Her lightsaber was a blur as it sliced efficiently and continuously through one droid after another.
The Radnoran raiders took one look at how quickly the Jedi had reduced most of their droid squad to a smoking heap.
They ran.
The rest of the droids closed in to protect the raider's retreat. Anakin saw quickly that the Jedi Masters had the situation in hand. He double-flipped back to join the other Padawans, who had formed a tight circle, their backs to the Radnoran family as they fended off the last of the blaster fire from the retreating droids.
Ferus moved aside so that Anakin could join the protective circle. Anakin kept his lightsaber moving, deflecting the fire as the family crouched behind him.
Four of the droids suddenly peeled off into one group and launched a frontal attack on Obi-Wan, taking him momentarily by surprise. Siri had to execute a reversal and come at them from behind. Anakin admired how well Obi-Wan and Siri seemed to anticipate each other's strategy in combating the droids'
sudden maneuver.
That was not the only surprise. While Obi-Wan and Siri battled the group of droids, three more separated from the rest and suddenly zoomed toward the Radnoran family.
"Watch it!" Ferus called.
"I see it," Anakin muttered, his teeth clenched. Ferus spoke as though he'd been the only one to catch the surprise attack.
Tru turned his body so that he was still protecting the Radnorans and the case in his left hand but could meet the droid attack head on. Darra switched her lightsaber from her right hand to her left. All Jedi were trained to use both hands while fighting, but Darra was especially skilled at not favoring one over the other.
Ferus stepped forward, and Anakin did the same. The two Padawans fought the three droids side by side. It took all their powers to stay ahead of them.
Anakin saw a droid come at Ferus's left, and moved to foil its approach at the same time as Ferus. The two Padawans collided, sending Ferus off balance. He landed awkwardly, and Anakin quickly rushed in to bury his lightsaber in the droid's control center. Ferus was up and fighting in another split second, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. He sliced a droid in two as Darra dispatched the last one with a cool grace Anakin admired.
Anakin glanced over at Obi-Wan. He was ready to join his Master, but he saw that Obi-Wan and Siri had finished off the rest of the droids. Soara and Ry-Gaul had completed their work as well.
The Jedi simultaneously deactivated their lightsabers. Obi- Wan ran to the Radnoran family.
"Is anyone badly hurt?" he asked.
"My husband," the Radnoran female said, her eyes wide with panic. "He needs help."
"We'll get him to a medic," Tru assured her.
Ry-Gaul bent over the Radnoran to gently examine the wound. "He will be all right. He needs a bacta bath." It was rare for Ry-Gaul to say so much at once.
"My sister took a blow to the head," the man's wife said, pointing at the older Radnoran female.
"And you," Tru said gently. He touched her shoulder. "You have taken a blow yourself, I think."
"To the leg. It was nothing," the wife said, kneeling by her husband.
"They all need care," Tru said to Ry-Gaul.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said. He scanned the streets. "There are no speeder transports. No emergency med vehicles."
As if he'd heard them, suddenly Galen appeared, piloting a large speeder. "I thought you might need this here."
"Yes. We must transport the wounded," Soara said. "And then we must go to the Isolation Sector."
"I can take the wounded first, then return for you," Galen said. "By the way, I only have four bio-isolation suits. You will have to choose who will go."
The four Masters exchanged glances. They did not have to confer. It would be better to leave the Padawans here temporarily and not expose them to the deadly toxin. The Masters were sure to be back in time to monitor the evacuations.
"The Padawans will stay here and make sure the wounded get care," Soara said, speaking for all the Masters. "We shall bring the medications to the Isolation Sector."
"Your instructions are to patrol the area and keep the people as calm as possible," Obi-Wan told the Padawans. "Do not conceal your lightsabers. The Radnorans must know that the Jedi will protect them."
"Check in with Galen periodically," Siri said. "He'll keep up with the progress of the evacuation ships."
"We will not fail you," Ferus said.
Of course we won't. You don't need to say it, Anakin thought.
Obi-Wan drew Anakin aside. "You fought well, my young Padawan," he told him.
"Thank you, Master."
"But you fought for yourself," Obi-Wan continued. "First of all, you did not obey Siri's order at once. And when Ferus stepped forward to engage the droids, he did so in the expectation that the two of you would work together.
Instead, you fought as though you were fighting alone. You will never be a great Jedi warrior if you do not practice teamwork and dedicate yourself to the greater Jedi goal."
It was his Master's most disapproving tone. Anakin knew better than to try to defend himself. Hadn't Ferus fought for himself, too? Hadn't he stepped forward without consulting Anakin, without a word as to his intentions? Why was Ferus right, and he wrong?
"Yes, Master," he said.
Obi-Wan stepped back. He never said more than he needed to. He never added a reassurance after a correction.
Anakin turned away. He caught Ferus's eye, and the boy quickly looked away. Ferus had overheard Obi-Wan! Anakin's face burned. Now Ferus knew that Anakin had been corrected by his Master. And Ferus was about the last Padawan in the Jedi Order that Anakin would want to know that.
The others had loaded the wounded into the speeder. There was just enough room for the Padawans.
"I'll return for you," Galen said to the Jedi Masters before taking off. Anakin watched as they receded behind him. He knew it was important for them to get the wounded to a medic. He also knew the Masters had left them here temporarily with important responsibilities. He still wished he were going off with his Master to see the Isolation Sector. Someday he would be a Jedi Master. Then he would be the one to make decisions, the one to make corrections. He could hardly wait
Chapter Six
Galen picked up the Jedi Masters and brought them to the boundary line of the Clear Sector. An energy gate was ahead.
"I'll enter the code, and you'll be able to pass through,"
Galen said. "I'm sorry I can't give you the transport, but no vehicle can pass through the energy gate. You'll have to put on your bio-iso suits. I've managed to get a message through to Curi. You should be met on the other side for transport to Aubendo."
"Thank you for all your help," Obi-Wan said. He gave a last look back at Tacto. Obi-Wan didn't second-guess decisions, but he suddenly wished Anakin were with him.
The Jedi donned the bio-iso suits. The energy gate blinked green, and they walked through. They stood on a vast plain.