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Chapter Text

Catra stood on the command deck of the republic cruiser known as “The Triumphant”, looking out towards the fiery red star known as Anza. Catra stared in awe having never seen so much bright red that wasn’t blood of creatures her tribe hunted,but it was beautiful in it’s own way. Clones chattered around her, working at their stations as she could hear one of them was a little distracted, sounding like he was listening to the Galactic radio but she didn’t say anything since she was guilty of the same thing.

Catra was sent here with Master Plo Koon at the order of her Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who wanted her to get some experience working well with other Jedi, and to see if she could sense anything not other alien species could, so here she was in the Abregado system helping to locate the mystery weapon.

“Koh-to-ya, little ‘ra,” greeted Master Plo appearing next to her, shaking her from her thoughts, realising she must have been even further out of it than normal.

“Koh-to-ya, Master Plo. Sorry I didn't notice you sooner, I was distracted.” Catra didn’t look away from the star, she always felt nervous when talking to Master Jedi, having only been around them for a while. Plo could sense her discomfort so he looked at the star as well..

“It’s because this time you’re without your Master.” Plo spoke already knowing the problem, Catra gave a small nod after a few seconds as her tail rested on the ground, “I can understand, I had those same feelings when I was a Padawan. After a while Padawans learn that it’s okay, but it’s different for each one.”

“I know Master Plo, I think I might be one of the Padawans who take longer to get used to it.” Catra’s ears twitched keeping her eyes on the star, her eyes focused a little as a large mass of a starship started to move in front of it, “I think we found the mystery weapon.”

“Indeed we have little one.” The ominous shape of a large cruiser lurked in the light of the star, a large circle sat in the middle of the shape, Catra guessed correctly that there was one on the other side. This cruiser made her legs wobble slightly, she couldn’t tell whether it was excitement or fear at the newest addition to the Separatists’ fleet. .. Her ears twitched, with one turn slightly to the left as she heard a clone walking up behind them.

“The enemy ship has reduced its speed, General”. Directly speaking with Plo, Catra figured out quickly that Jedi Knights or higher ranking were called Generals while Padawans were called Commanders… she thinks.

“They must have realised we are tracking them.” Both Plo and Catra didn’t look away from the ship as it slowed, it stopped right in front of the star, right in the centre from their view.

“I know they are the enemy, but I have to admit, that’s a cool sight.” Catra couldn’t really hold back her honest thoughts when it came to things she likes, which others could react differently depending on the situation, but Plo gave a soft gentle laugh at her reaction.

“The fleet is holding its position, sir.” The clone spoke again, Catra looked out of the corner of her eye to see it was Commander Wolffe, most clones looked and sounded the same, but when you look and listen closely you see the differences. But Catra still found it hard sometimes, it’s just there were so many clones and it was hard to keep track of them.

“I think it wise to report our position before we attack.” Plo turned towards Wolffe as Catra did the same, the three of them slowly walked back to the command console.

“Skywalker’s fleet is nearby, in the Bith system.” Wolffe followed just a little behind Plo, Catra knew clones didn’t see them and clones as equals, but she thinks otherwise as she walked beside him. From what Catra knew from Plo, even though that’s very little, he wouldn’t have minded if Wolffe walked beside him.

“Good. Perhaps he can reinforce us.” Plo responded nodding.

“I would also suggest my own Master, Obi-wan, but he is a bit further out.” Catra suggested in thought, her tail swaying while she did, “Just don’t put me on the same ship as Anakin, he is the only one who somehow gets me spacesick with those “Tricks” of his.”

““Tricks”?” Wolffe raised an eyebrow at her confused, Plo gave a slight chuckle already knowing as Catra answered, “Basically he just spins, don’t get me wrong, it works, I just get sick from it.”

“From what I hear, Skywalker’s always ready for a fight.” Wolffe laughed, which made Catra happy, she always tries to make clones smile or laugh, and usually she was successful.

“So I’ve heard.” Plo replied as they reached the console, setting up the hologram call for Anakin’s fleet.

“Not just Anakin, Captain Rex and his Padawan Ahsoka are also the same.” Catra smiled,thinking about Ahsoka, “ Back when we trained at the Jedi temple, we mostly sparred against each other, Iwon most of them.”

“Strange,I’m pretty sure last time we tied the score, Catra” Catra’s ears perked up when she heard Ahsoka’s voice, turning slightly seeing the communicator turned on with the holograms of Anakin and Ahsoka. Anakin and Plo were smiling while Wolffe tried to hold back a little snicker of his own.

“Hi, Ahsoka.” Catra felt a little embarrassed looking away for a small bit, “I remember now… but next time I will be ahead.”

“If that happens, dinner is on me, but if I win… i’ll think of something,” The Masters let them talk for a short bit, Anakin gave a polite cough to move things forward, with Ahsoka greeting them properly this time, “Hi, Catra. Koh-to-ya Master Plo.”

“Koh-to-ya, little ‘Soka.” Plo greeted back smiling.

“How’s the hunt for the mystery weapon going?” Anakin asked, getting right to business after the greetings were given.

“We’ve tracked it to the Abregado system. We need reinforcements.” Plo answered. Catra ears twitched slightly and turned backwards a bit without being painful, she could feel a little change in the electric current, looking over her shoulder at the command deck and out the front viewport of the ship where it was the strongest.

“I’ll have to ask the Council, Master Plo. I was given strict orders to protect our staging area.” Anakin reasoned a little, seeing Catra distracted, “Something wrong, Catra?”

“If you don’t convince the council, at least warn them-” Catra was trying to speak before the hologram flickered with a static crackle.

“Master Plo? Catra? What’s….” The transmission cut off as Ahsoka was speaking as their holograms vanished. Master Plo and Wolffe were messing with the console to see what was wrong.

“What is wrong with the transmission?” Plo looked towards Wolffe, Catra turned her back to the console to watch the ship again.

“There is too much interference, sir. We’ve lost them.” Wolffe sighed and gave up, before looking at Catra, “What were you going to tell them?”

“That they jam our comms before they attack… like they just did.” Catra causally spoke with no hint of waver in her voice, Plo looked at her with interest, while Wolffe was skeptical, before scanning and seeing it was true.

“She’s right, sir. This might be the reason all the other ships never send a beacon of help..” Wolffe faced the both of them after he did the scan.

“I’m curious, how you could figure out what the problem was before it happened, little ‘ra” Plo looked at her or mostly her ears.

“I don’t know the correct words or terms, but my species are tuned to when we feel a change with electricity and stuff like that, my ears twitch and point without me doing it,” Catra’s ears twitched a little nervous they were being looked at, “So if anybody notices my ears move around, usually something is going to happen.”.

“The enemy ship is closing!” A clone from a nearby station, which showed a map of the local quadrant, turned and shouted to them, a bit of worry in his voice, facing his station again.

“Prepare for battle!” Plo quickly ordered Wolffe, receiving a small nod as confirmation, “Catra, relay the message to the other cruisers to do the same.”

Chapter Text

Everyone started running about getting ready at their stations, using the communicator on her right vambrace, Catra sent the message to the other two republic cruisers at Plo’s command. She never looked away more than a few seconds from the ship, ears twitching slightly and slowly beginning to hear static, a sign of massive energy converging, eyes focusing seeing an electric glow from the enemy ship.

“Quick, scan energy or electric fields for any worrisome signs!” Catra quickly shouted that command to Wolffe, panic evident in her voice, Plo nodding sensing the fear coming from Catra as he urged Wolffe to do so.

“We’re picking up a large energy reading from the target, sir,” Wolffe confirmed, eyes widening when looking at the reading, then to Catra and Plo.

“Open fire!” Plo understood Catra’s worries shouting with urgency, hoping they were in range to fire upon the ship. Catra was rubbing her ears hard as the static got louder and louder.

“We need to destroy and delay that energy!” Catra was losing focus, unable to hear her own voice over the static, “Otherwise we’ll be sitting ducks!”

“We’re not in range yet, sir,” Commander Wolffe was worried now as well seeing how Catra was acting. Plo then asked an important question, one he was sure he knew the answer to as well, “What is it, Catra?”.

Catra’s eyes widened as the static disappeared, which would be a good sign, if it didn’t mean all the energy was converted. Her eardrums nearly popped as the static returned with a second round of pain. The weapon fired a huge circle of electric energy their way, each minute it got closer the static was even louder than before, “It’s a massive Ion Cannon!”.

“Brace for impact!” Plo shouted over the intercom, quickly moving to Catra and covering her ears.

The energy field hit the cruisers, quickly wiping out the shields and draining energy rapidly, an Ion cannon usually didn’t affect living beings, the exception to this was Cartorians. She screamed in pain as she felt the screeching of nails on a chalkboard, her ears burning with pain.. Her hearing would have been completely destroyed if Plo hadn't covered her ears.

“We’re losing all our power!” Catra couldn’t hear what Wolffe was saying but was well versed in reading lips, the screeching and burning was slowly dying down, hearing slowly returning to normal, with Plo thinking she was fine enough for now to let go, “That energy field has left us defenseless!”

All the cruisers rocked about as they came under turbolaser fire, tearing through their hulls with ease, the shields wouldn’t be back up in time either. The closest cruiser to the enemy was the first to go as it was blasted to pieces, debris flying everywhere and colliding with the other ships.

“They’re tearing us apart one by one!” Wolffe shouted, the ship rocking with panels from the roof falling and static and electric wires sparked all around them as the second cruiser was also blown up showering more debris, some of it blocking the turbolasers firing onto their ship.

“Quickly! Into the pods!” Plo commanded everyone before running.

The cruiser kept shaking, threatening to pull apart at any second from the turbolaser fire, knocking a clone off his feet as he stumbled to the ground. Catra stopped and helped him back up as they ran. The corridors were broken and desolate as they were filled with bodies of dead clones, having not survived the initial blast from the enemy.

Ahead of them a panel, which had been hanging by threads, started to collapse in their path to the pods, focusing her thoughts and holding both hands out she strained to hold it up with the force.

Using her tail she grabbed her lightsaber and activated it, rushing underneath she cut through the panel with ease, splitting it in half and pushing both sides to either side of the corridor, leaving the path open for the others.

“We don’t have much time! Get inside! Hurry!” Plo activated a switch on a console, all the pods doors opening as clones clambered to get into them. Catra got into the same pod as Master Plo and Commander Wolffe, along with the clone she helped, with another wearing identical armour as the one she helped.

The hatch shut behind Master Plo when he entered, running up to the command seat and launching them out of the ship. Catra heard at least three other pods launching with them, unfortunately one of them was destroyed as it collided with debris, causing a small explosion. It didn’t damage their pod, but it spun them around to show them their ship one last time, before it was consumed in fire and energy as it blew up.

They were speechless, a silence filled the pod, none of them knew what to say as they watched the debris go everywhere, slowly coming to a stop to float and spin slowly in place.

“Commander Wolffe, give us a status report of the pod.” Plo faced Commander Wolffe, nodding as he did a quick inspection of the pod.

“Catra, sir,” The two clones across from Catra spoke to her. She turned and looked at them, curious and confused with her ears perked and tail laying still, one of them put his hand out for a handshake, which she accepted as he spoke, “Thank you for saving me, sir.”

“You don’t need to keep siring me, I'm not bothered with that. You can if you want to, but I would just prefer Catra.” Smiling as she shook his hand in return, “And I wasn't going to leave you behind.”

“I’m glad you didn’t, he’s been my partner for a while, don’t want him to disappear just yet.” The other clone spoke up, patting his friend’s shoulder, “My name is Boost, my partner whose bacon you saved, is Sinker.”

“It’s nice to know your names. I won’t forget them anytime soon.” Catra let go of his hand, resting back in her chair.

“Catra.” Plo gently got their attention when Wolffe finished his inspection, they turned and faced him, Boost and Sinker taking off their helmets.

“The power grid is burned out. We’ve no engine, communications, or…” Wolffe was listing off all the problems, Catra knew from his tone that wasn’t the worst of it, his next words confirmed it, “Or life support recharge.”

“So, we’ll just sit here and hold our breath.” Sinker joked a little trying to lighten the mood a bit, he wasn’t expecting an honest answer for the joke.

“I mean, I could probably do that, give us half an hour of extra breathing.” Everyone else looked at her surprised and worried, as she shrugged, “That’s the longest I've held by breath underwater, figured it could be the same here.”

“Someone’ll come looking for us, right?” Boost turned to Plo after the awkward silence of Catra’s statement.

“Let’s get the power restored so we are here to be found.” Plo gave a pretty good suggestion, as dark as it could be.

Chapter Text

Only 10 minutes had gone by since they were stuck inside the pod, still trying to fix the power. Catra didn’t hold her breath, she was exaggerating before, and for one thing she didn’t know if it would help or not. Boost and Sinker have been working on the wires and consoles since that was one of their specialities.

“The air in here is getting a bit stale.” Wolffe was sitting in his chair talking to Plo. Catra could taste the stale air and she didn’t like it, reminding her of the poisonous gases back home which was an occurrence you encounter when you’re part of a nomadic tribe, playing with the mask that hung from her neck.

“Don’t look at me. It’s Boost, Sir. He only takes a bath when he’s on leave.” Sinker joked as he kept fixing the wires, Catra laughed a little which they all needed to hear, she is still a padawan after all, don’t want her losing hope first.

“Save it. Just keep working on the pod, not your jokes.” Boost rolled his eyes watching Sinker closely.

“Do you think we’ve got a chance, General?” Wolffe asked Plo

“I don’t believe in chance, Commander. I know if we work together, we will stay alive, and someone will find us.” Plo’s voice didn’t waver, it helped Catra’s nerves as she believed what he said.

“With all due respect, General,” Sinker stopped for a second as he turned and faced them, “Strategically, it doesn’t make any sense for someone to come look for us. If I was in command, I'd be hunting that weapon down.”

“I value your life more than finding that weapon.” Plo spoke calmly and gently from the heart with that statement.

“Even if there’s no chance of any survivors, I would still look for them. No one is expendable.” Catra looked to Sinker who seemed to give that some thought as he turned to work on the wires again.

“Sir! There’s another pod out there!” Booster pointed out the viewport, another pod was floating nearby, it’s back to them.

“If we only had power, we could contact them.” Wolffe and the others watched the pod, Boost suggesting, “Well, how about we just wave hello when the viewport comes around?”

“I don’t think we’ll like what we see when it does. I don’t sense anything alive on that pod.” Catra spoke softly to herself as she focused and sensed something wrong. The clones didn’t want to believe it, Plo raised his hand and glided to the side, using the force to turn the pod. Revealing the glass had been cracked open, a dead clone floating in the busted viewport, another was floating dead inside.

“They’re dead! Someone busted that pod right open.” Wolffe looked on in disbelief.

“We are not alone out here.” Plo cautiously spoke, giving everyone an ominous feeling, but sometimes when you fear something, you can also prepare for what could happen.

Sinker and Boost got back to work, Catra watching from over their shoulders. She knew a little about power and electronics because of how she messes around with her Vambrace, but that’s when it’s peaceful and focused, on the fly however the best she could do was hack open a door, which right now wouldn’t help.

“Sorry if this is a bit rude, Catra, but what species are you? Don’t think i’ve met one of your kind before.” Boost questioned looking between the wires Sinker worked on then back on her. Catra always got this question when meeting new people so she’s become used to explaining it, “I’m a Cartorian, my home planet is Zilliam in the Balture system.”

“I only asked what species you are.” Boost chuckled a little, Sinker and Wolffe did the same while Plo was thinking about something.

“I know, but that’s usually the next question I get asked.” She laughed in response ears twitching and tail swaying happily, “Go on. Tell me i’m wrong.”

“You’re not wrong.” SInker mumbled as he worked on the wires, a smile audible in his voice.

“Catra, aren’t Cartorians usually species that rarely have force users?” Plo asked with interest, having done studies on most species, so he knew a few details, but you can always learn more from the source itself.

“You aren’t wrong, the closest in the tribes are the shamans, and they usually stay with the tribes.” Catra thought of the fond memories of home, “One of my parents is a Shaman, while the other is the chief. Rarely from those marriages a force user is born, there have only been two Cartorian’s that have become Jedi knights.”

“Do Shaman’s have the most knowledge in each tribe?” Catra nodded her head to Plo’s question, “Then perhaps next time I visit there I should seek one out to learn more about your culture.”

“Each tribe will have different knowledge about their tribes, but each tribe has universal knowledge as well. So if you want to learn more from my tribe, you’ll have to see my mom.” Catra shivered a bit, reminded of the days she had to spend all day inside a tent being taught, and getting in trouble each time she lost focus.

“No, that’s not it. This one goes there, that one goes there.” Sinker brought Catra back from her thoughts as he messed with the wires, while Boost was questioning him, “Are you sure? We don’t want to make things worse.”

“How are we gonna make things worse?” Sinker looked at him not really caring.

“You never say things like that, Sinker.” Catra sighed,her tail dropping to the floor and ears twitching.

“When you ask for trouble, you should not be surprised when it finds you.” Plo agreed with Catra.

“I think trouble already found us, sir” Sinker kept working on the wires, not really a superstitious person.

“What if we connect these two wires here?” Boost questioned while connecting the wires, and finally the power started up, the lights flicked before staying on.

“I’m getting something.” Wolffe was on the communicator fixing up the signal so it could come through, Catra thought maybe it was someone looking for them, but it was worse.

“This is pod 1977! We are under attack! Is anyone out there?!” Were the words that came through the communicator instead.

“It’s one of our other pods!” Wolffe was trying to boost the signal.

“I repeat, we are under attack! Is anyone out there?” The clone said again, sounding more desperate by the second.

“That signal is weak. They must be close by.” Plo looked to Wolffe as they all focused on the communicator, looking out the viewport.

“Try homing in on that singal to find them.” Catra suggested looking at the console pressing a few buttons herself as it was becoming clearer.

“They’ve locked on to our ship!” The clone repeated those words even more terrified than before, “Our position is mark 12 at .26”

“There they are!” Catra pointed a claw getting everyone’s attention as they followed the path of her claw. The pod was in sight, and latched onto it was a pod hunter, designed to destroy pods, to leave no survivors, a reason no one came back alive.

“Pod 1977, do you copy?” Plo hoped his voice was getting through, sounding like it did.

“The droids are hunting for survivors. They’re cutting through!” Those were their last words, she watched as the droids cut open the glass sending two clones into the void, quickly dying in the vacuum of space.

“Things just got a lot worse.” Sinker started believing the superstition, as everyone looked at him just slightly annoyed.

Chapter Text

“I think they see us.” Boost watched as the pod hunter let go of remnants of the last one, proceeding slowly towards their pod. Catra might have heard wrong but she swear she could hear the droid that was piloting it was humming, it kind of made her feel a bit sick that they can kill without mercy.

“It is time to go.” Plo turned around in his chair and stood up, moving towards the back of the pod where the airlock was. Catra stood and followed him, putting on her mask that covered her lower face and nose, attaching a small pipe from it to a canister on the back of her belt, with a small wire connected to her right Vambrace.

“Go? Where are you going, sir?” Wolffe was confused as he watched them.

“Outside, to destroy the enemy.” Plo turned around and explained to them, “I can withstand the pressure for a brief time. Put your helmets on.”

“My body can withstand it as well, but not my breathing, that’s why I carry a mask and a small air canister around, it also works with poisonous gases, most of my clan has one.” Catra’s speaking was muffled by the mask, her tail moving up towards her belt, wrapping around it to keep close and safe.

“If you say so, sir.” Sinker and Boost started standing up

“This is a difficult situation but there remains a possibility we will survive.” Plo spoke the honest truth.

“That’s good enough for me. Come on, let’s go.” Sinker and Boost put their helmets on and had their blasters ready, the pod shaking as the hunter latched on.

“Wolffe, keep the communications signal alive. It is our only chance someone will find us.” Plo turned and gave that last order to Wolffe.

“Let’s just hope someone’s looking for us.” Wolffe nodded with a grim look.

The four of them moved into the airlock and closed the door behind them, waiting for the pressure to change. This was going to be new for Catra, during training there were sparring and tasks to do in zero gravity, but this would be the first time doing the real thing..

When the door opened Catra could feel the pressure of space minutely, she was glad she brought the mask from her home with her, cause if she didn’t she would have died in just a few minutes. Plo went out first holding onto the left side and helping Boost up onto the roof of the pod, Catra climbed onto the right and did the same for Sinker.

Slowly they made their way to the front of the pod, the droids not noticing them straight away as they were distracted talking between themselves. Catra grabbed her lightsaber with her tail moving it to her clawed hand, she usually fights with her tail, but right now wasn’t the time for fancy tricks.

“Well, this looks like the last one. Let’s finish the job.” The droid spoke, hearing a little echo and static when they spoke.

“Hey, what’s a Jedi doing out here?” Another droid looked up and spotted them on the pod, both Catra and Plo activating their lightsabers, both blue in colour. Since she held it in her right hand, it made her blue eye glow more than normal.

The droids started to fire at them with their blasters, Plo and Catra deflecting the shots as they came. Plo used the force on Catra to move her down in front of the viewport window, cutting the first droid at the front in half. Plo followed down after to help deflect shots away from the glass.

Sinker and Boost fired back at the droids to give some cover and to take them out. Catra yelped behind the mask as a blast hit her left vambrace, leaving a blast mark but otherwise undamaged, it still worried her that she wouldn’t be able to deflect every blast.

“Take cover!” The piloting droid shouts to the others.

Catra wrapped her tail around another droid’s head as Plo force pushed it, her tail to snaping its head off, sparks coming from it’s neck socket. The other two droids floated back up with their jetpacks out of range of Catra and Plo and behind cover, Plo and Catra kept deflecting shots away from the glass, one coming close to the pipe for Catra’s mask.

“I can’t get a clear shot!” Sinker shouted, not letting up as he kept blasting.

“Time to put the squeeze on them.” The droid pressed a button as the four prongs that held the pod started squeezing down, slowly denting the metal and damaging outside panels as sparks flew out.

“Is there anyone out there? Come in?” Catra’s ears twitched when she heard a familiar voice from the communicator inside, Ahsoka’s voice, “This is Ahsoka Tano. Is there anyone out there? Come in.”

“It’s Ahsoka! She must be close!” Wolffe shouted to them

“Keep the signal alive, Commander.” Plo heard as well while deflecting blaster fire. Catra managed to deflect one shot back into the head of a droid, sending it flying as she thought, ‘Come on Ahsoka, find us.’

“We’re losing the signal! The pod can’t take much more damage!” Wolffe shouted, the pod was creaking and the glass was starting to crack.

“Sinker! Your turn!” Plo turned and used the force to lift Sinker and hold him steady

“I’m on it, boss!” Sinker was prepared before Plo moved him across and over the droids making them have to duck, “Whoa!”

“What the…” The pilot droid ducked his head to avoid taking damage.

“Eat laser, clankers!” Sinker had the advantage as Plo held him still, he blasted the droids from behind, able to get every one of them except the pilot who was protected. During this, Catra sliced through all four prongs of the hunter with ease, Plo pushing it away and bringing Sinker back to the pod.

“Uh-oh!” The droid shouted as the hunter got crushed in between two large pieces of debris causing a small explosion, pushing the pod away from the shockwave a bit, they had to hold onto the viewport to stay. Catra dropped her lightsaber as she was slowly losing strength in her arms, but Boost caught it for her.

“Well, General, this is another fine mess we’ve gotten into.” Sinker casually said after the danger of the droids has passed. Boost moved close and reattached Catra’s lightsaber to her belt

“Your sense of humor is improving.” Plo slightly smiled.

“I don’t mean to say i told you so, but I never believed anyone would come looking for us.” Sinker slightly sighed as Plo looked at him curiously.

“Well, I still believe Ahsoka is out there, I know it…” Catra was heavily breathing, not because she had run out of oxygen, but because she could slowly feel the pressure pressing down on her body, the only reason she didn’t float off is because Plo was holding onto her.

“Sergeant, why are you so certain no one is coming?” Plo asked Sinker curiously

“We’re just clones, sir. We’re meant to be expendable.” Sinker sighed. Catra didn’t like how the clones alwaya believed that, she kept trying to dissuade them from that line of thinking, so she spoke her mind, “If that was true, why would I help you escape from the cruiser? No one is expendable.”

“Not to me.” Plo replied in a serious tone, he always told the truth like that. A light had appeared from behind them and was getting bigger and brighter as it got closer, Plo and Catra turned around slightly, where Catra could see a familiar ship, The Twilight.

Chapter Text

The Twilight pulled up beside the pod, turning so it’s back was to them, cargo doors opening with the energy field activating to keep space and ship air separate and to prevent everyone on the ship to be sucked out. The tow cable shot out and attached onto the pod, pulling them inside where gravity was reintroduced to them, it gently landed on the floor and the four of them slid off it.

The minute Catra felt the ground under her feet, she had to lay down, taking off her mask and unattaching the pipe from it, she didn’t need it while being inside the ship. She was panting heavily as the pressure was slow to disappear, it will leave her exhausted for a while, needing a rest for it to get better.

“Come on, hurry!” Catra’s ears twitched hearing Ahsoka’s voice and running feet getting close, she closed her bi-coloured eyes as she listened to Ahsoka checking on Plo first, “Are you okay, Master Plo?”

“I’m fine, little ‘soka, check on Catra, her breathing should return to normal soon because of her mask. But I want you to check to make sure, you are close friends after all.” Plo suggested, he sensed that Catra would be alright, but having Ahsoka’s opinion wouldn’t hurt.

“Catra, are you okay?” Ahsoka came over to her, placing her hand on her chest to check her breathing. Using her other hand to activate Catra’s Vambrace to scan her body, sighing in relief when no negative results of injury showed up. Moving her hand to rub Catra’s soft ears, “Next time, don’t forget about the force link, we would have found you quicker.”

“I’ll… try remembering it… next time,” Catra facepalmed, if she had done that they could have been found quicker, tail slightly swaying as ears were rubbed, she looked at Anakin pointing her claw to the pod, “Wolffe is still in there.”

Anakin nodded after helping Boost and Sinker, using the force to pull off the viewport and helping Wolffe out of the pod and onto the ground next to his fellow clones. A door opened and the medical droid Tb-2 stepped in to check on them.

“Will they be all right?” Anakin worried about their health, Tb-2 knelt down in front of the clones to check on their health.

“The pressure suits offer some protection, but they require a medical frigate for recovery.” Tb-2 responded after checking, “I will stabilize them, sir.”

“Your men are safe now.” Ahsoka spoke to Plo, helping Catra sit up beside her, letting Catra rest her head on her shoulder, her fuzzy ears rubbing against her neck.

“Tell me, were there any survivors?” Plo had to ask, Catra could sense his worry for everyone else this whole time even if he didn’t show it.

“We couldn’t find anybody else.” Anakin replied solemnly, shaking his head.

“The hunters must have destroyed the rest.” Catra spoke softly trying not to think of all the clones that were lost to that horrible device.

“I’m sorry, Catra, Master Plo.” Ahsoka hugged both of them, Catra a bit weak to return it, but Plo did hug back.

“We should move up to the bridge to discuss, and give the droid some space.” Anakin suggested helping Plo up into his feet, looking at Catra, “Need any help mittens?”

“You know I don’t like that nickname…” Sighed and groaned as that was one thing she didn’t miss, “I might have to lean on Ahsoka, would that be okay?”

“Of course it’s fine, Catra.” Ahsoka stood up while having Catra’s arm over shoulder to keep her steady, Catra wrapped her tail around Ahsoka’s waist for extra support. They ascended the stairs in the cargo area and through the door, down the corridor to the bridge Plo started speaking.

“We tracked the mystery weapon to this system.” The four of them entered the cockpit, Ahsoka placing Catra on the closest chair to rest, R2-D2 went up and in droid voice said ‘welcome home’, Catra patted R2 as she listened, “Catra, would you like to tell them, since you figured it out first.”

“Thank you, Master Plo.” Nodding, thanking him turning to face Anakin and Ahsoka, “We found out it was an ion cannon.”

“An ion cannon?” Ahsoka was confused, Anakin sat down in the pilot’s seat to prepare the ship as he listened.

“A weapon that neutralizes all power to our ships, leaving the targets defenceless.” Catra spoke softly as thoughts flashed in her mind of all the destruction and death, shaking away those thoughts giving a small smile and joking, “Also, it gave hell to my ears and brain, but i’m better now.”

“There’s a massive Vessel approaching.” Anakin spoke, a chiming alarm coming from the radar. Catra’s heart dropped and eyes widened, ears and tail standing on end, how she didn’t notice sooner was beyond her.

“Shut down the power systems before they detect us!” Plo rushed forward pulling at switches and powering down the ship, Ahsoka was in the co-pilot seat, deactivating what she could as well. Catra knew about how the ship works as well so she was helping at the console where she sat.

The engine turned off and all the lights went out as they floated in space, camouflaged with the rest of the debris. They all turned when RD-D2 made noise, showing he was still active, “The droid!”

“I’m sorry, R2” Catra apologised to the little astromech as she powered him off for now. They were speechless as the massive ship started to drift by the viewport, it was even bigger than Catra thought it was, speaking softly to herself, “I feel like we’re forgetting something.”.

“That is one big cruiser-crusher.” Ahsoka watched the massive ship closely. They were all silent as it had fully passed them, now behind it, when they noticed the ship was slowly turning into an attack position.

“They’re coming back!” Anakin said aloud knowing their plan didn’t work.

“Are all the systems shut down?” Plo asked concerned, they all heard the voice of the medical droid in the doorway, “Is there a problem, sir?”

“We forgot to shut off the medical droid!” Catra finally remembered what had bothered her.

“We’ve got to get the power back on now!” Anakin and everyone else rushed to turn back on everything, Tb-2 spoke again, “Can i be of assistance?”

“No, thanks. Just get in the back and take care of the clones.” Anakin quickly responded, Tb-2 acknowledging his commanded and left the bridge, “Come on, we’ve got to get out of here.”

“I know! I know!” Ahsoka rushed to get things turned on. Catra helps the best she can, but there’s only so much her console could access, the engine roaring back to life and all the lights flickered on. Quickly zooming away as the ship locked onto their position, Anakin chose to escape through the debris field.

“They’re charging up the iron cannon!” Catra could feel the static coming back to her ears as it twitched, warning them all.

“Artoo! Program the navicomputer. Be ready to get us out of here!” Anakin shouted, Ahsoka quickly reminding him, “You forgot. We turned him off.”

Master Plo approached R2 and turned him back on greeting him as he did, R2 said hello back.

“Artoo! Program the hyperdrive!” Ahsoka turned in her chair towards R2 as he was connecting to the ship though his port, beeping and chirping, “Anywhere! Hurry!”

“It’s coming!” Catra the sound of the static went quiet as it converged, quickly covering her eyes to dampen the sound as it burst louder than before bursting out louder, a repeat of what happened to the cruisers. Anakin started to spin the ship dodging all the debris he could, this of course left Catra feeling spacesick, “Great, i’ve got a ton of noise in my head, I need to throw up. Anything else wants to happen to me?”

Everyone was mostly quiet with the only sounds being of the alarm, the roaring engine, and the ion cannon blast getting closer and closer. Anakin kept spinning and dodging the debris, keeping ahead of it, but it was slowly catching up.

“It’s getting closer!” Catra was barely able to hear, happy that she covered her ears at least, she could still hear herself speak, Ahsoka turned to Anakin, “Master?”

“We’re clear!” Ahsoka shouted, reaching the end of the debris field and into open space, the minute they reached it, Anakin activated the hyperdrive and got them out of there, the static finally leaving Catra’s ears.

“Well… it didn’t happen a second time at least. Now… I need some rest.” Catra sighed, falling asleep in her chair.

Chapter Text

Catra woke up when they reached Anakin’s fleet, stretching her limbs purring when she did. Ahsoka woke her up to check if she was alright, helping her up as they exited the ship together, both of them checking up on R2. Sinker and Boost were speaking with the medical droid nearby, both gave Catra a smile and nod.

“Those two are great, they both deserve a rest after today.” Catra smiled as she explained everything to Ahsoka.

“I would say you need a rest too, but you just had it.” Ahsoka laughed, having a teasing grin as she looked at the ribbon on Catra’s tail, “Hmm, I wonder how they would react if they learned what you did.”

Catra thought she was talking about someone behind her, turning to look, but her eye flashed by her ribbon quickly turning back in a panic and blushing, “Please, do not tell her.”

“Scaredy Cat. But I won’t, even though I know how she’d react,” Ahsoka calmed Catra down, “It was fun just to watch your reaction.”

“You can be surprisingly mean sometimes, Ahsoka.” Falling to her knees and resting against R2, which he didn’t mind one bit

Her eyes focused on the ramp of the ship as Anakin and Wolffe walked down

“Thank you for getting us out of there in one piece, General Skywalker.” Wolffe thanked Anakin as they walked down the ramp together.

“You have my Padawan to thank for that.” Anakin smiled and praised Ahsoka turning to her, Catra smiled as she stayed resting beside R2, Ahsoka stood up to face he Master, “She always said you guys would pull through.”

“General Plo and Comm- Catra said someone would come for us.” Catra was happy and grateful that she was just called by her name, it makes her feel more like a friend than a General or Commander, “We’re glad they were right.”

“Skywalker.” Plo koon was the last to leave the ship, walking down the ramp towards them, “It is time to give our report to the council.”

“Right, the Council report.” Catra had to hold off a laugh, she could tell Anakin was not thrilled about it as he and Plo started walking off. Catra was confused why Ahsoka looked worried and disappointed, until Anakin turned to face them, “Come on, Ahsoka, Catra.”

“You want me there? I figured, because of before…” Ahsoka looked away worried, Catra would ask what’s wrong but she didn’t want to pry, plus whatever happened, Anakin was fixing it now.

“Ahsoka, through it all you never gave up. You did a great job.” Anakin was smiling, even more when Ahsoka started smiling as well, “But if i’m getting in trouble for this, you’re gonna share some of the blame, too. So, come on. Let’s go.”

“Right beside you, Skyguy.” Ahsoka smiled following him. Catra on the other hand tried to sneak off to rest in her room, but Anakin turned and faced her before she could, “Oh and Catra, we’ll have you report on the Ion cannon to the council.”

“What… you know I can’t speak properly when the council is involved,” Catra’s ears and tail stood up, slowly dropping seeing Anakin’s smile as she sighed in annoyance, “And that’s why you suggested it.”

“Maybe. I can't get anything past you Mittens. That and you might need to show Obi-wan that you are fine.” Anakin gave the proper reason for why she should be there, “He never said it, but he was worried about you.”

“Okay that is a better reason... just don’t tell him about me being in the vacuum of space, I think it would make him worry more.” Catra gave a small nervous laugh walking beside Ahsoka, following Anakin and Plo.

Chapter Text

Sounds of the Ion cannon echoed in her ears, screams of death and pain filled the void around her. The sky was red, filled with blaster fire, destroyed cruisers floating in the air, hundreds of dead clones at her feet. Master Plo, Anakin and Obi-wan all slain in front of her.

Across from her stood the dreaded droid General, General Grievous, holding Ahsoka and Amidala by their throats, demanding her to make a choice. Both of them begging to be saved, she couldn’t choose just one. Grievous snarled as she took too long, activating two lightsabers, swing them down towards-

Eyes flashed open, sitting up in her bed panting heavily, fur drenched in sweat, bed scratched to hell. Looking around in the darkness of her room, she calmed her breathing still a bit shaky, tail grabbing the cup of water from the bedside table, drinking it down with some dribbling down her chin.

“It was just a dream.” Catra tried piecing her dream together but couldn’t, rubbing her forehead, ears a bit dull at hearing from suddenly waking up, “If mom was here, she could help explain it.”

It had only been a few hours since arriving at Anakin’s fleet, she gave the report to the council, which was nerve-wracking as hell which she will get Anakin back for. Obi-wan was relieved to see her alright, but was not too happy when Plo mentioned the whole fight in space against the hunter.

After the meeting was done Ahsoka had invited her to get something to eat, she declined as she needed rest, which now she regrets that choice, wishing she had gone to eat. Turning and placing her feet on the ground, she shook off her blankets. She was wearing a tank top and pajama shorts, it was either this or sleep without nothing.

Getting up, she turned on the light and opened the door to the hallway, the breeze was nicer from there. Walking over to the desk where she had all her equipment laid out, her vambraces had taken a bit of a beating, but she fixed them up. The mask was undamaged thankfully, that would have been harder to repair.

“My left vambrace got hit by Blaster fire, but did it damage the grappling hook?” Mumbling to herself as she put it on.

Being a bit too hasty, she pressed the button before aiming, it launched out into the hallway and latched into the metal wall. A few clones stopped as the hard wire blocked their way, she awkwardly waved when they looked at her. Pressing the button to reel it back in, she found out there was a problem, it jammed.

“Well, great.” Huffing in annoyance, stood and walked into the hallway, tail dragging against the floor, not caring about the stares she was getting. Grabbing the wire just below the hook, she started tugging, the clones going on with their business. Well not all of them.

“You alright there, kid?” Looking to her right, Broadside and Matchstick approached her, carrying their helmets by their sides.

“Sure, I always love being stuck to the wall…. Please help.” Catra begged a little, Broadside chucking reaching and yanking the hook from the wall, placing it in Catra’s hand, “Thank you.”

“What exactly were you doing, Catra?” Matchstick questioned, they were two clones who didn’t mind saying her name, and she didn’t even have to ask.

“Checking to see if the vambrace was damaged… it is. That’s why I'm in the hall... wearing pajamas.” Embarrassedly explained to them, both of them laughing 

“It’s always best to check on equipment, but perhaps next time you should have someone checking on you at the same time.” Broadside chuckled.

“Where are you two headed?” Catra assumed they were headed somewhere since they didn’t usually carry their helmets around.

“Down to the hangar, General Skywalker has devised a plan that Shadow squadron is taking part in,” Broadside and Matchstick explained to her, “You should probably dress and get your gear ready, figure you’ll be coming too.”

“Well someone needs to watch your back,” She laughed, Broadside patting her head between her ears, walking off with Matchstick, “I’ll be down in time for the briefing.”

Catra went back into her room, closing the door with her tail as she got dressed. Replacing the sheets so nobody could see the damaged ones and question her about it. After getting dressed and collecting her gear, she opened the door, Ahsoka right in her face.

“Ahsoka!” Yelping and jumping back slightly, ears and tail standing, a blush under her fur which could not be seen, “What are you doing here?”

“To bring you for the briefing, I figured you already knew about it.” Sticking her thumb over her shoulder to the hole on the wall, Ahsoka knew about mishaps with Catra’s gear so she knew the signs, “And to see if you slept well.”

“Broadside and Matchstick told me, I was heading down there now,” Catra entered the hallway closing the door behind her, walking with Ahsoka, “And I slept fine.”

“Now I know you didn’t sleep alright, later you have to spill the truth,” Ahsoka booped Catra on the nose causing her to sneeze, bringing out a bar of food she gave it to Catra, “Figured you would be hungry, sorry I couldn’t do more.”

“It’s fine, I've had worse, sometimes my tribe would go hungry for days at a time.” Catra bit into the bar, it didn’t have much texture or flavour, but it filled her stomach somewhat.

“There you two are, I was beginning to think you both fell asleep,” Master Plo had waited by the entrance to the hanger, “Or perhaps stuck to the wall.”

“Everyone on this whole ship knows, don’t they?” Catra groaned as she heard both of them chuckle.

“It’s not too bad, I knew a Padawan once, who dropped his lightsaber while cleaning it, cutting through his bed, the floor, through the kitchen and a droid.” Plo smiled, taking both Ahsoka and Catra a couple of seconds to figure out he was talking about himself.

“Do you have any more stories like that, Master Plo? Catra was interested in hearing all of them.

“I do, but for now, we have a briefing to attend to.” They entered the hanger together.

This particular hanger was filled with LATT/i’s or an easier name, troop transports, some of them had drawn on designs by the clones that fly them, to make them stand out.  Beside one of them, over a dozen clones, all from Shadow Squadron, were sitting down. Anakin stood at attention in front of them, alongside him was Admiral Wullf Yularen and R2-D2.

“This strike force has been commissioned by the Senate to hunt down the enemy’s new battleship,” Catra could hear Yularen speaking as they got close, they waited to the side as he did, R2 showing a hologram of ‘The Malevolence’, “As the bulks of our fleets are engaged on the front lines, we’ll be on our own.”

“General Skywalker has prepared our attack strategy.” He stepped backwards, Anakin moving forward to take his place.

“Thank you, Admiral. While our capital ships are vulnerable to the enemy’s attack, I believe a squad of bombers can outmaneuver their ion weapon,” Anakin was using RD’s hologram to explain, “Our target will be the bridge and General Grievous.”

The nightmare flashed inside her mind at the mention of the head droid’s name, rubbing her eyes to stop tears from even showing. Ahsoka noticed this display, reaching to her belt and handing Catra a handheld holoprojector, whispering, “You can contact Obi-wan with it, I think you need to.”

“Thank you, Ahsoka.” Putting it on her belt as Anakin continued.

“Our bombers will attack at high speed to evade the enemy’s ion weapon. We’ll concentrate our firepower on the bridge superstructure, here,” The hologram display added the bombers which followed the bath to the highest point of the ship, “We destroy General Grievous and the ship will fall with him.”

Hearing the name again, she closed her eyes and calmed her breathing, focusing on the here and now, not her dreams. Opening her eyes, the clones started to hop up and prepare their bombers.

“Skywalker, this is an aggressive plan,” Plo asked after the meeting had ended, skeptical of the whole plan, “ Are you sure your squadron can complete the mission?”

“Let’s ask them. Matchstick!” Anakin called to Matchstick, who was talking with Broadside and Tag, “You think our boys can pull it off?”

“Yes, sir!” Matchstick spoke with confidence turning to face him, “There hasn’t been a mission Shadow Squadron couldn’t complete.”

‘That’s right. Minimal casualties, maximum effectiveness. That’s us.” Broadside was confident as well.

“I admire your confidence, pilot,” Plo allowed them to carry on, looking back to Skywalker, “Even so, minimal casualties may be enough to prevent you from breaking Grievous’s defenses.”

“Master Plo is right,” Ahsoka stepped forward, “With Grievous on that ship’s bridge, it’s bound to be well protected.”

“Don’t worry, Ahsoka. We;ll destroy that bridge, and Grievous along with it.” Anakin proceeds to walk off with Yularen, probably to discuss the rest of the plan.

“Master Skywalker seems to inspire great confidence in his men.” Plo didn’t know to be impressed or worried, probably both.

“He does lead by example,” Ahsoka smiled and shook her head, “What will you do now, Master Plo?”

“I’ll head up to the bridge, see if there’s any more information on that ship, you two stay out of trouble.” Plo gave a short bow to them before walking off.

“Master Plo is nice, isn’t he?” Catra found it was easy to be herself when working with Master Plo, wondering how it would go with other Jedi Masters.

“One of the best. Are you sure you’re okay?” Ahsoka hoped Catra wouldn’t try to beat around the bush or deflect her question again.

“Honestly, I don’t think so.” Sighing, reaching down for the holoprojector, staring at it before deciding not to, “I’ll call him when the ship is ready.”

“You better, otherwise your mind will be elsewhere during the mission.” Ahsoka pinched her ear making Catra yelp and nod.

“Hey, Broadside!” Catra called out to Broadside before he walked off, “Where’s Shadow 3?”

“Heading to her right now, want to follow me?” Broadside waited for her answer

“Yep, let’s head there right now.” Jogging over to join him, waving back to Ahsoka.

Catra sat on one of the ion engines of the BTL-B Y-wing starship, or just Y-wing bomber. Broadside would be the pilot while she would be his tailgunner, there were two reasons for that, one she is a terrible pilot, but secondly her aim is on point when using blasters or anytype of firing mechanic.

Broadside was off talking to the other pilots and helping their ships to be prepared, giving her alone time. Grabbing the holoprojector, she lifted it up and typed the security code to contact Obi-wan, her claw dancing around the button for a few seconds, before finally pressing it.

For a couple of seconds nothing happened, making her worried that either something happened to Obi-wan, or the holoprojector was broken, but then the hologram of her master appeared before her.

“Catra? This is new, I didn’t know you had a holoprojector,” Obi-wan looked to her, doing a wave to someone that wasn’t on the hologram before facing her, “But I can assume that's not the reason you called.”

“You would be correct, Master.” Sighing, she calmed her breathing, thinking about how to say it.

“Catra, I already told you many times, you don’t need to call me Master,” Obi-wan gave her a gentle smile while rubbing his beard, “Now, what’s bothering you?”

“It might be silly, but, I had a nightmare.”Catra covered her face, tail laying down as she repeated the nightmare to him.

“Hmm, interesting, Jedi rarely have nightmares, even rarer that they become true,” Obi-wan was giving this some thought, “It might just be a normal nightmare, tell me, how many times did you replay your memories before you slept?”

“A lot…” Resting her chin on her knees, hugging them with one arm as she held the projector with the other.

“You wouldn’t be the first then. Back when I was a Padawan, I had similar nightmares as well,” That got Catra’s attention as she looked to him, “My own Master, Master Qui-gon, he would reassure me they were just bad dreams, so i’ll do the same for you now, it was just a bad dream.”

“But why was padm- Senator Amadlia in it?” Catra had that question bubbling in her mind.

“Did someone mention her, or perhaps an item made you think of her?” Obi-wan already knew how to answer that, Catra nodding as she showed her tail ribbon to him, “That’s why she was there, you were worried about the same thing happening to her.”

“You might be right.” Catra finally felt relieved and calm, removing the nightmare from her mind.

“So, what trouble is Anakin dragging you into now?” Obi-wan didn’t even have to ask to know.

“Oh, just that we’re going to be taking out ‘The Malevolence’ with Shadow Squadron,” Saying plain and simple, “It was commissioned by the Senate.”

“It scares me that I know you’re telling the truth,” Sighing while shaking his head, “You’re not piloting one, are you?”

“You know I can’t, I'm going to be Broadside’s tailgunner.” Patting the engine of the y-wing, letting her legs relax and hang off the side.

“We need to find a single relaxing day, no missions, no fighting, just a day so I can give you lessons, your starfighter is rusting away here,” Chucking before a thought comes to his mind, “Who is Anakin taking?”

“Which one’s mine?” Ahsoka’s voice cut her off, looking down she could see Anakin, Ahsoka and RD-D2 entering the hangar.

“You’re with me. You’ll be my gunner.” Anakin responded, getting a weird look in response from Ahsoka, “Somebody’s got to watch my back.”

“He’s taking Ahsoka apparently,” Catra’s voice got both Anakin’s and Ahsoka’s attention looking up at her, she waved before sliding off, landing on the ground next to them, “Not surprising really.”

“Not at all. You’ll be the responsible one, won’t you, Catra?” Obi-wan joked with her with a small laugh, “But in all seriousness, you know what you’re up against, right Anakin?”

“You know me Master, I always have a plan.” Anakin chuckled.

“Do you even know where they are?” Obi-wan crossed his arms looking at him.

“I got part of a plan.” Chuckling a bit nervously, “But Ahsoka is still my gunner.”

“Matchstick could do that, besides, you have Artoo.” Ahsoka complained to him.

“But I so enjoy your company, my Padawan.” He was grinning

“Just admit it. You don’t like my flying.” Ahsoka looked at him annoyed

“I mean, he wouldn’t be the first,” Catra snicked, getting a glare from Ahsoka and a small blush.

“I can at least fly a starship.”

“I’m not saying I can, I’m just telling you my experience when I was your gunner back in training.” Cata kept snickering, Ahsoka just ignoring and looking away from her.

“You might say that now, Catra, but I might have the same reaction when teaching you.” Obi-wan interrupted them with a cough, Catra going quiet now as well.

“Skywalker,” Master Plo’s voice called out to them as he walked alongside Yularen, “I see Kenobi is also here.”

“Master Plo Koon,” Obi-wan and Plo bowed to each other.

“The enemy warship has attacked our convoy of medical transports near Ryndellia.” Yularen relayed the information they received.

“Medical transports?” Ahsoka was shocked and so was Catra, Anakin and Obi-wan weren't all too surprised it seems, “Only General Grievous would go after clones who can’t fight back.”

“He goes after anyone, he doesn’t care who gets hurt in the fighting, he cares more about his reputation.” Catra tailed had flared and stood up.

“I’m afraid Catra is right, he’ll do anything to keep it.” Obi-wan agreed.

“The Ryndellia system. Near Naboo!” Anakin had something click in his mind, “Isn’t that where our medical base is? I’ll bet that will be his next target.”

“There are many star clusters in that area. With a ship that big, he will be unable to chart a course that’s less than 10 parsecs,” Plo explained the flaw of the bigger the ship, the slower it was.

“Looks like we’re gonna have to take a shortcut.” Anakin smiled, the thought of destroying General Grievous on his mind.

“Usually I’d advise from taking your shortcuts, but we don’t have much choice in this matter.” Sighing shaking his head, waving someone over.

“Admiral, warn that station what’s coming.” Anakin turned to Yularen, nodding as he walked away.

“I’ll contact Naboo, get them to send medical transports to transfer the wounded,” Obi-wan helping with what he can, ordering to a clone then facing them again, “I’ll also head my way there now, you better arrive before we do.”

“Count on it.” Catra affirmed before the hologram call ended.

“This journey may be treacherous,” Plo warned them, “If you lose any ships before you reach the target…”

“We won’t lose anybody.” Anakin was determined as he walked off to his ship.

“I will come along and fly fighter escort.” Plo nodded to them.

“Any help is welcome, Master Plo.” Anakin called from the ladder up to the Y-wing, “Just try not to fall behind.”

“I had a feeling you’d be coming along.” Ahsoka smiled climbing up the ladder as well, “Your ship has already been prepped.”

“I should head to mine as well, see you up in the sky.” Catra waved to them, running to her and Broadside’s Y-wing.

“Shadow Squadron, tighten formation. Call in.” Anakin spoke over the comms from Shadow one or whatever you call the lead, Catra didn’t know.

“Shadow 2, standing by.” Matchstick was the next to speak over comms

“Shadow 3, standing by.” Broadside was next, which also included Catra.

“Thank you for not saying ‘Shadow Claws’, Broadside.” Catra chuckled as she looked at him from the gunner seat, the view she had was also amazing.

“Figured you wouldn’t want to be teased again for it.” Broadside chuckled, he was listening to the rest standing by.

“It was embarrassing, but I guess well earned, we did scratch off many more targets than the others.” Laughing a little happily.

“Catra, you know everyone can hear, don’t you?” Ashoka’s voice sounded like she couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“...I forgot.” Catra blushed and rubbed her face groaning, hearing chuckles from all the clones and a little from Anakin and Plo.

“Cut the chatter ‘Shadow Claws’.” Anakin was never going to let it go.

“This is Admiral Yularen.” The Admiral’s voice cut in over them, “You are cleared for hyperspace jump. Good hunting, sir.”

“Thanks, Admiral.” Anakin responded as the squadron prepared their ships, moving away from the cruisers, “All right, boys, let’s go.”

“Broadside, if we make it through this one, drinks are on me.” Matchstick responded, the last mission Broadside delivered the drinks so it was fair.

“I can already taste it.” Broadside liked his drinks, didn’t matter if it was good or bad, it all tasted nice to him.

“I wouldn’t mind a drink either, just maybe something I can drink though.” Catra laughed and shook her head.

“We’ll have to see when we make it back.” Matchstick laughed as well.

“Didn’t you promise Obi-wan you’ll be the responsible one?” Ahsoka questioned her with a smirk.

“Missions and down times are different things.” Catra deflected the question, hearing all the hums of the ships.

The ion engines all turned up as they blasted into hyperspace, Catra will always love seeing the blue swirling tunnel around her, it was mesmerizing and filled her eyes with wonder. Sure others might get used to it and bored, but Catra will never get bored of this sight.

When coming out of hyperspace, another amazing thing was before Catra’s eyes, a huge nebula, watching the slow swirl of colours in the huge gas cloud. There were plenty of nebulae in the galaxy and they all have stories to tell, she only knows a few by name but never seen them, but nevertheless it was still beautiful.

“Okay, if we can just manage to navigate through my shortcut, we’ll be alright.” Anakin assured everyone as they flew towards it.

“A Nebula can be very unpredictable. I advise caution.” Master Plo has had experience with Nebula’s in the past so Catra didn’t doubt him.

“Don’t worry about us, Master Jedi. We can hold our own, right Shadow Squadron?” Matchstick still had confidence, and with their track record it was fairly certain they’ll be fine.

“Copy that, Shadow 2.” Broadside was the one to respond.

“Does anyone care what the Padawan thinks?” Ahsoka was worried about this whole plan.

“Which one?” Catra snickered over the comms, “Because I know I want to go through the Nebula, it’s quicker, and absolutely beautiful.”

“Of course we care, Snips!” Anakin had a little chuckle of his own, “But we’re still going through that nebula.”

“Thanks, Artooie,” Ahsoka thanked R2 has he beeped and chirped, “Thought Catra would back me up, but it seems not.”

“You know me Ahsoka, when I see something beautiful I have to know more,” Catra was only a little sorry, but still happy about going through the nebula, getting a message on her vambrace from Ahsoka that had her blushing, mumbling, “But I agree we should still be careful.”

They slowly navigated into the nebula, while it was beautiful, but also the gas clouds were too thick making it difficult to see anything, Catra could barely see the whole Squadron, but she could still hear all their ships, even without the comms.

“This soup is thick. Can you see anything?” Matchstick was having problems with seeing as well.

“Just keep your eyes on my thruster, Shadow 2.” Anakin provided assistance, they were the brightest parts on the ship from the active engines so it was the easiest thing to spot.

“They’ll have to, The scanners are useless.” Ahsoka was messing with her scanners but of course they failed.

“This is old-fashioned flying.” Anakin seemed to speak from experience, “You have to feel your way through to stay on course.”

“I have to agree, it's the same when walking on my planet,” Catra looked around, keeping an eye on all their starships to make sure no one gets lost, “You know how tatooine gets dust storms, well half the year we have to deal with snowstorms and the other half poison storms, both make the scanners useless.”

“Your home sounds scary, kid, how does one survive through the poison storms?” Broadside questioned, one that was on all their minds.

“Well there are different types of poison clouds, but it’s always best to wear a mask as it's only dangerous if you breathe it in.” Catra said nonchalantly, “But the prospect is the same, you have to feel your way through the storms without the assistance of scanners.”

“Skywalker and Catra are right, Ahsoka.” Plo knew what it felt like too, “Clear your mind, young one, and you will see the path.”

“RIght now, I can’t see anything at all.” Ahsoka was looking around in her seat, Catra could even see her doing it.

“I always know where I’m going.”

“Yeah? Where’s that, Broadside?” Matchstick chuckled.

“I’m going to blow up that battleship.” Broadside confidence in the job.

“I guess I know where I’m going.” Catra just laughed a bit giving Broadside a thumbs up, even though he wouldn’t be able to see it.

“A clear path if ever there was one.” Plo smiled a bit.

“So, Skyguy, how did you know about this shortcut?” Ahsoka asked after a couple minutes of silence.

“How else would anyone know, someone probably talked about it and he overheard it?” Catra smiles, that’s how she learned too, whenever her tribe was near a spaceport she would sneak in and learn whatever she could.

“It’s an old smuggler’s route,” Anakin confirmed what Catra said, “The pilots used to talk about it on Tatooine.”

“Told ya.” Catra was happy to be right.

“Smuggler’s route? Ha! That makes me feel better!” Ahsoka sarcastically said, “You ever learn things about those Catra?”

“About smuggler's routes? Only by accident when learning other types of information.” Catra shrugged.

“They call it ‘the Balmorra Run’” Anakin finally gave the name of the shortcut.

“Balmorra Run?” Both Catra and Plo said at the same time, while Plo was fearful, Catra was excited.

“There were two different reactions there, so I don't know wherever to be fearful or excited,” Ahsoka let out a confused laugh before something showed up on radar, “I think I’m picking up a contact.”

“Skywalker! Listen to me! We need to turn around!” Plo was being serious, but that made Catra a bit disappointed.

“We can’t. Not if we’re gonna catch Grievous.” Anakin stayed the course.

“Another contact! This one’s much larger,” Ahsoka responded again before asking Catra, “Why are you excited?”

“Skywalker! Balmorra’s-” Po was cut off by Catra before he could finish.

“The nesting ground of the giant Nebray mantas!” The reason for Catra’s excitement was revealed as she loved learning of all the creatures in the galaxy, “I always wanted to see one up close!”

Catra ears twitched as she heard a noise, looking to the front where Anakin’s ship was, out of the gas a giant creature with six eyes, giant mouth filled with rows of teeth, an impressive wingspan, and three tentacle things hanging from it’s chin and two tails.

“Take evasive action!” Anakin was on point as everyone flew out of the creature’s way, it not having an interest in them, why would it, it’s so massive.

They flew into a vortex or perhaps somewhere in the middle of the nebula, but looking both up and down Catra could see many more of the flying beasts, eating away at the gases.

“Those gas-gulpers are huge!” Ahsoka was scared and impressed at the same time.

“Don’t shoot, or they’ll panic!” Plo warned everyone.

“They’ll panic? I’m about to panic!” Ahsoka’s worry was even more evident.

“They aren’t a threat to us unless we shoot, think of them like gentle giants, just don’t fly in their way cause they won’t notice.” Catra was amazed as she kept looking around, glad Broadside was piloting because she would be too distracted.

“There are so many of them!” Matchstick was amazed as well, until he got a bit too close with his ship grazing causing him to spin and lose control a bit, “I’m hit! My stabilizers out!”

“Pull it together, Matchstick.” Anakin was worried.

“I’m okay. I got it.” Matchstick sounded calmer now, Catra could see the flaming from his ion cannon died down, but she wasn’t sure.

“There things are gonna make a meal out of us!” Ahsoka was still panicking, but less than before.

“Only if you fly in front of it’s mouth.” Catra could see how razor sharp the teeth were in the mouths, but its mostly used as defense.

“All wings, line up behind me!” Anakin ordered and everyone followed.

It was better with Anakin following after him, he could find perfect spots to fly between all the mantas, there were a few close calls but it was alright. Well except for the droid from Shadow 4 as a tail hit and knocked off it’s dome destroying it, the rest of the ship was fine.

“Hurry! They will not follow us beyond the nebula!” Plo could sense they were nearly out of it.

“Oh look, that one’s smiling at us.” Catra smiled and waved to it

After a few more minutes of dodging the mantas they finally made their way outside of the nebula, everyone was trying to catch their breath from making it through, while Catra was disappointed there wasn’t more, tail dropping in disappointment .

“Let’s hope your shortcut paid off.” Ahsoka’s voice was finally calm.

“Shadow 2, what is the damage to your ship?” Plo’s voice had Catra concerned as she looked back over, sure enough the flame had returned and was leaving a trail of smoke.

“Just a scratch, sir.” Matchstick voice didn’t waver, but Catra wasn’t convinced.

“Shadow 2, when we get close, break formation and head towards the medical station, it’s too dangerous.” Catra’s voice cut off all of them, leaving everyone in silence.

“Catra?” Matchstick was confused and concerned.

“Nobody ever gets off without a scratch, that was a rough hit on your ship, sure it’s fine now, but in the action it could become worse,” Catra explained her reasoning, “I could be wrong, but please listen to this order.”

“Okay, Catra, but you have to bring Broadside back in one piece, deal?” Matchstick relented.

“Deal.” They could see the medical station in the distance so Matchstick followed and broke off and headed for it.

“Maybe I should have had you lead this mission, Mittens.” Anakin’s voice broke the seriousness in Catra as she became blushing and stuttering.

“I-I am not ready to lead a mission.” Catra stuttered.

“There’s the Catra we know,” Ahsoka smiled a bit, “But what happened there?”

“When you deal with reckless idiots for most of your life, you can see the signs.” Sighing, there were a few reckless idiots back home, they were all fine, but they always got into trouble

“I think Obi-wan would be impressed regardless, young one.” Plo was impressed, but he also knew with one less ship it could be closer to failure.

“Thanks, Catra, for probably saving his life.” Broadside voice was sincere, but then changed immediately, “Sir, another contact!”

“I thought those things wouldn’t follow us.” Ahsoka became confused and worried again.

“Not following, coming out of hyperspace. It’s a ship.” Broadside looked at his scanner, Catra’s ears perking and eyes widening a little as she knew, “It’s ‘The Malevolence’.” 

They all watched as the big lumbering ship came out of hyperspace, a sight Catra never wanted to see but this was their target and their mission. Catra calmed her breathing to focus, she’ll know the sounds of the ion cannon are to be expected, she just needed to know when it happens, to be prepared for if it gets close.

It didn’t take long for it to happen as the ion cannon already quickly charged as it fired an ion blast at three medical frigates as they tried to flee, stopping in their tracks before they were bombarded with turbolaser fire. At the distance they would be fine for a while, but won’t be safe until the ship was destroyed.

“We got fighters coming in!” Ahsoka was prepared as they watched a dozen droid starfighters zoom towards them.

“And they’ll be leaving in pieces.” Catra grabbed the controls for the gunner, aiming in their direction before blasting, some shots missing but one spilt a droid in two.

Catra was also used to Broadsides flying so she got into the hang of it quickly as they swerved out of laser fire, shields protecting them from ones they weren’t quick enough to dodge. Catra keep blasting droids to bits, but more seem to be coming and that scares her, sometimes even if you are skilled, numbers can overwhelm even the skilled.

But there was something for fear as the Malevolence had turned and faced them, ion cannon charging, caring little about friendly fire as it fired it’s blast.

“Incoming!” Catra shouted over comms.

“Make towards the edge of the ray! Now”! Anakin’s ship flew straight up, everyone following suit.

“I’ve got droids on my tail!” Catra heard Tag shouting over the comms, turning the turret she could see two droid fights chasing after him, “I can’t shake them off.”

“I just need to focus.” Catra calmed her breathing and fired past Tag managing to destroy one of the droids, but it was too late.

The other droid blasts hits its mark making the engine on Tag’s Y-wing explode into fire as their ship went into freefall. They had died from the initial blast but karama acted as the ball of flaming wreckage collided with the droid destroying it. Catra quickly covered her ears and closed her eyes as the ion blast got close, expecting it to hit, but they just cleared it.

“Shadow Squadron, check in.” Anakin’s voice sounded somber.

“We lost Tag. Shadows 6, 7 and 10 were caught in the ray.” Ahsoka gave the damage report, there could still be hope for the clones in those Y-wings, but Tag and his gunner are lost forever.

They weren’t going to give up now, they had made it close to the ship all the towers firing at them, rocking the Y-wings from the close proximity of the blasts, shields preventing damage from taking place, but the shields were slowly losing their power.

“Stay on course!” Plo shouted his starfighter was able to out maneuver faster than the rest, but even he was having difficulties.

“This flak is heavy!” Broadside shouting, doing his best to dodge as well, Catra helped by blasting out towers here and there as they glided just above the surface of the massive ship.

“All deflectors, double front!” Anakin wasn’t giving up, still determined to destroy the droid general.

“Master! We need a new plan!” Ahsoka shouted her doubts across the comms, everyone was having them.

“We can make it, Ahsoka. Hang in there.” Anakin tried deflecting but even his resolve was cracking a little.

“They're charging up their ion cannon again!” Catra shouted as the target this time would be the medical station, watching as another Y-wing got shot down.

“Master! You can make it, but everyone else is getting shot down! Master!” Ahsoka kept pleading to him to change the plan.

“Anakin, not everyone is as great a flyer as you. The plan needs to change or we will fail.” Catra ears were already filled with loud static from being so close to the weapon, looking out for any new targets, “The Ion cannon should be the priority, not General Grievous.”

“If we can do enough damage, the weapon may overload when Grievous tries to fire.” Plo’s starfight pulled up besides Anakin’s trying to reason with him.

“Shadow Squadron, new target. We’re taking out the starboard ion cannon.” Anakin finally saw reason, his voice returned to normal as he set the new target.

All fighters followed his lead as they had to swerve around the base of the large defended tower to turn around and reach their target, the droids confused as they tried to re aim the towers back on them. The static getting even louder that before, a sound Catra will be happy to get rid of.

Flying across the side of the ship they made their way under the large gap between the Ion cannon and the ship, their target in sight of the supports or where they connect, either way this is where it ends.

“Torpedo’s away!” Anakin fired his torpedoes first.

All the torpedoes fired one after another all colidding in the same or close to point of impact causing huge explosion after explosion, and if you looked closely you could see the huge ship swaying slightly. They cleared the area after all torpedoes fired, getting away from it and heading towards the medical station, hoping it worked.

Catra watched as the weapon made the usual noise and glow of when it fired, but this time it was internal as the weapon blasted itself apart rocking the ship side to side as the a connected explosion destroyed it on the other side as well, destroying the dreaded weapon and leaving the ship crippled.

“Good work, Shadow Squadron.” Plo congratulated everyone as they headed for the station.

“We’re about to have some friendly faces.” Catra smiled and sighed looking at her scanner, then up as three republic cruisers entered the system.

“Anakin, do you copy?” Obi-wan’s voice was pleasing to Catra, calming her after what seemed like hours of fighting.

“I’m here.”

“Congratulations. It looks like your mission was a success.” Obi-wan was pleased and impressed.

“Partially, but Grievous is still alive.” Anakin was still sore about not doing in the droid, “The battle was pretty rough on my men. We’re heading for the medical station.”

“Actually, if it’s alright if Broadside can drop me off at Obi-wan’s cruiser first?” Catra asked curiously not knowing if she could, but Broadside backed her up.

“I don’t mind, I can meet back up with Shadow Squadron at the medical station after, General.” Broadside waited as well.

“You can do what feels best, and Catra, good work out there today.” Anakin confirmed it as the ship detached from the squad.

“We’ll take it from here. But don’t worry we’ll call you when we need you.” Obi-wan then shouted a command before focusing on Catra, “I’ll meet you down in the hanger, Catra.”

The cruiser opened up its hanger doors allowing Broadside to glide his ship into the hanger bay, gently touching down, the lazer field activating to let her get out safely.

“Good work today, kid, you get some rest,” Broadside watched Catra climb down the stairs of the ship, “I’ll tell you if Matchstick is okay.”

“Sounds good, Broadside, and thank you.” Catra quickly waved and ran out of the hanger bay, allowing him to leave.

Before fully walking out of the hangar bays and into the corridors of the large vessel, her eyes passed over her starfighter in the corner, it’s yellow and blue design easy to spot anywhere. It was next to Obi-wan’s which was far cleaner than hers from it having been used more than hers.

“Welcome home, Catra.” Obi-wan greeted her in the hallway.

“It’s good to be home, Obi-wan.” Catra smiled her body finally relaxing.

Chapter Text

Catra sighed as water slid down her body and through her fur, having just a quick shower in her room aboard the cruiser. Just to wash away the stress of the day, having done so much. Unfortunately it was going to have to be quick as the cruiser was still pursuing the Malevolence, which at the moment was having turbolasers raining upon it from all three cruisers.

“I shouldn’t take too long here,” Closing her eyes, lifting her head as water crossed down over her face, hearing the downpour as it impacted against her ears, “I’ll take another one later.”

Catra’s tail wrapped around the handle and turning off the water exiting the shower, having a blast of warm air hit her from above after exiting, somewhat drying her a bit. Having to pat down her hair after it floofed up, her hair wasn’t as long as it had been back at home, but it wasn’t short either, just reaching her shoulders.

Her clothes on the other hand would have to wait longer to clean as she put them back on after leaving the bathroom, adding a few things from her small workshop to her belt. There was a blaster which was given to her by her mother, and a plasma grenade. She always carried one in case of emergencies.

Though looking back, perhaps it was for the best she didn’t take that while with Master Plo, wouldn’t have helped at all. Could have done more damage than good.

The blaster on the other hand she left behind on purpose at the request of Obi-wan, he didn’t mind that she used one but prefers she would use her lightsaber. To be fair she didn’t think she needed to take it thinking it was just going to be a ship battle. It was more like a massacre in the end.

Pulling the holo-projector off her belt to put it away for now, thinking about it before deciding to keep it with her. It was something new and it was a gift from Ahsoka...she thinks. Ahsoka hasn’t exactly asked for it back. Either way she can now call Obi-wan with it, but there was another she needed to add.

After a few seconds of putting in a code, she waited patiently for a response as she put it on the table.

“I swear if this is another one of those stupid ad things,” A hologram of an annoyed looking Lonnie appeared, rubbing her face groaning before noticing who it was, “... this is better than an ad. How are you doing Catra?”

Lonnie was part of Catra’s tribe from back home, having been allowed to follow after Catra when she went to train as a jedi. Having been made a bodyguard for her since she was the chieftain's daughter. Though Catra wasn’t stupid about one thing, they set it up that way hoping for the two of them to become the next leaders and to stay.

Well they didn’t expect the outcome of Lonnie wanting to follow Catra into space. Catra thanks Obi-wan for making the deal.

“Alive...the past few hours have definitely seen a lot of action,” Sighing ears twitching, giving her gear one last check-up before picking it up, “A few close calls.”

“Well while you were involved in action I had to sit around for a few hours, bored as hell,” Lonnie groaned, cracking her knuckles slightly, “Though I'm waiting on a ship at the moment.”

“It was part of the agreement that when I had to train as a Jedi you had to come with me at the request of my mothers. They just don’t know we have different jobs,” Smirking slightly while shaking her head, changing that to a gentle smile, “I probably wouldn’t be here if they didn’t allow you to come. Anyway, why are you on a ship?”

“Yeah yeah, we’ll leave the emotional stuff when we meet up later,” Lonnie chuckled slightly leaning back in her seat, “Some sort of mission from the chancellor, they're talking on the entry ramp right now before we take off.”

“He seems nice, but I don't trust him much myself…” Catra has met him a few times, but somethings always felt wrong about him, like something dark caged inside, and he held the key to open it at any time.

“Me neither, but let’s not announce it to the world…” Lonnie’s laughter slowly died as her face held dread, “Oh...crap, here comes the walking gold translator.”

“And that is my queue to hang up, say hi to padme for me…” Catra bit her tongue slightly at the slip of the tongue, but Lonnie just quietly smirked.

“Remember when it’s just us, Amidala and Ahsoka you can say that all you want...not like we need to hide it as most people know already...hell even Skywalker knows even if he is jealous about it.” Lonnie gave a small wave to her before her hologram disappeared.

Catra let a smile grace her face as she reattached the projector to her belt before leaving her room. The hallways were filled with clones going and doing their assigned tasks, some of them waving as she was walked by. Returning those waves with a smile and a small wave of her own.

Stepping into an elevator by herself, pressing the button to take her up to the bridge of the ship. Entering the command station of the bridge, all the clones who worked on the bridge were working efficiently at their stations, some in charge of firing weapons while others were calculating stuff to do with their own cruiser. Obi-wan was standing towards the front of the bridge near the windows.

Sensing her arrival, Obi-wan turned to face her as she approached despite her footsteps being silent as her bare feet walked across the surface, “How are you feeling, Catra?”

“Better, having a shower felt nice and helped stress leave my body, clothes still stink though.” Catra sniffed a little and pretended to be disgusted, “Made a quick call to Lonnie, she’s doing fine...even if her ears are being talked off by C3PO.”

“You’ll be able to clean your clothes once we’re done. Oh good, now you can use your own holo-projector instead of mine, always felt awkward listening to your conversations with your partners,” Obi-wan chuckled, every so often his eyes shifted back to the chase, still not having much luck damaging the ship, “Change of topic, but you’ll also be happy to know Matchstick is fine.”

“That’s a relief. I didn’t trust the look of his ship, so I did what I felt was right.” Catra breathed out, glad she had made the right call, her shoulders relaxing as her tail swayed slowly.

“Your instinct was correct, the ship burst into flame once he landed. Got a few burns but otherwise alive,” Obi-wan had received that report from Anakin while Catra was showering, they knew she would want to know, “Plo didn’t mention it when you reported it the first time...but he informed me about what the Ion cannon was doing to your hearing.”

“H-He told you that?” That was one thing Catra hadn’t talked about not wanting Obi-wan to worry, turns out Plo told him anyway, “It… hurt because it was unexpected. After the first time I was prepared, i’m not an idiot... if it had hit me directly and my ears weren’t protected. I’d probably be deaf.”

“Perhaps I should have been a little more considerate and not sent you against an unknown foe.” Obi-wan looked apologetically, giving a small bow.

“It’s not your fault, you couldn’t have known. At least the ion cannon has been crippled.” Catra looked at the flame and smoke rising from the crippled and fleeing form of the Malevolence.

“Crippled, yes. But if it escapes, then they’ll have enough time to repair it.” Obi-wan also focused his attention on The Malevolence.

They stood in silence as they kept their eyes on the target, with Master Plo and the Admiral soon joining them. One thing they were all feeling...uneasiness. The longer the ship stood, the implications of what were to happen if it fled grew.

“Commander, what is the damage level to the enemy ship?” Obi-wan turned to  a clone, wanting to assess the damage and how much longer this could take.

“She’s lost her primary shields and stabilizers,” The clone commander stood, looking up at them, “But the ship is so massive, it can take all the fire our cannons can give it.”

“We must summon reinforcements.” Plo suggested as they thought of a few ideas.

“That’s why I'm here Master Plo.” Anakin walked onto the bridge with Ahsoka following right behind him.

“Were you able to contact Master Luminara?” Obi-wan asked, folding his arms. Ahsoka walked up and stood beside Catra.

“Yes, Master. She’s busy with a fleet of Separatist reinforcements nearby,” Anakin walked up to Obi-wan, “She won’t be able to give us support until she’s turned them away.”

“Hey, i’m curious,” Catra knelt down to be face to face with the clone commander, while the others were busy speaking, “Since I haven’t read the books lately, but Is there a type of scan to tell where the structure of the ship could be weaker?”

“We’re scanning the ship at the moment, and we’ll have a better understanding when it’s complete. It is the only type of it’s kind,” The clone sighed in relief, anyone probably would as having a whole fleet of them would be terrifying, “But if I had to take a guess, perhaps the bridge as there’s less bulk than the rest, but hitting it would be difficult.”

“Hmm, that would make sense,” Catra thought for a bit, rubbing chin while thinking, looking back at the ship before something clicked, ears standing up, “How about their hyperdrive? I know every ship would have one. Just wondering why the enemy hasn’t used theirs.”

“That...is a good question, it might not work but i’ll give it a try with that suggestion,” Sitting down at his screen and messing with a few buttons, Catra watched the clone looked shocked but then smirked, “Well what do you know...their hyperdrive is damaged.”

“Thanks for that, this might help end this conflict quicker.” Catra grinned back while her tail swayed, standing and facing back to the others.

“Then we’ll have to make do with what w-” Obi-wan was directing his gaze back to the ship, stopping mid-speech when his eyes passed Catra, who still had her grin showing her fangs, sighing before asking, “Should i be worried?”

“Actually, with the commanders help i figured a few things out,” Catra fidgeted when all eyes were on her, Ahsoka smiled reassuring her, “I figured the reason you’re firing for the bulk of the ship trying to destroy it before it can jump….but what if i told you the hyperdrive has been damaged.”

“Then...this is our chance. All ships target the bridge. Maximum firepower!” Obi-wan ordered for the cruisers to fire upon the bridge, his smile calm and gentle looking at Catra, “I sometimes forget your good at analyzing situations.”

“Hey, it’s how I survived most encounters on my home planet. Better to get information than just sitting around discussing what to do...sometimes i got into trouble with that,” Catra nervously chuckled, not meaning to be malicious since that’s what they had been doing anyway, tail wrapping around Ahsoka’s wrist and dragging her a bit away, “You three have fun with your talk.”

Ahsoka stumbled slightly not expecting to have been pulled away, but found her footing quickly as they stood at a console nearby. Ahsoka took the opportunity to use the console while Catra just leaned against it, “So...why did you drag me away?”

“Two things, firstly,” Catra pulled the holo-projector off her belt, looking at it while her claws gently scraped the sides of it, “Did you want this back?”

“Ohh, right. Yeah that’s yours, I was planning to give it to you before you had gone with Master Plo,” Ahsoka smiled, pulling one off her own belt, “This one is actually mine.”

“Well at least i don’t need to worry about that,” Catra quickly added the code for Ahsoka’s into her own, putting it away while her ears twitched, “And talked to Lonnie not too long ago.”

“Lonnie? Not Padme?~” Ahsoka whispered with a tease, Catra was the only one who was afraid to say it in front of others.

“N-No, she was busy at the time, apparently they’re going on a mission,” Catra thought back to the conversation, “Don’t know what it’s about though.”

“Usually it’s something with meetings and getting people to join us.” Ahsoka suggested with a smile.

Their conversation was interrupted as the console started beeping, it’s scanner indicating something had just come out of hyperspace. While Ahsoka went to scan quickly, Catra looked out the window. It...didn’t seem like reinforcements as they were no indication of the large ships.

So what was it?

“Master, we’re picking up on a signal near the enemy vessel,” Ahsoka called out to Anakin, Obi-wan and Plo, “Something just came out of hyperspace.”

“Enemy reinforcements?” Anakin asked, there was a hint of worry in his voice, but otherwise didn’t show anything else.

“I personally don’t think so, I don’t see any of the large separatists ships,” Catra voiced her opinions, eyes narrowing trying to spot it with her eyes, “Most likely a small ship though.”

“Catra is right, it’s small but not an enemy,” Ahsoka confirmed her thoughts as her scan was still trying to get results.

“Told ya.” Catra might have felt a little smug.

“It looks like...a Naboo ship.” Ahsoka's voice muttered softly, feeling a little bit of panic looking at Catra. Both of them are thinking the same thing.

“Gunners! Stand down!” Obi-wan shouted the order, most likely thinking the same thing as the padawans, knowing Anakin or Plo hasn’t figured it out yet, “What in blazes are they doing out here?”

“Ahsoka, contact that ship!” Anakin requested quickly, not knowing Catra was already doing so.

Catra quickly fiddled with her holo-projector nearly having dropped it in the process as she tried dialing up Lonnie. Ahsoka was looking over her shoulder worried as well. It started up showing Lonnie gripping her seat in one hand, holding her project in the other, shaking around a bit.

“Catra! Ahsoka! This isn’t exactly the best time to call!” Lonnie’s voice sounded strained, her eyes darting back and forth between them and whatever was causing them to shake, “We wandered into the middle of a battle!”

“Crap! So it is you!” Catra panicked, which definitely got the attention of the others.

“Catra, is that who i think it is?!” Obi-wan called out to them, moving towards the main console, “Lonnie tell her to contact us!”

“Did you hear that Senator?” Lonnie shouted out..

A few seconds later the console showed the hologram of Senator Amadalia in her pilot's seat, expanding slightly to show Lonnie just a few seats back in her own seat. C3PO was seeming to hold onto something for dear life.

“Padme?” Anakin rushed forward to the hologram, Catra and Ahsoka generally didn’t mind him saying her name as he did know her longer, “What are you doing out here?”

“We were sent on a special mission. The senate was told the Banking Clan wanted to negotiate a treaty,” Padme explained the mission she had been sent on, sighing disappointment in herself, “I see now the whole thing was a trap.”

“I told you that about five times already, looks like I was right,” Lonnie called from the background, the usual smugness of being right wasn’t present, “Wish I wasn’t.”

“Oh hush you, I’ll apologise later.” Padme looked over her shoulder at her.

“Well you need to get out of there first!” Catra shouted standing next to Anakin, tail standing tall.

The hologram shook a little as it flickered, meaning the whole ship shook.

“Have we been hit?” C3PO robotic voice hurt Catra’s ears slightly, the reason she didn’t really talk with him much.

“I’m afraid it’s much worse than that.” Padme was pressing a few buttons but nothing seemed to change the outcome.

“What’s happening?” Ahsoka made her way beside Catra.

Obi-wan would have made a teasing remark seeing how worried and protective Catra and Ahsoka were, if it wasn’t for the situation they were in.

“We’re being pulled inside the droid cruiser by a tractor beam. I will not be made a Separatist bargaining chip!” Padme seemed angry, which was definitely understandable, “Continue your attack! You must destroy this monstrous ship!”

The hologram cut off as their ship was pulled inside. Obi-wan watched closely, seeing both Ahsoka and Catra saddened by the outcome, while it wasn’t entirely shown on Catra’s face, her droopy tail showed. Anakin clenched his fist quelling his anger, before coming to a decision.

“Admiral, order our ships to stop firing.” Anakin turned to him, receiving a nod in return as he carried out the order.

It was silent for a few seconds, before Anakin turned around and started walking off, Obi-wan following after him, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Somebody has to save her skin.” Answered simply.

“I thought you might say that,” Obi-wan had a smile in his voice, turning to look at Ahsoka and Catra, “You two coming?”

“I’ll stay here with Master Plo, someone needs to keep an eye on things here,” Ahsoka smiled, giving Catra a quick hug, causing her to purr slightly, “Make sure you bring them back.”

“I wouldn’t come back without them,” Catra grinned, ears flattened with the hug, before jogging after Obi-wan, “Wait up.”

“Figured you wouldn’t want to stay here after all.” Obi-wan chuckles before walking off with her.

“I trust you’ve already formulated a brilliant plan to rescue the Senator?” Obi-wan questioned Anakin as both he and Catra entered the bridge of the twilight.

Catra sat in her seat to the side letting Obi-wan take the co-pilot's seat next to Anakin. Tail wrapping around the back of her chair as a safety net in case Anakin did any spinning. Ears twitching patting the top of R2’s dome as she waited, the droid chirping and beeping slightly in annoyance as she did it daily, but otherwise didn’t mind.

“As a matter of fact, I have.” Standing up switching some switches above him, before sitting back down again.

“Great, can’t wait to hear what you have.” Catra rolled her eyes slightly smirking, as much as she would pretend to hate his plans, they turned out fun.

“You know you enjoy them, mittens,” Anakin chuckled in response, “Snips not coming?”

“Nah, she’s going to stay and help from here,” Catra shook her head while picking at her claws slightly, “So you have one plan. Any other plan?”

“Catra’s right, do we have a plan B?” Obi-wan turned his chair slightly, setting his gaze on him, “Every operation needs a backup, Anakin.”

“I don’t have backup. Yet,” Anakin started up the engines, “But I do have a plan for getting on that ship.”

“Really?” Obi-wan was slightly intrigued at what the plan might be.

“The enemy’s sensors are obviously damaged, so we’ll sneak in behind them and dock at the emergency airlock.” Anakin was confident in his plan working, and it sounded fine.

“That’s your plan?” Obi-wan raised an eyebrow, “Just fly there, land, hope they don’t spot us, and walk in the door?”

“...that sounds like it sums up his plan entirely,” Catra hummed titlign head slightly, left eye closed in thought, “Right, Anakin?”

“Basically.” Anakin smiled with a shrug.

“Oh! Brilliant,” Obi-wan acted like he was surprised, but he really wasn’t, “Let’s get going.”

“Well we got part of a plan, i know the next step would be to find them,” Catra sighed leaning back to relax as the twilight took off and left the hanger, “But how? The ship is massive.”

“We’ll have R2 connect to the ship once we’re aboard, scan for their location then proceed from there.” Anakin informed her without looking, the twilight slowly approaching the ship from behind.

Catra felt nervous as they approached the massive burning ship, sure she’s seen it from afar and close from her last two encounters. But it felt all too different that she was about to be inside of it, and the feeling of dread came from one thing. General Grievous, the droid commander who was recently haunting her dreams.

A flash of the nightmare appeared in her vision for a second, she knew for certain it was a nightmare, doesn’t mean she can stop thinking about it. Catra knew that Ahsoka and Master Plo were safe back on the ship so that’s already different. Of course her mind played a dirty trick on her by replacing Ahsoka with Lonnie instead.

“You okay back there, Catra?” Obi-wan looked concerned, since she wasn’t really hiding her feelings.

“Just...the nightmare again, doesn’t help when we are about to be closer to the cause of it.” Catra didn’t hide her thoughts this time, she found it easier to talk to him when actually in his presence, and not over a holo-call.

“Understandable, I’ll say again it’s just a dream,” sighing before looking at the ship, “But maybe getting rid of the cause will help.”

“You’ve been having nightmares, Catra?” Anakin didn’t say her name that often unless it was important.

“Yeah…” Rubbing her eyes slightly, being careful of claws as she removed the slight bit of tears just from remembering the nightmare.

“I have had some as well...I won’t go into full detail, but calm your emotions and don’t let your nightmare fuel them,” Anakin focused his eyes on the ship, “It can be dangerous.”

Catra was surprised at the slight bit of wisdom he gave, though he didn’t usually do that much. She was curious about some of his past but never wanted to bother him, it seemed a bit rude to do, especially when it felt like he didn’t want to talk about it at all.

The Twilight approached ever closer to the ship, making it a bigger threat and quite possibly their death if they were spotted. Obi-wan knew this as well, “If they spot us, We’ll be pulverised.”

“They’re too busy repairing the ship,” Anakin held the controls as he was slowly moving them into position, “They don’t have time to notice us.”

“Subtlety has never been one of your strong points Anakin,” Obi-wan shook his head before pointing to Catra, “One of Catra’s strong points though.”

“That’s if they don’t know i’m there, then i can work it well,” Grinned happily at the small bit of praise, “Though i’m good at being direct as well.”

“That is true.” Obi-wan chuckled.

“Everything I know, I learned from you master.” Anakin sneakily grinned at Obi-wan.

“Oh, if only that were true.” Obi-wan shook his head.

Catra had to cover her mouth, laughing slightly but also feeling nauseous as Anakin had to spin the ship, only a little but it still made her sick. Managing to dock the ship at the emergency airlock.

She had to be guided by Obi-wan to the elevator that connected them to the ship.

“Anakin, you’re crazy,” Obi-wan sighed, shaking his head as the lift took them up, “Spinning is not flying.”

“But it’s a good trick.” Anakin smugly smiled.

“I agree...and disagree,” Rubbing her forehead as her senses slowly returned to normal, tail wrapping around leg, “All depends if I have to be on the ship as well.”

“We do not want to be spotted.” Obi-wan warned Anakin as the doors started opening, and revealed two droids which had been walking by at the time.

“I knew it! It’s them!” One droid was definitely frightened as it already knew they were coming, it made sense they would feel the rocking of them docking.

“Oh, no.” The other one seemed resigned to it’s fate, even if it backed away slowly.

Anakin and Obi-wan looked between each other planning to take them down at the same time, if Catra hadn’t jumped past them first without hesitation. Slicing one in two with her lightsaber, while jumping over the other and yanking the antenna thing and disabling it as it stood there motionless.

“Sorry, you two were taking too long.” Catra smirked even if it had been a few seconds too long, using the force and lifting the disabled droid and placing it in the lift.

“What, pray tell, are you planning to do with that droid?” Obi-wan just moved to the side, curious as to why she wanted it.

“Well..I figured it might be useful for some reason,” Catra shrugged her shoulders, just getting raised eyebrows from both of them, “Andddd….I mostly want my own droid.”

“Makes sense, it’s hard to get droids at other times with them blasting at you, and we are close to the ship,” Anakin shook his head turning to R2, “You stay here, Artoo. Also make sure the droid actually is disabled.”

Making sure the coast was clear of any other droids, Catra, Obi-wan and Anakin dashed down the ruin hallways of the ship, destroyed droids under debris, small fires here and there accompanied by smoke. But it appears the droids have converged to the more seriously damaged parts of the ships to attempt repairs.

As they were running, the communicator on Catra’s right vambrace beeped and flashed green. A call was coming through.

“Um, yes?” Catra pressed the button as they continued to run.

“Catra, we’ve found Padme.” Ahsoka’s voice and words were like music to Catra’s ears, they wouldn’t need to search the ship top to bottom, “I’m patching her through..”

“W-Wait what?” Catra gulped slightly coming to a stop as Anakin and Obi-wan did as well, she had been expecting just to be given directions not actually talking to her directly, hearing the click as it connected, “A-Amidala!”

“Catra!” Padme’s voice came through sounding shocked as well.

“Are you all right? Where are you?” Anakin cut her off as she was about to ask the same thing.

“On the lower levels. We’re fine, but I don’t know for how long. Droids are everywhere.” Padme’s voice got closer and distant, Catra could imagine her looking over her shoulders to watch for incoming droids.

“Anakin, Obiwan and I are onboard, too.” Catra cut off Anakin this time, but noticed that he didn’t even try to say anything as he smirked, confusing her.

“What? What are you doing here?” Padme sounded confused and worried even more now.

“What did I say, told you she would come to get us.” Lonnie called from somewhere behind Padme, “Could you guys hurry up though, I lost my blaster so I can’t help her much.”

“We came to get you off the ship,” Groaning slightly embarrassed at being called out by Lonnie, “Ahsoka, how can we get to them?”

“According to our scans, there seems to be a large open area in the center of the ship,” Ahsoka explained with Catra keeping every detail in her brain of how to go about it, “It should be halfway between the two of you.”

“We’re on our way,” Nodding to Anakin and Obi-wan, facing her communicator again, “Did you hear that A-Amidala?”

“We’ll be there, and I expect you to call me Padme face to face.” Padme left with a teasing remark as the comms went dead.

They swiftly proceed further through the hallways, Catra looking back and forth between her vambrace to inspect the small map to find the large open area. Honestly though, it wasn’t too hard to find as she had to skid to a stop before she plunged over the edge.

Large open area was definitely the right word, as looking left and right it traveled the length of the ship, trains zooming by back and forth carrying supplies to different locations of the ships. Whether that might be on the tallest areas, or the bottom, you could most likely reach any area of the ship from here.

Meaning it would be difficult to even spot, and reach Padme and Lonnie.

“I don’t see them.” Obi-wan was looking around as well, not having luck at all either.

“They’re here, I can sense them,” Catra was focusing her thoughts to locate them, finding it difficult with the trains and the amount of electricity in the area, her ears twitching at the sound of blaster fire, “I can also hear them.”

They all directed their eyes down slightly and to the left to another door across to the other side, Padme using a blaster and firing at droids. Lonnie had picked up one of the droid's blasters and was firing back as well, while C3PO was walking down the ramp to get away.

The three of them activated her lightsabers and moved into action. Thanks to her training and the force she was able to keep up, even if they were making great leaps, and falls without being hurt, of course there was a limit. But right now it was fine. Not even the moving trains were a difficulty.

Catra may or may not have practised back home, jumping from moving vehicles to another.

She couldn't help but snicker though when two droids fired at them, Anakin and Obi-wan deflecting them back into the droids which had fired. The third droid seemed disappointed, shaking its head at the two destroyed droids by it’s side. It had made the correct decision of not firing, even if she also wanted to do the same.

Catra noticed though that Lonnie, Padme and C3PO ended up on different trains.

“I’ll get Lonnie, make sure you get Amidala!” Catra poked Anakin before jumping towards another train.

Running across the roof of the train she spotted Lonnie firing at droids that managed to jump onto it as well, having to hide behind a box of supplies to prevent her head from being blasted off. Taking a breath she made a jump which was bigger than the ones before, making sure the lightsaber wouldn’t hit her.

Stopping her fall by kicking one of the droids off the train, she quickly spun on her feet decapting another. Almost being shot by the third one, but was thankfully destroyed by Lonnie. Catra’s momentum was still going, flailing to try and grab anything to prevent her from falling. Lonnie’s arm wrapped around her waist and stopped her.

“Is this the second time you’ve fallen for me?” Lonnie just smirked and made sure Catra was stable on her feet, but didn’t remove her arm from her waist.

“I made a mistake…” Groaning in annoyance at the joke, but her purring overrides those feelings cuddling close, “...glad you’re safe.”

“Me too,” Lonnie smirked, giving her a small peck on the lips, “Been a while since I’ve done that.”

“P-Pretty sure you could have just kissed Padme,” Catra blushed, tail standing up, embarrassedly moving from her hold despite her chuckling, not knowing where the train was taking them as they head down a tunnel, “A-and we should be focused on the mission.”

“Sure, sure, we’ll wait till we get back to your room on the cruiser.” Lonnie just smiled, shaking her head.

“Anakin,” Obi-wan’s voice came through on her communicator, as they had linked up earlier to keep in contact, “I got separated from your droid.”

“Threepio!” Padme’s voice also came through, it seems like Anakin managed to get to her in time.

“I’ll take care of it. We’ll meet you back at the Twilight.” Anakin would probably end up doing something else before that though.

“No! We can’t leave yet. I overheard Grievous,” At Padme mentioned the name, the flash of the nightmare haunted her once again, but she quickly shut it down, “Their hyperdrive is almost repaired.”

“I’m already headed in that direction,” Obi-wan confirmed where his whereabouts was, “So I’ll make certain that the hyperdive stays offline. Where are you Catra?”

“Umm, right about…” Catra looked at her vambrace to look at the map, feeling Lonnie tapping her shoulder to get her to look up. Their train stopped next to another which had been coming from the opposite way, Obi-wan standing on it, “Here.”

“Well that was convenient, anyway since you’re here let’s head to the hyperdrive to shut it down.” Obi-wan jumped from the train onto the platform, Lonnie and Catra following close behind.

While heading for the Hyperdrive room, Catra gave her blaster to Lonnie since she would have more experience at using it, having used it before. Catra stopped Obi-wan and Lonnie before they headed in as her ears twitched.

“So, this is most obviously a trap, a dozen of droids from from the left and right,” Pointing from the doorway at the other doors only accessible by the platforms, “Some ready to come in behind us, while there’s three spinners behind the console where the droids are.”

“That sounds like quite a few, hope all my shots hit.” Lonnie sighed but was prepared fro the fight.

“As fortunate as it is to know the information, we have to spring the trap if we want to try and shut down the hyperdrive.” Obi-wan had his lightsaber prepared as well.

“I know, but at least we know they’re here already.” Catra nodded, reaching and rubbing her ears, there was another noise she couldn’t quite pinpoint or accurately describe.

Slowly the three of them entered the room, approaching the two unarmed droids at the console, they were obviously the bait of the trap. Soon the lights turned on as both doors from the left and right ramps opened up, a dozen or so droids flooding the platform slowly.

On que the dozen that had been hidden behind them as well, also entered the room preventing their escape from all directions, and last but not last the three spinning droids came out from behind the console. Unfurling into armed mode and having their shields around them.

Maniacal laughter filled the room as it originated from behind them, but not from the same door as there was another further up. And that’s where he stood, General Grevious. Jumping down and landing in front of the droids closest to them with an audible thud from his size.

“Hello, there.” His yellow eyes bore into their souls, his slitted pupils narrowing on them as a predator would do to it’s prey.

This was the noise Catra couldn’t pinpoint, because it wasn’t either living or machine, it was a combination of both. Though from appearance it was more machine than living, she could hear the beat of his heart only minutely  under the white armour.

Of course her own heart-beat quickened in pace at the sight of him, but tilting her head she knew one thing her mother said, ‘Something scares you? Laugh in its face’.

“General Kenobi, did you really think I would leave the hyperdrive unguarded?” Grievous pointed a blaster at them, not bothered at all to pull out his lightsabers.

“Anything is possible. You haven’t exactly impressed me today.” Obi-wan shrugged while stroking his beard.

“Wait...you’re telling me this badass looking droid, is General Grievous?” Catra was nervous, but smirked as both Lonnie and Obi-wan looked at her confused, getting some clarity watching Catra use her tail to point to the spinners.. Hell even some of the other droids were confused.

“I see, this must be your new padawan. I guess my reputation precedes me.” Grievous just laughed getting distracted, Obi-wan saw this as well, slowly backing up into position.

“HAHAHAHAHAH!” Catra’s laughter filled the air confusing Grevious and the droids, not noticing how Obi-wan had positioned himself between the three spinners along with Lonnie, “This is the big scary droid commander….what a coward!”

“Then how can such a coward, as you put it, kill so many of your clone allies with ease?” Grievous narrowed his eyes on her, having all attention drawn to her, slightly interested in how she deemed him a coward.

“Oh you know. The fact with all i’ve seen today, is you disabled everything in your way to easily destroy them without fighting back, targeting wounded troops,” Catra smirked as her fear was slowly washing away while confronting him flashing a fang, Grievous was snarling but hadn’t fired yet, “And let others fight your battles.”

“I’m going to enjoy killing you and adding your lightsaber for my collection.” Snarling, he aimed his blaster at her.

“One last thing...you're easily distracted” Smirking jumping backwards in an arc dodging his blaster fire as she landed behind a spinning droid, force pushing it towards him.

Obi-wan in turn used both hands to force push the other two and wiping the droids blocking the ramps, giving the three of them access to escape the sides. Grievous had dropped his blast to catch the one thrown at him, so he wasn’t able to blast at them, while a few droids behind him were blasted by Lonnie.

“Better luck next time!” Catra called out, deflecting a blaster bolt just as they escaped the room.

“Let’s slow them down a little more,” Lonnie grabbed the grenade from Catra’s belt, activated and threw it at the doorway, making it collapse in on itself from the blast, “Thanks for the gift.”

“It won’t slow him for long, let’s keep moving you two,” Obi-wan led the way as they followed after him, “Also good job on facing your fear, hopefully it will stop your nightmares.”

“You’ve been having nightmares?” Lonnie raised her eyebrow in concern at Catra.

“This is something we can address later when we aren’t being chased by a large psycho droid,” Catra shook her head, with quick movements of her tail, hitting switches to close the doors behind them as they passed through, activating her communicator, “So...General Grevious may be onto us.”

“Yeah, we noticed.” Anakin responded loudly, as blaster fire was heard on his end, most likely from Padme firing at droids.

“We’ll rendezvous back at The Twilight,” Obi-wan called out as they ran, “The fleet must engage the Malevolence!”

“Shit!” Catra rubbed her ears as static filled them for a few seconds before disappearing, “Their jamming the signal.”

Crash .

“We have a bigger problem than having our signal jamming!” Lonnie looked behind them, hearing crashing getting louder and closer.

Right on que at the end of the hall General Grievous sliced apart the locked door with lightsabers in either hand, eyes locking onto them as he began charging after them. They kept moving until they came to a platform where trains departed from with some just zooming by.

“Well we have no choice, hold on Lonnie.” Obi-wan grabbed Lonnie before force jumping onto one of the moving trains with Catra alongside him. Catra did have force jumping nailed, but force jumping while holding someone wasn’t something she was good at.

“I hate when that happens.” Lonnie groaned slightly, rubbing her head after they landed.

“Well at least we-” Catra stopped as her ears twitched at a loud clunk further down the train, seeing the droid commander land as well, “Nevermind then!”

Large crates were sliced and half and thrown off as Grievous jumped from cart to cart, crashing his way towards them while they moved towards the front of the train. Having to stop at a large flat empty cart with the front of the train being the next segment, Catra and Obi-wan activated their lightsabers with Lonnie preparing her blaster.

Swinging their lightsabers forward, they managed to counter Grievous as his lightsabers were blocked by theirs, the sizzling and sparks bouncing as they pressed together. Catra knew there was no point trying to trip him up with her tail, as he was most likely too heavy to move.

Grievous was forced to back off and protect himself as Lonnie fired at him, some bouncing of his armour, but made him close his eye as it impacted just below it. Obi-wan grabbed Lonnie and jumped over Grevious as their unspoken plan was put into action, with Catra forcing his attention onto her as she swung again.

“Looks like your master is abandoning you, perhaps if i should win i’ll put you in a zoo.” Grievous chuckled evilly as he his strength was overwhelming her.

“Can you shut up already? Your voice hurts my ears.” Catra’s eyes narrowed pushing up with a small burst of strength causing sparks to go into his eyes, jumping back just in time to avoid her tail being sliced off.

Jumping onto the last part of the train she ended up tripping on her feet, slipping up and falling onto her back and not having time to stand as the General jumped after her. Looming over her eyes narrowed, lifting his lightsaber, but stopped noticing the smirk on her face.

“You want to die so badly? I’ll grant your wish.” Raising his lightsaber higher.

“Nah, you’re just proving my point,” Chuckling slightly as ears pointed to the left smirking, “You’re easily distracted.”

Sliding off the side of the train, barely avoiding the lightsaber as some of her fur got singed from how close it was. Landing on a train going the opposite way, Obi-wan and Lonnie had jumped a little earlier as she had waited for the back of it. Giving Grievous a two finger salute as he couldn’t catch them now.

There are times where Catra herself thinks she’s a little too cocky, this was one of those times as before Grievous could get too far he pulled out his blaster and fired before they couldn’t see him. That blast hit the back of her right shoulder, having her hiss in pain dropping her lightsaber, catching it with her tail.

“Catra!” Lonnie quickly approached her, gently holding her free hand carefully, not wanting to injure her from too much movement, “Are you okay?!”

“Well….hurts like hell,” Hisses slightly as Obi-wan checks the damage, “I’ll live though.”

“That’s a given, I recommend when we reach The Twilight you sit down and rest,” Obi-wan moved his hand away, “I can’t help you from the Senator though.”

The train stopped at a platform not too much further down the way, quickly having to depart it before taking off again. Of course they couldn’t have time to relax as spinners chased after them as they got spotted, with Obi-wan the only one having to directed the blasts away as Lonnie helped Catra.

Their timing was perfect as they rounded the last corner to where the ship was docked, Anakin, Padme and R2 were opening the doors. Anakin turned around hearing the blaster fire and noticing them, used the force to block the fire with crates, giving them time to enter and the door to close behind them.

“Catra! Oh my god what happened?” Padme instantly noticed the injury as she inspected her.

“She was getting a little too cocky at a certain droid commander,” Lonnie rolled her eyes but was still smiling, but then flicking Catra’s ear, “Almost lost an arm as you can quite clearly tell by the fur on her arm.”

“Scold me all you want later please, but we really need to leave,” Catra's ear twitched from the flick as her tail dropped, before hugging Padme, “A-And it’s g-good to see you safe Padme.”

“You too, but just because you actually called me that doesn’t mean you’ll get less scolding.” Padme just smirked at her.

“It was worth a shot.” Shrugging her shoulders slightly, wincing from the pain though.

“Thought it might be fine, but I can tell it will hurt for a while,” Obi-wan sighed and faced her, “Sorry for this.”

Before Catra could respond her eyes slowly shut giving way to darkness as she fell asleep.

Slowly blinking awake to the bright white roof of the medical room, Catra knew they had made it back to the cruiser. The pain in her shoulder had subsided quite a bit, but there was still a lingering effect when trying to move it. Bandages wrap around her shoulder to help with the wound.

Turning her head since her ears twitched at the sound of movement in the room with her, the medical droid was further away with a clone trooper who from just a glance seemed to have a concussion. But she focused on the guest who was sitting next to her bed like a guard, Captain Rex.

“Did we destroy The Malevolence?” Catra rested her head back on the pillow to look at the roof again.

“That’s your first question when waking up? Geez kid, don’t need another skywalker,” Rex just chuckled, shaking his head, “It’s destroyed alright, hyper jumped straight into the moon.”

“...Skywalker?” It was more of a statement than a question, as only he could think of something like that.

“Skywalker.”

“Figured...hey Rex? I’m terrified of the next battle I'm going to fight.” Laughing nervously as she could sense a familiar three outside the room.

“Sorry kid, but it’s one you’ll have to face alone.” Shaking his head, laughing softly.

Chapter Text

Catra was sitting in the small cargo hold of the transport, looking over small screens having written reports. It was to the best of her ability though, with Captain Rex going to look over it later to help extend upon it. She, Captain Rex, and Commander Cody were on assignment to inspect the listening posts in this quadrant. See if they're up to code and in working order.

It was one of her assignments without having Obi-wan there or any other Jedi master, it would just be her and the clones. She was excited at first, and with each outpost they’ve been too she made sure to check out on the fauna nearby. It didn’t help distract from the disappointment she sensed from some clones.

While the older ones you’ve been around longer were sort of impressed, the newer ones however, which apparently they’re called ‘Shines’ on the account of their armour being shiny and new like the clone. She could sense they were excited at least meeting a Jedi, but she suspected most of them were expecting a Master, not a padawan.

Of course, she can’t really blame them though, but there’s one thing she keeps wanting to say to each of them but holds her tongue. ‘It’s now just clones who get thrown into the war when they aren’t ready’ is what she keeps thinking, she’s already lost a few friends from the academy from this war.

“Kid, you okay down there?” The screen flashed as the face of Rex showed up, he and Cody were up in the pilot and co-pilot's seat of the ship.

“Just trying to think of a way not to be a disappointment at the next outpost…” Muttering softly as her ears twitched, trying to keep quiet but Rex had heard her.

“Don’t let it get to you kid, the sarge will try and keep them in line.” Rex smiled at her, he already had to step up once when another clone didn’t believe she was a jedi.

“In the meantime,” Cody spoke from his seat, “Could you contact the General of our latest report?”

“Oh right, sorry about that. I’ll give the report now.” Tapping her claw on the screen to end the call between them, before trying to contact Obi-wan.

It took a bit for the connection to take hold, but when it did it wasn’t just Obi-wan, but Anakin as well. Ahsoka was either asleep or had to get sent on her own assignment, she didn’t really know.

“Master Skywalker. Master Kenobi.” Catra didn’t find it right saying that as her tail swayed, but she had promised herself to be professional, at least somewhat on this assignment.

“Catra. How goes the inspections?” Obi-wan was curious as to how she was doing, he noticed how she hid her feelings of having her tail swaying like she was happy, but with how her ears laid flat was the opposite.

“Well the tracking station in Pastil is fully operational,” Catra kept looking to the left of what she wrote on her report, she may or may not have been distracted with the animals in the area, “We’re now proceeding to the outpost in the Rishi system.”

“Good. Report back once you’ve arrived,” Obi-wan nodded, and before Catra could end the call he continued, “We’re going to also talk about hiding your emotions too. As I'm curious why you feel like that.”

“Will do Master,” Nodding and ending the call, before slumping forward into her seat and groaning against the table, “And I thought he wouldn’t notice.”

Sliding her claw across the screen, she changed it to just a brief file of the Rishi outpost, though there was only one part she focused on, the fauna around the outpost. The main threat was something called a Rishi eel, which is dangerous and predatory, able to eat clones. She suspected that’s why they have the regulation not to go outside.

Makes her wonder how many clones were eaten by it before it became regulation.

The monitor blinked as Cody was trying to make contact with the outpost, clicking on it to listen in, knowing they wouldn’t see her face anyway.

“Sorry, commander. We're experiencing technical difficulties.” The clone sergeant responded when finally answering.

‘ We’ll that’s awkward since there’s about to be an inspection ,’ Catra thought to herself with a small laugh, ears twitching slightly, ‘ He doesn’t need to be so close to the screen. I wonder if he’s sick .’

“This is the inspection team.” Cody’s voice came through.

“Inspection? Negative, negative. We, uh, do not require an investigation,” Catra eyed him suspiciously with a raised eyebrow, all the clones in charged had been informed prior, but this is the only one who seemed to change their mind, “Everything is fine here. Thank you.”

“We’ll be the judge of that. Prepare for our arrival.” Cody responded again, also suspicious.

“Roger, Roger.” The transmission was cut after.

“So…” Catra unmuted herself to talk to them, “I’m not the only one sensing something wrong.”

“I feel exactly the same kid.” Rex agreed with her.

“Well, good luck. I’m putting you two in charge for this one.” Cody had a smirk in his voice.

Catra made sure her gear was ready, she left her blaster back in her room with Obi-wan as this was only supposed to be an inspection. She may or may not have managed to sneak herself a plasma grenade though, she’ll always keep one on her after last time.

Watching the camera as they were on a landing approach for the base, she tilted her head. Usually at every base there would be a deck officer, maybe they were in the process of changing shifts.

“Come on kid,” Rex spoke as both him and Cody came down from the pilots seats, putting on their helmets, “This is probably going to be interesting.”

Nodding she stood up and followed after them.

Exiting the front of the ship, the deck was filled with large crates, Catra wouldn’t know what’s inside them as that would be info the clones of the base would have. Rex and Cody were taking point in front of her, she was just really an escort. But it was something at least.

“This is not good,” Cody looked around as they were walking slowly across the deck, “I don’t see a deck officer anywhere.”

“These boys are sloppy,” Rex inspected the deck as well, “There should always be an officer on deck.”

“I thought at first maybe they were changing shifts,” Catra’s ears twitched looking to her left, thinking she head something behind the crates but must have misheard, “But it shouldn’t take this long.”

On their slow approach to the outpost door, it opened revealing a lone clone, without a weapon as well. But they had a weird walk as they walked up to them.

“I feel like there’s something wrong with him.” Catra was listening closely, but the armour made it somewhat difficult.

“Welcome to Rishi, Commander. As you can see, the outpost is operating at peak efficiency,” The clone announced, from the amour design seemed to belong to a new clone, “Thank you for visiting, and have a safe trip back.”

The three just look between each other, all them could tell there was something going on.

“We need to inspect the base just the same.” Cody spoke as the three of them slowly approached the clone, him backing away slowly and making over exaggerated hand movements.

“Uh, there is no need. Everything is fine and fully operational.” During the whole conversation the tone of the clone never changed, Catra slowly put her hand on her lightsaber trying to listen closer.

“Take us to the sergeant in command.” Rex ordered stepping forward.

“Roger, Roger.” The clone responded.

Now something was definitely wrong, this was the second clone to respond with the droids saying. At first they thought it could be a joke, but now it seemed to be something else. Especially when a droid attack flare signalled from the crater below. Catra didn’t waste a second lifting her lightsaber. Pointing it at the clones head, and activating.

Not a second later, the body fell to the floor with a gaping hole in the helmet.

“Catra! What the heck are you doing?” Cody shouted in alarm, but calmed as Rex placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Relax,” Rex kneeled down beside the body, and pulled the helmet off, revealing the head of a different kind of droid, “Just as I thought. Looks like one of those new commando droids.”

“That flare must have come from the survivors,” Cody kneeled down as well, looking at Catra, “How did you know?”

“There were multiple ways, but most importantly,” Catra pointed to her ear, “Didn’t have a heart-beat.”

Catra quickly activated her lightsaber and deflected a blast from hitting Rex, as more of those commando droids came out of hiding all over the deck.

“Ambush!” Rex and Cody got up and started firing back at them.

Usually droids wouldn’t be a problem, but these droids were tougher than most, knowing she would have to get close to one to cut them down. But she had to stay on the defensive as there were more than she couldn’t probably handle. Not even deflecting blasts back into them helped as they had tougher armour.

Rex pulled Catra back behind cover before she could get overwhelmed as he noticed they had all tried firing onto her. The crates give them some sort of cover for now.

“Those clankers have tough armour.” Cody shouted as he fired onto one of them, thinking he took one down but then it got right back up.

One of the commando’s got too close as Catra managed to grab it with the force and flung it over to her, slicing it’s head off as it flew by overhead. She spotted two more exiting the outpost, holding large grenades.

“We need to get off the platform!” Catra shouted and pointed to them, quickly messing with her left vambrace.

“Copy that!” Cody and Rex also noticed it.

Watching as the droids were running for cover from the explosions, the three of them jumped off the side of the platform. Both Rex and Cody fired graples from their guns to the underside of the platform, while Catra had fired one from her vambrace.

Having to hiss silently as the explosion of the ship hurt a bit more than expected for her hearing, but at least the droids thought they could have died.

They slowly repelled down into the crater, feet touching the ground nearby were pieces of their now flaming ship landed.

“Well, that sure complicates things, Commander, “ Rex looked at the flaming wreckage, “No worse than that time on Tibrin.”

“We had Jedi with us on Tibrin,” Cody walked up to him, turning his head to Catra, “No offense, Catra.”

“Eh, none taken. I know you didn’t mean harm with that,” Shrugging her shoulders, “You’ll have to tell me that tale.”

“Another time perhaps.” Cody nodded.

Her ears twitched as she noticed three figures approaching them from the fog, tapping Rex and Cody to look. Raising their rifles as three clones (or droids) emerged from the smoke, Catra had her lightsaber at the ready but was listening close focusing if they had a heart-beat or not.

“Hands above your heads. Take your sun bonnets off.” Rex aimed his blaster at them, which in turn they raised their hands above their head, but they were confused from the sound of it.

“Sir?” One of them asked confused, and that was just the clarity she needed. She could hear the shakiness.

“Don’t shoot, Rex,” Catra gently placed her hand on his blaster to lower it, pointing her claw to them, “You aren’t droids, but please remove them.”

At her request they removed their helmets, revealing the faces of three clones. A relief sight to see, which was interrupted as a large Rishi Worm revealed itself as it loomed over them. It was larger than she expected.

“That you can shoot.” Catra nervously chuckled.

With a quick blast from Rex, nailing it right in the eye, it slumped over dead. Catra was a little sad to see the creature die, but on the other hand she didn’t want to be eaten by it.

“Nice shot.” One of the clones were impressed with his shooting, watching Rex take off his helmet as he kneeled over and placed his hand on the wound of the worm, blue blood coating his glove.

“The name’s Rex. But you’ll call me Captain or Sir.” He stood and faced them.

“Sir, yes, sir!” The three clones stood at attention.

“I’m Commander Cody, your new boss.” Cody took off his helmet as well.

“I’m the padawan known as Catra. My Master is Kenobi,” Catra mimicked taking off a helmet as well, pretending ears got a little stuck getting a chuckle from Rex, “What are your names?”

“My designation is trooper 27-5555, sir.” The clone on the left introduced himself, reminding Catra that clones were numbers at first, but gained their names. After all they are living beings.

“We call him Fives. I’m Hevy,” Hevy was the clone on the right, before gesturing to the one in the middle, “This is Echo.”

“Where’s your sergeant?” Cody questioned them.

“Dead, sir,” Echo looked down as he answered, probably having seen his death, “We’re all that’s left.”

“Sorry to hear, heard your sarge was a good one.” Catra bowed slightly to them.

“Looks like we got ourselves a batch of shinies, Commander.” Rex approached Echo with an amused smile.

“Shinies, sir?” Echo was confused, along with Hevy and Fives.

“That’s right. Your armour, it’s shiny and new,” Rex placed his hand which touched the blood on Echo’s armour, leaving a blue handprint, “Just like you.”

“Sir, me and my batchers are trained and ready,” Hevy got their attention, “We’ll take back our post, shiny or not.”

Catra smirked, loving his attitude, stretching her limbs as her eyes focused on them, “Then, let’s go find out what you’ve got.”

The six of them had a long climb to get back up, as they were further down in the crater than expected. But all of them were great at climbing, while the clones had their training to thank for it. Catra used her claws to give herself hand holds when there was nothing to grab, either way the climbing was the easy part.

Finding secure footing they found a platform where they could discuss their plans, as the platform deck would be the next place they climb to.

“Look sharp, rookies,” Rex faced the three clones, as he made sure they were armed “As long as those tweezers occupy this post, our home planet of Kamino is at risk.”

“But there’s so many of them.” Echo was worried, holding a blaster given by Rex.

“That shouldn’t matter, it’s our job to make sure we retake it,” Catra interrupted before Rex could say something, though he seemed intrigued, “It doesn’t matter if they could have more firepower. We need to out smart them. Which I say definitely fits you three.”

“Aren’t you also new to this as well?” Echo looked at her through his helmet.

“Let’s say padawans are equivalent to shinies in this regard, this is my first mission without my master,” Catra’s ears twitched while admitting to them, “But doesn’t mean I can relax and hold back. I was assigned to this. We’re in the same boat, so let’s impress the others to show we can do this.”

“How do you propose we get through those blast doors, Rex, old boy?” Cody looked at Rex. as the three clones nodded at Catra and prepared their blasters.

“I have a few ideas,” Rex idea’s are sort of like Anakin’s sometimes, but Catra can handle them easier, “How long would it take you to cut through the blast door, Catra?”

“Would take a few minutes, but it would definitely alert them,” Catra thought as she was thinking back to the small chance when looking around the deck, “And even so they could notice we since the posts have those eye scan things...”

“Guess we have our idea.” Rex smirked as Catra trailed off in realization of their plan.

Catra was the first one to proceed to climb up, being quiet as possible when she reached the landing platform. Spying a lone commando droid sweeping the deck. Lifting herself up onto the deck and behind huge crates and out of sight of cameras, she made a small tapping noise on the crate.

Staying quiet as the droid came close to inspect the noise, she wouldn’t be able to use her lightsaber as the flash of light could be seen in cameras. So she waited patiently for the droid to slink around the corner, her tail wrapped around it’s legs causing it to fall over. Grabbing it’s head and yanking it out of it’s socket.

Keeping a hold of the head, she slowly crouched down and approached the post, standing up once she was beside the blast doors. Being just far enough to not be spotted by the eye scan, she slowly placed the head down underneath before signalling the others.

All but Rex were on either side of the blast doors, as the plan was for Rex to pretend to be a droid. Even approaching the door with the weird walk they do.

“Unit 2-6, is that you?” The eye thing came out of the wall as it focused on Rex, scaring Catra slightly but knew she wouldn’t be spotted.

“Roger, Roger.” Rex nodded at the eye, not knowing that Catra would record this whole thing as a special file on her holo-projector.

“You sound strange. Is something wrong with your vocabulator?” Well the droids were smart she would give them that, but doesn’t mean they can’t be fooled.

“Roger, Roger.” Put his hand up to his neck to keep acting the part.

“Take off your helmet. Let me see your faceplate.”

“Roger, Roger.”

Rex proceeded to act like he was taking off his helmet, before crouching down out of sight and lifting the head of the droid Catra had taken out before. Cody was on the other side of the door shaking his head, not believing it would work. He ate his words a few seconds later when the blast doors opened.

“Clones!” The droids shouted in shock.

“Roger, Roger.” Rex had moved into position before the doors had opened, frightening the droids, and blasting the middle one destroying it instantly. The other two were taken out just as quickly, “Right, let’s move”

Moving swiftly into the base, no alarms have gone off yet to alert the other droids. Heading down the hallway till they reached a set of stairs that led to the command center.

“Permission to take point, sir?” Hevy requested Rex.

“I’m always first, kid.” Rex ran up the stairs first, followed closely by Catra.

The minute the command center was in sight, Rex quickly blasted the head off one of the droids closest to them. Catra followed up by forcing one towards her and cutting it in half, with the droids now catching up to speed they were being attacked. The other clones were blasting the droids from the doorway.

She jumped up to the walking platform above cutting down another droid in the process, focusing the other droids' attention on her. Deflecting blasts heading for her direction, not having to worry for long for each time one focused on her they were blasted by a clone.

Jumping between two of them she sliced one of their heads off, while her tail tripped the other of the walkway to the floor below, getting blasted to pieces by the others.

The last droid was blasted to pieces by Echo and Hevy, both of them claiming they were the one who took it out. The clones taking their helmets off for the time being

Catching her breath slightly she looked out the window of the command center, unable to detect any more droids in the outpost. But as her eyes focused up she sighed heavily, “...are you kidding me? Get up here everyone!”

They all joined her on the walkway, with Echo, his helmet back on pulling down his visor to probably get a closer look, “It looks like a Separatist fleet.”

“That’s why they commandeered the outpost. They’re mounting a full-scale invasion.” Cody put the pieces together.

“We have to warn command.” Rex agreed

“Echo, you’re with me. Let’s check what’s wrong with the signal.” Catra jumped down to the ground floor, with Echo having to take the stairs to get down to the console.

“Didn’t know you’d be good at this kind of stuff.” Echo stated while looking at the console, he was better having known his way around it.

“Just because I’m a jedi, doesn’t mean I'm good at just that. I work and practise this stuff in my spare time.” Catra showed him her vambrace for a few seconds before getting back to it, “If I hadn’t worked on and improved the grapple, it would have been a hard fall. Too focused on the battle to control my fall at the time.”

“Wait, you could have jumped from that high without getting hurt?” Echo looked at her intrigued.

“Yeah...only if I'm not blasted at,” Chuckling, ears twitching in annoyance as the console beeped at her again, “Dammit...anything?”

“Those clankers sabotaged our transmitter, and they hard-wired the all-clear signal,” Echo shook his head, “It’ll take time to repair.”

“We don’t have time.” Rex called out to them, pointing outside, “Look!”

A droid ship was descending from the sky, probably as reinforcements as the droids would be able to respond to their fleet. At first Catra thought they could handle the situation without needing help, but with these circumstances it was likely impossible. Sighing before cutting her force connection with Obi-wan.

“I’ve alerted Obi-wan,” Catra called out confusing all but Rex and Cody, “It will likely take time for him to respond, so I suggest if you have a plan we should also do that.”

“How exactly have you alerted General Kenobi?” Hevy was confused and suspicious, but Rex explained to him.

“Catra here has an ability to have like a force link to anyone she places so they will tell if they’re fine,” Rex had been told before and had being skeptical, but he’s been proven wrong before, “If it cuts of it alerts the other person. I suspect the reason she didn’t do it sooner was because we didn’t consider an invasion.”

“Correct...now what’s the backup plan if he doesn’t get here in time?” Catra questioned him.

“If we can’t protect the outpost, we’ll destroy it instead. Destroying the all-clear signal with it.” Rex thought of the idea on the spot.

“Do you guys have enough thermal detonators for a blast of that scale?” Catra turned to Echo.

“We wouldn't have enough for that...but perhaps we can use the LT,” Echo explained to her, “This moon freezes for over half the year. We use liquid Tibanna as fuel to heat the base.”

“That makes sense actually, we use the same stuff back home but need more for each separate vehicle,” Catra’s tail swayed closing her eyes, “Have to keep idiots away from it though. Highly explosive stuff.”

“Good. Bring the tanks here and prime the detonators,” Rex nodded to Echo before turning to Catra, “Want to set up a few traps for our droid friends?”

“Sure, been wanting to blow something up.” Smirking flashing her fangs, before heading for the stairs.

“Hmm,” Obi-wan stood at the main console of the deck, the all-clear signal for the Outpost was still going, but what was concerning was that Catra cut off her force-link, “I think something may be wrong.”

“I’m sure they would have alerted us if something was wrong hours ago.” Anakin looked at him from across the console, though he was worried as well.

“I think they just did though, Catra cut off her link to me just moments ago,” Obi-wan stared at the console, sure Catra sometimes played jokes, but that was in her downtime and she never joked with the link, “Perhaps...they are unable to disable the all-clear signal for some reason.”

“It wouldn't be harmful to check, I’ll make sure the others are ready for a hyper jump.” Anakin left the console to inform the others.

“You better be safe, Catra.” Obi-wan muttered before getting ready.

Catra stood by the blast doors that led outside, where dozens of droids were marching from to retake the base, the upside was that they didn’t know the droids inside have been destroyed. She blinked when she watched Hevy come down holding a minigun in his hands.

Now that would definitely be a surprise for the droids.

“Reinforcements reporting. Open up.” Speaking of which, one of the droids activates the console outside. With a small nod, Catra opened the blast doors.

“You didn’t say please.” Hevy lifted the gun and started blasting apart the droids the minute the door was opened, turning them into scrap metal.

Fives and Cody soon joined him in blasting the droids, with Fives throwing a plasma grenade. Destroying a bunch of droids in the process. Catra jumped out of cover to deflect blasts back when she figured there were too many.

“Close the blast doors and fall back!” Catra managed to knock a head of a droid who fired onto her.

Cody closed it as ordered, the doors were slow to close but that gave them more time to blast a few more droids. Once it was close they withdrew further down the hallway and took cover behind outlets from the walls. Catra pulled the grenade off her belt to be ready.

It took a few minutes for the droids to blast open the door and start firing on them again, but that was opening Catra needed as she threw her grenade this time. Destroying more droids and slowing down their approach a bit, going back into defense of deflecting as the droids kept advancing on them.

“Fall back to the op center. Move!” Cody called out as they had to retreat back up the stairs, Catra protecting them from the back.

Reaching the bottom of the steps she pulled out a small detonator, having set up a cluster of grenades earlier in the now filled with droids hallway. Pressing it she watches as more droids were consumed in explosions and causing some debris to block their path, giving them a few more minutes.

Rushing up the stairs to the others, she noticed as they were having problems with priming the detonator.

“The detonator isn’t working.” Rex was about to hand it to Catra, but Hevy took it instead.

“I’ll take care of it, it’ll be fixed in no time,” Hevy pointed to a hatch in the wall, probably how they escaped the last time, “You guys get out of here.”

“Hevy,” Catra placed her hand on his shoulder, giving him another detonator in case the first one doesn’t end up working, “Don’t be a reckless idiot and die on us. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir.” Hevy nodded before getting to work on priming it.

Catra quickly moved and followed the others through the hatch and down through a maintenance tunnel, leading outside into the crater where they first met up with the clones. Slowly sneaking their way around the wall of the cliff to look back up at the base.

“Hevy, hit the-- Where’s Hevy?” Rex looked back not spotting him.

“I swear if that reckless idiot-” Catra turned to go back up and help him, yelping in surprise when he ended up behind her, tail flaring in anger, “What took you?”

“Sorry, had to swap it, but thanks to you I had plenty of time,” Hevy held up the detonator, “Now...I’ve always wanted to do this.”

Catra always had this fascination with explosives, so let’s just the one that tore apart the outpost was one of the best she’s seen. Of course they had to hide as parts of the base nearly landed on them, but it was fun watching the whole landing deck fall into the crater along with the droids that stood on it.

“I always hated that place.” Hevy chuckled at watching it be blown up.

A familiar engine sound filled Catra’s ears, looking up to see gunships flying down towards them, they’ll finally be getting off this rock...also at least they got there before more worms showed up.

Catra collapsed upon her bed once they made it back to the cruiser. Hevy, Echo and Fives were going to be receiving medals from Obi-wan and Anakin down in the hanger bay. They definitely earned it after today, and they’ll be joining another unit. Catra looked forward to working with them again.

“Thought I might find you here,” Obi-wan stood in the door-way to her room, entering and sitting down at the chair of her desk where she laid her equipment, “I’ve read the reports, and I have to say i’m impressed with your insight. But I’m more impressed with how you handled the situation on the Rishi outpost.”

“Really? I don’t feel like I did anything that important worth mentioning.” Catra sat up allowing her tail to fall off the edge.

“Well for starters, you’re force-link helped quite a bit,” Obi-wan leaned back slightly, “It put us on edge and we were prepared for hyper jump already, the minute the signal went down we jumped and caught them off guard.”

“You also saved our bacon a couple of times as well,” Rex announced his presence standing in the doorway, “Hevy, Echo and Fives wanted to give you their thanks.”

“T-Thanks for telling me,” Catra gave a small smile at receiving the thanks “Can’t wait to work with them again.”

“In time Catra,” Obi-wan chuckled, shaking his head, “Echo and Fives will be joining a new unit, but Hevy will be joining us. At his request too, he quite liked fighting by your side.”

Catra flashed her fang, her explosion buddy will be joining them.

Chapter Text

“Senator Amidala, I just received word that you have ventured through enemy territory into the Outer Rim.” Palpatine, while in hologram form, spoke to her.

Catra never really liked him, still doesn’t, but she can’t outright say anything without getting into a lot of trouble. She was currently with Padme to help with her peaceful mission at her request. It would be relaxing than all the fighting Catra’s had to do, plus Jedi were meant to be keepers of the peace as well.

So it would make sense for her to join, though she suspected it’s because there hasn’t been a time where it was just her, Padme, and Lonnie as she had mostly been with Ahsoka. Speaking of Lonnie, she was sitting bored at another console while cleaning her blaster; while she generally doesn’t mind helping Padme, she wants to see some action at least.

The other one with them was less than the enjoyable company, one was C3PO, which his voice irritates Catra’s hearing, but he does help with translating when needed.

“Senator Farr requested me personally, Chancellor. His planet is in crisis. His people are starving. He's a very old family friend. I could not refuse his plea for help.” Padme explained why she had to do this; Catra could understand why. Even though Jedi were meant to have no attachments, she could understand the need to help family.

“I understand,” Palpatine nodded only slightly, “But in these dangerous times, you should be accompanied by a clone escort.”

“No disrespect, chancellor, but she does have a Jedi and her bodyguard with her,” Catra spoke up, tail twitching slightly when seeing him face her, “But if it makes you feel better, I do have a squad of clones prepared to arrive in case things go wrong. Which I highly doubt since this is meant to be a mission of peace, not of war.”

“As much as it would be fun to have some action, I don’t think throwing clones into a peaceful discussion would help smooth things over.” Lonnie also voiced her opinion.

“Hmm, very well, they do make good points. Just stay safe, senator,” Palpatine couldn’t find a reason to argue, “I wish you a safe return.”

“Thank you, Chancellor,” Padme nodded as the transmission cut off and the hologram disappeared, before swirling in her seat facing Catra, “I thought you promised you wouldn’t bring any clones with you?”

“I needed to say something to get him off our backs,” Catra squirmed slightly under her gaze, sighing slightly, “Commander Hevy was informed to stay alert but not to do anything unless I call.”

“Huh, that’s smart thinking. Why couldn’t you think of these tactics back home?” Lonnie chuckled at her.

“Cause I wasn’t leading a squad of trained soldiers,” Catra deadpanned back to her, laughing a little anyway, “But I won’t need to call them, it’s a peaceful mission...also I don’t want Padme to get mad at me.”

“Oh, I was annoyed at first, but thanks to your explanation, I feel better,” Padme smiled at them as she was piloting the ship to a landing site, “When we land, could I go on ahead as I want to surprise him with you two after. Also, I want someone to look after C3PO so he doesn’t get himself into trouble.”

“Trouble? Me? Really?” Threepio was confused, but sometimes things do go wrong when he’s involved.

“And exactly what do we get from staying on the ship?” Lonnie raised her eyebrow at her.

“Oh, I could always give you an example.” Padme smiled, landing the ship in the hanger, getting up from her seat, and giving them both a kiss on the cheek on the way out, “I’ll call you when you can come.”

Both Lonnie and Catra blushed and sat there silent for a bit before Catra muttered embarrassedly, hiding her face, “She’s so sneaky.”

“She’s a senator; I think it comes with the job description.” Lonnie rubbed her cheek, embarrassed.

Catra stood up from her seat and look out the cockpit window, watching Padme exit from the hanger with the door sliding shut behind her, before turning and walking, “Let’s extend it to where we don’t leave the hanger; it’s kinda cramped in here.”

“I can agree with you on that; come on, goldie.” Lonnie rolled her eyes at Threepio as they left down the ramp of the ship.

“It’s C3PO, not goldie.” Threepio slowly walked after them.

“Exactly, goldie.” Catra shrugged her shoulders, agreeing.

“Why do I even bother correcting you with my name.” Threepio’s robotic voice had a sigh in it as well.

Walking over to the edge of the hanger they had arrived in on, they looked out into the swampland, well, the part that was in the dome, and Catra could admit she doesn’t know why the buildings are in domes, so she planned to ask later. But she was looking out for the local fauna, though something more interesting than the giant bugs.

“Isn’t there something more interesting?” Catra gestured her claws to the bugs flying around, “We got those kinds of bugs back home.”

“Which we had to eat sometimes when we had nothing else,” Lonnie shivered, helping Catra in trying to spot anything interesting, “I don’t know what else we can expect from this swamp, though.”

“Most creatures would live under the water, so it would be difficult in actually spotting one,” Threepio spoke from behind them.

“...why does he have to make sense?” Catra whined, tail drooping.

“Well, I guess it could be better than actually making contact and having something thrown at us.” Lonnie patted her head.

“Yeah…” Catra sighed before her ears twitched, at slight static and muffled speaking before it was cut off, “I think we have missed our cue; we left our communicators in the ship.”

“Oh...crap, Padme is not going to be happy.” Lonnie turned to go to the ship but stopped when noticing the hanger door open, “Or...she was calling for help.”

Catra turned her head slowly and, seeing battle droids enter from the doorway that Padme had exited from, didn’t even have time to react as one of them had fired a rocket at the ship. Destroying it and cutting off the call for support from that way, the only good thing was that they weren’t on the ship.

“Typical they blow up the ship first,” Catra muttered, glad she hadn’t left her lightsaber on the ship.

“I think we can have plenty of time to complain later,” Lonnie tackled Catra behind cover as the droids started blasting at them, “So, can you focus so you can use your force powers?”

“A little help here,” Threepio called out, still out in the open, the droids blasts getting close to him.

“After you save goldie.” Lonnie groaned, pulling out her blaster.

While Lonnie peeked up to fire at the droids, Catra focused on Threepio, lifted him off the ground, and slowly pulled him behind cover, saving his head from blasting off. Though, there hadn’t been many droids as they weren’t expecting much conflict, as Lonnie had quickly blasted them all.

“So, from the looks of it, the peaceful mission didn’t end up being so peaceful,” Catra stood up and walked over to the destroyed droids, “I have a theory of why they’re here, but do you also have an idea?”

“From what I know, when the senate was making a choice, the vote was postponed of getting relief out to this system,” Lonnie recalled how Padme had been annoyed at the vote that day. But didn’t have much say, “Separatists probably made an offer, which at the time seemed to be the only help they get.”

“Unforantly, most of the time, when they accept, they soon realize the mistake they made.” Catra nodded, agreeing with her, tail twitching, “I’m guessing, for some reason, Padme was part of the deal.”

“That...makes sense, though it would have hurt her uncle to do so.” Lonnie nodded, putting away her blaster for now, “So what’s the plan?”

“Well, whatever stealth plan we think of, we need to consider we have the walking talking golden droid with us.” Catra pointed her claw to Threepio.

“I do believe I can keep quiet.” Threepio disagreed.

“Hm, how about Threepio can find the place of the communication here to bring in your clone buddies,” Lonnie suggested her plan, “While we go rescue Padme.”

“I can agree with that; as long as we don’t think of her as a damsel in distress, she can hold her own.” Catra snickered, ears twitching happily.

“Oh, I think we both know that. You fine with the plan, goldie.” Lonnie chuckled slightly.

“If it gets me away from you two for a while, then yes.” Threepio began walking off.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t get into too much trouble,” Lonnie sighed, “Come on, let’s go.”

“I was the one waiting for you to move,” Catra smirked, already walking ahead, tail swaying behind her, poking tongue at her from over her shoulder.

“You cheeky little,” Lonnie jogged after, stopping Catra in her tracks by grabbing her tail, causing her to squeak.

“Hey! There was no ne-” Catra’s voice cut off as Lonnie gave a quick peck on her lips, Catra just sighing, freeing her tail and grabbing her wrist, “Let’s just go free her.”

Lonnie chuckled behind Catra as they headed for the door, which opened just as they got there and had them staring right at a crab droid, who stood there shocked and silent, staring at the two girls. As quickly as they stopped, Catra rushed forward, slicing it down the middle with her lightsaber,

“Stupid crab droid, why do you remind me of the thing I most detest back home.” Catra shivered and stepped around it.

Proceeding onwards, they reached a large area where the walls were covered in moss, well that mainly was everywhere, but there were grates all along the floor to show the water underneath, which seemed to go deep, and who knows what kind of creatures swam below.

A few battle droids around, but they didn’t have the perfect scouting abilities, so Lonnie and Catra were able to sneak around quite a bit before spotting Senator Farr walking with a few battle droids and Vice Gunray. They didn’t see him as a significant threat, but he is annoying when he’s around.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Lonnie whispered as she huddled close to Catra, unintentionally speaking into her ear.

“If you can be quiet for a few seconds, then maybe I can find out.” Catra put a claw to Lonnie's lips, having slightly shivered from her speaking right into her ear.

“We are holding the Senator in the detention tower,” Farr spoke, but there was a hint of sadness, probably starting to regret whatever deal he had made from the sounds of it.

“I hope it is not too painful for her.” Gunray mocked slightly with a hint of a grin in his voice.

“They’re holding Padme up in that tower,” Catra whispered, pointing to a tall tower connected to the main building by a retractable bridge, “At least we know where to rescue her.”

“Yeah, and exactly how would be able to do that?” Lonnie whispered back to her.

Despite them being quiet and mostly hidden, one of the battle droids, for some reason, had turned around and had spotted them, “Look! A Jedi!”

“So much for any stealth option.” Both of them muttered as they nervously looked at them.

“A Jedi?” Gunray turned around confused, eyes slowly opening wide in alarm.

“Split up and meet later?” Catra suggested, knowing that they wouldn’t be able to handle this many droids by themselves.

“Yep.” Lonnie agreed.

They both ran opposite directions to confuse the droids, but they were mainly focused on Catra as she was the Jedi. But she was happy to distract them, so they didn’t end up shooting Lonnie. But there was no way for Catra to escape to, unless…

“Time to see if I really can hold my breath for that long.” Catra slid across the ground, using the force to lift a grate as she slid through it into the water.

Catra’s feet collided with something solid, but she figured that was the floor of the lake, staring up at where she had escaped through; the droids looked down but unable to see her before wandering off, probably patrolling to see where she ends up resurfacing. Then, Catra felt the ground shake beneath her feet.

Well, that’s the point she realized it wasn’t the ground she was standing on.

Quickly swimming backward, she had discovered she was standing on a large green creature, looking like a slug of some sort, but more enormous and glowing green, and both its eyes were looking at her. She could sense the annoyance in them as it looked at her before lunging forward, probably planning to eat her.

She knew she wouldn’t be able to outswim it, so she held out her hand and closing her eyes. Then, slowly opening them when the giant slug didn’t swallow her, she saw it looking at her with understanding, realizing she hadn’t meant to hurt it in the first place. Her mother had told her she had a gift with animals, with it either being the force or just her instincts. She doesn’t know.

It helped her back up to the surface before swimming back down again. Then, opening the grate and looking around, seeing the droids weren’t looking, she collected her breath, “Didn’t expect to make a friend today….”

Sighing, shaking herself to get most of the water off her, but she would be feeling cold for a while, eyeing the tower, “Now...I’ve got a long climb ahead of me.”

Lonnie hid behind a pillar inside a building, allowing the battle droids to pass, she didn’t know which way Catra had run off to, but she figured she could keep herself safe. But right now, she was tailing the one person who couldn’t protect themselves, and that was Threepio being led by battle droids. Probably to dismantle him.

“Padme was right, should have kept an eye on him more.” Lonnie sighed, readying her blaster.

Rolling out into the hallway before them, she had blasted the droid on the left but didn’t shoot the one on the right as Padme also appeared and blasted the other one apart. 

“Padme?” Lonnie was half shocked, and half wasn’t; she knew Padme could free herself but wasn’t expecting to find her quickly, though.

“Mistress Padme! Oh! Thank the Maker. You’re safe!” Threepio sounded relieved as he started walking towards her, “Have you….”

“No time to talk, goldie.” Lonnie covered his mouth and dragged him into an empty hallway, Pamde following after.

They stayed quiet on either side of the doorway as a small group of patrolling battle droids wandered past, “Where’s Catra?”

“Probably climbing the tower looking for you?” Lonnie took a guess, chuckling, “She’s going to be annoyed she climbed all that way for nothing.”

“Well...at least that’s sweet of her.” Padme smiled, giggling, feeling slightly bad for Catra, “Guessing she’s the Jedi that got everyone’s attention?”

“Unless you brought a secret Jedi with you, then yeah.” Lonnie peaked out of the hallway, keeping an eye out for droids.

“This is our chance to capture Gunray, but I need you to stay calm,” Pamde made that last comment to Threepio, “Go back to the ship and call for help.”

“I regret the transmitters on the ship are out of order,” Threepio mentioned, making Padme confused, and turned to Lonnie.

“Battle droids might have...blown it up, sorry we didn’t hear your call earlier, we weren’t on the ship,” Lonnie admitted, but at least Padme was relieved they weren’t, “We were looking at the wildlife. However, we did send Threepio to find a communications room.”

“I did find one, but battle droids had stopped me,” Threepio confirmed.

“Could you try again and think of a lie to get past them?” Padme asked him, “Send a distress signal to the clones Catra had ready. Lonnie and I will track down Catra.”

“All those fantasy stories… that mom used to read me...made it seem like climbing a tower would be easy,” Catra grunted, ears laying flat as the wind was hitting against them, having climbed up so high on the tower already. That if she were to look down, the droids would look like ants.

Catra’s climb was only made more manageable by vines that had grown from the top-down, though there were parts she had to use the actual wall of the tower when vines stopped part ways. Although different surfaces make climbing easier or complex, this climb was more on the medium difficulty side.

At least, if she were to go down, it would be easy, as there is plenty of time during the fall to focus and land safely without injury; well, from this height, she would need to land on smaller platforms before going to the ground, as even from this height it could be fatal to her.

As she was nearing the top, she could hear the footfalls of droids walking across the bridge, with softer sounding footsteps accompanying them. Ears raised as she listened, hearing Senator Farr and Gunray. But, hearing that Gunray had lied about the supplies, they would receive might only happen after Padme’s execution.

“Not if I have anything to say about that.” Catra hissed to herself, climbing faster, intent on getting in there first.

“Bring Senator Amidala before me.” Gunray’s slimy voiced sounded above her, thinking that he had won.

“Um… she caused a great deal of damage to our droids,” A battle droid spoke exiting from the detention center, “And she escaped, sir.”

“I’m glad she’s safe,” Catra sighed to herself before eyes twitched slightly, not realizing she lifted herself on the last spot, “But are you kidding me!”

“It’s the Jedi!” The battle droid faced her in alarm.

“Uhh...hi?” Catra nervously chuckled as she looked at them all.

“Shoot her!” Gunray shouted.

“Time to go.” Catra quickly let go, turning around in mid-air as she started plummeting back towards the ground.

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t have a controlled landing as her foot was snagged onto a piece of the vine as she fell, closing her eyes and bracing from impact against the floor. She had stopped, but the vine had prevented her from directly hitting the ground, only causing her to fall limply onto it without harm.

“Not my proudest landing,” Catra rubbed her face, sitting up as her bi-colored eyes landed on battle droids standing in front of her, “Why do there have to be so many of you?”

Groaning, Catra quickly lifted a grate and slid into the water to dodge their laser fire, which worked until they started dropping grenades into the water with her this time. Then, having to focus, she force pushed them away from her, so she wasn’t in the explosion radius, but her ears were echoing from how many there were.

Catra didn’t have a chance to breathe, even if she could, as a super battle droid had fired a homing plasma rocket into the water, which of course, was chasing her. Try as she might, she wouldn’t be able to force push it away or outswim it, closing her eyes waiting for the pain before darkness covered her vision.

She heard a muffled explosion from outside. Eyes widening when she was pushed out, discovering the slug had shut her in its mouth, protecting her from the damage. Smiling at it, petting it gently, before climbing onto its back, sensing it had also had enough of the droids plaguing this place.

Grinning wildly as the slug slammed up through the floor, landing on a spinning droid that was focused on Threepio and teary-eyed Lonnie and Padme. Then, pulling out her lightsaber and pointing it at Gunray, “Guess who’s back!”

“The Jedi has summoned a monster!” Gunray shouted in alarm, offending the slug, destroying the other spinning droids from that comment. Then, fleeing for his ship, “ We have to get out of here!”

Yeah, I don't think so,” Catra hissed, jumping off the slug and chasing after him, “It’s your fault for making them cry….”

Running into the hanger after him, she jumped and sliced the head of the two droids which had been following him,  glaring at his back as he had almost made it to the ramp. Then, her arm having a slightly purplish glow, and using all her strength, she lifted the whole ship and tossed it from the hanger and into the water with the force.

Before she can even grab Gunray, the slug had come into the hanger as well and held Gunray in its mouth, closing him in darkness, “Sluggy! No, drop it! That’s not yours!”

The slug made a sad noise of disappointment, spitting Gunray out, covered in green gunk.

Catra smirked, seeing Padme approaching who’s eyes were still slightly wet but was smiling at her. Catra pulled Sluggy to the side as Padme, and Senator Farr dealt with Gunray. Ears twitching as she looked up, seeing a republic cruiser enter the atmosphere, with dropships coming down.

“I’m sure I only had one gunship of clones waiting,” Catra mumbled while petting Sluggy, “Then again, Gunray is a huge capture, so there would be more noticeable.”

Watching one of the dropship’s landing, opening up and revealing Hevy, who had been waiting for the command to come but wasn’t expecting till after the fun was after. Making sure the other clones went to their positions before walking over to her, “Hey, Catra, who’s your new friend?”

“Oh, this is Sluggy. Saved me from being blown up,” Catra muttered before allowing Sluggy to return to the water, “Would have contacted you earlier, but the ship was destroyed.”

“Guess that’s understandable,” Heavy chuckled, “Just next time, don’t leave out of the action.”

“I understand; we need a situation where we can cause a lot of explosions.” Catra grinned; Hevy nodded and walked to make sure the other clones were standing by.

Catra turned and faced where she could sense Lonnie and Padme, sighing gently, opening her arms from them, as they tackled her in a hug, happy to see she was alright. But will still get punished for making them worry.

Chapter Text

Catra leaned against the doorframe as she kept her eyes on Gunray, having been appointed to help transport him to a cruiser where he would be interrogated. She wasn’t alone as Ahsoka was also assigned; they’d both have to listen to the orders of Master Luminara. While Catra believed she was an amazing Jedi, she could sense that it was hard to convince her of most things.

Tail slowly swaying, shaking her head, watching Gunray try and bribe the clones with money for freedom, smirking a bit when one said it was an enticing offer, then handing him cuffs as a present. Hevy came along after Catra requested, feeling bad he didn’t get to see action.

“Catra,” Ahsoka got Catra’s attention by grabbing her tail, resulting in her jumping and facing her with a blush, “You’ve been watching him the whole trip. You can stop now.”

Catra calmed down with a breath, eyeing Gunray one more time before turning away, “Sorry….but what he caused on Rodia, well, I’d prefer him in a cell.”

“You know Lonnie and Padme left your punishment in my hands, right?” Ahsoka smirked, folding her arms and tilting her head, laughing softly, seeing her gulp, “But that’s for later, but at least this boring trip is finally coming to an end.”

“Huh?’ Catra was confused, looking behind Ahsoka to the window and seeing they were approaching the Republic Cruiser Tranquility . Rubbing her eyes with a groan, “At least hopefully now I won’t have to look at him much longer….”

“Won’t have to hear him either,” Hevy remarked at their discussion.

Their ship decelerated its approach as it was orientated to the open space dock under the ship, watching as the shielded walkway emerged from the wall and latched onto them. Then, permitting safe passage onto the ship, with Lumina, Catra, and Ahsoka leading, Hevy and Commander Gree behind them escorting Gunray.

“This is an outrageous miscarriage of justice!” Gunray complained loudly, shaking his hands with the cuffs rattling, “I demand my litigator.”

“Would you have preferred getting eaten by a giant slug?” Catra turned back, smirking, getting him to shut up. There were still some green gunks on his clothes; no one cared to wash him.

Ahsoka was trying to be professional and conceal a laugh, but a tiny bit of it came through, “Please tell me someone caught it on camera.”

“Well, we needed to collect evidence of all his dealings there and the whole incident,” Hevy explained, a hint of a smile behind his helmet, “Thankfully, security cameras were everywhere.”

“I’m awfully tempted to see it as well.” Gree chatted after a bit, finding it intriguing.

Gunray sighed in irritation listening to them all, “I hate you all.”

“Ahem,” Luminara gave all of them a look, silencing them for now, continuing to walk through the halls.

Walking down the hallways, a different kind of soldier approached them, different from clones; Senate Commandos. Usually, they were found at the Senate with their blue knight-looking armour, so it was a surprise to see them here; then again, Gunray was a high-value target.

“Greetings, General,” The one in front was carrying his helmet under his arm; Catra recalled that Luminara had contacted him before docking. His name was Captain Argyus, “We have the brig all ready for this traitor.”

“Very good, Captain,” Luminara nodded, looking over her shoulder at Gree, “Commander Gree, let’s get underway.”

“Right away, sir.” Gree nodded.

Catra looked back at Hevy, sure Luminara could order him too, but she left that to Catra, “Hevy, can you help him.”

“Yes, sir.” Hevy was trying to be formal in the presence of Luminara, so he had to refrain from using her name. Looking at Gree nodding, “Let’s move.”

Commander Gree and Hevy got Gunray moving as they went on ahead past them, Captain Argyus nodding as he and his soldiers turned to follow. Catra, Luminara, and Ahsoka followed behind slowly.

“Senate commandos?” Ahsoka had been perplexed, now speaking her mind, “How does a money-grubbing worm like Gunray rate all this security? He doesn’t look that dangerous.”

“Don’t let your overconfidence give Gunray another advantage, Ahsoka,” Luminara halted and turned towards them, a bit concerned, “Even now, his allies may be conspiring against us.”

As Luminara moved to walk again, Catra whispered low as her ears twitched, “He might not look dangerous, but I think it has to be with how he can talk his way out of most things. He was also the cause for bringing war to Naboo, if you remember.”

“It’s been a while since that conversation with Padme, but that name rings a bell now,” Ahsoka nodded, though seeming stormy as she did, “Can’t he just leave her alone? So you said the deal was to get Padme for protection?”

“Her uncle didn’t want to, and in the end, help capture him instead,” Catra nodded softly, rubbing her tail on Ahsoka’s arm to calm her, producing a nervous smile, “P-Padme had an awkward time introducing Lonnie and Me to him after.”

Ahsoka laughed softly before a teasing look rested on her face, “I heard you also climbed a tower?”

“O-Oh, would you look at that? We should catch up with Master Luminara,” Catra’s cheeks blossomed slightly with fur standing up, jogging to catch up. Then, hearing Ahsoka laugh a little more and run after her.

Catra had her arms crossed standing outside the cell as she counted the red-lined black-square patterned floor; not enough room in the interrogation room for all of them. Viewing through the active energy field, Gunray was seated at the table with Master Luminara standing before him, Ahsoka stood to the side.

Commander Gree and Hevy chatted with their helmets off; Catra’s ears twitched as she turned her gaze to the hallway that led to the console room of the detention block. Captain Argyus was strolling down the path.

“How goes the interrogation?” Captain Argyus questioned Catra standing in front of her, both looking at the cell, “Has the viceroy cracked?”

“Probably soon? Neimoidians, I think that’s his race, are slippery,” Catra tried to remember the books she read back in the library. Which was hard to focus, especially when Ahsoka distracted her by pulling her tail, “But with Master Luminara, he’ll soon be talking.”

“Your thoughts betray you, viceroy,” Luminara had her arms folded behind her back, staring at Gunray, “I can sense your concern, the fear that you will lose the wealth and the power that the war has given you.”

“I...have no idea what you’re talking about.” Gunray denied, resisting so far.

Catra could sense a wave of growing anger in Ahsoka from here, perhaps from everything he’s done, especially to Padme and Lonnie and Catra after the last situation. Gunray’s response had also fueled her anger; Catra pressed her claw against the switch allowing the field to deactivate, grabbing Ahsoka by the arm and gently dragged her out.

“Catra, what are you doing?” There was a bit of bite in Ahsoka’s words, knowing that wasn’t intentional as she put up the field again. Luminara looked at them with confused concern.

Sighing and letting go of her arm, facing her and booping her nose gently, “You don’t think I can sense your anger growing? As much as he might deserve it, I don’t think threatening him with your lightsaber will help.”

“I-I wasn’t….” Ahsoka trailed off into silence,  letting out a shaky breath, “You were always better at sensing other’s emotions. But how did you know that part?”

“Gunray just seems like the type to cause that reaction,” Catra shrugged her shoulders, tail pointing to him, “His allies probably think the same sometimes.”

Gunray was going to object but muttered quietly, “Well, she’s not wrong. But I’m an innocent pawn in all this.”

“If you’re an innocent pawn,” Luminara scoffed slightly, “Then who are you protecting?”

Everyone rocked on their feet, struggling to stay upright as an explosion occurred in the distance, looking at Commander Gree in confusion as he spoke into his commlink, “Captain, status report.”

“ Droid fighters, incoming, ” The captain responded, able to hear the blaster fire from over the comms, “ They’ve brought boarding ships. ”

The alarms blared all over the ship as it rocked more from the blaster fire, knowing the fighters were the distraction and attracting the fire, allowing the boarding vessels to get close.

“Green company, prepare to repel the enemy,” Gree ordered over the commlink, ordering his company down to the hanger. Hevy wanted to go, but Catra wanted to wait to see if the enemy could get past the hanger first.

While they waited for a response to the attack, the blaster fire was faint in Catra’s ears despite the fight further away; she could sense a different presence. It felt familiar, but she couldn’t precisely explain what it was, but it made her uneasy. But looking from the corner of her eye, Ahsoka and Luminara didn’t seem to sense it.

“ Green Leader to Commander Gree, super battle droids have breached our hull, ” The clone spoke over the commlink, suddenly going quiet before whispering, “ They’re headed for the detention level. We need reinforcements-- ”

Blaster fire sounded out, hearing the trooper cry out in pain before possibly dying as the comms were soon filled with static; Catra sighed, flexing her fingers for any fighting as her claws were sharp, “They must want him if they sent a whole bunch of Super battle droids.”

“Commander, I’ll need your assistance,” Luminara exited the cell looking at Gree, who nodded and put his helmet on. Heavy following suit.

Ahsoka smiled slightly, moving to walk after Luminara, “Let’s go.”

“You two will stay here with Captain Argyus,” Luminara faced them and gave them the order; Catra already sensed the disappointment in Ahsoka, “Guard the viceroy.”

“But…” Ahsoka was going to complain, but Catra covered her mouth.

“As you wish, master, but could you take Hevy with you to help in the battle.” Catra requested, tilting her head to Hevy, her ears twitching.

Luminara contemplated her request before nodding and walking ahead; Hevy looked at Catra, “Thanks.”

“Not letting you miss out on the action again.” Catra flashed her fang and watching him head off.

Gunray had approached the energy field from inside his cell, having a teasing smirk, “Perhaps after my rescue--”

“Rescue?” Ahsoka smirked at him with a scoff, “Maybe they’re here to make sure you won’t talk.”

“That was a good response,” Catra whistled, hearing Gunray gulp in fear at the thought, then thinking on it, “It did feel like there was something else too….”

Catra could see a green light flashing on her vambrace for commlinks, she wasn’t connected to the ships, but this was for any in close proximity, “ All units, there’s a bald- -”

Now that wouldn't be much to go on, but Catra could hear the unmistakable sound of a lightsaber as the clone grunted; she could sense their death. So putting the facts of feeling a familiar presence, bald, and the sounds of a lightsaber, she could recognize it to all lead to Ventress.

While she hadn’t had many encounters with the Assassin, she’s heard stories of her; wielding two lightsabers, which that was the only cool-sounding thing. But she probably wouldn’t want to fight her alone, her presence here is dangerous in itself, and she probably would do anything to succeed.

“Catra!” Ahsoka shouted in front of Catra, finally getting her attention by pinching her ear, “Are you in there?”

Catra yelped a little and backed up, “Sorry, lost in thought, but there’s something you need to know.”

“That’s what I want to tell you; they already repelled the droids,” Ahsoka grinned, causing confusion to rest on Catra’s face.

“Already? Wait,” Catra’s eyes widened, and tail erects in alarm, feeling Captain Argyus approach them, “They must have been a distraction!”

“Distraction? What do you mean….” Ahsoka slowly trailed off as they could hear something sizzling.

Looking backward through the hall to the console, a spherical piece of the roof dropped with a burning red edge as Ventress slipped down through the hole above. Incapacitating the two guards who had been assigned, too slow to respond to her abrupt presence, both Catra and Ahsoka had brought out their lightsabers and were facing her down.

“If it isn’t the hairless harpy.” Ahsoka taunted; Catra snickered beside her.

“You stole that from when I joked about her before,” Catra smirked, rolling her eyes; Ahsoka just poked her tongue out.

“If it isn’t Skywalker’s filthy, obnoxious little pet,” Ventress activated both her lightsabers, the red glow illuminating either side of her, “And Kenobi’s furry little freak.”

Catra’s eye twitched before looking at Ashoka, “How come she put more effort into insulting you?”

“Cause it’s hard to insult you with how almost perfect you are.” Ashoka grinned, pointing her saber at Ventress.

“Oh, now I have to know what you mean by almost, after.” Catra pouted, tail coiling around her leg for protection.

Ventress lunged forward aggressively, her red sabers being parried by their blue and green ones in return, the sparks chipping as from the exchange of their impacts. Despite that it was two versus one, Ventress was stronger than them, trained by count Dooku, but they weren’t going to make it easier for her.

With every strike of the sabers, additional sparks flew off at the clashes, occasionally Ashoka and Catra having to evade and sidestep while the other block. Ensuring Ventress remained alert as they expected, they attempted slashing back at her openings, but she quickly countered and shielded herself.

When Ahsoka instructed the Senate guards to blast upon her, they did so unquestionably. However, Ventress redirected their shots back; blast marks sizzling on their armour, dying in the process with their own hits. In the process, Catra noted it was unusual how Ventress used the force to knock out Captain Argyus, throwing him into the console.

Being pressured into the constrictive hallway, Catra and Ahsoka struggled to prevent her next attack, arms trembling briefly as both her sabers were gliding against theirs, “Skywalker and Kenobi aren't here to save you now.”

“Who said we needed saving?” Catra challenged fur upright but smirking all the same. Then, utilizing her tail, she gripped her pistol tightly by the trigger and discharged a shot, grazing Ventress’s side, listening to her hiss in discomfort glaring at them, very much pissed now.

Ventress swiftly tripped both of them after their feet skidded and were misplaced, leaping over them as they were on the floor. However, Catra did defend them from Ventress, trying to slice them in the process, exhaling mildly in relief as she was successful.

“Over here!” Gunray yelled from within his cell, which is currently behind Ventress, “Open this door, and I’ll buy you a planet!”

Ventress deactivated her lightsabers, rushing towards the cell, with Ahsoka standing up and giving chase, although Catra tried stopping her, “Ahsoka, wait!”

Catra promptly jumped to her feet and pursued, witnessing as Gunray was released and Ventress imprisoning Ahsoka in the very same cell, leaving her outside to face her alone.

“This...isn’t a great situation,” Catra mumbled keeping back, but staying on guard.

Ahsoka swung her lightsaber at Gunray when he taunted her, but the field  prevented her from doing so, “Sorry, Catra.”

“It’s alright...why am I stupid?” Catra’s face was blank, realizing something; she could sense Luminara returning quickly. Holding up her free hand, using the force, she unlocked the cell freeing Ahsoka, causing Gunray to back up in alarm.

“Halt, Assassin!” Luminara approached her saber pointed at Ventress, followed by Commander Gree and Hevy, “Surrender.”

Having three lightsabers now pointed in her direction and mang basted, she put away her lightsabers and held up her hands. Catra’s ears twitched as she could hear beeping from a device around her wrist; as it was starting to pick up the pace, Catra figured out what it was.

“She’s set up bombs!” Catra called out in alarm, using the force to reach for the device and prevent it from working.

BOOOOOOM

The whole cruiser rocked as a large explosion rang out, knocking the clones, Gree and Hevy included, to the floor; Catra tried to stay on her feet, but Ventress shoved her over with the force into Ashoka. She also did the same to Luminara as she made her escape, even when having many people firing at her.

Watching as she jumped down an elevator shaft to escape, Ahsoka was about to follow, but Catra had yanked her back as the elevator zoomed down fast, “Thank you.”

“I don’t think Lonnie and Padme would appreciate you getting squashed, hard to hug and kiss you if you’re flat.” Catra blushed and rubbed the back of her head. Then, peering over the side down, “I’m surprised she didn’t notice.”

Ahsoka folded her arms, confused, “What didn’t she notice?”

“That fact,” Catra revealed a device in her hand, activating it and a red saber popped out, “I stole one of them.”

“Well, that’s one way to make her angry at you specifically,” Ahsoka clapped a little impressed, “What are you planning to do with it?”

Catra looked at it for a second, shrugging and attaching it to her belt, “It’s mine now, so I’m going to use it.”

“You’re going to use a sith’s lightsaber, Catra?” Luminara had been conversing with the clones and the Senate Commandos, but that comment got her attention.

“Yeah, why not? It’s just a color,” Catra explained, and before they could counter, “They would use ours if they had the chance, like General Grievous.”

“Fair point. Are you and Ahsoka ready to help chase her?” Luminara looked at them both.

“Actually…”

“I thought you’d want to chase after her as well,” Hevy questioned Catra, both of them standing guard near Gunray’s cell. Captain Argyus and two other commandos stood right in front. While Commander Gree was at the entrance to the hallway, “Why help guard the viceroy?”

Catra had requested to help watch Gunray, having a weird feeling about the situation. At the same time, Luminara and Ahsoka went to find Ventress; Catra told Ahsoka to tease Ventress about her missing lightsaber. Then, Catra looked subtly towards Captain Argyus, tapping her claw gently, “During the fight with Ventress, I noticed something unusual?”

“...Explain,” Hevy whispered, trusting Catra’s word.

“Instead of Ventress killing him, she just tossed him aside,” Catra described the events that took place, whispering low, not looking away, “I could be wrong, but the Captain might be hiding something.”

“What’s that, captain?” Then, a Senate guard asked, Catra noticed a rapid green beeping on his vambrace.

“Oh, nothing to worry about.” Captain Argyus shrugged casually.

Argyus swiftly turned on his feet and blasted at his two soldiers, but it never made contact as both blasts of energy were glitching and cms from touching. Catra was straining with both hands out held as she held both of them; Hevy shot the blaster out of Argyus’s hand, allowing both Hevy and Gree to restrain him.

“C-Can you two move? I can’t easily change its course?” Catra’s voice was strained as sweat ran through her fur, releasing her hold as they moved. Scorch marks on the wall instead of on them.

“Why did you do it, Argyus?” Gree questioned him angrily, holding him still.

Argyus tried breaking from their hold but figured there was no point as his two soldiers as their guns trained on him, and Catra had her hand on her lightsaber, “Count Dooku paid me to deliver his slimy carcass.”

“And you’d betray the senate for it?” Hevy gripped his arm a little tighter, causing some pain, but he needed to deal with it.

“Sometimes, being a good soldier means--Argh!” Arguys screamed in pain as a red lightsaber pierced his chest from behind, retracting as his body dropped to the ground.

At first, they thought Catra had struck him down, but her focus was on a figure at the end of the hallway. They were wearing dark clothing, a cloak to hide their appearance and a black helmet with a dark green visor. Their red lightsaber floated above the palm of their hand, twisting it slowly with the force.

“I told Count Dooku it was pointless in hiring him,” The Sith had a voice modulator disguising their real voice, walking ever so slowly down the hallway, “The only reason I had given him a chance was he good mask his true intentions, well, expect from you that is.”

“Should I be flattered?” Catra rolled her eyes, holding and activating both lightsabers preparing for the duel that could happen, “Who exactly are you?”

“Magi is all you get for my name; I notice you have one of Ventress’s lightsabers,” Magi kept strolling closer, stopping for a minute when having four blasters pointed towards them, “I should return it, but I don’t give a damn about it, she lot it. However, I feel like I should give some kind of reward for discovering his involvement. You get to live, and I get Gunray.”

“Like we’d listen to that kind of request.” Gree scoffed and kept his focus on them.

“It wasn’t a choice,” Magi confirmed.

Magi swung their unoccupied hand to the side, both Gree and Hevy flying into the wall, knocking them out cold without a fuss. The two Senate guards tried firing, but Magi just reflected it, forcing the roof down on them with the debris knocking them out as well.

Catra held the lightsabers together, holding the blue and red in a cross-like defense, “I’m not going to be so easy to knock out.”

“I was counting on it.” Magi finally let their saber rest in their palm before rushing forward.

Magi’s agility was unequal to anything Catra had witnessed as their saber collided with hers multiple times in rapid succession, and that’s all it took to realize; they were toying with her. While Catra might have trained a few times back at the academy using two blades, she was still rusty and sloppy at it. And Magi knew this.

Magi was forcing Catra to withdraw further and further from their advancing assault, only being impressed when Catra managed to intercept some of them. Catra sank to the floor to trip them, but they vaulted upwards and swung down in an arc on their descend, thwarting it was Ventress’s saber.

Catra could feel some panic from Magi when her tail pointed her blaster at them and shot; they had scarcely evaded, but it would be the only time she’d pull that off.

“First time I’ve seen a Jedi use a blaster, but first time for everything,” Magi bowed, stowing their saber, “I’ll stop toying around before the others return.”

Catra didn’t even get to act as Magi’s palm struck her face, feeling faint before collapsing to the ground.

By the time Catra regained conscious Gunray had escaped along with Magi and Ventress; she had suspected that Magi would lie; but surprisingly, she and the others were still alive. Catra figured Magi despised Ventress cause she was still in possession of her lightsaber, so she’d be able to train with dual-wielding.

But one question occupied her mind; Who is Magi?

Chapter Text

A small yelp echoed throughout the room as the small training droid zapped Catra, having bypassed both her lightsabers. She had been stubbornly training for the past few hours with her lightsaber and the one she stole from Ventress, trying to improve her form of Jar’Kai. Barely making progress.

Catra managed to deflect a few shots before it hit her, having to repeat the process. Trying to increase her reaction time if she ever faced off against Magi again, there’s a difference between blaster bolts and other lightsabers. And sure, she could ask Ashoka for help, but she didn’t want to bother her; besides, they’d probably get distracted staring at each other.

She had momentarily forgotten about her other choice option until Obi-wan opened the door to her room; clones were seen behind him as they headed for their stations. He stroked his beard in thought, staring at the red lightsaber, “You know, red isn’t really your color. Ever think about getting it changed?”

“I mean, I’m not too bothered as I see it only as a color. It doesn’t reflect my feelings,” Catra shrugged while collapsing to her knees, using the chance to take a break. Tail swaying against the cold floor behind her, “I’m trying to avoid going back to IIum anytime soon. It’s freezing there!”

“I agree, so I won’t force you to go, only when you’re ready,” Obi-wan smiled as he strolled in, the door shutting behind him. Then, shutting off the droid, “So you’re trying to perfect your Jar’Kai form?”

Catra simply nodded with eyes close, taking in a breath before gazing at him, “It’s difficult, but I’m stubborn.”

“Indeed. Though, the second blade is typically shorter than the first. So it’s more challenging with two of the same height,” Obi-wan explained as he gestured to them, watching as Catra understood, “Still, it’s impressive progress.”

“Thanks. I should stop for now, or I’m going to faint from exhaustion,” Catra mumbled as her ears twitched while pushing to a stand. Clipping the lightsabers back onto her belt, “It will have the opposite effect if I face off against Magi again.”

“Magi must be Dooku’s latest apprentice alongside Ventress, but more calculated,” Obi-wan theorized after seeing the report, interested in why Magi held her end of the deal. Remembering why he had entered in the first place, “Speaking off, how about a spacewalk and we can ask him?”

“...did Anakin get trapped again.” It was more of a statement, as Catra had learned, that it was a usual occurrence.

“I’m afraid so, we’ll be the ones to recuse him. Ashoka and Rex will be on the main deck to watch from afar,” Obi-wan explained, heading back for the door, Catra following behind. A grin appeared on his face, “And I assumed you’d want to try, with a suit this time.”

“Should be fun,” Catra smirked.

“I retract my earlier statement,” Catra mumbled while keeping her focus on Obi-wan, making sure not to mess up the controls for the jetpack. Fear of running out of fuel and being stranded in space, “I Should have stayed in my room.”

“Come now, you’ve been in space without the suit, and this is more terrifying?” Obi-wan remarked, looking over his shoulder, a teasing smile on his face. Maintaining his momentum despite not facing forward, “I’m worried about your scale of what’s not a problem and what’s an actual threat.”

“Well, last time, at least I had something to touch and grab,” Catra pointed out with a huff, unaware of Obi-wan’s trap to calm her. Uncomfortable of having her ail squeezed into one of the pants legs, “Right now, we’re out of range of anything.”

“We can always contact Ashoka and Rex and have them retrieve you,” Obi-wan suggested as they reached the Sepertsist ship, boosting the power to take them up.

“There’s no point. We're already…here….” Catra trailed off, realizing she had been distracted by the conversation. Smiling gratefully as she continued to follow, “Thanks.”

“Sometimes, all you need is a distraction to forget about your fears,” Obi-wan mentioned as they glided over to an access hatch, pressing one of the buttons on the console nearby.

Catra watched the hatch open, learning the ship's plans before coming over, “Isn’t having fears a Jedi shouldn’t have?”

“Catra, everyone has fears, even Jedi. It’s long as if we don’t act on those fears to bring us to the dark side,” Obi-wan returned and placed a hand on her shoulder. Then, giving her a brief lesson, “Jedi aren’t supposed to have relationships either, but I’m not stopping you, and neither is Anakin.”

“I know Anakin’s reasons, but what are yours?” Catra asked curiously.

“Well, let’s just say I took on some of my master’s qualities as well…and I was in love at some point,” Obi-wan smirked, knowing that would get a reaction. The intended one as she looked at him with wonder and eyes sparkling, testing her as he entered first, “But that’s a conversation for another time.”

Catra pouted with a huff, crossing her arms, “No fair.”

Once both of them were inside, Obi-wan closed the hatch to change atmospheric pressure allowing them to safely remove the space-flight suits; with their usual attire underneath. Catra closed her eyes and listened for droids beyond the doorway, signaling it was safe to pass through.

They chose the access hatch at the top of the ship because it was located near the detention level, where Anakin was likely contained. The reason was to remain entirely stealthy until after they rescued him, as the objective would change at that point.

Silently jogging down the hallway towards the cells, a droid was operating the terminals that powered the door forward; a second droid had already passed the doorway. Obi-wan and Catra stepped out of cover slowly, realizing the droid wouldn’t notice, and sped quickly across and inside as it closed behind them.

“Now, to find out which room he’s in,” Obi-wan whispered as they slowed to a stroll, not wanting to alert the droid ahead of them.

Catra’s ears twitched trying to listen, but plenty of cells filled, so she tried a tactic, “Um, excuse me, do you know where they’re keeping the Jedi?”

“The Jedi is located in one of the cells on the right further ahead,” The droid answered happily, as if bored, as it turned to face them. Staring confused as he scratched his metallic head, “Wait a minute-”

Obi-wan had pulled the droid towards them with the force, slicing its head off with his lightsaber. Then, crossing his arms a little amused and a raised eyebrow at Catra, “Thought you were my padawan? When did you learn these things from Anakin?”

“I know patience is a thing we practice, but probably not the best time for it,” Catra smirked, light reflecting off her fangs. Shrugging as she walked forward, “Can you admit it was clever at least?”

“I shouldn’t have to. But, clearly, it was.” Obi-wan smiled.

Further down, it seemed the cells were less empty based on the feeling in the force; as Obi-wan opened the door to one cell, Anakin wasn’t inside, but two maybe smugglers. They held two datapads which either had been provided, or they somehow snuck them inside, staring at the pair when the door hissed open.

“Don’t bother to get up,” Obi-wan warned them as they prepared to pounce; from the way they crouched, “You’re not the prisoner we’re looking for.”

Catra closed the door as they attempted to escape, hearing a thud on the other side from them running into it, “Maybe we’ll have better luck with door number two.”

“Don’t jinx it now,” Obi-wan chuckled, heading for the next switch.

When the second cell hissed opened, it appeared to be empty inside, but the feeling Catra and Obi-wan felt with the Force suggested otherwise. Obi-wan held his hand for Catra to hang by the door as he walked inside first to inspect the so it seemed empty cell; scuffling against the roof alerted them both.

As a figure dropped down from the roof, Catra activated her lightsaber and pointed it to the figure’s back, while Obi-wan switched his on as he twisted around. Anakin held his hands up in mock surrender as he realized who it was, “Oh, it’s you.”

“This how you thank us for rescuing you,” Obi-wan deactivated his saber and reattached it to his belt, pulling off another, “Pounce on me from the ceiling?”

“I’m clearly outmatched with both of you, and it’s kind of difficult without a….” Anakin stopped when Obi-wan held out his lightsaber, having kept it safe while on the mission, “Lightsaber. Thanks.”

“Glad I used my lightsaber instead of Ventress’s. It would of probably confused you.” Catra did the same, using her tail to hold onto it for now.

Anakin pet her head with a laugh, “Nah, besides, you don’t look anything like her.”

“I would hope not.” Catra shivered.

“Did you manage to locate Dooku before landing in jail?” Obi-wan questioned as they left the cell.

“Well, I know he’s on board,” Anakin responded as he and Catra followed Obi-wan, “I might have been able to do something about it if I’d had my weapon.”

“Wasn’t it the plan for your capture to seem genuine? A lightsaber would have made it look staged.” Catra grinned with a laugh, not bothered by the look he gave her, “What? It’s true.”

“Oh, they were convinced, all right. But how come I’m the one getting caught all the time? It doesn’t look good,” Anakin wondered while he gestured to Catra, “You do have another padawan to fill in that role.”

“I don’t have the acting skills for that. My strengths are stealth and subtlety,” Catra tapped her claw against Anakin’s armored chest, tail swaying behind her. Then, dodging a swipe with no heat, “You, not so much.”

Anakin acted offended, placing a hand on his chest in mock pain, “I can be those things when I want to.”

“Unfortunately, that’s rarely at all, so I mostly rely on Catra for those missions. Besides, when you’re a Jedi Master, you can make the plan.” Obi-wan interrupted, indicating whose side he was in, a smile on his face.

“That’s just it,” Anakin focused on that point, “How can I become a Jedi Master if I’m always getting caught?”

“At least you’re a master at getting caught.” Obi-wan joked.

Catra covered her mouth to contain a snicker while Anakin rolled his eyes, “Very funny.”

Anakin took the lead as he knew where Count Dooku was roughly located, and Catra felt nervous. She’s heard about the Separatist leader a lot from stories back in the temple or from Obi-wan and Anakin mentioning him, but it was different as she was about to see him with her own eyes.

Padme had spoken about him as well, and during the first mission being new padawans for Obi-wan and Anakin, Ahsoka nearly encountered the Count himself when trying to return Jabba’s son. She could sense the dark side of the force emanating from a room ahead, feeling she knew who it was.

Catra stayed behind Obi-wan and Anakin as the door opened, revealing Dooku in a meditative state at the center of the room. Honestly, Catra thought he’d be more terrifying; then again, looks aren’t everything.

“Surprise, surprise,” Anakin’s lightsaber activated as he kept his distance, wary of Dooku.

Obi-wan’s lightsaber switched on simultaneously, “if it isn’t Count Dooku.”

“Obi-Wan Kenobi. I thought I sensed an unpleasant disturbance in the Force,” Dooku addressed them without opening his eyes as he kept meditating. Dooku’s head turned in Anakin’s direction, “I see you freed young Skywalker. Where might he be if you weren’t always around to rescue him? And if I’m not mistaken, this is your new padawan who stole Ventress’s lightsaber.”

“If she wanted it, she should have kept a better eye on it,” Catra muttered before covering her mouth; she had intended to remain silent in his presence and let the others do the talking. Then, positioning herself behind Obi-wan, “I-I mean….”

“Indeed,” Dooku interrupted, feeling only a slight amount of pity, his eyes opening as explosions rocked the ship. Then, his gaze focused on Obi-wan, “You have an amusing Padawan, Obi-wan.”

“Your ship is surrounded, count,” Anakin revealed as he moved into his preferred stance, prepared for a duel, “Republic troops are boarding as we speak.”

“Jedi fools,” Dooku grumbled before the floor opened underneath him, having planned his escape in advance.

“You know, we should have seen that coming.” Catra stared at the opening, feeling a sense of relief.

“Agreed, you’d think we’d be used to this by now,” Obi-wan moved for the door before noticing Anakin going for the opening, “What are you doing?”

“Following him,” Anakin responded quickly.

“Not that way,” Obi-wan shook his head. The ship rocked a bit more, “We need to cut him off.”

“You cut him off,” Anakin jumped down, yelling as he went, “I’ll follow him and meet you at the hanger.”

“Why do I even try? At least you listen to me, Catra,” Obi-wan gestured for her to follow as they sprinted out of the room for the hanger, “How do you feel after meeting the count?”

Catra thought silently for a few seconds as she gripped her lightsaber, fur rustling from the wind as they ran, “Terrifying at first, but I didn’t expect him to be an old man.”

“Stories are often exaggerated about him,” Obi-Wan admitted.

Master and Padawan raced quickly down the long hallways of the frigate while avoiding as much contact with the enemy droids, who were probably panicking at having the ship fired on. From Obi-wan’s experience of boarding vessels of this type before, it didn’t take them that long to reach the hanger.

Just in time to witness Dooku escape in his Solar Sailer with a few Vulture droids tailing behind to provide him protection. Catra spied a shuttle nearby, sprinting towards it, “I thought Anakin would have at least delayed him.”

“In hindsight, we shouldn’t have stopped to question his decision. Otherwise, we could have cut him off.” Obi-wan matched his speed with hers.

The shuttle’s ramp had already descended as droids were protecting it inadequately. As Catra simply sliced the head of one as she rushed inside while Obi-wan deflected the other’s blaster fire back into it. On the bridge were two seats, with Obi-wan sitting on the right and Catra on the left.

Obi-wan started flipping switches and pressing buttons as the hum of the ship was felt, looking over at her, “Ready for a flying lesson?”

“With great reluctance, there’s a difference being a personal star-fighter and a shuttle,” Catra commented while Obi-wan directed her to which parts of the console she needed to flip on. Then, grabbing the steering to slowly lift the shuttle, it swayed at her attempts, “We also need to wait for Anakin.”

“Waits over, go!” Anakin ran onto the bridge after ensuring the ramp and doors had shut.

“I thought you were following Dooku,” Obi-wan stated, leaning back from a slight jolt as Catra pushed forward, and the shuttle started to move.

“I was,” Anakin gripped the back of their seats, keeping himself steady, “I followed him here.”

“They’re closing the hanger doors!” Catra gulped as the shuttle sped towards the exit as blaster fire zoomed past them, missing their ship. Catra didn’t dare look away as she flew, “What do I do?!”

“Just keep going,” Anakin remarked, placing his hand forward, guiding Catra’s wrist to turn the controls, “Turn enough that the top section won’t bang against the door.”

Catra’s ears laid flat as her grip tightened, watching as the doors were still dropping. Relief washed over her body as she passed through in time, knowing it wasn’t over yet as they chased after Dooku. At least one thing she should be able to manage was the gun systems.

“Ashoka, Dooku managed to escape,” Obi-wan spoke into the comm receiver on his vambrace, transmitting the message back to their ship, “We’re in pursuit, but we could use reinforcements; follow us in what ships you can round up. In other news, Catra’s piloting the shuttle we escaped in.”

“ We’ll get there as soon as we can, ” Ahsoka responded professionally at first before teasing came through, “ I wish I could be there to see the reaction on her face right now; Padme and Lonnie are going to hear about this as well. ”

“This is not helping me concentrate!” Catra’s fur fluffed as her cheeks turned red, pressing her claws down to blast at Dooku’s ship and the droids.

Anakin chuckled. It was pretty easy to tease Catra just by mentioning any of them, “Padme would definitely love the look on her face right now.”

Catra grumbled in embarrassment, claws pressing roughly as she shrieked, “Shut up!”

The next barrage of laser fire bypassed the vulture droids protecting Dooku’s ship and impacted against it, damaging it enough to leave a smoking trail as it was on a crashing course with the nearby planet. Anakin gave Catra a pat on the shoulder with a laugh, “See? That was easy.”

“Lucky for us, that Catra is an excellent shot.” Obi-wan praised, impressed with Catra’s marksmanship with any time of blaster, hand-held of ship based. He was a good shot himself, but admitted she was better.

“Yeah, I hit the only ship that cound’t fire back,” Catra rolled her eyes but hiding a purr from the praise, the shuttle under fire now, “But now those fighters are attacking.”

Obi-wan pressed the tiggers of his controls, attempting to shoot them down, “I’m on it.”

“Uh,” Anakin watched as the vulture was manuovering through Obi-wan’s shots, “He’s getting too close.”

Catra joined in with blasting as they managed to take out the one in the front as the next two flew out of their path; the last one other impacted against the side of their shuttle with an explosion. Giving them the same fate as they too were now on a crashing course for the planet; at least they’d catch up with Dooku.

“How about a challenge for your flying lesson?” Anakin joked as the ship rocked, his grip tightened on their chairs, “Try and land a crashing ship.”

“This is not the type of challenge I’m excited for!” Catra gritted her teeth as she pulled back, trying to level the shuttle as they entered the atmosphere. Her tail flicked the switch for the landing legs to open up, “I’m not an excellent pilot!”

The shuttle connected with the ground at a not fatal position as they began to skid. Obi-wan caught himself on the console after a bump, “Despite that, at least your landing kept us out of harm.”

“Which wouldn’t have happened at all if you managed to hit that fight,” Anakin commented, nearly flying back as the shuttle spun around as it skid; all the friction against the ground finally slowed it to a stop.

Catra had guessed correctly with them catching up to Dooku as his ship was grounded not too far from them, which she noticed after exiting the shuttle, had been abandoned with haste. She stretched her arms after leaving the shuttle as they felt stiff; a whine left her mouth as she did, breathing in the fresh air, “Not how I expected my first flying lesson to go.”

“All things considered, it wasn’t that bad,” Obi-wan dusted his clothes after landing beside her, “Now, only if we can get you to fly your starfighter instead.”

Anakin pointed past them, towards Dooku’s ship, “Dooku.”

On guard as they approached the ship to inspect it, Catra’s ears twitched as she heard a steady beeping the closer they got. Gravitating towards the source, spotting a circular device flashing yellow, she was familiar with its design, “A homing beacon.”

“Which means the distinguished count is waiting for help.” Anakin grinned; it seemed this could be the moment they caught him, “So he can’t be far off.”

Obi-wan crouched down as he pressed his hand against the ship, checking the damage, “Catra damaged his engine. He’s not going anywhere.”

“Huh, even I’m impressed with my shooting sometimes,” Catra blinked a little, strolling beside Obi-wan as he moved away, “But are you sure he can’t escape?”

“Not without a homing beacon,” Anakin responded as his lightsaber destroyed the device, the beeping silenced.

“So we destroyed his chance of receiving help,” Catra nodded as she scanned the landscape; it might have been grey, but the shine on the surface ad the mountains made up for its beauty. Well, as much as there was, “Now we just need to find him…where exactly?”

“There,” Obi-wan pointed to the mountain, a cave opening was seen, “Caves are a good start.”

“Let’s just not get lost in them.” Catra shivered, mostly reminded of when she nearly got lost on Ilum.

The group approached the mouth of the cave, the Force flowed through them; Anakin was the one to voice their thoughts, “Strange.”

“You sense it too,” Obi-wan confirmed as they stared into the darkness, as the star's light could get so far.

“Many lifeforms are roaming these caves,” Catra nodded. Her nose twitched as the scent of at least one lifeform was overwhelming, as if there were multiple of the same creature.

Anakin turned on his lightsaber, allowing the blue glow to light their way as they entered, “And Dooku’s one of them.”

“Let’s try to get him before something else does,” Obi-wan followed Anakin’s example and switched his on, facing Catra, “Anything in particular we should be worried about?”

“I’ve never encountered the creatures on this planet, whatever planet it is,” Catra held her own up to allow the light to hit the ceiling, observing carefully, “But, mainly carnivores.”

It felt oddly quiet other than their footsteps echoing around the large cavern and the hum of the lightsabers, avoiding a few large drops where the ground was hidden by mist. Whatever creatures lived within the cave were far off according to Catra’s hearing, but she found it unreliable in caves where sounds bounce off the walls for miles.

As they entered a small section, Catra stopped as she heard a crack, looking around in alarm. Obi-wan also noticed and halted in his tracks, “What do you hear?”

It took only a few seconds as the crumbling started, and a rock fell out of place to alert them, “The roof is collapsing!”

“Run!” Obi-wan urged her forward with haste, with the only one not reacting in time was Anakin as rocks blocked them off.