Fear, Anger, Hate, Suffering (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 1: Burn Or Drown (Part 2)

Laza's POV

We all made it back to our meeting floor.

"Any luck guys?" I asked.

"No," Cody answered.

"Nope," Wolffe replied.

"Same," I added.

"What're we gonna do now? Wait for our death?" Snow asked.

"No," Cody said.

I started to comlink Obi Wan. "Obi Wan? Do you read me? Obi Wan. Obi Wan! Can you hear me? OBI WAN!?" I yelled into the microphone.

"Gotcha Laza," he finally answered.

"Any luck out there?" I asked.

"We're taking down the droids as fast as we can... the second we get Grievous to flee Empress will be alone. And the instant she leaves we can easily blow those walls down," he told me.

"Have you tried to get us out already?" I asked.

"Yeah, no luck. How about in there?" He asked.

"Well the walls are the same in here as they are out there and we're loosing oxygen by the second. The water continuously is rising, and the fire is whipping through like there's no tomorrow," I said.

"Sounds worse than it looks," he sighed.

"Uh, ya!" I said in a DUH voice.

"We're working on it, we'll get you out of there, I promise," he said.

"You know you're the greatest friend ever right?" I smiled.

"Yes, and if I don't get you out Anakin would kill me," he said.

"Yeah, if he ever comes back," I sighed.

"He'll be home before you know it, Laza," he assured me.

"I hope you're right," I said.

"I am, I'll see you soon," he said.

"Okay good luck," I told him.

"You too," he said before I turned off my comlink.

"So?" Cody asked.

"They're doing the best they can to get through the droids and get Empress off the planet," I reported.

"Okay," he said.

"The instant Empress leaves the atmosphere her hold will be off this building and we can blow the walls down," I told them.

"Then they better hurry up and get her out of here," Kal sighed.

"Obi Wan promised he'll get us out of here. And he's one of the most trustworthy people in the galaxy," I assured them.

"I hope you're right, General," Train said.

"I always am, right?" I said.

~

We were all coughing from the smoke.

"I don't know if we can last much longer, General," Cody coughed.

"Stay with me boys, you're my best troops, this will only make us better. We can get through this," I choked.

C'mon Obi Wan! Hurry up! We need you...

I started to black out from lack of oxygen. "Hang... on... guys..." my voice trailed off and I was unconscious.

"Anakin, don't do this please," I cried.

He had his arm extended using the force to choke me.

Obi Wan pushed him causing him to stop strangling me.

I fell to the ground trying to catch my breath. Before I could I began to start crying my eyes out. The love of my life hates me now.

I heard a ship land. I sensed Empress. Not her... why her... she'll only make matters worse.

Obi Wan helped me up. "Are you alright?" He asked.

"No, I'll never be alright again," I cried.

I was so upset I grabbed my bow and took an explosive arrow. I shot it at Empress'  ship causing it to blow up even though she was already off it.

I woke up I was under water. I swam to the top and saw the fire and thick smoke. All my troops were still barely alive.

"General! You're alive," Alec gasped.

"For now," I said.

"Are you alright,your shaking?" He said.

"Of course I'm not alright! I'm like half dead," I said.

"Well I think we all are," he said.

"Stating the obvious are we?" I asked.

"We're all a little off right now," he said.

"Again stating the obvious," I joked trying to keep us all calm

"Sorry ma'am," he laugh/coughed.

"LAZA! COME IN! UGH! Please be alive!" Obi Wan called from the comlink.

"I'm here, I'm here," I said.

"Good news, Empress left, watch out we're taking this wall down," he said.

"READY TO LEAVE BOYS!" I yelled happily.

We all cheered as the wall crumbled down. A gun ship picked up my men. I got on the next one that had Master Yoda, Master Windu, and Obi Wan aboard along with Captain Rex.

I boarded the gun ship still coughing from the smoke.

"General, we are very happy to see your still breathing," Mace said.

"Impressed with your work, I am," Master Yoda said.

"Thank you," I nodded.

I hugged Obi Wan, "thank you for saving my life!"

"Yeah you owe me one," he laughed.

"I think I figured that out," I said.

"It's good to see you're alright, my friend," he said.

"All because of you," I smiled.

Back to Coruscant we go. Another group of clones just finished training so I get to see them tomorrow. But what I'm excited for, is to go home and rest.