Chapter Thirty-One: 99

As I neared the war room, clones racing past me in every which way, I caught sight of two non-humans. And non-Kaminoans. That's certainly a rare sight in the cloning facility. I paused as they walked ahead of me, realizing they were a stocky Siniteen and a slender Arcona.

"Bric?" I called after them, unsure. "El-Les?"

They both turned, proving my suspicions of their identities, the Siniteen giving me a small scowl.

"Well look who it is," Bric said, mocking. "A Fett has returned to Kamino."

I returned the scowl. "And what brings scum like you here?" I glanced between them. "I'm referring to you, Bric."

"We were hired to continue the training of the clones, seeing as the war only continues to escalate," El-Les cut in, far more calm than his counterpart.

I crossed my arms, nodding my head to get us moving towards the war room again. "I see," I mused. I wasn't surprised, considering Jango was no longer around to oversee training. Besides, he usually only formulated their training. He only ever personally trained the more elite soldiers. "Well, let's hope you've trained them well enough for this."

"Surely you don't think the Separatists will make it through the blockade," El-Lis asked.

I frowned, shrugging as we neared the doors to the war room. "It's certainly possible. 99 was actually showing myself, Fives, and Echo the most defensible spots in the city."

"99?" Bric asked, chuckling. "The janitor clone?"

While he laughed, El-lis' face lifted in curiosity. "Five and Echo? Were they not a part of Domino squadron?" He was talking to Bric now. "The ones who almost failed."

My eyebrow arched. "I don't know anything about their training, but they're not part of Domino anymore. Most of their squad was wiped out on the Rishi Moon outpost. They're part of the 501st now."

"Well," Bric mused. "I'll be damned. I guess they made something of themselves eventually."

"You don't give them enough credit," I chided. "Everyone has a purpose." I stopped at the door to the war room, looking back at them. "Even a maintenance clone like 99."

El-Lis smiled. "You've certainly changed since we last met."

"Yeah," Bric chuckled. "You sound like a jedi."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not," I said, squinting at them. I stepped back, the door hissing open behind me.

"That room's for officers, you know," Bric explained in his usual gruff tone. "Especially in a state of emergency."

"We're heading to prepare the clones for any battle," El-Lis chimed in. "You're welcome to come with us. You'd be good for morale, I'm sure."

"Morale be damned," Bric said back. "She just can't go in there."

I watched them in silence, arms crossed. I thought about explaining, but I felt a small swell of pride-not to mention the opportunity to show off. "Watch me," was all I said, before turning and striding confidently into the room.

"Captain," Obi-wan greeted from the center hologram.

"General," I said back, letting my feelings reach out to sense Bric and El-Lis' reactions. Their surprise made a grin pop to my face as the door shut behind me.

"What's the face for?" Obi-wan asked, arms crossed as he barely took his gaze from the hologram of the planet.

"Nothing," I dismissed, wiping the smile away and standing beside him. "How's Anakin doing?" Both Shaak Ti and Lama Su gave me incredulous looks, making me stumble over my words just slightly. "Um...I mean...General Skywalker?" I tried. Nothing seemed to work. I wasn't sure if the look was for my informal reference to Anakin or just my being there.

From Lama Su...it was probably just my presence.

"He's engaging the fleet now," Obi-wan said gently as Rex joined us, beside Cody, in the circle around the hologram.

"Shore up our defenses," Cody ordered to a nearby communications officer.

Beside me, I felt Shaak Ti and Kenobi musing over the situation. "The fleet is not as large as I expected," General Ti explained, still thinking. "Begin the air strike."

We all watched the hologram as Anakin's forces engaged the Separatist fleet. "Warning," the PA system announced. "Falling debris." I watched the pieces of the ships fall towards Kamino's oceans, my gaze lifting to see Cody and Rex share a glance of suspicion too.

"Grievous seems to be sacrificing his transports in favor of protecting his command ship," Shaak Ti assumed.

Kenobi hummed in response. "Something's not right."

I shifted my focus to the displays along the walls, rather than the hologram, watching the beeping red beacons fall into the oceans just outside the city. "Those are getting a bit close, don't you think?"

"The city has defensive shields," Prime Minister Lama Su shot back, intent on disregarding me.

I frowned at him, looking to Obi-wan instead. "No, Kida is right," he said, rubbing his beard.

"I'm going to press the attack, Master," Skywalker's voice came through the comms from the battle above.

"No, Anakin, wait," Obi-wan said into his comms immediately. "It's too easy. Not even Grievous would attack so recklessly."

I heard an explosion through the comms link. "Master," Anakin grunted. "The battle is up here in space, not down there."

"The debris from the destroyed Separatist ships is the key," Obi-wan argued calmly.

"What are you thinking?" Shaak Ti chimed in, glancing to me briefly.

I smiled when Obi-wan responded. "I think I'd like to go for a swim." The jedi left the room immediately, leaving me alone with the rest of the command. I was grateful for Rex and Cody's presence, considering I didn't know Shaak Ti-her piercing gaze making me increasingly uncomfortable-and everyone knew Lama Su couldn't dislike me more. It was fine...it was mutual.

I waited in silence, choosing not to weigh in on the battle above us. Rex, however, had a different idea.

"What are you and the General thinking about all this?" he asked, stepping a bit closer.

I sighed lowly, watching more debris fall to the planet. "I said it to Fives and Echo already, but if I were doing a mission like this, I'd infiltrate silently while a distraction was occurring elsewhere. It's standard bounty hunter moves, actually. Especially for a high profile target."

"This is not a bounty hunter infiltration," Lama Su groaned, acting exasperated at my explanation. "This is a battle."

"I never said it wasn't," I argued. "But we know that Ventress has a role in this, yet we haven't seen her, right?"

"She doesn't usually fight in space battles," Cody explained. "She's usually part of boarding parties and such."

"Okay," I said, looking at the hologram. "So where's the boarding party?"

"On a ship," Lama Su said again, trying to dismiss me. This time, Shaak Ti defended me.

"I want to hear what Kida is getting at," she said looking to me. "Please, continue."

"It wouldn't be hard to slip one ship past a planet's defenses, especially if it could cloak, right?"

"One ship wouldn't be enough to take the city," Rex said, tilting his head in thought.

"Maybe not," I mused. "But like Kenobi said...the debris is the key. What if they're sending forces down with them? They're just droids. They could survive that fall."

"Kida's right," Cody admitted, touching the bottom of his helmet. He acted a lot like Kenobi sometimes. I supposed all the time they spent together, they started to rub off on each other.

"If nothing else," I allowed. "They might not even want to take the city. An assassin could sneak in and do what she needs to do if we're engaged elsewhere."

Concern spiked in Shaak Ti's thoughts, making her turn to her comms unit. "Master Kenobi," she said. "What have you found?"

"Nothing as of yet," he said back immediately from wherever he was under the water.

Anakin chimed in now. "Only you could be worried about the ships I already shot down." I smirked at Anakin's sass, but the smile melted off my face as Kenobi spoke again.

"Wait a minute," he said, the connection getting a bit fuzzy. "Aquadroids! It looks as though they're assembling an assault craft." The connection continued to fizzle with interference.

"Is that the water or something else?" I asked, looking to one of the communications officers.

"Anakin," Obi-wan said, muffled and cutting out. "Right...Hiding ships...assault!" Despite it being broken up, we got the picture.

"Can you strengthen the signal?" I asked again, earning a shake of the officer's head.

"The signal is blocked, sir."

I looked back at Shaak Ti, her face placid, but only just hiding the realization that we were in deep osik.

"Prepare for an attack," she commanded. As she said it, a deep rumble shook the war room, all of our heads turning upwards.

"What was that?" Rex asked lowly, his hand moving to his pistol.

"An assault vessel, sir," one of the communications officers reported, some worry clear in his voice. It was true...this was personal for them. Their home was in danger.

"Sound the alarm," Shaak Ti ordered, calmly moving to oversee the battle from the war room.

"Anakin," I heard Obi-wan's voice through our comms, a sigh of relief flooding my chest. "The city is under attack! I need you down here now!"

"On my way," a much calmer Anakin responded from the battle above us.

I looked around, seeing both Rex and Cody sending orders to their men. My eyes moved to the wall beside the communications officer, seeing which part of the city was under attack. I recalled it from 99's layout. It was a hangar...defendable, but not easily, considering the wide room for attack.

Not to mention the fact that the assault craft looked like a Trident Drill. Another appeared beside the first on the monitor, making my decision for me.

"General Ti," I said, loud enough for all the leaders in the room to look at me. "I know we are coordinating from here, but I'm not much help strategically." Shaak Ti raised her brow ridge at me, nodding for me to continue. I decided not to ask permission. "I'm going down to that hangar to help defend it."

Lama Su hummed lowly. "Despite any predispositions," he offered, making me scowl. "She is known to be a magnificent fighter. She was trained by Jango Fett, after all."

Despite it being a compliment, I didn't appreciate anything from Lama Su.

"I understand," Shaak Ti said, "But Kenobi and Skywalker will be able to handle the defense for now."

"With all due respect, General," I said lowly, my voice tense. "I wasn't asking." The room, Cody and Rex, recoiled slightly at my blatant denial of an order. I sighed. "This was my home once, too," I tried, some desperation surprising me in my voice. "Let me defend it."

Shaak Ti stood for a moment, reading me. Finally, she waved her hand, dismissing me briefly before turning back to the hologram. I barely contained my grin as I bolted from the room, rushing through the halls that echoed with the alarm, flashing in a deep red hue.

"Kida," Rex's voice came through the comms. My wrist blinked blue-a color I'd assigned it for him-to let me know it was a secure channel between the two of us. "One of the Trident Drills have penetrated the hangar on the West side of the city."

"Got it," I panted back, racing around the hurrying cadets that swarmed the halls. "I'm almost there."

"Kida," he said again, his tone soft. He was hesitating, his voice quieting to whispers. "Cyare." There was that word again. I made a mental note to finally figure that out. I sighed inwardly. There were a lot of things going on, what with the attack and all. But I'd be damned if I didn't have a lot on my mind. Rex's mystery word. Rex's affection. The kiss on the hand. Not to mention the weird dream I'd had. Moraband. The sinister voice.

I shook my head as I neared the hangar, the sound of gunfire echoing. "I'm here," I said into the comms. "The Separatists have entered the hangar!"

"Understood," he said formally, before his voice dropped again. "Be careful." It almost sounded pleading in the soft, quiet way he said it. I could practically see him turned away from the rest of the room, hunched over his wrist comm to keep others from hearing.

I sighed, holding my wrist to my mouth. "You too," I whispered back before disconnecting and leaping into the room, pistols drawn.

Rex had been right, one of the assault crafts having plowed through the closed hangar doors. Aqua Droids were marching from it, most being plowed down by blaster fire. I joined some clones behind a wall of crates, bringing my goggles down onto my face.

"Fighting again, are we?" Apex sounded in my earpiece, making me grin as his interface crackled to life in my goggles.

"Surprised?" I asked, actually itching to shoot something. It had been a while since I had a good fight, what with my abduction and healing period and all. It was the lulls between battles that actually made me miss bounty hunting.

The interface highlighted my targets, making me aware of trajectories and aim. While it wasn't necessarily needed for the battle, I appreciated it. I often used Apex during my hunting missions, so it felt weird to not use him now.

One of the squid-like appendages of the Trident Drill swung sideways, wiping out a squadron of clones as they were thrown into the wall. I winced slightly, knowing they were likely crushed by the impact. Still, I kept firing, taking down Aqua Droid after Aqua Droid. The force rippled slightly, practically pushing my body sideways as a wave of blaster fire shot over my left shoulder.

That was pretty cool…

I wasn't going to lie, I was starting to get rather appreciative of my increasing force abilities. It'd certainly gotten me out of some scraps in the past few months.

Many of the clones beside me wore unpainted armor. I wasn't sure if they had come to Kamino on my ship, part of the larger regiment...or if they were still cadets, brave enough to don the armor to protect their home.

The ceiling above us exploded as another Trident Drill punctured the metal of the city. I dove out of the way, along with many of the other soldiers, as the debris fell around us. The drill opened, revealing rows of droids that began to leap down.

My eyes lifted briefly at a familiar presence. I'd only seen him briefly on our last-our first-encounter. Still, he wasn't a sight you forgot quickly. His sharp, mechanical edges. His hulking figure that towered above the other droids. The dark and prideful look in his amber eyes.

"Obi-wan," I called into my wrist comm, dodging another flurry of bullets. "Grievous is here!"

"Kill them all!" I heard the dark general command from within his circle of guards.

I ducked behind the crates as a cannon hit the floor before us. When the dust cleared and I looked up again, Grievous was gone. I tapped my wrist comm again, signalling all of the generals now.

"Grievous entered through our hangar, but he's nowhere in sight now," I reported. "His forces have pushed through another wall and have entered the facility.

"Are you still holding off forces in the hangar?" Shaak Ti was speaking now.

"Yes, sir," I responded accordingly, letting off a few more shots to down more droids. "They just keep coming!"

"I sense Ventress has arrived as well," Obi-wan chimed in. I heard blaster fire in the background of his connection. "Continue to hold the hangar for as long as you can, Kida."

I signed off as I saw a familiar figure pass, handing out new rifles. As I turned to look, another cannon hit the crates I hid behind, sending me flying backwards from the explosion. I groaned, sitting up to see that we were losing the battle...and fast.

"99, get out of here!" I heard a trooper call. I looked over to see an ARC trooper that I didn't recognize. He was shot, 99 immediately racing to his side. I struggled to stand, my ears ringing from the explosion. "This is no place for you," I thought I heard the ARC say.

When I looked over again, the trooper was dead, a startled 99 sitting beside him in shock. I forced myself to my feet, hurrying after 99 and dragging him behind a row of crates as the Separatists rained hellfire on us.

"Kida," he said thankfully, panting.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, leaning out from the crates to let off a few shots.

"I was bringing new ammunitions. I-I can be useful."

I looked him over, seeing the sadness on his face. The desperation to have a purpose. I sighed. "Thank you. Just...be careful, okay? I can't-GET DOWN!"

I pushed him to the ground as another explosion went off, rattling my jaw. Looking up, I saw our forces being picked off like shots in a slummy cantina.

Mustering my courage, I stood, yelling loudly for the troops to hear. "Fall back! We need to fall back!" The troops glanced at me, unsure. I scowled. "Move it! That's an order, verde!"

That got them moving. They moved as quickly as they could, removing their wounded and beginning to fall back to a more defensible position.

"Lieutenant," I called, recognizing the markings on one of the clone's armor. He paused, giving me a brief salute. "You're in charge. I'm getting 99 out of here then going to find Grievous. Hold your next position for as long as you can."

"Yes, sir!"

I pushed 99, hurrying from the hangar and into the halls. "Going after Grievous?" he asked, running beside me with his hobbling gait. "Are-Are you sure that's wise?"

"I'm not the one who ran into a battle without an ounce of combat training," I shot back, arching my eyebrows at him.

He chuckled lowly, slowing as we came to a turn. "I was going to bring this," he gestured to the bag on his shoulder. "To Echo and Fives. They're placed up on the bridge."

"Wonderful," I muttered, looking around. "Fine. Let's go."

As we hurried through the halls, my comms beeped again. "Kida," I heard Obi-wan say. "I've sent Anakin to protect the DNA chamber. I'm moving to intercept Grievous."

"Understood," I panted back as we ran up the emergency stairs to get to the higher levels. "I ordered a fall back from the hangar. We were getting destroyed by the Trident Drills."

"Very well. Steer clear of both Grievous and Ventress, Kida," he warned, his tone a bit dark. "They'd kill you without a second thought."

"A lot like these droids," I muttered, seeing Echo and Fives sprawled in sniper positions, doing their best to hold their ground against the advancing droids. Obi-wan didn't respond to me, so I figured he took it that I'd follow his order. I hadn't decided just yet.

After all, it was technically Grievous' interference in my bounty hunting mission that got me back into this war...for good, it seemed.

Not that it was really his fault at all. I blamed myself. And the force. And whatever the hell was between Rex and I.

"99," I heard Fives greet while Echo continued firing. "Kida."

"I-I brought you some ammo," 99 said, putting the back down.

"Is there a better spot than this?" Fives asked immediately. "A better defensive position that we can take?"

The force rippled, making me turn to look behind us. "Droids!" I called, immediately moving to press against the wall, firing my pistols at the advancing battle droids. "Behind us!"

Fives pushed 99 to the ground while he and Echo joined me in fighting. "Grenades!" 99 called, pointing to his bag. Fives dove forward immediately, throwing the grenade directly into the advancing group.

"Thanks 99," Echo said, giving his brother a pat on the shoulder. "Good job."

99 smiled slightly, before pointing behind us. "Look out! There's more." My eyebrow arched, Fives and Echo preparing to shoot. I hadn't sense more danger...so why…

"Stop!" I yelled, stepping between the clones and their targets, having sensed who would emerge from the dark cloud made by the explosion.

"Cadets," Echo sighed as the boys revealed themselves, looking lost. "What are you doing here?"

"We got separated from our group," the first explained. I recognized his force signature. Jax.

"Where were they taking you?" Echo asked, holding his gun firmly.

"The barracks," Jax responded.

99 perked up, smiling. "Oh! I know the best way there." I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. Not just because he was being useful in a battle, but that he felt that way too.

99 rushed forward, leading us off the bridge platform and back inside the city. I glanced sideways at Jax, seeing his hair now buzzed like some of the other boys. I saw the blond as well-the one who reminded me of Rex. Hotshot, was his name.

"You changed your hair," I said softly as we hurried through the halls, Echo and Fives checking every corner carefully.

Jax's eyebrows shot up, his face heating slightly. "I didn't think you'd recognize me."

"Is that why you cut it?" I joked with a small laugh, waving my hand over the flat top of his buzz.

He looked away, his feelings darkening in the force. "It just...didn't feel like it fit me anymore."

I watched him carefully. "Oh?" I sighed through my nose when he didn't respond. "Was it because of what happened with Boba?" The spike in his force signature told me I was right.

"I'd only just chosen to have my hair like that," he admitted, quiet enough that the other cadets wouldn't hear him. "I thought it was right...but then that all happened."

"That didn't happen because of your hairstyle, Jax." I looked down at him calmly. "It happened because Boba was misguided. Angry. He didn't realize what he was doing."

"I know. It just...I needed a change."

"I understand," I offered, touching his shoulder gently. As we neared the barracks, I finally sensed it. A darkness. A power. Something told me that it was Ventress. I stopped in my tracks when I felt the darkness flicker violently, practically drawing me towards it.

I saw the woman with the markings of the Dathomir witches. Her lightsaber was a violent red as it went through a clone's chest she has suspended in the air with the force. Her lips were a dark purple as she pressed them to his cheek.

The entire city was rippling with death, but his was potent with anger. Disgust. Fear. It nearly made me lose my footing.

"Kida?" Fives asked, waiting in the doorway to the barracks. All the other clones were peering out at me from inside. "What's wrong?"

I cleared my throat, wanting to tell them, but knowing I shouldn't be telling every person I meet that I have a strong force sensitivity. "Nothing. I'm glad we made it." I entered, watching the men of the 501st remove their helmets in the dim red hues of the emergency lights. I stepped closer to them so the cadets wouldn't hear as easily. "I should probably go. I should help-" I stopped myself as I saw the cadets looking at me with fear, all of them having found places to sit.

"What are we going to do?" asked one. I recognized him from the tour on the Endurance. Fives and Echo looked concerned as 99 approached, his face drawn.

"A Separatist victory means...death. For all of us. Th-the cadet is right. What are we gonna do?"

I sighed, about to answer, when I felt familiar presences. I turned before one of them could even speak, giving them a welcoming smile.

"We fight," Rex said, both he and Cody removing their helmets as they joined our group. Immediately, the cadets found their feet again, Fives and Echo straightening with habit. I, however, leaned back against the wall of the barracks, arms crossed as I prepared for some rousing speech from one of them. After all, one didn't have to be force sensitive to feel the fear in the room.

"But our training's not finished," Jax argued, worry and fear on his face.

"Jax," I said gently, hushing him.

"Look around," Fives said, stepping forward with a fire beyond any I'd seen in him before. "We're one and the same. Same heart. Same blood. Your training is in your blood. And my blood's boiling for a fight."

"But-"

"He's right," I cut the cadet off from my place on the wall. "Jango was a warrior, first and foremost. And a damned good one. And you have his DNA."

"This is our home," Echo joined in. "This is our war."

"What about weapons?" Now the cadets were asking the good questions.

I smirked, glancing over at 99. He saw me looking, smiling as I gave him a nod. "The...armory," he said slowly, stepping over. "I-It's just a few corridors away, here in the barracks. I-I can retrieve all the firepower that we need!" He smiled, his fist clenching excitedly. "So...who wants to blast some droids?"

Cody and Rex smirked at 99, giving him affirming nods. I could feel the pride from them. Brothers...aliit. I joined Rex and Cody as we followed 99, leaving Fives and Echo to watch over the cadets.

"What are you guys doing down here?" I asked, giving them a smirk. "Hiding?"

I felt a bit of pride flare up from them both, but only Rex took my joke as harmless. He grinned at me. "No, I was just escorting Cody down here to hide."

"Enough, you two," Cody said ahead of us. While slightly amused, he was more focused on the task at hand. I chuckled anyways, giving Rex a genuine smile. I appreciated that he could still joke...especially given both the situation and our last encounter.

My comms beeped, Shaak Ti's voice coming through. "The droids are spread thin," she announced. I sensed that she had been involved in the battle as well. "We must press our offensive now."

"Yes Master, Ti," Anakin replied on the open line. "I just got to the DNA chamber...and I sense Ventress inside."

I nearly misstepped as I went to reply. "Do you need help?"

The jedi knight chuckled darkly. "I can handle Ventress."

"Kida, where are you?" Obi-wan chimed in, the sound of battle in the background.

"With Rex and Cody, defending the barracks. There's cadets holed up there and the droids are on their way."

"Very well. Stay with them. Do not engage Grievous or Ventress, do you understand?"

I swallowed, not sure why Obi-wan was so intent on my staying uninvolved. "Okay," was all I said before I signed off.

"Ventress must be after Jango's DNA," Cody mused as we drew closer to the armory.

I sighed, knowing that despite Cody outranking me, I was still a bit of a leader in the group. "Skywalker will handle it," I said, a finality to my tone. "Let's keep these boys safe."

Rex gave me a smile and I sensed a bit of pride ripple off of him before he put his helmet back on. I did my best to push away my blush under his gaze. I wasn't used to that...someone being proud of me, I mean. People appreciated my work, sure. But they often paid for it anyways. Jango was really the only one to express real pride. Merl? Maybe. But he was more a friend who encouraged me to not die and watched my club while I was gone.

When it came from Rex...it made me feel...warm.

"Try not to get hurt this time, alright?" Rex said as 99 put in the code to open the armory.

"Excuse you," I scoffed playfully, thankful for the distraction. "But you've been in the med bay almost as often as me."

"Almost is the key word there."

"Here it is," 99 panted, hobbling into the room excitedly. "Everything we need is here."

Rex shifted back into soldier mode, assessing the room. "Excellent work, 99."

"Hurry up," Cody commanded as we all stacked rifles in our arms. "The droids have almost reached the barracks."

I slung a bag of explosives over my shoulder and grabbed an armful of pistols before running out after the others. When we got back to the barracks, Fives and Echo had already moved crates to create barriers, some of the cadets climbing the ladders up to the sleeping pods.

"I like your thinking," I chuckled to Fives and Echo, adding my share of gear to the pile. I helped pass rifles up the cadets, giving them winks as they took a communicator on our frequency. "Don't miss," I teased, earning a few nervous smiles before they moved the pods back into the wall to stay hidden.

I followed Rex, Fives, Cody, and Echo to the entrance to the barracks, the force tickling my mind. Something was approaching that I recognized. It was sinister and deadly, but only some part of his body remained. He was mostly a machine now.

Grievous.

As I joined the men to wait, just a foot from the door, a metal hand knocked against it. "Open up," a battle droid said from the other side.

Everyone tensed as we heard Grievous speak from the other side of the door. "Get those doors open," he commanded. "And scare the remaining clones out of hiding."

"Roger roger."

I breathed out through my nose slowly, Apex's interface coming to life in my goggles again, my pistols raising to aim at the door.

The droid got off three shots into the door before I opened it for him, everyone opening fire on the droids standing outside. I saw Grievous, his eyes narrowing when he saw me. I wasn't sure if he knew who I was, but he was certainly aware of my new involvement in this war.

"Blast them!" a droid called, turning all the droids that had been walking past back on us. We backed up immediately as they converged on the door, running to our next defensible position.

"All too easy," I heard Grievous say victoriously. Had I been able to get past the swarm of droids, I know I would've defied Obi-wan to face the pompous cyborg. Then again, as I sensed Kenobi's presence outside, maybe I was glad I hadn't.

I certainly didn't want to sit through a lecture from Obi-wan after all this.

We hurried around the corner of the barracks, back towards where our trap was laid. "What are we going to do about Grievous?" Fives panted, slowing beside his brother to duck behind our first layer of creates.

"Kenobi will handle it," I reassured, following Rex. Cody stopped at the next shielding of crates, Rex and I choosing the last.

Rex glanced at me, Separatist blaster fire pelting the other side of the crates. "Is Kenobi out there now?" he asked, knowing I'd answer honestly with just him there. It wasn't like he didn't know about my abilities.

I nodded, breathing heavier than I thought I would. I guess a possible encounter with Grievous had gotten to me more than I cared to admit.

I kneeled, putting both my arms over the crate to fire at the oncoming droids. It wasn't long until Fives and Echo moved back to join Cody at his barricade. 99 appeared beside us, drawing forth a thermal detonator and tossing it to Rex. The captain waited a moment before leaping around my back, chucking the detonator down the hall. It exploded over where Fives and Echo had first taken cover, throwing droids to the ground.

"Not your best toss," I teased over the roar of blaster fire, earning a huff of annoyance from him. Cody backed up from his barricade to join us, catching the next thermal detonator from 99. "Maybe he'll do better," I offered, earning another look from Rex. I only smiled, stepping aside to let Cody throw his. It was a better throw. I couldn't help but hold back a smirk.

What could I say? I was usually pretty calm in a gunfight. It was my usual job anyways. Besides, it was better to potentially greet death with a smile than with tears. At least, I tried to keep up that mentality.

"Cadets," Rex yelled into his communicator, ignoring me. "Now!"

The sleeping tubes hissed as they exited their places on the wall, revealing some of the cadets, all armed with rifles. The droids were caught in a crossfire, being downed in waves. I took a detonator from 99 with a grin, glancing at the two men beside me at the crates.

"Who thinks I can throw better than you both combined?"

Cody through one of his own, ducking behind the crate to give me a look. "Just throw it, Kida!"

I smothered my chuckle, leaping from behind our barricade and throwing my bomb. Instead of a lob, I pitched it straight like a ball, nailing it directly into the chest of a droid.

"Well if we're throwing like that," Rex joked as I rejoined them.

I started to laugh, but paused when I saw more droids coming, firing up at the cadets now. Rex saw the amusement leave my face, my pistols frozen in the air. Without consulting him or Cody, I tapped my communicator to life.

"Cadets," I called. "Close your hatches and lock yourselves in. Don't come out until we say it's safe."

"But we can-" one of the cadets began to argue, only to be cut off by Cody.

"The captain gave you an order!"

The sleeping pods hissed closed, keeping the boys safe. I gave a small nod to the commander, appreciating him backing me up. We continued to fire, more detonators leaving our hands with each chance we got.

"Last one, Commander," I heard Rex say from the other side of Cody while I continued to fire. "Make it count." Rex handed over the last thermal detonator, Cody throwing it into the crowd of droids without hesitation. It was almost funny, how my little comment about Rex's aim having led to him giving most of the grenades to either myself or Cody.

"I'll get more," 99 said, leaping up eagerly.

"99," Rex called, worry spiking within him. "You can't!"

"I'm a soldier," the older clone responded with a proud smile. "Like you!"

The force rippled around me, nearly knocking me off my feet. The blaster shots around me slowed, as if I could see faster than they could move.

I was struck with visions.

"This is what I was meant for," I heard 99 panting, determination strong through the force.

I heard Echo screaming desperately for his older brother.

I saw the blaster shots sear through 99's janitor uniform. Two shots right in the back.

I saw our group, winning the battle, only to have Echo cradle 99 to his chest, sorrow running deep within him.

My visions faded in a flash when 99 was shot in the back of the leg, the clone sprawling to the ground.

"99!" I heard Echo shout, like in my vision. "No!"

MANDO'A

Osik- shit

Verde- soldiers

Aliit- family