Chapter 17
"Let's go men, push yourselves!" Rex yelled as he watched the agents and operatives run an obstacle course. Kanan walked over and watched them with the captain.
"Brings back memories of my own brothers." Rex said. Kanan looked at him and nodded. "It does Rex, it certainly does." He replied. Nix walked over and patted Rex on the shoulder.
"Well, if they can get past this, then they could be ready. They aced the blaster training, if they keep this up, they'll be ready to take on the Empire." Nix said.
"Just like the good old days." Rex said. Hera walked over and cleared her throat. "Just to inform you boys, once our ship is repaired, we'll be out of here." She informed them.
"I think this world is ready to defend themselves." Kanan said as the troopers finished the course and stood at attention infront of Rex and Nix.
"Alright, take a load off troopers, you've earned it." Rex said as the troopers left for the mess. Nix sighed and placed a hand on Rex's shoulder.
"It's been good seeing you again Rex, I hope you have better luck back in our universe fighting off the Empire." Nix said. "Yeah, it's been good seeing you again Nix. Be safe and protect this world, you owe that to Kanian." Rex replied. Nix nodded as he looked over to see Kanian and Hana relaxing under a tree, the sun threatening to blind them. Nix smiled at Kanian, the kid di deserve this, after everything that had happened. He deserved rest.
"Hey Nix!" Jack called as he walked up to the two clones. "Yes sir?" He asked the Strike Commander.
"I wanted to thank you, for everything. With helping the troops and being a leader to them, you have my deepest gratitude." He said as Angela walked over.
"That's rare, coming from this stubborn old man." She said with a smile. "Oh be quiet you." Jack grumbled, making the clones laugh.
"No sir, you have my gratitude. Without being able to lead, I'd end up looking like this one." Nix replied pointing at Rex. The clone captain punched Nix's shoulder and laughed.
"That is true." Rex said as he left to the barracks. A trooper ran up to Jack with a screen for him.
"Sir, you may want to see this." He said handing the pad to him. Jack looked at it as the screen flashed to see the face of Darth Vader.
"This is your last chance, surrender now, and we will show mercy to your world. Continue to defy us will result in your inevitable death. This is your only warning." The message said before flashing off. Jack got a cold chill down his spine as he placed the pad on the table and rubbed his chin. Kanian walked over and noticed the troubled strike commander.
"Jack, you alright?" He asked. Jack handed him the pad as the message replayed for him.
"I see, but have faith Jack. We will prevail." Kanian said, reassuring the man. "I don't know if I can, he's ruthless. More than the Omnics we fought." Jack said as he sat down. The commander didn't what to do, this Vader made him more frightened than ever. Kanian put a hand on his shoulder and looked at him.
"You leave Vader to me Jack, you nust focus on defending this world from the stormtroopers." He said, easing the commander out of his doubt.
"Perhaps you're right." Jack said before Nix ran into the room. "They're back!" He informed them before returning to the front lines.
"C'mon, Overwatch needs their leader." Kanian said as the two left for the field. Kanian glanced up to see 8 transports flying down to the base.
"Rex, spread out the troops." Nix said. Rex took a handful of the troops and scattered about the base, looking for advantages. The dropships landed as they opened to reveal stormtroopers exiting out as they spread out. The Sith Lord stepped onto the ground as he surveyed the area, he glanced up to see the four Jedi activated their sabers and glared in his direction.
"This is your last chance, leave peacefully and nothing will happen to you." Kanian shouted as the wind howled past the two armies.
"Jedi, you will die." Vader said as he gave the order to fire. Blaster fire sounded throughtout the battlefield as the shouts of men and women giving orders over the gunfire. Kanian and Ahsoka ran to one part of the battlefield as Kanan and Ezra ran the other to defend the troops and move the Imperials back.
"Watch your left!" "There on the right!" "Fall back!" the shouts of the soldiers filled the air. Kanian sliced down Imperials left and right as Sombra disappeared and reappeared behind the enemy line, firing her SMG and disappearring again. Widowmaker and Ana sniping from afar as Reinhardt fired his firestrike and protected the troops at the same time. Dva and Zarya fighting, Symmetra setting up her turrets next to Torbjorn. Everyone fighting as one, Overwatch, Talon, Vishkar, even the United Nations fought as one against the oppression of the Empire. Nix and Rex shouted orders and fired at the stormtroopers as Kanian and Ahsoka assaulted the Sith Lord.
"This is the end of your fight and your lives, Jedi scum." Vader hissed as he activated his crimson blade.
"I was beginning to think I knew you, but I don't know the monster you've become." Ahsoka spat at him.
"Anakin Skywalker is dead." Vader said as he raised his blade and slashing downwards, only for Kanian to block the attack.
"No, he is not dead. You're still in there Anakin, you're just living under the fear of Sidious!" Kanian retorted. Vader growled as he thrusted his saber forward, trying to stab Kanian before Ahsoka blocked his jab.
"You're getting slow Stark!" Ahsoka yelled to him. "Not my fault Snips!" Kanian retorted. The two former Padawans continued to fight their once friend to a stale mate.
"I can do this all day." Kanian said with a smile. "That's my line!" Lucio shouted, making Ahsoka giggle lightly.
"You hide behind false hope, you joke at your own expense. This is the way of a desperate fool. Perish now!" Vader shouted as stepped past Kanian and sliced his human arm.
"AGHHH!" Kanian shouted as his arm dropped with his emerald lightsaber. "Kanian!" Ahsoka shouted as she harnessed the Force and with all her might, pushed the Sith Lord from them. Vader landed a few feet away from the two padawans as Ahsoka carried the injured Kanian back to the base. Hana sat in her mech as she fired at the stormtroopers before noticing Ahsoka carrying Kanian, his arm missing.
"Kanian!" Hana shouted as she activated her self destruct and directed it towards a cluster of the troopers. Vader ordered his troopers to fall back and retreat back to the destroyer. Kanan and Ezra deflected laser bolts back to the stormtroopers as Ahsoka carried Kanian behind friendly lines. After the battle died down and all was quiet, the only sounds that could be heard was the sound of Hana's soft sobs. Nix, Rex, Kanan, Ezra, Ahsoka, and the rest of Overwatch and Talon encircled the injured Jedi.
"Kanian, don't leave." Hana whispered softly. Angela rushed forward and gasped lightly at the sight of Kanian.
"Come now, thanks to the information given by Kanian, I've been able to develop a single bacta tank. Come come." Angela said nodding at Hana and Ahsoka. The two helped Kanian to the medical wing as Kanan and Ezra sighed and holstered their lightsabers.
"I better go with them." Nix said as he hurried off to the retreating group. "What happened?" A trooper asked.
"Kanian, he's injured." Another replied. Rex walked over to where the severed hand was and grabbed Kanian's lightsaber as he hooked it to his belt. The old captain walked to the medical wing and opened the door to see Ahsoka holding Hana as Angela inputted commands into the tank that held Kanian. Nix stood next to the tank as he placed a hand on the glass.
"I, I have fought with Stark before. He's a tough son of a bitch, he'll make it." Nix said, trying reassure the grieving Hana.
"Thank you Nix. But, I'll need sometime." Hana said smiling at Ahsoka as she released the Korean and smiled back. Rex unhooked the lightsaber and looked at it. He turned to Nix and tossed the weapon to him.
"Protect this one, I have a feeling he is important on this planet." Rex said. "Yes sir." Nix replied as Ahsoka and him left. Angela looked at Nix and nodded.
"He'll be okay for now, but only time will tell." The medic said as she left. Nix looked at Kanian and sighed.
"I was supposed to protect you, but I ended up fucking that up and getting you injured. Again. I should have followed you instead of saving my own skin. I'm sorry Kanian." Nix said as tears fell down his face.
"I'm so sorry kid." The clone said as he fell to his knees and began to cry. The battle was won, but the war still raged on.
~The Next Day~
Nix awoke on a hospital bed as he shook the sleep from his tired eyes. He glanced up to see Angela, Ahsoka, and Hana standing next to the bacta tank as Kanian was still submerged. Hana was the first to notice Nix wake up.
"Nix is awake." She said before looking back at the tank. Ahsoka walked over and smiled lightly at him.
"It's not your fault Nix, don't blame yourself. Vader was too strong for either of us. Back home, I heard Vader took on 50 Jedi and left without a scratch." She said with a frown. Nix jumped off the bed and walked over to the tank as he placed a hand on the glass.
"You, knew him. Didn't you?" Hana asked the clone. "Yes I did ma'am. He was my friend and a cunning warrior. His master was equally impressive but Kanian made me believe we could win the war." Nix said before frowning. "Just not how I imagined it to be." Hana walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, for keeping him safe." Hana said. "Good news, Kanian's serious injuries are completely healed thanks to the tank. Nix, help me take him out." Angela said as she drained the liquid in the tank. The breathing mask dropped as Kanian coughed. The glass tube lowered as Angela and Nix grabbed the armless Jedi and brought him to a medical bed. Angela reattached his one bionic arm and left to another room.
Kanian looked at Nix and smiled. "I'm glad you came back Nix." "Someone had to watch out for your arrogant ass." Nix replied. Kanian rolled his eyes before glancing to see Hana, he noticed the tear streaks on her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I gave you a scare." The Jedi said weakly. "It doesn't matter, you're safe that's all I care about." Hana said as she gripped his bionic hand. Angela walked in with a right bionic arm and walked over to the three.
"Just a precaution, I decided to whip up in case of such an emergency like this." Angela said as she placed the arm under his stump and attached it. Kanian winced lightly before sighing in relief.
"Well, this sucks." He said turning the arm around as he inspected it closely. "It's better then dying." Nix said as he unhooked Kanian's lightsaber and gave it to him.
"You'll be needing this sir." The clone said before leaving. Hana helped Kanian to his feet and brought him to the mess. Hana opened the door to hear the cheers of the troops as they noticed Kanian back on his feet.
"Good tos ee you sir." "Welcome back." They said, congratulating Kanian on a good recovery. Reaper walked over to Kanian and nodded.
"If anyone is killing you, it'll be me." He said before leaving. "I guess that's a 'glad to see you survived' from him." Hana said. "Guess so." Kanian said as the two grabbed food and sat next to a few troopers. After finishing their meal, Kanian went to the training room to test out his new arm. He reached down and grabbed his twin lightsabers and activated them, the blue shone as the green glared intimidatingly. As Kanian practiced his lightsaber combat, Ahsoka watched from afar. Kanian stopped and looked over to see Ahsoka smiling.
"What's up Snips?" He asked as she he sheathed his swords and hooked them on his belt.
"I'm just making sure you don't hurt yourself Stark." Ahsoka said. "Thanks mom." Kanian said mockingly.
"I'm serious Kanian, when I first saw you lost your arm, I was terrified. Now you lost both, I don't want to see you die." Ahsoka said placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry Ahsoka, I know you mean well. I truly do, you've been a great friend and an amazing sister. Thank you." Kanian said as he gave her a warm hug.
"Someone has to watch out when you do something stupid." Ahsoka said with a smile. Kanan and Ezra walked in and nodded in their direction.
"I'm glad you're alright Kanian. Master Lenix would be proud of you." Kanan said. "You are equally impressive as well, Caleb." Kanian said. Ezra looked at Kanan and raised an eyebrow.
"You're real name is 'Caleb'?" He asked his master. "Yeah, but I switched it after Order 66. My full name is 'Caleb Dume'." Kanan replied.
"Master Billaba would be proud of what you became." Kanian said nodding to him. "For now, we must defend this world, then we can fight the Empire." Ezra said. "I agree, we are not out of the clear yet." Ahsoka said. Lena ran to the training room, making the Jedi jump at her presence.
"They're back!" She said before blinking away. The four Jedi ran outside the base to see two large transports holding military AT-AT walkers. The walkers dropped as they began to fire.
"Battle formations!" Nix yelled above the gunfire. "That thing has got some heavy armor!" A trooper shouted.
"We need some heavy firepower!" Another said. "Heavy troopers, forward!" Rex shouted as a group of agents and operatives with rocket launchers surged forward and fired.
"Blast it! Their armor is too tough!" Nix said. "Kanan, Hera get to the Ghost! Ahsoka, R7, with me to the Twilight!" Kanian shouted. Ahsoka ran to the waiting ship as R7 pounded the walkers with laser fire from the ship. Soon, both ships were in the air and trying their best to take down both camel machines.
"Kanian, it's not working!" Hera said in the comms. "Ahsoka, you take over." Kanian said.
"What are you going to do?" She protested. Kanian looked at her and smiled as he grabed his twin lightsabers.
"Something dramatic." He said as he dashed off to the exit. Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "R7 open the exit." He ordered the droid. The landing gear opened as the air rushed in. Kanian jumped onto one walker as he used his twin swords to cut a hole open and jumped in.
"You hear that?" A stormtrooper asked. "No, but I do need to borrow this." Kanian said as he knocked out both the troopers. As he situated himself with the controls of the walker.
"Whatever you're gonna do kid, now is the time!" Nix said. "Hold your horses commander, I know what I'm doing." Kanian replied as he positioned the blasters of the AT-AT towards the other and fired. The blasts slammed into the walker as Ahsoka fired a cable at it and piloted the Twilight to go in circles to topple the machine. Kanian set the walker he was in to overload and jumped out of his makeshift hatch and jumped back onto the Twilight just as the AT-AT exploded. The troopers cheered at their victory and began to regroup as Kanian walked to the cockpit and landed the ship in the hangar next to the Ghost.
"I told you, I had it under control." Kanian said with a smile. Ahsoka rolled her eyes and punched him in the shoulder.
"One more step, and then we'll win." Ahsoka said. "Yes, but I believe someone else is meant to defeat Anakin." Kanian said.
"What do you mean?" "There are two Skywalkers I can sense." Kanian said. Ahsoka smirked lightly.
"Well, to a better future I guess." She said as she left the ship. "Hopefully." Kanian said before following close behind.
A/N: Done, I am almost done. I do I hope you enjoyed this story because I know I have. Tata for now, and may the Force be with you. Always.
~CommanderKnight145