Chapter Fifty-Three
Mira

I winced as a sharp pain radiated through my shoulder, the injury reminding me of the chaos surrounding us. My eyes fell on Obi-Wan, finally being wheeled in on a gurney, attended to by Anakin and Medic Kix. Relief surged through me, but it was quickly replaced by anxiety as I took in the sight of my friend's pale face.

"Obi-Wan!" I called out, instinctively moving closer, despite the throbbing pain in my shoulder.

He looked at me, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "You should be tended to too, ma'am," he said, his voice strained but firm.

I shook my head vehemently, my heart racing. "Don't worry about me, Kix! Obi-Wan needs help," I insisted, urgency lacing my tone. "He has a wound in his belly. It's going to be harder to heal than just a scrape on the shoulder."

Kix glanced at me, then back to Obi-Wan, assessing the situation. "You're both injured, but I need to prioritize the serious wounds," he replied, moving quickly to check Obi-Wan's condition.

Anakin's brow furrowed in concern as he looked between us. "Mira, you need to let Kix do his job. Obi-Wan is in bad shape," he urged, his voice steady but filled with worry.

I nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle heavily on my chest. "Just... make sure he's okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kix immediately shifted his focus, applying pressure to Obi-Wan's wound and assessing the damage. I watched, my heart in my throat, as Obi-Wan grimaced in pain but remained resolute.

"We'll get through this," he said, trying to reassure both of us despite the evident struggle. "Just stay focused, Mira."

As Kix worked diligently, I took a deep breath, willing myself to remain calm. I couldn't afford to break down now. The battle outside was still raging, but right here, right now, my priority was clear. I would fight for Obi-Wan, for all of us.

As Kix continued to tend to Obi-Wan, I heard the familiar footsteps of Waxer and Boil approaching from the shadows. Their presence was a mix of comfort and urgency.

"Commander Cody came to get you, sir," Waxer said, standing at attention with a look of concern on his face.

Obi-Wan nodded, his expression serious yet strained. "Comm him and tell him I'll be fine," he replied, attempting to reassure both of us, though I could see the pain flickering in his eyes.

He turned to me, his gaze softening slightly. "You need to go to Anakin or Master Mundi. They need you more than I do," he insisted, his voice steady despite the agony he was enduring.

I opened my mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes silenced me. He was right. Anakin and Master Mundi were out there, fighting the battle, and I couldn't let my personal worries pull me away from what needed to be done.

"I can't just leave you here like this," I argued, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me.

"Trust me," Obi-Wan said firmly, a flicker of that familiar wisdom shining through the haze of pain. "You're stronger out there with them. I'll be okay here."

I hesitated, torn between duty and loyalty. But deep down, I knew he was right. He was in capable hands with Kix, and staying here would do nothing but jeopardize my own ability to help others.

Finally, I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Alright," I relented. "But I'll be back as soon as I can. You better be okay by then," I added, trying to keep my voice light, even as worry churned in my stomach.

Obi-Wan offered a weak smile. "I'll hold you to that."

With one last glance at my wounded friend, I turned and hurried toward the exit, Waxer and Boil falling into step beside me. My heart raced as I left the makeshift medical area behind, focused on finding Anakin and Master Mundi. The battle was still raging, and I couldn't afford to let fear hold me back.

-

I found Anakin amidst the chaos, just as the turret wall had collapsed behind me. The dust and debris still hung in the air, but the sight of him brought an unexpected surge of relief. Rex and Ahsoka were nearby, their expressions a mix of determination and amusement as they landed gracefully on the ground.

"Well," I called out, unable to suppress a giggle as I approached. I glanced back at the rubble, then at Anakin, who was brushing himself off. "Could've told me before I jumped, General!"

Anakin smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes, but his smile faltered momentarily. He seemed to catch his breath as he took in my presence. "Mira," he breathed, the relief evident in his voice. Without hesitation, he stepped toward me, enveloping me in a tight hug.

I melted into him, the warmth of his embrace washing away the tension that had built up during the battle. I didn't care if his men saw him being affectionate with me; in that moment, it was just us against the world.

"I was so worried," he murmured into my hair, his grip tightening slightly. "I didn't know if you made it through the blast."

I pulled back slightly to meet his gaze, seeing the concern etched on his features. "I'm okay, just a little scrape," I assured him, waving a hand dismissively. "You know me. It takes more than that to take me down."

Anakin chuckled softly, but his eyes betrayed his worry. "You shouldn't take so many risks, Mira. We need you out here, not getting hurt," he replied, the protector in him surfacing.

"I know," I said, my voice softening. "But I couldn't just sit back and let you all handle this alone. We're in this together."

His expression shifted, and for a moment, the weight of the galaxy seemed to hang between us. I could feel Ahsoka and Rex nearby, giving us a moment of privacy amid the chaos.

"Together," he echoed, a small smile breaking through his serious demeanor. "That's right. We're stronger together."

Before I could respond, Ahsoka nudged Rex, and they exchanged amused glances, clearly trying to contain their laughter at the sentiment. It made me smile, lightening the tension further.

"Let's move," Rex said, breaking the moment. "We've got droids to take down, and I'd rather not leave our General unprotected."

Anakin grinned at his friends, then turned back to me, the determination in his eyes returning. "Stay close, alright? We're not done yet."

"I wouldn't dream of it," I replied, feeling a renewed sense of purpose as we prepared to face whatever lay ahead. With Anakin at my side, I knew we could tackle anything that came our way.

-

I ran alongside Anakin and the others, adrenaline pumping through my veins as we maneuvered through the ruins of the Geonosian city. The air was thick with dust, and an unsettling feeling crept over me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. A low, haunting sound echoed through the remnants of the buildings, and I felt an inexplicable pull from one of the nearby structures, an ancient and decaying edifice that seemed to beckon me closer.

Without fully realizing it, I peeled away from the group, my heart racing as I sprinted toward the source of that dark call. "Mira! Where are you going?" Anakin shouted after me, but his voice faded into the background as I focused on the eerie allure pulling me in.

I stopped in front of a collapsed building, its structure crumbling and twisted, a grotesque statue of a Geonosian looming over the entrance. Its expression was twisted in a way that sent chills down my spine, eyes hollow and staring as if it were watching me. The statue was the ugliest thing I had ever seen, and yet, it held an undeniable beauty in its despair—a relic of a forgotten time.

Suddenly, a wave of darkness enveloped me, swallowing the light and the sounds of battle around me. My breath caught in my throat as I felt myself drawn deeper into the shadows, the world outside fading away. It was as if the darkness was alive, wrapping around me like a shroud, whispering secrets and fears that made my skin crawl.

I hesitated at the threshold, the air thick with an unsettling energy. A sense of foreboding washed over me, mingling with the allure of the unknown. I wanted to turn back, to heed Anakin's call, but the darkness felt like a part of me, urging me to step inside, to discover what lay beyond.

"Mira!" Anakin's voice broke through the haze, a lifeline tethering me back to reality. But the pull was strong, and I took a hesitant step forward, feeling the darkness beckon me closer.

In that moment, I was torn between the safety of the light and the temptation of the unknown. The choice was mine, but as I took another step, I could feel the shadows wrapping around me, their cold fingers promising answers, secrets, and perhaps something darker.