Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them.

"aaaa"-talking out loud."aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com. 'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. aaaaa-talking through a Bond. "aaaa" (bold)-another language.

AN: Thank you for the review StoryRiver:) That is one of the reasons why I am finding it hard to fight Analise is. Also the focus of the movie and series was so tight on the chosen characters that I have to be a little creative in fitting her in. As for any Skywalker and Skywalker-Kenobi kids, they will not be appearing until the very end of the series.

A short chapter for today and I will be back on Monday with a longer chapter. I know there has been a lack of action and the story is a somewhat slow burn, but that's just my muse has been striking me lately. More action will come I promise.

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Chapter Twenty

There was no time to plan any sort of attack. The droid ships were upon them, making the ground explode into deadly shrapnel. Shrapnel that would take out any troops or Jedi that the blast itself might miss. Anakin cursed and pushed his sisters. "Fall back to the monastery!" He ordered, yelling as loud as he could.

Katee didn't have to hear the order twice. She was programmed to be a bodyguard, a protector. Not a warrior. She squealed loud and long for her mistress to follow her quickly back into the building which would provide some sort of protection from the overhead attack. Artoo was quick to join her, lifting himself free from the socket of Anakin's fighter where he had been placed to help make the call to Obi-Wan.

Analise gripped Ahsoka's arm tightly in her hand, helping her baby sister to keep her steady since Ahsoka still held Rotta in his pack in her arms. Anakin followed close behind them. Using his lightsaber to block what shots he could to ensure that his sisters and the Huttlet in their charge made it to safety.

The Captain counted silently, cursing when the number came up short. More brothers lost. More lives spent in a war that Rex wasn't sure he compeatly understood. He shook his head. If the cloners back on Kamino even had an inkling about the thoughts that would drift through his and some of his brothers minds, they would be scolded. Maybe even sent down for additional training. They were suppose to follow orders without thought.

Working with the Jedi changed that though. The Jedi treated them like they were normal, not clones. That they were individuals. Rare was the Jedi who called a clone by their birth number instead of the name a clone chose for themselves.

The Jedi cared about them. Saw them as more than mere foot-soldiers, blaster fodder. Rex trusted them as he trusted his brothers. Maybe even more. It was one of the reasons why after this mission Rex was going to talk to Commander Analise and volunteer for something she and Master Shaak Ti had been working on. Something that could improve the lives of the Clones.

The heavy doors were shut behind them. At least for a moment in the darkened halls, they had some peace and quiet. A chance to gather their thoughts. "We'll need to wait here for Obi-Wan to come through with help."

"Master we can't!" Ahsoka's cry sounded almost desperate. All turned to the small Togruta whose arms were tight around the pack with the small Huttlet within. "We need to get Stinky back to Tatooine alive. That's our mission remember?" Her eyes darted down to Rotta. "And I'm not even sure he'll make it. Can't you do something Analise?" At Anakin's look she quickly added, "Without the Force?"

"I'm sorry 'Soka." Her hand again rested on Rotta's head. "I don't know much about Hutt biology to heal him without the Force and using the Force to heal him would be the best option because of my limited knowledge." She sighed lifting her hand. "As much I wish it wasn't true, Anakin is right. I can't go that deep into the Force right now even with you or Anakin to anchor me."

"Besides you're forgetting something Snips, we're kind of stuck in here and that's the only way out. Unless you know of another one that we don't."

"Well..." Ahsoka shifted Rotta's pack in her arms, "I don't know of another one, but I'm sure I could find one." She cast a pleading smile to the pair of astromechs whose beeping was silent as the situation was tense. "If Artooie and Katee are willing to help me. I'm sure we can find a data-port or two in here somewhere and they can plug in and get a layout of this place."

"It is a good idea Anakin." Analise saw her brother tense, felt his hesitation through their Bond. He was never one to run from a fight her brother was. "And she is right. We need to get Rotta back to Tatooine and Jabba." I know you have no desire to return to Tatooine and I don't either, but we are Jedi and this is our mission.

Analise...

"The men and I will stay here. We'll hold them back as long as we can." Anakin sighed. It seemed all was against him, but they did have a point.

"Alright. Call us if you need help Rex."

"Yes Sir."