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UPON LANDING, MAKARIA stood tall at the ramp, Ahsoka at her side. Makaria noticed the young Togruta tapping her thighs nervously as they waited for the ramp to open. As she held her own hands behind her back, she nudged Ahsoka with her elbow. "Don't worry, I'll do all the talking." She told her and that helped Ahsoka visibly relax and Makaria cracked a small smile.
Suddenly, they heard the creaking and hissing of the ramp and it finally began to lower and hit the ground with a thud. Makaria smirked as she heard Ahsoka's breathing hitch as they met eyes with the two Jedi Knights waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp.
Meanwhile, Makaria was attempting to hide the pounding of her heart in her chest and heard her late master's words burning into her mind. "Stand tall. Don't show your fear. If your hands are shaking, hide them. Don't show your fear. Speak up, don't stutter. Don't show your fear."
Makaria stepped forwards first, Ahsoka following close behind her. Once they stood in front of the Jedi, Makaria became painfully aware of the staggering height difference that now separated her and Anakin. They exchanged polite bows and Makaria greeted, "Master Kenobi... Master Skywalker." She said the latter through gritted teeth of a forced smile and Anakin smirked. Beside them, Obi-Wan failed to hide his amused smile as well.
Before Anakin could quip something at her, Obi-Wan stepped forward, offering his hand to Makaria. "Makaria, it's so good to see you again." He said with a smile.
"The pleasure is mine, Master Kenobi. Allow me to introduce Padawan Ahsoka Tano." She gestured to the Togruta beside her and the two Knights nodded to her and she in return. "We were sent by Master Yoda. We were told to tell you both that you must get back to the Jedi Temple immediately, there's an emergency."
"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, Ari, but we're in a bit of an emergency right here." Anakin retorted and Makaria raised an eyebrow in both annoyance at his tone, but also confusion.
"What's going on?" She asked, her hazel eyes looking between the two in concern.
"We're in desperate need of reinforcements. Our communications have been a bit unreliable, but we've been calling for help." Obi-Wan explained.
"I'm sorry, but Master Yoda hadn't heard from you so he sent us to deliver the message." Makaria said and Anakin scoffed, turning to Obi-Wan in disdain.
"Oh, great. They don't even know we're in trouble." He said annoyedly and Makaria looked up at Obi-Wan who was already looking at her in thought before he turned to look at Anakin. No words were exchanged between the three adults as the tried to think of a solution.
A young, high voice cut through the silence from where Ahsoka stood timidly behind Makaria. "Maybe you can relay a signal through the cruiser that just dropped us off." After the brief moment of surprise, Makaria smiled proudly, looking to Ahsoka before looking back at Anakin who shrugged.
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"We're under attack by Separatist warships, but I'll try to make contact with the Jedi Temple for you. Stand by." The clone officer on the other end told them before flickering out of view. Makaria bit the inside of her cheek and looked up at Anakin. It was then that she noticed how much the war had already begun to change him. His hair had grown a little past his ears and was a lot darker than the last time she saw him. His eyes had also grown harder and more piercing. It intrigued her. She though back to how she was before Geonosis and how she had changed. If anything, her dirty blonde hair had grown out as well, but other than that, she couldn't think of how else she had changed. She wondered if this war would change her too. She was a dedicated pacifist much like the current leader of Mandalore and was against the unnecessary violence, but understood the importance of keeping your mouth shut and just following orders. Finally, a beep from the holotable brought her out of her thoughts and to turn her eyes to the small, blue hologram of Master Yoda.
