Part 41 (2/2)
They all have a purpose. Never forget who you are. Never forget what you serve. And no matter what happens, keep your face turned to the light. ”
She watched her words sink through his skin and beneath the surface of his luminous eyes. She watched the grief rise in him, and the rage, and the despair. She watched his courage drown all of them.
She watched him... let go.
Beside them, Anakin stirred awake as Teeba Sufi bustled back into the sick house. Taria dropped her hands to her lap.
She smiled. ”All right?”
”What's all right?” said Anakin, groggy. ”What's going on?”
”Nothing yet, ” said Obi-Wan, and slapped him on the back. ”On your feet, Anakin. We've slept long enough. ”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.
Staking from admiral Yularen to Master Windu and back again, Ashoka felt every predator instinct stir.
Ob, no. This isn't good.
”Master Windu, ” said the admiral, his voice clipped, ”while I appreciate the difficulty of your position I must think of my troops. You know as well as I that the acceleration of clone production has not succeeded as Fleet antic.i.p.ated. Given the slowdown of numbers leaving the Kaminoan facility I cannot agree to prolonging this mission. Hammer and Arrow squadrons have lost almost one-quarter of their pilots each and Gold Squadron isn't far behind.
”It's time to return home. ”
Ahsoka, standing far to one side and forgotten, sucked in a sharp breath. She could feel Master Windu's coldness in the Force, and his ruthless self-mastery as he controlled it. More than anything she wanted to shout 'Stop it'! The enemy's out there, not here in Battle Ops. But she couldn't say a word. She was a Padawan, a n.o.body, compared with these men.
If Skyguy was here he'd say something. He'd speak up.
And the problem was, she was pretty sure what he'd say. Admiral Yularen's right. I don't want anyone dying for me. And if she heard him say that, well, then she'd be the one arguing.
I'm with Master Windu. We can't leave them behind.
Then came a great shudder in the Force as Master Windu released all emotion. ”Admiral, help is coming. We only need a little longer.
If we play felinx-and-rodus with Grievous, if we abandon this position and instead spread out the battle group, give him four scattered targets instead of...”
”No, ” said the admiral. ”Master Windu, I'm sorry, but I ask you not to do that. For the sake of your crew, for the sake of-'”
”Admiral?” It was Lieutenant Avrey, on comm. ”I have a Priority Alpha signal coming through from the Jedi Temple. It's Master Yoda. He's asking for you. ”
Admiral Yularen hit the comm switch. ”Patch it through. Lieutenant. ”
Master Yoda wanted the admiral? Ahsoka, caught staring, felt herself blush as Master Windu fixed her with a cold look.
”Well, Padawan? What do you think?”
She lifted her chin. ”Master, I think we don't leave them behind unless we have to. And I don't think we have to. Not yet. ”
169.
His nodded, his eyes suddenly warm. ”Good answer. ”
And then Master Yoda's voice, slightly distorted by distance, came through the comm. ”Agreement we have reached with an auxiliary civilian fleet, Admiral. On its way to you now it is. Agreed to accept your temporary authority, the s.h.i.+p's captains have. Remain at Lantech, can you, until arrive they dot”
Admiral Yularen clasped his hands behind his back. ”Master Yoda, our position is precarious. We've already sustained significant casualties. Grievous is holding fire for the moment, but that could change and we do not have the means to overcome him. ”
”Have it you will soon, Admiral. ”
”How soon. Master Yoda?”
” Within hours. ”
”Master Yoda-what is the Supreme Chancellor's position on this?”
”Asked us, has Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, to rescue the trapped Jedi. ”
A long silence. Then Yularen nodded. ”Very well, Master Yoda. We'll wait until this... fleet... arrives. ”
”My thanks you have. Admiral. Good hunting. ”
Master Windu turned. ”Padawan Tano-go belowdecks. Inform the Five Hundred First that they'll be seeing action in the next few hours. Once the skies are clear, ground troops will be going in. ”
”Yes, Master Windu, ” she said, and came close to running out of the room.
The minute Rex saw her face, he held up a fist and silenced the entire mess, where everyone from the 501st, ground troops and pilots alike, were gathered to remember the dead and wait for action.
The weight of the clones' stares was a fearsome thing.
”We're going in, ” she said to the room at large. ”As soon as our reinforcements arrive we're going to smash through that blockade to save Master Skywalker and Master Ken.o.bi-and Master Damsin, too. ”
The 501st let out a cheer. In the noisy aftermath, Rex came to stand with her. ”You all right, little'un?”
It wasn't until he asked her that she realized how not right she was. Stuck up here, above Lanteeb, away from Anakin, knowing how much trouble he was in, catching only fleeting s.n.a.t.c.hes of him in the Force, not being able to fight by his side. Dreading that with every minute they'd get word of his death... or even worse, that she'd feel it.
”I'm fine, ” she told Rex, daring him to contradict her. ”Just looking forward to getting my boors on the ground, y'know?”
His eyes told her he could see the truth, but he smiled. ”I know, Ahsoka. Never mind. It won't be long. And then we'll be downstairs kicking some tinnie clanker b.u.t.t-and dragging our favorite Jedi to safety by the scruff of his neck. ”
She grinned. ”I'll tell him you said that, Rex. ”
”Little'un, ” he retorted. ”I'm counting on it. ”
”TEEBA, I don't think you should be doing this, ” said Sufi. ”I don't think Teeb Ken.o.bi would approve. ”
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