| 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐫 ➪ 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐱 |

Start from the beginning
                                    

The way Anakin said 'combined forces' made my ears and cheeks burn from embarrassment. It's obvious the Chosen One disagreed with my order to send half of the 501st away, but he didn't say anything,
"Alright then, let's move out!" I commanded, slicing a standard Droid in half before taking off in a sprint.

Anakin and I covered the rear part of our half of the 501st. Troops like Jesse and Echo were pulling their weight tremendously; killing any Droid that even spotted their location. Their aim was unmatched, besides maybe Captain Rex, but he was a Captain for a reason.
As Anakin, the 501st and myself turned the long corner to get where Rex and the rest of the battalion were at, we noticed they were completely surrounded,

"Alright men," Anakin shouted while sprinting with all the speed a Jedi could conjure, "Let's help out Rex and the others, shall we?"

The 501st roared in agreement while rushing forward; their guns firing endless bolts at the Droid army. They began to fall limply to the ground as the Clones made scrap out of them,
"Generals!" Rex shouted enthusiastically as he noticed the reinforcements, "We saw Dooku retreat inside! If you hurry, you can catch him before he escapes the planet!"

I eyed Anakin and twirled my lightsaber in my grip, "I've got this, Skywalker. You stay and help the Clones with the Droids, and I'll come back with Dooku as our prisoner."

Anakin shook his head immediately while bouncing a blaster bolt back in the direction it came from, "Are you crazy? I know you're a powerful and talented Jedi, but no one should take on Dooku alone! He's a crafty Sith; anyone could get overpowered by him!"

"Anyone but you!" I countered, knowing the Chosen One would have no problem sacrificing himself for the group, "Anakin, no offence, but I have an obligation to capture Dooku after what he did to my Padawan. I do not wish to inflict in the name of revenge, but I feel obligated to Sedhu to try and do this myself!"

Anakin knew how much I adored Sedhu. He was a very timid Wookiee from Kahsyyyk and he was taken far too soon,
"Alright, but do not stay in there if things get harry. Call Rex or I to come in and help."

"Yes, Master!" I cried out while taking off towards the factory. I made one last look at Rex, and he was staring in surprise at me— perhaps my bravery to take down such an intimidating and powerful opponent by myself.
Rex and I had history. It wasn't anything super deep; a few hookups here and there, but nothing really stuck because our differing natures. I've always known I loved Rex, but our positions in this war made our love impossible.

I shot a small smile at the Captain and hurried inside. The interior of the factory was scorching hot, even hotter than Tatooine, and that's saying something.
The mugginess of the factory caused sweat to pour down my forehead, back, and armpits,
"I can sense you, Dooku!" I snarled as a cloud of darkness washed over my senses. It was as if the force itself was trying to shield Dooku's location,

"Obviously you haven't learned your lesson after what happened to your Padawan," the old Sith sneered cockily from the rafters above, "It was the Wookiee, right? I should've skinned him and sold his coat on the black market for some extra pocket money. Wookiees are beasts that need to be tamed— not trained to be peace keepers!"

I snarled; anger beginning to overtake my emotions. Memories of my precious apprentice came pouring back... especially the part after I lost him. Master Yoda spent a lot of time meditating with me to help me control my unbridled anger at the old Jedi, yet now as I'm facing Dooku, all the training seemed to wash away,
"You are a monster, Count," I growled while brandishing my lightsaber so the light could reflect into the darker areas of the factory, "He was a kid! You're a murderer!"

          

"Tis the reality of a Sith Lord," Dooku replied, unamused, "Don't worry though, you will join him soon."

Quickly, a form leapt from the rafters above and landed on the ground behind me. I span around; holding my (F/C) lightsaber in front of me in position 1. It was Count Dooku, looking as charming as ever with his sweaty forehead, skinny limbs, and angry expression. There were no more words exchanged between the two of us; only sword fighting.

Dooku, for being an old man, was spry and powerful. He wielded the Dark Side like none other; parrying and blocking hits. It was like he and I were participating in an intricate and complex dance; Dooku leading.
I could understand why the Count chose to fight with a curved lightsaber hilt. This strategy caused unrealistic speed and parrying abilities compared to a regular lightsaber hilt.

"If you surrender now, I will make your death swift!" Dooku offered while swivelling behind me in an attempt to strike at my back. Thankfully, I am just as fast as the Sith, and was able to block the hits just in time,

"Oh man, if only I'd thought of that before!" I responded sarcastically while juking his blade, "Perhaps I will surrender."

The Count smirked at my evident sarcasm, "Don't say I didn't offer you mercy then. You will die a painful death, as did your Padawan."

I screamed angrily at the mention of Sedhu and lunged for the Sith. This managed to take him off guard as his lightsaber tattered away from his hand and onto the hot metal floor below. Despite my claim to Anakin that I would capture the Count, I raised my lightsaber up and began to bring it back down into the torso of the Sith. However, before I could make contact, Dooku extended his bony, wrinkly hands, and sent lightning into my chest.

Instantly nausea overtook my gut, which fire-like burning took the rest of my form. It was as if Dooku was behind my skull and was taking a knife to my brain and the backside of my eyes.
My whole body went rigid as the Sith rose back to his feet while continuing to roast my body with dangerous lashes of electricity.
So, this is what Sedhu felt as he was dying... dying... dying.

Am I dying?
I wished to call upon Rex telepathically to ask for assistance, but my mind stayed totally blank. I was simply too tired and in too much pain to call for help. This was truly the end.

The Sith finally let up on the force lightning, and I stayed on the ground; twitching and writhing from the amounts of electricity pumped into my muscles,
"It's miraculous you're still breathing, young one," Dooku taunted while pulling his lightsaber up from the ground using the force, "You almost had me. Nice try, but unfortunately, you don't get a round two. This is the end for you, young (L/N). Do tell your apprentice I say hi."

I growled as my senses began to regain consciousness. I tried to stand, but Dooku placed a firm boot on my back. I screamed in pain as all of his weight was pressed to the developing burns and blisters from the lightning, "Anakin will kill you," I grumbled out as tears pricked at my eyes, "I will make sure of it."

"Unfortunately, you'll never see that day," the Count smirked while creating a deep laceration down the lower half of my back. Words can't describe the unbridled pain Dooku caused me in my last moments.

"She's in here!" a familiar voice announced from seemingly far away, when in reality, the voice was only a few feet away. I felt the weight of Dooku's boot leave my back as he took off,

"Next time we meet, Skywalker, you will join your weak Jedi friends!" the Sith spit before taking off under the cover of a few Commando Droids.

While Anakin and the rest of the 501st took care of Dooku's cover, I felt a pair of strong hands lift my back and neck into his lap, "No, no, no!" the voice of Rex rang into my ears, "General! (Y/N)! Please give me a sign you can hear me!"

"...Urg," was all I could manage.

My eyes began to glaze over, like a giant cataract was taking over my vision. All I could make out was Rex's gorgeous hazel eyes, and I extended my hand up to cup his cheek,
"I'm sorry I couldn't... give you more than what I did," I whispered as Rex moved into my touch, "I really did l-love you, Rex. Y-You have made me the... happiest Jedi in the galaxy. I w-wish we had more time."

"Stop talking, (Y/N). Preserve your strength. You won't die, okay, so don't talk like that," Captain Rex said in a panicked state, "Whenever you recover, I am going to take you out to wherever you want. I will not hide our relationship. I need you (Y/N), so hold on!"

That was all I needed to hear. Rex did love me back although our relationship was unsteady and faulted... now, I can die peacefully knowing my feelings weren't wrong,
"I love you, my Captain," I whispered, kissing his lips softly. Before Rex could conjure up a response, I slipped away, joining Sedhu in the vast peacefulness known as the Force.

December 6th, 2022

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