Chapter 12
You Promised!
Rex POV
I got everyone loaded into the gunships, except for Cody and Barriss. I had decided to let them stay here and… finish up.
I still can't believe I walked in on them and saw Barriss… I pushed that thought away. But you have to admit, she has a nice body.
I almost threw up when I heard that one though. I caught myself though, and I boarded the gunships along with the rest of my brothers. I activated a hologram and showed the troops the layout of the fortress. "Now guys, we'll be part of the rendezvous group, along with three other gunships. The rest of the ships will cause a distraction that'll draw attention away from the eastern part of the sector, which is where we'll meet up with General Skywalker and Commander Tano, who will have the prisoners ready to pick up. Does everyone understand?"
All of the clones nodded and saluted. I yelled to the pilot we were ready to commence the attack. The pilot gave me a thumbs-up and launched the ship.
We took off toward the planet's surface and reached the jungles within minutes. My gunship and two others veered off from the other gunships course and went toward the eastern sector.
By now, I was feeling pretty confident about the mission, so I didn't notice the hidden weapons coming out of the trees and rocks. They started firing at us and I yelled," Take evasive action!"
The pilot did as he was told and flew around trying to evade the fire. I looked out the open doors and saw one of the gunships being shot down. Only two left.
A blast from one of shots interrupted my thoughts and threw me and most of the clones off the gunship. I almost fell to the ground but a hand grabbed my wrist. "Better be careful next time, Captain," said a voice. I looked up to see it was Fives.
He pulled me up and I said," Thanks, Fives. Are we the only ones left?"
Fives nodded and said," Us and the pilot. By the way the other gunship was shot down as well." My face went grim at this thought. This gunship might not be able to hold all the people we were going to pick up. Fives must've thought the same because he said," Don't worry. We'll be able to make this work."
The rest of the ride was pretty hectic, with us almost being shot down many times. Finally, the fortress came into view. "Fives, are you ready?" I asked. Fives nodded and we prepared ourselves for what was to come.
Lux POV
When I saw the gunship in the distance, I could've yelled out of happiness that everyone was getting out of here, but I remembered that Tyler wasn't coming with us. I looked sadly over at him and remembered all the times we had played catch together and gotten in trouble because we had broken father's favorite speeders when we raced them with our friends. I smiled a little at this.
Father was always the strict one, but Tyler and I had loved him the same. It had taken a toll on both of us when he had died. I felt a hand on my shoulder and discovered it to be Tyler's. "Listen, Lux. I've considered what you said earlier about me coming with you guys, and I think I should come. It's not good for you to be without a brother or sister at this point in time."
I stared at him in shock and then hugged him. "I'm glad you're coming. Now remember to show respect to the clones. They're the ones rescuing us from this living hell," I said and Tyler nodded. I turned away from him and looked at Ahsoka. She smiled at me and grasped my hand.
"Lux, do you promise that both of us will get out of here?" she asked.
I leaned toward her and said," I promise." When I said this though, I felt as if someone had just walked on my grave. I shook my head and looked out toward the gunship.
It was almost here and I smiled. We were gonna make it out of here. In no time at all the gunship had landed here and I saw Rex looking out at us, along with another clone. "Well, come on. Get in! This place gives me the creeps!" Rex said, as we got on. "Pilot, get us outta here!"
The pilot pressed a button, but nothing happened. "Yo, Kyle. I said let's get out of here!"
"We can't, sir. The gunship is trying to support too much weight!" When I heard this, I almost passed out. That statement just meant that one of us would have to get out.
I heard something come from the air vents. "Guys, I think the droids just found our little hiding place!" I said. All heads turned to the vent. "I think that one of us is gonna have to get out."
Kyle said to Rex," He's right, sir. The ship is ready. All it needs is a little less weight." Rex shook his head and looked around for some cargo to release, but I knew that one of us was going to have to get off.
I looked at Tyler, Padme, and the advisors. They couldn't leave because they had info that could be used against the Confederacy. I looked to Anakin and the clones. They had a war to fight so not them. Finally, Ahsoka. I would never let her face a prison like this. She actually had a life to live and I loved her.
I then realized that the only one that could get off was… me. I looked to Tyler and said to him," Tyler, I need you to look after Ahsoka for me." Tyler looked at me strange but then realized.
"Lux, you can't be serio- "
I cut him off with a wave off my hand. I hugged him and he sighed in defeat. "Be careful, little bro."
Ahsoka watched me with curiosity and when she heard this, she said," Lux, no, you are no-"
I cut her off like I did with Tyler and said," Ahsoka, I hope you know that I love you and I'm only doing this because I love you." I then kissed more passionately than I had ever kissed her.
We broke apart and I stepped out of the ship. Ahsoka screamed," LUX!" but I didn't pay attention. Ahsoka lunged for me, but Anakin, Padme, Rex, and Tyler held her back. Rex yelled for the pilot to take off and I watched as the ship lifted off the ground.
At that moment, the droids finally broke through the air ducts, but I hardly cared. All I could think of or hear was Ahsoka, she being almost a hundred yards away by now, screaming," You promised!" over and over again.
I didn't notice anything at that point except for Ahsoka. I didn't notice the blaster shots that hit me in the shoulder or the leg. I didn't notice the pain I felt when I hit the ground. I didn't notice the droids picking me up. All I noticed was Ahsoka.
"I love you, Ahsoka," were the last words that came out of my mouth.