Thank you to the 23 people who reviewed the last chapter. This chapter will be the first chapter of a new arc that shall cover the events of the last two episodes of the Malevolence trilogy in the first seasons of the Clone Wars. It may also be a short chapter but I'll try to get it to at least five pages. Reviews, as always, are much appreciated.
Chapter 16
Obi-Wan found himself deep in thought as the Resolute made its quiet journey through hyperspace toward the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center near the Kaliida Nebula. They had received word that the Separatists newest weapon of mass destruction, for lack of a better description, known as the Malevolence was about to attack the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center. He knew that Anakin would already be there with Master Plo Koon, as was the plan, and he wished his brother would be all right.
He got through this battle the first time so he will this time, Obi-Wan told himself firmly. He didn't know the full details of what happened when Anakin and Shadow Squadron took the Balmorra Run but he knew enough to worry. He had warned his friend to watch for anything that could potentially harm them, as he still didn't know what attacked them the first time around.
Sighing, Obi-Wan transferred his thoughts to Master Yoda. He had learned, upon speaking to Master Yoda when he told Yoda that he would be taking Jenica Narak as his apprentice, that Yoda knew he came from the future because the Force told him. Yoda told Obi-Wan that the Force told him because the Force felt at least one person from the past should know the truth about him. Obi-Wan didn't really know why the Force wanted Yoda to know he was from the future but he didn't mind. However, the Force was telling him that no one else should know the truth especially not Anakin, just as Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan continued to gaze at the mottled lanes of hyperspace thinking about everything that had occurred so far and wondering as to how many things he would be able to change. He also thought about Siri and their ever confusing relationship. They were friends and yet Obi-Wan couldn't get rid of the love he felt for her. Last time, he acknowledged that it was against the Jedi Code but last time he firmly believed attachment and love were the same thing.
Now, he was sure they were not the same thing. He knew that there was a fine line between love and attachment but he also knew that there was a fine line between the light side and the dark side as well and the dark side and the light side were not the same thing. Of that he was positive.
"Master?"
Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder as his new apprentice, Jenica Narak, walked over to join him. Jenica was only thirteen years old and yet she picked up on Obi-Wan's teachings rather quickly. It seemed the more Obi-Wan got to know her, the more he discovered they shared a few characteristics. She was very calm and collected; she thought things through she would go through with a plan or a request. However, she was also determined to succeed in her training, much like most apprentices her age and very modest about her accomplishments. Those were the only traits that Obi-Wan's noticed so far but then it's only been less than a week since Jenica became his apprentice.
"Yes Jenica?" Obi-Wan said calmly.
"What are we going to do once we reach the Kaliida Nebula?" asked Jenica coming to a stop at Obi-Wan's side.
"Assist Master Skywalker," Obi-Wan said.
Jenica rolled her green eyes. "I know that, master. I meant is there anything I should know before we head into the battle?" she asked.
"Not much. We will be staying onboard the Resolute," said Obi-Wan.
Jenica frowned. "What if Master Skywalker and Ahsoka need our help?"
Obi-Wan smiled faintly. "I know my former apprentice, Padawan. He's actually rather good at getting out of tight situations and always has a backup plan if his first plan doesn't work," he said. "They'll be fine." He turned to look at his apprentice who was watching the mottled lanes of hyperspace with a worried gleam in her eyes.
"You're worried about Ahsoka, aren't you?" he asked.
"A little," Jenica admitted. "I guess that's only because I'm not used to being in the middle of battle."
Even to this day, neither am I, Obi-Wan thought. "I'm not lying to you when I say you're not the only one. I've been through battles before I chose you as my apprentice," more than you will ever know, "and I am still not used to it."
"Jedi aren't supposed to be soldiers, Master. We're supposed to be peacekeepers," Jenica said firmly.
"Yes I know, Jenica, but the war has forced us to become soldiers."
"Why can't we just negotiate with the Separatists, Master?" Jenica sounded genuinely confused.
"We've tried, Padawan, but they refuse to negotiate a truce and thus we have to fight or risk the lives of the people we're supposed to protect."
"What about the civilians that get caught in the crossfire? What about them?"
Jenica, Obi-Wan reflected, had a point. "The Jedi that are on the frontlines of battle try their best to make sure no civilians are caught in the crossfire but, sometimes, it is inevitable," he said.
Jenica sighed. "I wish this war was over," she murmured.
"You aren't the only one, Padawan."
Jenica was silent for a long moment. "Are you always on the frontlines, Master?"
"Most times."
"Do you and Master Skywalker work a lot together?"
"I've heard that Master Skywalker is known as the Hero With No Fear. Is that true? Is he really fearless?"
Obi-Wan smiled faintly at his apprentice; he could see as well as feel in the Force that Jenica was nervous about the upcoming battle and hiding her nervousness behind questions. "The public refer to him as the Hero With No Fear," he said, "but he is not exactly fearless. He doesn't fear for his own life, no, but he fears for the lives of his men and others."
"I thought Jedi weren't supposed to feel fear," Jenica protested.
"A Jedi is a normal living being. He feels fear just like anyone else. The key is learning to control your fear before it controls you. Everyone feels fear, Padawan, even me." Obi-Wan thought back to his master's death. He had been afraid for his master when the ray shield forced Qui-Gon to fight Maul alone.
"How do you control your fear Master?" Jenica asked.
"It takes training and practice but I will give you this advice, Padawan. The first step to controlling your fear is to acknowledge that it is fear you are feeling."
Jenica nodded before she turned her gaze to the mottled lanes of hyperspace and lapsed into silence. Obi-Wan could still feel her nervousness, she had been talking to cover it up but now that she was silent it was more profound, and decided to do something to give her something to keep her mind off her nervousness.
"Come, Jenica, let's go to the hangar bay and do some sparring," Obi-Wan suggested. "We won't be reaching the Kaliida Nebula for another couple of hours after all."
"Yes Master," Jenica said before she followed Obi-Wan as he led the way down the command walkway and off the bridge of the Star Destroyer.
Anakin angled his starfighter upwards before gritting his teeth as another member of Shadow Squadron was destroyed by the laserfire the Malevolence and the vulture fighters they were fighting against. He glanced at his apprentice to make sure she was all right before returning his gaze to the fight as he guided the squadron toward the bridge of the Malevolence.
"Master, I don't think targeting the bridge is our best option," Ahsoka said glancing at Anakin.
"Might I suggest," Plo Koon's voice drifted over the comm, "that we target their primary weapon. If we take out the starboard ion cannon then we stand a better chance at defeating it."
Anakin thought about the Jedi Master's suggestion and instantly realized that that might be their best option. He keyed the comm on so that it was transmitting to the surviving members of Shadow Squadron. "New plan, guys," he said. "Follow me. Our new target is the starboard ion cannon."
A chorus of "yes sir" sounded and Anakin angled the Delta-7B interceptor toward the starboard ion cannon and began firing at the weapon. The vulture droids retracted from their current flying pattern to attack the fighters as Shadow Squadron realigned their shots to aim at the starboard ion cannon.
Anakin swerved around another vulture droid before narrowing his eyes as he neared the starboard ion cannon. "Ahsoka, prepare to launch proton torpedoes," he said.
"Proton torpedoes ready," Ahsoka called and Anakin aimed the torpedoes at the Malevolence's ion cannon and released them. The torpedoes shot across space before slamming into the ion cannon. Anakin pulled his starfighter back to avoid being caught in the blast radius before watching as the warship suddenly exploded almost as if from the inside.
"Pull back," Anakin called to Shadow Squadron and Master Plo and the starfighters drew backwards as the explosions sent debris and sharpnel flying in all directions. With the ion cannon taking out, Anakin refocused his attack on the bridge.
"I bet they're going to try to run for it," Ahsoka said.
"I think so too," Anakin said.
At that moment, at least three Star Destroyers leapt out of hyperspace and immediately began unleashing a barrage of laserfire on the crippled warship. The warship began to retreat but Anakin was positive it wouldn't be able to jump to hyperspace.
"I think those explosions knocked out the hyperdrive of the Malevolence," said Plo. "That would explain why it has not yet jumped to hyperspace."
"That's likely," Anakin replied.
"Anakin?" Obi-Wan's voice drifted onto the channel.
"Yes Master?" Anakin asked.
"Very good job, Anakin. Now that the Malevolence is crippled, the medical center is no longer in danger. Meet me on the medical center so that we can regroup and refuel our fighters. This fight isn't over yet."
"Yes Master," Anakin replied before relaying Obi-Wan's instructions to the rest of Shadow Squadron.
Jenica stood beside her master as the Delta-7B interceptor landed in the hangar bay onboard the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center followed by the surviving members of Shadow Squadron and Master Plo's starfighter. Anakin Skywalker leapt out of the intercepter's cockpit and was followed closely by his apprentice, and Jenica's friend, Ahsoka Tano.
"Master, it's about time you showed up," Anakin said cheerfully jogging over to join Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan snorted before rolling his eyes. "I came as quickly as I could as you know well enough, Anakin," he replied.
"Hi Jenica," Ahsoka greeted her. "Out on your first mission?"
Jenica nodded slowly.
"Don't worry," Ahsoka said. "Skyguy and I have your back."
Anakin snorted. "She has the best Jedi Master in the entire Jedi Order as her mentor. She doesn't need us to watch her back, Snips," he said.
Obi-Wan's eyebrows rose. "Flattery, Anakin? I didn't think you had it in you."
Anakin tossed his former master a lopsided grin. "Hey, you have to be the best Jedi Master in the Order. You managed to survive training me after all," he said.
"Only barely," Obi-Wan said jokingly.
"I wasn't that bad."
Obi-Wan smirked. "I can name several incidents that clearly safe different," he said.
Anakin glowered at him but Jenica could see amusement glimmering in his eyes. "And I seem to remember that most of those incidents ended with me saving your skin," he said.
Jenica glanced at Ahsoka confused but the Togruta shrugged. "They're always bantering like that," she said.
"Why?" Jenica asked.
"That's just the way they are."
"So what are we going to do now?" Ahsoka asked turning her gaze to her master.
Anakin shrugged. "Figure out a way to take out the Malevolence completely," he said.
"Our best bet is to keep firing at it," said Obi-Wan. "What do you say, Master Plo?"
Plo Koon, a Kel Dor Jedi Master, walked over to join them from his starfighter. "I believe your idea may be best, Master Kenobi," he said in a grave voice.
Senator Padmé Amidala guided the H-type Nubian yacht through the mottled lanes of hyperspace. "Chancellor Palpatine says that the InterGalactic Banking Clan are looking to form a treaty with the Republic," she said glancing at the protocol droid that her secret husband had given her as a late wedding gift soon after the treaty between the Republic and the Hutt clans was created. "With this treaty, we're one step closer to ending the war once and for all."
See Threepio turned to look at her. "I really hope so, Mistress Padmé," he said.
Padmé smiled faintly at the droid; the protocol droid certainly came in handy several times since Anakin gave him to her but he could be a worry wart at times. Padmé could forgive that though since Threepio was built when Anakin was only nine-years-old.
"It'll be all right, Threepio," Padmé said before she glanced at the nav computer. "It looks like we're about to jump out of hyperspace." She pulled the hyperspace lever and the yacht glided out of hyperspace…
…straight into the middle of a battle.
"Oh dear," Threepio said.
"This isn't right," Padmé said frowning. "I don't…" She broke off and quickly angled the yacht away from the massive warship that was directly in front of her. Unfortunately, however, the yacht jolted and Padmé gritted her teeth as she realized she was caught in a tractor beam.
"We're doomed," Threepio cried.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: all right, this was a pretty short chapter but, hey, at least I got it to five pages
Darth: she'll try to make the next chapter longer
Harry: emphasis on try
Severus: we do not need an opinion from the peanut gallery, Potter
Harry: shut up, git
Severus: that is getting old, Potter
Harry: (glares at Severus)
Sirius: is Snivellus giving you trouble, kiddo?
Severus: DON'T CALL ME SNIVELLUS! (Runs Sirius over in flying motorcycle, leaps out of motorcycle and stalks off)
Harry: oh no you didn't! (Leaps into flying motorcycle and takes off after Severus)
Severus: you're going to…
Harry: (crashes into tree)
Severus: …crash
Blaze: (chuckles) please review and I will post chapter 17 as soon as I possibly can but I very much doubt it'll be anytime soon and I will try to make it a long chapter