"Stay still," Ahsoka says, holding Lux down as she cleans the wound across his stomach, "I'm nearly done."
"I need to speak to King Dendup," he protests, wincing as she wipes the healing wound with a wet rag. Their bacta supplies are running low, so she has to make do.
"He won't go anywhere." If the King leaves their base, he'll be dead within minutes. Dendup isn't safe just because the rebels and Ahsoka rescued him from being executed.
She gets out a fresh roll of bandages and starts wrapping it around his middle- her paralysed hand making it difficult. Lux puts a hand on her shoulder to steady himself, his fingers brushing against her lekku.
"Sorry," he shifts his hand when she tenses up, "You don't like that, do you?"
"No," she exhales, pushing away the memory of Saw touching her lekku a few nights ago. "It's a Togruta thing."
She finishes dressing his wound in silence. The scars from Zygerria are still healing, and no matter how much the 501st and Anakin respect her, she'll always know how people see Togrutas across the galaxy.
"Steela said you helped save the King and General Tandin." Lux says several minutes later, pulling down his shirt once she's finished, "I knew you couldn't resist a good fight, Ahsoka."
It was hardly a fight- more like a scuffle, but the chevrons on her lekku still darken. "Am I becoming that predictable?"
"Only to Lux."
She spins at the voice of Saw behind her, sees him leaning against the doorway. There's a purple stain on his cheekbone, courtesy of when he overstepped his boundaries and Ahsoka's palm collided with his face.
She could've damaged him worse, but then somebody would've noticed.
"King Dendup wants to speak to you, Bonteri."
"Have I been discharged?" Lux asks hopefully.
"For now," she replies, intending to follow Lux out of the room.
Saw blocks her exit, taking up the entire door frame with his stature. Ahsoka takes a deep breath and tries to control herself before she throws him out of the way with the Force, "Can I help you, Gerrera?"
He grins like a cocky bastard, "Actually, you can."
"I was being sarcastic," she crosses her arms over her chest, "Now, move."
He steps aside, finally letting her pass. She's always been good at subtle Force-suggestions.
"I got electrocuted when General Kalani tried to get information out of me," he calls after her, "I should probably get checked out."
"I'm not a Doctor," she replies, not turning around, "If you're breathing and talking, then you're fine."
She heads towards the common area, wanting to get away from Saw and stay with the others. Anakin and Obi-Wan basically said the Council wasn't going to assist their rebellion against King Rash, so she needs to make sure Steela has a strategy or else the rebels will perish.
"Steela!" She calls, getting the woman's attention.
"Commander Tano," Steela turns to her, "Have we won the Jedi's support?"
Ahsoka hesitates, "Unfortunately not; I'll be the only Jedi fighting this battle."
Steela puts a hand on her shoulder- a gesture of respect following her efforts to save Dendup from being executed. "Then we will win."
Seeing Hondo is almost a relief, especially when the pirate reveals that Anakin ordered them the best weapons on the market. Ahsoka wonders how the Council will react to hearing that their most famous Knight has been smuggling rocket launchers illegally, but right now, she's just grateful for the extra firepower.
"My, my, what happened to you, lovely Ahsoka?" Hondo asks, scanning Skipper. "Skywalker did not say you were missing a piece."
"I'm not," she says through gritted teeth. "Thanks for the weapons, Hondo, but feel free to leave now."
"I have one more thing for you," Hondo turns to his ship, and Ahsoka's eyes land on a soldier coming down the steps, decked in blue and white.
"Rex!" A grin splits her face as she runs forward to greet her Captain, "Did Anakin send you?"
"I couldn't exactly have come of my own free will, Commander," he comes down the final step and salutes- probably smiling beneath his helmet. "The General sends his regards."
She offers her own salute, "I hope you've got your battle boots on, Rexster."
"Always, sir."
"Good," she picks up a rocket launcher and presents it to her Captain, "this is going to be one hell of a fight."
When Rex met the Onderon rebels a week ago, he didn't think they had what it took to be soldiers.
He has high expectations for his own men, from the freshest shinies to the most battle-hardened veterans, but the rebels aren't cloned soldiers. They're humans with families and childhoods, people with dreams of freedom.
They don't want to fight, but they have to.
And they're fighting like the 501st today.
Steela Gerrera is a natural leader, and Rex wholeheartedly agrees with King Dendup's decision to make her the General.
He's glad to see Ahsoka's finally getting along with the rebel woman. He doubts they see each other as sisters, but they seem to be working together a lot better now.
The biggest change he's seen has been within his commanding officer. Ahsoka shows Skipper off with pride, not letting the prosthetic hinder any of her movements. She's getting good with the double-ended lightsaber too.
When he asks if she's been doing her physiotherapy, she gives him a sharp look, "If you haven't noticed, Rex, this planet has become a warzone."
He smirks back at her, the pair lingering behind Steela and Lux due to their orders to 'not get involved', "I'll let you break that news to Kix and Healer Che."
"Did you come to fight or gossip, Captain?" Lux shouts over the sound of blaster fire.
"My orders were to backup Commander Tano, Bonteri," Rex responds coolly, "Right now, she doesn't need backing up."
"Does Anakin think I'm not capable?" Ahsoka asks, teasing.
"He wouldn't have left you here if he didn't think you could handle it," Rex checks his blasters again, prepared to start firing as soon as Ahsoka gives the word.
"Steela, they're attacking the nest!" A rebel woman shouts through Steela's commlink, "They're after the King!"
"Come on!" Steela orders, already running to a ruping and mounting it.
"She sure leads by example," Ahsoka mutters, low enough for only Rex to hear.
"What good will that do us if she gets herself killed?" Rex replies.
He joins Ahsoka and Lux on another ruping, his stomach twisting when they soar upwards. It reminds Rex of the creatures they flew whilst on Zygerria.
When they land on the clifftop, Ahsoka ignites her lightsaber. It's the unspoken signal for Rex to unholster his blasters and finally get involved in the battle. Since the 501st have been grounded for so long, it's nice to get some target practice in.
He and Ahsoka take down the B1s with ease, letting Steela focus on the commando droids. After all, they can't make it too easy for the rebels.
"Just like old times, Rex," Ahsoka smirks, back-to-back with him as she defends his blind spot with her lightsaber.
He spins, taking down the final droid before it fires towards his Commander, "I'm still cleaning up after you."
She snorts, "I left that one on purpose."
It's the type of excuse she would've given at the start of her Apprenticeship, and Rex chuckles as he activates his HUD, seeing if Steela needs any help. According to his rangefinder, both commando droids have been destroyed.
"You trained them well," Ahsoka says, putting her lightsaber on her belt as they walk to the cliff edge where Lux is.
"We trained them well," he corrects her.
The Togruta suddenly halts, her eyes widening, and Rex is immediately on edge before he even asks what's wrong. He's seen that look in his General's eyes too many times, and it can mean one of two things.
Either someone across the galaxy just died, or they're about to be blown to bits.
He prays it's not the latter.
She jumps towards Rex moments before the gunship crashes, sending them flying in a cloud of dust and debris. She keeps a tight grip on his middle and Rex wraps his limbs around her, trying to protect her exposed skin from shrapnel with his plastoid armour.
They roll to a stop, Rex's back hitting the ground first, the wind getting knocked out of him.
"Are you alright?" She asks, wiping the film of dust from his visor with her vambrace, "Rex, talk to me."
"I'm fine," he responds, sounding a little dazed, "Ahsoka, you're..." he grunts painfully, "move your knee, please."
She glances down at the dust clears, seeing that her metal knee is jabbing him right in the codpiece.
"Kriff, sorry," she rolls off him, standing up and offering a hand, "I'm still trying to get used to Skipper."
"Steela!"
They both spin at the sound of Lux's voice behind the crashed gunship- he sounds panicked.
"Let's go!" Rex runs forwards to start climbing the wreckage.
"No time," Ahsoka puts an arm around his middle, bends her knees and jumps.
They vault over the gunship with ease, landing on the other side where the edge of the cliff has crumbled, leaving Steela hanging on by her fingertips. Lux is leaning over the edge, his body sliding too far forwards.
She sticks out a hand before he falls, catching him in mid-air.
"Protect the King," she tells Rex, "I'll handle this."
Rex is hesitant, but he does as she says, running back to protect Dendup. Ahsoka exhales slowly, stepping forwards and watching her every step as she lifts Lux away from the edge. It must be a three or four hundred drop to the ground, and that's a fall only a Jedi could survive.
She lays Lux down on the ground before rushing forwards to help Steela. A human's grip is only so strong.
Ahsoka focuses by closing her eyes, outstretching both hands and utilising the Force. She quietens her mind, concentrating completely on the invisible chain between her hands and the rebel woman hanging onto the cliff with her life.
"I've got you," she reassures Steela as she lifts her into the air.
Steela's only a few inches away from grabbing her hand. They're so close, and Ahsoka can swear their fingers touch for the minutest of moments.
Then, she hears a noise behind her.
Something punches her left shoulder, and every sensation in her arm flickers away before Ahsoka can even register she's been hit.
Her eyes snap open as pain jolts through her.
There's a scream from beneath her, the sound of air getting forced out of someone's lungs.
Steela!
There's a horrible image in her mind amongst the pain and shock. Steela on the ground, motionless in Saw's arms. Lux stroking her cheek, murmuring that she knew the risks. The city on Onderon in mourning, Ahsoka trembling with Anakin's arm around her on the way back to the Temple, sobbing about how she could've saved her.
She isn't going to let anybody down today, especially not Steela. Even after everything the drama and the name-calling, Ahsoka can't allow this to happen.
Not to her.
Ignoring the fire burning across her left shoulder, Ahsoka jumps from the crumbling cliffside.
"Ahsoka!" Rex screams behind her, and she wonders if he'll dive after her.
Probably not. Rex knows he wouldn't survive the fall.
Does Steela know she won't survive unless Ahsoka can catch up with her and soften the landing with the Force?
She propels herself downwards, becoming as streamline as possible. Steela's several metres ahead of her, watching Ahsoka with wide eyes that remind her all too much of the way she looked up at Obi-Wan on Naboo.
Just a few more inches, and she'll be able to grab Steela's boot. It's not ideal to catch someone with their foot, but it'll have to do. They don't exactly have many options right now.
It's do or die.
Her fingers brush against Steela's boot, and she grabs on tightly, jerking the woman up above her head so Ahsoka will land first.
Her feet hit the floor, Ahsoka bends her knees to absorb the impact before Steela's body comes crashing down on top of her, a sharp crack going through her skull which makes her go cross-eyed briefly.
She isn't sure how long the darkness lasts- it could be seconds or years.
Someone drags her into a sitting position, and she feels plastoid against her cheek. Rex. Her Captain bellows out orders that she can't hear over the ringing in her montrals.
"Commander, answer me!" She feels a gloved hand tapping her cheek, making her brain rattle.
"Kriff off, Rex," she groans, her stomach twisting with just enough warning for her to lean over and be sick on the ground.
Rex keeps one hand on her shoulder, "Bonteri, I need a canteen and a blanket!"
"No... I'm fine..." She slurs, trying to look more alert even though she feels like death thrown up. "Where... Steela..."
"Udesii, vod; don't panic," Rex says, his voice soft as if he's talking to a shiny. She leans into his chest, feeling utterly exhausted as the sun beats down on them.
"Where's-"
"Steela's fine, "Rex cuts her off, "I've got eyes on her."
She huffs, seeing Lux running towards them. "I can't feel my arm."
"Huh?"
"My arm," she flits her gaze to the unmoving limb, "I'd like to see Kix fix that with physiotherapy."
Lux drops to one knee, "I got what you asked for, Captain."
"I'll just take the water," she cuts in, trying to sit upright without Rex's support even though it feels like all her bones are made of lead and jelly at the same time.
"Small sips," the Captain says, passing her the canteen. Ahsoka grunts in acknowledgement, swallowing small mouthfuls of lukewarm water which is tainted with the bitterness of the purification tablets.
"Kriffing idiot." Rex murmurs as he shifts, crouching behind her so she can lean against him.
"Hey!" She shouts tiredly.
"That was the stupidest thing I've seen you do in a long time."
"Nobody died." She mutters, resting her head back onto his knee. She feels like there's bass playing in her skull, so loud that she can hardly think.
Rex scoffs quietly, "Not the point, Soka."
"Ahsoka," she looks up at Steela who's stood in front of her. Saw's beside her, letting his sister lean against him for support.
"Steela," Ahsoka gets up, brushing Rex away when he tries to help her. She's shaky but stable enough to stand on her own. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Steela says, even though she's pale and trembling, "You saved my life."
"It was nothing," she says quickly, going to put her hands on her hips and trying not to flinch when her left arm just remains limp at her side. "Saw, how's the battle looking?"
"The droids are in full-retreat." He says, grinning, "We've won this thing."
The rebels cheer, and Lux gives Steela a side-hug in victory. Ahsoka takes a deep breath. Rex is applying a bacta patch to the wound on her shoulder, his voice low against her montral, "Is this over, Commander?"
"I don't think so," she glances at him, "The Separatists rarely surrender so quickly. We ought to stay on high alert."
"Agreed."
The rebels migrate back to Iziz where celebrations are already underway. The droid forces have cleared out, and the citizens have started parties in the streets, welcoming the rebels back as heroes.
Ahsoka and Rex are the only ones hesitant to join the celebrations.
"Why do you two look so serious?" Saw questions them, "Onderon's ours again."
"There have been no agreements of surrender," Rex explains, "Technically, Iziz is still an active warzone under CIS control."
"We could charge the palace," Ahsoka suggests, "Force King Rash and his Separatist pawns out of hiding and demand surrender." She pins Saw with a look, "Rex and I can only leave once Onderon is declared a Republic state."
"Which means Kind Dendup will have to be restored as the rightful ruler," Rex finishes.
At least Obi-Wan's been able to teach them something about politics.
Rex glances at her, "Do you feel up to it, Ahsoka? There could be another battle waiting for us behind those doors. We might be walking straight into a trap."
"It's nothing we haven't done before, Rexster." She grins, looking back at Saw, "Gather the remaining troops. We'll storm the palace tonight and end this once and for all."
When they get back to the base, there's a holo message from Count Dooku waiting for them.
"I am not willing to let go of Onderon without a good fight," Anakin scowls at Count Dooku's hologram recording, "If a single rebel can defeat me, then I shall leave. If I win, then Onderon shall remain under Separatist control and all the rebels will be executed for their crimes against King Rash and the people of Onderon."
"This was broadcasted across the galaxy?" He asks Obi-Wan quietly as the other Jedi in the meeting room start to murmur.
During her report, Ahsoka revealed that the droid forces were in retreat, but she was sceptical about the battle being over. Nobody expected Dooku to become so involved.
It's almost like this matter is personal to him.
"Dooku definitely wanted to be heard." Obi-Wan sighs, "This isn't about Onderon anymore."
"What do you think he wants then?"
Obi-Wan strokes his beard, "Siths are mostly driven by revenge and spite. Dooku knows about Ahsoka's involvement with the rebels. She'll be the only way who can fight him with a chance of winning. I think he wants our Padawan gone."
Anakin takes a deep breath to stop his fists from clenching, raising his voice to be heard throughout the room, "I volunteer to fight Dooku on Onderon."
"He said he wants to fight a rebel, not a Jedi Knight," Ahsoka says from her hologram, "If external support shows up, he may flee the system. The rebels don't have control over the atmosphere yet. There could be an armed starship waiting for you the second you jump out of hyperspace."
"Are you suggesting you'll be taking on the Sith Lord yourself, Tano?" Windu sneers from beside Master Yoda. "You barely survived your last encounter with Dooku."
She smirks through the hologram, "Who said I'd be taking him on myself?"
Anakin frowns as the room erupts into debate again, some arguing that Ahsoka should fight Dooku whilst others want to abandon Onderon altogether. He moves to stand closer to Ahsoka's hologram, "What's your plan, Snips?"
She gives him a sheepish smile, "We're going to take one of Master Kenobi's approaches to this."
"This isn't a game, Ahsoka." He can't believe she's making jokes about facing one of the deadliest Sith Lords in the galaxy whilst she's still adjusting to a prosthetic leg and her arm is now completely paralysed.
"No offence, but I don't think Dooku will be up for negotiating with you."
"I won't be negotiating," she says, a glint in her eye. "I have to go, Master. Please, trust me on this and tell the Council to not interfere."
He trusts Ahsoka with his life, but he doesn't trust Dooku to fight fair- Siths rarely do. He's worried she'll be caught off guard and killed. Then again, what other choice do they have? They've come too far with Onderon to let it slip into Separatist hands, and he does believe in Ahsoka.
"I don't like this, but I know we don't have any choice." He points a finger at her, "You better come back in one piece, young lady."
"Don't worry, Anakin," she laughs, "just have a little faith in me."
He sighs, knowing there's no way he can stop her, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Snips."
"You don't have a plan, do you?" Rex asks as soon as she turns off her commlink.
"Oh, I have a plan," she replies, swivelling around to face him, "I just don't think you're going to like it."
He rolls his eyes, "You sound more like the General every day."
"He is my Master," she teases, walking to his side. "I can't believe you hold such little trust in me, Rex."
"You're impulsive," he says, holding the door open for her, "In your current state, I think you should leave Dooku to someone like Skywalker or Kenobi."
Ahsoka tries not to let it show how deeply his comment offends her. Sure, she's not her Masters, but she's still a good Jedi only a few months away from becoming a Knight.
"Well, Anakin and Obi-Wan aren't here right now, so you're stuck with me." She pins him with a glare as they walk, "Is that going to be a problem, Captain?"
She can tell he's tempted to dress her down like a shiny by the way he presses his lips together, but he decides against it, "No, sir."
"Good." They step into the common area of the rebel base where they've relocated. Saw and Lux are stood in the centre, talking to the King whilst Steela sits, still shaken from falling four hundred metres off a cliff.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Ahsoka?" Lux asks once he sees her.
"Not really." She grins, probably feeling more relaxed about this due to the extensive amount of whiskey she drank to stop her knees from shaking. "Did you find one?"
"Is this what you wanted?" He holds out the small ball.
"Yes," she takes the minuscule device and holds it up for Rex to see.
"A vital suppressor?" He exclaims, "I'm going to start calling you Skywalker."
"This is one of Obi-Wan's ideas, actually," she grins, tucking the ball into a pouch on her belt. "Steela, let's go."
Rex grabs her paralysed arm, "Where are you going?"
She smirks, "We're going to have a drink with King Rash, of course."