working off a list of prompts, obvs. (maybe leave the # of ones you like in the reviews?)
01. Heartbeat
"Come on, Rex. Come on." Cody tore at the plastoid armor, scrambling to get it off the captain.
Fives ducked a blaster bolt aimed at his head before returning fire. After spraying the incoming droid forces, he dropped into a crouch. "What are you doing, Cody? We need to move!"
"Just keep those clankers back for as long as you can," Cody snapped.
Next to him, Jesse frantically dug through his pack. "I'm down to my last two charges."
"Make 'em count," Fives said grimly.
After ripping away Rex's chest piece, Cody interlocked his hands and began compressing the unconscious man's diaphragm.
"There's too many of them!" Tup shouted. "If we don't leave now, we'll be overrun!"
Jesse pitched one of the grenades into the ranks of droids closing in on their location.
"You heard him," Fives jostled Cody's shoulder. "Let's go." Tup and Jesse fell back under the fresh wave of enemy fire. "Do you even know what you're doing? Shouldn't you let a medic handle that?" Fives argued.
"No time," Cody grunted, continuing the chest compressions.
The ground shook when Jesse used the last of their explosives. It barely made a dent in the oncoming battalion.
"What are your orders, sir?" Tup questioned anxiously. "Sir!"
"If you want to leave, then go. But I'm staying with Rex," Cody panted.
The other soldiers exchanged glances. Then they picked up their guns and renewed their attack on the enemy.
"I don't know how much longer we can give you," Fives warned.
"Look!" Jesse pointed to the sky. "It's General Skywalker!"
Three Republic gunships zoomed toward them.
"We're saved!" Tup cheered.
Two of the ships blasted the droids while the third came to land near the stranded troopers. The doors opened and Kix rushed out with a medical stretcher and supplies.
"Thank you, commander. I'll take it from here."
Too tired to protest, and too relieved to want to, Cody sank back on his heels and watched Kix load Rex onto the hovering stretcher. Once the captain was secure, Kix raced his precious cargo to the safety of the gunship.
"Come on!" Fives hauled Cody to his feet and the pair sprinted to the open doors.
Once they were inside, the pilot took off, carrying them away from the battlefield.
02. Wind
Cody quickened his pace until he was at the head of the line, next to Kenobi. Another blast of arctic wind roared across the landscape and slammed into his body. He wavered from the force of it, fighting to maintain his balance on the snow-slicked ground.
"Sir, we must find shelter immediately!" He had to raise his voice to be heard above the wind's howl. "The cadets aren't properly dressed for the weather!"
Obi-Wan turned his head to look down the line of clones. Near the end, heads down and shoulders hunched, the cadets struggled forward, arms wrapped around their chests in a feeble attempt to maintain warmth. Unlike the armor worn by the troopers, that warded off the worst of the temperature, the cadets YB uniforms offered no protection from the elements and already their lips were turning blue. Not that Kenobi's outfit was much warmer, Cody noted with worry. The general was shivering, though he tried to hide it.
"I know, Cody. But this planet is uninhabited! And from the looks of it, completely flat. No caves, no trees, nothing we can use!"
The next gust of wind that swept across the plain contained enough power to knock down all the cadets, as well as any troopers who weren't bracing themselves against it. Obi-Wan immediately ran to help the fallen, starting with the cadets. Cody followed.
"On your feet, soldier." He pulled one of the boys up.
The cadet wavered on his feet, exhaustion plain on his face. Cody swore under his breath before he moved on to help the next one. Nearby, some of the troopers were grumbling.
"They couldn't have warned us before we left? How hard is it to say 'There's a meteor shower coming this way. You might want to wait for it to pass before you go.'?" Boil said.
"Yeah," Wolley agreed. "Makes me wonder if they were actually on the Separatist's side this entire time. They were probably hoping we'd crash."
"Sure picked a nice place for it. Planet's deserted. No one will ever find our bodies."
"That's enough, gentlemen," Cody cut them off, unwilling to tolerate baseless accusations. Not to mention, their talk was demoralizing the rest of the band of survivors.
Once everyone was back on their feet, the ragged group set off again. Cody tugged Kenobi off to the side for as much privacy as they could get in the midst of the unrelenting wind.
"Do you think we can expect rescue?" he asked.
"I'd like to think we were able to send out a distress signal before impact."
Cody tilted his head slightly. "There's no way to know for sure, is there?"
Kenobi folded his arms, surreptitiously seeking to conserve his body heat. "All we can do now is try to keep moving. Perhaps we'll find something we can use to get out of this wind."
"And if we can't?"
Obi-Wan turned grim. "Then those boys will die."
03. Clarity
Obi-Wan stared at the evidence in front of him. It was irrefutable. Now it all made sense. The threat growing like a cancer in the undercurrents of the Force. The sway of the senate. The changing tide of the war. And perhaps the most terrifying of all, the chancellor's particular interest in Anakin.
His mind raced, caught up in processing the revelation while also trying to determine what his next course of action should be. Contact the Jedi Council? Request an audience with the Senate? Warn Anakin? Shaking himself, he realized the very first thing he needed to do was copy the evidence. If the chancellor attempted to cover his tracks, Obi-Wan would have to be able to prove his accusations.
"My dear General Kenobi." A shadow fell across the desk. "I really wish you hadn't pried."
Lightning shot through his body. Obi-Wan collapsed. He fell to the floor, writhing.
"You have no idea how hard this is going to be for me. Making your death look like an accident." Palpatine cackled wickedly, watching with pleasure as the Jedi screamed.
04. Tweeted
After wiping sweat from her face for the third time, Ahsoka consulted the crudely drawn map Anakin had scribbled on a piece of bark. She tilted her head, turning the bark first one way and then the other. It didn't help. The thing was almost unreadable and, given that he'd sketched it from memory, more than likely unreliable. The muggy atmosphere of the rainforest steeped her in moist, warm air. It smelled like fungus. And the trees were filled with birds that would not shut up. Most wildlife fled from a band of GAR troops stomping around in their natural habitat. But no, not these birds. If anything, they seemed to grow louder the longer Ahsoka and her men wandered around.
"Any idea how much farther?" Rex asked.
"If my master had put a little more details on the map, I might have a better answer for you," Ahsoka said. "But right now, I'm not even sure if we're headed in the right direction."
"It's hopeless, Commander," Tup cut in.
Kix nodded. "The locals were right. This place is cursed."
"Enough, troopers. There's no such thing as curses," Rex said.
Jesse shook his head. "I don't know, sir. They said no one who goes in this jungle ever comes back out."
"Then how do you explain General Skywalker's reappearance?" Rex pointed out.
"Doesn't change the fact that we're still lost," Tup muttered.
Ahsoka spun around. "We are not lost! Jedi don't get lost."
"So you know where we are?"
"Which path to take?"
"How long until-"
"Hey!" Ahsoka snapped, interrupting the barrage of questions. "I just need a moment to think, alright?"
Rex growled, "You heard the commander. Shut up and sit down."
The men grudgingly settled on roots and enormous toadstools, faces hidden under helmets but posture speaking volumes. Ahsoka moved a few feet away, squinting at the map as if that would cause it to reveal its secrets. The answer was right in front of her. It had to be. She trusted Anakin and if he said this map would lead the way, it must be able to. All she needed to do was decipher it. Which would be a whole lot easier if the entire avian population wasn't intent on cawing, tweeting, chirping, singing, chattering and screeching so loud she couldn't hear herself think. Stupid birds.
05. Holy
"Master Jedi, you may now enter the basilica. But your troops must remain outside," the willowy priestess said.
Obi-Wan made a half bow. "Thank you, Cacerdos." He took a step toward the church but paused when Anakin didn't follow.
"Why can't the men come inside?"
"Anakin," Obi-Wan whispered in warning.
Cacerdos curled her lip. "They are not fit to come before the presence of our gods, nor their ministers."
"Not fit?" Anakin repeated incredulously. "They just saved your temple from being destroyed by Separatist forces. How does that make them unfit?"
"It is not about what they have done. It is about what they are."
Anakin crossed his arms. "And what is that? Soldiers? If that's the problem, Obi-Wan and I shouldn't be allowed in either."
"They are clones." Cacerdos's face scrunched up, as if the very word left a repugnant taste in her mouth.
"So?" Anakin pushed.
Cacerdos smoothed her hands down the front of her vestment. "So they are an abomination."
Her calloused statement triggered Anakin's temper and he lunged forward. Obi-Wan caught him with a restraining hand on his chest.
"Anakin, stop."
Anakin glared at Cacerdos. "How can you call your religion one of peace and love when you discriminate against the very men who saved you?"
Cacerdos remained impassive. "They are unnaturally born, irrevocably altered, and do not carry the deus ignis. To put it plainly, they are as soulless as the droids they fight."
Anakin surged forward again and Obi-Wan physically pushed him back, putting distance between the two.
"She can't say things like that, Master! We lost thirty-three men on this mission. They didn't die just so the rest can be told that they're...lesser beings!" Anakin argued.
"Anakin, listen to me. It is not our job to change their views or their religion. Our job is to protect, regardless of whether or not we believe it is deserved," Obi-Wan said quietly.
Though his tense posture dropped, the thunderclouds had yet to leave Anakin's face. Rex came closer to address him.
"It's alright, sir. Not the first time me and the boys have been called names. We've learned not to take it personally." He lifted a shoulder good-naturedly. "You go on ahead. We'll be here when you return."
06. The Carpet
Padme had excellent taste. Obi-Wan had never doubted that, of course. Growing up as a queen had exposed her to the finest an artistic culture like Naboo had to offer. From there she moved up to the elite sector of Coruscant, apptly named the Jewel of the Republic. The woman certainly knew how to stand out in a crowd, how to use her clothing to make a statement and her decor to speak for her. Take, for example, the carpet on which Obi-Wan was currently lying face down.
The fibers were completely natural, a rarity among Coruscant's upper crust, where synthetic materials were often chosen on account of their artificial shine. But there was something to be said for organics. It was much softer than its manufactured counterpart. The overall quality was greater as well, given that this carpet was assembled by hand, providing honest workers with steady income, a cause Senator Amidala had repeatedly championed on the Senate floor. The colors held meaning as well. The outer edges were beige, alluding to the comfort and peace of home, while the center aisle drew the eye with a path of navy, guiding the beholder to the center of the room, where meaningful conversations could take place on the tastefully arranged furniture.
Yes, if Obi-Wan had to be attacked by a would-be assassin and end up on a floor, he was glad it was this one. In fact, given the choice, he would pick this carpet again. It was soft and forgiving, cushioning him as lay there stunned, while Anakin fought off his attacker. Thank the Force, Anakin had been nearby when the errand Obi-Wan thought he was running turned into something more sinister. What would he have done if his former apprentice hadn't happened to be in such very close proximity to Padme's apartments just now?
07. Sculpted
"Oh, this isn't good." Echo sank back down below the water's surface until only the tip of his nose and his wide eyes were visible.
"What is it?" Jesse asked.
"Look." Echo pointed to the shoreline.
"Oh no."
A jet of water streamed into their eyes, causing both clones to sputter and wipe their faces furiously.
"Fives!"
The culprit laughed and splashed more water their way.
"Cut it out! We have a bit of a situation on our hands," Jesse said.
"And what would that be, hm? That I can swim circles around you two? Or did Echo touch another piece of seaweed with his toes?" Fives teased.
"I thought it was a fish," Echo defended.
"You screamed like a little girl."
Jesse interrupted, bringing the conversation back on track. "Looks like someone's decided to play a prank on us." He indicated the beach.
In the spot where the men had laid out their armor and undersuits while they took a refreshing dip in the water there were now only rocks and sand.
"I bet it was Appo and his crew," Fives growled. "He thinks he's so funny." He swam toward the shallow water, standing up when he reached it. "Well, I'll show him." He stomped onto the sand. "I'll march right up to him, look him in the eye, and say-"
Feminine giggling in some nearby foliage caused him to close his mouth with a snap and find a rock to hold to allow himself some modicum of modesty. The twitters increased in pitch and volume. The branches of one particular bush were shaking from more than the light breeze. Fives bent forward slightly, peering between the leaves. Three pairs of lilac eyes blinked back at him.
"Eheh, ladies," he greeted, attempting a blend of charming and winsome. "It would appear that me and my friends are missing our clothes. You wouldn't happen to know what happened to them, would you?"
More giggles. Behind him, Echo and Jesse swam cautiously closer but wisely stayed in the water. There was movement in the bushes and then one of the young women popped up from her hiding place. Fives' helmet was tucked between her hand and her hip as she boldly came closer, grass skirt swishing softly.
"You are pretty," she said, coming to a stop in front of him. The flowers that hung around her neck gave off a pleasant perfume.
Fives cleared his throat, adjusting his privacy rock. "In most cultures, that would be my line."
"Much muscle." Her gaze slid up and down his body playfully. The other two girls came out to join the first, with the other helmets in their hands. "My sisters and I watch you. We like to be watching you."
Fives struggled to maintain his professionalism. But the tanned-skinned, long-haired beauties in front of him were making it very, very difficult. "Ah, yes, well. My brothers and I, uh, we really should be going now. So, um, if you could just give us back our, er, armor...we'd really appreciate it."
The identical full-lipped pouts the girls gave made it obvious they were related. "But we wanted to have fun," the sister on the left said. Next to her, the last sister was making beckoning motions to Echo and Jesse. Jesse abruptly became fascinated with studying the clouds and Echo developed a sudden sunburn that transformed his face into a flaming shade of red.
"Some other time perhaps," Fives tried.
"Fun now!" The first girl whirled around and dashed off across the sand.
With squeals of delight, the others followed her. Fives blinked in shock.
"Now what do we do?" Echo yelped.
Before Fives could answer, Rex's voice came drifting on the breeze, calling for his troops. He was still a fair distance away but Fives couldn't think of a single solution to this problem that didn't end up with mortification and ultimately death at the hands of his captain.
"We are so screwed," Jesse moaned.
Fives turned around, shaking his head. "Not yet! We just need to think up a plan-"
"What in all of the Siths Hells is going on?!"
So apparently Rex wasn't as far away as he sounded. That was good to know. With a wince, Fives slowly rotated to face him, wondering if he would even have time to explain himself before Rex killed him.
08. Dot, Dot, Dot
Boba clutched the writing stylus in one sweaty palm, gripping the data pad with the other as he struggled to form the letters. But the lines wouldn't match, his attempts squiggly and misshapen compared to the correct forms. Brows drawing together, he reset the program to start over. Again. He was sitting cross-legged by the window. In a rare burst of good weather, the rain had stopped, allowing him to hear the adults talking quietly by the door.
"He has not progressed as far as he should," Taun We repeated patiently. "In both academic skills, as well as basic mastery of chirography."
"And what standard are you holding him to, huh?" Jango argued.
Taun We's head bobbed. "I believe his low performance is due in part to his frequent trips offworld."
"You needn't fear. I make sure those trips are educational. In their own way."
"For the boy's own good, I would recommend that these trips stop."
Jango's voice hardened. "Are you suggesting you know better than I what my son needs?"
Boba's hands stilled.
"I will again extend the offer to place him with the others. Under the careful supervision of our tutors, he would be able to focus on his studies, devoting the time needed to grow and develop his comprehensive skills."
"No."
"Please reconsider. I do not say this to offend. But Boba is failing-"
"I said no!"
Boba jumped at the loudness of Jango's protest.
"He is my son. I will teach him as I see fit. He won't be attending any of your classes. He is going to stay with me and I will take him wherever I want, whenever I want. Do I make myself clear?"
There was no verbal reply from Taun We, only the swoosh of the door a moment later. Boba's eyes burned and he kept them glued to his screen. He heard Jango sigh, heard his footsteps coming closer. Then, his father surprised him by taking a seat on the floor next to him.
"Heard all that, did you?"
Boba nodded slowly.
Jango clicked his tongue. "Ah, what does the longneck know anyway? Here, let me see you do your letters."
Boba froze.
"Come on, now."
Nerves overwhelmed him and the few characters he attempted ran amok, twisting themselves into tangled knots of overlapping lines and crooked angles. All the while, he could feel his father leaning over his shoulder, watching his every move with what must be disappointment and disgust. With a frustrated cry, Boba threw the pad. It sailed for a glorious moment before colliding with the wall, dropping to the floor with a crack. Boba drew his knees to his chest and hid his face between them. Jango stood without saying a word. Boba curled up tighter.
A soft chirp and then his dad's voice. "Still works. Good." Jango returned to his spot and nudged Boba's shoulder. "Should we give it another go?"
"What's the point?" Boba muttered from behind the shelter of his legs. "I'm never going to be able to do it."
"You know that's not true. It just takes a bit of time and practice," Jango cajoled.
His gentle manner prompted the slow uncurling of Boba's frame. "You really think I can do it?"
"Course I do." Jango held out the stylus and pad.
Reluctantly, Boba accepted them. He paused. "Do I really need to learn this stuff? Can't I just become a bounty hunter like you?"
"Bounty hunters don't read or write?" Jango raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you just hunt down your targets and shoot them? You don't need to read or write for that."
Jango chuckled. "That's not how the world works, son. How are you going to be able to read a bounty notice? Or sign a collection slip? And what if you're at a club and you can't read the menu? How could you buy a drink for that girl you've been staring at all night?" Boba's nose wrinkled and Jango switched tactics. "Think of it this way: if the rest of the galaxy knows how to read and write and you don't, that gives them the advantage. But you study hard, you practice, you learn all this stuff now and you're on the same level. Add that to the extracurricular skills I'm teaching you and you'll be almost unstoppable. So what do you say, ad'ika? You ready to try again?"
Boba nodded eagerly, setting the stylus to the screen. "I'm ready!"
09. No, You Don't
"Will that be all, Master Yoda?" Anakin asked.
Yoda nodded. "For now. Speak with Master Windu, you should, if further questions, you have."
"And where is he?"
"Returning from Obi-Wan's quarters, he is."
Anakin paused in the doorway. "Did you say Obi-Wan's?" At the affirmative, Anakin frowned. "Why? Obi-Wan is...offplanet."
Yoda blinked slowly. "Returned, he has."
"What? When?"
"Came back yesterday morning, he did."
Anakin's hands clenched automatically. "Why didn't he tell me?"
"Ask him yourself, you must." Yoda's ears drooped, doing little to calm Anakin's rising concern.
With a quick bow as an afterthought, Anakin raced through the Temple. Ignoring the stares of other Jedi, and choosing to vault up the stairs rather than wait for the sedate lift, he made it to Obi-Wan's door in record time. If he hadn't heard it from Yoda directly, he might have doubted if Obi-Wan was really back. He could sense nothing from the other man. Obi-Wan's shields were firmly locked into place. After a deep breath, he chimed the door. To his surprise, Obi-Wan answered promptly, standing on the other side as collected as ever.
"You're back," Anakin began, struggling to keep the accusative note out of his voice.
"Yes."
"And you didn't think to tell me?"
"I suppose I didn't. Sorry, Anakin." Sweeping his arm out and stepping aside, Obi-Wan invited him into the apartment.
Sparsely furnished and undecorated, the living space reminded Anakin of a medbay room on an attack cruiser. Sterile, blank, spartan. The messiness Anakin remembered from his time as Obi-Wan's padawan was gone. There were no robes tossed on the floor, boots abandoned in corners, spare droid parts littering the little table. Nothing was out of place anymore. Granted, Obi-Wan rarely spent time at the Temple because of his duties as a general. But still, Anakin had seen Senate funded art galleries dirtier than this.
Perched gingerly on the edge of the single couch, Anakin became hyperaware of how long it had been since he last washed his cloak. Obi-Wan moved to the kitchenette and prepared a pot of tea. Neither spoke during the process. With as much subtlety as he could manage, Anakin probed at Obi-Wan's mental shields. They were solid stone. Giving no indication of noticing, Obi-Wan poured two cups and handed one to Anakin, taking a seat beside him with his own. Anakin didn't drink tea and Obi-Wan had yet to take so much as a sip. They sat and their tea gradually cooled.
"Oh, I owe you a ship," Obi-Wan finally murmured. "Granted, it wasn't much of a ship in the first place."
"What happened?"
"It got blown up."
Anakin set aside his cup. "Not to my ship. I mean, what happened on Mandalore? Where's Satine?"
Obi-Wan took a shuddering breath, a crack in his facade. "She died."
"What?" Anakin's mind reeled.
"Maul killed her."
Anakin shifted closer. Obi-Wan pressed himself further against the side of the couch, turning his face away.
"I'm so sorry, Obi-Wan," Anakin tried.
His former master leaned back, scrubbing a hand down his face. "It was the will of the Force."
"What kind of comfort is that?" Anakin burst out.
Rather than argue, Obi-Wan wearily stood to collect the tea cups. Anakin's temper quieted and he glanced down.
"Sorry, that wasn't…" He took a deep breath. "Did you get Maul, at least?"
Obi-Wan paused, then shook his head. He dumped the untouched tea down the drain. Anakin stood and walked closer.
"Master, I know you must be angry. And hurting. I experienced the same emotions when my mother died."
Hanging his head, Obi-Wan braced his hands on either side of the sink basin.
"I know how you must be feeling right now," Anakin said earnestly.
Obi-Wan looked up and met his eyes, gaze was unbearably sad. "No, you don't." Anakin opened his mouth but Obi-Wan continued. "And I hope you never do. I would not wish this pain on anyone."
"Obi-Wan…you don't have to deal with this on your own. You can tell me what happened. How you're feeling."
"No." Obi-Wan's face crumbled into naked pleading. "Not yet. Please, Anakin. I just need some time."
Anakin bit his tongue. "Okay. If that's what you want. I'll go." He went to the door and looked over his shoulder. "But I meant what I said. I want to help."
"...Thank you."
10. Used Tea Bags
Ahsoka drummed her fingers on the speeder's side panel. No offense to Master Kenobi, but he flew like a wrinkled old Kowakian monkey-lizard. The rest of the traffic whizzed by, teasing Ahsoka with blasts of air and rambunctious laughter that faded all too quickly into the ambient roar of Coruscant's daytime rush hour. She stole a glance at Master Kenobi. His hands gripped the steering firmly, though not too tightly, and his face was relaxed, though she did notice how his eyes flickered back and forth, watching the surrounding vehicles and making minor adjustments to compensate for their erratic flight patterns.
"How much farther?" Ahsoka clapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to say that out loud. Great, now she sounded like some whiny youngling and not a full fledged padawan.
Obi-Wan merely chuckled. "It won't be much longer now."
True to his word, a few minutes later Obi-Wan guided the speeder down to ground level, maneuvering it behind a section of thoroughfare lined by boxed shaped buildings. He powered down the speeder, hopped out and headed down the street. Ahsoka followed.
"Where are we?"
"You've never been here before?" Obi-Wan asked, surprised.
Ahsoka shook her head.
"This is only the best place on Coruscant to get habfrillies and gubnub shakes." Obi-Wan grinned.
"Hab-the-whatnows?"
"Come on." Obi-Wan ducked into the open door of a box shaped building from which the unmistakable smell of grease wafted out.
Ahsoka hesitated. This wasn't like the places she was used to eating at. If Master Plo took her to lunch, they usually went to a shop within walking distance of the Temple, a place that served exclusively fresh produce, blended to liquids and served with straws, which allowed the Kel Dor to eat without removing his mask. If she went with Anakin, he usually picked one of those businesses with locations on multiple levels, where the menu was always the same and the food was consistently mediocre. But it was cheap, fast, and predictable, all selling points to Skywalker.
"A Jedi must have an open mind," Ahsoka reminded herself. "It's always good to try new things." With that, she walked into the diner.
A variety of cooking foods vied for her nose's attention, while a funky upbeat tune played through speakers set into the ceiling. The eating area was brightly lit by the sunshine pouring in from the windows that made up the front of the building. It was much cleaner than Ahsoka had anticipated, and the atmosphere was friendly. People from various walks of life nodded amiably at each other while they worked their way through the heaping portions piled on their plates.
"I got you a seat in that booth right there, sweetie." The waitress droid wheeled past Ahsoka, a tray balanced on one upraised hand.
Ahsoka slid into the red cushioned seat across from Obi-Wan. "What made you pick this place?"
"Dex and I go way back," Obi-Wan explained.
As if he had heard them, the Besalisk lumbered out of the kitchen doors and came to their table.
"Obi-Wan! Back so soon?" He enveloped the Jedi in a multi-armed hug. "Must have liked the crincrab, huh?"
"Everything you serve is spectacular, my friend," Obi-Wan assured him.
"Thanks, pal," Dex grinned. Then he noticed Ahsoka. "Who do we have here?"
Obi-Wan gestured between them. "This is Ahsoka Tano, my padawan's padawan. Dex, meet Ahsoka. Ahsoka, meet Dex."
"Pleased to meet you-oof!" Ahsoka was not exempt from a hug of her own.
"Any friend of Kenobi's is a friend of mine," Dex laughed, throat sack wobbling. "So your padawan's padawan, eh? Feel old yet, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan smirked. The waitress droid slipped around her boss, setting glasses in front of both Jedis.
"Here's that jawa juice, hon. What'll you have? The usual?"
Obi-Wan turned to Dex. "What's good today?"
"Well, between you and me, I've got a mean cut of koww that's just come outta the smoker. If I was you, that's what I'd pick."
"Alright, it's settled." Obi-Wan nodded to the waitress droid.
"Okey dokey. And what about you, darling?" the droid asked Ahsoka.
"I'll get the habfrillies with a gubnub shake, please."
"Excellent choice! I'll be back with your order in a few." The droid sped off.
Dex wiped his lower left hand on his stained apron. "Well, I'd best get back to it. The food's not going to cook itself!" He disappeared behind the kitchen doors.
Ahsoka crossed her arms on the table. "Why'd you bring me here?"
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows innocently. "Do I need a reason?"
"You always have a reason," Ahsoka stated. "So what is it?"
"Maybe I just wanted to have a nice lunch."
"Maybe I'll just keep asking until I get a straight answer."
Obi-Wan chukled. "Now you sound like Anakin."
Ahsoka beamed at the comparison.
"Alright, I'll tell you. I just thought you deserved a break."
"A break?" Ahsoka sat up and tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
The corners of Obi-Wan's eyes creased with sadness. "Between the war and all your studies, you haven't had much time to be a child." He held up a hand to stall her outraged protest. "Sorry, a young woman. Truth is, we could all use a little downtime. A chance to smile and enjoy some good food."
"What's the matter, Master Kenobi? You don't like ration bars?" Ahsoka teased.
Obi-Wan shuddered theatrically. "Trust me, Ahsoka. Once you taste Dex's cooking, you'll never want to go back to those sticks of sandplaster."
The food was delicious. Belly full, with the lingering taste of gubnub shake in her mouth, Ahsoka closed her eyes contentedly on the ride back to the Temple, planning out how to convince Anakin to take her to Dex's diner on their next outing.
11. Walk the Dog
Eh, so what if getting posted to Coruscant wasn't the most exciting assignment? And sure, the boys in red had a bad rap, but that was hardly their fault. Look, the way Akita saw it, you went where you were ordered and you did your job. For some clones, that meant the frontlines. For others, it was the Republic Center for Military Operations. It wasn't nearly as glamorous as flying all over the galaxy shooting droids but it was still an important post. And it wasn't all bad. He worked a set schedule, only a couple of overnight shifts, and he was able to stop by 79s whenever he got off. Not a terrible gig, all things considered.
Oh and the best part? Seventy-five percent of his workday was spent hanging around the massiffs. Don't get him wrong, they were scary little devils if you were the one being hunted. But once you got to know them, they were actually as cuddly as tooka kittens. All you had to do was get past the spines, the armored hide, and the sharp teeth, and you could have yourself a new best friend. A word to the wise: never go into the massiff kennel right after you'd eaten. Their sense of smell was one of their best features and they would lick you cleaner than a senator's earring if they so much as caught a whiff of that koww-round you had for lunch.
They could be noisy and stinky but darned if they weren't loyal too. Now that was something Akita could agree with them on.
12. It Evaded Me
"Caught you, sleemo," Anakin growled, filling the doorway.
The Sullustan backed into the corner of the cramped house. "No, please, Jedi. Please!"
"Did you really think you could steal from the Jedi Temple and get away with it?" Anakin stalked closer, ignited lightsaber in hand.
"I had to. I had to do it. I had to!"
"I should save the Senate the trouble and deal you your sentence right here and now."
The alien fell to his knees. "No, sir, please! My wife! I did it for my wife. She is pregnant but very sick. I had to do it for my wife!"
Anakin stopped advancing. "You're lying."
"No, Jedi, no. It is true! My wife!" the man insisted. "I took the holocron because they paid money. They paid me lots of money."
"Who?" Anakin leveled his saber at the man's throat. "Who hired you?"
"I don't know. I swear by Nbi, I don't know." The alien wrung his hands, shaking with fear.
A panel in the wall slid open, revealing a female Sullustan, with a very pregnant belly. She gasped at the sight of Anakin towering over her husband. With a cry, she rushed to his side, looking up at Anakin with teary eyes as she babbled a plea in her native language.
Anakin powered off his weapon. "This holocron. Did they tell you what was on it?"
The man patted his wife's back, shushing her quietly before addressing Anakin. "Old records I think. Histories of the Jedi."
Anakin frowned thoughtfully.
"It was about things from long ago. I didn't see the harm! Please, Jedi, my wife." The two Sullustans locked hands, blinking up at him.
The tension left Anakin's body. "Do you have enough now? Money, I mean."
"I think so, yes." The man answered cautiously.
"And you promise never to steal again?" Anakin pressed.
"Yes, yes. By Nbi, yes!"
Anakin gave him a nod and turned to go.
"You're not going to arrest me?" came the timid question.
"Not this time. Stay out of trouble. Your family needs you."
The couple's grateful shouts stayed with Anakin as he climbed back into his speeder.
Obi-Wan was waiting for him on the Temple's landing platform. "Did you find the thief?"
"No. He got away." Anakin avoided making direct eye contact with his former master.
"Got away? You said you had a solid lead."
Anakin threw his arms out to the sides. "I was mistaken. He evaded me somehow. I don't think it's worth continuing the pursuit." He walked briskly past Obi-Wan, hoping to avoid further conversation.
"Indeed," Obi-Wan murmured, allowing him to pass uninterrupted.
13. Water Flowed
Ahsoka's eyes flew open. Water lapped at her stomach. She got to her feet, legs shaky and back moaning with pain. Red emergency lights glowed mournfully, running at diagonal angles. Ahsoka tilted her head. That wasn't right. They should have been straight along the ceiling...oh no. It wasn't the lights that were sideways. It was the ship. Sloshing through the standing water, she made her way up the slanted hallway. The higher she climbed, the steeper the angle became until she could go no further.
"Commander Tano!"
Ahsoka looked around. "Rex?"
"Where are you?"
From up ahead, at the juncture of two hallways, she could see faint beams of white light bouncing around. "I'm down here!"
The lights came closer. Rex and several other clones appeared at the top of the shaft, helmet mounted lights providing better illumination than the auxiliary power could. "Alright, men. Form up!"
The trooper at the back of the line braced himself at the corner of two walls and from there, the men grasped each other's wrists to make a human chain that stretched down to where she had gotten stuck.
"Here." Rex grabbed her hand and pulled her up.
"Thanks." Ahsoka grimaced as her back pain flared again. "What happened?"
"They were waiting for us."
"A mole?"
Rex lifted a shoulder. "Could be."
"Do we know where the senator is now?"
"Last I heard, she was on the bridge. That's where we were headed when we found you."
Ahsoka nodded. "Let's go."
As they walked, she asked for a damage report.
"It's hard to say without power to check the computer. Obviously, we've crashed and are taking on water."
"Casualties?"
"We lost Rix, Sticker, Gum, and Tibit. Not sure how many others."
"Have you been able to contact Anakin?"
"It all happened so fast. I'm not sure the distress signal ever went out."
The hallway opened up into a balcony that overlooked the bridge. Ahsoka let out a soft gasp. Rex cursed quietly. Beneath them, the entire bridge section was almost completely underwater. Bodies floated, the gray uniform of the officers barely visible in the low light. The front viewport had smashed, allowing the water to flood the compartment.
Splashing from the far side of the room got their attention. Ahsoka squinted. Rex directed his men to shine their lights in that direction. The beams fell on a familiar face.
"Master Kenobi!" Ahsoka called. She repeated his name when he didn't seem to hear her.
Finally, he looked up. "Help! I need help with the survivors!"
"Rex, what do we have? Ascension cables? Grappling hooks? Anything?"
Rex shook his head. "Sorry, Commander. We were in basic gear when this happened. No time to grab anything fancy."
"We have to do something!"
Obi-Wan swam closer to them, dragging something through the water behind him. "Ahsoka! If I bring them this far, can you lift them up there?"
"Master, I don't know. I've never done anything like that before."
"Trust the Force, Ahsoka. Feel it. Use it," Obi-Wan urged.
Taking a deep breath, Ahsoka closed her eyes. She centered herself and sank into the Force. "Okay. I'm ready." She opened her eyes.
Obi-Wan came to a stop below the balcony, pulling his burden to the front. It was a navigations officer. Ahsoka stretched out her hands, gathered the Force, and used it to lift the man. He rose, dripping water, upward. It was more difficult than Ahsoka anticipated. While lifting objects such as boxes was a skill mastered as early as the creche, lifting a living being was tricky. Their Force signature could be distracting, making it harder to keep track of them. He wobbled once, and Ahsoka heard Rex suck in a harsh breath. But Ahsoka recovered, securing her invisible hold on him and drawing him higher. When he was close enough, the troopers around her reached forward and pulled him in. Obi-Wan stayed long enough to give her an encouraging nod before he went back for more. They repeated the process four more times.
"Master," Ahsoka said, leaning over the rail. "What about Senator Jengi?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, treading water. "She was dead on impact."
"Then that means-"
A thunderous groan of metal cut her off. The ship began to tremble. It lurched forward. Ahsoka and the clones were pitched into the water. Darkness closed in around her while the icy water rushed into her mouth and nose. Disoriented, she spun around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. A hand closed around her bicep, white lights cutting through the murky gloom. She broke the surface, choking.
"I've got you, Commander. You're going to be alright, little one."
"Thanks, Rex," she panted.
All around them, helmets were popping up as the troopers found their way to the surface.
"It's colder than I expected," Ahsoka said. Already, her body had begun shivering.
"We'll be out of here soon," Rex assured her.
"I wouldn't count on that, sir. Look!" Jesse pointed to the front of the room.
The ship had fallen further into the water and the bridge was filling with more water at an alarming rate.
"Don't panic," Rex barked. "Just keep your helmets on and let your armor do its job."
"But, sir, what about Commander Tano?"
"I'll be fine," Ahsoka said with more confidence than she felt, watching anxiously as the water level rose.
A couple of clones paddled over to them. Ahsoka recognized Fives' helmet but the other had no distinct markings.
Fives spoke first. "What's the plan, Rex? Should we try swimming out of here to get to the surface?"
Rex glanced at the broken window. "Too risky. We have no idea what kind of creatures are out there. Not to mention, if this lake or ocean or whatever this is is big enough to hold a cruiser of this size, the pressure out there must be immense. Chances are, you'd be crushed before you ever made it to the top."
A commotion from further away drew their attention. They swam over to investigate.
"Clout, what's going on?" Rex asked.
"It's the general, sir. He went under...and he hasn't come back up yet."
"I'll go," Ahsoka volunteered.
Rex immediately protested. "No."
"I can sense him!"
"I'm the one with the lights on my helmet." He paused. "And you might want to enjoy the air while you still can, commander." With that, he dived under the water.
Fives followed, even without being asked. Ahsoka pursed her lips in worry. Around her, the other clones radiated nervousness. The ship had now lost all power, not even the emergency lights were on anymore. It was cold and it was dark. And it was quiet. Ahsoka stared down, hoping to catch a glimpse of the men who had disappeared.
A loud splash came from behind her and she whirled around to find Fives. "Anything?" she asked.
He shook his head. Rex appeared a few feet to the right.
"Fives, did you find him?"
"No."
Rex cursed again and dropped back under. Fives did the same. Ahsoka felt something brush the tops of her montrals. She looked up. It was the ceiling. The water had nearly reached it.
"Oh no. This is not good," she muttered.
If she had more time, perhaps she could have put herself into a trance, placing her body under the care of the Force to sustain her without air. Or maybe if Anakin or Master Kenobi were here to assist her, it would be possible. But she was alone.
"Here, Commander. You can use my helmet."
She turned to see Jesse offering it to her.
"The filtration unit will pull the oxygen from the water for you."
"I appreciate the offer, Jesse. But it won't fit."
His eyes flew to her montrals and his expression was regretful. "There has to be something I can do. We're almost of time."
Ahsoka gently pushed his helmet back toward him, a reminder to replace it before the air was completely gone. "I have to believe Anakin's coming. I'm sure he received the distress call and he's on his way right now." The water was at Ahsoka's chin now. She stifled her instinctual panic and focused on taking slow, deep breaths. On the final one, she held it. The water rose, swallowing her entirely.
14. The Test Results
Padme paced the floor, walking the length of the room and back again. Her hands were clasped in front of her and her heart beat uncomfortably fast in her chest.
"Mistress Padme?"
She whirled around to see C-3PO coming into the room. "Well?"
The droid shuffled closer. "The analysis is complete. The results came back negative."
The relief swept over her so strongly, her knees buckled. C-3PO rushed to her side as fast as the stiff leg joints allowed and guided her into a seat on the couch.
"That's...good. That's good to hear, 3PO."
The protocol droid stared at her. "Beg your pardon, mistress, but if it's good news, why do you look so disappointed?"
"I'm just tired, that's all. Thank you for your help."
Taking the dismissal for what it was, the droid bowed and left. Padme sank back against the cushions, setting to the task of untangling her emotions. C-3PO wasn't wrong. She was disappointed. She wanted children, a family of her own. But her relief was stronger because now wasn't the time. The galaxy was in the midst of a civil war that showed no signs of ending, the senate was in disarray with the chancellor grabbing more and more power every day, Anakin's career was in the public eye. To be pregnant now would be a disaster. Maybe one day, when the timing was right. But for now, this little scare had shown her that they needed to be more careful. As soon as Anakin came back from his mission, and she knew he would be successful in rescuing Chancellor Palpatine, they were going to have a nice long talk about it.
15. Just Walk Away
"Easy, 7567," 2224 cautioned, blood welling on his split lip.
Standing over him, 7567 clenched his hands into fists, staring up at the older clones angrily.
The afternoon class had let out over fifteen minutes ago. During the session, the ringleader of the older bunch, 3094, had submitted a wrong answer and 2224 corrected him in front of the entire auditorium, instructors included. The humiliation prompted 3094 to seek his revenge. With two of his batchmates to back him up, he cornered 2224, preventing him from leaving the room.
When 7567 couldn't find his friend among the other students exiting the hall, he went back into the auditorium just in time to see 3094 hit 2224. The punch was hard enough to knock him to the floor. Despite the other boys being nearly full grown, 7567 didn't hesitate before running and planting himself between them and their victim.
"Move," 3094 growled.
"No."
2224 climbed slowly to his feet. "7567, you should leave."
7567's frown deepened.
2224 nudged him. "This doesn't concern you. Just walk away."
"But-"
"You could get hurt. Go." 2224's tone left no room for argument.
7567 reluctantly took a step back.
"Yeah, listen to the little bizit," 3094 sneered. "Go."
Temper flaring, 7567 marched straight up to the older student and yelled into his face. "You're just mad because 2224 is smarter than you and one day, you're going to be taking orders from him because he's going to be an officer and if they ever let you on a starship, it'll only be because you have latrine duty!"
3094 roared and lashed out. 2224 was quicker. First, he yanked 7567 out of the way of the intended hit, then he pivoted and delivered a targeted kick to 3094's stomach. The bigger boy doubled over and his cronies swarmed him.
"Come on, run!" 2224 grabbed 7567's arm and nearly dragged him up the stairs.
"What are you waiting for?" 3094 barked. "Get them!"
The two other boys gave chase. 2224 and 7567 reached the door first. They sprinted out into the corridor.
"I told you to walk away," 2224 said.
"If I hadn't stepped in, you'd be jogan jelly right now," 7567 shot back.
2224 chuckled, coming to a stop in front of a supply closet. He opened the door, climbed inside and gestured for 7567 to do so as well. "I have to admit, that line about latrine duty was pretty good."
7567 beamed.
"You know you're going to have to watch your back from now on though, right?"
"Aw, I'm not afraid of him."
2224 wiped blood off his mouth and smirked. "With an attitude like that, we might make a trooper out of you yet."