The Clone woke to someone shaking him by the shoulder. He tried to react quickly to defend himself, but his muscles were slow to respond, or maybe his brain was slow to send instructions. Either way, it took forever for him to roll away from whatever was touching him and get into a crouching position. He had to blink several times so he could see, at which point he realized it had been the Jedi trying to wake him, and he remembered what had happened.

"I was beginning to think you were dead," the Jedi sighed, then added "where are we?,"

"I'm not sure, Sir," The Clone replied truthfully.

He then proceeded to explain what had happened, as best he could recall. Though he didn't hesitate to give all the details, he was inwardly afraid that he had used poor judgment in leaving the downed ship. But the Jedi did not interrupt, nor did his expression betray any sort of dissatisfaction. That wasn't a guarantee, but it made The Clone feel a bit better about things.

"And that's how we ended up here, General Skywalker," The Clone finished "was I wrong?,"

"Wrong?. About what?," Anakin Skywalker asked.

"Leaving the ship behind, Sir,"

"I don't think so," Anakin replied neutrally "from what you've told me, you made the right call,"

The Clone did not express his relief, but he most certainly felt it.

"What do we do now, Sir?," The Clone asked.

"Chances are the battlefield has been abandoned by now," Anakin replied "I'll have to try and remember the map of the surrounding area, but I think there was a settlement not far off. As we were defending the Na'taves, they should be willing to help us. I hope,"

The Na'taves were notoriously unpredictable, it was actually surprising that they had sided with the Republic, and nobody had any confidence in their loyalty. They were just as likely to turn to the Separatists if the mood struck. Common sense didn't seem to factor into their decisions, it didn't matter to them which side seemed to be winning or what they stood for. The logic of the Na'taves seemed to go something like this: If they thought of it, it must be a good idea.

Anakin wasn't eager to go to them for help, but they might have radios that worked on this blasted rock, and surely they had medical supplies of some sort. Possibly Anakin could borrow or buy a ship from them and get off this planet himself. Of course, it was just as likely that he and The Clone would both be executed the moment they were spotted. Or possibly worse. Whatever that might be.

"Are you armed?," Anakin asked.

"Yes, General. I still have a blaster rifle. Your light-saber is right beside you, Sir,"

"I noticed," Anakin replied, turning slightly to pick it up.

He winced as the motion caused pain to travel up and down his side. He knew standing up was out of the question at the moment. But he knew also that The Clone wouldn't be able to carry him much farther. Though he was clearly trying, The Clone was unable to hide the breathlessness or pain in his voice. He had pretty much spent himself getting them this far.

"Can you travel, Sir?," The Clone asked the inevitable.

"No," Anakin told him "I don't think I can even stand,"

"I was afraid of that," The Clone sighed resignedly, then added after a moment "where do you think the settlement is, based on the information you have?,"

"I seem to remember it being twenty miles west of the battlefield,"

Though The Clone's face was hidden beneath his helmet, Anakin could sense him deflating at the prospect of having so far to trek, with only a vague idea of where to go. Clones were as a rule neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but rather realistic. Perhaps with a trend towards pessimism given their relative standing. Experience might win them some optimism points, but they remained forever lacking in imagination, which was required for both optimism and pessimism.

The Clone knew the facts as well as Anakin did. In his present condition, it would be an extremely difficult journey, even without the added "benefits" of sun and heat or lacking the "advantage" of water. Those factors included, it was bordering on the impossible. At least, for a mere clone.

But The Clone said nothing that was on his mind and, when he did speak, his voice was forced but level.

"I suggest we wait for nightfall, Sir. It can't be far off, given the positions of the suns. It won't be cool, not by a long shot, but it'll be better than this,"

"I agree," Anakin said "except you'll be going alone from here,"

"Sir?,"

"We both know you can't make it and drag me too. I'm better off here,"

"But, Sir, there are a number of wild animals here which are reported to be very dangerous,"

"I can take care of myself," Anakin said firmly "long enough for help to arrive anyway,"

"If those are you orders-,"

"They are,"

"I'll do my best, Sir,"

"I know," Anakin replied "in the meantime, let's take a look at your injuries,"

"I'll be alright, Sir,"

"Don't argue with me. You're in bad shape and you know it. Now get over here where I can reach you,"

The Clone seemed hurt at the suggestion that he would argue, but said nothing. It was hard to tell if he moved with reluctance or pain, either way he was slow and cautious in his movements.

Under the armor, things were worse than Anakin had suspected. The Clone was probably worse off than Anakin was, only The Clone's injuries were primarily confined to the chest area instead of his legs. Anakin found himself wondering how The Clone had dragged him as far as he claimed. If The Clone had been other than what he was, Anakin would have begun to think he'd made a mistake in his estimates. But clones weren't given to exaggeration or, as mentioned earlier, imagining things. He said he'd gone a certain distance, and it was doubtful he was in error.

Even if he was, all that meant was that they were lost. And they couldn't very well get more lost, so there wasn't any point in bringing the matter up. All it would do was unnerve The Clone, and that would get them nowhere. Clones were steady by nature, taking virtually everything in stride, but it was still possible to implant doubt or fear in their minds, both of which were more dangerous than the enemy. No point in doing it.

"So, you got a name?," Anakin asked.

"Everyone calls me JAC," came the quick reply.

"Jac?,"

"Just Another Clone, Sir,"

That just about says it all, Anakin thought.

"Well, Jac, looks like you got banged up pretty bad in the crash,"

"I was the lucky one, Sir," Jac replied evenly.

"Guess that's one way to look at it,"

"How else would I see it, Sir?,"

"Never mind," Anakin turned his head slightly to hide an amused grin "forget it,"

"As you say,"

Jac had slept most of the day per instructions. Anakin knew The Clone needed all the rest he could get before starting out. Jac had ever so briefly protested, still reluctant to leave the wounded Anakin unguarded. But Anakin knew The Clone was in no more shape for a fight than he was.

When night fell, it was evident that Jac was still exhausted, and sore from both the crash and the labor which had immediately followed it. But things weren't going to get better for him, not out here. They'd only get worse from here on out, so there was no point in waiting any longer.

"Are you sure you'll be alright alone, Sir?," The Clone asked.

"Go on, get out of here. And hurry back," Anakin said, nodding in the direction of the distant settlement, or where he hoped it would be anyway "help isn't going to get here by itself,"

"Yes sir,"

The Clone picked up his rifle and slung it over his shoulder, then got unsteadily to his feet. He tried hard to hide it, but he was fast reaching the end of his rope. Another twenty miles would probably kill him. But there wasn't much choice.

"Don't worry, Sir," The Clone said "I'll be back as soon as possible,"

This wasn't a lie. It was technically quite true, just not the entire truth. The whole truth was that ASAP might well be never. Jac didn't mention that possibility, nor did Anakin bring it up. But they were both thinking it, even as Anakin made a cheerful reply.

"I'll be waiting," that, also, was true. He had no choice.

Anakin watched The Clone make his careful way out of the rocks, staring after him until The Clone was long out of sight and earshot. Then Anakin settled in for a long wait.

The darkness hung heavily, there was no moon tonight, which seemed strange considering the full one from the night before. It was harder to see, in fact it was very nearly impossible. Jac found himself being guided more by his nearly infallible sense of direction than anything, trusting instinct to take him in a straight line while he used his eyes to keep from falling off of anything high or running into anything big. He had binoculars, but they weren't equipped with night vision. He supposed he ought to have picked up a piece of night vision equipment at the crash site, but it honestly hadn't occurred to him. It hadn't been so dark then, and surviving more than one night had seemed unlikely at best.

Yet, here it was, the second night, and he was still here, if only barely.

No longer preoccupied with pulling the sled, and comfortably working under the orders of a General, The Clone noticed sounds in the night which he had formerly been unaware of. Or maybe they hadn't been there, he wasn't sure which. In any case, they were ominous noises, rumblings, rustles and thuds of large creatures skulking through the night, some tracking his movements, others fleeing at his approach. He couldn't see them, and they did not approach if he stopped, but maintained their distance from him. That gave him but small comfort, as he knew that they were probably watching him, biding their time and learning whatever weaknesses he had.

Jac had learned to be wary of the savage beasts inhabiting many worlds. Perhaps they had no weapons save for that which they were born with, but they were still extremely dangerous in spite of this. Or perhaps because of it. Native predators were often the most aggressive of species, the more powerful they were in relation to the beasts around them, the more confident they were.

Jac knew he would have to keep a sharp eye out, and perhaps scare these animals off if they got too "friendly". He didn't exactly relish the idea. Clones were built for combat, not for hunting. Aside from which, you kill the wrong thing on a planet and the locals were likely to have your head for poaching an endangered species or, worse, threatening a sacred one.

That was exactly the kind of trouble Jac very much wanted to avoid right now. Actually, come to that, he wanted to avoid that kind of trouble all the time.