Chapter 2 – Battle of Christophsis
Author's Note: In which a certain Togruta shows up. :D
To Agent N. All I'll say to that is don't worry. ^-^
~ Amina Gila
"They're back," Anakin calls as Obi-Wan, Theseus, and several other clones from the 212th run up behind him and Rex. Theseus skids to a stop behind the Knight, watching anxiously as two large spider droids march into view from in between the tall green structures of the planet of Christophsis. So much for having nearly won the battle.
"I thought we'd just defeated them," he sighs. These droids seem impossible to get rid of. They're numbers are never-ending.
"I told you this victory was too easy," Obi-Wan replies, "We should never have sent the ship back for supplies."
"It wasn't my idea to send the ship back," Anakin retaliates. Theseus smothers a snort. Exactly.
"All right, men," Obi-Wan says, turning to look back at the clones, "Second wave incoming."
"Rex, you and your men follow me," Anakin orders, turning and striding off towards the oncoming droids.
"Cody, battle positions. Padawan, you stay with me," Obi-Wan commands, looking to Theseus who nods.
That's when the cannons start firing from behind, blast after blast striking the oncoming army. Thick black smoke billows around the explosions. Theseus ignites the lightsaber, spinning the blade to deflect bolts alongside Obi-Wan as the droids advance.
The clones start moving forwards as well, shooting at the droids. He does his best not to think about the presences blinking out of the Force around him, focusing only on taking out droid after droid without getting too close. Obi-Wan hasn't charged the droids yet, so he stays next to his master.
The Jedi Master motions for the clones to start pushing ahead. The cannons fire almost non-stop, blasting the droids in front of them to pieces. The ground is shaking from the explosions everywhere, and the scent of smoke is permeating everything.
Large spider-like droids start advancing, the name of which Theseus cannot for the life of him remember, though he's fairly certain Cody told him. "Skywalker should have attacked by now!" Cody interjects from where he's shooting nearby, being covered by Obi-Wan. A couple other clones have since taken shelter behind Theseus.
"Don't worry! He knows the plan!"
"But when will he carry it out?" the padawan mumbles, scanning the view. Still so sign of Anakin. Maybe he's not in position yet?
Finally, he sees a flash of light above the droids and looks up to see Anakin landing on top of one of the spider's, his lightsaber activated. Rex and the rest of his group take off with jetpacks, landing around the spider droids and shooting up at them. One of the other spider droids starts shooting at Anakin, who casually deflects the bolts onto the droids below.
"Come on, then!" Obi-Wan calls, waving the troops forwards.
"Right on!" Cody echoes, and they all charge.
Theseus moves methodically through the battle droids, cutting them down before swinging to deflect bolts from the others and continuing on through their ranks. Obi-Wan cuts them down alongside him a short distance away. The clones are being shot all around him, and he tries to convince himself they aren't dying when they fall, but more step forwards to fill their brothers' places.
Two more cannon blasts strike the ground right in front of the spider droids, which are behind the group of battle droids Theseus and the others are destroying. A nearby clone runs forwards, shooting down several of the droids, before kicking down another. Theseus jumps forwards, shoving him aside as a nearby droid nearly shoots him straight in the back. He ducks out of the way as the shot nearly grazes him instead, before lunging at it, lopping its head off.
Up above, he sees Anakin moving again, taking down one of the large droids and jumping to another. The cannons unleash another set of shots. The droids are finally falling faster then they're coming, and that's the only relief Theseus can have. He's fought before, but there's a difference between training droids and these.
With most of the battle droids down, he moves on to attack the super battle droids.
Anakin takes down the last two spider droids and leaps down next to Obi-Wan. "We're gonna need reinforcements," he warns, surveying the field.
"We haven't been able to get through to the Admiral."
The cannons unleash another volley of shots as a group of tanks start rolling forwards. Theseus tenses. He hasn't fought against those yet, and they're very dangerous from what he's heard.
"They're pulling back!" Anakin exclaims as the droids start heading back the way they came.
"Are you sure we shouldn't follow?" Theseus asks. "They'll only regroup and come back."
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan replies, "But it looks like help has arrived."
The padawan glances up. Sure enough, a shuttle flies over head. He tries to shake the battle from mind, though the tension remains. He can't stop remembering sensing the clones dying around him. "If destroying those spider droids was so easy," he asks, glancing up at Anakin. "Why couldn't you have done it faster and come down to help out?"
"...excuse me?" Anakin asks dubiously, giving him a confused look though his eyes are narrowed, posture tensed.
"During the battle," he clarifies. "It didn't take more than a few seconds to cut down those droids. Why wait? You could've saved a lot of clones."
The Knight eyes him for a second then spins around. "I see you at least chose a smart padawan, Obi-Wan. Congratulations." He stalks off towards the landing ship without another word.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Theseus calls after him, then glances up at his master. "Is he always like this?" He sure hopes not.
"He's upset," Obi-Wan says with a quiet sigh.
"Well, why? Didn't he know you were taking another padawan? Did you... ask him or anything?"
"I did," he confirms, "But he didn't want me to."
For a moment Theseus isn't really sure how to react. Obi-Wan agreed to take him, even though his own former padawan didn't want him to. After having been practically rejected by his former master, that means a lot to him. "Oh." Except... that's probably the same problem Anakin's having. He was literally just Knighted, and it was still a form of rejection in a way of sorts. Maybe not as extreme, but still. Theseus understands why he's upset, but he has no idea how to go about calming him down. Emotions are not his specialty.
"Come, we should go," the Jedi Master advises, heading for the landing platform. "The ship has arrived with reinforcements. It looks like our problems are solved. Fresh troops, new supplies..."
They stop a short distance away from Anakin, who's facing the landing shuttle, his back turned. The ramp descends a certain very familiar orange Togruta appears in the doorway. What in the world? What's she doing here?
"A youngling?" Anakin mutters, equally confused.
"Ahsoka?" asks Theseus slowly, stepping forwards. "What are you doing here?" They've been in the classes at the Temple, having met shortly after she came. They've been best friends ever since. He wishes they'd have time to talk – something they really haven't had much of since he became a padawan – but that will have to wait for later when they're not in the middle of a battle.
"Master Yoda sent me," the girl answers, walking down the ramp. "I was told to tell you three you must get back to the Jedi Temple immediately. There's an emergency."
"Well, I don't know if you noticed," Anakin retorts, stepping closer, "But we're in a bit of an emergency right here."
"Are we just supposed to leave the planet to its fate?" Theseus queries dubiously.
"Our communication has been a bit unreliable, but we've been calling for help," Obi-Wan declares.
"Master Yoda hadn't heard from you, so he sent me to deliver the message."
Theseus eyes her for a moment, getting the strong feeling she's here for a different reason. Many things have changed since the start of the war but sending younglings around to different places to give messages or whatever is definitely not one of them. Ahsoka hadn't been taken as a padawan yet, but she obviously can't be Obi-Wan's. Anakin's, maybe?
"Oh, great," Anakin huffs, turning away. "They don't even know we're in trouble."
"Maybe you can relay a signal through the cruiser that just dropped me off," Ahsoka offers.
"That's the best option we have," Theseus agrees. A few minutes later, the four of them are standing around the hologram table.
"We're under attack by Separatist warships," a clone informs them, "But I'll try to make contact with the Jedi Temple for you. Stand by."
A few moments later, a hologram of Yoda flickers to life in front of them. "Master Kenobi, glad Ahsoka found you, I am."
"Master Yoda, we are trapped here and vastly outnumbered," Obi-Wan reports. "We are in no position to go anywhere or do anything. Our support ships have been destroyed."
"Send reinforcements to you, we will," Yoda replies as the hologram begins to flicker.
"Master Yoda?" Obi-Wan calls. "Master Yoda!" The hologram disappears complete, switching back to that of the clones back on the cruiser.
"We've lost the transmission, sir," the clone informs after several tries to regain contact with the Temple. "We have to leave orbit immediately. More enemy ships have arrived. We'll get back to you as soon as we can."
"Well, I guess we'll have to hold out a little longer," Anakin sighs.
"My apologies, young one," Obi-Wan declares at least. "It's time for a proper introduction." He circles around the table, Theseus following.
"I hope you already know who I am," he smirks.
She gives him a look. "Don't be silly." She glances over at the others, Anakin in particular. "I'm the new padawan learner. I'm Ahsoka Tano." What? A padawan? Is Anakin getting a padawan? Theseus never heard a word about it. Ahsoka would have told him before, right?
"Wait, padawan learner?" protests Anakin, "Obi-Wan already has a padawan."
"I know," she replies, "And I've been assigned to you, Master Skywalker."
"What?!" cries Anakin. "No, no, no! There must be some mistake. I never wanted a padawan."
Ahsoka crosses her arms. "No. Master Yoda was very specific. I'm assigned to Anakin Skywalker, and he is to supervise my Jedi training." She looks altogether too smug, but Theseus is almost glad to know he's not the only one completely confused.
"But that doesn't make any sense!" Anakin yelps.
"Well, maybe Master Yoda decided to prank you with a padawan," Theseus supplies cheerfully. The half-horrified expression on Anakin's face is too funny.
"Not funny," he grumbles, shooting him a glare.
"I wasn't trying to be."
"We'll have to sort this out later," advises Obi-Wan, raising a hand to get their attention. And why does he look so amused? Did he plan this with Yoda or what? Theseus can't say he'd be surprised. "It won't be long before those droids figure out a way around our cannons."
Right. Good. Back to business.
"I'll check with Rex on the lookout post," Anakin decides, turning to go.
"You'd better take her with you," Obi-Wan calls after him, nudging Ahsoka forwards. They exchange a look that makes him wonder about it even more, and she hurries off to catch up with Anakin.
"Did you plan this?" Theseus inquires.
"It seemed like the best way to distract him from you."
Whoa. Basically, a yes, but not straight out. Was Anakin really that upset about it? He must have been. He's been acting extremely tense this entire time, and Theseus doesn't know much about him, but he guesses Anakin isn't normally like that.
**w**
It isn't long before the four Jedi and Rex are gathered around a holomap of the area, preparing a plan of attack. "The shield generator is somewhere in this area," begins Obi-Wan. "They're slowly increasing the diameter and keeping it just ahead of their troops."
"Heavy cannons are gonna be useless against that," Rex reminds.
"As they get closer, I suppose we could try to draw them into the buildings. That might level the playing field a bit," Obi-Wan murmurs thoughtfully.
"If that shield's gonna be such a problem, why don't we just take it out?" Ahsoka finally pipes up from where she's standing in between Anakin and Theseus. He shoots her a slightly surprised look. Good point.
"Yeah, why don't we?" he agrees.
"Easier said than done," Rex replies.
"Well, I, for one, agree with her," Anakin speaks up finally. "Someone has to get to that shield generator and destroy it. That's the key."
"Right, then. Maybe you two can tiptoe through the enemy lines and solve this particular problem together," Obi-Wan offers.
"Can do, Master Kenobi," Ahsoka says eagerly.
"I'll decide what we do," Anakin grumbles, shooting her an irritated look.
"If Theseus, Rex, and I can engage them here," Obi-Wan continues, pointing at a place in the map. It's amidst the many buildings, which should help give cover for the clones. "You two might have the chance to get through their lines undetected here." He points at another area. "They won't have much time."
"The droids far outnumber us, so our ability to street fight is limited without the use of heavy cannons," Rex points out, "They will march forwards under the protection of their shield until they are right on top of our cannons, then they'll blow them away."
"We'll figure out a way," Ahsoka chirps enthusiastically, turning to walk away, "Come on, Master, let's go."
Anakin turns, hurrying after her. The last thing Theseus hears him saying is, "If we survive this, Snips, you and I are gonna have a talk." Snips? Where did that nickname come from? He can't help but think it seems to fit, though. He can't wait until he actually gets a chance to talk to Ahsoka again. Maybe they will after the battle is won, but for now, it's time to focus.
**w**
As soon as Anakin and Ahsoka have disappeared, looking for a way to deactivate the shield, the Republic cannons start firing on the Separatist forces. Theseus watches anxiously as the first several blasts strike the shields. A ripple runs across its surface, but other than that, nothing happens.
"That shield is certainly putting a crimp in this plan," grumbles Theseus. If they could get past the thing already, they'd be winning against the Separatists right now, instead of stalling.
"It's no use, sir!" Rex calls finally, "Even at full power the cannon doesn't affect it."
"Alright, Rex, it was worth a try," Obi-Wan decides, lowering the macrobinoculars he was looking through. "Tell the men to fall back!"
The tanks slowly begin to roll back, the clones retreating along with them. Obi-Wan, Theseus, and Rex duck behind a wall as the red shield approaches them. It's continuing to expand, steadily growing larger and larger.
"Are you sure this plan will work?" he asks.
"Well, it better," Obi-Wan replies. "I'm sure Anakin can carry out his part of the plan."
"If you say so," Theseus mutters. Sneaking through lines of droids is much easier to say than do. The red shield ripples and the energy barrier finally crosses them.
"We're inside the shield," Obi-Wan observes, "Just stay away from those tanks."
As the Separatist forces continue advancing, Obi-Wan jumps off the top of the building they're on as the battle droids finally come in range. He lands on top of a super battle droid, impaling it before jumping to the ground. The clones slide down cables, shooting down at the droids.
Theseus lands nearby, instantly beginning to cut down the nearby droids. He sinks back into the same flow of battle that he was using earlier, demolishing droid after droid, spinning to deflect bolts, before cutting down some more.
Even with how fast they're destroying them, though, the droids are continuing to advance. Theseus positions himself in front of a group of clones, blocking bolts to offer them protection while they shoot down the droids. What's taking Anakin and Ahsoka so long? Although he supposes it probably hasn't been that long; his sense of time is probably a bit warped right now, being in a battle and all.
"The shield has almost reached the heavy cannons, sir," Rex reports, running up to where Obi-Wan is destroying several super battle droids, "We're not going to be able to stop them."
A sudden explosion rings out and the three of them duck behind a nearby wall for cover.
"Move your troops back to the heavy cannons," Obi-Wan orders, "Do everything you can to protect them. I'll delay the droids."
"But –" Rex begins.
"That is an order, Captain," he cuts him off.
"I'll stay with you, Rex," Theseus declares. If his master is busy elsewhere, at least he should help protect the clones, right?
The familiar sound of clanking reaches his ears, the same moment Obi-Wan springs to his feet, cutting down a super battle droid that walked up to the wall. It falls in a pile of sparks to the ground as Obi-Wan jumps over the wall, spinning his blade to deflect more blaster bolts.
The clones slowly begin to back away, shooting as they go. Theseus positions himself in front of them again, blocking laser bolts. An explosion rings out, throwing debris and smoke everywhere. An approaching tank is the last glimpse Theseus catches before their group rounds a nearby corner.
The sides exchange constant fire as the clones continue to pull back for the heavy cannons. Several get shot down as they continue run, explosions tearing through the ground all around them.
Finally, they duck behind several large green rocks. "Sir," calls a clone, running up, "General Kenobi's been captured. There's no one else left."
"It much be part of the plan," Theseus muses. At least hopefully it is, because otherwise he has no idea what to do now. Does that put him in charge? The very thought makes him feel sick. He has no idea how to lead an army.
"We've got to hold out," Rex asserts firmly. "We can't let the shield reach those cannons."
Theseus stands up again, reigniting the green lightsaber and spinning to block the blaster bolts when, all at once, the red shield begins to dissipate before disappearing altogether. Yes! They did it!
"All cannons, fire on those tanks!" Rex commands. Theseus and the captain move to stand next to the tanks as they all open fire on the Separatists. Anakin's astromech droid, Artoo, whistles in what Theseus assumes is excitement as the tide of the battle finally turns in their favor.
The sound of engines reaches his ears, and he looks up to see ships flying overhead. Reinforcements have arrived.
"I'm going to find Master Kenobi," decides Theseus and heads off.
"Are you alright, Theseus?" Obi-Wan calls as he arrives.
"Of course," he replies automatically.
A gunship glides to a stop in front of them and to Theseus' surprise, Master Yoda and another very familiar Council member step off. Athea Shan.
His eyes lock with her blue ones for a long moment, almost as though a silent exchange is passing between them. Outwardly, they're good friends, like Master Plo Koon is with Ahsoka. But between the two of them, it's something far closer, even if it's something that shouldn't exist among Jedi. Maybe they'll have a chance to catch up later in private.
"Master Yoda, your timing couldn't be better," Obi-Wan declares.
"Accepted Ahsoka has his padawan, has Skywalker?" asks Yoda, and Theseus does his best to suppress the rising swell of emotions upon seeing him again. He hasn't seen the Jedi Master in person since he told him about the change in masters. He still can't shake the stinging feeling of rejection from it.
"He hasn't agreed, but I'm hoping he will change his mind after the battle," answers Obi-Wan.
"Adjusting as Master Kenobi's padawan, are you?" the grandmaster suddenly asks, his gaze on his former padawan.
"Yes," he replies slowly. It's not exactly true. Maybe he would've, if not for the battle. This and being a commander are a little too much to 'adjust' to so fast.
He looks up at the sound of an approaching gunship. It lands, and Anakin steps off, Ahsoka scurrying over to stand next to him. Theseus eyes both of them. Ahsoka seems perfectly comfortable with how things are going, so he'll take that as a good sign. He doesn't want to think about how she'd feel if Anakin rejected her. She's already been turned down by so many masters, and now it's almost too late for her to be taken.
"Trouble you have with your new padawan, I hear," Yoda says, turning to Anakin.
"I was explaining the situation to master Yoda," informs Obi-Wan.
"If not ready for a padawan, you are, then perhaps Obi-Wan, we can –" Yoda begins.
"No, wait a minute," Anakin interjects. "I admit Ahsoka is a little rough around the edges, but with a great deal of training and patience, she might amount to something." Theseus doesn't miss the way Ahsoka's face lights up at the comment. At last, she's finally been chosen as a padawan. It's long overdue.
"Then go with you, she will, to the Teth system," the grandmaster declares, turning and walking a few steps away, leaning on the gimer stick he always carries with him but definitely doesn't need.
"Teth? That's Wild Space," Anakin exclaims, confused. "The droid army isn't even in that sector."
"Jabba the Hutt's son was kidnapped," Athea declares.
"You want me to rescue Jabba's son?" Anakin demands incredulously.
"... why is that even a job for Jedi?" inquires Theseus. That Hutt is literally the head of a major crime organization. Theseus doesn't know much about him, but he does know that Jabba is no one the Jedi need to be getting involved with.
"We'll need the Hutt's allegiance to give us an advantage over Dooku," Obi-Wan explains with a sigh.
"Negotiate the treaty with Jabba, Obi-Wan will," Yoda continues. "Find the renegades that hold Jabba's son, your mission will be, Skywalker."
"Come on, Master," Ahsoka calls eagerly. "That doesn't sound too hard. I'll find Rex and get the troops organized." She turns, running off to where Rex and other clones from the 501st are waiting.
"Don't worry, Anakin," Obi-Wan advises with a smirk, "Just teach her everything I taught you and she'll turn out fine."
"You know, something makes me think this was your idea from the start," Anakin grumbles before turning to walk away. He seems to be in a hurry.
Obi-Wan ignores the comment, looking to Theseus. "You go with Anakin. I won't need you in the negotiations with Jabba, and we don't know what we're up against on Teth."
"And Theseus?" Athea says, stepping forwards. "Take care of yourself."
"Of course, Master Shan," he chirps.
"May the Force be with you," she calls after him as he hurries to catch up with the Jedi Knight.
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