Chapter 14

Master Cordatis lay still, hiding among the wreckage of the fallen gunship. He wasn't too badly injured and he could still fight however Shionne was not so fortunate, and she had caught a piece of shrapnel to the left shoulder. The shard of metal was in deep, and blood from the wound began to stain Shionne's shirt. Her face was smeared with dirt and soot and her dark toned blonde hair was in a mess. Cordatis ran over to Shionne and knelt down beside her.

"Let me see," he said as he gently studied the wound. Cordatis gripped the piece of shrapnel with one hand and placed the other on Shionne's shoulder. "This is going to hurt." He warned. Cordatis yanked at the metal blade and it came out cleanly, followed by a trickle of blood and a heavy gasp from Shionne. Cordatis then tore a strip of fabric of the bottom of Shionne's shirt and rapped it tightly around the bleeding wound, under the armpit and over the shoulder.

"There, all better." Cordatis smiled as Shionne tested her arm. "Now let's move, we have to get off this planet and find out what the blazers is going on."

"We can take my ship," Shionne said as she stood up, "I have my own pilot, we can trust her."

"If she's not under republic control then we can trust her," Cordatis agreed, "As for everyone else, we should watch our backs. That blast came from our own cannons so we must assume that all clones are hostile."

Cordatis and Shionne began to walk back through the rocky terrain towards the city. They had to hide from searching clone troopers while they climbed over ledges and pushed through thick plant growth; this was not easy for Shionne in her wounded state. As they neared the northwest wall of the city they came across a squadron of clones, and the commander was speaking to his men. "Keep up the search until you find them, if they weren't at the crash site then they must be alive. Do not stop until both of them are dead."

Cordatis knew that behind the clones sat a small door that eventually lead into the flight hanger where Shionne's ship was waiting. Cordatis readied his light sabre and using the force he knocked over a pile of rocks, the sound distracted the clones and gave Cordatis the opportunity to leap into their group. Cordatis swung his light sabre speedily and decapitated the first clone with one swift stroke; in the same movement he cut the next clone across the chest. Cordatis deflected a laser bolt fired from the commander and sent it back so that it hit the commander in the chest. Finally Cordatis swung his light sabre behind him and cut down the last clone in the squad.

Shionne came out from her hiding place in the bushes and joined Cordatis, "I see you still haven't let up on your sword play." She remarked as they entered the hanger. "There's my ship over there," she pointed out, "On the far side."

Together Cordatis and Shionne made their way through the massive collection of gunships and star fighters, making sure to remain out of enemy sight. The final area between them and Shionne's star ship was a vast area with no cover to hide from the clones that stood in the centre of the hanger. Cordatis noticed that these clones were guarding something; it was Kesh and most of his warriors. The warriors were tied up, and they sat on their knees in a straight line. Even in this position the Morgukai were about the same height as their captors.

"There are too many clones," Cordatis cursed, "We'll never make it across." He glanced over at Kesh, who was struggling with his restraints and trying to get at one of the commanders and crush him with his weight. Cordatis had to help him, he owed the Morgukai that much.

"We have to free Kesh and his warriors." Cordatis told Shionne.

"What, why?" Shionne asked, rather confused.

"Without them I would have never won the battle against the droids." Cordatis explained, "And I think they can help us escape."

Shionne eventually agreed with Cordatis' plan. She moved into position to serve as a distraction for the clones while Cordatis came around back to free the prisoners.

Shionne ran in full view of the clones and waved her good arm, "Hey, I'm over here!" she shouted mockingly.

All of the clones except one ran after her, and she led them on a wild chase through the hanger as she weaved in and out of the ships. Meanwhile Cordatis charged at the remaining clone that stood in front of Kesh, and silenced him before he could call out. Cordatis cut through Kesh's restraints and together they freed the rest of the Morgukai.

Once his men were free Kesh grabbed Cordatis firmly by the collar and held him close, looking at him with his deep yellow eyes. "Your men killed my warriors." Kesh snapped.

"I know Kesh, but you have to understand that I had nothing to do with this. The clones are after me too." Cordatis explained.

Kesh stared at him for a moment longer and then released his powerful grip. "What must we do?" he asked.

Cordatis stood up and straightened his collar, "A friend of my is going to lead the clones back this way, I trust your warriors are thirsty for vengeance."

Kesh nodded his big orange head to show that he understood. The Morgukai warriors gathered their weapons and waited in ambush behind two gunships. As the clones raced past, following Shionne, the Morgukai leaped out from their positions and cut the enemy down in a brutal frenzy. The armour of the clones shattered like glass against the brute force of the Morgukai's axes. The capturing clones were all dead however all of the commotion in the hanger started to draw in more soldiers and they quickly began to over power the escapees.

Cordatis shouted to Kesh, "Can you pilot a gunship?" he asked.

"No, but some of my warriors can."

Cordatis stopped to deflect multiple laser bolts, "Good, take those two," he pointed to two of the gunships, "And get out while you can!"

With Cordatis covering her, Shionne made a run for her ship, but suddenly a stray laser bolt struck a near by fuel canister and it exploded. The flames spread out, smothering the surrounding ships, and the pressure from the blast knocked Cordatis off his feet. With Cordatis downed Shionne tried her luck and stepped into her star ship, as she did so she was hit in the small of her back by a well-aimed laser bolt.

Cordatis looked up and saw her fall to the ground. "Shionne!" he shouted out as he ran to the ship. Once he was on board he ordered the pilot to take off. The pilot was only young; in fact she was not much older than Alex. She had long soft blonde hair that was platted and positioned to hang over her shoulder, she wore a black uniform and a little black pilots hat.

Cordatis once again tended to Shionne, "Just hang on," he said softly, "You'll be okay."

Shionne gave a weak laugh, "You're a liar." She told him.

Shionne was right, the bolt had struck her spine, and this was a fatal wound. Cordatis fell back and sat against the wall, his arms were resting on his knees, and he tried to decide what to do next. Suddenly Shionne began to cough, and when he looked at her the light in her eyes began to fade, and she was gone.