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archangelofzion · 22 days

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Star Wars: Convergence

Chapter Two

She'd never seen the battle field before, but now it was all too real and the Larty—as the clones had told her to call it—had touched down.

The small vessel rocked and shivered as it swooped to the surface, Arianna kept her hand locked on the bar above her, feeling out the air through the force.

Wolffe nodded beside her, a gesture of encouragement as the pilot told them how close they were.

"Master, what happens when we touch down?"

"We will be right in the middle of a crossfire." Plo answered behind her. "Hold the line, I will move the troops forward."

"Yes, Master."

"Just keep your wits," Comet shoved his fist into her shoulder pad. "You'll get it, Ari'ka."

Her jaw set as she felt the ground get close, and before she knew it, the Larty's hatch flew open and the hot air whooshed in.

The terrain came into full view faster to her as she found herself instantly jumping from the vessel after Sinker and Boost, the huge, jutting rocks and nearly-clear sky infinite it seemed, but she had no time to take it in, as the clones ran forward, the ground shaking with the marching of battle droids nearby.

Plo went straight to the front of the troopers, lightsaber activated. More Larties dropping off soldiers by the moment.

Arianna's sabers snarled into beams of blue light as she ran, Force-jumping over Corvis to be farther to the front.

She tore through droids easily, twisting and slashing. She saw Plo and Wolffe at the very front, and tried to make it to them, the scream of a hit trooper making her senses snap to him, all too aware of his pain through the Force, her body went leaden with the thought of it before she forced herself to get back to attention, throwing out her hand and crushing the turret on a gunship as it blasted the ground right in front of Coment, making him stumble and fall.

Arianna ran his way, flicking her wrist to deflect blasts, she grabbed his arm and hoisted him back up, receiving a nod of thanks from him before she rushed to the front line.

"Move it towards the command tower!" Wolffe yelled over the shared link inside his brother's helmets and Arianna and Plo's comms.

Arianna finally got to her master's side, deflecting blasts as much as she tore down battle droids, he held the line strongly, and internally she was admiring the powerful Jedi master, and wondering how long it would take her to reach such greatness.

It was fairly easy to breach the lines of droids and gunships, Warthog coming through the sky with a roaring ship to tear the ground, covered with marching droids, apart.

Arianna force-jumped up the command tower, tearing guards and droids from the levels while the clones made their way up.

Comet landed with a metallic ping beside her, his jet pack whooshing. "Really showed those clankers who's boss here!"

She smacked his back grinning.

"Hey, get your shebs over here!" Wolffe yelled to them, waving his arm to beckon. "Enough slackin'."

Comet grunted under his breath, marching down the towers outside with the young Jedi next to him.

By the time they entered the tower the troopers already had the Separatists in surrender, the tactical droid held at gunpoint by Corvis as Plo walked calmly through the room.

"When did Dooku relocate you here?" He asked, voice muffled but serious.

No answer came.

"The general asked you a question!" Wolffe snarled, hitting the tactical droid with his blaster.

"That won't help." Arianna said from the doorway, Comet looked to her as she walked slowly up to the droid, lifting her gloved hand into its lenses.

She closed her eyes while searching through it, focusing solely on the one answer she wasn't sure why they needed.

"After the battle on Lor'huron." she said quietly. "When Master Windu and Secura took down their base."

Plo nodded thoughtfully, Wolffe approaching the alien and speaking to him where the others couldn't hear.

"Dead end," Boost grumbled. "Again..."

"For what?" Arianna asked.

"Rumors were this was Dooku's hideout." Comet answered. "Why you never trust a whisper."

"But we're a step close to finding him." She offered.

"She's right," Boost said. "One base outta hundreds." He said the last bit with sarcastic excitement.

Sinker shoved his fist into Boost's chest plate. "Least we'll get to have a go at Greivous and Baldy next time."

"Whoa, easy there, you Di'kut," Corvis shook his head. "That's Jedi business."

"Well, got ourselves two of those now." Comet said, clapping Arianna's shoulder. "So what're we waitin' for?"

"What do think, Ari'ka?" Wolffe asked, walking over to join them. "Think you could take Ventress?"

"I'll put fifty credits on it right now," Boost said. "Take me on."

"Well," Arianna started walking through the bantering troopers. "While you all make bets you'll probably never figure out, I'm going to find my master."

✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎

"We've just received word of a distress signal in a supply route from one of our fleets," Master Kenobi told everyone else through the meeting, most of the attendees there through hologram. "I'm sending Master Vos to check on it."

Windu turned to Plo, standing in the breifing room of the GAR base, Wolffe standing just behind him. "And your progress on the Separatists base?" he asked.

"It was not the hideout we thought it to be, however, we took out a small command center."

"Very good." Yoda complimented. "And progress your padawan made?"

He nodded once. "She did well."

The Grand Master nodded thoughtfully. "Send her to the temple you will, more training she requires before returning to battle."

"Yes, master."

"Then it's settled." Mace swept his eyes around each Jedi. "Skywalker and Tano will continue their work down in the outer rim, Master Vos will head out to the supply route."

Plo nodded as the images flickered away, Wolffe looked a him as he walked out of the briefing room. "Arianna did well," he said, helmet carried under his arm.

"She did, indeed."

"This isn't my place, but I think she's more suited out here with us."

"She told you that?"

"Not directly, but I can tell."

The Jedi considered, but couldn't deny the orders of the Council, after all, he didn't feel she was ready to be in the war every day, at least not yet.

✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎

"I can't believe you're taking her away already," Comet jokingly whined. "She just got here."

Arianna laughed, pushing him in the chest. "I'll be back, right, master?"

"Of course. The Council has just asked for you to finish training at the Temple first."

"More likely to die doing that than out here." she muttered to Boost.

"Arianna..." Plo warned half-heartedly.

"Sorry, master."

"Come now, let's not leave master Yoda waiting."

"See you guys." She turned to the others to say.

"Don't stop your Mando'a lessons while you're gone, Ati'ka." Wolffe said.

"Oh, I've already picked up plenty..." She walked over to Sinker. "I know how to call someone a—" she whispered into his ear, and the other men watched their brother blanch as his eyes went wide, then he laughed nervously.

"Y—you might not want to say those things in the Temple." Sinker warned, still smiling nervously.

Arianna flashed him a sly smile.

"I don't even want to know..." Wolffe mumbled.

When she walked back to the ship Plo looked around at his troopers, hands folded in front of him. "What have you taught her?" he sighed.

"N—nothing too horrid." Comet chuckled.

"I'll give 'em a talking too." Wolffe shook his head. "Don't worry, Buir."

"It's not her I'm worried about..."

✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎

Back at the Temple, Arianna met with Caleb Dume in the hall as she made her way to Yoda.

"How was the mission?" The boy asked instantly. "Was Dooku there?"

"No, but we took out a couple droids."

"Awesome."

She chuckled, knowing she could have told him they saw a couple Weequay's have a shooting match and he would've found it cool.

"Where are you headed?" Caleb asked.

"Master Yoda asked for me."

"Directly?" His frosty green eyes went wide, obviously awaiting the day he'd have a private audience with the most reverenced Jedi.

"Through my master."

"Oh..." He kept following her as she made her way through the temple. "Master Bilaba and I are heading to the barracks later on, we need to go meet the new troop we're getting placed with."

"That's great."

"Yeah. I, uh, wanted to ask you; what's it like, having your own squad?"

"Well... we got along pretty fast. Just bear through the clone behavior and it all goes smoothly."

He nodded. "I heard the rowdy ones are the Knulls."

"Sinker told me that Kal Skirata trained them, could be why."

"Who trained the 104th?"

"I'll have to ask. I think Sergeant Skirata did, too."

She reached the outside of her destination, and Caleb shifted. "Good luck, Captain Jinn." He smiled. "I can't wait for my own clone unit."

"I know. You'll do great, Caleb. I'll see you soon."

"Yeah, I have to go. Cal and Myla should be coming back soon. I don't wanna miss them."

She nodded, and he hurried off. She knew he loved to watch every other padawan, Ahsoka Tano and Myla Caddel mostly, and it brought a soft smile to her face, although she felt... resigned to most Jedi standards, and found herself leaning more to trust the ways of the clones and Mando sargents.

She finally walked into Yoda's quarters, the room darkened as the small Jedi sat amidst floating lights, meditating.

"Come in, padawan." he said to her, not even opening his eyes.

Arianna obeyed, sitting down on the short upholstered chair across from him.

The lights suddenly floated away, the covers on the window drew and allowed the natural light to return, and the Grand Master's emerald eyes beheld the young woman.

"Returned from your mission, you just have?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, master."

"Afraid, were you?"

She considered for a few moments. "Yes, but... not so much for me."

"Explain."

"I wasn't afraid to die, but I saw the troopers... they were dying all around, and..." She took a breath. "I just hope it was all worth it."

Yoda nodded patiently, "Spoke to your master of these things, have you?"

"No, master."

"Wise you would be to do so."

She nodded again. "I will, then."

"Very good. Now, training we will begin." He settled forward a little, making her do the same. "Close your eyes, on the Force focus, to my instructions listen."

She did as she was told, shutting her eyes, hands folded in her lap. She tried to tap into the Force, willing it to overwhelm her being.

"What you wish of your future, tell me." Yoda said softly.

Her eyes flickered beneath her lids. "To become a great Jedi, to win the war, bring peace to the galaxy..."

To make sure my unit gets out alive. To be like Qui-Gon. To find someone to confide in completely...

She hoped he couldn't hear her thoughts, because she knew the last three were things that would only disappoint. Jedi we're not supposed to form attachment, not to love or desire love, and it seemed that was all she wanted.

Yoda hummed in response. "Now, into the future, look. Tell me what you are shown."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Use the Force, young one."

Her eyelids tightened as she focused, entering into the Force in ways she hadn't ever tried. It felt like she began to spiral down an endless tunnel, like being in hyperspace but going down, not forward.

She turned her head slightly as flashes of light danced over her vision, red and green and blue... lightsabers, maybe. Sounds began, the roaring like fighter ships and blaster fire... the stomping of boots.

She saw a pair of hands, gloved all but the fingers as if she was looking down at them, more flashes—all red... and blue lighting followed.

Arianna tightened her knuckles, sucking in a breath as Yoda shifted, looking at her with full focus, taking in her reactions.

In her mind, she saw a streaked image, like it was hastily scrawled onto the side of an aircraft, it looked like a bird, its wings stretched upward. She heard more blasterfire, and felt a strange sense of... peace, belonging, before it all became terror and heartache.

Tears ran down her face as she kept herself in the trance, needing to know the end of it.

She saw more images, but none were clear, and heard a rasping breath, followed by an igniting red blade, she felt the whir in her hand, as if she ignited her own... amber eyes snapped open, but as if they were a reflection of—

"Padawan,"

Yoda's sudden, firm voice finally snapped her out of it, her eyes opening quickly with a quiet gasp.

She looked around, taking in the surroundings as if she'd just woke from a coma, then looked down.

"Disturbing images, did you see?" Yoda asked a bit softly, but his eyes were full of careful calculation.

She looked up slowly. "A bit, I don't understand what I saw. But I felt the..." She swallowed.

"Hard to perceive, the future is. What you felt, tell me."

"The Dark Side."

The words hissed from between her teeth in a whisper, as if uttering them are like make it all too real.

Yoda nodded thoughtfully, bringing a small, three fingered hand to his chin. "A sense of hesitation in this war you have. Brought on by that, it may be."

"Perhaps..."

"Speak to your master, I will. Join your fellow padawans. For training, return tomorrow."

"Yes, Master." She stood and bowed.

"Young Jinn," She turned to acknowledge him. "Very careful, you must be. Dark times these are. Easy to fall away, it is."

"I understand."

He nodded, and she left, trying to shake the feeling from the visions. She just wanted to know what they meant, and how they came to be.

Of course, Caleb was waiting around the corner in an alcove when she passed by, an expectant look on his young face. "So, what did Master Yoda speak to you about?" he asked.

Caleb walked along with her as she went. "Oh, just about the mission. Nothing too major." A slight lie, but she didn't know what to say.

"Oh, I thought you were getting knighted or something."

She laughed a little. "I'm not ready for that."

Caleb had a way about him she admired, a real sense of belonging, and a strong bond to the Force and ways of the Jedi. Sometimes she envied how well he got along with all of it. How mystical she knew he could be as a man. But he was still just a boy. Barely fourteen years old and just a few years her younger, yet she knew he'd become a far greater Jedi than she could dream of being.

"Well," Caleb said, stopping in his tracks, Arianna halted slowly. "I have to go meet Master Billaba so we can head to the base. Hey, did you want to come? There'll be plenty of others there."

She considered his offer, knowing she'd never get sleep if she went to her quarters now, and Yoda had told her to spend time with her friends... "Sure. But I have to be back tonight."

Caleb nodded, jerking his head to tell her to follow.

✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎

The GAR base was full of soldiers—as usual. Jedi and hired Sergeants and other Republic members scattered about the huge open space.

Fighter jets and smaller ships docked the bay, troopers heading off and coming back.

Arianna walked a bit behind Caleb and Depa Billaba, scanning the clones and faces, familiar and not, of the base.

She caught sight of Ashoka Tano, her fellow padawan only about a year or so younger than her, she was coming from a fighter craft behind her master, Anakin Skywalker and the clone Captain Rex.

Arianna waved slightly, getting a kind smile from the Togruta. Anakin was busy speaking to another Admiral who'd approached them, Rex at his side, helmet in one arm as he stood firm behind his general.

Ahsoka looked a bit impatient and bored, but masked it well, standing up straight as she waited.

Arianna nodded to the clones she walked by, receiving small salutes and nods of respect.

But she didn't think she'd done much worthy of their utmost respect. Maybe once she'd gotten onto the battle field a little more.

Caleb stood with focused attention beside his master, meeting their new clone battalion.

Billaba was speaking to the man in front, his katarn armor crafted like a commander's, painted with pale green on the helmet and shoulders.

She felt someone approaching her from behind and smiled softly.

"I heard Master Plo had returned, but I didn't think I'd be seeing you without him." Ahsoka's soothing, feminine voice came from behind. Arianna turned on her heel to see her friend, dressed in deep red pants and a sleeveless shirt, a matching red and magenta skirt around her hips.

"I'm glad to see you well." Ahsoka's starry blues sparkled as she leaned in for a short hug.

Arianna put her arms around her shoulders. "And you, too."

"How's Master Plo? The Wolf Pack?"

"Alive and well and just as rowdy as before."

Ashoka chuckled.

"And Master Skywalker?"

She huffed. "The same. Unfortunately." She added under her breath playfully, starting to walk with Arianna across the base.

A trooper in red paint and a kamas passed them by, nodding to each woman. The Jedi both did the same in return.

Arianna smirked halfway, inclining her head towards her friend. "And Captain Rex? How's he?"

She could feel Ahsoka fluster as her large eyes darted back to Arianna, then to their path. "He's... fine. I couldn't imagine fighting alongside any other."

"He sounds great. At least you make him sound that way."

Ahsoka cleared her throat. "My master is probably ready to go, I should—"

"Commander, there you are."

They looked to see Captain Rex walking to them, helmet still under his arm. Arianna held back her amusement as Ahsoka—not as discreetly as she probably thought—watched his movements.

"Commander Jinn," Rex nodded in respect.

"Captain, actually, Wolffe is Commander." She shrugged.

"Ah, apologies, Captain."

"No worries, Trooper."

He turned back to Ahsoka. "General Skywalker is ready to head out. He's requested your presence."

"Of course," Ahsoka said, then turned to Arianna. "I'll see you at training tomorrow?"

"Just before three-hundred."

"Be safe."

"You, as well."

"Tell Wolf Pack I said hello," Rex said.

"They're always talking about you, Rex." She smiled.

He looked a little nervous, then wary. "Wh—what do they say..?"

"Skywalker's waiting, remember?" She avoided his question.

Rex sighed, turning on his heel with Ahsoka.

Arianna shook her head, smiling, then wandered around the bay. After about fifteen minutes of aimless walking she saw a trooper sitting against the bulkhead, gazing down at his helmet in his hands between his legs.

She could feel his Force signature, a sense of passion, but... but he also had a sense of confusion, hesitation.

Those were things she understood.

"Hello," she said as she approached him.

He looked up, his brown eyes still had some light to them, and he looked young. A shiny is probably what Wolffe and the others would have called him. "Oh," he looked a little shocked, quickly standing up as if on a drill. "Ma'am, at your service."

"At ease, soldier," she smiled gently. "And you can call me Arianna."

He nodded. "You're..." his eyes drifted to her belt and the hilts of her sabers hanging from it, then the braid coiled behind her ear, draped over her shoulder. "You're a Jedi?"

"Padawan, I serve with the 104th and Master Plo Koon."

"I've heard a lot about them. Pleased to meet you, ma'am."

"What's your name?"

"CT—"

"No, no, your real name. Not your number."

His eyes registered surprise. "Sear, ma'am. My brothers call me Sear."

She smiled again. "Who do you serve under?"

"Master Depa Billaba, my commanding officer is Commander Grey."

"Have you ever been to battle before?"

"Yes, ma'am, once..."

"How was it?"

Now he really seemed taken aback by her, realizing she actually cared to know. "It was... different than drill training, I guess you..." he stopped talking, a somber look in his eyes as he shook his head.

"You begin to understand the stakes a lot heavier." Arianna guessed, her voice patient and gentle.

"Y—yes, that would be it."

"I'm sorry, Sear."

"It's...It's alright, ma'am."

"Walk with me?" she asked, beginning to move slowly.

Sear followed without hesitation, and she wished it would have been for more reasons besides it was his training to always obey higher-ups.

"May... may I ask you a question, ma'am?" Sear asked meekly, and it pleased her that he would finally test the waters.

"Only if you stop calling me 'ma'am'." she said.

"Oh—uh, of course m— uh, Arianna..." Maybe it felt strange on his tongue, but she didn't think it was fitting for him to address her like she was someone special. "What do you make of all this? The war?" he asked sullenly.

She wasn't sure whether or not the question surprised her, he seemed to radiate a sense of question when she felt him, but now, hearing him ask... felt different.

"Some days, it's like I have a perfect sense of clarity, of who are the evil and who are the good, of what the right decision is..." she spoke carefully, tactfully. "And then some... some I'm not so sure anymore. Some, I have no sense of where we draw the lines, and they all just..."

"They all blur together?"

"Yes,"

Sear nodded absently, staring off at the gathering troops a level below. "Guess that makes me feel a little better, knowing even the Jedi feel those ways."

"I wish we had all the answeres," she said, stopping to gaze down below with him. "Unfortunately I think we're all just trying to learn them as we go."

#Arianna jinn #plo koon #the 104th battalion #commander wolffe #ahsoka tano #captain rex #rexsoka #obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #clone wars #clone troopers #the 501st

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