Two Padawans sat in the cockpit of one of the massive AT-ATs. In an hour, they would have to leave the warm, dry belly of the combat walker again to monitor the progress of the column and pull heavy equipment out of the mud—sometimes lifting it, sometimes placing stones and tree trunks under the supports with telekinesis.
"Sergeant, turn five degrees to the left."
"Yes, ma'am. Although there's just as much mud there."
"I know. But it's worth a try."
Tae watched what was happening outside through a specialized commander's periscope equipped with optics and night-vision modules. Through it, he could clearly see Aubrie Win and the other Padawans engaged in heated discussion.
"Aubrie has adapted well. But Kass… I feel that her mind is still in turmoil. Without a Master, she's become more… reckless. And there's something else I can't understand…"
The Sullustan woman said quietly,
"Don't get inside her head, Tae."
"I can't help it, Elora. It's my predisposition toward mental techniques… Kass's emotions drown out everything else—almost like a jamming device. I can't even think when she's around."
He rose from his chair and, leaning back against the bulkhead, slid down slowly.
"Is your telepathic sensitivity flaring up again?"
"When Nico… my uncle… was alive, he made me listen to his thoughts whenever I lost control, like now. Everything felt so… calm and peaceful, as if I were listening to the breath of the ocean." The boy wrapped his arms around his head.
Elora Sund approached and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Then listen to my mind, Tae Diat. I may not be your Master, but I am your friend."
Tae gratefully covered her hand with his.
***
The two-seater speeder stopped at the edge of a small grove. Far ahead, a couple of kilometers away, rose the hill where the Cobalt base stood.
"What do the scanners show, Mak?" Zabrak girl swept the area with her binoculars.
"Nothing. And that worries me," the guy muttered, frowning at the scanner's display.
"What if it was just a routine patrol?"
"Kass, combat droids don't just wander around for no reason."
"Still… I want to know for sure."
"There is nothing more certain than the Force." Mak turned to her and pulled her into his arms.
"And death," Cass replied, pressing herself closer to him with her whole body.
Mak ran his hand along her cheek.
"And my feelings for you."
He carefully brushed aside a stray strand of her wet hair, and his heart pounded wildly. A tenderness flashed in his eyes—uncharacteristic for someone always so serious and unyielding—and, unable to resist, Kass was the first to reach for his lips.
The two lovers forgot everything around them, oblivious even to the pouring rain…
***
Just a few minutes ago, it had been raining cats and dogs, but now it had almost stopped; the drops had become smaller, the wind had shifted, and the sun peeked through narrow gaps in the clouds. Ionic discharges still raged far in the distance. The Padawans had gathered on a small ledge a hundred meters from the base buildings.
"In the name of the Force. Thirty days of this endless rain… you start to appreciate moments like this." Mak spread his arms wide, trying to catch every ray of warmth.
"How long do you think this respite will last?" Windo Nend chirped.
"If the natives are to be believed, Windo—less than a standard hour."
"Let's just enjoy the sun while it's here…" Aubrie said.
The Padawans stood silently on the hill, savoring the change in weather.
Elora Sund noticed that Tae Diat had separated from the group and settled on a fallen log at the start of the path. She hurried over to him.
"Are you feeling all right, Tae? I'm afraid all these emotional outbursts might have aggravated your sensitivity again."
"I'm focusing on the only balanced mind I can find here, Elora. Yours."
Kass Tod joined them a moment later.
"Phew, looks like we got lucky. If the Republic sends reinforcements, they'll arrive at one of the bases. And this place has defensive weapons, food, medicine, ammunition—and a comm station. Plus, we managed to break through here and bring out almost forty thousand clones and a lot of military equipment. I think we have a reason to celebrate." The Zabrak girl grinned.
"There's nothing to celebrate, Kass. The storms preventing us from leaving are also preventing the Separatists from landing their reinforcements," Aubrie cut her off.
"And… if my visors aren't deceiving me, there's an entire armada out there!" the Gand reported.
Everyone began to peer into the sky. Some raised their binoculars, while others made do with their own eyes.
"It seems that this gap in the cloud cover is artificial," Aubrie frowned.
"But… where are they going?
"And what is the fleet doing in orbit? Do we control this side of the planet?!" Kass exclaimed indignantly.
"What's on that side…" Aubrie stared thoughtfully into the distance. "The Shelter! The Shelter base is there! That means someone is still defending it!"
"Commander Win! We have contact!" The Padawans spun around. One of the clones was rushing toward them along the path. "Hurry!"
"Wait! Everyone to the command post!"
The Padawans bolted toward the base buildings.
***
Dick Mazzi crouched under the low canopy of a small tent housing the communications equipment.
"Thanks, Alto! The reinforcements were very timely. But to be honest, it won't be enough."
"Don't count on more. The window was small, and our friends in orbit had to work hard, burning through a substantial reserve of reagents. The CIS lost half a dozen ships, all so that a hundred fifty transports could reach the surface. So forget about reinforcements for now."
"What other news, Alto?"
"It seems Count Dooku's mercenaries succeeded in their trap and defeated the clones on Arlessar. But the Jedi managed to escape the planet. What about you? How's the situation with that base?"
"Nothing yet. Heavy losses. Their commander's tactics aren't typical of the Republicans I've fought before."
"Dick, I know who you are—and you know what to do. Take that damn base."
"No problem, Alto. We'll storm it again and again, however long it takes. A week, a month—it doesn't matter! We'll drive those Republican bastards off our planet. And if there are Jedi there… Well," Dick chuckled. "I'll send you their heads!"
***
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Two Padawans sat in the cockpit of one of the massive AT-ATs. In an hour, they would have to leave the warm, dry belly of the combat walker again to monitor the progress of the column and pull heavy equipment out of the mud—sometimes lifting it, sometimes placing stones and tree trunks under the supports with telekinesis.
"Sergeant, turn five degrees to the left."
"Yes, ma'am. Although there's just as much mud there."
"I know. But it's worth a try."
Tae watched what was happening outside through a specialized commander's periscope equipped with optics and night-vision modules. Through it, he could clearly see Aubrie Win and the other Padawans engaged in heated discussion.
"Aubrie has adapted well. But Kass… I feel that her mind is still in turmoil. Without a Master, she's become more… reckless. And there's something else I can't understand…"
The Sullustan woman said quietly,
"Don't get inside her head, Tae."
"I can't help it, Elora. It's my predisposition toward mental techniques… Kass's emotions drown out everything else—almost like a jamming device. I can't even think when she's around."
He rose from his chair and, leaning back against the bulkhead, slid down slowly.
"Is your telepathic sensitivity flaring up again?"
"When Nico… my uncle… was alive, he made me listen to his thoughts whenever I lost control, like now. Everything felt so… calm and peaceful, as if I were listening to the breath of the ocean." The boy wrapped his arms around his head.
Elora Sund approached and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Then listen to my mind, Tae Diat. I may not be your Master, but I am your friend."
Tae gratefully covered her hand with his.
***
The two-seater speeder stopped at the edge of a small grove. Far ahead, a couple of kilometers away, rose the hill where the Cobalt base stood.
"What do the scanners show, Mak?" Zabrak girl swept the area with her binoculars.
"Nothing. And that worries me," the guy muttered, frowning at the scanner's display.
"What if it was just a routine patrol?"
"Kass, combat droids don't just wander around for no reason."
"Still… I want to know for sure."
"There is nothing more certain than the Force." Mak turned to her and pulled her into his arms.
"And death," Cass replied, pressing herself closer to him with her whole body.
Mak ran his hand along her cheek.
"And my feelings for you."
He carefully brushed aside a stray strand of her wet hair, and his heart pounded wildly. A tenderness flashed in his eyes—uncharacteristic for someone always so serious and unyielding—and, unable to resist, Kass was the first to reach for his lips.
The two lovers forgot everything around them, oblivious even to the pouring rain…
***
Just a few minutes ago, it had been raining cats and dogs, but now it had almost stopped; the drops had become smaller, the wind had shifted, and the sun peeked through narrow gaps in the clouds. Ionic discharges still raged far in the distance. The Padawans had gathered on a small ledge a hundred meters from the base buildings.
"In the name of the Force. Thirty days of this endless rain… you start to appreciate moments like this." Mak spread his arms wide, trying to catch every ray of warmth.
"How long do you think this respite will last?" Windo Nend chirped.
"If the natives are to be believed, Windo—less than a standard hour."
"Let's just enjoy the sun while it's here…" Aubrie said.
The Padawans stood silently on the hill, savoring the change in weather.
Elora Sund noticed that Tae Diat had separated from the group and settled on a fallen log at the start of the path. She hurried over to him.
"Are you feeling all right, Tae? I'm afraid all these emotional outbursts might have aggravated your sensitivity again."
"I'm focusing on the only balanced mind I can find here, Elora. Yours."
Kass Tod joined them a moment later.
"Phew, looks like we got lucky. If the Republic sends reinforcements, they'll arrive at one of the bases. And this place has defensive weapons, food, medicine, ammunition—and a comm station. Plus, we managed to break through here and bring out almost forty thousand clones and a lot of military equipment. I think we have a reason to celebrate." The Zabrak girl grinned.
"There's nothing to celebrate, Kass. The storms preventing us from leaving are also preventing the Separatists from landing their reinforcements," Aubrie cut her off.
"And… if my visors aren't deceiving me, there's an entire armada out there!" the Gand reported.
Everyone began to peer into the sky. Some raised their binoculars, while others made do with their own eyes.
"It seems that this gap in the cloud cover is artificial," Aubrie frowned.
"But… where are they going?
"And what is the fleet doing in orbit? Do we control this side of the planet?!" Kass exclaimed indignantly.
"What's on that side…" Aubrie stared thoughtfully into the distance. "The Shelter! The Shelter base is there! That means someone is still defending it!"
"Commander Win! We have contact!" The Padawans spun around. One of the clones was rushing toward them along the path. "Hurry!"
"Wait! Everyone to the command post!"
The Padawans bolted toward the base buildings.
***
Dick Mazzi crouched under the low canopy of a small tent housing the communications equipment.
"Thanks, Alto! The reinforcements were very timely. But to be honest, it won't be enough."
"Don't count on more. The window was small, and our friends in orbit had to work hard, burning through a substantial reserve of reagents. The CIS lost half a dozen ships, all so that a hundred fifty transports could reach the surface. So forget about reinforcements for now."
"What other news, Alto?"
"It seems Count Dooku's mercenaries succeeded in their trap and defeated the clones on Arlessar. But the Jedi managed to escape the planet. What about you? How's the situation with that base?"
"Nothing yet. Heavy losses. Their commander's tactics aren't typical of the Republicans I've fought before."
"Dick, I know who you are—and you know what to do. Take that damn base."
"No problem, Alto. We'll storm it again and again, however long it takes. A week, a month—it doesn't matter! We'll drive those Republican bastards off our planet. And if there are Jedi there… Well," Dick chuckled. "I'll send you their heads!"
***
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