The Runaway {Hunter} (WATTYS 2022)

Chapter 20

"I think we should stay here until morning." Cora offered to General Jax Uptem.

The General nodded, his hand on his dark peppered beard. "That might be wise. Another force is bound to move in."

The red head turned to the General and nodded, his Captain approached the two and took off his helmet, exposing his ever impressive tattoo across his face.

The clone never had a tattoo when they first met. Lark only got a tattoo to match Cora. She had a scar going down her face on her right side. It was from her forehead and went down towards the corner of her lip. The scar had its own story but once Captain Lark and General Jax met up for another mission, Cora hated the scar. It reminded her of how she got it and she didn't feel beautiful anymore. Lark, a close friend saw this and decided to finally get a tattoo to match the Senator. Matching the same line, he got a tattoo of her scar down his face. Now, every time she saw it, Cora knew that it was okay. That the scar was something that brought them closer together, even though he wasn't around when she got it.

She was close with Captain Lark. He went on many mission with Cora, the two did the best stealth operations in the Grand Republic Army. They were both called to Mora after Jedi forces were called across many planets. They needed all the help they could get. She was as close with Lark as she was Rex.

There was a sense of closure in the air. As if everyone knew the war was going to end soon. There had been word that Count Dooku was dead, and General Kenobi was close to capturing General Grievous.

"General, Senator." Lark nodded to the two. "Forces are ready whenever you give the word."

"Thank you Captain." General Jax nodded. "We've decided to stand our ground until more forces come."

Lark looked at Cora. "Very well, Sir."

"Any word from Rex?" Cora asked Lark before he turned away.

"I'm not sure, Senator. But I will let you know once I've found his posting."

"Thank you, Lark." Cora smiled as did Lark. His comm went off, causing him to turn away and place his helmet back on his head.

"When was the last time you heard from Captain Rex?" General Jax asked as he crossed his arms.

"Anaxes." She said, looking to Lark as his back was turned to her, the light of his comm lit the beaten purple on his armour. She was unable to hear the conversation or see who he was talking with.

"Well if word is correct," Jax smiled, "You'll soon see him."

Cora looked away from Lark as he put his comm away, chuckling. "He has to survive wherever he is first."

Jax smiled to her, something he always did when she joked. Many of the Jedi's felt stiff, or uptight. But Jax was different. He didn't have a padawan. He was about the same age as Cora when the war started, and she served with him on her first mission. Captain Lark, General Jax and Senator Cora were the team of undercover operations. They were the intelligence team for going behind enemy lines and collecting information. It was their specialty. Cora very much enjoyed the company of the dark haired Jedi.

It looked like he had aged many years since she returned from Anaxes. His beard was peppered with grey and his eyes were tired. His army, with Captain Lark, was the 603rd, their armour painted purple and each one with something unique on their helmet. For a typical group of clones, the Jedi were their General. But Jedi master Jax Uptem treated Cora less like a Senator and more like a General as well. She didn't have the same power as he did, but she was respected very highly by the 603rd. She treated them with an equal amount of love and respect.