A.N.
Decided to upload this one a little early. Enjoy!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 2- The Kluurf Plants
Little sunlight broke through the canopies of Toledo. Everything was grimy and wet. Even the clone troopers struggled to walk without getting their boots stuck in mud, which meant it was particularly difficult for those who were wounded.
Ahsoka didn't allow that to spoil her day, though. She stepped out of her bunker stretching her arms out with a smile, then straightened her Akul-tooth headdress. By smiling she hoped to liven up the mood around her but, obviously, that was having no effect.
The few clones that didn't wear a frown seemed to be the only ones who bothered to put their helmets on. And even then, their body language didn't indicate a particularly positive attitude.
Ahsoka's smile faded as she sighed, she can't blame them. Yesterday's defeat must've really taken a toll on their morale. And they had such high hopes, too.
She looked to the side, where a rather muddy looking clone sat on an ammo crate with his eyes closed and a broken up helmet in his hands, his own helmet was beside him, she could tell by the markings that matched his amour. She assumed the helmet in his hands belonged to a comrade that died in the last battle.
She walked over to him and crouched, placing a hand on his shoulder. She drew on positive energy from the Force and smiled till he turned and countered her with a grimace, as though his sorrowful eyes blasted bolts of anger and hate at her.
She stood and backed away, deciding to leave him to his grief, if not for her own good.
That was when she spotted her Master, a few paces away, standing in the jungle clearing where several LAAT Gunships were grounded and some sunlight made its way through the thick canopies. Rex was also there conversing with him, probably going over more procedures; she never really knew what they talked about.
It was always a relief to listen to Anakin. He always seemed to boost morale in his men and brighten things up by saying the right thing or knowing exactly what to do in times like these. It's probably the only reason she could think of for picking up speed to see him right now.
Rex saluted and jogged off somewhere as she stepped in and caught his attention, "Morning Ahsoka, did you sleep well?"
"As well as anyone did." She mumbled while glancing back at the mourning clone then turning to face her Master again, "So, what's going on? You and Rex seem excited about something."
Anakin peered with his binoculars through the canopies, "We're expecting some help coming in soon."
"Cody?" she guessed.
"Even better."
Her hands jerked up with joy, "Obi-Wan?"
This time Anakin lowered the instrument and smirked at her, "Not that good. But close."
Close? Who could be close enough for Anakin to be hopeful about as much as Obi-Wan? Unless it was one of the High Council Masters, but they're all too busy on other battlefronts, weren't they? Last she heard Master Windu was overlooking defenses somewhere in the Mid-Rim, Yoda was as well. Master Plo and Kit Fisto are fighting in the Outer-Rim, along with Ki-Adi Mundi and Luminara. Not that she'd be too excited to see her anyway.
Ahsoka didn't mind whoever it is, as long as they come in and fix this mess. Of course, they could've been better prepared had the invasion not been an emergency operation. She didn't get much from the briefing, but from what she understood, there was some valuable resource on Toldeo that the Republic could not afford to allow to fall into Separatist hands.
The head of the factories on the planet was always believed to be loyal to the Republic, until he betrayed them for better profit with the Confederacy and its partner companies. Whatever this resource is, it seems to be worth fighting for.
Anakin's voice drew Ahsoka out of her thoughts, "Here he comes now."
The roar of a Republic LAAT Gunship echoed over the canopies, blowing mud and leaves everywhere as its hull gleamed in the sunlight and settled beneath the shadows of the jungle trees. Clone soldiers and technicians from all sides rushed over to its side, running routine checks and securing its landing.
Anakin and Ahsoka joined them and stood opposite the side doors till they opened and revealed a middle aged man, dressed in the usual white Jedi tunic and brown robe. His face was a pale white with a brush beard, shorter than Obi-Wan's by a pinch but messier, thick brows with dark brown eyes. As he approached them with a wide smile it was evident Anakin was much taller.
"Master Jorandeel!" Anakin embraced him with a friendly hug.
"Now, now Anakin," he pulled back patting his shoulder and chuckling, "How many times have I told you? It's just Forn."
"Well, you know how The Council is about formalities."
Forn huffed, "Formalities. That's exactly what lead us to this mess."
Anakin opened his mouth to speak before he was interrupted by a sharp nudge to his side and a casually feigned cough from his padawan.
"Oh. Excuse me, Forn." Anakin guided Ahsoka forward with a smirk, raising the pitch of his voice in laid-back excitement, "Please, let me introduce you to my apprentice!"
Forn gave her a welcoming grin and stretched out his hand, "Why, hello there, young one!"
She shook his hand with a polite smile and remained quiet.
"Ahsoka, this is an old friend of mine. He was the first to make me feel welcome in the Temple," Anakin eyed Forn humorously, "and of course, he helped me a lot around the training grounds."
Forn laughed, "Let's not forget, Anakin, it was your fault we needed to find those 'hard-to-reach' places!"
Ahsoka frowned in confusion as Anakin laughed, "Please Forn, not in front of the padawan."
"Whatever you say." Forn glanced behind him towards the shuttle, "And of course, I believe I should introduce you to my padawan."
Anakin's eyes widened, "Your padawan?"
A young, skinny, tan skinned boy with long, black, spiky hair approached them from beside the ship, dressed in a Jedi tunic with Clone boots and chest armor, similar to that of Obi-Wan's.
Forn went on as the boy approached, "The Jedi Council was hesitant to give me an apprentice, but they finally went ahead with it. I like you to meet, Ross Pedrick."
Ross bowed courteously and spoke, "It's an honor to meet you, Master Skywalker."
"Likewise, young padawan." Anakin offered a smile and put a hand on the boy's shoulder, glancing at Forn, "Congratulations on a great job. You've raised a great student!"
"Indeed I have." Forn nodded.
Anakin turned to the boy, "So, where are you from Ross?"
"I'm from Corellia. I used to help my dad run rail carts as a little boy before Master Saesee Tiin found me and took me to the Temple."
"And so you found your way to Master Jerandeel."
"It wasn't easy." Forn interrupted.
"No," Ross went on, "They thought I was a little too old. But, I guess when they saw I was a quick learner, and thanks to my master's persistence, I was let through."
"You don't say!" Anakin razzed. Ahsoka noticed the bright sparkle in his eyes, he was clearly starting to like the newcomer. Despite being Anakin's apprentice, Ahsoka very rarely got a passing mention in a conversation, let alone credit, recognition or respect, for that matter.
Regardless of that, Anakin went on, "I'd love to hear more about your missions."
"Oh, we'll be sure to tell you all about them, right Ross?" winked Forn.
"Yes, master."
Forn rubbed the boy's hair playfully, "Even after all our experiences together, my young boy hasn't once allowed his discipline to falter."
"A very common predicament with young padawans." Anakin laughed.
Ahsoka didn't.
-----------------------------------------------------
"The plants on Toledo are unlike any other in the galaxy, Anakin." Forn crouched and brushed his hand over blue and yellow petals found deep between the large red leaves of a short thick stem. He used a utensil to cut a sample and stood to inspect it, "These particular ones can't fall in the hands of the Seps."
Anakin monitored from a few steps back, they had walked around the camp for several minutes reminiscing old times and going over recent experiences, although not surprisingly, Anakin did most of the talking.
Their padawans each went their own way. Anakin wondered for a moment about Ahsoka, she seemed quieter than usual ever since his friend arrived.
"What's so dangerous about these plants?" he asked.
"No one knows yet." Forn turned around and placed the petals in his pouch, "But Republic Intelligence believes that General Darjeeling has made a breakthrough that might aid the Separatists in the war, and quite effectively too."
Skywalker walked closer and caressed a leaf of the plant, "How do they know this?"
"Darjeeling has been doing research on these plants and many others long before the war. He believed the Kluurf petals had especially powerful effects, but his company suffered a lot in the last years, especially with the political unrest." Forn sighed, remembering the years before the war, "By the time Dooku showed up, he became more and more tempted to join his side and exchange his research for political status."
"And Dooku accepted his offer?"
Jerandeel shrugged, "Some say a mere week before he disappeared he came across something that caught Dooku's attention, no one knows what that was; he destroyed the evidence as soon as he defected."
"Great." Anakin crossed his arms and shook his head, a glum look on his face.
"Don't worry, Anakin. We've gone through much worse than this." Forn wasn't always the positive talker, so that came to Anakin as a surprise. But, then again, this war has brought about a lot of surprises.
"These things compound to make bigger problems, Forn. For the past few months it seems Dooku is always a step ahead of us. And don't even get me started on Grievous."
"Come now, old friend," Forn put an arm around Anakin, pulling him along to the camp, "I believe it's lunch time. How about you tell me more about that old droid on Ruusan, eh?"
Anakin rolled his eyes, "Don't remind me."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A.N.
I'd like to thank Cylon One, my brother Tenkan, Jess (twice?), Timewatch, Mo Angel, for their kind reviews and a special thanks to AhsokaTano for her lengthy review and friendly constructive criticism.
A bit of trivia:
Yes, Forn is a play on the word thorn. And 'Darjeeling' is a type of tea. Very tasty.
The "droid on Ruusan" story is a reference to R3's betrayal in the Clone Wars episode, "Duel of The Droids". ;)