Chapter 9: Kev Rel'skar

Kamino

"We have Merai!" Centola Marcolus, a Caamasi Jedi Knight, yelled excitedly into the comm. Her usual serenity was broken.

All around him, the Clone children in the pilot training centre cheered.

Kev yipped with excitement as he looked out the transparisteel wall. Outside, the Separatists retreated, V-19 Torrents chasing them into the sky.

"Sir, what was that noise you made?" one of the Clones, a child who appeared to be age 10 but was probably closer to age 4.

Kev's fur swirled with embarrassment as he turned away from the transparisteel wall, gazing into the sea of Clone children. "I, well—" The Bothan Jedi Padawan started, but then stopped speaking. His ears perked up, listening for more updates on the comm.

"Bring Merai to the surface once the Separatists in orbit retreat," Shaak-Ti said in her usual calm. "We cannot risk the Separatists attacking to stop Merai from falling into our custody. Bring him aboard and keep him underwater for now."

"Very well Master," Centola replied serenely.

"I am—grah!" Obi-Wan's voice came through the comm as water splashed his face. "I am glad we captured him but—" more waves interrupted, three more voices in the background could be heard yelling. "Anakin, Kizra, Plo-Koon and I have fallen from a bridge," the Master stammered quickly, water sounds rushing all around him. "Kizra is injured. We need immediate—AAHHH!"

"Don't worry Master," Anakin's voice came through calmly. "Just—"

"—ANAKIN WATCH OUT!" Obi-Wan's voice yelled, causing Kev to wince, his ears folding back.

"We are sending aid," Taun We's calm Kaminoan voice spoke gently.

Kev changed channels, buzzing his Master's personal comm.

"Is everything all right?" Jazal, a red-haired Miraluka Jedi knight, asked.

"Yes, Master," Kev growled politely. "I was wondering if I could return to the main structure."

"Kev," Jazal whispered harshly, "I don't want you anywhere near Anakin. He likes setting you off. We are just a few months away from our first probationary review."

Kev's fur twitched in annoyance. I can handle myself. Besides, Anakin's gotten himself into the ocean somehow. Yeah… He's gotten himself into the ocean! "Master," the Bothan growled excitedly. "Anakin's in the sea."

"Yes, and he's being rescued…" Jazal said impatiently. The comm made a static noise from her exasperated sigh. "I know you don't like Anakin, frankly, neither do I, but I wouldn't want any harm to befall him."

"That's not what I mean," Kev growled cautiously. "I mean, next time Anakin teases me, I can point out he fell into the ocean."

"This is exactly what I am talking about Padawan," Jazal muttered. "Just stay with the Clone children. Anakin and Ahsoka are leaving first. You will be able to give your regards to everyone else after Anakin and Ahsoka leave."

"As you wish," Kev replied. His fur twirled unhappily as he looked down into the crowd. Bafflingly to the Bothan, the Clone children all now looked excited.

"You know Anakin Skywalker?" the nearest Clone child asked in an awe.

Kev scowled, remembering his own trial—when he was sentenced to redo his Padawan training. How Anakin had laughed with glee as Jocasta Nu recalled Kev's statement before breaking into a Judicial's house: 'no intelligence necessary.'

"Sir?" one of the Clones asked, a worried expression crossing his young face. "Sir? I am sorry if I offended you."

Kev turned, facing away from the children, glaring at his reflection in the transparisteel wall. Beyond the window, LAATs were flying around with spotlights, searching the water for crashed pilots. A massive Kaminoan Observation Ship floated down from the clouds, aiding the search with its even more powerful spotlights.

Yet, something now felt very wrong. Kev's fur swirled nervously. His ears perked up, listening. Something feels dangerous. What could it be? The battle is—

—Suddenly, a metallic bulbous-triangular head with two white glowing eyes appeared in the window. It was a droid with dark grey paint, holding an electric polearm of sorts. In the centre of its chest was a glowing red light.

Two more rappelled down in front of the window, staring at Kev. The Padawan yelped in terror, fur flat in fear. The Clone children gave a collective gasp.

The droids began smashing at the transparisteel with their polearms, slowly cracking though.

Kev ignited his green lightsaber in one hand. He moved his wrist comm in front of his snout with the other, yelping, "MASTER! DROIDS ARE HERE!"

"Droids?!" Jazal gasped. "Get the kids and fall back towards the centroplex travellator! I am on my way—We are on our way."

The Clone children let out a collective shriek of terror as Jazal continued stammering away from Kev's comm. Metallic thuds impacted the ground behind him.

With a snarl, Kev spun around. Sensing a blade bearing down on him, he ducked. Five BX-series droids were in the room, with more dropping down from the ventilation shaft.

The Bothan ducked, shifting his stance. He swung back at the droids, saber clashing against two of their electric polearms. Beyond the droids, the Clone children were spilling out of the room, trying to escape as quickly as they could.

As Kev stepped back, the droid at the centre of the group stumbled forward as it missed its spear thrust. The Bothan sliced down through its torso, cutting it in half.

I can do this, Kev thought, his fur relaxing slightly.

Two more droids dropped to the ground and began stunning some of the straggling children.

With a more fluid swing, Kev sliced another droid's polearm, breaking it in half. He took another step back and bumped into the cold transparisteel wall behind him. Kriff. I'm up against the wall. The Bothan's fur fell flat again as he swung helplessly, struggling to fend off the three remaining polearms.

Behind him, the wall finally shattered. A polearm stuck through the shattering transparisteel, jabbing Kev in the centre of the back. He yelped, pushed forward onto his hands and knees into the middle of the three droids, lightsaber rolling away.

Kev yelped again, unable to open his eyes as the droids began zapping him in earnest. He continued yelping until a particularly vicious shock on his head knocked him unconscious.

o.o.o.o.o

"Uhhh…" Kev moaned, blinking in the bright light.

"Sir? Are you okay?" a child's voice asked.

As his surrounds came into focus, Kev gazed into the identical faces of seven Clone children, the unlucky stragglers who too, had been zapped.

"Blast," Kev growled, trying to move. His hands and feet were in bindings. Shtak! I've been captured. His fur fell flat.

"I thought they'd killed you!" one of the kids exclaimed. "You were screaming and crying SOOOO LOUD!"

Another kid agreed in an awed voice. "It was louder than blasterfire. Louder than a sonic boom."

Ignoring their remarks, Kev rolled over, looking towards the broken transparisteel wall. Dozens of BX-series droids had dropped into the room, along with a T-1 tactical droid. On the holoprojector, in front of the droid, was—

"Jazal!" Kev yelped.

"Kev?!" Jazal gasped. Her holopresence held a shadowsync datapad; the viscous blobs on the shadowsync's screen allowed the Miraluka to feel objects projected through a holoprojector or other visual interface.

Next to her holopresence, stood the holopresence of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Bring him here," the T-1 said in a monotone, pointing dramatically towards the Bothan.

"I—AHHH!" Kev yelped in terror. A BX droid grabbed him by the hood of his cloak, dragging him across the floor towards the holoprojector. The collar of his cloak pulled on his neck. Kriff! I am going to choke! the Bothan thought as he sputtered.

Jazal stammered furiously. "If you—"

"—Here is your proof of life," the T-1 droid said calmly.

Kev gasped for air, coughing and sputtering as the droids plopped him on the floor for the Jedi to see.

"Very well," Obi-Wan muttered placatingly. "There are still—"

—A green blade came out of nowhere, slicing through T-1.