Durge activated his jump pack, dodging the blow. At that moment, blaster fire streaked toward us. We hurried to form a defensive circle, standingback-to-back. Zule and Ahsoka followed our example.
"Droids!" Puck shouted.
"Snips, Zule — take care of them!" I hissed, leaping forward and slashing at Durge's arm. Plasmablade hissed through the rain and… bounced offthe mercenary's armor. Hutt… I think that'sbeskar!
The next instant, only the activation of shield saved my life. Even so, a single shot from the Gen'Dai's twin blaster pistols nearly drained thepower cells — the sheer force behind it was monstrous.
"Ha! Finally, something new!" Durge laughed unexpectedly.
"You surprise me, Jedi. It's been a long time since I've seen someone like you."
I felt Ahsoka burning hotter in the Force,givingherself over to the fight, and I hurried — as I had done before — to sink deeper into myself. From there, I reached out to her, and steady her. I built… a wall? Hutt, how do you explain somethingimmaterial? Whatever it was, I shielded her and — stabilized her. How? Good question. By taking her… Fear? Pain? Emotions? I didn't know…
"Miko, distract him!" Jeb shouted.
Fuck, is he out of his mind? How am I supposed to do that?! Still, I moved behind Durge.
"Nice try, but doomed to fail," the mercenary snarled. "I'm a walking bundle of nerves! I can feel your heartbeat from two hundred paces away! You can't fool me! None of you are a match forme!"
"Miko, we need to take this bastard down. He might be the boss here!"
Jeb charged, and I followed close behind. We struck at Durge again. He grabbed—Force knows what that shit is actually called?!—and slammed it into Jeb. He had gotten too close, trying to stab the monster's leg. Luckily, Glev managed to spring back in time. But now I was left alone with Durge.
"Ha-ha-ha! You think I'm the boss here?" Durge's shots forced me back, while simultaneously reflecting them.
"What is he—" Jeb began, but the thought died with him.
A red blade flashed. The Jedi's head fell into the mud.
"May the Force be with you, piece of meat," Durgeroared, laughing again.
***
A wave of Death tore through the Force. Ahsoka flinched — a Jedi's death burned far brighter than the deaths even of hundreds of clones. It was like comparing the faint glow of a distant star to abonfire blazing at arm's reach. She looked ahead. There, between two figures, her Master stood frozen. Beside the mercenary stood the Dathomir witch. Red blades hummed as the Sith lazily swayed them from side to side.
"Glaive!" her Master growled. "Bitch—!"
Master!
Ahsoka. I need your help!
I'm coming.
The Togruta deflected a blaster bolt from a droid.
"Puck, cover me!" she shouted, then sprinted forward. In moments, she stood at her Master's side.
The Sith shrugged off her cloak, letting it fall intothe mud.
"So we meet again, Mikore Vikt. This time, youwon't escape."
"We'll see about that," the man replied, pulling his free hand back.
"You think this little girl will help you? Ha! Oh, I know — I'll kill her first, right in front of your eyes. And then it will be your turn!"
Suddenly, the battlefield spun into motion. Durgepulled back, continuing to fire at the clones, while the Sith lunged at Vikt. Ahsoka eagerly stepped in, meeting the red blades head-on. If there had been any doubts at the beginning, they had nowreceded. She was quite capable of standing up to this woman. Moreover, the Master was always nearby, helping her precisely when she needed it.
" It seems you're not as bad as I thought," the Dathomiri admitted in surprise when the Togruta nearly struck her. "I may not kill you — but I'll cripple you for sure!"
"Aaaah!"
Suddenly, a Falleeni launched herself from the side, striking the Sith in a furious blur.
"Zule! Be careful!" Vikt exclaimed, but she didn'thear him — or didn't care. Fierce blows followed one after another, but… it ended in an instant. The twin red blades crossed and sliced cleanly through the hilt of Xiss's sword — and then through both of Zule's arms above the elbow. Zule gasped and crumpled into the mude, unconscious.
Without asking permission, Ahsoka lunged forward, forcing the Sith back and shielding thePadawan's body. Her Master followed close behind. Now he wielded two blades — his ownand Master Glaive's. Ahsoka reached out through the Force, pulling the sword of another fallen Jedi Knight into her hand. Now four blades — two blue and two green — faced two red.
Master, what do we do? The two of us can't handle them.
Hang in, Snips. Do you feel it?
Ahsoka listened to the Force.
Yes.
Nothing happened for a few moments, and then a couple of speeders jumped out onto the clearing. Ahsoka grinned happily— Master Kenobi andMaster Sirrus. And to the left, a squad of clones appeared, led by six Padawans. They immediately opened fire on the enemy.
"Hutt!" the witch snarled, deflecting the incoming bolts. "Durge — let's go!"
Their figures quickly vanished into the downpour.
Master?
Let them go. We need to take care of the wounded.
"Master Kenobi," Vikt said, removing his helmet. "You're just in time."
"I sensed our help would be needed here. What happened?"
"Durge. And Ventress. They struck out of nowhere. We miraculously held them off, but…" The Jedigestured toward the bodies scattered across the clearing. "They sensed you coming and retreated."
Master Sirrus knelt beside Zule.
"She's alive! I'm sending her to Aubrey. Hey! Clones! Stretcher — now."
"Master… what happens now?" Ahsoka asked. Her Master looked at her sadly.
"A lot of work, Ahsoka. There are fewer and fewerJedi remain. And here's the thing."
The man's face brightened slightly, and a fleeting smile brought him more life."Call me Mikore. After all, you saved my life."
"Ahem." Ahsoka flushed, glancing aside. "Thank you… Mikore."