"Really, Master Anakin, I must protest. My programming is not suited to this functionality. My circuitry will fry if misused in this manner. Perhaps R2D2 would be a more competent choice. You know how tetchy he can get." There was a series of harsh beeps. "In this circumstance, it's a compliment."
"Relax. I designed you, remember? And built you myself. I know what you're capable of. Now, you're about to find out."
"I have to agree with C3PO. Perhaps this isn't the wisest course of action," Obi Wan counselled.
"It's our only course. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I would hardly call this desperate…"
"Really," Anakin said sardonically, throwing wide the shutters.
Blaster fire rained in, scorching the walls and causing pockets of dust to drift down from the ceiling and settle on their shoulders. Outside, the droid forces closed in, the entire complex surrounded. The once staggering scenery of verdant forests… had been replaced by a sea of metal. The Separatist army had crushed every sign of life, trampling even the weeds into the ground. The ground was blackened from the onslaught of heavy artillery, the vehicles of war carving their paths through the forest as their weapons spewed fire and death.
With only a few soldiers behind them, and negligible defences, the complex was as good as taken. Even if their number were doubled, and entirely comprised of Jedi knights, the odds still wouldn't be in their favour.
But the upgrades Anakin had made, with the assistance of the top engineers who called the complex home, gave them a chance. Not of victory, but of survival. C3PO's new armour was twice as thick, with hands capable of crushing a boulder and boosters on both his feet to enable flight-mode. A prototype of the newly designed power core burned a hot blue at his chest, while his new visor fed him exacting details on the enemy positions.
Impressive as it was, C3PO was not enthusiastic, although he enjoyed the red trimmings and face-plate on his new golden exterior. But beyond that, he felt only anxiety. This was a mission of great importance, and service droids were not built for importance.
"Just remember: the goal is to cause confusion; enough to cover our escape with the scientists. Don't take any unnecessary risks and don't stay longer than you need to," Anakin advised. The Jedi master slapped the droid's shoulder encouragingly. "Give them Hell."
"May I remind you," CP30 began, before being lifted into the air my Jedi powers and launched through the open window like a missile at the approaching forces. "That I am not equipped for combat!"
"You are now!" he heard Anakin reply.
Below him, the ground span wildly as he plummeted. It wouldn't be long before the droids would see his descent and begin firing. His visor kept him apprised of his altitude, sharply declining with every second. Frantically, he tried to process all the information streaming before his eyes, trying to access his systems. What had been tiny dot below him were now fully defined figures and the first droids were beginning to look up. Had he wailing the whole time? Instinctively, he threw out his hands as if to break his fall. As the droids began to take aim, the suit roared into life.
"Weapons systems activated."
From each palm, blue rays of light struck at the ground, scattering droid forces and reducing some to a pile of scrap. One or two returned fire, but the main bulk of the ground troops were yet to be made aware of his presence.
"Flight-mode enabled."
Two jets of blue flame soared from his boots and the ground surged upwards. Less than twenty feet from the ground, C3PO finally pulled up, gliding across the battlefield, knocking over as many droids as he shot.
"Pardon me. My sincerest apologies," the droid rambled as he flew. "I'm new to aviation, I'm afraid, and the targeting systems for this weaponry is far more convoluted that one might imagine. Oh, mind your head. Master Anakin will be most displeased if I scratch the paint work on my very first outing."
Preoccupied with his apologies to those droids he had unintentionally impeded, C3P0 hurtled heedlessly towards the first AT-AT. Through blind luck alone, he weaved through the lumbering legs, firing pulses from his palms as he passed. After several shots, he'd struck three of the four legs, compromising their stability and bringing the whole heap to the ground.
Dust flew as the vehicle slammed down on top of the droid forces, decimating the column. By now, there were more guns trained on C3P0 than on the complex. Like a speeder, the air-borne droid raced through the ranks, dealing devastation wherever he went. In the chaos, droids were trampled and crushed by their own artillery, while shots rained from every angle in every direction.
As the droid army attempted to regain their composure and advance on their objectives, a B2 super battle droid at the rear set its sights on C3PO.
"Warning. Enemy missile locked on. Impact imminent."
"Impact?" the droid whimpered. "How does R2D2 always get me in to these predicaments?"
Craning his neck, and still bobbing erratically, he saw the bright light in his peripheral vision. He swerved all he could, gaining speed all the time but the firefly-like light followed him throughout. He shot up into the air, then allowed himself to fall back towards the ground but even that didn't fool the deadly munition.
The missile was catching up, closing the gap between it and C3PO. He'd reached maximum speed so there was no outrunning it and so far he'd been unable to lose it. Concentrating hard, he aimed both palms back into the trail between himself and the missile and fired two repulsor blasts. The first missed, but the second hit with an almighty explosion.
Caught in the blast, CP30 plummeted to the ground, spiralling as he fell some miles from the battlefield. His crash caused a trail of destruction along the landscape, culminating a ten foot wide crater. Smoke rose from the pit and flames crackled, leaving red embers in the dirt. From the distance, blaster-fire echoed.
C3PO rebooted his systems and ran an internal diagnostic. All appeared to be well, except for the upgraded armour he had shed during his collision with the ground. The individual pieces were scattered here and there, crumpled and torn. A greave embedded in the rock, complete with booster, still spluttered flames.
As the service droid struggled to his feet, a thunderous explosion shook the ground, and smoke plumed in the air. The complex had been breached.
"I do hope Master Anakin and the others got out safely."
"Of course we did," the familiar voice answered. Anakin stood smiling at the lip of the crater, offering the droid his hand. "When have my plans ever failed?"