Anakin

"Say what?" Marco was the first to voice his doubts.

((Either that or a highly concentrated and controlled explosion,)) Ax said. ((We need to generate enough energy so that Anakin will be sent back to his own universe and the Sario Rip sealed.))

"Yeah, but steal a bug fighter?"

"If you've got a better plan, now's your chance to share," Rachel said sarcastically.

"Well, I'm sure you're all for it," Marco replied. "Anything anywhere near suicidal and Rachel's like 'Where do I sign up?' You know what I think?"

"I really don't care what you think, but I know you'll just say it anyway."

"Well I think this is insane!" he ranted. I merely watched the outburst impassively. Years of Jedi training and experience has taught me to conceal my emotions and to let them go. But deep down, I felt anxiety. A fear that I would never see Padme again. Or Obi-Wan. Or anything related to my sector of the galaxy. I was probably thousands of light years away from the nearest familiar star system.

"As much as I don't want to admit it, I think Marco has a point," said Jake. "How are we going to get a bug fighter? And if we did get one, what then?"

For once, Ax seemed at a loss for words. Rachel had a disappointed look on her face, as if she'd been looking forward to taking action. I was surprised to see that Marco, instead of showing any triumph or smugness, seemed down as well. He may not have been all for the plan, but that was because of its immense boldness. A plan like that really could be deemed as 'suicide.'

I think there might have been a dark look on my face as well, for Jake cast me a sympathetic glance and said, "Don't worry. We'll find a way."

I nodded to acknowledge his words. But I wasn't so sure. From what I'd seen so far, this world seemed so primitive. These Earth humans had only made it as far as their own moon. They didn't even possess the technology for light speed! How were they able to go anywhere or do anything with such restrictions?

I decided it was probably about time to prepare the ship. I might be needing it soon, whatever happened. It was pretty much fixed up and ready to go. Except for one thing.

Since we were not aided by any sort of machinery, Jake, Marco, and I had to manually lift R2-D2 into position on the hull of the ship. I had never imagined that a little astrodroid could possibly weigh so much. But after a few moments of grunting and hauling and ignoring his conversational beeping, we managed to slide him in. I'll never take the machinery and technology from my home for granted again.

I had just settled on the grass with my back resting against the ship, when we were interrupted. I looked up and, sure enough, there was Tobias, a red-tailed hawk silhouetted against the bright blue of the sky.

((Hey, Ax-man,)) he called to the Andalite who was casually grazing, grinding up the grass and absorbing it through his hooves. I'd never seen of anything quite like that, but I didn't ask. I'd seen much stranger things than that before.

((Yes, Tobias?)) Ax replied, looking up at the circling bird with one of his stalk eyes.

((You may have just gotten your wish.)) Tobias's voice sounded grim. ((They found us. There's a couple of bug fighters headed this way.))

I could see Ax tense up. Jake and Marco cast each other a look.

"What do you mean, they've found us? What will we do?" Cassie asked. She and Rachel were just inside the tree line.

((I don't know, but they're coming right for us.))

"And there's no way we'll be able to take on two bug fighters," said Marco.

"Always the optimist," Rachel muttered sarcastically.

Jake got to his feet, his expression grave. "Marco's right. We have to leave. We can't fight them off. We can morph and get away, but…" he trailed off, glancing in my direction. "They'll spot your ship."

I nodded, a plan already forming. "But not on the ground," I said. "In the air. They may have tracked us here, but I can lead them away."

"You could get killed," Jake pointed out.

I knew that. Understood. Accepted it even. But I had to give it a try. "Yeah, but this might be my chance, right?"

Jake seemed to know it too. He clapped me on the shoulder. "Good luck, man."

"And to you," I said. "May the Force be with you."

And then we parted.

I could see the Animorphs group together in the trees. Could see them begin to morph. Jake, Marco, Cassie, and Rachel sprouted gray fur that quickly consumed them. They grew tails and long snouts and their ears crept up the sides of their heads. They were becoming the wild canines they called wolves. Tobias was becoming a furred, lumbering animal with a dark face mask, a raccoon. And Ax shrunk into the avian known as a northern harrier. But he would stay well below the tree line.

Jake - at least I think it was Jake - looked back at me with those brown wolf eyes. Then he bounded away. That was the last I would ever see of him.

As for me, I leaped over and into the cockpit of my Jedi Interceptor, sealing it closed.

"Alright, Artoo," I said. "Let's see what we can do."

A quick check and a manipulation of controls-and we were off. The ship thrummed to life and ascended, casting a black shadow upon the field below. I tried to hide the rogue grin that was forming. Anakin Skywalker, fighter pilot and Jedi, was back.

The ship zoomed above the tree line, quickly gaining altitude. As it did so, I caught sight of the approaching bug fighters and knew how they had gotten that name. Each was rounded and black like a beetle, with identical serrated spears on each of their sides.

"I think they know we're here," I said.

Artoo responded with a beep.

"Let's give 'em something to do."

With that, I veered off to the left and at a steady altitude increase, aiming for the clouds and away from where the Animorphs had gone. The two Yeerk ships followed.

A second later, there was a bolt of searing energy that sailed past my right wing. Then another. I twisted around, dodging as a relentless barrage of laser fire began. One of them grazed the wing and R2-D2 squealed in distress.

"Alright, now it's time for them to run," I said with confidence and swung my ship around. They must not have expected that for the fire hesitated. If only for a moment. Another bolt whizzed over the top of the ship.

"Fire," I said softly and did just that. Searing bolts of energy escaped the ship, headed for the bug fighters. One of them swerved out of the way, but the other wasn't so lucky. The shot slammed into it, puncturing the hull. With no control, all it could do was plummet in fire toward the earth.

More shots were fired from the remaining fighter, even harder than the last, shot after shot. I believe I took a hard hit on the wing. The ship dipped suddenly and I scrambled to get back in control.

I did the one thing I hoped would really do damage. I hurled toward the fighter, increasing my speed until I was sure my next shot wouldn't miss.

I fired.

Flames erupted in the space between us and the light was so intense, I had to squint to see the falling debris.

Red lights penetrated the star field in front of me, along with a barrage from fighters. Not bug fighters, though. Tri-fighters.

I was home.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan's voice came frantic over the comm unit.

"What?" I shouted back.

The relief in his voice was obvious. "I thought you'd been killed! Come on, we have to save the Chancellor."

Clearly no time had passed here at all. "Right, I forgot."

A pause. Then, "You what?"

I shook my head though he couldn't see me. "Sorry, Master. I'm on my way." I swerved my ship around just as a swarm of vulture droids descended upon his Interceptor…