Life Of War

Chapter 17

"There you are. You can't hide from me." She declared in a taunting tone. Rushing forwards the green Padawan made a beeline for us but we had escaped once again into the cold air vents.

Groaning and screeching was heard throughout the ship as the parasites died and relived the troopers. We climbed up though one vent and shivered weakly until we laid eyes on what was ahead.

"The bridge. At last." Ahsoka sighed running towards it. She got the door opened and we rushed to sit in the pilots chairs. I began to press buttons to contact the medical station ahead of us.

"We're coming in awfully fast. This is Lyra Jayko, can you hear me?" I questioned the base. "I'm shutting down the engines. I'll try to reverse the-" I started until a yell was heard and Barriss slashed the system with her blue saber. Alarms beeped and the ship went out of control, my eyes shooting wide open. The pilots outside struggled to guide us back as we fought against a fellow Padawan again.

Systems frosted over while Ahsoka and I focused on fighting Barriss and preventing anyone from getting hurt. Ahsoka grabbed a loose air pipe and pointed it to Barriss who screamed in pain from the parasite freezing and dying. The cold air began to kill the worm and the three of us fell to the ground weakly.

"Kill me. Please." Barriss begged from her spot across from us. I sat up carefully and watched her in pain with sorrow.

"I can't" Ahsoka told her friend quietly. I jumped up and rushed to the window to see the medical base closing in on us. As I turned back around Barriss was holding me by the throat tightly. I gasped for air as the worm crawled out of her nose but I punched her backwards. Then I kicked her back and ignited a saber, slicing the worm with accuracy.

As the cold air overtook us the two girls fell unconscious from the dropping temperatures. I moved slightly to pull them both into myself, sharing the little warmth we had left. Barriss laid in my lap while Ahsoka cuddled into my side and I held them both tightly as we waited for help. My eyes drifted closed but shot open with panic as the doors opened. I sighed in relief at the sight of Master Fisto and two clone troopers.

"Hello, Master Fisto. We're ready to pick up the supplies." I greeted weakly.

"We'll take care of that. You rest now, Lyra" he knelt down to our level and told me kindly. I fell asleep and awoke to the bright lights of the familiar med bay. I gasped awake with a shooting start to find Master Kenobi sitting across from me.

"It's all right, Lyra. It's okay. You're safe." He told me calmly.

"Barriss? Ahsoka?" I asked him.

"Barriss and Ahsoka are fine, thanks to your efforts. And so are the clones." He told me as we looked to see the other two Padawans in the room in separate beds. I nodded gently to Anakin who was waiting for Ahsoka to wake up as well. He sent me a small nod of appreciation back.

"What were those things?" I asked, sitting up properly.

"I think I can help answer that. We had the parasite worms analyzed. They are the same type of creature you found on Geonosis, Master Kenobi." Kit Fisto entered the room to share their findings.

"We'll have to inform the troops on Geonosis. This parasite might explain how they recaptured the planet the first time. I don't want it happening again." Anakin stood up to give his orders.

"You've been through quite an ordeal, little one." Fisto looked down at me. I nodded to him with a small smile, thankful for their help to stop this parasite.

"Well I'll leave you to rest" Obi Wan stood to leave.

"Thank you Master" I watched as he exited the room and Anakin sat back down to wait for his own Padawan to wake.