Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

11.

"This is where the fun begins!" - Anakin Skywalker

Rain gripped the handle above her with her left hand, her right hand resting on the hilt of her sheathed lightsaber. The ship tilted slightly as it sped across the desert plains, the wind howling through the open sides. Her eyes scanned the horizon, watching as the golden sands stretched endlessly into the distance. The tension in the air was palpable, each moment heavy with the anticipation of the battle that was surely to come.

Suddenly, something caught her eye—a group of three speeders racing across the dunes. She narrowed her gaze, focusing on the middle speeder. Closing her eyes, Rain let her mind reach out across the distance, her connection to the Force guiding her. When she sensed the dark presence on the middle speeder, her eyes flew open, and she gasped.

"Ani! That's the Sith Lord!" she exclaimed, tugging urgently on Anakin's shoulder.

Anakin's eyes snapped to where she was pointing, his expression hardening as he spotted the speeders. Without hesitation, he turned to the clone piloting the ship. "Pilot! Follow those speeders!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the roar of the engines.

Obi-Wan, standing nearby, had also noticed the speeders. His eyes narrowed as he took in the situation. As the ship veered in pursuit, Rain moved closer to the edge, her heart pounding in her chest. The wind whipped through her hair, sending it flying in wild tendrils around her face. The speeders were now directly below them, close enough that if she wanted, she could jump onto one of them.

But before she could make a decision, the ship suddenly tilted violently to one side. Rain's grip on the handle slipped, and with a gasp, she was thrown from the ship. Anakin's hand shot out, trying to catch her, but he was too late. Rain tumbled through the air, her heart leaping into her throat as she braced for impact.

She landed hard on the back of one of the droid-piloted speeders, the force of the fall knocking the wind out of her. For a moment, she lay there, stunned, her mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened. But the sound of Anakin calling her name snapped her back to reality. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up, quickly pulling out her lightsaber. With a swift motion, she ignited the blade and sliced through the droid in front of her, taking control of the speeder.

As she took the controls, Rain glanced back to see the ship still in pursuit, but Dooku had already noticed he was being followed. He sped up, leaving the ship and the other speeders behind. Rain knew her speeder could catch up to him, but the ship would be too slow.

"I can't lose him," she muttered under her breath, determination hardening her resolve. Ignoring Anakin's distant shout, she accelerated, the wind whipping against her face as she raced after Dooku. She knew he and Obi-Wan would be angry at her for going after Dooku alone, but this was her chance—she couldn't let the Sith Lord escape.

Rain followed Dooku at a distance, staying far enough back to avoid suspicion. The chase led them to a bunker, where Dooku abruptly stopped and jumped off his speeder, disappearing inside. Rain parked her speeder a short distance away and quickly followed, her heart pounding in her chest. She slowed her pace as she reached the entrance, drawing her lightsaber and readying it. The bunker was dark, the air thick with the smell of metal and oil. As she crept inside, her senses heightened, she finally spotted him.

Dooku stood in the center of the room, a smirk playing on his lips as he ignited his crimson blade. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked her over. "Well, aren't you a brave one," he taunted, his voice smooth and mocking. "Do you really think you can take me alone?"