Author's Note: I just learned that 'montrals' actually refer to the upper horns of a Togruta while the rest of the head tails are still called lekku, just like Twi'leks. Never knew that until now! This has nothing to do with the chapter btw, just a fun fact I thought I'd share.


-Chapter 18: Torment-

Location: Saleucami

"A conflicted mind results in poor efficiency."

While the Republic was learning about The Wraith from Commander Thrawn, the Separatist commando had flown from Aefao to the world of Saleucami. He was in a fighting mood, ready to continue the action he'd been missing out on for the past month. In his mind, Aefao had been a success. Despite the fact he had a mysterious voice in his head, which was quite irritating, Wraith had been able to rack up quite a few kills, aiding in crippling the invading Republic forces and loosening their grip on the Separatist world. But he wasn't ready to stop just yet. He was hungry for more kills.

And nothing, not even a voice in his head, could stop him.

The Republic had been able to wrest control of the backwater world from the Separatists and was in the process of bolstering their defenses as well as eliminating the handful of CIS forces that were still stationed on the planet.

Wraith was here to make sure they did not go without a fight.

The desert planet was nowhere near an ideal place to live, yet it seemed like there were a few who had managed to make a living amidst the swamps and dry ground. Separatist forces had no problem constructing defenses and building a base from which droids could be deployed, but apart from the location, Saleucami was nothing special and was also of very little material value. If anything, the only good thing about Saleucami was its location in the galaxy. And that was why it had become a hotly contested battleground.

Wraith touched down just outside the base. From his aerial point of view, Wraith could see that it had been constructed near a cliff and had expanded outwards across a plateau. But he could also see the Republic camp just a few miles away and it soon became evident that they had the advantage. Part of the cliff had collapsed and taken a portion of the base with it, resulting in a rubble strewn slope that had no doubt been created thanks to tank or cannon rounds. With the base having already been partly destroyed, the Republic had a perfect angle from which they could see their enemy's every move.

Not a very tactically safe war zone... but Wraith had little choice in the matter.

His orders, coming straight from Count Dooku, were to aid Separatist forces in holding their ground until reinforcements could arrive. Relatively simple and easy in terms of objectives. As long as Clones were still their weak and powerless selves, Wraith should have no problem.

He exited his shuttle and was greeted moments later by a droid commander, who led him to a holotable displaying a map of their surroundings.

"Count Dooku told me you needed to know our situation. Well, it's not pretty." The droid was saying. "We lost part of our supply depot when the Republic assaulted our flank. Fortunately, we managed to hold them off but we took too many losses."

"They're probably getting ready to deliver the death blow." Wraith mused, crossing his arms.

"Our scouts reported a lot of activity in their camp, recently." The commander continued. "They appear to equipping their Clones with heavy weaponry." Wraith processed that information, determining the Republic wanted to rip the proverbial carpet out from under them, before exterminating whoever was left.

They needed a firm defense.

"We need to fortify near the collapsed portion, that's where we're weakest. Deploy sentries to keep watch and erect barricades at different locations along the slope. We can use the rubble to our advantage." Wraith described, detailing his plan and pointing to various sections of the holomap.

"What good will that do us?" The droid wondered, feeling the situation to be quite hopeless.

"Right now its a race against time. The Republic wants us dead but reinforcements are on the way. We just have to last a little longer. The more time we can buy with a strong defence, the better." The commando explained. Then, he had a thought. "Do we have any offensive armaments? Cannons, tanks, anything?" The more powerful weapons they could use to defend themselves, the more time they could probably buy.

"No sir. They were all destroyed." The droid negatively replied.

So much for that idea.

"No matter. We can make this work." Wraith muttered. The commando studied the landscape carefully, examining the flat plateau that the Republic was camped on. No real cover could be found between the remnants of the cliff and their base. He'd have to move fast and be deliberate in his movements. He lacked the significant cover he'd had on Aefao. This would be a different kind of fight...

"Well, well, well," a feminine voice drew him from his musings, "long time no see soldier." Wraith looked up and around, seeking the owner of the voice. When he did, it didn't take him long to recognize the pale-skinned individual clad in an orange jumpsuit.

"Aurra Sing. A pleasant surprise." He greeted the bounty hunter. "What are you doing here on such a remote planet?" He asked, curious as to her involvement. Dooku hadn't told him about her presence.

"Your bosses are paying me good to help keep their stuff in one piece." She explained. "They want me to help keep the Clones at bay."

"Indeed. Then it would appear our goals align once more." It was a welcome change to be working with a familiar face, one that could be counted upon to succeed.

"Yeah, been a while since we pulled that stunt on Alderaan." Aurra mused. Wraith deemed her right. That felt like an eternity ago. "This is definitely going to be a change from sneaking around."

"Secrecy's out the window. It's total war now." Wraith replied, knowing his revelation had changed the way he worked.

Suddenly, as he was recalling his brutal face-to-face tactics, a sudden pain shot through his mind. It was enough to make him flinch and groan as a throbbing ache beat against his skull. He quickly deduced it to be some kind of mild migraine, given the continuous pain.

Since when did he get headaches?

Aurra took noticed as he clutched his helmet.

"You feeling alright?" She asked.

"I've been better." Wraith replied. Deeming this to be unrelated to the voice in his head, Wraith decided to tell her about his recent experience. "I took an orbital blast from a cruiser. Still getting back on my feet."

"Woah." Aurra breathed, clearly amazed by the fact Wraith was even here, next to her. "Something like that could easily kill pretty well anyone." This was true.

"Lucky for me, I'm not 'anyone'." Wraith mused, shaking his head. He had been engineered to be better, to be the best. If he could take an orbital blast, he could handle a simple headache. Surely there were some painkillers tucked into his jacket, somewhere. "Any idea whose leading our opponents?" He wondered.

"Not really. I've seen some Clones with dark blue markings, but no sign of a Jedi." Aurra reported. "I only arrived recently." Although her knowledge was limited, her information combined with Wraith's knowledge was able to give him an idea who the Republic had sent to Saleucami.

"I've seen dark blue markings on members of the Wolf Pack." He stated. "And if Wolffe is here, then Plo Koon should also be here. Guess we're dealing with the 104th Battalion then." Quickly recalling what information he knew about the Kel Dor Jedi, Wraith determined his biggest worry would be the Clones.

But even they weren't worth worrying about.

"Do me a favor and check on what kind of supplies we have available. I'm going to scout the rubble on that slope, see where the best points of defence are." He told her.

"Sure thing." Aurra nodded. "If you need anything, hon, don't hesitate to let me know." She encouraged him. Wraith nodded before they went their separate ways, him towards the edge and her deeper into the base. Wraith began to consider the different barricades they would need. Maybe even some kind of bunker as well...

I think I remember her... Alderaan, right? The voice suddenly asked him, appearing from out of nowhere. Taken aback, Wraith gathered himself with a sigh.

"Yeah."

I can't believe you murdered those guards, and that Gungan, in cold blood. The voice mused, reflecting on his mission to the Republic world.

"Not now, Voice!" Wraith quietly growled, bringing an abrupt end to the conversation. He was not in the mood to discuss morality.

Just saying...

"And you won't stop saying." The commando grumbled before deciding to carry on and not arouse suspicion.

It was time to get to work.


Later that day...

The sun was setting, dipping low in the horizon as it slowly disappeared behind the Republic camp. Plo Koon, Ahsoka and Bultar Swan had finished the debrief with Commander Thrawn and were busy making preparations, now that they knew The Wraith was here on Saleucami. Master Plo had deemed it wise that he equip a good portion of his Clones with explosive devices, deciding to test Thrawn's suggested tactics. As this was happening, the three Jedi stood around a holotable with Commander Wolffe, discussing their strategy for the upcoming fight.

"Since our assault on the cliff side worked so well last time, we should continue to use explosive arms. Especially now since The Wraith is present." The Jedi Master was saying.

"We've noticed the droids building defensive barricades and what appears to be an impromptu bunker, using rubble from the parts of the base we destroyed." Wolffe added. "Wouldn't surprise me if that was Wraith's idea."

"He appears to be trying to fortify their weak points." Bultar noted. The black-haired human female Jedi was a little older than Ahsoka and had once been the apprentice of Plo Koon. She had graduated to knighthood shortly before the start of the Clone Wars and was now leading armies side by side with those who had trained her. Both her and Plo advocated for the use of heavy weaponry in order to try and defeat The Wraith.

But Ahsoka had other thoughts.

She was as close to Master Plo as Bultar was, given he was the one who found her on Shili and brought her to the Temple all those years ago. But her ideas differed greatly from what Plo and Bultar had in mind. Of everything Commander Thrawn had said during his briefing, there was one point that Ahsoka simply couldn't shake from her mind. It was the idea that Wraith fought because his life depended on it. A single screw-up could result in the death of him. While the others were intent on his defeat, Ahsoka was thinking about the possibility of rescuing The Wraith.

As absurd as that may sound, Ahsoka was starting to become convinced that The Wraith was not who he appeared. Deep down, maybe Wraith was just a normal guy who was desperate for help, desperate to be free of torment and pain. Since his sighting here on Saleucami, Ahsoka had been putting together a plan of her own.

She was going to try and talk with him.

As the two other Jedi continued to talk, Ahsoka stayed silent as she studied the holomap before her. She may be able to sneak into the base, given its poor defences. Or she could wait and try to find him on his own before she made her presence known.

"You seem distracted Ahsoka," Master Plo's voice interrupted her thoughts, "is everything alright?" Ahsoka gave her head a shake as she came back to reality.

"I'm sorry Master. I was just thinking about what Commander Thrawn had to say." She lied.

"How so?" The Kel Dor asked. Ahsoka took a breath as she came up with something doubtful to say.

"What if his plans don't work? What if Wraith doesn't work the way Thrawn thinks he does?" She replied, questioning the information the Chiss officer had supplied them with. "I mean, we've given our Clones rockets, but what if they aren't effective?"

"For now, Thrawn's theories and suggestions are just that: theories and suggestions." Plo responded. "It will be us who test them and confirm whether they work or not. Your suspicions are justified, Ahsoka. But do not let them control your actions."

"I sense fear surrounding you, Padawan Tano." Bultar added. "Do not let your emotions dictate your actions, young one." Ahsoka gave the slightest of eye-rolls. But deep down, she knew Bultar was right. Ahsoka was afraid... of Wraith getting destroyed before he could possibly be saved.

"Come, we must prepare ourselves for tomorrow." Plo determined, not wishing for any hostilities between Bultar and Ahsoka. Wolffe donned his helmet and headed out first, intent on checking on his men as the three Jedi followed him out. But while Wolffe, Plo and Bultar moved further into the camp, Ahsoka turned and headed for the perimeter, the partially collapsed cliffs looming in the distance.

She was convinced it was time for her to enact her plan.

The darkening skies would provide excellent cover. Nights on Saleucami were often pitch black with only the light of the stars to illuminate the area. Although her eyes would need some time to adjust to the dark, Ahsoka's head tails provided her with a form of echolocation, meaning she could hear someone long before they appeared before her. She knew Wraith possessed scanning technology that gave him a similar level of heightened awareness and she could only hope he was willing to speak with her.

Given his apparent attraction to her, that may not be a problem.

As she neared the very edge of the camp, it appeared that fortune as in fact on her side. She could see Wraith stepping over piles of rubble, making his way across the slope as he checked their new defensive positions, red optics blazing brightly amidst the darkened environment. She carefully tracked his movements. Ahsoka did her best to keep tabs on him while staying out of sight.

If she could see him, then he could also see her.

The darkness helped her and his attention appeared to be drawn elsewhere. Quickly scanning her surroundings, Ahsoka took stock of the landscape that stood between her and her target. There were a good several hundred yards between the two bases, she would have plenty of distance to cover. Those yards were pretty empty, nothing but flat dirt and the odd tuft of grass. A few sparse trees dotted the almost barren landscape, providing little to no cover for anyone to use.

No doubt the others were thinking of Wraith when they noticed this.

Ahsoka turned back and watched as Wraith disappeared into a bunker, optics vanishing from view. Taking a deep breath, Ahsoka quickly looked around the cliffs for any droid scouts. There were none... for the moment.

Making sure no one else was watching her, Ahsoka broke into a sprint as she made her way towards the Separatist defenses.


Turns out the painkillers were in a pouch near the rear of his belt. Looks like he did carry a few 'just in case' measures. Even though he was supposed to be invincible, Scipio was still looking out for him.

What a guy.

Wraith's headache had dissipated not long after consuming the pills. This was good, he could go back to work without interruption. And given the odds these battle droids faced, he would need every ounce of brainpower to see them through. Now was not the time for setbacks.

He was securing the perimeter, double-checking the newly erected defenses along the slope. The barricades weren't nearly as good as he would've liked, but given their limited resources, they would have to do. The makeshift bunker wasn't too terrible and would definitely provide a moment of reprieve from the firefighting. It was as tall as he was, granted he did have to slouch to enter. A series of large base components had formed a kind of blast shield near the entrance, also constructed by the droids, as a method of not only building yet another barricade but also as a form of protection upon entering.

If there was any one place to feel secure, this just might be it.

It wasn't perfect. Holes dotted the walls and it was far from invulnerable. But it would do in a pinch.

"Not bad." Wraith mused as he looked around. "Not great. But not bad either."

Definitely a fixer-upper. The voice added in agreement. Wraith sighed.

"And here I thought I would be free of you."

What? Don't like the company? The voice wondered. You are something of a loner, I kinda figured you wouldn't mind someone to talk to.

"I'd prefer a physical person, not some disembodied voice who hates how I work." Wraith stated, hoping some remark would be enough to shut it up.

So, what're you gonna do when the fight comes? What a bizarre question. If the voice had been around long enough to witness the way he worked, it should know what he was going to do.

"What else? Thin the herd, slaughter some Clones, reduce Plo's numbers to the point where he doesn't have enough manpower to take us over. I'll just do what I do best." Wraith replied, as though he were stating a fact. Killing Clones was practically second nature to him.

No, I refuse to let you hurt anyone. This has gone on long enough. The voice replied, almost as if it too were stating a fact.

That annoyed Wraith greatly.

"You can't stop me!" He scoffed.

And why not? The voice shot back. What makes you so invincible?

"Because you are nothing more than a figment of my still-healing mind. You have no power over me." Wraith stated. He was convinced that if someone happened to walk in on him, it would sound like he was talking to himself, engaged in a heated one-way conversation. They'd probably think he was crazy.

Maybe he was crazy.

No, you're not crazy. I'm the real deal. The voice answered his musings. Wraith was startled.

"Stop that!" He snapped.

Stop what?

"Reading my thoughts and emotions. Sometimes I don't want my questions answered!"

I take that back, maybe you are crazy. Who asks questions and doesn't expect an answer or two? The voice replied. So this figment of his mind had a personality of its own. And a sarcastic one at that.

Great. Just great.

"Who are you?" The commando demanded, growing agitated. "You sound like you're your own entity and yet I'm convinced I'm just hearing things."

So you want some answers now? You're not just wondering for the sake of wondering? The voice asked. Wraith gave an exasperated sigh.

"Yes." He growled.

I'm someone who belongs in this head. The voice informed him. You could say I'm the original owner of this body. Wraith was shocked.

"That's... That's impossible!" As long as he'd been around, he had been the only one to ever inhabit this body. "I belong in this body! You're... You're just a hallucination!" He exclaimed.

Am I? The voice countered. At that exact moment, a harsh and searing pain filled Wraith's mind, driving him to his knees. And what was that you said about me having no power over you? The migraine was unbearable, it felt as though his entire being was trying to be forced out by an unseen presence. It was like his earlier headache, only infinitely more painful. Wraith roared as he fought against the pain and tried to regain control of his mind. I belong here. You do not. The voice firmly commanded. And I don't like my body being used to commit such atrocities! Wraith continued to struggle, sweat forming across his body and beginning to soak the interior of his helmet. He summoned all of his mental fortitude to push back, the serum coursing through his veins providing additional support in the form of a total adrenaline rush.

As long as he could control the rest of his body, he could control his mind.

"Leave. Me. BE!" The commando shouted as he forced his own presence back into his mind. Like a breath of fresh air, Wraith suddenly felt alone. The second presence had disappeared and taken the pain with it. Dropping to his hands, Wraith calmed himself, taking a few desperately needed breaths.

That was a little too intense.

This voice was becoming more and more hazardous to his mental health. If it possessed such a hold on his mind so it could cause him such pain, then it clearly had taken root in his head.

And Wraith had a feeling its roots ran very deep.

Climbing to his feet, Wraith decided he needed to send a message to Scipio as soon as he could. But before he could take action of any kind his scanners suddenly alerted him to a presence nearing the bunker.

He'd been so engaged he'd forgotten about his surroundings. What a rookie-level error!

Hearing footsteps approaching the opening to his left, Wraith triggered his arm blades and whirled about, ready to face whomever it was.

But to his pleasant surprise, Ahsoka Tano stepped into his view.

"Oh. It's you." He stated simply, retracting his arm blades and deeming her not a threat. She froze upon hearing him, but her expression denoted confusion.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" She wondered, thinking he thought little of her potential.

"It means... It... It means..." Wraith mumbled, losing his train of thought. Ahsoka cocked her head, giving him another confused look.

He wasn't acting normal.

"It means something positive." He finally managed to say. Wraith gave his head a shake, feeling like his mind had been a little gummed up after his recent bout with... insanity. Taking a quick second to evaluate Ahsoka's appearance, he quickly observed she was not in a combat-ready stance, nor were her lightsabers drawn. She actually appeared nervous, a sign that indicated she was up to something. Ahsoka too quickly evaluated Wraith. Usually he had a business-like manner, all work and nothing else. The fact he was openly conversing with her, as if they weren't on opposite sides, was a very startling development.

He was not acting like his normal self.

"Are you alright?" She asked, hesitantly drawing a little closer. As much as he wanted to say 'no', Wraith decided against it. The Republic could not know he had a weakness.

"I'm perfectly fine." He replied. Ahsoka had a feeling he wasn't, but chose to say nothing. He stepped a little closer to her, making Ahsoka visibly nervous. She knew this was a dangerous game she was playing... but she had to try. He sized her up, tilting his head from side to side as he mulled over her presence.

Ahsoka swallowed nervously. His silence was rather unnerving.

Hey, that's Skywalker's Padawan. What's she doing here? The voice wondered, suddenly returning. I know, I know, your thoughts exactly. Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Wraith deemed it high-time he got some answers.

"What are you doing here? Is Skywalker here?" He asked.

"No. I'm with Master Plo." Ahsoka told him, remaining very wary of his moves.

"Plo Koon... I see. I thought you always tagged along with Skywalker wherever he went..." Wraith mused.

"Things change from time to time." Ahsoka replied. Wraith nodded, understanding the Jedi weren't nearly as straightforward an organization as he first thought. It appeared Padawan-sharing was an acceptable practice.

A strange practice, but a practice nonetheless, am I right? The voice mused.

"Now... what are you really doing here?" Wraith questioned. "Are you a forward scout? Did Koon send you to survey our defenses?" Ahsoka felt like she was being interrogated.

Calm down, alright? You don't want to scare her away.

"I'll do the thinking around here." Wraith shot back, suddenly speaking out loud. Ahsoka looked thoroughly confused by the seemingly off-hand remark made to no one in particular.

"I... I came by myself. He doesn't know where I am." She quickly informed him. This set Wraith on edge, his mood changing from relaxed to cautious.

"You purposefully sought me out by yourself?" He stated in surprise. "Tread carefully, little one. You are in a very dangerous situation right now."

Hey! Be nice to her! The voice reprimanded him. Wraith rolled his eyes... again.

"I'm not here to fight, okay? I just want to talk." Ahsoka replied.

"Talk? With me?" Wraith was surprised. Since when had anyone wanted to just sit down and talk with him? He was beginning to appreciate Ahsoka's presence... despite the fact he had a job to do. "What about?" He softly wondered. Ahsoka took his change of tone as a good sign.

"I saw what that Sith Lord was doing to you." She explained. "The way he was torturing you and hurting you." Upon hearing her words, Wraith's head snapped upright.

That was an isolated moment, away from all prying eyes. How in the world did she know about that?

"How do you know about this?"

"I... I had a vision." She said. That made sense, but Wraith was still wondering 'why'. It simply didn't make sense to him.

I'm confused as well. Aren't visions supposed to be about the future? The voice questioned.

"Wraith, we can help you. We can help you escape from the Separatists and from the torture they put you through." Ahsoka continued.

"Are you trying to save me?" He asked in a scoffing tone. "Do you really think I want to leave the Separatists? You'd be a fool to think that." He growled.

She's not a fool! She's trying to help you! The voice in his mind told him.

"Would you shut up already?!" Wraith snapped. "Your constant chatter is driving me crazy!"

Well excuse me! The voice shot back. Wraith sighed, growing more and more exhausted by the hidden back-and-forth banter that only he could hear.

Ahsoka looked confused.

"I didn't say anything." She said.

"Yes you did, you asked me to betray the Separatists!" Wraith growled, regarding her again. "But I wasn't talking to you." Ahsoka looked even more confused.

"Then who are you talking to?" She asked. Wraith said nothing, turning away and grumbling to himself. Ahsoka interpreted his lack of response as a sign that Wraith was nowhere near as 'fine' as he first told her he was. "I'm guessing that Sith Lord really did a number on your head." She mused. Wraith sighed in annoyance, feeling more than a little exasperated.

He couldn't carry on two conversations at once.

"Look. I want you to know that you will receive no harm from me. I fancy you far more than the other Jedi, so much so that I would never want to do you harm. But now is not the time for a conversation of this magnitude." He explained. Ahsoka nodded in understanding. "I can't seem to trust even myself these days. Ever since Skywalker tried to blow me to pieces with a little death from above my mind has been acting up. You must leave me be before I lose my calm and do something we'll both regret." He told her. "I'm not saying this out of desire, simply out of necessity."

"Does that mean you'll be open to talking again?" Ahsoka asked hopefully. Wraith had a feeling she wanted to pursue this matter of him switching sides.

That was something he was confident he would never do.

I'm open to that! The voice affirmed. Like it actually had a say in his affairs.

"As long as we talk about something else." He replied. "I will not defect to the Republic, for I serve the Separatists wholeheartedly." He told her in an even voice.

Oh come on!

Ahsoka was speechless. It made no sense for anyone to willingly return to such horrible conditions. Why would he want to?

"You would go back to that torture? But why?"

"Because I choose to." Wraith stated. "It is for my benefit. It will only serve to make me stronger."

Yeah, now I'm convinced you're crazy. The voice muttered. Wraith chose to ignore it, his emotions calming down.

"Now please, go." He told Ahsoka. Seeing there was no further reasoning with him, Ahsoka relented and moved to leave. But she paused at the bunker's exit.

"You know, at first I thought I hated you. After you beat up my master I thought all I wanted was for you to suffer too. But now I feel... kinda sorry for you." She admitted. "You're not beyond help, Wraith." The soft tone of her voice was welcome and appreciated. It soothed Wraith's mind, making him feel like someone cared about him as a person... not just about what he could do. But he said nothing in reply and Ahsoka disappeared without another word, leaving Wraith alone once more.

Well, not quite alone...

Did you really have to make her leave? The voice's tone sounded displeased, as if Wraith had done the exact opposite of what it had in mind.

"Yes, because I'm still dealing with you." Wraith grumbled. "Under normal circumstances I'd invite her conversation willingly. But right now, I can't deal with both you and a Jedi... especially when the fate of these droids rests on my shoulders."

Too bad. She seems nice. The voice mused.

"On that, we can agree." Wraith admitted. At least they had something in common. "Now if you would just get lost..." He growled under his breath.

I heard that!

"Do I look like I care?!"


The next morning...

Wraith didn't sleep much.

Despite feeling exhausted after dealing with this voice, Wraith simply could not fall asleep. His head was busy, too busy to simply rest. He was concerned about the outcome of this fight, how well the droids would fare against a full Republic assault. He questioned their defences, wondering if there was something else they could do to protect themselves.

But above all, he was worried about his own performance. This voice was starting to take a toll on his mind and as a result, Wraith was worried his ability to fight and conquer would be affected. It appeared to show up sporadically, having left him alone all night. But would it appear when he least needed it to? The droids were counting on him, the Separatists were counting on him. The fate of Saleucami was in his hands.

Here, on this day, his actions would determine if the planet fell or stayed in their control. And he could not afford to be interrupted by anything.

He took time to reflect on what Ahsoka had said to him. How she took pity on him. But for what? She believed he was a tool, being used for someone else's gain and to be discarded at a moment's notice.

But that was not the case.

He was a tool, more like an instrument, one cared for and kept in pristine condition so it could perform to the best of its abilities. Wraith was meant to serve... and he was okay with that. But with service came respect and respect, prestige. Through his servitude, Wraith believed he could become a leader of the Separatists one day.

That part of Sidious' reprogramming had stayed and taken root.

But the quandary that was Ahsoka still remained. Wraith liked her, that much was true. She had a spark, like him, the spark of someone who was far from average. There was something special about her that Wraith simply couldn't shake, nor did he want to. She was nowhere near the same kind of person the other Jedi were, all monotonous and boring and arrogant. She was a special kind of girl. His opposite. She was light, he was dark.

Maybe that's why he liked her so much.

Could she be his friend? Sure. Would he leave the Separatists for her? Probably not. If anything, he wanted her to join him, to help him change the galaxy for the better.

If only she could see things the way he did.

Dawn arrived sooner than he would've liked. Knowing that the approaching day would hold events that would be a true test of his abilities and his health, Wraith took some time attune his mind with with his situation and his surroundings. The more prepared he was, the better he would be able to function... even without sleep. Donning his helmet, the commando stepped out of the base and into the early morning light.


Ahsoka didn't sleep much either. She was too busy thinking about Wraith.

And not in that way!

She wondered why he would turn down her offer when he was clearly capable of thinking for himself. Was the threat against his life that bad? She was convinced that his actions were not his own, that Wraith was either being forced to work for the Separatists or had maybe been brainwashed by them. She hoped that maybe, after a little persistence and encouragement, she could coax out the real him and ultimately free him from the grip of Count Dooku and that other Sith Lord. But after the last conversation they had shared, it appeared like it would be some time before Wraith was open to switching sides. The other problem she had was how she was going to go about this while everyone else was intent on blowing Wraith to pieces. She felt like she had made progress, or at least he was open to conversing with her. Ahsoka felt like she could use his infatuation with her to her advantage, but that would be next to impossible to accomplish when everyone else she knew was busy trying to bring about his downfall instead of his redemption. She had a feeling no one would be willing to listen to her point of view, not even Anakin.

As she was mulling over these problems, Ahsoka couldn't help but wonder what was going on with herself. At first, she hated Wraith, especially after he had killed people she knew and beaten Anakin bloody. But now she felt sorry for his situation.

So why the sudden position shift?

She certainly didn't like him, especially not in a romantic way. He was all armor and guns, very cold and cruel. And yet it seemed like that was only a small part of who he was, like she had only seen one side of him. Ahsoka was curious to learn more about Wraith and dive beneath the surface, beneath the more superficial elements Thrawn had discovered. The Chiss commander had only noted what he was like as a warrior. Ahsoka wanted to learn what he was like as a person.

Maybe Wraith didn't need more enemies or superiors. Maybe he just needed a friend.

But until she could convince him otherwise, until the day when she could escort him back to Republic lines as a friend instead of an enemy, there was still a war going on... and they were still on opposite sides.

Stretching her arms and yawning, Ahsoka rose from her bunk and readied herself for the events of that day...


Although it was only relatively late in the morning, the sun over Saleucami beat down on the Clone forces assembled across the plateau as though it were at its peak during the afternoon. Koon and Wolffe had deployed their troops in formation right along the perimeter of their camp. Structured in such a way that their rocket troopers were positioned behind the front lines, they believed they had a perfectly viable strategy. Their goals this day were twofold: destroy the remaining Separatist forces and see if Thrawn's strategies proved effective against The Wraith.

Both of which depended upon their performances this day.

Battle droids stood along the rubble-strewn slope, strategically positioned behind newly erected barricades and pieces of debris. If all went well, they would be able to hold their own and survive until the promised reinforcements arrived.

Although droids weren't meant to think or feel, many of them believed they would not live long enough to see the fulfillment of that promise.

From the cliffside, Wraith and Aurra surveyed their opponents. The near-human hunter whistled as she took stock of the numerous Clones below them.

"Koon really seems to have it out for us." She mused.

"Either that, or he's afraid of us." Wraith noted. Aurra chuckled, finding the remark amusing. "I'm going to need you to provide cover for me. This herd needs thinning." He stated. "And there's plenty of targets to pick from." Aurra nodded, knowing the slugthrower rifle hoisted over her shoulder was going to be used quite regularly today.

"And you?" She wondered.

"I'll draw their fire, do what I can. The less they're focused on the base, the better." He replied. "But I'm counting on you to eliminate as many of those rockets as you can." He added, knowing they would be their biggest concern.

"I'm on it." Turning to face Wraith, Aurra paused to observe his focused gaze on the Republic lines. "Are you ready?" She wondered. Wraith said nothing immediately as his shoulders heaved with a deep breath. It was time for him to act.

"I'm always ready." He replied. Taking a single step forward, Wraith jumped off the cliff...

From the Republic lines, Koon, Bultar, Ahsoka and Wolffe watched as Wraith crashed down before them, dust and dirt kicked up from his landing. Standing tall, the towering Separatist commando sized up his opponents through his optics, ensuring he kept them all in his blood red gaze.

"He certainly possesses a commanding presence." Koon noted.

"Some might even call it 'terrifying'." Bultar added, finding the broad and darkened form of their foe a little unnerving. Koon couldn't help but agree with his apprentice.

"Thrawn's initial reports appear to be correct. This gives me hope the rest of his report is also true." The Kel Dor mused.

"General, should we open fire now?" Wolffe asked, thinking now was the best time for them to attack.

"Let's wait and see what he does, Commander." Plo replied, wanting for Wraith to make a move they could quickly respond to. "We know our plan so let's do our best to keep it from him. We want him to react, not act." Wolffe nodded.

"Standing by, sir." As she took in the sight of Wraith off in the distance, Ahsoka couldn't help but hope for a fleeting second that he might walk up to them and surrender, wishing to talk and maybe defect.

But it seemed like that would be a long way off... she had a lot of work to do before Wraith would even think of joining the Republic.

Walking forward with long strides, Wraith neared his opponents, hoping all eyes were on him. The more of their attention he could control, the more they would be focused on him and hopefully leave the droids out of this.

The success of his mission depended on their survival.

Stopping halfway between both armies, Wraith looked directly at the trio of Jedi standing before the first line of Clones. Koon he could destroy, as with the other female. But he would keep Ahsoka alive.

He had different intentions for her.

The Kel Dor master raised his hand and the Clones around him took aim at Wraith. But the commando remained unfazed.

"Your offensive ends here, Koon!" Wraith called to him. "You will not destroy the Separatists so easily!"

"You think you alone will be enough to stop us all?" Plo asked.

"I have been in similar situations many times before, Jedi. Each time I have emerged victorious," Wraith proudly stated, "and I will emerge victorious again."

"They say pride goes before the fall." Plo replied. "My men are ready for you."

"And I am ready for them. This land will be watered with Clone blood by the time I'm finished!" Wraith called back. "Maybe even Jedi blood as well." He mused. "Do your worst Koon... you know I will do the same." Plo crossed his arms, nodding as he accepted Wraith's challenge. Despite the presence of the Separatist commando, the Jedi had a job to do. He had been instructed to fulfill a task and he would do it without a doubt. Wraith engaged his arm blades, spoiling to spill blood as he sized up the troops in front of him.

"Wolffe, now!" Koon suddenly ordered.

"Rocket troopers, engage!" The commander shouted. The Clones with blasters raised took a knee as the rocket troopers behind him targeted Wraith with their launchers. Wraith froze in place as he suddenly realized that innumerable armed RPS-6 launchers were pointed directly at him and ready to fire.

"Great." He mumbled as he suddenly realized what Koon intended to do with all these rocket troopers. Those rockets weren't meant for the droid base...

They were meant for him.

But, if they missed him, they would more than likely strike the droid defenses behind him. Wraith knew they could not withstand such an intense barrage.

Taking this realization to heart, Wraith quickly dashed to his right, blades disappearing back into his arms as he went on the defensive. The sound of multiple projectiles being fired and whistling through the air resounded in his audio receptors. Wraith knew he had seconds before they potentially impact and, assuming they were your average ballistic projectiles, Wraith needed to simply duck to avoid getting blown apart. Throwing himself down on the ground, Wraith covered his head as explosive projectiles whizzed past overhead. Waiting for a few seconds, resounding explosions rocked the area as the rockets impacted with the cliff. Rubble and debris rained down on the ground and kicked up a mighty cloud of dust.

It may be a good thing they were targeting him. The base, and the droids, would survive much longer if the Republic was so focused on him.

Now it was just a matter of how long he could survive.

Inwardly, Ahsoka breathed a sigh of relief when the rockets missed. She'd prefer it if she could talk with a whole person... not just fragments of one.

"Well that didn't work." Wolffe muttered in disappointment, watching as Wraith picked himself up.

"Second wave, prepare smart missiles and engage tracking systems!" Koon ordered. "He can run, but he cannot hide!" The RPS-6 troopers took a knee and allowed the second row of rocket troopers to take aim. As he was dusting himself off, Wraith looked up and immediately recognized the PLX-1 portable missile launchers. If what Koon ordered was true, then these troopers packed a significantly harder punch than the previous ones. Not only that, but now they could follow him.

He needed a new solution... now.

Fortunately, he had friends in high places.

"Aurra, light 'em up!" He commanded. The bounty hunter was already waiting, rifle trained on the Clone nearest to Wolffe.

"All droids, open fire on the Republic lines." He ordered through her own comms. The battle droids were quick to respond as they picked their targets and attacked. Aurra herself was quick to down a pair of Clones with well-aimed rounds from her rifle. The Clones were quick to respond and turned their attention away from Wraith and towards the droids, opening fire on the cliffs. They assumed their battle formations as Wolffe took control of the men with a nod from Master Plo, knowing the Jedi had bigger issues at hand. The Jedi looked up in mild surprise as a firefight suddenly erupted around them. They had seen Aurra before, but had completely forgotten about her when the fight with Wraith began.

And now she was making her presence known, and it was causing them trouble.

The Jedi ignited their lightsabers and moved to defend their Clones, working hard to deflect the incoming blaster fire. Wraith quickly decided to add to the chaos and dropped to one knee as he drew his carbine and took aim at the Kel Dor. The staccato of rounds from his carbine were added to the fray as Plo Koon suddenly found himself deflecting more and more rounds.

"Master Plo!" Bultar shouted above the noise. "We need to push Wraith back. He is our biggest concern."

"Agreed, Bultar." Plo replied. The two quickly summoned the Force and pushed The Wraith away, sending the commando sprawling across the ground.

That was annoying.

With a growl, Wraith pushed himself up and stowed his rifle away. Launching some explosive discs into his hands, the soldier sent them skittering across the ground near the feet of the Jedi.

He didn't need to wound them, just distract them.

The devices went off a split second later, leaving Plo and Bultar no time to react. A shower of dust and dirt obscured their sight and they quickly summoned the Force to clear the air. But as soon as they did, Wraith entered their vision, dropping down from above with an arm blade extended. His foot connected with the Jedi's chest and knocked him down, giving Plo no time to react as Wraith prepared to plunge his blade through his head. Bultar was too far away, the Clones were powerless... this Jedi would die today.

At least, that's what he initially thought.

His arm refused to move. No matter how hard Wraith tried to thrust it forward and impale his blade in Plo Koon's head, his limb simply refused to budge. At first, he thought the voice was responsible, that it had somehow taken control of his body.

But, recognizing something in the corner of his vision, Wraith slowly turned to see Ahsoka with her arm outstretched.

She was holding him at bay with the Force.

"What are you doing?" He asked with a growl, feeling both irritated that he could not score a kill and concerned that it was she who had denied him this.

"I won't let you hurt them!" Ahsoka cried, using the Force to push Wraith away. The commando stumbled a little but quickly regained his footing, looking up to see Ahsoka rush over and step between him and Koon, lightsabers drawn.

"I warned you last night," he rumbled, triggering his second blade, "don't make me do something we'll both regret." The words 'last night' sparked suspicion within Bultar.

"Padawan, what is he talking about?" She demanded of Ahsoka. But the Togruta ignored her, focusing all of her attention on Wraith.

"I know you have a job to do... but so do I." She replied, sounding almost regretful that things had come to this. "And I won't let you kill my friends either!" She stated. Wraith slowly assumed a defensive stance, leveling both blades in her direction.

"I won't hurt you... but I will fight you." He calmly told her. Beckoning her forward with one hand, Wraith was determined to fight defensively... he would not wound Ahsoka. Ever.

But he was not so certain she would be so willing to leave him unscathed.

Ahsoka lunged forward, spinning around and whipping her blades towards Wraith in a whirlwind strike. Raising his blades and angling his arms, her lightsabers scraped across his armor, sending sparks flying. It occurred to Wraith that this was his first ever fight with Ahsoka, as he countered her follow-up attacks, intently focused on maintaining a strong defense. She struck hard and quick, Wraith couldn't help but notice her skill in the art of dual-wielding was so masterful it was almost flawless. It appeared to be Jar'Kai or Niman, something similar to the variation he practiced.

Given his blades were mounted and not held, Wraith and Scipio had worked closely in studying the Yovshin swordsmen and the Royale Macheteros, blending both Jar'Kai and Niman styles together and customizing it to best fit his style. Essentially inventing their own form of combat, Wraith knew this was a style no one could predict.

And yet Ahsoka was doing a very good job at giving him a run for his credits. She might have even more skill than he first realized.

Just another reason to like her...

Ahsoka knew she had to defend Master Plo, if only to keep up appearances. Regardless of how she felt about Wraith, she did have a job to do. As a commander in the Republic army, it was her duty to fight the Separatists. As a Jedi, it was also her duty to combat those who were the enemies of peace and representatives of tyranny.

And Wraith was both of those.

Her sabers came crashing into his blades, which were crossed together to form a tight block. He was easily a head or two taller than her and yet his agility and fluid movements was incredible.

"You don't have to do this! You can help us bring peace to the galaxy!" She urged him, trying hard to shake him free of his bondage even in the midst of this fight.

"There will be peace.. Separatist peace." He rumbled. Throwing his arms apart, Wraith pushed Ahsoka away before he brought his right blade crashing down, burying it in the ground between her legs. Ahsoka leapt back, back-flipping nearer to the Republic lines.

"Ahsoka! Return to us!" Plo called to her. The young Padawan did as she was told and turned around in retreat. "Missile troopers, fire at will!" The Kel Dor commanded. Wraith promptly deactivated his blades and started running, knowing he needed both time and distance in order to avoid these projectiles. The telltale whistling in the air indicated he only had a few seconds left before impact. Rolling out of the way with a grunt, a pair of missiles suddenly exploded in the ground next to him, showering Wraith with dirt and dust while the concussive blast sent him sprawling across the ground. Rising to his feet, Wraith barely had a moment to leap away before another missile slammed into the ground right where his feet had been. Again the concussive explosion sent him hurtling through the air, blown away by the sudden impact. But Wraith managed to take control of his flight and landed in a crouched position, sliding to a halt as clouds of dust were kicked up around him.

Turn back! Retreat and fight another day! The voice suddenly commanded as he recovered.

So it was back. Back to torment him again.

Not now. This was not the time.

"Zip it! Gotta avoid these missiles." Wraith retorted, more concerned with avoiding an explosion than he was with listening to this voice. Another missile detonated not far behind him and Wraith was forced to make another leap as a missile exploded right behind him, sending him flying once more. Dirt and dust showered his back as heat and flames licked at his retreating body as he rolled to a halt and instantly picked himself back up. He had a feeling there would be some scorch marks to clean off his back.

That was too close. The voice muttered.

"Could you tell me something useful for once?!" Wraith snapped. Not expecting a reply, Wraith turned and opened fire with his slugthrowers, scoring a series of head-shots and downing a few more Clones. Aurra had successfully dealt with most of the rocket troopers, but these missile troopers were still a problem. The Republic seemed more prepared for him than usual. Normally, his attacks were swift and sudden, able to cripple the Republic before they even had a chance to realize what was happening.

Now they seemed ready for him.

This would not do. It was time for him to take this fight to them.

"Cowards!" Wraith shouted to the Jedi. "You hide behind ordinance. Out of all of you, only Ahsoka has what it takes to be a true warrior!" He openly mocked them, hoping to incite some kind of reaction.

"You would have us fight on your terms?" Plo replied. "We know how you work Wraith. You would prefer we fight you one on one... and die in the process." Beneath his mask, Wraith arched an eyebrow, finding it most both odd and unnerving that the Jedi were on to his tactics.

"Then you know I find the Republic repulsive and your Clones even more so." Wraith shot back. "They are too pathetic and too weak to even compare to me!" Deciding it was time to ramp things up, the commando began stalking towards the Republic lines, ignoring the periodic rounds that ricocheted off his armor. The Clones were too busy attacking the droids to be focused on him. He could use this moment to strike deeply and thin their lines. Commander Wolffe recognized the immediate danger Wraith posed and chose to act.

"Boost, Sinker, form a defensive line and hold him off while we prep a few more rockets!" He ordered two members of the Wolfpack, an elite team of Clones that directly served alongside Wolffe himself.

"Copy that sir." Boost affirmed as the two Clones quickly dashed a few paces in front of their lines before kneeling and taking aim at the advancing commando.

"Ready?" Sinker wondered.

"Let's light him up!" Boost replied, pulling the trigger. Opening fire simultaneously, blue bolts of energy streaked through the air, only to collide with Wraith's raised gauntlets. He kept moving forward at a slow and steady pace, hoping he could keep the attention of these two long enough for him to draw closer.

"Try aiming!" Wraith cackled. "Maybe you'll actually hit me."

"Aim for the legs, we might be able to pierce the armor!" Boost suggested, adjusting the angle of his shots. But before he could even squeeze the trigger, Wraith charged ahead, snapping up his arm and firing a grapple as he did. The projectile speared itself in Boost's weapon and Wraith promptly wrenched it out of the Clones hands before launching himself forward to tackle the trooper. Sinker was quick to roll out of the way but Boost was left alone to challenge The Wraith. The Clone was quick to use Wraith's momentum against him and throw the Separatist aside, buying himself enough time to get back to his feet. Ignoring the blasts pelting his back, Wraith rushed ahead, spoiling for a good fight. Boost knew he only had a few seconds to strike back and decided to make the most of them by striking first. Lashing out with a kick, his foot was quickly batted away by Wraith, leading the Clone to try for a punch instead.

A move Wraith had been anticipating.

Don't do it Wraith! The voice in his head shouted, knowing full well what his plans were. But the commando ignored it as he moved to counter Boost's attack, catching a right hook and forcing his arm out of the way so he could sink a wrist blade into the Clone's shoulder. Boost cried out in pain but was silenced seconds later as Wraith shoved his other wrist blade into the Clone's head. I said don't! The voice cried as Boost's dead body hit the ground, blood flowing from the two fatal wounds.

"I don't care." Wraith huffed under his breath, blades retracting as he awaited his next victim. It came in the form of Sinker, who rushed the soldier from behind. Turning about and standing his ground, Wraith quickly calculated an easy maneuver to take out the Clone and simply waited for the opportunity to present itself.

"Suck lasers, Seppie!" Sinker cried, blasting Wraith with a barrage of rounds from his weapon. The rounds pinged off his armor as the Separatist allowed Sinker to draw even closer. Once he was within distance, Wraith charged forward and plowed his shoulder into the Clone, knocking the wind from Sinker's lungs and laying him flat on his back. Pouncing on his downed foe, Wraith drew back his arm and extended his blade.

"Eat blade, Clone!" He thundered before plunging his blade into Sinker's helmet, stabbing clean through his face and head, the tip buried in the ground.

No no no! I told you to stop! The voice groaned, pained by the fact another Clone had died.

"You don't control me!" Wraith growled, pulling back his arm and blade disappearing back into his gauntlet. By now, the droid defensive combined with Aurra's covering fire and Wraith's own assault were proving to be a significant challenge for the 104th Battalion. Plo Koon, Bultar and Ahsoka were doing all they could to stand their ground and make some gains, but the indomitable force that was The Wraith was continually hampering their efforts.

Their mission was to bring down the Separatist base and, if possible, use Thrawn's tactics to ward off Wraith. But so far he had been able to adapt and avoid everything they threw his way.

This battle was not going nearly as well as they would've liked.

Commander Wolffe knew this and he knew that his forces needed a break. They needed to complete their mission, but they couldn't as long as Wraith was present. His duty was to his men and if he needed to sacrifice himself to give them an opportunity, then so be it.

He remembered Thrawn's words as he decided to put his plan into motion, Clones who live are Clones who can fight another day.

"Comet, I need your help!" He ordered. "We've got to protect the others from Wraith."

"Right behind you sir!" The Clone acknowledged and immediately moved to obey. The two Clones maneuvered their way to the front lines where Plo spotted them.

"Wolffe, Comet, do not engage!" The Kel Dor commanded them.

"With all due respect sir, we can't let him get near our forces! What happened to Boost and Sinker could happen to the rest of us. Better a few Clones die and the rest live to fight another day." Wolffe replied, knowing full well a forward assault on Wraith would likely result in his death. But he was doing for his men and for his general.

"If anything General, we'll buy you some time to strategize." Comet added, prepared to follow his commander to certain death. The two Clones stepped forward, blasters ready and pointed directly at their foe. Wraith stood alone as blaster bolts zipped by, wildly flying all around them. The bloodied bodies of Boost and Sinker lay nearby, testament to his deadly nature. Wraith smirked upon seeing Comet and Wolffe advancing upon him.

It was time to put an end to the Wolfpack once and for all.

Wraith chuckled menacingly as his blades extended once more.

"Time to die, Clones." He mused, more than ready to spill more blood.

No! The voice shouted in his mind. I won't let you kill anyone else!

"Try and stop me!" Wraith countered as he prepared to strike. He instantly regretted his challenge when searing pain shot through his head. Only this time, it was far more severe and intense than before.

No more bloodshed! You're done, Wraith! His blades disappeared as Wraith clutched his head, all thoughts dissipating as they were replaced with relentless pain. He couldn't move, he couldn't think, he couldn't act, not as long as this searing torment was present. Wolffe and Comet paused in their motions, sharing confused glances as they wondered what was wrong with their quarry. Should they take advantage of the situation? Or wait and see what would happen?

The firefight seemed to slow as Separatist and Republic forces alike watched Wraith sink to his knees, clutching his head. Growling in both frustration and pain, the Separatist commando fought to regain control of his thoughts from this incessant voice in his head.

"No...! I... won't... let you...!" He rasped.

I'm gonna take back what's mine, permanently! The voice shot back. Wraith was practically curled up now, incapable of any kind of thought or action as pain consumed him. It lit up his nerves like fire as someone, or something, tried to push him out of his own head. The pain Wraith was feeling was wrought from a battle for control. This voice was making its presence known and its power felt.

It truly did belong, if it could control his body like this.

The Jedi watched with a fixture of fascination and curiosity as Wraith grappled with himself, obviously dealing with some kind of illness or pain. Of them all, Ahsoka was intrigued the most. Having spoken with him just hours ago, Ahsoka had a feeling there was something wrong with him. Given his odd outbursts, seemingly random moments of one-sided conversation last night and based upon what she was currently witnessing, Ahsoka knew for a fact that Wraith was suffering from an affliction of the mind.

In short, he was hallucinating... or going crazy.

Part of her wanted to take this opportunity to help him, to bring him back to their side with the promise of treatment. Another part of her assumed he might be an even bigger threat, now that he was mentally unstable.

Unfortunately, the latter thoughts were about to be justified.

"Get... Out..." Wraith growled, desperately clinging to what little control he had left. Finally summoning what was left of his sanity, Wraith threw his head back with a roar. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" He screamed to the skies, desperate to be free of this constant torture. The outburst was startling and made the onlookers a little fearful.

An angry Wraith could be the death of all of them.

Wolffe was quick to order Comet into retreat, deciding their maneuver was not worth it. Retreating back to their lines, they turned about to see Wraith fall to his hands and knees, shoulders heaving as he gasped for air.

"What the heck is wrong with him, sir?" Comet wondered.

"I don't know." Wolffe honestly replied. "But this may end up working out in our favor." He added. As the Clones returned, Ahsoka watched with a level of worry at Wraith's labored movements. She had a feeling he was struggling with something, but to see it take a toll on him this badly was rather alarming. With every passing minute, Ahsoka was growing more and more worried about missing out on a chance to talk further with Wraith. But she still had to act like his enemy. For the sake of the mission, she had to fight against him as hard as Bultar and Master Plo were. Despite the potential consequences that would come about, thanks to Wraith's slip about their meeting last night, Ahsoka was determined to try again at some point in the future.

That is, if Wraith had a future after this fight.

Moving to General Koon's side, Wolffe had a plan in mind and was prepared to share it. "General, now might be a good time to cut loose with our rockets."

"Agreed, Wolffe." Koon nodded. "Rocket troopers, target The Wraith and prepare to fire!" He commanded. Said troopers quickly got into position, a few Clones collecting the weapons of their fallen brothers and joining their ranks. Upon hearing the words of Koon, Wraith felt a spike of adrenaline surge through him. He needed to act. Now.

Rising to one knee, Wraith drew his carbine from behind him and swiftly gunned down all the rocket troopers in a single fluid motion. Despite his issues, the sudden moment of clarity provided him his expert aim once more, only to fail him as soon as the troopers fell dead. Falling over and resting against his upright carbine, Wraith panted for air as he reached for his helmet.

"Aurra..." he gasped into his comms, "Get me... outta here..." Aurra took his ragged words as a cry for help and chose to act instantly.

"All droids, provide covering fire for Wraith, I'm getting him out of there!" She ordered, slinging her rifle over her shoulder.

"You heard her, blast them!" The nearest droid commander stated as the droids renewed their attack. The hail of red bolts provided Aurra with enough time to scale down the cliff and sprint to Wraith's side, just as the Clones decided to retaliate and focus their firepower on the droid defenses. Drawing her own sidearm, Aurra fired a few shots at the Clones as she helped Wraith to his feet. Seeing their more vulnerable situation, Wolffe decided now would be a good time to act.

"Sir, Wraith is exposed, we should strike now!" He pressed General Koon.

"Negative, Commander." Koon replied, deflecting incoming fire with his lightsaber. "We still have a job to do. Since Wraith appears to be out of commission, let's see if we can't capitalize on this moment."

"Aye, sir." Wolffe nodded with a salute. Turning back to his men he started giving orders. "Man those launchers! Target the clankers! Missile troopers, take down that cliff side!" Clones began dashing to forward positions as RPS-6's and PLX-1's were hoisted over shoulders and sights were trained downrange at the Separatist lines. "Fire at will!" Wolffe ordered and a flurry of ordinance exploded forward seconds later. Hearing the telltale whistling of inbound projectiles, Aurra forced Wraith down as the rockets and missiles whizzed past overhead and slammed into the debris-strewn cliff side, exploding droids and barriers with each concussive blast. Bits of dirt and debris was kicked up into the air, showering down upon the two retreating battlefield commanders. Aurra looked up to see only a scarce few battle droids remaining, the rest having been destroyed and ripped apart by the explosions. Wraith saw them too and a single thought passed through his mind.

"Those were meant for me." He muttered. The droids shouldn't have to suffer those which were designed for him. Finding Aurra's grip tightening around his arm, he allowed her to help him up.

"We're in trouble now." She grimly mused.

"Yeah..." Wraith grumbled, knowing this setback was his fault.

The Republic troopers were quite pleased with this new development, some of them whooping and slapping each other on the back.

"Advance!" Plo ordered. "This day might yet be ours!" The Clones were quick to pack up and begin moving forward, intent on removing the Separatists from Saleucami for good.

Meanwhile, Wraith and Aurra had scaled the slope and made their way back into the heart of the base.

"I need all available droids to defend those cliffs." Aurra commanded the nearest droid commander. "We can't let the Clones get any closer."

"Roger roger." The droid moved to obey without another word. Aurra then moved to a nearby crate and set Wraith down on it. The commando sighed deeply as the racket of battle was left behind and silence filled his mind. Such blessed and irreplaceable silence, free of voices, free of pain. It was just what he needed... even though he couldn't afford it.

"Your head in one piece now?" Aurra wondered, looking directly into his optics.

"Just barely." He rumbled, giving his head a light shake. Aurra stood as she began to think, pondering any possible ways to help fix him up. Wraith too began to think, realizing he was foolish to have kept this voice to himself. If Aurra knew his affliction, maybe she could help him better. "Aurra... there's something wrong with me." He admitted, believing it was time she knew the truth about his situation. "I-"

"Save it." She interrupted him. "I get it, there's something wrong with you head. But we've got work to do and we need you in this fight."

"Don't have to remind me." He sighed. Wraith knew he needed to get back out there. But given he was constantly plagued by this voice, which was slowly driving him to insanity, the circumstances were proving to only increase the difficulty of his task.

"How can I help?" She softly wondered, genuinely trying to help him.

"I'm having trouble functioning in this condition. I'm not sure if I'll be much help... not until I get my strength back." He explained. Remembering just how intense that pain was and how quickly it drove him to his knees and rendered him non-functional, Wraith doubted he could survive by himself. He needed and edge. Aurra was thinking the same thing and suddenly developed a plan.

"I've got an idea." Zipping open a pouch on her thigh, Aurra withdrew a small silver device moments later. A device Wraith recognized instantly.

"Is that-?" He wondered.

"A stimshot. Should give you the boost you need. Might even fend off whatever's in your head." Aurra replied as she handed it to him. Wraith nodded, believing she was on to something.

"Remind me to pack some next time I'm out and about." Wraith mused as he took the pneumatic dispenser and promptly injected its contents into his thigh. Stimshots were known for providing the body with an immense surge of energy, acting like fourteen hours of sleep and four square meals all at once, providing complete bodily revitalization. The effects were immediate and Wraith suddenly felt a jolt rush through his body. Something even more powerful than an adrenaline rush and even more revitalizing than an electrolyte injection.

These stimshots really were something else.

"Feeling better?" Aurra asked.

"Oh yeah." Wraith growled positively. Discarding the empty dispenser, Wraith stood up and rolled his shoulders, breathing deeply as his body felt completely refreshed. "I think it's high time I make up for my failures." He mused.

"You haven't failed these droids. Not yet. But I wouldn't push yourself just yet. The more you exert your body, the sooner the stimshot will wear off." She cautioned him, knowing full well the stimshots had a limit and were not a permanent solution.

"Aurra, Count Dooku has entrusted me with the restoration of Saleucami to the Separatists. And so long as I have breath in my lungs, I will not fail him." He countered. "I just have to last long enough until our reinforcements arrive. And that shouldn't be far off." He added, hopeful that more troops would be here long before the stimshot wore off. As much as he enjoyed the clarity it brought, he accepted the fact it was on loan and insanity was not far behind. He needed to make the most of his time and fulfill his mission.

"Okay. I'll cover you." Aurra nodded in acceptance. "But if you start having trouble again, call me. You hear?" She stated, tapping his chest.

"Will do." Wraith nodded, reaching for his pistols.

Meanwhile, the Republic forces had reached the base of the cliffs and were currently firing upwards at the few droids defending the top. Their advance was slow as they carefully made their way up the rubble-strewn slope, stepping over the remains of droids and defensive barricades. To the Jedi it seemed like victory was within their grasp...

And then Wraith showed up.

Charging over the ridge with blasters drawn, Wraith began squeezing his triggers as fast as he could, raining down blaster fire much to the surprise of the Clones. He killed them in droves, unloading a steady stream of fire as he fought to regain his superiority. Ahsoka was aghast by his actions. Thinking she was close to getting through to him, this sudden assault forced her to realize Wraith was still his same old violent self.

She had a long way to go before he would even think about joining them.

Clearing out the Clones near the base of the cliff, Wraith stowed his blasters and deployed his blades. Charging ahead and lunging forward with a roar the commando proceeded to tear through anyone who was close enough. Blood splattered the ground and showered the area as Wraith hacked and slashed at anything that moved, Clones screaming as their bodies were rent and torn apart. The Jedi were very surprised by his sudden resurgence. The foe they once thought mentally crippled and incapacitated was now full of strength and raging power, able to cut down an army with the strength of a legion.

Now the fight had really begun.

As Wraith waded into Plo Koon's men, knee-deep in bodies and blood, Aurra and the droids continued their assault from behind. Though their numbers were few and were not in the same well-equipped state as the Clones, they had the power of The Wraith on their side... and that was a power few could contest with.

The Jedi were quick to order their troops back, retreat was all they could do now. The surprising power and ferocity of their foe was enough to completely overwhelm them. If they stayed their current course, they would not have enough men to try again.

"Where did this newfound strength come from?" Bultar wondered aloud. "First he was on his knees, gasping for air, now he's tearing through our men like they are blades of grass!"

"Unfortunately, the answer may forever elude us both." Plo replied. "But we have bigger problems at hand. Our men will not last against such ruthlessness." Bultar knew her old master was correct. The men needed to retreat. If any were to survive, failure appeared to be their only option. Plo seemed to read her thoughts. "This is not a failure, my old apprentice." He reassured her. "This is simply knowing when to fight and when to live to fight another day."

"I understand Master." Bultar nodded. With that, Plo ordered the withdrawal and the Clones and Jedi were quick to backtrack, leaving the bloodied bodies of their fallen behind. Wraith paused in his stride, allowing his blades to retract as he sized up the fleeing armies.

"Looks we've got them on the run." Aurra noted over the comms.

"Time to make sure they keep their distance." Wraith replied, deciding to give chase. "Keep tabs on them. Make sure they don't pull some kind of stunt." He commanded. Breaking into a jog, Wraith calmly followed after his fleeing opponents, intent on causing some more death.

But as he did, a loud droning suddenly echoed around the area. It was a sound loud enough to make even the retreating Republic forces stop and look for the source. Sliding to a halt, Wraith too looked up to see what the disturbance was.

In came in the form of a pair of C-9979 landing craft, launched from Munificent-class frigate. They were on their way down and were heading straight for the Separatist base.

Reinforcements had arrived.

Looks like he had found his second wind just in time. He had held off the Republic long enough to maintain a Separatist presence that could be bolstered. Turning back to the remaining Republic forces, Wraith put away his blades and prepared to speak to them.

"I would flee if I were you." He called specifically to the Jedi. "Legions of fresh droids are here and you do not have the manpower to hold your own. Leave now and we may consider showing mercy." He stated, but triggered a blood-stained blade once more. "Although I highly doubt that." He chuckled. They were now faced with a terrible situation: their offensive had been a failure. Saleucami would not be theirs this day. Plo Koon lacked the troops to continue the fight, many of which had been felled by Wraith's hand. It appeared the chaotic nature of their opponent had bested them. He was simply too unpredictable for Thrawn's tactics to be proven successful.

If anything, they had suffered a military setback. But they had gleaned some knowledge from the encounter in the process.

"All troops, fall back." The Kel Dor ordered, signalling for a full retreat. Although disheartened, the Clones knew they had no choice. Wraith turned back to see the Republic heeding his advice and leaving the Separatists behind them. But as they did, his gaze locked with Ahsoka's. A moment of silence passed as they watched each other before Plo called for her to come with them. Her gaze was soft and mournful, almost as if she were saying "you didn't have to do this." As she turned and left, Wraith too turned around and looked back at the cliffs, spying Aurra along the ridge. She shot him a thumbs up and a grin, her way of saying "nice work." With a nod, Wraith proceeded to make his way back to the base.


Despite its destroyed condition, the Separatist base was once again full of battle droids. Milling about as they set to work on fortifying their position, both B1 and B2 variants could be spotted everywhere. Armored Assault Tanks stood stationary around the base, forming a rather formidable line of defense. Off to the side, Aurra and Wraith watched as the Separatist troops began to rebuild.

"Looks like our work here is done." Aurra mused. "Glad you managed to pull through."

"Admittedly, I was concerned about the outcome for a moment. You had a brilliant idea, injecting me with a stimshot." Wraith admitted.

"Thanks." Aurra nodded in acceptance. "Now tell me what's wrong with you." With a sigh, Wraith began to explain every detail.

"I've been hearing a voice in my head, like there's someone else in there. It started back on Aefao, that was the first time I heard it. It was telling me to act different of how I normally do, trying to get me to spare Clones. But this is the first time it's caused me such pain. I can't say as I've ever had a migraine before... especially one that serious." This was true. Although pain was not foreign to him, cerebral pain was something he had never experienced.

"That's strange. Usually when people start hearing voices it's because they're slowly going insane." Aurra mused.

"That's what I thought. But the voice sounds like it has a personality unto itself. It's my total opposite." Wraith added, including his own observations. Aurra didn't take very long to think over his predicament before coming up with a solution.

"You need help. You need to go back to Doctor Scipio and get your head examined. He'll probably know what to do." She told him.

"Yeah, you're right." He agreed. But before he could continue, a tactical droid arrived before them.

"Commander Wraith, you have an incoming message from Count Dooku." It informed the pair in a monotone voice. After sharing curious glances, Wraith ordered it connect him. Holding up a holocomm, a small image of the Sith Lord appeared moments later.

"Wraith, Aurra, I understand your efforts were quite successful in defending our position."

"It was, but the Republic seemed rather prepared for us. We had some difficulty holding any one position for too long, but we managed in the end."

"I see." Dooku mused thoughtfully. "Rest assured Aurra, you will be paid in full for your services." He informed the bounty hunter. "As for you Wraith, we require your assistance once more." Cocking his head, Wraith prepared to listen in as Aurra grew worried. "You are aware of the war on Mygeeto?" Count Dooku wondered.

"I've heard it's one of the fiercest battlefields in the Clone Wars."

"Indeed. And right now the battle tips in favor of the Republic. Due to their sudden advances one of our generals has been trapped behind enemy lines along with a small squad of droids. He is a Neimodian by the name of Kir Losan and he has vital tactical information that needs to be kept out of the Republic's hands. Should they get it, we may lose Mygeeto altogether."

"I smell a search and rescue mission coming up."

"Your mission is to travel to Mygeeto and escort General Losan to a waiting cruiser in the system. You will leave immediately." Wraith nodded in understanding as Count Dooku relayed his orders. But Aurra grew concerned with the immediacy of the mission.

"Count Dooku, I don't think this is a good idea." She tried to interject, but the Separatist leader shot her down quite quickly.

"Aurra, you are not being paid for your input but for your services." He curtly told her. "You have no say in the execution of this mission." Wraith stepped in, swiftly coming to Aurra's defence.

"With all due respect sir, her input is perfectly valid. She has our best interests in mind." He stated. Dooku regarded the soldier with an inquisitive gaze for a moment as he considered his words.

"Perhaps. But right now this mission is of higher importance than what anyone has to say. You will do as we ask, understood?"

"Completely, my lord. I will leave immediately." Wraith affirmatively replied, much to Aurra's displeasure. Dooku gave a quick nod before ending the communication. The tactical droid was dismissed as Aurra looked to the commando, knowing his troubled mind needed immediate attention... not immediate re-deployment.

"Wraith, in your condition, you can't possibly take this assignment! You need help." She urged him.

"I know. I know." He quietly replied. "But, sometimes, the good of the cause has to come before my personal good." He added. He knew the mission had to come first. He served the Separatists and, if he really wanted to avoid another confrontation with Darth Sidious, he needed to fulfill his duties. But given his current situation and how increasingly prepared the Republic was for his arrival, it seemed like this next mission would be far more challenging than anything he'd ever attempted.

If anything, he really had his work cut out for him.

"I grab this officer, get off world, deliver him and then I can go get some help." He explained, making it sound so easy. "Should be no problem." Seeing just how intent he was on going ahead with this mission, Aurra knew there was nothing she could do to deter him any further.

"If you're sure." She relented. "I'm just looking out for your best interests, hon." She said, gently touching his arm. Wraith nodded in understanding.

"I know. And I thank you." He added, trying to convey the fact that he really was grateful. Reaching into another pouch in her jumpsuit, Aurra withdrew four more pneumatic dispensers.

"Take these. If they worked here then they should help you in the future." She told him, handing off the last of her stimshots. Wraith accepted them gladly and tucked them into his jacket.

"I'd best be going now. I sincerely hope we'll meet again, Aurra."

"And next time, you'll hopefully be feeling better." She responded, silently encouraging him to get some help. Soon. Wraith nodded and walked off, making his way back to his ship. Taking some time to mull over the events of the past couple days, Wraith started wondering about the origin of this voice in his head. Given how different it was from his own personality, and yet sounded so much like his regular voice, for a fleeting moment the idea that it was once him or related to him passed through his head. At least these stimshots kept it at bay, he was not in the mood for one of those back-and-forth conversations.

Aurra, on the other hand, was still very concerned for Wraith's safety. Despite her job as a bounty hunter and mercenary, she had a very motherly nature that was quite obvious from time to time. And right now those instincts were kicking in something fierce. The problem was, Wraith was not under her care, nor was he kid by any means. She couldn't directly look after him or take him under her care, she could only watch from afar. The least she could do was offer some suggestions, but it seemed like Count Dooku was in no mood for such things.

She had to wonder why...

Aurra watched as Wraith climbed back into his shuttle, a simple Aka'jor-class transport, and continued to watch as it lifted off and disappeared into the clouds above Saleucami.


Aboard the Resolute...

Anakin Skywalker was busy listening in to Plo Koon's report from Saleucami, with Admiral Yularen and Commander Thrawn listening in as well.

"Our offensive here on Saleucami has been drastically hindered by the presence of Separatist reinforcements. I doubt we have the necessary manpower for a prolonged engagement." The Kel Dor was saying, after having recapped their encounter with Wraith. It was something Thrawn found most intriguing.

"However unfortunate, you seemed to have learned much about our common enemy, General." Thrawn mused. "If I could trouble you for a detailed report for me to study, it would be very much appreciated."

"I think that can be arranged. When we have time, of course." Koon nodded. "Right now, we need to figure out what the fate of Saleucami will be."

"I fear any hope for a swift victory has been dashed, General. The Republic simply does not have enough troops in the sector to combat the new Separatist reinforcements there." Yularen stated in a disheartened voice.

"Great. Just what we needed... to lose another planet." Anakin grumbled. The presence of The Wraith here in the Outer Rim was proving to be very counterproductive to their efforts. Something he would like to change as soon as possible.

"These are hotly contested zones, General. This wouldn't be the first time control of Saleucami has shifted." Yularen reminded him, trying to both cheer him up and be optimistic.

"Yeah, but the problem this time is that there's an unstoppable super commando running amok." Anakin replied. "Wraith's becoming such an issue these days." He sighed.

"We may yet have another opportunity to challenge his superiority." Koon interjected. "Our orbital forces detected a small ship leaving the atmosphere and managed to get a lock on its coordinates before it jumped into hyperspace. It's headed for Mygeeto." This information intrigued everyone present. Anakin and Yularen took notice because their fleets were closest to the planet in question and Thrawn took notice because they had actually managed to identify the craft.

"Tell me General Koon, what kind of ship was it?" The Chiss inquired.

"It is an Aka'jor-class shuttle. Significantly smaller than most ships in the Separatist fleet and very unique, given the kinds of ships they have available." Plo reported. Thrawn recognized the make of the craft and found it curious.

"A MandalMotors craft. Mandalorian in design and versatile in uses. Very interesting." He mused. "Gentlemen, I believe we have determined the kind of craft Wraith uses to travel from world to world."

"Not sure how that helps us, Commander." Anakin

"It is something to keep in mind for the future. Whenever you see a seemingly out of place Mandalorian shuttle, you know your foe is present." Thrawn calmly replied. After a moment of consideration, he spoke again, "It seems like a good idea that we should join General Windu's forces on Mygeeto, along with General Kenobi and General Koon. If Wraith was incapable of performing to his full extent on Saleucami, as General Koon reports, he'll be sure to bring his all to our forces there." The idea that Wraith could 'bring his all' sounded too synonymous with 'disaster' to Anakin.

"Which means we need to ready our defences." He realized. Master Windu's forces were still fighting the Separatist forces on Mygeeto, they were in no condition to repel the powerful force that was The Wraith. In no mood to lose yet another planet to the Separatists, Anakin immediately understood what their next course of action needed to be. "Rex, inform the men, we're going back to Mygeeto!"


Author's Note: Will Wraith be able to survive this next encounter? Will the voice in his head be his undoing? Will the Jedi finally overcome their foe? Find out next time!

On that note... I'm going to take a break for a little while. This semester has run me ragged and I need some time to breath and get my writing back into gear. This chapter was rather difficult to write and I can only chalk that up to my current circumstances.

Don't get me wrong, I do not plan on disappearing for months on end! I have plenty of ideas that I want to get typed down. But I think I just need a moment to get back into my groove, back to a point where my sentences don't sound so stale.

I hope you all can understand. Until next time!