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ARAMINTA SOLARII was a weapon. She knew she had sharp edges and the ability to wound, she knew she could make people fear her and that violence was in her nature. It was something she had come to accept, but the intention behind her shape had shifted over the years. Still, a weapon was a weapon, no matter how it was used or who stood behind the blade.

Anakin Skywalker held her like she was so much more. It was interesting to be held like a weapon, to be treated with care and respect, but still trusted and admired. But it was something Araminta was coming to accept, because she simply could not think of another reason why he looked at her the way he did or why he wasted the night hours with her.

Since the second invasion of Geonosis, the pair had made more of an effort to steal time when they could between assignments, scattered nights in each week and brief kisses in dark corridors. Anakin hadn't fallen asleep with her again yet, but Araminta was waiting for the night he did. She had rarely seen him look as peaceful as he had that night after the campaign, battle-weary and in her arms.

If it wasn't for the restricted touches and lingering looks the second someone else was around, Araminta might have imagined this was what a normal relationship felt like. Her time with Daesha had been interspersed with Octavian's iron fist and returning from missions with copper under her fingernails, and while it hadn't been a secret, it had hardly been close to normal or soft. And the same went for the girl she had been entangled with.

Anakin made it easy to hate that the Jedi Order existed, more than she already did, but she would take the forbidden moments shared between them over nothing. She knew the fact he had agreed to see her at all as a Jedi instead of swallowing his feelings was impressive as is, but she figured that was why she liked him so much.

"I was thinking," Anakin said slowly, one day, the sun catching his features as he pulled away from her for breath. Araminta was rarely in his room during the daytime, but they had started to get braver, it seemed.

"You can do that?" Araminta said, patting down his shirt.

"Yes," he said in a saturated voice. "Well, now the thought's gone."

She cocked her head at him. "I'm sure it was wonderful."

Someone knocked. Anakin and Araminta both froze in place, the assassin poking her head out from behind him, as if she could see through the door. Anakin stayed very still, looking like a deer in the headlights, before Araminta pushed off the bed and took him with her.

"It's not illegal for me to be here," Araminta hissed.

"Touche," he relented. Anakin ran a hand through his hair as he headed for the door, opening it. "Ah, Master," Anakin greeted. Araminta gave Obi-wan a small wave in greeting as he entered.

"Well, I see we're all here already," Obi-wan said, not sounding surprised in any capacity. If anything, he sounded grave.

"What's wrong?" Araminta asked, furrowing her brows at the tone.

"There's an emergency," Obi-wan told them, gesturing to the door. Araminta followed him quietly, her flushed lips and Anakin's room forgotten.

"What kind of emergency?" Anakin asked as they left his room.

"A transmission from Grievous," Obi-wan said tightly.

Araminta found that easy to believe as they neared the transmissions room, where Windu, Yoda and Gallia– another member of the Council at the time Araminta had been assigned– were present. Further Jedi were standing around as holograms, and Araminta swallowed thickly as she looked at the innermost transmission, Grievous' hollow eyes looking back at them.

Anakin looked to her, but Araminta ignored it.

"Greetings Jedi, it would seem once again one of your Order has lost his way," Grievous announced, clawed hand gripping the head of Koth– another Council member who knew the assassin. "And even better, a leading member of your Jedi Council. Listen to me, Jedi, I do not care about your politics. I do not care about your Republic."

He threw Koth to the ground roughly, the sounds of his struggle being projected through the room. "I only live to see you die." Droids, tall and armed with shimmering staffs, began to shock Koth, and Araminta saw Obi-wan clench his fists. "But death will not come so easily for Master Koth. I will make him suffer endlessly, because I know that is more painful for you all."

Grievous laughed as the transmission ended.

"He's a monster," Obi-wan said, a mixture of voices amongst the muttering around the circle gathered.

"It's time someone finally put an end to him," Anakin snarled.

"On that, agreed we are," Yoda said as serenely as always. "How to find him, the question remains."

"We lost contact with Master Koth– he could be anywhere," Obi-wan sighed.

"Play it back," Araminta said suddenly.

Obi-wan looked caught off guard, turning back to her. "What?"

"There was a message– play it back," she said simply.

Anakin looked down at her as well, looking slightly stunned. "You got all that from one watch?" he asked, sounding confused.

Araminta wasn't sure how to tell a room full of Jedi that she was so desensitised to the violence it was not the first thing she took note of.

Obi-wan only nodded briefly, as the transmission of Koth being tortured was brought back up. It was silenced this time, but Araminta's eyes were only hooded and on the movement of the Jedi's fingers.

"Look– hand signals," Anakin said brightly. He sent Araminta an appreciative look.

Obi-wan gently placed a hand on her shoulder in acknowledgement as he stepped forward, looking thoughtfully at the recording. "I admit my skills are rusty," he said slowly. "Saleucami System, sector J-19. 0-8, 0-5, 2-9."

"Saleucami," Master Gallia chimed in. "But intelligence reported Grievous has no ships near that sector."

"Yes, but so often inaccurate our intelligence is," Yoda sighed.

"We shall go," Obi-wan said, looking down at his bodyguard. Araminta only shrugged, accepting the usual life-threatening mission– it was a routine at this point.

"So will I," Anakin jumped in. Obi-wan and Araminta turned to him in synch, the young Jedi giving the bodyguard a pointed look.

"And I," Gallia joined, oblivious to the exchange beside her.

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ARAMINTA was surprised that being on the front lines hadn't killed her yet. Maybe it still would– break the weapon made for inside jobs and killing from the shadows. Octavian would call her his best weapon, others on her squad may have called her their best stealth option, but to Obi-wan, Araminta was the space between a knife and wound.

As the three Jedi and the tagging-along assassin went their separate ways, Araminta absent-mindedly rubbed the space on her uniform that had been split open on Geonosis– where she had taken the hit knowingly for another person. She looked at the side of Obi-wan's head as she adopted her usual place in his blindspot, keeping pace with his even and determined stride.

He had an air of seriousness to him, one she knew not to broach with her usual snide or careless remark. Something about Grievous dug under his skin, and even more that he had threatened a member of their Council itself. Araminta couldn't care less about the Jedi hierarchy, but she went where her mission went, and she did what it took to achieve it. Even if it did mean voluntarily putting her life at risk.

Maybe. Apparently. She had always done what it took to protect him because she followed orders and cared about preserving her life. But what life would she preserve if she perished in action? Where did she draw the line? Obi-wan might have bled out on Geonosis, not having the gall to crudely cauterise the wound he might have sustained had she not been in the way. Maybe it was a calculated risk.

Maybe she'd never know.

She did know that was not what Octavian had made her. She didn't know what that then made her.

"Araminta," Obi-wan cut in, pulling her back into the hangar as they boarded the massive fleet. The ship they would be on board shadowed them, and Cody was barking orders somewhere far away. "Are you alright?" the Jedi asked her, tone concerned.

"Fine," she told him simply. She wondered if she pulled off unfazed well enough. She wondered if he could tell what she was really bothered about.

"Solarii, Master," the one person who would be able to tell said in greeting.

"Anakin," Obi-wan acknowledged, and Araminta turned to face the younger Jedi. She looked at him as softly as she dared, thinking fondly of earlier that day before they had been interrupted and dragged into a rescue operation.

"We're ready," Anakin informed his old master.

Obi-wan nodded. "Good. Cody and I will lead the take-off." He glanced down at his bodyguard. "I will see you on board," he told her, stepping away and into the belly of the ship.

Araminta watched him go wearily, as Anakin grinned down at her. "Good luck," he said.

She scrunched her nose up at him. "You don't have to wish me luck before every mission," she said snidely. "They're all just as dangerous as the last."

"I know," Anakin said with a shrug. "But I want to."

Araminta's face softened. She wished they were alone.

"Don't die, Skywalker," she said sharply as they were forced to depart, engines humming around them.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" he called over his shoulder as she followed where Obi-wan had disappeared to.

The hatch closed up behind her as Araminta clambered through the escort-class ship, moving to the deck where Obi-wan was standing alone. He gave her a nod of acknowledgement as she appeared in his blindspot, the assassin only glancing at him to show she had noticed.

The fleet rose out of Coruscant's atmosphere, Araminta watching the industrial planet shrink below them as they got into position to jump to hyperspace. Cody stepped onto the main deck, appearing on the other side of Obi-wan. He gave the Jedi a nod, and Araminta squared her shoulders.

"Are you ready?" Obi-wan said over the transmission, a hologram of Gallia and Anakin appearing before them.

"Ready and waiting," Anakin responded from the pilot seat, Gallia cocking a hip behind him.

"We will engage the Separatist fleet and send you the coordinates of Grievous' command ship," Obi-wan explained, as if the plan had not been drafted to them already, as if Araminta had not been dreading the frontlines for the last hour.

"Just make sure you get it right," Anakin jeered.

"I always do," Obi-wan responded, unbothered.

"How do you plan on getting Grievous aboard your ship?" Gallia questioned. Araminta looked at her charge out of the corner of her eye, hating the plan he had relayed to her in the hangar.

"Not to worry. The good General and I have a history. I'm sure he'll want to even the score face-to-face," Obi-wan said jovially, as if he were reuniting with an old friend. He tilted his head to Araminta in prompt.

"Meanwhile," Araminta continued for him, "you'll jump in undetected and board the command ship." It was hard to tell through the transmission, but Araminta hoped Anakin knew she was looking at him.

Gallia nodded at the instruction. "If Master Koth is still alive, we will find him," she said firmly.

"Hopefully by the end of this mission, we will have saved Master Koth and captured General Grievous," Obi-wan concluded.

"That would be a good day," Gallia agreed.

Obi-wan nodded, before the transmission shut off. "Let's go," the General commanded.

"Yes, sir."

Araminta looked ahead as blue light engulfed their ship and they were thrust into hyperspace, the assassin lowering her gaze at the thought of what awaited them. The metal coating her shins and wrists felt tighter than usual, and her favourite knife sat against her outer thigh. The spot on her stomach stung with phantom pains.

Grievous was not an unfamiliar opponent, but they were doing exactly what he wanted. He would have the advantage and it was Araminta's job to keep Obi-wan alive to keep herself alive. But the thought of going too far now seemed tangible, and the assassin wasn't sure what she would do if it came down to it.

Where did she draw the line between protecting and sacrificing? Where did she draw the line between being dedicated to her orders or dedicated to staying alive? It didn't seem as clear anymore– as the war grew more desperate.

"Araminta," Obi-wan said abruptly. "Do you think Master Koth is still alive?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "Either way, we're going straight to Grievous, and that's what he wants."

Obi-wan did not flinch at her honesty, taking the answer on board as they exited hyperspace, their small escort-class ship leading the charge. Araminta swallowed back her doubts, as they continued forward, the large Separatist ship looming ahead of them.

"Hail it," Obi-wan instructed, eyes narrowed. The transmission rang out into empty space for a moment, before Grievous appeared in holographic form before them. "General," Obi-wan greeted pleasantly. "I knew one day I'd catch up to you."

"Kenobi!" Grievous snarled. "What a surprise. I assume you are here to bring me to justice."

"You know me too well," Obi-wan replied.

"Indeed I do," Grievous jeered.

The transmission cut off abruptly, Obi-wan arching an eyebrow at the response.

"I'd say it worked," Araminta remarked, as fighter ships began to emerge from Grievous' frigate. Obi-wan sighed, as their own Republic fighters sped to meet the Separatists in the middle.

"Well, we certainly have his attention," Obi-wan agreed. He tapped his wrist comm. "Admiral Yularen, keep Grievous' fleet occupied so Anakin's arrival is undetected."

"Yes, General," the Admiral replied from the Resolute. "Commence attack. All ships– fire at will."

The space around them began to light up with explosions and attacks, Araminta's eyes darting around to try and keep track of the battle.

"Cody, do you have the exact coordinates of the command ship yet?" Obi-wan asked.

"We're patching them through now, sir," Cody replied.

Araminta swallowed thickly, knowing somewhere Anakin was waiting for the coordinates to arrive out of Grievous' line of sight. She dared not think about how close he would make the jump– she knew his risks by now.

Their ship tilted suddenly, half the crew stumbling to the side, others gripping their positions tightly. Araminta skidded back, moving to her hands and knees to stay steady as Obi-wan scrambled back to his feet.

"Tractor beam has us, sir," Cody said urgently. "Shall we fire on the source?"

"No," Obi-wan instructed. "Let them think they have us. We need a diversion for Anakin."

"Yes, sir!" Cody responded.

Araminta stood up, golden eyes staring up at the command ship drawing closer and closer. Obi-wan watched beside her, mouth set in a firm line. "Are you ready?" he asked his bodyguard.

"No," she responded simply.

"Let's go," Obi-wan said as they began to approach the docking bay. "Cody, gather the men." Cody nodded, beginning to bark orders as Araminta followed after her charge, the weapons weighing down her body suddenly feeling very heavy.

The ship shook slightly as they headed down, and Araminta knew that they had docked. Obi-wan remained calm, as Cody rejoined them in the docking bay. Clones lined the bulkhead, blasters gripped tightly, and Araminta narrowed her eyes at the door ahead.

"Remember, we need to keep Grievous on this ship until General Skywalker is clear," Obi-wan told the Commander. Cody nodded, blaster raised.

"Someone's coming," Araminta announced, ears twitching forward.

"Get ready!" Obi-wan shouted.

Araminta heard the familiar hum of plasma from the other side of the door, as four glowing spots appeared in the metal, growing brighter and brighter. They began to turn, meeting each other to form a perfect, large circle in the metal, and Araminta darted to the side as she realised what was going to happen.

Obi-wan and her hit the wall as the large circle of metal barrelled towards them, hitting the end of the hallway with a reverberating clang, which echoed in the momentary silence just before the shooting started.

"My favourite," Araminta snarled as commando droids boarded their ship, making quick work of the four first-defence clones by the entrance hole.

The commando droids began to advance on them, Obi-wan and Araminta blocking or deflecting the shots, the clones firing from around them. Araminta brought out her own blaster to counter it, moments before two more droids appeared at the entrance, and the situation began to turn dire.

Two magna droids stood before them, electrified staffs simmering ominously, Araminta able to pick up on the hum as she followed Obi-wan's backtracking. She lowered her blaster, eyes focused as Grievous himself entered.

"Kenobi," he greeted.

Araminta immediately threw a smoke bomb, and the bulkhead erupted into chaos. She heard Cody and the remaining clones split off, as the assassin and Obi-wan went the opposite direction, a door sliding open as they moved into a different section of the ship. Araminta made sure she was pressed close to her charge, both her batons drawn now, ears swivelling.

She hated this plan.

The slightest scrape of metal, and Araminta shoved Obi-wan and forced them into a jog, the door to the empty bridge sliding open. Araminta narrowed her eyes, whipping around to the door as she heard the many sets of feet approaching. This was the furthest she could get Grievous away from the entrance to give Anakin his best chance.

"Get ready," Obi-wan said softly, activating his lightsaber and holding it out.

Araminta shifted her feet, choosing her placement against the Jedi as the door opened, Grievous approaching them menacingly. He was shouldered by the two magna droids, who crept out from the entrance and began to encroach on the pair from either side. Araminta remained resolute, waiting for Obi-wan to give her a sign for the first move.

"So, Kenobi, is everything going as planned?" Grievous asked smugly, as the magna droids got closer.

"That depends on your point of view, General," Obi-wan responded casually.

He moved first, blocking a strike from one of the droids' staffs. Araminta deflected a downward blow from her own side, baton hitting the metal part of the staff with a small clang that rattled down her wrist. She pushed off the droid, darting back slightly, shoulder blade pushing against Obi-wan as they switched positions.

When Araminta swung from the other side, her batons had joined into a polearm, which she jammed into the side of the magna droid, which sparked and backed off. A swing of plasma from her right, and Araminta heard the other collapse.

"You wouldn't come here without a plan," Grievous hissed. "And you wouldn't come alone." With the other droid still bearing down on them and Araminta's polearm ready, Grievous approached, one blue and one green sabre drawn. "Tell me, do you think Skywalker has rescued Koth yet?"

Araminta, hardened by years of training, maintained a steady expression despite her heart rate rising at the mention of Anakin. She felt Obi-wan stiffen slightly against her back, before Grievous charged forward. Obi-wan met him in the middle, as Araminta darted under a swing from the magna droid, using the shaft of the polearm to try to unbalance and keep it at a distance.

Magna droids made even Obi-wan look small, and put her at a massive disadvantage if they got close, especially without a lightsaber. Araminta cursed the convenience of the weapon as she began to fight defensively, pushing the strikes away and ducking when it got too close. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Obi-wan at the other side of the room keeping Grievous at bay.

Cody must have been dealing with the commando droids, or at least she hoped, as she dodged to the side, ankles bending as the magna droid spun on its own torso to hit her. The electricity hummed in Araminta's senses at the near miss, rolling to her feet, metal hitting metal as she blocked the staff as she got back up.

"Your plans have come to ruination, Jedi," Grievous hissed, as Obi-wan and him duelled, the sounds of plasma tearing through Araminta's senses, even if she was focused on the magna droid in front of her.

"I hear a lot of talking, General, but in the final accounting, what does all that talk get you?" Obi-wan grunted out, darting back from Grievous, almost against the wall now. "A futile quest for power, a mutilated body, and your place as Dooku's errand boy."

"I'm no errand boy!" Grievous sounded as if he were sneering. "And I am not in this war for Dooku's politics. I am the leader of the most powerful droid army the galaxy has ever seen."

Araminta, on the other side of the room, shoved the magna droid's staff upwards and moved low and between its legs, swiping her polearm as she went. The magna droid went crashing, and she leapt to her feet and jammed its own staff into its chest. It sparked and seized beneath her feet, before going still.

"An army with no loyalty, no spirit, just programming," Obi-wan spat. Araminta, wielding dual polearms, turned to Grievous' back. Her nature of eliminating a threat efficiently made her want to attack, but a pointed look from Obi-wan kept her still. "What have you to show for all your power? What have you to gain?" he continued as Araminta waited apprehensively in the wings.

"The future," Grievous said simply, reaching to his side and brandishing his other two sabres. "A future where there are no Jedi."

Araminta didn't wait for a signal this time as she lunged, leading with the electrostaff, the end slamming down against one of Grievous' sabres as he simultaneously duelled both of them. Two limbs offensively going for Obi-wan, while the other two defended against Araminta's onslaught, her attacks precise but quick.

The electrostaff only lasted so long, both ends being sliced off as two limbs came down, forcing Araminta to switch hands in seconds. Heat seared past her right ear, and as she came up, her golden eyes widened at the fourth sabre coming at her. The polearm scraped against Grievous' thin limb as Araminta jarred it suddenly, twisting the General's arm around the metal pole.

The suddenness of the move caught him off guard, a lightsaber hilt clattered to the floor as she disarmed him, but in the process he swung around with the other sabre, forcing her to retreat as her polearm was sliced in two, rolling to the side.

Araminta landed roughly from the narrow escape, wincing at the impact on her shoulder as she pushed to her hands and knees, watching as Obi-wan made an attempt to get out of the corner Grievous had him in, only ending in him being slammed to the ground from behind.

"The story of Obi-wan Kenobi ends here," Grievous said triumphantly.

Araminta grit her teeth, reaching out a hand, the fourth lightsaber hilt flying to her from where it was discarded on the ground. It lit up in a shade of blue, as light as every other time she had handled the famous weapon, and she leapt forward, putting herself between Obi-wan and Grievous.

"You," Grievous snarled, two lightsabers clashing with Araminta's, the small woman bracing her knees at the impact. "Always joined at Kenobi's hip."

The lightsabre tore through the air as Araminta ducked from the third swinging at her, moving past Grievous' wingspan as he spun to try and keep track of her, his own golden eyes fixated on her. His attention being on her had given Obi-wan a chance to get to his feet, charging at Grievous from the other direction.

The General let out a yell as he began to fend off the both of them, this time far more vicious. One moment, he would focus on Araminta, forcing her five feet back to avoid being cut in half, and the next he'd be going for Obi-wan, so aggressively that glowing, hot slices now covered the bridge's surfaces from the length of Grievous' blows.

Araminta leapt back in, spinning the lightsaber in a way not unlike she'd spin her polearm, Grievous' attention back to her as he drove two lightsabers down at her, her knees buckling under the sudden pressure. It only lasted for a moment, before Obi-wan was at her side, and Grievous had to split his efforts to cover both of them.

"It suits you," Obi-wan told her over the noise.

"What?" she asked.

"The lightsaber."

"Look out!"

She moved him out of the way, both the assassin and Jedi raising their lightsabers to hold off Grievous at once, as the cyborg arced over them. "Your friends shall die, Kenobi, and you shall soon follow."

Araminta pulled away, hearing Obi-wan inhale sharply as he was left to take the pressure on his own, but a second later the discarded body of a magna droid crashed into Grievous. He stumbled off the bridge, as Araminta exchanged a glance with Obi-wan, who only nodded at her.

As Obi-wan stood over Grievous, lightsabre held out, Araminta couldn't help but feel she had fought with him, rather than for him.

"Surrender General," Obi-wan commanded.

"Never!" Grievous shouted, springing forward, claw-like legs first, forcing Obi-wan out of the way.

Araminta moved instinctively, hating that the mission was non-lethal, as Grievous disappeared behind the door leading out of the bridge. The assassin slammed against the button to open it, cursing when she realised the Separatist had jammed it behind him. She drew the stolen lightsabre, stabbing it into the metal.

Obi-wan ran over to join her, lightsabre coming down as he began to cut through it as well. He lifted his wrist comm to his mouth as he worked. "Anakin, I hope you've rescued Master Koth, because Grievous is headed back to his ship," he warned.

"Fantastic," he responded.

With the added lightsaber, the door came clean soon, Araminta and Obi-wan using the Force to push the circle out from the door as they clambered through. The assassin holstered the lightsaber hilt, violently aware she had lost her batons and polearm for the meantime.

Araminta followed in Obi-wan's footsteps as they retraced their steps, turning a corner and almost running into two unarmoured clones. "Get back to the bridge!" Obi-wan instructed. "We need to detach before Grievous can jump ship." They nodded at the orders, sprinting away as Obi-wan charged onwards. "Cody, come in."

"Yes, sir," the Commander replied.

"Grievous is headed your way," Obi-wan said urgently. He turned to Araminta as they hurried. "What can you hear?"

"Blasterfire," Araminta responded.

Obi-wan grit his teeth as they continued, turning sharply. "We need to–"

He was cut off as the ship jolted suddenly, Obi-wan bracing against the wall as Araminta stumbled and caught herself on her hands and knees, distant explosions ringing in her senses. She blinked up at her charge. "He wouldn't," she hissed.

"Apparently, he would," Obi-wan sighed.

"We're still attached," Araminta pointed out, jumping back into a run.

"Cody!" Obi-wan called into his wrist comm, but it didn't matter as they turned a corner and were met with Grievous' shrinking form. "Hurry!" Obi-wan shouted, Araminta following him obediently as Cody and two other clones joined them.

The group failed to cut off Grievous as they reentered the loading bay, the circle he had cut into the metal when he had first boarded now the perfect doorway into the bulkhead as they continued to chase after him. Beneath their feet, Araminta heard the metal groan, and suddenly the corridor tipped.

Araminta hardly had time to focus on regaining her footing as Grievous came sliding down towards them, lightsaber already drawn. She swiped up, deflecting the blow with the one she had taken off him, as Obi-wan came at him as well, blocked by a second lightsaber. Araminta grit her teeth and jumped to her feet, lightsaber hilt held vertically to the ceiling as she attacked.

Grievous laughed as he duelled the pair again, the ground beneath them dangerously unstable, as the Separatist kept his position steady with his clawed feet. With a snap, the docking tube tilted again, and in a moment of unsteadiness, Grievous roughly kicked Obi-wan, sending him flying down the almost-vertical shaft.

Araminta pulled back immediately, ducking as Grievous rounded on her, the assassin moving unnaturally as she tried to stay standing in the ever-changing conditions. She was forced to deflect a strike with her wrist bracer, connecting with Grievous' wrist. He shoved her back, the angle causing her to almost lose her footing as the Separatist took his chance and fled, climbing up the walls like an insect.

The assassin glanced back down at Obi-wan, who was slowly trying to climb back up the shaft. "Keep going!" he instructed. Araminta didn't hesitate, pulling herself up and closer to the lip of Grievous' ship, where he now stood, glaring down at them.

"Until we meet again, Kenobi," Grievous told him.

Araminta only blinked at the small blue beam as Gallia appeared from behind, slamming into Grievous, who narrowly managed to block her with his own lightsaber. The assassin climbed faster, as the pair duelled above her.

Her fingers cleared the lip of the ship as she pulled herself up, igniting the lightsaber as she spun, swinging it in Grievous' direction, forcing him to dart back from surprise. Gallia gave no sign of acknowledgement to the assassin except the briefest of glances, as the two women held off Grievous.

Araminta wasn't sure if the other Council member's goal was to knock Grievous back down the shaft, but the assassin was advancing on the Separatist, closer and closer to the edge. Gallia had a very different fighting style to Obi-wan, and Araminta hardly worked as smoothly alongside her, but faced with three lightsabres, the pair made it work.

"Solarii!" Gallia called as the assassin paused abruptly, ears perked and eyes wide.

The metal groaned and gave way, the bulkhead broke off below them, and the vacuum of space swept Araminta's feet out from under her. She let out a yell of surprise, managing to grab the edge of Grievous' ship, holding on tightly, kicking to try and get her feet against a surface to turn on her magnetic boots.

Urgently, she glanced below to see Obi-wan hanging onto Cody's wrist, open space metres below them. Her eyes widened, the air thinning around her, but she didn't let go. She briefly wondered if she would be able to drop down, catch herself, and help pull Obi-wan back up. No, she knew she'd be able to– but then she'd be in an even worse position to help.

She bit back her doubts, and focused on trying to climb back up into Grievous' ship that was still connected to the docking tube– there would be an airlock there to at least stop the crushing pressure sucking them out into space. Cody down below was all that remained of their small force, and Araminta dreaded to think what had happened to the escort ship they had taken, the one Grievous had fired on despite still being attached to it.

Amongst the chaos Grievous had gotten away, and Gallia was pulling herself back into the ship, managing to get clear of the vacuum of space, firing a cable down below. Araminta breathed a small sigh of relief as she fought to pull herself into the ship, watching on as Obi-wan and Cody climbed the cable.

The assassin moved as close to the edge as she dared, reaching out and grabbing Obi-wan when he got close enough, hauling him inside. Araminta helped Cody next, and once he was clear, Gallia kicked at the airlock, the doors to the docking tube closed.

Obi-wan scrambled to his feet without waiting another moment. "Hurry, we can still catch him," he said persistently, already moving to pursue Grievous in the general direction he had disappeared to.

"Obi-wan, Anakin's leaving," Gallia interjected. "We'll be trapped on the ship."

Obi-wan hesitated, Araminta watching his shoulders shift, waiting for him to move so she could. He raised his wrist comm. "Anakin, come in," he relented, Araminta unclenching slightly.

"I'm here," her partner responded.

"We're in a bit of a spot, and we need a way off of Grievous' ship," Obi-wan explained briefly. He looked up at Araminta as there was a moment of silence, and the assassin wondered if he held it against her for not jumping into the docking tube after him– that it had been Gallia who had been better equipped and saved him.

"There's a large hangar near your position, get there and I'll pick you up," Anakin finally responded.

Gallia and Obi-wan nodded at each other, leading the charge as Cody and Araminta brought up the rear.

All around them, Araminta could hear explosions and groaning metal, a sound she was growing tired of hearing during her missions on the front lines. Above them, an evacuation announcement for every droid was ringing, and they encountered no resistance as they sprinted through the corridors, some with flickering lights and others completely dead from the destruction.

"There!" Obi-wan shouted, turning a corner sharply as they entered the empty hangar. The ship shook slightly, and Araminta pulled up her own communicator.

"Skywalker," Araminta pressed.

"Yeah, yeah– I'm here," he replied lightly, just as the small shuttle pulled into the hangar.

Their splintered group wasted no time in boarding, hurrying up the ramp. Araminta brought up the rear, the hilt of the lightsaber hitting her hip as she jogged. The hatch closed behind them, as Obi-wan led her into the cockpit where Anakin and Rex were.

"Here we go!" Anakin announced, the shuttle lifting off the ground and speeding out of the hangar. "This is becoming a habit," Anakin mused, glancing up at Araminta. She looked between him and the glowing debris outside that he ducked around as they headed for the Resolute.

"Bit like you being late," Araminta responded with a shrug. Anakin rolled his eyes as Obi-wan leaned forward, hand on the back of his seat.

"Anakin, get me Admiral Yularen," Obi-wan instructed.

"All set," Anakin replied. He swivelled in his seat while Obi-wan was occupied, blue eyes softening on Araminta. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Fine, actually," Araminta told him. "Just bruised. How'd you guys go?"

Anakin scanned her briefly, and she noticed his gaze linger on her waist. "The usual," he said casually, with his usual level of charm.

Araminta scoffed. "I'm sure."

Her ears perked up, refocusing on Obi-wan and Yularen's debrief. "Several craft detached from Grievous' ship and attempted to land on Saleucami," Yularen told them.

"Then we'll have to land and follow them," Obi-wan relented. Araminta bit her bottom lip, knowing she was included in that. "Prepare the tanks."

"Yes, sir," Yularen responded, before the transmission ended.

"There must be several landing sites," Anakin pointed out. "It may be hard to find the good general."

"You'll have to command the space battle while us, Rex and Cody head to the surface," Obi-wan told him simply.

Anakin, out of the corner of his eye, looked at Araminta. "You sure you can handle this on your own?" he asked.

"I think I can manage," Obi-wan said lightly, as they entered the shadow of the Resolute.

Araminta could feel Anakin's eyes on her as they docked and disembarked. Gallia and a clone helped Koth down, the Jedi hardly able to walk. At least that part of their mission had been a success.

The hangar's energy was electric, and Araminta knew the second she stepped out of the shuttle, she wouldn't stop moving for a good six hours. It was hardly what she had expected that morning, but she supposed that was what she was made for these days.

"I'll get Master Koth to a medical frigate," Gallia told them.

From his position strung on her shoulder, the Jedi in question spoke up. "You all took a great risk rescuing me," Koth murmured.

"You're welcome, Master Koth," Obi-wan replied.

"Since you divided your forces, Grievous is still at large," Koth sighed. "I would have gladly given my life if it meant bringing that monster to justice."

Gallia frowned at the confession, and even Obi-wan looked unsure of how to respond. "Well, at least we all live to fight another day," Anakin jumped in. Araminta supposed they were the best words they had right now.

"Araminta, with me," Obi-wan said quietly, as they began to split up in different directions. Araminta nodded once, exchanging longing glances with Anakin as she moved off and fell into step with her charge.

"Solarii," Anakin called. She turned back to him, looking up. Obi-wan paused a few feet away, watching their exchange cautiously. "Good luck," Anakin said in a reserved tone, one she knew meant he had much more to say.

She rolled her eyes, but warmth pooled in her chest. "I'll try."

"With that it'll be easy," Anakin said, almost proudly, gesturing to her hip.

"That reminds me," Araminta said, unclipping the lightsaber from her belt. "Here." She blinked up at him, holding out the lightsaber hilt.

Anakin furrowed his brows. "You're not gonna keep it? You won it."

"I'm not a Jedi," she said. "Make it a spare.

Anakin took it, fingers brushing hers as the weight of the weapon that had saved her life left her hands. He nodded at her with a soft smile, and Araminta returned the gesture, dipping her head.

It was the most intimate farewell they could muster in the heat of battle, as the pair went their separate ways.

"I need new batons," Araminta said as she fell back into step with Obi-wan, the Jedi looking at her fondly.

"That can be arranged," Obi-wan told her.

The assassin only hummed in response, risking a glance over her shoulder at Anakin's receding form, two lightsabers now swinging from his belt.

She was no Jedi. Araminta Solarii was a weapon. Unyielding and capable of wounding, with blood stuck in the cracks and a history to match. She had violence sewn into her hands, and a set of eyes that remained untouched by the things they had seen. She did what was necessary, which included wielding a weapon she hated to be associated with, that included making the hard decisions between saving Obi-wan's life or her own.

She also knew that to Anakin Skywalker, she was so much more. Not just a weapon, not just a guard dog rescued from the slaughter two years ago, not a Jedi hiding behind a glowing blade. She didn't know what she was to him entirely, but she did know that she believed him. And that was enough for now.

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lol hi i am alive, please take this mediocre chapter as an apology <3333 back to my roots of staying up till 1am to finish things so UNEDITED!!

anakinta dating brings me so much happiness i had to stuff as much of them in the beginning before all the filler and obiminta action kicked in

also araminta with a lightsabre>>> may become a common occurrence in the near future hmm

this is episode 209, which is also connected to 210 obvs where they go to the planet. however, that episode is heavily clone focused so i've chosen to skip it and reference/summarise it in the next chapter, which begins the mandalore arc and introduces satine!! so you win some, you lose some