Chapter Text
I took a deep breath in, allowing the muscles in my shoulders to relax slightly. I felt the wind around me as the open sides of the gunship allowed me to sense the world around me. The Force wrapping its way around the lifeforms beneath me, their lives mixing together with the spirit of the land in such a manner that I could sense just how loved and important this land once was, before the Separatists decided to weaponize it.
I closed my eyes tightly, as we drew near to the command outpost, allowing my senses to reach out towards the four collected force users. Masters Kenobi and Koon’s signatures appeared unusually weak in comparison to one I had only sensed in passing before. A final signature, a much younger one told me that Skywalker had brought along his padawan. I smiled, she was a lovely young woman and I had offered to train her at one point, wanting to take on a padawan of my own. However, Master Yoda had decided otherwise,a decision I accepted without fully understanding.
My gunship lurched beneath me as I pulled my hood higher, allowing the folds of the brown fabric to obscure my face. We landed abruptly, the shuttle pausing in front of the assembled group. Two commanders stood alongside the Generals, as well as a civilian and a captain.I lowered my hood, allowing my cloak to fall to my feet. The Commander closest to Master Kenobi laughed slight.
“Do all Jedi have a flare for the dramatics,” he chucked, elbowing the man softly. Kenobi smiled.
“Glad you could join us,” Kenobi greeted, his face dirty from the day. Dust hung in the air heavily around us as I made my way towards the assembled group. “General (Y/L/N).”
“A pleasure as always, Master Kenobi,” I greeted smiling slightly. The group exchanged looks. “I was pleased to receive your request.”
“(Y/N) will be joining with the 212thm,'' Kenobi explained. “My men are in need of a general who is not tied to the High Council, so she will be taking care of some of the day to day responsibilities of the 212th, since we were unable to secure a Civilian Correspondent.” Behind him a clone dressed entirely in grey turned slightly to face the civilian at his side, Master Plo pointedly looking away from the two who stood slightly away from the others. I had a feeling there was a story there, but decided against asking, knowing that time was of the essence.
“General,” a clone in golden- yellow armor came to stand in front ofme. He removed his helmet for a moment, revealing a scar which traced along the sharp structure of his cheeks. “Commander Cody, at your service, cir.” I smiled and nodded once.
“No need for such formality, Commander,” I smiled. “By the end of the day I am sure you will be as sick of me as you are of Master Kenobi.” The clone chuckled, replacing his helmet swiftly. “So where are we in the campaign, I was not briefed on the specifics before leaving the temple.”
The men gestured towards the holotables, the civilian quickly pulling up maps of the area surrounding us. The base in the distance was still shielded, making it nearly impossible for our cannons to do anything other than irritate the enemy.
‘Have we sent scouts,” I asked, looking at the layout for a moment. Skywalker nodded.
“They found a weakness along the base of the first tower, if we take it down then the shields should go with it, my padawan and I will be leaving momentarily to handle things.” I nodded. Skywalker and Tano made quick work of preparing for their departure, leaving moments later. Kenobi turned to me.
“I will be coordinating things from here,” he said quickly. “Master Plo and his men will be leading the forward assault.”
“What would you like me to do,” I asked. Kenobi paused.
“We were not expecting you so quickly,” he said slowly. “The temple informed us that-”
“Yes, my mission on Batuu ended rather suddenly,” I shook my head. “It was a dead end, whoever infiltrated both the 212th and 501st was not hiding there as we had believed.” Kenobi nodded.
“You can accompany Cody and his men with the assault,” he decided after a moment. “Just leave some droids for everyone else.”
“Can’t have all the fun, now can I,” I chucked, rolling my shoulders slightly, before turning from the General. I quietly followed Cody towards his waiting men, who all turned to face us.
“Sir,” the men snapped to attention, their form nearly perfect,. The Commander halted in front of them.
“General,” he turned slightly towards me. “Meet Waxer and Boil.” I nodded once. “This is General (Y/L/N) she will be taking over some of General Kenobi’s responsibilities for a time.”
The men turned to face me, their forms tightening if that was even possible. I laughed.
“There really is no need for that,” I smiled. “A proper introduction will have to wait until after we win today?”
“yes , sir,” the men snapped, quickly falling back to receive their commands. I took a deep breath, focusing on my training for a moment. I forced my emotions out of my mind, focusing only on the force. I felt the familiar hum of the crystal in my saber and smiled slightly, the warmth radiating from my hip reminding me that I was not powerless.
For a moment I thought back to my training. I remembered the words of my master, his warnings against becoming reliant on others. I sighed to myself, remembering his games and insistence on perfection from the clones. I vowed to myself I would not become like him, I would not allow my lack of attachments to turn me cold towards others.
Master Krell had called it my weakness, but I would prove otherwise.
I opened my eyes moments before the first explosion, the men around me surging forward around me, shouts coming from the various soldiers.
“Let’s see what you have, General,” Commander Cody laughed, before racing forward. I held my hand out beside me, focusing my energy on my saber for a moment,a s I launched myself into the air. I landed in the middle of a large group of droids, holding my palms out towards them, a blast of pure force throwing the droids in all directions as I ignited my saber.
“A Jedi,” a droid shouted, redirecting its fire towards me. Smiling to myself I launched myself forward, using my abilities to propel my body harshly forward, slamming directly into one droid as I whirled my wrist towards another bringing my laber clear through its side.
A commando droid approached me, its shields protecting it from the deflection bolts I sent back towards it, I cursed lightly under my breath. A presence came to stand behind me.
“General, the only way to beat one is to get under the shield,” Cody offered, firing his own weapon at the droid. I nodded once, grateful he had decided to share his knowledge.
“Thank you, Cody,” I smiled before extinguishing my lightsaber, and closing my eyes. Using the force I imagined the droid crushing in on itself, as I slowly clenched my hand, willing the droid to drumple under the pressure. The shriek of metal told me that I had accomplished my goal. Following the display, I refocused the excess force energy and dispelled another croud of droids, launching them backwards into the sparking heap I had just created, a small explosion resulting from my actions. Beside me Cody paused.
“I can’t say that I’ve seen a Jedi try that before,” he laughed, before firing over my shoulder. I smiled.
“My master insisted on conserving-” I was cut off from a blast which sent me flying forward, my saber flying from my hand as I went. I landed on my knees in front of a tank, its guns lowering to level with my face. I smiled slightly, quickly gauging my remaining force energy for a moment. I had just enough left to manage the feat I was planning, which pleased me.
I allowed my hand to gently close, holding up my curled fingers so my palm faced the tank. I breathed in deeply through my nose, before opening my palm on the exhale, the energy flowing through me causing the electronics aboard the tank to short circuit, the entire structure crashing to the ground in front of me as I fried the entire circuitry.
“They have surrendered,” A grainy voice came through comm links. THe men around us cheered, the droids shutting down beside us. I pulled myself to my feet, dusting off the Republic armor I had been issued, its white surfaces already cakes in a thin layer of dust obscuring the stenciling. Behind me someone cleared their throat.
“That was quite the show,” Commander Cody, smiled, his helmet secured under his elbow. I laughed, turning fully, my arms falling fully to my sides as I took in the man fully.
“Oh, I have nothing on the masters,” I laughed, shaking my head slightly.
“I wouldn’t say that,” the clone chuckled, his eyes shining brightly.
“Well thank you,” I smiled. “Though I did nothing in comparison to you and your men.” Cody nodded once, before straightening himself.
“Well, I do have something for you,” he smiled, reaching to his side once again. In his hand he heald my lightsaber. “It appears you lost something back there.” I let out a sigh of relief, quickly taking the weapon from him. Igniting the bright orange blade for a moment to ensure it was still in working order.
“For saving my weapon I owe you my life, Commander.”