blast! → the clone wars

xiv. the sith lord / return to kamino

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XEN SAW THE LOOK on his Master's face as she saw Stellar laying in Stinger's arms, unconscious with blood trickling down from his forehead, his helmet tossed haphazardly to the side. He had seen her vulnerabilities before, for she made no effort to hide them from anyone ("our vulnerabilities make us who we are" she had told him once when he refused to open up to her), but never before had he seen her so upset. It hurt his heart almost more than the incident itself.

What happened next, however, was what bothered him the most. She had sensed something, and while he sensed it too, she seemed to know precisely what it was, whereas he had no clue. He resisted the urge to run after her onto the battlefield, assisting the retreat by standing on a boulder and drawing the droids' fire. He couldn't stay there for long, though, and it was as he looked out from behind his new cover that he saw what had caught his master's attention. His eyes went wide, and he swore his heart stopped for a moment.

"Is that—"

"Count Dooku," muttered Jazz, who had refused to leave his side the whole time.

"She's facing him alone? I have to go help her." He began to rise, but the ARC Trooper put a firm hand on his shoulder, keeping him in place.

"You heard the general, she told us all to head for the ships, including you. She knew what was coming, and this...this was her choice," he sighed. Xen could feel his helplessness, which was almost as strong as his own. The padawan watched the exchange anxiously, debating on what the best course of action would be regardless of what she told him. As the Count ignited his saber, the choice became clear. He turned to Jazz.

"Get back to the ships, we'll be right behind you." Jazz looked as if he wanted to protest, but either he knew he wouldn't get anywhere or remembered that Xen outranked him because he kept his mouth shut and removed his hand from the boy's shoulder.

As he ran toward the battlefield again, he watched as red collided with green, once and then several times more. Tara remained on the defensive, but even she was beginning to see there would be no peaceful resolution. She used the Force to create space between her and the count, pushing him a few steps back. He responded by reaching out and clutching the air, and in an instant she was hovering above the ground, grabbing at her neck with her free hand.

"Master!" Xen shouted, skidding to a stop mere feet away from the scene. Dooku turned his attention to the boy, a smirk dancing across his lips. Tara used the distraction to her advantage, waving her free hand and sending a rock to the Count, disturbing his focus. He released her and she landed in a low crouch, rubbing her throat but still keeping her blade held out at her side.

"Ah, I see your padawan has come to provide you aid," Dooku mused. Tara slowly stood again, looking to Xen. She didn't speak, but it was clear he was in for a lecture—assuming they got off Ryloth alive, that is.
"Xen Flora, isn't it?" It was Xen's turn to keep quiet as he glared daggers at the man. He held his hilt by his side, his blue blade still ignited from before. His grip was so tight that his knuckles were void of all color.
"I feel your anger. You hide it well, but denying it only makes it stronger."

"Don't listen to him, Xen," said Tara, but he didn't look her way, not wanting the Count to somehow get the drop on either of them. He raised his blue blade, gripping it with both hands.

"Use that anger," Dooku continued as if she hadn't even spoken.
"Your anger gives you strength, more than you have ever known."