Life Of War

Chapter 26

"Padawan Jayko, you will go with the 501st to Tatooine to retrieve a missing Senator" Master Luminara told me as I had been called into the council room.

"Yes master" I agreed, leaving them. I moved through the temple making my way towards the hanger where a gunship would take me up to the Resolute to greet the 501st.

"Hey, Commander Jayko, you joining us on the mission today?" Fives cheered upon seeing me exit the gunship.

"Yes, I am" I smiled to him and Echo.

"Captain Rex is in the bridge" Echo told me, knowing I would be looking for someone with authority.

"Thanks"

"Commander Jayko, what are you doing here?" Rex questioned as I entered the bridge to greet him.

"I will be leading this mission as General Skywalker has other business to attend to" I claimed, knowing full well that Anakin just didn't want to go back to Tatooine after his past.

"Yes, sir" he nodded in reply before we started with the mission plans.

"It should be simple enough, we are to meet the Senator in a Cantina and take them with us back to Coruscant." I shrugged.

"I'll go fill in the boys" Rex walked off to tell his brothers the plan, leaving me to stand in the bridge looking out at space.

~~~

"What's happening?" Echo worried as the ship rattled. I looked around, taking on authority over the situation.

"What's going on out there?" I questioned the pilot over comms.

"The ship is breaking down, must have been damaged in the last battle"

"You didn't check it over before we left— never mind" I cut off my frustration with a deep breath. "Can you land us anywhere?"

"There is a clear spot up ahead but the nearest town is pretty far away" the pilot reported.

"Land the ship, I will contact the cruiser to send us another one" The ship had lowered to the ground and we all filed out into the bright sun, wincing our eyes at the change in light. "This is Commander Jayko, requesting a pick up" I spoke into the com link.

"Commander Jayko, what happened to your gunship? Have you reached the Senator yet?" The admiral questioned back.

"Our ship broke down and the town is still quite far away"

"We will send a ship as soon as possible, but they are currently being checked over by the mechanics, it might take a while" Yularen warned.

"Understood, we will start walking towards the town and rendezvous with the ship there" I gave him his orders.

"Yes, sir" he nodded before cutting off.

"What's the plan sir?" Rex asked when I turned to face the troopers.

"We will be walking to the town and the gunship will pick us up once we have the Senator"

"Great" Fives muttered to Jesse at the orders. Rex shot him a glare through his visor and the two troopers tensed up in fear of having been caught disrespecting a commander.

I started them off, leading the way through the scorching heats of Tatooine. After about an hour of walking the heat had started to get to me. The town was only twenty minutes away so I kept pushing forward.

"She doesn't look too good" Echo commented, looking to me as my face was pale and sweaty.

"Oh god" Jesse said as I came to a slow.