Afterglow | The Clone Wars

The Blue Shadow Virus

The soldiers descended from grappling ropes and into the open hole of the bunker that had been busted wide open. Dakota stood within the smoke and ignited her green double sabers behind her back, prepared to face the squad of droids coming her way. The imminence of their metallic advances always sent a wave of exhilaration through her.

Captain Rex dropped down to the floor beside her, followed by Fives, Jesse, and Kyle. They formed around her like a buffer.

"Break off to the sides," she ordered, motioning for them to take cover against the walls. She remained in the middle to block the plasma blasts from the droids. "We're here to serve as the distraction. General Skywalker and Kenobi are leading the assault. Keep the droids occupied for as long as possible."

Captain Rex pressed up against the wall, firing his two blasters at the tan battle droids that retaliated back. "Destroyers coming up on the right" he informed the squad, noticing them rolling up over his shoulder.

Through the grey smoke, the droids spiraled into the hallway and unfolded before them, their signature, circular shields expanding out to protect them from blasts. Three of them aimed their guns at the squad of ten.

Dakota frowned with a huff, deflecting a blast that collided into a nearby droid, causing for its head to explode. Sparks erupted, bathing her in light. Rex covered her, taking out three super battle droids.

A few of the clones in the formation were shot down. She looked back momentarily as they fell hard, their bodies limp in the chaos of battle. Kyle was shot in the shoulder and stumbled against the wall. She gritted her teeth in anger, bolting forward on her feet. It was all happening too fast. She needed to do something.

She bounced from either side of the hallway walls, blocking any blast that came her way mid-air. The droids tilted their weapons up to her, taking their focus away from the clones for a brief second. Dakota used the force to pull a pipe from the ceiling and sent it flying at the battle droids.

Once most of them were broken down by the force of the pipe, and she landed on her feet gracefully, force pushing the three destroyers back.

"General!" Rex called from behind, tossing two circular bombs through the air.

Dakota turned to catch them, then just as quick, sent them rolling on the floor and gently through the blue protective shields. The red light of the bombs blinked and exploded, demolishing two of the destroyers. Dakota slipped through the smoke of the bombs and approached the disoriented third destroyer.

She carefully snuck her lightsaber through the blue shield and ignited it, shutting the droid down for good. Rex waited against the wall, searching for the glow of her double-saber which emerged just as he was growing anxious. She walked towards them, her face as casual as ever, with its usual frown.