Timeline: Day 10 of Helona 19 BBY

Empire Birth: Twenty-one weeks away.Chapter 6

It is a bleak situation. The air is chilled, and the sounds of crunching snow are underneath the soldier’s feet. He peers over at his squadron which cloak themselves only with their cutoff capes, which reach no further than their hips. He senses that their morale hasn’t changed, nor altered due to the weather. These beings had no care for climate, no care in the world. All they desire is a bloody victory.

Why would they care?

They are not human.

Human beings do not lack the senses to notice the alterations in climate. We feel aches, dull and stiff hands from the freezing temperatures. He flexes his robotic hand in thought. A part of his body is machine- the other man. This small but vital part of him knew nor cared for climate alterations. The robotic humming’s of his arm are much like the clones surrounding him- free of fear of death-

Free of life.

A man knows of these fears. Anakin knows of these emotions. His countance perfects them. His heart loathes their presence. He is at a loss for the moment- deranged in loneliness. His love is on the other far side of this galaxy. His son is there as well- never knowing his heritage- never knowing his father’s love.

He purses his lips as the hills of snow swirl around him. The white blanket hides most of the squadron awaiting the attack. Hoth was and always will be a desecrated planet. It is the direct opposite of his home world- a dry desert and twin smoking suns above his head. He closes his eyes for just a moment- remembering their scorching heat. He remembers the sweltering heat above him and his lover as they made love beneath them. His eyes flicker open- back to his current situation.

This war had brought him to a planet of ice- and no life to speak of. This seemed to bother not the troops, nor their general. Obi-wan preferred snow. He hated sand. Anakin disliked both.

He frowns upon hearing his trail of thoughts. He cannot think of the past- not now with the truth hanging so precariously above him…..

His heart rages and surges to pump blood into his veins. The cool cocktail soothing his poor muscles. He is tired- tired of fighting an endless war. He has fought on many fronts- and lost a great deal in four years. He once believed he would see every planet in existence. Now he dreads visiting anymore homeworlds. This war has brought nothing but bloodshed on both sides- and it is tearing the Republic at the seams.

He knew why the Republic has sent him here. They have new information on a possible post just beyond the hills. However, Anakin dislikes the idea of finding anything here. If Hoth is a secret post for the Separatists than there could be hundreds more. Hundreds he’d be hunting down- and another long four years. He sighs.

His age never bothered him until now. He would be in a few short months twenty-three. It seems eons ago that he was a young slave boy who helped a Queen- who fell in love with her.

His eyes flicker to his right. He knows he’s there. He always knew how to sneak up on the enemy. Although Anakin knows his fellow brother too well. Obi-wan’s eyes briefly meet his and he pats Anakin’s shoulder.

He murmurs, “ You’re thinking of them aren’t you?”

Anakin’s eyebrow raises as he feels something beyond the hills. Obi-wan senses something beyond their snowy masses as well. He cannot make out the exact motion of movement, but he knows whatever it is, it is not human.

“ Do you feel that?” Anakin bellows over the snowy winds.

Anakin points to the surface just over the top of the hills. They are a few hundred meters away, but Obi-wan can see the raising tops of battle ships. He sucks in air and eyes Anakin.

Anakin reaches for his light saber on his belt. He ignites it, and twists his hands on the handle of his saber. His teeth are pressed tightly together as he seethes out, “ They’ve been waiting on us. It was a trap.”

Obi-wan signals for his squadron, and they ready into an attack position. He joins Anakin’s side and ignites his own blue light saber. They stand back to back as the droids begin their descent over the hill tops.

Anakin bites his lip and utters, “ And so it begins.”

To Be Continued.