Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them.

"aaaa"-talking out loud. "aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com.'aaaaa'-inner thoughts.aaaaa-talking through a Bond. "aaaa" (bold)-another language. ("aaa") (bold, italics, and paraenthis)-talking through a holo or com in another language.

AN: Here it is at last! The final chapter in the Malevolence-arc:) Malevolence was always an interesting arc to me because it was the first time in the Clone Wars we would see either side trying out scary new weapons with dangerous and deadly power, but it would not be the last. We would see the Separatists build and try a few more including new versions of Commando Droids, Battle Tanks, and the Defoliator. We also know that Sideous has the plans for the Death Star. Of course the Republic isn't immune as they use a weapon that destroys droids later in the series and Palpatine orders experimentation on the Zilo Beast, even its death to create new armor for the Clones. This doesn't include the various ships, blasters, etc. that get updated throughout the show.

Thank you sydpowell135 for the review:) I'm sad to to learn about Netflix's decision to take down the Clone Wars, luckily I have them on DVD. I won't be covering every episode in Crossing Battlefields, so I recommend the site KissCartoon. It's where I found Clone Wars to begin with.

Also there is at least a couple moments where Ahsoka will act younger than her age, but again I have my reasoning. The one moment is when Anakin gets visibly upset. While Ahsoka has seen Anakin upset before (Moonbeam), it is still a rare sight for her so she is not yet used to Anakin getting so upset or angry. Because of her somewhat sheltered upbringing where angry outbursts would have been few and far between, she seeks out comfort with the attitude of a child younger than thirteen.

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A plan is only as good as those who see it through. Destroy Malevolence, Clone Wars Season One

Chapter Five-All Things Break

It drifted slowly through space. Drifted as fast as it could. Smoke and fire billowed from the sides of the massive ship as it desperately tried to flee the three Republic Venator-class Star Destroyers behind it.

The turbolasers on the cruisers fired without end. Bolt after bolt of blue let the guns at blazing speed, striking. Landing hit after hit after hit on the already crippled vessel. Adding onto the damage, but not slowing it down at all.

The pursuit had been going on for some time now. Ever since it failed to destroy the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center. The Malevolence's greatest weapon had been destroyed. Its ion cannon disabled for the moment and unable to create the death and destruction it had earlier left in its wake.

Now it was struggling to get back to the safety of Spearatist space. A safety that the Republic could not allow it to reach.

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"Tell me Commander...What is the damage to the Malevolence?"

"The good news Sir is that she's lost her primary shields and stablizers...The bad news is that because she is so massive, she can take all the firepower our ships can throw at her and still keep going." Obi-Wan sighed and pulled at his beard. The Clone Commander had been right. The news was good and bad. If the Malevolence outran them, it could reach Separatist space and the Separatists could repair it. Than the Malevolence would be back in the field, striking fear into the hearts of any Republic ship that could cross its path.

Plo looked at the younger Master and could see the wheels in his head turning. Like all Jedi, Obi-Wan was a warrior; but he was a negotiator. He was the Force's Negotiator named in prophecy. With a lightsaber in his hand Obi-Wan could cut down many. With his words though he could save thousands. Obi-Wan was a man of thinking first and action later. It was times like these that Plo saw the Master struggle against his true nature and fire first.

"We will need reinforcements."

"I know..."

"Which is why we're here!" The well-known and well-loved voice echoed across the bridge. Bonds that had been strained snapped back to a relaxed level and Obi-Wan's soul sang as the rest of it returned to his side. He turned and gave a smile as his wife, brother, and sister strolled onto the bridge. Analise took her place by Obi-Wan's side, the pair allowing themselves to clasp hands and nothing more in the present situation.

His eyes though...Obi-Wan's eyes darkened and promised a proper reunion to his bride later. Her eyes shinned brightly even as her cheeks flushed and she turned her head slightly away.

Ahsoka tilted her head, probing at the Bonds she shared with Analise and Obi-Wan. Give her a battle with a dozen clankers, a mission to take down a Seppie base and she had absolutely no issue with either. Show her love, romantic relationships and her mind went blank. It was like there was something hidden in the looks and touches, the kisses she saw her siblings exchange with their spouses. Padme had explained to her somewhat, but Ahsoka still only had a vague idea...And Anakin was happy to keep it that way.

Feeling the Togruta's curious prodding, Obi-Wan pulled back and returned to the business at hand. "It is good to see all three of you safe and sound. Anakin, were you able to contact Luminara like you planned?"

"Yes, but she won't be able to help us right now. Master Luminara is busy dealing with her own problem. She found a fleet of Separatist reinforcements nearby. So until she's chased them off, she's not coming."

"That means it will be up to us to find a way to destroy the Malevolence." Ahsoka's eyes darted to her normally soft-spoken and gentle big sister. She hadn't yet grown use to the calmness in Analise's voice, the hardness in her eyes with which the unwilling Commander discussed war and battle tactics. It was a far cry from the Analise who healed her wounds with bandages and kisses and cried over some commercial on the holo-net.

"Destroy it?"

"Yes..." Analise sighed and rubbed her forehead. Her headaches had increased since the war had started. They were fed by the turmoil of emotions, the rage of battle, and the requirement to at times destroy needlessly. Both Obi-Wan and Anakin frowned. Anakin reaching up took the hand rubbing at her forehead and brought it down. He took her pain into him and released it into the Force much like Obi-Wan was doing as the Master rubbed her back.

"If we don't destroy and it gets to Separatist space, they could repair it and maybe make it even more powerful and deadly. You know this Ahsoka."

"Yes...But it just sounded funny hearing Ana say it."

"War forces us to change Ahsoka, even if it is just for the moment, into beings we usually would not be."

"The challenge little Soka," Plo's solemn voice had the Padawan focused on her foster father, "Is to make sure that we do not loose our true selves or let our beliefs fall away." He rested a clawed-hand on her shoulder as she moved to stand next to him. "Even Jedi struggle with this challenge Ahsoka."

Admiral Yularen stood behind them, listening. Sometimes he wondered why the Jedi had been given almost total control of the GAR. Then in these moments, he remembered why and he thanked Force for it.

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'Curse all Jedi who draw breath!'

At least the stupid droids had managed to silence the alarms that had threatened to deafen him with their shrill and never-ending blaring. That didn't stop the explosions from erupting all over the lower portions of the ship or reports from flooding in about new damage and lost droids. He wanted to slam his fist down, crush whatever droid or console or anything except it would only damage something else and anger the Count further.

Plus he was too busy clinging onto the metal bars so that he didn't fall over to hit anything.

"Sir...We've lost our primary weapon...Ummm...And the hyperdrive has been disabled." Grievous rounded on B1-1962 with a snarl.

"I know that your worthless piece of scrap!"

"General! General!" This time is was B1-1969 that found itself the object of glaring yellow eyes farmed by a metal face-plate. "Ummm...Our forward engine is starting to shut down...We could be dead in space soon..."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" The roar echoed over the bridge and would have sent droids running if they weren't already afraid of what Grievous might do just because the ship was falling apart.

It really wasn't their fault though, their logic circuits tried to compute. After all they were just battle droids.

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At first glance, it was a touching picture. Ahsoka at one of the Resolute's consoles, going over the information coming across the scanners. Analise by her side, helping to interpret the information that Ahsoka was unsure about. Not that there was a lot that Analise needed to help Ahsoka understand. She seemed to be able to pick up anything that had to do with ships or combat at the drop of a hat just like her older brother.

For it was not such a touching picture when looked at a second time, but a sadder one that painted a bleak reality. The scanner was feeding them what information it could about the continuing damage the Malevolence was sustaining under the heavy firepower of the Republic ships. Baby-blue and sky-blue eyes often darted up from the scanner to the scene outside the viewport of the fiery ship limping just in front of them. It was a learning lesson, sisters spending time together against a backdrop of war.

The Admiral and three Jedi Generals stood a few feet away. Their eyes shifted from the Padawan and Knight-Commander to the Malevolence that seemed to slow down with each inhale and exhale of breath. "Admiral, status report please!"

"They are not attempting to jump to hyperspace Sir," Yularen responded. His mouth turned downwards in thought. "Which means that they hyperdrive might be damaged and therefore disabled!"

"This is our chance." Obi-Wan raised his voice so that it could be heard over the Resolute's bridge and picked up by the com to cross over to the other two cruisers. "All ships, target the bridge with maximum fire power!"

Ahsoka's eyes grew wide as the lasers of their ships grew stronger and flew forth from guns at a faster pace. She had flown in battles before, but this was new. This time she wasn't on a gunship being moved to a planet's surface to begin an frontal assault or trying desperately to escape on a run-down freighter. This time she was on a powerful cruiser attempting to tear apart a bigger, at one-time more dangerous ship.

For a moment Ahsoka felt sorry for Grievous and the droids on the Malevolence. But only for a moment.

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"We have sustained...Extensive damage of the ship," Grievous growled as another burst of rounds from the Republic ships started the Malevolence shaking and threatened to throw him off balance. The holo of Dooku flickered more than usual, but even through that flickering he could feel the Sith Lord's unhappy glare. Grievous detested Dooku for the power over him that the Count held and the fact he was a former Jedi, but even the cybernetic General would admit to at times being scared of the Count. After all, the Separatist leader had been the one to train him in the art of lightsaber combat. "We are facing destruction if we cannot get the Republic dogs to back down."

"Do not fear General. I have a way that you can make up for your failure and prevent the Republic from destroying the Malevolence." The voice seemed to drip with a combination of low anger and disgust that this most powerful of warriors would fail at a seemingly simple task. "Arrangements have been made for trap that will give you an advantage over the Jedi."

"I do not need to use such trickery to beat the Jedi or their forces!"

"Do not be a fool and add even more to your mounting failure General! Need I remind you of that you have control of our prized warship? It shall be upon your head should it fall."

"My Lord, I can assure you that neither or nor the Malevolence shall ever fall to the Republic or their Jedi lapdogs!"

"Then follow my orders! At this moment heading towards you is a very important and very vulable Republic Senator. If you capture her, than they will call off their attack and you should be able to escape. Do not fail General!"

"I will do as you say...There will be no failure on my part!" Though it formed a ball of repressed rage in what remained of his vital organs, Greivous bowed low before the Count. 'One day,' He vowed, 'That will be me ruling over all that I see.'

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Seated in the pilot's seat of her yacht, Padme felt a little bit freer than she had for a few weeks. She would never admit it out loud, but there was a part of her that was jealous of her Jedi family members. Those family members that were out in the field, facing down legion after legion after legion of Separatist battle droids and setting one Republic free or another.

She felt left out, seating in her plush Senate office in one of the most recognized buildings in all the galaxy or twiddling her thumbs as one long-winded Senator or Representative held forth for what seemed like entire days on one bill or another. Politics had always been her chosen career even as a little girl swimming in the crystal clear waters of Naboo, but Padme had thought she would be doing more than just drafting speeches or laws that were more often than not quickly shot down.

Maybe that was one of the reasons she had jumped at joining the Friends of the Jedi polictical group. A small, secretive, and invitation-only group found within the inner circle of the Loyalist Committee. Those members who advocated a galatic governement with a smaller role and more protective rights for the newer Jedi Order.

At first it might have been the lure of an adventure, but now her reasons to stay had changed to a near all-consuming desire to protect her family.

Still, adventure did call which was why she was even now hurtling through space to a secret meeting and defending her reasoning to the nervous and talktive protocol droid her husband had given her. "My Lady, are you sure the information Chancellor Palpatine gave you is reliable?" Padme sighed and glanced at C-3PO.

"Not really..." Padme barely believed anything that came out of the Chancellor's mouth these days after she learned that he was behind or backing some of the new legislation that would take away huge chunks of the Jedi Order's autonomy which allowed them to serve the galaxy as peacekeepers for all and force them even further under Senate control. "But he claims it was given to him by the Supreme Executive of the Banking Clan and hinted that they were leading the Separatist Alliance." That right there Padme knew was false. Dooku lead the Separatists controlled by his Sith Master. "Even if they don't, it will still be proof that they are working with the Separatists and could help bring a quicker end to the war." An alarm went off and Padme glanced down at the navigation screen tracking their route. "Look, we're approaching the system now." Padme pulled on the lever, dropping the yacht out of hyperspace.

But it wasn't a secret meeting that awaited them.

Instead it was a massive ship riddled with holes and bleeding flames that greeted the Senator and her droid. "Oh my goodness!" Threepo cried out, his voice filled with fear as he raised his arms up. Perhaps he thought that by blocking his optical receptors, the horror-filled sight would vanish. Padme frowned and cursed to herself, wondering just how much about this outcome the Chancellor had known.

"He was wrong...This is no meeting...This is a battle!" Honestly...She wasn't too surprised that the Chancellor had fed her false information. She had been half-expecting in a way.

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"Sir!" B1-1969's voice was filled some programmed excitement as it read the scanners and then made its report. "Our scanners are picking up a small ship off our brow!"

"Good..." Grievous tried to sound please, but this was Dooku's plan. "The hostage the Count found for us has arrived at last." His eyes watched B1-1969's scanners as sleek, sliver ship flew along the side of the Malevolence, seeking some way to escape the battle it had landed in.

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"That's strange..." Ahsoka looked on as Analise bent lower over their scanner, a frown on her face. The Togruta bent closer too, the white markings over her eyes rose high as they widened.

"What is it you two?"

"Master...Our scanners show a ship that has just dropped out of hyperspace." Ahsoka half-turned to the men, the markings lowering as her face became confused.

"I bet it's more reinforcements," Anakin stated with a careless shrug and ignoring the look of annoyence sent his way by Obi-Wan who thought shrugs to be inelegant and rude.

"It's not enemy reinforcements Anakin..." Analise had stayed bent low over the scanner having highlighted the new ship. "It looks like a H-type Nubian yacht." Her voice faded for the information coming through matched a Nubian yacht that she knew very well.

"What...Gunners halt all fire!" Obi-Wan let out a frustrated sigh. "What in all the Sith hells are they doing out here?"

"Ahsoka! I want you to contact that ship now!"

"I think I already know who might be on it Anakin..." He caught the tail-end of his sister's thought as her voice trailed off.

"No...She wouldn't be..."

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"Pilot of Naboo cruiser...This is Ahsoka Tano on-board the Resolute...Please identify yourself." Padme leaned over and flipped on the transmitter. She allowed herself to smile a bit at hearing Ahsoka's voice come over the com system. She sounded as though she was doing a very good job of keeping her cool in the tense situation.

"Resolute...This is Senator Padme Amidala of the Galatic Senate..." She touched the wedding ring stung on a chain and hanging beneath her clothes. How she longed to add Skywalker to her name so that all could know that she was proudly married to the Hero with No Fear.

"Padme? What in all of Tatooine are you doing out here?" Her husband's anxious voice filled her ears. She just knew that Analise and Obi-Wan would be standing right behind him. Obi-Wan with arm wrapped around Analise to give her comfort even as the young woman bit upon her lip and was filled to the brim with worry for the woman who had claimed her twin's heart and who in turn, Padme adored.

"I was sent on a secret mission by the Senate based on information given to the Chancellor." She watched Anakin's lips turn into a sneer. She knew just how much Anakin disliked his part as the Chancellor's favorite Jedi given how much the man seemed to loathe Analise and even played some part in her kidnapping not that long ago. "We were told that the Banking Clan was willing to negotiate a treaty.."

"There'll be no treaty today Padme. This area is highly dangerous."

"Obi-Wan's right Padme. Get out of here right now!"

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Sometimes Grievous' chuckles were more frightening than his roars of anger. He slapped a metal hand down onto B1-1962's chair. "Activate the tractor beam!" He ordered with glee. Soon he would have his hostage and the Jedi would have to let him go or risk her safety.

Maybe this plan of Dooku's wasn't so bad after all.

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The sliver yacht gave a shudder. As if it were a fish caught on a line, it began to slow move towards the burning Separatist ship. "I don't understand Mistress...Have we been hit?" The gold droid's voice held a hint of panic. His arms waved stiffly through the air as he head turned turned to one side, then another searching for any signs that they had been hit.

"No Threepo..." Padme shook her head, knowing that the next words out of her mouth would be sure to send Anakin into a fit. "It's much worse. It's a tractor beam!"

"Padme...What's happening? Talk to me!"

"It's the droid cruiser! They have us locked into a tractor beam and are pulling us on-board." Padme's honey-brown eyes widened as she watched the star and cruiser filled space beyond her viewports be replaced by burnt and broken metal. Already static was filling the com channels as the tractor beam brought the yacht to rest somewhat gently in the hanger. Almost like a parent laying their child in a crib. She shook her head and glared fiercely at where she pictured Anakin's eyes to be. "Don't let this stop you! I refuse to be some sort of bargaining chip to let them escape! Don't break off the attack! Destroy this monster of a ship! Don't break off the attack!"

Not wanting to stay on the com any longer, Padme hit it with her palm, killing off the transmission. She knew that in all likelihood Anakin would order the attack off and find someway to save her. If that was indeed going to be the case, then Padme was determined that she would do everything in her power to find some way to sabotage the ship from the inside and ensure its destruction.

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Even though she was now a Padawan under a Jedi General in the GAR and really far too old to be exhibiting such childish behavior, Ahsoka still wrapped herself around one of Analise's arms. She could feel her big brother's anger, saw it in the fist he clenched tightly as he tried to regain control. The depth of his anger, the way it burned at times like a sun scared her. She was not use to it and could only in fact remember one other time when Anakin had burned in his rage.

It had been when Analise had been kidnapped and a recording of her torture sent to the Temple as a means to lure Anakin to her location. He had nearly lost it then and it had taken everything Ahsoka had to keep her big brother from vanishing like her big sister. She had been scared then and while Anakin's temper blazed nowhere near as bright as it had during that nightmare, it still scared her now. Even though she knew that Anakin needed that Darkness inside him.

Her brother and Jedi Master turned sharply to the Admiral, catching sight of his baby sister clinging to his twin. Anakin forced himself to calm down, to release large chunks of his anger into the Force. Ahsoka had seen him at near Sun Level before. She was not ready to see that again. "Admiral I want you to tell the ships to stop firing on the Malevolence."

Isn't that what Grievous wants? The voice chimed in Anakin's head as Ahsoka slowly unwrapped herself from Analise and stared up at him with wide eyes. For us to stop our attack so he can get away?

Yes Snips it is, but Grievous forgot one thing...We are Jedi and we will always find a way to save others...No matter what!

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The hanger really wasn't any safer than the outside had been. Chunks from the ceiling fall down, crushing unlucky droids while others dragged out heavy hoses and tapped into the ship's dwindling water supply in an effort to put out just one of the hundreds of fires that warmed the ship.

"Maybe we should stay in here My Lady," Threepo's arms waved in a jerky fashion. If he was able to, he would wringing them in panic. "It doesn't look entirely safe out there."

"It's not entirely safe in here!" Padme shot back as her hands danced over the controls and she thanked the Force that Anakin had given her all those extra flying lessons. "How could I have been so stupid Threepio? This was clearly a trap and I walked right into! The Chancellor should have..." Here the Senator stopped.

She did not trust Palpatine as she once had as a naive Queen and optimistic Senator. Seeing and hearing about his attitude towards Analise, his secret backing of regulations that would target the Jedi had colored her view of him. Padme brushed away any thoughts that perhaps it was Palpatine who had created this trap. Instead he might have simply guessed and still passed the information along.

After all, Palpatine knew that his star no longer shone so brightly in the Senator's eyes.

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"General!" B1-1969 had though it was misreading the scanner, but the readings were coming in loud and clear. "The Republic ships have stopped firing! They remain close behind us though." It wasn't perfect, but at least the Malevolence no longer had lasers raining down upon it.

"Jedi...Always so predictable," Grievous purred. "Summon a pair of droids to attend me! I will head to the main hanger to greet our guest. Call for a repair team and continue the repairs! He would never admit, but he was grateful that Dooku's plan had worked.

Well as grateful as he could be.

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The Malevolence's size had created a problem during her construction. It was so massive that even for the droids who would be among the crew, it would take hours to move through it from one spot to another. The builders couldn't just shrink the ship down or else there would be no space for the gigantic ion cannon, but there would be so much wasted space if they crammed all the gears, engines, fuel, and power cells into a small area.

An enterprising Coruscanti had found a solution in the end. One that had sounded far-fetched, but had been the only feasible solution and had surprisingly worked when set into the ship's layout.

Tracks run through the Malevolence upon which rode trains. Trains that carried the troops to various points within the ship.

Grievous would never admit him, but he liked the trains that ran through the ship. The improvements he had undergone made him a better warrior, but there were times when he though he still felt the pain of when his worthless limbs of flesh and blood had been removed then replaced. Sometimes he could push past the bothersome phantom pangs. Other times it was hard, an effort to move.

At those times, he preferred to use the trains.

"We must return this ship to Count Dooku no matter what and intact," He barked at the pair of battle droids trailing him. They had reached one of the stations as they were termed. An opening at which they could get on or off the train that headed for the main hanger. One of the trains stopped and with a swipe of his hand, Grievous ordered his escort to stay behind as he stepped onto it. "There is no room for failure this time!"

"Roger, roger!"

"Roger, roger!"

The cybernetic General growled as the train he rode on begin the journey through the long twising tunnel that cut through ship.

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'Thank Force Ani showed me how to do this.' Padme's fingers flew over the control. She entered in the special code that Anakin had created and entered into the computer system the moment he had gotten his hands onto his wife's yacht. He hadn't been able to do much, but he added a few things in here and there. Things that he had made certain Padme knew about and could use. "Alright Threepo let's get moving!"

"Moving?"

"I set the ship to overload. Grievous or whoever he sends for us are in for a big surprise!" A small smirk worked it's way onto her face before she could stop it. 'Goodness! I am becoming a little more like Anakin!' She jumped up from her chair and pulled on Threepo's arm in forceful encouragement to get the droid to move.

"We're doomed..." She rolled her eyes.

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Anakin could no longer take it. The wheels in his mind were turning so fast, Analise could sense it and would not have been surprised to see smoke pouring from her twin's ears as he pushed his brain to the max. Ahsoka remained close by her side, but no longer clinging to her as Anakin's anger had subsided and been replaced by a driven need to save his wife.

To that end, he would need to go to the ship. He would need to board Malvolence.

His course decided Anakin turned his back sharply on the viewport through which he had witnessed his wife's capture. The Twilight was in the hanger. He would take Artoo with him. They could board the Malevolence easily without getting caught since all the ship's energy would be going towards just keeping it running. The shields would be down and with the vast majority of the droids too focused on repairing the ship, it would be nothing to land somewhere and sneak aboard.

"And just where do you think you're going?" There was really no need for Obi-Wan to ask. He knew where his brother and former Padawan was going, what he planned to do. After all if it was Analise, Obi-Wan would be doing the same thing.

"To go get her," Anakin shrugged with a careless air knowing just how much it bugged his very mannerly former Master. "After all someone has to step in and save her skin!" He only paused for a moment to look at Ahsoka. "Stay here Snips with Analise and Master Plo. You can help monitor us from there."

"Us?"

"Yes us...Do you really think I would let Anakin go off on his own into enemy territory?" Obi-Wan gave a sigh of the long-suffering before pressing a quick, sweet kiss to Analise's lips. If anything, he needed to tag along she simply to keep the Knight and the Senator from causing too much chaos. Captain Typho had been right. Padme could be just as much trouble as Anakin.

Plo watched the pair march away. Anakin almost trotting while Obi-Wan followed at a more sedate pace. He shook his head as though mentally scolding Anakin's reckless nature that pushed him to seek out harder, more dangerous challenges; but at the same time he secretly admired his nephew's daring and wondered if that was how the Jedi of the Old Republic were. "There he goes again." He shook his head almost ruefully as he turned to the remaining Skywalker siblings. "Running off after adventure."

"You know how Anakin is Uncle Plo."

"He always has to be the hero. I'm sure you'll get use to it Papa Plo."

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"Come on Threepo!" Padme whispered as loud as she dared. Threepo stuck his head out through the emergency exit by one of the landing legs. She fought not to roll her eyes as the scaredy-droid seemed not the least bit interested in jumping free of the overloading ship and finding some way to their freedom. "Hurry!"

"I am coming My Lady!" The protocol droid sounded huffy, almost offended at Padme's hurried whispers. "However I do voice my protests and state again that this seems incredibly dangerous."

"Duly noted...Now move it!"

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"Main hanger bay. Mind the gap. Mind the gap. Mind the gap." He wanted to reach up and throttle the annoying recording that extolled travelers on the train system to mind the gap as they got off.

Instead Grievous locked his arms behind his back and glared at the two new battle droids that awaited him. "Come with me you two!" Hopefully this pair was brighter than the gang of metal-heads that worked in the bridge. They seemed dimmer than most battle droids if that was even possible.

At least this pair seemed quiet which was good. He stalked towards the not very shiny yacht. The droids had already forced the landing ramp down. Grievous supposed that whoever was inside was probably cowering in some hiding spot and hoping that they were not found.

He sneered. Hope was worthless, weak. Hope was nothing.

A stack of cargo containers stood by the exit. Forgotten in the mad rush to put our fires and make repairs. No droid noticed the gold protocol droid or his human companion who had slipped into the gap between the containers and the wall. The pair leaned around the corner, watching as Grievous boarded the ship. The human silently praying that their little surprise went off without a hitch even as she pressed the droid back so that he would not be seen.

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The beeping was annoying. Loud and high enough to hurt what remained of ears. Even more annoying was the lack of a living body anywhere on board the yacht. His droids were not picking anything up and with the small size of the ship, Grievous could see that there was no good hiding place for a Senator and whoever might be traveling with the Senator.

Flashing lights caught the General's eyes and he took a closer look at the control panels. Screens were lighting up, blinking in time with the beeps. What was going on? One of the droids went up to a scanner, reading the information that was being screamed out from it. "Hey...Looks like the engines were set to overload..."

Grievous didn't wait to hear anymore. "Out of my way!" He shoved the droids aside, using his long metal legs to flee the soon to be destroyed yacht. The battle droids watched, confusion being fed to them from their programming.

"That was just rude!"

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A part of Padme was sad to watch as her ship exploded sending flames and fiery debris throughout the already blazing hanger. Thankfully the containers she and Threepo had hidden behind protected them from the blast though she had to brace herself as shock-waves jolted the floor under her feet.

Fire droids grabbed hoses and rushed to this latest blaze in a effort to put it out. If Padme hadn't been so tense, she would have laughed out loud as one droid tried to go further than its water hose was able to and was jerked back onto the floor with a clang. Its neighbor scolded its careless only to go flying through the air, gripping on tight to its own water hose as the pressure lifted him off the ground.

Shaking her head, Padme focused on the wreckage of her ship and prayed under her breath. Prayed that the explosion had been enough to end Grievous' reign of destruction. The droids certainly acted as if no one, living or metal had survived the overloaded engines.

What remained of the ship, bits and pieces of broken and jagged metal shook. Padme wondered if perhaps she had overdone it with the overload and a second explosion had been triggered. The Senator held her breath. Waiting and hoping...

It was not a blast of flames sprinkled with brightly colored sparks that launched into the air. It was a metal fist, punching its way through the debris laying over it. An outraged roar echoed through the hanger and the droids backed away. Even Padme swore that her knees were knocking as General Grievous broke free of the wreckage, not looking as it he had been damaged in anyway.

"Alert the crew! Sound the alarm!" Every word that spewed forth his mouth hidden somewhere beneath his helmet overflowed with his anger as the droids slowly approached him. "There are stowaways on board and I want them found. NOW!"

His yellow eyes seemed to be looking right at their hiding space though Padme knew that there was no possible way he could see them behind the containers and there was no way she was going to let that tin sleemo catch her.

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Do I even need to ask if you already have a plan formed or not to save Padme? The door slide shut behind Obi-Wan as he marched onto the Twilight's small bridge. Anakin was already punching commands and coordinates into the control panel while Artoo's head swiveled back and forth watching the pair. The astromech was well use o the silent conversations his Master had with his Jedi family members and knew that if any information was important, it would be spoken aloud for him to hear.

Of course I have plan Master, Anakin's voice rang over the Bond with affection as Master had become a nickname for Obi-Wan now just Padawan was Obi-Wan's nickname for his brother. A brilliant one at that.

I don't doubt that Anakin...But do you have a plan B? As a Jedi you know very well that often the first plan does not happen as it was laid out so a back-up is needed.

Well...I don't have a plan B...At least not yet! He ignored Obi-Wan's raised eyebrows and switched to speaking aloud for Artoo's shake as he went over the parts of the plan he did have. "I do have a plan though to get on that ship."

"Really?" Obi-Wan glanced at Artoo who only rocked back and forth. "And what tell is this brilliant plan?"

"The Malevolence is so heavily damaged that I'm betting their sensors aren't working. I'll be able to take the Twilight around them from behind and dock it at one of the emergency airlocks our scanners picker up. We can get in the ship that way." Anakin's eyes were lit up as he thought of his, as always brilliant plan while Obi-Wan's eyes darkened. His mind was instantly going over all the things that might go wrong, all the holes that weren't filled.

"That's it? That's the plan? Fly in from behind, land at one of the airlocks, walk in the door, and hope they don't see us?"

"Yeah...Pretty much."

"Oh...Sounds brilliant. Well let's get going before Analise finds some way to sneak onto the Twilight to come help us."

"On it Master!"

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She tried to hurry Threepo along. The dim light of the corridors littered with rubble from the attack made the ship feel eerie...Almost haunted. At any moment she expected some sort of boogy-man to jump out at them, clobbering Threepo to one side before dragging Padme off to whatever hell it had spawned forth from.

In a way it was right. Padme could hear the metal tramping of droids as they marched down the corridor upon hearing Grievous' bellowing command to find the stowaways. While not the Boogeyman, they were his servants. Searching, searching for the prey that had so far stayed free from their overlord's grasp.

Eyes darted first to one wall than another. They needed to escape, but they couldn't do that until she had called for help. If she could find a com unit, she would be able to break in and send a message out to the fleet, to her family, to Anakin. They could form a plan from there, finding a way to destroy the ship and maybe even Grievous.

There! A black box stuck onto the side of one of the walls like it was an afterthought by the builders and there was no time to sink the box all the way into the wall.

All the better for her. She would need to hot-wire it in order to send out her call for help. Luckily a skill she had been well-trained in by her gear-head husband who had mastered it an early age. Her hands latched onto the side of the box. Double luck! The bottom part of the panel was open, exposing the wires inside. It was like the crew had started to repair it, then stopped as repairs far more important caught their attention.

Threepo hovered by her elbow as she knelt down on the ground, shifting her hands to carefully work among the wires. There was no point in getting shocked. The tramping grew louder, closer.

"Please My Lady..." Threepo's voice began to sound whinny and begging. "Those battle droids are getting closer..."

"Hush Threepo! I know that already." She was too far away to turn him and it would take too long to switch him back on if the droids did indeed march around the corner towards them. "But I need to get this com panel working so that I can call the fleet."

The tramping grew closer...Grew closer...

Threepo gathered what courage he had been programmed with and dared a look around wall support that was keeping them hidden from view. Battle droids were coming towards them. In the lead was Grievous himself, his head twitching from side to side as he sought out any odd movements in his corridors. "My Lady...Grievous is coming!"

Padme's hands dropped quickly from the panel as she stood up and hurriedly swept the nearby area. There was no time to run and Grievous would catch them anyway. She had to find a hiding place and quick.

Nearby a pair of panels had been propped against the wall. The droids had most likely simply picked them up and left leaning against the wall as they moved on to other areas that needed more desperate attention. There was just enough space for her and Threepo to hide behind. She shoved the protocol droid as hard as she could, pushing him behind the panels before slipping behind them herself.

There was gap that she could put her face to and she watched as Grievous crept closer...

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He had no clue how that rotten little Senator was staying free from his grasp, but it was making the General madder and madder. He wanted to wring her scrawny little neck when he finally did catch her, but that might kill her and cost him a hostage. It would make Dooku madder than he most likely already was.

Instead he stomped his way down the corridor, ignoring the droids marching at his back. Wisely none of them spoke, too afraid of what Grievous would do to them in his bad mood if one of them dared to say a single word.

"General are you there? Come in General." Grievous growled and swung sharply to face the com panel on the wall that had come to life.

"What?" The droids behind him took a step back.

"On closer inspection, the damage to the hyperdrive was not as bad as we first thought. We should have it repaired and ready to go in no time."

"Excellent...I must inform Count Dooku." Grievous turned around and jabbed a finger at battle droids' Captian. "Take some of your troops and continue the search for the stowaways. Alert me as soon as you have found them."

"Roger, roger!"

Maybe the news that they would be soon returning with both the Malevolence and the hostage. Perhaps the Count would be in a far more forgiving mood.

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A panel moved. Shifted as a very brave and daring Senator inched her way out from behind it as the battle droids marched away. Behind her a gold protocol droid lurked and begged for her to stay hidden so that neither of them were caught.

There was no way she was going to hide though. She needed to contact the fleet more than ever. This might be their only chance to at least destroy the massive cruiser crusher.

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Obi-Wan tightened his grip on the controls in front of him as Anakin flew them closer and closer to the burning Malevolence. This was wild chance.

A reckless chance.

A chance that could backfire in so many ways. I must point out once again that if they catch us they will pulverize us Anakin.

You worry too much Obi-Wan. They're too busy fixing the ship to notice us...And since when do you learn words like pulverize?

Blame your baby sister and Padawan. He heaved a mental sigh. I guess I shouldn't be too worried. I trained you so I know that after all subtly is not a strong point with you.

And whose fault would that be Master? After all you taught me everything I know. The Master snorted.

That's not totally true. You seem to forget all the time you spent with Da and Kit and Qunlin and Plo and...

I get it! But it's still mostly your fault. Smirking Anakin twisted his controls, sending the Twilight into a gentle spin to tease his brother. He knew that Obi-Wan was never a fan of wild flying and he always enjoyed watching the normally cool and calm Negotiator turn pale and clamp his mouth shut just in case his rations rolled a little too much in his stomach.

On this occasion though, the Knight decided to go easy on his Master and only executed a couple of lazy rolls before letting the Twilight lay on side as he pulled it up alongside the Malevolence and latched onto an emergency airlock.

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Things were tense on the bridge, so B1-1959 and B1-1961 had slipped away. Droids they might be, but even they could get restless and annoyed. A stroll through the corridors exchanging what passed for gossip among droids was as relaxing as an oil bath which they hardly got anyway.

A thud.

A jolt.

The two battle droids found themselves stumbling. "What was that?"

"Probably another explosion."

"But I heard something...Like a ship docking at one of the emergency airlocks."

"Your gears are twisted. Only someone crazy would do something like."

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"You're crazy!"

Anakin rolled his eyes as the lift reached the airlock doors that opened onto the Malevolence. It was not the first time Obi-Wan had called him crazy and it would most certainly not be the last. "You spun...Spinning is no flying at all!" Another eye roll.

"Spinning is still a pretty cool trick and it got the job done." He reached out and smacked the button to open the doors while Obi-Wan's eyes lifted to the heavens in a silent plea.

"Well keep the noise down at least. The last thing we want is for anyone to know we're..."

"Ahhh! I knew it! It's them!"

"Oh no..." As one Master and Knight jumped forwards, pulling their lightsabers from the belt and igniting them in the same easy move. A move very nearly identical after years spent training together. Obi-Wan slashed upwards across a metal body while Anakin slashed downwards across it. The droids, with no blasters had no chance and were reduced to nothing more than four pieces of scrap on the floor.

"Well at least they don't know we're here..."

"Yet Anakin. They don't know we're here yet."

"Well, we'll just be more careful. You stay here Artoo and wait for us."

"Yes Master."

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"You don't have to tell me whose idea this was Master Plo. Such a bold strategy is Anakin's trademark after all."

"That's my Master and big brother," Ahsoka chirped with pride as Analise's hands rested on her shoulders. Her big sister shook her head, smiling at how Ahsoka so clearly worshiped their brother and all signs indicating that such hero worship would not be ending anytime soon.

"We trust in Anakin Master." The holo of Jedi Master Luminara Unduli turned slightly to regard the female Skywalker twin. "Obi-Wan is with him. I have every confidence that not only will they rescue Senator Amidala, but they will find some way to further cripple the Malevolence."

"And even if they don't, the ship is still severely damaged. As soon as they are off the ship, we will be able to restart our attack, but we will need reinforcements."

"Understood Master Plo. We have wrapped up here, so I will give the orders for my fleet to join you. We will be there as quick as we can. May the Force be with you."

"And with you." Plo nodded his head and the girls bowed as Luminara's holo faded away.

"Do you think Master Luminara will make it in time?"

"We must have faith Ahsoka. As always have faith."

"Excuse me Sirs," Admiral Yuleran took in the tense figures of the Knight and the Master, the Padawan who for all her bravado was sticking like a baby tooka to her older sister. "But we're receiving a signal from inside the Malevolence."

"Inside?" Analise looked at Plo before closing her eyes and searching along the Bonds for anything she might have missed while talking with Luminara. "I don't think it's Obi-Wan or Anakin. I get the sense they just made it onto the ship."

"Which means it must be Padme!" Yularen nodded.

"I agree that it must be the Senator. I thought that perhaps Padawan Ahsoka might like to take the lead on linking us all in the call so that a plan may be formulated together." Ahsoka's eyes widened. She turned to her sister and foster father who both nodded.

"Go for it Ahsoka!"

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Running was easy for Jedi. Students often started their day with laps on a course that ran around the Temple and would later run more laps before their afternoon combat lessons. Masters and Knights often employed laps as punishments for Padawans who misbehaved.

Not that Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon used laps to punish either one of the twins. Their favored methods of punishment were groundings, lectures, extra meditation, and essays. Anakin grimaced as he thought of those days not too long ago. He would have preferred to have run laps.

In any case, running was easy for Jedi. Obi-Wan and Anakin weren't even breaking a sweat as they ran down the corridors. They could even hold a casual conversation and sometimes did.

The com at Anakin's wrist began to beep with an incoming message, flashing green on and off. Anakin held up a hand, signaling Obi-Wan to stop as he slowed to a halt, lifting his com up to near his mouth and pressing the button to take the call. "Yes?"

"Master the Senator's contacted us. I'm patching her in now."

"Padme?" He could hardly believe it and could feel along their Bond that Obi-Wan could hardly believe it too. Then again this was his wife who could be just as reckless as him, if not more so at times.

"I'm here Anakin. Can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear. Are you alright? Where are you?"

"Threepo and I are fine. We're somewhere on the lower levels. We haven't been caught so far, but droids are searching everywhere."

"Stay hidden as best you can. Obi-Wan and I are on-board so we should find a place..."

"What?! What do you mean you're on-board the ship? What were you thinking?"

"That we could rescue you..." Obi-Wan chuckled as Padme started to chew out her husband. It was always entertaining to watch the Hero With No Fear cower in near submission before his angry wife.

"Don't think I didn't hear that Obi-Wan Kenobi!" It was funny until the sharp voice came after him. "I'm sure Analise is sick with worry with both of you on-board the ship."

"Which is why we need to get out of here fast. Ahsoka pull up the scans of the Malevolence. Is there anyplace we can meet up with Padme and Threepo?"

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Ahsoka could feel the pressure as her eyes danced over the scans of the Malevolence. She needed to get this right so that her family could get safely off the ship and back to the fleet. Then they could blast that killer machine into billions of tiny, jagged pieces and Republic ships would be able to travel without fear of a blast from an ion cannon.

Analise, Yuleran, and Plo stood behind her to one side. None of them spoke, indeed letting her take the lead and figure out the best meeting place for those on-board the enemy vessel. 'Come one Ahsoka...You can do this...' A wave of confidence washed her, sent from the gentle and loving heart that was her big sister. Ahsoka absorbed it and took a deep breath, centering herself in the Force.

She let it guide her...

Let it move her eyes and reading the information...

There!

"I found something. According to the scans there's a large open area in the center of the ship. It's pretty much right in the middle of the two locations. Head there and you should all be able to meet up."

"Got it! Did you hear that Padme?"

"Loud and clear. I'll be there waiting!"

There were no goodbyes. There was not time. Instead the transmissions simply ended. The lines went silent.

"You did well little Soka. You stayed calm even under all the pressure."

"Thank you Papa Plo...I guess the rest is up to them now."

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It would have surprised beings to know that battle droids could be and often were democratic. Democratic that is when it came time to deliver bad news to a superior. No battle droid wanted that job. No battle droid wanted to deliver the bad news the superior they were delivering it to was Grievous.

Ventress was bad, but Grievous was worse.

B1-1969 fidgeted as much as was possible for a droid as the lift doors to the bridge slide open and Grievous stalked up to the command chair. It kept a safe distance away. Not that it made a difference. If Grievous couldn't reach it from the chair, he would just jump up and come after B1-1969. "Ummm...Excuse me...General Sir?"

"What is it?"

"We...Sir we...An unauthorized communication was picked up coming from within the ship."

"What?!" Grievous whirled about and B1-1969 took another step back. "What was said?" His voice was soft, deadly calm. B1-1969 looked to its fellow droids, silently asking for backup. None was given as they turned to the control panel before them and quickly acted busy.

"Well...That's the thing Sir. It was noticed too late for us to hear what was said." It cowered in fear as Grievous growled and raised his fist in threat.

The General did nothing though. He had destroyed too many battle droids already in fits of rage and Dooku had called him out for it. Had scolded him in fact for wasting money through his careless destruction. "From now on I want all communications monitored and I want that Senator on this bridge!"

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Ahsoka's giant open space turned out to be the main transportation station. Rows of rails, layers of rails carried trains heading in one direction or another. They whizzed past at dizzying speeds that had Anakin longing to jump on one and tear it apart to see just what made them go.

Such curiosity though had its place and it was not in the middle of a dying battleship. He and Obi-Wan looked down, eyes scanning the other openings dotting the wall opposite them. A frown was etched onto the Master's face and lines nears his eyes creased in worry. I don't see Padme Anakin.

Give her a chance to get here Obi-Wan. She's not a Jedi like we are...The Knight closed his eyes and using the Force searched for the living signature of his wife. Analise had once told him her aura was a mixture of green and blue, like the grassy plains and blue skies of Naboo. He reached for that aura that unlike his sister he could not see. He pictured his beautiful angel in his mind.

There!

She is here Obi-Wan...I can sense her a little bit.

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Padme sighed as she reached the location Ahsoka had mentioned. Trains raced by, empty and she wondered what exactly was the point of keeping them running if nobody was using them. Her eyes scanned the area, but there was no sign of her secret husband or brother-in-law. "I see Anakin is late again." It was the excuse she gave to keep herself from worrying too much. She pressed a hand to chest, resting it on top of the ring that lay hidden beneath her clothes and she never removed from around her neck.

"But...We are not alone My Lady..." Threepo's voice whined he was worried was normally scared. This time it was real fear though as the droid had slowly turned when his sound receptors had picked up tramping metal feet getting closer and closer. Padme turned and realized just what had her nervous droid scared.

Battle droids. Only three of them and she did have her pistol, but she was no Jedi; able to take out three basic battle droids without breaking a sweat and Threepo would be no help.

"Intruders! Blast them!"

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The sounder of blasters caught the Knight's attention. His eyes went hard as they glanced down to an opening on the opposite side. Padme had pushed Threepo ahead of her, running down a red ramp to the tracks below. She turned, firing over her shoulder at the three battle droids who stood, blasters aimed at her. Thank Force they were missing.

"Found her!" Obi-Wan followed Anakin's gaze, then followed Anakin's lead as his younger brother leapt from the opening in the wall and landed on the ramp with a thud. His lightsaber was in hand, blazing bright without a second thought. The Master said nothing, in this content to follow Anakin's lead in rescuing Padme just as he knew that Anakin would follow his lead if Analise was the one who needed saving.

Which would be a rare event because for a Jedi, Analise was surrounded with an abnormal amount of protection. It came with being the Moon.

The pair leapt onto a moving train that was heading towards Padme. The Force kept them balanced as they sped closer to the fire fight.

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"Look! Jedi!" Three battle droids had come to catch a train to another section of the ship they had been assigned to. They had not been planning on Jedi being in the transportation center or a small fire fight erupting while they were there.

Two of the battle droids took their blasters up as fast as they could. There was no greater honor for a battle droid than shooting a Jedi dead. The speaker of the group though was horrified. The two with their digits on the triggers were new and untested before Jedi. It was not.

"Fire!"

"Don't shoot!"

Too late. Two blaster shots broke free from rifles and headed straight for the Jedi.

Two blaster shots came flying back after being bounced off of lightsaber blades and took out the droids who had shot them. The speaker shook its head. "I knew that was going to happen."

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Padme knew they were running out of space, but the droids kept coming. Threepo had reached the end of the ramp and stalled. The only place to go was onto one of the trains and there was no way the Senator would even think about...

"Jump Threepo!" Padme nudged him hard to get him to jump. Threepo was a protocol droid and not built for jumping onto fast-moving trains. Frustrated by his hesitation Padme gave him a small shove and Threepo fell...

Fell onto one train before sliding right off and onto another one! Padme shook her head before making her own jump. 'Thank goodness for combat training,' The former Queen thought to herself as she was able to land on one of the trains without issue. She had to duck down as it traveled under low-hanging beams, but she kept her balance.

"Padme!" The shout filled her to bursting with joy. Her eyes watched her husband as he leapt from the train he rode with Obi-Wan and landed on one that using the track next to hers.

"Anakin!" Even from here she could feel the warmth of his gaze. The burning love that threatened to consume her every-time they were together leaving her nothing but ash.

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"There they are!" Over the tracks a battle droid watched, flanked on either side by a pair of super battle droids. Cannon fodder like it was, but better cannon fodder with much more programming and much better weapons. "Fire!" It ordered one of them, pointing to a bit of bridge track ahead of one of the trains.

The super battle droid said nothing. They usually didn't since they were programmed solely for battle and not for anything else.

It raised its arm which was a blaster and fired. The purple blast looked small, but it hit its target with a bone-shaking explosion and destroyed the bridge.

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"They took out the bridge!" Padme called to Anakin. Her voice trembled a little now with fear. Seeing the smoking gap looming closer had her mind racing back to the droid factory on Geonosis where she had been trapped in a giant pot, about to have boiling hot metal poured into it.

Padme had stared Death in the face many times and she was facing it again. No doubt if she made it through this she would face Death many times over in the future. She did not regret her choices.

"You'll need to jump over to me!" Anakin's voice did not tremble. Did not betray for one moment whatever fear he might have about his wife racing closer and closer to injury or death. "I'll use the Force to catch you. Just trust me!"

Padme did trust Anakin. She trusted him with her life. So she jumped. A warmth wrapped around her and suddenly she wasn't falling, but floating. Almost flying as she was gently tugged to Anakin who caught her in his arms. The warmth that had wrapped around her had felt his arms. Strong, warm, loving, protective...How she wished she could just stay in them forever.

"Nice catch Anakin!" Obi-Wan called to them, smirking at the young couple. "I'll go and get Threepo!" Turning on his heel, Obi-Wan began to jog back on the moving train to reach the droid who was struggling to stay balanced on its train.

At that moment, Padme and Anakin didn't care about Threepo, Grievous, or the Malevolence. They were together again. In each other's arms again. "You do know that there are easier ways to be alone with me besides becoming a hostage," Anakin joked as he stroked the side of her face. Padme rolled her eyes.

"Just shut-up and kiss me!" It was a royal command. One not to be denied and Anakin was only too happy to comply. With a soft whoop he covered Padme's lips with his and the kiss seared their very souls. Their minds went almost blank as they pressed together, tasting each other, and taking all that they could get together on board an enemy ship.

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Obi-Wan balanced himself and searched the trains below for the gold protocol droid that Anakin had built when only a little boy, a slave on Tatooine. As annoying as the fussy, worrywart droid could be, Obi-Wan knew that Threepo meant a great deal to his brother no matter how often the Knight moaned and debated about fixing his programming.

Threepo was a link to his childhood, to days both good and bad. To his mother who loved him unconditionally, but had willingly let him go to have a better life even when it broke her heat to see him walk away. Threepo was a link to Anakin's past and memories that Obi-Wan wanted to help Anakin treasure and remember.

He spotted the shiny droid, hunkered down in an open, empty container. Threepo's head shifted slightly from side to side as he contemplated his surroundings and current circumstances in all his programmed bewilderment. Nothing in his vast stores of languages or vastly differing planetary protocols were of any use as he hurtled down a train track aboard a Separatist ship.

Closing his eyes Obi-Wan pictured the Force as thick cords. Cords that wrapped slowly, tightly around Threepo. "What's happening?" The droid cried out as he began to rise up out of the container and drift up, sideways towards the train Obi-Wan rode.

There was so much going on. So many distractions that tugged at Obi-Wan, that wanted to pull his attention away from saving Threepo and focus on them. The Master and General clamped his eyes shut and doubled his focus on getting the droid to him.

A horn blared and Obi-Wan's eyes shot open just in time to see an oncoming train slam into Threepo. The speed plastered the droid to the front of it, speeding away with new gold hood ornament deeper into the ship. "Help! Stop me!" Threepo's cries echoed up to Obi-Wan even as the train vanished.

"Blast it all!" Obi-Wan was not a man given to swearing, but in this case he would make an exception. Mentally cursing and making a vow to sternly tell Padme off for bringing Threepo with her instead of someone like Typho. "Anakin, Padme I've run into a slight problem. I've lost Threepo," He called over his com. He knew there was a good chance he was ruining a romantic moment. He also knew if that was the case, there would be payback.

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"Blasted Threepo! I am so reprogramming him..." Padme giggled as Anakin broke their heated kiss and cursed the droid. She knew he was bluffing. Anakin wouldn't touch one circuit on Threepo's shiny head unless it was a needed repair. He would complain again and again, make threats; but in the end Threepo would always stay the same.

"Poor Threepo." Anakin rolled his eyes and lifted his com to his lips.

"I'll get him Obi-Wan. Padme go back to the Twilight and wait for us there..."

"No! Listen...I overheard Grievous and some droids. The hyperdrive is almost fixed and soon they'll be taking off. We need to disable it or something!"

"I'm already heading in that direction Padme..."

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"I'll see what I can do and take care of that."

"Ha ha ha...I'd like to see you try Kenobi. You droids! Come with me...I have an old friend to see."

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"Be careful brother and may the Force be with you." Anakin switched com channels. "I still need to get you off this ship Padme...Artoo, are you there?"

("Loud and clear Master!")

"Good...I need you to scan the ship for Threepo. He's sort of vanished."

("Not again! He's always doing silly stuff like that.")

"I know...But we still need him. Scan the ship and we'll all meet back at the Twilight."

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Why oh why did Threepo have to be such a pain? Artoo whistled and beeped in affectionate irration as he rolled over to nearby dataport and plugged in. The last time he and Threepo had been in a similar situation had been on Geonosis. There the protocol droid had fallen onto a conveyor belt and swapped heads with a battle droid, marching into battle. At least he had been able to fix Threepo.

The protocol droid could be annoying and bossy with the smaller astromech, but it was fun to tease Threepo and he never made life boring.

The computer seemed to agree with Artoo's opinion as he politely asked her to halt the train that had carried his companion off. Since time was of the essence Artoo simply requested that the train be stopped, not how fast that stop had to be.

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"Someone stop this thing!" Threepo wailed even though there was no one there to hear his pleas. His metal hands slipped a little and he scrabbled, scratching the paint as he fought to keep his upper half from sliding off the train.

It was a long way to fall and it would hurt. Why would the Maker allow droids to feel pain? It made no sense, but then a great deal of things did not make sense to Threepo's perfectly intact and finely tuned logic circuits.

He tried calling out for help again. The only logical step clearly. "Someone stop this crazy thing! Please!" This time the Maker appeared to be listening. The train came round a small curve near a landing platform filled with cargo containers.

It came to a sudden, sharp, and screeching halt. The jolt of the sudden stop had Threepo flying as he metal body continued to move. Thankfully his flight had the proper trajectory and instead of falling through one of the gaps on either side of the track, Threepo crashed onto the landing platform and into the containers. The very prim and proper protocol droid lifted himself free of the containers. It was shocking and rather rude of the train to have stopped so suddenly.

"Well next time I will certainly be more careful in my pleas!"

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There were only two battle droids at the controls when Obi-Wan arrived at the hyperdrive room. It was there that he would be able to sabotage the hyperdrive so that they could end the Malevolence's reign of terror once and for all.

The lights were dim. Sparks flew off of the walls and panels. He allowed himself a small smirk as the two battle droids turned around and noticed that a Jedi stood behind him.

It was easy...

Almost too easy...

The lights came on, near blinding him. He blinked fast and cursed when he saw droids marching, rolling towards him. Three droidekas rolled to a stop in front of him, uncurling from their balls as their sheilds snapped to life. Super battle droids followed by plain old battle droids flanked him from all sides.

It had been too easy.

A laugh, twisted with a mix of evil and glee rang through the room. Obi-Wan turned as Grievous landed on the floor behind him with a loud, echoing thump. Instead of cursing this time, Obi-Wan smirked. At least Grievous hadn't gone after Anakin or Padme.

"Hello there Kenobi!" Grievous seemed to find it funny that he had used the greeting that Obi-Wan used most often and had become known for. The Separatist General chuckled, seeing it as some sort of sick joke that he had taken the friendly and warm greeting; attempting to twist it into something dark and cold.

"General...Still trying to keep up with me I see." Grievous growled and pulled a blaster before realizing he had no reason to be mad. He had Kenobi outnumbered and soon the pathetic Jedi would be dead at his feet. His lightsaber would be the perfect addition to his growing collection.

"Kenobi...Do you really think I would be so stupid as to leave the hyperdrive unguarded?"

"Well...There was a chance. I mean you normally don't impress me and you certainly haven't impressed me today."

"Ha haha!" Grievous waved an arm. He would very much enjoy what was about to happen. "Kill him!"

"Poor General Grievous...You underestimate the Jedi as always..." Obi-Wan taunted the cybernetic Kaleesh before wrapping himself in the Force. The Force always seemed to enjoy it when Obi-Wan was taunting or teasing.

As the blasters began to fire, Obi-Wan leapt high into the air. He almost brushed against the ceiling as the Force propelled him higher than just a normal leap. He rolled up into a ball, using the Force to narrowly miss being blaster-burned and let gravity bring him back down. The Master rolled along the ground and came to stop, crouching between a pair of droidekas with lighsaber blazing blue in his hand.

Not that he necessarily needed his blade to defeat Grievous' metal army.

Obi-Wan pushed his hand out, sending a heavy wave slamming into the droideka on his right. A shield was no protection against the Force. The destroyer found itself rolling up into its ball form before the Force was pushing down one of the walkways. It slammed into the super battle and battle droids, sending them flying off the walkway, sparks bursting forth as circuits broke before the droideka itself rolled off the walkway.

Since it was such a success the first time, Obi-Wan used it again, shoving the second droideka away and forcing droids off the second walkway. Thankfully Separatist droids weren't' too bright or fast, especially when it came to Jedi. Living beings were able to observe and adjust on the fly. Droids not so much.

Well...Not so much unless they were a trio of feisty and protective astromechs.

Grievous roared in anger and began to rapidly fire his blaster at the Jedi Master. Thankfully he still had one droideka left. Obi-Wan ducked around behind it, taking advantage of the shield for protection. Droidekas didn't move fast when in battle mode. He just needed to find the right timing in between the flying laser bolts and...

With one last push of the Force, Obi-Wan sent the third destroyer rolling towards Grievous who was forced to stop his attack to catch it and not go flying off the walkway. Obi-Wan smirked and gave the General a mocking salute before turning and running. Behind him he could hear another roar of outrage from Grievous and just knew from the sounds of crunching metal that the Kaleesh had thrown the droideka away.

It was a good thing he kept his lightsaber out. As he jogged off the Force blared out a warning. Without looking Obi-Wan casually waved his lightsaber behind his back and heard the tell-tale high-pitched ping as a blaster bolt was deflected away.

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If he tightened his grip too much, he would break the blaster in his hand. Grievous forced himself to relax, to loosen his grip even as rage boiled inside him. "Wow!" A battle droid, voice filled with what passed for awe. "That was impressive!"

"I'll show you impressive!" The droid never saw Grievous move his arm. Just a blaster that slammed into him and sent him falling over the edge to join his fallen comrades below. He turned on the remaining droids. "Fix this damn hyperdrive now! I will deal with Kenobi myself!"

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Things had been going good for Padme and Anakin...Until they had run into a trio of super battle droids who had apparently been programmed to never give up. The pair were running; lightsaber dancing back and forth, pistol not letting bolts fly every few seconds. Anakin cursed. He needed to contact Obi-Wan.

He nudged Padme and the pair ducked around a support pole. "Cover me Padme." His wife said nothing only leaned around him and the pole, taking what shots she could at the droids while Anakin made the call. "Obi-Wan are you there? Come in Obi-Wan!"

"Reading you loud and clear Anakin."

"Good...You do know that Grievous has caught onto us right?"

"Yes, I did notice that. We need to let the fleet know that they must contin..." Anakin's com let out a burp of static and went silent.

"Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan!"

"What's the news?"

"Not good. I think they're jamming us now." Anakin grabbed Padme and pulled her to him as bolt hit the pole, sending up a shower of sparks that was too close for comfort. The Knight then set his Senator to one side and leapt out from behind the pole.

It was always a treat for Padme to watch her husband at work. He was an artist with Force and blade. Her eyes watched, trying to keep track of each red bolt that he effortless deflected. Anakin danced before he as sliced first one droid in half before taking out the gun of the second and leaping to slice the third in half before spinning back to take out the last one. "That should buy us some time." His blade faded away and was returned to his belt.

"I hope you have a plan."

"Don't I always? This way!"

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"I do believe I am lost. Oh dear..." Threepo heaved his version of suffering sigh as he walked on. The corridors were dim, almost dark. Small bursts of light were created now and again as broken panels and twisted wires gave birth to short-lived sparks. "Lost and all alone in enemy territory...I'm doomed..."

A bright light from one side overloaded Threepo's optical receptors for just a moment. Panicked the droid threw up his hands. "Don't shoot! I'm harmless!"

"That's a matter of opinion," Was the snarky reply as the light dimmed. Threepo lowered his hands to see Artoo rolling towards him.

"Oh R2-D2 you are a sight for my sore circuits!" The protocol droid chose to ignore Artoo's biting and rude remark. This time. "What are you doing here?"

"Master sent me to find you."

"Master Anakin did that? Thank the Maker for our kind Master! Now let's be on our way and do remember to thank Master Anakin properly next time we see him."

Threepo hadn't been aware that Artoo had known that particular insult which the droid whistled at him.

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All was calm on the bridge. "The General is demanding a status report," B1-1969 reported to B1-1962. "How's the hyperdive coming?"

"Good. It's nearly finished."

"Great. I'll let him know and..." One of the lift doors to the bridge slide open as two human figures stepped out of it. The male held a lightsaber, burning bright and approached the droids. "Ahh...Who are..." With one slice B1-1969 was gone. B1-1962 was next as it lifted itself off the floor to try and flee only to be sliced in half.

As the Jedi attacked, one battle droid hit the alert button for the silent pair of super battle droids that were standing at the ready.

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"Anakin!" The sight of a super battle droid turning on his wife who was armed only with a small pistol did filled the Knight with fear. Anakin threw out both arms, using the Force to shove Padme back into the lift and shut the door. Now all attention was on him.

With Padme safe, Anakin darted forward, letting his fear power his arm as it swung his lightsaber down and across first one droid before spinning sharply and cutting up across the other. As the pair fell to the ground in four pieces, sparks flaring, the lift door opened again and Padme sighed. "From the moment I met you you've been playing with droids and making a mess."

"Analise wishes I would go back to the days of when I would put them together instead of taking them apart."

"I can understand why." Padme looked over the mess of broken droids. "So what do we do now?"

"Well we need to clean up and clear out the droids so that the next bunch that come up won't know we were here." Anakin quickly slipped into one of the seats at a control panel. "I am going to find a way to hot-wire the hyperdrive so that Grievous gets a nice surprise when he goes to fire it up."

"So I guess that means I'm cleaning up the mess."

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"All our ships are in attack position. Is there any word from Anakin?" The adults turned as the Togruta Padawan ran up to them. Analise laid an arm over her shoulder as Plo shook his head.

"Not yet Ahsoka. Our transmissions are being jammed by the droids."

"We can't start yet though!" Analise added a hand onto her little sister's shoulder to keep her from jumping forward. "We need to give them more time!"

"Ahsoka is right Uncle Plo. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme need more time."

"I know, but time is the one thing we do not have."

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It was a leap for the record books.

Obi-Wan flew through the air onto a train. Grievous followed close behind. The three battle droids following him were not so lucky. The Master heard their cries as they fell and missed.

A roar rose up from behind him. Turning he could see blades of blue and green racing forwards as Grievous in his blazing rage shoved the containers out of his way or stepped on them, crushing them.

A cargo claw hung overhead. With a massive burst of Force Obi-Wan jumped up into the air and latched one. The momentum swung the claw around and Obi-Wan, timing carefully let go. His lightsaber was in his hand and on before he even landing in a crouch facing Greivous who no longer had a sneaking advantage.

The Separatist growled with rage as Obi-Wan stood and lashed out with his lightsabers. Obi-Wan blocked them, his soul crying out for the Jedi that had once carried them even as the Force and his mind screamed for him to move.

Breaking free, Obi-Wan ran to the front of the train, aided by the Force to make it over the containers and controls. Grievous followed close behind. He got near enough to reach out and kick the Jedi who went stumbling and fell at the very front of the train. Obi-Wan rolled over onto his back, dangerously close to hanging over the side.

Grievous chuckled, almost hacking as he raised his lightsabers to deliver a killing a blow and claim the famed lightsaber for himself.

But Obi-Wan was a Jedi, the husband of the Force's beloved Moon and a great favorite of it besides. It hollered out a suggestion. Twisting his head Obi-Wan saw a train catching up below them. As the green blade Grievous wrongly carried swung down, Obi-Wan rolled out of the way and off the edge of the train!

He used the Force, wrapped it around himself as he reached out with his blade and sliced into the train's engine stopping it. He rolled further, falling. The Force guided his fall and he landed safely on a new train.

On one knee Obi-Wan looked up to see a furious and frustrated Grievous glaring at him. He couldn't help it. Smirking Obi-Wan saluted Grievous again.

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"And that should do it!" Anakin came close to cheering as he punched one final command into the control panel. He looked to Padme who was tugging one last fallen droid into the lift. "All done with the house cleaning?"

"Yes Sir, but next time you get to do it."

"I give, I give. Let's get out of here before the next shift shows up." He joined Padme in the lift and the door closed.

The door of the lift next to their's opened and three battle droids emerged to a strangely empty bride. "Well," One said, "I guess all the repairs are done. Fire up the hyperdrive!"

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"Artoo are you certain that the ship is this way?" Threepo asked for what had to be the twentieth time. Though Artoo had stopped counting after five.

"Of course it is the right way."

"I'm not sure...This looks like a rather dangerous place."

"The whole ship is dangerous!"

"I know that the whole place is dangerous! My circuits are in perfect working order thank you. We should stay here and wait for Master Anakin..."

"What are you doing Threepo?" A lift door behind the protocol droid slid open revealing a shocked Anakin and Padme. "Don't just stand there! Come on!" For once Threepo said nothing and simply moved as fast as he could.

Anakin slammed on the control that opened the airlock. "Artoo get on-board and start the engines!"

"Yes Master!" Artoo went on ahead. Anakin ushered Padme and Threepo into the airlock, eyes darting around for Obi-Wan as he waited. He wasn't going to leave his brother and former Master behind.

There was rush of blaster fire coming around a corner. Obi-Wan came jogging up, just ahead of some nasty looking droidekas. "Hold the ship!" He called out as he blocked bolts with his lightsaber reaching around his back. Smirking Anakin reached out to some nearby rubble through the Force and shifted it in front of the droidekas allowing Obi-Wan a little bit of breathing room as he made it into the airlock.

"Made some new friends I see Master."

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The Twilight had never been more welcoming. Obi-Wan slipped into the co-pilot's chair, his hands reaching for the com panel. "I'm going to contact the fleet."

"Artoo I want to release the docking clamps right away." Anakin raced his fingers over the controls as he inputted commands. Padme braced herself by resting a hand on the back of the captain's chair. The Twilight drifted free and then Anakin punched it, racing away from the Malevolence.

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They would not escape him. Grievous jumped into his Belbullab-22 starfighter which he lovingly called his Soulless One. He took off, a squadron of vulture droids trailing after him. They would not escape him this time.

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The Twilight shook as enemy fire hit it. Obi-Wan winced. "This is the perfect time for some of your fancy flying Anakin."

"You got it Obi-Wan!" The Knight's eyes went hard as he focused and sent the Twilight spinning to avoid the blasts.

This time Obi-Wan said nothing.

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"Look! It's the Twilight!"

"And they're being chased! All batteries open fire now!"

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"You do realize we have guns right? You can start shooting back at any time!" The Twilight jerked to one side from a particular strong blast. Padme rolled her eyes. It would be hard for an outsider to see just how close Anakin and Obi-Wan were with as much as they bickered. Especially in the middle of a battle.

"I was just about to..."

"I've got it Obi-Wan!" Padme moved to the middle of the bride and pulled down the scope that allowed the user to aim the guns. She flipped the switch, waking the guns up and slowly spun around to face the back of the bridge.

There was a small bang as shot hit near their engines, but Padme didn't falter. Obi-Wan glanced behind him then smirked at Anakin. "I see Padme certainly knows her way around the ship. Mind telling me exactly how often you two have been sneaking around with the Twilight? I do hope you're being careful..." He had the pleasure of seeing Anakin gulp.

Maybe he and Padme did need to be more careful so that that those who weren't suppose to know about their relationship wouldn't find out.

Padme ignored their banter and began to fire away at the Separatist fighters.

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"General Grievous Sir, the hyperdrive has been repaired. Would you like us to retreat to friendly space?"

"Engage the hyperdrive and set course for Sector-4. I'll meet you at the secret base there."

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"Alright you heard the General! Prepare to make the jump to hyperspace!"

"Yes Sir!"

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Obi-Wan watched, impressed as Padme easily took out vulture droid after vulture droid. It was amazing to watch the usual calm and dignified Senator take down droids with all the skill and coolness of a Clone Trooper. "Nice shots Padme!"

"Beginner's luck Obi-Wan. Beginner's luck."

"The Malevolence's hyperdrive has been activated."

"Artoo's scans have indicated that the hyperdrive of the enemy ship is operational and is currently in the process of activating." Artoo whistled something that was again rather rude and had the humans smirking. Anakin more so than the others.

"Don't worry about it."

"What?"

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"The coordinates are locked in Sir and hyperdrive is engaging." A flurry of sparks burst across the hyperdrive control panel. "Ummm...It appears we have a problem."

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They would not escape from him. The Malevolence would soon be safe in hyperspace and he would shortly be taking down Kenobi and Skywalker. This would surely see him moving above Dooku and taking total power over the Separatists.

"Ummm...General Sir, it appears that the hyperdrive is not working."

"I thought you said the hyperdrive was fixed!"

"It was...I mean...The coordinates in the navi-computer have has heading right into a moon!"

"Fools! Reset the navi-computer at once!"

"Quick! Reset the navi-computer!" Grievous growled low as the holo of the battle droid was replaced by Dooku.

"I am glad to have finally reached you General. We await the arrival of the Malevolence with bated breath at the rendezvous point. Have you made your escape yet?" He growled again, lower in an attempt to make sure Grievous did not hear it before darting his gaze to the viewport.

The Malevolence was hurtling with all speed towards the grey, crater-filled rock hung in the sky. There was no way that the ship would avoid being destroyed even if the stupid droids did manage to reset the navi-computer and he doubted that they were even really trying to.

It was over.

The Malevolence was gone.

The master weapon was destroyed.

He slammed his fist down onto the com, cutting Dooku off. He would have to deal with the Count and his anger later. He knew that, but he could also put off their confrontation for as long as he could.

This battle was over.

Jerking the controls of Soulless One, Grievous did the one thing he had always hated to do.

He ran.

As much as he hated it. It was better to run and fight another day.

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"The transmission was cut off Sir. It appears that the General did it himself." Dooku's eyes narrowed and started to bleed yellow and red.

Grievous' days were numbered.

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"We're going to die!"

"Abandon ship!"

"There's no time!"

Even battle droids were afraid to die even as they stared Death in the face.

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The explosion was in a way magnificent. It was white, tinted with purple and glowed brighter than any star Obi-Wan had ever seen.

He glanced over at Anakin who had been joined by Padme. "So that was your plan?"

"Sure was. Did you like it?"

"It was perfect Anakin."

"Thank you. Now let's make for the fleet. I think we've all earned a little break and some celebration!"

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For a moment, there was silence on the bridge of the Resolute. They had seen the explosion, but it was hard to take in, to believe.

The Malevolence was gone. A huge weight had been lifted from shoulders already weighed down with the harsh reality and tragic threats that came everyday during a war.

But this one threat was over.

Men began to cheer. To shout and clap. To celebrate the destruction of the Malevolence. The ship that had created nightmares and cost them so many of their brothers.

Analise watched the impromptu celebration with warm eyes. She watched as a couple of the Clones, forgetting just who Ahsoka was, caught her baby sister up in their arms for a dizzying, jumping dance.

Their glee, their happiness, their joy and relief made the Force sing out. The wrongness was gone. Just for a moment, this one moment in time; things were right again.

But wrongness would return. It always did during war.

Plo watched his adoptive niece step back from the celebrations and turn to look out the viewport. Her eyes tracked her twin's ship as it made its way back to the Resolute.

"What is wrong Analsie?" He stood next to her and laid a clawed hand on her shoulder.

"I was just thinking Uncle Plo...The Malevolence was a new weapon born out of the need of the Separatists to win."

"And it is gone now."

"Yes...But how many new weapons will the Separatists and the Republic create so that either side will win?" Downcast sky-blue eyes raised up to look into a pair of googles. "I fear the Malevolence was only the beginning."