The Rift in the Force (Ahsoka X OC)

Terror...

After a good day or so of rest from the initial invasion of Geonosis, me and Master Kenobi were ready to head back out into the field for cleanup. While the factory was destroyed by Ahsoka and Barriss, in a manner which scared the living force out of me when I heard the news, we still had to find Separatist leader Poggle the Lesser, which me, Master Kenobi, Master Luminara and Master Mundi were put in charge of doing. I wasn't too thrilled to be combing this desert planet for the leading bug, and I'm sure Master Kenobi wasn't either. Currently we were riding to the surface on a gunship.

"I can't wait to leave this pile of sand for good Master," I say.

"I certainly don't like this planet either, but we aren't going anywhere until we find Poggle," Master Kenobi tells me.

Soon enough we landed on a cliffside and headed over to Master Luminara.

"A hard-won victory," Master Kenobi says.

"Indeed. And a costly one. We suffer a great many losses in these battles. Too many," she replies in agreement.

"The battles do appear to be coming with growing frequency," Master Kenobi remarks.

"No sign of Poggle then?" she asks us.

I shake my head. "Not since the destruction of the factory Master."

"Even with clone squads searching over the entire area we haven't found anything," Master Kenobi adds in support of my statement.

"I'll go out and find some clue as to where he went," she decides, heading towards her speeder.

"I'm sure the clones can handle-" Obi-Wan begins to say, but is cut off.

"Poggle has too much information about the Separatists to let him get away," she tells him.

He sighs but nods in agreement. "Very well Master Unduli."

"Just make sure to leave a bit of strategic planning for me when I get back, Master Kenobi? I'd hate to feel left out," she says to us with a grin before speeding off, leaving a small cloud of dust.

"Besides finding Poggle, what else is there really to be done here Master?" I ask.

"Plenty more than you would think," he tells me. We enter our gunships again and fly off towards the command center where Master Mundi is waiting for us.

...

As we landed our gunships in their main base of operations on Geonosis, I couldn't help but think of how weird this felt. The first time we arrived was under heavy fire from every direction, being able to barely land simple gunships. Not here we were landing Acclamator and large cruisers in the camp. We entered the command center to find Master Mundi gazing at a holomap.

"What's this? I didn't expect to find you up and about," Master Kenobi says with a grin.

"After enough time in a bacta tank, one longs for the mundane comfort of star charts," Master Mundi replies.

"Usually I head to the training room or chat up with some friends, Master," I say with a small shrug.

"Well, everyone has different interests, Padawan Ko," he replies to me.

"Well it does appear your time in the bacta tank did you some good," Master Kenobi says. "Your wound looks almost healed."

"I wish I could say the same for most of my men," Master Mundi says sadly.

Memories from the first battle flashed in my mind again and I internally flinched. I wouldn't forget the chaos and death that surrounded me for a long time. Holovids and books on the media make war seem like an exciting, interesting thing. How wrong they are. It leaves scars which can sometimes never heal.