Chapter 12 - Wartorn

Author's Note: Ryloth and beyond. :)

~ Amina Gila

It's going to be the first battle Luke's actually led, and he'll admit – silently, at least – that he's very nervous. He wishes everyone would stop asking him that, though, because it is not helping. Yes, he's led plenty of smaller forces before, but Anakin was always right there.

But now, they're trying to break through the Separatist barricade around Ryloth, and he's going to be leading the attack team himself. It's... thrilling at the same time, but everyone's lives are going to be depending on him, and that's something he knows not to take lightly.

It's... nerve-wracking, yes, but that doesn't mean he's about to admit that. "Are you ready?" Anakin asks, pausing next to his fighter.

They'll be taking off in minutes. "Of course, I am," he insists. As ready as he's going to be, until he gets out there. It's not really that different from anything he's done in the past, so why does it feel like it is?

"Good," Anakin replies, "I know you can do this. I have faith in you."

"I won't let you down," he promises.

Artoo beeps loudly.

Luke gives the droid a look. "I'm fine. Stop asking if I'm nervous."

Artoo whistles again, very unhelpfully. Even if he'll admit that having Artoo with him for his first battle like this makes him feel marginally more comfortable with it. (He still remembers the stories about how Artoo had been with Anakin when he first fought in a space battle. There's a commemoration to that battle in Theed that includes the fighter that was supposedly used, though Padme had told him it was just a model that didn't actually work. He'd seen it when he was nine himself, and he'd very badly wanted to climb in it anyway.)

"I know you two will watch over each other. May the Force be with you," Anakin says.

Luke nods, pushing the button to close his fighter. It's time to go.

It feels like only moments later that he's streaking through space, above Ryloth's surface, the clones behind him as the vulture droids fire on them.

Explosions rip past him, and Luke accelerates his fighter forwards – he's done this countless times. It's the first time he hasn't been right behind Anakin, but that doesn't mean it has to be any different.

He shoots down droid after droid as they press forwards, flying for the Separatist cruisers. It's almost too easy. They're rarely fast enough to avoid his fire, and he can always sense it before their blasts can come even close. He's in front, so he's keeping most of their attention off the clones, for now at least.

Something twinges in the Force, suddenly, right as four more Separatist cruisers come out of hyperspace a distance ahead of them.

This – this is bad.

They weren't preparing for this, but the cruisers should be able to handle it, hopefully –

"Luke, you need to get back to the cruiser," Anakin's voice calls over the comm, "It's a trap."

"Right now?" he protests, "I'm already so far." They're so close. The end was so reachable. Do they really have to pull back now?!

"You'll be overrun," he cautions, "You have more droids incoming already."

Disappointment rushes through him, but he knows Anakin's right, and he won't risk the clones' lives like that. Luke calls for them to pull back, except it's not fast enough because vulture droids are suddenly coming at them from all angles. Several of the clones' ships that are right by his explode, and he barely manages to jerk his own fighter out of the way in time.

"We're almost there," Luke calls to the others, desperately but – they're not going fast enough, and the clones are falling too fast. It's a part of war, but it's different when he's the one in charge of them all here, and he can't do enough to stop it.

They finally manage to make it through the hangar doors, but the number of fighters left is still far smaller than the ones he took out. They're just... gone.

**w**

Anakin can only be grateful that Luke is alive when he hurries down to the hanger, after giving their cruisers orders to pull back. The sudden Separatist reinforcements took them by surprise, and they'll have to come back with a better plan. Especially with the amount of damage they've already sustained.

Luke's sitting on the wing of his fighter, clearly disconsolate from his expression and how he's sitting half-slumped over.

Anakin has... had his own moments like this in the past. He's struggled. He's used to it, but he was never like this, exactly. He never fought in a war as a child. He never had to worry about trying to lead when he was in his teens – not short of brief planetary squabbles. He doesn't really... know what this is like, and that makes it so much harder to handle. This was why he never wanted his children to be Jedi like him – so they didn't have to deal with this responsibility. But in the end, the Force chose to give it to them, and Anakin had no way of stopping that. "Luke," he calls finally, gently.

He looks up, miserably. "We lost so many of them." And it's not something they can ever recover from. They can only keep moving. It's never that simple, though. Anakin tries to remember all the clones he can, because at the very least, they'll be remembered. Even if sometimes, it feels as though their deaths were for nothing.

"It's the reality of command," Anakin says softly, stopping next to him, "And it was a trap. It wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done."

Anakin should have seen that coming – he doesn't entirely understand how he didn't. He sensed something was wrong, but he didn't stop this.

"But they're all gone," Luke repeats, "And we still failed to take Ryloth."

"This isn't over," Anakin promises, "We will go back, once we have a plan."

"We're... getting reinforcements?" he asks, hopefully.

"There are none available," he replies, grimly. He'd asked for some immediately, in case, but there's no resources to spare like that right now. They'll have to do it on their own.

"Then how are we supposed to get past?" Luke demands, standing, "If we didn't win this time, how would we by going back? We can't just smash that blockade."

... somehow, that just gave him an idea. Because that actually sounds like the perfect plan. He'd been considering it already, and now he actually has an idea that might work. "That gave me an idea," Anakin says.

Luke eyes him uncertainly. "What?"

"One of our cruisers was badly damaged in the attack," he explains. He still hasn't gotten the count for how many were lost. "If I pilot the ship straight through their battleship, it will take out their commander. And most of their fleet." It's not something they'd ever see coming or be able to avoid, either. And that's what they need right now, if they're going to break that blockade without losing anyone else.

"What?!" his son splutters, eyes going wide.

"I will be the only one risked," he replies, "And it will not be serious." He knows how much Luke's feared that, since Geonosis. But he would never let that failure happen again, regardless. The looks from all the other Jedi are a constant reminder of that.

They see it as though it's something... lesser. Obi-Wan's always looked down on cyborgs too, he knows, even if it doesn't apply to him personally. His former master has never mentioned much of his arm at all, actually, since it happened. Luke and the clones are the only ones who seem to find something of fascination, instead of disgust. And Leia, but they've hardly been with each other since the war broke out. It's the same for Ahsoka, and sometimes, he misses so much the days she had been at his side all the time.

"How will you get off?" Luke protests.

"Artoo and I will get in an escape pod and jettison out into space," he explains.

"With the enemy fleet right there?!"

"Your ships will engage them as a distraction, and they will be unable to stop the other ship from colliding with theirs." He touches Luke's shoulder. "Consider it. There is little way they can avoid it."

He looks as though he's about to argue again anyway, but pauses, taking a deep breath. Trying to calm himself the way Anakin taught him. "It might work," he concedes finally, grudgingly, "But with what happened before, how do we know they won't find a way around it this time? You won't even be able to defend yourself."

"I can, with the Force," Anakin reminds. For a time, at least, he'd be able to protect the pod from any stray fire. "They will not be searching for a lone escape pod."

"I don't like this," he reiterates, unhappily.

"I know," he replies, and he does. He can sense it, and more than that, he can understand it, because he feels the exact same way about Obi-Wan. Being a Knight and not having Obi-Wan right beside him to watch over was relieving, in some ways, but just as stressful. "But it's our only option. And we have to win Ryloth. Those people need us."

Ahsoka is counting on them to get through the Separatist forces so they can launch the ground invasion. Until then, everything is waiting on Anakin, and the Twi'leks won't be able to hold out much longer.

"We should start evacuating the cruiser then," Luke says, after a long pause before abruptly diving forwards, wrapping his arms tightly around him. Anakin returns it, just as tightly. He has the feeling this will work out, but still.

"I know you can do this," he encourages.

"You said that last time, too," Luke mumbles, voice muffled.

"You were doing the best you could. And this time, we have something they will not see coming."

**w**

The bridge feels glaringly empty without Anakin, as Luke joins the clones around the holo device to explain their plan. It's worse knowing how many were lost and could be again if something goes wrong. It's all on Luke to direct this and find his father in the mess before something happens to him.

He needs to be stronger, to be able to do more. His Force abilities are strong, yes, but they aren't always enough. Anakin always tells him he's not and never could be strong enough to stop everything from going wrong, but that never stops him from thinking he should be able to do more. It's not as though his father is any different when it comes to himself.

"This is our plan?" Fives asks, incredulously.

"Gotta agree it's questionable," Jesse seconds.

"It was F – the General's plan," Luke replies. Seriously, he needs to stop nearly slipping up.

"And he left himself in serious danger," Rex adds, no less impressed.

"Did you expect anything else?" Luke asks, flatly, then glances between everyone, letting a conviction he doesn't feel fill his voice. "Look, the odds might be against us, but they'll be in complete disarray when they lose their ship. Which will be very shortly." A quick glance out the front port shows the ship advancing dangerously closer and closer to the Separatist ship. Something clenches in him tightly, nervously, as he sees it. Everything's coming together, and he's not ready yet. "They'll gather themselves quickly, but we will have a little time to act, and we have to make sure they won't have time to regroup."

"I wish the General discussed this plan with us," Jesse grumbles.

"Can't be that bad," Fives offers.

"Then let's get to work," Luke decides, firmly. He already has an idea on how to deal with their bombers, and he'll be out there flying again. Rex should be able to direct the rest of their forces from here. But this time, he won't let the result be the same. It can't be.

Anakinis counting on them.

So is everyone on the planet below. It has to work.

**w**

In the end, the plan works far better than Luke thought it would. With the Separatist command ship in flames, they quickly picked up Anakin's escape pod while engaging the rest of their forces, taking down as many as they could. There's still more coming in, and they're cleaning up the last of the droids – admittedly, it's a sizable quantity – but they were able to break through so their forces could get down to the surface.

Caleb's and Ahsoka's are here, too, though he hasn't had the chance to see either in person yet.

The 501st has been able to establish a moderately safe perimeter on the ground for the moment, and it's the first time Luke's had a moment to breathe since the battle broke out. He should be resting, but he's taking a few moments to clear his head after everything. They lost a lot, but at least there's some hope they can still win the planet.

He's lingering near the tent where some of the clones are passing out rations – he should probably eat himself, first – when he overhears voices.

"This is completely inappropriate," Echo hisses, in a low voice.

"Come on," Cutup – another one of his squad members – says, obviously amused. "You all know it."

"You can't possibly have missed how similar they look," Fives agrees.

Luke stills, as just what they're probably discussing hits him. They're talking about him and Anakin, aren't they? They've... noticed. Of course, they have. It's not surprising, but that doesn't stop the instinctive nervousness. It would be very bad if this got out.

That is not something any of them can afford. He's not sure what it would mean for his role as a Commander, or for Anakin's as a Jedi, period, but it's not a risk he's willing to take. How far did this go? How many people know about their suspicions?

"They could almost be clones," Jesse agrees, dryly.

"They are not that similar," Echo retorts.

"Have you never seen how they fly?" Fives asks.

"One hundred credits says that the Commander's his real child," Hardcase says, gleefully.

"Jedi aren't allowed to have families," reminds Echo.

"His secret son," Hardcase corrects, smugly.

How can it be this obvious?! Even to the clones who hardly know anything about families? How many Jedi are suspicious of this? At the same time, the clones are the only ones who've seen them interact a lot, but still.

Under other circumstances, he might actually find this amusing, but right now... Okay, it is amusing, but that doesn't make it any less concerning.

"Agreed," Fives adds, cheerfully, "Don't say you haven't noticed how much he looks up to the General."

"Which of us don't?" asks Echo, flatly. That is true. All the clones practically worship Anakin.

"I have to agree with Echo. This is an inappropriate thing to be speculating on," Rex's voice finally speaks up. He must've just come in.

"You have to have seen it, too," protests Jesse.

Would interrupting this conversation make it more obvious or less? Or neither? It's not like there's anything suspicious about him being here. And it would make him far less comfortable to just walk away, knowing they're discussing this.

Luke finally steps into the tent, and everyone instantly freezes, as though caught red handed. "Hey, Commander!" Jesse calls, cheerfully.

Fives and Cutup look like they're about to laugh about something, and Echo is glaring daggers into them.

"Anything going on?" Luke asks, lightly. Pretending he heard nothing is probably best. He... doubts any of them would outright ask him.

He heads into the tent, taking a seat next to Rex as he starts eating. He doesn't miss the sideways glance Rex shoots at him, though.

"Not in particular," the clone replies.

He's itching to say something, though, because for all that Luke is worried about someone putting two and two together, he trusts the clones. He trusts them with anything – they would never betray him and Anakin. He knows that, even if he's still worried sometimes. There are always ones like Slick who would, but...

But sometimes, Luke just wishes someone outside his own family could know what Anakin means to him. He doesn't want to have to hide it. It's not fair.

"I heard the last bit," he states finally, because he can't help himself.

"I tell them not to talk about it," Rex says.

"How long have they been talking about this?" Luke queries, mostly because he's curious, partly because he's worried. It's unlikely, though not impossible, that someone actually saw something with him and Anakin.

"Some months," Rex answers, "I tell them not to do it. It's... inappropriate."

Luke doesn't mind it, though, except the part where it's dangerous. He wants them to know. "You do that," he requests, anyway, "I don't want the rumors spreading."

It's neither confirmation nor denial, but from the look on Rex's face, he obviously knows the answer. He's worked closest with them – of course, he knows. "I will," he assures.

"Thank you," Luke tells him, gratefully.

"Of course," Rex agrees.

He knows. And there's nothing else for them to say about it. Luke will have to tell Anakin about that later.

**w**

"You're leaving?" Ezra asks, when Luke finally runs into him – they've been fighting on different areas of the planet for much of the battle.

"We are," he confirms, "We're needed elsewhere, and the Council believes your master should be able to handle what's left."

"Probably," he concedes, a little unhappily. They have a strangely closer friendship than Luke ever thought he could have with a Jedi. "The locals have helped a lot, especially Hera Syndulla. But I'm still mad that she stole Chopper."

Luke blinks. "What?"

"My fighter was shot down, right by the Syndulla household."

"Oh. Are you alright?" He doesn't look injured, but it's been a while since.

"I jumped out before it hit the ground," Ezra replies, dismissively, "But Chopper was damaged, and Hera offered to fix him up. But then he refused to come back. Said he'd chosen a 'new path.'" The padawan practically rolls his eyes. "Because droids can totally do that."

Well.

That explains the glaring lack of the annoying orange droid.

"Astromechs are made to be pretty independent," Luke replies, dryly.

"I can't believe he'd just want to leave," Ezra grumbles.

Frankly, he can't imagine how it would feel if Artoo just ditched out on them either. Luke pats his shoulder. "Knowing him, it's probably just a mood. I'm sure he'll come back."

"Not if we leave Ryloth," Ezra replies, "But you're probably right."

"He'll get bored of Hera eventually." Of that, Luke's certain. "Just let him reach that conclusion on his own."

"Will do," he concedes, reluctantly, "Good luck on your next mission."

"I thought Jedi didn't believe in luck."

"We don't. Or at least, my master always tells me that." Ezra grins, "But have fun crushing those droids on Geonosis. I still wanna go there some time."

"There's nothing to see but sand," Luke replies – something Anakin says about Tatooine all the time. "And more droids. You'll see plenty here."

"Maybe they should 'fInD A New PAtH' like Chopper," Ezra suggests.

"Hey, maybe no one ever gave them the chance."

"Don't make me feel sorry for them."

"Maybe we should," he teases, "It might end the war a little faster."

"Yeah, for us; it'd probably get us shot a little faster," Ezra argues.

"Maybe if you adopt a new droid, Chopper will get jealous," Luke suggests.

"That's probably true," he agrees, dryly, "I'll think about it. But you'll hafta be around to reprogram them."

He snorts. "Oh, that shouldn't be a problem."

**w**

"Are you sure this will be... safe?" Luke asks, watching as Padme finishes straightening out her hair. It's been a while since he was last at their apartment. It feels so empty here now. The... energy in the Force of it has shifted a lot, in the time he and Leia were gone. It doesn't really feel like the place they grew up in anymore, now that he's been away so long, even if it hasn't changed at all.

"No," she replies, bluntly, "But someone must look into it, and we have worked together on occasion in the past."

Luke still wishes the Council had asked someone else to find this information from Clovis, the Senator from the Banking Clan, but he knows these things are necessary sometimes. His mother has been in danger plenty in the past, but that doesn't mean he's not worried.

"I'll look after everything while you're gone," assures Corde, as she and Verse hurry around making the last minute preparations for their trip. Verse is coming with them.

It still fills him with an aching sense of loss sometimes, that Dorme is gone. That every time he comes back here, it will only be to realize how the apartment feels less and less of her.

In many ways, he doesn't miss this. Or at least, when he comes back here, he almost wishes he didn't. If he were here, it would remind him even more of what he lost. At least on the fronts, he's distracted, and it feels like he can think about something else. He can think about something other than how one of his aunts is gone, lost forever. And in the end, she was killed by the Sith.

"I know," Luke replies, distractedly, gaze darting back to his mother. He's supposed to go with her, acting as a silent bodyguard, and searching for anything suspicious.

"It's time to go," Padme decides, finally, and they head for the door.

Clovis is waiting in the hangar outside his own ship, not far away.

Luke can't say what it is about the man, but he dislikes him at first sight. His Force presence just feels unpleasant in a way he can't place.

"Padme," Clovis exclaims, with far too much cheer. Why is he staring at her like that? "You look exquisite."

"It's good to see you," she replies, politely.

"And who might this be?" he asks, pausing to look down at Luke.

"This is Luke. I believe I have mentioned him to you before."

"Ah." Clovis holds out his hand to shake – Luke still thinks it's silly. The Jedi version of bowing in greeting makes far more sense. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Your mother and I have been good friends for years."

Uhh. Umm.

"Were you?" he queries, raising an eyebrow.

"Why don't we speak on the way?" he offers, "There is plenty of room on my ship for you."

Oh.

Uhh... this was not what he intended to make happen. But it's probably a good way to keep an eye on him.

And maybe he's beginning to understand what those looks Clovis keeps giving Padme mean, and eww. He almost wishes he sat between them now.

"We met not long after Padme became Senator," he says, very unnecessarily touching Padme's arm. Luke really wishes she'd shove him away. "We worked on an important legislation together, to deliver aid to a system that would otherwise have starved."

"I still remember that," Padme comments, smiling faintly. "I don't think any of us got any sleep for a couple days."

"That's when she became my dear friend," he adds.

"Not dear enough that she's ever thought to introduce us before," Luke can't help but say, even though that's rude.

Padme gives him a sharp look.

Clovis takes it all in stride. "I have been very occupied with other parts of the Senate. It is true we have not spoken much in years."

The rest of the trip passes in relative silence after that, for which he's grateful, at least until Padme pulls him aside. "That was completely inappropriate," she tells him, flatly, "You know better than that."

"It's the truth. Don't tell me you're that close with him," Luke retorts. He can't even say why he finds the notion so upsetting. He just – doesn't even want to think about it.

"We were closer once, but that ended many years ago," she replies, "This is strictly professional, even if he doesn't see it that way. And we need to play it real."

"Fine." But that doesn't mean he has to like it.

**w**

The mansion is fancy, Luke grudgingly admits, when they arrive on Scipio. Clovis'... infatuation is good for one thing, though, because he's all too happy to take Padme on a tour of the place, while Luke excuses himself to go to the guest rooms they were given.

If anything, Clovis seems happy to be rid of him.

Unfortunate. For his sake.

"Come on, let's look around," he advises, smugly.

"We'll have to be cautious," Verse warns him.

"I know, but he already promised me a tour of the place later, if I want one. I could say I wanted to go exploring on my own."

"I suppose that would be believable, given your age," she replies, dryly, "And they don't know you have the Force. Let's get going."

Luke brightens, and they take off through the halls. He's used to stealth now – Anakin's taught it to him well, and he uses it now, sneaking through the halls, sensing ahead with the Force to know if anyone's coming.

It's then that he suddenly hears voices up ahead, and something that sounds like... Geonosian?! Hastily backing against the wall, he cautiously inches closer, peering into the room ahead of them.

There's several Separatist leaders in there, and he carefully slips out a recording device, planting it close by to pick up whatever it can. "We should break into their files and see what we can find," he whispers.

Whatever happens, they can't get caught. They'd be accused of espionage, and sent for execution, and... He doesn't know if they'd be able to break out on their own.

Verse nods, slipping away.

Luke can't entirely hear what they're saying, but Clovis is there, and he can hear something about... profits. They're arguing over who should be getting the profits?!

He – he is involved, and it makes Luke sick and furious to think that this is all someone could care about, when there's people dying. They have to get this to the Senate, and –-

Someone's coming.

He hastily backs away into the shadows, to see Padme approaching. Clovis immediately comes out to talk to her, and he uses that opportunity to slip away. Hopefully, Verse found something.

And it turns out she did.

There's a holomap of and coordinates for a weapons factory on Geonosis?!

They have to get this to the Council immediately, but he doesn't even have time to tell Padme, because Clovis invites them all to a meal... And Luke has a very bad feeling about eating anything there.

The Force is warning him of something, and it's centered around both him and Padme. They're trying to poison them, aren't they?

Somehow, he isn't even surprised about that – of course, the Separatists would try pulling that off.

But he doesn't have a way of warning Padme, without arousing suspicion, unless...

He hastily banishes the first thought that comes to mind – using the Force to... choke either Clovis or Lott Dodd very discreetly, just to cause a disturbance. That is completely against the Jedi way, and he should not find it so tempting right now. Even if he's not a Jedi.

He makes a show of starting to drink, then feigns a coughing fit, before leaning on the table pretending to be very queasy. Thankfully, it distracts Padme – and everyone – before she can start eating.

"Are you alright?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't... know. I don't feel good," he mutters.

She frowns. "You were fine earlier?"

He shrugs, slightly. "I'd like to step out and have a look around. Maybe get some air."

"I'll go outside with him for a moment," Padme says, moving to stand. She obviously knows something's up.

"I can have someone attend to him," volunteers Clovis. Luke can genuinely not tell if it's because he's up to something sinister, he just wants Padme to stay, or he's actually thinking about what it would be like to be a step-dad. Ewww.

"Yes, there were some matters I was hoping we could discuss," Lott Dodd says, sounding about as apologetic as Luke thinks he's physically capable of.

Luke gives her an unreadable glance, that he hopes conveys the meaning.

"I'll be right back," she assures, and they hastily step aside, to a safe distance away. "What's wrong?" she asks.

"The food's poisoned," he explains, breathlessly. His heart is still pounding – that was close. "And I found what we were looking for. Clovis is involved. Verse has it back at the ship." He glances around. "I don't know how long it will be before they realize we're up to something."

Padme nods. "You're right. We should leave soon."

"The sooner the better," Luke replies. Because they still have to find a very good excuse why they aren't going back in there. Likely, it's only a matter of time before they realize that someone's been tampering with their files, and they'll really be targeting Padme then.

Dorme's body flashes through his mind again, and... No, he will never let that happen to anyone in his family again. He'll do what he has to protect them, and bring an end to people like Clovis and those of the Trade Federation.

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