Three Months Later...

Chapter Fifty-Two
Mira

It's been three months since I was with Padmé on that mission regarding Senator Lot Dodd. Whatever part he played in the growing unrest, I hadn't been bothered to keep up with the details. My focus had been on recovering and regaining my strength after the poisoning incident. Now, I found myself aboard Obi-Wan and Anakin's cruiser, the Absolute, feeling a mixture of determination and trepidation.

As I leaned against the viewport, watching the stars streak by, I felt the familiar hum of the ship beneath me. The ship was a blend of elegance and power, a fitting vessel for two of the Jedi Order's most capable knights. Anakin's presence beside me was a steadying force, and I glanced at him, taking in the way his brow was furrowed in concentration as he reviewed the latest intelligence reports.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Anakin asked, concern etched on his face. His protective instincts were always on high alert, especially after what happened before. I could feel his worry, even through the bond we shared.

"I've trained for this moment, Anakin," I replied, my voice steady despite the flutter of anxiety in my chest. "We need to uncover what Dodd is up to. The longer we wait, the more danger we face."

Obi-Wan, seated at the control panel, turned to us with a nod of approval. "She's right. The information we gathered indicates that Dodd is indeed making alliances with the Separatists. We cannot afford to underestimate his intentions."

Anakin sighed but didn't press further. He knew better than to challenge my resolve. I appreciated his concern, but I was determined to contribute. The galaxy was in turmoil, and I needed to stand with my fellow Jedi.

"We'll be arriving at the rendezvous point shortly," Obi-Wan continued, his eyes scanning the coordinates on the display. "I hope Padmé is able to gather more information on Dodd's activities. The Senate needs to be made aware of the threat he poses."

I nodded, my thoughts drifting to my friend. Padmé was a fierce ally, always dedicated to the cause of peace. I admired her strength and the way she could navigate the complexities of politics with grace. I just hoped she was safe.

"Do you think Clovis is still in the picture?" Anakin asked, his voice low. I could hear the edge in his tone, a reminder of the past betrayal that still stung.

"It's possible," I replied, my mind racing through the implications. "He was aligned with Dodd, and I doubt he would just walk away. If he is involved, we need to be extra cautious. He's slippery and has his own agenda."

"Let's hope Padmé can provide us with some answers," Obi-Wan said, his expression grave. "We must approach this situation with care. Trust is a fragile thing, especially in these times."

As the cruiser glided through the depths of space, I felt the weight of our mission settling on my shoulders. We were stepping into a web of deception, and I could only hope that we would emerge unscathed. With Anakin and Obi-Wan by my side, I felt a surge of confidence. Together, we would face whatever lay ahead.

"Ready?" Anakin asked, offering me a reassuring smile.

"Always," I replied, returning his smile with one of my own.

As the ship prepared to drop out of hyperspace, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenges that awaited us. The fate of the galaxy hung in the balance, and I was determined to do my part.

- 

The plan was set. Our forces were divided into a three-prong attack against the shield protecting Poggle's droid foundries on Geonosis. I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on me as we boarded the gunship. It was going to be anything but easy, and I was painfully aware that my friends and the clones would be counting on us to succeed.

Wolfie sensed my tension as we climbed aboard, his sharp eyes flicking over me. "You alright?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with concern. I could see the flicker of his own unease, a reminder that we were all walking into a potential trap.

"Yeah, just... focused," I replied, forcing a smile to reassure him. Inside, my heart raced as I thought about the battle ahead. Obi-Wan had already briefed us on the risks, and I knew we were facing an uphill battle against overwhelming odds.

As we strapped ourselves into the gunship, I caught a glimpse of Obi-Wan speaking with Commander Cody. They were reviewing the tactics for the first wave of the attack. Cody's calm demeanor and strategic mind were always a source of comfort, but I could see the flicker of worry in Obi-Wan's eyes. He had witnessed the horrors of this war too many times.

"Just remember, Cody," Obi-Wan said, "we need to hit their defenses hard and fast. If we can disable their shield generators, we'll have a better chance of destroying the foundries."

Cody nodded, determination etched on his face. "Understood, General. We won't let you down."

I felt a surge of pride for our troops, knowing that they were willing to fight alongside us. But pride was a fragile thing in war, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this mission would push us all to our limits.

The gunship rumbled to life, and I settled into my seat, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. Anakin sat across from me, his expression a mixture of focus and determination. He caught my gaze and gave me a reassuring nod, a silent promise that we would make it through this together.

"Alright, everyone," Obi-Wan called out, his voice steady. "We need to remain vigilant. We'll be landing near the perimeter of the shield in a few minutes. Remember your training, and trust in the Force."

As the gunship began its descent, I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the familiar hum of the Force wash over me. It was a blend of energy, clarity, and intuition that I needed to tap into for the battle ahead.

Suddenly, the ship jolted, and I opened my eyes, my instincts flaring. "We've got company!" I shouted, pointing toward the viewport where blaster fire erupted against the hull of the gunship.

"Brace yourselves!" Anakin yelled as the pilot maneuvered to avoid the incoming fire.

Wolfie quickly engaged with the clone troopers onboard, barking orders. "Get ready! We need to defend ourselves while we land!"

I grabbed my lightsaber, feeling the weight of it in my hand. This was it—the moment we had been preparing for. I could see the Geonosian landscape below, rocky and treacherous, the droid foundries looming in the distance like a dark shadow.

"On my mark!" Obi-Wan commanded, his voice rising above the chaos. "We'll charge in as soon as we touch down!"

With each passing second, the tension in the gunship thickened. I could feel my heart pounding in sync with the rhythmic thud of the engines. The stakes were high, and I knew that the outcome of this battle could change everything.

"Get ready!" Obi-Wan shouted as we made our final approach, the ground rushing up to meet us.

The moment we landed, the doors of the gunship opened, and chaos erupted. I leaped out, lightsaber ignited, ready to face whatever awaited us.

-

It had been more dangerous than I anticipated. Our ship had gotten shot down pretty early on, sending us crashing onto the rocky terrain of Geonosis. The impact had rattled me, but I pushed through the disorientation, immediately focused on finding Obi-Wan. He was injured, but I was relieved to see he was still conscious.

"Obi-Wan!" I called out, rushing to his side. He lay on the ground, grimacing as he tried to assess the damage to his shoulder. Blood seeped through his tunic, darkening the fabric and creating an unsettling contrast against the stark backdrop of the battlefield.

"No, Mira, please..." he gasped, his voice strained. I could see the agony etched on his face as he gritted his teeth, attempting to sit up despite the pain. "I can still fight. We need to—"

"Please, Obi, stay down!" I pleaded, my heart pounding in my chest. The battlefield was chaotic, filled with the sounds of blaster fire and explosions in the distance, but right now, my only focus was on him. "You're hurt. We can't risk further injury. Let me help you!"

I knelt beside him, trying to assess the wound. The scrape on his shoulder looked painful, and I knew it must be more than just superficial. The heat of battle raged around us, but my world narrowed to his condition and the desperate need to get him safe.

Obi-Wan's blue eyes met mine, filled with a mix of determination and concern. "Mira, you're needed out there. We can't let them overrun our position. You need to—"

"No!" I interrupted, feeling frustration bubble within me. "You're more important right now. If you don't take care of yourself, none of this will matter!" I grabbed a nearby piece of fabric, tearing it into strips to make a makeshift bandage.

He winced as I pressed the fabric against the wound, trying to staunch the bleeding. "I appreciate your concern, but—"

"No 'buts'!" I insisted, my voice firm as I tied the bandage tightly around his shoulder. "You're not going anywhere until you're stabilized."

Before he could argue further, I activated my commlink. "Wolfie! I need a medic over here!" My voice was steady, but I felt the tension in my chest. I couldn't let fear take over, not when Obi-Wan needed me to be strong.

"Copy that, Mira!" Wolfie's voice crackled back, urgency evident. "We're engaging the droids, but I'll send someone to your location."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes briefly, breathing heavily as I worked. I could feel the tremors of pain radiating from him, and it was agonizing to witness. "You're going to be alright, Obi-Wan," I said softly, trying to instill some confidence. "Just hold on a little longer."

He looked at me, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in his gaze. "You're always so headstrong, Mira," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the pain. "It's why I admire you."

I forced a smile back, though my heart ached for him. "And it's why I'm going to make sure you survive this," I replied, brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Just then, I heard the distant sound of blaster fire drawing closer. My instincts flared, and I instinctively reached for my lightsaber. "Stay low," I instructed Obi-Wan, my focus shifting to the encroaching threat.

"I'll be fine, Mira," he said, his voice steadying. "We need to protect our position."

"We will, but you need to be safe first!" I insisted. Just as I spoke, a clone trooper arrived, rushing to our side.

"General Kenobi!" the trooper shouted, assessing the situation quickly. "We need to get you out of here!"

"I'm not leaving without Mira," Obi-Wan replied, his voice firm despite the pain.

"Neither am I," I said, giving him a pointed look. "We fight together or not at all."

The trooper looked between us, uncertainty in his eyes, but he nodded. "Alright, but we have to move quickly. The droids are advancing."

With the medic's help, we managed to get Obi-Wan stabilized, and together, we braced ourselves for the impending battle. As I stood ready, lightsaber ignited, I felt the weight of our mission pressing down on us. We would face this together, no matter the cost.

-

Author

Anakin and Ahsoka sprinted through the chaos of the battlefield, the sounds of blaster fire and clashing metal echoing around them. The dusty terrain of Geonosis was littered with debris from fallen droids and clone troopers alike. As they turned a corner, they were suddenly faced with a towering wall bristling with laser turrets, each one swiveling toward them with ominous precision.

"Great," Ahsoka muttered, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "Just what we need."

Anakin grinned, adrenaline pumping through his veins. "We've faced worse. Let's go!" Without waiting for a response, he ignited his lightsaber, its blue blade humming to life, and leaped towards the wall. Ahsoka followed closely, using the Force to propel herself upward.

The moment they reached the top, they were greeted with a barrage of blaster fire from a group of battle droids stationed at the high ground. Ahsoka quickly rolled to the side, deflecting blaster bolts with her twin sabers, while Anakin charged forward with ferocity.

"Let's show them how Jedi handle a little firepower!" Anakin shouted, his blade dancing through the air as he cut down one droid after another. Ahsoka moved in tandem, her agility allowing her to weave through the incoming shots, striking down the droids with fluid precision.

As they began to gain the upper hand, a low rumble filled the air, and two droidekas emerged from hidden compartments in the wall, their shields activated. The ominous whirring of their generators sent a chill down Ahsoka's spine.

"Anakin!" she yelled, barely dodging a blast from one of the droidekas. "We're trapped!"

"Not for long!" Anakin replied, scanning their surroundings. Just as he was about to launch into a desperate plan, a familiar voice crackled over their comms.

"Rex, do you read me?" Anakin called out, knowing that their clone commander was close by.

"Loud and clear, General!" Rex responded, his voice filled with urgency. "What's your status?"

"We're pinned down by two droidekas at the top of the wall. We need a distraction—now!"

Rex's reply was instant. "On it!" There was a moment of static before they heard the sound of blaster fire.

Suddenly, Rex appeared at the edge of the wall, blaster rifle in hand. With pinpoint accuracy, he managed to shoot one of the droidekas' shield generators, causing it to flicker. Anakin seized the opportunity and leaped forward, slashing at the exposed droid. The droideka crumpled to the ground, sparks flying as Anakin's blade cleaved through its metal body.

Ahsoka, not wasting any time, redirected her focus to the second droideka. "I'll handle this one!" She ignited her sabers, their green blades illuminating her fierce determination. As she launched herself at the droid, Rex provided cover fire, drawing its attention while Ahsoka executed a perfect flip over it.

In a matter of seconds, Ahsoka struck, severing the droid's blaster arms before delivering a final blow that sent it crashing to the ground. "Got it!" she exclaimed, exhilarated by their teamwork.

"Nice work!" Anakin said, pride swelling in his chest as he turned to Rex. "Now let's clear this place out."

They quickly assessed the situation, spotting the deployment holes from which more droids could emerge. Anakin reached for the explosive charges he had on hand. "We need to make sure they can't send any reinforcements."

"Cover me!" Ahsoka shouted as she used the Force to push any remaining droids back, allowing Anakin to plant the charges. He secured them in the deployment holes, then turned to Ahsoka. "Ready?"

"Let's jump!" Together, they leaped off the wall just as the charges detonated, sending debris flying in all directions. The resulting explosion sent a shockwave through the area, clearing the path behind them.

Once they landed safely, they quickly regrouped, scanning for any further threats. Just then, they spotted Jedi Master Plo Koon and Commander Mundi making their way toward them through a throng of Geonosians and battle droids. Mundi waved them over, flanked by clone flametroopers who were using their fiery weapons to clear the enemies from their path.

"Mundi! Good to see you!" Anakin called, relief flooding through him. "Looks like you've made quite an entrance."

"Likewise, Skywalker," Mundi replied with a nod. "But we need to keep moving. The Geonosians won't stop until we're all dead."

Anakin activated his comm again, this time contacting Admiral Yularen. "Admiral, do you copy? We need air support. Now."

"Copy that, General Skywalker," Yularen replied. "I'll spare one squadron to assist you. They're on their way."

"Thanks, Admiral. We'll hold the line until they arrive," Anakin confirmed.

Turning to Ahsoka and Mundi, he said, "Let's move out and secure a defensible position while we wait for air support. We can't let these droids regroup."

As they pressed forward, Ahsoka felt a surge of hope. With their combined strength and the support of the clones, they could turn the tide of this battle. The war wasn't over, but together, they would fight every step of the way.