Jedi and Clone

Prologue

Geonosis: 22 BBY
Petranaki Arena
Irel Kirsi

Gunships screamed overhead and blasters were smoking from discharged rounds. Irel drew her lightsaber out of a battle droid and moved on to the next. The hot Geonosian sun radiated waves of heat onto the battlefield.

She didn't know where the clones had come from. All she knew was Master Yoda had arrived with them and that the galaxy was going to change, possibly forever. The gunships were stopping and picking up Jedi from the battlefield.

Irel changed direction and ran towards one of the gunships. She launched herself inside as it took off. The battlefield below was now devoid of Jedi. "We've been ordered to stop any Separatist ships from leaving the planet," one of the clones was saying to her former master, Saesee Tiin.

"When you get close enough to the ships, use the rockets and torpedos and aim for the fuel cells. Tell your gunners to fire on them as well," Saesee ordered.

"Yes, sir." The clone ducked back into the cockpit.

Irel finished wrapping a wound on her arm and stood as Saesee approached her. "You fought well," he said.

"Not really. My form was bad and my kills were sloppy," Irel replied.

"You'll learn that in battle, you won't have time for technique. You'll be focused on the objective."

"Do you really think it's going to come to war?" Irel glanced out the side of the gunship. One nearby burst into flames and crashed into the ground.

"I'm afraid so. This war has been a long time in the making. We've just pushed it over the edge," Saesee replied.

"This whole thing feels wrong, Master."

"It is wrong, but sometimes to do the right thing, we must do the wrong thing first."

"You still make no sense, Master," Irel said with a smile.

"And you still call me master." Saesee headed to the front of the ship as they approached the Separatist airfields.

Irel lifted a hand to a spot behind her right ear, where her hair was shorter than the others. It had begun to grow back, but the short singed ends still served as a reminder that she was a very young Jedi. At least I don't have to worry about being placed in charge of a legion yet, she thought with relief.

The airfields were upon them. Irel stood and braced herself as the Clone War erupted around her.