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Chapter 2

Escape

The Sith advanced slowly, sickeningly smug.

Obi-Wan thrust his comlink at Padme, leading her to the escape pod. "Tell R2 to move!"

Padme stumbled inside. She shut the door breathlessly. Obi-Wan switched on his lightsaber to block an attack. He pressed on the blade, gaining leverage. He shoved the Sith back. Then he parried the next foe. He sensed a third man behind him, ducking a slash that beheaded another Sith.

Aided by the Force, he leapt away to gather his wits.

Sealed in the escape pod, Padme yelled into the comlink: "R2D2! Are you there?" The droid swiftly replied. "You need to get down here! Obi-Wan's in trouble; there's too many Sith!" R2 asked what she expected. "I don't know! Just think of something!"

Obi-Wan wound back his arm, heaving his saber. It spun like a cyclone through one of their legs. The Sith writhed on the floor as Obi-Wan's sword flew back to his hand.

The other four charged. Obi-Wan deflected—but took glancing blows to his shoulder and hip. Adrenaline rushed through him. He kicked one in the chest, sending him hurtling to the wall.

Still three more advanced. He swiftly backpedaled, waiting for an opening. They didn't attack right away, only tauntingly jabbing. Obi-Wan parried them patiently.

As they began their true attack, the fire alarm blared. Retardent chemicals sprayed from the ceiling. The Sith's focus broken, Obi-Wan struck. He speared one man's stomach. Then he planted and spun, elbowing another man, who fell to his knees. He cut down the third Sith, before decapitating the kneeling one.

The familiar stench of person-grist assaulted his senses. Cross-sections of organs splayed out on the floor. The Force is violent, even the Light.

Obi-Wan's pain registered. He staggered, nearly tripping on a disembodied head. His heavy legs carried him to the pod.

Padme ripped the hatch open, eyes like saucers. "Obi-Wan! Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Now where is—?" R2 wheeled around the dead Sith. "There you are! What took you so long?" The droid mentioned the alarm. "Oh, that was you. Nicely done."

R2 rolled into the pod. Obi-Wan shut the hatch, while R2 worked the computer. At the end of the hall, a bulkhead opened. Heavy footfalls thundered on the deck. "Move it along, R2!" Obi-Wan demanded. Outside the pod, he heard a familiar cough. The clop of metal feet knotted his stomach.

"The escape pods!" Grievous bellowed. "Open them all!"

A mob of droids and Sith darkened the window.

Obi-Wan growled, "Now, R2!"

The entire row of pods ejected into space.

Grievous barked into his comlink: "Bridge, destroy them all!"

Seconds later, he watched his ship open fire. There was a series of bright flashes before the remaining pods dropped into the atmosphere.

Grievous remained where he was for a long moment. There was no way of knowing if he'd hit his target. A low growl of frustration rumbled from his throat. He stomped down the corridor, Sith and droids parting around him.