Part 3


Clone trooper Sketch arrives not three minutes after Anakin departs and by now I am almost certain that there is some sort of conspiracy afoot to ensure I am not without constant supervision for more than 300 seconds in case I suddenly keel over and die.

"Sir," Sketch holds out a datapad. "The commander sent me with this. We've tallied up the casualties..."

It makes for grim reading. Between the 212th, 501st and the 21st Novas, we have lost almost a third of our men to death or injury during the landing alone. Of the injured, fourteen men are injured too severely to move without proper med-evac. With a frown I skip over my own name on that list, but I am relieved to see that Trapper at least is still alive. I set about mentally adjusting our attack strategy to account for the dwindling numbers. Even after the loss of my landing crew, I had hoped that so many more would have survived.

Folly and Boil appear to check me over again, thankfully while none of my other overseers are around. Folly answers my questions about the condition of the other men somewhat distractedly while he rechecks my vitals. On my other side, Boil detaches that wretched IV pump from my arm.

"General," the medic says, after my questions are done. "I would hope I don't need to say this, but we all know what Jedi are like... you absolutely must remain still until the evac arrives. I really can't stress that enough. The landing zone is secure; this fight is not a life-or-death situation any more. I don't want to pull rank, but when it comes to the matter of your physical wellbeing, I-"

"Sergeant," I cut him off, a slight warning in my tone. "I promise you I have no intention of going anywhere. Master Mundi, Knight Skywalker and Padawan Tano are perfectly capable of handling the remainder of this mission without me, and Commander Cody will keep them on the straight and narrow in my absence. If all you're going to do is harangue me unnecessarily, perhaps you should return to checking on the injured troopers?"

Apparently satisfied with my obedience, the medic administers another pain shot and then scurries away without another word. I give in, just for a moment, to the temporary relief and rest my eyes as the drug weathers away at the footholds of pain like a cool stream flowing under my skin. Perhaps I was a little brusque with Folly. He is a good medic for all that his name implies otherwise and only following his orders after all. I doubt he, Coric or Doghouse have had much time to rest in the past two hours, and I am sure there will be plenty more work for them all to do during the upcoming battle. It's likely that few of our men will remain unscathed.

With that thought in mind, I realise time has escaped me a little, and the two hours are almost up. It is time to begin the briefing for the next stage of the attack. I send Boil off to gather the other Jedi and their commanders. The plan is a simple one, but now we no longer have men in reserve, it must go off without a hitch. I use the time to ball up and toss away the foil blanket, and generally tidy myself up as best I can. There will be no getting around giving this briefing from floor level, but at least if I can try and look like I am in command of myself then command of everything else may follow.

Anakin appears first and lets me know we now have a functioning complement of four tanks and five gunships. He and Besh have worked hard in the last two hours and I am pleased with the result. That should be enough. Ahsoka, Rex, Jet and Cody all arrive together, looking alert and ready. Boil, Waxer and Folly turn up last with Ki-Adi Mundi. The Jedi crouches down on my right; he also needs to rest his injuries, after all.

"Ahsoka, have you the map projector? Thank you."

The padawan places the device thoughtfully on the ground rather than holding it. The projected terrain blossoms out at the level of my chest, where I can reach to point.

"We have lost a lot of men," I begin, surveying the officers clustered around me. "A lot of good men. But despite that, we have no choice but to press on. Master Mundi and I have devised a way forward from here, and what is left of our combined forces should be enough to destroy the shield generator. Anakin, you'll need to take a small squad through the shield, as close as you can get to their gun emplacements."

I gesture at the holographic terrain, jabbing my finger towards the heavily fortified generator. "From there, you'll be able to temporarily jam their scanners so they are unable to target the incoming tanks. Once the tanks knock out the shield, Master Mundi can bring the rest of the troops in with the gunships."

The listening troopers nod to each other. The plan is simple enough, but the heavy burden of success is going to lie almost entirely on Anakin and Ahsoka. Once Anakin gets his troops through the shield, it is going to be a long race across open ground to get within range for the droid poppers, and the Jedi, Rex and the men will be under fire the entire time. Two lightsabers can only defend against so many blasts, no matter how expertly wielded. But there is no other choice. We have to keep Ki-Adi with the main troops on the gunships; despite his injuries, the Cerean master will be our only hope if things go wrong. And all the while I shall sit here on the scorched earth, idle and useless.

Ki-Adi stands and glances at Anakin. Anakin merely dips his chin. He, of all people, knows the danger this mission presents. He has already paid the sacrifice of blood and flesh levied by this planet. The old 'saber scars on my shoulder and leg throb with sympathy; souvenirs of Dooku's cruelty, and reminders of the severed tendons that had then left me helpless in the red dust while the Sith Lord crippled my padawan. The sound of Anakin's screams as his arm was brutally severed will forever be burned into my memory.

Anakin himself doesn't seem to recall the sound. He still has no fear.

"Consider it done, Master," is all he says.

The generals, commanders and captain disperse to make the final preparations with their troops, but Folly, Waxer and Boil are still hovering around me like overzealous Zataanian corpse flies.

"Folly," I summon the nursemaids over. "I want you to go and find Doghouse. Tell him he is to remain here at the drop zone to tend the injured men, and that I want all of the injured loaded into one of the grounded transports. That way they'll at least have some cover while the main forces are off destroying that shield generator. Waxer, Boil: you'll be needed on the front too, but I want you to pick out five troopers from the 212th to stay with Doghouse and guard the injured. Maybe Reed and Sparker..."

I don't need Jedi mind skills to know all three troopers are hiding groans beneath their helmets at the thought of dishing out a round of guard duty while there is a battle to be won.

"It might not be glamorous," I reproach then, "but if the Geonosians realise we've left wounded troopers out here unprotected the men you choose might be all that stand between your wounded brothers and a squadron of droids."

"Yes, sir. Understood, sir."

The troopers salute and dash away towards the medics' station.

From then on, there is not a moment wasted. In bare minutes from the conclusion of the briefing, Jedi and troopers mobilise with rapid efficiency. The other injured men are carried into the hull of a grounded gunship to give them some shelter from the merciless sun and protection from attack. To my right, Cody's chosen gunners are loading up their tanks with ammo, and further off, Ki-Adi and Commander Jet are making the final checks over their gunships. As the first tank grinds into motion, I spot Captain Rex directing the last of the 501st into the two gunships Anakin's squad will be taking to make the short jump to the edge of the shield.

It is time.

Gritting my teeth, drawing all my willpower together, I pull my knees up and shove hard against the crates at my back, forcing myself once more up to my feet. I feel a little unsteady and oddly weak, but I can stand and the pain really isn't so bad now. Perhaps I am less injured than I first thought. And if I can stand, I can fight.

Squinting a little against the sun, I set off towards Rex's LAAT. The last thing I want is for any of my overly eager attendants to realise what I'm up to. They will no doubt make the most ridiculous fuss and demand that I remain here with the injured men. If I have timed this right there won't be any opportunity for Rex to tattle to Anakin on the other transport before we make the combat zone. Besides, Rex is a man who appreciates results. He'll recognise the necessity of another Jedi to the success of this mission.

I cross the last few metres to the transport and am close enough to feel the heat radiating off the scorched durasteel plating when Rex looks up.

"General Kenobi? Are you...all right, sir?"

"Perfectly," I answer. "There's been a minor alteration to the plan. I'll be coming with you."

Rex doesn't respond for a second and I see him glance towards the lead transport where Anakin must be. But all he says is; "...yes, sir."

Good man. I step towards the open hatch and disaster strikes.

"Master Kenobi?"

It's Ahsoka. Kriff it.

"Master, what are you doing here?"

I sigh, and turn to face her. "Boarding this transport of course."

She doesn't look convinced. "But I thought you were too injured to fight..."

"Nonsense," I dismiss her, briefly. "I merely needed a short rest. Now go and board your own transport, padawan. We're leaving."

Ahsoka doesn't move except to fold her arms, a sure sign she's about to be utterly intransigent. I remember fondly the days when padawans did what they were told. I did.

Some of the time.

"Master, you really should stay here. I heard the medic say so. Besides, you really don't look well."

"Ahsoka, if you think I am going to-"

"Rex, Ahsoka, what's the hold up? We gotta- Obi-Wan!?"

I repress a groan. Anakin has now leapt down from the second LAAT and is running over to us.

"There isn't time to have a discussion about this," I try to forestall Anakin's inevitable arguing. "Master Unduli is waiting for us to get that shield down. You need my help."

"No, Obi-Wan, we don't." Anakin is clearly impatient, but for some reason he isn't yelling and still looks oddly concerned. Despite his soft tone, I see several helmeted heads peering out of the gunship's hatchways. The troopers must be wondering what is causing the delay, or perhaps they are just watching the unfolding drama.

"Master, what are you even doing here? An hour ago you could barely stand. And I heard you tell Folly you would stay put until the med-evac arrives."

"Well, I lied," I snap. Despite the heat of the day, there's a cold sweat on my face. I brush it away impatiently. "We've lost too many men, Anakin. You're going to be walking into a meat-grinder the second you cross through that shield."

The stench of burnt flesh inside the downed ship combine with the memory of Anakin's screams to assault my memory. My fingers close impulsively over the lightsaber hilt at my belt. "I won't let you and Ahsoka face that alone."

"We're not alone, Master," Anakin has crossed right over to me and his hand is hovering under my elbow, as if for some reason he thinks I might fall. "We've got Rex and thirty of the best 501st troopers here, and right behind us will be Cody with the tanks, and then Master Mundi and all of his troopers. Besides, we're leaving a lot of injured men and a medic here undefended. I need you to stay and look out for th-"

"I am not a child in need of a distraction, Anakin." I snap back at him. "And I don't appreciate being patronised. Don't you think I haven't already ordered a defence to be set up on the injured men?"

Anakin blinks. It is clear he hasn't thought of it at all until that moment. My former padawan: so impatient, so driven towards the end goal. He always does forget the details.

"We're wasting time," I continue. "The longer we delay, the stronger the Geonosian's defence becomes. I am going with you."

I set off towards the nearest gunship to put an end to the discussion, but suddenly my balance deserts me and I find myself stumbling sideways as all the nerves in my legs seem to go numb at once. Grips like durasteel on each of my upper arms halt an otherwise ignoble face-first collapse into the sand. The two young Jedi are trying to get me to sit down but I use Anakin's shoulder to haul myself back onto my feet.

"Take it easy, Master Kenobi..."

"Kark it, Obi-Wan, will you please stop? Just how many drugs did Folly stick you with?"

I don't answer that. I remember thinking, quite recently, that I couldn't feel much pain any more but right now something in my back is spasming like knives are being pressed against my spinal column. I'm trying to breathe, pull back my control, but my grasp of the Force seems to have gone as watery as my legs and waves of hot and cold are drowning me.

"Anakin..." I begin, but I don't know what else to say. They don't have enough men. If they need me out there... If something happens...

"Obi-Wan. You gotta listen." My former padawan is looking so earnest that I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. "You can't fight like this. You can barely walk. If you come out there with us, Ahsoka and I are going to spend the whole time hauling you back up off the ground instead of watching over our men, and that might cost them their lives. Please, stay here. Let me handle this."

I sigh, and before I am aware that I've moved or that any time has passed I suddenly seem to be sitting on the ground again. Anakin is still here but I can hear Ahsoka somewhere nearby yelling for the medics.

"Fine," I concede, almost in a whisper. "Fine. I'll stay."

Anakin is crouching in front of me, hand on my shoulder, and he does me the kindness for once not to gloat at my acquiescence. Instead, his expression still serious, he says:

"Ahsoka and I have got this covered, Obi-Wan. Trust me. You trust me, right?"

"Of course," I say, faintly. "Always. Eternally."

Anakin smiles a little at that, and stands up. "Stay here, Master. Rest. No more lying to the medics. We'll be back before you know it."

Doghouse and Sparker, two of the men remaining at Point Rain with the injured, arrive at that moment and start to fuss about me, berating and prodding and taking their infernal measurements. I ignore them for the moment and watch my former Padawan hop up after Ahsoka onto the hovering transport, his loyal troopers at his side and the planet stretched out for the taking before his feet.

"Anakin," I call out after him. "Anakin. May the Force be with you."

Anakin turns back to look down on me. "You too, Master!" He shouts, and at last unleashes that wild grin I have been expecting, eyes burning with the delight of battle. The LAAT's engines roar. The ship gives a slight shudder, rises, and speeds away across the red earth, carrying them off to war.


The end.