No Time To Die - Clone Wars

Chapter 4 - First Impressions

Skiv stayed back at a distance. Ducking behind corners and peeking by pillars as he watched General Kraken move curiously about through the halls of the facility. She had only just got here, so it was obvious so that she was just learning her way around. Only when they reach the foyer did he stop and wait for her to exit through the other end did he calmly strut down across the floor, sparring a few greetings and nods at some by passers.

Coming through the automatic doors, this part of the facility was almost empty. This hangar was mostly used for ships docking onto the planet. As far as he knew, General Kenobi's ship was the only arrival today, so it wouldn't be packed with people. Footsteps caught his attention. Quietly coming to a side wall, he pressed his back against the surface before peeking around a corner.

There was the General coming upon a landing dock, her hair blowing faintly in the gentle breeze. There was a slight drizzle of rain, but no downpour like there normally was on another given day on Kamino. She was lucky there wasn't a storm going on, those doors would be locked otherwise. He slowly drew closer to the archway, hiding behind some crates as she came to the center of the dock. She reached to her side, grasping one of the lightsabers in her right hand.

That one looks different than the one she was holding earlier, he thought. Skiv reached up and removed his helmet, setting it aside in order to get a better look.

He watched as she activated the sabre, a glow of green light spawning from the metal handle. She propped her feet, getting into a stance. The rain drops made a fizzle like sound whenever they made contact with the green energy, a tiny trail of smoke emitting from the blade. She took a slow and steady breath before thrusting her arms to the side quickly, following the move with an upward swipe.

Kraken continued to perform attack and defensive maneuvers. Skiv watched her footwork, the way her arms and body swayed with each movement. The way her hair flowed in the air almost whimsically. He's heard stories about the Jedi's fighting techniques and their courageous efforts on the battlefield, even witnessing General Shaak Ti summon her sabre from time to time during training. But witnessing such fresh strength, and grace it was almost mesmerizing in a sense.

His eyes glued on to her as with one fell swoop, she brandished her second lightsaber, ignited it as she performed a finishing move as if she were locking her opponent with a scissor like move as the two blades crossed with one another, the green meshing with the purple.

"Holy frag. . . " Skiv gasped at the sight. His eyes widened in marvel at her form, and if it wasn't for his trance he could have sworn he felt his heart skip a beat.

He watched as the General stared intently at the blades, her chest rising and falling as she breathed heavily. What at first was a somewhat calm expression on her face quickly morphed into a millisecond of fear and anger as she frustratingly shook her head. Withdrawing the blades, she took a moment to compose herself before summoning her green lightsaber and performing the technique again.

Every time she got to the end, she'd make it a step further, performing a bonus action before she'd shake her head and redo the practice. She did this over and over again. Small puddles formed along the surface of the dock as the droplets of rain continued to pour, and as she took a step forward whilst swinging her arm, her foot slipped on the water as her body suddenly fell forward.

Skiv gasped, his body moving almost instinctively as he slowly began to stand up, motioning to reach out to try and help her, but watched as she just barely caught herself, somersaulting head first as she landed on her feet in a crouched like position, her blades facing away from her. Her back was completely drenched, along with the side of her leggings. Her back was facing Skiv as he silently signed in relief.