I, er... uh... Yeah... I was extremely busy for the past couple months. I suppose that's what I get for taking three AP classes. It's Spring Break now, so I finally had time to work on this chapter...
It's kind of sad I couldn't get this done earlier because it isn't a long chapter at all. In fact... this is probably the next to last chapter. Next one will be the conclusion... Strange to think I'm almost done with this story. Hopefully, though, I can finish it soon. I'd like to see the word complete labeled for the second time ever on one of my full stories! Haha.
Anyways, yeah... Not a long or extremely happening chapter, but I hope it answers a couple questions and even leaves one or two for the conclusion.
To everyone who reviewed/faved/read, you all rock. Thanks for being EXTREMELY patient with this story. You guys just make my day!
Now, then... on with the show!
Chapter Eleven: The Dying Flame
Anger… no… fury… yes, that was the word.
Fury welled from deep within Kamau's eyes. He turned them upon Dooku, taking a stance between the Count and his fallen Padawan. His lightsaber was poised and ready. Ready to kill. The air cackled with its energy, driven by the Force which zipped around Kamau.
But the battle was far from over.
Ahsoka glanced at Barriss and the other Padawan nodded. Both knew they weren't leaving. Not without Rootie. So they made their way over to their fallen comrade, Barriss more of stumbling. She eventually fell down beside Ahsoka to inspect Rootie. The Mirialan checked quickly but diligently.
"Luckily, she took the lightning indirectly and it seems to have missed any vital points on her body. I think her stomach may be a little burned from sideswiping it just enough to knock it off course form her master," Barriss said, pointing to a spot on Rootie's clothes where the fabric was charred and burnt away, revealing tender looking flesh. "However, I think hitting the ground just knocked her out. She's in better condition than I am, actually."
"Good to hear," Ahsoka nodded, feeling relief. "I think we should try and hold out… see if she wakes up. I'm not certain how well I can support you and carry her. If she wakes up soon, she can hopefully walk by herself."
"I don't know how long until she wakes up…"
Ahsoka grinned, sitting back. "I'll see if I can speed up the process…"
The Togruta wretched off one of her boots and held it up like it was a trophy. Barriss shied away, covered her nose and shaking her head, making a retching noise. The smell was beyond comprehension, only that it was like dung, fungus, and rotten eggs had all been squished into one substance.
"I think after not showering for a few days, it might be a little ripe," Ahsoka declared.
"A little…" Barriss agreed.
Over by General Grievous, Anakin and Obi-wan were working the droid commander so hard that his every wheezing breath seemed to be his last. Not to say that Grievous wasn't holding his own. The droid was putting up enough of an effort to at least still be breathing, anyways.
"Anakin, I'm going to assist Kamau. Don't do anything reckless," Obi-wan announced, casting his former Padawan a glance before slipping off to join Kamau in his fight.
"Wasn't planning on it," Anakin muttered and could just hear Obi-wan's response in his head had the Jedi Master just heard what Anakin said. 'You never plan your recklessness, Anakin, you just do it,' Obi-wan would say.
Suddenly a robotic hand met Anakin's chest. Somehow, someway, Grievous had actually managed to land a blow upon Anakin. Regardless of the fact it was nothing more than a smack that caused Anakin to merely stumble, it still gave Grievous an edge and helped provide to him a little more fighting spirit. His moves etched up and, despite his haggard coughing, his breathing steadied some.
"Aw, damn," Anakin cursed, wanting to kick himself for letting Grievous have that stupid opportunity. All because he wanted to retort to his own comment by pretending to know what Obi-wan would have said.
Luminara was having few issues with Aurra. The only problem was the bounty hunter was running. The female was slowly drawing Luminara further from the fight and Luminara knew she shouldn't be falling for it. She needed to be back at the pivotal point, but yet, the possibility that she could take out Sing here and now was tantalizing to the Republic. To have two of the four foes taken out would make this rescue mission an even greater success should they all come out alive.
Alive.
Were the others still alive in there?
Luminara rushed toward Sing, hoping to whatever was out there that they were winning.
"AUGH!"
Rootie's call shook the air and Ahsoka clamped a hand over the female's mouth to quiet her in fear that the cry would distract one of the Jedi and get them injured. "Shush!"
"What was that awful smell? Why does my nose burn as bad as my stomach," Rootie moaned, reaching to clutch her abdomen, only to find that it hurt to touch the seared flesh and she removed her hands quickly. "Oh, ow!"
"You're burned, Rootie. We'll have to heal it later. For now, lets get going to the ship," Barriss said, pulling the human to her feet while Ahsoka put her boot back on, huffing to herself something about smelly feet.
When all three were standing, Rootie moved to support Barriss.
"Wait, let me, Rootie," Ahsoka said, attempting to take Rootie's place.
"No, I got this. Help Anakin," Rootie said, her voice sounding as firm as one of the masters.
"What?"
"Help your Master. I can get Barriss to the ship by myself. We're both injured and though I can still fight, someone's gotta' save Barriss' ass."
"Hey," Barriss protested, "I didn't ask to be rescued!"
"Anyways… We need to take advantage of this. Help Anakin. We'll be fine," Rootie said, turning and leading Barriss out. "Besides, I know you were planning on taking Barriss and I to the ship, then running back to help," she called over her shoulder as they left the room.
"I'm not that predictable, am I?" Ahsoka blinked, shrugging and pulling out her lightsaber.
Running up beside Anakin, her master's eyes widened when he saw her. "You're supposed to be leaving with Barriss and Rootie."
"And miss this opportunity to kick the head tincan's butt? Don't think so, Master. You and me," Ahsoka called back, grinning and swiftly dodging a strike from the machine. She noticed Anakin seemed just a little bruised and he rubbed his chest every now and then, but all in all, he was fine.
At this point, Grievous was beating with hatred. His every movement was meant to severe a limb or end a life. He was sick of the onslaught. At this point in time, he would have normally retreated, except Count Dooku was fighting nearby. He turned his gaze to the man every now and then, waiting for the signal. Surely it would be time to make haste and leave soon. The Count couldn't be foolish enough to take on three Jedi and a Padawan right now, especially when two of the Jedi were masters in the art and the third was Anakin Skywalker. Not to mention that the Padawan was, unfortunately, Skywalker's Padawan.
When no sign of retreat came from Dooku, Grievous continued to push on, but he was down to two lightsabers and his two opponents were gaining the upper hand quick.
That's when Anakin glanced up and noticed someone standing behind Grievous not far off. Aurra Sing. Luminara wasn't to be seen anywhere and the bounty hunter was aiming her gun… toward Ahsoka.
At that moment, Grievous opened himself for the perfect attack. Anakin's mind quickly registered that he could possibly remove Grievous as a threat at that exact moment, but that other part of his mind knew he'd be letting Ahsoka down… Aurra would shoot her. Conflicted, Anakin hesitated too long.
A shot from the blaster split the air, echoed by a strangled cry from Ahsoka who dropped her lightsaber and pressed her left hand over the right side of her chest, her knees giving way. Anakin flung Grievous back with the Force, knocking him into Aurra before he turned to his Padawan, anger at himself bubbling inside him. This was his fault.
The communicators beeped. Barriss and Rootie had reached the transporter. It was time to go.
Ahsoka heaved a breath and groped for her lightsaber, struggling to her feet. Anakin put a hand on her back to guide her, knowing full well she'd just yell at him if he attempted to pick her up or support her. He didn't want to, anyways. Holding her would just make him feel worse for allowing such a thing to happen to her in the first place.
Obi-wan rushed by, motioning for Anakin to follow. The Jedi Master gave Anakin no time to explain Ahsoka's staying behind or ask where Kamau was so he merely followed, hand still guiding his Padawan along, though she struggled and her breath sounded similar to Greivous'.
In the hanger, Luminara was standing alongside a large droid ship, one that could carry more than one person. Anakin pushed Ahsoka over to the female Jedi, but Luminara didn't move to hop into the ship and neither did Ahsoka. Anakin froze, as well, turning to look over at Obi-wan, who was ready to hop into Ahsoka's ship, Artoo beeping a tune that told everyone he was ready to get going.
"Where's Kamau?" Luminara asked.
Obi-wan paused from where he stood on the Fighter, having been about to jump into the hatch. He glanced over. "He stayed back to distract Dooku and give us a chance to escape…"
By the way Obi-wan had said it, Anakin knew his former master was lying.
He knew as soon as the words left Obi-wan's mouth that Kamau had been injured and refused to leave when he could die trying to take down the man who had injured his current Padawan, and killed two others. He glanced at Luminara and knew that she also understood. He began to wonder what had happened that Sing got away from her. He had no time to ask, though.
The female Jedi helped Ahsoka board the ship, and then she took the wheel, firing the engine. Anakin hopped into his own Fighter, started it up and followed Obi-wan from the hanger as the Deception began to explode with Windu's ships closing in on it.
-HOKAY!
So that's the end of this chapter.
Told you it was short... at least compared to most of my others, bahahaha.
So, anyways, I'll try really hard to get the conclusion up soon... My bet it in about four weeks time. By then, all my AP exams and my SAT will be done with so I'll be doing pretty much nothing. Plus, I'm really getting back into the writing swing so that'll help drive me to getting this thing complete as soon as I'm free, haha!
Review, fave, keep reading, yatta' yatta'. I know y'all like reviews and guess what, SO DO I 8D But no harsh criticism, por favor. Helpful advice is nice, but flames are just rude. They don't help anyone at all.
Oh, and a quick question so if anyone could help me, that'd be great. Would blaster bolts cause bleeding or are they like lightsabers in that they're so hot it seals the wound up in that weird way so that it doesn't bleed? I want to know so I'll have Ahsoka's wound right in the next chapter and google isn't really helping me right now...
Love,
Deyoxis