Author's Note: I don't own the Star Wars universe. I only own Rien. Please review, and please keep the flaming to a minimum! I'm going through a series of stressful events involving my family, so I don't think I can take much more stress right now!

Bold Underlined Italics=Introductory phrase

Bold Italics=Name of a ship

Underlined Italics=Narration

Italics=Thoughts or stressing word(s) during speech

Regular Font=Storyline and Speech

Living in the Dark:

Chapter Three: Shadow of Malevolence:

Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego.

A deadly weapon unleashed. The Separatist battleship Malevolence advances unopposed through Republic space, tearing apart any ship that stands in its path. After a daring rescue and narrow escape, Anakin Skywalker prepares a counterattack on the enemy ship and its diabolical droid commander, General Grevious.

Admiral Yularen stood beside Anakin as R2 projected a hologram while Admiral Yularen briefed the clone troopers. "This strike force has been commissioned by the Senate to hunt down the enemy's new battleship." Admiral Yularen continued his briefing as Master Plo, Ahsoka, and Rien walked over. "As the bulk of our fleets are engaged on the front lines, we'll be on our own. General Skywalker has prepared our attack strategy." He looked over at Anakin, who took over the briefing. "Thank you, Admiral. While our capital ships are vulnerable to the enemy's attack, I believe a squad of bombers can outmaneuver their ion weapon. Our target will be the bridge and General Grevious."

"The head clanker. Skywalker's getting pretty ambitious." One clone muttered to another. Meanwhile, Anakin continued with his briefing. "Our bombers will attack at high speed to evade the enemy's ion weapon. We'll concentrate our firepower on the bridge superstructure, here. We destroy General Grevious, and the ship will fall with him. Any questions?"

One clone stood up. "Just tell us where that metal head is, sir."

"Yeah, we've been waiting for a chance to take him out." The various clones cheered at this. Anakin chuckled as the clones sat back down. "All right, men, settle down. This is an important mission. We destroy Grevious, we can bring the war to a quicker end. Pilots, prepare your bombers." With that, the briefing ended, and the clones stood, walking away towards their posts.

Master Plo stepped forward while Ahsoka and Rien stayed behind him, with Ahsoka displaying a concerned expression, while Rien seemed to be rather dubious at Anakin's plan. "Skywalker, this is an aggressive plan. Are you sure your squadron can complete this mission?"

"Let's ask them. Matchstick! You think our boys can pull it off?"

"Yes, sir! There hasn't been a mission Shadow Squadron couldn't complete."

"That's right. Minimal casualties, maximum effectiveness. That's us."

Master Plo nodded slightly. "I admire your confidence, pilot. Even so, minimal casualties may be enough to prevent you from breaking Grevious' defenses." Ahsoka stepped forward, speaking up. "Master Plo is right. With Grevious on that ship's bridge, it's bound to be well-protected." Anakin smiled at her. "Don't worry, Ahsoka. We'll destroy that bridge, and Grevious along with it."

Master Plo was lost in thought for a moment before he addressed Ahsoka and Rien. "Master Skywalker seems to inspire great confidence in his men." Ahsoka laughed softly at this. "He does lead by example."

General Grevious laughed as he strode across the bridge while watching the battle, with a hologram of Count Dooku observing him. "So much for the Jedi escort."

"The last transport is fleeing, General. You've got them on the run," a battle droid reported. General Grevious growled. "They won't get far. Charge the plasma rotors!" The battle droid pressed a few buttons on the console, and the ion cannon began charging up.

"They're moving to attack position, sir."

"Still setting the coordinates." Another clone trooper of higher rank furrowed his brow. "Are we clear to make the jump to hyperspace?"

General Grevious gave the command to fire the ion cannon, and the remaining transport was hit by the charge of the blast from the ion cannon.

"We've lost all power!" The three clones stumbled slightly as the entire transport ship shook from numerous blasts due to being fired upon by the Malevolence.

"Boy, this is a lot more fun when they're not shooting back," one battle droid said. Another one looked over at the first. "I still can't seem to hit anything." General Grevious growled in anger, decapitating the droid who had just said that. Count Dooku frowned deeply. "Grevious, those battle droids are expensive. The Jedi are never that harsh with their clones."

General Grevious snarled in frustration as he whirled to face Count Dooku's hologram. "The care these Jedi show for their troops is a weakness."

"A weakness we shall continue to exploit. I have the coordinates for a new target." Count Dooku's hologram showed an image to General Grevious, and Count Dooku continued, "The Republic's secret Outer Rim medical station. It is unprotected and treating over 60,000 wounded clones. We will do them a favor and put them out of their misery." The hologrammatic image Count Dooku was showing to General Grevious disappeared, and he continued, smirking, "Once you have destroyed it, there will be nowhere for the Jedi to send their wounded, and they will die."

"It will be a pleasure, my lord."

"I feel very confident leaving the ship under your command, General." With that, Count Dooku's hologram vanished from the holopad.

One of the battle droids called General Grevious over and he spotted various lifepods ejecting from the last transport ship. "Target those escape pods! I have a reputation to uphold."

Ahsoka glanced around at all the fighter ships. "Which one's mine?" Anakin grinned from behind her. "You're with me. You'll be my gunner." Ahsoka slowly turned to face him as he shrugged. "Somebody's gotta watch my back." Ahsoka rolled her eyes, grinning. "Broadside could do that. Besides, you've got Artoo." R2 beeped affirmatively at this.

"But I so enjoy your company, my Padawan." Ahsoka glanced up at Anakin suspiciously, her eyes narrowing. "Just admit it. You don't like my flying."

"Well, no, I…" Anakin laughed nervously at this, trying to talk his way out of it. "No, it's not that. It's just that I…"

Master Plo approached with Admiral Yularen and Rien. "Skywalker."

Admiral Yularen spoke up. "The enemy warship has attacked our convoy of medical transports near Ryndellia." Ahsoka's eyes widened in shock. "Medical transports?" She scowled, crossing her arms. "Only General Grevious would be cowardly enough to go after clones who can't fight back."

Anakin thought for a moment. "The Ryndellia system. Near Naboo! Isn't that where our medical base is?" Rien nodded. "I have a feeling that's his next target."

Master Plo spoke again. "There are many star clusters in that area. With a ship that big, he will be unable to chart a course that is less than 10 parsecs."

"Guess we're going to have to take a shortcut." Anakin then turned to Admiral Yularen. "Admiral, warn that station of what's coming." Admiral Yularen nodded, and turned to leave. Master Plo spoke up again, his voice rather more serious than usual. "This journey may be treacherous. If you lose any ships before you reach the target…" Anakin cut him off. "We won't lose anybody." He turned and began to board his ship, with Ahsoka watching him with a hint of concern in her eyes.

Master Plo addressed Anakin once again. "I will come along as fighter escort. Master Kenobi has kindly lent me his Padawan as my gunner."

Anakin grinned. "Any help's welcome, Master Plo. Just try not to fall behind." Ahsoka turned back to Master Plo and Rien, smiling. "I had a feeling you'd be coming along. Your ship has already been prepped."

Meanwhile, at the medical station, a Kaminoan doctor and scientist, Nala Se, expressed her concerns to a hologram of Admiral Yularen. "Even if we had the transports, it is not possible to evacuate all of our wounded in time."

"You must try. You won't stand a chance against that battleship." Obi-Wan suddenly appeared on the hologrammatic pad beside Admiral Yularen. "Nala Se, I only just received word. I've contacted the Naboo. They are sending ships to help you. And I am on my way, as well."

"Thank you, Master Jedi." As the two holograms vanished, a clone trooper turned to Nala Se. "If they reach us in time, do you really think they're going to stop that thing?"

"It is our only hope."

Admiral Yularen strode up onto the bridge, and turned to a clone trooper. "Launch the fighters." With that, the fighter ships took off from the boarding docks, and launched into space.

Obi-Wan's voice spoke on Anakin's ship via communicator. "I hope you know what you're doing, Anakin." Anakin pressed a few buttons on the console as he responded. "Well, if I don't, I won't be around to hear the 'I told you so'."

"That's reassuring. Well, take your shortcut, and I'll take the long way. But you'd better be there before I arrive."

"I'll be there, Obi-Wan.

Anakin called out the orders to his squadron. "Shadow Squadron, tighten formation. Call in."

"Shadow 2, standing by."

"Shadow 3, standing by."

"Shadow 4, standing by."

R2 beeped excitedly, and Ahsoka glanced over at him, sighing. "I know, Artooie. This is gonna be a tough one." She glanced over her shoulder as Anakin addressed her while the rest of the squadron reported their positions. "Cut the chatter, Ahsoka."

"Shadow 11, standing by."

"Shadow 12, standing by." Plo Koon and Rien joined the group in the back of the squadron as the fighter escort. "Fighter escort ready."

Admiral Yularen's voice came over the communications signal. "This is Admiral Yularen. You are cleared for hyperspace jump. Good hunting, sir."

"Thanks, Admiral," Anakin responded, not noticing Ahsoka watching him out of the corner of her eye while he prepared for the jump to hyperspace. "All right, boys, let's go." Ahsoka turned her attention back to her place at the gunner's seat.

Another clone chuckled. "Broadside, if we make it through this one, drinks are on me."

"I can already taste it." They all blasted into hyperspace.

General Grevious snarled at the battle droids. "What's taking so long? I want to get there before too many wounded clones escape."

A battle droid glanced down at the navicomputer. "Sorry, sir. The navicomputer has had to calculate a complex course around a large nebula near the medical station."

General Grevious growled angrily. "They told me this ship was fast!"

Meanwhile, Anakin's Shadow Squadron (accompanied by Master Plo and Rien as their fighter escort), had just reentered space. Anakin glanced down at the computer. "Okay, if we can just manage to navigate through my shortcut, we'll be all right."

Master Plo looked dubious. "A nebula can be very unpredictable. I advise caution." Shadow 2 spoke up via the communications signal. "Don't worry about us, Master Jedi. We can hold our own. Right, Shadow Squadron?"

"Copy that, Shadow 2."

Ahsoka sighed from her seat as Anakin's gunner. "Does anyone care what the Padawan thinks?" Anakin smirked at this. "Of course we care, Snips! But we're still going through that nebula." R2 beeped at this, and Ahsoka smiled gratefully at him while the entire squadron began its flight into the nebula. "Thanks, Artooie."

At the medical station, one of the clone trooper escorts contacted Nala Se via holoscreen. "The evacuation's proceeding slowly, madam."

"We will have to move the patients in stable condition first. The more critically injured will have to wait."

"What about the bacta tanks? Many of those men can't be moved at all."

"I know, Commander. Guide the patients that can be moved onto transports as quickly as you can."

"At once, madam."

As Shadow Squadron flew through the nebula, Shadow 2 glanced around in the heavy fog. "This soup's thick. Can you see anything?"

Anakin responded. "Just keep your eyes on my thruster, Shadow 2." Ahsoka whacked her scanner. "They'll have to. The scanners are useless."

"This is old-fashioned flying, Snips. You have to feel your way through to stay on course." Ahsoka's face became concerned at Anakin's words.

Master Plo agreed with Anakin. "Skywalker is right, Ahsoka. Clear your mind, young one, and you will see the path."

Ahsoka looked around at the fog outside. "Right now, I can't see anything at all." Anakin smiled slightly at this.

Suddenly, Rien spoke. "Well, I think the view's just lovely." Everyone laughed at her joke about her own blindness.

Broadside spoke up. "I always know where I'm going." Another clone responded. "Yeah? Where's that, Broadside?"

"I'm going to blow up that battleship."

"A clear path if ever there was one," Master Plo commented dryly.

The Malevolence sped through hyperspace when a battle droid spoke to General Grevious. "Sir, the navicomputer indicates we only have one parsec to go."

"Good. We will maximize our casualties with this attack." Another battle spoke from behind General Grevious, causing him to turn around. "General, there's an incoming transmission from Count Dooku."

Count Dooku's hologram appeared. "General Grevious, I have received intelligence from Lord Sidious. The Republic has launched a small strike force to attack the Malevolence."

"Let the Republic come! Our ship is unstoppable!"

Count Dooku's eyes narrowed. "Skywalker is leading the mission. Do not underestimate him." General Grevious scoffed at this. "I assure you, Count, if anything, it is Skywalker who will underestimate this ship and its power."

"So, Skyguy, how'd you know about this shortcut?"

"It's an old smuggler's route. The pilots used to talk about it on Tatooine."

"Smuggler's route!? That makes me feel better."

Rien frowned, zoning out for a few moments as she sensed something, and contacted Anakin's ship. "Master Skywalker, there's something you should know…"

Anakin just ignored her as he continued talking to Ahsoka. "They call it the Balmorra Run."

Master Plo's eyes widened in alarm. "Balmorra Run!?" Ahsoka glanced down as her sensors started beeping. "I think I'm picking up a contact."

Master Plo spoke up in an urgent tone. "Skywalker! Listen to me! We need to turn around!"

"We can't. Not if we're going to catch Grevious."

Ahsoka's voice became worried. "Another contact! This one's much larger."

Master Plo's tone became frantic. "Skywalker! Balmorra's the nesting ground of the giant Nebray mantas!"

"Another? Another!"

Rien contacted Anakin just then. "Master Skywalker, I was trying to warn you earlier that I sensed something very large outside, and very likely dangerous."

Anakin nodded at this in acknowledgement, and Ahsoka gasped audibly in alarm as their ship swerved as a giant Nebray manta flew towards their ship, almost knocking them off course. "Take evasive action!" All the ships split up out of formation, attempting to avoid the giant Nebray mantas.

R2 beeped in alarm, and Ahsoka stared in shock around her at all the giant Nebray mantas. "Those gas-gulpers are huge!"

Master Plo spoke up. "Don't shoot, or they'll panic!" Ahsoka cringed. "They'll panic?! I'm about to panic!"

One of the clones communicated all the ships. "There are so many of them!" Matchstick's ship accidentally hit a giant Nebray manta's wing with its stabilizer, causing damage to his ship. "I'm hit! My stabilizer's out!"

Anakin's brow furrowed. "Pull it together, Matchstick!"

Matchstick's stabilizer began to slowly stop smoking. "I'm okay. I got it."

Ahsoka glanced around, her eyes wide. "These things are gonna make a meal out of us!" R2 beeped nervously at this. Anakin frowned. "All wings, line up behind me!"

"Roger that, boss." All the ships formed a line behind Anakin's ship, and they all swerved to avoid the giant Nebray mantas. Unfortunately, the head of a space droid was severed from one of the ships behind him, and came flying at Master Plo's ship. "Hurry! They will not follow us beyond the nebula!"

Ahsoka's eyes widened in fright as a giant Nebray manta came towards Anakin's ship. "That one looks hungry!" Anakin chuckled nervously. "Nah, it's just smiling at you." They began to exit the nebula, and Ahsoka smiled. "We're coming out of it!" They finally exited the nebula, and Ahsoka sighed. "Let's hope your shortcut paid off."

"We're not far behind Grevious now."

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan contacted Admiral Yularen via holoscreen, and the Admiral began his report. "The medical station reports 50% of patients evacuated." Obi-Wan stroked his beard, frowning slightly at this news. "That's not good enough. They'll never be finished before the enemy arrives."

"General Skywalker still has a chance to catch Grevious."

"If he does, we have to be ready."

"Yes, sir."

Master Plo glanced over at Matchstick's ship. "Shadow 2, what is the damage to your ship?"

"Just a scratch, sir."

"We must not take any more unnecessary risks. If we lose even a single ship, our mission is that much closer to failure."

Anakin nodded at this. "Understood, Master Plo. But we didn't lose any ships, and I didn't…" A clone interrupted him. "Sir! Another contact!" Ahsoka frowned. "I thought those things wouldn't follow us."

"Not following, coming out of hyperspace. It's a ship." Anakin contacted Rien. "Rien, try and sense if that ship is an enemy ship."

Rien concentrated for a moment, then scowled. "It's the Malevolence!"

Aboard the Malevolence, a battle droid reported to General Grevious. "A squadron of Republic fighters is approaching."

"Skywalker! Launch fighters and bring the ship around."

"There are several medical transports surrounding the station."

"Target the transports first! I want every single ship destroyed!"

"Roger, roger." A battle droid activated the ion cannon, aiming it at the medical transports, hitting all of them. Then General Grevious ordered the battle droids to start firing at the medical transports, destroying some in the process. "Ha! This is too easy!"

Ahsoka glanced up. "We've got fighters coming in!" The fighter ships from the Malevolence and the ships from Shadow Squadron began engaging in battle. Anakin sent out a squadron-wide communication, "Hold it steady. Come on, hold it steady."

General Grevious clenched his fist. "Charge the ion cannon and prepare to fire!" One of the battle droids turned to face him. "But sir, our fighters will be caught in the blast."

"Fire at my command!"

Anakin swerved to avoid the gunfire coming from the fighters from the Malevolence. "Ahsoka, get those fighters off of us!"

"Your fancy flying's making it difficult!"

General Grevious gave the order to fire the ion cannon at Shadow Squadron, and the blast headed towards them.

"Incoming!" Ahsoka warned as the ion blast headed for them. Anakin frowned. "Make towards the edge of the ray! Now!"

All of Shadow Squadron, including Master Plo and Rien, swerved to avoid the incoming ion blast. "Give it everything you've got!"

Rien contacted Matchstick's ship. "Shadow 2, your speed's dropping. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, sir. Just trying to keep it together." Anakin nodded at this. "You can make it, Matchstick. Hang on!" Matchstick screamed as his ship fell apart, and Ahsoka gasped as she looked over her shoulder to see Matchstick's ship spiraling out of control, hitting Tag's ship as well, causing both ships to explode. Another clone warned everyone else to watch out.

Most of Shadow Squadron cleared the blast, and Anakin flipped on the squadron-wide communication link. "Shadow Squadron, check in." Ahsoka lowered her eyes. "We lost Matchstick and Tag. Shadows 6, 7, and 10 were caught in the ray."

A medical clone trooper looked at the hologrammatic pad in front of him and Nala Se, who was standing opposite him. "It looks as though Skywalker has failed. He's lost almost half his ships. We should go, madam." Nala Se refused, stating that she would stay.

As the Malevolence continued attacking Shadow Squadron's remaining ships, Master Plo's tone of voice became even more serious. "Stay on course!"

"This flak is heavy!" One clone exclaimed. Anakin gave out a new command. "All deflectors, double front!" Ahsoka stared at him in disbelief. "Master! we need a new plan!"

"We can make it, Ahsoka! Just hang in there!"

A battle droid aboard the Malevolence turned to face General Grevious. "Sir, the enemy fighters are closing."

"Let them come! Prepare the ion cannon. First we will destroy the medical station, then we will finish off Skywalker."

One of the battle droids shook its head. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Watch those towers, boys!" Anakin warned the rest of Shadow Squadron. Another clone spoke up, his tone frantic. "We're too close! Loosen up!" Just then, the clone's ship was struck and exploded.

"Ion cannon ready."

At the medical station, the medical clone turned to Nala Se. "They're targeting the medical station. We're running out of time."

Ahsoka contacted Anakin. "Master! You can make it, but everybody else is getting shot down! Master!"

Anakin's frown deepened at Ahsoka's warnings.

"Station has been targeted."

"Start the ion cannon acceleration," General Grevious commanded to the battle droids.

The remaining ships of Shadow Squadron were very narrowly avoiding the blasts from the gunfire, when Master Plo contacted Anakin. "If we can do enough damage, the weapon may overload when Grevious tries to fire." Anakin considered this, then addressed the rest of Shadow Squadron. "Shadow Squadron, new target. We're taking out the starboard ion cannon." Ahsoka grinned at this new plan, and Shadow Squadron swerved to target the starboard ion cannon.

"Ion cannon, 75% charged." General Grevious growled with impatience. "Hurry!"

Shadow Squadron dove towards the starboard ion cannon, and Anakin grinned. "Torpedoes away!" They all fired at the ion cannon, then flew out of the path of the explosions.

General Grevious gave the command to fire, but the starboard ion cannon overloaded, causing it to explode, resulting in destroying most of the Malevolence.

Nala Se and the medical clone observed the battle from the viewport at the medical station, where it seemed that Shadow Squadron was gaining the upper hand.

Master Plo commended Shadow Squadron on its good work, and Anakin grinned. "Nice job, Ahsoka!" Ahsoka smiled in response to this.

Aboard the Malevolence, General Grevious demanded a damage report. "We've lost both primary weapons and the hyperdrive has been disabled." General Grevious growled with anger at this. "Impossible!"

"General, we are picking up three Republic warships entering the system."

Obi-Wan's fleet entered the system, observing the outcome of the battle. "Anakin, do you copy?"

"I'm here."

"Congratulations. It looks like your mission was a success."

"Partially, but Grevious is still alive. The battle was pretty rough on my men. We're heading for the medical station."

"We'll take it from here," Obi-Wan assured him. "But don't worry, we'll call when we need you."

"I'll be waiting, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan turned to his troops. "All right, let's finish what Anakin started. Ahead full."

General Grevious grunted in frustration. "Full retreat! Make for Separatist space."

As Anakin climbed down from his ship, Master Plo walked over to stand beside Ahsoka and Rien. "Great job, Master Skywalker. Your leadership skills are most impressive."

"You didn't do so bad yourself." Ahsoka placed her hand on her hip. "Uh, excuse me, but I believe it was my suggestion to change the plan."

Anakin smirked as he finally stepped off the bottom rung of the ladder onto the docking platform. "That's kind of true, Snips." Master Plo nodded. "From a certain point of view." Ahsoka crossed her arms as she and Rien followed them out.

After Master Plo and Rien had rejoined Obi-Wan, Anakin gave orders to a clone. "Make sure our ships are ready. We only have a short time before Obi-Wan calls us for support."

"Yes, sir."

Anakin and Ahsoka approached Nala Se. "General Skywalker, I wanted to thank you for your valiant effort today. Do not take the lives you saved lightly."

Anakin's face filled with remorse and he lowered his eyes to the ground. "I don't. But I also can't take the lives I lost lightly." Ahsoka placed her hand gently on Anakin's arm, sympathy written all over her face.

Nala Se acknowledged his words as he looked up at her. "I see."

"If you will excuse me, I must prepare for the coming battle." With that, Anakin turned and left as Ahsoka and Nala Se watched him go. "Your Master is a very curious Jedi," Nala Se commented to Ahsoka, causing her to smile softly. "He is one of a kind." With that, Ahsoka followed Anakin out of the room back onto the docking platform.