Author's Note: Dearest readers, we've officially reached another milestone! As we move into our 101st chapter, "The Frozen Force" is now over ONE MILLION words long! Holy loth cats! This is the longest story I have ever written. Let's keep it going! I would like to thank all of you for enjoying this story and supporting it. You all help to make this possible!
Today, we have some exciting review shoutouts! Our Venators are shooting off fireworks for: CJG98, 0x15, CoconutColonoy, Jake, and our wonderful guest reviewer!
Long Live Imagination,
~ Michael
Chapter: 101 Skywalker's War (Part I)
"Those who try to upend their grief betray themselves."
A changed Republic! After the trial of Ahsoka Tano and revelation of Barriss Offee, public opinion of the Jedi has sunken to an all-time low. As the war escalates and persists, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine strives to keep the public on his side. Using his emergency powers, he sends his strongest, Jedi-led armies to defend the Outer Rim without question...
For over a thousand generations, holomaps had been revolutionizing intergalactic warfare. They'd granted armies many a victory, and also prompted increased levels of anxiety for others. The Culisetto were already a small and timid race before the war. It was these insectoids' fragile nature that had driven them to join the Separatists in the first place. But observing the nearby holomap put regret to that choice. A trio of Culisetto delegates watched as their territory was overwhelmed. Wave upon wave of Republic forces swept across their holomap and advanced towards their command center. In correspondence with the diagram, a series of rumbles echoed outside of the command center.
It was enough to get the Culisetto twitching their tube-like mouths. Their frantic, crimson eyes darted across a map of the same hue. As they argued amongst each other with a series of chitters, one of their B1 droids came forth. "Ummm," it spoke up in a nasally tone. "Where did they go?" The battle droid pointed across the map as the Culisetto quickly turned. To everyone's astonishment, Republic forces were no longer on the city's outskirts. By the time they discovered their new whereabouts, the explosions had already sounded.
Three charges detonated from the roof above and sent chunks of debris rolling downward. The Culisetto Triumvirate scurried for cover while ordering their security detail into position. Battle droids marched to the command center's base of operations. Although the explosions obscured any invaders in smoke, the droids still fired indiscriminately towards the ceiling. Their bright, scarlet lasers zipped upward, and either scorched nearby beams or soared into the sky.
While their battle droids were relentless in the defense, the Culisetto couldn't help but wonder why the Republic hadn't returned fire. It wouldn't take long for any second thoughts to be answered by surreal forces. The triumvirate braced themselves as smoke billowed in instead of out. It was as if some supernatural force was suddenly redirecting the elements themselves. Once the command center's interior was shrouded in darkness, a pair of figures dropped into the mess.
"Wait," one of the B1s declared and leaned its lanky head forward. "I think I see something!"
"Me too!" said another before bumping into its ally. "Oh...sorry."
Both B1s had their heads snapping towards a sudden hissing sound. As the figures emerged, a green and blue lightsaber ignited within the smoke. The droids slowly turned to one another and computed simultaneously, "Uhoh."
Their adversaries lunged with extreme precision. Each struck swiftly and sent the B1s' heads clanging to the floor. The duo attacked with enough momentum to push away the smoke around them. The might and prowess of two, revealed Jedi was enough to strike terror into the Culisetto's hearts. Holding her stance, Anna Dellian stood proud. Her scarlet-streaked armor held true beneath her flowing auburn locks. Her intense, blue gaze was only solidified by her saber's emerald hue.
At her side stood a Jedi that Separatist generals had come to fear. If anyone was searching for Anakin Skywalker's charismatic smile, they'd seldom find it now. Not in the weeks after his Padawan had left anyway. Unable to help Ahsoka any further, Anakin devoted himself to the only cause he still found purpose in. He channeled all of his anger and frustration into every military campaign. And with Anna at his side, the duo had become a formidable force against the Separatists. Gone were his form-fitting robes that once permitted a sense of luxury and freedom. Pitch black tabards swayed from Anakin's traditional, bulky garments. He'd grown out his hair, and let those wavy tresses reach the scar across his eye. With a fearsome glare, he picked his next target and charged into battle.
Eager to not let him have all of the fun, Anna raced in the opposite direction. The Jedi batted away incoming blasts as their skeletal foes were rendered helpless. Proud saber swings lit up the chamber while droid parts littered the ground. A line of Separatist reinforcements arrived from the balcony above and formed up to ambush the Jedi. By the time they'd taken aim, a storm of blue lasers was already raining from above.
"Go go go!" a clone captain could be heard shouting.
As the smoke continued to clear out, the droids looked up to see waves of clone troopers rappelling into the room. That was about all the droids would glimpse before being blasted into oblivion. The 501st Legion's deep blue markings were indistinguishable. The unit's descent was led by none other than Captain Rex himself. His bold kama swayed in the wind as he fired his dual DC-17 pistols. His fellow brothers reflected off his unique visor. Unlike other clones, Rex had welded components from his Phase I helmet into his Phase II gear. In a sense, his equipment represented a blend between the same reflected generations. "Push up on 'em!" Rex commanded. "Lock it down!" Under his orders, the clones swept over the upper balcony.
As 501st troopers advanced overhead, a trio of red-armored clones descended into the center. They landed directly on the holomap and let its projections set their ARF trooper armor ablaze. "Time to rumble!" Sergeant Blazer declared and fired the Onasi pistol. He sent a powerful energy bolt surging across the room and directly into a super battle droid's processor. Sparx and Speedy formed up at Blazer's sides to gun down other foes.
"Skywalker!" Anna declared while bisecting a B1. "Heads up!" He spun towards Anna just as she Force-pushed a pair of droids to him. With a valiant swipe of his saber, he diced the hapless machines in midair.
Feeling bold, Blazer took the Deathchasers to rush a group of super battle droids. After weakening the first line with droid poppers, the trio ran head first into the next. Rather than chip away at individual super battle droids, the Deathchasers concentrated their fire on specific targets. Together, they systematically obliterated the metal titans. Being at a close enough range, the final foe stomped forward. "Bring it down!" Blazer ordered as his squadmates opened fire. While their lasers dismantled the droid's thick plating, the attack wasn't fast enough. An ominous click sounded as the droid raised its arm.
"Wrist rocket!" Speedy warned and ceased fire. The droid launched its projectile just as the Deathchasers took evasive action. The rocket exploded against the command center's grated floor and sent the squad tumbling. Being closest to the blast, Blazer was left groaning on the scorched ground. As his hearing returned betwixt a sharp ringing, he could faintly make out a series of heavy stomps. Only when the sound of gears emerged did Blazer's heart sink.
The sergeant rolled onto his back and observed the damaged, super battle droid. Its outer shell and weapon systems were completely ravaged. All that remained was a horrific, bipedal frame with extending appendages. Its barely operable apparatus remained focused on a single directive: KILL. And while the droid's wrist blaster was destroyed, it wouldn't hinder its remarkable capabilities. Acting quickly, Blazer aimed his blaster and prepared to shoot his foe's exposed data-brain. Before he could do so, the super battle droid kicked the pistol out of his hand. As Blazer recovered, he soon felt the ravaged machine's steel grip around his throat. It dug its relentless digits under the sergeant's helmet, lifted him off of the ground, and squeezed. Blazer writhed in the droid's grip until a blue laser zoomed from overhead. It struck the droid's data-brain from behind and triggered a chain reaction throughout its body. The super battle droid convulsed, flailed its arms, and ultimately released Blazer. As the sergeant fell to his knees, so too did the defeated droid. Its systems powered down and Blazer gazed up at his rescuer.
A DC-15 carbine extended from the upper railing. Its wielder's blue armor was only made distinguishable by its unique features. For many in the Grand Army, they'd simply recognize him as an ARC trooper. But for the intemperate Sergeant Blazer...he knew it was the man he'd brawled with back in 79's. A bold, Rishi eel was etched just above the ARC's visor. The symbol served as a reminder of where Fives had come from...and what his brothers had died for.
While their faces were shrouded beneath their helmets, Blazer hoped Fives was looking down at him. As a show of gratitude for saving his skin, Blazer swiftly nodded. His gesture was short-lived when the defeated droid combusted and squirted oil across his visor. "Oh come on!" Blazer groaned while angrily wiping the substance.
Fives' pauldrons bounced as he cackled over Blazer's misfortune. "ARF troopers..." he jested to himself before running back into battle.
A B1's dented and blasted head came swiveling under a table. It halted directly in front of the three Culisetto who were seeking cover. Their skinny, hard-shelled limbs quivered as the Jedi approached. With a mighty Force push, Anna and Anakin flipped the table. They dipped their lightsabers towards the Culisetto while the clones kept them surrounded. "Your armies are beaten," Anakin began. "Your capital is under our control and any droid reinforcements have been destroyed. Surrender."
"Or else you'll find out what really happens when bugs get too close to light," Anna taunted and waved her lightsaber at the Culisetto. Within a matter of seconds, the insectoids raised their timid hands. "Smart move," Anna said as members of the 501st took them in for processing. She smirked at her fellow Jedi and playfully punched his shoulder. "Look at us," she boasted. "Ending a planetary campaign in weeks when the Senate said it would take months. We make a good team, Skywalker."
"Can't argue with results," Anakin confessed and nudged Anna back. "But that threat you made...about bugs and light." Anna braced herself, thinking she'd gone too far. "Did you come up with that on the spot?" Anakin asked instead.
Her concern turned to bravado as she grinned. "But of course. I figured it would crush whatever morale those walking mosquitos were holding onto."
In that instant, Anna's comlink chimed and she was quick to answer. "General Dellian," Watcher called in. "General Skywalker. Status report."
"Culisett is ours," Anna reported. "The triumvirate has surrendered."
"Another successful mission," Watcher lauded. "Good. Return to the Fifth Fleet for new orders. This war isn't stopping and neither are we."
As the call ended, Anna smirked at Anakin and said, "No rest for Republic heroes, right?"
"I suppose not," he murmured as they locked down the captured control center. While the Jedi regrouped with their respective units, a clone trooper severed the Culisett banner from its post. The captured triumvirate watched with saddened eyes as the trooper tossed away their ebony flag and replaced it with the Republic colors. And as the Grand Army's flag waved overhead, one could only wonder if it was a symbol of freedom or conquest.
It was said that the 501st got the best and worst of the war. In either instance, they were the exact type of unorthodox muscle that the Republic wanted in their corner. Over the last weeks, the 501st had been dispatched to several Outer Rim worlds. Under the command of General Skywalker and assisted by Anna's Deathchasers, they had been rescuing battlefronts across the stars. Word of their heroism was spreading to media outlets, inspiring the Republic and striking fear in the Separatists. General Grievous' 'Outer Rim Sieges' as the Senate dubbed them...had once been seen as an overwhelming threat to the galaxy's free worlds. In fact, many neutral systems had immediately joined the Confederacy out of fear of invasion. But Anna and Anakin's valiance was showing the galaxy that the Republic would not be so easily defeated. The fighting 501st had become a household name, seeing war bond purchases increasing tenfold. Posters showed troopers charging into battle with the words:
THEY CAN'T DO IT ALONE! SUPPORT THE TROOPS TODAY
Speedy had recovered one of the posters as a souvenir from his last trip to Coruscant. He pinned it above his bed in the Legacy's crew quarters and smiled. "What a load of poodoo," Blazer griped from their couch. "We're part of the reason those guys are getting all this recognition," he grumbled while fastening his armor. "Where's our poster?"
"I like to think of it as a symbolic gesture, Sarge." Lieutenant Sparx said. "The 501st consists of thousands of clones. Our squad is made up of three. The poster groups us all into one unit. We're all brothers."
Speedy scratched at his buzz cut as an idea formed within. Grinning eagerly, he snatched a stylus from the nearby table and pounced on his bed. "Now what are you doing?" Blazer asked as the trooper scribbled away.
"There!" Speedy rejoiced and stepped away from the bed. "Ta-da!" He jabbed a hand towards the poster and revealed his additions. Three stick figures with blasters had been drawn next to the 501st troopers. "It's us!" he cheered while his squadmates got a closer look. Speedy had given himself a colossal smile and darker legs to signify cybernetics.
"Why am I dancing?" Sparx inquired.
"You're not dancing," Speedy corrected. "Your hands on your head because you're thinking. You're always thinking."
"Fair enough," Sparx confessed.
Blazer glared at his stick figure persona. His dark beard twitched as he observed the angry eyes, monstrous frown, and crossed arms. "Kriff," the sergeant growled. "I look like a grouchy, rabid Wookie."
"Exactly!" Speedy teased.
"Now that you mention it...I do see the resemblance," Sparx added.
"And Wookiees do have notoriously short tempers," Speedy continued.
Blazer raised his curled fingers as if to wring his brothers' necks. "I'll show you a short temper! Come here!"
"Oh kriff!" Speedy panicked as Blazer lunged at him. He and Sparx fled the crew quarters as Blazer roared in frustration. "He even sounds like a Wookie!" Speedy jeered as Blazer chased them down the corridor.
As a show of good faith in their continued partnership, Anna had invited Anakin aboard the Legacy. Until that point, most of their briefings had been held on Anakin's flagship. "So let me get this straight-" Anakin began. "Your team found this Old Republic-era frigate trapped in Ilum's ice and was able to revive it?" Anna nodded proudly as Anakin observed the Legacy's interior. "Impressive," he admitted. "Most impressive."
"Oh yeah," Anna concurred. "And apart from my master, I never could've done it without the Deathchasers. They are by far the most ingenious clones I have ever met in my life."
As if on some horrid cue, a crash suddenly sounded from down the corridor. "What...was that?" Anakin muttered. Worried about the clamor, Anna led the way to investigate.
Sparx and Speedy had doubled back to the crew quarters. They shut the doors, locking Blazer out as he furiously rammed them. "You boys are finished!" the sergeant snarled. "You wanted a Wookiee? I'll show you a Wookiee. Just wait. When I get in there, I'm gonna clobber you both into paste and then bake you into pies and then feed you to the Jedi! And when the generals say, 'Mmm! This is great, what's your secret?' I'm gonna say-" Anna cleared her throat to alert him of her presence. Blazer froze as his eyes went wide. He slowly turned around and observed both Jedi Generals. "I-" he stammered. "I'm gonna say brotherly love...and...squad comradery. Of course."
Hearing the change in Blazer's tone, Sparx and Speedy opened the doors. They scurried out alongside their sergeant and stood at attention together. All Anna could do was facepalm as Anakin glared. "There's a briefing on the bridge," she scoffed and led Anakin away. "Now."
Once the Jedi were out of sight, Blazer teasingly elbowed both of his brothers in their guts. "A Wookiee..." he mumbled to himself before walking to the bridge.
"Welcome to the Legacy, General Skywalker." Admiral Shang greeted. "General Dellian, I have Watcher and Admiral Yularen online."
"Put them through," Anna confirmed as the holotable lit up. Shang paid particular attention to Admiral Yularen's hologram. He had been commanding battles since the Clone War began and it showed. Yularen's pristine presentation at the naval academy had given way to exhaustion and combat stress. Dark circles encapsulated Yularen's eyes and what hair remained atop his head had turned pale. Still, there was a sense of regality in the way of which he carried himself. To Shang, Yularen was a timeless icon for the Republic. He couldn't help but wonder if he too would be commanding a ship until he was old and grey. But as Shang then considered his father's life and dedication to the Republic, he couldn't imagine a better way to live.
"Congratulations on bringing a swift end to the Culisett Campaign," Watcher admired. "Your combined efforts are helping to turn the tide in the Outer Rim. Now, the Republic is counting on you to carry that momentum against another threat."
"Grievous?" Anna inquired. "Please say Grievous."
"Alas, General Grievous has yet to reveal himself as of late. The same is true for Count Dooku."
"Cowards," Anna mumbled.
Watcher pulled up several holograms, each displaying the scorched remnants of Republic Venators. "Supply lines are being cut off throughout the Outer Rim," she explained. "Even some of our stronger fleets have been useless against these strikes. Intelligence has identified the mastermind behind the attacks." The next image revealed a species which Anna had never seen before. She first confused the bulky being with an Aqualish, but he was far more complex. His fanged maw was as ominous as his six, arachnid eyes. While five of them were narrowed and focused, the sixth was entirely cybernetic. In fact, half of the six-armed foe had been replaced with mechanical prosthetics.
"It can't be," Anakin muttered.
"Unfortunately, it can and it is." Watcher confessed. "Admiral Trench is alive and well. He's more machine now than Harch, but a threat nonetheless. Intelligence says Dooku's put him in charge of these strikes against us."
"It explains the repeated defeats," Anakin concurred.
"Oh come on," Anna scoffed. "He doesn't look so tough."
"Trench's power resides not in brute strength-" Yularen explained. "-but in his lethal intellect. I've witnessed it firsthand...twice now. And in both instances, Trench was presumed dead."
"The Republic tried vaporizing him the first time," Anakin added. "Then I personally sent a missile into his command bridge on the second."
"Well it sounds like nothing a lightsaber can't remedy," Anna considered while patting her hilt. "Where is Admiral Trench now?"
"Dooku's currently using the admiral's expertise to undo Republic advances," Watcher explained. "He's currently leading droid forces on Teth...and winning."
Anna's heart sank at the planet's mention. She recalled how she'd spoken to Gav Riden when the Outer Rim Sieges had just begun. The Avinarian had mentioned how he and his master were shipping out for Teth. While Anna didn't doubt Gav and Master Chuza's ability as Jedi, she still feared the worst for them. If what those around her were saying about Trench was true, they'd need all the help they could get.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Anna blurted. "General Skywalker and I can end another campaign!"
"Hold on, General Dellian." Watcher asserted. "Let's get one thing clear. Your assignment is not to complete the conflict on Teth. The 54th Attack Battalion will see to that. No...these orders come directly from Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself." Anna and Anakin exchanged serious stares. "This Harch is a direct threat to the Galactic Republic. As a result, the chancellor has issued a kill/capture order on Admiral Trench. Where he goes, you go until he's either in cuffs or in the ground. Now link up with the 54th on Teth and get this done."
While Anakin nodded to Watcher, he was surprised to see Anna saluting her alongside the Deathchasers. Although they had similar and reckless strategies, Anakin had maintained a level of connection to the Jedi Order. He found it as peculiar as it was admirable to see Anna so devoted to her squad. Adorned in armor that was only missing a helmet, she might as well have been a trooper herself. While Anna might've been a questionable Jedi, she was a good soldier. Anakin better understood why Sergeant Blazer and the others in Anna's squad called her 'sister.'
The hyperspace flight to Teth was as swift as it was surreal. Anna sat alongside her squadmates and polished her saber's hilt. "I added you," Speedy mentioned from the hold's adjacent bench. Anna's raised brow was enough to garner an explanation. "To our poster," Speedy added. "You're the best stick figure."
His words coaxed a gentle smile out of Anna. "I bet she doesn't look like a Wookiee," Blazer jested and prompted the group to share a laugh.
"So general," Sparx inquired. "What's the call on Admiral Trench? Kill or capture?"
Anna took a deep breath and sat upright. Looking into the lieutenant's sincere gaze, she spoke the only truth she knew. "They've tried to kill this guy twice and he's still come back to cause trouble. If captured, I doubt someone that devoted would ever cooperate with the Republic." Saying such words reminded Anna of Dr. Morzetti. She'd tried to shove the cultist's death out of her mind, yet still the images clawed from within. Even the hissing ventilation shaft above sounded like Morzetti's strained throat. It was enough to make Anna shudder as she snapped back into the moment. "Trench strikes me as the type of guy who will go down fighting. And I hope he does." Anna hung her head nervously rubbed her hands together. "For his sake...and ours."
"With all due respect, general." Sparx sputtered. "I'm still confused. Do you want kill or cap-"
Noticing Anna's discomfort, Blazer raised a hand for the lieutenant to stop talking. "We'll get to that bridge when we cross it," the sergeant said. He soothingly rubbed Anna's back and continued. "I mean that. We'll get this sorted out." Despite going along with her deed...despite all of the lives they'd saved...Blazer still knew that Morzetti's death bothered Anna. She might not have talked about it much, but the guilt still crept within. Morzetti had been an unarmed prisoner holding the keys to the galaxy's destruction. While Anna had ultimately made the choice, Blazer felt responsible for keeping his general levelheaded. Ever since their training on Ilum, he'd strived to be someone she could rely on. "One step at a time," he whispered to her as she nodded.
Anna tensed up as a thunderous boom rippled throughout the Legacy. The Hammerhead rocketed out of hyperspace alongside Venators from the Fifth Fleet. Together, the warships descended towards the violet-hued planet of Teth. The tips of Separatist dreadnoughts could be seen hovering just beyond its western hemisphere. "It's only a matter of time before that fleet spots us," Yularen called to Shang. "Deploy your gunship and then rendezvous with the Venators."
"Yes sir," Shang responded and placed a call over the intercom. "That's our cue, General Dellian. Let's get your team to the surface."
"Copy that," Anna reported and then waved her hand from the hold. "Time to fly, Deathchasers!" She and her squad boarded the only gunship that could fit in their hangar. Once inside, the pilots sealed their hatches, offered a thumbs up, and deployed. Even amidst the turbulence of their flight, Anna did a variation of their pre-battle ritual. "Heads in!" she commanded while they clung to their handholds. The gunship rumbled through Teth's atmosphere and joined a swarm of others from the 501st. Blazer, Sparx, and Speedy bowed their helmeted heads in a circle. Anna joined them and said, "Listen up, brothers. We've all come this far watching over each other. Whether you look to your left or right, you will find someone willing to fight and die for you." Anna's aggression increased as she rallied her squadmates. "Because we are a family of fighters. We welcome challenge and face it as we always have. In weakness, we are strong. In strength, we are united. WHO ARE WE?!" she screamed.
"DEATHCHASERS!" The squad roared as a single and mighty unit. Their voices echoed throughout the gunship's hold. It was unlike anything the pilots had ever heard, and yet they too felt inspired by the Jedi's words. Anna's timing was impeccable as the gunships neared a war zone.
Anakin's first memories of Teth came from the war's early years. He'd been sent to scale one of the planet's natural pillars and recover Jabba the Hutt's kidnapped son. It was also one of the first missions Anakin had ever taken with his apprentice, Ahsoka. Contrary to the similar conflict ahead, all Teth was doing was reminding Anakin of his lost Padawan. He channeled his grief and frustration into rage. "Set us down at the nearest clearing," he ordered his pilot.
"But sir," the clone mentioned. "The designated landing zone will be safer to-"
"I will deal with any threats down there," Anakin declared. "Set us down." As the pilot obliged, Anakin unclipped his lightsaber and looked to his troopers. "Get ready, boys."
For the past two months, the Flying 54th had been battling Separatist forces across Teth's expansive jungles. Lasers and explosive artillery ignited throughout a forested firefight below. "General Dellian!" The Deathchaser's pilot hollered. "General Skywalker's landing!"
"Couldn't stay out of the fight, could he?" Anna jested to herself before addressing the pilot. "Take us down too!" Before the pilot could follow through, several metallic blurs rocketed past his viewport. Warning chimes blared across his monitor as multiple hostiles materialized.
"Not good," the pilot grunted. "Vulture droids! Taking evasive action!"
"Weave where you have to-" Anna commanded. "-but get us down!"
"To both pilots' surprise, the vulture squadron did not directly engage the gunships. They appeared to be focused on providing air support against ground troops. Instead of leaving the skies completely unopposed, one of the vulture droids fired a single rocket.
"Missile away!" the gunship's co-pilot warned. "Deploying countermeasures!" Upon pulling a lever, a wave of bright flares spewed from the gunship's undercarriage. A harrowing sense of unease swept over the clones, for the missile didn't pursue. In fact, it wasn't heat-seeking at all. Instead, the projectile exploded overhead and sent bizarre debris swirling through the air.
"What the?" the pilot sputtered while trying to dodge the discharge. Anna and her squad listened from the hold as the missile's odd contents clanged against the gunship.
A brief silence ensued and the co-pilot rushed to run a diagnostic. "We're...clear?" he questioned. Suddenly, the eerie silence succumbed to a twisted clamor. A demented cacophony of skitters brought those onboard to a dreadful conclusion. Anna watched a swarm of spherical silhouettes dart across the gunship's hatches. An ominous drilling rang out from beneath the craft while metal limbs clacked against the viewport. The pilot looked up to see tiny, magnetized droids latching on to the gunship. A trio of scarlet photoreceptors set their sights on the pilot as he yelled, "Buzz droids!" His warning fell on deaf ears as the tiny saboteurs got to work.
An assortment of tools spewed out from their central chambers. While some of them pierced the cockpit with drills, others hacked at the hull with miniature buzzsaws. Unequipped to remove them, all the pilot could do was furiously sway his ship. "I can't shake 'em!" he panicked. "They're magnetized!" His stomach dropped when the control gears stopped responding. "No...No! What's going on?"
"Core systems are shutting down!" the co-pilot shouted as his cockpit fogged. "We-" In that instant, several buzz droids smashed through the viewport and landed on his lap. The co-pilot flailed his arms while the howling winds muffled his screams. As several droids crawled over him, others launched upward and drilled toward the cockpit's seat. The gunship briefly gained altitude, only to have its engines come to a dead stop. With the vehicle's mighty whir silenced, its passengers fell victim to gravity. Left to the wind's mercy, they listened to it howl amidst those screaming in the cockpit.
The co-pilot's new, open-faced helmet made the buzz droid attack all the more horrific. His legs writhed and wriggled as the machines scurried across him. While he desperately fought to swat his attackers away, one of the droids pounced up from his chest. His breaths shortened as the droid's spider-like legs fastened themselves to each corner of his helmet. As he stared into the machine's central apparatus, his last sight would be that of a drill plunging toward his face.
"Brace yourselves!" Anna shouted amid the turbulence. Using the nearby handholds to maintain balance, she rigorously pulled herself to the cockpit.
The pilot in the seat above wasn't faring much better as buzz droids smashed through his windscreen. Determined to stop them, he drew his sidearm from beneath the dashboard and took aim. The pilot's head was spinning as the gunship continued its nosedive. Still, he battled extreme disorientation to fire upon the droids. His pistol's bolts zipped through the windscreen and mostly missed the droids. Betwixt the sounds of cracking glass and blasterfire, the clone was unaware of the commotion beneath his feet. Having slaughtered his co-pilot below, more buzz droids were burrowing their way into his cockpit through the floor. By the time he noticed the drills beneath his feet, it was far too late. The windscreen's integrity collapsed and the upper buzz droids dropped in. While the pilot was able to blast them, those below had breached the floor. He felt a buzz droid climbing his leg and dropped his head to meet it. As he did so, the droid swiped its buzzsaw across his neck.
The pilot's eyes widened and he instinctually buckled forward. His mesh collar dampened with blood. He gurgled for oxygen that would never reach his lungs and ultimately collapsed against the dashboard. "Pilot!" Anna hollered and forced open the door. "What's-" The Jedi stiffened upon seeing the ravaged cockpit. Blood trickled down the clone's limp body while buzz droids overwhelmed the cockpit. As if being of hive mind, the droids simultaneously set their sights on Anna. "Oh kriffing hell," Anna grunted and ignited her lightsaber.
Several buzz droids unleashed demented screeches and hurled themselves at Anna. With a frantic swipe of her blade, she sliced the droids to pieces before turbulence got the best of her. Anna fell back into the hold, startling the Deathchasers as more buzz droids skittered in. "What the?" Blazer blurted.
"Just shoot!" Anna brayed as her squad relinquished their handholds. They aimed their blasters just as the gunship nosedived further. As it picked up speed, those aboard were suddenly lifted within the hold. Their weightless, zero gravity experience didn't stop the buzz droids from launching through the air. While the clones gunned them down, Anna examined their surroundings. Droid parts clanged against the rickety hatches as she noticed a row of jetpacks in storage. "Blazer!" Anna shouted throughout the chaos. "Gimme a boost!"
Catching on to her idea, Blazer kicked off of the nearby hatch and pushed Anna across. She darted through the hold and cut down any buzz droid in her path. Once Anna reached the jetpacks, she hurriedly unlatched and tossed them over. "Heads up!" she ordered and then jabbed her saber into the nearest hatch. She made enough of an incision to weaken the hull and let gravity do the rest. The squad quickly equipped their jetpacks as the hatch shredded off. Without a moment to lose, Anna and her team leapt out of the doomed gunship.
They plummeted towards Teth's jungles while the firefight echoed below. Flames spewed from the spiraling gunship as the squad watched it crash. While Blazer turned to observe the ensuing explosion, Anna noticed movement in her peripherals. The group was just about to activate their jetpacks when she spotted a buzz droid latched on to Blazer's. "Sergeant!" she tried to warn over the winds. Before Blazer could acknowledge his mechanical stowaway, the buzz droid severed his jetpack's power cortex. While the rest of his companions were able to hover, Blazer continued to freefall.
"Hold on!" Anna yelled as she and the others rocketed after him. Blazer was in a total free fall, forcing Anna to maximize her jetpack's thrusters. Before the sergeant got any lower, Anna tackled him into a jungle canopy. The duo tumbled through a mess of thick vines and leafy palms. While Anna had landed face first into bushel of leaves, Blazer plopped atop a thick tree branch. He barely had time to catch his breath before a deathly skittering came to his ears. Raising his head to meet the sound, he spotted the still-functional buzz droid. With a mechanical snarl, it crawled towards Anna while she was down and prepped its sinister tools.
"General!" Blazer warned. "Fire up your stabilizers. Full power when I say!"
"Hmm huh?" Anna grumbled while still coming to. "Why?"
"Just do it!" the ARF trooper barked. He kicked the buzz droid towards her back. "Now!"
At his command, Anna sparked up her jetpack's stabilizers. Blazer had kicked the buzz droid directly into her full-powered muzzles, causing fiery exhaust to smelt the pest into scrap metal. As Anna powered her jetpack down and noticed the obliterated droid, she offered Blazer a grateful nod. "You two alright?" Lieutenant Sparx asked as he and Speedy hovered in.
"Just...wonderful," Blazer huffed, still catching his breath. "What the hell were those things?"
"An entire swarm of 'NOPE' droids," Anna grumbled while kicking away their foe's remnants. The sounds of the nearby battle had her rising to her feet. "Break time's over," Anna said and sprung from the tree branch. While she, Sparx and Speedy jetpacked down, Blazer was left with his malfunctioned jetpack.
"Oh for the love of-" he groaned and leapt to the nearest vine. Like a flying wild man, Blazer came swinging down to join the rest of his squad. The Deathchasers rolled down to the jungle floor and immediately took cover. Members of the 54th had already met up with the 501st amidst the firefight. Armored, muddy bodies lay strewn across the ground while scarlet lasers darted through the treeline.
"I can't see the enemy!" a 54th jet trooper brayed. His green armor had been soiled with ash and jungle muck.
"Just keep your head down!" his captain commanded. The clone's striped markings made him look like a nexu under the foliage. His sleek visor peered beyond the scorched tree trunks to try and spot their foes. Pulling down his rangefinder, Captain Talon examined enemy lines. He could faintly make out B1 battle droids opening fire from the treeline. Their sleek, camouflaged heads swiveled in response to Republic forces.
Captain Rex led his troops to take up position beside the 54th. "Trench is here, alright," he told Anakin. "How often do droids actually hold position?"
"The mighty 501st," Talon called from cover. "Welcome to Teth," he snarked.
"Where's your general?" Anakin asked while deflecting laserfire.
"General Chuza and Commander Riden are leading an attempted flank. But we need to advance if this is going to work."
"What'd we miss?" Anna panted as she and the Deathchasers dropped next to Anakin.
"Just in time, Dellian," he quipped. "We're gonna rush those droid defenses."
"All due respect-" Talon replied. "-we tried that. Vulture droids have aerial superiority and are cutting us off."
"We'll see about that," Anakin murmured and activated comms. "Admiral Yularen," he called into his vambrace. "Get our squadrons planetside and have R2 send my fighter." Anna's heart sank as Anakin issued his next command. "Men! Until I return, General Dellian is in charge of the offensive."
"Skywalker?" Anna uttered. "You sure about this?" She lowered her voice, even amongst the lasers. "After Umbara?" she asked while glancing at his troopers.
Anakin knitted his brows. "These men have fought and bled alongside you in multiple engagements," he affirmed. "You're no Krell and they know it."
"Standing by, General Dellian." Captain Rex affirmed.
Anna flashed a determined grin as Blazer proudly nudged her. While Anakin fell back to take his fight to the skies, Anna assessed the battlefield. Now in command of her squad and the 501st, she boldly activated her lightsaber. "Soldiers of the Republic!" she roared. "Who will follow me?" She matched her valiant plea with action as she charged into battle.
"Come on!" Blazer exclaimed as he and the Deathchasers dashed out behind her. Within seconds, Anna had an entire wave of clones rallying for battle. Their war cries echoed beyond the highest canopies as they ran through the jungle. Despite Anna's best efforts to block incoming laserfire, she couldn't shield an entire unit. Lasers zipped from all around, striking clones into the dirt. As they drew closer in range, some of the Republic blasts were able to reach defending droids.
Captain Talon siezed his opportunity while the enemy was distracted. "54th!" he rallied. "To the skies!" Drawing his pistols, he led his jet troopers above the trees and into battle. Their mass ascension caught the attention of several droid squadrons. The vultures' screeching engines echoed across the clouds as they prepared a strafing run.
Anna was ready to give a scatter order when a laser volley met the vulture droids. She grinned as Anakin led his squadrons into battle overhead. His yellow, Jedi starfighter spiraled through the aerial conflict and dispatched foes with ease. With the Republic dominating the air, Anna quickened her pace. She took Separatist ground forces head on and broke through the treeline. Her lightsaber severed the nearest palm tree and sent it crashing over B1s. The Deathchasers formed up alongside her while the 501st surged ahead. "Keep charging!" she yelled while jabbing her saber. "Turn their artillery against them!" On her orders, clones mounted droid turrets and spun them in the opposite direction. As they provided suppressive fire from below, the Flying 54th attacked from above.
With their artillery line destroyed or used against them, the droids fell back to a clearing within the jungle. Super battle droids launched wrist rockets in an effort to break apart the advancing clones. "Take cover!" Anna ordered betwixt the explosive conundrum. Entire strips of mossy terrain were overturned from the droid bombardment. While many clones were able to heed Anna's command, the less fortunate were sent flailing through the air. Limp corpses and battered helmets rained from the smokey skies.
"Over here!" Rex beckoned from behind a heap of downed trees. Noticing the captain, Anna and the Deathchasers dove to meet him. They kept their heads down as more wrist rockets struck the soil. "Trench will vaporize this zone before he gives it up to us."
Anna desperately tried to formulate a new plan while taking in Rex's words. Her devising was cut short when she noticed a clone still exposed in the fray. Broken off from the rest of the 501st, he was doomed without assistance. "Wait here," she told those closest to her and ran out to save him. The trooper stumbled and recoiled between each explosion. The next rocket would've struck him head on if Anna didn't tackle him away. An explosive cloud ignited from behind as she and the trooper fell over. A painful ringing caused Anna's ears to ache as she slowly recovered from the blast. Regardless of her hindered hearing, she called out to the clone in her arms. "Trooper?" she beckoned. "Trooper!"
The clone's body shifted as he slowly stirred. Soot stained the single, blue tear that he'd sprayed beneath his visor. "Huh?" he groaned.
"Get up," Anna ordered. "Return to the unit! And if you break formation like that again, I'm not saving your plastoid rear!"
The trooper's weary hands patted Anna's forearms as he felt her armor. The dazed man was confused to see a young woman in gear similar to his. But as his eyes fell to her lightsaber, his dizzied state worsened. "J-...Jedi," he uttered.
"Yes," Anna confirmed while keeping her head down. "What gave it away?" she snarked.
Without warning, his grip on her arm suddenly tightened. "Jedi," he murmured, almost hissing by the end of it.
"I think you've got a concussion, soldier." Anna said and rubbed his trembling hand. "Let's get you out of here. And keep your head down! That's an order!"
"Order..." the trooper reiterated as Anna dragged him across the war zone. "Good soldiers...follow ord-" Anna threw him behind cover before seeking refuge herself.
"Captain Rex," Anna beckoned. "Get this man a medic. I think one of those wrist rockets went off a bit too close to his head."
"Yes, ma'am." Rex nodded. "Kix!" he hollered. "Get up here!"
While they waited on a medic, the 501st's resident ARC trooper rolled to take cover. "Fives," Anna called to him. "Any weak spots in the droid advance?"
"Not from our end," Fives admitted. "They've got us pinned good." His head swiveled once he noticed the ailing clone. "Tup?" he worried and checked on his brother. "What's wrong with him?" he asked Anna.
"Found him roaming in the kill zone," she explained. "Got him out just in time."
Fives shook his head at the silent trooper while Anna peeked from cover. "What's the play, general?" Speedy asked while blindly returning fire. "It's only a matter of time before they blow up this spot too."
"We could grenade them," Blazer suggested. "Give 'em a taste of their own medicine."
"We can't blast what we can't see from cover," Anna confessed. "Hold position but prep grenades. If those droids advance into view, we'll light them up."
Contrary to Anna's wishful thinking, the super battle droids held position. They maintained a steady barrage to keep Republic forces from gaining any more ground. But even with their insurmountable firepower, they didn't count on being flanked. Captain Talon's secondary distraction had only worked to the Republic's greater favor. While his detachment of the 54th attacked from above, a pair of green lightsabers ignited from the opposing treeline. Two, feathered silhouettes emerged as Master Chuza and his Padawan Gav leapt into battle. The Avinarian duo led the rest of the 54th in an all-out flanking charge. As they struck the droids from behind and unpinned Anna's forces, she emerged from cover.
"Change of plans, boys!" the youngest Dellian screeched. "Take it to 'em!" she commanded and thrust her lightsaber forward. The Deathchasers and 501st rallied to her as they clashed with droids head on.
"Dive!" Talon ordered from the canopy and led his jet troopers for a human strafing run.
In a final effort to push back the Republic, Separatist forces broke formation and engaged all hostiles. Gone was the ordered assembly of which clones and Jedi were used to fighting against. Instead, the jungle clearing was set ablaze with sporadic clashes throughout. Sizzling droid limbs plummeted beside motionless clones. Steaming lightsabers swung through a chaotic storm of lasers. Anakin gunned down vulture droids overhead and sent them crashing to the surface like metal meteors. With their lines broken, squads of BX-series commando droids fought to hold their ground. While several commandos blasted clones from the trees, others drew their vibroswords and hacked anyone in their way.
Lieutenant Sparx had just finished blasting a B1 when he heard a clone's ailing screech. He turned to see a commando droid impaling one of the 501st troopers. The blue armored clone fell to his knees as the commando swiped across his neck. Fragments of plastoid spewed against the droid's white chest marking. The commando droid captain set its photoreceptors on Sparx while the decapitated clone fell to its feet.
"Karabast," Sparx cursed and opened fire. The lieutenant was quick on the trigger, but his adversary was extremely agile. The droid frontflipped over his blasts and brought its vibrosword slashing downward. Sparx narrowly avoided dismemberment as he pulled his arms in. He took aim to fire again, but the droid kicked his rifle away. Thinking quickly, Sparx unclipped his utility belt to defend himself. Keeping his arms close, he eyed the droid's wrists instead of its sword. When it jabbed again, he weaved away and threw his belt over the droid's arms. Their feet kicked up dirt as they wrestled for the buzzing blade. Sparx's maneuver would've proven far more effective on a foe that could feel pain. It mattered not how much he tightened his grip on the droid's wrists, for it refused to relinquish the vibrosword.
Across the conflict, Anna was cutting down droids by the scores. She eyed a super battle droid and prepared to slash across it. Just before she could, another green lightsaber cut her target down the middle. Her blade met the Avinarian's as she stared into his eyes. "That one was mine," Anna griped.
"Keyword: Was." Gav teased before finding another droid. "Nice to see you too!" he shouted while fighting. Flustered, Anna rolled her eyes and attacked the nearest B1.
While Teth's mesas were barren and expansive, its jungles provided a profuse amount of cover. The secrecy of which greatly served the distant Separatist base. A vast holomap projected in Admiral Trench's war room. The stern-faced Harch observed holograms of the battle from afar. A pair of advanced tactical droids stood at his sides and waited to transmit commands. Trench's silence was as chilling as it was calculating. His dark digits tapped against his cane's spherical tip. Noticing his surrounded forces made Trench click his fangs. "And so-" he began in a deep and brooding tone. "-the 501st Legion has joined the fight. Given their victories across the Outer Rim, this intervention was inevitable. Nevertheless, we will deal with them in due time." He stroked his non-cybernetic half and turned to his assistants. "Withdraw all forces. Let the Republic think they've beaten us back. I will take this time to reassess." At the end of his decree, the tactical droids raised their heads in unison. Their photoreceptors strobed in bright cyan hues as they relayed Trench's orders to the front. As his commands were realized, Trench continued to observe his holomap. Even as his army retreated, he was already devising a counter against the forces of four Jedi.
Lieutenant Sparx shifted his weight against the commando droid. In retaliation, it tilted its vibrosword dangerously close to his face. The blade's tip cracked his visor until the droid suddenly chimed. Its pale photoreceptors strobed briefly as if receiving new orders. Under its new directive, the droid shoved Sparx away and began a hasty retreat. As it did so among countless other units, it remained unaware of the homing beacon wedged in its back.
Sparx knelt down and removed his helmet to catch a breath. Speedy was quick to help him up as the remaining Republic forces regrouped. "Victory!" Master Chuza hooted and raised his lightsaber high. While his gesture was appreciated, the old Avinarian's short stature made him barely visible to the clones.
"Victory!" Gav reiterated and rallied nearby troops to cheer with him. The master scoffed while his Padawan snuck a chuckle.
"The clankers are on the run, general." Captain Talon reported. "Should we pursue and destroy?"
"Not without a proper foothold," Chuza decreed. "Have the men clear up this...well...clearing. Our units will make camp here tonight."
"Skywalker," Anna called over comms. "Did you copy that?"
"I did," he replied from his starfighter and watched the vulture droids retreat. "Although I can't say I agree."
"Your troops are fresh to the fight, boy." Chuza chirped. "The 54th has been valiantly staving off the enemy since daybreak. They need a night's rest. Plus, we can properly strategize as a single and potent force."
"Generals," Sparx spoke up. "If I may-"
"By all means, lieutenant." Anna concurred as he handed her a datapad.
"I managed to sneak a homing beacon on one of the commando droids," he explained and pointed towards a blip on the screen. "Though I suspect they'll find and deactivate it, the beacon should provide an accurate proximity of the Separatist base."
"And Admiral Trench's whereabouts," Blazer realized. "Nice work Sparx," he admired and playfully nudged him.
"Living up to our squad's reputation," Anna spoke proudly. "We'll analyze this data tonight, Sparx. Thank you, and I suggest that everyone gets some well-deserved rest."
Anna hadn't witnessed a hasty camp setup since her days as a Padawan. When the Republic arrived on Rodia to provide pandemic relief, they'd established a base by nightfall. Creating a fully-functional, jungle encampment proved to be no easy feat. While clone bodies were properly buried, droid corpses were put to any use imaginable. Functioning components were removed to energize Republic equipment. Loose cables became well-tied tripwires to be laid around the base. Bulky super battle droid bodies served as perfect additions to the camp's makeshift barricade.
A series of campfires had been ignited throughout the clearing. They offered a sense of security for those who hadn't switched to guard duty just yet. And as the darkness of the night claimed Teth's jungles, so too did the howls and chitters of various creatures. The likes of which were far scarier without being seen. Anakin, Anna, Gav, and Chuza had gathered around their own campfire to finally get a meal in. In spite of their best efforts to relax, none could ignore the sound of Chuza trying to tear open a ration packet.
"Confounded...despicable..." the elder grumbled while trying to open it with his beak.
Anakin and Anna snickered while Gav rolled his eyes. "Why are you so old?" the apprentice jeered and opened his master's packet with ease.
"Revan's redemption," Chuza gasped. "How did you do that?"
"I read the instructions," Gav mumbled while munching on his own rations.
"Instructions," Chuza blathered. "New age instructions. Everything is a five step process these days. You didn't see any of these issues in the Old Republic!"
"Here we go," Gav groaned.
"Do you think the great Bastila Shan had to unfold and tear ration packets? No! She, and all of the other greatest Jedi to ever grace existence could feed off of the Living Force."
"I mean-" Anna jested. "-if you want to waddle off into the jungle and eat some bugs, I won't stop you." Chuza's silence had Anna smirking.
"I ate a worm once," Anakin confessed. "Very high in protein."
"Welp," Anna sighed. "There goes my appetite."
As the Jedi mingled at their campfire, so to did their respective clone troopers. It mattered not if they all shared the same face. For once their helmets came off, every clone was his own man. Captain Rex understood this principle more than most, as he'd come to care for each member of the 501st. With his legion helping so many other units across the stars, he'd learned to familiarize himself with as many brothers as he could. The nearby campfire cast shifting shadows over his extremely short, light blonde hair. He heard a pair of cybernetics whirring and noticed Speedy approaching.
"You fought well today, trooper." Rex told Speedy.
"Thank you, captain," he replied and peered into the nearby flames.
"Something...on your mind?" Rex asked.
Speedy nodded. "Our teams have fought alongside each other for quite some time now," he said. "I've watched us liberate worlds at the cost of so many brothers. I've seen horrors that make me think-" Speedy glanced at his cybernetic legs. "-that I got off easy. So I've found my faith in those around me. In the smiles of the civilians we've saved so they can live another day. Yet something troubles me." Rex raised a brow as Speedy continued. "Even now as both us and the enemy feel pushed to the brink...the war goes on. In fact, there's moments where I feel like we're just getting started. Do you ever feel like this war is never gonna end?"
Rex took a deep breath. "In truth, I believe this war will see a conclusion. I couldn't tell you when, but given our current circumstances..." Rex sighed. "I think it's safe to say that the Republic would just get itself roped into another war shortly after."
"So that's in then?" Speedy murmured. "We're just doomed to repeat this cycle over and over again until the end of time?" He gestured to where they'd buried the dead. "Until each of us ends up like that?" Rex looked across the graves of his fallen brothers. Green and blue helmets lay atop rifles protruding from the ground. He couldn't help but imagine his own helmet perched on a similar grave someday.
"We were created to serve the Republic," Rex spoke sincerely.
"And that serving entails fighting and dying," Speedy concurred. "I just want it to mean more. Maybe we can build something greater after all of this. So there doesn't have to be another war, you know? Elect better leaders. Ones that have seen the horrors of conflict so they know to avoid them."
Rex smiled softly and placed a hand on Speedy's shoulder. "You have a good heart," the captain said. "And for what it's worth, I'd vote for you in office."
"Supreme Chancellor Speedy," he laughed to himself. "The first clone politician. You know what?" Speedy flashed a daring grin. "After everything we've been through...why not?"
While the duo continued chatting, Sergeant Blazer and ARC trooper Fives replenished their electrolytes. They stared into their campfire while sipping on energizer bottles. "I never got a chance to say sorry," Blazer said. "About your partner. He seemed like a good man back at the bar."
"Good enough to always talk me out of trouble," Fives confessed before shaking his head. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about Echo," he reminisced. "He was the most dependable brother I'd ever known."
Lieutenant Sparx was about to join his comrades by the fire when he noticed a peculiar sight. While most clones were either on patrol or resting, one was standing on his own. His thick topknot shined under the moonlight as he stared up at the stars. Sparx had indulged in stargazing many a night and sought to join the trooper. "I used to want to visit every planet out there," the lieutenant said. "But nowadays...I wouldn't mind trading these travels for guard duty somewhere." Sparx's jest went unanswered and he leaned towards the clone. "Apologies," he professed. "Do you want to be left alone?"
"The mission," the clone answered in a barely audible volume. "O-...orders."
"Which orders?" Sparx inquired. As the clone dropped his head, the tear-shaped tattoo under his cheek was reminiscent of the one on his helmet. Tup, Sparx realized. The trooper that General Dellian saved.
Instead of answering Sparx, Tup's gaze listed towards the furthest campfire. His eyes narrowed on Chuza, Gav, Anakin, and Anna as they sat sharing stories. "Jedi," he hissed as a sneer formed across his face.
"Tup!" a firm hand shook his shoulder and snapped him back into the moment. Tup's brows relaxed and he turned to see Fives staring him down. "What's wrong, brother?"
Tup's frantic stare alternated between his friend, Sparx, and the surrounding clones. "N-...nothing," he confessed. "But how did I get out here?" he asked and confusedly rubbed his temples. While Sparx and Blazer exchanged cautious glances, Fives guided Tup to the nearest tent.
"You took quite a hit out there today," the ARC trooper said. "Let's just get you to bed." As he led Tup away, he peered over at their Jedi leaders.
"I still say we had it under control," Gav proposed. "Master Chuza and I were going to flank those droids no problem."
Anna snorted. "And who was gonna clear a path for Captain Talon's division? You wouldn't have had proper backup if we didn't show up."
"Whether you came to assist us or not-" Chuza rambled. "-one truth remains clear. The Republic will not be so easily defeated with Jedi like us leading its armies. Jedi who emulate the real meaning of endurance. The youth of today will never understand," Chuza scoffed. "Calling it quits when things get hard." He raised a wing to Anakin and muttered, "No offense."
Anakin slowly lowered his ration packet. "Excuse me?" he inquired as Anna swallowed hard. "I don't follow."
"Not you of course," Chuza explained. "But that Ahsoka Tano." Anna's blood ran cold at the mention of Anakin's former apprentice. Even Gav braced himself, knowing there'd be no stopping his master. Anakin's head slowly tilted as Chuza carried on. "Now I don't mean any disrespect to you. We as mentors can only do so much, after all."
Anakin set his food down and glared at the elder. His brows furrowed as he defended his former student. "Let's get one thing clear," Anakin intoned. "Ahsoka didn't 'give up' on the Order. They didn't give her a choice."
"Oh come now, Skywalker." Chuza cawed. "We've all heard about what happened. They very much gave her a choice to return. They can't be blamed if she didn't take it."
"They expelled her," Anna added in Anakin's favor. She could tell how difficult the subject still was for him.
"And rightfully so," Chuza countered as Anakin's nostrils flared. Despite his visible anger, the Avinarian continued. "The council didn't have every fact yet. And once they did, Ahsoka was to be welcomed back and possibly knighted. Everyone around this campfire has gone through a trial of some sort. But you don't see all of us leaving. We can't all be quitters."
"That's enough," Anakin snapped and clenched his gloved fist.
"I'm merely speaking the truth," Chuza answered. "For example, my Padawan knows better than to stray from the Jedi Path."
"Gav," Anna uttered over the crackling flames. "You can't seriously believe Ahsoka was wrong to leave after everything she went through." The Avinarian's silence made Anna wince. "Can you?"
Gav sighed heavily. "Ahsoka had every reason to come back and serve the Order," he said. "By leaving, she robbed us of another Jedi commander who could be helping turn the tide of this war. What she did was selfish."
In a fit of rage, Anakin threw his ration packet into the campfire. Flames danced across the cracking wrapper as he rose from his seat and stormed out into the dark. Concerned about him, Anna took off in an effort to catch up. "Ignorance is bliss to some, I suppose." Chuza said while continuing to eat his meal.
"Skywalker!" Anna called as she chased after Anakin. "Wait up!"
"Not now," he mumbled and stomped towards his tent. Anna reached for his arm and Anakin angrily pulled away.
"Stop," Anna implored. "Don't listen to that old bird. You can talk to me. We're partners-"
"Just leave me alone, Snips!" Anakin snapped and turned with furious eyes. While the odd nickname brought confusion to Anna, Anakin was left with shame. The anger in his eyes subsided to brokenness as he quickly stepped away. Without another word, Anakin darted into his tent. As the flaps sealed behind him, Anna was left standing under the stars. Recomposing herself, she stepped towards his tent and leaned close. "Good night, Skywalker." she dared to say. When he didn't answer, she patted his tent's flap and sadly whispered, "Okay...bye."
As Anna departed to get some rest of her own, Anakin sat on the edge of his cot. He raked his fingers through his wavy locks and frustratedly hung his head. A brief sense of calmness reached him as a metallic dome bumped his knee. Familiar chimes heralded the arrival of his personal astromech, R2-D2. As the droid emitted a series of somber beeps, Anakin gently patted his head. "I know," he lamented. "I miss her too."
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment of "The Frozen Force!" Your kindness and support during this ongoing adventure is always appreciated, my friends. It is my honor to entertain you and I'll see you next Friday for Chapter: 102 - Skywalker's War (Part II)!
Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!
~ Michael