Afterglow | The Clone Wars

Grievous Intrigue

Dakota glared at the destroyed commando droids with immeasurable heat, her heart pounding in her chest. Her captain, shot under her watch, lay yards behind. She tucked the lightsaber to her belt, body tense and shaking— shaking? Why was she shaking?

The droids were dismantled, charred and trashed, and yet they hadn't suffered enough.

She backed away from the carnage, slowly. The sun beat above down against her taught face and shoulders, a fine layer of sweat forming on her back as a result. With one final, lingering look, she retreated to the speeder and rode back towards her men.

How could she have let this to happen? This was caused by her. It was her dodge that allowed the bullet to pierce his armor, and thus, his chest. The feeling of dread residing in her was nearly crippling. But she composed herself as she pulled up to a stop by the small cluster of clones.

She swung her leg, dismounting the bike. "Kix" she called.

"It's bad, General." Kix admitted from where he kneeled beside Rex. The captain was unconscious, unresponsive. A fresh bullet hole dug itself into the breast plate of his blue and white armor.

Dakota bent down next to Kix, the medic clone, resting her elbow to her knee. There was still a heart beat within him, she could feel it. The smallest bit of relief flooded through her, but it wasn't enough to satisfy. "I'd have to remove his armor to see the full extent of the damage."

"Not here," She shook her head, her eyes remaining on the Captain. "Those snipers might have called for backup. We're not secure."

"Where are we going to find cover out here?" Hardcase asked impatiently, raising his blaster readily as he a look around the field that surrounded them. It was then that they noticed the large, farm animals that lumbered in their direction. A few of them wore harnesses and guiding ropes, a sign of domestication.

"Wait a minute," Jesse thought, eyeing the creatures that nibbled on nearby grass. "Those critters are domesticated. I think we're on farmland, and where there's a farm, there's a usually a farmer."

She arched an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching upward—not quite a smile, more like her face couldn't decide whether to be amused by such a simple connection or judgmental.

"Let's find his homestead." Jesse finished his statement.

Dakota stood up, turning. "Move quickly. I'll find something to carry Rex on." She walked up to one of the tall, native trees, brushing past one of the grazing farm creatures. It lifted its head at her presence, its trunk swaying with each chew of grass. She lifted her hand to its nose in passing, letting it sniff her to show that she was friendly.