The Jedi commander sprinted forward, his blade hummed and hissed like a viper. Greenlight flashed with red as he deflected a stream of blaster bolts back toward Nemesis. Its head turned slowly, watching the new threat that had emerged.

For a moment the battle field seemed to shrink around this single confrontation. Nemesis now advanced like an unstoppable juggernaut to the clones, the blaster cannon roaring with the explosives thundering from the volatile bolts. Behind the looming titan, surviving Separatist droids rallied and began pushing forward again, their mechanical voices echoing through the ruins.

The Republic charge had been broken, and what was left of their line was about to crack and break apart. Ash swirled as the Jedi broke into a sprint that most living things could never hope to match. He was a blur with the green light in his hand, snapping and dancing in tight arcs, deflecting incoming fire. Each step was measured, every breath steady, the Force flowed through him, helping guide and warn him.

It showed him what he must do. Close the distance. That was the answer in a firefight like this. Close the distance and the monster will fall. If its shield could handle small arms, blasters, and rockets, then a lightsaber should be capable of piercing and cutting it. That’s what the Force tugged and nudged him towards thinking.

Ahead of him, Nemesis turned. Now fully facing him and no longer distracted by any clones that tried and failed to fell the beast. It moved deliberately, as if it acknowledged the challenge. The rotary cannon in its grip spun up again with a rising mechanical scream. The Jedi even found himself questioning how the creature's weapons hadn’t been damaged by the amount of explosives used on it.

The Jedi's eyes narrowed as the world exploded into light. A torrent of blaster fire tore its ways toward him, far denser than before. But the Force felt another disturbance. It felt like something was sliding off of the thing before him and suffusing itself into the bolts.

His blade snapped up, intercepting them, and that’s when he realized his mistake. The bolts struck his blade with unnatural weight, each deflection sent vibrations up his arms, and he staggered half a step. He had to abort the charge and rolled out of the way of the barrage, then got up and ran low to the ground. Something like that had never happened before to him. What he felt… what was this thing?

He tried again, another stream of fire that was both tighter and heavier. He angled his saber, redirecting the barrage, but each impact felt wrong. As if each of the bolts was resisting getting deflected. Behind the weapon, Nemesis adjusted its stance. It felt instinctual to the bioweapon, guiding its movements and, more importantly, its Nen. Without understanding it, it pushed the aura outward into its weapon.

The spinning barrels began to glow faintly, but only Nemesis could see it, and the Jedi merely felt it. Nen clung to the barrels, then bled into the stream of bolts pouring out of the cannon. Unlike the first time, this was superior to the first attempt, but it was still crude, unrefined, yet effective.

Each shot carried more force, like the difference between a thrown stone and a spear. The Jedi felt it immediately when he tried deflecting again when a barrage got too close to him. He ignored the tremors running up his arms in favor of pushing forward until one bolt slipped through his guard and struck the ground beside him and blew up with enough force to throw him sideways.

He rolled with his cloak catching fire at the edges before he smothered it with a sharp motion of the Force. That wasn’t normal blaster fire anymore. Nemesis stepped forward, having long since stopped running and instead patiently taking its time.

Another roar of the cannon, and he braced, blade flashing, redirecting another storm of enhanced bolts, but he couldn’t advance. Every attempt was met with overwhelming suppression. It dawned on him, the thing was keeping him held at range, it controlled where he could go, pinning him tighter and tighter the closer he got.

Its head tilted, like it was a curious animal. It fired again and adjusted, whatever it was doing to the weapon had become smoother this time, clinging to the weapon more consistently. Unknown to Nemesis, it was trying to use Shu without realizing it. It wasn’t quite there, but it was close enough that it made it far more dangerous.

The Jedi rose again, breathing harder now. Since he couldn’t get close enough to use his lightsaber, then he would use the Force. Getting into cover that would hold for a few seconds, if that, he raised his hand and concentrated, trying to grasp the creature, to slow it, and move it only to feel resistance.

His eyes widened before leaping over his cover that was soon demolished, heading for other areas. Whatever was protecting it wasn’t absolute, but it made the thing heavy as if it was being anchored by something. It continued to keep shooting with each salvo, forcing the Jedi back step after step. He couldn’t get close, not like this. He noted how each shot was more controlled than the last, the barrages meant to corral him.

For the first time in this battle the Jedi was forced entirely onto the defensive by something that shouldn’t have been capable of the things it had done.

The smooth, flowing confidence he once had to reclaim victory against the Separatists was now carved away piece by piece the longer this darkside creation lived. He knew not what else to call it beyond something only the ancient Sith would create. Across from him, Nemesis did not tire like he was. Even with the Force, it could only help so much.

The Jedi firmed his wavering resolve, steadying his blade as his grip tightened. “May the Force be with me, always.” He said far too calmly for what he was about to do. The Force surged around him, and so he moved.

Becoming a living blur, moving faster than he ever had before in his life. He would have enjoyed the feeling had the situation not been so dire. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched forward, deflecting the first wave of fire with a storm of precise movements that didn’t slow him in the slightest. Bolts bounced off his blade with controlled arcs redirected at the creature, rubble, the sky, and anywhere but himself.

The shots managed to harm Nemesis, becoming the first and only thing to harm him by this point. His Ten, to the Jedi, a foreign feeling he couldn’t make out through the Force, had buckled under the blaster bolts infused with a rudimentary form of Shu. The bolts pierced through it and slammed into his arm and chest, charring the flesh, but nothing more than surface level.

Nemesis became more focused, recognizing the Jedi as a greater threat and focusing far more on him after he felt the bolts impact his massive body. The distance between the two quickly shrank, Nemesis adjusting his cannon, tracking not where it was but where he would be before it opened fire.

Despite the previous deflected shots harming the bioweapon, he continued using his new trick. The barrage thickened, every bolt carrying that unnatural force. The Jedi twisted through it, pushing his body and connection to the Force to their absolute limits and then beyond. It was a dance on a knife’s edge, one that would either see him fall or succeed.

But the more he pushed, the harder it became to get closer to Nemesis. He would soon reach his limit and collapse if he didn’t get to him now, feeling his body protest his cruel treatment of it, muscles tearing, bones creaking dangerously. He was close, so very close.

One bolt grazed his shoulder, spinning him in the air with pain shooting up the rest of his body with his arm falling behind him, now severed. He couldn’t stop. Ten meters. Faster than someone would blink, it became eight. Then six. He had gotten close enough and leapt, lightsaber raised, gathering all of his remaining strength into a single decisive strike meant to end the fight in one motion.

He used the Force, it all but told him where to strike, where the bioweapon's weak point was. To his surprise, Nemesis stopped shooting. Throwing his caution and surprise to the side, he couldn’t let this opening go, his single arm held the blade above, ready to strike Nemesis down.

Then Nemesis moved not backwards, but forwards. The slugthrower rose in its off hand, the massive barrel tilting upward to meet the descending figure. For a fraction of a second, the Jedi's instincts and the Force screamed at him to abort. But it was too late as the weapon fired, thundering across the battlefield.

As the high explosive shell zoomed towards him, he tossed the extinguished lightsaber into his teeth, clamping down on it, his sole remaining hand raised, and he pushed with the Force. The round detonated once it made contact with the Force Push, the strongest he had ever done in his life, surprising him briefly with the raw power in it. The push turned the space the shell and the growing explosion occupied, which then took its place, forming a concussive wall.

One that was briefly keeping the flames and shrapnel away from the Jedi while Nemesis let the flame and debris wash over him. The wall shattered like reinforced glass, and he was knocked off course, the blast consuming his momentum and sending him flying away. His body twisted, control slipping from his grasp.

The pain of where his arm had been was now hitting him full force, he hit the ground and rolled, trying to rise only for his eyes to widen when the whine of the rotary cannon greeted him. Opening his jaw and grabbing his blade, he looked up in time to see Nemesis had closed the distance and he had no space left to maneuver, let alone room to breathe.

He centered himself once more, fighting to the bitter end. Blade snapped into the familiar form of Soresu, he wished he had focused more on training the form, but that time had come and gone. The barrage hit, at the range he was forced to block at, there was no elegance.

Each bolt slammed into his guard like a hammer, forcing his blade down inch by inch. His boots dug into the ground, carving trenches as he fought to hold on. For what, he didn’t know. They had lost just when they nearly claimed victory against all odds.

Nemesis was unconcerned by any of it, all of his focus was centered on the Jedi before him that was proving to be more of a nuisance after his arm had been clipped. The cannon droned on, relentless and overwhelming as the man’s sole remaining arm trembled.

The Force surged one last time in him as he tried to push forward, step by step, that felt only like he was moving too slowly to try and reach Nemesis. Nemesis merely stepped closer, not afraid, nor did it view the Jedi as a threat any longer. To the Jedi’s growing dread, the muzzle of the cannon was all he could see, and he didn’t have the strength or angles needed to redirect the shots back at it in hopes of dismantling the accursed blaster.

A dozen shots were deflected before he heard a crack and the weapon stopped for a brief moment. He looked up at Nemesis, confused, before he felt it. The dead weight of his left arm, trying to lift it, proved futile, the bones turned to splinters under the onslaught, and his body finally gave out on him. He fell onto his back and exhaled. There was no fear, just understanding.

He understood he didn’t have a chance. But that never stopped him before. His last thoughts as the cannon’s shadow loomed over his face were that his men and fellow Jedi would survive and destroy this abomination.

The gun spun briefly, and Nemesis turned away, ignoring the charred mass that was once a Jedi Knight. Smoke rose from Nemesis' weapon, his massive frame remained unmoved before he looked around and sensed the various clones with En.

The clones were in full retreat. The final offensive, one that almost worked, had been broken, and what was left of the Republic's forces was in full retreat.

A droid walked up to Nemesis as he stomped ahead, ready to chase after what was left of his enemies.

“Uh… the commander wants to talk to you?” The droid sounded unsure. On one hand, it had its orders, on the other, death by a giant monster that glared down at it made it question its programming.

A hologram sprung up of a tactical droid with its arms behind its back looking arrogant despite doing nothing in this battle save for almost losing. “Your orders are to meet me at the command center for a thorough examination to ensure you are in top condition to continue the campaign against the Republic.”

The droid commander droned on about its plans to wipe out what’s left of the clone forces and begin the process of getting the factory up and running again. It turned and looked around for a moment. “Where is the creature?” It asked the droid, staring up into the sky.

“He jumped away when you were busy talking about how great you are, sir.” The droid cheerfully chirped, now happy that it wasn’t going to be crushed.

…

A deep chuckle escaped me as Maul was loaded into the section of the castle that had been completed. Nemesis on his own did wonderfully. I didn’t even know of his progress until that happened. My robes fit snugly on me courtesy of both my skills in art and my power to casually create strands of it for different purposes.

They were black and gold, with various symbols and images of tigers and dragons I felt looked cool and were appealing to me. Maul simply had a silk robe loosely clinging to him to hide his appearance as he floated around on a repulsorlift just big enough to fit him on it.

He paused moving forward, looking towards the black metal suit that was off in a corner under a massive tapestry I had created. Maul's eyes were drawn to it, seeing the image on it of two people. The background was a dark abyss matched by the obsidian-colored silk, a ruin of some kind with hints of red interspersed.

What drew his gaze was a person in pitch-black robes that was even darker than the bulk of the silk making up the background, but he wore a carved bone-white mask with red markings above where the eyes should be bowing before an old blind woman. For a brief moment he stared at the image before his gaze slid back down, eyeing the Berserker Armor.

My hand tapped his shoulder, knocking him out of his weird state. “Well? What do you think?” I gestured to the various tapestries and rugs on display that I had created in what spare time I had with various forms of media depicted on them.

Most were made to look like my own artistic input of iconic moments throughout Star Wars, all of which were of the past. Others had things like an image of Kratos holding the Blades of Chaos with Zeus standing across from him.

Others had images of famous assassins like John Wick, Agent 47, and Kiritsugu Emiya. Maul paused, hovering near a silk sheet emblazoned with the three figures of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Altair, and Connor from the Assassin's Creed series.

“It will do. You have quite the collection…” He trailed off, his head about to snap towards the Berserker Armor again as Maul seemed drawn towards it.

“Why thank you! Many of these have significant ties to me. Treat them with care. For now, we need to get you prepped and ready for when it’s showtime.” My hand waved through the air dramatically as he looked unsure of what to make of me.

“Speak your mind.” It wasn’t hard to clue into Maul just not understanding or being used to someone like me.

“What are your aims? Beyond toppling my former… master.” Maul said bitterly.

He didn’t take to learning he had been replaced and missed out on so much in the galaxy well. When he learned of Kenobi being alive and well, Pitou had to step in and stop him from throwing a tantrum and causing the ship to be damaged. I wasn’t about to have all my near-death experiences and all that had been done up until this point end up for nothing when I was stuck in space for who knows how long because he couldn’t handle the one who brought him low succeeding in life.

"Oh, I don’t know…” I said, shaking my head and acting like someone who is shy about revealing their hobbies in life. I looked over towards a giant window made with that glass they used on the ships in this galaxy-- transparisteel. Outside in the distance, I could see the two death claws watching over their clutch of eggs they had just laid.

The buildings and particular caretakers hired on to help breed and facilitate any needs the familiars would have were all hired. Several animal trainers, when they heard of the new unseen species that Jabba had procured, came quickly.

My death claws had been ordered to not attack or kill them unless they harmed them intentionally or the eggs. If they get too rough, give them a warning. It would probably take a couple of months for the numerous eggs they had laid to bear fruit, but once they did, I would have an army of shock troopers at my disposal.

“Maybe sit back on a nice luxurious planet with a beach, a nice view of its ocean, with some scantily clad ladies keeping me company.” I said with my hands up like I was taking a picture of the moment and was already visualizing the moment, and it made me excited.

“That’s… it?” Maul sounded like he was in disbelief. He probably was. Heck, if I were in his shoes and a guy like me showed up, I’d half expect the guy to make promises of ruling the galaxy instead of Sidious and promising what I could while giving little to Maul.

“Yep. Hate to break it to you, Maul, but ruling the galaxy is not something I am interested in. It’s a futile effort that would only end in disaster since it’s nothing more than a trap.” I walked along, moving past the Silver Samurai armor sitting in a corner that I plopped down on without Maul noticing as he paused to stare at it.

“A trap?” He asked me. He was skeptical, questioning how such a thing was a trap. “How? You can rule it all.” He looked around at the finished portions of the castle as the crews worked tirelessly to make it a reality off of the designs I had created using my newly gained artistic touch.

I stopped and so did Maul. I slowly turned to look at him. “Come on, Maul. Sidious didn’t take you as an apprentice just because you were skilled with a lightsaber and nothing more. Think about it. What will you do once you claim the galaxy as yours?”

“I would consolidate my power and ensure my empire remains strong and capable as I begin to acquire more knowledge.” He said without hesitation. “Find a means to rule indefinitely, never fearing death.”

His eyes had a far-off look to them as if he could already picture it all. My chuckle made him snap out of it. “I guess you love torturing yourself.” I continue to walk with Maul shaking his head, sputtering.

“W-what do you mean torture?! I would rule the galaxy and be the most powerful being of all! I would become immortal. What more could you want than that?!” He snarled at me, his anger rising.

My head tilted towards him as he was right by my side. “Enjoyment. I would have none of that ruling such a thing. Just think about it. Imagine ruling over an empire of Sith or darksiders like the ancient Sith of past eras. Constantly backstabbing one another and you.”

“It wouldn’t matter, I would be strong enough to keep that from happening.” He denied like a sweet summer child, ignorant to the brutal torture one would suffer under such a position.

“You mean like all the other Emperors who existed in the past, who became the leaders of the ancient Sith? All of them were far more powerful than you, and yet their empires had fallen all the same. Imagine this, Maul.” It was time for a wake-up call.

If he doesn’t get it after this, he is a lost cause, and I would just wipe my hands of him understanding this. I don’t expect him to understand immediately if he doesn’t, but I have faith in the Rule of Two not just choosing someone as an apprentice because they are powerful but because they have intelligence.

A door slid open, and we walked further into the castle on the outskirts of Mos Eisley. “Imagine running the empire you see in your mind. Now picture this-- every person who can use the Force, like yourself, vying for your position. You constantly have to look over your shoulder, waiting for the next betrayal. You are forever alone, no one to talk to or confide in. No equals to you. Every discussion you must dissect to ensure you remain as the ruler.”

“That is to be expected. Those that use the dark side desire more power.” He said with less intensity, but he sounded like he was more arguing with himself. But I think he was starting to see what I was getting at if his emotions got bluescreened for a moment with a hint of dread taking shape.

“Oh? Then let’s go deeper. Any children you have, fully expect them to become instruments of your undoing. Getting a wife or concubines? Forget it, they will either willingly or get manipulated into being your undoing. Then the work involved in running the empire. Either you have competent people, and those are the ambitious ones who will dethrone you or make things difficult in the long run since they would never be fully satisfied. The alternative is doing what your former master intends to do, and that’s just surrounding himself with nothing but idiots, causing constant headaches and stress for you to just keep everything running.”

On and on the rant went with me listing off plenty of reasons as Maul remained silent, staring intently, no longer trying to come up with excuses or reasons as to why it would work. He soaked it all in, asking a question occasionally, realizing I had no issue answering and explaining things.

“And that’s why it is ultimately a bad idea. It is a trap, one that would never end well.”

“I now understand your reasoning, but wouldn’t achieving immortality and ultimate power correct such a thing?” He was no longer gung ho about the idea of creating an empire like the ancient Sith, but it wouldn’t stop him creating his own organization.

He was ambitious, and I could respect that. “And that will be my last point,” We had long since taken seats on some furniture purchased to furnish the castle. In Maul's case, he remained hovering in the air. “Let’s say you begin the process to achieve ultimate power or immortality. Every time throughout galactic history someone has attempted this, both Sith and Jedi banded together to deal with them.”

Maul realized the implications now. “That’s not even getting started on the Force itself creating or empowering someone to topple you. This too has occurred a few times.”

Maul gave me a calculating look. “… is that why you severed any connection to the Force?”

I gave him a so-so gesture of my hand. “Part of it. The other was I grew tired of it, and all that I had gained and achieved was without it.”

My hand wagged at him. "Also, I wouldn’t recommend doing what I did. I don’t think it can be replicated. Plus, with the Force, you could make Force equivalent abilities to my own.”

Maul sagged at the comment, but I could see the determination in his eyes. When I was about to give him his current regimen with the food he would be eating to get himself in good enough shape to ensure Pitou had an easier time of repairing him. Not that she couldn’t already, it would just make it a lot easier, and I’d rather her not be completely exhausted or at half her strength if Maul decided he didn’t need us after getting healed.

Speaking of Best Girl, she soon entered the room with her ears perked up. “We must go to Jabba.” She said suddenly, with me quickly following her.

The three of us made it to a massive chamber with Jabba on a raised central platform, looking at a hologram of Dooku.

“Jabba, while your enforcer, Nemesis, has done wonderfully, the Separatists and I need more.” Dooku said, gazing sweeping towards me, Pitou, and Maul. His gaze lingered on Maul for a moment longer than the rest of us. He likely didn’t recognize him since like me, he was completely covered in luxurious silk robes that obscured his body.

“There are currently several planets in the Outer Rim that could use their assistance. One of which has received reinforcements.” An image replaced Dooku showing a map of the galaxy before it zoomed onto a planet. The planet was a part of one of our hyperspace lanes that had been riddled with mines.

A few Republic ships tried to sneak past or brute force their way through, and all of them met grisly ends when they exited hyperspace at several points along the hyperspace lane. To learn one of them got through had me suspicious.

Not many, if anyone, could have done that. One point along the lane when they exited would be one thing. But at least five… something was up.

“The Republic ships that have gotten past your eyes,” Dooku had a small smile at the joke at Jabba’s expense, not knowing he had gotten bamboozled. “Have begun reinforcing those planets. One in particular would be a great loss to lose in the Outer Rim, especially since it would open up an avenue of attack on Tatooine.”

The crowd of people muttered, glancing around, but none of them were afraid. All of whom were under my control, and with the Magnaguards left here on Tatooine, had grown four more members since my familiars grew in number the stronger I got. Not too big of a surprise since I never fully stopped training. Pushing my limits had become as natural as breathing, even if it was a massive pain in my red ass.

Jabba’s eyes narrowed into slits as the droid translated for him. “Then Nemesis will deal with them.” He waved it off, not concerned.

“Therein lies the problem, Jabba.” Dooku said, sounding sympathetic to him, of all things, like he knew something that Jabba didn’t that wasn’t good news. “While I appreciate your aid in the Separatist Alliance, others among the leadership feel… you are not putting in enough effort. They wish to see what you can bring to the table and feel if you do not bring more to the table, then they would surely cut off support to you when you need it.”

Dooku put on a good act, but anyone in the know knew he was full of it. At least partially. I couldn’t confirm or deny the Separatist parliament was talking about such things, but with a Sith like Dooku, it was like dealing with some people I used to know. Anytime they contact you, always assume there is some angle or catch, something they want or have to gain out of it. Above all else, always expect a knife in the back, you just don’t know when it will happen and where it’s going.

Jabba’s hum rumbled across the chamber before he spoke and the droid translated. I subtly signaled Pitou as she nodded, a small smile on her face. She deserved to let off some steam. It makes it even better when it’s not me that will be on the receiving end of it all.

“Very well. The Republic has been overdue in their punishment for their foolish attempt. Mask, Strings, Paladin,” He gestured to the three of us as Maul looked curious, yet he hid it like he did many things when the last name title was directed at him. Must have had to learn that early on when training under Sidious.

I was no fool believing he fully trusted me. Now am I willing to extend an olive branch? Sure! It’s why he is here and me wishing to have him on my side. My plan is for him to take an interest in all that I have and my willingness to teach him and help him grow. Through seeing what I have to offer, he would stick around, and maybe, just maybe, when he realizes I don’t intend to backstab or screw him over, he would do the same for me.

Now that doesn’t mean I won’t have means to keep an eye on him should he decide he no longer needs me and wants to get rid of me. If he wants to walk away, sure. So long as he doesn’t become a menace to the rest of the galaxy, then I would be willing to let him go.

“Those three will deal with the planet. Now it is time for me to relax and enjoy myself.”

It wasn’t long after that I used some energy before we left, letting rain hit Mos Eisley and the surrounding desert, as the project for restoring the planet would eventually begin. Leaving behind the six Magnaguards to act as protection for Jabba, even though he didn’t need it, I still had uses for his dead body being puppeteered by Pitou’s new technique.

Not like I had to worry about backup when we had a bunch of mercenaries hired alongside a fleet of Hutt warships. They weren’t exactly going to be going blow for blow against the Republic Navy from what Pitou had informed me, but that didn’t matter. Not when a few more ships joined us, filled to the brim with copies of my other Magnaguards that were sent off to a droid factory and turning it around to only produce Magnaguards.

The factory in question was isolated both from the Republic and Separatists since it was on the smaller side. But that didn’t matter when it was being fed plenty of materials that the Magnaguards helped procure, producing more of them, and now I had a steady supply that wasn’t overwhelming, but they didn’t need to be.

“… I thought I would be getting healed.” Maul’s voice broke me out of my thoughts, seeing hyperspace go by through the viewport.

“You will. Things happened, and instead you get to show me what you're capable of. Consider it a test.”

Maul glared at me, his jaw tensing, but he relented, and his expression turned more neutral. “Very well.”

I chuckled, shaking my head at him as he fit snugly inside the Silver Samurai armor. The life support system is capable of helping keep Maul alive without the Force of all things. Guess that suit was more advanced beyond combat capabilities from what I remembered of it from that Wolverine movie.

“You're not even going to ask what the test is?” The disbelief in my tone made him look at me like he was sucking on a lemon. "Pitou, get in here and bring a camera. I think he’s pouting!” I pointed at Maul, whose eyes widened in disbelief.

“I am not!” His outburst made me laugh even harder. Maul crossed his arms while Pitou smiled, padding closer and leaping up to lay atop the armor's shoulders, lounging. “And you! Get off of there!”

He pointed at her, then at the ship's floor, getting annoyed. Getting my laughter under control seeing Darth Maul, one of the coolest yet coldest characters in Star Wars pout.

“The test is to see if you still have the most important muscle of all.” Maul paused, looking at me. “Your mind. I need to know, despite the madness that still clings to you, that you have that sharp intellect that made you so dangerous. I don’t want nor need a guy who can only use his brute strength. So… think you can get familiar with that armor before we get there?”

Maul looked at me for a moment and completely forgot about Pitou lounging on the suit like it was a nice warm spot on a comfy couch. He began getting more familiar with it as he went through several motions.

Hours went by with Maul getting better at using the suit. Despite missing his legs, the suit had built-in sensors for such an occasion, so he didn’t have to worry too much about not using his legs to control the lower half of it. At first his motions and movements were either clumsy or too stiff, but he eventually got the hang of it. Just in time since we had arrived at the planet.

…

Blasters of red and blue crisscrossed through the streets of the city with the Separatist droids marching fearlessly towards them while Obi-Wan maintained his distance, acting as a defense for the clones behind him who took out any droids they could.

“General Kenobi, this should be the last wave for now.” Commander Cody said, taking out two B2s with a few well-placed, precise shots each, showing his skill and experience when handling those armored units.

“We take care of the rest of them and then we reconvene with Anakin and his men.” Obi-Wan ordered, ready for this battle to end. He looked around while blocking the bolts and could only see the destruction and toll this war has taken on everyone.

He could only hope it ended soon. “General Kenobi.” The familiar hiss of Captain Fordo’s jetpack greeted his ears as he casually mowed down over a dozen droids in less than a second. “Enemy reinforcements have been spotted entering the system.”

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at that, not having expected reinforcements so soon, nor did he expect them to even attempt to support a losing battle like this. Then Captain Fordo’s next words may as well have been the biggest surprise he has had in some time, and he highly doubted he would have anything to top that for years.

“They are Hutt forces.”