- CASTLES CRUMBLING (A.S.) -

- 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 -

sometimes the pain makes me laugh

"SORRY TO INTERRUPT your private meditation, General," Breaker said from Regina's side. "But don't you think you should fill us in on the mission?" Regina didn't open her eyes. She sensed that Blue was more than ready to answer.

"We've already been briefed, Breaker," Blue answered gruffly.

"Yeah, we're liberating some natives, Commander; that we know," Breaker informed his commanding officer. He really had a mouth on him though he wasn't completely disrespectful. "But I get the feeling that we weren't told everything."

Regina opened her right eye so she could see the clone captain, breaking her meditation as she did so.

"You'd be right, Breaker," she said to him. Then she closed her eye again but not before she witnessed him turn to the others with a grin on his face.

"I told you boys." He laughed. "Didn't I tell you?"

"Yeah, Breaker, you're practically a Jedi," Sham spoke up sarcastically. The other clones laughed. Regina, knowing her meditation was over, fully opened her eyes this time and slowly stood to her feet. She saw too late the hand Breaker had offered to help her off the hard floor of the small Separatist ship through which they were flying through space. She smiled at him with thanks anyway. He really was a decent clone.

"So, General?" Clipper spoke up. Regina ignored him and turned to the clone pilot who was flying the ship with ease and skill.

"How long 'til we get there, Dux?" she inquired. He turned his head so he was looking at her from over his shoulder.

"Shouldn't be long now, General," answered the pilot. "Ten more minutes, maybe." She nodded her thanks before turning back to the group of clones who were looking at her expectantly.

She smiled. "The Council wants us to do some investigating. Recon, so to speak." The clones looked at each other excitedly. If they were doing any sort of investigation on the planet, there were bound to be clankers they could shoot up. "There's rumors of an ancient Sith temple hidden here somewhere. We're supposed to find it if we have time. Our priority is to liberate the natives."

The clones began talking among themselves excitedly. Yes, there was going to be a bit of combat.

"General, wasn't Grievous, Ventress, or Dooku also rumored to be around here?" Sham inquired. Regina clenched her jaw. She didn't answer for a moment, allowing the Force to soothe her.

"Yes," she told him and the other clones that had quieted down at this remark. "We have to be cautious." Then she turned away, toward Dux. "Get ready to land, boys. I want the droids to be surprised." Regina headed for the corner of the ship while the clones replied with their "yes sirs." She'd been meditating and she felt like she needed to do some more. She had to be completely in-tune with the Force, more so than usual. She would be entering a Sith temple and could potentially face a wielder of the Dark Side.

Leaning against the wall of the ship, she closed her eyes again, thinking back to the words of advice Obi-Wan had given her before she'd left. Don't give in. She didn't plan on it, but she had to be strong in the Force and rely on it, not herself. Sure, she used aspects of the Dark Side—she channeled it when she fought using Vaapad. But this would be unlike anything she'd ever experienced. And that very thought made her wonder why the Council was sending her.

✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩

"Make sure they all get out of here safely," Regina instructed Sham. She'd placed him and Topper in charge of the refugee evacuation. Her troops had a site all set up a massive distance away from where the natives had been held, and all Sham, Topper, and their small clone force had to do was get the people safely to their new homes. Regina was using this opportunity as a way to test the troopers--but especially Sham. He was a good soldier and she wanted to take advantage of any little chance she could to promote any of her best.