Chapter 9: Send Anakin
Anakin's eyes widened in surprise. He was actually going to fight General Grievous after all? He and Ahsoka pushed their way to the hologram.
Anakin asked, "But Master, what if the General tries to escape? If I'm not there then who'll catch him?"
Obi-Wan looked at Ahsoka.
"Leave it to her." He said.
Ahsoka couldn't breath. She gasped, "Master Kenobi, you really mean it?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "Indeed I do. We will rendezvous if we realize Grievous made another dash to hyperspace. But for the time being, you'll be in charge."
Ahsoka bowed her head low to Obi-Wan.
"I won't let you down!"
When the hologram finally died down and vanished, Anakin and Ahsoka ran to their cockpits. Anakin opened the hatch of his starfighter and hopped inside. Ahsoka did the same as Anakin once again strapped on his headset. Anakin saw R2-D2 rolling his way into the ship's astromech socket, ready for action.
When the two finally closed their hatches and turned on their comlinks, Anakin told the clone pilot, "Were ready." The main hanger doors opened, making a squeaking sound.
"Way ahead of you, General. When you get on Yavin IV, General Kenobi will inform you of his location on your wrist comlink."
Anakin nodded as his starfighter somersaulted out of the main hanger, Ahsoka gliding close behind. Anakin picked up Ahsoka on the comlink.
"May the force be with you, Snips."
Ahsoka's lip formed a plucky grin as she replied, "You can count on it, Sky Guy!"
The two starfighters parted ways, Anakin's flying into the jungle of Yavin IV, Ahsoka's in attack position perched on top of the Attack Cruiser. Ahsoka kept her big blue eyes on Yavin IV.
Come and get some, Grievous! Ahsoka thought as she cracked her knuckles. I'm ready….I won't let Master Kenobi down!
. . .
Anakin broke through Yavin's atmosphere and got his first glimpse of the green jungle. It was so thick he couldn't see any sign of Obi-Wan's starfighter.
R2 gave a frustrated beep that made Anakin grin. "I know, Artoo, but not to worry. I'll get him on my holoprojecter." Anakin clicked it on and said to it, "Obi-Wan, are you in?"
Obi-Wan, who was still huddling behind the bush, watching the Separatist base for any more droids, heard static from his holoprojecter. He activated it and gave a sigh of relief when he saw Anakin on the screen. He had the appearance that he was piloting a starfghter, Obi-Wan reasoned.
He gave Anakin a teethy smile and said, "I'm glad your here, Anakin!" Anakin smiled, a small dimple forming by his lip.
"As am I, Master. Give me a second, I'm getting coordinates to your location. Stand by."
The holoprojecter, which was a part of the ship's cockpit, buzzed as R2-D2 guided the starfighter on an invisible trail, using the data from the projector. Obi-Wan, who's blue form was still on the holoprojector, added, "Make sure you land a few miles away from the base, don't want to attract even more attention."
"Alright, Obi-Wan."
"You'll walk." Obi-Wan added.
"Sure."
Just as Anakin's fingers reached to turn off the holoprojecter, Obi-Wan added, "No wait! Bring your droid. I have a plan."
. . .
After Anakin and Obi-Wan had a quick discussion on the new plan Obi-Wan had thought up, Anakin had to agree, "It is a good plan…we'll do it."
Just as Anakin spoke his last words, R2 landed the starfighter into the jungle, plunging into a pool of leaves. Anakin laughed as the leaves levitated into the air, covering the surprised astromech droid until he looked like a bush.
Obi-Wan gave a stern look at Anakin through the hologram, like the one you give to an immature child. Anakin coughed and stopped laughing. "Alright, Obi-Wan. Wait for us." Obi-Wan's blue image flickered of the screen.
Before Anakin could even lift a finger to pop off the hatch, he noticed two battle droids patrolling in the distance. When they spotted Anakin's starfighter, they began running toward the ship, their blasters ready. Anakin smiled.
This is where the fun begins.
When the two battle droids had approached the ship, they could see nobody inside…from at least their point of view. One of the droids looked at his partner.
"There's nobody there!" It said. The other droid crossed it's arms and replied, "I was sure I saw somebody—"
The hatch popped open and Anakin jumped out, his lightsaber glowing. When he landed, the two battle droids were quickly disposed of.
R2, who had been hiding behind the starfighter, swiveled out his third leg and rolled up next to Anakin.
"Good work, Artoo." He said to the little droid. "Looks like we're in the right place."
. . .
Knowing that the Separatist base was near, Anakin had walked around the forest silently. His boots made no sound as he and R2 made there way through the jungle. Then Anakin stopped dead in his tracks. R2 beeped curiously, and swayed from left to right. Anakin signaled R2 with a finger to his lips as his eyes focused on the bush next to him. Finally, a head popped out from behind. Then an arm, holding a blue lightsaber.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin realized, glad to have found him. Obi-Wan stood up and put his lightsaber back to hang on his utility belt. "Oh, Anakin. It's you. I thought you might be another pesky droid."
"We ran into two on the way here."
"I thought you would."
R2 was whimpering behind Anakin. Obi-Wan tried to stifle a smile, but let a small smirk creep over his face. "I see someone wants some attention." He said. "But don't worry, Artoo. You'll be very much needed in this assignment."
Anakin patted R2's head to comfort him as Obi-Wan went over the plan. "Artoo, your going to go inside the base….alone. It will look too suspicious with a Jedi with you, I'm sure. Try to act as if you're one of their own astromech droids and blend in. If any battle droid gets in your way, tell them simply that you're on an errand for Grievous." Obi-Wan said.
Anakin added, "Battle droids will buy anything. They're not that smart."
Obi-Wan continued, "We'll give you some explosive charges. You'll set them up. Anakin and I will be waiting outside."
R2 beeped a question.
"Why? Well, if General Grievous is in there, we'll know what his instinct is when he finds out his base is going to explode."
Anakin grinned slyly. "Run. He's going to try to escape for sure. But he's gonna run into some trouble."
Anakin patted the lightsaber hanging from his waist, just to make sure it's there. It was. Then Obi-Wan threw R2 a comlink, which the droid caught with his retractable hand. "If you need any help, just give us a call."
Anakin leaned down on his knees. He asked the small droid, "Are you ready for this, Artoo?" R2 beeped, vibrated, swayed, and rotated his head the whole way around.
Obi-Wan grinned and asked, "What did he say?" Anakin replied with a white smile.
"He said there's no droid better fit for this mission."
