Another combat droid tried to strike the Jedi, but he easily deflected its shots, piercing the massive body of the B-2 with his lightsaber a moment later. Another pile of scrap metal collapsed ontothe stones. However, there were hundreds of droids around, and behind them—through the veil of rain—the silhouettes of large CIS combat machines loomed. The OG-9 spider droids advanced slowly but inevitably, while the NR-N99 tank droids slid along the flanks, firing every weapon they had. The clones could have held their own against regular battle droids and broken through the enemy's defenses, but now that was questionable. Worse yet, the Republic'sequipment was still being dug out of the mud far behind. The clones advanced in short bursts, laying down barrage fire, but the power of their rifles would not be enough against armored units, so—
"Get ready! Grenade launchers!" Buck commanded.
To his left, two clones crouched down, tearing the grenade-launcher tubes from their mounts. In sync, they threw the launchers over their shoulders, spent a couple of seconds searching for targets, and fired a pair of rockets almost simultaneously. Two NR-N99 tanks and one AAT were reduced to a smoking pile of rubble.
"Excellent!"
But the clones had to scatter immediately—one of the spider droids fired several laser pulses at their position. One of the grenade-launcher troopers was killed.
Suddenly, two blue blaster bolts streaked overhead, and the spider droid was blown apart. Master Jedi Sirrus glanced back for an instant. Finally. Praise the Force. The battle walkers had at last crossed the muddy lowlands and were now rushing to reinforce his squad. One of the AT-ATs opened fire, and the accurate shots of its two heavy cannons began tearing through the CISarmor vehicles, while a pair of anti-personnel blasters swept the area with barrage fire. A dozen AT-XT walkers charged forward, showering the advancing enemy with fire from their twin rapid-fire cannons, and soon proton grenades were ripping holes in the columns of droids.
"Guard the walkers! And be careful—there may be Nimbuses here! Don't let them flank us!"
"Third Battalion, cover the walkers!" one of the clone commanders shouted.
"Attention, right flank!" Aubrie called.
Blurred figures in uniforms painfully familiar to Sirrus darted past the walker's supports. Only a few seconds later, powerful explosions shook the walker's front legs, and they buckled with a metallic shriek. The AT-AT toppled forward, its hull crushing the cockpit beneath it. A cloud of steam rose above the crash site.
"We need to evacuate the troopers! Follow me! Aubrie, keep an eye on the enemy!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Hurry!" Sirrus waved his hand sharply.
Two dozen clones rushed after him. Reaching the wreckage, they quickly tore open the emergency hatch. Buck slid inside first. The Jedi saw three dozen clones lying in a tangled heap. Some were already trying to rise; others sat dazed, shakingtheir helmets—the fall had left none of them unscathed.
"Quick, everyone out of the vehicle! The reactor is about to explode!"
His padawan's voice crackled through the headset:
"Master, the enemy is retreating! The perimeter is clear!"
"Excellent! Run to the walker—there are wounded who need your help!"
Sirrus extended a hand to help one of thetroopers stand.
"Sir, I'm fine. Our lieutenant—" The clone pointed deeper into the troop compartment. "His legs are broken."
"I'll help him," Buck assured him, moving ahead.
Suddenly, the Jedi sensed a disturbance in theForce. But he had no time to understand it—a blinding flash consumed everything around him…
***
"Dinks, follow me!"
The girl stepped forward—then time stopped.
A sharp sense of danger stabbed through her nerves. She tried to rush ahead, but the air around her thickened like stone, and she could only watch as a rocket fired from the crest of the nearest hill slammed directly into the landinghatch of the walker. A brilliant flash followed, then a violent shockwave as the reactor of the combat vehicle exploded. The walker's hull was literally torn apart from within, and now the twisted mess of metal and torn pieces of armour formed a bizarre flower framed by tongues of flame.
Aubrie and the clones were hurled to the ground. Stunned, she could barely get to her feet.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" one of the troopers asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, gently shakingAubrie.
"Hr-y-yes…" the girl managed to whisper, tears streaming down her cheeks as her throat tightened painfully.
Aubrie Win understood with terrible clarity that her Master was no longer alive.
Blaster bolts rained down on the clones from all sides.
"Attention! New attack! We're surrounded!"
Powerful explosions shook the air behind them.
"Hutt, our vehicles is taking fire! Two AT-ATs destroyed!"
"Commander Win, what are your orders?"
Aubrie stared at the clone with a hollow, distantlook.
"Retreat! We can't help the squad in the cityanymore—we won't be able to break through to them…"
***
Ahsoka lay silently on the cot in her "room." Several days had passed since the clones had finished constructing the passageways and tunnels beneath the mountain. Now most of the base had moved inside it. In the very center, on the second level, was the headquarters, where all the equipment had been relocated. On one side were the living quarters, designed much like the interior of an armored transport. One was occupied by the Master and Chris, and the other was shared by Ahsoka and Sumeragi. The Togruta had been lying on the bunk for a long time before and the girl had arrived just a couple of minutes ago.
"Not sleeping?" Li Noreiga asked.
"No."
"Still pout at your Master?" she said, taking off her jacket.
"Is it that obvious?" Ahsoka wondered.
"Actually, yes." The girl undressed, slipped under the blanket, and stretched with a relieved, almost joyful sigh. Ahsoka understood her perfectly—lately, they had been sleeping whenever possible and usually fully dressed. One never knew when the next battle would come.
Now, at last, they could afford a little luxury.
"Come on… it was boring enough already, and now…" Ahsoka lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. "Nothing interesting. We're just sitting here… no assignments, no entertainment. He could've asked Master Kenobi not to send him to this hole. And here… I'm stuck at the base—no reconnaissance, no patrols… no distractions."
"You're wrong," came a soft sigh from the adjacent bunk. "He's worried about you. That's why he won't let you go far."
"You think so?"
"Definitely. He's worried about us too—he has a lot of responsibility. But he still cares more about you. If I didn't know you were a Jedi, I'd think he was your father and you were his daughter. My dad cared about my little sister the same way. You should've seen how the general carried you in his arms when you were wounded... I'll probably remember his face at that moment for the rest of my life."
Ahsoka was confused. Family?.. The Order was her family. Yes, she was always glad to see Plo Koon but… a father?
Meanwhile, Sumeragi suddenly burst out laughing. Her laughter stung the Togruta's hearing —there wasn't enough joy in it.
"You know," the girl muttered sleepily, "if Grace were here… and you were a little older… she would definitely make… a couple of dirty jokes."
At first, Ahsoka didn't understand what Sumeragi meant, but after a moment it finally dawned on her.
"Wha-a-a-t?! You… I…"
The Togruta was both embarrassed and indignant. Blood rushed to her cheeks. Sitting up in bed, she wanted to launch into an angry tirade, but the words never came.
Sumeragi had already fallen asleep, lying on her stomach. One of her hands had slipped out from under the blanket and hung almost to the floor. Ahsoka's keen hearing picked up the girl's steady snoring.
"What nonsense," the Togruta muttered, turning away and curling into a ball. Snorting quietly, she slipped into a meditative state, clearing her mind of unnecessary thoughts.
Soon, she fell asleep…
A few hours later, they were awakened by the roar of sirens.
***
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