𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙀𝘾𝙍𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙃𝙔𝘽𝙍𝙄𝘿, clone wars ²

Savage Loyalty

It had been months since I last visited the Garden of Life, and my longing for my sisters had grown more unbearable with each passing day. Now, I found myself en route to Kamino, assigned to investigate an impending Separatist attack on the planet. I was aboard a shuttle with a group of esteemed companions: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a contingent of clones from the 501st Legion, including Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Broadside, Echo, and the ever- observant Fives.

As I lay on the floor of the shuttle, the chill of the metal seeped into my bones, prompting me to stand and stretch my limbs. Fives, his armor shimmering in the dim light, approached me, his voice low and inquiring. "Hello, Commander. How are you feeling?" he asked, his gaze piercing through the gloom.

I offered Fives a warm smile, one that nearly went unnoticed in the dim light. "Just fine, thank you, Fives. A bit cold, but that'll wear off once we reach Kamino and I finally get to stretch my limbs," I said, twitching my calves and adjusting my stance.

Broadside, seated nearby, let out a hearty laugh. "Yeah, now you're talking, Commander!" I shot him a happy glance, but my expression quickly shifted as I caught the look from Obi-Wan, my master. I bowed my head in apology, my tone turning cool. "Sorry, Master, but it's fun to make the men happy," I said, my voice even.

Obi-Wan sighed, his expression tinged with concern. "I know, but you worry me sometimes, Padawan. You keep putting your life on the line, after... everything you've been through. Twice, you've faced death, and yet you continue to take risks that make my heart stop."

I glared at him, my tail lashing out in annoyance and knocking into Cody's shin. He yelped in surprise, but quickly steadied himself, giving me a surprised look. "Oh, don't listen to him, Commander," he said, reaching up to pat my hip. "He just cares for you."

I snorted out a smoke ring, my jaws cracking open to reveal my teeth. Echo shuddered, and I gave him a narrowed-eyed look, my gaze lingering on him for a moment before my jaws snapped shut again.

"Sometimes being for myself was the best option," I muttered under my breath, but my head snapped up when the shuttle lurched and twisted, clearly taking a detour to circle the landing platform. Soon, it rumbled and we were free to disembark. I was out right after Anakin, who looked up at me with a grin. "You look excited," he said, and I gave him a gentle nudge with my shoulder.

But my excitement was short-lived, as a Separatist fleet arrived on the scene, and we all began to either duck blaster fire or fight back against them. Obi-Wan peeled off and ducked down under the same uprooted floor panel as I was, his eyes scanning the chaos. "Something's not right here," he muttered, mostly to himself, but I heard him and looked at him, my calves twitching with anticipation. "Well, go on then, Master. Go and check it out. Anakin and I can keep the fort here."

I gave him a reassuring nod, and he gave me a worried look before slinking off into the fray. I watched him go for a moment before leaping over the debris and tearing down a droid, my movements swift and deadly.

I froze, my gaze locked on the stun garze that had suddenly materialized in front of me, its hot, molten laser staring menacingly at my throat. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as I realized I was at the mercy of the one holding the device. My heart racing, I tried to process the unexpected turn of events. And then, I heard the voice, husky and familiar, yet laced with a hint of uncertainty.

"Ventress," I growled, the name feeling strange on my lips. It had been a long time since I'd seen my old associate, and the sight of her now was jarring. Her pale blue eyes, once cold and calculating, now seemed to hold a glimmer of curiosity, of uncertainty. Her gaze roamed over me, as if searching for something, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.