turn around he only turned his head slightly and said "Your fellow youngling seems to disagree" was all he said before heading back into the village. Ahsoka looked back at the large Pod were Anakin was in. She walked up to see Wag Too "Hows Anakin," she asked "He'll be fine in no time, I tried to offer the other Jedi aid, but he has refused me three times" Wag Too said holding up the cloth with the same stuff that was healing Anakin. Ahsoka snickered "Here, he just needs the right touch," she said holding out her hand. Wag Too handed her the cloth before she left the pod and walked around it looking for Leo before she saw him on the edge of the village his legs poking out from behind a pod.
"Leo… I wanted to apologize about yesterday, I was just" Ahsoka entered into the Pod with a smile before she saw the boy "…Leo" she dropped the cloth when she saw the boy. Leo had backed himself up against the wall of the Pod out of the light from the entrance, he had his left hand wrapped tightly around his right hand, the same one he had used the force to kill the mastiff. He had his head down, the orange locks hanging down over his head, he was grinding his teeth until Ahsoka approached him. She rested her hand gently on his shoulder "Leo… what's wrong" she asked him, Leo raised his head toward her "Those things… the birds" he said talking about the mastiffs, Ahsoka nodded at him "Yeah" she whispered to him "I killed them… all of them" he said to her quietly his hands still trembling, until he felt Ahsoka rest her right hand on the "Leo… tell me what's wrong, please" she begged him Leo looked at her then at Anakin "The first ones… I just killed because I saw them as a threat" he explained, while she listened "But the others… the others were different, when the first one hurt me I got mad, it wasn't about protecting the General" Leo said looking at Anakin who was fast asleep "I wanted… I wanted to-" he tried to say but he failed to find the words.
"To what?" she asked him, Leo looked her right in the eyes his green to her blue "I wanted to kill, to make them suffer to fear me," he said quickly, Ahsoka's jaw dropped but nothing came out "Jedi aren't supposed to kill… not like that, I know that but I…" Ahsoka stood up and walked away from him, he watched as she picked up the cloth with the healing nector on it she knelt down next to him and put the cloth on his back, he winced at the pain "Leo… I'm not sure what you felt" she said pressing the cloth on his back "But, I think if Anakin was awake right now, he'd say talking about it, is the first step would be talking about it" Leo looked back at Anakin until he looked at Ahsoka "Will you tell them, the Generals" Ahsoka shook her head "Not unless you don't want me to?" she asked Leo smiled at her "Thank you, Ahsoka".
"What's that?" He asked looking at the cloth "Some of the pod nectar, now I know you don't like it but it'll help with the pain and it won't get infected." she said as Leo gave in "fine." he whispered before he undid his robe and pulled off his shirt. Ahsoka turned away quickly hiding her flushed cheeks before he sat down his back toward her "Alright, go ahead."
Ahsoka sat down and started to dip her fingers into the medicine and trace it around his three new scars, she noticed he had a few more even for being only a youngling "That's uh, quite a collection you have."
"General Krell believes the best teacher can be when we fail, its why we practice with our lightsabers on full power." Ahsoka was taken back by Leo's training "That sounds, intense." she said as she covered his wounds "I know, but everything he did was to make me a better Jedi."
"Done." Ahsoka said finishing up, Leo picked up his tunic and put it back on before he took his original spot up to the pod and took a more relaxed position next to her "Wow that stuff does feel good." he said leaning his head on the pod and yawning about to fall asleep.
Ahsoka smiled "Told you, Leo you need to trust people more." she said as she also yawned.
"I trust you." He said with a smile before Ahsoka rested her lekku on his shoulder "Good, and you always can." she said as Leo felt his face get warm as she rested her "Ahsoka we-" he was cut off by the sound of Ahsoka, she was- she was snoring. Having run back and forth from the crash site to the camp had probably taken a great toll on her the same for Leo who had fought the mastiffs. He smiled as she looked so peaceful even if she was snoring so loud some of the hte Lurmen looked over at her trying to figure out the noise. Leo shrugged at them before he said "Goodnight Ahsoka."
