Cato Neimodia 2.0

‘Fives, I need you up here.’

‘Petro, General Skywalker just contacted us. He orders you to wait for him until he arrives.’

‘No, there’s not enough time. We must capture him now!’

‘Copy that.’

Fives had learned by now that you can't argue with the padawan when he's certain of something.
Petro had been sent to Cato Neimodia where the Republic forces had been fighting for months now. The appearance of Darth Maul extended the war again and the sith had killed several jedi since he took over the control of the Separatist army. Yes, Maul was back and replaced Dooku. Darth Sidious knew that his old apprentice would be of use to him.
More powerful than ever before Maul led his army to one victory after another.

Petro was running after the sith right now in the main Separatist base.
He arrived on the landing platform where Maul was about to escape in his fighter. Petro sent a force push towards him which sent the sith on flying across the platform. Maul was soon on his feet again and Petro circled him, ready to attack.

‘Surrender, Maul!’

‘Never, jedi scum!’

He choked the padawan and dropped him afterwards.
Maul activated his red saber. He jumped forward, ready to do the final strike but Petro called his lightsaber back to his hand and held his own blade up against Maul's. The padawan kicked his opponent in the stomach and he flew back some meters. Petro had enough time to jump back on his feet. They ran towards each other to attack once more, their lightsabers clashing mercilessly when they met one another.

‘You overestimate your strength, young Dameron. That’ll be your undoing!’

Petro couldn't help it, he felt somewhat proud that the Sith already knew his name.
With his metal foot Maul grabbed Petro's throat and threw him on the ground. The padawan groaned in pain but stood up again as fast as he could.
Maul was already in his fighter. Just as he was about to take off Petro jumped on it and damaged the engine with his lightsaber. The fighter began to roll and Petro had difficulties not to fall off. Shortly before it crashed into a building Maul jumped out of the fighter. Petro became aware of the danger a few seconds later when the fighter was three metres in front of a house wall. He let go of the ship and hit the ground. The fighter exploded above him, metal pieces crashing everywhere next to him. He wanted to push the metal piece, which was falling towards him away with the force but it was too late. A sharp metal piece bore it’s way into his stomach.

‘Fives, where is Petro?’

‘Sir, we don’t know. Our last information about him say that he was heading towards the landing platform to confront Maul but we’ve found no sign of him here.’

‘Didn’t I order him not to fight Maul before I arrive?!’ Anakin shouted in disbelief.

‘I passed the order on but the Commander said there’s not enough time to wait for your arrival.’

‘As if my reckless padawan would ever follow my orders.' Anakin mumbled  more to himself.

'Didyone see Maul’s fighter taking off?’

‘Negative, sir.’

Anakin closed his eyes and reached out for his apprentice’s presence. He suddenly looked concerned.

‘What's wrong, sir?’

‘He’s still on the planet but I feel his presence is...vanishing.’

Anakin pushed the button of his comlink.

‘Rex, I need medical assistance down here immediately.’

‘Copy that, General.’

Anakin walked over to the edge of the platform. There was no sign of his padawan, except for…
He rushed over to a canon bomber followed by Fives.

‘Trooper, take us to this wreckage.’

The bomber flew over to the crash site. As soon as it landed Anakin sprinted to the scrap heap and removed a large piece with the force. It exposed a seriously injured Petro. Anakin knelt down beside his padawan and observed the wound.
Petro’s voice was cracked and weak but he was still managing a smile.

‘What took you so long, master?’

Even now he did not lose his humour.

‘Petro, what happened?’

‘I’m sorry. I’ve failed you, master. Maul escaped again.’

‘You haven’t failed me, Petro.’

The young padawan started coughing up blood.

‘Where is the medical support?’ Anakin shouted in desperation.

‘Master I…’

‘Don’t worry, Petro. We’ll fix you. You’re save now.’

The young padawan closed his eyes and slowly drifted away. Anakin cupped his padawn's head in his hands, leaning forward so that their foreheads were softly touching.

‘Petro, please stay with me!’ he whispered.

He then carefully placed his hands beneath Petro’s limp buddy to make sure the metal wasn't moved too much. He carried his padawan to the ship.

‘Sir, I think we should wait for the medical support.’ Fives suggested.

‘No, Petro hasn’t much time left. Trooper, bring us back to the cruiser. Avoid the main battle.’

‘Yes, sir.’

The ship took off and a few minutes later they were on the cruiser. Obi-Wan just wanted to fly with another ship down to them but as he spotted Anakin with Petro in his arms he ordered the clones to get a stretcher. Anakin placed his padawan on it and the clones ran off with the stretcher to the medical room.

‘Admiral Yularen, set the coordinates for Coruscant.’ Anakin informed him over his comlink.

'Sir, we can't leave in the middle of the battle.'

'It's urgent, Admiral! We're leaving immediately. Someone else has got to take over here.'

‘Copy that, General.’ Anakin ignored the dissatisfaction in the Admiral's voice.

Obi-Wan carefully approached his former padawan.

‘Anakin, what happened?’ he looked distressed.

‘I don’t know for sure. I’ve found him under the wreckage of Maul's fighter.’

‘What about Maul?’

‘He escaped. Master…do you think it was too soon to send him on a mission on his own?’

‘I think you had good reasons for sending him out alone. You have faith in him that he can handle things on his own. I think this experience today taught your padawan not to make impetuous decisions.’

‘You might be right. Still, he wouldn't be so heavily injured if I'd been there with him. Where’s Rex by the way?’

‘Their ship got shot. That’s why the medical supply did not arrive.’

‘Is Rex alright?’ Anakin tensed up even more.

‘Yes, he is. He contacted me shortly after the crash. I told him I’d get you and ordered him to support the troops on the ground.’
Anakin sighed in relief.

‘Alright. If you'd excuse me I’m on the medical station.’

'Anakin, he will be alright. Don't worry.' Obi-Wan placed a comforting hand on his former padawan's shoulder.

'I really hope you're right, master.'

Anakin stepped in the medical room, Fives was already there. A droid took care of Petro's injuries. The young padawan was still unconscious and wore an oxygen mask.

‘How is he?’ Anakin asked concerned.

The medicdroid didn’t turn around as he spoke to the general.

‘The good news first: He’ll survive if we get to Coruscant in time.’

‘In time?! How much time does he have?''

'I can't say.'

'And the bad news?’

‘He might need an organ donation. I took care of the harmless injuries but I can’t do anything about the metal piece. Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary equipment.’

Anakin sat down in a chair next to his padawan and held his hand. Fives sat on the bed across of them.
Stay with me, Petro. I need you more than you can imagine.

Some time later Obi-Wan entered and informed them that the cruiser was coming to land.

‘I’ve already contacted the council. He’ll be brought to the Halls of Healing immediately.’

‘Good. Fives, help me get him on a stretcher.’

Carefully they placed the padawan on the stretcher. As they finally arrived on Coruscant a team of jedi healers awaited them as well as master Yoda and master Windu. The chief healer, a female Tw'ilek named Vokara Che, immediately took care of Petro and instructed the other jedi healers.

‘Obi-Wan, unfortunately you must return to the battlefield. The troops on Cato Neimodia need reinforcements.’

‘Well, I’ll soon start off then.’ Anakin frowned.

He really needed his former master for emotional support right now.

‘Some time off you’ll get, Skywalker. Support in his healing process young Dameron will need.’

‘Yes, master Yoda. If you excuse me. I’ll be in the Halls of Healing. May the force be with you, Obi-Wan.’

Obi-Wan suppressed the urge to hug his friend, tell him that Petro would be alright once again. Instead he just bowed formally.

‘May the force be with you, Anakin.’

I'm really sorry for the bad cover! I'm not so talented when it comes to creativity. Hope you guys like how the story continues. Disney + will be launched this month in my country and I'm soooooooo excited for the last season! I really hope it'll give us this star wars feeling, we're all craving for, again.