Padawan Neria Halai – Geonosis
Neria deflected another bolt just in time, the shot headed in Tank's direction. The captain was still trying to move their mortars into position, while the Jedi and a squad of clones had parked themselves on top of the dune ahead to give them some cover.
She had been surprised by the steadfast efficiency with which the clone troopers had defeated the small army that had been hoping to take advantage of their leaderless forces. They'd held until Neria had come forth with a plan, then they'd smashed through the droids with little resistance.
That had left the clones with nothing between them and the Separatist outpost, and even though she'd been given no order to attack, she didn't imagine that she'd be chastised for taking out the sole supplier of Separatist forces in the region.
Unfortunately, the outpost was heavily guarded by automated defenses. Turrets occupied nearly every speck of the perimeter, and an anti-aircraft gun in the center practically begged anyone to try to attack the depot from space.
Neria could've easily deployed her army against it. The thousands of clones would've been enough to take it, but the losses would be heavy.
The padawan desperately yearned to be the one to tear down the outpost, to deliver a surprise victory to the Republic without assistance, but all the victory in the galaxy wouldn't matter to the troops who died to see it done the needlessly difficult way. She wouldn't subject the troopers to that kind of mass charge when other options were available.
It was with that in mind that she held her ground, more concerned with keeping the few droids remaining to guard the base occupied than actually trying to break through its defenses.
There was a cry as one of the clone troopers took a laser next to her, crumpling to the ground with a dark hole punched into his armor. One of the battle droids seemed to sense an opportunity, switching targets from Neria to the downed trooper.
"No!" she shouted, thrusting her off-hand out.
The same anger and worry that had driven her to bring her master's lightsaber so quickly to her hand flared again, allowing her to easily will the droid away. The Force flowed through her, eager to see her wish fulfilled.
A startled cry ripped from the droid as it was shoved away, hitting one of its comrades before they both toppled to the ground in a heap.
The Twi'lek leaped to the injured trooper, both lightsabers deflecting as they so often had over the last few hours.
"Troopers!" she shouted, drawing the attention of those behind her. "We've got one down!"
A pair of clones rushed up the slope to drag the clone back to safety as Neria continued to provide peerless protection. Once they were away, she moved to the center again, pausing only when the communicator on her forearm beeped.
"This is Master Luminara." Neria had to strain to hear the voice through all the blaster fire, but it was just barely audible. "Padawan, are you still there? Is everything alright?"
The Jedi glanced back to the troopers behind her, still deflecting with both weapons. Then she reached back with one and gestured to a squad.
"Rancor squad, take up my position!" she shouted, waving them forward with the lightsaber. "I have a call to make!"
"Commander!" they cried in response.
The troopers didn't even hesitate, charging up the dune and going flat on their bellies as she retreated down the slope and to the soldiers below.
"How are we on the mortars, Tank?" she asked the captain as she approached the row of artillery.
"A couple more minutes, Commander, and we'll be ready."
"Good." She lifted the communicator to her mouth. "Master Luminara, this is Padawan Halai. Apologies, I was on the defense, but I copy."
"Padawan, what's the status of your forces? The last transmission had Jedi Kullenan down and your forces scrambling to defend."
"We broke through, and I've led us up to the outpost." She found herself pleased by the disbelieving pause on the other end of the line. "We're preparing artillery to soften their defenses before we mount an attack."
"Did I hear that right? You're already at the outpost?"
"Yes, Master, our troops did quite the job crushing their army."
"Well done. I'm bringing reinforcements." There was a pregnant pause, then she came back on. "Tell me, is there any anti-aircraft weaponry at the base?"
"Yes, Master, they have a turret in the center."
"See if you can bring it down, and that will make this much easier. I'm on my way."
"Understood, Master. Padawan Halai out."
Neria disconnected from the call and looked back to the clones to find them watching her. At first, she thought they were ready, then she noticed that there were still plenty working in back. Apparently noting her confusion, the captain spoke.
"Don't sell yourself short, Commander," Tank told her. "We may have made it here without you, but we would've taken far more casualties if you weren't there to protect us." He turned his head to the trooper she'd defended while his comrades had dragged him away. "Mire may live to fight another day because you were there. He'd have been dead otherwise."
She tried to fight back the pride flowing through her, well aware that it was one of many emotions that tempted those who served the light, but a smile still slipped through.
"Thank you, Captain."
"We're ready, Commander!" a clone called from the artillery line.
"Captain, you're better with coordinates than I'll ever be. Give them a firing solution on the anti-air turret."
"Yes, Commander."
She followed him up the dune, once again providing cover as droids continued to trickle out of the base. He called out coordinates to the clones below, and the weapons fired.
The projectiles landed close to the turret, but none of them seemed to be able to reach into the range they needed. Neria was dispirited for the first couple of salvos, torn between the desire to call the charge or defend before realizing there was a third options.
"Second and sixth platoon, give me cover!" she cried.
Scores of clones rushed past her, leaving the Twi'lek surrounded by a mass of pearly armored bodies. She deactivated her lightsabers and held her hands to the sky as the mortars fired again.
This time, Neria reached out to the projectiles, her desperation and fear both taking hold and allowing her to feel them all. Dozens of small objects awaiting a target, all of them small enough for her to hold in a hand.
She gave them the same kind of push she'd given the droid earlier, launching them from their frozen position in the air and toward the stories-tall turret in the center of the base.
A series of supersonic booms rocked the base, each blast setting off one after another in the turret as flames raced up the side. One final blast, and the turret was no more than a twisted heap of machinery sitting useless in the base.
Neria heard the Y-Wings coming before she saw them, and she ordered her soldiers back behind the dunes as the bombs began to fall.
The Jedi kept her hands over her ears, but she couldn't miss the shaking under her feed or the dull thud of each blast as the sound still made its way through her hands.
By the time it was over, she retook her position to find most the turrets gone and all but a handful of droids still operable.
"Forward, troopers!" She shouted.
As one cheering mass, the troopers flooded over the dune, a seemingly never-ending river of soldiers. She let them pass, allowing them to have their moment without her help.
A whirring of sound overhead, and Neria didn't even have to look up to feel the sudden wellspring of power descending on her. When a figure dressed in black landed in front of her, she immediately moved to the side of the Jedi Master to cover her flank.
The Mirialan paid Neria little mind, eyes on the battle ahead. When she realized that the clones were taking care of the base without a hint of difficulty, she turned to the padawan.
"Did you have difficulty with the turret?"
"No, Master. I had to guide the mortars to get them there, but the soldiers kept me protected while I did so."
"Really, you've learned to actually use the Force beyond simple dueling?"
"I have, but..."
"But?"
"I can only reach for it when I fear for my life or when I'm angry." Noticing a foreboding frown beginning to form, she hurried to explain. "I know, Master, I know, but it was the only way to defend myself." She looked back at the clones. "And the only way I could stop so many clones from dying."
"That may be, but such is the temptation of the Dark Side," the master said. "Almost always used with the best of intentions the first few times, and always far too easy to rely upon until you find it all you know." She sighed. "At least you're learning, and we can explore how to channel that knowledge in a way keeping with our tenets."
"Yes, Master."
The Mirialan looked past her to the base below, where the clones were already beginning to take stock of their injured and wounded.
Master Luminara shook her head, black headdress swaying with each movement. "This is the third time, Padawan," she said. "I've been on this planet three times, now, fighting the same battle with little variation again and again. Why does it never want to remain calm? Why do they always continue to rebel?"
"I...don't know, Master."
"Worry not, young one, it seems to be a question without answer by now. We've all lost too much to this war. Knights, Masters...Padawans." She seemed momentarily distracted, then she shook her head and turned her attention back to Neria. "I'm to understand that you reported a Sith here?"
"Yes, Master," she answered, gesturing back to the camp. "He and another man killed Master Kullenan, and they almost killed me. He had a red lightsaber, and he could use the Force."
"And did he duel Master Kullenan?"
"No, he distracted him so that the other could shoot him in the back."
"Doubtful that he was a true Sith, then," she said, thumb scratching against the dark markings on her chin. "An assassin trained in the Force, perhaps, but not the real thing." She looked up and, noting the disbelieving gaze of the padawan, elaborated. "I've fought a Sith before, young Padawan. An apprentice. On even footing, I could not beat her."
"I see."
The padawan found herself dispirited. Both that there was a more difficult fight out there than the assassin that had nearly claimed her life, and that the master had so easily dismissed what was the young Jedi's greatest moment.
The Mirialan seemed to notice her gloom. A soft look lit onto her face.
"The Jedi Council will be no less impressed for it, Padawan. Fighting off assassins is still no easy task, especially for one so tenuous at utilizing the Force. Not to mention fighting off the droid army and seizing the momentum to lead your soldiers to victory." She looked down at the weapon in Neria's off-hand. "Is that his?"
"Yes, Master. It feels...wrong, somehow, having his weapon, but it still called to me."
"Indeed, may I see it?"
Neria laid the weapon in Master Luminara's palm. The master closed her eyes, and the weapon floated off her palm and hung suspended in the air. With a sudden series of rapid clicks, the lightsaber seemed to fall apart, pieces stripped from its shell as it was disassembled.
"Master!"
"Easy, Padawan." Her eyes opened, their blue gaze on the yellow crystal. "Ah, it's not quite ready for you." With a sly turn of the lips, she looked down at Neria. "You must open yourself to it, I suspect. Still, you were right, young one. The crystal calls to you, but the weapon is not meant for your hand. Take it, and the weapon will be returned to his side to be burned with him."
The Twi'lek reached out and plucked the crystal from the air before the weapon started to reassemble. It practically sang to her, lulled her. Master Luminara had been right, the crystal truly did call to her. She wondered that she had never heard it before.
"Thank you, Master."
"I'll take care of the cleanup and instillation of a garrison down here. Again. You should report back to the Jedi Council."
"Yes, Master."
"And Padawan?" A small smile graced her green lips as she palmed the now-assembled weapon. "You did far more than was expected of you. Jedi Kullenan would be proud."
"Thank you, Master."
It was the highest praise Neria had ever received, and though she was warned to resist the poisonous effects of pride, her head was held high as she traipsed to the descending transports.