Author's Note: Another Dad idea! This one was inspired by him, so... humor me.
-Chapter 31: The Last Straw-
Location: Salliche
"He who angers you, conquers you."
Wraith knew he had fallen asleep in his quarters, so he couldn't quite explain why he awoke in a white, ethereal realm. As his eyes slowly widened, he realized he was lying beneath a large, ghostly white tree. Varying shades of white petals grew on it's white branches, some of them fluttering about in a gentle breeze.
Evidently, this was a tranquil place. A quiet place. Somewhere away from the war...
"Wha-?" He sleepily wondered, taking in the blank environment. "Where... Where am-oof!" He tried to sit up, but his body was still bruised and healing. He realized he still bandaged, indicating his wounds from Aphran hadn't quite healed yet. He fell back on the bed, pain preventing him from getting up. "Ow." Closing his eyes, Wraith did his best to focus and make the lingering pain go away. He hated feeling so weak and helpless, especially against something like this.
But then, a soft touch landed on his bandaged abs. It was gentle and made him wonder who it belonged to.
"Shhh, it's okay Wraith." A feminine voice quietly told him. Wraith knew he recognized that voice and, opening his eyes, he recognized a familiar face that filled him with both relief and happiness.
"Ahsoka...?" He softly wondered. The Togruta's orange, smiling face looked back at him, radiant amidst the whiteness of the scenery.
"I'm gonna take care of you. You're alright, you're safe." She whispered, reaching out to cup his cheek. Wraith leaned into her soft touch, sighing deeply as he slowly relaxed. He looked up into her crystal blue eyes, admiring her beautiful features.
"Where... Where are we?" He wondered, curious if she knew what was going on.
"Somewhere safe. A place where I can help you get better." She answered, hand rising along his head under her fingers were tangled in his hair. "You're gonna be okay." She reassured him. Her hand, which had been resting against his abs until now, started to rub small, massaging circles across his muscles. She purposefully avoided his bruises, doing her best to bring him comfort. Her other hand left his hair and moved to his neck where she started to gently massage the tendons and muscles there. While Wraith wasn't totally satisfied with her vague answer, he couldn't care less as her touch soothed some of the aches in his muscles.
"That feels nice." He hummed. Ahsoka chuckled lightly.
"I bet it does." Her hand moved from his neck down to his shoulder, her gentle touch avoiding the bandages and bruises dotting his chest and arms. She was purposefully trying to make him feel better, purposefully trying to heal that which her master inflicted upon him.
The Jedi were truly not deserving of her... but was he?
In a moment of reflection, Wraith's thoughts drifted. He knew his character was foul... he was a bad guy. And yet he was pursuing a girl, so noble and wholesome, his exact opposite. While a part of him tried to believe in 'opposites attract', he couldn't help but recognize the logic behind this... or, more accurately, the lack of logic.
Couples like them simply didn't exist. And if they did, they seldom ended well.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. Ahsoka turned to look at him.
"For what?" Wraith didn't return her gaze, actually titling his head away to look at the white tree.
"For... not being a more worthy pursuit." He replied with a sigh, falling silent. Too often did he struggle with doubts about his feelings for her. Not about what he felt for her, but as to whether or not she could actually like him and reciprocate his feelings in return. "I know I'm a monster... I'm not worth your time." He said, voice thick with despair. But then, Ahsoka took hold of his face with both hands and turned him back towards her. She was still smiling that kind, reassuring smile.
"Who said you're not worth my time?" She said. Her point-blank tone was enough to contradict everything Wraith was thinking. It was in total contrast to what he deemed logical.
'Screw logic!' He determined. 'Let me have this... let this be my reality.' Wraith looked up and deep into Ahsoka's blue eyes. He felt like he was about to reach his breaking point, her wholesome goodness and kind-hearted tenderness overwhelming him.
"I love you." He whispered in a shaky voice, not knowing what more he could say.
"I know." She replied, her thumbs stroking his cheeks. Wraith smiled a little.
"Ahsoka..." He whispered, doing his best to reach up and touch her.
"Wraith..." She whispered, drawing a little closer to him. Wraith began to lose himself in her gaze, completely mesmerized by her beauty. "Wraith..."
"Wraith! Come on, wake up!" Scipio repeated, shaking the sleeping super-soldier. Wraith growled a little as his body was rudely stirred from his unconscious state, pulling him out of his peaceful dream.
And back to his stone-cold reality.
"What the kriff, Doc...?" Wraith rumbled as he fully awoke. "I was having a dream. A good one, too..."
"Save your dreams for another time, you've got work to do!" Scipio urged him. Wraith sighed, acknowledging the need for his presence and sitting up in bed. It had been several days since his venture to Aphran Four, and Wraith had spent every single day in med, constantly being tended to by Scipio with constant applications of kolto, bacta and painkillers. His chest had been bandaged quite heavily and a few stitches applied to a cut near his left eye. The injuries he had in his dream were not nearly as severe as they were in reality. He could move just fine now...
"When do I not...?" He yawned, stretching as he did. The burn that rippled through his arms felt good and was a welcome change from the pain. "I swear... you practically tie me to the bed and then, as soon as I'm getting comfortable, you force me up and out of it." He grumbled. Rotating his body, he set his feet on the ground. "Is Dooku calling?" He wondered.
"He just did. High command has crafted a very special task for you, one that will cripple the Republic for certain." Scipio explained.
"Let me finish waking up... then I'm all ears." Wraith replied, rubbing his face.
"Make it snappy. Come on! Chop chop!" Scipio said, trying to hurry him up.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm gettin' there." Wraith grumbled, standing up to stretch some more. Satisfied he was up and awake, Scipio was ready to leave until ne noticed a datapad lying on his nightstand. It was the title that caught his eye.
"Well now. What's this?" He wondered, picking it up. It was entitled Togruti and Basic: the Similarities.
"You forced me to stay in bed, so I figured I'd do some reading." Wraith answered, throwing on his usual shirt. Scipio threw him a curious glance, a single explanation why he might be studying the language of the Togruta in mind.
"This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with your infatuation with that Tano girl, would it?" He wondered. Wraith rolled his eyes, trying to hide the truth.
"Come on Doc," he replied, sounding annoyed, "just 'cause I'm trying to add another language to my already impressive repertoire of Huttese, Shyriiwook, Neimodian, Skakoverbal and a few dozen others, doesn't mean it has anything to with my other interests." Scipio, a look of disbelief on his face, set down the datapad and crossed his arms.
"My boy, you are many things. A good liar isn't one of them!" He stated. Wraith looked at him, pausing in mid stretch as he realized Scipio saw through his lie.
"Well, maybe I should work on that next..." He mused, rolling with it. Scipio sighed.
"Just get dressed and meet me in the command room. Your armor will be waiting there."
Minutes later...
Pomel Scipio stood waiting in the control hub with a dossier in hand when Wraith arrived, strapping his guns around his hips. "That took long enough." He noted, sounding displeased.
"I'm not really a morning person." Wraith shot back, striding over to a nearby table and throwing on his folded jacket without another word.
"This coming from someone who needs only four hours of sleep." Scipio remarked, smirking as he did. Wraith rolled his eyes, reaching for his gauntlets. He immediately took note of something that hadn't been present before...
"You updated my gauntlets." He noted, locking them around his forearms.
"With a simple magnetic strip." Scipio clarified.
"I smell an upgrade." Wraith commented.
"Is it that obvious?" Scipio replied with a chuckle. Then, he produced a pair of armored plates, each sporting an intricate blue design around their edges. "Interchangeable kinetic energy armor plating. Designed to absorb incoming blasts from weapons of all calibres, it'll build up a charge that'll increase the force of any punch you throw out." He explained, offering them to Wraith. The super-soldier took one and clipped it into place, the magnet grabbing it and locking it down instantly.
"Can I get some boots with this, too?" He wondered as he took the second, thinking he might be able to amplify the force of his kicks.
"I'm working on some." Scipio informed him. Wraith nodded, sizing up the two new components sitting on his arms. He had another thought.
"If we're talking customizable armor, does that mean possible weapon mounts? Like arm cannons?" He asked. Scipio paused, looking thoughtful for a moment as he pondered Wraith's query.
"The thought hadn't crossed my mind, but I suppose I could see about something along those lines." He finally answered. Wraith rubbed his hands together gleefully.
"Modular weapons, here I come!" He said excitedly. Scipio then passed him his helmet, optics fully repaired and all the scratches and dents buffed out.
"I've patched up your helmet and updated it with an improved multi-frequency targeting and acquisition system. I noticed when I was making the repairs to your optics that the HUD systems were on the fritz. No doubt one of those new troopers did some serious damage to the core electronics." He explained, noting his improvements.
"You're telling me. I've got the bruises to prove it!" Wraith remarked as he eyed his helmet, turning it over in his hands.
"Anyway, these new core systems should help improve your aim. There's some built in calibration programs that will give you a scope before your very eyes, thus eliminating the need for anything fancy on your weapons." The doctor explained.
"And cutting down the additional weight and storage. I like the sounds of it." Wraith mused, slipping his helmet on. Plates locked in around his head, securely keeping him within it as his optics powered up along with the vocal synthesizer.
"This new system also requires less components than the last one, so I've gone back to the old style of design." Scipio added.
"Back to an opening mouthguard, eh?" Wraith mused, remembering the very first incarnation of his helmet. "Anything to counter those new Clones? I'm certain the Republic will use them again... especially after Aphran." He asked, craning his neck as he stretched.
"I do have something in the works, but it's not ready just yet. For now, avoid engaging them at all costs." Scipio explained. Wraith nodded in understanding.
"Got it." He wasn't too pleased with that response, but at least something was on the horizon. "Now, what does high command need me to do?" In response, Scipio handed the dossier over to Wraith and walked over to the nearby holotable and pulled up the image of a planet.
"This is Salliche. Sunny, pristine and the home of 'Salliche Agricultural Corporation', a major food supplier for the Republic." He stated. "It's located in the Agricultural Circuit, near the very heart of the Republic itself." Wraith barely had time to look at the dossier before the words 'major' and 'food supplier' forced him to stop, his analytical mind immediately drawing a conclusion.
"I think I see where this is going..." He mused. Scipio grinned, admiring Wraith's perceptiveness.
"Your mission is to sabotage the company's resources. Their machinery, their supplies, all of it must be destroyed. We're going to see if we can't threaten the Republic by another means." He explained. Wraith nodded in understanding, mulling over the data in his head.
"If you can't beat them into submission, starve them. I like their thinking." He said. Then he paused, thinking about Salliche's location. "The Core Worlds though... a tough spot, but I've managed before. Hell, I've been all the way to Coruscant."
"Indeed you have. This time it will be even easier, what with the new cloaking systems, signal dampeners and scan deflectors I've installed." Scipio agreed. "Now, off you go. You're certainly healthy enough to handle a little excursion like this." He said, shooing Wraith out of the room.
"Considering you never let me out if I have so much as a bruise, this must not be a very challenging assignment." Wraith remarked as he turned to leave. Scipio watched walk to the exit before a sudden thought came to him and he called after Wraith.
"You know, if you want to learn another language, why don't I just get you a PUT?" The super-soldier stopped and turned.
"A universal translator?" He wondered. Then he shook his head. "Nah, that just takes the fun out of it."
Hours later, Salliche airspace...
Salliche was a real agricultural world if ever there was one. A world of rolling plains, sprawling fields, blue skies and warm, sunny weather, it was one of the best places to grow crops. Greenhouses dotted the green pastures where a variety of animals grazed. But the landscape mattered little to Wraith.
His destination was the production yards of Salliche Ag.
The massive warehouses, sprawling plants and towering pieces of machinery responsible for producing goods of all kinds, from food products to fertilizer and seeds, it was an all-in-one type of compound that could be considered self-sustaining thanks to all the corporately owned farms surrounding it.
It was a place Wraith was going to enjoy razing to the ground.
"Nothing like a little sabotage as a means of relaxation." He mused, setting his cloaked shuttle down on a patch of flat ground beyond the walls of the compound. "Too bad I don't have any demolition rockets. That would've made this easy." Powering down his engines, the super-soldier was back on his comms. "Scipio, come in. I've arrived on Salliche and I've got the compound in my sight." He reported.
"Excellent timing. Everything must go, Wraith. Cause as much destruction as physically possible." The Pau'an replied.
"So I need to sabotage their machinery if I want to cripple their operation... not to mention torch as many farms as possible." Wraith mused, considering the task before him. His weaponry assortment was a little inadequate for such requirements, but he believed he could manage as long as he prioritized. "I'll start with the production machinery first. I think I've got just the weapon for that..." Setting his carbine down in the locker, Wraith fished out another weapon and stood back up with his black axe in hand.
Stepping out of his shuttle, Wraith disappeared from view and ventured inside the compound. However, he was unaware of the various security installations at work within this simple factory. A series of multi-spectrum scanners tied to a silent alarm broadcasted an alert to the planet's capitol as soon as an odd heat signature was detected within the perimeter. The security hub at Salliche Ag's headquarters immediately put out a call to the nearest local law enforcement for aid.
However, this was the one day that a Republic cruiser had stopped by the planet on a mission to pick up some supplies on it's way back to Coruscant. It's crew happened to hear the call for aid and decided to investigate themselves.
That cruiser... was the Resolute.
A few minutes later...
A series of BARC speeders pulled up on the opposite side of Salliche Ag's production factory. Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rex and a choice selection of Clones dismounted.
"Well, the place seems to be pretty quiet." Anakin noted, glancing around. "Wonder what they were after."
"Who would want to rob a farming compound anyway?" Rex wondered, stepping up beside Anakin.
"You're guess is as good as mine Rex." Anakin replied, leading the way inside.
The lights were off within the building, indicating someone did not wish to create a disturbance. Rex and his men queued the lights on their helmets at Anakin's command, hoping to catch the would-be thief in the act. They moved as a unit, weapons held up as they sought out whoever it was the sensors had detected.
"You know, it makes me wonder." One of the Clones said aloud. "Would they be here to steal seeds or the company's plans for production?"
"Who cares, it's just farm stuff." Another one shot back.
"This 'farm stuff' happens to keep the Republic fed and healthy." Rex informed him. "This factory helps produce the food we eat everyday boys."
"Well, maybe we should let this guy do his thing. Maybe he can whip up something better than old rations." The Clone joked, earning a few laughs from his comrades.
Except Rex.
"Shut your mouth, shiny. And keep looking." He ordered. The rest of the troopers fell silent and continued to move in formation, following Rex and Anakin's leads. The main floor was deserted and quiet, the only sounds to be heard ere their own footsteps. Anakin opted to lead the group up a flight towards the plant managers office. Ascending a flight of stairs, the Jedi led his men through a door into the second wing of the compound. But as he did, they were hit by a powerful wall of smell.
"Whoa!" Anakin exclaimed, recoiling. "Oh... Force... what is that smell?" He wondered with a grimace, waving his hand in front of his nose. The Clones could smell it too, whatever it was.
"Ugh... Smells like a Hutt died in here." One of them complained. Against their better wishes, the group entered further into the room, which took the shape of a large, open space. Catwalks connected one side of the room to the other and large vats of some dark substance stood tall beneath them. Stepping out on to the nearest catwalk, Rex peered down into the cavernous tubs below them, curiosity getting the better of him.
"General, down there." He pointed, shining his lights down into the vats below. Anakin walked over to view his discovery. Leaning over the edge, the Jedi saw a dark brown substance sitting in the nearly full vat below them. "Manure... they're likely making fertilizer with that stuff." Rex explained.
"Well... that explains the smell." Anakin surmised. "Come on, let's keep looking for our intruder. I kinda want out of this room as soon as possible." The Clones followed him, also desperate to leave this place behind.
But, from a darkened window behind them, the Republic affiliates were closely watched by an unseen figure. He had been busy sabotaging the central electrical system in an effort to fry their connections to prevent the power from turning on. Such an exaggerated and costly repair would surely put the factory out of order for weeks. But these Clones threatened to disrupt his entire operation before it could even come to full fruition. He hadn't even started torching the kriffing farms yet!
"Of all the damn people I was hoping to not run into..." Wraith grumbled, realizing these Clones were likely going to cause a problem.
Unless... Unless they chose to engage in a protracted firefight, the ensuing collateral damage could be what he needed to continue his sabotage. Either way, this is an enemy he'd have to engage head-on... they needed to be dealt with.
Plus, he wanted to see what these kinetic plates were capable of.
Having finished a circuit of the area, Anakin wished he was finished with this place. But they still had to check the managers office before they could consider this floor secured. Having not seen anything, Anakin was starting to think their advanced security measures were on the fritz. Even though they were the leading food production company, and wanted to protect their equipment, it wouldn't be the first time such equipment had malfunctioned.
But his Force senses told him there was something else afoot...
"Trooper, take point up ahead." Rex commanded one of the Clones. The trooper obeyed and entered the stairway access that led to the managers office. Taking a step inside, he checked every corner with his blaster raised.
"Clear!" He called back to them. Suddenly, from the shadows, an axe flew threw the air and slammed into a Clone's head, nearly splitting his helmet in half as a splash of blood coated the axe head. Anakin and his men recoiled as the body his the wall and slumped to the ground. Rex and his men were in an immediate attack position, Anakin igniting his lightsaber. But as they closely examined the area, Anakin couldn't help but feel something... familiar...
"Wait... I've seen that axe before..." He realized. Taking a tentative step closer, the oddly shaped, unnatural design of the axe started to confirm his suspicions when the shadows began to shimmer until they revealed a tall, broad individual. "The Wraith. Of course." Anakin growled, recognizing him instantly.
This was the last person he'd been hoping to encounter.
"Aw, is it just you and your fellow losers today, Skywalker?" Wraith jeered, stepping over to the Clone and yanking his axe out of the his head. "Where's your drop-dead gorgeous apprentice?" He wondered. Anakin glared at him.
"You stay away from her!" He growled, pointing his lightsaber at him. "And keep your perverted thoughts to yourself!" Beneath his helmet, Wraith rolled his eyes.
"How droll of you..." He remarked. "How do you know my thoughts aren't wrought from pure affection? Not that you'd know anything of affection. Being a Jedi and all, you're prohibited from experiencing such freeing sensations." Anakin said nothing further, staring down his Separatist rival. Rex stepped out from behind Anakin, pistols pointed at Wraith.
"Hands were we can see 'em, Bucket-head." He ordered, using the new nickname he and other Clones had come to ascribe to Wraith. "We took you down once before, and we'll do so again." He said, confident.
"You did nothing to take me down, duplicate." Wraith shot back."You needed help. None of you have the power to take me down!" He rumbled.
"We'll see about that." Anakin stated. "Men! Light him up!" He ordered.
"Please do." Wraith growled, sheathing his axe behind him. The Clones opened fire as he held up his arms before him, blocking the incoming blue lasers as they slammed into his new gauntlets. Wraith could feel the power building and rippling through him, heat rising as the residual blaster energy was stored and charged up his gauntlets. "Now, to up the ante!" He growled, believing he was sufficiently charged. Charging forward and ignoring the incoming blaster fire, Wraith rushed Anakin with his gauntlet raised. Unaware of his new add-ons, Anakin swung his saber and sent it crashing into Wraith's raised guard.
The following kickback was enough to send all of them flying back, scattered across the ground. The kinetic energy release was so powerful that not even Wraith had anticipated such tremendous knock-back. "I could get used to this..." He mused, eyeing the staggered Republic units attempting to rise. The nearest Clone got to his feet first and opened fire, Wraith quickly blocking them. Stalking towards his target, Wraith kept his arm up as the Clone kept firing. As soon as he was within touching distance, Wraith backhanded the Clone with his forearm. The kinetic discharge sent the Clone flying with a wave of energy, impressing Wraith as the Clone skittered across the walkway. Turning on heel, Wraith raised his arms as the Clones opened fire again.
"Hold fire! Hold fire!" Anakin commanded. "His defenses are working against us, we need something else." He realized. Rex believed he had the solution.
"I think I've got something General." He said, arming a thermal detonator. "I'd like to see those gauntlets block this!" Standing up, Rex put a plan into motion. "Fel! Garm! Suppressing fire!" He ordered. The two Clones behind Wraith opened fire, peppering his back with blaster fire. "Coric! Concussion bomb!" Rex commanded another Clone off to Wraith's side. The senior sergeant pulled one of the oval-shaped devices from behind him, arming it. "On my mark!" Rex continued, rolling the beeping sphere across the ground. Fel and Garm kept up their suppressive fire, Wraith grinning as his gauntlets charged up. Just as the detonator reached it's peak, his sensors alerted him to the impending explosion. Unable to act in time, Wraith was pitched forward as the bomb exploded beneath him. As it did, Coric lobbed his concussive bomb in the super-soldier's direction. The device detonated and sent Wraith flying off the catwalk. But before he could fall, Anakin reached out with the Force and grabbed him, but like he had on Makem Te.
The chaos subsided and the Republic affiliates collected themselves. Anakin maintained his hold on The Wraith, using the Force to keep the super-soldier from using his limbs and hands.
"Well... I guess we found our intruder." The Jedi mused as he eyed the captive Wraith.
Never had he felt more proud.
"Looks like we took down ol' Bucket-head once again lads!" Rex announced. Wraith growled at their words and struggled against the invisible bonds restraining him.
"What say we put an end to the Republic's number one menace?" Anakin wondered aloud.
"You can't contain me." Wraith growled. "I will break free!"
"Then maybe we should put him somewhere where he can't break free." Rex retorted. "General, I can see some controls over there..." He pointed out. Anakin looked down the catwalk and saw a small control panel sporting a few buttons.
He had a feeling he knew what they controlled.
"Good work Rex. Why don't you get ready..." Anakin said, "We'll put this piece of filth where he belongs." Turning Wraith upside down, the super-soldier was now ready to dive headfirst into the vats below. Glancing down, Wraith realized what was in the vat beneath him.
"Skywalker... if you drop me I swear to you, I will cause you more pain than you've ever experienced before!" He threatened, speaking slowly and with the heaviest growl Anakin had ever heard him use. All the Clones paused, knowing Wraith was no one to be trifled with. Somehow, someway, he always managed to get back up and come back after them. With all of them having heard about what happened between Anakin and The Wraith on Tibrin, they turned to their General to see how he would react. Anakin looked thoughtful, pausing as he weighed the options before him. He glowered at the super-soldier before him, before his mood was suddenly brightened by a trademark smirk.
"You already have." He answered.
Then, he released his hold, forcefully dropping Wraith into the vat.
"DAMN YOU SKYWALKER-!" Wraith shouted as he fell, closing the distance in less than a second. A wet splat ensued as his body fell into the half-full vat of manure. The Clones started chuckling as they peered down into the vat, many of them bursting out laughing at the sight of Wraith half covered in manure. Chuckling also, Rex sealed off the vat with the controls, the lid closing over Wraith and trapping him inside before he could get out.
"Job well done men." Anakin congratulated his troops with a grin. "Rex, let's call the Resolute and get a prisoner transport ready." He stated. Rex gave a salute and drew his commlink.
Within the vat, something was stirring...
Wraith's anger, his wrath at being treated in such a humiliating manner, was growing with impressive speed. His body shook, his rage burning hot as he managed to stand within the vat.
"Skywalker..." He growled, shoulders heaving as he refused to let this humiliation be the way he was captured. Drawing Tyth from behind him, Wraith prepared to cut his way out.
Little did he realize that the closed nature of this vat had allowed the gaseous output of the manure to build and grow within the confined space, swelling and filling whatever open room was left in there.
As Wraith ignited his firesaber, the combustible nature of the gases came into effect and, in the confined space, turned the vat into a bomb.
Neither Anakin nor his men were expecting the deafening explosion and ball of flame that threw them off their feet and onto the ground below. First there was nothing, then a massive shockwave sent them flying. Anakin blacked out for a moment and then came to, laying on the ground with a burning tank in front of him. The entire vat had ruptured and been torn open, flame licking at the curled durasteel edges as the residual manure burned within it. The Republic members were slow to get to their feet.
"What the hell happened?" Anakin wondered, crawling back to a standing position.
"I don't... know, sir." Rex grunted as he picked himself up. "No idea at all..." They soon had their answer as Wraith stepped out of the burning wreckage, a bright blue firesaber in his hand. His jacket was on fire, bits of manure burning hot as the flames burnt away any residual excrement. Despite the smell and the circumstances, he looked pretty terrifying.
"That's what happened..." Anakin realized. One of the Clones got up quickly and advanced on Wraith with his blaster raised.
"Stay! Down!" He shouted, opening fire. Wraith stood unfazed by the blaster rounds and waited until the Clone was close enough to attack with a heavy swing. The single slash cut the Clone in two but the intensity of the flames rolling off Tyth disintegrated him, the halves of his body turning to embers as he died a painful death. Anakin and Rex looked on in shock as the Clone became a pile of ash, armor and all.
"We can't fight that..." Anakin realized, standing up and igniting his lightsaber. "Retreat, everyone retreat!" He commanded. He refused to lose any more men to this monster.
"Where, sir?" Rex asked. "We're up against a wall!" Anakin looked behind them and realized he were right. They had nowhere to go and an angry Wraith stalking towards them.
Outside the factory walls...
First there came the thunderous boom. Then came the group of Clones crashing through the wall, sent flying by an unseen force. Anakin Skywalker rolled to a halt, having been knocked outside along with the rest of his men. Wraith had delivered a massive punch fueled by a mighty kinetic buildup. As the Republic forces crawl to their feet, Wraith stepping out of the shadows, Anakin knew what he had to do now.
"Rex, is our Plan B ready to go?" He asked, sitting up. They had prepared a contingency just in case the would-be thief's turned out to be a bit more organized.
"Yes sir!" Rex affirmed. Anakin gave him a quick nod.
"Then call in the blaze troopers." He ordered. Rex did so, confirming a sighting of The Wraith. "Men, fall back as much as possible. We need to buy some time for the blazers to get here. They'll deal with Bucket-head." The Jedi commanded the other Clones.
"Stop... CALLING ME THAT!" Wraith roared as he lunged forward and drove Tyth into the ground, a sheet of flame exploding around him. The Clones were quick to roll out of the way and start moving. None of them dared to open fire on him. Rising from the dirt and drawing his axe from behind him, Wraith cut an imposing figure as he stared down Anakin and Rex. "Now... which of you feeble sacks of bantha fodder wants to die first...?!" He growled, clearly ticked off beyond reasoning.
"Rex, I have a plan!" Anakin stated, holding his lightsaber level.
"I'm all ears, sir!" The Captain replied, pistols drawn.
"Run!" Neither of them needed any further invitation as Wraith bore down on them, swinging his weapons with terrifying strength. "Get the men out of the compound, I'll draw Wraith's attention to buy you some time." Anakin ordered.
"Be careful sir!" Rex called to him before motioning to the troops to follow his lead.
Anakin did his best to dodge Wraith, summoning the Force to give him a bit of an athletic and agile edge over the hellbent super-soldier. He kept this up for several minutes until all of his men were safe before joining them in the open compound. Wraith gave chase, hungry to enact some vengeance. But his chance was denied as a group of three, heavily armored troopers flew onto the scene, slamming down into the dirt as they made their entrance. They were easy to spot and Wraith cracked his neck as he readied himself for another battle. But his anger had not yet fully consumed him and Scipio's words rang clearly in his mind, "Avoid engaging them at all costs." Although he absolutely hated to run from a fight, Wraith begrudgingly determined there was nothing more he could do. He still wasn't at one-hundred percent functionality yet and after the thorough beating they'd given him on Aphran, they'd certainly be ready to do so again.
He beat a hasty retreat back to his invisible shuttle and boarded it without a second thought. Queuing the thrusters, Wraith jetted off, caring little for whatever jeers the Republic were throwing his way. He had bigger issues on his mind. Salliche was now up there with Makem Te and Aphran... a series of botched missions he'd never thought he'd have on his record.
Some time later...
Pomel Scipio, busy in his lab, was not anticipating Wraith to come stomping back into the base as soon as he did. Although he assumed Wraith to have fulfilled his task, his creation's demeanor seemed to say otherwise.
"So, how was Salliche-" He started to say, before the smell wafting off of Wraith reached his nostrils. "Phew! What smells like a diarrhetic bantha-?"
"I don't want to discuss it." Wraith curtly growled, interrupting him. But Scipio was determined to get some kind of answer, waving his hand before his face to try and ward off the smell.
Was that... manure?
"Might I ask-"
"No." Wraith growled again, in a tone so frightening that Scipio ceased to press him for any more information.
"Do you need anything?" He meekly wondered, trying to not invoke Wraith's anger. The super-soldier stopped, briefly considering his needs.
"Do you happen to have a wall you don't need? I need to hit something... a lot." He asked. Scipio could tell Wraith was in a bad mood and shook his head no, recommending the training deck instead. With a growl, Wraith moved to leave. But not before he thought of something else. "Then... scrub brushes... and lots of them!" He added, calling over his shoulder.
Author's Note: Short, and maybe not the greatest, I know. But it's a filler chapter. Oh, and I've fixed the poll so it's good to go now. It's on my main page. Vote! Please!
