Of Love and War Book 3: In The Thick of Battle

Chapter 4: Season 1 (Rising Malevolence)

Zelina sighed, running a hand through her hair a few times to pull out the pesky knots, running through the rumors several times in her mind. Surprise attacks from the Separatists that left no survivors, indicating a new and deadly Separatist weapon. Master Plo Koon looking into the mysterious events...

From the transmission they had just received, Master Plo might have gotten himself into a situation that was more than he could handle.

"You heard Master Plo: he needs our support. We have to go help him," Ahsoka was telling Anakin at the moment.

They had just lost communications with Master Plo, and none of them were feeling too confident about what was going on. Zelina kept pace with her master, Aayla Secura, instead of matching Anakin's pace, listening intently to what was being said. By now, she had grown accustomed to the fact that everyone was keeping an eye on her, and she actually enjoyed the fact that it meant she somehow ended up on the same missions as Anakin. Though right now, Zelina and Aayla were on Anakin's ship, so Anakin was the one running all the operations.

"We have to see what the Council decides first," Anakin responded. "This is an important meeting Ahsoka; be mindful. And remember, speak only when spoken to."

Zelina smiled a little to herself. It was always amusing to hear Anakin giving her the exact lessons Obi-Wan would have to drill into Anakin's head daily. Especially when they were lessons he seemed to still be learning.

Master Secura noted the look on Zelina's face and smiled a little, having grown really good at reading her Padawan. She wasn't Master Du, but she still meant a lot to Zelina, and Zelina had grown to respect her.

The doors in front of them opened, and the four entered the other room. Immediately, Master Windu's voice drifted towards them.

"This mystery weapon has struck in a dozen systems and disappeared without a trace..."

"We cannot afford to lose any more ships my friends," came Chancellor Palpatine's voice. Zelina hid her scowl—something she had grown to execute rather expertly—as the four of them came to a stop just in front of the holographic image of Chancellor Palpatine, Yoda, Master Windu, and Obi-Wan in front of them. "Ah, Master Skywalker, Master Secura. Have you had any success in finding General Grievous' secret weapon?"

Of course he completely ignores the Padawans, Zelina thought bitterly to herself, though she shoved those darker emotions away into the Force—a technique she'd been working to perfect recently.

"Master Plo was here in the Abregado system when we lost contact," Anakin explained. "And we have had no further contact with General Plo Koon. The absence of distress beacons indicate that his fleet was..."

Anakin hesitated, glancing at Ahsoka. "That his fleet was destroyed like the others. But we are about to prepare a rescue mission."

"Hasn't incoming intelligence reported this weapon never leaves any survivors?" Palpatine asked. This time, Zelina openly scowled at his statement.