GEONOSIS

Outskirts of Poggle's Droid Factory

Leo stood upside down pressing on the surface of Geonosis rocks floated around him made of the same red mineral which made up the desert, "A Jedi's strength does not just flow through the force, it envelops." Master Pong Krell said standing across from him, he was holding a large wooden staff to keep himself upright still recovering from his wounds. In his upper left arm he held the staff and in the lower right he clutched his side as the others hung limp.

"Remember the focus you had during the battle yesterday, you were outnumbered, surrounded on all sides yet still you prevailed, we must learn why?" Krell said.

"W-why?" Leo asked his arms starting to buckle, Krell lifted a small stone with the force and threw it hitting Leo in the gut.

He almost fell over but took a deep breath and straightened even as beads of sweat dropped down into the sand beneath him, "Yes boy, whyyyyyy it is clear to me now that there is more to this Berserker moniker then the ridiculousness name, you may possess a latent battle meditation."

Leo looked at the upside down jedi who knelt in front of him "Use one arm." Krell ordered.

Obeying him Leo stuck his right arm out while using his left to keep him steady "As I was saying, yes battle meditation is an ancient and powerful weapon of the force that can influence entire armies. In the days of the old Republic such force wielders were prized among Jedi and Sith."

"Prized?" Leo asked, getting his attention as Krell circled him "Indeed, though it's like you are useless against our current adversaries, droids and clones feel nothing but programming." Leo clicked his tongue hearing him disrespect the clones, Krell turned around looking at the droid factory in the distance and the Republic forces gathered for a final assault.

"For now it must be sharpened honed, has Skywalker mentioned any of this to you?" Krell asked.

Leo shook his head "Speak up boy." Krell barked "No… General Krell."

"Until I am for certain you will speak nothing of this battle meditation to anyone, not even Skywalker's Padawan you've grown so close to." Leo was almost sweating buckets as the blood rushed through his head, "Is that clear Padawan?"

"... yes Master." Leo replied in a grunt, "Good now thats enough we must return to the front I sense Master Unduli will be arriving soon to reinforce us." Krell said, Leo dropped down to his feet and started to follow him back to the front.

Currently at said front, Ahsoka and Anakin got their squad of clones together while they waited for Luminara and her reinforcements to arrive, Artoo brought up a hologram of the area before Ahsoka briefed them, "This bridge is our first waypoint focus your fire on the gun emplacements, here and here. Because it's only-" she started, pointing to the bridge then two spots on the factory side as red dots appeared on the map before Anakin cut her off and continued to explain, "Because it's only after we neutralize the guns can we push for the factory." Ahsoka was about to complain to him for interrupting her.

"I was…!" she started before relenting and continuing to explain, "Yes, we can push for the factory now expect stiff resistance from-" Anakin interrupted again and moved to stand in front of her while she gave him a brief irritated look, "And don't forget to top off your energy cells and ration packs, once we leave there will be no resupply. Anything else, Ahsoka?" he asked, turning his head to her

"No. I think you've pretty much covered everything. In my briefing." she replied, sounding miffed. "Very well, squad dismissed." he said to them. The clones then took their leave. "Okay, what's next?" Anakin asked Ahsoka as they turned off the holo app.

"You know, Master my briefings might go better if you didn't interrupt me every time I tried to-" she started, her tone still irritated before he interrupted her again, "I wasn't interrupting, I was trying to help you." he said, defending himself.

Ahsoka only seemed to get even angrier "Which I would appreciate if you didn't interrupt me to do it. I just think you don't trust me to give the briefing!" she accused me of frowning.

Her master suddenly turned to face her. "It's not about trust it's about getting the job done right." he said defensively.

She raised her finger like a lawyer about to object "So you don't trust me to get the job done right! I knew it!" she accused.

Anakin sighed at her claim "Snips, I never-" he started only for Ahsoka to interrupt him this time "No. No. It's okay, I understand. I'm the padawan you're the master." she said, her tone sounding bitter as she crossed her arms in annoyance, just as Pong and Leo approached them from the lower part of the hill overlooking the factory.

"Is it always like this?" Krell asked, crossing his staff over his chest and leaning on it "Not- mostly." Leo whispered

A few minutes later Luminara and Barriss' gunship landed while Ahsoka and Anakin started arguing again "Maybe if you'd listen to me!" Anakin accused.

"Well if you don't trust me then maybe you should send me back!" Ahsoka shot back.

"Don't tempt me, Snips." he said, sounding like he just might. They looked like they were gonna start again just as Luminara and her padawan approach. Like Luminara the padawan was a green skinned miralian with diamond markings on her forehead and chin. She wore a blue hood with a short cape, similar to a hijab or cowl over a dark black Jed gown fitting a miralian like her master. She appeared to be older or more developed than Ahsoka, tall and slender with a sense of grace as she followed her Master.

"It appears Skywalker and his apprentice are at it again Pong." Luminara said walking up beside Krell who approached the two bickering jedi "It will pass once we begin our mission." Pong said to Luminara and her padawan as they followed.

"Again Master?" The padawan asked "Lets just say they have a pension with regulations and rules of command."

Both Ahsoka and Anakin snapped to as the Jedi gathered "Well Barriss aren't you going to introduce yourself." Luminara said hands behind her back gesturing to the girl behind her, she walked up to Ahsoka and Anakin "Padawan Barriss Offee at your service." She said with a soft brow and courtesy that made Anakin smile with her formallness and made Ahsoka cringe.

"Uh Likewise." She said offering her a hand to Barriss to shake Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at the interaction before they all turned their attention to Anakin as he spoke "Its good to see you again."

"I wish it were under more peaceful circumstances."

They activated the holopmap again and stood close to Barriss before Luminara spoke, "A frontal assault is risky our losses will be high." she said, her voice taking on a worried tone as she held her chin.

"But not as high as they'll be if that factory comes online." Anakin said, crossing his arms.

Krell then interjected "The sacrifices will be worth it, we can't afford to loose our momentum." Krell added.

"Indeed, but there is an alternative." she started, as a series of tunnels appeared beneath the factory before crossing her arms and continuing, "Every Geonosian building has a series of catacombs beneath it that run deep underground." she finished before Barriss spoke next, "Some of the tunnels are close enough to this cliff wall, so that you could cut a hole and make an entry point." she said as the red dot moved down and towards the wall.

Luminara spoke again as the dot started weaving up through one of the tunnels, "Once inside, we could find the main reactor, plant the explosives and blow the factory inside out." she finished as the dot expanded and covered the factory before disappearing.

"Looks like a good way to get lost if you ask me." Anakin said, his tone sounding unconvinced it would work.

"To the unprepared, perhaps." Luminara said before looking at and gesturing to Barriss as she continued, "But I have instructed Barriss to memorize the labyrinth, all 200 junctions."

Anakin gave Luminara a grin and spoke, "You always were thorough." he said with a smirk. "It pays for one to be prepared, right Barriss?" she asked.

"Especially when other people's lives depend on your success." Barriss agreed, Leo couldn't help but notice that the battlefield was cleared of all the Geonosians and droids half buried in the sand was a Geonosian statue being used to set up a clone cannon before his attention returned to the planning.

"How do we keep the Geonosians occupied while someone else is setting the bombs?" Ahsoka asked.

"Good point, Snips. If whoever's going in there has gotta be successful, we'll need to create a diversion." Anakin said, turning his attention to Luminara. "Precisely. That task will be carried out by you and I, Skywalker. While the destruction of the factory falls to the padawans." Luminara said

"Now hold on, who decided that?" Anakin asked her, frowning as Ahsoka placed her hand on her hips and glared at him. "Walking into that factory could be suicide!" he argued.

The jedi master next to him glared at the man "Not if you and I are successful at holding Poggle's attention at the bridge." Luminara said to Anakin

Ahsoka leaned over to Anakin who still wasn't a believer in the plan "Master, I can do this I've had riskier assignments!" she argued.

"But unlike Barriss, you aren't prepared for this mission." he argued back. "Not to worry, my padawan is reliable." Luminara assured.

"She can lead them through the maze." Luminara assured again. "We'll be in and out, Master." Barriss assured as well.

"See? Dependable Barriss will get us through don't worry, Master as you well know, I can follow orders." she said with a slight mocking tone and smirk while folding her arms.

Krell been silent eas each jedi and their padawan mimicked each other, so did Leo in his silence "Master Krell what do you think?"

"I endorse Luminara's plan, boy what say you?" Pong asked Leo who was looking back at the factory "Boy!" Pong snapped before Leo turned around all eyes on him.

Leo reached for his lightsaber squeezing it "I think we should offer the Geonosians a chance to surrender."

Both Ahsoka and Anakin at the same time said "What?"

"You don't have faith in Master Unduli plan boy?" Krell accused, Leo looked up at him put off by all the looks he was getting. "N-no sir, but we're here to take Poggle the Lesser right?" Leo asked them.

"That is the primary objective, what of it?" Luminara asked with a cocked brow eager to hear what Leo was getting at.

Leo looked back at the factory and fallen Geonosian pillar behind them and held his hand up to it "Lets offer the Geonosians an ultimatum, we know Poggle is in the factory we offer a trade they give us Poggle and shut down the factory and…"

"And what boy?" Krell growled at him wanting him to finish the sentence "And we leave."

"Leave!" Krell yelled at him "Have you lost your mind boys, the hostiles nearly wiped us out yesterday, you defeated them and you just want to leave?" Krell barked at him.

Leo took the brunt of the scolding waiting for his master to finish "It's their planet Master, we're the hostiles."

"While I admire your desire to end the fighting Padawan Rock it was the Geonosians who started this war by building the droid army in the first place." Master Unduli pointed out to him "Now is there anything else?" Luminara asked them, nobody said anything.

"It's decided then." Luminara said as she handed Ahsoka a backpack, who slipped it on while continuing to smirk. "I guess it is." Anakin said, still sounding like he was against the idea.

Luminara then raised her wrist showing a chronometer on her gauntlet, "We'll monitor your progress on these chronometers." Luminara said, handing them each one. Leo attached it to his off-hand wristband before Luminara spoke again, "We'll sync on my mark." They got ready to press the button as she counted down, "Three. Two. One. Mark." The devices beeped simultaneously and flashed green once for all the jedi wearing them. "Let's get going after you Barris." Ahsoka said as Barriss took the lead and they started running towards the bridge "Come on Rusty try to keep up." Ahsoka called before Leo followed her and Barriss down the hill.

"You know Pong, you could go a little easier on the boy, Leo's been through a lot lately?" Anakin said next to Pong who leaned on his cane "Skywalker I…" Pong sighed "perhaps you're right, maybe I am too hard on the boy but even a Rock must be polished for it to shine." Krell said.

"That's rather… poetic?" Anakin said.

As the Padawans shrunk into the distance, Luminara waited till they were far enough away none of them would hear "But you fear Ahsoka is not up to the task?" Luminara asked Anakin.

"I never said that." Anakin said, Luminara could tell something was bothering Anakin "What is it then?" She asked.

"Nothing, lets prepare the men." Anakin said walking past her back to the troops.

Krell followed them from behind sharing a glance with Luminara till they approached Artoo who created a holo app of the factory, bridge and catacombs beneath it "We'll need to make a bold move to keep their attention off the Padawans." Luminara said as Anakin crossed his arms looking at the hologram.

"Pong do you have any suggestions?" Anakin asked the aged Besalisk "In my current state I've no use on the battlefield, but we should focus our forces on the bridge and I sense you have a plan Skywalker?" Krell asked.

"Best plan is to march our troops up the middle, parade style, they can't resist that." Anakin suggested Artoo heard his command and showed holograms of the republic forces meeting the droids on the bridge "With no cover?" Luminara asked him.

"We'll have to make it tempting." Anakin urged.

Krell leaned on his walking stick "Why not send the clones over in a charge instead, all out assault?"

"Casualties would be too high, I won't sacrifice my men's lives needlessly." Anakin said "Or mine." Luminara said.

"Much must be risked in war my Jedi brothers, much indeed." Krell said looking in the distance at the factory.

DROID FACTORY

Inside the factory, Poggle the Lesser was overseeing the creation of a new droid army red tinted from the ore mined from the planet's surface. Behind Poggle was the factory itself rows and rows of droids on racks being built on an assembly line as Commander Droid examined the factories data "The factory is operating at fifty percent capacity, we have five new regiments of battle droids ready to be deployed."

Poggle spoke to him in geonosian that the droid could easily understand "No the super tanks are not ready yet, but when they are no weapon the Republic will be able to stop us."

OUTSIDE THE FACTORY

Anakin and Luminara were marching in full force to the droid factory with their entire army behind them, clones in parade march and the tanks between each battalion. Commander Jet stood close behind Luminara as they marched "Pong we're closing in on the factory." Unduli replied to Pong Krell who was behind at the command post watching from a holopad. Among the clone troopers were Rex, Jet and Alpha walking side by side behind the jedi.

"Must be strange being back on Geonosis Captain Alpha." Jet asked him.

Alpha snickered under his mask "Been to one rock been to them all."

"May the force be with you Masters." Pong said, leaning on his staff watching.

Back with Luminara and Anakin the two of them continued walking "Is it true what happened to Pongs Padawan, an entire battalion of Geonosians surrendering to him?"

"You mean after-" "After he defeated over a hundred of their warriors?" Luminara asked him as Anakin started to get where she was going.

"Its true and I don't think Master Krell cared that much." Anakin said to her.

Luminara glanced at him "Why do you say that, he's not your Padawan?"

"And yet I think I've trained him more than Pong has." Anakin said as they saw the gate of the droid factory rise and a full army of fully assembled battle droids marching out.

"Here come the droids, everybody steady, steady keep marching." Anakin said.

Luminara saw them too and added "I hope the Padawans made it past the bridge by now." As she said it the droid marching out was unaware after reaching the bridge Leo, Barris and Ahsoka had started to climb down the cliff as droids started to march across it. "Hurry droids are coming." Leo warned before they started climbing down a bit faster.

"That looks like a lot of droids." Anakin said beside Luminara "Well it is a droid factory."

"As long as we can destroy them faster then they can make them, we'll come out on top." Anakin said.

Luminara snickered, shaking her head at his confidence, "I love your simple logic Skywalker." She said before they both took out their green and blue lightsabers and charged the droid when they opened fire.

"How you feeling Captain Alpha?" Rex asked the older clone who drew his pistols "Like I'm home." Alpha said running

Once nearing the bottom they jumped down and ran over the other cliff wall Barriss felt around for a second before igniting her saber and cutting a big rectangle in it then used the Force to pull the rock out and drop it on the ground. "Nice work." Ahsoka complimented before walking up to the hole.

"Well, here goes nothing." she said before Barriss grabbed her shoulder to stop her. "I should go in first. I know the way." she reminded them.

"Be my guest." Ahsoka said with a smirk and gestured to the hole

Barriss stepped in, looking around for a bit followed by Ahsoka then Leo who grabbed her shoulder "Alright my turn to ask, are you alright?" Leo asked.

"Can we talk about this later?" Ahsoka asked him "Fair enough." He replied before they followed Barriss into the caverns.

"I must say it is rather interesting to finally meet you both, let alone work alongside you I would have introduced myself earlier but you two were busy." Barriss said in front of them.

Ahsoka and Leo like always looked at one another confused "I'm sorry?" Ahsoka asked "I saw you at Nahdars graduation party, you came with Selene right?" Barriss asked.

"Oh you were there two?" Leo said in a low voice "I was, most of the padawans there were talking about the both of you the fearless Ahsoka Tano and Leo Rock the Berserker."

"Fearless, I like the sound of that." Ahsoka said smugly.

After a few minutes of jogging through the dark caves they stopped and pressed their backs against the walls as they noticed two Geonosians up ahead on guard. The bugs looked in their direction for a couple of seconds before walking off. The three padawans crouched before moving forward again when they came up on a corridor with some light shining in it and lots of sleeping Geonosians before stopping.

"They're sleeping." Barriss whispered. "We have to find another way." Ahsoka whispered urgently as she looked around.

"We don't have time! This direction is the fastest." Barriss whispered back to her, gesturing forward with a nod.

Ahsoka still didn't think it was a good idea like Anakin "Maybe you're wrong!" Ahsoka whispered back, hoping she was. "Trust me." Barriss urged back before the couple started moving forward again with Ahsoka trailing behind them.

The padawans moved slowly while making sure not to touch any outstretched limbs when a hand suddenly landed on Barriss' head.

"Ahsoka- Leo." Barriss tried to call out in a whisper, both padawans looked back to see the hand and came up to gently lift the warriors and off her head not to wake him. When they moved ahead none of them realized the warrior was awake.

As they moved on Barriss guided them down the labyrinth of tunnels "Left at the next junction." Barriss told them as they walked forward before turning left.

"Dead end." Ahsoka said after they noticed a wall in front of them. "If we make a wrong turn, we may never find our way out you do remember the way, don't you?" Ahsoka asked, her tone becoming worried.

Barriss held her chin in thought. "Of course I do." she replied frowning before looking around. Her eyes widened as she looked up behind her. "It's not left. It's up!" she realized. "It's this way." she said before jumping up through the hole above them, Ahsoka jumped next then finally Leo and behind them was the Geonosian warrior who they'd accidentally awoken.

Up on the battlefield, Luminara and Anakin were pressing on against the droids as a squad of droidekas rolled up to stop them. "Rex a little help here?" Anakin ordered his second in command.

"Get up there trooper." Rex ordered Jet who ran between the two Jed I with a rocket launcher blasting the droids into oblivion along with a barrage of cannon fire from the Republic tanks, running past both jedi Alpha jumped right into the droids shooting wildly from all directions not missing a single mark "Come on you clankers, GIVE ME A REAL FIGHT!"

Inside Poggle's factory the Geonosian leader slammed his fist down on his holotable watching the Republic getting closer and closer before he turned to his command droid "My lord I beg you to let us use the secret weapo?"

Poggle then asked him something in the bug "We have twenty units in reserve and another on the way."

Poggle nodded then seeing no other choice "Thank you my lord." The droid said before he pressed a button on the command rooms console.

"Deploy the supetanks attack formation."

Outside the factory gates suddenly poured twenty new droid vehicles rolled out of the factory across the bridge, they were bulbous with shell like designs and blue tripes of the Confederacy running on the top and back of them.

"Looks like the Separatists have a new toy." Luminara said stopping along with the clones, Anakin looked back at the Arc trooper with him "Rex pick your targets."

Rex heard him and was already by the Republic cannons "Yes sir, elevation four two seven." Rex ordered as the guns raised up.

Down under the factory a few minutes later the padawans reached the top and climbed out just underneath the factory before looking through a hole above them. "Whoa that's a lot of droids." Ahsoka said as multiple rows of droids were moved along the area.

"If they get operating our forces are done for." Leo said urgently.

"Come on the main control room's this way." Barriss said as they took off forward and down another tunnel later they climbed up through a metal tube still unaware of the Geonosian warrior behind them.

"This is it we're here." Barriss said after they opened the hatch, the padawans hopped out of it and into a giant circular room with the reactor in the middle.

The three ran up to it and Ahsoka started attaching the explosives to it while Leo and Barriss were on lookout "Is it true you faced down a hundred Geonosians on your own when you landed here?" Barriss asked.

"What?" Leo asked "Jet one of the clones I know told me how you fought off an entire battalion of Geonosian warriors on your own?"

Leo scratched the back of his head feeling embarrassed "Oh that um… yeah it was nothing."

"Nothing, you're funny." Barriss said as Ahsoka planted the bombs.

Once she placed the last one she pressed a button on her chronometer and slipped her pack back on. "And now we make ourselves scarce." Ahsoka said quietly before they started running. Only to stop when a blast door opened up, revealing Poggle the Lesser, the droid commander and six Geonosians and a new super tank. The padawans ignited their sabers and got ready "What in the Stars is that?" Leo gasped seeing the super tank.

"New tank by the looks of it." Ahsoka said.

Poggle pointed and clicked something in his native tongue next to hid droid before turning around to leave.

"You heard his highness, collect their pathetic little bombs then we will kill them." the command droid said as Poggle shut the door and the tank's guns started firing. The Jedi were forced back from the blasts while the Geonosians started removing the bombs. Ahsoka put her saber away and took her pack off before grabbing a bomb from her pack.

"See if your stupid tank this!" she taunted before throwing a bomb on the tank right where the droid was standing. The droid laughed. "Fool, the super tank is impervious to all weapons-" it started before the bomb went off and destroyed it unfortunately the tank wasn't even scratched and it opened fire again, with the Jedi starting to deflect again.

Up on the surface the cones were being hammered by the super tanks, even Anakin and Luminara were falling back behind cover "Rex, get the man to pull back."

"But sir, you can't just expect us to cut and run?" Rex asked him, refusing to retreat even when the odds were stacked against them, "I'm not asking you to run, I need to draw those tanks out onto the bride." Anakin said, taking one of Jets packs filled with explosives.

"I see what you have in mind." Luminara said taking a pack from Jet "I always come prepared, Master lets go."

Down in the factory the droids were stealing the bombs right off the "The bombs!" Ahsoka exclaimed as more were removed.

The padawans managed to move towards the bugs and get them away from the reactor. Ahsoka deactivated her saber and grabbed one of them by the legs. She yelled out in surprise as they flew higher. "Stupid green bugger!" she yelled as the bug finally managed to shake her off by knocking her against the top of the reactor before she hit the floor hard.

Leo watched her fall "Ahsoka!" He yelled, running up to her as Barriss covered them from the super tank's fire. Barris broke off when she saw the geonosians heading for the hatch they'd come through shutting it tight before she could stop them. Leo kept trying to shake Ahsoka awake when Barriss saw the super tank closing in on them. Acting quickly Barriss rushed toward the tank and Leo watched her jump onto the top before slicing it open and going inside to take out the droid pilots.

Up above, Anakin and Luminara were planting the bombs of their own on the bridge as the tanks passed by over them. When they were done both swung up top and blew the bridge to the roaring cheers of the clones on the other side.

The two jedi looked back at the factory with its gates closed waiting on the padawans "Ahsoka and Barriss should be back by now where are they?"

"My padawan will not fail." Luminara said "Rex, Pong any word from the padawans?"

"Nothing yet sir." Rex replied "I've heard nothing as well." Pong replied from the command post.

Suddenly the gates of the factory opened again and a new wave of battle droids came marching out to meet Anakin and Luminara, like true jedi both Knights drew their sword and prepared to make a final stand.

Inside the factory when Ahsoka came too she saw the tank heading toward them "Where's Barriss?" She asked.

"Where do you think?" Leo said as the hatch to the tank opened and Barriss popped her head out, Ahsoka getting an idea got up "Come on." She said running toward the tank getting inside with Barriss, Leo got in with them making it kind of cramped.

"The bugs took the bombs!" Barriss said.

"What are we gonna do now?" Ahsoka asked them. "I don't know what to do without the bombs." Barriss admitted.

"Well this tank could destroy the power generator… and probably us along with it." Ahsoka said quietly.

"I guess that's the only choice." Barriss agreed quietly, Ahsoka and Barriss looked at Leo "Rusty?"

Leo shook his head having no other idea "Like always Ahsoka, I'm with you to the end."

Ahsoka smiled sadly and raised her comlink to contact Anakin. "Master, do you hear me?" she asked as they heard the sound of battle on the other side.

"Ahsoka! Set off the bombs, we're trapped!" they heard him yell through the com fighting off the droids. "I'm sorry, Master. We can't make it out…" she said solemnly.

"Can't make it out? Ahsoka wait!" he exclaimed before she cut off. "Fire." she said. Revan pressed the button. The tank's cannon shot the reactor and everything exploded. The blast was seen by every clone around the factory and in the distance Pong Krell stood up watching the factory fall with his padawan inside remembering Anakin's words before he bowed his head as a massive dust storm covered everything in darkness. Krell then turned around "Clone get me a gunship now!" Krell yelled running down to the ship.

When the dust settled, Anakin and Luminara were standing at the edge of a gigantic crater of burning metal and rock. The entire factory had been destroyed, caving in on itself from the explosion into a pile of smoke and ash, Anakin raised his arm "Ahsoka, Leo come in, come in?!" Anakin almost shouted into his comlink.

When no answer came Luminara knelt down "Master Luminara don't worry."

"Be at ease Skywalker." She said calmly but with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"At ease, we need to act now the Padawans may still be alive down there." V

Luminara shook her head slowly "There's not enough time, I sense them drifting away."

"No we'll get them out." Anakin declared as Gunships flew in carrying Rex, Jet, Alpha and even Pong too without his staff.

"Skywalker, Unduli well done it appears the Padawans were successful." Krell callously said to the Jedi.

"General the lifters are here to move the debri as ordered." Rex said as miles below the surface the padawans clung to life turning on their lightsabers to give them some light in the buried tank.

"How deep do you think we're buried?" Barriss asked them, when the light came on Leo found himself squished between both Padawans.

"It's probably best not to think about it." Ahsoka suggested as they all adjusted and Leo crouched over crossing his legs to hide something he was embarrassed about.

"Hand me that power cell, would you?" she asked Barriss who removed it before handing it over. "Thanks. mind holding the light?" she asked Leo, he nodded before grabbing her saber and holding both up.

"Whatever you're doing, I hope it works. Because i'd sure rather have died fighting up there than starve to death down here." she said, gloomily.

"Don't worry, we'll run out of air long before we starve." Ahsoka replied. "That's a comforting thought, thanks." Barriss said sarcastically.

"Master Skywalker has taught me a trick or two I think I can get this communicator working." Ahsoka said, holding it up starting to poke the cell and her communicator together to make a pulse.

Leo gave snarky huff "He'd be proud."

"Not as proud as defeating a small army fearlessly, too bad I won't live to hear you tell us how you did it." Barriss said over to Leo who's smile went away after she spoke "To be honest I was afraid the whole time." Leo said looking down at his lightsaber as Ahsoka kept trying to send out the distress signal.

"And when the Geonosians kept coming and coming my fear grew so much that I just let go, I forgot everything about our mission about if they got through and thought only where I needed to swing my lightsaber to stay alive, right now thats all i want to do is stay alive."

Meanwhile, on the surface the clones continued to do search and rescue as Luminara, Anakin and Pong stood overseeing it "This is a waste of time." Pong said next to Luminara "You may be right Pong." Luminara said as Anakin overheard them.

"No, we cannot abandon our Padawans." Anakin stated disgusted by the notion even being suggested.

Luminara looked at him sadly feeling his pain. "You misjudge me, I too care for my apprentice but if there is time has come…" "I refuse to let Ahsoka's die to let any of them die; they will find a way out." Anakin said firmly while Pong turned his head away hearing him speak so adamantly in keeping the Padawans alive all the besalisk jedi could do was hide his face in shame as he squeezed his staff with all four of his mighty hands helpless against an emotion Pong Krell had rarely ever felt.

Guilt.

"If my padawan has perished, I will mourn her but I will celebrate her as well as her memory." Luminara said trying to comfort Anakin as only a Jedi Master could with wisdom and patience.

"Well I still plan on celebrating this victory with my padawan, in person." Anakin growled, Krell could feel the emotions in Anakin's voice he could feel the force in Leo disappearing the fear of loneliness and from Krell only came shame.

As they kept looking underground the three padawans were running out of oxygen. "What happens to us now, doesn't matter by destroying this factory we've saved countless lives, elsewhere." Barriss said.

"Well, i'm about to save three more lives." she assured me with a smile "Never… doubted… you..." Leo said, starting to run out of air as the distress beacon signal continued to send out a pulse till it reached the top of the rubble and to Anakin's comlink.

"Wait, I'm picking up a distress signal on Ahsoka's com channel, it's coming from over there." Anakin yelled pointing to some distant rubble running up to it with the jedi and clones following him.

Ahsoka kept pressing the cell against the com, hoping it would work. "Master, I know you're up there. And I know you're looking for me." she said weakly, almost passing out, as she depleted the power cell Barriss held out her hand for Ahsoka to grab, then Leo put his palm on it to squeeze it as they waited for salvation or damnation.

The excavator ran over to the source of the signal seeing an entire mountain of rubble waiting for them "I'll move the heavy machinery over here."

"No time." Anakin said looking at Luminara, "Pong we need to-" "I know Skywalker I'm with you." Krell said dropping his walking stick and standing up raising all four arms to aid his brothers. The mountain of rubble began to lift amazing all the clones present to watch the miracle of the force before them, as more rubble flew away from the super tank air rushed into the fill the chamber the padawans were in making them gasp. Anakin and Luminara dropped their arms as Krell almost lost his footing falling to one knee the wounds he suffered taking their toll even with the force.

"Someone's digging." Ahsoka realized as they heard something moving outside before light started to shine in from an opening. Ahsoka coughed as the three walked into the sunlight.

"Ahsoka." Anakin said relieved as a few clones dropped down to help, "Barriss." Luminara said seeing them.

"I knew they were still alive, I told you we shouldn't have given up on them." Anakin said as Krell walked up with his staff in hand "It's not that I gave up on them Skywalker, but unlike you when the time comes I am prepared to let my student go. Can you say the same?" Luminara said to him, Anakin looked back at Luminara and he shook his head walking down into the pit to pull Ahsoka out.

"I knew you'd come looking for me." Ahsoka said to him with a soft smile. Anakin smiled back at her. "I never doubted you for a second." Anakin said as Barriss and Luminara reunited.

"Padawans, you did well." Luminara said.

Offee smiled "Thank you Master, but if it weren't for Ahsoka we'd still be down there." Luminara praise turned to Ahsoka as Leo came up behind the two girls "Indeed, your Master never lost faith in you."

Finally Krell started to make his way down toward them using his walking stick to keep himself upright, Leo walked through the other jedi to stand before him. Pongs face was cold and emotionless as Leo bowed "Master."

Krell looked over at Anakin and Luminara then sighed "Padawan you should have… you almost- how could you be- Ugh why is this so hard..." Pong couldn't seem to find the right words without an insult in them before he let out grumbled growling noise and took a breath before he did the strangest thing he'd ever done to Leo.

He put a hand on his shoulder "Padawan- Leo, you were exemplary today." Leo's face shot up from his bow looking at Pong's narrow and usually harsh eyes, the Besalisk gave a soft smile "Th-thank you Master." Leo said hearing the praise.

"Don't let it go to your head boy, you still have much to learn." Pong said swiftly, turning around and starting to climb out. Anakin looked back at Leo and Ahsoka, she who gave him two thumbs up with a big smile before quickly hiding them from Luminara.

Two things

Quarantine helps with writing so that's why the quick updates

I'm going to skip 'Legacy of Terror' and go to brain invaders, I've got some Sith plans for that chapter.