Chapter: 80 Brothers' Keepers - (Part II)

"When ideologies and all forms of diplomacy fall short, the only thing soldiers have is each other."

A devastating campaign! After a costly effort to establish a foothold on Felucia, the 213th continued to follow General Krell's risky orders. Under his directive, the clones were forced to assault a droid outpost with limited cover. Despite Commander Frost's best efforts to take the outpost, the opposition was too great. With the 213th's forces depleted and Frost badly wounded, the Republic now has no choice but to fall back...

"Retreat!"

The call was as desperate as it was unanimous. Clones scattered and fled amidst a furious assortment of explosions. Commander Frost's world was a fiery blur. His double-vision was all the more disorienting as he swayed over Sparrow's shoulder. "Hold on, commander," the trooper panted. "I'm gonna get you out of here. Just hold on!"

Sparrow's words were muffled betwixt the sharp ringing in his ears. To Frost, the marsh appeared otherworldly. The upside down battlefield had become a fiery hellscape teeming with death. The bodies of his fallen brothers floated through the ashy muck as a horrific whistling sounded. With the clones far enough away, the droids resumed their heavy cannon bombardment. Proton blasts ignited across the swamp, striking those fleeing while others dove for cover.

"Keep running!" Sparrow yelled. "Make for the jungle!" He heaved Frost higher to gain a sturdier grip. Sparrow and the surviving troopers fled deep into Felucia's fungal foliage. They ran until the cannons were out of range and the crisp stench of death had left their senses. The ringing in Frost's ears was only rivaled by his shortened breaths. Each exasperated gasp felt like it would be his last as Sparrow flipped him upright. The young trooper dropped down to compose himself and cradled Frost in his arms.

"Has anyone seen the commander?" Doubles panted while leaning on a colossal mushroom stalk.

Rip knelt down and shook his head in denial. "He's dead, brother," he huffed. "Everyone's dead!"

"I have him!" Sparrow snapped, using whatever voice he had left from yelling 'Retreat' so many times. Several clones gathered around to see Sparrow clinging to Frost. "He's badly wounded. He needs medical-"

"Out of my way!" Pong Krell boomed. All four of his arms shoved clones back as he cleared space for himself. Just when Sparrow thought he was concerned about the commander, Krell instead bellowed, "Who ordered the retreat?" The Besalisk sneered amid the prolonged silence. "Are you all defective?" he growled. "Who disobeyed my direct-"

"I did," Sparrow dared to speak up. The rest of the soldiers froze as Krell stared one of their younger brothers down. Sparrow bowed his head towards Frost and continued. "The commander was struck in combat. I had to get him out of there."

"And by doing so, you have cost this unit...you have cost the Republic any chance of a true victory on this day!" Krell roared.

Frost weakly tilted his head over. All he could see was a distorted blur of Krell laying in to the troopers. Everything was so deafeningly loud as his strength dwindled.

Sparrow gasped when Frost's grip loosened and the commander blacked out in his arms. "Sir?" he beckoned, ignoring Krell's profuse scolding. "Sir!"

Kalani's trio of photoreceptors scanned his outpost's monitors. The super tactical droid turned as a B1 unit approached and said, "Republic forces are in full retreat. But-" Kalani's head tilted with intrigue as the B1 worriedly fidgeted. "I'm afraid our fuel depot was destroyed."

"A stealth attack." Kalani presumed while looking over readouts. "Effective, but at what cost?" His metal digits typed away at a panel until a hologram projected into view. The dark robes and intense glare of Count Dooku flickered amidst the dark chamber.

"Kalani," the count greeted. "What news from the front?"

"I have successfully repelled the Republic invaders," the droid reported. "However, saboteurs have managed to destroy a crucial fuel depot."

Dooku stroked his pale beard and murmured, "This update is most discomforting. The Republic cannot be allowed to establish another foothold on Felucia. You must drive them from the planet before they deal anymore damage."

"It will be done, Count Dooku." Kalani affirmed and ended the transmission. He turned to the B1s in his command room and devised a new strategy. "The Republic may have damaged our fuel supply, but we have been left far from vulnerable. I calculate that the infantry utilized in this outpost's attack were part of their primary force. After this failed offensive and decimation of troops, it will take time for the Republic to return to full strength. Time which we will seize to launch a counterattack." A battle droid captain looked at Kalani as he relayed a new order. "Prepare the legion to reclaim the plateau."

"Roger roger," the captain acknowledged as Kalani monitored a holomap.

Donz was buffing scratches off of his gunship's hull when a set of plastoid boots scurried over to him. "Toto," he groaned. "I just finished cleaning the floor-"

"Sir," his co-pilot panted. Toto's alert tone had Donz dropping his tools. "They're back."

Those two words heralded a cacophony of grief and suffering. Donz stumbled out of their gunship and observed what remained of the 213th's offensive unit. The survivors returned in ravaged clusters. Scraped, muddied, and smashed helmets filled the groups. Ailing troops reached out across nothingness as they were hauled atop stretchers. All Donz could do was hang his head and utter, "I knew it would come to this. I knew and still couldn't prepare myself for the sight."

Master Gaston stormed out from the base's command center and furiously shook his head. He watched with widened eyes as the routed troopers poured into the base. "By the Force," he scoffed. "Get these clones to a medbay!"

"There isn't one, general," a clone technician reported. "The clankers don't need them."

"Then make a medbay, damn it!" Gaston growled and angrily jabbed a finger. "Where are the other Jedi? And where's Commander-" Gaston's blue eyes twitched as Sparrow hauled his wounded superior into view. "-Frost? This is madness! We need a medic!"

"No word from General Unduli or her Padawan yet, general!" the technician hollered.

"Of course not," Gaston scoffed. He was about to ask for Krell when the hulking Besalisk lumbered over. "You're looking surprisingly unscathed," Gaston remarked. "What the hell happened out there? I thought you said you could overwhelm that outpost."

Krell stroked his wattle and huffed. "Commander Frost's advance proved to be...ineffective." This commentary alone had an exhausted Rip ready to snap if Doubles didn't hold him back. "Combine this faulty assault with an insubordinate call for retreat, and this decimation is the result." Krell's nonchalant jabs crushed the survivors' morale as Gaston looked them over.

Ignoring the general's ignorant and irresponsible explanation, Sparrow focused on his commander. "Generals," he spoke up to the Jedi. "Even if we do get some form of medbay running here, I don't know if Commander Frost can make it. Given his condition, I suggest we get him to the Deliverance for proper medical treatment."

"This won't do," Krell said. "After our failure, the enemy will undoubtedly launch an offensive of their own. We cannot risk losing a ship to transport the commander offworld."

Krell's comment sparked rage within the troopers. And while this spark ignited across each of their angered hearts, it completely exploded within Rip. The belligerent clone flailed out of Doubles' grasp and thrust a finger at Krell. "Oh now you care about ships?" he snapped.

"Rip," Doubles whispered while watching the Besalisk's glower. "Stand down."

"No!" his brother snarled and stomped closer to the Jedi. "What the hell is your problem, General Krell? You were perfectly fine with our pilots getting blasted into oblivion during the air raid. Now when our commander needs real treatment, you won't even give him a chance? Speaking of which, Commander Frost was the one following your orders. Your ineffective, garbage advance! He's the real leader here." Rip bent over and dug his hands into Felucia's soil. "Not some four-armed freak who won't even get his robes dirty!" While Rip was able to rile the other clones up with his tirade, all of them silenced the moment he flung dirt at Krell.

As soon as a chunk of muck splattered across Krell's robes, the Jedi instantly Force-pushed Rip. Heads spun as the flametrooper was sent tumbling across a landing platform. "Rip!" Doubles yelled and dashed to his aid.

"Anyone else feel like mouthing off?" Krell bellowed.

"Have you lost your mind?" Gaston whispered sharply.

"I will not tolerate any further insubordination!" The Besalisk's voice boomed for all to hear. He lowered his tone to an ill-tempered grumble and said, "These men have to be kept in line. Otherwise we'll have an all-out mutiny on our hands."

Gaston's eyes listed towards the observing troopers as Krell's suspicions sowed doubts in his mind. "Inside," he said. "Now." As soon as the masters returned to their command center, the clones got to talking amongst themselves.

"Speak to me, Rip!" Doubles pleaded while scraping his friend off the pavement.

The dazed flamethrower shook his head and mumbled, "Remind me to leave Krell a one star review on my Jedi General list."

"He's out of control," Doubles remarked and turned to any nearby troopers. "If General Krell orders another offensive like that, none of us will survive."

Maintenance tables shifted as tools clanged against the floor. While clone medics raced to turn a repair chamber into a makeshift emergency room, Sparrow held Frost close. One of the medics fastened a stretcher to an elongated table and nodded. "We're ready for him," he said.

"You're gonna be alright, commander." Sparrow assured and laid Frost across the table. "I promise." He started to back away to let the medics complete their task. Before Sparrow could go, Frost's hand suddenly reached out and snatched his wrist. The commander's strength dwindled as his fingers trembled. Frost could hardly speak, leaving Sparrow wondering what he was trying to convey. Still, the scout remained supportive and placed his other hand atop Frost's. "I'm here for you," Sparrow affirmed. "All of your brothers are."

One of the medics removed Frost's helmet to assess any physical trauma. While he could barely utter a word, Frost still managed to look Sparrow in the eye. The commander squeezed Sparrow's wrist and used what strength remained to nod.

In those moments, it was as if Frost and Sparrow truly were the same person. The trooper could see the pain behind his leader's eyes. While his injuries ravaged his body, regret filled Frost's heart. He thought about everyone he'd lost and wished it hadn't come to pass.

Still, his simple nod found its way to Sparrow. The trooper removed his helmet, allowing Frost to truly see him as the man he was. A tattoo of several flowing feathers was inked across his neck. "You're welcome," Sparrow replied as Frost reclined. The commander winced as one of the medics injected him with a bacta supplement.

"That should stabilize him for now," the medic said. "We made due with what we had, but he needs better care."

Sparrow sighed. "We've got to get Commander Frost back to the Deliverance. I'll speak with the generals."

The medic placed a nervous hand on Sparrow's shoulder. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he inquired. "You saw what Krell just did to Rip. And he blames you for the retreat."

"I'll be reasonable," Sparrow intoned before lowering his voice. "Look...I have to try. For the commander's sake." The medics exchanged nervous glances as Sparrow stepped away.

Gaston angrily slammed the command center doors shut with the Force. The impact emitted a resounding clamor, rattled the commando droids on standby, and left a dent between the doors. "What is going on, Krell?" Gaston growled. His nostrils flared when the Besalisk didn't budge. "Krell!"

His partner took his time, as if savoring the culmination of disarray swirling within the chamber. "It feels...good to yell, doesn't it?" he murmured. Gaston raised a brow as Krell continued. "To hold that authority. To relay commands in a thunderous tone that forces inferiors into submission."

"What are you going on about?" Gaston asked.

"Don't act like you don't know," Krell murmured and kept his back to Gaston. "I've watched you back at the temple for quite some time. You can't tell me that you didn't enjoy tromping all over that apprentice of yours."

"I don't understand," Gaston whispered.

Krell chuckled to himself. "Culling the weak isn't an injustice. It's a duty. They need to be reminded of their place."

"Enough!" Gaston snapped. His outburst echoed down the base's corridor and caught Sparrow's attention. The trooper had been preparing his proposal to move Frost, but instead came running over. True to his scouting nature, Sparrow remained light on his feet and pressed his body against the dented doors. "Enough of your cryptic jeers," Gaston hissed. "This monumental failure never should've happened. Troopers reported that you'd obliterated droid forces when you took this base. But now you couldn't be bothered to take part in an assault that you planned? What kind of general are you?"

"The only one who sees reason," Krell replied. Gaston scoffed until the Besalisk continued. "I'd like to believe that you can see through the lies of the Jedi as well. I can sense your own resentments with the Order. Perhaps it stems from your hidden...passions."

Gaston's eyes widened as thoughts of Master Gothel swirled within his mind. How could he possibly- he thought before questioning his own carelessness.

"You can tell a lot from a person's eyes," Krell said and slowly turned. "I've seen how you and Donma look at each other. You have as many secrets as I do, Gaston. The question is, how far will you go to preserve them?"

He's holding me hostage, Gaston thought. A secret for a secret. But if he knows about Donma and I, what's he hiding? Gaston chose to answer Krell's question with a question and turned his own philosophy against him. "And what do your eyes say about you?" he groused.

"My eyes have seen beyond our time," Krell confessed. "Even beyond my comprehension for sometime."

"What do you mean?" Gaston asked.

Krell folded his arms and paced about the chamber. "The premonition first came to me during my morning meditation. I had slipped into routine until an odd...tremor arrived. This ripple in the Force was unlike anything I'd ever felt. It was encapsulated in a bleak and frigid darkness. The kind our Order strictly forbids delving into."

"But you did," Gaston concluded and Krell's smirk was enough of an answer.

"I descended into the deepest recesses of my mind, determined to understand this vision. And so it came to pass with all of its destructive wrath." Krell clenched all four of his fists. "The echoes of death ringing throughout the galaxy, and our Republic torn apart...from the inside."

Gaston couldn't help but chuckle. "Come on," he jested. "How could that ever be-"

"Stop letting any sliver of doctrine you follow dictate your reasoning," Krell snarled. "Open your eyes. Our government is sinking further into debt. Republic forces are stretching deeper into the Outer Rim. With every victory they celebrate on some propaganda reel, we've lost a dozen more offscreen. Public opinion for the war and our Order is at an all-time low. This is the end, for I have foreseen it. Soon, even the Jedi will be no more."

"If you've 'foreseen it' tell me how it's going to happen?" Gaston mocked. "How is this 'inside job' going to take place?"

Krell scowled. "I could not tell, for my dimwitted Padawan at the time had barged in before I could delve deeper. From that moment forward, the vision has never returned. But I knew I had to make preparations for what was to come."

"Preparations?" Gaston inquired.

"There's no use trying to save something that will inevitably be destroyed," Krell said. "But those who aren't naive...men like you and I...can still survive this."

There wasn't a hint of deception in Krell's dark glare as he focused on Gaston. In fact, it was the most sincere that he'd ever seen the Besalisk. "If all of this is true-" Gaston began. "-how could we survive?"

"By succumbing to the pull."

"I've done so before," Gaston assured.

"I don't mean calling upon anger for some meager boost of bravado," Krell scolded. "I mean truly embracing the prevailing darkness. From what I have seen in my vision, the Light Side will suffer greatly at the end of this war. Our only hope is to become agents of shadow in the eyes of the enemy."

Krell's remarks had Sparrow's heart racing. The clone kept listening as Gaston asked, "You're suggesting joining the Separatists? Allying with Count Dooku himself?"

"Politics will always be a barren wasteland of hypocritical ideologies," Krell replied. "But the count..." he chuckled to himself. "The word is he's in need of a new apprentice. Perhaps two, should you join me. We only need to prove ourselves worthy."

Rather than counter his argument, Gaston actually listened in. "How could we do that?"

"The same way I have been ever since the vision came to me. It was actually inspiring...to tear something apart from the inside. I tried getting my Padawan to submit to darkness, but that weakling never would've survived as an offering to Dooku. So I dropped my failed acolyte and joined the war effort, balancing my victories with mutual casualties." While Krell kept two hands behind his back, he gestured with his others. "But I never showed my full hand. So while reports would focus on my successes, they'd never counted the times I sent clones into death traps."

Sparrow felt like all of the blood had been drained from his trembling legs. "You mean to tell me that you've been sabotaging Republic campaigns for months?" Gaston asked. "Even now...the outpost...all of those clones-"

"Lab vermin and laser fodder," Krell renamed them. "Inferior beings playing perfect parts in my plan. Once I've sabotaged enough campaigns, Count Dooku will reward me by making me his new apprentice. The Republic will fall, and I will rule as part of the rising new order."

"What of Luminara and her apprentice?" Gaston inquired.

"Sabotaged as well," Krell added. "Before anyone else entered this room, I scanned for other droid structures myself. I then manipulated the fuel depot data to appear less guarded then it actually was. Even if those two succeeded in sabotaging it, their return will be rendered impossible without our aid."

"You're insane," Gaston mumbled. "This vision...this plan to-"

"You don't think that," Krell snarked and leaned in. "I can see the truth in your eyes. You're thinking of what all of this means for you, the 'Great Gaston.' Or what it might mean for your lover when the Order comes crashing down." Gaston gritted his teeth and hated that one of his hands was shaking. "The Republic and the Jedi are doomed," Krell intoned. "Now is the time to secure ourselves before the fall of everything we know. Care to join us?" Krell's final question had Gaston raising a brow. In that instant, Krell jabbed his arms towards the door and flicked his wrist. With a mighty Force-pull, he dragged an armored blur into the room. Plastoid squeaked and scraped as Sparrow came tumbling towards the Jedi's feet. "You again," Krell murmured and lifted him up with the Force. "Eavesdropping is also insubordinate within my ranks."

"These aren't your ranks!" Sparrow hissed and flailed against unseen energy. "You traitors! The Republic trusted you!"

"That was its first mistake," Krell snarled and held the clone steady.

"What are you doing?" Gaston snapped.

"He's a witness," Krell said. "If this creature gets out, all of our efforts to survive will be upended."

"Survive?" Sparrow growled. "You're nothing but cowards while my brothers laid down their lives for you!" He desperately tried to reach his comlink, but Krell kept his limbs frozen with the Force.

"You call us traitors, and yet it is you who remains insubordinate," Krell taunted. "By my standard, the price for such true treason...is death."

"We can't just kill him," Gaston whispered sharply.

"Master Gaston," Krell replied. "You're absolutely right." While keeping Sparrow suspended with two hands, Krell reached for one of the blasters lining the wall. Despite his bold figure and visage, Gaston's heart pounded as Krell Force-pulled a blaster over. The droid weapon hovered on its own and slowly took aim at Sparrow's chest.

As a soldier in the Grand Army of the Republic, Sparrow was no stranger to having weapons pointed at him. But he could typically outmaneuver such weaponry in a combat setting. Like so many other troopers, he'd imagined how he'd meet his end. And despite his vast assortment of nightmares, he'd never considered such a vile predicament. To be held against his will...utterly helpless as a Jedi of all people brought a gun to him. Rather than try to reason with those he was supposed to trust, Sparrow channeled his courage elsewhere. While the rest of his body was suspended with the Force, it didn't stop him from shaking his head until the helmet came rolling off. Sparrow wanted Gaston and Krell to remember his face. He wanted them to see his stern glower and unwavering stare.

"This isn't the end," Sparrow grunted. "The truth won't stop here and you'll both get yours. You'll answer for my fallen brothers! You'll-"

A single, high-pitched blastershot echoed from the chamber. A scarlet flash accompanied the sound as it reverberated down the halls and made its way outside. It was enough to have troops turning while Donz lifted his head. "A blastershot?" he uttered and drew a pistol. "That was a blastershot! Let's move!"

Readying their weapons, several clones banded together and rushed inside. Lightsaber swings echoed throughout the corridor as they rushed into the command center. The clones entered just in time to see Krell cutting a commando droid down with his lightsabers. It collapsed beside its bisected counterpart...all while Sparrow's body lay sprawled between the scraps.

"Sparrow!" Doubles shouted from the crowd. "No!"

"What happened?" Donz asked while observing the smoking hole in Sparrow's breastplate.

Krell glanced at Gaston and deactivated his lightsabers. "There was a malfunction," the Besalisk said. "This trooper was reporting the commander's status to us when these droids attacked."

"But I thought they were in standby mode," Donz inquired. "I thought they had restraining bolts!"

"As did I, pilot." Krell said and stroked his wattle. "But it appears that Separatist technology is not so easily understood. By repeatedly accessing the enemy holomap, we triggered some form of failsafe, activating the commando droids."

"You should've powered them down!" Donz argued. "Or destroyed them."

"Yes," Krell murmured. "We should've. But this is how we learn of such Separatist tactics. Right, Gaston?" He looked to his fellow Jedi, who nodded stiffly. While the rest of the clones remained uneasy, Donz kept squinting at the generals. "Troopers," Krell commanded. "Perform a sweep of the base and scrap any other droids in standby mode."

As several clones concurred, others transported Sparrow's body out of the room. Donz took the time to approach one of the command center's dashboards. "Pilot," Gaston beckoned. "What are you doing?"

"Just checking something, general." Donz assured.

"It could be trapped," Gaston asserted as nervousness crept through his voice. "Step away from the-" Donz tapped on a monitor and observed a profuse amount of static. "Pilot!" Gaston scolded. "Back away! That's an order! We don't know what other traps this base could have rigged in it."

"Right," Donz mumbled and backed off. "Sir yes sir..."

He was approached by his co-pilot on the way out. "You alright?" Toto asked.

"Quiet," Donz whispered and spun him back around. "Just keep walking. Don't turn any other way. Don't even look back. Just follow me." Toto nervously nodded as Donz looked over at other trusted clones. "Rip...Doubles. On your left." The clones' heads swiveled right. "Your other left." Once they turned, Donz subtly shifted a hand to call them over. "This way."

The trio followed Donz down a different hall. He led them back outside and towards LAAT-5. "I need your help debugging the gunship's rocket systems," he told them.

"But I just finished that," Toto whined. "How did they-" Before he could answer, Donz pulled his co-pilot up. Once the group was secured, he shut the gunship's hatches and sealed them in.

"What's going on?" Doubles asked amidst the darkness.

"Whatever it is, it isn't good." Donz explained while making sure they weren't followed. "Those Jedi are up to something and I think Sparrow was on to them. While the rest of you started on Hoth, I've been running gunships since the First Battle of Geonosis. In all of my time, I have never heard of a failsafe taking droids off of standby mode and deactivating restraining bolts. The story doesn't add up. How could the commando droids have had enough time to grab blasters and shoot Sparrow? All while two very capable Jedi just stood there?"

"I saw surveillance cameras in the room," Toto mentioned. "Maybe those would reveal the truth."

Donz shook his head. "That's just it. I checked the monitor and all footage had been wiped. Conveniently, nothing but static remains."

"I get what you're implying-" Doubles said. "But why would the Jedi want to murder Sparrow?"

"Because those two are sleemos," Rip grumbled. "Isn't that enough of a reason?"

"Krell is a terrible general," Doubles answered. "His tactics led to horrible losses, but there's a difference between bad leadership and intentionally murdering us. I just want to make sure you understand exactly what you're insinuating, Donz."

"I'm insinuating that we're running out of time," the pilot replied. "More of us are dropping with each foolish plan. This is no longer about taking back Felucia. Krell's failed offensive has seen to that. This is about protecting each other and acknowledging that something suspicious is going on."

"I miss Elsa," Doubles confessed. "She wasn't perfect, but at least she cared about us."

"She certainly wouldn't chuck me across a damn platform," Rip added.

"Commander Frost never gave up on her and neither should we," Donz concluded. "What I'm proposing is highly treasonous, but it may be our only shot at surviving this campaign."

"I'm with you, sir." Toto cautiously affirmed.

"Whatever it takes," Doubles added.

"I like not dying...so yeah, I'm in." Rip concluded.

Donz took a deep breath. His bushy mustache twitched as he finished formulating his plan. "Until we know what the generals are truly up to, none of us are safe. Since we can't get Frost to the Deliverance, we need to remain with him at all times. I don't trust him alone with the Jedi for a second. His comlink is fastened to his vambrace. If we're lucky, it should still have Elsa's personal frequency. I say we get that comlink, call Elsa, and tell her what's going on."

Toto swallowed hard. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

Donz gripped his shoulder, nodded firmly and said, "For our brothers."

The door to Frost's makeshift infirmary slid open and the four clones snuck in. Frost's eyes fluttered opened as muffled sounds returned to him. He managed to get his deep, yet aching breaths through the oxygen mask.

"Hey commander," Donz whispered and patted his arm. "We're here for you." Frost's eyes started to close once more. "It's alright," the pilot assured. "Just rest." As Frost drifted off, Donz shifted attention to his vambrace. "Here goes everything," he said and unfastened the comlink.

"Hurry up and find the frequency," Rip said while keeping watch.

"I just got the comlink," Donz fired back while browsing through codes. "Hold on...and...got it!"

"Come on, Elsa." Doubles said as Donz placed the call. "Please pick up."

The Circle of Jedi Healers was known for its therapeutic methods, but none were as...eccentric as Rapunzel Crin's. Her Padawan patients sat on soothing, felt cushions and observed their older acquaintance. Elsa Dellian was feeling better with each passing day. Her free-flowing, platinum blonde locks swayed along with her pale recovery robes. She clasped a microphone in her hands and watched Aurebesh words flash across a datascreen. An emotionally driving instrumental boomed from the speakers as Rapunzel cheered her on.

"Get ready!" the Jedi Healer urged. "The next verse starts in three...two-"

"It's time to try defying gravity," Elsa sang and instantly brought smiles to her peers. "I think I'll try defying gravity!"

As Elsa sang her heart out, she couldn't hear her comlink chiming in the other room.

"Come on, Elsa." Doubles kept willing. "Pick up!"

"Oh karabast," Rip cursed as footsteps echoed from down the hall. "General Gaston's coming!

"Did she answer yet?" Toto worried.

"No!" Doubles panicked.

"Well don't just stand there," Donz griped. "Go out and stall. Hurry!"

"Kriff," Rip muttered but ultimately went out with Toto. Meanwhile, Doubles and Donz kept trying to call Elsa.

The duo shut the door behind them as Gaston stopped dead in his tracks. "Say something," Toto whispered.

"You say something," Rip countered.

"Soldiers," Gaston asserted and squinted at them. "What were you doing in there?"

Toto gulped as the Jedi stared him down. "Well. It's funny that you should ask. I mean...well...you see. I-...we were...obviously-"

"Practicing!" Rip blurted.

Gaston furrowed his brows. "For what?" he asked.

Rip twiddled his thumbs. "For...our presentation! You see we wrote you a song, sir. One that stresses just how amazing you are." When his explanation was met with silence, Rip frustratedly nudged Toto's arm.

"Oh yes! Yes!" the co-pilot agreed. "We clones just look up to you so much. We just wanted to show our appreciation so...yep. Song."

"I'm flattered," Gaston confessed. The clones were about to sigh in relief when he asked, "How does it go?"

Rip's eye twitched beneath his helmet. "H-...how does it g-go? Oh! Well I suppose you could get a preview." Rip's heart raced as he struggled to clear his thoughts. Gaston crossed his arms and impatiently observed the troopers. "Umm..." Rip examined his general from head to toe. "No one's...slick as Gaston...No one's quick as Gaston."

Toto snapped his fingers and joined in. "No one's neck's as incredibly thick as Gaston?"

The Jedi's judgmental glower subsided as he basked in the compliments. "Do go on," he demanded as the clones prepared themselves.

"No Sith Lord that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down!" Elsa concluded as her fellow patients applauded. Her pale cheeks flushed with red as she bashfully shrugged her shoulders.

"Elsa!" Rapunzel lauded. "I had no idea that you had such a voice! Why, if you weren't a Jedi...you could be a singing sensation."

Unsure how to handle the compliments, Elsa smiled shyly. "Thank you," she replied. As the screen shut off, she suddenly heard a chime coming from the other room. "Wait, do you hear that?"

"Sounds like your comlink," Rapunzel said. "I'm sorry. I meant to turn it off."

"It's alright," Elsa insisted. "It could be Master Yelena just trying to check in." She approached the comlink and read its frequency. "Frost?" she realized and nervously answered the call.

The clones' hearts leapt when Elsa's voice crackled through the flashing communicator. "Hello?" she beckoned.

"Elsa, it's Donz," the pilot hurriedly responded. "I'm here with Doubles."

"There isn't much time," Doubles added.

"What's going on?" Elsa worried.

"It's terrible, Donz explained. "The 213th is falling apart on Felucia and we need immediate assistance. General Krell is leading us into one disaster after another."

There was a dreadful pause as Elsa came to terms with who had taken over her unit. Her worrying came full circle as she asked, "Where's Commander Frost?"

"I'm sorry, Elsa." Doubles said and her stomach dropped. "Frost is hurt pretty bad. He's stable for now, but Krell won't even let us get him back to the Deliverance. We're sitting porgs out here and any hope of holding a defense has been crushed. Please Elsa...you have to do something."

"We need you back, ma'am." Donz added. "Before it's too late. We-" The call was suddenly cut short.

"Donz?" Elsa asked. "Donz!"

"My what a guy!" Toto sang from outside the door.

"GASTON!" Rip concluded and waved his hands like a dancing maniac.

Gaston leered at the panting clones but ultimately chuckled. "Not bad, but you didn't sing about my saber form enough," he said before stepping away.

"I got your saber form right here," Rip snarled under his breath and shook a fist. Toto pulled him into the infirmary where they could all observe Frost.

"That was too close," Donz huffed.

"Is she coming?" Toto asked.

"The comlink lost charge before we could get an answer," Doubles said. "All we can do now is hope."

Elsa set her comlink down and Rapunzel instantly sensed her anxiety. "What's wrong?" the healer asked.

Without the slightest ounce of hesitation, Elsa answered, "I have to go. This has all been so wonderful, but there are troops out there who need me. I've run away from them for long enough."

"Where are you going?" Rapunzel asked as Elsa tied her hair back into a bun.

"To the Jedi Council," she said.

The noble masters of the Jedi Council sat atop their grand spire. While some of the masters sat in the flesh, those serving on the frontlines were projected via holograms. A Twi'lek Jedi Knight stood before her elders as they spoke of her deeds. The midday sun shimmered brightly against her royal blue skin. "Aayla Secura," Master Mace Windu began. "Thanks to your efforts, the refugees of Thylaia will sleep soundly in a Republic haven tonight."

Aayla bowed before the council. "It was an honor to protect those on the war-torn front," she said. Her accent was as vivid as it was sophisticated.

Heads turned as the council chambers received an unannounced visitor. "Knight Dellian," Master Yoda declared. "A surprise, this is."

"Masters of the Jedi Council," Elsa stated as she bowed. "I apologize for this intrusion, but this situation couldn't wait."

"Is this about the Supreme Chancellor?" Master Kit Fisto asked. "He has been continuously asking for you since your return from Saqqar."

"No," Elsa replied. "I have received a distressing transmission from the troopers of the 213th. They say the Felucia campaign is failing under Master Krell's leadership."

"And what of the other Jedi we sent?" Master Ki-Adi-Mundi queried. "Surely they couldn't all have failed. That's precisely why we sent various leaders."

Elsa nervously bit her lip. "The others...weren't mentioned."

Windu and Yoda exchanged inquisitive glances. "Elsa," the former said. "I understand that you may be eager to get back into action, but you aren't part of the Felucia Campaign."

Elsa sighed. "Master Windu, I know that I relinquished leadership of the 213th. I know I'm not part of this campaign...but I also know those men. I could hear the pain and fear in their voices. They may be engineered to resist extreme levels of trauma, but they aren't immune to them. They need help before what happened to Master Savil happens all over again. We all know the story so please...llet me return to them. Let me at least offer support!"

Obi-wan Kenobi's hologram flickered as he turned to Yoda. "My troops are still preparing for the assault on Umbara. The same is true for Anakin's legion. If Felucia needs reinforcements, you'll need to send another unit."

Yoda bowed his head, shut his eyes, and grumbled. "Dispersed our forces are. Yet unity, we must retain. Knight Dellian, go to Felucia you will. Knight Secura, accompany her with your troopers you shall."

"By the will of the Force," Aayla said and nodded to Elsa. "We can leave immediately."

As Aayla and Elsa exited, the grand spire's holo-orb emerged with a message. The council members watched as it projected an incoming transmission from Palpatine himself. "Chancellor," Mace Windu said. "If you're going to ask about Knight Dellian again, she's just left for a mission."

"Not this time," Palpatine insisted as his gaze wondered. "I wish to meet with young Skywalker."

"I'm afraid he's currently out as well," Mace added. "In fact, he's preparing for the assault on Umbara which you signed into action."

"Oh I'm well aware," Palpatine answered with a half-hearted smile. "However, this doesn't negate the fact that I'm in need of his services on a matter in the Senate. Surely we can work something out."

Gaston paced across the command center. Spare parts from the bisected droids crunched beneath his heels. Although Gaston had backed up Krell's alibi, he couldn't understand how the Besalisk could remain so calm. He contemplated if there was any merit to his vision. While Gaston had his doubts, Krell was still respected among high-ranking members of the Order. Surely he wouldn't commit treason against the Republic without probable cause. At least, that was what Gaston kept reminding himself. Both masters were pulled from their ruminating when a holotable monitor blipped.

Krell was quick to examine the signal as Master Luminara's voice came through. The Mirialan was hardly audible amidst a destructive cacophony of laserfire. "Master Krell!" she called. "Master Gaston!" Saber swings sounded as they deflected blasts. "We managed to sabotage the depot, but it appears that our readouts were misinterpreted! The droids are in pursuit and we need an immediate, gunship extraction. Hello? Can anyone read me? Hello!"

Gaston's unblinking eyes swayed to Krell. The Besalisk's cold stare remained fixated on the unanswered monitor. He lifted a finger and tapped the mute button instead. Despite Gaston's notoriously crass attitude, even he found his heart sinking at the gesture. "The count will reward us for our efforts," Krell assured Gaston. "In order to secure our futures, sacrifices must be made."

"What's next?" Gaston scoffed, trying to get Luminara and Barriss off his mind. "We start killing clones in their sleep?" Gaston rolled his eyes when Krell hummed in thought. "I didn't actually mean-"

"But you're on to something," Krell interrupted. "Insubordination must be taught, and these clones have been looking to another superior."

"Commander Frost?" Gaston answered. "But he's out of commission. Your 'death march' has seen to that."

"For now," Krell corrected. "But some of these things have sparks of tenacity coded into them. I sense it in that one. And so long as he's breathing, he serves a symbol to them and threatens our plans."

"What are you proposing?" Gaston asked.

"This facility originated as a Separatist base, meant to solely house and maintain droids. Surely whatever gear our medics hastily assembled could be...faulty. So much so, that it's quite possible for the commander's life support systems to experience a malfunction. Given his poor condition, I believe it would be best for 1127 to perish from his wounds. Don't you agree?" As Krell asked his insidious question, he slowly ushered Gaston out of the command room.

"There is one complication," Gaston replied and the Besalisk snarled. "I saw other clones in the room with him."

"What?" Krell barked and quickened his pace. The masters stormed up to the infirmary and forced open the door. Without saying a word, Rip and Doubles instantly stood in front of Frost's bed. Donz blocked the commander's vitals while Toto guarded the adjacent bedside. "I didn't authorize anyone to be in here!" Krell roared.

"We're watching over our commander," Doubles dared to speak up.

"Are you medics?" Krell fired back. "1127 needs his rest."

"His name is Frost!" Rip growled and stepped towards Krell. "Do you hear me? Frost! And you can push me with your magic hands all you want, but I'm still not going anywhere!"

"Is that so?" Krell contested and unclipped one of his lightsabers. The other clones had to do double takes as Krell actually ignited his weapon. He raised the blue blade up to Rip's face.

"General!" Donz spoke from behind the others. "This is a violation of your command and our rights as soldiers of the Grand Army of-"

"Your...rights?" Krell blurted. "You were bred in a laboratory to serve the Republic. Bred to follow orders. Whatever we say goes because you never had a choice. You never had rights!" The Besalisk's words shook Donz to his core. The old pilot's foundation wavered and his grip on Frost's monitor loosened. He hung his head in despair as Krell loomed over Rip. "Now I won't tell you again, trooper. Stand down and step aside."

All eyes were on Rip and the weapon humming before him. Its pulsing glow illuminated against the flametrooper's visor as he stood his ground. Instead of budging, Rip took a deep breath and said, "With all due disrespect sir...up yours."

There was a ferocious intensity in Krell's ominous gaze. The likes of which none of the clones had ever seen. He growled and angrily raised his lightsaber. The rest of Krell's body quaked as if he was a living bomb, about to explode in every direction. The clones and Gaston braced themselves for the unspeakable...until an actual explosion echoed around them.

The thunderous burst heralded several others and shook the base's foundation. In that moment, a helix rocket blasted through the ceiling and destroyed portions of the corridor. The strike exposed Felucia's smoky sky as laserfire echoed from outside. "It's a droid counterattack," Gaston realized.

"See to the defenses," Krell demanded and regained his footing. "I'll-" The Besalisk's scaly brows furrowed when Frost's entire bed was gone. "What the? Where did they-"

"Go! Go! Go!" Toto urged as he and the other clones carried Frost down a hall. While Rip and Doubles secured the repulsorlifts under his bed, Donz carried his monitor.

"Where are we taking him?" Rip panted.

"Anywhere but here," Doubles added.

"We'll get the commander aboard LAAT-5 before this whole place comes apart," Donz said as missiles bombarded the facility.

Krell slid across the corridor and caught a glimpse of the fleeing clones. He contemplated how easily he could create five accidental deaths. Before any advance could be made, another trooper emerged from a shattered passageway. "Sir!" the clone shouted. "We're taking heavy fire! General Gaston can't hold alone. We need your assistance!"

Realizing he still had a part to play in his ruse, Krell scowled and reluctantly accompanied the troopers. He sparked up his lightsabers and joined them in the base's defense. Separatist tanks ascended the plateau and commenced a synchronized bombardment. A daunting wave of vulture droids zipped by to perform a strafing run. Rapid-fire lasers incinerated platforms, troopers, and gunships alike. A battalion of battle droids marched forward amidst the smoke. Krell and Gaston took them head on, slicing away with their lightsabers.

"Those starfighters are going to tear us apart!" Gaston warned. "What good is this plan of yours if we don't live to see it through?"

Krell ignored Gaston's snarky commentary and Force-pushed a cluster of droids away. His dark gaze looked to the skies as the vultures made another turn. Each heavily-armed ship prepared to strafe until a series of blue lasers struck them from the clouds. The surprise attack was enough to scatter the vulture droids and leave everyone pondering why.

"Look!" a clone yelled and pointed beyond the smoke. "Reinforcements! Reinforcements have arrived!"

Republic starfighters and gunships alike descended with a spray of bright plasma. "You contacted the Deliverance?" Gaston asked Krell.

"No," Krell mumbled while squinting at the yellow-marked ships. "These aren't Admiral Taka's."

The ships of the 327th Star Corps descended over the besieged plateau. The lead LAAT carried the finest troopers under Aayla Secura's command. The bold, yellow streaks on their armor shined between the hatch's gaps. "Commander Bly," Aayla began. "Status report."

"The base is completely overrun, general." Bly responded while examining a readout. "Even with our reinforcements, we won't stand a chance without proper positioning."

Aayla considered their odds of success and formulated a plan. "Then our primary objective is the preservation of life," she said. "Create a perimeter around the survivors and commence an evacuation. But don't hesitate to destroy as many droids as you can."

"Yes, ma'am." Bly complied. Both he and Aayla were caught off guard by a woozy belch. They and other clones turned to see Elsa tightly gripping a handhold.

"Knight Dellian?" Aayla inquired. "Are you...alright?"

"Oh yeah," Elsa hiccuped and hunched over. "I was in such a hurry to leave...that I'd forgotten to grab my flight sickness pills." Elsa winced and forced a smile. "Let's just land as soon as possible."

The gunships dropped in formation and created Aayla's proposed perimeter. The troopers of the 327th rushed out, fresh and ready for combat. While several squads fired on incoming droids, others helped get clones from the 213th to safety.

"Hurry!" Aayla ordered her troops. "We'll buy you as much time as we can!" She sparked up her blue lightsaber and went back to back with Bly.

A super battle droid fired its wrist rocket from afar. The explosive projectile nearly struck Bly until an unseen energy field snatched it. Elsa emerged from the gunship with raised and trembling hands. Using the Force, she rigorously disassembled the rocket and let its pieces clatter at Bly's feet. He nodded as Elsa proceeded to help her men.

"General...Dellian?" an injured trooper uttered as Elsa guided him into a gunship.

"I've got you," she assured.

Meanwhile, Donz and his companions carried Frost through the warzone. "Looks like Elsa got our message," the pilot remarked.

"And look, sir!" Toto rejoiced and gestured ahead. Despite some new scorch marks along its hull, LAAT-5 still remained. "She lives!"

"Oh it'll take a lot more than that to bring my baby down," Donz said. "Let's get the commander aboard." As they loaded Frost onto LAAT-5, Krell's haunting silhouette lurked in the smoke clouds behind them. He waited until they were all inside before he thrust a hand forward. Krell sent a mighty Force push to shake the gunship. He then used his power to crunch its hull, making it look like they'd been hit.

"What the hell was that?" Rip screamed.

"Brace yourselves!" Donz warned as the gunship kept moving.

Elsa was helping clones evacuate when she heard the sharp, grating sound. Her eyes widened at the sight of a gunship sliding towards the plateau's edge. Her heart sank when she heard shouts inside and she bolted for it. Donz and Toto had lost their footing, making it impossible for either of them to reach the cockpit in time. They were at the mercy of Krell's Force push as LAAT-5 went over the edge. All they could do was hold on to Frost until something ceased their momentum.

"Now what?" Rip groaned.

Doubles pressed his face through a slit in the hatch and spotted their savior. Upon seeing her familiar silhouette, he couldn't help but breakout into hysterical cheers. "Elsa!" he praised. "Haha!" His hollering was short-lived as the gunship rumbled again.

Elsa gritted her teeth as she tried to lift the entire gunship by herself. Her forearms ached as she stood over the edge. "Hold on!" she grunted and tried pulling it back. The weight of the craft was taking a toll on her body and her heels were digging into Felucia's muck. "Hold...on-" Suddenly, Elsa's feet slipped and she too went tumbling over the edge. As she and LAAT-5 plummeted, she took any given moment to slow its descent with the Force. Her efforts proved fruitful as the crafted skidded into a tremendous assortment of fungal fauna. Elsa recoiled and rolled towards a dreadfully familiar plant. Its violet leaves had her heart racing as she gulped and backed away. She'd endured the toxic effects of the Felucian buaroshade firsthand and had no plans to experience the sensation again.

Instead, Elsa dashed over to the downed gunship and helped pull the hatch open. She gasped after seeing her old companions in such a disheveled state. The sight of Frost with an oxygen mask had her battling despair. Before she could speak to any of them, Elsa suddenly felt a disturbance in the Force. This rippling tremor disturbed her as she slowly turned. There stood Pong Krell, provoking the same foreboding essence she'd felt in the temple dojo long ago.

"Knight Dellian," he murmured. "This is unexpected. I take it these rogues are responsible for your arrival."

"Rogues?" Elsa mumbled and glanced at the clones.

"Elsa," Doubles whispered. "We needed you. Each of his plans has been a suicide mission!"

"I suppose cowardice is a human trait," Krell deduced. "No amount of genetic sequencing can fix that."

Elsa scowled at his remark. "These men contacted me out of duty," she defended. "They sought to protect their brothers when they felt-"

"They're clones, child." Krell intoned. "They weren't made to feel anything. If you cared about this insubordinate lot so much, you never would've left them in the first place."

Elsa sulked at his words and sighed. "I shouldn't have left," she agreed. "But I have to believe that I can still make a difference for them. It's not too late for me to try. These soldiers deserve a leader who will treat them like men."

"Are you challenging me, girl?" Krell snarled.

"Master Pong Krell," Elsa asserted, yet kept her tone conversational. "I am imploring you to step down and relinquish command of the 213th."

Krell's ensuing laugh was as hellish as it was deep. "And what power do you think you possess to give such an order?" he taunted. "Are you a council member let alone a master? You have no plan." Although fear gripped at her from within, Elsa refused to budge. "I can sense the fright prying at you," he hissed. "You're shaking."

Mustering her courage, Elsa disputed his words. "I will not leave their lives to be thrown away at your hands."

"Then you are as wayward as the rest," Krell intoned. "If you deem this witless unit worth fighting for, prove it." He raised his hands and assumed a combative stance.

His taunt took Elsa back to her encounter in the dojo, where Krell had challenged Yelena to single combat. In a similar fashion to her former master, Elsa refused his wiles. "I have nothing to prove to you, Master Krell," she said. "It would be foolish to fight each other, especially as war erupts around us."

"I see," Krell concurred. "And what type of cowardly message does that send to these troops of yours?" In that instant, Krell cheap-shotted Elsa with a hastened Force push. The energy surge sent the knight rolling across the soil. "Did you think my challenge was optional?"

"Elsa!" Rip yelped. "That's it! I'm gonna bust his face in!" Rip tried to attack, but Doubles held him back.

The clones formed a protective barrier around Frost as Krell stomped up to Elsa. "This is the very reason you abandoned your unit in the first place, is it not? Your weakness. Your refusal to act!" Krell pushed her again, this time sending Elsa crashing into a mushroom stalk.

Back at the plateau, Aayla's forces had stalled the droid advance. "We've gotten everyone onboard," Bly told her.

"Almost everyone," she said and gestured to a pair of saber-wielding silhouettes. Exhausted but far from defeated, Luminara and Barriss flanked the enemy droids. "Clear a path for them!" Aayla ordered and guided her fellow Jedi over.

"Knight Secura," Luminara panted. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"We received a call for aid," the Twi'lek replied.

Her remark had Gaston averting his gaze as Luminara considered the possibilities. "Strange," she said. "Our communications never came through."

"There must've been a Separatist hack," Gaston blurted and eyed the droids from afar. "Now if you don't mind, we really should get going. Secura's clones won't hold them for long."

"Has anyone seen Knight Dellian?" Aayla asked. Gaston's nostrils flared once he realized Krell was also missing.

Elsa's arms shook as she rose from the ground. She briefly saw double as Krell stepped towards her. "Pathetic," he murmured. "Like master...like apprentice. Jedi like you are the reason we're losing this war. You simply lack the will." Confusion gripped Krell as he tried to Force push Elsa again. His forearm suddenly trembled as Elsa raised her hand to meet his.

With gritted teeth and twitching fingers, Elsa called upon the Force to meet Krell's power. "Jedi like you are the reason people fear us," she whispered sharply while matching his strength. "But I'm not afraid of you, Master Krell. And so long as one of us stands, others will too!" Channeling all of her energy, Elsa sent both hands forward and Force-pushed Krell back. The Besalisk rolled through the dirt and collided with more fungal foliage. The clones cheered for her as Krell angrily recovered. He was about to counter her when a sudden chime came to his holocomm. Krell raised a scaly brow and frustratedly activated the device.

Elsa lowered her hands and watched with curious eyes as Yoda projected before him. "Master Krell," the grandmaster said. "Requested on Coruscant, Master Skywalker is. Lead his legion on Umbara amid the interim, you will."

"That's a very bad idea!" Rip hollered in the distance.

Krell's gaze shifted between the exhausted clones and Elsa's intense visage. He scoffed at her and returned his focus to Yoda. "Let the council's will be done," he said coldly before ending the transmission. "It seems today is your lucky day, Dellian." One of Aayla's gunships hovered down to them as he added, "Enjoy your luck while you can."

Elsa watched Krell depart until Donz called her over. "Elsa!" he exclaimed. "LAAT-5 will still fly! She's a tough old bird."

"Let's move then," she replied and boarded alongside the clones. As the gunships soared and completed their evacuation, Separatist forces reclaimed the plateau. For many members of the 213th, it would be the second time they'd witnessed a Republic retreat from Felucia.

Kalani observed his routed enemy and sent a holomessage to his superior. The super tactical droid waited patiently until the Sith Lord's figure projected into view. "Count Dooku," he reported. "Republic forces have been successfully driven from Felucia."

"Most impressive, Kalani." Dooku said. "You've ensured the continued protection of a vital world for our cause. General Grievous will send additional units to further fortify the planet. As for you, I have need of your skills elsewhere." The gears in Kalani's head cranked as he tilted his head with intrigue. "Our occupying forces on Onderon have been met with a surprising amount of resistance. I want you to go there and assist with the eradication of this rebel cell."

"It will be done," Kalani computed.

Having been driven from Felucia, Republic forces had safely made the jump to lightspeed. Admiral Taka stared into the vortex of hyperspace and sighed. "While this is a sad day for our campaign, I am grateful for your support in getting our troops out."

"We were honored to help," Aayla said. "However, do not mistake our retreat for a final failure. We were clearly unprepared for what armies the Separatists had in place. By the Force, I swear that I shall return to Felucia and put a stop to them."

"I'll be there to end it with you," Bly added as Aayla smiled to him.

Gaston followed Luminara and Barriss out of the Deliverance's command bridge. He quickened his pace and was desperate to break free of their presence. "But master," Barriss said. "Why can't you at least accompany us?"

"Because the council has requested my presence on a matter," Luminara insisted. "It's important for you, however, to continue serving our forces in the field."

"But the Umbarans seceded from the Republic on their own accord," Barriss retorted. "Why has that been cause to attack them?"

"The Republic cannot allow Umbara to strengthen Dooku's armies," Luminara intoned. "That alone serves as enough cause for us to take the capital." Barriss somberly bowed her head as doubtful thoughts plagued her mind. She thought about the atrocities she'd witnessed on Felucia while Lyn and Donz's words haunted her within.

Meanwhile, Gaston found a moment to sneak away and sealed himself in one of the ship's lounges. "Greetings, Jedi," a protocol droid said after pouring refreshments. "Might I interest you in some freshly squeezed meiloorun j-" Gaston powered the droid down from its back switch and activated his comlink.

He impatiently tapped his foot until a familiar woman's voice answered. "Darling?" Master Donma Gothel inquired. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Donma," he said. "We need to talk."

Gothel's cheery tone simmered. "...What's going on?"

"Something...terrible is going to happen, and we must be prepared if we're going to survive it."

A glowing bacta tank illuminated Elsa's face as she observed the patient inside. Frost blissfully floated within as the healing agent revitalized his body. Elsa spoke up as she sensed a presence standing behind her. "I'm getting really tired of seeing my companions get hurt. Even if they know the risks, it doesn't make watching them float in a bacta tank any easier."

Donz sighed. "I suppose we're all striving to find a painless life. Isn't that why we're fighting this war? For some inevitable, yet unattainable peace?" Elsa glanced at the old clone as he continued. "I've seen worlds rise and fall in this conflict. If there's anything I've learned in that time, it's that there will always be another enemy. The pain-free life we're all seeking just doesn't exist, but we still believe it does. The thought helps us sleep at night anyway. It justifies all the invasions, right?" Elsa shook her head in shame. "But," Donz continued. "In the end...we still have those closest to us. The ones that remind us that there's still some good left in this messed up cluster of stars that we call a galaxy. I like to believe those people make the suffering worth it."

In that instant, a series of bubbles had Elsa and Donz looking up. Frost's weary eyes opened as he glimpsed them beyond his tank. Surprise took hold as he faintly made out Elsa's face. A gentle smile formed beneath his oxygen mask and he closed his eyes in relief. As Frost reclined his head and succumbed to the healing process, all he could think was, I knew she'd come back.

"We'd better let him rest," Elsa said. "In fact, I think we could all use some shuteye after-" The knight raised a brow as Donz suddenly took her arm. "Wait, where are you-"

"Just...trust me," he said and guided her out.

"Has the Deliverance gone through a refurbishment?" Elsa asked. "Because this corridor goes to the barracks, not the-" Elsa froze as the doors opened. "-dormitories?" she barely uttered.

Before her stood the remaining troopers of the 213th. As they saluted her in unison, Elsa noticed something unique on their breastplates. The same snowflake once etched on Frost's helmet had now been sprayed over each of their hearts. Astonished, Elsa cupped her hands over her mouth and grew misty-eyed. Seeing the snowflake over and over again had Commander Frost's words echoing back to her.

"But in all of my wanderings, I've never met someone so dedicated to the preservation of life. War is all about destruction on both sides, but it has to end when someone decides what's worth saving. What's worth...rebuilding. When I look at you and see all you accomplish, it gives me hope. It shows me that this all isn't for nothing. We aren't just mindlessly blasting droids and can also save lives. You are this snowflake because no one else is like you. You might not always get things right, but who does? You always have the best intentions at heart and that's what makes you a Jedi worth serving under."

Toto slid over and handed Donz his helmet. Both pilots revealed that they'd now carry the snowflake symbol right above their visors. "I...I don't know what to say," Elsa confessed.

"That's okay, because we do." Donz replied and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Welcome back, Elsa."

The troopers then broke formation to approach her with cheers and open arms. Blissful tears streamed down Elsa's cheeks as the clones she feared disappointing now literally embraced her.

"Wait a second," Rip groaned and looked at his chest. "We were supposed to spray the symbol on our left? I went right side!" His comment was immediately met with a smack upside the head from Doubles.

"Now come on, Elsa." Donz said. "We need your help with one more thing. LAAT-5 needs a new paint job!"

"Oh oh!" Rip screeched and flailed an arm at the Jedi. "Can I be on the nose art flexing my muscles and breathing fire? Please, Elsa? PLEASE?"

"I'll think about it," Elsa teased.

"So that's a maybe? Oh and while it's on my mind, can I please have wings?"

Elsa smiled softly and whispered to herself, "It's good to be back."

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment of "The Frozen Force!" It's so wonderful to entertain you all and I'm so excited for the rest of the season. This is it, my friends...we are officially down to the FINAL TEN CHAPTERS OF SEASON 3! I'd like to take a moment to shout out all of you for your endless support. We had a huge, welcome back turn out last week and I thank you for that patience. This story is only going to keep growing and I have so many more adventures planned. To those of you who have favorited/ followed/ reviewed this story, I want to send an extra thank you! I'll see you next week for "Chapter: 81 - Crisis of Faith."

Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You,

~ Michael