Chapter: 20 Search and Rescue?
"Trust is the bane of unpredictability."
Stubborn minds collide! On the planet Kamino, clone troopers receive elite training to prepare for the Grand Army of the Republic. In the ranks of leadership, a particular sergeant struggles to make his statement heard. In an effort to bridge the misunderstood gap between clones and Jedi, overseer Shaak Ti has ordered Padawan Anna Dellian to cooperate with this Sergeant Blazer. Together, these hardheaded minds must join forces to accomplish their mission or fail together...
Suddenly, Anna's trip to the astounding cloning facilities on Kamino seemed challenging. As she entered the barracks, she was immediately met with a mixture of reactions from the clones. While some of the cadets gave her sidelong glances, others offered a nod of respect. Whispers of the word "Jedi" crept across the room as Anna approached a trooper. He straightened his crimson uniform to look more presentable and stood at attention.
"Blazer," Anna began.
The clone's eyes listed confusedly. "Oh I'm Lieutenant Sparx. If you're looking for that lunatic, he's down on the far end."
"Gotcha," Anna mumbled. She strutted past countless clones to reach the furthest corner. A prospective, gruff-looking clone leader was reading up on Republic-issued strategies. "Blazer," Anna interrupted. "Whether we like it or not, we've been assigned to-"
"All due respect, master Jedi," the clone replied. "I'm Steele. Blazer's back behind me. But the one behind West, Speeds, and Fallout."
"That's it!" Anna groaned. Her outburst caught the clones by surprise. "I really don't care what impression I give off of the Jedi right now because as of this moment, I've been sent to train alongside you. These orders come from Shaak Ti herself and my Padawan butt doesn't have much of a say against this. That being said, show yourself, Blazer!" Anna's shout echoed across the silent barracks. "All around me are familiar faces and you can't hide in here forever. So where's the hardcore beast I saw out on the training grid? Is he gonna get stuff done or is he cowering in some corner like a-"
"Like a what?" a familiar voice growled from behind Anna. The Padawan smirked, for she had awakened the beast she was searching for. Like a krayt dragon emerging from its cave, Blazer stormed out of his corner and loomed over Anna.
Anna returned his stern gaze and placed her hands firmly on her hips. "Well," she said with a smack of her lips. "I was gonna say scared little womp rat, but it looks like you proved otherwise."
Blazer's glower was deep and spiteful. "I got nothing to prove to you, kid."
"Maybe not," Anna admitted. "But if you ever want to see a battlefield beyond the simulations, this kid is now your only chance at doing that."
The clones around them listened to the confrontation like eager vultures, but neither combatant yielded. "Typical Jedi," Blazer scoffed. "Get a good look, brothers. These saber-swingers want to take all the credit for themselves."
"It's not about credit," Sparx insisted. "It's about duty. And we will typically be following Jedi into battle."
"Good soldiers follow orders," Steele recited in a singsong manner.
"Tell that to all the clones that wind up dead in a Jedi's wake," Blazer snarled.
Anna's confident demeanor crumbled beneath his words. Hearing him insult her people brought a scowl to her face. "Do you think those Jedi generals want to lose men?" Anna snapped. "Are you so simple minded that you believe Jedi like General Skywalker or General Kenobi wake up in the morning and think 'Gee...I wonder how many of my own troops I can get killed today.' like idiots?"
"I'm not saying that," Blazer intoned. "Of course they don't willingly kill us. I'm saying that our lives are just expendable numbers to them and that's just a fact."
"No," Anna jeered.
"Yes," Blazer countered. "And we clones go into the war knowing this. I'm just taking a stand to say I'm going to be different. I wouldn't expect a naive kid like you to understand."
Anna pursed her lips as fury built up within. She hated not having words to counter with and it manifested into her shoving him. Blazer didn't hold back and returned her shove, sending the other clones into an uproar. Before they could rush to the young woman's aid, Anna was very much already tackling Blazer. She was like a rabid tooka cat, only instead of scratching away...her fists were flying.
"I can't tell which one's crazier," West muttered to Speeds.
Blazer kneed Anna off of him and threw his own punch. She rolled away and countered with a swift elbow to his gut. Her heart sank when he caught her arm and flipped her against the floor. "If I had any credits, I'd put'em on the Jedi!" Steele hollered as the two scuffled.
While Anna and Blazer tussled, an LEP servant droid waddled into the room. It was easy to understand why many had nicknamed them "rabbit droids" considering the ear-like prongs stretching from its head. "I am looking for Padawan Anna Dellian and clone Sergeant CT-2219," it declared in a high-pitched, whimsical voice. The clone gallery pointed towards the altercation and the LEP cringed. "Pardon me," it beckoned to no avail.
"You knuckle-dragging-" Anna hissed.
"Egotistical-" Blazer fired back.
"Hot-headed!" They yelled into each other's faces while wrestling.
"Oh dear," the droid grieved. "I'll just play the transmission." It deployed a holoprojector from its prongs. The other clones stood at attention as a hologram of Shaak Ti emerged before them.
Her eyes widened at the fight before her. "By the Force," she uttered.
"Called...IT!" Mattias hollered from the background as Ti tried to ignore him.
"Droid," Ti ordered. "Get me in close." The LEP obliged until she could see how Anna and Blazer were literally at each other's throats. As if this wasn't awful enough, Anna picked up the LEP droid to use as a club. It flailed in her arms as Anna prepared to swing it at Blazer, who was already grabbing a chair.
"Padawan Dellian!" Shaak Ti scolded.
Anna paused and wondered if her connection to the Force had drastically increased. "Master Shaak Ti?" she asked. "Is that you? Are you speaking to me through the Force?"
"Above you," Ti murmured.
Anna peered up at the droid in her hands and saw Ti's flickering projection. The master's unamused, disappointed glower was unnerving as Anna set the droid down. "Oh," Anna gulped. "Um...hi?"
With folded arms and an unwaveringly cold tone, Ti continued. "I see you two are getting acquainted."
"I get what you're trying to do," Anna admitted. "But I can't work with this guy. He actually thinks we don't care about clones."
"I'm not wrong!" Blazer asserted. "She refuses to admit the Jedis' own ignorance."
"Congratulations then," Mattias said as he stepped into the hologram. "You've both solidified each other's beliefs by socking each other and have accomplished nothing to reach understanding. On the battlefield, Jedi and clones work as one. If you can't find unity, neither of you can be leaders. And that unity's only gonna come from comprehending one another's perspective."
Blazer snorted at his words while Anna sighed. Ti inputed data from her position into the LEP unit. "Here are your orders," she said. "May the Force be with you." The transmission ended and a datacard slid out of the droid's chest.
"I'll take that," Blazer said as he snatched the card and stomped off.
"Hey!" Anna shouted and chased after him. She followed the clone down a polished corridor and pulled him back by the shoulder. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm gonna review our orders and formulate a plan," Blazer answered calmly. "Cause that's what sergeants do, pipsqueak. Don't worry, I'll relay it to you and the rest of the troops when it's showtime."
Anna feigned laughter to irk him. "You know I'm co-leading this with you, right? Plus as a Jedi, that's General Pipsqueak to you. And I'm sorry...showtime? Is this all an act for you to show off?"
"Like it's not for you?" Blazer jeered.
Anna bit her lip as the words escaped her. "I-...okay well maybe a little." Blazer raised a skeptical brow until she subsided. "Okay a lot."
"Case in point!" Blazer proclaimed before trudging away.
"No no no," Anna defended. "So what if I show off like you? I'm hardcore...you're hardcore...what's the difference?"
"I care about my brothers," Blazer intoned.
Anna grimaced. "Right, that's why you got them all shot and shot one yourself."
Blazer stormed up to Anna and she made a defensive fist. "You talk like you know me," he said. "But the truth is, you don't know a thing about clones. The most you know is whatever hurrah they give us back in the Republic capital, where it's all sunshine and 'the boys in white' right?" He huffed when Anna didn't answer. "But you don't see a thing from the battlefield. And while I haven't either, you don't get how things work here on Big Stormy. You don't know a thing about what it's like to walk in my boots."
"Then let me try to walk in them," Anna suggested. Blazer craned his neck as she continued. "I mean...we probably have a different foot size, but that doesn't matter if-"
"Stop being a smartass," Blazer grumbled. "Get to the point."
Anna took a deep breath. "Maybe it's true that you don't feel the Jedi treat the clones...your brothers...fairly. Maybe I can better understand what it means to be you by seeing what your life is like. Let me train with you."
"A kid like you wouldn't last twenty minutes in clone training," Blazer cackled.
"Then let's make a game of it," Anna challenged. "If I can keep up with you, we look over the plans together. If I totally fail...you win bragging rights, prove clone superiority, and get the plan to yourself. Either way, I get to understand you and you get a chance to humiliate me. What do you say, tough guy?" Anna worried she'd oversold it when she punched him in the arm.
Blazer thought for a moment and Anna watched his fist clench. "I say," he whispered. "Give it your best shot...kid."
It was such an odd sensation for Elsa to be back in the Galactic Senate. She cautiously traversed its elegant halls beside Yelena and observed the countless representatives passing by. Her blood ran cold when she noticed the same wall where she was scolded for Avinaria's secession. She could still hear Jedi Master Chuza yelling at her.
"Don't try to shake this off, Yelena. Your star Padawan has a new title: The Jedi who lost the Republic Avinaria! Put that on a plaque in the Archives!"
Elsa quivered as the insult still stung her to her core. Juxtaposed against such harsh words, Master Tamon Chaki called from across the corridor. "Well if it isn't one of the finest Consulars this galaxy will ever know!...Oh look and there's Master Yelena too." The Selkath chortled as Elsa blushed.
"Very funny," Yelena huffed yet humored him with a smirk.
As the masters embraced, Elsa bowed to Chaki's Padawan. "Nelani," Elsa said. "Nice to see you on much more peaceful terms."
"I couldn't agree more," the Duros replied. "Although, I wish my master would stop pushing this Consular role on me. I don't think politics is my field."
The Padawans shared a giggle. "From my understanding," Elsa said. "I think it'll inevitably be our choice once we reach knighthood, so I wouldn't stress about it too much."
"You saw me on Manaan," Nelani whispered. "All I do is stress. I'm still reminding myself that it's okay to think freely and that someone isn't going to read my mind. Some days are easier than others."
The Padawans followed their masters to a viewing platform on the upper chamber as Elsa put an arm around Nelani. "I still deal with some of my own traumas," she admitted. "Either we manage them, or they rule us. If you ever need someone to talk to, just reach out."
"I appreciate it, Elsa." Nelani said. "But we should be detaching from such emotions. It's the Jedi way." Elsa paused as the Duros continued ahead. She considered how such a mentality seemed counterproductive. Elsa thought about how much better she felt after crying into Senator Ryx's chest or how even Anna seemed to calm down after shedding a tear on Manaan. She dismissed the thoughts to catch up and take a seat with her group. She arrived just in time to hear Yelena scold Chaki.
"Toman!" her master said and swatted the Selkath's knee. "How have you not replaced your lightsaber yet?"
"It was stolen when I was captured," Chaki defended.
"That's no excuse for not getting a new one," Yelena retorted.
"I don't know Yelly," Chaki spoke soothingly. "There's something liberating about not having a weapon on me, yet still carrying out the work of a Jedi. I feel it eliminates the hypocrisy behind calling myself a peacekeeper. Perhaps it'll have a distinct impact on how the public sees Jedi as well."
Yelena chuckled. "You know the lightsaber is for self defense right?"
"The Force is my defender now," Chaki countered.
"Well for the Force's sake and yours, please go visit a sabersmith."
Chaki tried to ignore Yelena's nagging as the senate hearing began. It was odd for Elsa to see Chancellor Palpatine once more, considering her perspective on him had changed. She didn't like how judgmental she felt and couldn't help but see a man taking advantage of planets. Manaan's kolto wasn't his to take and one could only wonder how many other planetary resources he'd come into possession of. The chancellor had thousands of representatives eating from his hand and all he had to do was tell them what they wanted to hear. As Elsa considered these thoughts, she wasn't even paying attention to the hearing. Instead, her eyes were wandering across the senate gallery. She wondered which world would be the next Avinaria...which senator would be bold enough to tell Palpatine "Enough." Then again, Elsa considered if there was a middle ground. She contemplated if one could stay in the Republic and not be reprimanded for calling out unfairness. That was when she eyed a familiar member of the Loyalist Committee. Her prominent headdress and respected poise was iconic to numerous senators. For Elsa, she was a good friend...who may or may not have almost drawn a blaster on her...within good reason, of course. Unlike the very distracted Elsa, Senator Padmé Amidala was focused on her duties. She was quick to refute unethical claims and present a balanced view on the war. She was accompanied by a dignified man Elsa had never seen before. The bearded individual steered their platform towards the chamber's center as he prepared to speak.
"By the Force," Yelena whispered. "That there is Senator Bail Organa."
"You'll never find a more influential advocate for peace," Chaki added. "He might as well be a Jedi."
"Only he doesn't have a lightsaber either," Yelena jeered and gave Chaki the stink-eye.
Elsa ignored their banter and listened in on Senator Organa. His voice was calm, yet powerful with each passing word as he asked, "My fellow representatives...do you know how much a single bacta tank costs?"
"One-hundred thousand credits," a Pantoran senator answered boldly. Elsa admired the woman's courage to speak in front of so many stern faces, and was inspired to see a senator practically as young as she was.
Bail grinned and waved graciously towards the Pantoran's distant platform. "Thank you, Senator Chuchi. We have produced thousands of bacta tanks for our troops on the frontlines. They line entire medbays in bases and set chambers aboard star destroyers aglow. Of course I do not denounce the war effort, but it is not a lie to say that we've put more credits into its system than to our own citizens."
"The Republic's healthcare system needs a rework," Padmé added. "With so much bacta being preciously used for the war, medical practices right here on Coruscant are suffering. There must be a balance set in place."
"It is unfair to pin all these grievances of yours on the shortage of bacta," Neimoidian senator Lott Dod interjected. "We are not down to our last bacta tank at the moment and have enough credits to keep things stable."
Padmé scoffed. "The keywords there are 'at the moment.' We will run out and our rising debt won't save us if we keep funneling credits into it."
Elsa couldn't help but notice the different, influential weight that senators carried. While both Bail and Padmé were respected and conveyed the same message, only she was interrupted. Goodness, Senator Ryx Finc was interrupted repeatedly when he called out the Republic on injustices, Elsa thought.
"We need to have plans for the future," Bail said. "We need to think about what alternatives to bacta we might have. Our hospitals and the citizens we tell ourselves we're protecting our depending on it."
Nelani gave Elsa a nudge and whispered, "Maybe they can use kolto."
Elsa looked to Palpatine as a senator coincidentally stole the words from her mind. "What about kolto?" an Ithorian representative asked.
Nelani's already massive, scarlet eyes widened further as she instinctually hugged Elsa. "He read my mind," she shrieked. "He read my mind!"
"It was just a coincidence," Elsa assured. "You're safe."
Nelani tightly shut her eyes while repeating the Jedi code. "There-is-no-emotion-there-is-peace-there-is-no-emotion-there-is-peace."
While comforting her companion, Elsa listened intently to the continuing senate dispute. "Manaan's oceans are rich with a healing agent utilized years ago," the Ithorian added.
"Our planet is already teetering on neutrality, even after our recent attack by the Separatists." a Selkath senator angrily spoke up. "Choose your next words wisely, Ithorian."
"Kolto was ruled as inferior to bacta for a reason," Bail countered. "Plus it would be unethical to ravage Manaan's seas for the resource."
"As if our worlds are not being mined for other exports," the Ithorian admitted. "Chancellor Palpatine, what say you in regards to kolto?"
All heads turned to the chancellor as he peered across the masses. He thought for a moment before finally speaking. "Progress is about moving forward, not reverting to an inferior state," he said. "We cannot use an older resource if bacta is superior. What message would that send about our advanced Republic? Through the Banking Clan, we will find the loans we need to secure proper healthcare for our people." His comment left Padmé and Bail glowering. Palpatine directed his attention to the Selkath senator and brought his voice down. "Senator Moni," he said. "The Republic stands with you and the people of Manaan during the tragedy at Sino City. We understand that your prospects of neutrality are part of a history dating back to the Old Republic. This being said, on my honor as Chancellor of this Republic, I promise you that we would never violate the sanctity of your kolto without a proper agreement."
Elsa wanted to throw up. She wanted to literally scream across the entire chamber and throw something towards the chancellor's chair. Frankly, she didn't know what was stopping her. The masters at her booth could sense her climbing anxieties and turned to meet her. "How are none of you livid right now?" Elsa asked through gritted teeth.
While Chaki leaned in to address her, Yelena looked around to make sure Elsa wasn't making a scene. "What is it, lass?" Chaki inquired.
"Elsa," Yelena intoned. "Steady yourself."
"But he's lying to them," Elsa uttered. "You know the truth from back aboard the Venator. Those clones seized kolto canist-"
"You can't always tell the public everything," Chaki insisted. "Perhaps it's part of a plan internally to-"
"That isn't right," Elsa interrupted. "It's still a lie."
"Padawan," Yelena spoke sternly yet quiet enough to keep the conversation discreet. She took Elsa's hand in hers and said,"You still have much to learn about politics. Please don't make the same mistake again."
"Again," Elsa reiterated and slid her hand out of Yelena's grasp. "You haven't changed at all, master." She shifted her glare towards Chaki. "Perhaps none of this has ever changed. Politicians are toying with worlds and silent Jedi are part of the problem."
"Wait, what's going on?" Nelani asked obliviously.
Elsa couldn't take it as she furiously stepped out of the senate chamber. "Elsa, wait!" Yelena whispered sharply to no avail.
Chaki sighed and sulked beside her. "No denying it, Yelly." he said. "If this galaxy's political pigs don't chew her up and spit her out, she'll make a hell of a Consular. Nothing gets past her."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Yelena admitted.
Sirens blared from the Kamino military complex as clone cadets sprinted across a training grid. "Go go go!" One of them could be heard shouting.
"You ready for this, kid?" Blazer jeered.
"Just try and keep up," Anna retorted and sprinted ahead of him. The duo dashed across the silver flooring as training droids blasted away. Several clones behind them were hit by the stun blasts while others rolled to evade. Anna launched herself towards the durasteel obstacles and began climbing. While her motions were more acrobatic, Blazer hauled himself up like the brute he was.
Though Anna had him beat on speed, the clone's strength was unmatched as he lunged higher than her. Her eyes widened as he caught the highest ledge first and cackled. "Hey, Jedi! How do the bottom of my boots look?"
Anna growled and quickened her pace. She bolted alongside him and tried to ignore her irregular heartbeat. I don't understand, she thought. I've been putting myself through so much endurance training. This should be a breeze. She used Blazer's taunts to spur her momentum as they dropped to the floor. A low-hanging, electrical grid buzzed above them as they crawled to the end.
"Gotta be ready for anything on the battlefield," Blazer called.
"I know that!" Anna snapped. They emerged from the electrical grid to find a widespread shooting range.
"Grab a blaster, then!" Blazer jested while easily shooting targets. Anna huffed and let her sweaty hand hover over the weapon selection. Between the pistol or the rifle, Anna figured she'd stand a better chance with more firepower. Blazer smirked at her choice while blasting away with his pistol. "A DC-15," he said as she fiddled with the weapon. "That's a safe choice."
"Shut up," Anna muttered. "I'm trying to concentrate." She took aim and groaned when shots didn't fire.
"The safety's on," Blazer mumbled.
"I knew that!" Anna shouted. "I was just about to flip the safety off before you said anything. The one that's obviously located on the...on the..." Anna's brows furrowed as her hands hurriedly scoured the rifle.
"Just below the sights," Blazer whispered.
"Just below the sights!" Anna declared and switched off her safety. "Which is exactly what I was going to say and do before you interrupted me."
"Yeah okay," Blazer muttered. He finished blasting all of his targets, holstered his weapon and started to run off. Rather than finish the rest of the obstacle course, he paused to observe Anna's shooting. He couldn't help but laugh to himself as Anna failed tremendously. She unleashed a wild spray of blue laser bolts, all of which completely missed the target. Blazer came up behind her with arms crossed and sighed. "You'd be more accurate if you fired in controlled bursts."
"The heck are you still doing here?" Anna gasped.
"Trying to give you advice."
"Well advice won't matter if I'm gonna be swinging a lightsaber in real scenarios anyway," Anna quipped.
"Yeah, but what happens when that fancy sword gets lost?" Blazer asked. "What if the gun in your hands is your last hope of survival?"
"It wouldn't come to that," Anna affirmed. "I wouldn't let it."
"Unbelievable," Blazer replied. "Just when I thought you weren't like the rest." He continued on his way and left Anna in a tizzy.
"Wait, what?" she asked. "What's that supposed to mean? Blazer!" She threw down the rifle and chased after him. Her arms were tiring as she ascended up a dangling rope. She eyed Blazer steadily hoisting himself on the adjacent rope and called to him. "Of course I'm not like the rest! There's only one me!"
"You still don't get it," Blazer growled and swung to the next ledge. Anna frontflipped towards him, removed one of the waypoint marking rods, and flung it at him. Rather than let the rod strike his head, Blazer caught it and turned with a sneer.
"Then explain it to me," Anna asserted and removed a second rod. While some clones continued the obstacle course, others realized what was about to transpire.
"Here we go again," a clone said in passing.
"You're only out for yourself!" Blazer shouted before jabbing his rod at Anna.
She angrily blocked it with her own and went on the attack. "Like you're not," she defended.
"I'm trying to prove that there's a double standard," Blazer countered while striking back. "One that proves that Jedi are exempt from arrogant behavior." With melee being her specialty, Anna utilized Ataru to overwhelm Blazer. She struck him across the face and used her rising momentum to pin him on the ground. As she loomed over him with gritted teeth, he spoke surprisingly calm. "I used to think all Jedi believed themselves to be these perfect beings. You started to show me that it wasn't true. You were human. You get tired...you can't shoot." Blazer smirked. "Hell, you couldn't find the safety without my help. I was willing to set aside my own hardheadedness and give you a chance, but you still couldn't admit your weaknesses...your vulnerabilities."
Anna raised a brow and rebutted, "Could you?"
Blazer seemed genuinely confused. "I literally just did."
"Oh," Anna realized. "Well then...I'm..." Anna thought on her weaknesses while still trying to keep Blazer pinned. "Why don't we talk about this in a better setting?"
"Absolutely," Blazer said. "But before you get off me, I just want you to know that I've had my pistol aimed at your gut during this entire conversation. Like I said, a blaster could save your life one day." He pretended to pull the trigger and made a 'Pew' sound.
Anna and Blazer ditched the obstacle course and found a room designated for leaders in training. "Damn," Blazer hissed while rubbing his cheek. "You hit hard."
Anna snickered at his remark and watched the lightning storm outside. She ran her finger across the rain-splattered window and sighed. "I always do," she said. "That's where all my energy goes. From as far back as I can remember, I've been throwing punches. Mostly from fights I've picked."
"I can relate," Blazer chuckled. "Caused a few black eyes when I was a kid."
"When was that, like last week?" Anna quipped. Her smirk vanished when Blazer glared at her. She was about to apologize for offending him when he suddenly busted out laughing.
"When you're bred for a leadership role, it kinda goes to your head." Blazer admitted. "A lot of my squadmates didn't like that. Is that why you fought too?"
Anna pursed her lips and shook her head. "You know, I'm really not sure about that. It's been a long time. I used to think I was quite popular, but these days I think I've got more enemies than friends. I...might've been a jerk."
"A Jedi jerk," Blazer considered. "That's a new one."
"I don't know," Anna huffed. "I just don't like people making me feel inferior. If they have more talent, I've got to be better. If they're smarter, I'll talk louder. I don't want to be forgotten. Just some number that people will think of when they say there are ten-thousand Jedi knights." Anna scoffed at the idea. "I'm not even a knight."
"Believe it or not," Blazer replied. "We clones...I struggle with that lost recognition more than you think. I'm in that same boat where I sure as hell don't want to be CT-2219 on some casualty report...One of millions of files on millions of clones. If I die, people will know me by the name my brothers gave me. They will remember a sacrifice I gave in the name of something worth fighting for. Not because some Jedi sent me running head on into a laser cannon while he or she saves the day."
Anna looked into the clones eyes and spoke with true realization. "You and I just want to be heard," she said. "We're not numbers, and we matter to this Republic."
"Damn right," Blazer affirmed.
"I struggle with looking at my life in the grand scheme of things," Anna said. "Perhaps I need to reel things back and focus on the task at hand. We need to think about what we can do now."
"Well now we can show Shaak Ti what we're really made of."
"I couldn't agree more, Sergeant Blazer." Anna proudly saluted him. "Now, let's take a peek at this mission of ours."
Blazer withdrew the data card and handed it to her. "Here you go...commander."
As the senate session concluded, Elsa sat in one of the countless lounge chairs. She watched as delegates from various worlds emerged from their designated platforms and discussed happenings. Amidst the raucous banter of the senate folk, Elsa sensed a familiar presence and turned to meet it. Mauve robes swayed as a Naboo handmaiden bowed. "Padawan," she said. "I never thought I'd see you around here again."
"Teckla," Elsa greeted. "I had some doubts myself."
"My lady," Teckla called from over her shoulder. "Look who's here."
Padmé approached with Bail not far behind. "Elsa," she recalled respectfully. "How are you?"
"I've been better," Elsa admitted. "But I'm glad to see people like you and Senator Organa still fighting the good fight out there."
Padmé was no Jedi, but she could sense Elsa's underlying concerns and sat beside her. "What's troubling you?" she asked.
Elsa peered around to make sure her master wasn't near. She then leaned over and said, "I have no idea how you keep such unwavering faith in democracy. Especially when politicians so blatantly lie to each other."
"It's not always easy," Padmé assured and motioned to her partner. "Senator Organa and I have our doubts just as anyone else does."
"But all that matters is where you stand at the end of the day," Bail shared. "And if you can tell yourself that you did everything possible to fight for what you believe in, then sometimes that is all you can do."
"All that I can do..." Elsa reiterated and thought on the words. She considered what Padmé had done for her in the past to set up a meeting with Senator Finc. She wondered how bold of a senator she was outside of the public eye, and dared to take a risk. "Padmé, can I speak to you in private?" she asked.
Padmé nodded to Bail and he departed. Elsa watched Senator Organa quickly join a conversation amongst a group of idling senators. Teckla used the time to grab refreshments from a droid host in the lobby. "What's going on, Elsa?" Padmé inquired.
"Anakin Skywalker recommended you to me, so I believe that the Jedi can trust you." Padmé seemed confused, yet let Elsa continue. "I left the hearing because I heard Chancellor Palpatine directly lying to Senator Moni. He does have kolto, and he's taken it without the Manaan's permission." Padmé's head tilted with curiosity while she made sure no one was listening in. "I was on Manaan during the Separatist attack," Elsa explained. "There were Separatist kolto canisters that were confiscated by Republic troopers amidst the chaos. I spoke to the commander of the 104th, and it didn't even seem like his Jedi general was aware. He said these orders were specifically from the Supreme Chancellor. He probably assumed that I was naive enough to not question it. But I saw these canisters being unloaded on Coruscant and everything."
"Do you know where?" Padmé asked.
"It was a docking bay in the upper city," Elsa replied. She rubbed her temples and shut her eyes to recall any details. "The platform was huge...tan...officials in teal uniforms with yellow armbands. They were the ones taking the kolto. I'm sorry I don't have much to go off of."
"But it's something," Padmé replied.
"Elsa!" Yelena called from the adjacent stairs. "There you are. I was afraid you'd left for the temple and you're lucky we didn't leave you stranded." she teased, but noticed Padmé beside Elsa. "I hope my Padawan isn't bothering you at all, senator."
Padmé feigned a smile and answered, "Of course not."
"My resources are limited," Elsa whispered as she rose. "Find the truth." She left Padmé sitting deeply in thought as Bail returned to her.
"Everything alright?" he queried.
Padmé stood up and gently leaned towards his ear. She lowered her voice and asked, "How much do you know about the upper city docking bays?"
Lightning streaked across the windows while thunder boomed outside the clone training complex. Gold Squad's troopers were lined up outside the training grid, checking their weapons and fastening armor. The occasional, nervous glance had them looking to one another. After their previous failure, all of them were on edge to brace for whatever awaited them behind the doors. "If the sarge so much as thinks of shooting me," a clone grunted. "I'll be ready."
"But look at it this way," Sparx said. "If Blazer slips up again, he'll be decommissioned and we'll get someone wiser to lead our squad. However...as someone was shot by him previously, being ready is a good call."
"Sergeant on deck!" another clone hollered. "And...Jedi?"
The squad exchanged bewildered glances. Until this point they'd only seen Anna and Blazer bludgeon each other from the barracks to the training grid. Now they strutted in side by side and prepared to brief the squad. The clones stood at attention as Blazer examined them. "I want you boys to listen closely," he said. "Each and every one of you is a vital warrior to the Republic. Without our combined efforts, this mission is lost."
"And what is the mission, sir?" Sparx asked.
Blazer nodded to Anna. "Commander Dellian, the floor is yours."
Anna inserted Shaak Ti's data card into the nearby projector and a holomap emerged. "We've been assigned a search and rescue mission," Anna explained. She pointed towards a representation of the gate and slid her finger across the projection. "We are to infiltrate this Separatist compound and extract a prisoner. We don't know their condition, only their location." A red strobe flashed amidst a maze of corridors. "Resistance will be heavy, but together we can break through and get to the extraction point represented by this yellow line."
"The prisoner isn't our only objective here," Blazer added. "We're all getting out of this one. Stunned or not, no one is getting left behind. Am I clear?"
Sparx grinned as he and the rest of the squad exclaimed, "Sir yes sir!"
The group steadied themselves behind the bulkhead doors while Anna gave Blazer a nudge. "Nice addition at the end there," she whispered. "Why can't I be a general though?"
Blazer scoffed. "Because we're shooting for realism, kid. If you're a Padawan, your master would be the general while you'd assume the role of commander."
Anna rolled her eyes, "But I-" A siren blared and the gates started to open.
"Here we go, squad!" Blazer shouted and twirled his pistol. From the moment the lights came on, the group was instantly under fire from two droid gunners positioned on a bulkhead wall.
Anna ignited her lightsaber and stepped in front to block laserfire. "I got it, Sarge!" she exclaimed. "Call the next move."
While Anna kept the turrets occupied, Blazer turned to his men. "Take cover, boys." he ordered. "Sparx, you and I are gonna flank left to get an angle on those gunners."
"We'll be out in the open," Sparx realized.
"Not if the commander keeps the gunners busy," Blazer retorted. "Everyone, keep your eyes on those turrets and act accordingly. Regardless of who they go for, if they're not pointed at you...take the damn shot. The goal here is to overwhelm."
"Any time now, Sarge!" Anna called while deflecting extreme amounts of laserfire. Blazer and Sparx flanked left, but one of the gunners followed them. They were forced to hit the floor as lasers zipped over their heads. The attack provided an opening for the other clones to blast the droid and left one turret remaining.
"At least that was mostly according to plan," Blazer sighed until the compound's lower gate opened. A line of B1 battle droids marched out and Blazer opened fire. "Take it to 'em, boys!"
"And the last turret?" Sparx asked while shooting.
Blazer thought for a moment before sprinting towards the wall. "Cover me!" He rolled to evade blasterfire and slid on one knee across from Anna. "It's all you, commander!"
Anna noticed the clones applying cover fire and how Blazer's hands were cupped together. Her eyes traced his position to the turret above them and she started to back up. Holy kriff, she thought. This guy's as crazy as I am and I'm loving every second of it. Anna sprinted towards him while simultaneously blocking blasts. She struggled to multitask and accidentally deflected one of the lasers towards Blazer. He narrowly dodged it and focused on hoisting Anna up to the gun. She launched out of his hands and soared towards the wall. With a swipe of her lightsaber, the droid's head went clattering against the floor. Anna landed beside the downed turret and gave a thumbs up. "We're clear!" she shouted.
Blazer surged forward and downed droids by the scores. His unit pushed up behind him as he checked his corners. "We'll meet you on the other side of the wall!"
"Surrender, Jedi." A repurposed battle droid ordered from behind Anna.
"That's cute," she said before backflipping over it and striking it down. She climbed down the wall and regrouped with Gold Squad, where they found a maze of corridors awaiting them. In the brief moment of ceasefire, Anna looked up at the observation platform. The blinding overhead lights kept her from seeing the instructors, but she hoped they were impressed. It was difficult for her to not make the exercise about herself, but she had to remember it was about helping Blazer pass.
"Which way do we go?" a clone asked. "We'll have clankers swarming this point at any minute."
"That's our corridor," Blazer said and pointed to the rightmost passage.
"I can take point," Sparx opted and primed his blaster.
"No," Blazer intoned. "I need you to take the rest of the squad towards the exit. You'll be in charge of them from there, lieutenant. I'm not losing anyone and we'll need all the support we can get for our escape."
"We can charge in their with you," Sparx contested.
"But you're more than cannon fodder," Blazer insisted. "You and the rest of the boys need to realize that. No one here is expendable. Send two of your men to guard the extraction point and have the rest prepared to cover us. That's an order."
"Yes sir," Sparx saluted and greatly respected his words.
"Alright, kid." Blazer said. "I'm on your six." He huffed when Anna seemed genuinely confused. "I'm directly behind you."
"Oh," Anna realized as they snuck down the corridor. They checked their respective corners and were surprised to find a lack of droids. Although the roofless maze revealed the overhead lights of the training complex, Anna and Blazer were too immersed in the scenario to notice. She poked her head out from the wall as a laser zipped inches from it.
"Contact!" Blazer called and instinctually pulled Anna back. Anna wriggled free of his grasp and flourished her lightsaber. "Wait," he warned. "Hear that?"
Anna listened closely to a bizarre series of gyrating gears. "What the kriff is that?" she asked.
"Commando droids hopping about. We can take 'em, but we have to be quick."
"I'm on your six," Anna assured.
"That phrase doesn't work if you're in front of me."
"Then I'm on your seven!" Anna hollered before charging into battle.
"That's not how that works!" Blazer growled and ran after her. Sure enough, a pair of commando droids was bouncing off the walls while firing at them. Anna deflected their fire to buy Blazer enough time to tackle one. As they wrestled across the floor, Anna lunged to strike the other down. The droid adapted to the situation and withdrew a blade to meet hers. Her eyes widened as the metal blocked her saber and she thought back to her encounter with Jack Convore.
"This vibrosword's crafted with cortosis," the pirate had said. "The material is strong enough to withstand your fancy blade."
Anna didn't waste a moment to unleash her Ataru upon the droid. While it may have had a lightsaber-resistant vibrosword, it certainly lacked the skills to duel a Jedi. Anna deduced the blade was for dealing with lesser trained threats up close. The droid's blocky movements were no match for Anna's acrobatics as she bisected it at the waistline. Still the droids upper half crawled towards her until Anna stabbed its head. She peered over at Blazer as he flipped his droid over and shot it repeatedly.
"I hate those things," he growled.
"Me too," Anna replied. "But I'm willing to believe they were guarding someone valuable." They entered the next chamber to find a restrained prisoner with a bag over their head. "Sure enough," Anna chuckled. "Secure the door."
"I've got you," Blazer assured and kept his pistol trained on the corridor.
Anna analyzed the prisoner and was surprised it was a real person. I honestly expected a dummy, she thought. Or a protocol droid. Or a-" Anna paused as she examined the prisoner's head shape. "Wait a second," she whispered. She cautiously pat the top of the bag and her hand sank into a divot. As the anvil-headed being took shape, Anna swiftly removed the bag and saw it was El-les. The Arcona instructor looked to her with a wobbly grin. "Oh you've got to be kriffing kidding me," she said.
"Oh thank goodness!" El-les exclaimed like an overpaid actor from an atrocious holodrama. "The Republic is here to save me!"
Blazer recognized his voice and turned with a gasp. "Is that-"
"Yep," Anna groaned. "Well come on...prisoner...we're getting you out of here." Anna untied him and stood idly by. Seconds seemed to stretch on forever as El-les just sat there. "Alright then!" Anna snapped. "Get up!"
"I can't stand," El-les confessed. "The Separatists broke both of my legs."
Anna curled her lip. "Of course they did. Fine." She helped El-les up in one of her arms and let him lean on her shoulder. "You're heavier then you look," she huffed. "Sarge, since you've got the gun...why don't you cover us?"
Blazer led the way down the hall and checked each corner for droids. "It's too quiet," he admitted. "Hope the rest of the squad isn't getting attacked." Suddenly, a deep and haughty laugh echoed throughout the maze. The lights dimmed to grant the illusion of nightfall and the laughter became all the more ominous. "What's that?" Blazer asked and looked around.
Familiarization gripped Anna as she cringed. "I know that laugh," she uttered.
A hooded, braying figure emerged from the shadows. "You Republic fools," a recognizable voice said. "You've fallen right into my trap."
"Our trap," hissed a less-dramatic woman as she blocked them from the opposite hall. Her montrals were easily distinguishable through her hood.
"Are they serious?" Blazer blurted.
Anna sighed, "Unfortunately."
"Darth Mattias is always serious!" Mattias bellowed as he removed his hood. "You're a foolish Jedi to think you could steal the prisoner of two Sith Lords."
Anna wanted to snicker but tried to keep the scenario serious. Mattias didn't stutter while Shaak Ti lowered her hood. They both ignited their lightsabers and adjusted them to training settings. Blazer immediately fired at Ti, who blocked his trio of lasers. "Did you seriously think that was gonna work?" Anna derided.
"You got a better idea?" Blazer asked.
"Yeah! You get the heck out of here. I'll hold them off."
"I'm not losing anyone on this mission," Blazer intoned.
"And you won't!" Anna snapped. "But you're outmatched here and I'll...figure it out. Just go!" She practically threw El-les onto Blazer's shoulders. "I'll clear you a path. You see an opening, you take it."
Anna flourished her lightsaber and swapped it to training mode. "Brave," Mattias admitted. "But you must understand the situation is hopeless."
"For you?" Anna quipped with a smirk. "Absolutely." She leapt at her master while spinning her blade. He parried every move he'd taught her, exaggerating his laugh while he did so. Anna added a somersault to her attack and swung her blade at Mattias' legs. He spun to evade the move and drove his saber downward. Green clashed with blue as he chuckled.
"My my," he said. "It appears you've added acrobatics to your Form IV. It's a pity it won't save you!" Anna angrily kicked at his torso but considered her master's spine. She backed off and Mattias took notice of her maneuver. He countered by heavily Force-pushing her into the wall. "I'm sorry, Jedi." he said calmly. "But this is war, and you cannot have pity on a very capable master. Because he's not going to hold back against you!" Anna's gasped as Mattias Force-pulled her into his saber strike. She countered with one of her own and elbowed him across the face.
As Anna recovered on the floor, a blue blade appeared in the corner of her eye. She spun and batted away Shaak Ti's attack while Mattias closed in. "Kriff!" Anna cursed while struggling to fend off both Sith. Mattias and Ti were relentless with their attacks as Anna was forced on the defensive. They backed her into a corner as she shouted to Blazer. "Go!"
The sergeant made a break for it with El-les while Anna endured the saber strikes. Blue and green hues streaked across the walls while sparks flared onto the floor. "This what war is like, Jedi." Mattias bellowed.
"It is unforgiving," Ti added as she brought her saber down. Together, she and Mattias pressed their blades against Anna's. "It will either break you or take your life if you allow it."
"But you dare to think you're ready for it," Mattias scoffed. "You're nothing but a Padawan. All of your efforts will have been in vain and your precious Jedi Order will be destroyed."
"No," Anna grunted. "Even if I die, I die for the Republic." She focused all strength in her thighs and arms to raise her blade against her foes. "You Sith talk a lot of trash, but you bluff too. I'm not hearing much laserfire out there, so I'm willing to bet my squad is long gone. To be a Jedi is to serve, and that's what I'm doing!" With a mighty shove, Anna freed herself of their blades and the masters backed away. "I'm ready to sacrifice it all in the name of that service," she declared.
Shaak Ti and Mattias glanced to one another before returning their gazes to her. "Most honorable," Mattias admitted.
"Woah woah," Anna assured with a twirl of her her blade. "Just because I said I'm ready to sacrifice my life doesn't mean that's what's happening here. Both of you are totally going down." While Shaak Ti seemed mildly amused, Mattias expected Anna's arrogance. She rushed them with a wild, acrobatic range of Ataru strikes.
While Ti and Mattias were on the defensive, it seemed more like they were waiting for her to tire. Surprisingly, Anna had built up greater endurance to extend her aggressive form's durability. "Fight like a Jedi, die like one!" Mattias roared.
"Show me what you've got!" Anna taunted and parried his attack. As she did so, the momentum caught up with Mattias and he buckled forward. The cybernetic disk in his back tried to adjust to his strain as he howled with pain. While he stumbled, Anna saw a clear opening to stun him. Though she raised her lightsaber, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Even if it was all pretend and part of a training exercise, he was still Mattias. Anna Force-pushed him into the chair where El-les was once held and ran down an open corridor. "We'll meet again, Darth Mattias!" Anna played along. "In the meantime, go see a physical therapist!" Anna snickered at her own remark. She turned to quip again, but instead found Shaak Ti hot on her heels. "Oh come on!"
"I thought we were 'totally going down', Padawan?" Ti mockingly inquired.
Anna rounded the corner, but faked out Ti by lunging at her. Their blue blades clashed as Ti pinned Anna against the wall. With a furious shove, Anna broke free and frontflipped over the Togruta. Nearly tripping over the destroyed commando droids gave her an idea and she snatched one of their blasters. "Controlled bursts," Anna reminded herself and fired at Ti. The master easily deflected Anna's shots and Force-pulled the firearm out of her hand. "Well it was worth a shot," Anna lamented and kept backing up. She hated admitting it to herself, but she had to face the facts. Shaak Ti and Mattias were better Jedi than she was. Perhaps the goal of her part was to buy her team time and not defeat the Sith Lords.
"He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day." Jack Convore had told her.
Anna relented, deactivated her saber, and made a run for the exit. Shaak Ti pursued, but found a surprise waiting for her by the gateway. "Now!" Blazer ordered as he and Sparx unleashed covering fire. They kept Ti pinned behind the doorway while Anna dashed to them.
"You stayed?" the Padawan gasped.
"I told you I wasn't leaving without my full squad!" he insisted. "Get to the extraction point, commander."
Blazer's heart raced as he and Sparx slowly backed up. Neither of them stopped shooting to keep Shaak Ti from advancing quicker. They could finally breathe once the last squad member crossed the designated yellow line. A siren blared to signify the simulation's completion as green bulbs flashed across the arena. While the clone infantry cheered, Blazer and Anna collapsed from exhaustion. As they propped each other up, Blazer nudged her and offered a fistbump.
"It's a miracle," Sparx joked as El-les rose to his feet. "He can walk!"
The instructor humored his cadets with a grin and applauded them on a job well done. "Sergeant Blazer," he said. "You demonstrated superb and selfless leadership out there. Perhaps working with this Jedi has helped you bring out the best in yourself and your squad."
"I'll admit," Bric said as he approached from the observation deck. "Their performance was...efficient."
"What's wrong, master chief?" Blazer jested. "They couldn't get you in on the scenario?"
"I would've shot you," he insisted. "Trust me."
Shaak Ti and Mattias emerged from the compound as cleaning teams descended. "Excellent work under pressure, Gold Squad." Ti complimented. "And Padawan Dellian, a word if we may."
Anna gulped and approached her Jedi masters. "Alright," she grumbled. "Lay it on me."
"Your saber skills and endurance have come far," Mattias admitted.
Anna glowered. "I don't have to be a Jedi to sense a 'but' coming," she replied.
"But you had us worried for a moment," Mattias continued.
"As a Jedi, your abilities must be used to aid those around you." Ti lectured. "This was executed brilliantly to help your sergeant escape with the prisoner. However, you initially chose to stay and fight two Sith Lords. You were fortunate enough to change your plan before one of us bested you."
"You made the right call," Mattias said. "You chose the mission over personal bravado, and that humility will serve you well as a Jedi."
"Your skills did not go unnoticed," Ti assured. "Padawan Dellian, you posses a positive synergy amongst clone troopers. If you continue to hone your abilities, there may be a place for you on the battlefront one day. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you in the Corellian Cup." Ti walked off to give feedback to Gold Squad while Mattias pat Anna's back.
"Shaak Ti rarely dishes out compliments like that, Padawan." he said. "I couldn't be prouder."
Anna soaked up the glory as a grin stretched across her face. "She didn't even say she'd see me at the tryouts," Anna realized. "She believes I'm gonna make it to the event!"
"And I do too," Mattias declared. "Everything she said was true and what you did for that clone is unforgettable. He'll make a fine sergeant, and hey...General Dellian sounds a lot more believable now."
Anna nodded to Mattias as a thought crossed her mind. "Master..."
"Yes, apprentice?"
"I appreciate your support so that one day I might hit the frontlines, but that might mean facing down a real Sith. Is my best option really to run? Was I that fortunate in this scenario just to survive?"
Mattias bit his lip and considered her question. "Anna," he answered softly. "You are powerful, but you are still a Padawan. At this stage in your life as a Jedi, there's still so much for you to learn. There are still so many powerful enemies out there." Mattias swallowed hard. "Sith Lords...they're-...monsters."
"Have you ever faced one?" Anna asked as Mattias shook his head. "Have you ever seen one?"
"I saw one before he became one. Dooku was once a Jedi, you know. That makes them even scarier, because a Sith Lord can understand our very doctrine and think beyond it. The Dark Side festers within them like a raging fire. No, I have never faced a Sith Lord, but I believe every story since the days of the Old Republic." Mattias sighed as he recounted the atrocities. "Sith Lords have raised empires and brought entire planets to their knees. They have killed thousands and enslaved millions more."
"Well maybe I'd be strong enough to defeat one when I'm a knight," Anna considered. "Or even a master."
"Even knights and masters fear Sith Lords," Mattias admitted. "I just will to the Force that you never have to face a real one. And if you do, that you don't take pity on him and end it right then and there."
Anna huffed. "Master, if this is about what happened in the scenario...I had you beat."
"You should've stunned me then," Mattias intoned. "I was still armed. Just because my back hurt didn't mean I'd fully yielded. A monster like Count Dooku would've spat your pity right back at you."
"Forgive me, Master Mattias." Anna scoffed. "But aren't we supposed to see the good in everyone? At least isn't that what you should be lecturing me to do?"
"Normally yes," Mattias replied. "But when it comes to the Sith, I have enough common sense to know they'll never change. They chose to channel the Dark Side as we chose to follow the Light. Anyone else? Sure, pursue that redemption. But with the Sith, don't hesitate...because they won't. I say these things to you because I want you to be the best...But I also want you to be alive. You are my apprentice, and my pride and joy. I'll do whatever it takes to equip you with the skills needed to stay safe. Do you understand?"
Anna nodded firmly. "I do, master." she said. As they joined the others, she considered how Mattias would feel if he knew she occasionally channeled the Dark Side. Was she still worthy of his praise and commitment?...Or was she living a lie?