Anakin's POV
"Snips, behind you!"
Ahsoka jumps backward, smashing in the face of another droid. This was a never ending cycle: we would destroy droids, only for more to be sent almost immediately after.
A large vulture droid screeches above us and drops down two droidekas. I quickly retreat backward with Rex and a few of his men, towards a rock bank.
"General, the scanners read more Seperatist gunships on route to our position. We have to act or we'll be pinned down!" Rex yells over the gunfire. I glare over the rock with a sleek eye. I can see a large gunship land down in the distance, another right behind it.
"Follow me. We'll meet up with Obi-Wan and Dell." I sprint from behind the rock and block several shots from the droidekas. Ahsoka hops down from her perch and runs behind Rex, blocking as well. The shots are getting closer and sand from missed bullets explodes in tiny plumes along the ground. The only thing heard as we crouch behind a tree, is the sound of our heavy breaths. Soon the droidekas scoot away, leaving the two gunships to circle the base.
"Are they gone?" Ahsoka gasps. It sounds as though the ships vanished into oblivion. It's nowhere to be found.
"I-I don't know." We slowly start to walk into the forest clearing, cautiously watching for the appearance of the ship.
"General, ships just don't disappear." Rex explains as he disappears into the shadowy tree cover.
"Just keep a keen eye; we don't know what these droids have in-" A large woosh comes from behind us; both of the ships hover over the forest. And within seconds of spotting us, heavy fire rains down upon the forest. "Move now!"
I propel myself into the forest with the force, leading the rest of the clones into the shadows of the forest. Spits of orange fire pierce the darkness, lighting up Ahsoka's worried face for a brief second. Sweat furrows at her brow as she skips down the trail whilst glaring at the ships above.
"Master, look!" She points across the forest end to where a building is. A very small looking building, more like a broom closet than a place where people can live and socialize.
"Full on sprint now!" I yell as I launch a broken tree trunk up at the ship, smashing one of its turrets. Dark black smoke swirls from the ship as it tries to regain balance from the blow. This is our chance. Boots clamber down the trail, and once we get to the building entrance, we hit yet another dilemma. The entrance is sealed shut with armoured doors.
"Get it open now!" One of the ships screeches as it nearly hits the other. They're both going down. "Now!"
One of the clones clamps one of his tools to the doors, slowly cutting the armour down the length of the door. The one of the other engines from the ship bursts as he finally completes a hole in the door big enough for one person at a time. I help Ahsoka past the jagged metal, as she tries desperately to open the other door from the inside.
As the last clone fumbles through the door, the ships fatally crash metres out the door. A swirl of ash and sand funnel through the hole and into our thankful faces. Not one clone dead.
An unnamed clone taps me on the shoulder. "Sir, I've got a hold of General Dell." I take the hologram from his hands and open it.
"Ah, Skywalker, a fan of running and hiding I see." Dell laughs
"Well, we didn't have the odds in our favour I guess." I scratch the back of my head.
"Obi-Wan and I are on route to your position. My squad has detected a mechanical presence on their scanners, over on the west side of the forest. A presence previously added on."
"The ships! They're still out there!" I can hardly contain my excitement."
"Easy there now, it's going to be one hell of a battle to get over there. Most of the droid artillery is there anyways. We've discovered a pirate tank in our area, not strong enough to get a signal to the temple, but a vehicle no less. Instead of you meeting up with us, we'll meet up with you."
"Alright Master," I nod, "We'll see you soon."
I close the hologram and walk over to Ahsoka, who's staring intently at the computer panel.
"Well," She sighs and leans back in her chair. "I don't even think this planet supports signals anymore."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean Dooku has cut off all transmissions from this planet. No incoming or ongoing signals. This planet is practically a rock now. The only transmissions going out are from the droid tanks."
"The whole planet, cut off? Is that even possible?" I question.
"Dooku found a way to make it possible. Who knows what else he has planned. This whole squadron, Dell's too, is practically acting on the unknown." She gulps hopelessly and buries her head in her hands.
"Hey, come on Snips. We're doing our best to make the unknown known, alright?" I massage her back, telling she feels defeated.
She looks up from her hands. "He could be at the temple now looking for Shmi, slaughtering everyone who gets in his way. And we wouldn't even know about it."
I have no words left to say. Maybe because, she's speaking the truth. If Dooku is this restless to cut off this planet from the rest of the galaxy, who knows what else he'll do. Attacking the temple seems daft, but who knows. It's not like he doesn't have armies behind him.
Minutes later, the pirate tank arrives just outside. The clones pile inside, and I observe it is a lot larger than I believed it to be. While Flint and Rex steer, Dell talks to Ahsoka and I.
"The ships are just beyond this line of trees. Now listen, I don't want anyone doing anything reckless; I don't want a dead jedi on our hands."
Obi-Wan chuckles slightly and nudges his arm. "Don't be reckless? Has that not been your plan of action for… life?" We all laugh dryly, Ahsoka still looking solemn and worried.
The slight pounding underneath our feet startles us all. The clones desperately try to stabilize us, but our tank flips forward and hurtles us all forward into the windshield.
I regain consciousness just as another canon shoots into the air and a puff up churned sand explodes above us. The tank is one fire, and several clones are dragging their comrades out into the sand lot. I lift the unconscious Ahsoka over my shoulder and take cover behind a rock shelf.
A huge line of droids march towards the flaming tank, shooting every desperate clone in their way. Obi-Wan and Dell are diving behind the shelf just as a missile shoots past us. I can see the furrow forming in my Master's eyebrow, as he stares gaping at the distance.
"Anakin, the ships are right there! Get Ahsoka and your clones there now! Dell and I will take care of this!" Without another word, I hurdle my padawan over my shoulder and wave for Rex and his men to follow. Blue blaster bullets shoot from behind me, clearing a full out isle to the ships. Two Republic gunships sit just metres from me, our starfighters right beside. I can't take any more time to think this out.
I force push over some of the droids nearest to us, creating a domino effect before any of them could react.
"Push through Rex! Come on!"
Seeing the sudden gap in the ground in front of me, I dig my heels into the ground. The chasm must go right to the centre of the planet. There is no way we're just hopping over this like a puddle on a road.
"Jetpack troopers, get the men over there now!" A quick unison sifting sound and clone are being flown over head, landing softly on the other side. I ready Ahsoka over my shoulder, and push off the grainy surface to the other side of the chasm.
"Here," I hand Ahsoka over to Rex and run back over to the chasm. Obi-Wan, Dell, Flint and some clones are pumping their legs to their chests, even though it seems as though the gunfire has seized behind them. But I suddenly see that isn't the case.
It's body shifts with every step it takes; its blinking red eyes twitch back and forth, searching for its next target; it's sharp pincers dig into the sand as it spears trough another clone's armour; it's one of the biggest crab droids I've seen in a while.
I run back into the nearest gunship, signaling for the other ship carrying my starfighter to take off. We're not staying on this planet any longer than we have to.
"Don't get too low to them; it'll bring up too much sand." We lower down, just above the chasm to not blow up any sand. The first one to the edge is Flint, and I latch my arm to his as he jumps to the ship.
"Master, come on!" Obi-Wan steps back from sawing into one of the crab's legs with his saber, causing the whole droid to shift its weight to the ground. He cleanly jumps into the hull of the ship, shutting off his blade to his hip.
He examines his torn robes, cutting through almost right to the skin. He sighs in relief and runs his hand through his hair. "Those droids aren't the ordinary scrap metal; their pincers are full of this poison junk called remorteo. One scratch and you're dead in a few minutes."
"How do you know this?" I breathe as I help in another clone to the ship.
"The sand, whenever the droid stomped, the ground would turn a slimy yellow. Nothing too friendly if you ask me."
I help Oz in behind me as we ready for our final person to save: Dell. He swipes one last time at the droid, leading back into the chasm. Just as it readies it final pounce at him, Dell jumps, and the crab plummets down into the dark depths.
"Huh, not to bad Master. Practically took the whole thing down without help." I wink to Obi-Wan as I shut the ship door. Dell merely huffs, taking a seat down on the floor. Obi-Wan rolls his eyes at me, before turning to Dell, whose face had practically drained in colour.
"Neemo, did it-" Obi-Wan sees the large jagged cut down the length of Dell's robes, choking out his words.
"Nah, d-don't worry. J-just a little scratch." Dell tries to laugh, coughing into his sleeve: blood, a yellow stained blood. He sighs and takes a large breath. He comes to face the facts.
His droopy eyes turn to me in a struggles effort to spin his neck. "Here, Skywalker, t-take this." He lazily hands me his saber and I slowly take it in my hands. "And tell your padawan, t-to keep doing what she's d-doing. She's pretty darn g-good at it." He smiles as I single tear drops down his cheek.
"But Master I can't take this. It's not right. It's yours, not mine." I sigh, nearly handing it back to him
"Give it to Shmi for her t-training. She is t-the future of the jedi, I… am t-the past." With one last gasp of air, his eyes seal shut, and his hand drops into Obi-Wan's lap. My throat goes dry, unable to give say anything meaningful. All I can comprehend is Ahsoka walking in behind me, sobbing quietly into her sand-stained hands, almost like they weren't even there.