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Hey folks, Grubkiller here.
This is part 21 of my CW story 'The Fall of the Republic!'
When you're down, feel free to leave a review down in the review section.
Enjoy this latest chapter.
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RSV Vigilance, In orbit above Coruscant.
Aboard the Republic Star-Destroyer, RSV Vigilance, Clone troopers from the 212th Attack Battalion were preparing themselves and their units for the coming battle. On the floor of the hangar deck, Clone technicians were fueling and arming their space and landing craft.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan stood next to his Blue Jedi Star-fighter. He was talking to several clone officers who had their helmets off. A hologram of the planet Utapau was being projected by Obi-Wan's new droid, R4-G9, into the middle of the hangar.
"Fortunately, most of the cities are concentrated on this small continent here . . . on the far side," Cody said to Obi-Wan, whilst pointing at a collection of sinkholes on one side of the holographic orb.
"I'll keep them distracted until you get there. Just don't take too long," Obi-Wan said to the veteran Clone Commander.
"Come on boss, when have I ever let you down?" Cody asked.
They both began to chuckle.
"Cato Nemoidia . . . for starters," Obi-Wan said while laughing. He was referring to a mission during the siege of Cato Neimoidia. They went to go capture Viceroy Gunray of the Trade Federation. They failed, because of coarse they did.
Obi-Wan climbed into his Jedi Fighter.
"That was Anakin who was late, I believe," Cody responded.
"Very well, the burden is on me not to destroy all the droids before you get there," Obi-Wan said.
"I'll hold you to that," Cody said.
Obi-Wan gave Cody and his men a quick salute before he got into the fighter and took off.
His fighter exited the hanger and flew off into space, before attaching to a hyperspace ring. The small Jedi ship wasn't capable of going very far on its own power, so it required the use of a hyperspace ring.
When the Jedi Master was successfully secured to the ring, he made the jump to hyperspace.
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Mandalore, Sun'dari, approx. 1 kilometer from the Royal Palace, day 3 of the siege.
Ever since the Republic set foot on Mandalore, Maul has been doing everything he could to set Mandalore on fire, and had apparently hoped that the Invasion force would somehow burn with it.
But no fire was as strong as the one inside of every warrior that had come to liberate Mandalore. The flames would soon be put out. For the Planet's liberation was at hand. Republic and Mandalorian warships slugged it out with what remained of Maul's fleet above the dome-covered ruins of Sun'dari.
Heavy cannons in the streets belonging to the Republic hammered away at the fortifications in front of the Royal Palace. Blue plasma crashed down, while debris and dust were kicked up by the concussive force of every blast. Nite Owls and Shadow Collective commandoes buzzed around above the city's rooftops, trying desperately to dominate the skies above.
Back at the Republic's forward positions, Clone Troopers of the unofficial '332nd' Legion were rushing to their positions. They were preparing for the final push onto the Palace at the very center of the city.
The very center of Maul's brutal regime.
Ahsoka and Rex were standing over a holo-table in a tent with Bo-Katan. Captain Autem of the Republic task force, and Captain Broadside of the Republic's fighter and bomber squadrons, were also present via hologram.
The holo-table displayed the Palace and the surrounding areas.
"Alright everyone. We pull this off, we liberate the planet," Bo-Katan said. "Everyone remember the plan?"
"The Sovereign, the task force, and the fighter squadrons'll continue to lead the fight against Maul's remaining ships and provide support when needed," Autem said, as he gestured to his and Broadside's ships in the city's orbit.
"Me and Rex'll take Torrent Company through the buildings to secure our left flank, while Appo'll lead the rest of the men, and the armor, along the direct path to the palace," Ahsoka said.
"Perfect. If we stick to the plan, then we'll be able to smash through the palace defenses, and Maul will spend the rest of his miserable days rotting in a prison cell ... or burning in Hell. I'm fine either way. Now report to your men. We launch the attack in less than an hour!" Bo-Katan said.
That's when a clone officer from the comm center entered the command tent and saluted.
"Pardon me, Commander Tano, but you have a personal message coming through," the officer said.
I wonder who that could be.
"I'll take it in the comm. center," Ahsoka said. Before she walked out, she turned to Rex. "Rex? You go ahead and gather Torrent Company. I want Cascade and Waterfall companies to hold back in reserve before they link up with us".
"Right away Ma'am!" Rex said as he reached for his wrist comm to speak to Appo and Jesse.
With that, Ahsoka walked out and headed for the comm center. She walked past the field hospital. There were wounded clones being patched up all around.
"Listen to me! You're gonna make it," a medic said to trooper that was groaning in pain.
"Somebody get me a bacta patch for my leg here!" A wounded trooper said, who had a laser graze across the side of his leg.
"I'm calling it. Time of death is 1120," a medic said before pulling a sheet over a dead clone. They pulled him off of the table to make room for another injured trooper.
One trooper came in with a clone that had stubs for legs hanging from his shoulders. "I've got a priority coming through. Make a hole!" The clone said over sound of the screaming trooper hanging from his shoulders. Several troopers fanned out to give them space.
Ahsoka couldn't help but feel sad.
'Will this ever end?'
Ahsoka walked into the comm center and made for a room that had several terminals in it. She went over to the terminal and activated it. An image of her boyfriend from Onderon appeared on the screen. She was elated.
"Lux! It's good to see you," Ahsoka said, surprised. She was excited, but she wanted to stay professional around her men, and in public, at all times.
"It's good to see you too 'Soka. You have no idea how happy I am, just to hear your voice," Lux said.
She blushed and looked away from him for a few seconds, not wanting him to see her blush.
"Don't do that," Lux begged.
"Do what?" Ahsoka asked playfully.
"Don't look away. I want to see your face," Lux said.
Ahsoka's blush was getting more and more noticeable.
She then obeyed him and look back at him, her blue lekku stripes turning a shade of dark purple, and her cheeks turned red. They both looked at each other, getting lost in each others eyes.
What they had was beautiful.
"Oh Lux. I wish that this war would just end already. I want to be with you," Ahsoka said.
"I know my dear. But have faith. The War'll be over soon," Lux said.
She smiled and placed her fingertips on the screen in front of her. He smiled and did the same. It was as if they could cross each others threshold and touch each other for real.
Suddenly, a loud BOOM made Ahsoka flinch. The building began to shake violently. As she looked up, dust fell down on her face. Ahsoka could hear troopers outside shouting in response.
"What the Hell was that?!" She heard one trooper in the next room exclaimed.
Lux shot up from the chair he was sitting in on from the other side of the galaxy to react to his girlfriend's sudden distress.
"Ahsoka! Are you alright?" Lux asked, concerned.
She coughed a little.
"I'm fine Lux. We just-*cough, cough*-we've got Maul cornered. And-*cough*-it sounds like he's trying to kick and claw his way out," Ahsoka said, reassuring Lux.
"Oh, when will you be back? I can't stand you being away from me. Much less out there," Lux said.
"Soon Lux. Be-," she started when a clone came in to interrupt her.
"I'm sorry to bother you ma'am. But we're about to begin our final assault on the royal palace," The Clone trooper said.
Ahsoka turned around with a grunt of annoyance. "I'll be out in a minute trooper. Just report back to your team," Ahsoka ordered.
The trooper nodded, saluted, and turned back out the door.
Ahsoka turned back to her boyfriend. She hated blowing someone off like that, but she was in the middle of something. "I'll see you again soon Lux," Ahsoka said as she brushed the tips of her fingers on the screen. "I promise".
Lux smiled and Ahsoka smiled back.
Without saying a word, the screen then went black when the call disconnected, leaving Ahsoka alone in the room. She coiled her arms tightly around herself and sighed.
'Soon. Very soon. The war'll be over, and we can live peacefully together'.
Ahsoka smiled before her com-link went off.
She knew that it was Rex. So instead of answering it, she ran outside to join the rest of the troops.
It was time to liberate Mandalore.
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(I'm gonna get slightly political here, so if you don't like what I write ... well: Too bad, it's my story).
Galactic Senate Chamber, Coruscant.
It was just another day in the Galactic Senate.
Delegates from across the galaxy went into their repulsorlift-pods when the Senate was in session.
But they weren't debating another bill. But they were debating the future of the Republic. This was the debate between Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Tomas Dalyell, who were running for the office of Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.
Tomas Dalyell was the senator that represented the planet Sera, a heavily militarized and war-torn world in the outer rim. A determined and steadfast man with board shoulder and a balding head, he was once a soldier for the COG (Coalition of Ordered Governments) Army, which was one of the two factions on Sera. After 4 years of service in the army, he founded his own business that specialized in arms manufacturing. He then went into politics, eventually becoming chairman of the COG. He was a very accomplished man that wanted only to serve his God, his country, his family, and now his planet. When Palpatine announced that he was going to run for office for an unprecedented fourth term, Dalyell had had enough. He announced his candidacy.
When the political factions on Sera found out that they were apart of a much larger galaxy, they maintained an isolationist policy towards the galaxy. But in the first half of the Clone Wars, the CIS discovered the system, which was in the middle of a century long civil war, and tried to make contact with both parties. The COG and the other faction on Sera (the Union of Independent Republics) refused at first. But when the UIR, realized that the CIS could give them an edge over the COG in their war, they accepted soon after, which forced Dalyell to, very reluctantly, call the Republic for support. This friendship led to the joint COG-GAR operation in the Battle of Aspho Fields.
It also led to Dalyell stepping down as Chairman of the COG, to become Sera's senator. But ever since Dalyell entered the senate, he has become somewhat disliked by some of his colleagues. He was against Palpatine's government expansion and overreach, which angered Palpatine's loyalists. But he was also very militaristic and hawkish towards the CIS, which made the anti-war crowd dislike him. But in turn, he didn't like the pro-Palpatine and believed that they were authoritarian tyrants. But he also thought that the anti-war people were soft-centered and naive.
One half of the senate either hated him, or they reluctantly supported him, because he wasn't Palpatine. He wasn't exactly the anti-Palpatine party's first choice, but he was all they had.
Anakin watched from the sidelines as the two candidates debated.
They discussed everything from Taxes, to welfare, to social issues, to the War, and to the expansion of the Chancellor's power.
Anakin noticed that when it came to every issue, they were both completely different men.
When asked about Taxes, Palpatine wanted to raise them, while Dalyell wanted to cut them.
When it came to tariffs, Palpatine wanted to raise them, while Dalyell, a free-trader, wanted to cut them. Dalyell actually said that he blamed the Chancellor's failed economic policies on the rise of the Confederacy, which earned him a torrent of 'boos' from the crowd.
When asked about diplomacy with Hutt space, Palpatine wanted to maintain their alliance, while Dalyell wanted to cut it, not wanting to have to deal with pro-slavery criminals.
The two also debated a myriad of different social issues, which they sometimes agreed with each other, but also disagreed sometimes. Dalyell at one point said that he wanted Clone Trooper veterans to have the right to settle down on whatever planet they chose, and to have the right to vote in those planet's election.
The moderator continued to ask questions.
"This next question is for the Senator," the moderator asked before he read the question. "Senator Dalyell, Chancellor Palpatine has made it very clear that he wants to end the war with a total Republic victory. But you seem to be an outsider towards both major parties, concerning the War. Can you give us your opinion on the war with the Confederacy of Independent Systems?"
The Senator, who looked more imposing Palpatine, cleared his throat before speaking.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to make it clear that I want nothing more than for this war to end. But, as my opponent says, and for once I agree, the War must end with a Republic victory. The CIS have committed terrible atrocities that they must pay for. At the same time, many Confederate planets are innocent, and have left the Republic for legitimate reasons. The Military must be allowed to do their job, and use overwhelming force to bring the Confederacy to its knees. But when the fighting is over, I want the Senate to do everything in its power to welcome the CIS worlds back into the fold with open arms, and mend the wounds of this terrible War," Dalyell said.
He was given a round of applause from the senate that lasted about a minute, but at no point in the speech was he ever given a standing ovation.
"Now, this next question is for both of you," the moderator said. "What will you both do with your emergency powers when this war is over?"
"Well, as you all know..." Dalyell began. "...ever since this war, my opponent has used this conflict to enforce his own political agenda. Since the War started, taxes have gone up exponentially, which has forced the economy to grind to a halt. Tariffs have also been placed upon many outer rim worlds, including my own. With this administration's economic policy, we don't need the Separatist Navy to disrupt trade, Palpatine did that himself," he continued. "Under Palpatine's leadership, he has nationalized many different, manufacturing and shipping industries, and has fired many of the executives who previously ran them. This Government has invaded the privacy of any citizen that speaks out against the War or the Government. People have been stripped of their personal liberties and their economic security because of the way Palpatine has conducted this war. When I become Chancellor, then on day one in office, I plan to roll back all of the executive orders that this man (points at Palpatine) has ever signed, and help put the Republic back down the road of Liberty and Prosperity".
This time, less than half of the Senators applauded. The rest were completely unmoving and silent.
"Supreme Chancellor, you have the floor," the moderator said.
"Members of the Senate. People of the Repuplic. I understand how many of you must feel. But what my opponent is saying is slanderous. In the past, he has called me a 'power hungry dictator'. But nothing could be further from the truth. I love Democracy. And I love the Republic. Everything I have done, I did because I want to protect both from any of those who would seek to undermine them. Whether they be the Separatists far off in the Outer Rim, or a sympathizer closer to home. My opponent wishes to rollback our economic policy, which was crafted to support our War effort against the Confederacy. He claims to be for economic freedom. But really, he is only interested in the economic freedom of himself, and all of the soulless, and selfish industrialists, who are only interested in protecting their profits, and keeping them from being put to use against the Confederacy," Palpatine said.
People began to chatter excitedly, with a few short and scattered applauses.
Anakin smiled at the way Palpatine conducted himself in the debate.
But in one of the many repulsorlift-pods, Padme was shaking her head, disapprovingly.
Palpatine continued.
"But, this is a very legitimate question. I have been promising from day one, that I would give back all of the power granted to me by this Senate. I promise, that as soon as the Separatists are defeated, then I will return the Republic to a state of normalcy, and work with the Senate to build a bright future for the galaxy".
when Palpatine was done, his supporters (more than half of the Senate) gave him a standing ovation. All of Palpatine's answers were extremely well-received by most of the Senate, who responded to Palpatine numerous times to applaud his propositions and policies. The phenomena—which had not been witnessed since the reign of Chancellor Valorum—caused the debate to last for hours, as Palpatine, and the moderator, had to repeatedly pause to allow the applause and cheers to die down.
The State of the Republic was publicly broadcast by HoloNet News, whose cam droids in the Grand Convocation Chamber of the Senate Dome, focused primarily on the Palpatine-loyal factions, and widely ignored those senators who chose not to rejoice at the Chancellor's declarations.
It was very clear who was going to win this upcoming election. Which was why the Palpatine loyalists were celebrating, while the opposition members were stunned with fear for the future of their once great Republic.
A future that was both bleak, and fast approaching.
The Chancellor walked out of the chamber. He was greeted with fanfare and his political allies. He shook hands with the Vice-chairman, Mas Amedda and several others. Later, Palpatine met with a familiar figure.
He smiled when he saw that it was Anakin.
"Excellent work with the debate your excellency," Anakin said.
"Thank you my boy. Come, walk with me," Palpatine said. They started walking with four royal guards. "Did you see your friend off?"
"Yes sir. He will soon have Grievous's head".
"We can only hope the Council didn't make a mistake".
"The Council was very sure in its decision".
They soon enter the main hallway of the Senate Office Building. They pass several senators, including the Naboo delegation.
Padme and Jar Jar were speaking with their delegation. Padme saw Anakin but didn't say anything. But Jar Jar spoke up and waved to Anakin.. "Helloo Annie. Good en to see yousa".
"Hi, Jar Jar," Anakin said, in a somewhat disinterested many, more interested about his secret wife, who looked at him and the Chancellor with distance.
"Oopsin. da Chancellor! So sorry, Your Highness, sir," Jar Jar said with a respectful bow.
Anakin turns back to the Chancellor.
"There are rumors in the Senate about Master Kenobi. Many believe he is not fit for this assignment," Palpatine said, with concern.
"Not fit? Why would anyone think that?" Anakin asked.
"They say his mind has become fogged by the influence of a certain female Senator,"
"That's ridiculous. Who?!" Anakin pressed.
"No one knows who she is ... only that she is a Senator,"
"That's impossible. I would know," Anakin said.
"Sometimes the closest are the ones who cannot see".
Anakin becomes worried, and looks back down the hallway to see Padme, who's back faced his.
"Oh, Idle Senate gossip is rarely true and never accurate. For instance, I heard a rumor saying that your former Padawan was in a relationship with the new senator from Onderon".
When Palpatine said that, Anakin began to seethe with anger.
"Oh well, I'm sure your Master and apprentice will both do fine".
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Coruscant, Padme's apartment.
Padme calls out in pain. Obi-Wan is near her and softly speaks to her.
"Save your energy," Obi-Wan said
"I can't!" Padme exclaimed.
"Don't give up, Padme. Don't give up..." Obi-Wan encouraged, as the vision ended.
Anakin was in the living room, working, when the vision ended. He sits on the couch where Obi-Wan was sitting when he visited earlier.
His wife then entered and crossed behind him.
"I sense someone familiar . . . Obi-Wan's been here, hasn't he?" Anakin asked.
"He came by this morning," Padme confirmed.
"What did he want?" Anakin asked.
Padme looked at him for a moment. Her husband was tense. She went over to him and sat on his lap.
"He's worried about you," Padme said.
"You told him about us, didn't you?" Anakin asked.
She leans into him. She placed a kiss on his cheeks.
"He's your best friend, Anakin. He says you're under a lot of stress," Padme said.
"And he's not?" Anakin responded.
"You have been moody lately," Padme said.
"I'm not moody . . ."
"Anakin! Don't do this again," Padme said.
"I don't know ... I feel . . . lost," Anakin said.
"Lost? What do you mean? You're always so sure of yourself. I don't understand," Padme said as she stroked his hair.
"Obi-Wan and the Council don't trust me," Anakin said.
"They trust you with their lives. Obi-Wan loves you as a son," Padme said.
"Something's happening . . . I'm not the Jedi I should be. I am one of the most powerful Jedi, but I'm not satisfied ... I want more, and I know I shouldn't," Anakin said as he got up from the couch and walked around.
"You expect too much of yourself," Padme said as she walked after him.
They stopped in front of the window in the bedroom. He puts his hand on her belly.
"I have found a way to save you," Anakin said. He was talking about Palpatine's legend Darth Plagueis, who had the power to save those he loved from certain death.
"Save me?" Padme asked.
"From my nightmares," Anakin said.
"Is that what's bothering you?"
"I won't lose you, Padme. Not after I lost my mother.
"Ani, I'm not going to die in childbirth. I promise you," Padme reassured the father of her child.
"No, I promise you! I am becoming so powerful with my new knowledge of the Force, I will be able to keep you from dying," Anakin said.
A worried Padme looked Anakin in the eye.
"You don't need more power, Anakin. I believe you can protect me against anything, just as you are," Padme said
The two lovers embraced each other and kissed. They kissed for several moments. Anakin swept Padme off of her feet and carried her to their room. She giggled the entire way. A few minutes after the door closed behind them, the sounds of moaning, grunting, and bed springs creaking could be heard.
It was Anakin's way of blowing off steam, and getting his mind off things.
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Utapau. Obi-Wan's fighter.
Obi-Wan blasts out of his fighter's hyperspace ring and heads for the planet Utapau. The blue fighter skims over the planet's surface, which was flat except for a few giant sinkholes.
After gliding over the surface for a few minutes, Obi-Wan landed his ship on a Platform projecting out of the side of a giant sinkhole.
All is quiet.
A local administrator, Tion Medon, comes out to greet the ship.
Obi-Wan climbs out of his Fighter as a short ground crew looks over his ship.
On a ledge above the landing platform, unbeknownst to anyone, Grievous's bodyguards watched as Obi-Wan talks to Tion Medon.
"Greetings, young Jedi. What brings you to our remote sanctuary?" Medon asked.
"Unfortunately, the war," Obi-Wan said plainly.
"There is no war here unless you've brought it with you," Medon said with skepticism.
"With your kind permission, I should like some fuel and to use your city as a base as I search nearby systems for General Grievous," Obi-Wan said.
Median stood their with a blank expression. He then motioned to a ground crew that rushed out to refuel Obi-Wan's Fighter.
Tion Medon stepped forward and leaned close to Obi-Wan.
"He is here! We are being held hostage. They are watching us," he said to the jedi master.
"I understand".
"The tenth level . . . thousands of Battle Droids . . ."
"Tell your people to take shelter. If you have warriors, now is the time".
Medon and his associates gave him a slight bow that Obi-Wan returned.
Kenobi starts back toward his Starfighter as Tion Medon leaves the Landing Platform.
He climbs back into his Jedi fighter . His Astro Unit, R4-G9, turns to him.
"G9, take the Fighter back to the ship. I'm staying here. Tell Cody I've made contact".
The little Astro Droid beeped a reply.
On a high balcony, Tion Medon looks down on the landing platform. A few steps behind him stands one of GENERAL GRIEVOUS's BODYGUARDS. They watch the canopy lower.
"I told you, all he wanted was fuel," Medon said.
"What was his name?" the droid demanded.
"He didn't say," Medon said.
They watch as the blue Jedi fighter takes off.
Obi-Wan also watches his ship take off. He is hiding in the hallway. He quietly moved farther into the city.
The Jedi Master quickly rushes up a stairway cut into the side of the sinkhole. It's hard to see him. In an alcove, he carefully surveys the city, then quickly moves on.
The skilled Jedi continued on his way through the city, looking up at the tenth level with electro-binoculars from his utility belt. He tries to figure out how he is going to get up there. He heard strange bellowing cries and went to investigate.
He comes across a corral filled with about half a dozen dragon-like lizards. Several wranglers were standing around.
"That should do," Obi-Wan said under his breath as he walked up to the wranglers and used the Force with his slight hand movements.
"I need transportation".
"You need transportation," the wranglers repeated in a different language.
He didn't like using the mind trick on just anyone. But in enemy territory, what he liked or disliked was irrelevant.
"Get it for me".
"I will get it for you," The local repeated in his native tongue.
One of the wranglers turns to the others and chatter away in their strange tongue. Kenobi walked along the line of lizards, checking out each one. He looks at their teeth, legs, etc. Finally he pats one on the neck.
"This one," Obi-Wan said.
The wrangler brings the chosen one over to him.
"Boga. She answers to Boga," he said as he brought the lizard over.
"Good girl, Boga".
Obi-Wan swings onto the back of the lizard. The beast rears up and scurries outside to the edge of the sinkhole.
Boga rears up on her hind legs again, then climbs the wall of the sheer cliff and starts moving up toward the tenth level. The city appears to be deserted.
Obi-Wan is alert to any movement.
General Grievous stands before the Council of Separatist leaders, including Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, Poggle the Lesser, Shu Mai, San Hill, Po Nudo, Wat Tambor, and Passel Argente. Obi-Wan hides above the assembly and watches intently.
"It won't be long before the armies of the Republic track us here. I am sending you to the Mustafar system in the Outer Rim. It is a volcanic planet which generates a great deal of scanning interference. You will be safe there," Grievous said as he marched back and forth on his powerful mechanical legs, which clanked with every step he took.
Gunray shot up from his seat.
"Safe?" He huffed out. "Chancellor Palpatine managed to escape your grip, General. And without Count Dooku, I have doubts about your ability to keep us safe".
Grievous faced Gunray and sized him up.
"Be thankful, Viceroy, you have not found yourself in my grip. Your ship is waiting," Grievous said before he walked away, coughing.
A few moments later, he stopped the lizard on a steel beam that hung directly above the command center. The Jedi removes his cloak and jumps down in the middle of the command center. He was about thirty-odd feet behind the Cyborg General.
"Hello, there!"
Grievous's magna-guards turned around and activated their electro-staffs, their electricity crackling loudly.
"General Kenobi, you are a bold one. I find your behavior bewildering . . . Surely you realize you're doomed," He turned to his droids. "Kill him!"
About a hundred battle droids surround Obi-Wan, General Grievous, and his bodyguards. Obi-Wan looks around. The bodyguards raise their power staffs to knock Obi-Wan away, but Obi-Wan ducks as the deadly staffs whistle over his head. The Jedi's lightsaber ignites, and Obi-Wan assumes a fighting stance, as the four bodyguards march toward Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan then looked up and used the Force to release a piece of equipment from the ceiling. It drops on the bodyguards, smashing all but one of them. Obi-Wan walks toward Grievous, slashing the last bodyguard to pieces. Battle droids move toward Obi-Wan, readying their weapons and aiming them at him.
Grievous motions to his droids.
"Back away," he barked. "I will deal with this Jedi slime myself," he announced.
"Your move," Obi-Wan challenged.
"You fool. I have been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku himself," Grievous said as he brushed his cloak off of his shoulders to reveal his mechanical body.
His arms separate and grab all four lightsabers on his belt.
"Attack Kenobi," Grievous said as his four arms each start to spin around, using the sabers as propellers, slicing up the floor in front of him as he moved forward towards Kenobi.
As Grievous continued this deadly onslaught, Obi-Wan slowly moved backwards, trying to find the right moment to raise his blade to defend himself. But then, at the right moment, he raised his blade, and crossed it with Grievous' two spinning blades. Grievous then struck with the other two blades, which Obi-Wan parried. He held his ground, but when the cyborg general struck again, Obi-Wan jumped up and over Grievous, getting behind his back.
Grievous turned around and swung his blades at Obi-Wan, who had to anticipate each of the four swinging blades that came his way. He parried each blow that came his way. When Grievous swung all four of his blades at Obi-Wan, he ducked underneath the General's deadly swing and got behind Grievous again, who growled in frustration as he tried to land a solid hit on Obi-Wan. He attacked again, Obi-Wan managed to slice through one of Grievous' mechanical hands.
"OW!" Grievous growled as he dropped a blade. He was down to three. He stumbled back and looked at his wrist, and saw that there wasn't a hand there. He growled and launched another attack on Kenobi, swinging all three office remaining blades viciously, forcing Obi-Wan back, and keeping him on the defensive. But during this vicious attack, Obi-Wan managed to catch one of Grievous's attacks in a saber lock. He drove the blade down and sliced through another one of Grievous' hands, and forcing him to drop a second blade.
Grievous growled again, but managed to catch Obi-Wan in another saber lock. But he didn't plan on losing this one. As he kept one blade crossed with Kenobi's, he pushed him back with the other one.
With Obi-Wan forced back, Battle Droid sharpshooters try to pick off the Jedi from a distance. This forced the Jedi to deflect the enemy rounds. This allowed Grievous to prepare to launch another attack at the distracted Jedi.
But before Grievous could strike at Obi-Wan, a loud explosion is heard echoing throughout the sinkhole.
General Grievous, Obi-Wan, and every droid in the base, glance to the entrance of the control center and see Clone Troopers in the distance, attacking droids in the sinkhole. On the far wall of the sinkhole, Clones can be seen rappelling onto balconies.
Outside, Republic cruisers began to engage the Separatist forces. Vulture and Tri-droid fighters flew up to engage them.
The RSV Vigilance began to use its heavy fire-power to lay into Separatist ground emplacements on top of the sinkhole, and clear a path for the Gunships.
"I may not defeat your droids, but my troops certainly will," Obi-Wan said.
"Army or not, surely you must realize you are doomed," Grievous taunted.
"Oh, I don't think so," Obi-Wan replied.
Twenty Clones suddenly rappel into the entrance of the control center, all guns blazing. Chaos filled the air around them. Laser bolts fly everywhere as Battle droids returned fire. Obi-Wan attacks Grievous, who defends himself rigorously with one of his bodyguard's electro-staffs.
Obi-Wan then used the Force to hurl Grievous backwards. He falls onto a lower platform and Obi-Wan jumps down after him.
More clones rappel into the control center and blast away at the remaining droids.
The Jedi master cuts down several droids as he races to the entrance of the control center.
Obi-Wan spots Grievous racing toward one of the landing platforms in the midst of the battle. Grievous jumps onto a Wheel scooter and takes off down the wall of the sinkhole. Obi-Wan whistles for his Lizard Boga.
A battle droid who was busy fighting off Clones with his squad looks up.
"Uh-Oh!" He said before he and his squad are crushed.
Boga runs over to Obi-Wan, who jumps on.
The chase begins.
As Obi-Wan's lizard jumped down to chase Grievous. But the force off the impact caused Obi-Wan to lose his grip on his saber, which fell into the sinkhole below.
Obi-Wan may not have believed in luck, but it sure favored him, as his saber landed on a landing platform below.
The platform was contested by a group of Clones and droids.
The lightsaber landed in front of a Super Battle Droid. It picked the saber up to examine it.
"Hey, be careful with that thing. That's a Jedi Lightsaber," one droid exclaimed.
"A what?" the SBD said as he pressed the button. The sword ignited and pierced through the droids own face.
He fell to the ground.
"Oh boy. That's not good," his B1 companion said, just as he was blasted by a clone trooper.
That trooper happened to be Clone Marshal Commander Cody. He moved up forward and blasted several more droids that were nearby. Cody then looked down to pick up and examine the fallen sword. He then looked up and zoomed in with his visor to scan the sinkhole's walls. He saw a wheel bike being driven by a familiar cyborg, which was being chased by familiar looking old-man riding a giant lizard.
Then it hit him.
Cody placed the saber on his belt and jumped up behind one of his troopers.
"Lieutenant!" Cody shouted to the trooper, who was blasting away at several retreating droids. "Take your men, and secure this platform".
"Yes Sir".
The commander then turned to his two best men.
"Waxer, Boil! gather your team and call in a gunship. We're going after the general," Cody said.
"Ours or theirs?" Boil asked as Waxer had his hand on his helmet to call in for a lift.
Cody stopped and turned to look over his shoulder.
"Both".
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That's chapter 21 folks.
Hope you enjoyed.
part 22 will be started soon.
Don't be afraid to leave your thoughts in the review section.
Until next time, This is Grubkiller, over and out.