Be Your Brothers

Chapter 34 - Obi-wan's New Hope

"Sir, we're receiving a transmission from General Grievous." Cody stepped into the makeshift meeting room. "Patch him through." Reetha was bitter about the recent turn of events but she tried to tone it down, for Obi-wan's sake. 

The sickly eyes of the Kaleesh appeared in the blue holo. Cody silently growled under his helmet. "What did you do to Master Kenobi?" Reetha's face hardened with growing anger. "Your master is alive, for now. He will be released to your good hands if you and your forces leave this planet." Reetha scoffed "This planet is neutral ground. We're not here to take occupy this system but to deliver supplies to the locals." General Grievous cackled from the other end of the transmission tauntingly "I am afraid you are in no position to arrange the terms of the deal." The room was deadly silent when Grievous revealed Obi-wan suspended in an electro field. 

"What have you done to the General?" Cody's voice was low and tense. "Your general is alive, for now. If you agree to the terms of the deal I will spare his life. Make the right choices little padawan. Your master's life depends on it. I will even spare the life of these villagers." He chortled. 

Anger rose in Reetha and seemed to seep of her. Cody noticed the underlying growl beneath her voice. "I won't allow that. Release my master and leave this planet." Her anger fueled the amusement of the droid general, "Foolish child." Electricity crackles through the comms. Obi-wan shouted in agony as electricity flowed through his veins. "STOP IT!" Reetha shouted. Obi-wan's pained screams flooded her senses. "Stop it stop it!" Thankfully the torture ceased. Reetha could hear the faint painful breaths of Obi-wan. "I will give you a day to decide padawan. Or your master will die." 

The transmission ended without any notice. Reetha began to breathe heavily, anger rising in her veins. She felt the force darkening within her, bringing her wolf-ish traits forward. Her eyes shifted to a dangerous golden colour as she pounded her fists on the table. Cody visibly flinched at her outburst. He noticed her claws slowly protruding out of her fingers, oozing blood as they tore through her skin. The commander gently reached for her hands. "Sir.." Reetha's claws scratched the table's surface. "Reetha, please." Taking a deep breath, Reetha willed herself to calm down, the pain from her claws finally registering in her mind.

"Sorry." She sighed defeatedly. "I'm just, worried. I could have helped Obi-wan. We wouldn't be in this mess." Cody lifted the helmet off his head, revealing his eyes to her. He took her by the shoulders and spoke calmly. "You did your part Reetha. You helped save this village and its people." Her golden wolf eyes flicked to meet Cody's warm brown ones. She quickly blinked the rising tears and Cody watched as the golden iris slowly changed to her usual black ones. The commander in orange smiled and patted her head comfortingly. "Let's get the general back." 

---

Jex, Scowl, Waxer, Boil and Cody stood behind Reetha, all facing the Jedi Council. After some planning, they decided to run straight to the Jedi for help, skipping the Senate because it was clear from past events that the Republic would not send help to a neutral planet or meddle with affairs that didn't have their backing in the first place. That was the sad reality of the Republic. 

The clones watched as Reetha explained their current predicament to the Council. "Hmm, greatly disturbing this is." It was clear that the Jedi Grandmaster wasn't too pleased with the situation. "I request a small force to distract General Grievous' forces, allowing me and a small force of my troops to infiltrate the ship and rescue Master Kenobi." 

The council members seemed to take the request into a quiet but nerve-racking discussion. "I'm sorry Padawan Khan, but as members of the Republic, this situation must be brought to the senate's attention." Disbelief made the padawan gawk at the council members. "With all due respect masters, the Republic will not allow any intervention when a neutral system is involved. That's why I brought the attention directly to the Jedi."