Chapter 12 is here.
TURMOIL IN THE OUTER RIM!
LOCATED NEAR A MAJOR HYPERSPACE LANE, THE PLANET FELUCIA IS CAUGHT IN AN UNENDING BATTLE BETWEEN REPUBLIC AND SEPARATIST FORCES.
CLONE TANK DIVISIONS MAKE A VALINT PUSH DEEP INTO SEPARATIST-CONTROLLED TERRITORY, LED BY ANAKIN SKYWALKER, HIS PADAWAN, AHSOKA TANO AND REVAN.
GENERAL GRIEVOUS, LEARNING OF THE IMPENDING JEDI ATTACK, HAS DISPATCHED REINFORCEMENTS TO ONE OF HIS DROID OUTPOSTS, HOPING TO SECURE HIS GRIP ON THE SYSTEM...
The Jedi and troopers hid on a ridge not far from a droid outpost that a Separatist ship just landed in. "Droid reinforcements have just arrived." Plo said, looking through his macrobinoculars for a moment. "We should break into three groups to divide their defenses. I'll take the left flank. Skywalker, Revan, you attack the front gate. Ahsoka, you scale the back wall. We'll meet in the middle." the Master said as the group stood up from their crouched positions. "Okay scouts, find me a way down there. Quiet like." Anakin said to the two Felucians. "Going to the front gate won't be easy." Ahsoka pointed out. "Hey you have it tougher going over that wall." he retorted. "You taught me well. I can handle anything." she replied with a confident smirk before walking away. "Don't get cocky." he warned lightly.
Revan silently trailed behind Ahsoka and her group of clones while they made their way through shrubbery and towards the back of the outpost when she suddenly stopped. "Hold up." she said, before Comet held his fist up and the other two stopped as well. "I sense something out there." she said a second later. "A droid?" he asked. "I don't think so. Probably just an animal." she replied. 'I sense it too, but I don't think it's an animal.' "Come on, we've gotta get to that wall." she said after looking around for a few seconds. "Stay alert men, let's move." Comet said to his brothers as they started walking behind Ahsoka again.
Once they reached the back wall Plo contacted her and Anakin. "Skywalker, Ahsoka, are you in position?" he asked. "Ready and waiting, Master Plo. Though we lost Revan." Anakin replied. "We're in position, and Revan's with us." she replied, smiling at her boyfriend. A few seconds later they heard the AT-TEs cannons firing and looked up to see the blasts heading towards the outpost, a moment later they heard blasterfire and Ahsoka gave the clones a signal. Comet and the other two shot down the two droids on the top of the wall before Ahsoka ran up to it. "Comet, Sinker, Boost, get up there." she ordered, as her and Revan activated their sabers to defend against any droids that might come along while the clones used their cables to get up the wall. "We're all clear, come on up." Comet told them from the top of the wall. "We'll be right there." she assured before turning her attention back to the fungus trees. The couple didn't see the Trandoshan until it was too late and he shot an electro-net at them, pinning them to the wall and electrocuting them for a moment before they passed out.
Revan came to when he heard Anakin's voice speaking over Ahsoka's com and noticed they were both locked in a small cage and the same Trandoshan standing on a walkway just above it. "Ahsoka, state your location. Ahsoka, Revan, come in. Are you there? Can you hear me? Guys, come in. Where could they be? Can you hear me?" he said urgently. "You won't be needing these." the Trandoshan said before crushing their coms and laughing. "Hey. What is this place? Who are these pirates?" she asked a male Snivvian, who was trapped in another cage. "These are Trandoshans. They're going to release us and hunt us down for sport." he replied. "Hunt us down?" she said before sitting back down and grunting in frustration.
The ship suddenly shook and the bottom of the cages opened, dropping them onto a shore before it flew a few feet ahead. The Jedi and others immediately ran for cover when a turret opened fire on them. One managed to get killed before the turret focused on the couple when a searchlight hovered over them. The two ran behind some trees and the turret focused back on the others. Revan and Ahsoka ran a bit deeper into the forest and stopped to look around when a young human female, a young Cerean male and a young Twi'lek male, around their age, landed behind them."You need to come with us." the female urged before the three started to make their way through the forest. "Who are you?" Ahsoka demanded as they only made it a few steps. "We used to be Jedi younglings." she answered.
The Jedi and old youngling made their way along a long branch that led into a cave that was part of an enormous tree. "We never stood a chance. They attacked us on a training mission." the Twi'lek said. "We were captured and brought here." the female explained. "Why would they take younglings?" Ahsoka wondered. "Because Jedi Knight's are too powerful for them." the Twi'lek answered. 'Great. Now I feel like i'm weak.' the Knight grumbled mentally. "I'm Kalifa." the human female introduced herself. "This is O-Mer." she gestured to the Cerean. "And Jinx." she gestured to the Twi'lek before turning her attention to the couple. "Who are you?" she asked. "I'm Ahsoka and this is Revan." Ahsoka introduced them. Revan noticed the lack of surprised looks. 'Finally. Someone who doesn't know my ancestor.'
"We were captured during the Battle of Felucia. I'm a padawan learner. What's the situation here?" Ahsoka asked. "You'd better sit down." Kalifa suggested before they sat around a small fire that was a foot off the ground and in a small pan. "We were taken by those foul lizards for their amusement. Be hunted, killed and mounted on their wall as trophies." she explained. "We've been stuck here for more rotations than we can count. No one has come for us. I doubt anyone is still looking." O-Mer said, shaking his head solemnly. "chew on that padawan, then rest. You'll need your strength." Jinx said from where he was resting.
The next morning Revan woke up just as Kalifa was trying to wake Ahsoka. "Ahsoka, it's time to go." she said, shaking the other girl gently. "What's happened?" the padawan asked, looking around for a few seconds. "The sun's almost up, which means we clear out." the girl answered before the three walked to the exit. "Where do you go?" Ahsoka asked. "We keep moving, and keep those disgusting hunters from picking up our scent." the other girl replied as they reached the other two. "That's your plan?" Ahsoka asked. "If you really are a padawan you would know that there is wisdom in experience. We've been here longer. You will learn if you listen, and only if you listen." Kalifa said before the three took off after the other two.
After reaching the ground the group made their way through the forest carefully. "Get down. Someone's coming." Kalifa warned quietly before they stared crawling on their hands and knees. They hid on a ledge as two people who were locked in those cages passed below them. "Those two came in with us, we should help them." Ahsoka said. "No. It's too late." Kalifa replied, placing a hand on her arm for a second to stop her. A moment later the Snivvian from earlier was suddenly killed and the four noticed two Trandoshans in a hover pod. The Terrelian Jango Jumper jumped away from the lizards before running off. Ahsoka stood up and Kalifa stopped her again before they both crouched down once more. The Trandoshans hovered a bit higher as the Terrelian was jumping through the trees, when she was suddenly shot through the back. Ahsoka gasped silently as the saw what had happened.
Kalifa gestured for them to follow and Ahsoka glared at the Trandoshans before she and Revan followed the other three. "We could've stopped them." Ahsoka pointed out in a hard tone. "I could've killed those slimy lizards if you had let us get closer." Revan shot in agreement with his girlfriend. "No you two. We're not saviours here. Here we are survivors. If they had spotted us, we'd be dead now." Kalifa said as they walked on a large branch. "We'll never get out of here if we just keep hiding." Ahsoka argued. "We have to act." she insisted as the other three sat down on the branch. "There were other padawans here, that once thought as you do now." Jinx said. "Alright, where are they?" she asked. "They dead!" Kalifa suddenly snapped while standing and folding her arms. "Just because they failed. Doesn't mean, we will." Ahsoka replied.
"You don't understand. It's not that we don't want to fight. We're younglings, they have every advantage." O-Mer said before sighing. Ahsoka looked at them before hopping onto a lower branch, followed by her boyfriend. "Get back here!" Kalifa said urgently as she jumped on the same branch. Ahsoka looked at her boyfriend before turning back to the other girl after he nodded. "We can't do that. My master would never forgive me for running and hiding in a situation like this." Ahsoka replied before turning around. "Do not overestimate your abilities." Kalifa warned. "I'm not." Ahsoka replied simply before the couple started to descend using the branches. "Don't!" Kalifa exclaimed, trying to stop them again.
The two Jedi landed on the ground and started moving through the forest. "Here, lizard lizard. Come and find us." she called out, hoping they'd hear her. The couple quickly turned around and saw a Trandoshan about to shoot at them. Revan lifted him in a Force Choke before slamming him to the ground and releasing him. The lizard shook his head clear and attempted to slash them with his claws. Ahsoka jumped on his back and he quickly ripped her off before tossing her into Revan, knocking the wind out her boyfriend. The lizard chuckled darkly and grabbed his gun, but before he could shoot, the Trandoshan was lifted into the air by a Force Choke from Kalifa who was behind him.
"Kalifa! Don't kill him out of hatred. It's not the Jedi way." Ahsoka said gently while lowering the other girl's hand softly. Ahsoka gave the girl a smile when the lizard started to roar, signalling the others. Revan quickly killed him with a Force Choke before glaring at Kalifa. "If you had just killed him, he wouldn't have called the others!" he snarled, causing the girl to flinch. "Revan!" Ahsoka scolded while glaring at him. "No, Ahsoka! They've got to learn to kill their opponent! No wonder the Order is failing, you're all too soft!" he snapped. "The others will be coming." he warned a bit more gently, picking up the blaster before the group took off.
The group ran back to where they had stayed the previous night and Revan handed the rifle to Ahsoka before sitting at the entrance to the hollowed to area in the tree. "I don't understand. Why wont this thing work." she said with a slight frustrated tone while pressing the trigger. "The Trandoshans deactivate the blasters if you take them. That is why none of us have any." Jinx explained before Ahsoka tossed the rifle behind her. "It's been a long time since the Trandoshans captured any padawans and brought them here." Kalifa said. "Thanks." she said sarcastically. "I didn't mean it as an insult. I meant it as a sign. A mistake on their part. Ahsoka, your energy, your strength. It's what we've been lacking. We were beginning to lose hope and forgot who we are." the other girl said. "And who are you?" the Togruta girl asked. "We are Jedi." she replied.
"Alright, we need a strategy." Ahsoka said. "So, what do you suggest?" Jinx asked. "What about a base. I mean, they must have a compound or something, right?" Ahsoka asked. "Not that we've ever seen." Kalifa answered. "So where do the come from?" Ahsoka wondered. "We don't know. We've only witnessed them hunting and in their hoverpods." the other girl replied. "If we're going to go on the offensive, we need to find out where they live. We'll start covering ground tomorrow." Ahsoka said before the three went to their respective sleeping places.
Ahsoka looked at her boyfriend and was still a bit mad at him but decided to try talking to him. "I'm sorry for snapping at you." he apologized softly as she sat beside him. "I admit you're right, it's best to take your opponent out so they can't do anything worse, just not…" she started. "So brutal." he finished for her, earning a nod. "Ahsoka… I can't change who I am, not that easily at least. Plus, I can't just promise not to kill anymore." he replied, before holding his hand up to stop her from replying. "But I can promise to only kill if it's absolutely necessary or with your permission." he promised. Ahsoka gently took his mask off and set it on the ground before kissing him softly.
The next morning the group was walking through a small path free from any trees before stopping to rest after checking the beach and some of the briar on their current side of the island. "We've already covered the beach area and most of the briar on this side of the bay." Jinx said. "If it was easy to find, you guys would've found it before we got here." she said with a slight chuckle and small smirk. "True enough." he agreed, smiling slightly. "Maybe we should try more inland." Ahsoka suggested. "It's worth a shot." Kalifa agreed. "Guys, I think we're looking in the wrong place." O-Mer said while looking up. The rest followed his line of vision and saw a huge ship come out of the clouds. "That's their fortress." he said. "Split up!" Kalifa ordered before she, Ahsoka and Revan ran in one direction while the other two ran in another.
Revan and the two girls weaved through and jumped on branches as laserfire flew past them. "Kalifa!" Ahsoka cried as the branch the other girl was standing broke after getting hit by a bolt. The girl hit a few branches before falling on the ground. "We have to hurry!" Revan urged before the two started heading towards their friend. "Not so impressive, are you? And yet you have the honour of being my first Jedi kill. First of many, I hope." the Trandoshan said, preparing to shoot Kalifa. Ahsoka dropped down and kicked him onto his back before he quickly recovered and shot at her. Ahsoka jumped to dodge and Kalifa ran for cover while Ahsoka used the Force to push the gun to the left. The lizard attempted to shoot again but she did the same thing, only moving it right before he attempted to hit her with it. Ahsoka kicked him in the face and he kicked her legs out from beneath her before attempting to crush her head. 'My turn.'
Revan dropped down as the lizard grabbed her ankle as she tried getting away from him before grabbing him by the back of his shirt and tossing him away from her. The Trandoshan turned and roared at the Knight as they circled each other. Ahsoka nodded at her boyfriend, giving him permission to kill. "Let's dance, Bozo." Revan taunted before they locked hands and tried pushing the other towards the edge. "Good thing i'm wearing a mask, otherwise you'd be ugly and smelly." the Knight mocked before pretending to sniff. "Oh, wait never mind. You already are." he insulted, earning another roar.
Revan pushed harder before suddenly letting up and using the lizard's surprise and momentum to flip him onto his back before straddling his chest and bashing the Trandoshan's face in with his robot hand. Some blood sprayed on the Knight's mask and his fist was covered in it before using the lizard's daze to lift him up then turn him around. Revan used the Force and all his strength to ram his robot hand into the Trandoshan's back and rip his spine out. "I know, I know. That was pretty brutal. You can chastise me later, for now we better make sure Kalifa is okay." Revan said, dropping the spine before the two went to find her.
"Careful." Ahsoka warned gently as she wrapped the girl's good arm around her shoulders. "It's okay, I can make it." she assured as they took a few steps before a blaster bolt suddenly went through her chest. "Kalifa!" Ahsoka cried in horror. Revan quickly helped move her behind a tree before setting her down gently. "You're doomed! There's no escape! I'll hunt you down!" another Trandoshan roared from somewhere in the forest. Ahsoka barely moved her head back behind the tree as a bolt clipped the bark. "Kalifa, we have to move. Hurry." she urged the other girl. "Please, leave me." she begged, breathing heavily. "We won't, Revan can you heal her?" she asked.
Revan held his hands just above the wound and tried healing her. "I can't, the bolt went through. Only an experienced healer, like Barriss could." he said, shaking his head. "You have to leave. Please take care of-" she cut off with more heavy breathing. "We'll take care of the others." Ahsoka promised softly. "I know you will." she replied softly, taking a few more gasps before passing away. The couple gently leaned her body against the tree. "Rest in peace, Kalifa. The Force is with you." Revan said softly as the two stood up. "I'll kill you! You killed my son! I'll kill you! You can't hide from me!" the Trandoshan yelled and roared as the couple ran off in search of the other two.
Chapter done.