Manti was woken up by a muffled argument outside of the room.
"You can't be serious, Master! She's likely to be a Separatist spy pulling a trick on us here!"
"Woah, calm down, Snips. It's fine, really."
"Don't tell me she's used some Zeltron spell on you or something. You need to look at the picture more clearer. Since when do we take likely to strangers hiding in the ventilation system? I don't care if she's injured or not, she has no place on this ship!"
"She's done nothing to me, you have nothing to worry about."
"Well, she must have done something to the clones because the boys are talking and I don't like what I'm hearing."
"Ahsoka, listen to yourself. She's been in there all night, and she's still in there now sleeping." Well, she was. "I know what it's like to be trapped on the worst planet you can possibly be stuck on and never get off." He paused before gathering himself. "Plus, can't you feel the Force within her?" His voice was hushed as he now spoke.
"So she's that disturbance I've been feeling?" There was a pause where Manti assumed he was nodding. "So if she's so sensitive, why isn't she backing the Jedi Order?"
"I looked up whatever information I could about her this morning. Apparently she had been confronted as a youngling, but she and her people voted against it. But you know how it is on Zeltros, parties and fun times. But she's different; she's got more fight in her than we give her credit for."
There was a sigh from the Togruta Padawan. "Well, we can't make her join us, Master. You can't just force someone to give up their life for us." Manti heard the door open and she quickly pretended to be asleep. Footsteps sounded nearer until she was sure whoever was in the room was standing right over her. It was only the young learner, minus her Master, in the room. Ahsoka peered down at the supposed sleeping girl and eyed her suspiciously. Her eyes traveled from her long messy red hair over the soft pink skin of her face. The rest of her was concealed by a bantha-skin blanket. Ahsoka sighed and walked away a few steps. She had never met a real Zeltron, but the stories she heard about those people were real life drama. She had never read the stories in the holozines or watched the shows, but she knew Zeltros was where many of the people she encountered went for their vacations, had a few too many drinks, and came home with the wildest stories. She wrinkled her nose at the thought of one of those types of people battling beside her, striking once and then crying over a broken fingernail. Manti heard the other girl turns and exit the room. She opened her eyes at sat up, peeling the blanket off of herself and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Ah, you're awake. Good," said a familiar voice. Kix walked into the room armoured up, carrying his helmet under his arm.
"Good morning, soldier," she said, glancing down at her arm and then to the clone.
"How's the elbow? Still sore?"
"A little. Whatever you did last night worked pretty well," she said, speaking to him, but not looking him in the face. Her eyes glued to the slightly scuffed white armour that covered him. In the alleys of Coruscant there were always the usual tabloids of what was going on with the GAR and the battles in the skies. The whole deal sent her mind on a roller coaster; she was very unsure of everything in this war.
"Don't be too surprised by this battered ol' thing," he said light-heartedly. "There's more than a million out there just like it."
"If you're a medic, why are you dressed in that?"
"We just received orders that there's going to be some sort of Separatist ambush. I'm surprised General Skywalker hasn't come in here to warn you-"
"Oh good, you're awake. Uh, don't be afraid, but we've just detected a Separatist warship coming out of hyperspace," Anakin rushed in.
"Right on time, General," Kix said, nodding to the both of them, and rushed out of the room. Manti looked at the Jedi as if he had two heads.
"I mean, the bad guys are coming to get us?"
"I understand what that means, sir. What can I do to help?" Manti slid off the edge of the bed.
"Not much with that arm of yours all bent out of shape. The most you can do would be to just try and stay out of the way, no offense though."
"None taken. But I'm also assuming hiding in the vents wouldn't be a good place to go?" she winked. He smiled. Anakin enjoyed her sense of humour despite the hardship she had been facing. Suddenly, the ship rocked thunderously, causing both of them to regain their balance.
"Those metal heads are docking," Anakin spat, followed by a curse. He hand reached down to his belt and grabbed his light saber, igniting it. Manti looked at the glowing azure blade in awe.
"Just stay out of trouble!" he called, also running out of the room.
The metal clangs of battle droids approaching were getting closer. Ahsoka stood ready next to her Jedi Master with her hands on the hilts of both of her lightsabers. A small group of the droids turns and started down the hallway. Anakin and Ahsoka both lept out and in a single leap decapitated the heads of each droid. They continued to run down the halls, footsteps echoing as they went.
"Jedi! Get 'em!" a droid called out as the Jedi entered a new hall. Red blaster bolts fired from the droids. Ahsoka deflected each one back with swift movements of her light sabers.
"Rex, we need you!" Anakin said into his wrist comm.
"We're on it, sir. A bit busy right now," Rex said back, the sound of blasters could be heard through the comlink.
"Be careful. We'll be at your position as soon as we can."
"Master, I think we have a problem," Ahsoka called to him, standing at the window. The Separatist ship that had docked was now sending in more and more droids to their ship. "Where did this even come from?"
"I don't know, Snips. But I don't like this," he said, turning to head back down the hall way.
A grumble of robotic voices were heard and three commando droids popped up in front of the two.
"I hate these ones!" Ahsoka grunted, colliding her lightsaber with the droid's vibrosword. Anakin was working against one with a blaster, quickly thrusting his own lightsaber through the chest combine of the droid, drawing back and smoothly sliced diagonally through another. Ahsoka was still having a hard time with hers. She flipped over it and nailed him in the backside, destroying the circuitry. She wiped the sweat from her brow. They rounded another corner and were confronted by surprised destroyer droids.
Today isn't my day, she thought, immediately revolving her blades like a windmill to deflect the oncoming bullets from the droideka.
"Ahsoka, you ever get the feeling that no one wants us to get any rest?" Anakin said what could have been mistaken as a joke.
"Don't use the Force to read my mind now," she joked back. She sprung backwards and headed back down the hall.
"Go make sure everyone is alright, Ahsoka. I'll handle the rollers," Anakin called as his Padawan dashed down the hall.
Back to where we just where, she pressed her lips together. Another group of tanned battle droids made their way down. With a quick Force push they fell down and she continued running down the hall. Almost to Rex's position, a group of super battle droids marched on. She decided to keep quiet on this round and watched where they were headed. Almost mindlessly the slate grey robots filed down the halls on patrol. Perhaps this was just an attempt at hijacking the cruiser? That had to be it, there was too many droids. They had to be expecting to put up a fight.
"I don't think you're supposed to be here," a battle droid crept up on her. "Fire!"
"Roger, roger." And it was back again to the fight. She backed away some, getting her feet steady. Concentrating hard, she threw a few droids to the ground while running her saber through the front line. Almost through this group. One jump, two jumps, three, the lightsaber dragged through the droids and the fight was over. Ahsoka exhaled and slumped her shoulders forward for a quick rest. Where did those super droids head to? She silently peeked her head around the corner and saw them clanging their way towards the infirmary.
She cursed under her breath. That Zeltron girl has no idea what's coming. And with a roll of her eyes, she dashed down the hall. By the time she had reached them, it was almost too late. The droids filled the room and blaster fire could be heard down the hall. Ahsoka slid into the room undetected by the droids and was surprised to see Manti putting up a fight. With one arm, the girl back sprung on top of a droid, then lept off as another accidentally fired a bolt through it. Once back on her feet, she saw her use a Force push on a few. A Force push. Anakin was right about her. She would hate to admit it, but right now Ahsoka needed to trust herself with Manti.
"Hey Zeltron, you ever handle one of these before?" she called, tossing a lightsaber to the other female.
"Nope, but I've always sort of wanted to find out!" Manti called. She pressed down her thumb and ignited the blade. It was a lot heavier than she imagined it would be, but something felt right about the hilt in her hand and she wielded it without trouble. Another spring over and a droid was done. Ahsoka looked towards Manti and nodded, bounding off to the left side of the room while Manti would handle the right. Both girls eagerly slayed through the tough metal of the super droids, and the room was almost silent except for a faint hissing noise as they finished off the last one.
"Not bad," Ahsoka eyed the other girl.
"Thanks, I guess," she shrugged her shoulders.
"Master? How are you handling?" Ahsoka spoke into her wrist, but keeping her eyes on the other girl.
"Almost done here, actually. I'll meet you in the hangar," Anakin's voice responded. Whatever had happened between their separation and now much have been good. Ahsoka turned for the door and Manti followed.
"You stay here," Ahsoka ordered, motioning for the return of her lightsaber. Manti furrowed her brow.
"I'm coming, too," she asserted.
"Fine," she snipped, hauling down the hallway almost too fast for Manti to follow. The Zeltron bounded out after her, her strides almost too graceful for a run. Not fully knowing where to go, she stayed close to Ahsoka's heels until they reached the hangar. They could both see Anakin, Rex, and the rest of the men firing off at a couple stray droids. The Sep ship had undocked and was quickly pulling away. The men knocked down all of the droids left in front of them, but were unaware of the group behind them.
"Behind you!" Manti and Ahsoka yelled in unison. Both ladies jumped, sabers ignited, and slashed through the last few remaining B1's before they had chance to fire. Now safe, the girls let down their guard and stepped over to the others.
"Is everyone okay?" Rex stepped over.
"I think that question rolls more for you all," Ahsoka said. "Girl's gotta save the day every time?"
"Don't let your ego get too big there, my young Padawan," Anakin winked at her. Unsure what to do, Manti stepped forward.
"I thought you were in the infirmary?" Anakin raised a question to the Zeltron, who just now un-ignited the lightsaber blade.
"I guess droids like pretty girls?" She said, hoping to get a laugh out of the group. A few of the clones chuckled and a smile spread across the Jedi's face. Ahsoka crossed her arms defiantly and was handed back her lightsaber.
"I didn't know you could use one of those," Anakin said.
"Neither did I. I guess we both learned something new today," Manti said sheepishly. The wrapped bandage had fallen from her arm somewhere during battle.
"Yeah, she did a decent job, I'd say," Ahsoka smirked. "But there's still a lot of explaining left to do here."