Author's Note: This chapter is for the Elven-Spear, who was kind enough to leave me the prompt! Thank you!
Smile
Debate.
"Yes, but the focusing crystal's diametric energy transfer rate is 6.398% higher than that of blaster gas."
As though to punctuate the importance of her statement, Ahsoka batted away a fresh volley of red blaster bolts aimed at her.
"Doesn't matter. Blaster gas's long distance projection capability is of higher magnitude than that of your focusing crystal."
And, to make his point, Rex took aim and fired, nailing one of the approaching battle droids squarely between its optical sensors.
"That's just a fancy way of saying you can hit things long range," Ahsoka retorted, backflipping off one of the cargo crates they were using as cover and slipping around Rex, to better cover his left side, where a series of SBD's were slowly clanking their way closer.
Ahsoka spun, the green arc of her lightsaber humming brightly as she returned one of the red blasts, striking the nearest of the SBD's in the chest area and burning a hole in it. "And I can hit things long range, too," she added with a wicked little grin, in a moment between one strike and the next.
They weren't pinned down – not really. They were just waiting for Skywalker and Kenobi to get back, before they could all happily jump into the Twilight and take off. Unfortunately, about fifteen minutes into the mission, the Seps realized they were not a regular freighter delivering mechanical parts. So, for the last six or seven minutes, they'd been on the defensive, trying to make sure they had a ship to escape on, once Skywalker, Kenobi, or both managed to get the tractor beams down. The periodic explosions that could be felt through the ship were a good sign that the Jedi were still running around somewhere in the battle cruiser.
They were returning fire successfully, so far. Ahsoka, Rex, and a handful of other troopers managed to establish a perimeter, and were exchanging red bolts with blue, Ahsoka twirling merrily along the top of crates to do what she could to cover any gaps in the defense.
Still, they couldn't go anywhere until the Generals were back, and within such contained quarters, it was getting a little boring, shooting droids like they were in a gallery.
Behind his helmet, Rex grinned, keeping an eye on the defensive line as well as Ahsoka's whirling among them.
"Besides," she added, when she next moved close to him, "the flux manager is a lot simpler on my lightsaber, so it's much less prone to malfunction."
"Your lightsaber has a flux manager?"
"Of course. The control flange functions both as a beam limiter and a flux manager. It keeps the energy from fluctuating upon exit of the hilt."
She vaulted upward, then darted forward, low, cutting down a couple of B1's that had gotten a little too close. A fresh barrage headed outward, redoubling efforts at stopping the slow tide of droids. Despite doing well, they were on a Sep ship; they couldn't hold out forever.
Rex dropped to one knee, angling himself behind the crate beside him as he reached for a fresh tibanna cartridge from his utility belt.
In the two seconds it took for him to discard his blaster rifle's cartridge and replace it with a new one, Ahsoka had planted herself squarely in front of him, both her lightsaber and smaller shoto lit and deflecting blasts. "And one more thing?" she added with a grin, "I don't have to reload."
Then, with the ease born from much practice, they moved at the same time, him rising to his feet and taking aim at the same moment she ducked aside to let him pass. She tilted her head, still grinning up at him, this time with a hint of victory in her eyes. After all, he couldn't argue with that point.
Behind his helmet, he grinned in return, chuckling as he resumed fire. "A lightsaber is still no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
She laughed, and the corridor leading to the cargo bay erupted with a fireball, two Jedi swinging lightsabers of their own just a few steps ahead of it.
"Looks like we'll have to finish our debate later," she decided, still smiling, even as she raised her voice. "Fall back, let's get out of here!"
There was a cheer from the defenders as Skywalker and Kenobi raced across the bay, and the men pounded up the plank, not wanting to be left behind.
Anyone catch the Han Solo quote in here? If you did, have a cookie!