Teth — Upper Cliffside PerimeterSeparatist Defensive Station, Outer Wall of the Monastery
Inside the separatist gun tower, the air was thick with static and oil. B1 battle droids clattered to and fro, manning turbolaser controls and perimeter sensors. Outside, jungle mists drifted over the cliff's edge — a steep drop to the forest floor below.
A skeletal B1 droid stepped forward, peering into the viewing scope as movement flashed in the clouds below.
"There's something coming."
Another droid approached, leaning toward the static-ridden monitor. "I can't make out what it is."
Behind them, the droid commander's photoreceptors narrowed. His voice ticked with synthetic tension.
"I don't like it. Prepare to attack."
A fourth droid raised a metallic hand in hesitation. "What if it's one of ours?"
"Shut up, Sergeant. I'm in command here!"
"Roger, roger."
Teth — Inbound Republic GunshipsAssault Formation Alpha, Approaching Cliffside
The lead gunship sliced through the mist, surrounded by five others, all banking low toward the canyon wall. Laser fire burst from the cliffs above, raining down in red streaks.
Inside, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano stood by the side hatch, lightsabers ready. Jason Shan knelt near the open ramp, visor down, scanning the cliff.
Anakin turned his head just slightly. "Stay close to me, if you can."
Ahsoka gave him a wry grin, adrenaline in her voice. "It won't be a problem, Master."
Anakin frowned. "This isn't practice, Ahsoka."
She rolled her eyes. "I know, and I'll try not to get you killed."
From the rear door, a clone's blaster barked, striking a spider droid down below.
"Good shot, boys!" Jason called.
Gunship Cockpit — Mid-Assault
The pilot twisted the yoke, dodging an incoming missile.
"Sir! We're taking heavy fire!"
Anakin leaned forward. "Close the blast shields, Lieutenant! Get us under those guns!"
"Yes, sir."
The gunship banked, engines roaring as they dove beneath the worst of the turret barrage.
"Here we go."
Clone Command Channel — Audio Static
A voice crackled over the comm. "Ridge, your com's gone static."
"Got it."
A red light pulsed above the door.
"Red light. Stand by."
The pilot's voice buzzed through the cabin.
"Welcome to paradise, rockjumpers."
The red light flicked green.
"Green light!"
"Go, go, go!" Anakin shouted.
The side doors blasted open.
"Move it! Move it!" Rex bellowed, leaping into the air as the clone troopers fired their ascension cables and soared out into the cliff face, grappling hooks sinking into stone.
"Watch it! Watch it!"
"Hurry!"
"Go, go, go!"
Cliffside — Separatist Defensive Position
Back at the Separatist lookout post, the droids swiveled their heads, servos clicking as they scanned the vertical wall. Blaster cannons lit up the sky, but their targets were elusive.
The droid commander pointed frantically to the canyon wall.
"Concentrate fire on Sector 11374265!"
Another droid added, "Just fire right there!"
The cannon crews complied, turrets adjusting—but the troopers were moving too fast, too precisely. Ascension cables launched. Grappling lines pulled troops into blind spots in the cliffs.
"Follow me!" the droid commander barked, climbing to a higher viewing perch.
But the fog was too thick. Clones disappeared between ledges and rock outcroppings.
"I can't see them."
"Where'd they go?"
"Oh, my God!" a droid shrieked as a lightsaber sliced through a firing port.
Blaster fire erupted below.
"Get back here, Sergeant!" the droid commander snapped, as the line began to collapse in panic.
Republic Forces — Cliff Wall Ascent
Meanwhile, Anakin grinned through the smoke. "So, this is where the fun begins."
Ahsoka pushed upward. "Race you to the top."
Jason fired his ascension cable beside them. "I'll give you a head start."
She kicked off the wall. "Your mistake."
"Ascension cables!" shouted a clone from below.
Ahsoka called, "I'm right behind you, Master!"
"Target those walkers!" Anakin yelled above the blaster storm.
"Gotta keep up!" Jason shouted, leaping two ledges in a sprint.
Ahsoka grinned through the chaos. "Hey! No fair!"
"Rex, follow me!"
"Yes, sir! Working on it!"
Farther below, another clone shouted into his comm. "Get this thing moving!"
From the monastery gates, droid squads poured out.
"Surrender, Jedi!"
Anakin snapped over his shoulder, "Blast it, Ahsoka, I told you to stay close to me!"
Ahsoka slid in beside him, panting. "I can't get much closer, Skyguy."
He smirked. "I knew you'd get here, Snips, eventually."
"Always in time to save your life."
A clone stepped up from the smoke, helmet dented.
"All clear, General."
Anakin nodded. "Nice work, Rex."
"Have some men look after the wounded."
"Roger that, sir."
Teth — Outer Courtyard, Abandoned Monastery
The smoke had cleared, but the tension hadn't.
Blaster-scarred walls rose like cliffs around the Republic strike team. A massive gate loomed ahead, its once-sacred threshold cracked and blackened. Beyond it, the ancient monastery awaited—its halls dark, its secrets buried beneath centuries of silence.
Anakin Skywalker stood just beyond the ruined blast doors, visor lifted, dust clinging to his armor. At his side, Ahsoka Tano rolled her shoulders, her twin sabers clipped back into place. Jason Shan, leaning against a collapsed support beam, checked the charge level on his saber hilt. Captain Rex, ever composed, paced nearby, scanning for signs of ambush.
Anakin's eyes narrowed as he looked into the stillness beyond the door.
"Too many droids here for them to be renegades." His voice was low, guarded. "I sense Count Dooku's hand in this."
He stepped forward, resting his palm on the ancient stone.
"Let's find Jabba's son and get outta here."
Ahsoka smirked and stretched her neck.
"No problem. The hard part's over."
Jason groaned softly and muttered, "I wish you wouldn't say that."
Ahsoka glanced around the decaying stonework, the walls cracked and draped in torn banners, their sigils long forgotten.
"I don't like this place. It gives me the creeps."
Jason stepped into the shadowed corridor, trailing a hand along the wall. "That's because everything in here feels wrong."
Ahsoka frowned, eyes narrowing. "This looks like one of those B'omarr monk monasteries......that I read about in my studies at the Temple."
"Monks?" Rex asked, raising a brow.
"Smugglers take these monasteries over..." Anakin continued, her voice half-whispered, half-recalling the passage. "...turn them into their own personal retreats."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "And the monks just let them?"
Anakin shrugged. "Smugglers usually get what they want one way or another."
They pressed farther into the main hall, shadows twisting around them.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the darkness — high-pitched, prim, and theatrical.
"Good guy or bad guy, Master?"
A figure stepped into view: a lanky, rusted caretaker droid, arms extended in a dramatic flourish. Its wide photoreceptors glowed yellow in the gloom.
"Who are you?" Anakin demanded, stepping forward.
The droid bowed deeply, servo joints creaking. "Merely the humble caretaker, O mighty sir.You have liberated me from those dreadful battle bots. I am most thankful."
Anakin didn't lower his weapon. "Where is the Hutt?"
The caretaker's voice dropped conspiratorially.
"The battle bots kept their prisoners on the detention level.I must warn you, it is very dangerous down there, my friend.Not a place for a servant girl."
Ahsoka scoffed and unclipped one of her sabers, igniting it with a snap-hiss.
"Do servant girls carry these?I am a Jedi Knight... or soon will be."
The caretaker immediately backpedaled, arms raised.
"A thousand apologies, young one."
Anakin turned to Rex, his voice all business.
"Captain, we'll get the Hutt. Stay here and keep your eyes open."
"Copy that, sir." Rex nodded, already signaling two troopers to secure the corridor.
The Jedi descended into the dark.