𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝙗𝙖𝙛𝙖𝙧 (1/2)

#GGFanFic

#TeamZeltros

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Two years. That was how long the clone wars had been raging on. Two excruciatingly long years, a constant battle, with constant loss on both sides. There was only one more year remaining. Planets were lost, cultures, races, civilizations, all wiped out for the sake of war. However, the fighting was still going on. Neither side would give in yet, nor did they want to. Wins and losses were piling up for both sides of the conflict. Jedi generals led the Grand Army of the Republic. An army of identical faces, identical purposes, but were different all the same.

The 346th was one of the legions for the Grand Army, or the GAR. The legion sported purple paint. Each paint job was unique, but painted with pride. The purple was the same in hue to their Jedi general’s lightsaber. Sora Kasst’s Lightsaber, to be exact. The Jedi master always had an affinity for the color purple. She shared that affinity with the of the 346th. Whom she was now on the way to meet with on their Venator, having been given the name of Heart and Soul. A little over the top, but, it was the solid base for the 346th. Sora wore the standard Jedi robes, wrapped in a soft and loose purple, a cream cloak on top of the robes. Her face was stoic. She was long since used to masking her emotions. She grew up in the Jedi order for so long, now at the age of 29. She had been granted the rank of master after training and knighting her old padawan, an Iktotchi male named Joa Dihnn. She followed the words of the order ionately. Almost to an extreme. She shut herself out from most emotions, spending most of her time either training or meditating m. Some may say she took things too far, but she was comfortable, content. This was how she had learned, and her beliefs were strong, unshaken.

Then the Clone Wars started, and everything changed. The Master had been assigned to the 346th.. and for the first time, she truly opened herself up. She bonded with the clones. Viewed them as family. Spent time with them. Fought alongside them. Treated their wounds, gained their scars. Protected the Republic. It was a whole new world for the general, and, well, she didn’t even mind it too much. The clones were all so wonderful. She would risk a lot to protect them, and she knew they would do the same. But, she didn’t let these emotions her calm expression, focused on the task. General Grievous, the Jedi killer himself, had been reported to be on the sandy planet of Abafar, all the way in the outer rim. Master Kasst had been quick to take on the mission of finding the cyborg, as their ship was near the planet. Soon, she was snapped out of her thoughts as her personal ship, a Theta T-2C shuttle dubbed The Remnant. Upon landing on the larger Venator, she got out of her ship, and quickly approached the clone commander waiting for her. CC-0307, also known as Commander Grant. He gave her a salute as she approached him, a smile already planted on the clone’s face as she approached. “Took you long enough, General.” Grant said, Sora giving a small smile at him. “Well, I would hate to keep you and the others waiting too long, Commander.” She said, before quickly snapping to focus. “I went over the assignment on my way here, are the rest of your men ready?” She asked, looking to the LAAT’s that were being loaded up with the purple and white clad troopers. “You know we are, sir.” The clone replied, sliding his helmet on. “Good.” She simply said. “Let’s begin our descent then.” The Jedi said, leading Grant to the nearest LAAT. None of them knew what would be waiting for them on the sandy planet.

Nonetheless, they still confidently descended onto the planet, LAATs landing, Sora exiting the ship, squinting as sand blew around them. “Niko, take squad one! Thrace, you take squad two!” She said. “Fan out and search the area for separatist activit-“ before sora could even finish, an explosion went off, destroying two nearby ships… and killing the clones within. Grievous was supposed to be in hiding- recovering- not launching an attack on them…

Sora turned quickly, trying to see where the explosion came from. What she was met with, however, was a spider droid. She stared. No. No no no. It was a trap. It had all been a trap and now her legion was to take the fall. As she stood, staring, it prepared to fire another blast at her. Grant, who stood by her side, could tell she wasn’t going to- “MOVE!” He shouted, tackling her out of the way as an explosion rocked their ship, blasting both of them, Grant shielding her. She quickly snapped to focus, holding on to Grant as they tumbled, her ears ringing, vision blurry as she regained her senses. “We- we need to fall back! It’s a-“ Sora began, the usually stoic and calm Master now panicking. “-Trap.” Grant finished. “I know General. We all know, now. But we’re not helpless, and we have a job to do.” He said, quickly pulling her up, Sora’s eyes narrowing. “Right” she said, letting her cloak drop, her saber flying into her hand. “Let’s get cannons set up. There’s no way we can fly out of here. We need to take these droids down.” She said, before in the distance, coughing was heard.

Not from someone injured, no no. This was a cold and mechanical cough. Unmistakable. As dust swirled, blaster fire coming from both sides, a figure emerged from the sand cloud. Mechanical, tall, inhuman. General Grievous. His cough turned into a sinister and empty laugh. “Well well.” He began. “Another foolish Jedi attempting to capture me.” He sneered. Though expressionless, his mechanical tone carried enough. Sora’s eyes narrowed. “Grant.” She said. “You help the others. I trust you. I’ll handle Grievous.” She said, activating her purple saber, both hands clasped onto the hilt, loose hairs flowing in the wind as she stared the cyborg down as he continued to draw closer. Grant wanted to protest, wanted to argue, but Sora was his general. And he wouldn’t argue with her. He carried too much respect for her to do so. He simply nodded. “Very well, General.” The clone said, Sora giving him a small smile before he ran off, quickly shouting orders at the other clones, Sora turning to the mechanical monstrosity that had killed so many Jedi. She would make certain that she wouldn’t end up like them, and she could bring the bloodshed caused by him to an end.

“Well Jedi? Any last words?” Grievous asked, his voice haughty. In his mind, he had already won. Sora took a deep breath, taking in one more moment of calm, time seeming to slow for just a moment, before she tightened her grip on her saber. “I do not fear you.” Was all she said, before leaping into the air, slashing down at the cyborg. He quickly drew two sabers, blocking her attack and delivering a kick to her abdomen as she landed. The Jedi tumbled back but quickly recovered, standing. From there, they engaged in their dangerous dance, blades slashing at each other, each move with the potential to be their last. Eventually, the pair ended in a saber lock, Sora straining as Grievous bore down on her, their blades sparking dangerously as they clashed against each other. She could feel her arms start to give, her own blade approaching her face, starting to burn- and then Grievous was tackled from the side. Grant had come back for her. The battle still raged on around them, Grant standing and rushing over to help his General. “Are you alright sir?” He asked, Sora nodding. “I’m fine.” She said, watching Grievous slowly stand, his arms splitting, all four blades activating now. Before he had been toying with her. “But it’s not over yet.” Sora said, getting back into her stance, Grant alongside her with his blasters.

Little did either of them know, this would be their last battle together.