BATTLE SCARS [✓]

× Chapter Eleven: Detoured ×

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"Maleshei, good. You're here. You'll be riding with Broadside as his gunner." Anakin said as soon as Maleshei and Ahsoka entered the main hangar. Anakin pointed to the point who had just put his helmet on and Maleshei nodded. "Good luck, Master Skywalker, Ahsoka."

"You too, Mal. Be careful." Ahsoka said while hugging her friend. "I will."

"Make sure to keep a clear mind, young Padawan." Maleshei and Ahsoka turned to see Plo behind them, Maleshei nodding in understanding as she did. "You got it, Master."

"So, I see you're coming with us, huh?" Anakin asked as Plo Koon stroked his mask. "Indeed. I'm flying fighter escort. Someone has to look out for my young Padawan."

"Master..I appreciate the concern. But, you do know I can handle myself, right?" Maleshei said while placing a hand on her hip. "I know you can, Maleshei. But, your safety is still important."

"I understand, Master." Maleshei said with a hint of a smile in he voice before she patted Ahsoka's shoulder and walked away towards Broadside and his bomber.

"You're Broadside, right?" Maleshei asked while she stopped in front of the bomber, looking up at him in the pilot seat. "Yes, sir. You must me General Plo's Padawan. Maleshei, is it?"

"Yes. But I prefer Mal." Maleshei said while hopping onto the bomber and into the gunner seat. "I'm glad to riding with you, Broadside."

"Glad to have you, kid. You nervous?" Broadside asked while Maleshei strapped in. "A little. There isn't anything I should be worried about, is there?"

"No. You got me, Mal. Just watch my back and you'll be fine." Broadside said with a hint of humor as Maleshei nodded, looking towards the other bombers. Her eyes landed on Ahsoka and Anakin and Ahsoka gave her a thumbs up, Maleshei returning it with a nod.

: Alright, we're clear for departure. : Maleshei heard Anakin say over the comms as Broadside took off after Anakin and another bomber. Maleshei sighed, her thoughts began to clear of all worry and began to fill with faith for the clones. Faith that they're going to make it out alive, that they will succeed in their mission.

A beep was heard on her arm plate and she looked down to see that her commlink was going off. She furrowed her eyebrows before she answered it.

: Hey, kid. : She heard as a smile found it's way under her mask.

"Hello, Wolffe."

: You feeling okay? : He asked as Maleshei sighed. "I'm feeling a lot better now that you called."

: You'll be fine. Just don't get shot at. : Maleshei laughed softly as she rolled her eyes. "That's reassuring."

: Just doing my job. : He said with a chuckle as Maleshei shook her head. "You got it, Commander." The link ended and soon enough Maleshei found herself, Broadside, and the other bombers flying into hyperspace.

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"So, Mal, how do ya like being a Padawan so far?" Broadside asked as Maleshei settled back into the gunner seat. "I like it. I think I like the fact that I have a Master who's patient with me and I get to meet other clones and someday bond with them. But I'm not sure I can because of the Jedi Code."

"Yeah. It's the same with us, kid. Sometimes, we form a special bond with our Generals, almost like really good friends, and well, you know the rest.." Unfortunately, she did. That was why she was afraid to form a bond. She didn't want to get attached. She didn't want the pain of losing a close friend.

'Guess that's why I obey the -Jedi must not form attachments- rule.' She thought while she looked at the tunnel they flew through. It began to disappear and Maleshei saw that they were flying near a Nebula.

"Um, Master Skywalker? Where are we?" She asked through the commlink. : We're taking a bit of a detour. We can't have Grevious finding out we're coming. We won't have the element of surprise. And thanks to your handiwork, the hyperdrive took us right where we needed to be. :

"Right. Well, we should be careful. We don't know what lies ahead." Maleshei said in concern. : I agree. Nebulas can be unpredictable. I say approach with caution. : Plo added.

:Don't worry about us, sir. The Shadow Squadron can handle anything. Right, boys? :

"Copy that, Shadow 2." Maleshei heard as she smiled, shaking her head. "I admire your men's enthusiasm. You guys are very confident yourself. I like that."

"Well, we've been on missions like this many times, kid. We know we can handle this." Broadside said with determination as Maleshei nodded. "And I have no doubt that you can."

: Um, does anybody care what the Padawan thinks? : She heard Ahsoka ask. : Of course we do, Snips. But we're still going through that Nebula. :

"Wonderful.."

As soon as Maleshei said this, the Squadron entered the Nebula, Maleshei barely seeing the bomber that was flying closely behind her and Broadside. This Nebula was super thick, thick enough for any pilot to get lost in.

: Well, you're going to have to. The scanners are useless out here! : Ahsoka exclaimed through the comms. : We cannot rely on technology, little 'Soka. You have to feel your way through the force. Then you will see the path. :

: Well, right now, I can't see anything! :

"That's because you haven't felt your way through the force yet, 'Soka. You barely took a minute to try." Maleshei joked as she laughed softly. : That's not helping, Mal. :

Maleshei rolled her eyes before a thought came across her mind. "Master Skywalker? How did you know about this route anyway?"

: It's an old smugglers route pilots talked about back on Tattooine. :

:A smuggler's route? That makes me feel a lot better. : Ahsoka exclaimed sarcastically as Maleshei shook her head. : Yep, it's called the Balmorra Run. :

' Wait.why does that name sound familiar? ' Maleshei thought.

: Balmorra Run?! : She heard her Master exclaim before she began to hear multiple beeps on the scanners. "I'm reading multiple life signals on the scanners!"

: General Skywalker, Balmorra Run is nesting ground for giant Mantas! :

' That's why it sounded familiar! '