Rising Malevolence (Part 1)
Catra stood on the command deck of the republic cruiser known as “The Triumphant”, looking out towards the fiery red star known as Anza. Catra stared in awe having never seen so much bright red that wasn’t blood of creatures her tribe hunted,but it was beautiful in it’s own way. Clones chattered around her, working at their stations as she could hear one of them was a little distracted, sounding like he was listening to the Galactic radio but she didn’t say anything since she was guilty of the same thing.
Catra was sent here with Master Plo Koon at the order of her Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who wanted her to get some experience working well with other Jedi, and to see if she could sense anything not other alien species could, so here she was in the Abregado system helping to locate the mystery weapon.
“Koh-to-ya, little ‘ra,” greeted Master Plo appearing next to her, shaking her from her thoughts, realising she must have been even further out of it than normal.
“Koh-to-ya, Master Plo. Sorry I didn't notice you sooner, I was distracted.” Catra didn’t look away from the star, she always felt nervous when talking to Master Jedi, having only been around them for a while. Plo could sense her discomfort so he looked at the star as well..
“It’s because this time you’re without your Master.” Plo spoke already knowing the problem, Catra gave a small nod after a few seconds as her tail rested on the ground, “I can understand, I had those same feelings when I was a Padawan. After a while Padawans learn that it’s okay, but it’s different for each one.”
“I know Master Plo, I think I might be one of the Padawans who take longer to get used to it.” Catra’s ears twitched keeping her eyes on the star, her eyes focused a little as a large mass of a starship started to move in front of it, “I think we found the mystery weapon.”
“Indeed we have little one.” The ominous shape of a large cruiser lurked in the light of the star, a large circle sat in the middle of the shape, Catra guessed correctly that there was one on the other side. This cruiser made her legs wobble slightly, she couldn’t tell whether it was excitement or fear at the newest addition to the Separatists’ fleet. .. Her ears twitched, with one turn slightly to the left as she heard a clone walking up behind them.
“The enemy ship has reduced its speed, General”. Directly speaking with Plo, Catra figured out quickly that Jedi Knights or higher ranking were called Generals while Padawans were called Commanders… she thinks.
“They must have realised we are tracking them.” Both Plo and Catra didn’t look away from the ship as it slowed, it stopped right in front of the star, right in the centre from their view.
“I know they are the enemy, but I have to admit, that’s a cool sight.” Catra couldn’t really hold back her honest thoughts when it came to things she likes, which others could react differently depending on the situation, but Plo gave a soft gentle laugh at her reaction.
“The fleet is holding its position, sir.” The clone spoke again, Catra looked out of the corner of her eye to see it was Commander Wolffe, most clones looked and sounded the same, but when you look and listen closely you see the differences. But Catra still found it hard sometimes, it’s just there were so many clones and it was hard to keep track of them.
“I think it wise to report our position before we attack.” Plo turned towards Wolffe as Catra did the same, the three of them slowly walked back to the command console.
“Skywalker’s fleet is nearby, in the Bith system.” Wolffe followed just a little behind Plo, Catra knew clones didn’t see them and clones as equals, but she thinks otherwise as she walked beside him. From what Catra knew from Plo, even though that’s very little, he wouldn’t have minded if Wolffe walked beside him.
“Good. Perhaps he can reinforce us.” Plo responded nodding.
“I would also suggest my own Master, Obi-wan, but he is a bit further out.” Catra suggested in thought, her tail swaying while she did, “Just don’t put me on the same ship as Anakin, he is the only one who somehow gets me spacesick with those “Tricks” of his.”
““Tricks”?” Wolffe raised an eyebrow at her confused, Plo gave a slight chuckle already knowing as Catra answered, “Basically he just spins, don’t get me wrong, it works, I just get sick from it.”
“From what I hear, Skywalker’s always ready for a fight.” Wolffe laughed, which made Catra happy, she always tries to make clones smile or laugh, and usually she was successful.
“So I’ve heard.” Plo replied as they reached the console, setting up the hologram call for Anakin’s fleet.
“Not just Anakin, Captain Rex and his Padawan Ahsoka are also the same.” Catra smiled,thinking about Ahsoka, “ Back when we trained at the Jedi temple, we mostly sparred against each other, Iwon most of them.”
“Strange,I’m pretty sure last time we tied the score, Catra” Catra’s ears perked up when she heard Ahsoka’s voice, turning slightly seeing the communicator turned on with the holograms of Anakin and Ahsoka. Anakin and Plo were smiling while Wolffe tried to hold back a little snicker of his own.
“Hi, Ahsoka.” Catra felt a little embarrassed looking away for a small bit, “I remember now… but next time I will be ahead.”
“If that happens, dinner is on me, but if I win… i’ll think of something,” The Masters let them talk for a short bit, Anakin gave a polite cough to move things forward, with Ahsoka greeting them properly this time, “Hi, Catra. Koh-to-ya Master Plo.”
“Koh-to-ya, little ‘Soka.” Plo greeted back smiling.
“How’s the hunt for the mystery weapon going?” Anakin asked, getting right to business after the greetings were given.
“We’ve tracked it to the Abregado system. We need reinforcements.” Plo answered. Catra ears twitched slightly and turned backwards a bit without being painful, she could feel a little change in the electric current, looking over her shoulder at the command deck and out the front viewport of the ship where it was the strongest.
“I’ll have to ask the Council, Master Plo. I was given strict orders to protect our staging area.” Anakin reasoned a little, seeing Catra distracted, “Something wrong, Catra?”
“If you don’t convince the council, at least warn them-” Catra was trying to speak before the hologram flickered with a static crackle.
“Master Plo? Catra? What’s….” The transmission cut off as Ahsoka was speaking as their holograms vanished. Master Plo and Wolffe were messing with the console to see what was wrong.
“What is wrong with the transmission?” Plo looked towards Wolffe, Catra turned her back to the console to watch the ship again.
“There is too much interference, sir. We’ve lost them.” Wolffe sighed and gave up, before looking at Catra, “What were you going to tell them?”
“That they jam our comms before they attack… like they just did.” Catra causally spoke with no hint of waver in her voice, Plo looked at her with interest, while Wolffe was skeptical, before scanning and seeing it was true.
“She’s right, sir. This might be the reason all the other ships never send a beacon of help..” Wolffe faced the both of them after he did the scan.
“I’m curious, how you could figure out what the problem was before it happened, little ‘ra” Plo looked at her or mostly her ears.
“I don’t know the correct words or terms, but my species are tuned to when we feel a change with electricity and stuff like that, my ears twitch and point without me doing it,” Catra’s ears twitched a little nervous they were being looked at, “So if anybody notices my ears move around, usually something is going to happen.”.
“The enemy ship is closing!” A clone from a nearby station, which showed a map of the local quadrant, turned and shouted to them, a bit of worry in his voice, facing his station again.
“Prepare for battle!” Plo quickly ordered Wolffe, receiving a small nod as confirmation, “Catra, relay the message to the other cruisers to do the same.”