Aftermath and Abrion
[Silence]
The sound of a vital monitor and liquids flowing could be heard as someone's vision was blurry, but steadily coming back. The walls were brightly lit, and a medical droid was in direct line of sight. Behind the medical droid was a door that had the symbol of the Republic on it. This was a medical bay owned by the republic. Then it felt wet, as what appeared to be glass rose from where this point of view was, before the p.o.v. shifted to the floor, with an organic left arm and a metallic right arm stopping the p.o.v. from hitting the floor. "Bacta session, complete." The medical droid stated as it handed the person who's p.o.v. this was a towel to dry themselves with. "Your recovery is now 100% complete."
The door opened and the person who's p.o.v. this was looked to see Obi-Wan and Clone Commander Cody enter the room. "He's awake." Kenobi noticed.
"Commander Dusk. It's good to see you conscious again." Cody said as he approached and offered a helping hand.
[Play Star Wars The Phantom Menace OST Talk of Podracing 0:00 - 1:36]
Outside of Orion's eyesight, we can see him in medical garments, while his Jedi robes were hung in the room, but tattered, the damage being caused by the explosion back on the Rishi Moon. He was soaked in bacta juice, as he had just gotten out of a bacta tank. He was surprised to be here. He tried to speak but realized that he was wearing a rebreather over his mouth. He took that off of his mouth before taking Cody's hand and letting the clone help him up. "Okay, can someone explain to me how I'm still alive?"
The clone commander then decided to debrief Dusk on what had happened. "After the explosion on the Rishi Moon, the Republic fleet arrived almost immediately. The Separatist fleet quickly retreated, and the Republic sent gunships to look for survivors. After picking us up, they soon found you. Luckily we were able to get you to a bacta tank before your condition was too severe."
"The miracle of Bacta." Orion commented before wondering something. "What about the others? Rex, and the rookies. Where are they?"
"Rex enlisted Echo and Fives to the 501st." Cody explained. "Hevy...chose to remain in the Rishi Outpost in order to detonate the LT."
Dusk knew what he meant. "I'm sorry." He told him.
"It wasn't your fault." Cody assured Orion.
"Still, he was a good man." The Padawan replied.
"At least he went out as a true soldier." The clone commander said.
"Indeed." Obi-Wan spoke up. "I also heard about how you stood against Grievous and stalled him in order to buy time for the others to complete that task." He put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Are you going to be alright?"
"What do you mean?" Dusk was unsure of what his master meant by that.
"I know how brutal and intimidating Grievous can be, especially to a Padawan Learner." Kenobi stated. "I doubt he would be any different towards you."
"He was certainly...brutal." Orion admitted. "But when he found out that I was your apprentice, that seemed to excite him."
"Excite him?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"He said that he would enjoy showing my corpse to you." Dusk informed his master. "If the outpost didn't explode when it did, he might have gotten that corpse he wanted."
"Then I believe it's time that you continue your saber training with me." Kenobi told him, pulling out Orion's lightsaber and handing it to him. "Get dressed into clean robes and meet me in the training room."
"Yes, Master." The Padawan replied before leaving the medical bay and walking down the halls of the Venator until he reached his room. He went to his closet and changed from the medical garments to his Jedi Robes. He then made his way to the Training Room, seeing Obi-Wan standing in the middle of said room, ready to teach the boy.
[Play Tales of the Jedi OST Let's Go Again 0:00 - 2:18]
As Dusk entered the training room, Kenobi turned to face his student before speaking up. "We'll be focusing on two separate things today, involving your training. First, we'll be focusing on improving your ability to defend yourself from close range attacks. After that, we will move on to improving your ability to defend against blaster fire."
"Understood, Master." Orion responded, ready to begin his lesson.
Obi-Wan then activated his lightsaber and took a Form 4 stance. "Then let us continue your Soresu Training. I will be using Ataru to fight against you, so be prepared to defend yourself."
Dusk then activated his saber and took a Form 3 stance. "I'm ready."
As Kenobi analyzed his student's stance, the pair slowly circled around each other, not breaking eye contact. The Padawan kept calm, but was silently wondering when his master was going to come at him. He expected an attack immediately, but instead there was nothing.
Then Obi-Wan came at him while he was distracted with those thoughts, nearly catching him off guard, the Jedi Master swung his blade at him, meeting the boy's blade in the middle. Kenobi then broke the blade lock and swung again, making the Padwan defend himself once more. This exchange continued multiple more times, with the master attacking the apprentice, making the learner focus purely on defending himself. Because of both Obi-Wan's lack of experience using Form 4, as well as this being a training exercise, he was not as aggressive as he could be. He was only being aggressive enough for his student to just barely keep up, so long as he was fully focused on defending himself.
This exchange continued for minutes on end, with Orion not seeing any openings to exploit. And because of him needing to fully concentrate on defending himself, he was having trouble planning any method of creating an opening to exploit. Obi-Wan noticed this and spoke while he continued to attack. "Don't attempt to plan out your counterattack. Let the Force guide your blade." He instructed as he gained more ground. "Your senses will help you react to the attacks, while also allowing you to feel your opponent's next move. When you can anticipate the next attack, you can counter it to create the opening you need."
As Dusk continued to defend himself from his master's strikes, those words helped him realize why he was having trouble with using Form 3. As much as he relies on the Force to boost his reaction speed, he rarely ever used the Force's ability of foresight to give him precognition. It was at that moment or realization that he was then knocked off balance by another swing from his master's blade, and he was flat on his back. "Ugh." He groaned before pushing himself to his feet.
"Defend yourself." Kenobi came at the boy again, making Orion put his blade up and block more strikes aimed at him. Dusk continued to react to his master's attack, blocking them accordingly, but his reactions were still slow. "Act on your instincts. Don't just react to what you're seeing." He instructed as he continued his assault. He could see his apprentice struggling, but he didn't ease up on his assault. The boy needed to experience this. "Let go of your conscious self. The Force will help control your actions."
"Ngh!" Orion barely managed to continue blocking the strikes that his master was sending towards him. It almost felt like when he was fighting Ventress on Teth. The constant attacks, along with almost no breaks with each strike was making it hard for Dusk to concentrate.
Then Kenobi struck his Padawan's blade and pushed on it, making the two lock blades. "Focus on feeling the Force. Feel it flow, and you'll be fine."
Orion held Obi-Wan's blade back, and as he heard those words, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to feel the Force within himself. After that brief moment to recollect himself, his instincts told him to shift his weight, so he trusted them and once he did, he felt Kenobi's balance falter slightly, giving Dusk enough time to break the blade lock and sidestep his Master, who nearly tripped forward. "Like that?" The boy asked.
Obi-Wan smirked. "Exactly like that." He then went to swing his blade at his apprentice. "Again." Orion almost without thinking had blocked the incoming strike without much effort. "Again." Kenobi went for another swing, but Dusk's instincts had him lean back to avoid the swipe, before moving in to counterstrike, only for his master to step back to avoid the attack. "Better." Obi-Wan commented as he swung at his student once more. "Keep it up."
This continued for several minutes, as Orion was getting used to allowing his instincts as well as the Force to guide his actions and help him better react to his master's attacks. As he continued to defend himself, he soon began to almost see the next attack before it was even coming. "This is..." He said as he foresaw his master's next set of moves and defended them accordingly, before parrying the last strike he foresaw to create a small opening. He went to exploit it, but Kenobi was much too fast for him, as he immediately defended himself and parried Dusk's counterstrike, leaving him open. Only for the Padawan to almost as quickly defend himself from that, locking blades with his master. "I could see it." The boy realized.
[Play Star Wars The Phantom Menace OST Anakin is Free 0:34 - 1:43]
"See? You can do it." Obi-Wan said before breaking the lock and deactivating his saber, prompting Orion to do the same. "Even when your vision isn't obscured, the Force can help you see things more clearly than your eyes ever could on their own."
"I must admit. I never would have thought to do that. I thought that would have been me using the Force as a tool, rather than respecting it." Dusk said.
"Did it feel like you were using the Force as a tool when you did that?" Kenobi questioned.
"Honestly...no. It felt more like the Force was..." The Padawan Learner began.
"Guiding you through the moment?" The Jedi Master finished.
"Well, yeah." Orion confirmed. "But, I still felt in control of myself."
"It is up to you to trust in the Force's guidance." Obi-Wan explained. "The mantra, I am one with the Force and the Force is with me comes to mind."
"That phrase that Guardians of Whills always say?" Dusk replied, familiar with that group of spiritual monks and their connections to the Jedi and the Force.
"Indeed." Kenobi said. "But to put the phrase in a more understandable term, think of it like this. To be one with the Force is to allow it to guide you. To have the Force with you, is to feel it around you. So, to put it simply. You allow the Force to guide you and feel its influence around you and your surroundings."
"Okay. And this applies to my connection to it?" Orion wondered.
"It applies to how much of a connection you allow yourself to have to it." Obi-Wan explained. "Before I instructed you to do so, you didn't think that you could allow the Force to guide you through your instincts, instead only allowing it to help you with your physical reflexes. There are many things that the Force can and will guide you through, so long as you open yourself up to those possibilities."
"But, Master. Wouldn't that leave me vulnerable to discovering Dark Side techniques?" Dusk questioned.
"It will." Kenobi answered. "But that is why you are under my tutelage. My role as a Master is to help you see the difference between the Light and Dark, as you continue to open yourself up to the will of the Force and discover the abilities it gifts you with."
[Silence]
As the boy took those words in, Commander Cody, as well as 11 other clone troopers entered the training room. "General. I've rounded up enough troops, willing to help with training."
"Good. Then take your positions around Orion." Obi-Wan instructed.
"Yes, sir." Cody responded before signaling for his men to surround the Padawan.
"Um, Master?" Dusk was confused. "What's this about?"
"You do remember that I said that we were also going to train your ability to reflect blaster fire, right?" Kenobi reminded him.
"Wait. You're going to have Cody and his men shoot at me?" Orion was really surprised. "What about the training orbs we used last time?"
"When I had discovered that Anakin started this training regiment with Ahsoka, I brought up that same question with him." Obi-Wan told him. "He ended up bringing up the valid point about how those orbs would not be sufficient enough to teach you how to protect yourself on a chaotic battleground. The clones aren't programmed with patterns, like the orbs. You'll have to feel their intent to pull the trigger, and respond accordingly."
"And you're fine with that?" Dusk questioned.
"Our blasters are set to stun, Commander." Cody assured him. "We're not shooting at you with anything lethal."
"Still, do try your best not to get hit by the blasts anyway." Obi-Wan recommended. "They'll still take you down if you do."
As the clones got into positions, they all signaled that they were ready to begin. "You ready, commander?" Cody asked.
Orion then turned on his lightsaber and got into a defensive stance. "As ready as I can be, commander."
It was silent, at Cody and the clones took aim at Dusk, who began to use the Force to sense his surroundings and allowed it to flow through him, taking the lesson he just learned from his master and planning to apply that lesson here.
He then felt what was coming next, as one of the clones took a shot. He reacted as soon as it came out, blocking the stun blast quickly. Then another clone took his chance, shooting a blast at Orion, who foresaw it coming and blocked that too. Then another clone shot at him, making Dusk react to and block that blast as well. Two more clones then shot at him at the same time, and Orion was quickly able to block those as well, only to then get hit in the back by another stun blast and drop to the floor, blacking out almost instantly from the hit.
[Play Lego Star Wars The Video Game OST Chancellor in Peril (Quiet) 0:00 - 1:00]
Orion woke up to Commander Cody and another clone sitting in front of him. "Commander, he's waking up." The clone noticed.
"Good." Cody responded before turning his attention to the Padawan. "Easy going, Commander Dusk."
As Orion managed to open his eyes and start to push himself up to his knees he wondered something. "How long was I out?"
"Roughly an hour." Cody answered.
"That long?" Dusk was surprised.
"Yeah. Waxer tagged you pretty good." Cody said, looking at the clone next to him.
"Sorry about that, commander." Waxer apologized, offering to help the boy up. "I thought you would have been able to catch that."
"Don't be sorry." Orion replied as he accepted the help and was pulled to his feet, before Cody gave him his lightsaber back. "Where's General Kenobi?"
"He had to leave." Cody explained. "General Skywalker had found a Separatist listening post in the Ruusan system and was ordered to destroy it. General Kenobi is waiting for Skywalker to contact him on the bridge after their mission is complete."
"I assume that he requested that you remain here until I wake up?" Dusk said.
"He assumed that you would want to continue the training." Cody stated.
"Considering that it took only six shots for your men to take me down..." Orion pointed out before getting back into position. "I do indeed want to continue the training."
Cody then raised his voice. "Alright men! Take your positions! We're going again!"
"Let's see who gets him this time." Another clone commented.
"Boil. Don't talk like that in front of him." A different clone reprimanded him.
"What? Why not keep count, Gearshift?" Boil asked.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Meet Ahsoka 2:02 - 2:34]
"Wait a minute." Orion recognised those names. He then took notice of the other clones around him as well, feeling a familiar feeling from each of them. "Are all of you who volunteered the clones that I helped on Teth?"
"Most of us, yeah." Waxer stated.
"Most?" Dusk repeated.
"You never ran into Wymer and Nova, but most of us are from that group. You remember our names?" Waxer asked.
"Yeah." Orion said before he began to list the names of the clones he saved. "Waxer, Boil, Gearshift, Longshot, Trapper, and Willie, right?"
"It's actually pronounced, Wooly, sir." One of the clones, assumedly Wooly himself corrected the Padawan.
"Oh, then why didn't you correct me on Teth?" Dusk asked.
"We were kind of getting chased by that Rancor right after you said our names." Wooly reminded him.
"And what about Boil not saying your name right when he introduced you to me?" Orion wondered.
"They sound the same to me." Boil admitted.
"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that." Wooly said.
"Whatever, Willie." Boil replied.
"WOOLY!" Wooly corrected him.
"Eh Potato, potahto." Boil didn't really care.
"He's a real piece of work, isn't he." Dusk commented to Cody.
"He may be blunt, but he's still a good soldier." Cody stated before speaking up again. "Cut the chatter and get into positions!"
Orion then activated his saber and prepared to continue the training.
[Silence]
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Negotiator, Kenobi was debriefed by Skywalker about the events that took place on the now destroyed listening post, and to say that he was annoyed was an understatement. "So let me get this straight, Anakin. You risked the mission, all your men, even your Padawan, to save a droid?" He summarized.
"Artoo found the listening post and he saved our lives." Skywalker pointed out. "We couldn't just leave him there, Obi-Wan."
"Oh, Anakin. One day..." Kenobi groaned before ending the transmission and pinching his forehead in frustration. "That man is going to be the death of me." He then turned and spoke to a clone officer. "How long before we reach Space Station Valor?"
"Not long, General." The officer answered.
"Good. Ever since Cody had copied the intel from Rishi Station before it was destroyed, we know that the Separatist were up to something else besides the thwarted attempt to invade Kamino. Once we deliver that intel to the station to get it deciphered, we'll see what happens next."
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Battle Stops 0:00 - 1:09]
Eventually, Obi-Wan's fleet reaches the planet Cardia and the Venator Negotiator docks with Space Station Valor. Kenobi went to the training room to see Orion knocked out on the ground, with Cody watching over him, while the other clones were talking amongst themselves. Just as the Padawan began to regain consciousness, the clones noticed the Jedi Master. "General Kenobi. I see you've returned." Cody said as he saw the Jedi approach him.
"And just in time, I see." Kenobi commented as he saw Dusk push himself up off of his back and sat up on the ground. "How goes the training, Orion?"
"Well, I've been shot down at least five times within the last six hours." Dusk informed him. "If I wasn't knocked out for most of that time after getting shot, I would be proud of myself."
"Well, if anything, you'll end up developing a tolerance to being stunned if you can't quickly master this." Obi-Wan quipped.
"Oh ha, ha." Orion replied sarcastically.
"Regardless. At least you're taking steps to improve yourself." Kenobi pointed out. "No matter how many attempts it takes, you will get better overtime. As long as you stay consistent."
"Understood, Master." Dusk responded before pushing himself up to his feet.
"Good. Now then, it's time to go." The Jedi Master stated.
"Go where?" The Padawan asked.
"We've just arrived at Cardia and docked with Space Station Valor." Obi-Wan filled his student in. "We'll be delivering intel that Cody had managed to retrieve from Rishi Station and standing by for redeployment there."
"I see." Orion replied. "Will anyone else be accompanying us?"
"Cody, and a few other members of the 212th." Kenobi answered.
"Alright then. I'll follow you, Master." Dusk said.
Once everyone was ready, the two Jedi and many of the clones aboard the Negotiator entered the space station and made their way to a briefing room after delivering the intel to people who could decipher it aboard the station.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST The Jedi Council 0:00 - 0:58]
After some time, the intel was decrypted and Admiral Yularen entered the room to begin debriefing all those who were present, including the 212th that were in the room. "Before the destruction of Rishi Station, Commander Dusk and CC-2224 were able to recover intel regarding a Separatist weapons factory hidden on the agriworld of Abrion Major. A granary complex atop an archipelago in the Western Sea has been converted by the War Faction of the Confederacy. They're using it to build a new Mega-Ion Cannon, under the directions of General Grievous and Count Dooku." Yularen stated.
"Like the one that the Malevolence had?" Orion questioned.
"Exactly like that." Cody confirmed. "One blast from these cannons could disable an entire fleet. Were Grievous and Dooku able to destroy those powerless vessels, it would result in Republic casualties numbering in the thousands or more."
Yularen then continued the briefing. "The factory sits on the center island of an archipelago chain, whose sea cliffs have been reinforced, making it impenetrable from the water. Anti aircraft defenses are also extensive. The complex's only access point is a sole supply bridge which connects the north and south islands in the chain." He then gave the plan of assault. "A divided battalion will capture both ends of the bridge in order to converge on the factory."
An Arc Trooper from the 212th then spoke up. "Admiral Yularen, why split our forces and assault on two fronts from weakened positions?"
"Simple. Should one arm of the battalion be entirely destroyed, there would still remain a chance of securing the cannon plans." Yularen answered.
Obi-Wan then spoke up. "The 212th Battalion volunteers to lead the assault, Admiral."
"First you'll need to procure more soldiers." Yularen stated. "A company of Roon's planetary defense force is available near Abrion Major. After you acquire them, you may then begin the mission to assault the factory."
"Then we'll be off to acquire those troopers." Kenobi responded before he, Dusk, Cody and the rest of the clones in the 212th left the briefing room, boarded the Negotiator, and once the Venator was refueled, the cruiser took off, linked back up with the rest of Kenobi's fleet, then set course for their destination.
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Landing on Teth 0:00 - 1:30]
It took only half of a day to reach the coordinates where the 212th would link up with the company from Roon's local defense forces. Two of the soldiers there ended up greeting Obi-Wan and Orion. "Excuse me, General Kenobi." One of the soldiers spoke up. "I'm Commander Mekedrix. This is Lieutenant Oron. We just transferred over from the Roon System."
"Ah, yes. Welcome to the 212th." The Jedi Master welcomed their company, although sounding not as confident as he usually would be, which the Padawan took notice of.
"I'm Commander Orion Dusk." The young Jedi introduced himself to the pair of Roonians. "I took the liberty of reading your unit's exploits in defending a space station near Molavar. Truly impressive. It will be an honor to work alongside you."
"The feeling is mutual, Commander Dusk." Mekedrix replied. "I heard that you survived an outpost exploding on top of you while fighting against General Grievous on your own. Such a glorious feat would make you quite the warrior to fight alongside."
Orion was surprised to hear Mekedrix say that and then turned to Obi-Wan. "Master, how long was I out after the explosion? I didn't realize that people were talking about my encounter with Grievous."
"Word can travel fast, my young Padawan." Kenobi pointed out. "Especially amongst the military branches."
"With our combined strength, Abrion will be ours." Mekedrix spoke up.
"Abrion Bridge is, from what I can tell, a death trap with a scenic view." Obi-Wan mentioned.
"Just battle droids, General." Mekedrix stated.
"We'll sweep them aside, sir. Rest assured." Oron shared his commander's confidence.
"Just make sure that you yourself don't get swept up in the chaos alongside the droids." Dusk suggested to the lieutenant.
The men then made camp for the night and the two Jedi decided to meditate together during that time. While the Padawan was meditating in order to clear his mind and ready himself for the upcoming battle, Kenobi was meditating in search for a path of victory and peace, while also thinking about his men and the battle they were about to charge into.
Soon enough the morning came and the plan was put into motion, Obi-Wan and Cody would lead the attack on the south bridge, while Orion and Mekedrix would be in command of the assault on the north bridge. Once everyone was ready and equipped, they all boarded their gunships and took off towards the objective.
[Play Star Wars The Force Unleashed OST Raxus Prime 2 0:00 - 1:29]
As the two groups of gunships flew towards their destination, Mekedrix noticed how dark and cloudy the sky was in front of them. "Storm clouds, General?" He wondered.
"Negative, Commander Mekedrix." Obi-Wan corrected over the comms. "That's smoke from our destroyed air cover."
"Which means we're now in range for their air defenses." Orion added.
"The shelling from the weapons complex should begin right about..." Cody said just before their gunships started to get shot at. "...Now."
Obi-Wan then reminded everyone of their battle strategy. "We make our landing South! Attack-2 will storm from the North! At that time, we will..." He was cut off when one of the gunships with Kenobi's forces was shot down.
"LAAT Three has been hit. Nothing left." Cody pointed out. "That cuts our landing party by a portion, General."
"Attack-1 must take our side of Abrion Bridge." Obi-Wan told him.
"We will take it, General." Mekedrix said on the comms.
"I appreciate the confidence, in spite of the odds." Dusk admitted.
"They'll be singing songs about us for years to come!" Mekedrix declared. "Let's hit that bridge with the full force of the Republic!"
"It's that easy then, is it?" A clone sergeant with Attack-1 commented.
"Fall in line and seal your trap, sergeant!" Cody ordered.
"I understand your trepidation, believe me." Kenobi began. "But try to see Abrion Bridge as a bridge to this war's end! A bridge to the end of bloodshed! A bridge to protection of our free Republic worlds! A bridge that leads to the light, away from the Dark Side! And we will march across this bridge together!"
"How can I not be inspired by that?" Dusk replied. "We'll see you in the middle, Master!"
"This bridge, and the glory will be ours today!" Mekedrix cheered.
"May the force be with you, Attack-2." Obi-Wan told them.
"May the force be with you too, Attack-1." Orion replied.
"We'll be standing together on a mound of burning droid parts by day's end, sir." Mekedrix said as he held his blaster at the ready for when they touched the ground.
"Rifles at the ready!" Cody ordered his men as they were approaching their drop off point.
Attack-1's gunships landed and Kenobi activated his lightsaber. "Move out!" He ordered his troops as he stepped off the gunship and began the attack on the southern bridge.
Then Attack-2's gunships landed and Dusk activated his lightsaber and jumped out of the gunship to take the lead. "I'll provide cover!"
"Attack!" Mekedrix ordered as he and his unit exited the gunships and followed the Padawan as they began their assault on the northern bridge.
As Orion took point, he was the first one to see the incoming hail of red blaster bolts flying towards him and his attack group, remembering the training that his master taught him, he allowed the force to guide him in defending himself, deflecting multiple blaster bolts coming towards him, and some bolts that would have hit people that were behind him. He wasn't struggling nearly as much as he did on Christophsis or Rishi. Now he was much more confident in his ability to protect his troops, so long as they don't stray too far from him. "Stay close!" He ordered as he marched ahead, with Mekedrix and Oron returning fire while Orion covered them in their assault.
On the South Bridge, Obi-Wan continued to block incoming blaster fire with his saber, and while he was doing so, he was able to protect Cody and a few other troopers as they continued their advance. But then something caught the Jedi Master's eye. He saw the sun begin to rise on Abrion, and in the brief instant, Kenobi stopped, taking in the view. "General! Get down!" Only to be snapped back into reality when Cody yelled out and tackled him out of the way of an incoming blast before the two took cover.
[Silence]
Another clone managed to reach where the pair were and spoke up. "Commander, all they have to do to win this thing is blow up the bridge! We'd be sunk, literally!"
"They won't!" Cody assured the trooper. "The bridge is the only supply line for the factory, in or out! Grievous won't allow a setback like that!"
"...Need to find a way forward." Obi-Wan said to himself as he was thinking of how to advance forward.
Meanwhile, on the North Bridge, Orion and his forces were able to push past the droids, but as the Padawan was blocking more incoming blaster bolts, he then saw who was firing them. "Those are..." He briefly froze up, seeing living soldiers who were native to this planet participating in the defense of this bridge. Oron saw a blaster bolt coming towards the frozen Jedi and tackled him out of the way.
"What'd you freeze up for, Commander Dusk?" Oron questioned.
"Those are locals shooting at us." Orion said out loud. "People just trying to defend their home planet."
Mekedrix pushed forward and spoke up. "Keep up, you two!" He then got on the commlink as he kept advancing with the troops. "I'm halfway there, General! It looks like I'm winning this race! Who will be the first to grasp those cannon plans!? You, or me?!"
"This isn't a blasted game!" Kenobi said on his end before noticing a clone carrying a red banner reach his position. "What are you carrying?!"
"Orders came over the comm!" The clone stated. "Our navy ships need to see how far we've advanced along the bridge! We improvised!"
"You have no weapon?!" Obi-Wan noticed.
"Only this banner, sir!" The clone answered. "But it's an honor to carry it!"
"What's your name, trooper!?" Kenobi asked.
"Airo, General!" The clone stated his name. "It's Airo! I chose it last night!"
Over on Orion's end, he too noticed a clone carrying a blue banner, but the trooper was soon shot down right in front of him, dropping the banner in front of his legs. "Damn. We're losing more troops. If we don't capture this bridge..." Oron said just loud enough to be heard by Dusk, At that moment he snapped back into reality. If they lose here, then the super Ion cannon will be able to be built and used against the Republic forces. While the soldiers shooting at his men were defending their home, they were also supporting a cause that would end up taking the lives of thousands more across the galaxy.
[Play Star Wars The Force Unleashed OST Imperial Raxus Prime 7 0:00 - 1:22]
Oron went to grab the banner, but Orion ended up grabbing it first and with a determined look in his eyes, he stood tall with his blue lightsaber in his right hand, and the blue banner held in his left hand. "Lieutenant, go support Mekedrix! I'll cover the men behind us!" He ordered as he charged forward, blocking many blaster bolts that were aimed towards him and the clones behind him.
Back with Obi-Wan, he ignited his lightsaber. "I'll cut you a path, Airo! Follow me!" He instructed as he activated his lightsaber once more and pushed forward on the Southern side of the bridge, with Cody helping Kenobi with protecting Airo, as they, and the other troops pushed their way forward. "Careful! To your right!" The General called out as he sliced a battle droid in half before Airo smacked away a local soldier that tried to get close. As they pushed forward, they nearly reached the factory on their side. "Mekedrix! I may beat you to those plans yet!"
On the North, Orion and the troops managed to close the distance between themselves and the native soldiers defending the bridge. Dusk used the banner to strike at the soldiers in his way, knocking them unconscious. He was still a Jedi after all, and he took a vow to protect and preserve life. While he was in the middle of a war, he would not break that vow by willingly striking any living enemies down, unless absolutely necessary. He wouldn't be able to convince his troops to switch to stun and minimize enemy casualties, but at the very least, he would not directly kill anyone himself. "Oron! Mekedrix! Link up!" He then felt something was off, and looked back behind himself to realize the new danger he sensed. "Oh no."
Mekedrix was busy shooting a few enemy soldiers to notice or hear Dusk's orders. "Lieutenant Oron! Where are you!?" He called out as he kept shooting, only to hear the lieutenant scream as he and multiple others were caught in a chain of explosions from sudden artillery fire. The commander rushed to his lieutenant and went to help him up. "Oron, it's alright." He said, but Oron was unresponsive. The smoke cleared and his lower half was gone. He had been killed by the artillery. "No...no...no!"
A clone reached him and tried to snap Mekedrix out of it. "Sir! We have to get off the bridge!" The two of them then saw more artillery incoming, but they then realized that it wasn't coming from the forces in front of them. "We've been flanked!" Then the artillery reached its targets, creating more explosions on the Northern end of the bridge.
[Silence]
Back with Obi-Wan's forces, they managed to get inside the factory, take out the security inside and steal the plans for the Ion Cannon. "The South Bridge is secure, General." Cody reported as the enemy forces were finished off.
"Dare I say this mission is a success." The Jedi Master commented. "Let's go."
"No word from our forces on the North end, sir." Cody informed the General, who was admittedly surprised at that.
As Kenobi and his forces began to leave the factory, he got on the comms to check on the other team. "Mekedrix, do you read?" There was no response from him. "Padawan Dusk, come in, over." There was static on his end for a moment, and as Obi-Wan's forces stepped outside, Orion responded to them.
"Mas..r! We...re amb...ed by B..k...Cla...dr..ds!" The message was garbled by the sound of static and what sounded like explosions.
[Play Star Wars Revenge of The Sith OST Grievous On The Run 0:00 - 0:55]
"Reinforcement to the South!" A clone trooper spotted more enemy forces. "IG units! Take cover!"
"We've been cut off!" Another clone realized before he got shot in the neck by droid forces coming from the North side.
Kenobi began to deflect many blaster bolts away from him, Cody and Airo, but they and the rest of the clones still standing were completely surrounded by enemy forces and the Jedi Master could not stop all of the attacks coming towards his men. Obi-Wan could hear them around him as he attempted to keep them alive. "Attack-1 is boxed in!" "Too many of them!" "More water units destroyed!" "General, what do we do!?"
Then Airo got shot, and Kenobi noticed. Another clone then reached the general on the comm line. "General, we lost most of our sea ships, and your LAATs have been destroyed. We have to air lift you out." Obi-Wan then concentrated and used the force to push a large group of IG droids off of the bridge, making an opening.
"The general cleared a path!" Cody told his men. "Let's go!"
As Kenobi's forces began to make their escape, the clone on the comm line spoke to Obi-Wan. "General, we're going to blow the bridge to cover your retreat. Stand by."
"I still have people on that bridge! Wounded!" Obi-Wan replied as he rushed into the fray, slicing up multiple IG droids and managing to make his way back to the wounded Airo.
"Bombers are inbound, General. Get clear." The clone on the comm line told the Jedi Master, but he didn't listen as he went to help Airo up, while Cody and a few other clones were dragging away any wounded clones that they could reach, following their general's lead.
"Airo, come. I can carry you." Kenobi said to him.
"General...leave me..." The wounded Airo told him. "May the...force be with..." He then got shot in the head, before enemy artillery was launched and struck at Obi-Wan's position, flinging him and the red banner away.
As Kenobi pushed himself up to his knees, an IG droid had its blaster pointed at his head. "Target, enemy commander."
[Play Star Wars The Clone Wars (2008) OST Fight Through the Corridor (Isolated) 0:00 - 0:48]
Suddenly a blue streak swiped at the IG unit, cutting its head off, and as the droid fell, Obi-Wan saw his Padawan, Orion, still holding the blue banner in his left hand, while his robe was torn and missing the right sleeve, showing his cortosis arm off as he turned to block more incoming blaster fire. "Men! Move!"
Mekedrix, who's attire also suffered similar damage, helped Obi-Wan to his feet, while he and what was left of Attack-2 had reached their position. "General. We have to get off this bridge." Mekedrix told Kenobi.
"Agreed, Commander." Obi-Wan grabbed the red banner and began to retreat with Dusk, Mekedrix, Cody and the remaining republic forces. While the clones and Mekedrix blasted away at the droid forces in the front, the two Jedi covered the retreat, deflecting as many incoming blaster bolts that they could away from their allies. The IG units were relentless however, and made it excruciatingly difficult for the pair. Then a Hailfire Droid shot out eight rockets towards them. "Artillery incoming!"
"I'm on it!" Orion replied before using the force to push one of the rockets into another, making them explode in the air and cause a chain reaction, destroying the artillery before it could reach them. "Artillery intercepted!" He said before taking a quick breath to recenter himself. That move took a bit out of him.
"Good thinking!" Kenobi complimented as he deflected some blaster bolts back towards the IG units, taking a few of them down.
"We're almost there!" Mekedrix called out in the front as the Republic forces continued shooting down the IG units in their way, taking some losses as they didn't have the Jedi to protect them in the front.
"Bomber ETA is 30 seconds." A clone on the comm line informed the ground forces.
"We don't have time to slow down! Keep pushing!" Cody ordered as he and the others on the ground continued to advance forward, desperately pushing further and further until they ended up back to where Obi-Wan's forces had landed previously. The rubble from the shot down gunships was used by the republic forces as cover to avoid getting hit by any stray blaster bolts that the pair of Jedi could not deflect away. Another barrage of rockets from a Hailfire droid was sent their way, but Cody noticed it. "Artillery approaching from two kicks northwest!"
"I see it, Cody!" Obi-Wan used the force to throw a detached gunship wing towards the rockets, intercepting them and making them explode in the air. The Y-Wings were now in view and Kenobi called out to his men. "Everyone, take cover! This is going to be a Danger Close!"
Orion and Obi-Wan then jumped behind the downed gunship where Cody and Mekedrix were and once they did, they heard multiple explosions behind them as the blast from the explosions nearly reached their position. Some clones who were outside of the cover ended up getting knocked over from the force of the shockwave, and any wounded republic forces on the bridge that couldn't be taken by the others were unfortunately caught in the bombing run.
[Silence]
As the bridge collapsed, Kenobi had to ask. "How many of ours were still on the bridge?"
"Countless." Mekedrix answered solemnly. "Yet we live...to fight again, I suppose."
Orion then saw Obi-Wan walk off. "Master?" The boy said out loud as he followed his mentor through the smoke and watched him take a seat on a rock, looking to the horizon. Dusk then looked to where Kenobi was looking and saw something that made him freeze in awe.
[Play Star Wars A New Hope OST Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force 0:00 - 0:45]
He saw the sun rising above the sea. And as it did, the color of the sky had brightened up, turning into a beautiful mix of yellow and blue, as the star began to shine upon this side of the planet. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Obi-Wan commented.
After a moment of silence, Orion finally responded. "Yes. It is."
"It's like the universe is giving us an example." Kenobi said.
"An example of what?" Dusk asked.
"Of how even in the darkest of times, the light will always find a way to prevail." The Jedi Master answered, solemnly.
The Padawan noticed how his Master's tone was not as optimistic as it could have been. "May I sit with you, Master?"
"You may." Obi-Wan was fine with the company.
Orion then sat next to his master and informed him of something. "The training you put me through saved my life, as well as some others that were with me." He then looked to the Jedi Master. "Even though I still have much to learn, what you have already taught me has helped preserve the lives of many good men."
Kenobi's expression shifted from one of depression, to slight surprise. He then looked to his student and saw the boy softly smiling at him. In that moment, it felt as if his doubts were cast off into the sea, as he then began to smile himself, before placing a hand on Dusk's shoulder. "I'm happy to see that the training is yielding good results."
"As long as we keep going, I'm sure that we'll prevail, just like the sunrise prevails over the night." Orion told his master.
Commander Cody then approached the pair. "Sirs, the evacuation ships are here." He informed the two Jedi.
Obi-Wan then stood up and planted the red banner in the ground in front of him. "Then let's get underway. The galaxy won't save itself." As he left, he saw his student plant the blue banner next to the red one before they and the rest of the republic forces boarded the evacuation ships and flew off into the sunrise, letting the republic banners stand tall as the light shined upon them.
And here's the next part of the story of Orion Dusk. As you can see, he is indeed alive and back with his Master. But after the incident on Rishi Moon, it was time for him to continue his training. This time, allowing the Force's ability of precognition and partial control over his action to better increase his defensive capabilities. I was also able to just skip over the Skytop Station stuff, because Orion recovering in a bacta tank could easily take a while, since he was badly beaten up by Grievous, caught just outside of an explosion and flung off a platform, letting him fall from an unknown, but likely far distance. You would probably need a while to recover from that. So that meant that I could use that as a way to bypass Skytop and do something else. Something like cover one of the Obi-Wan Marvel Comics. Now what comes after this is for me to know and for you readers to find out. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and until I decide to upload again. :)