Author's Note: Surprise! I had been working on his chapter long before the death trooper special came to be, thus resulting in it being much closer to being finished. Somehow I found myself with some spare time and... well... y'all deserve another chapter, what with the massive amounts of views you give me! Oh, and special shoutout to all the new followers. Welcome to the party! Hope you enjoy.
-Chapter 30: Red Hot Retribution-
Location: Aphran IV
"There's always a bigger fish..."
The air was warm and muggy, the heat of a bright and sunny afternoon making its presence known in the yellow and red shaded forest. The leaves were pretty, blending together to form an orange canopy that covered the skies and let in only a few stray rays of sunlight through their leafy branches. On any other day, one might've thought this place to be perfect for a tranquil walk through the woods.
But this was not your average day. For war had come to Aphran IV.
Located in the Inner Rim's Aphran system, along the Namadii Corridor, Aphran IV was situated between Bilbringi and Carratos and was home to a population of woodworkers, who made use of the lush forests in their trade. Aphran IV was a warm world, free of polar caps and a true natural beauty as far as planets go.
But war cared little for beauty. And warriors cared little for landscape.
Sprinting through the forest, kicking up fallen leaves in his wake, the Separatist super-solider known as The Wraith barreled through the woods without a care for the temperature. His suit and helmet protected him from the environment and acclimatized him to any circumstance. Leaping over a fallen log, Wraith bounded down a hill as the sounds of blasterfire and the clamor of battle grew louder and louder. An army of newly-arrived battle droids had engaged the defending Republic forces and now Wraith was here to make sure the droids stayed put and the Republic was forced to leave.
He was made to win battles. And he was going to win this fight, no questions asked.
Meanwhile, Anakin Skywalker and the 501st Legion had come to reinforce Aphran after the sighting of a Separatist invasion fleet in the system. With Captain Rex and Ahsoka by his side, Anakin had a feeling this would just be another routine operation, one that would end in another victory for his track record.
At the moment, the Jedi General was on the frontlines, using his lightsaber to deflect incoming blaster fire. The Separatist army was numerous and unrelenting, the droids just kept on coming. However, Anakin believed they had the advantage, as they were fighting in the woods on terrain that was difficult for the battle droids to navigate. While an organic being could adapt quite quickly to an ever-changing terrain, droids needed to recalculate the situation every time it changed.
But what the droids lacked in intelligence, they made up for with numbers.
"Rex! We need to concentrate our fire on the left flank, that seems to be where they're amassing the most!" He ordered.
"I copy, sir!" The Clone captain replied. "You heard the General, men! Get some fire on those clankers, far left!" He shouted the order down the line. A series of Clones moved to obey, more blaster fire lighting up the Separatist lines. As if it were in response to the Republic order, a trio of Separatist dwarf spider droids suddenly crawled out of the woods and opened fire on the Clones to Anakin's right. The anti-personnel blasters started ripping apart Clones with deadly force, cutting them down with ease. Anakin saw this and knew something had to be done. Those spider droids were a very big threat, despite their size.
"Ahsoka! Draw their fire!" He ordered.
"You got it, Master!" The young Togruta leapt in front of the Clones under fire and used her twin lightsabers to deflect the incoming rounds, flexing her incredible efficiency and lightsaber skills.
"Rockets!" Anakin called over his shoulder. A pair of rocket troopers appeared next to him and knelt, taking aim at the spider droids with their launchers. "Rex, can we get some thermal detonators on these things?"
"Coming right up, General!" Rex replied, stowing his pistols and drawing a pair explosives. Together, the Clones lobbed and fired their ordinance at the spider droids. The rockets found their mark on the outside droids, blowing them to pieces while the thermal detonators exploded moments later. The middle droid combusted and exploded, sending a column of smoke and flame into the air. Several Clones cheered in victory as their opponents were permanently put down. "Good work, men! We've them now!" Rex congratulated them through his comms.
But then, from out of the smoke and fire, Wraith burst through the haze and slid to a halt, officially making his entrance on the battlefield. "Oh... hold that thought." Rex grumbled as he realized the trouble they were in.
Their sense of celebration wore off quickly.
Brandishing his firesaber, Wraith ignited Tyth as the yellow blade flashed on, the flame glowing brightly.
"Since when does he have one of those?!" Ahsoka cried in surprise as she rejoined Anakin, this being her first time bearing witness to Wraith's fiery weapon.
"We saw him use it on Makem Te, so probably for a while Snips." Anakin told her as he tensed up, keeping his focus on Wraith. Ahsoka was about to ask if she could have one when Wraith rushed ahead, a trail of fire following his blazing weapon...
Earlier...
Prior to their shipping out to Aphran, the 501st had been outfitted with the latest iteration of the anti-Wraith Clone unit known as Jaeger Company. Comprised of the same specialist troopers that made up the original Jaeger Regiment, this new company was part of the effort to provide every army unit with an option to combat The Wraith with. Joining this unit aboard the Resolute was Commander Thrawn himself, who was there to oversee the efforts of Jaeger Company on Chancellor Palaptine's behalf and provide Anakin with any tactical observations and suggestions.
With the Resolute streaking through hyperspace and preparations well underway for their arrival, Commander Thrawn was strolling through the halls of the ship, on his way to the bridge and a meeting with Anakin Skywalker. However, he was waylaid when a voice called out to him from behind.
"Commander Thrawn!" Stopping and turning around, the Chiss discovered it was Anakin's apprentice, Ahsoka, that was jogging up behind him and asking for his attention. "Do you have a moment to talk?" She wondered. Thrawn nodded.
"I do, Commander Tano." He replied. "What would you like to discuss?"
"I wanted to talk about Wraith. No surprise there." The Togruta answered.
"Indeed. He is something of a popular topic amongst the members of the military." Thrawn tilted his head in agreement. "I'm assuming you are asking in anticipation of seeing him on Aphran Four?" He asked. Ahsoka nodded. "Is there a particular angle you wish to discuss?" Ahsoka nodded again.
"I remember how you once said that Wraith may be forced to do the things he does lest he get tortured for disobeying. I was hoping you might be able to help me understand Wraith's mentality, 'cause I'm trying to see if I can't get through to him." She explained, making Thrawn the first to ever hear about her true intentions concerning the super-soldier.
"I see." The Chiss thoughtfully replied, removing his arms from behind his back in order to stroke his chin. "First of all, I would like to commend your caring spirit. But I should also warn you that it can become an exploitable weakness if you lose control of it." He cautioned her. Ahsoka nodded, having grappled with the same matter herself. "Keep in mind the possibility you are pursuing is just that: a possibility. Wraith could very well be a hardcore loyalist, as one would assume based on his immediate actions. However, his speech patterns and courses of action in varying circumstances can offer a clue as to exactly what kind of person he is." Pausing to ensure Ahsoka understood his every word, as every word was important, Thrawn moved to continue by asking a question. "Tell me Commander Tano, during your interactions with him aboard the Yuuzhan Vong vessel, what was he like?" The Padawan recalled the strange events of that day, specifically every moment she shared with Wraith. She remembered how focused he was and how calculating he could be, determining the composition of the walls and feeling the thrum of the engines beneath their feet. She remembered how his speech was often short and brief, unless he was making a verbal jab at Anakin. She remembered how he could be lethal and violent, especially when they encountered the beings aboard that vessel. She remembered how supportive he was of her points and suggestions, how he was calm around her and protective of her...
How broad and large his body was and how warm he felt when he was simply leaning over her shoulder...
Before she could forget, or get lost in her current recollection, she quickly formed an answer for Thrawn.
"I guess it depended on the situation." Ahsoka finally said. "He was very goal-oriented, very strategic. Everything he did was for the sake of his objective. He always talked down to Anakin too, but I suppose that's justifiable since Anakin was always insulting him. He was violent when he needed to be but generally calm and tactical most of the time. Although there was that one moment when he and Anakin almost came to blows, so I guess he wasn't always calm." She described. Thrawn slowly nodded as he digested the information presented to him. His strategic mind processing the descriptions and breaking them down, the Chiss commander mentally compared and contrasted Ahsoka's experience with his own.
"What you have described to me, Commander, is the true nature of The Wraith." Thrawn told her. "His violent side only appears under violent circumstances, his anger arises only when it is provoked and his mind is always at work." He summarized. "If anything, this is the true Wraith that you must appeal to. However, as a test subject, he may suffer shifts in his mindset so anticipate a constant change in his thoughts and behavior." He added. Ahsoka nodded.
"Okay. But I should focus on a general understanding of him, right?" She wondered.
"Correct." Thrawn agreed with a tilt of his head. "Now, if you wish to understand his general mentality you will have to think in reverse." He continued. "The way individuals think often determines how they act. Therefore, look at his actions and see where they come from. Ask yourself 'Why does he do the things he does?'" Leaving his statement open-ended, Thrawn purposely left some room for Ahsoka to answer the question. Realizing he was waiting for her to respond, Ahsoka hesitantly spoke the first thing that came to her mind.
"Because he's being forced to...?" She hesitantly answered.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps it is simply a demonstration of who he is." Thrawn replied. "Wraith has undoubtedly been taught and trained to view the Republic negatively, which would explain why he therefore responds negatively whenever he sees someone of Republic affiliation, be it either in his words, actions or his general attitude."
"But he's not generally negative when it comes to me." Ahsoka interjected. "So how does that work?" Thrawn paused to consider her question. Instead of going off track and pondering the simple out of character move, Thrawn decided to put his lesson into practice.
"Ask yourself, 'why?' Why is Wraith not negative towards you?" He suggested. "While I cannot answer, perhaps it has something to do with who you are, Commander Tano. The way you act towards him or around him, the way you talk to him, it could be any one of a myriad of things." Ahsoka nodded, but determined there was another answer. It might not necessarily be what she did, as much as it was what he did. Wraith did like her, therefore he probably tempered his attitude and acted differently because of this. But she dared not inform Commander Thrawn about this, simply because the Jedi Council wished for this to remain a matter they dealt with. "I understand you have made an effort to communicate with Wraith, opting to try and talk him out of a situation rather than engaging him in combat." Thrawn noted, having observed several reports and been present for certain conversations with Anakin.
"Well, I have fought him before." She explained, remembering her fight with him on Saleucami. "But I guess, out of all the Jedi, I have been more open to trying to redeem him instead of just blasting him."
"As you have said. Perhaps he treats you so differently because he is aware of your thoughts concerning him." Thrawn suggested. "But I caution you to tread carefully Commander. Should you persist acting this way, Wraith may grow tired of your attempts to rehabilitate him and you will find him far less open to talking and more prone to attacking you." Ahsoka nodded, but didn't quite accept what he said. While with anyone else that could be a probability, she had a feeling Wraith wouldn't attack her. Not when he appeared to be so smitten with her.
Evidently her reluctance was obvious enough that Thrawn took notice.
"I can see the hesitation in your eyes." He commented. "There is something more about Wraith, isn't there? Something you know." Ahsoka froze, afraid to say anything. Should she let Thrawn in on this? Should she fake her reaction with some kind of excuse?
"Well..." she began, sounding hesitant and unsure. What should she say? Maybe she could fabricate some kind of-
No. Lying was wrong. With a sigh, Ahsoka relented... but under one condition. "Can you keep a secret? Just from the Clones?" She wondered. Thrawn tipped his head.
"I can." Knowing he was a man of his word, Ahsoka took a deep breath before continuing.
"Wraith seems to... well... h-he likes me, apparently." She admitted. Thrawn stroked his chin, processing this development.
"Fascinating." He mused. "To what degree does he like you? As a friend? More than that?" He wondered.
"M-More than that..." Ahsoka answered. Thrawn nodded slowly.
"I see." Now that he was aware that Wraith had romantic feelings for Ahsoka, his tactical mind began to sort through the information, pinpointing various well-known reasons for such an attraction. "Are you wondering why he does so, especially when there are plenty of Jedi women to choose from?" He asked. Not sure if she should be offended by that or not, Ahsoka slowly nodded.
"Well... that has crossed my mind." She replied.
"Again, to reiterate my earlier point, it may be something to do with who you are as a person, Commander Tano." Thrawn stated. "I would suggest you take some time to think about both yourself and Wraith, who you are, who he is as a person, and then look to yourself to see what you have that he finds so appealing. Always ask the 'why' questions, especially when it comes to The Wraith." He suggested. Ahsoka nodded in understanding. Maybe she could explore it during her daily meditation. "No two Jedi are exactly the same. Surely you possess some element of character that others do not. Maybe that is the reason why Wraith is so drawn to you." The Chiss theorized. Silence ensued as Ahsoka digested what Thrawn had to say, finding him very knowledgeable and a source of good information. "You'll forgive me if I excuse myself. Your master has requested my presence." Thrawn stated, politely excusing himself from the conversation. Ahsoka nodded, Thrawn turning and leaving her presence. Left standing alone, Ahsoka slowly crossed her arms as she started thinking about the evident connections that had been made.
Wraith liked her because of either who she was or what she did. She could use this as a means of getting through to him. The real him.
Thrawn was right, she had been expecting to see him on Aphran. But she had been wanting to have this conversation for a while. Ahsoka had been trying to figure out Wraith for so long, desperate to understand him. All she knew was that he was tough, violent, seemingly unstoppable and liked her in a romantic sense. But now, thanks to Thrawn, she could see past his outward appearance and get an understanding of the man under the armor and the reputation. She just wanted to help him and, besides, she didn't know a thing about a reciprocating feelings of attraction. She found it hard to like a heavily armored, expressionless exterior.
But there was no time for that now.
She was about to enter a war zone.
Presently...
The fiery blade of Tyth clashed with Anakin's lightsaber, yellow fire blazing bright against the solid blue blade.
"Getting slow in your old age, Skywalker?" Wraith taunted. Anakin growled in response and spun around to strike again, only to have Wraith parry his blow and lash out with a kick that caught him in the ribs. Stumbling backwards, Anakin clutched his side, certain there would be a bruise.
"You're not getting Aphran!" He stated in a determined voice.
"I'm not... but the Separatists will be." Wraith retorted, standing tall and cutting an imposing figure, being a whole half a head taller than Anakin. The Jedi's gaze narrowed.
"I'll kill you before that happens." He threatened. His darkened tone was enough to surprise the adjacent Ahsoka and Rex who stood behind him. Wraith merely chuckled at his words and deactivated Tyth, holding his arms open.
"I'd like to see you try." He shot back, challenging him. Seeing this as an open invitation, Anakin rushed forward and leapt into the air, spinning around and bringing his lightsaber down with a cry.
The blade smashed into Wraith's helmet... and did nothing.
This particular helmet had been layered with cortosis armor, providing maximum protection against all forms of damage. And it's unique properties allowed for total protection from any kind of lightsaber damage... along with a few other perks.
Anakin's eyes opened even wider when his lightsaber blade fizzled and deactivated, the unique properties of cortosis forcing it to power off.
Taking a step forward, Wraith drew his arm back and delivered a massive uppercut that smashed into Anakin's gut with so much force that it sent the Jedi flying and put him flat on his back. Rex and Ahsoka were by his side in an instant.
"General! You alright?" Rex asked, helping him up. Anakin slowly sat up with a cough, trying to get some air back into his lungs.
"Rex... get... get Jaeger Company in here..." He wheezed.
"Roger that, sir." The Clone nodded, going for his comms. "All units! Target The Wraith! Jaeger Company, you are clear for deployment!" Rex commanded into his communicator. The Clones along their line immediately opened fire, a barrage of blue laser bolts striking Wraith in rapid succession. Unfazed, Wraith stowed his firesaber and backed up, drawing his pistols and opening fire. His impeccable aim proved true again as he felled Clone after Clone with headshots. But as the bodies dropped, a group of Clone commandos appeared over the ridge behind the Republic lines. They turned their weapons on Wraith and opened fire, some sporting DC-17m's, others using ACP Repeaters and ACP scatter guns. One of them set up an E-Web heavy repeating blaster and took charge of the tripod-mounted turret. A flurry of rounds peppered the ground around Wraith, kicking up showers of dirt as a few ricocheted off his armor. Wraith looked up and recognized the commandos from Diado.
"These things again..." He growled. But there was some optimism to this. "Good thing I've learned from last time." Reaching for his belt, Wraith triggered his shield projector, enveloping him in a protective energy bubble. "All droids, continue the assault. I will deal with the 'irregular' Clones." He ordered, ensuring the droid barrage continued. As his mechanical allies opened fire, Wraith drew his slugthrowers and took aim at the approaching Jaeger Company.
The incoming Clones were unprepared for the devastating effectiveness of Wraith's new fifty-caliber slugthrowers. A single round ripped through the head of a commando, splattering the ground behind him with blood and brain matter and blowing open a sizeable hole in his head. Wraith unleashed a hail of furious lead upon the Clones, blowing their bodies apart with his powerful weaponry. Commando after commando fell dead with a blown-out head as others were ripped to pieces in other ways, their blood staining the ground in growing accumulation. The trooper behind the repeating blasters was swiftly dealt with, his head blown open by a slug, before Wraith dispatched his turret with a flick of his wrist and an explosive detonated moments later, destroying the weapon with a plume of fire.
The rest of the 501st watched with sinking hopes as Jaeger Company was destroyed with ridiculous effectiveness.
"He's just tearing them apart!" One Clone commented. "Jaeger Company is useless!" He bemoaned, feeling that they were done for.
"Sir, orders?" Rex wondered, turning to Anakin. The Jedi thought hard on their problem. The current unit of Clones might not be of any use against Wraith... but there was a group that had yet to be summoned to this fight.
A group of Clones that might be their ticket to victory.
"Rex, order the men to retreat back to our line, then contact the Resolute and call in the blaze troopers!" He commanded.
"Sir, yes sir!" Rex shouted, snapping to attention. The newest specialist Clones added to Jaeger Company, blaze troopers were Clones who wore massive suits of armor, sporting jet packs and flamethrowers. Their strength and speed increased to incredible levels by these suits, the hope was they had what it took to overpower The Wraith.
If such a feat could be achieved...
The Clones before Wraith started falling back, leaving their fallen brothers' corpses behind. The super-soldier slowly lowered his tools and basked in the sight before him.
They had them on the run.
"At this rate, I'll be home in time for dinner." He jokingly mused, reloading his slugthrowers and holstering them. "Droids, advance!" The command carried down through the lines and the mechanized war machines started to move, passing Wraith as they pressed their advantage.
An advantage that would not last.
Suddenly, from the skies above, a group of six blaze troopers crashed into the ground before the main Republic force. Their armor decorated with yellow stripes and Republic emblems, they looked like such a fearsome group that many of the droids stopped in their tracks. The Clones began lumbering forward, slowly picking up speed as they raised their arms, flamethrowers lit and ready to unleash a torrent of melting heat. "All units, move around to attack the Republic flanks... leave these things to me." Wraith ordered, knowing these new Clones would wreak havoc amongst the regular units and that only he had what it took to down these armored foes.
Probably.
"Scipio, I need some advice on how to counter these things. Have anything?" He asked into his comms, seeking some exterior assistance. Waiting as the doctor queued up the live feed from his optics, Wraith was anticipating some kind of tactical response.
What he got instead, was the exact opposite.
"Oh... Oh no..." Scipio muttered, laying eyes on the blaze troopers. "My boy, my advice to you is to turn around and run, run away!" He urged, determining there was not a whole lot to be done against such hulking troopers. Wraith paused and would've looked at his doctor askance if he could see him.
He was not one to leave a fight behind, nor was he one to run at the sight of a new foe. Regardless of how they looked, they could be killed, of this he was certain.
"Doc, I don't run," He responded before breaking into a sprint, "I stand and fight!" Booking it towards the nearest blaze trooper, Wraith balled his hands into fists as he got ready for a fight. He would show the Republic he was not afraid of whatever kind of Clone they threw his way.
He would kill them just like he killed all the others.
Drawing closer, Wraith jumped ahead, arm reared back as he prepared to punch this Clone right out of his armor.
But then the trooper grabbed his fist and halted him in his tracks.
Wraith was stunned. No one Clone had ever had the power to stop him. His thoughts were cut short when the blaze trooper rounded a hard retaliatory punch to his chest that sent Wraith flying through the air with incredible force. Skidding across the ground and kicking up dirt in his wake he eventually slowed himself to a stop. Wraith groaned and growled as he rolled to his feet, taking a moment to eye the sizeable dent left behind in his chest armor. "Ow." He rasped. The Clone certainly had some additional strength when in that suit. This would certainly change things. Flexing his bruised chest and shrugging off the lingering pain, Wraith determined he needed to adjust his tactics in order to fit the new dynamic this battle had taken on.
And he'd have to adapt soon, as he sighted another blaze trooper rocketing towards him.
Backflipping away from the approaching Clone, Wraith drew his blaster pistols and opened fire. The trooper's suit was heavily armored, thick plating providing more than enough defense against Wraith's sidearms. Wraith then shifted his aim and broke into a run, trying to avoid the oncoming trooper while simultaneously firing at its head. But even those rounds bounced off the armored helm of the blaze trooper's suit. "Geez, they really threw everything into this one." Wraith muttered. Dodging out the the trooper's reach, he could feel the breeze of the shockwave as the trooper pounded the ground with his mighty fist, the ground where he once stood crushed. Hot flames burst from the trooper's flamethrower as he turned his weapon on Wraith, a trail of chemical fire igniting the ground behind the super-soldier as he took off running again. Bounding across a fallen tree, Wraith suddenly found another blaze trooper barrelling towards him.
The soldier was trapped with nowhere to go.
The blaze trooper's heavy shoulder came crashing into Wraith with immense force, sending the soldier flying back and into the grip of the Clone he'd just been trying to avoid. The iron grip of the trooper's armored hand wrapped around his head before he smashed Wraith into the ground. He didn't stay there long as Wraith suddenly found himself being picked up and thrown towards another blaze trooper. That one rounded a hard punch to the super-solider's head with such force that it snapped Wraith's head to the side and sent the commando flying in a different direction. Stunned beyond recovery, Wraith flailed wildly through the air before he crashed into the ground, sent sprawling for several feet until he slowed to a halt. He didn't immediately get back up, his body feeling too sore.
"Wraith, come in!" Scipio called into his comms. Having been watching through the live feed, he had witnessed every punishing blow and bruising hit and was desperate to turn this situation around. Wraith only managed to groan in response as he forced his body up. "Wraith? Are you alright?" Scipio asked.
"That depends," Wraith grumbled, shaking his head, "how good of a dentist are you?" As full cognition returned, he suddenly realized that his left optic had been cracked, resulting in some static across his HUD.
These blaze troopers were becoming a real problem.
Rising to his feet, Wraith's scanners alerted him to the presence of individuals behind him. With the new blaze troopers before him, Wraith realized he now had the Republic forces at his back. They had him surrounded. No doubt this had been their plan all along, to force him into an unwinnable position. The droids had long since retreated, the coming blaze troopers scaring them off as the fell back to regroup. Wraith was alone and, seemingly, at the Republic's mercy.
If that was the case, then they had seriously underestimated his training. There was no battle he couldn't win, no odds he couldn't overcome. After all, he wasn't a solider. He was a super-soldier.
Squaring his shoulders and standing his ground, Wraith stood ready as the blaze troopers advanced towards him.
But his sensors suddenly alerted him to the immediate presence of another individual, one that was directly behind him. Giving the quickest of glances over his shoulder, he suddenly realized that Ahsoka was directly behind him. If these foolish Clones used their flamethrowers on him, as they likely would, she too would be caught in the blast zone!
His survival took a backseat as his mind shifted to focus fully on her safety.
Triggering his shield generator, Wraith turned and sprinted towards her. He could hear the flamethrowers igniting behind him. "Incoming!" He cried, leaping towards her. The shocked Ahsoka had no time to move as Wraith suddenly pinned her to the ground as a burst of flame engulfed them. His protective shield was enough to contain both of them, however, and Ahsoka found herself completely safe beneath Wraith.
That didn't mean she wasn't a little bewildered.
"What're you...? Why did you...?" She wondered, trying to find the right words to ask.
"Had I moved in any other direction, you've been caught by the flames." He answered, revealing his wholesome intentions. The fire died down as Anakin called for the troopers to stop. They wouldn't dare fire as long as he was near their commander. "Are you alright?" He asked her.
"I... I-I think so." Ahsoka replied with a slight stammer. Wraith released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Good... Good." He breathed, relieved to know she had not been harmed.
His moment of calm was cut short when a Force blast from Anakin threw him off of Ahsoka and sent him sprawling.
"Get off my Padawan, you monster!" He shouted, quickly stepping between them with his lightsaber drawn.
"I just saved her! You dim-witted nerf!" Wraith growled in retort as he sprang to his feet, all pain subsiding instantly thanks to a sudden adrenaline rush. "Then again, you can hardly see anything past your over-inflated ego!" Anakin frowned at his barb, ready with a response.
"Men, open fire!" He commanded. A barrage of blaster rounds leapt forth from the Republic lines, slamming into Wraith as the blue bolts pelted him over and over again. Thankful for his armor, Wraith triggered his shield generator before deploying his blades. He began to move, stalking towards the Clones as his shield absorbed every shot.
But he was stopped in his tracks when a blast of flame enveloped his protective bubble.
The Clones ceased firing as a pair of blaze troopers jetted back onto the scene, one of them using his flamethrower to keep Wraith at bay.
"Don't worry sir, we've got him!" One of them called to Anakin before he charged ahead and brought a fist crashing down into Wraith's shield. The blow was absorbed, but when the other blaze trooper also started pounding away at his shield, Wraith started to worry...
Aboard the Resolute...
From his position on the bridge of the Resolute, Commander Thrawn was granted the perfect means by which to observe the unfolding battle below. Thanks to a series of monitors and sensors installed in the armors of both the blaze troopers and members of Jaeger Company, the tactical genius was able to see and observe every action made with perfect clarity.
But while he was supposed to be monitoring the Clone's actions, he found himself drawn towards Wraith's inexplicable move to protect Ahsoka instead of fending off the blaze troopers another way. The moment was so uncharacteristic of him that Thrawn replayed the moment over again, watching as Wraith deliberately chose not to engage his enemy for a split second. Folding his hands together, Thrawn leaned forward as he witnessed Wraith suddenly turn and tackle Ahsoka, protecting her from the flames.
"Fascinating." He quietly mused. "Without Commander Tano's prior insights I never would've found such actions explicable. But to see them fully realized..." Trailing off, Thrawn replayed the moment again, his scrutinizing and calculating gaze memorizing Wraith's body language. "Surely there is even more to Wraith than meets the eye... this new angle requires further study. Perhaps Wraith has some exploitable human tendencies that have yet to be fully revealed."
The personal energy field had been designed to absorb some of the toughest energy salvos military-grade weaponry had to offer. It could withstand a simple punch with ease.
The blaze troopers discovered this truth... and turned Wraith into a pinball.
The super-soldier found himself protected, but also getting pitched back and forth by the mighty swings of the blaze troopers. Each impact was like an invisible punch that sent him careening into across the ground, sometimes into trees and sometimes through trees, as the troopers did their best to knock him senseless. One particular punch knocked him through the air, but he managed to take control of his flight and landed on his feet, heels sliding deep into the dirt as he halted. Dropping his energy field, Wraith carefully affixed a pair of chains to his gauntlets. The troopers moved in to attack, jet packs aflame as they rushed forward without hesitation.
Staring them down through his cracked optics, Wraith waited for his moment to strike.
The blaze troopers, anticipating another close-range showdown, were not expecting Wraith to sprint forward, leap into the air and draw his chain blades. With a roar he descended on the blaze troopers, spinning his blades around and around. The troopers were unprepared for his assault, his weaponry tearing deep scars through their armor. Faltering in their flight, the blaze troopers crashed into the ground as Wraith's blades returned to him, blood staining their edges. Landing on his feet, Wraith wasted no time walking over to the downed Clones.
"You got lucky. These things can slice a man in two." He noted, stowing his weapons within the tails of his jacket. The Clones groaned in response as they struggled to rise, pain flaring from the scars ripped across their chests. Planting his boot on the back on one, Wraith drew a blaster pistol. "Now then..." He started, but his thought went unfinished as he heard a cry from behind him. Whirling about, a pair of rocket troopers knelt a short distance away, launchers aiming for him.
"Hope you like rockets, you silver-plated psychopath!" One of them shouted. His projectile shot through the air. Wraith barely had time to holster his weapon before the first rocket slammed right into his chest, exploding and staggering the soldier. But the second one he snatched out of the air and crushed in his grip. His enhanced armor-plating allowed him to take the shot, but only just. Still, it was enough to make the rocket troopers look on in shock and awe.
Just another incident to add to his 'invincible' credibility.
"It'll take more than rockets to stop me..." He growled, shoulders heaving for air.
"Then allow us to try something harder!" Another blaze trooper called, charging in without hesitation. Wraith managed to register the threat just in time for the trooper to round an uppercut straight to his mid-section. The blow, powered by his momentum, hit home with such force it cracked Wraith's ribs, launching him backwards as he gasped for air. The super-soldier slammed into a nearby tree, his ears ringing but the vague whoops and joyous shouts of the Clones were faintly audible. Groaning as he fell to the ground, Wraith was given no reprieve as another blaze trooper descended upon him, grabbing him and tossing him back towards his fellows. Trapped in the clutches of another trooper, Wraith found himself being literally flung back and forth, his body slammed down on the ground, the resounding crack of shattered bone loud enough for all to hear. Lying flat on his back, finding movement far too painful and gasping for air, Wraith glanced at Ahsoka and saw a look of pain and desperation in her eyes.
She wanted to help him, to put an end to this. But she was powerless to do so.
Their connected gaze was torn as the blaze trooper picked Wraith up and slammed him back into the ground before turning and flinging him through the air. His flying body shattered a nearby tree, sending splinters of wood exploding everywhere as he smashed through it. As Wraith disappeared from view, the blaze troopers took off in pursuit, leaving the Republic forces to watch with a sense of triumph.
But... not all of them were feeling triumphant.
Ahsoka stood by, concerned by the constant beating Wraith was suffering. She knew it was important to take him down, but how far was too far?
"Master? I think he's done." She commented, looking over to Anakin. He was busy watching the fight play out, a pleased smirk on his face.
"You think so, Snips?" He replied, casting a glance at her. Ahsoka nodded. "Well, I don't." He promptly added in a dark tone. He was enjoying this far too much to call an end to it.
After everything Wraith had done, this payback was long overdue. "Trooper! Take another round out of him." He commanded, Ahsoka looking surprised and afraid as he blatantly disregarded her comment.
"Yes sir!" The blaze trooper affirmed, moving on to pursue Wraith.
Some distance away, Wraith was lying in a heap on the ground. Dirt and fragments of wood covered his body, his armor was scratched and dented and his uniform was less than spotless. Groaning as he fought to move, Wraith could feel pain flaring in his chest, his cracked ribs the likely culprit. He was sore and bruised already, the broken bones not helping his situation.
Just because he could still function even with such amassing injuries didn't mean he couldn't feel the pain that kept pulsing through his body.
The roar of the blaze troopers rockets off in the distance indicated he should be getting up. Fighting past the pain and forcing himself to a crouched position, Wraith knew he needed to stave off these crippling sensations.
"Well... at least my limbs aren't broken." He mused, drawing a shot of back from within his jacket and injecting himself with it.
Feels like someone's getting a good thrashing. The voice in his head suddenly commented. I mean, I'm all for causing you some due harm... but this is a tad aggressive. Wraith glanced up and sighed as the all-too familiar tone echoed through his mind.
"Wow... that last hit was so hard I'm hearing voices..." He dryly said.
Ha ha. You're a real laugh-riot. Voice shot back, snark and sarcasm ripe within his words. Rolling his eyes, Wraith forced himself to his feet.
"What do you want? I'm in the middle of getting my butt handed to me." He wondered.
Well, this is my body too. Figure I'd better help save some wear and tear. Voice replied.
"Oh yeah? And what do you recommend? I've tried a few things already, these Clones are super tough." Wraith informed him, straightening up and wincing as his cracked ribs caused him more pain.
So I've noticed. Have you thought about a non-violent solution? Voice asked.
"Non-violent? Are you serious?! Look at them!" Wraith exclaimed.
I am. Are you looking close enough? Voice calmly replied. Wraith stopped, realizing that the voice in his head had actually been able to notice something he hadn't.
Maybe it would finally be of use...
"What're you on about, voice?" He wondered.
Well, those suits are pretty mechanized. If only there was some 'electrical' way to shut them down... Voice replied, teasingly hinting at his discovery. Wraith turned and trained his scanners on the inbound blaze troopers. Despite the crack in his optic, his sensors relayed a pinpoint analysis of the trooper's upper armor... and revealed the hidden reality Voice had stumbled across.
"Of course... the upper armor must require some kind of servomechanism to allow the joints to move. Freezing it would stop the whole body!" He realized, his mind applying basic-level mechanics principles to the advanced designs of these Clones.
See? Now you're thinking! Voice applauded, actually glad Wraith had discovered his non-violent solution. Rushing forward, Wraith equipped a pair of shock chips and got ready to put his wounded body through an obstacle course. The leading blaze trooper spied Wraith sprinting towards them and chuckled to himself.
"Guess you're a glutton for punishment, huh? Well, allow me to oblige you!" He shouted lunging ahead with his arm reared back, ready to strike. His fist crashed into the ground, missing the soldier as Wraith jumped over his fist and pushed off his shoulder, flying towards the other troopers. Despite his injuries, Wraith moved with the grace of a veteran acrobat, bouncing off Clones and somersaulting over them, dodging each one of their blows. When the last blaze trooper entered his view, Wraith switched tactics. He climbed the trooper around to the back of his armor before slamming both shock chips into his shoulder joints. The initial blast of electricity created enough feedback to forcibly lock-up the rest of the armored joints, dropping the blaze trooper to the ground. Drawing a slugthrower, Wraith blew the Clone's head to pieces with a single shot, putting an end to one of his foes.
Hey! I thought I said 'non-violent'? Voice exclaimed.
"I guess I wasn't listening to that part." Wraith retorted, stowing his weapon.
You're a real piece of work. You know that? Voice sighed, knowing it was pointless to try and deter Wraith's violent tendencies. Wraith chuckled, drawing another set of shock chips as the other blaze troopers turn to see him standing on the corpse of their brother.
"Now then... who wants some?" He wondered, trying to ensure he posed as big a threat as they did. In response, the blaze troopers raised their arms and blasted Wraith with their flamethrowers. The super-soldier managed to raise his arms in time to shield himself from the blast of fire coming his way. Intense heat ripped past him, scorching his armor unlike any explosion he'd ever endured before.
This had to rank just under the orbital bombardment in terms of intensity.
Managing to leap off the Clone beneath him, Wraith patted out the small flames still licking at his arms. But he had to keep moving as the blaze troopers followed with their incinerating weapons, ready to roast him alive if they could. "Glad my armor's been fireproofed." He mused, patting out the last of the fires on his arms. "Got a 'Plan B'?" He asked the voice, sizing up the remaining five troopers.
I think I'll leave that in your court. Voice replied, evidently drawing a blank.
"Violence it is." Wraith determined, deciding to go back to what he knew best. He'd been doing his own bit of reconnaissance, scanning over the armor of the blaze troopers, and he believed he had discovered a few more obvious weak points.
Ones that, if exploited, would have deadly results.
A surge of adrenaline dulling his pain, Wraith rolled out of the way of one trooper before he was forced back to his feet and leap away from another's punch. He happened to be swinging with the same arm his flamethrower was mounted to, giving Wraith exactly what he wanted. Blaster pistol in hand and drawing a bead, Wraith fired a single round from his pistol. Streaking through the air it punctured the fuel line and ignited it, an explosion of fire consuming the trooper's arm and incinerating half his body instantly as his flamethrower combusted. "Don't these things know that exposed flammable liquids are a workplace safety hazard?" He quipped, turning and running so as to deal with the rest of the troopers. Another blaze trooper came rocketing in, bearing down on Wraith and ready to beat him black and... well, more blue. But the super-soldier anticipated his rudimentary plan and drew his other blaster pistol. Taking a single step forward, Wraith launched himself into the air and vaulted over the incoming trooper. In mid-flip, he fired two blasts, aiming for the trooper's backpack. His aim proved true and his rounds tore into the fuel pods of the jet pack, igniting them with explosive results. Landing on his feet, Wraith stood tall as the trooper behind him was consumed in a ball of fire. Holstering his weaponry, Wraith stood face to face with the three final blaze troopers. He recognized two of them as the ones he'd scarred with his chain blades, a series of broad tears cutting across their chests. Seeing them raise their flamethrowers, Wraith promptly triggered his shield, walking forward as jets of flame enveloped him. The troopers realized their ineffective efforts and quickly stopped, not wanting to waste any more fuel.
"Aw, great. This again." One of them grumbled.
"Come on, lads. We can take him! We have to... for our brothers!" Another encouraged.
"Yeah! First we crack the shell, then we roast the nut inside!" The last one cheered, jetting forward with his allies beside him. Wraith took note of their approach and decided that they weren't the only ones who could play with fire.
"Time to fight fire with fire!" He stated, drawing Tyth and igniting it once more. His yellow blade flickered and rippled with life, raw power rolling through the blade. Gripping Tyth with both hands, Wraith stood ready and waiting for the blaze troopers to draw close enough. His hope was to cut them all down in one swing, the supernatural heat enough to do some damage to them all as long as the sword had enough reach.
Instead, something else happened.
As Wraith swung his fiery blade, the trail of flame behind it grew larger and longer. As he finished his swipe, he realized he had sent a wave of flame towards his foes. The blast was great enough to scorch the troopers' armor and knock them back. Standing up straight, Wraith eyed his weapon curiously. "Huh. That's new." He commented. "Guess there's more to this saber than meets the eye." Twirling Tyth around in his grip, Wraith charged ahead towards the collapsed troopers. Leaping into the air, ready to slam his blade down atop the nearest Clone, the blaze trooper suddenly triggered his jet pack and launched himself out of the way, narrowly missing Wraith's blade as it slammed into the ground. The blaze troopers took off into the air and started circling Wraith, putting him in a position where he questioned what to do next.
Instinct told him to use Tyth. Logic told him to draw his other weapons.
Stowing his firesaber, Wraith drew his slugthrowers and took aim at the nearest trooper, firing rapidly. The slugs buried into the armor, leaving sizeable holes in their wake, but did not pierce all the way through, indicating this particular plating was made of some tough stuff. The Clones were moving to erratically for him to take aim at any particular target, leaving Wraith in a vulnerable position. Two of the blaze troopers dove in and out, hassling him but not truly engaging him.
They were buying time for their ally.
"Come 'ere!" The other trooper shouted as he dove in from behind, grabbing Wraith in a bear-hug grip from behind and slamming him into the ground, pinning him beneath his armored body before he stood and promptly blasted him point-blank with his flamethrower. Wraith cried out with the sudden impact and the crushing pin, the roasting flames adding to his pain. They subsided after a moment only for Wraith to suffer another crushing blow to his back as the blaze troopers descended upon him.
The Republic watched the beating unfold for several minutes, unbearable minutes to Ahsoka, before Anakin finally called the troopers off. The three hulking blaze troopers backed off, leaving a seriously beaten up Wraith lying on the ground. His armor was dented and cracked, his jacket disheveled and dirty, even his helmet looked worn and damaged. His left optic, originally cracked, had now been completely shattered. As the Republic forces drew closer, some of them could see a closed eye, exposed for all to see beneath his helmet. Wraith groaned a little as he grew vaguely aware of his surroundings, knocked senseless by the blaze trooper's beating.
"Not so tough now, are ya Bucket-head?" Fives wondered mockingly, earning quite a few chuckles from his fellow Clones.
"Kriff... off..." Wraith growled, the only reply he could summon. Fives responded with a swift kick to Wraith's side, right in his broken ribs. He grimaced, biting back a cry of pain and releasing only a growl instead. While the Clones chuckled, smug in their victory, Ahsoka winced. They were supposed to be better than the Separatists, not stooping to their level! It didn't seem right for Wraith to be treated like this even if he was their enemy.
Especially if he was being forced to do this.
"I think I'm gonna take a moment to enjoy this sight." Anakin announced, dropping down next to the super-soldier. "The Wraith... down and defeated. Beaten by me and my men." Rex and the others nodded, glad to have been a part of such a historic moment.
They believed The Wraith to have been finally taken down.
"How... typical of you... Skywalker..." Wraith rasped. "Taking credit... for someone else's work... that you were too weak and too... stupid to do... yourself..." He growled, still possessing enough fight to hurl an insult or two. Anakin frowned and slowly gripped Wraith's neck in his mechanical hand.
"Give up, Wraith. Your days of fighting us are over..." Anakin growled, leaning close enough to see in perfect detail the skin of his closed eyelid and the darkened hairs of his eyebrow. "You're finished." He stated, squeezing a little tighter and forcing the super-soldier into submission. Ahsoka watched with a worried look, wondering if Anakin would start choking Wraith and if she would have to intervene.
But to her relief, he released his hold and stood up. Ahsoka breathed a quiet sigh as he did. "Rex, contact the Resolute... and have them ready up a prisoner transport." Anakin ordered. The Clone saluted before moving to his comms.
Down on the ground, Wraith couldn't believe his misfortune. He had severely underestimated the capabilities of these new Clones and he was forced to pay a heavy price because of his foolishness. He wanted to look for Ahsoka. Her presence always comforted him in some strange, inexplicable way. But he couldn't find the strength to even move his head.
The crackling of his comms stirred him from his destitute state as a voice filled his ears.
"Wraith? Can you move at all?" Scipio asked, sounding very concerned.
"No..." He quietly replied, unable to fight past the pain burning in his limbs. He had a feeling a lot of bones had been broken. Scipio sighed. He had stood by and watched, hoping Wraith would have enough strength to overcome these blaze troopers and win the day, like he always did. But the facts didn't lie and his bio-scanners indicated Wraith had too many wounds to function normally.
He had no other option than to fallback on Protocol Four.
"I'm doing this for your own good, my boy..." Scipio mused. He reached over to a nearby panel and tapped a single button. "Voice command: engage Protocol Four!" He commanded into his mic. The words registered with Wraith, echoing in his hearing. But the words made no sense.
"Protocol what-?" He started to wonder when, suddenly, a shock of adrenaline shot through his body and his entire being became electrified as something was sparked within his mind. Wraith went rigid, shaking a little as the built-in fail-safe, the program designed to keep him out of enemy hands, took over his mind and body. The Clones suddenly turned back, watching as Wraith appeared to suffer a seizure. They exchanged questioning looks, wondering what was going on. But then, Wraith suddenly stopped moving and his exposed eye snapped wide open.
Revealing an amber iris and a vertical, reptilian pupil.
Suddenly grasping his slugthrowers and jumping to his feet, Wraith was raised to full height, towering over the Clones around him.
"What the-?" Anakin gaped, drawing his lightsaber. Before any of the Republic members could move, Wraith struck with lightning-fast strikes, demonstrating such speed unlike anyone had ever seen before. Within a minute half a dozen Clones lay dead on the ground, Wraith whirling about to face down Rex, Anakin and Ahsoka. While he did not move, his actions were enough to put them all on high alert.
Ahsoka looked into his visible eye, feeling shocked by what she saw. His powerful gaze remained fixed on them, the presence of an eye that did not look human enough to surprise and unnerve them all.
But the longer she looked, the more Ahsoka realized that something was off with him.
There was a blank look in his gaze. Like he was intensely focused on some task or mission but also like he was no longer in control of his body.
Or like he wasn't even there.
"Wraith... return to base." Scipio commanded him. Without any further encouragement, Wraith bolted past the the three and broke into a sprint, diving headlong into the woods as he kicked up a trail of leaves behind him. The Republic were shocked by his ridiculous display of superhuman speed.
"Where did he get this second wind from? We had him beaten!" Anakin shouted, completely caught off guard and bewildered by what he had just witnessed.
If he had even witnessed it. Wraith had moved so fast Anakin could barely keep track of his moves!
"Troopers! Get after him!" Anakin commanded. The remaining Clones moved to obey, taking off after Wraith into the wooded terrain.
Thrawn watched the entire scene play out before him, noting with careful precision Wraith's abnormal actions mere moments before his escape took place.
"Fascinating." He quietly mused. He waited a moment longer, watching Wraith stare down the Jedi before leaving almost as if he were on autopilot. "More than meets the eye, indeed..."
Later...
The Clones returned to their lines after a prolonged chase in which they vainly attempted to track down Wraith.
"Did you get him?" Anakin asked the squad leader.
"Negative, sir." The Clone reported. "He managed to outrun us." He added. Anakin shook his head, befuddled by the fact that Wraith had enough speed to outrun Clones in perfect physical health while he had been lying on the ground like a wounded animal mere moments ago.
"Outrun-?" He repeated, trailing off before shaking his head and returning to the situation. "Never mind. We've chased him off and held the line. Looks like the day is ours after all." He surmised. Their victory would be an important one, and their successful holdout against The Wraith an even bigger one.
This was one of the few times they got to prove he was not an invincible threat.
Ahsoka, meanwhile, stood by herself, watching the Clones return. Her thoughts were rampant and confusing, the events of this day giving her a lot to think about.
But above all, the image of Wraith's single, unnatural eye had seemingly been burned into her mind. How had it come about? Was it a part of who he was? Or had it been the result of... whatever had given him his second wind...?
Elsewhere...
Pomel Scipio paced back and forth in the base's hangar, waiting with limited patience as he anticipated Wraith's arrival. The effects of Protocol Four would only last for so long, hopefully long enough to get Wraith back before they wore off and overwhelming pain forced him back to the ground. Until now, they had not needed to employ Protocol Four. It proved to be a success, but the doctor had yet to see any adverse side-effects.
But when manipulating the body to release enough adrenaline to silence the pain receptors so that it might move and function normally, there were bound to be consequences. This was some mad science, all of it! The Wraith was the result of science unchained, a product of zero restraint!
Not like that was a bad thing.
His hopes lifted when Wraith's Aka'jor shuttle hovered into the hangar and touched down. Wraith stepped out and into the open moments later, standing tall and looking fierce... despite his obvious wounds.
"Well, you certainly look alright." He noted, giving Wraith a quick once over. The super-soldier made no reply. Scipio cocked his head. "Wraith?" He wondered. Still nothing. As he took another step forward, Wraith collapsed to the ground with a groan of pain. Scipio dashed over to the heap of a man lying on the ground. "Looks like the adrenaline surge has finally worn off." He mused, checking him over.
"You... don't say..." Wraith rumbled, pulling off his helmet and casting it aside. Scipio hummed isn't agreement as he draped one of Wraith's arms around his neck, doing his best to lift him up off the floor.
"Come on, my boy. You need medical attention."
Later that day...
The success of the blaze troopers in the defense of Aphran prompted military officials to petition Chancellor Palpatine for their prolonged use and widespread implementation throughout the Republic Army, a notion backed by Commander Thrawn and his personal insights as well as Anakin Skywalker. Although a costly initiative, Palpatine agreed and ordered the development of units for each wing of the army. Soon there would be a multitude of hulking blaze troopers joining the ranks of Jaeger Company's everywhere, ready to pose a threat to a particular super-solider. They had wounded him once, and they were ready to do so again...
Elsewhere...
In reviewing the footage from Aphran, captured by Wraith's visual systems, Doctor Scipio determined this new breed of Clones was a bit much for Wraith and his bare essentials to handle. A new upgrade would be needed...
Turning to the Tenloss Syndicate, Scipio put in an order for a weapon that would level the playing field once and for all... and give Wraith a permanent advantage over his enemies.
But until then, the wounded super-solider would have to recoup and recover, preparing himself for the next battle without the aid of high-tech weaponry.
Wraith sat alone in his personal quarters, pondering things in the quiet of his mind. Given he was bedridden upon Scipio's orders, it offered him a lot of time to think while he lay wrapped in bandages, waiting for the bacta and kolto to heal his bruised and battered body.
Those Blaze Troopers had sure given him one hell of a beating.
Wraith thought about how to better ready himself for next time, recalling to mind every distinguishable feature he could remember about the armor those blaze troopers wore. Surely there was a weak spot he could identify. He began to wonder how, as of recent days, he had been able to be beaten with such ease. First Thrawn, then those incidents with the Clones on Makem Te and Anoat's moon, now these blaze troopers.
Was he losing his edge? Had his notoriety worn off as the Republic found more ways to combat him? He hoped not.
Wraith replayed the battle in his mind, remembering and recalling as many facts and moments as he could, trying to find something that might salvage his reputation and better prepare him for the next time he ran across some blaze troopers.
But there was one constant thought that stuck with him.
It shot through his mind periodically, interrupting his thoughts and dominating his mind as it came and went while he sifted through the battle. It was one particular set of moments that he was constantly reminded of, regardless of where he was in his recollections. Incapable of maintaining his focus on anything else, Wraith reached over to the stand next to him and picked up a datapad. It contained the profiles of the various Jedi who were growing in notoriety on the battlefields of the Clone Wars. Stopping on one profile, he triggered the holographic display and watched as an image of one specific person came to life before him.
It was an image of Ahsoka Tano.
The young Togruta intrigued him. Unlike all the other Jedi Wraith had encountered, he saw something within Ahsoka he had not seen in the others.
He saw a spark.
A spark not unlike his own, one of conviction and purpose, determination and confidence. While other Jedi fought with monotone execution of remembered tactics, or overinflated egos wrought from a lifetime of living in superiority, she fought with her own flair, her own style and purpose. He thought her lively, to say the least. Ahsoka was by no means ignorant or arrogant or nauseatingly self-righteous like the others. From what Wraith had seen, Ahsoka was not like every other Jedi, something seen even moreso by the way she had acted on Aphran.
While the Clones under her command and her own master cheered on the blaze troopers as they knocked him about and beat him senseless, Ahsoka watched with a mixture of sadder feelings at seeing him being treated in such a way. Feelings he could clearly see in her eyes without her having to utter a single word.
Perhaps she was starting to care about him... which was one step closer to what Wraith truly desired for them to become.
Wraith set the datapad down before him. He leaned back on his bed and simply gazed at the display. Though he did not move or speak, his mind was running rampant. He thought about who Ahsoka was, considering what he had known before and what he knew now. He thought about how similar the two of them were; determined, confident in their abilities, blazing their own paths through a galaxy divided. From his fight with her on both Saleucami and Mygeeto, Wraith knew Ahsoka to be a very talented fighter. From his research in the past, he knew it took great skill for Jedi to fight in the 'unorthodox' style she practiced... and with two lightsabers no less. His mind began to drift, shifting from tactical mindset to male mentality as he noted the curves of her body and how lithe she looked. Of course he had seen her before, but alone in his quarters, Wraith's mind began to wander and think about... other things. His mind landed on the time when they were trapped on the foreign vessel on Virujansi, when he leaned close to her in order to peer out the viewport. Though he made no mention of it, nor did he think of discussing it, his HUD had detected an increase in pheromones, arousal pheromones at that, and they were coming from Ahsoka.
His presence had done that to her.
The notion brought a smile to his bruised and bandaged face. He could use this. He could find a way to take advantage of-
No. No taking advantage. If Ahsoka was attracted to him, found him to be eye-catching, then it would require only subtle moves and words in order to make the relationship complete.
How he dearly wished to be with her. He longed for her presence so badly...
Wraith continued to gaze at the portrait of Ahsoka, his feelings for her undeniable. He grew lost in thought as his mind became consumed with thoughts about her and only her. He thought of many things, some of them innocent, some of them the furthest thing from innocent. And yet he continued to stare... and stare... and stare...
He stared at her image for a very long time.
Author's Note: So, in going through the timeline, I realize I killed off Mina Bonteri waaaaaaay too early. It got me thinking: do y'all want to see that moment in a different, timeline-accurate chapter or just left as is? I've put up a poll for you to respond with. Please do!
