Accismus⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.• Anakin Skywalker⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.•

24.

Sol and Obi-wan didn't have the moment to spend celebrating at their slaying when they were pulled back into battle at the sounds of blasters. Sol reared her wrist around to rotate her lightsaber and ran at different droids, slicing through them from above and below. She let the Force take hold and was a blur, cutting through droids of all kinds as they attacked in their rows.

But the Jedi numbers were thinning, and it wasn't long until the remaining had been forced back-to-back. A circle of remaining warriors formed and were surrounded by the droid army, their blasters aimed and ready to genocide the rest of the Jedi Order. Sol stuck close to Obi-wan throughout the fight and ended up next to him in the huddle, only glancing to her left at the sensing of a familiar, comforting Force signature. Anakin stood with a green lightsaber in hand and with Padme by his side with a stolen blaster. Sol resisted the urge to let her feelings spill in front of the Order and settled for a restrained smile, which the Skywalker returned with a twinge of relief at seeing her alive.

'Master Windu!' Count Dooku boomed and the Jedi looked up to the archducal box. The white-haired man stood over the arena with a microphone droid surrounding him to amplify his voice. At the silence, Sol glanced to Master Windu, who glared up at the ex-Jedi who had annihilated nearly half of his army.

'You have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the history archives of the Jedi Order. Now, it is finished,' Dooku feigned a kind look down at the surrounded Jedi. 'Surrender, and your lives will be spared.'

'We will not be hostages for you to barter with, Dooku,' Master Windu said solidly, and if he had been addressing anybody else, they would have faltered under his piercing stare. But Count Dooku looked unaffected and was expecting the hostile answer. He stared at the group that had once been his close company and felt no sympathy at their destined fates.

'Then I'm sorry, old friend, you will have to be destroyed.'

Droids armed their blasters and aimed at individual Jedi. Sol held her lightsaber out in one hand with her other by her side, resisting the urge to quiver in fear. It wasn't the Jedi way to fear death, especially while in battle beside fellow Jedi, but Sol couldn't help it. If everyone was executed in the arena, there would be no Jedi left to continue the Order. The Force would be unbalanced, and the galaxy would be in darkness until the light somehow returned.

In a moment of comfort, smooth fingers brushed against the palm of Sol's hand. She jumped but didn't turn her head when she sensed the orange glow of Anakin by her side. He was close, with his shoulder brushing against hers and his hand encasing her free one in a tight hold. Anakin glared at the droids in front of them and resisted the urge to shuffle in front of Sol's smaller frame to take whatever blows were fired first. But he settled with the way her hand felt in his and took the time to enjoy how Sol's slender fingers sat in his hold, as if made to be held by his larger hand.

'Don't be afraid,' he said through the Force and Sol swallowed dryly.

'Only if you'll stay with me,' she replied and stared at the blasters aimed at their chests.

'Until my heart fails me from your absence.'

Sol was shocked to hear Anakin's intense words but remained still. She hadn't expected such sincere and attached words to leave him even in the spiritual realm, but she supposed that it was the end of their lives, and he was letting everything out in his final moments. Sol pressed her lips together and readied herself to give her last fight.

'Look!'

Padme's call made everyone turn to the senator to see her neck craned upwards. Following suit, Sol looked up and saw a ship blocking the sun's harsh beam. The belly of the ship drew closer as it descended into the arena and a cluster of blasts were dispensed into the droids below. As the ship landed, the group of Jedi looked to see the ship's hull carrying none other than Grand Master Yoda, and an army of armoured men.

The men in white and blue army rallied into the arena and took on the droids that initiated in battle with the newcomers. Jedi were able to re-enter the fight with reinforcements and more ships docked as possible getaways for the remainder of the army.

'Come on!' Master Yoda called over the blaster fire to the Jedi. 'Hurry! Hurry!'

Sol was one of the few who made is into the ship's hull through the battle. Another ship had lowered into the arena to gather more Jedi to take them to safety, while keeping their own division of armoured men. Droids were slayed left and right before the new army retreated into the ships' hulls to be airlifted, leaving the arena at last.

Sol sheathed her lightsaber and took hold of a loop that hung from the ceiling to steady herself. She caught the white attire of Padme who stood nearby and leaned over to speak to the senator.

'Are you okay, Padme?' she called over the sound of engine and rushing wind.

'Only heartbroken from my ruined outfit.'

Sol resisted a laugh as the senator turned to show her the three scratch marks that drew blood from her back. Her white shirt was ripped, and its sleeves were uneven, but Padme's concern over the ruined fabric told Sol that she wasn't harmed. Sol wanted to embrace the young woman, but held back when her gaze landed on Master Yoda, who was sat watching her from the corner of the hull.

'Far, you have already come, my young Padawan,' Master Yoda's croaky voice carried into Sol's ears. The wind didn't seem to distort the green Master's voice and Sol straightened her shoulders at being addressed.

'It's good to see you are well, Master,' she said in politeness. Even though Sol had loosened her manners in the past week with Anakin and Padme, they resumed like normal in the presence of her Master.

'Well, in physique, I am. But troubled in the mind, I am also,' Master Yoda hummed and Sol bit her lip, looking around at the armoured men who flew the ship and held their blasters near in the hull. 'Who is this new army, Master?'

'Clones, they are,' he answered. 'Master Kenobi found them on Kamino made for the Order. Of use, they have proven to be.'