Petranaki Arena, Geonosis.
1012 hours, First Battle of Geonosis, 22 BBY.
"Do you think Jango seriously dragged us to this bug infested rock just to watch an execution?" Honour hissed, beyond annoyed that Jango had left her and Glory on a viewing platform.
"I'm sure he'll explain everything soon." Glory tried to stay optimistic but even her frustration was obvious.
Honour sighed, she hated not knowing what was going on.
Beneath them, Kenobi, another Jedi and a woman were chained to three pillars. Thousands of Geonosians filled the arena and cheered when a nexu, reek and acklay were brought out.
"Boba." Honour's fingers rested on her DC-17s as she addressed the boy beside Glory, "Tell me what you know."
"I think dad tried to have that women assassinated, she's a Senator."
"Brilliant." Honour raised her voice, "Jango! Can you spare a minute of your precious time?!"
Jango turned form his conversation with the man known as Count Dooku. He came closer, "What is it?"
"Oh, nothing too important, just wondering why you wanted Glory and I here to watch some pathetic Jedi be eaten by an animal nearly as ugly as you."
"Charming, Honour." Jango rolled his eyes at her.
It wasn't long until Glory stepped in and gently touched Jango's arm, "We were just wondering where we could be most useful, Jango, we're both getting a little restless."
Trust Glory to be able to make Jango's thunderous expression disappear into a smile. He nodded at Honour, "Take notes from your sister."
"Take notes from your sister." She parroted back.
"Look here." Jango stood in between the sisters and pointed to the arena below. "That woman, Senator Padmé Amidala, survived an assassination attempt and those two Jedi, Kenobi and his Padawan, were assigned to protect her-"
"You failed an assassination attempt?" Honour interrupted with a raised eyebrow.
"No." Jango growled, "I paid someone to take her out and they kriffed up. I had to get rid of them. Kenobi got his hands on one of my toxic darts and tracked me back to Kamino."
The Senator swiftly removed her cuffs and climb to the top of her pillar. Meanwhile, the cowardly Jedi broke their chains through getting the angry and untamed animals to stab at them; smart.
"Hence his visit." Glory confirmed, "And afterwards, he tracked you here, but why were you needed on Geonosis?"
"A Separatist Council meeting."
"You're a Sep?" Honour asked with disgust.
"I work alone, Honour, you know that." Jango's tone went serious again, "Dooku tried to gain Kenobi as an ally, after his capture, but he decided to decline, causing Amidala and the Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, to come and rescue him."
Glory was about to inquire how many droids were being produced on Geonosis, but the action in the arena caught her attention.
The nexu swiped at Amidala's back, forcing her to arch and scream in agony. Two major lacerations scored her lower back, deep enough to scar.
Glory was barely aware of herself moving forwards until Jango yanked her backwards by her belt, "Not now, Baby Girl, there will be plenty of people for you to patch up later."
Jango didn't seem to be bothered by the potential bloodshed as he nudged Honour, "They say Skywalker is the Chosen One."
"I'm terrified." Honour replied sarcastically, "He'll be the first Jedi I kill."
"That's my girl!" Jango cheered, Glory saw Honour beam with pride.
Distracted, Glory didn't hear someone approaching from behind until she heard a lightsaber being ignited. The purple sword was being held at Jango's throat; Glory pulled Boba behind her and Honour cocked her DC-17 to the Jedi's temple.
"I bet I can pull the trigger faster than you can decapitate him."
Dark eyes flitted between the sisters, "Kenobi warned me about you two."
"Lay a hand on either of my daughters and I'll make you regret the day you were born." Jango snarled.
"You've changed, Mr Fett." Glory watched a smile grow on Windu's face, "You never used to be that protective."
"Keep your mouth shut." Jango looked furious and Glory reached out to him, intertwining her fingers with his. After a moment, she felt him squeeze her hand in response.
"Master Windu, how pleasant of you to join us." Dooku said calmly, not at all worried about Jango having a lightsaber to his throat.
"This party's over." Glowing lightsabers soon appeared all over the arena.
"Brave, but foolish, my old Jedi friend. You're impossibly outnumbered."
"I don't think so."
"We'll see." Dooku's smile was too smug.
She could hear droids approaching from behind, Jango pushed Honour's gun away from Master Windu, "This Jedi's mine, Honour."
Letting go of Glory's hand, Jango aimed his flamethrower at Master Windu, sending him off the viewing platform with his robe in flames. He replaced his helmet whilst the girls did the same. "Glory, get Boba somewhere safe. Then, start taking these droids out."
"The droids?!" Honour asked in shock, Glory moved Boba in front of her and squeezed his shoulders in reassurance.
"Trust me, okay?" He laid a heavy hand on both of their shoulders, "You both trust me, right?"
"Yes, Jango." Glory replied with a stern nod, lifting Boba onto her hip.
"Take Windu out." Was the last thing Honour said before they jet packed off the balcony and descended into the arena.
Glory started running, using her rangefinder to figure out the safest place for Boba to stay.
"You stay here until Jango, Honour or I tell you it's safe, okay?" Boba crawled into the entrance of a small cavern, she passed him her DC-15S, "Don't use it unless you have to."
"Make dad proud out there, Glory."
She tore off her helmet, pressed a kiss to his forehead and then replaced the bucket, "Look after yourself, Boba."
Honour may be optimistic in her abilities but she could count, the Jedi were severally outnumbered from the beginning. She started taking out droids, but her efforts were futile.
Something pushed her down from behind; she skidded along the dusty ground, clawing sand to come to a halt. Turning around after a back handspring, she faced a young female Jedi with her hand outstretched.
"What the hell?!" Honour resisted the urge to shoot the girl down and instead shot a few SBDs who had gotten too close, "What's your problem?!"
"Whose side are you on?" The girl asked.
Honour threw a droid popper over the girl's head, disabling a group of droids who were about to take the Jedi down. "Whose side does it look like, you di'kut?!"
The girl's brow furrowed, whether it was by the foreign language or Honour's skills, they glared at each other for a few more moments before she ran off.
"Kriffing Jedi." Honour muttered, smiling a little when she saw Jango descending with his jet pack.
Honour felt her gut tighten and when she turned from taking down a B1, she saw Windu's lightsaber swipe at Jango and decapitate him.
Her heart lurched in her chest, "Jango!"
Windu looked up as Jango's headless body slumped to the ground, there was a hint of fear in his eyes. Filled with the desire for revenge, Honour raised her blaster, "You will pay!"
She fired twice, not expecting the Jedi to be so quick. Surprisingly, Windu didn't use his lightsaber, he simply moved so the bolts skimmed his arm. He looked at her, not an inch of emotion on his face, "Behind you."
Spinning, Honour was quickly pinned to the ground by an angry acklay, it stood on her wrist which meant she couldn't use her blaster. Just as she lifted her legs to kick the beast's chest, the creature collapsed on top of her.
Scrambling to her feet, she shoved Windu, "I had that entirely under control!"
Windu staggered backwards when she pushed his shoulders, but he quickly recovered, "I'm sure you did."
Honour groaned in frustration, the Jedi were severely outnumbered and were being cornered into the center of the arena. She made her way over with Windu, "I hope you have a good plan, kriffing Jedi."
"I always have a plan." Windu's tone was full of arrogance.
Honour opened her mouth to parrot him, but she saw Glory coming towards her. The medic was using her rangefinder, probably looking for Jango.
"Windu killed Jango!" Honour shouted as soon as she was within earshot.
Glory choked a breath; her mentor and father figure was gone, and Boba had to witness his death.
"Where's Boba?! She yelled back, taking down a few B1 droids but then all the droids suddenly holstered their weapons.
"Didn't see where he went, was too busy trying to get a clear shot at Windu's head."
Glory looked over at the Jedi, there was blaster burns on his shoulder and arm. Compared to some of the Jedi's injuries she had treated that day, he was as good as new. She wanted to comfort her sister, but Dooku began to speak from the viewing platform.
"Master Windu, you have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the archives of the Jedi Order." Dooku then tried to get Master Windu to surrender but the Jedi had more pride than that.
When Dooku apologized, Glory felt a tinge of fear before the dust rose around her and the sound of LAATs came from above.
"I think our reinforcements have arrived." Honour announced, Glory could see hundreds of armored clones on board the gunships: their brothers from Kamino. "I'm going after Dooku. What about you, Baby Girl?"
"I'll go wherever I'm needed." When the gunships hovered for the Jedi to get on, Glory realized that they would be separated.
"I'll meet you when this is over." Honour said over their private comlink channel, she was on a gunship with Kenobi, Skywalker and Amidala.
"Do Jango proud." Glory climbed onto a gunship that would be attending a battlefield not far from the arena.
Once they reached Drop Zone EaW, Glory caught up with the Commander in armor trimmed with gold, "Sir! Where can I be most useful?"
He turned to her, helmet tilting as he looked her up and down, "Glory?!"
"71?!" Glory asked with just as much shock; 71 had been in a few of her lectures that she did on Kamino, "I knew you had command potential!"
"Says the one in customized armor!" Glory nearly forgot about her armor which looked different from every other clone, "The medics are chaotic, they don't have any one to lead them. If I can set up an open comlink channel, can you take charge?"
A head medic was crucial on the battlefield, "Set up the link, I'll sort them out."
71 laid a hand on her shoulder, "I was hoping you would turn up and save the day, Glory."
As the gunship tried to catch up with Dooku, Honour removed her helmet and glared at the one called Skywalker, "Some good kriffing rescue mission you planned there!"
"Are you serious?!" He didn't faze Honour at all, "You were stood on the viewing platform with Dooku! Who even are you?!"
"Anakin, this is Honour, one of Jango Fett's clones." Kenobi introduced calmly.
"Jango Fett? The one you were trying to track down?!" Honour resisted the urge to punch some sense into the teenager. "She's our enemy, Master!"
The insult was so pathetic that Honour started to laugh. Skywalker's stare narrowed, "Whose side are you on?!"
"It would be wise to stop asking me stupid questions, di'kut!"
"Ani, please!" Amidala inputted, pushing her hand against Skywalker's chest in a way that suggested something more than just friendship. "Not now!"
Honour replaced her helmet and frowned at Skywalker's confused expression. He faced Kenobi, "Master, what does 'di'kut' mean?"
"Mandalorian for 'idiot'." Honour said before Kenobi could open his mouth, the trio looked at her with curiosity, "I think you should stop questioning where my loyalty lies and accept my help, I know how you can take Dooku down."
Kenobi raised an eyebrow, "We're listening."
"I can mimic Boba's voice, get Dooku to share his next destination with us." She glanced at Kenobi, "It's not perfect, but it's better than trying to fight him; none of you could beat him in your conditions."
"You don't think we're capable?!" Skywalker was full of deeply routed rage, "What makes you think you could take on a Sith?"
"I'm smarter, stronger and faster than you, kid, I'm a better soldier than anyone here!"
Skywalker pouted at his Master, "She's skilled, Anakin, I won't deny it. Perhaps we should try Honour's plan."
She appreciated Kenobi's support, but it didn't mean she owed him anything.
"I agree!" At least Amidala had a brain, "We can't win a fight against Dooku!"
"You won't be anywhere near the fighting!" Beneath her helmet, Honour rolled her eyes at Skywalker's protectiveness; Milo never had any difficulties putting Honour in danger during training.
"Senator Amidala will be wherever she wants to be!" The woman sent her a grateful smile whilst Skywalker looked like he was about to implode.
They had been tailing Dooku's speeder for a while, but the gunship wasn't fast enough. Honour noticed the two fighters flanking Dooku retract behind their gunship, she raised her comlink to her lips. "Pilot, pull up!"
The gunship shook violently as it was shot at, "Brace!"
"Padmé!" Skywalker screamed when the Senator was sent tumbling to the sand dunes below. "Put the ship down!"
"She's fine!" Honour whined; Amidala shouldn't have got on the gunship if she didn't know procedure. "No need for the theatrics!"
"Anakin, don't let your personal matters get in the way!" Kenobi tried, but the kid was too stuck up to listen.
"Thirty seconds ago, you didn't want her with us!" Her tone was harsher than Kenobi's, which caught his Padawan's attention. "I need you at your best, Skywalker, keep your head in the game!"
"Is that all this is to you?! A game?!" Skywalker's nostrils were flaring with pent up anger.
Honour looked at Kenobi, "Does he always overreact like this?!"
She turned back to him, "This isn't a game. For my entire life, I've trained every waking second for this war, do not think I'm taking it lightly!"
Skywalker found it difficult to hold her gaze and was forced to look away, "The last thing my reputation needs is you returning to Coruscant in a body bag."
"Your reputation can't be that great if I've never heard of you."
Honour checked her pistol power pack casually, "Just watch me, Skywalker, the universe will know my name soon enough."
Glory couldn't just direct other medics across the battlefield; there were plenty of men who needed her help.
"How bad, sir?" She asked a Sergeant who led her behind some supply crates.
"His guts are all over the place." There was panic in the officer's tone.
The trooper was face down, groaning as another medic scrambled around him. Dropping to her knees, Glory grimaced at the sight of her first live evisceration.
"Three rounds of morphine, nothing's helping." The medic with bright red hair informed when she asked what he had administered.
"He's in shock, the adrenaline is pumping the drugs out of his system before they can be absorbed." She injected an anti-shock hypo into the clone's neck, "Sweetheart, what's your name?"
"Argh, Fixer…" He groaned, eyes clenched shut.
"Fixer, I'm going to turn you onto you back." She signalled to the other medic to help, "Just bear with me, honey."
They rolled Fixer onto his back and when Glory pulled on some disposable gloves that went halfway up her forearms, the other medic's eyes widened, "Are you going to…"
"It's the only way, I'm afraid." She leant over Fixer, "I'm going to patch you up now. I'm sorry, sweetie, it's going to hurt, but the pain will be over soon."
The meds were keeping him calm, but it wouldn't be enough. She spoke discreetly to the Sergeant, "I need your men to hold him down please, this isn't going to be pleasant."
He nodded mechanically; understandably hesitant to restrain one of his men.
"What's your name?" She asked the other medic as the Sergeant's men held Fixer's limbs down, "I'm Glory."
"CT-3600, ma'am!" Surprisingly, he recalled his number first, "My squad calls me Degree."
"Degree." Glory nodded with a smile, "I hope you have the squad record for being able to stuff a sleeping bag in the quickest time."
Putting intestines back into the abdominal cavity had no better analogy. Glory's heart lurched at Fixer's pain-filled cries, but she didn't stop, not until she stitched the wound back together, "You were so brave, Fixer, I would never be able to remain as still as you were!"
Thankfully, the combination of pain and medication made him drowsy. As she wrapped thick bandages around his torso, Degree asked in a quiet voice, "How did you know what to do?"
"It's standard for…" She deliberated how young Degree looked for a moment, "When did you finish your medical training, Degree?"
He looked down, Glory glanced to the Sergeant who frowned, "We were all rushed through training, ma'am, none of us completed it."
The Kamonians had been, and still were, under a lot of pressure to produce as many clones as possible. The entire squad looked ashamed, "Don't lose pride, men, you are worth no less than any other clone on this battlefield."
She stood and dusted off her knees, "I'll have some guys come to evac Fixer; I suggest the rest of you try to learn from some of the more experienced clones, you'll catch on quick. Degree, you're with me."
"Ma'am?" Degree asked, standing as well.
"This may be a little more intense than flash-training." She said with a wink, pulling on her helmet and gesturing for him to follow her. "No better way to learn than on the job!"
Degree and his squad had been taken straight from a training session to deploy to Geonosis. They hadn't completed their final assessments, and they hadn't even attempted the Citadel challenge; it was meant to be another four weeks until they graduated.
Glory, the female medic, didn't seem to mind and for the first time in his life, Degree felt like he had met a clone who wasn't obsessed with the number of droids they shot down.
He watched the way she interacted with injured clones, using terms of endearment like 'sweetheart' or 'honey' whilst treating injuries without thinking about it; it was like second nature to her.
They ran towards the clone waving his hands in the air desperately. Beside him, another clone was sat on the ground with their leg bent at a disturbing angle.
Just as Glory knelt, the injured clone pointed to the open battlefield, "My Captain and two other men are still out there!"
"I'll handle it, honey, I just need you to stay calm." Degree watched Glory flick her rangefinder on and scan the battlefield. "Splint his leg, Degree, then be prepared to help me."
"You're going out there?!" Degree stared at the open battlefield filled with zipping blaster bolts.
"There are men out there who need my help, I refuse to deny them the chance of survival." With her DC-17 in hand, Glory sprinted onto the active battlefield, leaving Degree and the shocked clones behind.
"I'll help you, buddy." The clone with a broken leg didn't struggle when Degree splinted the limb; him and the others were staring in awe as Glory sprinted across the battlefield in her dark purple armour.
"Who is that?" The one who waved the medics over asked, "Is she Jedi?"
"Not even close." Degree laughed, giving the injured brother a dosage of painkiller. "She's our sister."
Honour peered through the slits in the ventilation shafts above Dooku's hanger, Kenobi was using his lightsaber to absorb Force-lightning from the Count's fingertips and Skywalker was unconscious against the wall.
He had made the rookie mistake of forgetting reconnaissance before engaging the enemy, now his Master was doing all the work.
As Kenobi fought Dooku, it became obvious that the Jedi couldn't win; Dooku's Form II was flawless and the precision of his Makashi was wearing away at Kenobi's Form III.
When Kenobi was no longer able to keep up, Dooku jabbed at his arm and leg, causing the Jedi to fall. When the Sith raised his lightsaber to kill, Honour activated the comlink.
Relying on memory alone, Honour replicated Boba's voice. "Dooku! Where are you? I need help!"
Dooku paused, his lightsaber hovering over Kenobi, "Please, Windu killed my father!"
It was difficult to replicate a voice from memory, especially when she was making up phrases rather than just parroting. It must've worked because Dooku deactivated his lightsaber and spoke into his comlink, "I'm not responsible for you, Boba, you-"
"I'm begging you, Count, I'll do anything!" Honour made a choked sound, as if she were about to cry, "Honour and Glory just left me in the arena! I need help!"
She heard Dooku sigh heavily, "I'll send you some coordinates, meet me there."
"How will I get there?" Her comlink flashed when Dooku sent his next destination, "Where is it?"
"It's a base, my boy." Honour felt bile rise in the back of her throat, disgusted at how Dooku treated Boba like his own son, "There's a ship in the East hanger, I'm assuming-"
She watched Skywalker sneak up on the distracted Sith, scoring his lightsabre across Dooku's midriff. It wasn't serious enough to stop Dooku igniting his own lightsabre. The pair engaged in some impressive blade work until suddenly, Dooku took Skywalker by surprise with an unexpected undercut, taking his forearm with him.
Good thing it wasn't bleeding, or else Honour would've fainted. Dooku blasted the Jedi aside with a Force-push, Skywalker landing at Kenobi's feet.
Honour dropped from the ventilation shaft, taking Dooku down with a sharp kick to his back which made a surprisingly soft landing. Dooku ignited his lightsaber and Honour narrowly dodged his first swing. Retreating with a few back handsprings, she threw her DC-17 to the side.
"Miss Fett, I've been looking forward to seeing how well Jango trained you." Dooku smiled creepily and tossed his lightsabre to the ground, getting into a Jedi-like opening stance.
Honour crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him, "Whenever you're ready, old man."
"You want to fight weaponless, but still hide your face?"
She removed her helmet, Dooku was sprinting towards her whilst she was temporarily blinded. Too bad she was expecting that.
With an undercut punch, Honour's helmet smashed against Dooku's jaw before he had got too close, there was a loud crack and she could tell it was bone instead of plastoid.
Dooku quickly recovered and threw himself at her again, forcing Honour to engage in hand-to-hand. After doing a spin kick, Dooku secured a punch to her exposed torso, winding her a little. Her pain could be ignored as the move put him in the perfect position to be kicked in the knee.
Dooku screeched when the joint was dislocated, extending a hand and Honour was soon engulfed in Force-lightning. It hurt like hell, but not as much as simulation Force-lightning did. She was suddenly grateful for the excruciating torture training that Milo had put her through on Kamino.
She didn't scream, she just counted the thirteen painful seconds where she couldn't move or breathe. When the sensation finally faded, Honour shook off the side-effects as quickly as possible, she couldn't collapse like Skywalker did.
"I'll admit, you've impressed me." He hissed as they circled each other.
"I wish I could say the same." If Dooku wasn't so sophisticated, then he would've snarled at her insult.
Dooku lunged for but she easily dodged and retrieved a five-inch hunting knife from her belt, stabbing Dooku in the stomach since they were in such proximity.
He gasped, "You said… no weapons…"
"You shouldn't have trusted me." Honour whispered lowly, pulling out the knife and shoving Dooku's body to the floor. She glanced at Skywalker and Kenobi who were watching with gaping mouths, "Do you need him for anything?"
Kenobi slowly shook his head, Honour revealed the smaller pistol that was tucked at the back of her belt, aiming the muzzle at Dooku's head, "Didn't think so."
Her finger tightened around the trigger, she wanted to enjoy this moment.
The hand that Dooku pressed over his bleeding wound stretched out and Honour briefly heard metal being torn apart before a heavy weight hit the back of her head and her dream of killing a Sith faded into darkness.
When she dived into the crater, it didn't take Glory long to assess injuries. The Captain was fine, but he had one man with multiple blaster wounds to his chest and torso, the other had severe breaks to both femurs.
"My name's Glory." She announced to the three white helmets, "I'm a medic and I'm here to help."
"Thank you, ma'am." The Captain sighed with relief, "We thought we were going to die here. Boys, looks like our guardian angel came back for us."
Glory chuckled, administering painkiller hypos, "I'm not much of an angel, Captain."
The Captain threw the gunshot wounded man over his shoulder whilst Glory lifted the one with two broken femurs; putting him over her shoulder would've just been agonising for him.
They jumped out of the crater and began the run back to the frontline. Fifteen metres in, Glory felt a blaster bolt whizz past her and hit the Captain, sending him and the injured clone sprawling across the dust.
The Captain was already dead, but the injured man was very much alive and now screaming out in pain. Without stopping, Glory threw both men over her shoulders and widened her strides.
Her legs screamed in agony, her lungs burned, and the corset made it extremely difficult to respire properly. She leapt across craters and reminded herself that soon, these men would be safe.
"I can't believe you made it!" Degree exclaimed once she reached the front line and both injured men were put onto awaiting gurneys.
"Neither did I." She wiped the dust off her visor, "Come on, Degree, there're plenty more lives that need saving."
Degree laughed as he followed her, "Right behind you, Glory!"
Three hours later, Glory felt her heartrate spike when Kenobi and Skywalker entered the Majestic's medbay that she had been put in charge of. The Padawan was cradling an amputated arm and Honour was in the elder Jedi's arm.
"What happened?" She asked, helping lay Honour on a bed; her sister seemed to just be unconscious with no major injuries.
"Knocked out by a metal pillar thrown at her with the Force." Glory's grimaced before Kenobi added, "You should've seen the Count after they fought."
Whatever had happened, blood was coating Honour's hunting knife and her DC-17 was nowhere in sight.
"Padawan Skywalker, the cubicle beside this one is vacant." The Jedi startled a little when she addressed him, "I'll be there as quickly as I can."
As soon as Glory hooked Honour up to a morphine drip, she returned to Skywalker who had been left in Degree's care. The junior medic placed a bacta patch over the Jedi's right eye in silence. Skywalker's amputated arm had been bandaged, but his face remained emotionless.
"Thank you for all your help, Degree, you've been marvellous." Glory wanted to help the young Jedi, but Skywalker would be cautious to confide in the she-clone with too many people around, "Take five."
The other medic left promptly, grateful for being dismissed. Glory smiled at the Jedi who watched her, "The emotions you're feeling are normal for amputees, sweetheart."
His expression didn't shift, "Jedi aren't meant to get attached."
"You can't brush aside a lost limb like it didn't mean anything to you." Glory came closer to his bed.
Skywalker's face scrunched up and he exhaled shakily, Glory ensured the curtain was drawn before sitting on the edge of his bed. With her right hand, she laid it over his remaining one and with the other, she took a bold move and placed it against his cheek.
He didn't pull away; he just leant his face against her palm. "Sweetheart, tell me what-"
"Anakin." A warm tear slid down her thumb, "You remind me of my mother when you say that. My name is Anakin."
"Anakin, tell me what's wrong." Keeping her approach gentle, Glory tried to console him.
"Less than a week ago, my mother died in my arms." Glory suddenly felt terrible for asking. "I tried to save her, but I was too late."
"I'm so sorry for your loss." She said quietly. As a medic, she knew how it felt to be too late, it was the reality of medical practise. "Mothers are the only figures in our lives who can never be replaced."
Skywalker furiously wiped his eyes on his remaining forearm, leaving Glory's hand to fall back to her side, "I'm not meant to have these emotions; they're supposed to be released into the Force and forgotten about."
"You're only human, Anakin." Glory rubbed soothing circles on his cheek with her thumb, "Anyone who tells you not to grieve doesn't have your best interests in mind."
He bowed his head, knocking her hand from his cheek in the process, "Dwelling will not bring my mother back."
"That's true." He tensed at her words, "But taking time to mourn will not cost you anything. Grieving never made the strong become weak."
Her words sat in the air for a while, "I can't bring her back, Anakin, but I can offer you a hug; physical support is the best medicine for emotional pain."
He blinked at her and eventually wiped the final tears from his eyes, "A hug would really help."
"They always do."
She embraced him with as much tenderness as she could. Gently pressing his face into her shoulder, she stroked the back of his head as soft sobs escaped him.
Whilst she held him, Glory hummed Vode An, just like Jango used to when the girls were upset. Skywalker may not have known the song, but its message of solidarity was clear in the tune.
He pulled away with a strained smile and cleared his throat, "I needed that, thank you…"
"Glory." She grinned back at him, "You're most certainly welcome, Anakin."
She reached over his head and dimmed the cubicle lights, "Get some rest, you'll start to feel better soon."
He shook his head and whispered, "The nightmares…"
"The meds should keep them at bay." She moved towards the exit hesitantly, if only there weren't more men to care for… "And if they don't, there's a call button above your head. I'll be right here."
"Promise?" Anakin closed his eyes and clutched the thin sheet to his chest.
"I promise." Glory whispered before sliding around the curtain.
Dooku's Solar Sailer.
1932 hours, First Battle of Geonosis, 22BBY.
"I'm not impressed, Count." I kept my distance, standing at the edge of the room as a med droid stitched the oh-so-powerful Sith's stomach wound. "Honour's not even six years old and she has years on you."
"A warning of her skills would've been appreciated." I could tell he was using the Force to keep the pain out of his voice.
All hatred aside, I knew how he felt, and my hand subconsciously rubbed my bodysuit where Jango had scarred me with a knife.
He would never forgive me if I told him that he was my lab rat. Security footage from Kamino could only teach me so much, I needed to see Honour in action and by the way she wiped the floor with Dooku's shebs*, she had exceeded my expectations. Jango had taught her well.
That could've been you, the voice in the back of my head whispered.
"Don't expect any help from me." I sighed, wondering how long it will be until I could hack the footage from the Majestic's medbay, I wanted to know every word that was exchanged between Glory and Skywalker. "I asked you to eliminate Jango and Windu beat you to it."
I turned to leave the room, but he spoke out, "Do you think any of your sisters will be willing to join me? Or will I have to force them?"
Laughing, I glanced over my shoulder at him. "I'm watching you carefully, Count. You'll never escape my view, so don't do anything stupid."
The Majestic, Coruscant.
2000 hours, First Battle of Geonosis, 22BBY.
"All of you are stood here today for the courageous acts of bravery you demonstrated on the battlefields of Geonosis." Windu stood before 150 clone troopers, "You are recipients of the Medal of Bravery, attached to your chest plates by the Jedi who are proud to have fought beside you."
Honour tried to suppress the bubbling sense of pride in her chest, Glory was stood beside her and couldn't keep the smile off her face. It didn't take long for news to spread and only six hours after being carried from Dooku's hanger, Honour regained consciousness in the medbay and everyone was already treating her like royalty.
Dooku escaped, that was the first thing Skywalker told her when she woke up, a bacta patch over his eye and his amputated arm in a sling. The coordinates for his next destination had been turned over to the Jedi Council where they would sit on their shebs and meditate to figure out what Dooku's motives were instead of getting up and doing something about it.
She scowled when Skywalker attached the gold medal to Glory's chest, at least he was using his mechanical hand. He came into her line of sight, "Touch me and you'll need a second prosthetic hand."
"Forearm, actually." Chuckling, he laid the medal in her palm and she attached it to her own chest, her head throbbing slightly as she moved.
"I want both of you by my side in this war." Skywalker said softly, "To form the basis of my clone legion, I couldn't think of two better role models for the new men."
"Shinies." Honour corrected with a nod, "The new clones with polished armour, we call them 'shinies'."
Skywalker bowed his head, a sign of accepting their culture. Glory straightened and announced, "It would be an absolute pleasure to fight alongside you, General Skywalker."
Although Honour wasn't awake to witness it, some type of emotional bond had formed between the medic and Jedi, Honour could only assume it had something to do with Glory's kind heart.
After Skywalker left, Glory's hand intertwined with her own, "We're so ready, sister."
Honour gave her a wide, Glory-like smile, "For anything the universe throws at us, Baby Girl."
*shebs = Mando'a for backside/rear
So, this is a side of Anakin Skywalker that we never saw in Attack of the Clones. I thought it would be nice to address his head space right after losing his mother and fighting at Geonosis, what do you think? Will he regret inviting Glory and Honour to join Torrent Company, or will it be one of the best decisions he's ever made?
Now the Clone Wars have begun, more familiar faces will be appearing in the next chapter. I have a feeling Honour and Rex aren't going to get along...
Thank you for reading and feel free to review!
Yours truly, dieFabuliererin