I'm back from a long weekend trip to a mountain lodge! A place I was told that there would be internet...but there was none! :D *Cries in not being able to upload chapter until I get back home on Monday.* Please forgive me for this! (Btw, the last 3 chapters will be uploaded 4 days apart from eachother.)

Commander's Choice (Final pt11)

The hardest decision is one that involves lives

The microscopic nanodroid observer Trench used was reactivated. It scurried about the surface of the battlefield terrain and reached the legion gathered around the crash site. Dooku adjusted the nanodroid using the controller taken from the severely injured Trenc in the safety of his palace. He focused the observer's camera and could see the clones conversing with the buried Kal beneath the wreckage.

Kal was saying something and soon, everyone moved slightly to the right of where he was buried. Steele approached the wreckage and heard the faint sound of someone knocking against the metal. He immediately knew who was making the sound. Turning around to the company, he gave everyone a signal.

Everyone except for Ahsoka stepped back. She walked forth, rolling up the blue sleeves of Aliyah's tunic, ready to get to business.

Dooku saw it all via the nanodroid observer. He notified Palpatine instantly. "Master," he said to the hologram.

"Yes?" Palpatine responded.

"The clone subject is still alive. Buried and injured, but alive. And so is the Jedi."

~ O O O ~

"Urgh!"

Ahsoka grunted as she attempted to lift the main piece of metal wreckage on top of Kal and Aliyah. She was using the Force to her utmost ability. But it wasn't the lack of strength here that was the problem.

Steele immediately saw the problem. "Whoa whoa whoa!"

Loose debris on top of the ruined facility began falling and coming apart. Underneath the metal wreckage, Kal and Aliyah reacted instinctively to the sudden falling of more debris upon them. They screamed and covered their heads in protection. Luckily, they didn't get hit any more than they expected.

Ahsoka quickly and gently the main piece of wreckage back down. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Under the debris, Kal and Aliyah's pulse quickly returned to normal from its recent spike.

"Sir? What just happened!?" Kal demanded in panic. "What the kriff's going on out there!?"

"Just testing out the waters!" Steele reassured. He knew it was far from alright but he didn't want to cause any more panic. "We got it under control now, it's fine!"

Ahsoka was still a little shaken from what just happened. "I'm sorry. I—"

"Don't apologize," Steele cut off. He turned to his legion and their allies. "Hey! Let's start moving some the loose debris up there! Whatever you think that might help with getting that giant piece of metal out of the way! Be mindful of what you move!"

Soldiers, ex-Separatists, and even members of Trench's research team began scouring the pile of metal ruins, removing any bits and pieces that could potentially fall onto the two buried victims.

Everyone was continuously removing debris from the wreckage above Kal and Aliyah. The mountain of unstable ruins began shrinking. Every so often, Steele would have them all return so Ahsoka could have another go at removing the main piece of wreckage. And everytime she could not lift it without compromising Kal and Aliyah's safety, everyone would return to removing more debris. And on and on the cycle went.

Each passing minute felt like an hour, and the group of people grew more scared with each failed attempt. They began trying different techniques of keeping the loose wreckage stable, or retrieving Kal and Aliyah through other methods, but it all proved too dangerous or just futile.

The sun eventually reached its peak point in the sky. Everyone was getting exhausted. How long had they been going at this?

"Kal?" Steele neared the gap in the wreckage. "General?"

But he was met with silence this time. No response. No sound of knocking.

Dr. Elav was wheeled near him by a couple of clone medics. "They're running out of air," he said to Steele.

Ahsoka squeezed her hands. "I can do it. I know I can."

Everyone moved back again and Ahsoka made another attempt on lifting the giant metal ruin. This time, she focused her strength on one side of the metal piece. Steele observed the piece being lifted higher than it ever been before, but also noted the loose debris instantly falling to the opposite side of where the piece was lifted. The bare skeletons of an idea began forming in his head, perhaps because a part of him didn't want to accept he was even thinking of this in the firs place.

Ahsoka quickly set the metal piece back down upon seeing the falling debris. She exhaled in bitterness. "Why won't it just behave!?"

Lux shook his head at the sight. "At this rate, we can't get them out without both of them getting crushed."

Nobody said it aloud, but they all silently agreed. But a few of them did not. These soldiers also observed what Steele saw during Ahsoka's last attempt. But unlike their commander, they immediately formed a concrete idea in their heads.

"Wrong," said Dogma, which got everyone's attention. "We can't get one out…without the other one getting crushed."

The air around the crash site immediately changed.

Lux looked at Dogma. "What're you saying?"

When Dogma didn't immediately answer, Lux turned to the other soldiers nearby who also shared the same observations.

Egad decided to answer. "There's a giant piece of metal crushing both Kal and the general," he explained. "It's also the only thing keeping them from being met with a faceful of broken ship debris. Lift one side and everything falls on the other. Lift the other side and the same thing happens."

Dogma and those few observant soldiers turned to their commander, knowing full-well he was thinking the same thing.

"Sir, this is…" Dogma swallowed hard. He knew nobody wanted to say this, "…this is your call."

Steele felt numb all over. Everyone soon caught on to what was being discussed.

One person. They could only guarantee one person. Kal, or Aliyah.

Steele looked at everyone distantly. He could hardly move nor think. He and all his allies were all on the same page now. And given the situation they were in, any big decisions regarding members of his legion, had to be done by him. It was his choice they would be carrying out. And he wasn't fond of this.

"Why's it always me…that gets put into these 'fun' dilemmas?" Steele muttered.

~ O O O ~

Anakin entered a room where a few Masters of the Council were standing about. He just came from Plo Kon's cell and was very agitated.

"You all need to speak with the Chancellor at once!" He announced.

This greatly confused the Masters. Ki-Adi-Mundi was curious. "Hm? How come?"

"We need to send reinforcements to the Raxus Moon," Anakin explained. "There's a high chance Korentayer and her forces need assistance. We can't leave them stranded."

Mace Windu couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you out of your mind, Skywalker? We can't send Republic fleets right into Separatist's capital anymore!"

"Then how are we supposed to pick them up!?" Anakin demanded.

"Chancellor Palpatine covered the costs of Hondo's services in the initial payment," Mace revealed. "It's enough for one return trip back to the Moon to pick up the 304th ONCE their mission's over."

"Well have you heard back from Korentayer or any of her men since the day they left?" Anakin questioned.

Now everyone was quiet. It was true that none of them received any updates from the 304th since they left Coruscant. It was both unorthodox and concerning. Anakin took their silence as a sign they're agreeing with him somewhat.

"I've spoken with Master Plo," Anakin continued speaking. "He's told me that he senses Aliyah's in danger. Senses. Now are you willing to put him aside too?"

Masters Kit Fisto and Ki-Adi-Mundi react with seriousness. Many others took Anakin's words strongly as well, they did not treat what he said as a light matter. Even Mace Windu seemed to soften a little and displayed mild forms of sympathy for his currently imprisoned Jedi brethren.

None of present Masters could deny the bond a Master and Padawan can sustain, even after knighthood. If Plo truly sensed something happening to Aliyah, something was happening. But even so, there wasn't much they could legally do.

"He put his trust in Korentayer," Mace finally answered. "We should too."

Anakin felt his jaw hit the floor.

~ O O O ~

All of the legion, their allies and more, stepped back to give Steele space as he continued to think. The heavily-burdened and torn commander weighed the impact of what may be the hardest choice he ever had to make.

Steele tuned everyone out behind him, scared that hearing their discussion would cause him to start mixing personal feelings into decision-making. He had to keep this rational.

"This is wrong," Vito uttered. "He shouldn't have to make this choice!"

"He needs to be the one to make this choice," Dogma talked back, in a pained but honest tone.

"What do you mean 'needs to be the one'!?" Vito demanded.

Ahsoka shook her head. "There will be no choice!" She nodded over at the wreckage. "One more try, let's get some support under the edge sections of the piece of metal, we'll be able to hold all loose things steady!

"Didn't we already try that?" Egad asked. "It was Dogma's idea and it worked to keep loose debris from falling onto Kal and the general, but in turn, it nearly crushed us instead!"

Ahsoka nodded slowly, recalling the attempt from some time ago. "Right. We've been trying so many methods I've lost track of them." She sighed and recalled another memory from even longer ago. "Guess I was lucky when Barriss and I were buried under."

The legion and their allies continued talking about the situation at hand. What to do. Whom to save. And if it was possible to still get both people out in full safety. Former Separatist, Kron Kushi decided to speak up eventually.

"Alright. Here's my proposal," the ex-Separatist Senator announced. "I can fly back to Raxus and rally some more arms to help us out. Maybe even bring back a specialized piece of equipment or something."

Everyone immediately began nodding and agreeing. They were about to call over Steele when Dr. Elav suddenly objected. "That'll take too long!" Everyone looked at the trolley-bound Twi'lek doctor. "The two will suffocate by the time you return with more allies or assistance."

Ahsoka remembered Kal telling them about his legs. She wondered how hurt Aliyah must be to be unable to talk like Kal could. "Or they could succumb to their injuries," Ahsoka added.

Dr. Elav nodded in agreement. "One way or the other, we're going to lose them both if we don't decide soon."

As soon as Dr. Elav mentioned the decision again, everyone looked towards Steele: their decider. They wondered whether or not he heard what the doctor just said. They were racing against a ticking clock. None of them envied the position their commander was currently in. Either Kal and Aliyah would both suffocate or just one of them would be crushed.

Steele did indeed hear what the doctor just said. He straightened up and turned around to face his lot of soldiers and allies.

"I've come to a decision."

~ O O O ~

Dooku informed Palpatine of the situation on the Moon from observing through Trench's left-behind nanodroid spyer. Palpatine was intensely intrigued.

"So they can't afford to save both the clown and the Jedi, and so are forced to pick whom to save," he summarized everything Dooku told him.

Dooku nodded. "Yes. The commander will be the one to decide whom to save." He opened another communication panel and prepared an emergency call to Kamino HQ. "I'm going to contact Lama Su. We're going to need him to forge a story for how CT-7701 is taken in by Trench, in case he's the one the commander chooses."

"That won't be necessary," said Palpatine. Dooku looked at his Master curiously who had a confident smirk on. "He won't be the one the commander chooses."

~ O O O ~

Steele's choice was let known to everyone now. Shock, pain, but understanding and respect come from the soldiers. This was no easy situation and many imagined if they were in the position of power at this time, they would've ended up not choosing in the end. No matter, this was the commander's choice. And they were going to respect and carry it out.

Steele approached the wreckage once again. A team of selected soldiers, medic, and backup support were close behind, and Ahsoka stood nearby, ready to lift the side of the metal piece she was instructed to do. Steele neared the gap in the debris.

"General? Can you hear me?"

Beneath the cluster of bloodstained metal and beams, Aliyah could hear him. She clung onto a sharp piece of debris above her, and mentally nodded, hoping that some way, somehow, he knew she was listening.

"I need you to hear this." Steele's voice echoed down to her.

~ O O O ~

"You've never trusted her much before, so why are you trusting her now?" Anakin asked, truly curious.

"I have never not trusted Korentayer," Mace retorted.

"Then what was all that about her treachery and attach—"

"—That wasn't mistrust!" Mace interrupted. "That was what's needed to done, in accordance to our situation and our rules. I was disappointed in Korentayer, that, I'll admit. But I still trust her to complete the rescue because I trust that she never handed over her captain in the first place!"

~ O O O ~

Steele said what he needed Aliyah to hear through the gap. "Chancellor Palpatine said something to me before we left Coruscant. And honestly, if there was anything he's managed to get right about me, it's that when it comes to the matter of love and duty, there is no competition. I want you both out, we all you want you both you, and I know you that too."

It was true. They all, especially the legion soldiers, wanted them both out. Their brother, who's been with them since the beginning and even took on the mantle of commander for a time, marked the end of their service under a tyrant. Their general, who they owe so much since ending their days with Krell and giving them someone worth fighting for. Ahsoka held her arms, knowing whose side she was to lift.

~ O O O ~

Anakin had one more thing to say the Masters. "Say the 304th comes back without Kal? What'll you do then? What'll you do, as whole?"

For the first time in a long time, Mace Windu found himself unable to reply. If the 304th came back without Kal, that'd be marked as a mission failure, and Palpatine would be able to do whatever he liked with Plo Koon. It was part of their compromise. But more than that, Palpatine would be able to condemn the fallen legion even further since they failed to retrieve the very person they're accused of harming, sealing their fate pretty much.

"We'll cross that bridge once it arrives," Mace finally said. "But even if it happens, I do not intend on letting Master Plo suffer the consequences."

~ O O O ~

"How are you certain that he'll choose to save her first?" Dooku asked the hologram of his Dark Master.

"Even the strongest Jedi would hesitate at choosing whom they desire the most," was all Palpatine replied. He had won. Or at least, he was close to winning.

~ O O O ~

Steele felt a heavyweight crush his chest from the inside. "But for now…I'm gonna need you to fight on just a while longer, can you do that for me darlin'?"

There was a minor commotion over the choice of words, but Steele ignored it. Underneath the wreckage, Aliyah's eyes grew wide upon realizing what was about to happen. A million thoughts raced through her head and she braced herself.

Steele turned to Ahsoka. "Ahsoka…"

The Togruta Jedi stood ready. Steele spoke without any more hesitation.

"…get Kal out first!"

Kal was the choice.

Ahsoka immediately lifted the side of the main metal piece Kal was buried under. The loose pile of debris came apart in an instant and fell onto the opposite side, where Aliyah was buried. But there was no time for regrets. Steele and his select rescue group went into the wreckage and found the barely conscious Kal whose legs were indeed crushed under several broken beams.

They were nearly overwhelmed upon seeing him again.

"KAL!" Vito could not contain his emotions.

"It's alright, we're here now!" Egad got to work on lifting the beams crushing Kal's legs.

"You're safe!" Dogma felt relief he hadn't felt since arriving on this Moon.

Kal regained his consciousness slightly as they all worked to remove him from where he was partially buried. "Guys…you guys…"

"We got you brother!" Steele assured. "We got you!"

It was a joyous yet painful reunion as Kal was carried out of the wreckage and into the sunlight. An entourage of medical specialists took him and began performing emergency treatment on him. Kal felt himself slip in and out of consciousness. He suddenly realized that he was the one Steele chose to take out first.

"No…no sir! Why!" Kal cried as all the medics attempted to calm him down. "Why did you choose me!? Why?"

"Give him a sedative!" Dr. Elav ordered.

Steele wanted to rush over and calm Kal down, like the rest of the medical team. He wanted to give him closure, some proper reassurance that he did not make this choice lightly. But Ahsoka called him over.

"Steele! I'm lifting the other side!" She shouted. Steele rushed back to the wreckage.

"Hold it steady!" He ordered.

The other side of the metal was lifted. Ahsoka found it more difficult due to the weight of all the fallen debris and more, but she managed to keep it sustained just as much as she did with the previous side. Steele and his rescue group went in again. This time, they were greeted with an awful sight.

Aliyah laid upon the ruins. Bloody and broken. Her arms covered her head as best they could. Her entire body was nearly unrecognizable from the blood, the dust, and the cuts. Steele went up to her first and gently picked her up from the back. The only thing pulsating through his mind was the word 'sorry'.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" He felt his gloves become slick with blood.

The rescue group carefully and gently help Steele carry the heavily injured Aliyah out of the wreckage, and to the sight of the agonizing legion. Appalled beyond belief. The second team of medical specialists rushed in, taking the fallen Jedi from Steele's hands.

~ O O O ~

Dooku turned away from the nanodroid's camera view and back to Palpatine's hologram. "Master…"

"Yes?" Palpatine asked.

"Perhaps now, would be a good time to contact Lama Su and have him forge a story," said Dooku slowly.

Beneath his hood, Palpatine's eyes grew wide. "So he didn't choose her first…" His shock was big but sudden and did not last very long. Before a minute was up, Palpatine regained his composure. "Alright then. Plan Z it is."

"Improvisation?" Dooku raised a brow.

Palpatine nodded. "Many times, I had to go with the wheels of the Senate to meet my endgame. This time's no different. Only this time, I'm not dealing with the Senate." He turned on a nearby computer and brought up a compendium of rules regarding the Grand Army of the Republic. Hastily, he scrolled to the section he was looking for. "Contact the Kaminoans, let them know of what's happened and that they should meet me on Coruscant as soon as possible. I am wrapping this whole bloody mess up."

~ O O O ~

The mass of ships owned by the ex-Separatists took off from the Raxus Moon. They left the atmosphere and entered hyperspace, leaving no one behind.

Next time on The Clone's Hero, the two sides of the battle for truth and revelation find themselves at a bit of a stalemate, one that Palpatine intends to break…

Review responses~ (Pm'ing the rest of y'all later tonight kay?)

Rebiele: Thank you, thank you so much. It's truly an honour to have written something like this. And you're right, the arc featuring Dogma's trial was based a lot from To Kill A Mockingbird. I can't thank you enough for your wonderful words. And I look forward to wrapping this story up once and for all.

MisterStarWarsFans: Are you scared for the next chapter even more now? *smirk*

A/N. Just got home from a Canada's Day trip with family + family friends. It was kinda last minute, but we thought why not? It was good to celebrate. Anyways, I was told the lodge we're staying at had internet. I was promised internet. Guess what happened once we got there? NO INTERNET! Or more like, there was internet, but the loading bar on my browser could barely make it past the first quarter line. Spent 4 days playing twister, card games, and getting fat on cake. And no, nobody had cellular data I could borrow.

I'm sorry, guys. I thought I could upload the chapter there just fine and touch up my next couple of ones. But on the bright side, no more week-long waits! Here's to the last 3 (or more like 2 + an epilogue) chapters of the story! Thank you all!

Until the next time we meet ~MiraLake (Please review, favourite, and follow if you can!)