Meanwhile, Vikt continued:
"My unit, following Kenobi's orders, was assigned to guard the Shelter base. When the scattered, defeated forces of Norсuna, Leska, and Sirrus began breaking through toward us, we realized we were alone. We defended ourselves until the last possible moment, and the moment we managed to establish contact with orbit, we evacuated."
"So the mines with the metal deposits are now completely under CIS control…" Terbon drawled. That's very bad news. It will complicate the situation considerably. I hope they don't decide to throw our Sector's troops onto that godforsakenplanet.
"No. We blew them up," Vikt replied calmly. "I gave that order after we learned of the defeat of the other Jedi units."
Silence fell as everyone processed what they had just heard.
"Sir," the Jedi turned to Terbonn, "prepare to receive the wounded—we're en route."
"We can't take them, General. Our hospitals are full."
"What are they supposed to do now—die?" the general burst out indignantly.
Plo Koon intervened at once, raising a hand in a calming gesture.
"General Vikt, set course for Coruscant. We will receive your wounded here. I'll make the necessary arrangements."
"Too long," the Jedi said sharply. He turned, addressing someone unseen. "Tinman, what's the prognosis?"
After listening to the reply, he faced them again.
"If we lift off within the hour and add the flight time to Coruscant, that's ten hours. Three hundred and forty-seven critically wounded clones won't survive the journey. We simply don't have enough equipment on board, nor the necessary medications."
Terbon let out a heavy sigh.
"Hutt's shit… All right. Unload those four hundred here. It's not five thousand—we'll find somewhere to put them."
"Thank you, sir," Vikt said, visibly relieved. "I don't even know how to thank you."
"So, everything has been successfully resolved," Plo Koon said. "We'll be expecting you on Coruscant, Knight Vikt. Prepare a detailed report."
The Kel Dor's hologram faded.
"Knight Vikt," the Moff said, frowning once more, "since you're heading to Coruscant… I assume your unit will require a lengthy reorganization."
"Most likely. Unless they uncover some reserves, which is doubtful. Chances are, everything available is already committed at Muunilinst."
"What I'm getting at is…" Terbon hesitated briefly. "Could you leave us the corvette? We've taken heavy losses among our light forces, and it's unclear when reinforcements will arrive. Literally every ship counts."
"Hm. All right," Vikt replied after a moment'sconsideration. "But… I'll be taking the captain."
"Why?"
"The new ships assigned to me will come with new crews. And they'll be as green as the jungles of Kashyyyk.
"Green?" Terbonn asked in surprise.
"Young and inexperienced," the Jedi explained. "So I need a competent commander like I need air. You, on the other hand, will be left with a seasoned crew that has real combat experience. And the clone commander of that vessel is more than capable."
"Thank you, General."
"Then prepare to receive our wounded—the transports are about to depart."
The Jedi's hologram vanished.
Terbonn moved to the nearest chair and sank into it heavily. Thoughts churned in his mind.
Hutt's shit. Three hundred and fifty thousand down the drain. And if help hadn't arrived, no one would've made it off that cursed planet alive. Wait. I think… yes, definitely. Vikt said the Republic would be washed in blood on Jabiim. How did he know, Hutt Je… or maybe he truly did know? No, that's unlikely. But he could have predicted it. Hm... Let's hope they send him back to our Sector. He's been through hell, and a commander like that would be invaluable. Even if not all the clones he extracted were from his corps, it's still more than the achievements of other Jedi. To lose seven-eighths of your personnel in over forty days of planetary combat… it's absurd.
***
Two figures moved slowly down one of the ship's corridors: a human and a Zabrak girl. Their eyes were slightly clouded, and their movements were a little awkward. And what's more, the two of them were holding hands.
Kass could hardly believe that the nightmare of Jabiim was finally over. Ever since they'd boarded the ship, she hadn't left Mak's side.
When the missiles from the droid tank had been moments away from tearing them apart, she and Mak had already accepted death. Their only wish had been to die together. However, Knight Vikt saved them. Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, he shielded them with an invisible barrier, and Kass watched in terror and awe as the missiles literally shattered into pieces, torn apart from within by some unseen power—by the Force.
How weak we are compared to a Jedi like him. We still have so much to learn if we ever want to reach that level.
"Mak, what do you think will happen now?"
"I don't know, Kass," he admitted. "Now we seem to be heading for Coruscant, which means our fate will be decided by the Council. I just hope they don't separate us."
"I don't want to lose you, Mak. Not again." She stopped him, pressing him gently against the wall. He didn't resist, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. Their lips met in an awkward, but utterly sincere kiss…
They had met long ago, when they were still younglings. They often spent their free time together, hanging out in the training hall or just walking around the Temple. When they became Padawans, their meetings grew rarer, but they continued to maintain a friendly relationship. The deaths of their Masters drew them even closer, leaving them clinging to the only familiar presence they knew well. Suddenly, they realized that they loved each other. Both were shy about their feelings and careful not to display them openly—after all, the Order did not encourage such attachments…
Their kiss was interrupted by a deliberate cough.
"Ahem. Ahem. Would you mind letting me pass?"
Kass pulled back abruptly. Embarrassed, she recognized Mikore Vikt standing beside them.
"Knight Vikt, we… it's… it's not what it looks like!" she and Mak blurted out at once.
"I don't really care," the Jedi replied, stepping between them.
They stared after him in stunned silence. Suddenly, he stopped. Turning halfway back, he said calmly:
"I'd advise you to make up your minds."
"About what, Knight Vikt?" Kass asked.
"What matters more to you—the Order or your relationship."
"You… you won't report us to the… Council?" Mak asked hopefully.
The Jedi studied them both for a long moment.
"No. I'll recommend you for the rank of Jedi Knight."
"Do you really think we're ready?" Mak asked quietly.
"The important thing is that you believe you're ready," Vikt replied. "The rest doesn't matter…"
The Jedi had long since disappeared around the corner, but the two Padawans continued to stare after him.
"You know," Mak said at last, sounding genuinely surprised, "he's not as bantha poodoo as he seemed."
"I thought he was just trying to look harsh," Kassagreed, smiling faintly. "But he's actually kind."