Chapter 52
~ 6 months later ~
The heavy artillery guns were firing again, closer this time, too close. The blasts hit the dry earth, sending dust and debris into the air. Xanatos dropped arms that were shielding his head and wiped the fresh layer of grime from his face. If this kept up his robes would soon be a respectable Jedi brown.
"Sir, should we fall back?"
Xanatos' lips quirked into a grin. He briefly wondered how he could find anything humorous about his current situation, except perhaps the fact that it was Alpha, of all the clones, who was asking if they should retreat.
The Jedi master had developed a reputation since being named a general, and it at times bothered him that he was actually good at leading an army. He was highly respected among the clones, and he had recently discovered that it was considered an honor to be assigned to his ranks. Though he at times pushed his troops to the extent of their capabilities, he never put them into a situation he himself wasn't willing to tackle. This had become quite a point of contention between him and Obi-Wan. As if the great General Kenobi could really say anything about being reckless.
"Negative, Alpha," Xanatos said, looking toward the ARC trooper under his command. The momentary, almost imperceptible blanching of the clone's face made him wonder why he wasn't listening. He knew the answer to that question. "Do you know who is behind us to pick up the slack if we fail?"
"No, Sir."
"No one," Xanatos answered. If it had been any other clone, he would not bother explaining himself. There would be no need. The clones followed his orders without question. Alpha was different. "If we fail, the Separatists will push through and General Kenobi's line will be squeezed from both sides. We aren't giving up this ground, understand?"
"Yes, Sir."
The latest strategy briefing reverberated in Xanatos' head. He had the distinction of leading the eastern flank of the Republic lines, something that had sounded like trouble at the time. It was turning out to be every bit as unpleasant as he had expected. He was going to have a little chat with Ben when he got out of this mess. Still, the ground was good and they needed to hold it. There was one thing that would make their prospects a lot less dismal. Xanatos pulled out his communicator.
"Anakin? Where is my aerial support?"
"Encountering resistance," the padawan growled out, more in annoyance than any real frustration. Xanatos could hear the whine of blaster fire outside the cockpit. He looked off into the distance, barely able to make out the dogfight causing the delay.
"Well … destroy the resistance and get over here," Xanatos ordered as another round of artillery fire showered him with more dust and debris.
"I am trying, Master," Anakin ground out.
"Try a little harder," Xanatos shot back, spitting out a mouthful of grit. "If you don't get here soon, you might have to find someone else to train you, and there isn't exactly a long line of volunteers waiting to take my place."
A large series of explosions sent static across their channel of communication. Xanatos could see the fireballs on the horizon. "I think that's the last one," Anakin said. "You see anything else, Artoo?" After a series of whistles and beeps, Anakin spoke again. "Hang on, Master."
It didn't take long. Suddenly, the field before Xanatos lit up with blaster fire and Republic missiles. For the first time in hours, the artillery was silent. Xanatos gave the order to advance. With the smoke and dust, visibility was poor. He could sense confusion from the clones. Xanatos hesitated before igniting his saber. While it cut through the haze and served as a rallying call for his troops, it was nothing more than a large, very visible target for the enemy. Sure enough, the moment the blue blade split the air, it drew immediate fire. Xanatos deflected the shots as he and his troops continued to push forward.
"What are our orders?" Alpha asked, as glad as Xanatos to be on the move instead of pinned down.
"I want our line to swing around and sweep up what the aerial raid left behind. We are going to close the Separatist line in on itself and push it into General Kenobi's line."
"Yes, Sir," Alpha answered as they began to trudge forward into a dizzying blur of smoke and blaster fire.
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Boots ground into charred dirt, taking quick steps across ground littered with droid parts and various wreckage. The bodies of fallen clones also lay amidst the devastation. Once again, the Republic had been victorious, but at what cost? That would be determined as the clones that remained brought their fallen comrades to healers and took their dead from the battlefield. But right now, the object of Obi-Wan's search was one man. He could sense his presence nearby, which meant, thankfully, Xanatos wasn't dead. He hastened his steps when he saw the wind catch the edge of a cloak, flapping it wildly.
"Xan!" Obi-Wan called.
He reached his Jedi brother. After finding no serious injuries, he rolled Xanatos over. A gash marred the unconscious man's head, coating the side of his face with blood.
"What am I going to do with you?" Obi-Wan murmured to himself as he pulled out his comlink. "Anakin?"
"Did you find him?" came the anxious voice.
"Yes." Obi-Wan smiled, waving at the fighter that flew low overhead. "We could use a lift back to base."
"I'll find somewhere to land."
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The last thing Xanatos remembered of the battle was an unexpected artillery blast that hit nearby and sent him flying. He had woken up, half-aware in route back to base. He had been triaged, treated, and had sent back to his berthing area with an order to rest. Somewhere in there, he had blacked out again. In different times, a head wound would have kept him in the med unit, but now, there were just too many wounded.
He could sense Anakin sleeping soundly in the space above him and was glad his apprentice was getting some much-needed rest. Obi-Wan's place, across from his was empty, but Ben was on the top bunk, stretched out on his stomach, writing furiously in the journal he kept. What he wrote and why he chose to write on actual flimsi was a mystery, something Xanatos and Anakin had speculated about in several discussions but never asked.
Xanatos carefully sat up, fingering the thick bacta patch on the side of his head. His movement automatically drew Ben's attention.
"It's good to see you awake," the young man said. "Master Obi-Wan will be relieved."
"Where is he?" Pushing off his blankets, Xanatos draped his legs over the edge of his bunk.
Ben reached up to scratch at his close-cropped beard. He might have accused Ben of copying his former master if not for his hair. Usually, he kept his hair tied back out of his face, but currently, the untamed mane of curls fell around his face.
"He went to brief the Council on our victory."
Xanatos didn't miss the sarcasm that laced the young knight's voice. He knew that Ben, as someone who spent a great deal of time thinking of strategy, was less than pleased with the intelligence they were receiving and the level of cooperation between the Chancellor's office, the Senate, and the Council.
"I was expecting him back by now." Ben's face wrinkled in concern as he reached out through the Force to search out his master. He started to close his journal.
"I'll go find him," Xanatos said. He found his boots and began to pull them on. "You keep writing."
"Nice try," Ben said. "I was told to not let you get up by both your padawan and my master."
"They are used to me not listening."
Xanatos stood, making sure he was steady on his feet before starting into the corridor. Pausing at the door, he turned back to Ben. "What do you write about?"
"The battles mostly, what worked, what turned out to be a disaster. I guess I hope to learn from each experience." A smile tugged at the young man's lips as he looked down at the worn book. "Your charge at the end was a stroke of genius, by the way. You probably saved our hides."
"I'm glad you see it that way. Your master will no doubt have some choice words for me." Xanatos let out a sigh. He was a bit wearier than he had thought. "I will leave you to your writing."
He didn't have far to go to find Obi-Wan. The younger man was seated on the floor meditating in the corner of one of the hangars. He looked absolutely exhausted. Xanatos was about to reprimand him for not taking the opportunity to get some much-needed sleep.
"You weren't supposed to get up," Obi-Wan scolded, eyelids lifting to reveal the stern gaze of which Ben had told many tales.
"Since when do you give me orders?" Xanatos teased, sliding down into a sitting position against the wall. He expected a witty reply, but his words only seemed to settle Obi-Wan into pensive silence. "What's wrong?" the older man prodded.
"Nothing," Obi-Wan replied. "You will happy to know that we have been recalled to Coruscant."
"Good." Xanatos momentarily lost himself in thoughts of decent food instead of field rations and the comfort of his own sleep couch. A long, hot shower would also be a welcome luxury. Sonics were efficient, but he still felt like he carried the dust of dozens of worlds on him. "We could all use the break."
"Are you sure something isn't on your mind?" Xanatos asked, still not convinced all was well. He had known Obi-Wan too long.
"I was asked to fill an open seat on the Council."
Xanatos paused for a moment as the thought sank in. "I'm not sure whether to offer my condolences or my congratulations," he finally said. "How do you feel about it?"
"Honestly?"
"No, I want you to lie to me," Xanatos shot back with a laugh.
"I wish it was under different circumstances," Obi-Wan admitted. "Truthfully, I am still a bit stunned that they asked me."
"What? You don't think you deserve it?"
"I am no Yoda or Mace Windu. I have spent so much of my life looking up to the Council, it is hard to fathom being a peer."
A soft smile slipped across Xanatos' lips. It was just like Obi-Wan to not see his own worth. "From the moment Yoda first pointed you out to me and began to conspire against Qui-Gon, it was obvious the Force had great things in store for you. It doesn't surprise me at all."
"How do you feel about it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I would be lying if I said I had no concerns," Xanatos confessed. "You have always managed to wind up stuck between me and the Council. How much more will that happen with you actually holding a seat?"
"It will be my responsibility now," Obi-Wan pointed out. "And I will actually have a recognized voice."
"It will be nice to have someone there besides Master Yoda who actually understands me and Anakin."
"But?" Obi-Wan prompted.
Xanatos let out a hesitant chuckle as he ran a hand down his face. His head was starting to ache. "You've always been a confidant, especially when it comes to Anakin. I don't want to lose that."
"You won't, Xan." Obi-Wan rested a hand on the older man's shoulder. "I won't have to completely divulge everything I know to the Council. If that was the case, there would be quite a few Jedi in trouble."
"True." Xanatos nodded his head.
"But now that I am your superior, we really need to talk about the chances you take in battle …"
Xanatos burst out laughing.
"What?"
"You may sit on the Council, but you will never be my superior," Xanatos said.
"Is that so?" Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, delivering his best stern gaze.
"That look might have made Ben shake in his boots, but it doesn't work on me. I was giving our master gray hairs before you even knew what a lightsaber was," Xanatos teased. "I promise that I will show you the same respect I extend to the rest of the Council."
"Force help me, then," Obi-Wan said laughing.
"Come on," Xanatos said as he got to his feet. "Let's go tell Anakin and Ben the news. I can't wait to see Anakin's reaction."
Obi-Wan fell into step beside him as they started back to the berthing area. "I do want you to try to be more careful. If not for me or your padawan, then for Alpha."
"Alpha?" Xanatos asked in confusion.
"He takes it personally when he loses you, and it is something that happens too often for both our comfort."
"I will try," Xanatos offered. "But I can't make any promises … Master Kenobi." He stopped to offer a slight bow before continuing on.
"I suppose I will have to accept that," Obi-Wan grumbled, rolling his eyes as he followed.