Answers to reviews:
micelzod: You'll see.
thermalsnipern7: Well, in a way, he is just looking out for her as he does think that's what Jayden actually thinks about Ahsoka. Anakin does think Sith are selfish and evil.
HughJasz: I know.
Spectacular Webhead 11: Yep.
"i see you are now fully healed." Dooku stated once he entered the medical room to see his Apprentice fully recovered and healed from his injuries sustained on Takodana. The Sith Apprentice was dressed in his now repaired armour but had not put his mask on yet. "After a month out of action, you are ready to return to the war."
"A month?" Jayden raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What has happened in that time?"
"Not much." Dooku answered as he approached his Apprentice, looking him over for anymore sign of injury or weakness. "Do yous wear to not let what happened on Takodana happen again? i do not want my Apprentice to show he is weak and unable to continue fighting in this war."
"I am fine and will not let it happen again, Master." Jayden said firmly.
Dooku nodded. "Good. How do you feel?"
Jayden's expression turned into a glare as he responded. "Pissed off and ready to get payback."
Warmth. Massaging, all-enveloping warmth. It was intimate and close, covering every inch of her body. She felt like his hands were everywhere, like she was completely surrounded by him.
And it was the best feeling ever.
"Jayden..." She softly moaned, loving his gentle ministrations, "that feels so good..."
"I had a feeling you'd like it." He whispered in a low, husky voice that sent shivers up and down her spine. He was loving her reactions, eager to try new things to see if he could elicit more from her. "When was the last time you felt this good?"
"N... N-Never..." Ahsoka stammered, loving the way his hands massaged the muscles in her back and then worked their way around to caress her abdomen and the muscles of her torso. This was the most relaxed she'd ever felt in her life. Jayden's touch was doing something for her senses, making her feel at ease and yet a little worked up at the same time.
All she knew was that she wanted more.
"Please... Whatever you do... don't stop..." She begged him.
"As you wish, my princess." He whispered next to her lekku, his deep voice sending a fresh shudder through her body...
Ahsoka bolted upright in her bed, now wide awake as the dream dissipated.
"What. The kriff. Was that?!" She said aloud, thoroughly mortified that she'd experienced such carnal thoughts unbecoming of a Jedi... about Jayden of all people!
She'd been warned by other Masters about the potential for such things. Being young and still maturing, she would likely be prone to suffering from arousing thoughts that she would be wise to resist and never act upon. Already going through the dreaded 'urge', Ahsoka was now starting to loathe everything physical as her hormone-addled mind simply refused to obey her Jedi teachings and continued to conjur up naughty and shameful thoughts.
And those thoughts usually involved Jayden.
The one person she was trying to forget about and push from her mind, Ahsoka had to wonder if this was some cruel trick of the Force to torment her. Here she was, trying to act like a Jedi, and all of her arousing thoughts were focused on a Sith. "I hate my life." She grumbled, rubbing her eyes with a sigh. Then a soft knock rapped on her door.
"Ahsoka? You awake?" It was Anakin.
"Uh... Yeah, Master. I just got up." She answered, feigning a yawn to add to the effect. "What is it?"
"We're going to Mon Cala."
he oceanic world of Mon Cala was home to two rivalling species that dwelt beneath the waves of the planet-spanning seas: the aggressive Quarren and the peace-loving Calamari. Their world, a myriad of brilliant colour and wonderful forms of sea life had enjoyed a time of relative peace... until, that is, the Calamari king Yos Rolina was murdered.
Quarren blamed Calamari, Calamari blamed Quarren. Tensions rose, peace eroded and, in a galaxy already rife with conflict, a new war unfolded in the midst of the Clone Wars:
A civil war.
The Quarren quickly found an ally in Count Dooku and the Separatists, who dispatched the Karkarodon commander Riff Tamson to stabilize a military presence among the Quarren delegation. The Republic quickly came to the aid of the Calamari, an alliance older than most participants precipitating the action. When the Republic and Calamari put forth the suggestion to let King Rolina's son, the young and untested Prince Lee Char, the Quarren put their foot down. They'd had enough of the Calamari and were ready to do things their way. With the Separatists backing them and looking to take on a new spot in the changing galaxy, the peace between Quarren and Calamari dissolved altogether.
It wasn't long until the fighting started, quickly aided by the fact that the Separatists already had troops on the ground and were gathering for war.
But that didn't mean the Calamari weren't without reinforcements either. For the Republic arrived in force.
"Okay... I can do this. You can do this. It's another battle, but you're going to do your best." Ahsoka quietly told herself, pushing back the same anxiety that crept up on her every time. She had been put in charge of another squad and was keen on doing her best, even though she wasn't exactly used to this environment.
Looking out across the sea as the gunship skimmed the surface, Ahsoka Tano was as ready as she could be. Dressed in a slim, brown wetsuit complete with gauntlets, flippers and a utility belt, her diving gear had been specifically tailored to her, as it lacked a hood so her sensitive head tails weren't hindered. Instead she wore a full-face breathing mask that left her montrals and lekku exposed. She was grateful for this, as she could not only communicate with this mask but also draw oxygen out of the water and constantly have a fresh supply without needing to worry about air tanks. She might not be of an aquatic species that could breathe underwater, but this brought her pretty close to being one.
"Blue Leader standing by," she reported into her comms.
"Red Leader standing by." A Clone stated as well. The two were working directly under Jedi Master and General Kit Fisto. The Nautolan was aquatic by nature, making him the perfect choice to lead a mission of this caliber.
A half-dozen dropships followed a Consular-class cruiser, but they'd all been disgorged from a Venator-class cruiser which hovered in the skies over Mon Cala. Ahsoka had been in similar situations countless times before, just ones that didn't involve water.
To be honest, she was fairly excited.
Master Fisto counted down and gave the order to dive and she did, crashing through the water's surface before turning and taking control of a Devilfish Submersible and diving deep alongside Master Fisto and the SCUBA Clones.
She soon saw the fighting deep beneath the sea; red and blue lasers firing wildly back and forth as masses of Quarren, Calamari and droids fiercely fought, sometimes hand to hand if they were close enough. With the Clones joining the fray, they targeted anyone who wasn't a member of the Calamari, their own lasers lighting up the battlefield. Concentrating on her role, Ahsoka gladly took to using her submersible's laser cannons to blow aqua droids to pieces, enjoying the little explosion of bubbles as heavier pieces sank to the bottom.
She could do this. This was no problem. Routing out the droids helped her allies by giving them less opponents intent on killing them. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
The Clones quickly boosted the Calamari ranks, surging ahead and taking the droid-Quarren forces head on.
Quarren fought Calamari, Clone SCUBA trooper fought aqua droid, the battle for Mon Cala was raging fiercely.
Ahsoka could see Master Fisto taking a slightly more violent approach, using his own Devilfish to mow down droids and Quarren alike, their cries of agony quickly silenced as their corpses floated in the water. At least they wouldn't be a threat anymore...
To one side, she saw her own master, who had arrived in advance alongside Senator Amidala, only he was in some serious trouble. Beset by a pair of Quarren, Anakin was having difficulties fending off the nimble water-borne warriors. He soon managed to overcome them, his blue lightsaber flashing brightly, but not before one of them ripped off his diving helmet, taking it with him as his body sank to the seabed. Anakin tried to pursue but was beset by another Quarren, this one riding an Underwater Turbo Sled Pike. Clearly, he needed some assistance.
Changing course, Ahsoka floor the thrusters of her OMS as Anakin fended off aqua droids, his hand around his neck in the universal diving symbol that stood for 'running out of air'. Making quick work of a few droids herself, Ahsoka snatched back her master's helmet before floating over to him and blasting two final droids with well aimed shots.
"You called for backup?" She wondered as he took his helmet back. Quickly throwing it on and draining the water, Anakin gasped and coughed for air while saying,
"I... had it... under... control, Snips," throwing on his trademark smirk as he finished. Ahsoka rolled her eyes and chuckled herself.
Typical Anakin.
"I knew you'd say that." She remarked before jetting off to rejoin the fight. But she didn't get far before an incoming call from Padme altered the situation.
"Anakin! I need you down here. It's Senator Tills, I need help getting her to safety. We're at the base of the palace, and hurry!"
"Ahsoka, cover the Prince. I'm going for the Senators." Anakin ordered as he swam off.
"Got it, Master." Ahsoka replied as she changed course. During the mission briefing, she'd been informed as to who Prince Lee Char was and what he looked like. Committing his description to memory, surely golden skin would stand out, she made for the Calamari lines.
The Togruta soon spied the Prince atop a gate entry, firing a blaster spear at distant opponents. Given her vantage point, swooping down from above, she could see, and he couldn't, the Separatist commander and warlord Riff Tamson surging up from the depths. The Karkarodon from from the neighbouring world of Karkaris was as vicious as they came. Many ascribed his attributes to that of a lambro or razor shark. He moved like an animal, growled and roared like an animal. Some said the Karkarodon's evolved from sharks, but regardless of backstory, Ahsoka could definitely see the comparisons.
The bloodthirsty Separatist charged Lee Char, his toothy maw opening and snapping as he dodged every bolt sent his way. Narrowing her eyes, Ahsoka drew her lightsaber and made to intervene. I can get between them faster than he can swim. She thought. I can probably escape with the Prince faster than he can recover too. Just as Tamson charged the frightened Prince, ready to take a bite out of him, Ahsoka arrived between them and fended off Tamson with a quick swing of her blade. "Grab on!" She ordered Char, who quickly did as asked.
"Good idea!" He clung to the side of the OMS as Ahsoka gunned the thrusters. But Tamson was no slouch and quickly chased after them, his natural aquatic abilities proving equal to Ahsoka's tech. She wound around rocks and constructs, blitzing past tunnels and waterways, diving and rolling, exercising moves she normally saved for when piloting a starfighter. Tampons refused to be dissuaded and managed to close the gap considerably. "Get us out of here!" Lee exclaimed, seeing the Karkarodon hot on their heels.
"Hang on!" Ahsoka replied, thinking quickly and revving the engine some more.
"I am! I am!" Char responded. Tamson was so close he could see into his black eyes and view the hungry malice and angry fervor behind them. Ahsoka rolled hard as Tamson came alongside, mouth snapping as he tried again to bite into Char. Veering sharply, her OMS crashed into his head and forced Tamson to break off for a moment. That was all Ahsoka needed and she drove into a waterway access tunnel. They were prolific feature around Mon Cala city and she figured they give her the way of escape they desperately needed.
But Tamson proved he would not be deterred so easily.
Char was behind her now, hands around her torso. Ahsoka could tell he was tense and afraid. She knew he was inexperienced with leadership and now in a fight for his life, she could assume he was petrified. And she wouldn't be far from the truth.
Tamson bashed into the transparent tunnel wall with his head, shockwaves rippling through the passage and jarring both Togruta and Calamari. Ahsoka kept driving, undeterred and determined to keep the Prince safe. "I'm slipping." Char said. Ahsoka could feel it too. She needed to do something and quick. Tamson swam to the other side and bashed the tunnel again. He did so over and over again, doggedly pursuing them with a clear intention of killing the Prince.
And then some aqua droids joined in, coming down the tunnel and block their path. "Look out! They're coming right at us!" Char cried. Seeing them up ahead with a gasp, Ahsoka planned and acted. This OMS might be their ride, but it could serve them in a different capacity now.
"I'm letting go!" She explained, releasing her grip on the steering levers. Ahsoka and Char floated to a standstill, the OMS slamming into the aqua droids with a deafening explosion. They took a moment to breathe, thankful that at least one threat had been dealt with. That's when Ahsoka spied the other one. "Look out! Behind you!" She started, pulling Lee Char away from the tunnel wall as Tamson rammed it again. Another shockwave rolled through but the wall held, Tamson diving away.
"As long as we're in the tube, we're safe." Lee said. His people built this passageway to be sturdy, surely it would hold against one man.
One very driven man.
Tamson surged up form the depths with a roar, striking the bottom with ferocity. Ahsoka and Char recoiled, feeling another shockwave roll through. Where's some shark repellent spray when you need it? Ahsoka wondered to herself as Tamson circled and lunged again. She was starting to question the stability of the walls when Tamson made another attack.
This time, he broke through.
Ahsoka quickly pulled the Prince back, out of reach of Tamson's head which had now penetrated the glass. He thrashed and roared with such violence, truly acting like an aquatic beast. Ahsoka could feel Char's absolute fear through the Force. The poor Prince was terrified.
A squad of Calamari soldiers suddenly arrived and started attacking Tamson with their spear blasters, blue stun bolts peppering the Karkarodon. Irritated, Tamson broke off his assault to attack the Calamari, moving with incredible speed and savagery. The water soon turned red with cloudy blood as Tamson viciously tore each soldier apart, smashing one corpse into the glass as he did. Ahsoka quickly escorted Lee away, now that Tamson was otherwise occupied. They needed to leave before his interest was rekindled.
Reunited with the Calamari and the Republic, Lee Char met with Senator Tills while Ahsoka joined Anakin, Master Fisto and the Calamari captain Gial Ackbar. The droids had retreated, as had the Quarren and Tamson, leaving them all to question what was really going on. They knew the Quarren would not surrender so easily and that they were likely preparing for another assault.
"I sense the real battle is about to begin." Anakin mused.
Then from the depths came a deep yellow glow, growing with every second until broad, circular shapes came into view. Ahsoka braced herself and got ready to fight as multiple objects appeared from out of the gloom.
They were Hydroid Medusaes. Techno-organic monsters that resembled jellyfish, native to Tamson's homeworld.
"We have no defence against those!" Char exclaimed.
"This isn't gonna be easy." Anakin agreed. The Medusaes started to radiate electrical energy, bolts of raw, deadly power leaping from tentacle to tentacle. There were a great many of them and they were moving as one towards their line.
"All troops! Battle stations!" Fisto declared. The Calamari and SCUBA troopers raised their weapons and took aim, waiting for a signal from their commanding officers. Char picked up a spear blaster, casting glances at his fellow Calamari as the Medusaes uttered a deep, mechanical groan.
"Do not fire until the Prince gives the command." Ackbar ordered, his own spear blaster in hand. "Steady... Steady..." the war beasts drew closer, Anakin ignited his lightsaber alongside Kit and Ahsoka. "Not yet," Ackbar cautioned. The Medusaes were practically on top of them now, their transparent yellow tops moving out of view as their deadly tentacles consumed their vision. Still they waited.
Ahsoka looked on with a mixed sense of awe and discouragement. These war beasts truly were impressive, but how could they possibly topple something like this? The Prince had said it himself; they had no feasible means of defence against them. They would have to look for a weakness and Ahsoka's eyes started to roam, darting from the tentacles where bolts of electricity lept back and forth to the veiny underside of the beast where tentacles met body.
There had to be something.
Char swam forward with encouragement from Ackbar.
"Attack!" He commanded, spear blaster raised high. The Clones and Mon Calarmari opened fire, their blaster rounds striking the Medusaes repeatedly. They were big enough targets, everyone had a good shot at them.
But Ahsoka had to wonder if they would be enough.
The Medusaes were right on top of them now, a passing tentacle barely touched a pair of Calamari and discharged enough deadly voltage to kill them both. Another touched a Clone and he screamed as he was electrocuted before going limp. So far their attacks were doing nothing, the Medusaes remained seemingly untouched.
And then, from behind, Tamson and an army of aqua droids attacked. The Medusaes had only been an unstoppable diversion!
Ahsoka went to work with a single blade, blocking incoming blaster bolts and hacking a nearby droid in two with an overhead swing. She hacked and swung with renewed vigour, cutting down droids left and right. These she could handle without question.
"Ahsoka, find a way out of here!" Anakin ordered, deeming the situation too much for them. With nod she swam over to Char, drawing her shoto and cutting down another droid as she did.
"Prince, where's somewhere safe?" She asked.
"We can't retreat, we've got to be brave." He answered, seeing her intentions. "We've got to be brave."
"There's a time to attack and a time to retreat. And now is not the time to be brave." Ackbar cut in, firing at another droid as he lent his advice. After a moment of thought, Char had an answer.
"The safest place is in the caves."
"I agree, your highness." Ackbar concurred. "Follow me." He instructed. The Senators and Prince took off after him, Ahsoka following to act as a guard. They swam down towards the underbelly of Mon Cala city, headed straight to the sea floor. Revealed below was a complex network of tunnels, the perfect place for the survivors to hide. Having shaken off the Medusaes, they collected themselves and gathered for conference. But Char sat off from the assembly, joined by Ahsoka.
"Thanks to you, Padawan Tano, and to these brave soldiers." He said, truly grateful for her assistance. "I wish I could've done more for my people. Maybe then we would've been spared all of this. The illusion that I could lead in my father's place..." He vented, the trials of the day having taken their toll on his spirit.
"Your father would be proud of you." Ackbar assured him, swimming over.
"Proud?" Char protested. "We lost!"
"Today you learned the hardest lesson a commander could learn: how to live to fight another day." Ackbar replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. Ahsoka could sympathize, having learned that lesson long ago. She'd been through a lot, but she'd had the benefit of at least a couple years experience, entering the war when she was only fourteen and now being sixteen. This was literally the Prince's first day on the job and he'd had to deal with identical situations within the span of a day. Ahsoka suddenly found a kindred spirit within the Prince and found within herself a sense of determination to help him see his true potential. She and Ackbar helped him back to the leadership circle, knowing he had a potential he just didn't see yet.
Later...
In a meeting between the Separatist representatives, a holographic render of Count Dooku spoke with Commander Tamson as well as the Quarren representative Nossor Ri.
"And the young prince? Has he been captured?" He was asking.
"No, my lord." Tamson answered, choosing to be the bearer of bad news. "Unfortunately he escaped capture and is hiding with what's left of the Jedi and their army."
"Do not underestimate this boy, Tamson." Dooku cautioned. "He must not become a symbol for the Mon Calamari people to rally behind."
"This child is but a coward. He is no leader." Tamson replied.
"That is irrelevant. The whispering of his name can rekindle hope and hope is something we cannot allow our enemy to possess." Dooku continued, knowing full well what needed to happen as well as what could happen.
"Excuse me, Count Dooku," Nossor interrupted, "but what of the prisoners?" He asked, referring specifically to the Calamari that had been captured during the last engagement.
"They are to be processed. Internment camps have been set up below the city, gather the rabble there and set them to work." The Sith bluntly answered.
"Surely you do not mean all of them." Nossor protested. "The women, the children-"
"Are to be sent as well." Dooku firmly stated before giving Nossor a warning look that warned him to obey or else. "Is that understood?"
"Yes my lord." Nossor complied, bowing as he did. With that out of the way, Dooku's focus returned to the Karkarodon.
"Tamson, I'm sending you reinforcements. Hold them in reserve and wait for the Republic's next move. I am also sending my Apprentice, Darth Khan, to Mon Cala to aid against the Republic."
"As you wish, Count Dooku." Tamson replied with a bow of his own...
Okay, not much of Jayden in this except at the beginning there. But I am following the way the Mon Cala episode went. Leaving Jayden out of it until Dooku believes he is needed to handle the problem, which he is. think of how it would be in the episode ending, Dooku announcing his Apprentice is coming and then the episode ends... really can leave chills up someone's spine.