Chapter Seven: Missions and Complications

Blaster bolts seemed to be everywhere at once. The two Jedi were caught in the middle of a firestorm, deflecting and dodging without conscious thought as to what they were doing. Damien ducked one bolt that would have taken his head off and batted another back at the Separatist forces which would have killed Harry if it had hit him.

Damien and Harry stood back to back in the middle of a rough ring, with the Separatist droid army on one side and their clone troops at their backs. Harry had been uncomfortable with fighting on the same side as clones initially but as the war had progressed he learnt to work with them and even became friendly with one of the commanders, who usually ended up in battle alongside him.

Harry wiped sweat out of his eyes and glared at the droids, before swiftly checking how Damien was doing. He felt immense pride at Damien's performance, most Padawans were nervous and a little jumpy and uncoordinated when experiencing battle for the first time but Damien seemed to have somehow absorbed Harry's cool, calm collectedness under fire, although Harry didn't quite know how, and had been responsible for the destruction of quite a few droids as well as saving Harry's life a couple of times by deflecting laser blasts that Harry wouldn't have got to in time. Harry in return, had protected Damien from the worst of the unfriendly fire and offered encouragement and a steadying influence through their bond which helped to keep Damien relatively calm.

Finally the battle ended and Damien collapsed from exhaustion. Looking up at Harry he coughed from the dust and then asked, "Is it over now?" Harry smiled tiredly and replied, "Yes, for now. We've won Damien, at least this battle. Can you stand? We need to make sure the compound is habitable."

Damien nodded and drew on the Force, allowing it to flow through him and refresh his tired body. He knew he'd sleep like the dead that night but for now he was able to move and that was all that mattered. He heard an approving murmur from one of the clones as he got to his feet, and then felt Harry's arm go round him and steady him until he could walk on his own. Once he was steady on his feet, Harry let go and headed towards the compound that they had been fighting over.

Adumar was normally a peaceful world, and the only reason it was the scene of a battle was the fact that it produced a large amount of the minerals needed for shield generators and also several small but important hyperdrive components. The raw materials were refined in the compound that he and Harry had been sent to liberate and then shipped to the construction companies that used them.

The Separatists had naturally taken this compound for themselves which stopped the Republic armies from having new hyperdrives and shield generators for their ships. This was unacceptable of course and a large group of clones had been sent to retake it, with Harry and Damien leading them. It had been a hard and long battle, lasting several days, as the droids seemed to keep coming and coming at them, whereas Harry's army was being depleted day by day with no reinforcements arriving. The situation was looking especially grim one day when Damien had suggested putting some sort of electrical interference in the air which would stuff up the droid army's means of communicating with each other and their main control center. Harry had stared at Damien in amazement for a minute before grinning. The electrical interference was taken care of nicely, thanks to liberal use of magic as Harry had created a large magical storm over the droids and taken out the commanders with lightning strikes that totally disabled their circuits. Without the commanders the others were lost and confused, which left the clones with nothing more than target practice. It had seemed like victory was certain until the last batch of new droid reinforcements showed up that morning, which had led to the battle that had just finished.

Damien shook himself out of his musings and followed Harry through the compound, shivering at the sight of the dead bodies and droid parts strewn everywhere. He started when he felt an arm go round his shoulders.

"Try not to think about it too much" Harry advised quietly. He'd felt Damien's unease along the bond and had dropped back to offer some reassurance. He was rewarded with a shaky smile before Damien replied, "OK but it's difficult. Is war always like this?"

Harry looked down the corridor they were walking down, his eyes unfocused as he thought of how best to answer the question. Finally he decided that sugar coating things wasn't going to help so he went for blunt honesty.

"Mostly, yes it is" he said, before continuing, "It is a state of affairs that we as Jedi normally try to prevent. It is a terrible waste of life, or machinery in the case of the droid armies, and I much prefer diplomacy to fighting but in this war we don't have much choice. Just remember that in battle, if the other side is trying to kill you, you shouldn't feel too bad if they don't dodge a reflected laser bolt."

"But I thought we were supposed to care about other beings?" Damien questioned, shocked that Harry seemed to be advocating killing. Harry ran a hand through his hair and then said "We are Damien. What I'm saying is this, feel bad that they made the choice they did, but don't feel bad for defending yourself. If I had to choose between you dying and Dooku dying for example, I wouldn't feel particularly bad for choosing you. I'd mourn the fact that he chose to fight for the opposite side and lost his life doing so but I wouldn't feel bad for being happy that you lived. Understand?"

Damien frowned. "I think so Master. I just need to think about it a bit more." Harry nodded. "That's fine. Want to go check out the rooms further down, I don't sense anything but stay alert just in case."

Damien brightened at the chance to do something more than just follow Harry around and snapped off a salute before walking quickly but cautiously down the hall. Harry watched him enter the first room and waited, ruthlessly squashing any anxiety and reminding himself that the almost fourteen year old was well trained, despite only having less than a year of said training. He then acknowledged the silent presence at his side.

"Reid how are you?" he asked. His commander friend among the clones removed his helmet and smirked. "Fine Master Potter, how are you? Your apprentice did very well in the battle."

Harry nodded, still checking Damien's progress. The Padawan had checked out 3 of the 5 rooms at this point and was just entering the fourth. "He did. I wish he didn't have to fight in a war but we didn't have much choice. Plus I wouldn't be alive right now if he hadn't protected my back."

Reid nodded. "Very true Master Potter. He seems like a pretty level headed kid. How long has he been with you?"

Harry smirked. "About 7 or 8 months."

Reid whistled. "Well, for the amount of training he's had I'd say he's very good. First real battle?"

Harry nodded, and then sighed with relief when Damien emerged from the final room and gave the all clear signal. "All clear, we can call the Chancellor and inform him of our success. Then we wait till the Republic forces get here to reoccupy the place and then we leave. Should be no more than a couple more days." Reid nodded and then smiled as Damien came up to Harry and formally reported that all the rooms were clear and no sign of enemy forces remained. Harry nodded in acknowledgment of the report but said nothing else although he smiled faintly at Damien.

Damien wasn't bothered by this, he'd come to understand his master's ways and knew that while he might be open and warm in private and in training he was likely to say "Well done" if Damien had had done something right, and if not he would gently correct him. On a mission, or other errand however, he kept his emotions guarded from others. This meant that the Padawan had grown adept in reading his master's body language and the faint smile told him that Harry was proud of him, which was all Damien needed to know. Smiling back, Damien fell into his familiar position, just behind and to the side as he followed Harry back to the main part of the compound building where the surviving clones were setting up camp for the two days until the reoccupation forces arrived.

Two days later Damien was woken from a sound sleep by Harry yelling out "Siri, what are you doing here?" Damien rolled out of bed to see Siri Tachi, a Jedi Master and one of Harry's friends, walking towards them. The woman smirked and replied, "Replacing you in this burnt out crisp Potter. You couldn't have cleaned up a bit first?"

Harry laughed and then replied, "You know how I am about cleaning Siri, I thought I'd leave it to the experts." Siri laughed and gently punched his shoulder, grinning when Harry exaggeratedly rubbed the offended part and gave her a mock wounded look.

Spying Damien Siri said, "I see you got yourself another hanger on Harry. When did you pick him up?"

Growling, Harry replied, "I chose him about 7 or 8 months ago Siri. Don't insult him in my presence please."

Siri looked at him, and then at Damien, who had come to stand by Harry's side. She smiled at Damien and then said, "Easy Harry, I'm not insulting him. I like my life too much to risk it like that you know." Turning to Damien she grinned and said, "Is he always that grouchy?"

"Only when he hasn't had a morning coffee" Damien replied, chuckling when Harry gently cuffed the back of his head. Rolling his eyes his master said in a long suffering tone, "See what I have to deal with?"

The three Jedi chuckled for a few minutes until Harry grew serious. "What about yourself Siri, I would have thought that you had chosen another Padawan by now. It's been what, four years since Ferus was knighted?"

Siri closed her eyes. "I did choose one Harry but, we were on our first mission and he got in between me and a criminal we were trying to apprehend. He thought he was protecting me and ended up dead. I haven't wanted to choose since then."

Harry closed his eyes; he knew that Siri was a brilliant teacher, and a compassionate Jedi. To lose a Padawan was devastating for any Master, to lose one on the first mission was heartbreaking. Putting an arm round his friend's shoulders he gently hugged her and motioned for Damien to stand back a bit to give the two Masters some privacy.

Damien shrugged and wandered off to speak to the clones. The men had allowed him to wander round and ask questions, and seemed to have as many questions for him about being a Jedi as he did about warfare. A slight tugging on the Master/Padawan bond got his attention and he walked over to Harry to see what he needed him for.

In short order Damien found himself receiving a flying lesson, courtesy of Harry and the Marauder. Whenever possible Harry flew his own ship on missions, and carried it with him when he couldn't. Damien hadn't been allowed at the controls much before and relished the chance to fly the Marauder for a bit before Harry showed him how to activate the hyperdrive. With a flash of light, the Marauder jumped into hyperspace, with the clone troops behind them in their own ship, headed back to Coruscant.

When they reached Coruscant they were asked to report to the Council for debriefing. Damien was nervous, as this was only the second time he'd had to appear before the Council. Harry kept making irreverent comments about the various Councillors which helped to sooth his nerves and even got him to laugh once before they were called in. Once they were inside, Damien adopted the "don't speak unless spoken to" approach and allowed Harry to handle the questioning. The Council members were mindful of the Padawan's nervousness and only asked him a few questions, being gentle with him the whole time. When the pair finally left, Damien asked "Is it always that nerve wracking Master?"

Harry laughed. "They like to keep it formal to discourage any long winded reports Damien. As you grow older you get better at tuning out the atmosphere and giving reports. By the time you get to be a senior Padawan, and then on into Knighthood you won't even notice the atmosphere and will instead view it as I do."

"Which is how?" came the question from the apprentice. Harry glanced at him and then smirked before replying, "A boring waste of time when they could just read the written report we submitted before arriving."

Damien sniggered and then raced ahead of his master to open the door. He walked in and promptly stopped at seeing Padme, Anakin, Bail Organa, and Obi-Wan lounging on the couches. Harry walked in behind him and then stiffened in shock.

"Exactly what do you all think you're doing in here?" he questioned calmly, but with an undertone that Damien knew meant that Harry was annoyed. Anakin obviously remembered what it meant too because his eyes widened slightly and he rose from his seat and tried to placate the older Jedi.

"Harry, we know you've only just got back and you're probably tired but we need to talk to you urgently."

Harry favored his former Padawan with a glare. "We" he stressed, indicating Damien with a wave of his hand, "are very tired, and dirty and hungry. We've just returned from a mission and we need at least a shower and some food before we can even think about talking to you. Better yet, we can add a good night's sleep to that as well."

Turning to the Senators he bowed slightly and said, "I'm sorry for the rudeness of my words but it was a shock to walk in here and see you all waiting for us."

Bail rose immediately. "Don't worry about it Harry, we told Anakin it was a bad idea to talk to you now. Perhaps tomorrow morning?" At a nod from Harry the Senators took their leave, as did Obi-Wan and Anakin.

Harry flopped onto the couch with a sigh. Damien copied him and flopped down next to him. "Now what" the apprentice commented, brushing hair out of his eyes with an annoyed motion. Harry shook his head. "Exactly what I told them Damien, bath, food and rest in that order. I'll get the food ready and eat while you go have a shower. Use the water, not the sonic one please. Then I'll have my shower while you eat and then we can catch up on the sleep we both need."

Damien nodded and the pair did exactly that, both falling into a deep sleep almost the instant their heads hit the pillow. While Damien's sleep was dreamless, Harry's was not.

Harry groaned as he found himself in a small room in his head that he had created to deal with Voldemort back when he was in Azkaban. It was only a second later when the spirit of his former nemesis appeared in front of him. Growling, Harry checked and rechecked his shields, finding them all intact. Reining in his annoyance and breathing deeply, reminding himself that he was a Jedi and Tom Riddle was a pile of subatomic particles by now, Harry faced the apparition and asked, "What the hell are you doing in my head Tom and how did you get here?"

Voldemort smirked. "I'm not here to harm you Potter, and you can stop trying to throw me out, I will leave when I've delivered my message and not before."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "What is it?" he snapped. Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "I thought the Jedi had more manners than this. I suppose I can't blame you, we were mortal enemies when I was alive. Very well, the message is this, keep an eye on Palpatine."

Harry snorted. "I already do Tom; this is nothing new to me." Voldemort shook his head. "Your suspicions of him are correct Harry; he is a Sith Lord, known as Darth Sidious. I rather admire him actually, if I'd used his path I'd have ruled the world and he rules a bloody galaxy."

Harry stared at his former nemesis in shock. "How do you know this?" he queried sharply. Voldemort laughed. "Really Harry, being dead gives me the secrets of the living of course. I was impressed with your scar acting up round him actually, and your speed in deducing the correct reason for that. If you want your precious Jedi Order to survive I'd suggest creating evacuation plans now. He is very close to moving onto the offensive."

"What about the war?" Harry asked, curious. Voldemort snorted. "The war was a tactic to gain as much power as possible. Those "emergency powers" of his were a major achievement for his plan."

"What plan?" Harry snapped. Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "If I told you the war was only a distraction to keep everyone away from his true goal, and given what you know of his true colors so to speak, what would your deductions be?"

Harry sorted through the information in his mind before his face went white. "As a Sith Lord his aim is to rule the galaxy. He is the leader of the Republic and controls the Senate; the only thing standing in his way is his greatest enemy, the Jedi Order. He'll wipe us out given half a chance."

Voldemort nodded. "Correct. Hence my advice about creating evacuation plans."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you. What assurances do I have that you're speaking the truth though?" His former enemy looked at him quietly. "Search your feelings Harry; you know that what I'm saying is true."

Harry reviewed all the information that Voldemort had given him, searching for the tiniest hint of deception. He found none. Looking at Voldemort again he asked one more question, "Are you actually possessing him to make my scar act up?" Voldemort shook his head. "No Harry I am not. It is all him. Be wary. Oh and one more thing. Sidious is very interested in Skywalker. He will use any means necessary to turn him. If you don't want to lose him, keep him close."

With that last startling bit of advice, Voldemort vanished, leaving Harry unsettled and very uneasy. He tightened and refreshed all his mental defences and checked the bond with Damien, finding his Padawan deeply asleep before falling deeper into sleep himself, his mind turning over the astonishing conversation he'd just had and pondering the future of his home, a future that suddenly seemed decidedly grim.