Crossing Battlefields Chapter Fifteen-Children of War, a star wars: the clone wars fanfic

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. ("aaa") (bold, italics, and parenthesis)-talking through a holo or com in another language.

AN: Thank you to MabelLover for the review. I promise to always let you all know if I am going to be taking a break and I never plan on taking more than a week off so I can refocus and recharge if need be:) I keep forgetting to thank you all so much! Crossing Battlefields has over 11,000 views! I never thought any of my stories would break 2,000 views so my mind has been beyond blown. I can't thank everyone enough for embracing my story and allowing me to mess with Star Wars:)

Again another late posting. Real life just seems to want to kick me:P

Onto this week's episode which stands as one of my all-time favorite Clone Wars episodes. I think Innocents of Ryloth does a great job capturing a little of the true impact of war on the youngest of those civilians who get caught in the middle when their homes become a war-zone.

Warning; this chapter will be somewhat dark especially the start.

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-The costs of war can never be truly accounted for- Innocents of Ryloth, Clone Wars Season One

Chapter Fifteen-Children of War

This time is was not her stomach that woke her up.

Normally it was her stomach that would wake her up from dreams of her short life before the metal men had come and taken over. She had vague memories of days spent laughing and playing, of visits to family and friends, of food. There always seemed to be lots of food in her memories. More than she could ever hope to eat, but that was okay. There was always more.

But that's all they were. Vague memories that were fading fast. For some odd reason the way she and the other children had adjusted seemed to have upset the adults. She had caught her mother crying, the wince on her father's face whenever they talked about the days before and she looked at them in confusion and wonderment for to her those days were fast becoming stories for her and the other children.

Not that there were very many children left in Nabat, her home village where they lived on the outskirts. That was something she had heard her parents talking about, yelling about with her uncle. The children, her friends had been sent under the cover of darkness somewhere where they could be hidden and safe.

Her Daddy and Uncle wanted to send her away too, but her Mommy didn't want her to go. After all she was their only child that they universe had seen fit to give them. No word was ever said about her baby brother who had come and gone in the early days of what the adults called the occupation. All she knew was that he had been too small, too weak, and that she never even got to see him.

She rubbed sleep from her eyes as she moved out of her tiny bedroom. The yelling was louder now. That was what had woken her in the first place and she had thought her parents were fighting again. Now though her small ears could tell that it wasn't her parents who were yelling though she could make out the frightened wails of her Mommy and angry cries of her Daddy.

Outside she could hear the people of her village yelling in pain and fear. She could hear blasters, a sound that like the feeling of hunger had quickly become common to her. Strange shadows began to dance across the walls and she could hear the tramping of metal feet getting closer.

She must have made some sound, but she wasn't aware of it. The next thing she knew was that her mommy's arms were wrapped around her and holding tight in an almost choking grip. Her daddy was shouting. Her eyes watched as he jerked back a rug to reveal a door set in the floor. She knew where that door lead. It lead to the tunnels that had been hammered into her as a place to hide.

Whatever was happening had to be bad for when her daddy got it the door open, her mother was shoving her down into the tunnels with nothing by a light to keep the dark away. "Stay here my precious one. Stay and don't come out until it is quiet then make your way out." There was no way her daughter would be able to lift the door up.

"Mommy..." Too thin fingers reached for her mommy as the door closed. She head more blasters. Her mommy screaming before it was cut off too soon. She heard her daddy crying and the sounds of something being dragged.

Huddled in the tunnel, alone with a light she did not know how much time had passed. It could have been minutes, hours, days. All she knew was that it seemed liked forever.

And then she smelled meat being burned.

What could have been an eternity passed before the noise died away and the smell of burning meat became but a faint note amidst the dampness of the tunnels. Slowly on tiptoe she made her way out of the tunnels.

Maybe Mommy and Daddy and her uncle were still alive. Maybe the metal men that filled her nightmares were gone. Maybe there was food...

Her legs, weak from hunger moved fast and her feet made soft thuds as they slammed against the dusty ground again and again. When she reached one of the plazas, a central gathering place she stopped.

Something was not right. It was too quiet and the smell of burning meat was strong once again.

Slowly the little girl turned in a circle and stopped when she saw a sight that had been burned recently into her memory.

It looked like a pyre upon which dead bodies might be burned, but it was too big for just one person and it hadn't been stacked neatly into a somber tower. The remains hadn't been removed and given to the morning family members to be scattered into the wind...No there were still remains on top of the strange pyre. In face she could make out clear body parts; hands, legs, even faces gaping in horror and pain that had not be completely burned.

Her empty stomach rolled and she covered her mouth with her hands. Tears rolled down her face as she saw a scrap of fabric that she recognized all too well.

In that moment she knew that her parents now with her baby brother. Her uncle wasn't with them. She didn't know where he was.

She was alone...

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"I still think you should stay here on the ship."

"Sorry Master Windu, but there is no way I am staying back here. It's pretty much certain at this point that any Twi'leks we come across are going to need medical aid. It will be too much for just the medics to handle." Behind the mismatched Master and Knight, Obi-Wan chuckled. It was always entertaining to watch Mace go up against one or both of the Skywalker twins. Anakin especially gave the older man no quarter and had no problem at all with calling Mace out on a mistake.

He saw Mace's barely-there eyebrows begin to draw together and just knew that the man was about to say something that only later he would regret. Apologies and even change for that matter came hard to the Master who the few remaining hard-liners still seated at the Temple saw as their voice on the Council. Yet even Mace could not stay a rock as time moved forward forced the Jedi Order to bend so that they would not break.

"Right now you two," Obi-Wan spoke before Mace could open his mouth, "We just need to focus on getting the larger part of our troops down there. It will not be easy..." He stroked his beard as the trio joined a crush of men, carefully selected by Cody climbing into a LAAT/i. "If breaking through the blockade was difficult, I can only imagine how much harder it will be to land the full army."

"That's why, against my better judgement I am sending both of you down." The look Mace sent Analise made it clear that she was the only one being sent down against his better judgement. Mace, much like Qui-Gon believed a great deal in the prophecies that had been set before them and since Analise was a child of prophecy upon which hinged her brother's fate and thereby the fate of the galaxy; well Mace much like her other family members would only be too happy to see her locked away for her safety. Luckily, he was the only one who would willing give into that urge. "Just clear the Separatists from the village of Nabat. We'll use that as the landing zone." Analise nodded.

"We can set up the main refugee and medical outpost there. I can stay there and hold the city just in case the Separatists try to take it back."

"Well then..." Obi-Wan helped Analise onto the LAAT/i, "I guess it is time for us to go and meet the natives my dear."

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TX-20 was as proud of himself as a tactical droid commander could be. The Emir of all Ryloth had left him in charge of a small, but not entirely unimportant village. One that was large enough to serve as a landing zone for the Republic fleet knocking on their front door.

"Now remember Commander," the holographic form of Wat Tambor shook a glove-covered finger at the droid, "The clone army must not be allowed to step foot on the planet's surface at all."

"Have no fears Emir. The proton cannons I have here will be enough to force back or even stop any sort of full-scale landing of invasion troops."

"Do not underestimate the Jedi TX-20. They could very well focus their attack on the cannons you are so proud of."

"Again have no fears Emir. My droids have captured the surviving members of the village and they are currently being used as a living shield for the cannons. My records on the Jedi indicate that they will not want to shed innocent blood."

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While the might Star Destroyers and Acclamator-class assault ships of the GAR have awe-inspiring names based on the Jedi who commanded them like the Resolute for Anakin and the Negotiator for Obi-Wan, the clones were a little more silly when it came to naming the little gunships that still carted them and the Jedi around with ease.

Today it was the Crumb Bomber that was loaded, packed almost to full capacity as were the other LAAT/is following in its wake. Sky-blue eyes studied the men. Few had ever seen a Twi'lek outside of the pin-ups that were widely circulated around the men with some of the women forever being immortalized as nose art on the gunships. She also knew that some of the men had picked up on the less-than-friendly attitudes that some in the GAR displayed towards a species that for decades had been little more than slaves before being transferred to the 212th.

"Alright men, listen up!" Obi-Wan clapped his hands and the chatter died down. "I want to make this loud and clear right from the start; we are here to free Ryloth from Separatist occupation. We are not here to destroy their homes, businesses, or take their lives."

"That means," Analise picked up where her husband left off, "The use of weapons will be limited, especially in areas where there might be pockets of civilians." Her eyes once again roamed over the men. Cody and Obi-Wan stood behind her, offering silent support. It was rare when she addressed the men, giving orders before a combat situation. "That means we're only using blasters and droid poppers." She stared hard at Boil. The gruff Clone had seemed to grab every weapon he could carry before climbing on-board the gunship. "It will be harder, but we want to limit the destruction as much as possible. No rockets and no detonators."

"Commander Analise is correct. Make sure to check your aim and keep civilains out of the firing range as much as possible. Is that understood?"

"Sir, yes Sir!" Boil rolled his eyes and gave Waxer a long-suffering sigh.

"Stupid tail-heads," he muttered to his vod as he stared longingly at the guns he had been forced to set down. "If we have to save, can't they stay out of the way so we can play with the big toys?"

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"Sir, we have incoming Republic ships!"

"What are you waiting for? Open fire!"

At once the proton cannons began to go off, deafening the helpless Twi'leks still being pushed into the main plaza of Nabat. One of them, a male clapped his hands over his ears and inside mourned for his people, his family. He only hoped that his niece had made it somehow though he knew, she was most likely dead.

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Mace stumbled and grabbed for the edge of the holoprojector as the assault ship listed sharply to one side. He could make out muted bangs of explosions pounding into the side of his ship. Alarms began to blare and he glared darkly out the nearest viewport.

Not even Anakin had made him glare as much as he did now since the war had started.

"General! It's not good news!" One of the deck officers glanced up at him from the computer console he was seated in front of. "That enemy fire is hitting our ships and hitting them hard. Our shields might not be able to last long." Mace ground his teeth together, but refused to give into that little urge that wanted him to snarl.

"Get me Kenobi at once!" He did slam his hand down on the holoprojector. It wasn't snarling, but it would do even as a part of him scolded for not simply releasing his anger into the Force. He was finding that war was making it more and more difficult for him to release his anger, his fear and worry into the Force.

A flickering blue hologroam bloomed on the projector. "You called Mace?" Just over the bearded Master's shoulder, the smaller Knight was peeping.

"Are you alright Master Windu? We can just hear the explosions hitting the cruisers. We're getting nailed pretty badly too."

"That's why I'm calling Analise. Those guns are making it impossible for us to land with the larger cruisers. We'll need them to be taken out or this invasion is over before it's started."

"Fall back Mace! We'll clear out those guns." As the hologram faded, Mace could barely hear a loud explosion and his heart started to beat faster, louder. He knew what that explosion was.

That explosion was LAAT/i going up in flames.

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She knew that smirk on Obi-Wan's face. That reckless, devil-may-care smirk that her husband refused to admit that he even possessed. It was Anakin who was the reckless one, rushing headlong into danger, not him. Not Obi-Wan Kenobi the deep-thinker and great debater of the Jedi Council.

Now though Analise rolled her eyes as the smirk he claimed not to have sneaked onto his face and his eyes hardened into stone gray. His battle eyes. His reckless smirk. She would be feeling sorry for the Separatist forces if she wasn't so upset that they were starving the Twi'leks while plundering their planet. "Alright then...Whose up for a challenge? We need to take those guns out and take them out fast!"

None of the men responded. Not at first. Too many of them were shinnies and new to Torrent Company. At long last, Waxer spoke. The good-natured Clone rolled his eyes just like Analise had moments before and shrugged his shoulders. "Here we go again...Sure General, we're all ready."

'He is right...Here we go again...' Outside she she could the teeth-shaking explosions as a couple more gunships were shot down. As more lives flickered and went out.

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"Commander, there is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the larger Republic cruisers have turned away and are falling back. The bad news is that the smaller Republic gunships are still heading this way."

"Do not worry B1-6152. I had been expecting such a tatic. We will still win the day."

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A pair of small gutkurrs feasting on the corpse of a can-cell growled in a mix of fear and anger as the LAAT/is landed nearby. With more growls they left their meal behind and fled into what once might have been a lovely, small grove. Now though...

It is like there is no life...Obi-Wan paused to see Analise standing in the doorway of the ship. Her eyes had that slightly glazed look that all Jedi had when they were reaching out into the Force. She was aware, but not aware all at the same time. He knew what she was looking for. Some sign of life, of hope. It's as if the Separatists stripped it bare.

They probably did Moonbeam. Obi-Wan reached out and wrapped his fingers around her wrist even as he reached along their Bond. He gave a gentle and sharp tug, breaking her free of her trance. Whatever damage there is, we can attempt to fix it later. Right now though we need to take out those guns. Around them armor-clad soldiers were running up and down slightly sloping hills, between trees that would offer just the smallest bit of cover.

Right Obi-Wan. Analise gave herself a small shake, then pulled from her belt a easily recongiable and oddly shapped object when compared to the metal clynder her husband had pulled from his. As one they ran together, racing to the front of the pack and to whatever awaited them beyond the leafless trees.

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It was hopeless...So hopeless.

The male Twi'lek huddled against a wall, trying to make himself seem smaller than what he was. Battle droids and tanks roamed the area. He could hear the muffled and heartbreak cries of his fellow prisoners, survivors as the memory of their capture raced through their minds.

The Republic was here. They all knew it...But what chance did the Republic have against proton cannons and a tactical droid that could seemingly predict every move before they made it?

He shrunk down more when he heard the tactical droid's voice ringing out over the mass of metal and biologicals. Calling his forces to prep for the battle that was coming.

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They hadn't even cleared the trees when the fight began.

The battle droids for once had been quick on their feet, spotting their movement through the grove and responding with rapid rounds of red laser bolts.

Cody slammed his back against a trunk just before the line as his brothers dropped to the ground all around him. The Clone Commander gritted his teeth and gestured with his blaster. "Come on men move it! Go! Go!" In response some of the men ducked behind trees, peering around the rounded trunks to lay down cover fire for those who rushed closer to the edge of Nabat.

Over the cries of men and guns, Cody could make out the hums. One loud buzzing hum, another softer. Turning his head to the side aloud him to see dancing blades of sky-blue and blue-tinted lilac dancing back and forth. In way those blades could be waving hello to their enemies as the Jedi swept them from one side to the other, deflecting deadly shots away from the men and hopefully away from themselves.

With a thud, Obi-Wan slammed up against the tree next to Cody. He wasn't even breathing that hard though his face shone lightly with sweat. Analise raced past them with a wink as she darted to the front. "Go ahead and have a gossip you two!" She teased as she slipped rather easily into Djem So rather than her more traditional Makashi. Obi-Wan allowed his grim mask to slip for a moment.

Analise could turn any lightsaber form she learned into a dance, into art. A deadly dance, a deadly art and performed by one of the most loving and sweetest people he had ever met. Her long braid snapped one way than another as she turned and jumped. She was an angel of light and love, but on the battlefield she became a protecting angel, a warring angel.

Later she would heal. Later she would wrap the men's wounds, treat the ills of the locals. Later she would be the Healer. Later she might break. Later there might be tears shed for the men she could not save whose lives she felt vanishing as they were blown out with one careless gesture.

For now though she was a Warrior, the Force's Moon and bringer of hope to those men who suddenly frought again with renewed spirit.

Obi-Wan shook his head and brought his attention back to Cody who was now flanked by Waxer and Boil. "We're not going to get anywhere General if we stay pinned down by those damn droids!" Cody's assessment was grim, but then again things were grim at the moment.

"You stay here with Commander Analise Commander," Obi-Wan did his best not to chuckle when he used Commander twice. "I'll take a couple of the men and hit the bunker..." His hard grey eyes moved to Waxer and Boil. Boil had been vocal about his lust for more excitement after they had laid down the law limiting the use of weapons. Waxer was only less quiet about his own need to get out there and shake things up. "I'll take Waxer and Boil." Both men started a little bit and Obi-Wan arched a brow. "Didn't you say you wanted more excitement men?"

Don't you dare do anything stupid Obi-Wan Kenobi or so help me Force I will be handcuffing you to our bed for the next two weeks!

Don't make promises you can't keep dear!

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There was a certain something about working so closely with a Jedi. Some of their vode didn't like it. They said that when the Jedi used the Force, acted a certain way or said something it made them itch. They liked serving with the Jedi, there was no doubt about that. The Jedi were a hundred times better to them than even the Kaminoans had been or most Republic leaders they served under; but they didn't want to be close just in case.

Waxer and Boil didn't mind though. The Force didn't make them itch from nerves or fear. To them and the other men of the 212th and 501st, the Force was something special. They learned that while only a few beings could touch the Force, access it as it was; all beings could know the Force on a less personal level. It was always there. Always watching over them and keeping them safe. It brought both good and bad, gave and took.

So for Waxer and Boil, crouching down behind boulders and staring up the bunkers from which droids were currently shooting down at their vode and Commander Analise, it was a wonderful feeling to be there with General Kenobi. They felt strong, powerful. They proudly lay down shot after shot of cover fire as the General studied the towers and thought about to take them out.

"Alright you two, time to take those bunkers down. Droid poppers now!" Without hesitation Boil grabbed a popper and reached up over the boulder, lobbing it hard at the droids...And groaning as it fell back down to the ground below.

"Stang it all! The tower's too high General...We can't reach it."

"Throw another one and I'll give it a boost." As Boil tossed another popper towards one of the towers, Obi-Wan casually held out a hand. He could see it in his mind, the popper arching high and up into the tower. The Jedi General wrapped the popper in the Force, changing it's course as it flew through the air and landed in the middle of a confused pack of battle droids. They could just see the blueish sparks that trapped the droids, frying their circuits.

"My turn!" Waxer couldn't help but smile under his helmet. He loved seeing the Jedi use the Force. The General gave the Clone a smirk before rising his hand to once again guide the popper thrown by Waxer through the air to the other tower. "You know," the trooper said as once again they could just make out the popper taking the droids out, "I still can't believe that the droids haven't figured out just what the poppers are yet."

"Don't look a gift bantha in the mouth Waxer," Obi-Wan teased the Clone. "Just thank the Force the Separatist aren't interested in making them smarter." Beneath his helmet, Boil grinned wolfishly.

"Cannon fodder is never suppose to be that smart Sir."

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"Alright Commander Cody, they got the bunkers!"

"Understood Commander Analise! Ghost Company, let's move it!"

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"Commander," B1-6152 approached TX-20 with some slowness to his step. All battle droids were nervous when delivering bad news to their commanding officers. Even if that officer was a droid too. "We have lost all contact with the company sent to guard the city wall. Shall I send in backup."

"No...I should have expected the Jedi to be successful in their first encounter with our troops." TX-20 seemed to stop and ponder things for a moment. "Send out probe droids. We need to know what they are planning so we are not caught off guard."

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Keep stroking your beard like that and it will take me forever to untangle it later. Obi-Wan turned, some of the grey fading from his eyes when he saw Analise. She looked a bit worse for wear. Dirt was smudged on her face, loose strands of hair were working their way free from her tight braid, and strips of her tunic had already been cut off to be used as makeshift bandages. Cody followed her, his eyes fastened on a plume of smoke rising in the distant.

Am I to be your captive then?

Not this time Ben. She stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss. "But then we haven't tried for the guns yet, so the day is still young." Cody tilted his head before thinking that he was better off not knowing about what his Jedi General and Commander were talking about.

"So are we heading for the guns then Sir? The wall is currently under our control and we can find no traces of Separatists nearby."

"Not yet," Obi-Wan would have stroked his beard again if Analise hadn't reached up and yanked his hand away from it. "We can't move ahead if we can't see the path..."

"Ummm..." Boil raised his hand. "In non-Jedi Basic please." Analise rolled her eyes and gently punched her husband's arm.

"What Obi-Wan means is that we need to figure out what plan the Separatist have if any. We can't move ahead with a plan of our own until we at least know the basics of their plan." When Boil nodded, Analise shot the Master a superior look. Obi-Wan simply raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and backed off a little. "We need the best scouts...Commander Cody I want you to take Wooly, Waxer, and Boil. Scout ahead a little ways and then report back here with anything you find that might be able to help us."

"Yes Sir! Alright men you heard Commander Analise, let's move out."

"Wait a minute...We're the best?"

"Oh shut it Waxer!"

Are you sure about Boil my Moonbeam? With things calm for the moment, Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around Analise and pulled her back against his chest. I'm not questioning his abilities as a scout, but he's not exactly the most open-minded when it comes to non-humans.

That's why I sent him. Boil can't see the toll the war is taking on non-humans like the Twi'leks. For all the Separatists boost about the equal rights they offer for humans and non, it is non-humans like the Twi'leks who are suffering the most under Separatist rule. Waxer will help him. Waxer will show him the way...

If you say so. Have I told you lately how beautiful you are in battle? How lovely you look when you take command? Turning in his arms Analise peered up into eyes no longer grey, but that deep shade of aquamarine that was just for her.

You haven't today, but when this is all over and we have a bed-space of our own you can tell me all over again my handsome warrior.

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TX-20 watched from his high seat. Watched as a pair of probe droids were released and flew out into the village. They would find the Jedi, the soldiers. He would win in the end.

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None of the Clones got scared. At least none would admit to being scared.

The four scouts crept through the streets of the village. Just another village where the heavy hand of the Separatists had come down and created destruction as it was crushed. The stone homes were marked with burns, some had roofs that had caved in. Personal belongings were mixed in with rubble, littering the street. They could smell faintly what seemed to remain of burning meat.

There was no one.

Not a single village.

Not one Twi'lek.

"These are just buildings," Cody told the trio as they marched through what he was starting to think of as a graveyard without the bodies. "Commander Analise told me that the only time buildings become more is when people move into them. It is the people who call them home that give buildings life."

"So then...Where is everybody?" Cody ignored Boil and stopped, holding up his right fist. The sound of boots hitting dirt died away as the trio stopped and waited for his orders.

The smell of meat was stronger here...

Before the four Clones rose the remains of a bonfire. The burning meat smell that lingered came from bodies that had been dumped onto it at some point, some not even burning all the way. Waxer's grip on his gun tightened. Now he understood a little why they had not run into another living soul. "Is that...Is that everyone?" Cody shook his head.

"No...Not even Separatists would kill an entire village. My guess is that there were unlucky ones who got caught up in some attack and the clankers just built a fire to burn the bodies." The Commander's head turned one way, then another. "Villages like these usually have a large, central plaza. A courtyard as it were. Wooly and I will check there. You two check out the south end. We'll meet back up with the rest of the troops at 0620."

"Yes Sir!"

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The village was a lot creepier when it was just the two of them. Waxer's grip on his blaster hadn't loosened since seeing the remains of the slaughtered villagers. Boil wouldn't admit it, but seeing that bonfire had put him on edge to.

Sure, he had known the Seppies were bad; but he hadn't thought that they could be that bad. "Are you sure..." Boil took a deep breath before plunging on, "Are you sure that the clankers didn't just kill all of them?"

"Those bodies are the only ones we saw and Commander Cody said that wouldn't have been all the villagers. My bet is the Seppies drove them from their homes and simply shot anyone that got in their way. Those are the villagers that were burned. They probably didn't have a..." Boil heard a sound. Like footsteps breaking sticks, walking on leaves. He darted around sharply, gun up.

"They didn't have a what Waxer?"

"A choice Boil." When nothing else happened, the Clones lowered their guns. "Those villagers probably didn't have a choice."

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"Well this won't be easy," Wooly confided in Cody as the pair watched from their hiding place. The courtyard was overrun with battle droids and tanks. "Those guns have got a lot of protection. There's no way we'll be able to get to them."

"You've been around Jedi and you still haven't learned the next important lesson after trust in the Force? There is always a way Wooly, you just have to find it." Movement in the center of the courtyard caught his attention. Quick as a wink Cody slammed his electrobinoculars up against his visor and scanned the area.

Right in front of the tactical droid's command post, battle droids were herding skinny, dirty, and clearly distressed Twi'leks into a small depression. "Those bloody clankers!" Cody growled low in his throat. "Those are the survivors from the village and that piece of scrap is using them as a shield!" Without anymore hesitation, but careful that he didn't get caught; Cody backed away from the hiding place. "Come on Wooly. We've got to book it back to command."

"General Kenobi and Commander Analise aren't going to like this."

"No, no they will not!"

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Mace didn't like this. He did not like it all. "The guns are set up here Sirs," Cody gestured to the map that had made with the information he and Wooly had gotten during their scouting. "The main problem is that the droids are using the Twi'leks that weren't killed when they were rounded up to form a living shield."

"Which means we can't use any sort of direct attack." Analise's braid was draped over her shoulder and she played with the end of it. "A direct attack puts the Twi'leks at risk. They could end up hurt or killed in the fighting. Nor can we ask or expect them to take part in the fighting." Another holo appeared in place of the map. A shot of the Twi'lek villagers huddled together under guns aimed at their heads. "They're starving and weak. With their health already suffering from the lack of food and water during Separatist Occupation, they don't have a lot of strength left to fight with."

"Apart from that we didn't bring any spare weapons to hand out and I doubt this people were trained for any sort of combat." Mace said nothing when Obi-Wan slung his arm across Analise's shoulders. "This will be difficult, but not impossible. I have a plan that will protect the villagers and destroy those guns."

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"Just remember General Kenobi, getting the Twi'leks out of harm's way will be the most important thing. After that you can go after the guns. I have faith in both of you and Ghost Company. The Force is with us."

"The Force may not be with you General Windu, but I certainly am." The slightest note of glee made it's way over TX-20s vocabulator as his glowing optical sensors watched the live feed that one of his probe droids was sending him.

"We'll go in with everything we've got. Cody, Analise; I want you two to clear those villagers first and get them to safety. Then we'll hit those guns."

"So General Kenobi will be leading the assualt and Commander Skywalker-Kenobi will be helping him. They are an interesting pair and are known for their deceptive manuvers. Give me all information we have on them, particularly General Kenobi."

"Roger roger!"

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Waxer and Boil marched on quiet boots to an alley. Something had fallen or been knocked over. Something was there. They each picked a side, leaning their backs against them. There were no more sounds. Boil nodded and Waxer swung around, gun ready and finger on the trigger...

To find he was aiming straight into the face of a small and painfully skinny Twi'lek girl. She ducked around a pile of rusty crates. The deep green skin of her skin seemed to glow bright against her worn olive green dress and brown head-covering even as her golden eyes watched them with something like fear. "It's just a little girl!" Waxer exclaimed as he quickly pointed his gun at the ground and crouched to her height.

"So what?" Boil stepped forward into the alley. The little girl stepped back, her eyes now glaring at the second Clone. It was clear that she at least understood his tone. "It's a brat. Let's move it. We've got a mission after all."

"We can't move it Boil!" Waxer wanted to explode at his brother. "She's just a little girl, pretty much a baby. We need to do something for her."

"Why? Why should we do anything for her?" When the little girl whimpered and petted one of her still growing lekku with her hands, Boil refused to acknowledge that his heart thumped just a little in pain.

"We could take her with us!" Waxer exclaimed, the idea clearly one he liked. "Commander Analise I bet would be more than willing to keep an eye on her or one of the Shinies. Just until we find her family."

"Be realistic for once won't you Waxer? We can't take her with us, she'll just slow us down." 'Even if I do kind of want to take her with us.' The little girl whimpered again and ducked back behind the crates. "See that? She's scared of us. Problem solved." Waxer went to shake his head when he spotted something. Something that the little girl had seen too.

"It's not us she's scared of Boil. Probe droid. We need to hide!" The two Clones wedged themselves into whatever hiding spot they could get in the cramped alley as the little girl watched. Waxer could see she was holding her breath and tense. He wondered how many of those she had hidden herself from.

After what seemed like hours, the droid floated away and the unlikely trio emerged from their hiding places. "We need to move it now Waxer."

"Well we just can't leave her behind!"

"Fine!" Boil huffed as he shoved Waxer to the side and bent down in front of the girl. He jabbed a finger out at her and she shrank back a little.

"Be careful Boil! We don't want to scare her more!"

"What's she going to do, attack me?" Boil scoffed. "She's totally unarmed...OUCH!" The cocky Clone quickly jerked his finger free from a set of somewhat sharp little teeth. The little girl's fight response had kicked in and biting was always a good attack plan. Waxer chuckled.

"What was that about her being unarmed?" Boil glared at his vod from beneath his helmet before turning his glare on the little girl.

"Blasted tail-head bit me!" The girl ducked back into her hiding space, eyes glaring and scared. Waxer pushed Boil out of the way, taking a guess as to why she acting afraid of them.

"Stop yelling at her Boil." Reaching up he unclasped the sides of his helmet and pulled it off exposing his shaven head and small patch of facial hair kept carefully trimmed below his lip. "I bet she's scared cause she thinks we're droids." He knelt on the ground, setting the helmet at his feet and making sure she could clearly see his face. "See sweetie? I'm not a mean metal-man. I'm flesh and blood just like you." When he reached out to touch her, she moved away.

The light caught her better, blue showing up on her tails and her bones jutting up against skin. Boil stepped forward, his eyes no longer glaring at the tiny Twi'lek who looked as though she shouldn't have had the strength to stand, let alone bite. "She's...She looks pretty starved there..." He reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a ration bar. It wasn't the best, but it was food. "Give her this."

He passed the bar to Waxer who took it and held it out. The little girl stared at it. Stared at it like might be some sort of weapon. Then her nose wiggled, just a little bit then some more. She bent forward to smell it. Light entered her eyes. A light that showed that she knew it now that what they were offering was food. Quick as a flash she snatched it from Waxer's hand and took a bite then proceed to eat the rest of it as fast as she could.

Waxer watched with a soft smile, not wanting her to choke as Boil took off his own helmet. His hair was dark and while he sported a regulation buzz-cut, he also sported what Analise had once jokingly called Holo-Star worthy beard and mustache.

The little girl finished the ration, then stared up at the men. She tilted her head and for the first time seemed to smile a little bit. With one finger she pointed at them. "Nerra..." She tilted her head the other way before nodding. "Nerra!" Waxer chuckled.

"Close Sweetie. I'm Waxer." He thumped his chest before jabbing a thumb at his brother. "And this grumpy man is here is Boil." He slipped her another ration bar which she happily chomped upon as she shook her head.

"Nerra, nerra." Boil slammed his helmet back on his head. Waxer copied him without the slamming.

"It's great you made a cute friend, but we've got to move out."

"Yeah, yeah...Come on sweetie." The little girl stared up at him. She made no move to take his hand, content it seemed to munch away on the ration.

"Look Waxer she doesn't want to come with us. I'm sure she'll be fine. Now let's go!"

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She finished the ration as the men left her.

Left her alone in the cold and dark alley.

She whimpered in fear. Her mommy and daddy had told her a lot since the metal men had arrived that if something bad happened, she needed to stay hidden until one of her family members or friends came for her.

But hunger had driven her from the safety of the tunnels. Only there hadn't been a scrap of food until the nerra had given it to her. She felt bad now about biting the grumpy one.

They started to fade from her sight and she whimpered again. She didn't want to be alone anymore and maybe they could help her.

Stamping her feet nervously she made her choice and darted out from the alley.

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TX-20 was a droid and as a droid, the suffering of biologicals did not move him. It did not make him feel gleeful nor did he feel sorrow as he marched through the captured Twi'leks. The most he got was satisfaction that the captives were serving their purpose as he observed one battle droid kicking a Twi'lek male into the ground.

Once he had beaten the Jedi he would send any that remained alive to the slave markets. Those that did not...Well there was still plenty of wood around.

He descended into a cool tunnel beneath the surface. Here a key part of his plan lay in cages, drooling and growling in rage at being first captured then starved. "Sergeant, are these creatures ready?"

"Sure are, we straved them just like you said." At that moment one of the creatures clamped its massive jaws around a bar in the cage. "Are you sure these things don't eat metal and circuits Sir?"

"Not entirely. I need to run one last test." TX-20 jabbed a button and there was a slight clanking noise.

"What do you mean one last..." The Sergeant backing up bumped into something moving, something wet. He had just enough time to let out an "Oh" before he was being swallowed whole by a hungry monster. "Not my motivator!" The monster shook the droid before spitting it out in disgust.

"Yes my theory is correct. They need organic meat in order to sate their appetite."

"That's a relife I guess..."

"They will go now and feast on the Jedi and Clones."

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They knew she was following them. After all she was just a little girl, not a Clone trooper. She wasn't that good at being hidden. "Her family," Waxer kept his voice low so that she wouldn't overhear, "Do you think they got captured?"

"Doubt it. If they had been they probably would have taken her along. No...I'm betting her family is on that bonfire and they had her hidden away when it happened." Boil looked back over his shoulder at the speck of green peeking out from behind a pillar. "I just hope she survives this whole mess."

"If she does make it through the occupation, what happens to her after we leave? If she really is all alone I mean...She shouldn't be..." Boil eyed Waxer with worry.

"Don't even think about it vod. We can't go taking in every stray we see." Waxer ignored Boil and turned around.

"Why not? Master Jinn did and still does to a certain extent if the rumors are...Hey she's gone!"

"Don't worry Waxer. I'm sure that little biter will turn up...Oh!" The pair turned around only to find a little Twi'lek girl staring up at them as if to say "What took you so long?" Waxer chuckled and bent down.

"There you are sweetie. You know you might be getting better at the sneaking around part." He reached out to gently tap a little snub-nose. She smiled and giggled, a sweet chime of a giggle that had Waxer smiling broadly beneath his helmet and Boil a little under his.

A smile that was still quickly shaken away as he scanned the area. "Now how in all get-out did she get in front of us?" The little girl offered no answer. Instead she tugged hard on Waxer's gun as he stood back up and waved her hand towards one of the many empty, rubble filled streets.

"Nerra! Nerra!" With they gave no sign, she rolled her eyes and took off running, stumbling down the street. She stopped and turned around once to see if they were following her before she kept running.

"Wait!" Waxer panicked as she took off slipping and catching herself on jagged bits of stone. "The probe droid went that way! Come back sweetie!"

"Waxer let her go." Boil tried to sound firm, but his voice seemed to catch a little seeing that impossible small figure running off somewhere, seemingly knowing and not caring about the danger that could be lurking around the corner. Though he was doing his best to ignore it, a part of him was agreeing with Waxer. It pushed him to catch that little biter and haul her back to command where she could be fussed over until, if they found her family.

"I am not just going to let those droids get her!" Waxer took off, gun at the ready just in case. Boil sighed and kicked at the ground.

"I'm just trying to keep you alive vod...Though damned if I know why!"

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She was having fun again as she lead the nerras on a merry chase. She could hear them straining to keep up with her as she ducked beneath stones and darted around corners where she would stay hidden until they got just close enough before darting back out again.

The nice one would yell for her to slow down and ask where she went when she vanished from their view. The grumpy one kept grumbling and rumbling. He acted like he didn't care, but she bet that deep down he did at least a little bit.

Finally she skidded to a stop and all the mirth left her. Her wide eyes stared at the remains of the building, the house in front of them. She hadn't been back since that nightmare night, since they had put her in the tunnels and told her to hide.

It was too dangrous.

The nerras caught up to her and she felt the nice one, she knew it was the nice one gently lay a hand on top of her head. It felt nice, even though it wasn't Mommy or Daddy.

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"There you are sweetie. You know you shouldn't run away like that."

"I do have binders..." Boil's remaining words were cut off as Waxer's head jerked towards him sharply. "What? It's just an idea..." His words were cut off again as the little girl took one slow step, then another towards a building that looked just as destroyed as the others. The doors were wide open, so she just walked right into the remains.

It was dark, shadowy. She walked towards the middle where sunlight poured in through a huge hole in the roof. She just stood there and stared up. Looking, looking...

Boil lowered himself onto a pile of stone as he and Waxer removed their helmets. "I'm guessing this is it..."

"What is?" Boil shrugged.

"This was her home...Where she came from." Boil's eyes traveled along the walls and floor, stopping when he spied dark colored spots splatted on the floor by the door and along the walls. Some of the splatters looked like hand-prints. He nodded in their direction to Waxer. "Guess her parents or whatever family she had didn't make it when they captured the villagers."

"Poor ad'ika." Waxer glanced at his brother whose cold eyes seem to soften and warm the longer they looked back and forth between the blood stains and the little girl standing alone in the sun. "She's lost everything and probably saw it too somewhat. No wonder she was so scared." Bright colors caught his eyes. Looking down Waker saw a purple and yellow tooka doll. It was simple, plain; but to a lost little girl with no one seemingly left alive to care for her, it would be the greatest treasure.

He reached down and picked it up. It was dirty from the floor, but he brushed it away. He could feel Boil's eyes on him as he walked to the child and held out to the toy. She stared at it, as if doubting it was real before latching onto it. Her grip tightened as the doll let out a squeak and she burst into tears. Waxer wondered how often she had cried in the days past.

Her little fist rubbed at her eyes and he could see her trying to hold them back, but she was still a little girl who had seen her entire village crushed and her family destroyed. He walked slowly around and knelt in front of her, wiping away tears from her face. "It's going to be okay ad'ika, we're here for you now. You're not alone anymore." The little girl flung herself at Waxer's chest, doing her best to bury her face against his armor and not caring that it was hard and not at all comfortable.

The Clone slowly, unsure of what exactly to do but responding to instinct wrapped his arms around her, one hand lightly stroking the top of her lekku in a soothing motion that he had one time spotted Commander Analise doing with her adopted Togruta sister.

Boil watched and something inside him broke. He knew of men, leaders in the Republic and the GAR who had wanted to ignore Ryloth for all that it was sworn to the Republic. He had heard them complain about the Twi'leks. Had heard the man called lazy, the women seductresses. He had heard them called tail-heads and slaves. He had landed on Ryloth expecting to see his vode getting swindled by the women and ordered about by the men, the Twi'leks getting in the way as they tried to save them.

But this was different and it was breaking him. This was a little girl, a child who had no part yet in the adult world. Who even if she was an adult, should have no part in the war. In all his lessons on Kamino, they had never shown war like this. They had never shown a Twi'lek child crying in the arms of a Clone because that Clone had given her back a small piece of life before death and destruction came to her door.

He stood slowly. Those same men and women who had complained about the Twi'leks, well sometimes they complained about the Clones too. Calling him and his vode freaks, unnatural. Wasn't he human like them? Didn't he count? Since he had been created in a test tube and not born, he supposed it made all the difference to them. So why had he always been bothered by that and not by how others were being treated? If they had not come to Ryloth then that little girl being cradled by his brother would not have made it.

She wasn't a tail-head anymore. She was his biter and there was no way they were going to leave her behind to face whatever was out there on her own.

Waxer watched as Boil knelt down and patted the little girl's shoulder. She turned to stare at him. "Don't worry biter, it's like Waxer said. You're not alone anymore and I promise we'll keep you safe." She flung herself into his arms and more slowly than Waxer, Boil hugged her.

Yes...She was going to be their little biter.

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"Alright the men are all set...What's wrong you two?" Obi-Wan had come upon his two Commanders. Analise was nibbling on her lower lip while Cody frowned at his the chrono on his wrist. "What's going on?"

"Waxer and Boil...We haven't heard from them yet and they should have reported back by now. I'm starting to worry a little bit."

"Yes..." Obi-Wan rested a hand on Analise's shoulder. "Waxer and Boil normally aren't late like this. They might have run into trouble and weren't able to get a call out at that moment. Cody?"

"On it Sir! Sergeant use the high-powered transmitter and see if you can get those two on a call."

"Yes Sir!" Obi-Wan nodded to Analise.

"Then the rest of us will move onward to the guns. The rest of the men can catch up later."

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"As expected..." TX-20 hit the com button on his control console. "Sergeant the Jedi's attack is coming. It is time to put my plan into action. You may release the beasts at will."

"Roger roger!" With his superior sound receptors, TX-20 could just make out the sound of cage doors being opened and the angry roars of starving monsters.

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Boil groaned when the coms on his and Waxer's wrists began to blink red and make those annoying beeps that meant not only did they have an incoming call, but that incoming call meant that they might be a bit of trouble. "Come on Waxer...We gotta go. We're beyond late."

"Okay..." He looked down at their little biter who stood by them silently. Tears still dripped down her face, slowly now as she was calmer. Her other hand clung tightly to her tooka doll. "What are we going to tell them about our ad'ika?"

"You're asking me?" Boil rolled his eyes at Waxer as he stooped to pick up his helmet. "Now you're worried that we're going to get caught."

"Ummm...I guess we could tell them we ran into a little bit of trouble." Boil rolled his eyes again as both Clones slipped their helmets on and Waxer wiggled his fingers at their biter. The little girl quickly hopped to his side. She at least knew that now she wouldn't be alone and the men were taking her somewhere safe.

"A little trouble is right." Beneath his helmet, Boil cracked a small smile. "Still...I've got this funny feeling that things won't end well." The mismatched trio stepped slowly from the building.

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Something was off...She could feel it. Like she had felt the wrongness of the night her family had been taken away. It was then she began to make out the hissing, the growls of creatures that had belonged to horror stories. The stories Mommy and Daddy told her so that she would be good. Real monsters, not fake ones.

The monsters served the metal men now. They were the ones who hunted down the few Twi'leks who managed to escape them. She had heard them in the tunnels. Heard the screams as the monsters ate.

She darted up and behind the nice nerra and wrapped an arm around his leg. "Gutkarr!" Her voice squeaked. "Gutkarr!" Both nerras stared at her and then the gutkarrs rounded the corner.

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Gutkarrs turned out to be giant bugs with curved blade-like claws and razor-sharp teeth. They marched almost hunched over, balancing their bulk on two legs. They narrowed their rage-filled eyes and snapped their jaws in threats as they neared the Clones and little girl.

"Well...Maybe here is one reason why the girl stayed away for so long," Boil theorized as he raised his gun. Waxer behind him pushed their little biter back until she took the hint and darted inside. "Now see Waxer, this is what happens when we don't follow orders!"

"Whatever Boil! Come on let's go!" Their guns were having no effect it seemed on the massive creatures so the vode darted back inside the house, slamming the doors shut. The gutkarrs took offense, butting at the doors with their heads to weaken and knock them down.

"This dang suckers aren't holding anything back!"

"Grab the gun Boil and I'll hold them back!" The pair worked as a team. Boil grabbed one of the guns and nodded at Waxer who let the doors fly open just enough for Boil to shoot the gutkarrs and push them back. Waxer slammed the doors shut.

It was a plan, but it wouldn't last.

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They were in trouble. She squeezed her tooka doll. Were they going to make it out of this?

Her eyes roamed around before she spotted the trap-door in the floor. Her parents hadn't covered it up. Just stuck on rock on top after placing her inside.

She could feel their eyes on her as she darted to the door, dropping her tooka doll and shoving the rock aside before her shaking arms manged to lift the door up. When they saw it, they moved.

The nice nerra reached her first, holding up the door and making sure she grabbed her precious toy. She slipped inside and he followed while the grumpy nerra kept shooting at the gutkarrs. He was able to force them back just enough to jump in and slam the door shut over them.

At least gutkarrs didn't have hands.

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Something was off...Obi-Wan could feel it and looking over at Analise, he knew she felt it too along the currents of the Living Force. They walked near the front of the men who kept their blasters up and ready even as they held their lightsabers in tight grips.

Then she stopped, the men and Obi-Wan stopped as her eyes glazed over for a moment. Her free hand went up as though reaching for the wind, reading it. Her brow furrowed the smallest bit before her eyes snapped open at the same moment a warning began to blare at Obi-Wan.

There was hissing, growls, roars, and the thunder of feet tramping the ground beneath them. Suddenly the pained cries of men added to the deadly symphony as raging gutkarrs, driven almost mad by starvation rounded the corner and went after those Clones who had been assigned to the point.

They were just men and the gutkarrs struck fear in their hearts. They shot wildly at the creatures and the panic only grew when the creatures seem to take no damage. One man cried out in desperation to "Shoot for the eyes! Blind them!" But even good soliders find aim hard in blind panic.

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"You have no need to worry Emir. We are routing the Republic ground forces even as you and I speak."

"Then why do I hear explosions over the pickup? What do they mean?"

"I am sure it is just a desperate attempt by the Clones and Jedi at some sort of defense and push forward. Do not worry Emir. They have only a 742 to 1 chance of defeating us."

"You had better be right you overpriced hunk of junk!"

"Of course I am right. I am a droid and droids are always right."

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She had to do something.

Analise watched as her husband flipped over one of the gutkurrs as others headbutted the men before ripping them apart. The ground was being splatter with blood, littered with limbs and armor.

The cries of a shiny caught her ears. He was pressed up aganist a wall, his gun lost somewhere and surronded by mad gutkurrs. His first battle, maybe his second, and he was crying in fear as Death looked at him and judged him perfect for a meal.

Something inside Analise snapped and her eyes took on a sliver cast as her lightsaber dropped to the ground, deactivating as it hit. Narrowing her eyes, she threw up her hands and cast ropes of silver, chains that only she could see around the necks of the attacking gutkurrs. Analise pulled on them hard and the creatures growled as their focus shifted from the terrified Clone to the cool and calm human woman standing in the middle of a feeding frenzy.

Obi-Wan could feel it. He could feel his Soul Mate as she summoned the power the Force had granted her and whose strength remained a mystery. She walked backwards and with each step she pulled more of the gutkurrs with her. They fell under her control. Control that was shaky for Obi-Wan knew that it was rare that she went so deep.

Tossing his lightsaber and pretending that he didn't see Cody shaking his head as the Clone Commander scooped up the dropped lightsabers before stopping a shiny from taking a pot-shot, Obi-Wan rushed to her side.

He didn't speak. No words were needed. Instead he wrapped an arm around her waist and added the power from his deep place within the Force to her own. Blue joined silver and the chains that only they could see turned an icy blue.

Obi-Wan lead them, never loosing his grip into a narrow alley between the cliffs. Overhead a bridge made passage between the two possible. He knew the plan. He knew she knew what would happen. Obi-Wan's grip tightened on Analise. She was connected to them now. "Cody!" He could sense the Clone Commander straightening and the awe of the newer men. "Shoot the bridge now!"

The command was given and Obi-Wan watched as the bridge was weakened by shots of hot blue laser. It fell. It crushed a handful of the gutkurrs. Underneath his arm he felt Analise tremble as her connection to the creatures was severed abuptly. Three gutkarrs still remained alive and they were angry again.

Wrapping both arms around her now and the Force about the pair, Obi-Wan gave a jump, sailing over a charging gutkarr before leaping onto the backs of the other two. He added more power and soared with the Force up and over the rubble of the bridge.

Cody was waiting on the other side as the pair slowly stood. Analise was pale, but with Obi-Wan still sending her energy it was going away. "Impressed a few shinnies there you two," Cody's voice was teasing as he held out their lightsabers. "But next time please don't drop your sabers. These weapons are you life you know and I just don't know how to use them." Analise giggled, pulling apart from Obi-Wan as the Master and Knight took back their weapons.

"You spend too much time with my husband Cody. You're even starting to sound like him."

"That would be a nightmare Commander'ika." The Knight made a face at the Clone who only shrugged. Obi-Wan chuckled at the pair then stopped when a metal grate in the ground began to rattle. His lightsaber blazed to life and the men brought their guns up.

"Wait! Don't shoot you guys!" Analise darted to the front, glaring at them. "It's not the Seppies." Obi-Wan frowned and lowered Cody's blaster and turned off his saber. The grate lifted, was tossed aside...

And out popped the missing Waxer and Boil. The two leapt quickly from the opening and snapped to attention, saluting hard. "Waxer! Boil!" Cody barked at them. "Just where have you two slackers been?"

"Well you see...Umm Sir...That is..."

"What Waxer is trying to say is that we got a little sidetracked..." The pair glanced to Boil's left where a little Twi'lek girl clutching a toy was peeking around the men and staring at them.

Cody shook his head and Obi-Wan crossed his arms. "Well we can clearly see that," the Master had to cover his mouth to hide a smirk.

Analise went a whole different direction. She darted to Boil's side and scooped up the little girl. Immdately she began to rock the child back and forth, cuddling and cooing to her in the Twi'lek language that she had learned from Aayla. The men just stared.

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She had been right about the nerras. She rested her head on the nice lady's shoulder. The nice lady was a Jedi and so was the man with beard. Her Mommy and Daddy had told her about Jedi. About how they did their best to help everyone, that they carried lightsabers, and were so nice.

In the lady's arms, soaking up the warmth and affection she knew that it was the truth and that she had been right. The nerras had brought her somewhere safe.

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"Commander...The Jedi and Clones were able to defeat the creatures. What is our next move?"

"Then we must prepare for the final attack. Make sure all in their proper place."

"Roger, roger!"

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"Hello there little one...You are a cutie." Analise giggled as the little girl in her arms shyly buried her face in her neck. "How about we give Analise's arms a break? I think you're a little bit too heavy for her to be holding for too long" Gentle hands lifted the child free and Analise gave a longing sigh as she let the girl go.

You didn't have to do that Ben. I could have held onto her.

Not after tapping into the Force like you just did Analise...Besides we're fine. "Aren't we?" He tickled the little girl under her chin and she giggled.

"You know Sir, General...She's pretty smart." Waxer and Boil relaxed a little. "I mean she lead us here through the tunnels."

"Tunnels?"

"Yes Sir. I guess this whole place has tunnels running everywhere below the ground." Boil jabbed a finger towards the hole they had popped out of it. "My best bet is that she was hiding herself down there. Knows her way around pretty good. Only..." He scuffed at the ground. "We can't speak Twi'lek so..." Analise shook her head and stroked the girl's lekku as she opened her mouth.

"Have you been staying in the tunnels dear one?" The little girl's head jerked up at the familiar language and her eyes brightened.

"Yes! I stay in tunnels like Mommy and Daddy said too. Then nerras come and bring me here!"

"Then you have been a very good girl. Can you show us the way to the courtyard where your friends are being kept? We'll keep you safe from the metal men."

"You'll make them go away?"

"Yes. We'll make the bad metal men go away."

"I can show you. It's not far." She dropped a kiss on the little forehead.

"She can lead us to the prisoners." She straightened, the Skywalker smirk on her face. "Commander Cody, are you up for a diversion?"

"Always Commander Analise."

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Analise was with Cody and the men leading the diversion. Obi-Wan wasn't happy about that, but with a arm full of Twi'lek child he didn't really have a choice. Waxer and Boil followed after them claiming that next to the Jedi, they were the ones the biter trusted the most.

They crept through the tunnels, quickly silencing any droids they found. They came across one, kneeling in a cage and scrubbing gutkarr drool from the floor. He was loud in his complaints about having the worst job in the droid army...Until he turned and saw the Jedi standing behind him and the cage door slamming shut. He snorted when the droid said overtime. As far as he knew, droids didn't get paid.

The little girl tugged gently on a strand of his hair and pointed at the nearby stairs. "They're up there." He nodded then turned to the Clones behind them.

"Here Waxer, take the little one." The Clone shifted his gun to one hand and took her with his free arm. "I want the pair of you to me on my signal and help the villagers once we get them free. It will be up to you two to keep them safe." With a last nod Obi-Wan carefully crept up the stairs. Waxer sent the little biter back on the ground and held a finger up to where his mouth was under his helmet. She mimicked him.

At the top of the stairs Obi-Wan stopped and watched as the droids bullied the Twi'leks. They would kick them, whack them with the butt of their guns. He waved a hand, sensed Waxer and Boil coming up behind him. Together the three stole quietly across the courtyard, ducking behind crates and planters, the large bases of statues. Alright Analise...We're in place.

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Got it Obi-Wan. "Cody they're in place."

"Yes Sir...Alright men, move it!" Analise and the Clones burst out from around a rock. Guns blazing and lightsaber dancing. The diversion was working. More droids and tanks were racing to them away from the villagers.

"Keep it up men! We need to give them time!" She winced when a shot from a tank exploded the ground near her and a rock cut her face. She pushed the pain away and kept fighting.

Everything else could wait.

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When the sounds of battle reached their ears, the trio jumped into action. Waxer and Boil took out the few battle droids that had lingered while Obi-Wan raced forward with his lightsaber and sliced through the chains that were holding the Twi'leks captive.

It was then he felt Analise...Pain echoing over their Bond. He gritted her teeth. She wasn't hurt bad, but..."Come on everyone! This way!"

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TX-20 was having a good day. He watched the Republic Forces fall back. The Clone Commander was helping along a Jedi whose body had been cut by pieces of rock from the shot he had sent her way. He was upset that he hadn't hit her, but at least he had wounded her.

"Ummm...Commander I hate to report this, but the captives have been freed and are escaping!" At once TX-20 turned his tank around.

Well it could still be a good day in the end.

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He couldn't believe it.

He had given up all hope of ever being free, of finding his niece and taking her somewhere safe. Then the Jedi had come! The Jedi had set them free!

Now he ran with the others down into the tunnels. The crowd seemed to part near the bottom. Stoping he saw them running around a little girl, her eyes searching the faces desperatly.

His heart stopped...He couldn't believe it.

"Numa! My little Numa!" At the sound of his voice, Numa turned then squealed and ran to him, jumping into his arms.

"Uncle Nilim! They did it! The nerras and the Jedi helped me find you!"

"They did my little Numa...They did!"

Nilim Bril just couldn't believe it.

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"Waxer, Boil it's time to move. We've got to destroyed those cannons! Follow me!"

"Sir, yes Sir!" The men danced through the battle droids to the cannons. Using the Force, Obi-Wan pulled a droid from the seat of one and tossed him to the side before taking his place. Waxer and Boil dropped their guns and began loading the rounds into the cannon. "Ready Sir! You may fire at will!" Obi-wan chuckled a little before calling on the Force to aid his focus, to guide his aim.

One by one by one by one the other proton cannons came under his fire. Even over the explosions, the resounding boom of the rounds being shot, Obi-Wan could still hear the battle droids as they panicked and tried to find anything that would put a halt to the Jedi and his men.

That halt came with a screaming warning after Obi-Wan destroyed the fourth cannon. "Move men!" After shouting the warning to Waxer and Boil, Obi-Wan flung himself from the seat of the cannon just before it became a ball of flame and smoke. Shaking his head, clearing his eyes the Master looked up into the face of a tank and tactical droid with no mercy.

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Numa stamped her feet in anger when she saw the nerras go flying. They didn't move at first, but slowly their arms twitched and their legs shifted. They were being too slow.

Shrugging off Uncle Nilim's hands, she darted out as fast as her little legs could carry her. "Numa! Don't...Where are you going?"

"The nerras need help!" She made it to their side and tugged on their arms. "Get up nerras!" When they began to move, she darted to the Jedi. Ducking under his arm she slowly began to help him stand even as he shifted to block her from the tank.

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"Hahahahah...You loose this day General Kenobi!"

She was brave, Obi-Wan would give her that. Brave and foolish like the two Clones that had found her. He shielded her as best he could, but he knew there was no way. If that tactical droid fired, both their lives would be gone in an instant.

And then he heard it. The roar of angry voices and the stamping of running feet. Turning his head Obi-Wan's eyes widened as the very same Twi'leks they had just freed came storming full speed out of the tunnels.

They ran past him and the Clones. They ran to the tank and began to swarm over it like a pack of wild animals in their rage. The tactical droid spun around, frantically trying to find some logical reason why the slaves were attacking him. He tried to cover her eyes as the villagers ripped the droid from the tank and flung him to the ground. Like any self-respecting child though, she pushed his fingers apart to peek.

TX-20's good day came to an end as overhead Mace Windu's ships came in to land.

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There was a bandage on her face and her clothes were torn and dirty, but Analise did not care. Nabat was free and Numa had found her uncle. It wasn't a lot, but she was sure that together Nilim and Numa would heal each other.

She left Obi-Wan and Mace doing the Jedi version of patting each other's back in celebration of the small victory before planning their march to Lessu, the capital. That would be the victory that would free the planet and Analise would not be there. She would stay at Nabat to monitor the creation of refugee camps and aid stations. Things the planet needed and would need until things had calmed down.

The Knight smiled when she saw a dejected mismatched trio. Waxer and Boil had been all fire to fight in the big battle, but now they were moping and Numa with them. Despite the language barrier, the three had bonded and were not looking forward to leaving at all. She bent down and gave Numa a hug. "Your uncle is looking for you sweetie. He has some stuff he needs to talk to you about."

"Alright..." The dejected little girl kicked at the ground before darting up to the Clones and wrapping her arms around each of their legs. "Bye bye nice nerra. Bye bye grumpy nerra." Analise giggled a little as the two blushed and smiled sheepishly. As the little girl faded from view, their smiles faded and they began to look just as dejected as Numa had been.

"Don't look so sad you two. I put in a request for you both to stay and help me set up things here. You'll see plenty of Numa as I'm sure her uncle would like some help keeping her from underfoot. In fact..." Analise couldn't hide her glee about her announcement. "Master Windu has offered Nilim a job with the GAR to teach other troopers Twi'lek and work on the fighters and stuff. He's an amazing tech." Slowly the Clones perked up. "So he and Numa will be moving to Coruscant for at least the duration of the war. I'm sure you will be seeing your friend a lot." She chucked when both smiled brightly and started to bounce. "In fact I am sure Nilim has told Numa and she will probably be looking for her nerras." Waving a hand she started to move away.

"Ummm...Commander Analise," Waxer was a little nervous. "We were wondering...Just what does nerra mean?" Turning the Knight smiled at them.

"Nerra means brother."

Translations

ad'ika: little one, son, daughter, of any age - also used informally to adults much like *lads* or *guys*

ika: diminutive suffix written as 'ika-also added to names as a very familiar or childhood form, e.g' Ord'ika-Little Ordo; Commander'ika-Little Commander

nerra-brother

vod: brother, sister, comrade, mate

vode: brothers, sisters, comrades, mates