A.N.

Terribly sorry for the long delay. I had gaps that needed filling to expand the series and, of course, a job to attend to.

Chapter 9 - A taste for Revenge

The atmosphere on Toledo dampened as the sun began to rise.

Life there since the fighting ended did not go back to normal as Forn had hoped. There was a constant sense of…despair in the Force. Like the aroma of death that lingered on. As though the ghosts of all who died here, clones and droids, haunted the battlefields and urged the fighting to continue, begging for revenge. He tried to ignore that and noted the thick humid air was not too kind on the droids who were gathered with him in the courtyard of the Separatist fortress. It was a mighty tower planted on the mountainside and surrounded by walls and bunkers.

Forn straightened and tugged his Jedi tunic. He cursed at himself for not getting cleaned up from the mud and grime before he arrived here, but it was too late for that now. Collecting his nerves, he watched with growing anxiety as the shuttle settled on the platform in front of him.

"Don't embarrass me, Jedi." Darjeeling hissed through his snout from beside him.

Forn's eyes squinted, "As of today I'm no longer a Jedi." A boarding ramp slid out from the shuttle and touched the muddy platform. Count Dooku gracefully stepped off, followed by his many aids, mostly well dressed aliens from parts unknown. He inspected the battledroids surrounding the platform as he marched over to his waiting subjects.

The Rodian bowed first, "It is a great honor to have you here, Count."

"This had better not be a waste of my time." Dooku said in a tone that echoed with elegance. His beard was rugged and it became apparent the stresses of war made their marks on his distinctive wrinkles, but regardless his energetic behavior resonated with power and his fancy garbs were a testimony of his wealth.

"I assure you, my lord." Darjeeling straightened and smirked, "Your investment on Toledo will pay off."

Forn lowered his gaze when Dooku shifted towards him, "We shall see."

Padme was just beyond that door. Anakin didn't care how many senators were in there as well, this would be the first time he'd see her in two months. It slid open as he walked in. The spacious office gleamed under the sunset outside the window, which shielded his vision from the seated politicians who now turned their attention to the intrusion.

"Excuse me, senators." Anakin said as his gaze fell on Padme getting up behind her desk, surprised and smiling.

"Welcome back," She greeted with a fading smile, "General Skywalker."

Three delegates sat on finely decorated and comfortable chairs opposite her desk, dressed in the most exotic attire. He recognized one as Bail Organa, but he wasn't sure about the other two. He assumed one of them was a Merialan.

He cleared his throat, "May I have a moment, please? In private."

Padme rolled her eyes, and the delegates shifted their attention towards her. "I don't know," She shuffled her datapads and flimsies together, "There's a lot of work for me to go through."

"This is important, Senator." Anakin insisted, and now their gazes were fixed on him, "It's about the war."

Bail quirked his brow and Anakin cursed himself. Of course it was about the war, they're all here about the war, he quickly added, "A-a-and the Jedi. Oh, and the clones too. Very urgent!"

Padme pursed her lips, "Well, if you put it that way."

An outburst of sighs and grunts erupted from where the delegates were sat, Padme chimed in, "My apologies senators. He did say it was urgent."

"Oh yes," Anakin walked around them, "And it greatly concerns the security of Naboo and its people."

After they reluctantly got out of their seats and left the office, Anakin couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt arising in his chest, pounding at him for delaying what could've been a genuine emergency for these people…but that guilt quickly faded away when his eyes fell back on Padme.

"So," She walked around her desk with a widening smile, which quickly transformed to a cheerful laugh as she leapt into his arms and he lifted her and spun her across the room.

Suddenly the months of war, the days of conflict, bitter cold, and the burning galaxy that awaited him just outside this room all washed away with the simple few seconds he had already spent in the presence of his beloved.

No meditation could do this. Not a single discipline of the Jedi's teachings could ever do this to him. This was magic. This was something of legends long gone. A power he could seek for eons travelling across the galaxy and never, ever find.

Wars are fought over this. He fought over this. It's what he really wanted at the end of it all, they can have their treasures, they can have their superweapons and seats of power…but this, no. They can never have this. This was special.

Finally, they both settled and he leaned his back against the wall, looking into her eyes.

"You haven't changed a bit." She said.

"You have." He replied, with a teasing smile and she responded with a frown.

"I have?"

"You've grown." He added, "More beautiful, I mean."

She slapped him on the shoulder, which made him laugh, "You're so gullible."

She flushed, "I'm a politician Anakin, you should be the gullible one."

Anakin sighed painfully; the truth in her words struck him like a blaster bolt. He was gullible, to the betrayal of his friend, that is.

"What's wrong?" She asked, concern showing in her eyes.

"I won't be staying here for long." He explained and her shoulders slumped, he put his hands around her and continued, "We fell for a trap on Toledo. I doubt the chancellor will want to ignore the threat the Separatists pose on that planet. We need to capture Darjeeling."

"Darjeeling?" She frowned, "Whose he?"

"A Rodian scientist." He answered, "And a mad one at that. The Separatists have been funding his research for years and he finally found a way to weaponize the chemicals he used. Rumor has it he's destroyed planets before now."

She shook her head in disgust, "Where do they find these people?"

His frown tightened as his gaze fell to one side, "Captain Rex was killed."

Padme staggered at the news, "Oh no…Anakin, I'm so sorry."

She put her hands on his cheeks and pulled his gaze towards her, "I know he meant a lot to you."

"He was a true soldier, Padme. Always remember that." He put his hands on hers and lowered them, "Remember that."

She nodded.

"He was one of a kind. A clone, but a Mandalorian at heart. His virtues were never too far from ours. Darjeeling will pay."

"Anakin…"

"This is not about revenge, my love." Anakin interrupted, "It's about evening the score."

"Sounds a lot like revenge to me." She smirked.

He returned the smile, "From a certain point of view, maybe."

At last they drew close enough for their lips to meet. But despite the kiss, Anakin's mind was in conflict. Perhaps Padme was right; perhaps he was after revenge.

Deception had a way of staining its victim's heart. It had a particular sting to it that lasted for an agonizing long time, and it would return twofold when your mind thinks back on it. You realize that you were fooled…that you are still the fool. And suddenly revenge becomes the only means to find honor.

He would restrain himself from it if it had not cost him the life of good men. Men he fought with, men he struggled with, men who deserved a better fate. Rex deserved a better fate.

Revenge, for once, sounds like the right thing to do, because he can never forgive Forn. He will never forgive him.

"We have to do this." Anakin finally added thoughtfully as he drew away from the kiss, "It's only fair."

Padme's smile faded and she nodded.

"I am Captain Terrace, sir." The clone saluted while Ahsoka watched in mock interest, "Decorated officer of the Republic with over fifty combat missions and was the commanding officer during the Battle of Cardooine."

Ahsoka flinched, "Didn't we lose that battle?"

The trooper stammered, "Yes. Yes, we did, sir. But we did put up a strong resistance."

"I heard you retreated as soon as Master Kowetta was killed." She scoffed.

"Not true, sir." He shook his head swiftly, "We followed our strategy to the letter. It was an organized withdrawal."

She crossed her arms, "What's the difference?"

"Retreat insinuates an unorganized withdrawal."

Ahsoka twitched then planted her face in her palms. She was missing Rex already. She had shed many tears upon hearing the loss in her prison cell, and the guilt of turning her back on him after everything they'd been through still hasn't gone, but she wondered how Cody would take this news. Not well, she presumed.

Suddenly, a familiar Force presence prompted her to turn around.

"Hello there!" Obi Wan's smile was like watching a sunrise clear away the rain clouds.

"Master Kenobi!" She cheered and bowed according to discipline, "You have no idea how much we missed you."

He returned the bow with a laugh, "The pleasure's all mine, my dear, I assure you."

Obi Wan's attention shifted to the clone stepping in beside her, "And who might you be?"

"Captain Terrace, assuming command of the 501st, General!" He barked then stomped his feet together with his chest pumped out.

Obi Wan blinked, "I see."

He lowered his face towards Ahsoka, "And Rex?"

Ahsoka shrunk and shook her head sadly.

Come over by a veil of grief, Obi Wan straightened and looked to one side. He shut his eyes and whispered a prayer to himself, then said, "Does Cody know?"

She shook her head.

He nodded, turned and began to walk away when Ahsoka called after him, "Where are you going?"

"To find Anakin." He said as he carried on walking, "And break the news to Commander Cody."

"Do you really think it's a good idea?" she grimaced.

He stopped and faced her, "Ahsoka, he needs to know, and sooner rather than later. If this news should cripple him then better let it now than in the middle of combat where he might get killed as well."

She sighed and nodded. And as he walked off she found herself fighting back the thoughts of losing another friend to this war. Telling Cody will be difficult, and she admired him for having the courage to do so, because there was no way she was going to be there when that happens. She just couldn't face the guilt.

Overlooking a luscious jungle, Count Dooku stood beside Darjeeling over the cliffside and watched a bulky hovercraft move over the canopies.

Darjeeling wore a serious frown; in his hand he held a remote device and stroked it with much anxiety. Then he pressed a button.

The hovercraft unleashed a powerful stream of smoke, which instantly swallowed the trees in a wide parameter before evaporating. Nothing but ash and dust was left exploding over the mountain they stood on and disappearing with the wind.

Dooku wrinkled his nose, "I am impressed, Commander."

He turned to face him, "Your experiments have developed rapidly since we last met. There may be a use for them in the Droid Army after all. Tell me…how did you improve your formula?"

Darjeeling's round bug eyes never left the devastation he wrought, "Dried Kluurf leaves was all it took, my lord Dooku. Their power over midichlorians is essential for the decomposition of life."

Dooku's eyes slanted, "Very good. Very good."

The Rodian looked at him and scoffed, "Not good enough yet. I still lack the funds to perfect this as a weapon. I've come a long way to abandon it at this stage now. Then, when it is ready I will test it."

Dooku narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze curiously, "Surely the weapon is primed for combat by now."

He shook his head, "I'm not concerned about combat. This weapon was built for one purpose and one purpose only."

"You seek to destroy Elkadar?" Dooku suggested.

It took a moment for Darjeeling to respond, but the answer was there, "I vowed, my lord. I vowed I would."

"I have no concerns for personal vendettas. If you must destroy it to test your project then do as you will, just as long as you report to me prior to your preparations."

"Of course."

Dooku took steps away from the cliffside until he stopped and turned around. He watched the Rodian stare at the destruction ahead of him- and could almost taste the sourness in his heart, "May I ask, what is it about Elkadar that matters to you so much?"

The Rodian's head sank slightly, but no reply came. Dooku had an attuned ability to sense emotions, but he only had the skill to manipulate them into combat and aggression, never to encourage or relax.

He realized he would probably never get the answer out of him and so simply turned and walked away.

The Resolute's bridge was quieter than he'd ever been used to.

Admiral Yularen had spent years on board this vessel, serving with the same people without setting foot on soil or breathing natural atmospheric air for many, many days in sequence. Sure, he have lost members of crew occasionally when they had to fend against a boarding party or when they'd be transferred for one reason or other, but the fact remains- he was always there.

Admittedly, he's grown attached to this ship. He would find himself caressing its chrome railings or sighing wondrously out the viewport while staring at its hull as the memories of his daring engagements flashed back to him in his mind.

He'd have these moments particularly before battle. And now was one of those moments. He realized that dread was a key factor in the added silence among the crew. News had arrived of a larger Separatist fleet reinforcing Toledo, so large that it is said Dooku himself could probably be on the surface.

And he understood the loss of Captain Rex must've put a greater toll on their anxieties.

There's nothing more demoralizing to an army than the defeat of a legend. Particularly when that legend was embodied in a man, a soldier, a leader who held the army's standard and raised it high in the heat of battle for all to follow in his step. Yes, General Skywalker maybe a greater hero in their eyes, but losing Rex had affected him too.

He might not admit it, but everyone knew. They expected him to say some words, to show some recognition at least, but they got nothing. That disappointed them, and it disappointed him. It was not a sign of good leadership. It was a sign of weakness.

"Admiral." Anakin finally spoke quietly, "Deploy the fleet. We're going back for Toledo."

Yularen's narrow eyes remained fixed at him for a moment. He waited for further instructions, or maybe, he waited for something else, he wasn't sure, "Yes sir."

Yularen turned to the deck officer below and nodded a confirmation towards him. The deck officer saluted and proceeded to the crew surrounding him.

Moments later the stars transformed into streaks of light and The Resolute, along with the many vessels bearing its flag, vanished into the depths of terrestrial darkness.

Trivia:

1- This was the first time I mentioned Elkadar, but it will not be the last.

2- Captain Terrace makes his first appearance here. His absence in Council of Love and Beacons of the Ancients suggests that you need to read the follow up to this story to find out what happens to him.

A.N.

A special thanks to Alexii for proofreading this chapter for me.

And thanks all of the following for their reviews and encouragement: newfoundspartan, inu'ika217, pellinorfanatic, autobotgirl12328, Tenkan, Sacred White Phoenix, Master Vash, powerstaark and Major Mike Powell III.

The end of this chapter is near, and followers of Beacons of the Ancients can look forward to an update soon as well!