Accismus⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.• Anakin Skywalker⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.•

28.

The Jedi's getaway speeder reached the treeline of the jungle, where Sol's legion of clones waited with their ship. At the sight of the droids in pursuit, the clones set up a missile launcher and prepared to fire. With one knee to the floor and the launcher on his shoulder, a clone awaited his captain's commands. As Sol and Anakin exited the jungle and were out of the firing line, Captain Des cried,

'Fire!'

The missile launched and its handler jerked backwards at the recoil. With smoke emitting from its back, the missile locked onto the heat signature of one of the speeders in pursuit. A scream was heard from the droid driver before an explosion was seen. It was so large, that it caused the second droid to jerk its speeder too far right, forcing it to overcorrect its path. The tip of the speeder dived and hit the jungle floor. The back of the speeder flew forward and the droid was lost in another explosion, the trees of the jungle unaffected as fires burned around them.

At the elimination of the threats, the 336th legion turned to their commanders that had made it out alive despite the drastic changes of events. Anakin turned off the speeder and swung his legs around the side, waiting for Sol's feet to touch the ground before he dismounted. Sol's legs were wobbly as they held her upright, still not accustomed to the flying on speeders that weren't the advanced-Coruscant models.

'Are you two alright, Commander?' Captain Des asked as he stopped in front of Sol, his blaster in hand and his face holding concern underneath his helmet.

'We're alive,' Anakin butted in from beside Sol, his expression stoic when talking to legions of clones. 'But we should get off this planet as soon as possible. Is the ship ready to take off?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Good. Let's go.'

Commander Des turned to gather his men onto the ship and Anakin went to follow, only to stop when his elbow was grabbed. He resisted a grimace at the grip around his bionic limb, but turned back to the woman who held a face of fury. Anakin raised an eyebrow at his co-worker, trying not to make a joke at how unintimidating Sol was when she tried to do the opposite.

'Do I have to remind you that you do not command my team?' Sol held back the urge to release the anger she felt. 'I don't go around yelling orders to Captain Rex, so Captain Des is not at your command in the same sense.'

'Oh, lighten up, Solaris. We were assigned to this mission together, and your team just so happened to be assigned with us instead of Rex, so don't fret about who gives the orders-'

'We only were assigned on this together because Master Obi-wan went to Mon Calamari with Master Plo Koon. He probably would have brought his legion if you and him were assigned-'

'We're ready, ma'am.'

Sol and Anakin turned their heads in synchrony, seeing Captain Des as the only clone left on Scariff ground. The smoke from the demolished separatist base was growing and it was only a matter of time before more speeders left its hanger and made their way through the jungle. They needed to depart Scariff and head back to the temple to make their report, leaving out some of the details that Anakin had graciously added to the original plan.

'We'll be there in a moment, Des,' Sol said, and the captain nodded, heading into the ship through the landing ramp. With the clone captain gone, Sol turned back to Anakin, whose face had lost its teasing tinge, making Sol's stomach churn in knowing that there was a tense reply in pusuit.

'If you weren't assigned to this, I would be perfectly capable of this mission without Obi-wan,' Anakin said as he leaned down to lower his voice, which was now serious and daunting. 'Now, can we leave, Commander Solaris? Or do I have to order the departure of your legion in place of you, as well?'