Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Shadows of the Force. Enjoy the 1500-word chapter. I don't own RWBY and Star Wars. Monty Oum, Lucas Films, and Rooster Teeth do.

(Venator Class Cruiser Trailblazer, Remnant Orbit 11:30 AM)

The ETA-class shuttle slowly approached Lerek's flagship. Lerek could see MORE Venators approaching. 3, in fact, with 2 Consular- Class cruisers and 2 Arquitens- Class Light Cruisers.

"That's General Kenobi's flagship: The Negotiator." Drifter stated as the shuttle settled into the hanger.

"Drifter, tell Admiral Parmar I want to talk with him before tonight is over," Lerek said as he turned to Blake. "So, fine with snarking at me as I read over 100 years of history? Should be fun, I might even laugh." Lerek joked as the duo began walking through the hanger.

The duo could only roll their eyes as they continued to think about the situation. Lerek risked a glance through the hanger window at the cruiser in question. He guessed that Obi-Wan would arrive before they came to the cruiser.

Blake followed Lerek who held the books in a backpack. He cracked his fingers as the duo settled into the elevator. The Faunus and Arkanian shared a look.

"I sense something… Grand, coming." Lerek said as he crossed his arms a moment later. "But I don't know what's coming. The Atlesians, us, whatever that fleet is that vanished." Lerek said while he shifted his gaze to the doors of the turbolift.

Blake was silent a moment later. She could tell things had become FAR more interesting than they had been a few days ago. She knew for a fact that these negotiations would affect the planet…. Suddenly? The Vytal tournament didn't seem such a big deal anymore.

"What do you plan on doing after negotiations?" Blake questioned as Lerek shrugged. "There's a tournament coming up. People from all over Remnant will be participating, that's why Atlas arrived." Blake stated before Lerek turned.

"A tournament? Well, that sounds fun." Lerek said with a smirk. "Well, I still need to find the separatists if they arrived on Remnant…. Why, are you and your friends fighting in the tournament?" Lerek questioned while he cracked a smile.

Blake nodded as Lerek hummed and stepped off the turbo lift as the duo slowly proceeded towards their rooms. Lerek clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

"I wouldn't worry about war. Remnant doesn't want another war." Lerek heard Blake state. "But knowing Vale? This might still take a while. Vale has had issues, recently." Blake added in an awkward tone which made Lerek blink.

He wasn't worried about the negotiations as much. He knew for a fact there was an agreement that could be reached. However? Lerek still questioned how a bond between two dimensions would work, there were logistics that he could only begin to calculate in the back of his mind.

"Would you happen to have been involved in said problems?" Lerek asked which got a nod. "Well, that's another story I'd like to hear. I would still like some reading company, though. Everyone likes discussing what they've read, don't they?" Lerek questioned as Blake nodded.

The duo continued their walk, unaware of what was going to approach Vale sooner or later.

(Mistral)

Ventress sighed as she looked around at the dozens of droids surrounding her a moment later. She looked at the holodisk which held a hologram of her master. She had slowly been informing him of the details as her droids continued to set up operations on this planet.

"Yes, master. We've been preparing for your arrival… The republic waits in orbit." Ventress stated as she paused to look above at her fleet.

"A new planet you say? Most interesting, Ventress…." Dooku responded as he cracked a wry smile.

"Very good, my master has much to discuss. This planet changes everything." Dooku responded over holodisk. "Carry out the next stage of our operation… I will inform my master." Dooku ordered a moment later as Ventress smirked.

(With Blake and Lerek)

Lerek opened the door to his quarters and allowed Blake in as he took a seat at his desk. Blake removed her shoes, placing them next to her as she lay on the bed and began to read her book.

"Didn't you say something about a 'Battle of Fort Castle?'" Lerek questioned as he continued reading.

"Yes, General Lagune attempted to attack the Faunus by night," Blake responded as she flipped the page on her book.

"But the Faunus could see in the dark," Lerek said which got a nod. "You know Arkanians can do something similar. I've just never seen much reason to. Blake, did that battle ever lead to anything, or was it just a pointless skirmish?" Lerek questioned as he scanned over the page in front of him.

Blake was silent, unsure whether to mention that the war didn't end well. Humanity STILL refused to acknowledge Faunus kind as anything more than servants or slaves. Still? She knew for a fact that her friends were a sign not everything was in vain.

"You know the republic doesn't look down on people like that," Lerek said as he turned to look at her. "I don't. My people can hold whatever views on species they want. I'm not them, nor do I plan on being like that." Lerek added as he returned to reading.

"It isn't, I just hate what my people did for 'respect.'" Blake said while she could only point out the flaws in it.

"Do you hate fighting even if it's worth fighting for?" Lerek asked and turned a page. "You know I'm not going to lie to you, right? Your fun to be around, Blake. I didn't want the fleet above Vale. I didn't want people to assume we were here to conquer. I'm still scared of what the separatists would do if they arrived in Vale." Lerek said while shaking his head.

He knew for a fact that if a war started on Remnant with the separatists? He'd be caught off guard. Lerek didn't understand the planet, the terrain, the people, the areas, and such… There were a lot of military issues to address.

"Do you plan to go hunt them down?" Blake questioned which got a raised eyebrow.

"And turn Remnant into a warzone in the process?" Lerek asked, brushing off his armor. "No. Not even a little. If they come? I'll fight them. I have a lot I want to learn about Vale, plus? I still owe you and I plan on honoring the deal that we created." Lerek said as he sighed and ran his fingers through his short white hair.

Blake slowly started sitting up, reading from the book for a bit as she snapped her book close once more. She could tell that Lerek was just as interested in the events as she… But she didn't know what to say, what to do.

"Is there a place to relax and read or train?" Blake questioned as Lerek nodded.

"Yes, but you're going to be around the rest of the clones," Lerek stated while he sat up, changing to a small book. "Is that an issue?" Lerek questioned, looking the Faunus in the eye.

"Why are they called clones anyway?" Blake asked as she paused to get her shoes.

"I don't know everything about that," Lerek said while he turned and walked to the door. "I do know being clones doesn't make them as expendable as others do. The republic treats clones like numbers, not people. The Jedi think we should bury how we feel, even about the clones." Lerek said before Blake joined him.

"How long have you known Drifter then? That's a weird name, though." Blake said as Lerek chuckled.

"For a year," Lerek responded as the duo started walking. "And EVERY clone has a name like that. They give each other nicknames. In my book? That makes them more than clones." Lerek stated as the duo turned to look over their shoulder.

"There's a lot the republic keeps away from its generals?" Blake questioned while Lerek shrugged.

"The republic and the Jedi are not one organization," Lerek said with a wave of his hands. "There's plenty of things we keep secret from each other. Why? Your former group didn't keep secrets?" Lerek asked which was greeted by a frown.

Lerek could talk enough about Blake that he could guess that her past was a BIG dark spot on her. He was quite curious about that past, but he wouldn't pry if he didn't have to.

Both slowly walked towards the hanger.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show the Separatists beginning an attack, more bonding between Blake and Lerek, him finding out about the other republic forces, and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapter is 900-7500 words at the moment at the time. The next chapter will be delayed.