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MASTER BROOD BLUELV WAS TORN between saving his padawan and destroying the Separatists' blockade around Ilum. With the rest of the Republic fleet arrived, he had an advantage on them, but could he live with himself if he left Eerie behind?

What if Obi-Wan's flagship didn't manage to get out of the implosion by itself and they would all die? Those deaths would be on him, knowing that he could have dragged them out of there.

But if the droids in the launched ship, coursed to the planet below, killed the ones trapped there. . . Those deaths would be on him too.

Brood knew what Yoda, his former master would do. The majority outweighs the minority.

'What are you orders, General?' a clone trooper asked, his expression hidden by the white helmet and his voice monotone.

Time seemed to slow down as the troopers awaited his decision. Thousandths of thoughts swirled through Brood's mind, but he couldn't do it. No matter how much he inspired to be like Yoda, he couldn't leave his padawan behind. She trusted him and he couldn't betray that trust.

'Set course to the coordinates send by Eerie, and tell the rest of the fleet to wait for our return.'

'Sir, yes, sir.'

The pilot typed in the coordinates and Brood grabbed the iron railing in front of him to keep standing as the Destroyer jumped into hyper speed.

He trusted that Anakin and Goldie could keep the droids at a distance for a few more minutes. Eerie needed him more than they did, he hoped.

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PIECES OF SHATTERED GLASS FLEW through the temple and the cold wind howled between the pillars when Ventress used the Force and blasted the doors open.

Goldie raised her arms to protect her face and eyes from the shards, but one slipped past and cut open her cheek. A short, sharp pain shot through her and crimson blood dripped down, staining the fur collar of her white coat.

'Pathetic,' Ventress said with a deep, melodic voice. She stepped through the fallen apart door, her black lips curled in a wicked smile and strode to Goldie as if she had all the time of the entire galaxy. She swung down her lightsaber to the floor and the red energy burned through the white marble, leaving a black and smoking trail behind her.

'Are you going to run away like last time?' Ventress asked Goldie, remembering their previous confrontation.

Goldie raised her saber as an answer and placed one foot in front of the other, positioning herself in her fighting stance while facing Ventress sideways.

Ventress cackled, throwing her head back and the shrill laugh echoed menacingly throughout the empty hall.

'She won't be fighting you alone this time, though,' Anakin added and he pointed his blue lightsaber at her as well.

The Sith's assassin cut off her laugh abruptly, her ice blue eyes turning into steel. 'Is that so?' She gestured to the small army behind her and the battle droids marched into the temple too. The Jedi were greatly outnumbered.

'Down the stairs at the end of the hall,' Ventress ordered the droids. 'I can smell the fear of the younglings.'

The battle droids readied their blasters and ran forward without paying attention to the two Jedi. The vibrations of their mechanical footsteps mixed with Goldie's quickened heartbeat. They really were honourless.

'You might want to stop them before they slaughter your precious future Jedi.'

With a roar, Anakin jumped to the droids and whirled between them, his lightsaber slicing through the mechanical soldiers. He didn't get them all though, and some droids disappeared into the hallway that lead down to the Crystal Cave.

Goldie didn't wait for Ventress to make another first move, and lashed out to her unprotected side. This time, Goldie was determined to win -- even kill her if she had to -- and as her determination grew, the pink hue of her saber seemed to pulse with a darker shade. It was still pink but not as light as before, leaning more to a purple colour in the rhythm of a heartbeat. Alive and with a soul.

Ventress caught Goldie's saber with seemingly no effort and the weapons crackled when their energy collided. She forced Goldie several steps back with hard blows, but then Goldie spun out of the way and Ventress stroke nothing else but air. She was thrown out of balance and Goldie now stood behind her.

Goldie lashed out again, this time aiming for Ventress' bare neck without thinking. Ventress would pay, no matter the cost.

However, Ventress sensed it coming and she let herself fall down on ground, swiping Goldie's legs in the process. As the Jedi landed with a thump on the floor, Ventress pushed herself back up and jumped onto Goldie, pinning her down with her own body. She let out a low growl and swung down her red saber.

Goldie barely caught it with her own and screamed in frustration when Ventress used her weight and strength to bring down her lightsaber farther. She couldn't hold this for long, the assassin was strong and had literally the upper hand by hoovering above her. The heat of the red energy hissed too close to her face.

'Goldie!' she heard Anakin yell but then a burning pain soared through her shoulder, and she cried out in anguish as a tear escaped out of the corner of her eye. Her lightsaber was burning her own skin, Ventress was too strong. . .

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