General Combat Instruction #22
Jedi and Clone Tactics
It is important for the Clone Trooper to understand that the Jedi are not general enforcement. Their weapon selection is primarily close quarters, with few known exceptions. They are skilled strategists, and are highly educated in nearly every general category. It is for these reasons that all clone legions have a command structure including a Jedi of some rank. All clones are to obey any reasonable order given by a superior officer, regardless of personal feelings towards said officer. At no point is insubordination to be allowed, with complete decommissioning of the resource recommended.
In combat, it is often that the Jedi will break the front line of the army, utilizing often some form of telekinisis or their skill with their bladed weapon. See attached video 12b for visual example.
In otherwords brothers, the Jedi are absolutely Terrifying. If necessary, triple tap 'em
Translated from Clone Captain Unit 128821, AKA Taps' Personal Datapad for the Jedi Archive
Combat in space was unlike any other. Not only was it three dimensional much like aerial combat, it had a fourth dimension as well in hyperspace. Naruto was always taught that using a hyperspace jump midcombat was something that only veteran pilots would do, similar to how only highly skilled shinobi would utilize a shunshin in combat. When the hyperdrive activates, you are figuratively blind for a moment, the world ceases, as the stars lengthen and the jump is made. You are detectable in hyperspace, however you will show up on different sensors than when normally in a dogfight.
These were thoughts in Naruto's head as he piloted his jedi fighter alongside the Carrier that the Clones were utilizing to get to Tris. It was the only compromise he was willing to grant Taps, as he acknowledged that he was better equipped to deal with any threats to the ship. Especially since his modifications to his personal fighter were finally finished.
Originally an experimental prototype called the Eta, the ship was essentially a blunted spear shape, with the middle cut out to create two prongs that housed the twin ion canon array along with housing the mounted laser canons on the outer edges of the wings. While the prototype did not house a hyperdrive, Naruto had modified in a small class 3.3 drive modulator, using the ship's shield generator to fuel its massive energy cost. While he couldn't use it to travel in hyperspace more than three to four minutes, it was in simulation extremely useful. While in hyperspace, he was neigh invulnerable to combative measures, any droid that was on the ship would be shredded by sheer velocity and it would dump him in a straight line forward, at least currently. He had an idea to change that, but he needed to get through this mission before he started tinkering with his toys. He snapped back to the present as Tris' surface came into being as they entered the atmosphere. His ship shuddered slightly under the magnetic field, making him frown. Glancing at the clone ship, he was relieved to see that the shielding they had installed on the way here was holding up.
It likely wouldn't if the dampener went. According to the simulation, if that dampener went, anything metallic on the planet without class-1 shielding would immediately suffer a 4000% increase in localized force. It would kill every single living being in the sector that wasn't protected. Traveling at the speed of light, the far ends of the sector would have at most a week to flee.
A week wouldn't be enough time. That's why this had to be stopped. Not just for the war effort. Naruto eyed the bracelet he wore. It was a direct commlink to Master Plo Koon, and conversely will record the transmission for the Council for later viewing. He was to activate it should he fail to protect the station. He turned on the autopilot to navigate to the landing station as he dove rapidly into his mind.
The cage was much the same, though the titanic being beyond the bars was paying more attention than usual. He had made this trip before every conflict, ensuring that the Kyuubi understood what he was about to do. Just as before, Naruto made eye contact with the Kyuubi, and for once the beast did not scowl in hatred.
"If you fail Jedi. What will you do?" The kyuubi asked its jailer, its nine tails flicking behind it. He wasn't afraid to die. After living over 3 millennia, the kyuubi understood that death was not the end. However, death by electromagnetic pulses was not one that he was looking forward toward. If the pulses even affected him, which they may not. He had evolved, beyond being just what his predecessor was. He was the most dangerous thing in the Galaxy, but even he could die. He knew that just as he knew that he only breathed to mimic appearances, that he required no oxygen.
Naruto looked at the beast, for the first time realizing that even it took this threat from the Sith seriously. He idly wondered if the beast would die if he let it out if he would fail… before deciding that such thoughts were worthless. He had learned much of the Kyuubi over the last six months. He learned that the beast had feelings and that it had principles. Seeing a dead child on a mission he was on sent it into a frenzy that only the seal prevented the complete destruction of the planet, let alone the droid army that delt the blow. He still dismantled the entire droid army on that planet, largely alone, but he did it while listening to the beast in his head scream for more. To make them burn for it. Once, the kyuubi expressed missing the smell of the wind. Naruto knew that it was more than just a behemoth of destruction.
"I don't know. But it won't matter. I won't fail today." He spoke with confidence, but even he knew that the beast didn't believe him. He knew that the beast knew that he visited him every battle to ensure that it knew exactly what was happening, just in case. Just in case the droids got lucky, or if he wasn't good enough.
"We both know that the Jedi didn't teach you to lie to yourself." The beasts gruff voice made Naruto look down at his hands. Callused and scarred, they were the hands of a warrior, a shinobi, a man who saw war. Yet in his mind, they were soft and unblemished. The kyuubi continued to speak, breaking Naruto from his thoughts,"You can fail here. We have no idea what the woman has prepared. And she is prepared. However." The kyuubi lowered its large face towards Naruto, meeting his gaze levelly through the bars. "If you fail, the pulses will be the least of your worries. I will break this seal, I will erupt from your still warm corpse and I will end this farce of a war myself, permanently." The kyuubi's eyes thinned, its red chakra erupting around it, straining the bars towards Naruto. He could hear the groaning of the gates, as they held the beast back until finally the beast let the pressure stop. The kyuubi turned from the gates, walking back further into its prison, its point made clear.
Naruto opened his eyes, determination shining brightly as his ship fully landed. He hopped from the ship, and was swiftly surrounded by his seven troopers he had personally selected for the mission. Taps was wearing an extra gun, some form of physical cannon that shot physical projectiles. To his left, Jazz was outfitted with the standard clone gear, followed by Top, Zen, Romeo, Root and the only other clone with specialist equipment in the form of a handheld energy based shield strapped to his back, Flec. Without a word, he ran towards the station, his troops following him easily. As soon as the station came into view, he swore.
It was swarming with droids, and they were lowering the blast shields over the doors. Naruto flicked his wrists, summoning his twin lightsabers. The world slowed to a crawl as he pulsed his chakra for the technique. He blurred forward, allowing the shunshin to place him atop one of the droids. Slicking it into bits, he deflected a shot from one of his troopers into the droid beside him as he carved forward. Blaster bolts thundered around him, each droid swiftly falling to their assault. The blast doors were nearly shut before Naruto slid under them, his momentum never stopped by the droids at all.
Taps saw the clankers and swiftly commanded his men. "Zen, Top, Root! Clear the way! Romeo, Jazz! Cover the commander! Flec with me!" He drew his pistol and his handcannon, preparing himself as he lined up his shot. Then the commander vanished, reappearing in the path of his bolt he just fired, cutting down his target, and moving through the droids like a demon. The bolt was deflected casually, as if the commander and he had planned the maneuver. In moments, the commander was in the base, having slid under the blast doors. "Get me inside! And someone double tap the damn scrappies!" His orders were swiftly obeyed and Flec got to work trying to open the doors. As soon as the last scrappie was double tapped, they all stopped as the blast doors bulged outward.
"MOVE!" Taps yelled as he dove out of the way of the doors just as they were blasted out. Standing there, arm outstretched, and lightsaber still lit, the commander stood. With a gesture, they followed him deeper into the base. Taps refused to let his commander out of his sight again.
As soon as Naruto slid under the blast doors, he cut through the various droids in the immediate vicinity. It was laughably easy, though his expression never changed. He let one of his sabers go out and strapped it to his belt before raising the hand up. He dove into the force and flexed his hand. The force, his old friend, instantly responded, and the blast doors started to creak and groan. He pushed further, and the doors erupted outward, landing a dozen feet in front of the base and his troops looked at him in shock. With a gesture he motioned for them to follow and he turned to continue deeper inside. His mind was clear, his stride purposeful. As the rounded a corner, he casually blocked a trio of blaster shots from a small droid force before slamming them against the walls with the Force. He didn't even stop as his men blasted the droids into scrap. His senses were trained on a single presence in the force, one he knew felt him. He wasn't hiding.
And neither was she. He could feel her, running towards the center of the base, likely creating roadblocks for his men as she ran. Combatively, his men were more than a match for any droids that he believed she had brought, but time was of the essence. It was why when they ran into three destroyer droids, he focused the chakra within his chest, rolling it and heating it as he deflected the shots aimed towards them. Once it was hot enough, he breathed out, bathing the hallway in flames as he blasted a fireball forward. Flec didn't waste a moment, and threw an EMP-grenade down the hallway, slamming his shield down to shield him and his brothers from the effects. A pulse erupted from the grenade, dismantling the shield generators of the droids, and pausing their assault. The pause was all Naruto needed as he blurred forward, and cut through each of them, continuing down the hall. His men quickly followed, with Taps blasting each droid as he passed once more.
The group continued down the hallway, ready for any droids that would impede them. Yet the halls were empty, and slowly the clones became more and more twitchy. A mission as critical to both sides as this, yet they had met minimal resistance? It went against everything their captain and commander had ever taught them. Both were calmer, but still alert as they entered large area with four cat walks intersecting, with the Magnetic Dampener along the far wall. The catwalks spanned a chasm that likely acted as a heat sink for the dampener, using a natural lake's water as a coolant, at least judging from the dozens of pipes that were transporting liquid towards the dampener.
However, Naruto's eyes were locked on the woman who wore a hooded cloak, who had three humanoid droids in black cloaks behind her fiddling with the machine. She was looking at the group who just entered, her hood covering her face, and two curved lightsabers waiting in her hands. She was pale, and thin, her body lithe and tense as she waited.
"Taps. Droids. The woman is mine." Naruto spoke aloud, gaining the attention of the Droids, two of which turned towards the clones and pulled blasters from behind them. Upon closer look, the droids were much different from standard droids. Their bodies were made of dark grey and black metals, with the arms being covered with brown attachments that served to protect the servos that powered its movements. The torsos were covered in cloaks, hiding the fact that their side plating was missing, and their wires exposed. Their legs, clearly modeled after the super battle droids' seemed not to fit with their lean torsos. They moved gracefully, as if their programing was more elegant than just, "march forward, back or to the side." As they raised their blasters, the movements were fluid and coordinated, unlike the mass battle droid that did the movement in swift, jerky motions.
The woman spoke, her voice high and regal, as she took two steps forward, ignoring the clone's blasters that were pointed to her. With a twitch of her head she threw her hood back, exposing her high cheekbones, ivory colored skin, pale pink lips, blue eyes and white blond hair that was shaved on the left side to the scalp, with the right hanging down over her ear. On her head a single rune was tattooed in red, the language of the Nightsisters of Dathomir that Naruto translated mentally as "Shadow".
"Hello Naruto. It has been so long since we last saw each other." Asajj Ventress spoke with a smile, as she lit her sabers, exposing their blood red blades.
"Hello Asajj. It has been a while. Three years. Three long years. I can't deny I missed you." Naruto settled into a stance, as his clones glanced at him in slight shock. "I never thought you would join with the Separatists."
Asajj frowned as she glanced behind her. The droid working on the dampener wouldn't finish for several minutes, and two of her prototype droids likely wouldn't last against the clones. She mentally sighed as she prepared herself. There were a few jedi that she honestly cared for, and across the catwalk was one.
"Sadly, this is war. Friends can quickly become enemies." With that she forced her hatred for the jedi, the jedi that abandoned her, the jedi that sent her master to die, the jedi that just use and replace anyone they want. Forced her hatred into the force and rushed forward. Three blaster bolts from the captain were deflected before her red sabers, aiming for the heads of the surprised clones, were stopped by a purple blade. She felt her breath leave her, as a foot slammed into her sternum with Naruto executing a perfect twisting somersault to force her blades away from his clones. A second kick slammed into her shoulder, as she twisted to avoid it and her mind flashed with a vision of a purple saber headed towards her neck. She raised her left saber, blocking the attack even as she slashed with the right, only to be met by another saber. She gritted her teeth as she struggled against the blades, ignoring the smirk on the blond Jedi's face and the blaster bolts that the droids and clones were exchanging.
Asajj forced the blades down slightly, jumping up and attempting to kick Naruto in the face as she flipped backwards. The kick was unsuccessful as the jedi took a single step back, but the maneuver allowed Ventress to land lightly on the railing of the catwalk and run towards the nearest clone.
Flec was crouched behind his shield and firing at the droids were extremely accurate with their shots. His shield was taking some major hits, with him nearly losing his head a few times from peeking over it. He was ducking down after taking another shot, when Taps screamed at him to "MOVE YOU STUPID LUNK". Without hesitation he rolled back, just as a red lightsaber slammed against his shield that he instinctively moved to cover his head as he rolled. He felt a foot land on the shield, it be driven downward as the woman used it to jump over the clones and he heard the whoomp of the lightsaber and the scream of one of his brothers. Getting up quickly, he looked back, his shield still up to block the continued fire of the droids and nearly vomited in his mouth.
Taps continued firing his two weapons at the woman who had just removed Jazz's head and left arm along with Root's right arm as she jumped ON Flec's shield to get to him. While his shots were being deflected, he continued his assault, his eyes wild, and his body twitching out of the way of each deflection, occasionally colliding the bolts, as sweat started to bead on his forehead. The woman continued to walk towards him, the bolts being deflected, as he took another step back. Just before she could reach him and strike him down, the commander appeared in a flicker infront of him, his face a mask of fury and his own lightsabers a blur. A swift exchange that Tapps couldn't follow fully, but were purple blurs meeting red, ended with a leg sweep the woman couldn't react to, that resulted in the commander blasting her away with a force push.
Naruto watched as Asajj soared from his push over the railing of the catwalk and watched as she launched some grapple towards the another catwalk. A blaster bolt soared by his head, and he looked at the two remaining droids that were fighting. With a flick of his wrist, he threw his saber, its spinning blade easily cutting through both droid's necks before returning to his hand. He looked back at the catwalk that he knew Asajj had thrown the grapple, and frowned as she ran through the opening. Looking at his clones, he immediately decided to not pursue. Flec was applying pressure on a wound that one of the droids inflicted on Romeo as he wrapped it with some bacta bandages while Taps talked quietly with Roots. Zen sat leaning against the railing, looking at Jazz's mangled body and clearly in shock. Naruto made a judgement call and quickly moved towards Taps and Roots.
"Taps, Gather them up… we gotta go. Someone grab one of the droid's heads. The rest may want to look at it. I got Roots." He spoke softly as he scooped Roots gently up in his arms. Careful not to justle the stump where his arm used to be. Still the clone groaned in pain. Taps nodded, rushing towards the droids, picking up the nearest intact head and blasting the rest of the bodies into scrap with a handcannon shot.
"Crew, form up. We are evacing! Zen… Grab Jazz. Flec, shields up front guard. Romeo, use me as a crutch if you need. Let's go." Taps ordered as he jogged back towards the men. In moments they were in formation, with Romeo refusing help, his weapon up and scanning as he limped along. Each step through the tight hallways was a mind racking affair. Constantly scanning the halls looking for traps, and ensuring that every droid was nothing but scraps. It took them nearly an hour to reach the entrance, and only then did they breath a sigh of relief.
As they reached their ships, Naruto looked to the right as a ship, a circular Lancer class pursuit ship soared over them. Naruto knew that Ventress was in the ship, as he could feel her. She ignored them entirely, even though it was impossible for her not to see them as she blasted out of the atmosphere. Naruto rushed Roots towards the ship, checking quickly for any tampering with the astromechs before nearing. Once assured of their safety, the clones and jedi quickly left the planet.
Naruto sat with Plo after they had finished reporting to the Jedi Council about the success of the destruction of the blockade and the foiling of the latest plot. Naruto had his arms folded and his eyes shut as he mentally went through the attack. Something was bugging him, something that made no sense.
"Sensei, the only thing I don't get. Asajj could have killed us as she flew past. I saw the cannons that would have taken us out. Yet she never fired. She didn't even sabotage our ships. We both know how she was trained… it makes no sense." He spoke his thoughts to his former master who hummed.
"I had similar thoughts from the debrief. It is possible that she harbors feelings for you still. It is also possible, that she never left the Order." Plo left the thought at that as he went to check in on his men. He had a few promising clones that he had grown attached to, and one of them were injured while breaking the blockade. It was his duty as a commander to check.
Naruto looked at the map, his mind going back to three years previously, when a very different Asajj was more than just a fellow Jedi.
Asajj bowed her head as Dooku processed her report with a stoic face, marked only by a red angry scar that stretched over his left cheek from his fight on Geonosis. "I find it… difficult to believe that a single knight was capable to stopping you. Who was the knight Ventress?"
She hesitated a moment before answering. "Uzumaki was the knight Lord Dooku." The sith lord nodded as he shut his eyes, and felt through the force.
"A thorn in my side that is particularly annoying. No matter, what of the secondary objective? How did our newest creations handle the field?" Asajj smiled proudly as she reported the success of the newest battle droids.
"Two active fighters held off a team of 7 clones effortlessly. The third entered the battle after the first fell and continued to hold off the clones without issue. I would recommend solidifying the armor on the head and torso, to ensure further action and to keep the programing as is. A new leg design could be helpful, maybe a similar design to the General's?" Dooku listened intently, as she reported. The new droids were her suggestion, and as he was well aware she was exclusively trained for the work that the droids were being designed for.
"Do you have team recommendations? Should there be a leader droid or should all team members be aware of mission parameters?" Dooku questioned further. Currently, droids were issued commands from a leader droid, or fell under the magna-guard category where all members of the guard were issued commands at the same time. Both had issues that needed addressed however. Leader droids were vulnerable assets that if taken out crippled troop movements. Team oriented droids however had to be issued commands before each conflict by an in person flesh command, which placed that command in danger.
Asajj shook her head. "Neither Lord Dooku. I suggest we have several presets of orders. Infiltration, Sabotage, Assassination and Team. For the first three, we designate a target, and allow their programming to accomplish the mission. For the latter, we designate either a point droid or a physical commander and go from there. That allows the Commandos to preform nonspecific mission parameters like guarding an asset that a person is holding. Or, shifting mission parameters such as if the Jedi interfere."
Dooku nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "I shall communicate your suggestions to the creators. Good. As for your primary failure, ensure it does not happen again… I am not merciful like your previous trainers." Asajj frowned, cocking her head.
"You know nothing of my previous trainers if you believe them to be merciful Lord Dooku." The former Master huffed before ending the transmission, leaving Asajj in darkness. Moving towards the bed in the corner of the room, she gently lowered herself onto the mattress as her ship reentered hyperspace after a slight stop. It would take several days for her to reach her next destination, and her mind and body needed to rest. She shut her eyes, and allowed her mind to drift.
She was in the temple on Coruscant walking through the gardens that were constantly maintained by the Service Corps. As she approached the fountain in the center of the garden, she heard his voice. Loud, vibrant, and happy, the voice was cheering some accomplishment. She found herself smiling as Naruto came into view as he walked on the water around the fountain. He was only nine years old, three years her junior, and so full of energy. Watching him from the sides of the fountain was his master, Plo Koon and his trainer Lord Jiraiya of Shin'o. Naruto from his slightly higher vantage point saw her first, though she knew that the two masters definitely knew she was there.
"Asajj! Hi! Can you see?! I'm walking on water!" The nine-year-old yelled as he ran towards her and jumped closer. Asajj took a single step back as Naruto landed just in front of her. "Totally awesome right?!"
She smiled at the kid and ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair. "Awesome indeed Little Naruto. Do you mind if I talked to Master Plo Koon?" The young boy nodded and ran back to the fountain, swiftly jumping back on the water as Master Jiraiya urged. She walked towards the Kel Dor Master and bowed briefly. Plo Koon looked at her and nodded his head, before turning back to watch his apprentice train.
"My master Ky Narec would like me to ask for some assistance. As you know, he is talented with the manipulation of the mind with the Force…" Asajj paused as the water in the fountain slowly rose into a wall shape as Naruto manipulated it. With a splash it fell again, soaking him and his mentor who laughed loudly.
Plo Koon shook his head. "I am sorry young one. I must decline. Knight Narec knows it is forbidden for a Master with a padawan to infringe upon the teachings of another padawan. While Naruto is not yet your age, he is acknowledged by the Council as my padawan… it would be improper for me to teach you directly."
Asajj sighed as the bitter words of her master rang in her head. 'teach you? Master Plo Koon is a legend in the Order… why would he want to teach you?' Plo seemingly sensing her sadness cocked his head.
"However, should you happen to be training nearby, it would be a disservice to the Order if I, a Jedi Master, allowed a padawan to struggle without some small advice. Officially, I would only be helping you in proximity to my Padawan of course…."
Asajj smiled and nodded, "Thank you Master Plo Koon."
"Please, call me Master Plo." As soon as she nodded in response, they were splashed by a wave of water. Well, she was, as Plo flicked his fingers and pushed the water around him so that not a single drop landed on him.
"Naruto. Sixteen laps for that stunt."
"Yes Master Plo…"
Asajj's eyes opened as they exited hyperspace. She pulled her holopad from the bedside table, and added three more hyperspace jumps to her journey, before placing the pad back and sinking back on the mattress. Her eyes shut again, and her mind drifted back to times she would rather forget.
"Good Asajj!" Her master congratulated her as their sabers clashed, their clash marking the first time that she had stopped that particular combination from connecting with her limbs. It was difficult learning a second form after she had dedicated so much time to Ataru, especially a form as defensive as Sotesu. Her master's blade swooped through the air, and she ducked, her instincts flaring as she thrust her free hand forward and let loose a telekinetic push.
Her master soared backwards, flipping at the last minute to land on his feet, his saber at the ready even though Asajj had not moved. She was frozen as she felt his anger in the Force and through their bond. She trembled as he strode towards her.
"I did not teach that to you Padawan. Where did you learn it?" His voice was quiet, and she felt as he struggled to shove his anger away into the force. The bond forced her to answer, as she felt her mouth form the words that she knew she wouldn't normally speak.
"Master Plo Koon… but he didn't teach me directly! I swear it master!" She attempted to cover for Master Plo as her master's lightsaber deactivated and he tucked it within his belt. In a flash, his hand dragged her to her feet. She marveled at the strength as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
He looked into her eyes, and didn't say a word. As she tried to understand what he was thinking, he gently slapped her cheek. "Ask me next time you want to learn something. Understand?"
"Yes master." She looked down, and then let out a squeak as her master hugged her. Her eyes widened in surprise as they always did whenever he held her. Even after all these years, it caught her by surprise.
"I am proud of you Asajj. Plo Koon is notorious for refusing to teach anything to anyone that isn't his apprentice. Even his former padawans say he is tight lipped. You must have convinced him." He pulled away from her and walked back wards to give her some space.
"Show me what the great Master taught you." His face was bright, but through her bond, deep inside, she could feel his resentment for Plo Koon. His resentment that he had taught her anything. She still gladly showed him everything that she knew however, and did so with a smile. When she had finished, the blocks she had levitated and manipulated settling on the ground, his pride in her resonated within the bond, and she nearly could ignore the undercurrent of resentment.
When she had reached her chambers, on her pillow was a box. The box had knobs and three screens on the sides, with each screen displaying various numbers and runes. Under the box, a single sheet of parchment laid. She snatched up both and read the note eagerly. Her master occasionally gave her items like this, as most masters did their young padawans. The note however was not in her master's elegant handwriting, but blocky lettering that was clearly designed to not show the writer's identity.
It simply read 'Open me before your Knighthood.' Her heart started to beat faster as she ran from her room towards her master's. Knocking firmly with the letter in her hand, the door opened to show her master's surprised face. As soon as he saw the box however, Asajj felt hot rage through her bond.
"I see. They want you too. The rules of the Order state I cannot interfere, though I will say this. If you accept, it shall be the last I see of you." Her master's words were, unbeknownst to her, prophetic.
Her memories shifted, and she shifted in her sleep along side them.
She was fiddling with the box when the Grandmaster entered her apartment. "Grandmaster!" She bowed swiftly, tucking the box in her sleeves as soon as she stood. Yoda slowly walked to the chair across from her, and with a nimble leap, took a seat.
"Sit you should. Prepare yourself you must." She obeyed him without thinking sitting straight. The Grandmaster looked at her with his bright eyes. "Continue you may on your test."
Asajj hesitated slightly as she pulled out the box. Looking down, she twisted a corner slightly, as she input the code that she had spent the last three months deciphering. With a pop, the top of the box opened, and an audiogram played. "Meet three days after the new moon in the library at 1000 hours should you accept". She looked up at the grandmaster and smiled in joy. Her joy however was shattered as she felt something through the bond. The Force bond she shared with her master shook and wobbled.
Her master, who had just gone towards Hutt owned space for a general patrol alone in order to allow her to study, had just been injured. She shut her eyes and focused on the bond as he had taught her. His face, covered in blood and clearly missing an eye appeared in her mind's eye.
"Oh Asajj. I am proud of you little one. Talk to the grandmaster… I am sorry." His words resonated through the bond they shared, as his ship exploded, and the bond broke with a snap.
"AHHHHHHHHHH" her scream echoed in the room, as she fell to her knees sobbing. The grandmaster, gently and firmly held her as she screamed and cried for the only man who was ever kind to her.
It was days later when her tears dried that she had another audience with the Grandmaster. She knelt before him, and was told firmly that she was a Knight of the Order, having passed her final trial. She squashed the anger she felt at having her master's death be nothing but a trial for the Order, and thanked the Grandmaster.
"Anger you feel towards the Order. Your master, a great Jedi he was. His passing, tragic it is. However, let go of anger you must, for it is the path to the Dark Side." With his piece said, she was dismissed from his chambers and she wandered the temple. She found herself outside, in front of the fountain that she had saw Naruto walk on water on five years ago. She watched the water trickle from the fountain and wasn't surprised when he found her. She was surprised when his arms circled her waist and held her in a hug. She was further surprised when she found herself leaning backwards into the embrace.
"Its okay to feel things about it.." He spoke as the sun slowly set, and they were sitting on a bench overlooking the fountain. She glanced at him, his smile making her heart race.
"I know the Order says that anger and sadness and attachments are the paths to the Dark Side. They aren't wrong, though they only view things in a vacuum. We are always going to feel things, Asajj. That is what makes us good Jedi. How we use it is important. Use that anger to better yourself." Naruto stood up and offered her a hand. With a smile she took it and stood. Leaning in quickly she kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, Naruto."
Her eyes opened as the last jump happened, and she took a shuddering breath and locked those memories back deep in her psyche using the techniques she learned after her master's passing in the darkest reaches of the Jedi Order. She shivered slightly as the ship slowly exited the last jump, and her home planet of Dathomir appeared before her. She angled the ship away from the atmosphere, towards one of the many moons.
Tholme looked at several images on his personal datapad. He wasn't a fundamentally sentimental person by nature, but even he had his moments. The pictures were the one allowance he had for himself and his operation. Of course, even these were protected. Should his datapad ever be compromised, those images were some of the first to be obliterated. Until such a moment however, he swiped through.
They all held only one common thread in his apprentice Quinlan Vas. Each image had him within it, sometimes in combat, sometimes training others, and a few even with him smiling at something just off the frame. Tholme paused at a picture that he was unaware he was even looking for.
Asajj Ventress cuddled up with his apprentice on a sandy planet as they watched the sunset together. Tholme remembered that training mission well, as it was Asajj's first trial to be accepted as an asset, and the day he suspected-
He shook his head, shoving those thoughts deep in his psyche. Even thinking such a thing in the Jedi Temple was dangerous he knew. He loved Quinlan too much to risk that, even for her. He swiped to the next picture, showing an older Asajj with two blue lightsabers cutting through iron balls positioned on candles. The picture was perfectly exposed, showing Asajj's face lit up in joy by the light of the sabers as she moved, their blades mere blurs in the image. In the background, Quinlan was barely visible, his smirk firmly in place.
Tholme closed his datapad and sat back in his desk. He thought on the past, the student his apprentice never called a padawan, yet built a bond with any way. He thought about how she was talented, and driven, and not one to make a mistake like was reported. He trained her too well for that.
His voice was soft, as he came to the only conclusion he could. "Maybe there still is good in you little shadow."
Obi-wan frowned as he looked at the first training session between Anakin and Ahsoka Tano. The two were eerily similar in how they thought, yet it seemed that even Anakin was the most extreme of the two. Anakin was a loose cannon, his methods within the war showcasing that fact precisely. While he was extremely effective, it was definitely a major contrast to the other fresh knight leading a regiment of the Clone Army.
Obi-wan thought back to the council meeting that also housed Naruto's latest mission debrief, though that was not the most shocking part of the meeting.
The young knight had just finished his debrief about the situation on Tris, and the council was silent after several questions. Mace Windu cleared his throat and glanced around the room seeing various tiny nods from several of the members.
"In light of this extremely successful, nearly impossibly so, mission, the Council has decided to reward you with the highest honor we could think of. A padawan of your own." The Battlemaster's voice was steady, confident in the response he would receive. Naruto stared him in the face, silent for a moment as he registered what was said, before replying.
"No."
Obi-wan's eyes widened when he heard the Knight. His heart skipped a beat at the force behind the word. No one in their right mind would speak to the Council like that, especially Mace Windu. Obi-wan looked back at the dark skinned battle master, who's teeth were visibly clenched.
"Maybe, Naruto, you would like to reiterate your intent with such a statement?" Plo Koon's voice cut through the stunned horror and silence of the council chambers as he turned to his former padawan. His body language screamed for Naruto to take back what he said or at least be more respectful. His former padawan sighed before folding his arms.
"I apologize, I should have been more respectful in my response Masters. Let me rephrase. I will not take a padawan at this point. As I am sure you are aware, my unit is one of the most highly active units in the entire Army. I see more combat than any jedi has in the last century. In the previous six months, my unit has engaged the Separatists close to one hundred times. If you can look me in the face, and with a clear conscious state that ANY padawan in ready for that, regardless of how well suited I am to teach them, I will take a padawan." The council was silent, several of the masters nodding along with his points. Naruto continued. "I am of the firm belief that any youngling that would "age out" during this period be suspended or assigned to legions with multiple Jedi as teachers."
"We will not be shifting our traditions merely for a short conflict such as this!" Ki-Adi-Mundi yelled as he stood from his chair. Plo Koon stared at the traditionalist master until he slowly took his seat. Naruto looked at his former master and gently shook his head.
"While I am certain that the Council will decide the correct course of action, it is still my decision should I receive a padawan, unless you are assigning me one… that is not the case is it Grandmaster?" Naruto spoke directly towards Yoda who had been silent since asking a question about Asajj's preferred hand when slashing, a nearly useless factoid, but answered never the less.
The Grandmaster opened his eyes and shook his head. "No, assigned to you the padawan in question shall not be."
Naruto nodded," Then it is decided. I shall not be taking a padawan. Thank you for the consideration for the honor however Masters." With a bow, the knight left the meeting, with Plo Koon leaving as well. The remaining Masters sat in slight awe. Obi-wan looked at the Grandmaster, his mind racing with what he had said.
"Master Yoda, you said that the padawan wouldn't be assigned to Naruto… what did you mean by that? It seemed as if you had someone in mind for the padawan?" The grandmaster nodded, a smile on his face.
"Young Anakin a good fit seems."
Obi-wan froze, while the rest of the council erupted in whispers. Before he knew it, the assignment was official.
Obi-wan returned to the present as Ahsoka asked a question of Anakin. He had her in a stance for some form of Jar-Kai that Obi-wan vaguely recognized from watching spars featuring Naruto. Her left foot was placed in front of her right, with her leaning slightly forward, two training sabers in hand.
"Master, I don't know what the point of this position is." Ahsoka said as she struggled slightly with the balance of the position.
"Snips, the best jar-kai user I know uses this stance. I think this is how it is…" Anakin mumbled as he walked around Ahsoka and gently prodded her to check if she was balanced.
Obi-wan looked closer, his eyes picking out the many issues with the stance. "Anakin… that won't work for her, at least not yet."
Both younger jedi looked at the Jedi Master as he walked closer, his fingers stroking his beard. "There are a few things to pick out here, but the first is that Ahsoka uses straight handle lightsabers. That makes her balance off, due to wrist position. Knight Uzumaki also utilizes aspects of Trakata to ensure the efficiency of the form in combat. He is also taller than the young one Anakin, which makes his arms longer. I can say though it was inspired for you to attempt to teach her that though."
Ahsoka was shocked as the Master picked apart the entirety of the stance's flaws that she was experiencing with just a glance, while she couldn't articulate why it felt wrong. It then clicked who's style she was being told to emulate. "Wait, Knight Uzumaki? The blond human Jedi? What's so special about how he uses two sabers?"
Anakin laughed, realizing that for the most part, Naruto's abilities weren't known to the general public. "Before the war, Naruto and I had a mission together. I was still a padawan at the time, but I was about to be promoted to knighthood. He had just became a knight, and it was his first mission as one. We sparred, nearly daily." He shook his head with a slight grimace on his face. "He beat me constantly. I never won against him in those spars. He even taught me a few things, to improve my form. Slight things like wrist movements during a slash, a flex during a block that makes a saber rebound, and even a few aspects of Trakata."
Obi-wan looked at his former student in shock, having never been told that. He knew that Anakin had improved massively over the weeks with Naruto, but he figured it was just the constant rivalry that Anakin would have with someone that he lost against. To find out that Naruto beat him constantly, while teaching him mastery style techniques, was not something either had reported.
"Why didn't you ever tell me that Anakin? You made it sound like you and Naruto barely got along." Obi-wan asked, making Anakin think back to what he had said.
"I think… at the time, I wasn't… Master I was dealing with some jealousy at the time. I ended up talking to Master Yoda about it, having ran into him at the temple."
Anakin was pacing the hallway outside the newly named Toad's Pool waiting for Naruto to exit. He was going to talk to him about how he was so skilled. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he thought of the dozens of spars he had with the Knight, and of the fact that he walked off Geonosis.
He and his master were carried off.
He shook his head, driving those feelings off and throwing them to the force. It wouldn't do for him to house those emotions when he spoke to Naruto. His thoughts halted as he heard the door to the chamber open, and he raised his head prepared to speak.
His words stalled when Master Yoda walked out, his face etched in age and sadness. For a moment Anakin forgot what he was wanting to speak about as it hit him that Grandmaster Yoda had attended many funerals.
"Too many funerals I have attended young one. Much to many." Yoda's voice pattern slowly shifted as he straightened his shoulders. "I have been alive for centuries, seen many fall, and attended too many of these funerals. One of my earliest memories as a knight was a funeral just like this one, where I was in your shoes. Pacing outside as my friend struggled, unable to let my emotions loose into the force long enough for me to comfort him. Jealousy, self-disgust,doubt. All surged in my heart as I stood outside the door. Same as you, Anakin. "
Anakin was frozen as the Grandmaster picked his emotions apart. He wasn't wrong. He had tried a dozen times to step into the room, but every moment he did, an inner voice told him he wouldn't be welcome. After all, Dooku escaped because he wasn't good enough, escaped justice for the murder he committed. His hand would lower and he would go back to his pacing and waiting. The grandmaster continued, his eyes never leaving Anakin's.
"Jealousy, a seed of evil if ever one existed. It steals the joy of life, and eventually becomes resentment. Do not be jealous of one who has strove their whole existence and, in their eyes, still fell short where it mattered Anakin." With his part said, the grandmaster assumed his normal posture, and walked down the hall, leaving a shell shocked padawan in his wake.
Anakin finished telling the story, and his padawan looked at him in horror. "You were jealous of him? He had just lost his master! How could you?!"
Anakin sighed and spoke up before Obi-wan could, even though the master had his mouth open. "To feel emotions is only natural Snips. I… I am not proud of what I felt that day, but I still did." He looked down and then crouched infront of Ahsoka. "If there is one thing that I have learned in the last six months, it is that it is natural to feel the emotions that the Jedi have said are evil and the path to the Dark side. We are the shields of the republic, but we are not weapons. We are beings, and we have emotions and feelings."
"But you still… you felt that way about someone who lost their mentor master. How is that okay?..." Her voice was soft, and her eyes confused. It was at this moment that Anakin realized how kind Ahsoka was. To her, it wasn't that he was feeling these emotions, contrary to Order's teachings. It was that he was having them in relation to a hardship she couldn't imagine.
"When we feel these things, we ignore the hardships that others feel. Its why the Jedi teach us to always try to empathize with all those we encounter. It's the only way we can avoid that pitfall. Jealousy eventually blinds us to the harsh realities that others face, leaving only our own problems in the spotlight." Obi-wan smiled as Anakin emphasized the teaching of the Jedi order to regulate her emotions. He agreed with his former padawan completely; having emotions was never the issue, nor was having attachments. It was allowing those emotions and attachments to dictate your actions that was the issue.
His previous reservations about his former padawan having a padawan slowly disappeared as he continued to watch on.
AN: Well, that is the end of the magnetic clouds mission... on to the next. Next mission is outlined to be longer than just two chapters, though I may shorten it. It depends on what I want to move around a little bit. As for this mission, what did you like about it? There were a few major things here, the biggest likely being Asajj's backstory. I mixed canon, legends and headcanon to make it, as it is heavily implied that most of her assassination skills were taught to her by Ky while they were crashed on the planet, at least in her standalone novel adaptation. Considering that Ky mentioned that he did undercover work for the Order at times, it makes senes that he was a Shadow. In this universe though, Ky wasn't a shadow... everyone he cared about became one though. He was also denied by Plo Koon to be an apprentice, at least in one comic. (That time line doesn't match with the main continuity however, but I liked the detail so we made it work here).
Normally, I don't bother answering reviews, but I realize that this one is probably important. This story utilizes Galactic standard calendars, as described in the FIRST legends continuity. That is important because it describes how time works. Each day is still broken into 24 hours, regardless of planet, but each week is 10 days, literally numbered. There are 7 weeks in a month, with 5 standard months. Add in 15 days of festivals, 3 days of galactic holidays and you end up with a year of 368 days. This was later retconned with the second wave of legends continuity in the early 90s to the current 5 days per week, 7 weeks per month, 10 month system to make it easier to date things for year long story telling. We are using the first one mainly because that is what my co-author and I grew up reading.
Finally, thank you for reading, and I hope to hear a review!
Zero
