A single light illuminated two humans sitting at a table. One a middle aged man in combat fatigues the other looked like a young teenager.
"You know Andrew holding out information that is crucial to Republic safety is a crime". The man got out of the chair and walked behind the boy putting his hands on his shoulders. "But I don't think you're a criminal Andrew I just need to know what your uncle was hiding".
"Look, like I told the soldiers I don't know shit."
The man laughed." Andrew I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. Now I'm going to ask you one final time. What was your uncle hiding?"
"The boy began to show his fear but stayed to his word." I don't know anything."
A grin went across the man's face. "It's always the young ones who try an act tough". Before the last word left his lips his hand had grabbed the back of the boys head as he forced a pair of pliers into his mouth. After a few moments of fighting the interrogator had found what he wanted and he ripped out a tooth.
Over the boys screams he continued the questioning.
"Now Andrew, now that you know what I'm willing to do I need an answer."
"What the fuck is your problem huh. You don't work for a gang you can't do this to me." Past his smirk remarks the horror was beginning to show on his face.
Brushing the blood off his hand another grin blossomed on his face. "You have no idea who I am and I can do anything I want to you. So if you're ready to talk now's that time because I'm about to start working on your pretty face."
The boy quit whining and looked silently at him for a moment.
"He told me he had information on Senators that could make him a lot of credits. Please Sir that's all I know. I just worked for him so I could eat you can see the conditions we live in". The words couldn't leave his mouth fast enough.
"See was that so hard."
"No sir."
"Now Andrew this is the important part and if you tell me I'll let you go. Where did he keep the information?"
He looked down at the ground and whispered his answer." I don't know Sir."
"Think really hard this is very important."
"I'm sorry he didn't tell me much I was just a lookout."
After taking a deep breath he walked into the darkness. The room light up and showed a few dead tortured bodies in the corner.
"I'm truly sorry but that's not good enough." The man unsheathed a blaster and shot a round into the boys' forehead.
Obi Wan turned off the vid and looked over to Anakin.
"Your old friend in the senate gave this to me three hours ago. The man is the vice president of an outer rim private military company. Apparently after the clones raided the place they handed the survivors over to them."
"Well I'm just waiting for you to tell me why."
"The company Advanced Security Solutions is supposed to fix our clone shortage problem. Their budget and operations are open only to members of the Senate intelligence committee. "
"So are we finally getting to the point of what this means to me Obi Wan. "
"Well Anakin if I was less of a friend I would send you over to the office of its newest member to deliver the information on this datapad. I heard about how well your last encounter went. But since were close I'll do all I hard work and you get to have the fun."
"Remind me Obi Wan what's your definition of fun?"
He laughed and got up." You've got fifteen minutes until a gunship arrives in the hanger to get you." Obi Wan looked back before walking out the door. "You did good Anakin I'm proud of you. I know how hard it can be to see your padawan hurt".
Anakin mustered up a smile." You know that's not an answer but thanks."
He looked down as the man he saw as a father walked out the room.
If only he knew what I'd done he would never forgive me.
After sulking for a few seconds he got himself up and walked to his dorm. Inside Ahsoka was waiting. She was wearing a bandage over her wound after going to the medical center to try and remove some of the scar tissue.
"Anakin welcome back."
"Thanks, how'd it go with doctor?"
Hearing his concern for her sparked a small smile. "It went well they say it might get up to forty percent smaller."
"Good to hear". Anakin walked over to her bed and sat on the side. "How does everything else feel?"
She crawled over to him and felt her way up his back." Its fine Anakin no one suspects anything."
Hearing her voice and soft hands on his back he relaxed his stature. "That's good to know."
Only her breathing responded until her hands massaged their way up to his neck. "So how much time do we have?"
He chuckled." We were supposed to be in the hanger five minutes ago."
She sighed and slide off the bed. "When were you going to tell me?"
"When my back rub was finished. " He sat up and stretched." And I have to say that was pretty good."
All she could do was shake her head and laugh." You know you owe me one."
"Normally I'd be reluctant but for you I'll make an exception."
She looked back smiling in disbelief and began heading to the hanger.
Once in orbit she followed him to the ships command and control center. Inside several clone officers looked over a holo-map.
"Ah, general it's nice to see you."
Anakin put on a smile and began his usual intro." The feelings mutual, now which one of you can tell me why I'm here."
Nods of approval swept over the men as they circled around the map. Ahsoka squeezed herself in as a colonel began his briefing.
"If you can look at the map sir you'll see the landing zones for third division. It was broken up into three brigades of whom the first two were focused on vital industry and central government centers. The third was taken off to search for military high value targets and knock out military high command centers."
"Everything seems fine here to me colonel."
"And everything did go well until we dropped in the third brigade. We chose a small area of permafrost on the edge of the planet's habitual zone near their westerly flank. Then separatist ships jumped in during landing and took out half the force."
"So were going in to relieve them and push on with the mission."
"No sir, orders have changed. You and a small company will lead what's left of the brigade and take out a command center here."
"Wait a minute, your telling me I'm going to lead a force that might be destroyed with no support."
"Exactly sir."
"Am I getting any assets to finish my objective?"
"No sir, though I have heard rumbles of a small rebel faction that was going to assist originally."
Anakin looked at him like he was speaking another language." All I have is the same people who could have sold out the operation in the first place."
"Yes Sir"
"You've got to be fucking kidding me. Where's your brigade going to be colonel?"
"We've been assigned to augment an assault planned on a major industrial area."
He held back from laughing hysterically and asked the question on most of the officers' minds. "Who planned this?"
"General I understand your frustration but I'm kept outta the loop just as much as you it seems."
"Is there any extra manpower you can throw my way?"
"Sir the initial plans I reviewed had you going in alone, that platoon you'll have is mine. I need the rest since we'll be spearheading an attack"
"Thank you then"
"I understand your anger general I know I'd feel the same way if given orders like that."
The two men saluted and shook hands Anakin then walked back to his quarters. Dealing with that and not sleeping for almost forty eight hours ways getting to him so he laid down and fell asleep. Ahsoka watched him for the first few minutes like always but dazed off herself soon after.
After being woken up five hours later they waited still half asleep in a crowded gunship. When the outer doors opened the ships rushed out to the planets' surface. Below was a large ice ball that had a small habitual strip near the equator.
Heading into the atmosphere most of the assault group broke off and two gunships alone landed with Anakin's unit. In between the remains of a support frigate Ahsoka could make out the mustering of a small force. She pointed Anakin in its direction and they headed off.
Entering the remains they walked right into a makeshift hospital. Clone medics and a few support droids were servicing hundreds of wounded. Ahsoka watched as a few veteran medics walked around and chose if a man should receive medical attention or be left to die. This pulled at her heart but she continued on following Anakin to the center of the wreckage. Along the way the halls were full of wounded. The center of the ship just looked like a large triage center rather than command post. An officer looked over and saw Anakin. He then jumped over bodies and ran to him.
"General I heard someone might be coming it's an honor to see you."
"Where's your CO?"
"Well sir I'm the highest ranking person left."
"What's the status of your command?"
"As you can see we got pretty banged up on the way in. I landed with a twenty five hundred of our original unit of four thousand. Since then with droid and loyalist attacks I'm down to seven hundred men who can still walk."
Anakin looked around the room and right back at him." Any good news?"
"Well sir you're hear and that's all I got." The trooper took off his helmet and lead Anakin to the side." Sir I hate to ask but I need to move my men outta here. Don't you have enough forces to complete your objective alone?"
"Lieutenant whatever high command told you must have been wrong. My orders are to take the city six miles from here with your units. There's no medevac or reinforcements the only way out is to take it."
The trooper gave off the same look Anakin did four hours prior. "Sir you'll have to understand if I don't agree with you on this plan. I'm going to contact the admiral."
"Go ahead."
The clone walked off as Ahsoka signaled Anakin to come over to her.
"What's wrong snips?"
"The wounded if we leave they'll all be killed."
"I understand Ahsoka but orders are orders."
"That never stopped you before why now."
"You weren't here when the war started things like this happen."
"When, I've never seen you leave men behind before." Her tone was going from confused to angry.
Anakin looked both ways and stared back at her." If we stay here were going to die. You need to grow up a look at the whole picture because half of these men are dead already."
"What abo-"
"Ahsoka if you ever want to be a good leader you'll realize you can't save everyone."
He walked off looking for the commander so he could tell him his wounded brothers would be used as a shield to protect their rear flank. Ahsoka stayed behind and tried to help the wounded. She tried not to think about what he said and lost herself putting on bandages and scavenging for meds. Half an hour or so passed and Anakin returned with the commander in toe.
At once he began giving orders for abandoning the wreckage and destroying any vital information or supplies they couldn't carry. Mustering the men he could the Commander lead them to the edge of the wreckage to a large pine forest.
Ahsoka looked to Anakin.
"Where are going?"
Before he could answer a large whistle then explosion hit the area behind them.
"AHSOKA RUN NOW" He and the rest of the clones darted as the whistles became closer.
Ahsoka stalled and saw a slightly wound trooper. She grabbed him and the two began running. The shelling was one thing but when the rounds exploded near a tree it created thousands of razor sharp projectiles. He was slowing her down but something in her wouldn't let her stop.
Then a large thump threw her to the ground. Scanning over her body she couldn't see or feel any wounds. Then mumbling which after a few seconds cleared up and became gargled screams. The clone she helped was hit with a piece of shrapnel. The shrapnel had hit him in the golden spot between his helmet and chest armor. She crawled over to him and he immediately grabbed on to her arm.
"Please help."
"I'm trying to let go."
"Please ma'am don't let me die like this." The words getting more gargled as more blood entered his throat.
Looking at him scared Ahsoka she could see herself on the floor suffocating again.
No if I stay I'll die I need to find Anakin. I have him and that's too much to give up.
She pried off his hand" I'm sorry but I have to go." Once free she dashed for the clone stragglers she could still see.
After dodging shells and fallen trees for twenty minutes she came upon the remaining troop mass. Anakin found her first and ran over.
"Where were you Ahsoka? I told you to run dammit you had me worried."
She sat there silent not having words for the experience.
"You ok snips?"
His voice finally reached her and she reacted. "Yes I'm fine."
He looked frustrated. "Just listen next time please."
She sat on the ground and looked at the clearing in front of her then looked back. In the forest it sounded like the clone was still alive and still begging for her to come back.
No it's my mind playing tricks on me. I need to stay focused and make it through this for Anakin.
A few hours later they arrived on the outskirts of a small city. Trying to avoid being zeroed in on again they used the sewage diversion ducts to reach the interior. Ahsoka and Anakin took point of the column feeling their way to hopefully an exit. This lead to the central processing area which once they reached the surface showed to have several military installations.
"You ready." Ahsoka tapped her light sabers itching for him to give her the go ahead.
He pulled out his own and nodded in approval. She darted for a group of droids and cut them down and continued towards a large Anti-Aircraft gun. Inside Two men only got a chance to glance at her before being disposed of. Quickly cutting through the control panel she moved on into a government barracks. With most of the men still confused Ahsoka was able to exact A very painfully revenge for the republic fallen. They almost ran into her attacks as clones prevented any reinforcements to reach the besieged troops.
Anakin was on the other side of the base fighting through several droid tanks. He ran and threw a thermal detonator in the turret of one then hopped on the second as the third attacked it. With the last tank left he used the force to send a shell back into the crew compartment after trigging itself setting off all the spare ammo. Pressing the advance he rushed into the command complex. The moment he stepped in the door and looked at the ceremonially dressed officers he knew it was going to be fun. With the clones finally catching up to him the attack became a wholesale slaughter.
After another hour they had routed their vastly superior enemy. The remaining Republic troops set up positions around a hill overlooking the city expecting a counter attack. Night fell and to Anakin's' surprise a group of two hundred or more rebels came to pledge they were the new local government. Talking it over with command he was given orders to treat them as such. These men had sat idle as his soldiers were killed.
Cowards all of them. If I had died today they would be sitting right here laughing as our corpses were hung.
The clone commander walked over to Anakin as he watched the rebels enter the city.
"We actually did it general. Not to doubt your abilities but I thought we were all going to die."
Anakin laughed." What's your name trooper?"
"Adam sir well its major Adams now."
"Adam I thought an airstrike was going to kill us all in that frigate. So you don't need to worry."
"I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought that Sir." He looked down." If you don't mind me saying leaving them all behind was fucked up."
Anakin stared right at him." You're absolutely right it was and I completely understand if you hate me for it."
"Sir we were in Felucia for six months, after that hell we were promised R&R. Instead we were shipped here and told it was going to be an easy drop." The trooper put on his helmet to cover the tears swelling in his eyes." We came here four thousand strong now I only have three hundred brothers left."
He put his arm on his shoulder." It doesn't get easier but you have to stay strong for your men. Honor your brothers who died in combat by fighting harder yourself."
Adam shook his head." Half of them died on stretchers waiting for medical care command promised us. I can't call that an honorable."
"It's war everything is fubar."
He laughed." Couldn't of said it better myself."
"Any news of when the first gunships are coming in major?"
"Soon sir why, you trying to leave us already."
"No but I do have a favor."
"I suppose I owe you a few."
"Don't worry Adam I only need this one. I want my padawan on the first ship out."
"That can be arraigned sir. May I ask as to why though?"
"You see those assholes who marched through camp earlier." He pointed to the city." In a few minutes their going to kill anyone who worked with or supported the old government." Anakin looked over at Ahsoka as she sat resting and waved." I won't allow her to be here when it starts understand."
"Yes sir I'll try and get her outta here now."
"Thank you Adam I'll remember this."
Anakin looked back over to Ahsoka who made sure to smile when his gaze entered her direction. He made sure no one was around and walked over to her.
"How are you gorgeous?"
Her lekku darkened." I'm good and thank you."
He grabbed her hand." No one's around so I want to talk what happened yesterday."
She continued blushing." You really want to talk about this here."
"Anywhere or time snips it is all up to you."
"Well when are we going to be back on the ship."
"I have a ship taking you back in a few minutes. I have to stay around for another hour or two and wait till the relief force arrives."
"Why am I leaving so soon?"
"Snips you look amazing and I want you to make sure the wounded that are being taken back have something nice to look at."
Even though she could tell he was lying she couldn't stop smiling. "Well I guess I'll wait till you get back and cash in that backrub."
"Aw come on it's been a long day I need my relaxation."
"To bad" She laughed and gave a quick kiss before walking to the landing zone.
Anakin sat at the tip of the hill and watched as Ahsoka's gunship took off.
Just in time
Looking over the city a large mass of people had begun stalking the streets. He looked through his binoculars as people were pulled from their homes and executed in front of their families.
I could go through and kill them all like the sand people they certainly deserve it. Still the clones who don't try and stop me will be court martialed and killed for letting it happen. If I get the clones to dress up like loyalist and attack them it will lead to instability with the new government for decades. Shit just like always dammed if you do dammed if you don't.
Anakin sat for the next two hours forcing himself to watch. It was his own punishment to himself for not stopping it in the first place.
"And to the victor go the spoils of war."
"What?" he looked behind him to see Adam. "Oh it's you."
"Excuse me sir but the last of my men are leaving. I was wondering if you wanted to leave with me."
"That'd be fine thanks for telling me."
"No problem sir. And if I may, as a word of advice don't fret over the civvies. Like you said it's all fubar."
The ride back up was cramped and surprising quiet. Once onboard Anakin meet up with one of the clones and acquired some contraband material. He walked into their room to find her sitting on the side of his bed.
"Hey good to see your still awake. "
"Well I wanted to see you."
"So have I but you haven't been sitting there the whole time have you."
"No" she laughed. "I helped clones in the med bay with moral support like you asked. Then I cleaned myself off."
"Thank you that means a lot to me."
She smiled as Anakin picked up a spare towel under his bunk.
"You'll have to wait a little longer I need to wash off too."
"Are you inviting me?"
This time Anakin slightly blushed." I would if it wasn't public. Still you can hold on to this for me." He handed over a bottle of black label Rum.
"Underage sex and now drinking Anakin I think you're looking for trouble."
He looked back before stepping back out." First of all I don't look for trouble it finds me. And second you earned it the last two days have been hell."
Before she could respond he was out the door.
"Well since he is gone and this is for me."
The bottle opened with ease and she leaned in to smell. It reminded her of the sewage they had just trudged through.
Even though all her common sense told her not to she got a cup and poured some in. She filled the cup half way and tried to sip it. Her first attempt failed because she tried to taste it. So she tried from memory of other people she had seen drink liquor. She moved her jaw up and let in a medium amount of the fluid and swallowed it as fast as possible.
This worked so well that ten minutes later the cup was empty and the effects were kicking in. It coincided with Anakin's return to the room.
"Taste great doesn't." The smile he gave off when being sarcastic was in full effect.
She shook her head and took her top off.
"Alright were getting right into it I like this." Anakin picked up the bottle and took a swig.
"Shut up you know what you owe me."
"From what I'm seeing your putting out dual messages."
She laughed and laid down on the bed." Come on smart ass get to work."
Sitting on her legs he began massaging her back. Starting with her lower back he focused on the area around her spine.
"That feels really good I'm guessing this isn't the first time you've done this with a naked woman."
He took another swig and proceeded to answer." No it isn't and I have been told by several sources I'm very skilled."
The thought of him and Padme still nagged at her and her increasing intoxication wasn't helping. "Just because some senator says your good doesn't mean you are."
"Oh it wasn't the senator it was a guest at one of her parties."
"Really and how did this happen."
"Well Padme was complementing me about how I good I might be at back rubs and a senator's wife challenged me to it. I obliged her and after a few minutes certain moans were let out that made her husband quite unhappy."
They laughed. "What did Padme say about this?"
"Well let's forget about what Padme said and let me ask a question."
"Ok"
"How does someone as smart and beautiful as yourself deal with someone like me?"
Anakin could see as her lekku darkened. "If I could put it in words I would. But tell me do you think aliens are beautiful on the level of humans."
"Ahsoka green yellow orange blue it's all sexy to me." He began kissing up her back an lekku." Still you're on your own level of gorgeous."
He couldn't see but she was gleaming. He continued until her inexperience with liquor and overall exhaustion put her to sleep. After making sure the door was locked he went over to the bed and laid down next to her. Anakin pulled Ahsoka closer and gave her kiss goodnight.
Today was over and tomorrow far away the two lovers had used this time to find something rare and short lived in war Happiness.