It's been a few days since everyone saw the world known as Earth and the artificial intelligence known as Vima. While everyone wanted to discuss everything they saw and learned so far, unfortunately the war does not stop for anyone or anything. Right now Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi made their way to the planet Felucia when they had heard that General Grievous was making an attempt to capture the planet for the Confederacy. Now standing over a holotable showing the ground below, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Admiral Wullf Yularen, and clones Captain Rex and Commander Cody all looked at it, making a plan for the attack.
"We know Grievous has started his assault near one of the local villages." Yularen stated. "He seems to be making his way to it, possibly to establish a base of operations or a means to use the Felucians for a plan. Very likely it would be as shields against the Clones."
"Meaning we won't be using explosives and we'll have to check our fire." Rex added.
"Just like Ryloth." Cody said. "Accept with more dangerous wildlife. If the accounts of the 501st's previous endeavor here with General Secura is anything to go by."
Anakin looked over at the clones and nodded slightly. "Right. However the plus side is that there is more cover within the trees meaning there would be less casualties."
"What of General Grievous?" Rex asked. "Surely he will be leading the charge and will just start executing the Felucians if things start to go bad for him."
"Rex is right." Obi-Wan stated. "Grievous is likely to go into a frenzy and start killing the Felucians or threatening them at the least if we get too close."
"If I may interject." A voice suddenly spoke from nowhere startling everyone in the room with Rex and Cody getting their blasters ready and Anakin placing his hand on his lightsaber. From the Holotable a smaller version of Vima appeared on it with a smile. "Hello everyone."
"Vima?" Obi-Wan asked with a look of shock on his face. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping you of course Master Kenobi." The AI said with a slightly wider smile as the Clones and Anakin started to relax. "Another thing the people of Earth are masters at is strategy and tactics."
"If I may ask," Admiral Yularen stated getting everyone's attention, "who are you and how are you doing this?"
Vima looked confused for a brief moment before slapping himself on the forehead. "Oh right we haven't been introduced. I am Vima, an artificial intelligence from the planet Earth. And no need to introduce yourself to me Admiral Yularen, I have already read your service record and I must say, it's quite impressive. As for how I'm here, well I don't mean to insult, but your security systems are primitive compared to me and the rest of my kind."
Yularen stood there looking at the AI in front of him in confusion. "So you are a droid?"
"Well yes, but actually no." Vima said. "I'm much more than that. But enough about me, let's talk about Grievous."
"You said you had a plan?" Rex asked.
"Of course. You see on Earth we have a saying, "Know Thy Enemy."" He started. "As said by the great Sun Tzu, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." Meaning we must look at our enemy and think about what we know about them. In Grievous's case, he's a prideful, arrogant, competitive, and egotistical."
"An interesting quote." Yularen said to himself. "Perhaps I should use that."
"Alright well I know his people are also warriors, his cough seems to hinder him in battle at times, and he's cowardly taking any chance that he gets to flee." Obi-Wan said. "But he's also dangerous."
"Yeah. So my plan is to send a small detachment of clones over to the village to lure him out however they can. Do whatever it takes but get him out of there. After he leaves send in the rest of the clones to liberate the village and hold position. Once Grievous is far enough away from the village, Skywalker and Kenobi can get the jump on him and take him together. If he tries to retreat to the village he'll be cornered." He says getting them to all look at each other.
"That's...actually a good plan." Cody said. "My squad can take the village while Rex and the 501st lure Grievous."
"Vima, what if Grievous retreats in a direction other than the village?" Obi-Wan asks.
"Then we can place bets on how long he'll last until the Acklays get him." Vima said with a smile.
"Alright, we have a plan. Let's go ahead and take care of Grievous." Anakin said as he and the others start walking away. However Vima appears before Rex and startles him a bit.
"Rex before you go, I have something for you to say to Grievous. It's guaranteed to get him to follow you." Vima says with a wicked grin.
"What's that?" The Clone Captain asked.
—
Grievous stood as his droids raided the village and started capturing the Felucians. He held out his holographic communicator and Count Dooku appeared on it. "General, what is the status of the operating base?"
"Slowly but surely Count." Grievous said before coughing. "In time the droids will begin construction of the base and we will claim more territory on this planet."
"Excellent." Dooku stated with a smirk. "However I hope you have a plan for when the Republic arrives."
"I will hold my ground if they try anything. I have anti-air cannons deployed and explosives in the cliff above me should I need to escape. They will be distracted by the debris falling on the prisoners."
"Good. I await news on your progress." The Count ended the call and Grievous stood watching over everything in thought. He never actually had time to fully think on the things he had seen from the planet Earth. He had envisioned himself battling the Terrans in a glorious battle when he thought back to watching them tear each other apart in their Great War. Perhaps after he wins this war, he will seek out the planet and launch an attack. He can imagine it now, bodies of the Terrans and Droids falling to the ground as he tears his enemies apart with his lightsabers. The bombers and their aircrafts battling for supremacy in the sky, their tanks causing explosive damage to each other and anyone who would dare get in the line of fire. And in the end he sees himself, victorious, if slightly damaged at most, as he conquers the planet that would be his greatest adversary.
Unfortunately his thoughts were interrupted when he heard something clatter to the ground. He looks over and sees a Droid had bumped into another that was carrying parts and ammo for the Anti-Air cannons. Grievous growled in frustration before walking away from the droids. Normally he would've destroyed them for being so incompetent, but his thoughts put him in a better mood.
However, his mood was about to take a turn when he heard blaster fire and the sound of Clones yelling. He turned and saw them coming out of the forest and firing at the droids as they try to advance.
—
Rex stood as he watched his brothers take on the droids. Both sides battled and Rex could see Grievous rushing at the Clones to start killing them, starting with stabbing a clone in the chest. "Well we have his attention." Fives said right next to Rex. "You sure this plan is gonna work?"
"Yeah. Now we just gotta lure him in." The Clone Captain states as he starts firing at them. "Remember, we have to lure Grievous into the forest!" He orders making the clones go back into the forest while firing at the droids still. However Grievous stops moving.
"After them!" The droid General calls out.
"Blast!" Echo curses. "He's not taking the bait! We need a new plan!"
"Hold on." Rex says as he stops firing. "I know what I have to do." He takes a deep breath. "Cease fire!" He orders getting all the Clones to stop firing, much to their confusion. General Grievous sees this and raises his hand to signal his droids to stop firing. Rex slowly walks out of the forest and Grievous looks on in surprise.
"Are you surrendering clone? Have you finally seen how pathetic you are and how you are no match for me?" Grievous questioned.
"No. I just wanted to make sure you would hear this." Rex said before whispering to himself. "This had better work Vima." He takes a deep breath before yelling. "You are a pathetic warrior!" He said much to the shock of the Clones and Droids and most importantly, Grievous, who started to have a glare.
"What did you say!?" Grievous said in a hostile tone.
"I said you're a terrible warrior! You can't even kill a Jedi Padawan like Ahsoka Tano!" Rex called out.
Meanwhile the rest of the 501st looked on in shock, fear, and confusion as they witness everything. "What's Captain Rex doing!?" Fives whispered.
"Looks like he's getting himself killed!" Kix said.
"Wait this could be a part of the plan." Echo said as he came to a realization. "He's going after the Clanker's ego."
Back to Grievous, his eye was twitching as he activated his second lightsaber and pointed it at Rex. "You will be the first to die by my hand!"
"Then why don't you come and get me! Go ahead and bring your seven foot one asthmatic ass over here or I'm gonna tell everyone what a whiny bitch you are! You PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A KALEESH!"
If it were not for the helmets, every clone would be seen with their jaws dropped and eyes wide with some even starting to laugh in shock.
That did it. Grievous started charging at Rex while roaring in total fury, making Rex run back to the forest. "It worked!" He yelled as the rest of the 501st started firing their weapons at the droids and even at Grievous, who was running fast and with hate and fury in his eyes, as they retreated.
—
The 501st ran for the point as the 212th Battalion looked down from the cliff. And to say they were surprised by what Rex just said and did was an understatement. "Wow. I don't think I've ever heard Rex say anything remotely like that." Waxer said getting nods from the others.
"Well at least his plan worked, let's get down there and clear out the remaining droids." Cody stated as they started throwing droid poppers down at any droids they could hit while also firing at the droids. They began rappelling down into the village with covering fire. It was going to be an easy victory.
—
Rex ran as he and the other clones made their way past tree, vine, and flower as they fired back occasionally at the angered General and his droids. To say the least, he was terrified and filled with adrenaline after what he just said. "Get to the clearing and hold your ground. We have to wait for Generals Kenobi and Skywalker!" He ordered.
The Clones would make their way to the clearing they were supposed to be. However as Rex made it out, and explosion occurred right behind him and sent him flying into the air before he landed at a tree. "Super Battle Droid! Take them down!" One of the Clones yelled as Rex took off his helmet. He placed a hand on his head and saw that it was bleeding. Thankfully a clone ran over with a medical kit.
"Don't worry sir I'll stop the bleeding." He said wiping the blood off and sterilizing the wound.
"Thank you soldier." He said slightly hissing in pain as the wound got sterilized before he got a good look at the Clone's armor. "You're a shiny aren't you?"
"Yes sir, just arrived from Kamino." He said finishing up the work. "And done."
"What's your name Shiny?" The Clone Captain asked.
"My name is Doss sir." He said making Rex's eyes go wide.
"Did you just sa-" Rex started to speak but he was cut off by another Clone yelling for a medic.
"Sorry sir but I need to go." The now named Doss ran off. Rex tried to reach for him but the clone already disappeared into the dust and dirt that flew up into the air, Rex lowered his arms a bit and slightly smiled before putting his helmet back on and grabbing his twin blasters and going back into the battle.
—
Anakin and Obi-Wan made their way to the clearing, jumping from tree to tree. They had to wait until Cody told them that Rex managed to lure Grievous so that they couldn't be spotted before then. "At least Rex managed to get him into the forest. Though I'm actually surprised he said that to Grievous." Anakin said.
"He learned it from you after all." Obi-Wan smirked.
"Maybe." The Chosen One said.
After a few minutes of hopping Obi-Wan could see the clearing up ahead as well as heat the sound of blaster fire. "We're here." The two stopped and looked down. "And just in time as well." They saw that droids were starting to surround the Clones with Grievous in the front line. The Droid General looks over at the Clones.
"Do you have any final words before I end your suffering?" Grievous asked Rex as he marched over to him.
"Hello there." Grievous heard behind him. He turned and saw Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker following suit by jumping down from one of the trees behind the General.
"General Kenobi, you are a bold one." The General said before looking directly at Skywalker. "And I presume you are Anakin Skywalker." Grievous states. "I was expecting someone of your reputation to be a little...older."
"General Grievous, Ahsoka told me you were a monster. But to be honest, you're shorter than I expected." Anakin taunted as he and Obi-Wan activated their lightsabers. Grievous laughs and pulls out two of his lightsabers and activates them.
"Let's see how you fair in battle with me." Grievous taunts.
—
In the Jedi Temple, Yoda sat meditating when he suddenly felt an overwhelming sensation in the Force. As if the cloud of shadow that is the Dark Side receded, if only a small bit. He opened his eyes. "A shift in the Force, there is. Less clouded, it has become. What it could be, I wonder." He says to himself as he tries to focus more.
—
Palpatine felt the overwhelming sensation in the Force as well, and he didn't like it. Something is happening that isn't supposed to. He needs to know, because even the smallest thing unaccounted for can ruin his plans for the Republic. He will need to investigate it.
Meanwhile Vima watched silently and invisibly inside of his projector for Palpatine with a smirk as he knows exactly what Palpatine is feeling by the look on his face. General Grievous and Anakin Skywalker met each other before they were supposed to. Vima thought to himself. 'It's a good thing I convinced Dooku to send Grievous to Felucia to establish a base of operations. And I made the perfect plan for them to handle Grievous. Oh yeah, it's all coming together.' Then his face shifted in thought. 'So that's what it's like playing both sides. Kinda weird and yet amazing at the same time.'
—
Grievous was in full retreat as he battled Skywalker and Kenobi. He knew it was going to be a difficult battle, but he didn't know that Skywalker was such and aggressive fighter. With Kenobi as a master of defense with him, it was a much harder fight than anticipated. He needed to regroup and come up with a plan. He ran through the forest back to the village only to stop when he saw the Clones there. He silently cursed before running in a different direction. He would have to call for a ship to take him off world. But his thoughts were interrupted when he heard the voice of Anakin Skywalker.
"Nowhere to run General." He taunted as Obi-Wan ran up.
"That's what you think!" Grievous said before pressing the detonator on his thigh, causing an explosion on the cliff above the village, making debris fall down. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan rush to use the Force to stop the rocks and trees from falling while Grievous made his escape.
After the two Jedi stop the rocks from falling on the Clones and the Felucians. "Right! Let's go after Grievous." Anakin says only to see a single ship fly into the sky and off the planet. "Blast!" Anakin cursed. "He got away again!"
"Calm down Anakin." Obi-Wan says placing a hand on his former Padawan's shoulder. "We'll get him eventually."
"Heh, now I know why it's so difficult capturing him." He laughs. "Well, let's go ahead back to the Resolute. I wanna see more of Earth."
Obi-Wan nods and the two look up and see LAAT's making their way down from the Resolute.
—
Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Rex made their way to the Council Chambers and opened the doors to see the Council, Ahsoka, and Padmé waiting for them. "About time your showed up." Ahsoka smiles.
"Fighting General Grievous took longer than we thought." Anakin said before seeing Vima appear from the projection device. "By the way, thanks for the plan Vima. It went great until Grievous used explosives to distract us."
"Plans never survive contact with the enemy." Vima says getting nods from everyone.
"So what will you be showing us now?" Padmé asked eagerly.
"Wisdom comes in many shapes and sizes. You all know this to be true especially with Master Yoda." Vima said. "Well there is one person on Earth that is wiser and the best part, he's not even real."
"What do you mean?" Mace asks raising an eyebrow in interest.
"Well this wisdom comes from a cartoon, an animated holodrama if you will, called Avatar the Last Airbender. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Wisdom of Uncle Iroh." Vima finished as the projection took form.
FINALLY! AFTER TWO MONTHS I GET A CHAPTER OUT! Ok I know you all have been patiently waiting for this next chapter and I just want to say that I am sorry for the delay. My family ran into a couple of financial issues due to certain circumstances, so I have to work more hours at my job to help pitch in the money, and even though I wanted to write this chapter I would always be drained from my time at work. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter like I did, and I'm sorry if it feels rushed in certain parts as I have been tired. Next chapter is the Wisdom of Uncle Iroh from Avatar the Last Airbender. See ya later.